Midlife & Beyond Conversations

Neil Taylor helps families capture the stories, memories, and voices of their parents before it’s too late. After losing his own father to dementia, Neil realised how many stories had gone unrecorded – and how quickly voices and memories can fade. In this conversation, we talk about ageing, grief, family connection, regret, memory, and why older people so often feel unseen . We also explore how un...

Why are women over 50 being overlooked at work? In this episode, Jo Blackwell and Celine Egan explore ageism, menopause, confidence, and why “second half women” may be among the most valuable hires. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joblackwellmidlifeandbeyond.substack.com

Midlife parenting, letting go, and confidence. A thoughtful conversation on supporting adult children without holding them back, and rediscovering your own life beyond motherhood. You can find Randi here: https://www.randicrawfordcoaching.com/ And if this conversation resonates, my book Ageing Wonderfully Well: The Good News About Midlife and Growing Older explores many of these themes around iden...

Menopause, hormones, and women’s health are often misunderstood. In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Magic , author of The Empowered Woman . We talk about perimenopause, post-menopause, the limits of modern wellness advice, and why this stage of life can be a powerful turning point for women over 50. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access t...

Why diets fail women over 50 and what actually works instead. A practical, empowering conversation about food, energy, inflammation, and sustainable health in midlife. Connect with Sue Ellar here: https://sueellar.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joblackwellmidlifeandbeyond.substack.com

Planning for ageing, dementia, and independence. A practical, honest conversation about caring for parents, early warning signs, and preparing for later life. Connect with Vicki on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgingOnYourTerms This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joblackwellmidlifeandbeyond.substack.com

Flourishing as we age means letting go of identity, ambition, and constant doing. In this conversation, Jo Blackwell and Laura Davis explore ageing, creativity, illness, and how slowing down can lead to greater freedom, joy, and meaning after 60. Find Laura here: https://lauradavis.net/ And her book, The Burning Light of Two Stars can be found on Amazon This is a public episode. If you would like...

Is it possible to start a successful business after 50? In this episode, Jo Blackwell speaks with Janis Doherty, who launched a creative venture in her late fifties after breast cancer and the pandemic prompted her to rethink what came next. What began as a small experiment making garden gnomes has grown into a thriving local business running creative events across her community. Gnome and Garden...

In this reflective episode, Jo Blackwell shares 10 things she quit after 60 that made life calmer, lighter and happier. From letting go of constant usefulness and external validation to trusting intuition and releasing the need to control everything, this conversation explores the quiet freedom that often arrives in later life. If you’re navigating midlife, ageing, identity shifts or life after 50...

In this episode, Jo Blackwell talks with marketing mentor Kaye King , who trained as a swimming instructor at age 61. They discuss learning new skills later in life, overcoming self-doubt, the benefits of open-water swimming, and why it’s never too late to start something new. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

When the world feels chaotic, our instinct is often to rush in and try to fix everything . But what if the most powerful role we can play is simply to remain steady? In this reflective episode, Jo Blackwell shares the story of a ship caught in a storm and the lighthouse that guided it home, exploring how calm wisdom, emotional regulation, and quiet leadership can help us support others without los...

Midlife transformation rarely follows a tidy plan. In this conversation, Jo Blackwell talks with Karen Skidmore about leaving a 21-year career, navigating the “messy middle” of menopause and identity change, and learning to trust the unexpected paths that open when we finally let go. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

Why did I write Ageing Wonderfully Well ? In this episode, I share my personal experience of menopause, midlife transition, ageism and self-ageism – and what I hope women over 50 take from this book about growing older with more confidence and clarity. If this conversation resonated and you’d like to explore further, Ageing Wonderfully Well is available here: https://mybook.to/BOZjz This is a publ...

What happens when redundancy hits in midlife — just as you’re already questioning who you are and what you want next? In this episode of Midlife & Beyond with Jo Blackwell , I’m joined by author Sara King , who was made redundant at 54 after more than a decade in a senior role. Sara shares the shock of losing her job, the fear of being the main breadwinner, and the quieter grief of losing a profes...

Do you fear growing older, or the losses we’re told come with it? In At Peace with Growing Older , Jo Blackwell reflects on ageing, illness, acceptance, and the quiet emotional shifts that can happen in later life. Drawing on personal experience and a reflective piece attributed to Dame Patricia Routledge , this episode explores how peace, gratitude, and self-acceptance can slowly replace fear as...

Vicky Payne, Jo’s guest on this podcast, created an online book-club for women of all ages to read and discuss self-help and motivational books that we normally tend to read, then leave to gather dust on the shelf without taking action! Why self-help books chosen with women in mind? Vicky says the self-help world is very “bro-centric”, which doesn’t always fit with women’s view of the world, or th...

Have you ever lost your glasses while you’re wearing them, or walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went there? Most of us put moments like these down to “getting older”, but are they really something to worry about? In this episode, I revisit some of the most reassuring insights from my conversation with Dr Mitch Clionsky , who explains why everyday forgetfulness is usually benign,...

Your breath is like a remote control for your nervous system, and you have far more control over it than you think. In this episode, Sam Adams explains why breathwork isn’t about doing something fancy or ‘woo’, but about learning how to signal safety to your body, especially in midlife, when stress, sleep disruption, pain and anxiety can quietly take hold. From grief and trauma to menopause, chron...

One of the most dangerous ideas is that exhaustion means you’re weak. In reality, burnout often happens to the most capable, conscientious people, the ones who’ve been holding everything together for years. In this conversation, GP and burnout coach Caroline Steel explains why burnout isn’t a breakdown, but a warning. We talk about how overwhelm shows up in the body, why midlife can be the tipping...

If you’re on a diet this year, there’s one thing I really want you to hear - and I’m going to say it straight away in this solo episode, not save it for the end. If you’re dieting, you must start weight training. So many of us have been dieting for decades. We’ve slowed our metabolism, lost muscle along the way, and denied our bodies the nutrients they actually need, all in the pursuit of being sl...

Have you lost your sense of adventure? In this inspiring conversation, I talk with Louisa Swaden - The Existential Biker - about rediscovering courage, embracing fear, finding meaning through movement, and saying “yes” to possibility in midlife. From getting back on a motorbike at nearly 50 to racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats, Louisa shows that this stage of life can be bold, expansive and deep...

Many of us, particularly sensitive, creative, or neurodivergent women, have spent decades pushing through overwhelm without understanding what our bodies were trying to tell us. In this conversation, Peggy Cheyo explains how somatic practices, like gentle movement, dance, and embodied awareness can help regulate the nervous system without forcing insight or reliving trauma. Instead of analysing, w...

Are you finding it hard to stay inspired as you get older? This video is all about rediscovering motivation and embracing new sources of inspiration, especially for those over 60! Join me as I share the things that help me feel inspired, from art, books, and podcasts to the beauty of nature, family, and even surprising music choices. Explore practical tips on how to revive your creativity, find ne...

We've been lied to about ageing. In this video, I'm busting myths about ageing that we've been fed for far too long. From the belief that decline is inevitable to the idea that you can't lose weight, learn new things, or have a love life after 50—none of it is the full truth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit j...

In this conversation, I'm talking with fitness expert, Sam Palmer, about how to stay strong after 50 - and why it's so important. Sam emphasises the importance of incorporating various types of exercise and introduces her “Feel Great in 8” program designed for beginners. To find out more, check out her website: https://www.midlifemakeover.co.uk/8-week-midlife-fitness This is a public episode. If y...