{"id":9417,"date":"2023-07-05T12:49:11","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T16:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/?p=9417"},"modified":"2023-07-17T20:50:20","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T00:50:20","slug":"midlife-crack-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/issues\/summer-2023-cat\/midlife-crack-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Midlife Crack-Up?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sisters Julie Howard \u201986 and Abby Rodman \u201984 host Sisters Cracking Up<\/em>, a podcast focused on midlife. They interview authors and experts as they seek truth and sanity. It\u2019s funny, poignant, insightful, authentic\u00ad\u2014 and did we mention funny? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Diane M. Sterrett <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Midlife can be hard enough\u2014aging parents, empty nests, career challenges, physical changes\u2014but then throw a pandemic in the midst and you have the makings of a crack-up. Sisters Abby Rodman \u201984 and Julie Howard \u201986 have each other to lean on, and their listeners have their podcast, Sisters Cracking Up<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think back to spring of 2020. Like many, Abby, a psychotherapist, and Julie, a life and leadership coach, were hunkered down, worried about getting sick, sanitizing everything, living too far apart, and dealing with ever-present uncertainty. They had always wanted to work together and saw the pandemic as an opportunity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe idea was to create a community of women in our age group where we talk about all the things that really crack us, and all the things that keep us laughing, keep us sane.\u201d
\u2014Abby Rodman ’84 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe both had more time on our hands than we ever had before; we were checking in on each other more often. The podcast gave us flexibility to work on a project where we didn\u2019t have to travel and we didn\u2019t have to be together,\u201d Julie says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their focus on midlife grew organically, as well. As they point out, it\u2019s a life stage that previous generations really didn\u2019t talk about. They are typical midlife women, experiencing all the joys and challenges\u2014divorce, career changes, body image issues, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo much is happening!\u201d Julie says. \u201cYour children are growing up and out of the nest. Your marital status might be changing. Your career is shifting. Your parents are aging or dying. You\u2019re going through menopause. And no one on their path through life says, \u2018Gee, what am I going to be when I\u2019m really grown? What\u2019s that part of my life going to be like?\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on all they\u2019d been through together and individually\u2014and leaning on each other every step of the way\u2014they knew that sharing their experience could help others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe realized that in all the insanity, we weren\u2019t that much different from others who are fortunate enough to get to midlife and beyond,\u201d Abby says. \u201cThe idea was to create a community of women in our age group where we can talk about all the things that can really crack us and all the things that keep us laughing, keep us sane. And sisterhood is one of those things.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that inspiration, Sisters Cracking Up<\/em> was born, and the first episode launched June 16, 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producing a Winner <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Creating the show was a journey in every aspect: the steep technological learning curve, surveying listeners to find topics that landed, and deciding what kind of conversations to have. They manage every aspect of the show from soup to nuts, including leaving in those little sisterly jabs that add to the authenticity and charm of the podcast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, a listener is drawn in by Abby and Julie\u2019s banter and unerring insights. Their interviews, with an incredible range of podcast guests, keep listeners coming back for more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur message resonated with folks. There were some experts we reached out to who, we thought, \u2018Oh gosh, they\u2019ll never come on.\u2019 But they did! It\u2019s absolutely incredible. Every time a guest agrees to come on, Julie and I do a little happy dance! And anyone we reach out to, we\u2019re really excited to have on,\u201d Abby says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For material, they watch what\u2019s trending with their audience and keep an eye out for books or articles that inspire them. Julie takes the lead on planning questions and Abby likes to let the conversation flow. They\u2019re meticulous in their research and, if the guest is an author, they read the book cover to cover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ve had many memorable guests. Jonathan Rauch, author of The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50<\/em>, discussed his research about aging and happiness. His conclusion: Life gets better and we get happier as we age. Gabrielle Glaser joined Abby and Julie to talk about pandemic drinking and her book, Her Best-Kept Secret: Why Women Drink\u2014and How They Can Regain Control<\/em>. And Ellen Albertson, author of Rock Your Midlife<\/em>, discussed how to make your next chapter your best one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m always surprised by the generosity of our guests, their willingness to come on the show, have fun, and impart their incredible wisdom,\u201d Abby says. \u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve ever gotten off a call and not said we could be friends with that person. It\u2019s just these incredible warm, wonderful, brilliant, generous guests who come on the show and give so freely of their time and expertise.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in its third season, the podcast has a 4.8 iTunes rating, and feedback has been tremendous. Abby and Julie say they get listener comments like, \u201cIt feels like I\u2019m listening to myself and my own sister having a conversation,\u201d and questions like, \u201cCan I be your third sister?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They stress the importance of sister-friends, those who are not biologically related but who serve a sister role in your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sisters
Sisters Julie Howard \u201986 (left) and Abby Rodman \u201984 face midlife with honesty and humor on their podcast. The splint on Julie\u2019s finger? \u201cI fell and dislocated my finger,\u201d she says. \u201cLike everyone, trying to do too much all at the same time.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an honesty in your relationship with your sister and sister-friends that you don\u2019t really find anywhere else,\u201d Julie explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of each podcast, they hope listeners feel entertained, a little more informed, and part of the family\u2014as well as part of something larger than themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want them to feel they know us and that they\u2019re not alone, whatever it is that they\u2019re going through,\u201d Abby says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes the podcast unique? One of their guests, Steven Petrow, offers some insight. In Season 2, he spoke about his book, Stupid Things I Won\u2019t Do When I Get Old<\/em>. He is an award-winning journalist and book author who is best known for his Washington Post<\/em> and New York Times<\/em> essays on aging, health, and civility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI might be biased in favor of Julie and Abby because I have a real-life sister, also named Julie, who\u2019s my best friend,\u201d Petrow says. \u201cWhen I was a guest on Sisters Cracking Up<\/em>, I felt at home with these two wise, funny, and empathetic women who were so present in the interview. This might not seem like a big deal, but they actually listen to people, which is also a way of modeling a behavior we need more of these days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I love their sense of humor\u2014which is pretty close to my own. For all these reasons, Abby and Julie are unique in the media landscape today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Happily Work Together <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere’s an honesty in your relationship with your sister and sister-friends that you don’t really find anywhere else.\u201d
\u2014Julie Howard \u201986 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all siblings can work well together, but these two clearly do. Abby warns it wasn\u2019t always a bed of roses. In the beginning, one of their biggest hurdles was learning how to collaborate and make room for what was important to each of them, given that they both like things to be \u201cjust so.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe really had to adapt to the way the other one worked, to our own sensitivities, frustrations, working styles … all of that. You can love somebody and hang out with them forever, but if you don\u2019t work with someone, you have no idea who they are in that situation,\u201d Julie says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even so, they agree that working with each other has also been their biggest joy. \u201cJulie is absolutely creative to a fault. She\u2019s super-bright, much brighter than I am, and that\u2019s so great for me; I get to ride on her coattails. But honestly, nobody in this world makes me laugh like she does,\u201d Abby says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe laugh all the time,\u201d Julie agrees. \u201cAnd people really like Abby, so much more than me, which has been incredibly helpful in getting guests. I think she could get anyone to come on the podcast.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the practical how-to-podcast lessons, they\u2019ve both learned some things about themselves from the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe podcast has forced us to look at things about ourselves that maybe we wouldn\u2019t have had to before in any kind of work situation, because this work situation is unique,\u201d Abby says. \u201cI know what triggers Julie, she knows what triggers me. We have a shared childhood experience and history. The key is looking at ourselves and each other and not always liking what we see but leaning into the love anyway.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No One Can Call You Out Like Your Sister <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Their close relationship shines throughout the podcasts and in their conversations. Throughout childhood, their dad would remind them, \u201cYour sister is your best friend.