The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40

In a solo episode, Stephanie reflects on a recurrence of the Ick in her own life and what she’s doing to try to work her way through it.

Sometimes you can do the work, you can make it to the other side and build a life that suits you perfectly - and you can STILL have weeks or seasons that just don’t feel good. I’m in one now and I'll tell you about it in this episode.

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from the Ick. www.fortydrinks.com/ick

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After surviving a challenging childhood, David Richman achieved success as an executive at a Wall Street firm. His personal life, though, was a mess. He was a stressed out, overweight smoker with low self-esteem who spent most of his life trying to please others. While he learned many lessons in his professional life, he never thought to apply them to his personal life. Looking back, he says it’s amazing how much he accomplished in relation to how little awareness he had of himself. When that awareness of himself kicked in David says he was enthralled with the idea that he could actually matter. “Until you believe that you matter, you don't. And, I just didn't know that I mattered.”

Guest Bio

David is an author, public speaker, and endurance athlete whose mission is to form more meaningful human connections through storytelling. His first book, Winning in the Middle of the Pack, discussed how to get more out of ourselves than ever imagined. With Cycle of Lives, David shares stories of people overcoming trauma and delves deeply into their emotional journeys with cancer. He continues to do Ironman triathlons and recently completed a solo 4,700-mile bike ride.

In this episode of the 40 Drinks Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking to David Richman, a man who transformed from an unhappy overweight smoker to an endurance athlete. David's story is a testament to the power of self-reflection and the will to change. His “forty story” is filled with lessons about self-worth, resilience, and the importance of taking care of yourself.

Here are some of the key highlights from our conversation:

• David's early life was marked by challenges and obstacles, some self-imposed and others a result of his upbringing. Despite these difficulties, he managed to become an executive at a major Wall Street firm by his early thirties. However, his personal life was a stark contrast to his professional success. He was overweight, a smoker, and in an abusive relationship.
• A conversation with a friend served as a wake-up call for David. His friend pointed out that David was the problem in his life, not the people or circumstances around him. This prompted David to take a hard, honest look at himself and his choices.
• David began to question his decisions and his lifestyle. He realized that he had been living his life trying to please others rather than focusing on his own happiness and well-being.
• David's journey to self-improvement began with a commitment to quit smoking and lose weight. He decided to become an athlete, a goal that seemed far-fetched at the time but would later become a reality.
• David started his journey towards becoming an athlete by buying a pair of running shoes and gradually increasing his running distance. He later participated in half and full Ironman races, 50-mile runs, 100-mile runs, and a 5,000-mile solo bike ride.
• Realizing that no one else is watching or judging him was both freeing and empowering.

David's story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to change your life. His journey from an overweight smoker to an endurance athlete is a testament to the power of self-reflection, determination, and the will to change. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to rate, follow, and review the 40 Drinks Podcast. Your support helps us bring more inspiring stories like David's to our listeners.

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communication

You might like: David's book, "Winning in the Middle of the Pack," in which David describes how to push forward when nobody's paying attention, when the only person who cares is you, and when you are free to become extraordinary for yourself. 

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In this enlightening episode, Stephanie sits down with Tara McFarland, a professional engineer who experienced a profound spiritual awakening and transformation in her forties. Tara shares her journey from feeling fragmented and unfulfilled in her career to rediscovering her true self and integrating her newfound spiritual insights into her professional life. This episode is a deep dive into the challenges and revelations that come with midlife transformations and the pursuit of personal authenticity.

Episode Highlights:

Tara's early career as a civil engineer and her initial struggles with perfectionism and imposter syndrome.

The pivotal moments that led Tara to question her career path and the pressures of living up to familial and societal expectations.

Tara's "midlife unraveling," as described by Brene Brown, which led her to seek help and eventually embrace a path of personal growth and spiritual awakening.

The transformative impact of bodywork and energy healing, which opened Tara to new ways of thinking and being.

Tara's venture into entrepreneurship, starting her own coaching business, and her return to the engineering field with a new perspective and purpose.

The challenges and rewards of integrating spiritual practices and intuition into a traditionally analytical and grounded field like engineering.

This episode offers a compelling look at how embracing a spiritual awakening can transform personal and professional lives. Tara's story is a powerful testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the potential for renewal at any stage of life. Her journey from a high-achieving engineer to a spiritually awakened coach and leader is not only inspiring but also a call to others to explore the depths of their own identities and aspirations.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to rate, follow, and review the podcast to help us share more stories like Tara's.

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

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Before becoming a champion for the podcasting industry, Larry Roberts had dreams of becoming a martial arts champion. A child of the ’80s and a fan of “The Karate Kid,” ninjas and the movies of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Segal, he vigorously pursued karate and, later, mixed martial arts. That dream was crushed by limitations from a birth defect that should have killed him by age 4 but didn’t. He replaced his pursuit of sports glory with a vigorous pursuit of drinking and partying. By the time he turned 40, he was stuck in a dead end job and deep in alcoholism and felt like life was pointless. But at 41, he reached out for help and went to rehab. Today, he works as hard as he ever did, but now it’s to elevate podcasters instead of crushing opponents. 

Guest Bio

After burning out in the corporate world, Red Hat Media founder Larry Roberts took a dive into a new realm of opportunities. His goal was simple: to find excitement in what he was doing every day.

He found it in droves.

Since 2014, Larry has been making himself a household name within the podcasting industry, speaking on stages of national and global trade events including Podfest Multimedia Expo and Podcast Movement, hosting shows that reached the top 1.5% of podcasts, and being named to Podcast Magazine’s 40 Over 40 in Podcasting.

With technology and media changing faster than many can hit play, Larry and his team have committed themselves to staying at the forefront of the industry. Larry is aptly seen as a thought leader in the AI space, teaching workshops and hosting speaking engagements to help creators utilize new technology, and will continue to push business owners out of their comfort zone and into a chapter of innovation and growth.

Larry Roberts was born with an inverted sternum that would have suffocated him before age 5 if he hadn’t had reconstructive surgery. Because of this, his childhood was pretty sheltered. He went to private school for most of his life, except for two semesters - one in eighth grade and one in high school, both of which ended up in fights and drove him back to private school. 

Admittedly, Larry has always had a mouth on him (which is what makes him a great podcaster) and it got him in trouble almost everywhere he went. 

It being the early 1980s, a teenage boy would have been influenced by the Karate Kid, the emergence of ninjas in Western popular culture and the movies of Claude Van Damme and Steven Segal. Larry thought, if he could only fight, then he’d be able to solve all his problems. So he started studying karate and has experience with a wide variety of martial arts. Through his teens and twenties he studied and taught karate. 

When the UFC debuted in 1993, Larry knew he wanted to go to the “big show.” He wanted to be a professional fighter so he trained with the best coaches he could find and fought in a handful of low-level professional fights. 

He was on his way to a professional fight, the biggest fight of his career, and the night before the match he was training with his coach when another coach walked by and said seven words that changed his life, “your cardio is a bit suspect, bro.” 

Larry was crushed because he had invested everything into being ready for this competition. Because of his birth defect, his lungs had not developed normally, which left him with about 60% lung capacity. 

Larry ended up pulling out of that fight. But he went home and told everyone he had won because he couldn't face the prospect of letting people down or not meeting expectations. Fighting had become his whole identity for about 20 years and it was ripped away that night. 

He went through an extreme identity crisis, which led him to start partying. He became the guy who hosted the big parties for every pay-per-view UFC event. He was still involved tangentially, doing some coaching and cornering for friends. 

Professionally, he transitioned from just having a job that would allow for him to train to having a corporate career that included the 9 to 5 and then happy hour with the gang afterwards. They had a local spot that they’d get to by 5:15 and stay until it closed every night of the week. He and his crowd got to the point where they’d go through 4 handles of booze every week plus a couple cases of cold beer - on top of what they drank when they were out at the bars. He kept this up for a couple years. 

The first time he thought he might have a problem, he was in a meeting at work and hadn’t had a drink in about six hours and started sweating profusely from the DT’s - or withdrawal. But instead of getting help, he  doubled down. It got to the point where he was only going three to four hours at a time without having alcohol. 

Then one day, he had an epiphany and knew that if he didn’t get help, he’d be dead soon so he called his best friend. Within hours he was checked into an inpatient rehab facility, where he spent seven weeks and he’s been sober ever since. He was 41. He had done so much nerve damage during his drinking days that he was in pain almost constantly and walked with a cane for several years until his body healed. 

The year before, when he turned 40 he cried because he thought life was all over. He thought all his opportunities were gone. He felt like he was in a dead end job. He was at the peak of his alcoholism. He felt like his life was in shambles. 

Shortly after he got out of rehab, though, he found podcasting. His first taste was Joe Rogan’s podcast, since Joe Rogan has been the commentator for UFC since its inception. He started a comedy podcast with a friend, found success with that and went on to start another podcast. He made his way into the network of people talking, coaching and presenting about the business of podcasting. In 2021, he left his corporate job and now works in the podcasting industry full time. 

