Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait

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.

Christmas has a way of magnifying awkward moments - saying the wrong thing, feeling clumsy, or replaying something small in your head long after it’s happened.In this episode of Real Women’s Stories, Lisa explores why women are so quick to overthink embarrassment, how we’ve been conditioned to feel shame around very normal human moments, and what actually helps us handle them with confidence rather than self-criticism.Through honest storytelling and relatable examples, this conversation reframes embarrassment - not as something to hide from, but something we can normalise, laugh about and move on from.If you’re heading into the festive season feeling anxious about social situations or family gatherings, this episode offers a calm, compassionate reset.Because it’s not what happens that matters - it’s how you respond to it.---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.

Christmas is a time for connection, celebration - and for many women, quiet anxiety about food, alcohol and “undoing all their hard work”.In this episode of Real Women’s Stories, Lisa is joined by Ellie Bradshaw, Nurse Consultant in Gut Function and founder of The Functional Gut Clinic, for a refreshingly honest conversation about gut health at Christmas - and the one thing you won’t hear on most other podcasts.Ellie shares why a few days of indulgence won’t damage your gut, how stress impacts the gut-brain axis far more than festive food, and why letting go of rigid rules may actually be the healthiest choice you can make this Christmas. Rather than restriction or perfection, this episode focuses on realism, compassion and understanding how your gut actually works.From bloating and indigestion to alcohol, movement and January resets, this is practical, evidence-informed advice grounded in real life - not Instagram wellness culture.In this episode, we explore:Why Christmas eating isn’t the gut disaster you’ve been led to believeThe powerful connection between stress, the brain and gut symptomsAlcohol, bloating and what genuinely helps (and what doesn’t)Why enjoyment and social connection matter for gut healthHow to return to balance in January without punishment or guiltIf you’ve ever felt pressure to be “good” over Christmas - this conversation offers a calmer, kinder alternative.🎄✨If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to follow or subscribe to Real Women’s Stories for more honest conversations that challenge the narratives women are so often expected to live by.---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 was the last time you heard an honest conversation about women’s sexual health - one without shame, whispering, or outdated myths?In this powerful and unexpectedly funny episode, Lisa sits down with Dr Betsy Greenleaf, the first board-certified female urogynecologist in the United States, triple board-certified and now specialising in sexual wellness and hormone health for women over 40.Together they unpack everything we should have learned years ago: - why sex and orgasm are critical for women’s long-term health, especially through perimenopause and menopause - the real science behind libido, pleasure and “why I’m just not in the mood” - how trauma shaped Dr Betsy’s mission to make sure no woman feels dismissed or unseen again - what’s actually happening to our pelvic floor, hormones and desire as we age - the simple mindset shift that can transform your sex life: start with willingness, not desire - why creativity, confidence and even business success are deeply connected to our sexual wellbeingDr Betsy brings clarity, compassion, and decades of expertise - and Lisa brings the honest questions every woman wants answered.If this conversation resonates, follow the show for more real stories, real women, and real transformation.---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 smiled at the time… but later, the words stayed with me.”In this deeply honest and unplanned coaching episode, Lisa reflects on how a handful of unexpected online comments affected her far more than she anticipated - even at 51, even with experience, and even knowing the comments weren’t true.What lingered wasn’t criticism - it was the feeling of being misunderstood. Strangers created stories about who she is, stories that didn’t reflect her truth, yet still found a way to sit quietly in her mind long after the moment had passed.In this episode, Lisa explores:Why negative comments often hurt more than positive onesWhat it feels like to be misunderstood publiclyHow easily false narratives about us are createdWhy we replay certain words long after we wish we wouldn’tAnd how to stop allowing other people’s opinions to shape how we feel about ourselvesLisa also shares the powerful “Let Them / Let Me” mindset - a gentle but transformative way to release control over what others think and reclaim control over how we respond.This episode is for anyone who has ever:Been misjudgedFelt quietly shaken by someone else’s wordsOr wondered why certain comments linger long after they should have faded---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 our DNA episode went live, we expected emotion. What we didn’t expect was backlash, national media attention, and one of the most divided audiences we’ve ever seen.In this behind-the-scenes episode, Lisa is joined by producer Aaron to reveal what was really happening off camera while the viral DNA story was unfolding - including the unexpected personal journey Aaron himself was on at the very same time.As Jeanette’s story of discovering a hidden family member captivated millions, Aaron was quietly waiting for his own DNA results in the hope of uncovering a missing branch of his family tree. What followed for both of them raised difficult questions about truth, identity, family, and the risks of genetic testing.We unpack:What you didn’t see during the original DNA episodeThe emotional and ethical fallout behind the scenesThe private producer’s story unfolding in real timeThe backlash, strong opinions, and public reactionThe risks most people don’t consider before taking a DNA testAnd how this one episode changed the future of the podcastThis is the untold story behind our most talked-about episode - raw, reflective, and honest.🎙️ Listener question: Would you still take a DNA test after hearing what really happened? Take the poll on our YouTube channel---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.

Take this 3 min quiz and receive your FREE tailored workbook from Lisa.---What if you’re not lost at all - you’ve simply forgotten the evidence of who you really are?In this intimate coaching episode, Lisa takes you on a guided journey through the moments, memories and emotions that have quietly shaped your life. With Dr Carol’s powerful teaching - that every breath leaves an imprint - Lisa reveals how each woman she’s spoken to carries a golden thread woven through her story… and so do you.You’ll explore: ✨ The moment you’re secretly proud of but never speak about ✨ The strengths you used without even realising ✨ The clues your past is leaving for your present ✨ How to activate the code within you and step into your next eraIf you’re listening on a commute, a walk, or in the car, take a breath.This is your moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the woman you’ve always been.------ 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---0:00 – Why you’re not lost (you’ve just lost the evidence).0:32 – How life moments leave an imprint on who you are.1:12 – When was the last time you truly saw yourself?2:28 – A guided moment to breathe and come into the now.3:13 – Understanding the “golden thread” in your story.4:14 – How small moments shape your identity.5:16 – Lisa’s story from travelling that changed everything.7:06 – The ripple effect of your energy and experiences.8:49 – You haven’t lost yourself — you’ve forgotten the clues.10:08 – Guided coaching: three questions to uncover your strengths.12:05 – Realising your strengths have always been there.13:27 – Using your story as a toolbox for today.14:21 – What you’re no longer willing to tolerate.15:19 – Activating your next era with courage.16:42 – How Lisa helps women find their building blocks.17:38 – Rediscovering the layers that make you who you are.18:53 – Reclaiming the parts of you that have dimmed.19:16 – How to take the quiz or book a coaching session.20:10 – Final reflection: the one moment you can use today.---Series Producer: Aaron Nelson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.