Ageing Without Apology - Jo Blackwell

Send us Fan MailAgeing isn't the problem. The stories we've been told about ageing are.In this episode of The Midlife Rebel Podcast, I'm joined by Jo Blackwell, host of the Midlife & Beyond podcast and a passionate advocate for positive ageing. I loved this conversation with Jo because we explore something that affects every one of us, yet so rarely gets spoken about honestly: what it really means to grow older in a culture that's obsessed with youth.From retirement home brochures arriving on your 50th birthday to comments reminding women they're no longer considered "relevant", we unpack the subtle (and not so subtle) ways ageism shows up in everyday life. Jo shares how listening to thousands of women's stories revealed just how deeply many of us have internalised these messages, often without even realising it.We also talk about the real-world impact of ageism, from medical gaslighting and being dismissed by healthcare professionals, to the importance of advocating for yourself and staying informed about your own health. As someone with a background in the fitness industry, I especially loved our conversation around strength training, movement, muscle, bone health, and why ageing well isn't about trying to look younger, but about maintaining the freedom and independence to keep living life on your own terms.And, of course, we couldn't talk about midlife without talking about identity. When children leave home, careers change, hormones fluctuate, and long-held roles begin to fall away, many women find themselves asking, Who am I now? Jo offers a refreshing perspective, suggesting that midlife isn't about reinventing yourself so much as reclaiming the parts of yourself that have been waiting patiently beneath the expectations of everyone else.If you've ever worried about getting older, questioned your place in the world, or felt like society has already decided your best years are behind you, I think you'll really enjoy this conversation.Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest.All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do.https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directoryIf you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee!https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast