The Shift with Sam Baker
sam bakerThe Shift is a podcast that aims to tell the truth about being a woman post-40, created and hosted by writer and broadcaster, Sam Baker. Did you ever wonder why you stop hearing so many women's voices once they pass 40? That's where The Shift comes in - a frank, funny, sometimes heartbreaking, always honest look at what it means to be a woman in midlife and beyond. Work, life, love, health, sex, ... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 317 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Personal JournalsArtsBooksSociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
My guest today is the former model turned leading nutritionist Rose Ferguson.
At the age of 15, Rose was discovered in McDonalds on Oxford Street by the legendary 90s photographer, Corrine Day. For a decade or more, Rose was her muse and her face an... more
Hello and welcome to season 23 (!) of The Shift podcast, and this first episode is very close to my heart. Domestic abuse is something I have spent a lot of my adult life campaigning about, so I could not be more honoured that today’s guest is Denise... more
My guest today has blazed a trail through the British poetry scene ever since her work was first published in 1991. Born in Edinburgh, Jackie Kay MBE was brought up in Glasgow by her adoptive parents, Helen and John Kay, of whom much more later.
She... more
I first encountered today’s guest, Marina Benjamin, when I was researching The Shift book and stumbled across her memoir, The Middlepause. An insightful look at what middle age means today, it was prompted by Marina’s own sudden menopause after a hys... more
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Reviews
- Great guests
Edited to add: the sound on the recent Jane Green episode was really awful& hard to listen to
The guests are great, really interesting and life-affirming podcast for women
Apple Podcasts5hoooo2394
United States2 months ago - Really enjoying
Relatively new listener to The Shift and really enjoying it. In the latest Bryony Gordon interview Sam says that the topic of ‘people pleasing’ comes up in most of her interviews. I would love to hear a discussion about this that acknowledges the biological drive to please others - we are social creatures, we need the approval of others to survive, we need others to like us in order to combat loneliness etc. As a woman in midlife I totally get the problems associated with 40+ years of people ple... more
Apple Podcasts5Amberanon
United Kingdom6 months ago - Love it all!
I found my way to this podcast via Sam Baker’s riveting Substack newsletter. Both are brilliant and desperately needed in the expanding conversation around midlife for women. I loved the episode about women’s (repressed) anger but all of the guests and interviews are top notch and have lead me to some personal breakthroughs….
Apple Podcasts5ZevaBellel
France2 years ago - How many f's do you give?
5! Because this is the most genuine, refreshing, thoughtful, freaking smart, thought-provoking and sometimes heartbreaking podcast there is. As is Sam Baker. Best interviews, best questions, best conversations, and best guests.
And I'd give it another 100 f's for being the best weekly inoculation against internalized misogyny, and a balm for the wounds inflicted by all types of misogyny, too..
Thank you Sam Baker and all your guests!
Apple Podcasts5dausmaus
Canada2 years ago - Love it
I have been listening for a couple of years now- I love it. The guests are so interesting, it is by far the best list of guests of any podcast. Sam is such a skilled interviewer- asks interesting questions (always super prepared) and listens and let the guest speak! I found so many wonderful women and stories through this podcast. Love the list of questions at the end- if there is ever a space for another one I would love to to hear a holiday spot recommendation- I am sure I would discover some ... more
Apple Podcasts5Aniabew6United Kingdom2 years ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #217 | United States/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #30 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #225 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #248 | Canada/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #96 |  Australia/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #101 |  Italy/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Shift
What is The Shift about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A candid, woman-centered interview show exploring work, health, love, aging, and personal reinvention after 40. Across episodes, guests include writers, journalists, musicians, and activists who share intimate stories of menopause, career pivots, resilience, and self-definition. The host combines warm humor with sharp questioning, often guiding guests through practical takeaways on boundaries, creativity, and wellbeing. The format tends to blend memoir with actionable insights, attracting listeners who value honest conversations about midlife identity, empowerment, and community. A notable strength is the breadth of high-profile guests from literature, journalism, and entertainment, plus a recurring emphasis on authenticity and female solid... more
Where can I find podcast stats for The Shift?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Shift. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Shift and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Shift get?
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What are the audience demographics for The Shift?
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How many subscribers and views does The Shift have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Shift has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to The Shift?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Shift:
1. Postcards From Midlife
2. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
3. Therapy Works
4. Life At The Midpoint with Gabby Logan
5. Begin Again with Davina McCall
How many episodes of The Shift are there?
The Shift launched 6 years ago and published 317 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact The Shift?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Shift?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Shift from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Shift?
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What guests have appeared on The Shift?
Recent guests on The Shift include:
1. Rose Ferguson
2. Denise Brown
3. Jackie Kay
4. Marina Benjamin
5. Zandra Rhodes
6. Louise O'Neill
7. Miranda July
8. Rachel Eliza Griffiths
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.