Midlife has a funny way of holding up a mirror and asking, "So… you still good with all these people in your life?" And suddenly you're standing there, hormonal, overstimulated, and realizing half your friendships were built on versions of you that don't even exist anymore.

In this episode, we go all in on friendship in midlife - the pivots, the grief, the surprising expansions, the boosters who fall off the rocket, and the chosen family that saves your sanity when everything else is shifting.

My guest Jessica and I unravel the parts of friendship women rarely say out loud:

· Why outgrowing people isn't betrayal - it's evolution

· How perimenopause quietly rewires our tolerance for nonsense

· The difference between being supported and being placated (yes, it matters)

· The emotional whiplash of losing friends, finding better ones, and realizing you're not the problem

· How our kids are watching us model every one of these choices

· Why midlife friendships aren't accidental - they're intentional, earned, and often built from scratch

It's honest. It's funny in that "wow, this is painfully true" way. And it's the conversation every woman eventually has with herself - usually around the time her boosters start falling off.

If you've ever wondered why your circle got smaller but your life somehow got bigger… you're in the right episode.

You know those stories that live under your skin for decades? The ones that get louder when life gets quieter? This episode is one of those.

My guest, my friend - Lenore, isn't here to rehash horror for your shock or sympathy. She's here because she's finally ready to own the story that nearly broke her... and the healing that's reshaped her ever since.

We talk about what it means to carry a secret for 20+ years, how perimenopause unearthed a trauma she thought she'd buried, and why surviving something awful doesn't mean you're automatically "over it." From PTSD to parenting, TED Talks to therapy, this is about what happens when your past catches up to your midlife - and how you get your power back anyway.

It's raw, it's real, and it's not about voyeurism. It's about visibility. For every woman who's ever wondered if it's too late to speak your truth: it's not. We're not girls anymore. But we've still got big stories to tell.

Ever feel like your career is running you instead of the other way around? Or that you've outgrown the version of yourself that once fit neatly into your LinkedIn bio? Meet Marla Simlett - or as she's better known, Marvelous Marla - a woman who walked away from corporate HR, a pension, and predictability to chase something far scarier: joy.

In this episode, Marla shares how she turned her midlife "What now?" into a full-on pivot - blending therapy, humor, and a whole lot of courage to create Laughter Intelligence™. We talk about learning to trust yourself (again), using laughter to crack open transformation, and why it's okay - no, necessary - to move at a snail's pace when you're rebuilding a life that actually fits.

Because midlife isn't the end of the story. It's the plot twist.

Take a listen if you've ever:

• Wondered if you're too old to start over (spoiler: you're not)
• Laughed your way through tears - or needed to
• Been told you're "lucky to have a stable job" but felt your soul shrinking anyway
• Wanted permission to be bold, scared, and snailing all at once

This is your reminder that reinvention doesn't have an expiry date. And laughter? It might just be the best medicine after all - minus the side effects.

About Marla:

Marla Simlett is a speaker, emcee, and Registered Clinical Counsellor who helps people learn and laugh their way to becoming their greatest selves. She created Laughter Intelligence™, a framework that blends insight, humour, and heart to unlock trust, wellness, and lasting change. When she's not on stage, you'll find her biking around Vancouver, baking allergy-friendly treats, or treasure-hunting for thrifted finds.