Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or unsure of your next step… this episode is for you. Ahead of the new season of Real Women’s Stories… I wanted to share something a little more personal.After a few weeks away from uploading, this is a bonus episode I felt I needed to record.I was completely burnt out. Exhausted. Overwhelmed.And instead of stopping, I did something that didn’t make logical sense - I got on a plane and flew 5,000 miles to Dubai to meet three women I’d only ever spoken to online.I nearly didn’t make it through that first night. I questioned everything.But what happened next reminded me why I started this podcast in the first place.In this episode, I’m sharing:what burnout really felt like for mewhy I chose to trust my instinct, even when it felt riskythe power of being around the right people at the right timeand what this experience taught me about moving forward when you feel stuckThe Dubai interviews will be coming soon, but for now, I wanted to give you a glimpse into what this journey meant - and why these stories matter.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we’re younger, we tend to say yes to opportunities without overthinking them. We experiment, we take risks, and we trust that things will somehow work out.But somewhere along the way, many of us start playing it safe.In this coaching episode, I reflect on why that happens - and the moment I realised I might be doing it myself. Is it responsibility? Fear of getting it wrong? Or the stories we tell ourselves about what we should and shouldn’t do after a certain age?If you’ve ever found yourself hesitating over an opportunity, second-guessing a decision, or wondering whether it’s “too late” to try something new, this episode is for you.Because maybe the curiosity and courage you had in your 20s hasn’t disappeared…maybe it’s just been buried under caution.So let me ask you one simple question: If you were 27 again… what would you do next?---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 27, Laura England walked away from everything - a long-term relationship, her business, and the life she thought she was building - and ran off for a “Mamma Mia summer” working on cruise ships in Greece.What looked like escape became something much bigger.In this episode, Laura shares how she rose into senior roles at sea, only to walk away again - this time signing a 12-month lease with no clients and no safety net, determined to rebuild from scratch on her own terms.We talk about pivoting at any age, detaching self-worth from career, navigating comparison, and finding the courage to begin again - even when it feels reckless.If you’ve ever questioned your direction or wondered whether it’s too late to change, this conversation will remind you: your life isn’t written in permanent marker.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the reason you feel stuck right now… is because you’re trying to get back to who you used to be?After speaking to Talia about her accident and the moment her life completely changed, I kept thinking about something she said: she wasn’t meant to be that person before. This is who she’s meant to be now.And it made me reflect on my own life - and on so many of the women I work with.We think resilience means rebuilding what we had.We think strength means getting “back to normal.”But what if it doesn’t?In this coaching episode, I’m asking you to stop trying to return to an old version of yourself. Instead, I want you to consider who you could become because of what’s happened.If you’re feeling derailed, stuck, in transition, questioning your job, your direction, your purpose - this episode is for you.I’ll share the mindset shift I see time and time again in the women who create real change. And I’ll ask you the reflective questions that might just help you take one small, intentional step forward this week.Because maybe this isn’t about going back.Maybe this is your moment to reinvent.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 25, Talia Lazarus faced the unthinkable - a life-altering accident that nearly took her life and left her having to learn to walk again. What followed wasn’t just recovery - it was a complete reinvention of who she thought she was and what she wanted out of life.In this deeply personal episode of Real Women’s Stories, Talia shares the raw, unfiltered truth about pain, identity, and transformation. We go beyond the physical injury to explore the emotional wreckage that followed: the panic attacks, the grief for the person she used to be, and the moment she realised that surviving wasn’t enough.Rather than returning to her old life, Talia chose something radically different. She burned her old world to the ground - not out of anger, but out of clarity - and started again with a mission to help others do the same.Through her work with her I Got Back Up podcast, Talia now supports people rebuilding after trauma, teaching them what she had to learn the hard way: resilience isn’t about bouncing back - it’s about rising up with purpose.Join us for a story of survival, reinvention, identity rediscovery, and the courage it takes to walk into a life you never thought possible.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last episode, I shared what was happening to me physically - the pain, the fear, and why I felt unable to stop, even when my body was forcing me to.In this coaching episode, I reflect on what that mindset of “just keep going” really cost me - not just in health, but in how I viewed strength, resilience, and success.This is a conversation for anyone who feels trapped between listening to their body and fearing what will happen if they step back. If stopping feels like failure… if rest feels risky… if pushing on feels like the only option - this episode is for you.I share what I’d do differently now, the questions I wish I’d asked sooner, and how redefining resilience changed everything.You don’t need to change anything today.But you might start noticing what your body has been trying to tell you.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chronic pain doesn’t always come with visible symptoms - and for many women, it’s hidden behind silence and shame.In this episode, I share my personal experience of living with debilitating pain caused by a widely misunderstood and rarely discussed health condition. What followed were months of fear, isolation and being told it was “all in my head”.Joined by specialist clinician Ellie Bradshaw from The Functional Gut Clinic, this conversation explores why women are still reluctant to talk about toilet health, how stress and pain become trapped in the body, and why speaking up can be the first step towards recovery.If you’ve ever felt dismissed, embarrassed, or alone with your health, this episode is for you.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might say you’ve “done the work” - but how do you really know?In this episode, we explore the one question that reveals whether healing has actually happened… or whether you’re still sitting in the story.After recording the last conversation, something stood out immediately: it wasn’t what was shared, but how it was shared. No charge. No reactivity. No need to convince. Just calm, grounded self-awareness.This episode unpacks:the difference between talking about your past and truly healing from itwhy some stories still feel emotional - and others feel neutralhow deep inner work shows up in your nervous system, not just your mindsetwhy real healing isn’t loud, performative, or dramaticand how accountability (not blame) changes everythingIf you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve genuinely moved on - or whether you’ve simply learned to explain your past better - this conversation will land.This is for anyone on a self-development journey who wants honesty over affirmations, depth over surface-level tools, and real growth over quick fixes.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody tells you that being bullied as a child doesn’t just hurt in the moment - it can quietly shape who you become as an adult.In this episode, Jess Levy shares her raw and deeply honest experience of growing up with bullying, and how the emotional impact followed her long after school ended - affecting her confidence, relationships, self-belief and sense of belonging well into adulthood.She opens up about how unresolved trauma can either hold you back or become the catalyst for profound personal growth, and why confronting her past was a turning point in finally reclaiming her power.Now an entrepreneur of nine years, founder of a global wellness business, and creator of the Level Up Ladies community, Jess reflects on how those early experiences shaped her drive, her boundaries, and her determination to build spaces where women feel seen, supported and capable of more.This is a conversation about resilience, self-awareness, and the uncomfortable truth that childhood bullying doesn’t disappear with time - but how you respond to it can ultimately make or break your adult life.If you’ve ever felt held back by experiences you thought you’d moved on from, this episode will resonate deeply.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Just be strong” is the phrase we hear when we’re struggling, grieving, or facing change.But i share why that message can feel hollow - and sometimes even damaging.Through personal reflection and real stories from my work with women, I explore why pushing through isn’t always the answer, and how flexibility, reflection and emotional awareness often carry us further than brute resilience ever could.This is a gentle but powerful episode for anyone who feels tired of trying to hold it all together.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Karla Osborne, founder of KO Hair, to explore her journey through burnout, body dysmorphia and single parenthood - and how those experiences ultimately led her to build a business on her own terms.Karla shares what it was really like to lose her sense of identity, struggle with body image, and juggle ambition with parenting, while trying to stay afloat emotionally and financially. We talk openly about career reinvention, rebuilding confidence, and the uncomfortable reality of starting again when life doesn’t go to plan.This conversation is about more than business. It’s about resilience, self-belief, and learning to let go of who you were so you can become who you actually want to be.Whether you’re navigating burnout, questioning your career, or feeling stuck in a version of life that no longer fits, this episode will remind you that reinvention isn’t just possible - it’s often the beginning of something better.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve always been known as “Lisa miles an hour”. The chatterbox. The over-thinker. The one who’s told to quieten down, slow down, be less.But what if none of that is actually a problem?In this episode, I question everything I thought I knew about myself - from neurodiversity and ADHD to why I left the corporate world and stopped caring what people think.This isn’t about getting a diagnosis. It’s about realising that the very traits I tried to suppress for years might actually be my biggest strength.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wendy “wo0” Gannon is an award-winning personal photographer, speaker and founder of the Female Five Million movement - and she’s proudly a chaotic ADHD head. In this deeply honest conversation, Wendy opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD at 45 and what it truly felt like to go decades without a name for her experience.She talks about the exhaustion of masking - constantly performing, softening herself, and trying to fit the expectations of the world while silently struggling inside. From childhood and early career to building her business and speaking on stages, she reflects on how masking shaped her life and the relief (and fear) that came with finally dropping the act.This episode explores the emotional cost of masking, the power of showing up as your genuine self, and how embracing neurodiversity has influenced Wendy’s work helping founders show up authentically online. If you’ve ever felt worn out by simply being you, this conversation will resonate.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, Toni Eastwood shares her full story: from being bullied at school and leaving without confidence, to building an impressive career in government, corporate leadership, and business - all while quietly struggling with self-doubt and a sense that something wasn’t right.We talk about the pressure to “do the right things”, why external success doesn’t automatically bring confidence, and the moment Toni realised she had built a life that looked successful on paper but didn’t feel like her own.This episode replaces our usual coaching format this week. Instead, it offers something just as valuable - a lived experience that many women will recognise, but rarely hear spoken about honestly.If you’ve ever followed the rules, worked hard, and still wondered “why don’t I feel successful?” - this conversation is for you.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait--- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this unedited interview for Real Women’s Stories, Lisa Quait is joined by Deirdre O’Neill, co-founder of Hertility, to expose how women’s health conversations are being restricted, suppressed, and silenced online.From banned terminology and platforms deciding that words like endometriosis, menopause, and hormones are “too explicit” or “too political”, this conversation unpacks how Big Tech is shaping - and limiting - what women are allowed to say about their own bodies.Deirdre explains why women’s health content is treated differently to sexualised imagery, how misinformation and fear have replaced education, and the real-world consequences of censoring vital health information - from delayed diagnoses to women being dismissed, gaslit, and left without answers.This is a raw discussion about power, control, and why understanding your hormones and reproductive health shouldn’t depend on what an algorithm allows.If you’ve ever felt ignored by the healthcare system, confused by your symptoms, or frustrated by how hard it is to find clear, trustworthy information about women’s health - this episode is for you.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait---Meta said, Meta’s terms and policies have always prohibited advertisers from sharing sensitive information, including health data, and we have measures in place designed to help prevent advertisers from sharing such information. These measures did not block these organisations from running ads; they limited the ability to share potentially sensitive information with Meta. Advertisers can request a review if they believe their data source category is not appropriate, and we are working directly with these organisations to provide further guidance.Google said: We have long allowed ads for fertility treatments and services in most countries. To ensure advertisers don’t target people based on sensitive health information, including women’s health advertising, we do implement certain protections.After being approached for comment, TikTok contacted Hertility to provide clarification on the policy, and the ads team reinstated four of Hertility’s videos following a review.The Independant, November 2025--- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You don’t need a crisis, loss, or life-changing moment to start living differently - awareness is enough.In this episode, Lisa explains why waiting for “the moment” keeps you stuck, and how real change begins with small, intentional steps you can take right now. So many of us sit with ideas, dreams, and quiet nudges - waiting for something big to happen before we act.In this coaching episode, Lisa explores why we delay the changes we know we want to make, why living on autopilot feels so draining, and how meaningful change actually starts. Not with dramatic decisions or overnight transformations, but with awareness, honesty, and small daily actions.This episode isn’t about grief or trauma. It’s an encouraging reminder that you don’t need permission, perfection, or the “right time” to begin living differently.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why waiting for a big moment keeps you stuckHow awareness creates momentum without overwhelmWhy change feels uncomfortable (and how to work with that)How small, realistic steps build confidence over timeA simple daily practice to help you move forwardLisa also shares a practical takeaway you can use immediately - helping you identify what’s been sitting in the back of your mind, and the one small step that could move you closer to it.If you’ve been thinking “I’ll start tomorrow” or “I’ll do it when things settle”, this episode is for you.---Discover coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode launches a new series of Real Women's Stories about the moments that quietly redefine how we live - and the unexpected choices that follow.Jenny shares the turning point that caused her to pause, reassess, and ultimately start living with far more intention than before. What came next wasn’t a single bold decision, but a sequence of surprising shifts that changed how she approached work, wellbeing, ambition, and time itself.From stepping away from a career that no longer fit, to building a life shaped by values rather than habit, Jenny reflects on how one moment led to a completely different way of living - and why the changes she made still catch her off guard today.This conversation isn’t about loss; it’s about awareness. About what happens when you stop assuming there will always be “later”, and start choosing how you want your life to feel now.A powerful opening episode for anyone who senses they’re on the edge of change - or quietly knows they want more from the life they’re already living.---Additional audio supplied by Louis Marlowe, Lewis Robling and WhyWeRunWatch the documentary - Ordinary People, Extraordinary Things - on YouTube---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, Lisa Hopper reflects on how being labelled - and later labelling herself - as “shy” slowly became an identity, shaping her confidence, choices, and sense of self without her even realising it. What began as a single childhood experience quietly influenced how she showed up in relationships, work, money, and life.This honest conversation explores how easily confidence can be misunderstood, how victim thinking can keep us stuck, and why true confidence often begins with questioning the stories we’ve carried for years.Lisa also shares a deeply personal experience around mental health and medication, highlighting the importance of separating who we are from what we’re experiencing - and why awareness can be the turning point.This is a shorter, reflective bonus episode, but one that will resonate if you’ve ever thought: “I’m just shy,” and wondered where your confidence went.---Work with Lisa Hopper & receive 25% off, use discount code: JSZ23D8Full details & claim your offer here---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we step out of 2025 and into a brand-new year, we asked you one simple question: what are you really taking with you into 2026?In this New Year special of Real Women’s Stories, you share your hopes, intentions and truths for the year ahead - speaking honestly about growth, courage, boundaries, family, ambition, gratitude and learning to trust yourself again.There’s no pressure to reinvent your life here.No perfect plans. No performative positivity.Just real reflections from real women, offering perspective, reassurance and the reminder that change doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.If you’re stepping into 2026 feeling hopeful, uncertain, reflective - or quietly ready for something different - this episode is for you.---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Christmas, we’re asking a simple but powerful question: what does Christmas really mean to you?In this special festive episode of Real Women’s Stories, voices from our global community come together to share their most personal Christmas memories - from laughter-filled moments and family traditions, to loss, nostalgia, kindness, and the quiet reflections that surface at this time of year.Recorded across different countries and life stages, these stories capture the full emotional spectrum of Christmas: chaotic dinners, childhood magic, missing loved ones, chosen family, and the moments that stay with us long after the decorations come down.Lisa also shares a heartfelt message for anyone who finds Christmas difficult, reminding us that there is no single “right” way to experience the season - and that connection, community, and small moments of light still matter.Whether Christmas feels joyful, complicated, or somewhere in between, this episode is a gentle pause in a busy season - and a reminder that you’re not alone.From all of us at Real Women’s Stories, we wish you a peaceful Christmas and a hopeful New Year. ---Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa---Connect with LisaInstagram: Follow LisaFacebook: Follow LisaYouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.