179 Understanding the female brain at midlife with Dr Sarah McKay
Release Date: 08/05/2025
185 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: Upgrading the menopause conversation | Clarissa Kristjansson | (re-release)
Magnificent Midlife
We’re bringing back another episode for our special Menopause Matters Season — this time with the wonderful Clarissa Kristjansson. She’s a Mindfulness and Menopause expert, author of The Mindful Menopause, and host of the Thriving Thru Menopause podcast. Clarissa is passionate about changing the way women think about menopause and aging. She brings such warmth and wisdom to this conversation, showing how mindfulness and a truly holistic approach can transform our experience of midlife. Her work continues to challenge unhelpful narratives and empower women to take...
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184 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: Midlife women rock | Breeda Bermingham (re-release)
Magnificent Midlife
We’re revisiting another brilliant conversation for our special Menopause Matters Season — this time with the inspiring Breeda Bermingham. She’s a social entrepreneur, founder of the Midlife Women Rock Project, and author of Midlife Women Rock: A Menopause Story for a New Generation. A former midwife and nurse, Breeda went back to full-time education at 49, completing both a psychology degree and a master’s in sociology. Impressive doesn’t even begin to cover it! This was such a moving conversation — Breeda’s wisdom and passion continue to have a profound...
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183 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: How to have a happy menopause | Jackie Lynch (re-release)
Magnificent Midlife
This is a re-release episode with the brilliant Jackie Lynch, Registered Nutritional Therapist and author of The Happy Menopause. I just love that title! Jackie’s work is all about how nutrition can help us flourish in midlife and beyond. ✨ Book news! Jackie’s latest book The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy: Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body is now out. While her original book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish is a symptom-by-symptom guide you can dip in and out of, this new sister copy takes a different approach....
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182 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: How to do a midlife refuel | Maryon Stewart (re-release)
Magnificent Midlife
Maryon Stewart is known as the pioneer of the natural menopause movement. She created a non-drug but scientifically based program to overcome issues associated with menopause and has helped thousands of women. She’s written 28 books and is also a campaigner for education around drugs. She’s made it her mission to ensure women have all the information they need to manage menopause effectively without the need for medication in most instances. We talk about: -What it means to manage your menopause naturally -Why HRT isn’t the magic solution to hormonal issues -The need for a midlife refuel...
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181 MENOPAUSE MATTERS: A special rerun season (intro)
Magnificent Midlife
In this solo episode, host Rachel Lankester introduces a brand-new special season of the Magnificent Midlife Podcast: Menopause Matters. With World Menopause Day around the corner, Rachel is shining a spotlight on some of the inspiring menopause conversations from the Magnificent Midlife archives. She shares her own early menopause diagnosis story, why lifestyle (as) medicine (the theme of this year's World Menopause Day) is so powerful, and what listeners can expect from this empowering rerun series. She talks about: -Why she has created a dedicated menopause season -Her own...
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180 Living a life less ordinary with Melissa Talago
Magnificent Midlife
Want to add something fabulous to your life? Meet Melissa Talago, a serial entrepreneur and portfolio careerist with a single minded passion: to live a life less ordinary. She runs Hoomin, providing content marketing and communications leadership to tech companies. She's also the founder of Glamoraks, a global community for women who hike. She wrote a book on how to divorce amicably and in her spare time, works for adventure travel company Water by Nature, taking guests on sailing trips. This is Melissa's second appearance on the podcast, as I wanted to catch up on all the exciting things she...
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179 Understanding the female brain at midlife with Dr Sarah McKay
Magnificent Midlife
Dr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist, author, and science communicator passionate about making brain science accessible and practical. With a PhD in neuroscience, she specializes in exploring the female brain and its transformations across life stages. Her books, The Women's Brain Book and Baby Brain, delve into the neuroscience of health, hormones, and motherhood. She’s also the director of The Neuroscience Academy, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and everyday life. We talk about: - Dr McKay's passion for science communication - Her inspiration for writing her books -...
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178 Metabolism repair and long term health with Lara Briden
Magnificent Midlife
Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and women's health advocate with over 25 years of clinical experience. Lara has written Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual. Her latest book, Metabolism Repair For Women, a compassionate, science based guide to balancing insulin, losing weight and improving health, empowers women to understand and heal their metabolism for lasting health. Lara is also one of my co-founders at . We talk about: - The inspiration for and differences in Lara's books - The importance of understanding metabolic dysfunction - The role of hormones like...
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177 Betrayal, healing, and resilience with Tracey Yarad
Magnificent Midlife
Tracey Yarad is an Australian singer-songwriter and pianist who transformed personal heartbreak into powerful storytelling. After a devastating betrayal in midlife, she channelled her pain into her one-woman musical show All The Pretty Things, now touring in Australia and the UK. Through raw honesty, humour, and music, she’s helping others heal while reclaiming her own voice. So powerful and inspiring! We talk about: - Tracey's journey and the birth of her show - The betrayal and its impact - The aftermath and healing process - The evolution of her show and its emotional depth - The...
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176 Bone health and osteoporosis with Rebekah Rotstein
Magnificent Midlife
Rebekah Rotstein is the creator of the medically endorsed Buff Bones® system, providing bone health, education and exercise to manage and prevent bone and joint issues for people of all ages. She’s an industry leader in Pilates, bone health and movement education. Rebekah was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 28 and has been helping people improve their bone health ever since. She talks about: Her osteoporosis diagnosis The impact of exercise and diet on bone health Midlife prevention and bone health awareness Understanding osteoporosis and misconceptions Primary and...
info_outlineDr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist, author, and science communicator passionate about making brain science accessible and practical. With a PhD in neuroscience, she specializes in exploring the female brain and its transformations across life stages. Her books, The Women's Brain Book and Baby Brain, delve into the neuroscience of health, hormones, and motherhood. She’s also the director of The Neuroscience Academy, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and everyday life.
We talk about:
- Dr McKay's passion for science communication
- Her inspiration for writing her books
- Understanding the brain and menopause
- Advancements in menopause research
- Challenges in menopause research and communication
- The impact of menopause on cognition and mood
- Menopause in the workplace
- The need for reliable data and room for nuance
- Lifestyle and menopause management
- The need for humor in menopause
- Future directions in menopause research
And lots more! If you want to understand what happens to our brains in midlife, this podcast is a must listen.
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Order the ebook or audiobook (narrated by Rachel) versions of Rachel’s book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond at magnificentmidlife.com/book
The paperback can be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/
US & Canada: https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/
Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/
You can listen to all the other episodes and get the show notes at magnificentmidlife.com/podcast.
Recommended by the Sunday Times.
Feedspot #9 in 40 Best Midlife Podcasts and #7 in 60 Best Women Over 50 Podcasts
You'll find lots of strategies, support, and resources to help make your midlife magnificent at magnificentmidlife.com.
Check out Rachel's online Revitalize Experience, a 6-week intensive small group mentoring experience or 1-1 Midlife Mentoring.