Épisodes

  • Crossroads to Confidence: Mumbai to Midlife Magic

    Crossroads to Confidence: Mumbai to Midlife Magic
    Jan 21 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    Imagine this: you're standing at the edge of a crossroads, heart pounding, whispering to yourself, "It's not too late." Sisters over 40, welcome to Women Over 40, where we ignite that fire within. I'm your host, and today, we're diving into reinventing yourself after 40 by chasing those long-buried passions. Because midlife? It's your launchpad.

    Picture Shinde from India, who at 40 felt her curiosity flickering out amid family pressures to settle down. Instead of fading, she rebooted on her terms. She revived her cousin's abandoned nursery in Mumbai, experimenting with houseplants in coconut shells inspired by a Malaysia horticulture exhibit. Watching YouTube tutorials from Japanese experts, she grew Ashokvatika Nursery into a thriving spot for sensory gardens and AI-enhanced plant care. "I'm dedicated to nurturing myself like my plants," she says. Shinde joined business networks, pitching in her growing confidence, proving curiosity is your eternal compass.

    Then there's Rochelle Potkar, the award-winning poet from Mumbai, who in her 40s traded short-term hustles for the long-game "journeywoman" path. After books and accolades, she pivoted to screenwriting, pitching movies and TV scripts without the sting of rejection that haunted her 30s. "My life feels like a patchwork quilt now," she shares, embracing her actual self over some ideal shadow.

    Across the ocean, Angela Vassallo built and sold a seven-figure restaurant brand in Australia by her 40s, then at 50 chose soul work over safety. In her TEDx talk, The Midlife Advantage, she calls menopause a metamorphosis—a sacred shift to your freedom phase. Harvard Business Review backs her: women over 40 are the fastest-growing entrepreneurs worldwide, ditching corporate paths for bold ventures like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez owning stages.

    Don't forget icons like Toni Morrison, penning her first novel at 40, or Vera Wang launching her fashion empire later. Kelley Norcia quit teaching at 53 for full-time photography; Angel Cornelius debuted a national beauty brand at 56; Natalie Wester retired to Portugal at 62 after savvy planning.

    Listeners, these stories scream it: your 40s bloom with wisdom, resilience, and zero rush. That quiet whisper? It's your cue. Jot visions in a notebook amid what sparks you—plants, words, stages, or snapshots. Ditch the "shoulds." Build your tribe, face naysayers, and step into passion. You've survived the storms; now thrive.

    Thank you for tuning in, beautiful souls. Subscribe now for more empowerment. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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    3 min
  • Midlife Bloom: How Mumbai to Mastering French Cooking Proves 40 Is Just Your Opening Act

    Midlife Bloom: How Mumbai to Mastering French Cooking Proves 40 Is Just Your Opening Act
    Jan 19 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    Imagine this: you're standing at the edge of a chapter you thought was written in stone, heart pounding with that electric mix of fear and fire. Welcome to Women Over 40, where we celebrate the bold reinvention that awaits you after 40. I'm your host, and today, we're diving into pursuing new passions that light up your soul and redefine your story.

    Let me take you to Mumbai, where Shinde, a woman in her 40s, stared down societal pressure to settle down and instead rebooted her life on her terms. After years as a costume design assistant, a trip to a horticulture exhibition in Malaysia sparked something wild. Bonsais like living poems, terrariums holding tiny worlds—she couldn't shake it. Back home, she revived her cousin's abandoned nursery, Ashokvatika Nursery, experimenting with houseplants in coconut shells. YouTube became her classroom, Japanese instructors her guides on plants and patience. Now, she's pitching sensory gardens and AI-driven plant care in business networks, her curiosity her compass. As Shinde says, her 40s are an exploration of creativity and compassion, nurturing herself like her plants, naysayers be damned.

    Then there's Rochelle Potkar, the award-winning author and poet who became a journeywoman of words in her 40s. Ditching short-term anxieties for long-run timelines, she's pitching movie and TV scripts with gusto. Rejections? They don't deflate her anymore. Her life, once a jigsaw puzzle, is now a patchwork quilt—beautifully imperfect, uniquely hers.

    These stories echo the legends: Vera Wang, passed over at Vogue, launched her bridal empire at 40, her gowns now bridal royalty. Julia Child mastered French cooking in her 40s at Le Cordon Bleu, debuting Mastering the Art of French Cooking at 49 and starring in The French Chef in her 50s. Toni Morrison penned her first novel at 40, Ariana Huffington founded The Huffington Post at 55. And Angela Vassallo built and sold a seven-figure restaurant brand in her 40s, embracing menopause as a metamorphosis into her freedom phase.

    Sisters, nearly 1.8 million women over 45 in the U.S. alone pivoted careers from 2019 to 2022, fueled by burnout or fresh passions. Midlife isn't a crisis; it's your advantage—resilience, wisdom, that anti-aging attitude. Start by journaling your strengths and joys. Network fiercely—LinkedIn groups, workshops. Learn on Coursera or Udemy. Test small: freelance, side hustle. Your experiences are rocket fuel.

    Listeners, whatever whispers to you—a book, a business, a garden—chase it. You're not done; you're just beginning. You've survived enough to know what matters. Reinvent boldly, pursue that passion, and watch your world bloom.

    Thank you for tuning in to Women Over 40. Subscribe now for more empowerment on your journey. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai


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    3 min
  • Women Over 40: From Whispers to Wings - How Asha, Rochelle and You Can Bloom After 40

    Women Over 40: From Whispers to Wings - How Asha, Rochelle and You Can Bloom After 40
    Jan 18 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    Welcome back to Women Over 40, where we celebrate the fierce fire that burns brighter with every year. I'm your host, and today we're diving straight into the heart of reinvention—pursuing those passions that have been whispering to you since your 20s. Listeners, if you're over 40, feeling that itch for something more, this episode is your permission slip to chase it.

    Picture this: you're standing at a crossroads, much like Asha Shinde from India. At 40, after years grinding as a costume design assistant in Mumbai, she felt her curiosity flicker out amid family pressures and societal whispers of settling down. But Asha listened to that inner spark. On a trip to Malaysia, she wandered into a horticulture exhibition—bonsais like tiny poems, terrariums holding miniature worlds. It ignited her. Back home, she revived her cousin's neglected nursery, Ashokvatika Nursery, experimenting with houseplants in coconut shells. She devoured YouTube tutorials from Japanese experts on plants and patience. Now, she's pitching sensory gardens and even exploring AI for plant care in business networking groups. As Asha says, her 40s are an exploration of creativity and compassion—she's nurturing herself like her plants, naysayers be damned.

    Or take Rochelle Potkar, the award-winning author and poet from India. In her 40s, she shed short-term anxieties for what she calls the macro-journey, becoming a journeywoman of words. After books and poetry, she's pitching movie and TV scripts with gusto, turning rejections into fuel. Her life, once a jigsaw puzzle, now feels like a patchwork quilt—beautifully imperfect and wholly hers.

    These aren't outliers. Vera Wang, after 15 years as a Vogue editor, launched her bridal empire at 40, passed over for editor-in-chief but fueled by a love for wedding gowns. Now in her 70s, her designs define luxury. Julia Child mastered French cooking in her 40s at Le Cordon Bleu, releasing Mastering the Art of French Cooking at 49, then starring in The French Chef in her 50s. Toni Morrison penned her first novel at 40. Ariana Huffington founded The Huffington Post at 55. And Angela Vassallo built and sold a seven-figure restaurant brand in her 40s, now a TEDx speaker calling midlife our greatest advantage—a metamorphosis through menopause into freedom.

    Data backs it: nearly 1.8 million U.S. women over 45 switched careers from 2019 to 2022, driven by burnout or passion. You're not starting from scratch; your wisdom is your superpower. So, grab that journal—list your strengths, what lights you up. Network on LinkedIn, learn on Coursera or Udemy. Start small: freelance, side hustle. Test those waters.

    Listeners, your 40s aren't decline—they're your bloom. That quiet whisper saying you're not done? It's right. Reinvent boldly, pursue those passions. You've earned this chapter.

    Thank you for tuning in to Women Over 40. Subscribe now for more empowerment. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai


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    3 min
  • Women Over 40: From Coconut Shells to Corner Offices - Real Stories of Midlife Reinvention

    Women Over 40: From Coconut Shells to Corner Offices - Real Stories of Midlife Reinvention
    Jan 17 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    # Women Over 40: Reinventing Your Life Podcast Episode

    Welcome to Women Over 40. I'm so glad you're here because today we're talking about something that challenges everything society tells us about aging. We're exploring reinvention after 40, and I promise you, the stories you're about to hear will change how you think about this chapter of your life.

    Let me start with someone named Asha Shinde. At 40, Asha felt trapped. Everyone around her was questioning why she hadn't settled down, why she wasn't following the traditional path society had laid out. But here's what she said that stuck with me: my life needed a reboot on my own terms. So she did something bold. She took over her cousin's abandoned family nursery and started experimenting. She grew small decorative houseplants inside coconut shells. It worked. What started as a quiet exploration became Ashokvatika Nursery, a thriving business. Today, Asha is presenting at business networking events, learning about sensory gardens and artificial intelligence for plant care. She went from feeling uninspired to following curiosity as her compass.

