By Rachel Lankester, Founder Magnificent Midlife

Our most popular podcast episodes of all time!
Join me for a look back at our most popular podcast episodes to date. There’s so much wisdom, inspiration, humor and all round wonderfulness in these interviews. I’m so grateful to all my guests for sharing their stories.
Just click the titles to listen, or check them out on Spotify, or your podcast app on your smartphone.

Oh how I love this woman, the amazing Suzi Grant. Suzi is the very best example of an older woman determined to squeeze the very last drop out of life, on her own terms. She talked about how she came to set up her website Alternative Ageing, being proactive about ageing, fasting and more!
Episode 10: Ending ageism with Ashton Applewhite

Ashton Applewhite is an author, speaker and anti-ageism activist. I discovered her work about three years ago and have been quoting her daily ever since. Ashton got a standing ovation when she did a main stage Ted talk called Let’s end ageism.
She was invited to speak at the UN. She republished her book This Chair Rocks, A Manifesto Against Ageism. She talked about how we often don’t like to identify as being in midlife or older, how raising consciousness about ageing and ageism is key and more!
Episode 17: Rethinking menopause and HRT with Professor Joyce Harper

Joyce Harper is professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health, University College London. She has worked in the fields of fertility, genetics, reproductive health and women’s health for over 30 years.
We’re both aware our views on this podcast may prove contentious, but we’re passionate about making sure women have all the information they need about menopause.
We talked about the many natural ways to help ourselves during perimenopause, investing in midlife for our well-being in older age, and the benefits of being post-menopause among many others.
Episode 20: The magic of menopause with Darcey Steinke

Darcey Steinke is the author of the very wonderful memoir Flash Count Diary. I loved her book and so many of her thoughts about menopause are similar to mine. It was wonderful to find a kindred spirit whose overall impression of menopause is so positive.
We talked about how menopause can be a struggle but there is lots of richness to gain, fertility, menopause and the patriarchy, the marvels of whales and menopause and more!
Episode 30: Just doing it and living the dream with Jo Moseley

A return visit from the amazing Jo Moseley. Since I first spoke to her in Season 1 at the beginning of 2019, Jo had completed a North of England coast to coast stand-up paddle board challenge, becoming the first woman to do this at the tender age of 54.
Part 1 of Jo on the podcast is Episode 3. I’m so inspired by this woman and I know you’ll love catching up with her adventures. She talked about being open to possibility, the importance of believing in yourself, finding help in unexpected places and more!
Episode 34: Talking about death with Dr Kathryn Mannix

I was so honoured to interview Dr Kathryn Mannix who has devoted her life to the palliative care of the dying. She has written a remarkable book called With The End In Mind which everyone should read!
It was such a pleasure to talk to her about death! This is a longer interview than usual but I thought the topic deserved it. Coronavirus has made it even more important that we start having conversations about death before it’s too late. This was recorded before the pandemic.
Episode 43: Making the most of your heart beats with Julie Owen Moylan

I interviewed Julie Owen Moylan, a writer whose short stories and articles have appeared in the Welsh Review, Horizon Literary Review and The Voice of Women in Wales Anthology. She’s also won awards for her films and has a massive following on Twitter!
Since recording this podcast Julie secured a New York book deal for her first novel.
We talk all things writing, inspiration and finding one’s authentic voice. There’s lots of laughter here.
Episode 44: Menopause, hormones and immune systems with Angela Counsel

An interview with Angela Counsel, naturopath, kinesiologist and mindset coach working particularly with women in midlife. Like me, she’s on a mission to spread the word that menopause doesn’t have to be a tough time in life. In fact it can be a time of stepping into your wisdom and falling in love with yourself and your life.
We talked about supporting hormonal balance and our immune systems particularly in response to Covid-19.
Episode 49: The joy of walking cities with Lisa Weldon

An interview with Lisa Weldon, a writer who’s created a fascinating life for herself in her next chapter, by walking cities! This was recorded pre lockdown when travel was still normal but seems super relevant now that walking is a much more comfortable option than public transport!
Episode 50: Living the dream in the desert with Sam Walker

Meet Sam Walker, host of the award-winning Sam Walker’s Desert Diaries podcast, which she started to document her move from Manchester, UK to Phoenix, Arizona.
Sam is a master storyteller, an award-winning radio and TV broadcaster, a multiple podcast producer and presenter, a writer with a book being published next year and a woman who’s encountered coyotes, snakes and scorpions in the desert. Since we recorded this she won three (yes three) awards at the British Podcast awards!
Episode 51: Creating your next chapter with Angela Raspass

She’s as determined as I am to help women find passion, purpose and fulfilment in midlife and beyond. She also knows how powerful we can be if we just believe in ourselves! She recently launched her book Your Next Chapter.
Episode 52: Midlife sex with Dr Sonia Wright

Meet Dr Sonia Wright, the Midlife Sex Coach. She’s also a medical doctor, radiologist and life coach, and tremendous fun. This is a brilliant interview all about midlife sex.
If you have any issues at all, even tiny ones, in this department, or just want to make your sex life even better, this interview will get you feeling inspired and empowered to take excellent care of yourself and your partner. Let’s all have more fun!
I hope you enjoyed this look at our most popular podcast episodes of all time. They are all well worth a listen!
The Magnificent Midlife Podcast is available on Spotify and all podcast apps. It celebrates, champions and empowers women in midlife and beyond. We’re not over the hill or on a downward slope. In midlife we’re just getting started!
I talk all things midlife, about issues that matter, and shares fabulous stories of magnificent women doing very cool stuff. Enjoy!
You may also like: Best Podcasts For Women Over 50 (Like Me)


Rachel Lankester is the founder of Magnificent Midlife, author, host of the Magnificent Midlife Podcast, a midlife mentor and editor of the Mutton Club online magazine. After an initially devastating early menopause at 41, she dedicated herself to helping women vibrantly transition through the sometimes messy middle of life, helping them cope better with menopause and ageing in general, and create magnificent next chapters. She’s been featured in/on BBC Woman’s Hour, The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, The Age Buster, Woman’s Weekly, Prima Magazine, eShe, Tatler HK and Woman’s Own amongst others. She believes we just get better with age. Get her book Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond.
Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by Editorial Staff