Turning 40 and breaking down in banana bread

Author: Stephanie McLaughlin
Published: Mon 04 Aug 2025
Episode Link: https://fortydrinks.com/episodes/turning-40-and-breaking-down-in-banana-bread

Turning 40 and breaking down in banana bread

When Edel Howlin moved from Ireland to Houston in her late 20s, she was certain she was building her dream life. She found her calling in public radio and was thriving professionally. But a decade later, and another relocation, to Philadelphia in her late 30s, triggered a profound and unexpected unraveling. What started as a fresh chapter became a full-on identity crisis. Without a job to define her and overwhelmed by change, Edel found herself crying, storming out of the house, and eventually taking refuge in bed with a cup of tea and banana bread. That messy, quiet breakdown would become the birthplace of her reinvention. In this episode, Edel shares how she built a business from the ashes, and why she’s never been happier.

Highlights from this episode:

Edel’s winding path from a science degree in Ireland to her dream job in public radio in Houston
Why moving to a new city in her late 30s upended her identity, and led to a full-blown midlife crisis
How a literal pause (in bed, with banana bread) helped her start listening to her inner voice
The moment she realized she’d been chasing “success” instead of happiness
How gardening unexpectedly planted the seeds for her next chapter
The surprising empowerment of realizing: I am enough, without needing outside validation
Why her business now feels like joy, not just work

Edel Howlin’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the path to who we’re meant to be isn’t straight; it’s full of detours, breakdowns, and banana bread-fueled breakthroughs. In her 20s, she followed her husband and her love for radio across the Atlantic. In her late 30s, she followed her husband to Philadelphia, and promptly lost her sense of self. But in the pause, she began to hear her own voice. What emerged was not just a new career path, but a deeper understanding of herself. Edel's midlife transition wasn’t graceful, but it was powerful. And today, she’s living life on her own terms, with more joy and confidence than ever before.

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Do you have the Midlife Ick?

Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from this insidious midlife malaise. www.thebigfouroh.com/ick