Podcast
The Forties Formula
Hosted by Amanda Lim & Jasmin Dhillon · EN
Welcome to The Forties Formula — an award-winning podcast named Best Health & Wellness Podcast in Asia 2025, and proudly featured by CNA as one of Singapore’s best podcasts for women.
We blend science, soul, and a little bit of sass to help you thrive in your forties and beyond.
Meet your hosts:
- Jasmin Dhillon — health strategist at Eat with Jasmin, mum of three boys, and forever curious about what it really takes to feel good in this season of life.
- Amanda Lim — metabolic health coach, director at LIFT Clinic, and mom to three littles, here to help you ditch the fluff and get real about kicking a*s in your forties.
Free Resource for Women in Their 40s
Download our free Forties Formula E-book — your guide to feeling clearer, stronger, and more energised in midlife.
45episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Is Your Bra Causing Your Headaches? The Bra Fitting Guide For Women In Perimenopause
5d ago01:01:44Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode of The 40s Formula, we sit down with Caroline Warren, founder of Supporting Eve, Singapore’s specialist bra fitting boutique. Caroline is a UK-trained professional bra fitter with certifications in bra fitting, sports bra fitting, and post-surgery fittings for breast cancer survivors. She also holds a certification in sports bra fitting and breast biomechanics, drawing on research from the University of Portsmouth.Most women are walking around in the wrong sized bras, not a little off, but significantly off. In this eye-opening conversation, we unpack the real reasons why 80-95% of women wear ill-fitting bras, the surprising health impacts (headaches, neck pain, posture issues), and how a proper fit can transform how you feel every single day. From pregnancy and postpartum changes to perimenopause and menopause, Caroline shares practical, no-nonsense advice every woman in her 40s needs to hear.In this conversation, we explore:• Why most women (including Olympians) are in the wrong bra size• The tell-tale signs your bra doesn’t fit, and the simple checks you can do today• How to properly put on a bra (the “swoop and scoop” technique)• Best bras for different body types, lifestyles, and breast shapes• Sports bras, why they matter more than you think and what to look for• Body changes through pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, and beyond• Caroline’s personal journey through early menopause at 38If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in your bra, dealt with back/neck pain, or just accepted that “bras are just uncomfortable,” this episode is a game-changer.Chapters:0:00 — Precap2:34 — Episode Begins2:46 — Caroline Warren’s journey + first bra stories5:46 — Statistics: 80–95% of women wear the wrong bra size8:23 — Problems caused by ill-fitting bras (pain, posture, migraines)11:36 — Why we were never taught proper bra fitting12:46 — What to expect in a professional bra fitting (fit by sight)15:44 — Key checks: Band support, gore placement, straps16:21 — Band vs Cup relationship explained18:19 — Real example: From 38D to 30GG33:04 — How to correctly put on a bra (Swoop & Scoop)23:29 — Bra recommendations for different body types26:12 — Cut & sew, molded, balcony, plunge explained35:00 — How long should a bra last?35:40 — Sports bra fitting & breast biomechanics51:05 — Hot or Hype: Common bra myths55:32 — Caroline’s personal menopause journey at 3857:21 — Life transitions where you should get refitted59:57 — Where to find Supporting Eve + final thoughtsVISIT SUPPORTING EVE📍 Cluny Court Shopping Mall, Bukit Timah, opposite Botanic Gardens MRT Station, Second Floor🕐 Open seven days a week, 10am — 7pm🌐 supportingeve.sg
Transcribe →Vaginal dryness in perimenopause: what's really happening | The Forties Formula In Focus
1w ago00:11:10Tap to summarizeIf you are in your 40s and noticing changes in your body that nobody warned you about, this clip from our THE FORTIES FORMULA IN FOCUS on women's health is for you. Dr. Jesshirin Sidhu, GP and sexual health specialist at InSync Medical, breaks down exactly what happens to vaginal health during perimenopause and menopause — and what you can actually do about it. From why you get low estrogen and how it causes vaginal dryness, to which lubricants are safe, to emerging treatments like vaginal lasers and hyaluronic acid, this is the conversation most women never get to have with their doctor. We cover why vaginal dryness is not just a menopause problem, how to choose lubricants without harmful parabens or glycerine, why topical estrogen and testosterone are underused and underprescribed, what lasers and hyaluronic acid treatments can do for women with severe dryness, safe home remedies that actually work, and why birth control pills could be killing your libido right now. This is practical, clinical, and completely judgement-free. 