If you were getting married all over again, what would you change about your wedding? And, what are the best and most challenging things about midlife marriage? As my wedding day draws near, I posed those questions to eight writer/podcaster friends, and their answers are full of insight, wisdom, and humor – along with a few can’t-miss tips. Enjoy this heartwarming, hopeful, and VERY special episode!

About This Episode’s Guests

Asha Dornfest

• Asha’s website
• Check out Asha’s blog and community, Parent of Adults
• Follow Asha on Instagram

Karen Walrond

• Karen’s website
• Follow Karen on Instagram
• Listen to Karen on the following Mother of Reinvention episodes: The Joy Of Sending Your Kid To College and The Accidental Activist – How Regular People Can Make Change For Good
• Pre-order Karen’s book Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell

Christine Koh

• Listen. to Christine’s podcast, Edit Your Life
• Follow Christine on Instagram
• Check out Christine’s Substack, There’s Always A Story
• Listen to Christine on this episode of MOR: Reinventing With Intention With Christine Koh: Mother of Reinvention, Episode 7

Amy Suardi

• Amy’s website 
• Follow Amy on Instagram
• Amy hosts a weekly Co-Create Circle at the REINVENT Community!

Sarah Powers

• Find Sarah at The Mom Hour
• Follow Sarah on Instagram
• Listen to Mother of Reinvention episodes featuring Sarah Powers: That life-changing moment when you do something completely different and Meagan Turns 45! Here’s What’s Next

Nancy Davis Kho

• Nancy’s website 
• Follow Nancy on Instagram
• Listen to Nancy on Mother of Reinvention: Rewiring Your Brain Using Gratitude
• Check out Nancy’s book, The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude At A Time

Amy Allen Clark

• Listen to Amy’s podcast, Book Gang
• Visit Amy’s website
• Follow Amy on Instagram
• Listen to Amy on Mother of Reinvention: Leaning (Back) In To What You Love with Amy Clark of the Mom Advice Book Club

Rachel Macy Stafford

• Rachel’s website
• Follow Rachel on Instagram
• Read Rachel’s new book: Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide To Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path To Joy
• Listen to Rachel on Mother of Reinvention: Living authentically in midlife

Thanks to this season’s partners:

 

Comfortable and fashion-forward, Vionics are stylish self-care for your feet. Check out my favorite styles, and use code REINVENT for free shipping at VionicShoes.com.

OSEA is my go-to skincare brand, made with clean, botanically-sourced ingredients. Find out more about the products I love best, check out the limited-time Free Gift With Purchase event and save 10% on your first order by using code REINVENT at checkout.

Loving the show? Let me know.

• Email hello@motherofreinventionshow.com!
• Join my email list!
• Hit me up on IG at @meaganfrancis!

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It’s easy to romanticize the “simple life” (I’m guilty of it pretty much daily) but what happens when the simple, sustainable, satisfying life you set out to create turns into…something else entirely? Australian author and sustainability advocate Anna Featherstone experienced exactly this while she and her husband were running a “small” farm that, along the way, ballooned into a full-time-and-then-some endeavor…while they were also raising three young kids.

Realizing it was time for a change, the family pivoted and now live in a much simpler way while Anna focuses on writing books and helping authors self-publish. Listen to the episode to hear more about what drives Anna’s passion for sustainability, community, and creativity, and how she’s channeling those passions now that her farm-girl identity is (temporarily, perhaps?) on hold.

Episode Links:

• Visit Anna’s website and learn more about her books, including Honey Farm Dreaming: A Memoir About Sustainability, Small Farming, And The Not-So-Simple Life (available free right now via Kindle Unlimited!)
• Find Anna on Facebook and Instagram

Thanks to this season’s partners:

Comfortable and fashion-forward, Vionics are stylish self-care for your feet. Check out my favorite styles, and use code REINVENT for free shipping at VionicShoes.com.

 

OSEA is my go-to skincare brand, made with clean, botanically-sourced ingredients. The new Undaria Collagen Body Lotion has earned a permanent spot on my nightstand. Get 10% off your first order by using the code REINVENT at checkout.

Loving the show? Let me know.

• Email hello@motherofreinventionshow.com!
• Join my email list!
• Hit me up on IG at @meaganfrancis.
• Find me on Reinvented, my new Substack blog!

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What does it mean to live “authentically” in midlife? I chat with Rachel Macy Stafford, author of the new book Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide to Getting Unstuck, about the roles we tend to layer onto our identities starting when we’re young, and how the middle of life is the perfect time to start shedding those layers so we can live more lightly. Plus we discuss parenting teens through a pandemic, our shared history as mom bloggers, the pressures of social media and more.

Episode Links:

• Visit Rachel’s website and learn more about her books, including Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide To Getting Unstuck
• Find Rachel on Facebook and Instagram
• Listen to my 2017 podcast conversation with Rachel on The Mom Hour

Thanks to this season’s partners:

Comfortable and fashion-forward,

Vionics arestylish self-care for your feet.

Check out my favorite styles, and use code REINVENT

for free shipping at VionicShoes.com.

OSEA is my go-to skincare brand, made with clean, botanically-sourced ingredients. I use the Hyaluronic Sea Serum and Advanced Protection Cream every day! Get 10% off your first order by using the code REINVENT at checkout.

Loving the show? Let me know.

• Email hello@motherofreinventionshow.com!
• Join my email list!
• Hit me up on IG at @meaganfrancis!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations

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What do you do when your midlife body just doesn’t feel like you anymore? From hormone-induced weight gain to a shifting of your proportions, a changing body can be a normal – if not always welcome – part of perimenopause and menopause.

In this conversation, Kristen Mei Chase and I get real about how we’re feeling about our bodies right now, how we’re trying to reframe our struggles, and how we’re learning to have fun while re-learning how to dress ourselves and the bodies we have now.

Kristen Mei Chase looking fabulous

Some Pants I’m Loving:

• Vuori Lux Harem Pants
• Athleta – Meagan loves the Cabo Linen Wide-Legged Pants
• Pact – Coastal pant in French Navy.

A handful of midlife-friendly and size-positive social

accounts to follow:

• Orly Shani
• The Chic City Girl
• Keeping it Caitlin
• Taryn Truly
• Goodbye, Crop Top

Loving the show? Let me know!

Email hello@motherofreinventionshow.com or find me on IG at @meaganfrancis

Thanks to this season’s partners:

 

With incredible comfort, Vionics are stylish self-care for your feet.

Check out my favorite styles, and use code REINVENT for free shipping at VionicShoes.com.

 

Personal training to help you reach your fitness goals anytime, anywhere. I’ve been training with fitness since January and my workouts have never been so consistent! Head to TryFuture.com/reinvent to save $130.

 

OSEA is my go-to skincare brand, made with clean, botanically-sourced ingredients. I use the Hyaluronic Sea Serum and Advanced Protection Cream every day! Get 10% off your first order by using the code REINVENT at checkout.

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Midlife women have a lot on our plates. Should nurturing friendships take a backseat when we’re busy? Not according to Laura Tremaine, author of The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs. In this candid conversation, Meagan and Laura discuss why the work of friendship is worth doing, plus Laura shares her five friendship philosophies. You’ll leave this conversation feeling inspired to send the text, like the photo, and say “yes” to the next invitation.

Episode Links:

• Laura’s Podcast: 10 Things To Tell You
• Find Laura on Instagram
• The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs
• Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First.

A note about book links: purchases made through the Bookshop.org links above directly support my family’s business, Paper Mill Books.

Thanks to our partners:

With incredible comfort, Vionics are stylish self-care for your feet. Check out my favorite styles, and use code REINVENT for free shipping at VionicShoes.com.

