If you are a woman with a pulse, this episode is a must listen! I'm chatting with Elle Rowley — entrepreneur, podcaster, and mother — for an honest conversation about womanhood, motherhood, and midlife transformation. We talk about the main female archetypes of Maiden, Mother, and Matriarch, identity shifts, and the messy but beautiful process of becoming — and why midlife is such a powerful time to make sense of it all.

(2:00) Meet Elle Rowley 🙋‍♀️
Get to know Elle — entrepreneur, podcaster, and mother — and why her voice matters in this conversation about womanhood.

(5:45) Buckle in: The Woman’s Journey 🚀
We kick off with a candid look at society’s fear of aging and what that means for women.

(10:15) The Maiden Archetype 👧
Elle explains the beginning stage of womanhood and the energy it carries.

(14:50) The Maiden in Culture & Entertainment 🎬
From movies to music, we see how Maidenhood is celebrated — and sometimes distorted.

(15:45) Staying in The Maiden Too Long ⏳
What happens when someone clings to this stage instead of growing into the next?

(18:45) The Mother Archetype 🤱
We explore the richness and challenges of motherhood as a transformative identity.

(21:30) Down the Well 💧
Elle shares the metaphor behind her podcast and how it frames motherhood as a descent and rebirth.

(23:30) The Mother’s Hero’s Journey 🛤️
How this journey differs from the traditional male-centered hero’s arc.

(26:31) Why 47% of Young Adults Say No to Kids ❌👶
A deeper look at the surprising reasons behind this growing trend.

(32:07) Mothers in Media 📺
From Maria in The Sound of Music to Joyce Byers in Stranger Things, how mothers are portrayed on screen matters.

(35:00) The Wild Woman 🐺
What comes after the Mother stage — and how freedom and untamed energy emerge.

(42:15) The Matriarch Archetype 👑
Stepping into authority, wisdom, and leadership in midlife and beyond.

(47:00) The Grandmother Hypothesis 🧬
Why science suggests grandmothers are crucial to the survival of our species.

(50:15) Honoring the Stage We’re In 🌸
A reminder to value each phase of womanhood instead of rushing to the next.

(51:00) Final Four Questions ❓
Elle answers the closing questions that wrap every Found at 40 conversation.

Follow Elle at @ellerowley on Instagram and her amazing podcast Down The Well on YouTube and anywhere you listen to podcasts

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📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40

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