Today, he finds the same sense of fulfillment from speaking on stage at an event that he used to get from fighting in a ring. Now he’s known as a subject matter expert instead of a kicking and punching expert. In his fighting days, his goal was to crush his opponents and make them feel less than. Today, his goal is still to perform at a very high level, but now he works to elevate others instead of breaking them down.

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

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In this enlightening episode, Stephanie sits down with Sandy Demarest, who navigated a significant midlife transition from feeling lost and disconnected in Burlington, Vermont, to finding her community and purpose in Southern New Hampshire. Sandy shares her compelling story of overcoming the challenges of relocation, redefining her career, and ultimately discovering a deeper sense of self and happiness. Join us as we explore the twists and turns of Sandy's journey and the lessons she learned along the way.

Key Highlights:

Sandy's initial move to Burlington, Vermont, and the struggles with fitting in and feeling at home despite the city's charm and vibrancy.

The decision to relocate to Southern New Hampshire in search of a better fit for her family's needs and her own personal fulfillment.

The challenges and emotional rollercoaster of moving with a family and the impact of the environment on her mental health.

Sandy's insights into finding one's purpose and the importance of community, which she felt was lacking in Burlington but found in New Hampshire.

The development of Sandy's career from education to entrepreneurship, where she now helps others navigate their midlife transitions.

Today's episode with Sandy not only highlights the personal growth that can come from embracing change but also serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning one's environment with their values and needs. Sandy's story is a powerful testament to the idea that it's never too late to seek out your happiness and redefine your path. Her journey from feeling isolated in Burlington to thriving in New Hampshire offers valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of pursuing a life that truly feels like home.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating, following, and reviewing the Forty Drinks Podcast. Your feedback helps us bring more inspiring stories like Sandy's to you!

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

Demarest Directions website

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Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from the Ick. www.fortydrinks.com/ick

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In this enlightening episode, Stephanie sits down with Annette Copeland, a naturopathic doctor whose journey through personal and health challenges led to profound life transformations. Annette shares her compelling story, from a tumultuous childhood and early motherhood to discovering her path in natural medicine and emotional healing in her midlife. Her insights into overcoming generational trauma and embracing a holistic approach to health are both inspiring and educational.

Episode Highlights:

Annette discusses her challenging childhood and early responsibilities, which set the stage for her later struggles and triumphs.

She delves into her health journey, misdiagnoses, and how she finally found relief through naturopathic medicine and addressing food sensitivities.

Annette's transformation began in earnest when she returned to school in her mid-forties to become a naturopathic doctor, proving it's never too late to redirect your life.

The pivotal role of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in healing and personal growth is a key focus, with Annette sharing how these tools helped reshape her life.

Today’s episode with Annette is a deep dive into the power of change, the importance of addressing both physical and emotional health, and the impact of generational patterns on our lives. Annette’s story is a testament to the possibility of transformation at any age and the importance of seeking holistic solutions. Her journey from pain and confusion to clarity and purpose offers valuable lessons on resilience and the potential for renewal that lies within all of us.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating, following, and reviewing the podcast. Your feedback helps us grow and continue bringing inspiring stories like Annette’s to light.

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

Dragonfly Into the Light book - free Kindle edition

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In this heartfelt episode, Stephanie sits down with April Provencher, a vibrant soul who navigated through a maze of life challenges to emerge triumphantly at the age of 40. April shares her journey of "living life backwards," having experienced motherhood, marriage, and a career all by her early twenties. This conversation dives deep into her transformative years, exploring the dark times in her late twenties and the subsequent awakening and healing that reshaped her life. Join us as April reflects on her path to self-discovery, the power of embracing one's weirdness, and her aspirations for a joy-filled fourth decade.

Episode Highlights:

April's Early Challenges: Starting a family at 17 and quickly transitioning into adult responsibilities, feeling like she lived life in reverse.

Dark Period and Transformation: How a deep personal crisis in her late twenties led to profound personal growth and self-awareness.

The Role of Identity Class: April discusses how a personal development course helped catalyze change, despite not remembering much of the content.

Embracing the Weird: April talks about accepting and embracing her unique traits and how it has empowered her.

Impact of Support Systems: The crucial role of friends and unconventional support systems that helped her navigate tough times.

April's Vision for Her Forties: Focused on joy, self-care, and continuing personal growth, while helping others find their path to happiness.

In this episode, April's story unfolds as a testament to the unpredictable yet beautiful journey of self-discovery and personal evolution. Her experiences underscore the importance of seeking help in unexpected places and the transformative power of accepting one's true self. As April steps into her forties with enthusiasm and a heart full of joy, she continues to inspire by living authentically and supporting others in their journeys.

If April's story resonates with you, don't forget to rate, follow, and review the Forty Drinks Podcast to help us share more inspiring stories like hers.

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

The Identity Workshop

Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from the Ick. www.fortydrinks.com/ick

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In a solo episode, Stephanie reflects the tools of personal growth. When people talk about “the tools” they use in their personal growth journeys, there isn't a standard set of tools that nobody told you about, and you can’t get them at any store. With personal growth and breaking habits and cycles, “tools” can feel a little esoteric. Let’s make it more concrete.

I was editing an upcoming episode recently and there was a lot of talk in it about “tools.” When people talk about personal growth, they often talk about tools and I think that shorthand can be frustrating or oblique for people who aren’t yet familiar with the lingo of this arena. 

When people talk about personal growth and development, the word “tools” feels so esoteric because these tools are not hammers and screwdrivers and reciprocating saws. You can't break habits with a hammer. 

Listen to this episode if you want to get some insight into the “tools” and the “toolbox” of personal growth. 

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from the Ick. www.fortydrinks.com/ick

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In this captivating episode, Stephanie sits down with Sarah Gale, a former fashion industry insider and reality TV personality from Project Runway Australia. Sarah shares her profound journey through the fashion world and beyond, exploring her early life experiences, her spiritual awakenings, and how these shaped her unique approach to personal style and self-expression. From a near-death experience to redefining success in her forties, Sarah's story is a testament to the power of inner transformation and finding one's true essence.

Episode Highlights:

Sarah's early spiritual experiences and how they influenced her perspective on life and death.

The challenges and insights from her career in the fashion industry, including her role on Project Runway Australia.

Sarah's transformative journey through personal development, including her study of A Course in Miracles and her profound near-death experience.

The development of her unique approach to fashion, focusing on personal style essences and how clothing can reflect and affect our inner selves.

Practical advice for listeners on how to discover their own style essences and the impact this can have on their confidence and authenticity.

In this episode, Sarah not only shares her personal and professional evolution but also delves into how we can all use fashion as a tool for personal empowerment and self-discovery. Her insights into the interplay between our external appearance and internal identity provide a fresh perspective on how we present ourselves to the world. Whether you're a fashion aficionado or someone curious about personal transformation, this episode offers valuable lessons on living authentically.

Remember to rate, follow, and review the Forty Drinks Podcast if you enjoyed this episode. Your feedback helps us bring more inspiring stories like Sarah's to you!

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

Additional Resources

Sarah’s Website Wearing Your Worth

Sarah’s Free Course - Reclaim Your True Beauty

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Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from the Ick. www.fortydrinks.com/ick

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In this deeply moving episode, Stephanie sits down with Anthony Gonzalez, a man whose life story encapsulates a profound journey of transformation and self-discovery. From navigating the turbulent waters of a challenging childhood and adolescence marked by family drug use and personal involvement in the streets, to a dramatic arrest and subsequent time in prison, Anthony's story is one of evolution and redemption. Through his narrative, we explore the pivotal moments that led to his profound personal growth and his commitment to living a life of respect, responsibility, and community building.

Episode Highlights:

Anthony's early life challenges, including his mother's and aunt's struggles with addiction and his role in caring for his siblings.

The pivotal role his extended family played in providing him with a moral compass and a sense of stability.

Anthony's descent into the drug trade, his arrest, and the life-altering realization that came from his time in prison.

The therapeutic power of writing, which Anthony used as a tool for self-reflection and to communicate with his son.

His insights on personal freedom, the importance of self-respect, and the journey to self-acceptance.

The concept of a "distributed village" and the importance of building supportive communities, regardless of geographical boundaries.

Anthony's ongoing work to create a positive legacy and break generational cycles through conscious choices and actions.

Today's episode with Anthony not only sheds light on the struggles many face when caught in the cycle of crime and punishment but also illuminates the path to redemption and personal growth. Anthony's story is a powerful reminder of the human capacity for change and the importance of community support. His commitment to building a better future for the next generation, his insights on personal freedom, and his advocacy for self-respect and community support are truly inspirational.

If you found this episode enlightening and inspiring, please consider rating, following, and reviewing the Forty Drinks Podcast. Your feedback helps us bring more stories like Anthony's to the forefront.

The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications

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Real Wize Productions 

Get Anthony’s book, From Prison To Peace, The P.L.U.S.H. Lyfe  

Anthony’s first book, Confessions of a Man, The Evolution of a Playa 

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Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from the Ick. www.fortydrinks.com/ick

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