“Make room for something new”: Surprise! Creator and host Nancy Davis Kho on why it’s time to “sunset” the show after almost five years, plus Eight Big Life Lessons from the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. * Sign up for Nancy’s email list * The Thank-You Project – makes a great holiday present or 2022 project! * Drew Barrymore inducts The Go-Gos into the R&RHOF * Jimmie Wilson for Alameda County DA * List of Voting Rights organizations to donate to, if you’ve enjoyed the Midlife Mixtape Podcast over the years! * Fair Fight * Arizona: Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) * Georgia: Asian American Advocacy Fund * Michigan: Detroit Action * Minnesota: TakeAction MN * North Carolina: Advance Carolina * Pennsylvania: OnePA * Wisconsin: Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) * The amazing musician behind the podcast music on Midlife Mixtape – M. The Heir Apparent The funniest skit I’ve ever seen. Apply medicinally when you are feeling low.

“Stretch the rubber band”: Stanford Center for Longevity’s researcher Ken Smith and co-author Karen Breslau, on conclusions from SCL’s new study that seeks to radically redefine how to live better, when we’re living longer. * The New Map of Life from the Stanford Center on Longevity * Midlife Mixtape Podcast Ep 52 with Author Mary Laura Philpott – preorder her new book Bomb Shelter now! * Alexandra Rosa’s storytelling performance on The Moth, “Call Me The Rock, or Call Me Colombian” This is the OLD map. But a damn good song. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 110 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on November 30, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Ken Smith 00:00 What is the thing that makes me want to get up in the morning, and how can I actually orient my life more towards that direction as I get older? Nancy Davis Kho 00:09 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:33 The presenting sponsor of today’s episode is Kindra. Kindra is a health and wellness company revolutionizing menopause. It is backed by science and made by women, for women, and Kindra’s products help women navigate the most disruptive signs of the change. You all know the deli menu: hot flashes, restless sleep, dryness, brain fog. You may not want to have what she’s having at this particular deli, but isn’t it nice to know that there are products that can help you manage better? At their website, OURKINDRA.com, you can figure out exactly which of their products might be in order by taking their 5 minute online quiz. Listeners, both male and female, let me remind you once again that menopause is a natural stage of life for women and it signals the start of what can be the most powerful and impactful times of our lives, as you’ll hear in today’s episode. So shouldn’t we try a little harder to embrace it? You can head to ourkindra.com. That’s OURKINDRA.COM and use code MIXTAPE20 all caps to get 20% off your first order or subscription. That’s ourkindra.com and MIXTAPE20 to get 20% off! [MUSIC] Hi everyone. I’m Nancy Davis Kho, the host and creator of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast, and I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Especially compared to Thanksgiving 2020 where the four of us were all huddled at home already, everyone just came out of the bedroom again for dinner, this year was wonderful. Our older daughter had a friend in for a visit, and our younger daughter had to actually come home from college to spend the holiday with us, which is a beautiful thing. We headed over to my high school friend’s house for a big gathering, the highlight of which to me was when her son asked me in front of the crowd to share a crazy story of his mom from high school. Oh, I had to crack my knuckles!

“From accessory to center stage”: Mark Cushing, founder of the Animal Policy Group and author of “Pet Nation”, on the emotional, physical, and societal benefits of the human-animal bond at midlife and beyond. * Pet Nation: The Inside Story of How Companion Animals Are Transforming Our Homes, Culture, and Economy * Animal Policy Group * From Sandy Hook to the World by Scarlett Lewis, founder of Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement New in November from the Grown Ass Lady Squad: * Are Women’s Lives Just Someone Else’s Business Model? * How I quit the diet cycle and refocused on what really matters in life * The Secret to a Happy Life? Friendship! * DameMagazine.com * Modern GenX Woman Podcast Here’s proof that GenX DOES have pets! Thumbs up. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 109 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on November 16, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Mark Cushing 00:00 I don’t think there’s a time in your life that the companionship of a pet – by the way, it isn’t limited to dogs or cats – can’t make you feel better. Nancy Davis Kho 00:11 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:35 The presenting sponsor of today’s episode is Kindra. Kindra is a health and wellness company that is revolutionizing menopause, backed by science and made by women, for women. Their products help women navigate the most disruptive signs of the change, like hot flashes, brain fog, restless sleep, dryness, and more. At their website, OURKINDRA.com, you can figure out exactly which of their products might be in order by taking their 5 minute online quiz, or simply clicking one of the following statements: I’m Dry, I’m Hot, I’m Tired, I Can’t Sleep, and everybody’s favorite – It’s Complicated. Oh honey. Isn’t it just. The change comes for all of us ladies, so isn’t it time we started talking about menopause instead of pretending it’s something that only happens to other people? You can head to ourkindra.com. That’s OURKINDRA.com and use code MIXTAPE20 all caps to get 20% off your first order or subscription. That’s ourkindra.com and MIXTAPE20 to get 20% off! [MUSIC] Hi everyone and welcome to Episode 109 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast! I’m Nancy Davis Kho,

“A spirit of curiosity”: Megan Zesati and Holly Sprague, founders of the DryTogether alcohol-free living community for midlife moms, on the benefits of teaming up to cut back on booze, the media messages that boost our consumption, and living AF(AF.) * DryTogether.org * Harvard Health Article on Women, Alcohol, and COVID-19 * Outlander #1 –  your gateway read * Presenting sponsor Kindra – use the code MIXTAPE20 for 20% off your first order! * Unlock Your Life Podcast with Lori A. Harris Freedom to make the best choices for yourself at midlife, and to worship George Michael. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 108 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on November 2, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Holly Sprague 00:01 In my life right now, I’ve got so much going on up there that I need some space, and I need some area that is not consumed with how much I drank last night or how much I’m going to drink tonight. Nancy Davis Kho 00:16 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. 00:26 [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:40 The presenting sponsor of today’s episode of Midlife Mixtape is Kindra. Kindra is a health and wellness company that is revolutionizing menopause. Their products help women navigate the most disruptive signs of the change, like hot flashes, brain fog, restless sleep, dryness, and more. That’s the cafeteria menu you want none of. Kindra is science backed and it’s made for women and by women, and yeah, I’ll go ahead and say I think it’s probably better to get your menopause support products developed by people who have also whipped off a cardigan sweater and shoved their hair into a messy bun in the middle of a meeting, while fanning themselves off with a sheaf of paper. Kindra makes it easy to get personalized product recommendations and educational content with their online quiz. It just takes 5 minutes. Isn’t it time we started talking about the change and embracing it? You can head to ourkindra.com – that’s OURKINDRA.COM and use code MIXTAPE20 – all caps – to get 20% off your first order or subscription. That’s ourkindra.com and the code is MIXTAPE20 to get 20% off! [MUSIC] Nancy 01:48 Hello to all of you who know exactly who will be there wanting some when you try new soft and juicy Bubble Yum… I’m going to give you a minute… It’s the Flavor Fiend. Hi, it’s Nancy Davis Kho. I’m the host and creator of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. I have considered doing an episode where I just have you guys all record yourselves singing your favorite 70s or 80s ad jingles, but that would create earworms that might actually be fatal to us at our ages...

“Who’s Slash?”: Listeners – and Nancy – share stories of their memorable Gen X Halloweens past, from decidedly non-sexy costume strategies, to 7th graders on the cusp, to home bat invasions. * The Perfect Cocktails for Your Perimenopause Party  by Wendi Aarons, Gloria Fallon, and Marilyn Naron * Portrait of a Deputy Public Defender (or how I became a punk rock lawyer) by Juanita E. Mantz, Esq Happy Halloween, you grown up goths. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 107 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on October 19, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Wendi Aarons 00:00 We learned our lesson that is probably not a great idea to dress like a ‘60s burnout named Touch Me Don’t Touch Me when we’re trying to get some action at a fraternity party. 00:11 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] The Presenting Sponsor of Midlife Mixtape is Kindra. Kindra is revolutionizing menopause. They are a health and wellness company helping women navigate the most disruptive signs of the change including hot flashes, brain fog, restless sleep, dryness, and more. It’s science backed and made by women, for women. And as I’ve said on this show before, it’s probably going to be up to GenX to normalize open discussion of this entirely normal phase of life. Like at this conference I just attended, when I leaned over in front of a group of four women I’d never met before, all younger than me, and pulled out the Take 5 bars out of the stash of fun-sized candy that organizers had dumped in the center of the table. And I said to them, “Back when I still had eggs this was the perfect candy for that monthly salty/sweet craving, but now I can eat them whenever I want!” I’m just normalizing it, ladies. You can find your personalized product recommendations and educational content with a quiz that just takes 5 minutes. Isn’t it time we started talking about the change and embraced it? You can head to ourkindra.com and use code MIXTAPE20 (ALL CAPS) to get 20% off your first order or subscription.  That’s ourkindra.com and the code is MIXTAPE20, to get 20% off your first order or subscription from Kindra. I also wanted to make sure you guys are aware of a really cool new little chat book, a little tiny pamphlet-sized fiction collection called Portrait of a Deputy Public Defender (or how I became a punk rock lawyer) . It’s by Juanita E. Mantz Esquire – that’s M-A-N-T-Z – and it’s a multi genre chat book containing memoir pieces, social justice, essays and poetry. It describes the author’s love of punk rock and Juanita’s quest to challenge the system of mass incarceration as a deputy public defender. She talks a lot about the intersection between punk rock and public defense.

“Something besides yourself to love”: Austin music legend Bob Schneider on his latest album, “In a Roomful of Blood With a Sleeping Tiger”, non-autobiographical songs written with autobiographical emotion, and why he shouldn’t rule the world. * BobSchneider.com * Bob on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook * Collective Effervescence essay by Adam Grant – New York Times * Contact Nancy to set up Thank-You Project Event this fall! * Don’t forget to share your GenX Halloween stories! More here… Since we talked about his ’99 song “2002” so much in our convo…here  it is: Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 106 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on October 5, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Bob Schneider 00:01 I want to be Will Rogers at some point in my life, where there’s nobody on earth that’s not a friend of mine. Nancy Davis Kho 00:08 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] 00:32 Hey there and welcome to Episode 106 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast, where we have so much going on today. I’m Nancy Davis Kho, and I’m the host and creator of the podcast, and there are two things I want to tell you quickly and then I promise we are getting right into the interview. First! We have another Listeners’ Stories episode coming up next time and I need your stories! You know how this works. I give you a topic, you guys write in, record yourselves, drop me a comment, and whatever prompt I give you, and this time it is: GenX Halloween. I KNOW you have something to say: your ‘70s, ‘80s, and ’90s Halloween memories. The kind of stories that our Gen Z kids and our Boomer older siblings just couldn’t relate to. Maybe it was the smell of those plastic masks that your parents bought you at the drugstore. Remember those in the cellophane boxes? Maybe it was the lady around the corner that everybody knew put razor blades in apples. Why would she spend time doing that? She was watching General Hospital. She wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. Maybe you went dressed as a mailbox, because back then being clever or weird was better than being sexy. There were no sexy mail boxes. That was maybe just me. I don’t know. Whatever the prompt GenX Halloween brings to mind, we all want to hear it! So you know the drill. You can leave me a voice mail right from your computer! You just go to https://www.speakpipe.com/MidlifeMixtape and you can start recording there with one click. I LOVE when people do this, because then I can incorporate the actual voice of our listeners in the episode.

“Stop, Look, Go”: Kristi Nelson, author of “Wake Up Grateful,” on transforming her Stage IV cancer survival into a lifetime practice of more grateful living, midlife carpe diem, and an unusual way to embrace that middle-of-the-night restiveness. * About Kristi * Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted * Nancy’s AAA Playlist on Apple Music Live from Budokan, it’s… Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 105 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on September 21, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Kristi Nelson 00:01 At this stage in life, so many of us have had wake-up calls. So many of the difficult experiences of life actually make it more possible to connect with feeling grateful. Nancy Davis Kho 00:14 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:38 I just want to make sure that you have all checked out the great new September content from fellow members of the G.A.L.S squad. That’s –  plug your ears little one – G.A.L.S, as in Grown Ass Ladies. Over on tuenight.com, there’s a great essay by my pal, Wendi Aarons, about the joys of going to a movie theater solo. I would actually just love to go to a movie theater. I haven’t done that in a year and a half. Going solo, that would be the icing on top. Jumbleandflow.com has a piece on finding your flow with tarot card readings. Damemagazine.com asks, “Do we have the space to grieve anymore?” That is a dang good question. That’s damemagazine.com. And heyperry.com, that’s H-E-Y-P-E-R-R-Y.C-O-M has the ever popular topic “Perimenopause periods: WTF is happening?” Make sure to check out all these sites designed for people in the years between being hip and breaking one. The G.A.L.S. always have great new stuff coming out. [MUSIC] Welcome to Episode 105 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast! I’m Nancy Davis Kho, host and creatress of the show, and I’m really glad you’re tuning in today. September 21st happens to be World Gratitude Day, a topic I know a little bit about…but I thought that for a refreshing change of pace, instead of talking to you about Gratitude Letters and the book I wrote, The Thank-You Project, I’d bring in a guest who could share a different perspective on incorporating more gratefulness and grateful living into our lives. That seemed especially important in a week where two different friends have said to me, “You know what? Relatively speaking, I don’t have anything to feel down about.” And they are kind of kicking themselves for feeling low and I was like, “You are now the human embodiment of that cartoon dog in the fedora sitting with his coffee as the flames rise up around ...

“My brain is waking up”: Taya Dunn Johnson on going back to school alongside her 7th grader this fall, and the personal passion that pulled her to a field of study she had never even heard of before the day she enrolled. Find Taya on: * Website – www.TayaDunnJohnson.com * Essay on Upworthy: Please Read This Before Your Post Another RIP On Social Media * Listen To Your Mother Anthology * Ep 96 Listeners’ “Still in Rotation” Albums – hear Taya’s contribution at around the 25:20 mark Some Baltimore sound for ya ears. The title of the song is also 100% of the lyrics of the song

  “Dating is a skill”: Jodi Klein, author and podcast host of “First Date Stories”, on the benefits and challenges of being a “seasoned” dater, her Ninja midlife dating tips, and Midlife Mixtape listeners’ own memorable First Date Stories. Find Jodi on: * Facebook https://www.facebook.com/1stdates/ * Instagram https://www.instagram.com/1st_DateStories/ * Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/firstdatestories * Website https://firstdatestories.com/ The only Goo Goo Dolls song I knew of theirs, back in 1990 when I asked this cute guy on a first date with the free tickets I’d won. Thanks for being so loud that the guy suggested we leave and go get a coffee and talk, Goos! I still respect this video hard for all the nods to our mutual hometowns in Western New York, FWIW ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 103 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on August 24, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com ***Jodi Klein 00:01 Think about who you were in your twenties, versus who you are in your forties or fifties. You are a different person, and you know so much better who you are, what’s important to you, and you show up without being as concerned about the unimportant things. Nancy Davis Kho 00:17 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:42 This episode of The Midlife Mixtape Podcast is brought to you by Audible. Get a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.AudibleTrial.com/midlifemixtape. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. And you know what? One of those 180,000 titles is my book, THE THANK-YOU PROJECT: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time. It’s about a year I spent writing thank you letters to people who had helped, shaped, or inspired me from my AP English teacher from high school who I hadn’t seen in 30 years to my husband who I had seen five minutes before I started writing the letter. It gives readers a blueprint for doing it themselves, and explains the science about why gratitude and happiness work so well together. I hope readers will find it to be a tool that helps them emerge from this difficult period a little bit more gracefully. So go to www.AudibleTrial.com/midlifemixtape for your free audiobook. [MUSIC] Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho, the creator and host of the show, and I’ve missed you over the past month while I was out on vacation. But don’t you feel like absence probably made our hearts grow fonder for one another? I think it did. That topic of mutual affection is actually a specialty for today’s guest. Do you see what I did there? Did I segue like a boss? Yes, I’ve still got it! My guest today is Jodie Klein, the author of First Date Stories: Women’s Romantic and Ridiculous Midlife Adventures, which comes out on September 14th 2021. A demanding career and desire to find the right “Mr.

