My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani

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.

Actor, producer, and screenwriter Lena Waithe recently completed a 10-day silent retreat during which she had a lot of time to ponder big topics and ideas like attachment, legacy, acceptance, and detachment. After Reshma shares that she’s also done a Vipassana, she and Lena dig deep into ambition, the American Dream, the patriarchy, and the expectations that often get attached to love. Reshma also asks Lena about her career, including how she decides what stories to tell and what Lena learned about writing from the creators of Friends.  Follow Lena @lenawaithe 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.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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.

Too many women in midlife think they’re too old, too busy, or too inexperienced to go after their dreams. Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts wants you to know none of that is true! She lays out how to push that nonsense aside and follow your desires in her latest book, Fired Up. She and Reshma get into how to figure out what you’re passionate about, why midlife is the perfect time to pursue what fires you up, and how to reconcile the idea that focusing on these things will take away from being a mother. Plus, how Shannon reframes failures in order to keep moving forward. Follow Shannon @shannonrwatts 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.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.   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.

That super-intense, sweat-inducing workout you think you need to be doing to see results? Yeah, that’s not the best way to exercise in your midlife, says exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Stacy Sims. She and Reshma dive into tons of practical tips and tricks for getting and staying healthy in midlife, including how to increase your fiber and protein intake, improving your sleep, and the importance of listening to your body. Plus, why Stacy doesn’t recommend fasting for women. Follow Stacy @drstacysims 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.    Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.   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.

Brooke Shields has been in the public eye since she began modeling at 11 months old. Days ahead of her 60th birthday, the actress, model, and author tells Reshma she’s in her “give no f*cks” era. Brooke talks about coming to terms with aging in front of the world, as chronicled in her latest book, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old. They also discuss how aging affects our hair and scalp, which inspired Brooke to start Commence, a hair care company designed for women over 40. Plus, Reshma pays Brooke a compliment that makes her emotional. Follow Brooke @brookeshields 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.  Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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.