Forties Stories

Today's episode is part 1 of a special sisters series. It will continue through next week and will include a bonus episode on Thursday, September 5th.

My guest Sandi Reinardy and I talk about her decision to not have children, about how she is using her voice, and how giving oneself a bit of space opens up the possibility of having genuine connection with others. Sandi shares why she prefers to use the term childless over childfree, and about her decision to return to school.

Sandi Reinardy is in the midst of making a career change from database consultant to social worker, with a focus on criminal justice efforts. She is also a writer and recently launched a blog called Grumble Wonder Grow, where she wrestles with the beautiful, messy challenges of being a human. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband.

Next Tuesday I'll air my talk with Sandi's older sister, Barb Dvoracek, and then on Thursday they're in conversation together. One that was very moving for all of us. You won't want to miss it.

I'd like to thank Sandi for proposing this series and her sister Barb for being so enthusiastic. I'm grateful to them for their support and for sharing their stories with us.

I will let you know how to connect with Sandi in the show notes, which you can find at www.fortiesstories.com. If you are enjoying the show, I'd be grateful if you would take a minute to share it with a friend and leave a review. Use this episode as a conversation starter. I'd love to hear your thoughts, your questions, your ideas. You can email me or find me on social media. I'm on Twitter and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

Transitions are often a good time to pause and see if you are on a course that is fulfilling and important to you. And, as my guest Alice Agnello says, the possibility exists to thrive with change, to embrace and enjoy it. Alice and I became friends when we started junior high school together. We talk about the importance of being independent from your kids, how the older women in her family are her role models, and why our friendships can take more effort in our 40s. Alice shares how dealt with her kids leaving home and the reason behind her career pivot. You'll also hear about some changes I've recently made in my life, after thinking about my own looming empty nest.

Alice Agnello is a lifestyle and success coach who helps women figure out who they are now that their kids are grown and may not need them as much. She was raised in California and now lives in Virginia, so she's been known to say "dude" and "y'all" in the same sentence. Alice is an educator, speaker, podcaster, and ravenous reader. She also loves show tunes, chai tea, and all things British. Alice's mission is to help women see the true value in themselves and to not allow fear to dictate their lives.

You can find the show notes and how to connect with Alice at www.fortiesstories.com. If you are enjoying the show, I'd be eternally grateful if you would take a minute to share it with a friend and leave a review. I'd love to hear about how you are dealing with the empty nest, if you are going back to school, or anything else that is important to you right now. You can email me or find me on social media. I'm on Twitter and Instagram. Thanks for listening!

This week I'm talking with Heather Thorkelson, a spirited explorer. In this episode you'll hear how Heather took months of deep work to discover what she wanted her future to look like. She also shares how her difficult childhood shaped her and her interesting career path that has taken her all over the world. We talk about why now is the best time to become an entrepreneur, how she has struggled with the decision whether or not to become a mother, and why women in midlife still need mentors. You'll also hear about her No Plan B philosophy for entrepreneurs, which she is turning into a book by the same title.

Heather Thorkelson is a Canadian dual business owner living in rural Sweden. She runs a business consulting practice that helps small-to-medium business owners grow their bottom line without adding busy-work. She also runs a bespoke polar expedition company that takes discerning travelers on once-in-a-lifetime expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. But more than anything, Heather is an incurable entrepreneur.

If you are enjoying the show, I'd love it if you would share it with a friend. I am always looking for guests, so if you would like to be on the show, or if you'd like to nominate a friend, please let me know. The only requirements are that you are a woman or identify as one, are in your 40s, and would like to join in the conversation. Also, I if you have a book or article that resonates with you on compassion, friendship, aging, or women please send it my way. I'm also always looking for stories of women in their 40s and beyond doing hard things, pushing themselves, and celebrating achievements. You can email me at [email protected] and you can also find me on social media. I'm on Twitter and Instagram at _christymaguire. Thanks for tuning in!

Whether you already lead an active life or want to begin, Lyn Lindbergh says that if we listen to our body with honor to see what it can do today, and have compassion for its limitations today, then that is success. In this episode, Lyn shares how she was able to find her voice and how she stays active with her chronic illnesses. We talk about busting stereotypes about who does what kind of exercise, why you should be kind to yourself first, and about her new podcast with her husband Erik, who is the grandson of Charles Lindbergh.

Lyn Lindbergh's mission is to help people create an active lifestyle they love. She is the author of the award-winning book, "Couch to Active: The Missing Link that Takes You from Sedentary to Active," and the host of the Couch to Active podcast. She is a blogger and fitness influencer, who is also certified as a personal trainer, Pilates instructor, and group fitness instructor. Lyn has three chronic health issues, but still gets out every day to exercise. Even with her physical challenges, she has completed the Seattle to Portland 200-mile ride six times, and has also completed multiple half-marathons, 10 triathlons, and countless 5K runs.

You can find the show notes at www.fortiesstories.com. This project is a labor of love for me, so if you are enjoying it, I would be grateful if you would not only rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, but also share it with a friend. I love hearing from people I know say they've listened to the podcast and how they've connected with an episode. It gets us into a conversation about how life is really going that wasn't always happening before. I treasure that, so send an episode that resonated with you to a friend with a note. You might just spark something.

Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next Tuesday!

Getting outdoors without distraction, even for a few minutes a day, is rejuvenating and good for the soul. Its benefits are similar to meditation. This week, Robin Kleisler and I talk about the growing trend of wilderness therapy, the benefits of EMDR, and how you don't have to worry about offending or shocking your therapist. Robin also discusses turning 40 and how she's finally in a place where her kids are more self-sufficient, allowing her to rethink her priorities. Also, find out why I had a bit of trouble deciding on the title of this episode.

Robin Kleisler earned a graduate degree in counseling psychology, after being inspired by her early career in the outdoor guiding industry. She has a private therapy practice in Longmont, Colorado, where she lives with her family. Her specialty is working with trauma, depression and anxiety, self-esteem, and parent coaching. She also works with individuals and families impacted by substance or technology addiction. Robin is passionate about creating more awareness around mental health and addiction, and regularly presents on various topics at regional, national, and international conferences.

If you are enjoying the show, please share with a friend. I'd also be grateful if you would rate or review the show. I'd love to hear from you. Head over to www.fortiestories.com to say hello and get the show notes. Thanks!

Being joyful is a thoughtful practice, although it's not something we're typically focused on. However, my conversation with Phoebe Farag Mikhail left me thinking about joy, and I hope it will do the same for you. Phoebe and I talk about how joy differs from pleasure and happiness, why hospitality is important, and how her friendships have changed in the last few years.

Phoebe is a wife and mother of three young children. She serves at St. Antonious & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church in East Rutherford, NJ with her husband Father Bishoy Lamie Mikhail. She is the author of "Putting Joy into Practice: Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit from the Early Church," published by Paraclete Press and released in April 2019. She edited the second revised edition of His Holiness Pope Shenouda's book, "The Life of Repentance and Purity." She also blogs at "Being in Community," while working as an independent consultant in international development and teaching. Phoebe has lived in New York City, Washington, DC, Cairo, and the UK.

You can find the show notes at www.fortiesstories.com. If you are enjoying the show, I would be grateful if you would rate or review on Apple Podcasts and share it with a friend.

This week, Julie Zuckerman talks about the goal she made shortly after turning 40. We also talk about a major life decision she made after graduating college, a typical day in her life, and how she deals with rejection.

Though an avid reader from an early age, it wasn't until 2008 that Julie Zuckerman discovered her passion for writing fiction. She has since published over two dozen stories, in a variety of publications. "The Book of Jeremiah," her first novel, debuted this spring.

​Julie lives in Israel, with her husband and four children. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, running, biking, birdwatching, baking or trying to grow things in her garden

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I hope the takeaway is from this show. Listen in to hear more, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

You can find the show notes at www.fortiesstories.com. If you are enjoying the show, I would be grateful if you would rate or review on Apple Podcasts and share it with a friend. Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has followed along with our #onekindsummer campaign. I am excited to start up our interviews again! With the spirit of self-compassion in mind, today we're focused on the art of nurturing ourselves.

Doña Bumgarner and I talk about her unusual childhood, her winding path to motherhood, and how she recreated her life after nine months of cancer treatment. It was a joy to talk with her.

Doña is a coach who works with women who know that there is much more to life than their kids - but they've lost themselves in the role of motherhood. She helps them make sense of their lives and learn to stand up for themselves and the lives they want to create. You can find her at Nurtured Mama, where she blogs and has a podcast called The Nurturing Habit.

You can find the show notes at www.fortiesstories.com. This project is a labor of love for me, so if you are enjoying it, I would be grateful if you would not only rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, but also share it with a friend. I love hearing from people I know say they've listened to the podcast and how they've connected with an episode. It gets us into a conversation about how life is really going that wasn't always happening before. I treasure that, so send an episode that resonated with you to a friend with a note. You might just spark something.

Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next Tuesday!

Why should we be kinder to the world at large? That's a question we're exploring on today's episode, which is the continuation of the #onekindsummer campaign on the pod. I'm on a 4-week break from posting interviews, but in the meantime I want to take a few minutes each week to think about how we can spread kindness this summer and beyond. Interviews will resume on Tuesday, July 9th.

It's been great to see so many of you following along with this compassion series. This is the third and final week of the series. Today's episode is inspired by Jamil Zaki's book called "The War for Kindness." Zaki notes that, "Plato saw mental life as a war between reason and passion – one that we often lose." So, this war is in our minds. If you are interested in neuroscience and the research behind empathy, then you will want to get your hands on a copy of this book.

I'd love to hear if you have any other tips or practices that help you. Be sure to use the hashtag #onekindsummer to show how you are spreading kindness and to recognize those who have made your life a little bit easier or brighter.

If you are enjoying the show, I would be grateful if you would take a moment to rate or review it. Visit www.fortiesstories.com for a full transcript of this and all the mini episodes. Thanks for listening!

It's been great to see so many of you following along with the #onekindsummer campaign on the pod. Last week we started the campaign with self-compassion. Let me know how you did with that. Today we are focusing on kindness toward those around you, which you may find easier, or even harder. A lot of what I'm referencing today is from Angela Santomero's book called, "Radical Kindness: The Life-Changing Power of Giving and Receiving." Deepak Chopra says in his foreword that the book "offers the practical means for experiencing what can be called kindness consciousness." I love that!

I'm on a 4-week break from posting interviews, but in the meantime I want to take a few minutes each week to think about how we can spread kindness this summer and beyond. I think we can all do with a bit more kindness in the world. This isn't something more for your to-do list, and this isn't something you need to do it perfectly. It's just about showing up and being open if we choose to.

So stay tuned if you're interested. Interviews will resume on Tuesday, July 9th. See the full transcript HERE. This show is a labor of love for me, so I'd be grateful if you would rate or review it. Thank you!