If you’ve ever wondered what World Menopause Month can mean for you — whether you’re in midlife, care about someone who is, or just curious about how we mark life’s transitions — this episode is worth a listen. In my chat with Keri Mangis, TEDx speaker and wholeness advocate, we look at menopause not as a medical event or an ending, but as a sacred rite of passage, a time to pause and reflect on what’s next.

We talk about reframing menopause, moving beyond society’s narrative of decline and silence, and embracing it as an opportunity to become an elder — someone who carries wisdom forward. You’ll hear how acknowledging and marking major life transitions (even the messy, in-between parts) can help you deepen your creativity, understand the cycles of renewal, and find new meaning, no matter what stage you’re in.

For fellow podcasters or creators, you’ll walk away with ideas on:

• How rituals and ceremonies can make any life transition more meaningful (and approachable to discuss in your own story-driven projects)

• Why pausing and reflecting on messy middles matters for creative growth

• Ways to support others through change — even when you’re not experiencing it yourself

Connect With Keri Mangis
Website: https://kerimangis.com/

LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/keri-mangis-

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Chapters

00:00 Welcome and World Menopause Month
00:51 Menopause as Rite of Passage
01:17 Personal Meaning of Menopause
02:31 Speaking Up and Sharing the Message
03:28 Ceremony Versus Medical Event
03:55 Marking Important Life Transitions
04:42 Menopause as a Pause
05:22 Adulthood to Elderhood
07:21 Impact of Society’s Narrative
08:08 Silence and Stigma
09:01 Messy Middle: Personal Story
10:46 Wisdom From Transitions
11:52 Parenting and New Beginnings
12:53 Reflection and Hindsight
14:07 Releasing Fears
15:16 Cycles of Renewal
16:36 Redefining Growth and Success
16:42 Deep Transformation Isn’t Hobby
18:23 Rituals for Menopause
19:39 Pause Day & Ceremony
21:18 Advice for Women Feeling Lost
22:25 Granting Grace and Patience
23:41 How Partners and Coworkers Can Support
26:42 Embracing Cycles for All
27:26 Closing Reflections
28:14 Lightning Round: Words, Rituals, Books
31:32 Midlife Theme Songs and Memoirs
32:21 New Book Announcement
34:46 Exploring Creativity and Publishing
35:58 Wrap-Up and Where to Connect