The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks

Travel, storytelling, and smart escapes collide in this episode of the Midlife Shift. We’re diving into the latest 2026 travel trends with acclaimed travel writer Sue Williams and industry expert Bec Hurley. From book-inspired getaways to digital detox destinations, discover how Australians over 50 are rewriting the rulebook on meaningful, affordable, and unforgettable holidays.

What’s a Readaway? Think book-inspired getaways, digital detox escapes, and meaningful travel – all rolled into one. Whether you're dreaming of a girls’ trip, craving a solo recharge, or looking for affordable holiday tips, this episode is packed with ideas, tips, stories and laughs. Stay tuned for the Top 6 Readaway Destinations revealed at the end!

Stepping up as a carer of elderly parents or sick family members can feel anxiety-inducing, but finding a new way forward can also be an opportunity for deep connection. In this touching and surprisingly uplifting episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks sits down with carer extraordinaire Mitch Gibson and Tea Time founder Jimmy Leishman. They discuss the wild new ways our generation is navigating getting older, caring for others, and why technology might just be the helping hand we all need.

Mitch and Jimmy explore how "care tech" is fighting isolation in aged-care and why human connection remains king. They discuss how to have those hard conversations about end-of-life wishes (without being morbid), why you need to "gather your crew" when things get tough, and the practical realities of being a "TED" (The Elder’s Daughter).

Are you really sorting out the best way to financially retire, or just hoping it all works out? In this episode of The Midlife Shift, Alex Brooks is joined by superannuation expert Andrew Boal from Deloitte and Domain’s national property editor Alice Stoltz to unpack the BIG midlife financial questions: how to stay in touch with what you earn and spend, how your home shapes your retirement, and how to future-proof your life when everything feels so… abstract.

This episode dives into some of the unique benefits of Australia’s compulsory superannuation system and how to make the best midlife money moves for your future — whatever that might look like.

They don’t do tents, they don’t do middle seats, and they definitely don’t do cask wine. Meet the travel snobs from the Nine series Travel Guides.

In this laugh-out-loud episode of The Midlife Shift, Australia’s favourite travel snobs Kevin and Janetta sit down with host Alex Brooks to unpack their golden rules for travel, relationships, and living well after 50. This couple planned to retire and have spent the last ten years travelling the world on Channel Nine’s coin to appear in their Logie-winning lifestyle TV program.

They dish out all the top travel tips - from the type of suitcase you simply must have through to the forensic packing requirements needed to travel extensively.

They explain how to exploit your budget in the best way (hint: you need an airline membership) and what top 5 destinations all people over the age of 50 need to put on their list. With her label maker and ziploc bags in hand, Kevin and Janetta reveal how to travel in style without losing your cool (or your bags). They share what it’s really like working and travelling as a couple, and how getting older just means upgrading your standards—not giving up on adventure.

Whether you’re planning your next holiday or just love a brutally honest chat, this one is for those who still want the window seat in life and will never settle down to stay put. 

What does midlife look like for one of Australia's favourite TV personalities? From 90s MTV fame to narrating RBT, this conversation with Andrew Daddo covers the hilarious, the heartfelt, and the human side of getting older.

In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to beloved Australian presenter, author, and podcast host Andrew Daddo. Andrew shares candid stories about his famous family, his decades-long career, his obsession with golf, and his "poo theory" of parenting, all while reflecting on what really matters after 50.

Andrew shares his trademark wit and insights on navigating midlife. He covers:

• The Daddo Legacy: Andrew talks about the famously close-knit Daddo siblings, the family's obsession with golf (and who is really the best), and the joy of creating trophies to bring everyone together.
• Parenting Older Kids: Hear Andrew's hilarious "poo theory" of parenting, how his kids keep him in check (no more saying "gay abandon"), and the realities of embarrassing them, speedos and all.
• Reflections on a 90s Career: Looking back at his time as one of the first Australian VJs on MTV, interviewing Elle Macpherson and Billy Connolly, and why he had to leave it all behind.
• The Reality of RBT: Andrew shares what it's really like narrating Australia's "bogans behaving badly," his take on human frailty, and the infamous "call a mate" story.
• Money, Ageing & Super: Andrew's "hard saver" mentality, taking superannuation seriously in a freelance world, and his hilarious (and painful) encounter with sandalwood oil in Sri Lanka.
• Dealing with Grief & Tragedy: A candid discussion on family tragedy, including his twin brother's life-changing accident and the loss of his best friend, and how storytelling helps process grief.

This is a candid, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about family, finding your passion, and navigating the weirdness of midlife.

How do we know how long we will actually live and whether our money go the distance? These are the important but hairy unknowns that can derail even the best-laid retirement plans. Add in unexpected health issues or market downturns, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to aged care expert Rachel Lane and actuary Stephen Huppert to tackle the two biggest curveballs that can blow up your retirement: longevity risk and health span changes. They break down the complexities of planning for an unknown future and offer clear strategies to help you navigate the decades after work with confidence.

Rachel and Stephen share their expert insights on future-proofing your finances and lifestyle. This is an essential guide to understanding the real risks of retirement and how to build a plan that gives you confidence for the future.

Find Rachel Lane here 

• Get her book Downsizing Made Simple
• Get her book Aged Care. Who Cares?
• ‍LinkedIn
• Aged Care Gurus

Find Stephen Huppert here 

• Check out his website
• LinkedIn

Citro is here to help

• A CITRO GUIDE: 10 lifestyle swaps for longevity
• 11 ways to make retirement income last as long as you do
• Cracking the annuities code: get retirement income certainty
• A CITRO GUIDE: Calculating retirement
• 3 enriching phases of superannuation: what you should know
• Understanding superannuation and how retirement income works
• Unlock your entitlements: 12 amazing benefits for older Australians
• The $16,304 question - can you afford to rent in retirement?

It starts with a small worry, then a doctor's visit, and before you know it, you're navigating the complex, emotional, and often confusing world of caring for your ageing parents. How do you manage it all without losing your sanity, your savings, or your relationships?

In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to legendary Australian comedian and author Jean Kittson for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply practical guide to one of life's most challenging journeys. Drawing from her experience caring for her parents, Elaine and Roy, Jean shares the wisdom every family needs to hear.

Jean shares her trademark wit and wisdom to demystify the aged care journey and empower you as a carer. She covers:

• Navigating the System: A no-nonsense guide to the My Aged Care portal and the ACAT assessment, and why it's crucial to get your parents into the system as early as possible.
• The "All Goes to Shit Kit": Learn about the essential legal and financial documents you need in place before a crisis hits, including Wills, Enduring Power of Attorney, and Advanced Care Directives.
• Becoming a Medical Advocate: Jean explains the importance of being your parents' voice in hospitals, the value of a good geriatrician, and how to ensure they get the care they deserve.
• Demystifying Palliative Care: Discover what palliative care truly is (and isn't), when it should begin, and how it can support not just the patient but the entire family.
• The Emotional Journey: Jean speaks candidly about sibling dynamics, the challenge of anticipatory grief, and the importance of having difficult conversations about end-of-life wishes.

This is an essential, honest, and often humorous guide to navigating one of life's most difficult chapters with grace, humour, and knowledge.

Find Jean Kittson here

• Website
• Instagram @jeankittson
• Get Jean's book We need to talk about Mum & Dad‍
• Get Jean's book You're Still Hot to Me

Citro is here to help

• Should your senior parents still be driving?
• 10 smart tech devices to help ageing parents stay independent
• 10 signs your ageing parents may need more help than you think
• 10 things I learned from parenting my parents
• Sandwich generation: when kids, parents and creaky joints collide

As we get older, our bodies change. Suddenly, we’re battling belly fat, our metabolism seems to have ground to a halt, and navigating nutrition feels like a minefield of conflicting advice. Do we cut carbs? Boost protein? What on earth is a microbiome and why should we care?

