Some of you who are reading this have been in my world in the past few years and you will know that I was known for supporting women through their menopause transition. I helped them lose weight and reduce their symptoms by sharing with them how they could harness their genetic blueprint to create a lifestyle that had them living in alignment with the way their body’s had been designed. Women who did my programs all got great results and from the outside my business looked like a great success. I had a team of coaches who delivered my programs, I achieved a financial success that I had always dreamt of, I was winning awards and other recognitions. It all looked great from the outside…BUT…

I doubted myself, I saw myself as an imposter and worst of all I was losing the joy in my business. I have been in business for 20 years but at the end of last year I was prepared to walk away from it all and retire. But there was a part of me that wasn’t ready to give it all up completely so I decided to take 6 months off to work out what was next for me.

The past 6 months has had me hiking 105km around the Cornwall Coast, reading over 50 fiction books, sleeping, creating pottery pieces and of course lots of hiking. I had made a clear decision at the end of last year that I was going to move out of the peri-menopause space because it was getting way too noisy. I love that women are talking about peri-menopause and menopause but I think that there are too many voices at the moment. Everyone seems to have jumped on the peri-menopause brand wagon, all with different opinions and solutions. I felt that there was a saturation of information on the topic and it was time for me to take a step back.

Throughout my 20 years as a naturopath I have always found that I was a few years ahead to the clients I was working with e.g. when my children were starting school I was working with lots of Mums who had toddlers, when my kids were teenagers I worked with stressed Mums who had primary school kids etc. So the past 7 years I have been working with women in peri-menopause while I was post-menopause. All along I have been sharing my own learnings and experiences with those women coming behind me. Some would say I was sharing my wisdom.

Now it is time for me to step up and share my wisdom with women who are feeling like they are stuck in groundhog day and are wondering what’s next.

I have spent the past 6 months wondering “what’s next” for me. I am not completely sure of the answer yet but I do know that retiring is not on the cards for me at the moment.

Boredom won’t allow me to retire right now 😉

So my first step into “what’s next” is to launch a new podcast called “Wise Women’s Conversations”. This is where I will be sharing some of my wisdom that I have gathered over the past 20 years of running my own naturopathic and health coaching business as well as some of my life experience. I am a lifelong learner and I love sharing the things that I learn from others. I will also be speaking to other women on the podcast who have their own stories and wisdom to share.

I truly believe that life after 55 can bring us so much joy. When you no longer have as many responsibilities to others, there are so many opportunities available to you. Whether you are like me and you want to hike in various places around the world or if you have other dreams that you have put off until later.

Later is now. You deserve to live the life you have always desired and it starts with making a decision that you want something different. I am not saying that you need to blow everything up, just start with some simple changes and that might be by looking at where you can improve your health.

I would love for you to come along on this wonderful journey with me. I have no idea where it is going but I would love to have some Wise Women Conversations with other women. Let me know if you are up for a chat, whether that’s here on Substack or maybe you even want to be a guest on my podcast.

Hit the Subscribe button so that you don’t miss any of the new podcast episodes or any of the chats that I start. At the moment everything is free as I try out this new platform.

Infinite Love and Gratitude

Angela

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When was the last time you stopped and thought about what brings you genuine joy?

For many women, especially those who have spent years building businesses, leading teams, raising families or caring for others, fun often slips to the bottom of the priority list. We become so focused on responsibility that we forget to ask ourselves what actually lights us up.

In this episode of Wise Women's Conversations, I explore my own relationship with fun and why I've never considered myself to be a particularly playful person. Instead, I've discovered that fun doesn't have to look the same for everyone.

Drawing on my understanding of genetics, hormones and personality, I share why some people thrive on play and connection, while others find joy through adventure, creativity, movement or simply being immersed in nature.

The important question isn't whether you're having fun in the same way as someone else.

It's whether you're making space for the things that bring you pleasure, lightness and joy.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why many successful women struggle to prioritise fun

• Rethinking the traditional definition of fun

• How our biology and dominant hormones influence what we enjoy

• Why comparison can stop us recognising what genuinely brings us joy

• The difference between play, pleasure, adventure and connection

• How hiking, dance and spending time with my dogs help me reconnect with myself

• Simple ways to bring more lightness into everyday life

Reflection Question

What does fun look like for you?

Is there something you've been putting off because it doesn't seem "productive"? What small step could you take this week to bring a little more joy into your life?

In this episode of Wise Women's Conversations, I share the deeply personal story behind why I made the difficult decision to close a successful business, step away from programmes that were changing women's lives, and embrace a season of uncertainty.

As someone who loves having a plan, learning to sit with "I don't know" wasn't easy. But taking that step created the space I needed to reconnect with myself, spend more time in nature and discover what was waiting beneath the surface.

One of the most powerful lessons came while hiking. After a controlled burn-off in my local national park, I watched new life begin to emerge through the blackened earth. It became a beautiful reminder that even when life feels as though it's been burnt to the ground, new beginnings are often quietly taking shape.

If you're experiencing change in your career, your business, your relationships or simply wondering what comes next, I hope this conversation reminds you that you don't need to have all the answers today.

Sometimes your next chapter begins by simply trusting yourself enough to take the next small step.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why I chose to close a successful business

• The discomfort of not knowing what comes next

• How identity changes as we move through our 50s and beyond

• Why many successful women struggle with uncertainty

• The lessons nature has taught me about growth and renewal

• The importance of self-trust during times of transition

• Why looking after your health creates the foundation for everything else

• Taking small steps instead of waiting for the perfect plan

Reflection Question

Where is your happy place?

Where do you feel most like yourself? Where do you find clarity when life feels uncertain?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

After nearly 300 episodes of the Menopause Conversations podcast, I knew it was time for something new.

This podcast isn't just about menopause. It's about what comes next.

For many women, reaching our 50s and 60s brings a new set of questions. Our children may have grown up, our careers may have changed, and we finally have the opportunity to ask ourselves:

What do I want for this next stage of my life?

In this introductory episode, I share why I stepped away from my previous business, what I learnt during that time, and why I felt called to begin this new conversation.

We'll be exploring health, wellbeing, mindset, purpose and the wisdom that comes with experience. Most importantly, we'll be talking about what's possible as we age, because I believe this can be one of the most fulfilling chapters of our lives.

Whether you're a business owner, a leader, or simply a woman wondering what comes next, I hope these conversations encourage you to think differently about ageing and inspire you to create a life that feels meaningful and true to you.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why I decided to finish the Menopause Conversations podcast

• Stepping away from burnout and creating space to reflect

• Why I chose to return with a completely new podcast

• The questions many women ask as they move through their 50s and beyond

• Why ageing doesn't mean becoming invisible

• The importance of continuing to challenge ourselves and pursue new adventures

• What you can expect from future episodes of Wise Women's Conversations

I'd love to hear from you

What conversations would you like us to have?

If there's a topic you'd like me to explore in a future episode, I'd love to hear from you. Simply send me an email (angela@angelacounsel.com) and let me know what's on your mind.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another woman who might enjoy joining these conversations.