Midlife Unfiltered with Margit Cruice

What do you do when the life you've spent decades building quietly stops feeling like yours? This conversation might be exactly what you didn't know you needed to hear. Tony Crossin has lived an extraordinary life; executive chef, world traveller, business owner, and now leadership and growth coach. But behind the impressive career arc is a far more personal story: a man who reached a point where everything on the outside looked fine, and everything on the inside was quietly falling apart. This episode is about what happened next.Margit and Tony explore the messy, courageous, deeply human experience of reinvention. The kind that asks you to look honestly at what you're holding onto, what no longer fits, and what it actually takes to choose yourself.There's warmth here, and humour, and a jar of pickles that will stay with you long after the episode ends. But underneath it all is something quietly profound, a conversation about identity, inner peace, loyalty to self, and what it means to finally stop chasing and start arriving.In this episode, we explore:Why reinvention starts on the inside and why the outside stuff never sticks without itThe quiet tension between staying loyal and telling yourself the truthWhat it actually takes to let go of an identity that no longer fitsThe difference between chasing a life and finally arriving in oneWhat inner peace looks like when you stop letting the noise in9:06 – Why reinvention has to start from within12:19 – The jar of pickles: a coaching moment that will stay with you16:08 – The relationship that was slowly pulling him under and the decision he kept putting off19:25 – Loyalty versus truth: the question that finally broke the deadlock27:31 – Learning to hear the alarm bell and why intuition isn't just a women's conversation37:57 – When inner peace became his most important value and what that actually changed  Tony Crossin is a leadership and growth coach who helps people turn life’s toughest moments into powerful reinvention. Drawing from real experience, he supports individuals and leaders to think differently, face hard truths, and create meaningful change, because lasting performance begins with understanding yourself first and leading from a place of honesty. He is an active community member who connects people and creates opportunities for himself and others to thrive. A chef, drummer and leadership scientist. Connect with Tony: [email protected] FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/tonycrossinWebsite: www.uberteams.com.au

When did life get so heavy? If you can't remember the last time you did something just for the fun of it, this one's for you.In this episode, Margit and Clarkie get into something that doesn't get nearly enough airtime in the wellbeing conversation — playfulness. Not the kind that requires a holiday or a special occasion, but the everyday kind that shifts how you show up in your own life.They explore what it actually means to bring a playful attitude to ordinary moments — at work, at home, even in the hard seasons — and why it's often the first thing we abandon when life gets serious. With 4.1 million Australians treated for stress, anxiety, and depression in 2025 alone, the question of how we lighten our inner load feels more pressing than ever.This conversation is grounded, warm, and genuinely fun. It touches on everything from competitive sport to corporate culture to Ash Barty's unexpected trick for making press interviews bearable. It's the kind of conversation that makes you want to go outside and bounce a ball — or at the very least, skip to the kitchen.In This Episode, We Explore:Why playfulness is about how you do things, not just what you doWhat happens to our energy — and our performance — when we stop taking everything so seriouslyThe unexpected link between play, creativity, and genuine wellbeingHow one elite athlete reimagined her most dreaded professional ritual through the lens of playWhy humour in the workplace can be a generous act — and when it isn'tThe small, everyday invitations to be more playful that are hiding in plain sight1:46 – Now is the time to find more playfulness3:29 – Competitive sport, lawn bowls, and learning to dial it down5:26 –  Using playfulness as a way of being7:54 – Ash Barty, Disney lines, and making the unbearable bearable8:30 – Play at home, play at work — and why it keeps dropping off11:28 – Pets are the ultimate reminder to playMargit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

There's a word for what happens to a woman when she becomes a mother. Most of us have never heard it. And in midlife, when the shifting starts all over again, that silence still costs us.In this episode, Margit sits down with Linda Anderson, a coach of over 20 years whose work centres on identity, transition, and the experience of becoming, in motherhood, and beyond. Linda lives on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, a place she chose with intention and with her whole body, and that same quality of attentiveness runs through everything she shares.The conversation centres on matrescence, a word coined 50 years ago that still isn't in the dictionary, and still isn't part of the conversation we have with women before, during, or after they become mothers. Linda unpacks why that matters, and what becomes possible when women finally have language for what they're actually experiencing.But this episode quickly moves beyond early motherhood. The identity shifts that matrescence describes don't stop at the baby stage; they keep unfolding through every season of a woman's life, including right here in midlife. Linda is also living what she teaches: finding her way back to herself not through a grand plan, but one small, honest step at a time.In this episode we explore:The word most women have never heard and why it changes everythingWhy the gap between who you were and who you're becoming feels so disorienting and so necessaryHow matrescence doesn't end with babies it keeps unfolding into midlife and beyondThe quiet cost of clinging to who you were supposed to beWhat surrender actually looks like when life doesn't go to planSmall, powerful practices for finding your way back to yourself04:30 – How Linda made a deeply intentional move to Waiheke Island15:44 – What matrescence is and why the silence around it matters26:56 – The identity shift nobody warns you about29:43 – When the picture of life asks more than expected and how to navigate that40:35 – Living in flow: what allowing looks like in practice51:04 – Two small practices for returning to yourselfLinda Anderson is a coach of over 20 years specialising in the transition into motherhood, with a particular focus on matrescence — the profound identity shift that unfolds when a woman becomes a mother. Based on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, she works with women one-on-one and in groups, creating honest, held spaces for them to make sense of who they are becoming. She brings both deep professional expertise and lived experience to this work, and has spent the last 15 years championing a conversation that is long overdue.Linkswww.lindaonthego.comwww.instagram.com/lindaonthego1www.facebook.com/lindaonthegoMore about matrescence: https://lindaonthego.com/a-beginners-guide-to-matrescence

Awe walks are one of the most underrated positive psychology practices available to us — and chances are you've never heard of them. If you've been feeling stuck in your head, disconnected or just a little flat lately, this episode of Midlife Unfiltered is exactly what you need. In this Hacks, Habits and Happiness episode, Margit and Brett explore one of the most quietly powerful conversations the show has had — and it starts with a morning walk, a lemon-scented eucalyptus tree and a deliberate decision to leave the headphones at home. Margit introduces the awe walk, a positive psychology practice that most of us have never heard named — even though many of us have accidentally stumbled into it without knowing what to call it. There is something that shifts when you give this practice a name and choose it deliberately. The conversation moves through presence, mental load, self-compassion and what it actually feels like to notice the world around you again. It is honest, warm and surprisingly moving for an episode that also features a galah doing…well quite frankly – pooping!This episode is for anyone who has been a little too stuck in their own thoughts lately.In this episode we explore:What an awe walk is and why positive psychology backs itHow one deliberate morning walk can reset your entire mental stateWhy intention is the difference between a walk and a practiceThe surprising ways presence changes how you connect with the world around youHow to experience an awe walk anywhere, no special destination required01:09 – What Margit noticed on her awe walk02:17 – Does an awe walk have to be intentional to count?06:51 – How to do an awe walk anywhere, including the middle of a city07:26 – Sensing the bigness of life09:24 – Brett's photography parallel and why it lands perfectlyMargit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

