Left of Midlife

Making friends as an adult is weird...and we're finally saying it out loud.
 
From awkward first hangouts to the unspoken rules of what actually makes friendships work in midlife, we're breaking down the reality of adult friendships (honestly, humorously, and without overthinking it...ok maybe just a little).
 
If you've ever wondered, "are we actually friends?"...this ones for you. 
 
LOML is brought to you by Home and Harvest Property, Mike DeCoursey Realtor and Fair Shake with Brian Emmons airing each Saturday at 8:05 on WRZR streaming at Razor945.com, 9:05 on Memories 107.9 and 10:05 on the General. WAMWamfm.com

We've reached the stage of life where we know what we like - and we're done pretending otherwise.
 
This week on Left of Midlife, we're sharing what we love right now, Indiana spots, trusted voices, must-read books, and what keeps us grounded.
 
Plus: our "Hall of Shame," because not everything deserves a second chance. 
 
 

What actually makes an election work?
 
This week on Left of Midlife, we're pulling back the curtain on the part of democracy no one talks about, the people and processes that keep it all running. 
 
From poll workers and county election boards and volunteers, we're diving into the real infrastructure behind every ballot cast. The part that doesn't make headlines. The part that isn't flashy. The part that depends on everyday people showing up, doing the work, and holding the system together.
 
We talk about what elections actually look like behind the scenes, why counties struggle to staff polling locations, and how much of this process still relies on human hands, not machines. Plus, we break down everything Hoosiers need to know about early voting and absentee voting in 2026, because understanding how to vote is just as important as deciding who to vote for.
 
Because democracy isn't magic, it's maintenance.
 
Key Dates:
- Voter Registration Deadline: April 6th, 2026
- Early Voting Begins: April 7th, 2026
- Early Voting Ends: May 4th, 2026
- Primary Election Day: May 5th, 2026 
 
Register or Check Your Status:
- Indiana Voter Portal: https://indianavoters.in.gov
 
Want to Get Involved?
- Contact your county clerk's office to become a poll worker
- Volunteer with local voter registration efforts
- Help a friend make a plan to vote

How does a poet stop half a million people mid-scroll?
 
Robert Arnold joins Left of Midlife to talk about writing, and building real connection in a digital world. From Helena, Arkansas to TikTok, his words have struck a nerve - not because they're loud, but because they're honest.
 
Bonus for our local listeners - you can hear from Rober in person! He will be in Vincennes speaking on Saturday, March 28th. 
 
This episode is a reminder that even in the noise, something real can still break through. 

Indiana politics is heating up, and this week we're breaking it all down. Marsha and Tiffanie sit down with Progressive Indiana Network leader Scott Aaron Rogers to talk about the 2026 legislative sessions, rising affordability concerns, energy policy, and what the upcoming primary elections could mean for the state. It's a candid conversation about grassroots organizing, the political moment Indiana is in and why staying engaged matters now more than ever.
 
Learn more about the Progressive Indiana Network:
http://progressiveindiana.net
HoosLeft Podcast
http://hoosleft.us

Support Tiffanie's Campaign at www.tiffaniearthur.com
 
This week your girls went to candidate training...and yes, there were PowerPoints.
 
On this episode of Left of Midlife, Marsha and Tiffanie take you behind the curtain of the Indiana House Democratic Caucus candidate training and break down what they learned from the real nuts and bolts of running for office.
 
We're talking: 
- fundraising (aka the thing every candidate fears)
- building volunteer armies
- knocking doors in rural districts
- and campaign finance laws so your girls stay out of jail
 
But it's not just campaign mechanics, it's also about why preparing strong candidates matters for Indiana's future. 
 
Because if we want better politics, we need more real people stepping up to run.
 
And yes...sometimes that starts with sitting through campaign training on a Saturday.
 
Support Tiffanie's Campaign at www.tiffaniearthur.com

This week on Left of Midlife, we left the group chat and entered the group experience.
 
Marsha and Tiffanie were in the room for Vice President Kamala Harris's Indianapolis stop on her 107 Days book tour, and it wasn't just a political event. It was something bigger. Midlife-big. 
 
We're unpacking the energy of the sold-out crowd, the multigenerational sea of women (and men), the themes of resilience woven through Harris's remarks, and the moments that made the room go quiet. We talk leadership under pressure, personal evolution, and what it means to witness a woman navigating power in real time. 
 
If you were there, we want to hear from you. If you weren't, come process it with us. 
 
Because when we fight, we win...even if it takes a while. 
 
 

What if 'man up' is one of the most damaging phrases we tell boys?
 
This week on Left of Midlife, we unpack how patriarchy doesn't just limit women - it cages men too. From emotional suppression and suicide rates to loneliness, economic pressure, fatherhood, and the rise of 'alpha male' culture, we explore how rigid masculinity harms everyone.
 
This isn't about blaming men. It's about questioning a system that tells them to dominate, provide, and never break - and redefining what real strength looks like. 
 
Because strength without empathy is just fear in disguise.
 
Resources: 
 
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741
 
HeadsUpGuys - Evidence-based resources on depression in men.
https://headsupguys.org
 
Movember Foundation - Focus of men's mental health, suicide prevention, and connection
https://us.movember.com
 
The Fatherhood Project - Emotionally engaged fathering
https://www.fatherhoodproject.org
 
Zero to Three - Early childhood emotional development 
https://www.zerotothree.org
 
Next Gen Men - Workshops and resources on masculinity and emotional intelligence
https://www.nextgenmen.ca

What happens when you tell people to use their voice, get involved, and demand representation....and then you finally take your own advice?
 
Apparently, you end up running for office.
 
This week, the tables turn as Marsha takes the wheel and puts Tiffanie in the hot seat, leading an honest and personal conversation about her decision to run for Indiana State House District 63. She shares the roots that shaped her - and the growing realization that waiting for someone else to fix things was no longer an option. 
 
Marsha digs into the moments frustration became action, realities of running a grassroots campaign, and some of the issues affecting District 63. They also talk candidly about what it means to step forward - when you're no longer interested in being agreeable, quiet, or patient for change that never seems to come. 
 
This episode is about courage, community, and the uncomfortable moment when you realize that person you've been waiting for...might be you.
 
Sometimes taking your own advice changes everything.
 
Find Tiffanie on social media: Tiffanie Arthur for State House 63
tiffaniearthurIN63@gmail.com
Donate at: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tiffaniearthurin63

Women in politics aren't just fighting bad policy - they're fighting perception, double standards, and a system that still isn't entirely convinced they belong. 
 
In this episode, Marsha and Tiffanie dig into the reality of misogyny in leadership: the tone policing, the appearance critiques, the assumptions of incompetence, and the impossible double bind women are expected to navigate just to be take seriously. From 'calm down' to 'you're too much,' the rules seem designed so women can never quite get it right. 
 
Joining the conversation is special guest Thomasina Marsili, who brings her own firsthand experiences and a real life, unfiltered take on what it actually looks like to navigate power as a woman in today's political climate. 
 
This episode is honest. It's validating. It's occasionally furious. And it's a reminder that women aren't asking for permission anymore.