The midlife story we’re handed tells us to slow down, shrink our world, and pour a glass to cope. This conversation with grey area drinking coach and author Sarah Rusbatch offers a different possibility. We explore how even a short break from alcohol can reset sleep, ease anxiety, sharpen focus, and open the door to a stronger, brighter midlife—without losing your social spark.

We begin where many women find themselves: using wine as a reward at the end of a long day, only to wake up foggy, flat, or anxious. Sarah breaks down the real drivers behind habitual drinking—boredom, stress, loneliness—and explains why shifting to effort-based dopamine changes everything. She shares simple, science-backed tools you can start today: progressive strength training, protein-forward meals for hormone support, cold-water exposure, and evening rituals that protect sleep instead of sabotaging it. We also explore alcohol-free swaps, navigating identity shifts beyond “the party girl,” and handling social pressure with humour, boundaries, and grace.

Perimenopause magnifies alcohol’s impact, so we get practical about energy, belly fat, hot sweats, and mood. Sarah talks openly about her own shift from nightly drinks to marathon training at 50—making a compelling case that a strong body and a regulated nervous system are the bedrock of a joyful midlife. Parenting comes into the mix too: delaying teen drinking, modelling fun without booze, and staying present instead of numbing out.

If you’re curious about trying a 30-day break, joining a community challenge, or exploring Sarah’s book Beyond Booze, this episode gives you the map, the mindset, and the momentum to begin.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s sober-curious, and leave a quick review so more women can find it. Your next chapter starts with one curious step.

You can visit Sarah's profile in our Guest Directory

https://midliferebel.beam.ly/guest-directory

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A midlife plot twist doesn’t have to look like a crisis. It can look like soil under your nails, bread you milled yourself, and a dinner you can trace back to land you actually know.

In this episode, I sit down with BBC journalist Max Cotton, who spent an entire year eating and drinking only what he could grow or raise on his small farm in South West England. What began as a one-man protest became a deeply human exploration of resilience, reconnection, and a slower, more intentional way of living.

Max helps reframe self-sufficiency—not as an extreme lifestyle or purity test, but as a spectrum anyone can step onto. Together, we explore how agency expands when you choose seasonal food, shorten supply chains, and build relationships with the people behind your milk, meat, and vegetables. We move beyond headlines about cows and climate, digging into soil health, regenerative grazing, and how herbivores on diverse pastures can actually store carbon rather than release it.

Max shares the whole journey: the surprises, the melons that worked, the wheat that didn’t, the fat, the time, the learning curve. He offers deeply practical advice for beginners—start tiny, buy trusted bulk staples, budget realistically for dairy and meat, and let local community be part of the solution rather than going it alone.

This conversation is as relevant for city dwellers as it is for homesteaders. We talk veg boxes, UK-only sourcing that feels quietly rebellious, ethical dairying, micro-dairies thriving with just four cows, and the overlooked art of turning a harvest into meals. More than anything, this is a case for belonging—to place, to neighbours, and to a rhythm that finally makes sense again.

If this conversation inspires you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so other midlife rebels can find it.
 What’s one imported item you could swap for a local option this week?

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What if the second half of life could feel bigger, freer, and more you than anything that came before it?
 

That’s the spark behind this conversation with K.Margaret Solorio—author of Make Ease Your Vibe, certified Angel Reiki Master, and creator of the Home Frequency Reset. Together, we trace her surprising journey from biotechnology labs to intuitive energy work, and the daily rituals that transformed burnout into spacious, grounded ease.

We explore the real inner work of midlife:
 • How to tell the difference between ego and intuition
 • Why angel signs can be practical guideposts
 • What shifts when you stop broadcasting scarcity and realise that “time is squishy”
 • How simple meditation habits and gentle nudges can reshape your entire path

K. Margaret opens up about loosening her grip on outcomes, trusting her body’s cues, and allowing worthiness to come from being—not producing. The results? Clearer decisions, kinder boundaries, deeper relationships, and work that actually feels aligned with who she’s becoming.

Then we step into the home.
 Spaces hold energetic residue from stress, arguments, and life transitions. K.Margaret breaks down how remote home energy clearings work, why every property has its own “chakra” language, and how subtle energetic shifts can ignite real-world change—lighter rooms, better conversations, smoother family dynamics. From airing out a room on clearing day to placing a salt lamp in busy zones, her tools are beautifully simple and immediately usable. You’ll also hear a powerful story of compassionate spirit release that brought harmony back to a home in distress.

This episode is a warm, grounded invitation to make ease your new default—by honouring your emotions as messages, using intention as a tool, and tuning both your inner and outer environments to support your midlife awakening.

If you're curious about angel Reiki, home energy work, or just want gentler ways to feel better where you live, you're in exactly the right place.

You can find K. Margaret's profile in our guest directory https://midliferebel.beam.ly/person/k-margaret-solorio
Subscribe, share with a friend who’s in a midlife rethink, and leave a review so more women can rewrite the story of this powerful season.

