Episodi

  • Sexy Menopause: Midlife Desire, Pelvic Health & Pleasure with Lisa Fitzpatrick.

    Sexy Menopause: Midlife Desire, Pelvic Health & Pleasure with Lisa Fitzpatrick.
    Oct 6 2026
    In this honest conversation, pelvic and sexual health physiotherapist Lisa Fitzpatrick draws on 30+ years of clinical experience and her own heartbreak to explain menopause and sex, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and reclaiming pleasure in midlife.We call out myths and bring truth to misconceptions; the silences surrounding women’s sexual health as we age. Silence that breeds shame and holds women captive in their own minds and bodies.Clinically, we explore the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), why pelvic floor relaxation matters as much as strengthening, vaginal moisturisers and lubricants, local oestrogen, and why ‘use it or lose it’ applies to pelvic health.Emotionally, we talk about shame, nervous system safety, identity, desire, relationships and the role of connection and self-trust in thriving after menopause.Whether you are navigating menopause yourself, supporting a partner, or simply want to understand women’s sexual health in midlife, this episode offers compassionate, practical insight.In this episode we talk about…Why Lisa wrote Sexy Menopause - The New Science and Soul of Midlife Desire:* Why Lisa felt this book needed to be written now and how her own experience of menopause and heartbreak shaped it.* Navigating body changes, disrupted sleep, joint pain, weight gain and a changing sense of identity in midlife.* Why Lisa believes women need honest, compassionate conversations about desire, intimacy and pelvic health, without the secrecy and shame.“I’m either going to get bitter or better… I’m going to write my way through this. I’m going to heal out loud.”What happens to the body in menopause:* How changing oestrogen levels can affect the vulva, vagina, bladder and urinary tract.* The Genitourinary Syndrome of menopause, including vaginal dryness, discomfort, urinary changes and recurrent urinary tract infections.* Why the vaginal canal can shorten and narrow, and how this may affect comfort with penetrative sex.* Why changes can occur after a period of abstinence—and why it is never too late to seek support.“If we don’t use it, we lose it.”Rethinking pelvic floor health:* Why pelvic floor health is about much more than doing Kegels.* The importance of relaxation, lengthening, softening and creating spaciousness in the pelvic floor.* How breath, nervous-system regulation and tension patterns can influence pelvic health.* Why moisturisers, lubricants and local oestrogen may each play different roles in supporting tissue comfort.“The pelvis keeps the score as much as the body keeps the score.”Pleasure, desire and the clitoris:* Why the clitoris remains an important source of pleasure throughout life - it’s always available to us.* Why pleasure does not have to depend on penetrative intercourse.* How vibrators and other tools may support comfort, circulation, familiarity and pelvic floor relaxation.* Why desire and sexual response can change in midlife and why that does not mean the end of desire. It will re-define it.“It doesn’t mean the end of pleasure.”Relationships, intimacy and emotional safety:* How couples can navigate changes in sexual function and intimacy together.* Why emotional safety, nervous-system regulation and communication can be just as important as physical treatment.* Why sex after menopause does not have to be (and is often not) the same as it was earlier in life. It may become more connected, creative and fulfilling.* The impact of shame, cultural expectations, religious messaging and unrealistic portrayals of sex on women’s relationship with their bodies.“It won’t ever be the same as it used to be, but it can be even better.”Identity, self-trust and authenticity:* Why midlife can be a powerful time to reconnect with who you are and what you want.* The importance of self-trust, intuition and listening to your body’s messages.* Why authenticity, boundaries and self-compassion are central to a ‘sexy menopause’.* Lisa’s reminder that this conversation is inclusive of all women, regardless of relationship status, sexuality or gender identity.“We do not need to prove anything to anyone.”Lisa’s Pelvic Health Toolkit:* The pillars of Lisa’s practical approach to pelvic and sexual health.* How diaphragmatic breathing and nervous-system regulation can support pelvic floor relaxation.* Gentle hip mobility and pelvic stretching to help release tension.* Every woman’s toolkit needs to be individual, depending on her symptoms, history and circumstances.* Why a pelvic health assessment with a trusted women’s health physiotherapist can be an important step.“You’re going to get your mojo back.”Thank You Lisa…for sharing your wisdom, clinical experience and personal story so generously. I know this conversation will help women feel more informed, less alone and more confident about seeking the support they deserve and need.Pre-Order Sexy Menopause - The New Science and Soul of Midlife DesireIf ...
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    1 ora e 4 min
  • Grey Divorce and the Use of AI.

    Grey Divorce and the Use of AI.
    Sep 30 2026
    In midlife the changes are BIG. The rate of those divorcing over the age of 50 is at an all time high. Increasingly too, the ‘relationships’ we have with AI are becoming deeper and wider in application and in frequency. When it comes to Grey Divorce, AI’s role is also deepening, some may say becoming a dependence. As much as those conversations about your divorce, your relationship, your marriage you may be having with Claude, Chat GPT (name your preferred AI) seem helpful, they do come with certain risks you may not be aware of. That’s the focus of this podcast chat. Not to scare, to inform. For awareness.I sat down with Kiki Hart (aka Louise Cooper). Louise is a lawyer, accredited mediator, and someone who’s been through a divorce herself, to unpack where midlife, divorce and artificial intelligence are all colliding at once.I came away with a lot to think about, and I suspect you will too.In this episode…Grey divorce is real, and it’s usKiki lead the conversation with some stats around divorce trends here in Australia (which are not that dissimilar to those in the US and elsewhere). Whilst divorce rates have remained reasonably steady overall it’s the divorces involving marriages of 20 years or more that have proportionally risen 20% in Australia since the 1980s. The shift is happening at the 50-plus stage of life.Some of the numbers we discussed:* Median age at divorce in Australia in 2025: 47.3 for men, 44.4 for women* 29% of Australian divorces are now ‘grey divorces’ (people 50+)* In the US, the rate of over-50s divorcing roughly doubled between 1990 and 2010.* Overall divorce rates are sitting near their lowest since the mid-1970s - it’s specifically midlife driving the trend upward, not divorce in generalThe HILDA data: love isn’t the problem, workload might beThe newly released HILDA survey (the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia study), has tracked around 17,000 Australians annually since 2001. The latest release says:* 88% of women and 92% of men in long-term relationships report strong love for their partner* Men’s weekly housework hours: 12.8 hours in 2022 - unchanged from 2002* Women’s weekly housework hours: 18.4 hours, about 44% more than men, on top of far more paid work than 20 years ago* 17% of men believed they were doing more than half the household loadWe had a bit of a laugh about the ‘did you notice what I did?’ phenomenon - the tendency for a small domestic contribution to be announced and then quietly waited on for praise. Women report slightly but statistically lower relationship satisfaction than men, and women are more likely to eventually initiate separation.Menopause, less f***s to give, and the Walkaway WifeWe talked about the pattern Louise saw repeatedly in her mediation work, where one partner (usually the woman in a heterosexual relationship) is further along the journey to wanting to end the relationship than the other; often after years of trying to communicate that something was wrong. Years of being met with avoidance, dismissal, or ‘she’s just going through a phase.’Midlife as a time of BIG change. At the confluence of the Menopause transition and post menopause years. Not to say it’s a cause of divorce. It is, however, a time when women often remove their willingness to keep performing a role that no longer fits. Less want for keeping the peace, to be the one that holds others and things together. A greater desire to spend that energy on themselves. These are a values shift. Where her grieving was done in advance, often well before asking for the divorce. [Menodivorce is an informal term used to describe a separation or divorce that happens during the menopause transition as women re-evaluate their long-term relationships and priorities.]Women 50+ now are of a generation that increasingly believes they’re allowed to want more than stability. Unlike the generation before them, when marriage was often regarded as a means for security and stability. The HILDA supports this too with more women of this generation in paid work and careers, whilst also doing the vast majority of the at home duties and parenting too.The Walkaway Wife is a term coined by clinical social worker and marriage therapist, Michele Weiner-Davis in 2008. A pattern (not a diagnosis) she named based on what she was consistently seeing in her therapy practice. Researchers have been calling this the demand-withdraw pattern for decades, one of the most replicated findings in marital communication research. [Interestingly, much of this research has been done on younger couples rather than older, married for longer, couples].We also touched on how quickly this reality gets pathologised, including in the language of medicine itself. Hysterectomy shares its literal root with ‘hysteria’ both stemming from hystera, the Greek word for womb.An uncomfortable reminder of how long women’s midlife changes have been framed as a problem to be ...
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    48 min
  • Squash: The World’s Healthiest Sport. With Caleb Johnson, squash pro and my coach.

    Squash: The World’s Healthiest Sport. With Caleb Johnson, squash pro and my coach.
    Sep 22 2026
    Squash is often called the world’s healthiest sport. In this episode of the Midlife Unfiltered podcast my squash coach Caleb Johnson joins me to unpack why. I also share my own return to the game after 30 years. Squash is on the rise again. Is it for you? The ball’s in your court 🙂In this episode we talk about:* Caleb – as an Australian professional squash player, squash and fitness coach, runs a junior academy and squash advocate.* What makes squash different from most racquet sports - it has no net that separates players (for starters) and the benefits of that.* Racquet sports – in order of popularity* A brief history of squash and its evolution – the popular years and its rapid decline* Squash as an inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics – and its rise again.* The health benefits of racquet sports in general* The physical health benefits of squash specifically: high calories burned (600–1,000 calories/hour), cardio challenging, muscles and bone benefits from multi-movements and multi-directional impacts – without the level of injury of other forms of sport* Tarek Momen vs. Rafael Nadal: a wild real-world comparison of match intensity – how tennis and squash compare. Not to knock tennis (we both love tennis) but to highlight the differences and impacts on health.* High intensity, ‘interval training’ nature of the sport PLUS endurance.* Brain and neural health benefits – squash is called ‘chess on legs’ – split second decision making and anticipation of where the ball is going next and where to place it.* Caleb shares a personal story about his friend with 7% vision who restored vision. through playing squash – he’s hoping it will be studied in the future.* Bone & Muscle health – how it helps our bones and muscles (and the study that shows this)* The ease to integrate it into life – doesn’t take up much time, can practice on your own (no balls to chase on the other side of the net!), build skills, play socially, competitively and it’s inexpensive.* Squash’s Olympic debut at LA 2028, and what it means for the sport’s future* The sport everyone’s Dad used to play – now it’s on the rise again.* How to start playing squash – as a new sport;* How to get back into squash again – the mind-body gap, and how to do it safely – people like me coming back to squash after 3 decades away (we are the risk group guys); warming up for as long as you play for starters.Here’s to squash in the 2028 in the LA Olympics and then 2032 in our home town of Brisbane, Australia. Get out there and start squashing in your local area.Unfortunately, our audio mucked up in the final minutes of our chat, sorry. Thank goodness for the subtitles!Find Caleb: Caleb Johnson Squash - Instagram, Facebook, and websiteRelated Midlife Unfiltered episodes:* Bone Chatter: Strong Bones Are More Than Density* Re-Entry in Midlife: Who You Were Before KidsIf you’d like a full deep-dive - history, global participation, the studies behind every claim, and more…keep reading below.The full story: I picked up a squash racquet when I was about 6. After 30 years since competing, I’m back playing squash for the health benefits I know it brings.Join Caleb Johnson, my fabulous squash coach and I as we explore this brilliant, unique racquet sport. It’s been called the #1 all-round healthiest sport and is often referred to as ‘chess on legs’.Meet Caleb.Caleb is a professional squash player and coach, currently ranked 311 in the world and #15 in Australia. He started playing at 14, (late by professional standards, where most competitors start at 4, 5, or 6) and became Australia’s #1 under-19 player by 18. He turned professional at 22. His goal…crack the top 100, and maybe, just maybe, an Olympic team spot in 2028. Alongside his own playing career, he coaches clients from age 5 to 85.Squash is different from other racquet sports.Unlike tennis, table tennis, pickleball, badminton, or padel, players share the exact same physical space. There’s no net that separates. That proximity is part of why relationships form so quickly in squash.That, and numerous other benefits.The numbers behind squash’s ‘healthiest all-round sport’ reputation.Racquet sports as a category are linked to notable longevity gains. Research suggests somewhere between roughly 4.7 and 9.7 years of added life expectancy; driven by a mix of social connection, cardiovascular demand and muscular endurance. But what sets squash apart within that category is its sheer continuous intensity. An hour of squash burns somewhere in the range of 600–1,000 calories (depend heavily on methodology, body weight and intensity). The sport that comes close is boxing and kickboxing, followed by jump rope and cross country skiing. The sports that match squash’s intensity all share the same signature. Minimal built-in rest, whole-body engagement and either explosive bursts or sustained continuous effort.Caleb shared stats on a ...
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    37 min
  • Dry, Watery, Blurry Eyes: Why Menopause Messes With Your Eyes (And What Can Help). With optometrist Sarah Wright.

    Dry, Watery, Blurry Eyes: Why Menopause Messes With Your Eyes (And What Can Help). With optometrist Sarah Wright.
    Sep 16 2026
    Sarah is my optometrist. Actually, Sarah and Sally both are. I’ve been asking my health team members specifically about what their ‘area of body expertise’ is affected in peri-menopause and post-menopausally. To get the facts straight from the expert’s mouth. I had my bi-annual eye exam recently and asked Sally if there are any conditions she knew of that are more prominent in midlife, that are attributable to menopause?Instantly, she said “yes, Dry Eye Disease“ and “Sarah is the one to speak about it. (Yep, she threw Sarah straight under the bus. Thankfully they’re great mates). And Sarah said “yes”. We talk a lot about how menopause dries things up - skin, mouth, vagina. You know. You can probably add a few more to the list.Turns out, dry eyes are too and most of us have no idea. Why is that? Is it the lack of research? Lack of clinical knowledge? Or the simple fact that we’re just not talking about it? Probably all 3. So today Sarah and I are changing that. With her 20+ years of clinical and academic experience in optometry, running a dedicated Dry Eye Clinic and as a woman in midlife, Sarah is perfectly positioned to talk to us about what happens to our eyes in this time of life and what we can do to help them as we age. Yep, she’s our gal!Because that blurry vision you blame on needing a new prescription, or thinking your watery, gritty, tired eyes are because of seasonal changes (and the season of your life), this episode is for you.Let’s go!In this conversation Sarah and I talk about…Some of the most common eye conditions women in midlife experience and their symptoms. Conditions we experience more than our male counterparts. Conditions that are not just because we’re getting older. Some are, some are not.Conditions like:* Dry Eye Disease* Glaucoma & * CataractsDry Eye Disease: it’s sneakier than you think. Hormonal fluctuation (not just decline) of the usual suspects, oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, sets off an inflammatory response that messes with our tear film. Causing…* Vision that blurs, clears when you blink, then blurs again* Eye fatigue (yes, on top of all the other fatigue)* Light sensitivity* Red eyes* Watery eyes - counter-intuitive really when thinking about dry eyes. Often it’s either unstable tears sliding right off the eye, or your eyes overcorrecting with reflex tears because they’re actually too dry* Contact lenses suddenly feeling impossible after 20 problem-free years* Worse symptoms by end of day (screen time = fewer blinks = more evaporation) OR worse, first thing in the morning (your eyelids may not be sealing fully overnight - eek!) Why Care About Dry Eyes?: Because if you don’t address it, it slowly escalates. Sarah has clients in their 80’s dealing with severe, constant dry eye discomfort. Something that could have been avoided or at least eased with age. What actually helps:* Get properly assessed by a reputable optometrist. There are specific questionnaires and examinations on purpose designed equipment that show which part of your tear system isn’t working. Facts about your eyes you have no way of knowing just by looking at them in the mirror!* Preservative-free eye drops, twice daily, as a starting point (maybe up to 4 times a day)* Warm compresses* Omega-3s (1–2 a day) - these work directly on the oil glands themselves, may help the oil stay more fluid and less inflammatory* Vitamin D (of course it’s vitamin D, it’s always vitamin D - the great all-rounder)* Probiotics - gut inflammation shows up on your eye’s surface too (who knew?!). Gut bacteria produce their own anti-inflammatory compounds that travel to the eye whilst some can degrade our eyes.* In-clinic treatments like IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) to unclog and restart those oil glands👀 Glaucoma: in midlife, menopause and beyondThis is about blood supply to the optic nerve, not tears. Migraines, snoring/sleep apnea and low blood pressure (especially overnight dips) are all associated with increased risk of Glaucoma (especially Normal‑Tension Glaucoma). Genetics also play a part. First-degree relatives matter most here. If it’s your mum or your gran, pay attention. There’s now a genetic test (about $200AUD) that checks for the relevant genes. The Eye Pressure Myth - you can have totally normal eye pressure and still have nerve damage from reduced blood flow. Oestrogen has a hand in this one too. Oestrogen receptors are in the eye’s internal drainage system where it appears to help keep fluid flowing out properly. It’s a newer research thread, so it’s ‘watch this space’ but it’s a plausible extra piece of why women’s glaucoma risk shifts around midlife.🌫️ Cataracts: the great equaliser. Unlike Dry Eye and Glaucoma, this one’s not particularly female-forward so is attributed more to aging. As Sarah put it, “a sign of a well-lived life.” Cataracts occur in the lens inside your eye, slowly clouding from a lifetime of UV ...
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    34 min
  • Why Women Over 60 Are Quietly Walking Away From The Lives They Built : with Carol Seymour (Gray Campervan Writer)

    Why Women Over 60 Are Quietly Walking Away From The Lives They Built : with Carol Seymour (Gray Campervan Writer)
    Sep 5 2026
    In this very special episode, Carol Seymour reads one of her deeply stirring pieces that’s struck a chord with 100’s of women who feel like guests in their own lives. Honest and knowing. For women who sense it’s time to choose themselves.A little while back I read a piece Carol Seymour had written on Substack, and it resonated so deeply with me that I had an overwhelming urge to reach out to her. Not just to say thank you for writing it, but to ask if she’d come on and read it for us and then talk with me about what inspired it. She said “yes”. Yes!Carol writes at The Gray Campervan Writer on Substack. She lives in Louisiana and travels most of the year in her campervan, writing stories mostly for women over 60 who are figuring out what they want the rest of their life to look like.In this episode* Carol reads her piece, “Why Women Over 60 Are Quietly Walking Away From the Lives They Built” . It’s about quietly walking away from the roles and expectations we were raised to carry and choosing what we desire instead. It brought tears to my eyes while she was reading it and I could see the love-heart reactions pouring in from everyone watching live.* I ask Carol about the moment she decided to write it - the inspiration for her words.* We talk about ‘letting go’ and the idea of what a ‘good woman’ is supposed to be.And so much more. Carol shares much wisdom.About Carol SeymourAt 76, Carol’s learning that starting over isn’t for the faint of heart.She writes for women who have reached that place in life where they look around and quietly wonder is this all there is?She’s had to make some hard choices about money, home, family, aging, and what she’s wanted the last chapters of her life to look like. “I’ve slept in my van, traveled alone, worried about money, wrestled with fear, and wondered more than once whether I was too old to start again. I decided I wasn’t.”Carol Writes Honestly About* Starting over after 60* Learning to live with less* Money and the realities of retirement* Solo travel and camping* Fear, loneliness and freedom* Letting go of the life you thought you were supposed to have* Finding the courage to choose yourself againNot from a mountaintop after figuring everything out. She’s writing while living it.Carol’s Writings and Guides* Carol routinely posts on Substack Tuesdays and Thursday on The Gray Campervan Writer. She also writes on Medium and Vocal Media.* Carol’s guides and bundle for women navigating this stage of life, which she sells on Gumroad and links from her Substack (links below).On September 10 Carol is releasing a new piece:The Things I Own No Longer Own Me Inside the story is a link to a new bundled guide that has 5 sections to it. This guide will cover almost any question that you can think of to help answer this question. ”What am I gonna do for the rest of my life?”There are worksheets, self-discovery prompts and budgets for living the new reinvented life.Subscribe to Carol at The Gray Campervan Writer to get the word when they’ve dropped.For now, keep an eye on her Gumroad shop.Links & Resources* 📖 Read the piece Carol read for us on the podcast: Why Women Over 60 Are Quietly Walking Away From the Lives They Built* ✍️ Subscribe to Carol’s Substack: The Gray Campervan Writer: graycampervanwriter.com* 🛍️ Carol’s guides & bundles on Gumroad: carolseymour.gumroad.comConnect with Carol Seymour* Substack: @graycampervanwriter* Gumroad shop: carolseymour.gumroad.comIf this conversation landed with you please share it with women in your life who would appreciate it - who might need it. And don’t miss Carol’s September 10th release! Follow or subscribe to her here on Substack to find out when they’re available.Thank you Susan Gaustad, Maura, and many others for tuning into my live video with Carol Seymour! Join me for my next live video in the app.Anita xx This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit midlifeunfiltered.substack.com
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    26 min
  • Bone Chatter: sTrong bones are more than density. Let’s talk Quality.

    Bone Chatter: sTrong bones are more than density. Let’s talk Quality.
    Aug 27 2026
    Bone health is close to my heart, professionally and personally. As a former radiographer who has reversed my own osteoporosis through lifestyle changes, I know firsthand how many gaps there are in what women are told about their bone health and what can be done to optimise it. This episode is my attempt to close a gap that is one of the biggest we’re not filling.Here’s the idea the whole episode is built on:Bone Strength = Bone Density + Bone QualityMost of us only ever hear about the first half. Today I’m giving equal airtime to the second.In This Episode…The density dominant health system: I walk through how the standard, conventional Australian medical pathway works, how our health system ‘supports’ bone health. It’s similar to the US, UK, Canada and perhaps where you are too.The conventional framework:1. Hit age 70 and you’re eligible for a Medicare subsidised DEXA bone scan (unless you have other health issues that warrant a scan or you’ve had a fracture from low force).2. Your GP (primary provider) writes a referral for a standard DEXA scan which measures ‘density’.3. If your T-score comes back below −2.5 (the threshold for osteoporosis) usually a conversation about medication then happens.I explain why Bone Mineral Density (BMD) or ‘density’ alone is not capturing the whole fragility picture.I use a wall analogy throughout the episode to talk about the types of bone we have and a construction analogy for how they come together. {yes, I was a project manager in a previous life - can you tell?}Meet the third bone cell we’re not talking enough about: You’ve probably heard of osteoblasts (builders) and osteoclasts (demolition crew) and the bone Remodelling process.I introduce the one that’s missing from that story, the osteocyte and explain why I think of it as the foreman on the site, sending the signals that coordinate the other two.I also share where osteocytes come from, and why the demolition crew is, cellularly speaking, a complete stranger to the builders; why the osteocyte foreman plays such an important role.Measuring bone quality: I share the tools, the ways to measure bone quality, that go beyond a standard DEXA. Scans such as DEXA with TBS, REMS and CT as well as bone turnover markers that can be assessed with a blood test.I do DEXA, REMS and bone turnover markers myself, for exactly this reason. They’re all bone health clues that offer up different information.The drugs - how they work: With bone cell knowledge shared, I then explain the three very different forms of osteoporosis medications in Australia. They may have different brand names where you are. · Antiresorptives (”the brakes”) like denosumab (Prolia) and alendronate (Fosamax)· Bone-Forming (”the builders”) like teriparatide (Forsteo)· Signal Modulator/Dual-Action (“The Renovators”) like romosozumab (Evenity)My goal is NOT to tell you which one is best or right, it’s to help you to know the basics so you can ask better questions of your own doctor, with greater confidence, because you understand broadly how they work.What strengthens the signal — and what quietly breaks it: Why mechanical loading is the trigger osteocytes respond to (to listen in and generate their signal) and why the oestrogen drop in perimenopause and post-menopause is a double hit - fewer signal-senders, and the ones left, leaning toward degrading.The movement that matters most: Appreciating that mechanical loading is the trigger for osteocytes I talk about the forms of mechanical load that they prefer - impact, multidirectional loading, and ‘surprise’ – yes, even osteocytes can become ‘bored’ and tune out.I also walk through some of the best human research on this including a one-legged hopping trial and an Army training study – both using HR-pQCT imaging to measure specifically, bone Quality.And I share why I’ve recently gone back to squash after 30 years away – because this sport has it all.[The research studies and links to them are in the Resources section below so you can dive in more yourself].Protein - the raw material behind it all: Not to weigh or rather ‘whey’ into this because it’s very topical right now. No. Rather because protein (collagen) determines our wall’s build quality. It’s what osteoblasts lay down first when they build bone.I get into anabolic resistance which gives clues to why we need more protein as we age, the most beneficial forms and how best to have it across the day. And I talk about the ‘conversion’ – how much of actual meat weight it takes to hit an ideal protein target.I say in the podcast that I’d add the protein information in the show notes so here it is:Bodies like ESPEN (the European clinical nutrition society) recommend older adults aim for roughly 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day – meaningfully above the general RDA of about .8. What’ that in pounds? about 0.45-0.54g/pound/day. However, requirements vary with body size, illness, kidney ...
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    54 min
  • AI & Wearables: What’s trending and the possible social and personal impacts with Kiki Hart.

    AI & Wearables: What’s trending and the possible social and personal impacts with Kiki Hart.
    Aug 17 2026
    In this episode, I sit down with Kiki Hart for our regular deep dive, this time into AI and wearables (wearable technology) - smartwatches, rings, glucose monitors and those camera-equipped glasses that are flying off the shelves.We talk about what it means for us as individuals and for society, when our bodies start generating a continuous stream of data the tech collects. Who has it, who has access to it and what does that mean for our privacy?Kiki brings her legal background to the conversation, walking through privacy cases here in Australia and overseas. I also share what happened when I wore a continuous glucose monitor for my own “N of 1” experiment, as a real life example.It’s a conversation about the amazing potential of this technology and the very real risks that come with it.How do we hold both these often opposing views and impacts at once?We Talk About…* Why wearables are moving us from occasional snapshots of health data (like a weekly step count) to a continuous stream and what that means for predictive and preventative health* The privacy and legal storm around AI smart glasses, including the current US class action against Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses* Australia’s new tort of serious privacy intrusion, introduced in mid-2025, and how it might (and might not) protect us* An early Australian family law case where a child’s wearable data was used as evidence in a custody dispute* What happened when Google acquired Fitbit, and why Australia’s competition regulator got involved * My own experience wearing a continuous glucose monitor, and how I used AI to turn the data into something useful for my doctor* Practical, non-negotiable steps to take before you buy or set up any wearable: privacy policies, default settings and only connecting what you need* De-identify your personal data - how some organisations are doing this and what you can do too* Femtech (female technology), women’s health data and the tension between wanting to contribute to research and staying private* Why insurance (health, travel, life) is potentially a real threat to where our personal data from wearables is most likely to be used against us as we ageResources Mentioned* OAIC: Statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy : the official government explainer on Australia’s new privacy tort, which came into force on 10 June 2025* Meta AI Glasses class action coverage (Engadget) : background on the US class action alleging Meta misled consumers about privacy on its Ray-Ban smart glasses* ACCC: Google rejected on Fitbit undertakings —:the Australian competition regulator’s response when Google moved to acquire Fitbit and its decade of health dataAbout My GuestKiki Hart (Louise Cooper) joins me regularly, roughly every six weeks on Midlife Unfiltered to unpack what AI actually means for us as humans – socially and personally. Not the tech specs, but the social, personal and legal implications.Kiki recently wrote an article related to this topic if you’d like to check that out - ‘How Is Tech Changing Ageing'?’ Find it here on Substack.Midlife Unfiltered - Take back your power and choose yourself in midlife and beyond. Honest conversations about AI, midlife and everything in between. Exploring often taboo topics and busting outdated stereotypes.Speaking of AI…these show notes were essentially generated using Claude.ai from the podcast transcript (and then edited by me). Thanks for joining our human conversation. We hope you find a few gems in there that are helpful and perhaps, has you thinking differently. It often has that effect on us.If you think there is someone in your life who’d find it helpful or interesting, please share it on. That would be fabulous.Until next week.A massive thank you Kiki Hart Anita xxThank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video next week in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit midlifeunfiltered.substack.com
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    47 min
  • The Honest Truth: Loving & Caring For a Parent with Alzheimer's - Michelle's Story.

