Postcards From Midlife
Are you living in a hormonal hothouse, feeling a little overwhelmed and in need of some positive, uplifting and comforting guidance on how to lead a more magnificent midlife? Well, you're not alone and this podcast is for you. Hosts Lorraine and Trish chat with celebrities and experts on all things midlife, from menopause and perimenopause to parenting teens via fashion, beauty, wellness, nutrition, fitness, careers, relationships and finances. The witty duo, who have been editing glossy magazines for more than two decades, have six children, two husbands, two dogs and one cat between them. They share their personal stories alo...
Prof Tanya Byron on emotional overwhelm, mental health & when an ADHD diagnosis is & isn’t help
Are we talking about mental health more than ever, yet understanding it less? Consultant clinical psychologist, Times columnist and broadcaster Prof Tanya Byron thinks so. She joins Trish & Lorraine to talk about her new book, You Are Not a Diagnosis: The Therapy-Speak Trap and the Lost Art of Listening to Ourselves. In their warm & helpful conversation she explains how to cope with ordinary distressing emotions, the difference between a mental health ‘experience’ and a mental health ‘condition’ & when seeking a diagnosis is genuinely useful for you, your child or another loved one. She also shares her tried & tested practical tools fo...
Meg Mason: Loneliness, shame & relationships plus 6 new Book Club reads
Surrounded by people but still feel lonely? Bestselling author Meg Mason (Sorrow and Bliss) joins Lorraine and Trish to talk about how she wrote her new novel Sophie Standing There, a story of love, loneliness and life after divorce. Meg shares her own feelings of acute loneliness and the shame that comes with it for many women, as well as what saved her. She also reveals how midlife wisdom has made her more compassionate towards herself, why she is finally able to ask for what she wants in life and what she really thinks of her readers getting Sorrow...
Dr Sam Bunting on midlife skin: rosacea, fine lines, Botox & SPF
Meet Dr Sam Bunting, the leading dermatologist who says you don't need facials, a silk pillowcase or have to drink gallons of water to get bright, glowing skin after 40. As well as busting midlife skincare myths, the author of Flawless: Your Ultimate Guide to Bright, Clear Skin, tells Lorraine & Trish about the science behind her four step simple & cost effective daily routine & answers listeners’ questions about rosacea, adult acne, fine lines, SPF, Botox, fillers, pigmentation & menopausal changes. Listen now if you want to find out whether your skincare routine is on the right track & know how to separate the pr...
Julia Bradbury: The Health Tests Worth Having After 40
TV’s Julia Bradbury was diagnosed with breast cancer at 51. Then she went on a mission to give herself the best shot at a long, healthy life. The mum of three joins Lorraine and Trish to share the screening tests worth having, how she quit alcohol and tamed her sugar addiction, and the free daily habits any midlifer can follow, all without overwhelm, guilt or shame. Because sometimes, you just have to eat the goddamn cake!
Julia's book, Hack Yourself Healthy, is out now in paperback.
Plus: Trish got scammed (find out how), se...
Best-selling novelist Louise Kennedy on fame after fifty & overcoming lifelong anxiety
Trish & Lorraine are joined by the author of hit novel & TV drama Trespasses to talk about her new book Stations & what it feels like to write a best seller & start a whole new career in midlife. Former chef Louise opens up about the impact of fleeing Belfast as a child during the Troubles after her grandmother’s pub was bombed, the anxiety that followed her through life from that point, the friend who lured her to a writing group & what happened on the night she had a glass too many with Gillian Anderson!
Trish and Lorraine al...
We're Back! The new season kicks off with summer confessions, a wellness reset & our best guests yet
Lorraine & Trish are back for Season 19 of Postcards from Midlife! In this opener, they catch up on their summer — from Cornwall staycations and David Byrne concerts to accidental Ted Lasso interviews and lake-swimming mishaps — & share why midlife women so often feel guilty about resting (hello, Gen X work ethic).
They also give you a first look at this season's brilliant guest lineup, including:
Are You Emotionally Burnt Out? Dr Julie Smith on Anxiety, Fear & Overwhelm
Lorraine & Trish meet Dr Julie Smith, clinical psychologist, multi-million selling author of ‘Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before’ & one of the most trusted mental health advisors on social media. Discover how to be your own coach to manage midlife plate spinning, shake off your inner critic, shift your thoughts from judgement to curiosity & tune into all your emotions to understand what your brain & body are trying to tell you. Julie also shares how she adopted a ‘predator’ mindset to face her own fears following a breast cancer diagnosis & has reassuring advice for parents about what children really need to suppo...
How to end a marriage: everything you need to know about divorce
Trish & Lorraine speak to divorce coach Nawal Houghton who explains step by step what to do from the moment you think things aren’t right in your marriage, to initiating proceedings, navigating mediation, negotiating finances & thinking about what you need to build your new future. Nawal, who specialises in high conflict divorces, also shares how to cope if things turn toxic, what to do if you’ve been kept in the financial dark, the importance of creating a small support group & the question you must ask yourself if you think it’s best to stay for the children. Plus, how to...
10 Unputdownable Books To Add To Your Summer Reading List
Hosts Lorraine & Trish share their list of brilliant reads: there is a love story, a powerful memoir, a standout debut novel, and a tip on the funny Agatha Christie style writer you probably don’t know but will love. This curated list has everything: it is perfect for your holiday, train journeys, for summer reading, for book clubs or for those stuck in a reading rut. Plus the duo share insider secrets about the follow up to a book Gen X’ers loved and a new read on couples therapy which is a game changer.
Contact: hell...
Fern Britton reveals the life reset that changed everything
TV legend Fern shares her vital life lessons and advice on divorce, single parenting, loss, career reinvention, weight loss, fitness, love and making new friends. The best-selling author and mum-of-four also talks hosts Trish Halpin and Lorraine Candy through how she recovered from depression and suicidal thoughts in midlife with the help of a new health regime, talking therapy and the right medication.
Plus: The surprising gift hubby Neil got Trish & a family email you all need to send
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife
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Author Jane Green on divorce, reinvention, living alone, dating men and women & the hallucination that brought her calm.
This candid interview is a great listen for anyone feeling lonely or unsure of where their life is heading or wants to learn to love & value themself. The best-selling Gen X author tells Lorraine & Trish about her remarkable midlife awakening, detailed in her new memoir, Rewilding: Freedom, Fearlessness & Finding Our Way Home. In a powerful conversation she explains the decision to leave her husband, her New York home & the life she’d built over 25 years to move to Marrakech after her career hit a downward spiral. She reveals how she loves living alone & starting again financially. After asking herself the...
Vitamins, nutrition, energy & sleep - how to max your midlife health
Have a shelf full of vitamins but not sure what if anything they are doing for you? Trish & Lorraine get to the bottom of what we need to take & why in our midlife years, including the one essential we are all most likely missing (big clue: it’s Co-enzyme Q10). Joined by guest Jennifer O’Connell - triathlete, former lawyer & co-founder of The Elevator by Sisterly one & done multivitamin sachets - they discuss why our nutrient needs & ability to absorb them change as we age as well as how to track if they are really making a difference. They also...
Andrea McLean on the shame of financial ruin & how she’s getting her life back on track
In a fascinating, hopeful & helpful conversation the TV presenter & author opens up to Trish & Lorraine about the illness & business venture that ended with her losing her house & selling off her furniture to pay for weekly grocery shops. From being the presenter of Loose Women to being unable to get a job in Starbucks, Andrea describes the highs, the lows & the learnings from a tumultuous period in her life, including the crushing blow of being told ‘Your star has faded’. She also shares the resources that helped her get back on track & how to cope with financial stress while keeping a ma...
How to stop life admin causing you overwhelm
Brought to you by Standard Life to raise awareness of Power of Attorney Day
Trish & Lorraine tackle the never-ending midlife to do list & the biggest causes of the 3am wake up & worry. Joined by Alison Harvie of Carers UK, they discuss why having Power of Attorney in place for you & your loved ones can ensure peace of mind for so many of life’s potential curve balls. Find out who needs one (that’ll be all of us, even if you are married, have a next of kin or are 18 & over & especially if you are a care...
Poet Donna Ashworth’s masterclass on grief, intentional positivity & the daily ritual that could change your life
The ‘people’s poet’ joins Lorraine & Trish to talk about her remarkable life - from cruise ship singer to best selling writer - all the while contending with an eating disorder and a midlife ADHD diagnosis. Discover how Donna, 51, healed from trauma, retrained her brain to silence the inner critic, learned how to nurture a soul algorithm & believes that ‘everything good is on the other side of cringe’. Plus why she’s proud to be a member of ‘the worst poet’s club’. And a beautiful reading from her new book ‘Loss: Words to Weather The Many Waves of Grief’.
Co...
Revive your midlife career: how to grow in your role, change jobs or turn a side hustle into a business
Trish & Lorraine are joined by career expert Helen Tupper for expert advice on how to take your career in the direction you really want, whether it’s stepping away & starting anew, setting up a side hustle or finding opportunities for growth & reinvention if you’re feeling stuck. Discover how to spot all the learning moments in your day to increase your impact & ground your confidence as well as the importance of a ‘To Think List’ as well as a quick & easy question to ask AI to boost your self awareness & career potential.
Plus: Two surprising energy boosters...
Stop overthinking, avoid anxious spiralling & beat overwhelm with our foolproof guide to coping with uncertainty
Lorraine & Trish are joined by cognitive scientist Katherine Templar-Lewis who explains why midlife is a period of peak uncertainty & what is really happening to our brains when it feels like the old maps we navigated life by don’t work for us any more. Learn how to use ‘interosception’ to tune into your emotions, reframe your thoughts, calm your brain & nervous system so you can flourish, be imaginative and creative in times of uncertainty.
Plus: practical, reassuring advice for parents with kids embarking on gap year travels & an unexpected porridge palaver
Contact: hello@postcard...
The 5 things you need to do at your next GP appointment by TV’s Dr Nighat Arif
Trish & Lorraine welcome back GP extraordinaire & women’s health expert Dr Nighat Arif to talk about her new book The Complete Guide to Family Health: The One Stop Healthcare Guide No Home Should Be Without. From the midlife health checks every woman should ask for to protecting the mental health of your teen Dr Arif answers all our most asked family health questions. She also shares a helpful 5 point plan for getting the very best care from the NHS & why you should always trust your instincts about yours or a loved ones health.
(Join our Facebook Group to...
How to manage your weight health through peri-menopause & beyond. Tips on midlife weight loss, nutrition, fitness and mental health
Lorraine & Trish meet Weight Watchers’ chief medical officer Dr Kim Boyd to get all the facts & advice on the real reasons we’re prone to put on weight in midlife. She debunks the myths we’ve all bought into - that it’s somehow our fault (it’s not, it’s biology), why ‘eat less/move more’ just doesn’t work when you’re up against major hormonal & metabolic changes, how HRT can affect weight management & why no one should feel embarrassed or ashamed if you’re thinking about taking the GLP1 weight loss drugs. Plus the nutrition & lifestyle advice that works to h...
Ask us anything: will he forgive my affair, my teen daughter won’t lose weight & my adult kids want ‘low/no’ contact
Lorraine & Trish turn agony aunts & delve into their (digital) postbag to solve listeners’ dilemmas. Learn about ‘mattering’ & how it could be affecting your approach to relationships, how to move on from an affair, the six word question to ask yourself in any dilemma & what to do if your grown up kids shut you out
Plus: the card game that has intrigued Lorraine & up-your-bum shorts at the gym strike again
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Longevity masterclass: Calm your nervous system, beat overwhelm & boost healthspan
Trish & Lorraine meet leading integrative health specialist Dr Tamsin Lewis & discover the surprising fundamentals for creating mind & body harmony. Find out how to protect & support your brain to prevent cognitive decline, tune into the signals your brain & nervous system are sending you, the health tests worth having in midlife that will boost your healthspan & check if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue. She also shares her 80/20 rule for living your best life & why we all need to add more fun into our everyday lives.
Plus: 4 books you’ll devour this spring & the YouTube channel that sorted Tr...
Nuala McGovern: how she landed the Woman’s Hour top job & her meet cute love story
BBC Woman’s Hour presenter Nuala McGovern on how to enjoy an extremely stressful career, getting up at 5.45am and how she stayed sane during the toughest of times. One the eve of Woman’s Hour’s 80th anniversary Nuala, 54, gives us a peek behind the scenes and chats about her remarkable journalism career that landed her the job two years ago. In a rare interview, Nuala also opens up about her childhood growing up in a Dublin pub, the impact of witnessing the Twin Towers attack & the raft of other ‘history in the making’ moments she has had a ringside...
Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert on addiction, loss, co-dependency, love, grief and rage.
Trish & Lorraine meet the international best selling author to pick up the story of her life detailed in her new memoir All The Way to the River: Love, Loss & Liberation. Elizabeth speaks with moving honesty about her love story with her ‘wife’ Raya, their descent into addiction, and the rage and pain of profound grief. She also shares her spiritual learnings & life philosophies for our midlife years, including how to stop ‘purpose anxiety’, why gentle curiosity rather than one big passion makes for a more interesting life, why women need to stop pouring themselves into others & her experiment in ‘honest age...
