Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits
Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits
Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers
The midlife years bring opportunities for pleasures big and small, and hosts Sarah Powers and Meagan Francis, fortysomething moms and longtime podcasters, are here to discuss them all. From asking ourselves what leisure even means, to product deep-dives and exploring new hobbies, this show is all about discovering the pastimes and passions that make us tick - and that make midlife more fun.
Plant Lady Era!
Tending houseplants may be the ultimate midlife hobby, but it doesn’t always come naturally. In this episode Sarah shares how her indoor garden has grown from a few decorative potted plants into a more ambitious and seriously joyful pastime, while Meagan confesses that her own houseplants have become more like "wallpaper" - hanging around, often forgotten - and hopes for inspiration to create a more intentional approach.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 21
42 min
Adventures in Gardening!
Over the past few years, both Meagan and Sarah have become more serious about that quintessential midlife lady leisure pursuit, gardening: but each with her own specific approach. From containers on the deck for Meagan to raised beds for Sarah, fruit trees for both, and a perennial garden that Meagan hopes will eventually develop into a wild garden straight out of a storybook, in this episode the ladies share what they’re growing, how they’re growing it, and how their approach to gardening continues to evolve. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 14
31 min
Cooking for One!
One of the nicest surprises of being a midlife lady: eventually, you get to step away from the production-line approach to meal-planning and cooking and start cooking for yourself - JUST yourself again. From happily repetitive meal-planning to dishes we put a lot of thought and time into once and then enjoy for days, to charcuterie-for-dinner and more, this episode is all about the way we feed ourselves, when we’re the only ones we have to feed. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 7
31 min
Road-Tripping Our Roots!
Meagan recently returned from a two-week road trip across French Canada with 17-year-old Clara, where the two explored the places their ancestors once called home.In this episode, Sarah asks all the questions: What does an ancestry road trip actually look like? How do you prepare? What would you do differently next time? What moments felt surprisingly emotional, and what unexpected discoveries happened along the way?From scheduling genealogy tours to striking out at graveyards to walking the actual block where their great-great-great+ grandmothers lived, you’ll hear about Meagan and Clara’s trip…and maybe be inspired to plan your own!Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jun 30
40 min
90's Blockbuster Movie Magic!
Grab your popcorn and join us for a journey back to the 90s, which we're re-living through a very special lens: the movies we watched and loved during this formative decade! In this episode, Meagan and Sarah revisit the 1990s one year at a time, looking at the top-grossing movies from each year of the decade. Along the way, we share our favorite films, memorable movie-going experiences, and all the little details that transport us back to the era of blockbuster hits, hometown theaters, and VHS rentals. Whether you were there for every opening weekend or just love a good dose of '90s nostalgia, this episode is packed with memories from one of the most iconic decades in cinema.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jun 23
51 min
We Have Night Thoughts!
From solving song lyrics we’ve mis-sung for decades (Beauty School Dropout, anyone?) to amazing business ideas to wildly improbable disaster scenarios, midlife minds have a way of serving up the most…interesting thoughts at the least convenient time. In this episode, Sarah and Meagan are talking about the amusing, frustrating, occasionally profound and mostly-random “night thoughts” that keep us staring at the ceiling in the 3 AM hour. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jun 16
43 min
Let's Get Dressed!
Buying clothes is one thing - but actually putting together an outfit for whatever the day brings? Not always so straightforward! In this episode Sarah shares her struggle in opting out of “living the sloppy life” as a style default, while Meagan shares the challenge of dressing for the many different facets of her life (does a girl really need 15 different versions of her chicken-chores outfit?) Plus: evolving silhouettes, dressing bodies that don’t feel the same as they did five years ago, the search for the perfect layering piece, and why pockets have officially become non-negotiable.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
May 12
36 min
Big Idea Energy!
“I have a crazy idea.” Sarah has gotten used to hearing this particular phrase from her co-host over the years. In this episode the two use the brand-new book festival Meagan recently created from scratch to dissect what it looks like to bring a big idea to life, and how all the experience, skills, connections and confidence gained in early adulthood make midlife the perfect time to try something brand-new. If you’re mulling over an idea that you’re afraid to move on, or just wondering how to make more space in your life for big-idea energy, this episode will inspire you! Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
May 5
40 min
A Hairy Question!
What's up with this shrinking ponytail? How do we deal with a bump in brassiness? Are bangs ever the answer to a style slump? In this episode, Meagan and Sarah talk all things midlife hair—where we're at now, what’s changed, and what’s surprised us along the way. From slow grow-outs to outgrown misconceptions about what "older lady" hair would look like, we get into the realities of texture shifts, grays, brassiness, and the ongoing experimentation that comes with figuring out what works now. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Apr 28
43 min
Comforts, Cheap and Free!
Do things that feel special and give our lives texture and color have to cost a lot? In this episode, Meagan and Sarah talk about redefining comfort in a season of economic uncertainty. They each share some small, inexpensive, and sometimes completely free rituals that bring real satisfaction. The takeaway: layering simple pleasures, like a good drink, a phone call with a friend, or a slow evening routine, can feel deeply indulgent--and that comfort is often less about what we spend and more about how we experience what we already have.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Apr 21
34 min
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