We tend to think workplace bullying only flows one way, from the boss down. But a job title isn’t the only source of power at work, and sometimes the person being worn down is the manager.

This episode grew out of conversations with friends about highly capable women who seem to quietly step away from the workforce in their mid-fifties and beyond. Their reasons were all different: redundancy, ageism, fierce competition for senior roles, and sometimes just being done with other people’s behaviour. One thread kept catching my attention. The difficult behaviour wasn’t always coming from above.

There’s a name for it: upward bullying. To unpack it, I’m joined by Dr Sara Branch from Griffith University, who has spent more than two decades researching workplace bullying, including the kind that runs up the org chart.

In this episode we talk about:

• What upward bullying is, and why it’s still bullying even when the target is the boss
• The informal power staff can hold: information, expertise, networks and who you know
• How going over a manager’s head, gossip and “mobbing” can push someone out
• How grievance processes built to protect people can be turned into weapons
• The fine line between legitimate disagreement and bullying behaviour
• Why so many managers ask “is it me?”, and the shame that keeps them quiet
• Gender, age and why some experienced women decide it’s not worth it (and why the research is still catching up)
• What to do first if something at work doesn’t feel right
• Why a policy and a once-a-year training session aren’t enough

Key takeaways

• Bullying is about power, not position. A manager can be bullied from above, from peers or from below.
• Trust your gut. If something feels off, start writing it down: what happened, when, and what didn’t add up.
• Don’t carry it alone. Find one person you genuinely trust to talk it through. As Sara says, silence is a bully’s best ally.
• Organisations need to recover, not just respond. Moving the problem elsewhere or rewarding the behaviour sends a message to everyone watching.
• Tick-box training doesn’t fix it. Real change works across individuals, teams and the whole organisation, before, during and after an incident.

About Dr Sara Branch

Sara is a researcher at Griffith University in Queensland whose work focuses on workplace bullying, power and how organisations respond. You can contact her through the Griffith University website.

If this episode stirred something up

If work is weighing on your mental health, you don’t have to sit with it alone.

• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636, available 24/7
• Lifeline: 13 11 14

Enjoyed this episode?

If this conversation gave you something to think about, please hit like and subscribe so you never miss an episode. It genuinely helps other women find the show. And if you know a manager who’s been quietly carrying this, send the episode to them. Sometimes just hearing that it has a name is the first step.

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Grab a cuppa. This week is a coffee break episode, a short one, because it's Mental Health Week here in WA, and this year's theme is "Taking control in the face of change". If any stage of life is about change, it's this one.

So I'm revisiting my conversation with clinical psychologist Kirstin Bouse, founder of All About Her – The Centre for Menopause in Perth. If you've always been the capable one, the organiser, the one who copes, and lately you're waking at 3am with your heart pounding or feeling flattened by a to-do list you used to do in your sleep, this one's for you.

You're not broken. You're not failing. And you're definitely not imagining it.

In this episode:

• Why so many women are still told they're "too young" for perimenopause
• What anxiety can look like when it shows up for the first time in midlife
• Why stress seems to hit harder at this stage
• What to take to your GP so you're actually heard
• Why the goal isn't to go back to who you used to be (and why Kirstin wants you to chase joy)

If you heard the full episode, think of this as a refresher you might need right now. If you didn't, the full conversation, including Kirstin's own perimenopause story and much more on burnout and boundaries, is waiting in the feed: [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gdGjlG5EO21B4Q0RkFJhz?si=T32RKX3wRbOOQc5g4VvmSQ]

Resources mentioned

• All About Her – The Centre for Menopause: [https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/]
• Menopause symptom checklist (Jean Hailes): [https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-perimenopause-and-menopause-checklist]
• Menopause symptom checklist https://www.menopause.org.au/consumer-information/self-assessment-tools/
• Australasian Menopause Society [https://www.menopause.org.au/about-ams/]

If you need support
This episode is general information, not individual medical or psychological advice. Please don't stop or change any medication without talking to a qualified health professional first.