In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to accredited practicing dietitian Geraldine Georgeou for a sanity-saving guide to food and health after 50. Geraldine demystifies the science and cuts through the diet-culture noise to deliver practical, powerful advice on how to eat for lasting vitality. Discover why your gut is your second brain, how hormonal changes impact your body shape, and what you really need to look for in a blood test.

This is an essential guide to help you build a nutritional framework that supports your health as you age.

Find Geraldine Georgeou here

• Website: Designer Diets
• Book: The Australian Healthy Skin Diet

Citro is here to help

• A CITRO GUIDE: Mastering menopause
• How to end the junk food battle once and for all
• Maintain brain health with the MIND diet
• Mediterranean diet 101: healthy eating for healthy ageing
• Control your blood pressure with the DASH diet
• The truth about protein: how much you really need for healthy ageing
• 5 reasons we remain in the dark about perimenopause
• Good ways to rejuvenate your gut health (yep, including a poo transplant)
• Gut instinct: how to prevent age-related digestive issues like heartburn
• Activate your inner ally: get your gut microbiome to blossom

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How do you fund your life when the paycheques stop? For many of us, the world of superannuation and retirement planning is filled with confusing terms that make us want to ignore it completely. But what if you could make it simple?

In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to money expert Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon and retirement commentator Kaye Fallick for a frank and practical guide to funding your future. They explore why women are often behind the eight ball and reveal why you should think of your super as "free money" to pay more attention to it. Discover the crucial interplay between the government Age Pension and your own super savings, and why the standard retirement budget might not apply if you still have a mortgage.

This is an essential guide to help you get your financial ducks in a row for a comfortable and empowered retirement.

Find Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon here

• Website: Nicole's Smart Money
• Instagram: @nicolepedmckmoney

Find Kaye Fallick here

• Website: Staying Connected
• Instagram: @connected_retirement

Citro is here to help

• How much super is enough? Spoiler: no magic number exists
• I’m not panicking about a global recession (but I am reviewing my super strategy)
• How to make sure you avoid the new 15% super tax
• Putting extra money into super just got even more attractive
• Super theft: check your super, check your password is unique
• 5 game-changing super moves to make in the lead up to retirement
• The case for and against setting up a self-managed super fund
• Nicole’s super boosters: 7 ways to swell your super fund in a single financial year
• Understand the ‘4% rule’ and why you must drawdown your super

AFTER WATCHING, PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY

Your responses will help shape upcoming episodes of The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks. Access the survey here.

Please reach out if you need anything [email protected]

What do you get when you sit down with an Australian screen legend Denise Drysdale who has worked with everyone from Ernie Sigley to Hugh Grant? You get hilarious stories about work husbands, candid conversations about ageing and some surprisingly frank advice on planning for the next chapter.

In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to the one and only Denise ‘Ding Dong’ Drysdale about her incredible six decades in entertainment. Denise shares intimate memories of her 35-year partnership with her beloved “work husband” Ernie Sigley and the heartbreak of watching him develop Alzheimer's later in life.

Denise opens up about why she believes health span is more important than lifespan and offers a powerful argument for why everyone should have the right to choose their own end-of-life journey.

Expect unfiltered thoughts on everything from body confidence to the importance of wills and why she’s already sorted her prepaid funeral. Denise gets real about her own health battles, including a detached retina and trigeminal neuralgia, and shares her secrets for navigating the third act of life with humour and resilience. Oh, and if you listen to the end, you’ll find out her secret to perfect roast potatoes and why she thinks it’s never too late to get a fashion deal.

Find Denise here

• Website

Citro is here to help

• How to exercise through menopause and beyond
• Could delaying menopause help us live longer?
• Dementia and cognitive decline 101
• How to nurture social connections to feel like you truly belong
• 7 top legal tips to make your will watertight
• How to make a free will online

AFTER WATCHING, PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY

Your responses will help shape upcoming episodes of The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks. Access the survey here.

Please reach out if you need anything [email protected]