Shows
School of Midlife126. The Real Flex in Midlife? Being Able to Say, “I’m Good” and Mean ItIn This Episode: midlife burnout, high-achieving women, self-worth, chasing success, how to feel fulfilled, midlife contentmentEpisode SummaryYou know that feeling after you’ve finished something big—landed the promotion, crossed the finish line, or completed a huge goal—and almost instantly your brain goes: “What’s next?”For decades, that was Laurie Reynoldson’s default. Achieve something. Celebrate for a hot minute. Then immediately start chasing the next bigger, harder, shinier thing.But in this episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie shares what happened after...2025-07-2934 minSchool of Midlife125. The Mountain That Changed Me: A Midlife Woman’s 3-Day Trail Challenge | Part 1 of the 29029 TRAIL ChallengeIn This Episode:midlife podcast, midlife transformation, women over 40, endurance events, personal growth, 29029 trail, everesting challenge, finding purpose in midlife, grief and growth, self-discovery journey🎙️ Show Notes:What happens when you voluntarily climb the equivalent of three mountain marathons in three days? You cry, curse, question your life choices… and maybe, just maybe, find out what you’re really made of.In this episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie takes us on the trail with her at the 29029 TRAIL Challenge in Park City, Utah. From a 4:45 a.m. wake-u...2025-07-2236 minSchool of Midlife124. You Didn't Come This Far to Only Come This Far: Lessons from the Final Climb | Part 2 of the 29029 TRAIL ChallengeIn This Episode:midlife women podcast, 29029 event, endurance events in midlife, personal growth in your 40s and 50s, finding strength in midlife, midlife transformation, women who hike, overcoming limits🎙️ Show Notes:You’ve trained. You’ve climbed. You’ve cried. And you still have another mountain day ahead of you.In this powerful conclusion to Laurie’s 29029 Trail Challenge recap, she brings us into Day 3 — the longest, hottest, most grueling stretch of the entire event. And yet… it’s also the most meaningful.From GI issues (real talk: diarrhea at e...2025-07-2226 minSchool of Midlife123. The Real Midlife Crisis: Thinking You Have More Time Than You Actually DoTopics Covered: Midlife crisis, running out of time in midlife, living your best life now, midlife women coaching, Top 100 listEpisode Summary:You know that insatiable urgency you feel in your 40s and 50s — the sense that you’re running out of time and need to do all the things before it’s “too late”? You’re not imagining it. But here’s what host Laurie Reynoldson wants you to know:The real crisis in midlife isn’t buying the sports car or having an affair — it’s believing you have more time t...2025-07-0827 minSchool of Midlife122. Stop Performing, Start Becoming: Your Midlife Declaration of Freedom🎙️ Show NotesIt’s Independence Day week — but we’re not just talking about parades, bunting, and flag cakes here. In this episode, we’re flipping the script on “freedom” and asking: What does independence mean for YOU right now in midlife?Because let’s be honest — the world feels heavy right now. Freedoms and rights feel under threat. And while we can’t control every headline, we can take radical responsibility for what we’re no longer available for in our own lives.In this bold, heartfelt episode, Laurie gets real about:The messy...2025-07-0149 minSchool of Midlife121. After the Unraveling: How to Reconnect with Who You Really Are in MidlifeIn this episode: midlife identity shift, feeling stuck, women over 40, personal reinvention, high-achieving women✨ Show Notes:You’ve unraveled the roles. You’ve let go of the hustle. You’ve stopped performing.Now what?In this raw, grounding episode of The School of Midlife, Laurie Reynoldson explores the space after the unraveling—when you’ve done the work to let go of who you’re not, but haven’t yet figured out who you really are.If you’ve stopped being the overachiever, the people-pleaser, the approval-seeke...2025-06-2433 minSchool of Midlife120. Feeling "Off" in Midlife? Maybe You Were Never "That Woman" to Begin WithIn this episode: midlife identity, high-achieving women, menopause mindset, real self, personal growth, Human Design✨ Show Notes:You’ve done the work: the workouts, the clean eating, the hormone balancing, the sleep, the water, the supplements—and maybe even some therapy and mindset shifts.And yet… you still don’t feel like yourself. Maybe it’s because the “you” you’ve always been wasn’t really you at all.In this episode of The School of Midlife, Laurie Reynoldson gets deeply honest about the identity reckoning so many high-achieving w...2025-06-1726 minSchool of Midlife119. Midlife Feels Off? It’s Not Your Hormones—It’s Something DeeperTopics Covered: midlife identity crisis, menopause wellness, don’t feel like myself, hormone replacement, midlife coaching✨ Show Notes:You’ve cleaned up your eating, optimized your hormones, prioritized sleep, walked your miles, lifted heavy, and maybe even cut back on wine—and yet, you still don’t feel like yourself.Sound familiar?In this raw and revealing episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie gets honest about the midlife disconnect no one is talking about—the one that shows up after you’ve dialed in your physical health but still feel...2025-06-1029 minSchool of Midlife118. Are You in Midlife? If You're Asking Big Questions, You Already Are🎙️ Episode SummaryWhat even is midlife?Is it a number? A demographic? A hormone crash? A slow fade into irrelevance? (Hard no on that last one.) In this episode, we’re digging into the truth about what midlife really is—and spoiler: it’s not what you’ve been told.Laurie breaks down:Why midlife technically starts in your late 30s (yep, really!)Why it’s more about mindset than mathAnd how midlife can actually be your most powerful season—if you’re brave enough to claim it.You’ll also hear:A ja...2025-06-0324 minSchool of Midlife116. Postcards from the Beach: Ass-Sitting and Other Essential Midlife Skills | Replay This week, I’m recording… absolutely nothing! Best Life Laurie is officially OOO and fully planted on a tropical beach, indulging in some well-deserved “ass-sitting” (yep, that’s a technical term). So today, I’m sharing a listener favorite episode that’s more relevant than ever.In this replay, we explore what it really means to create a life you don’t need to escape from—a life that doesn’t rely on vacations to feel good. I talk about Parkinson’s Law (a.k.a. why we always think we can do all the things before wheels up), how we fill...2025-05-2032 minSchool of Midlife115. The "Me First" Movement: The Revolution for Midlife WomenWelcome to the revolution you didn’t know you were waiting for — the Me First Movement.In this episode, Laurie picks up where last week’s conversation left off — that uncomfortable place where high-achieving midlife women feel guilty for wanting more. She’s pulling no punches as she walks you through why prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish — it’s strategic, sustainable, and frankly, long overdue.You’ll hear why “Me First” is not “Me Only,” how women are conditioned to be last on their own to-do lists, and how shifting into Me First mod...2025-05-1331 minSchool of Midlife114. Closer Than You Think: Why You Might Already Be 75% to Your Best Life🔥 Episode Summary:This one’s for every woman who’s ever wondered if she has to blow up her life to start living it.In this comeback episode of the School of Midlife Podcast, Laurie dives into two powerful insights that came up during a recent women’s retreat:You’re probably a hell of a lot closer to your best life than you think.You don’t have to feel guilty for wanting more—even when others have less.Laurie dismantles the myth that midlife transformation requires a complete overhaul and explores why so many wom...2025-05-0636 minSchool of Midlife113. Redefining Success in Midlife: Why Chasing More Won't Make You Happier | ReplayTopics Discussed: Midlife success, redefine success, fulfillment in midlife, chasing goals, personal satisfaction, self-worth✨ Show Notes:In midlife, many high-achieving women realize something startling: they’ve checked all the boxes—but still feel unfulfilled.In this thoughtful and powerful episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie Reynoldson explores a critical question: What does success actually mean to you?Spoiler: it’s not your job title. It’s not your paycheck. And it’s definitely not keeping up with the neighbors on Instagram.Laurie shares:Why societ...2025-04-2929 minSchool of Midlife112. Midlife Confidence in the Bedroom Starts Here—No Intercourse Required | Lee Jagger (Replay)Talking about midlife sex tips, confidence in the bedroom, menopause intimacy, erotic massage, Lee Jagger🔥 Show Notes:Is your sex life…fine? If so, it might be time to shake things up—in the best way possible.In this most-downloaded episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie sits down with Lee Jagger, a sex educator and founder of Rock the Bedroom, who shares the secrets to having the best sex of your life—without intercourse.This is not your average sex talk. Lee breaks down:...2025-04-221h 07School of Midlife111. The Truth About Balance: Why You're Burned Out (And It's Not Your Fault) | ReplayTalking about work-life balance myth, midlife burnout, high-performing women, asking for help, midlife coaching.✨ In This Episode:Host Laurie Reynoldson gets candid about the myth of work-life balance and why it’s time for midlife women to stop striving for something that doesn’t exist. In this replay of an early fan-favorite episode, Laurie breaks down:Why traditional “balance” is an impossible standard (and why it’s not your fault)The cultural conditioning that leads women to believe they should be able to do it allThe hidden shame of asking for help—and...2025-04-1532 minSchool of Midlife110. The Career, the House, the Family…and Still Unfulfilled? You’re Not Alone (And Here’s What to Do)Air Date: April 8, 2025 Host: Laurie ReynoldsonEpisode Summary: In this powerful episode of the School of Midlife Podcast, Laurie shares the behind-the-scenes story of how The Gap Year was born — and why it's exactly what high-achieving midlife women need right now. If you’re waking up at 2 a.m. wondering, “Is this all there is?” this episode is your wake-up call, your roadmap, and your permission slip to make a bold change without blowing up your life.You’ll hear:How Laurie went from partnership-track attorney to burning...2025-04-0839 minSchool of Midlife109. Midlife "Crisis" Is a Lie (Here's What's Actually Going On)Air Date: April 1, 2025Host: Laurie ReynoldsonIn this jam-packed episode, we’re replaying Day 1 of my 3-Day Live training: “The Real Reason High-Performing Women Worry They’re Having a Midlife Crisis.”Midlife isn’t a crisis. But when you’re a high-achieving, badass woman who’s spent her life checking all the boxes, hitting every goal, and showing up for everyone else… it can feel like one.Here’s the truth bomb: most of us weren’t taught how to ask the right questions in midlife—we were taugh...2025-04-0145 minSchool of Midlife108. "You've Changed." Why That May Be the Highest Compliment Paid to a Midlife Woman🎉 Happy 2-Year Anniversary!In this special milestone episode, Laurie celebrates two incredible years of The School of Midlife podcast. With 108 episodes under her belt and 14 amazing guests in the past year, she reflects on the growth of the show and her deep gratitude for every listener who tunes in—whether you're walking, commuting, or tuning in from your desk.💥 You've Changed. And That’s a Good Thing.Laurie dives into a powerful, raw topic so many high-performing midlife women experience: the backhanded compliment of “you’ve changed.” She breaks down what people...2025-03-2532 minSchool of Midlife105. The Midlife Realization: Are You Living the Life You Truly Want?In this episode of the School of Midlife podcast, we dive into one of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself: What do you truly want in life?If you’ve spent years following the success checklist—graduate, get a job, buy a house, raise kids, climb the career ladder—this episode is for you. It’s time to stop living on autopilot and reflect on whether the life you’ve built is aligned with your true desires or if it’s time to redefine what success looks like for you.In this episode, your host La...2025-03-0440 minSchool of Midlife104. No Plane Ticket Required: Creating a Life You Don't Need a Vacation FromTired of feeling like you need a vacation to "reset" your life?In this episode, your host Laurie Reynoldson talks about the importance of designing a lifestyle that leaves you feeling refreshed every single day. Learn how to align your work, passions, and personal life in a way that creates constant fulfillment and peace.It's all about small changes that lead to big impact—so you can stop dreaming about vacation and start living your ideal life right now.📩 JOIN MY MAILING LISThttps://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE:2025-02-2525 minSchool of Midlife102. From Crisis to Opportunity: Redefining the Midlife Experience for High-Performing WomenIn today's episode of the School of Midlife podcast, we challenge the conventional notion of a "midlife crisis." Host Laurie Reynoldson dives deep into why the term "midlife crisis" is outdated and doesn’t serve the high-performing women navigating midlife today. Rather than viewing midlife as a crisis, this episode reframes it as an incredible opportunity, a reset, and a turning point.We discuss:The origins of the term "midlife crisis" and how it was initially framed around men’s career and mortality concerns.The different emotional experiences men and women face during midlife, including identity shif...2025-02-1134 minSchool of Midlife101. Striving vs. Thriving in Midlife: How to Stop Chasing and Start LivingIn today's episode of The School of Midlife, we dive into a critical question for high-performing women in midlife: When is enough enough? Many of us find ourselves caught in the cycle of constantly striving for more—more success, more accolades, more achievements—but at what cost?As high achievers, we often feel like we’re almost there—whether it’s a financial goal, a physical milestone, or even the approval of others—but somehow, that feeling of fulfillment always seems to slip through our fingers. Why is that?This episode unpacks the internal struggle many women f...2025-02-0427 minSchool of Midlife100. Take Out the Trash: Why You Need to Change How You Think to Transform Your LifeIn this milestone 100th episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie Reynoldson reflects on the journey so far and celebrates the incredible community that’s grown around this space. Laurie shares her excitement for how the podcast has evolved and highlights the challenges we face in making lasting changes in our lives.As January rolls in, many of us are setting New Year’s resolutions focused on lifestyle changes—getting fit, eating better, reclaiming work-life balance—but as Laurie points out, most of these resolutions tend to fall apart as the year progresses. But what if the bigg...2025-01-2833 minSchool of Midlife97. The Real Reason the "New Year-New Me" Mentality Is Holding You Back (and What to Do Instead)In this first episode of 2025, host Laurie Reynoldson challenges the "new year, new me" mindset and shares why starting slow might be your secret weapon for lasting change. Drawing from her past running experience, Laurie explains why there are "no points for starting fast" and how to create sustainable change in midlife. Learn why your decades of experience are an asset, not a liability, and how to set yourself up for success without overwhelming yourself in January.Key topics:Why the "new year, new me" mentality sets us up for failureHow to ease back into routines...2025-01-0730 minSchool of Midlife96. Want 2025 to Be Your Best Year Yet? Do This Before You Get Started!In this final episode of 2024, host Laurie Reynoldson shares her comprehensive approach to conducting a meaningful year-end review before setting goals for 2025. This essential practice helps high-performing midlife women build a stronger foundation for the year ahead instead of rushing into new goals without reflection.You'll learn Laurie's proven process to review the past year in a way that sets you up for greatness in the year to come. If you're looking to make 2025 one of your best years yet, make sure to complete your 2024 year-end wrap-up before you hit the ground running in 2025.Cheers...2024-12-3033 minSchool of Midlife95. The Perfect Gift You Don't Even Need to Wrap: Take a Gap YearIn this week’s episode, Laurie introduces you to the perfect gift to give yourself this year: a spot in the Gap Year. The Gap Year is the School of Midlife’s yearlong program for high-performing midlife women to figure out who they are, what they actually want, and what matters most in this season of life.Claim your spot in the 2025 class before the doors close on December 20th!If you’re looking to make 2025 your best year yet, it’s time for your Gap Year.LINKS + MENTIONS:The Gap Year📩 J...2024-12-1736 minSchool of Midlife93. Why C+ Holidays Are the Best Holidays [Replay]In this episode, Laurie is talking about how embracing imperfection can minimize some of the stress and burnout of the holidays. She's discussing the importance of giving yourself permission to have a "C+ Holiday." For the Straight-A students, this concept may feel a little strange, but C's are passing grades. By using Laurie's planning framework, you can create A+ holiday experiences for yourself and others...with C+ effort.Let this be the year that you write your own permission slip to focus your time and attention only on the things that will bring you the most joy...2024-12-1035 minSchool of Midlife92. The One Question to Ask Yourself to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed by All of the Holiday "To Do's"It is easy to get a little lost amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. There is a seemingly unending list of "to do's" to be completed before the end of the year, both work-related and those related to the holiday season.In this episode, Laurie offers up one question that will help you avoid holiday overwhelm: is it an obligation or an opportunity? With that simple test in mind, you'll learn how to stop doing things this season that no longer bring you joy, and you'll know how to mindfully create holiday traditions that honor your personal...2024-12-0332 minSchool of Midlife91. Leaving Home to Remember Exactly Who You Are When You Come BackIn this week's episode, Laurie is discussing her recent vacation in London and Paris, and sharing all of the incredible experiences she had "across the pond." She's also talking about the most surprising thing she learned while away.This episode is full of great recommendations for any midlife woman interested in spending time in two of the best European cities. You'll want to be sure to download it to refer to when planning your next vacation in London or Paris!Links + Mentions:School of Midlife's Free Live Training in DecemberBest Life Planner2024-11-2639 minSchool of Midlife90. Boundaries Are the Best Way to Protect Your Sanity This Holiday SeasonIn this episode, Laurie is talking about the importance of setting and holding healthy boundaries to protect your time and energy during the holiday season. In particular, I'm discussing why boundaries are the very best gift to give yourself this year.Key Takeaways:-Learn how to say “no” without guilt, manage family expectations limit commitments, and make self-care a priority-Tips to stick to your holiday boundaries...even when you experience pushback from family and friendsLINKS + MENTIONS:Best Life Planner📩 JOIN MY MAILING LISThttps://www.schoolo...2024-11-1942 minSchool of Midlife89. Healthy Habits Are This Season's Best Gift to Your Future Midlife SelfIn this week’s episode, Laurie is discussing how focusing on healthy habits now — instead of waiting until the New Year — will not only help you enjoy the holidays this year, but will also set you up to start 2025 strong.The best part: if you focus on your health and wellbeing now, you’ll likely enjoy the holidays more, end the year on a high note, and use that momentum to carry you into next year so that you can make 2025 your best year yet!Key Takeaways:-The holidays bring packed schedules and oftentime...2024-11-1240 minSchool of Midlife88. Election Day Anxiety: 5 Ways to Stay Calm When the World Feels ChaoticToday is Election Day of what feels like a marathon election season.In this week's episode, Laurie is sharing five simple tips to assuage Election Day anxiety and stress: cast your ballot, practical tips for self-care, reduce exposure to the news, limit consumption of alcohol, and more.Everything Laurie shares in this episode also works beyond Election Day to limit periods of stress and anxiety.📩 JOIN MY MAILING LISThttps://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE:📩 Email Laurie 💻 WebsiteOn InstagramOn LinkedIn2024-11-0525 minSchool of Midlife87. Why SMART Goals Are Ruining Your LifeIn this week's episode, Laurie is making the case that while SMART goals may be great for business goals, they are not serving you when it comes to your personal life. She talks about how SMART goals create an all-or-nothing, success or failure framework from which to judge whether we achieved the goals we've set...or not achieved them. While that works for business goals -- especially pertaining to sales numbers or customer service ratings -- that same approach hurts us when we try to apply it to our personal goals. Finally, she introduces you to "throwaway goals," and...2024-10-2933 minSchool of Midlife86. Masquerading Through Midlife: Removing the Masks We Wear to Show Up as Our Authentic SelvesIt's Halloween season! In today's episode, Laurie is discussing all of the masks that midlife women wear in their lives. She's talking about how we use masks to hide our truest and most authentic selves behind a persona that is more approachable to those around us. But at what cost?You'll want to stay to the end, when Laurie removes her own mask, and candidly shares why it's hard to wear certain masks day-in and day-out.This episode is a great reminder for all times of the year, not just Halloween.LINKS + MENTIONS:2024-10-2219 minSchool of Midlife85. The Case for New Experiences: Why You Need to Go Away to Remember Who You Are When You Get Back HomeIn this week's episode of the School of Midlife podcast, Laurie is discussing the utmost importance of having new experiences to creating the life you want to live.If you feel like you're living the same day over and over again, or that each year goes faster than the last, you'll love this discussion of how to slow down time and infuse your life with meaning along the way.LINKS + MENTIONS:Best Life RetreatThe Gap Year📩 JOIN MY MAILING LISThttps://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter👉 CONNECT WITH L...2024-10-1526 minSchool of Midlife84. Who Run the World? Why the School of Midlife Is Not Co-EdIn this week's episode, Laurie is answering a question she receives all the time about the School of Midlife. That is: why is it for women only?Laurie posits that the world is set up for men. She uses real-life examples of why midlife women need a safe, supportive community like the School of Midlife. You'll definitely be able to relate to this one!We want to hear from you! Click here to share your stories about being a woman in a man's world.📩 JOIN MY MAILING LISThttps://www.schoolofmidlife.com/new...2024-10-0826 minSchool of Midlife82. The Surprising Reasons Midlife Women Have Emotional Affairs and the Relationship to the Rise in Grey DivorceIn this week's episode of the School of Midlife podcast, Laurie is discussing the rise in grey divorce, emotional affairs in midlife, and whether it's time to cut and run. You'll discover that a staggering 92% of women have been involved in emotional affairs, but their reasons for doing so just may surprise you.Laurie covers the latest statistics, introduces you to a common workplace scenario, and even gives some pointers to salvage your marriage.Whether you decide or stay or go, this episode will make you think, and perhaps, help you understand you are not...2024-09-2447 min