40ish - Laughing Our Way Through Midlife, Perimenopause & Menopause
Welcome to 40ish, the podcast that midlifers deserve. Hosted by Lauren Mishcon and Nicole Goodman of the award-winning Self Care Club, we bring you menopause humor, midlife laughs, and candid talks on hormones and aging. We tackle real middle-age dilemmas, rant about the absurdities of aging, and share every embarrassing moment with humor and heart. It’s survival through comedy here, with plenty of relatable conversations and laughs about the midlife crisis and beyond.
Episodes
Family Feuds, Gym Friendships & Hangovers
Today on 40ish, Nicole has become friends with ‘Hogman’ - the weight-hogging man at the gym. The man everyone silently judges while waiting for the dumbbells is now part of her social circle. Protein shake dates can't be far away. Meanwhile, Lauren fails to make the connection between half a bottle of champagne and her hangover whilst maintaining a full-blown rant about Steven Bartlett's obsession
HRT Hack, Midlife Confidence and Padel is for Losers
This week on 40ish, the ladies embrace their latest career pivot as unofficial vaginal wellness influencers. If anyone had “vaginal hydration gel ambassador” on their bingo card, congratulations. Lauren shares an HRT patch hack - if your arse looks like a patchwork quilt you will want to know! In Midlife News, there’s a breakthrough from Harvard researchers whose award-winning “vagina-on-a-chip”
Driving Anxiety, Midlife News & A PCOS Update
This week on 40ish, Nicole finally concedes defeat as Lauren is crowned the people’s champion and the “who’s more down to earth?” debate is officially settled. Following a stranger’s meltdown in a nail salon, the ladies open up about how perimenopause completely knocked them sideways. In Midlife News, there’s a major update in women’s health as PCOS gets a new name, reflecting a growing understand
Live Show is Live!
Come join us 5th July in London for our first live show! Get your tickets here - https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/40ish-live-show-5-jul-2026-ticketsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/40ish-laughing-our-way-through-midlife-perimenopause-menopause--6942825/support.We love to hear from you! Get in touch with your dilemmas and rants.DM & follow us on Instag
Itchy Pubes, Friendship Fallouts & the Fear of a Shrinking Fanny
Today on 40ish, James is drafted in to settle the highly important debate over which one of the ladies is actually more down to earth.Nicole is sporting enormous statement earrings to enhance her brand new Invisalign teeth, whilst Lauren is having a deeply middle-aged moment refusing to throw away perfectly good ziplock bags because they’ve still got life left in them. Meanwhile, the podcast accid
Making Female Friends in Your 40s & Becoming ‘Mumsy’
This week on 40ish, Lauren ponders whether becoming “mumsy” is actually contagious, whilst Nicole continues her impressive streak of losing dog leads, car keys and essentially any object not physically attached to her body. A listener shares an unexpectedly wholesome dream about meeting the ladies, which somehow sparks a fierce debate over who is actually more down to earth and honestly, the jury
Sienna Miller, Emotional Affairs & Marriage Red Flags
Today on 40ish: Lauren and Nicole win a comedy award and celebrate in true 40ish style - by having a yogurt and an apple on the way home. Huge congratulations to Sienna Miller who has welcomed her third child. We discuss her comments about not caring what anyone thinks anymore, and why society still acts like women over 40 getting pregnant is breaking news while men are out here having babies duri
Hot Doctors, Freelance Farts and the Anxious Vagina
On today's show: Nicole has an anxious vagina and is feeling mumsy on a Saturday night out, whilst Lauren is trying to play matchmaker in A&E with her friend and a hot Italian doctor. Because nothing says romance quite like fluorescent lighting and a triage wristband. In Midlife News we reveal that one in six women have considered leaving work because of menopause symptoms. Elsewhere, a liste
Why Midlife Friendship Breakups Hurt So Much & The Mental Load
This week on 40ish: Nicole and Lauren find themselves nominated alongside fellow 40-something Romesh Ranganathan for a comedy award which, considering he’s an actual professional comedian and we mainly discuss pelvic floors, peri-menopause and Real Housewives, feels both surreal and deeply flattering. We were completely overwhelmed by your response to our conversation about friendship breakups and
Midlife Problems: Pelvic Floors, Ex-Husbands & Dorothy Perkins
Today on 40ish: Nicole goes to the women’s physio and discovers that pelvic floor assessments are essentially the medical equivalent of rummaging around in a paper bag full of sweets. Dignity? Gone. Mystery? Also gone. Meanwhile, Lauren is absolutely thriving thanks to two things: a garden centre discount and her new boyfriend, Jeff. He’s golden, handsome, emotionally available, and a dog - which,
More Menopause Symptoms, Tarty Shoes and the Toddler Turd
This week on 40ish: Lauren has put her neck out by sleeping on the wrong pillow, which feels deeply unfair considering that in our twenties we could sleep on a laminate floor and wake up absolutely fine. Meanwhile, Nicole has discovered a brand new menopause symptom because apparently the gift that keeps on giving… keeps on giving. In Midlife News, Damian Lewis has released a music video while Nic
Weight Loss in Your 40s, Menopause at Work & Ottolenghi
This week on 40ish Lauren reaches peak midlife as she attends an wholesome Ottolenghi Cooking Club; yet somehow gets embroiled in a conversation about anal s*x within 3 minutes of arrival. Meanwhile Nicole realises that you know when you’re spending too much time with your gyne when he feels fully comfortable eating crisps off your plate. In midlife news it turns out almost half of middle-aged Bri
Friendship Breakups in Your 40s, Menopause Feedback & Midlife Mean Girls
Today on 40ish Lauren wonders if Nicole is a totally new person post menopause. It kicks off with what may genuinely be the world’s worst lunch and ends as she rolls out of a hospital bed and attends a sip & paint evening (weird as she neither sips nor paints). The 40ish feedback on menopause education has been overwhelming and you are coming in all guns blazing. From rallying cries about wom
Midlife Spring Style Special
Today on 40ish: Lauren ambushes Nicole with a Spring Style Special - a surprise absolutely nobody asked for (least of all Nicole), but like all good midlife crises, we commit and carry on anyway. Together they tackle the truly vital issues: are denim jackets officially mumsy now? And why someone calling Lauren “brave” for butter yellow nails is somehow both a compliment and an insult. They cover t
Pesto, Patches & Public Farts: A Podcast of Petty Problems
This week on 40-ish: Nicole is in BAD MOOD and Lauren is not helping by regaling her with her wholesome tale of foraging and pesto making. Of course, it wouldn’t be the podcast without a dilemma that makes you squirm. This week: what do you do when your judgy Mcjudge pants BFF best friend gets lip filler… and it’s not great? Should you say something, or take it to the grave? Elsewhere, expect the
HRT at the Pool, Menopause Questions & The Holiday Food Shop Fail
This week on 40ish, Lauren is feeling self conscious about rocking up to the pool with her HRT patch fully on display and Nicole has zero empathy. She’s too busy wondering what happens post-menopause. Who are you when you arrive? Do you get a badge? A certificate? A lie down? Anyone? Meanwhile; A listener has spent good money on a thoughtful, meaningful 40th birthday gift for her sister only to di
Overpacking for Holidays, Menopause Drama & a Tricky Parenting Dilemma
This week on 40ish, we’re discussing one of the most delusional acts of midlife optimism: packing holiday clothes for a version of yourself that absolutely does not exist. Does adulting mean that we have finally worked out that we just need the same two outfits on rotation and flat shoes? We’re also deep in a very important debate: what are we actually calling you lot? Fabbers (40 and fabulous, ob
Is It Hormones or Annoyance? WFH Washing Up Wars & Easter Egg Drama
This week on 40ish, Lauren has to calculate exactly what a wee is worth and if a parking ticket is better or worse than wetting yourself. Nicol is debating whether she’s hormonally annoyed or just genuinely irritated… and whether there’s even a difference. Meanwhile we tackle a very relatable midlife dilemma about working from home, washing up wars, and the silent rage that builds when one partner
Am I Becoming a Hermit? Too Many Jeans and Social Burnout.
