In this coffee break episode, Kate discusses the concept of midlife reinvention, emphasizing the idea of trying something new and making subtle changes in life. She challenges the notion that reinvention only counts if it's big and dramatic, highlighting the value of small experiments and quiet curiosity.

Takeaways

• Midlife reinvention doesn't have to be dramatic; small experiments and quiet curiosity can lead to meaningful change.
• Reinvention is about making one part of your current life feel more like your own, and it doesn't require a complete plan or a dramatic announcement.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Perspective of Midlife Reinvention
• 03:04 The Reckoning: Standing at the Crossroads of Life
• 04:02 Reinvention as an Experiment
• 05:10 Questioning Identities and Embracing Change

In this episode, Jaclyn O'Donnell, founder of Strive Career Consulting, shares insights on managing redundancy, rethinking career resilience, and practical strategies for job seekers in today’s shifting job market. Whether you’ve recently been laid off or want to future-proof your career, Jaclyn offers compassionate advice grounded in her 25 years of HR, coaching, and talent acquisition experience.

• 00:00 – Welcome and episode overview on handling redundancy
• 00:31 – Jaclyn discusses the shame often associated with redundancy and the importance of reframing it as a restructure
• 01:29 – How to connect with Jaclyn and the support services available
• 02:24 – The evolving job market: restructures, redeployments, and increasing use of AI
• 03:49 – The significance of maintaining your online presence and professional networks
• 04:47 – Impact of market changes on redundancy patterns and employee feelings of safety
• 07:15 – Initial emotional responses to redundancy and identity shifts
• 09:04 – The three types of clients: shocked, practical, and strategic mindsets
• 11:10 – Actionable advice for practical steps immediately after redundancy
• 12:37 – The importance of clarity, purpose, and aligning your career goals
• 13:38 – Building confidence through résumé refinement, LinkedIn optimisation, and networking
• 15:50 – The concept of ownership and long-term career resilience
• 16:35 – The value of soft skills and experience at midlife
• 18:34 – Avoiding wasted energy like printing résumés and waiting to perfect profiles
• 19:24 – Navigating AI screening tools and keywords optimisation
• 21:48 – Tips for those in niche roles or industries with limited opportunities
• 22:06 – Embracing reskilling and identifying transferable skills
• 25:37 – Addressing ageism and highlighting the value of experience
• 27:31 – The importance of reaching out to your network to create opportunities
• 28:15 – The need to stay adaptable and proactive in job searching
• 30:01 – One immediate action you can take this week after redundancy
• 32:07 – The resilience and empowerment that come from overcoming redundancy

Final Key Message: You are more than your job title, and redundancy does not define you.

• Connect with Jaclyn via Email: Jaclyn@strivecareer.com.au

This episode touches on job loss, identity, and the emotional weight that comes with both. If any of it brought something up for you, Beyond Blue is there to help — call 1300 22 4636 or visit beyondblue.org.au. Free, confidential, available 24/7.

The conversation explores the power of accountability, the reality of loneliness, the impact of life changes on friendship, the importance of friendship, and building meaningful connections. It emphasizes the need for genuine connections and the impact of loneliness on individuals.

Takeaways

• Loneliness can affect anyone, regardless of their social activities.
• Building and maintaining meaningful friendships is essential for overall well-being.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Power of Accountability
• 06:41 Building Meaningful Connections

Money Conversations We Need to Have in Our 50s and Beyond — with Jo Hurley

Jo Hurley is back — and if you loved her triathlon episode (still our most-streamed across both seasons), you're going to want to sit with this one too. This time we're not talking sport. We're talking money. Super, wealth, divorce, the conversations so many of us were quietly taught not to have.

Jo is a Chartered Accountant and self-managed super fund specialist who's spent her whole career in this space, and she has a gift for making it feel less like a lecture and more like a chat with a clever friend who actually wants you to win. We get into why women still carry shame and silence around money, why the super gap opens up in our thirties and never quite closes, and the policy changes — payday super, super on paid parental leave — that are genuinely shifting things in our favour.

But this isn't a doom-and-gloom episode. It's a practical one. We cover where to actually start if you've been avoiding it: logging in and looking at your super, tracking down any lost accounts, understanding your fees, contributions and insurance, and whether salary sacrificing might be worth a conversation. Jo also walks through the harder stuff — why you should never assume a partner will provide for your retirement, the realities of grey divorce, and why having your own financial advice matters.

The thread running through all of it: have the brave conversation. With your super fund, with your partner, with yourself in the mirror. It's never too late to start, and you're allowed to ask the questions.

A quick note — this is a general conversation, not personal financial advice. If you want guidance specific to your situation, please seek out a qualified Australian adviser.

Grab a cuppa. This one's a goodie.

—

Questions? Got a topic you want covered? Send me an email: unfiltered@podcastsbykate.com

Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

The podcast episode discusses the phenomenon of imposter syndrome and provides practical strategies for overcoming it. It explores the origins of imposter syndrome, the impact of feelings on competence, the importance of evidence, and the shift from perfectionism to value.

Takeaways

• Imposter syndrome is a common experience for ambitious and capable individuals.
• Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome include separating feelings from facts, building a hype folder, and shifting from perfection to value.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Imposter Syndrome
• 06:03 Shifting from Perfection to Value

• Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women.
• Young, Valerie (2011). The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women.
• Hibberd, Jessamy (2019). The Imposter Cure.
• Harvard Business Review: Articles on the Artifact Method and managing self‑doubt.

Questions? Got a topic you want covered? Send me an email unfiltered@podcastsbykate.com

https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound

https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound

Dating after 50 is equal parts exciting, ridiculous and mildly terrifying — and Barbara Smit is our woman in the field. She's not an expert. She's just actually out there: she's met the apps, survived the messages, dodged a scammer or two, and lived to file this report. In one of the most honest conversations of the season, we get into ghosting, the charming "blue-eyed, blonde Aussie" scammer nobody warns you about, the pub-based safety system Barbara swears by — and the quiet, unglamorous work of figuring out who you are after 20 years of marriage.

No fairytales. No "just put yourself out there!" No toxic positivity. Just the field report.

In this episode

• (01:23) The 2026 dating landscape — and why you supposedly can't just meet someone at the pub anymore
• (02:40) Four years single, 20 years married: "Okay, who am I actually?"
• (05:10) Losing yourself in a marriage — and getting some help to find your way back
• (09:24) The unexpected good: respectful younger men who genuinely give her hope
• (11:31) Ghosting, and the dark patch of 12 men in a row — "It's not me, it's them"
• (14:04) Cougar, gold digger, lonely — the labels women cop no matter who they date
• (16:10) The scammer who wasn't a Nigerian prince — $20, then $50, then $100, then $5,000
• (20:16) The shame women carry about being scammed — and why we need to talk about it
• (22:48) The "hello baby, hello darling" red flag
• (24:44) Barbara's safety system: public first dates, a signal to the bar staff, and an exit through the kitchen
• (28:11) Boundaries — set them before you go in, because most will push
• (31:00) For the woman who doesn't know where to start: fix yourself first, find your sisters in arms
• (35:08) The dating survival kit: a book on stoicism, a bestie, and a good local barman
• (36:43) The field report headline: terrifying, ridiculous, funny — and, somehow, still fun

About our guest

Barbara Smit is Kate's "woman in the field" — a Perth local, originally from South Africa, who's spent the last few years navigating midlife dating firsthand after a 20-year marriage. She's generous, funny and refreshingly unfiltered about all of it, scams included.

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

The episode discusses the underrepresentation of women over 50 in advertising and the impact of this demographic on consumer spending. It highlights the need for brands to recognize and market to this demographic effectively.

Takeaways

• Underrepresentation of women over 50 in advertising
• The significant impact of women over 50 on consumer spending

Chapters

• 00:00 The Invisible Market
• 10:33 The Commercial Success of Inclusive Marketing

https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound

https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

A copy of the research article this podcast episode is based on is located here -https://spectacular-syrniki-ec0636.netlify.app/

Navigating Grey Divorce: Practical Advice and Emotional Insights

In this episode of Unfiltered and Unbound, we delve into the realities of separation later in life — a journey filled with emotional, legal, and financial considerations. Ella Hickman, a family law specialist, shares grounded advice on managing the process with confidence, emphasizing the importance of support, early legal guidance, and emotional well-being.Main topics include:

• The emotional journey of grey divorce and common feelings
• Key legal steps and practical document gathering
• Handling finances, superannuation, and property division
• Strategies to avoid conflicts and support adult children
• When to seek urgent legal advice and mediation benefits
• Challenging myths about life after divorce and rebuilding identity

Timestamps: 00:00 - What makes grey divorce uniquely challenging and empowering

02:21 - What is grey divorce and why is its prevalence increasing?

04:44 - Emotional triggers and reassessment in midlife

07:41 - Overcoming the fear of money and financial insecurity

10:23 - Managing shame and social perceptions around separation

13:05 - Reinventing yourself and thriving post-divorce

16:15 - Practical first steps for women considering separation

19:13 - The importance of legal advice and early planning

34:33 - How mediation facilitates fair and cost-effective outcomes

37:02 - Immediate legal considerations in high-risk situations

38:50 - Supporting adult children through separation

46:37 - Surprising realizations women have about life after divorce

47:30 - Overcoming fear to start anew and find happinessResources & Links:

• Legal Aid Australia
• Buy Me a Coffee - Support independent podcasts
• Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

Connect with Ella Hickman:

• Hickman Family Lawyers

This episode offers compassionate insights and actionable advice for women facing the complex realities of grey divorce, emphasizing that new beginnings are not just possible — they can be transformative.