The Midlife Rebel Podcast

Host - Nadine Shaw - Midlife Rebel, Astrologer, Gene Keys Guide, Human Design Enthusiast
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Midlife Rebel is a podcast for women in their 40s and 50s who feel like something is shifting — even if they can’t quite explain it. In 2022, I hit my own turning point. I stopped drinking, had my first Human Design reading, and started questioning a lot of what I thought I knew about life. What some people call a midlife crisis, I came to see differently — as a midlife awakening. Because at this stage of life, things do start to change.Your body. Your roles. Your priorities.And the questions get bigger. Who am I now?What actually matters to me?How do I navigate hormones and menopause in a way that works for me?How do I stay vital as I get older?What does purpose look like from here? I wasn’t prepared to just follow the old story — that it’s all downhill from here.I wanted answers. I wanted to feel better in my body. And I knew there had to be more to this stage of life than what we’ve been told. On this podcast, I explore these questions through conversations with a wide range of guests — from health practitioners and authors to coaches and everyday women navigating their own version of midlife. We talk about: – health, hormones, and staying well in midlife – burnout, stress, and emotional wellbeing – purpose, identity, and starting over – menopause, sobriety, and lifestyle change – and the more esoteric side of things, including Human Design, astrology, and personal growth This isn’t about blowing up your life. It’s about finding your truth and rewriting the old story — because there’s a little bit of rebel in all of us. Contact Nadine: https://midliferebelpodcast.com/contact

  1. 5d ago

    The Midlife Wake-Up Call Leaders Face

    Send us Fan Mail Something happens in midlife. The strategies that got you this far stop working. The career path that once made sense starts draining your energy. The people-pleasing, over-functioning, and pushing through begin to take their toll. In this episode, I'm joined by leadership coach Kurt Bush for a conversation about what happens when life asks you to stop performing and start paying attention. Kurt shares his own story of leaving pastoral leadership around the age of 40 and building a coaching practice centred on joy, self-awareness, and sustainable leadership. We explore why so many people hit a wall in their late 30s and 40s, especially when they're carrying responsibility for teams, families, communities, and everyone else's expectations. A big part of our conversation focuses on Internal Family Systems (IFS), a powerful framework that helps us understand the different "parts" within us. The people-pleaser. The perfectionist. The protector. The part that wants to stay safe. And the part that's longing for something more. We talk about how these inner parts can drive anxiety, conflict avoidance, burnout, defensiveness, and self-doubt, often without us even realising it. We also explore authentic leadership, healthy boundaries, navigating difficult conversations, and why the most effective leaders are moving away from control and hierarchy towards trust, curiosity, and genuine human connection. If you've been feeling exhausted, stuck, or like the old version of you no longer fits, this conversation offers a thoughtful and practical place to begin. In this episode we discuss: • The difference between success and alignment • What Internal Family Systems (IFS) actually is • How protective parts shape our behaviour • Leadership, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence • Setting boundaries without guilt • Why authentic leadership starts with self-awareness • Finding more joy, calm, and sustainability in work and life Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    The Midlife Wake-Up Call Leaders Face

  2. Jul 30

    What If Midlife Is Exactly What You Needed?

    Send us Fan Mail It seems that, for many women, something starts to change in midlife. The life you've diligently built no longer feels quite right, and there's a growing sense that there's more to life than simply doing what you've always done. In this episode, I'm joined by Laura Hoorweg, a spiritual counsellor, psychic and medium, for a conversation that went in all sorts of unexpected directions. Laura shares her idea of the "two books of life": the first written through expectations, responsibility and conditioning, and the second beginning when we finally start asking ourselves what we actually want. We go wide and deep, from the very real pressure women carry to "have it all" — career, parenting, relationships, body, beauty and emotional labour — to the consequences of living out of alignment for years. Laura shares her own midlife career disruption, the sting of workplace ageism, and how sudden loss led her on a healing journey that completely reshaped her work and sense of purpose. Along the way, we also explore bigger cultural and health questions, including early puberty, fertility concerns, what these changes might mean for menopause, and how the second half of life could look very different to the first. Most of all, this conversation is an invitation to reconnect with yourself before you go searching for your purpose. We talk about meditation, intuition, self-trust, and why living your purpose doesn't have to look "spiritual" to be deeply meaningful. Subscribe for more conversations for midlife women, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more Rebels can find the show.  What would you put on the first page of your second book? Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    What If Midlife Is Exactly What You Needed?

  3. Jul 23

    How to Find Your Purpose After 40

    Send us Fan Mail After working with thousands of people as a chiropractor, Dr Kyle Hulsebus began noticing something fascinating. The people who built healthier, happier lives rarely did it through dramatic transformations. They made small, conscious choices every day. In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, we explore what it really means to live intentionally. We talk about why so many of us drift through life on autopilot, distracted by endless information, social media and the pressure to keep up, yet feeling increasingly disconnected from ourselves. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do isn't add something new—it's put the phone down, step outside and pay attention to the life that's already happening around you. From there, we dive into purpose, habits and what creates a meaningful life after 40. Kyle shares why success and failure often travel the same road, why the journey matters more than the destination, and how our bodies constantly give us feedback when we're living out of alignment. Drawing on years of clinical experience, we discuss chronic stress, the nervous system and why symptoms are often messages rather than something to simply silence or ignore. We also explore Kyle's 40 Over 40 project, a collection of 40 simple, practical habits designed to help people create a healthier, more intentional life. They're not complicated or prescriptive. They're small, repeatable actions—like stepping outside, reading a book, moving your body or investing in your relationships—that quietly compound over time. This conversation is a reminder that purpose isn't something you stumble across one day. It's built through the choices you make every day. If you've been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed or simply wondering whether there's more to life than getting through the week, I think you'll find plenty to reflect on here. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love it if you'd subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who might need the reminder that small changes really do add up. Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    How to Find Your Purpose After 40

  4. Jul 16

    Could You Be Living With a Narcissist? The Signs Many Women Miss

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself questioning your own reality in a relationship? Wondering if you're being too sensitive, expecting too much, or somehow imagining things that feel very real? In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, I'm joined once again by psychologist, EFT practitioner, and returning guest Kasia Dodd. This time, we're discussing her new book, The Chameleon's Game, which explores the often confusing and painful experience of being in a relationship with a narcissist. Kasia shares both professional insight and personal experience as we unpack narcissistic personality disorder and, in particular, covert narcissism — the form that can be much harder to recognise because it doesn't always look like arrogance or grandiosity. Instead, it can hide behind vulnerability, charm, victimhood, and an ability to keep you second-guessing yourself. We explore why the term "narcissist" has become so common on social media, what actually distinguishes narcissistic traits from narcissistic personality disorder, and why so many people struggle to identify these patterns while they're living inside them. During our conversation, Kasia explains how emotional manipulation can slowly erode confidence and self-trust. We discuss gaslighting, love bombing, devaluation, discard, and hoovering — terms many people encounter when searching for answers about difficult relationships. We also talk about why leaving isn't always simple. When you've spent years adapting, accommodating, and trying to make sense of conflicting behaviours, it can become incredibly difficult to trust your own instincts. Importantly, this conversation isn't just about recognising unhealthy relationship patterns. It's also about healing. Kasia shares how EFT tapping can support recovery from narcissistic abuse by helping people process emotional triggers, rebuild self-worth, and reconnect with their own needs and intuition. We also discuss some of the tools and resources she's created to support people navigating life after what she calls "the chameleon" relationship. If you've ever felt confused, emotionally exhausted, or like you've somehow lost yourself inside a relationship, this conversation offers both insight and hope. And if you're supporting someone who may be going through a similar experience, I encourage you to share this episode with them. In this episode we discuss: The inspiration behind Kasia's book The Chameleon's GameThe difference between narcissistic traits and narcissistic personality disorderCovert narcissism and why it's often difficult to recogniseLove bombing, gaslighting, devaluation, discard and hooveringWhy self-trust can disappear in emotionally manipulative relationshipsThe challenges of leaving and rebuilding after narcissistic abuseEFT tapping as a tool for healing and recoveryHow to reconnect with your intuition, confidence and sense of selfVisit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    Could You Be Living With a Narcissist? The Signs Many Women Miss

  5. Jul 9

    From Empty Nest To New Purpose In Midlife - Carolyn Flynn

    Send us Fan Mail Sometimes midlife doesn’t arrive as one dramatic crisis. Sometimes it’s the quiet unraveling of the identities that once gave your life structure, purpose, and certainty. In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, I’m joined by author and mentor Carolyn Flynn for a thoughtful conversation about identity, reinvention, menopause, creativity, mindfulness, and what it means to consciously rewrite your life in midlife. Carolyn shares the turning point that inspired her memoir Boundless: her twins leaving for college at the same time the journalism industry she’d built her career around began collapsing. What followed was a deeper question that so many women eventually face: who am I when the roles I’ve relied on begin to fall away? We explore the stories women inherit about ageing, visibility, ambition, creativity, and self-worth — and why midlife can become the exact moment many women begin stepping more fully into themselves rather than fading away. This conversation also dives into mindfulness, meditation, emotional resilience, and the practice of creating space between reaction and response when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. In this episode we discuss: • Midlife reinvention and identity change • Menopause and becoming more visible with age • Narrative, storytelling, and rewriting your life • Creativity, purpose, and “creative inheritance” • Mindfulness, meditation, and emotional agility • The inner critic and self-doubt • Empty nest transitions and career change • Living with intention and reducing regret If you’ve been questioning who you are beneath the roles you’ve played for everyone else, this conversation will leave you reflecting on the kind of story you truly want to live next. Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    From Empty Nest To New Purpose In Midlife - Carolyn Flynn

  6. Jul 2

    Why So Many Women Feel Numb in Midlife | Jordin Wiggins

    Send us Fan Mail Pleasure isn’t selfish. It isn’t frivolous. And it definitely isn’t something women are supposed to earn after everyone else’s needs have been met. In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, I’m joined by Jordin Wiggins for a powerful conversation about pleasure, nervous system health, hormones, intimacy, burnout, and why so many women lose themselves while continuing to function for everyone around them. We explore the deeper roots of low libido, anhedonia, emotional numbness, and the experience so many women describe as: “I should be happy… but I’m not.” This conversation goes far beyond sex. We talk about pelvic pain, hormone chaos, chronic stress, autoimmune risk, over-functioning, loneliness, and what happens when your brain and body no longer feel safe enough to access pleasure, joy, rest, or desire. We also unpack the pressure many women carry to hold everything together while disconnecting from themselves in the process. In this episode we discuss: • Low libido and sexual health in midlife • Pelvic pain and hormone imbalance • Nervous system regulation and chronic stress • Anhedonia and emotional numbness • Burnout, overwhelm, and over-functioning • Loneliness, relationships, and women’s mental health • Pleasure-centred intimacy and emotional safety • Reconnecting with joy, desire, and yourself We also challenge the old scripts many women inherited around intimacy, relationships, productivity, and self-sacrifice — and explore what becomes possible when women stop abandoning themselves in order to keep everyone else comfortable. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself, emotionally flat, constantly “on,” or simply exhausted by carrying too much for too long, this conversation will hit home. Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    Why So Many Women Feel Numb in Midlife | Jordin Wiggins

  7. Jun 25

    Healthspan vs Lifespan: How to Stay Well for Longer | Dr Yi Song

    Send us Fan Mail Living longer doesn’t mean much if the final decades are spent exhausted, inflamed, medicated, and disconnected from life. In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Yi Song for a fascinating conversation about longevity, healthspan, Traditional Chinese Medicine, stem cell therapy, and what it actually means to age well. We explore the difference between lifespan and healthspan — not simply how long you live, but how well you live — and why prevention, balance, and listening to the body matter far more than many of us have been taught. Dr Yi Song bridges Eastern and Western approaches to health, drawing from Traditional Chinese Medicine alongside modern science and regenerative medicine. We talk about yin and yang balance, stress, nervous system overload, seasonal living, grounding, sleep, and why so many people feel “off” long before anything appears on medical tests. We also dive into stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, including what stem cells actually are, the myths surrounding them, ethical sourcing, and why they’re not a magic shortcut to health. In this episode we discuss: • Healthspan vs lifespan • Traditional Chinese Medicine and holistic health • Yin yang balance and chronic stress • Preventative healthcare and early warning signs • Grounding, nature, sleep, and nervous system regulation • Stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine • Immune health and inflammation • Longevity strategies for midlife health and vitality If you’re interested in ageing well, preventative health, natural approaches to wellbeing, and combining ancient wisdom with modern science, this conversation is packed with insight. Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    Healthspan vs Lifespan: How to Stay Well for Longer | Dr Yi Song

  8. Jun 18

    What Does a Midlife Crisis Really Feel Like? | Teri M. Brown

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, I’m joined by author Teri M Brown to talk about midlife reinvention, menopause, resilience, and what happens when life completely unravels and asks you to rebuild yourself from the ground up. Teri shares her own experience of leaving an emotionally abusive marriage after years of losing herself, and how one unexpected decision — agreeing to ride a tandem bicycle across America despite not having ridden in 40 years — became a turning point that changed everything. We also talk about her latest novel, Peg Unhinged, which follows a woman navigating a full-blown midlife upheaval: hot flushes, emotional chaos, collapsing relationships, and the uncomfortable reality that the life you built no longer fits. This conversation goes deep into the real experience of midlife for many women — not the polished version, but the messy middle. We talk about menopause symptoms like rage, brain fog, night sweats, and exhaustion, along with the frustration of feeling dismissed or unheard when searching for support. We also explore: • Why doing hard things can rebuild confidence in midlife • Emotional abuse, self-worth, and starting again • Menopause, perimenopause, and advocating for yourself • Reinvention after divorce and major life change • Writing, creativity, and finding purpose later in life • Why midlife can become the beginning of something more honest If you’ve ever felt like your old identity is falling apart, or wondered whether it’s too late to begin again, this conversation is a reminder that midlife isn’t the end of the story. Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest. All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do. https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directory If you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast

    What Does a Midlife Crisis Really Feel Like? | Teri M. Brown
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5
out of 5
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About

Midlife Rebel is a podcast for women in their 40s and 50s who feel like something is shifting — even if they can’t quite explain it. In 2022, I hit my own turning point. I stopped drinking, had my first Human Design reading, and started questioning a lot of what I thought I knew about life. What some people call a midlife crisis, I came to see differently — as a midlife awakening. Because at this stage of life, things do start to change.Your body. Your roles. Your priorities.And the questions get bigger. Who am I now?What actually matters to me?How do I navigate hormones and menopause in a way that works for me?How do I stay vital as I get older?What does purpose look like from here? I wasn’t prepared to just follow the old story — that it’s all downhill from here.I wanted answers. I wanted to feel better in my body. And I knew there had to be more to this stage of life than what we’ve been told. On this podcast, I explore these questions through conversations with a wide range of guests — from health practitioners and authors to coaches and everyday women navigating their own version of midlife. We talk about: – health, hormones, and staying well in midlife – burnout, stress, and emotional wellbeing – purpose, identity, and starting over – menopause, sobriety, and lifestyle change – and the more esoteric side of things, including Human Design, astrology, and personal growth This isn’t about blowing up your life. It’s about finding your truth and rewriting the old story — because there’s a little bit of rebel in all of us. Contact Nadine: https://midliferebelpodcast.com/contact

Information

  • Creator
    Host - Nadine Shaw - Midlife Rebel, Astrologer, Gene Keys Guide, Human Design Enthusiast
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    238
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Midlife Rebel Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Midlife Rebel Podcast

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