Forties Stories

This the last episode and the final show in my 4-part finale. My last episode on The Five Things I l Learned This Year, after I'd done the show for a year proved to be quite popular, so I'm closing out with what I learned in this past decade. I learned so much and enjoyed reflecting on it. Let me know if any of it resonates with you here!  It's hard to believe this is it for Forties Stories. But this is evergreen content, so whenever you are listening I hope that it leaves you feeling comforted, inspired, and/or connected.  Please stay subscribed for any future updates.I’m planning another podcast for later this year that will continue to be focused on midlife women, so please connect with me on social media, or sign up for my newsletter at www.christymaguire.com to get further updates.   

Michelle Wright and I talk about how you can dive into your 40s, which is exactly what she did. We discuss the fit by 40s program she created for herself (and it’s not what you think it is!), about how to be more than a mother, how depression caused her to learn what she needed, and why laughter is so important to our well-being.    This is the third in a 4-part finale for the show, and I’m so grateful to Michelle for letting me share it with you since we recorded it right after the Covid lockdowns began. It is the perfect final interview, and I know you will love our conversation as much as I did! Next week I’ll share the 10 things I learned in my 40s.     Michelle Wright is a wife and a mother of two--a native Californian who now resides in Nevada. She is passionate about homemaking, homeschooling, and the power of self-care. Recently, she created a "she space" for herself--which is a space just for her that brings her joy, calm, and inspiration because she believes that with all that she is and that she do

Would you confront the friend who had publicly hurt you in middle school decades later? That’s just what my guest Skye Pillsbury did on an episode of the Heavyweight podcast. I had questions. This is the second in a 4-part finale for the show, and I’m so grateful to Skye for letting me share it with you since we recorded it right before the pandemic. I know you'll love this episode!   Skye and I talk about the impetus for exploring this experience in a very public way, the importance of friendships in midlife, how your kids often reflect back to you, and how our 50s are still a vital time in our lives.    My guest today is Skye Pillsbury. Skye writes The Squeeze, a free, weekly newsletter for podcasters and audio professionals. It features a mix of investigative reporting, interviews, and industry gossip. Prior to her work at The Squeeze, Skye was the original writer of the Inside Podcasting newsletter; and creator, producer, and host of the award-nominated show Inside Podcasting. She’s also served as a contr

I’m popping in for an update about where I’ve been these last few years, and for a mini-episode on the art of quitting. I recently turned 50 and have created the show’s finale. Tune in tomorrow for a new interview with Skye Pillsbury and next week with Michelle Wright. After that I’ll do a final episode on what I learned in my 40s.   So often we reach our 40s and have the desire to quit things, but Annie Duke, the author of the book “Quit” says because quitting isn’t celebrated we don’t have role models for it. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, since I stopped posting episodes after the pandemic started. I hope it gives you something to think about in your own life.   I’m really excited to be doing this, but I’d be lying if I didn’t add that I’m also feeling a bit wistful. I am planning another podcast for later this year that will continue to be focused on midlife women, so please connect with me on social media, or sign up for my newsletter at www.christymaguire.com to get further updates. Instagram Than

Today I’ve changed up my content calendar to bring you an episode that speaks more to where we all find ourselves today – dealing with the uncertainty of a global pandemic. I had this conversation last week with Kathleen McKitty Harris and feel this is an especially timely episode because she challenges us to see the wonder all around us, every day. That means even now while our autopilot has effectively been ground to a halt.   I want to give you content that you want, so I’m asking you help me do that by answering a survey that won’t take more than 5 minutes of your time. You can even pause right now to do it - you’ll find the direct link here: https://www.fortiesstories.com/anniversary   Kathleen McKitty Harris and I talk about how she gained confidence in her 40s to really embrace her calling, the quest for identity, and how she’s feeling about the coming empty nest. We also talk about how we can weather life with confidence because of our experience and how we, as GenXers, have an opportunity to be a bri

This week marks the one-year anniversary of Forties Stories! So, I wanted to jump in here with a mini-episode about what I’ve learned this year. This project has been a real journey for me and I know many of you have been there every step of the way, for which I’m truly grateful. If you are new to the show, welcome. It’s great to have you here and I look forward to hearing what’s important to you at this stage in your life. I want to keep sharing stories with you. I’ve made it a goal to do 40 interviews. I think I’ll keep going after that, but I want to hear from you. Please take this 5-minute survey so I will know what kind of engagement and content you prefer going forward. You can find it here: https://www.fortiesstories.com/anniversary Do you want more resources on the website – such as articles, resources, and more personal stories? I’ve got a lot of listeners in the Washington, DC area, which is where I live. If that is you, I’d love to know if you would be interested in small-group workshops around mid

Today we’re talking about what a midlife crisis might teach us. I had a great, and uplifting, conversation with Jacqueline Kerr. We talk about conscious parenting, why the question “what do I want?” is so difficult, and how her relationships improved after a midlife crisis. We also talk about why it’s important that our kids see us struggle and the prevalence of gender bias, especially in academia. Jacqueline has some interesting advice for anyone dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer’s that left me a bit teary. Jacqueline Kerr has lived all over the world and attended boarding school from the age of 10. She started her career in advertising, but wanted to use her persuasion skills for something with more purpose, so she got a PhD in physical activity promotion. She came to the US in 2004 for a postdoc, with no intention to stay, but ended up meeting her husband. She got her first professor job after writing a successful grant while on maternity leave. Jacqueline became a full professor in 2017 and got a $1

I had an interesting and insightful conversation with Catherine Schwikert. We talk about how your triumphs and traumas affect your health and body, the power of using your intuition, and how she felt a deeper calling in her 40s. She discusses her idea of pragmatic compassion and how we can practice it in our lives to heal our bodies and souls. Catherine also shares some wisdom about how to better work in partnership with medical professionals. Catherine Schweikert was born in Texas and raised on military bases until the age of 10. Her family settled in California when her parents divorced. She was abused by an older family member, and at that time she discovered that her older sister was actually her mother.  She struggled with her identity and her place in the world for many years and eventually found her solace in books, education, and her insatiable quest for healing.  Catherine has been practicing medicine as a physician assistant for the last 20 years in both emergency departments and urgent care. She is

What better way to ring in the new year (and decade!) then to discover your strengths and use them to create meaningful work and a fulfilling life. I wanted this conversation to go live on the last day of 2019 because it is more practical and action-oriented than my usual episodes. There’s a lot of excitement – and hype! – around 2020 and many of us are planning our year and even thinking more long term, so my guest, Hallely Azulay, offers some valuable insight and tools. Halelly and I talk about the formula for determining your strengths and how those strengths should guide you more than an elusive search for your “passion,” and how to be more positive about networking. Hallely busts the myth that women, especially those in midlife, aren’t strong – physically, emotionally, and psychologically. She shares how a number of childhood moves made her determined and what she’s most excited about now. Halelly Azulay is CEO & leadership development strategist at TalentGrow LLC. An expert in leadership, communicat

I hope that today’s conversation and past episodes on this show will leave you inspired to live out loud. By sharing our stories, we feel connected. We feel seen. We feel less alone. And that’s my mission.   Allison Hare and I talk about being multipassionate, how women too often suffer in silence, and how she regained her voice and power on the birth of her second child. Allison shares a very personal and poignant story about how she became obsessed with her post-baby body and how one simple question brought her back to reality. You’ll also hear about her 2020 goal and a great productivity hack that’s helped her to be more creative.   Allison Hare is high tech sales professional, speaker, and activist. She is the host and producer of the Little Left of Center podcast, where she interviews culture changers and the most fascinating people who veer off the path of convention and change the way we live. She is launching a new podcast course called Press Play Podcasts in January.   Please head over to www.forties

A special thanks to my friend Johanna Selth for joining me for an interview this week! Johanna and I talk about her career twists, how her mom’s death made her feel about aging, and why we should ask other women for help. We also talk about sacrifice and the myth of having it all. Johanna is an Australian human rights lawyer who has lived and worked in Australia, Cambodia, Thailand, Afghanistan, China, and now the US. Her career has spanned private practice, government, and both local and large international NGOs. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband and two children and loves to read, travel, do Pilates, and walk her golden retriever. She also told me that something she didn’t mention in the interview is that she is a spiritual person and has a strong faith, which is a big part of her self-care. I truly admire Johanna for sharing her story at a time when she doesn’t feel that all the stars are aligned in her life – as you’ll hear her describe. So often we are only willing to share the good s

Today we are talking about the insidious business of people pleasing. It’s something that so many of us do without even thinking. It’s become a habit that my guest Helen Snape gently reminds us that we can change. She’s been there herself.   Helen became a transformational relationship coach after 19 years in Human Resources and Development. She works with women on breaking free from people-pleasing, codependency, and bad relationships to build a life they love. Helen loves walking in the woods, meditating daily, and dancing to YouTube videos. She lives with her partner in Surrey, England.   Helen and I talk about the roots of people pleasing in her life, how a scarcity mindset limits us, and how to reparent our inner child. She opens up about how a childhood of bullying made her “dial down” her true self and what served as her wake-up call. She also busts the idea that women should be nice.   After the interview, Helen confessed off the air that she’s only recently begun to tell her story. I admire this so m

What do you want? Manuela Powell asked herself that very question and then totally disrupted her life. We talk about how her life changed at 39 when her mom came to visit, a recent solo adventure she challenged herself to do, and how awareness is the first step toward shifting a spiraling mindset. She also shares what happened when she finally started making time for conscious decisions.   Manuela is a life coach who helps people change their minds in order to change their lives. For over 17 years, she was a cancer surgeon, in Brazil and in the US, at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. After becoming a mother at 42, she craved more flexibility, freedom, and time with her family. So she put away her scalpel to start operating deeper in the psyche, beyond the physical body. Manuela is obnoxiously happy with her new life, and thrives on guiding others in their own reinvention.   Do you want to see more women in media? I sure do. Be sure to listen to find out how you can support and elevate women in the

Are we telling ourselves the truth? Today we dive into the topic of honesty, which is the subject of Judi Ketteler’s forthcoming book, “Would I Lie To You? The Amazing Power of Being Honest in World That Lies.” Judi and I talk about the roots of lying in her own life, how honesty isn’t as simple as you might believe, and why in this fractured time in our history we should all question our decisions around telling the truth. We talk a lot about friendship on this show, and Judi tells us why she feels making and keeping friends in your 40s is hard. This book is about relationships, and Judi makes the case that honesty improves them. The most important relationship is the one that you have with yourself.  Judi Ketteler has written for dozens of publications such as The New York Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, and many more. She’s also an award-winning columnist for Cincinnati Magazine, where she writes pieces about the weirdness of midlife. She is the author of two non-fiction books on sewi

Jackie MacDougall, fellow midlife podcaster, and I had a really honest conversation. We talk about the mixed messaging women hear, how she feels about aging, and about our shared passion in elevating women’s voices in midlife. We also talk about why it’s important to open your heart and mind to others, and what is the hardest question we need to ask ourselves. Finally, Jackie answers what it means to thrive in your 40s – which might not mean what you think it does. The conversation turns to podcasting and Jackie not only pushes me, which I truly appreciate, but opens up about how her own insecurities bubble up to the surface. She even gets me to admit how I worry about my voice and presence, which is not easy for me to do. Jackie MacDougall worked for over two decades in TV and digital marketing, creating content for women with some of the most recognizable and innovative names in entertainment like Queen Latifah, Harry Connick Jr., Tyra Banks, Chrissy Teigen, and Sharon Osbourne. Jackie combines her persona

I’ve been on the air for six months now and it’s been an incredible journey. However, find out why I’m moving the show to a biweekly one. I have a great episode for you next week with Jackie MacDougall of Forty Thrive, whose announcement on her show got me thinking of mine.    I am looking for 6 women to provide some information on their listening habits, preferences, and feedback related to Forties Stories. If you have listened to 7 or more episodes AND are between the ages of 35 - 55, you are eligible to participate. I will take 1 listener outside of the US. For more information, go to https://www.fortiesstories.com/feedback or email me at hello@fortiesstories.com. This is ONLY for my personal use and will never be shared. Even if you can’t participate, please drop me a note anytime to share your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Thank you, as always, for listening, and your support. It means the world to me. I’ll see you next Tuesday!    

Life is a journey. What a cliché, right? But as Jack Kerouac said, “all clichés are truisms, and truisms are true.” If we think of our lives in those terms though, we start to appreciate that where we are today, doesn’t mean that we’ll be in the same place tomorrow. I love what my guest Lizbeth Ericka has to say about journeys. Lizbeth and I talk about her path to entrepreneurship, what she’s learned from her teens, and her spirt animals. She also reveals why she agreed to say yes to this interview. One of my favorite parts of these interviews is at the end where I ask my guests if there is anything else they’d like to mention before we close. It’s always fascinating, and usually profound. Lizbeth pleasantly surprised me with a new approach to this question, so you’ll definitely want to listen till the end.   Lizbeth Ericka worked in Research and Evaluation for many years directing health promotion projects for federal and local agencies. She is a trained mental health counselor and has worked with adolescent

Today is the final part in our special 3-part sisters’ series. The series includes episode 20 with Sandi Reinardy and episode 21 with her older sister Barb Dvoracek. Sandi and Barb talk about their relationship, how they consider spending time with their sisters as self-care, and what they’re both working on in terms of self-development. They also talk about Sandi’s decision not to have children – the first time they really opened up about it. It’s a fun, heart-warming conversation, that is a tribute to sisters.   Sandi Reinardy, 41, is in the midst of making a career change from database consultant to social worker, with a focus on criminal justice efforts. She is also a writer and recently launched a blog called Grumble Wonder Grow, where she wrestles with the beautiful, messy challenges of being a human. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband. Barb Dvoracek, 47, worked for 17 years at a global consumer products company in management and clinical research. She has bachelor’s degrees in psychology

Today’s episode is part 2 of 3 of a special sisters’ series. Part 3 is a bonus episode that will air this Thursday, September 5th. My guest Barb Dvoracek and I talk about how she is balancing priorities as part of the sandwich generation, why we should get better at forgiving ourselves, and how she maintains her connection to family and to friends – old and new. We also talk about the happiness curve and how mid- to late-40s is a time when many women, and men, feel a level of discontent that is not necessarily dependent on circumstances. Finally, Barb busts the tired stereotypes around gray hair. Barb Dvoracek worked for 17 years at a global consumer products company in management and clinical research. She has bachelor’s degrees in psychology and human biology, and a master of science in microbiology. Barb also recently completed another master’s in social work in order to make a career change. She lives in Wisconsin and has been married to her husband Bill for 17 years. Barb has taken a year off work to spe

Today’s episode is part 1 of a special sisters series. It will continue through next week and will include a bonus episode on Thursday, September 5th. My guest Sandi Reinardy and I talk about her decision to not have children, about how she is using her voice, and how giving oneself a bit of space opens up the possibility of having genuine connection with others. Sandi shares why she prefers to use the term childless over childfree, and about her decision to return to school. Sandi Reinardy is in the midst of making a career change from database consultant to social worker, with a focus on criminal justice efforts. She is also a writer and recently launched a blog called Grumble Wonder Grow, where she wrestles with the beautiful, messy challenges of being a human. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband. Next Tuesday I’ll air my talk with Sandi’s older sister, Barb Dvoracek, and then on Thursday they're in conversation together. One that was very moving for all of us. You won’t want to miss it. I’d l