The Uplifters

Thinking about starting a Substack, or already writing there and wondering how to grow? Aransas Savas sits down with two women who know the platform from both sides: Rachel Lipson, founder of Blue Balloon Songwriting School and writer of a top 40 travel newsletter on Substack called The Point, and Erin Shetron, a Substack strategist and the writer behind Frequent Criers Club, who has worked with more than 100 Substack writers across 10 countries.You will hear how Rachel started her newsletter in a hotel room on Thanksgiving with no plan, why the welcome page is one of the most overlooked pages on Substack, how a lead magnet can double as your welcome email, how Substack Notes, recommendations, and simple replies build community, and how to decide what to charge for a paid subscription. They also get honest about money. Paid subscriptions are only one of the ways Rachel's newsletter earns.If you are a woman over 40 building a creative practice, a business, or a second act through writing, this is a practical and encouraging place to start.What You'll Learn:-How to start a Substack with no plan · Why Rachel launched on a whim, and how to make a brand-new publication look established-Substack welcome page tips · The page Erin fixes in nearly every audit, and what belongs on it-Substack lead magnet ideas · How a free guide became Rachel's welcome email and a way to bring in subscribers from other platforms-How to use Substack Notes · Why you do not have to post every day, and how thoughtful comments build community-How to build community on Substack · Recommendations, DMs, and replying to the emails you love-How much to charge for a Substack subscription · Erin's rule: what feels comfortable, plus a little more-How to make money on Substack beyond paid subscriptions · Rachel on affiliate revenue and partnershipsKey Timestamps: 0:00 · Welcome and what Substack is 9:28 · How Rachel started a newsletter with no plan 14:42 · The welcome page Erin fixes in every audit 25:11 · How Erin and Rachel use Substack Notes 33:53 · Recommendations, DMs, and replying to emails 43:38 · Money: paid tiers and what to charge 52:23 · Rachel on affiliate revenue and other income 59:04 · Closing advice from Erin and Rachel Key Takeaways:For new Substack writers: Publish a few posts without emailing them so your page does not look empty when your first email goes out.For writers who want to grow a Substack: Visit your own welcome page as a stranger would, and put a line at the top of every post saying who you are.For women over 40 building a creative practice: You will not feel ready. Start anyway.For writers ready to monetize: Starting at $5 a month or $50 a year is fine, and paid subscriptions are only one income stream."Most people, if they wait until they're ready, they've missed the boat." Rachel LipsonResources and Links:Rachel Lipson: https://substack.com/@thepointErin Shetron: Frequent Criers Club on Substack https://erinshetron.substack.com/  | Website: https://www.erinshetron.com/About Rachel Lipson: Rachel founded Blue Balloon Songwriting School in 2008, now a network of 75+ teachers serving hundreds of students a week. She writes a top 40 travel newsletter on Substack about traveling with points and miles, featured in The New York Times, New York magazine, and Condé Nast.About Erin Shetron: Erin is a Substack strategist and the writer behind Frequent Criers Club. A former marketing director at EdTech and e-commerce startups, she has worked with more than 100 Substack writers across 10 countries.About Your Host: Aransas Savas is a leadership and wellbeing coach who helps women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years in behavioral research and work with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, a Signal Award winner. Her book, Courage Capital, is forthcoming from Hachette in 2027.Connect with Aransas:Instagram: @aransas_savasPodcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcastTikTok: @theuplifterspodcastFacebook: Aransas SavasWebsite: theuplifterspodcast.comYouTube: @theuplifterspodcastLinkedIn: Aransas SavasKeywords: how to grow a Substack, how to start a Substack, Substack for beginners, Substack tips for writers, Substack welcome page, Substack lead magnet, Substack Notes strategy, how to use Substack Notes, Substack recommendations, how to monetize a Substack, Substack paid subscriptions, how much to charge on Substack, Substack audit, Substack strategist, newsletter for women over 40, build a creative practice after 40, starting a newsletter in midlife, women writers over 40, Substack community, grow a newsletter without social media Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

What does it take to have the conversation you are most afraid of getting wrong? In this episode, social psychologist and author Dr. Evelyn Carter joins Aransas Savas to talk about how to detect, interrupt, and unlearn bias in everyday life, and why a growth mindset is the starting point for women over 40 who want to keep learning and keep leading.You will hear how to lean into discomfort instead of fleeing it, what to do when you make a mistake that hurts someone, and how to turn shame into shared learning. Evelyn also explains why the arc of history matters when the news makes everything feel hopeless.Evelyn's own second act started with a Little, Brown Spark contest she almost talked herself out of entering. She tells the story of leaving in-house corporate work, building a consulting business, and writing the book she kept hearing she should write.What You'll Learn:Growth mindset for midlife women (how believing change is possible makes you more likely to speak up and to accept feedback)How to handle a mistake that hurt someone (feel it, fix what you can, and let go of needing to be forgiven)Building courage capital (the zip line lesson on leaning into fear with the right safety in place)Starting over after leaving a corporate job (how Evelyn built a consulting business on her own terms)Entering the contest before you feel qualified (what she nearly missed by waiting)Choosing your community (why the people who say you never have to change are not the ones cheering at the bottom)Key Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome and sponsor 2:50 - Big feelings, daughters, and grief 8:10 - How the book happened: the Little, Brown Spark New Voices award 15:38 - Leaving in-house work and building a consulting business 23:03 - Why this moment is right, and zooming out on the arc of history 27:24 - Growth mindset and racism 33:31 - Zip lining and leaning into fear 38:07 - A mistake, shame, and what learning gave back 44:04 - Atoning when you cannot fix the past 47:39 - Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and picking your party 51:35 - How to support Evelyn 53:16 - The nomination: Evelyn's mom 55:31 - Not making yourself smallResources and Links:Website: evelynrcarter.comInstagram: @evelynrcarterBook: Was That Racist? How to Detect, Interrupt, and Unlearn Bias in Everyday Life About Dr. Evelyn Carter: Evelyn R. Carter, Ph.D., is a social psychologist and author who studies how to detect and discuss racial bias. She has more than 15 years of experience applying evidence-based practices in higher education, financial services, technology, retail and professional sports, with clients including American Express, Burberry, Cushman & Wakefield, Nike, the NFL, Uber and UCLA. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, USA Today, Fast Company and Harvard Business Review.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 big, brave work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife reinvention, and building meaningful second acts. Connect with Aransas:Instagram: @aransas_savasPodcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcastTikTok: @theuplifterspodcastFacebook: Aransas SavasWebsite: theuplifterspodcast.comYouTube: @theuplifterspodcastLinkedIn: Aransas SavasKeywords: women over 40, midlife reinvention, second act career women, second half of life women, courage capital, growth mindset women, how to change careers after 40, building confidence after 40, women entrepreneurs over 40, midlife purpose women, life after 40 women, midlife dreams women, starting over at 40 women, how to talk about bias, interrupt bias at work Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

If your voice feels a little drier, a little less powerful, or just different since perimenopause or menopause, maybe there is a reason. Voice coach Jessica Hansen, a former staff coach at NPR, joins The Uplifters Podcast to talk about midlife voice changes, vocal fatigue, and why so many women over 40 are done sounding like what the room expects.You will hear simple, practical ways to care for your voice in midlife, from hydration and yawning to softening your tongue and dropping your shoulders. Jessica also explains how tension, stress, and a rough night of sleep show up in how you sound.Jessica's own midlife reinvention began with a layoff after eight and a half years at NPR. She let herself rest, then started writing two books and singing with a jazz combo. Her story is a reminder that none of your past is wasted, and that confidence after 40 is built by doing, not by waiting to feel ready.What You'll Learn:-Why your voice may feel different in midlife, and why a check-in with your doctor belongs on the list.- Why "trying" gets in the way of sounding like yourself.-Yawning, lip flutters, humming, and a quick tongue tension check.- What Jessica did in her first weeks, and why she let the dust settle.-Why capacity grows through action, not before it.-How a voice coach became a novelist in progress and a jazz singer.- Why women trained not to need anything get stronger by practicing it.Key Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 6:09 Life after NPR and the layoff 16:25 Two books: the Shakespeare heroines novels and a voice guidebook 23:18 Why trying to fit in holds us back 38:03 Menopause, hydration, and your voice 42:36 Yawning, tongue release, and floor work 53:10 Why asking for help is the hardest practiceResources and Links:FB: facebook.com/JHanArtist IG - performer: @jessacts IG - voice coach: @at_home_in_your_voice LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hansen-voice/About Jessica Hansen: Jessica Hansen is a nationally recognized voice coach, award-winning actor, and founder of Signature Sound. A former staff coach at NPR and a 20+ year member of SAG-AFTRA, she helps leaders and media professionals build a resilient, authentic voice, and she is on a mission to help every woman feel At Home in Her Voice in midlife and beyond. She is based in Washington, DC.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 big, brave things in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife reinvention, and building meaningful second acts.Connect with Aransas:Instagram: @aransas_savasPodcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcastTikTok: @theuplifterspodcastFacebook: Aransas SavasWebsite: theuplifterspodcast.comYouTube: @theuplifterspodcastLinkedIn: Aransas SavasKeywords: perimenopause voice changes, menopause and your voice, women over 40, midlife reinvention, voice coach for women, vocal fatigue, building confidence after 40, starting over at 40, second act career women, midlife transition women, women changing careers 40s, second half of life women, midlife dreams women, courage capital, midlife voice, how to find your voice after 40 Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

What if you stopped asking whether a midlife reinvention is possible and started asking what you would do if you knew you couldn't get it wrong? Kristy Halvorsen spent years building a firefighting career, then sold her house, let go of nearly everything she owned, and hit the road in a 28-foot Airstream named Cottie. That was almost nine years ago. For women over 40 wondering if it's too late to start over, her second act is proof that you don't need the whole plan to begin.In this conversation, Kristy, author of Perfect Unfolding: Seven Years of Life-Changing Solo Adventure and a Year That Broke Me Open, shares how to spot the beliefs that keep us stuck, why the best action is sometimes no action, and how to trust your inner knowing when the path isn't clear. You'll also hear how she lives off-grid on a modest budget and finds connection on the road.Key Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction and sponsor 5:04 Meet Cottie, the Airstream 7:37 Leaving firefighting and the call with her mom 12:36 Why you only need to trust 20:00 Inner knowing and limiting beliefs 27:54 Nuts and bolts of life on the road 42:41 If I knew I couldn't get it wrong Key Takeaways:For midlife career changers: You don't have to know how to do it all before you begin.For women over 40 seeking purpose: Ask what you would do if you knew you couldn't get it wrong, and notice how simple the answer is.For women building a second act: Sometimes the best action is inaction, and rest counts.Resources and Links:Website: PerfectUnfolding.comInstagram: @kristy.halvorsenLinkedIn: Kristy on LinkedInGoodreads: Perfect Unfolding on GoodreadsAbout Kristy Halvorsen: Kristy Halvorsen is the author of Perfect Unfolding: Seven Years of Life-Changing Solo Adventure and a Year That Broke Me Open. After leaving her firefighting career, she has lived full time in an Airstream named Cottie for almost nine years. She is also a coach who helps people release limiting beliefs and follow their inner knowing.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 big, brave 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_savasPodcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcastTikTok: @theuplifterspodcastFacebook: Aransas SavasWebsite: theuplifterspodcast.comYouTube: @theuplifterspodcastLinkedIn: Aransas SavasKeywords: women over 40, midlife reinvention, second act career women, starting over at 40, how to change careers after 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, midlife awakening women, women over 40 success stories, midlife purpose women, how to live off grid, Airstream living, solo female travel, full-time solo travel, full-time RV living, solo travel in midlife Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Tori DaCosta spent decades climbing the ranks at a Fortune 50 company while keeping some of her story tucked in her back pocket. Then in midlife, she decided it was time to write it down. Her debut book, "No Name B*****d: How Our Lives Teach Us What We Can Control, Manage, and Influence," became the framework she now teaches leaders, and it started with a question so many women over 40 will recognize: what would I even write about? I don't have a story.In this episode, Tori and Aransas talk about the courage it takes to put your story into the world after years of editing yourself, and why the people you tell (and don't tell) about a big, brave dream matter. Tori breaks down her signature control, manage, influence framework and shows how it applies to marriage, parenting, corporate projects, and the daily grind of building a second act while holding down a demanding full-time job.What You'll Learn:-Starting over during menopause and midlife career reinvention — how Tori built a second career as an author and speaker while staying full-time at a Fortune 50 company-How to change careers after 40 without leaving what you've built — the control, manage, influence framework for balancing a corporate job with a creative second act-Building confidence after 40 — how Tori rebuilt trust in a writing gift she hadn't used in decades-Midlife dreams women protect from naysayers — why Tori was selective about who she told before the book was finished, and what she calls allies, amplifiers, and auditors-Women over 40 career change and team building — how Tori assembled a director of operations, a publicist, and a soon-to-be virtual assistant to support her growing second act-The quarterly reset practice — Tori's 13-week personal and professional planning rhythm, used instead of New Year's resolutionsMidlife reinvention women can use today — Tori's practical sleep and screen boundary (shutting down at 8pm) for protecting emotional bandwidthResources and Links:Tori's website: journeystone.com (also toridacosta.com)Book: "No Name B*****d: How Our Lives Teach Us What We Can Control, Manage, and Influence" Instagram / Facebook: @ToriDacostaLeadership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toridacosta/About Tori DaCosta: Tori DaCosta is a business leader, coach, bestselling author, and speaker dedicated to helping people lead themselves with clarity, confidence, and intention. As a leader at a Fortune 50 company and founder of Journeystone LLC, she brings a grounded, experience-driven perspective to helping others step into their fullest potential. Her award-winning debut book, "No Name B*****d: How Our Lives Teach Us What We Can Control, Manage, and Influence," blends personal story with a practical framework readers can use to reflect on their own lives and extract actionable insight. Her mission is to help people take ownership of their growth, lead themselves well, and create meaningful outcomes for their teams, organizations, and communities.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_savasPodcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcastTikTok: @theuplifterspodcastFacebook: Aransas SavasWebsite: theuplifterspodcast.comYouTube: @theuplifterspodcastLinkedIn: Aransas SavasKeywords: 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, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, starting over during menopause, women over 40 success stories, midlife awakening women Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe