In this episode of The Art of Self, I’m talking with Tracy Minnoch, the woman behind Sexy Ageing. Tracy is an advocate and educator for women navigating menopause in midlife, and she shares her journey with honesty, warmth, and hope.

We explore what it really means to age well - from confidence and choice, to feeling at home in your body and reclaiming your voice in midlife. Tracy also dives into visibility and why so many women feel invisible as they age, and how stepping into your creativity and agency can transform this stage of life.

We discuss her long career in the fitness industry, how her own menopause experience inspired Sexy Ageing, and how she’s now sharing her expertise as a UGC (user-generated content) creator, connecting authentically with audiences in new ways.

If you’re navigating change, questioning old narratives about ageing, or feeling called to create something new in this season of life, this episode is for you.

Connect with Tracy
Website: https://www.sexyageing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065037368277
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexyageing/

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

In this episode of The Art of Self, I’m joined by Sarah Bunker from Libido Liberation for an open, honest conversation about desire, intimacy, and reconnecting with yourself after motherhood. 

We talk about why libido can fade in long-term relationships, the impact of stress and nervous system overload, and how emotional safety and communication play a powerful role. 

Sarah shares practical, pressure-free ways to reconnect with your body, your pleasure, and your partner - reminding us that intimacy is something we can gently rebuild, at any stage.

Connect with Sarah
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libidoliberation/
Where you can grab Sarah’s FREE Self-Havening Guide & Cycle Tracking Forms

NOTE: March 2026 An Intimate Dialogue with Libido event sold out but if you’d like to hear about upcoming events, DM Sarah on Instagram.

Write your own anonymous letter to your libido
https://www.lettertomylibido.com/

For 100% raw, organic, Peruvian cacao
https://www.instagram.com/jungleboogie_cacao/

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

Menopause is often talked about as something women just have to “get through”,  but what if that’s not the full story?

In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Jennings from Jennings Holistic Health for an honest conversation about menopause, health, and what’s really happening beneath the symptoms.

We talk about why some women struggle deeply during this stage of life while others seem to breeze through, and why menopause itself isn’t the root cause -  but often the trigger. Steve shares a holistic perspective shaped by decades of experience supporting women (and couples), and explains how stress, immune health, gut health, sleep, nutrition, and emotional load all play a role during this season.

We also explore common myths, the role of HRT, how partners can better support women through this transition, and why your body isn’t broken - it’s communicating.

This conversation is for women navigating menopause or perimenopause, and for partners who want to better understand what their loved one is experiencing. It’s grounded and focused on long-term wellbeing - not quick fixes.

Connect with Steve
Website: https://www.jenningshealthcoach.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nocompromisefitness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevejenningshealthcoach/

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

Are you someone who’s really good at giving… but when it comes to receiving, you kinda shut down, say “I’m fine,” or just take the bare minimum? You’re not alone. I’ve been there too, and it can feel awkward, uncomfortable, even a little scary.

In this episode, I’m talking all about why receiving can feel so hard, how it can affect your energy, your relationships, and even your joy, and most importantly, how we can start practising it. I share some of my own experiences (yes, the awkward ones!) and some simple, practical ways to start letting help, love, support, and gifts in - without feeling like you have to do it all on your own.

We look at

• How ‘not’ receiving can actually cost us 
• How receiving completes the cycle of giving and brings connection
• Small ways to start practising receiving in your everyday life

If you’ve ever found it easier to give than to receive, this one’s for you. Join me as we explore opening ourselves up and allowing more love, support, and abundance into our lives.

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

This episode came from something I’ve been using lately - reminding myself that there are 101 ways to do something. When something isn’t working, it doesn’t mean it’s a dead end… it might just mean there’s another way you haven’t seen yet.

I talk about how shifting out of “This is the only option” thinking can open up new ideas, new solutions, and a lot more ease - especially when you’re feeling stuck or needing to pivot. I share a simple exercise I use to stretch my thinking, plus a real-life story of how this mindset helped me find a way forward when I really needed it.

If there’s something sitting on your mind right now and you’re wondering if there’s another way… this one’s for you.

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

What if the next thing that supports your growth isn’t something you add… but something you stop?

