This week on The Uplifters Podcast, global peace leader and midlife changemaker Kerri Kennedy shares how women in the second half of life are uniquely primed for civic action. Kennedy brings 20+ years of experience in human rights, peacebuilding, and political violence response to a conversation that every woman navigating midlife reinvention, community leadership, and the question of "what can I actually do?" needs to hear.

In this episode, you'll hear how Kennedy mobilized a community to secure the release of a neighbor detained by ICE, how small community actions add up to a bigger impact, and how she's sustained decades of difficult work without burning out. Her framework for turning fear into action is practical, research-backed, and exactly what women over 40 need right now.

From training women parliamentarians in Afghanistan under death threats to founding PACs to get more women elected in New Jersey, Kennedy's story is a masterclass in how midlife women can use their networks, experience, and identity certainty to lead when it matters most.

What You'll Learn:

How women over 40 lead differently in civic spaces — Kennedy's specific account of how midlife identity certainty, networks, and experience translate to faster, more decisive action

The 3.5% rule for nonviolent change — what decades of civil resistance research says about how few people it actually takes to shift a system

How to turn civic paralysis into a menu of options — concrete, risk-calibrated actions from spending your values to showing up in person

Sustaining long-haul work without burnout — the "Porous Choir" framework for rest, resilience, and collective action

How to talk to your kids about a scary future — Kennedy's approach to raising engaged, grounded citizens in uncertain times

Building your fear threshold incrementally — why courage is a practice, not a trait, and how to expand it safely

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction and Join the Tryb sponsor

1:30 - Welcome and Women's History Month series context

2:30 - Introducing Kerri Kennedy: global peace leader and peacebuilder

5:00 - How a community mobilized to free a detained neighbor

7:00 - How midlife women lead differently: identity certainty and networks

9:00 - Afghanistan, 9/11, and the moments that narrowed Kerri's north star

13:00 - The 3.5% rule: what the science says about nonviolent civil resistance

19:00 - A practical menu of civic actions for every risk tolerance

22:00 - Mirror neurons, ingroup expansion, and bridging political divides

27:30 - Talking to people who are exhausted from the fight

29:00 - The Porous Choir: how to sustain long-haul civic work

31:30 - Medium-term goal setting for movement work (and for weightlifting)

36:00 - What to tell your kids when they're afraid of the future

43:00 - Processing fear and building a fear threshold

48:00 - Translating fear into action: a practical exercise

49:30 - Guest nomination: Marcia, human rights lawyer in Costa Rica

Key Takeaways:

For midlife women navigating civic engagement: Identity certainty, which research shows peaks around age 65, means women in the second half of life are neurologically primed to act from values rather than fear, making midlife one of the most powerful times for civic leadership.

For women over 40 seeking purpose: The "Porous Choir" framework offers a sustainable model for long-term impact: contribute when you can, rest when you must, trust the collective to hold what you can't.

For anyone feeling paralyzed by the scale of current events: Kennedy's research-backed 3.5% rule reframes the problem. You don't need everyone. You need a sustained, nonviolent 3.5%, and your small action is part of that percentage.

Resources & Links:

American Friends Service Committee: afsc.org

Kerri Kennedy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kerriken

Kerri Kennedy on Instagram: @kerrikennedy1

Book: Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security (co-edited by Kerri Kennedy)

Related episode, Amy Cohen (Families for Safe Streets): Listen on Spotify

Related episode, Rev. Ann Kansfield (FDNY Chaplain): Listen on Spotify

Related episode, Laura Kavanagh (First Female NYC Fire Commissioner): Listen on Spotify

Join the Tribe: jointhetryb.com, code: UPLIFTER20

About Kerri Kennedy:

Kerri Kennedy is a global peace leader with more than two decades of experience advancing human rights, protecting civic space, and responding to political violence worldwide. She serves as International Associate General Secretary at the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), overseeing peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and migration programs across four regions and more than 20 country offices. She is the co-editor of Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security and the founder of two PACs supporting women in New Jersey politics. A midlife changemaker in every sense, Kennedy brings hard-won global experience home to local community action.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reintegration. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords:

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, female founders midlife, perimenopause motivation, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, midlife civic engagement, women over 40 leadership, midlife women activism, democratic resilience women, women community changemakers, inspiring women over 40, midlife awakening women, women over 40 success stories, growth mindset women over 40

YouTube Show Notes:

#154: How to Turn Fear Into Action When Democracy Feels Fragile

What does a global peace leader do when democracy feels fragile? She mobilizes. And she showed me exactly how to do it.

This week on The Uplifters Podcast, I'm joined by Kerri Kennedy, International Associate General Secretary at the American Friends Service Committee, where she oversees peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and migration programs across 4 regions and 20+ country offices. Kerri has appeared on CNN, Al Jazeera English, and NPR, and is the co-editor of Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security.

This is a Women's History Month episode, and it might be the most practical civic conversation we've ever had. Kerri shares the research-backed "3.5% rule" for nonviolent change, her "Porous Choir" framework for sustaining long-haul work without burnout, and a concrete menu of actions for women at every risk tolerance who want to show up for their communities right now.

If you've been feeling frozen, exhausted, or unsure where to start, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

In this episode:

Why women over 40 are uniquely primed for civic leadership

The 3.5% rule: how few people it takes to shift an entire system

How to act civically without putting yourself at risk

The Porous Choir: how to sustain decades of meaningful work

What to tell your kids when they're afraid of the future

Building your fear threshold, one small brave step at a time

Connect with Kerri Kennedy: AFSC: https://www.afsc.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriken/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrikennedy1/

Connect with Aransas: Website: https://www.theuplifterspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aransas_savas/ Substack: theuplifterspodcast.substack.com

Shop Join the Tryb: https://jointhetryb.com | Code: UPLIFTER20

This week on The Uplifters Podcast, global peace leader and midlife changemaker Kerri Kennedy shares how women in the second half of life are uniquely primed for civic action. Kennedy brings 20+ years of experience in human rights, peacebuilding, and political violence response to a conversation that every woman navigating midlife reinvention, community leadership, and the question of "what can I actually do?" needs to hear.

In this episode, you'll hear how Kennedy mobilized a community to secure the release of a neighbor detained by ICE, how small community actions add up to a bigger impact, and how she's sustained decades of difficult work without burning out. Her framework for turning fear into action is practical, research-backed, and exactly what women over 40 need right now.

From training women parliamentarians in Afghanistan under death threats to founding PACs to get more women elected in New Jersey, Kennedy's story is a masterclass in how midlife women can use their networks, experience, and identity certainty to lead when it matters most.

What You'll Learn:

How women over 40 lead differently in civic spaces — Kennedy's specific account of how midlife identity certainty, networks, and experience translate to faster, more decisive action

The 3.5% rule for nonviolent change — what decades of civil resistance research says about how few people it actually takes to shift a system

How to turn civic paralysis into a menu of options — concrete, risk-calibrated actions from spending your values to showing up in person

Sustaining long-haul work without burnout — the "Porous Choir" framework for rest, resilience, and collective action

How to talk to your kids about a scary future — Kennedy's approach to raising engaged, grounded citizens in uncertain times

Building your fear threshold incrementally — why courage is a practice, not a trait, and how to expand it safely

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction and Join the Tryb sponsor

1:30 - Welcome and Women's History Month series context

2:30 - Introducing Kerri Kennedy: global peace leader and peacebuilder

5:00 - How a community mobilized to free a detained neighbor

7:00 - How midlife women lead differently: identity certainty and networks

9:00 - Afghanistan, 9/11, and the moments that narrowed Kerri's north star

13:00 - The 3.5% rule: what the science says about nonviolent civil resistance

19:00 - A practical menu of civic actions for every risk tolerance

22:00 - Mirror neurons, ingroup expansion, and bridging political divides

27:30 - Talking to people who are exhausted from the fight

29:00 - The Porous Choir: how to sustain long-haul civic work

31:30 - Medium-term goal setting for movement work (and for weightlifting)

36:00 - What to tell your kids when they're afraid of the future

43:00 - Processing fear and building a fear threshold

48:00 - Translating fear into action: a practical exercise

49:30 - Guest nomination: Marcia, human rights lawyer in Costa Rica

Key Takeaways:

For midlife women navigating civic engagement: Identity certainty, which research shows peaks around age 65, means women in the second half of life are neurologically primed to act from values rather than fear, making midlife one of the most powerful times for civic leadership.

For women over 40 seeking purpose: The "Porous Choir" framework offers a sustainable model for long-term impact: contribute when you can, rest when you must, trust the collective to hold what you can't.

For anyone feeling paralyzed by the scale of current events: Kennedy's research-backed 3.5% rule reframes the problem. You don't need everyone. You need a sustained, nonviolent 3.5%, and your small action is part of that percentage.

Resources & Links:

American Friends Service Committee: afsc.org

Kerri Kennedy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kerriken

Kerri Kennedy on Instagram: @kerrikennedy1

Book: Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security (co-edited by Kerri Kennedy)

Related episode, Amy Cohen (Families for Safe Streets): Listen on Spotify

Related episode, Rev. Ann Kansfield (FDNY Chaplain): Listen on Spotify

Related episode, Laura Kavanagh (First Female NYC Fire Commissioner): Listen on Spotify

Join the Tribe: jointhetryb.com, code: UPLIFTER20

About Kerri Kennedy:

Kerri Kennedy is a global peace leader with more than two decades of experience advancing human rights, protecting civic space, and responding to political violence worldwide. She serves as International Associate General Secretary at the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), overseeing peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and migration programs across four regions and more than 20 country offices. She is the co-editor of Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security and the founder of two PACs supporting women in New Jersey politics. A midlife changemaker in every sense, Kennedy brings hard-won global experience home to local community action.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reintegration. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords:

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, female founders midlife, perimenopause motivation, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, midlife civic engagement, women over 40 leadership, midlife women activism, democratic resilience women, women community changemakers, inspiring women over 40, midlife awakening women, women over 40 success stories, growth mindset women over 40

YouTube Show Notes:

#154: How to Turn Fear Into Action When Democracy Feels Fragile

What does a global peace leader do when democracy feels fragile? She mobilizes. And she showed me exactly how to do it.

This week on The Uplifters Podcast, I'm joined by Kerri Kennedy, International Associate General Secretary at the American Friends Service Committee, where she oversees peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and migration programs across 4 regions and 20+ country offices. Kerri has appeared on CNN, Al Jazeera English, and NPR, and is the co-editor of Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security.

This is a Women's History Month episode, and it might be the most practical civic conversation we've ever had. Kerri shares the research-backed "3.5% rule" for nonviolent change, her "Porous Choir" framework for sustaining long-haul work without burnout, and a concrete menu of actions for women at every risk tolerance who want to show up for their communities right now.

If you've been feeling frozen, exhausted, or unsure where to start, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

In this episode:

Why women over 40 are uniquely primed for civic leadership

The 3.5% rule: how few people it takes to shift an entire system

How to act civically without putting yourself at risk

The Porous Choir: how to sustain decades of meaningful work

What to tell your kids when they're afraid of the future

Building your fear threshold, one small brave step at a time

Connect with Kerri Kennedy: AFSC: https://www.afsc.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriken/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrikennedy1/

Connect with Aransas: Website: https://www.theuplifterspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aransas_savas/ Substack: theuplifterspodcast.substack.com

Shop Join the Tryb: https://jointhetryb.com | Code: UPLIFTER20

What does it look like when midlife women step up to lead in a world that has historically told them to sit down? In this episode of The Uplifters Podcast, host Aransas Savas sits down with her own neighbors, two women who ran against each other for mayor of Highlands, New Jersey, to talk about local leadership, community engagement, and the very specific courage it takes to run for office as a woman over 40. Women currently make up just 28% of Congress, hold only 12 of 50 governorships, and are twice as likely as men to rate themselves unqualified to run for office even with identical credentials. This is a conversation about why that has to change, and how midlife women are uniquely positioned to lead it.

You'll hear Rebecca Wells, the first woman to serve as fire chief of the Highlands Fire Department, and Carolyn Broullon, a three-term mayor, talk candidly about what it took to campaign in a small town, how they see the future of their community, and what civic engagement really looks like at the local level. Whether you've thought about running for office, joining a committee, or just finally going to a town council meeting, this episode is for you. For midlife women navigating second act reinvention or looking for ways to create real-world impact, this is your reminder that the most powerful change often starts in your own backyard.

What You'll Learn:

How midlife women in politics overcome the confidence gap — and why women are twice as likely to underestimate their own qualifications

Starting over and showing up after loss — Rebecca ran for mayor months after losing her father and what that taught her about grief and purpose

Women over 40 in civic leadership — what barriers still exist and how these two women navigated them

Building community trust as a midlife woman — the Edelman research on proximity and why face-to-face engagement matters more than ever

How to get involved in local politics without running for office — practical entry points for midlife women who want to make a difference

Nonpartisan elections and women's leadership — what happens when you remove party labels and ask people to actually think

Midlife reinvention through community service — how showing up locally can become a second act of purpose and impact

Key Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction and Join the Trybsponsor spot 1:30 - Welcome and state of women in politics stats 3:00 - Introducing Rebecca Wells and Carolyn Broullon 4:30 - What Highlands means to Rebecca (lifelong resident) 5:45 - What Highlands means to Carolyn (chosen community) 7:00 - Their shared vision for the future of the town 10:00 - The experience of running for office as a midlife woman 11:30 - Rebecca on running while grieving her father 13:30 - Carolyn on building community trust through presence 15:00 - Bringing kids into the campaign 17:30 - The election results and what a 66-vote margin means 19:30 - A thousand people who didn't vote — civic disengagement 21:00 - Helen Arteaga and the power of local impact 22:30 - How disengagement connects to feeling powerless 25:00 - Rebecca's plan for a non-political neighborhood group 27:00 - Nonpartisan elections, tribalism, and voter behavior 30:00 - Closing: how to show up in your own community

Key Takeaways:

For midlife women considering civic leadership: You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to ask the questions and be willing to enlist others to help find solutions.

For women over 40 seeking purpose and impact: Real change starts locally. The most powerful thing you can do in a broken-feeling world is take care of your own backyard.

For midlife women navigating loss or transition: Rebecca ran for mayor months after losing her father. Grief can be a north star, not just a stopping point.

Featured Quote:

"If you can give a night a week, you get to learn your neighbors, have input, and really shape your community." — Rebecca Wells

Resources & Links:

Related episode: Helen Arteaga — First Latina CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst

Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/trust-barometer

Join the Tribe: jointhetryb.com code: UPLIFTER20

About Rebecca Wells:

Rebecca Wells is a lifelong resident of Highlands, New Jersey and the first woman ever to serve as fire chief of the Highlands Fire Department. A second-act civic leader and midlife woman in politics, she has served five terms on town council, nearly two decades on the local housing authority, and currently serves as Deputy Chief and on the Board of Education.

About Carolyn Broullon:

Carolyn Broullon is the three-term mayor of Highlands, New Jersey, a women-in-leadership pioneer who moved to the town in 2002 and has spent over two decades building community trust through presence, dialogue, and civic innovation, including leading the effort to bring nonpartisan elections to Highlands.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords:

women in local politics, midlife women leadership, women over 40 civic engagement, midlife reinvention second act, women running for office, women in male dominated fields, midlife women making a difference, courage capital, perimenopause confidence, second act women over 40, midlife purpose women, women 40s new purpose, inspiring women over 40, midlife motivation women, starting over at 40 women, women changing careers midlife, local leadership women, community engagement midlife women, women over 40 success stories, midlife awakening women

In this episode, we meet Dutch documentary filmmaker Corinne van der Borch and Australian artist-animator Edwina White — two women in the second half of life who turned a dog park friendship into a creative partnership, and a Brooklyn crossing guard into the subject of their upcoming documentary, I Got You. For any woman navigating midlife reinvention, this conversation is a masterclass in starting hyperlocal, accepting help gracefully, and doing meaningful work even when the ground is shifting beneath you.

You'll hear how these two collaborators built a community-funded project from the ground up — no big studio, no safety net — while each navigating their own personal upheaval. This is a midlife career pivot story, a creative courage story, and above all, a story about what happens when we pay close attention to the people right in front of us.

Miss T, the Bed-Stuy crossing guard at the center of the documentary, is herself a remarkable woman: a foster care survivor who has built a neighborhood family out of loose ties, birthday cards, and epic twice-yearly dinner parties. Her philosophy — generous with love, selective with energy — is something every woman over 40 can carry with them.

What You'll Learn:

How to start a meaningful creative project in midlife with limited resources — Corinne and Edwina's model of community-funded, in-kind collaboration

Why hyperlocal impact matters for women over 40 seeking purpose — and how Miss T's corner became the center of a whole neighborhood's resilience

How to convert loose social ties into real community — the skill that defines Miss T's life and that any woman in midlife can practice

Building creative partnerships in the second half of life — what made this dog-park friendship into a genuine collaboration

Asking for help and receiving it — especially for women over 40 who have been conditioned to go it alone

The courage to share work publicly before it's finished — and how visibility creates the support you didn't know was coming

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & Join the Tryb sponsor message 1:30 - Welcome to The Uplifters & introduction of Corinne and Edwina 2:45 - Who is Miss T? The Bed-Stuy crossing guard who changes everything 6:30 - How Miss T hosts community dinner parties and builds neighborhood family 9:00 - Loose ties vs. strong ties — and what Miss T teaches us about connection 10:30 - Miss T's philosophy: open-hearted but selective with energy 14:00 - What it means to show up with presence vs. resources 15:00 - Edwina's personal journey: navigating divorce and upheaval during filming 17:00 - How the corner became a refuge — and how the collaboration began 19:30 - The dog park meeting and Sesame Street connection 22:00 - The multimedia vision: animation, drone footage, and mixed-media storytelling 26:00 - The snowball effect: how community support found I Got You 31:00 - Three lessons for doing big, brave things: start local, share openly, accept help 34:00 - How to support the documentary — GoFundMe and skills-based contributions 37:00 - Nominating the next Uplifter: a filmmaker working on a bell hooks documentary

