The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks

• #7: Sussing the aged-care system with Jean Kittson

  It starts with a small worry, then a doctor's visit, and before you know it, you're navigating the complex, emotional, and often confusing world of caring for your ageing parents. How do you manage it all without losing your sanity, your savings, or your relationships?In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to legendary Australian comedian and author Jean Kittson for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply practical guide to one of life's most challenging journeys. Drawing from her experience caring for her parents, Elaine and Roy, Jean shares the wisdom every family needs to hear.Jean shares her trademark wit and wisdom to demystify the aged care journey and empower you as a carer. She covers:Navigating the System: A no-nonsense guide to the My Aged Care portal and the ACAT assessment, and why it's crucial to get your parents into the system as early as possible.The "All Goes to Shit Kit": Learn about the essential legal and financial documents you need in place before a crisis hits, including Wills, Enduring Power of Attorney, and Advanced Care Directives.Becoming a Medical Advocate: Jean explains the importance of being your parents' voice in hospitals, the value of a good geriatrician, and how to ensure they get the care they deserve.Demystifying Palliative Care: Discover what palliative care truly is (and isn't), when it should begin, and how it can support not just the patient but the entire family.The Emotional Journey: Jean speaks candidly about sibling dynamics, the challenge of anticipatory grief, and the importance of having difficult conversations about end-of-life wishes.This is an essential, honest, and often humorous guide to navigating one of life's most difficult chapters with grace, humour, and knowledge.Find Jean Kittson hereWebsiteInstagram @jeankittsonGet Jean's book We need to talk about Mum & Dad‍Get Jean's book You're Still Hot to MeCitro is here to helpShould your senior parents still be driving?10 smart tech devices to help ageing parents stay independent10 signs your ageing parents may need more help than you think10 things I learned from parenting my parentsSandwich generation: when kids, parents and creaky joints collide

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• #6: Gut health, good fats and fuelling your future with Geraldine Georgeou

  As we get older, our bodies change. Suddenly, we’re battling belly fat, our metabolism seems to have ground to a halt, and navigating nutrition feels like a minefield of conflicting advice. Do we cut carbs? Boost protein? What on earth is a microbiome and why should we care?In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to accredited practicing dietitian Geraldine Georgeou for a sanity-saving guide to food and health after 50. Geraldine demystifies the science and cuts through the diet-culture noise to deliver practical, powerful advice on how to eat for lasting vitality. Discover why your gut is your second brain, how hormonal changes impact your body shape, and what you really need to look for in a blood test.This is an essential guide to help you build a nutritional framework that supports your health as you age.Find Geraldine Georgeou hereWebsite: Designer DietsBook: The Australian Healthy Skin DietCitro is here to helpA CITRO GUIDE: Mastering menopauseHow to end the junk food battle once and for allMaintain brain health with the MIND dietMediterranean diet 101: healthy eating for healthy ageingControl your blood pressure with the DASH dietThe truth about protein: how much you really need for healthy ageing5 reasons we remain in the dark about perimenopauseGood ways to rejuvenate your gut health (yep, including a poo transplant)Gut instinct: how to prevent age-related digestive issues like heartburnActivate your inner ally: get your gut microbiome to blossomAFTER WATCHING, PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEYYour responses will help shape upcoming episodes of The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks. Access the survey here.Please reach out if you need anything [email protected]

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• #5: Free money, future-proofing and finding your feet in retirement with Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon & Kaye Fallick

