In this episode - which is on a topic very dear to my heart - I chat with Dr Sabina Brennan – health psychologist, neuroscientist, host of the Super Brain podcast, author of Still Me, Beating Brain Fog, and 100 Days to a Younger Brain – about shifting dementia care from a disease-centered approach to a person-centred partnership.

We discuss the idea of a ‘care partner’ rather than ‘carer’ and practical strategies for maintaining brain health across midlife and into older age. We dive into cognitive reserve, modifiable dementia risk factors, and how to support both the person with dementia and those caring for them, with an emphasis on curiosity, autonomy, and joy.

Key topics

- Sabina’s new book Still Me blends professional knowledge with personal experience caring for her own mother with dementia.

- The shift from “carer” to “care partner” to support autonomy and reduce paternalism.

- The importance of allowing people with dementia to participate in decisions that affect their day-to-day life.

- The risk of disempowerment when we do tasks for the person rather than with them.

- Understanding different dementia trajectories and the role of family in decision making.

- Cognitive reserve and how engaging the brain can delay symptom onset (reserves of brain function can delay symptoms even with pathology present).

- The 14 modifiable risk factors (including obesity, smoking, hearing loss, social isolation, depression) and how lifestyle changes help brain health.

- The brain–heart health link: heart health, diet, exercise, and the risk of cognitive decline.

- The value of social engagement and mentally stimulating activities for a healthy brain.

- The problematic role of isolation and the importance of meaningful social connections.

- Don’t force diagnoses on someone who isn’t ready; plan for the future with nuance and care.

- Encouraging curiosity about the person’s experiences and responses.

- Advice for those newly diagnosed, including gradual acceptance, planning, finances, and power of attorney. Plus, the really lovely idea of creating a notebook of preferences to honour the person’s likes and dislikes whilst they still have agency.

Sabina’s website: sabinabrennan.ie

Books:

- Still Me

- Beating Brain Fog

- 100 Days to a Younger Brain

Podcast: Super Brain: https://sabinabrennan.ie/super-brain-podcast/

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org / www.managingthemenpause.com

connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/

In this episode I chat with Hannah Miller about how a midlife pivot can become a powerful reorientation toward purpose. Hannah is the founder of Sidekick and creator of The Purpose Pursuit™ course and book. An award-winning speaker, author, podcast host, and accredited coach, she helps people and organisations uncover strengths, navigate change, and pursue purpose. With a background in teaching and business, Hannah combines practical insight with a personal approach to leadership and self-development.

Join us as we unpack Hannah’s journey from teaching to running her own business, the strengths-based framework at the heart of The Purpose Pursuit, and practical tools like the seven personality types and the walk–talk values framework. We explore how the pandemic sparked a digital pivot, the importance of boundaries to avoid burnout, and how small, incremental shifts can steer life toward greater alignment.

What You’ll Learn

- How to pivot gracefully: with lessons about not needing a master plan and being open to opportunity.

- The core of Hannah’s approach: a strengths-based lens that helps people understand what energizes them and how to use those strengths effectively.

- The seven strengths-based types: Achiever, Thinker, Connector, Impactor, Believer, Explorer (and how your top three types shape your approach to work and life).

- Hannah’s walk–talk values framework: a practical way to assess whether your values are aligned with your actions

- How burnout can be tied to overusing strengths: recognizing overdrive and building boundaries to protect energy.

- The role of small, consistent shifts: tiny daily changes compound over time and move you toward your desired destination.

- Practical, reader-friendly tools: exercises and a roadmap in The Purpose Pursuit to coach yourself—and even help others—through transition moments.

Practical Takeaways

- Start with your top three strengths and carry them through your daily decisions and projects.

- Choose up to five core values and use the walk–talk axis to assess how well you live them out.

- Embrace small, consistent changes; they compound into meaningful life shifts over time.

Resources and Links

The Purpose Pursuit by Hannah Miller https://dk.com/products/9780241756331-the-purpose-pursuit The book hits bookshops on December 4; pre-orders are open now

Hannah’s Website: hellosidekick.co

@hellohannahmiller on Instagram

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org / www.managingthemenpause.com / www.holdingupthesky.com

connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/

In this episode I chat with Dr. Jackie Gray about Carents, a UK-based platform she created to give a voice and practical support to unpaid adult carers — the large, often invisible group caring for ageing parents. Jackie shares how the platform started as an information site in 2020 and has evolved into a free, comprehensive hub offering legal guidance, NHS navigation, peer support, and proactive information delivery. The discussion covers the growing demand as the population ages, the emotional and practical burdens on carers, the impact on workplaces, and how Carents addresses these challenges through community, education, and collaboration with partners.

• Carents began as an information website in 2020 to provide objective, non-commercial guidance for carers who were overwhelmed by sales-led options. It has expanded to include a thriving community, proactive information delivery (emails, e-booklets, webinars), and access to wider expertise, all offered for free.
• The research highlights the distinctive challenges of caring for older adults at home, including managing two homes, long travel for care, and a substantial emotional load. In their ‘Carents in the Workplace’ study, 71% of respondents reduced hours, changed roles, or left work due to caregiving responsibilities, underscoring the economic and personal impact.
• National data show about 60% of carers are women (40% men), with women often taking on the heavier, more time-consuming tasks. Increasingly, caregivers juggle multiple generations (so-called ‘club sandwich carers’), menopause-related health issues, and retirement/pension implications—creating long-term health and financial inequality. There are currently 1.5 million sandwich carers in the UK.
• The number of adults aged over 85 is projected to DOUBLE over the next 15 years - putting additional strain on the NHS, social care, individuals and families.
• Carents is free to access, offering both peer support and practical resources (legal basics, care service selection, dementia info, arthritis care, etc.). In five years the platform has grown to 7,000+ community members and 55,000+ email subscribers.
• Jackie continues to push for systemic improvements in how society, workplaces, and services recognize and support carers, including workplace rights and flexible arrangements.

Visit carents.co.uk to access information, join the community, or participate in events and webinars.

You can also reach Jackie at hello@carents.co.uk

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org / www.managingthemenpause.com / www.holdingupthesky.com

connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/

In this episode I chat to Lou Furby, Specsavers’ UK D&I lead, who shares how Specsavers built a workplace menopause support program from the ground up. We cover the creation of MenoTalk, the importance of inclusive, cross-functional involvement, the role of top-down sponsorship and allyship, practical strategies for creating a supportive workplace culture around menopause, and how to sustain momentum with education, language, and data. Packed with actionable tips for anyone aiming to start or grow a menopause-focused employee resource or wellbeing initiative.

Key quotes

• “Don’t try and do it all on your own. Get the right stakeholders involved. Have a steering group, a co-chair, and a sponsor.”
• “Pick off the low hanging fruit. Pick off the stuff that you can do and implement quickly.”
• “It’s a war, not a battle.” (on sustaining momentum and not letting initiatives stall)
• “Education and information was absolutely key.” (on the foundation for successful engagement)
• “Language matters. Be direct and transparent about what menopause is.” (on avoiding euphemisms and building credibility)
• “We can’t mandate everything in a joint venture, so we rely on leadership visibility and storytelling to drive engagement.”

Practical takeaways for HR & wellbeing teams:

• Start with a steering group: bring cross-functional representation (HR/ER, facilities, IT, wellbeing/D&I) and appoint a co-chair to share the load.
• Secure an advocate sponsor: a trusted, visible leader in the business to champion the initiative.
• Listen first: let people’s needs drive the program; avoid overloading participants with campaigns before trust is built.
• Use language that’s clear and factual: don’t shy away from the terminology of menopause and related symptoms.
• Connect with external expertise: partner with specialists to provide credible education and resources.
• Implement quick wins: pick “low hanging fruit” that deliver tangible benefits.
• Align with broader wellbeing and D&I goals: link the initiative to accreditation (Wellbeing of Women Workplace pledge) and overall staff welfare programs.
• Consider store-level realities: in retail, tailor adjustments to individual roles (e.g., door duty vs. back office) and support teams accordingly.
• Support managers with tools and training: give managers a framework for having compassionate, validating conversations.
• Provide holistic support: combine access to private care, wellbeing apps (Headspace), and flexible adjustments to support employees.

Three actionable next steps you can take

• Create a cross-functional steering group and appoint a co-chair and a sponsor to lead a menopause initiative in your organization.
• Sign up for the Wellbeing of Women Workplace pledge and plan an introductory menopause education session with an external expert.
• Start a candid conversation with your HR/ER team about how to support line managers in having empathetic, validated conversations about menopause with their teams; aim to roll out basic manager training.

Resources:

Connect with Lou over on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-furby-49290844/

For menopause training and awareness sessions: www.managingthemenopause.com

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

You can also find me at http://www.thetripleshift.org

connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/

My guest this time is Nicky Denson-Elliott – serial entrepreneur, founder of the Wilder Collective and host of the Women’s Business podcast. Nicky is focused on elevating female founders and redefining success beyond conventional hustle culture.

We explore the realities of building businesses as women plus the latest research behind internalized misogyny (the internal dialogue and conditioning that influences how women value their work and themselves).

Join us as we take a tour through Nicky’s career pivots, from launching an events business to starting a unisex kids’ clothing brand during the pandemic, to launching her own podcast and the birth of The Wilder Collective.

We delve into reframing success beyond money and status and the reality of balancing entrepreneurship with life, expectations, and authenticity...

We’re lucky enough to get an early insight into the gloriously titled ‘Good Girl Economics’ research Nicky has been conducting over the summer with (past guest of the podcast) Leila Ainge which aims to quantify and illuminate how women price their services and perceive other women’s success.

You can find Nicky at:

thewildercollective.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/wilder.ones

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicky-denson-elliott-44103418/?skipRedirect=true

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

Where to find me:

Join me over at www.holdingupthesky.com

Book in coaching with me at http://www.thetripleshift.org

Find my menopause in the workplace support at www.managingthemenopause.com

Connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

Follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

Or subscribe to my weekly(ish) Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/

You’re exhausted from being all things to all people. Madly juggling parenting, elder care, job, health. Maybe you’re also supporting your young adults who aren’t quite ‘fully fledged’.

If you feel like you’re constantly teetering on the brink of burnout and playing ‘Whack-a-Mole’ with possible peri/menopause symptoms…

Then Holding Up The Sky is the safety net you didn’t know you needed but is going to change the game for you.

A community that builds in:

• group coaching (with two accredited coaches, alternating once per fortnight)

• expert workshops (on topics like breathwork, dealing with burnout, yoga therapy, perimenopause, navigating SEND systems, divorce, elder care, bereavement and more)

• quarterly Q&A sessions with GP and BMS Advanced practitioner Dr Beth Thomas

• community support - dip in and out as much as you wish

• available on desktop or app, toggle between both on the go

• practical advice and resources (links, books, podcasts, worksheets) so you can navigate your way through the “midlife collision” without losing your sh*t…

This is for you… if you’re a midlife woman feeling like they are doing Everything, Everywhere, All At Once...and want to rewrite your narrative before you reach burnout.

This isn't… another program promising to "fix" you in 30 days. This is a membership space built from hundreds of conversations about what we actually need:

Permission to not have it all figured out

Practical tools that work in real life (not just on Instagram)

A community that gets it without you having to explain

Expert guidance from people who've walked this path

We'd love to welcome you in to our community space, come and find out more at www.holdingupthesky.com

For a limited time you can get your first month for just £5 using the code TRYME at:

https://holdingupthesky.circle.so/checkout/launch-monthly-membership

Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Emma welcomes Jane Moffett, a coach and author who specializes in helping women navigate the transitions in their careers and lives. Jane is the founder and director of Kangaroo Coaching, a company that works with organisations who are committed to creating progressive workplace cultures. She runs coaching programmes for new parent employees and their line managers, offers 1:1 and group coaching, and is a researcher and writer. Her most recent work is with women who are navigating their way out of work and into their next stage of life. She regularly runs her ‘Empowered Women’ courses aimed at the late-career stage, and her book ‘What next? The savvy woman’s guide to redefining retirement’ is out on 9th September.

• Postmenopausal Zest: coined by Margaret Mead, this concept refers to a renewed sense of purpose and clarity that many women experience after menopause. Jane emphasizes the importance of authenticity during this stage, encouraging women to pursue what truly lights them up.
• The Third Stage of Women’s Careers: This stage is characterized by a shift from “work you need to do” to “work you want to do.” Jane highlights the importance of leveraging past experiences and networks when transitioning into new ventures.
• Entrepreneurship Among Women: The fastest-growing cohort of entrepreneurs is women in their fifties. Jane encourages bravery and proactivity, urging women to draw on their strengths and reach out to their networks.
• Navigating Empty Nest Syndrome: Acknowledging the psychological transition when children leave home can help women focus on their own identities and aspirations.
• Investing in Intangible Assets: Jane discusses the concept of investing in productive, vitality, and transformational assets to enhance longevity and fulfilment in life. Self-knowledge and community involvement are crucial for successful transformation.
• Finding Purpose: The Japanese concept of "Ikigai" is introduced as a framework for finding purpose by combining what you love, what you’re good at, and what contributes to others. Jane shares practical exercises like free writing to help individuals discover their purpose.
• The Gender Pension Gap: Women often retire with significantly less in pension savings compared to men, primarily due to salary disparities and career breaks. Jane stresses the importance of considering pension wealth in life planning, especially during major life transitions like divorce.
• Redefining Retirement: The traditional binary view of work and retirement is evolving; people are exploring varied paths that may include part-time work, entrepreneurship, or new hobbies. Planning for retirement should focus on creating a fulfilling and personalized experience.

• Jane’s Website: Kangaroo Coaching – where you can find resources and a workbook for self-reflection: https://kangaroocoaching.net/from-retired-to-redefined
• Jane’s Book: What Next? The Savvy Woman's Guide to Redefining Retirement – available from September 9, 2025
• Exploratory Writing by Alison Jones – a resource for reflective writing practices.

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

Want to work with me?

Join me over at www.holdingupthesky.com

Coaching with me at http://www.thetripleshift.org

Menopause in the workplace support at www.managingthemenopause.com

Connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

Follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

Or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/