Magnificent Midlife

193 Navigating fibromyalgia at midlife with Tami Stackelhouse

Tami Stackelhouse is an award-winning author, founder of the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute and executive producer of the documentary Invisible. She's dedicated to helping people with fibromyalgia reclaim control of their bodies and their lives, so they no longer feel trapped by pain, exhaustion or uncertainty. Fibromyalgia is so often misunderstood, minimised or brushed aside – and yet it affects many women in midlife. I've been wanting to explore this topic for ages and I'm delighted to finally do so with someone who brings both deep expertise and lived experience. If you're navigating unexplained pain, relentless fatigue, brain fog or simply want to understand this condition better, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. We also talk about: -The impact of age and gender on fibromyalgia -Common misconceptions and stigmas -Daily life and management strategies -Tami's personal journey in overcoming fibromyalgia -The need for more research and awareness -The historical context of fibromyalgia research -The gender bias in fibromyalgia treatment -The complexity of fibromyalgia diagnosis -Holistic approaches to treatment -Recent advancements in fibromyalgia research -Understanding flare-ups and management strategies And more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening. You can read a blog about this podcast episode here [https://themuttonclub.com/how-fear-based-menopause-marketing-took-over/]. Order Rachel's book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond, recommended in The New York Times as one of seven top books about menopause at magnificentmidlife.com/book [http://magnificentmidlife.com/book] The paperback can also be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers: UK [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ US & Canada [https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ Australia [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/] You can listen to all the other episodes and get the show notes at magnificentmidlife.com/podcast [http://magnificentmidlife.com/podcast]. Podcast recommended by the Sunday Times. Feedspot #9 in 40 Best Midlife Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] and #7 in 60 Best Women Over 50 Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] You'll find lots of strategies, support, and resources to help make your midlife magnificent at magnificentmidlife.com [http://magnificentmidlife.com/]. Check out Rachel's online Revitalize Experience [https://magnificentmidlife.com/revitalize/], a 6-week intensive small group mentoring experience or 1-1 Midlife Mentoring [https://magnificentmidlife.com/midlife-mentoring/].

192 How technology can revolutionise ageing with Keren Etkin

I'm delighted to welcome back Keren Etkin to the podcast! Keren is a gerontologist, entrepreneur, and author of The AgeTech Revolution – a fascinating book about the intersection of technology and ageing. I love that she describes herself as an AgeTech evangelist – it captures her passion perfectly. Keren is also the founder of The Gerontechnologist and The AgeTech Academy, both dedicated to helping us understand and shape the future of ageing through innovation. We talk about how technology is reshaping the way we age, the opportunities and challenges ahead, and what it all means for those of us in midlife and beyond. We also talk about: -Tech adoption by older adults -Motivation and digital literacy -Challenges in healthcare technology -Making technology accessible -Addressing scams and digital literacy -Robotics and caregiving -Age-inclusive societies and technologies -The future of technology and personal reflections And more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening. You can read a blog about this podcast episode here [https://themuttonclub.com/how-fear-based-menopause-marketing-took-over/]. Order Rachel's book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond, recommended in The New York Times as one of seven top books about menopause at magnificentmidlife.com/book [http://magnificentmidlife.com/book] The paperback can also be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers: UK [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ US & Canada [https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ Australia [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/] You can listen to all the other episodes and get the show notes at magnificentmidlife.com/podcast [http://magnificentmidlife.com/podcast]. Podcast recommended by the Sunday Times. Feedspot #9 in 40 Best Midlife Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] and #7 in 60 Best Women Over 50 Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] You'll find lots of strategies, support, and resources to help make your midlife magnificent at magnificentmidlife.com [http://magnificentmidlife.com/]. Check out Rachel's online Revitalize Experience [https://magnificentmidlife.com/revitalize/], a 6-week intensive small group mentoring experience or 1-1 Midlife Mentoring [https://magnificentmidlife.com/midlife-mentoring/].

191 Finding joy after grief with Alison Larkin

Alison Larkin is a bestselling author, comedian, producer, and narrator of over 250 audiobooks. Her acclaimed autobiographical novel The English American tells the story of an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents in America. She's also the creator of the hit one-woman show Grief… a Comedy and author of the book of the same name. Rachel first saw Alison perform at London's Soho Theatre and knew she'd be a perfect podcast guest. This conversation is funny, heartfelt, and full of insight about identity, creativity, and finding humour in life's toughest moments. We talk about: -The journey of love and loss -Finding joy after grief -Exploring love beyond death -Embracing clarity in midlife -The power of storytelling -The life of a comedian -Alison's journey of comedy and fundraising -Multiple voices and identities -Fiction vs. memoir -The craft of writing -Grief and connection -Intuition and spirituality in life's journey And more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening. You can read a blog about this podcast episode here [https://themuttonclub.com/how-fear-based-menopause-marketing-took-over/]. Order Rachel's book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond, recommended in The New York Times as one of seven top books about menopause at magnificentmidlife.com/book [http://magnificentmidlife.com/book] The paperback can also be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers: UK [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ US & Canada [https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ Australia [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/] You can listen to all the other episodes and get the show notes at magnificentmidlife.com/podcast [http://magnificentmidlife.com/podcast]. Podcast recommended by the Sunday Times. Feedspot #9 in 40 Best Midlife Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] and #7 in 60 Best Women Over 50 Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] You'll find lots of strategies, support, and resources to help make your midlife magnificent at magnificentmidlife.com [http://magnificentmidlife.com/]. Check out Rachel's online Revitalize Experience [https://magnificentmidlife.com/revitalize/], a 6-week intensive small group mentoring experience or 1-1 Midlife Mentoring [https://magnificentmidlife.com/midlife-mentoring/].

190 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: Dismantling menopause hype | Tania Elfersy

Want to rethink everything you thought you knew about menopause? I'm thrilled to welcome back Tania Elfersy, someone I really admire and a woman with a truly refreshing take on this stage of life. This is a conversation between two women who care deeply about the state of the menoverse today! I first came across Tania while writing my book [https://magnificentmidlife.com/book/] and was immediately struck by her wisdom and insight. The last time she joined me on the podcast, our conversation about menopause was very feisty – and this one is just as spirited. Tania brings such clarity, compassion and common sense to the menopause conversation. I can't wait for you to hear this episode – it's sure to challenge, inspire and maybe even transform how you think about current menopause narratives. We talk about: -How fear-based menopause marketing took root in the UK and spread globally -Why so much hormone therapy research is being misunderstood, misrepresented, and selectively used -The real impact of celebrity endorsements and influencer-led "menopause awareness" campaigns -How the pharmaceutical and wellness industries are profiting from women's insecurities -What's missing from the current menopause conversation – and why context matters -How women are being encouraged to medicalize a natural transition -The dangers of cherry-picked data and the confusion between relative and absolute risk -The quiet manipulation happening behind so-called "menopause revolutions" -Why women deserve full, unbiased information before making health decisions -How to separate fact from marketing spin in an age of social media misinformation -Why questioning, staying curious, and trusting your intuition are radical acts of self-care And more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening. You can read a blog about this podcast episode here [https://themuttonclub.com/how-fear-based-menopause-marketing-took-over/]. Order Rachel's book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond, recommended in The New York Times as one of seven top books about menopause at magnificentmidlife.com/book [http://magnificentmidlife.com/book] The paperback can also be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers: UK [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ US & Canada [https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ Australia [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/] You can listen to all the other episodes and get the show notes at magnificentmidlife.com/podcast [http://magnificentmidlife.com/podcast]. Podcast recommended by the Sunday Times. Feedspot #9 in 40 Best Midlife Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] and #7 in 60 Best Women Over 50 Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] You'll find lots of strategies, support, and resources to help make your midlife magnificent at magnificentmidlife.com [http://magnificentmidlife.com/]. Check out Rachel's online Revitalize Experience [https://magnificentmidlife.com/revitalize/], a 6-week intensive small group mentoring experience or 1-1 Midlife Mentoring [https://magnificentmidlife.com/midlife-mentoring/].

189 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: Menopause and nutrition | Karen Newby (re-release)

We're bringing back another powerful episode for our special Menopause Matters Season - this time with the fabulous Karen Newby. Karen is a nutritionist who's been practising nutritional therapy for over a decade, specialising in women's hormonal health - particularly menopause. She's the author of The Natural Menopause Method, a brilliant nutritional guide to perimenopause and beyond, and her brand-new book The Natural Menopause Method Cookbook is out now. In her new book, Karen has compiled 60 simple, flavour-packed recipes designed to help combat and minimise the most common menopause symptoms. These are meals made for time-poor menopausal women who still want to eat well — full of nutrition and bursting with taste. From Salmon Traybake with Tarragon Pesto to 'Stop Feeling 100' Joint Rejuvenation Smoothie, these recipes tackle issues like fatigue, hot flushes, brain fog, irritability, and sleeplessness — showing how food can truly be medicine for this stage of life. In our conversation, Karen brings a wealth of knowledge about how nutrition can support our hormones and overall wellbeing through this transition. Here's what we cover: -How we can best prepare ourselves for perimenopause -The first signs of perimenopause and what can be done about them -Good and bad estrogens -What we can learn from other cultures in terms of food and hormones -The importance of phytoestrogens -Food as medicine -How to stop sugar cravings and why they happen -Why modern life can make menopause worse -Why women may get heavier periods as they move into perimenopause -The importance of maintaining blood sugar levels -The role of the adrenal glands -Why we need to get better at managing stress -Why there's no quick fix when it comes to menopause -Six simple nutritional shifts to support perimenopause -Why we need to start putting ourselves first And more! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening. Order Rachel's book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond, recommended in The New York Times as one of seven top books about menopause at magnificentmidlife.com/book [http://magnificentmidlife.com/book] The paperback can also be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers: UK [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ US & Canada [https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ Australia [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/]: https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/ [https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/] You can listen to all the other episodes and get the show notes at magnificentmidlife.com/podcast [http://magnificentmidlife.com/podcast]. Podcast recommended by the Sunday Times. Feedspot #9 in 40 Best Midlife Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] and #7 in 60 Best Women Over 50 Podcasts [https://podcast.feedspot.com/women_over_50_podcasts/] You'll find lots of strategies, support, and resources to help make your midlife magnificent at magnificentmidlife.com [http://magnificentmidlife.com/]. Check out Rachel's online Revitalize Experience [https://magnificentmidlife.com/revitalize/], a 6-week intensive small group mentoring experience or 1-1 Midlife Mentoring [https://magnificentmidlife.com/midlife-mentoring/].