Episodes

“Follow your curiosity”: Coach, speaker, author, and host of the Make Light podcast Karen Walrond on the benefits of taking ownership of your career, why diversity and inclusion aren’t the same thing, and rest as a radical act.

“The gift of experience”: Host Nancy Davis Kho, musician Kyle Terrizzi aka M. The Heir Apparent, and SF Chronicle Senior Political Writer Joe Garofoli at Betabrand's Podcast Theater on first concerts, generational soundtracks,

“Try a bunch of stuff”: Matt Saincome, Editor-in-chief of the internet’s most popular music satire site, talks about pursuing the crazy ideas that don’t go away, what makes a good “Aging Punk” joke, and the unspoken punk dress-up code.

“Count me in”: Everychild Foundation founder Jacqueline Jacobs Caster on the age-old “Giving Circle” approach to collaborative giving, its value for deepening friendships and meaning at midlife, and how life is more malleable than you think. UPDATED: The Everychild Foundation has actually given away almost $18 million since its inception in 1999! * Everychild Foundation * Everychild Foundation on FB * Nancy’s Giving Circle Basics – a public Google Doc with ideas to get you started! * Midlife Mix...

“A life beyond my expectations”: Melanie Notkin talks Generation PANK (Professional Aunts, No Kids) aka women who are childless by choice, chance, or challenge, the complex feelings raised by modern fertility science, and the wonders of Aunt-hood. * SavvyAuntie.com website * SavvyAuntie on Facebook * Melanie’s latest book, OTHERHOOD: Modern Women Finding a New Kind of Happiness * How Generation X Could Change the American Dream, Trend Magazine, from Pew Charitable Trusts Speaking of aunts… Thank...

“Permission to change”: Mary Laura Philpott, author of the new memoir-in-essays “I Miss You When I Blink,” talks about incremental reinvention, finding the courage to quit and realizing no one else cares, and making peace with not having the answers. * MaryLauraPhilpott.com * I Miss You When I Blink * Sign up for Mary Laura’s newsletter * How Prince’s death stirs fans’ concerns for their heroes who are still living, Los Angeles Times, April 22 2016 Well it obviously wasn’t going to be a Hootie v...

“Letting the kite string out”: Mary Dell Harrington, co-founder of the Grown & Flown media platform for parents of kids aged 15-25, talks about the “digital dinner table,” helping first generation college kids, and the benefits of meandering. * Grown and Flown website * Grown and Flown Parents Group on FB Awwww. If this isn’t music made for 8-year-old girls, I don’t know what is. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here!

“You do you”: Reassuring, practical, and inspiring, Midlife Mixtape Podcast listeners share advice for people younger than them, including what they’d tell their younger selves (Don’t sled backwards!) Nancy’s advice to her younger self includes “Go to that one Prince show, dummy.” Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here!

“Value bravery”: Author, pilot, and former San Francisco firefighter Caroline Paul talks about the importance of instilling bravery into girls instead of fear, the changing laws of midlife attraction, and her punk rock Jackson Browne phase. * Caroline’s website * Books * You Are Mighty The Gutsy Girl Lost Cat A Little Tea Book East Wind, Rain Fighting Fire * When Your Twin is a famous Baywatch Star, and You’re Not Thanks, Caroline, for the excuse to sing along with this one at the top of my lung...

“Redefining success”: Aimee Giese on pivoting from corporate work to creative endeavors, the importance of challenging yourself to new things at midlife, and a brilliant tip for recording shows that doesn’t annoy everyone else around you. * Aimee’s website Greeblehaus.com * Follow Aimee on Instagram Aimee’s new music rec for Midlife Mixtape listeners: Jukebox the Ghost. Super fun listen/watch. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the Midlife Mixtape podcast – t...

