Magnificent Midlife

An interview with Darcey Steinke, author of Flash Count Diary. I loved her revolutionary book and so many of her thoughts about menopause are similar to mine. It was wonderful to find a kindred spirit whose overall impression of menopause is so positive. Listen to this and you'll never think about menopause in the same way again! In this fascinating and very uplifting interview we talk about: Darcey’s fascination with her hot flashes How the book is about so many different things about midlife and menopause How menopause can be a struggle but there is lots of richness to gain Darcey’s startling realizations about the menopausal transition How Darcey managed her own menopause symptoms and what helped most How we may be more like our pre-pubescent selves post menopause How we may live more of our lives being infertile than fertile The tyranny of estrogen and what it’s like to finally be free of it Fertility, menopause and the patriarchy Appearance, visibility and the power of female friends Calling out ageism

Hattie Voelcker went from being a barrister in midlife to retraining as a performance coach, working particularly with singers. She’s so wise and inspiring! And great fun too. In this fabulous interview we cover: Why Hattie made the change from barrister to performance coach The similarities between the two professions The beauty of transferable skills The power of understanding people’s wants, needs and vulnerabilities How being a family law barrister helps her coaching practice now Moving from a very high-powered career to a new and different role How people of all levels suffer from impostor syndrome How the real fear we feel when stepping forward is looking stupid, both for men and women How our desire for perfection can hold us back Vulnerability and courage as two sides of the same coin Empathy starts with ourselves How it’s OK, in fact, normal, to be nervous when stepping forward It’s fine to be just OK and to be you, and in that is perfection Life is an infinite series of nows How fun is vital to lif

Amy Sutter, aka Sutter Girl, achieved her dream of becoming a professional body builder at the tender age of 48! She’s a very inspiring woman who accepts no limitations on herself. We talk about how she achieved her goal, what motivates her now to keep the sport alive and how she stays top of her game.  We talk about: The dogged determination that finally lead to professional status after a long journey What drives Amy to stay in top physical condition so that she can continue to compete The long journey to success and the people who helped her along the way How Amy crafted a career out of something she loved swapping her side hustle for the main act How she used her background in design to create a jewelry range to inspire herself and other fitness lovers Amy’s passion for bodybuilding and keeping the sport alive How life is different now she’s pro How to eat well when you’re on the go How to get yourself motivated when your mojo takes a walk And lots more! Find out more about Amy, her coaching programs an

Professor Joyce Harper is professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health, University College London. She's also Director of Education at the IfWH, Head of the Department of Reproductive Health and Director of the Centre for Human Reproduction. She's worked in the fields of fertility, genetics, reproductive health and women’s health for over 30 years.   Joyce and I connected on Twitter because we're both concerned about the over-medicalization of menopause and how there seems to increasingly be an over-dependence on HRT. We both know there are many natural ways to help us transition vibrantly through menopause. Not sufficient for some but enough for many.  I was delighted to find a kindred spirit in what can sometimes feel like a lonely wilderness. We're both aware our views on this podcast may prove contentious, but we're passionate about making sure women have all the information they need about menopause.  We talk about: The over-medicalization of a natural transition in women’s live

Meet the very inspiring Valerie Albarda, founder of Midlife-A-Go-Go and podcast host. She's on a mission to inspire women in midlife to be their very best. She wants us to enjoy the fabulous midlife and skip the crisis.  In this wonderfully upbeat interview we cover: Valerie's mission to inspire women in midlife The Midlife-A-Go-Go podcast and what it aims to achieve The value we have to give the world as vibrant midlife women How midlife does not have to mean crisis despite what Google may say! Learning to accept the need to pivot, to work with the situation we have Racial differences in menopause experience The trials of looking for work in midlife Pushing back against limiting beliefs - our own and what society may suggest Being a stepmom The reverse empty nest And lots more! Find out more about Valerie and listen to her wonderful podcast on her website https://www.midlifeagogo.com/ ​Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast player so you don’t miss an episode!

