Esther Freud on older sisters, rebel mothers, grief & finding love after divorce in your 50s

Surrounded by people but still feel lonely? Bestselling author Meg Mason (Sorrow and Bliss) joins Lorraine and Trish to talk about how she wrote her new novel Sophie Standing There, a story of love, loneliness and life after divorce. Meg shares her own feelings of acute loneliness and the shame that comes with it for many women, as well as what saved her. She also reveals how midlife wisdom has made her more compassionate towards herself, why she is finally able to ask for what she wants in life and what she really thinks of her readers getting Sorrow And Bliss tattoos.

Meet Dr Sam Bunting, the leading dermatologist who says you don't need facials, a silk pillowcase or have to drink gallons of water to get bright, glowing skin after 40. As well as busting midlife skincare myths, the author of Flawless: Your Ultimate Guide to Bright, Clear Skin, tells Lorraine & Trish about the science behind her four step simple & cost effective daily routine & answers listeners’ questions about rosacea, adult acne, fine lines, SPF, Botox, fillers, pigmentation & menopausal changes. Listen now if you want to find out whether your skincare routine is on the right track & know how to separate the products that work from those that are a waste of money.

TV’s Julia Bradbury was diagnosed with breast cancer at 51. Then she went on a mission to give herself the best shot at a long, healthy life. The mum of three joins Lorraine and Trish to share the screening tests worth having, how she quit alcohol and tamed her sugar addiction, and the free daily habits any midlifer can follow, all without overwhelm, guilt or shame. Because sometimes, you just have to eat the goddamn cake!

Trish & Lorraine are joined by the author of hit novel & TV drama Trespasses to talk about her new book Stations & what it feels like to write a best seller & start a whole new career in midlife. Former chef Louise opens up about the impact of fleeing Belfast as a child during the Troubles after her grandmother’s pub was bombed, the anxiety that followed her through life from that point, the friend who lured her to a writing group & what happened on the night she had a glass too many with Gillian Anderson!

Lorraine & Trish are back for Season 19 of Postcards from Midlife! In this opener, they catch up on their summer — from Cornwall staycations and David Byrne concerts to accidental Ted Lasso interviews and lake-swimming mishaps — & share why midlife women so often feel guilty about resting (hello, Gen X work ethic).