🎙️ Guest: Dr. Jesshirin Sidhu 🏥 InSync Medical Women's Health: https://www.insyncmedical.sg/womens-health/ 📲 Follow InSync Medical: https://www.instagram.com/insyncmedical.sg 📖 Get our free ebook: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn 📲 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/0N8brGgHt7M?si=qGYVV05hZW-16GQq Chapters 00:00 — Why estrogen depletion changes everything down there 01:22 — Vaginal dryness — what is actually happening and why it is not just a menopause issue 02:20 — Lubricants and moisturisers — what to use and what to avoid 03:08 — Parabens, glycerine and why your lubricant choice matters more than you think 04:32 — Hyaluronic acid for vaginal hydration — how it works 05:45 — Topical estrogen and testosterone — what most doctors are not prescribing 06:41 — Birth control pills and libido — the testosterone connection 07:05 — Vaginal lasers — who they are for and how they work 09:51 — Safe home remedies including coconut oil and olive oil Tags perimenopause, vaginal dryness, menopause symptoms, women over 40, vaginal health, hormonal changes, estrogen depletion, lubricants for menopause, vaginal moisturizer, topical estrogen, testosterone women, hyaluronic acid vaginal, vaginal laser treatment, perimenopause symptoms, women's sexual health, libido women 40s, birth control libido, forties formula, healthy aging women, menopause relief, intimate health women, midlife women health, menopause treatment, insync medical
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Why Walking Away From Your Career Might Be the Most Powerful Decision You Make in Your 40s
2w ago00:41:02Tap to summarizeLeadership advisor and author Sally J Clarke joins the Forties Formula to explore the strategic — not emotional — decision to walk away from a role, title or career that no longer fits. Drawing from her book with co-author Deborah Overdeput, Walk Away: Step Out to Step Up, Sally shares real stories of women who rebuilt careers and companies by first stepping out of the wrong ones. The conversation covers the moment you know it's time to leave, how to use fear as a growth signal, what integrity capital means for your career and relationships, and why your health is always the variable that wins.CHAPTERS:00:00 | The Career Advice Women Ignore02:54 | The Quiet Sign You’re In The Wrong Life05:51 | Why Fear Might Mean You’re On The Right Path08:39 | The Success Trap That Drains Women12:09 | The Currency More Valuable Than Money22:17 | Why Ambitious Women End Up Exhausted25:40 | When Success Starts Costing Your Health28:18 | Why “Strong Women” Keep Breaking Down30:32 | The Mindset Shift That Changes Careers38:19 | What To Do When You Feel Lost In Midlife40:06 | Why Doing Less Can Change Your Life🔗 RESOURCES & LINKSOur free ebook - https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmnBuy me a coffee for $5 a month we answer your questions. https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformulaThank you to our sponsors:Love, Indus – get 21% off luxury skincare with code TFF https://loveindus.com/The Forties Formula Podcast → https://thefortiesformula.com/life purpose self reflection career crisis career growth
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Are You Ageing Faster Than You Should? Leading Longevity Professor Explains
2w ago00:09:28Tap to summarizeIf you are in your 40s and feel like something has shifted — your energy, your body, your recovery — there is a scientific reason for it. And it started long before you noticed.In this episode, Professor Andrea Meyer, a leading researcher in healthy ageing, breaks down the difference between your chronological age and your biological age, and why that gap matters more than most women realise. You might be 42 on paper. But your body could be ageing at a rate that puts you five years ahead of that — or five years behind. The difference comes down to what is happening inside your organs, your hormones, and your cells right now.We cover what biological age actually measures, why your organs age at different rates, how to start tracking the markers that matter, what the research says about diet and how much it can genuinely extend your healthy years, and why your 40s are one of the most critical windows to act.This is not about looking younger. It is about having the energy, strength, and health to live well for longer — and knowing what to do about it before it becomes harder to reverse.Chapters00:00 — How old do you actually feel?01:43 — Lifespan vs healthspan — the gap nobody talks about05:32 — Biological age vs chronological age — and why yours may surprise you09:28 — What to track and why to start now14:00 — Diet, nutrition and how many years you could add20:00 — Exercise for women over 40 — strength, endurance and balance28:00 — Supplements — what the science actually says📖 Get our free ebook: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmnFollow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformulahttps://www.instagram.com/chilongevitylongevity, women over 40, perimenopause, reverse aging, biological age, anti aging, how to live longer, menopause, anti aging foods, strength training, how to stay young, healthy aging, anti aging tips, nutrition, how to look younger, women's health, forties formula, healthy lifestyle over 40, hormone health, aging well
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Why Doing Less Is the Key to Better Health in Your 40s