Most of us spend years trying to figure out why our relationships keep feeling the same — same frustrations, same patterns, same quiet dissatisfaction. What if the answer isn't out there, but in the mirror? Alfina Lofaro has spent more than two decades in the deeply human space of how we relate to others, and perhaps more importantly, to ourselves. As a kinesiologist, transformational coach and debut author, she brings a rare combination of body-based wisdom and hard-won personal insight to a conversation that so many women in midlife are quietly having with themselves. This episode covers a lot of ground, but the thread running through all of it is this: we are rarely taught how to do relationships well. We pick it up from our environment, from experiments that sometimes backfire, and from crisis and then we wonder why we keep arriving at the same place. Alfina's work, and her book Love Deliberately, is her answer to that gap. What makes this conversation feel different is that Alfina isn't speaking from a polished distance. She shares from inside the work, family dynamics, the red carpet moment that nearly undid her, and the five days in New Zealand that taught her something she didn't know she needed to learn. It's honest, warm and quietly profound. If you're ready to improve your relationships, this episode is a must.In this episode we explore:Giving and receiving in relationshipsThe unconscious patterns we carry from childhood and how they shape our relationshipsWhy wanting everyone else to change is usually where the real work beginsWhat the body knows about your next goalThe quiet renegotiation so many women in midlife are navigatingHow small moments in conversation can reveal who we've becomeWhat does love actually mean to you?How curiosity can improve all relationships09:03 – "Maybe it's not everyone else who needs to change" - where the real work begins10:23 – What it actually looks like to explore who you are in relationship13:46 – When the body knows your goal before you do19:23 – The universe doesn't give you what you want, it reflects back who you are and why this changes everything27:47 – Coming in looking for better relationships, leaving knowing yourself better35:38 – What one client's definition of love revealed and the shift that followed38:25 – Why Alfina wrote a book that isn't just about romantic relationships45:13 – The one practice from the book you can start today52:29 – A red carpet, a bad photo and a pep talk she had to give herselfAlfina Lofaro is a Queensland-based kinesiologist, transformational coach and author whose work sits at the intersection of body intelligence and relational wisdom. With over 25 years of experience, she helps people untangle the unconscious patterns that shape the way they love, communicate and connect. Her debut book, Love Deliberately: How to Be Less Sh*t at Relationships, recently received an award at the International Impact Book Awards in the United States. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alfinalofaro Website: https://www.alfinalofaro.com/ Buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Love-Deliberately-How-Less-Relationships-ebook/dp/B0FJ4Q5WQS

What if the weight you're carrying isn't about what's on your plate — but the words you're using to describe it? This one's a quiet game-changer.In this Hacks, Habits and Happiness episode, Margit and Brett explore a deceptively simple idea drawn from Ben Crowe's book Where the Light Gets In — one that sits right at the intersection of language, mindset and everyday life.It starts with noticing. The words we use, almost without thinking, shape how we feel about what we're doing — whether that's heading to work, showing up on a sports field, or getting through the tasks we'd rather avoid. There's something quietly profound about catching yourself mid-sentence.This conversation weaves through sport, gratitude, pressure and performance — but at its heart, it's about something most of us in midlife know well: the difference between going through the motions and actually being present for your own life.Nothing here is complicated. That's rather the point. In this episode we explore:The connection between the words we choose and the pressure we put on ourselvesHow gratitude sneaks in through the most unexpected reframeWhat sport reveals about expectation, performance and joyThe difference between having a goal and being crushed by oneWhat it feels like, energetically, to move from resistance to permission  01:41 – The language we use without realising — and what it's actually telling us03:42 – From the bowls green to the cricket pitch: testing the shift in real life04:39 – Using language to move through your resistance07:05 – Removing expectations and controlling what you can10:33 – Goals, pressure and rediscovering the joy Margit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

There are moments that stop you mid-breath. A non-verbal child speaks for the first time. A teenager comes home from his first competition and says something you'll never forget. This episode is full of those moments. This conversation is not what you might expect from an episode about horses and disability. Yes, it's about the Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria — but really, it's about what happens when people are finally told yes, you can, often for the first time in their lives. Tanya Twaits came to this work as a parent. Her son needed support she could no longer safely provide on her own and what began as a practical solution quietly became something much larger. Stepping into the presidency of an organisation with over 1,200 volunteers and 225 horses across Victoria, Tanya has consistently shown up, leaned in, and done the quiet work that most people never see. What strikes you in this conversation is how gently powerful it is. There's no grand reinvention story here, no dramatic pivot. Just a woman who showed up and kept showing up with absolute passion. And in doing so, quietly showed the rest of us what's possible — for parents, participants, volunteers, and for anyone who wonders whether they have something to offer. This one will stay with you.In this episode we explore:How therapeutic horse riding supports people with disabilitiesThe quiet confidence that builds when someone is told yes, you can for the first timeWhat it takes to volunteer with Riding for the Disabled and why you don't need horse experienceWhy the human-horse connection is unlike anything elseHow one mum stepped outside her comfort zone and into advocacy and leadershipWhat riding for the disabled programs offer belonging, joy and communityThe milestone moments that volunteers, participants and families carry with them long after they leave the arenaWhy inclusive sport and disability programs matter more than ever in today's community landscapeTanya Twaits is the President of the Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria (RDAV), a volunteer-led organisation supporting people with disabilities through therapeutic horse programs across the state. With more than 15 years of experience in senior commercial and go-to-market roles across multiple industries, she brings both strategic depth and genuine heart to her leadership of RDAV's network of 33 centres, 225 horses and over 1,200 volunteers. Her connection to this work is personal, long-standing and, as you'll hear, completely unshakeable. 05:37 — An early encounter with Riding for the Disabled09:09 — The innate and surprising connection with horses11:18 — No one is left out: the different ways people ride, drive, lead and belong22:36 — On joy, inclusion and what other sporting organisations are only beginning to understand24:05 — How you find and keep the right horses for a program like this33:40 — Who volunteers here and why you don't need to know anything about horses to help35:45 — What leading 1,200 volunteers has taught Tanya about passion, people and showing up51:11 — How to get involved: volunteering, becoming a participant, and the waiting list campaign55:39 — What Riding for the Disabled has taught Tanya about human potential Riding for the Disabled Victoria: https://www.rdav.asn.au/Riding for the Disabled Australia: https://www.rda.org.au/

What if something as simple as the muscles in your face could shift the way you experience the world?In this short Hacks, Habits and Happiness episode, Margit shares a surprisingly powerful mindset tool that starts with a pen… and a smile. In this episode we change it up…we share a hack that offers something simple, practical and a little unexpected. In this shorter episode, Margit and Clarkie explore a quirky but fascinating idea from neuroscience: the connection between facial muscles, brain chemistry and emotional state. It’s a conversation that sits somewhere between science, curiosity and the everyday habits that shape how we experience life. Margit shares a small personal practice she’s used for years — one that gently nudges the brain toward a more positive outlook. Along the way, they reflect on how our bodies influence our emotions, why the world sometimes feels heavier than it needs to, and how the smallest shifts can change the way we move through the day. Because sometimes midlife wisdom isn’t about doing more.Sometimes it’s about remembering the small things that quietly change everything. In this episode we explore:Why the muscles in your face send powerful signals to your brainThe surprising science behind forced smiling and moodA simple happiness hack that can shift your emotional stateThe connection between brain chemistry and everyday habitsWhy small practices can reshape your mindset over timeWhat neuroscience reveals about positivity and perception 02:00 – The neuroscience behind forced smiling03:10 – The surprising “pen in the mouth” experiment04:20 – How facial muscles influence emotional state05:15 – What Botox research revealed about depression and frowning06:20 – Training your brain to see the world differently07:10 – Small daily practices that shift perspective Margit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

Midlife has a way of asking questions you can't ignore anymore. Who am I underneath all of this? Why do I keep reacting the same way? Is this actually my life — or just the one I fell into? This conversation won't answer them for you. But it might help you start looking. What does self-awareness actually mean — and how does it change your life in midlife? In this episode of Midlife Unfiltered, Margit Cruice is joined by Paul Francis — systems engineer, mental health advocate, and creator of A Ship of Thoughts — for a deeply honest conversation about the inner work that changes everything. From personal crisis to mindfulness practice, Paul shares the moment he saw himself clearly for the first time — and what unfolded from there. Together, Margit and Paul explore self-awareness as a daily practice, the traps of overthinking and hyper self-awareness, and what it really means to become the captain of your own mind. If you're a woman in midlife wondering whether you're living your life or just reacting to it — this one's for you.In this episode we explore:What self-awareness actually is — and why it's a lifelong practiceWhy midlife is often the moment self-awareness finally breaks throughThe personal crisis that cracked Paul open — and started his journey toward mindfulness and self-observationHow our internal thought patterns shape the way we move through the worldThe loneliness that can come with waking up — and how to find your peopleWhy hyper self-awareness has its own traps, and how to avoid themHow self-awareness changes relationships, grief, redundancy, and illnessThe connection between personal growth, belief systems, and how we treat each otherSmall, grounded practices to start observing yourself — starting today03:32 — Defining self-awareness: the version that actually makes sense04:14 — The super yacht in your head — and why nobody taught you to navigate it08:21 — Paul's story: the moment that cracked him open and changed everything12:01 — Books, meditation, and the beginning of a mindfulness practice15:52 — The observer within: who is the one doing the noticing?23:01 — The cost of waking up: loneliness and losing your tolerance for noise31:21 — When life hits hard: using self-awareness to navigate midlife challenges36:04 — The big picture — self-awareness, connection, and our shared humanity47:40 — Where to start your self-awareness journey today  Paul Francis is a former British diplomatic service systems engineer who spent over two decades working across cultures and continents with secure global communications. His journey from external systems to internal ones led him to create A Ship of Thoughts — a self-awareness framework grounded in science, lived experience, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from genuinely hard chapters. He works in the mental health space and facilitates Walk of Wisdom, a community walking group on the Sunshine Coast built around shared reflection, mindfulness, and human connection. A Ship of Thoughts – “A Journey into Self Awareness”www.ashipofthoughts.com YouTube: @ashipofthoughts - https://www.youtube.com/@ashipofthoughts

What if the most powerful thing you could do today isn't find the answer — it's ask a better question and then not answer it? In this Thinking Out Loud episode, Margit sits down with her partner Clarkie to unpack something she's quietly been using for 15 years: quantum questions. Not quantum physics (no science degree required), but a surprisingly simple tool for shifting your thinking, bypassing your inner critic, and opening the door to possibilities you didn't know you were blocking. At its heart, a quantum question is one your conscious mind can't immediately answer — and that's exactly the point. Rather than locking down a response and moving on, these questions stay open and set your brain's natural filtering system to work on your behalf, scanning the world for answers you hadn't considered. This is a conversation about what happens when you stop trying to control every outcome and start getting curious instead. It's warm, practical, and a little bit magical — exactly the kind of midlife reframe that doesn't require a retreat or a complete life overhaul. In this episode we explore:Why the brain loves an unanswered question — and what it quietly does with oneThe difference between a question that directs you and one that opens youHow the brain's reticular activating system (RAS) works like a personal detective on your behalfWhy "how" questions can keep you stuck in control modeWhat to ask yourself when you're in a bad mood and nothing seems possibleHow quantum questions can soften anger, expand joy, and create small butWhy starting your morning with one open question can quietly change what you notice01:17 – What is a quantum question?03:42 – Meet the RAS: your brain's built-in possibility filter07:11 – Subconscious activation vs inner critic08:48 – Shifting your emotional state with better questions11:28 – The energy of your questions13:41 – Why asking “how” questions is a form of control and not possiblity Margit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel 

Paralympic silver medallist Lynda Holt shares her journey from athletics to para ice hockey at 53. Learn about midlife reinvention, overcoming disability barriers, resilience after setbacks, and why saying yes before you're ready might be the bravest thing you can do.In this episode of Midlife Unfiltered, Lynda discusses her path to the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, working two jobs for free to prove herself, spending four months in hospital during COVID, and her goal to compete in the 2030 Winter Paralympics.Perfect for women in midlife seeking inspiration, disability advocates, and anyone interested in Paralympic sports, adaptive athletics, and stories of perseverance.In this episode we explore:What it means to be seen as an athlete, not just a disabled person "having a go"The art of reframing and how it's different from pretending everything's fineWhy comparison steals your race (and how to run your own)The barriers that still exist and which ones are worth fightingWhat happens when you lie in a hospital bed for four months and decide you're one day closer to getting outThe difference between giving up and reassessing—and why both take courageWhat it takes to say yes before you know how it will work out06:09 – Being seen as athletes 12:29 – Moving out of home at 14 (and why her mum said yes)17:08 – Picking your battles20:02 – The airline that listened and why advocacy isn't always loud24:57 – Burnout, reinvention, and the itch to compete again27:06 – Falling in love with para ice hockey46:33 – Four months in hospital during COVID, lying flat, working sideways50:20 – The power of reframingLynda Holt is an Australian Paralympian, para ice hockey pioneer, entrepreneur, and advocate who's spent her life refusing to accept other people's limitations. A silver medallist from the Sydney 2000 Paralympics in shot put, she's now chasing a Winter Paralympic dream in her 50s while growing Australia's presence in women's para ice hockey. Lynda's work spans disability advocacy, travel accessibility, and proving that reinvention is not age bound.Websiteswww.lyndaholt.com.auwww.wheelieessential.com.au Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/lyndaholt_paralympian/ Management TeamsInner Sanctum Sports Managementhttps://www.innersanctumsportsmgt.com.au/ ZBD (Modelling)https://www.zbdtalent.com/aus/https://www.zbdtalent.com/aus/mainboard/women/4323-lynda-h/#Paralympics #Disability #MidlifeReinvention #WomenInMidlife #AdaptiveSports #Resilience #ParaIceHockey #DisabilityAdvocate #InspiringWomen #AustralianPodcast

