The Midsters

Not every loss comes with a funeral. Some grief arrives through life's transitions: children leaving home, aging parents, retirement, illness, changing friendships, or letting go of the future we once imagined. In this heartfelt conversation, Mary-Anne and Leslie Ann explore how acknowledging grief can help us embrace change and discover new purpose. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://you...

What happens when women stop seeking permission and start saying yes to themselves? In this episode, we explore how midlife can become a powerful turning point marked by confidence, curiosity, bold choices, and the freedom to pursue what truly matters. From new adventures to redefining identity, we discuss why this stage of life can be one of the most liberating yet. Watch the full episode on YouT...

What happens when you strip life down to its essentials and spend five weeks walking across Spain with only a backpack, one outfit, and an open heart? In this episode, we sit down with Margie Clark to discuss her experience walking the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrimage stretching across northern Spain that has transformed lives for more than 1,200 years. From the physical challenge of wal...

Friendship changes as we move through life. Some friendships ground us, some challenge us, and some arrive exactly when we need them most. In this episode, we explore the different types of friendships that shape who we become, from foundational and lifelong relationships to the expansive friendships that push us beyond our comfort zones. We reflect on how friendships evolve through marriage, pare...

If your younger self could see your life today, would they be surprised? Proud? Confused? Maybe all three. In this episode, we reflect on the expectations we had in our 20s and how life unfolded in ways we never could have predicted. From career paths and relationships to motherhood, resilience, friendship, aging, and personal growth, we explore the gap between who we thought we’d become and who w...

What if awe isn’t something rare but something we can actively create? In this episode, we explore how awe can be found in both the extraordinary and the everyday, from nature and travel to creativity, resilience, and human connection. We talk about how these moments shift perspective, elevate mood, and reconnect us to something greater than ourselves. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://yo...

In a world filled with noise and constant connection, solitude can feel uncomfortable — but it may be exactly where clarity begins. In this episode, we explore the difference between solitude and loneliness, and how quiet moments can help us understand our thoughts, break old patterns, and reconnect with ourselves. Solitude becomes a space for reflection, healing, and personal growth — where we ca...

What if “the party” isn’t about nightlife at all — but about how fully you’re showing up in your own life? In this episode, we’re joined by Evan Cudworth, also known as the Party Coach, who shares his powerful philosophy on connection, joy, and belonging. From redefining what a “party” really means to building your tribe, dropping the armor, and creating meaningful shared experiences, this convers...

Emotional Hygiene explores what it means to care for your inner world with the same intention you give your physical well-being. In this episode, we discuss how our thoughts, reactions, and daily experiences shape our emotional state — and how small, consistent practices can help us release what no longer serves us. From managing internal dialogue and avoiding borrowed stress to building awareness...

Forgiving yourself isn’t about forgetting your mistakes — it’s about learning from them without letting shame define who you are. In this episode, we explore how to move from guilt to growth, embrace accountability, and give yourself the same compassion you offer others. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Pandora, or visit AmericanMidsters.com .

Invisible labor is the unseen work that keeps everything running — from managing the mental load to anticipating the needs of others. In this episode, we unpack how this hidden effort shapes our homes, relationships, and even our workplaces, and why recognizing it matters more than ever. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Pandora, or visit AmericanMidsters.com .

n a world that often feels overwhelming — from global events to personal challenges — finding joy can feel out of reach. But what if joy isn’t something we wait for, but something we actively create? In this episode, we explore how to stay grounded when life feels uncertain. From carving out moments of calm and connection to embracing humor, gratitude, and perspective shifts, we talk about practic...

Aging with Confidence explores what it really means to grow older with strength, clarity, and self-trust. In this episode, we talk about the stories we’ve been told about aging — and the ones we’re ready to rewrite. From physical changes and shifting identities to confidence, purpose, and perspective, we examine how midlife can become a season of expansion rather than limitation. Confidence isn’t...

We spend much of life preparing for later — saving money, saving time, saving the “good things” for someday. But what if someday isn’t guaranteed? In this episode, we explore the balance between financial security and meaningful experience, between efficiency and presence, between holding back and leaning in. From retirement and generational wealth to everyday rituals like morning coffee or family...

In Part Two of our conversation on psychological nakedness, we go deeper. After exploring self-awareness, conformity, and authenticity in Part One, this episode continues the journey inward — examining ego, discipline, spirituality, discomfort, and the courage it takes to confront ourselves honestly. We talk about letting go of roles that no longer fit, owning our motivations, and why midlife ofte...

Psychological Nakedness is an honest, unfiltered conversation about self-awareness, identity, and what happens when we stop performing and start paying attention. In this two-part episode of The Midsters , we explore what it really means to be psychologically naked—stripping away roles, expectations, conformity, and ego to examine the motivations beneath our choices. We talk about fear, shame, dis...

Meet Kim Helfgott , the heart and mind behind Cocoloco Body Care , whose journey blends intention, wellness, entrepreneurship, and joy. In this episode of The Midsters Podcast , Kim shares what it truly means to live Cocoloco — slowing down, tuning into your body, and building a life and business rooted in care, balance, and purpose. We talk about listening to intuition, navigating transitions, cr...

In this episode of The Midsters Podcast, we take a thoughtful look back at 2025 and reflect on the moments that truly mattered. From TheMidstersPodcastand major life pivots to retirement, reinvention, spirituality, friendship, and learning to savor the small, everyday moments, this conversation is about growth, courage, and paying attention to what shapes us. Rather than resolutions or rigid goals...

In this episode of The Midsters Podcast , Mary-Anne and Leslie Ann travel to the heart of the Pacific — the breathtaking Galápagos Islands — alongside acclaimed photographer Jay Fleming for an immersive photography workshop unlike anything else. Jay shares his journey from growing up around science and storytelling to preserving disappearing cultures and environments through his lens. From underwa...

In this episode of The Midsters Podcast , we’re joined by Susan Hall, founder of Decide Happy, who shares how happiness isn’t a personality trait — it’s a daily practice built through small, intentional choices. After experiencing a year that completely transformed her life, including a rare cancer diagnosis and a series of unimaginable challenges, Susan discovered that while we can’t control what...

In this episode of The Midsters Podcast , we sit down with Cheryl Dillon to explore what it really means to create a life that feels joyful, intentional, and deeply fulfilling. Cheryl shares the heart behind her philosophy of “Funderful Experiences” —the idea that we don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to live fully. We can create meaning, connection, and adventure right where we are. We tal...

In this episode of The Midsters Podcast , we explore a powerful question: Do we want to live longer… or live better? We unpack the difference between longevity (the length of life) and vitality (the energy, curiosity, and purpose that fills it in). From an 89-year-old still dominating pickleball courts to the quieter forms of vitality like learning a new language, reading, volunteering, and stayin...

Resolution Revolution invites a different way of approaching the New Year. Instead of rigid goals and familiar cycles of burnout or disappointment, Mary-Anne and Leslie Ann explore the idea of shifting resolutions into intentions. They talk about fear of failure, habit-building, self-acceptance, and why midlife is often the moment we stop chasing external benchmarks and start asking how we want to...

Christmas traditions don’t disappear — they evolve. In this episode of The Midsters , Mary-Anne and Leslie Ann talk about how the holidays change as families grow, kids become adults, and life shifts. From letting go of old expectations to creating new rituals that feel meaningful now, this conversation is about preserving the magic while honoring where you are today.

In this episode of The Midsters , Elizabeth and Mary Ann talk with Jonathan Marion —a transformational life coach, consultant, photographer, and Brazilian zouk instructor who is redefining what it means to live a meaningful life. Jonathan invites us to reconsider the external achievements we often use to measure success and instead move toward a life rooted in alignment, creativity, connection, an...