
The 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 | 310 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Personal JournalsArtsBooksSociety & Culture | |||

My guest today is the writer and award-winning poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths.
Eliza is a woman who has been through A LOT in a short space of time. In September 2020, on the day she married her second husband, the globally renowned novelist Salman Rus... more
My guest this week is the actor, playwright, screenwriter, novelist and multi-award winner Dame Meera Syal.
Most of us have those people we grow up alongside and it feels like Meera has always been a fixture in my life, ever since I first saw her in... more
My guest today is the fashion designer and entrepreneur turned novelist Tabitha Webb.
What can I tell you about Tabitha - other than her life makes mine look extremely dull?
She ran away from university, chased a hot surfer to America, was a roller... more
My guest today is the Australian writer and thinker, Charlotte Wood.
Charlotte is the celebrated author of seven novels and three books of non-fiction. I first encountered her with her novel, The Natural Way of Things, which won the Stella Prize (th... more
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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
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
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….
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!
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
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #209 | |
Apple Podcasts | #25 | |
Apple Podcasts | #134 | |
Apple Podcasts | #204 | |
Apple Podcasts | #67 | |
Apple Podcasts | #25 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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
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The Shift launched 6 years ago and published 310 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on The Shift include:
1. Meera Syal
2. Tabitha Webb
3. Charlotte Wood
4. Helen Thorn
5. Jennie Godfrey
6. Jane Green
7. Sarah Hiscox
8. Stacey Duguid
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