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In this week's episode of The 40+ Life, Katy chats with blogger, podcaster, author, and content creator Alison Perry.

Many listeners will know Alison from Not Another Mummy Blog and the chart-topping Not Another Mummy Podcast, where she's spent over a decade sharing the realities of motherhood, identity, and modern life. But in recent years, Alison has become a powerful voice for women rediscovering their confidence, style, and sense of self in midlife.

Together, Katy and Alison reflect on the early days of mummy blogging, building online communities before Instagram took over, and how sharing honest stories helped thousands of women feel less alone during motherhood. Alison also opens up about her fertility journey, the heartbreak of secondary infertility, undergoing IVF, and the incredible surprise that led to the birth of her twin daughters.

The conversation explores the challenges many women face in their late 30s and 40s—balancing motherhood, self-worth, and identity—and how Alison found her way back to herself through fashion, colour, creativity, and a commitment to putting her own happiness back on the agenda.

They also discuss social media pressures, confidence, comparison, style ruts, why "fake it till you make it" sometimes works, and the powerful moment when you stop worrying about what other people think and start embracing who you are.

Find out more about Alison -

On Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/iamalisonperry/

Not Another Mummy Blog

https://notanothermummyblog.com/

If you enjoyed the episode please do subscribe and leave The 40+ Life a review.

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https://www.katypullinger.com/

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This week on The 40 Plus Life, I’m joined by Donna Jackson, better known to many as The Curious Mummy — content creator, recipe sharer, mum of two, and someone who has built an online community through warmth, honesty and connection.

Donna opens up about the unimaginable loss of her husband Gareth in 2022 and the journey that followed. We talk candidly about grief in all its forms, rebuilding life after loss, parenting through heartbreak, and the unexpected strength and confidence that can emerge from life's hardest moments.

We also chat about navigating midlife, boundaries, perimenopause, finding purpose, raising children, and why saying "no" can be one of the most empowering things we learn in our forties.

Donna also shares the inspiration behind The After Movement — a new initiative creating connection and community for people navigating grief and loss.

And because this is The 40 Plus Life, there’s also room for the important topics: bedtime chats, beach holidays, style in your forties… and the bronzer that got Donna through winter.

This is a conversation about loss, resilience, growth, and learning that life after heartbreak can still be full of joy, purpose and beautiful new memories.

You can follow Donna https://www.instagram.com/thecuriousmummy/

and The After Movement https://www.instagram.com/theaftermovement/

If you enjoyed the episode please do subscribe and leave The 40+ Life a review.

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https://www.katypullinger.com/

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What happens when you finally create the life you’ve been craving… only for everything to change overnight?

In this deeply moving and honest conversation, actress Ali Bastian joins me to share the story behind her bold move from London to the wild beauty of West Cork — a decision rooted in a desire for a slower, more connected way of living. But just weeks into this new chapter, Ali was diagnosed with breast cancer, turning her world upside down in an instant.

With incredible openness, Ali takes us through the reality of that moment — from finding a lump while breastfeeding, to navigating treatment in a new country, to the emotional aftermath that doesn’t simply end when treatment does. We talk about the shock, the fear, the strength it takes to keep going, and the ongoing process of healing — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

But this episode is also about so much more than illness. It’s about identity, community, motherhood, and rebuilding yourself from the ground up. Ali shares how the rugged landscape of West Cork, the power of female connection, and the simplest moments — sea swims, fresh air, slowing down — became a lifeline during her hardest days.

We also dive into:
– Growing up in the spotlight and navigating body image in the 2000s media era
– The reality of menopause brought on by cancer treatment
– Learning to accept and reconnect with your body after a mastectomy
– Redefining style, confidence, and what it means to feel like you again
– Why community and asking for help can be everything

This is a raw, powerful and ultimately uplifting conversation about resilience, perspective, and finding light in the darkest moments.

If you’ve ever faced a life curveball, felt the need to start again, or wondered how to rebuild after everything changes — this episode will stay with you.

🎧 Hit follow and join us for more real conversations on The 40 Plus Life Podcast.

Follow Ali on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/alibastianinsta/

Ali's prosthetic breast insert can be found here -

https://wewearboost.com

Ali's website recommendation

https://percihealth.com/

If you enjoyed the episode please do subscribe and leave The 40+ Life a review.

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https://www.katypullinger.com/

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Welcome to The 40 Plus Life — the podcast for women navigating midlife with energy, clarity, and confidence.

In this episode, I’m joined by Francesca Moore, a highly experienced, BANT-registered nutritional therapist who specialises in supporting women through their 40s, 50s, and beyond. With a science-led yet refreshingly practical approach, Francesca cuts through the noise to focus on what truly works in real life.

We dive into the realities of midlife health — from hormonal shifts and gut health to nutrition, stress, and bone strength — and why the habits that once “worked” in our 20s and 30s suddenly stop delivering. Francesca shares her own personal journey, including the wake-up calls that led her to prioritise her health, and offers simple, powerful ways to start doing the same.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What’s really happening in your body during perimenopause and menopause
• Why gut health is the foundation of everything (including hormone balance)
• How to support energy, mood, and metabolism through nutrition
• The truth about protein, fibre, and blood sugar balance
• Small, realistic changes that can make a big impact — even in a busy life
• Why prioritising yourself isn’t selfish… it’s essential

This episode is packed with honest insights, expert guidance, and practical takeaways to help you feel stronger, more energised, and back in control of your body.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice or struggled to put your own health first, this conversation will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and ready to take action.

