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© 2026 Take A Breath
Description
A podcast for creating practical calm in the messy middle of midlife.
This is your space to pause.
Because life in midlife is full-on. Between work, family, menopause, and the mental load, your nervous system can easily end up in constant overdrive — leaving you feeling exhausted, reactive, and overwhelmed by even the smallest things.
Each week, I’ll share my own tools, alongside honest conversations and practical nervous system support — to help you create more calm, peace, joy, and inner steadiness. Not by escaping your life, because that’s totally unrealistic, but by meeting it differently.
So when you're ready, let’s take a breath together…
288 Episodes
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On today’s Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are talking about that ‘back to school’ feeling that so many of us feel after Christmas and New Year. If you’re feeling low following the festive season, now is the time to make finding joy a priority. Because like so many things in life, we have to get intentional about choosing it. Lucy and I also talk about being aware of our thoughts, how our inner world creates our outer world, and why being truly present in the moment is the key to living a joy...
Midlife can feel like a constant juggling act — from perimenopause to parenting, ageing parents to career demands, all while managing the invisible emotional and mental load that us midlife women know all to well. In this episode, I share 5 simple, science-backed ways to ease the emotional weight you’re carrying — so you can feel calmer, more connected, and more like you again. ✨ Here’s what you’ll learn: How starting your day with just a few intentional minutes can change the energy of your ...
On today’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about maintaining a positive mental attitude even when life throws us a curveball. Last week, I injured my knee on the last day of my skiing trip, and am currently on crutches while I wait to find out how serious the injury is. I talk about how I'm feeling and how I've been trying to stay positive and expect the best possible outcome. Because as Lucy and I have discussed here before, two people can experience the exact same circumstances ...
In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Margaret de Petro — a former psychotherapist whose work now spans coaching, NLP, intuition, and energy awareness. Margaret supports people around the world to feel more connected, clear, and confident in who they are and where they’re heading, especially during times of transition. Her work sits at the intersection of science, spirituality, and deep self-awareness, making this a fascinating and very grounded conversation. Together, we explore what ...
On this week’s Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are getting intentional about 2026. Because any change you want to make starts with you, and now is the moment to begin living life by design, rather than by default. We chat about why clarity of direction matters, and how real change happens when you start becoming, and embodying, the future version of yourself now. We hope you find something useful in here. Love Polly & Lucy Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understan...
On today’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about one of my favourite topics…enthusiasm! Enthusiasm is one of the highest vibration emotions there is; and if we’re not feeling enthusiastic about anything in our life, that’s a sign that something needs to change. But just like joy and gratitude, enthusiasm is something that we have to choose, to prioritise, to cultivate. And the more we cultivate it, the more things we’ll find to be enthusiastic about. We really hope you’ll find so...
Let’s talk about the patterns we know aren’t helping… but keep falling back into anyway. People-pleasing. Perfectionism. Overfunctioning. Ever wondered why you keep doing the things you don’t want to do? This week, I’m joined by the incredible Kati Morton — licensed therapist, bestselling author, and one of the very first mental health professionals to step onto YouTube. Together, we dive deep into: ✨ Why we cling to control (and what’s underneath it) ✨ How childhood blueprints shape adult ...
This week, Lucy and I are diving into Christmas — the bits that feel magical… and the bits that feel a little wobbly. Because for so many of us, this season can stir up old stories, tricky family dynamics, or that familiar mix of sadness and joy sitting right next to each other. We hope you find something useful in here. Wishing you a very happy Christmas 🎄 Love, Polly & Lucy xx Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. ...
Today, Lucy and I are diving into some of our favourite non-fiction personal development books — the ones that have genuinely shifted how we think, feel, and show up in the world. If you’re craving a change for the better, want to keep growing, and you’re naturally curious, these books will give you a nudge in the right direction. Have you read any of our favourites? And tell us — what would you add to the list? We love discovering new ones. Love, Polly & Lucy xx Download The Breath C...
