Thursday Thoughts – Finding The Joy In Life

Take A Breath

July 9, 2026 ∙ 30 mins
Episode 47

About

On today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how important it is to find the joy in life, rather than being constantly weighed down by all of the ‘shoulds’.

The truth is that life is short, and we sometimes forget to enjoy the ride. Instead of taking it all so seriously, let’s remember that we’re all travelling on a giant sphere hurtling through space - so we might as well enjoy it while we’re here!

We hope you’ll find something useful in here.

Love,
Polly & Lucy x

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Information

Podcast

Take A Breath

Episode

47

Date

July 9, 2026

Length

30 mins
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    If the lines around your mouth and chin area have got deeper in midlife, it may have given your self-confidence a bit of a knock. Liz explains how these so-called ‘marionette lines’ often become more noticeable in our 40s and 50s, and shares ways to support firmer, healthier skin without resorting to invasive treatments. Plus: […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    Introducing Family Lore

    Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now: link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more […]

  • 216 Why Perimenopause Might Be the Perfect Time to Try Psilocybin

    🔥 The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy is here — my guide mapping 12 different approaches to hormone therapy, built from 250+ practitioner interviews and six years of research. $47 until July 15th, then $97. 👉 The Hot Truth Eve Simonsen is a certified psilocybin facilitator and microdosing guide based in the US. We get […]

  • 212 | Why You Know How to Lose Weight but Still Can't Stay Consistent

    If you’ve ever thought, “I know what to do… I just can’t seem to stay consistent,” this episode is for you. So many women believe their struggle to lose weight is about finding the perfect meal plan. But what if the real battle isn’t in the kitchen—it’s in your mind? In this episode, I’m sharing […]

  • 3 Workout Studies Every Woman Over 50 Needs to Know

    This episode is sponsored by Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist. Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist.- Become a health & fitness coach who finally speaks midlife women’s language. Learn how to design workouts that balance hormones that actually get results for women in menopause. Connect with Flipping 50: Facebook Group – Flipping50 Insiders Instagram – @Flipping50TV […]

  • Episode 34: DEMANDING HORMONAL ACCESS & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FOR ALL WITH Moji Alawode-El & Lizz Winstead

    ⚡️On this weeks pod we laugh-cry and deep dive into plotting a misandrist uprising with Moji Alawode-El & Lizz Winstead the founders of Abortion Access Front & Co-Hosts of Feminist Buzzkills Podcast! ⚡️ Two of our absolute favorite voices on the frontlines fighting for our rights, Moji & Lizz join Alicia to share their brilliant activist […]

  • Ep #199: Gut Health, Insulin & Hormones with Dr. Cassie Smith, MD

    If you're doing everything "right" and your body still feels like it's falling apart in perimenopause, this one is for you. Andrea sits down with Dr. Cassie Smith, a dual-board-certified endocrinologist who grew tired of watching women get normal lab results and zero answers. She wrote the book "Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones" because […]

  • 6 foods to prioritise on weight loss jabs – with Dr Federica Amati

    While GLP-1 weight loss medications can be transformative for people living with obesity or type 2 diabetes, eating less means every bite needs to work harder. Medical scientist and nutritionist Dr Federica Amati joins Liz to explain why these medications make good nutrition more important than ever. They discuss how weight-loss jabs affect appetite and […]

  • Why Perimenopause Causes Sleep Disruption and What to Do — Dr. Maria Guzman Explains | 289

    You used to be a great sleeper. Nine, ten hours, no problem. And then somewhere around your 40s, something shifted. Now you are wide awake at 2am or 3am, staring at the ceiling, asking yourself what is wrong — and no amount of sleep hygiene, magnesium, or melatonin seems to make a difference. If that […]

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    The Longevity Doctor: The 5 Simple Tests That Predict How You'll Age

    If you’re in perimenopause or menopause, you’ve probably noticed your body changing in ways no one prepared you for. Maybe you’re losing muscle despite working out. Maybe your bone density is declining. Maybe you’re wondering if hormone therapy is right for you, or why your workouts aren’t giving you the same results they used to. […]

  • 80 – What if we’ve misunderstood hormones all along?

    Many people only think about hormones in relation tomenopause, puberty or fertility. But hormones influence every cell in yourbody, affecting everything from your energy and metabolism to inflammation, sleep and long-term health. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by consultant endocrinologist and author Dr Saira Hameed to uncover the extraordinary roles hormones play […]

  • Create a Happier Version of Yourself: Redirect Your Energy for Positive Thinking

    In this episode, you will learn how to take back your power when you’re in the midst of change, stress, or uncertainty, and then redirect your energy for self-transformation.  If there’s an area of your life that you’re feeling unhappy about and want to take control over, today’s episode will show you exactly what to […]

  • #247 Red Light, Blue Light & the Midlife Energy Crisis

    Are we living in a light environment our biology doesn’t recognize? Neuroscientist Dr. Glen Jeffery has suggested that our chronic exposure to artificial blue light — especially in hospitals, schools, and offices — may one day be viewed similarly to asbestos: something we widely used before understanding the long-term consequences. Is blue light evil? No.Is it powerful? […]

  • I love chatting to strangers! Fearne’s being spontaneous and sleeping better on holiday

    Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne gets into what she and Team Happy Place absolutely love about a holiday, and which bits can be a bit rubbish. (No one wants to pack to go home when the swimsuits are still […]

  • 7 Unmissable Insights from 7 Seasons of The Happy Menopause Podcast. S7. Ep 15.

    7 seasons. 750,000 downloads. 3 International Women's Podcast Award shortlistings. To mark the finale of Season 7, I've gone back through 7 years of conversations to bring you 7 of the clips that stopped me in my tracks – and believe me, it was no easy task to choose, because every single guest has been […]

Take A Breath

A podcast for creating practical calm in the messy middle of midlife. This is your space to pause.  Because life in midlife is full-on. Between work, family, menopause, and the mental load, your nervous system can easily end up in constant overdrive — leaving you feeling exhausted, reactive, and overwhelmed by even the smallest things.  […]

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