“Start the conversation”: Oceanographer Dr. Claudia Benitez-Nelson talks about the ScienceMoms.com initiative seeking to apply “Mom Power” in tackling climate change, how midlife made her a better scientist, and why she’s hopeful for the future. * ScienceMoms.com website * Dr. Benitez-Nelson’s research lab website Dr. Benitez-Nelson interviewed aboard the research vessel Sally Ride What other song could I choose, given my late mom’s affinity for all things John Denver?Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 102 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on July 20, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Dr. Claudia Benitez-Nelson 00:00 You have to believe and have faith in your children, the next generation, that they are going to help move the needle and solve these issues. And our job as parents is to make it happen. Nancy Davis Kho 00:18 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:43 Okay, I have another summer book recommendation for you! Check out The People We Keep, by Allie Larkin, which comes out from Simon and Schuster on August 3rd. Allie is the bestselling author of Swimming for Sunlight, and she’s back with a heartbreaking and soul-stirring coming-of-age tale about a young songwriter looking to find a home in the world. Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a run-down motorhome, flunking out of school, and picking up shifts at the local diner. But when April realizes she’s finally had enough, enough of her selfish, absent father and barely surviving in an unfeeling town, she decides to make a break for it. Stealing a car and with only her music to keep her company, April hits the road, determined to live life on her own terms. She manages to scrape together a meaningful existence on the road, encountering people and places that grab hold of her heart. From lifelong friendships to tragic heartbreaks, April chronicles her journey in the beautiful music she creates as she discovers that home is with the people you choose to keep. Fun fact: I know Allie because we are on the same house concert circuit, we’ve bonded over many a living room show, and I know how hard she worked on this book and how long and how much she believed in this story, and it’s just a thrill to see a talented friend like Allie Larkin get chosen by none other than actress Rachel Bilson to be featured as her August Book of the Month Club pick. So preorder The People We Keep by Allie Larkin at your favorite indie bookstore or online now! [MUSIC] Hey party people, hope you’re having a fabulous summer and working on your San Tropez tan. Who remembers that jingle? Bain de Soleil. Well, not really, I think you should be wearing sunscreen and a big hat, but I think that’s been well established between us in many episodes and probably again in today’s. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and I’m the creator and host of this podcast, as well as the author of

“It’s about time”: Menopause entrepreneurs Sally Mueller and Michelle Jacobs talk about why it’s taken so long to address the needs of women in perimenopause and menopause, and how GenX can lead the way in demystifying the big M. * Womaness web site * Womaness on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn * NYTimes Opinion piece by Dr. Jen Gunter on how to have a feminist menopause  I still wear a jean jacket! I still drink out of a Mason jar! Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 101 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on July 6, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Sally 00:00 We really had to kind of rely on our own instincts and our own confidence. Nancy Davis Kho 00:05 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:30 I want to take a moment before today’s episode to tell you about a summer read I know you are going to want to throw into your beach bag: MONA AT SEA, by author Elizabeth Gonzalez James. Mona at Sea is a dark comedy set during the Great Recession, and features Mona Mireles, a young Latina who loses her plum job on Wall Street and must figure out what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Despite her potential, and her top-of-her-class college degree, Mona finds herself unemployed, living with her parents, and adrift in life and love. On her tragicomic journey through late-stage capitalism, Mona is ultimately able to learn what it is she finds meaningful in life. The question is: will she be brave enough to go after it? Cristina García, author of Here in Berlin and Dreaming in Cuban, says “Mona at Sea is a hilarious, high-octane novel about coming into one’s own without coming undone. Elizabeth Gonzalez James is a fresh new voice in contemporary literature.” Mona at Sea has been named the Most Anticipated book of 2021 by Apple Books, Harper’s Bazaar, Buzzfeed Books, Popsugar and more! Find Mona at Sea at your local indie bookstore or online! [MUSIC] Nancy 01:39 Hi, everyone. Have you recovered from your big holiday weekend yet? Hope it was sparkly and patriotic and virus free. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and I’m the creator and host of this podcast, as well as the author of The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time. Right now, I’m thankful that our new rescue dog Arlo is settling in just fine with the exception of needing to be near his new humans ALL THE TIME. Our return from the bathroom or the mailbox is met with the same enthusiasm you might expect from a family greeting a soldier who’s served two years overseas, so we’re just hoping he realizes at some point that we’re a), not that interesting and b),

