The taskmaster himself joins Gabby this week! Comedian and Taskmaster grand creator, Alex Horne, talks about what it’s like making one of the most beloved comedy shows on TV, as well sharing what his showbiz marriage is like with his co-host, Greg Davies. Alex also talks about his other successful marriage and how family life at the midpoint is shaping up, including why his kids are still embarrassed of him despite the fact he makes a really cool show on the telly. They also discuss the importance of movement and staying active so that you can enjoy later life; how Alex has learned to put family first and how to holiday better; and why he and Gabby both love a good wedding! You can still get tickets to Alex’s latest tour with the The Horne Section here.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning: This episode contains strong language. Kate Thornton is as frank and funny as ever, and this week she joins Gabby to talk about everything from single motherhood and presenting prime time Saturday night telly, to the power of talking therapy and recovering from an eating disorder. Kate speaks about the importance of female friendships and how her girl gang are her life raft, and also why her happiest times have been the years she has been a mum to her son, Ben. Kate speaks openly about her ongoing experience of the menopause, and why the right doctor is as fundamental as the right therapist when you’re a middle aged woman. You can hear more from Kate on her podcast White Wine Question Time or tune into her weekend radio shows on Greatest Hits Radio.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabby chats to comedian and broadcaster, Elis James, who is slightly resentful about being eligible for the show! Elis talks about the pitfalls of parenting, including the impossible task of policing children’s access to phones and social media, and explains why he is evangelical about cycling and insufferable on endorphins. They also talk about how Elis’ father’s Parkinson's disease diagnosis has made him think differently about aging, and why both he and Gabby focus on healthspan rather than lifespan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcaster and activist Lauren Mahon popped by the studio this week with her dog, Ray! Lauren chats to Gabby about the seismic impact You, Me And The Big C had on the way people talk about cancer, but also the emotional heavy lifting it required from her on a personal level. She also talks about experiencing a medical menopause as part of her cancer treatment, why it's okay to wallow sometimes, and how liberating it was learning to drive on the cusp of midlife! They also discuss life after cancer, in particular how to approach sex and intimacy - something Lauren is on a mission to get us talking about more. For more information or support on this issue you can head to GIRLvsCANCER or Macmillan.Warning: This podcast contains strong language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Milton Jones joins Gabby to talk about why he sees midlife as being like the “second time round to the buffet!” They also talk about his Christian faith and how attitudes towards faith can change as we get older. They also discuss having aging parents, and Milton speaks very openly about what it was like caring for his mum who suffered from Alzheimer's. Milton also shares what he has come to understand about comedy, over the many years spent honing his craft and before selling out big arenas. They also debate whether or not you should take more risks in midlife, and relish the joy of knowing yourself better at the midpoint. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jill Halfpenny has been acting on our screens for over 30 years, but she is not here to talk about one of her character’s storylines but rather her own life story which is the basis of her new memoir A Life Reimagined: My Journey of Hope in the Midst of Loss. Jill talks to Gabby about how burying grief and trauma can manifest later in life and the importance of acknowledging emotions; her experience of recovery with Alcoholics Anonymous; the almighty shock of losing her partner, Matt, in eerily similar circumstances to her father; how grief changes over time and the tools she’s collected along the way that enable her to stay hopeful about the future. This is a really open and honest conversation about love and loss, and how you rebuild your life at the midpoint. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabby is joined by expert guest Dr Federica Amati to talk about all things nutrition, and to answer your questions on everything from which foods are particularly beneficial in midlife, to what to feed the teenagers in your life. They also chat about the importance of questioning sources when it comes to nutritional advice; tweaking your mindset to focus on what foods you can add rather than restrict; when to exercise in relation to meal times; and how a plant first approach to building your plate can be particularly helpful when you’re going through the menopause. Federica’s latest book Every Body Should Know This is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BBC News’ Disability Correspondent, documentary maker, and presenter on Watchdog and The One Show, Nikki Fox, brings lots of warmth and humor to the podcast this week. Nikki shares how she found the love of her life after throwing