This week on 40ish Lauren reveals the unreasonable number of jeans she owns - it’s essentially a denim museum at this point and Nicole is nostalgic about being grounded and realising she’s somehow become the parent she used to dramatically roll her eyes at. This week’s dilemma hits hard: Do you actually want to go out, or are you just going because society says you should leave the house occasiona
Waving Goodbye, Hotmail Shame & the £100 Bottle of Wine
In todays show: Lauren is sporting something brand new on her bum cheek and can’t wait to show Nicole - who is somewhat miffed at the pulling down of the pants live in the studio. We dive into the surprisingly emotional world of waving goodbye and tackle a very important midlife question: does having a Hotmail email address officially make you old, or should we all proudly keep our vintage inboxes
Drunk in Barcelona, Movicol and Menopause Awareness
In today’s show: Nicole goes to Barcelona. Nicole gets very drunk. Nicole takes electrolytes and Movicol before bed and decides that it would be socially acceptable to kiss Jon Hamm if he just happened to turn up. Lauren decides to share her drunk texts with the nation. We also discuss the absolute state of modern “healthy” recipes including cauliflower fudge (why), cauliflower pizza (still why),
Peace Signs, Petty Parking & Protecting Your Energy
Today on 40ish: Nicole has officially had enough of the algorithm, and Lauren is launching a bold new driving movement: replacing the universal thank-you hand with a casual two-finger peace-out gesture. Will it catch on? Only time will tell. We dive into a listener dilemma about friendships in midlife. She used to be the organiser and emotional support system for everyone. Now the energy to keep
Empty Nest, Earl Grey and The Itty Bitty Saggy Titty Committee
This week on 40ish: Lauren is entering her Earl Grey Era. It’s a bit like a Taylor Swift Era but a lot more middle aged. Meanwhile Nicole takes time (far too much time) to contemplate her favourite electrolyte flavour and a weekend of resting. We hear from a listener struggling with the emotional shift of parenting adult children. With one child at home and another living their dream in Australi
Saturday Night Spin Cycles & Celebrity Crushes
Today on 40ish: It may be Nicole’s most rock n’ roll Saturday night ever as she treats herself to “putting on a small washing load” and Lauren has bought a ticket to an antiques fair. Wild. Reckless. Who even are we anymore? We’ve got some lovely listener feedback (including a genuinely helpful iron supplement tip, who knew we’d become this demographic), before diving into a dilemma that is equal
Meditation, Mumsnet & Moany Neighbours
This week on 40ish:, things get deep (briefly) because Nicole meditated (we know, who is she?), and we also tackle the Oscars - mainly how illegally and problematically handsome Paul Anthony Kelly is. Also, are we just too old to get Timothée Chalamet. Is he brilliant? Is he a Year 8 boy? A listener has a dilemma with a truly stomach dropping moment; discovering a Mumsnet thread that may or may n
Fibre, Friendship Fallouts & Where Are We With Facebook?
This week on 40ish, Nicole reports from the glamorous world of post-surgery recovery where the main event of the day is… taking painkillers. Timing them, thinking about them, planning the next one. Meanwhile, Lauren has a mysterious foot situation developing. There is very validating listener feedback about the extremely serious issue of designated mugs. We also tackle this week’s dilemma where a
Perimenopause Rage, Burnt Tables & The Screenshot Crisis
Perimenopause, brain fog and relationships This week on 40ish: Nicole debates if she’s doing too little or too much post surgery - (the fact she cant stand her living room wall paint suggests the former) and Lauren attends her 30yr school reunion. The listeners have feedback for James after his appearances on the show (Let’s just say his comments about women drivers have not gone unnoticed). We
Gossip, Gratitude and Sneakerinas
Today on 40ish: It’s Lauren’s birthday and she’s apparently a fortune teller now. Nicole is feeling grateful for all her ‘get well soon’ gifts and lighting the candle whilst wearing crystals in her bra. We solve a listener dilemma involving overhearing two women casually tearing apart a friend at a party. Do you tell her? Confront them? Pretend you never heard it? Or carry the resentment like a we
Mother’s Day, Midlife Algorithms and Cycle Synching With Your Dog
This week on 40ish: Nicole returns to work post op, but now she’s officially menopausal and quietly wondering if she’s evolved beyond the podcast. Has she transcended? (short answer, no) Meanwhile Lauren absolutely has not evolved, as her cycle has somehow synced with her dog’s. Yes. The dog. There are hormones in the air and no one feels entirely stable about it. Plus both women mess about kissin
The Sexy Lady Lamp, Two Fridges & The Great Lactose Hack
Today on 40ish: James is back! giving us a peek inside the internal world of the midlife male brain including a deep dive into his two-fridge conundrum — while Lauren admits she’s spectacularly hopeless at booking holidays. A listener is being tormented by her husband's (quite frankly revolting sounding) lamp and lactose-intolerant folks rejoice — a milky hack promises sweet relief. Expect laughs,
DJ Daddy, Dog Groomers and The Surprise Co-host
This week on 40ish: James stands in for Nicole bringing a whole new male perspective on 40-something life. Lauren asks why is everyone on loudspeaker all the time and why is it always on the Tube? And James gives a thorough rundown of his supplement regime. (Thrilling). One listener shares her dilemma being married to a midlifer who has been reborn as DJ “Daddy” and listener Sarah delivers possibl
Thumbs-up. The Pesto Revelation & Nicole’s Replacement
Today on 40ish, Nicole is facing every podcaster’s worst nightmare: being replaced. (Temporarily, while she recovers from her op - but still.) Enter James - Brave. Unprepared. About to be exposed to levels of menopause and nunny chat that no man could ever train for. Will he survive? Will he make eye contact again? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, Lauren has had a life-altering revelation about pes
The Immaculate Bob Lady and The Icon
This week on 40ish: Stop the Press! Nicole has changed foundation brands and has also been rebranded “The Immaculate Bob Lady” Lauren is in some very functional new Uniqlo trousers - they may qualify her for early admission to the National Trust but she has recently discovered she’s an icon, so it’s all ok. A listener asks if she’s being oversensitive when her husband teases her about her outfit -
Wuthering Heights and The World's Saddest Sandwich
On 40ish: Lauren reports back from the cinematic gothic f***fest where the wind was wild, the passion was feral, and one drenched Jacob Elordi on horseback has single-handedly reset her standards and her blood pressure. Frankly, she hasn’t been the same since. For God’s sake, someone hide the linen shirts and put her in a cold shower. Meanwhile, Nicole’s quest for a dignified lunch ends in sadness
Birthdays, Bums and Brownies
Today on 40ish: it's Nicole's birthday. Both Lauren and her padel friends have baked for her although Nicole has to quite literally ‘spell it out’. Lauren shares her latest Amazon purchase - anal gland chews for smelly rear ends (they're for the dog - relax!) and graphically overshares her experience trying on SKIMS. Meanwhile, a listener writes in to ask if she's being unreasonable to be annoyed
Oatbran, Botox and Trying On Knickers
Today on 40ish: Lauren buys oat bran.She doesn’t know why. She doesn’t know how to use it. She just knows she should. Nicole, newly Botoxed and feeling refreshed, takes great pleasure in mocking the oat-bran era… before promptly opening her Ocado app to add some to her own basket. It’s fibre fabulous! We also hear from a listener who unleashes menopausal rage at her kids’ headteacher during a Duke
PIN Numbers, Prime Purchases and Padel
Today on 40ish, Lauren and Nicole debut a brand-new game: What’s the Most Middle-Aged Thing in Your Amazon Basket? Brace yourselves; there is nothing remotely sexy about it. Lauren is also celebrating a genuine midlife milestone: she remembered her PIN without having to lock her card. Growth. A listener writes in with a juicy dilemma as she weighs up her stale marriage against some unexpectedly fl
Savage Brides, Social Faux Pas & Jeggings
Today on 40ish: Nicole is still in wardrobe crisis. She’s retreated back to skinny jeans and some decidedly mumsy leather trousers (absolutely do not say the word jeggings). Meanwhile, she’s attempting—against all odds—to convince Lauren to sign up for a 26-mile charity walk. (Spoiler: the chances are slim) as Lauren is far too busy debating whether it’s socially acceptable to join in a TikTok da
Beckhams, Bed Injuries and Best-Before Dates
Today on 40ish Lauren has done her back in by making the bed. Tragic? Yes. Painful? Also yes. Meanwhile Nicole is floating serenely on a cloud of oestrogen but despite the hormonal induced glow her family are still approaching with caution. They discuss the Beckham feud (because it’s deliciously unavoidable) Lauren's apparent inability to choose shoes that Nicole doesn't deem "DISGUSTING" and why
FOMO, HRT & Bin Bag Rage
Today on 40ish: Nicole is just one more day away from her HRT implant and her husband is bravely counting down the hours until he can exist, speak, or inhale oxygen without being informed he’s irritating. (Stay strong, Adam). Meanwhile, Lauren and her husband enjoy the most middle-aged date imaginable: a couples health scan. Meanwhile, a listener writes in with her dilemma: She desperately wants t
Lost Keys, NPC’s and A Very Awkward Appointment
Today on 40ish: Lauren innocently considers buying some new trainers and is promptly informed by her son she’s an “NPC”. Rude. Confusing (Isn’t that a car park?) We unpack the insult, and whether footwear is now a personality flaw. Meanwhile, the brain fog is fogging as Nicole misplaces her keys and eventually finds them in the last place any sane person would look. And in dilemma territory, thin
Chat GPT, Breathing Wrong and Birthday Singlongs
This week on 40ish: Nicole finds unexpected emotional support from ChatGPT and, honestly, it’s more validating than most real-life husbands. Speaking of husbands, they are absolutely not winning at life this week. Both Lauren and Nicole have suffered through a list of their offences, including breathing, speaking, napping on the sofa, and the ultimate crime: wearing jeans on the bed. Meanwhile, a
Bad Cake, Skinny Jeans & a Tampon Emergency
In today’s episode of 40ish: Lauren is spiralling over the sudden disappearance of Hermesetas and asking how is she supposed to drink a hot beverage now? Whilst Nicole is back at her spiritual home (Costco) and thrilled with her new veg chopper. In other news that nobody emotionally prepared us for: skinny jeans are back. We discuss how to wear them in midlife without looking like you’re heading o
Halfords, “Healthy January” and the Highway Code
Today on 40ish Lauren faces the ultimate midlife thrill - a trip to Halfords - does she know where her wheel nut key is? Does it exist? Meanwhile, Nicole is failing the Highway Code and wondering why nobody answers their phone anymore. A listener writes in with a dilemma that perfectly sums up January. She is cheating on her husband - he’s fully invested in the January health kick - whilst she is
Midlife injuries, Feeling mumsy and Timothée Chalamet
Welcome back to the first episode of 40ish for 2026. Nicole returns from holiday feeling mumsy, while Lauren kicks off the new year by injuring her shoulder blade… in her sleep. Because apparently even resting is dangerous now. We dive into a listener dilemma after an awkward Christmas Day gift exchange leaves some lingering hurt, and 40ish listeners share their post-Christmas meltdowns - festiv
Architraves, Eyebrows and Twinning with your MIL
Today on 40ish: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and what says xmas better than a heated debate about architraves? Nicole is spiralling over the fact that she appears to be growing eyebrows… above her eyebrows (a festive miracle nobody asked for). Speaking of bushy, Lauren is locked in an existential crisis about the girth of her Christmas tree, which is apparently so wide it should com
Bald Eyes, Bad Jeans and Christmas Cockapoos
In today’s episode, Lauren somehow manages to accidentally pull out her own eyelashes and is now sporting a festive single-lid look… while Nicole is still spiralling about the state of jeans. Are we meant to be in wide-leg? Straight-leg? Bootcut? Low-rise?! Nobody knows and honestly we’re tired. We also tackle a listener dilemma: How do you tell your brother his dog is not invited to Christmas Day
Falling, Fibbing and Airing the Fanny
This week on 40ish. Things are looking up for Lauren in the laundry room, but the moment she steps outside? Down she goes. Did she fall over… or, at our age, has she officially “had a fall”? Nicole has a jolly trip to Costco (pick n’ mix for adults with no self control) and makes a shocking confession involving lying to Lauren. Could it be the end of a beautiful friendship? (Spoiler: probably no
Cosy, Cranky and Passive aggressive punctuation
Today on 40ish: Nicole publicly outs Lauren’s escalating email rudeness. Is this the moment we finally admit that yes, midlife has arrived -and apparently it’s brought passive-aggressive punctuation with it. Meanwhile, the pair discover that nothing makes them happier these days than being gifted… extra virgin olive oil. Not gin. Not wine. Olive oil. Nicole, for her part, is living her absolute pe
Granola, Puppy Pandemonium & A stolen kiss in the stables
Things go completely off the rails today when Lauren’s puppy’s antics push James to the brink… and he in turn pushes them right out of the studio (much to Nicole’s amusement) Speaking of Nicole, she’s been busy browsing the M&S clothes and she likes what she sees - classic midlife move. Lauren then casually drops into conversation that she’s met national treasure Clare Balding (as you do) whil
Ankle Boots, Plant based buffets and Netflix Negotiations
Today on 40ish: Lauren wonders if long-term marriage really just comes down to which Netflix series you can both tolerate, while Nicole’s deeply unconvinced that the cowboy aesthetic is making a comeback. A listener faces a full-blown footwear crisis (seriously, what is up with ankle boots?) and another dreads her company’s “Annual Office Holiday Experience.” Nothing says festive joy quite like a
Face Blind, Feline Rescue and 6-7
This week on 40ish: A listener writes in about her rescue cat (that she quite frankly hates), and Lauren discovers she’s face-blind - which is awkward AF and Nicole is still obsessed with 6-7, according to her this makes her 'cool' - All unpicked in this episode. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories or general complaints about midlife please be in touc
Piercings, Tantrums and Nothing says I love you like a Dustbuster.
This week on 40ish Lauren's husband romances her with a new DustBuster. (Nothing says I love you like Dyson) whilst Nicole is radiating extra bougie energy as she lights up a 3 wick high end candle. (Then has an almighty adult tantrum). A listener doesn't know what to make of her 53yr old husband suddenly arriving home with an ear piercing (Midlife crisis or David Beckham tribute?) and another wo
A Spanx tantrum and the John Lewis Ad
This week on 40ish: the ladies unwrap the new John Lewis Christmas ad and it’s got them feeling deeply middle-aged. Lauren has what can only be described as an epic meltdown over Spanx and one midlife online dater is torn between two men she doesn’t even fancy (spoiler: bin them both) Buckle up; it’s a feisty one. We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, funny stories
Skips, Gorilla cream and Um Bongo
This week on 40ish: Lauren is cooing over the Costco catalogue and Nicole is along for the ride - heated fleece blanket anyone? The pair debate over whether prawn cocktail crisps count as a “classic,” before descending into mild hysteria when they realise they’re spending their forties discussing the merits of Um Bongo vs Ki-Ora on a public platform. Elsewhere, Lauren’s husband might need a quiet
Capes, Loafers, and Vinted Fails
This week on 40ish it’s midlife shopping gone wrong. Lauren suffers a Vinted fail while Nicole debates whether she’s officially lost the plot after lusting over a Supergirl-style caped top. The great loafer debate of 2024 has returned from the dead. Lauren’s bought a pair, and Nicole is strictly forbidden to comment (good luck with that). Meanwhile, a listener writes in full of Halloween regret: h
Pumpkins, Paranormal Activity & Panic Buys
This week on 40ish: It’s Halloween, and things are getting spooky. We can’t decide what’s scarier: Lauren’s truly terrifying childhood tale, or Nicole juggling three different costumes for her daughter’s Halloween events. A listener wants to know do you believe in the paranormal? She’s got some seriously creepy goings-on in her new home. Meanwhile, two other women are in full seasonal meltdown: wh
Awkward Invites, Admin & The Green Bin
Today on 40ish: The ladies are feeling truly middle aged. Nicole’s eyesight has decided to take early retirement, while Lauren laments the sheer amount of time it now takes just to look presentable -never mind actually nice. A listener wants to know: what do you do when you’re invited to the hen night but not the wedding? (Awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it.) Meanwhile, another listener is off
Secrets, Spreadsheets and Storming Out
Today on 40ish: Nicole’s got a new padel partner; there’s a shared spreadsheet involved and Lauren’s not thrilled. Meanwhile, the listener inbox delivers peak drama: one listener’s torn between exposing a friend’s secret affair and staying loyal, while another has a full-blown meltdown at her own birthday party. It’s sports, secrets, and seriously messy situations. We love to hear from you! To s
Sore Muscles, Sharp Comebacks and Nicole Scherzinger
Today on 40ish: Lauren no longer understands teen fashion (when is a baggy jean just many sizes too big?) while Nicole is not impressed with Nicole Scherzinger’s approach to punctuality. Meanwhile, one listener finds herself emotionally and physically shattered after a HIIT class that was absolutely not what she signed up for, and another writes in feeling sorry, not sorry for calling out her bos
Les Mis, plastic bag hoarding & subscription hell
Today on 40ish: Lauren and Nicole debate if there is anything worse than being asked to share a “fun fact” about yourself. In happier news, they’re dusting off their theatre binoculars and declaring their undying love for Les Misérables as they gear up for the 40th anniversary show; while still vividly remembering seeing it when it was new. (Yes, we’ve officially become the “we saw it first” gener
Party Pants, Fibre and Overpriced Soap
