Women's Health Unwrapped

Nicola Farndell

Unwrapping what healthy really means in midlife, so you feel energised, confident and like you again. Women’s Health Unwrapped is a weekly podcast hosted by Nicola Farndell, exploring the emotional and physical shifts women experience in midlife. Blending expert insight with real stories, the show gently challenges outdated views on health, ageing and self-worth, offering a fresh, grounded perspective on what it means to thrive through perimenopause and beyond. For women who are ready to reconnect with their energy, identity and joy, without the overwhelm.

  1. 3D AGO

    #173: International Women’s Day, Recalibration, and Why I’m Pressing Pause

    This is a special episode. It’s going out just ahead of International Women’s Day, and it’s also my last episode for a while. Not because I’m “done”. Not because I’m disappearing. But because I’m practising what I coach: listening to myself, telling the truth about my capacity, and making decisions from self-respect instead of self-pressure. If you’ve been pushing through, holding it together, doing what you need to do… while quietly running on fumes, this episode is for you. Because most women already know what they should do to feel better. But knowing hasn’t changed anything. This conversation is a pause with purpose. It’s about burnout (the quiet kind), leadership (the honest kind), and why recalibration is not failure — it’s wisdom. It’s what sustainable success looks like in real life. In this episode we’re unwrapping: Why International Women’s Day matters as a moment of reflection, not just celebration. The cost of treating women’s health like an “extra” instead of the foundation. What burnout can look like when you’re still functioning, but you’re not okay. Why the online space can pull you into pressure, noise and quick fixes — and what it means to step away with integrity. What recalibration really is (and why it doesn’t mean you’ve failed). The difference between “pausing” and “stopping” — and why this break is strategic. The questions I’m using to guide my next chapter as I head towards turning 50. How to make your next decision from self-respect, not self-pressure. If you'd like to use the journalling prompts I share in the episode, I've included them in a blog to accompany the episode. Check it out here. Thank you for listening, watching, sharing, and being part of this community. If you’ve loved the podcast, I’d genuinely love to hear from you: What’s helped you most? What episodes have stayed with you? What would you love more of when the podcast returns? And if you’re listening and thinking, “This is a conversation our workplace needs,” message me. I’d love to explore what’s possible. About Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com 🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    31 min
  2. FEB 24

    #172: A grounded spiritual approach to menopause and self-worth

    You can be the woman who holds everything together… and still feel quietly disconnected from yourself. Maybe you’re functioning. You’re doing what needs doing. You’re showing up. But somewhere underneath the productivity and responsibility, there’s a sense that you’ve drifted. In this episode I’m joined by Anne-Louise Harbutt — intuitive spiritual channel and author of Insights from the Soul — to explore spirituality in a grounded, practical way. Not as something “woo”. Not as an escape from real life. As a way to reconnect with your own inner voice when midlife feels noisy, emotional, foggy, or out of your control. Together we talk about the moment many women reach in perimenopause and beyond — when you finally ask yourself, What do I really want? — and why that question can bring up more emotion than you expect. You’ll also hear Anne-Louise share her own experience of menopause exhaustion, and the tools that helped her stay anchored while she moved through it. If you’ve been craving calm, clarity, and a sense of coming back to you, this conversation will meet you there. In this episode we’re unwrapping: Why so many women feel disconnected even when life looks “fine” on the outside. The difference between spirituality and stereotypes (and how to make it practical). How the word “should” quietly reveals where you’re abandoning yourself. What happens emotionally when you finally ask: What do I really want?. Why slowing down can feel scary when you’ve lived in push mode for years. Anne-Louise’s experience of menopause exhaustion, and what helped her through the darkest stretch. How to work with your inner voice when it’s harsh, critical, and never satisfied. Simple ways to rebuild self-trust: focus, feelings, intuition, and tiny daily resets. About Anne-Louise Harbutt: Anne-Louise Harbutt is an intuitive spiritual channel and the author of Insights from the Soul. She supports women who are tired of holding it all together — feeling responsible for everyone and everything — to reconnect with their intuition, reclaim their spark, and cultivate the calm, magnetic life they know is meant for them. Her work centres on activating what she calls bold elegance, helping women unlock their feminine magnetism in a way that feels grounded and real. Anne-Louise has a natural intuitive ability to access guidance beyond everyday consciousness, connecting clients with their higher self, future self, and soul-led direction. Connect with Anne-Louise: Website About Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com 🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    50 min
  3. FEB 17

