Allison Aubrey launches podcast to help women rediscover strengths at midlife

Earlier this year NPR Health announced the launch of “Your Turn,” a new podcast hosted by journalist Allison Aubrey that explores the twists and turns of midlife, with NPR’s Ailsa Chang joining the first episode to mark her own 50th birthday celebration. The show debuted on All Things Considered and immediately offered listeners a free tool – the VIA Character Strengths Survey – to help them reset and rediscover what makes them feel alive.

Midlife often brings big changes. Children move out, careers shift, relationships evolve, and many people find themselves focused on work and family with little time for self‑reflection. Those pressures have sparked a growing interest in tools that can help people pause, assess their inner resources, and move from merely coping to thriving. Aubrey’s podcast arrives at a moment when millions are looking for guidance on how to navigate these transitions without losing a sense of purpose.

The VIA Character Strengths Survey is a 15‑ to 20‑minute online questionnaire developed by positive‑psychology researchers. It asks a series of questions and then ranks 24 strengths such as creativity, humor, curiosity, bravery and gratitude. Studies show that using one’s top strengths in new ways can lift happiness and cut depression, especially among women over 50. At a recent retreat at the Modern Elder Academy, Aubrey took the test with wellness coach Christine Carter, who says the results act as a compass for intrinsic motivation and can point people toward activities that feel meaningful. Carter, a former painter, notes that her top strengths – appreciation of beauty, gratitude and zest – surface when she is absorbed in art or literature, giving her a sense of belonging to something larger.

Listeners are encouraged to sign up for the “Your Turn” newsletter, complete the VIA survey, and experiment with applying their highest strengths in daily life. The survey can be taken alone or with a facilitator, and its results are not fixed; strengths can evolve as people shift focus or try new pursuits. By identifying and deliberately using these strengths, midlife adults may find a clearer path forward, turning a perceived “wall” into an opportunity for growth and renewed wellbeing.