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The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40Author: 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 birthday. On The Big Four Oh Podcast, Stephanie has conversations with people about their life experience around turning 40. This birthday often comes wrapped in larger life changes, whether its a newfound search for meaning, accepting your mortality, or shedding all those things you did because some external authority said you should. Her mission is to make it common cultural knowledge that there IS a transition most of us face around age 40, and then showcase so many versions of that transition that every single person approaching, or recently turned, 40 with dread in their heart, knows that they are not alone. I know you don't want to call it a midlife crisis, so I won't, but "if the glove fits, you must acquit." Language: en Genres: Documentary, Personal Journals, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Turning 40 and asking ‘what if’
Episode 138
Monday, 24 November, 2025
What if midlife isn’t a crisis at all, but an upgrade you never knew you were getting? In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Dr. Deborah Heiser, a psychologist and midlife specialist who believes our forties mark the moment we finally step into our deepest emotional power. Together, they cover why so many people feel unsettled during this season of life; how to tell when you’ve outgrown the path you’re on; and the surprising science that shows our emotional well-being only gets better with age. If you’re standing at the edge of change and wondering what comes next, this conversation will give you language, perspective, and permission to imagine something more.Guest Bio Dr. Deborah Heiser is an applied developmental psychologist, the CEO/Founder of The Mentor Project, and author of The Mentorship Edge. She is a TEDx speaker, member of Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Thinkers 50 Radar List, expert contributor to Psychology Today and is also an Adjunct Professor.Turning 40 and asking ‘what if’What happens when a lifelong researcher stops studying everything no one wants to have and instead turns her attention toward what we get to look forward to as we age? For Dr. Deborah Heiser, the answer was a midlife awakening that liberated her from expectations, perfectionism, and the need for a safety net. In her early forties, she left a secure and prestigious research career to build a new life rooted in purpose, fulfillment, and the belief that emotional growth continues long after our bodies start to creak. She discovered that midlife isn’t a crisis, it’s a transition, and it is rich with potential if we’re willing to ask one simple question: what if?In this warm and energizing conversation, Deborah and Stephanie explore the emotional arc of adulthood, the surprising freedom that comes with experience, and why midlife may be the happiest, most meaningful chapter yet.Episode HighlightsHow Deborah walked away from a secure research career at 40 to pursue meaning, joy, and a new definition of success.The surprising freedom that comes from realizing the “tightrope” of big life changes is actually close to the ground.The shift from relying on external authority to trusting your own experience and expertise.Why the emotional trajectory of life goes up even as the physical one goes down.Midlife transitions vs. midlife crisis: how changing the language opens new possibilities.How cultural norms have shifted since the 1970s, and what Millennials bring to the midlife conversation.The power of asking “What if?” to reveal possibilities, uncover desires, and subtract what no longer serves you.Why fulfillment becomes non-negotiable in your forties, and how to follow the internal cues that point you toward it.This conversation takes an insightful deep dive into the emotional transition of midlife, guided by someone who has both studied it and lived it. Stephanie and Deborah unpack why our forties often spark a shift toward fulfillment, autonomy, and self-trust, and how curiosity, not crisis, is the real engine behind change. Through stories, science, and a few well-placed laughs, they reframe midlife as an exciting developmental stage where we get to rethink our choices, reclaim our authority, and create lives that feel good from the inside out.If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, and share The Big Four Oh so more people can discover what this transition is really all about.Guest ResourcesDeborah’s book: The Mentorship Edge: Creating Maximum Impact Through Lateral and Hierarchical MentoringDeborah’s Psychology Today Blog about Turning...
