31 MAY. 2024 · Dementia affects most of us one way or another, whether caring for parents or worrying about our own health and future. Today’s guest, neuropsychologist, Dr Mitchell Clionsky, talks to Jo about the latest research, reasons for hope and what we can do to decrease our risk. Key takeaways: Surprising facts about dementia: 50% of dementias are preventable and less than 5% of dementias are genetically caused. There are no “dementiaologists” Childhood trauma can play a role in dementia risk Higher Education can have a protective effect on the brain Midlife medical conditions increase risk, especially: - - Hypertension - Diabetes - lack of exercise - sleep apnea - hearing loss - depression - stress There is a link between sleep apnea and - - gout - erectile dysfunction - frequent night peeing - alcohol consumption - 3 or more drinks per night is considered dangerous, binge-drinking more so You can buy Dr Clionsky’s book, co-written with his wife, Emily Clionsky MD, here: Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your Brain (Johns Hopkins Press) https://amzn.to/3KK5pZ3 About the Authors EMILY CLIONSKY, MD, completed residencies in internal medicine and in psychiatry, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. MITCHELL CLIONSKY, PhD, is a board-certified neuropsychologist who specializes in evaluating and treating patients with cognitive impairment, dementia, ADHD, and traumatic brain injury. A husband-and-wife team, they have a combined 70 years of professional and clinical experience in medicine and neuropsychology and have treated 20,000 patients. They partner at a private practice, Clionsky Neuro Systems, Inc., based in Springfield, Massachusetts. More information - and the dementia risk assessment Jo and Mitchell discuss - is available on their website: https://www.BRAINDOC.com About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to?   I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives.   The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests.   See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/   #dementia #midlife #dementiaprevention

23 MAY. 2024 · Melina Abbott says that wild swimming, especially in the cold of winter, gives you so much more than a momentary thrill: “In menopause, you do start to feel more anxious. You start to feel more afraid, but by doing something crazy, like plunging yourself in freezing cold water, it gives you confidence because you think, wow, I did something really hard. So when I come out, especially if I've not wanted to go in, I come out and go, yay, I did a hard thing. And then I know that I can apply that in every area of my life.” The benefits of cold water swimming include: - increasing immunity - reducing stress - improving mood - being good for anxiety and depression - improving circulation - decreasing inflammation -   and improving libido The Blue Tits Chill Swimmers : https://thebluetits.co/ Connect with Melina: https://www.melinaabbott.com/ About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to?   I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives.   The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests.   See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/

16 MAY. 2024 · Have you ever wondered what would happen to your digital life should you die unexpectedly? Would your grieving loved ones know what utility companies you use, for example, so they can close accounts? Do you have strong beliefs or feelings about end of life care, funerals etc? This conversation, with Jane McCourt of The McCourt Method - http://themccourtmethod.com - has us breaking one of the last taboos - talking about death and dying as well as practical measures we can take now to make sure our loved ones aren’t left floundering with practicalities. Contact Jane to find out more about her guided program: https://themccourtmethod.com/end-of-life-planning/ or her cancer guidance programs/   About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy & sad & glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone & somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to? I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives.The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change.https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/midlife-beyond/ Buy my books about women in midlife and beyond: Face it, Own it! The Bare-faced Truth about Midlife Women: https://amzn.to/4bcbk4A Oh Crap, I'm 50! A Journey from Fearful to Fabulous (Sometimes) https://amzn.to/2KUPLcH

10 MAY. 2024 · April believes that having a healthy money mindset comes from feeling you deserve to be taken care of and trusting that things will work out. She feels her early experiences being around very wealthy people in college, even though she had little money herself then, shaped her belief that large amounts of money are possible and normal. April says she has leaned on her spiritual beliefs during difficult financial times, believing she would be provided her "daily bread" and taken care of. She feels surrounding yourself with loved ones during hard times and having an attitude of gratitude makes situations less scary. April credits her spiritual mentor with the phrase "fear is false evidence appearing real" and applies that to money fears and scarcity worries. She advises visualizing large future income goals, feeling your emotional reactions, and focusing on the good feelings and purposes behind the money versus the negative reactions. April recommends spiritual practices like meditation and time in nature to relax money fears. April emphasizes that even without a spiritual belief system, having an attitude of hope versus fear and gratitude versus lack are critical for overcoming blocks around money and attraction. Find out more about working with April and the Vixen Gathering on her website: https://www.vixengathering.com/ If you've enjoyed this conversation, PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE. Thank you for your support!   About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast.   Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to?   I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50, and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives.   The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves.  email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests.   See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/ 

2 MAY. 2024 · Did you know that the methods you used when you felt the need to lose a few pounds in your twenties and thirties just stop working when you reach perimenopause? Why? Hormones. This week I’m talking to weight loss expert, Dr Heather Awad about the fact that, as she puts it, “calories are not math at midlife.” We talk about the difference between adipose and and the more insidious visceral fat, and what we need to do reach and maintain a healthy weight in midlife and beyond. (Hint: this is not a diet plan!) You can access Dr Awad’s free mini course for weight loss on her website: https://www.vibrant-md.com/ About Dr Heather Awad Heather Awad, MD is the founder and CEO of Vibrant Weight Loss Age 50+ where she helps professional women over age 50 lose weight for the last time through a virtual platform. She offers a simple system that saves them time and helps them achieve their health and weight loss goals. They discover how to say no to foods they don’t want without using willpower, and create an eating protocol that they will enjoy going forward so that their weight loss is permanent. Dr. Awad is also the host of the Vibrant-MD podcast where she talks about weight loss, women’s health, and food. About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to? I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives. The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests. See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/

