Melinda French Gates knows everyone wants to talk about her divorce.

She gets it, and she's covered it her new book, Next Day, about handling life's transitions. But also, what she wants to talk about is change. How we pick ourselves up after those big moments that knock us off course, whether it's the end of a relationship, losing a job, becoming a parent, kids leaving home, losing someone or a a big career shift. Transitions, she knows, are moments of both struggle and opportunity.

French-Gates is the computer scientist, philanthropist and advocate who, along with her former husband, Bill Gates, founded the Gates Foundation, raising and donating billions of dollars to improve health outcomes for some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.

After her separation, French-Gates established her own philanthropic organisation, Pivotal, to advance issues that affect women and girls.

In this episode of MID she talks about how to tap into that inner whisper that becomes a roar, what her life looks like post-divorce and what she wants everyone to know about moving on 'The Next Day'.

You can buy Melinda French Gates' book here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Guest: Melinda French Gates

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Grace Rouvray

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Ward always sensed she would need to find her purpose outside of acting - for reasons she will explain in this conversation. But she never would have guessed that she’d find that purpose on a working cattle farm in rural Australia…

At MID, we like to call this time in our life the “third age” - it’s that post-work era where we’re redefining the shape of our days, our contributions, our passions and our purpose. And Rachel Ward has a LOT to say about this.

Rachel Ward is an iconic Australian actress who met Brian Brown on the set of the The Thorn Birds in 1982 and followed him to Australia, where they have lived together ever since, raising a family and working. More recently Rachel has directed films like Beautiful Kate and Palm Beach, and now, a documentary about her rural pivot.

As you’ll hear, in her third act Rachel Ward has became a farmer at 60. And not a hobby farmer, but a farmer-farmer - the real deal, inspecting her soil for dung beetles and worms.

You can follow Rachel Ward here.

And you can find out more about her documentary, Rachel’s Farm, here.

THE END BITS:

Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here.

Mamamia's new podcast BIZ is rewriting the rules of work with no generic advice - just real strategies from women who've actually been there. Listen here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Grace Rouvray

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabby Bernstein is the kind of person you mention in a group chat and instantly get five voice notes back saying, “Oh my God, she changed my life.”

She’s Oprah-approved, a New York Times best-selling author many times over, a spiritual teacher and the voice behind the wellness movement that’s got us all manifesting, journaling and choosing our battles. In this episode of MID, Holly sat down with Gabby to talk about feeling stuck, dealing with change, and the relentless voice in your head, you know the one, the inner critic.

If you’re looking for some clarity, a push to change things that aren't working for you, or just a little positivity, this conversation is for you.

Gabby Bernstein is touring the country in May follow the links here get tickets for Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.

Order Gabby's latest book, Self Help: This Is Your Chance to Change Your Life here and get a free gift! Follow Gabby on Instagram and try her gabby coaching membership app for free here.

Or, you can learn about Gabby's 21 day challenge here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Guest: Gabby Bernstein

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Grace Rouvray

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to MID Season Five...We have a very special guest.

Mia Freedman has been in countless conversations with Holly Wainwright—on mics, off mics, in meetings, in texts. But she’s never been on MID. Until now.

In this episode, Holly kicks off Season Five with someone who knows her well, and who’s read something very personal—her brand new book, He Would Never.

It’s a story about the limits and power of female friendships, narcissistic love, and the tricky transitions from girlhood to teenagehood. And Mia had thoughts. Lots of them. For one - the teenage girls we were in the 90s are very different than the teenage girls of today.

This episode is about writing and ambition. Confidence and self-doubt. Teenage daughters and their teenage selves. It’s a conversation between two women the same age, but at different parenting stages.

At the end of this episode, Holly has a very special gift for you - so stick around, you don't want to miss it.

You can pre order Holly's book He Would Never here. And it's available in all good book stores from April 29th

THE END BITS:

Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here.

Mamamia's new podcast BIZ is rewriting the rules of work with no generic advice - just real strategies from women who've actually been there. Listen here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Guest: Mia Freedman

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Grace Rouvray

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been glued to The White Lotus this season, you’re not alone. In this exclusive episode, our Head of Entertainment Laura Brodnik sits down with two of the stars from Season 3: Natasha Rothwell and Leslie Bibb.

Natasha reflects on returning to White Lotus—what’s changed since Season 1, her character’s solo journey, and going after the career she truly wants.

Leslie unpacks the internet’s wild reaction to the “three women” storyline, why it resonates with both men and women, and the power of unapologetically owning your truth. And yes, they she spills behind-the-scenes details about that pool scene.

Plus, hear their gratitude for creator Mike White—who continues to write midlife women with nuance, humour, and heart.

This special drop is inspired by a story by Holly Wainwright on Mamamia

THE END BITS:

Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright and Laura Brodnik

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Laraine’s husband died, her kids told her to stay put. Instead, she bought an RV, named her Matilda and drove away. Now, she’s a full-time “grey nomad,” looping Australia instead of ‘mowing lawns’.

In this episode, Laraine shares what it takes to downsize a life into a van, what her kids really think, the most breathtaking places she’s been, and when she’s felt truly afraid.Retirement doesn’t have to look like it used to—some keep working, others chase freedom.

Laraine’s is a story that proves life after work can be whatever you want it to be.

THE END BITS:

Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here.

Mamamia's new podcast BIZ is rewriting the rules of work with no generic advice - just real strategies from women who've actually been there. Listen here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Grace Rouvray

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antonia Murphy knows more about sex than pretty much anyone I’ve ever spoken to.

Antonia was raising three kids, including one with a serious disability, in a small town in New Zealand when her marriage unravelled. A lot of women make big changes after divorce, and Antonia took that to a whole new level - she opened a legal, ethical brothel.In this shame-free conversation, Antonia shares the set of events that led her there, what she learned about what the women who worked at the brothel wanted and needed. And, of course, what the clients - almost all men - wanted and needed. And that can be surprising.

You’re going to hear stories about the men who were dropped off by their mothers or their wives, a surprising fact about the preferred age of the women, about the worst thing any parent can imagine happened to Antonia, and generally you’re going to be in the presence of a woman who looked at how you’re supposed to carry on, when you’re a divorced, regional mother, and said, F THAT.

You can follow Antonia on Instagram here

You can find her book, Madam, here

Listen to my conversation with Rachel Griffiths, who plays Antonia in the TV series, Madam, here.

THE END BITS:

Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here.

Mamamia's new podcast BIZ is rewriting the rules of work with no generic advice - just real strategies from women who've actually been there. Listen here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Grace Rouvray

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the dream every MID woman has discussed with her best friends. You know the one. The one where you fantasise about living in a big house together, or maybe a bunch of tiny-houses on land, but the gist is the same: When we're older, we will live together and pool our resources and care for each other.

But for most of us, this dream remains a dream. For Eve Grzybowski and Heather Bolstler, two of the six people, all over the age of 70, who are living together on a beautiful property on New South Wales’ mid north coast - it is their reality. But, as you'll hear, this isn't the kind of thing you just "do."

Making this dream a reality takes planning, lots of conversations and communication and transparency - but Eve and Heather have a blueprint, and they're sharing it with you here, on MID with Holly Wainwright.

THE END BITS:

Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au

Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here.

Mamamia's new podcast BIZ is rewriting the rules of work with no generic advice - just real strategies from women who've actually been there. Listen here.

CREDITS:

Host: Holly Wainwright

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Senior Producer: Grace Rouvray

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.