Second Breaks

What is delight, really? Not just happiness, not quite joy, but something sparkier and more surprising. In this episode, I talk with writer and yoga therapist Alex Lovell, whose essay “Delight: A Radical Invitation” caught me at just the right time. We explore what makes delight feel different from other emotions, how we can (maybe?) invite more of it into our lives, and why it matters, especially when the world feels heavy.This is a conversation about delight, yes — but also about presence, burnout, bittersweet memories, emotional vocabulary, and squirrels. (Really.)ABOUT MY GUEST:Alex Lovell, Ph.D., is a Yoga Therapist, a Political Psychologist, and the Writer of the Substack publication, Life as I See It. Alex helps you reclaim that hidden space so that you can navigate life feeling anchored, renewed, and at peace.IN THIS EPISODE:- The difference between joy, happiness, and delight- Why slowing down might actually start with noticing- Presence as more than just “being in the moment”- Emotional memory and why your body sometimes cries before your brain knows why- The limits of control and the quiet power of choosing where our energy goes- Delight as an act of resistance — and a path back to ourselvesCheck out the full show notes for this episode here: https://loublaser.substack.com/p/236-alex-lovell• • • • •Subscribe to We're All Getting Older — it’s like sitting at the kitchen table with strong coffee and real good questions: https://loublaser.substack.comConnect with Lou Blaser on Substack: https://substack.com/@loublaserConnect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/ Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

Matthew Long, retired Navy officer and writer at Beyond the Bookshelf, joins me in this conversation about planning for a major life change.Too often, we drift into the next thing simply because it’s familiar. In this conversation, Matthew explains how he avoided this drift and planned his post-retirement life after a long career in the Navy. ABOUT MY GUEST:Matthew Long spent 24 years on active duty in the Navy before retiring in 2024. His civilian life is all about being a reader, a writer, and spending a lot of time with his dog, Lola. He resides in Tennessee with Jannette, his wife of 22 years, and their 17-year-old daughter, while their eldest son is off to college.IN THIS EPISODE:- The challenges of transitioning from a structured career to an open-ended future- How Matthew approached his retirement beyond just the financial side- The blueprint process he used to get clear on his next steps- Changes in family dynamics and household roles post-retirement- How Matthew is putting his blueprint into action—and what his next chapter looks likeCheck out the full show notes for this episode here: https://loublaser.substack.com/p/235-matthew-long• • • • •Subscribe to We're All Getting Older, a newsletter about living a vibrant & fulfilling life so we can die happy later: https://loublaser.substack.comConnect with Lou Blaser on Substack: https://substack.com/@loublaserConnect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/ Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

I am joined by Yvonne Marchese, whose boundless energy and fearless approach to trying new things always inspire me. In this lively conversation, Yvonne shares her secrets to staying energized, curious, and playful in midlife (and beyond).ABOUT MY GUEST:Yvonne Marchese is a former actress turned photographer, podcaster, author, age-agitator, and person who encourages us all to live and age playfully. On Instagram, you will often find her posting clips of her rollerskating or doing fun, playful things and just celebrating her midlife. IN THIS EPISODE:- How Yvonne’s “beginner’s mindset” keeps her excited about life- Her leap into photography, roller skating, and even writing a book- Overcoming fear, self-doubt, and the little voice that says, “You can’t”- Why surrounding yourself with inspiring people is a game-changer- And her plans to lean into playfulness in 2025Check out the full show notes for this episode here: https://loublaser.substack.com/p/234-yvonne-marchese• • • • •Subscribe to We're All Getting Older, a newsletter about how to live now so we can die happy later: https://loublaser.substack.comConnect with Lou Blaser on Substack: https://substack.com/@loublaserConnect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/ Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

I’m back! The podcast has been on hiatus since August, which has given me the time to plan the way forward.In this episode, I talk about rocks versus pebbles (you know that story, right?) and how that analogy has helped me define the future of this podcast. I also discuss how the podcast complements We’re All Getting Older (the main publication) and what you can expect from January onward.• • • • •Subscribe to We're All Getting Older, a newsletter about how to live now so we can die happy later: https://loublaser.substack.comConnect with Lou Blaser on Substack: https://substack.com/@loublaserConnect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/ Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

Some things are changing around here, and I wanted to share the thought process, where I'm coming from and what's next for the podcast. Please be sure to subscribe to We're All Getting Older, to hear about future releases. We're All Getting Older is a weekly publication that explores living a fulfilling and meaningful second half of our lives.FOOTNOTESSlowing Down Time------------Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/Subscribe to We're All Getting Older: https://loublaser.substack.com/Work With Lou Blaser: https://www.loublaser.com/bookacallSupport the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/secondbreaksThank you! Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is brought to you by We're All Getting Older, a publication and a community for midlifers who want to get better as they get older.I am joined by writing coach and bestselling author Jen Louden. In this episode, we chat about the aspirations many midlife individuals have to write a book. Jen emphasizes the importance of recognizing the desire to write, distinguishing it from the desire to master the craft. We discuss the benefits and challenges of writing groups, finding the right mentors, and the emotional vulnerability of sharing one's work. We also talked about how to find and work with book coaches. Jen offers practical advice for aspiring writers, encouraging them to embrace their creative journey and find joy in the process.GUEST LINKSJen Louden's webpage: https://jenniferlouden.com/Why Bother: Discover The Desire For What's NextJen Louden on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenlouden/Jen Louden on Substack: https://jenniferlouden.substack.com/FOOTNOTESAuthor Accelerator: https://www.authoraccelerator.com/matchmeCaroline Knapp memoirs: https://amzn.to/4fqtt0P and https://amzn.to/4frxmCYTara Westover memoir: https://amzn.to/3WoBStb------------Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/Subscribe to We're All Getting Older: https://loublaser.substack.com/Work With Lou Blaser: https://www.loublaser.com/bookacallSupport the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/secondbreaksThank you! Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is brought to you by We're All Getting Older, a publication and community for midlifers who want to get better as they get older.Grief is a universal experience, yet it is deeply personal and unique to each individual. In this episode, I continue the conversation about grief and explore the relationship and connection between grieving and liminal spaces, how our behavior about liminality applies to grieving, and the "tasks to be done" during this particular — often painful — liminal period.  Find the essay version of this episode on We're All Getting Older: https://loublaser.substack.com/FOOTNOTESEp 229: Can we talk about grief? With Charlene LamEp 226: The Purpose of Liminal Spaces------------Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/Subscribe to We're All Getting Older: https://loublaser.substack.com/Work With Lou Blaser: https://www.loublaser.com/bookacallSupport the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/secondbreaksThank you. Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is brought to you by We're All Getting Older, a publication and a community for midlifers who want to get better as they get older.I am joined by Charlene Lam, grief coach, speaker, and founder of the Grief Gallery.This is a wide-ranging conversation about "processing" our grief after the death of a loved one. We talked about the common feelings that show up during the grieving process, like guilt and regret. We discussed the topic of "moving on," what that even means, and how to differentiate between "normal grieving",  situations when you may need help, and the spectrum of care. Charlene also shared her unique approach to dealing with the belongings of our loved ones and how to reclaim the narrative and the stories we would like to remember and tell about them. GUEST LINKSCharlene Lam's website: https://www.charlenelam.com/Charlene Lam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curating_grief/FOOTNOTESThe Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion------------Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/Subscribe to We're All Getting Older: https://loublaser.substack.com/Work With Lou Blaser: https://www.loublaser.com/bookacallSupport the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/secondbreaksThank you! Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is brought to you by We're All Getting Older, a publication and a community for midlifers who want to get better as they get older.As a follow-up to the previous episode with Yvonne Marchese (Ep 228: Can we slow down time?), I'm sharing further thoughts about time — why it feels like it's moving too fast, where this sense of time urgency comes from, and the three areas that I'm going to address in an attempt to "slow down time". FOOTNOTESEp 228: Can we slow down time? A conversation with Yvonne Marchese------------Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/Subscribe to We're All Getting Older: https://loublaser.substack.com/Work With Lou Blaser: https://www.loublaser.com/bookacallSupport the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/secondbreaksThank you. Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is brought to you by We're All Getting Older, a publication and a community for midlifers who want to get better as they get older.Do you feel like time's rushing by so fast? Do you wish you could slow it down, just a bit, so you can enjoy the days or even just catch your breath?In this episode, my good friend and author of In Full Bloom, Yvonne Marchese, joins me to explore how we can slow down time — if that's even possible, given our busy lives. Both Yvonne and I have done a great job culling out our activities, carefully and deliberately choosing what we put on our plates. So, we're exploring how we can pause more and enjoy these things that we've chosen to put on our plates! Neither Yvonne nor I have THE answers, but we definitely came up with a handful to try and incorporate into our day-to-day. GUEST LINKS:In Full Bloom: A Guide To Aging PlayfulyYvonne Marchese's Late Bloomer Living PodcastFollow Yvonne Marchese on Instagram------------Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loublaser/Subscribe to We're All Getting Older: https://loublaser.substack.com/Work With Lou Blaser: https://www.loublaser.com/bookacallSupport the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/secondbreaksThank you! Get full access to Shaping Life at loublaser.substack.com/subscribe