    Then there's Rochelle Potkar, an award-winning author and performance poet who made a profound shift in her 40s. She stopped thinking in short-term timeframes and embraced what she calls the journeywoman journey. This longer, winding road relieved her of anxieties she carried in her 30s. She doesn't fret rejections anymore. She's pitching screenplays with genuine confidence. What she discovered is that life doesn't have to feel like a jigsaw puzzle you're desperately trying to complete. It can feel like a patchwork quilt, beautiful in its complexity and composition.

    These aren't isolated stories. Consider Vera Wang, who launched her first bridal collection at age 40 with no design background. She had vision and fire in her belly, and now her name is practically synonymous with high-end bridal couture. Or Julia Child, who began studying at Le Cordon Bleu in her 40s and released her first cookbook at 49. When her television show The French Chef premiered, she was already in her 50s.

    The data backs this up too. Between 2019 and 2022, nearly 1.8 million women aged 45 and older made career changes in the United States alone. They cited reasons ranging from burnout to newfound passion. What's remarkable is that this reinvention is becoming increasingly common and successful.

    Here's what these women share: they stopped chasing the imagined ideal version of themselves. They survived enough to know what really matters. They leveraged the emotional intelligence, confidence, and creativity that actually peak during midlife. Your 40s aren't the beginning of decline. They're your greatest advantage.

    If you're listening and thinking about pivoting toward something you've always loved, something that calls to you in that quiet whisper within, this is your permission. Start small. Network. Learn new skills. Test the waters. Your age and experience aren't obstacles. They're your foundation.

    Thank you so much for tuning in to Women Over 40. Please subscribe so you never miss an episode. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai


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    3 min
  • Women Over 40: Mumbai to Bonsai - How Curiosity Became Her Compass After Forty

    Women Over 40: Mumbai to Bonsai - How Curiosity Became Her Compass After Forty
    Jan 16 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    Welcome to Women Over 40, where we celebrate the power of reinvention and the incredible journeys of women who dared to start again.

    Here's what most of us weren't told growing up: your forties aren't about settling down and accepting what is. They're about breaking free and discovering what could be.

    Consider the story of a woman in Mumbai who spent her twenties and thirties trapped by expectations. She had moved to the city against her family's wishes, worked relentlessly as a costume design assistant, and built her independence dollar by dollar. But something was missing. As she entered her forties, a quiet panic began to surface. Everyone around her was asking why she hadn't married yet. Inside, she knew the real problem was deeper. She felt uninspired, as if her life needed a complete reboot on her own terms.

    Then came a trip to Malaysia that changed everything. At a horticulture exhibition, something awakened in her imagination. She saw bonsais arranged like poems in pots, terrariums holding miniature worlds, container gardens full of intelligent symmetry. For the first time in years, her curiosity reignited.

    She returned home and convinced her cousin to help revive their family nursery that had been nearly abandoned. Even on days when she felt stuck, she sat with her notebook among the plants, sketching her vision. Slowly, the magic returned. She began experimenting with decorative houseplants in coconut shells. Friends loved them. She taught herself Japanese gardening techniques through YouTube, learning about plants and patience in equal measure. Today, her business, Ashokvatika Nursery, thrives. She's joined business networking collectives, given presentations, and learned about sensory gardens and AI applications in plant care.

    Her discovery: curiosity became her compass, and she found her tribe of people who mirrored her vision instead of questioning her choices.

    Then there's Rochelle Potkar, an award-winning author and performance poet who experienced a profound shift in her forties. She describes entering what she calls the macro-journey, a longer, winding road of life that demanded not urgency, but perspective. She stopped thinking in short-run timeframes and became what she calls the journeywoman. This shift freed her from the anxieties that plagued her thirties. Rejections no longer deflated her. Small defeats no longer made her fret. She boldly pursued screenwriting alongside her published books because she finally understood that her life felt less like a jigsaw puzzle and more like a patchwork quilt.

    What both these women discovered is what research confirms: women over forty are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs globally. Women like Vera Wang, who became a fashion icon, Toni Morrison, who wrote her first novel at forty, and J.K. Rowling all reinvented themselves after forty. Harvard Business Review documented that more women are leaving traditional careers in midlife to pursue their passions and launch businesses at record rates.

    The truth listeners need to hear is this: your forties aren't a crisis. They're your greatest advantage. You've survived enough to know what matters. You've failed, grown, and tried again. You're no longer chasing some imagined version of yourself. You're finally living as your actual self.

    Your reinvention is waiting. Start today.

    Thank you for joining us on Women Over 40. Please subscribe and tune in next time for more stories of strength and transformation. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai


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    4 min
  • Blooming Late: Mumbai to Midlife Reinvention

    Blooming Late: Mumbai to Midlife Reinvention
    Jan 14 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    Imagine this: you're over 40, staring down the barrel of routines that no longer spark joy. The kids are launching, the career's plateaued, and society's whispering it's time to fade into the background. But what if I told you that's a lie? What if your 40s are your launchpad for the most vibrant chapter yet? Welcome to Women Over 40, where we celebrate the power of reinvention. I'm your host, and today, we're diving into pursuing new passions after 40—because midlife isn't a crisis; it's your greatest advantage.

    Let me take you to Mumbai, where Shinde, a tenacious woman in her 40s, faced relentless questions about why she hadn't "settled down." Family pressure mounted, curiosity dimmed, but she refused to shrink. Sitting amid her cousin's neglected nursery at Ashokvatika, notebook in hand, she rebooted on her terms. Inspired by a Malaysia horticulture exhibit—bonsais like tiny poems, terrariums holding worlds—she experimented with houseplants in coconut shells. YouTube tutorials from Japanese masters reignited her fire. Now, she's pitching sensory gardens and AI plant care in business networks, her tribe of like-minded women fueling her bloom. "I'm dedicated to nurturing myself like my plants," she says. Shinde proves curiosity is your compass—follow it, and watch independence flower.

    Across the ocean, Angela Vassallo built a seven-figure restaurant brand from a simple chicken shop dream with her husband. Hitting 50, menopause felt like a metamorphosis, not a meltdown. Harvard Business Review reports women over 40 are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs worldwide, ditching corporate chains for passion-driven ventures. Angela sold her empire, embracing her "anti-aging attitude" to step onto global stages, author The Second Wives’ Guide, and host Harmony in the Hustle. "Midlife is our freedom phase," she declares in her TEDx talk, The Midlife Advantage. Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez? Still slaying arenas, proving visibility is yours to claim.

    Then there's Rochelle Potkar, award-winning poet turned screenwriter. In her 40s, she shed short-term anxieties for the "macro-journey," pitching movie scripts with wild abandon. No more fear of rejection—her actual self unfurled playfully. And don't forget icons like Vera Wang, who pivoted to bridal empire fame post-40; Toni Morrison, penning her first novel at exactly 40; Julia Child, mastering French cuisine at 50; even J.K. Rowling, rising from welfare to wizardry wizard in her 40s.

    Listeners, these stories from The Better India, Elevate with Keri, and Heyday Coaching echo a truth: your 40s bridge the ideal self you chased with the powerful actual self you've become. Ditch the jigsaw puzzle life for a patchwork quilt of purpose. Start small—journal amid what calls you, like Shinde's plants or a professor who traded lecterns for coaching after scouring women's archives. Curiosity, resilience, community: your tools for reinvention.

    You've survived enough to know what lights you up. Pursue that passion now—travel, write, build, grow. You're not done; you're just getting started. Thank you for tuning in to Women Over 40. Subscribe for more empowerment, and remember: your best is blooming. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai


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    3 min
  • Women Over 40: Your Second Act Starts Now

    Women Over 40: Your Second Act Starts Now
    Jan 12 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    Welcome to Women Over 40, the podcast celebrating reinvention, courage, and the beautiful second acts of our lives. I'm your host, and today we're exploring something truly transformative: how to pursue new passions and reinvent yourself after 40.

    Let's start with a truth that echoes across countless lives. Sarah spent over 20 years climbing the corporate ladder in finance. She was respected, successful, exhausted. At 48, she made a bold decision. She pivoted from a demanding five-day leadership role into a four-day consultancy and carved out time to teach yoga, something she'd always loved but never allowed herself to pursue. Within six months, she had regained her energy and her weekends. When asked how she felt, Sarah said something powerful: I didn't just get a new job. I got my life back.

    Sarah's story isn't unique. It's part of a pattern we see again and again. Consider Aisha, who at 52 faced a company restructure that made her role redundant. Instead of panicking or settling for the first available position, she paused. She gave herself permission to reflect on what truly mattered. Over twelve weeks, she identified her real strengths and reconnected with a long-standing passion for nonprofit work. Today, Aisha runs a consultancy supporting charities and community organizations. She told us that losing her job felt like the end, but now she sees it was the beginning.

