Midlife Whatever: Recent Episodes
Kelly Thompson
The podcast where I examine how GenXers, Xennials and older Millenials are doing midlife.
My guests are global. Their issues are universal.
Hosted by Kelly Thompson.
Trigger Warning: interfamilial violence
Today’s guest is Rachel! Rachel and I had a fantastic meet-cute at Asheville Lice when our children had to get certified as “lice-free” before they started the school year. Our families hit it off instantly. In addition to being a fantastic mom who is just so rad, her handy work in carpentry and interior design is top notch. One of the most fun facts about my sardonic friend is that she lived in Celebration, Florida, even though she hates Disney.
Rachel is here today to discuss the reality of being part of the sandwich generation - aka when a GenXer or older Millennial finds themselves caring for both their young children and their aging parent.
Today is a first for the podcast! In light of the leaked Supreme Court draft on the challenge to Roe v Wade in the US (also known as when abortion became legal), I put out a call for stories to middle-aged uterus-having people who have had abortions. They poured in from friends around the world. However, Lorin was introduced over social media by a mutual friend. We’ve never met IRL, as the kids say.
Lorin is a lifelong Memphian (Memphis, TN US) and musician raised by a fierce feminist. In addition to throwing some of the first raves in Memphis many years ago, she has had global success as a singer as well. Due to needing flexibility as a mother, she ran a cleaning business for two decades. Lorin has spent her life advocating for equity - from the front lines to the behind the scenes. She has been pregnant five times - two abortions, one miscarriage, two kids. She holds a degree in psychology.
Content warning: death of a spouse
Today’s guest, Mona, is one of my closest friends on the planet. She’s a ride-or-die, as the youth say. She’s brilliant, witty, and can kick anyone’s ass in trivia (she’s even auditioned for Jeopardy! A few times!). I joke that she must slather her face with virgin blood because she always looks about 10 years younger than her age. If she could travel back in time, she’d likely be a groupie for the Pixies and Sonic Youth. I love her and her amazing Egyptian-American family. Listen to her tell the story of the sudden passing of her husband, Frans, and her grieving process.
Monica and I met at very delicate times in our lives: both of us were newly postpartum and wondering “what the hell do I do now?” Usually I have a fantastic memory, but my severe postpartum depression prevented me from making too many concrete memories of my time in Portland. However, I do remember Monica. Her hilarious quick-witted nature drew me in and kept me there. Over the years we’ve kept in touch and recently have been each other’s support systems through neurodivergent diagnoses and spousal separations.
On today’s episode, I talk to John, a true renaissance man. John is easily one of the most interesting people I know. He has lived and worked all over the world, plays musical instruments, is a phenomenal cook, and has pursued a Master’s degree and PhD in fermentation sciences after the age of 40. However, the reason why I love John is because he was one of my sanity savers in a toxic work environment. His kindness and gentle spirit was a rock as all while he navigated overt and subversive racism and I navigated a pre-me too hellscape of sexual harassment. We’ve maintained intermittent contact over the years as two friends who have had freakishly similar life experiences even though we live thousands of miles apart. This is a phenomenal first person account of the reality of being a Black man in all-white spaces and the universal struggles of all parents in the modern era.
On today’s episode, I talk to Jett, my brother from another mother. Our life stories are completely different. We look radically different. They’re a stunning, super tall, fat LatinX person who has impeccable style and hair. And my look… I look like a skinny, hipster-grunge version of a Becky. Unremarkable white person. BUT! Regardless of upbringing and aesthetics, we’re remarkably similar. Jett and I have been there for each other over the years and man - a lot of shit has happened!
I should say, that this will be NSFW and have strong language.
On this inaugural episode of the podcast, I talk to my friend Jay.
I chose Jay to be my first guest because of the joy that he brings to any space he occupies. Jay and I met over ten years ago in Bangkok. As soon as we met each other, we knew that we would be lifelong friends. He and his husband would always keep us laughing until we cried. Jay is also a phenomenal cook, a phenomenal party host and an incredible singer. He is a gay Thai man who is thriving by living as his authentic self.