Finding Foundations

Karen Thom

Finding Foundations is a podcast for women navigating midlife who are done with the polished version of life.Hosted by Karen Thom from The Foundation Studio, each episode is one woman's real story not the Instagram highlight reel, the truth about what it takes to find solid ground when life changesThree questions every time:What's the one truth you've come to know on your journey?How do you live it every day, even when things feel impossible?How does it feel today to see how your life has changed?We talk to women who've switched careers, started over, or just decided "sod it, I'm doing this differently" plus experts on money, sex, and health who'll tell you what you actually need to know.New episodes weekly. Launch event 26th March - eyes peeled for more news soon. find us on  instagram finding foundations Apple Spotify 

  1. 3d ago

    Turns out we were always hot

    Send us Fan Mail There's something really interesting about getting older as a woman. I think most of us spend our 20s worrying about things that, with hindsight, didn't matter at all.... Our bodies. What people think. Whether we're getting it right. Whether we're too much. Not enough. Too loud. Too needy. Too independent. Too emotional. Then somewhere along the way we hit our 40s and think: Jesus Christ. What was I worrying about? This week's conversation with Jen went in all sorts of directions. Boundaries. People pleasing. Confidence. Saying no. The fear of disappointing people. The stories we tell ourselves about what will happen if we stop making everyone else comfortable. And one thing kept coming up again and again. How often women abandon themselves without even realising they're doing it. I loved this conversation. It's honest, funny, thoughtful and one of those chats where you find yourself nodding along thinking... oh thank god, it's not just me. enjoy. Here is the RAIN practice recording. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-g6t5e-11c8f85 Jen Maxwell is a feminine leadership guide, fire walking facilitator, tantra teacher, and creator of the RISE™ Framework. She supports women through powerful rites of passage and life transitions such as burnout, identity shifts, and menopause, helping them reconnect with their bodies, truth, and inner authority.  Her work is rooted in embodiment, sovereignty, and feminine awakening, guiding women to release conditioning and return to who they truly are beneath expectation and survival patterns. At the heart of her work is the RISE™ Framework, which supports women to Reconnect with the body, rediscover Intuition, reclaim Sovereignty, and fully Embody their authentic self. Through this, she creates spaces for deep transformation, sisterhood, and remembrance. Jen is passionate about women’s empowerment and believes that when women rise into their truth and aliveness, it creates a ripple effect of change in their lives, relationships, and the wider world. She offers 1:1 RISE mentorships, fire walking & empowerment experiences and transformational retreats.  Here is a link to the RISE framework https://jenmaxwell.com/the-rising/if you can embed it or add to the bottom. Here is my main website https://jenmaxwell.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jenmaxwellrising  Https://www.instagram.com/jen_maxwell_rising

    52 min
  2. May 17

    When staying the same stops working

    Send us Fan Mail What if life doesn’t look like you expected… and it turns out even better ? In this episode of Finding Foundations, I’m joined by Fiona for a conversation about reinvention, grief, intuition, anxiety, yoga, starting over, and building a life that actually feels like your own. We talk about the moment where “coping” stops working. The pressure women feel to follow a certain path. The grief of realising life might not unfold the way you imagined. And what happens when you finally stop trying to fit inside the box society handed you. Fiona shares her journey from ending her marriage, leaving a successful NHS career, selling her home, and completely rebuilding her life around yoga, wellbeing, and creating her yurt space in the Lake District. Talk about a blow up! This is a conversation about trusting yourself, even when you don’t fully know where you’re going yet. About learning to sit with discomfort instead of suppressing it. About creating a life that feels full — with or without the things you once thought would complete you. We also explore: – gut instinct and reconnecting to the body – anxiety, burnout, and midlife awakening – letting go of attachment – why slowing down changes everything – building a life on your own terms – the courage it takes to choose differently A really honest, thoughtful conversation for anyone questioning whether the life they’ve built still fits who they are becoming. follow Fiona or sign up for her retreats here...... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bloomwithberry/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bloomwithberry •      Website  https://www.trybooking.com/uk/eventlist/bloomwithberry

