You’re exhausted from being all things to all people. Madly juggling parenting, elder care, job, health. Maybe you’re also supporting your young adults who aren’t quite ‘fully fledged’.

If you feel like you’re constantly teetering on the brink of burnout and playing ‘Whack-a-Mole’ with possible peri/menopause symptoms…

Then Holding Up The Sky is the safety net you didn’t know you needed but is going to change the game for you.

A community that builds in:

• group coaching (with two accredited coaches, alternating once per fortnight)

• expert workshops (on topics like breathwork, dealing with burnout, yoga therapy, perimenopause, navigating SEND systems, divorce, elder care, bereavement and more)

• quarterly Q&A sessions with GP and BMS Advanced practitioner Dr Beth Thomas

• community support - dip in and out as much as you wish

• available on desktop or app, toggle between both on the go

• practical advice and resources (links, books, podcasts, worksheets) so you can navigate your way through the “midlife collision” without losing your sh*t…

This is for you… if you’re a midlife woman feeling like they are doing Everything, Everywhere, All At Once...and want to rewrite your narrative before you reach burnout.

This isn't… another program promising to "fix" you in 30 days. This is a membership space built from hundreds of conversations about what we actually need:

Permission to not have it all figured out

Practical tools that work in real life (not just on Instagram)

A community that gets it without you having to explain

Expert guidance from people who've walked this path

We'd love to welcome you in to our community space, come and find out more at www.holdingupthesky.com or subscribe at https://holdingupthesky.circle.so/checkout/launch-monthly-membership

Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Emma welcomes Jane Moffett, a coach and author who specializes in helping women navigate the transitions in their careers and lives. Jane is the founder and director of Kangaroo Coaching, a company that works with organisations who are committed to creating progressive workplace cultures. She runs coaching programmes for new parent employees and their line managers, offers 1:1 and group coaching, and is a researcher and writer. Her most recent work is with women who are navigating their way out of work and into their next stage of life. She regularly runs her ‘Empowered Women’ courses aimed at the late-career stage, and her book ‘What next? The savvy woman’s guide to redefining retirement’ is out on 9th September.

• Postmenopausal Zest: coined by Margaret Mead, this concept refers to a renewed sense of purpose and clarity that many women experience after menopause. Jane emphasizes the importance of authenticity during this stage, encouraging women to pursue what truly lights them up.
• The Third Stage of Women’s Careers: This stage is characterized by a shift from “work you need to do” to “work you want to do.” Jane highlights the importance of leveraging past experiences and networks when transitioning into new ventures.
• Entrepreneurship Among Women: The fastest-growing cohort of entrepreneurs is women in their fifties. Jane encourages bravery and proactivity, urging women to draw on their strengths and reach out to their networks.
• Navigating Empty Nest Syndrome: Acknowledging the psychological transition when children leave home can help women focus on their own identities and aspirations.
• Investing in Intangible Assets: Jane discusses the concept of investing in productive, vitality, and transformational assets to enhance longevity and fulfilment in life. Self-knowledge and community involvement are crucial for successful transformation.
• Finding Purpose: The Japanese concept of "Ikigai" is introduced as a framework for finding purpose by combining what you love, what you’re good at, and what contributes to others. Jane shares practical exercises like free writing to help individuals discover their purpose.
• The Gender Pension Gap: Women often retire with significantly less in pension savings compared to men, primarily due to salary disparities and career breaks. Jane stresses the importance of considering pension wealth in life planning, especially during major life transitions like divorce.
• Redefining Retirement: The traditional binary view of work and retirement is evolving; people are exploring varied paths that may include part-time work, entrepreneurship, or new hobbies. Planning for retirement should focus on creating a fulfilling and personalized experience.

• Jane’s Website: Kangaroo Coaching – where you can find resources and a workbook for self-reflection: https://kangaroocoaching.net/from-retired-to-redefined
• Jane’s Book: What Next? The Savvy Woman's Guide to Redefining Retirement – available from September 9, 2025
• Exploratory Writing by Alison Jones – a resource for reflective writing practices.

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

Want to work with me?

Join me over at www.holdingupthesky.com

Coaching with me at http://www.thetripleshift.org

Menopause in the workplace support at www.managingthemenopause.com

Connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

Follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

Or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/

In this enlightening episode I chat with Dr Rachael Crystal, a GP and accredited menopause specialist, about the complex relationship between burnout and perimenopause.

We explore how hormonal changes, stress, and life pressures intertwine, impacting women's mental and physical well-being during midlife.

Rachel shares her Masters research on the lived experiences of professional women navigating burnout during perimenopause, revealing key themes like loss of identity, the importance of support, and pathways to empowerment. If you're curious about recognizing burnout, understanding hormonal impacts, or seeking ways to thrive through midlife, this episode is packed with valuable insights and hope.

Key Points & Takeaways:

• Burnout & Perimenopause Overlap: Many women experience symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, and emotional detachment during perimenopause, often exacerbated by stress and life pressures. These symptoms can be mistaken for other issues, leading to confusion and delayed support.
• The Role of Hormones: Fluctuating oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels during perimenopause impact brain function, resilience, and stress management, making women more vulnerable to burnout.
• Research Insights: Rachael's qualitative research with 15 women uncovered four key themes, including the "lost in transition" feeling—women feeling a loss of identity and grappling with the invisible pressures of work and life.
• Challenges in Diagnosis: Many women struggle to get clear answers, often being misdiagnosed or told their symptoms are due to stress or depression. Blood tests may not always provide clarity in perimenopause.
• Pathways to Empowerment: Supportive interventions like hormone replacement therapy (HRT), coaching, counseling, and building community can help women regain confidence, set boundaries, and re-evaluate their lives.
• The Power of Community & Support: Normalizing conversations about menopause and burnout, creating safe spaces, and sharing stories can reduce stigma and foster resilience.
• Hope & Positive Change: Many women find empowerment and renewed confidence after navigating these challenges, often emerging with clearer boundaries, stronger self-awareness, and a sense of freedom.

Connect with Rachael and learn more about her work at Manchester Menopause Hive (https://manchestermenopausehive.co.uk/) and via The Burnout Revolution podcast and Substack newsletter (https://rachaelchrystal.substack.com/podcast)

If you enjoy the podcast please help us grow by sharing this episode, or writing a review.

Want to work with me?

Join me over at www.holdingupthesky.com - our new community for women navigating the "midlife collision"

Coaching with me at http://www.thetripleshift.org

Menopause in the workplace support at www.managingthemenopause.com

Connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/

Follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/middlingalong_podcast/

Or subscribe to my Substack at https://middlingalong.substack.com/