3w ago00:51:07Tap to summarizeWhy High-Achieving Women Burn Out in Their 40s (And What to Do Instead)If you've spent years achieving, delivering, and pushing through — and you're now hitting a wall in your 40s — this episode is for you.Yi-Mei Lai (Mei), founder of Alchemei Healing and a Feminine Power & Self-Worth Coach, joins us to talk about what's really happening when high-achieving women hit burnout in midlife. It's not a failure of discipline or drive. It's the cost of running entirely on masculine energy for decades — and the body eventually refuses to keep up.Mei works with purpose-led female founders and leaders to help them receive and hold more while doing less. Through her Feminine Power Archetypes framework, she guides women from people-pleasing to boundaries, from constant proving to genuine receiving, and from disconnection to a deep inner knowing.This conversation covers why rest feels like something you have to earn, how stress severs your connection to intuition, and what it actually looks like to come home to yourself in midlife.In this episode:Why women experience a major identity and emotional shift in their 40sThe real cost of operating in chronic masculine energyHow stress disconnects you from your intuition and bodyWhy emotional safety is the foundation of self-trustWhat the Feminine Power Archetypes framework is and how it worksPractical ways to reconnect with your body without overhauling your lifeConnect with Mei:Discover your Feminine Power Archetype: https://alchemei-healing.com/quiz/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alchemei.healing/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yi-mei-lai/⏱️ CHAPTERS:00:00 — Why women suddenly feel different in their 40s02:00 — Meet Mae from Alchemy Healing03:00 — Understanding the “midlife shift” women experience08:45 — Masculine vs feminine energy explained13:45 — How stress disconnects women from intuition18:20 — Rebuilding self-worth and emotional safety23:10 — Why women struggle to feel their emotions27:45 — The pressure to constantly “fix” yourself32:00 — Reconnecting with the body and feminine energy36:45 — “Your body is your oracle, not an obstacle”41:30 — Astrology, cycles, and emotional awareness45:50 — Trusting yourself again in midlife50:30 — Final reflections on healing, intuition, and thriving in your 40s🔗 RESOURCES & LINKSOur free ebook - https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmnBuy me a coffee for $5 a month we answer your questions. https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformulaThank you to our sponsors:Love, Indus – get 21% off luxury skincare with code TFF https://loveindus.com/The Forties Formula Podcast → https://thefortiesformula.com/
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The One Blood Test Number You Need to Check Today | The Forties Formula In Focus
3w ago00:09:55Tap to summarizeIn this powerful 9-minute highlight from The Forties Formula, we uncover why your "normal" blood test results might be gaslighting you.Dr. Tash breaks down the critical difference between surviving and thriving when it comes to iron. If you’ve been told your fatigue is "just burnout" or "part of aging," but you know deep down something is wrong, this clip explains the biology behind your exhaustion. We discuss why Iron Deficiency is the silent epidemic for women over 40 and why your Hemoglobin levels are lying to you about your actual energy reserves.⚠️ Want the full protocol? This is just the diagnosis. To hear Dr. Tash's complete strategy for fixing your levels, safe supplementation, and the role of heavy periods, check out the FULL EPISODE here.🗝️ Key Takeaways in This Clip00:00 – The Oxygen Problem: Why iron isn't just a mineral—it's your body's entire oxygen transport system (and why you feel breathless without it).02:15 – The "Burnout" Trap: How low iron mimics every symptom of burnout and perimenopause, leading to misdiagnosis.04:30 – Ferritin vs. Hemoglobin: The crucial difference between your "storage" iron (Ferritin) and your "circulating" iron (Hemoglobin)—and why doctors often check the wrong one.06:20 – Normal ≠ Optimal: Dr. Tash reveals why being "in the black" on a lab report doesn't mean you are healthy.08:15 – The Inflammation Mask: How stress or inflammation can falsely inflate your ferritin levels, hiding a severe deficiency.💬 The Quote That Says It All"If we don’t correct the iron deficiency, there’s no amount of hormonal management that will have that patient feeling optimized." — Dr. Tash
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Mum Guilt, Burnout and Unrealistic Expectations: What No One Tells You
