Guilt and self-sacrifice have quietly shaped so many women's lives — and midlife is often when it all comes to a head. In this episode, Jo explores why putting yourself first can feel so uncomfortable, where that guilt really comes from, and how to begin gently rewriting a story that may have been passed down for generations.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why guilt around self-prioritisation is so deeply rooted in generational conditioning

• How the guilt of midlife shifts shape. Even after the kids grow up

• The six pillars of wellness and what happens when we ignore our own needs for too long

• Small, practical steps to begin putting yourself back on the list

• Why choosing yourself isn't selfish. It's actually the most responsible thing you can do

If you've ever felt guilty for simply wanting something for yourself, this episode is a warm and honest reminder that you matter too. It's a gentle place to begin.

Connect with Jo

Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07

Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me

Resources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

In this episode, Jo tackles the exhaustion so many midlife women feel. That constant 3 pm slump and the endless reach for caffeine. She shares five practical, guilt-free ways to boost your energy that don't involve another coffee or pushing through. If you're tired of feeling tired, this conversation offers small, supportive shifts that actually work.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why tuning into your body's signals matters more than powering through

• Exercise snacking: tiny bursts of movement that wake up your energy

• How to fuel yourself for steady energy instead of spikes and crashes

• Ways to lighten your mental load and actually ask for help

• How to rest without guilt (and why it's essential, not lazy)

You don't need a complete overhaul or perfection. This episode will help you pick one small shift that feels right for you—and notice what changes.

Connect with Jo Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07 Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-meResources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

In this episode, Jo calls herself out on the harsh inner voice that had quietly crept in around her changing body. If you've ever caught yourself being more critical of your own body than you'd ever be to anyone else's, this honest conversation will feel familiar. It's not about forced body positivity, it's about noticing the cost of comparison and choosing a kinder path forward.

In this episode, we explore:

• How negative self-talk about our bodies quietly becomes our norm

• The impossible standards we hold ourselves to (and who profits from them)

• Why we compare our current body to younger versions—and to other women

• The real cost of spending this chapter at war with ourselves

• What choosing awareness and kindness over criticism can actually look like

This conversation is a helpful starting point if you're ready to stop wasting precious time on negative thoughts about your body.

To follow the post that inspired this episode, please visit https://www.instagram.com/p/DUWzttpkzjD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Connect with Jo Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07 Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-meResources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

In this deeply reflective episode, I share the story of my wonderful 30-year marriage. The highs, the hard seasons, and what's kept our love growing stronger. If you've ever wondered whether long-term love can deepen rather than fade, this honest reflection will give you hope and perspective.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why love in midlife feels different (and why that's beautiful)

• How friendship becomes the foundation that carries you through hard times

• Choosing to grow together rather than apart when life gets heavy

• The power of shared experiences and making joy a priority

• Why strong relationships require intention, not perfection

This conversation is a helpful starting point if you're navigating your own relationship shifts in this season of midlife, too.

Connect with Jo Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07 Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-meResources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

In this episode, Jo explores what it really means to live with intention in midlife, and why simply wanting change isn't enough. If you've been feeling like something's off or you're ready for your next chapter to feel different, this conversation offers practical ways to move from autopilot to intentional design. You'll discover why this stage of life is your greatest opportunity yet.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why most of us live on autopilot—and how to interrupt that pattern

• The difference between wishing for change and actually creating it

• Simple daily tools to design your life more intentionally

• How to check which areas of your life need more attention

• Why energy is information—and how to start listening to it

If you're ready to stop repeating the same year over and over, this episode will give you gentle, actionable ideas to begin shaping your next chapter with more clarity and intention.

Your Free Resource 2025 Reflection Guide: joclarkcoaching.com/reflect 

Connect with Jo

Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07

Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me

Resources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

In this episode, Jo sits down with psychotherapist Niki Grennell to explore what happens when the connection in a long-term relationship starts to fade beneath the weight of responsibility and everyday life. If you've ever felt more like flatmates than partners, this conversation will help you understand why—and what you can do about it.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between sex and intimacy—and why intimacy often disappears first

• Why personal growth can either strengthen or create friction in midlife relationships

• The three layers of connection: with yourself, your partner as they are now, and your shared future

• How to know whether to stay and work on things—or when it's time to leave

• Simple, compassionate ways to begin shifting a relationship from one side

If this topic has been quietly weighing on you, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate place to start thinking it through.

Connect with Niki

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584104932896

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taoby_retreats

Web: http://taoby.life

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jo
Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07

Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me

Resources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

Tired of living the same year on repeat? In this episode, I share a simple yet transformative practice that has shaped my last six years. Choosing one focus word to guide your entire year. It's free, takes minutes to implement, and turns intention into action.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why our brains love familiarity (and how it keeps us stuck)

• The neuroscience behind why change feels so hard

• How one word can interrupt autopilot living

• My focus words from 2020–2026 and what they taught her

• Practical ways to make your word stick (beyond just choosing it)

If you're ready to stop sleepwalking through your days and start living with more intention, this episode provides a gentle yet powerful starting point.

Your Free Resource

2025 Reflection Guide: joclarkcoaching.com/reflect 

Connect with Jo

Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07

Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me

Resources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

As we wrap up 2025, Jo shares the reflection practice that transformed her life five years ago. She explores how to move beyond surface-level goal-setting to the deeper awareness that breaks repeating patterns and creates lasting change in midlife.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why awareness is the first step to breaking old patterns

• The tough questions that reveal what's keeping you stuck

• How reflection turns experience into wisdom

• Moving from "Groundhog Day" living to intentional choices

• Jo's free reflection guide to support your year-end review

If you're ready to stop living life on repeat and start living on purpose, this episode offers a powerful place to begin.

Top 5 Listener Favourites from 2025:

1. Episode 125. Hormones & Midlife Health: A Conversation with Professor Susan Davis https://open.spotify.com/episode/1LIfwP5aSsUTZrfGSRpoxu?si=7FOxYd9hR9-UCgRnZPUKnw
2. Episode 158. What Really Changes When Women Become Grandmothers with Deedee Moore https://open.spotify.com/episode/0elxuUMVgsGPGrZRYwVtYj?si=NnYer3nLTKe7XsgW6-U2yQ
3. Episode 156. What Women Need to Know Before and After Retirement with Bec Wilson https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Xk2RAZfTRzFICMnlqOXEN?si=Bj0S5irBR-eqQe4vPHCspg
4. Episode 130. Let's Talk About Sex and Midlife with Dr Sian Heon https://open.spotify.com/episode/45aIHfXI5MLp5ZDZ39oHK3?si=ZNZpFlG3TWOSt2Si1O7aXA
5. Episode 143. How to Stop Overthinking and Start Taking Action https://open.spotify.com/episode/4T0X8qtxZrBoj8qQGZNjnA?si=iB9PG6BDTYSVeq-9HnkKdg 

Free Resource

2025 Reflection Guide: joclarkcoaching.com/reflect 

Connect with Jo Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07

Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me

Resources and programmes: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/

As school finishes for another year, many mums are facing their final school drop-off, last exam, or watching their children pack for university. In this heartfelt solo episode, Jo shares her own empty nest journey – including facing her first Christmas without either of her children at home. Whether your kids are leaving now or left years ago, this transition brings waves of emotion that deserve gentle attention.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why you can miss your kids desperately and still enjoy the quiet

• How the empty nest unfolds slowly, not as one big moment

• Simple ways to reconnect with yourself as your role shifts

• Why this transition feels bigger when it lands alongside menopause

• Practical ideas for those early, emotional weeks

If you're standing at the edge of this new chapter or already navigating life without kids at home, this conversation offers comfort, understanding, and hope for what comes next.

Connect with Jo

Book a 20-minute connection call: https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07

Re Imagine mentoring: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me

Rediscover You: https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources/p/rediscover-you

The festive season brings endless celebrations, but what if you could actually remember them all? In this candid conversation, sober curious mentor Keelie Louise shares her transformation from heavy drinking since age 13 to discovering a life in full colour without alcohol. After losing her grandfather during COVID and realising at 38 that passing out drunk wasn't where she wanted to be, Keelie made the decision that changed everything. Her story reveals why so many midlife women are questioning their relationship with alcohol and discovering that life without it isn't just possible—it's actually better.

Key Takeaways

Alcohol masks deeper issues

For many women, that evening glass of wine isn't about relaxation—it's about avoiding something uncomfortable. Whether it's stress, unfulfilled expectations, or loss of identity after years of caring for others, alcohol becomes a band-aid that actually reduces your capacity to cope. Getting curious about why you reach for that drink reveals what really needs attention.

Your body is trying to tell you something

When hangovers last days, sleep becomes elusive, and one glass affects you like three used to, that's your body signalling it can't process alcohol like before. Perimenopause and menopause amplify these effects. Keelie notes that alcohol stops fat burning for up to 36 hours and halts collagen production for 30 days after heavy drinking.

Social pressure is real but manageable

Set expectations before events by messaging friends about your choice not to drink. At work functions, carry sparkling water in a wine glass if needed. Find one ally who supports your decision. Remember that "no" is a complete sentence—you don't owe anyone an explanation for your choices.

Replace FOMO with a better version

Instead of fearing you'll miss out on fun, develop FOMO for waking up energised, remembering conversations, and attacking your day with clarity. Change your language from "I can't drink" to "I choose not to drink"—it's empowering rather than restrictive.

Small changes create big transformations

You don't need to quit forever to start exploring. Begin with curiosity: How do you feel after one drink? What are you using alcohol to avoid? Who do you want to be? Understanding your values becomes your compass for making choices aligned with the life you actually want.

Moving Forward

The sober curious movement isn't about deprivation, it's about discovering who you are without the mask alcohol provides. As Keelie discovered, removing alcohol revealed a life of energy, genuine connection, and the contentment she'd been seeking at the bottom of a glass. Whether you're questioning your relationship with alcohol or simply wanting to feel better through the festive season, start with curiosity rather than rules. Notice how you feel, question why you reach for that drink, and remember that every small choice toward health is a victory. The magic is in what you gain: clarity, energy, authentic connections, and the person you always knew you could be.

Connect with Keelie

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesoberhypegirl/

Website: https://keelielouise.com.au/home

Connect with me

• Book your 20-minute connection call https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07 

• RE-IMAGINE: A personalised 1:1 six-week mentoring programme https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me 

• Rediscover You https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/resources/p/rediscover-you

• Share your journey with me by sending me a message on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/ 

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joclarkcoaching/⁠

• Email me your success story at [email protected]. 

Remember, there's so much untapped brilliance in midlife women. You are wise, strong, and talented. You just need the space to hear yourself and the courage to act on what you know.

The second half of your life can be even better than the first.