VIDEO KILLED THE PODCAST STAR
You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life. - Coco Chanel
About a year ago, Patrick had a “brilliant” idea.
“I think we need to do a video version of RPA’s Culture Club,” he said to me.
“Oh, great idea,” I lied.
“Video? Is he out of his mind? I don’t want to be on video,” I thought to myself.
One of my favorite things about doing Red Pilled America is that it’s an audio-only show. I can produce the entire show braless, in my pajamas and no one would be the wiser. It’s fantastic! But now this man wants to rob me of that luxury? The wheels started turning in my head as I frantically thought of ways to get myself “video prepared.”
“Start hitting the weights ASAP.”
“Schedule a Morpheus8 treatment.”
“Order some snazzy blazers in slimming colors.”
The list went on and on. Over the next twelve months, I had grand plans for getting camera-ready (with little to no progress) while expertly avoiding the dreaded video commitment. The demands of producing RPA kept us incredibly occupied, leaving little room for this new venture. Yet, it remained at the forefront of Patrick's thoughts, and to my dismay, he frequently brought it up. Each time he did, I skillfully changed the subject. Until one ghastly day, when I walked into to a mountain of boxes.
“What’s all this stuff?” I asked Patrick.
“Equipment for the video podcast,” he answered.
I felt blindsided! My face repugnantly contorted as insecurity coursed through my middle-aged veins.
Most middle-aged woman do not want to be on video. We are in the midst of adjusting to our “new normal” as hormones leave our body faster than Chris Christie can devour a hamburger. In what feels like overnight, you go from having a sharp jawline to watching YouTube videos on how to contour it with make-up. Don’t get me wrong, nobody loves Adryana more than Adryana. I’m a big fan of me…but I’d prefer to pass on having my jowls on full display. Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer the ever-so-subtle edited pictures of me on social media. Filters may be ruining young women around the globe, but for the middle-aged woman, they are a godsend. Can I get an amen? Granted, I’m aging well (I hope). Lord knows I should be with the small fortune that's gone into this face.
The harsh reality is that society is not kind to aging females. “Middle aged woman” in the world of today is equivalent to saying Voldemort at Hogwarts - s/he “must not be named!” Not even a trans person wants to use the pronouns “middle/aged/woman.” I hear a lot of critiques about women who have done “too much to their face” - or comments like, “Why can’t women just age gracefully?” We’re trying dammit! But it’s not easy…
Take, for example, Bridget Fonda. Have you read the disparaging articles about her recently? It’s as if people can’t believe she’s aged and [insert loud gasp] put on some weight. How dare she! What most people don’t know about Bridget is that she suffered a back injury many years ago. Anyone with back problems knows it’s not an easy thing to live with. Bridget was a mom at my daughter’s elementary school and one of the nicest, most generous women I’ve ever met. She was a GREAT mom and wife too. Her family came first. But in today’s backwards society, the latter doesn’t seem to matter as much as “looks.”
Being a middle aged woman sometimes feels a little like being invisible. And when they do catch sight of you, they usually don’t have anything nice to say about the way you look. Long gone are the days when I’d walk into a room and be the 8th hottest chick there. I’m still hot AF, but more in the sweaty fashion that comes late at night.
What to do?
I say, embrace it. Hot girl summers may be over (well, sorta), but the boss b*tch era has just begun.
There are so many ways I'm better at 50 than I was at 20, 30, and even 40. To begin, I am a woman of experience...lots of it. I can provide excellent, real-world advice on a myriad of topics because I've been there and done that. Need relationship advice? With 20 years of marriage under my belt, I've got you covered. Looking for insights on starting a business? I’m your go-to girl. Seeking parenting tips? I have lots to share in that department! Interested in knowing the pros and cons of Feminism? I’ve got your back. Politics? Check! I know all that there is to know about Richard M. Nixon, and I can recite the lyrics of Five Minutes of Funk without missing a beat. I'm a treasure trove of both useful and not-so-useful information. Somebody, please award me a medal!
As you reach my age, there's also the liberating benefit of not giving a f**k what others think of you. Don't get me wrong; I still make an effort for people to like me initially, but if we're not each other's cup of tea, it doesn't bother me. There's immense freedom in that. Another wonderful aspect of aging is that you can pretty much speak your mind without much concern, and people often give you a pass because of your age. If someone doesn't appreciate what I have to say, they can simply choose not to listen. However, I believe they'd be missing out, especially considering I am a famous D-List storytelling podcaster. While I may consider myself mediocre, my audience is undeniably hyper-intelligent, and that's not just hearsay.
On Jan. 6, 2024, we finally launched Red Pilled America’s video podcast, FAMBOOGIE. I got dressed, slapped some make-up on my face, threw on a hat, and plopped myself down in front of the camera. There I was, in all my middle-aged glory. And you know what? I liked what I saw.
Every wrinkle tells a story, and growing old is truly a gift. So, ladies, the next time you gaze in the mirror and notice a new line or a bit more sag, consider yourself fortunate and count your blessings. It's your second act, your boss b*tch era, and you're absolutely fabulous.
What I wore on the first episode of FAMBOOGIE (with links) below: