My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani

Brad Meltzer, one of the most widely read authors in America, joins Reshma for a candid conversation about midlife, legacy, and learning how to be gentler with yourself. He reflects on breaking up with achievement, reexamining his relationship with his parents, and the teacher who changed his life by simply saying, “you can write.” They also talk about empathy, self forgiveness, and the ideas behind his viral talks Make Magic and How to Write Your Own Obituary, which explore how we shape the lives we are remembered for. The conversation also touches on the inspiration for his new thriller, The Viper, but at its core, this episode is about accepting the early lines, the mistakes, and the parts of ourselves that make the masterpiece possible. Follow Brad Meltzer on Instagram at @bradmeltzer. 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.

Fighting is not the problem. How we fight is. In this episode, Reshma welcomes back psychotherapist, writer, and divorce group leader Oona Metz for a grounded, deeply human conversation about what actually breaks marriages and what still makes them salvageable. As the new year begins and January earns its reputation as “Divorce Day,” Oona helps unpack why midlife becomes such a turning point in relationships and why so many couples are forced to finally look at what they have been avoiding. Follow Oona Metz on Instagram at @oonametz or at oonametz.com . Oona’s new book, Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women, is out January 13.  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.

Bozoma Saint John is the newest cast member of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and she has a take-no-shit approach to life that will motivate you to demand everything you deserve. After working in executive marketing positions for companies like Uber, Netflix, Apple and Pepsi, Boz decided to leave corporate America and do things her own way. She had experienced so much loss in her life that she didn’t want to take a single day for granted. She lost her first daughter after a tough pregnancy, and her husband died of cancer. But Boz is not only working through it, she's talking about it. In this episode, she talks with Reshma about her life as a corporate girlie, the conversations she had with Housewives producers and what we can all learn from her book “The Urgent Life.” Follow Bozomo Saint John on Instagram @badassboz. Her book is called The Urgent Life and her Wig and Hair Care company is called Eve by Boz. 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.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.    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.

In this engaging discussion, Suzy Welch, a business journalist and NYU professor, shares her transformative methodology, Becoming You, designed to help individuals discover their core values and purpose, especially during midlife. She recounts her unexpected career journey, including her relationship with business titan Jack Welch. Suzy emphasizes the importance of prioritizing values, accepting trade-offs, and even introduces the concept of 'scarephoria'—the idea of growing through small, scary experiments. Her insights inspire listeners to live authentically and meaningfully.

Abby Phillip joins Reshma for a conversation about what it really takes to stay grounded in a world that is loud, fast, and full of opinions. She shares the freedom she has found in not caring what other people think, why kindness has been her most effective rule for navigating institutions that were not built for her, and how she handles the people who try to torpedo her along the way. They also dig into Abby’s book A Dream Deferred and what Jesse Jackson’s legacy can teach us about connection, trust, and the future of American democracy. Follow Abby Phillip on Instagram at @abbydphillip, and check out her new book A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. 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 Get an exclusive 5% discount on NordProtect plans. Go to: https://nordprotect.com/midlife and use the code midlife at checkout. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.