My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani

Reshma sits down with world-renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel to talk about why midlife can feel so lonely — and how to rebuild community from the inside out. They unpack why independence has replaced interdependence, how motherhood turned into a performance review, and why asking for help is one of the bravest things we can do. Esther leaves us with a path back, showing how connection can be rebuilt one honest conversation at a time. Follow Esther Perel's podcast Where Should We Begin? on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and subscribe to Entre Nous with Esther Perel on Substack for exclusive bonus content. You can follow our host Reshma Saujani on Instagram at @reshmasaujani and on Substack.  Stay up to date with Moms First (www.momsfirst.us) on Instagram at @momsfirstus and with Lemonada at  @LemonadaMedia.  Thanks so much for listening to My So-Called Midlife. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content like me and Emily Oster talking about her thoughts on how often you should have sex. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors Check out the What Should I Do With My Money? podcast. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tembi Locke is an actor and memoirist whose work delves into love, grief, and personal reinvention. In a heartfelt conversation, she reflects on how losing her husband reshaped her identity and ambitions. Tembi discusses the transformative power of grief, the concept of re-nesting to reclaim oneself, and how loss can inspire renewed dreams. She shares insights on repartnering while honoring past loves and describes her creative process while journaling during a pivotal summer in Sicily. Tune in for a journey of resilience and hope!

Dr. Kelly Casperson, a urologist and passionate advocate for women's sexual health, unpacks the myths surrounding midlife sex. She reveals that common beliefs about declining desire are often misguided. Kelly discusses the complex nature of libido and introduces concepts like responsive desire, illustrating how midlife can enhance intimacy. She also addresses the stigma surrounding women's sexuality, offering practical tips like communication and lubricant usage to improve sex lives. Plus, she highlights the importance of understanding hormones beyond stereotypes.

Dating coach and author Damona Hoffman shares her insights on navigating love in midlife. They discuss why modern dating can feel overwhelming and how rewriting common myths can empower women. Damona emphasizes the importance of clarity over chemistry and advocates for treating dating as a structured process. She offers practical tips like getting offline quickly and refining dealbreakers. The conversation also explores the evolving concept of marriage and the significance of mutual growth in relationships.

Gary Barker, founder and CEO of Equimundo, advocates for healthier models of masculinity and fatherhood. He discusses the crisis of connection facing young men, revealing shocking statistics about loneliness and lack of care. Gary unpacks how patriarchy harms everyone and urges a shift from ego to empathy in male identity. He highlights the importance of emotional language and relationships over traditional masculine roles. With insights on building cross-gender conversations, Gary's mission is clear: to create a more caring world for all.

Molly Gochman, a social practice artist, creates monuments to honor invisible labor and motherhood. She shares how her experience as a caregiver for her father reshaped her perspective on art and life's value. Molly discusses the lack of monuments for women and the importance of crafting spaces that recognize caregiving. She emphasizes the courage midlife brings to claim one's voice, adapt creatively, and foster community through art. Tune in for insights on turning personal experiences into impactful, visible legacies.

Sometimes the math of modern life just doesn’t add up. Economist Corinne Low has spent her career studying how gender, marriage, and work collide (and she’s lived it, too). A Wharton professor and author of Having It All, she joins Reshma to talk about the “squeeze” so many women feel in midlife, when ambition, family, and love all seem to demand more than the day can hold. She shares what her own reset taught her about time, partnership, and the radical act of getting your needs met. Follow Corinne Low @corinnelowphd on Instagram. You can follow our host Reshma Saujani on Instagram at @reshmasaujani and on Substack.  Stay up to date with Moms First (www.momsfirst.us) on Instagram at @momsfirstus and with Lemonada at  @LemonadaMedia.  Thanks so much for listening to My So-Called Midlife. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content like me and Emily Oster talking about her thoughts on how often you should have sex. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors Check out the What Should I Do With My Money? podcast. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With fall sports and activities in full-swing, now's a perfect time to listen back to this episode with Dr. Becky. If your weekends are spent going from one kid’s soccer game to another kid’s dance rehearsal to another kid’s robotics tournament, Dr. Becky Kennedy wants you to know one thing: it’s your weekend, too. The psychologist, mom of three, and founder of Good Inside tells Reshma that not only is it good for you to prioritize yourself, it’s good for your kids to see you doing that, too! They also talk about mom rage, how the “maternal instinct” narrative actually holds women back, and why some of Dr. Becky’s clients tell her they actually look forward to their kid having a meltdown in public. Follow Dr. Becky @drbeckyatgoodinside on Instagram. You can follow our host Reshma Saujani @reshmasaujani on Instagram.  Let us know how you’re doing in midlife! You can submit your story to be included in this show at speakpipe.com/midlife  Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Thanks so much for listening to My So-Called Midlife. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content like me and Emily talking about her thoughts on how often you should have sex. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we wanted to highlight one of our favorite episodes this season! For actress, comedian and singer Margaret Cho, being 50 is hot. And she’s here to tell us all about it. Not only is she taking better care of herself these days but she’s also tapping into her goddess energy. So much so that people are paying attention! And she says she owes a lot of this midlife energy to menopause. With hormones no longer ruling her life, she is free to be who she wants to be. She tells us how that evolution happened. Plus, the rituals she does to honor her age, what she's addressing in her new stand-up special Live and Livid and what we can all do to make daily meditation work for us. Follow Margaret @margaret_cho on Instagram. You can follow our host Reshma Saujani @reshmasaujani on Instagram.  Let us know how you’re doing in midlife! You can submit your story to be included in this show at speakpipe.com/midlife  Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Thanks so much for listening to My So-Called Midlife. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content like me and Emily Nagoski talking about her thoughts on how often you should have sex. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors   To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes we forget: no matter our age, no door is closed if you dare to try. New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul reminds us of that every day. She's the first female governor of the fourth-most-populated state in this country, and more importantly to her, she’s a wife, mom, and grandmother. She tells Reshma how a particular comment from her dad set her on a path of leadership, her journey running for office during early motherhood, and why we need to invest in our children. She reminds us that life is long, so don't close any doors yet; you may be surprised at what you can achieve.  Follow Governor Hochul @govkathyhochul on Instagram. You can follow our host Reshma Saujani @reshmasaujani on Instagram.  Let us know how you’re doing in midlife! You can submit your story to be included in this show at speakpipe.com/midlife  Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Thanks so much for listening to My So-Called Midlife. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to subscribe to Lemonada Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes and bonus content like me and Emily talking about her thoughts on how often you should have sex. Just hit the 'subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts, or, for all other podcast apps head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors   Check out the What Should I Do With My Money? podcast. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.