The Wobbly Middle: Women's Careers In Midlife

Patsy Day | Women's careers in midlife
  • 4.6 (5)
  • CAREERS
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Patsy quit her job. Susannah quit the city. Now they’re on a quest to find the path through the wobbly middle of their careers. The Wobbly Middle explores the moment when ambition returns, and women begin actively questioning their direction. It's that in-between space where we know we want change but don't know how to move forward, making visible a stage in our lives rarely reflected in mainstream career media. This podcast is for every woman who’s asking “What now?”.

  1. 5D AGO

    Comedy, Confidence and Career Reinvention: Why Humour Is Power | Lynn Harris

    Comedy as a midlife career move — and why humour is one of the most powerful tools for change. What if the thing that makes you funny is the same thing that makes you powerful? Journalist, author and activist, Lynn Harris, has spent three decades using comedy to drive cultural change. From co-creating the cult 1990s superhero Breakup Girl, Lynn has now founded Gold Comedy, an online comedy school where women in their 40s and 50s are bringing the most fire. In this conversation, Lynn and Patsy talk about the gender gap in comedy; who gets to talk and who has to listen; why "exposure" doesn't pay the bills, and how your transferable skills are the Candyland board that will take you places. Lynn's message: if you're curious about developing your sense of humor, you don't have to change who you are in order to be funny… Don't wait for yourself to turn into someone else, which you won't. You already have everything it takes. SummaryLynn Harris is a comedian, journalist, author, and activist who has spent her career proving that humour is a serious force for change. From co-creating the cult superhero Breakup Girl in the 1990s to founding Gold Comedy — a fully online comedy school and professional network for women and non-binary creators — Lynn has built a patchwork career that she describes as a "Candyland board": different-coloured squares, all on the same path. In this episode, she and Patsy explore why comedy is such a powerful vehicle for midlife reinvention, why women deserve to get paid properly for creative work, and why the gender gap in comedy has never been about talent. About Lynn HarrisLynn Harris is a comedian, journalist, author, activist, and founder of Gold Comedy, an online comedy school, professional network, and content studio for women and non-binary creators. She co-created the cult character Breakup Girl with illustrator Chris Kalb, which first appeared in her 1996 book He Loved Me, He Loves Me Not and became one of the first multiplatform internet success stories. Lynn has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Glamour, and Salon, and served as VP of Communications at Breakthrough, a global human rights organisation using pop culture and media to address gender-based violence. She is based in New York — and Gold Comedy is fully online, so her community spans continents. Key TopicsComedy as a vehicle for cultural change — humour as a "delivery system" for shifting norms and assumptionsThe Candyland board career — transferring skills across a patchwork freelance life, where writing, comedy, activism, and campaigning are all different-coloured squares on the same pathThe gender gap in comedy — not about talent, but about who gets the stage, the mic, the writers' room, and the power to decide what's funnyWomen getting paid for creative work — the Cindy Gallop advice: "Say the largest amount you can without actually bursting into laughter"Gold Comedy's Build and Pitch programme — taught by Ryan Cunningham, where women in their 40s and 50s consistently bring the biggest fire"You don't have to change who you are to succeed" — or to be funny. Your unique perspective is all the raw material you need. LinksGold Comedy: https://goldcomedy.comBreakup Girl: https://www.breakupgirl.netLynn Harris: https://www.lynnharris.netThe Wobbly Middle on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wobbly-middle/id1767850643The Wobbly Middle on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YhwsBch8Q9vAOUBBfusIvSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep25-lynn-harrisFind out more about The Wobbly Middle: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep25-lynn-harris Where to Follow LynnInstagram: @goldcomedyTwitter/X: @GOLDcomedyLynn on Instagram: @lynnharrisLynn on Twitter/X: @harrislynnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnharris1 --- If You Enjoyed This EpisodeYou might also love Episode 24: From Teacher's Desk to Therapist's Couch with Carri Simmons. Where Lynn describes the "Candyland board" of a patchwork career — transferring skills in unexpected directions — Carri tells the deeply personal story of leaving teaching and retraining as a psychologist in midlife. --- Help Us GrowIf this episode resonated with you, here are two ways you can make a real difference: Leave a review here — it only takes a moment, and it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. Every review counts.Share this episode with a friend — if you know someone who might be in their own wobbly middle, send them this one. Sometimes knowing you're not alone is all it takes. Want more from Patsy between episodes? Subscribe to the newsletter — it's where the conversation continues: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep25-lynn-harris New to The Wobbly Middle? Find out what we're all about: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep25-lynn-harris Thank you for listening and for supporting independent podcasts. ---

