The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40
Sometime around age 40 (+/-) you might start feeling like some part of your life no longer fits and you don't know what to do about it. It could be at work or at home - or simply inside of you. You might be asking questions like, "How did I get here?" Or, "Is this all there is?" "Is this what I've been working so hard for?" Or, "Why aren't I happier?"
Growing out of her own experience turning 40, Stephanie McLaughlin became captivated by the big “four oh,” and how people handle the milestone birthday.
On The Big Four Oh Podcast, Stephanie has conversations with people about their life experience around turning 40. This birthday often comes wrapped in larger life changes, whether it’s a newfound search for meaning, accepting your mortality, or shedding all those things you did because some external authority said you “should.”
Her mission is to make it common cultural knowledge that there IS a transition most of us face around age 40, and then showcase so many versions of that transition that every single person approaching, or recently turned, 40 with dread in their heart, knows that they are not alone.
I know you don't want to call it a midlife crisis, so I won't, but "if the glove fits, you must acquit." 😉
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 47 minutes
- Episodes
- 140
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Turning 40 and Unraveling Codependency
In this episode of The Big Four Oh Podcast, Stephanie talks to Emily Hall, who shares her remarkable journey through tumultuous life experiences, including a toxic childhood, substance abuse, near-de…
Turning 40 and Weathering the Storms of Loss
Today, Philip Blackett reflects on his upbringing in the South, growing up with a single mother, and the pivotal roles his grandparents played in shaping his values. As he navigates midlife, Philip r…
Announcement: Forty Drinks is now The Big Four Oh
After 115 episodes, Forty Drinks is relaunching as The Big Four Oh: The Podcast About Turning 40. The podcast maintains the same mission and focus, but will move forward under a new name with the goa…
Turning 40 and Realizing I Am the Boss of Me
In this episode, Stephanie talks to Marc Scheff about the midlife transitions experienced around the age of 40. They discuss Mark’s journey, including incidents that led him to take up jiu jitsu, his…
Turning 40 and Finding Purpose in Poetry After Loss
Gabby Gilliam shares her experience of navigating through multiple losses, career transitions, moves, and personal growth from her early 30s to her early 40s. She talks about her late start in becomi…
Turning 40 and Ejecting From the Default Life - Together
In this episode of the Forty Drinks Podcast, Stephanie interviews Meredith and Craig Bennett, her first dual interview guests, about their shared midlife transition. The couple discusses their backgr…
Turning 40 and Making it Through the Messy, Muddy Middle
Today, Laurie-Ann Murabito shares her midlife transition journey, beginning in her early 30s working in healthcare; meeting and losing her husband Bob to cancer after being married less than a year; …
Turning 40 and Cracking the Code on Anger
Dr. Mort Orman discusses his personal journey with anger management. Despite being a successful physician, Mort struggled with deep-seated anger issues that began in his college years. Through person…
Turning Forty and 12-Stepping My Way to Happiness
In this episode of the Forty Drinks Podcast, Fran Caudron opens up about her upbringing in a strict Catholic family, her early marriage to an addict, and the subsequent emotional turmoil. She discuss…
Turning 40 and Awakening to Hidden Gifts
In this episode of the Forty Drinks Podcast, Stephanie welcomes Anjel Hartwell to explore her profound spiritual awakening and transformation that began at the age of 38. The conversation explores An…
Turning 40 and Breaking Free from Childhood Narratives
Marina Theron-Monnery opens up about her journey from growing up during apartheid in South Africa, through challenging romantic relationships that reflected the toxicity of her childhood home, to the…
The Difference Between a Midlife Crisis and The Ick
In the first episode of season six of the Forty Drinks Podcast, Stephanie McLaughlin delves into the concept of the 'Ick,' a common feeling of discomfort experienced around the age of 40. Unlike the …
Turning 40 and Surviving a High-Conflict Divorce
In this compelling episode of the Forty Drinks Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Karen McMahon to delve into the challenges she faced in her marriage and how they transformed her into a stronger, mor…
Turning 40 and Overcoming Cultural Expectations
In this episode, Dhruv Sethi shares his experiences of immigrating from India to Sweden at age six and then moving to London in his 20s. He talks about the cultural and familial expectations of the l…
Turning Forty and Rediscovering JOY Through Play
Today, Stephanie chats with Yvonne Marchese, host of the Late Bloomer Living podcast, about her journey of self-discovery and transition at midlife. Yvonne shares her story, from pursuing her early d…
Turning 40 and Burning It All to the Ground
Today, Lauren Schenck shares her brave journey from being trapped in a toxic, narcissistic marriage to rebuilding her life and discovering self-love in her 40s. Lauren recounts the challenges she fac…
Turning 40 and Getting Healthy after Being Raised in a Cult
Today, Stephanie sits down with Shana Francesca, who shares her harrowing journey through a traumatic childhood raised inside an evangelical Christian cult. Shana's talks about growing up in an envir…
Turning 40 and Healing From Parental Kidnapping as a Baby
In this moving episode of the Forty Drinks Podcast, host Stephanie McLaughlin talks with Rita Bliven about her tumultuous early life, marked by a messy parental divorce, being kidnapped by her father…
From Fenway to Forever: Celebrating 30 Years of Friendship
In the 100th episode of the Forty Drinks Podcast, Stephanie welcomes her longtime friend Adrian Walker for a heartfelt and reflective conversation. They reminisce about their first meeting at Fenway …
Turning 40 and Going on 50 First Dates
Julie Hutsell-Starling was in her mid 30s and in the middle of a toxic relationship she couldn’t extract herself from when she heard a song that changed everything. It was the catalyst to finally lea…