The House of Middlescence with Barbara Brooks

The holidays hit differently when you live solo after 40. Some women feel relief. Others feel pressure from family, traditions, or the world’s obsession with “coupling.” And for many, there is a mix of loneliness, stress, and “I should feel happier than this, it’s the holidays.”

In this fireside, I sit down with licensed therapist Sarah Senst to unpack the mental and emotional load of the season. We get into why the holidays can be a trigger, why single women (especially if you’re over 40) feel judged, how family expectations create pressure, and what to do when your mood drops instead of lifting, no matter how many Hallmark movies you watch.

Find Sarah Senst at sarahsenst.com

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Holiday pressure and being single during Hallmark season

Get on my Living Agefully monthly newsletter at secondactwomen.com

📢 Find me on socials:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks⁠

https:/.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks https://instagram.com/barbarabrooksspeakshttps://www.facebook.com/barbarabrooksspeakshttps:/youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks

👉🏽 Find My Community of Women 40+ on socialshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomenhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen

The Caregiver Crisis is real and hitting women 50+ with force. I sit down with Nadine Cornish and Sarah Scheuneman of #AARP Colorado to talk about the realities of caregiving, the emotional and financial strain, the missing conversations inside families, and the practical steps that every woman needs to take now. They cover state resources, AARP support, power of attorney basics, the next of kin box, and why planning is the strongest form of self care in midlife. A smart, honest conversation for anyone juggling work, life, and the growing responsibility of caring for loved ones.

QUICK LINKS:

The Nokbox: https://share.google/zI1V0SUyDQP8QGl3x

Caregiving Guide: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide/

FAMLI: https://famli.colorado.gov/individuals-and-families/self-employed-workers

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to the House of Middlescence

02:15 Why caregiving is hitting women fifty plus the hardest

08:20 The emotional load no one prepares us for

15:12 How caregiving affects careers, money, and our own health

22:48 Nadine on legal and paperwork must-haves

1:05 Sarah on navigating state resources and real support

40:14 Barbara’s story about care, planning, and what she learned

47:10 AARP resources you should actually use

47:50 Why your next of kin box matters

48:28 Closing conversation with Nadine and Sarah

48:47 Sign off and what is coming next week

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Get in touch with me at [email protected] or learn how you can book me to speak at https://www.barbarabrooks.com.

📧 Get on my Aging Out Loud monthly newsletter at secondactwomen.com

📢 Find me on socials: https:/.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks/ https://instagram.com/barbarabrooksspeaks https://www.facebook.com/barbarabrooksspeaks/ https:/youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks/

👉🏽 Find My Community of Women 40+ on socials https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomen https://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/ https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen

In this candid session we explore what it really means to be a solopreneur in midlife, especially when the usual boxes no longer fit. We talk about the isolation that can follow leaving corporate life, what it means to carve your own path after 40, and how loneliness can become a turning point instead of a setback. With women over 40 now leading the charge as the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs nearly half of all new women-owned businesses are started by women over 45 this episode is a reminder that even when you’re building alone, you’re not the only one feeling it.

Find Tasha Jones at www.linkedin.com/in/tasha-jones/ 

What you’ll walk away with:

✅ Recognizing the loneliness phase you might be in and why it matters

✅ A new perspective on midlife business as strength, not deficit

✅ Simple ways to find community, redefine support, and step into your rightful space If you’re ready to stop playing small, own your story, and build with purpose in your 40s and beyond, this episode is for you.

Visit SecondActWomen.com to download The Midlife Power Plan and join the community for more age inclusive conversations.

We’re in the middle of the year, and it’s the perfect time to pause, reset, and design the next six months with intention. In this episode of The House of Middlescence, I share three power moves to help you revise your goals, celebrate your wins, and create a bold new vision for how you want to finish 2025.

Download the Six‑Month Vision Reset Worksheet here: https://bit.ly/45uQxZp

Comment below: What’s your one big “back‑to‑school” goal before December 31?

Yeah, dating in midlife is very much a thing, and I’m living proof and getting real about what it’s like to date as a solo-ager at 58, what the dating landscape really looks like today, and where the heck we’re supposed to meet our humans.

From the app gap to curated connection spaces (and a few “no thanks” gym moments), I’m not holding back.

This one’s for the women, the solo-agers, the late bloomers, and anyone ready to say: “It’s our time.” Because it is. Let’s talk about finding love in the second (or third) act, with intention, humor, and high standards.

Find me on YouTube too! My channel is for women who know life doesn’t come with an expiration date. Around here, we’re flipping the script on aging, career pivots, and what it means to live fully in your prime.

If you’re ready to mix life in the middle with a little fun, a little grit, and a whole lot of real talk, you’re in the right place. We’re Aging Out Loud, and the best chapters are still ahead.

Get in touch with me at [email protected] or learn how you can book me to speak at https://www.barbarabrooks.com.

📧 Get on my Aging Out Loud monthly newsletter here lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/0VxszrI/getonthelist

📢 Find me on socials:

https:/linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks 

https://instagram.com/heybarbarabrooks

https:/youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks 

👉🏽 Find My Community for Women 40+ SecondAct|Women on socials

https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomen https://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/

https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen

Feel like you're getting passed over, tuned out, or just plain left out after 40? You’re not imagining it—but you’re also not powerless.

In this episode of The House of Middlescence, I’m giving you 5 bold, doable ways to get seen, heard, and back in the room where opportunities happen. Whether you’re rebuilding your career, launching something new, or reclaiming your seat at the table, you’ll want these in your toolkit.

0:00 – Intro

This isn’t your average pep talk. It’s your next bold step.

Watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks

Share this with a woman who needs to be seen, will ya'?

#AgingOutLoud #SecondActWomen #MidlifeMomentum #LifeAfter40 #TheHouseOfMiddlescence #CareerAfter40 #PersonalBranding #WomenInBusiness

Are you feeling like you're working on different planets with your coworkers? You’re not alone—and it’s not about age, it’s about unspoken assumptions and clashing communication styles.

Age-positive speaker and SecondActWomen founder Barbara Brooks breaks down how to navigate multigenerational teams without losing your mind (or your cool).

Whether you’re Gen Z, Gen X, or somewhere in between, this is your guide to better collaboration, communication, and leadership—especially if you’re a woman 40+ rewriting what success looks like.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why Working Across Generations Feels So Hard

01:00 – Who Is Barbara Brooks? (And Why She Gets This)

02:40 – The Real Issue Isn’t Age. It’s Expectations.

04:00 – Stories From the Community

06:30 – The Midlife Power Plan (Free Resource)

📥 Download the Free Midlife Power Plan: 7 smart shifts to help you make your next move with purpose.

➡️ https://www.secondactwomen.com Or email Barbara directly at: [email protected]

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📺 My channel is for women 40+ who know life doesn’t come with an expiration date. Around here, we’re flipping the script on aging, career pivots, and what it means to live fully in your prime. If you’re ready to mix reinvention with a little fun, a little grit, and a whole lot of real talk, you’re in the right place. We’re Aging Out Loud, and the best chapters are still ahead.

Get in touch with me at [email protected] or learn how you can book me to speak at https://www.barbarabrooks.com.

📧 Get on my Aging Out Loud monthly newsletter here lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/0VxszrI/getonthelist

📢 Find me on socials: https:/.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks/

👉🏽 Find My Community for Women 40+ SecondAct|Women on socials

Feeling invisible, undervalued, and overlooked as a #womanover40? You're not alone. I'm sharing 5 actionable tips to help you take back control of your visibility, show up unapologetically, and achieve your goals. You'll: ✨ Discover the surprising truth about women over 40 in entrepreneurship ✨ Learn how to overcome age-related biases and get the recognition you deserve ✨ Get actionable tips on owning your story, speaking up, boosting your personal brand, leveraging your network, and being consistent

Chapters:

03:25 Tip 1: Own Your Story. Confidently share your wins, lessons, and expertise.

06:21 Tip:2: Speak Up, Sister. Let your voice be heard in a meeting, a social post, or a conversation.

09:23 Tip 3: Own Your Personal Brand: Define what you stand for and ensure every action aligns with it.

13:21 Tip 4: Leverage Your Network: Collaborate, connect, and support others.

15:44 Tip 5: Be Consistent: Visibility isn’t a one-time act; it’s a habit.

Subscribe to my channel for more #entrepreneurship and career'ing in the #secondact.

#visibilitymatters #womenover40 #secondact #entrepreneurship #careergoals #proage

Get in touch with me at [email protected] or learn how you can book me to speak at https://www.barbarabrooks.com.

📢Find Barbara on socials: https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks/ https://www.instagram.com/heybarbarabrooks https://www.tiktok.com/@heybarbarabrooks

👉🏽 Find SecondAct|Women on socials https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomen https://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/ https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen

✔️ Get on the Aging Out Loud email list: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/0VxszrI/getonthelist

You open Facebook one day, and changes have happened—only you didn't make them, and now your profile picture, cover photo, name, or other personal information is all different. You've been hacked and no longer have access to your digital life—ever again. On average, 1.4 billion social media accounts are hacked every month, 

Today's guest, Michelle Vos, had her second act happen to her versus making the choice. She'll share her story of grief, guidance, and today's gift, plus seven things to do if it happens to you.

Watch this and other episodes on YouTube too at https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraBrooks/

Get in touch with me at [email protected] or learn how you can book me to speak at https://www.barbarabrooks.com.

The 40s are fabulous. 50s are fierce. 60+ is a force. 👩🏽👩🏼🧔🏼‍♀️👩🏻👩‍🦰 

📢 Find Barbara on socials:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaralbrooks/

https://www.instagram.com/heybarbarabrooks

https://www.tiktok.com/@heybarbarabrooks

👉🏽 Find SecondAct|Women on socials

https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondactwomen

https://www.linkedin.com/company/secondactwomen/

https://www.instagram.com/secondactwomen

✔️ Get on the Aging Out Loud email list: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/0VxszrI/getonthelist