Unravelling: The Diary of a Midlife Mess

Fee Taylor has lived the kind of life other people convince themselves isn't possible. She emigrated to Tasmania with 650 quid and two suitcases. She built a career as a glass artist and taught English in Japan. She pivoted — more than once — without a plan B to fall back on. And now, in her second half of life, she's created the Golden Gap Year: a permission slip for women 50+ who are d...

What does it look like to build a life from the inside out not from a plan, but from instinct, love, and a refusal to let other people's opinions run the show? This week on Unravelling , I'm sitting down with Bella Freeman — Perth-based entrepreneur, mentor, mum of two, and one of those humans who makes you feel like anything is possible just by being in her orbit. Bella's story mov...

What happens when the woman who built everything, the business, the reputation, the carefully constructed independence starts to feel the veil being ripped away? This week's guest is Janelle, founder of Dark Cherry and one of Perth's most celebrated wedding cake artists. But this isn't really a story about cake. It's a story about a girl who was adopted, raised by the best mama...

This week on Unravelling, I'm joined by Tara Clark — makeup artist, business owner, mother of four, and a woman who has spent most of her life being told she's superwoman. And for a long time, she believed it. We follow Tara from a dance-loving girl who found high school friendships challenging, through a wild and liberating early twenties, a marriage, a separation, an IVF journey that g...

What happens when you grow up without a roadmap — no female role models, a mum who handed you a too-big bra and told you to figure it out — and decide to build a life anyway, entirely on self-belief? You get Jenni Spence. In this episode of Unravelling: The Diary of a Midlife Mess , I sit down with the hilariously brilliant hairdresser, salon owner and South African-turned-Australian Jenni Spence...

What happens when the woman who seemed to have it all — the big title, the big school, the big responsibility,  finally breaks? In this episode, we sit down with Jenny Cole, coach, facilitator, and recovering school Principal, whose career came to a dramatic halt when she walked out of a case conference at 40 and never went back. Jenny takes us from her teenage years growing up in a cul-de-sac in...

What does it take to come home to yourself? For Sarah McLeod, personal stylist and founder of SJM Styling, the answer involved leaving Sydney's traffic jams behind, returning to Perth's beaches, and embarking on the biggest personal development project of her life: opening a cafe as a single woman building a new life from scratch. In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah takes us through th...

Nic is 54. A mother of four adult children. A woman who grew up alongside her kids. A fighter,  because she had to be. In this episode of The Unravelling , Nic shares the unpolished truth of a life lived in survival mode for decades: becoming a mother at 21, leaving an abusive relationship while pregnant with her fourth child, navigating single motherhood, social anxiety, trauma held in the body,...

In this episode of The Unravelling , I’m joined by Reem Kubba — marketing strategist, SEO whisperer, founder of The SEO Room , and creator of Joy Voice AI . But this conversation goes far beyond business. Reem shares her journey from Iraq to New Zealand as a teenager navigating identity, cultural expectations, and belonging — without the internet, without a roadmap, and with only American movies a...

When I started this podcast, I had no fancy mic, no clue how to edit, and absolutely no idea what I was doing,  just a whole lot of courage and a clear intention to have honest conversations about the messy middle of life.  In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned  about fear, confidence, and taking bold steps even when you feel wildly unprepared.  Because confidence isn’t built i...

In this episode of The Unravelling , I’m joined by Donna — a life-seeking, deep-thinking, conversation-loving woman who’s discovering what it really means to live on her own timeline. From modelling in her 20s, to embracing motherhood in her 30s, to starting over with photography in her 40s, Donna has always done things a little later than expected — and she’s learning that maybe that’s her streng...

In this episode, Sharon sits down with Sarah Thomson , multi award winning digital business coach, and founder of Online Social Butterfly , to talk about what happens when a life built on achievement meets the messy middle of midlife. Sarah’s story is one of evolution — from corporate high-flyer to entrepreneur, from people-pleasing perfectionist to woman learning the art of rest, and from the hus...

In this engaging conversation, Sharon Wilkes-Burt and Donnaprana explore the journey of self-discovery and resilience through various life stages. From teenage years filled with angst to the pressures of adulthood, they discuss how societal expectations shape our understanding of success. The conversation delves into the impact of trauma, the importance of self-compassion, and the liberating exper...

Eliza has lived through seasons of not fitting in, building a career she never planned, raising kids while feeling quietly alone, and now caring for her mum through Alzheimer’s.  Along the way, she’s carried questions about what she deserves, what really matters, and how to live with both grief and gratitude. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her unravelling, the shifts, the sadness, and...

Cath, founder of Edit & Style by Caterina , knows firsthand how confidence and style are deeply connected. From a teenage girl struggling with self-doubt to a woman navigating career changes, motherhood, infertility, and perimenopause, Cath has learned to embrace her evolving self—and help other women do the same. In this episode, we talk about the emotional side of style, the power of wardrob...

Linda describes herself as a British expat recreating home comforts one pork pie at a time. Tea, nostalgia a bit of cheek, baker turned writer From teenage motorbike rides and early marriage, to award-winning bridal dressmaking and walking barefoot out of hospital during one of her darkest moments, Linda’s life has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of The Unravelling , Linda shares her j...

Karen’s life has taken her from Liverpool to the Australian outback, from running a bustling bridal business to hosting soulful Rainbow Frequency gatherings.  In this episode of The Unravelling , she shares her midlife rebirth, the spiritual awakening that began in her 40s, and why life now feels like a homecoming to self. We explore her belief that when someone criticises you, triggers you, or an...

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions about suicide and suicide grief, which may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care of yourself, and if you need support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, or visit findahelpline.com to locate support in your area. Please note: There are moments in this episode where my mic dips in and out —...

From small-town New Zealand to Asia’s luxury hotel circuit, from surviving toxic relationships to building a thriving bridal hair business, Robyn’s life has been anything but ordinary.  In this conversation, we talk about the moments that shaped her,  the shock firings, the love stories, the brave leaps, and the heartbreaking losses,  and how she’s rebuilt herself each time. Robyn shares how she’s...

In this episode of The Unravelling , I’m joined by Sara,  a woman whose path has been anything but straight, and all the richer for it. From shy teen to hairdresser, aviation trainer, wellness centre owner, and now reiki master and human design guide . Sara’s journey is a powerful reminder that transformation doesn’t come from following a script. It comes from listening inward, questioning the rul...

I didn’t want to look back and think, why did I keep doing all that… when I could’ve been walking along the coast with a coffee.” At 43, Clare’s life didn’t crack, it crumbled. What started as random health issues soon turned into panic attacks, personality changes, and years of feeling like a stranger to herself. She jokes that she could write a book based on her health notes alone… and honestly,...