School of Midlife

Laurie Reynoldson
  • 4.9 (41)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This is the podcast for high-achieving women in midlife who want to make midlife their best life.   Women who have worked their entire lives, whether that’s in a traditional career or as the CEO of their household, or for many women, both. And they look around at their life in midlife, and think “I’ve worked my ass off for this?”  They have everything they always thought they ever wanted, but for some reason, it feels like something is missing. This is the podcast for midlife women who are experiencing all sorts of physical changes in their bodies, while navigating changes in every other part of their lives, too: friendships, family life, work life. This is the podcast for midlife women who find themselves wide-awake at 2.00am, asking themselves big questions like “what do I want?” “is it too late for me?”, and “what’s my legacy beyond my family and my work?” Each week, we’re answering these questions and more at the School of Midlife. When it comes to midlife, there are a lot of people talking about menopause and having a midlife crisis. This isn’t one of those podcasts. While we may occasionally talk about the menopausal transition, but that’s not our focus. Because we believe that midlife is so much more than menopause. And it’s certainly not a crisis.At the School of Midlife, we’re looking to make midlife our best life.

  1. 5D AGO

    162. Just Because You’re Good at It Doesn’t Mean You Should Keep Doing It

    What are you still doing in life...just because you're good at it? And what can a 21-year-old Olympic gold medalist teach midlife women about happiness? More than you think. In this episode, Laurie shares the story of figure skater Alysa Liu — a prodigy who retired at 17 after reaching the top of her sport, only to return years later and win Olympic gold…on her own terms. Not chasing expectations. Not performing for approval. But choosing joy. Through Alysa’s story, we explore a powerful midlife question:  What are you still doing just because you’re good at it — not because you love it? This conversation challenges the idea that success means continuing down the same path forever. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away from what you can do so you have space to discover what you actually want. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a life that looks successful but doesn’t feel aligned, this episode will help you rethink retirement, reinvention, and what your personal “gold medal” really is. 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    31 min

  2. FEB 17

    161. Stop Keeping Score: A Midlife Reset for Your Relationship

    What if the problem in your marriage… isn’t your marriage? What if it’s what you’re choosing to notice? In this Valentine’s-season episode, Laurie shares a simple but powerful mindset shift that can transform your relationships — without therapy, ultimatums, or blowing up your life. Midlife has a way of making everything feel louder. The identity shifts. The resentment you didn’t realize was building. The small irritations that start to feel bigger. The question of “Is this it?” But before you make any dramatic moves, Laurie invites you to try something deceptively simple: Change your focus. Because what you focus on grows. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why midlife can intensify dissatisfaction in long-term relationshipsHow your brain is wired to look for evidence that confirms your storyThe subtle difference between healthy awareness and chronic scorekeepingA 7-day experiment that can shift the emotional tone of your relationshipWhy this practice isn’t about settling — it’s about strengthening your mindsetThis conversation isn’t about ignoring real problems. It’s about reclaiming your power in the dynamic. Because midlife isn’t just about redefining success. It’s about redefining what you pay attention to. And that choice changes everything. 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    32 min

  3. FEB 10

    160. The Life You Have vs. The Life You Want

    The moment midlife asks more of you, and the trust and fear issues that may be holding you back. Midlife doesn’t usually announce itself with a crisis. More often, it shows up quietly — as restlessness, hesitation, or the sense that the life you’ve built no longer fits the way it used to. In this special episode of the School of Midlife Podcast, host Laurie Reynoldson is sharing a live recording from the final day of a recent masterclass — a conversation about trust, fear, and the moment midlife asks us to choose differently. Not because something is wrong. But because something more is possible. In this episode, we explore: Why hesitation in midlife is often a trust issue, not a clarity issueThe three fears that keep high-achieving women stuck:fear of judgment (What will they think of me?)fear of failure (What if I’m not good enough?)fear of success (What if I actually do the thing?)Why waiting is still a decision — and how default choices quietly shape our livesHow identity shifts in midlife impact our decisions, relationships, and sense of selfThe ripple effects of choosing yourself — in your marriage, your family, and the legacy you’re modeling for your childrenWhy regret doesn’t come from trying and failing — but from never trying at allThis is not a conversation about blowing up your life or starting over. It’s about learning how to stop overthinking, trust yourself again, and make intentional choices aligned with who you are now — not who you were ten or twenty years ago. If you’ve been feeling stuck between the life you have and the life you want, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask an honest question: What would it look like to choose differently — on purpose? Want to Go Deeper? The BEST LIFE Lab is a guided coaching experience for high-achieving midlife women who are ready to stop waiting and start choosing their lives intentionally — with clarity, support, and self-trust. You can learn more here. 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    52 min

  4. FEB 6

    159. What Got You Here Won't Get You There

    The real reason you don't feel like yourself in midlife...after "fixing" your midlife body. You’ve done the work to address the physical symptoms of midlife: balanced your hormones, changed your eating, added strength training. And you still don't feel like yourself in midlife. And there's a reason for that. The real work of midlife? That's an inside job. In this bonus episode of the School of Midlife podcast, Laurie is dropping us into a recent masterclass to encourage midlife women stop waiting and start living. Laurie shares her own story of rising out of a moment of deep personal and professional frustration to create what became The School of Midlife. And she names the real reason we get stuck again after the first breakthrough: we need structure, support, and community to keep going. If you’ve taken a few big steps but don’t know what’s next—or you’re afraid you’ll lose the progress you’ve made—this one’s for you. LINKS + MENTIONS: Join the BEST LIFE Lab! 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    55 min

  5. FEB 3

    158. From Fear Frequency to Fulfillment: How to Reclaim Your Midlife Power

    What it really means to move through midlife with faith instead of fear. From an aerial yoga face-off with my own trust issues to the hard-earned wisdom of the dying, we’re getting brutally honest about how fear creeps into everything—from our bodies to our beliefs—and what to do about it. Midlife is full of transitions—but for many high-achieving women, it’s not just the physical symptoms (hello, hormones, sleep, and body changes) that throw us off course. It’s the emotional weight of fear that creeps in, slows us down, and convinces us to play small. In this powerful episode of The School of Midlife podcast, Laurie returns from her weekend at the magical Civana Wellness Resort with a renewed perspective—after a brush with fear in an aerial yoga class forced her to confront some very old, very real limiting beliefs. She shares how fear often masquerades as “being responsible,” “being prepared,” or even “being informed”—but underneath it all, it’s keeping us stuck. You’ll hear: Why midlife women are often operating in a fear frequency—even when life looks “fine”What an aerial yoga meltdown has to do with trusting your intuitionHow Human Design can reveal hidden fears that quietly sabotage your fulfillmentA powerful quote that reframes the choice between fear and faithA breakdown of the Top 5 Regrets of the Dying—and how they are secretly shaping your midlife decisions right nowPlus, Laurie invites you to the free 5-day Midlife Masterclass on why you still don’t feel like yourself—even after fixing your body. If you’ve been focused on wellness but still feel off… this is for you. Resources + Links: 🎓 Sign up for the FREE 5-Day Masterclass 💫 Curious about the Best Life Retreat at Civana? Reserve your spot before February 9, 2026! 👯‍♀️ Share this episode with a friend who’s ready to move from fear to faith. 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    38 min

  6. JAN 27

    157. They Want You Quiet. Why Midlife Is the Time to Get Loud.

    What happens when your intuition is screaming something isn’t right—but the world keeps telling you to sit down and be quiet? In today’s episode, we’re talking about midlife discernment, political gaslighting, and the rising cost of staying silent. This one’s raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically necessary. In This Episode: In this soul-stirring, no-holds-barred episode, Laurie dives deep into a conversation that’s long overdue: what happens when women finally start trusting their own intuition… and the world around them tries to silence it? This episode isn’t just about politics—it’s about principles. It’s about gaslighting on every level—from government narratives to the deeply personal ways women are told not to trust their own experiences. Laurie explores how the chaos in the world mirrors what midlife women often experience when they stop people-pleasing and start speaking up. She covers: The emotional toll of constantly waking up to bad newsWhy our nervous systems weren’t built for 24/7 chaosThe terrifying rise of authoritarianism—and how it’s gaslighting the publicHow midlife women are reclaiming their voice and power, even when others try to shame them back into silenceThe gut-wrenching parallels between political manipulation and what many women experience in their personal livesMidlife isn’t a crisis. It’s a moment of radical discernment. And if you’ve been feeling like the world’s gone off the rails, and no one’s saying the quiet part out loud? This episode is for you. 👀 Listen if you’ve ever felt: Gaslit by the news, your doctor, or your familyLike you’re waking up—but everyone else wants you to stay asleepPulled to speak up... but afraid to rock the boat🎯 Midlife takeaway: Your intuition isn’t a liability—it’s a leadership skill. And the world needs it now more than ever. 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    28 min

  7. JAN 20

    156. If You’re Still Waiting for the Right Time, This Is Your Midlife Wake-Up Call

    You think you're just waiting until life gets easier...until the kid graduates, until the project wraps, until the hot flashes stop. But here's the truth: waiting is costing you your one big, wild life. And midlife? That’s your wake-up call. 🎙️ Episode Summary: In this fiery, heart-to-heart episode, Laurie calls out one of the most common habits among high-achieving midlife women: waiting. Waiting until your job settles down. Waiting until the kids are grown. Waiting until your parents are taken care of. Waiting until you feel better in your body. But what if waiting is exactly what’s keeping you stuck? Drawing from raw conversations with coaching clients, her own story of midlife reinvention, and the painful realities of caregiving and aging, Laurie makes the case that you can’t keep waiting to live your life—because eventually, you’ll run out of time. She also ties in the School of Midlife’s upcoming free masterclass about why so many women still don’t feel like themselves even after addressing their physical symptoms—because until you figure out what you really want, fulfillment will always feel just out of reach. In this episode: The invisible cost of “waiting for the right time”Why you don’t need to quit your job or blow up your life to make a changeWhat’s really stopping you from putting yourself firstA fresh reframe on success in midlifeHow to start now—before everything is perfect🗓️ Upcoming Event: → Grab your spot for Laurie’s FREE 5-Day Masterclass this February: "Why You Still Don’t Feel Like Yourself—Even After Fixing Your Midlife Body" LINKS + MENTIONS: Get Laurie's Masterclass: How to Parent Your Parents 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    24 min

  8. JAN 13

    155. SMART Goals Are Ruining Your Personal Life—Here's What to Do Instead

    The way you've been setting personal goals is the very thing holding you back from living your biggest life. It’s time to ditch the SMART framework and finally create goals that align with the woman you’re becoming. Episode Summary: In this week’s fiery episode, Laurie dismantles one of the most overused—and misused—tools in personal development: the SMART goal framework. You’ve been told to make your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. But when it comes to midlife transformation and building your actual BEST LIFE? That framework might be doing more harm than good. Laurie explains why applying a corporate goal-setting system to your deeply personal hopes, dreams, and desires keeps you stuck in external validation and false deadlines. She dives into why midlife is the exact moment to let go of achievable, "relevant," and time-bound goals—and finally start designing your own definition of success. You’ll learn: Why throwaway goals feel good—but don’t change your lifeHow focusing on what’s “achievable” shrinks your visionWhy setting personal goals based on relevance is total BSThe sneaky toxicity of arbitrary deadlinesHow to shift from performance-driven goals to purpose-driven dreamsShe also introduces the BEST LIFE™ framework—a game-changing, trademarked system she uses with all her coaching clients to move from burnout to breakthrough. If 2026 is the year you finally start living for you, this episode is a must-listen. Resources Mentioned: Click here to learn more about 1:1 or group coachingFollow Laurie on Instagram: @schoolofmidlifeTake the Conversation Deeper: Laurie wants to hear from YOU. What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Slide into her DMs on Instagram or click here to send her an email! 📧 📩 JOIN MY MAILING LIST https://www.schoolofmidlife.com/newsletter 👉 CONNECT WITH LAURIE: 📩 Email Laurie 💻 Website On Instagram On LinkedIn Work with Laurie

    34 min
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Trailers

4.9
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

This is the podcast for high-achieving women in midlife who want to make midlife their best life.   Women who have worked their entire lives, whether that’s in a traditional career or as the CEO of their household, or for many women, both. And they look around at their life in midlife, and think “I’ve worked my ass off for this?”  They have everything they always thought they ever wanted, but for some reason, it feels like something is missing. This is the podcast for midlife women who are experiencing all sorts of physical changes in their bodies, while navigating changes in every other part of their lives, too: friendships, family life, work life. This is the podcast for midlife women who find themselves wide-awake at 2.00am, asking themselves big questions like “what do I want?” “is it too late for me?”, and “what’s my legacy beyond my family and my work?” Each week, we’re answering these questions and more at the School of Midlife. When it comes to midlife, there are a lot of people talking about menopause and having a midlife crisis. This isn’t one of those podcasts. While we may occasionally talk about the menopausal transition, but that’s not our focus. Because we believe that midlife is so much more than menopause. And it’s certainly not a crisis.At the School of Midlife, we’re looking to make midlife our best life.

Information

  • Creator
    Laurie Reynoldson
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 School of Midlife
  • Show Website
    School of Midlife

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