26 ABR. 2024 · Did you know that it’s now believed that 80% of chronic disease in later life can be prevented by what we do now in midlife? Me neither! That is an astonishing figure, one that prompted Dr Ferhat Uddin to add metabolic health assessment and improvement to her services at https://libertyhealthclinics.com/.   As she explains, midlife health isn’t just about hormones and she advocates that every woman should have a midlife health check that includes vitamin and mineral levels, cholesterol, blood pressure and triglyceride checks.   What we do with our health in midlife has huge ramifications down the line - as Ferhat says, your later self will thank your today self for making those changes!   You can find out more about getting your metabolic health on track on the Liberty Health Services website. Mention The Midlife Movement or the Midlife and Beyond Podcast with Jo Blackwell to receive a huge discount until 30th April 2024.   About Dr Ferhat Uddin Ferhat is a GP, British Menopause Society accredited Menopause Specialist, and a member of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine. She created Liberty Menopause Clinics to provide expert medical care for women in midlife. From helping women find the right type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treating nutritional deficiencies, at Liberty Health Ferhat treats every woman holistically.   About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to? I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives. The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests. See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/

11 ABR. 2024 · Award-winning British actress, director, producer and entrepreneur, Sharon Maughan developed health problems in 2009 due to a reaction to salicylates, known as salicylic overload. Suffering from symptoms including breathing problems, nasal polyps, eczema and incredibly sensitive skin, she had major surgery and was warned to make significant lifestyle changes, and drastically limit her salicylate intake or risk the condition returning within 6 months.   Salicylates’ common presence in cosmetics, food, cleaning products, perfume and more, means many others have also developed reactions and salicylate build up can affect sufferers with a varying spectrum of severity over time. Following her struggles, since 2012 she has been on a journey to develop a line of skincare products that can help to provide the solution. Using the best natural ingredients, Sharon has developed FaceWise, the go to for intelligent skincare.   In this conversation, Sharon shares a little of her life as an actress, her journey back to health and how she came to develop FaceWise with encouragement from friends.   Find out more about FaceWise intelligent skincare on Sharon’s website: https://facewiseskincare.com/ About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to?   I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives. The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests.  See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/

4 ABR. 2024 · Kim is a 60 year old mother of three who was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago and decided to ignore her then doctor's advice and muscle her way back to a happy life. Last year she became European Champion in Masters Weightlifting in her age and weight category. Her journey inspired her to leave her career in journalism in her 50s and become a health coach for middle aged women - with a big focus on reactivating and rebuilding muscle. Today, she helps women tap into an abundant source of vitality by reactivating and maintaining their muscles, while ditching diet culture conditioning to actually eat to nourish and flourish.   About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to? I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives. The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests. See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/

28 MAR. 2024 · Women are not simply small men - we often experience medical events differently to our male counterparts. This week I’m talking to Sam Palmer, about the risks and symptoms of heart attacks. Sam explained that once we lose the protection oestrogen provides, our risk of heart disease rises. Sam listed the risk factors: - Smoking - Obesity - Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Raised Cholesterol - Elevated stress levels - Poor sleep Sam runs an online fitness program for women in midlife and beyond (which I can personally recommend!) and advocates raising your heart rate for 20-30 minutes regularly AND practising restorative exercise, such as yoga to calm you down. Eat the rainbow - as many different and plentiful fruits and vegetables you can fit into your day - avoid excessive salt, saturated fats and processed foods as far as possible, but eat “good” fats like avocados and nuts and plenty of protein. About Sam Sam’s career started in the NHS where she qualified as a nurse eventually working as a Sister in NeoNatal Intensive Care. An award winning running coach, she underwent further training to help her clients, eventually founding Midlife Makeover. Find out about her online fitness membership here: https://www.midlifemakeover.co.uk/   About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to?  I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives. The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests. See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/

21 MAR. 2024 · Did you watch the film, “Wild” where Reese Witherspoon played Cheryl Strayed? Did it make you think, I could hike in the American wilderness on my own! NO? Me neither! Today’s guest thought just that and was inspired to walk 2,600 miles alone in midlife.   In a wide ranging conversation, anonymous adventurer, Person Irresponsible, talks to me about her remarkable life. We discussed: - the impact of boarding school on a child’s development - the importance of role models - the impact of the film “Wild” on women hikers - the perceptions we have about threat and safety - the statistics around femicide - spoiler: statistically, we’re safer outside our own homes if we live with a partner or son) - Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail - Serenading a bear with the National Anthem - How the pandemic kept PI on the trail - The toll a through-hike of 2,600 miles takes on the middle-aged body - The impact of adventure on anxiety - Why most adventure presenters are male I hope you enjoy this inspiring conversation as much as I did! And if you need a speaker on women and courage, or - better still - are looking for a presenter for an adventure series - look no further!  About “Person Irresponsible”  Adventurer, Academic, Author Britain’s most invisible middle-aged female adventurer. First person to quad bike around the UK, first woman to jetski around Scotland… read more in her books: Everywhere I didn’t want to go (but did anyway) https://amzn.to/4cnJsvk Everything you ever taught me https://amzn.to/3ISxcoR (About PI’s adventure on the PCT) About the Midlife and Beyond Podcast Like all transitions, midlife can be messy and sad and glorious all at once, leaving many midlife women feeling rather alone and somewhat invisible. But what does this transition we are experiencing lead to?   I'm Jo Blackwell, a photographer, author and coach for women who want more from their lives post 50 and I'm here to remind you that if we manage our health and embrace it, growing older can lead to one of the greatest periods of growth and transformation of our lives. The Midlife Movement was created to change minds about midlife and growing older, one story at a time. Because we only become invisible when when we stop seeing ourselves. email jo@joblackwell.co.uk to take part in the podcast or suggest guests. See The Midlife & Beyond section of my website for more information and resources to help you navigate change with less stress and more joy! https://www.joblackwell.co.uk/