Burnout, Reinvention, and a New Encore After 50

Aging with Purpose and Passion

What if your dream career starts to destroy your well-being?
Caroline Dowd-Higgins went from celebrated opera singer to burnout survivor—then rebuilt a new life of purpose, passion, and leadership after 50.

In this episode of Aging With Purpose and Passion, we explore what happens when success stops working for you—and how to step into reinvention with clarity, courage, and joy.

Caroline’s story is one of reinvention after burnout. Her award-winning opera career demanded perfection. But behind the curtain, she was unraveling. The highs of performance came with a steep cost—financial instability, burnout, and a deep sense of misalignment. So she walked away. And started over.

💥 The turning point? Realizing that burnout is a workplace issue, not a self-care issue. As she puts it, “You can’t yoga your way out of systemic burnout.” That insight changed everything.

Caroline’s “diva training” became the foundation for her second act: using the leadership, presence, and emotional intelligence she developed onstage to coach, consult, and inspire high-performing women. Today, she helps others reframe perfectionism, reclaim confidence, and thrive without burning out.

🧠 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The truth about burnout (and why high performers don’t see it coming)
• Why perfectionism is the enemy of reinvention
• How Caroline shifted from overachiever to high achiever with boundaries
• What midlife women can do right now to stop settling and start living fully

🎙 Hosted by Beverley Glazer, a leading midlife reinvention expert, this episode is a must-listen for women over 50 navigating career change, burnout recovery, or personal transformation.

🔹 Want more?
Download the free guide: From Stuck to Unstoppable
Your next chapter starts with one small step.

🔗 Resources & Links

To hear similar stories on letting go of a dream and reinvention after 50 check out episode #112 and #132 of Aging With Purpose And Passion and If you enjoy this podcast, I recommend "Older Women & Friends" with award-winning host Jane Leder. "Older Women & Friends" is a podcast that sets the record straight, dispels the myths, explores the many contributions older women make, and the wisdom they have earned and are anxious to share.

Connect with Caroline Dowd-Higgins:
📧 [email protected]
🌐 Website | Podcast
🔗 Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Connect with Beverley Glazer:
🌐 Website
🔗 LinkedIn | Facebook |

Send us a text

🎁 BONUS: Take your first step to clarity, courage and momentum. Your free checklist: → From Stuck to Unstoppable – is here.
https://reinvent-impossible.aweb.page/from-stuck-to-unstoppable

Have feedback or a powerful story that's worth telling? Contact us at [email protected]

챕터

1. Introducing Caroline Dowd-Higgins (00:00:00)

2. From Opera Singer to Burnout (00:01:48)

3. Understanding Workplace Burnout (00:03:27)

4. Opera Training in Leadership (00:06:31)

5. Life After Burnout (00:08:36)

6. Key Takeaways and Resources (00:13:36)