Midlife Messy and Marvellous – Details, episodes & analysis

Finally, it's here. A bit more about my new podcast coming soon

ITV Loose Women panellist & West End star Brenda Edwards doesn't sugarcoat midlife. Between 8 shows a week in Paddington the Musical after having navigated early menopause triggered by Stage 3 breast cancer,she's learned that surviving midlife means listening to your body—not ignoring it.

 In this raw first episode of Midlife Messy and Marvellous, Brenda opens up to me about:

• How chemotherapy thrust her into early menopause at 47

• Losing her son Jamal Edwards MBE and learning to pausewithout guilt

• How journaling helps her mentally

• Why she's done people-pleasing at 56 and more

We also talk about the foundation in honour of her late son, The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust, which teaches young people invaluable life skills, and why a certain song from Paddington gives her goosebumps when she sings it every night!

 This inaugural episode of Midlife Messy & Marvellous is for every woman who's tired, overheated, emotionally stretched, or wondering if she's failing at midlife. You're not. You're human.

CONNECT WITH MARVERINE

📧 https://transformwithmarv.com/contact

🌐 https://transformwithmarv.com/

If you enjoy my content, why not buy me a coffee?

https://buymeacoffee.com/midlifewithmarv

Get to know me better

My weekly email https://marverinecole.substack.com/

My personal Youtube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@MidlifeWithMarv

CONNECT WITH BRENDA

🎟️ See Brenda playing Tanya in Paddingtonat London’s Savoy Theatre (until October 2026)

https://paddingtonthemusical.com/

🤳 Brenda Edwards on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/brendaedwardsglobal/?hl=en

Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust

https://jesb.co.uk/

SBTV

https://sbtv.co.uk/home/

MUSIC CREDITS

- Gavin Luke – The Power of One

- baegel - Shibuya Bullet Train

All music is courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

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FAIR USE

My videos may use snippets under the principles of fair use  - as outlined in UK copyright law and international standards. The aim is to provide commentary, critique anduseful analysis, which are protected under fair use provisions.  All clips are edited and repurposed to createtransformative content, offering original insight and enlightenment (I hope).No copyright infringement is intended. No offence is meant. However if youbelieve any use of content does not fall under fair use, please contact me directly to address the issue.

DISCLAIMER Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week.

In this episode, Beverley Knight shares why taking control is the key to thriving in midlife. From menopause and health, to being born to perform, and rewriting the narrative around overlooked icons like Sister Rosetta Tharpe - this is a conversation about speaking up, getting informed, and creating your own path—on your terms.[*Always advocate for yourself and seek proper doctor advice]

Critique on the WHI study which claimed HRT causes breast cancer

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10758198/

Menopause Mandate

https://www.menopausemandate.com/

Watch Sister Rosetta in Greater Manchester in the 1960s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9a49oFalZE

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CHAPTERS

01:11 Marie & Rosetta!

08:31 Midlife Health Wake Up

20:10 Time Is Precious: ONE LIFE

21:40 Beverley's Bucket List

26:39 Build Your Own Table

33:42 Beverley's Menopause Journey

40:58 HRT and Taking Control of Your Health

54:51 Born to Perform Tour

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CONNECT WITH BEVERLEY KNIGHT

Go and see Beverley in London in Marie & Rosetta (until 11 April 2026)

https://sohoplace.org/shows/marie-and-rosetta/

Buy tickets for Beverley's tour BORN TO PERFORM

https://www.beverleyknight.com/live-events ==================================================

CONNECT WITH MARVERINE📧 https://transformwithmarv.com/contact🌐 https://transformwithmarv.com/

💌 Get to know me betterMy weekly email https://marverinecole.substack.com/

📺My personal Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@MidlifeWithMarv

☕️Grab yourself the official podcast mug while stocks last As Seen On TV

ttps://transformwithmarv.com/midlife-messy-marvellous-mug

If you enjoyed this, why not buy me a coffee?https://buymeacoffee.com/midlifewithmarv

==================================================

MUSIC CREDIT- Gavin Luke – The Power of One-

baegel - Shibuya Bullet Train

All music is courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

==================================================

conversation cuts through all the noise about HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and menopause. Wherever you are on this journey, if you're asking is HRT safe? this one's for you.I have an in-depth chat with Dr. Ellie Cannon, an NHS GP & author who wrote the book — literally — on menopause, because too many women are still navigating this without the basics.

