Midlife Murmurings

In this episode of Midlife Murmurings , Chris Gates sits down with Liz Jewitt-Cross, founder of Future HR and advisory partner at The Coaching Solution. Liz brings over 20 years of experience as a fractional HR and business transformation director, now focused on portfolio consulting, executive coaching, and mentoring. Together, they explore: What midlife means to Liz — confidence, authenticity, a...

Episode Overview In this conversation, Chris Gates sits down with longtime friend and collaborator Jonathan Salisbury , co-founder of Thinkfully . Jonathan’s work is not about what to think, but how to think — using four powerful strategies that unlock creativity, problem‑solving, and resilience. Together, we explore both Thinkfully's work, as well as Jonathan's own journey to Midlife, including:...

In this conversation, tech leader Philippa Clifford-Davies reflects on how midlife is less a crisis and more a rebirth. She shares stories of balancing family and career, navigating curveballs, failure and confidence, embracing authenticity, and finding joy in connection. From redundancy to resilience, and from technology’s rapid pace to the wisdom of gut instinct, Philippa offers a candid look at...

The Second Half: Intentional Living, Joy & Presence In this episode, host Chris Gates is joined by Jason Pooley , High Performance Coach and former professional athlete, to discuss the often-silent struggle of burnout during the midlife transition . Jason shares his journey from the intensity of high-level sport and business to deep healing and intentional community building. This conversation...

In this warm and reflective conversation, Chris James joins Chris Gates to explore midlife as a series of intentional pivots — from corporate leadership to startup joy, and into a purpose-driven retirement. With over 40 years in sales and software, Chris shares what it means to shed prestige, recalibrate identity, and stay true to relational integrity. From building Day 5 Consulting with Will O’Br...

In this bold and brilliant conversation, Gini Holden joins Chris Gates to explore midlife as a portal to liberation. From hacking consumer behaviour with neuroscience to reclaiming irreverence after decades of fitting in, Gini blends science, soul, and storytelling with unapologetic clarity. She shares how she turned grief into grit, built startups from scratch, and developed a framework for rewir...

A midlife conversation with Martin Palethorpe on ego, embodiment, and the quiet revolution of presence. In this intimate episode, leadership coach Martin Palethorpe joins Christopher Gates to explore the art of living wisely. From ultra-marathons to meditation, divorce to community, Martin shares how tuning into inner wisdom—not ego—has shaped his journey. Together, they unpack the myths of ambiti...

In this episode, Chris Gates sits down with Emma Thomas—executive coach, menopause educator, and founder of Managing the Menopause —to explore how menopause can be a gateway to clarity, recalibration, and midlife power. Emma shares what perimenopause and menopause actually mean, how hormonal shifts impact identity, relationships, and careers, and why workplaces must move beyond policy to culture....

Welcome to Midlife Murmurings , where we explore the wisdom, wonder, and wildness of midlife. In this episode, Chris Gates is joined by Julian Burnett —creator, leader, investor, and mentor—for a rich, reflective conversation on what it means to live a legacy. 🌀 Topics include: Midlife as a crescendo: the emotional, professional, and relational shifts that define this chapter The gift of wise tea...

In this episode of Midlife Murmurings , host Chris Gates welcomes master coach Claire Pedrick for a rich, honest conversation about midlife as a season of choice, reflection, and quiet transformation. Claire shares how her own journey—through coaching, therapy, and walking the Camino—has shaped her understanding of purpose, partnership, and the invisible shifts that come with aging. From the tensi...

In this episode of Midlife Murmurings , Andi Britt shares his remarkable journey from senior IBM executive to becoming a theology student and world-class triathlete. It’s a story of recalibration—of trading people and technology leadership for embodied wisdom, and corporate certainty & identity for personal growth. Andi also speaks to what has rooted him throughout - his marriage, his communit...