Flourish After Fifty

Explore how to transform your birthday into a meaningful, joyful milestone with Tamar Hurwitz‑Fleming, author of How to Have a Happy Birthday. She invites you to consciously design celebrations that reflect who you are now and who you’re becoming, rather than relying on old habits, expectations or other people’s plans, especially when you’re facing those big “0” birthdays like turning 50, 60 or 70. This conversation is rich with practical ideas, warm personal stories and fresh ways of thinking about aging, helping you claim your birthday as a powerful moment to honour yourself at any age.In this episode, we also discuss:The impact of early life experiences on birthday perceptionsOvercoming birthday anxiety and negative emotionsUsing birthdays as a personal new year and reflection point.Practical strategies for celebrating yourself, especially those ‘0’ birthdays after fifty.Sue's guest in this episode was: Tamar Hurwitz-FlemingTamar’s Website‘How to Have a Happy Birthday’ (Book) - https://howtohaveahappybirthday.com/Find Tamar on LinkedInA message from Sue:I support women over fifty to navigate career and life changes. If you’re looking for support, you can work with me through:Coaching: for women who want one-on-one support as you navigate change.Life On Your Terms: a six-week program for women who know it’s time for something to shift. Guided conversations help you define what matters to you and map out an actionable ‘Navigation Plan’ for your next chapter.The Flourish After Fifty Circle: a monthly online discussion group that blends the best of a podcast club and a book club. It’s for women who want to explore big ideas, meaningful stories and real‑life transitions together.Find out more here.Sign up for weekly insights and bite size advice: http://www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletterGet in touch: sue@flourishafterfifty.com.au️

As life shifts in midlife—through career changes, new chapters, changing bodies or the end of long relationships—it’s easy to find that your clothes no longer feel like you. In this episode of Flourish After 50, Sue West talks with personal stylist and Style Rises founder, Lucy Owens, about what it means to dress for the woman you’re becoming, not the one you used to be.Lucy shares her own journey from corporate leadership in Melbourne to running a global styling business from Spain, and how style became a tool for confidence, presence and self‑expression rather than just “looking put together.” Together, she and Sue explore simple, compassionate ways to realign your style with who you are now—starting with a few words that describe how you want to show up and one small visible change that shifts how you feel in your own skin.Also covered in this episode:How midlife transitions (career shifts, relationship changes, menopause) can leave your style out of sync with who you are now.Why “I have nothing to wear” is often really “I don’t see myself in my clothes anymore.”Simple starting points to realign your style.How treating style as self‑expression and self‑respect can boost confidence, presence, and a sense of being truly seen after 50.About Lucy Owens:Lucy is a leading Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. With a background in senior corporate roles, including luxury fashion and hospitality brands, Lucy intimately understands the challenges women face when it comes to dressing with both authenticity and authority. Through her proven framework, she helps clients develop a signature style that aligns with their personal brand, boosts their confidence, and supports their leadership presence, so they not only look like leaders but feel like leaders.BioStyle Archetype QuizWebsite -www.stylerises.comMillion Dollar Style ProgramA note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty and coach for women navigating career and life transitions.What If You Could...✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life?✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day?✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth?✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling?It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen.Get in touch http://www.flourishafterfifty.com.auSign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you http://www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

In this episode, I have an honest conversation about friendship with my friend Sarah Hopkins. We share the joys and challenges of making new friends in our fifties and sixties and explore how vulnerability, authenticity, and courage can open the door to deeper connections and lasting joy. We discuss finding new friends, strengthening existing friendships, and letting go when a friendship no longer serves us. It is a heartfelt reminder that meaningful friendships can flourish at any life stage.In this episode, we also discuss:The unnecessary shame associated with feeling lonely.The ‘liking gap’ and how it can get in the way when you meet new people.Mindsets that support friend-making.Starting small can lead to significant social connections.Trusting your instincts helps in finding the right friends.Investing time and effort is crucial for nurturing friendships.___________________________________________________________Guest: Sarah HopkinsFind Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hopkins-9b4253100/ResourcesThe book discussed in this episode is: “Just Friends: On The Joy, Influence and Power of Friendship” by Gyan Yankovich.Sue’s Offerings IncludePrivate CoachingLife on Your Terms ProgramLife Beyond Work ProgramConnect with SueWebsite: https://www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-west-au/Email: sue@flourishafterfifty.com.auSign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you http://www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

Raised on a remote Australian farm, Heather Cameron has lived through droughts, domestic violence, and reinvention. Her bestselling trilogy 'Never Underestimate a Woman' tells a story of courage and transformation. Heather shares how she found her voice and reclaimed her power - and she's now helping other women do the same.Guest: Heather Cameron, author of 'Never Underestimate a Woman'Lower Lila Retreat www.lowerlilaretreat.com.au* * * * *A note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty.What If You Could...✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life?✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day?✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth?✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling?It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen.Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.auSign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