We cover

✦ Unusual symptoms most women don't even connect to menopause

✦ HRT and breast cancer risk

✦ The truth about testosterone

✦ What to do when your GP doesn't have the answers*

✦ Non-HRT options that actually work

[*Always try & advocate for yourself and seek advice from a qualified health professional]

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Buy Dr Ellie's new book, A Little Book of HRT: https://amzn.to/46B6FZD

Be armed for a GP visit! Track your perimenopause & menopause symptoms and your periods using my custom designed trackers:

https://transformwithmarv.com/womens-health-tracker-bundle

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CHAPTERS

00:52 Why This Book Now03:01 GP Access and Inequality05:45 What GPs Look For09:46 Symptoms and Estrogen12:11 Hot Flushes and Sweats13:09 HRT Risk and Breast Cancer19:15 Preparing for Your GP Visit21:46 Progesterone Explained24:04 Choosing HRT Formats24:52 Making Medication Easier26:51 Gel vs Patch Debate27:51 When HRT Feels Useless28:31 Is It Really Menopause33:08 Testosterone and Libido38:16 Menopause and Race Gaps41:37 Non HRT Options43:36 CBT for Hot Flushes45:50 Midlife Changes

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================================================== CONNECT WITH MARVERINE📧 https://transformwithmarv.com/contact💌Get to know me betterhttps://marverinecole.substack.com/📺 My own menopause & midlife stories    / @midlifewithmarv  ☕️ Grab yourself the official podcast mug! https://transformwithmarv.com/midlife...Fancy buying me a coffee?https://buymeacoffee.com/midlifewithmarv==================================================MUSIC CREDIT

• Gavin Luke – The Power of One
• baegel - Shibuya Bullet Train

All music is courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com==================================================FAIR USE My videos may use snippets under the principles of fair use - as outlined in UK copyright law and international standards. The aim is to provide commentary, critique and useful analysis, which are protected under fair use provisions. All clips are edited and repurposed to create transformative content, offering original insight and enlightenment (I hope). No copyright infringement is intended. No offence is meant. However if you believe any use of content does not fall under fair use, please contact me directly to address the issue.==================================================DISCLAIMER Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week.

In this candid podcast, Gillian Joseph from Sky News reflects on her struggle with getting medical professionals to acknowledge her perimenopause symptoms. Despite experiencing severe symptoms, doctors initially dismissed her - highlighting a common issue in women's health where symptoms of perimenopause are often overlooked or misdiagnosed*. Gillian also opens up about the loss of her mother, grief, the pressures behind her long career in journalism, reporting from a war zone, self-doubt and how faith & fitness helped redefine her midlife.[*Always advocate for yourself and seek proper doctor advice]==================================================CHAPTERS01:01 Turning 60 & Celebrating 35 Years in Journalism02:34 Perfectionism, High Standards & Self-Critique05:19 Sir Trevor McDonald and Representation on TV09:55 Reporting from Ukraine (and Telling the Family)13:48 War Zone Reality18:32 Faith & Prayer 20:28 Menopause Talk 26:04 Fitness & Mental Health in Midlife 35:21 Losing Her Mum & Living With Grief40:37 Legacy ================================================== CONNECT WITH MARVERINE📧 https://transformwithmarv.com/contact🌐 https://transformwithmarv.com/Get to know Marverine better💌My weekly email https://marverinecole.substack.com/📺My personal Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@MidlifeWithMarv☕️Grab yourself the official podcast mug while stocks last As Seen On TVhttps://transformwithmarv.com/midlife-messy-marvellous-mugIf you enjoyed this, why not buy me a coffee?https://buymeacoffee.com/midlifewithmarv==================================================CONNECT WITH GILLIANhttps://www.instagram.com/gillianjoseph101/?hl=enhttps://news.sky.com/author/gillian-joseph-979==================================================MUSIC CREDIT- Gavin Luke – The Power of One- baegel - Shibuya Bullet TrainAll music is courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com==================================================FAIR USE My videos may use snippets under the principles of fair use - as outlined in UK copyright law and international standards. The aim is to provide commentary, critique and useful analysis, which are protected under fair use provisions. All clips are edited and repurposed to create transformative content, offering original insight and enlightenment (I hope). No copyright infringement is intended. No offence is meant. However if you believe any use of content does not fall under fair use, please contact me directly to address the issue.==================================================DISCLAIMER Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week.