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 Mark Estdale, who has shared my Magnificent Midlife journey over the last sixteen years.
We talk about:
- Our support animal
- How I managed to persuade Mark to come on my podcast
- How Ashton Applewhite’s words on ageism impacted us both
- The importance of learning and being open as we move through midlife
- Getting men to embrace this period, especially for the women in their lives
- The rollercoaster of Rachel’s early menopause diagnosis and how it happened
- Reversing the early menopause diagnosis for a time
- The pain of secondary infertility
- How we both became aware of the negative narratives around women, menopause and aging
- Learning to appreciate the cyclicality of women and the power that can come from that
- Society’s attitudes towards menstruation, menopause and lack of awareness
- How and why heterosexual relationships can break down in midlife
- The evolution of our relationship including our sexual one
- The misrepresentation of data when it comes to menopause
- The still waters after menopause
- Current narratives around HRT and the importance of a holistic approach
- The importance of curiosity, exploring ideas and challenging dogma
- Fear driven narratives around menopause and HRT
- How Mark thinks Rachel has changed
- Trusting that the dots will connect when you look back in the future
- The book baby
- Ground flaxseed, yoga, exercise in general and cutting down on alcohol
- Barefoot shoes
- Mark’s advice to other men with menopausal partners
And more!

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”
STEVE JOBS
To celebrate this 100th episode you can get 50% off Rachel’s book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond with the code PODCAST100 at magnificentmidlife.com/book