Meet the very lovely and straight-talking Elizabeth Temperley-Shell who went from working in corporate design to retraining as an acupuncturist.  In this fascinating and inspiring interview we cover: How early menopause and infertility lead Elizabeth to acupuncture Why she embarked on a degree course in midlife How this choice means she will be learning forever! How changes including acupuncture lead to her being able to have a child How friends didn’t really understand her journey  Why life is too short for plain biscuits – don’t settle for the boring How we only have one life and it’s important to do what we want with it Why  beginning her study later in life actually made it less daunting How acupuncture can help with menopause because it’s all about restoring balance in the body Why looking after ourselves in midlife is key if we want to enjoy a long healthy life The concept of Yangsheng – living well and with balance The four elements of Yangsheng and why they are so important How Elizabeth doesn’t feel

Meet Jacynth Bassett, the founder of fabulous online fashion boutique, the-Bias-Cut, and an avid anti-ageism activist. She's also still in her 20s, but has a better handle on ageism than many women Rachel knows! In this inspiring interview we talk about: Why Jacynth gave up a law career to set up her business How she came to be so interested in ageism How Jacynth was inspired by her mother The Ageism Is Never In Style campaign Why it's so important to fight ageism especially in the fashion industry Why women of all ages should be able to wear whatever they like How damaging it is to judge how anyone chooses to age There’s no such thing as age appropriate when it comes to fashion and style Not succumbing to ageist narratives or any stereotypes Dressing to feel how you want to feel  The importance of being open to new ideas with clothes as we age And lots more! Find out more about Jacynth and browse her wonderful store at the-Bias-Cut.com

Rosetta Magdalen is the Dynamic Divorcée. After her own devastating divorce she's dedicated her life to helping other women move on from divorce and get back to living a fantastic, vibrant life, hopefully far happier than before! In this inspiring interview we talk about: How divorce and any big life change can be seen as a gift How we may have at least 4 different 'lifetimes' now that we live so much longer The importance of feeling the pain after divorce, but knowing when to move on Working out your role in the breakup regardless of what happened Working out who you really are as an individual not part of a couple Blessings in our lives often turn up looking like dragons - but suspend judgement for a while How we often want to have more of an impact as we age Finding our superpowers in midlife Not adding to our pressure and to do lists with a self-care one! And lots more! Find out about more about Rosetta's work on her website The Dynamic Divorcée. ​Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

Elaine Miller is a pelvic health physiotherapist and stand up comedian. She’s on a mission to end incontinence through raising awareness, and laughing a lot along the way.  In this very funny and enlightening interview we talk about: How 1 in 3 women will suffer from stress incontinence How 84% can be cured with just 6 treatments with a pelvic health physio Funny stories from Elaine’s long career talking about pelvic floors Elaine’s journey from physio to stand up comedian What it’s like doing a show about incontinence on the Edinburgh Fringe What we can all do to help ourselves with incontinence How incontinence may be common but it is NOT normal And lots more! Find out about more about Elaine on her website Gusset Grippers! You can get tickets to her Edinburgh Fringe show here. 

Meet Jane Evans, the founder of The Uninvisibility Project which is campaigning to end the invisibility that hits women as we get older. In this fascinating and thought-provoking interview we talk about: How Jane’s own experience of  becoming invisible in the workplace lead her to set up The Uninvisibility Project What The Uninvisibility Project is all about and the importance of highlighting older women and the great things they are doing How we're losing out on a great skill base because of prejudice against older women How old norms about ageing and women’s careers need to change in-line with increases in life expectancy The jobs available for women 50+ often tend to be menial and professional women are having to do these to make ends meet How women’s experience is terribly under-valued Older women need to continue the pioneering they began by entering many of the previously exclusively male professions The advantages to getting older and changing perceptions The silver reservoir of talent that is being w

Ashton Applewhite is an author, speaker and anti-ageism activist. Rachel discovered her work about three years ago and has been quoting her daily ever since. Ashton got a standing ovation when she did a main stage Ted talk called Let’s End Ageism. She was invited to speak at the UN. She’s recently republished her book This Chair Rocks, A Manifesto Against Ageism. In this amazing interview we talk about: How Ashton never had a life plan or knew what she wanted to be Why we worship youth in Anglo-Saxon cultures The lack of products and services for older people How we often don’t like to identify as being in midlife or older How facing the ageing monsters is useful How fears about ageing are totally out of proportion to reality Our attitudes towards ageing affect how we age The U-Curve of Happiness How midlife is a time of reckoning How ageism starts between our ears How we need to be more generous towards each other and ourselves When we compete to stay young we reinforce ageism, sexism and the patriarchy Ho

Meet the very lovely Rachel Peru who's gone from nursery school teacher to successful curve and silver-haired model in her 40s. Rachel is waving the flag for older, more diverse women in the media. We talk about: How the decision to go grey kick-started Rachel’s modelling career  The stigma that still remains about older women going grey How she never would have had the confidence to do what she does now when younger The importance of being body positive as we age The pressures on younger women in terms of looks How things are changing when it comes to talking about menopause How Rachel controls the anxiety that has come on especially when travelling to modelling jobs The importance of getting exercise outside How words are powerful and what we say to ourselves matters Rachel’s first front cover for Goldie magazine How beauty is about confidence Rachel’s own Out of the bubble podcast How to not feel invisible How reinvention can help bring energy in midlife and beyond How Rachel nearly had a breast r

An interview with Lisa Swanson, a certified health and nutrition coach, and personal trainer. She’s focused on helping women in midlife and beyond get and stay healthy long term.  In this inspiring and wide-ranging interview we cover:  Why Lisa is passionate about helping women in midlife and beyond get health and fitness right How her business enables her to do her other passion – rescuing dogs! How diets don’t work and we should stop doing them Why it’s different for women in midlife when it comes to staying fit and healthy The other factors at play when it comes to taking care of ourselves How the menopause gets a bad rap for some of our midlife issues The importance of listening to our bodies Getting enough of the right balance of macro-nutrients Understanding the importance of muscle failure when doing weight lifting How Lisa’s anxiety was most helped by proper nutrition and exercise The dangers of a sedentary lifestyle The importance of having goals for your health and wellness Working out what lifesty

An interview with Deborah Ives, the solo traveler behind the travel blog, Solo in Style, who’s passionate about helping women, particularly in midlife and beyond, travel solo. She shares her own journey of how something wonderful came out of something dreadful! She’s determined to show women there’s no need to be scared of solo travel and she has loads of great tips to share. If you've ever wanted to travel solo, don't miss this! In this inspiring and highly informative interview we cover: How Deborah first started travelling solo and why How to travel solo without going on a tour How great things can come out of bad stuff The importance of a bit of courage and also having a plan That there’s no shame in travelling solo – it’s all about confidence and doing what you want How there’s no need to abandon your adventurous spirit just because you’re a little older That it’s easier to be adventurous when you’re away from home Moving beyond couple pricing  Eating alone when on holiday Forcing yourself to keep getti

Meet midlife lifestyle coach, Kwavi Agbeyegbe, who specializes in helping women embrace midlife. She's as passionate about changing negative midlife narratives as Rachel. She also believes now is the time for us to take action, and it's never too late. In this inspiring and uplifting interview we cover: The differences in how midlife and ageing are perceived in Nigeria, the US and the UK How Nigeria is best of the three at embracing midlife Why Kwavi radically changed her eating habits in her twenties  How she first got into helping women with nutrition Why we need to eat less as we age Why it's midlife rather than menopause that causes us to gain weight The importance of weight-bearing exercise as we age How Kwavi came to be modelling a swimsuit on TV at 50 The importance of starting and appreciating where you are Running your race at your pace How midlife is a time full of exciting possibilities Why it's useful to categorize food - fuel food and joy food How processed food exacerbates menopause symptoms Ho

An interview with Melissa Talago, founder of Glamoraks, a global online community connecting women who love to walk. Melissa tells us: How she set up a new global community from scratch with just a simple website and a Facebook group How walking can help with stress, depression and generally make you feel amazing Why walking helps you connect with fellow walkers on a deeper level quicker than other activities How she got over impostor syndrome and limiting beliefs to push forward with her dream How to get going with an idea with small steps rather than letting a bigger vision overwhelm you How to deal with disapproval from those around you when making changes Why honesty helps when starting something new and progress is better than perfection How wonderful our bodies are when they work! And lots more! You can find out more about Melissa and Glamoraks, and join the community so you can connect with women who walk worldwide, on her website. You can also follow Glamoraks on Facebook.  This podcast is an extra

Meet Jody Day, founder of Gateway Women, the global friendship and support network for childless women. She’s passionate about helping women without children rediscover their dreams and get their groove back. In this inspiring interview Jody tells us about: How she came to set up Gateway Women 8 years ago Breaking the taboo of talking about one’s own childlessness Her mission to help as many childless women as possible The importance of recognizing the grief associated with being childless not by choice How change may not always be welcome amongst your friends and family The importance of finding your sisters when coping with childlessness Forging a midlife identity that is not wrapped up in motherhood The confidence and focus that can come in midlife You can find out more about Jody on her website Gateway Women and follow her on Twitter and Facebook. You may also want to watch Jody’s TEDX Talk. Jody’s Book: Living The Life Unexpected.   This podcast is an extract from a longer video interview available in

Meet multi-passionate, active lifestyle enthusiast Jo Moseley who, amongst many other things, is the founder of the blog Healthy Happy 50. She's passionate about inspiring and empowering women in midlife and beyond to become and stay active, and reap the positive benefits of that. Jo is a true breath of fresh air. In this highly inspiring interview we cover: Sobbing in supermarkets! Why Jo is passionate about sharing her love of staying active How being active helps with stress and anxiety How indoor rowing cured Jo’s insomnia and helped with grief How not being sporty at school doesn’t preclude sport in later life How she rowed a million metres and a marathon to raise £10,000 for charity and process her grief How Jo is now more like herself at 10 than she was at 30 The importance of doing stuff that makes your heart sing Why you shouldn’t worry about what other people think of you How a simple yet full life can be very rich Plogging and why it’s important to Jo How she finally understood running in her 50s

An interview with the fabulous Jen Lehner, stay at home mom turned digital marketing strategist and college professor. She’s the founder of The Front Row Facebook Group which was named by Fast Company as one of the 12 Facebook groups to join before quitting your day job. It’s called The Front Row because Jen’s whole ethos is about being on the front row of life, showing up and really taking part. Jen’s a bundle of energy and in this wide-ranging interview we talk about: What inspired her to set up her online community and why she’s so passionate about it How to change one’s self talk to cope with daily insecurity! The dangers of comparisonitis How following your dream is helped when your partner isn’t a jerk Jen’s Vitamix passion How there are actually lots of possibilities if you’re passionate about something and want to share it with the world How anyone can build a business with a smartphone, laptop and a wifi connection How to juggle having a family and starting a business Why it’s crucial to not be int

Join the amazing Suzi Grant, author of Alternative Ageing and Instagram star, on a gallop through ageing fabulously and squeezing every last drop out of life! Oh how I love this woman. I can’t think of a better woman to inspire us all in this first episode of the Magnificent Midlife podcast. Suzi is the very best example of an older woman determined to live life to the max on her own terms. We talk about: How Suzi came to set up Alternative Ageing and became an Instagram star How she was featured in the New York Times Style Section How she got 700,000 likes on Instagram The importance of staying authentic How blogging (and learning in general) helps to exercise your brain The wonders of being creative Being proactive about ageing Fasting and why it’s so good for us How chronic diseases can be helped by lifestyle change Being outrageous And lots more! You can find out more about Suzi on her website Alternative Ageing and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Here's Suzi in the Independent and in the Daily M