Growing Up Late

Jeannie McIntire
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Growing Up Late explores the gap between the impressive lives we build on the outside and who we actually are on the inside. Through honest conversations about betrayal, comebacks, and personal transformation, host Jeannie McIntire shows how the real growth happens when we finally own our role in our own story. A podcast for anyone ready to stop playing small and start living authentically.

  1. 5d ago

    The Watcher: The Voice in Your Head Isn't Always You

    What if the voice in your head isn't actually you?Most of us assume the voice narrating our lives is who we are. We replay old conversations, believe inherited stories, mistake certainty for truth, and give every thought equal authority. But what if the narrator in your mind isn't always telling the truth? In this episode of Growing Up Late, Jeannie shares the deeply personal experiences that taught her to question the voice in her head instead of automatically believing it. Through stories of divorce, rebuilding after loss, buying a home, and finally launching this podcast, she explores the relationship between the narrator, the watcher, and the author, and why becoming the watcher changed everything. Why it mattersThe stories we tell ourselves shape the decisions we make. When we learn to notice our thoughts instead of automatically obeying them, we create space to choose differently and begin writing a different future. Key TakeawaysWhy certainty isn't evidenceThe difference between the narrator, the watcher, and the authorHow inherited beliefs quietly shape our decisionsWhy you don't have to believe every thought you thinkWhat it means to become the watcherHow awareness helps you reclaim your story In this episodeThe Men in Black quote that changed Jeannie's perspective on certaintyA marriage story that completely reframed what truth meansThe inherited belief that resurfaced years after successBuying a home despite overwhelming fearLaunching a podcast despite self-doubtWhy the narrator isn't always the author About Growing Up LateGrowing Up Late is a podcast about reinvention, resilience, identity, and the lifelong process of becoming. Through candid conversations and deeply personal storytelling, Jeannie McIntire explores what it means to rebuild after divorce, career change, grief, financial loss, or the realization that life no longer fits. Each episode helps listeners see what is true, decide what comes next, and become the author of their own story. Because it's never too late to become yourself.

  2. Jul 16

    The Divorce Your Children Will Thank You For | Child-Centered Divorce with Rosalind Sedacca

    Divorce changes a family—but it doesn't have to define a child's future. In this episode of Growing Up Late, Jeannie McIntire sits down with internationally recognized divorce and co-parenting coach Rosalind Sedacca to explore what children truly need when their parents separate, and how adults can navigate divorce with greater wisdom, compassion, and emotional maturity. Drawing on her experience as a divorced mother, Rosalind shares a conversation with her adult son that changed the direction of her life and inspired her mission to help parents put children first. Why This Matters Divorce is one of the most significant life transitions a family can experience. While parents often focus on legal decisions, finances, and the emotional pain of ending a marriage, children are quietly learning about relationships, conflict, trust, and love from everything they see and hear. The way parents navigate divorce can influence their children's emotional well-being for decades. This conversation offers practical guidance and hope for anyone who wants to protect their children while rebuilding their own life. Key Takeaway Parents cannot always prevent the pain of divorce, but they can dramatically reduce its emotional impact on their children. Child-centered divorce means protecting children from adult conflict, refusing to make them choose sides, encouraging healthy relationships with both parents whenever it is safe, and responding with emotional maturity rather than resentment. The goal isn't a perfect divorce; it's raising emotionally healthy children despite difficult circumstances. What You'll Learn What child-centered divorce really meansWhy Rosalind dedicated her career to helping divorced familiesThe conversation with her adult son that transformed her life's workWhy children should never be asked to choose sidesThe hidden damage of making children emotional caretakersWhat children truly need during divorceWhy some children experience relief after divorcePractical co-parenting strategies that reduce conflictHow personal accountability changes familiesFinding unexpected gifts in life's hardest transitions Dive Deeper After years of trying to save her marriage, Rosalind Sedacca made the difficult decision to divorce when she realized the conflict at home was already affecting her young son. Years later, an unexpected conversation with that son, who thanked both his parents for how they handled their divorce, became the catalyst for a new career helping families around the world. Together, Jeannie and Rosalind discuss how divorce can become either a source of lifelong wounds or an opportunity for healing, depending on how parents choose to respond. Their conversation explores emotional maturity, parentification, loyalty conflicts, co-parenting, accountability, and the lifelong impact of prioritizing children's emotional needs over adult grievances. While divorce is never easy, this episode offers a hopeful perspective: families can emerge healthier when parents choose growth over blame and healing over resentment. About Our Guest Rosalind Sedacca is an internationally recognized Divorce & Co-Parenting Coach, founder of the Child-Centered Divorce Network, author of How Do I Tell the Kids About the Divorce?, and host of the Divorce, Dating & Empowered Living podcast. Through coaching, books, courses, and other educational resources, she helps parents navigate divorce while protecting their children's emotional well-being. Resources 🌐 childcentereddivorce.com 📘 How Do I Tell the Kids About the Divorce? 🎁 Free Resource: Post-Divorce Parenting Success Strategies Frequently Asked Questions What is child-centered divorce? Child-centered divorce focuses on protecting children's emotional well-being by reducing conflict, encouraging respectful co-parenting, and supporting healthy relationships with both parents whenever possible. How can parents protect children during divorce? Parents can reduce emotional harm by avoiding conflict in front of children, not asking them to choose sides, keeping adult issues between adults, and creating consistency across both households. Can children recover from divorce? Yes. Research and experience show that children often adapt well when parents reduce conflict, communicate respectfully, and create emotionally safe environments. Who is Rosalind Sedacca? Rosalind Sedacca is a divorce and co-parenting coach, founder of the Child-Centered Divorce Network, author, speaker, and podcast host who helps parents create healthier outcomes for children before, during, and after divorce. Subscribe to Growing Up Late for honest conversations about reinvention, resilience, identity, relationships, midlife change, starting over, and becoming who you are meant to be.

