Unfiltered and Unbound

Kate B

Most content about women over 50 is selling anti-ageing cream or telling you to embrace your wisdom. Unfiltered & Unbound is neither. Hosted by Kate Baxter, a Perth, Western Australia based project manager, running coach and recovering people-pleaser, this is the podcast for women who are done shrinking themselves and ready for the conversations that actually matter. Grey divorce. Money and financial independence. Dating after 50. Identity after the labels stop fitting. Perimenopause. Career pivots. Visibility. The friendships that survive and the ones that don't. Real conversations with experts and honest field reports from the inside of midlife. Unfiltered, unpolished, and completely unbound. Season 2 now streaming.

  1. Jun 23

    S2:E7 Have the Brave Money Conversation

    Money Conversations We Need to Have in Our 50s and Beyond — with Jo Hurley Jo Hurley is back — and if you loved her triathlon episode (still our most-streamed across both seasons), you're going to want to sit with this one too. This time we're not talking sport. We're talking money. Super, wealth, divorce, the conversations so many of us were quietly taught not to have. Jo is a Chartered Accountant and self-managed super fund specialist who's spent her whole career in this space, and she has a gift for making it feel less like a lecture and more like a chat with a clever friend who actually wants you to win. We get into why women still carry shame and silence around money, why the super gap opens up in our thirties and never quite closes, and the policy changes — payday super, super on paid parental leave — that are genuinely shifting things in our favour. But this isn't a doom-and-gloom episode. It's a practical one. We cover where to actually start if you've been avoiding it: logging in and looking at your super, tracking down any lost accounts, understanding your fees, contributions and insurance, and whether salary sacrificing might be worth a conversation. Jo also walks through the harder stuff — why you should never assume a partner will provide for your retirement, the realities of grey divorce, and why having your own financial advice matters. The thread running through all of it: have the brave conversation. With your super fund, with your partner, with yourself in the mirror. It's never too late to start, and you're allowed to ask the questions. A quick note — this is a general conversation, not personal financial advice. If you want guidance specific to your situation, please seek out a qualified Australian adviser. Grab a cuppa. This one's a goodie. — Questions? Got a topic you want covered? Send me an email: unfiltered@podcastsbykate.com Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

    1h 8m
  2. Jun 9

    S2:E5 Newly Single, Slightly Terrified, a Field Report

    https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound Dating after 50 is equal parts exciting, ridiculous and mildly terrifying — and Barbara Smit is our woman in the field. She's not an expert. She's just actually out there: she's met the apps, survived the messages, dodged a scammer or two, and lived to file this report. In one of the most honest conversations of the season, we get into ghosting, the charming "blue-eyed, blonde Aussie" scammer nobody warns you about, the pub-based safety system Barbara swears by — and the quiet, unglamorous work of figuring out who you are after 20 years of marriage. No fairytales. No "just put yourself out there!" No toxic positivity. Just the field report. In this episode (01:23) The 2026 dating landscape — and why you supposedly can't just meet someone at the pub anymore(02:40) Four years single, 20 years married: "Okay, who am I actually?"(05:10) Losing yourself in a marriage — and getting some help to find your way back(09:24) The unexpected good: respectful younger men who genuinely give her hope(11:31) Ghosting, and the dark patch of 12 men in a row — "It's not me, it's them"(14:04) Cougar, gold digger, lonely — the labels women cop no matter who they date(16:10) The scammer who wasn't a Nigerian prince — $20, then $50, then $100, then $5,000(20:16) The shame women carry about being scammed — and why we need to talk about it(22:48) The "hello baby, hello darling" red flag(24:44) Barbara's safety system: public first dates, a signal to the bar staff, and an exit through the kitchen(28:11) Boundaries — set them before you go in, because most will push(31:00) For the woman who doesn't know where to start: fix yourself first, find your sisters in arms(35:08) The dating survival kit: a book on stoicism, a bestie, and a good local barman(36:43) The field report headline: terrifying, ridiculous, funny — and, somehow, still fun About our guest Barbara Smit is Kate's "woman in the field" — a Perth local, originally from South Africa, who's spent the last few years navigating midlife dating firsthand after a 20-year marriage. She's generous, funny and refreshingly unfiltered about all of it, scams included. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

    35 min
  3. May 26

    S2:E3 Mid Life Divorce -You Don't Have to Decide Everything at Once

    Navigating Grey Divorce: Practical Advice and Emotional InsightsIn this episode of Unfiltered and Unbound, we delve into the realities of separation later in life — a journey filled with emotional, legal, and financial considerations. Ella Hickman, a family law specialist, shares grounded advice on managing the process with confidence, emphasizing the importance of support, early legal guidance, and emotional well-being.Main topics include: The emotional journey of grey divorce and common feelingsKey legal steps and practical document gatheringHandling finances, superannuation, and property divisionStrategies to avoid conflicts and support adult childrenWhen to seek urgent legal advice and mediation benefitsChallenging myths about life after divorce and rebuilding identityTimestamps: 00:00 - What makes grey divorce uniquely challenging and empowering 02:21 - What is grey divorce and why is its prevalence increasing? 04:44 - Emotional triggers and reassessment in midlife 07:41 - Overcoming the fear of money and financial insecurity 10:23 - Managing shame and social perceptions around separation 13:05 - Reinventing yourself and thriving post-divorce 16:15 - Practical first steps for women considering separation 19:13 - The importance of legal advice and early planning 34:33 - How mediation facilitates fair and cost-effective outcomes 37:02 - Immediate legal considerations in high-risk situations 38:50 - Supporting adult children through separation 46:37 - Surprising realizations women have about life after divorce 47:30 - Overcoming fear to start anew and find happinessResources & Links: Legal Aid AustraliaBuy Me a Coffee -  Support independent podcastsFollow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunboundConnect with Ella Hickman: Hickman Family LawyersThis episode offers compassionate insights and actionable advice for women facing the complex realities of grey divorce, emphasizing that new beginnings are not just possible — they can be transformative.

    54 min
  4. May 12

    SE2:E1 Decide Once, Then Stop Thinking About It

    The conversation delves into the importance of critical thinking and decision-making, defining critical thinking, managing cognitive load, the impact of role models and biases, setting boundaries, teaching critical thinking to adults, and innovative tools for critical thinking. The conversation delves into the evolution of critical thinking, its role in decision-making, the impact of AI, personal stories, practical exercises for improvement, and the empowerment that comes from critical thinking. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining agency and responsibility in decision-making and the need for more responsible decision-making in the face of increasing information availability. Takeaways Critical thinking is a combination of skills, knowledge, and attitudeSetting boundaries and making decisions in advance can help manage cognitive load and decision fatigue Critical thinking is essential for maintaining agency and responsibility in decision-making.The evolution of critical thinking is influenced by the increasing availability of information and the need for more responsible decision-making. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Critical Thinking and Decision Making10:42 Role Models and Biases in Decision Making16:38 Setting Boundaries and Strategic Thinking24:17 Innovative Tools for Critical Thinking30:40 The Impact of AI on Critical Thinking42:10 Practical Exercises for Improving Critical Thinking50:04 Empowerment Through Critical Thinking Connecting with Bethan Home | Bethan Winn: Critical Thinking and Communications Trainer Bethan on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanwinn/ Order a copy of Bethan's book the Human Edge https://www.bethanwinn.com.au/product-page/pre-order-the-human-edge Buy me a coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredunbound InstagramPodcast WebsiteEmail: unfiltered@podcastsbykate.comFollow me on Facebook for behind the scenes, upcoming episode notifications, and sending through any questions or guest suggestions you might have. https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredandunbound

    48 min

About

Most content about women over 50 is selling anti-ageing cream or telling you to embrace your wisdom. Unfiltered & Unbound is neither. Hosted by Kate Baxter, a Perth, Western Australia based project manager, running coach and recovering people-pleaser, this is the podcast for women who are done shrinking themselves and ready for the conversations that actually matter. Grey divorce. Money and financial independence. Dating after 50. Identity after the labels stop fitting. Perimenopause. Career pivots. Visibility. The friendships that survive and the ones that don't. Real conversations with experts and honest field reports from the inside of midlife. Unfiltered, unpolished, and completely unbound. Season 2 now streaming.