YouTube Episodes

Take the Turn with Maryanna and Jay | Podcast

Life doesn't stop when the kids get older, careers become established, and the busy years begin to shift. In many ways, that's when a new journey begins.

Take the Turn with Maryanna & Jay is a podcast about choosing a new direction in midlife and beyond. Through honest conversations, personal stories, laughter, and lessons learned, we explore marriage, family, parenting adult children, aging parents, faith, health, purpose, and what's next.

Instead of staying on the same road because it's familiar, we're choosing to take the turns ahead with intention—and inviting you to join us.

Whether you're navigating a changing season, looking for encouragement, or simply wondering what's next, we hope these conversations help you see the opportunities waiting around the bend.

🌐 www.taketheturnshow.com
📧 podcast@taketheturnshow.com
Follow us: @taketheturnshow

Take the Turn with Maryanna and Jay | Podcast
AI is no longer something coming “someday.” It’s already here, moving fast, and changing the way we work, learn, create, communicate, parent, and think about the future. In this episode of Take The Turn, Maryanna and Jay look back at the technology shifts Gen X has already lived through — bag phones, dial-up internet, MapQuest, BlackBerrys, iPhones, GPS, streaming, and more — and ask whether AI may be the next major shift we can’t afford to ignore. We talk about how AI started as a novelty, why it now feels like much more than another app, how it may level the playing field for individuals and small businesses, and how we can learn to use it wisely without fear, hype, or losing what matters most. Plus, we wrap up with our Top 10: Gen X Tech Problems Our Kids Will Never Understand. If you’re curious, cautious, overwhelmed, or just trying not to get left behind, this conversation is for you. 🌐 Website: https://www.taketheturnshow.com 📧 Email: [podcast@taketheturnshow.com](mailto:podcast@taketheturnshow.com) Follow us everywhere: Instagram: @taketheturnshow TikTok: @taketheturnshow Facebook: Take The Turn X: @taketheturnshow
AI Is Moving Fast. Are We? | Take The Turn Ep. 8
In midlife, we realize something important: the habits that carried us through one season may not be the habits we need for the next. In Episode 7 of Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we talk about building new habits for a new season of life. Inspired by ideas from Atomic Habits by James Clear, we discuss why goals give us direction, but systems create progress — and why true change is connected to who we believe we are becoming. We apply this to real-life areas like marriage, parenting older kids, faith, health, work, relationships, retirement planning, and choosing to live with more intention instead of simply coasting on autopilot. Plus, we close with a fun round of Would You Rather… with questions involving sharks, bears, coffee, chocolate, glass bridges, haunted houses, roller coasters, and whether we would rather have a rewind button or a pause button for life. In this episode, we talk about: - Why midlife is a good time to rethink our habits - The difference between goals and systems - How old habits can keep us stuck in old seasons - Building better rhythms in marriage, faith, family, health, and work - Why identity matters when creating lasting change - Choosing intentional habits for the road ahead - A fun “Would You Rather…” segment If you are navigating midlife, marriage, parenting older kids, changing priorities, or wondering what habits you need for the road ahead, this conversation is for you. 🌐 Website: https://www.taketheturnshow.com 📧 Email: podcast@taketheturnshow.com Follow Take The Turn: Instagram: @taketheturnshow TikTok: @taketheturnshow Facebook: @taketheturnshow X: @taketheturnshow #TakeTheTurn #Midlife #GenX #NewHabits #IntentionalLiving
New Season, New Habits | Building Better Systems for Midlife | Take The Turn Ep. 7
Marriage changes through every season of life — and midlife can bring some of the biggest changes yet. In this episode of Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we talk honestly about marriage in midlife, the slow drift that can happen when life gets busy, and the importance of staying connected before couples start feeling more like roommates than husband and wife. We share what marriage looked like in our 20s, how careers, kids, responsibilities, aging parents, health, and changing seasons can affect connection, and why friendship, communication, humility, and small daily habits matter so much. We also talk about the Gottmans’ Four Horsemen — criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling — and how couples can recognize negative patterns without turning the conversation into blame. This is not a “look at us” conversation or a “how to have a perfect marriage” episode. It’s a real conversation about what couples can learn as they keep growing together through midlife and beyond. Plus, we end with a fun Gen X Top 10 game: Finish the Gen X Line. In this episode, we talk about: - Marriage in your 20s vs. marriage in midlife - The slow drift that can happen in long-term relationships - Feeling like roommates instead of husband and wife - Why friendship is foundational in marriage - Communication, tone, timing, and tenderness - The Gottmans’ Four Horsemen - Repair attempts and learning how to recover after conflict - Midlife marriage, empty nest transitions, and shared future vision - Small daily habits that help couples stay connected Thanks for watching Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay. 🌐 Website: https://www.taketheturnshow.com 📧 Email: podcast@taketheturnshow.com Follow us: Instagram: @taketheturnshow TikTok: @taketheturnshow YouTube: @taketheturnshow X: @taketheturnshow #TakeTheTurn #MarriageInMidlife #MidlifeMarriage #GenXMarriage #MarriagePodcast #MidlifePodcast #ChristianMarriage #EmptyNesters #Gottman #GenX
Marriage in Midlife: Are We Still Connected? | Take The Turn Ep. 6
Moving a college freshman into their dorm is part packing list, part construction project, part decorating challenge, and part emotional goodbye. In Episode 5 of Take the Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we’re talking about what we learned from moving two kids into college dorms — one boy and one girl. We cover dorm room must-haves, what we bought, what we built, what we would do differently, and the emotional side of helping your child take this next big turn. We talk about raised beds, storage, bedding, desk hutches, fans, air purifiers, medical kits, move-in day tools, thoughtful things to leave behind, and the custom bedside shelf Jay built instead of buying two expensive ones online. We also share where we spent, where we saved, and why dorm move-in is about more than setting up a room — it’s about stepping into a new season of parenting. Download our full dorm move-in checklist, item list, and bedside shelf build notes at: http://www.taketheturnshow.com In this episode: - College dorm move-in tips for parents - Dorm room must-have items - What to buy before move-in day - What to measure before buying furniture - How to make a dorm room functional and comfortable - Thoughtful things to leave your college freshman - The emotional side of college drop-off - Our Top 10 favorite bands from when we were in college Buckle up and Take the Turn with us! Website: http://www.taketheturnshow.com Email: podcast@taketheturnshow.com Instagram: @taketheturnshow TikTok: @taketheturnshow YouTube: @taketheturnshow X: @taketheturnshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564746797671
College Dorm Tips: Boxes, Beds, and Goodbyes | Take the Turn Ep. 5
Stress hits different in midlife. Between marriage, parenting older kids, work, aging parents, hormones, mental load, overstimulation, and the constant feeling that someone needs something from you, it can feel like your brain never fully shuts off. In this episode of Take the Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we talk honestly about stress in midlife — the funny parts, the frustrating parts, the marriage moments, and the ways we’re learning to recognize what we’re anxious to leave behind. We’re not experts. We’re just a husband and wife having real conversations about life, faith, family, marriage, and figuring out what this next season is supposed to look like. In this episode, we talk about: - Why stress feels different in midlife - The mental load of marriage, parenting, and daily life - How stress shows up differently for each of us - Overstimulation, anxiety, worry, and hormones - Learning what to carry — and what to finally put down Thanks for watching and taking the turn with us. 🌐 Website: https://www.taketheturnshow.com 📧 Email: podcast@taketheturnshow.com Follow us: Instagram: @taketheturnshow TikTok: @taketheturnshow YouTube: @taketheturnshow X: @taketheturnshow
Stress, Midlife, and “Why Are You Breathing Like That?” | Take the Turn with Maryanna and Jay
