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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 rethinking the Millennial midlife crisis
Episode 148
Monday, 8 June, 2026
There's a difference between surviving the turbulence of life and doing the internal work of transition. Rachel Lobdell is a journalist, mother, and nonprofit executive, approaching 40 with a generational lens on what midlife really looks like for millennials. She makes the case that her generation has been in continuous transition since adulthood began, which may be why their forties feel less like crisis and more like relief. We talk about the inherited blueprint and what happens when it stops fitting, the question of where identity actually lives, and why the hardest work of midlife might be sorting out what you've genuinely worked through from what you've just outrun.Guest Bio Rachel Lobdell is the executive director of News Creator Corps, a nonprofit focused on fighting misinformation. She has nearly two decades of media experience focused on digital transformation, innovation, and audience growth at some of the country's largest publishers including USA Today, Fortune, VICE, the Wall Street Journal, and a series of local newspapers. Born and raised in the Midwest, she has Masters and Bachelors degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She now resides in Brooklyn with her husband and son.Turning 40 and rethinking the Millennial midlife crisisThis week on The Big Four Oh Podcast, host Stephanie McLaughlin sits down with Rachel Lobdell, who shares her candid journey through the unpredictable terrain of early midlife. Rachel opens up about the messy, beautiful process of redefining success, balancing multiple identities, and finding peace amid the chaos of millennial adulthood. As she approaches her 40th birthday, Rachel reflects on career pivots, delayed milestones, and the ongoing quest to build a life on her own terms.Episode Highlights:Rachel’s early days in journalism, the influence of a pivotal mentor, and her leap into founding the News Creator Core nonprofit.How parenthood reshaped her views on community, information, and the value of trusted networks.The unique turbulence millennials face, economic instability, delayed homeownership, and constant career transitions, and how these challenges fuel self-reflection and adaptation.The generational shift from chasing excitement at midlife to seeking inner peace and stability.Navigating parenting later in life, the new realities of the sandwich generation, and evolving family dynamics.Letting go of inherited blueprints and building a more authentic, realistic life that aligns with personal values.Rachel and Stephanie dive deep into the uniquely millennial experience of adulthood, exploring how constant change prompts introspection and a reimagining of what it means to thrive at midlife. Rachel’s story is a great reminder that resilience, intentionality, and meaning can be found in both personal and professional reinvention.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate, follow, and share The Big Four Oh Podcast.Guest ResourcesConnect with Rachel on InstagramAre you stuck in people-pleasing mode?Download Stephanie’s People Pleasing Playbook to understand where it comes from, how it’s showing up, and what it’s costing you. www.thebigfouroh.com/peoplepleaserConnectTheBigFourOh.comTBFO on InstagramTBFO on FacebookGet the Email DigestListen, Rate & SubscribeYouTube PodcastsApple Podcasts SpotifyAmazon PodcastsSponsorThe Big Four Oh Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications
