Magnificent Midlife

Want to add something fabulous to your life? Meet Melissa Talago, a serial entrepreneur and portfolio careerist with a single minded passion: to live a life less ordinary. She runs Hoomin, providing content marketing and communications leadership to tech companies. She's also the founder of Glamoraks, a global community for women who hike. She wrote a book on how to divorce amicably and in her spare time, works for adventure travel company Water by Nature, taking guests on sailing trips. This is Melissa's second appearance on the podcast, as I wanted to catch up on all the exciting things she does to make her life less ordinary. We talk about: - Melissa’s inspiring journey and career transformation - Balancing her career and personal life - Her insights from Glamoraks - Her backpacking adventures - How to live a life less ordinary - Overcoming challenges and embracing change - The power of travel and human connections - Encouraging all of us to take action - Living a life with purpose And much m

Dr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist, author, and science communicator passionate about making brain science accessible and practical. With a PhD in neuroscience, she specializes in exploring the female brain and its transformations across life stages. Her books, The Women's Brain Book and Baby Brain, delve into the neuroscience of health, hormones, and motherhood. She’s also the director of The Neuroscience Academy, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and everyday life. We talk about: - Dr McKay's passion for science communication - Her inspiration for writing her books - Understanding the brain and menopause - Advancements in menopause research - Challenges in menopause research and communication - The impact of menopause on cognition and mood - Menopause in the workplace - The need for reliable data and room for nuance - Lifestyle and menopause management - The need for humor in menopause - Future directions in menopause research  And lots more! If you want to understand what happ

Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and women's health advocate with over 25 years of clinical experience. Lara has written Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual. Her latest book, Metabolism Repair For Women,  a compassionate, science based guide to balancing insulin, losing weight and improving health, empowers women to understand and heal their metabolism for lasting health. Lara is also one of my co-founders at MenoClarity. We talk about: - The inspiration for and differences in Lara's books - The importance of understanding metabolic dysfunction - The role of hormones like insulin, estrogen, and testosterone in metabolic health and how they interact during different life stages - The impact of our modern lifestyle - Challenges in balancing blood sugar - Defining metabolic dysfunction and its manifestations - The impact of insulin resistance on women's health - Strategies to restore metabolic balance - The role of circadian rhythm - Practical tips for improving metabolic health  A

Tracey Yarad is an Australian singer-songwriter and pianist who transformed personal heartbreak into powerful storytelling. After a devastating betrayal in midlife, she channelled her pain into her one-woman musical show All The Pretty Things, now touring in Australia and the UK. Through raw honesty, humour, and music, she’s helping others heal while reclaiming her own voice. So powerful and inspiring! We talk about: - Tracey's journey and the birth of her show - The betrayal and its impact - The aftermath and healing process - The evolution of her show and its emotional depth - The role of meditation and celibacy - Her move to New York and new beginnings - The creation of her book and its impact - The power of forgiveness and letting go - Broader lessons and connections And lots more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. Order the ebook or audiobook (narrated by Rachel) versions of Rachel’s book, Magnificent Mid

Rebekah Rotstein is the creator of the medically endorsed Buff Bones® system, providing bone health, education and exercise to manage and prevent bone and joint issues for people of all ages. She’s an industry leader in Pilates, bone health and movement education. Rebekah was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 28 and has been helping people improve their bone health ever since.  She talks about: Her osteoporosis diagnosis The impact of exercise and diet on bone health Midlife prevention and bone health awareness Understanding osteoporosis and misconceptions Primary and secondary osteoporosis Bone health beyond density The Buff Bones® program and movement education The importance of strength training and impact exercises Cultural differences in bone health awareness And lots more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. Order the ebook or audiobook (narrated by Rachel) versions of Rachel’s book, Magnificent Midlife: Trans

A solo midlife update from Rachel, with a difference, sharing her recent solo trip to Albania, and what’s been going on in life. She talks about: - Initial nervousness and changing travel plans - Conquering driving fears while navigating Albania’s challenging roads - Initial hotel challenges - Exploring Gjirokastër and its extraordinary architecture - Finding local heroes to help when she got rather stuck - Exploring the haunting history of communist Albania through bunkers and surveillance centres - Albanian blood feuds and the impact they continue to have - The archeological wonder of Butrint - The Albanian coast including Ksamil and Himare - Staying in the stunning ancient multi-layered town of Berat - Navigating Tirana and reflections on history - Personal life changes and future plans And more! Book mentioned in the podcast: Broken April by Ismail Kadare

Samhita Mukhopadhyay is the former editor of Teen Vogue and Feministing and the editorial director at The Meteor. She’s the author of The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning, which explores the contradictions and inequities of success in the modern workplace, particularly for women and marginalized groups. She’s also written Outdated: Why Dating is Ruining Your Love Life and was the co-editor of the anthology Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance, and Revolution in Trump’s America. She wrote her master’s thesis on The Politics of the Feminist Blogosphere and is passionate about examining power, gender, and cultural narratives through a feminist lens. We talk about: Why Samhita wrote her book The systemic challenges in the workplace for women The impact of gendered expectations The American ethos of work and success What it means for Samhita to be a feminist at work Redefining success and prioritizing self-care What it means for Samhita to be in the realm of being an older woman Burnout as a systemic problem

Lesley Jane Seymour is a media entrepreneur and the former editor of More magazine. She founded Covey Club, an online community for women over 40, which grew out of a survey that More magazine readers took after the iconic magazine closed. She's been a leading light in the media industry for many years, and she was the editor of Marie Claire magazine before taking over More. She's passionate about helping women 40+ create fabulous change in their lives. We talk about: - The closure of More magazine - The creation and mission of Covey Club - The power of midlife women - Older women saving the world - The fight for gender equality - Networking and support for entrepreneurs - Lesley's transition to entrepreneurship - The power of women supporting women - Lesley's work with Michelle Obama - Lesley’s decision to leave publishing - Embracing lifelong learning and new experiences And lots more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on iTunes or wherever you’

I always love chatting to this returning guest! Kate Codrington is the author of The New York Times recommended book, Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide To Menopause, and her second book is The Perimenopause Journal: Unlock Your Power, Own Your Wellbeing, Find Your Path. This is a beautiful journal full of love and wisdom to help women process the momentous changes that perimenopause brings. This is a super fun conversation with lots of wisdom and inspiration to help you thrive through the perimenopause transition. If you haven’t already, make sure to listen to Kate’s first interview on the podcast too! We talk about: - Kate’s new book and its purpose - The role of positivity in perimenopause - Spiritual and emotional aspects of perimenopause - Leadership and the role of postmenopausal women - The importance of authentic leadership, whether it involves standing on a stage or being a compassionate presence in small moments - The seasons of perimenopause - The importance of space and self-care - The gifts of pe

Dr Anisha Patel is a GP specializing in women's health whose world was turned upside down with a diagnosis of stage three bowel cancer. She's the author of the brilliant book Everything You'd Hoped You'd Never Need To Know About Bowel Cancer. I found this such a powerful book, with lessons for all of us whether or not we have cancer. This is a very inspiring conversation about women's health and how we can all take better care if ourselves. We talk about: - Anisha's cancer journey - How she found the strength to write her book - Vulnerability and the emotional aspects of cancer - Openness about one's health with children and family - The long-term effects and life after cancer - Surviving the survival - Psychosocial impacts and support - Anisha’s work with charities to set up a life after cancer clinic to provide specialized support - Histamine intolerance and menopause - Balancing hormone therapy and histamine intolerance - Empowering women with knowledge And lots more! If you enjoyed this ep

Dr. Sarah White is the CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving women’s health across Australia through every life stage. She is part of the National Women’s Health Advisory Council and the Women’s Health Products Working Group at Australia’s Medicines Regulator. She’s an honorary research fellow at Melbourne University and still an active researcher. We had an impassioned conversation about how menopause narratives are being manipulated, the likely reasons for that, and how women can get the reliable information they need. We talk about: - Sarah’s career journey  - The importance of accurate and accessible health information - Who Dr Jean Hailes was - The first rigorous survey on how menopause affects Australian women - How menopause data is being manipulated and why - The impact of industry influence on women’s health - Reframing menopause from a strengths-based approach - Combating gendered ageism - The influence of marketing and misinformation -

Shelle Luscombe is an entertainer, a singer, a presenter, a voiceover artist. She turned 50 in 2021 and she set out to have 50 memorable experiences. She also wanted to raise money for a cause very close to her heart, having two copies of the Alzheimer's risk gene and having lost both parents to dementia. Three years on, she's raised over £12,000 pounds.  She's been on daytime TV and came close to winning a national award for her creative fundraising efforts. She's determined to live life to the full and continue campaigning for a cure for dementia. We talk about: - The inspiration behind the 50 challenges - Shelle’s TV appearance and the power of PR - Wacky challenges: unicycles, stand-up comedy, hair cutting and more - The tragedy of dementia and personal risk - Shelle’s musical journey and album release - Living life to the fullest and Shelle’s determination - The challenges of dementia care - Seeking a new future and navigating midlife challenges - Good days and bad days - Supporting others through s

This is such a fascinating podcast! Maria Leonard Olsen is a lawyer, an author, a TEDx speaker, and a mentor to women in recovery. She wrote 50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life and is host of the Becoming Your Best Version podcast. She’s had a very full and fascinating life – so far. She has so many enthralling stories to share. We talk about: - Maria’s background and passion for travel - Exploring other cultures and overcoming historical prejudices - The power of continuous growth and trying new things - Racial prejudice and mixed heritage identity - Unveiling family secrets: Maria’s DNA test surprise - Navigating the legal and emotional implications of misattributed parentage - Connecting with a previously unknown biological parent - Grappling with changed heritage and identity - Maria’s difficult journey to sobriety - Breaking the silence on sexual assault - The importance of self-care in midlife - What somatic healing means to Maria - Lifelong learning And more!   If you enjoyed this epis