Key Takeaways:

For midlife women starting creative projects: You don't need a big platform or big budget — you need one honest story and the willingness to tell it in public

For women over 40 seeking community: Miss T shows us that connection is a daily practice, not a grand gesture; it's the birthday card, the emoji, the remembered name

For midlife career changers and collaborators: The right creative partner might be walking their dog twenty feet away — and the project that heals you might also be the one that matters most to your community

Featured Quote:

"It's really easy to fall into the trap of thinking, I don't have enough — and this is a woman who shows us that you just need yourself and the moment you're in to be present and connect in order to have tremendous impact for generations." — Aransas Savas

Resources & Links:

Support the documentary: GoFundMe — I Got You

Corinne's film Sisters on Track — available on Netflix

Related episodes: Gina Hamadey on gratitude and connection | Alison Mariella Désir on building community | Cleyvis Natera on creative courage

About the Guests:

Dutch documentary filmmaker Corinne van der Borch (Sisters on Track, Netflix) and Australian artist-animator Edwina White are midlife creative collaborators whose work spans documentary film, animation, Sesame Street, and now I Got You — a short documentary about Miss T, the Brooklyn crossing guard who became the heartbeat of her Bed-Stuy neighborhood. Both women are in the second half of their careers, making work that centers community, connection, and the quiet heroism of everyday people.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords:

midlife reinvention women, women over 40 creative careers, second act career women, midlife community building, women over 40 starting over, midlife purpose women, women 40s new career, midlife transition women, second half of life women, inspiring women over 40, midlife collaboration, women entrepreneurs over 40, midlife awakening women, midlife courage capital, midlife dreams women, 40+ women creative projects, women over 40 success stories, midlife glow up, community connection midlife, women changing careers 40s

Alyssa Dineen: Midlife Dating Coach — Finding Love Online After 40

What does it actually take to find love in midlife — especially when you're starting over after a long marriage, navigating menopause, and swiping on apps you never imagined you'd need? For women over 40 returning to dating, the modern landscape can feel like a foreign country. Dating coach and author Alyssa Dineen found herself there too, leaving an 18-year marriage in her early forties and figuring out online dating in real time. Now she helps midlife women navigate the apps with confidence, strategy, and a lot less heartbreak.

In this episode, you'll learn what actually works — from building an authentic profile that attracts the right match to her signature "four-date minimum" rule that has helped countless women find love they nearly walked away from. Alyssa brings both personal experience and professional wisdom to what it means to date with intention during this second act.

Alyssa's own midlife reinvention took her from a difficult marriage to a coaching practice she built from scratch, helping online daters feel more empowered as they navigate connection in the second half of life. Her transformation is proof that it's never too late — including the 84-year-old client who met the love of her life and got married.

What You'll Learn:

How to find love online after 40 — Alyssa's proven strategy for online dating success in midlife, including which apps actually work for women over 40

Why the "four-date minimum" changes everything — what science and experience both tell us about chemistry, attraction, and why we give up too soon

Midlife reinvention through dating — how getting back out there after divorce can become a profound act of self-discovery for women over 40

Building confidence after 40 as a female founder — how Alyssa turned her own second-act experience into a thriving coaching business

How to create an authentic dating profile — why repelling the wrong matches is a strategy, not a failure, for women seeking meaningful connection

Starting over during midlife transition — what to do when modern dating technology feels completely overwhelming

Perimenopause and romantic connection — understanding how our nervous systems can mistake anxiety for attraction, and how to rewire toward healthier love

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & Join the Tribe sponsor

1:30 - Welcome to the Love Series finale

2:00 - Statistics on dating after 50

3:00 - Introducing Alyssa Dineen

4:30 - Alyssa's 18-year marriage and the decision to leave

6:45 - Rediscovering herself through dating in her early forties

8:15 - Meeting her partner on Tinder and how Style My Profile was born

11:00 - The parallel between career reinvention and dating reinvention

12:45 - Authenticity in dating profiles and why we hide ourselves

16:30 - The four-date minimum explained

17:00 - Looking back at Alyssa's own four dates with her partner

21:00 - When to keep going vs. call it done

23:00 - The science of neural pathways and old relationship patterns

26:00 - Why we chase the wrong kind of "exciting"

30:15 - Navigating dating app technology in midlife

33:00 - Why you need a strategy (not just an app) to find love

36:00 - The most important thing midlife women should know about finding love

38:00 - Curiosity as the single most powerful dating tool

39:15 - Alyssa's new podcast: The Dating Lab

40:00 - Self-care and the radical practice of napping

42:00 - How to find and support Alyssa

Key Takeaways:

For midlife women returning to dating: The "four-date minimum" isn't about settling — it's about giving real connection time to develop past the walls we've built from years of lived experience

For women over 40 seeking purpose and love: Your dating journey can become a second-act reinvention story; the same curiosity and openness that helps you find love helps you find yourself

For perimenopause entrepreneurs and career changers: Alyssa's path from difficult marriage to thriving business owner is a masterclass in turning personal pain into professional purpose

For anyone who thinks it's too late: A client found love and got married at 84. The data on midlife online dating is actually quite good — 72% of singles aged 43-58 report their online dating efforts led to a real romantic relationship

Featured Quote:

"It is not too late. I hear this from women who are 40, 45, 50, 60 — everybody thinks they've waited too long. It is not too late." — Alyssa Dineen

Resources & Links:

Alyssa's website: stylemyprofilenyc.com

Instagram: @stylemyprofilenyc

Personal Instagram: @alyssadineen

TikTok: @stylemyprofile

Alyssa's podcast: The Dating Lab (available on all major platforms)

Join the Tribe: jointhetribe.com — use code UPLIFTER20 for 20% off your first order

About Alyssa Dineen:

Alyssa Dineen is a published author, dating coach, and founder of Style My Profile NYC — a transformative coaching practice helping online daters feel more confident and empowered as they navigate modern dating. After leaving an 18-year marriage in her early forties, Alyssa rebuilt her life and found love through the same process she now teaches. A true midlife reinvention story, Alyssa's work helps women over 40 approach dating with strategy, authenticity, and hope.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords:

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, female founders midlife, perimenopause motivation, finding love after 40, online dating over 40, dating in midlife, midlife dating women, second act love story, women 40s dating apps, dating after divorce over 40, midlife dating coach, love after 50, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, dating app strategy women over 40, finding partner in second half of life

Susan Ruth: Filmmaker and Podcaster on Human Connection — Staying Fully Human at Midlife and Beyond

What does it mean to stay human — really, vulnerably human — when AI, algorithms, and an endless scroll are designed to do our connecting for us? Episode 150 of The Uplifters features Susan Ruth, a filmmaker, songwriter, painter, and host of the nearly 500-episode Hey Human Podcast, in a conversation about the most courageous thing women over 40 can do right now: choose presence. For women navigating midlife reinvention, menopause life changes, and the kind of perimenopause-era identity shifts that make you question everything, Susan's story is a powerful reminder that human-to-human sameness is still our most radical resource.

In this episode, you'll learn why starting over at 40 or 50 often begins not with a plan but with a single act of connection — and how midlife women are uniquely positioned to lead that charge. Susan's journey from despair in a grocery store parking lot to nearly 500 conversations about what makes us human is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose, staying brave when it would be easier to go numb, and building a second act that refuses to look away.

What You'll Learn:

How to stay connected in midlife

Why perimenopause and midlife reinvention are uniquely vulnerable to digital sedation — and how to resist it

How women over 40 can build courage capital through creative expression and community rather than isolation

The midlife mindset shift from consuming to making — and why it changes everything

Why starting over at 40+ often begins with one small human moment, not a master plan

How women in their second half of life can use proximity and presence as antidotes to despair — and fuel for meaningful change

Key Timestamps:

0:00 — Introduction and 150-episode celebration

~3:00 — The grocery store moment that launched Hey Human Podcast

~8:30 — On seeing sameness before difference: "Evening, sister"

~13:30 — Nearly 500 episodes and what they've taught her about humans

~16:45 — On knowing who you are and why it protects you from the machine

~18:30 — The TikTok spiral: recognizing the sedative for what it is

~20:30 — Midlife fatalism vs. radical presence

~23:00 — Art as defiance: making things when the world gets heavy

~26:00 — Starting in your own backyard

~32:30 — Nominating Julia Crico

Key Takeaways:

For women over 40 navigating loneliness: Human connection is still your most renewable resource — and it often starts with showing up for one person close to home.

For midlife women in perimenopause or transition: When everything feels out of control, making something — anything — is an act of agency and defiance.

For second-act career changers and midlife entrepreneurs: You don't need expertise to start. Susan knew nothing about podcasting. She just knew she couldn't stop asking her question. Nearly 500 episodes later, she's glad she began.

"Joy is a form of rebellion. Do not be afraid of your own happiness. Be joyful — that's the gift you give to the world."

— Susan Ruth

Resources & Links:

Susan Ruth on all platforms: @susanruthism (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube)

Susan's music: Search "Susan Ruth" on Apple Music and all major streaming platforms

Hey Human Podcast: Available wherever you get podcasts

Related episodes: Susan McPherson (Ep. 85) | Mara Richards Bim (Ep. 31)

About Susan Ruth:

Susan Ruth is a filmmaker, songwriter, visual artist, and podcaster based in Los Angeles. She is the creator and host of Hey Human Podcast, a nearly 500-episode exploration of what makes us human — and what keeps us from fully becoming so. A fierce advocate for independent art and live performance, Susan has spent her career making work that insists on human connection as an act of both courage and rebellion. Find her @susanruthism across all platforms.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas | @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Facebook: Aransas Savas | Substack: theuplifterspodcast.com

Keywords:

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, perimenopause motivation, midlife purpose women, second act career women, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, human connection midlife, midlife loneliness women, women over 40 success stories, midlife glow up, 40+ women entrepreneurs, midlife awakening women, inspiring women over 40, growth mindset women over 40, AI and human connection, staying human midlife

Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez: Creating Midlife Private Parts - An Anthology for Women over 40

What happens when two women meet in their fifties and decide that the stories being told about midlife women are incomplete? Dina Aronson, a former attorney turned pro-age advocate and writer, and Dina Alvarez, a freelance writer and co-founder of SomosPadres, created Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays That Will Change The Way You Think About Age—an anthology that's reshaping how we talk about midlife transformation, menopause, aging, and what's possible after 40. These two powerhouse editors met through a serendipitous "midlife blind date" and built a creative partnership that's now giving voice to diverse women's experiences of stepping into the 40+ zone and reimagining what comes next. In this episode, we explore how they transformed a cultural need into a community, what it takes to build something meaningful during midlife reinvention, the courage required to pursue big dreams despite feeling unprepared, and why midlife friendships become the foundation for our most important work. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start something new, or felt unseen by the narratives being told about your age, this conversation is for you. This is a story about women over 40 reclaiming their narratives, building courage capital together, and refusing to settle for the limited stories culture offers them.

