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PODCAST

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40

Stephanie McLaughlin

Sometime around age 40 (+/-) you might start feeling like some part of your life no longer fits and you don"t know what to do about it. It could be at work or at home - or simply inside of you. You might be asking questions like, "How did I get here?" Or, "Is this all there is?" "Is this what I"ve been working so hard for?" Or, "Why aren"t I happier?" Growing out of her own experience turning 40, Stephanie McLaughlin became captivated by the big “four oh,” and how people handle the milestone

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All Episodes

51:37

Turning 40 and tuning into a new frequency

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/09/18

Denise Lee’s path through midlife has been anything but simple. From surviving childhood trauma to battling addiction and the pressure to live up to cultural expectations, she spent years feeling like she was running behind everyone else. But her 40s brought a wake-up call: healing isn’t about timelines or comparisons, it’s about learning to trust yourself. In this candid conversation, Denise shares how she rebuilt her inner voice, discovered what real leadership looks like, and finally began to

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47:29

Turning 40 and Googling 'why is my boyfriend so mean...

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/09/02

What happens when a Google search changes the course of your life? Sabrina Victoria shares how she broke free from a controlling, abusive relationship and rebuilt her life from scratch. From secret bank accounts and late-night hustle to the moment she realized she had a choice, Sabrina’s story is raw, powerful, and full of lessons about resilience and self-discovery. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a situation that seemed impossible to escape, this conversation will show you that there’s always a way

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48:46

Turning 40 and breaking down in banana bread

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/08/04

Turning 40 and breaking down in banana breadWhen Edel Howlin moved from Ireland to Houston in her late 20s, she was certain she was building her dream life. She found her calling in public radio and was thriving professionally. But a decade later, and another relocation, to Philadelphia in her late 30s, triggered a profound and unexpected unraveling. What started as a fresh chapter became a full-on identity crisis. Without a job to define her and overwhelmed by change, Edel found herself crying,

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48:09

Turning 40 and finding the wound beneath the weight

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/07/17

What if the thing you’ve been trying to fix your whole life isn’t actually the thing that needs fixing? At 38, Patty Cabot began a journey that would unravel decades of emotional pain, body image struggles, and silence surrounding childhood trauma. In this raw and inspiring conversation, Patty shares how deep inner work—not dieting—finally brought her peace, perspective, and a surprising path to love. If you’ve ever felt stuck or wondered why certain patterns keep repeating, this episode offers

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55:23

Turning 40 and facing a midlife curveball

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/07/05

Anne Montgomery was one of the first women to anchor ESPN’s SportsCenter—but when her TV career ended abruptly at 38, she found herself broke, heartbroken, and convinced her best days were behind her. In this gripping and often funny episode, Anne shares the highs of breaking barriers in sports media and the lows of losing it all. What came next? A completely unexpected new identity that brought her more joy and meaning than she ever imagined. If you've ever faced a reinvention you didn’t ask for,

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30:38

Reflections: The Cost of Hustle in Midlife

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/06/25

What if slowing down isn’t a setback, but a turning point? In this episode, Stephanie explores how midlife often presses pause on our hustle-filled lives - and what looks at first like a punishment is usually an invitation. Through powerful stories from past guests and her own experience, she unpacks how stillness can help us reconnect with what really matters—and why our worth was never meant to be measured by productivity. If you’ve been feeling the pull to step off the hamster wheel (or if life

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57:34

Turning 40 and trading high heels for healing

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/06/13

When Anna Brooke heard a mysterious voice say “burlesque dancer” during a meditation, she had no idea it would lead to a full-blown metamorphosis. Known on stage as the Reverend Legs Malone, Anna built a dazzling career that lit her up—until her body forced her to stop. In this deeply human episode, she opens up about listening to intuition, navigating grief, and learning to slow down. From the thrill of the spotlight to the quiet power of discernment, Anna’s story is a bold invitation to shed the

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31:57

Reflections: What Burnout Is Really Trying to Tell You

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/05/27

Burnout is more than just being tired—it’s about finding out the limits of a life that no longer fits. In this solo bonus episode, Stephanie pulls together stories from past guests who pushed themselves to the edge by doing everything “right”—only to discover that success built on someone else’s terms can quietly unravel your sense of self. From panic attacks to identity crises, she explores the hidden patterns of burnout and the radical clarity that can emerge when you finally start listening to

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40:19

Turning 40 and unlearning the American Dream

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/05/20

What happens when you reach the top—and realize it’s not what you wanted? Angela Hwang had the résumé, the accolades, and the paycheck, but behind the scenes, her health was deteriorating and her happiness was nowhere to be found. In this honest and eye-opening episode, Angela shares how a health scare, motherhood, and burnout collided to spark a total life reset. If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more to life than climbing the next rung, this conversation is for you.Guest BioAngela Hwang has

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24:13

Reflections: Creative awakenings at midlife

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/05/12

Among the many strange and funny things that can happen as you reach midlife is this: just when everything feels like it’s falling apart, something creative starts to stir. In this bonus episode, Stephanie explores the idea of a midlife creative awakening—inspired by past guests who picked up paint brushes, pens, instruments, and more in the messy middle of their lives. Creativity often shows up when we need it most. Because sometimes, when you think you need less on your plate, what you really need

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43:35

Turning 40 and making art out of the mess

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/05/07

When Jenn Kacmar and Rose Planer met at an engagement party, they had no idea their friendship would become the anchor that carried them through midlife chaos. With a decade between them, different careers, and wildly different life stages, their bond became a lifeline—especially during the isolating early days of the pandemic. In this heartfelt and humorous episode, they share how they supported each other through burnout, motherhood, and identity shifts—and how they turned all of it into art. If

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23:46

Reflections: Breaking Old Patterns to Find Yourself

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/04/26

In this short bonus episode, Steph unpacks the deeper themes from her conversation with Elizabeth Makepeace—no listening homework required. Through Elizabeth’s story, Steph explores how unconscious patterns from childhood shape our adult relationships, often without us realizing it. She dives into what it means to break the caretaker cycle, how to recognize when care turns into codependency, and why midlife is the perfect time to stop over-functioning and start listening to your own needs. If you’ve

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33:22

Turning 40 and resigning as the family fixer

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/04/24

When Elizabeth Makepeace fell for a younger, free-spirited musician, she thought she’d found the love foretold in a dream. But what began as a spiritual connection turned into a controlling, emotionally draining marriage that forced her to confront an old pattern she thought she’d outgrown: the compulsion to care for others at the cost of herself. In this deeply honest conversation, Elizabeth shares how she broke the cycle, rebuilt trust with her children, and finally found peace—not just in a

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45:18

Turning 40 and turning pasta into a paycheck

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/04/10

At age 39, Francesca Montillo had a thriving healthcare career at a prestigious Boston hospital—but her heart was in Italy, dreaming of pasta, wine, and sun-soaked adventures. In this episode, she shares how she slowly and strategically built a food and travel business on the side, eventually trading her secure 9-to-5 for a life she once thought was too good to be true. From pandemic pivots to cultural expectations and midlife realizations, Francesca’s story is a masterclass in following your gut,

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49:02

Turning 40 and trading safety for soulful

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/04/01

What if your “successful” life started to feel like a slow, quiet heartbreak? In this episode, Steve Vincent shares how he went from burned-out high school vice principal to thriving freelance copywriter—by finally listening to the voice he’d been pushing down for years. He opens up about the emotional weight of staying in a life that looks good on paper but feels wrong in your soul—and how a couple of chance encounters cracked his world wide open. If you’re feeling stuck, restless, or wondering—‘is

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50:25

Turning 40 and getting dismissed by doctors

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/03/24

When Amita Sharma hit her 40s, her body started betraying her—crippling fatigue, brain fog, and relentless hot flashes—but doctors told her she was "fine." Frustrated and desperate for answers, she turned to holistic medicine, unknowingly setting herself on a path to revolutionize women's health. Amita shares her eye-opening journey through perimenopause, the shocking gaps in medical knowledge, and how she’s building a platform to give women affordable access to holistic care. If you’ve ever felt

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52:20

Turning 40 and Breaking Free from Survival Mode

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/03/14

Naomi Kreske thought she had built the perfect life—marriage, kids, and the white picket fence dream. But when her marriage crumbled, she found herself stuck in survival mode, barely holding it all together. For years, she unknowingly repeated the same patterns—ignoring her needs, attracting unhealthy relationships, and staying in a job that drained her. Everything changed when she realized the problem wasn’t just external—it was who she was being. In this episode, Naomi shares how she finally broke

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16:51

Reflections: Letting go of understanding what happened

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/03/03

In this bonus episode of the Big Four Oh Podcast, Steph delves deeper into themes discussed with Shā Sparks, focusing on the concepts of releasing the need for understanding to heal, and the importance of positive self-talk. Steph shares additional stories from previous guests, Julie Hutsell Starling (episode 99) and Jeff Glauser (episode 96), to illustrate these powerful transformation tools. Explore the concept of letting go of seeking closure and instead take actionable steps towards a better

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47:18

Turning 40 and Finding Peace Without Answers

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/02/27

Shā Sparks’ midlife transformation was about breaking free—from toxic relationships, self-doubt, and the need for closure. After years in an abusive relationship, she realized she didn’t need answers or closure to heal—she just needed to walk away. Letting go of the “why” allowed her to move forward and build a life rooted in self-worth rather than past wounds. A big part of that journey was changing her self-talk—shifting from harsh self-judgment to a more compassionate view. Now, in her 40s, she’s

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56:58

Turning 40 and Rewiring the Mind

The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40 ·

2025/02/18

In this episode, Stephanie talks to Marcy Langlois, who shares her extraordinary story of resilience and recovery. Born with a cleft lip and palate requiring multiple surgeries, Marcy grew up in a chaotic household and struggled with addiction following a life-altering car accident. Her story explores the impact of trauma on physical health, including her struggles with mast cell activation syndrome and chronic infections. Marcy explains how she transformed her life through neuroplasticity and

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141 results

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