✨ Because midlife isn’t the beginning of the end — it’s your opportunity to feel your best yet.

Find out more about Francesca Moore -

https://www.instagram.com/nutritionfrancesca/

https://www.nutritionfrancesca.co.uk/

If you enjoyed the episode please do subscribe and leave The 40+ Life a review.

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Find out more about TV Presenter Katy Pullinger https://www.instagram.com/katypullinger/

https://www.katypullinger.com/

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This week on The 40 Plus Life, we’re joined by the incredibly inspiring Lavina Mehta MBE—fitness expert, author, and the powerhouse behind the “exercise snacking” movement that’s changing how women approach health in midlife.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have time to work out, this episode is about to completely reframe everything.

Lavina shares her journey from a self-confessed non-exerciser to one of the UK’s leading voices in midlife wellbeing—proving it’s never too late to start. We dive into the simple, science-backed habits that can transform your energy, mood, and long-term health… without needing hours in the gym.

From squats while the kettle boils to breathwork that calms your nervous system in under a minute, this conversation is packed with practical tools you can start using immediately.

We talk about:

• The truth about “exercise snacking” and why short bursts can be just as effective as long workouts
• Strength training in midlife—and why it’s essential for your body and brain
• The surprising power of balance (and what it says about your long-term health)
• Managing stress, anxiety, and sleep with simple breathwork techniques
• The impact of nature, movement, and social connection on overall wellbeing
• Rediscovering joy, confidence, and even new passions in your 40s and beyond

Lavina’s energy is infectious, her advice is refreshingly realistic, and her message is clear: you don’t need more time—you just need a new approach.

✨ Expect practical tips, powerful mindset shifts, and a whole lot of motivation to start feeling good—right now.

🎧 This episode might just change the way you think about fitness forever.

Find out more about Lavina Mehta -

https://www.instagram.com/feelgoodwithlavina/

https://feelgoodwithlavina.com/

If you enjoyed the episode please do subscribe and leave The 40+ Life a review.

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Find out more about TV Presenter Katy Pullinger https://www.instagram.com/katypullinger/

https://www.katypullinger.com/

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Welcome to the very first episode of The 40 Plus Life—and what a way to kick things off.

Joining us is the brilliantly funny and refreshingly honest Jayne Sharpe, the Instagram and TikTok comedian who’s become the unfiltered voice of midlife women everywhere. If you’ve ever laughed (or winced) at the realities of perimenopause, chances are you’ve already met her iconic characters—turning hot flushes, brain fog, and “arm knees” into comedy gold.

But this conversation goes far beyond the laughs.

Jayne opens up about navigating her 40s through big life changes—marriage, motherhood, identity—and the unexpected freedom that comes with finally not caring what everyone else thinks. We dive into the chaos and comedy of perimenopause, the symptoms no one warned us about (hello, forgetting the word for window), and how humour is helping women feel seen, understood, and far less alone.

We also get real about:

• The moment her content went viral—and the overwhelming response from women (and men) worldwide
• The surprising mental load of brain fog and why it can knock your confidence
• HRT, sleep struggles, and the small changes that can completely transform how you feel
• Sobriety, social media burnout, and learning to switch off in a world that never stops scrolling
• Why midlife might actually be your most confident, authentic era yet

Honest, hilarious, and deeply relatable, this episode is a reminder that midlife isn’t something to endure—it’s something to redefine.

🎧 Expect laughter, truth bombs, and plenty of “that is SO me” moments.

Find Jayne Sharpe on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jaynesharp/

If you enjoyed the episode please do subscribe and leave The 40+ Life a review.

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https://www.katypullinger.com/

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Welcome to The 40 Plus Life Podcast, where nothing is off-limits and everything is real. Hosted by Katy Pullinger, this is your space for honest, unfiltered conversations about the beautifully complicated years that come after 40 — the ones that shape, challenge, and ultimately redefine us.

From unexpected diagnoses and heartbreak to rediscovery, confidence, and bold new beginnings, these are the stories we don’t hear enough about — but need to. You’ll hear from inspiring women, expert voices, and those who’ve lived through life’s biggest curveballs and come out stronger, wiser, and unapologetically themselves.

We’re talking hormones, health, relationships, grief, reinvention, style, and everything in between — with plenty of laughter and real talk along the way. Because midlife isn’t about fading out… it’s about stepping into something even more wonderful.

Whether you’re feeling stuck, starting over, or simply wondering what’s next — you belong here.

Hit subscribe and join the conversation. Welcome to The 40+ Life

https://www.instagram.com/the40pluslifepodcast/

If you enjoyed the episode please do subscribe and leave The 40+ Life a review.

Follow The 40+ Life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the40pluslifepodcast/

Find out more about TV Presenter Katy Pullinger https://www.instagram.com/katypullinger/

https://www.katypullinger.com/