Ageism affects how others see us and how we see ourselves. Researcher and author Joanna Maxwell has spent years studying age beliefs and their impact on women’s work, confidence, and identity. In this conversation, she unpacks myths about ageing, internalised bias, and why it’s time to challenge the idea that life peaks before fifty.Guest: Joanna MaxwellResearcher and Author of 'Rethink Your Career In Your 40s, 50s and 60s'www.joannamaxwell.com.auFind Joanna on LinkedInA note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty.What if you could…✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life?✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day?✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth?✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling?It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen.Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.auSign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

In this bonus episode, Melissa Braden shares what it was really like to walk away from a big public service career after twenty‑five years in senior roles. In her mid‑50s, she accepted an early retirement package and stepped into the unknown. Eighteen months on, she talks about the wobbles, the wins and the identity shift that followed – and how, beyond all of that, she has created more choice, deeper community and plenty of “me‑me time” in this new chapter. A note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty. What If You Could… ✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life? ✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day? ✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth? ✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling? It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen.  Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.au Sign up for the Flourish After Fifty newsletter Weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you. www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

Dr Katie Allen has lived multiple remarkable careers, from pioneering medical research to serving in federal parliament. In this episode, she takes us inside the moment she tore up her CV and jumped off the cliff into politics, driven by a desire to have an even greater impact through her work. Now living with stage four cancer, she speaks candidly about why the risk was unequivocally worth it and calls on women over fifty to back themselves and pursue their ambitions, no regrets. Guest: Dr Katie Allen, medical researcher and former Member of the Australian Parliament LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-katie-allen/ Podcast - "An Apple a Week with Dr Katie Allen" _____________________________________________________A note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty. What If You Could… ✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life? ✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day? ✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth? ✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling? It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen. Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.au Sign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

Whether you’re navigating an empty nest, rethinking your career, or simply facing a season of change, life after fifty is full of pivotal moments. In this episode, Kari Cardinale of the Modern Elder Academy offers a roadmap for embracing what’s next with clarity and intention. She explains the idea of “transitional intelligence” or TQ, and shares empowering strategies so you can meet transitions with curiosity and actively design a future that excites you. Guest: Kari Cardinale, The Modern Elder Academy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-cardinale/ Modern Elder Academy: https://www.meawisdom.com/ An Alternative to the “Midlife Crisis” (Chip Conley | TED) www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYDVJTPwGHE Measuring what makes life worthwhile (Chip Conley | TED) www.youtube.com/watch?v=UROCz70tlMY * * * * * A note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty. What If You Could… ✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life? ✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day? ✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth? ✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling? It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen. Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.au Sign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

Longevity and life stage expert Barbara Waxman is on a mission to redefine midlife as a time of awakening, not decline. Inspired by teenage adolescence, she's coined the term 'middlescence' as a new life stage brimming with potential. From energy as medicine to longevity life plans, Barbara shows how to live your most vibrant years yet. Guest: Barbara Waxman www.barbarawaxman.com Take the Seven Lifestyle Levers Assessment www.assessment.barbarawaxman.com * * * * * A note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty. What If You Could… ✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life? ✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day? ✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth? ✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling? It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen. Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.au Sign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

After twenty years of marriage, ABC broadcaster Hilary Harper found herself single - and curious about dating again. Her hit ABC podcast Dated: Love Online After 50 explores what happens when midlife meets modern romance. Hilary talks candidly about fear, discovery, and finding love again, offering hope and humour for anyone thinking it might be “too late.” Guest: Hilary Harper, ABC Radio National "Dated: Love Online After 50" (ABC) "Love Matters: Heartwarming stories of finding love from the former host of the ABC radio show Life Matters" (Forthcoming book) * * * * * A note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty. What If You Could… ✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life? ✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day? ✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth? ✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling? It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen. Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.au Sign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletter

Best-selling author and finance expert Bec Wilson calls midlife 'Prime Time'. It's a stage to reset, reimagine, and reclaim your power. Drawing on her bestselling book 'Prime Time: 27 Lessons for the New Midlife', Bec reveals how to master the six pillars of thriving after 45, from purpose and health to money and happiness. This is your invitation to make midlife your most epic chapter yet. Guest: Bec Wilson www.becwilson.net Books by Bec Wilson "Prime Time" www.amazon.com.au/Prime-Time-lessons-new-midlife/dp/0733652212 "How to Have an Epic Retirement" www.amazon.com.au/How-Have-Epic-Retirement-Wilson/dp/0733649963 Follow Bec's Podcast www.open.spotify.com/show/52wJibb1mCJxpE9EH2rp5c * * * * * A note from Sue West, host of Flourish After Fifty. What If You Could… ✔ Feel clear about what matters most to you in this next stage of life? ✔ Discover a renewed sense of purpose that excites you every day? ✔ Build meaningful connections and a community that supports your growth? ✔ Confidently take action toward creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling? It’s all possible - and I’m here to help you make it happen. Get in touch www.flourishafterfifty.com.au Sign up for weekly insights and advice for incredible women like you www.flourishafterfifty.com.au/newsletteru

Are you over 50 years of age and asking, "What do I want for myself now? Is there something more, beyond work, beyond family?" These days our years after 50 are not about winding down, they're about breaking out! Breaking out of limiting beliefs and habits, and embracing the road ahead as a time of reinvention. Let's start this journey together.