The Mental Load, Midlife Divorce & Body-Shaming Mothers-in-Law
From 40ish | The Funny Podcast on Perimenopause, Menopause & Midlife by Lauren Mishcon & Nicole Goodman - Menopause Humor & Midlife Conversations
July 7, 2026 · 40 min · Season 5 · Episode 50
About this episode
The episode discusses midlife divorce, the mental load women carry, and body-shaming from mothers-in-law.
This week on 40ish: Nicole needs to be treated like an unsettled baby until her implant kicks in and Lauren discovers cycling shorts are not just for fancy dress. In Midlife News, we unpack the research behind the UK's rising divorce rate and why so many women in their 40s and 50s are choosing to walk away from their marriages. Is it really about falling out of love, or are women finally reaching breaking point with carrying the mental load? Our dilemma this week asks what friendship looks like when life gets tough. One listener ended up in A&E after a nasty fall, but apart from one friend, hardly anyone checked in. Is she right to feel hurt, or are expectations around friendship sometimes too high? Lauren also shares her latest meltdown after a broken bracelet and Nicole decides her superstitious brain is in overdrive. Finally, we hear from a listener whose mother-in-law simply cannot stop commenting on her postpartum body. From backhanded compliments to unsolicited weight-loss advice, we ask the question: why do some people think a woman's body is fair game for public discussion? If you're enjoying 40ish, please share the podcast with a friend. 40ish is the funny podcast…
People in this episode
Hosts: Nicole, Lauren
Topics covered
- Midlife divorce
- Mental load in relationships
- Women's friendships
- Body shaming
- Loneliness in midlife
Keywords
- midlife
- divorce
- mental load
- friendship
- body shaming
- perimenopause
- women over 40
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: UK
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