In this Talking...with the University of Minnesota Q&A, Kate Schaefers, director of The Midlife Academy, shares insights on finding balance, meaning, and connection during life’s pivotal middle years. She discusses how shifting roles, changing priorities, and uncertainty can feel disorienting—but also offer opportunity for growth. Schaefers emphasizes reflection, intentional action, and community as keys to thriving in midlife transitions, noting that The Midlife Academy provides a supportive framework for exploring “what’s next.”