🎉 Happy 2-Year Anniversary!

In this special milestone episode, Laurie celebrates two incredible years of The School of Midlife podcast. With 108 episodes under her belt and 14 amazing guests in the past year, she reflects on the growth of the show and her deep gratitude for every listener who tunes in—whether you're walking, commuting, or tuning in from your desk.

💥 You've Changed. And That’s a Good Thing.

Laurie dives into a powerful, raw topic so many high-performing midlife women experience: the backhanded compliment of “you’ve changed.” She breaks down what people really mean when they say it—and why your personal growth might be making others uncomfortable.

From setting healthy boundaries and learning what really matters, to letting go of friendships that no longer serve you, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating growth, identity shifts, and evolving relationships in midlife.

📺 Pop Culture Meets Real Life

Laurie weaves in some White Lotus wisdom, using the fictional friendship of the "Big Blonde Blob" as a mirror for real-life relationship dynamics. How do long-time friendships survive (or not) when we change? And how can we tell when a relationship is meant to last... or just served its season?

✨ Upcoming Free Masterclass

Laurie also shares details on her free 3-part masterclass designed for high-achieving women who are asking big life questions—and wondering if they're having a midlife crisis. Spoiler: they’re not.

Masterclass Themes Include:

• The real reason midlife women think they're in crisis
• How to redefine success and uncover your authentic purpose
• Four steps to live your best life in midlife and beyond

Click the link in the show notes to save your seat!

🛑 Key Takeaways:

• “You’ve changed” is often more about the other person’s discomfort than your growth.
• Setting boundaries and redefining your values can shift long-term relationships—and that’s okay.
• Not all friendships are meant to last forever. Some were for a reason, some for a season, and a few for a lifetime.

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:

• 🎉 Register for the Free Masterclass
• 📩 Send Laurie a DM or email with your episode ideas or guest requests

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In today’s episode of the School of Midlife Podcast, we’re diving into how to shift from just thinking about your goals and plans to actually taking action and making progress.

We all know that mindset shifts are important, but they are only the first step. If you don’t couple that mindset change with action, nothing will change.

This episode takes a deeper look at how we often delay action with what we think are necessary preparations and how those tasks may be just another way of procrastinating. Whether you’re thinking of starting a new workout plan, writing a book, or getting more involved in your career, it’s easy to find ourselves caught up in "getting ready" instead of "getting started."

Learn how to move from the overwhelming thought of “I have to” to “I get to” and embrace the power of setting a timer to actually get going. Whether you set a timer for five minutes or 30 minutes, the momentum you’ll gain from simply starting is often enough to keep you going.

Key Takeaways:

• Mindset shifts are essential, but they need to be paired with action.
• We often delay taking action by “getting ready” with things that don't really matter.
• The importance of setting a timer to force yourself to start and gain momentum.
• Learn to shift from “I have to” to “I get to” and create a productive mindset.
• Even a short time commitment (5-30 minutes) can help overcome the fear of starting and make tasks feel more manageable.

If you're looking to push past your procrastination and finally make some forward momentum this year, this episode will give you some practical tools to help you start now.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

Ep. 106: From Midlife Obligation to Opportunity: The Power of Changing Two Words

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In this episode of the School of Midlife Podcast, we dive into how a simple change in language can shift the way we experience our daily lives. By changing two small words, "I have to" to "I get to," you can transform your midlife mindset and unlock more opportunities in your life. This shift isn’t just about words; it’s about taking control and finding joy in everyday tasks.

Key Topics:

• The power of language and self-talk: How the words we use can shape our reality.
• Why “I have to” creates feelings of obligation, while “I get to” brings opportunity, enthusiasm, intentionality, and control.
• The science behind our subconscious mind, including how our reticular activating system helps us focus on what we believe is important.
• How reframing the tasks in your day—from dentist appointments to work meetings—can change your energy and outlook.
• A closer look at how this shift can benefit midlife women who often feel overwhelmed by responsibilities to others.
• The importance of recognizing when something shifts from being an opportunity to an obligation and how to address it.

Practical Tips:

• Start each day by reframing your “have to” tasks into “get to” opportunities.
• Use the Morning 5, 10, 5 exercise to align your mindset and prime your day for success.
• Reframe obligations into opportunities for growth and gratitude, especially for high-performing midlife women juggling multiple roles.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

The Morning 5, 10, 5 in the Best Life Planner: 5 things you’re grateful for, 10 dreams you’ve achieved, and 5 things you’re looking forward to today.

Prior episodes on limiting beliefs and their impact on our lives:

• 52. Stop Believing Everything You Think: The Truth About Limiting Beliefs
• 29. Breaking Free: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Midlife

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In this episode of the School of Midlife podcast, we dive into one of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself: What do you truly want in life?

If you’ve spent years following the success checklist—graduate, get a job, buy a house, raise kids, climb the career ladder—this episode is for you. It’s time to stop living on autopilot and reflect on whether the life you’ve built is aligned with your true desires or if it’s time to redefine what success looks like for you.

In this episode, your host Laurie Reynoldson shares her personal journey from thriving in a successful legal career to realizing that despite external achievements, she wasn’t fulfilled. Through her own story and experience, she sheds light on why knowing what you want is the foundational step to living an authentic and meaningful life.

Key Takeaways:

• Why many of us get caught in autopilot mode, following a life checklist that doesn’t reflect our true desires.
• Laurie’s personal journey from being a successful commercial real estate attorney to realizing that career success didn’t equate to happiness.
• How to reflect on what your younger self wanted versus what you truly want now.
• The importance of dreaming big, even in midlife, and differentiating dreams from goals.
• Practical advice for redefining your vision of success and crafting a life you actually want.

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s more to life than the goals you’ve been checking off, this episode will inspire you to reconnect with your true self, rediscover what lights you up, and take meaningful steps toward creating the life you desire.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

• Want to watch the video? Click here!
• If you want to dive deeper into exploring what you truly want and how to design a life that reflects your unique desires, Laurie offers coaching and retreats. Click here to inquire about 1:1 coaching.
• Interested in learning more about the Gap Year? Click here!

Connect with Laurie:

• Website: https://schoolofmidlife.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolofmidlife

One More Thing! Enjoyed today’s episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to the School of Midlife podcast and leave us a review! Share this episode with a friend who might need a little midlife inspiration.

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Tired of feeling like you need a vacation to "reset" your life?

In this episode, your host Laurie Reynoldson talks about the importance of designing a lifestyle that leaves you feeling refreshed every single day. Learn how to align your work, passions, and personal life in a way that creates constant fulfillment and peace.

It's all about small changes that lead to big impact—so you can stop dreaming about vacation and start living your ideal life right now.

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Remember when you first started dating? When you'd spend all night on the telephone...talking about everything and nothing at all?

And now that you're in the midlife transition, not only does it feel like you have nothing at all to talk about with your spouse, but it also feels like the intimacy and affection are gone.

In this episode, Laure shares three simple ways to get the affection and intimacy back...even when you're feeling cringey and full of meno-rage, when you're screaming on the inside, but smiling on the outside.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

whatthemenopause

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In today's episode of the School of Midlife podcast, we challenge the conventional notion of a "midlife crisis." Host Laurie Reynoldson dives deep into why the term "midlife crisis" is outdated and doesn’t serve the high-performing women navigating midlife today. Rather than viewing midlife as a crisis, this episode reframes it as an incredible opportunity, a reset, and a turning point.

We discuss:

• The origins of the term "midlife crisis" and how it was initially framed around men’s career and mortality concerns.
• The different emotional experiences men and women face during midlife, including identity shifts, caregiving roles, and societal pressures related to aging.
• Why we should stop using the term "crisis" and start viewing midlife as an opportunity for reinvention.
• How societal expectations, especially for women, have historically contributed to feelings of dissatisfaction or anxiety, and how we can take control of our own narratives in midlife.
• Key questions to ask yourself as you enter this new chapter, including how you define success and what your best life truly looks like.

This episode encourages listeners to embrace midlife as a time for growth, change, and intentional decision-making, rather than a time of crisis. Let’s dive into the idea that midlife is not a period of difficulty but an opportunity for self-discovery, empowerment, and redefining our future.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

Free LIVE Training from the School of Midlife

Ep. 101: Striving vs. Thriving in Midlife: How to Stop Chasing and Start Living

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In today's episode of The School of Midlife, we dive into a critical question for high-performing women in midlife: When is enough enough? Many of us find ourselves caught in the cycle of constantly striving for more—more success, more accolades, more achievements—but at what cost?

As high achievers, we often feel like we’re almost there—whether it’s a financial goal, a physical milestone, or even the approval of others—but somehow, that feeling of fulfillment always seems to slip through our fingers. Why is that?

This episode unpacks the internal struggle many women face in midlife as they try to balance ambition and contentment. We'll explore:

• The never-ending pursuit of more: why we keep moving the goalposts and how it impacts our happiness.
• The myth of "doing more" and why adding to your to-do list isn’t the solution.
• The importance of defining your version of success and learning to say "enough" without guilt.
• How we were raised to follow a checklist of societal expectations—and why it’s time to break free.
• Practical advice on how to live the life you actually want, right now, instead of delaying joy and fulfillment for some future date.

We’ll also touch on the game-changing ideas from Die With Zero by Bill Perkins, which challenges us to prioritize experiences over accumulation and how embracing this philosophy has helped many of us in midlife stop living for the next milestone and start living for today.

If you're ready to rethink what success means, let go of the "good girl" checklist, and take control of your midlife, this episode is for you.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins

1:1 Coaching with Laurie

Group Coaching: Gap Year

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In this milestone 100th episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie Reynoldson reflects on the journey so far and celebrates the incredible community that’s grown around this space. Laurie shares her excitement for how the podcast has evolved and highlights the challenges we face in making lasting changes in our lives.

As January rolls in, many of us are setting New Year’s resolutions focused on lifestyle changes—getting fit, eating better, reclaiming work-life balance—but as Laurie points out, most of these resolutions tend to fall apart as the year progresses. But what if the biggest barrier to lasting change isn’t about how hard we work or how committed we are to our goals, but rather the stories we tell ourselves?

In today’s episode, Laurie dives deep into the power of mindset and how the limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves can be the real roadblocks to the success we desire. She talks about how we can all be our biggest cheerleaders—if we can first change the narrative we’ve been telling ourselves. Whether it’s feeling too old, too slow, or not good enough, these self-limiting thoughts keep us stuck and prevent us from achieving our full potential.

Laurie encourages us to look at our limiting beliefs head-on and start rewiring our subconscious minds to believe that we are worthy of the change we seek. If we keep arguing for our limitations, we get to keep them—but if we decide to release these outdated beliefs, we open the door to a new, empowered version of ourselves.

It’s time to take out the trash, clean up your mindset, and start creating the life you truly want. Tune in to learn how to break free from self-doubt, step into your power, and make this year the one where change sticks!

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why mindset is the key to making lasting lifestyle changes.
• How the limiting beliefs you hold about yourself may be sabotaging your progress.
• Practical tips for identifying and reframing negative thoughts.
• Why self-deprecating humor and negative self-talk are more harmful than we realize.
• How to stop arguing for your limitations and start living the life you deserve.

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In this replay episode of the School of Midlife podcast, we’re diving deep into the transformative power of setting the one thing that can change everything for you in 2025.

In past episodes, we've explored why reflecting on the previous year is key to setting meaningful goals for the year ahead. Today, we’re shifting focus to the most important step of all: selecting that one crucial action or decision that will lead to your best year yet.

Here’s what you can expect in today’s episode:

• Reflection: Why it's crucial to take the time to assess 2024 before setting goals. The traditional "hit the ground running" mentality is overrated—this year, we’re focusing on clarity before action.
• Real vs. Throwaway Goals: Learn the difference between goals that are just to check off a list (throwaway goals) and goals that truly push you to evolve (real goals). Real goals require change, growth, and sometimes even a bit of discomfort.
• Choosing Your One Thing: What’s the one action or decision that will make the biggest difference in your life this year? Whether it’s starting something new, stopping something that no longer serves you, or making a life-changing decision, you’ll discover how to break that one thing down into actionable steps.
• Planning for Success: Get practical advice on how to break down your big goal into smaller, more manageable tasks. I’ll share my system for visualizing and tracking progress, from setting deadlines to celebrating milestones along the way.
• Accountability and Support: If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about how to break down your big goal, I’m here to help. I’m offering a limited number of one-on-one coaching sessions to create personalized action plans to help you achieve your 2025 goals.
• What’s Coming Next: Next week, we’ll dive into the habits that will support your goal. As I always say, it’s not just about the goal, but the person you become while working toward it.

If you’re ready to make 2025 the year that everything changes, this episode is a must-listen. Whether you’re on the go or at home, take a moment to really think about your one thing—the action that could transform your life—and let’s get to work on making it happen.

Links + Mentions:

• 2024 Year End Review
• My Favorite Wall Calendar and Post-Its
• Reach Out for One-on-One Coaching

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