Mind Your Being Podcast

Have you ever been told that bladder leaks, recurrent UTIs, painful sex, or pelvic heaviness are just a normal part of getting older? In this episode of Mind Your Being , I sit down with Urogynecologist Dr Mugdha Kulkarni to explore one of the most overlooked areas of women's health: pelvic health during perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. We discuss Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM...

Have you ever found yourself stuck between two choices, endlessly weighing up the pros and cons, searching for certainty that never seems to come? In this deeply personal solo episode, I share the story of one of the most difficult decisions I've faced: questioning whether to stay in or leave a long-term relationship. But this episode isn't really about relationships. It's about unc...

In this episode of Mind Your Being, I’m joined by relationship counsellor and couples therapist Nicole Mathieson for an honest and compassionate conversation about relationships, communication, conflict, intimacy and repair. We explore why relationships can become more challenging in midlife, how resentment quietly builds over time, and why many couples find themselves stuck having the same argume...

What if healthy aging isn’t about becoming smaller… but becoming stronger? In this solo episode of Mind Your Being, Cass reflects on turning 52, navigating the changes that can come with menopause and aging, and shifting the focus away from appearance and toward strength, function, capability, and quality of life. Drawing on conversations from previous podcast episodes with Professor Belinda Beck,...

What if the small things you do every day have more power over your long-term health than you realise? In this episode of Mind Your Being, I’m joined by Dr Ann Hester — a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine with more than 30 years of clinical experience. After decades of treating chronic disease once it had already taken hold, Dr Hester shifted her focus to...

In this solo episode of Mind Your Being , we explore a simple but powerful idea from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): you are not your thoughts . Have you ever had a thought that felt so real… you didn’t even question it? Thoughts like “I’m not doing enough” , “I’ve left it too late” , or “I’m not good enough” can quietly shape how we feel, what we do—and what we hold ourselves back from....

Dementia is something many of us worry about as we get older — but what does the science actually say about risk, prevention, and brain health? In this episode, I’m joined by neuroscientist and science communicator Dr Sarah McKay to explore what’s really happening in the brain across midlife, and how we can think about reducing dementia risk in a realistic, evidence-based way. We talk about what d...

A number of women shared something with me recently at a perimenopause and menopause event… “I don’t quite know who I am anymore.” If you’ve felt this way in midlife, you’re not alone. In this solo episode of Mind Your Being , I explore how this stage of life — for both women and men — can feel disorienting, but also offers a meaningful opportunity to pause and reflect. I talk about values — what...

Episode Description Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide — yet many of the underlying risk factors are modifiable. In this episode of Mind Your Being , Cass speaks with nutrition researcher Dr Amy Hutchison about the critical role metabolic health plays in preventing cardiovascular disease. Together they explore what metabolic health actually mean...

✨ Midlife can feel full. Productive. Efficient. But sometimes — strangely — not fully lived. In this solo episode, Cass reflects on something many people in midlife quietly experience: the feeling of managing life beautifully… while not always fully inhabiting it. Why does time seem to speed up in this season?  Why do we keep saying “I’ll relax when…”?  And what might it be costing us to stay in...

Episode Description: Why do certain emotional patterns keep repeating? Why does trauma linger in the body long after the event has passed? And is healing truly possible? In this episode of Mind Your Being , I’m joined by Psychologist Mark Baxter , Director of The Psychology Spot in Wollongong, NSW. With over two decades of experience, Mark specialises in trauma recovery, PTSD, adverse childhood ex...

Skin health is about more than how we look — it’s about confidence, wellbeing, and feeling comfortable in our own skin. In this episode of Mind Your Being , Cass speaks with Liv Slee, owner of Oak and Eve Beauty in the Illawarra, about skin health through midlife and the role professional treatments can play during perimenopause and menopause. Liv shares her background in makeup and skin therapy,...

In this episode of Mind Your Being , Cass is joined by Professor Belinda Beck , a world-leading researcher in bone health and exercise science, to explore how our bones truly respond to movement, nutrition, and lifestyle across the lifespan. Prof. Beck explains why it’s never too late to strengthen your bones, the types of exercise that actually stimulate bone growth, and why many commonly recomme...

This is our first episode back after the festive season, and it’s designed to feel like a gentle exhale. As we step into a new year, this short solo episode offers a softer, more realistic approach to health, wellbeing, and behaviour change — without pressure, guilt, or all-or-nothing thinking. Rather than pushing New Year’s resolutions, we explore the idea of intentions : why they’re often more f...

The festive season is often portrayed as joyful and magical — but for many people, it can also feel overwhelming, stressful, and lonely. In this final episode of the year, Cass offers a gentle pause in the December busyness and explores why this time of year can be emotionally demanding. From work pressures and financial stress to family dynamics, perfectionism, and unmet expectations, this episod...

In this warm and deeply informative episode, I share a conversation with Clinical Psychologist Dr David Cooper, an OCD specialist, researcher and adjunct lecturer at UNSW, to unpack what OCD really is — beyond the stereotypes of neatness, order, and perfectionism. Together, we explore the many ways OCD can show up, why intrusive thoughts feel so distressing, and how shame often stops people from s...

In this short solo episode, Cass offers a calming guided meditation to support the awareness practice explored in The Mindful Midlife Series (Episodes 13, 14 & 15). This meditation is based on the classic ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) technique Leaves on a Stream — not Cass’s creation, but her gentle take on the well-loved practice. Through simple visualization, you’ll learn to obser...

In Part 3 of the Mindful Midlife Series , we take the insights from the last two episodes even deeper. You’ll learn how self-compassion, mindful breathing, and gentle awareness practices can help you loosen the grip of negative thoughts, calm your nervous system, and let go of perfection. Midlife is often full of competing demands, shifting identities, and rising pressure — but it can also be a po...

In this second episode of The Mindful Midlife Series , we move from awareness to action . I walk you through The 3 C’s: Catch it, Check it, Change it — a simple, evidence-based process to help you notice (catch it) unhelpful thoughts, question (check) it whether they’re true, and gently reframe (change it) them with more perspective and self-compassion. If you’ve ever found yourself overthinking,...

Have you ever noticed how one small thought can shift your entire mood? In this first episode of The Mindful Midlife Series , Cass explores the stories we tell ourselves , why our brains are wired to focus on the negative, and how habitual thinking patterns — or cognitive distortions — can shape the way we feel and behave. You’ll learn how to begin noticing your thoughts with awareness, curiosity,...

Episode Description: A fall can happen in seconds — but its impact can last a lifetime. Beyond the physical injuries, a fall can shake our confidence, independence, and wellbeing . In this episode of Mind Your Being , I’m joined by Exercise Scientist Amy Wildner from the Wildmann Group — who specialises in preventing falls and injuries in older adults . Together, we explore:  ✨ Why fall preventio...

Episode Description: In this episode of Mind Your Being , Cass chats with Bridget Carmady , naturopath and founder of Clémence Organics — an award-winning certified organic skincare brand born from compassion, science, and a love of nature. Bridget shares the deeply personal story behind Clémence Organics, and why integrity, health and mindful self-care are at the heart of her brand. Together, Cas...

Hormone therapy, lifestyle treatment options, and real answers to your menopause questions. Episode synopsis:   In Episode 3 of the Mind Your Being Podcast , Dr Lisa Cochrane joined us for an insightful conversation about menopause — and the response from listeners around the world was incredible. So many thoughtful, personal questions came in that we invited Dr Lisa back for this special Q&A...

Lisa Coster shares her journey healing gut issues, exploring essential oils, and discovering her purpose in helping others. ✨ Episode Description In this episode of Mind Your Being , I sit down with Lisa Coster , whose diverse career experiences all circle back to one theme: caring for people. Lisa opens up about her long journey with gut health challenges—navigating food sensitivities, years of...

Episode Description : This week, Cass is joined by Nutritionist Emily Gardem for a conversation on how nutrition can support women through perimenopause and menopause. Emily shares her journey into nutrition, what “food is medicine” really means, and why our dietary needs shift in midlife. We cover: Foods that can ease menopause symptoms like hot flashes, low energy, and poor sleep Why protein is...