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. 7h ago

    “I Didn’t Feel Like Me Anymore” — Endometriosis, Surgical Menopause & Finding Herself Through Climbing | Abby Nelson

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the body you’ve lived in your whole life suddenly doesn’t feel like yours anymore? For Abby Nelson, it started with years of pain that had simply become normal. Then came a 22cm mass, the words “you’re at high risk of ovarian cancer, prepare for the worst,” more than a year of uncertainty, major surgery and surgical menopause at just 42. And then came the bit nobody had really prepared her for. The exhaustion. The brain fog. The loss of confidence. Fighting for the right HRT. And the overwhelming feeling that she simply wasn’t herself anymore. In this episode of Finding Foundations, Abby tells me what happened next — and how something she’d once thought wasn’t really “for people like her” became an unexpected route back to herself: climbing. We talk about endometriosis, surgical menopause and the enormous gaps that can exist in women’s healthcare, but also about identity, confidence, community and what happens when you discover you’re capable of far more than you thought. Today, Abby is turning everything she went through into REACH, a climbing programme for women affected by endometriosis, PCOS, menopause, surgical menopause and other women’s health conditions. Past Abby would never have imagined herself becoming a climbing instructor. Turns out, she was only just getting started. the first REACH program has been a huge success for all the women involved. Abby has set up a CIC and has got more funding to run further programs starting in September! congratulations Abby!  if you want to contact Abby about the REACH program find her here at  abby_nelson@outlook.com

  2. Jul 30

    Life After a Traumatic Accident: Resilience, Recovery & Finding Hope Again | Amy Sheridan

    Send us Fan Mail What do you do when life suddenly looks nothing like the one you thought you were living? A year ago, Amy Sheridan was hit by a rogue wave while on holiday with her family in Australia. In a matter of moments, her life changed completely. In this episode of Finding Foundations, Amy shares what happened next — from the physical recovery after a traumatic accident to the much less visible experience of coping emotionally when everything feels overwhelming. We talk about what happens when your way of coping is to put everything in a box, say “I'm fine” and move on. Why some of us are so good at pushing through difficult things but find it much harder to slow down, be vulnerable or ask for help. And what happens when the thing that made you resilient also makes it difficult to admit when you're struggling. Amy talks about the small moments that began to change what she believed was possible. About focusing on the one thing she could do rather than everything she couldn't. And how, when the whole road ahead felt too much to contemplate, she learned to concentrate on what came next. We also talk about trauma recovery, emotional resilience, coping when life doesn't go to plan, dealing with things you can't control, finding hope when things feel impossible, the pressure to be okay, and learning to be more present rather than constantly looking towards what's next. And perhaps most importantly, the people who stand beside us when life falls apart — and the love that difficult moments have a strange way of making impossible to miss. Because sometimes the thing that feels impossible today doesn't stay impossible forever. You don't always need to know how you're going to get there. Sometimes you just need to find the next possible thing. About Amy Sheridan Amy is an Australian Public Servant who has worked on human rights in the Attorney-General's Department and civil-military affairs in the Department of Defence. For the past decade, Amy has served as an Australian diplomat, completing postings in Bangladesh, Iraq and the Solomon Islands. Since joining the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Amy's career highlights have included leading Australia's humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis, steering the transition of Australia’s bilateral aid programme with Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul, and working with the United Nations on stabilisation efforts in Iraq. Amy is passionate about gender equality and amplifying women's voices in humanitarian action and post-conflict reconstruction. When not working, Amy can be found bushwalking in the Blue Mountains, cooking pasta and singing in international diplomatic cover bands — including the world-renowned Band-la-desh.

  3. Jul 28

    When the Impossible Becomes Possible — Amy Sheridan

    Send us Fan Mail What do you do when life suddenly looks nothing like the one you thought you were living? A year ago, Amy Sheridan was hit by a rogue wave while on holiday with her family in Australia. In a matter of moments, her life changed completely. In this episode of Finding Foundations, Amy shares what happened next. The physical recovery, yes, but also the much less visible experience of trying to keep going when everything feels overwhelming. We talk about what happens when your way of coping is to put everything in a box, say “I'm fine” and move on. Why some of us are so good at pushing through difficult things but find it much harder to slow down, be vulnerable or ask for help. And what happens when the thing that made you resilient also makes it difficult to admit when you're struggling. Amy talks about the small moments that began to change what she believed was possible. About focusing on the one thing she could do rather than everything she couldn't. And how, when the whole road ahead felt too much to contemplate, she learned to concentrate on what came next. We also talk about how to cope when life doesn't go to plan, dealing with things you can't control, finding hope when things feel impossible, emotional resilience, the pressure to be okay, and learning to be more present rather than constantly looking towards what's next. And perhaps most importantly, the people who stand beside us when life falls apart — and the love that difficult moments have a strange way of making impossible to miss. Because sometimes the thing that feels impossible today doesn't stay impossible forever. You don't always need to know how you're going to get there. Sometimes you just need to find the next possible thing.  Amy is an Australian Public Servant who has worked on human rights in the Attorney-General's Department and civil-military affairs in the Department of Defence. For the past decade, Amy has served as an Australian diplomat, completing postings in Bangladesh, Iraq and the Solomon Islands.  Since joining the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Amy's career highlights have been leading Australia's humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis, steering the transition of Australia’s bilateral aid program with Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul, and working with the United Nations on stabilisation efforts in Iraq.  Amy is passionate about gender equality and amplifying women's voices in humanitarian action and post-conflict reconstruction.  When not working, Amy can be found bushwalking in the Blue Mountains, cooking pasta, and singing in international diplomatic cover bands including world renowned Band-la-desh.

  4. May 30

    People Pleasing, Boundaries & Why Women Lose Themselves in Midlife | Jen Maxwell

    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 Maxwell went in all sorts of directions — people pleasing, boundaries, confidence, saying no, menopause and midlife, the fear of disappointing people, and 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. We talk about why setting boundaries can feel so uncomfortable when you've spent years keeping everyone else happy. Why saying no can bring up guilt. How people pleasing slowly disconnects us from what we actually want. And what can happen in midlife when we start questioning some of the roles, expectations and behaviours we've carried for years. We also talk about getting older, body confidence, menopause, relationships, self-trust and that glorious point where you begin to care a little less about what everybody else thinks and a lot more about whether the life you're living actually feels like yours. 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. RAIN practice Jen also shares a RAIN practice to accompany the episode: [Listen to the RAIN practice] About Jen Maxwell 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. Jen offers 1:1 RISE mentorships, fire walking and 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

  5. May 17

    Starting Over in Midlife: Reinvention, Intuition & Building a Life on Your Own Terms | Fiona Berry

    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

  6. May 1

    Money, Relationships & Divorce: What Every Woman Needs to Know | Liz Harrington

    Send us Fan Mail Money is one of those things we don’t really talk about… until we absolutely have to. In this episode of Finding Foundations, I’m joined by Liz Harrington, an EFT coach who works with women around money, financial trauma and what actually happens behind the scenes financially in relationships — especially when those relationships end. We get into the reality of how women can end up on the back foot financially after separation or divorce. Not necessarily because they’ve done anything wrong, but because of the systems, the dynamics and, quite often, the conversations about money that never happened in the first place. We talk about money mindset, financial independence and the beliefs about money we’ve carried since childhood — and how they can shape everything from what we earn and what we ask for to what we save and what we think we deserve. But this isn't just about mindset. We get into the practical stuff too: pensions, financial protection, understanding what you actually have, and why knowing your financial situation isn't about expecting the worst. It's about knowing you can stand on your own two feet, whatever happens. We also talk about: – money and relationships – finances after separation and divorce – financial independence for women – money mindset and childhood beliefs about money – financial trauma – pensions and financial protection – why women avoid talking about money – understanding your own financial position – EFT tapping for money beliefs There’s also a live EFT tapping exercise in this episode, so you can actually experience what it feels like to explore and shift some of those beliefs 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. Because knowing where you stand financially isn't planning for your relationship to fail. It's making sure you don't disappear from your own finances while you're in it. Get in touch with Liz Harrington [LINK] 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

  7. Apr 17

    Starting a Business as a Mum: Why There’s No Perfect Time | Nadia Enver

    Send us Fan Mail Some women wait for the right time. Nadia Enver decided there wasn't one — and did it anyway. In the last four years, she's built a business from scratch, raised two children under four, done it solo and landed in a life she absolutely loves. In this episode of Finding Foundations, we talk about starting a business as a mum, financial independence, motherhood, building confidence and what happens when you stop waiting for everything to line up perfectly before you make a move. Because there is always a reason not to do the thing. Not enough time. Not enough money. The kids are too young. It's too risky. Maybe next year. Maybe when life settles down. Nadia's story is a pretty brilliant reminder that sometimes life doesn't settle down first. You make the decision and build from there. We talk about building a business from scratch while raising young children, backing yourself when there are no guarantees, taking ownership of your finances and your future, and creating a life that works for you rather than waiting for the circumstances to magically become perfect. And what really struck me talking to Nadia was the ownership she has over her life. She's not waiting for somebody else to make it happen. She's standing firmly in the middle of the life she's created — and she's absolutely radiating that energy. Go Nadia. This is one of those conversations I walked away from thinking: Shit. I gotta get my stuff together. I think you'll feel it too. Enjoy. About Nadia Enver Nadia is currently offering financial health checks for individuals and business owners who want to gain clarity on their financial position and explore opportunities to improve their long-term outcomes. She is also available for workplace financial wellbeing sessions and educational talks, covering topics including retirement planning, tax efficiency and financial protection. Connect with Nadia [LINK] Contact Information 📧 Email: nadia.enver@sjpp.co.uk 📱 Phone: 07854982026 🌐 Website:https://www.nadiaenverfp.co.uk/ 📅 Book a 121: Nadia Enver 📍 Based in Carlisle, face to face in Cumbria and working with clients across the UK remotely  Connect with Nadia 📸 Instagram: @nadia_enver_fp 📘 Facebook: Nadia Enver Financial Planning 💼 LinkedIn: Nadia Enver DipPFS | LinkedIn

  8. Apr 2

    Healing After Abuse & PTSD: Moving Forward and Rebuilding Your Life | Louisa Rodriguez

    Send us Fan Mail Nothing is permanent. Not the life you're living. Not the way you're feeling. And not the things you once thought you'd never get beyond. In this episode of Finding Foundations, I'm joined by Louisa Rodriguez for a conversation about healing from PTSD, moving forward after abusive relationships, fear, surrender and what it takes to start building the life you actually want. We talk about what happens after you've survived something difficult — when the immediate crisis may be over, but your body and mind haven't necessarily caught up. About fear and the hold it can continue to have over your decisions. The difficulty of trusting yourself again. And the strange space between knowing you don't want your old life anymore and not yet knowing exactly what the new one looks like. Louisa shares her experience of PTSD and abusive relationships, and how she began moving forward rather than allowing what had happened to determine what came next. We talk about trauma recovery, rebuilding your life after abuse, learning to trust yourself again, surrendering the need to control everything and finding the courage to create a life that feels like your own. And perhaps most importantly, the reminder that where you are now isn't necessarily where you'll stay. Sometimes when you're standing in the middle of something, it's almost impossible to imagine life being different. But nothing is permanent. And your past gets to be part of your story without getting to decide the rest of it. find Louisa at the @ the joy tank on instagram.

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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 

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Thom
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Finding Foundations
  • Show Website
    Finding Foundations