Midlife Women Conversations with Jean Macdonald

Beat Inflation for Income in Old Age

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100

In this captivating episode, I chat with Cassie Lewis, a unique Independent Financial Advisor who expertly balances her career with the realities of raising school-age children and managing family life.

Cassie delves into the world of Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), revealing how they offer a rare chance to outpace inflation, avoid taxes, and secure income for our retirement years.

After you have listened to the interview, there are some charts and documents which further explain this way out of the savings trap. They take a bit of time and concentration to read but are well worth the effort.

Here is link to some simple charts and documents that Cassie has provided about the benefits to you of setting up an ISA
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FEhq00rwy0wJTKIrofzxuhW9M6Akf4NC?usp=sharing

love Jean Macdonald

Are you ready to unleash your full potential and overcome the obstacles that hold you back?

Visit the Midlife Butterfly Club Magazine at no cost for valuable videos, articles, and podcasts to inform, guide and inspire you if you are a woman in middle life. You can explore our online magazine via this link

https://midlifebutterflyclub.org/magazine

More Money for Midlife Women with Vix Munro

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0100

We are moving ahead with our Expert Interviews for the More Money for Midlife Women event being run by the Midlife Butterfly Club.

Vix Munro who is our Money for Midlife Women Expert, has done two interviews with me. The first one is about strategies for having more secure money in middle and later life.

If you are a busy midlife woman we think you would find it more convenient and useful to listen to the interview multiple times on your phone as you drive, exercise, do housework or other things.

Vix Munro Tells her Story

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 18:00:00 +0100

SIW - Dealing with and avoiding Diabetes

Tue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 +0100

Day 3 of Spring Into Wellness with Stephen Leggett and Rik Stevens

SIW - Gut Health and Sleep for Midlife Women

Tue, 21 May 2024 04:00:00 +0100

Day 2 of Spring Into Wellness Chat Show with Julia Riewalds and Johann Callaghan

SIW - Managing Menopause Concerns

Fri, 03 May 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Day 1 of Spring Into Wellness Chat Show by Midlife Butterfly Club with Hester Bedet and Melanie Hill about Managing Menopause Concerns.

Divorce with Less Tears Day 3 (Creating your New Life Start Again Guide)

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the grand finale of "Divorce with Less Tears," the online event presented by the Midlife Butterfly Club. Join us for a transformative wrap-up as Shauna takes the spotlight with her presentation, "Creating Your New Life - Your Start Again Guide."

In this empowering episode, Shauna guides you through the process of building a new life post-divorce. With warmth and expertise, she shares invaluable insights and practical tips to help you navigate this significant transition. Whether you're embarking on your own journey or supporting someone through theirs, Shauna's guidance offers a compassionate beacon to illuminate the path forward.

Divorce with Less Tears Day 2 (Living in the Gap)

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to "Divorce with Less Tears," the online event presented by the Midlife Butterfly Club. Join us for a unique series where we address the challenges of divorce with grace and understanding. On Day 2, Annie Den Hann, the Ageless Stylist, takes the virtual stage with her insightful presentation, "Living in the Gap."

Annie delves into the nuanced aspects of navigating the transitional phase, offering wisdom on "Living in the Gap/Limbo Rules/Boundaries." Join us as she shares practical advice on setting boundaries and establishing rules during this uncertain time in a straightforward, relatable manner.

Whether you're personally navigating the complexities of divorce or supporting a friend through it, this episode provides valuable insights to help you thrive in the midst of change.

Divorce with Less Tears Day 1 (Do I Go, or Do I Stay?)

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Welcome to "Divorce with Less Tears," a virtual event hosted by the Midlife Butterfly Club. Join us for a unique online experience where we navigate the challenges of divorce with sensitivity and support. In our debut episode, Shaunna Lee from Start Again takes the lead, addressing the crucial first step in the divorce journey – the decision-making phase.

Tune in to Shaunna's talk, "Do I Go, or Do I Stay?" as she unravels the complexities of this pivotal moment. With a blend of expertise and empathy, Shaunna provides practical advice and thoughtful insights to help you navigate through the emotional terrain of deciding the way forward.