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure whether he was speaking our closeness into truth, but it worked,\u201d Abby says. \u201cOne thing I do like to be mindful of is not projecting an idealized version of our relationship. Believe me, we\u2019ve had our ups and downs over the years. But our closeness is never in question. Part of that stems from having to navigate a very chaotic childhood with two parents who made chaotic choices. From a young age, we must have realized we were better navigating those choppy waters together. I heard someone say recently that your sibling is the person who will know you the longest in your life. Your partners, your kids, your parents, they only get a portion of your lifespan. That resonated hugely.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie agrees. \u201cWe got closer as we grew older and as our parents\u2019 relationship simultaneously dissolved. By the time we were in middle school or early high school, we were tight. Later, the pressure of our respective lives, parenting, careers, marriage, etc., definitely created times when we weren\u2019t spending as much time together or connecting as we would have liked, but whenever we felt that gap, we reached out and made it a priority.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making the Most of Every Hour <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the podcast, they both have full-time jobs, clients, families, and other demands on their time. Abby is a speaker and author of the Amazon bestseller Without This Ring: A Woman\u2019s Guide To Successfully Living Through and Beyond Midlife Divorce<\/em>. She is regularly sought out by media outlets for her expertise on relationship and parenting issues and is a featured contributor to HuffPost<\/em>. Julie is a former beauty, wellness, and trend expert who has worked for some of the world\u2019s most recognized brands. She is also the author of a middle-grade fantasy novel and a young adult coming-of-age novel and is a lifelong advocate for the healthy development and empowerment of women and girls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s funny that all these years later, doing this podcast kind of reflects our studies from 溏心vlog免费B站, journalistically and creatively.\u201d
\u2014Julie Howard \u201986 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do they manage it all? With grace and humor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re passionate about something and you want to do it, you find the time,\u201d Abby says. \u201cI don\u2019t think either one of us has as much free time as we\u2019d like, but we\u2019re doing this amazing thing together, talking to great minds and authors and expanding our own worlds and hopefully expanding others\u2019 worlds, as well. It\u2019s a pretty rewarding way to spend your time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhode Islanders at Heart <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Though they live out of state, the sisters still have a home in Rhode Island and feel 溏心vlog免费B站 is an inextricable part of their history. Julie was an art major, and Abby was a journalism major. For them, college was a safe space to test the boundaries of independence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI felt supported by the faculty and the teaching body that I had around me. It was a very healthy, solid education for life,\u201d Julie says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt 溏心vlog免费B站, we learned to flex our creative muscles,\u201d Abby explains. \u201cIt\u2019s funny that all these years later, doing this podcast kind of reflects our studies from 溏心vlog免费B站, journalistically and creatively. Certainly my journalism studies helped me tremendously in the work that I\u2019m doing now on the podcast in terms of what it means to tell a story start-to-finish and tell it well. A lot of those things I learned at 溏心vlog免费B站.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Next? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The sisters show no signs of slowing down and aim to keep podcasting on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a list of dream guests including soccer great and author Abby Wambach, podcaster and author Mel Robbins, physician and addiction expert Dr. Gabor Mat\u00e9, and actor Danny Bonaduce,\u201d says Abby. \u201cWe will keep going as long as we can attract incredible guests and our sisterhood of listeners sticks with us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

Get in on the Conversation<\/h1>\n\n

Abby and Julie invite you to listen to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform and reach out at sisterscrackingup.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019d love to hear from 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni! If anybody\u2019s doing anything interesting that they want to talk about, let us know,\u201d Abby says. And then you, too, can be part of the family and offer your insights on life\u2019s crack-ups with a side of humor.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Abby Rodman \u201984 and sister Julie Howard \u201986 host Sisters Cracking Up, a podcast that approaches the challenges of midlife with humor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[316],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-summer-2023-cat","architecture-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9417"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10012,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9417\/revisions\/10012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}