Laughing Through the Midlife Sh*tshow: Divorce & Reinvention with Donna Johnsen
Donna Johnsen
Midlife Humorist & Mom of 2
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What do you do when your marriage ends, your kids need you, your hormones betray you, and you turn 50… all at the same time? Donna Johnsen calls it “Chernobyl,” and that’s exactly what it felt like when her life imploded seemingly overnight.
In this raw and refreshingly funny episode, Donna shares her story of surviving the darkest season of her life—and how humor, journaling, and community became her tools for healing and rebuilding.
With the encouragement of her kids and friends, Donna took a leap way outside her comfort zone and started the Instagram account Laugh Lines and Life Goals, where she now brings comic relief and real talk to midlife women navigating their own sh*tshows.
We cover:
✔️Being blindsided by divorce and surviving the grief
✔️The midlife identity remix—and how to find yourself again
✔️Parenting teens through grief and holding boundaries with love
✔️Using humor as a bridge, not a bypass
✔️Why community can save your sanity
✔️The backstory behind Donna’s hilarious reels
This episode is for every midlife woman who’s ever asked, “WTF is happening to my life?”
You’re not alone—and sometimes, all it takes is one laugh to start moving forward again.
About Donna Johnsen:
Donna Johnsen is the founder of Laugh Lines & Life Goals, or as she likes to affectionately refer to it, "the real-time chronicle of my midlife meltdown that has somehow turned into a lifestyle platform".
When her long-term marriage abruptly imploded (surprise!), she suddenly became a single mom to two teenagers (because life wasn’t stressful enough already), and oh yeah, it all happened on the verge of turning 50 (total confidence booster).
So after patching herself up from the emotional train wreck called life, she did what any mildly unhinged woman with questionable coping skills would do. She launched a blog. But clearly journaling her personal disasters in private wasn’t enough, so she took it to social media too. Because nothing says healing like oversharing with strangers on the internet… in real time… with hashtags.
Resources & Links:
➡️ Follow Donna on Instagram: @laughlinesandlifegoals
➡️ Read her blog: laughlinesandlifegoals.com
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy 🎧:
How to Help a Friend in Crisis: Real Advice from a Mom Who’s Been There with Tara Sharp
The Midlife Working Mom Struggle is Real: Burnout, Guilt and Finding Joy
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Disclaimer:
Belong Wellness and its members, managers, employees, contractors, and other agents or representatives are not licensed medical care providers and do not provide medical services or advice, including without limitation diagnosing, examining, preventing, treating, or curing any medical conditions. The information shared in this podcast is meant to be educational, not prescriptive. Please consult your medical doctor before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle. Further, the opinions of guests on this show do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Jessica or anyone affiliated with Belong Wellness.
