40ish | The Funny Podcast on Perimenopause, Menopause & Midlife

In today's 40ish, Nicole is celebrating a personal best at the gym as she gears up for turning 50ish. Lauren is staying up far too late watching The Substance (again). One of us is getting stronger. The other is getting sleepier. Both are entirely committed to their choices. In Midlife News, the underwire bra is making a comeback. Designers including Prada and Tom Ford are embracing lingerie-inspired looks, while celebrities are wearing bras as outerwear. But after years of wireless bras, stretchy fabrics and finally being able to breathe, are women in their forties and beyond really ready to return to something that feels like scaffolding around the ribcage? Our listener dilemma is all about celebrating her mum’s 80th birthday when the birthday girl hates a fuss. With a mum who doesn't want a big party, how do you make such a milestone special without making her miserable? We're talking about aging parents, family expectations and learning to celebrate people in the way that actually makes them happy. In…

This week on 40ish: Lauren wonders if it’s too early to put the heating on and Nicole has a tupperware invention that could transform the world of reusable plastic storage. We're also tackling a parenting dilemma that will resonate with anyone whose teenager is thinking about university. One listener is concerned about student debt, future job opportunities and whether university will live up to expectations. But how do you balance wanting to protect your children from an expensive mistake with giving them the freedom to make their own decisions? Plus, we're sharing the meltdowns that come with travelling light, having a cold and resolving what to do about grey eyebrow hair. It’s another dose of midlife honesty, ridiculous everyday frustrations and the reassurance that we're probably all losing the plot just a little bit. If you're navigating midlife, parenting teenagers, perimenopause or simply wondering why your eyebrows are turning grey while your patience disappears, you're in the right place.…

Brain fog, anxiety, weight gain, poor sleep: is it always perimenopause? This week on 40ish we ask whether we're blaming everything on our hormones, and whether that means other health issues get missed. A recent article questioned whether every symptom in a woman in her 40s should be put down to perimenopause. After decades of women's symptoms being dismissed as stress or "getting older", recognising the impact of oestrogen and hormonal change is vital. But not everything is menopause, and persistent or unusual symptoms deserve proper investigation. Plus: a listener from the sweaty-underboob contingent refuses to join the no-bra movement, and this week's 40ish dilemma asks whether it's rude to leave someone on WhatsApp blue ticks for days. One listener now matches everyone's reply time exactly. Fair play, or WhatsApp weirdo? 40ish is the podcast about the funny, messy and ridiculous reality of life in your 40s. 💌 Send us your dilemmas and rants: hello@40ish.co.uk 📱 Follow: @40ish.podcast & Substack @The…

This week on 40ish: Nicole is wondering if her post menopause personality is here to stay - and if so how worrying is that (answer: very) Whilst Lauren has finally found somewhere to wear the white shoes. Then we revisit the subject that has divided the nation: pillow protectors. The 40ish listeners have spoken… and Lauren is feeling VERY smug. The listener dilemma is about sex and libido in midlife. What happens when you’re 47, your husband is 51, and your sex drive is absolutely fine… but his has disappeared? We talk about long-term relationships, changing libidos, testosterone, attraction, communication and the awkwardness of being the woman who wants more sex. Finally, one listener is in meltdown when she discovers that her husband has somehow reached his 50s without knowing what HRT is. As ever, 40ish is the podcast about the funny, messy, ridiculous reality of life in your 40s: relationships, sex, hormones, health, ageing, family, marriage and all the things nobody quite warned us about. 💌 Send us your…

It's a 40ish Midlife News Special, and this week we're asking a fairly important question: how much do doctors actually learn about menopause? An ITV News investigation into medical schools in England and Wales found that some student doctors receive as little as one hour of formal menopause teaching during their entire five-year medical degree, with around 20% of universities that responded reporting less than 90 minutes of dedicated menopause teaching. There's also a brilliant new midlife comedy-drama to talk about. Sharon Horgan's new series Youth follows Alex, a recently divorced middle aged woman who is juggling a teenage son, ageing parents, work and the pressure to find a new relationship before she gets "too old". It's the sandwich generation, dating, ageing and midlife anxiety wrapped up in a comedy-drama, and we are obsessed! 💌 Send us your dilemmas and rants: hello@40ish.co.uk📱 Follow: @40ish.podcast Try AG1 now at https://drinkag1.com/selfcare and get £20 off your first order + 5 AG1 Travel Packs…

This week on 40ish: we kick off with the ultimate sign that Christmas is approaching: booking the Ocado Christmas delivery slot and immediately announcing it on the family WhatsApp. Because nothing says festive spirit quite like securing your sprouts three months early. We hear from a listener who discovered 40ish at 47 when she was feeling miserable and alone, and says the podcast helped her feel seen, empowered and much more positive about midlife. In Midlife News, there is promising new research into a potential non-invasive test for womb cancer and reducing the need for invasive investigations such as hysteroscopies. Hooray! This week's dilemma: the lounge set. Is it a tracksuit? Is it a co-ord? Is it pyjamas that have been promoted to daywear? Our listener wants to know whether an oatmeal wide-leg M&S lounge set is chic, chavvy or practical midlife dressing. We investigate the great lounge-set rebrand and discuss where women over 40 can find clothes that are comfortable enough for the sofa but…

Welcome to the Midweek Meltdown Show, where we're talking midlife meltdowns, 3am anxiety and the wildly irrational thoughts that hit in your 40s. Proper, deeply middle-aged meltdowns. Lauren wants to know why on earth she thought she needed a pair of white kitten heels. We get into the psychological damage social media does to women in midlife. And there's a double-bagging pillowcase situation that has become far more important than it should be. A primary school teacher shares one of the most spectacularly awkward moments we've ever heard. Another listener has developed a completely separate personality at 3am. At 7am? Completely normal again. If you've ever lain awake overthinking, you'll know exactly what she means. If you've ever had a midlife meltdown, a 3am anxiety spiral, an embarrassing social moment or a thought that seemed completely reasonable at the time, this episode is for you. What's your most ridiculous 40ish meltdown? Tell us in the comments. 💌 Send us your dilemmas and rants:…

Ever heard us mention a pair of jeans, a hair product or a recipe in passing and wished you'd written it down? That's exactly why we've started The Midlife Club on Substack. It's our home for everything behind the episodes: the products, recipes, clothes and bits and pieces we chat about on the show, all in one place, plus extra content you won't hear anywhere else. Come and join us: https://substack.com/@themidlifeclub See you in the club x 💌 Send us your dilemmas and rants: hello@40ish.co.uk📱 Follow: @40ish.podcast Try AG1 now at https://drinkag1.com/selfcare and get £20 off your first order + 5 AG1 Travel Packs for on the go, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, and the Welcome Kit for FREE. No risk with the 30- day money-back guarantee. Find all details about the health benefits in the link. Study results are on file with AG1, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on 40ish, Nicole hits a major midlife milestone as she drops her eldest child off at university. We’re not crying, you’re crying. Meanwhile, Lauren is experiencing a very different kind of midlife humiliation: changing from heels into flats on the Tube because comfort has officially won. We hear from a listener struggling with unpredictable energy levels and fluctuating hormones. She can feel full of energy and excited to make plans one day, then reach the day itself and want to cancel everything and hide under a duvet. So how do you make plans when you genuinely have no idea which version of yourself is going to turn up? In Midlife News, three 40ish stars have all welcomed new babies. Finally, this week’s dilemma is a big one. A friend has cancelled their girls’ weekend just five days before they’re due to go. Is this the end of a friendship? Have your friendships changed in your 40s? Do you have less energy for nights out than you used to? And how do you deal with making plans when your energy…

Too much to cover and not enough time on Tuesday's episode, so here's a bonus show for you, Quazzers. Lauren went to a 50th birthday celebration and did something no one expects at a party; showed off her HRT patch like an accessory. Meanwhile Nicole thinks she has found her true calling: ‘bobfluencer’. Yes, it's a thing, and yes, she's considering it as a career path. Settle in for a bonus dose of 40ish nonsense, You're welcome. 💌 Send us your dilemmas and rants: hello@40ish.co.uk📱 Follow: @40ish.podcast Try AG1 now at https://drinkag1.com/selfcare and get £20 off your first order + 5 AG1 Travel Packs for on the go, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, and the Welcome Kit for FREE. No risk with the 30- day money-back guarantee. Find all details about the health benefits in the link. Study results are on file with AG1, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on 40ish: Nicole has bought a steam mop and it's love at first swipe. Lauren, meanwhile, is about to celebrate her silver wedding anniversary ( surely that's for old people?) This week's listener feedback brings an enthusiastic leggings recommendation (sorry, Lululemon). Then Mary-Anne gets in touch from deep inside perimenopause brain fog; words? Gone. Executive function? Also gone. If you've ever walked into a room and forgotten why, this segment is basically a support group. This week's Dilemma: Rosie's best friend has gone full doomsday prepper. Six months of food, industrial quantities of water, head torches, a camping stove, a wind-up radio - the lot. Completely unhinged, or the only one who'll be laughing when civilisation collapses? And finally, Meltdown of the week: a listener rings her husband to ask what flavour cake he wants for his birthday. One small problem: it isn't his birthday. Perimenopause symptoms, memory loss, marriage milestones, friendship dilemmas, panic buying, doomsday…

There was simply too much to cover and not enough time on Tuesday’s episode, so here is a little bonus one for you, Quazzers. The ladies have been out -out, going to see Hamilton (Lauren’s first time, so obviously we have thoughts.) We also discuss The Invite (spoiler alert: do NOT watch this one with your husband) and Lauren is put off avocado for life after a woman on the internet describes what it tastes like in a way that can never be unheard. Honestly, we could tell you what she compared it to… but where’s the fun in that? So settle in for a bonus dose of 40ish nonsense, theatre chat, questionable viewing choices and the complete destruction of one woman’s relationship with avocado. You’re welcome. 💌 Send us your dilemmas and rants: hello@40ish.co.uk📱 Follow: @40ish.podcast Try AG1 now at https://drinkag1.com/selfcare and get £20 off your first order + 5 AG1 Travel Packs for on the go, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, and the Welcome Kit for FREE. No risk with the 30- day money-back guarantee. Find all…

This week on 40ish: Nicole is becoming allergic to everything and has to reign in her dad as he brings new meaning to “life begins at 40” when he insists on walking a marathon for charity for his 80th birthday. Lauren has been spending too much time alone and queries what quantifies a gift after being given a toilet brush. We have feedback from 44yr old rave queen and a very special surprise from DJ Penelope, who has taken things one step further and actually made us a 40ish song. Yes, really In Midlife News, M&S has entered its saucy era. Crotchless knickers have appeared on the nation's most trusted high street retailer and Britain is absolutely beside itself. Has M&S gone S&M? Our dilemma this week comes from a woman whose mother-in-law lives abroad, which sounds lovely until you realise that every visit involves several uninterrupted days of being talked AT by someone who appears to have forgotten that conversation is supposed to be a two-way activity. So how do you tell a beloved but exhausting relative…

This week on 40ish, Nicole has bought a steam mop and is feeling like she’s absolutely nailed adulthood. Meanwhile, Lauren has finally disposed of some Uniqlo “slacks” that were making her feel approximately 60ish. In Midlife News, we’re talking about the latest research into HRT and dementia risk and what it actually tells us about menopause, HRT and brain health. Then we tackle this week’s dilemma: when your pregnant sister asks what you think of her baby name, are you actually obliged to tell the truth? Especially when the name makes you think of a Victorian ghost haunting the corridors of a stately home. Finally, we investigate one of the great mysteries of modern masculinity: the moustache. Why is every man suddenly growing one? Is there such a thing as a genuinely good moustache apart from on Tom Selleck? If you’re enjoying 40ish, please share this episode with a friend who you think will love it too. Because nothing says friendship like sending someone a podcast about midlife, menopause, HRT,…

Welcome to the brand new season of 40ish - the midlife and menopause podcast for women in their 30s, 40s & 50s. This week: a couple who are healthy, financially secure and stable, but have completely lost their spark. How do you start enjoying life and each other again? Plus, is raving the new midlife self-care? We're asking whether swapping the spa day for a crop top and loud music actually counts as wellness. Also in this episode: Nicole has a full nervous breakdown over new studio tech, Lauren goes deeply evangelical about arch support and flip-flops (this is genuinely where we are in midlife), and has a disturbing realisation in a school uniform shop that she's turning into her own mother. And today's meltdown: a woman wants it made very clear that marrying another woman does NOT automatically mean you get a partner who does the housework. Is it time for a formal domestic performance review? New season, same 40ish chaos. Let's get into it. We love to hear from you! hello@40ish.co.uk @40ish.podcast Learn…

We are taking a break over the summer holidays . In the meantime, please enjoy this classic episode from the archives. This week on 40ish: Lauren and Nicole receive an email offering varicose vein treatment, a listener is in a bit of a pickle after lying at work and one woman in desperate need of a wee completely loses her sh*t in public and now regrets it. We would love to hear from you! To share your dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch Email hello@40ish.co.uk Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are taking a break over the summer holidays . In the meantime, please enjoy this classic episode from the archives. This week on 40ish; a woman asks if it’s sweet or if it’s weird to give her daughter a necklace to celebrate her first period. Lauren is hoping the idea may inspire Nicole’s husband to buy her a very special wedding anniversary gift. Plus, a listener asks what happened to her rock n’roll husband who used to play the guitar but now the only bass he is interested in is Homebase. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch Email hello@40ish.co.uk Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are taking a break over the summer holidays . In the meantime, please enjoy this classic episode from the archives. This week on 40ish we are diving into a listener’s crush that's ruining her life. We choose our middle age Spice Girl names. Nicole is asked out by Jimmy Nesbitt and is convinced Lauren is having sex dreams about her. Plus, one listener has her got herself in hot water after telling a whopping lie about her mother-in-law and she’s about to get caught out. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch Email hello@40ish.co.uk Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are taking a break over the summer holidays . In the meantime, please enjoy this classic episode from the archives. This week on 40ish: Nicole has embarrassed her daughter, Lauren is dressing like an extra from Top Gun, a listener wants to make a raunchy dance video for her lover and a woman has a very unnerving situation with her shoulder surgeon. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch Email hello@40ish.co.uk Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part two of our first ever live show — recorded in front of a sold-out crowd at Kings Cross, London in July 2026. The chaos continues with more stories, more laughs, and even more of the honest, hilarious conversations that make 40ish what it is. This time it's midlife madness, menopause moments, relationship dramas, and all the ridiculous things we experience but rarely say out loud — with a room full of women who completely get it, and the energy to match. Settle in for another slice of 40ish live: laughter, honesty, and the comforting reminder that whatever weird thing you're going through, you're almost certainly not the only one. Thank you to everyone who joined us in person — we loved having you. 🎧 Missed Part 1? Catch it now. New episodes every week from Self Care Club / 40ish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part one of our first ever live show — recorded in front of a sold-out audience at Kings Cross, London in July 2026. All the usual 40ish chaos, midlife meltdowns and menopause madness you know from the podcast, but this time with a room full of women (and two blokes) laughing along in real time. We're talking the everyday absurdities of being a woman in your 40s and beyond — the stuff we normally only say behind a studio mic — now with bigger laughs, live audience reactions, and the full 40ish experience taken to the stage. If you've ever wanted to know what a room full of women who all secretly think the same things sounds like, this is it. Grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy Part 1 of our first live show. Part 2 coming next week. New episodes every week from Self Care Club / 40ish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HRT and breast cancer fears — the real talk women are having about how hormone replacement therapy has genuinely changed their lives. Plus: a listener's husband won't explain a mysterious £600 missing from their joint account ("I can't say who it's for"), and Clare has an epiphany about being completely done wanting "sexy" on holiday — she just wants a spa, room service, and nobody touching her or asking where anything is. This week on 40ish, Lauren and Nicole talk perimenopause, menopause, midlife marriage secrets, financial infidelity, and why "sexy hotel" era is officially over for some of us. Also: 70 metres of medieval embroidery nearly ends a friendship (Lauren does NOT care about the Bayeux Tapestry, Nicole is obsessed). Tell us your most 40ish moment — you know you've got one. hello@40ish.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A quick one from us today just letting you know we will be back on Thursday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on 40ish, Lauren and Nicole spill the behind-the-scenes gossip from their live show, where, as you'd expect, absolutely anything can happen once they're let loose in front of an audience. A listener takes a passionate stand in the great midlife shorts debate. Strong legs? Absolutely. Thigh chafing, uncomfortable wedges and feeling like a busted can of biscuits? Not a chance. Then comes a dilemma that has Lauren and Nicole in stitches. After 23 years of marriage, one listener's husband decides to shave off all his pubic hair just days before they head to Spain. Is it simply a practical way to stay cool? A midlife confidence boost? Or enough to send anyone's overthinking into overdrive? The conversation quickly turns to their shared appreciation of hairy cavemen and why absolutely nobody wants their husband looking like an unusually tall newborn. If you love funny podcasts about midlife, relationships, marriage, menopause, fashion and the everyday chaos of life after 40, this episode is for you. If…

This week on 40ish: Nicole needs to be treated like an unsettled baby until her implant kicks in and Lauren discovers cycling shorts are not just for fancy dress. In Midlife News, we unpack the research behind the UK's rising divorce rate and why so many women in their 40s and 50s are choosing to walk away from their marriages. Is it really about falling out of love, or are women finally reaching breaking point with carrying the mental load? Our dilemma this week asks what friendship looks like when life gets tough. One listener ended up in A&E after a nasty fall, but apart from one friend, hardly anyone checked in. Is she right to feel hurt, or are expectations around friendship sometimes too high? Lauren also shares her latest meltdown after a broken bracelet and Nicole decides her superstitious brain is in overdrive. Finally, we hear from a listener whose mother-in-law simply cannot stop commenting on her postpartum body. From backhanded compliments to unsolicited weight-loss advice, we ask the question:…

This week on 40ish, Lauren discovers that Mah Jong, tea and cake might actually be peak midlife entertainment, while Nicole has an unexpected tantrum on the padel court. We hear from a listener who says finally being prescribed testosterone during menopause helped her feel like herself again, boosted her confidence, improved her libido and even made her like her husband again. We discuss testosterone for women, perimenopause, menopause symptoms and why hormones can have such a huge impact on how we feel. In Midlife News, we explore why so many women over 40 feel like they have nothing to wear. Is it really about clothes, or is it changing bodies, confidence, hormones and learning to dress the person we've become? Our listener dilemma sparks a lively conversation about ADHD in women, relationships and the mental load after one woman's husband comes home from a wedding convinced she has ADHD following a lengthy chat with his female best friend. Plus, Lauren's spectacular meltdown involves the dog throwing up a…

Today on 40ish, Nicole is having a hair moan, because apparently menopausal hair now requires its own emotional support team. Lauren is not helping. We also get into your feedback on whether it’s normal or deeply unhinged to track your husband’s location. Opinions are strong and polarising but our favourite is from a husband who says he’s usually in the loo. In Midlife News, we discuss a new study suggesting poor sleep in midlife can have long-term effects on women’s wellbeing. So basically, yes, your snoring husband may be a legitimate health risk. This week’s dilemma comes from a 47-year-old listener who feels drained, disconnected and completely unlike herself. She asks if she’s alone - answer - no way! Plus, we have a meltdown from a woman whose Canadian gynaecologist with a very niche sense of humour. Come for the fun, stay because you’re too tired to leave. Buy tickets to our live show here: https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/40ish-live-show-5-jul-2026-tickets You can now follow us on Substack!…

This week on 40ish, Nicole brings a Hogman update direct from the gym and somehow ends up discussing the workout routine of a man called Brian, while Lauren takes her first steps into the world of Substack. We tackle a listener dilemma that every British woman will understand. What do you do when you notice someone's leggings are completely see-through at the gym? Say something and risk the embarrassment, or stay silent and hope someone else steps in? We also hear from a 45-year-old woman who was unexpectedly hurt after being "rated" by a group of teenage boys in a pub. It sparks a bigger conversation about confidence, ageing, body image and why external validation can still affect us in midlife, even when we know it shouldn't. In Midlife News, we discuss new research exploring women's libido, testosterone and sexual desire, and whether hormones are really the key to a healthy sex life. We unpack what the latest findings could mean for women navigating perimenopause, menopause and changing relationships.…

In this week's episode of 40ish, Nicole and Lauren tackle some of the biggest midlife challenges facing women today: people pleasing, setting boundaries, emotional overload and the reality of being part of the sandwich generation. Alongside the usual chaos, they discuss AI destroying garden dreams, accidental Instagram business strategies, makeup storage meltdowns, Temu temptations and why a packet of Liquorice Allsorts might be the secret to happiness after 40. A listener shares her journey of finally stopping shrinking herself to make everyone else comfortable, while another opens up about the resentment and exhaustion that can come from caring for ageing parents, children and everyone else's emotions at the same time. If you're navigating perimenopause, menopause, midlife burnout, people pleasing, family boundaries, confidence after 40 or simply trying to survive adulthood with your sense of humour intact, this episode is for you. 40ish is the funny podcast for midlife women navigating menopause,…

Here is the link to our live show! We hope you can join us 🙏🏻https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/40ish-live-show-5-jul-2026-ticketsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/40ish-laughing-our-way-through-midlife-perimenopause-menopause--6942825/support.We love to hear from you! Get in touch with your dilemmas and rants.DM & follow us on Instagram TikTokOrder Our Book here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On todays episode of 40ish: Nicole is losing her mind over losing absolutely everything she owns, while Lauren is deeply disturbed by the algorithm's insistence that she might be in the market for itchy anus remedies. We hear from a listener who has accidentally become a midlife music sensation, discuss why women in midlife are increasingly swapping big friendship groups for a handful of meaningful connections, and tackle a surprisingly divisive question: is tracking your husband's location perfectly normal... or just plain weird? Plus, a listener asks for help navigating the bewildering world of supplements for a neurodivergent perimenopausal brain, and Lauren and Nicole discover they share one deeply unfashionable opinion: complete and utter apathy towards the World Cup.Buy tickets to our Live Show on July 5th here: https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/40ish-live-show-5-jul-2026-ticketsBecome a supporter of this podcast:…

Today on 40ish, Nicole has become friends with ‘Hogman’ - the weight-hogging man at the gym. The man everyone silently judges while waiting for the dumbbells is now part of her social circle. Protein shake dates can't be far away. Meanwhile, Lauren fails to make the connection between half a bottle of champagne and her hangover whilst maintaining a full-blown rant about Steven Bartlett's obsession with optimisation. Must we really maximise every waking moment of our lives? A listener shares a powerful story about how hearing Nicole talk openly about her perimenopause journey encouraged her to finally seek help from her GP. In Midlife News, we discuss new research showing that more than 80% of women experiencing menopause symptoms never seek medical help, despite the huge impact on their wellbeing and daily lives. Plus, one listener is facing a tricky family dilemma. Her husband has cut ties with his family after a painful fallout, but she misses them (their BBQ’s and heated pool) terribly. Should she…

This week on 40ish, the ladies embrace their latest career pivot as unofficial vaginal wellness influencers. If anyone had “vaginal hydration gel ambassador” on their bingo card, congratulations. Lauren shares an HRT patch hack - if your arse looks like a patchwork quilt you will want to know! In Midlife News, there’s a breakthrough from Harvard researchers whose award-winning “vagina-on-a-chip” tech is helping transform women’s health research. The dilemma comes from a listener who feels she has spent so many years putting everyone else first that she’s slowly disappeared from her own life. The ladies discuss money, identity, self-care and why shrinking yourself to make room for others rarely ends well. There’s a Jeff update and Nicole is miffed after being told Padel is for losers.We are doing a live show! July 5th 4pm London. Book your tickets here: https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/40ish-live-show-5-jul-2026-ticketsBecome a supporter of this podcast:…

This week on 40ish, Nicole finally concedes defeat as Lauren is crowned the people’s champion and the “who’s more down to earth?” debate is officially settled. Following a stranger’s meltdown in a nail salon, the ladies open up about how perimenopause completely knocked them sideways. In Midlife News, there’s a major update in women’s health as PCOS gets a new name, reflecting a growing understanding that it’s far more complex than many people have been led to believe. The dilemma comes from a listener whose driving anxiety has become so overwhelming that a two-hour journey feels like preparing for an Arctic expedition. And finally, a listener from Australia shares her frustration at the endless questions about childlessness after years of endometriosis, IVF and heartbreak. Expect laughs, honesty, motorway anxiety, menopause mayhem and at least one person silently judging foraged ingredients.We are doing a live show! July 5th 4pm London. Book your tickets here:…

Come join us 5th July in London for our first live show! Get your tickets here - https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/40ish-live-show-5-jul-2026-ticketsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/40ish-laughing-our-way-through-midlife-perimenopause-menopause--6942825/support.We love to hear from you! Get in touch with your dilemmas and rants.DM & follow us on Instagram TikTokOrder Our Book here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on 40ish, James is drafted in to settle the highly important debate over which one of the ladies is actually more down to earth.Nicole is sporting enormous statement earrings to enhance her brand new Invisalign teeth, whilst Lauren is having a deeply middle-aged moment refusing to throw away perfectly good ziplock bags because they’ve still got life left in them. Meanwhile, the podcast accidentally turns into an amateur gynecology clinic as the ladies attempt to investigate whether itchy pubes are actually a perimenopause symptom and confront the genuinely horrifying concept of vulval shrinkage during menopause. Because apparently nobody warned us that midlife would involve googling sentences like “can your fanny evaporate?” We also tackle this week’s dilemma from a listener whose close friend and hairdresser cut her off after she politely explained she needed a cheaper salon. Was sending the message over text really that unforgivable? Or is this exactly why mixing friendship and business is a bad…

This week on 40ish, Lauren ponders whether becoming “mumsy” is actually contagious, whilst Nicole continues her impressive streak of losing dog leads, car keys and essentially any object not physically attached to her body. A listener shares an unexpectedly wholesome dream about meeting the ladies, which somehow sparks a fierce debate over who is actually more down to earth and honestly, the jury is still very much out. We also tackle this week’s dilemma from a listener who feels rubbish at making female friendships in her 40s. Why does building meaningful friendships as an adult woman sometimes feel harder than dating? Plus, an elite meltdown involving the correct way to say goodbye to someone in their 20s.As always, we absolutely love hearing from you lot. Your stories genuinely make the show. So please keep your dilemmas, meltdowns and most 40ish moments coming because you are the podcast.Come see us hosting in the Menopause tent at the Everywoman Festival on June 13th…

Today on 40ish: Lauren and Nicole win a comedy award and celebrate in true 40ish style - by having a yogurt and an apple on the way home. Huge congratulations to Sienna Miller who has welcomed her third child. We discuss her comments about not caring what anyone thinks anymore, and why society still acts like women over 40 getting pregnant is breaking news while men are out here having babies during their free bus pass years. The listener's dilemma is from a woman whose husband started “getting into running” and may now be training for an emotional marathon with a divorced woman from the school gates. Evening jogs have turned into post-run Diet Cokes by the beach and suddenly our listener is spiralling. Is she overthinking? Is he being shady? We unpack trust and intuition. Plus, the midlife meltdowns return featuring a broken dryer and the reappearance of the tarty shoes. Yes, those shoes. Still causing problems. If you enjoy the episode, share it with a friend who also has trust issues, questionable…

On today's show: Nicole has an anxious vagina and is feeling mumsy on a Saturday night out, whilst Lauren is trying to play matchmaker in A&E with her friend and a hot Italian doctor. Because nothing says romance quite like fluorescent lighting and a triage wristband. In Midlife News we reveal that one in six women have considered leaving work because of menopause symptoms. Elsewhere, a listener asks whether any supplements actually help with peri symptoms after her GP informed her she’s “too young” - spoiler alert…she is not. There’s also an update on foster dog Jeff - (and it’s not good news) and a New Zealand Quasser who reports that peri-menopause has gifted her spontaneous public farting with absolutely no warning whatsoever. Office, supermarket, gym - her arse is now essentially working freelance. If you enjoy the episode, please share it with a friend who also suspects peri-menopause is basically your body leaving a one-star review of itself.Come see us hosting in the Menopause tent at the Everywoman…

This week on 40ish: Nicole and Lauren find themselves nominated alongside fellow 40-something Romesh Ranganathan for a comedy award which, considering he’s an actual professional comedian and we mainly discuss pelvic floors, peri-menopause and Real Housewives, feels both surreal and deeply flattering. We were completely overwhelmed by your response to our conversation about friendship breakups and apparently being quietly phased out of a women’s friendship group in your 40s is basically the adult version of being picked last in PE, except now there are secret WhatsApp groups, girls’ trips to Thailand and emotionally devastating photos appearing on Instagram without you. Some of these listener stories are genuinely brutal. Plus, one listener's dilemma absolutely breaks our hearts. After years of carrying the mental load for her family; the cooking, cleaning, shopping, birthday planning, emotional labour and working full-time her birthday arrives with barely any acknowledgement. We talk about the quiet…

Today on 40ish: Nicole goes to the women’s physio and discovers that pelvic floor assessments are essentially the medical equivalent of rummaging around in a paper bag full of sweets. Dignity? Gone. Mystery? Also gone. Meanwhile, Lauren is absolutely thriving thanks to two things: a garden centre discount and her new boyfriend, Jeff. He’s golden, handsome, emotionally available, and a dog - which, frankly, makes him the ultimate man. We also hear from a listener who’s questioning whether ending her marriage was the right decision after watching her ex-husband thrive post divorce. Meanwhile she feels stuck,sad and overwhelmed. We talk honestly about loneliness, regret, comparison, and if “starting again” in midlife is less Eat Pray Love and more Admin Laundry Telly. Plus, one listener suffers a full-blown fashion identity crisis after attempting to reinvent herself but suffers an emotional return to Dorothy Perkins energy. There are meltdowns, laughs, uncomfortable truths, and the usual reminder that none of…

This week on 40ish: Lauren has put her neck out by sleeping on the wrong pillow, which feels deeply unfair considering that in our twenties we could sleep on a laminate floor and wake up absolutely fine. Meanwhile, Nicole has discovered a brand new menopause symptom because apparently the gift that keeps on giving… keeps on giving. In Midlife News, Damian Lewis has released a music video while Nicole Kidman has trained as a death doula because because apparently celebrities are now speedrunning midlife reinventions We also tackle a listener dilemma around self care: are people genuinely moisturising their entire bodies every single day? Are we all double cleansing, gua sha-ing and serum layering while some of us are still clinging proudly to a Pears soap and flannel routine? Plus, one truly unforgettable listener meltdown featuring a forgotten bag of toddler turd that unknowingly accompanied an entire afternoon of errands. Some images simply never leave you.Come for the laughs, stay for the solidarity, and…

This week on 40ish Lauren reaches peak midlife as she attends an wholesome Ottolenghi Cooking Club; yet somehow gets embroiled in a conversation about anal s*x within 3 minutes of arrival. Meanwhile Nicole realises that you know when you’re spending too much time with your gyne when he feels fully comfortable eating crisps off your plate. In midlife news it turns out almost half of middle-aged Brits are still traumatised by school PE - not surprising if you remember being asked to climb that rope in a pair of big navy pants. We hear from listeners navigating menopause in toxic workplaces, sharing the very real fear of education being weaponised, but also why the conversation still has to happen. Today’s dilemma asks: Is it actually possible to lose weight in your 40s? Despite doing “all the right things” (gym, PT, food), social media is screaming that unless you buy a miracle pill, it’s game over. We get into the pressure, the myths, and the reality of midlife bodies.Become a supporter of this podcast:…

Today on 40ish Lauren wonders if Nicole is a totally new person post menopause. It kicks off with what may genuinely be the world’s worst lunch and ends as she rolls out of a hospital bed and attends a sip & paint evening (weird as she neither sips nor paints). The 40ish feedback on menopause education has been overwhelming and you are coming in all guns blazing. From rallying cries about women’s health and the absolute state of menopause support in the UK, to rightful rage about medical misogyny. This is the group chat energy we are here for! Today’s dilemma is a brutal one: being quietly dumped by your friendship group in your 40s. We unpack the rise of midlife “mean girls,” the paranoia of “is it me?,” and whether you should go full detective for closure or just block, delete, and emotionally relocate. Plus, we discuss the “7 year shed” Is it true we replace half our friends every 7 years? Because honestly, that explains a LOT. We have also been trolled and Lauren has plenty to say about it. (Mainly, stay…

Today on 40ish: Lauren ambushes Nicole with a Spring Style Special - a surprise absolutely nobody asked for (least of all Nicole), but like all good midlife crises, we commit and carry on anyway. Together they tackle the truly vital issues: are denim jackets officially mumsy now? And why someone calling Lauren “brave” for butter yellow nails is somehow both a compliment and an insult. They cover the reality of living in leggings, debating if New Look is no longer acceptable and wondering if co-ords are effortlessly chic or just giving pyjamas? Also, Lauren has bought jelly shoes. Yes, really. No, we’re not okay. Expect tangents, mild outrage, and a cautionary tale from a listener of the “jelly bra” that promised lift, separation and miracles… and delivered absolutely none of the above.If you love it, share it with a friend who’s also standing in front of their wardrobe wondering what happened.Get in touch! Email hello@40ish.co.ukBecome a supporter of this podcast:…

This week on 40-ish: Nicole is in BAD MOOD and Lauren is not helping by regaling her with her wholesome tale of foraging and pesto making. Of course, it wouldn’t be the podcast without a dilemma that makes you squirm. This week: what do you do when your judgy Mcjudge pants BFF best friend gets lip filler… and it’s not great? Should you say something, or take it to the grave? Elsewhere, expect the usual glorious tangents including the depressing moment when you realise you’re using No7 but your own child has upgraded to NARS, and a trip to the optician that took longer than a commercial flight to Europe. Finally, a listener meltdown that “trumps” all others. A sunny dog walk, a moment of overconfidence… and the horrifying realisation that you’ve been audibly farting in surround sound with an audience directly behind you the entire time.If you love the episode, share it with a friend who also enjoys a mix of chaos, candour, and questionable decision-making.Get in touch! Email hello@40ish.co.ukBecome a…

This week on 40ish, Lauren is feeling self conscious about rocking up to the pool with her HRT patch fully on display and Nicole has zero empathy. She’s too busy wondering what happens post-menopause. Who are you when you arrive? Do you get a badge? A certificate? A lie down? Anyone? Meanwhile; A listener has spent good money on a thoughtful, meaningful 40th birthday gift for her sister only to discover she has quietly flogged it. Rude? Practical or deeply offensive? This week’s meltdown is a masterclass in idiocy. Imagine smugly organising a full online food shop for your holiday only to discover you sent it to the wrong house. Somewhere in the UK, a very confused family is enjoying a fully stocked fridge, while you’re stranded with nine hangry people. Honestly, we need a moment for this. If you’re loving 40ish, share it with a friend. Get in touch! Email hello@40ish.co.ukBecome a supporter of this podcast:…

This week on 40ish, we’re discussing one of the most delusional acts of midlife optimism: packing holiday clothes for a version of yourself that absolutely does not exist. Does adulting mean that we have finally worked out that we just need the same two outfits on rotation and flat shoes? We’re also deep in a very important debate: what are we actually calling you lot? Fabbers (40 and fabulous, obviously) or Middlers Strong opinions welcome. Also, shoutout to the listener who is spreading the peace sign in traffic. In other feedback; One listener slid in with some strong opinions on our menopause chat. We’re not here to whisper politely. We’re loud, honest, occasionally unhinged, and very much ourselves. It won’t be for everyone and we’re oddly fine with that. Meanwhile, a mum is worried about her daughter’s weight gain. Do you say something or keep quiet and avoid knocking her confidence? It’s a tricky one.If you’re loving 40ish, share it with a friend ( ideally one who’s also packed five outfits but worn…

This week on 40ish, Lauren has to calculate exactly what a wee is worth and if a parking ticket is better or worse than wetting yourself. Nicol is debating whether she’s hormonally annoyed or just genuinely irritated… and whether there’s even a difference. Meanwhile we tackle a very relatable midlife dilemma about working from home, washing up wars, and the silent rage that builds when one partner washes only their own dishes and leaves the rest stacked like a passive-aggressive art installation. Plus, listener meltdowns include: the outrageous price of Easter eggs (and “bouji inclusions” that apparently cost extra now) and a full-scale marital chocolate war, featuring hidden Easter eggs, strategic quinoa placement, and a partner with the tracking ability of a trained Cadbury sniffer dogIf you enjoy honest chats about midlife relationships, marriage dilemmas, hormones, family life, and the ridiculous realities of being 40ish, this episode will feel painfully familiar. Share it with a friend who you think…

This week on 40ish Lauren reveals the unreasonable number of jeans she owns - it’s essentially a denim museum at this point and Nicole is nostalgic about being grounded and realising she’s somehow become the parent she used to dramatically roll her eyes at. This week’s dilemma hits hard: Do you actually want to go out, or are you just going because society says you should leave the house occasionally? A listener questions the fine line between protecting her peace and slowly evolving into a happy little hermit. Plus, listener meltdowns include a yoga class invader with no concept of personal space, Lauren’s dead tree and Nicole’s emotional trauma with Lauren’s kitchen calendar. If you love this episode, share it with a friend who also secretly hopes plans get cancelled and owns too many jeans.Get in touch! Email hello@40ish.co.ukBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/40ish-laughing-our-way-through-midlife-perimenopause-menopause--6942825/support.We love to hear from you! Get in…