The Uplifters

Aransas Savas
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The Uplifters Podcast features inspiring conversations with midlife women making big, brave moves in the second half of their lives. Each episode includes brain science and research on how to work with (not against) your midlife brain, body, and resources + tips and tools for designing your boldest second half of life! www.theuplifterspodcast.com

  1. Women Are Better Than Men at Investing — So Why Aren’t We Doing It?

    5D AGO

    Women Are Better Than Men at Investing — So Why Aren’t We Doing It?

    What does it actually take for women over 40 to start investing, raise capital, and build the future they want to see? This panel discussion, recorded live at Uplifters Live in New York City, brings together three extraordinary women for one of the most honest conversations about money, midlife reinvention, and women's economic power you'll hear this year. For women navigating midlife transitions and second-act reinvention, the gender investing gap is not abstract. It is the difference between shaping the future or watching someone else do it. In this episode, you'll learn why the confidence gap keeps women from investing even when the data shows they outperform men, how to access private markets as a midlife woman with limited starting capital, and what it really takes to fundraise as a female founder. You'll also hear a powerful case for why women's sports may be the most undervalued investment opportunity of our generation. Katie Cella is a partner at Koru Capital and an angel investor with a mission to get more women funded and funding. Lorine Pendleton, named by Marie Claire as one of the 50 most connected women in America, pivoted from entertainment law to become one of the most influential investors in women's sports. Tracy Luckow left corporate CPG to co-found and patent Whipnotic, a product that disrupts a billion-dollar category, launching her company in 2020 with no prior fundraising experience. What You'll Learn: Women over 40 and investing confidence — why the gender gap persists even as women outperform men in returns, and what it takes to start How to access private market investments — platforms and SPV structures that lower the minimum to $2,000 or less Raising capital as a female founder in midlife — what Tracy learned launching a patented consumer brand with no finance background Women's sports as a midlife investment thesis — why Lorine says you want to get in before the asset is fully valued Financial, social, and human capital — three ways to invest in women founders even when you can't write a check How to evaluate startups and founders — what Katie Sella looks for when deciding where to put her money Midlife reinvention through entrepreneurship — Tracy's story of turning decades of CPG expertise into a disruptive second act Key Takeaways: For women over 40 considering investing: The confidence gap is real but the data is on your side. Studies show women outperform male investors by 0.4% to 1.8% annually. The biggest barrier isn't skill. It's starting. For midlife women building second-act businesses: Every investor conversation, whether or not it results in money, sharpens your pitch and your self-knowledge. No's are part of the process. For women interested in values-aligned investing: Platforms like PlayMoney.com and SPV structures through firms like Coru Capital make it possible to start investing in companies you believe in with as little as $2,000. For midlife female entrepreneurs and founders: Women's sports, AI, and mission-driven consumer brands are among the fastest-growing spaces. Getting in early matters. Featured Quote: "If we do not open up our checkbooks, our daughters and our granddaughters will be back in the kitchen." — Katie Cella Connect with Aransas: Instagram: @aransas_savas | Podcast: @the_uplifters_podcast | TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast | Facebook: Aransas Savas | Website: theuplifterspodcast.com | YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast | LinkedIn: Aransas Savas Keywords: perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, female founders midlife, perimenopause motivation, starting business during menopause, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, women investing, gender investing gap, women and money midlife, female investors, women's sports investing Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    34 min
  2. Discovering You're Neurodivergent at 40

    APR 23

    Discovering You're Neurodivergent at 40

    What if the thing you've been adapting to your entire life had a name, and discovering it at 40 changed everything? Sadie Dingfelder is a veteran Washington Post science journalist who discovered at 39 that she had prosopagnosia (face blindness), affecting an estimated one in 50 people, many of whom have no idea. Sadie's journey into midlife self-knowledge is a masterclass in what it means to stop hiding your differences and start working with the brain you actually have. This is a second-act story rooted in science, told with humor, and bracingly honest about what it is like to finally see yourself clearly. In this episode, you'll learn why late diagnosis in women is so common (we are remarkably good at adapting and masking), about the midlife happiness curve, and what it looks like to build a life around your actual strengths rather than an exhausting performance of capacities you don't have. For any woman over 40 who has wondered whether her brain works differently, this conversation is a gift. Sadie Dingfelder is the author of Do I Know You?: A Faceblind Reporter's Journey into the Science of Sight, Memory and Imagination, a memoir-meets-reported-science book about prosopagnosia and what it reveals about human perception, memory, and identity. A former staff reporter at the Washington Post and senior science writer at the Monitor on Psychology, Sadie covered neuroscience and cognitive science for the American Psychological Association. Her book is now available in English, Italian, and Korean. What You'll Learn: Late diagnosis in midlife women — why women are so often diagnosed with neurological differences later than men, and what changes when you finally have a name for what you've been living How to work with the brain you have, not the one you expected — Sadie's path from masking and adapting to building systems that actually work The midlife happiness curve — the psychological finding that most people are most unhappy around age 45, and why things get better Building confidence after 40 as a woman — how Sadie's face blindness, rather than limiting her, forged an extraordinary capacity for connection Midlife reinvention and self-knowledge — why understanding your neurodivergence in the second half of life can be relief rather than burden Women over 40 and second-act identity — what it means to rewrite your story in midlife when you finally understand the plot Perimenopause and brain differences — the broader context of why midlife women are rethinking how their brains work and what they need Key Takeaways: For midlife women navigating self-discovery: Late diagnosis is not failure. Women are exceptional adapters and maskers, which is why neurological differences often go unrecognized until midlife or later. Understanding your brain is an act of courage, not a crisis. For women over 40 seeking purpose in reinvention: The midlife happiness curve is real and replicated. The bottom of the U (around 45) is not permanent. Purposeful living, not productivity-driven living, is what drives the upturn. For perimenopause and midlife identity shifts: Midlife is when many women stop performing the version of themselves they constructed for survival and start building the version that actually fits. Sadie's journey is a template for that. Featured Quote: "Labels are tools. If they help, use them. When they don't, drop them." — Sadie Dingfelder Resources and Links: Do I Know You? by Sadie Dingfelder (available on Amazon and wherever books are sold) Sadie's website: SadieD.com Sadie on Instagram: @sadiefd Sadie on TikTok: @sadiedingfelder Related Uplifters episode: Gisela Sanders-Alcántara on disability, neurodivergence, and storytelling About Sadie Dingfelder: Sadie Dingfelder is a freelance science journalist, author, and former Washington Post staff reporter who covers neuroscience, cognitive science, and human behavior. Her book Do I Know You? blends reported science with personal memoir to explore face blindness, perception, and what it means to understand your own brain in midlife. She is a sought-after voice on neurodiversity, late diagnosis in women, and the science of how we see each other. About Your Host: Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. Connect with Aransas: Instagram: @aransas_savas Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast Facebook: Aransas Savas Website: theuplifterspodcast.com YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast LinkedIn: Aransas Savas Keywords: perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women over 40 neurodivergence, face blindness prosopagnosia, late diagnosis women, midlife self-knowledge, second act women, midlife brain differences, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife awakening women, perimenopause brain fog, neurodiversity midlife women Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    51 min
  3. What a Near-Cult Experience Taught One Woman About Identity, Leadership, and Midlife Freedom

    APR 16

    What a Near-Cult Experience Taught One Woman About Identity, Leadership, and Midlife Freedom

    What happens when a midlife woman decides to stop segmenting her identity and start owning her whole story? In this episode of The Uplifters Podcast, leadership consultant and memoirist Blair Glaser joins host Aransas Savas to explore one of the most common midlife reinvention challenges: the courage to be fully known. Blair's memoir, This Incredible Longing, follows her years inside Siddha Yoga, a near-cult spiritual organization, and what she discovered about herself, her gifts, and her capacity for change. For women over 40 navigating second act career changes, identity shifts, and the particular vulnerability of perimenopause and midlife transition, Blair's story is both a permission slip and a road map. In this conversation, Blair and Aransas dig into the "lily pad" career path, the financial reality and soulful satisfaction of following your own signal through multiple vocations across decades. They also explore why midlife women are uniquely primed to look back as a way of moving forward, and what it actually takes to silence the inner bully that shows up at 3 a.m. before every brave act. If you've been circling a story you haven't told, a pivot you haven't made, or a version of yourself you haven't fully claimed, this one's for you. Blair brings over two decades of experience as a therapist, leadership consultant, and writer to a conversation that is sharp, funny, and deeply honest about the costs and rewards of starting over at 50. What You'll Learn: How to navigate a midlife career pivot when you have multiple identities — Blair's "professional vocationalist" framework for women over 40 who don't fit neatly into one lane Why midlife women look back to move forward — what memory researchers say about the pull toward early chapters during the second half of life How menopause shaped one woman's second act career change — the hormonal and psychological shift that moved Blair from therapy to consulting Building confidence after 40 when your story feels complicated — how to hold contradictory truths about your own past without flattening them A practical technique for silencing the inner critic in midlife — Blair's embodied, no-nonsense approach to sovereignty over fear How to own your story as a second act career woman — the courage it takes to publish, share, and stand fully in your own history Resources & Links: Blair's website: blairglaser.com Blair's Substack, The HI Stack: thehistack.substack.com Instagram: @blairglaser LinkedIn: Blair Glaser This Incredible Longing — available wherever you buy books About Blair Glaser: Blair Glaser, MA, is a memoirist, speaker, and leadership consultant with a background as a licensed psychotherapist. A midlife reinvention story in her own right, she has navigated careers in acting, therapy, nonprofit leadership (including six years with V-Day, Eve Ensler's organization to end violence against women), and organizational consulting. Her debut memoir, This Incredible Longing, traces her years inside the spiritual organization Siddha Yoga and what she learned about identity, belonging, and the courage to claim your whole story. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and dog-ter, Vanna White. About Your Host: Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. Connect with Aransas: Instagram: @aransas_savas Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast Facebook: Aransas Savas Website: theuplifterspodcast.com YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast LinkedIn: Aransas Savas Keywords: perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, female founders midlife, perimenopause motivation, starting business during menopause, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, midlife memoir women, storytelling courage midlife, spiritual awakening midlife women, identity shifts perimenopause, women writers over 40 Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    41 min
  4. How to Stop Avoiding Your Life

    APR 9

    How to Stop Avoiding Your Life

    If you're a woman over 40 who has ever found yourself stuck in a loop — knowing what you need to do but unable to make yourself do it — this episode is for you. Somatic teacher and spiritual leadership coach Ally Bogard joins The Uplifters to talk about why we avoid, procrastinate, and what it actually takes to build the courage to live more fully in midlife. Whether you're navigating a midlife transition, a second act career change, or simply trying to close the gap between who you are and who you want to be, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you'll learn how to distinguish between real stress and imaginary stress, how to use tiny completable actions to close the loops that drain your energy, and why building "the riverbank" — your nervous system capacity, your community, your values — matters more than any five-year plan right now. Ally Bogard has spent more than twenty years teaching individuals and groups how to integrate the mind, emotions, and body in service of a more courageous, authentic life. This conversation, recorded at the start of the year and released in spring when real change tends to take root, is a gift for any woman over 40 who is ready to stop postponing her own life. What You'll Learn: How to stop avoiding hard conversations in midlife — Ally's framework for distinguishing what you're genuinely not ready for versus what you're using readiness as an excuse to avoid Women over 40 and the loop-closing method — why small, completable actions build more courage capital than big dramatic pivots Midlife reinvention and the nervous system — how somatic regulation supports second act career changes and identity shifts Starting over at 40 with too many open tabs — the real cost of aspirational queuing and how to get honest about your capacity Perimenopause, identity, and the KPI shift — why what used to define success stops working in the second half of life, and what to replace it with Women changing careers in their 40s — why building the container (values, community, nervous system capacity) matters more than the plan Midlife transformation through self-compassion — how to stop reframing your way out of discomfort and start getting genuinely curious about it Key Takeaways: For midlife career changers: The things you've been postponing aren't going anywhere — they're quietly draining the energy you need to build something new. One tiny, completable action changes that. For women over 40 seeking authenticity: Insight without action is a kind of betrayal. What do you know right now that you can do today? For women navigating midlife transition: You don't need a five-year plan. You need a riverbank — the nervous system capacity, values, and community that let everything else flow. Featured Quote: "Insight without action sucks. What do I know that I can do? What do I know that I can do?" — Ally Bogard Resources & Links: allybogard.com/events Instagram: @allybogard Byron Katie's "The Work": thework.com Related Uplifters episodes: [please add 2-3 relevant deep links] About Ally Bogard: Ally Bogard is a somatic teacher and spiritual leadership coach with over twenty years of experience helping individuals and groups integrate mind, emotion, and body. A women over 40 doing second-act work in the deepest sense, her practice blends rigorous methodology with an intuitive, human-centered approach to nervous system regulation, inquiry, and midlife reinvention. About Your Host: Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing meaningful work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. Connect with Aransas: Instagram: @aransas_savas Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast Facebook: Aransas Savas Website: theuplifterspodcast.com YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast LinkedIn: Aransas Savas Keywords: perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, female founders midlife, perimenopause motivation, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, somatic healing midlife, midlife identity shift, nervous system regulation women, midlife avoidance, authentic living over 40 Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    49 min
  5. The Knot Principle

    APR 2

    The Knot Principle

    Three years ago, I launched this podcast because I believed that women in midlife were doing some of the most important, most underrated work in the world, and that if we could just hear each other’s stories, we would all be braver. Three years and 155 episodes later, I believe that more than ever. So I wanted to close out this Women Making History series with someone who embodies everything The Uplifters stands for. Someone who didn’t set out to change 40,000 lives. Someone who just saw a young woman sleeping in a park and got brave enough to walk over and say hello. Her name is Deborah Koenigsberger. She’s 65, she’s been running Hearts of Gold in New York City for over 30 years, and she is one of the most energized and energizing people I have ever talked to in my life. Deborah started her career as a fashion model and stylist. In 1989, she started her own boutique, Noir et Blanc, a French-themed women’s clothing shop in Manhattan. Then three things happened almost at the same time, like the universe was making a point. One: She was attending a Stevie Wonder concert, seven nights in a row, third row dead center (of course). His song “Take the Time Out” kept rattling around in her head. What did it mean for her? Two: Walking her usual route between home and the boutique, she started noticing a young woman sleeping in Madison Square Park. Deborah finally got up the nerve to approach her. The woman was 19. She’d been molested at home, gone to a shelter, been molested there too, and decided the street was safer than any of her options. Deborah, who had grown up surrounded by community, aunts, cousins, always a couch, always a chair, always somewhere safe to land, couldn’t process it. Nineteen years on this earth and not one person had cared enough to protect her. Third: a makeup artist she’d met on vacation reached out. It was Bobbi Brown, who was just starting to build her name, and she’d been volunteering at a women’s shelter, making the moms feel beautiful. She invited Deborah to do a seminar with her about what to wear when going out. That shelter, it turned out, was between Deborah’s home and her boutique. She had walked past it every single day without knowing it existed. A few months later, she asked the executive director: What do you do for Christmas? They went to the 99-cent store and filled a big bag, and each child got to pick one toy. Deborah thought: That is not Christmas. So she used that season’s proceeds from Noir et Blanc to sponsor a big Christmas party for all 135 kids and their moms. But it was at that party that she got her real education. A little girl ran to show her mother what she’d gotten, and her mother said flatly, “So what. Ain’t nobody ever done nothing for me”. It gutted Deborah at first. Then she sat with it. The mother wasn’t ungrateful. She just didn’t know what this was. She’d never had it. And if she had never felt cared for, she couldn’t do it for her kids. So the work got bigger. Not just Christmas, but Easter, every holiday, every moment that says: you belong, you are seen, someone thought of you. And eventually Deborah understood: it was the mothers who needed support most of all. If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. A magnet from her own mother’s fridge became the philosophy of Hearts of Gold. Studies consistently show that women over 40 experience a significant shift in motivation, moving away from external validation and toward meaning-making. The challenge isn’t finding the energy for purpose. It’s giving ourselves permission to act before we have the whole plan. Her Courage Practice: The Knot Principle Imagine a piece of rope tied into a hundred knots, Deborah says. They look impossible. You don’t even want to start. But once you work that first knot loose and thread the loop through, you can get to the next one. And suddenly you realize you can do the whole thing. She calls this taking baby steps, but I think it’s something more specific than that. It’s not about shrinking the goal. It’s about refusing to look at the whole rope at once. Today’s problem is this. Let me see if I can help them with this. And then the next thing. And then the next. For 30 years, Deborah has untied the rope one knot at a time for thousands of families. The audacity of that, when you look at the full picture, is staggering. But she never looked at the full picture. She just worked the knot in front of her. That’s it. That’s the whole practice. What would you be able to do if you stopped looking at the whole rope? 5 Ways Deborah Shows Us How to Build Our Courage Capital: Engages instead of averts. Deborah walked toward a young woman sleeping in a park when every instinct says to look away. That single act of engagement started a 30-year movement. The next time you feel the pull to scroll past something hard, consider: what happens if you look up? Acts on what she has, not what she lacks. She didn’t have a nonprofit infrastructure. She had a fashion boutique, a Christmas spirit, and a credit card. She sponsored Christmas for 135 families with what was already in her hands. What’s already in yours? Teaches by living, not preaching. Her sons grew up watching their mother do this work, not hearing lectures about it. Her younger son was five years old when he found money on the street and immediately asked if he could give it to the kids in the shelter. Courage is caught, not taught. Redirects worry into energy. Worrying is energy too, but it’s energy that stays inside and reaches nobody. When she feels overwhelmed by the scale of homelessness, she doesn’t sit with the feeling. She asks: what can I do today? Then she does it. Asks for what she needs and makes it easy for others to give. Her Road to a Million campaign is a masterclass in accessible generosity. Get ten friends to donate five dollars. Drops of water fill a bucket. Lift Her Up Visit heartsofgold.org to make a donation to Hearts of Gold’s Road to a Million campaign (even $5 makes a real difference), sign up to volunteer your time or professional skills, or donate clothing to the TTH Vintage thrift store at 40 West 25th Street in Manhattan. Follow along on Instagram at @heartsofgoldnyc. And if you’re local to New York, I’m planning a little shopping party at the store. Come thrift with me and support something real. Details coming soon on Substack. If you loved this story... This is the final episode in our Women Making History Through Small Acts series, and it joins a constellation of conversations about women who saw a gap and decided to fill it. Start with Terry Grahl’s episode, founder of Enchanted Makeovers, who transformed shelter spaces for women and children escaping domestic violence, then visit Kerry Brodie’s episode, founder of Emma’s Torch, which trains refugees and survivors of human trafficking in the culinary arts. Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    37 min
  6. A Global Peace Leader on Turning Fear Into Action When Democracy Feels Fragile

    MAR 26

    A Global Peace Leader on Turning Fear Into Action When Democracy Feels Fragile

    This week on The Uplifters Podcast, global peace leader and midlife changemaker Kerri Kennedy shares how women in the second half of life are uniquely primed for civic action. Kennedy brings 20+ years of experience in human rights, peacebuilding, and political violence response to a conversation that every woman navigating midlife reinvention, community leadership, and the question of "what can I actually do?" needs to hear. In this episode, you'll hear how Kennedy mobilized a community to secure the release of a neighbor detained by ICE, how small community actions add up to a bigger impact, and how she's sustained decades of difficult work without burning out. Her framework for turning fear into action is practical, research-backed, and exactly what women over 40 need right now. From training women parliamentarians in Afghanistan under death threats to founding PACs to get more women elected in New Jersey, Kennedy's story is a masterclass in how midlife women can use their networks, experience, and identity certainty to lead when it matters most. What You'll Learn: How women over 40 lead differently in civic spaces — Kennedy's specific account of how midlife identity certainty, networks, and experience translate to faster, more decisive action The 3.5% rule for nonviolent change — what decades of civil resistance research says about how few people it actually takes to shift a system How to turn civic paralysis into a menu of options — concrete, risk-calibrated actions from spending your values to showing up in person Sustaining long-haul work without burnout — the "Porous Choir" framework for rest, resilience, and collective action How to talk to your kids about a scary future — Kennedy's approach to raising engaged, grounded citizens in uncertain times Building your fear threshold incrementally — why courage is a practice, not a trait, and how to expand it safely Key Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction and Join the Tryb sponsor 1:30 - Welcome and Women's History Month series context 2:30 - Introducing Kerri Kennedy: global peace leader and peacebuilder 5:00 - How a community mobilized to free a detained neighbor 7:00 - How midlife women lead differently: identity certainty and networks 9:00 - Afghanistan, 9/11, and the moments that narrowed Kerri's north star 13:00 - The 3.5% rule: what the science says about nonviolent civil resistance 19:00 - A practical menu of civic actions for every risk tolerance 22:00 - Mirror neurons, ingroup expansion, and bridging political divides 27:30 - Talking to people who are exhausted from the fight 29:00 - The Porous Choir: how to sustain long-haul civic work 31:30 - Medium-term goal setting for movement work (and for weightlifting) 36:00 - What to tell your kids when they're afraid of the future 43:00 - Processing fear and building a fear threshold 48:00 - Translating fear into action: a practical exercise 49:30 - Guest nomination: Marcia, human rights lawyer in Costa Rica Key Takeaways: For midlife women navigating civic engagement: Identity certainty, which research shows peaks around age 65, means women in the second half of life are neurologically primed to act from values rather than fear, making midlife one of the most powerful times for civic leadership. For women over 40 seeking purpose: The "Porous Choir" framework offers a sustainable model for long-term impact: contribute when you can, rest when you must, trust the collective to hold what you can't. For anyone feeling paralyzed by the scale of current events: Kennedy's research-backed 3.5% rule reframes the problem. You don't need everyone. You need a sustained, nonviolent 3.5%, and your small action is part of that percentage. Resources & Links: American Friends Service Committee: afsc.org Kerri Kennedy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kerriken Kerri Kennedy on Instagram: @kerrikennedy1 Book: Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security (co-edited by Kerri Kennedy) Related episode, Amy Cohen (Families for Safe Streets): Listen on Spotify Related episode, Rev. Ann Kansfield (FDNY Chaplain): Listen on Spotify Related episode, Laura Kavanagh (First Female NYC Fire Commissioner): Listen on Spotify Join the Tribe: jointhetryb.com, code: UPLIFTER20 About Kerri Kennedy: Kerri Kennedy is a global peace leader with more than two decades of experience advancing human rights, protecting civic space, and responding to political violence worldwide. She serves as International Associate General Secretary at the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), overseeing peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and migration programs across four regions and more than 20 country offices. She is the co-editor of Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security and the founder of two PACs supporting women in New Jersey politics. A midlife changemaker in every sense, Kennedy brings hard-won global experience home to local community action. About Your Host: Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reintegration. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. Connect with Aransas: Instagram: @aransas_savas Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast Facebook: Aransas Savas Website: theuplifterspodcast.com YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast LinkedIn: Aransas Savas Keywords: perimenopause career change, women over 40, midlife reinvention, menopause second act, starting over at 40, women changing careers 40s, midlife transition women, second half of life, courage capital, midlife transformation, women entrepreneurs over 40, female founders midlife, perimenopause motivation, midlife purpose women, second act career women, women 40s new career, building confidence after 40, midlife dreams women, perimenopause fresh start, midlife civic engagement, women over 40 leadership, midlife women activism, democratic resilience women, women community changemakers, inspiring women over 40, midlife awakening women, women over 40 success stories, growth mindset women over 40 YouTube Show Notes: #154: How to Turn Fear Into Action When Democracy Feels Fragile What does a global peace leader do when democracy feels fragile? She mobilizes. And she showed me exactly how to do it. This week on The Uplifters Podcast, I'm joined by Kerri Kennedy, International Associate General Secretary at the American Friends Service Committee, where she oversees peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and migration programs across 4 regions and 20+ country offices. Kerri has appeared on CNN, Al Jazeera English, and NPR, and is the co-editor of Indivisible: Global Leaders on Shared Security. This is a Women's History Month episode, and it might be the most practical civic conversation we've ever had. Kerri shares the research-backed "3.5% rule" for nonviolent change, her "Porous Choir" framework for sustaining long-haul work without burnout, and a concrete menu of actions for women at every risk tolerance who want to show up for their communities right now. If you've been feeling frozen, exhausted, or unsure where to start, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. In this episode: Why women over 40 are uniquely primed for civic leadership The 3.5% rule: how few people it takes to shift an entire system How to act civically without putting yourself at risk The Porous Choir: how to sustain decades of meaningful work What to tell your kids when they're afraid of the future Building your fear threshold, one small brave step at a time Connect with Kerri Kennedy: AFSC: https://www.afsc.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriken/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrikennedy1/ Connect with Aransas: Website: https://www.theuplifterspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aransas_savas/ Substack: theuplifterspodcast.substack.com Shop Join the Tryb: https://jointhetryb.com | Code: UPLIFTER20 Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    54 min
  7. Midlife Women Shaping Local Politics

    MAR 19

    Midlife Women Shaping Local Politics

    What does it look like when midlife women step up to lead in a world that has historically told them to sit down? In this episode of The Uplifters Podcast, host Aransas Savas sits down with her own neighbors, two women who ran against each other for mayor of Highlands, New Jersey, to talk about local leadership, community engagement, and the very specific courage it takes to run for office as a woman over 40. Women currently make up just 28% of Congress, hold only 12 of 50 governorships, and are twice as likely as men to rate themselves unqualified to run for office even with identical credentials. This is a conversation about why that has to change, and how midlife women are uniquely positioned to lead it. You'll hear Rebecca Wells, the first woman to serve as fire chief of the Highlands Fire Department, and Carolyn Broullon, a three-term mayor, talk candidly about what it took to campaign in a small town, how they see the future of their community, and what civic engagement really looks like at the local level. Whether you've thought about running for office, joining a committee, or just finally going to a town council meeting, this episode is for you. For midlife women navigating second act reinvention or looking for ways to create real-world impact, this is your reminder that the most powerful change often starts in your own backyard. What You'll Learn: How midlife women in politics overcome the confidence gap — and why women are twice as likely to underestimate their own qualifications Starting over and showing up after loss — Rebecca ran for mayor months after losing her father and what that taught her about grief and purpose Women over 40 in civic leadership — what barriers still exist and how these two women navigated them Building community trust as a midlife woman — the Edelman research on proximity and why face-to-face engagement matters more than ever How to get involved in local politics without running for office — practical entry points for midlife women who want to make a difference Nonpartisan elections and women's leadership — what happens when you remove party labels and ask people to actually think Midlife reinvention through community service — how showing up locally can become a second act of purpose and impact Key Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction and Join the Trybsponsor spot 1:30 - Welcome and state of women in politics stats 3:00 - Introducing Rebecca Wells and Carolyn Broullon 4:30 - What Highlands means to Rebecca (lifelong resident) 5:45 - What Highlands means to Carolyn (chosen community) 7:00 - Their shared vision for the future of the town 10:00 - The experience of running for office as a midlife woman 11:30 - Rebecca on running while grieving her father 13:30 - Carolyn on building community trust through presence 15:00 - Bringing kids into the campaign 17:30 - The election results and what a 66-vote margin means 19:30 - A thousand people who didn't vote — civic disengagement 21:00 - Helen Arteaga and the power of local impact 22:30 - How disengagement connects to feeling powerless 25:00 - Rebecca's plan for a non-political neighborhood group 27:00 - Nonpartisan elections, tribalism, and voter behavior 30:00 - Closing: how to show up in your own community Key Takeaways: For midlife women considering civic leadership: You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to ask the questions and be willing to enlist others to help find solutions. For women over 40 seeking purpose and impact: Real change starts locally. The most powerful thing you can do in a broken-feeling world is take care of your own backyard. For midlife women navigating loss or transition: Rebecca ran for mayor months after losing her father. Grief can be a north star, not just a stopping point. Featured Quote: "If you can give a night a week, you get to learn your neighbors, have input, and really shape your community." — Rebecca Wells Resources & Links: Related episode: Helen Arteaga — First Latina CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/trust-barometer Join the Tribe: jointhetryb.com code: UPLIFTER20 About Rebecca Wells: Rebecca Wells is a lifelong resident of Highlands, New Jersey and the first woman ever to serve as fire chief of the Highlands Fire Department. A second-act civic leader and midlife woman in politics, she has served five terms on town council, nearly two decades on the local housing authority, and currently serves as Deputy Chief and on the Board of Education. About Carolyn Broullon: Carolyn Broullon is the three-term mayor of Highlands, New Jersey, a women-in-leadership pioneer who moved to the town in 2002 and has spent over two decades building community trust through presence, dialogue, and civic innovation, including leading the effort to bring nonpartisan elections to Highlands. About Your Host: Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. Connect with Aransas: Instagram: @aransas_savas Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast Facebook: Aransas Savas Website: theuplifterspodcast.com YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast LinkedIn: Aransas Savas Keywords: women in local politics, midlife women leadership, women over 40 civic engagement, midlife reinvention second act, women running for office, women in male dominated fields, midlife women making a difference, courage capital, perimenopause confidence, second act women over 40, midlife purpose women, women 40s new purpose, inspiring women over 40, midlife motivation women, starting over at 40 women, women changing careers midlife, local leadership women, community engagement midlife women, women over 40 success stories, midlife awakening women Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    35 min
  8. How To Build Community

    MAR 12

    How To Build Community

    In this episode, we meet Dutch documentary filmmaker Corinne van der Borch and Australian artist-animator Edwina White — two women in the second half of life who turned a dog park friendship into a creative partnership, and a Brooklyn crossing guard into the subject of their upcoming documentary, I Got You. For any woman navigating midlife reinvention, this conversation is a masterclass in starting hyperlocal, accepting help gracefully, and doing meaningful work even when the ground is shifting beneath you. You'll hear how these two collaborators built a community-funded project from the ground up — no big studio, no safety net — while each navigating their own personal upheaval. This is a midlife career pivot story, a creative courage story, and above all, a story about what happens when we pay close attention to the people right in front of us. Miss T, the Bed-Stuy crossing guard at the center of the documentary, is herself a remarkable woman: a foster care survivor who has built a neighborhood family out of loose ties, birthday cards, and epic twice-yearly dinner parties. Her philosophy — generous with love, selective with energy — is something every woman over 40 can carry with them. What You'll Learn: How to start a meaningful creative project in midlife with limited resources — Corinne and Edwina's model of community-funded, in-kind collaboration Why hyperlocal impact matters for women over 40 seeking purpose — and how Miss T's corner became the center of a whole neighborhood's resilience How to convert loose social ties into real community — the skill that defines Miss T's life and that any woman in midlife can practice Building creative partnerships in the second half of life — what made this dog-park friendship into a genuine collaboration Asking for help and receiving it — especially for women over 40 who have been conditioned to go it alone The courage to share work publicly before it's finished — and how visibility creates the support you didn't know was coming Key Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Join the Tryb sponsor message 1:30 - Welcome to The Uplifters & introduction of Corinne and Edwina 2:45 - Who is Miss T? The Bed-Stuy crossing guard who changes everything 6:30 - How Miss T hosts community dinner parties and builds neighborhood family 9:00 - Loose ties vs. strong ties — and what Miss T teaches us about connection 10:30 - Miss T's philosophy: open-hearted but selective with energy 14:00 - What it means to show up with presence vs. resources 15:00 - Edwina's personal journey: navigating divorce and upheaval during filming 17:00 - How the corner became a refuge — and how the collaboration began 19:30 - The dog park meeting and Sesame Street connection 22:00 - The multimedia vision: animation, drone footage, and mixed-media storytelling 26:00 - The snowball effect: how community support found I Got You 31:00 - Three lessons for doing big, brave things: start local, share openly, accept help 34:00 - How to support the documentary — GoFundMe and skills-based contributions 37:00 - Nominating the next Uplifter: a filmmaker working on a bell hooks documentary Key Takeaways: For midlife women starting creative projects: You don't need a big platform or big budget — you need one honest story and the willingness to tell it in public For women over 40 seeking community: Miss T shows us that connection is a daily practice, not a grand gesture; it's the birthday card, the emoji, the remembered name For midlife career changers and collaborators: The right creative partner might be walking their dog twenty feet away — and the project that heals you might also be the one that matters most to your community Featured Quote: "It's really easy to fall into the trap of thinking, I don't have enough — and this is a woman who shows us that you just need yourself and the moment you're in to be present and connect in order to have tremendous impact for generations." — Aransas Savas Resources & Links: Support the documentary: GoFundMe — I Got You Corinne's film Sisters on Track — available on Netflix Related episodes: Gina Hamadey on gratitude and connection | Alison Mariella Désir on building community | Cleyvis Natera on creative courage About the Guests: Dutch documentary filmmaker Corinne van der Borch (Sisters on Track, Netflix) and Australian artist-animator Edwina White are midlife creative collaborators whose work spans documentary film, animation, Sesame Street, and now I Got You — a short documentary about Miss T, the Brooklyn crossing guard who became the heartbeat of her Bed-Stuy neighborhood. Both women are in the second half of their careers, making work that centers community, connection, and the quiet heroism of everyday people. About Your Host: Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. Connect with Aransas: Instagram: @aransas_savas Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast Facebook: Aransas Savas Website: theuplifterspodcast.com YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast LinkedIn: Aransas Savas Keywords: midlife reinvention women, women over 40 creative careers, second act career women, midlife community building, women over 40 starting over, midlife purpose women, women 40s new career, midlife transition women, second half of life women, inspiring women over 40, midlife collaboration, women entrepreneurs over 40, midlife awakening women, midlife courage capital, midlife dreams women, 40+ women creative projects, women over 40 success stories, midlife glow up, community connection midlife, women changing careers 40s Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe

    42 min
See All (184)

4.9
out of 5
68 Ratings

About

The Uplifters Podcast features inspiring conversations with midlife women making big, brave moves in the second half of their lives. Each episode includes brain science and research on how to work with (not against) your midlife brain, body, and resources + tips and tools for designing your boldest second half of life! www.theuplifterspodcast.com

Information

  • Creator
    Aransas Savas
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Aransas Savas
  • Show Website
    The Uplifters

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