Have you held yourself back from exploring your creativity to its fullest? Rachel Mayer, a Philadelphia based piano teacher, realized as she was approaching midlife that she's never really taken chances or stepped outside of her comfort zone when she came to creativity—despite having an identity in creative arts.Listen in as she shares how she decided to redirect the story she'd been telling herself her whole life. Rachel explains how she found a way to step out of her comfort zone, explore more creative avenues, and build confidence to write and produce her own music.Get to Know Rachel (1:32)Rachel’s Plot Twist (2:42)About Rachel’s Music (19:38)ASMR (30:55)Isolated Vocals in Music (34:25)Lucy’s Three Recommendations (37:00)Big Magic by Elizabeth GilbertWomen & Other Monsters: Building a New MythologyCover Song of You’re Still the One by Okay KayaBuilding Confidence (40:15)Advice to Younger Self: Stay Awkward. (54:40)LinksYouTube Channelinstagram.com/rachelmayermusicSpotifyinstagram.com/casual.societee See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's not often that you hear of faith-based sex positivity being discussed by a well respected Reverend. Today, our special guest is Reverend Dr. Beverly Dale, aka Dale, who is the founder of The Incarnation Institute of Sex & Faith, joins us to discuss sexual healing, sex positivity, and faith! In this liberating conversation, she peels away the barriers that many of us put up from a sex negative upbringing and shares scripture-based references highlighting how many churches could shift how they're educating about sex.Meet The Reverend Dr. Beverly Dale (1:54)Her Personal Story as Sexually Repressed & Ignorant (5:18)Where is Sex Negativity in the Gospels? Nowhere (10:17)Radical Rules Around Love (15:47)What is the most loving thing for me?What is the most loving thing for my partner?Getting Off vs. Get It On (16:25)Controlling Pleasure & Women in the Church (20:10)Referencing Jesus in the Text (25:06)How Sex Negativity Impact Relationships with God (27:14)Types of Churches (34:36)Institutional ChurchBureaucratic ChurchThe Church that says they’re the churchThe people inside an organization that knows god’s loveShowing Interest in Learning vs. Deconstructing the Church (38:40)The Name Change (42:14)Midlife Plot Twits (47:45)Advice to Younger Self (50:58)Linkshttps://www.incarnationinstitute.org/WebinarsSex is Good SeriesSex Positive BooksSample Programs See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The role that certain relationships play in our lives is ever-changing, but what about how we view relationships in general? In today's episode, Paige Wolfe joins us to share about how being a polyamorous woman has impacted her life and relationships. Paige, a wife and mother, has chosen to live an open life of acceptance! Listen in as she educates us on polyamory, deciding what relationships are right for you, and what it's been like to explore dating and a polyamorous lifestyle during midlife.Meet Paige Wolfe (1:31)Living Life as a Polyamorous Person (2:20)How Paige Define Polyamory (3:28)Ethically Non-Monogamy: Communication (10:17)Who Can Be Polyamorous? (14:52)Choosing to Be Polyamorous (16:14)Telling Your Kids that You’re Polyamorous (21:03)Metamour - The Partner of My Partner (27:48)Realizing When Relationships aren’t the Right Fit (30:31)Dating in Midlife (31:58)Best Dating Apps for Polyamorous People (35:49)OKCupid, TinderCrazy Dating Stories (37:35)Responses from Friends & Family (46:05)The Biggest Surprise through the Process (52:30)Advice to Younger Self (53:30)Linkspaigewolf.comSpitthatoutthebook.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Over the course of our lives, we've been molded into the people we are today. What happens when the things that have defined us for so long leave our lives?In today's episode, Paige Lewis joins us to discuss what it means to reinvent yourself, a challenge she's faced a few times in her life. From leaving a religious cult as a teen to changing professions in midlife due to health concerns, Paige's resilience has given her the bravery she needs to make it through. Listen in as she describes this journey and shares how art has improved her mental health and created a new career for her!Meet Paige (1:15)Divorcing Your Partner/Business Partner (3:43)Career Change Due to Health Reasons Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (6:41)Diving into Art (17:00)Certified Therapeutic Art CoachCertification for Certified Therapeutic Art Coach (21:50)Blog + Book Writing (29:11)Raised in a Religious Cult (32:14)Distancing Herself From the Mormon Church (34:56)Reconnecting with Mormonism as a Young Adult (37:22)PTSD (39:19)BITE Cult Measurement (40:00)Advice to Younger Self/Her Daughter (51:24)Linkspinktinyangrymighty.comhttps://www.instagram.com/pinktinyangrymighty/facebook.com/PinkTinyAngryMighty/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As women age, we begin to face new experiences in our health for which we have not had a chance to really prepare. Examples include menopause, and the less commonly discussed, perimenopause. Thankfully, Julie Cristol so graciously agreed to join me for this special episode where we discuss the questions that most women are nervous to ask about menopause, advocacy, healthcare, and even sex!Meet Julie (00:51)Perimenopause (3:26)Lucy’s Journey with Perimenopause (5:39)The average age of a women going through menopause is 52.Managing Perimenopause (12:36)Advocating for Yourself (15:46)Hormone