In this week’s episode, to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary, Donna is joined by her husband, Dan, who she first dated when she was 16! Donna wanted to find out Dan’s perspective on what he thinks makes a partnership work during midlife.

From finances and family feuds to hormones and sobriety, they reflect on the biggest lessons they’ve learned, plus the advice they’d give anyone navigating love and partnership in midlife.

You’ll hear:

✨ Why communication (and sometimes biting your lip!) is key to surviving midlife stress

✨ Dan’s very honest take on how Donna’s sobriety changed their relationship

✨ What partners can do to support each other through hormones and midlife shifts

✨ Why independence, patience, and a shared sense of humor is important

So whether you’re married, dating, or curious about how relationships evolve in midlife, this episode is packed with relatable stories and advice - plus a few laughs along the way.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a review. You can also follow Donna on Instagram and Tik Tok and subscribe to her new substack, My Skin Type Is Sober too. 

For years, Creatine has been marketed to male athletes and bodybuilders, but new research suggests it could be a powerful supplement for women in midlife.

In this episode, nutritionist Karen Newby joins Donna to unpack everything you need to know about creatine - from how it supports muscle strength and energy, to its emerging role in cognitive health, brain fog, and mood during perimenopause and menopause.

They discuss:

* What creatine is and why it could work for us in midlife

* What the science says about creatine for energy and brain health

* Safe dosages, how to take it, and what to look for in a supplement

* Whether you can get enough creatine from diet alone

* Who shouldn’t take creatine and why

Plus Karen reveals her non-negotiable supplements for menopause

To learn more about Karen and her books, visit her website and follow her on Instagram too. You can also join Karen’s Natural Menopause Membership Retreat where SGYW listeners can get 50% off by using code DONNA50.  

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, and follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok too.

At 51, Mia Maugé decided to do something radical: she stopped dyeing her hair.

What started as a personal act of defiance against feeling irrelevant quickly became a powerful statement. Long before grey hair was trending, Mia embraced her gorgeous silver hair and her life changed. She became a model in her 50s, a voice for women tired of being ignored by beauty and fashion, and a role model for anyone who’s ever felt invisible.

In this inspiring conversation, Mia and Donna talk about:

✨ The reality of internal ageism and how self-limiting beliefs can keep us small.

✨ What she does every day to stop feeling invisible.

✨ Why the language we use about skincare and aging matters.

✨ The unexpected joy of midlife: adult kids, purpose, and real sisterhood.

✨ Why embracing the thing that makes you feel bad can unlock your true power.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever worried about getting older, felt unseen in midlife, or wondered what to look forward to in their 50s. Spoiler: there’s a lot to be excited about.

Because aging isn’t about fading away - it’s about shining brighter than ever.

To learn more about Mia, follow her on Instagram and don't forget to follow Donna too.  

In this episode, Donna shares the one thing that completely transformed her skin over the past year.

Tune in to hear how she tracked the changes, the small skincare tweaks that boosted the glow, and how you can try it too.

To see the differences that sobriety has had on Donna's skin, subscribe to her new substack, My Skin Type Is Sober which is a judgement-free and positive place for women who may be rethinking their relationship with alcohol.

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok too.

See you next week!

In this episode, nutritionist Amanda Ryder, the author of Feel Good For Menopause and host of the How To Feel Like A Midlife Goddess podcast, shares her thoughts on the impact that drinking collagen has on midlife skin. 

With celebrity-backed brands flooding the shelves, collagen can feel like just another overhyped trend. Donna admits she’s been skeptical and is constantly asked, does drinking collagen really do anything for your skin, or is it just clever marketing?

This episode is not sponsored or in collaboration with any collagen brand. That means you’re getting real, unbiased insight from a trusted expert - no sales pitch, just science.

Amanda shares:

• What collagen is, and why we naturally lose it in midlife
• Whether taking collagen supplements can genuinely benefit your skin
• Why it’s not just about skin - collagen also supports joints, bones, and gut health
• How to spot an effective supplement (and what makes some a total waste of money)
• Why she personally prefers powdered collagen over liquid
• How to take it for best absorption (and what to pair it with)
• How long it actually takes to see results 
• And why no supplement is a miracle fix without the right lifestyle and nutrition

Brands mentioned in the chat:

Kollo 

Kiki Health 

Bare Biology  

Ancient & Brave 

To learn more about Amanda and her services, visit her website and follow her on Instagram too. 

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok and you can also join the Smiling Gives You Wrinkles Chat on Facebook for more chat, tips and behind-the-scenes content.

This week, Donna is joined by her friend Bridgette Mansfield who has been a hypnotherapist for over 17 years. 

Donna can personally vouch for the benefits of hypnotherapy as Bridgette has helped her overcome her own menopausal anxiety, hot sweats and fear of heights and in this chat you will find out how hypnotherapy can help you break free from anxiety and addictions too. 

They talk about how you’re probably already experiencing hypnosis during everyday tasks like driving or even working out and how your subconscious mind can become your greatest ally. 