Whether you're contemplating your own journey or supporting someone close, this episode offers a gentle exploration of the decision-making process in divorce.

Journey from Darkness to Light

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Anya Berry tells about her journey to Emotional Freedom
You will have listened to Anya talking about the work she does helping midlife women release the trapped emotions that hold them paralysed in later life.

In this audio podcast, Anya talks about her own journey to emotional freedom from the events of her early life.

She kindly let me interview her about her story and you can listen to that interview here.

What is Meant by Emotional Freedom? Interview with Anya Berry

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Helping to free women who suffer from these conditions is what Anya Berry does. Anya has various ways she can help women to find and recognise these conditions.

She kindly let me interview about her work and you can listen to that interview here. It is only 15 minutes long and you listen to it on your phone while doing other things.

What will make 2024 different or better for you than 2023?

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Hello, Jean wishes you a Happy New Year and asks you the question.
What will make 2024 different or better for you than 2023?
Watch the video or listen to the audio track and hear what the answer is for you is.

Happy New Year

Love Andrea - MBC Team

Take Back Control of Your Confidence and Image

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000

In this podcast about Confidence and Image Jean Macdonald and Annie Den Hann discuss the transition from being a young woman into what we now call a midlife woman and the impact it has on your confidence and self-image.

They talk about the challenges and setbacks experienced during this phase, where earlier ambitions might feel distant and unattainable. The route to recovering your confidence is to find a garment which excites you. Annie calls this your ‘Super-Hero Cape’.

From there on you can re-build your wardrobe to start reflecting the person you want to be in the second half of your life. If you don’t yet know what that is, let your wildest and most daring choice of clothes guide you there.

How to Manage Family and Friends for a Peaceful Life

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000

In this Friends and Family episode, I did a short presentation and interviewed Melanie Hill who specialises in this area. We discuss how family and friends can sometimes become barriers that hold midlife women back.

Relationships which were close and loving in childhood can turn sour and bitter in later life. We may keep up appearances but underneath there is an uncomfortable tension.

The same applies to friendships made in childhood. The friend expects you to stay like them in adulthood and fears your desire to change and get ahead. These can then turn into ‘toxic friendships’ and do no good to either side.

These are both made worse by the misuse of the word ‘love’ to create emotional blackmail.

Love

Jean
The Midlife Midwife

Joys and Hazards of Midlife Love

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Recently we ran a series of online seminars called ‘Six Steps for Midlife Women to Take Back Control of Your Life’. They are concerned with the six principal areas that hold midlife women back from fulfilling their true
potential. These are:

In this one about Love and Intimacy, Jean and Shaunna each present and discuss our views on intimate loving in middle life. That includes finding it, keeping it and letting it go.

In this episode, they tackle the biggest hurdle faced by midlife women and women concerning love and intimacy understanding what love means.

Jean talks about the different kinds of intimate love we experience throughout life. She uses various descriptions including the Seasons of Love and the Changing Face of Love.

Shauna talks more about how to reconstruct yourself and your life after separation or divorce. She also offers some guidance on finding your way through the jungle of internet dating.

We are all victims to some extent of social programming about what we should expect of love. It starts with childhood Fairy Tales and carries on through romantic love stories to Rom-Coms in adult life.

Six Steps to Take Back Control of Your Life - Money & Wealth

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the 'Six Steps to Take Back Control of Your Life' podcast by Midlife Butterfly Club, hosted by Vix Munro. In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of 'Money and Wealth' for midlife women. The first question we ask is, 'What barriers do midlife women face when it comes to money?'

The quick answer to that question lies in the fact that unless midlife women were fortunate enough to have parents who were financially savvy, or encountered a rare mentor along the way (unlikely to be a schoolteacher), it's improbable that they had solid financial principles instilled in them early in life. Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities for midlife women in the realm of money and wealth, and discover strategies for taking control of your financial future.

Six Steps to Control Your Life - Health & Wellness

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0100

We have launched our 'Six Steps To Take Back Control of Your Life' program, and our first episode is 'Health and Wellness for Midlife Women' with our guest expert Johann Callaghan.

In today's world, our healthcare systems are primarily designed to get us back to work when we're ill – a crucial part of keeping the economic wheels turning. However, when it comes to dealing with chronic, long-term health issues, the story is different. The state health systems aim to have us back in the workforce, but feeling truly well is a more complex challenge, particularly when going through life stages like perimenopause. True wellness is about more than just being 'not ill'; it's a continuous journey of self-care and improvement. With the right approach to self-care, we can aspire to not only live long but to thrive well into our 90s or even beyond 100, a prospect that our mothers and grandmothers couldn't have imagined.

The Future is Feminine BUT Good Men Can Play Too!

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0100

Join us for the fourth episode of our series, where we look at the future world of midlife women. Today's discussion is titled "The Future is Feminine, but Good Men Can Play Too," is audio track of the final BBC video recorded a little while ago. .

Despite the changes that have taken place since then this podcast contains many thoughts and principles which are still well worth considering.

Jean talks about the qualities that make women different from men and how by working together they represent a better hope for improving our society and planet for the better.

While the title, "The Future is Feminine," may seem exclusive, Jean wants to make it clear that men are welcome to be a part of this movement, provided they're
willing to cooperate in a way that is respectful to women.

A few other things have changed including the naming. Jean refers to the programme she is evolving as Discover the Midlife Woman Within. This has now become the Midlife Butterfly Club and the Facebook Group has been changed to Midlife Butterfly Club.

We are now at the end of our BBC series of talks by Jean and hope you will want to join and support us. You can find out how below.

What Money Type Are You?

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0100

Welcome to our new episode "What Money Type Are You?" with Olivia Stefanino.

Our guest for this episode shares her journey in creating the "money types" emerged during a collaborative endeavour with her husband, a financial advisor. What started as an engaging twist on pension planning evolved into a understanding of the diverse roles money plays in our lives. Listen to learn how these unique money archetypes might apply to you.

The prospects for women of finding Love in Middle Life

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the next episode of Midlife Women Conversations with Jean Macdonald.

In this episode, Jean talks realistically about the difficulties women have with finding a satisfactory love relationship in middle and later life.

Jean emphasises women's need to be careful and discriminating and make enlightened choices in relationships.

Jean describes the challenges that midlife men face, including mortality, health concerns, and financial instability. They can still be charming and persuasive but bring a lot of demands and responsibilities which will then fall on your shoulders.

By comparison, midlife women are blossoming based on their life experiences and refined networking skills. As women increasingly attain financial independence, traditional expectations are changing.

Five Steps for women over 40 to get better results when Internet Dating

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:00:00 +0100

Have you tried Internet Dating and been disappointed? Did time-wasters mess you about? Did you feel rejected or ignored?

Internet Dating has a bad reputation with many midlife women but has worked for some.

Learn how to make it work for you. This is a recorded Audio Track from an online event run by the Midlife Butterfly Club.

Look out for our next Online Event on a controversial topic to help and support Midlife Women.

6 Areas That Holds Midlife Women Back

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:00:00 +0100

Welcome to "6 Areas That Hold Midlife Women Back" podcast, where we dive deep into the challenges and barriers that can hinder the growth and fulfilment of midlife women. Join us as we explore the crucial areas that often hold women back during this transformative phase of life.

We'll navigate through six key areas that commonly impact midlife women, unravelling the complexities and providing insights to help overcome these obstacles. From self-doubt and limiting beliefs to career transitions, relationship dynamics, health and wellness, personal growth, and more, we'll address the topics that resonate with the experiences of midlife women.

#MidlifeEmpowerment #BreakingBarriers #UnleashingPotential

What is Woman's Midlife Transition?

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 16:00:00 +0100

Join us as Jean unravels the significance and relevance of the midlife transition, delving into the depths of this transformative era. Drawing from her expertise and experiences, she takes us on a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges, opportunities, and discoveries that await women during this pivotal phase of life.

In this captivating conversation, Jean not only shares her wisdom but also highlights her groundbreaking book, "Love Sex and the Midlife Woman." From relationships and intimacy to self-discovery and personal growth, Jean's book serves as a guiding light for women navigating the complexities and joys of midlife. Her expert insights and heartfelt anecdotes provide invaluable guidance and inspire a renewed sense of empowerment for women everywhere.

Prepare to gain a deeper understanding of the midlife transition and its impact on personal fulfillment, relationships, and overall well-being. Jean's engaging storytelling and profound observations shed light on the transformative journey that awaits midlife women, encouraging them to embrace their authenticity, passions, and desires.

Jean Reveals All with Sally Stanley-Jones

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:00:00 +0100

Jean Reveals All with Sally - with transcript
There is some background noise and the acoustic is not very good, so we have created a transcript so you can go back and check any part that you can't hear properly.

"Sally: Um, so I want to talk about gender and your journey within gender? Yes. Um, were you always Jean?

Jean: Oh, no, no, no. Jean only came along when I was in my early forties.

Sally: Oh. Right Now, I don't want to guess about the midlife woman. Uh, but when Jean came along, were you ready for Jean? And so who were you before you were Jean?"

An intimate and inspiring conversation between Jean, a courageous woman, and her supportive friend Sally. In this heartfelt discussion, Jean opens up about her journey of self-discovery and her challenges after coming out. Jean embarked on a new path as a midlife midwife. She discovered a calling to support women going through midlife crises, providing them with guidance, empathy, and empowerment during this transformative phase of life.

Here is the transcript.
Jean Reveals All with Sally

Why do Midlife Women have a Love Deficit?

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:00:00 +0100

In this captivating interview, Desmond O'Connor sits down with Jean Macdonald, an esteemed expert in the realm of midlife women and their unique experiences. Together, they delve into the profound topic of understanding what it truly means to be a midlife woman and the challenges they face, particularly in the realm of love.

Jean's expertise extends beyond mere understanding, as she actively assists midlife women in their transition through tailored strategies and support. She reveals her approaches to empowering and guiding women during this transformative period, equipping them with the necessary tools to embrace their personal growth, embrace their desires, and create meaningful connections.

Join Desmond O'Connor and Jean Macdonald in this enlightening interview, redefine the concept of love at this stage, and uncover the empowering ways Jean lends her expertise to women embarking on their midlife journey.

Breathe for Life - Jackie Brennan 20.14

Mon, 01 May 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Too many suffer from respiratory and other ailments resulting from poor breathing. Are you one of them? Not only does this cause discomfort now but can shorten your life.
On the positive side better breathing techniques can help with Panic Attacks, Stress, and Anxiety.

Jackie Brennan is doing a series of podcasts to help us improve our breathing and our health.

In this first one Jackie gives us the background to better breathing techniques and teaches us how to deal with persistent blocked nostrils.

The Butterfly's Story - Norma Sherwin

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Do you know what a caterpillar has to go through to become a beautiful butterfly?

Norma tells us the the Butterfly's Story and compares to the journey we make to become a beautiful midlife woman.

Norma Sherwin -is The Care Home Manager's Champion, She gives care to those who care for others.

If you want to read more articles, watch more videos or listen to more podcasts about topics that affect and afflict midlife women, visit the Midlife Butterfly Club Magazine at no cost. Just go to https://midlifebutterflyclub.org/magazine

Is the rise of the Midlife Woman an idea whose time has come?

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0100

Nothing Exceeds the power of an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
Is the new Midlife Woman an idea that is sweeping the world because her time has come?
In 15 years this term has come from nowhere to become part of popular culture.
Are midlife women a formidable force able to change our society for the better?

Are you an Optimist or a Pessimist?

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:00:00 +0100

Maybe you would say, like many people, it depends on the circumstances. Maybe you consider yourself a waverer between Pessimism and Optimism?

Recently I heard the quote ‘Pessimism is for Lightweights’. I didn’t know what it meant so I thought about it until I think I understand it.

Jean is founder and and current manager of the Midlife Butterfly Club and online Magazine to support and inspire midlife women to find and reinvent themselves.

The story of the Wife of Bath for International Women's Day

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Inspiration for International Women's Day from a story from the Middle Ages.
The Canterbury Tales were published by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1400. The tale of the Wife of Bath shows the wisdom of women both now and in the Middle Ages.