Found at 40

In this mini season finale episode, I’m wrapping up season one of Found at 40 with a little gratitude, a little reflection, and a very real acknowledgment that summer with kids at home is not for the faint of heart. I’m looking back on how this podcast started, what this first season has taught me, and why conversations about midlife, identity, friendship, marriage, parenting, work, hormones, and...

Writer, former TV sports anchor, and midlife storyteller Laura Behnke joins Found at 40 for a powerful conversation about what happens when life refuses to follow the timeline you had planned. Laura shares how she built a successful career while quietly grieving the life she thought she was supposed to have, including marriage, motherhood, and the pressure to be “on track.” This conversation also...

There is a question that so many women in midlife seem to be asking lately: “Do I have ADHD… or am I just completely overwhelmed?” Using a recent article about women receiving ADHD diagnoses in midlife as a jumping-off point, they talk through inattentive ADHD, hyperfocus, procrastination, emotional dysregulation, and the systems women build to keep life moving. Sarah shares what it was like growi...

This week on Found at 40 , Chrissi and Sarah are sharing what they’re loving, learning, and loathing in midlife—because life after 40 is equal parts growth, monotony, reinvention, and “are we really doing this again?” moments. From small personal wins to bigger mindset shifts, they talk about how to feel less stuck, more present, and actually enjoy your life in your 40s. They dive into the “Novelt...

If your brain has been running the same exhausting loops—overthinking, second-guessing, telling you you’re behind—this episode is going to feel like a reset. I’m joined by life coach Ashley Molitor, who helps women unlearn the BS stories that keep them stuck, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves. We get into the patterns, limiting beliefs, and midlife mindset shifts that quietly run the s...

After divorce, heartbreak, and nearly 20 years in a marriage that ultimately wasn’t right, Sarah is sharing the full story of how she found love again in midlife—and knew this relationship was different. In this episode, we talk honestly about dating after divorce, learning to trust your intuition, recognizing green flags, and why finding love in your 40s can actually be better than the first time...

If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought, “wait… this isn’t what I planned,” this episode will hit close to home—in the best way. Today, I’m joined by Jess Prudhomme for a deeply honest conversation about what it really looks like to navigate life when things don’t go as expected. We talk about identity shifts, starting over, and the quiet (and sometimes painful) process of finding your way...

Perimenopause has entered the chat—and most of us were never given the manual. In this episode, I sit down with therapist and author Lauren Tetenbaum to unpack what’s actually happening in our bodies during perimenopause and menopause, and why so many women feel blindsided by it. This conversation is equal parts validating, eye-opening, and surprisingly empowering. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is thi...

If you’ve ever thought, “I want a village… but also I don’t want to leave my house,” this episode is going to feel uncomfortably relatable—in the best way. Today I’m joined by writer, speaker, and educator Brooke Romney, whose words about community, connection, and showing up have sparked conversations everywhere. In this honest, witty, and thought-provoking conversation, we dig into why so many o...

If you’ve ever wondered how to make friends in your 40s, how to parent a teenager without losing authority, or what to do when you don’t know what you’re doing with your life —this episode is for you. In this first-ever advice episode of Found at 40 , Chrissi is joined by her sister Sarah to answer real listener questions about friendship in adulthood, marriage communication, parenting teens, iden...

If your body has changed, your confidence has taken a hit, and getting dressed feels way more emotional than it used to, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Chrissi sits down with Jenna Rohlfing to talk about midlife body changes, body confidence, mid-size fashion, autoimmune weight gain, style after body changes, people-pleasing, self-worth, and how to feel like yourself again. Jenna s...

Midlife can feel like a Monica Geller closet—stuffed with “shoulds,” mental load, and expectations you’ve been carrying for years. In this episode of Found at 40, Chrissi sits down with Rachel Nielson from the podcast Three in 30 Takeaways for Moms to take the core principles of decluttering and apply them to midlife overwhelm, identity shifts, motherhood pressure, and self-trust. You’ll learn how...

What does it actually look like to find yourself again in midlife —without pressure, perfection, or a full life overhaul? In this episode of Found at 40, Chrissi talks with Leila Howell of My Kind of Glow about identity loss in motherhood, realistic wellness, nervous system regulation, and the small habits that help you feel like yourself again. Leila shares how one deeply relatable “gentle glow-u...