“In the blink of an eye”: In this Very Special Episode that is also All In The Family, Midlife Mixtape Podcast creator and host Nancy Davis Kho answers listeners’ questions about podcasting, music, and midlife. * Nancy’s website www.DavisKho.com * We Sow We Grow – get your Dirty By Nature tshirt here, and listen to Ep 64 with We Sow We Grow founder/Urban farmer Natasha Nicholes here * Ep 90 – Reconciliation Activist J. Christopher Collins, on “moving the ball down the field” * Ep 91 – “Share Your Stuff” author Laura Tremaine, with tips for incorporating more reading into your life Book recommendations: * Caste by Isabel Wilkerson * The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow * Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner M. The Heir Apparent aka Kyle Terrizzi – the songwriter whose “Be Free” is our theme song. Please stream/support this wonderful musician! Lucy’s summer song recommendation – Jelani Aryeh P.S. Here’s lil’ Arlo – don’t worry, I took this bed back to the store and got him one that fits ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 100 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on June 22, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Nancy Davis Kho 00:00 I just want everybody to know that if there’s a time in your life where you’re feeling like things haven’t gone the way you thought they would, that you failed in some way that you’ve fallen short, just give it a little time. Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:37 Welcome to the 100 HUNDREDTH EPISODE of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast! I’m the host and creator of the show, Nancy Davis Kho, and I’m also the author of The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time. I’m so glad you’re here with me today to celebrate! Besides breaking through the triple digits with this episode, there are a couple of other significant milestones I’ve hit in May and June of 2021: 10 years of blogging at midlifemixtape.com. That’s right, back in 2011 I started posting short essays on the blog twice a week. Holy lord! That was a different time. I can’t imagine the stress of having to write two essays every week in 2021. You can still see all that writing if you dive down into the archive at MidlifeMixtape.com, but make sure you bring a flashlight and something to brush the cobwebs aside with. This spring also marked 4 years of podcasting – the first episode of this show aired in May 2017. Also as of May 2021,

“Tired of being a deputy”: Michelle Fishburne of Who We Are Now talks about turning a one-two-three punch of pandemic life changes into a 12,000 mile road trip, a book deal, and a newfound calling as an oral historian. Find Michelle on the web: * Website:Who We Are Now * Instagram: @WhoWeAreNowUSA * Instagram behind the scenes: @MichelleFishburne * Facebook: @WhoWeAreNowUSA * LinkedIn She’s on a journey, but not in a Bachelor way. Here’s to the band that plays the HELL out of air keyboards. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 99 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on June 8, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Michelle Fishburne 00:01 Failure is something that I actually really embrace and look forward to because it means I get to innovate. It means that all those little gray cells in my head get to start spinning and creating something new. Nancy Davis Kho 00:14 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:38 I want to take a moment before today’s episode to tell you about a brand-new book I just read that’s one of the latest entries in the long-running 33 1/3 book series, from Bloomsbury. If you aren’t familiar with 33 1/3… Each volume in the series is written by a different writer and focuses on one album. I just ripped through one of the latest entries – on Duran Duran’s 1982 album Rio – I know all the Duran Duran ladies are screaming right now. The book was written by Annie Zaleski, the award-winning music writer whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, NPR Music, StereoGum, Time, and more. Now, of course I owned Rio, Duran Duran’s big breakthrough album, back in 1982, and I know some Midlife Mixtape listeners are big Duran Duran stans from way back. But I can’t say that I had listened to Rio all the way through during this century. After reading Annie’s nuanced and comprehensive take on the album, I’ve been listening to it nonstop. The book details how Rio wasn’t a success everywhere at first; in fact, the LP had to be remixed and reissued before it found an audience in America. However, thanks to a combination of colorful music videos, which established Duran Duran as leaders of an MTV-driven second British Invasion, as well as incredibly hard work and good timing, Rio established Duran Duran as one of the most innovative and beloved pop-rock bands of the ’80s. And the 33 1/3 book on Rio really opened my eyes to how seminal that album was – for the band and for the never-ending evolution of pop music. It’s available now via Bloomsbury, and you can also order wherever else you like to order books! Go to your local bookseller and ask them to get you 33 1/3 latest on Rio. [MUSIC] Nancy Davis Kho 02:20

