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If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

Sonja McKaiser
If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)
Latest episode

28 episodes

  • If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

    EP27: You've been living in survival mode and you probably don't even know it... [S3E3]

    2026/07/10 | 1h 12 mins.
    Nervous system regulation has become one of those phrases we hear everywhere, yet so few of us actually understand what it means. In this week's episode, Aimee Isaacs joins me to unpack what nervous system regulation really is, why so many women in midlife feel stuck in survival mode, and how our hormonal changes can make everything feel even more intense.
    We also explore why perimenopause can leave us feeling anxious, exhausted, irritable and overwhelmed, and why pushing through isn't the answer anymore.
    In this episode we chat about:
    What nervous system regulation actually means

    How chronic stress impacts your body and your health

    The difference between reacting and responding

    Small, practical ways to support your nervous system every day

    Sensory snacks

    Why taking care of yourself is no longer optional in midlife

    If you enjoyed this conversation be sure to follow Aimee on YouTube and Instagram.

    And because it’s birthday month, I’ve got something delicious just for you! Plot Twist, my once-off 1:1 coaching session, is for you if you're so over your own BS. We identify the pattern or the story that's been keeping you in the same loop, and we find what needs to shift so you can get out of your own way. The cost is R850 / $55. Click this link to book your spot: https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist

    Sending so much love! 
    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
  • If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

    EP26: Your midyear reset - the plot twist you didn't know you needed [S3E2]

    2026/07/03 | 9 mins.
    Can you believe the first half of 2026 is done!?
    I love me some affirmations. I love writing them in my journal and saying them out loud... But sometimes I tend to do them haphazardly. This month I'm committing to doing them every day. How about you? 

    In case you needed a reminder, you have the power to change the trajectory of your life.

    This week's episode is a reset of sorts. Press play on a walk, during your morning coffee, or while you're driving. Come back to these affirmations as often as you need. Allow them to become your July practice. Write them in your journal everyday. Choose your favourite ones and say them out loud. And if you loved this episode, then share it with all your friends!

    I know this year is flying by. And I also know we tend to say this every year. But you get to create your own PLOT TWIST instead of wishing for it. If you're continuously getting on your own way, and you need support taking a step or a leap forward, there are a few ways we can work together.
    Plot Twist is my once-off 45-minute 1:1 coaching session at R850 ($55). We identify the pattern or the story that's been keeping you in the same loop, and we find what needs to shift so you can get out of your own way. Click this link to book your spot: https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist
    Threshold is my 3 month 1:1 coaching container for the womxn who's done hovering at the edge of her next evolution and is ready to cross the threshold and go deeper with proper support. Literally me in your pocket for 3-months. 
    A Radical Revolution is my 6 month 1:1 container for the kind of transformation that takes sustained commitment, deep excavation, and me supporting you and rooting for you every step of the way. 

    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
  • If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

    EP25: The Messy Middle of Becoming [S3E1]

    2026/06/26 | 20 mins.
    Welcome to Season 3!
    In today's yummy voice-note-style episode I share what's been coming up for me as I step into my next evolution. I talk about the messy middle of becoming, the parts of the journey we don't always share online, and why I'm done with the performative highlight reel that is social media.
    This season is about real conversations, real challenges, and creating a space where we can show up as our whole selves. Buckle up, baddie. We're doing this together!
    If you're still sitting on the promise you made to yourself at the beginning of this year, and need support taking one step forward, then listen up. The Plot Twist is my once-off 45-minute 1:1 coaching session where we look at what's getting in your way, and what needs to shift so that this year actually gets to be different. Sometimes we cannot see our own blind spots, and that's precisely what this is for. The cost is R850 ($55).
    Click this link to book your spot: https://calendly.com/sonjamcoaching/plottwist

    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
  • If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

    EP24: Is your need for approval holding you back? [S2E12]

    2026/05/01 | 11 mins.
    Full Moon Blessings and happy May!
    This episode lands on the Full Moon in Scorpio, so if things have been feeling intense, you're not imagining it.
    As we close out Season 2, I'm going a little deeper into why you may be getting on your own way, and how to move through it. Because it's definitely not lack of trying but possibly your need for approval that's keeping you in the same loop.
    In this short reflection, I talk about how deeply this pattern can run, why it trips us up even when we're ready for change, and the very important role support plays in actually moving through it.
    If you're still sitting on the promise you made yourself at the beginning of this year, this one's for you. And if something in this episode resonates, I want you to know that you don't have to do this alone. Drop me an email and let’s chat! Or send me a DM on social media. You get to be supported as you embrace and embody the womxn you were born to be.

    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
  • If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)

    EP23: What are you waiting for? [S2E11]

    2026/04/24 | 11 mins.
    In this week's episode I really want to know how you're doing. Can you believe we’re 4 months into the year already!?
    Remember that promise you made to yourself at the beginning of this year? Have you started acting on it or is it still living in your head? 
    This is not about wishing things could be different but actually changing things by taking action. And it doesn't have to be huge leaps, but rather small steps in the direction of your dreams and desires. It's about following through on the promises you've made to yourself. 
    I also share the simple practice that's helped me stay consistent (even on the days I don't feel like it), and how you can start showing up for yourself in a way that actually sticks.
    I don't want you to wait until the end of the year to realise nothing's changed. You're going to take one step today, coz if not now, then when?

    Sending so much love! 

    PS: come follow me on⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK⁠⁠⁠⁠!
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About If not now, then when...? (The Midlife Experiment)
Welcome to "If not now, then when...?", a podcast for midlife women who crave conversations that feel like a voice note from your bestie. We'll talk about the wild, beautiful process of reinventing yourself in midlife, from menopause & identity shifts to sensuality, grief & the radical act of becoming who you were always meant to be. Sprinkle in a little witchiness, some astrology, a touch of humour & a whole lot of truth! If something inside you has been whispering that it's time to stop playing small & start expressing yourself fully, this is your reminder. Coz if not now, then when...?
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