The Magnificent Midlife Podcast celebrates, champions and empowers women in midlife and beyond. We challenge the status quo and bash those negative stereotypes about being an older woman. We’re not over the hill or on a downward slope. We’re just getting started! Rachel Lankester talks all things midlife, about issues that matter, and shares fabulous stories of magnificent women doing very cool stuff.
Best podcast
"This is without a doubt one of the best podcasts I’ve listened to! So many interesting conversations, so much to learn from and be inspired with."
- Jaz Potato
Love the honest conversations
"I can grab info to help me personally from every episode. It's so good to know that I'm not alone and there is help for so many different aspects of hitting midlife. Thank you Rachel for the honest conversations."
- Val Selby
Discover amazing women
"What a mix of fascinating guests, inspirational & motivational, covering such a diverse range of topics... Highly recommended!"
- Classic Reformer
Discover amazing women
"What a mix of fascinating guests, inspirational & motivational, covering such a diverse range of topics... Highly recommended!"
- Classic Reformer
Episode 130: Revolutionizing ageing for women with Dr Amanda Hanson
Dr Amanda Hanson is on a mission to revolutionize how women age and how society feels about older women. She[...]
Episode 129: Menopause and nutrition with Karen Newby
Karen Newby is a nutritionist who’s been practicing nutritional therapy for over 10 years. Her area of specialism is women’s[...]
Episode 128: How to be a glorious broad with Maryjane Fahey
Photo by: Christopher Scalzi/Distilled Studios Maryjane Fahey is a creative director, writer, storyteller, published author, and founder of Glorious Broads.[...]
Episode 127: Coping with grief with Silke Herwald
I’ve talked about death on the podcast but not yet grief, so I was delighted to welcome Silke Herwald to[...]
Episode 126: Midlife musing solo with Rachel
A solo episode with Rachel, musing about midlife and what's been happening in her world. She talks about: How difficult[...]
Episode 125: Caring for a loved one with dementia with Carolyn Birrell
Carolyn Birrell is the author of Walking with Fay, a moving book about her mother’s uncharted path into dementia. Carolyn’s[...]
Episode 124: Diversity, equality and being a mature woman with Dawn-Maria France
Dawn-Maria France is an award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief of Yorkshire Women’s Life magazine. She’s a travel writer, children's author and[...]
Episode 123: How to find your soul mate with Katie Philips
Do you dream of finding your soul mate? Do you think it will be just too difficult in midlife? Listen[...]
Episode 122: Choosing to live in the Arctic with Laura Galloway
Laura Galloway is the author of Dalvi: Six Years in the Arctic Tundra. She’s a writer and communications strategist who[...]
Episode 121: Breast cancer and menopause with Dr Liz O’Riordan
Dr Liz O’Riordan is an international speaker, broadcaster and award-winning co-author of ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer’. In 2015[...]
Episode 120: Finding your true voice with Hattie Voelcker (Re-Release)
Hattie Voelcker went from being a barrister to retraining as a performance coach, working particularly with singers. She's so wise[...]
Episode 119: Healing yourself through nutrition with Louise Carr (Re-release)
Meet Louise Carr who healed her own midlife trauma through retraining as a nutrition consultant. She has a fascinating story[...]
Episode 118: The magic of menopause with Darcey Steinke (Re-Release)
This interview was transformational for me! I was so excited to interview Darcey Steinke, author of Flash Count Diary. I[...]
Episode 117: Giggling about incontinence with Elaine Miller (Re-Release)
We're dipping into the archives again and here's another cracker of a podcast. Elaine Miller is a pelvic health physiotherapist[...]
Episode 116: How to have great midlife sex with Dr Sonia Wright (Re-Release)
Meet Dr Sonia Wright, the Midlife Sex Coach. She's also a medical doctor, radiologist and life coach, and tremendous fun.[...]
Episode 115: Getting the facts straight about menopause solo with Rachel
A solo episode from Rachel talking about menopause and gendered ageism. You can read a transcription of this episode here.[...]
Episode 114: Embracing silver hair and a new career with Rachel Peru (Re-Release)
Another platinum gem from the podcast archives. Meet the very lovely Rachel Peru who went from nursery school teacher to[...]
