Almost 60 and Just Getting Started - How Lori Altermann Proves Reinvention Has No Age Limit - Christina Daves

For far too long, women have been told that midlife is about shrinking—scaling back dreams, lowering expectations, and quietly stepping aside. Somewhere along the way, society decided that ambition has an expiration date, creativity belongs to the young, and reinvention after 50 is the exception, not the rule.

This week on Living Ageless and Bold, I had a conversation that completely dismantles that narrative.

My guest, Lori Altermann, is a comedian, pop culture commentator, podcast host, and one of TikTok’s most compelling midlife voices, with nearly 200,000 followers and partnerships with major media outlets like Us Weekly. What makes her story so powerful isn’t just her success—it’s when and how it happened.

Lori didn’t build this career in her twenties or thirties. She built it after raising two daughters, surviving cancer, navigating menopause, processing years of anxiety and depression, and finally giving herself permission to go after what she always wanted.

Her story is not about overnight success. It’s about courage, authenticity, and choosing yourself—especially when the world tells you it’s too late.

Putting Dreams on Hold Doesn’t Mean Giving Them Up

Like many women, Lori once had big dreams. Before she became a mother, she envisioned herself in Hollywood—doing stand-up, acting, and comedy. She worked in television and radio, performed improv, and chased opportunities that required grit, late nights, and relentless resilience.

Then life happened.

Marriage. Children. Responsibility. Stability.

Lori made a practical choice that many women make: she put her creative dreams on pause to raise her family. For 24 years, she focused on motherhood and providing a steady foundation for her daughters. And while she loves her children deeply, she’s refreshingly honest about the reality of that season.

Motherhood didn’t come naturally to her. It humbled her. Challenged her. Stretched her in ways she never expected.

And that honesty matters—because so many women silently carry guilt for not being “good at everything,” especially parenting. Lori’s story reminds us that loving your children and finding motherhood difficult can coexist.

When the House Goes Quiet, the Questions Get Loud

When Lori’s youngest daughter left for college, everything shifted at once. The house changed. Her role changed. Even her sense of identity began to unravel.

Add to that the loss of a beloved pet and a move—all in the same week—and Lori found herself at a breaking point.

What followed was something many women recognize but rarely talk about openly: a nervous breakdown.

Instead of brushing it off or powering through, Lori did something brave—she got help. Years of therapy followed, including deep trauma work that helped her confront a lifelong pattern of masking pain with humor.

She learned that it’s okay not to be funny all the time. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to admit you’re not okay.

That healing didn’t just change her—it changed her relationship with her children, her sense of self, and ultimately, her future.

Starting Over Without a Roadmap

After years of caregiving, healing, and self-reflection, Lori faced the question so many empty nesters ask:

Now what?

She knew one thing for sure—she didn’t want to return to the grind of traditional stand-up comedy. Late nights and constant rejection no longer fit the life she wanted.

Then one night, she woke up with a simple but radical idea.

TikTok.

At nearly 60 years old. With no tech skills. And no plan.

Lori had been consuming TikTok content for fun, but she wondered: What if I talked about the things I love? Skincare. Makeup. Pop culture. Reality TV. Life after cancer. Menopause. Aging without filters.

Her friends and family were skeptical. Even her daughters thought it was a little ridiculous.

But Lori didn’t wait for validation.

She hired a college student to teach her how to open the app, film a video, and edit content. She pressed record. And she kept showing up.

Authenticity Is the Algorithm

What happened next wasn’t carefully planned or strategically engineered—but it was undeniably powerful. As Lori began posting consistently, her natural humor surfaced, her honesty cut through the noise, and her unapologetic, no-filter approach immediately resonated with viewers who were craving something real.

Her videos weren’t just about beauty tips or pop culture commentary. They were about confidence earned through experience, resilience built over decades, and saying out loud the things so many women think but feel pressured to keep quiet. Lori wasn’t performing a version of herself for the algorithm—she was simply being herself.

As a result, her following grew organically. Brands started paying attention. Media outlets reached out. Opportunities expanded. Eventually, her voice and point of view grew into a podcast and a fully formed second-act career.

What makes Lori’s success especially compelling is that she never tried to look younger, act younger, or present a polished version of herself that didn’t feel true. She didn’t chase trends—she showed up exactly as she is.

And that authenticity, it turns out, is exactly what people are craving.

Why Rejection Loses Its Power in Midlife

One of the most striking parts of our conversation was Lori’s perspective on rejection—and how dramatically it changes as we get older. By midlife, you’ve already lived through the hard seasons. You’ve been told no. You’ve lost relationships that mattered. You’ve watched plans unravel and dreams shift. And you’re still standing.

Because of that, rejection no longer defines you the way it once did. It no longer feels catastrophic or personal—it feels survivable. As Lori put it so simply and so powerfully: you already have a no, so you might as well go for it.

That mindset is incredibly freeing. It removes the fear of trying and replaces it with curiosity and courage. When you’re no longer afraid to ask, pitch, or take a risk, doors begin to open—not because success is guaranteed, but because confidence is contagious, and people respond to those who are willing to show up and try anyway.

Redefining Visibility After 50

There’s a persistent myth that women over 50 become invisible—especially in media, entertainment, and pop culture. The assumption is that relevance belongs to the young, and that once women reach a certain age, their voices fade into the background.

Lori’s career proves the opposite. Her perspective is powerful precisely because of her age. She brings lived experience, discernment, sharp humor, and cultural context that younger creators simply haven’t had time to develop yet. She’s not guessing—she’s lived it.

Lori isn’t trying to be 30. She doesn’t want to be. She’s proud to be almost 60, and that self-assuredness comes through in everything she does. That confidence, rooted in self-acceptance rather than comparison, is exactly what makes her so compelling.

Whether she’s talking about reality television, celebrity culture, or skincare, Lori shows that visibility in midlife isn’t about chasing youth or fitting into outdated expectations. It’s about owning who you are, showing up fully, and understanding that relevance doesn’t disappear with age, it deepens.

Building a Career That Fits Your Life Now

Today, Lori earns income through a mix of brand partnerships, media appearances, podcast sponsorships, and content creation. Like many modern careers—especially those built later in life—hers continues to evolve, and she’s refreshingly honest about the fact that it’s still a work in progress.

What matters most, though, is that this career fits the life she has now. It aligns with her energy, her interests, and the rhythm she wants for her days. She’s no longer forcing herself into a version of success that doesn’t feel right.

Lori wakes up excited for her day. She creates content she genuinely enjoys. She makes people laugh. And she regularly hears from followers who tell her that her videos helped them get through a hard moment or reminded them they’re not alone.

That sense of purpose and joy—knowing your work matters to others while still fulfilling you—is the real measure of success.

The Power of Following Curiosity

When asked what advice she would give women over 50 who feel a pull toward something new but don’t quite know where to start, Lori offered something refreshingly simple—and deeply liberating.

Start somewhere.

It doesn’t have to be a business. It doesn’t have to be polished. And it certainly doesn’t have to make sense right away. The pressure to turn every interest into a fully formed plan often stops women before they even begin.

Instead, Lori encourages women to reconnect with what they enjoy in small, tangible ways. If you love gardening, volunteer at a floral shop. If you love books, spend time in a bookstore or library. If pop culture lights you up, start talking about it—out loud, online, or with others who share that interest.

The point isn’t to have it all figured out. It’s to put what you love back into your life and see what happens next. Momentum, confidence, and clarity don’t come from forcing a path forward—they grow naturally from curiosity, exploration, and giving yourself permission to begin.