The Uplifters

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 coachingStarting over during menopause with creative courage — Becoming a first-time mother at 43 and pursuing writing simultaneouslyBuilding confidence after 40 as a creative professional — Practical strategies for scheduling your brave workPerimenopause motivation for women writers — Turning down the volume on your inner critic while creatingWomen over 40 rewriting their stories — Questioning inherited beliefs and family narrativesMidlife transformation through authentic storytelling — How memoir writing became Ruthie's path to courageSecond act career success stories — From published journalist to acclaimed memoirist and book coachKey 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 nominationKey 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 mattersFor 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 curiosityFor perimenopause creatives: You don't need to silence your inner critic, just actively choose not to listen while you create your most authentic workFeatured Quote:"The only thing I could think is that continuing to write is the most worthy, courageous thing that I could do." — Ruthie AckermanResources & Links:Ruthie's memoir: "The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Myths That Shape Us"Instagram: @ruackermanLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ruthieackermanThe 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_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 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 Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

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 35Why nervous system regulation matters more than diet for perimenopause — The cortisol connection between stress, hormones, and that stubborn midlife weight gainHow women over 40 can reclaim energy during perimenopause — Simple daily practices that actually move the needle without adding more to your plateWhy 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 thrivingHow to make midlife career transitions with hormonal shifts — Why understanding your body changes everything about navigating work and life after 40Starting over at 40 as an entrepreneur with perimenopause — How Karissa built a thriving business while managing symptoms and redefining successKey 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 happierKey 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 PfefferResources & Links:Karissa's Coaching Collective: Affordable group coaching for women navigating perimenopause www.perimenopause-power.com/collectiveConnect with Karissa: Instagram: @perimenopause-power; https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissa-pfeffer/ Related Uplifters Episodes:Shannon Russell: Second Act Career SuccessMelanie Cohen: Design Your Healthy Life StrategyLisa Crozier: Sobriety and Purpose After 40Jennifer Maanavi: Building Physique 57 in MidlifeAbout 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_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, 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 Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it too late for me to...” the answer’s NO and The Uplifters are about to show you why. This space is for purpose-driven women who want to do big, brave things in the second half of their lives. I’m your host, Aransas Savas, and I’ve spent the last 20 years at the intersection of behavior change research and coaching.This month for the new year, we're exploring new beginnings with award-winning author Sahar Delijani, perimenopause expert Karissa Pfeffer, comedian-filmmaker Mandy Fabian, and today, Dawn Veselka, who co-founded Cards2Warriors. Welcome to the Uplifters!Listen to this episode if...* You’ve been wanting to start something meaningful but have no idea where to begin* You’re navigating chronic illness (yours or a loved one’s) and feeling invisible* You’ve been telling yourself you need all the answers before you can take the first step* You’re a caregiver who never gets asked “how are YOU doing?”* You’re wondering if it’s too late to build something new in midlifeIs there any better feeling than receiving hand-written love notes in the mail? Today’s guest, Dawn Veselka, built an entire movement around this moment. For 15 years, she’s watched her daughter Sadie navigate chronic illness and rare disease. Somewhere in that long journey of appointments and advocacy, Dawn discovered that most patients, families, and caregivers don’t only need a medical breakthrough, they also need to know someone sees them.Dawn’s StoryDawn didn’t set out to build a nonprofit. She was a radiation therapist treating cancer patients, raising a daughter with complex medical needs, living a full life that already demanded a lot from her. But being the parent of a child with chronic illness, taught her things about isolation that most people never have to understand.Sadie’s diagnosis took years to piece together. Even now, Dawn describes her daughter as having a “mix of diseases” that doesn’t fit neatly into any single category. That’s the reality for so many people living with rare diseases (there are 7,000 of them, and 95% have zero treatment options). These patients and families are navigating without a map, often without a community, frequently without anyone who truly understands.Dawn spent decades in healthcare, but starting Cards2Warriors required an entirely different skill set. She grew up in the generation where typing class was the closest thing to technology training. Now she needed to build databases, manage logistics, create tech systems secure enough to protect patient information. “When you need $30,000 to build your tech to send cards, it doesn’t compute,” she laughs. “But we finally got everything in place.”Like so many of us in midlife, who are translating our experiences into new impactful chapters, Dawn had to own not knowing. No tech background. No nonprofit experience. No clue how to fundraise at scale. Just a clear vision that people battling chronic illness deserved to feel seen, and the willingness to figure out the rest as she went. And recent neuroscientific research teaches us that our midlife brains are uniquely positioned for this kind of work. After decades of pattern recognition and problem-solving across multiple domains (career, caregiving, navigating complex systems), we’re extraordinarily well-equipped to see connections others miss and build solutions that actually work. The challenge isn’t capability. It’s overcoming the belief that major career shifts or new ventures require starting from scratch when, in fact, we’re bringing irreplaceable expertise to the table.Today, Cards2Warriors operates with a simple but powerful model: anyone can sign up to receive cards, anyone can join their card crew to write them, and they don’t require proof of diagnosis or limit support to specific diseases. They’ve built a community of warriors supporting warriors, high school students learning how to talk to people with chronic illness, and volunteers creating tangible reminders of hope. Dawn’s goal is to send 100,000 cards, and she’s well over halfway. The stories that fuel her work are profoundly moving, so grab your tissues for this episode. Her Courage PracticeTethering to Purpose Through StoryDawn’s courage practice isn’t a morning routine or meditation ritual. It’s tethering herself to the pain, both her own and the pain of the people they serve. When the tech fails or the funding falls through or she’s staring at another problem she doesn’t know how to solve, she goes back to the stories.She thinks about the patients. She thinks about caregivers who burst into tears because someone finally acknowledged their invisible work. She thinks about her own daughter Sadie, and all those years of navigating illness without a roadmap.This isn’t about toxic positivity. It’s about remembering why the work matters when everything in her wants to give up. As the stories keep multiplying, her sense of commitment does too. So when Dawn needs courage, she doesn’t have to manufacture it from thin air. She just remembers the last person who wrote to say “that card saved me today,” and she keeps going.Lift Her UpSupport Cards2Warriors by donating $5 to sponsor two cards at cards2warriors.org, or via Venmo at @Cards-to-Warriors or Zelle at hi@cards2warriors.org.If you loved this story...Explore our conversations with other women who turned personal challenges into community solutions:Angela Wilson’s episode about sending her own version of “happy mail” to honor her late mother, Amy Cohen’s episode about co-founding Families for Safe Streets after losing her son, Janelle Hill’s episode about founding Refuge Mental Health Services as a sexual abuse survivor, and Rebecca Soffer’s episode about creating Modern Loss after losing both parents early in life.Let’s chat about itWhat is the most meaningful piece of handwritten mail that you’ve received? Share in the comments. Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it too late for me to...” the answer’s NO and The Uplifters are about to show you why. This space is for purpose-driven women who want to do big, brave things in the second half of their lives. I’m your host, Aransas Savas, and I’ve spent the last 20 years at the intersection of behavior change research and coaching.This month for the new year, we're exploring new beginnings with award-winning author Sahar Delijani, Dawn Veselka who co-founded Cards2Warriors (sending over 48,000 cards of hope to people battling chronic illness), perimenopause expert Karissa Pfeffer, and today, comedian-filmmaker Mandy Fabian. Welcome to the Uplifters!Listen to this episode if...* You’ve been putting off a creative project because you don’t feel ready yet* You’re expanding into something new and feeling simultaneously excited and terrified* You need permission to acknowledge your fears without letting them stop you* You’re tired of feeling like you should have it all figured out before you begin* You want to understand how successful creators avoid self-doubt (spoiler: they don’t)Carla Zanoni sent me this illustration 👆 from Mari Andrew just as I was sitting down to tell you about my conversation with Mandy Fabian on The Uplifters Podcast. I always thought (hoped) the Giant Iceberg of Creative Fear would get smaller over time. Turns out that’s not the case. If anything, it gets bigger.Because the more we create, the more we know what can go wrong. The more we put ourselves out there, the more aware we become of all the ways we might fail. The more we risk, the more we have to lose. It’s like Mandy says in today’s conversation: “When you start to expand, it can feel like you’re smaller because the space around you gets bigger to make space for everything that you’ve got to give.”Now, if I could draw like Mari, I’d sketch a picture of myself in a disorientingly large room wearing a bear skin with my legs and arms stretched wide, opening my mouth wide and filling it with my great big voice. (No, I haven’t become a furry. Yes, it’ll make sense when you hear the episode.) Mandy has been making the choice to step into the bigger space over and over again throughout her creative life. As a comedian, filmmaker, and singer-songwriter, she’s built a career on saying yes to projects that scare her, projects where she’s not entirely sure she knows what she’s doing.Her latest film, Just Plus None (streaming now on Apple TV and Amazon Prime), is a romantic comedy with a twist: the protagonist doesn’t end up with anyone. Instead, she ends up with herself. It’s a film about a woman who’s messy and flawed and doesn’t know how to be a maid of honor, who has loud, unashamed sexual desires, who makes mistakes and learns to love herself where she is. It’s the kind of film that challenges what we think women in rom-coms should be like (and what we think our own journeys toward self-acceptance should look like).Creating it required Mandy to wrestle with the same noisy fears we all do, but courage alone doesn't write the script, find the funding, or push through the three weeks of intense therapy required at the start of the project. So in this episode, we talk about her actual practices for managing fear, the specific ways she processes doubt, and how she's learned to hear limiting beliefs differently (not as truth, but as challenges that prove she needs to be in the room).Her Courage PracticeMandy has developed what might be my favorite courage practice I’ve heard on this show: the therapeutic tantrum.Here’s how it works: When fear and doubt and anxiety are overwhelming, she doesn’t try to positive-think her way through it. Instead, she gives herself permission to throw a full-blown tantrum, either on a friend’s voicemail (with permission to delete without listening) or in her journal or just out loud to herself.She lets herself be “the most scaredy cat, petty, mean-spirited towards myself and anybody else.” She argues for all her limitations. She whines and stomps her feet and declares how unfair everything is and how nobody ever helps her and how she’s going to fail and everyone will laugh.And then she lets it pass.“I let that do for as long as I have to, so that it has its moment,” she explains. “And usually then I go, okay, that’s that. Now let’s work on the other part of it.”What Mandy understands is something most of us resist: those feelings need to be expressed, not suppressed. When we try to bypass them or pretend they don’t exist, they don’t go away. They just turn into a toxic filter that colors everything we see. But when we give them a neutral space to exist, acknowledge them fully, and let them run their course, they lose their power. It’s like she’s created a wind phone for her fears ((H/T Lia Buffa De Feo ), a safe place to release them so they don’t poison her creative process. And then, once the tantrum has run its course, she can ask a different question: “Okay, fun. Would you like to have a word? What would you like to see happen today?”Editor’s note: Sahar Delijani described a very similar practice on last week’s episode, in case you need more evidence in order to let those cranky, negative feelings rip.3 More Ways Mandy Fabian Shows Us How to Build Our Courage Capital:* She moves forward before she feels ready — Mandy admits she often starts projects because she’s “too stupid to believe it could ever go wrong,” driven by dreams rather than detailed plans. But once reality sets in and fear shows up, she doesn’t quit. She just acknowledges that bravery now means something different. It means continuing even after you know how hard it’s going to be. (This is the real courage, by the way: not the ignorant bliss of starting, but the clear-eyed determination to keep going.)* She keeps “we could” possibilities alive — When Mandy and her husband realized they could move to Paris (even though they weren’t going to), it reminded her that she was free to choose her path, and that those little desires probably held clues to what she was craving in her current reality. * She anchors in present-moment acceptance — “The point is to have you right here accepting what is,” Mandy says about why she practices presence. “That’s where you’re at your best self.” Rather than ruminating on past mistakes or catastrophizing about future failures, she brings herself back to now: What can I do today? What small step can I take? What would make this moment easier? It’s a practice that cuts through the overwhelm and reconnects her to her power.Lift Her UpWatch Mandy’s film Just Plus None on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. If it resonates with you (and I think it will), take two minutes to rate and review it. This is how films by independent female creators find their audiences. Your review could be exactly what another viewer needs to discover this gem.If you loved this story...Start with Kara Cutruzzula’s episode about building a multifaceted creative career, then explore conversations with other women who’ve chosen creative courage: Caroline Scruggs on leaving the music industry to create freedom, Cleyvis Natera on leaving corporate to write full-time, and Julie Hartigan on pivoting from engineering to becoming a chef.Let’s chat about this episode!What creative dream have you been treating like it needs perfect conditions before you can begin? Share in the comments what your next brave creative step might be. Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it too late for me to...” the answer’s NO—and The Uplifters are about to show you why. This space is for purpose-driven women who want to do big, brave things in the second half of their lives. I’m your host, Aransas Savas, and I’ve spent the last 20 years at the intersection of behavior change research and coaching.This month for the new year, we're exploring new beginnings with award-winning author Sahar Delijani, Dawn Veselka who co-founded Cards2Warriors (sending over 48,000 cards of hope to people battling chronic illness), perimenopause expert Karissa Pfeffer, and comedian-filmmaker Mandy Fabian. Welcome to the Uplifters!Listen to this episode if...* You’re carrying stories that feel too big, too painful, or too important to keep inside* You’ve felt paralyzed by the question “who am I to write this/say this/share this?”* You’re looking for courage to do something big and brave this yearMost of us will never face the kind of capital C Courage that Sahar Delijani writes about, even though lately it doesn’t feel far off. The kind where speaking your beliefs can cost you your freedom, your family, your life. I’ve spent years studying courage, coaching women through their biggest transitions, and interviewing hundreds of people doing brave things. But this conversation taught me so much about the ways great big acts of courage inform the little daily ones, and vice-versa.Sahar writes about people who faced imprisonment, execution, and systematic persecution. But telling their stories? That took a different kind of courage entirely. The daily kind. The kind that shows up when you’re sitting at your laptop, terrified, wondering who gave you permission to tell these stories. The kind that requires you to keep going when every voice in your head says you’re not ready, you’re betraying secrets, you don’t have the right.That’s the courage most of us actually need to learn: how to do the thing we feel called to do even when we’re scared, how to tell the truth even when we were taught to keep it hidden, how to take up space with our voices, our stories, our work, especially in midlife when so much of the world tells us our time has passed.So when Sahar Delijani, whose debut novel Children of the Jacaranda Tree has been translated into 32 languages and published in more than 75 countries, agreed to talk with me, I wanted to understand: How does witnessing extraordinary Courage inform the ordinary courage we need every day? How do you build the stamina to keep doing brave things when the work requires revisiting trauma again and again? And what can those of us doing “smaller” brave things (career changes, creative pursuits, truth-telling in our own lives) learn from someone who’s documenting capital-C Courage?Turns out: everything.Her StorySahar grew up in the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian revolution, in the shadow of her family’s activism and imprisonment. Her parents were among thousands arrested in 1983 for their political beliefs. Her mother was pregnant at the time. Sahar was born in Evin prison, Tehran’s notorious political prison, and spent her first month there before her grandparents raised her alongside her brother and cousin (also born in prison).The 1988 mass executions took her uncle’s life while her parents, fortunately, had already been released. But the trauma didn’t end when her parents came home. It lived in the silence, in the things they couldn’t talk about, in the ways their imprisonment shaped every aspect of their lives even after their release.For years, Sahar didn’t talk about any of it either. Moving to California at age 12 meant geographic distance from Iran, but it also meant the stories stayed locked away. It wasn’t until she decided to write Children of the Jacaranda Tree that she began to unlock those stories, not just for herself, but for others who lived through similar experiences around the world.The book chronicles the lives of families affected by political imprisonment in Iran, weaving together stories of life inside prison walls and the ripple effects on everyone outside them. It follows children born into this tragedy, including those born in prison like Sahar, as they grow up and decide what to do with the legacy of their parents’ courage and sacrifice. Writing it meant breaking decades of silence, meant asking her parents to revisit their most painful memories, and making private family trauma public.In this episode, we talk about what it takes to keep going when your work requires you to revisit the hardest parts of your life again and again, how she rebuilds her courage between projects, how she processes the weight of speaking for others, how she maintains boundaries while staying open to her own feelings, and how she remembers why these stories matter when the cost of telling them feels too high.5 Ways Sahar Delijani Shows Us How to Build Our Courage Capital:* She reconnects to purpose when doubt creeps in. When Sahar questions whether she has the right to tell these stories, she comes back to a simple truth: these stories need to be told, and she’s the one with the passion, knowledge, and proximity to tell them. That clarity of knowing why the work matters beyond her own fear keeps her moving forward. (You can do this too: write down why your brave thing matters. Keep that visible. Come back to it when you forget.)* She builds community to sustain the hard work. Sahar doesn’t try to write about trauma in isolation. She surrounds herself with friends, family, and fellow artists who understand what she’s carrying. They give her energy when her own runs low, remind her why the work matters, and help her process the weight of it all. (Your turn: identify 2-3 people who can hold space for your brave work. Tell them what you’re doing and ask them to check in with you.)* She gives herself permission to feel everything. Rather than pushing through difficult emotions to stay “productive,” Sahar lets herself feel desperate, tired, lazy, or whatever shows up. She trusts that living through feelings honestly is how they move through and make space for the next thing. (Try this: when hard feelings come up, ask yourself “what am I really feeling right now?” and let yourself have that feeling without judgment.)* She takes breaks without guilt. Between writing projects, Sahar steps away from the work entirely. She reads, cooks, travels, swims, spends time with loved ones, all without beating herself up for not being “productive.” She’s learned that rest isn’t procrastination; it’s how we build the reserves to do the next hard thing. (What would it look like for you to schedule guilt-free breaks into your brave work?)* She reframes whose story this is. When the weight of speaking for others felt too heavy, Sahar shifted perspective: yes, these are her family’s stories, but she’s the medium connecting them to people who need to hear them. She’s not the hero or the villain of this story, but the translator, the bridge, the person willing to do the hard work of making private pain into public wisdom. (Where can you reframe your role from “I must get this perfect” to “I’m here to connect and translate”?)Lift Her UpSahar’s second novel, For Every Person You Kill, arrives in spring 2027. In the meantime, pick up Children of the Jacaranda Tree wherever books are sold—it’s one of those rare books you’ll want to reread immediately just to savor the language and sit with the characters a little longer.If you loved this story...Did you know that every woman on the Uplifters podcast is nominated by someone she inspires? This means you and I get to chat with the most inspiring women -- the ones who inspire the women who inspire us!Our current thread:Susan Jaramillo→Kate Tellers from The Moth→Cleyvis Natera→ Deesha Philyaw → Mo Browne – Djeli Said → Hala Alyan → Sahar Delijani who nominates Yeldā Ali as her Uplifter: “Artist, activist, innovator, community organizer, Yeldā is a true uplifter!”Let’s Chat!What story have you been afraid to tell? What would it take to start telling it this week, even just to yourself, even just in a journal? Share in the comments, your courage might be exactly what another person needs to hear. Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

In an era of unprecedented social isolation and loneliness, one Philadelphia engineer is combating disconnection one compliment at a time. Celine McGee, who works in corporate telecommunications by day, has spent over a decade approaching strangers with genuine compliments and cards that say "pass it on"—creating what she calls the Compliment Squad.What started with a single compliment during a neighborhood walk has evolved into a grassroots movement challenging our collective fear of talking to strangers. Celine shares how she overcomes the vulnerability of approaching people she's never met, why creating connection matters more than perfection, and how small acts of courage can create butterfly effects of kindness.In this conversation, we explore the crisis of loneliness affecting our communities, practical strategies for overcoming social anxiety, and why sometimes the bravest thing we can do is simply tell someone their shoes look cool. Whether you're an introvert wanting to connect more or someone who believes we need more human interaction in our increasingly digital world, this episode offers both inspiration and practical tools for building courage through everyday connection.What You'll Learn:How to overcome fear of talking to strangers — Practical strategies for approaching people you don't know with genuine complimentsBuilding everyday courage through small acts — Why starting with simple compliments can help you develop confidence in all areas of lifeCreating community connection in isolated times — How one person's small initiative can ripple out to create meaningful changeNavigating social anxiety with purpose — Turning awkwardness into opportunities for authentic human connectionSustaining passion projects alongside demanding careers — Strategies for keeping personal missions alive when corporate work drains your energyKey Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction 4:30 - The origin story of the Compliment Squad 11:45 - Overcoming the vulnerability of approaching strangers 18:20 - How compliments can bridge social divisions 24:15 - Katie's wisdom: "If you haven't been punched in the face, you're fine" 28:45 - Enlisting amplifiers to grow the movement 33:00 - Courage practices for connectionKey Takeaways:For anyone struggling with social connection: Compliments are one of the lowest-barrier ways to break the ice and create authentic moments with strangersFor those managing fear of rejection: Research shows that even imperfect compliments land well—the intention matters more than perfect executionFor community builders: Creating movements doesn't require perfection or grand gestures; it starts with doing more of what already feels good and inviting others to join youFeatured Quote:"If you haven't been punched in the face so far, you're fine. So my point is like I compliment a lot of people I've never seen before or spoken to, and it's fine. So people shouldn't be scared just to give a compliment in any setting." — Celine McGee (quoting her friend Katie)Resources & Links:Follow the... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

What if the key to building your midlife business isn't having all the answers but knowing how to ask the right questions? In this episode, we meet Gita Vellanki, founder of Neeshi, who left a successful career in high tech to create functional foods for women navigating menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause. After watching her daughter struggle with debilitating periods and experiencing her own perimenopausal chaos, Gita drew on her grandmother's wisdom about food as medicine and created a line of chocolate spreads designed to help women feel better without sacrificing pleasure.But Gita's journey from corporate executive to midlife founder wasn't about having the perfect credentials. With zero background in CPG or marketing, she had to learn how to leverage the resources she did have, get specific about her gaps, and become her own loudest advocate. This is a masterclass in starting over at 40, asking for help without apologizing, and building courage capital one brave choice at a time.Whether you're considering a perimenopause career change, wondering about starting a business during menopause, or simply trying to figure out how to take the leap when you don't feel ready, Gita's story offers practical wisdom for women over 40 starting businesses and reclaiming their power in the midlife transition women experience.What You'll Learn:How to start a business after 40 without feeling ready - Gita shares how she began Neeshi with zero CPG experience, learning to leverage what she had rather than waiting for perfect credentialsPerimenopause business strategies for women entrepreneurs - How to identify and fill skill gaps like marketing while building a mission-driven companyStarting over at 40 with limited resources - Practical advice on using your existing network, even when it feels irrelevant to your new ventureWomen over 40 overcoming self-doubt as founders - Why following up doesn't mean being pushy, and how to stop interpreting silence as rejectionMidlife career change through purpose-driven work - How personal pain can become the foundation for meaningful business that helps othersBuilding confidence after 40 as a female founder - The courage practice of asking for help without apology, and trading stress for realistic timelinesMenopause wellness business success stories - From frozen products to hero spreads: how to pivot without judgment when your first idea doesn't workKey Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction 2:15 - How Neeshi was born from watching her daughter suffer 6:30 - Gita's own perimenopause journey and discovering the power of functional food 10:00 - The pivot from frozen products to chocolate spreads 13:15 - Leveraging your existing resources even when they feel irrelevant 16:45 - The marketing challenge and learning new skills at 40+ 20:00 - Why asking for help became her superpower 23:00 - Trading stress for timeline: letting go of artificial urgency 26:45 - Supporting Neeshi and connecting with GitaKey Takeaways:For... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

What happens when health challenges in your 40s become the catalyst for a complete career reinvention? In this episode, Kimberle Lau shares her journey from 20-year beauty industry executive to founder of Bake Me Healthy, an allergen-free, plant-based baking company. After pregnancy-induced food intolerances and a breast cancer risk diagnosis, Kimberle left corporate America at 44 to build a mission-driven business serving people with food allergies and intolerances.She opens up about being a self-described "risk-averse" founder, discovering that the average founder age is actually 45 (not 25), and learning to focus on "the next three steps" instead of needing the entire roadmap mapped out. We talk about balancing business building with raising teenagers approaching college age, why she tracks sleep like a KPI, and how "micro-wins" serve as signals to keep going when progress feels slow.This is an honest conversation about midlife entrepreneurship women over 40, starting a business during perimenopause, women changing careers in their 40s, and building something meaningful when everyone's asking "but when will you break even?"What You'll Learn:How to change careers after 40 with purpose — Kimberle shares how 20 years of beauty industry expertise transferred to food entrepreneurship and what made her finally take the leap at 44Starting a business during midlife with family responsibilities — Navigating the reality of building a company while raising teenagers, managing mortgage payments, and planning for college tuitionPerimenopause motivation for women entrepreneurs — How health challenges became the catalyst for purpose-driven work and why midlife is actually the right time to startWomen over 40 starting businesses — Why the average founder age is 45, not 25, and what advantages decades of experience bring to entrepreneurshipBuilding confidence after 40 as a female founder — Overcoming the "am I ready?" question and learning to trust your next three steps instead of needing the full planMidlife transformation through purpose — From corporate burnout in beauty to creating inclusive, allergen-free products that serve an underserved communitySecond act career success strategies — Practical wisdom about evaluating micro-wins, managing risk strategically, and making self-care non-negotiableKey Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction4:00 - From beauty industry executive to food entrepreneur—the health crisis that changed everything12:00 - "Am I too risk-averse to be a founder?" and discovering the average founder age is 4518:30 - Managing the anxiety of building a business as a mom with college tuition looming24:00 - The "next three steps" approach: why you don't need the full roadmap to start28:00 - Listening to micro-wins as signals to keep going33:00 - The sleep habit tracker: treating self-care like a business KPI39:00 - Building a family business: working with her mother and involving her kidsKey Takeaways:For midlife career changers: The average founder age is 45—your decades of expertise are an asset, not a liability. Starting "late" often means starting with more resources, networks, and pattern recognition than younger founders have.For women over 40 seeking purpose: Health challenges and body changes in midlife can become catalysts for meaningful work. What starts as solving your own problem can become a mission serving thousands of others.For perimenopause entrepreneurs: Risk-aversion doesn't disqualify you from founding something. Strategic risk management—having financial cushion, supportive partners, and Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Starting over during perimenopause and midlife doesn't always mean changing careers—sometimes it means creating entirely new solutions the world desperately needs. In this episode, meet Tara Miko Ballentine, founder of Bright Littles, who transformed her experience of childhood sexual assault into a company helping parents have crucial conversations with kids about consent, boundaries, safety, and diversity.For women over 40 navigating midlife reinvention, Tara's story offers powerful proof that your second act can combine personal healing with public purpose. She launched Bright Littles during the pandemic while parenting full-time, and four years later continues building without breaking even—side hustling, pivoting constantly, and facing the unique challenges female founders encounter when seeking funding.This conversation offers practical wisdom for midlife women pursuing dreams that matter: how to start before you feel ready, how to find courage capital when everyone questions your path, and how to build something meaningful while managing all the other responsibilities of life after 40.What You'll Learn:How to change careers after 40 with purpose — Tara shares her journey from fashion and marketing to founding an education company, proving midlife career pivots can create entirely new industriesStarting over during menopause with limited resources — Learn how to launch a business while working full-time, parenting, and navigating the financial realities of midlife entrepreneurshipBuilding confidence after 40 as a female founder — Discover strategies for persisting when funding goes to men with ideas while women with products face barriersPerimenopause motivation for women entrepreneurs — How to maintain your North Star mission when the journey tests every ounce of your resolveWomen over 40 starting businesses — Practical wisdom about pivoting, learning new skills (even tech!), and building sustainable side hustlesMidlife transformation through purpose — How personal pain can fuel public mission when you're ready to turn wounds into wisdomSecond act career success stories — Real talk about what four years of building looks like without breaking even, and why mission sometimes matters more than metricsKey Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction2:15 - The pandemic moment that sparked Bright Littles6:30 - Crossing personal and business life for the first time10:00 - The "am I ready?" questions every founder asks13:00 - Why 95% of childhood sexual abuse is preventable18:15 - How to start conversations before problems happen22:00 - Pivoting from physical products to digital during tariffs26:00 - The "Periods and Polish" event and online backlash31:00 - How to support Bright Littles' missionKey Takeaways:For midlife career changers: Start with what you know, then pivot as you learn—Tara began with fashion/product experience and adapted everything as she discovered publishing, retail, and subscription modelsFor women over 40 seeking purpose: Your personal experience isn't a liability; it's your competitive advantage. Tara's childhood trauma became her deepest source of mission clarityFor perimenopause entrepreneurs: Side hustling is sustainable—Tara worked as a CMO while building Bright Littles, still consults for income, and has built something meaningful without traditional fundingFeatured Quote:"I feel so passionate about what I am doing. I think most people probably would've quit. I've not financially broke even in four years. That is not for everybody. But I feel like when I started this... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Producer Rachel (Rachel Giordano) spent nearly 30 years climbing the entertainment industry ladder—from Barbara Walters and The View to Disney Feature Animation to iHeart Media. But at 47, she realized the traditional path wasn't letting her be fully herself. Now she runs a boutique production company, hosts The Producer Rachel Show, wrote and self-published a children's book (Santa's Secret Wishing Coin), and is helping other midlife women embrace their creative superpowers—ADHD and all.In this conversation, Rachel shares her radical "creator not consumer" mindset shift, why she refuses to "niche down" despite what every algorithm tells her, and how she's building a creative empire by doing things messy, posting for pleasure instead of obligation, and embracing every weird part of herself. If you've ever felt like you had to boil yourself down to one thing to be "marketable," this episode will give you permission to be the umbrella.What You'll LearnHow to shift from consumer to creator mindset (and why a time audit will shock you)The "do it messy" approach to getting your work out into the world without waiting for perfectWhy "niching down" might be killing your creativity—and what to do insteadHow to know what to outsource when you're building something new (hint: if it doesn't move the needle, delegate it)Why comparison is the creativity killer—and how to disconnect from other people's timelinesThe parking lot moment that changed everything for Rachel's businessHow to invest in yourself before you feel "ready" (and trust the gap will fill itself)Why your ADHD might be your midlife superpower, not a problem to fixHow to create content you actually want to make instead of content you think you "should" makeThe surprising way editing became Rachel's meditation practiceWhy being a "multi-hyphenate" at 40+ is actually your competitive advantageHow to support small creators (it's free and takes seconds)Timestamps00:00 - Welcome & Rachel's background in entertainment03:15 - The creator vs. consumer mindset shift06:50 - How behavior change works: focus on what you're gaining, not giving up08:30 - Posting for pleasure vs. obligation13:30 - Comparison as the thief of joy (and creativity)16:55 - "Everyone has ideas. Only entrepreneurs act on them."18:00 - The magic of consistent, small actions19:57 - Why your unique perspective is irreplaceable (even in the age of AI)23:00 - The "network umbrella" approach to personal branding25:00 - Being the brand instead of picking one niche27:00 - Investing in yourself: hiring the VA, the cleaning service, the meal prep29:00 - Why Gen X is the most resourceful generation30:45 - Ageism and why we're going to team up and do our own things31:12 - Getting out of toxic hustle culture and respecting your own boundaries33:30 - The origin story of Santa's Secret Wishing Coin37:00 - Teaching kids about believing, giving, and manifestation38:30 - Becoming your own publisher and what that takes40:00 - "Nobody cares... until they do"42:00 - Growing community before you launch43:00 - Rachel nominates Dr. Rhonda Vaughn44:30 - Support small creators: it's free and changes livesKey Takeaways✨ Shift from consumer to creator: Do a time audit. You probably have more creative time than you think—you're just spending it scrolling.✨ Perfect is too late. Do it messy: Start before you're ready. Go live to test ideas. Edit later... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Discover how women over 40 are leading systemic change and tackling audacious goals. In this episode, 42-year-old Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director of the NYC Jobs CEO Council, shares how she's coordinating Fortune 100 CEOs to hire 100,000 low-income New Yorkers—and they're already more than halfway there.If you've ever wondered "is it too late to take on something impossibly big?" this conversation proves the answer is absolutely not. Kiersten reveals her practical strategies for breaking down overwhelming problems, asking better questions, and building the kind of authentic leadership that creates space for everyone behind you. From her annual "letter from the future" practice to her philosophy of "strategic neglect," she offers a masterclass in midlife ambition that's both grounded in research and beautifully human.What You'll LearnCareer Change & Midlife Reinvention:How to pivot from corporate (15 years at Bloomberg) to mission-driven leadership after 40Why women's growth mindset peaks in their 40s and how to leverage itHow to take on audacious goals without having all the answers firstWhy your "not knowing what you want to be" might actually be your superpowerStrategic career pivots for women over 40 seeking meaningful workPerimenopause & Menopause Era Leadership:How to lead major initiatives while raising small children in your 40sWork-life integration strategies that actually work (not the mythical "balance")Why scheduling self-care and date nights matters more than superhuman productivityStrategic neglect: giving yourself permission to let go of the "shoulds"Managing stress and overwhelm during perimenopause while leading high-stakes projectsPractical Midlife Success Strategies:The annual future-letter practice that turns goals into concrete action plans"Eat the frog first": why tackling the hardest thing in the morning changes everythingHow to ask the right questions of the right people when facing big problemsData collection vs. speculation: making better decisions by knowing your "customer"Why problems don't age well and how to build courage through immediate actioBreaking down impossible goals into digestible, actionable stepsWomen 40+ in Leadership:How authenticity (not fitting a mold) makes you memorable and effectiveWhy talking about your children and challenges publicly creates systemic changeThe evolution from "women couldn't make it work" to "this is the new norm"How to measure success when you're in the second half of your lifeBuilding courage capital through facing impossible-seeming challengesMidlife confidence building for women leadersSystemic Change & Social Impact:How to coordinate massive coalitions (like Fortune 100 CEOs) toward common goalsWhy breaking down big problems into digestible pieces is the only way forwardThe importance of hiring and skilling local talent for economic mobilityHow private sector leadership can drive public sector changeWhy transferable skills from hourly work matter more than ever in the AI eraKey Timestamps[00:00] Introduction to Kiersten Barnet and the NYC Jobs CEO Council's audacious goal[02:45] "I don't think I knew any of the jobs I've had existed until basically just before I had them"[04:15] How priorities shift in your 40s: from straight paths to what's right for right now[06:00] Measuring success in the second half of life[07:00] Why growth mindset peaks in your 40s[08:00] The importance of questions and curiosity in leadership[10:00]... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Former Dance/NYC co-executive director Candace Thompson-Zachery shares her journey from 20 years in arts advocacy to launching a menopause and wellness coaching practice at age 40. This episode explores career transitions in midlife, building courage capital through curiosity, and why women's growth mindset peaks in their 40s. Candace discusses her path from founding Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE on a $20K budget to getting six certifications in two years, including menopause coach, wellness coach, and Clifton Strengths coach. Learn how she developed "yearning" for her work, why she views her gray hair as earned badges of honor, and practical strategies for pivoting careers without having all the answers first.What You'll LearnCareer pivot strategies for midlife including how to leverage 20+ years of experience in a new fieldMenopause and perimenopause support for women maintaining high performance during hormonal transitionsBuilding courage capital at 40+ by developing yearning instead of waiting for readinessOvercoming perfectionism and the delayed tactics of collecting endless certificationsStrengths-based leadership approaches for artists, creatives, and organizational leadersNetwork as insurance - how relationships built over decades become your safety netGrowth mindset in midlife - why women's learning capacity peaks in their 40sExecutive wellness strategies encompassing movement, nutrition, mindset, and hormonal healthHow to start before you're ready using beta testers and small experimentsReframing time after 40 - why five years feels manageable instead of dauntingTimestamps00:00 - Introduction & Nutrafol sponsorship message01:00 - Nomination from Charisma J02:00 - Welcome & intro to Candace Thompson-Zachery04:15 - 20 years in NYC's dance and arts ecosystem05:30 - Evolution from dancer to arts advocate06:45 - Founding her own dance collective on $20K08:00 - Navigating doubt vs. curiosity in career evolution10:15 - Motherhood as a catalyst for new confidence11:30 - Reframing time and readiness at 4013:30 - Career coaching and six certifications journey14:15 - Becoming a menopause coach15:00 - Community support during transitions16:30 - Network as insurance and resource inventory18:00 - Starting without all the data19:15 - Developing "yearning" for the work21:30 - Analysis paralysis vs. energizing vision23:30 - Lowering the perfectionist voice through doing24:30 - Hustle as insurance25:30 - Beliefs about aging from first to second half of life27:30 - Gray hair as earned authority29:00 - Feeling groundedness and calm at 4030:15 - Advantages of doing brave things as we age31:45 - Diminished self-consciousness about others' perceptions33:00 - When did you think you'd feel like an adult?34:00 - "It's never too late" - reframing possibilities35:30 - Finding the essence beneath the dream36:30 - What yearning feels like in daily work38:00 - Who inspires you: Sydney Mosley39:00 - How to support Candace's work40:30 - Executive wellness and menopause specialization41:30 - Closing thoughtsKey TakeawaysOn Career Pivots:You don't need all the data before making a change—you've never had all the dataStart with a beta tester or willing friend before launching publiclyYour network from decades of work becomes your insurance policHedge your bets: build the new thing while staying open to full-time workFive years of doing anything will make you... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Burnout recovery starts with slowing down. Yoga teacher Elena Brower shares how women over 40 can reduce brain fog, protect energy, and build sustainable courage.Episode DescriptionBurnout recovery isn't about doing more—it's about carrying less. In this episode of The Uplifters, legendary yoga teacher, author, and artist Elena Brower shares her journey from New York City's achievement-driven yoga world to Santa Fe's spacious creative life, offering a roadmap for women over 40 ready to trade exhaustion for sustainable energy.If you're experiencing brain fog, sleep disruptions from stress, or the physical toll of decades of overcommitment, Elena's story offers practical wisdom. She reveals how thriving in midlife means deliberately slowing down—not losing capacity, but gaining longer, richer days and protecting your nervous system from chronic overwhelm.The Hidden Cost of Burnout After 40Many women over 40 attribute fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes solely to perimenopause, but chronic stress and burnout compound these symptoms. Elena's journey demonstrates how addressing the root causes—endless commitments, external validation seeking, and poor boundaries—can improve both mental clarity and physical wellbeing.What You'll LearnBurnout Recovery Strategies:How to use Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for self-compassion and reducing internal stressWhy deliberately slowing down improves focus, energy, and decision-makingPractical techniques for setting boundaries with work and family (including stopping work at 5pm)The connection between achievement culture and nervous system dysregulationBuilding Your Midlife Mindset:How to identify what you're carrying and why (fewer grudges, less rancor, fewer debts)The "Space of Genius" framework for organizing life around what matters mostWhy seeking external validation exhausts you and how to build internal trustHow writing your stories creates retroactive healing without steeping in difficultySustainable Courage Practices:The four-step NVC process: observation, feelings, needs, and self-compassionElena's "truth has tears" writing practice for getting beyond comfortable truthsHow Zen practice builds the internal trust that replaces ambition-driven burnoutStrategies for helping teenagers and partners take responsibility for their own emotional statesWhy This Matters for Women 40+ at WorkThe midlife mindset shift Elena describes isn't about opting out—it's about opting in to sustainability. For women over 40 navigating leadership, career transitions, or simply trying to maintain performance while managing physical changes, her approach offers an alternative to pushing through exhaustion.Key TakeawaysSlower Creates Longer: Moving more slowly through your days paradoxically gives you the feeling of longer, richer days and reduces the cortisol response that worsens perimenopause symptoms.Self-Empathy Reduces Physical Stress: The four-step NVC process (observe, name feelings, identify needs, self-compassion) helps regulate your nervous system before attempting to communicate with others.Ambition and Mistrust Are Linked: The unconscious drive for external validation stems from internal mistrust. Building internal trust through practices like Zen meditation creates sustainable energy instead of burnout cycles.Nobody Owes You Anything: Releasing the belief that people owe you attention or acknowledgment is one of the most freeing acts for reducing resentment and its physical... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Midlife career change takes courage. Catherine Clark shares how women over 40 can leave burnout behind, trust impermanence, and create what's next.DESCRIPTION:After 30 years of building a successful branding agency, Catherine Clark made a radical choice in her 50s: she walked away. In this conversation, Catherine shares the truth about midlife career change—how to recognize when partnerships drain your energy, why movement unlocks emotional breakthroughs, and how women over 40 can reimagine success on their own terms.This is a powerful story about burnout recovery, surrendering the need to push through, and building something fluid and graceful in midlife. If you've ever felt trapped by the success you've created, this episode will give you permission to move.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00] Introduction: Reimagining success in the second half of life[01:28] Catherine's journey: 30 years in branding and the ecosystem that started to fray[04:06] Why women are trained to tolerate energy-depleting relationships[06:24] The courage to address stagnation and trust what's on the other side[08:11] Accepting that change happens whether we choose it or not[09:42] The ocean and the wave: Thich Nhat Hanh's philosophy on impermanence[14:30] What horses taught Catherine about movement as medicine[35:42] The danger of being too strong: when resilience keeps us stuck[36:52] Why surrender requires more strength than pushing through[38:04] Building CREATRIS with fluidity and grace[40:37] How moving your body helps you move emotionallyKEY TAKEAWAYS:✨ Energy-multiplying vs. energy-depleting relationships: Learn to recognize the difference✨ Everything has to work together: career, family, values—your ecosystem matters✨ Movement is medicine: Physical movement unlocks emotional breakthroughs✨ Surrender isn't weakness: Sometimes the bravest thing is to stop pushing✨ Midlife opens doors: When children launch and parents age, new chapters emergeABOUT CATHERINE CLARK:Catherine Clark is the founder of CREATRIS and spent nearly 30 years building a successful branding agency, Clarkmcdowell, working with companies like Starbucks and PepsiCo. After recognizing that her partnership and business model no longer fueled her energy, she made the courageous decision to start fresh in her 50s, creating something more aligned with fluidity, grace, and her evolving values.RESOURCES MENTIONED:• Thich Nhat Hanh's philosophy on impermanence• Gyrotonics (movement practice)• Caroline Weaver / The Locavore (NYC)CONNECT WITH ARANSAS:Subscribe to the Uplifters podcast for weekly conversations with women doing big, brave things in midlife and beyond.TAGS:#midlifemindset #careerchange40 #womenover40 #burnoutrecovery #midlifecareerchange #strongat40plus #thrivingmidlife #secondhalflife #perimenopause #menopause #womenleadership #careertransition Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

About This EpisodeJoin host Aransas Savas in a powerful conversation with Hala Alyan, a Palestinian-American poet, writer, clinical psychologist, and mother, as they explore the intersections of identity, motherhood, creativity, and social engagement.Key Topics Discussed:Navigating multiple identities as a Palestinian-AmericanThe role of motherhood in understanding personal and collective experiencesCreative writing and storytelling as forms of witness and resistanceAccountability, personal growth, and social responsibilityTimestamps00:00 - Introduction to Hala Alyan01:09 - Exploring Personal Identities03:20 - The Complexity of Cultural Identity12:35 - Motherhood and Storytelling25:32 - Raising a Child with Awareness and Compassion34:05 - The Power of Mundane Moments40:10 - Building Supportive Relationships42:11 - Creative Pursuits and LearningAbout Hala AlyanHala Alyan is a Palestinian-American poet, writer, clinical psychologist, and mother based in Brooklyn. She is the author of a memoir and continues to explore themes of identity, displacement, and resilience through her writing and creative work.The Uplifter ThreadDid you know that every woman on the Uplifters podcast is nominated by a former guest or audience member? This means you and I get to chat with the most inspiring women -- the ones who inspire the women who inspire us!Our current thread:Julie Fleischer → Susan Jaramillo→Kate Tellers from The Moth→Cleyvis Natera→ Deesha Philyaw → Mahogany Browne → Hala Alyan → who nominates Sahar Delijani and describes her as, “A remarkable human and artist, a beautiful writer, a fearless advocate for Iranian human rights.”Lift Her Up:Support Hala’s Work:Buy or borrow I’ll Tell You When I’m Home from your local bookstore or libraryAttend KAN YAMA KAN if you’re in NYC—it’s a beautiful reading series that combines poetry, fiction, memoir, and music while raising funds for monthly mutual aid causes. You can learn more about it by following Hala’s IG.Share her work with book clubs, writing groups, or friends who appreciate literature that grapples with identity, displacement, and belongingSupport Palestine:Hala emphasizes that witnessing and being moved by what you see is transformative—educate yourself about what’s happening in PalestineSupport mutual aid organizations working on the groundSupport the PodcastSubscribe to Uplifters PodcastLeave a ReviewShare with a Friend#Uplifters #HalaAlyan #Motherhood #CreativeWriting #PalestinianAmerican #Podcast Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, and brain fog often go undiagnosed. Here's how Joanna Strober built accessible menopause care for women over 40.Perimenopause symptoms went undiagnosed for years while Joanna Strober suffered through sleepless nights, unexplained weight gain, hot flashes, and anxiety. Despite seeing multiple doctors, no one mentioned perimenopause or hormone therapy. This is her story of how personal medical dismissal became a mission to transform menopause care for women over 40.At 53, Joanna founded Midi Health—the first insurance-covered virtual care platform for perimenopause and menopause, now serving 20,000 women weekly across all 50 states.In this episode, you'll learn:✅ Why perimenopause symptoms start in your 30s or 40s (up to 20 years before menopause)✅ The truth about HRT and breast cancer risk✅ How to access insurance-covered menopause care vs. paying $1,500+ out of pocket✅ Common perimenopause symptoms beyond hot flashes: brain fog, sleep disruption, night sweats, anxiety, weight gain, vertigo✅ Why hormone therapy (HRT) has 5x less hormones than birth control pills doctors readily prescribe✅ How one woman turned medical gaslighting into a healthcare company at 53✅ The courage to talk about menopause publicly when it was considered career suicide✅ Why perimenopause care IS primary care for women over 40✅ The manifesting and visualization techniques that helped build a national healthcare platform✅ How to create feedback loops that drive operational excellence (including the brilliance of frustrations@joinmidi.com)Why This Matters for Women Over 40:Medical studies show women 40-49 experience significant work and life impacts from perimenopause, yet symptoms are routinely dismissed or misdiagnosed. This conversation breaks down the barriers keeping women from proper care and offers practical pathways to getting help.About Joanna Strober:Joanna Strober is the Founder and CEO of Midi Health, the largest insurance-covered virtual menopause care platform in the United States. After her own perimenopause symptoms went undiagnosed for years, she founded Midi at age 53 to ensure other women wouldn't suffer the same medical dismissal. She was one of the first business leaders to publicly discuss menopause on LinkedIn in 2021, helping break the professional taboo around this life transition. Under her leadership, Midi now serves nearly 20,000 women weekly with accessible, expert menopause care.Key Timestamps:[00:00] Introduction[03:15] Joanna's undiagnosed perimenopause journey[06:00] Why doctors prescribe birth control instead of HRT[07:15] The career risk of talking about menopause in 2021[10:00] Debunking the hormone therapy and breast cancer myth[15:00] How insurance coverage makes menopause care accessible[18:45] The billion symptoms of perimenopause you need to know[20:00] Starting a healthcare company at 53[23:30] Manifesting and strategic visualization in business[27:00] Serving 20,000 women weekly—the reality of scaling healthcare[30:00] Why frustrations@joinmidi.com matters for courage capital[33:00] The future: expanding to full women's primary careResources Mentioned:• MIDI Health: www.joinmidi.com (insurance-covered menopause care)• Women's Health Initiative Study (discussed in episode)• Nutrafol (episode sponsor for hair health)Connect with The Uplifters:🎙 Website: theuplifterspodcast.com📱 Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast and @aransas_savas📱 TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast▶️ YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast💼 LinkedIn: Aransas SavasIf You... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Episode Description:What happens when a scientist with two decades of pharmaceutical research experience realizes she doesn't understand what's happening to her own body? Dr. Isabelle Raymond joins us to discuss her journey from studying sleep medicine and neurotoxins to becoming the Head of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Nutrafol—and why it took until 2020 for any brand to study menopausal women's hair loss. This conversation reveals the shocking gaps in women's health research, why having women designing studies matters so much, and how Isabelle's bringing both scientific rigor and personal experience to research that actually serves women's bodies.What You'll Learn:Why menopausal and perimenopausal hair thinning happen to so many womenHow Isabelle's designing studies around the outcomes that actually matter to womenWhy clinical trials historically excluded women How estrogen receptors on every organ in your body explain why menopause affects everythingHow supplement research is conductedWhy so little time has been historically spent on training doctors in menopause Time Stamps:[00:00] Introduction and Aransas's personal hair shedding story[02:30] Isabelle's background[07:00] The career pivot from pharmaceutical research to Nutrafol[11:45] Why women weren't included in clinical trials—and why that needs to change[17:30] The moment Isabelle realized she was going through perimenopause on camera[22:15] Why almost no doctors receive adequate training in menopause care[26:00] How estrogen receptors throughout your body explain perimenopause symptoms[31:40] Brain fog, the word-finding difficulties, and normalizing these experiences at work[38:20] Why Nutrafol was the first to study menopausal women specifically[42:00] The power of knowledge [48:15] How Isabelle takes care of herself while taking care of everyone else[52:30] Becoming a spokesperson and front woman after a career in the backgroundKey Takeaways:✨ Women's health has been understudied because hormonal fluctuations made research more complicated—but "complicated" doesn't mean "impossible" or "not worth doing"✨ You have estrogen receptors on every organ in your body (including your hair), which is why perimenopause and menopause affect so much more than just your reproductive system✨ The medical system's gaps aren't your fault—but you can advocate for yourself by asking questions and seeking providers who take your concerns seriously✨ Brain fog, hair changes, mood shifts, and the feeling that your body no longer works the way it used to are all legitimate symptoms worth addressing✨ When women with scientific expertise bring their lived experiences into their research, they design studies that actually answer the questions women are asking✨ Self-care isn't optional—it's essential infrastructure for doing good work in the worldResource Links: Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