Personal training to help you reach your fitness goals anytime, anywhere. I’ve been training with fitness since January and my workouts have never been so consistent! Head to TryFuture.com/reinvent to save $130 .

OSEA is my go-to skincare brand, made with clean, botanically-sourced ingredients. I use the Hyaluronic Sea Serum and Advanced Protection Cream every day! Get 10% off your first order by using the code REINVENT at checkout.

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"Owning an bookstore is literally my dream." Since announcing our plans to start our own indie book shop with our partners in northern Michigan, my sister Kathreen and I have heard those words many times. But if you're not accustomed to thinking of yourself as a business owner, making the leap from a 9-5 job (and the accompanying paycheck) can seem like too big and risky a change to ever seriously consider. In this episode Kathreen and I discuss our plans through the lens of her background as a state employee, and why she ultimately decided to say "yes."

The full, unedited version of my conversation with Kathreen is available exclusively to members of REINVENT Midlife. The full, unedited version of my conversation with Kathreen is available exclusively to members of REINVENT Midlife.  You can also visit our online shop to support us. And please follow Paper Mill Books on Instagram to keep up with our progress.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities with the Mother of Reinvention podcast? Email podcast@reinvention.media.

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Strained mother-daughter relationships. Second-chance romances. Overcoming childhood trauma. And, finding your true self in midlife. What do these things have in common? They're all themes in Kristen Mei Chase's debut novel, A Thousand Miles to Graceland, as well as in her actual life.

Listen in as Kristen and I discuss midlife mom-daughter relationships, parenting teenagers, dating, divorce, finishing fiction projects, and more in this candid and inspiring conversation.

The full, unedited version of my conversation with Kristen is available exclusively to members of REINVENT Midlife. 

Interested in sponsorship opportunities with the Mother of Reinvention podcast? Email podcast@reinvention.media.

Find Kristen on Instagram: @thatkristenagain or on her website.

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“You’re enough.” “You’re amazing.” “You’re beautiful, just as you are.” Also: “Employ a growth mindset!” “Do better.” And, “This is your year to slay!”

Everywhere we look, we see conflicting messages: you’re wonderful and deserving of acceptance just as you are, but – pssst – honestly, you could do a lot better. And at no time is that message louder than midlife, when it’s easy to feel like you’ve missed opportunities to make the absolute most of your life. In this episode I talk with Kate Hanley, creator and host of the How To Be A Better Person Podcast, about how you can both accept yourself AND seek growth, and why the question of “self-acceptance or self-improvement?” doesn’t have to be either/or, but both/and.

Also check out my interview on Kate’s podcast: Stop Waiting For An Empty Nest!

The full, unedited version of my conversation with Kate is available exclusively to members of REINVENT Midlife. Get 20% off an annual membership here: http://meaganfrancis.com/bonus.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities with the Mother of Reinvention podcast? Email podcast@reinvention.media.

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Do you fantasize about moving across the country - or globe - the minute the kids move out? Are you happily settled in your current town or city? Or, is your answer a bit more nuanced? While the place we live can have a major impact on the way we live, the truth is that we have a lot of influence over the way we experience our surroundings - and the average person has plenty of time to settle into, and get the most out of, multiple home towns.

In this episode I talk with Melody Warnick, author of This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are, and If You Could Live Anywhere: The Surprising Importance of Place in a Work-From-Anywhere World, about just why finding the "perfect" place to move can be so tricky, and how you can become "place attached", wherever you are right now. Plus I share how my nomadic younger days led to a much more settled-down midlife, and how I see my wanderlust playing out as I head into the empty-nest years.

For access to the extended interview and more exclusive content for midlife moms, check out Reinvent Midlife, my private membership community. Interested in joining? I'm offering a special listener-only discount.

For sponsorship opportunities with the Mother of Reinvention podcast, email podcast@reinvention.media.

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Have you ever looked back at something monumental that’s happened in your life and realized that the one BIG moment of decision or surrender was quite out-of-character for you? In this episode I talk with Sarah Powers, my business partner and cohost at The Mom Hour, about our very different personalities - Sarah's more attuned to details and rules; I'm more of a free-spirit visionary - and how sometimes, breaking out of those roles has led us to much bigger and richer experiences, both separately and together.

For access to the extended interview and more exclusive content for midlife moms, check out Reinvent Midlife, my private membership community. Interested in joining? I'm offering a special listener-only discount.

For sponsorship opportunities with the Mother of Reinvention podcast, email podcast@reinvention.media.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations

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What gets in the way of making positive changes in your life? Do you doubt that your ideas are very good - or will have an impact? Do you worry that you don't have what it takes to get it done? Or do you lack the follow-through to take action on your goals? Whatever obstacles you've run into in the past, here's the pep talk that will get you in the right frame of mind for setting intentions in the new year.

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When it comes to turning your long-held dreams into reality, what gets in your way? Is it the conviction they will matter, confidence that you can pull them off, or the consistency to follow through? In this special bonus episode of the Mother of Reinvention Podcast, I break down three essential elements of executing a vision: Conviction, or "I must," Confidence, or "I can," and Consistency, or "I do." No matter where you struggle most in this trifecta, I hope you'll find some insights in this episode!

Sponsorship inquiries: podcast@reinvention.media

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Does "reinvention" always mean some big, bold leap into a new future? Or, can it also mean adapting with grace to changing circumstances? And how does your stage of motherhood affect what "reinvention" may look like for you? In this special bonus episode of Mother of Reinvention, I muse over the difference between proactive and reactive reinvention, how reinventing has looked at different stages of my life, and how this podcast is evolving to help support your "reinvention" story, whether it's dramatic and fast, or slowly unfolding.

Want to learn more about sponsorship opportunities? Email meagan@reinvention.media.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations

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I have a few big numerical milestones going on right now: I just turned 45 (yesterday!). My middle child is heading off to college in the fall. And in 5 years, I'll be celebrating 30 years of motherhood and I'll be right on the cusp of an empty nest. In this episode I'm joined by Sarah Powers, my friend, business partner, and co-host at The Mom Hour to help me celebrate all these big milestones - and to dig into what's next for me, this podcast, and the Mother of Reinvention community. If you're trying to make sense of being in your 40s or beyond, or just want to join me in dreaming about what's next, you'll definitely want to listen in. Sponsor Spotlight: Elevate your shoe game with cute styles + amazing comfort. Check out the Malibu Sneaker, an easy-breezy slip-on that fits anyone’s summer on-the-go lifestyle. Try it on yourself with Vionic’s 30 Day Wear Test – return any purchase within 30 days for a full refund, even if it’s been worn outside. Get free shipping when you use code MOR at vionicshoes.com. About Sarah Powers Sarah Powers is co-host of the popular weekly parenting podcast The Mom Hour. Together with Meagan Francis, she has grown The Mom Hour into a multichannel media company reaching many thousands of parents from all over the world. A writer at heart, hobby photographer, and podcaster by trade, Sarah lives in her hometown of Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and three children. Episode Links: Want to stay on top of all the exciting things coming? Join my email list. Interested in joining a private Mother of Reinvention community? Take this survey to tell us what you’d most like to see there! Follow The Mom Hour, Meagan & Sarah's podcast and motherhood community! The Mom Hour Instagram- @themomhour Sarah's Instagram- @powersofmine Meagan's Instagram- @meaganfrancis

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Losing your mom at any age is hard, but when you begin to approach the age your mom was when she died, it has special significance. In this episode I'm joined by Hope Edelman, bestselling author and creator of the Motherless Daughters community, to talk about her work with women who have lost their mothers and why midlife can be a particularly fraught time for motherless women. Later in the show I'm joined by my sister Kathreen, who is about to turn 55 - the same age our mother was when she died - to talk about our experience losing our mom young, and how it has colored our view of motherhood, aging, and more. Sponsor Highlight Elevate your shoe game with cute styles + amazing comfort. Check out the Clarita Wedge , Meagan’s go-to date night shoe. Try it on yourself with Vionic’s 30 Day Wear Test – return any purchase within 30 days for a full refund, even if it’s been worn outside. Get free shipping when you use code MOR at vionicshoes.com About Hope Edelman Hope Edelman is an internationally bestselling author who has been working in the bereavement field for more than 25 years. She has written eight books, including Motherless Daughters, Motherless Mothers, and her most recent, The AfterGrief: Finding Your Way Along the Long Arc of Loss. She offers in-person retreats, virtual support groups for women who lost mothers at any age, and online writing courses throughout the year, and has lectured and led workshops all over the U.S. as well as in Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Dubai. She lives in Los Angeles and Iowa City, Iowa. For more information, go to www.motherlessdaughters.com.  Episode Links: Interested in joining a private Mother of Reinvention community? Take this survey to tell us what you'd most like to see there! Instagram- (@hope_edelman) Facebook- Motherless Daughters | Facebook Facebook Group-  Motherless Daughters Support Group | Facebook Website- Motherless Daughters Other Resources- Rituals | The AfterGrief Episode 21 Featuring Meagan's Sister Kathreen: Thriving After Health Trauma With Kathreen Francis (Meagan's Sister!) - Mother of Reinvention (meaganfrancis.com)

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When Rebecca Woolf's husband, Hal, died just a few months after his cancer diagnosis, at age 44, Rebecca's community rallied around her. But what most on the outside didn’t know was that their marriage had always been complicated and was drawing to an end when he was diagnosed, and that Hal’s diagnosis and death put Rebecca in the complicated position of supporting him and their family through his death and being publicly a grieving widow, while also finding relief in the ending of a relationship that had been unhealthy and unraveling for a long time. In this episode, Rebecca shares the story of that marriage, Hal’s illness and death, and how Rebecca has grappled with and ultimately embraced her young widowhood even when her experiences haven't fit the expected narrative. Sponsor Spotlight: Elevate your shoe game with cute styles + amazing comfort. Check out the Malibu Sneaker, an easy-breezy slip-on that fits anyone’s summer on-the-go lifestyle. Try it on yourself with Vionic’s 30 Day Wear Test – return any purchase within 30 days for a full refund, even if it’s been worn outside. Get free shipping when you use code MOR at vionicshoes.com. About Rebecca Woolf Rebecca Woolf has worked as a writer since her teens, contributing to numerous publications, websites and anthologies, most notably her own award-winning personal blog, Girl’s Gone Child, which attracted millions of unique visitors worldwide. As well as launching her own successful blog and writing weekly columns for Babble.com, Mom.me and Quiet Revolution, Woolf’s essays have appeared on Refinery29, Huffington Post, Parenting and more. She currently authors the bi-weekly column Sex & the Single Mom on Romper.com. She is also the author of Rockabye: From Wild to Child (Seal Press, 2008) and the forthcoming memoir, ALL OF THIS: a memoir of death and desire (Harper One) which hits shelves August 16th. She lives in Los Angeles with her son and three daughters. Episode Links: Instagram- Rebecca Woolf (@rebeccawooolf) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter- Rebecca Woolf (@GirlsGoneChild) / Twitter Website- Rebecca Woolf Preorder Book- Preorder the Book | All of This: A Memoir of Death and Desire — Rebecca Woolf Other Links: Follow Meagan on Instagram: @meaganfrancis and @motherofreinventionshow Check out some of Meagan’s favorite products at MORFaves!

