Getting Started With Sourdough!

Like most of the world, Meagan has been intrigued by sourdough baking for a while - but she always worried that the complicated steps and scientific process wouldn’t be a fit for her rather…laissez-faire style of baking. But when she finally took the plunge, she found baking sourdough to be much more creative, intuitive, and forgiving than she’d thought, and a perfect expression of midlife kitchen creativity. In this episode Meagan shares the basic steps to getting started with sourdough baking, what kind of loaves she likes to make most, the products she leans on, and the daily and weekly routines that have helped her keep baking consistently, week after week.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Is midlife the perfect time to lean into sports fandom, even (or especially) if nobody in your house is an athlete? In this episode Sarah shares why enjoying a game (occasionally from the bleachers; usually from the sofa) is one of her favorite midlife lady leisure pursuits. From sports movies and documentaries to minor-league teams and of course, game-day snacks, sports fandom has a lot of layers to explore. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This time of year, witches seem to be everywhere - especially if you’re a woman in midlife. Meagan and Sarah have both joked about being in our “witchy” era, but since neither of us actually want to cast spells or practice divination, what do we even mean by that? In this episode we break down some of the “witchy” tropes we find ourselves gravitating toward in midlife, and why we think we’re drawn to everything from raising hens and growing herbs to wild hair and wisdom. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Have you ever really looked at a quilt? There’s more to this art form than meets the eye, and in this episode Sarah shares what she’s learning from a quilting workshop she’s been taking at a local craft store. Listen to hear what she’s learning (and be sure to scroll through the show notes at our Substack, linked below, for photos of her project.) Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Most people think of the library as a place to check out books. But it’s so much more than that! From free services and programming to a variety of objects available to borrow, the library can act as a place to work, rest, create, and gather. In this episode Meagan and Sarah share some of their favorite ways to use the library, and what they’re feeling inspired to try in the future.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How do you find out what’s happening where you live? From arts and culture news to the latest dispatches from local government, in this episode Meagan and Sarah talk about why paying attention to hyperlocal news can feel like an antidote to the anxiety machine of national news and give you a manageable way to become more involved in civic life.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the active parenting years, volunteering tends to center around our kids. Midlife gives us the opportunity to broaden our gaze a bit, and ask ourselves "how do I actually want to give back?" In this episode Meagan and Sarah discuss the ways volunteering has shifted over the years, and the various opportunities they've discovered for making a difference - from pitching in here and there, to heading up projects, to civic engagement and everything in between.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tending houseplants may be the ultimate midlife hobby, but it doesn’t always come naturally. In this episode Sarah shares how her indoor garden has grown from a few decorative potted plants into a more ambitious and seriously joyful pastime, while Meagan confesses that her own houseplants have become more like "wallpaper" - hanging around, often forgotten - and hopes for inspiration to create a more intentional approach.Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Over the past few years, both Meagan and Sarah have become more serious about that quintessential midlife lady leisure pursuit, gardening: but each with her own specific approach. From containers on the deck for Meagan to raised beds for Sarah, fruit trees for both, and a perennial garden that Meagan hopes will eventually develop into a wild garden straight out of a storybook, in this episode the ladies share what they’re growing, how they’re growing it, and how their approach to gardening continues to evolve. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

One of the nicest surprises of being a midlife lady: eventually, you get to step away from the production-line approach to meal-planning and cooking and start cooking for yourself - JUST yourself again. From happily repetitive meal-planning to dishes we put a lot of thought and time into once and then enjoy for days, to charcuterie-for-dinner and more, this episode is all about the way we feed ourselves, when we’re the only ones we have to feed. Find an expanded episode story with photos and links at http://www.midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com. Thank you to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Vionic! Check out our favorite styles at https://midlifeladyleisurepursuits.substack.com/p/vionic.Listeners of Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits can use code MIDLIFE at vionicshoes.com to save 15% when you log into your account. One time use only.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy