Kate Schaefers, director of The Midlife Academy, was recently featured on the Signal Shift podcast, hosted by Sue Chi and Raakhee Natha of the Horizon Shift Lab. In the episode, Kate discusses the growing need for midlife academies: structured, community-based learning experiences that support adults in their 40s, 50s, and beyond as they navigate career shifts, caregiving demands, identity changes, and questions of purpose. She explains why traditional retirement models no longer fit, how universities are uniquely positioned to serve this group, and why connection and experimentation are essential during midlife transitions. Kate shares how The Midlife Academy creates space for reflection, skill-building, and community, helping participants realize they don’t have to figure it out alone.

Catch the full episode