Welcome to Two Women Chatting - the podcast where midlife gets real, inspiring, and finds the joy in our second chapter. Hosted by broadcaster and book lover Michelle Ford, each week we dive into the topics that matter most to women in their 40s, 50s and beyond: midlife reinvention, menopause, confidence, parenting grown-up kids, and navigating relationships.
From bestselling authors like Elizabeth Day, and Donna Ashworth to wellbeing experts, celebrities, and women with extraordinary stories, Two Women Chatting is a space for connection, laughter, and wisdom.
If you’re searching for a podcast about midlife, menopause, women’s health, book club recommendations, lifestyle and inspiration, you’re in the right place.
👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic.
Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.com, brimming with useful expert blogs, resources, and irresistible offers to fuel your personal development journey; not to mention exclusive listener discounts and offers with our sponsorship partners.
Connect with Michelle at twowomenchatting@gmail.com for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond...
Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michelleford_twc or Facebook to be the first to hear about guests and behind the scenes content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Two Women Chatting - the podcast where midlife gets real, inspiring, and finds the joy in our second chapter. Hosted by broadcaster and book lover Michelle Ford, each week we dive into the topics that matter most to women in their 40s, 50s and beyond: midlife reinvention, menopause, confidence, parenting grown-up kids, and navigating relationships.
From bestselling authors like Elizabeth Day, and Donna Ashworth to wellbeing experts, celebrities, and women with extraordinary stories, Two Women Chatting is a space for connection, laughter, and wisdom.
If you’re searching for a podcast about midlife, menopause, women’s health, book club recommendations, lifestyle and inspiration, you’re in the right place.
👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic.
Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.com, brimming with useful expert blogs, resources, and irresistible offers to fuel your personal development journey; not to mention exclusive listener discounts and offers with our sponsorship partners.
Connect with Michelle at twowomenchatting@gmail.com for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond...
Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michelleford_twc or Facebook to be the first to hear about guests and behind the scenes content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this special Summer Rewind episode from the Two Women Chatting archive, Liz and Michelle revisit their inspiring conversation with TV presenter, journalist and author Louise Minchin. Louise opens up about her deeply personal journey through empty nest syndrome, sharing the unexpected grief and sense of loss she felt when both her daughters left home for university.
Louise explains how she overcame this emotional rollercoaster by setting new challenges: becoming an endurance athlete, pushing herself out of her comfort zone, and chronicling her adventures with remarkable women in her bestselling book, Fearless. From swimming through shark-infested waters to Alcatraz to ice diving, Louise shows how embracing adventure and focusing on what your body can do — rather than how it looks — can transform your midlife years.
This episode offers practical advice and inspiration for anyone facing the empty nest: learn to celebrate your achievements, set fresh goals, and reinvent yourself at any stage of life.
For more resources, visit our Midlife Library and blog on empty nest syndrome at twowomenchatting.com.
✅ Louise was surprised by the intensity of grief she felt when her daughters first left home.
✅ She describes parenting at this stage as a rollercoaster — no longer being in control.
✅ Finding new challenges helped her cope: endurance sports, triathlons, and writing books.
✅ Celebrate what your body can do, not just how it looks.
✅ Reinventing your career in midlife is possible and exciting — Louise proudly now calls herself a writer.
✅ Set small goals, step outside your comfort zone, and don’t let fear of failure stop you.
"I was really... extraordinarily unprepared for her leaving home."
"You've got to go with a different kind of rollercoaster. One where you are not in control anymore."
"I'm proud of what my body can do, not about what it looks like."
"I walked in going, I'm a writer. And that's so exciting."
"Don't be afraid to fall flat on your face."
First broadcast: 25 September 2023
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform.
We love hearing from you: email us at twowomenchatting@gmail.com.
Explore more blogs and resources on empty nest syndrome and midlife reinvention at www.twowomenchatting.com.
Follow Two Women Chatting on instagram @michelleford_twc
on Facebook @twowomenchatting
on YouTube @twowomenchatting
on X @michellefordvo
on TikTok @twowomenchatting0
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.