Taylor
Good evening Project, I am Taylor, and this is Goose Pod, your personalized audio experience. It is Wednesday, February 18th, precisely 11 PM, and tonight we are diving into a topic that feels like a warm hug and a wake-up call all at once. We are looking at Mariella Frostrup.
Holly
How absolutely lovely to be here with you! I am Holly, and I must say, Mariella’s approach to life is just so graceful. We are discussing her weekly routine, which she calls all you need to stay fit and vibrant. It is about finding joy in the simple movement of life.
Taylor
It really is a narrative of resilience, Holly. Mariella is 62, and she is incredibly candid about how she manages a high-octane career and family. She has this strategic mix of walking, weight training, and low-impact workouts that honestly sounds like the ultimate blueprint for longevity. She is very active naturally.
Holly
It is so charming how she mentions her ADHD helps her get her daily steps in just by busying herself around the house. But she is very disciplined too, especially with her Monday morning Zoom yoga at 7:30. She says yoga is imperative to keep her supple and flexible.
Taylor
Supple is the keyword there! She mentioned that if she skips yoga or Pilates for just three days, she starts to ache and cannot even touch her toes. It is like her body is a finely tuned machine that needs constant, gentle calibration. She even does a 15-minute kettlebell routine.
Holly
Oh, the kettlebells! She admits they kill her for two days afterward, but she insists it is all you need. And we cannot forget her non-negotiable walks in the Somerset countryside with her dog. She feels so guilty walking without him, so he is her perfect little motivator.
Taylor
The dog is the ultimate accountability partner, right? This reminds me so much of Angela Rippon, who we have discussed before. Angela is 81 and still plays tennis for two hours and takes ballet classes! It is that same philosophy of staying active to prevent the body from becoming doddery.
Holly
How wonderful! Angela’s ballet and Pilates focus on core strength and balance to prevent falls. It is so similar to Mariella’s Pilates on Fridays, which she says makes her feel calmer and ready for the weekend. Both women are essentially investing in their future selves through consistent movement.
Taylor
Exactly, it is what we call muscle banking. You are putting deposits into your physical health account now so you can withdraw that strength later in life. Research shows that even minimal activity, like Mariella’s 15-minute stretches, acts as a powerful investment against the natural declines of aging. It is brilliant.
Holly
It really is. Whether it is tennis, which can add nearly a decade to your life expectancy, or just a brisk walk, it is about reclaiming agency over your well-being. Mariella and Angela both show us that we do not have to just grow old, we can grow well.
Taylor
And Mariella’s routine is so accessible because it is not about slogging it out for hours. She admits she is not good at forcing herself to do long solo workouts. She needs the class environment or a friend like Alice Smellie to keep her going during their Saturday gym sessions.
Holly
It is that social connection that makes it so sweet. Working out with friends turns a chore into a lovely social event. It is about finding what you enjoy and making it a part of your story, just as Mariella has done with her walks and her weekend weight training.
Taylor
She is essentially gamifying her health by adding these social and environmental layers. It is not just exercise, it is a lifestyle narrative. And speaking of narratives, her background in this space is actually quite profound, which I think gives her fitness routine even more weight and significance.
Holly
It certainly does. Her dedication to fitness is not just about aesthetics, it is about maintaining the strength to do the incredible work she does for women everywhere. It is a sophisticated balance of self-care and advocacy that I find so incredibly inspiring for all of us in midlife.
Taylor
Mariella is not just talking the talk, Holly. She is a total strategic mastermind in the world of women’s health. Did you know she was recently appointed as the Government’s Menopause Employment Ambassador? This is a huge role where she works with employers to improve workplace support for women.
Holly
That is just so impressive! To use her platform to help women stay in work and progress in their careers is absolutely sophisticated. She has decades of experience championing gender equality, so she is the perfect person to lead this charge. She really understands the struggles women face.
Taylor
The statistics are actually quite staggering. Almost 70% of women aged 40 to 60 report that menopause symptoms have a negative effect on their work. And one in ten women actually leave the workplace entirely because they lack support. Mariella is on a mission to change that narrative completely.
Holly
It is heartbreaking to think of all that talent being lost just because of a natural phase of life. Her appointment comes alongside Baroness Merron, and together they are championing women’s health. Mariella’s journey into this advocacy really took off back in 2018 with her BBC documentary.
Taylor
Right, The Truth About The Menopause. That was a turning point. She followed it up with a book and then co-founded Menopause Mandate in 2022 with other famous voices like Davina McCall. She has turned her own personal experience into a massive public service, which is just so clever and earnest.
Holly
And she was diagnosed with ADHD in her 50s, which adds another layer to her story. It happened while her son was being assessed. It shows that it is never too late to learn something new about yourself and adapt your life to fit your needs, which is quite lovely.
Taylor
It really highlights her resilience. She is a breast cancer survivor, a journalist, a model, and she even combats ageism in the fashion industry. She has this incredible confidence about aging, saying she always expected to feel sexy and sensual in her own skin, regardless of the number on the clock.
Holly
What a refreshing perspective! She refuses to be invisible. She is also a HELLO! Second Act Agony Aunt, helping other women navigate these same waters. Her work is all about empowerment and ensuring that women in their 50s and 60s are seen, heard, and supported in every way.
Taylor
The Government’s Employment Rights Bill is actually going to require large employers to create plans to support employees through menopause. This is the kind of systemic change Mariella is pushing for. She is bridging the gap between personal wellness and national policy, which is a total CEO move.
Holly
It really is a sophisticated approach to advocacy. She is looking at the economic contribution of women and saying we cannot afford to lose them. By improving workplace support, she is helping the whole economy while also helping individual women feel more confident and capable in their professional roles.
Taylor
She is also working closely with the Women’s Health Ambassador for England, Professor Dame Lesley Regan. This is a multi-pronged attack on the stigma surrounding menopause. They are making sure it is treated as a manageable phase of life rather than some mysterious, debilitating condition that we should keep quiet.
Holly
It is so important to have these conversations in the open. Mariella’s honesty about her own perimenopause journey has helped so many women realize they are not alone. It is about creating a community of support where we can share our experiences and find solutions together, which is simply wonderful.
Taylor
And that community aspect ties right back into her fitness routine. She knows that we are stronger together, whether we are in a boardroom or a Pilates class. She is using her influence to create a world where women can thrive at any age, and that is a narrative I can get behind.
Holly
It is a narrative of hope and strength. Mariella shows us that with the right support, the right mindset, and a bit of movement, we can navigate any challenge life throws at us. She is a true beacon of light for women everywhere, and I just love her spirit.
Taylor
She really is. And the fact that she balances all this advocacy with her busy family life and her own health routine is just a testament to her strategic mind. She knows that to take care of others, she has to take care of herself first. It is a vital lesson for everyone.
Holly
It truly is. Self-care is not selfish, it is essential. And Mariella’s routine is a beautiful example of how to integrate that self-care into a busy, meaningful life. She makes it look so graceful and achievable, which is part of her incredible charm and appeal to so many women.
Taylor
So, we have seen her routine and her massive impact on policy. But it is not all smooth sailing, is it? There are some real tensions and challenges in this space that she has to navigate, especially when it comes to motivation and the commercial side of health. Let's dig into that.
Holly
Yes, let's explore the more complex side of this journey. It is not always easy to maintain that drive, and there are many obstacles that women face when trying to prioritize their health during such a busy and often overwhelming time of life. It is a very important discussion.
Taylor
The real conflict here, Holly, is the internal battle with motivation. Mariella is so refreshingly honest about it. She says she is not very good at forcing herself to do anything longer than half an hour when she is on her own. If she is in a class, she will do it.
Holly
That is so incredibly relatable! I think we all feel that way sometimes. There is a reader query she answered where a woman felt she had lost her mojo entirely after her children left for university. It is that feeling of being stuck and not knowing where to begin.
Taylor
Exactly! And there is this huge tension between the simple, free habits that actually work and the massive, 23-billion-dollar menopause market that is exploding right now. There are so many products out there, and frankly, not all of them deserve our trust or our hard-earned money.
Holly
Oh dear, it can be so confusing for women who just want to feel better. Some apps even have hidden fees and unnecessary costs that just add to the stress. It is a bit of a train wreck when you are just looking for simple, honest guidance and support.
Taylor
It really is a strategic minefield. You have these expensive wellness trends on one side and then simple things like walking the dog or cyclic sighing on the other. Mariella leans into the simple stuff, but she acknowledges that finding the right fuel for your body can be a struggle too.
Holly
She talks about food being fuel, and it can be delicious fuel or non-delicious fuel. The conflict is finding that easy way to put the right stuff in our bodies when we are busier than ever. It is a constant balancing act between convenience and true nourishment for our hormones.
Taylor
And then there is the societal conflict. Many women feel they have to be small or invisible as they age. But the new trend in fitness is shifting toward strength and power. Sculpted arms are becoming a symbol of empowerment, which is a direct pushback against those old societal pressures.
Holly
How absolutely wonderful to see women reclaiming their power! But it is still a challenge to overcome the misconception that weight gain in menopause is just a slowing metabolism. The science says our metabolism is steady from age 20 to 60, but our hormones are shifting our appetite.
Taylor
That is a huge distinction! It is not the metabolism failing; it is the estrogen drop affecting hunger hormones. That creates a massive internal conflict for women who are doing the work but not seeing the results they expect. It requires a whole new strategy for nutrition and movement.
Holly
It really does. And then there is the challenge of healthcare. Many women find that menopause is overlooked by the healthcare system, or they have to wait far too long for support. It should not come with a price tag or be a struggle to get basic help.
Taylor
Mariella is fighting that battle at the government level, but on the ground, women are still facing these hurdles every day. It is about finding that fighting spirit to advocate for yourself when you are already feeling exhausted by symptoms like brain fog and low mood. It is tough.
