The Mid•Point with Gabby Logan

This week, Gabby takes a deep dive into the biology of ageing with Professor Rose Anne Kenny. Professor Kenny is a physician, researcher, and the founding principal investigator of The Irish LongituDinal study on Ageing. Rose Anne is also a best-selling author, and Gabby has read her book - Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life - cover to cover! They discuss key topics from her research, including what epigenetics are and how we can influence them and our biological ageing, the commonalities that people living in the so-called Blue Zones have and what this teaches us about how to live long and healthy lives, and how research shows it’s never too late to make a difference to how you’re ageing on the inside. Professor Kenny also answers your questions on everything from supplements and exercise, to how much we should eat as we get older.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite still being in her thirties, Olympic gold medallist and British sporting icon, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to navigating big transitions in life. Having retired from professional sport in 2016, Jess talks about how she had been so focused on being the best heptathlete she could be, that despite being happy to retire, she had no plan B when the time came. However, motherhood had set her on a journey to learning more about the significance of hormonal cycles and changes, and from this a new passion was born! Jess speaks about how she's determined to help women unlock their performance goals and understand more about their bodies, and GP and menopause specialist Dr Louise Newson also joins to discuss the hormonal changes that can occur particularly in midlife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabby welcomes broadcaster and writer, Adrian Chiles, to the podcast room! Adrian speaks with his usual candour about how getting his dream job set him on a path of self-reflection, resulting in newfound religion and a midlife diagnosis of ADHD. Adrian also challenges society’s perception of what alcoholism is, and shares some of what he’s learned from writing his book The Good Drinker. We also hear from Matt Pink, Co founder of the Dryy app, about his decision to adopt an alcohol free life and how he’s helping other people to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s not every day you get to chat to a Hollywood actress, but this week, Gabby does exactly that! Olivia Williams has starred in some hugely successful films, such as Sixth Sense, Rushmore and The Heart of Me. She has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business, and yet she has managed to retain a certain level of anonymity which has enabled her to enjoy her family life. She speaks about the double-edged nature of fame when you’re an actress, the importance of not caring, and of course, what it is like to be playing The Queen Consort in The Crown. Olivia also speaks very openly about living with cancer following her diagnosis in 2018, and through sharing her own experience, she explains exactly why early detection is so important. Functional Nutrition and Weight Loss Practitioner, Pippa Campbell, also gives her thoughts on eating the right foods for your metabolic type, something she fully explores in her book Eat Right Lose Weight.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kenny joins Gabby for another special episode this week! The couple come together to talk about the prospect of their soon to be empty nest and how best to prepare for it, as well as how to support your children through tough exam periods. Gabby also puts your questions to Kenny, and they discuss everything from each other’s pet peeves to what lessons their children are teaching them about life!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is not (quite!) at the midpoint of life yet, but as a retired sportsperson, James Haskell has already experienced many things we go through in midlife.It’s sometimes said that sportspeople have two deaths, but if anything, James has just had multiple rebirths. Since retiring from rugby, he’s tried his hand at many things and is now a successful podcaster, author, and DJ. Given that he is knowledgeable on such a wide range of topics, Gabby puts your questions to him as today’s “expert” – although he prefers “Agony Aunt” as a title! He shares his thoughts on everything from fitness to mental health, physical recovery to career change. James’ latest book Approach Without Caution: The 5-Step Plan to Take Control of Your Life is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and host of the very successful podcast How To Fail, Elizabeth Day, has come very close to turning failure into an academic discipline! And she is sharing all she has learned with Gabby this week. Elizabeth’s podcasts and books have helped to reshape the language around failure and now she is hoping to do the same with friendship, starting with her new book Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict. As you'll hear, it turns out that the mid point is a great time to take stock of your friend inventory! Elizabeth does also discuss how she is coming to terms with infertility in midlife, so please take care whilst listening. Nutritionist and author, Rhiannon Lambert, is also here to discuss how our gut microbiome changes in midlife and ways we can mitigate negative side effects such as bloating.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strictly dancer and now judge, Anton Du Beke, chats to Gabby about show business and the importance of honing your craft, why he couldn’t have imagined being a dad before he was fifty, and of course, what Strictly has taught him about women in their midlife! Former Olympian and Physical Activity Expert , Professor Greg Whyte, is also on the podcast to talk about “the bare minimum” when it comes to movement, and how it might be more than you think… Fear not, Greg has plenty of tips for how we can incorporate more exercise into our daily lives! You can find out more about Greg’s work here.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have a new addition to The Mid•Point podcast! We are letting experts take centre stage in a new topic-led strand to educate us in a series of episodes on subjects that are of particular interest to midlifers.For this first one, Gabby is joined by health and beauty journalist Nadine Baggott, who is here to answer all your questions on anything from dry pre-menopausal skin to the pro’s and cons of botox, from hair loss hacks to which five products middle-aged people should invest in without breaking the bank. Nadine also talks about how over time she has come to embrace her face and body for all that it is, and see beauty as a more holistic enterprise which starts from within.You can find more tips plus product and treatment reviews on Nadine’s Youtube channel and Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kenny Logan and Kirsty Gallacher join Gabby for a special bonus episode, focusing on special friendships – special, but not that special you understand! Gabby and Kirsty have been best friends since before Gabby and Kenny became an item, and so Kenny explains how he felt he joined their relationship and not the other way around. They try to get to the bottom of why some people’s partners are closer to some friends than others, and the importance of trust and respect in any friendship but particularly in midlife. Things take a slightly strange turn when throuples are discussed and we hear an awful lot about one particular pair of Wimbledon boxer shorts, but do listen out for Kirsty’s wonderful impressions of Kenny! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.