Holy shit, I'm back!

In this episode, I'm sharing a big life and business update, including the very rude Instagram plot twist that happened right before SPARK San Diego, what it has been like rebuilding from scratch, and why I now believe SPARK is not just an event.

It might be the beginning of a full-blown kindness cult.

The good kind.

I also walk you through SPARK Portland, my upcoming long weekend event for midlife women who are ready for more joy, more connection, more ridiculous fun, and possibly a disco crown.

In this episode, I talk about:

My Instagram account getting taken down right before SPARK San Diego

What it has been like rebuilding at @ThriveWithKira

Why SPARK San Diego changed something in me

How SPARK was created from what women were asking for: short, domestic, affordable, meaningful, and fun

The bigger vision for SPARK, including local chapters, community support, friendship, joy, and midlife women quietly changing the world

A full walkthrough of SPARK Portland, including happiness workshops, rage painting, baby goats, drag bingo, karaoke, bowling, Mrs. Roper energy, and a sparkle bar

SPARK Portland is happening in July at the Dossier Hotel in downtown Portland.

The theme is: Shiny Bitches Unite.

Think disco balls, glitter, sequins, sparkle, friendship, arts and crafts, midlife joy, and just enough chaos to make the photos legendary.

This weekend includes happiness basics, unlearning the bullshit beliefs we were handed, figuring out what we can and cannot control, building a joy roadmap for real life, and remembering what actually lights us up now.

And because this is SPARK, there will also be disco queen crowns, sing-alongs, drag bingo, rage painting, baby goats, resin mantra keychains, and a Mrs. Roper Romp scavenger hunt.

Come because you are tired of waiting for joy to magically appear.

Come because friendship in midlife matters.

Come because you want to laugh until your face hurts.

Come because rage painting, baby goats, drag bingo, karaoke, glitter, and science-backed happiness all belong in the same weekend.

But mostly?

Come for the women.

The women who show up to SPARK are smart, kind, funny, real, and ready for something more than small talk and beige hotel conference energy.

Ready to join the joy uprising?

Go to sparkmidlife.com to check out SPARK Portland, SPARK Montréal, and future events.

And come follow me on Instagram at @ThriveWithKira for funny rage content, midlife joy, unhinged Barbies, and the beginning of what may or may not be a kindness cult.

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You might be asking yourself right now: "What can I actually do? How can I make a difference?"

I got you.

This episode kicks off a multi-part series on 35 ways to change the world, starting with the first 10 focused on changing your inner world first—because healing, regulation, and self-worth create the ripple effect that leads to real impact.

In This Episode

• Grief and attachment styles in real relationships

• Why self-healing is not selfish—it's strategic

• The connection between joy, regulation, and resilience

• A reminder that community and creativity are part of survival, not luxuries

• Spark San Diego Last Call: sequins, silliness, and sisterhood

Part 1: The First 10 Ways

1. Learn emotional regulation

2. Build true self-worth

3. Practice a growth mindset

4. Be intentional about what you consume

5. Align your time, energy, and money with your values

6. Learn basic somatic and vagal nerve tools

7. Get serious about sleep

8. Go to therapy and/or get coaching

9. Schedule play and creativity

10. Prioritize community and connection

Core Message: You don't change the world by becoming busier or more perfect. You change it by becoming more aligned, regulated, connected, and fully yourself.

Come join me at Spark San Diego!

In this "welcome back to 2026" episode, I'm back on Thrive with Kira with a very minimal-edit rant (the best kind), sharing what's been happening behind the scenes—RomCom Rescue updates, the wild growth of my Instagram community, and the launch of Spark Midlife—and then I get into the real reason I hit record:

Midlife women are not here to just cope. We're here to create. Build. Lead. And make an impact.

If you've been waiting for a sign to stop wishing and start doing… this is it.

In This Episode, I Talk About:

• Why midlife feels harder than anyone warned us (and why it's not because you're "failing")

• Why I disappeared from Thrive with Kira for a bit—and what I've been doing instead

• RomCom Rescue + what I'm excited about this year

• My Instagram blowing up—and why I'm doubling down on joy content

• Spark Midlife—what it is, why I created it, and why I'm so damn excited about it

• Stress, burnout, and why "willpower" isn't the issue (and never was)

• Why history is oddly comforting right now (and also horrifying)

• The trap so many of us learned: be good, be helpful, be easy… and life will reward you

• Why I'm done watching women wait for life to happen to them

• Why I keep saying: Why not me? Why not us?

• How community is the antidote—and why we've been kept from it for so long

The Big Takeaway

Here's what I'm really saying:

Stop waiting. Stop wishing. Stop giving all your time and energy to systems and people that drain you. If there's air in your lungs, you can make impact—small or big, loud or quiet, local or online.

You don't need to become "someone else." You need to stop shrinking the person you already are.

So many of us are frustrated by our lack of motivation or change. But here's the truth: You're not lazy. You're likely burned out, stuck in survival mode, or running on a nervous system that thinks "rest" is a threat. And willpower? It's not a moral issue—it's a limited resource, not a personality trait.

In this episode, I'm breaking down:

• Why change feels so damn hard in midlife (even when you really want it)

• What your brain is doing when you try something new—and why it slams the brakes

• How perimenopause can make motivation and memory even harder

• The difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation (and why one actually works)

• Why shame, blame, and "just push through" doesn't create change—but self-compassion does

This one's for every Gen X or elder millennial woman who's ever said, "I'll start Monday," only to spiral by Wednesday. Let's get into the science, the humor, and the tools that actually work when life feels stuck.

✨ Mentioned in this episode:

• Dr. Devon Price's Laziness Does Not Exist

• What's really happening in your brain during change

• Why I created Thrive Midlife (and yes, there are goats 🐐 and pizza farms 🍕)

💌 Questions or takeaways? DM me on Instagram @kirasabin or email [email protected]. I want to hear what resonated—and where you're still feeling stuck.

Do you need more laughter and joy in midlife? That's what Thrive Midlife is all about: a small group coaching intensive for women who are ready to LIVE LIKE THEY FUCKING MEAN IT.

Real tools. Real support. Real connection. No fluff. This is your LAST chance to join Thrive before prices go up.

🍁 PLUS—this fall, we're meeting in Madison, Wisconsin for a soul-filling weekend retreat with full-on Stars Hollow in October vibes:

Lake views. Cozy sweaters. 🍎 Apple orchards. 🍕 Pizza farms. 🐐 Goats in sweaters. 🔥 Firepit chats. 🤩 Emotional breakthroughs. Real joy. Real connection.

✨ Want in? Head over to https://www.thrivewithkira.com/thrive

Welcome to the final episode of my five-part podcast series, Why Did No One Warn Us About This Midlife Sht?* If you've been feeling like the life you built doesn't quite fit anymore, you're not alone—and you're not broken.

Today's episode? This Isn't the Life I Ordered. Now What?

The episode is all about the gut-punch realization many of us face in midlife: you can create a life that looks "perfect" on paper and still feel deeply disconnected from it. Maybe the house, the career, the relationship, the life you worked so hard for… doesn't feel like you anymore.

In this episode, we dive into:

• 🎯 Why the life you built may no longer fit who you are now.

• 💔 How to process the grief that comes with outgrowing old dreams.

• 🧠 Why midlife identity crises are really powerful growth moments.

• 🔥 How positive psychology shows us that happiness isn't a destination—it's a daily practice.

• 🧩 Why your nervous system and your soul are begging for a life that feels real, not just Instagrammable.

• 🚫 The myth of the "perfect" checklist life—and why it doesn't lead to fulfillment.

• 🌱 What it really takes to build a life that fits the person you are today—not who you were 20 years ago.

Midlife isn't a crisis. It's a call to evolve. If you're tired of surviving, it's time to learn how to thrive.

💥 Ready to get the support you need? Doors are open for the Thrive Midlife Program—an intensive, high-touch coaching experience for women who are ready to ditch the burnout and build a life that actually fits.

👉 Check out Thrive Midlife Program or grab a free call with me here.

✨ Takeaways from today's episode:

• Grief is not failure—it's a sign you're growing.

• You don't have to stay stuck in a life that doesn't fit.

• Happiness isn't about checking boxes; it's about building daily rituals that fuel you.

• Midlife is the invitation to rewrite your life—not to disappear quietly.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:

• The Thrive Midlife Program — Early bird pricing extended to June 15th!

• Free Call with Kira — Let's talk about whether Thrive is right for you.

• Follow me on Instagram for Manic Mondays nostalgia and more midlife realness.

In Episode 4 of my five-part series, I'm talking about something that hits all of us in midlife: the rage.

