MID

What happens when your entire identity is built on being the best in the world? For Jana Pittman, one of Australia's most famous athletes, the singular goal of Olympic gold was repeatedly torn away by devastating injuries and gut-wrenching losses. You might think her biggest pivot was swapping the running track for the bobsled, becoming one of the very few athletes in history to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. But that wasn't it. Her real pivot was walking away entirely from being an elite athlete to become a doctor - all while raising six children. In this episode of Pivot Club, Sarah Davidson speaks with Jana about this massive career change. They unpack how you cope with failure when your mindset is "silver is the first loser", and how you go from being one of the best in the world to a complete beginner back at the bottom of the ladder, surrounded by people half your age. Jana shares the unfiltered story about how this profound pivot emerged from a period of intense personal and professional struggle - through divorce, miscarriages, failed exams and the financial lows of moving back into her own garage to make ends meet. Join us for a raw lesson in resilience, a look into the unseen "messy middle," and a powerful reminder that your lowest moments can be the fuel for your greatest chapter yet. THE END BITS: Want more from Sarah Davidson? Check out her podcast Seize The Yay. Discover more Mamamia podcasts here. Feedback: [email protected] Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. CREDITS: Guest: Jana Pittman Host: Sarah Davidson Executive Producer: Courtney Ammenhauser Senior Producer: Sally Best This show was brought to you in partnership with Charles Sturt University. Australia's largest and most experienced online uni. Take the next step. Search Charles Sturt University online. Complete our short survey about education for for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8467038/Ch Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Change is happening to our bodies and our minds and our careers and our relationships. And sometimes, the changes we decide to make can alter a life we thought we had mapped out for us. Today, we're talking about what happens when midlife women stop performing and start becoming. When we shed the things we don't need, including the opinions of people who don't matter. When we realise we've got choices here, even if some of them will be hard. And yes, we talk about how, as a woman in the public eye, that's never truer than if you dare to change your body. It's an exceptionally honest conversation about identity, courage, and growth with Julie Goodwin, the person with whom this podcast all began. THE END BITS: Mamamia wants to hear about your financial wellbeing and how you're feeling about the future. Complete our short survey here for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here. CREDITS: Guest: Julie Goodwin Host: Holly Wainwright Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Executive Producer: Naima Brown Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a life successful? Is it the promotion, the postcode, the likes that light up your phone? That’s the story we’ve been sold, isn’t it? Kemi Nekvapil is successful—but not in the way you might think. Yes, she’s one of Australia’s leading executive coaches and the author of the powerful book Grounded Success. But to Kemi—who was homeless at 13 and who now lives on a daffodil farm in regional Victoria—success is something deeper. Her success is that she’s built a life rich in purpose and peace. In this conversation, she shares how to recognise a “full-body yes”—those moments when your entire being says this is right—and why keeping death close can actually lead to a more vibrant, meaningful life. You can find Kemi's book Grounded Success here. THE END BITS: Mamamia wants to hear about your financial wellbeing and how you're feeling about the future. Complete our short survey here for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here. CREDITS: Guest: Kemi Nekvapil Host: Holly Wainwright Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Executive Producer: Naima Brown Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The invisible woman still leaves quite a gap when she disappears. You might not have seen her smoothing your path this morning, ensuring clean clothes, full bellies, and petrol in cars. She paid bills, kept WiFi flowing, Netflix streaming, remembered gym renewals and doctor's appointments—putting herself last on every list. Until she doesn't. When the invisible woman packs her bags and buggers right off, suddenly her space becomes blindingly clear. Meet Monique van Tulder—mum, wife, woman who forgot to live her life. She took a grown-up gap year, went to change lightbulbs, and didn't return for months. Her sons call it "the time mum got mad and took off." She calls it life-changing—saving her marriage by renegotiating it entirely. You can find Monique's book A Grown Up's Gap Year here and her podcast here. THE END BITS: Mamamia wants to hear about your financial wellbeing and how you're feeling about the future. Complete our short survey here for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here. CREDITS: Guest: Monique van Tulder Host: Holly Wainwright Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you felt it? That relentless tick-tock to get everything done, achieved, and properly ticked off before some looming birthday makes you officially... what? A failure? Someone who missed the memo about how life is supposed to unfold? Known to many as the graceful, empathetic MasterChef judge, Melissa Leong's memoir Guts reveals the deeper, complex woman behind the screen. But in this conversation, she opens up about choosing not to have children, the pressure to marry before 35, and shares her empowering guide to confidently dining alone and ordering whatever you want, no apologies. You can follow Melissa on Instagram and find her memoir Guts here. THE END BITS: Mamamia wants to hear about your financial wellbeing and how you're feeling about the future. Complete our short survey here for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram @MidbyMamamia or sign up to the MID newsletter, dropping weekly here. CREDITS: Guest: Melissa Leong Host: Holly Wainwright Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman Group Executive Producer: Naima Brown Audio Producer: Tina Matolov Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.