    The Honest Truth: Loving & Caring For a Parent with Alzheimer's - Michelle's Story.
    Aug 12 2026
    “It’s a funny thing when someone tells you what you already know and then you think, no, I don’t want to hear that…There’s a relief and then at the same time, it’s like no, no, I don’t want it to be true, I want it to be wrong.” Michelle Spencer.Michelle’s mum is 85 and has Alzheimer’s. Michelle’s been her primary carer.Michelle’s story is absolutely hers but it’s far from unique. Many midlife women are the primary Carer of their aging parents and with women statistically living longer than men (current Australian estimates are 85.1 years for females versus 81.1 years for males), it’s often our Mum in our care after having spent years caring for our Dad.But Mum living longer does not always mean she’s living as well in her final years. Here in Australia, dementia is the #1 cause of death and Alzheimer’s is the predominant disease under that umbrella. Australian sources estimate that Alzheimer’s disease accounts for roughly 50–70% of dementia cases, although the estimate is not a precise 2026 national figure.Many older people have mixed dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s pathology together with vascular changes. Therefore, Alzheimer’s disease may contribute to a person’s dementia even when it is not the only diagnosis.For Women: Around two-thirds of people living with dementia in Australia are women; the prevalence is approximately 1 in 7 in ages 80–84, 1 in 4 at 85–89, and nearly 1 in 2 at age 90 and over.Midlife Unfiltered — The Dementia SeriesThis series exists because there’s still so much we don’t know - not just in the medical and research world, but in everyday, lived understanding. These aren’t conversations we typically have. So we’re having them.In this episode I sit down with Michelle, who has loved not one but two people with dementia - her mum, who has Alzheimer’s, and her father-in-law, who had frontotemporal dementia and passed away in 2014.Michelle and I hope that by sharing her story it helps you to appreciate what it’s like loving and caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.If you’re loving someone with dementia right now, I hope this feels like a warm, understanding hug. And if you’ve already walked this road, thank you for your love and care.And now…to this very honest and unfiltered conversation. The SignsThe changes Michelle talks about here were signs that her mum was not herself. The woman she had known all her life who began to do things differently.* She stopped learning and engaging with new things. An avid learner her entire life, this was very unusual. An early adopter of technology — it became “the computer’s fault.”* She was not engaging as much - again, quite unusual for Michelle’s mum, who was always very social.* When something felt different, she’d brush it off when asked to explore it a little more, for deeper understanding.* Struggling more at home - not as organised as she used to be.* Skills decay. Stopped going to the library. Struggled with her knitting. Trying hard, but not ‘winning’.* Short-term memory failing - like remembering to take medication and falsely saying that she had.The blessing in disguise - a heart attack. Michelle talks about why this was actually a blessing. It taught them to ready themselves for what lay ahead as her mum’s condition declined.How Things ProgressedMichelle’s mum was living alone at home. A very independent woman — she wanted it that way. Here’s how things progressed.4 years ago - minor assistance needed with a few household tasks.2 years ago - more intense help needed, because she was:* Losing weight, not eating well* Wandering out of her home at night - the neighbours had been kindly keeping an eye on her* Disoriented and getting lost when walking home* A smoker - advice from Dementia Australia was invaluable here, to help keep her safe from setting the house on fire* Burning food - literally catching the microwave on fire in the kitchenWith the help of good neighbours: they were looking out for Michelle’s mum, without her even knowing. One of them had a security camera aimed at his own front door and quietly repositioned an extra one to cover her mum’s door too. When she wandered out at odd hours, someone would just “happen to be there for a lovely chat”.If there was more of that kind of quiet, dignified watching-out-for-each-other in the world, Michelle thinks everyone living with dementia would be safer.Her safety was becoming a deep concern. Dementia Support here in Australia suggested to Michelle that it would be safer for her mum to be in a care facility.Some ChallengesCaring for and loving someone with Alzheimer’s has enormous challenges. Conversations that are difficult and awkward to navigate. Here are a few that came up in our chat.“Seeing the truth.” Her mum’s truth was not as Michelle knew it to be. Learning to accept that and to have conversations without confrontation.It’s not lying, it’s their reality. ...
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    1 ora e 22 min