That low-key, high-voltage, "I swear to God if the dishwasher beeps one more time..." kind of rage.

Here's the thing: You're not broken. You're not crazy. You're just awake — and your nervous system is officially done putting up with the bullshit.

🧠 In this episode, I'm breaking down:

• Why the rage isn't random — and why it's not a flaw

• What's really going on in your body (hello perimenopause, my old frenemy)

• Why your nervous system is basically a cornered raccoon right now

• How chronic stress + no emotional processing = midlife meltdown

• The two sides of unregulated rage: numbing out vs. exploding

• What NOT to do with all your rage (trust me, I've screamed at a microwave)

• What to actually do to heal, regulate, and stop losing your shit

✨ Key Takeaway:

Rage isn't the problem. It's the flashing neon sign pointing to what needs healing.

You don't have to stay stuck in rage mode — and you definitely don't have to figure it out alone.

👯‍♀️ Want to stop white-knuckling through life and finally learn how to regulate, reset, and rebuild your energy (and your life)?

Thrive Midlife is my six-month program where we untangle all this shit with tools from neuroscience, positive psychology, and a lot of laughter.

🛠 Check out Thrive Midlife here 📅 Or book a free, no-pressure call with me

Follow me on instagram for a joy & truth bomb explosion!

EPISODE 3: Why We Don't Like Ourselves Very Much (Gen X Women Edition)

💥 In Episode 3 of my five-part series, I'm getting real about the deep, invisible ways women—especially Gen X women—were taught from day fucking one not to actually like ourselves.

🧠 I'm breaking down why so many of us struggle with self-worth, how it's completely different from self-esteem or confidence, and why no amount of gold stars, trophies, or people-pleasing will fill the damn gap.

🙋‍♀️ In this episode, I'm calling out:

• Over-giving until you're fucking exhausted (and resent everyone)

• Confusing being busy with being important

• Struggling to take a goddamn compliment without deflecting it

• Feeling like you have to earn love, worth, or even rest

• Saying "yes" to shit you already know you'll resent

• Building walls around yourself and silently daring people to break them down (hint: they won't)

…If that sounds familiar, this one's gonna hit deep. And you might laugh-snort a few times too.

✨ Here's what I'm diving into:

• The real difference between self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth (nope, not the same thing)

• Why Gen X women were conditioned to tie our value to our goddamn usefulness & perfection

• How early praise and punishment set us up for a lifetime of people-pleasing

• The sneaky ways self-abandonment shows up in midlife

• Why midlife is the perfect time to burn that shit down and build something better

• How Thrive Midlife helps women rebuild self-worth from the inside fucking out

💛 Ready to stop performing and start actually fucking living?

Thrive Midlife is my six-month program rooted in neuroscience, positive psychology, and deep, radically honest coaching. It's where you stop hustling for validation and finally start building the kind of self-worth that changes everything.

🛠 Check out Thrive Midlife here 📅 Or schedule a free call with me

🔔 Next Up coming back on Monday! 🎙️ Episode 4: Where to Put All the Fucking Rage — because spoiler: it's not just hormones.

📌 Tags:

Self-Worth, Self-Compassion, Gen X Women, Midlife Growth, Emotional Healing, Positive Psychology, Coaching for Women, Thrive Midlife

Fuck Being the Strong One!

💥 Episode 2 of our 5-part podcast series is here — and we're coming for the "strong one" identity Gen X women were handed without consent.

🧠 In this powerful, hilarious, and painfully honest episode, Kira breaks down the emotional toll of always being the capable, dependable, fix-it-all one — and why it's not strength, it's survival mode.

🙋‍♀️ If you've ever:

• Been the unofficial family therapist, tech support, and event planner — all before noon

• Managed everyone else's needs while ignoring your own

• Thought "if I stop holding this all together, it will all fall apart"

• Secretly fantasized about running away to a goat farm

…this one's gonna hit deep. And probably make you laugh out loud.

✨ What I cover:

• Why Gen X women are soul-tired — not just physically worn out

• The inherited patterns that confused people-pleasing with strength

• What it actually means to build self-worth (not hustle for it)

• How being the "strong one" is often just a well-disguised trauma response

• Why real strength starts with community, emotional regulation, and actual support

👯‍♀️ The truth: This isn't just a "you" thing. It's generational. And it's time we stopped doing this alone.

💛 Ready to stop white-knuckling your way through midlife?

Thrive Midlife is a 6-month program rooted in neuroscience, positive psychology, and deep, radically honest support. You'll learn the skills to regulate your emotions, build real self-worth, and finally live like you mean it.

🛠 Check out Thrive Midlife here

📌 Tags:

Gen X Women, Midlife Support, Positive Psychology, Emotional Labor, Self-Worth, Trauma Healing, Coaching for Women, Midlife Podcast, Thrive Midlife

🔔 Next Up: 🎙️ Episode 3: Why You Don't Like Yourself that Much – a look at the missing self-worth starter pack and why Gen X women are still hustling to feel like they're enough.

🔔 Subscribe and don't miss the next episode!

Welcome to Part 1 of my brand-new series, Why Did Nobody Warn Us About This Shit?! – five no-holds-barred episodes exploring the real, raw, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking truths about midlife. Spoiler alert: It's way more than hot flashes.

In this episode, I'm talking about the physical, emotional, and psychological curveballs no one prepared us for—

• The 3:00 AM brain TED Talks

• The unpredictable emotional rollercoaster

• The friendships that fade or fall apart

• The crippling nostalgia and wild irritability

• The WTF moments where your own body ghosts you

Midlife isn't just a season—it's a f*cking plot twist. But you're not crazy. You're not broken. You're just in the thick of a transformation that deserves real tools, real support, and real community.

So let's talk about what really goes down in your 40s and 50s—and how to move through it without burning out, blowing up, or going it alone.

What You'll Hear:

• Why your emotions feel like toddlers with sugar and no supervision

• Why you can't remember ANYTHING anymore.

• The weird grief of changing or disappearing friendships

• Why you crave peace and feel lonely at the same time

• The lie that you'd be happy "once you had it all"

• Why joy takes intention now (no more autopilot happiness)

• What's different for Gen X + elder millennials vs. our mothers

Want More Support?

You don't have to do this alone. THRIVE Midlife is a science-backed group coaching experience for midlife women who are done pretending they're fine. Inside Thrive, you'll learn: ✨ Emotional regulation (even when hormones are a dumpster fire) ✨ How to build real self-worth (not just confidence) ✨ How to set boundaries, ask for help, and live on purpose ✨ How to stop numbing and start living like you mean it

✅ Limited spots ✅ 6-month program with live coaching + an in-person retreat ✅ Early bird pricing is live now

Book a call → thrivewithkira.com/thrive

Stay Connected:

💌 Email: [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @kirasabin — DM me! 🎧 Subscribe & Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode: "When You Don't Want to Be the Strong One Anymore"

Hello there, sugar pants. I'm back—and whew, life has been a lot lately. But today, I'm diving into something that's been messing with way too many of us for way too long: perfection.

We've been taught that if we can just get it right—be good enough, successful enough, lovable enough—then life will finally feel better. But here's the truth: you can't love perfect. You can't be perfect. And trying to is killing your joy, your creativity, your connection—and your relationships.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• The red flag hidden in "You seem perfect" (and why it made me cringe)

• What went down in my own relationship during a rough season

• How even great relationships fall apart a little—and what it looks like to come back from that

• Why perfectionism keeps us stuck, lonely, and exhausted (even when everything looks good on paper)

• How I help women actually start feeling better—on purpose

I'll also give you a real look at what we're doing inside Thrive Midlife—my 6-month group coaching experience for women 40+ who are ready to stop surviving and start actually living.

🔥 Want 40% More Happiness?

I'm not being cute. Science shows that 40% of our happiness comes from our daily mindset and choices—not our past, not our DNA.

That's what Thrive is all about. We blend neuroscience, emotional regulation, coaching, creativity, and a community of women who actually give a damn.

💬 Weekly workshops & tools 🧠 One-on-one coaching with me 👯‍♀️ A group of badass, funny, honest women 🌄 And a fall retreat in Madison, WI (think goat petting, cider breakthroughs, and cheese)

👉 Early bird pricing ends May 31st, 2025. Get all the details at ThriveMidlifeProgram.com

💌 Subscribe. Review. Send a smoke signal.

If you loved this episode (or it called you out in the best way), hit subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who needs to hear this. And if you want to tell me what landed? Email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you.

Because life's too short to keep faking perfect. Let's thrive—like we fucking mean it.