In Episode 5 of Midlife Mess, Lara digs into why astrology resonates so deeply in midlife—especially when identity, emotions, and life roles start shifting. Prompted by social media chatter about 2025 being the Year of the Snake and 2026 being the Year of the Horse, she explores how the Chinese zodiac connects (and differs) from Western astrology, and why both can be useful tools for meaning-making during seasons of change.

Lara breaks down the basics of a birth chart—how your sun, moon, and rising signs work together—and offers a memorable “house” metaphor: your rising sign is the curb appeal, your sun sign is how the house functions, and your moon sign is what it feels like inside at night. She explains how midlife often brings a collision between these layers: how you’ve been functioning, who you said you were, and what you actually need now. Using her own chart (Aries rising, Cancer sun, Scorpio moon), she shares how this framework helped her understand boundaries, emotional truth, and the shift from surviving quietly to living honestly.

The episode closes by tying the “snake-to-horse” transition into a broader message: 2025 as internal shedding and emotional excavation, and 2026 as outward movement and decisive action—a powerful invitation to align your life with what’s real and nourishing now.

In this shorter, more casual holiday episode, Lara shares a cozy midlife New Year’s mindset—lower expectations, more peace, and zero pressure to “eventize” the night. After a full house at Christmas (family, kids, and pets included), she reflects on how her relationship with holidays has shifted in midlife: less chasing the perfect moment, more grace for quiet, comfy celebrations (but still with something bubbly).

Lara also answers listener questions—starting with why she’s back on the dating apps. A “let’s go fishing” girls’ weekend outside Charleston turns into a humorous experiment in boundaries when she runs into a familiar character from earlier episodes: the infamous “werewolf” guy. This time, Lara shows up differently—more self-assured, clearer on what she won’t tolerate, and uninterested in educating grown men who want to turn a romantic relationship into a mommy-son dynamic.

The heart of the episode is Lara’s long-awaited Christmas parade story: a tense public confrontation sparked simply by her standing—and dancing with her young daughter—while waiting for the parade to arrive. What begins as petty entitlement escalates into a triggering moment tied to body-image sensitivity, feeling “othered,” and the deeper wound of middle-school bullying. Lara unpacks how her reaction, her mom’s discomfort (especially with her using the F-word in public), and her therapist’s validation helped her connect past and present—and ultimately claim a new boundary: she’s done sitting down and shutting up.

She closes with encouragement for listeners to do New Year’s their own way, plus a quick podcast update: The Midlife Mess Podcast is now on Facebook, and she invites everyone to follow, share, and leave reviews as the show heads into 2026.