Get the sleep your brain & body really needs. Plus beat insomnia & the 3am wake-up
Lorraine & Trish learn some surprising, reassuring advice & helpful tips from clinical sleep physiologist, Stephanie Romiszewski. Discover the easy morning routine that will boost your sleep drive & improve your sleep patterns in just a few weeks; spot the triggers that fuel sleep anxiety & the truth about magnesium, blue light, sleep tracking apps & the 8 hours myth exploded.
Plus: gym shorts - yay or nay? And the personality test which called one of your hosts “corrupt, evil and defective”!
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife
Join our private Facebook Group here
Hoste...
Our pick of the best TV, films, books, festivals to look forward to now plus a new breakfast treat
Lorraine & Trish start the year as they mean to go on with lots of laughter, positivity & plans for the months ahead. Discover how to create a ‘dopamine menu’ to get feel good vibes every day, the TV show that will warm your heart, books, films & festivals to put on your radar & breakfast ideas with a difference.
Plus: curse of the ‘plod bod’ & are you ready to ‘futz’?
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @postcardsfrommidlife
Join our private Facebook Group here
www.postcardsfrommidlife.com
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Stop everything! Lorraine & Trish are back with a sneak peak at the guests and topics for 2026
More comforting midlife mayhem as Lorraine & Trish get back in the saddle for Season 17. Find out what new, uplifting advice, experts and famous names are heading your way over the coming weeks - plus a little taster of the topics they'll cover. Plus pet news: will Margo still retain the role of official Pod Cat?
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Raynor Winn: my story of hope, endurance & love
POSTCARDS FROM MIDLIFE REVISIT: Author Raynor Winn joined Trish & Lorraine at the height of her Salt Path success to discuss how to overcome fear when life seems to be falling apart, living with her husband Moth's illness and the healing power of nature. And she reveals what happened when she first met Gillian Anderson who played Raynor in this year’s film of her life.
Contact us: [email protected]
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How to hack Xmas: gifts on a budget, games we love & a secret shortcut on managing family stress
Trish & Lorraine share the tips & tricks they’ve learned over their many years of planning & hosting family Christmases. Discover their ideal gift edit, the season’s coolest cocktail, their favourite friends & family games, plus how to set house rules & what to do if the whole thing fills you with dread
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Helpful life hacks: What we've learnt about weight loss drugs, relationship repair, imposter syndrome, perimenopause rage & single life
It’s a wrap! Lorraine & Trish share their favourite funny moments & useful learnings from this season’s expert & celebrity guests, including how to get into a fitness & strength mindset, what feeling anger & rage is trying to tell you, harnessing your vital midlife energy & the one question to ask yourself whenever you feel overwhelmed that’s guaranteed to reframe everything.
Plus: manifesting for beginners & a very unexpected thing to do with an avocado
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Surprising home cleaning hacks, set up a money-spinning side hustle & how to work with a friend
Trish & Lorraine are joined by sustainable, natural cleaning entrepreneurs Purdy Rubin & Charlotte Figg (aka Purdy & Figg) who share the best tips from their new book Clever Cleaning: The Natural Way To Clean Everything. Find out how the two midlife friends came up with the idea for their multi-million pound business, what you need to know if planning to work with family or friends, and the ‘A-ha moment’ when you know you’re onto a winner.
Plus: Have you got ‘Resting Midlife Woman Face’? & Trish’s Irish drinking song
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Surgeon Dr Vonda Wright’s ‘healthspan plan’ to suit all midlife woman
World leading women’s health expert Dr Vonda Wright shares her new ‘healthspan plan’ with Lorraine & Trish, including a game changing 20 second exercise tweak, how to get into strength training & the mindset shift that will set you on the path to feeling more energetic. We also discuss supplements and creatine with the orthopedic surgeon, best-selling author and menopause expert who explains how to recognise if you’re ‘choosing’ stress & setting the right boundaries to reduce emotional inflammation.
Plus: How music bonds families, ticket buying tips & who the hell is Benson Boone?
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Mary Portas: Why imposter syndrome is useful & her new post-divorce solo power
Confessions from the 90s as Trish & Lorraine step back in time with retail & business guru Mary Portas, aka Mary Queen of Shops, to chat about her new book about her years turning Harvey Nicols from dying department store to Ab Fab fashion destination, as well as all the life, career & relationship wisdom she has accrued since those heady days. Discover the trick Mary, 65, uses to tune into her instinct & decide if a risk is worth taking, why vulnerability is a super power in midlife, how to be tough but do it with love & soul and her post divorce single...
Repair, reconnect, rediscover & how to know it’s over: long term love & sex advice
Lorraine & Trish meet relationship therapist & author Dr Kalanit Ben-Ari, who has spent 20 years helping thousands of couples navigate the emotional rollercoaster of sustaining a happy, loving and fulfilling life together. What to do if you suspect your partner’s having an emotional affair, questions to ask if they no longer seem like the person you married, & the five words that will get your communication right back on track.
Plus: ‘What are you going to do about your wrinkles?’ How Lorraine responded when asked that very question!!
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @postcar...
Elizabeth Hurley’s No 1 health tip & how to get fit without the gym
POSTCARDS FROM MIDLIFE REVISITED The actor, model & beachwear entrepreneur joined Lorraine & Trish from her hot pink sofa to talk about her pivotal role in the Estee Lauder Companies’ breast cancer care campaign and explains why every woman needs to be vigilant about their breast checks. Plus tales from her life in the country, a special cameo from her beloved spaniel & what Joan Collins gave her for her birthday.
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Menopause health advice & how to navigate breast cancer on HRT
POSTCARDS FROM MIDLIFE REVISITED: On the eve of World Menopause Day this October we revisit our interview with Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. Professor Lesley Regan DBE who explains how to navigate your menopause well. Dame Lesley is the UK Government's lead on women's reproductive health and has 40 years experience working in the NHS. She talks about her personal journey taking HRT while recovering from breast cancer and tells Trish and Lorraine what health changes to expect as you go through perimenopause and menopause in midlife.
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The MP who lost 8 stone with weight loss jabs explains exactly how they work
Women's health campaigner and menopause activist Carolyn Harris MP tells Lorraine and Trish how going from a size 24 to a size 12 has given her a new lease of life and rebooted her self-esteem. The veteran MP talks through the specifics of getting her prescription, how she injects Mounjaro, the side effects, what she eats now and how she manages her dosage. And she reveals the horrific online abuse she suffered which led her to making this life changing decision. PLUS: Telly watching tips for autumn.
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Penny Lancaster on overcoming childhood trauma, reinventing yourself in your 50s and being Mrs Rod Stewart
In a funny, frank & fascinating interview, model, TV presenter & Special Police Constable Penny Lancaster tells Trish & Lorraine about her roller coaster, rock n roll life - from the glitz & jet set glamour of being Mrs Rod Stewart, to the everyday practicalities of making a blended family work, the emotional resilience she drew on to get through three rounds of IVF, and why she thought she was having a breakdown in perimenopause. Penny also opens up about the childhood assault that haunts her and what really happened behind the scenes with Greg Wallace on Masterchef. Plus Penny’s advice on cop...
Help your teens stay safer online with these social media tips all parents need to know
Trish and Lorraine chat with psychologist Dr. Linda Papadopoulos, an expert on adolescent mental health, and Tara Hopkins, Global Director of Public Policy at Meta, which oversees Instagram and Facebook, about how parents can work with their teens aged 13-18 to stay safer on social media. In the show we learn exactly how Instagram's Teen Accounts work and how to use all the safety features from Hidden Words to the time limits function. The duo also find out how you can chat to your teens about bullying and what they see online, as well as how to check-in on...
Mariella Frostrup & Belles Berry on their easy 6-step nutrition reset
Lorraine & Trish are back with another midlife double act - broadcaster Mariella Fostrup & chef Belles Berry - to talk about their new cookbook packed with tips on how to eat for better health in midlife and support your menopause journey. Mariella also shares the impact of her recent ADHD diagnosis and her approach to ageing, while Belles reveals what it’s like to have a ‘National Treasure’ - Dame Mary Berry - for a mum. And find out which celebrities the duo have cooked for! Plus: Your most exciting summer adventures & how to settle back into September
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Our most loved moments: daily habits, useful phrases, nutrition tips, secret confessions, what we learned from the show.
Trish and Lorraine recount the most useful advice, funniest secrets and extra uplifting stories from Season 15 of the podcast. They recap the past 11 guest interviews and share what they learnt from the spirited, experienced and uplifting visitors to Postcards From Midlife towers.
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