If anything here brings something heavy up for you, you don't have to sit with it alone:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24 hours, 7 days)
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (24 hours, 7 days)

In an emergency, call 000.

Know a woman who's been quietly struggling? Send this episode to her. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is say, "I heard this and thought of you."

🎧 Unfiltered & Unbound with Kate Baxter
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Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound

Money can still be one of the hardest conversations to have, particularly if you feel as though you should already have it all figured out.

In this Spring Rewind episode, I revisit my conversation with Jo Hurley about the money conversations women need to be having in our 50s and beyond. This is a cut-down version of the original interview, edited into a shorter, practical listen.

We talk about superannuation, financial confidence, retirement, relationships, getting clear on your assets and liabilities, and why knowing where you stand matters. Jo also shares some simple things to look at when you check your super, including contributions, fees, insurance and investment settings.

A key theme throughout the conversation is that you do not need to have everything sorted before you start. The first step is simply getting a clear picture of where you are now, then asking better questions and getting qualified advice where you need it.

A few things to take away:

• Know what you have, what you owe and where your super sits.
• Check that your employer contributions are being paid.
• Review fees, insurance and investment options.
• Have the money conversations before a crisis forces them.
• Seek qualified financial advice for your own circumstances.

Please note: This episode is general information only and is not personal financial advice.

Support independent media:
Unfiltered & Unbound is an independent Australian podcast and media platform. If you value these conversations, please follow or subscribe, leave a rating or review where you can, and share the episode with someone who might find it useful. Those small actions genuinely help more women find the show.

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The Freedom of Going Alone

What happens when you stop waiting for someone else to come with you?

In this solo episode of Unfiltered & Unbound, Kate explores the freedom of travelling alone in midlife — not because solo travel is somehow better than travelling with other people, but because sometimes going alone gives you something different.

There is no coordinating annual leave, negotiating budgets, compromising on destinations or adjusting your pace to suit someone else. You decide where you go, how long you stay, what you do and when you change your mind.

And solo travel does not have to mean an international adventure. It might be interstate, a weekend away, a road trip, or simply exploring somewhere closer to home on your own terms.

This episode is less about travel itself and more about what it can represent: independence, curiosity, confidence and the freedom to make decisions without waiting for permission, company or the “right” time.

Kate also reflects on the difference between choosing solitude and feeling lonely, why safety and practical planning still matter, and why midlife can be a good time to stop organising your life around someone else’s timetable.

Because sometimes freedom looks like simply deciding: I want to go, so I’m going.

In this episode:

• Why Kate enjoys travelling both alone and with others
• The practical freedom that comes with solo travel
• Why going alone does not automatically mean being lonely
• The difference between choosing solitude and feeling isolated
• Why you do not need to wait for someone else to be available before making plans
• How solo travel can be as small or as adventurous as you want it to be
• Why safety, planning and confidence can coexist with spontaneity
• What travelling alone can teach us about making decisions on our own terms

A small favour

Unfiltered & Unbound is independent media, and every follow, subscription, rating, review and share genuinely helps.

If this episode made you think of someone who might enjoy it, please send it to them. Sharing an episode is one of the simplest ways to help more women find these conversations.

You can also follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a rating or review where your platform allows it, and share the episode with your own community.

About Unfiltered & Unbound

Unfiltered & Unbound is independent media for women 50+, challenging the stereotypes and inherited societal rules about how women should age, work, love, lead and live.

If you know someone who is newly single, navigating dating again, or just finding her feet after a relationship ends, send this episode her way.

The conversation explores the experience of being single again, over 50, and stepping back into the world of dating. It delves into the challenges, delights, and surprises of dating at this stage of life, as well as the baffling experience of ghosting, unfair labels, and misconceptions, and the risks and red flags associated with modern dating. The conversation delves into the reality of scamming, the importance of spotting red flags, safety rules for dating, awareness and precautions, setting boundaries, self-discovery and confidence, navigating the dating scene, the dating survival kit, and the many faces of dating. Barbara shares her experiences and insights, providing valuable advice for women re-entering the dating world after fifty.

Takeaways

• Rediscovering identity and self-exploration are essential aspects of dating after 50.
• The experience of ghosting and unfair labels in dating after 50 can be challenging and baffling. Scamming is a real threat in the dating world
• Setting boundaries and being aware of red flags is crucial for safety

In Part Two of my conversation with Kylie Anderson, we talk about what it really means to train through perimenopause and midlife when your body no longer responds quite the way it once did.

Kylie shares her experience of fatigue, disrupted sleep, night sweats, mood changes and the challenge of continuing to train while managing work, parenting and everyday life. We discuss why pushing harder is not always the answer, and why adapting training can be far more effective than trying to out-train exhaustion.

We also talk about strength training, recovery, fuelling and the importance of maintaining muscle, bone health and physical function as we get older. Kylie shares how strength work has become a non-negotiable part of her week, while we discuss letting go of comparisons with what we could do 10 or 15 years ago and redefining what progress looks like now.

The conversation also touches on sports nutrition, under-fuelling and RED-S — Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport — as well as some of the diet messages many women grew up with and why simply eating less may not support training, recovery or long-term health.

We also discuss our personal experiences and perspectives on creatine, HRT and the increasing use of GLP-1 medications, including the importance of maintaining adequate nutrition and resistance training when these medications are being used.

Ultimately, though, this episode is about more than training. It is about adapting without giving up, continuing to see yourself as an athlete even when the goalposts move, and making space for the things that bring you joy.

Further reading

• Resistance training, nutrition and maintaining lean mass while using GLP-1 medications
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12683586/

• Creatine supplementation and the research supporting its use
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11723027/

• RED-S and sports nutrition for active women and athletes
https://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/additional-resources/reds/potential-long-term-effects

Please note: This episode includes personal experiences and general discussion about menopause, HRT, nutrition, supplements, exercise and prescription medications. It is not intended as individual medical or nutrition advice.

If anything discussed in this episode raises questions about your own health, medications, menopause symptoms, fuelling or training, please seek advice from a suitably qualified health professional who can consider your individual circumstances.

The conversation delves into the experience of a midlife identity crisis, the pressure of authenticity in social media, the challenges of owning a small business, and the resilience and community in endurance sports. Each chapter explores these themes in depth, providing valuable insights and perspectives. The conversation delves into the themes of empowering women through community and the transformative power of therapy. It also explores the challenges of navigating perimenopause and the disruption it brings to life. The discussion highlights the importance of building a supportive community, the impact of therapy on personal growth, and the experiences of women dealing with perimenopause and its effects on training and daily life. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including perimenopause and hormonal changes, the impact on physical training, nutrition and fueling for performance, and embracing new experiences. The key takeaways include the importance of chasing joy and embracing new experiences, especially in midlife.

Takeaways

• Midlife identity crisis
• Authenticity in social media
• Challenges of owning a small business
• Resilience and community in endurance sports Empowering women through community
• The transformative power of therapy Chase joy
• Embrace new experiences

Chapters

• 00:00 Midlife Identity Crisis
• 03:05 Authenticity in Social Media
• 10:02 Challenges of Owning a Small Business
• 20:05 Resilience and Community in Endurance Sports
• 28:50 Empowering Women Through Community
• 39:34 The Transformative Power of Therapy

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https://foher.co/

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Kate discusses the concept of 'Marie Kondoing' her life, recognizing unhealthy patterns, setting boundaries, and the midlife Marie Kondo test. She emphasizes the importance of telling someone to f*** off politely and making room for people and experiences that bring positivity into life.

Takeaways

• Recognize unhealthy patterns and have the courage to let go.
• Setting boundaries and saying no is essential for protecting peace and well-being.

Chapters

• 00:00 Marie Kondoing My Life
• 01:26 Telling Someone to F*** Off Politely
• 03:37 Recognizing Unhealthy Patterns
• 06:06 Setting Boundaries and Saying No
• 11:29 The Midlife Marie Kondo Test