“Workplace currency”: Susan Rietano Davey and Kelley Biskupiak, career coaches and founders of PrepareToLaunchU, on translating the opt-out years into marketable skills, letting go of perfectionism, and the importance of building your midlife tribe. * PrepareToLaunchU website Maybe the day will come when I don’t hum this song whenever a check from a freelance client arrives in my mailbox. But I hope it never does. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the Midlif...

“Transition to contentment”: Jonathan Rauch on the scientific reasons life gets better after fifty, why the midlife slump is a normal and necessary, and how it’s a “we” not a “me” problem. Plus, Nancy’s excited to make like a Grandma Orca. * Jonathan’s website * The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better after 50 – find links to buy the book here! Time really is on your side, it turns out. As for the video: oh my god they were babies. BABIES I tell you. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, w...

“Endlessly curious”: Mixtape mavens Ellen and David talk about what it’s like to be a Humans of New York viral sensation, the midlife relationship that mixtapes built, and why rediscovering yourself is a cure for stagnation. The original Humans of New York post: View this post on Instagram “He was the RA in my freshman dorm. His nickname was ‘Rock.’ He was blonde and skinny and made legendary mix tapes for the dance parties. We never talked much in college, but we became good friends when we rec...

“Grateful for crazy missteps”: Moving consultant Margaret Vandergriff on common mistakes in finding your midlife happy place, the importance of feeling the vibe, and how she turned her own moving missteps into a new career.

“Embrace the mystery”: “Eric Reads the News” columnist R. Eric Thomas on how a playwright became Elle.com’s current events humor columnist, his approach to pop culture osmosis, and drinking eggnog with Maxine Waters.

“Perhaps not ideal for a teen”: From the obsolete to the funny to the downright gross, Midlife Mixtape listeners share their most memorable means of earning a paycheck during their teen years. Something to listen to after you vote!

“Soak up the good”: KJ Dell’Antonia, author of How to Be a Happier Parent and the former editor of the New York Times’ Motherlode blog, on Gen X’s particular parenting style, “disasters” vs. “situations,” and her #AmWriting podcast.

“Power of the collective”: Executive Director Andy Bernstein talks about how Headcount.org works with musicians to promote active citizenship, Headcount’s rock n’ roll office hours, and the unusual way he earned cash money at his first concert.

“We are multidimensional”: Swan Dreams Project founder Aesha Ash talks about harnessing the power of imagery to challenge socio-economic and racial norms in ballet, being kind to yourself, and a dreamy first recital costume.

“Hooked on live shows from that moment on”: From Metallica to Manilow, parking lot panic attacks to pretend roadies, Cow Palace to CBGB’s, Midlife Mixtape listeners answer the question: “What was your first concert, and what were the circumstances?” Shhhhh, don’t tell Barry’s mom that he was the band’s roadie Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the Midlife Mixtape podcast – check him out here!

“The bear is dinner”: Barbara Bradley Hagerty, author of “Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife” on two big secrets to midlife happiness, balancing a short- and long-term life outlook, and a French concert that wasn’t.

“10,000 conversations about Prince”: Rolling Stone columnist and author Rob Sheffield on how how shared music and memories temper our losses, the benefits to practicing adaptability, and the enduring genius of Disco Naps.

“You, Again”: Ann Imig, founder of the “Listen To Your Mother” national staged reading series, on knowing when the time has come to move on, making friends with fear, and why lozenges and jumpsuits are so complementary. * Ann’s website * “Listen To Your Mother” website * “Listen To Your Mother: What She Said Then, What We’re Saying Now” anthology * Theatrical licensing of “Listen To Your Mother” at Miracle Or 2 * Clip from YOU AGAIN (requires Facebook) If I were to prescribe some new music to An...

“Problems into opportunity”: Women’s clothing designer Lesley Evers on the wholesale nightmare she turned into a retail renaissance, how she makes her brand more inclusive, and that time Grace Jones set the stage on fire. Literally. * Lesley Evers website Yes. Yes she is 70. #AgingGoals Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the Midlife Mixtape podcast – check him out here!