Happy Beyond 40

What does it mean to turn a lifelong awareness of injustice into meaningful action and still find joy, hope, and connection along the way?

In this episode of Happy Beyond 40, we sit down with Dr. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer, a longtime human rights educator, advocate, mentor, and community builder whose work has taken her around the world and brought together people committed to creating a more just society.

Kristi shares how her early experiences shaped her commitment to human rights, what decades of working with educators and activists have taught her about our deep interconnectedness, and why the people who continue to show up—often in small but meaningful ways—inspire her every day.

And she leaves us with powerful wisdom for anyone navigating the second half of life: stay true to yourself, don’t get too down on yourself, trust your gut, and keep creating space for what matters.

Whether you're passionate about human rights or simply wondering how to live with greater purpose, connection, and joy, this conversation is an invitation to keep showing up and to ask yourself, What can I do today to raise my joy ceiling?

Connect with Kristi:
[email protected]

Learn more about Human Rights Educators USA:
hreusa.org

What if the things that make us different are actually the things that help us see the world more fully?

In this episode of Happy Beyond 40, co-hosts Sarah and Marcy sit down with Lydia Dolch, founder of Open the Lid, a community and educational platform that helps individuals, families, and organizations navigate disability, neurodiversity, and belonging. Lydia brings more than 20 years of experience in exceptional education, along with her own lived experience with sensory processing challenges following traumatic brain injuries.

Lydia's journey toward this work began at age 11, when she moved to Ithaca and experienced a radically inclusive school community where everyone was encouraged to belong. Years later, while working at a center for people with autism in Argentina, a young person who had never spoken said her name. That moment helped Lydia recognize her life's purpose: helping people find their voices, both literally and figuratively.

In this conversation, Sarah, Marcy, and Lydia explore:

• What neurodiversity can teach us about seeing the world from different perspectives
• Why meeting people where they are can create space for empowerment, connection, and growth
• How we can move beyond labels and stigma to create communities where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued

Lydia reminds us that we do not have to have all the answers. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is listen, stay curious, and create space for people to discover their own answers.

Because we are only complete together.

Learn more about Lydia and Open the Lid at openthelid.com.

What if the key to a happier life isn't finding your purpose, but learning to enjoy the life you're already living?

In this inspiring episode of Happy Beyond 40, Sarah sits down with leadership consultant and executive coach Samantha Tan to explore how expanding self-awareness can transform the way we live, work, and connect with ourselves and others.

Together, they discuss why slowing down and listening to your body is often the first step toward meaningful change, how to reconnect with your authentic self after years of meeting everyone else's expectations, and why our humanity may become our greatest advantage in an AI-driven world.

Samantha shares her personal journey of moving beyond perfectionism and the pressure to "find her purpose." She reveals how she discovered that enjoyment itself can become a compass for living well. From dancing salsa with her teenage son to embracing simple daily pleasures, she offers practical ways to cultivate more joy, even in the middle of life's transitions.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why expanded self-awareness is the foundation for lasting change.
• How to reconnect with your authentic self beyond labels and expectations.
• The surprising power of asking, "How can I make this moment 10% more enjoyable?"
• Why enjoyment is a skill you can strengthen through daily practice.
• How to navigate change after 40 with greater confidence, freedom, and purpose.
• Why meaningful experiences often matter more than chasing the "perfect" life.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or wondering what's next, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that joy doesn't have to wait until you reach your next goal. It can begin right where you are.

Connect with Samantha Tan:
🌐 https://www.samanthajtan.com/
💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-tan-0b955/

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a little more joy in their life.

What happens when the work that once gave your life meaning suddenly disappears?

In this powerful return conversation, leadership coach, mindfulness practitioner, yoga teacher, and host of the ThriveMind Podcast, Courtney Finstad, joins us to explore the deep connection between purpose, identity, grief, and healing. Over the past year, Courtney has supported individuals impacted by the dismantling of humanitarian and mission-driven organizations, helping people navigate career loss, identity disruption, and the search for meaning during uncertain times.

