Be.Real is the latest trend young people are obsessing over. Some of us Olds are using it, too (which should serve as the death knell to the app that purports to challenge the theater that are Instagram and Facebook). But what isn’t theater is how real we are in our day-to-day lives. In today’s installment, Wendy offers her thoughts on authenticity, why it matters and how important it is to be true to ourselves. So snap that Be.Real when you get your notification and then snap to this week’s...

You might think this episode is about a geyser, but oh, it is not. Wendy’s dipping into the style section today and focusing on a fundamental must-have: The white button-down shirt. Every woman needs one (or several) in her closet but choosing which style can cause overwhelm and decision fatigue for some of us. Grab a cup of coffee or matcha or tea, check in to find out one of Wendy’s favorite labels in the white shirt department and learn how to avoid looking like a pirate.

Thanks to social media, we stay connected to many people all at once. Everyone can be a friend. But…who’s the person you call when you’re really down and out? When you have something uber personal to share? When you need advice or just an ear? Today, Wendy’s talking lifeboats and who, in our social groups, make the final cut. Hint: It’s not all our friends on Facebook.

Welcome back to Season 3! It’s pedal-to-the metal over here in the Cropped Universe as Wendy turns 55 today. Woot-woot! To celebrate this non-milestone milestone, our host turns the tables on herself as she enjoys a chat with her producer and sound guy (that’s his official title). Jump back in for a little background on your favorite anti-anti-aging spokesperson and hear her answer some questions as an introduction to this season’s new 5-in-5 segment. At 17 minutes, this episode is longer...

Sometimes we all need a little space — from our kids, from our partner, from a friend — but who hasn’t been just a little hurt when someone has said they need some space? Giving and asking for space can be a good thing. So give yourself some space to hear what Wendy’s thinking about alone time and infinite possibility.

They say art imitates life... sometimes so accurately, it’s as if the artist has moved into your home and taken notes. Inspired by an SNL skit, Wendy has some thoughts on how those of us living our best lives in underwear with a stretched out elastic band and a hole in the side seam have got to do better! 

Do you have a hard time making decisions or are you one of the lucky few for whom decisiveness is built into your genetics? Can’t decide? Then this five minutes is for you. Wendy wants to shake some sense into those of us struggling with “decision fatigue.” Like, how hard can it be to pick out a bath mat?

Parents—very often moms—put thousands of miles on our tires shuttling our kids from practices to matches to tournaments, oh my! But there can be unexpected payoffs for the road-weary and lessons we can heed from Wendy’s recent trip to state lacrosse finals. She brags on her kid here, but only to make a larger point. C’mon…put in your earbuds and hit play.

Word on the street is that a lot of you are finding it difficult to get dressed these days, not because you don’t want to but because you don’t know how after nearly three years of sweat pants and couch living. But it’s time. Even if you move into jeans and a tee, it’s not hard to elevate even the simplest of basics.

Wendy recently met one of her idols who happens to have fun through her clothes... and even moreso during her battle with cancer. Our world's a s**tshow, from the individual to the global, but it's super important to still find joy. Let's go!

Cropped is back after a brief hiatus. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, even if the flow means powering down. Wendy’s back to kick off season two, and she’s got something to say about friendship: Let’s aim to be the friend we need and grant each other a lot of grace in these weird and tumultuous times.

December is overwhelming and nobody’s helped when we become short-tempered and sweaty. So we can head this off by... indulging in every whim. Well. Maybe not every whim. But most of them? Wendy offers her twist on all the things we’re told to do.

There’s lots of noise and pearl clutching when it comes to whether we’ll have anything to put under the Christmas tree this year. Hogwash, says Wendy. We have an abundance of stuff and things right in our local communities, so let’s support our local crafters and bakers and candlestick makers.

It’s someone’s favorite holiday but we won’t tell you who. (Hint: Her name rhymes with Fendi…) Our host gets the warm and fuzzies because she doesn’t let a dropped turkey or a burned casserole throw her off her game. Let it be what it is and raise a glass to celebrate all the good things in your life.

If you missed episode 5, you’ll still be right on time for this one. But do listen to episode 5 because you’re worth it and this week is an extension of it. Listeners responded to the question: What does sexy mean to you? Your answers were so good that we’re sharing them today. Y’all are fierce and sexy as hell.

It can happen to anyone, and it quite frequently does. Wendy wrestles with imposter syndrome and pins it to the mat. She shares some tools to quiet that voice in your head that, if left to its own devices, can rob us of all the incredible things we were meant to do and be.

Gen Z has spoken, and the side part is out. They say it makes you look old. Excuse us? This one feels a wee bit personal, and Wendy goes to the mat on behalf of The Olds.

We of the middle-age set still want to feel a little sexy sometimes and we absolutely can! We must! At this point, we know sex appeal comes from what's on the inside (contentment, confidence, self-love), and the clothes we wear are simply a complement to all of that inner stunningness. We're no longer dressing like 20-somethings, right? RIGHT? Right. So we're gonna lean on a style icon for inspiration today and borrow from the boys this fall.

When life gets out of sync - and it happens to all of us - it's good to scale back and focus on what you can control. Wendy shares her "basics" or the seven things she does that keep her balanced or help her recalibrate... and warning: this includes lots of water.

Getting older comes with a lot of perks, but it also comes with just a few humbling changes. The errant chin hair that unfurled overnight falls into this category. Let's discuss.

The last thing anyone needs is to stare down a closet of clothes, only to feel BAD about themselves... nope, not today! I'm going to show you a fun and easy exercise we can use to tap into our own personal style - without struggling, and without limitations.

In an era that sometimes seems like never-ending doom, how can we find joy within each day? How can we decide what matters most? Every week, I'm going to share what makes me happy through this podcast. When it comes to content, I'm going to follow my heart, and I hope you'll come along with me!

Introducing "Cropped: A Mid-Life Minute," the bite-sized podcast about finding inspiration in middle age, and exploring all things fashion and style!

Laura is the editor-in-chief of InStyle magazine the former executive director of Harper's Bazaar magazine... AND, she's witty beyond measure. She takes us through her journey within the fashion landscape, highlighting the importance of mentorship and the evolving nature of fashion itself.

Writer, editor, and podcast host Elise Loehnen inspires us to follow our dreams and embark on new journeys at ANY age. We discuss pivoting in mid-life, handling death and loss, and treating others with equality and equity.