    #171: Your mental diet in midlife: How self-talk shapes menopause health

    That voice in your head is not harmless — it’s shaping how you feel in midlife. Do you ever catch yourself scrolling at night because it’s the only time that feels like yours… then waking up tired, wired, and already behind? In this episode, I’m joined by transformational coach and subconscious mindset expert Tina LeAnn, host of The Sovereign Soul Podcast, to explore how your inner world affects your outer reality in perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. Most women already know they “should” be kinder to themselves, sleep more, and spend less time on their phones. But knowing hasn’t translated into change — because the real driver is what’s happening under the surface: your nervous system state, your subconscious patterns, and the words you repeat internally every day. This conversation will help you spot what’s shaping you, and give you simple ways to interrupt it without forcing fake positivity or adding another rule to your life. In this episode we’re unwrapping: Why your self-talk is not “just thoughts” — it becomes identity, stress, and behaviour over time. How screen time and anxiety quietly feed each other, especially when you’re already depleted. Why bedtime scrolling often isn’t lack of discipline — it’s your nervous system reaching for relief. A simple 24-hour screen reset to help you feel the difference between dysregulation and calm. What actually makes a pattern interrupt stick (and why awareness alone isn’t enough). How Tina improved her sleep by preparing for it long before bedtime — and what a realistic menopause sleep routine can look like. Why affirmations can backfire when your body doesn’t believe them yet. How to rewrite harsh inner narratives into supportive statements that feel believable and implementable. A calmer way to approach midlife changes: experimentation over catastrophising, and small steps over all-or-nothing. About Tina LeAnn: Tina LeAnn is founder of The Sovereign Soul, NLP Master Practitioner & Trainer, Human Design & Gene Keys expert, transformational coach, and host of The Sovereign Soul Podcast. Tina’s work sits at the intersection of deep energetics and practical structure.  Her approach blends NLP and MER® emotional release techniques with Human Design and Gene Keys to release subconscious imprints and emotional residue without asking clients to re-traumatize or rehash the past. She’s known for helping women rebuild unshakable self-trust, shift identity at the root, and translate clarity into action across relationships, money, and purpose. A Salt Lake City transplant and lifelong seeker, Tina brings real-world grit and lived experience to every room she leads. Connect with Tina: Website Facebook Instagram Get Tina's Free PDF: Which Spiral Are You In? A Nervous-System-Safe Diagnostic for Identity Shifts About Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com 🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    59 min
  4. FEB 10

    #170: Is it ageing or alignment? How posture affects energy, brain fog and confidence in midlife

    That neck ache that never quite goes away. The shoulder tension that creeps in by mid-afternoon. The back pain that flares up if you sit too long or walk too far. Most of us assume it is “just ageing”. In this episode I’m joined by chiropractor and posture specialist Dr Brett Hill to explore a different lens: what if the issue is not ageing, but alignment? We talk about why posture is not simply “sit up straight” or “pull your shoulders back”. Brett explains posture as a nervous system and anti-gravity system — the constant feedback loop between your body and your brain that influences balance, energy, stress response, confidence, and even brain fog (which so many women notice during perimenopause and menopause). Most women already know posture matters. But knowing has not translated into change — because posture is largely unconscious. So we focus on what actually helps: awareness, sensory feedback, and small daily habits that fit real life. If you’re in midlife and noticing more tension, pain, stiffness, or frequent injuries (especially if you sit at a desk, work on a laptop, or spend time on your phone), this episode will help you understand what’s going on — and give you simple implementation steps you can start today. In this episode we’re unwrapping: What posture really is (and why “sitting up straight” is not the solution). How posture affects the brain and nervous system — not just the muscles and joints. Why desk work and phone use can train your body into compensation patterns over time. The link between posture, stress response, energy, and brain fog in midlife. Why balance is a powerful indicator of postural strength (and how to practise it safely). Simple posture resets you can build into your day without adding pressure or time. About Dr Brett Hill: Dr. Brett Hill from YourPostureProgram.com, is a chiropractor, entrepreneur, and speaker who’s changing the way we think about posture, movement, and brain health. He founded Xperience Life Chiropractic and developed YourPostureProgram.com—an online solution that helps people transform their posture and health from anywhere in the world. Dr. Hill empowers individuals to look better and feel better by fixing their posture through practical, simple and effective strategies that fit into everyday life.  Connect with Brett: Website Dr Brett Hill’s free posture videos About Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com 🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    48 min
  5. FEB 3

    #169: Sacred Metabolism - Why midlife energy and weight are not just about food

    You have probably been told midlife is a slow slide into decline. Weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, brain fog – “just part of the deal now.” Most women already know the basics: eat well, move more, manage stress. But knowing has not been the problem. The problem is that midlife demands a different approach – one that works with your body, your hormones, and your nervous system… not against them. In this episode, I am joined by “midlife alchemist” Carla Wainwright to explore metabolism as more than biology. We talk about physical metabolism (blood sugar, hormones, mitochondria) and the deeper layer Carla calls sacred metabolism – the energetic, intuitive, embodied part of you that so many women have learned to override. This is not an episode to consume and forget. It is an invitation to implement something small, steady, and meaningful – so you can stop firefighting symptoms and start leading your health. In this episode, we unwrap: What metabolism actually is (and why it is not just about weight). Why women’s metabolism changes across the cycle, perimenopause, and post-menopause. The link between chronic stress, blood sugar, and poor metabolic health. Why what used to work may stop working when women reach menopause because of the shift in hormones and stress responses. What Carla means by “sacred metabolism” and why energy matters. Why midlife can be a portal into your most powerful years. How small actions create big outcomes when they are consistent and matched to your nervous system capacity. Three simple, practical steps you can start today (even with a full life). About Carla Wainwright: Carla Wainwright is a Holistic Wellness Coach, Sexual Awakening Facilitator, and Midlife Alchemist.
She supports women 40+ to reclaim vitality, balance their hormones, and reconnect with their pleasure and power through a blend of metabolic health, nervous system healing, and sensual embodiment. With a background in biology, homeopathy, and over two decades of experience in the healing arts, Carla bridges science with sacred wisdom. She is especially passionate about helping women reframe midlife as a transformative rite of passage – a portal to deeper clarity, creative power, and authentic expression.  Connect with Carla: Website Instagram Facebook Get Carla's FREE 'The Vibrancy Guide' to boost energy, balance hormones, and feel good in your body again. About Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com 🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    44 min
  6. JAN 27

    #168: Fallen off track already? Why January health goals fail and what to do instead

    If January hasn’t gone to plan, take a breath. Nothing has gone wrong. This time of year is loaded with pressure to “reset” overnight – to suddenly have clarity, motivation, discipline, and energy all at once. But bodies do not work like that. Hormones do not work like that. And real, sustainable health definitely does not work like that. In this solo episode, I share why giving up on resolutions is rarely a personal failure. It is often a sign the approach never fit your life in the first place. You will learn a calmer, more supportive way to plan health changes for 2026 – one that works with your capacity, your nervous system, and the season you are in. Because health is not built in January. It is built in ordinary weeks, in real life, with compassion and consistency. In the episode we unwrap: Why January creates unrealistic pressure to change overnight. The real reason most resolutions fail (and why it is not about willpower). How midlife hormones, stress tolerance, sleep and energy change the “rules”. Why your body needs safety, repetition, and consistency (not a full overhaul). How to plan health changes that support your nervous system, not punish it. Why the women who feel better long-term are not the most disciplined – they are the most compassionate and consistent. How real change happens when you stop trying to do it alone, quickly, or perfectly About Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com 🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    28 min
  7. JAN 20