  How do you fund your life when the paycheques stop? For many of us, the world of superannuation and retirement planning is filled with confusing terms that make us want to ignore it completely. But what if you could make it simple?In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to money expert Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon and retirement commentator Kaye Fallick for a frank and practical guide to funding your future. They explore why women are often behind the eight ball and reveal why you should think of your super as "free money" to pay more attention to it. Discover the crucial interplay between the government Age Pension and your own super savings, and why the standard retirement budget might not apply if you still have a mortgage.This is an essential guide to help you get your financial ducks in a row for a comfortable and empowered retirement.Find Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon hereWebsite: Nicole's Smart MoneyInstagram: @nicolepedmckmoneyFind Kaye Fallick hereWebsite: Staying ConnectedInstagram: @connected_retirementCitro is here to helpHow much super is enough? Spoiler: no magic number existsI’m not panicking about a global recession (but I am reviewing my super strategy)How to make sure you avoid the new 15% super taxPutting extra money into super just got even more attractiveSuper theft: check your super, check your password is unique5 game-changing super moves to make in the lead up to retirementThe case for and against setting up a self-managed super fundNicole’s super boosters: 7 ways to swell your super fund in a single financial yearUnderstand the ‘4% rule’ and why you must drawdown your superAFTER WATCHING, PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEYYour responses will help shape upcoming episodes of The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks. Access the survey here.Please reach out if you need anything [email protected]

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• #4: Health, humour, and having the final say with Denise Drysdale

  What do you get when you sit down with an Australian screen legend Denise Drysdale who has worked with everyone from Ernie Sigley to Hugh Grant? You get hilarious stories about work husbands, candid conversations about ageing and some surprisingly frank advice on planning for the next chapter.In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to the one and only Denise ‘Ding Dong’ Drysdale about her incredible six decades in entertainment. Denise shares intimate memories of her 35-year partnership with her beloved “work husband” Ernie Sigley and the heartbreak of watching him develop Alzheimer's later in life.Denise opens up about why she believes health span is more important than lifespan and offers a powerful argument for why everyone should have the right to choose their own end-of-life journey.Expect unfiltered thoughts on everything from body confidence to the importance of wills and why she’s already sorted her prepaid funeral. Denise gets real about her own health battles, including a detached retina and trigeminal neuralgia, and shares her secrets for navigating the third act of life with humour and resilience. Oh, and if you listen to the end, you’ll find out her secret to perfect roast potatoes and why she thinks it’s never too late to get a fashion deal.Find Denise hereWebsiteCitro is here to helpHow to exercise through menopause and beyondCould delaying menopause help us live longer?Dementia and cognitive decline 101How to nurture social connections to feel like you truly belong7 top legal tips to make your will watertightHow to make a free will onlineAFTER WATCHING, PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEYYour responses will help shape upcoming episodes of The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks. Access the survey here.Please reach out if you need anything [email protected]

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• #3: Friendship, finances and why health is wealth with Julia Morris & Kate Langbroek

  What happens when two of Australia’s funniest women sit down for an unfiltered chat about midlife, friendship and money? Lots of talking over each other but also big reveals about menopause, the ADHD brain and, well, sharing toothbrushes. In this episode of The Midlife Shift, host Alex Brooks talks to two sassy women, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here host Julia Morris and The Project host Kate Langbroek about everything from surviving teenage kids, health tips (both have dealt with cancer diagnoses in their families), the importance of managing money and the myths around superannuation. Expect some insights on hurtling towards midlife, cancel culture and some eyebrow-raising confessions (yes, involving toothbrushes and… eyebrows). Kate and Julia also share thoughts on ADHD, menopause and the late diagnosis wave as well as what matters more: health or wealth? Oh, and if you listen to the end, you’ll discover why Julia refuses to wear shapewear and Kate is into sun gazing and dancing in the rain.   Find Julia hereInstagram: @ladyjuliamorrisBook: Julia Morris makes it easyFind Kate hereInstagram: @katelangbroekBook: Ciao Bella!Podcast: The Buck Up with Kate Langbroek and Nath ValvoCitro is here to helpHow to exercise through menopause and beyondCould delaying menopause help us live longer?Dementia and cognitive decline 101Your secret weapon against frailty: muscle powerHow to nurture social connections to feel like you truly belongHello muscles: 10 benefits of strength trainingAFTER WATCHING, PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEYYour responses will help shape upcoming episodes of The Midlife Shift with Alex Brooks. Access the survey here.Please reach out if you need anything [email protected]

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