Episodes

“You have everything you need”: In this special episode, Nancy rounds up advice from past guests in answer to the question, “What do you wish you could go back and tell your younger self?” Purpose-built for pandemic listening. * Full list of past Midlife Mixtape episodes available here * SiblingRevelryProject on Instagram * Ep 50: Listener’s Advice to Younger People In 2019 I asked the Midlife Mixtape audience what they’d tell people younger than them…hear their good advice, like “don’t sled bac...

“A family of raconteurs”: Alia Volz on her new memoir “Home-Baked: My Mom, Marijuana, and the Stoning of San Francisco”, her parents’ pioneering cannabis business, industry evolution from dealing to healing, and maturing right along with our parents. * Alia’s website * Find Alia on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter That first concert: When an actual sweet child was crushing on a guy singing about a Sweet Child

“Better command of my voice”: Singer/songwriter Teddy Thompson discusses and shares songs from his new album Heartbreaker Please, provides a suggested cocktail pairing, and recalls a life-changing concert with his grandmother. * Teddy’s website * Find Teddy on Facebook and Instagram * Support the work of the NAACP and Southern Poverty Law Center * The musician behind the Midlife Mixtape theme music, M. The Heir Apparent http://thisismxoxo.com/ Throwback video from Teddy that never fails to put a...

“But anyway, I’m still alive to tell it”: Listeners share their favorite ‘70s and ‘80s childhood memories, from banana-seat bike rides to boardwalk employment to the educational television jingle that unites us all. Childcare, 1972-style – thanks for sharing it, Andrea! * Throwback book recommendation from Brett – Sting-Ray Afternoons: A Memoir * Spike Lee’s Crooklyn Don’t ever challenge a GenXer on their ability to recite the Preamble. You’ll lose.Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who p...

“Not interested in telling stories from the top down”: SFChronicle reporter Otis Taylor Jr on the media’s ability to open readers’ eyes by sharing diverse stories, the importance of local journalism, and his Kenny Chesney tailgate adventure. * Otis Taylor Jr in the San Francisco Chronicle * Bay Area Black Voices: Why I Protest – photojournalism project with Yalonda M. James * Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders aka The Kerner Report – PDF here * Nieman Center research o...

“How much do we care?” SF Urban Film Fest founder Fay Darmawi on her cross-disciplinary approach to housing justice, the power of storytelling to change the Affordable Housing Industrial Complex, and her hip new hips. * Fay Darmawi’s website * SF Urban Film Fest * The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein * How Redlining’s Racist Effects Lasted for Decades – NY Times, 8/24/2017 * Redlining was banned 50 years ago. It’s still hurting minor...

“Hardcore reinvention”: Poi Dog Pondering founder and bandleader Frank Orrall talks about learning to trust his instincts in the music business, his musical and culinary side gigs, and the challenges facing artists due to COVID-19. Nancy’s spotlight wedding dance I dare you to stay in your chair Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the Midlife Mixtape podcast – check him out here! * PoiDogPondering.com * Host a Frank Orrall acoustic guitar party with your frien...

“Stick with the things that really feed you”: NY Times bestselling author of The Gift of Failure Jessica Lahey on pandemic lessons in resilience and self-efficacy, her zig zag career path, and backstage cartwheels at Billy Joel concerts. * Jessica Lahey’s website * #AmWriting podcast Behold the Venn diagram between yoga and hip hop – MC Yogi Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the Midlife Mixtape podcast – check him out here!

“Just pretend you’re Beyoncé right now”: Pop culture history writer Jennifer Keishin Armstrong talks about her new book Pop Star Goddesses and how channeling both the power and flaws of our favorite female artists can help us navigate uncertain times. * Pop Star Goddesses * Jennifer K. Armstrong’s website * Flaming Idols – altar candles featuring inspiring figures of the LGBTQ community. CARLA BRUNI WHAT? I didn’t know what to expect and I am now going to go down the rabbit hole. Thanks as alway...

“Notice that people have been left out”: Kelly Wickham Hurst of Being Black at School talks about tackling systemic racism, the midlife freedom that comes from saying “I don’t know,” and Wham! in that minute when they were still Wham!UK. * Being Black at School website * @mochamomma on Twitter * East Oakland Collective * PrepareToLaunchU.com * MaskUpForAmerica.org I’m not sure 14-year-old Kelly would agree, but for me this song represents Peak George Michael Thanks as always to M. The Heir Appar...

“I must have been insane. No, just a teenager”: Designed to distract you momentarily from your current worries, this listener-contributed episode shares youthful tales of awkwardness, getting in over our heads, and debauchery our kids and parents would NEVER believe. * Badminton phenom Rochelle’s blog, The Late Arrival * The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time – order or download Nancy’s new book! Thank you, Matthew, for suggesting Burning Sensations’ “Bell...

“You can always make a change”: founding editor of Lucky Magazine Kim France on why we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for caring about appearance as we age, using invisibility as a superpower, and memories of SP4 on Texas summer days.

“Not just you”: Ada Calhoun, author of “Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis”, unpacks reasons for GenX’s specific midlife challenges and offers ways to cope, from joining clubs to embracing the magic power of low expectations. * Ada Calhoun’s website * Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis * Midlife Mixtape Ep 19 “Maxed Out” author Katrina Alcorn * Midlife Mixtape Ep 37 Journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty * Midlife Mixtape Ep 46 “Happiness Curve” author Jonathan Rauch * Barone...

“It gets easier to find things to be grateful for”: The tables are turned as “A Word on Words” host and author Mary Laura Philpott interviews Midlife Mixtape Podcast host and author Nancy Davis Kho about her new book, The Thank-You Project. * Buy Nancy’s book, The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time * Nancy’s upcoming events and appearances * Mary Laura Philpott’s website and her book, I Miss You When I Blink * Episode 52 Author Mary Laura Philpott Lyrics B...

“Everything that held our family together”: In this special Thanksgiving episode, Midlife Mixtape listeners share thanks for the people who made them who they are today, from grandparents to spouses to best friends to a singing teenage TV detective. * Sibling Revelry Project * My Celebrity Crush Story Rocked white satin pants, solved crimes. You got a problem with that? Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here!

“From fear to freedom”: Leading Alzheimer’s and long-term care design expert Lisa Cini on navigating senior living decision-making, leveraging our teens for difficult conversations with our parents, and GenX’s own encouraging elder care future. * Lisa’s website * BOOM: The Baby Boomers Guide to Leveraging Technology, so that you can Preserve Your Independent Lifestyle & Thrive * The Future is Here: Senior Living Reimagined * Hive: The Simple Guide to Multigenerational Living * Organizations supp...

“Life is a strange journey”: Author Sarah Ladipo Manyika on writing stories she wanted to read but couldn’t find, the beauty of intergenerational friendships, and a big awkward mea culpa from Nancy to Sarah’s most recent fictional heroine. * Sarah’s website, with links to In Dependence and Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun * Books&Rhymes Podcast interview with Sarah: “When Writing Begins to Sing” * An Interview with Toni Morrison * On Meeting Mrs. Obama * Mondays with Mrs. Harris Preorde...

“Life is fleeting”: Urban homesteader Natasha Nicholes on how her farm on the South Side of Chicago has created community, why loss has shaped the way she views opportunity, and that time Harry Connick surprised her with a spa day. * Houseful of Nicholes – Natasha’s blog * We Sow We Grow on Facebook * Natasha on Instagram * Midlife Mixtape Ep 27 Empathy Expert Dr. Kelsey Crowe The scream, tho And here’s some Avery Sunshine…woooowwwww!Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the mus...

“I want to perform for 10,000 people”: Feminist Muslim Iranian-American comedian and podcaster Zahra Noorbakhsh on how aging has changed the way she approaches her comedy, the insidiousness of confirmation bias, and an endorsement for mental math. * Zahra’s website * GoodMuslimBadMuslim podcast * 6 Things All Immigrant Kids Experience – video Zahra on figuring out at age 11 how to guarantee her passage to Heaven… Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast...

“Not even at halftime”: Hospitality entrepreneur and Wisdom@Work author Chip Conley talks about the benefits of inter-generational mutual mentorship, his midlife wisdom school, and that time he brought Linda Ronstadt breakfast in bed. * Chip’s latest book, Wisdom @ Work: The Making of a Modern Elder * Modern Elder Academy * Follow Chip on LinkedIn Get out your tissues as inter-generational duo Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile sing a little song Dolly wrote called “I Will Always Love You”. Thanks ...

“Not the typical politician”: Businesswoman, mom, and first-time political candidate Randi Dorman talks about her vision and plans for Tucson, the power in pursuing your passion, and the best rainy-day camp activity ever. * RandiForMayor.com * Randi’s endorsement from Arizona Daily Star * Nancy’s blog posts about Family Camp One of the shows at Irvine Auditorium where Randi and I were both in the audience…check out Steel Pulse’s Grammy-winning “Babylon The Bandit.” Thanks as always to M. The Hei...

“That’s not for me”: Self-proclaimed “hermit entrepreneur” Morra Aarons-Mele talks about how her award-winning social impact agency leverages the power of women’s connections, midlife boundary maintenance, and her book “Hiding in the Bathroom.” * WomenOnline * Morra’s book “Hiding in the Bathroom: An Introvert’s Guide to Getting Out There (When You’d Rather Stay Home) * Hiding in the Bathroom – the Podcast * Cyndi Lauper/Eddie Money at Madison Square Garden – who opened? Well, I did some researc...

“I miss monotasking”: Listeners respond to the question “What do you wish you could bring back from your ‘70s/’80s/90’s childhood?” From Marathon Bars to mall lunches to Martha on MTV, we take a summer dive deep into GenX nostalgia. * Kraft Cheese Kisses – read all about ‘em! * Midlife Mixtape Podcast Ep 33 – Original MTV VJ Martha Quinn * Nancy’s ‘80s Alternative Dance Playlists – available @daviskho on Spotify * Dugout – new graphic novel for 7-11 year old readers, from Midlife Mixtape Podcast...

“You’re not alone”: Hong Kong-raised writer Xu Xi reflects on being betwixt and between cultures, languages, and life stages, and channels Confucian wisdom to understand the desire to make a stand at midlife. * Xu Xi’s website * This Fish is Fowl: Essays of Being (American Lives Series – University of Nebraska Press, 2019) * International MFA in Creative Writing and Literary Translation at Vermont College of Fine Arts * @xuxiwriter on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter What happens when a globetrotter...