Four Old College Friends

E15: Wrinkles, Vagina Cream, and Grief: Aging Unfiltered with Friends

Welcome to the 15th episode of Four Old College Friends. We're old college friends, now in our 40s, getting together to talk about life. This episode was recorded on Friday March 21, 2025. In this episode, the four college friends get real about the chaos and comedy of midlife. What starts as a lighthearted chat about perimenopause and bizarre skincare routines (yes, including that cream) soon shifts into deeper waters, as the group opens up about personal losses and how they’re navigating grief. It’s raw, silly, and unexpectedly comforting—the kind of conversation only longtime friends can have. From laugh-out-loud moments to meaningful reflections, this one’s for anyone trying to age with a little grace and a lot of group text support. What’s Inside This Episode: * That time someone recommended vagina cream… for your face * Honest talk about perimenopause and feeling invisible * The emotional toll of losing loved ones—and how each of them copes * Celebrating aging, resisting it, and everything in between * Friendship as the through-line in the chaos of midlife Key Takeaways: * Aging isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, mental, and sometimes really funny * Grief doesn’t follow a script, but friends can help you write your way through it * Sharing the uncomfortable stuff makes everyone feel less alone * There’s no “right way” to deal with midlife—just your way Episode Highlights: * Perimenopause, vaginas, and wrinkle panic * Skincare gone rogue: when anti-aging advice gets weird * Shifting into deeper territory—how each friend has processed recent losses * The comfort of a long friendship during life’s hardest seasons

E14: Manifest

Welcome to the 14th episode of Four Old College Friends. We're old college friends, now in our 40s, getting together to talk about life. This episode was recorded on the Friday before Thanksgiving, on November 22, 2024. Episode Summary: In this lively pre-Thanksgiving episode, Adrienne, Jessica, Lauren, and Deanna discuss Cambridge's Word of the Year manifest, try to figure out the meaning of new slang terms like rizz and glaze, and brainstorm money-making product ideas. What You'll Hear: Manifestation - why manifest was chosen as the Word of the Year, exploring its ties to meditation, Olympians, and goal-setting trends. - how mindset and language shape reality, featuring wisdom from The Secret and Atomic Habits. Pop Culture Vocabulary -The team deciphers trendy words like "Riz" and "Glaze" while trying to figure out their meanings. -Shoutouts to TikTok influencers like AJ, Big Justice and Rizzler. Million-Dollar Baby Ideas -A portable, foldable baby-changing table for dads on the go. -Swaddle blankets with built-in clips to combat windy stroller walks. -A contraption that encourages lifelong "tummy time" Pivoting and New Directions -Jessica hints at an exciting career pivot she’s exploring and the thrill of being "in the flow." -Adrienne reflects on her podcast journey -Deanna and Lauren tease their book Thanksgiving Prep & Life Reflections -The team shares their Thanksgiving plans and stresses the importance of being the “type of person” who prioritizes connection, even when life gets busy. Quotable Moments - “Energy flows where focus goes.” - “Ideas are a dime a dozen—it’s all about execution.” Listener Challenge What are you the type of person to do? Share your intentions using #ManifestationMoment and tag us on Instagram to be featured in our next episode We're excited to feature music from Chic Bangs. Visit https://chicbangs.com/ to learn more. Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fouroldcollegefriends.com/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠to contact us or learn more. Please support us by subscribing or leaving us a rating or review. We appreciate it! And let us know what you think of this episode!