Middle school can feel like emotional whiplash—one minute your kid wants you close, the next you’re getting an eye roll and attitude that makes you wonder, "What is going on?" In this episode, Chrissi sits down with Instagram’s favorite middle school parent coach Bridget KerMorris to unpack what’s really happening beneath the mood swings, disrespect, and constant tech tension—and how par...

Why does adult friendship feel so much harder than it used to — even when nothing is “wrong”? In this episode, Chrissi and her sister Sarah unpack why loneliness, disconnection, and friendship confusion are so common in midlife, especially for women navigating busy schedules, shifting priorities, and changing seasons of life. They explore how modern life quietly reshaped the way we connect — and w...

What happens when the life you carefully planned unravels — and you realize that it’s time to rebuild a completely new life? In this episode, Chrissi sits down with lifelong friend Melissa Griffiths (who is also the creator of the food blog Bless This Mess) to unpack a bold midlife pivot, from leaving a dream life behind to starting fresh across the country. Their conversation explores reinvention...

Feeling behind in life can feel personal — but spoiler alert: it’s probably not just you. In this episode of Found at 40 , Chrissi sits down with Kaley Esselborn to unpack why so many of us feel “off track,” how the psychology of the social clock messes with our confidence, and why outdated life timelines still have way too much influence. Together, they dive into comparison culture, shifting expe...

Today is a first for the Found at 40 podcast: it’s just Chrissi for a solo mini episode But not to worry, next week we’ll be back to normally scheduled programming with guests! This week I’m sharing what’s been on my mind lately—the funny little midlife moments, the honest reflections, and the deeper themes I’m seeing emerge from the first stretch of this podcast. I talk about what listeners are t...

Midlife marriage isn’t broken—it’s being asked to evolve. In this honest, funny, and deeply relatable conversation, Chrissi and her guest Heather Adams talk about what happens when long-term love collides with kids, aging parents, health scares, and the quiet realization that marriage can’t run on autopilot anymore. They explore why the middle years can actually become the richest season of a rela...

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, I did everything I was supposed to do… so why doesn’t this feel better? In this episode, I’m joined by writer and cultural voice Amil Niazi for a candid, relatable conversation about her new memoir “Life Beyond Ambition” (out January 6!) and dive into not just ambition, but burnout and the moment you realize that chasing “success” doesn’t always deliv...

Perimenopause is the season we were warned about—but no one really prepared us for what it actually feels like to live in it. In this episode of Found at 40, I start with my friend Carrie Youell, talking honestly about what it’s like to be in the thick of perimenopause—brain fog, mood swings, sleep issues, and that unsettling feeling of not quite recognizing yourself anymore. Then, we bring in exp...

What actually changes when you stop letting life happen to you? Chrissi and Sarah break down the midlife pivots that reshaped their year—two highs, one low, and what they’re intentionally carrying forward. From friendship shifts and family dynamics to career moves, travel tradeoffs, and very realistic intentions for what’s next, this episode is a look at 2025 and some plans for next year. If you’r...

One day you realize no one else is making the magic anymore — it’s you. No one handed you a manual, but suddenly you’re in charge of the traditions, the holidays, and the emotional tone of your home. In this episode, we dig into family rituals, midlife motherhood, and why the moments that matter most rarely look impressive. This is about connection over performance — and how small, ordinary choice...

Money shows up in every corner of midlife—our marriages, our stress, our parenting, our power, and our future—but most of us were raised not to talk about it at all. In this powerful midlife money and relationships episode, Chrissi sits down with lawyer and author Heather Boneparth, whose new book Money Together lands at the intersection of love, money, relationships, and partnership. From childho...

Midlife motherhood can feel like an identity crisis—your kids are growing, your roles are shifting, and you’re asking, “Who am I now?” In this episode, licensed clinical counselor Ellie Messinger-Adams helps us explore how to rediscover yourself when everything is changing. Together they break down the Motherhood Midlife Crisis—the moment when your kids are growing, your roles are shifting, and th...