Second Breaks

EPISODE SUMMARY
Retirement in the 21st century looks and feels different from how our parents experienced their retirement. It’s even going to be different from how we, once upon a time, might have imagined ourselves retiring.

And while the loudest messages out there about retirement are all about financial security, investment strategies, and growing the nest egg, the truth is there’s more to consider than just dollars and cents.

So the question is, what now? What is our new relationship with the word? How should we think about retirement? Or should we, as many suggest, simply retire the word retirement altogether? 

You can find the written version of this episode here.

IN THIS EPISODE

• When and how did traditional retirement begin
• How did retirement become associated with a life of leisure and relaxation
• The single most important reason why we need to reframe retirement
• How generations are shaping different perspectives of retirement 
• The harsh reality we must accept
• A couple of not-so-bold predictions

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EPISODE SUMMARY

Are you concerned about your brain health and the risk of cognitive decline? Do you believe that memory loss is a natural part of aging? In this episode, I interview brain health professional Allison Liu, who shares practical steps to protect and improve our brain health. We discuss the importance of taking care of our brains, debunking the common belief that memory loss is inevitable as we get older. Allison expertly walks us through the 11 risk factors that affect brain health and the practical steps to address them. This episode marks the end of the Midlife Health and Well-being series. The podcast will be back in a couple of weeks with a new mini-series focused on retirement readiness.

ABOUT MY GUEST
Allison Liu a qualified Brain Health Professional and the creator of the "Stay Sharp For Life" program. She is a trained Health Coach, a Dr. Amen Brain Health Licensed Trainer, and an expert in helping women reclaim their mental sharpness and improve their energy and mood.

IN THIS EPISODE

• The 11 risk factors that affect the health of our brain
• How to mitigate the risk factors and practical steps we can do today
• The surprising (not!) relationship between the food we eat and our brain's health
• Why our brain is the most important organ in our body

FOOTNOTES

• Allison Liu's Sharp For Life program
• Connect with Allison Liu on LinkedIn
• 5 Steps to Protect Your Memory
• Dr. Daniel Amen

OTHER EPISODES IN THE MIDLIFE WELL-BEING SERIES:

• 202. Intermittent Fasting with Laurie Lewis
• 203. Stress Relief Principle with Shulamit Ber Levtov
• 204. Sexual Health with Dr. Alyssa Dweck, M.D.

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EPISODE SUMMARY
Do you believe that sex after menopause is always painful and that your sexual life will never be the same again? If so, you may be surprised to learn that these are just some of the common misconceptions surrounding sex after menopause.

In this episode, Dr. Alyssa Dweck, MD, discusses these misconceptions and provides valuable insights into managing vaginal health during and after menopause. She explains the impact of decreased estrogen levels on vaginal health and the importance of being proactive in managing it. She also addresses the misconception that sex after menopause is always painful and emphasizes the importance of individual choice in engaging in sexual activity.

Overall, this conversation highlights the importance of understanding and managing vaginal health, as well as the need to dispel myths surrounding sex after menopause. This episode highlights the need for reliable information and the importance of addressing menopause comprehensively.

ABOUT MY GUEST
Dr. Alyssa Dweck is a practicing gynecologist and the Chief Medical Officer of Bonafide. She is an Ob/GYN for over 25 years with a special interest in menopausal health and female sexual health. Dr. Dweck is the co-author of three books and has appeared on The Today Show and Good Day LA. She contributes regularly to multiple prints and online media outlets. She has been voted “Top Doctor” in New York Magazine and Westchester Magazine. When she’s not helping women improve their health, Dr. Dweck enjoys time with her husband, two sons, and “girly” English Bulldog. She is an avid runner and sports car enthusiast.

IN THIS EPISODE

• The three main misconceptions about sex after menopause
• Main reasons that lead to painful sex after menopause
• Products, tools, and practices that can help maintain vaginal health
• Complexities around women's libido after menopause

FOOTNOTES

• Bonafide
• Follow Bonafide and Dr. Dweck on Instagram

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EPISODE SUMMARY
Stress is a common experience that affects our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, especially in midlife. But unfortunately, only a few have been taught to manage stress effectively. As a result, how to deal with stress is often one of those things we fumble our way around through life!  

In this episode, we're continuing our midlife health and well-being series, focusing on stress management. I'm joined by mindset and resilience consultant Shulamit Ber Levtov. She shares her insights on the definition of stress, how our bodies respond to it, and the three principles of stress relief. Shula emphasizes the importance of proactive stress management and self-care routines, including the daily practice of stress resilience tools. Throughout the episode, we provide practical tips and strategies for managing stress and building resilience.

ABOUT MY GUEST
Shulamit Ber Levtov is a mindset and resilience consultant. She uses her background as a trauma therapist to help women entrepreneurs stay sane and care for their emotional health as they ride the emotional rollercoaster of running a business. Shula helps her clients discover what affects their mental and emotional well-being and create a plan to care for it in an era of relentless stressors.

IN THIS EPISODE

• The physiology of stress — what is happening inside our bodies when we are under stress
• The most important thing to remember about chronic vs acute stress
• The three principles of stress relief: Soothing, Discharge, and Nourish
• Examples of how these principles look in practice
• Why it's important to develop our personal stress relief tools ahead of time

FOOTNOTES

• Shula's website 
• Follow Shula on LinkedIn

For all the links and show notes, head on over to https://www.secondbreaks.com/

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Subscribe to Midlife Cues, a weekly newsletter about intentional living and personal growth in midlife.

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EPISODE SUMMARY
This is the first episode in a series on Midlife Health and Well-Being.

I am joined by Laurie Lewis to discuss the benefits of intermittent fasting for midlifers and particularly for women going through menopause. As an expert on the topic, Laurie shares her personal experience with menopause and how intermittent fasting helped her. We also delve into the challenges of maintaining a healthy weight as we age, the impact of processed foods on our health, and the benefits of fasting beyond weight loss, such as improving energy levels and managing health conditions like diabetes. Throughout our conversation, we emphasize the importance of listening to our bodies and finding a fasting routine that works for us, as well as establishing a healthy relationship with food and our emotions.

ABOUT MY GUEST
Laurie Lewis is an Intermittent Fasting Coach, Author & CEO of Fast Forward Wellness. Laurie’s Intermittent Fasting is the antithesis of dieting, and she has made it her mission to help other women find their way out of the typical traps of diet culture and into a dream come true -- eat the foods you love and enjoy the rest of your life feeling vibrant and well.

Laurie is passionate about changing the conversation around IF and sharing all the incredible benefits fasting can have for people outside of the realm of weight loss. Utilizing the fasting principles of Gin Stephens, Dr. Jason Fung, and Dr. Bert Herring, Laurie takes on individual clients - both celebrities and everyday people, as well as leading her group programs live online and is the author of the acclaimed book Celebrating Your Vibrant Future.

IN THIS EPISODE

• We talk about the relationship between aging, menopause, and weight gain.
• Laurie discusses the benefits of fasting beyond weight loss, such as improving energy levels, managing health conditions like diabetes, and optimizing the body's natural design.
• Laurie outlines the basic elements of a "clean fast" and explains what an eating window is.
• Laurie suggests a way to ease into an intermittent fasting practice.
• I share my own experience and my main challenge with IF.

FOOTNOTES

• Laurie Lewis' website: Fast Forward Wellness
• Delay, Don't Deny by Gin Stephens
• Fast. Feast. Repeat. by Gin Stephens
• The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung
• Dr. Bert Herring

For all the links and show notes, head on over to https://www.secondbreaks.com/

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Subscribe to Midlife Cues, a weekly newsletter about intentional living and personal growth in midlife.

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EPISODE SUMMARY
I think it’s safe to say we would rather be in a state of gratitude than not. It’s also safe to assume that we know — even if we may not be aware of the actual science behind it —  that having a gratitude practice is beneficial to our well-being.

However, I must confess that I struggle with maintaining a consistent gratitude practice. I find it challenging and often forced, which makes it difficult to stick with it. Moreover, there are times in life when feeling grateful seems impossible, such as during times of difficulty or after experiencing a loss. It's easy to throw our hands up and ask, "What is there to be grateful for?" 

But I do believe that cultivating a state of gratitude can help us navigate through curveballs and periods of uncertainty. To explore this topic, I am joined by Holly Bertone, the host of the Gratitude Builds Fortitude podcast. Together, we discuss how to cultivate a gratitude practice that feels authentic and effective, even during challenging times. We offer practical advice on how to embrace gratitude as a powerful tool to help us navigate through life's ups and downs.

ABOUT MY GUEST
Holly Bertone, PMP, CNHP is a #1 Amazon.com bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and gratitude coach. As a breast cancer and autoimmune survivor, she helps women view their diagnosis as a gift so that they can unwrap resilience to build fortitude with gratitude. Holly spent 25 years rising through the ranks of consulting and federal government service before her failing health shattered her corporate dreams. Since then, she has leaned into her path of true purpose as the President and CEO of Pink Fortitude and founder of Fortitude Academy by helping women go from being Grumpy Worriers to Grateful Warriors.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• The typical practice of listing 3 things we’re grateful for does not work for everybody and may even be making it difficult for some to get into a gratitude practice.
• Being in a state of gratitude is less a matter of listing things we’re grateful for, and more about actually feeling grateful
• Each person’s gratitude habit must take into consideration their natural personality or tendencies to make it ‘stick’.
• We can find our way to a state of gratitude even during times of stress or difficulty.
• Gratitude builds fortitude.

FOOTNOTES

• Gratitude Builds Fortitude, a podcast hosted by Holly Bertone
• Fortitude Academy
• Find Holly Bertone on Instagram
• Difficult Gratitude by James Altucher
• The Science of Gratitude (some studies that may explain why gratitude can be naturally difficult for some people)

For all the links and show notes, head on over to https://www.secondbreaks.com/

Work with Lou Blaser

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Subscribe to Midlife Cues, a weekly newsletter about intentional living and personal growth in midlife.

Support the Show. Thank you

EPISODE SUMMARY
This is the official 200th episode of Second Breaks! I'm practically twisting myself around and patting myself on the back for reaching this milestone.

But I don't want to just celebrate reaching a specific number. I want to mark the progress that I've made in life since I started this show.

We all know change is the one thing that's constant in life, and in this episode, I want to reflect on that. Specifically, the change we go through intentionally or naturally over time. It's those small, incremental changes that often go unnoticed, but can lead to big transformations.

To help me with this reflection, I've asked my dear friend to join me, Yvonne Marchese, who hosts the Late Bloomer Living podcast.

We chat about how important it is to zoom in and zoom out to get different perspectives, and how that helps us recognize both specific and broader changes. We use the start of our respective podcasts as a mile marker to reflect on our journeys and to acknowledge how far we've come.

I hope this episode inspires you to take some time to reflect on your own journey and recognize the progress you've made, no matter how small.

Remember, it's not just about the destination. It's about the journey and the changes we make along the way.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• We go through incremental change all the time, which we often don't realize until we take the time to reflect.
• It's important to zoom in and zoom out to get different perspectives on our lives and recognize both specific and broader changes.
• Choosing relevant markers to zoom out can help us recognize broader changes, and reflecting on our journey is time well-spent.
• Reflecting on our progress is essential to recognize our own progress, not as how others see us, but how we witness it in ourselves.
• It's important to mark and celebrate our progress in our journey, no matter our age or where we are in life.

FOOTNOTES

• Yvonne Marchese's Late Bloomer Living Podcast
• Follow Yvonne Marchese on Instagram
• Clubhouse
• The Obstacle Is The Way, by Ryan Holiday

Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn

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Subscribe to Midlife Cues, a weekly newsletter about personal growth in midlife

Support the Show. Thank you!

EPISODE SUMMARY

Well, folks, it’s hard to ignore the big news these days about ChatGPT and AI. Although we’ve been using AI for a while now, many of us have thought it was still a ways off from becoming truly disruptive.

But now, with the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 and GPT-4 in March 2023, we’ve entered a new phase of development where AI outputs are virtually indistinguishable from human outputs, and some are hailing, are even better than what humans can do. For those of us in the working midlife crowd, this presents both an opportunity and a risk. We can’t bury our heads in the sand and pretend it’s not happening.

In this episode, I talk about why we need to pay attention and take action now to reposition ourselves for what’s coming. Stay tuned for some practical tips you can implement right away to stay ahead of the game.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

• The unrelenting march of AI development is a monster curveball that will affect midlifers in the workforce.
• The worst thing we can do is to stick our heads in the ground and ignore what’s happening.
• But don’t worry, there are certain things we can do to prepare, plan, and reposition ourselves. So let’s get to it!

FOOTNOTES:

Global Economic Report, Goldman Sachs, March 2023

“GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Model”, OpenAI, March 2023

Digital Ageism: Challenges and Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence for Older Adults, The Gerontologist, Oxford Academic, January 2022

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

We don’t always recognize a curveball when we get hit by one. We don't see that we need to change and make some adjustments. Instead, we ignore it, deny it, or fight to keep things status quo. That is until it becomes glaringly obvious that some change is required.

In this episode, I chat with Stephanie Dethlefs, whose curveball resulted in a change in her career and the identity that came along with doing that work. But these changes didn’t happen as soon as her curveball hit. She spent many years fighting to maintain a balance until she couldn’t anymore.

ABOUT MY GUEST:

Stephanie Dethlefs is a writer, certified book coach, teacher, and lifelong avid reader. She has spent decades working with writers of all ages in the classroom as a teacher and now as a book coach, where she’s finding her own voice and holding space in which others can find their own. Stephanie is the author of the middle-grade novel Unspoken and the host of the Let’s Write Your Novel! podcast. She lives in Pacific NW Washington with her family, two cats, and a spunky pup.

FOOTNOTES:
Stephanie’s website: Hello Writers (make sure to grab her freebies)

Let’s Write Your Novel podcast

Unspoken

Ep 197: When Curveballs Hit

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EPISODE SUMMARY:
This is the second part of the conversation on why midlife is a call to action for change. If you haven't listened to Part 1 (Ep 195), I suggest you start there!

In this episode, I tackle the subject of "unexpected change" or what I call curveballs — events that disrupt our lives, sometimes even reshaping and changing their trajectory.

You can read the full text of this episode at http://secondbreaks.com

FOOTNOTES:
Life Is In The Transitions, by Bruce Feiler

Ep 195: Midlife Is A Call To Action: The Case For Change (Part 1)

Ep 196: “When” is Midlife with Bernie Borges

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Subscribe to Midlife Cues, a weekly newsletter about intentional living in midlife.