The Midlife Mess Podcast

04/03/2026

This episode is not glamorous. It’s not empowering. It’s not a “5 steps to find love” situation.

It’s just me… on a quiet Saturday night, without my daughter, without plans, feeling the loudness of loneliness.

I talk a lot about growth and mindset and being positive. But the truth is, midlife has valleys. And sometimes they hit on weekends when everyone else seems coupled up and busy.

I’ve done the apps. I’ve done the therapy. I’ve done the “work.”
And sometimes I still sit there and wonder, “Is it just not going to happen for me?”

That’s what this episode is.

Not a pity party. Not a breakdown.
J
ust honesty.

If you’ve ever felt the silence get loud… this one’s for you.

🎙 Episode 13 is live.

Be your best mess.

25/02/2026

Y’all my wagon is draggin’…it’s been a really busy week so I haven’t been able to record a new episode yet…I’ll get episode 13 out ASAP! 🤪😘

18/02/2026

Charleston episode is LIVE 🌴✨

I’ve lived here for 11 years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned… visiting Charleston and living in Charleston are two totally different experiences.

In today’s episode I’m giving you the real Charleston:
🏡 neighborhood vibes (downtown, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Park Circle, Daniel Island, Summerville + more)
🏖 beach personalities (yes, Folly is my favorite 😅)
🚗 growth pains (traffic + housing costs)
🎒 the “where are the good schools?” question + what “school choice” actually means here
💛 and why I still feel so grateful I chose this city

If you’re thinking about moving here—or you know someone who is—send them this episode!

What part of Charleston do you want me to do a deeper dive on next: Downtown, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, Folly/IOP/Sullivan’s, Johns Island, or Summerville?



Listen Here...

Charleston has been ranked a top travel city for years — but visiting and living here are two totally different experiences. In this episode, Lara shares why she chose Charleston, what surprised her after moving from the DC area, and how each part...

12/02/2026

Episode 11 is Now LIVE!

I don’t think the dynamic between men and women is broken.

I think we’re in growing pains.

This episode is about honesty — about biology, strength, vulnerability, responsibility, leadership, and respect.

Women don’t need men to survive anymore. But we still want you. And want is stronger than need.

If you’re raising sons or daughters… this one matters.
If you’re married or dating… this one matters.
If you’re a man trying to figure out how to lead without controlling… this one matters.

🎧 Episode 11 is live.

In this episode of Midlife Mess, Lara dives into one of the most nuanced and emotionally charged conversations of our time: the dynamic between men and women.Is it strained? Yes.Is it hopeless? Absolutely not.Lara believes we’re actually closer th...

11/02/2026

Episode 11 is….Loading. Sorry y’all, the episode for this week is delayed. I did a recording but when I listened back it wasn’t right. The topic for this episode is a message that I really want to get right. So, I’ll get the revised recording out ASAP.

In the meantime, if you haven’t listened to all 10 existing episodes, now’s your chance to get caught up! Click the link ⬇️🎙️😘

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-mess/id1862240204

04/02/2026

Have you heard of the Twin Flame Theory? This has really helped me make sense of my love path and it could for you too!

Listen and let me know which love level you are in now? Soulmate? Karmic? Twin Flame?

Podcast Episode · The Midlife Mess · 02/04/2026 · 41m

02/02/2026

In this bonus (no production, just talking) follow-up episode, Lara returns to a heavy but necessary conversation—one rooted not in politics, but in humanity, balance, and the often-silent majority living somewhere in the middle.

Listen to find out what hot topics I’m talking about!

Listen and Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-mess/id1862240204?i=1000747571250

28/01/2026

I didn't know what to say this week...after a heavy news weekend but I am proud that I started on a positive note, shout out to my BFF soulmate Melissa and her sweet daughter, and ended with a hopeful tone.

This is a real time conversation about the heavy news this past weekend out of Minnesota, but this is not about politics. This is a conversation about empathy, power, escalation, and why showing up honestly still matters, even when the words don’t come easily.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, conflicted, or just tired, you’re not alone. This one is for sitting with the discomfort without losing our humanity.

🎧 New episode is live.

Podcast Episode · The Midlife Mess · 01/28/2026 · 30m

21/01/2026

Midlife Mess fam—Episode 7 is a BIG one! 🎙️✨

I sat down with my therapist, Kelly Quarles. She’s so wise. 😇We had the most honest convo yet: what “healing” actually looks like (spoiler: not a straight line), the layers of grief after your life flips upside down, and why it’s still okay to be sad even when you’re “doing better.”

We also talk trauma (the kind that shifts your sense of safety), medication as a tool to turn the volume down enough to do the work, and the wild ways growth shows up… like tattoos + touching snakes 🐍😅

If you’ve been carrying it all and telling yourself to “just be strong,” this one’s for you. 🤍

🎧 Episode 7 is live now.

Drop a 🖤 if therapy has helped you—or if you’ve been thinking about starting. And, you can connect with Kelly’s team using the link in the show notes.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2424036/episodes/18523738-episode-7-my-therapist-s-take-on-the-midlife-mess-trauma-hope-and-becoming-okay-again

14/01/2026

Episode 6 is here—and I brought my first-ever guest 🎉

Meet Lauren Michi: my personal trainer, my “gym therapist,” and the only person who can make me do awkward stuff in public… and actually get stronger because of it. 😅💪

We’re talking:
✨ my 2025 broken-elbow comeback
✨ midlife strength + “mom-strong” realities
✨ why women need to lift (no, you won’t get bulky)
✨ fitness fads (weighted vests, protein panic, no-carb confusion)
✨ and why strength training matters especially in perimenopause

Also: if you’re in Charleston, we’re spilling all the details on Forge—the clean, non-creepy, 24/7 gym we love. 🏋️‍♀️

🎧 Listen now

Lara’s first guest is here—her personal trainer, Lauren Michi—and this episode is equal parts funny, real, and motivating. They talk about what training looks like in midlife, how the right trainer becomes a trusted person (aka “gym therapy”), and...

07/01/2026

Episode 5 is now live! Listen to understand this comment! 😱

Episode 5: 2026 is the Year of the Horse?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-mess/id1862240204?i=1000744126087

02/01/2026

Have you heard about that time I got into a fight at a Christmas parade?!?