E13: Catching Up with Stacey: Following Her Path from College to Today

In this special episode of Four Old College Friends, Adrienne and Jessica sit down with their first-ever guest, Stacey, an old college friend. Together, they take a deep dive into Stacey’s journey from the late 90s to today, reflecting on her career pivots, life events, and lessons learned along the way. This episode was recorded on Thursday November 14, 2024 What’s Inside This Episode: * How Stacey chose her college major and landed her first job as a guidance counselor. * Navigating grad school, career crossroads, and changes in the education system over time. * A look back at her time in New York City as a school counselor at the Professional Performing Arts School. * How shifts in personal priorities and systemic changes in education led Stacey to explore new paths. * Stacey’s pivot into an unexpected career as an on-air guest host for QVC, sharing behind-the-scenes insights and the challenges of staying relevant in a changing industry. * The reality of midlife career pivots and the struggles of balancing passion, family, and financial needs. * A heartfelt discussion on women’s careers, societal expectations, and the lack of resources to support professional reinvention. Key Takeaways: * Embracing career shifts: Stacey’s journey from guidance counseling to live TV hosting shows how following your interests can lead to surprising opportunities. * The impact of systemic changes on education and its professionals. * Why mid-career pivots are challenging, especially for women balancing family and personal fulfillment. * The importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and staying connected to what excites you. Episode Highlights: * Stacey’s early dream of becoming a guidance counselor and her path through grad school. * How she landed at QVC and learned the art of authentic, unscripted selling. * The challenges of staying relevant in the era of social media and how authenticity plays a crucial role. * Personal reflections on the pressures of maintaining careers while raising families. Whether you’re considering your own career pivot or just love hearing stories about navigating life’s twists and turns, this episode offers a candid, relatable conversation packed with insights and laughter. 🎧 Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes of Four Old College Friends 📩 Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fouroldcollegefriends.com/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠to contact us or learn more. 🎵 Featured track: Focus by Chic Bangs. Visit https://chicbangs.com/ to learn more. And let us know what you think of this episode!

E12: Tooth Sprains, Feet Pics, and the Value of Self-Worth

Welcome to the 12th episode of Four Old College Friends. We're old college friends, now in our 40s, getting together to talk about life. This episode was recorded on Friday, November 1, 2024. This week, the topic of the hour was: “What would you say if your college sophomore called to ask if they could sell feet pics for $1,000?” The question had us diving deep into some big themes around independence, self-worth, and the pressures young people face today. * When is sexual capital empowering, and when is it limiting? We explore how young women can find quick validation and even financial gain through their looks and sexuality but question the sustainability of relying on that alone. * Thinking long-term: If physical appeal is a resource that naturally wanes over time, how do we help our kids invest in skills and self-confidence that don’t fade? We talk about focusing on education and practical career paths, especially those that open up lasting independence. * Raising strong, self-reliant adults: While it’s not always easy to balance guidance with freedom, we discuss our own hopes (and challenges!) around teaching young people to find lasting, internal validation without squashing their independence. Tune in as we swap stories, challenge each other's perspectives, and share some laughs along the way! We're excited to feature music from Chic Bangs. Visit https://chicbangs.com/ to learn more. Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fouroldcollegefriends.com/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠to contact us or learn more. Please support us by subscribing or leaving us a rating or review. We appreciate it! And let us know what you think of this episode!

E11: The Anxious Generation (aka the clock episode)

Welcome to the 11th episode of Four Old College Friends. We're old college friends, now in our 40s, getting together to talk about life. This episode was recorded on Friday, September 6, 2024. After not recording for a few months, we spend the first 7 minutes catching up about back to school, then we talk about how technology is affecting our kids' mental health, how worried we should be when we send our kids out into the world, and we wrap up with some intentions for the school year. We're excited to feature music from Chic Bangs. Visit https://chicbangs.com/ to learn more. Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fouroldcollegefriends.com/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠to contact us or learn more. If you enjoy the episode, please support us by subscribing or leaving us a rating or review. We appreciate it! Show Notes: 00:30 How is everyone doing with the kids back in school? Jessica has 2 girls in elementary school, 2nd and 4th grade. Lauren moved from downtown Philly to the Jersey suburbs and oldest started high school in the suburbs while her younger one is finishing middle school in the city. Deanna's oldest started college at our alma mater (We Are!) with her younger in middle school. Adrienne's oldest started college at a PSU rival with two younger ones at home 05:45 What team do you cheer for when your kid goes to a rival of your old school? 07:30 We talk about schools and technology, including cell phone bans, the specific policies our schools are implementing. and our feelings about them. What technology does your school provide - chromebooks, macbooks, PCs, and do you have to pay for them? There are too many distractions in the classroom 15:00 The Anxious Generation by Jonathon Haidt 16:20 - Giving kids freedom and independence. Jessica sends her kid out with a clock! If your 4th grader goes out without a phone and has an emergency… are you more or less inclined to give her a phone in the future? Is the world safe or dangerous? When do kids become independent? 23:45 Prepping for the apocalypse. Call Cosette or Alex. 27:20 Ending with one question: what are your goals for the school year? Lauren's is to survive. Deanna's is to play more pickleball and be present in the moments. Jessica wants to work more. And Adrienne wants to push independence in school work and spend quality time with Cici. 33:00 Going out with Chic Bangs's song Focus. Enjoy!