In this week's episode, I explore the idea of fasting - not from food, but from behaviours, habits, or choices that quietly drain your energy, create heaviness, or no longer support who you’re becoming.

We often focus on what we want to add into our lives, but real clarity and change can come from consciously choosing to pause, remove, or replace something instead. I walk you through how to identify the one thing that isn’t serving you, how to understand what it’s actually giving you, and how to replace it in a way that feels supportive rather than restrictive.

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

What happens when a life built on strength, capability, and constant motion suddenly comes to a halt.

In this episode, Amy shares her journey from sailing, yacht design, and an active, high-functioning life to experiencing severe nervous system collapse that left her housebound and bedbound. With honesty and grace, she speaks about how years of cumulative stress, perfectionism, and emotional load manifested in her body — and the moment she was forced to surrender completely.

We explored nervous system healing, listening to the body’s signals, boundaries, intuition, and rebuilding life slowly and sustainably. Amy also shares the tools that supported her recovery, including journaling, and the Lightning Process — and how she eventually returned to physical strength, completing a 100km walk and a 50km ultra marathon - a promise she made to herself while in a wheelchair.

This is for anyone who feels like they’re pushing through life on willpower alone, ignoring the quiet nudges within. It’s a reminder that sensitivity is not weakness, that rest is not failure, and that profound healing is possible — even when the path forward feels unclear.

A powerful, grounding conversation about slowing down, trusting yourself, and coming home to who you really are.

Connect with Amy
Website: www.amydinniss.co.nz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amy_dinniss_interiors

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

Amy Watts, founder of Hauora Sanctuary, is a qualified teacher who left a full and busy life to follow her intuition, move to the country, and transform a run-down property into a nature-based sanctuary. Hauora was born from Amy’s own journey of seeking simplicity and reconnection - a place where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and nurture their wellbeing.

We talk about what it took to bring Hauora to life, following quiet nudges and honoring intuition to create a space that now supports others in their growth. With a kete of holistic practices, Amy shares everything from massage and contrast therapy to nature-based retreats that help people reconnect with their bodies, minds, and the natural world.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration to slow down, follow your intuition, or bring more balance into your life, this conversation is full of golden nuggets to weave into your own journey.

Connect with Amy
Website: www.hauorasanctuary.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecomamanz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hauorasanctuary

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

I sat down with life coach and author Tracy Manu to explore what it truly means to live a connected (hononga) life.

With nearly 16 years of coaching experience, Tracy shares the wisdom behind her book Hononga - a powerful exploration of connection to self, relationships, values, whakapapa, and the world around us. We talk about why so many of us feel disconnected, how our younger selves shape our reactions, and what it means to embody what we know rather than just understand it.

We explore intuition, values, creativity, community, and the importance of remembering that we are all in the waka together.

This is a grounded, reflective conversation for anyone longing for deeper connection and a more aligned way of living.

Connect with Tracy
Website: www.tracymanu.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/blossomwithtracymanu
Instagram: www.instagram.com/blossom.with.tracy.manu

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich

What if your vision board wasn’t about ticking goals off a list… but about how you want to feel in your life?

In the first solo episode of 2026, I’m sharing a softer, more intuitive approach to vision boarding - one that moves away from pressure, hustle, and achievement, and instead centres on being.

I talk about my own journey with vision boards over the years, including a powerful feeling-based board I created back in 2017, one that didn’t make sense at the time, yet quietly shaped who I became as a woman, mother, and creative, and ultimately led to the birth of this podcast.

In this episode, I share:

• Why traditional, goal-focused vision boards don’t work for everyone
• How to create a feeling board that reflects who you want to be, not just what you want to have
• The Be → Do → Have approach, and how it shifts the way you experience life
• Why using your hands and senses matters when creating your vision

This episode is an invitation to reconnect with your inner compass, trust what calls to you (even when it doesn’t yet make sense), and remember that you are both a work of art and the creative director of your life.

Here’s to 2026 and seeing how good it gets to be.

The Art of Self - Charmaine Marinkovich
Follow: @theartofself_podcast on IG
Follow: @charmainemarinkovich on IG
Follow: charmainemarinkovichportraits on FB

Support the Podcast
https://buymeacoffee.com/charmainemarinkovich