Holly
It is so tough. But seeing Mariella be so open about her own struggles with motivation and perimenopause makes it feel a bit more manageable. It is about acknowledging the conflict rather than pretending it does not exist. That honesty is so incredibly empowering for all of us.
Taylor
Right, it is about finding the patterns in the struggle. Whether it is the commercialization of health or the internal lack of mojo, recognizing these obstacles is the first step in creating a strategic plan to overcome them. Mariella’s routine is her personal plan for winning that battle.
Holly
It is a lovely plan indeed. It is about choosing the path of least resistance sometimes, like joining a class because you know you will not do it alone. It is about being kind to yourself while still pushing for the health and vitality you deserve in midlife.
Taylor
The impact of Mariella’s work is really starting to ripple out in some fascinating ways. Take her cookbook, Menolicious, which she wrote with Belles Berry. It is all about protein-rich recipes that take less than 30 minutes. She is literally giving women the tools to fuel their bodies strategically.
Holly
How absolutely lovely! Eating well makes her feel so much stronger, and she says it helps her metabolism work. The impact of just eating a variety of plants and lean proteins can be so profound for hormone balance and energy levels. It is about feeling good from the inside.
Taylor
And then there is the broader awareness. The #OwnYourMenopause campaign is using these brilliant metaphors, like brain fog being like forgetting where the salt is, or hot flashes being global warming inside the body. It creates this immediate emotional connection and reduces that sense of isolation women feel.
Holly
Those metaphors are so clever and relatable! It makes a difficult topic feel much more approachable. And in England, they are now offering menopause checks at age 40. That is a huge step toward early awareness and making sure no woman is overlooked during this critical stage.
Taylor
It is a massive shift in policy. But as Mariella points out, we need healthcare professionals to be trained properly on all the symptoms, not just the physical ones but the psychological ones too. The impact of this advocacy is creating a more informed and supportive society for everyone.
Holly
It really is. Even the US menopause market being projected at over 23 billion dollars shows how much attention is finally being paid to this. While we have to be careful of the products, the sheer amount of research and focus is a positive sign for the future of women’s health.
Taylor
Absolutely. And Mariella’s role as the Menopause Employment Ambassador is going to have a direct impact on how businesses operate. We are talking about keeping brilliant women in the workforce, which is a huge win for the economy and for gender equality in the professional world. It is strategic brilliance.
Holly
It is a celebration of the power of using your voice. Mariella is not just doing this for herself, she is doing it for the generations of women who follow. The impact is a more equitable workplace and a society that values women at every stage of their lives. How wonderful!
Taylor
She is also helping women realize that exercise is an anchor during this phase. It is not just about weight; it is about stress relief and quality of life. The impact of a consistent routine, like her Friday Pilates, is a calmer mind and a stronger body to face the world.
Holly
It is that sense of empowerment and confidence that she has found since going through menopause. By talking about it so openly, she is encouraging other women to find something they enjoy, whether it is a kettlebell routine or a simple walk in the fresh air with a dog.
Taylor
It is about reclaiming the narrative of midlife from one of decline to one of strength and new beginnings. Mariella is proof that you can be at the height of your professional career and still be prioritizing your health and fitness in a way that feels sustainable and joyful.
Holly
She really is an inspiration. The impact of her honesty and her dedication is helping to dismantle the stigma that has surrounded menopause for far too long. We are moving toward a future where women’s health is prioritized and celebrated, and that is just so sophisticated and lovely.
Taylor
Looking ahead, the future of this movement is all about specialized programs like Pause to Power. This is an eight-week shift focusing on nutrition, strength training, and habits like sleep and stress management. It is designed specifically for women who feel stuck despite trying to eat well and exercise.
Holly
That sounds like such a sophisticated solution! It is about understanding that this stage of life requires a different approach. The future will hopefully see more of these targeted programs that address the unique hormonal needs of women in midlife, helping them find their strength again.
Taylor
And we will likely see more research into health equity and menopause. Mariella is already pushing for this at events like Davos. The goal is no more waiting and no more excuses. We are moving toward a world where facts and support are easily accessible for every woman.
Holly
It is such a positive time to be working in women’s health. The impact on society as a whole will be far-reaching as we better understand these complex journeys. I can imagine a future where every workplace has a clear menopause policy and every woman feels empowered.
Taylor
Exactly! It is about performance, longevity, and reclaiming agency. Whether it is through new fitness tech or community-based initiatives, the narrative of the second act is becoming one of power and capability. Mariella has set the stage, and the future looks incredibly bright for all of us.
Taylor
That brings us to the end of today's deep dive. Mariella Frostrup shows us that with a bit of strategy, some kettlebells, and a loyal dog, we can navigate midlife with incredible strength. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod, Project. We hope you feel inspired.
Holly
It has been such a joy to share this lovely journey with you. Remember, a little bit of movement every day is all you need to keep that Supple spirit alive. Thank you for spending your evening with us. See you tomorrow for another personalized episode.
Woman and Home Magazine