Have you ever felt impatient to arrive — only to realise life is happening while you’re waiting?This is a gentle pause in the middle of midlife’s big question In this Thinking Out Loud conversation, Margit is joined by her partner, Clarkie, for a spacious reflection on one of those ideas that sounds simple but deepens with age: journey versus destination.Together, they wander through midlife experiences of career, purpose, responsibility and reinvention — noticing how easy it is to fixate on goals, timelines and comparisons, and how quietly we can miss the life unfolding right in front of us.Rather than offering answers, this episode lingers in the in-between. It honours detours, potholes, false starts and unexpected turns — and invites a kinder, more curious relationship with where you are now, and where you might be heading next.In this episode we explore:The quiet pressure to “arrive” in midlifeHow comparison can steal joy without us noticingCareers built through detours, not straight linesWhy fulfilment often changes shape over timeThe tension between security and soulWhat it really means to enjoy the journeyLetting go of rigid timelines and fixed plansStaying open to surprise, even later in life02:40 – Choosing a path in life05:03 – Happiness, fulfilment and the goals we choose08:10 – Journey, destination and what’s most important09:40 – Comparison and the impact of society on our goals12:54 – Travelling with an open mind and open heart13:40 – The travel metaphor for a life well lived16:10 – Midlife as a time to re-evaluate, not retreat17:50 – Choosing presence over arrivalMargit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Clarkie is Margit’s partner and a regular voice in the Thinking Out Loud episodes. He brings a grounded, practical lens shaped by life experience, work and reflection. Together, he and Margit explore ideas in real time, without rushing to conclusions. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

What happens when the life you planned falls apart — and you’re asked to meet yourself without the roles, the certainty, or the script? This is a conversation about fear, presence, and the quiet work of remembering who you are and your purpose. Some of the most important work shaping our future isn’t loud, urgent or reactive. It happens quietly — in the way young people are seen, listened to, and supported as they form their sense of self. Margit sits down with Emer to explore her story and how it’s led to a deep commitment to teen wellbeing and identity formation. Emer shares what she believes young people need most right now, why identity matters long before adulthood, and how the way we show up for teenagers today has ripple effects far beyond the family home. This is a conversation for parents, adults, educators — and anyone who cares about the emotional health of the next generation. It’s not about fixing teens, but about shaping the environments that allow them to become who they truly are. In this episode we explore:How identity quietly forms — and quietly erodesWhy fear often disguises itself as responsibilityThe power of presence in moments of upheavalAutonomy as a foundation for confidenceThe stories we unknowingly hand downFeedback, fear, and the cost of over-correctingWhy awareness changes everything — once you have itThe quiet, preventative work Emer believes can change outcomes for young people worldwide 02:30 – Motherhood, identity, and life unravelling04:09 – Learning presence from racing drivers07:10 – Values, courage, and asking for what you need11:30 – A child’s wisdom that stops everything14:56 – Our second greatest need (it’s not what you think!)18:06 – Coaching, questions and letting people think28:41 – Mental resistance and the comfort of staying stuck33:30 – What happens when you finally understand yourself41:40 – Trust, freedom and learning to navigate life Emer O’Donnell is the founder of Teen ReConnect and the creator of Q Pathfinder, a tool designed to help young people understand who they are and navigate life with confidence. With a background in psychology, over 20 years in global business, and a Master’s in Coaching and Behavioural Change from Henley Business School, her work blends science with lived experience. Emer is also a mother of three, bringing depth, realism and heart to every conversation about identity and growth. Emer’s Book: Understanding Teen Stress & Anxiety. A Parent's Guide To Building Love & Connection.A resource for parents and professionals with young people in their lives who want to upgrade their skills to better navigate these challenging years. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Stress-Anxiety-Step-Step/dp/1738422305Emer’s Free Difficult Conversation Guide: https://www.teenreconnect.com/difficultconversationguide Connect with Emer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emerodonnell/Website: https://www.teenreconnect.com/EmerODonnellEnquiries: [email protected]