Episode 113: How to end ageism with Ashton Applewhite (Re-Release)
Here's another gem from the podcast archives in our summer season. Ashton Applewhite is an author, speaker and anti-ageism activist.[...]
Episode 112: How to travel solo with Deborah Ives (Re-Release)
Dipping into the archives again for another gem of an interview with Deborah Ives, the solo traveler behind the travel[...]
Episode 111: The secrets of alternative aging with Suzi Grant (Re-Release)
Welcome to our summer season where I’m dipping into the archives to share some of the gems from the vault.[...]
Episode 110: The joy of adventure with Alice Morrison
My guest Alice Morrison is an adventurer. She's the Indiana Jones for girls. She's done so many things that would[...]
Episode 109: Empowering women to lead with Dion Johnson
This is such an inspiring conversation! Dion Johnson, known as the Womanologist, works with women leaders so they can fulfil[...]
Episode 108: Finding words for tender conversations with Dr Kathryn Mannix
In this episode, I welcome back Dr Kathryn Mannix to the podcast. Kathryn’s first interview was titled Talking About Death[...]
Episode 107: The power of older women with Jennifer Arthurton
Jennifer Arthurton is the creator and founder of Old Chicks Know Sh*t, a community and podcast (of the same name)[...]
Episode 106: How to embrace your second spring with Kate Codrington
Kate Codrington is the author of Second Spring: the self-care guide to menopause, which is a rather lovely and revolutionary[...]
Episode 105: How agetech will change the world with Keren Etkin
My guest today is Keren Etkin, the Gerontechnologist. She’s a gerontologist who’s written a fascinating book called The Agetech Revolution:[...]
Episode 104: Breaking down taboos with Elizabeth Joseph
Elizabeth Joseph describes herself as a social media menopause guinea pig. She’s on a journey of perimenopausal transformation. We dig[...]
Episode 103: From fine to fantastic with Lori Saitz
A fun and inspiring conversation with the very wise and straight-talking Lori Saitz about how to move from just feeling[...]
Episode 102: Why women stay after betrayal with Anne Michaud
Anne Michaud is a veteran political journalist who reported for the Wall Street Journal and Newsday. She was named columnist[...]
Episode 101: How women’s brains get stronger and better with age with Dr Louann Brizendine
Dr Louann Brizendine is the best-selling author of The Female Brain and is here to talk to me about her[...]
Episode 100: Making sense of midlife with Mr Magnificent
A very special 100th episode of the podcast as I welcome the first man on to the podcast, my husband[...]
Episode 99: Upgrading the menopause conversation with Clarissa Kristjansson
Clarissa Kristjansson is a Mindfulness and Menopause expert, author of The Mindful Menopause, and host of the brilliant Thriving Thru[...]
Episode 98: From procrastination to personal power with Dr Christine Li
Dr Christine Li is the Procrastination Coach. She’s a clinical psychologist who helps people find their creativity, confidence and calm.[...]
Episode 97: Alcoholism and hiking the PCT with Person Irresponsible
I interview Person Irresponsible, the incognito author of Everything You Ever Taught Me, about her solo trek along the Pacific[...]
Episode 96: Living well with osteoarthritis with Dr Alyssa Kuhn
Dr. Alyssa Kuhn is a physical therapist and osteoarthritis specialist, and founder of Keep the Adventure Alive. She specializes in[...]
Episode 95: Learning to thrive after divorce with Tonya Carter
Tonya Carter is a Relationship Transformation Coach. She's full of wisdom about relationships, coping through divorce and also just about[...]
Episode 94: Becoming the singing gynecologist with Dr Kristina Dervaitis
Have you ever wanted to do something completely different to what you actually do? My guest Dr Kristina Dervaitis is[...]
Episode 93: Mothers, daughters, estrangement and healing with Laura Davis
Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse Laura Davis is the author of 6 non-fiction books which have sold more than 1.8 million[...]
Episode 92: The rewards of being late-onset with Jo Pybus
Jo Pybus is a writer, feminist and what she calls late-onset to many things. She’s an Ironman (Ironwoman) and represented[...]
Episode 91: The power of menopause with Alexandra & Sjanie – Red School
Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugh Wurlitzer are the founders of Red School and the authors of Wild Power: Discover the[...]
Episode 90: Emotional eating and drinking with Vicky Midwood
Vicky Midwood is a health, nutrition and lifestyle coach who specializes in helping people with disordered eating or drinking. I[...]
Episode 89: Understanding our many hormones with Nicki Williams
Nicki Williams is a nutritionist, author, speaker, and women’s health expert. She’s the author of the excellent book, It’s Not[...]
Episode 88: Midlife transformation with Deb Johnstone
Deb Johnstone is a transformational coach, a professional speaker, a mindset coach amongst other things, and recently, a qualified yoga[...]
Episode 87: Midlife women rock with Breeda Bermingham
Breeda Bermingham is a social entrepreneur, founder of the Midlife Women Rock Project and has just published a wonderful book[...]
Episode 86: I wrote a book! Solo with Rachel
A solo episode with Rachel talking about her just-published book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond! She[...]
Episode 85: How to keep your brain healthy with Susan Saunders
Susan Saunders is the co-author of the best-selling book, The Age-Well Project, and author of her latest book, The Age-Well[...]
Episode 84: Living agefully with Mariann Aalda
Mariann Aalda is an American actress, a performance artist, a stand-up comedian, and an age-full evangelist. She considers age to[...]
Episode 83: Making the most of midlife with Karen Skidmore
Karen Skidmore is a marketing consultant and business advisor with a particular interest in helping midlife women scale their small[...]
Episode 82: Coping with an addicted child with Michelle Weidenbenner
Michelle Weidenbenner is an author, speaker, and podcaster. She's also the proud mother of a recovering addict. She has made[...]
Episode 81: Choosing to be brave with Alexandra Boyd
Meet Alexandra Boyd, a woman of many talents! She’s an actress, in Mr Holland’s Opus, Titanic, and Coronation Street to[...]
Episode 80: How to do a midlife refuel with Maryon Stewart
Maryon Stewart is known as the pioneer of the natural menopause movement. She created a non-drug but scientifically based program[...]
Episode 79: Making dietary restrictions work with Ricki Heller
My guest today is Ricki Heller, cookbook author, holistic nutritionist and anti-candida crusader. She's the ultimate expert I reckon on[...]
Episode 78: Empowering women financially with Rebecca Robertson
Meet Rebecca Robertson, an independent financial advisor who set up her own business, Evolution Financial Planning specifically to empower women[...]
Episode 77: Triumph over adversity with Elizabeth Solaru
An interview with Elizabeth Solaru, the founder of Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium and maker of luxury wedding cakes. Elizabeth has a[...]
Episode 76: How to age well with Susan Saunders
Meet Susan Saunders, co-author of the best-selling book, The Age-Well Project and author of her latest book The Age-Well Plan,[...]
Episode 75: Midlife lately solo with Rachel
A solo episode with host Rachel Lankester talking about midlife recently, why she does what she does and the launch[...]
Episode 74: Getting real about long-term health with Sam Palmer
Sam Palmer is a menopause fitness expert. She’s passionate about getting women in their best shape so they can thrive[...]
Episode 73: Understanding the power of hormonal change with Becky Quicke
My guest today is Becky Quicke who describes herself as the Menopause Psychologist. She’s dedicated to helping women cope especially[...]
Episode 72: How to simplify your life with Kay Newton
Kay Newton is the midlife strategist. She’s a speaker and author, and she helps women over 50 get their mojo[...]
Episode 71: Staying fit and healthy through menopause with Tania Dalton
Tania Dalton is a healthy aging coach and fitness trainer who’s passionate about redefining age. Tania has a massive following[...]
Episode 70: Letting your life speak with Mari Smith
Mari Smith is one of the foremost experts in Facebook marketing and is often referred to as the Queen of[...]
Episode 69: Menopause whilst Black with Karen Arthur
Karen Arthur is an educator, fashion designer, dancer and a podcaster. She’s the host of the Menopause Whilst Black Podcast[...]
Episode 68: Living a Kuel Midlife with Jacqueline Perez
Jacqueline Perez is the founder of Kuel Life, an online magazine and shop for women over 45. Her mission is[...]
Episode 67: Changing the world through food with Gilly Smith
Gilly Smith is an award-winning food writer, broadcaster, university lecturer, a retreat host and most recently podcaster. She’s written lots[...]
Episode 66: Turning midlife into prime time with Juju Hook
I interview Juju Hook, author of Hot Flashes, Carpools, and Dirty Martinis—The Quintessential Guide for Turning Midlife into PrimeTime. There[...]
Episode 65: Seeing light at the end of the tunnel solo with Rachel
A solo catchup episode with Rachel talking about: My joy at the US election resultNot taking democracy for grantedLife under[...]
Episode 64: Making a difference in the world with Alisoun Mackenzie
Meet Alisoun Mackenzie, coach, author, retreat leader, yoga teacher and speaker amongst other things. She’s passionate about enabling all of[...]
Episode 63: Pole dancing over 50 with Makeda Smith
I interview Makeda Smith, celebrity publicist, pole and exotic dancer. She began her pole and aerial training at the age[...]
Episode 62: How to have a happy menopause with Jackie Lynch
Jackie Lynch is a Registered Nutritional Therapist who’s written a very interesting book called The Happy Menopause. It’s specifically about[...]
Episode 61: Surviving a Somali desert kidnapping with Jessica Buchanan
Meet the remarkable Jessica Buchanan, the NYT bestselling co-author of Impossible Odds, a memoir that details her 93 days held[...]
Episode 60: Coping with dementia with Feyi Raimi-Abraham
An interview with Feyi Raimi-Abraham, founder of a fabulous new company called The Black Dementia Company, set up during lockdown[...]
Episode 59: Managing anxiety with Trish Beauchamp
Trish Beauchamp is a coach who helps women navigate change in relationships due to divorce, death or disconnection. She spent[...]
Episode 58: Ditching imposter syndrome with Clare Josa
Clare Josa is an author of 8 books, a speaker, an NLP trainer and a leadership mentor. She started out[...]
Episode 57: Help for toxic relationships with Dr Rhoberta Shaler
An empowering discussion with Dr Rhoberta Shaler, the relationship help expert. She helps people to recognize and recover from the[...]
Episode 56: Challenge and resilience, solo with Rachel Lankester
Every season I do a solo episode. I'm in contemplative mood again thinking about the challenging world we're living in[...]
Episode 55: Fighting for social justice with Iffat Shahnaz
Iffat Shahnaz is a lifelong campaigner committed to social justice and equality. She works with organisations committed to social change[...]
Episode 54: Women and leadership with Dr Joanna Martin
An interview with Dr Joanna Martin founder of One of Many, a women’s leadership community which started in the UK[...]
Episode 53: Hot Flashes and Cool Topics with Colleen and Bridgett
Meet the co-hosts of the Hot Flashes and Cool Topics podcast, Colleen Rosenblum and Bridgett Biagi Garratt. We talk about:[...]
Episode 52: Midlife sex with Dr Sonia Wright
Meet Dr Sonia Wright, the Midlife Sex Coach. She's also a medical doctor, radiologist and life coach, and tremendous fun.[...]
Episode 51: Creating your next chapter with Angela Raspass
Angela Raspass is my mentor and she works with women to find, create and grow their next chapter in business[...]
Episode 50: Living the dream in the desert with Sam Walker
Meet Sam Walker, host of the fabulous Sam Walker’s Desert Diaries podcast, which she started to document her move from[...]
Episode 49: The joy of walking cities with Lisa Weldon
An interview with Lisa Weldon, a writer who’s created a fascinating life for herself in her next chapter, by walking[...]
Episode 48: Creating the Feminista Film Festival with Laurie Mucha
An interview with Laurie Mucha, the charming founder of the Feminista Film Festival. This interview was recorded as coronavirus was[...]
Episode 47: Learning to prioritize yourself with Linda McLean
An intimate chat with Canadian singer-songwriter Linda McLean, opening up about life, music, writing and what makes her tick as[...]
Episode 46: Creating a different world, solo with Rachel
A solo catch-up episode with podcast host Rachel, up close and personal, talking about adapting to the world we now[...]
Episode 45: Putting on a sell-out show about menopause with Claire Hodgson
An extraordinary interview with Claire Hodgson MBE, one of the stars of the fabulous play Mid Life which had a[...]
Episode 44: Menopause, hormones and immune systems with Angela Counsel
An interview with Angela Counsel, naturopath, kinesiologist and mindset coach working particularly with women in midlife. Like me, she’s on[...]
Episode 43: Making the most of your heart beats with Julie Owen Moylan
I interview Julie Owen Moylan, a writer whose short stories and articles have appeared in the Welsh Review, Horizon Literary[...]
Episode 42: Confronting anti-Black racism with Kimberly McCormick
An incredibly powerful interview with Kimberly McCormick talking about understanding, acknowledging and taking action against anti-Black racism. Kimberley works at[...]
Episode 41: Why Black lives matter with Kwavi Agbeyegbe
2020 is turning out to be a momentous year in more ways than half a dozen! The Black Lives Matter[...]
Episode 40: Sailing the world and smashing boundaries with Tracy Edwards
I was so excited to interview the very inspiring sailor Tracy Edwards MBE, who captained the first all-female yacht crew[...]
Episode 39: Protecting your relationship under stress with Nicola Foster
An extremely helpful and empowering interview with Nicola Foster, relationship and intimacy therapist and coach. Nicola has created a Relationship[...]
Episode 38: Making the most of an empty nest with Coach Christine
A moving, thought-provoking interview with Coach Christine, the Empty Nest Coach who helps women adapt and make the very most[...]
Episode 37: Starting a business in midlife with Colleen Kochannek
An interview with midlife entrepreneur coach Colleen Kochannek on how to start a business in midlife and beyond. Colleen also[...]
Episode 36: Pandemic pondering, solo with Rachel
I'm in a contemplative mood in this solo episode, pondering the implications of the Covid19 pandemic now, soon, and when[...]
Episode 35: Zestful ageing, not ageism with Nicole Christina
An interview with Nicole Christina, a psychotherapist, and host of the Zestful Aging Podcast which is listened to in more[...]
Episode 34: Talking about death with Dr Kathryn Mannix
I was so honoured to interview Dr Kathryn Mannix who has devoted her life to the palliative care of the[...]
Episode 33: Living with kids under lockdown with Dr Orlena Kerek
I talk to Dr Orlena Kerek, a pediatric doctor turned weight loss and health coach. She lives in Spain with[...]
Episode 32: Creativity in the time of corona with Christie Glascoe
In this laughter-filled and very inspiring interview with the lovely Christie Glascoe, author, editor, screenwriter, creative coach, and professional life-lesson-learner,[...]
Episode 31: Teenagers, diabetes and coronavirus with Helen Wills
An inspiring and uplifting interview with Helen Wills, a lifestyle blogger and midlife mum of teenagers. She originally started a[...]
Episode 30: Just doing it and living the dream with Jo Moseley
Picture Credit Charlotte Graham Picture Shows A return visit from the amazing Jo Moseley. Since I last spoke to her[...]
Episode 29: Leaving medicine for yoga with Nadine Kelly, Yogi M.D.
Nadine Kelly was a medical doctor for many years but gave it up to be a yoga instructor. She has[...]
Episode 28: Going on a Messy Middle Road Trip with Janine and Nicole
I interview Janine Queenin and Nicole Markel, hosts of the Messy Middle Roadtrip Podcast. In this fascinating and very wide-ranging interview,[...]
Episode 27: New decade musings with Rachel
This is a special New Year's Day episode solo with Rachel. She's in contemplative mood, after a decade in review[...]
Episode 26: Making what you want with Jennifer Louden
I interview Jennifer Louden, a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the concept of self-care with her first best-selling book[...]
Episode 25: Twisting the plot with Dr Cecilia Dintino and Hannah Murray Starobin
These two are all about changing the unhelpful narratives we may hold dear and creating new stories for ourselves as[...]
Episode 24: Healing yourself through nutrition with Louise Carr
Meet Louise Carr who healed her own midlife trauma through retraining as a nutrition consultant. She has a fascinating story[...]
Episode 23: Redefining the potential of midlife with Barbara Waxman
Meet gerontologist, coach, and author of The Middlessence Manifesto, Barbara Waxman. She's redefining the potential of midlife, our power, and[...]