Together, we discuss why losing purpose-driven work can feel like losing a part of yourself, how hope can become an anchor during periods of transition, and why genuine healing begins not with fixing ourselves, but with creating space for rest, reflection, and connection.

Courtney also shares insights from her work with communities like My Career Pivot, her growing ThriveMind Podcast, and The Soft Rebellion, a movement encouraging people to push back against hustle culture, constant productivity, and the pressure to optimize every moment.

In a world increasingly driven by AI, speed, and achievement, this conversation is a reminder that our humanity, presence, creativity, and capacity for connection may be our greatest strengths.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why purpose and identity are so deeply connected
• How to navigate grief after major life or career disruptions
• The role of rest, nervous system regulation, and community in healing
• Why presence may be more valuable than productivity
• How to trust intuition, ease, and the "wise agent within"
• Simple ways to reconnect with meaning right where you are

Whether you're facing a career transition, questioning what's next, or simply craving a slower, more intentional way of living, this episode offers wisdom, hope, and practical reminders for the journey.

Connect with Courtney:
Host of the ThriveMind Podcast, leadership coach, mindfulness practitioner, and advocate for creating spaces where people can feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

In this episode of Better Understanding, Sarah and Marcy sit down with Dr. Sherry Deckman, Professor of Education at Lehman College, Executive Officer of the PhD Program in Urban Education at the CUNY Graduate Center, author, researcher, and lifelong educator.

Sherry shares her deeply personal and mission-driven journey, reflecting on how her multiracial upbringing, early conversations about racism and social justice, and teaching experiences around the globe have shaped her worldview and career path.

Together, they explore:
• What students and adults alike truly need in order to grow and thrive
• Why integrity, humility, and listening are essential qualities in leadership
• How leadership becomes more meaningful when it is relational and reciprocal
• How mindfulness, compassion, and curiosity help her navigate difficult conversations and systemic challenges

This episode is an honest, grounding, and hopeful conversation about education, leadership, identity, kindness, and the power of making people feel seen, valued, and heard.

Whether you’re an educator, leader, parent, student, or simply someone trying to navigate the world with more intention and humanity, this conversation offers wisdom that will stay with you long after listening.

What if the thing you’re most afraid to share… is the very thing someone else needs to hear?

In this raw and powerful episode, Drew Sullivan opens up about his 17-year battle with addiction—and the unexpected mindset shift that finally helped him choose a different path.

But this isn’t just a story about recovery.

It’s about identity. Honesty. And what happens when you stop hiding and start showing up fully as yourself.

Drew shares the moment that changed everything, how going public with his journey became a turning point, and why he now sees his story as a responsibility not just a reflection of his past.

We also dive into:

• Why “small steps” are more powerful than big overhauls
• The surprising role attention and accountability played in his sobriety
• How community can form in the most unexpected ways
• Why addiction isn’t always what we think it is
• And how to know when it’s time to make a change

Today, Drew helps bring some of the world’s most impactful voices to stages around the world, but in this conversation, he reminds us that our own voice might be the one that matters most.

If you’ve ever struggled, felt stuck, or wondered whether change is really possible, then this episode is for you.

Are you feeling stuck in your career—even though you’ve achieved success on paper? Wondering what’s next, but unsure where to start?

In this episode, co-hosts Sarah and Marcy sit down with Carolyn Regan, former Chief People Officer turned leadership coach and creator of The Vital Shift, to explore how high achievers can reinvent their work and life for more meaning, alignment, and fulfillment.

After a successful corporate career, Carolyn took a “power pause” and discovered that many accomplished professionals feel burned out, disconnected, and unclear about their next chapter. This conversation offers a practical path forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  How to recognize the difference between burnout and lack of fulfillment 
•  Why traditional success (money, titles) stops feeling meaningful—and what comes next 
•  The concept of “enough” and how it reshapes your career decisions 
•  The 4 key freedoms: time, relationships, purpose, and wealth 
•  Simple micro-actions to help you get unstuck and start your next chapter 

If you’re navigating a career transition or craving more meaningful work, this episode will help you reset and move forward with clarity.

Connect with Carolyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynregan/ 

Subscribe to The Vital Shift: https://thecarolynregan.substack.com/

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mischa Geracoulis, Senior-level media professional, human rights advocate, and Outreach & Engagement Officer at Project Censored, for a conversation about truth, press freedom, and the personal convictions that shape a life’s work.

Mischa shares how her career — which may have looked nonlinear from the outside — was deeply connected by a consistent thread: a commitment to justice, ethical journalism, and elevating underreported stories. From her early work in coalition building and policy to reporting on Capitol Hill and eventually teaching and pursuing graduate studies in media, each chapter built toward her current role at the intersection of education, academia, and watchdog journalism.

A defining influence in her life was her Armenian heritage and her grandfather’s lived experience of genocide — stories that shaped her understanding of truth, historical erasure, and the power of naming what has happened. She reflects on pivotal global moments, including 9/11, that solidified her commitment to becoming what she calls a “truthteller,” even when the landscape feels dark or overwhelming.

We also explore the current state of journalism: media monopolization, partisan divides, the growing influence of PR over investigative reporting, and the risks of journalism drifting toward influencer culture. Mischa offers thoughtful insight into the urgent need for historical context, ethical grounding, and collaborative efforts to rebuild public trust in the press.

Beyond the headlines, Mischa speaks candidly about what sustains her: a growth mindset, the joy of continual learning, meaningful collaboration, and staying grounded in difficult times. She shares the inspiration behind her book, Media Framing and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage, and leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: when facing uncertainty or disinformation, return to the basics, stay steady, and act from a place of clarity and stability.

This episode is a compelling reflection on courage, media literacy, and the enduring belief that truth, even when challenged, ultimately finds its way forward.

Project Censored: https://www.projectcensored.org/

Connect with Mischa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-geracoulis/

Season Four of the Better Understanding Podcast opens with a candid, grounding conversation between Sarah and Marcy—one that meets leaders exactly where many find themselves right now: coming out of the holidays, stepping into a new year, and feeling both anticipation and overwhelm.

Together, they explore the emotional complexity of transitions—why January can feel disorienting, how expectations (especially around the holidays) shape our energy, and what it really means to reset when life feels off-center. Through personal stories—from pauses forced by injury, to moments of stillness, to noticing what the body is asking for—they reflect on the power of small, daily resets and giving ourselves permission to manage differently.

The conversation also turns toward intention-setting for 2026, not through rigid goals, but through guiding words. Sarah shares her word Action—a commitment to move out of rumination and into lived experience. Marcy’s word, Explore, reflects a desire to follow curiosity, creativity, and the things that spark joy, even (and especially) after decades in familiar routines.

This episode is a reminder that leadership—and life—doesn’t require having everything mapped out. Sometimes growth comes from pausing, listening inward, and allowing space for what’s next to reveal itself.

Season Four kicks off with honesty, humanity, and an invitation: to reset, reimagine, and reconnect with what matters most.

In this special 2025 season closer, Sarah and Marcy take the mic—no guests, just reflection. Celebrating three years of podcasting, 36 episodes, and 25 years of friendship, they look back on the conversations, themes, and moments that shaped Happy Beyond 40 this year. From reinvention and the courage to pivot, to heart-centered leadership, service, voice, and vulnerability, they reflect on how guests’ stories (and their own) reinforced a powerful truth: life after 40 is not about having it all figured out—it’s about staying open, curious, and connected.

Sarah and Marcy also revisit their “words of the year”—joy and surrender—sharing honestly how those intentions challenged and stretched them in different ways. They talk about presence, gratitude, trusting the process, and learning to be comfortable with discomfort. As they look ahead to Season 4, they name an exciting intention to bring in more diverse perspectives, explore topics outside their comfort zones, and continue creating a space that fosters community, growth, and meaningful connection. Here’s to what’s next—and to continuing to follow what lights us up. 🎙️✨