Messy Middlescence

Podcast by Tara (Conti) Bansal and Christina (Conti) Donovan

Messy Middlescence

Like adolescence – "Middlescence" is a time of tremendous change touching most aspects of our lives. There are the physical and hormonal changes but also many of the rhythms, relationships and frameworks that have dominated our lives for decades all start to shift in ways that are unbalancing at best – seismic at worst. Our podcast will explore the challenges and opportunities of these unique “middle” years. However – ours will be different because it is one of sharing, exploring and figuring things out together. It is "messy" because we do not have answers but we hope to discover some. We hope to motivate and / or guide listeners to actively change both their perspective and day-to-day reality of this unique time. We also aim to create a supportive connected community of listeners with similar struggles and questions. We truly hope you will join us!

Latest episodes

11 March 2026

Our Earliest Money Memories

Earlier this season, in Episode #44, Tara and Tina interviewed Carl Richards — bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Behavior Gap Radio and 50 Fires podcasts. During that conversation, Tara asked Carl what single question might be most impactful for our audience. Carl suggested:

“What is your earliest memory of money?”

It’s a question often used by financial advisors to help uncover how early experiences may have shaped someone’s views about money. Carl described it as a simple but powerful way to begin meaningful conversations about money — without stress or conflict.

And honestly, it’s also just interesting. Even a little fun.

This seemingly simple question can be a gateway to learning more about yourself — or about someone you love. What surprised us most wasn’t just the memories themselves — but the emotions that came with them.

Tara, who works as both a financial advisor and life coach, has encountered this question many times in her work. Tina, on the other hand, had never heard it before and had never really considered it.

So they decided to explore it together — especially as siblings who grew up in the same household — and share their own earliest money memories and how those experiences may have shaped their attitudes and emotions around money.

In this short episode, they discuss:

• The emotions intertwined with early money memories — and the lasting impact those emotions can have

• The tension between joy and abundance on one hand, and responsibility and respect on the other

• How money can become a source of marital tension — and the roles we often bring into relationships such as “spender” or “saver”

• The realization that many of our assumptions and beliefs about money are deeply buried and internalized

• The social norms around money — and how those norms vary across families and cultures

00:00

24:03

24 February 2026

Learning about Long Term Care with Victoria Beerer

Tina never could have imagined that Long Term Care (LTC) would be a frequent conversation topic within her social circles. But this past year – it seems to come up time and time again. It makes sense. As we move through middle age, many of us are watching our parents or other loved ones age. We begin to observe firsthand both the benefits of possessing long-term care coverage and the potential risks associated with lacking it. The overall topic of LTC can feel daunting. It touches health, money, independence, and the uncomfortable reality that none of us are immune to aging. It is all too easy to put off thinking about and planning for this stage. It was the result of these recurring conversations with her peers as well as her own ignorance on this topic, that Tina proposed this as an episode for Messy Middlescence. Tara, through her work as a financial planner, knew the perfect person to demystify this topic and answer common questions. Victoria Beerer is the Long Term Care Specialist at Rambart-Hilb Agency, and brings her 15+ years of experience and knowledge with Long Term Care to help us understand what LTC really is, how it works, and what has changed over the past 20 years. Most importantly, Victoria shares why starting the conversation earlier matters more than most of us realize. The information Victoria provides in this episode is both comprehensive and straightforward. Regardless of where LTC is on your radar, you will not regret tuning in for this episode.

