Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits

Like most of the world, Meagan has been intrigued by sourdough baking for a while - but she always worried that the complicated steps and scientific process wouldn’t be a fit for her rather… laissez-faire style of baking. But when she finally took the plunge, she found baking sourdough to be much more creative, intuitive, and forgiving than she’d thought, and a perfect expression of midlife kitche...

Is midlife the perfect time to lean into sports fandom, even (or especially) if nobody in your house is an athlete? In this episode Sarah shares why enjoying a game (occasionally from the bleachers; usually from the sofa) is one of her favorite midlife lady leisure pursuits. From sports movies and documentaries to minor-league teams and of course, game-day snacks, sports fandom has a lot of layers...

This time of year, witches seem to be everywhere - especially if you’re a woman in midlife. Meagan and Sarah have both joked about being in our “witchy” era, but since neither of us actually want to cast spells or practice divination, what do we even mean by that? In this episode we break down some of the “witchy” tropes we find ourselves gravitating toward in midlife, and why we think we’re drawn...

Have you ever really looked at a quilt? There’s more to this art form than meets the eye, and in this episode Sarah shares what she’s learning from a quilting workshop she’s been taking at a local craft store. Listen to hear what she’s learning (and be sure to scroll through the show notes at our Substack, linked below, for photos of her project.)  Find an expanded episode story with photos and li...

Most people think of the library as a place to check out books. But it’s so much more than that! From free services and programming to a variety of objects available to borrow, the library can act as a place to work, rest, create, and gather. In this episode Meagan and Sarah share some of their favorite ways to use the library, and what they’re feeling inspired to try in the future. Find an expand...

How do you find out what’s happening where you live? From arts and culture news to the latest dispatches from local government, in this episode Meagan and Sarah talk about why paying attention to hyperlocal news can feel like an antidote to the anxiety machine of national news and give you a manageable way to become more involved in civic life. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links...

In the active parenting years, volunteering tends to center around our kids. Midlife gives us the opportunity to broaden our gaze a bit, and ask ourselves "how do I actually want to give back?" In this episode Meagan and Sarah discuss the ways volunteering has shifted over the years, and the various opportunities they've discovered for making a difference - from pitching in here and th...

Tending houseplants may be the ultimate midlife hobby, but it doesn’t always come naturally. In this episode Sarah shares how her indoor garden has grown from a few decorative potted plants into a more ambitious and seriously joyful pastime, while Meagan confesses that her own houseplants have become more like "wallpaper" - hanging around, often forgotten - and hopes for inspiration to cre...

Over the past few years, both Meagan and Sarah have become more serious about that quintessential midlife lady leisure pursuit, gardening: but each with her own specific approach. From containers on the deck for Meagan to raised beds for Sarah, fruit trees for both, and a perennial garden that Meagan hopes will eventually develop into a wild garden straight out of a storybook, in this episode the...

One of the nicest surprises of being a midlife lady: eventually, you get to step away from the production-line approach to meal-planning and cooking and start cooking for yourself - JUST yourself again. From happily repetitive meal-planning to dishes we put a lot of thought and time into once and then enjoy for days, to charcuterie-for-dinner and more, this episode is all about the way we feed our...

Meagan recently returned from a two-week road trip across French Canada with 17-year-old Clara, where the two explored the places their ancestors once called home. In this episode, Sarah asks all the questions: What does an ancestry road trip actually look like? How do you prepare? What would you do differently next time? What moments felt surprisingly emotional, and what unexpected discoveries ha...

Grab your popcorn and join us for a journey back to the 90s, which we're re-living through a very special lens: the movies we watched and loved during this formative decade! In this episode, Meagan and Sarah revisit the 1990s one year at a time, looking at the top-grossing movies from each year of the decade. Along the way, we share our favorite films, memorable movie-going experiences, and al...

From solving song lyrics we’ve mis-sung for decades (Beauty School Dropout, anyone?) to amazing business ideas to wildly improbable disaster scenarios, midlife minds have a way of serving up the most… interesting thoughts at the least convenient time. In this episode, Sarah and Meagan are talking about the amusing, frustrating, occasionally profound and mostly-random “night thoughts” that keep us...

