Midlife Illuminated

In this episode, I share a story from my past which nearly resulted in tragedy - for me and for many others. I'm very aware how fortunate I am to be here, alive and well, to share this with you today. You'll hear why our brains are so deeply vulnerable - and how easily they can malfunction from what we put in our body. I hope that sharing my story prompts you to reflect on your own story. What has...

Here are my honest reflections on the perimenopause and menopause - and what I wish that all women knew. I share the ways that I'm preparing for this transition - and the many ways that I used to sabotage my body's ability to balance itself. I'm glad I know better now. I hope this episode inspires you to care for yourself, whatever your age or stage of life. You can find out more about Second Spri...

It's been a long time since I've showed up here....much longer than I'd planned. I've lived through the darkest days - and also the lightest. I'm now a grandmother, which has given me a whole new perspective on life. I hope my thoughts on this prompt you too to relook at your North Star. Do get in touch with me and let me know. You can find me on the links below: My website: https://peppermintwell...

In this (the final episode in this season of Midlife Illuminated) I share something that every woman needs. Particularly in midlife, when we are overwhelmed by the needs of others. It's the need to return to ourselves. In the classic book Women Who Run With The Wolves, this is described as "homing". With thanks to Clarissa Pinkola Estes - author of Women Who Run With The Wolves - for...

Women have always been conditioned to put their own wellbeing last. Research shows that their pets get better care than they do. Pets are wonderful companions: they need and deserve our care. But don't we deserve some care too? Research has also shown that this "me-last" conditioning leads to serious consequences when it comes to our health outcomes. For our sakes AND the sake of our loved ones, l...

Getting yourself healthy doesn't have to be hard work. It can actually be, yes, pleasurable! Here's my Peppermint Tea chat with Katy Grele, a 51-year-old mum who has come through breast cancer. Katy wasn't interested in doing any more short-lived, quick-fix diet plans. She wanted to adopt healthy habits to see her through the menopause...and the rest of her life. And she has surprised herself by a...

Ever tried a quick-fix way to lose weight or feel better or look younger? Ever tried a wellness gimmick that promised overnight miracles? We need to think beyond the short-term. We need to think about how we'd like to feel and live in the last years of our life. I hope this episode gives you a different perspective on weight loss, ageing - and on caring for yourself. My website: https://peppermint...

There's a crisis amongst women at work. Burnout is the no. 1 reason why women are leaving (or planning to leave) their job. I've been there myself. My mental and physical health suffered when I tried to juggle a high-stress PR job with caring for very young children. I talk through why we're at breaking point - and what you can do to protect yourself from burnout. If this episode strikes a chord a...

I'm just back from a sailing holiday in Greece. It rained a lot...but at least the food was fabulous. I thought I'd share with you what I've learnt about the fabled "Mediterranean diet". As you'll hear, food is SO much more than fuel - and the Mediterranean diet is SO much more than what's on our plate. I hope this episode gives you practical, simple tips on adopting a health-boosting Mediterranea...

Exams are a source of huge stress and anxiety - both for kids and parents. As a health coach and mum of three, I share my top tips on how you can help your kids to cope with exam season. As a former managing director, I also give you an insight into what helps young people to thrive in the workplace - and it's not all about exam results. You can find my Calm Kit programme here: https://peppermintw...

As my son celebrates his 25th birthday, I've been reflecting on what I've learnt in a quarter of a century of being a mum. I thought I'd share some of my insights with you. I hope this episode reassures you that you don't need to set the bar so high for yourself. Have a read of my blog on 25 things I've learnt as a mum: https://peppermintwellness.co.uk/how-to-raise-healthy-happy-kids-25-lessons-iv...

My Freshly Minted membership is launching next week - and I couldn't be more excited to welcome you into it! Tune in to hear one of my former coachees describing what it feels like to be "freshly minted". Here's where you can find details on my Freshly Minted membership (and a little video from me): https://peppermintwellness.co.uk/freshly-minted-membership/ If you'd like to...

