How to Start a New Chapter When You Think It’s Too Late | Sari BottonHow to Start a New Chapter When You Think It’s Too Late | Sari Botton
The One You Feed
Eric Zimmer and Sari Botton talk about ageing, rejection, and self-criticism, highlighting how Sari found her most fulfilling work at 60 after fearing her career was over. Their conversation looks at acceptance, change, and the possibility of starting new chapters later in life.
56:20•25 Sept 2026
Changing the Script at 60: Sari Botton on Ageing, Rejection and New Beginnings
Episode Overview
- Career doors closing at midlife don’t mean the story is over; meaningful work can emerge later than expected.
- Ageing well often blends acceptance of limits with resisting unhelpful cultural messages about what you’re "too old" to do.
- Harsh self-talk may drive productivity but can become damaging; finding kinder ways to stay accountable is crucial.
- Rejection is a normal part of creative and personal growth, and viewing "no" as "not yet" supports persistence.
- Adaptability and openness to change help turn unexpected crossroads into new and sometimes better paths.
“You can change the script. You're not necessarily stuck in the life you started as a young adult for the rest of your life.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For many, it’s the realisation that you can change the script at any age, and that’s exactly the message running through this conversation between host Eric Zimmer and writer-editor Sari Botton. Sari shares how, at 54, she could barely land interviews for jobs she was clearly qualified for and became convinced her career was finished.
Now at 60, she says she’s in "the best stretch" of her working life, running Oldster, a Substack magazine about getting older at every age and turning it into an anthology and podcast. Her story speaks directly to anyone in recovery or midlife feeling like they’ve missed their chance: as she puts it, "You can change the script.
You're not necessarily stuck in the life you started as a young adult for the rest of your life." The episode looks at ageing with honesty and humour.
Sari and Eric talk about the age you feel inside versus the birth date on your licence, the mix of acceptance and pushing back that makes ageing feel "with dignity" rather than defeat, and the strange cultural pressure to age competitively—whether that’s chasing longevity or staying "natural" in a way that still pleases others.
You’ll also hear Sari unpack her harsh inner boss, the part of her that responds to any new assignment by assuming she’s already failed, and how that kind of self-talk might fuel productivity while quietly wearing you down. Her mentor’s index-card trick—writing "no" 19 times and "yes" once to normalise rejection—offers a practical way to face setbacks, relevant to career change, recovery, and creative life alike.
If you’ve ever thought it’s too late to start a new chapter, this conversation asks a simple question: what if "no" just means "not yet" and your next yes is still ahead of you?
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