What if the life you’re living isn’t wrong — just a little too familiar? Midlife has a way of quietly asking whether comfort is still serving you… or slowly shrinking you. In this Thinking Out Loud episode, Margit is joined by Brett for an honest, meandering and very real conversation about comfort zones — the obvious ones, and the ones we barely notice we’re living inside. They reflect on routine, habit and how easily life in midlife can become predictable, even when it looks perfectly fine from the outside. Not all comfort zones are bad, but some quietly drain our energy, dull our curiosity, or leave us wondering why something feels off. The conversation moves gently between everyday examples — relationships, health, friendships, routines — and the deeper questions midlife tends to surface. There’s no pressure to overhaul your life here, just an invitation to notice where small changes might open new doors. It’s a spacious, reflective conversation about awareness, choice, and remembering that midlife isn’t the ending — it’s a beginning we get to shape. In this episode we explore:When comfort quietly turns into stagnationThe difference between supportive routines and soul-numbing habitsWhy boredom can be a signal, not a problemHow midlife invites reflection rather than reinventionStepping outside comfort zones without blowing up your lifeLoneliness, friendship and outgrowing old patternsFear, familiarity and the stories we tell ourselves about changeSeeing midlife as possibility, not decline  01:10 – Routines, predictability and decision-making fatigue03:32 – The invisible roles we carry in midlife05:03 – Wanting something different means doing something different06:15 – The moment comfort starts to feel constricting07:13 – Health, effort and stepping outside what’s familiar09:46 – Why discomfort sometimes opens unexpected doors12:12 – Midlife isn’t the ending — it’s the beginning13:16 – Small, steady steps and what they make possible Margit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

What happens when your body delivers news you never wanted — and you decide not to let it define you?This conversation invites a different way of meeting challenge in midlife. In this episode of Midlife Unfiltered, Margit is joined by Sue Moore for a deeply honest conversation about body trust, identity and choosing how we respond when life shifts unexpectedly. Sue shares what unfolded after a health diagnosis threatened to narrow her world — and how it instead became an invitation to listen more closely, move differently and relate to her body with curiosity rather than fear. Rather than collapsing into limitation, she began asking new questions and exploring what ageing well might really look like. This is not a story about fixing or conquering the body. It’s about rebuilding confidence slowly, finding joy in movement, and discovering how community, mindset and small choices can quietly reshape what’s possible in midlife. In this episode we exploreWhen a diagnosis becomes a turning point rather than a full stopRelearning how to trust your body after fear sets inWhy movement doesn’t have to be extreme to be powerfulHow joy and playfulness can return through the bodyThe role of community in feeling safe enough to try againLetting go of labels 03:25 – Finding movement that feels safe, accessible and joyful06:37 – Confidence, anxiety and the power of showing up11:43 – When life delivers news you a diagnosis you didn’t plan for12.24 – The role of identity in healing26:19 – Making choices that align with what you want32:06 – Retraining the brain to run again39:48 – Visualising the outcome she wanted43:27 – Diagnosis does not equal prognosis50:22 – Becoming in tune with the body Sue Moore is a movement facilitator and teacher who supports women in midlife and beyond to rediscover confidence, calm and joy in their bodies. Drawing on lived experience and years of working with older women, she specialises in gentle movement, chair yoga and mindfulness-based practices. Sue is known for her grounded presence, inclusive approach and deep belief that it’s never too late to feel at home in your body. Connect with Sue at https://suemooreonline.com/Follow Sue: https://www.facebook.com/suemooreonlineYoga classes & inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/@suemooreonline Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ Enquiries: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

What if midlife isn’t about fixing yourself — but remembering who you already are?And what changes when you stop seeing your life as an accident and start seeing it as a miracle? In this first Thinking Out Loud episode of Midlife Unfiltered, host Margit Cruice is joined by her partner Brett Clarke for an unpolished, spacious conversation about what it means to see yourself — and your life — differently in midlife. Sparked by a poem and shaped by lived experience, the conversation gently explores the idea of being a miracle rather than a mistake, especially when life hasn’t unfolded the way you once imagined. Together, Margit and Brett reflect on ageing, self-worth, overthinking, stress, and the quiet pressure many women carry to have done “enough” by now. Woven throughout is a deeper invitation: to soften, to be kinder to yourself, and to recognise the wisdom it has taken simply to arrive here. Nothing is resolved. Nothing is packaged. Just an honest remembering — and space for your own.  In this episode we explore:Seeing yourself as a miracle instead of an accidentThe midlife tension between striving and self-acceptanceWhy being “good enough” can feel radical at this stage of lifeLetting go of who you thought you’d beStress, overthinking, and the cost of constant self-pressureLiving more gently without giving up on lifeThe quiet wisdom that comes from simply being here 01:00 – Dedication, ageing well, and what it means to enjoy life01:30 – A poem about midlife reflection and missed truth02:27 – Accident or miracle: how identity quietly forms05:39 – Being worthy without earning it06:39 – Overthinking, pressure, and remembering your nature08:59 – Stress, ageing, and the cost of “not enough”10:55 – Gentleness as a midlife practice13:40 – The second half of the poem — and a softer truth Margit Cruice is a midlife and leadership coach who believes this chapter of life can be one of the most expansive and liberating we’ll ever live. Drawing on decades of experience, sport, travel and deep personal inquiry, she creates spaces for honest conversations about identity, ageing and becoming. Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ For all enquiries:Email: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel 

What happens when the life you planned doesn’t unfold the way you expected — and something even richer takes its place?In this first-ever guest episode of Midlife Unfiltered, Margit is joined by her soul sister, occupational therapist and mentor Mary Beth Bezzina, for a deep and honest conversation about midlife awakening, surrender, and trusting life beyond effort and striving.Together, they explore the shift many women experience in midlife — moving from manifesting and control into surrender, ease and grace. Mary Beth shares her personal journey of letting go of expectations around career and purpose, and how saying yes to unexpected opportunities led her into deeply meaningful work in Rwanda and a renewed sense of service, connection and joy.This episode is about wisdom earned, not learned. About relationships over results. And about discovering that midlife is not a decline — it’s a powerful expansion into who you really are. In this episode, we explore:Why manifesting can feel exhausting in midlife — and what comes after itThe difference between striving and surrenderHow trust, ease and playfulness change the way life unfoldsLetting go of the career you thought you were meant to haveThe quiet power of relationships and soul sistersLessons from Rwanda about reciprocity, community and humanity  04:06 – From manifesting to surrender05:00 – Ease, grace and letting go of effort09:13 – Trusting life (when it hasn’t always felt safe)11:28 – Surrendering to a different path and finding fulfilment17:36 – The unseen impact we have on others23:00 – “I want to be an interesting person”: a midlife awakening26:04 – Rwanda, service and community34:55 – Reciprocity, dignity and everyone having something to offer40:20 – Soul sisters and evolving friendships in midlife51:05 – How EFT tapping helps me shift Mary Beth Bezzina is an occupational therapist, educator and mentor with decades of experience supporting people through periods of transition and change. She currently serves as Academic Lead in Clinical Education at Western University in Canada and has been involved in maternal and child health work in Rwanda. Mary Beth is known for her calm wisdom, relational leadership and her ability to create space for others to recognise their own gifts.Connect with Mary Beth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybethbezzina/ Connect with Margit:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margitcruice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margitcruiceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margitcruice/Website: https://www.margitcruice.com/ Enquiries: [email protected] Join The Joy Rebellion: https://ecc3-margit.systeme.io/joyrebel

Midlife Unfiltered is a podcast that challenges the outdated stories we’ve been told about ageing, identity and what midlife is supposed to look like.Hosted by leadership and midlife coach Margit Cruice, this podcast offers grounded wisdom, honest conversations and a touch of cheekiness for women — and those curious about midlife — who sense there is more available to them than shrinking or playing small.This is a space for questioning old narratives, reconnecting with inner fire and exploring midlife as a powerful, expansive and deeply human chapter of life.If you’re navigating change, asking bigger questions, or quietly feeling the pull toward something more, Midlife Unfiltered invites you to meet this season with curiosity, courage and truth.Welcome to Midlife Unfiltered.Learn more about Margit at www.margitcruice.com