Bridgette also shares some simple strategies that can help you declutter your mind, feel more calm, focused and in control and how to use the power of positive thinking to shift your mindset and potentially change your life.

To learn more about Bridgette and her services, visit her website. 

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok and you can also join the Smiling Gives You Wrinkles Chat on Facebook for more chat, tips and behind-the-scenes content.

Dr. Justine Kluk is London’s leading skincare expert and in this episode, she chats with Donna about retinol - the skincare ingredient that can be a game-changer for midlife skin - but only if you use it right.

This episode will unpack everything you need to know about retinol and how to make it work *for* you, not against you.

Expect lots of chat about:

* What retinol actually *does* for skin over 40

* How to introduce it into your skincare routine without the dreaded irritation

* The key difference between prescription retinoids and over-the-counter products

* What results to expect - and when

* The best time of day to apply it

* How to combine it safely with other active ingredients

* Donna and Justine's recommended brands for every budget

Plus, Justine shares the essential skincare products every woman should have in her routine - and what you can skip. 

So whether you’re a total retinol newbie or just want to relook at your routine, this episode is packed with smart, dermatologist-approved advice.

To learn more about Dr. Justine Kluk visit her website and follow her on Instagram too. 

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok and you can also join the Smiling Gives You Wrinkles Chat on Facebook for more chat, tips and behind-the-scenes content.

Products and brands discussed in this episode include:

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Serum* 

La Roche Posay Retinol B3*

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Niacinamide* 

Pure Retinol 0.3% Retinol Night Concentrate*

*Contains affiliate links

This time last year, Donna decided she'd had enough of hangovers, the 2am post-wine anxiety and the shame spiral that came with trying to keep up with her 'grey area' drinking. So she stopped.

In this episode, Donna shares the story behind why she quit and what helped her get through the hardest days of her sobriety.

Donna really wants this chat to be helpful, not preachy. It's not about insisting that you quit, it's about helping you understand what it's like to be sober at midlife, especially in that first year.

She shares how she broke her 'wine o clock' habit, how she copes with friends that don't appreciate or understand her sobriety, and she also reveals what she drinks instead.

If you’re sober-curious, struggling to get past day 3, or just wondering what life looks like when you stop drinking - this episode is for you.

If you want to hear more about what Donna has to say about her sobriety, then follow her on Instagram and join her Sober Chats group. You can also join the Smiling Gives You Wrinkles Chat on Facebook.

Donna also spoke about her sobriety on Sober Dave's One For The Road podcast and The Dr. Louise Newson Podcast.

Dr. Louise Newson aka @menopause_doctor is a  leading voice in women’s hormone health, and in this episode, she chats with Donna about a topic that’s often overlooked: testosterone therapy.

Many women think that taking testosterone is just for libido - but it’s a hormone that impacts so much more - energy, mood, motivation, muscle strength…and it’s an important one for every woman, at every stage of life.

In this chat, expect to learn: 

* What testosterone is and the crucial role it plays in women’s health

* How to know if you might need testosterone therapy

* How to get it prescribed safely and who to get it from

* The ways testosterone can be taken and monitored

* Why it might be worth considering - and why so many women feel better when they do

* What to ask your doctor if you’re curious about starting it

If you’ve ever felt dismissed or confused about your hormone options, this episode will really help you with practical information to advocate for yourself and your health.

To learn more about Dr. Louise Newson, her books and her podcast, visit her website and follow her on Instagram too. And if you need help with hormone therapy but just don’t know where to start, check out her brilliant Balance app and Newson Health too.  

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok and you can also join the Smiling Gives You Wrinkles Chat on Facebook for more chat, tips and behind-the-scenes content.

Smiling Gives You Wrinkles is produced by Will Dell

To celebrate her 49th birthday, Donna shares her real-life, no-fuss, joy-sparking skincare routine and chats about the products she actually buys, the beauty rule she happily breaks, and why looking her age is something she celebrates, not fights.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by 10-step routines or pressured to erase your wrinkles, consider this your permission slip to do beauty your way. 

Products mentioned include:

Cerave Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Cerave Vitamin C Serum

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced Serum 

Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion 

Beauty Pie Traceless Mineral SPF30 

e.l.f Skin Suntouchable Woah Glow SPF30

CosRX Soothing Sunscreen Aloe Vera SPF50 

The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream

No7 Restore & Renew Multi-Action Eye Cream

Liz Earle Instant Brightening Eye Cream 

Liz Earle Superskin Advanced Nourishing Cleansing Balm 

Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm 

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 

No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Serum

Alpha H Liquid Gold

Clarins Double Serum 

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

Kyushi Face Oils

Alpha H Golden Haze Face Oil 

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok and you can also join the Smiling Gives You Wrinkles Chat on Facebook for more chat, tips and behind-the-scenes content.

Smiling Gives You Wrinkles is produced by Will Dell

*Products above contain affiliate links.