Buying clothes is one thing - but actually putting together an outfit for whatever the day brings? Not always so straightforward! In this episode Sarah shares her struggle in opting out of “living the sloppy life” as a style default, while Meagan shares the challenge of dressing for the many different facets of her life (does a girl really need 15 different versions of her chicken-chores outfit?)...

“I have a crazy idea.” Sarah has gotten used to hearing this particular phrase from her co-host over the years. In this episode the two use the brand-new book festival Meagan recently created from scratch to dissect what it looks like to bring a big idea to life, and how all the experience, skills, connections and confidence gained in early adulthood make midlife the perfect time to try something...

What's up with this shrinking ponytail? How do we deal with a bump in brassiness? Are bangs ever the answer to a style slump? In this episode, Meagan and Sarah talk all things midlife hair—where we're at now, what’s changed, and what’s surprised us along the way. From slow grow-outs to outgrown misconceptions about what "older lady" hair would look like, we get into the realities o...

Do things that feel special and give our lives texture and color have to cost a lot? In this episode, Meagan and Sarah talk about redefining comfort in a season of economic uncertainty. They each share some small, inexpensive, and sometimes completely free rituals that bring real satisfaction. The takeaway: layering simple pleasures, like a good drink, a phone call with a friend, or a slow evening...

Hot tub? Yes please. Cold plunge? Well ..... In this episode, Meagan and Sarah get surprisingly specific about using heat and cold to care for our midlife minds, bodies, and souls, starting with the relief that can come from cold water or ice packs (we’re not all-in on cold plunges yet!) From there we turn up the heat to discuss saunas, microwaveable wraps, Meagan’s long-standing bath ritual and S...

Just in time to use up that Easter surplus, Meagan and Sarah are talking all things eggs—from quick, no-fuss ways to enjoy hard-boiled extras to the recipes they swear they’ll make more often. Sarah shares her go-to snack of simply sliced whites (hold the yolks), plus a surprisingly easy baked egg casserole and her husband’s near-perfect weekend omelets, while Meagan admits she’s stuck in a scramb...

Sarah and Meagan both love secondhand finds—for different reasons. While Sarah’s thrifting pursuits are typically driven by practicality and sustainability, Meagan tends to follow a vibes-first approach to antiquing. In this episode, Meagan dives into her love of vintage housewares and the teacups, embroidered linens, and kitchen pieces that catch her eye at antique malls and thrift stores. She ta...

If you could choose, which would you rather do: take a really long guided walk or bike ride? Go on a pilgrimage? Escape into a creative retreat? Head out on a safari? Or take a river cruise? In this episode, Meagan and Sarah explore a handful of different types of midlife “fantasy trips” that we've watched the older people in our lives embark on, then discuss which ones appeal the most, which...

Paprika? Yes please. Smoked paprika? No, thank you. In this episode, Meagan and Sarah dig into the world of spices and seasonings including our preferences and purchasing habits. We dish about the flavorings we can’t live without, the jars we somehow keep over-buying (curse you, autoship!), and the go-to staples that always seem to be missing right when we need them. We talk about how we actually...

Hard cover or soft? Lined, grid, or blank? Felt-tip, roller-ball, or gel? When it comes to the tools we use to jot down everything from daily to-do lists and menu plans to our bigger-picture dreams, those writing utensils and vessels matter (and to us, they matter a lot .) In this episode, Sarah and Meagan geek out over the notebooks, journals, pens, and paper that make our creative and practical...

Each of the Ladies have had a different experience of yoga: Sarah was introduced as a way to support her body during years of professional dance and has sampled a variety of classes, while Meagan discovered the practice through a book of her mom’s as a little girl and has practiced regularly with the same studio for years. In this episode we both talk about the part yoga has played in our lives, h...

Why do some activities that are a lot of work feel so leisurely...and, conversely, why does "leisure" sometimes feel like a lot of work? In our first episode of 2026, Meagan and Sarah unpack the origins of this podcast, how freedom, agency, pace and choice play into how we perceive an activity, the difference between hobbies and leisure, and what the "midlife lady" in leisure pursu...