    Then there's Helen, who spent 25 years in the NHS. She was brilliant at her work, loved by colleagues, but felt invisible. She decided to set boundaries for the first time in her career, rediscover her creativity, and explore health innovation, something she'd always been curious about but never pursued. Helen's reflection captures something essential: I thought reinvention was for younger women. Now I realize it's for anyone brave enough to listen to themselves.

    What makes 40 and beyond such a powerful moment for reinvention? By this stage, you bring something younger versions of yourself never had: a depth of experience, genuine clarity about what you don't want anymore, and the courage to live on your terms. You've survived enough to know what really matters. You've made mistakes, learned from them, and developed wisdom that becomes your greatest asset.

    Authors like Toni Morrison wrote her first novel at 40. Fashion designer Vera Wang transformed into an icon after turning 40. Arianna Huffington founded The Huffington Post at 55. These weren't anomalies. They were women who finally gave themselves permission.

    The pattern across all these stories is consistent. First comes awareness, that quiet whisper saying I can't keep living like this. Then permission, allowing yourself to pause and imagine differently. Next is support and strategy, creating space to explore options and take action. Finally comes transformation, not always dramatic, but always meaningful. Energy returns. Confidence restores. Life gets reclaimed.

    Your 40s don't have to be a crisis. They can be a catalyst. This decade becomes less about proving yourself and more about aligning with purpose. It's when you start asking different questions: not what do I need to prove, but what do I want to contribute?

    Listeners, thank you for tuning in to Women Over 40. Please subscribe so you never miss an episode celebrating the remarkable women creating new chapters in their lives. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai


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    3 min
  • Rewriting Your Second Act: Why 40 Is Just the Opening Chapter

    Rewriting Your Second Act: Why 40 Is Just the Opening Chapter
    Jan 11 2026
    This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

    Welcome to Women Over 40. Let’s skip the small talk and get right into what you came for: reinventing yourself after 40 and pursuing new passions.

    If you’re listening and thinking, “Is it too late for me to start over?” I want you to hear this clearly: it is not too late. Psychologists like Edward Higgins talk about the gap between who we are and who we think we should be. By our 40s, many of us are finally ready to close that gap and live as our actual selves, not the version the world scripted for us. This episode is your roadmap.

    First, let’s talk about proof that reinvention after 40 is real. Publisher and author Arianna Huffington founded The Huffington Post in her mid‑50s, long after most people said she’d already reached her peak. Fashion icon Vera Wang didn’t design her first wedding dress until around 40, after careers in figure skating and journalism. Nobel Prize–winning author Toni Morrison published her first novel at 40, then went on to change literature. Makeup artist Bobbi Brown launched a second mega‑brand, Jones Road, in her 60s after her non‑compete ended. Women are not winding down; they are redefining the starting line.

    But reinvention isn’t just for celebrities. Career coach Patricia Ezechie shares the story of Sarah, who left a high‑pressure finance career at 48, shifted to a four‑day consultancy, and made space to teach yoga. She didn’t just get a new job; she got her life back. Aisha, at 52, turned redundancy into an opportunity to build a consultancy for charities. She thought losing her job was the end. It was the beginning.

    So how do you start? Think of this episode as an outline for your own reinvention. First, awareness: notice the whisper, “I can’t keep living like this.” Maybe it’s Sunday dread, constant burnout, or the feeling you’re invisible in your own life. Second, permission: give yourself time to pause and ask, “What do I actually want next?” Many women over 40 find that passions they buried in their 20s and 30s—writing, design, wellness, activism, gardening, teaching—start knocking again.

    Next comes curiosity. A woman featured in The Better India discovered a passion for plants in her 40s, rebuilt a neglected family nursery called Ashokvatika Nursery, and turned it into a creative botanical business. She didn’t begin with a perfect plan. She began with experiments, questions, and the belief that her 40s could be about creativity and compassion, not just obligation.

    Then, take one aligned action. That might mean signing up for a night class in photography, finally starting that podcast, volunteering with an organization you care about, or talking to a coach about a career pivot. Many life coaches who specialize in midlife, like those at Heyday Coaching and Elevate with Keri, emphasize that your decades of experience are not baggage—they are leverage.

    As you reinvent, expect resistance. Family may ask why you’re “changing everything now.” Colleagues may not understand. Culture still tries to sell the idea that women over 40 should shrink. Your job is to do the opposite: expand. Your 40s and beyond can be the era where you design a life on your own terms, where your passions are not a side note but the headline.

    So as you listen today, ask yourself: if fear and age were not factors, what passion would you pursue in this next chapter? That question is the beginning of your outline. The rest of the episode—and the rest of your life—is about filling it in.

    Thank you for tuning in to Women Over 40. If this spoke to you, make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai


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    4 min