Today on 40ish: Lauren comes undone at a party -quite literally - while Nicole is done, full stop, with cleaning the kitchen worktop for the millionth time. Meanwhile, a listener wonders whether to take a stand against the tyranny of overpriced hand soap, (shout out to Baylis & Harding fans) and we ask the big midlife questions: how much fibre does a woman actually need… and does a 20-someth
Dynasty, Divorce and Dodgy Driving
Today on 40ish: Nicole is channelling Dynasty in her new jumpsuit and we are absolutely here for it, but a QR code has her on the verge of a technological meltdown. Meanwhile, Lauren is spiralling over Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s shock divorce. Why? And more importantly, who gets custody of their extensive collection of hair straighteners? And as if that’s not enough drama, a listener writes
Waistbands, Wash Day & Wandering Wires
Today on 40ish: Lauren finally reaches laundry nirvana… until the puppy redecorates the bed with vomit. Meanwhile, Nicole has officially hit the stage where only an elasticated waistband will do. Our listeners aren’t having it easy either: one woman needs to break the news that her friend’s dream haircut is giving Dudley Moore rather than Demi Moore (IYKYK) and another is ranting about the grea
Peter Andre, Doggy Dress Up and Fire Pit Flirtation
Today on 40ish: Nicole is nostalgic for Peter Andre (yes, mysterious girl, waterfall etc) and has officially lost patience with people who think we need their full autobiography before getting to the lasagna recipe. Meanwhile, Lauren is incandescent with rage over a dog in a velour tracksuit. (No, really. A DOG. IN VELOUR. Let that sink in.) And if that weren’t enough midlife madness, our listene
Affairs, Armchairs & ATM Rage
Today on 40ish: Lauren has a full on rant about people who linger at cashpoints - what the f are they doing? Whilst Nicole is confused yet slightly aroused at her husband refilling the peppermill and putting the eggs away in the right place. (domestic foreplay is real, folks). Our listeners don’t hold back either: one is juggling an affair with a married man and an S&M fling with her gym budd
Earlybirds, Booby-ganoush & Bedroom boredom
Today on 40ish: Nicole makes a shocking confession: she’s officially joined the early-bird dinner brigade (yes, she’s that person eating dinner at 6pm). Meanwhile, Lauren struts around a party… only to later realise she’s been working the room with food splattered across her boob. Our listeners bring their own gems too: one wonders if it’s borderline obsessive (or just practical) to do a full-on s
Germy Germs and the Ozempic Vulva
Today on 40ish: A listener wants advice after her boyfriend casually admits he doesn’t wash his hands after using the loo (bleugh!). Nicole brings a game to the show to play with Lauren, Plus, a new condition is out there -Ozempic Vulva. Yep, you really can lose fat from every bit of you. Who knew midlife could be this…wrinkly? We love to hear from you! To share your feedback, dilemmas, rants, f
From Grazia to Good Housekeeping & Contemplating Crocs
This week on 40ish Nicole has serious concerns as Lauren contemplates if Crocs are a valid life choice. One woman is panicking after slagging off a fellow school mum on the wrong whatsapp group (the horror). And we’re asking the big midlife question: have we officially swapped Grazia for Good Housekeeping as our guilty-pleasure reading? It’s all the weighty questions that you never knew needed ans
Menodivorce, Menstrual Cups And Jon Hamm’s Bulge
Today on 40ish: Menodivorce is on the rise (and honestly, we get it). One poor woman goes twelve rounds with a rogue menstrual cup at a dinner party she will never forget. Meanwhile, Lauren is on an intense quest to source the perfect salt pig (don’t ask, just nod), and as for Nicole? She’s utterly undone after a listener sends in a photo of her forever crush, Jon Hamm, in jeans so tight they shou
Slippers, Buddymoons & Graham Norton
Welcome back to the brand-new season of 40ish! On today’s show, Lauren is on a mission to figure out: where exactly are we with slippers? Are they chic? Are they tragic? Meanwhile, Nicole is determined to keep those gym endorphins flowing; even if it means hobbling around the studio like a gladiator who lost to a foam roller. We’ve also got a bride-to-be who wants to know if a “Buddymoon” is a red
Avocados , Gut Health and The Big Wash
This week on 40ish Lauren confesses her deep (possibly unhealthy) love for The Big Wash, while Nicole revels in the rare and glorious joy of 11 child-free days at home. Meanwhile the listeners are chiming in with their weekly woes:One wonders how to avoid feeling invisible in middle age. Another has somehow pulled a muscle in her actual armpit, whilst Nicole discovers the answer to everything - ju
Viagra, Pillow Menus and It’s Called ‘Fashion’
Welcome back to the brand new season of 40ish! This week Lauren has bought a functional rubber mac and is feeling super smug whilst Nicole is struggling to see as middle age has trashed her eyesight. One woman goes the full Martin Lewis calculating the ‘cost per shag’ now her husband is taking Viagra and wonders if the money could be better spent. And in a tale of midlife bravery gone hilariousl
We are on a break!
A little reminder that we are now OOO - that's Out Of Office for anyone who may not know AKA Lauren! We will be back in September. Have a great summer everyone x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/40ish-laughing-our-way-through-midlife-perimenopause-menopause--6942825/support.We love to hear f
Unfiltered - Lamination, Arseholes and the roadside poo
Today on Unfiltered Charlize Theron is bragging about her one night stand with a 26yr old. Would you? Could you be bothered? Lauren laments about lamination and Nicole’s still reeling from a 7:30am convo involving... arseholes. Yes, actual ones. One woman’s Spanish getaway takes a very public turn when her friend faces a roadside toilet emergency—with no loo in sight and a car full of horrified (a
Sex, Storage Bags & The Meddling MIL
This week on 40ish: Lauren’s found joy in vacuum storage bags (yes, really), while Nicole’s ready to stage an intervention over Lauren’s hyper-efficient email deletion habits. Meanwhile, one listener is deeply regretting her choice of holiday companions after a villa-sharing couple won’t stop having very vocal sex in the paper thin walls of their Spanish holiday home. One mum is trapped in a Corni
Unfiltered - Babybels in the bra and Bendover Tuesdays
Today on Unfiltered; Nicole is asked if she can really trust Lauren and has us all asking: What exactly are “Bendover Tuesdays?” Lauren is close to meltdown as she attempts to tackle paperwork at midnight. One woman cannot keep up with the ravenous appetites of her children who are ransacking the cupboards during the school holidays and the ladies report on a recent study showing that midlifers ar
Blood Tests, Sexy Exes and Husbands Hiding in the Loo
This week on 40ish, Lauren and Nicole ponder how many more blood tests they can possibly endure before qualifying as human pin cushions (answer: It’s a lot welcome to midlife!). Meanwhile, a listener takes umbrage at her husband’s suspiciously long (and very conveniently timed) bathroom breaks. Meanwhile, a woman debates whether to rekindle things with an old flame who slid into her DMs like it’s
Unfiltered - Hollywood Handshakes, Rashes and Public Humiliation
Today on Unfiltered: Paul Hollywood confesses to being in a permanent midlife crisis, and honestly bitch? Same. Lauren admits she'd kill for a Hollywood handshake, while Nicole wants nothing to do with his French stick (make of that what you will). A listener shares a traumatic tale of being exposed on the loo in a public café thanks to her daughter and an ill-timed door swing. The week’s Midlife
Nip Slips Bowel Pics and Jacket Potatoes
This week on 40ish, things get a little… exposed. Literally. A listener shares a pool party nip slip in Ibiza that was witnessed by her ex, a teenager with a phone, and an 81-year-old with very good eyesight. Meanwhile, Nicole is wrestling with her Glastonbury FOMO (or is it actually JOMO?), and Lauren can only recall one thing from her own Glasto days - a jacket potato she ate in 1997. Iconic. A