    57 min
  3. May 1

    Money, Relationships.... and what no one tells you until it's over

    Send us Fan Mail Money is one of those things we don’t really talk about… until we absolutely have to. In this conversation, I’m joined by Liz Harrington, an EFT coach who works with women around money, financial trauma, and what actually happens behind the scenes in relationships, especially when things end. We get into the reality of how women often end up on the back foot financially, not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because of the systems, the dynamics, and the conversations that never happened in the first place. We talk about money mindset, the beliefs we’ve carried since childhood, and how they shape everything from what we earn, to what we ask for, to what we think we deserve. And we also go into the practical side things like protection, pensions, and why understanding your financial situation isn’t about being negative… it’s about being able to stand on your own two feet, whatever happens. There’s also a live EFT tapping exercise in this episode, so you can actually experience what it feels like to shift some of this in real time. It’s not doom and gloom, but it is honest. And it might make you think about a few things you’ve been avoiding. Get in touch with Liz Harrington https://www.facebook.com/TheEFTCoach   https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizhancocktheeftcoach   https://www.instagram.com/lizhancock_theeftcoach/   https://www.tiktok.com/@theeftcoach   www.theeftcoach.com

    1h 20m
  4. #8 Skin & You with Victoria Holdstock & Karen Thom @ The Foundation Studio

    01/23/2025

    #8 Skin & You with Victoria Holdstock & Karen Thom @ The Foundation Studio

    Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode of Clueless in the Pause, I talk to Victoria Holdstock, she's a seasoned makeup artist with 15 years of experience in the beauty industry. Her career has taken her from working with major fashion brands on commercial shoots to helping countless brides feel their most radiant on their wedding days. (I can attest to this :) ) Passionate about empowering women to see and feel their beauty on a deeper level, Victoria has evolved her artistry beyond makeup. She founded Hold Skin Studio as a sanctuary for personalised, transformative skincare. Here, luxury facials meet nervous system resetting, creating a holistic experience that nurtures both skin and soul. Victoria’s journey to become a facialist is profoundly personal. Having faced struggles with acne, self-image, and confidence herself, she understands the importance of feeling truly at home in your own skin. This has shaped her unique approach to skincare, where she sees skin as a reflection of overall health, addressing the interconnectedness of body, lifestyle, and emotions. Through her work, Victoria is on a mission to inspire confidence, self-love, and radiance from the inside out. if you fancy trying Victoria's services out contact her on insta @ __holdskinstudio product mentioned Rosalique redness miracle cream - My god this is a game changer, I bought this and can't tell you the comments I've had since then! gives gorgeous skin! Caroline Hirons - down to the t**s

    54 min
  5. #7 Alternative Therapies in Menopause with Ali Rebalance You & Karen Thom @ The Foundation Studio

    01/16/2025

    #7 Alternative Therapies in Menopause with Ali Rebalance You & Karen Thom @ The Foundation Studio

    Send us Fan Mail So HRT isn't suitable for everyone nor does everyone want to take it and the good news is there are a whole host of other therapies available! In this weeks episode of Clueless in the Pause, I talk to Ali Skanderowicz @ Rebalance you, we talk about the amazing powers of Reiki, Reflexology and other holistic therapies. Ali is a holistic therapist with a background in the corporate world and global travel, these diverse experiences ignited a personal journey toward holistic therapies, which transformed her approach and outlook on life. She discovered the healing power of reflexology when suffering from back pain which provided relief and an appreciation for holistic approaches whilst in South East Asia. Then in 2013 her training in Reiki started which offered a balance in a fast-paced world. After having children, she decided to change her career path and build Rebalanceyou that has helped 100s of other women discover similar benefits and incorporate holistic ways into their lives, from receiving treatments and guided meditations to training with Ali in energy healing for themselves. Today, Ali specialises in Reiki, reflexology, meditation, and mindfulness coaching, focusing on supporting women’s health and well-being. Over recent years, she has developed a particular focus on guiding women through the physical and emotional challenges of hormones, supporting women through fertility and menopause, providing compassionate, holistic support tailored to each individual’s journey. Ali's mission is to empower other women with knowledge and experience so they can find what works for them, to improve their health and wellbeing in today’s demanding world. To contact Ali, www.rebalanceyou.co.uk instagram :- rebalance you Breathe - James Nestor - great book about breathing and breath work Ashwaghanda :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withania_somnifera As always, this is a chat and not an advice to begin new courses of action always talk through any new changes / adaptations with your medical advisor.  Any questions please contact me Karen Thom @ WWW.thefoundationstudio.co.uk

    1h 14m

About

Finding Foundations is a podcast for women navigating midlife who are done with the polished version of life.Hosted by Karen Thom from The Foundation Studio, each episode is one woman's real story not the Instagram highlight reel, the truth about what it takes to find solid ground when life changesThree questions every time:What's the one truth you've come to know on your journey?How do you live it every day, even when things feel impossible?How does it feel today to see how your life has changed?We talk to women who've switched careers, started over, or just decided "sod it, I'm doing this differently" plus experts on money, sex, and health who'll tell you what you actually need to know.New episodes weekly. Launch event 26th March - eyes peeled for more news soon. find us on  instagram finding foundations Apple Spotify