Topics discussed today include:

What Long-Term Care actually covers and what it does not;
The difference between mortality (life insurance) and morbidity (LTC)
Why underwriting for LTC is often stricter than life insurance and some of the possible reasons people are denied LTC;
Traditional vs. hybrid LTC policies — and why products have evolved;
What are the 4 key parts to a Long Term Care Policy;
When to start the conversation (hint: earlier than you think);
Why statistics around LTC can be misleading;
The biggest misconceptions (Medicare does not cover extended custodial care) about LTC;
How to think about self-funding vs. transferring risk;
What happens when one spouse needs care and the other remains at home;
Why “something is better than nothing”
The benefits of working with a knowledgeable agent
The first steps in purchasing a LTC policy

00:00

55:17

10 February 2026

Favorite Books of 2025

Tara and Tina are big readers. They come from a family of readers and books are always a part of their conversation when they are together. They love to share opinions about books they have read, are reading and hope to read. Last season, Tara and Tina did an episode where they discussed their favorite books of the previous year (episode #24). They had so much fun on that episode they wanted to do it again! So, on today’s episode they discuss the books from 2025 that touched, entertained and had an impact on them – both fiction and nonfiction. They also discuss books they are looking forward to reading in the upcoming year. They hope they inspire you to think about the books you enjoyed this past year as well as take away some additions to your reading list.

00:00

44:31

27 January 2026

Our Themes for the New Year

There’s something compelling about the idea of a clean slate or fresh start as we begin a new year. Rather than setting long lists of goals or resolutions, many people find that choosing a theme—or a single word—creates a more meaningful and sustainable way to invite change.

For the past two seasons of Messy Middlescence, Tara and Tina have shared their personal themes and words for the year ahead, and they continue that tradition in today’s short (but sweet) episode. Together, they reflect on their chosen words and the intentions behind them along with the changes and enrichment they hope it will help bring them throughout the upcoming year.

00:00

13:06

14 January 2026

Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness: A Conversation with Cynthia Conti

Most of us know someone who seems to defy aging – a friend or relative who is around our age -- but appears many years younger and who radiates vitality and good health. We look at them with a mix of admiration and, perhaps, envy. For Tina and Tara, that person is their sister, Cindy, who is the healthiest person they know. Her natural beauty is enhanced by her healthy habits and active lifestyle. Cindy has always had a passion for organic foods, natural remedies and overall wellness but she also has a Master’s in Kinesiology (exercise science) and currently works as a nurse. Tara and Tina thought a conversation with Cindy would be perfect to kick off the first Messy Middlescence episode of 2026. In this age of social media, those of us over 50 are inundated with information about “healthy aging”. However, Tina and Tara believe that listening to the fitness and nutrition routines (and how they have changed with age) from someone they trust could motivate both them and others to make changes in their own routines and lifestyles. The goal here is not just about looking youthful; it is about developing habits which make us feel good and in turn positively affect our overall appearance and energy. Topics discussed today include:

Cindy’s background and interests including a Master’s in Kinesiology and a nursing degree;
What exactly “Zone 2” is during exercise/workouts and why it becomes so important as we age (particularly for women);
Why you might want to consider modifying your exercise routine to include more strength/weight training than high-intensity cardio;
The unintentional and intentional changes that occur to our eating habits/diets as we age;
How cosmetic dermatology procedures can help aging skin including a discussion of laser treatments such as IPL and BBL;
Cindy’s skincare and exercise routines ;
The significant impact of stress on our health and the necessity of self-care and how this is unique to each of us (and can change over time);
How “steady good sleep” continues to elude most of us in our 50’s;
How research continues to upend many of the ideas instilled in us when we were young (such as carbs being good and fats being bad or the importance of high intensity workouts).

00:00

57:00

09 December 2025

Favorite Things of 2025

It is that time of year when “busyness” abounds. The days are short — and feel even shorter — as our to-do lists loom large. In recognition of the time constraints that December brings, and the natural reflections that come with the close of a year, Tara and Tina bring you a quick and timely episode of their favorite things from 2025.

You might remember a similar episode from their first season, and this felt like the perfect moment to do it again. Tara and Tina discuss their favorite things from the past year — the items and small discoveries that genuinely made a positive difference in their lives.

They hope this episode nudges you to reflect on — and share — the things that brought you joy in 2025.

And if you're curious about any of the items mentioned, you can find links to everything in the show notes on the Messy Middlescence website.

00:00

26:42