Sue Mbaya is the founder and director of Menopause Solutions Africa and host of the Pause for Menopause podcast. She’s leading menopause awareness in Africa and seeking to normalize the change while empowering women. She has over 20 years of policy advocacy, advisory and development experience at national, regional and global levels with a focus on African States and the African Union. Sue’s work and influence in the area of menopause have been recognized globally and I was delighted to be able to entice her onto the podcast! We talk about: - How Sue became so involved and passionate about menopause - The impact of stress and other life events on menopause symptoms - The psychological impact of menopause and the decision to use HRT - The challenges of getting access to healthcare in Africa - How menopause is not prioritized in Africa - The differences in terms of appreciation, knowledge, sentiment towards menopause as well as women getting older in general - Gendered ageism - The disparity in access to help a

Lynne Golodner is a novelist writing about strong Jewish women and Jewish culture. She shares her background and journey as a writer, her focus on writing about Orthodox Jewish life, and the challenges and research involved. Lynne recently set up her own independent publishing house for women over 40 with strong voices that need to be heard. Her first novel, Woman of Valor, joins two poetry collections and six nonfiction books, including Hide and Seek: Jewish Women and Hair Covering and The Flavors of Faith: Holy Breads. This is a fascinating dive into an often hidden culture. We talk about: - How Lynne became a writer - Writing about compelling Jewish characters - Educating others about Jewish culture - The role of food in Jewish culture - The significance of hair covering in Jewish culture - Becoming religious and then leaving Orthodoxy - Career pivots and founding a publishing house - Differences in perceptions of older women across cultures - Benefits of self-publishing and challenges in the

A midlife update from Rachel on what’s been happening lately and what’s coming up for her as we move towards summer.  She talks about: - Cherishing loved ones and coping with grief - Recent podcast episodes Being a veteran Black menopause and staying curious Staying strong and healing Embodied experience of postmenopause Discovering the joy of volunteering Finding what works in midlife The power of herbs - Questioning big claims about hormone therapy and future health - The Mind Body Spirit Festival (London) and Everywoman Festival (Cardiff) - Poverty in later life being a gendered issue - The growing concern of digital exclusion And more!   If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. Order the ebook or audiobook (narrated by Rachel) versions of Rachel’s book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond at magnificentmidlife.com/book The paperback can be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers:

Hannah Charman  has been a medical herbalist since 1999, having first become interested in alternative medicine when she used it to recover from chronic fatigue syndrome in her early teens. She specialises now in helping women who prefer or need a natural route through menopause, combining herbal medicine with health coaching. We talk about: - What a medical herbalist is - Hannah’s journey to becoming a medical herbalist - Holistic approaches to menopause and health in general - The gifts of menopause - The role of trauma in menopause - How herbal medicines work and especially for menopause - The misconceptions and benefits of herbal medicine - Embracing the discomfort of menopause - Empowering menopausal women - The environmental impact of hormones - Navigating menopause based on individual experience - The power of herbs and Hannah’s passion for herbal medicine And more!   If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. Order the ebook

Dr. Maria Luque is a menopause fitness expert, a health science professor, and an Air Force veteran. She’s passionate about helping menopausal women become healthier, stronger, and happier. Her PhD dissertation was all about enhancing quality of life in menopause. We talk about: - What quality of life in menopause means to Maria - Maria’s research on menopause - Misinformation and fear surrounding menopause - Embracing menopause and aging - Challenging menopause narratives - The influence of marketing and misinformation - Overcoming analysis paralysis - Trusting your own knowledge and instincts - The impact of polarizing menopause narratives - The need for nuanced conversations women’s health - The complexity of hormone therapy - The power of polarization in marketing - The importance of doing the work - Body image issues in menopause - Finding balance And more!   If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. Order the ebook or audiobo

Ann Marie Jackson is the co-founder of microlending organization Mano Amiga and works with Casita Linda, which builds homes for families living in poverty in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She’s lived as an expat in Mexico for a decade, is a columnist for Mexico Daily News and recently wrote a novel inspired by her life called the Broken Hummingbird. We talk about: - Why Ann Marie moved her family to Mexico - The joys of living in San Miguel de Allende - Ann Marie’s passion for volunteering - Her experience working on human rights in China - The dangers of white saviourism and how to navigate that - The migration of Mexicans and other people to the US - Issues at the Mexico-US border - Casita Linda and how it helps families in poverty - Microlending organisations - The Healing Words Project - Writing a novel - How we can all give back more And more!   If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. Order the ebook or audiobook (narrated

Stella Duffy is an award-winning writer of 17 novels, over 70 short stories and 15 plays who’s also worked in theatre for 35 years as an actor, director and facilitator. She’s a psychotherapist and a yoga teacher. She recently completed her doctorate in existential psychotherapy and her research was in the embodied experience of post-menopause. She’s been post-menopausal since chemotherapy for breast cancer in her mid-30s. Stella has been active in equalities and diversity work in the arts and LGBTQ+ communities for many decades. We talk about: - Stella’s experience of menopause coinciding with six months of chemotherapy - Menopause as a global issue - Challenging existing narratives - Societal factors and the impact of money - Cultural differences in menopause - The UK’s influence on menopause narratives - Alternative perspectives on menopause - The importance of lifestyle factors - Societal perceptions of post-menopausal women in a patriarchal culture - Dismantling misogynistic stereotypes - Being inclusive