What if midlife wasn’t a crisis… but a dress rehearsal for how you actually want to live?

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The School of Midlife Podcast, Laurie sits down with Francine Azel, a woman who is embracing midlife not as a breakdown, but as a dress rehearsal for her next chapter. Fran gets real about the intentional work it takes to keep a long-term marriage alive—and why it's worth it. She talks candidly about the growing importance of friendships, the value of play and curiosity, and the permission she’s given herself to experiment with how she wants to live.

From honoring alone time in a house full of people, to making her relationship with her husband a living, breathing priority, Fran reminds us that midlife is the moment to stop going through the motions and start intentionally shaping what comes next.

This isn’t about burning it all down. It’s about tending to the flames that keep your soul lit.

What We Talk About:

• Why Fran sees midlife as a dress rehearsal—not a crisis
• The myth of “coasting” in long-term relationships
• How she and her husband are reinvesting in their marriage
• The growing significance of friendships in this stage of life
• Why you don’t need to “figure it all out”—just commit to the practice

Connect with Fran:

Fran is a powerhouse midlife woman living this journey in real time. You can find her on Instragram as pocketsized_fran.

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