In this episode, I share the magic of what's known as "collective effervescence" - and its role in transforming our health and wellbeing. Find your tribe - and you'll find your wellbeing. I hope this episode inspires you to seek out your tribe and go to where people grow. It's the fastest, easiest, most joyful way to change your life. Here's where you can find details on my Freshly Minted membersh...

I learnt the hard way how to listen to my body's signals. In this episode, I share how my body screamed at me - and how I was deaf to what it was saying. I saw each new symptom as something I needed to mask or get rid of. I didn't understand that the root cause of them all was stress. I also guide you to tune in to what your body is telling you - and empower you to honour our one, precious body. H...

A goal to "get ourselves healthy" can look like a towering, daunting mountain to climb. It can also mean endless failed attempts that leave us with no faith in our ability to change. Being harsh to ourselves is a terrible motivator. In this episode, I share a much more effective, gentler way to adopt healthy habits - and start to thrive. I hope it gives you hope that you're not stuck - and that yo...

In this episode, I spill the beans on what I learnt during my many years working in PR for the food industry. During those years, I gained a first-hand insight into how we're being manipulated into eating foods that gradually destroy our health. I hope this episode empowers you to eat to thrive - despite the overwhelming influence of ultra-processed foods which are now linked, beyond any doubt, to...

You're probably being sabotaged by your blood sugar on a daily basis - without realising how it's affecting you. If we want to feel better physically, mentally and emotionally (and protect our health from chronic disease) managing our blood sugar is an absolute must. In this episode, I share how my brain, mood, energy and productivity were massively impacted by the 45-year bood sugar rollercoaster...

Do you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day? That you don't have a minute for yourself? That you just don't have the time to look after yourself? I know that feeling well. In fact, I share an excruciatingly embarrasingly incident in this episode that illustrates this (very graphically)! You'll also hear me giving you pointers on how you can find your own pause to restore...

Have you ever thought about how clutter is draining your energy and affecting your self-esteem? I've struggled with clutter for as long as I can remember. And I've frequently found myself feeling bad when I look at stuff that I've bought and have never actually used. Have a listen to what happened when I enlisted the help of Christal - a fabulous professional declutterer who I now consider to be s...

Welcome to my first episode of Midlife Illuminated, in which I share a deeply personal and profound experience I had recently. I've learnt a lot this year about the magic that happens when we grant outselves space to listen to our own inner wisdom. I hope that listening to me gives you licence to trust your own voice - and to discover your own happy place. Alongside listening to me on this podcast...

Welcome to Midlife Illuminated! Here's a little introduction from me on the theme of uncovering your light - and sharing it with others. I look forward to sharing lots of lightbulbs moments with you.! Alongside listening to me on this podcast, you also have the opportunity to be supported by me in person. I invite you to join me live at Midlife Monthly - a sanctuary in the month for stressed-out m...

Hello again! I'm back after an extended break from podcasting. Thank you for bearing with me! Creating some distance from the podcast and going quiet gave me space to think. Tune in to this episode to discover where that thinking time took me. I'm excited to share that a change is on its way. This podcast will have a new name and a new direction from the next episode. Have a listen to find out mor...

In this final (very mini) episode of this season of Wellness Unwrapped, I share a few thoughts on cutting myself some slack and giving myself some space. I hope it inspires you to do the same! I look forward to rejoining you here at some point in the Autumn. In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful summer and hope you enjoy listening (or re-listening) to previous episodes of Wellness Unwrapped. To...

It's not news to most women that their bodies can be ruled by their hormones! But what is less well known is that food can help balance out our hormones and keep us on an even keel. My guest on this episode, Charlotte Hunter, has been a registered and qualified Nutritional Therapist since 2010. Since then, she has helped many men, women and children to eat well and be healthy. Her firm belief is t...

This is a big, big subject...and one which affects ALL of us. As you'll hear Gwyneth Moss explain, we all picked up limiting beliefs when we were very young children. These limiting beliefs (also known as "false truths") are often what are sabotaging us as adults. In this exceptionally eye-opening conversation, you'll learn how false truths dictate our thoughts, behaviours and li...