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

Welcome back to the first episode of 40ish for 2026. Nicole returns from holiday feeling mumsy, while Lauren kicks off the new year by injuring her shoulder blade… in her sleep. Because apparently even resting is dangerous now. We dive into a listener dilemma after an awkward Christmas Day gift exchange leaves some lingering hurt, and 40ish listeners share their post-Christmas meltdowns - festive cheer fortyish style, Plus, we cover the truly important cultural questions of the month: Celebs turning 50, our thoughts on Timothée Chalamet, and how on earth Liz Hurley is looking that incredible at 60. It’s a very on-brand return to midlife chaos, honesty, and laughs. Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Today on 40ish: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and what says xmas better than a heated debate about architraves? Nicole is spiralling over the fact that she appears to be growing eyebrows… above her eyebrows (a festive miracle nobody asked for). Speaking of bushy, Lauren is locked in an existential crisis about the girth of her Christmas tree, which is apparently so wide it should come with its own postcode. A listener writes in with a cracker of a dilemma over her mother in laws’s Xmas gift which she has taken into her own hands and she’s now unintentionally twinning with her. Plus, the ladies debate who is more relatable? Grab a mince pie, pour something strong, and join 40ish for the final show of 2025 before they break for the holidays. See you on the other side and wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.  Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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In today’s episode, Lauren somehow manages to accidentally pull out her own eyelashes and is now sporting a festive single-lid look… while Nicole is still spiralling about the state of jeans. Are we meant to be in wide-leg? Straight-leg? Bootcut? Low-rise?! Nobody knows and honestly we’re tired. We also tackle a listener dilemma: How do you tell your brother his dog is not invited to Christmas Day?(but honestly what Xmas isnt improved with a dog there?!)  Plus, your glorious Christmas meltdown stories make a triumphant return: The mother-in-law who gifted bathroom scales for Christmas anyone?  It’s festive mayhem, midlife angst, questionable grooming choices… and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Got a dilemma, meltdown or rant of your own? Send it our way.  Misery loves company, and we absolutely live for your stories. Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This week on 40ish. Things are looking up for Lauren in the laundry room, but the moment she steps outside? Down she goes. Did she fall over… or, at our age, has she officially “had a fall”? Nicole has a jolly trip to Costco (pick n’ mix for adults with no self control) and makes a shocking confession involving lying to Lauren. Could it be the end of a beautiful friendship? (Spoiler: probably not, but we milk the drama like pros.) Prosopagnosia makes another bewildering appearance raises its head again, one listener is sharing her HRT with her dog - yes, really. And we tackle the big questions bothering you this week - knickers under pyjamas yay or nay? Grab a cuppa, settle in, and prepare for midlife mayhem in all its weird, relatable, delightful glory. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch at: Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Today on 40ish: Nicole publicly outs Lauren’s escalating email rudeness. Is this the moment we finally admit that yes, midlife has arrived -and apparently it’s brought passive-aggressive punctuation with it. Meanwhile, the pair discover that nothing makes them happier these days than being gifted… extra virgin olive oil. Not gin. Not wine. Olive oil. Nicole, for her part, is living her absolute peak existence on the sofa under a blanket with a hot water bottle like a Victorian invalid who just discovered Netflix. Plus! A listener writes in with some strong merch ideas: Housecoats and a 40ish recipe book, featuring the only things midlife people actually bother cooking anymore: rhubarb compote and air-fryer-everything. Honestly? It might be a bestselling product.  It’s cozy. It’s cranky. It’s deeply midlife.  We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch at: Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Things go completely off the rails today when Lauren’s puppy’s antics push James to the brink… and he in turn pushes them right out of the studio (much to Nicole’s amusement) Speaking of Nicole, she’s been busy browsing the M&S clothes and she likes what she sees - classic midlife move. Lauren then casually drops into conversation that she’s met national treasure Clare Balding (as you do) while attending a Christmas exhibition so deeply middle-aged it may as well have handed out free orthopaedic insoles at the door. Meanwhile, in listener-land: One rider writes in about a stolen kiss at her local stables and another wants to know whether being disproportionately thrilled by discovering a new granola is a sign she’s entered the 40ish dimension. (The short answer is yes. The long answer is YES.) Expect ultimate chaos, multiple puppy interruptions and quite frankly if this show is even vaguely cohesive it’ll be a miracle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Today on 40ish: Lauren wonders if long-term marriage really just comes down to which Netflix series you can both tolerate, while Nicole’s deeply unconvinced that the cowboy aesthetic is making a comeback. A listener faces a full-blown footwear crisis (seriously, what is up with ankle boots?)  and another dreads her company’s “Annual Office Holiday Experience.” Nothing says festive joy quite like a sustainably catered, plant-forward buffet! We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch at: Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This week on 40ish: A listener writes in about her rescue cat (that she quite frankly hates), and Lauren discovers she’s face-blind - which is awkward AF and Nicole is still obsessed with 6-7, according to her this makes her 'cool' - All unpicked in this episode. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch at: Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This week on 40ish Lauren's husband romances her with a new DustBuster. (Nothing says I love you like Dyson) whilst Nicole is radiating extra bougie energy as she lights up a 3 wick high end candle. (Then has an almighty adult tantrum). A listener doesn't know what to make of her 53yr old husband suddenly arriving home with an ear piercing (Midlife crisis or David Beckham tribute?)  and another woman has had it with trying to arrange a Christmas Day that everyone is happy with. Oh, and did we mention Lauren is talking to her appliances now? Send help. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch at: Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This week on 40ish: the ladies unwrap the new John Lewis Christmas ad and it’s got them feeling deeply middle-aged. Lauren has what can only be described as an epic meltdown over Spanx and one midlife online dater is torn between two men she doesn’t even fancy (spoiler: bin them both) Buckle up; it’s a feisty one.  We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touch at: Email [email protected] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/40ish.podcast  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@40ish.podcast Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/DVQWb6y2vesgeHEK/?mibextid=LQQJ4d  To order our book HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?” click here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-You-Tried-This-Only/dp/1801293139/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1O7EA4ZF1O5CS&keywords=have+you+tried+this&qid=1699449028&sprefix=have+you+tried+%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2 This episode is sponsored by London Nootropics Get 20% off at LondonNootropics.com with the code 40ISH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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