Opening Note
First things first â thank you. Every single one of you signed up for the Midlife Circus Newsletter on your own. No pop-ups, no tricks, no guilt-trips. Youâre here because something in Midlife Circus resonated â and that means the world to both of us.
November was our first month under the tent â six episodes, a flood of offâmic tangents, and one moment where midlife punched back harder than either of us expected. There were at least a half-a-dozen times when one of us said something and the other silently mouthed, âYouâre really going to share that?â And thatâs when we knew we were onto something real.
But thatâs the whole point. Midlife isnât a crisis; itâs an invitation. And this month reminded us that Your Next Great Act doesnât start with knowing â it starts with honesty.
Letâs dive into what we explored together in November.
Podcast Recaps â November Releases
Episode 1: Leaving the Grind: Now What?
Midlife isnât something to survive â itâs something you get to direct.
Stepping out of the grind, we talk about identity, time abundance, and what happens when the calendar finally stops running your life.
Listen now
Episode 2: Midlife: Choose Your Own Adventure
Those books from our childhood had it right â you really do get to choose what comes next.
We unpack curiosity, unscripted paths, and why picking up old passions (or weird new ones) might be your best move yet.
Listen now
Episode 3: Deal Friends vs. Real Friends â The Midlife Sort
When the meetings stop, some friendships fade â and others finally breathe.
We dig into the difference between people who liked your job title and people who actually like you.
Listen now
Books mentioned: From Strength to Strength â Arthur C. Brooks
Episode 4: The Two Numbers Between You and Retirement Freedom
Forget chasing a magic retirement number that keeps moving.
Rob breaks down two simple numbers that matter more than the rest â and we both get honest about the emotional side of âenough.â
Listen now
Episode 5: Being Bad at Something, On Purpose
Sourdough flops. Unicycle wipeouts. Brain longevity and humility.
We make the case that being a beginner again might be one of the healthiest midlife decisions you can make.
Listen now
Books mentioned: Living With a Seal & Living With the Monks â Jesse Itzler
Episode 6: Navigating Loneliness in Midlife
When the noise dies down â kids gone, career shifted, calendar quiet â the silence can get loud.
We talk about isolation, therapy as a performance coach, and how to rebuild real connection when you feel like youâre walking through a clear-cut forest.
Listen now
Books mentioned: Quiet â Susan Cain
Wisdom Drop
Behind the Mic: The Truth About Starting a Podcast
When we started this Midlife Circus adventure, we thought podcasting would be simple: hit record, talk like normal humans, upload, done. Easy.
It took about three minutes to realize we were way wrong.
In our first six episodes, we logged over 100 hours of prep, recording, re-recording, editing, re-editing⊠and Googling things like, âHow do I stop saying um, like, ah so often?â and âI need help withâŠâ
Like anything new, it was humbling. And like anything worth doing, it was incredibly rewarding.
Weâre learning the ropes because we want this Next Great Act â building conversations that matter â to be something weâre proud of⊠and something you genuinely look forward to every week.
One Great Link
More Cowbell, More Courage
If you need a nudge toward Your Next Great Act, here it is⊠with a fever. And the only prescription?
More Cowbell
This iconic sketch is ridiculous, brilliant, and the perfect reminder that sometimes you just have to go for it â loudly, boldly, and with absolutely no concern for how you look doing it.
Closing Moment
Your Next Great Act doesnât begin with clarity. It begins with courage.
The courage to try the thing youâve been putting off.
To say the quiet part out loud â and to choose the path that excites you more than it scares you.
So hereâs your cue this month: take one small step toward the life you keep imagining. Not someday. Not later. Now.
Whatever youâre wrestling with â a new hobby, a big decision, a wild idea youâve been too shy to say out loud â this is your nudge from the Directorâs Chair (the one with your name on it).
Turn up the volume. Take the swing. Walk onto the stage even if your knees are shaking.
Weâll be here, cheering you on from the front row.
See you under the tent,
Brent & Rob
Co-Hosts and Creators, Midlife Circus
midlifecircus.fm
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