Podcast
The FxCK YOU 50s
Hosted by Andrea Claire · EN
The FxCK YOU 50s is an unfiltered, unapologetic, and fiercely honest podcast hosted by Andrea Claire, a veteran of the fashion and beauty industry with over 30 years of experience. Designed specifically for women who are "done with aging gracefully," the show dismantles the commercialized myths of midlife and challenges the brands that try to sell "solutions" to invented "problems."
Andrea moves the conversation far beyond your mother’s "aging with grace" tea party. Instead, she creates a space for gritty, real-talk discussions about the realities of being 50+, covering everything from medical gaslighting and career pivots to reclaiming sexual intimacy and navigating the patriarchy.
Andrea and her guests aren't just surviving midlife they are rebuilding it in their own image. This show is about total personal sovereignty. If you’re looking for a polite conversation about knitting, keep scrolling. If you’re ready to own your power, pull up a chair, you’re home.
The Guest List:
Meet the Agitators: Women Who Refuse to Fade Out
From a legal titan to a pelvic floor physiotherapist, the guest roster is a masterclass in living out loud:
Julie Tyas: A family law powerhouse who gets real about "Grey Divorce"—explaining why more women are choosing to walk away from long-term marriages after 50 and how to navigate the fallout with your bank account (and dignity) intact.
Angela Burk: Author of The Real Girls Guide to Midlife, discusses "The Chaos Inventory" and why desire doesn't retire
Dawn Belisle: The former U.S. Attorney who traded the courtroom for a kitchen in Nice, France, proving that it’s never too late to become an expat with French pastry chef skills.
Iryna Kirieieva: A former banking CEO from Ukraine who discusses the sheer grit required to rebuild a life and career after losing everything in the war, including her husband, from scratch in a new country at age 50.
Karen Bertelsen: A former TV host turned lifestyle blogger (The Art of Doing Stuff), talking about getting aged out of the spotlight to controlling your own narrative and shining your own light.
Alison Brown & Jill Jaracz: The corporate librarians who decided that quiet rooms weren't their vibe anymore. They pivoted into Olympic sports journalism, proving that your second act can be way louder than your first.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
New Midlife Mantra: "My Place Is Anywhere I Decide To Be." - Ebonnie Rowe
2w ago01:01:30Tap to summarizeEbonnie Rowe, Honey Jam Canada founder and Order of Canada recipient, is all about creating opportunities, claiming space without asking for permission, and surrounding yourself with other women who also lift while they rise. In this episode, host Andrea Claire sits down with Ebonnie to talk about her 30-year journey from legal assistant to founding Canada’s premier launchpad for young female artists (whose alumni include stars like Nelly Furtado). They explore navigating midlife with confidence, the power of intergenerational energy, and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in entertainment. Together, they also pull back the curtain on the fashion and music industries—touching on toxic beauty standards, manipulated reality, and the necessity of holding onto your integrity. Consider supporting Honey Jam's artist development programming and attend their upcoming live showcase at TD Music Hall. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Ebonnie Rowe / Honey Jam here: @thehoneyjam Honey Jam official website Honey Jam Concert info Order of Canada Member Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Politeness Trap: Why GenX Women Are Done Being Nice
3w ago00:14:17Tap to summarize*Trigger warning: some personal stories may be upsetting to some* "If you’re standing up for yourself and someone takes that as rude, that is a them problem." From childhood play to corporate boardrooms, women are conditioned to trade their authentic voices for politeness, safety, and consensus. In this solo rant, Andrea Claire unpacks "The Politeness Trap"—examining how soft language, de-escalation tactics, and double standards keep women shrinking. Drawing from candid personal stories of street harassment, medical gaslighting, and unsolicited male advice in the media industry, Andrea breaks down: The Double Bind: Why directness in men is labeled leadership, while the same behavior in women is called "abrasive." The Social Contract: How girls are taught to keep the peace while boys are rewarded for boundary pushing. The Corporate Backlash: Why women are coached to soften their approach when asking for raises and promotions. Reclaiming Space: Why GenX midlife women are done swallowing discomfort, staying sweet, and keeping quiet. It’s time to stop shrinking so everyone else can stretch out. Rock the boat, use your real voice, and learn why being "rude" might just be the ultimate act of self-preservation. Connect with the Show: Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Enjoying the episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review where you are listening, and please share this episode with anyone who is done with the bullshit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Writing Your Way Through the Absurdity of Midlife with Ann Garvin
4w ago00:47:13Tap to summarize"He wanted to date younger women." Ann's true story essay on the WTAF dating app experience is a MUST read. Bestselling author Ann Garvin joins us to dissect the messy, hilarious, and often daunting reality of midlife. From her own bold pivot from science writing to fiction, to the systemic barriers women face in publishing, Ann shares how she uses humor to navigate life’s "funny, sad, and scary" chapters. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on reinvention, the importance of community, and why your voice matters more than ever after 50. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Ann Garvin here: Insta and X: @anngarvin_ Facebook: Ann Garvin Find Ann’s books here The Date Story Tall Poppy Writers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Hearing Aids in Midlife
Jul 800:10:59Tap to summarize*Not Sponsored In this vulnerable and candid solo episode of The FxCK YOU 50s, Andrea Claire pulls back the curtain on a deeply personal aspect of her health journey: living with hearing loss and tinnitus. Moving beyond the polished exterior of midlife - well - she never shows her life as polished... lol Andrea opens up about the reality of managing autoimmune-related hearing decline, the unexpected cost of hearing technology, and the daily adjustments that come with navigating a world not designed for those with hearing challenges. Andrea offers a raw look at the intersection of aging and health, challenging the stigma surrounding hearing aids and encouraging listeners to advocate for their own well-being. Whether you are experiencing similar symptoms or simply looking for a dose of unfiltered truth on the complexities of health in your 50s, this episode is a must-listen. Oticon Hearing Aids Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Workplaces Are Failing Peri and Menopausal Women with Karen Schulman Dupuis
Jul 100:54:40Tap to summarizeMidlife Women: Invisability, Ageism, Menopause, and Corporate Gaslighting What happens when corporate spaces look at 30+ years of unmatched wisdom, killer instincts, and unshakeable experience and say, “Yikes, that looks expensive... can we trade it in for an entry-level budget?” In this episode, we are diving deep into the bizarre corporate paradox that expects women of a certain age to just... evaporate. Joining the conversation is Karen Schulman Dupuis, an unstoppable business designer, technologist, and researcher whose recent master’s research, Women Disrupted, delivers the hard, undeniable data on what actually happens to women’s careers after 40. Damn - and we’re the FxCK you 50s - we need to power up our sisters 10 years our junior!! Karen’s qualitative study on women aged 40–64 blows the lid off the conventional corporate and support ecosystems. Her findings are crystal clear and entirely unfiltered: not a single woman in the study was better off financially after a career disruption, and 100% of those who turned to self-employment refused to call themselves "entrepreneurs." We are stripping away the fluffy "awareness" campaigns and exposing how systemic barriers like ageism and gender bias derail women's financial security, housing stability, and mental health—all hitting at the exact same moment as perimenopause and menopause. But we aren't just acknowledging the problem. We explore how to use the adaptive cycle as a model to recognize disruption as a repeatable pattern, allowing us to build resilience, navigate the chaos, and prepare for what's next. The "Invisible" Shift: Channeling icons like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey to call out the exact moment society and the 9-to-5 grind try to ghost us. The 1% Absurdity: Why Don in accounting gets an ergonomic standing desk because his back hurts from golf, while less than 1% of organizations actually accommodate menopause. The Entrepreneurship Myth: Why forcing disrupted women into self-employment isn't an "empowering lifestyle choice" but an act of survival—and why standard "entrepreneurship programs" are failing by not being short, focused, and designed to validate immediate needs. The Power of Systemic Change: How building fierce community support can help women actively challenge the workplace systems that are gaslighting them. The bottom line? We aren't going anywhere, and we sure as hell aren't turning down the volume. It’s time for workplaces to start paying attention to the women who actually keep the wheels turning. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Karen Schulman Dupuis here: Karen on LinkedIn Karen on Threads Karen on TikTok Fuck. That. Shit. WomenDisrupted official website Karen Schulman Dupuis (MA in Leadership, Royal Roads University) is a Hamilton-based business designer, technologist, and researcher. With over two decades of experience navigating the public sector, regulated industries, and innovation ecosystems, she is the force behind Women Disrupted, bringing original qualitative data to the forefront of the fight for midlife economic equity. Learn more at WomenDisrupted.ca. Disruption is a Pattern: Career disruption is a repeatable cycle. Once women over 40 recognize the pattern, they can actively prepare for and navigate the recovery. Accidental Entrepreneurs: Most midlife women turn to self-employment out of sheer necessity, not desire, completely redefining what it means to "start a business." The System is the Problem: Ageism and gender bias are not individual performance issues; they are systemic barriers directly targeting women's economic equity. Community is the Weapon: Navigating and breaking down these systemic barriers requires shifting away from solo isolation and moving toward collective community power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Rebuilding Life After a Stroke with Emmy Winner Melissa Street
Jun 1700:59:07Tap to summarizeFrom diva egos to FBI training videos, the entertainment industry is a recipe for stress—but Melissa Street navigated it with 8 Emmy Awards and absolute grace. This week on The FxCK YOU 50s, we are joined by retired Film and Television Makeup Artist Melissa Street. With over 35 years of experience, Melissa shares the highs and lows of her incredible career—including the intense stress of the job, the unique world of special FX, and the emotional toll of losing an A-list client who became a close friend. As a stroke survivor, Melissa also opens up about her personal health journey, touching on menopause, high blood pressure, and the crucial importance of self-care for women over 50. Plus, she breaks down how the industry has changed, tackles ageism head-on, and explains why we need to throw out the TikTok trend rulebook. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Melissa Street here: TikTok - Mel Street/EpicMakeUp Other mentions: DaVinci Resolve Current Body RF Tool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Truth About Plastic Surgery in Your 50s with Mary Regan
Jun 300:59:13Tap to summarizeInside The Regan Method: Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon in Midlife: In a world saturated with filtered selfies, homogenized beauty standards, and predatory marketing that specifically targets women in midlife, finding the truth about cosmetic procedures feels nearly impossible. Enter Mary Regan, founder of The Regan Method, an educational framework designed to dismantle misconceptions, expose red flags, and put the power back into the hands of patients. In this episode, Mary strips away the glossy marketing of the aesthetic industry to deliver a masterclass on patient advocacy, the psychology behind our choices, and the unspoken physical and emotional realities of surgery. From the precise timing of facelifts to the profound impact of hormonal changes on healing, Mary shares why real beauty cannot be found in a trend—and why a successful surgical journey begins with radical self-reflection and a fiercely vetted surgeon. ⚡ Sound Bites That Cut Through the Noise "I won't recommend a doctor by zip code or budget." "Predatory marketing targets women in midlife." "You can't fix that with a thread or a needle." The Emotional & Hormonal Reality: Surgery doesn't stop when you leave the operating room. The episode dives deep into the post-care recovery phase, including the complex emotional drops and hormonal shifts that impact healing. Ditch the "Homogenized" Face: A candid look at how social media algorithms have created a copy-paste standard of beauty, and how women can reclaim and protect their unique features as they age. Skin Integrity vs. The Quick Fix: Why long-term maintenance, foundational skin health, and realistic expectations always outperform the false promises of over-promoted, non-surgical "quick fixes." The Vetting Revolution: Why you must look past social media hype to spot the structural red flags of predatory medical practices. Mary breaks down how to establish true accountability and communication with a surgeon. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Mary Regan here: The Regan Method by Mary Regan The Regan House Mary Regan on IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Katrina Anne Willis: Coming Out In Midlife
May 2000:37:01Tap to summarizeAndrea Claire sits down with award-winning author Katrina Anne Willis for an unapologetic conversation about burning down societal expectations and coming out LGBTQ+ after 50. Katrina, author of the 2026 memoir Hurricane Lessons, opens up about the massive tectonic shifts of navigating identity, family dynamics, and the heavy emotional labor women carry into their fifties. From the nuances of midlife LGBTQ+ self-discovery to confronting workplace ageism, menopause, and the sudden feeling of societal invisibility, this episode is one to stream now!. It’s a beautiful, unfiltered masterclass in why it is never too late to make a change, claim your respect, and choose authenticity over conformity. Because life is too damn short to live anyone else’s version of it. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Katrina Anne Willis here: Katrina Writes Substack Katrina on IG Buy Hurricane Lessons on Amazon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Jasmine Denham: Touring with Nelly Furtado, Navigating Midlife in the Music Industry
May 600:56:30Tap to summarizeI sit down with Jasmine Denham, a phenomenal musician whose career is a masterclass in evolution. With a resume that spans decades and continents, Jasmine has navigated every facet of the music industry—from performing on world stages with Sisterella - an MJJ / Michael Jackson production and as a touring backup vocalist for Nelly Furtado to shared "sparkling moments" with icons like Prince and Pharrell. Beyond the spotlight, Jasmine is a seasoned songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. She has penned hits for Juno-nominated artists, earned a SOCAN No. 1, and served as a musical director for The Next Star. Today, she balances her work as a music curator, a juror for the Polaris Music Prize with her role as the founder of The Stop, her own studio and music school where she mentors the next generation of talent. In this conversation, we explore: The Power of the Pivot: Moving from international backup vocalist to an influential industry artist and entrepreneur. Industry Realities: The truth of being a woman of colour in a male-dominated field and why kindness is the ultimate career currency. Health & Resurgence: Navigating the creative and physical challenges of chronic migraines and perimenopause while reclaiming her voice. Legacy and Education: How her school is empowering artists to own their craft, just as she has. Your voice only gets stronger with time. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Jasmine Denham here: Website Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jasminedenham The Stop Jasmine Denham's Music School The Stop on Instagram Discogs as Jasmine nee Baird YouTube Other notables: Seth Riggs Vocal Studio Advance Music Canada’s Black Music Collective Lush demo for Kylie Minogue Together We Are One making of the Pan-Am games theme song Together We Are One in French Together We Are One sung by Serena Ryder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Tamara Gerdis: Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist on Kegels, Pelvic Health and Osteopenia
Apr 2200:53:04Tap to summarizeIn her second appearance on the podcast, Tamara Gerdis, co-founder of Physio Down Under, returns to provide a masterclass in pelvic floor health for women over 50 navigating midlife and beyond. With over 20 years of expertise, Tamara strips away the stigma surrounding "taboo" topics, offering a blend of clinical evidence and empowering practical advice. The conversation dives deep into how the hormonal shifts of menopause—specifically the decline of estrogen—impact everything from bladder urgency to sexual comfort. Tamara emphasizes that while symptoms like leakage or "the invisible itch" are common, they are not an inevitable part of aging. The Estrogen Connection: Understanding how menopause affects the elasticity and health of pelvic tissues, and the role of localized treatments. Functional Rehabilitation: Moving beyond simple Kegels to focus on core activation, pressure management, and progressive strength training. Bladder & Bowel Mastery: Strategies for managing urgency, especially during travel, and normalizing these conversations Bone Health & Longevity: Addressing the link between pelvic health, osteopenia, and the importance of weight-bearing movement. Connect with The FxCK YOU 50s here: Podcast Website IG @TheFxCKYOU50s LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Tamara Gerdis here: Physio Down Under official site PDU on FB PDU on IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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