“Time to regroup”: Lisette Smith, certified financial planner, on thinking of our work lives in chapters, the best ways to plan for a Midlife Gap Year, and why early retirement may not be as desirable as the occasional long pause. * Download the Midlife Gap Year guide here * Advisory Group SF * Pop Culture Preservation Society Podcast – Nancy riffing on The Early Days of MTV Why worry? Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 98 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on May 25, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Lisette Smith 00:00 When we see these people in their 70s that are still looking for things to do because they’ve retired, maybe we plan in a different way. Nancy Davis Kho 00:09 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] 00:34 This episode of The Midlife Mixtape Podcast is brought to you by a new podcast called Toddler Purgatory. My friends Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson (hosts of the top-rated parenting podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood) are launching their first ever spin-off podcast. It’s called Toddler Purgatory and it is all the laughs and advice you’ve come to expect from What Fresh Hell, but all focused on topics for parents of kids under six. Hosts Blaire Brooks and Molly Lloyd have kids aged 2 to 4 at home so they’ll be solving dilemmas like “How to get kids to sleep through the night” “How to handle your picky eaters” and so much more. Now, some Midlife Mixtape Listeners don’t have little ones in our houses anymore, but that’s only because grandparenting approaches and you’re going to need to refresh on this stuff. Or maybe you know younger parents and you could point them to Toddler Purgatory instead of muttering, “you think you have problems NOW….” Help a new podcast out: search “Toddler Purgatory” wherever you listen to podcasts, and hit subscribe or follow. That’s Toddler Purgatory – for all things little kids. [MUSIC] Hi everyone – happy Tuesday and I hope you’re hanging in there! I’m Nancy Davis Kho, creator and host of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast and author of The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time. Were you raised on a steady diet of Stouffers French Bread pizza and MTV? So were we all. Actually that reminds me – you may know me as a podcast host but I also sit in the guest seat fairly often, usually talking about gratitude letters and my book. If you ever want to check out any of those appearances, head over to daviskho.com, click on the Speaking tab, and they’re all listed there. HOWEVER this week I was honored to be a guest on the Pop Culture Preservation Society Podcast – dedicated to preserving and elevating the unsung pop culture nuggets of the classic Gen X childhood. And what did Kristen, Carolyn, and Michelle want me to riff on? The early days of MTV. You may not know that I not only was there as a 15-year-...

“That’s my call”: San Francisco Ballet’s Christopher Dennis on the obvious career path that nonetheless had to be pointed out to him, the patience and grace that comes with experience, and the ballet’s pandemic pirouette to digital delivery. Stream the San Francisco Ballet’s 2021 season here Ok, George Lopez, being a trendsetter! Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 97 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on May 11, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Christopher Dennis 00:01 You know what? Everybody needs to understand and have a little grace. So I try to exercise that in my work today. There are challenging moments, obviously… Nancy Davis Kho 00:12 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] 00:34 This episode of The Midlife Mixtape Podcast is brought to you by Audible. Get a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.AudibleTrial.com/midlifemixtape. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android Kindle or mp3 player. And hey, one of those 180,000 titles is my book, The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time. It’s about a year I spent writing thank you letters to the people who had helped, shaped, or inspired me up to that point in my life. It gives the reader a blueprint for doing it themselves, and the science behind why gratitude and happiness are so tightly coupled… I hope it will be a tool to help readers emerge more gracefully from the pandemic! So go to www.AudibleTrial.com/midlifemixtape for your free audiobook. [MUSIC] Hi there people of the dual cassette boom box! I’m Nancy Davis Kho, creator and host of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast and author of The Thank-You Project. If you used to wash down your Bubble Yum with a Tab, maybe flip through your Wacky Packs to see if you got the Free Toes card, this is the podcast for YOU. I hope all of you who are moms had a wonderful Mother’s Day, and if it was a hard day for you for any reason, I’m sending you a big squeeze too. This is the first year I don’t have anyone to send a Mother’s Day card to and I knew it would be weird, and it was. Holidays, man. They’re complicated. But I had today’s episode to look forward to and I’m so excited for you to hear it. Before I get to it I’m going make a request – if you happen to listen to this show via Apple podcasts, on your iPhone – would you consider writing a review? I haven’t had any new reviews up there in AGES so if you haven’t written one yet, I’m hoping you’ll consider it – makes it so much easier for potential listeners to join the party here. Throughout the pandemic I’ve been fascinated by the ways in which this horrible awful no-good very bad time has supercharged innovation and sped up solutions to longstanding problems– whether in getting a vaccine into arms in record time, or moving homeless people into hotels, or making online learning more effective. And nowhere has that been more apparent than in the way performing arts organization...

“It means different things all the time, but it always works”: Listeners share stories of the music of their lives, from Prince to Joni Mitchell to The Beastie Boys and everyone in between. Find the full archive of 30+ Still in Rotation guest posts here! This 2021 re-recording of “Biko” by my still-in-rotation performer Peter Gabriel is just jaw-dropping to me. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 96 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on April 27, 2021. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Taya Dunn Johnson 00:00 All of his songs move me in different ways, and whenever I need to creative push, I know that this collection will give me what I need. Nancy Davis Kho 00:09 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:33 Hi Listeners! Before we get into today’s episode, I wanted to give a hearty congratulations to the team at TueNight.com, a community for GenX women – you’ve probably heard me talk about them before because I love the writing, interviews and resources on their site and in their FB community. Their founder and editor-in-chief Margit Detweiler was my guest for Episode 82 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast! Well, TueNight is now growing into the next step and, aside from a fabulous refresh of the TueNight.com website, they’re creating their own TueNight community platform for events, live and on-demand courses, topic-based groups and live chats. It’s been a long time coming and a lot of work on their part so I hope you’ll check out the TueNight.com – TUENIGHT.COM. She looks like she just came back from the spa or had VERY subtle work done. And while we’re on the topic,  let me shout out a couple more websites podcasts that aim at the ladies of a certain age: The Woolfer, Jumble & Flow, Dame Magazine, Girls of Certain Age – of course their creator Kim France was a guest on Ep 70 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast, she was the founding editor of Lucky Magazine – and a new one to me, Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause,  a multimedia project seeking to curate and share the stories and realities of Black women and femmes over 50. That’s https://blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com/ Lots of new stuff for your midlife listening, check it out! [MUSIC] Hi there and welcome to the Midlife Mixtape Podcast! I’m Nancy Davis Kho, creator and host of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast and author of The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time. Did you have a favorite member of New Edition, Menudo, or New Kids on the Block? Take your calcium supplement and relax, you’re among friends here.

