The Freedom of Going Alone

What happens when you stop waiting for someone else to come with you?

In this solo episode of Unfiltered & Unbound, Kate explores the freedom of travelling alone in midlife — not because solo travel is somehow better than travelling with other people, but because sometimes going alone gives you something different.

There is no coordinating annual leave, negotiating budgets, compromising on destinations or adjusting your pace to suit someone else. You decide where you go, how long you stay, what you do and when you change your mind.

And solo travel does not have to mean an international adventure. It might be interstate, a weekend away, a road trip, or simply exploring somewhere closer to home on your own terms.

This episode is less about travel itself and more about what it can represent: independence, curiosity, confidence and the freedom to make decisions without waiting for permission, company or the “right” time.

Kate also reflects on the difference between choosing solitude and feeling lonely, why safety and practical planning still matter, and why midlife can be a good time to stop organising your life around someone else’s timetable.

Because sometimes freedom looks like simply deciding: I want to go, so I’m going.

In this episode:

• Why Kate enjoys travelling both alone and with others
• The practical freedom that comes with solo travel
• Why going alone does not automatically mean being lonely
• The difference between choosing solitude and feeling isolated
• Why you do not need to wait for someone else to be available before making plans
• How solo travel can be as small or as adventurous as you want it to be
• Why safety, planning and confidence can coexist with spontaneity
• What travelling alone can teach us about making decisions on our own terms

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About Unfiltered & Unbound

Unfiltered & Unbound is independent media for women 50+, challenging the stereotypes and inherited societal rules about how women should age, work, love, lead and live.

If you know someone who is newly single, navigating dating again, or just finding her feet after a relationship ends, send this episode her way.

The conversation explores the experience of being single again, over 50, and stepping back into the world of dating. It delves into the challenges, delights, and surprises of dating at this stage of life, as well as the baffling experience of ghosting, unfair labels, and misconceptions, and the risks and red flags associated with modern dating. The conversation delves into the reality of scamming, the importance of spotting red flags, safety rules for dating, awareness and precautions, setting boundaries, self-discovery and confidence, navigating the dating scene, the dating survival kit, and the many faces of dating. Barbara shares her experiences and insights, providing valuable advice for women re-entering the dating world after fifty.

Takeaways

• Rediscovering identity and self-exploration are essential aspects of dating after 50.
• The experience of ghosting and unfair labels in dating after 50 can be challenging and baffling. Scamming is a real threat in the dating world
• Setting boundaries and being aware of red flags is crucial for safety

In Part Two of my conversation with Kylie Anderson, we talk about what it really means to train through perimenopause and midlife when your body no longer responds quite the way it once did.

Kylie shares her experience of fatigue, disrupted sleep, night sweats, mood changes and the challenge of continuing to train while managing work, parenting and everyday life. We discuss why pushing harder is not always the answer, and why adapting training can be far more effective than trying to out-train exhaustion.

We also talk about strength training, recovery, fuelling and the importance of maintaining muscle, bone health and physical function as we get older. Kylie shares how strength work has become a non-negotiable part of her week, while we discuss letting go of comparisons with what we could do 10 or 15 years ago and redefining what progress looks like now.

The conversation also touches on sports nutrition, under-fuelling and RED-S — Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport — as well as some of the diet messages many women grew up with and why simply eating less may not support training, recovery or long-term health.

We also discuss our personal experiences and perspectives on creatine, HRT and the increasing use of GLP-1 medications, including the importance of maintaining adequate nutrition and resistance training when these medications are being used.

Ultimately, though, this episode is about more than training. It is about adapting without giving up, continuing to see yourself as an athlete even when the goalposts move, and making space for the things that bring you joy.

Further reading

• Resistance training, nutrition and maintaining lean mass while using GLP-1 medications
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12683586/

• Creatine supplementation and the research supporting its use
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11723027/

• RED-S and sports nutrition for active women and athletes
https://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/additional-resources/reds/potential-long-term-effects

Please note: This episode includes personal experiences and general discussion about menopause, HRT, nutrition, supplements, exercise and prescription medications. It is not intended as individual medical or nutrition advice.

If anything discussed in this episode raises questions about your own health, medications, menopause symptoms, fuelling or training, please seek advice from a suitably qualified health professional who can consider your individual circumstances.

The conversation delves into the experience of a midlife identity crisis, the pressure of authenticity in social media, the challenges of owning a small business, and the resilience and community in endurance sports. Each chapter explores these themes in depth, providing valuable insights and perspectives. The conversation delves into the themes of empowering women through community and the transformative power of therapy. It also explores the challenges of navigating perimenopause and the disruption it brings to life. The discussion highlights the importance of building a supportive community, the impact of therapy on personal growth, and the experiences of women dealing with perimenopause and its effects on training and daily life. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including perimenopause and hormonal changes, the impact on physical training, nutrition and fueling for performance, and embracing new experiences. The key takeaways include the importance of chasing joy and embracing new experiences, especially in midlife.

Takeaways

• Midlife identity crisis
• Authenticity in social media
• Challenges of owning a small business
• Resilience and community in endurance sports Empowering women through community
• The transformative power of therapy Chase joy
• Embrace new experiences

Chapters

• 00:00 Midlife Identity Crisis
• 03:05 Authenticity in Social Media
• 10:02 Challenges of Owning a Small Business
• 20:05 Resilience and Community in Endurance Sports
• 28:50 Empowering Women Through Community
• 39:34 The Transformative Power of Therapy

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https://foher.co/

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This episode delves into the topic of sex and intimacy in midlife, addressing listener questions and concerns. The conversation covers understanding sexual needs and boundaries, healthy boundaries in sexual relationships, maintaining emotional and physical intimacy in long-distance relationships, the psychological roots of sexual anxiety, working through it, and building a healthier relationship with the body in intimate contexts. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to sexual health and well-being, including building a healthier relationship with one's body, understanding and communicating sexual preferences, the impact of chronic stress on sexual well-being, causes of pain or discomfort during intimacy, the impact of medications on sexual desire, exploring sexual identity in a healthy way, and the timing of sexual relationships with new partners. The discussion emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, communication, and consent in sexual relationships.

Takeaways

• Understanding sexual needs and boundaries is essential for healthy relationships.
• Maintaining emotional and physical intimacy in long-distance relationships requires open communication and regular check-ins. Self-awareness and communication are key to building a healthier relationship with one's body.
• Chronic stress can have a significant impact on sexual well-being.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Sex and Intimacy in Midlife
• 03:08 Understanding Sexual Needs and Boundaries
• 09:03 Healthy Boundaries in Sexual Relationships
• 13:55 Maintaining Emotional and Physical Intimacy in Long-Distance Relationships
• 21:54 Psychological Roots of Sexual Anxiety and Working Through It
• 29:01 Building a Healthier Relationship with the Body in Intimate Contexts
• 34:21 Building a Healthier Relationship with Your Body
• 34:49 Understanding and Communicating Sexual Preferences
• 35:27 The Impact of Chronic Stress on Sexual Well-being
• 43:21 Causes of Pain or Discomfort During Intimacy
• 49:22 The Impact of Medications on Sexual Desire
• 53:17 Exploring Sexual Identity in a Healthy Way
• 55:22 Timing of Sexual Relationships with New Partners

Naomi Hutchings - Website

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Women over 50 are challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers by starting businesses, learning new skills, and pursuing new experiences. Representation of women in midlife is important for changing perceptions and inspiring others. The podcast aims to share stories of women over 50 who are doing something new and defying expectations.

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Guest: Kirstin Bouse, clinical and forensic psychologist and founder of All About Her, the Centre for Menopause

What happens when a woman who has always managed to cope suddenly feels as though she no longer can?

In this episode of Unfiltered & Unbound, Kate speaks with Kirstin Bouse about the complicated overlap between anxiety, perimenopause, burnout, identity and the invisible load many women carry through midlife.

Kirstin explains why anxiety can appear for the first time during perimenopause, or return in a form that feels very different from anything a woman has experienced before. They discuss panic-like symptoms, disrupted sleep, overwhelm, brain fog, reduced confidence and the frightening sense of no longer recognising yourself.

Kirstin also shares one of the simplest and most memorable ideas from the episode: chase joy. Supporting mental health is not only about reducing difficult symptoms. It is also about actively making room for the people, experiences and moments that help life feel more like your own.

Kate and Kirstin discuss:

• why anxiety can emerge or intensify during perimenopause
• what midlife anxiety can look like in women who have never considered themselves anxious
• the overlap between perimenopause, burnout and chronic overwhelm
• sleep disruption, panic symptoms, brain fog and reduced confidence
• why hormonal changes can affect mental health
• preparing for a conversation with your GP or psychologist
• the importance of self-compassion and becoming more discerning with your energy
• why feeling better does not have to mean returning to overfunctioning
• the role joy can play in supporting wellbeing through midlife

Kirstin Bouse is a clinical and forensic psychologist with nearly 30 years of experience. She is the founder of All About Her, the Centre for Menopause, and works primarily with women navigating perimenopause, menopause, burnout and late-diagnosed neurodivergence.

Kirstin brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, helping women understand what is happening, access appropriate support and move through midlife with greater clarity and self-compassion.

All About Her, the Centre for Menopause
https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

Instagram — The Midlife Psychologist
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Subscribe to Unfiltered & Unbound wherever you listen to podcasts so you do not miss future conversations about the realities, decisions and possibilities of midlife.

This episode provides general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical or psychological advice. Do not stop or change medication without speaking with a qualified health professional. If anything discussed in this episode feels familiar or concerning, please speak with your GP, psychologist or another appropriately qualified practitioner.