The day Madeleine West sat down to start recording this episode, her best friend Alicia had just gotten on a plane to move to the other side of the world. Alicia is her lifeline, her chosen family, and Madeleine was going to have to continue their friendship long distance.

In this episode of Restart, Madeleine speaks to Elisabeth Shaw from Relationships NSW about why it's so hard to make and keep friends as an adult, and how we can attract 'our people'. Plus, she catches up with Alicia a few months after her move to speak about the importance of supportive friendships, and how they're staying close while far away.

And on this final episode of Restart, Madeleine reflects on what she's learnt making this series.

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GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Elisabeth Shaw and Alicia Poray

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motherhood is an inescapable part of womanhood, whether you have children or not. Some people happily have kids, and some happily don't, and then there are the ones who want to but can't.

That is Jennifer White and her husband's story. Ready to start their next chapter as parents, their inability to have children was their ultimate restart. So how do you process this new reality, when life goes in a direction you never expected or prepared for?

Plus, Madeleine opens up about her life with six kids and how motherhood changed her, and speaks rawly and honestly about a recent life update.

THE END BITS

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Jennifer White

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 years ago, actor Madeleine West had finished a long day filming Neighbours. She was walking down Oxford St looking for some food when her life changed forever...she was hit by a bus.

What followed was months and years of rehabilitation and pain, but also coming to terms that she might never look the same way again. It was the most unexpected restart of her life.

On this episode, Madeleine interviews Dr Yumiko Kadota, author, doctor and cosmetic surgeon, about why so many of us want to change our appearance, and the effect our "perfect" faces are having on us.

THE END BITS

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Dr Yumiko Kadota

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A career restart can look completely different from one woman to another. From the glass ceiling, to having a family, to changing industries, women often don't have the luxury of a linear career progression that men have.

On this episode of Restart, Madeleine West speaks to two completely different but fascinating women. The inimitable Julie Bishop, who has changed careers drastically twice in her life and smashed all expectations, and Cathy O'Brien, who left the workforce for 15 years to raise her family, and found that re-entering the workforce was her biggest career challenge so far.

Plus, Madeleine opens up about her biggest career restart to date: her intention to enter politics. This is an episode of Restart not to be missed.

THE END BITS

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Julie Bishop and Cathy O'Brien

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is your purpose in life? For some it's their family, or their job, or just to make the world a better place. Khadija Gbla is one of those people; the victim of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) when she was young, her purpose in life is to work on educating the world so no young girl has to experience what she did.

Meshel Laurie is another woman who has found strong purpose in her life; you'll know her as a comedian and radio host, but her journey to finding Buddhism has been her most life-changing experience to date.

In this week's episode of Restart, Madeleine West speaks to both Khadija and Meshel about how they restarted and found their purpose, and what this clarity has brought to their lives.

THE END BITS

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Khadija Gbla and Meshel Laurie

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Madeleine West found a lump on her breast a few months ago, a million little things ran through her head. Not least of all: who would teach her kids to ride the train?

She's had a few health scares in her life, and each time has forced her to re-assess and restart her priorities in life. In this episode, she speaks to someone who received the ultimate surprise diagnosis; Briony Benjamin. Briony was only 30 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and her whole life was thrown upside down. But she faced it head on, and restarted her life on her terms.

THE END BITS

Click here to buy Briony's book Life Is Tough (But So Are You)

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guest: Briony Benjamin

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist, TV presenter and proud LGBTQI+ woman Narelda Jacobs beams into living rooms across the country every morning on Studio 10. But before she was on our TV screens, Narelda lived a very different life. 

At age 21, and a divorced mum with a young daughter, she found herself trying to figure out how to explain to her religious mother that she was in a serious relationship...with a woman.

She is someone who has had to restart her identity several times, and in this episode, Madeleine West discovers how she found the real Narelda.

THE END BITS

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guest: Narelda Jacobs

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years ago, Madeleine West hit restart on her life. She packed up her life in Melbourne and moved to Byron Bay, split up with her partner of 15 years and the father of her six kids and she started life again. And one of her biggest moments in her restart? It was her physical move from the leafy suburbs of Melbourne to Byron. 

She had no choice but to start again. And that’s what a tree change or a sea change does to you, it forces you to Restart.

In June last year, Holly Wainwright packed up her life in Sydney, along with her partner, kids and dog, and moved to the country. And since that moment her world has changed in incredible ways. And on this episode of Restart she tells Madeleine all about it.

THE END BITS

Find Holly on Mamamia Out Loud or This Glorous Mess

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Holly Wainwright

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madeleine West has done a lot of sex scenes through her roles on Underbelly and Satisfaction. But when it comes to facing real intimacy with someone new after a 15-year relationship? Well, that is very different. 

On this episode, we look at how women can restart their sex lives & their relationships - whether they’re in a long-term relationship or starting again. 

Madeleine speaks to author Rebekah Campbell, who set herself the challenge of going on 138 dates in one year to try and shake herself out of a dating slump.

Plus, psycho-sexologist, author and host of Sealed Section, Chantelle Otten, joins us to talk about how you can rediscover yourself and your sexuality. 

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Listen to Sealed Section, hosted by Chantelle Otten.

You can get Rebekah Campbell's book 138 Dates here.

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Chantelle Otten and Rebekah Campbell.

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the outside, Madeleine West had it all. A successful acting career, six beautiful kids, life in Melbourne, and a marriage of 15 years. Until a conversation about placemats made her question, 'Is this really what I want?'.

It was at this moment that, Madeleine West chose to press 'Restart' on her life. It was hard- really hard in fact. So has it all been worth it?

In the first episode of Restart, Madeleine explores something almost half of all Australian adults will go through at some point in their lives: divorce. Madeleine speaks to Divorce Coach & Legal and Separation Strategist (and divorcee) Nikki Parkinson, about the reality of separation.

PLUS has a truly heartbreaking and hilarious chat with comedian and podcast host Helen Thorne, whose marriage became immediately unraveled after she found a love note in her husband's jacket pocket...that wasn't from her.

No stone will be left unturned as Madeleine West explores what it is really like to restart your life.

THE END BITS

Buy Get Divorced, Be Happy by Helen Thorn and listen to her podcast Scummy Mummies.

Learn about The Divorce and Separation Hub.

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected].

CREDITS

Host: Madeleine West

Producers: Emmeline Peterson

Executive Producers: Tia Ucich, Elissa Ratliff & Holly Wainwright 

Audio Production: Madeline Joannou

Guests: Nikki Parkinson and Helen Thorn.

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.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years ago, Madeleine West hit restart on her life. She packed up her life in Melbourne and moved to Byron Bay, split up with her partner of 15 years and the father of her six kids and she started life again. And now she wants to find out why and how women from across the country are restarting their lives. For 10 weeks, Restart will look into why more and more women are pressing refresh on their lives, and how the hell they’ve done it. From divorce to health, to appearance, to career, to sex. Restart, it’s never too late to change everything.

Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.