4w ago00:56:36Tap to summarizeThere’s a version of motherhood many women are quietly trying to live up to.The calm mother. The grateful mother. The woman who somehow keeps her career, body, marriage, friendships and identity perfectly intact… while raising a child.But what happens when becoming a mother changes you in ways nobody prepared you for?In this episode of The Forties Formula, Amanda Lim and Jasmin Dhillon sit down with author, workplace advocate and matrescence expert Sara Pantry to unpack the invisible emotional, hormonal and identity shifts women experience after having children.From postpartum anxiety and birth trauma to career pressure, breastfeeding guilt and losing your sense of self, this is a conversation about the parts of motherhood women are expected to survive quietly.Because motherhood isn’t just about learning how to care for a baby.It’s about becoming an entirely different version of yourself.And for many women, that transformation feels lonelier, heavier and more disorienting than anyone admits.We talk about:• Why motherhood can feel emotionally overwhelming even when you “wanted this”• What matrescence actually means; and why more women are finally talking about it• The invisible identity shift that happens after having children• Why so many women feel isolated after birth• The pressure to “bounce back” and why it’s harming mothersThis episode is for every woman who has ever felt like motherhood changed her more than she expected.And for anyone trying to understand why so many mothers are struggling silently behind the scenes.Because maybe the problem isn’t that women are failing motherhood.Maybe the expectations were impossible to begin with.⏱️ CHAPTERS:00:00 | The motherhood myth women were sold03:47 | Why matrescence changes everything04:39 | The loss of the village and modern motherhood06:00 | Sara’s own matrescence journey08:41 | The moment she finally felt seen09:53 | How motherhood rewires the brain and identity11:17 | The “invisible postpartum” nobody talks about13:49 | Why workplaces are failing mothers17:32 | Rituals, healing and writing love letters to yourself18:52 | Reading the letter that changed everything21:25 | Birth trauma, anxiety and not being heard22:22 | The pressure to “bounce back” after birth23:31 | Redefining what being a “good mother” means24:51 | “Be where your feet are”26:47 | Rugged flexibility and holding onto yourself29:46 | Why comparison is destroying modern mothers30:38 | The power of “second best parenting”32:35 | Mothers need support beyond childbirth35:02 | Why workplaces must fundamentally change38:23 | Why partners need parental leave too40:02 | Breastfeeding guilt, pressure and shame43:33 | Letting go of perfection to actually thrive46:41 | Sara’s Forties Formula for motherhood and life47:51 | The antenatal class rant every mother will relate to🔗 RESOURCES & LINKSOur free ebook - https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2156555/sites/185865618324457283/the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmnBuy me a coffee for $5 a month we answer your questions.Thank you to our sponsors:Love, Indus – get 21% off luxury skincare with code TFF https://loveindus.com/The Forties Formula Podcast → https://thefortiesformula.com/
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I Thought This Was Death… Then Everything Changed | The Forties Formula In Focus
4w ago00:14:44Tap to summarizeWhat does it feel like to think you’re dying… while fully conscious? In this Forties Formula In Focus clip, Dr. Sarah Nami Ahn — a UCLA-trained neuroscientist and brain tumor survivor — shares the most terrifying moment of her journey. From hallucinating walls on fire… to believing the nurses were trying to harm her… to a final thought: “God… my kids.” This is the raw, unfiltered reality of what happened inside the ICU — and the moment everything shifted. 🎙️ Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim, The Forties Formula In Focus brings you powerful, unedited moments from our most impactful conversations — designed to give you a glimpse… and leave you wanting more. 🧠 Why we’re sharing this now We’re re-releasing this clip during Brain Tumour Awareness Month (May) to spotlight the realities of diagnosis, recovery, and what isn’t always talked about. If you’ve ever: experienced symptoms that didn’t make sense felt dismissed or unheard or supported someone through a serious diagnosis This story will stay with you. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Hallucinations begin — “the walls were on fire” 00:45 Confusion and fear in the ICU 01:30 “They hate me” — paranoia sets in 02:15 Messaging her husband — something isn’t right 03:00 Heart racing — overwhelming terror 03:45 “This is death. This is it.” 04:20 “God… my kids” — the final thought 05:00 She passes out 05:30 Waking up to a completely different reality 06:15 The emotional aftermath 🎧 Watch the FULL episode here: 👉 https://youtu.be/RTUTXp3yrSc 🎁 Get our FREE ebook A practical guide to help you feel better, eat better, and understand your body in your 40s: 👉 https://the-forties-formula-with-amanda-jasmin-wn3zmn.subscribepage.io/ ☕ Support the podcast Join us on Buy Me a Coffee ($5/month) and get your questions answered in our monthly Q&A episodes: 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformula 🔗 Connect with us 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefortiesformula 🔗 Follow Dr. Sarah Nami Ahn 👉 https://www.instagram.com/onnami/ 💬 If this resonated… Share it with someone who needs to hear it. Because these moments — the real ones — are the ones that change how we see everything.
