Trailer

Welcome to the Midlife AF podcast - for women navigating midlife and their relationship with alcohol! 

In this preview episode, I'm sharing my intentions for the podcast and what you can expect as a regular listener to the show!

Episode #01

In this episode Emma takes us on the journey from her days as a corporate marketing manager, via a pretty unpleasant breakdown (spiritual awakening), through her long and messy break-up with alcohol and ultimately to where we find her today working as a counsellor, psychotherapist & alcohol coach, living happily alcohol-free.

Episode #02

In this Episode Emma talks to her beautiful friend and fellow alcohol coach Faye Lawrence about their recent diagnosis as ADHD.  Faye founded the extraordinary social meet-up group for people who are wanting to socialise without booze. 

Episode #03

In this episode of midlife, we meet the Queen, the thought leader, the godmother of grey area drinking and coaching - Jolene Park.

Episode #04

In this episode of Midlife AF, I'm going to introduce you to one of my favourite people and probably one of the most influential teachers that I've come across since I've been following this path to an alcohol free midlife.

Episode #05

In this episode of Midlife AF I talked to my friend, the beautiful Natalie Battaglia. Nat and I met during the alcohol experiment in 2020. Nat runs the most beautiful and amazing business, called The Mindful Mocktail. 

Episode #06

In this episode of Midlife AF, you'll get to meet my wonderful friend and virtual assistant Lou Coates. Lou joined me for the Aussie Alcohol Experiment back in July 2021. We'd never met each other before. And she was such an amazing help to me as a participant in the group reminding me to press record on my zooms, and so on. We ended up becoming friends. And I asked her to come and work with me.

Episode #07

This episode is about getting the message out there that the Aussie Alcohol Experiment program is coming, what’s involved and why it means so much to me.  We talk about why stopping drinking is not the objective of joining the alcohol experiment. Why it’s a journey of love and self discovery and such an important self care option for women in midlife. Especially with the silly season fast approaching.

Episode #08

If you are interested in alcohol-free drinks, but don’t know what to choose or where to go to find out, this episode is for you. This week’s podcast guest is the founder of Dry But Wet, a business that provides reviews and recommendations for alcohol free drinks. She is passionate about connecting people with the best alcohol free options so that they can enjoy social situations without feeling like an outsider.

Episode #09

In this episode of Midlife AF we talk about happiness, the pursuit of pleasure, and happiness as a form of contentment with the ups and downs of life.

Episode #10

On this episode of Midlife AF, I know you’re going to love meeting a very special guest, Katie Underwood!

Katie shares how to achieve an altered state through natural means when you are seeking something spiritual and enlightening without drugs or alcohol.

Episode #11

On this episode of Midlife AF, host Emma Gilmour is taking a look at what happens when we choose to be alcohol-free, but our partners and loved ones aren’t coming along for the ride.

Episode #12

Thrivalist and The Alcohol-Free lifestyle coach, Sarah Connelly shares her powerful story and gives an insight into the unique highs and lows of being a HSP.

Join Emma and Sarah as they take us on a deep dive into strategies to start rewriting what is okay and what is not okay not only at a personal level, but in a step to foster broader, positive societal change.

Episode #13

This episode I am talking about all things Christmas AF.

Or more specifically, together we will be exploring the expectations and pressure that we put on ourselves having been conditioned to be responsible for everybody else's experience.

It’s not your typical Christmas chit chat, so strap in for some self-love!

Episode #14

On this episode of Midlife AF, I know you’re going to love meeting a very special guest, my client and dear friend Ali!

In this episode, Ali shares her own unique pathway towards living a happy, alcohol-free life which has seen many ups, downs and in-betweens.

Episode #15 

It’s officially 2023, so naturally in this episode I'm going to talk about what the New Year means for me, and what it can mean for you as you navigate all of the feelings that come with the unwrapping of a brand new calendar.

Episode #16

In this episode, we talk about social awkwardness, feeling the responsibility for everybody else's experience, as well as touching on the important topic of emotional sobriety.

Episode #17

This episode we are talking about The Buzz - the reason people drink.

That super guy who comes in and makes everything warm and fluffy, takes us away from ourselves, stops the bloody chatter in our head, gives us an excuse to sit down, gives us that floaty light feeling, and enables us to be fun and funny...or does he?

Episode #18

This episodes guest, Ellie Crowe is a This Naked Mind grey-area drinking coach and podcast host of Present and Sober.

Ellie has been alcohol free since 2019 and is passionate about helping other moms reconnect with themselves and find freedom from alcohol.

Episode #19

In this episode, Emma explores why taking a break from drinking and reducing alcohol consumption is the most radical act of self-care. She shares how the fear of being rejected, alone, and unloved can be present in people who drink, especially those with trauma in their backgrounds.

Episode #20

In this episode Emma welcomes Rebecca to share her powerful and relatable alcohol-free journey with the world.

