Postcards From Midlife

TV’s Julia Bradbury was diagnosed with breast cancer at 51. Then she went on a mission to give herself the best shot at a long, healthy life. The mum of three joins Lorraine and Trish to share the screening tests worth having, how she quit alcohol and tamed her sugar addiction, and the free daily habits any midlifer can follow, all without overwhelm, guilt or shame. Because sometimes, you just have to eat the goddamn cake! Julia's book, Hack Yourself Healthy , is out now in paperback. Plus: Trish got scammed (find out how), second-time-round wedding dressing, and six things to look forward to this autumn. 📩 Questions? hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com 👥 Join our Facebook group: Postcards from Midlife ⭐ Follow, rate and review to help other midlife women find us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish & Lorraine are joined by the author of hit novel & TV drama Trespasses to talk about her new book Stations & what it feels like to write a best seller & start a whole new career in midlife. Former chef Louise opens up about the impact of fleeing Belfast as a child during the Troubles after her grandmother’s pub was bombed, the anxiety that followed her through life from that point, the friend who lured her to a writing group & what happened on the night she had a glass too many with Gillian Anderson! Trish and Lorraine also tackle listener questions on parenting twenty-somethings who have moved back home in a warm, honest episode for women navigating midlife, family life and reinvention. 📩 Got a question? Email hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com 👥 Join the private Facebook group: Postcards from Midlife ⭐ Follow, rate and review — it helps other midlife women find the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorraine & Trish are back for Season 19 of Postcards from Midlife! In this opener, they catch up on their summer — from Cornwall staycations and David Byrne concerts to accidental Ted Lasso interviews and lake-swimming mishaps — & share why midlife women so often feel guilty about resting (hello, Gen X work ethic). They also give you a first look at this season's brilliant guest lineup, including: Julia Bradbury on her new book Hack Yourself Healthy and the longevity tips actually worth trying Rose Ferguson , nutritionist, on her four-week reset plan and the MJMB Protocol for more energy Dr Sam Bunting , dermatologist, on midlife skin changes, skincare routines, and cosmetic procedures Professor Tanya Byron on her new book You Are Not a Diagnosis Novelists Louise Kennedy ( Stations ) and Meg Mason ( Sophie Standing There ) Plus: navigating a full-again "empty nest," the British Heart Foundation Strong Women Challenge, book & telly recommendations for autumn, & stories from the Postcards from Midlife Facebook community. Nature's Best Pea Protein link: https://tidd.ly/3UWJpSZ Use code LIFE30 Got a question for Julia, Rose, Sam or Tanya? Email hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Join the private Facebook group: Postcards from Midlife Follow, rate and review — it helps other midlife women find the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorraine & Trish meet Dr Julie Smith, clinical psychologist, multi-million selling author of ‘Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before’ & one of the most trusted mental health advisors on social media. Discover how to be your own coach to manage midlife plate spinning, shake off your inner critic, shift your thoughts from judgement to curiosity & tune into all your emotions to understand what your brain & body are trying to tell you. Julie also shares how she adopted a ‘predator’ mindset to face her own fears following a breast cancer diagnosis & has reassuring advice for parents about what children really need to support their mental health & wellbeing. Plus: Season finale round up: all the best advice from this season’s fabulous guests! Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish & Lorraine speak to divorce coach Nawal Houghton who explains step by step what to do from the moment you think things aren’t right in your marriage, to initiating proceedings, navigating mediation, negotiating finances & thinking about what you need to build your new future. Nawal, who specialises in high conflict divorces, also shares how to cope if things turn toxic, what to do if you’ve been kept in the financial dark, the importance of creating a small support group & the question you must ask yourself if you think it’s best to stay for the children. Plus, how to talk to your kids about what’s happening & supporting their emotional needs now & in the future. Plus: Post work dinner panic? Quick, easy & tasty things to make in a hurry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Lorraine & Trish share their list of brilliant reads: there is a love story, a powerful memoir, a standout debut novel, and a tip on the funny Agatha Christie style writer you probably don’t know but will love. This curated list has everything: it is perfect for your holiday, train journeys, for summer reading, for book clubs or for those stuck in a reading rut. Plus the duo share insider secrets about the follow up to a book Gen X’ers loved and a new read on couples therapy which is a game changer. Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV legend Fern shares her vital life lessons and advice on divorce, single parenting, loss, career reinvention, weight loss, fitness, love and making new friends. The best-selling author and mum-of-four also talks hosts Trish Halpin and Lorraine Candy through how she recovered from depression and suicidal thoughts in midlife with the help of a new health regime, talking therapy and the right medication. Plus: The surprising gift hubby Neil got Trish & a family email you all need to send Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This candid interview is a great listen for anyone feeling lonely or unsure of where their life is heading or wants to learn to love & value themself. The best-selling Gen X author tells Lorraine & Trish about her remarkable midlife awakening, detailed in her new memoir, Rewilding: Freedom, Fearlessness & Finding Our Way Home. In a powerful conversation she explains the decision to leave her husband, her New York home & the life she’d built over 25 years to move to Marrakech after her career hit a downward spiral. She reveals how she loves living alone & starting again financially. After asking herself the question ‘who would I be if I didn’t care what anyone else thought?’ Jane goes on a ‘rewilding’ journey. Along the way she rediscovers sex & dating, learns to live alone without being lonely & becomes her true authentic self. Plus: Will Lorraine’s pelvic floor hold up with her new bouncy exercise regime!! Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have a shelf full of vitamins but not sure what if anything they are doing for you? Trish & Lorraine get to the bottom of what we need to take & why in our midlife years, including the one essential we are all most likely missing (big clue: it’s Co-enzyme Q10). Joined by guest Jennifer O’Connell - triathlete, former lawyer & co-founder of The Elevator by Sisterly one & done multivitamin sachets - they discuss why our nutrient needs & ability to absorb them change as we age as well as how to track if they are really making a difference. They also share the science that says there’s no reason we shouldn’t expect to have day-long energy, strong bones & muscles, manageable stress, low inflammation, a strong immune system plus glowing skin, hair and nails . Plus: Brainfog bloopers are back! Brought to you in partnership with Sisterly. Find out more @sisterly_lab & www.sisterlylab.com Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a fascinating, hopeful & helpful conversation the TV presenter & author opens up to Trish & Lorraine about the illness & business venture that ended with her losing her house & selling off her furniture to pay for weekly grocery shops. From being the presenter of Loose Women to being unable to get a job in Starbucks, Andrea describes the highs, the lows & the learnings from a tumultuous period in her life, including the crushing blow of being told ‘Your star has faded’. She also shares the resources that helped her get back on track & how to cope with financial stress while keeping a marriage together in the process. Plus: Lorraine’s helpful health alert & Trish’s Swedish adventure Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brought to you by Standard Life to raise awareness of Power of Attorney Day Trish & Lorraine tackle the never-ending midlife to do list & the biggest causes of the 3am wake up & worry. Joined by Alison Harvie of Carers UK, they discuss why having Power of Attorney in place for you & your loved ones can ensure peace of mind for so many of life’s potential curve balls. Find out who needs one (that’ll be all of us, even if you are married, have a next of kin or are 18 & over & especially if you are a carer), the practicalities of getting one, how to talk to an elderly relative or dependent about why it’s in their best interest to have one, as well as the emotional & financial costs of not having one. A fascinating 30 minute must listen. (PS: Can you guess which of your hosts does & doesn’t have a Power of Attorney?!!) For more information about Power of Attorney Day: powerofattorneyday.org.uk Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ‘people’s poet’ joins Lorraine & Trish to talk about her remarkable life - from cruise ship singer to best selling writer - all the while contending with an eating disorder and a midlife ADHD diagnosis. Discover how Donna, 51, healed from trauma, retrained her brain to silence the inner critic, learned how to nurture a soul algorithm & believes that ‘everything good is on the other side of cringe’. Plus why she’s proud to be a member of ‘the worst poet’s club’. And a beautiful reading from her new book ‘Loss: Words to Weather The Many Waves of Grief’. Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish & Lorraine are joined by career expert Helen Tupper for expert advice on how to take your career in the direction you really want, whether it’s stepping away & starting anew, setting up a side hustle or finding opportunities for growth & reinvention if you’re feeling stuck. Discover how to spot all the learning moments in your day to increase your impact & ground your confidence as well as the importance of a ‘To Think List’ as well as a quick & easy question to ask AI to boost your self awareness & career potential. Plus: Two surprising energy boosters tried & tested; Lorraine takes on another Gladiator fitness challenge With thanks to: The Rest & Revive clinic & The Well Clinic Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorraine & Trish are joined by cognitive scientist Katherine Templar-Lewis who explains why midlife is a period of peak uncertainty & what is really happening to our brains when it feels like the old maps we navigated life by don’t work for us any more. Learn how to use ‘interosception’ to tune into your emotions, reframe your thoughts, calm your brain & nervous system so you can flourish, be imaginative and creative in times of uncertainty. Plus: practical, reassuring advice for parents with kids embarking on gap year travels & an unexpected porridge palaver Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish & Lorraine welcome back GP extraordinaire & women’s health expert Dr Nighat Arif to talk about her new book The Complete Guide to Family Health: The One Stop Healthcare Guide No Home Should Be Without. From the midlife health checks every woman should ask for to protecting the mental health of your teen Dr Arif answers all our most asked family health questions. She also shares a helpful 5 point plan for getting the very best care from the NHS & why you should always trust your instincts about yours or a loved ones health. (Join our Facebook Group to win a copy of Dr Nighat’s book - details below) Plus: the TV shows we’re loving right now & why a rummage in your handbag is the ultimate friendship test! Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorraine & Trish meet Weight Watchers’ chief medical officer Dr Kim Boyd to get all the facts & advice on the real reasons we’re prone to put on weight in midlife. She debunks the myths we’ve all bought into - that it’s somehow our fault (it’s not, it’s biology), why ‘eat less/move more’ just doesn’t work when you’re up against major hormonal & metabolic changes, how HRT can affect weight management & why no one should feel embarrassed or ashamed if you’re thinking about taking the GLP1 weight loss drugs. Plus the nutrition & lifestyle advice that works to help shed pounds & sustain your happy weight as you age. Plus: brain fog bloopers including a What’s App whoopsie & more mixed up parcel palavers Brought to you in partnership with Weight Watchers Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorraine & Trish turn agony aunts & delve into their (digital) postbag to solve listeners’ dilemmas. Learn about ‘mattering’ & how it could be affecting your approach to relationships, how to move on from an affair, the six word question to ask yourself in any dilemma & what to do if your grown up kids shut you out Plus: the card game that has intrigued Lorraine & up-your-bum shorts at the gym strike again Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish & Lorraine meet leading integrative health specialist Dr Tamsin Lewis & discover the surprising fundamentals for creating mind & body harmony. Find out how to protect & support your brain to prevent cognitive decline, tune into the signals your brain & nervous system are sending you, the health tests worth having in midlife that will boost your healthspan & check if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue. She also shares her 80/20 rule for living your best life & why we all need to add more fun into our everyday lives. Plus: 4 books you’ll devour this spring & the YouTube channel that sorted Trish’s sticky hip for good Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BBC Woman’s Hour presenter Nuala McGovern on how to enjoy an extremely stressful career, getting up at 5.45am and how she stayed sane during the toughest of times. One the eve of Woman’s Hour’s 80th anniversary Nuala, 54, gives us a peek behind the scenes and chats about her remarkable journalism career that landed her the job two years ago. In a rare interview, Nuala also opens up about her childhood growing up in a Dublin pub, the impact of witnessing the Twin Towers attack & the raft of other ‘history in the making’ moments she has had a ringside seat at. She also shares how she met her hubby, living in the now tips & why you’ll always find her on a dancefloor. Plus: Trish & Lorraine’s list of new fun things to do with friends and 3 controversial novels to get your book club talking. Contact: hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife Join our private Facebook Group here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish & Lorraine meet the international best selling author to pick up the story of her life detailed in her new memoir All The Way to the River: Love, Loss & Liberation . Elizabeth speaks with moving honesty about her love story with her ‘wife’ Raya, their descent into addiction, and the rage and pain of profound grief. She also shares her spiritual learnings & life philosophies for our midlife years, including how to stop ‘purpose anxiety’, why gentle curiosity rather than one big passion makes for a more interesting life, why women need to stop pouring themselves into others & her experiment in ‘honest ageing’. Plus: Margo the podcat turns 80, what to do with dreadful gifts & the mystery of the stock cube in the pyjama pocket Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.