When your new boss is 20 years younger than you (and possibly owns trainers your teenager wants), the emotional whiplash is real.

In this episode, I respond to a listener who's just landed under the leadership of someone they could have taught to drive. I share seven very practical, very real strategies for navigating this shift—without bitterness, without sarcasm, and with all the self-possession you've built up over decades.

This isn't about sucking up or staying silent. It's about dignity, relevance, and choosing to lead in a new way. Whether you're simmering with frustration or simply unsure how to proceed, this one's for you.

You’re not too old, and it’s not too late.

Join the Midlife Unstuck Community → https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/3

• 7 Dignified Strategies for Working with a Baby Boss
• Case Study Series on Midlife Career Redesign

This week I’m joined by Caroline Clark, a leadership coach, performance psychologist, and analogue space astronaut. Caroline recently spent five days locked inside a simulated space mission in Poland—with no windows, no phones, and no escape. What she discovered is that humour isn’t just “nice to have” in high-pressure environments—it’s a survival tool.

Together, we explore how laughter connects us, regulates stress, and creates resilience at work. Caroline shares why humour builds trust, strengthens teams, and even makes leaders more effective. We also talk about what makes humour appropriate (and what doesn’t), and how to bring more playfulness into our everyday working lives without losing professionalism.

If work has started to feel heavy, this episode is your reminder that joy, play, and humour aren’t distractions—they’re powerful ways to thrive.

👉 Curious where joy is showing up in your own life? Take my Derailed Life Satisfaction Assessment—a 30-minute guided programme that helps you explore what’s bringing you joy and what’s bringing you down: https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/derailed

Connect with Caroline Clark:

• Website: carolineclark.coach

• Substack: Liftoff with Caroline

• LinkedIn: Caroline Clark

Have you ever looked at your CV and thought, “This is a total mess”?

You’re not alone—and you’re not wrong. But that doesn’t mean your career isn’t valuable.

In this short and powerful episode, I unpack why non-linear career stories can actually be your superpower, especially during interviews.

Whether you’ve made instinct-led choices, followed opportunities based on relationships, or simply changed direction a few times—you’ve got a story to tell.

And it’s not about explaining every twist and turn.

It’s about highlighting the single thread that shows who you are, what you bring, and why you’re a fit for that role.

If your CV feels messy, this one’s for you.

👉 Curious what joy might look like for you?

Join the Midlife Unstuck community here: https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/3