The Karol Markowicz Show: Gen X & Midlife Reset

Guest: Lisa De Pasquale
Host: Karol Markowicz
Date: December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on midlife reinvention, tackling the unique challenges and opportunities facing Gen Xers from weight loss and financial resets to geographical moves and romantic renewal. Lisa De Pasquale, author of Gen X Handbook for Middle Age, joins Karol Markowitz to candidly share her personal transformation—losing 170 pounds, paying off substantial debt, moving to Texas for a new life and love, and thriving in middle age. Their conversation explores stereotypes and realities of Gen X, the difficulty of asking for help, and practical advice for anyone seeking a reset at midlife.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Lisa's Rock-Bottom & Transformation

• Catalyst for Change: At 41, Lisa found herself "single, unemployed, over 300 pounds, and…about $50,000 in credit card debt," all after a career in political nonprofits.
  "[I] just spending too much time working for political nonprofits...I started with, with weight loss to just get my health back on track." (04:10)

• Mindset Shift: Inspired by a biblical verse—I have put before you, life and death, therefore choose life—Lisa transitioned from passively hoping things would improve to actively pursuing a better life.
  "It was like, no, I'm actually going to choose to have a better life." (04:42)

• Achievements:

  • Lost 170 pounds
  • Became debt free by 2021
  • Moved from Virginia to Texas in 2022
  • Began a new relationship: "Also to be with the love of my life." (05:47)

The Gen X Experience & Pop Culture

• Motivation for the Book: Lisa wanted to counter the notion "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," highlighting her transformation in her 40s.

  • "For women, you know, in my 40s...my love of pop culture and particularly Gen X pop culture was just a way to have fun with the subject." (06:09)

• Gen X’s Unique Identity and Challenges:

  • Seen as the "forgotten generation," less discussed than Boomers, Millennials, or Gen Z.
  • Primary concerns include retirement security and the stress of being the "sandwich generation"—caring for both aging parents and children. (06:51)
  • Gen X's independence can be a double-edged sword—strength and stumbling block:
    "On the negative side, our independence is probably not asking for help." (08:06)

Openness About Struggles

• Public Discussion of Weight Loss:

  • Lisa reflects on how being open about her weight and setbacks helps provide honesty to others—"If I didn't talk about, say, my weight at all, that the actual number...someone who might be slightly over slightly under...wouldn't know where I was coming from." (09:54)

• Facing Public Judgment:

  • Points out difficulties of public scrutiny, referencing her interviews and public appearances (e.g., with Michael Malice, at CPAC with Rush Limbaugh and Donald Trump). (10:57–11:23)
  • Experiences with online feedback: "I was kind of expecting...credit for what I had done so far, and there wasn't really any." (12:22)

Biggest Adjustments & Life Changes

• Leaving Comfort Zones:

  • Lisa considers moving to Texas the biggest leap, leaving behind two decades in Virginia and starting anew in a smaller city, focusing on writing and creative work. (14:04–15:00)

• Relationship & Creative Partnership:

  • Met her partner through mutual professional interests; both are creatives—she's a writer, he’s an artist who worked with DC and Marvel and illustrated her book cover. (16:00)

Personal Reflections & Hard-Won Wisdom

• Proud Accomplishments:

  • Lisa says starting her weight loss journey is what she’s most proud of, given a lifetime of struggle.
    "I had been overweight most of my life...I think it takes a lot of courage to [try again] when I've failed a million times and just still [keep going]." (21:05)

• Feeling Like a Different Person?

  • Despite the physical changes, Lisa admits she sometimes still doesn’t believe what her body can do, i.e., hesitating to do burpees even when fit. (22:31)

Five-Year Predictions: AI and the Future

• Lisa is skeptical that AI will change art and culture as profoundly as some predict:
  "When it comes to art, it's a giant bubble and it's just a parlor trick. Like, look at this silly dancing dog I made." (24:11)
• She is optimistic about AI for health data and diagnostics:
  "I think healthcare is probably the biggest place...uploading like X rays and things like that...faster and...across not just [one] radiologist but what like every radiologist [has seen]." (25:33)
• Both agree people still want human connection and soul—in art, culture, and medicine. (26:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Choosing Life:
  "No, I'm actually going to choose to have a better life." – Lisa DiPasquale (04:42)

• On Gen X Independence:
  "Our independence is probably not asking for help. Like you said, you know, when in the places where we need it." – Lisa DiPasquale (08:06)

• Weight Loss Courage:
  "I think it takes a lot of courage to...when I've failed a million times and just still right?" – Lisa DiPasquale (21:31)

• On AI in Art:
  "Without that soul there, people will crave, you know, writing in art and movies more." – Lisa DiPasquale (24:11)

• Advice to Listeners:
  "I think it's to do uncomfortable things. I mean for me it, it was kind of everything, weight loss for you, maybe leaving your home state, you know, it might be have having kids before you're ready or financially ready. I think generally, we need to be more attuned to doing uncomfortable things because that can, you know, lead to, you know, a better life." – Lisa DiPasquale (26:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Lisa's background and why she wrote her book: 03:51–06:09
• Gen X as a 'forgotten' generation & our unique challenges: 06:25–08:06
• Independence as Gen X's asset and liability: 08:06–08:48
• Discussing weight loss publicly, handling scrutiny: 09:54–13:02
• Biggest personal transitions (weight, debt, moving): 13:34–15:00
• Meeting her partner and creative collaboration: 15:21–16:18
• Proudest accomplishment—weight loss & ongoing struggle: 21:05–22:31
• Five-year outlook for AI, art, and healthcare: 23:19–26:26
• Final advice: Do uncomfortable things: 26:57

Closing

Karol thanks Lisa for her candor and inspiration, encouraging listeners to check out Gen X Handbook for Middle Age and Lisa’s Substack (getbright.substack.com). The key takeaway: growth happens through discomfort and reinvention is always possible—no matter your age.

For more:

• Lisa De Pasquale: getbright.substack.com
• Book: Gen X Handbook for Middle Age