Middling Along

• Emma Bardwell is back with The 30g Plan to beat food overwhelm

  Get ready to bust through nutrition overwhelm with brilliant nutritionist Emma Bardwell as she returns to the podcast to share insights from her latest book, The 30g Plan. If you're feeling a bit ‘headless chicken’ reading all the endless diet advice and trying to juggle balanced eating, Emma’s here to cut through the noise and give you a straightforward plan to boost your fibre, protein, and plant power.   In this episode, Emma shares her top hacks and hints to make healthy eating achievable and enjoyable. Discover the magic of storage p*rn—yes, beautiful food prep that motivates you! Learn how to tweak and swap ingredients to keep meals exciting, even if you're cooking for fussier family members.   Emma emphasizes that imperfection is okay: it's what we do most of the time that truly counts. If aiming for three perfect meals a day feels daunting, start small: focus on getting a nutritious breakfast right, and build from there.   Plus, Emma reveals her favourite quick recipes and lunchtime ideas, along with her top time-saving hacks, shortcuts, and must-have gadgets that make healthy cooking a breeze—all designed to fit into busy, overwhelmed schedules and ready in 30 minutes or less!   And don’t miss her tip on Myota, a gentle fibre supplement that supports gut health without fuss.   Whether you're looking to overhaul your diet or just find simple ways to eat better without the stress, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you thrive.   Tune in and get inspired to make nourishing, fuss-free meals part of your everyday life!   If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review. You can also find me at http://www.thetripleshift.org   connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/   follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/  or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/ 

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• Sara Barnes on resilience, rediscovering nature (and herself) and redefining adventures

  Join us for a gorgeous conversation with writer and passionate cold water swimmer Sara Barnes.     Over the past decade, Sara’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From barely being able to walk in her fifties to reclaiming an active, outdoor life amidst the stunning landscapes of the Lake District, she’s navigated major surgeries, embarked on solo campervan adventures through Scotland, and published not one but two compelling books: The Cold Fix and her debut novel, The Winter of Our Lives.     In this episode, Sara shares her transformative story of resilience, discovery, and connection. Discover how cold water swimming became a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety and reconnecting with nature—and yourself. She reveals creative ways to get your own "Cold Fix," the importance of community, and how immersing in nature can shift your perspective on aging, confidence, and what’s possible.     Sara also discusses her solo adventures, including a campervan journey that taught her invaluable lessons about adapting, slowing down, and embracing the present. Plus, she explores her dream of moving to France and how health scares helped her realize what truly matters—less stuff, more experience, and the freedom of just being.     Whether you're a seasoned swimmer or curious about taking the plunge for the first time, Sara’s insights will inspire you to step outside your comfort zone, reconnect with nature, and discover your own limits and capabilities.   You can find Sara and her beautiful images of wild swimming at https://www.instagram.com/bumblebarnes/?hl=en Sara’s books: The Cold Fix (Vertebrate Adventure Books, 2022) The Winter of Our Lives (HarperCollins, 2023)  (and for the interview with Siobhan Daniels I mention in this episode, check out: https://middlingalong.com/episodes/middling-along-13-siobhan-daniels-on-the-retirement-rebellion-and-her-solo-vanlife-travels-around-the-uk/)  If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review. You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org   connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/   follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/  or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/  

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• Elizabeth Willetts on Flex, career pivots, and taking control of your career journey

  Join us in this inspiring episode as we sit down with Elizabeth Willetts, the founder of Investing in Women, a groundbreaking job board and community dedicated to empowering women and promoting family-friendly workplaces. With over 17 years of recruitment experience, Elizabeth is passionate about helping professionals find fulfilling flexible and part-time work that fits their lives.   What You’ll Learn: The mission behind Investing in Women and how it supports both women and forward-thinking employers. Elizabeth’s journey in the recruitment industry, including her experiences at one of the Big 4 firms and a leading UK recruitment agency. Insights into the benefits of flexible work arrangements and how they can help close the gender pay gap. A behind-the-scenes look at Elizabeth’s debut book, Flex, a dynamic guide for anyone seeking to build a successful career on their own terms. Tips for career pivots, including how to leverage your network and build relevant skills when transitioning to a new industry. Key Highlights: Discover the challenges faced by parents in the job market and how Investing in Women addresses these issues. Hear Elizabeth’s thoughts on the importance of hybrid roles and flexibility in today’s workplace. Learn about Subject Access Requests (SAR) and how they can empower individuals who have faced redundancy. Elizabeth shares her top advice for those considering a career change, including the significance of crafting thoughtful cover letters and documenting achievements. You can get your own copy of Flex: Smart Strategies to Build a Successful Career Around Your Life at https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Flex-by-Elizabeth-Willetts/9781394267798 Find Elizabeth at https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-willetts/ and sign up to her newsletter and/or job board at https://investinginwomen.co.uk/ If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review. You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org  connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/  follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/ or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/   

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• Lucy Melville on midlife reinvention after a double dose of loss

  What do you do when life throws you two cataclysmic curve balls in a short period of time that fracture your whole identity? My guest today is Lucy Melville. Lucy is a widow, and mother of three young people. Her husband Brian died of stage IV lung cancer in July 2023 just 6 weeks after diagnosis whilst her youngest child was still at school. Just one year after losing her husband, Lucy was unexpectedly made redundant from the job that kept her functioning through her grief.  In this moving and emotional interview, Lucy talks us through the surreal process of finding out about Brian’s diagnosis and navigating the speed of his illness and ultimately his death just a short time later. She describes the impact on her and her children of losing the husband and father they adored, and then being rocked again by dealing with both an empty nest as her children left home, and the compounded grief of losing the job (and second ‘work family’) that had kept her steady through her bereavement.  Lucy talks honestly about how isolated, invisible, and abandoned she felt at this time in her life, but also the subsequent reinvention after her long dark night of the soul, and finding hope and renewed sense of identity through her new business venture River Light Press.  Listen in to hear Lucy’s advice for anyone grappling with difficult times right now, and be inspired by her heroine’s journey to light and a new life.  You can find Lucy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymelville and River Light Press at https://www.aurorametro.com/river-light-press/    If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review. You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org  connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/  follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/ or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/ 

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• Lauren Currie is a woman on a mission - to start a confidence revolution

  My guest today is Lauren Currie OBE, the Founder of UPFRONT, an organisation on a mission to change confidence, visibility, and power for 10 million women.  I start by asking Lauren what does confidence means to her personally and how she has learned to cultivate it? Lauren describes confidence, not as a lack of doubt or feeling ready, but learning to show up and speak up even when full of doubt. She is, she says, still on a confidence journey. The world is not a place that is kind to confident women - she is continually unlearning, reconnecting with her gift for being onstage and inspiring others, and saying yes to hard things before feeling ready for them. Confidence differs across our lives and it’s vital we all can see that being modelled to us.  We might appear very confident to others, but just because they can’t see our inner critic or our fears, doesn’t mean they’re not there. We all have moments of self doubt and nervousness, and confident people don’t feel confident all the time… Lauren explains how the Upfront Bonds work: impressively, the average salary increase post-attendance is 46%, and 82% of attendees are more likely to apply for a job they wouldn’t have applied for before the Bond.  Lauren also talks about past career mistakes: rather than failures, she sees these as lessons in disguise, data, insights, information, and opportunities to be better and grow.  We also discuss her upcoming book “Taylor Meets The Trick” which aims to help children and families understand the patriarchy and was inspired by her son Atlas, who has long blonde hair and is often mistaken for a girl. Taylor learns about the rules for boys and rules for girls, and through the book starts challenging the neat little boxes that we are expected to fit into. There are also guides and resources at the end to support adults to continue the conversation. Tune in to listen to all of this, plus Lauren’s experience of moving to Sweden, her advice for anyone with a young family thinking about moving to another country, and what she would change if we gave her a magic wand!    You can find out more about Lauren and her work at Upfront by visiting  https://www.weareupfront.com/, and https://www.instagram.com/upfrontglobal/  If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review. You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org  connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/  follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/ or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/ 

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