what she describes as the wedding to herself, aka Fox Fest - her fortieth birthday party! Nikki also opens up about living with Muscular Dystrophy and how it impacts her day-to-day life as a news correspondent; the power of hard work and positive thinking; coming to terms with how your body changes in midlife; and why more needs to be done to support disabled people to thrive.You can find out more about Muscular Dystrophy UK here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former SBS Sergeant turned TV presenter and author, Jason Fox, joins Gabby on the podcast this week. Jason speaks at length about how being diagnosed with PTSD and medically discharged from the military sparked a chain of events which led to thoughts of suicide. He explains how being honest with himself and owning his mistakes on the brink of midlife was the first step towards getting well again, and how it took several attempts for him to find the right help. Jason speaks about all he’s learned and how he’s connected with - as he describes it - his inner hippy! You can find out more about the charity Foxy co-founded here, and his latest book Embrace The Chaos: 52 Tactics to Make Every Day Count is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DJ, presenter, and Guinness World Records holder, Adele Roberts, chats to Gabby this week about how a midlife bowel cancer diagnosis has completely changed her outlook on life, and crucially, her relationship with herself. Adele shares some of the realities of living with a stoma (also known as ‘naughty Audrey’); how she coped with the brutality of chemotherapy; as well as why movement was medicine for her long before her cancer diagnosis and why it’s important to start small but dream big. She also discusses the importance of representation; how she’s battled social anxiety throughout her career; as well as her relationship with her long term partner, Kate. Her book Personal Best is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Popstar Gabrielle joins Gabby to talk about why she’s living her best life in her fifties! They discuss all the learnings that have come with age, including better boundaries, emotional resilience, and knowing how to strike a better balance in life. Gabrielle also talks about how music was always her friend growing up; how she managed the demands of touring with the symptoms of the menopause; and why being a grandma is bringing her so much joy right now. Gabrielle’s new album A Place In Your Heart is available now, and you can grab tickets for her tour here.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Gabby is joined by Dr Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop? Poor diet has overtaken tobacco as the leading cause of early death, and so they discuss what ultra-processed food is and how we can easily identify it, how it has been designed to keep us eating it, and why we should always look beyond health claims on packaging. Chris also shares why it's not his intention to tell people what to eat, but rather it is his mission is to expose the food industry for what it is, and take away some of the shame and stigma around what we eat and what we are feeding our families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Blue Peter presenter turned children's author Konnie Huq chats to Gabby this week about a wide range of topics, including why she feels modern life is getting more and more absurd by the minute, how she wrestled with stereotyping in her younger years and ended up presenting TV before she had finished school, and why she thinks middle aged women rock! Konnie also explains why she is happy being an analogue person in a digital world, how her early experiences filming for Comic Relief informed her outlook on life, and why we might all benefit from being a little more patient and having slightly lower expectations. Despite declaring that she is not a podcast person, Konnie’s honesty cuts through the noise and will have many of you nodding in agreement! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Hammond joins Gabby this week to talk about the “pale stale male” and what he’s doing to avoid becoming one! The former Top Gear presenter warns of the dangers of living in an echo chamber when you get to this stage of life, and why he’s hoping his new podcast (Who We Are Now) might contribute to more mentally healthy middle aged men. They also discuss whether his approach to risk has changed following two serious car accidents, one of which resulted in a brain injury and left him in a coma. Richard also shares his thoughts on the importance of male friendships; how exercise becomes an act of self care as you get older; and why there will always be a need for a show like Top Gear. Also, listen out for Richard’s confession: which new pointless midlife hobby he is really enjoying? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a special episode in partnership with British Airways.Gabby and Kenny Logan reminisce about the memorable trips they’ve taken over the course of their lives, from Kenny’s first long haul flight when he was initially selected to play rugby for Scotland, to Gabby’s trip to the Commonwealth Games as a 16 year old athlete; from an unforgettable break to Bali where they fully recharged, to and trips with their young children to Japan and South Africa which changed their perspectives on the world. They discuss how their approach to travel has changed over the years - Kenny no longer takes pride in arriving as close as he can to check-in closing, and Gabby is trying to slow down and enjoy the airport experience more. As well as the travel opportunities that have been unlocked now they are in midlife. Some travel experiences change you forever and stay with you long after you’ve touched down on home soil - even embarrassing moments that you might rather forget, as Gabby explains! So the Logan’s also give their top tips for making the most of your next trip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are starting a new era of the podcast as we mean to go on, with a brilliant guest who epitomises all the things we celebrate on this show. Laura Smyth decided to radically change her life at the midpoint, leaving her dependable job as a teacher for the uncertain world of stand up comedy. But just as she was getting into her stride, Laura was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She talks to Gabby about all she has learned from that experience, including how she dragged herself out of a pit of despair and resentment by learning to love herself fully and throwing herself unabashedly down what she describes as a wellness rabbithole. Laura also speaks about learning that stress is a sign to rest, and why she doesn’t feel bad about saying no to things anymore. Laura’s story proves that it’s never too late to build the life you want, but also that things don’t always go to plan, so don’t wait until you’re facing death to really start living. You can catch her on tour in 2024 - grab your tickets here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist, broadcaster, and one half of the 5 Live Breakfast presenting team, Rachel Burden, joins Gabby on the podcast this week. Rachel talks about how years of very early wake up calls have taught her not to get too paranoid about the amount of sleep she gets, instead looking at the bigger picture and the positive effects of being stimulated and nourished by a job you love. As a working mum of four, Rachel also discusses making life decisions as a family unit, striving to have the things you want in life rather than trying to have it all, and how her youngest child’s premature birth proved just how little we can actually control in life. Rachel also talks about the joy of taking up walking football in midlife, and her new project - Cafe Hope - which she’s hoping will provide some relief from the daily news cycle. Dr Danny Penman also joins to speak about his experience using meditation as pain relief after a serious paragliding accident, and how taking time out for meditation can actually save you time in the long run. His new book Deeper Mindfulness: The New Way to Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World is available now.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gynaecologist and bestselling author Dr Jen Gunter is our special expert guest this week! Dr Gunter is here to shed some light on what is happening to the body when it goes through the menopause transition. Jen also takes your questions on everything from brain fog to weight gain and supplements to HRT - busting a few myths along the way! Hopefully you’ll feel better informed about what is happening to your body through this time, but also hopeful about what awaits on the other side of the menopause. You can find out more about Dr Gunter’s published works here including The Menopause Manifesto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s not every week we have a double olympic champion on the podcast, but this week rower Helen Glover is adding a touch of greatness to proceedings. Speaking directly from a training camp in Portugal ahead of what will hopefully be her fourth olympic games, Helen reveals what motivated her to come out of retirement - not once, but twice - and what it’s like juggling motherhood with the demands of being an elite athlete. Helen speaks about the way that her perspective has changed as she’s got older; how going through multiple pregnancies has actually made her feel stronger; and her anxieties about retiring completely from the job she still loves. Author of How To Build A Healthy Brain, Kimberley Wilson, also joins to discuss the relationship between exercise and brain health, and why every time you move your body you give your brain a boost! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the nation’s best loved presenters, Matt Baker, brings his infectious enthusiasm to the podcast this week! By happy accident, this episode is all about midlife pivots and making bold steps towards doing more of the work you love. Listen to hear the unlikely story of how Matt came to be on our screens presenting Blue Peter; how his dyslexia set him up with what he describes as a high tolerance for failure and gave him a sense of fearlessness; how he navigated the role reversal that many of us go through in midlife when our parents begin to need more help and support; and there’s even an old fashioned midlife chat about the thankless task of trying to exercise with a bad back! Head Tutor at The Raymond Blanc Gardening School August Bernstein also joins to talk about making the most of your green spaces, and how you can get started on growing your own vegetables with nothing more than a windowsill.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.