Poorna Bell: Why turning 40 changed everything

What this episode covers

What if the life you thought you wanted was never really yours to begin with?This week on Well Enough, journalist, author and broadcaster Poorna Bell joins Emilie Lavinia for a conversation about mid-life, relationships, ageing and the pressure women face to follow a script - fall in love, get married, have children and stay desirable.Poorna opens up about why turning 40 felt unexpectedly powerful, the anti-ageing narratives designed to keep women feeling small, how losing her husband reshaped her understanding of love, and why she ultimately chose not to have children. Together, they discuss midlife reinvention, modern dating, emotional resilience and what it really means to “want more” from life.Poorna’s latest book She Wanted More is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Well Enough?

This episode is 47 minutes long.

When was this Well Enough episode published?

This episode was published on June 24, 2026.

What is this episode about?

What if the life you thought you wanted was never really yours to begin with?This week on Well Enough, journalist, author and broadcaster Poorna Bell joins Emilie Lavinia for a conversation about mid-life, relationships, ageing and the pressure...

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