If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

By Sonja McKaiserEducationSelf-Improvement
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If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment) episodes

  • EP36: Another experiment... but I need your help! [S3E12]

    This was supposed to be the final episode of Season 3, but I feel like I still have so much I want to say. So I'll probably be back next week…

    As we head into the final quarter of 2026, I've been thinking about what it means to step into what's next when the old version of you no longer fits. Nine months have passed. Something's ready to be born, and that means getting out of your own way again.

    I share what I'm committing to for the rest of the year, including my intention of joie de vivre, and a little more of the messy behind-the-scenes of what it actually looks like to stop holding yourself back.

    No polished plan, just me figuring it out as I go, and inviting you to come along for the ride. I'll be sharing updates on ⁠⁠Instagram so be sure to follow me there.⁠⁠⁠


    Sending so much love! 


    9 min
  • EP35: You’re as READY as you’ll ever be! [S3E11]

    You know all those social media posts you save to revisit at sometime in the future then you completely forget about them? Are you doing the same thing with your dreams? 


    A few weeks ago I spoke to a group of aspiring podcasters, and our conversation got me thinking about how often we wait for the right time or the right resources. Like there's going to be some magical moment when you finally feel ready...

    I know this one well. And one year into my own podcasting journey, I've learned that you can start with what you have, figure things out as you go, and trust yourself to take the next step. Because life is happening NOW.


    My podcast turns ONE on 30 September, and this week's voice note is a little bit about podcasting, and a whole lot about what happens when you stop waiting until you're ready. I'm also asking you to make a decision. One decision that says, "I’m doing this for me."

    You are worthy AF, now! Not some day, but today!!

    And if you’re ready to take that step, my Plot Twist sessions are still available at R850 ($55) for the rest of September. These once off sessions help you get started now! Click here to book:

    https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    13 min
  • EP34: What if you stopped getting in your own way? [S3E10]

    In this week’s conversation, I’m joined by Nicole Klassen, who made a move from Muizenberg to McGregor after feeling a deep call to return to her maternal ancestral lands. She had no idea what would unfold. She trusted what she was sensing and followed it anyway.


    A year later, that decision has led to Beauty School, a community-based project working with young womxn, nature, traditional knowledge and the wisdom of the body, alongside the evolution of her own work around purpose, belonging and ancestral healing.


    We talk about trusting yourself when something doesn’t make linear or rational sense, learning to recognise the wisdom of your body, knowing what is yours to do, and what can happen when you stop trying to figure everything out before you begin.


    And, of course, we talk about the power of womxn in midlife stepping into their purpose, becoming more embodied and refusing to make themselves smaller or quieter.


    This is a conversation about ancestral guidance and trust, because maybe you don't need to know how.


    Here’s where you can find Nicole 

    Websites: www.naluthando.co.za and www.beautyschool.org.za

    Instagram: Naluthando and Beauty School McGregor


    And if you want these last 4 months of 2026 to be the Plot Twist you've been asking, you're in luck because my Plot Twist sessions are still available at R850 ($55) for the rest of September. These once-off sessions help you out of your own way, coz if not now, then when...?

    Click here to book:

    https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    1 hr 1 min
  • EP33: Make room for JOY [S3E9]

    There’s been grief, overwhelm, exhaustion and a whole lot of holding it together, but we made it through Eclipse season! 

    I’ve been noticing how easily joy gets pushed to the bottom of the list. So in this week’s voice note, I’m talking about why I’ve started thinking of JOY as a revolution, what dancing every day for the past couple of months has taught me, and why I’ve created the Joy Movement inside The Midlife Experiment.

    What if joy isn’t something we wait for? What if it’s something we deliberately bring into our lives, even when things are messy?

    This is your invitation to make room for joy, coz if not now, then when…? Click here to be part of the Joy Movement!


    And if you want these last 4 months of 2026 to be the Plot Twist you've been asking, you're in luck because my Plot Twist sessions are still available at R850 ($55) for the rest of September. These once off sessions help you out of your own way… Click here to book:

    https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    10 min
  • EP32: Are you willing to forgive yourself? [S3E8]

    Today is the last day of Leo Szn, and I’ve been dancing for 15 minutes every day for 52 days!! 

    In this week's voice note, I'm reflecting on what taking a longer daily dance break has taught me about willingness, uncertainty and my connection to my Future Self. And how, on the night of the solar eclipse, I woke up with 2 words ringing very clearly in my head - forgive yourself.

    I share the practice that came out of that experience, because it might be exactly what you need to get out of your own way. And if you need support doing so, my Plot Twist sessions are still available for R850 ($55) till the end of August. Click here to book: https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    15 min
  • EP31: Permission to be REAL and RAW [S3E7]

    It’s eclipse season! And in this week's voice note, I share why I want this podcast to become a space for real, raw vulnerability. A place where I can navigate my next evolution in real time. Unfiltered, and maybe even a little unhinged.

    Social media can feel so performative. We're surrounded by highlight reels and people who seem to have everything figured out. I'm no longer interested in adding to that. Instead, I want to create a space where I can bring my weird, share my frustrations and my joys, and let you witness the process while I'm still in it. My hope is that, in doing so, it gives you permission to do the same.

    If you've been feeling the pull to stop censoring yourself, and to take one messy, courageous step without having all the answers, then this episode is for you.

    Maybe this eclipse season is your invitation to create your very own plot twist...


    Talking about plot twists, my Plot Twist sessions are still available at R850 ($55) for a limited time. If you're feeling a little uncertain, and need some direction moving forward, then book your call today.

    https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    13 min
  • EP30: Are you forcing the timeline? [S3E6]

    Coming to you from my bed for this week's voicenote. I'm recovering from a flu bug, so no notes or talking points this week. Yep, I've gone rogue…


    I found myself in conversation with my future self, who told me that sharing my experience is enough. So this is a riff about birthday month reflections and the impatience of wanting a breakthrough. Apparently not every episode needs deep meaning or profundity. Sometimes the experience itself is the wisdom...


    My Plot Twist sessions are still available at R850 ($55) for a limited time. If you know that you're getting in your own way and would like some direction moving forward, then book your call today:

    https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    18 min
  • EP29: Finding a portal in the crisis [S3E5]

    "Repair is possible!" 

    In this beautiful conversation with multidisciplinary artist Yvette Hess, we explore what happens when the life you've carefully built no longer feels like it fits.

    We talk about letting go of the "good girl", finding your way back to yourself, creativity as a path to healing, belonging, courage, and learning to trust the unknown. Yvette also shares the journey that led her to the TEDx stage, and why saying yes before you feel ready can change the trajectory of your life.

    If you've been questioning who you are, where you're headed, or what's waiting on the other side of this midlife experiment, this conversation is for you.

    You can find Yvette on: Instagram, Facebook and on her website.


    My Plot Twist sessions are still available for a limited time. If you know that you're getting in your own way and would like to get to the bottom of the pattern or story, then book your call. For the rest of birthday month it'll cost R850 ($55). Click this link to book your spot:

    https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist

    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    54 min
  • EP28: There is no second draft! [S3E4]

    How much of your life are you putting on hold?

    In this week's voice note, I'm reflecting on courage, getting out of our own way, and why so many of us keep postponing the lives we're longing to live.

    We all have stories we tell ourselves about someday. Are you still waiting for someday before you take that step, start that thing, or trust yourself? Today is someday. And the waiting is YOU getting in your own way!

    This isn't a rehearsal, this is your life. Be brave, coz if not now, then when...? 

    My Plot Twist sessions are still available. If you know that you're getting in your own way and would like to get to the bottom of the pattern or story, then book your call. For the rest of birthday month it'll cost R850 ($55). Click this link to book your spot:

    https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 


    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


    10 min
  • EP27: You've been living in survival mode and you probably don't even know it... [S3E3]

    Nervous system regulation has become one of those phrases we hear everywhere, yet so few of us actually understand what it means. In this week's episode, Aimee Isaacs joins me to unpack what nervous system regulation really is, why so many women in midlife feel stuck in survival mode, and how our hormonal changes can make everything feel even more intense.

    We also explore why perimenopause can leave us feeling anxious, exhausted, irritable and overwhelmed, and why pushing through isn't the answer anymore.

    In this episode we chat about:

    • What nervous system regulation actually means
    • How chronic stress impacts your body and your health
    • The difference between reacting and responding
    • Small, practical ways to support your nervous system every day
    • Sensory snacks
    • Why taking care of yourself is no longer optional in midlife


    If you enjoyed this conversation be sure to follow Aimee on YouTube and Instagram.


    And because it’s birthday month, I’ve got something delicious just for you! Plot Twist, my once-off 1:1 coaching session, is for you if you're so over your own BS. We identify the pattern or the story that's been keeping you in the same loop, and we find what needs to shift so you can get out of your own way. The cost is R850 / $55. Click this link to book your spot: https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist


    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!



    1 hr 13 min

About If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to "If not now, then when...?", a podcast for midlife women who crave conversations that feel like a voice note from your bestie. We'll talk about the wild, beautiful process of reinventing yourself in midlife, from menopause & identity shifts to sensuality, grief & the radical act of becoming who you were always meant to be. Sprinkle in a little witchiness, some astrology, a touch of humour & a whole lot of truth!