Marverine Cole Launches Midlife, Messy and Marvellous Podcast | Brenda Edwards Opens Up on Menopause
Award-winning journalist and presenter Marverine Cole has launched a brand-new podcast series dedicated to one of the most underrepresented — yet universally experienced — life stages: midlife and menopause.
Titled Midlife, Messy and Marvellous, the six-part series gives women over 40 a long-overdue platform to speak openly about perimenopause, menopause, ambition, reinvention, grief, identity shifts and the emotional complexity of midlife.
At a time when conversations around women’s health are finally gaining momentum, this podcast positions itself at the intersection of empowerment, vulnerability and practical guidance — and it’s already resonating.
Menopause is no longer a whispered word. It’s trending. It’s political. It’s workplace policy. It’s healthcare reform. But while awareness is increasing, representation remains uneven.
Women in their 40s and 50s — particularly women from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds — often find their experiences reduced to hot flashes and hormone therapy discussions. What’s frequently missing is:
The emotional reckoning
The career recalibration
The grief of unmet expectations
The shift in identity
The societal invisibility many report feeling
That’s the gap Marverine Cole is stepping into.
Rather than positioning menopause solely as a medical milestone, Midlife, Messy and Marvellous frames it as a transformational life chapter — messy, yes — but also marvellous.
Inside “Midlife, Messy and Marvellous”
4
The six-episode series blends candid storytelling with practical insights. Each episode features women from high-profile careers and varied lived experiences — many of whom admit they were blindsided by midlife changes.
Marverine, who brings more than 23 years of experience in national and international television news, sets the tone with authenticity. She shares her own experience of perimenopause arriving unexpectedly, coinciding with turning 50 and reassessing long-held ambitions.
In her words, hitting perimenopause “blindsided” her. It forced reflection not just on hormones, but on dreams deferred and new paths yet to be defined.
That relatability is central to the series.
Marverine Cole: A Career Built on Clarity and Courage
Before stepping into podcasting full-time, Marverine built a formidable career across broadcast journalism.
Her professional portfolio includes:
Breakfast TV newsreading
Senior lecturing in journalism
Certified life coaching
Beer sommelier expertise
That blend of newsroom authority and coaching empathy gives her a unique interviewing style — one that balances journalistic precision with emotional depth.
Unlike traditional menopause discussions driven by clinical frameworks, Marverine’s approach is conversational and expansive. She explores:
Emotional wellbeing
Identity shifts
Relationships
Workplace dynamics
Resilience and reinvention
Episode One: Brenda Edwards on Early Menopause and Grief
4
The debut episode features powerhouse performer and broadcaster Brenda Edwards, known for her work on Loose Women and her role in Paddington on the West End.
Brenda opens up about:
Experiencing early menopause following a stage three breast cancer diagnosis
Navigating life after treatment
Coping with the devastating loss of her son, Jamal Edwards
Her story adds depth to the conversation around menopause, highlighting how it can intersect with serious health challenges and profound personal loss.
Listeners describe the episode as both heartbreaking and empowering — a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.
A Diverse Guest Line-Up Amplifying Underrepresented Voices
Marverine has intentionally curated a guest list that reflects a wide spectrum of midlife experiences.
Confirmed guests include:
Gillian Joseph – broadcaster with Sky News
Dr Ellie Cannon – NHS GP and health author
Saira Khan – entrepreneur and former The Apprentice candidate
Chizzy Akudolu – actress and ITV presenter
Beverley Knight – acclaimed soul vocalist and West End performer
5
Each guest brings a different lens:
Media and broadcasting
Healthcare
Entrepreneurship
Performing arts
Personal reinvention
This diversity reinforces a key message: Menopause does not discriminate — but access to platforms often does.
The Emotional Reality of Perimenopause
One of the standout aspects of the podcast is its focus on perimenopause — the transitional phase before menopause that can last several years.
Common experiences discussed include:
Brain fog
Anxiety
Insomnia
Sudden mood shifts
Loss of confidence
Career hesitation
Many women report feeling unprepared. Despite growing public awareness, perimenopause education remains inconsistent across healthcare systems and workplaces.
By centering lived experiences rather than medical jargon, the series offers both validation and visibility.
Midlife as Reinvention, Not Decline
A core theme across episodes is reframing midlife.
Rather than portraying it as a decline, guests describe it as:
A recalibration
A creative renaissance
A boundary-setting phase
A time for authentic ambition
A shift from people-pleasing to self-prioritising
Marverine’s background as a clarity coach becomes evident here. Conversations move beyond symptoms toward strategy — how women are building new dreams while honouring old ones.
Breaking the Silence Around Career and Menopause
Workplace menopause conversations are increasingly headline news. But many women still struggle in silence.
Key issues explored include:
Performance anxiety linked to brain fog
Leadership pressures
Ageism in media and corporate environments
Balancing caregiving with career peaks
For professionals in high-visibility roles — like broadcasters and performers — these challenges can feel amplified.
The podcast gives permission to discuss them openly.
A Cultural Shift in Women’s Health Media
Over the past five years, menopause content has surged across:
Social media
Streaming platforms
Corporate wellbeing initiatives
Government policy debates
But much of the coverage still centres on white, middle-class narratives.
Marverine’s podcast expands the frame, foregrounding women whose stories are often sidelined.
That inclusion is likely to be one of the series’ defining strengths.
Where to Listen
Midlife, Messy and Marvellous is available on:
YouTube
Major podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Early listener reviews highlight:
Honest storytelling
Relatable conversations
Emotional depth
Practical advice
Why “Midlife, Messy and Marvellous” Could Become 2026’s Standout Women’s Podcast
Several factors position this series for impact:
1. Cultural Timing
Menopause is a growing mainstream conversation.
2. High-Profile Guest Appeal
Recognisable names draw cross-audience attention.
3. Authentic Storytelling
Vulnerability builds trust.
4. SEO & Discover Potential
Search terms such as:
“Midlife podcast 2026”
“Menopause celebrity interviews”
“Brenda Edwards menopause story”
“Marverine Cole podcast”
are already trending upward.
Final Thoughts: Messy, Yes — But Also Marvellous
Midlife often arrives unannounced. For many women, it collides with career ambition, parenting transitions, aging parents, and personal reassessment.
By naming the stage “Messy and Marvellous,” Marverine Cole captures the duality perfectly.
This podcast is not just about menopause. It is about momentum. It is about visibility. It is about owning the second act.
And in doing so, it may well become one of the most important women-led audio projects of the year.
