The Midlife Book Club

Katie Fogarty

Welcome to the Midlife Book Club—a podcast for readers with readers. Listen to page-turning conversations with authors of books you can’t put down and that center the stories and voices of midlife. Hosted by booklover and loud and proud midlifer Katie Fogarty.New episodes drop on the first of each month. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com. Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 09/01/2025

    Cleyvis Natera Unpacks the True Cost of Paradise in The Grand Paloma Resort

    What are you willing to sacrifice for security? Author Cleyvis Natera invites readers to explore this question and more on a breathless seven-day trip to The Grand Paloma Resort, a Dominican Republic luxury resort where White Lotus-esque thriller meets sharp social commentary. As two local girls go missing and a hurricane approaches, sisters Laura and Elena live and work amidst stark class distinctions. The resort siphons water for lush gardens while local communities face drought, tourists operate under systems of private justice, and staff navigate knotty power dynamics for survival. Join host Katie Fogarty and Natera as they wander The Grand Paloma and explore the complexities of midlife: are we obligated to take responsibility for others, what is the moral cost of compromises for security, and how to thread the delicate balance between protecting those we love and allowing them autonomy. Bonus! We also crack open Natera's critically acclaimed debut Neruda on the Park, uncover how aspiring authors can get the most out of writing workshops, and discover why Natera credits "getting lost" as essential to building a creative, values-driven midlife. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 7m

  2. 08/07/2025

    Lidija Hilje on the Hypnotic Pull of Love, Memory and Geography in “Slanting Towards the Sea”

    What happens when unrealized potential sediments inside us "like tar or asbestos, slowly releasing its poison"? Croatian novelist Lidjia Hilje examines this haunting question in her hypnotic debut, Slanting Towards the Sea, a love story spanning twenty years along Croatia's stunning Dalmatian coast. Following university students Ivana and Vlaho through marriage, dissolution, and an unusual friendship triangle, the novel explores how family secrets and unspoken truths shape our most intimate relationships. Join host Katie Fogarty and Hilje as they survey the peaks and valleys of midlife reassessment, how geography shapes identity, and the poetry of place. Hilje also shares her remarkable reinvention story—transforming from practicing attorney to novelist and mastering the craft of writing in English as her second language. Perfect for lovers of atmospheric literary fiction that bridges love, loss, and second chances. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min

  3. 07/02/2025

    Debut Novelist Sarai Johnson on Being “Grown” and the Complex Wounds of Mother-Daughter Relationships

    What does it mean to be truly "grown" when we're constantly evolving? Join host Katie Fogarty and novelist Sarai Johnson as they explore Grown Women, a gorgeous debut spanning four generations of complex Black women navigating motherhood, intergenerational trauma, and healing. From Charlotte's teenage flight from abuse to privileged Camille's awakening, Johnson’s characters grapple with forgiveness, the cost of emotional and physical scarcity, and how the ties that bind shape both our happiness, sorrow and sense of self. Sarai reveals how writing Grown Women transformed her own parenting and why moving forward—not moving on—allows us to progress and heal even when forgiveness feels out of reach. Perfect for anyone navigating mother-daughter relationships, seeking stories about growth at any age, and lovers of sprawling stories and luminous prose. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop on indie bookseller Bookshop.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  4. 06/01/2025

    Kirsten Miller on “The Change”: Menopause, Magic Realism, and the Superpowers of Midlife

    Can midlife be a portal to our most powerful selves? What if menopause came with superpowers? Join host Katie Fogarty and author Kirsten Miller as they explore "The Change," a razor-sharp feminist revenge fantasy about three women who navigate the thickets of menopause and small-town murder with superpowers unlocked by midlife. Miller crafts a tale that's equal parts thriller, feminist manifesto, and pacy, page-turning magical realism—a recipe that landed "The Change" as a GMA Book Club pick. We explore how righteous anger can be alchemized into creativity and action, why women in their forties and fifties represent "the most powerful generation of women in the history of the world," and how midlife gives us a clearer vision of our gifts. Forget invisible—in "The Change," the women are powerful and completely out of f*cks to give. That is to say, they are unstoppable. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop on indie bookseller Bookshop.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min

  5. 03/12/2025

    Memoirist Carmen Rita Wong on Family Secrets, Identity and a Midlife Reckoning

    Family secrets shape our lives before we even know they exist, as Carmen Rita Wong reveals in her memoir "Why Didn't You Tell Me?" After learning at age 31 that her Chinese father wasn't her biological parent, Carmen set off on a quest to uncover both her true origins and her mother's motivations for concealing such a fundamental truth. Part detective story, part emotional excavation—host Katie Fogarty and Carmen explore the layers of a story built on secrets and now told with unflinching honesty. We dive into the intricate terrain of mother-daughter relationships, cultural identity across Dominican and Chinese heritage, the pressures of assimilation in 1980s America, and why, as Carmen puts it, "when you bury the truth, you bury it alive." A powerful exploration on finding peace without forgiveness, breaking generational patterns as a parent, and how memoir brings a wide-angle lens to universal themes of identity, the tangle of family relationships, and the search for belonging and clarity in midlife. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop on indie bookseller Bookshop.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min

  6. 01/08/2025

    Claire Lombardo Maps the Shifting Terrain of Midlife Marriage and Motherhood in Her Newest Family Saga

    Bestselling author Claire Lombardo knows drama lurks behind every family's closed doors. Join host Katie Fogarty for an engaging dive into Lombardo's latest novel "Same As It Ever Was," which deftly explores long-term marriage, motherhood, and how our lives both change and stay exactly the same over decades. A writing teacher and indie bookseller turned literary star (and Reese Witherspoon book club pick), Lombardo shares her secrets for building rich characters through "emotional homework" and reveals why the most authentic relationships are often the messiest. A must-listen for readers navigating midlife transitions, empty nesting, and anyone who loves peering into the complexities of imperfect relationships and shifting family dynamics. Plus, tips for novel writing, character dialogue and how to overcome writing paralysis. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

  7. 12/20/2024

    Joanna Rakoff Looks Back at her Coming-of-Age Bestsellers "My Salinger Year" and "A Fortunate Age"

    What happens when we look back at our coming-of-age stories from the vantage point of midlife? Bestselling author Joanna Rakoff (My Salinger Year, A Fortunate Age) joins host Katie Fogarty to explore how we define and find our way in the world through the dual lenses of memoir and fiction. The conversation sparkles with insights about the electric, messy brilliance of being young and how time reshapes our understanding of our younger selves. We dive deep into the creative process, examining how writing from a place of love shapes authentic characters and why some stories are better told as memoir while others flourish as fiction. Plus, Rakoff shares an insider's view of the literary world and explores how J.D. Salinger's influence ripples through her work and life. This show proves that while youth may be fleeting, brilliant stories, beautifully told are forever. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com. Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  8. 11/11/2024

    Dr. Sharon Malone Writes a Prescription for Optimal Midlife Health in Her NYT bestseller “Grown Woman Talk”

    Getting (and staying) healthy in midlife looks waaay different than in our 20s and 30s. One of the country’s top docs, Dr. Sharon Malone pulls out a prescription pad of straight talk for getting and staying healthy at midlife and beyond from her NYT-bestseller, “Grown Woman Talk.” We dive into the intersection of aging and health, the top health concerns she hears again and again, and why our fast-changing healthcare system means you need to become your own primary caregiver. You and only you are in the driver’s seat of your health. Are you ready? Plus, the moment Dr. Malone learned she hit the NYT-bestseller list, why she is a “one and done” author, and what’s on the top of her TBR stack. Stick around to hear host Katie Fogarty and Dr. Malone share what they would name their midlife memoirs. You may want to steal these titles yourself! Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com. Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

  9. 09/01/2024

    Chip Conley on the Upside of Aging and Learning to Love Midlife

    Mixed feelings about midlife? Do not miss this jolt of inspiration from midlife OG and NYT bestselling author Chip Conley.   We explore Chip’s latest book, “Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Life Gets Better with Age,” an optimistic blueprint for making your 40s to 70s the best decades of your life. Drawing on fascinating social science research, inspiring stories, and timeless wisdom across cultures and perspectives, Chip will convince you that aging is a superpower and that you are poised, not on the brink of a crisis, but on the precipice of joy and transformation.   Host Katie Fogarty and Chip explore how to navigate midlife turbulence, the power of curiosity, and why pop culture gets midlife so wrong—forget crisis, think renaissance. Plus, hear Chip offer practical, actionable strategies for thriving in the face of change and creating the life you want, powered by insights gleaned as a co-founder of The Modern Elder Academy and a life of serial reinvention. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com. Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min

  10. 08/01/2024

    Annabel Monaghan Gives Swoony Beach Books a Midlife Makeover with “Summer Romance”

    Need a summer escape? Grab your sunblock and pull up a beach chair for our chat with bestselling author Annabel Monaghan. We're diving into her latest rom-com, “Summer Romance,” which follows Ali Morris, a professional organizer whose life is anything but organized. Smart, bingeable, and laugh-out-loud funny, “Summer Romance” is a refreshingly cold dunk into a smart and steamy summer read. Join host Katie Fogarty and Annabel as they explore the magic of second chances, the power of decluttering our homes (and midlife mindsets), and the surprising benefits of a chaotic writing process. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com. Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  11. 07/16/2024

    Catherine Newman Cracks Open Her Instant NYT Bestseller Sandwich

    Welcome to The Midlife Book Club! In our debut show, author Catherine Newman brings us to Cape Cod's salty, sandy shores to crack open her instant New York Times bestseller Sandwich. The book unspools over a weeklong family vacation as the main character, Rocky, navigates memories, menopause, and the push and pull of life sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents. Evocative, hilarious, and tender, this coming-of-middle-age story bursts with insights into what it means to be a woman, why we keep secrets from our families, and how we can learn to love our people better. Host Katie Fogarty and Catherine talk about menopausal rage, the bittersweetness of midlife, anticipatory grief, and why getting to midlife is the right time to admit we *might* be wrong about things. Catherine also shares a look at her writing process and how she balances the yin and yang of creative and editorial writing. New episodes drop on the first of each month.Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social: @themidlifebookclubVisit our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com.Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  • 11 Episodes

4.9
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Midlife Book Club—a podcast for readers with readers. Listen to page-turning conversations with authors of books you can’t put down and that center the stories and voices of midlife. Hosted by booklover and loud and proud midlifer Katie Fogarty.New episodes drop on the first of each month. Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com. Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Fogarty
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kathleen Connorton
  • Show Website
    The Midlife Book Club