My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani

You’ve likely heard of the motherhood penalty – the systematic economic disadvantage mothers face in the workplace. Well it turns out there’s a menopause penalty, too. Leading the research on this is Stanford economist Petra Persson, who talks with Reshma about the economic toll that the menopausal transition takes on women. They also discuss the importance of norms vs policy when it comes to culture change, what Sweden did to get more dads to take parental leave, and how both the government and employers can better support working women during menopause.  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 Rasanath Das talking about his journey from working with Playboy to joining a monastery. 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.

Midlife can be both the most challenging and exciting time of your life. Perhaps the things you thought would fulfill you no longer do. Or the shiny objects you’ve chased lose their luster. When this happened for Reshma, she turned to Rasanath Das, who became her monk. Today she talks with Rasanath about what it means to live life with an open heart, her lifelong struggles with rejection, and how to identify – and overcome – your inner fears. Plus, she asks Rasanath for advice for midlifers looking to begin a spiritual practice. Follow Rasanath @upbuildNYC 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 Rasanath talking about his journey from working with Playboy to joining a monastery. 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.

Sunday Riley doesn’t let the sun touch her. Protecting your skin from the sun is the skincare brand founder’s #1 tip for people of all ages, but especially midlifers. Reshma asks Sunday for a step-by-step skincare regimen and is shocked by what Sunday has to say about sunscreen. The two of them also discuss how society tries to make women feel invisible as they age and how Sunday learned to practice “intentional friendship” from Jane Fonda. Follow Sunday Riley @sundayriley 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 Gretchen Rubin talking about seeking connections in a disconnected world. 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.

Midlife can do a number on your happiness. It’s a time when your kids are grown, your identity is shifting, and the roles that defined you for so long just don't fit anymore. Bestselling author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin has studied happiness for years and talks with Reshma about burnout, discipline, and whether the habits and goals that used to work for you still serve you. Plus, they get into Gretchen’s “four tendencies” personality framework, which are an incredibly helpful lens in understanding how we move through midlife.  Follow Gretchen @gretchenrubin 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 Gretchen Rubin talking about seeking connections in a disconnected world. 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.

Many women take career pauses when they have children. But Neha Ruch – author of The Power Pause – wants you to know that there are so many other times and reasons to consider a pause. Perhaps a family member needs care. Perhaps you need time to explore where you want to go next in your career. Neha tells Reshma how to prepare for a pause, what to do on your pause, and how to set yourself up for success when you return back to the workforce. Follow Neha @neha_ruch 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 Dr. Sharon Malone talking about what drives healthcare disparities in the US. 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.

Do you know what your purpose is? Many people do, and that can lead to an incredibly fulfilling life. But so many of us don’t. Business journalist-turned-NYU-professor Suzy Welch says midlife is a terrific time to figure this out for yourself, since you bring to it the wisdom of your years. She’s developed a methodology aimed at crafting an authentic life called Becoming You, and she tells Reshma all about how to identify your values, prioritize them, and live a life in accordance with them.  Follow Suzy @suzywelch 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 Dr. Sharon Malone talking about what drives healthcare disparities in the US. 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.

It can be easy to focus on the negatives of getting older. But menopause expert Dr. Sharon Malone wants you to know there is so much to celebrate, too! Dr. Malone tells Reshma why she thinks there’s a “unique freedom” to being in midlife that is immensely powerful. They also discuss how women like Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris are changing the perception of what it means to be an older woman, why women find it particularly challenging to navigate the healthcare system in this country, and what we need to do to address the mental health crisis facing mothers in America. Plus, how to advocate for yourself in the doctor’s office. Follow Dr. Malone @smalonemd 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 Katie Sturino talking about when we first started having negative self images of our bodies. 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.

Katie Sturino, an advocate and entrepreneur, discusses her journey towards body acceptance after her divorce. She opens up about overcoming insecurities influenced by societal pressures, and she shares techniques for addressing family body-shaming. Sturino promotes the normalization of thigh chafing and boob sweat through her brand, Megababe. She also reflects on whether society is shifting back to an obsession with thinness due to new weight-loss trends. Get ready for a candid conversation about self-love and embracing our bodies!

This week, we’re excited to introduce you to Hello Menopause! — with an episode featuring our very own Reshma Saujani. In this bold and honest conversation, host Stacy London is joined by Reshma Saujani—activist, bestselling author, founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, and host of My So-Called Midlife—for a candid exploration of how menopause and midlife are shifting the paradigm for women’s power, purpose, and priorities.They dismantle outdated narratives around ambition, beauty, caregiving, and perfectionism. Reshma coins the term “midlife penalty,” drawing attention to the economic, physical, and emotional costs women face simply for aging. She opens up about unlearning the need for external validation, the importance of spiritual grounding, and why she believes Gen X women are the agitators our culture needs. From career burnout to body changes, from psychedelics to play, this episode is a no-BS manifesto for reclaiming curiosity, joy, and justice in the second half of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reshma interviews former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern live on stage about her new book, A Different Kind of Power! This thoughtful conversation covers Jacinda’s leadership style built on compassion and kindness, becoming a mom while in office, and how to navigate self-doubt and imposter syndrome without letting them define you. Plus, Jacinda discusses her difficult decision to resign at the height of her power and shares what’s giving her hope right now. This program was recorded live at the Chicago Humanities 2025 Spring Festival on June 8, 2025. Event produced by Jesse Swanson. Associate produced by Nikki Konomos. Event stage managed by Sophia Fishkins. Event produced and mixed by Dan Glomski. Follow Jacinda Ardern @jacindaardern 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 Shannon Watts talking about stepping away from organizations we founded. 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.