In this episode of Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we’re talking about fitness, nutrition, and what it really looks like to take care of yourself in midlife. This is not about chasing the body we had at 25 or pretending we have it all figured out. It’s about getting stronger, being smarter with our habits, and learning how to stay healthy in a way that actually fits this season of life. We talk about exercise, food, motivation, soreness, discipline, grace, and the small choices that can make a big difference over time. Maryanna brings the heart, humor, and real-life perspective, while Jay brings the roadmap, structure, and a few lessons from years of elite gymnastics training. Whether you’re trying to get back in shape, stay consistent, eat better, or simply feel better in your own body, this conversation is for you. Take the turn toward better health — one small step at a time. 🌐 Website: https://www.taketheturnshow.com 📧 Email: podcast@taketheturnshow.com Follow us: Instagram: @taketheturnshow TikTok: @taketheturnshow YouTube: @taketheturnshow X: @taketheturnshow Facebook: Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay
Stronger, Smarter, and Slightly Sore | Take The Turn Ep. 3
Sometimes the road we thought we were supposed to take does not lead where we expected. But that does not mean the journey was wasted. In Episode 2 of Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we talk about “the long way around” — the unexpected detours, disappointments, delays, and life turns that shape who we become. Through personal stories, honest reflection, and a little humor, we explore how the difficult seasons can still lead to growth, purpose, perspective, and even gratitude. From family stories to career turns, Olympic dreams, marriage, faith, and the lessons learned along the way, this episode is about recognizing that the long road may still be the right road. If you have ever looked back and wondered why life took you the way it did, this conversation is for you. Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay is a podcast about choosing a new direction in midlife and beyond — with honest conversations about marriage, family, faith, parenting older kids, aging parents, health, purpose, and what comes next. 🌐 Website: https://www.taketheturnshow.com 📧 Email: podcast@taketheturnshow.com Follow us: Instagram: @taketheturnshow TikTok: @taketheturnshow YouTube: @taketheturnshow X: @taketheturnshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564746797671
The Long Way Around: Detours, Disappointments, and Finding Purpose | Take The Turn Ep. 2
What happens when you realize life is changing… but you’re not sure what comes next? In our very first episode of Take the Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we talk honestly about the shift that happens in midlife—the kids getting older, roles changing, priorities shifting, and the quiet realization that we don’t want to just stay on autopilot. Through personal stories, laughter, reflection, and practical perspective, we explore what it means to recognize “the turn” in life and choose to take it with intention. In this episode: - Jay realizes he’s not the young athlete he once was - Maryanna reflects on motherhood in a new season of life - We discuss marriage, busyness, work-life balance, and drifting through life without realizing it - Jay shares the “roadmap” mindset he used as an elite gymnast—and how it applies to life transitions today If you’ve ever wondered: “Is this really the road I want to stay on?” …this episode is for you. 🌐 Website: https://www.taketheturnshow.com 📱 Follow us everywhere: @taketheturnshow #midlife #Marriage #Parenting #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #TakeTheTurn #LifeTransitions #Relationships #SelfImprovement #MidlifePodcast
The Turn Is Coming… Are You Ready? | Take the Turn Ep. 1
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  • 7: New Season, New Habits

    7: New Season, New Habits

    In this episode of Take The Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we talk about building new habits for a new season of life. By midlife, many of us have spent decades developing habits, routines, and systems — some helpful, some not so helpful, and some we barely notice anymore. But as life changes, the habits that…

  • Marriage in Midlife: Are We Still Connected?

    Marriage in Midlife: Are We Still Connected?

    Marriage changes through every season of life, and midlife can be one of the most important turns couples face. In this episode, Maryanna and Jay talk honestly about marriage in midlife, the slow drift that can happen when life gets busy, and how couples can stay connected before they start feeling more like roommates than…

  • 5: College Dorm Tips: Boxes, Beds, and Goodbyes

    5: College Dorm Tips: Boxes, Beds, and Goodbyes

    Moving a college freshman into a dorm is part packing list, part construction project, part decorating challenge, and part emotional goodbye. In Episode 5 of Take the Turn with Maryanna and Jay, we share what we learned from moving two kids into college dorms — one boy and one girl. We cover dorm room must-haves, what…