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Raising Girls Through Puberty: The Mental Health Risks No One Warns You About
Apr 2900:50:04Tap to summarizeThere’s a moment, as a mother, when you look at your daughter and realise something is changing.She’s quieter. More emotional. More critical of herself.And you’re left wondering… is this normal, or is something deeper going on?In this episode, we sit down with psychologist Dr. Emma Waddington and physician Dr. Gina Hel to unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface for girls today.From earlier puberty and hormonal shifts to the impact of social media, friendships, and identity, this is a conversation every parent needs to hear.Because the reality is, girls aren’t just growing up differently… they’re growing up under more pressure than ever before.And if you’re a woman in your 40s, you might recognise something else too… parts of your own story reflected back at you.We cover:The subtle signs your daughter may be strugglingWhy puberty is starting earlierHow hormones affect mood, sleep and behaviourThe impact of social media on self-worthWhy friendships matter more than you realiseThe truth about body image in young girlsHow to build connection before adolescence hitsWhat helps girls feel confident and supportedIf you’re raising a daughter or trying to understand the pressures girls face today, this episode will shift how you see it all.🤝 SPONSORThank you to our sponsor Love, IndusEnjoy 21% off with code TFF👉 https://www.loveindus.com🔗 RESOURCES & LINKSOsler Health → https://www.osler-health.comUs Therapy → https://www.ustherapy.sgUntangled by Lisa Damour → https://amzn.to/4cWz8vcRun Like A Girl (Always) → https://youtu.be/qtDMyGjYlMg⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro02:00 Signs your daughter may be struggling05:00 Puberty and hormones07:30 Emotional shift in adolescence10:00 Brain development and social connection11:00 Social media and self-esteem14:00 Friendship dynamics16:00 Loneliness and online connection19:30 Body image and early pressure21:00 Parenting influence and identity27:00 Teaching girls to speak up34:00 Body image in sport39:30 Self-worth and achievement41:00 The pressure to be everything45:00 Parenting teens vs coaching
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How Chronic Anxiety Disguises Itself as Ambition in Women Over 40 | The Forties Formula in Focus
Apr 2600:12:01Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you realise the life you built wasn’t fully yours?In this Forties Formula in Focus clip, Uma Thana Balasingham shares the moment everything cracked — and what it really means to start again.In this Forties Formula in Focus episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Uma Thana Balasingham on what she calls a “career quake.”From building a high-performing career in tech to walking away from a marriage rooted in fear, Uma opens up about the quiet realisations that many women experience but rarely say out loud.This isn’t about starting over for the sake of it. It’s about questioning the decisions you once made, understanding where they came from, and giving yourself the space to choose differently.We talk about identity, grief, expectations, and the uncomfortable but necessary process of meeting yourself again.The idea of “career quakes” and what they really feel likeMaking life decisions from fear vs alignmentThe identity shift when you step away from career or relationshipWhy grief is part of growthLearning to sit still instead of constantly doingKey TakeawaysYou can love your life and still feel something is missingNot every decision you made was fully yours — and that’s okayGrowth often starts with discomfortYou don’t need to rush the rebuildMeeting yourself is part of the process⏱ Chapters00:00 Questioning everything 01:10 Marriage, fear, and honest reflection 03:00 Following narratives that weren’t yours 05:10 What is a “career quake”? 07:30 Grief, identity, and starting again🔗 Links & Resources🎙 Listen / Watch The Forties FormulaYouTube: https://youtube.com/@thefortiesformulaWebsite: https://www.thefortiesformula.comAll platforms: https://bio.site/thefortiesformulapodcast☕ Support the showBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefortiesformulaUma Thana BalasinghamLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uma__raw/👩🏽💻 Follow UsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformulaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefortiesformula
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