As we move deeper into winter, it’s easy to start feeling just a bit... off. Tired. Foggy. A little more emotional than usual. Maybe like you’re running on empty — even when you're technically doing “all the right things.” If that’s you, you’re not alone — and this week’s podcast episode is here to help. I’m joined by the brilliant Amanda Ryder, a registered nutritional therapist who specialises in women’s health over 40 — and we’re diving into one of the biggest keys to your energy, immunity...
In this episode of Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about releasing and letting go as we move towards 2026. We cover releasing through breathwork, letting go of the judgement of others, as well as how perfectionism can sometimes be procrastination in disguise. We hope you’ll find something useful in here! Love, Polly & Lucy x Download The Breath Check-Up - your FREE guide to understanding how well you're breathing right now. Download my energising 5 Minute Morning ...
On this week’s Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are talking about how it doesn’t matter how much personal development work we do if we don’t actually do the thing. You can learn and reflect endlessly, but real change only happens when insight becomes action. We dive into how growth takes time and consistent practice. It asks for patience, repetition and putting in the reps, even when progress feels slow or subtle. We also challenge the belief of “I don’t have time”. Because often, it’s not ti...
How do we actually age well? Not just living longer, but feeling strong, clear-headed and energised into our 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond… My guest is Dr Nathalie Beauchamp (Dr Nat). She’s been a practising chiropractor for almost 30 years, she’s certified in functional medicine, and she’s written six books. She’s a master at taking all the complex health information out there and turning it into something simple, doable, and actually realistic for your life. In this episode we talk about: ✨ Wha...
On today’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about the difference between thoughts and thinking, thanks to a book that I have been reading called Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen. We all have thoughts - between 60,000 and 70,000 each day - but we get to choose which of those thoughts we want to entertain into actual thinking, and which of those we don’t. Lucy and I talk about how we’ve both worked hard on our own thinking over the last few years. We also discuss...
On this week’s Thursday's Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about not waiting for the wake-up call before you begin living in a way that truly supports your wellbeing. We discuss how the simple choices you make every day shape your health, your energy and your sense of aliveness. And how change doesn’t have to be dramatic - it can start with one small choice at a time. This is a gentle reminder that you don’t have to reach burnout, a crisis or rock bottom to choose differently. You can star...
When you’re ambitious, responsible, and constantly holding space for others — your own needs, goals, and joy can slowly slip to the bottom of the list. This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Danielle McGeough — professor, speaker, mum, and self-leadership coach for high-achieving women. Danielle blends research, lived experience, and playful experimentation to help women reclaim their time and reimagine how they approach planning and productivity. Together, we explore what becomes poss...
On today’s Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I are talking about how long we allow ourselves to dwell on things that aren’t serving us; in other words, where we’re placing our attention. How often do you actually notice where your mind is at any given moment? And how often do you find yourself ruminating on something that isn’t making you feel good? Perhaps you had an argument with a friend, or maybe you’re worried about an email from your boss. Are you still thinking about it three days later? L...
Wondering where your confidence has gone? You’re definitely not alone. So many of us in midlife have spent years proving, pleasing, supporting everyone else… and somewhere along the way, we quietly lose touch with who we are at our core. In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Sarah Snape, a midlife confidence coach who has truly walked this path herself. For years, Sarah said no to things she secretly wanted. She stayed small, stayed safe, stayed on the sidelines — not because she lacke...
On this weeks Monday Motivation, Lucy and I are sharing our thoughts about meditation. We’re diving into what meditation really is - why it’s not about ‘switching off your mind’, and why meditation has been such a game changer for both of us. We also share some simple ways to start your own practice. Because meditation is a practice - the benefits feel subtle at first, but over time, they’re absolutely life-changing. We hope you find something useful in here. Love Polly & Lucy xx Down...
Do you ever wonder if the version of you who had endless energy… is gone for good? Not because you’re unmotivated. But because you’ve been running on empty, in ways you’ve learned to normalise. If your mind rarely slows down, your body never fully relaxes, and even doing “all the right things” still leaves you depleted, this episode is for you. This week, I’m joined by Hope Pedraza — Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, and Pilates studio owner — whose work sup...
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