Therapy (17:35)Advice for Women in Mid-Late Thirties Going Through Changes (23:44)Resources of Advocacy (28:31)Healthcare System vs. Deconstructing Diet Culture (34:21)Weight is not a modifiable risk factor.Julie’s Health Journey (38:04)Advice to Younger Self (44:58)LinksHealth at Every SizeLifecycle Woman Care See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Paury Flowers joins us to share how she's found herself pivoting her career in midlife to combine her passion for health and wellness, cannabis, and emergent strategy. Listen in as she discusses the cannabis industry, the war on drugs, and legislation on cannabis.Get to Know Paury (1:28)Creative Consulting (18:09)What Paury’s Excited By (22:55)The War on Drugs (28:08)Regulation and Legislation on Cannabis in New Jersey (31:19)Advice to Younger Self (53:18)Linksinstagram.com/pauryflowersinstagram.com/vapejawnEmergent Strategy by Adrienne Marie Browninstagram.com/thenapministry See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We talk about major life changes and plot twists that happen in midlife on this podcast, but today we're tackling the tough conversation of preparing for end of life.At just 39-years-old (just 2 years ago), Rachel Moore was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. Listen in as she joins us to discuss how this plot twist has impacted her everyday life, her husband, her three beautiful children, and even her parents.Get to Know Rachel (1:16)Rachel’s Overall Health Before Diagnosis (6:28)The Diagnosis (7:15)Telling the Kids (16:34)Life After this Plot Twist (20:38)Enjoying Simple Moments (23:55)Fulfilling a Bucket List (29:25)Protecting Others in Your Life (34:33)Stupid Things People Say (39:53)What’s Surprised Rachel the Most (45:16)Leaving an Impact on Her Children (48:58)Preparing Her Parents (54:00)Finding Community (57:08)Connecting During COVID (1:00:21)Encouragement to Others (1:05:27)Giving Back (1:09:26)Advice for Younger Self (1:11:58)Shits & Giggles in KC - https://shitsandgigglesinkc.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you ever feel a desire to do something that's so outside of your comfort zone, with no real understanding as to why? Jeannine Cook calls that intuition.In episode 6 of Midlife Plot Twists, Jeannine shares about her journey to opening Harriett’s Bookshop a few weeks before COVID happened, along with the good, the bad, and the ugly that came with it. Listen in as she shares about some of her favorite reads, how this shop has impacted her life, and where her intuition is calling her to next.Get to Know Jeannine (1:26)Notoriety at Harriet’s Bookshop (4:40)Opportunities During Dark Times (6:21)Running the Bookstore During COVID (10:32)PlotTwists with Puppies (16:54)Bookshop - The Good (19:31)Bookshop - The Bad (20:13)The Sisterhood Sit-In (27:13)Currently Reading: (41:07)Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn WardSalvage the Bones by Jesmyn WardLooking Forward To: (41:53)Ida B the QueenBook on Her Heart: Another by Christian Robinson (47:58)Advice to Her Younger Self: You can be loved for being you. You don’t have to hurt to get love. You don’t have to sacrifice for love. (49:36)LinksHarriett’s Bookshopinstagram.com/harrietts_bookshopMy General TubmanBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertThe Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My dear friend, photographer, and educator, Dr. Tomayia Colvin, recently joined me for a candid conversation about life after 40. In this episode, we talk about the impactful community she's built for black photographers, what dating looks like in her 40's, and the advice she'd share with her younger self.Tomayia, I'm so proud to call you friend.About Tomayia (1:43)The Photo Cookout (4:02)Creating Bridges of Opportunity for Black Photographers (7:16)Making Long-Term Impact on Diversity in the Photography Industry (11:25)Anti-Racism Course for Photographers  (15:49)Re-entering the Dating World Midlife (22:28)Approaching Midlife (30:36)Advice to Her Younger Self (31:53)Linksthephotocookout.comtomayiacolvineducation.cominstagram.com/tomayiacolvineducationFacebook Community: facebook.com/groups/tomayiacolvineducationTomayia's Anti-Racism Course See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I recently had the chance to sit down with my dear brother-in-law, Charlie Baber to discuss what being his authentic self looked like as he approached 40. Authenticity is a word we toss around on social media, but what if we dug a little deeper into it's true meaning. In being his authentic self, after 38 years of life, Charlie realized that he was gay.In today's episode, Charlie describes what it felt like to come out to his wife, his kids, his church, and most importantly, himself. Listen in as he shares how he's finally living his life authentically and true to being who God purposefully created him to be.Get to Know Charlie (1:22)Coming Out as Bi-Sexual to His Wife (13:42)Charlie’s Coming Out Day (16:28)Coming Out to Family & Friends (17:15)Coming Out to the Church (20:48)Being Gay at 40 (27:21)Grief: The Loss of a Marriage (31:18)The Impact of Living His Truth (34:19)Charlie’s Growth in Faith (38:35)Resources for Gay Christians (41:30)Queertheology.comShameless by Nadia Bolts WebberBeyond Shame by Mathias RobertsWhat Charlie Would Tell His Younger Self (50:32)What’s Next for Charlie (51:13)The Future of The United Methodist Church (54:14)Linkswesleybros.cominstagram.com/charliebaber See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.