After six years of living a completely alcohol-free life, Bec found herself craving the odd drink or two. And slowly but surely, alcohol started to get a bit of a hold again as she began to hide her drinking and feel the shame attached to it.

Episode #21

Emma Walkinshaw is the creator of 21 Minutes of Morning Magic - a program designed to provide a daily practice of yoga, meditation and journaling and in this episode she shares her journey of mindfulness and the power of curiosity.

By taking a break from alcohol, Emma has achieved a higher level of joy in her life which she now shares with others on their alcohol-free journey.

Episode #22

When Amelia found herself struggling with her relationship with alcohol, she joined the Aussie Alcohol Experiment and began a journey of self-discovery and sobriety, discovering that her path to freedom is supported by a powerful and uplifting group of women.

Episode #23

This BONUS episode explores what taking a break from booze and exploring what your relationship with alcohol is really about!

The Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment is based on research, compassion, and understanding. It is an experiment, rather than a program to stop drinking, and the goal is to break limiting beliefs around alcohol. 

Episode #24

When today's guest - a yoga teacher and meditation healer - sought help for her emotional and physical instability, she discovered that the last time she drank was the start of her journey to reclaim her power and stop her 10+ year dependency on alcohol.

Episode #25

In this powerful episode, Liz opens up about her journey as a lawyer who worked with traumatised women for 10 years before reaching breaking point and knowing she had to change her career.

After discovering Qoya - a movement practice that allowed her to connect with her body and express her emotions without judgement or expectations - Liz became a Qoya teacher and used it as a powerful tool to rebuild her identity post-burnout and alcohol.

Episode #26

Take a deep breath, replace guilt with gratitude, and create your best life with a special guest, Heidi Nicole.

Heidi is a sober lifestyle coach and a 20-year Air Force veteran. She is a trained Grey Area Drinking Coach who is passionate about empowering women to create a new lifestyle and reach their full potential.

Episode #27

After a lifetime of partying, Faye Lawrence found herself navigating a new reality when she stopped drinking and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, accountability, and connection as she discovered a new way to socialise without alcohol and challenge the stigma that comes with it.

Faye is a world-leading Gray area drinking coach and founder of Untoxicated, a sober meetup group. She has written a Ted Talk on the subject and runs her own coaching business.

Episode #28

Emma's life was filled with chaotic energy, yet she managed to keep it all together until she suddenly experienced an emotional breakdown. As she began to rebuild her life, she discovered her two children had ADHD and autism. This led her to learn more about neurodivergence and perimenopause, which she believes was the key to understanding her own struggles. After years of trying to fit in, she finally found peace and is now helping other women in midlife find the same.

Episode #29

Special guest Rebecca Maxwell is a divorce coach who helps women navigate the breakup or breakdown of a relationship.  She encourages her clients to create their own joy and to trust their intuition to create the life they want.

Rebecca took a year off drinking when she was going through her own divorce, and she believes that taking a break from alcohol can help people to manage their feelings of discontent in their relationships.  She believes taking a break from alcohol helped her to push her own boundaries and find her true self again.

Episode #30

In this episode of Midlife AF, Emma takes a deep dive into the topic of authenticity versus attachment, and how it affects us as women in midlife who are finding our groove without booze.

Emma discusses the importance of being our true selves and the struggles we face when trying to fit in with societal norms. She also touches on attachment theory and how our adaptive behaviors are formed.

Episode #31

This week's guest is Jo Wise, a dynamic leadership coach who specialises in helping women navigate their midlife experiences with grace and authenticity.

Jo's love for swimming has opened the door for her to make genuine connections with other women, forming supportive and inspiring friendships. She believes in the importance of having a network of strong, like-minded individuals who are driven to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. 

Episode #32

Are you a woman in midlife looking to travel without alcohol? In this episode of Midlife AF, Emmas talks about her recent long-distance flight experience and the differences in travelling sober versus with alcohol. She discusses her upcoming program, the Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment Live, and shares tips for navigating travel without relying on alcohol to relax, soothe pain, or ease nerves.

Episode #33

Join host Emma Gilmour in this  episode as she explores the profound connection between living alcohol-free and unlocking our human potential.

Discover how shedding the constraints of alcohol can lead to embracing authenticity, intuition, and a life of abundance. Get ready to tap into your own magic and unleash your true potential in this inspiring episode.

Episode #34

In this episode Emma Gilmour shares her personal experience with the Alcohol Experiment and shares what sets it apart from other alcohol-related programs. As the launch of the program approaches, Emma reflects on how participating in the experiment and now leading it herself has made a profound difference in her ongoing relationship with alcohol. 

Episode #35

In this episode Emma is joined by special guest Jane Hutchinson, a nurse, herbalist, nutritionist, and women's health expert.

Emma and Jane delve into the importance of rest during the midlife stage, particularly in perimenopause and beyond. They explore the challenges women face, the impact of societal expectations, and how rest can be a transformative tool for well-being.