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The word crisis gets thrown around at midlife like it’s inevitable. We push back...
This conversation with Roanna White—senior teacher, mum of three, and unapologetic solo traveller—is a grounded and generous exploration of how women can transform upheaval into agency.

We talk through the real stuff: leading a team while quietly battling anxiety, parenting teens who test every limit, and the moment somatic therapy surfaced repressed memories that finally explained years of physical symptoms. It’s vulnerable, practical, and quietly radical.

What sets Ro apart is her body-first approach to healing. When CBT couldn’t reach the root, somatic experiencing helped her nervous system complete what trauma began. She reframed intrusive thoughts as messages of safety, learned to pause before reacting, and began using simple mantras—power, boundaries, worth—to guide choices under pressure. That inner recalibration opened space for joy: Bollywood dance that celebrates imperfect hips and full hearts, and solo travel that rebuilt self-trust from Thailand to Vietnam, and now to India and Nepal.

We also dive into the loneliness epidemic and how Western communities have felt lonelier than ever since COVID. Ro’s response is both personal and pioneering: build connection on purpose. That's why she’s launching Yankyr, a hire-a-friend platform for safe, paid companionship—coffee, theatre, a concert—designed so people actually show up. It’s not dating, not therapy, just the missing bridge between wanting company and finding it.

If you’ve ever felt unseen in a crowded life, this will land.
The takeaway is clear: midlife isn’t the beginning of the end—it’s a second debut. Choose yourself, without apology. Book the class. Say 'no' sooner. Put your health first. Ask for help.

And if this conversation resonates, share it with a friend, hit follow, and leave a review—what one powerful change are you making this year?

You can find Roanna's profile in our Guest Directory

If you know a midlife rebel who might enjoy this content, please share the podcast with them!

From Soviet shadows to divine light — Diana Esther’s life is a testament to courage, trust, and the quiet power of listening to your heart. In this intimate conversation, she shares her journey of awakening from a world built on fear and control into one illuminated by truth, love, and freedom.

Through surrender, faith, and divine guidance, Diana learned to transmute pain into purpose — discovering the radiant “diamond within” that she now helps others uncover for themselves.

We explore what it means to live guided by your soul, to embrace challenges as catalysts, and to reconnect with the inner wisdom that always knows the way home. For anyone navigating midlife transformation or spiritual awakening, this episode is a reminder: the light you seek has always been inside you.

You can find Diana's profile in the Guest Directory https://midliferebel.beam.ly/guest-directory

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The moment you decide midlife isn’t a cliff but a launchpad, everything changes. Today I'm unveiling our new name—Midlife Rebel—and the story behind it: a clear mission to help women rewrite the script on health, purpose and identity without the stale narrative of decline. From the early days post-COVID to 120 guest interviews, this journey has been a slow, steady build powered by curiosity, community and a refusal to shrink.

In this short introduction of the new name, from Life, Health & The Universe to Midlife Rebel, I talk about the turning points that shaped this podcast, including quitting alcohol in January 2022 and a Human Design reading that nudged the show into being. You’ll hear how the interviews evolved from friendly chats to expansive conversations with new voices, and why tightening the niche matters for discoverability and impact. This isn’t a cosmetic change; it’s a commitment to meet women where they are—peri-menopause and menopause questions, brain fog, hormone shifts, career pivots, purpose rumbles—and offer both inspiration, answers and actionable tools.

The Midlife Rebel podcast is where smart meets soulful—a movement for women who are done playing small and ready to rewrite the midlife story. We challenge convention, prioritise our health and wholeness, and live by intuition instead of expectation. We question everything that no longer fits and honour what does.

Each week, I’m joined by guests who bring their wisdom, professional expertise, and lived insight—offering perspectives that spark transformation in health, vitality, spirituality, and purpose. Together, we explore what it really means to thrive in midlife—physically, emotionally, and soulfully.

In this episode, I share the behind-the-scenes of the rebrand—new site links, guest directory updates, YouTube refresh—and reassure you that the mission remains the same: bold stories, real insight, and heart-driven truth.

Because there's a little bit of rebel in all of us.

A routine scan changed everything....
When Dr. Bill Bruno, a world-renowned plastic surgeon, discovered significant coronary plaque at 49, he didn’t just rely on prescriptions—he rebuilt his life from the inside out.

In this energising conversation, we explore the Longevity Pyramid Bill now teaches: sleep, nutrition, and movement at the base; targeted testing in the middle; and social health, stress management, smart supplementation, and—only at the top—medications and advanced therapies.

We dig into why sleep is the keystone habit for fat loss, muscle gain, and stable mood—and how simple circadian tweaks can transform energy and recovery. Bill shares his nutrition guardrails (whole foods, enough protein, real fibre) and the training formula that preserves muscle and extends healthspan: 2–4 days of strength work, zone 2 cardio for endurance, and short bursts of intensity for vitality.

You’ll also learn about smarter lab testing—from ApoB and particle numbers to fasting insulin—and when to consider calcium scoring, AI-enhanced CT angiography, DEXA, or full-body MRI for prevention.

