You Did Everything Right. Why Does Midlife Feel So Wrong?

JOIN ME AT THE NATIONAL MENOPAUSE SHOW Come for honest conversations, practical information and a whole lot of midlife connection. When: Oct 17, 2026–Oct 18, 2026 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Where: The International Centre, Hall 5, Mississauga, Ontario. I’ll be podcasting from the show floor, including a live conversation with Jessica Holmes on Saturday. Come say hello! Use my code TRANSFORM45 for 15% off your tickets. Tickets: National Menopause Show tickets What happens when you’ve done everything “right”—and still find yourself asking, Who am I now? Around her 50th birthday, Jennifer Arthurton faced divorce, unemployment, an empty nest and illness. The checklist she’d followed no longer offered an answer for what came next. In this episode of Transforming 45, Jennifer and Lisa Boate talk honestly about the grief and anger that can come with a changing identity, the energy it takes to perform a perfect life, and the small questions that can bring you back to yourself. Jennifer shares how writing opened a door to creativity she hadn’t recognised, why stillness was so uncomfortable, and how she learned to ask harder questions without taking responsibility for everyone else’s reaction. You’ll hear about: Letting go of the “good girl” script Finding identity beyond work, marriage and motherhood Listening to your preferences instead of automatically accommodating everyone Practising self-trust through small everyday choices Building community that supports you and challenges you Chapters: 00:00 Who am I now? Introducing Jennifer Arthurton 01:40 The corporate checklist and the “good girl” script 04:37 Divorce, empty nest and the grief behind starting over 08:04 Finding an identity beyond your roles 10:41 Discovering creativity and Old Chicks Know Sh*t 13:56 The energy cost of performing a perfect life 19:15 Learning to stop—and making room for stillness 23:23 Practising self-trust through small choices 25:24 Lisa’s personal experience of stillness and memory 28:25 What do I want? Questions and boundaries 30:44 People-pleasing and asking difficult questions 32:17 Community, collaboration and being fully expressed 38:36 Jennifer’s personal perspective on menopause and purpose 41:11 Trusting yourself in your next chapter About Jennifer Jennifer Arthurton is the founder of Old Chicks Know Sh*t, a platform, podcast and community supporting women navigating midlife and their next chapter. In the conversation, she also discusses her Maven Collective community. CONNECT WITH JENNIFER Instagram: @oldchicksknowshit Facebook: Jennifer on Facebook Website: Old Chicks Know Sh*t Podcast: Old Chicks Know Sh*t Podcast CONNECT WITH LISA Website: Liberated Menopause Consulting & Coaching Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca Instagram: @lboate Facebook: Lisa on Facebook Facebook community: Join Lisa’s community Follow Transforming 45 in your listening app so the next conversation is easy to find. If this episode makes you think of someone, send it to her. Personal experiences and perspectives are shared in this episode; they do not establish causes of illness or replace individual healthcare advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices