40ish & Figuring It Out

Quiet Wins, Big Year

• Katie Koelliker • Season 1 • Episode 9

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 18:23

January doesn’t have to shout to matter. We’re kicking off 2026 by pressing pause on the pressure and choosing intention, reflection, and small, steady steps that actually fit a real life. Katie looks back on the quiet wins of 2025—starting the show without perfect timing, publishing through self-doubt, and caring for a sick spouse while keeping the mic warm—and shares how those moments reshaped what progress looks like in midlife.

From there, we set a humane vision for the year ahead. Think depth over hype, alignment over aesthetics, and community over vanity metrics. You’ll hear our plans to grow the podcast thoughtfully, highlight women navigating midlife with honesty, and expand our lens from “figuring it out” to building, reclaiming, and becoming. We talk tiny, doable health shifts (hello, dance fitness and one-more-glass-of-water), a book-in-progress that I've had my mind on doing for a while, and a refreshed approach to money inspired by an upcoming financial wellness conversation.

We’re also bringing connection into the room—literally. Expect local gatherings in Salt Lake City: low-key ladies’ nights, craft meetups, vision-board sessions, and an embroidery night for beginners and curious hands. If you love podcast swaps, have a guest idea, or know a talented video editor for a “Figuring It Out” series, this is your nudge to reach out. The goal is simple: spaces where women feel seen, can exhale, and can build together without rushing toward reinvention.

If this resonates, follow along, share with a friend who needs a softer start to the year, and leave a review to help more midlife women find this space. Your voice shapes where we go next—what gathering would you show up for first?

Send a text

Follow me on Instagram @40ishpodcast

SPEAKER_00:

Hello and welcome back to 40-ish and figuring it out. Since this episode is dropping at the beginning of 2026, I wanted to take a moment to pause and not rush into goals or pressure or the new year, new me energy, but a time to reflect. Because before we move forward, it matters that we actually acknowledge where we've been. 2025 was a big year for me, not in a flashy way, but in a quiet, meaningful way. And as I step into 2026, I feel I'm both grounded and hopeful about what's next, especially for this podcast and the community growth and the community growing around it. I want to start by reflecting on 2025 because this podcast existed as an idea for a while before it ever existed as something real. Starting 40-ish and figuring it out was a goal I carried quietly, something I told myself I'd do when I had time, when I had clarity, or when I felt ready. And in 2025, I finally stopped waiting for a perfect time and I just started. And honestly, doing the thing taught me more than thinking about the thing ever could. Something I've learned, especially in midlife, is that not every accomplishment needs to be loud to matter. In 2025, some of the wins looked like hitting record and publish, even when self-doubt showed up, having vulnerable conversations on this mic, hearing from listeners who felt seen or less alone, staying consistent even when life felt full. Over the holidays, December was absolutely crazy for me because my husband got extremely sick and was basically bedridden. Probably should have been in a hospital. But anyway, so I ended up doing a lot of things on my own uh for the holiday season that normally we do together or things that he usually does. And so it definitely looked a lot different. I was still able to do a lot of recording um with some guests and things like that, but it was just it was it was definitely hard. So for those of you that um are listening and have been there the whole time so far, thank you so much. Um but I want to say this clearly all the all the small wins are still wins, quiet growth is still growth. If 2025 asked anything of me, it was to trust the process, even when I couldn't see the outcome yet. Now that we're officially in 2026, I'm not approaching this year with rid with a rigid resolution or unrealistic expectations. I did set a few tiny goals for myself, but nothing unrealistic like maybe I've done in the past. Instead, I'm stepping into this year with intention. For this podcast, that means growing the show thoughtfully, continuing to highlight women who are navigating midlife in real, honest ways, expanding conversations beyond just figuring it out to also include building, reclaiming, and becoming. And yes, growth is part of the vision for 2026, but not growth that feels forced or disconnected from why the podcast exists in the first place. One of the things I'm most about excited about in 2026 as we move forward is the idea of community and not just online but in real life. This podcast was never meant to be a one-way conversation. And I love hearing small comments from those of you that have listened to episodes and have been able to connect with them, or even just things that I reshare that you connect with. But I'm exploring ways to create in-person experiences locally, things like small gathering, uh craft nights, um, just conversations that bring women together in the same room. And while I absolutely love featuring women from all over, I'm also feeling drawn to spotlight incredible women in my local community without closing the door on anyone else. It's not about choosing one or the other, it's about sp expanding the circle. And I know all of us probably have women in our areas that can fit into these, into these categories, you know, um, entrepreneurs and and women that are locally that would be excellent guests on on the podcast. And I would love to hear from them as well. But before we rush too far into the year, I want to invite you to pause too. Ask yourself, what did I actually do in 2025 that I'm proud of? Um, for me, it was mostly launching this podcast, um, kind of pivoting from my other podcast into this one. What did I learn about myself? Uh for me, I learned uh just off the top of my head, I learned that I have a lot of questions about a lot of things that I don't know anything about. So I don't know that that really helps, but that's kind of the premise of this podcast. What do I want more of in 2026? Not based on pressure, but on alignment. And that one I'm still thinking about. But you don't need a full plan, you don't need everything figured out, you just need to be honest with yourself. And as for me, for those of you that have seen on Instagram for the 40-ish and figuring it out, Instagram, you may have seen my goals that I set for myself for 2026, um, a few of the things that I have, um uh grow the podcast, and that doesn't necessarily mean in numbers, it could mean I want to have, you know, continue to have more in-depth conversations, um, grow and expand topics that we talk about on the episodes, um, be healthier, and that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm gonna go on a diet or just start going to the gym every day. Um, that could be small little things like replacing my soda with a water every day type of a thing. Um, for those of you that know me, you know that I'm addicted to diet Pepsi. I was addicted to Dr. Pepper and it made me gain a ton of weight, so I at least switched to diet, which still isn't great. I shouldn't be drinking soda, period. But you know, that's something that I could look into more is drinking more water versus soda, that type of a thing. So it doesn't have to be something huge. Um the small little things can be it. I also just recently won a uh it's like a two-week punch pass type of a thing to a new fitness dance studio, it's called Fly Dance Fitness. Um, I believe they have some all over the nation, but they just opened one, I don't know, within the last couple years near me, and I won a uh a little punch pass to there, and so I'm excited to start the year off with that because if anybody, if you guys know me and I'll be sharing more about myself on different episodes, but I was an extremely competitive dancer growing up, and into my early 20s when I was first married, I still was doing some dancing, and then you know, life happened and that wasn't really a priority. I still like to do Zumba classes or things like that, but I just haven't been able to find anything consistent that I'm able to make or do, and so this fly dance fitness has different schedules and times of different classes and things, so I'm excited to try them out. Um, I also want to write a book. I started uh with an idea last year on a book, and I actually started writing it slightly, and so I want to keep working on that and finish it. So that is one of my goals in the next year is to write a little bit as well as um you know maybe publishing it one day. So if you're interested in hearing more about that, let me know. I've I've would love feedback, people that would love to if if you guys want to read a chapter or something like that and give me feedback on it. Um also budget better. Um, so that's something that I know we can all work on. I worked with or I did an episode interview in December with somebody about financial stuff that I will be releasing soon. And so her our conversation really got me thinking about different things, and so I'm excited to release her episode, but um that's one of the things that as a family we need to work on better, and then uh just collaborating more. So whether that means I'm going on to other people's podcasts or whatever that means, I typically am the one that's inviting people to be on my podcast, and I it's really interesting because I there's a podcast locally that I comment and I'm like I totally relate to the story all the time, and I feel like I don't I don't give myself credit enough, I guess you could say, that I could be a guest on somebody else's podcast. But I love having people be on my podcast, but I would love to do more podcast swaps, collaborations, different things like that. So if that's something that you are interested in or you know of a podcast that you think I would be a great guest on, you know, let me know, give them my information, share the podcast. Um, that would be great. But I'm looking to collaborate more coming into 2026, um, however that looks. Um, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be on podcasts, it could be on social media, um, different things like that. I'm I one of the other things as far as collaborating that I would love to do is I have a a series of figuring it out videos that I want to make. And so uh the collaboration could be if you know somebody that's really good at editing videos, because I that's one of the things that I struggle with is I have these ideas, but then I don't have a way to execute the ideas that I would love to share and show. Um, anyway, so those are uh my five goals that I set for myself for this year, and they're not big goals, they're not lofty goals, they're not need to be done now goals, and they're goals that can be done all at the same time, they could be done one at a time. It's not anything that I'm rushing towards, and excuse me. And so those are just a few of the things that I'm looking at doing this year. I would love to hear if any of you guys have set any goals. Um, if you guys have any ideas on in-person events that you would like to do. Uh, like I said, I've I want to do some in-person community events, and whether that's just like a ladies' night out where we just, I don't know, rent a room and just sit around and talk. Like, that's one of the other things that you know, I I've been talking with some of my friends about different ideas, and they're like, Oh, I don't know if I could concentrate enough to be able to do something like that with some of the ideas that I drop. And you know, sometimes it's just wanting to be in a place with other women and there not being kids around, you know, for those of you that are are at home with kids a lot, whether that's all day after school, and you just need a break and you want to have a mom's night out, uh, you know, just something like that, just a place for women to meet up is great. And um, I've also been thinking about doing uh some craft nights. There's some different things that I've come up with ideas. I know vision boards are usually a big thing right now, and that's something that I'm a visual thing, so like if I see something all the time, it really helps. So I I like the idea of vision boards, I know not everybody does. Um and uh the other thing as far as craft nights, I know people do paint nights, which I think those are fun, so I want to look into doing one of those. My mom has hosted some paint nights at her house that are pretty funny, and uh the other thing that I would love to do is to do an embroidery night. So whether you've actually ever done embroidery, and it's not like the fancy stuff that you see on shirts, it's more and I'll post a picture of some of the ideas. Uh, it's just embroidering a picture on something or words or things like that. And I got into it when I was in my tweens, I guess, and I've been doing it off and on all my life. I used to do it a lot with my mom, and then I just started doing it on my own. I've made gifts for friends before, so shout out to Jenny and Emily if you guys still have any of the stuff that I sewed for you way back when. Um, I have some just home decor that I've made, like a Halloween pillow and different things that I have around my house, but it's something that I really enjoy that I don't do as often as I would like anymore, and it's something that I would love to share as something hobby of mine, and so I would love to share that with you. So whether that's you're a beginner and you've never done a bit done it before, maybe you don't even know what embroidery is, um, and I would love to share that with you. So that's something else that I'm looking into. So if any of you guys have any ideas of an event or type of thing that you would like to do with other women, and um I'm also looking into having guest speakers. Um, I know again, a lot of us are gonna be going through in the midlife era, going through perimenopause, menopause, and so having some health and wellness coaches and specifically in women's health uh to be able to talk about and answer some questions of those types of things. I would love to do that. Um, but basically just want to start some figuring it out nights, and that could just be whatever, whatever, I don't know, you know, book clubs or things like that, just some events to get women together to be able to share and socialize. And uh I interviewed when I interviewed um oh her name's going off the top of my head. Um, one of the interviews that I've done and released about ADHD, and um they were doing some, you know, just small person in-group events, and the women, you know, it was a small group, you know, maybe 20 women, and they just had a great time being able to talk amongst themselves and different things, and they were basically strangers, and so it's fun to be able to get together and learn from each other and grow, and so those are some of the things that I would like to start doing. Um, so whether that means I only do one this year, you know, just doing one would be enough for me, but I would love to be able to do more than that if possible. So if you also own an event space and you're local here in Salt Lake City in Utah, and you would like to allow me to use your space, um, that would be great as well. And you know, just let me know. So um, or if you know of any great spaces, I went and saw one that would be absolutely amazing. I loved the feel and the vibe of the space. Um, it's in uh like sugar house area, uh, I believe, and so that or Mill Creek maybe, and it was really um a great area. Maybe it's holiday, I don't know, somewhere over there on the opposite side of the valley from me. Um, but it was a really great, beautiful space that I hope to use in the future, and I've already given their information to a couple other women that I think would be able to optimize that space as well and rent it out. Um, but anyway, so enough rambling there and about this. But as we move further into 2026, my hope is that 40 ish and figuring it out continues to feel like a place where you can land, where you're reflecting, rebuilding, or dreaming of something new to exist. But I want to thank you guys for being here. Thank you for listening, and thank you for growing, glowing. Oh my goodness, growing alongside me, or glowing, I guess. Um, but here's to 2026, not as a reinvention, but as a continuation. I'm Katie, I'm your host of 40-ish and figuring it out, and we're just getting started. Have a great day, and I'll see you in the next episode. 40-ish and Figuring It Out is produced and edited by me, Katie Collicker. Sound mixing, also me. We're a very efficient one woman show over here. The music for this episode was created using the Suno app. Special thanks to Suno for providing licensed royalty free music through their platform. Thank you so much for listening, and I'll see you in the next episode.