What You'll Learn

The power of midlife friendships and creative collaboration — Understand why these years are uniquely positioned for deep partnership and meaningful work alongside other women

How midlife women are leading cultural conversations about aging — Discover what it takes to publish an anthology that centers diverse women's voices and challenges narrow narratives about the second half of life

Menopause, mortality, and the stories we're not telling — Explore taboo midlife topics (menopause, death, sexuality, aging) and why representation matters for women navigating these transitions

Building courage capital through community — Learn why readiness is not an individual practice but a community effort, and how to identify your allies and amplifiers in midlife

Starting a meaningful project when you don't feel qualified — Understand how decades of lived experience qualify you to do bold creative work, even without traditional credentials

What midlife women uniquely offer the world — Recognize the pattern recognition, wisdom, and crystallized intelligence that make midlife the ideal time for innovation and creative endeavors

Key Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction and Aransas's connection to Midlife Private Parts3:45 - Meeting Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez, editors of the anthology5:15 - How the book came to life and what makes it special7:00 - The themes within the anthology: vulnerability, community, and sisterhood10:30 - What topics feel most taboo? Death, menopause, and pleasure14:30 - Why representation and seeing ourselves matters16:45 - The serendipitous "midlife blind date" that started it all18:00 - How two women met post-50 and built a creative partnership20:30 - Adult friendship in midlife and why it matters for mental and physical health23:00 - Overcoming the "am I ready?" question and imposter syndrome29:30 - Dina Aronson's journey from attorney to writer (saying "I am a writer")32:45 - Dina Alvarez on readiness and community: building your support system first35:00 - What resources you've built throughout your life that are ready to use36:45 - Priority practices for body, mind, and spirit at midlife38:15 - What's next? Dina Alvarez embracing public speaking and interviews39:30 - Dina Aronson's dream: turning essays into a Hulu anthology series41:00 - Nominations: Susan Koff (Uncommon Threads) and Jessica Fine (Breathtaking)44:30 - Where to find Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez and the book

Key Takeaways

For midlife women seeking career reinvention: Identity precedes action. You don't need perfect credentials or previous experience to pursue something new in midlife. Decades of lived experience and pattern recognition are qualifications in themselves. Say "I am" before you feel completely ready.

For women over 40 navigating major life transitions: Readiness is not an individual practice—it's a community effort. Build your support system first, then take the leap with people who believe in you. Your friends become your collaborators, and your collaborators become your deepest friendships.

For women seeking representation and visibility: The stories we tell shape what feels possible. When culture stops telling our stories, we lose evidence of what's achievable. Create the representation you need to see. Share your story so other women know they're not alone and understand what's possible for them.

For anyone feeling like they don't belong: Every major accomplishment in your life started with saying yes despite doubt. Short-term awkwardness is always worth enduring to avoid long-term regret. The worst thing that happens is you learn something and move forward.

"There's really no such thing as a midlife beginner, because you do bring all of those sort of layers of experience like becoming like this jumping off platform so that you're never starting from zero or scratch." — Dina Aronson

Resources & Links

Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays That Will Change The Way You Think About Age — MidlifePrivateParts.com

Dina Aronson's Patina Newsletter — Patina with Dina Aronson on Substack

Dina Aronson on Instagram — @patina_life

Dina Aronson on LinkedIn — Dina Aronson

Dina Alvarez's A Few Good Things — Substack

The Uplifters Podcast — theuplifterspodcast.com

About Dina Aronson

Dina Aronson is a writer, editor, and pro-age advocate passionate about reframing how culture talks about aging and midlife women. A former attorney who spent years in legal practice and law firm management, she pivoted careers at 51 to pursue writing and advocacy work. She founded the Patina blog, now a popular Substack newsletter, where she explores aging through an honest, curious midlife lens. As co-editor of Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays That Will Change The Way You Think About Age, Dina is leading important conversations about what it means to age authentically in a youth-obsessed culture. She serves on the Governing Board of America Needs You and the Influencer Council of Uncommon Threads. She lives between New York City and Miami with her husband.

About Dina Alvarez

Dina Alvarez is a writer, editor, and community builder who has spent her career amplifying underrepresented voices. She began as a freelance writer covering education and lifestyle topics for publications like Big Apple Parents, then co-founded SomosPadres, the first bilingual parenting publication for Hispanic families in New York City. Her transition into micro-blogging about midlife women led her to co-create Midlife Private Parts, an anthology that gives voice to diverse stories about stepping into the 40+ zone and navigating midlife transformation. Dina is dedicated to connecting women across generations and creating opportunities for midlife women to share their stories and build community. She is the mother of two adult sons and lives in New York City with her husband.

About Your Host

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, midlife women aging, female creativity midlife, women 40s new career

Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez: Creating Midlife Private Parts - An Anthology for Women over 40

What happens when two women meet in their fifties and decide that the stories being told about midlife women are incomplete? Dina Aronson, a former attorney turned pro-age advocate and writer, and Dina Alvarez, a freelance writer and co-founder of SomosPadres, created Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays That Will Change The Way You Think About Age—an anthology that's reshaping how we talk about midlife transformation, menopause, aging, and what's possible after 40. These two powerhouse editors met through a serendipitous "midlife blind date" and built a creative partnership that's now giving voice to diverse women's experiences of stepping into the 40+ zone and reimagining what comes next. In this episode, we explore how they transformed a cultural need into a community, what it takes to build something meaningful during midlife reinvention, the courage required to pursue big dreams despite feeling unprepared, and why midlife friendships become the foundation for our most important work. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start something new, or felt unseen by the narratives being told about your age, this conversation is for you. This is a story about women over 40 reclaiming their narratives, building courage capital together, and refusing to settle for the limited stories culture offers them.

What You'll Learn

The power of midlife friendships and creative collaboration — Understand why these years are uniquely positioned for deep partnership and meaningful work alongside other women

How midlife women are leading cultural conversations about aging — Discover what it takes to publish an anthology that centers diverse women's voices and challenges narrow narratives about the second half of life

Menopause, mortality, and the stories we're not telling — Explore taboo midlife topics (menopause, death, sexuality, aging) and why representation matters for women navigating these transitions

Building courage capital through community — Learn why readiness is not an individual practice but a community effort, and how to identify your allies and amplifiers in midlife

Starting a meaningful project when you don't feel qualified — Understand how decades of lived experience qualify you to do bold creative work, even without traditional credentials

What midlife women uniquely offer the world — Recognize the pattern recognition, wisdom, and crystallized intelligence that make midlife the ideal time for innovation and creative endeavors

Key Timestamps

0:00 - Introduction and Aransas's connection to Midlife Private Parts3:45 - Meeting Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez, editors of the anthology5:15 - How the book came to life and what makes it special7:00 - The themes within the anthology: vulnerability, community, and sisterhood10:30 - What topics feel most taboo? Death, menopause, and pleasure14:30 - Why representation and seeing ourselves matters16:45 - The serendipitous "midlife blind date" that started it all18:00 - How two women met post-50 and built a creative partnership20:30 - Adult friendship in midlife and why it matters for mental and physical health23:00 - Overcoming the "am I ready?" question and imposter syndrome29:30 - Dina Aronson's journey from attorney to writer (saying "I am a writer")32:45 - Dina Alvarez on readiness and community: building your support system first35:00 - What resources you've built throughout your life that are ready to use36:45 - Priority practices for body, mind, and spirit at midlife38:15 - What's next? Dina Alvarez embracing public speaking and interviews39:30 - Dina Aronson's dream: turning essays into a Hulu anthology series41:00 - Nominations: Susan Koff (Uncommon Threads) and Jessica Fine (Breathtaking)44:30 - Where to find Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez and the book

Key Takeaways

For midlife women seeking career reinvention: Identity precedes action. You don't need perfect credentials or previous experience to pursue something new in midlife. Decades of lived experience and pattern recognition are qualifications in themselves. Say "I am" before you feel completely ready.

For women over 40 navigating major life transitions: Readiness is not an individual practice—it's a community effort. Build your support system first, then take the leap with people who believe in you. Your friends become your collaborators, and your collaborators become your deepest friendships.

For women seeking representation and visibility: The stories we tell shape what feels possible. When culture stops telling our stories, we lose evidence of what's achievable. Create the representation you need to see. Share your story so other women know they're not alone and understand what's possible for them.

For anyone feeling like they don't belong: Every major accomplishment in your life started with saying yes despite doubt. Short-term awkwardness is always worth enduring to avoid long-term regret. The worst thing that happens is you learn something and move forward.

"There's really no such thing as a midlife beginner, because you do bring all of those sort of layers of experience like becoming like this jumping off platform so that you're never starting from zero or scratch." — Dina Aronson

Resources & Links

Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays That Will Change The Way You Think About Age — MidlifePrivateParts.com

Dina Aronson's Patina Newsletter — Patina with Dina Aronson on Substack

Dina Aronson on Instagram — @patina_life

Dina Aronson on LinkedIn — Dina Aronson

Dina Alvarez's A Few Good Things — Substack

The Uplifters Podcast — theuplifterspodcast.com

About Dina Aronson

Dina Aronson is a writer, editor, and pro-age advocate passionate about reframing how culture talks about aging and midlife women. A former attorney who spent years in legal practice and law firm management, she pivoted careers at 51 to pursue writing and advocacy work. She founded the Patina blog, now a popular Substack newsletter, where she explores aging through an honest, curious midlife lens. As co-editor of Midlife Private Parts: Revealing Essays That Will Change The Way You Think About Age, Dina is leading important conversations about what it means to age authentically in a youth-obsessed culture. She serves on the Governing Board of America Needs You and the Influencer Council of Uncommon Threads. She lives between New York City and Miami with her husband.

About Dina Alvarez

Dina Alvarez is a writer, editor, and community builder who has spent her career amplifying underrepresented voices. She began as a freelance writer covering education and lifestyle topics for publications like Big Apple Parents, then co-founded SomosPadres, the first bilingual parenting publication for Hispanic families in New York City. Her transition into micro-blogging about midlife women led her to co-create Midlife Private Parts, an anthology that gives voice to diverse stories about stepping into the 40+ zone and navigating midlife transformation. Dina is dedicated to connecting women across generations and creating opportunities for midlife women to share their stories and build community. She is the mother of two adult sons and lives in New York City with her husband.

About Your Host

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, midlife women aging, female creativity midlife, women 40s new career

Discover how award-winning journalist Ruthie Ackerman challenged every motherhood myth and became a first-time mother at 43 in this powerful episode about midlife reinvention and career change.

In this conversation, we explore Ruthie's journey from believing she inherited a "flaw" that made her unsuitable for motherhood to writing the critically acclaimed memoir "The Mother Code." Learn how she navigated perimenopause career change, questioned limiting beliefs, and discovered alternative models of motherhood that allowed her to pursue both creative work and caregiving.

If you're a midlife woman wondering whether it's too late to start over during menopause, change careers, or pursue your creative dreams, this episode offers proof that life after 40 can include profound transformation. Ruthie shares practical strategies for building courage capital through writing, scheduling your brave work, and learning to receive support—essential wisdom for any woman pursuing midlife dreams.

What You'll Learn:

How to change careers after 40 with authenticity — Ruthie's path from journalism to memoir writing and book coaching

Starting over during menopause with creative courage — Becoming a first-time mother at 43 and pursuing writing simultaneously

Building confidence after 40 as a creative professional — Practical strategies for scheduling your brave work

Perimenopause motivation for women writers — Turning down the volume on your inner critic while creating

Women over 40 rewriting their stories — Questioning inherited beliefs and family narratives

Midlife transformation through authentic storytelling — How memoir writing became Ruthie's path to courage

Second act career success stories — From published journalist to acclaimed memoirist and book coach

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction4:00 - The family narrative that shaped Ruthie's entire life9:00 - Discovering alternative models of "outlaw motherhood"17:00 - The courage to write when your inner critic screams24:30 - Over-functioning and learning to receive support31:00 - Her first book deal fell through, then Random House said yes (after 37 rejections)37:00 - Uplifting other uplifters: Sloane Davidson nomination

Key Takeaways:

For midlife career changers: Success isn't about being fearless—it's about doing the work scared and showing up consistently with a calendar block that says your work matters

For women over 40 seeking purpose: Question the stories you've inherited. Sometimes our most limiting beliefs are just narratives waiting to be investigated with a journalist's curiosity

For perimenopause creatives: You don't need to silence your inner critic, just actively choose not to listen while you create your most authentic work

Featured Quote:

"The only thing I could think is that continuing to write is the most worthy, courageous thing that I could do." — Ruthie Ackerman

Resources & Links:

Ruthie's memoir: "The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Myths That Shape Us"

Instagram: @ruackerman

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ruthieackerman

The Ignite Writers Collective (Ruthie's book coaching practice)

Ruthie's Substack: "The Spark" (monthly recommendations, craft lessons, and writer spotlights)

About Ruthie Ackerman:

Award-winning author Ruthie Ackerman's writing has appeared in Vogue, Glamour, O Magazine, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more. Her Modern Love essay for the New York Times became the launching point for her memoir, "The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Myths That Shape Us." Ruthie launched The Ignite Writers Collective in 2019 and has since become an in-demand book coach and developmental editor helping women over 40 tell their most authentic stories. A Peabody Award-winning former producer for The Colbert Report and Columbia Journalism School alumna, she became a first-time mother at 43, proving it's never too late for a second act career transformation. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords:

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women writers over 40, creative careers midlife, perimenopause motivation, writing during midlife, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife motherhood, perimenopause fresh start, memoir writing midlife, challenging limiting beliefs, alternative motherhood models, late bloomer success stories

After two decades climbing the corporate ladder in finance, Karissa Pfeffer hit what she thought was burnout. As a working mom navigating the pandemic, she blamed her exhaustion, anxiety, and brain fog on postpartum recovery and work stress. But at 41, she discovered the real culprit: perimenopause. This revelation transformed her understanding of what women over 40 experience in the workplace—and why 13% of women leave their careers due to unmanaged menopause symptoms.

In this episode, Karissa shares her journey from high-achieving corporate executive to certified health coach and founder of Perimenopause Power. She reveals why midlife career changes often happen when women are struggling with undiagnosed hormonal shifts, how nervous system regulation is the missing piece in perimenopause management, and what companies must do to stop losing their most experienced female employees. If you're a woman over 40 wondering why you feel "off," or if you're an employer watching talented women walk away, this conversation will change everything you thought you knew about midlife transition and workplace wellbeing.

What You'll Learn:

How to recognize perimenopause symptoms in women over 40 — Why fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog aren't "just stress" and can start as early as 35

Why nervous system regulation matters more than diet for perimenopause — The cortisol connection between stress, hormones, and that stubborn midlife weight gain

How women over 40 can reclaim energy during perimenopause — Simple daily practices that actually move the needle without adding more to your plate

Why 13% of women leave careers due to menopause symptoms — The shocking workplace cost of unaddressed perimenopause (and how to prevent it)

What companies should do to support women in perimenopause — Practical policies that save money while keeping talented employees thriving

How to make midlife career transitions with hormonal shifts — Why understanding your body changes everything about navigating work and life after 40

Starting over at 40 as an entrepreneur with perimenopause — How Karissa built a thriving business while managing symptoms and redefining success

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction3:30 - The moment Karissa realized it wasn't burnout—it was perimenopause8:00 - Why symptoms can start at 35 and last for years before diagnosis13:00 - The breaking point: taking a company buyout at 4118:30 - Why nervous system regulation matters more than most people realize24:00 - The cortisol-perimenopause connection and midlife weight gain29:00 - Five-minute practices that actually reduce symptoms35:00 - Why 13% of women leave careers due to perimenopause40:00 - What companies must do to support women in this transition45:00 - Setting boundaries in your 40s and saying no without guilt50:00 - Redefining success: making less money but being happier

Key Takeaways:

For women over 40 experiencing unexplained symptoms: Perimenopause can start as early as 35. If you're exhausted, anxious, or dealing with brain fog that you're attributing to "just stress," get your hormones checked—and remember that nervous system regulation is just as important as diet and exercise.

For midlife women considering career changes: Before you assume you're burnt out or failing, rule out perimenopause. Understanding what's happening in your body changes everything about how you manage your energy and make career decisions.

For employers of women over 40: The cost of losing experienced female employees to unmanaged perimenopause is astronomical—$650K to $1.2 million for even small companies. Simple accommodations like flexible work policies, education, and support can save money while keeping top talent.

Featured Quote:

"I'm not crazy. My hormones are." — Karissa Pfeffer

Resources & Links:

Karissa's Coaching Collective: Affordable group coaching for women navigating perimenopause www.perimenopause-power.com/collective

Connect with Karissa: Instagram: @perimenopause-power; https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissa-pfeffer/

Related Uplifters Episodes:

Shannon Russell: Second Act Career Success

Melanie Cohen: Design Your Healthy Life Strategy

Lisa Crozier: Sobriety and Purpose After 40

Jennifer Maanavi: Building Physique 57 in Midlife

About Karissa Pfeffer:

Karissa Pfeffer is a certified health coach and founder of Perimenopause Power, dedicated to helping women over 40 understand what's happening in their bodies during perimenopause so they don't have to leave their careers. After spending over a decade in corporate finance and data analytics, Karissa experienced firsthand the devastating impact of undiagnosed perimenopause—the exhaustion, anxiety, and brain fog that she initially attributed to postpartum recovery and work stress. At 41, she took a company buyout hoping for relief, only to discover her symptoms were hormonal.

Now, Karissa works with individual women through coaching and with corporations to provide education and policy changes that keep talented midlife women thriving in the workplace. Her mission is rooted in a powerful statistic: 13% of women leave their careers because of unaddressed menopause symptoms. Through Perimenopause Power, she's determined to change that number by empowering women with knowledge, practical tools, and community support. Her approach emphasizes nervous system regulation, sustainable habits, and self-compassion—helping women reclaim their energy, confidence, and careers during this often-misunderstood life transition.

About Your Host:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. She understands the unique challenges of perimenopause and career, having navigated her own midlife reinvention while supporting thousands of women through theirs.

Connect with Aransas:

Instagram: @aransas_savas

Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast

TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast

Facebook: Aransas Savas

Website: theuplifterspodcast.com

YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast

LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords:

perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, perimenopause symptoms women, menopause workplace support, perimenopause burnout, hormones and career, nervous system regulation perimenopause, cortisol midlife women, perimenopause weight gain, women 40s health, midlife health women, perimenopause entrepreneur, starting business during menopause, midlife career pivot, corporate women perimenopause, workplace menopause policy, women leaving careers menopause, perimenopause anxiety relief, midlife energy women, hormone balance over 40, perimenopause motivation