Episode 26: How to Age Playfully with Cruncytales.com
MICHELA DI CARLO
Michela Di Carlo is the founder and Chief Editor of CrunchyTales.com, the first illustrated online magazine for sassy women over 40 and beyond. As an experienced lifestyle journalist and late bloomers’ advocate, she focuses her work on inspirational content to empower women feeling stuck in their middle age and to have them learn how to age playfully. Motivational speaker, host and creator of “Crunchy Talks: Tales From Midlife Journeys”, bi-monthly talk shows that celebrate the talent and resources of middle-aged ladies who break boundaries, Michela encourages ladies to rethink the way they approach midlife showing them that the best has yet to come.
WHAT IS CRUNCHY TALES?
CrunchyTales.com is the first illustrated online magazine for women over 40 and beyond. The website is divided into:
- Lifestyle: News, views and features on midlife culture. From beauty to relationships and family, including how to manage your money and develop your style. Stories of empowerment and new challenges.
- Wellbeing: Find out how to look after your body and mind as well as improving your performance and confidence. From healthy eating advice to fitness and mindfulness, here are the best tips for women who don’t let age define them.
- Escaping: They suggest the top family holidays and solo destinations, including learning trips and slow travelling for women over 40.
- People: Inspirational interviews with late bloomers and female entrepreneurs who reached their goals after their 40s. Tips, views and engaging talks about business, careers, new challenges.
- Food & Wine: Food culture, trends and dining guides for bright women over 40. Our suggestions on what to eat, where to go and why. The best products and suppliers, including wines and pairing suggestions.
- The Crunch: The Editor’s views and opinions on midlife issues, including inspirational stories from female leaders and tips on how to approach new challenges later in life.
- #mymidllife: From family issues to midlife challenges, including new goals and winning mindset. Real Stories from the CrunchyTales Community. A unique journey through midlife awakening with some disruptions.
- eshop: Crunchy Tales T-Shirt
WHY WAS THE ONLINE MAGAZINE STARTED?
Crunchy Tales was born out of necessity and frustration. Michela could not find a magazine that properly represented her or this amazing age group. Many of the magazines represent women in midlife as older seemingly content to only bake and garden. She wanted her magazine to be different.
The name of her magazine reflects that difference. Crunchy conversations can be uncomfortable just like some life experiences. Crunchy also means a sharp noise so Michela felt that those ideas combined to make stories for midlife bloomers who may struggle with change or may decide to find a new path later in life.
Then there are the illustrations! The illustrations in the magazine are beautiful. Their bold colors and shapes represent a midlife renaissance and each one is unique. Further, they create an atmosphere on the page that reflects what you see is not always what you get. The same goes for women in midlife.
The stories in the magazine are shared in a nonjudgmental way without instructing women what is the right way to live, love or experience the world. It is a balance of great articles, interviews and illustrations. There is also a free pocket guide for those who go to the website which talks about how to age playfully with crunchytales.com.
The variety of articles in Crunchy Tales come from extensive research by the staff and Michela. The topics are planned in advance and may come from conversations, press conferences or even press releases. Michela also has a group of trusted resources because it is important that each story is accurate and purposeful.
Michela has always felt that midlife is a time to be playful and bolder. Older and bolder as she says! In our conversation, she recommends the book “Late Bloomer” by Rich Karlgaard which highlights the talents of late bloomers. The book takes a more scientific approach to the belief that no matter the age, new talents can always appear.
Crunchy Tales has now expanded into bimonthly panel discussions, similar to pillow talks. Women from very different backgrounds are invited to discuss their life experiences through the lens of middle age. Some discover passions in midlife or invent new products but they all reboot somehow in middle age. There are panels currently in Europe for now but Michela hopes to bring these conversations to the US. She also wants to continue to write stories for the modern unique midlife woman and hopes to create a docufilm about midlife women.
Check out the website:
Check out several Crunchy Tales articles in our articles section.