Friendships changing in midlife can leave us feeling guilty, confused, or quietly sad — especially when there’s no fallout or drama to point to.

In this episode of our midlife podcast for women, I’m joined by Diane, a counsellor and psychotherapist, to explore why friendships naturally shift as we grow, and how to handle relationships that no longer fit the person you’re becoming.

We talk about people-pleasing, resentment, honesty, and how to let friendships evolve - or fade - without blame or unnecessary conflict.

If you’ve been questioning a friendship, struggling with guilt, or wondering whether it’s okay to prioritise yourself, this conversation will help you feel clearer and more reassured.

🎧 Coming up in the next episode: a necessary conversation about bladder leakage and pelvic discomfort with Dr Sharma.

A little note from me....

If you enjoy listening to Midlife Answers and you know others who would enjoy it too, I would really appreciate your help with the below -

1/ Please subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen by clicking HERE

2/ Please rate and review - it really helps Midlife Answers reach more people needing that extra support in midlife.

3/ Share the love! Share or tag @midlifeanswers on IG and I'll share the love right back - maybe even get a pic of yourself listening to Midlife Answers and I will repost it

Find Out More:

Podcast Editor - Mike Roberts: https://vault.makingdigitalreal.co.uk

Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or constantly on edge in midlife, but slowing down just isn’t an option?

In this bite-sized episode of Midlife Answers, I’m joined by Suzette to talk honestly about midlife burnout - why it feels so intense, how it differs from stress and overwhelm, and what actually helps when rest feels impossible.

We explore the silent signs of burnout in women, the role of hormones and perimenopause, and share practical tools - including 3-minute resets and tiny stabilising steps - to help you feel calmer and less overwhelmed today.

In this episode, we cover:

• Burnout vs stress vs overwhelm
• Why burnout hits harder in midlife
• Hormones, perimenopause and burnout
• What to do when rest isn’t an option
• Simple 5-minute nervous system resets
• When to seek professional support

If you’re feeling close to the edge, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen now — and follow the link below to explore more episodes of Midlife Answers.
Don’t forget to follow and share with someone who might need this today.

Listen Here and Buy Me A Coffee:

https://linktr.ee/midlifeanswers

Find Out More:

Suzette Castle-Mackie:https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/suzette-castle-mackie

Editor - Mike Roberts: https://vault.makingdigitalreal.co.uk

Shakti Mat: https://www.shaktimat.co.uk/

Is this perimenopause - or just life?

Perimenopause doesn’t always look the way we expect. It’s not just hot flushes or missed periods. For many women, the earliest signs are anxiety, low mood, exhaustion, poor sleep, brain fog, or a quiet sense that something just isn’t right…and these symptoms are often missed.

In this episode of Midlife Answers, I’m joined by Dr Sharma, GP and menopause specialist, to answer one of the most common midlife questions:
How do I know if I’m in perimenopause, and which symptoms shouldn’t I ignore?

Together, we break down how perimenopause really shows up, why women often wait too long to recognise the signs, and what practical steps you can take to look after your health and wellbeing.

In this episode, we cover:

• What perimenopause is and when it can start
• Can you be in perimenopause in your early 40s?
• Early and often-overlooked symptoms like anxiety, low mood, poor sleep, brain fog, and fatigue
• Symptoms you shouldn’t ignore, including heavy bleeding, palpitations, and persistent low mood
• Blood tests vs symptom-led diagnosis
• How to prepare for a GP appointment and advocate for yourself

Perimenopause isn’t something to push through in silence. Noticing changes early, and taking them seriously, can make a real difference.

Coming up on the next episode: Join me next week when I’ll be talking to therapist Suzette about burnout in midlife, and the importance of recognising the early signs, setting boundaries, and giving yourself permission to slow down before burnout takes hold.

If you found this episode helpful, follow or subscribe to Midlife Answers, and share it with someone who could use reassurance right now.

Listen Anywhere:

https://linktr.ee/midlifeanswers

Recommended Listening:

https://linktr.ee/midlifeanswers - Menopause 101 with Drs Sharma & Wright: a previous conversation with Dr Sharma and her business partner, Dr Wright, covering a wider range of topics including surgical menopause, testosterone, and sex and intimacy in midlife.

Find Out More:

Dr Sharma: www.spicedpearhealth.com

Mike Roberts: https://vault.makingdigitalreal.co.uk

This week, I’m chatting with facial cupping expert Sakina about something I think so many of us in our 40s quietly wrestle with:
Do I go down the tweakments route… or is there a more natural way to keep my skin feeling alive and glowing?

Botox is everywhere right now - it’s almost become a casual part of getting ready. And while there’s zero judgement, I’ve found myself wondering if there’s another path… something that still makes my midlife skin look fresh, lifted, and me.

That’s where facial cupping comes in.

Sakina talks me through how it actually works (yes, it’s more than a TikTok trend), why it’s becoming such a powerful alternative to tweakments, and what it can do for circulation, lymphatic drainage, sculpting, and that healthy glow we all miss sometimes.

We also go a bit deeper - into the mindset around aging, and the way men and women are allowed to age so differently. And I loved what Sakina had to say about developing a healthier relationship with getting older. Spoiler: it has nothing to do with creams or serums… and everything to do with surrounding yourself with people who bring out your joy.

If you’re standing at that midlife crossroads and thinking, Do I need injectables, or is there something else? - this episode is such an encouraging place to start.

Please do follow along for more episodes of Thriving in our 40s - it's simple, just click subscribe! Thank you.

To discover more about Sakina and her work, please check out:

The Facial Cupping Expert website

IG: @thefacialcuppingexpert

Ever wondered how someone goes from dreaming of writing a book to actually seeing it on the shelf?

Children’s author Alex Atkinson joins Thriving in Our 40s to share how she turned a simple idea into two brilliantly spooky stories, and what her writing journey can teach us about creativity, confidence, and following our passions in midlife.

We talk about finding self-belief when doubt creeps in, learning to take feedback with confidence, and surrounding yourself with a community that lifts you up.

Alex also shares her take on inspiring kids to fall in love with reading - and why staying curious and open-minded matters at any age.

A heartfelt, funny and inspiring chat that reminds us it’s never too late to start your next chapter.

Listen now!

Further Reading:

Buy Spooksmiths Investigate from your local bookshop

Alex Atkinson Website

Save the Cat

Save the Cat Writes a Novel

Into The Woods

Write Mentor

Ever feel like you’re talking to a wall when it comes to your teen? You’re not alone.

In this episode of Thriving in Our 40s, I’m joined by Teen Whisperer, Kirsten Cobabe, to unpack what it really means to be present as a parent - beyond the nagging, lecturing, and “just do as I say” moments we all fall into.

We explore how to:
💬 Have those tricky, awkward conversations that actually build trust
💛 Support rather than dictate and meet your teen in their world
🌱 Give autonomy in a life ruled by school, rules, and routines
🌞 Look at the whole picture of teen mental health - sleep, sunlight, laughter, connection
🙌 Move away from perfection and pressure to raise whole humans, not just high achievers

I even share a few of my own fails (because let’s be honest, we’ve all had them).

It’s not about being the perfect parent, it’s about presence over pressure, and guidance over control.

🎧 Listen now

To learn more about Kirsten's work, please visited:

www.kirstencobabe.com

@kirstencobabe

#ThrivingInOur40s #ParentingTeens #ParentingPodcast #TeenMentalHealth #ConsciousParenting #PresenceOverPressure #GuidanceOverControl #RaisingWholeHumans

Why are so many couples splitting in their 40s and 50s? And how does menopause affect intimacy, desire, and connection?

In this week’s Thriving in Our 40s episode, we go deep with couples and sex therapist Suzette Castle-Mackie - and no topic is off-limits.

✨ Why midlife relationships are under pressure (and the rise of ‘grey divorce’)
✨ The fine line between healthy and destructive conflict
✨ What to do if only one partner wants therapy
✨ How to have those tough conversations, from intimacy and menopause to screen use
✨ Rebuilding connection through vulnerability, passion, and new ways to date
✨ Everyday intimacy tips to feel closer outside the bedroom

🎧 Plus, don't forget to check out these other Thriving In Our 40s episodes:
👉 Dr Sharma & Dr Wright on Menopause & Relationships
👉 Helen on Intimacy, Conflict & Couples Therapy

Subscribe, share with your partner and join us for honest, unscripted conversations about thriving - not just surviving - in your 40s and beyond.

To contact Suzette, please visit: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/suzette-castle-mackie

#ThrivingInOur40s #MidlifeRelationships #CouplesTherapy #MenopauseSupport #SexAfter40 #RelationshipAdvice

Your Menopause 101 guide - from crash menopause and HRT myths to sex after menopause and midlife mental health. With Dr Angela Sharma & Dr Angela Wright of Spiced Pear Health, we dive into the real questions women face but rarely get answered.

This episode of Thriving in Our 40s is your Menopause 101 - an honest, practical conversation with menopause specialists Dr Angela Sharma and Dr Angela Wright of Spiced Pear Health.

We tackle the questions too many women face alone: from the shock of crash menopause, to the myths and realities of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), intimacy and sex after menopause, and the impact on midlife mental health.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
✨ What crash menopause really means - and how hormone blockers affect women
✨ The facts about HRT - how long you should (or shouldn’t) take it, and why lifestyle still matters
✨ Social media myths around menopause - what advice to trust and what to ignore
✨ Supplements - evidence vs hype, and why consistency is key
✨ Testosterone - the benefits, risks, and what we still don’t know
✨ Sex and intimacy in midlife - from low libido to reconnecting with your partner
✨ Communication & relationships - how psychosexual therapy can rebuild trust and connection
✨ Practical GP advice - how to prepare, what to ask, and why persistence matters

Menopause can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Whether you’re curious about perimenopause symptoms, struggling with low libido, or confused about HRT options, this conversation offers clarity, confidence, and real-world support.

Learn more at Spiced Pear Health with Dr Angela Sharma & Dr Angela Wright.

Further Support:

Maggie's Cancer Care: https://www.maggies.org

Guideline Resources:

BSSM:

https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BSSM-Position-statement-for-management-of-genitourinary-syndrome-of-the-menopause-GSM.pdf

ACOG:

https://www.acog.org/-/media/project/acog/acogorg/clinical/files/clinical-consensus/articles/2021/12/treatment-of-urogenital-symptoms-in-individuals.pdf?rev=42989a66fa1c4daaa148a3853d27bb05&hash=C03514B3BD087D1FE7A80E6E95A545BA

RCOG green top for PMS:

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.14260

NAPS guidelines for PMS:

https://www.pms.org.uk/app/uploads/2018/06/guidelinesfinal60210.pdf