    27 min

  2. FEB 17

    Career Change at 40: From Teacher's Desk to Psychologist's Sofa | Carri Simmons

    A career pivot story about retraining as a psychologist after a career break — for women starting over in midlife. What happens when you realise the career you built isn't the life you want? Carri Simmons spent years as a drama teacher until the toll of staying in the wrong role became impossible to ignore. "I had to leave because I wasn't able to be open to the world because I was in fight or flight. I was in a trauma mode." In this episode, Patsy talks to her long-distance bestie about walking away from teaching, going back to university as a mother of three, and retraining as a psychologist in South Africa. It's about believing that there IS something more for you. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start again, this one's for you. SummaryCarri Simmons was a drama teacher who loved her subject but found herself stuck in fight-or-flight mode, unable to grow in a role that no longer fitted. In her wobbly middle, she made the bold decision to return to university as a mature student and mother of three, retraining as a psychologist. Now practising in South Africa, Carri's story is proof that the most uncertain-feeling decisions can lead to the most rewarding outcomes. About CarriCarri Simmons is a practising psychologist based in South Africa. A former drama teacher and mother of three, she returned to university in midlife to retrain — earning her psychology qualification and building a new career from scratch. She and Patsy are long-distance friends who share a belief that it's never too late to change direction. Key TopicsThe emotional and physical toll of staying in the wrong careerRecognising fight-or-flight mode as a signal that something needs to changeGoing back to university as a mature student with childrenThe power of incremental steps - trying things out before you leapBeing open to possibilities even when the path isn't clearBuilding a new professional identity in midlife LinksSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep24-carri-simmonsFind out more about The Wobbly Middle: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep24-carri-simmonsThe Wobbly Middle on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wobbly-middle/id1767850643The Wobbly Middle on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YhwsBch8Q9vAOUBBfusIv Where to Follow Carrihttps://www.instagram.com/carri_simmons_psychologist/ --- If You Enjoyed This EpisodeYou might also love Season 3 Episode 3 with Julianne Miles. Where Carri tells the deeply personal story of going back to university and retraining from scratch, Julianne explores the science behind career returns — including neuroplasticity, transferable skills and lighting up the pathways. Together, they're two sides of the same coin: the courage to start again, and the evidence that we are still learning and growing. --- Help Us GrowIf this episode resonated with you, there are two simple ways you can make a real difference: Leave a review here — it only takes a moment, and it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. Every review counts.Share this episode with a friend — if you know someone who might be in their own wobbly middle, send them this one. Sometimes knowing you're not alone is all it takes. Want more from Patsy between episodes? Subscribe to the newsletter — it's where the conversation continues: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep24-carri-simmons New to The Wobbly Middle? Find out what we're all about: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep24-carri-simmons Thank you for listening and for supporting independent podcasters. ---

    26 min

  3. FEB 3

    Returning to Work After a Career Break: Making Your Own Luck | Julianne Miles MBE

    Returning to work after a career break — the psychology of luck, neuroplasticity, and starting again in midlife. Julianne Miles knows what it takes to return to work because she's done it herself. After stepping away from marketing when her children were small, she spent over a year asking herself "can I really start again?" — a question many of us will recognise. The answer was yes: she retrained as a psychologist and went on to co-found Career Returners, a social enterprise that has changed how employers and policymakers think about career breaks. In this episode, Julianne shares the science behind why it's never too late, including the encouraging research on neuroplasticity, work-family enrichment, and the psychology of luck. Her advice? Stop overthinking and start doing. SummaryJulianne Miles MBE spent a year going in circles — "shall I, shan't I?" — before signing up for an evening psychology course that changed everything. That small step led to a conversion course, a career as an occupational psychologist, and eventually the founding of Career Returners, one of the world's largest return-to-work platforms. In this conversation, she shares the research that underpins her book Return Journey, including neuroplasticity (your brain never stops making new connections), work-family enrichment (the idea that work and family can be allies, not competitors), and the psychology of luck — Richard Wiseman's finding that "lucky" people simply see the world differently. It's a masterclass in why confidence comes from action, not the other way around. About JulianneJulianne Miles MBE is an occupational psychologist and co-founder of Career Returners, a social impact enterprise and community dedicated to making career breaks a valued part of a lifetime career. A former marketer who retrained as a psychologist after her own career break, she has shaped how employers and policymakers think about return-to-work practices. She brought the concept of "returnships" — pioneered by Goldman Sachs — to the UK, and is the author of Return Journey: How to Get Back to Work and Thrive After a Career Break. She was awarded an MBE for services to career returners. Key TopicsThe "shall I, shan't I" phase — and how to break the cycle of indecisionWhy confidence comes from action, not from having the perfect planNeuroplasticity: your brain makes new connections at any age — the science says it's never too lateWork-family enrichment: why going back to work can give you more energy, not lessThe psychology of luck — Richard Wiseman's research on why "lucky" people create their own opportunitiesHow Career Returners grew from kitchen table workshops to a national platformNavigating recruitment bias against career gaps — and what actually worksBuilding your return-to-work support team and the power of communityWhy "every no gets me closer to a yes" LinksJulianne's book Return Journey: https://careerreturners.com/return-journey-book/Career Returners Professional Community (free or pay-if-you-can): https://community.careerreturners.com/The Wobbly Middle on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wobbly-middle/id1767850643The Wobbly Middle on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YhwsBch8Q9vAOUBBfusIvSubscribe to the newsletter: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep23-julianne-milesFind out more about The Wobbly Middle: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep23-julianne-miles --- If You Enjoyed This EpisodeYou might also love our Season 3 Episode with Carri Simmons From Teacher's Desk to Psychologist's Sofa with Carri Simmons. Where Julianne shares the science behind career returns, Carri tells the deeply personal story of walking away from teaching, going back to university as a mother of three, and retraining as a psychologist. Together, they're two sides of the same coin: the evidence that it works, and the courage to try. --- Help Us GrowIf this episode resonated with you, there are two simple ways you can make a real difference: Leave a review here — it only takes a moment, and it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. Every review counts.Share this episode with a friend — if you know someone who might be in their own wobbly middle, send them this one. Sometimes knowing you're not alone is all it takes. Want more from Patsy between episodes? Subscribe to the newsletter — it's where the conversation continues: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep23-julianne-miles New to The Wobbly Middle? Find out what we're all about: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep23-julianne-miles Thank you for listening and for supporting independent podcasters. ---

    22 min

  4. JAN 28

    Pin It To Win It: The Neuroscience of Vision Boards | Rebecca Newman

    The neuroscience behind vision boards and goal-setting — and how to use them at a career crossroads. Do vision boards actually work, or are they just arts and crafts with ambition? In this bonus episode, investigative wellness journalist Rebecca Newman draws on the research of neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart, author of The Source, to explain what's really going on in our brains when we make an action board — and why they might be exactly the tool you need in your wobbly middle. Then theory meets practice as Patsy and Rebecca head to the craft room, where scissors and glue meet cork board, to make their own. It turns out a vision board isn't about magical thinking — it's a daily point of orientation, keeping you facing forward. Summary This episode takes a dive into the science of goal-setting through the lens of vision boards. Rebecca Newman, a journalist who has written for the Financial Times, The Guardian, and GQ, unpacks the neuroscience research of Dr Tara Swart to show why visual goal-setting can sharpen your sight line through the wobbly middle. Far from being a fluffy exercise, action boards work by keeping your goals front and centre — something you live with every day. Patsy and Rebecca then roll up their sleeves and make their own boards. Key Topics - The neuroscience behind vision boards — what happens in your brain when you visualise your goals - Dr Tara Swart's research in The Source on selective attention and goal prioritisation - How action boards differ from wish lists — making goals tangible and visible - Using vision boards as a practical tool for navigating a career crossroads in midlife - The power of keeping your goals front and centre as a daily point of orientation - Why getting hands-on with scissors and glue can unlock clarity you weren't expecting Links - The Source by Dr Tara Swart: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16913/9781785042003 - The Wobbly Middle on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wobbly-middle/id1767850643 - The Wobbly Middle on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YhwsBch8Q9vAOUBBfusIv - Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep22-rebecca-newman - Find out more about The Wobbly Middle: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep22-rebecca-newman If You Enjoyed This Episode You might also love our Q&A with Patsy Day and Susannah de Jager, where they opened the mailbag to tackle listeners' questions about navigating the midlife career odyssey. If the vision board episode got you thinking about what's next, the Q&A offers practical encouragement for when you're ready to take the next step. --- Help Us Grow If this episode resonated with you, there are two simple things that make a real difference: - Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it only takes a moment, and it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. Every review counts. - Share this episode with a friend — if you know someone who might be in their own wobbly middle, send them this one. Sometimes knowing you're not alone is all it takes. Want more from Patsy between episodes? Subscribe to the newsletter — it's where the conversation continues: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep22-rebecca-newman New to The Wobbly Middle? Find out what we're all about: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep22-rebecca-newman Thank you for listening and for supporting independent podcasting. ---

    18 min

  5. JAN 19

    Career Pivot After Redundancy: Consultant to Magistrate | Pip Symington

    A career pivot story about rebuilding after redundancy — from risk consultant to magistrate and PhD researcher. When a long-term relationship ended in her twenties, Pip Symington chose adventure. She landed a job in Asia and spent twenty years working across Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Japan as a risk consultant and loving every minute of it. She said yes to everything, until one day it was gone. Made redundant and reeling Pip turned to friends and a bit of therapy before redesigning the shape of her working life. She no longer wanted one all-consuming thing. Today, it's family, study, and service that brings fulfilment. Summary Pip Symington spent two decades as a risk consultant across Asia before being made redundant — a pain she describes as like "being dumped for the first time." In her wobbly middle, she rebuilt through therapy, a happiness bowl exercise, and the support of friends who helped her see redundancy as an opportunity. Now back in Oxford, Pip has built a portfolio career that balances her PHD research, teaching music, and volunteering as a magistrate. Her story is proof that a career crossroads can lead to more adventures. Key Topics - The emotional toll of redundancy and losing your professional identity - Using therapy and a "happiness bowl" to rediscover what brings you joy - Building a portfolio career after a career break — balancing study, service, and family - What it's like to volunteer as a magistrate in the UK justice system - Why it's never too late to go back to study — and why midlife is the ideal time Links - Interested in volunteering as a magistrate? Find out more: https://magistrates.judiciary.uk/how-to-volunteer/ - The Wobbly Middle on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wobbly-middle/id1767850643 - The Wobbly Middle on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YhwsBch8Q9vAOUBBfusIv - Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep21-pip-symington - Find out more about The Wobbly Middle: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep21-pip-symington --- If You Enjoyed This Episode You might also our Season 1 episode From Lab to Lifeline with Dr Emily Connally. Like Pip, Emily is an Oxford-based woman who channelled her skills into community service — founding a food bank at the school gate that's now reshaping how local networks respond to food waste. Both episodes show how the wobbly middle can lead to something that serves not just you, but the world around you. --- Help Us Grow If this episode resonated with you, there are two simple things that make a real difference: - Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it only takes a moment, and it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. Every review counts. - Share this episode with a friend — if you know someone who might be in their own wobbly middle, send them this one. Sometimes knowing you're not alone is all it takes. Want more from Patsy between episodes? Subscribe to the newsletter — it's where the conversation continues: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep21-pip-symington New to The Wobbly Middle? Find out what we're all about: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep21-pip-symington Thank you for listening and for supporting independent podcasters.

    29 min

  6. SEASON 3 TRAILER

    Season 3: Reigniting Possibility In the Year Ahead

    Season 3 of The Wobbly Middle — real career reinvention stories for women starting over in midlife. The Wobbly Middle is back with a new season launching on Blue Monday, 19 January — that mid-January moment when morale plummets, resolutions flatline, and job searches spike. So we're sending in reinforcements. This season, Patsy talks to women who've forged bold new paths in their 40s and beyond — comedians, psychologists, magistrates, and pathfinders who changed direction because something needed to shift. They talk honestly about what worked and the steps they took, so that you can find your own way forward too. What's Coming in Season 3 Season 3 features women who pivoted careers, returned to work after a break, and took their long-neglected ambitions seriously. Guests include: - Pip Symington — risk consultant turned magistrate and PhD researcher, building a portfolio career after redundancy - Rebecca Newman — investigative wellness journalist exploring the neuroscience of goal-setting and vision boards - Julianne Miles MBE — psychologist and founder of Career Returners, one of the world's largest return-to-work platforms - Carri Simmons — drama teacher who returned to university at 38 to retrain as a psychologist in South Africa - Lynn Harris — award-winning journalist, author, activist and founder of GOLD Comedy, a comedy school for women and non-binary people. Links - The Wobbly Middle on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wobbly-middle/id1767850643 - The Wobbly Middle on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4YhwsBch8Q9vAOUBBfusIv - Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep20-season-3-trailer - Find out more about The Wobbly Middle: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep20-season-3-trailer --- If You Enjoyed This Episode If you're new to The Wobbly Middle, a wonderful place to start is our first episode with super docs Drs Susanne Hooper and Melanie Hacking who are helping women navigate the hormonal highway. You'll get to know us a little and also learn something from these incredible menopause specialists. --- Help Us Grow If this episode resonated with you, there are two simple things you can do to make a real difference: - Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it only takes a moment, and it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. Every review counts. - Share this episode with a friend — if you know someone who might be in their own wobbly middle, send them this one. Sometimes knowing you're not alone is all it takes. Want more from Patsy between episodes? Subscribe to the newsletter — it's where the conversation continues: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep20-season-3-trailer New to The Wobbly Middle? Find out what we're all about: https://thewobblymiddle.substack.com/about?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep20-season-3-trailer Thank you for listening and for supporting independent podcasting. ---

    1 min

  7. 07/16/2025

    Salima Saxton: From Losing Herself in Motherhood to Rebuilding Her Multi-Hyphenate Career

    Actress, writer, podcaster, and mother of three, Salima Saxton joins The Wobbly Middle Season 2 finale to talk about reclaiming yourself. From centre stage to the school gate and back again, Salima shares what it took to reawaken her creative life after years on mute. In this warm, frank conversation, she reflects on the disconnection so many women feel after stepping back from their careers - and how she wrote her way back into her multi-hyphenate roles. Together with hosts Susannah de Jager and Patsy Day, Salima dives into the messy middle of rediscovery, thrills at the power of women’s anger, and throws the idea of “balance” straight overboard. If you’ve ever felt like you left parts of yourself behind, this one’s for you. (00:00) - Welcome to The Wobbly Middle (00:46) - Reflections on Fitting In and Being True to Yourself (02:33) - Introducing Salima Saxton (03:47) - Salima's Early Career and Family Life (07:49) - The Challenges of Motherhood (13:29) - Rediscovering Identity Through Writing (16:25) - The Reality of Success and Failure (20:27) - The Inception of 'Women are Mad' Podcast (27:58) - Estrangement and Family Reflections (31:45) - Final Thoughts THE WOBBLY MIDDLE is a podcast about women reinventing their careers in midlife. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: NEW EPISODES drop every second Wednesday. Follow now so you never miss an episode. SHARE YOUR STORY: Made a left turn in your career? We’d love to hear about it. Write to us at stories@thewobblymiddle.com—your pivot might just be the nudge someone else needs. SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER:  thewobblymiddle.substack.com LEARN MORE ON SUBSTACK: thewobblymiddle.substack.com FOLLOW US on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook @thewobblymiddle ABOUT THE HOSTS: Susannah de Jager has just relocated to Abu Dhabi, where she’s podcasting, consulting with start-ups, and occasionally advising on scale-up capital. After leaving her role as CEO of a boutique asset manager, she asked the all-important question: what next? Five years later, she’s following her curiosity —The Wobbly Middle is for her and every woman doing the same. Patsy Day is a lawyer on a break. As an intellectual property specialist, she has worked on everything from anti-counterfeiting to publishing and from London to Ho Chi Minh City and back again. Patsy lives in Oxford and is currently immersed in podcasts producing SafeHouse Amsterdam (out 2025) and co-hosting, The Wobbly Middle, a podcast about women reinventing their careers in midlife.

    33 min

  8. 07/02/2025

    Joy Ride: Taking your confidence out for a spin

    From olympic dreams to a digital sisterhood, Joy Foster traded a career in the City for a quiver of arrows, followed love across borders and then and then, somewhat accidentally, became a digital entrepreneur.  Her creation, TechPixies, now serves as both launchpad and lifeline for women looking to pivot, re-enter the workforce, or start from scratch. In this episode, Joy talks about what it means to bloom wherever you’re planted even when the soil is foreign or the sun unreliable. She shares her belief that confidence is a decision, reinforced daily through small acts of doing. From five-minute power moves to three-year plans, Joy’s practical, no-nonsense guidance is both energising and refreshingly doable. If you’re stalled, stuck, or quietly simmering with ideas, this conversation will propel you from inertia to momentum.  (00:00) - Welcome to The Wobbly Middle (01:48) - Introducing Joy Foster (03:28) - Joy's Philosophy on Confidence (04:51) - Crafting a Vision for Your Life (09:18) - Joy's Personal Bravery (12:37) - Challenges in Switzerland (15:20) - Resilience and Support Systems (17:14) - Empowering Women Through Tech Pixies (20:14) - Navigating Grants and Funding (24:57) - Reflections and Advice THE WOBBLY MIDDLE is a podcast about women reinventing their careers in midlife. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: NEW EPISODES drop every second Wednesday. Follow now so you never miss an episode. SHARE YOUR STORY: Made a left turn in your career? We’d love to hear about it. Write to us at stories@thewobblymiddle.com—your pivot might just be the nudge someone else needs. SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER:  thewobblymiddle.substack.com LEARN MORE ON SUBSTACK: thewobblymiddle.substack.com FOLLOW US on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook @thewobblymiddle ABOUT THE HOSTS: Susannah de Jager has just relocated to Abu Dhabi, where she’s podcasting, consulting with start-ups, and occasionally advising on scale-up capital. After leaving her role as CEO of a boutique asset manager, she asked the all-important question: what next? Five years later, she’s following her curiosity —The Wobbly Middle is for her and every woman doing the same. Patsy Day is a lawyer on a break. As an intellectual property specialist, she has worked on everything from anti-counterfeiting to publishing and from London to Ho Chi Minh City and back again. Patsy lives in Oxford and is currently immersed in podcasts producing SafeHouse Amsterdam (out 2025) and co-hosting, The Wobbly Middle, a podcast about women reinventing their careers in midlife.

    31 min
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Patsy quit her job. Susannah quit the city. Now they’re on a quest to find the path through the wobbly middle of their careers. The Wobbly Middle explores the moment when ambition returns, and women begin actively questioning their direction. It's that in-between space where we know we want change but don't know how to move forward, making visible a stage in our lives rarely reflected in mainstream career media. This podcast is for every woman who’s asking “What now?”.

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