    #167: Nervous system tools for midlife anxiety, brain fog and burnout

    If you have been waking up tired, pushing through, and quietly wondering when you stopped feeling like you… this episode is for you. Because most women in midlife are not lacking knowledge. You already know you “should” slow down, breathe more, set boundaries, and stop doing everything for everyone. But knowing has not changed how you feel. In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr Melissa Sonners – nervous system expert, brainwave educator and author of The Connection Code – to explore what actually helps you shift from constant push mode into calm, resilience and alignment. In this episode we unwrap: Why so many midlife women are stuck in “beta” (push mode) and what it’s doing to your nervous system. The difference between theta, alpha and beta brainwaves – and how to use them as “gears” for your day. Why hormonal shifts can amplify anxiety, brain fog, overwhelm, and that feeling of being “out of control”. The simplest morning reset: how to hear your inner voice before the world gets loud. How to use micro-doses of regulation (2 minutes counts) to train your nervous system to seek calm. Why self-care needs a rebrand – and what works when you’re already stretched thin. How boundaries become non-negotiable in midlife (without blowing up your relationships). The surprising power of returning to what you loved before life got busy – and why joy is a regulation tool. About Dr Melissa Sonners: Dr. Melissa Sonners is a nervous system expert, brainwave educator, and the author of The Connection Code (Hay House, 2026).  She helps women- especially those in perimenopause and beyond - rewires stress patterns, regulate their nervous system, and realign with their truest selves using brainwave science, hormonal rhythm syncing, and micro- moments of reconnection.  Through her signature tools like the Regulated Rhythm Cheat Sheet, the Brain Harmony Blueprint and her 30 day Play Challenge, Melissa empowers women to stop outsourcing their well-being and instead access powerful, practical tools by aligning with their own biology- no extra to do list required. Connect with Melissa: Website YouTube 5 day challenge: Being self-withAbout Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    58 min
  8. JAN 13

    #166: Simple daily stretches to support menopause joint pain and long-term health

    You’re doing the “right” things. You’re trying to exercise. You know strength matters in midlife. And yet your body still feels stiff, achy, or fragile. If you’ve ever been told “this is just ageing” or felt your world shrink because pain made everyday life harder, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I’m joined by Butch Phelps, author of Stretching Release and creator of The Muscle Repair Shop, to explore a different way of thinking about mobility in midlife. Not stretching as another task you should be doing perfectly, but as a simple daily practice that helps your body feel safe enough to move well again. This is exactly the kind of change that only happens when you implement it in real life, not when you just learn about it. In this episode we unwrap: Why midlife can feel like a “decline” — and how to reframe it as a shift you can lead. The mind–muscle connection: how stress and fear can tighten the body and amplify pain. Why “hold a stretch for 30 seconds” often backfires (and what to do instead). How tight calves, quads, and chest muscles can affect your back, hips, neck, and shoulders. The simple habit shift that makes stretching doable when you’re busy: chunking it into your day. Why strength training is powerful, but not the whole answer for pain-free movement and life-long mobility. About Butch Phelps: Butch Phelps is a self-proclaimed muscle nerd with an insatiable curiosity for how the human body works, especially when it comes to muscles. But he’s not just a bookworm in a lab coat—Butch is a hands-on, life-tested expert who’s been through it all. He's an author, public speaker, and licensed massage therapist with a bachelor's degree in Aging Sciences. Connect with Butch: Website Instagram YouTubeGet Butch’s free EBook About Life Now Coaching with Nicola: We unwrap what healthy living really means, helping you cut through the confusion and overwhelm to build sustainable, healthy habits that actually fit your life. We’re here to strip back the noise and show you why prioritising your health is the key to the happy, vibrant life you’re striving for. We specialise in supporting women in midlife to take control of their wellbeing and menopause journey using our RESET plan focused on: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and Stress. Because when you feel strong, capable, and in control, everything changes. Explore Our Free Resources & Support: 👉 Take the free Midlife Reset Quiz and find out what’s holding you back — and the first step to feeling like yourself again: https://nicola-w4qugfu9.scoreapp.com 🌎 Visit our ⁠website⁠ 📸 Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ 💼 Connect on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ 🎥 Watch podcast episodes on ⁠YouTube⁠ 📖 Full episode notes available on our website ⁠here⁠ 🎙 Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women create their own healthy habits and thrive through every season of life - including menopause!

    58 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Unwrapping what healthy really means in midlife, so you feel energised, confident and like you again. Women’s Health Unwrapped is a weekly podcast hosted by Nicola Farndell, exploring the emotional and physical shifts women experience in midlife. Blending expert insight with real stories, the show gently challenges outdated views on health, ageing and self-worth, offering a fresh, grounded perspective on what it means to thrive through perimenopause and beyond. For women who are ready to reconnect with their energy, identity and joy, without the overwhelm.