Show Notes
Podcast notes: Kate Codrington on Second Spring, menopause, rest and elderhood In this episode I speak with the wonderful Kate Codrington about menopause as a powerful life transition rather than a “decline”. We explore the idea of Second Spring, the seasonal map of midlife, sobriety, rest, grief, nervous system repair, women’s circles, and the emerging path into elderhood. Main themes Menopause as a transition, not a declineKate challenges the cultural story that menopause is a downward slope, reframing it as a sensitive, powerful transition into a more authentic self.Drawing on Chinese medicine and menstrual cycle awareness, Kate explains post-menopause as a renewed spring: a time of clearer energy, deeper wisdom and a new relationship with self. The end of people-pleasingWe talk about oestrogen, belonging, fawning, niceness and the “good daughter of the patriarchy” — and why menopause can bring rage, clarity and a glorious reduction in giving a fuck. Sobriety and menopause as awakeningsBoth sobriety and menopause ask us to stop numbing, stop performing and begin listening to what is actually true. Rest as deep medicineKate shares how yoga nidra and a simple 15-minute daily stop became part of her own healing. We talk about rest not as another self-care task, but as a way of softening the nervous system over time. The foundations matterSleep, hydration, nourishing food, less alcohol, pleasure, movement, connection and nervous system care are not glamorous quick fixes, but they are the real work. Grief, loss and the seasonsWe explore autumn and winter as maps for grief, shedding and endings — and how grief can deepen our commitment to life.Midlife often brings both a fierce need for solitude and a longing for women’s community. We talk about the shadow and healing of returning to circle. Elderhood and contributionKate speaks beautifully about elderhood as authenticity, discernment, alignment, contribution and modelling another way of living — not necessarily loud leadership, but quiet wisdom.
Mentioned in this episode Kate Codrington’s books:Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to MenopauseThe Perimenopause Journal Kate’s podcast:Life — An Inside Job FIND KATE AT https://www.katecodrington.co.uk/ Love Sober note If this conversation speaks to where you are, my six-week group programme Love Your Sober Summer begins on 21 June. We’ll explore summer triggers, socialising, holidays, rest, nervous system support and how to feel more like yourself without relying on alcohol. Small group, six live coaching calls, seasonal tools and support. More at lovesober.com.
More from Love Sober Podcast
As the seasons change, so do our needs. In this episode, we are talking about moving into autumn — sober, resourced and with a little more intention. The darker evenings, changing routines and shift in energy can affect our mood, nervous system and sobriety. Rather than pushing through or expecting ourselves to operate exactly as we did in summer, autumn can be an invitation to pause and ask: what do I actually need now? We share some of the things I’m thinking about as we move into the darker half of the year, including: The Autumn Edit Journaling prompts — what can you stop, simplify, postpone or let go of? Sober-proofing the darker evenings — noticing the times, places and feelings that might make alcohol seem appealing and creating new rituals around them. Building your autumn resource list — the people, practices, places and small pleasures that help you feel grounded and well. 🍂 Supporting your mental health and nervous system as daylight reduces and our natural energy begins to shift. Creating an autumn that has space for rest, connection, movement, nourishment and pleasure — rather than simply adding more things to the list. Sobriety isn’t just about taking alcohol away. It’s about learning how to support ourselves through the changing seasons of our lives. The questions for autumn: What can I edit?What will resource me?And what do I want to make room for this season? 🎧 Grab a cuppa, pull on a jumper and join us for an autumn reset. Love Kate + Helen x Work 1:1 with Kate: Book a free discovery call : https://calendly.com/kate-824/discovery-call
In this episode of the Love Sober Podcast, Kate and Helen unpack that end-of-summer exhaustion and the strange, wobbly transition into autumn. They explore liminal spaces – the in‑between times when we’ve outgrown an old version of ourselves but aren’t yet anchored in the new – and how this shows up in midlife, sobriety, grief, and the changing seasons. Kate shares the inspiration behind her new program Midlife Alchemy (starts September 21st 2026) , created for sober and sober‑curious midlife women who are navigating hormones, identity shifts, and life’s big rites of passage. They talk about why rest is radical, how nervous system literacy can be a superpower, and the magic of women’s circles as trauma‑informed, neuro‑inclusive spaces for support and growth. If you’re feeling tired, and wondering how to tend your nervous system instead of pouring a drink, this conversation offers compassion, practical tools, and a little midlife magic. Find out more about Midlife Alchemy and book a discovery call at LoveSober.com → Circles → Midlife Alchemy. https://www.lovesober.com/midlife-alchemy DISCOVERY CALL WITH KATE for 1-2-1 COACHING OR PROGRAMS
In this episode of the Love Sober Podcast, Kate and Helen explore summer sobriety and how to build a realistic, compassionate summer toolkit using ideas from Kate’s book “Love Your Sober Year.” They talk about seasons, hormones, grief, parenting, and why women need a softer, cyclical approach to recovery – plus lots of very practical tools for getting through summer alcohol-free. We cover:
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