Life & Work with Lorraine C. Ladish

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorraine C. Ladish.

Hi Lorraine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Spain and moved to the United States at 41. By then, I was already a published author. My latest book, Tu Mejor Edad (Your Best Age), was published in Spanish by HarperCollins in 2017. A couple of years after moving, I went through a divorce and financial hardship, which meant rebuilding my life as a single mother while starting over professionally. Writing had always been part of my life, and it became both a creative outlet and a way to support my family.
After turning 50, I founded Viva Fifty Media, a digital platform focused on aging, lifestyle, and reinvention. I felt there was very little content that spoke to women over 50 in a realistic and empowering way, and I wanted to help change the narrative around aging. Over time, my work grew into a business that includes writing, digital content creation, and partnerships with brands in the health, wellness, and lifestyle space.
My work has been featured in Business Insider, AARP, HuffPost, NBC News, and Oprah Daily. I also write the newsletter Aging Like a Legend, where I explore strength, mindset, and performance as we get older.
Personally, I like to set physical goals for each decade as a reminder that growth does not stop with age. I ran a half marathon in my 40s, learned to do a freestanding handstand in my 50s, and achieved my first unassisted pull-up in my 60s.
Today, I continue to write and build my business with the belief that experience brings perspective, creativity, and the courage to keep evolving.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. A couple of years after moving to the United States, I went through a divorce and faced financial hardship while raising my children as a single mother. Starting over in a new country in midlife was challenging, both emotionally and professionally, and there were times when I had to rebuild my confidence as well as my income.
I have worked for myself in communications for most of my career, and the ups and downs of freelance work and self-employment are very real. Income is not always predictable, and there are periods of stability followed by periods of uncertainty. Building a digital business later in life also meant learning new skills, adapting to rapidly changing platforms, and continually proving that my voice and perspective were relevant.
There were moments when I questioned whether I should pursue a more traditional path, but I have always been drawn to creating my own opportunities. Over time, I learned to diversify my income through writing, digital publishing, brand partnerships, and speaking, while staying focused on credibility and long-term trust with my audience.
Those challenges made me more resilient and resourceful. They also reinforced my belief that reinvention is possible at any age, even when the path forward is not clear.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a writer, author, and digital creator focused on aging, reinvention, and staying engaged as we get older. Through my platform Viva Fifty Media and my Substack newsletter Aging Like a Legend, I write about mindset, strength, health, and the experience of continuing to grow in midlife and beyond.
Much of my work is personal. I often share what I am learning myself, whether that is working toward pull-ups in my 60s, dealing with injuries, managing health concerns, or building a business later in life. I am interested in showing a version of aging that feels active, curious, and realistic.
I currently write for Yahoo Creators and Business Insider, where I focus on personal essays about work, purpose, health, and navigating change.
What I am most proud of is having created work that resonates with people who want to keep evolving and trying new things, even when it is not always easy. I try to be honest about both progress and setbacks, because I think that is what people connect with.
What sets my work apart is that I am living the questions I write about. I am not presenting a perfect version of aging, but a very engaged one. I believe creativity, physical strength, and a sense of purpose can continue to develop over time, and that perspective guides everything I create.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was shy and often insecure. I was very much a bookworm, thanks to my father, who instilled in me a love of reading from an early age. By the time I was 17, I was already reading self-help books, trying to better understand myself and make sense of what I was feeling. Books gave me a sense of possibility and became an important source of guidance.
I was also active from a young age. I started running with my father and discovered yoga when I was about 13. Movement became an important part of my life and eventually led to a career in fitness that lasted about fifteen years. Much later, in my 50s, I became a certified yoga teacher, which felt like coming full circle with a practice that had been part of my life since adolescence.
At the same time, my younger years were not easy. I developed a severe eating disorder and struggled with depression and anxiety throughout my teens, 20s, and part of my 30s. Writing became a way to process those experiences. My first book, which I wrote and published in Spain at 30, tells that story and reflects the search for recovery and self-understanding that shaped those years.
In many ways, I was a late bloomer. I often did things later than expected, including taking my first dance class at 23, having my children at 37 and 40, and meeting the love of my life at 46. One of the advantages of not feeling like I peaked early is that, at 62, I still feel curious and motivated to keep growing. I continue to set new goals for myself, both creatively and physically, and I feel there is still a lot ahead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lorrainecladish.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorrainecladish
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lcladish
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorrainecladish/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LorraineCLadish
• Other: https://aginglikealegend.com

Image Credits
Phillippe Diederich