This special episode features three remarkable women from the Uplifters community who reached out to share their stories of transformation after 40. Elaine Perkins (64) packed up her life in Brooklyn at 60 to become a homeowner in Delaware. Adena Artale (47) looked herself in the mirror at 45 and finally pursued her childhood dream of acting. Tracy Keibler (64) became a nonprofit founder at 50 when her husband lost his job—and has since served over 8,000 lives. Their stories prove that courage doesn't have an expiration date, and reinvention is always possible.What You'll LearnHow to navigate major life transitions after 40 with confidenceStrategies for building community when starting over in a new placeWhy "new" is an advantage, not a disadvantageHow to distinguish between limiting beliefs and genuine wisdomThe practice of listening to your body's signals about what you truly needWhy telling the right people first matters when pursuing brave goalsHow to reframe failure and keep experimenting your way forwardThe importance of scheduling self-care like you schedule meetingsWhy following your dreams benefits everyone around you, not just yourselfTime Stamps00:00 - Introduction: The Late Bloomers Series Finale02:15 - Elaine's Story: Moving to Delaware at 6003:30 - The dream of homeownership and her mother's passing04:45 - What scared her most about the move06:00 - Choosing allies and amplifiers to tell first07:15 - The power of saying "I'm new here"08:30 - How loss created space for reinvention10:00 - Writing her worthiness story11:30 - Rating herself on bravery: from 7 to 1012:45 - Her next dream: Tamron Hall Show and spreading the worthiness message18:30 - Adena's Story: Becoming an actor at 4519:15 - Her sister's terminal diagnosis as a catalyst20:30 - The mirror moment: naming her sacred dream22:30 - Taking action immediately with Backstage23:45 - The uncomfortable photoshoot and learning to accept her body25:30 - Why she's not stopping for the next 53 years27:30 - Her husband and family's unwavering support29:45 - Building courage by telling the right people31:30 - The myth of "not having enough time"33:45 - Learning to listen to her body's wisdom35:15 - Tracy's Story: Starting a nonprofit at 5036:30 - What Start Senior Solutions does for seniors in crisis38:30 - Learning one problem at a time40:30 - Strengths carried forward from previous chapters43:15 - Redefining failure as experimentation44:30 - The importance of collaboration over competition46:45 - How to support Start Senior Solutions47:00 - Closing reflections on late blooming and courageKey Takeaways✓ Anxiety about NOT doing something can be a clearer signal than fear about doing it✓ Being "new" is an invitation for connection, not a deficit✓ Your body knows what your brain is still debating—learn to listen✓ Tell allies and amplifiers first; protect your dream from skeptics early✓ Worthiness isn't something you earn—it's something you claim✓ Courage compounds: each brave choice makes the next one easier✓ It's never too late... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Karly Swaim holds an unofficial world record in joggling—a sport that combines jogging and juggling. Her transformation from perfectionist paralysis to athletic courage offers practical lessons for anyone ready to stop letting fear of failure control their life.What You'll Learn:How to identify safe spaces for growth and experimentationPractical techniques for building self-awareness and emotional regulationWhy failure is actually data (and how to use it as such)The difference between legitimate assessment and fear-based thinkingHow to turn scary new experiences into playful challengesTime Stamps:0:00 - Introduction: Meet Karly and the world of juggling3:30 - From sedentary to accidental athlete8:45 - Finding a safe place to fail at Bryant Park15:20 - The perfectionism trap and fear of failure22:10 - How juggling revealed unconscious coping mechanisms28:35 - Professional transformation and promotions33:40 - The running group scavenger hunt experiment40:15 - Preparing for the four-ball world record attempt45:50 - "Just because it's hard doesn't mean you shouldn't do it"Key Takeaways:Growth happens in environments where failure is normalized and learning is prioritizedPhysical activities can provide immediate feedback for mental and emotional states"Not ready" is often fear disguised as wisdomSmall experiments can lead to life-changing transformationsCommunity and support make courage sustainableGuest Bio: I am a 40 year old accountant with a passion for pursuing creative hobbies. My hobbies have evolved over time, with my primary focus now on joggling, which is a blend of jogging and juggling. I started joggling when I was 33 years old and am now one of the most active jogglers in the world, having done over 50 races joggling.Host Bio: Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach, host of The Uplifters Podcast, and author who helps women build courage capital through research-backed strategies and real-world wisdom. Connect with her on Instagram @aransas_savas, LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/aransassavas, and her website theuplifterspodcast.com. Follow The Uplifters on Instagram @the_uplifters_podcast, TikTok @theuplifterspodcast, Facebook facebook.com/aransas, and YouTube @theuplifterspodcast.Keywords: courage building, overcoming perfectionism, late bloomer athlete, juggling sport, failure mindset, self-awareness techniques, career transformation, professional development, fear management, growth mindset, athletic identity, personal development, women's empowerment, life transitions, courage capital Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

Dating coach and podcast host Lakshmi Rengarajan joins Aransas Savas to challenge everything you think you know about finding love after 40. Discover why traditional dating advice fails midlife daters, how to build authentic connections through storytelling, and why your forties and fifties might actually be the perfect time for romance.What You'll Learn:-How to reframe dating without biological clock pressures-The difference between connection and communication in early dating-Why "wasting time" with the "wrong person" might actually be valuable-How to create 15 magnetic stories that showcase your authentic self-The concept of "romantic hope" and living romantically regardless of relationship status-Why understanding dating culture is crucial before jumping in-How to date as your full, evolved self rather than a younger versionTimestamps:02:45 - Why standard dating advice fails people over 4007:30 - The advantages of dating without deadlines12:15 - Connection before communication: the real art of dating18:30 - How to prepare for dating (hint: it's not just downloading apps)22:00 - The story about yourself you need to master28:45 - The "invisible at a certain age" myth, debunked35:00 - Two-hour phone detox before dates38:15 - Living a romantic life with or without a partnerKey Takeaways:-Dating in your forties and fifties offers unique advantages when you're not rushing against biological clocks-The best connections happen when you focus on getting to know the other person rather than evaluating them as a potential partner-Learning to tell engaging stories about yourself is crucial for all relationships, not just romantic ones-"Romantic hope" is about living with an open heart, not necessarily about finding a relationshipResource Links:The Later Date Today PodcastFollow Lakshmi on social media for dating insights: @thelaterdatertoday @later_Lakshmi Guest Bio: Lakshmi Rengarajan is a dating culture researcher and coach focused on midlife dating. Host of The Later Date Today podcast, she has worked to make dating culture better for more than 15 years, from designing one-of-a-kind singles events to actually working at Match.com, studying the art of the set-up, and learning about midlife dating today.Host Bio: Aransas Savas is a leadership coach, researcher, and host of The Uplifters Podcast. Connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Visit her website at theuplifterspodcast.com.Keywords: dating after 40, midlife dating, dating coach, relationship advice, authentic connection, dating without pressure, romantic hope, dating culture, finding love later in life, second chance romance Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe