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Magnificent Midlife

Magnificent Midlife

Rachel Lankester 202 Episodes Aug 18, 2026

Magnificent Midlife is a podcast that reframes midlife as a time of opportunity and growth, not decline. Host Rachel Lankester interviews women over 40, 50, and beyond who are living vibrant, authentic lives—from sailors and pole dancers to doctors and food activists. The show tackles ageism, menopause, and limiting beliefs while celebrating the wisdom and achievements of older women. Each episode offers inspiration, practical life-hacks, and proof that life can get better with age.

Episodes

201 NEXT CHAPTER: A special rerun season (intro)
201 NEXT CHAPTER: A special rerun season (intro) Aug 18, 2026 15:27 In this special season of the podcast, host, Rachel Lankester revisits some of the brilliant conversations from the archives about creating a new chapter in life. Having recently turned 60 herself, Rachel reflects on what it means to move into a new stage of life, why she's increasingly thinking beyond midlife and her idea of entering the "youth of her elderhood". She explores the different wa
200 Rocking midlife with Dr Ellen Albertson
200 Rocking midlife with Dr Ellen Albertson May 6, 2026 45:19 Body image, self-worth and ageing are all key midlife topics and many women struggle deeply with their bodies at midlife, often in silence. Dr Ellen Albertson is passionate about changing that. She's a psychologist, registered dietitian, board-certified health and wellness coach and author of Rock Your Midlife. She's known as The Midlife Whisperer and it's easy to understand why. She's been in my
199 Working in an ageist world with Lucy Standing
199 Working in an ageist world with Lucy Standing Apr 14, 2026 53:37 Lucy Standing is the co-founder of Brave Starts, a not-for-profit supporting people in midlife and beyond to rethink work, purpose and what comes next. She's the author of Age Against the Machine, a chartered psychologist with a background in recruitment and a passionate voice on ageism, work and the realities of longer working lives. Brave Starts supports more than 900 members navigating career
198 Redefining the grandparent role with DeeDee Moore
198 Redefining the grandparent role with DeeDee Moore Mar 17, 2026 32:33 I'm delighted to be introducing a brand-new topic to the podcast: modern grandparenting. It's not a life stage I'm personally entering just yet - but as Magnificent Midlife continues to evolve, it's one that feels increasingly important to talk about. My guest is Dee Dee Moore, founder of More Than Grand, an online hub dedicated to helping new grandparents make the very best of their role. Dee
197 Getting stronger and fitter in midlife with Vijay Bassi Reed
197 Getting stronger and fitter in midlife with Vijay Bassi Reed Mar 3, 2026 56:29 Vijay Bassi Reed is a former communications specialist who retrained in midlife as a personal trainer and nutrition coach. She is also a competitive HYROX and fitness racer. Her midlife transition emerged from burnout and hormonal change, leading to a deliberate reassessment of health, work and identity - and a stronger, more sustainable way of living. We talk about: -Vijay's journey from seni
196 Fearless pivots with Susan Dabbar
196 Fearless pivots with Susan Dabbar Feb 16, 2026 51:11 Susan Dabbar is the founder and editor-in-chief of PROVOKEDmagazine – a bold, unapologetic digital magazine for women 50+, challenging and redefining how older women are seen, heard and represented. Susan's career has been shaped by fearless pivots. She began as a naval architect designing nuclear submarines, went on to shape brand strategy at companies including Disney and Nestlé, played professi
195 Navigating child loss with Lisa Boehm
195 Navigating child loss with Lisa Boehm Feb 3, 2026 59:31 I was deeply moved by my guest Lisa Boehm. Lisa's life changed forever when her daughter, Katie, was killed in a car accident – an experience no parent should ever have to endure. In the years since, she's found remarkable strength and purpose, transforming her grief into a force for healing and connection. This is probably the most difficult interview I've ever done. I hope you find it as powerfu
194 How women's heart attacks differ from men's with Caron Grossman
194 How women's heart attacks differ from men's with Caron Grossman Jan 13, 2026 46:41 Caron Grossman is a registered nurse, breathwork facilitator, author and heart attack survivor. Her memoir, Listen to Your Heart Song: Navigating the Unexpected, weaves together her experiences of adolescent grief, addiction, recovery and a near-fatal heart attack, offering hope, honesty and practical insight for anyone navigating their own unexpected life events. We talk about: -How Caron's heart
193 Navigating fibromyalgia at midlife with Tami Stackelhouse
193 Navigating fibromyalgia at midlife with Tami Stackelhouse Dec 2, 2025 43:36 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
192 How technology can revolutionise ageing with Keren Etkin
192 How technology can revolutionise ageing with Keren Etkin Nov 18, 2025 46:33 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 helpi
191 Finding joy after grief with Alison Larkin
191 Finding joy after grief with Alison Larkin Nov 4, 2025 55:43 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
190 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: Dismantling menopause hype | Tania Elfersy
190 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: Dismantling menopause hype | Tania Elfersy Oct 13, 2025 56:28 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 and was immediately struck by her wisdom and insight. The

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