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As a mom who performs on the road, mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen has a unique definition of what it means to be a "working mom." And as an Asian-American singer who has experienced her share of typecasting, Nina has an insider's view of how far we have to go when it comes to bringing diversity, equity and inclusion to performance - particularly in a primarily Western art form like Opera. Listen to hear more from Nina about mothering on the road, her work to bring more racial representation to Opera, and what she sees as her "next act" in her singing career. Sponsor Spotlight: Elevate your shoe game with cute styles + amazing comfort. Check out the Clarita Wedge , Meagan's go-to date night shoe. Try it on yourself with Vionic’s 30 Day Wear Test – return any purchase within 30 days for a full refund, even if it’s been worn outside. Get free shipping when you use code MOR at vionicshoes.com. About Nina Yoshida Nelsen Nina Yoshida Nelsen, mezzo soprano, is an avid advocate for equity in the arts. She is perhaps most well known for her countless performances of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with opera companies throughout the United States. Also well-known for her work in contemporary opera, Ms. Yoshida Nelsen has sung in seven world premieres as well as their subsequent productions. Equally at home on the concert stage, Nina has performed in world-class halls including Carnegie, Avery Fisher, and Royal Albert.   Nina is the Artistic Advisor at Boston Lyric Opera and serves as president of the Asian Opera Alliance, an organization of which she is a co-founder. Episode Links: Instagram- Nina Yoshida Nelsen (@ninanelsen)  Facebook- Nina Yoshida Nelsen | Facebook LinkedIn-  Nina Nelsen | LinkedIn Website- Nina Yoshida Nelsen, Mezzo Soprano - Home Time Magazine Documentary- https://youtu.be/XM5AmGntWHQ Other Links: Follow Meagan on Instagram: @meaganfrancis and @motherofreinventionshow Check out some of Meagan’s favorite products at MORFaves!

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Between the reversal of Roe and the Jan. 6 hearings, it's been a wild few weeks. We're all experiencing big feelings right now, and the tendency to lash out - or retreat into silence - is hard to overcome. But Sarah Stewart Holland believes there is another way, though she admits it's a difficult path to walk. Sarah, along with her business partner Beth Silvers, host the Pantsuit Politics podcast, where they engage in thoughtful, empathetic conversations about the issues we face today. In our conversation, Sarah is honest about how difficult it can be to ask questions and really listen to other people’s opinions and experiences, but how it’s absolutely crucial to living in a democracy - and making the change you want to see. Elevate your shoe game with cute styles + amazing comfort. Check out the Malibu Sneaker, an easy-breezy slip-on that fits anyone's summer on-the-go lifestyle. Try it on yourself with Vionic’s 30 Day Wear Test – return any purchase within 30 days for a full refund, even if it’s been worn outside. Get free shipping when you use code MOR at vionicshoes.com. About Sarah Stewart Holland Sarah Stewart Holland is co-host of the Pantsuit Politics podcast, featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and named by Apple Podcasts as one of the Best Shows of 2021. She is also the co-author of Now What? How to Move Forward When We're Divided (About Basically Everything) (2022) and I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversation (2019), which was featured on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, received starred trade reviews, and continues to be in demand with readers, book clubs, and libraries. Sarah, with her co-host Beth Silvers, speaks frequently to universities, businesses, and civic organizations about improving political dialogue.  Sarah attended Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, and then received her Juris Doctor from American University, Washington College of Law. Sarah began her career as a congressional staffer  campaign aide, before working in blogging and social media. She lives in Paducah, Kentucky, where she served a term as a city commissioner and volunteers as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for children. Sarah shares life with her spouse, Nicholas, and children Griffin, Amos, and Felix. Episode Links: Instagram- Sarah Stewart Holland (@bluegrassred) Facebook- Sarah Stewart Holland | FacebookWebsite- Pantsuit Politics (pantsuitpoliticsshow.com)Pantsuit Politics Podcast- https://koji.to/k/5PJdPodcast Instagram- Pantsuit Politics Podcast (@pantsuitpolitics) Books- Beth and Sarah's Books (pantsuitpoliticsshow.com) Other Links: Follow Meagan on Instagram: @meaganfrancis and @motherofreinventionshow Check out some of Meagan's favorite products at MORFaves!

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When it comes to midlife health and wellness, it's easy to internalize a "no pain, no gain" mentality. But what might our relationships with our bodies look like if we were able to truly accept ourselves while also making positive changes? Today I’m excited to bring Rachel Hughes back to the show for a deep dive into some of the more touchy-feely aspects of health. We explore the questions: can changing the way we eat be fun? Can physical activity feel good? And, how can discipline and contentment co-exist? Our Sponsor Elevate your shoe game with cute styles + amazing comfort. Check out the Clarita Wedge , Meagan's go-to date night shoe. Try it on yourself with Vionic’s 30 Day Wear Test – return any purchase within 30 days for a full refund, even if it’s been worn outside. Get free shipping when you use code MOR at vionicshoes.com. About Rachel Hughes Rachel is a graduate of Vassar College and received a MSEd from Bank St. College, NYC, with a focus on Museum Education. She later received her license in nutritional counseling and worked with chronic pain patients for over 10 years at the New England Center for Chronic Pain in Greenwich, CT. After finding that her own perimenopausal symptoms were disruptive to her life, Rachel launched her own platform, The Meno Memos, a landing spot she hopes to be a lively, engaging and relatable feed for women of all backgrounds to be inspired to live a healthy, vibrant second season of life.  Rachel is also the host of “Perry Talks” a series of live interviews with physicians, experts, thought leaders and inspirational voices on all things peri/menopause, exclusively on the @ohhelloperry app and now also a podcast, Perimenopause WTF? Episode Links: Listen to Rachel on the Mother of Reinvention Show in 2021! Instagram- R A C H E L H U G H E S (@themenomemos) Other Resources- Rachel Hughes, Author at Perry (heyperry.com) 

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The traditional narrative looks something like this: start work in your 20s, spend your 30s raising a family (while also working), and ramp up even more at work in your 40s as your kids grow more independent. But what would it look like to flip the script, spending your 20s traveling, your 30s building a business, and then your 40s scaling back at work to focus on a young family? That's reality for Maureen Fetscher, founder and Managing Partner at Mata Traders, an ethical fashion company whose products I love. Maureen started the company at 28, had her first child at 35, and then when she added twins in her early 40s, was able to scale back her involvement in the business in order to focus on her busy family. In this episode Maureen and I talk about her life as a mid-40s mom of young kids including twin toddlers, the growth of her business, Enneagram and personal development, and what "ethical fashion" means to Maureen and at Mata Traders. About Maureen Fetscher Maureen Dunn Fetscher is a social entrepreneur, textile-phile and mom of 3.  In 2006 she founded Mata Traders, a design-driven fair trade fashion company. Mata’s colorful, craft-forward clothing and accessories are designed in Chicago and produced in India and Nepal by fair trade organizations. For the last decade and a half, Mata has been a pioneer in conscious fashion, with a focus on worker well-being, gender equality, and handmade artistry. For Maureen the work has always been about creating connections to the places where our goods are made and the people who make them. These days Maureen is most busy chasing around her twin toddlers (quite a feat in the mid-40’s!). She’s had the unique opportunity to grow a social enterprise business from the ground up, and currently oversees a talented team taking Mata Traders into its next phase. Episode Links: Meagan's Mata Traders design-inspired tattoo Instagram- Mata Traders (@matatraders) Facebook- Mata Traders Twitter- Mata Traders (@MataTraders) Pinterest- Mata Pinterest Website- Mata Traders: Consciously Crafted Ethical Fashion Blog- Ethical Fashion Blog - Explore the Fair Trade Movement | Mata Traders Meghann McNiff Coaching: https://www.athenaplace.com/

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