  3. Jul 9

    Say What You Need to Say

    The difference between sacred silence and self-abandonment. How many times have you rehearsed something in your head—not because you did not know what you wanted to say, but because you were trying to say it in a way that would not make anyone uncomfortable? In this solo episode of Growing Up Late, Jeannie McIntire explores what it means to say what needs to be said—not as a way to control the outcome, but as an act of integrity and self-trust. Some silence is wise. Some silence is loving. Some silence keeps us from using our pain as a weapon. But some silence is fear dressed up as politeness. And that kind of silence can slowly teach us to shrink. Jeannie shares the line from her mother that stayed with her for decades: “You’re a long time silent. Say what you need to say now.” From long-distance phone calls to relationships, leadership moments, nonprofit work, and the small ways we edit ourselves to stay acceptable, this episode asks a deeper question: Can I live with myself if I never say this? Why it mattersMany women are taught from a young age to keep the peace, soften the truth, manage reactions, and avoid making anyone uncomfortable. But keeping the peace and abandoning yourself are not the same thing. In this episode, Jeannie reflects on the false promise that if we find the perfect words, we can control the outcome. But speaking truth does not guarantee agreement, approval, or understanding. The marriage can still end. The other person can still get angry. The vote can still go the other way. Still, saying what needs to be said can rebuild something essential: self-trust. Key takeawaySpeaking truth is not outcome control. The goal is not always to win, persuade, or get your way. The goal is integrity. As Jeannie says in the episode: “I can live with things not going my way. I can’t live with self-betrayal.”And: “I will never leave myself alone in the room again. I won’t be the first person out the door on me.”In this episodeJeannie explores: The difference between sacred silence and self-abandonmentWhy rehearsing the “perfect words” is often about managing someone else’s reactionHow silence can either steady us or shrink usThe small ways we edit ourselves to keep other people comfortableWhy speaking up may not change the outcome, but it can change your relationship with yourselfHow self-trust grows when we stop abandoning our own voice Listen if you have been carrying…A truth. A boundary. A request. An apology. A goodbye. A sentence you keep rehearsing because some part of you knows it still needs to be said. You may not be able to control what happens after the words leave your mouth. But you can decide whether keeping yourself quiet to remain acceptable to others is still a price you are willing to pay. You are a long time silent. Say what you need to say. If this resonated with youIf this episode made you think of someone who has been rehearsing the thing they need to say, send it to them. And if Growing Up Late is speaking to where you are in your own life, follow or subscribe wherever you listen so you do not miss future episodes. Growing Up Late is a podcast about reinvention, resilience, and the lifelong process of becoming.

  4. Jul 2

    Between Identities: When the Life You Built No Longer Fits

    What happens when the life you built no longer fits, but you do not yet know who you are becoming? In this episode of Growing Up Late, Jeannie McIntire talks with Ruchika Singhal, reinvention coach, author, and founder of Elevare Advisory, about navigating the unnerving but often transformative space between an old identity and a new one. After more than 25 years in senior leadership roles with global healthcare companies, including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Medtronic, Ruchika left a successful corporate career to build a new chapter focused on the work she loved most: helping people through change. Together, Jeannie and Ruchika explore career reinvention, job loss, divorce, empty nesting, identity shifts, and the pressure to rush into the next thing before we are ready. Ruchika shares her Pause, Pivot, Propel framework and explains why certainty does not come first—curiosity does. In this conversation, you will hear about: What it means to be “between identities”Why a job loss, breakup, health crisis, or empty nest can shake your sense of selfThe value of pausing before making a major decisionHow familiar pain can feel safer than an uncertain possibilityWhy consciously saying goodbye to an old identity mattersA simple ritual for marking the end of a chapterHow to distinguish between needing rest, needing a change, and needing a true reinventionWhy it is never too late to start overThe practical side of career pivots, financial planning, and investing in yourselfHow success can shift from titles, money, and achievement toward impact, relationships, and a life you actually enjoy Ruchika’s message is reassuring: the space between who you were and who you are becoming may feel uncertain, but it does not mean you are lost. It may be where your next life begins. About Ruchika Singhal Ruchika Singhal is a reinvention coach, facilitator, author, and founder of Elevare Advisory. She works with leaders and professionals navigating career crossroads, restructuring, layoffs, leadership transitions, and major identity shifts. She is the author of Happiness Is Right Here: The Reinvention Playbook and host of Lead With Ruchika: The Reinvention Podcast. Find Ruchika: Book: Happiness Is Right Here: The Reinvention Playbook https://a.co/d/0bIq1LWC Podcast: Lead With Ruchika: The Reinvention Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lead-with-ruchika-the-reinvention-podcast/id1891735857 Website: http://www.elevareadvisory.org/ LinkedIn: Ruchika Singhal https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchikas/ About Growing Up Late Growing Up Late is a podcast for women rebuilding after life did not go according to plan. Host Jeannie McIntire explores reinvention, resilience, identity, second acts, and the lifelong process of becoming. Connect with Jeannie https://linktr.ee/jeanniemcintire

  5. Jun 25

    Life: Sign Up Now | You Cannot Steer a Parked Car

    What if life is not waiting for you somewhere in the future? Not after you lose the weight, get the job, heal from the hard thing, feel ready, become confident, or finally know enough. What if life is already happening, and the only way forward is to participate in it? In this solo episode of Growing Up Late, Jeannie McIntire reflects on a note she wrote in 2013: “Life: Sign Up Now.” More than a decade later, she realizes it was not a list of random ideas. It was a set of instructions for the life she was still learning how to build. Jeannie shares what she has learned through career reinvention, starting over, public speaking, launching a podcast, building a home that feels like her, and making choices before certainty arrived. This is an episode about taking action before confidence, creating evidence through courage, choosing respect over being liked, and building a life you would not trade for anyone else’s. Because clarity does not always come before action. Sometimes, clarity is what action leaves behind in its footprints. In this episode: Why “life is now, not later”The cost of waiting to feel readyHow action creates clarityWhy courage creates evidenceWhat personal accountability really meansThe difference between a life that looks right and a life that feels rightRebuilding a life, home, and relationships that fitWhy respect matters more than being likedThe “lottery test” for knowing whether you love your own lifeWhy you cannot steer a parked car Memorable lines from this episode: “Life is not later. It is now.”“Clarity is the footprints that action leaves behind.”“Courage creates evidence.”“Respect matters a great deal more than being liked.”“Their good fortune would not feel like my deprivation.”“I don’t want their life. I want mine.”“You cannot steer a parked car.” If this episode resonates with you, follow Growing Up Late, share it with someone who may need the reminder, and join Jeannie next week as she begins introducing conversations with guests who are also navigating reinvention, resilience, and the lifelong process of becoming. Connect with Jeannie McIntire Website: jeanniemcintire.com Podcast: Growing Up Late

  6. Jun 18

    What’s in Your Garage?

    What’s sitting in your garage? For me, it was a chainsaw. In this episode of Growing Up Late, I share the unlikely story of a chainsaw that sat unused in my garage for years, not because I didn’t own it, but because somewhere along the way, I had decided chainsaws were for other people. You know… Other people use power tools. Other people reinvent their lives. Other people take big risks, speak up, or start over. Sound familiar? What began as a funny story about finally learning to use a battery-powered chainsaw turned into something much deeper: a reflection on the gifts, tools, talents, ideas, and even parts of our identity that we leave sitting unused. I also share: The powerful “Post-It Party” exercise that reveals what you already know and undervalueWhy we so often dismiss our natural gifts because they come easily to usThe deeply personal story behind legally reclaiming my nameWhy growth is often less about reinvention and more about reclamation Sometimes the thing you think you need to go find out in the world… is already sitting in your garage. In this episode:Why action builds confidenceThe danger of assigning courage and capability to “other people”The difference between ownership and useReclaiming identity after divorceHidden gifts, unused tools, and second chances Memorable Quotes“The action of doing a thing builds the confidence to be able to do the thing.”“Some of the things sitting in my garage weren’t tools or talents. Some of them were parts of my identity.”“I wasn’t reinventing myself. I was reclaiming myself.”Reflection QuestionWhat’s sitting in your garage? Maybe it’s in a closet. A drawer. A notebook. A filing cabinet. Go take a look. You might be surprised by what you find. If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this reminder. We’re just getting started.

  7. Jun 11

    My Mother Invented the Plastic Kite

    Episode 10: My Mother Invented the Plastic KiteMy mother used to say, "I'm not an inventor." Which was interesting, because I'm pretty sure she invented the plastic kite. Or at least she had the idea. In this episode, I revisit three stories from my childhood: a kite, a fireplace, and a trip to the beach, and what they revealed about permission, self-concept, and the gap between having an idea and acting on it. My mother was one of the strongest women I've ever known. Widowed young, she bought a home, raised two children, and built a life at a time when women weren't always expected to do those things on their own. Yet she often seemed unable to see herself the way I saw her. For years, I thought I had outgrown her fears. I learned to build fires. I learned to drive. I built a career. I checked all the boxes. But eventually I realized I hadn't outgrown her fears at all. I had simply traded them for my own. This episode is about the stories we tell ourselves about who we are allowed to be and the permission we spend years waiting for that only we can give ourselves. In This EpisodeThe story behind "My Mother Invented the Plastic Kite."Why having an idea and acting on it are two very different thingsThe surprising lessons hidden in a fireplace and a family road tripThe gap between capability and self-conceptWhy I delayed starting this podcast for more than a decadeHow inherited beliefs can show up in new formsThe permission we keep waiting for Memorable Quote"I thought I had outgrown my mother's fears. The truth is, I had only conquered the ones I could see."If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, review, or share it with someone who might need the reminder. Sometimes the distance between the life we imagine and the life we live isn't talent, intelligence, or opportunity. Sometimes it's permission.

  8. Jun 4

    This is My Teacher What is My Lesson

    This Is My Teacher. What Is My Lesson? What if the most important lessons in our lives come from the people and experiences we would never have chosen? In this episode of Growing Up Late, I explore a question that has fundamentally changed the way I move through the world: This is my teacher. What is my lesson? Using the ancient story of the Taoist farmer as a guide, I reflect on the mentors, critics, adversaries, disappointments, and life events that shaped me in ways I never expected. Some of my teachers arrived carrying flowers. Others showed up with flamethrowers. Along the way, I share: What a "frenemy" taught me about finding truth inside criticismThe mentor who became a teacher in more ways than she intendedA surprising lesson about boundaries, relationships, and the difference between healthy limits and cutting people offHow standing my ground in the face of public criticism helped me discover my own authorityThe lessons hidden inside divorce, financial collapse, loneliness, and reinventionWhy curiosity is often more useful than judgment I've spent much of my life deciding whether events were good news or bad news. These days, I'm less certain. What if the question isn't whether something is good or bad? What if the better question is: What is this here to teach me? Key TakeawaysSome of our greatest teachers arrive in packaging we would immediately return.Criticism may contain a small piece of truth worth keeping.Every teacher teaches more than they intend.Growth often happens when we stop defending our ego and become teachable.Life's most difficult experiences can leave behind unexpected gifts.We don't always get to choose our teachers, but we do get to choose whether we learn. Reflection QuestionThink about a person or experience you've labeled as difficult, unfair, disappointing, or painful. If that person or situation was your teacher... What might the lesson be?

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About

Growing Up Late explores the gap between the impressive lives we build on the outside and who we actually are on the inside. Through honest conversations about betrayal, comebacks, and personal transformation, host Jeannie McIntire shows how the real growth happens when we finally own our role in our own story. A podcast for anyone ready to stop playing small and start living authentically.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeannie McIntire
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jeannie McIntire
  • Show Website
    Growing Up Late