“I grieve and thank Time for all of these reasons”: In this special year-end episode, a compendium of listeners’ stories of the losses they’re grieving and something they’re grateful for in 2020, and a tribute to the most wonderful mom in the world. * Midlife Mixtape End of Year Virtual Dance Party with DJ Damon – Dec 22 at 6 pm PT * Wendi Aarons’ humor writing on McSweeneys * Wendi Aarons’ humor writing on the New Yorker Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 89 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on December 22, 2020. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Nancy Davis Kho 00:00 I have more memories of this year than most. I understand how life can change in an instant and I will always be thankful for 2020, for it has truly made me stop and smell the roses. 00:12 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:37 If you’re hearing this episode on the day it publishes – that is, Tuesday, December 22, 2020 – I’d like to invite you to a celebration of the final Midlife Mixtape Podcast episode of the longest year in the history of print calendars. I’ve asked my friend DJ Damon, who in normal times spins ‘80s alternative dance music at the Cat Club in San Francisco, to host Midlife Mixtape listeners on his Twitch channel tonight for two hours, starting at 6 pm Pacific, 7 Mountain, 8 Central, and  9 pm Eastern. All you have to do at the appointed time is go to https://www.twitch.tv/dj_damon – that’s https://www.twitch.tv/dj_damon – don’t worry, I’ll leave a link in the show notes – and you’ll be at the party along with Prince, Bronski Beat, Depeche Mode and more. Obviously NOT like an in-person dance party but you can still turn your computer speakers all the way up to 11 and dance around your living room. There’s a chat function on Twitch and I’ll be hanging out there so I hope you’ll drop in and say hello. As you’re going to hear at the end of the episode, I’m haven’t been able to put together my normal OCD playlist for this one, so I’m relying on you guys to add your requests to the chat tonight and Damon will get them spinning. No matter how you’re feeling today -sad, angry, disappointed, grateful, optimistic, lucky – dancing is always the right answer. I mean, we’ve all seen the solo Kevin Bacon anger dance scene in Footloose, right? Dance out those feelings. I hope you’ll join in for a single song or for a couple of hours tonight, Dec 22 at 6 pm PT at https://www.twitch.tv/dj_damon. I’ll buy the first round! [MUSIC] Nancy Welcome to the final episode of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast of 2020. I’m the host and creator of the show, Nancy Davis Kho, and I’m so glad you’re joining us. I hope if this show has brought you laughter, good memories,

“Find an upbeat ending”: NYT bestselling author Bruce Feiler on the power of storytelling when we go through difficult times, the universal patterns of “lifequakes”, and how we can better manage change at any age. * BruceFeiler.com * Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age * The Life Story Project * Bruce’s Ted Talks In honor of Bruce’s first concert, my mom’s birthday this week, and presenting Midlife Mixtape Podcast sponsor Amateur Music Network, I bring you my favorite JD song to belt out. Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 88 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on December 8, 2020. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Bruce Feiler 00:01 The proper response to a setback is a story. So, you’re going to move on, and the only question is: what story are you going to tell about it? 00:10 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy Davis Kho 00:35 Hi listeners – Just as quick reminder as you’re doing your holiday shopping this year that indie bookstores, indie music venues, and creatives of all stripes need your support in order to be around to greet us when we emerge from this pandemic. I’m inviting you to be creative in your giving this year – buy a ticket for an artist’s live stream concert, tip generously when a DJ you like does a live set on Twitch, buy some merch from a club or a singer you love. Your local bookstore probably has gifts from $3 bookmarks on up to fat coffee table books, and they’re keeping employment and tax dollars right in your neighborhood. I hope you’ll remember to shop local, shop small, and keep live music alive in your life this December! [MUSIC] Hey there Pop Rocks, and if you need that reference go back and listen to Episode 87 with Joanna Bloor. Nancy here and I hope you’re hanging in, keeping your masks tight, your distances social, and your sanity intact. That light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter every day, and we are going to get there. I am really excited about today’s conversation because it’s one that I think couldn’t come at a better time for all of us. My guest today is Bruce Feiler. Bruce Feiler is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers; the presenter of two prime-time series on PBS; and the inspiration for the drama series COUNCIL OF DADS on NBC. Bruce’s two TED Talks have been viewed more than two million times. His new book, LIFE IS IN THE TRANSITIONS: Ma...

