Fearless & Forty

Fearless & Forty

By Susan NorgrenEducationSelf-Improvement
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Fearless & Forty episodes

  • Episode 39: We Tried Gentle Parenting....Now What?

    We saw a post about our generation of gentle parenting and immediately knew… we needed to talk about it. 

    We’re the moms who wanted to do things differently. We wanted to break cycles, validate feelings, communicate, listen, explain, and raise emotionally healthy kids.

    But now that we're raising teenagers, we're looking back and asking ourselves…

    Did we sometimes take it too far?

    Did we accidentally turn every parenting decision into a negotiation? Have we confused validating feelings with validating behavior? And can we be gentle, connected parents while still holding firm boundaries?

    We’re talking mom guilt, consequences, independence, raising teenagers, what we’d do differently, and what we actually think our generation got right.

    Because maybe there isn't a perfect parenting playbook. Maybe it's about learning, adjusting, and figuring it out alongside our kids.

    We're not experts. We're just two moms in the middle of it, sharing what we're learning along the way.

    So grab your coffee, pour yourself something, and come hang out with us. #Fearlessand40 #midlife #gentleparenting 

    For your Reference:

    The insta page from where the post I shared came from: Katy Goodwin https://www.instagram.com/katy_g_blog/?hl=en

    https://katygoodwins.com/

    Cozy Conversations with The Sister Project

    Off Campus 

    Sterling Point

    Every Year After

    Your Friends and Neighbors

    Margo's got Money Troubles

    Five Star Weekend

    Voicemails from Isabelle

    The Emmy Awards

    Remarkably Bright Creatures

    Widow's Bay

    The Beast in Me

    Call the Midwife

    Dancing with the Stars

    You've Got Mail

    Sleepless in Seattle

    Gilmore Girls

     

     

     

    40 min
  • Life Latley: The Season We’re In
    2026 has been a year… and 41 has brought more lessons, changes, and unexpected moments than I could have imagined.
    In this solo Life Lately episode, I’m getting real about what midlife feels like right now—the realization that getting older doesn’t mean having everything figured out. People change, plans change, kids grow up, raising teenagers is its own adventure, work keeps demanding more, and sometimes life simply throws you something you never saw coming.
    But through the hard and unexpected moments, I’ve found myself holding tighter to gratitude and paying closer attention to the people around me. The village. The friendships. The people who show up, grow with you, and somehow become people you can’t imagine doing life without.
    Maybe midlife isn’t always about the big adventures like I thought it was a year ago. Maybe sometimes the adventure is simply growing through the season you’re in and trusting that there is beauty—even when you can’t see it yet.
    Because life can change so quickly.
    And lately, I’ve been asking myself: If I suddenly had a free minute, who would I want beside me?
    Maybe that’s the question worth asking ourselves more often.
    Take a breath. Look around. Appreciate your people. And embrace the season you’re in. #fearlessand40 #midlife #seasons
    We’re figuring it out as we go, friends.
    8 min
  • Life Lately: When the Load Feels Heavy
    Well friends… it’s been a week.
    In this short Life Lately check-in, I’m talking about that very real midlife feeling when everything seems to hit at once. Kids growing up, schedules changing, activities, work, trying to stay consistent, trying to be present, and wondering how we’re supposed to keep all the balls in the air.
    Because the truth is… balance is hard. Sometimes something has to give, and figuring out what gets our time and energy can feel like a constant struggle.
    But lately, I’ve also been reminded of what matters most: our people.
    The friends who show up. The ones who tell us the truth, listen without judgment, celebrate the good, sit with us through the hard, and remind us that we don’t have to do this alone.
    And sometimes the most unexpected things we build become the very things we need most.
    This episode is a little reminder to take a breath, look around at the people in your life, and recognize the blessings that may have been quietly forming right in front of you.
    Midlife is messy. It’s exhausting. It’s beautiful. And we’re figuring it out as we go.
    So, friends… find your people. Love them well. And when they need you, show up.
    Because one day, you’re going to need them to show up for you. #fearlessand40 #midlife
    5 min
  • Life Lately: One Week Until School Starts
    One week until school starts, and if you’re anything like me, your brain is already running a mile a minute.
    The meal planning.
    The lunch packing.
    The morning routines.
    The pickup schedules.
    The activities.
    The “What am I forgetting?” thoughts.
    But before we jump headfirst into a new season, let’s not rush past the one we’re still in.
    We still have a few more sunsets.
    A few more late nights.
    A few more opportunities to make memories with our favorite people.
    In this week’s Life Lately, I’m sharing all the thoughts swirling around in my head as summer winds down—and reminding myself (and maybe you, too) to take a deep breath.
    The school year will be here soon enough.
    For now, let’s soak up these last little bits of summer.
    #fearlessand40 #schoolstarts #newbeginnings #newschedule
    We’ve got this, friends.
    4 min
  • Life Lately: Mid-Summer Check-In
    It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through summer.
    In this short Life Lately episode, Katie shares an honest mid-summer reflection on the highs, the lows, and the quieter moments that have come with this season. From slower schedules and making memories with family and friends to navigating the ever-changing realities of midlife, this episode is a reminder to pause and appreciate where you are.
    Katie reflects on the importance of the people who surround us—the friends who tell us the truth, encourage us, challenge us, and walk beside us without judgment. As our kids grow older, our parents age, careers evolve, and friendships shift, having the right people in your corner becomes more important than ever.
    Take a few minutes to slow down, reflect on your own circle, and ask yourself: Who’s walking beside me? And am I showing up for the people I love in the same way?
    Here’s to soaking up the rest of summer, embracing the season you’re in, and remembering that we’re not meant to do life alone.
    Go be fearless, friends.
    4 min
  • Episode 38: Welcome Back to Us

    After a longer break than we ever planned, we're finally back behind the microphones—and honestly, it feels good.

    This episode is less about having a perfectly planned topic and more about catching up with each other and with all of you. We talk about why recording became harder this year, how life shifted, and why our friendship never skipped a beat even when the podcast did.

    From raising teenagers and navigating changing priorities to our shared frustration with DoorDash requests and the never-ending question of "What's for dinner?", we're talking about life exactly as it is right now.

    Of course, we also dive into what we've been watching, what we've been listening to, and why music continues to be such a huge part of both of our lives. Some things change, and some things stay the same.

    Most of all, this episode is a reminder that sometimes moving forward looks different than it used to. Slower doesn't mean stopped. Different doesn't mean done. And getting back on the horse doesn't have to look perfect.

    We're grateful you're here, and we're excited to be back.

    Welcome back to us.

    For Reference:

    Wiser Than Me 

    Good Hang

    The Track Star

    Outlander

    Blood of my Blood

    Imperfect Women

    Four Seasons

    Widow's Bay

    Morning Joe 

    46 min
  • Episode 37: Through Her Eyes

    After taking a little break from recording, Katie is back for a special Mother’s Day episode — and this time, she’s joined by her almost 13-year-old daughter, Lillian.

    What began as an idea to interview her own mom turned into something even more meaningful: a real, unfiltered conversation between a mother and daughter in the middle of that bittersweet season where childhood starts blending into independence.

    Together they talk about growing up, motherhood, favorite memories, things moms worry about, what daughters wish moms understood, and what it’s like navigating the almost-teen years together. There are laughs, honest moments, a little emotion, and all the beauty that comes with watching your child become their own person.

    This episode is for the moms holding on tight while learning to let go, for the daughters growing up too fast, and for anyone reflecting on the relationships that shape us most.

    Happy Mother’s Day from Fearless & 40 💛

    19 min
  • Episode 36: Welcome to 40, Unplug & Be Present

    This week we’re welcoming a very special guest — our dear friend (and newest member of the 40 Club!) Calley. She recently celebrated her milestone birthday with a dreamy trip to Miraval Arizona, and we got to sit down with her for a true pour-at-four style catch-up.

    Calley shares how it feels to step into 40, what’s shifting for her, and why this season already feels different in the best ways. Then she takes us through her Miraval birthday adventure — morning yoga, a cooking class, a hike through the desert, and even a numerology + crystal session that led us into a whole conversation about year numbers and life path numbers.

    It’s real, fun, unfiltered girl-chat about midlife, self-care, and choosing experiences that fill you up.

    And of course, we wrap things up with what we’ve been watching and listening to lately — because some things never change. 

    Grab a drink, settle in, and come hang with us and Calley. This one feels like home.  #fearlessand40 #miraval #40thbirthday #wellness

    For Reference:

    Miraval Arizona Resort

    Connect with Calley - feel free to ask her about her trip if you are thinking about booking!

    Points Talk Podcast - Calley mentions hearing this which inspired her trip

    Stranger Things

    Southern Charm

    The Kardashians

    The Pitt

    Shrinking

    Good Hang 

    Peace Over Perfection

    Bad Bunny 

     

    1 hr 4 min
  • Episode 35: From Reflection to Momentum: Stepping into the Year of the Horse

    In this episode of Fearless & 40, we’re easing back in after the holiday break and taking a moment to reflect on the past season before stepping into what’s next. We talk about the transition from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse — a shift from reflection and shedding to movement, momentum, and freedom.

    We share what the last month has looked like for us, how our goals and priorities continue to evolve in midlife, and why forward motion doesn’t have to mean perfection. We also revisit one of our favorite traditions from early on in the podcast — choosing a word of the year — and how it’s guiding us into this new chapter.

    If you’re craving clarity, alignment, and a gentle push toward what feels right, this episode is for you. Here’s to moving forward with heart. #fearlessand40 #reflection #theyearofthehorse 

    For Reference:

    Emily in Paris

    The Mountain House

    Mini Reni

    DOC

    Stranger Things

    Good Hang

    Wiser Than Me

    39 min
  • Presence, Not Perfection — Our Final Check-In of 2025
    As we step into the heart of the holiday season and close out our very first year of Fearless & Forty, Katie hops on the mic for a short, meaningful check-in to wrap up Season One.
    This episode is a reminder we all need right now:
    the holidays—and life—aren’t about perfection, they’re about presence.
    It’s about slowing down enough to notice joy, choosing peace even when the world feels loud, and holding onto hope as we move into a brand new year.
    Katie reflects on the whirlwind of turning 40, the unexpected growth that came with it, and what it’s meant to share that journey with all of you. She also honors the incredible partnership of her co-host Susan, the support of their families, and the beautiful Fearless & Forty community that has blossomed this year.
    Thank you for listening, for showing up, for being part of our very first season.
    Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and here’s to everything 2026 has in store.
    We’ll meet you back here soon, friends
    #fearlessand40 #midlife #thatsawrap #thankyou
    7 min

About Fearless & Forty

From the publisher's feed

Fearless & Forty is a podcast hosted by two best friends embracing the challenges and triumphs of midlife. From the ups and downs of motherhood, marriage, and friendship to navigating career…