Beyond the biomarkers, Bill highlights the underestimated pillars of longevity: social connection, purpose, and stress regulation. We talk air and water quality, evening light hygiene, and device boundaries—practical tweaks that quietly improve sleep, hormones, and metabolic balance.

Finally, Bill outlines his minimalist supplement stack (magnesium, vitamin D3, omega-3, creatine, and whey) and explains when tools like sauna, cold therapy, red light, and peptides can elevate results—once the foundations are solid.

If you’re ready to trade quick fixes for a lifestyle that sustains you through midlife and beyond, this blueprint is your roadmap to lasting vitality.
Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help more people find Life, Health & The Universe.

You can find Bill's full profile in our Guest Directory

https://lifehealththeuniverse.beam.ly/person/bill-bruno

If you know a midlife rebel who might enjoy this content, please share the podcast with them!

When food stops being your main comfort, life gets louder—in the best way. In this episode I sit down with nutritionist and nutritional biochemist Juniper Devicis to unpack the real drivers of emotional eating and the exact steps she used to quiet food chatter, stabilise mood, and rebuild self-trust. Her story moves from teenage body image and burnout to a rock-bottom photo, hypnosis, and the surprising relief of finally feeling feelings rather than feeding them.

We dig into the signals that separate genuine hunger from urgent compulsion, why self-worth must come before meal plans, and how chronic stress hijacks metabolism, spikes cravings, and pushes fat storage to the midsection. Juniper explains how hypnosis and NLP dial down the emotional charge around food so a snack becomes a choice, not a reflex. She shares her approach to ketosis cycling—structured, calm, and sustainable without obsessive tracking—plus the simple movement rituals and journalling that make cravings quieter and evenings easier.

We also explore food quality in the modern world and how to patch nutrient gaps with the right supplement forms, and for those considering GLP-1 medications, Juniper outlines how to protect muscle, strengthen habits, and plan an exit so progress sticks. By the end, “vibrant, juicy life” stops sounding like a slogan and starts feeling like a practical, humane path—less noise, more choice, and a body and mind that finally feel on your side.

If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review—what’s one habit you’ll rewrite this week?

You can find Juniper's full profile in our Guest Directory 

https://lifehealththeuniverse.beam.ly/person/juniper-devecis

If you know a midlife rebel who might enjoy this content, please share the podcast with them!

Why does betrayal feel like it shatters not just your present, but rewrites your entire past? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Mr Jay—Certified Betrayal Trauma Practitioner and Intrapersonal Relationship Coach—to explore the hidden layers of betrayal, from infidelity to grief to the resurfacing of old wounds.

We unpack why some people turn to affairs as a way to “feel alive,” the isolating impact of secrecy on partners, and why betrayal triggers are more than memories—they’re full-body flashbacks that demand nervous system care.

This isn’t about quick fixes. Together, we explore the real tools for healing: EMDR, EFT tapping, trauma-informed yoga, and visualization. Mr Jay shares how to rebuild trust through transparency, set boundaries rooted in values, and create self-care rituals that become non-negotiables rather than luxuries.

Through the lens of kintsugi—the Japanese art of golden repair—we also discuss how couples who choose to mend can create relationships more honest, resilient, and compassionate than before. And if walking away is the path, the lesson remains the same: healing begins within.

If you or someone you love is navigating betrayal or deep relational pain, this episode offers a steady, hope-filled map forward.

You can find Mr Jay's full profile in the Guest Directory

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Diet rules, mirror anxiety, and the lie that thinness equals happiness—let’s challenge the script. In this episode of Life, Health & The Universe, I sit down with Marla Mervis-Hartmann—coach, Reiki Master, TEDx speaker, and author of "BE-Friend Yourself-Finding Freedom with Food and Peace with your Body"—to explore what actually leads to peace with food and a kinder relationship with your body.

Marla’s story spans both extremes: cycles of binge eating marked by shame and the “thinnest ever” phase that still felt miserable. Those bookends reveal a deeper truth: the problem isn’t your body or your plate—it’s how we cope, and the voices we believe when we’re scared.

We dive into:

• Unlearning diet culture and why self-compassion is the most effective health plan
• Intuitive eating and body trust—how to stabilise physiology before tuning in
• Perimenopause, hormones, and body image—when your reflection looks the same but feels different
• The mother wound and early imprints that shape how women relate to food and their bodies
• Gentle tools for navigating binge eating, cravings, and compulsions without shame
• Practical rhythms that support midlife women: blood sugar balance, sleep, and rituals for “spiky” days

You’ll also hear scripts for catching your inner critic, ways to rebuild safety and pleasure, and how acceptance isn’t pretending to love what you don’t—it’s choosing to act like a friend even when you can’t. We even touch on men’s body image and the power of performance goals.

If you’re ready to stop fighting your body, release diet culture, and find freedom with food, this conversation is for you. Press play, subscribe for more midlife awakening stories, and share the belief you’re most ready to unlearn.

You can find Marla's full profile in our Guest Directory

If you know a midlife rebel who might enjoy this content, please share the podcast with them!