“Figure out your ball”: In her work as “aspiring Fairy Godmother”, tech startup veteran Joanna Bloor talks about uncovering your unique magic, why “adventure timelines” are better than resumes, and channeling her inner Bette Midler. * Joanna’s website Joanna Bloor * Joanna working with Fatima to create magic – video * Joanna’s live show every Friday talking about the Future of the Human Workplace and how you can rock your place in it. Tickets Here * FIGURE 8 VOYAGE – 4 Oceans, 2 Circumnavigations, 1 Guy, 1 Year – Alone. * Sign up for Joanna’s newsletter here. No sequins but this is a damn ‘80s delight Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 87 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on November 24, 2020. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Joanna Bloor 00:00 “Who do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question that never ends.  The fact that we stop asking people at like, what, 10? I think it’s crazy. I think we should ask people all the time. 00:12 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy Davis Kho 00:36 Hi listeners – I just want to take a moment at the top of this Thanksgiving Week episode to express my thanks to all of you for listening to the Midlife Mixtape Podcast! It’s gratifying to know that my loyal listeners are as interested in the insights from a grab bag of interesting people “in the years between being hip and breaking one” as I am – and I look forward to bringing that #relatablecontent to your ears in the months to come. Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving in whatever form that takes in 2020 – go back and listen to Ep 86 with Epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford if you need a reminder of just how to do that – and thank you for tuning in to the show! [MUSIC] Hello, Gum Drops. I start most of my episodes with some variation on “Hi Guys,” but I recently saw an Instagram post encouraging us to drop that word in favor of less gendered, more inclusive nouns, and Gum Drops was one of them, which tells me that literally anything goes. So, in the future, prepare yourself to be addressed as Pet Rocks, Pop Rocks, and Bands that Have Been Overlooked by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Before I introduce today’s guest, I want to invite you to listen all the way to the end because it’s almost time for another Listener Contributed Episode – this one will be the final episode of the year. I want to collect YOUR stories and I’ll tell you the topic towards the end of the show. When I first connected with today’s guest I was immediately struck by her optimism and positivity. We were talking about recording an episode for October, but it occurred to me: she could be my post-election insurance policy. If things hadn’t broken the way we hoped, I realized she might be the one person who could walk us back from the abyss with her focus on future and potential. What a THRILL to realize,

“The responsible thing to do”: In this special episode, UCSF public health specialist Dr. George Rutherford MD answers Midlife Mixtape listeners’ questions about COVID, vaccine development, and how to stay safe in the months ahead. Fresh Garbage but ain’t no spinach Thanks as always to M. The Heir Apparent, who provides the music behind the podcast – check him out here! ***This is a rough transcription of Episode 86 of the Midlife Mixtape Podcast. It originally aired on November 10, 2020. Transcripts are created using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and there may be errors in this transcription, but we hope that it provides helpful insight into the conversation. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email dj@midlifemixtape.com *** Dr. George Rutherford, MD 00:00 It’s unfortunate, but this is a moment in time. This time next year this problem will hopefully be solved. 00:08 Welcome to Midlife Mixtape, The Podcast. I’m Nancy Davis Kho and we’re here to talk about the years between being hip and breaking one. [THEME MUSIC – “Be Free” by M. The Heir Apparent] Nancy 00:33 This year’s Thanksgiving celebrations may be the strangest on record – between the hardships of 2020 and the fear of COVID spread, it’s unlikely we’re celebrating the holiday as usual. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons to be grateful, or ways to find more thankfulness in our lives. And to make it easier, I’m giving away ten signed copies of my book, The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time, on Goodreads. Just head over to Goodsreads.com and search for the book or for my name, and you’ll find the page that lets you enter to win. Of course, you can also find the book in bookstores, online, and for audio download – all the details at www.DavisKho.com. And hey, the holidays are coming…how about writing a thank-you letter to someone and tucking it inside my very pretty little blue book? It’s a double whammy – science shows that both you and the letter recipient will feel better! Then you can just sit back and tuck YOURSELF into some eggnog and sugar cookies? It’s a thought. Hey people, we’re back! I’m Nancy Davis Kho and I want to thank you for tuning in. How’s your stress level? I’m recording this episode on the fourth day of November 3,  three days AFTER the election, so while I’m optimistic about the outcome of the presidential race and hoping not to be dropping an episode during a civil war, I have to assume it could happen? In which case, may your toilet paper supplies be robust, your reflexes sharp, and your battle hymns ready. That’s gallows humor, I don’t know what we’re supposed to be thinking or doing right now. I look forward to the day that I can go 24 hours in a row without thinking about the president. Today’s episode is a bit different than normal, but given the circumstances, I figured you wouldn’t mind. The deal is that I know an epidemiologist, and in 2020, that’s quite a useful connection to have. So, I asked if he would come on the show and talk not about midlife, but about COVID: where we are, where we’re going, what we need to know right now. (Of course, I asked him about his first concert, I’m not a barbarian.) You all sent in some questions, I had some of my own, and the result is today’s interview, with Dr. George W. Rutherford, M.D. Dr. Rutherford is the Salvatore Pablo Lucia Professor of Epidemiology, Preventive Medicine, Pediatrics and History and Head of the Division of Infectious Disease and Global Epidemiology in th...