Episode 22: Building a business with Eileen Willett and Nancy Zeffman of Cucumber Clothing
Join me as I interview Nancy Zeffman and Eileen Willett the founders of Cucumber Clothing, designed to keep women cool[...]
Episode 21: Midlife podcasting with Sarah and Julia of Menopodcast
I had such fun meeting Julia Frey and Sarah Auerswald, the co-presenters of Menopodcast. These two first met as children[...]
Episode 20: The magic of menopause with Darcey Steinke
I was so excited to interview Darcey Steinke, author of Flash Count Diary. I loved her book and so many[...]
Episode 19: Finding your true voice with Hattie Voelcker
Hattie Voelcker went from being a barrister to retraining as a performance coach, working particularly with singers. She's so wise[...]
Episode 18: Professional bodybuilder at 48 – Amy Sutter
Amy Sutter, aka Sutter Girl, achieved her dream of being a professional body builder at the tender age of 48![...]
Episode 17: Rethinking menopause and HRT with Professor Joyce Harper
Meet the very fabulous Professor Joyce Harper, professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health, University College London.[...]
Episode 16: Embracing the midlife pivot with Valerie Albarda
Meet the incredibly inspiring Valerie Albarda, founder of Midlife-A-Go-Go and podcast host. She's on a mission to inspire women in[...]
Episode 15: Reinvention through acupuncture with Elizabeth Temperley-Shell
Meet the very lovely and straight-forward Elizabeth Temperley-Shell who went from working in corporate design to retraining as an acupuncturist.[...]
Episode 14: Fighting fashion ageism with the-Bias-Cut founder Jacynth Bassett
Meet Jacynth Bassett, the founder of fabulous online fashion boutique, the-Bias-Cut, and an avid anti-ageism activist. She's also still in[...]
Episode 13: Thriving after divorce with Rosetta Magdalen
Rosetta Magdalen is the Dynamic Divorcée. After her own devastating divorce she's dedicated her life to helping other women move[...]
Episode 12: Giggling about incontinence with Elaine Miller, Gusset Grippers
Elaine Miller is a pelvic health physiotherapist and stand up comedian. She's on a mission to end incontinence through raising[...]
Episode 11: Fighting invisibility with Jane Evans
Jane Evans is the founder of the Uninvisibility Project and campaigning to end the invisibility that hits women as we[...]
Episode 10: Ending ageism with Ashton Applewhite
Ashton Applewhite is an author, speaker and anti-ageism activist. Rachel discovered her work about three years ago and has been[...]
Episode 9: First time modelling in your 40s with Rachel Peru
Meet the very lovely Rachel Peru who's gone from nursery school teacher to successful curve and silver-haired model in her[...]
Episode 8: Staying fit and healthy long term with Lisa Swanson
An interview with Lisa Swanson, a certified health and nutrition coach, and personal trainer. She's focused on helping women in[...]
Episode 7: Travelling solo with Deborah Ives
An interview with Deborah Ives, the solo traveler behind the travel blog, Solo in Style, who's passionate about helping women,[...]
Episode 6: Changing midlife stereotypes with Kwavi Agbeyegbe
Meet midlife lifestyle coach, Kwavi Agbeyegbe, who specializes in helping women embrace midlife. She's as passionate about changing negative midlife[...]
Episode 5: Walking the world with Melissa Talago
In this episode I talk to Melissa Talago, brand storyteller and public relations wiz about her marvelous midlife adventure, setting[...]
Episode 4: Rediscovering joy after infertility with Jody Day
Meet Jody Day, founder of Gateway Women, the global friendship and support network for childless women. She’s passionate about helping women[...]
Episode 3: Getting active and happy with Jo Moseley
Meet multi-passionate, active lifestyle enthusiast Jo Moseley who, amongst many other things, is the founder of the blog Healthy Happy[...]
Episode 2: Following a digital dream with Jen Lehner
An interview with Jen Lehner, stay at home mom turned digital marketing strategist and college professor. She's the founder of[...]
Episode 1: The secrets of alternative ageing with Suzi Grant
Oh how I love this woman, the amazing Suzi Grant. I can't think of a better woman to inspire us[...]
Trailer
I'm Rachel Lankester, the host of the Magnificent Midlife podcast. In this trailer I give you a taste of what[...]
Jingle composed by Matt Dear.