Almost 40
37 episodes Last Updated: May 01, 25
Who said you’ve got to have your shit together by a certain age?
Definitely not Raj Pander.
She's Almost a promising young woman (she got told she was too old for a job). Almost a wifey for lifey (she’s a divorcee - according to Indian Matchmaking/Sima Aunty that makes her “disadvantaged”). And she was almost 40 when she started this podcast.
Single. Living at home with her parents. Still watching TV shows made for teens. Still swearing on work calls. Still has an unhealthy obsession with pop culture. She’s getting older, but not necessarily wiser (s/o to Taylor Swift for relatable lyrics).
Raj celebrated a milestone birthday last year, so we've got a thing for milestones on this podcast - not just the ones we associate with age/patriarchal/societal norms though. On the Milestone episodes, Raj and her guests get into 3 milestones from their lives, discussing their expectations of them vs the reality. And on the Almost Assessments, guests take an almost medical assessment run by a “nurse” who asks the most annoying/offensive questions women get asked on a regular basis, leading to an unpredictable conversation based on their answers. On the solo episodes, Raj does a deep dive into a trending topic (eg women being pitted against each other at the Oscars a la Demi Moore and Mikey Madison) or something that's been on her mind (banning people from her funeral a la Shannon Doherty) with a little help from listeners and friends...
Email almost40thepodcast@gmail.com and follow us on socials @almost40pod @_rajpander
xoxo
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Episodes
May 01, 2025
Almost Assessment: Leanne Alie
Podcast Comissioner, Producer + Presenter, Leanne Alie checks in with the Nurse for an Almost Assessment (an almost medical check up where guests are asked the most annoying/offensive questions women get asked on a regular basis). Leanne gets into being single at 30, feeling out of the loop after watching Adolescence, her love/hate relationship with dating apps, creating her smash hit podcast Coiled, Love Is Blind and more...almost40thepodcast@gmail.comFollow@_rajpander @almost40pod @leannealie_xoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 18, 2025
Almost Resting In Peace
Do you guys ever think about dying? After re-watching Barbie and contemplating Barbie Margot's dancefloor stopping question, Raj started thinking about Shannon Doherty's funeral block list again and wondered if anyone else planned on having a block list for their final send off, what came to their minds when they thought about dying, what their funeral song was and other potentially morbid things. We get into grief, mourning styles, being petty and more... almost40thepodcast@gmail.comFollow @_rajpander @almost40podLINKS: https://swansongproject.co.uk/https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/22876551/mourning-grief-second-line-new-orleans-jazz-funeralxoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 26, 2025
Almost Mature: Bela Shah
Broadcaster, Sky Sports News Presenter and Former Lawyer Bela Shah gets into changing career at 29, being a "mature" student, getting a big break at Channel 5 that led to her current dream role, the best way to deal with sexism and racism at work, why IVF wasn't as straightforward as she thought it would be, Mumsnet and more.Raj has a ridiculous story about the Heathrow power cut. Of course.almost40thepodacast@gmail.comFollow @almost40pod @_rajpander @missbelashah xoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 17, 2025
Almost Assessment: Hope Flynn
Community Founder, Business Lecturer + Relationship Expert, Hope Flynn checks in with the Nurse for an Almost Assessment (an almost medical check up where women are asked the most annoying/offensive things they are asked on the regular). Hope shares her thoughts on rebounds, how to figure out if someone is a catfish, why the cinema isn't the worst place for a first date, how to handle getting back into dating after being out of the game and more...almost40thepodcast@gmail.comFollow@_rajpander @almost40pod @so.what.community @hope.4.itxoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 09, 2025
Almost A Win
This one is an Oscars debrief + Millie Bobby Brown calling out her trolls mash up! Raj was dazed and confused when she saw articles about Mikey Madison's Best Actress win titled with "And the Oscar goes to...Sue." Turns out a lot of people are pressed about Demi Moore apparently being "substanced" at the Academy Awards. So naturally, we (Raj + the regulars: a selected group of women and sometimes men) had to get into it...What's their take on the discourse around Demi Moore not winning an for The Substance and Mikey Madison winning for Anora? Is the world obsessed with pitting younger women against older women? Have they ever been in a situation like this? And how do they feel about Millie Bobby Brown calling out people by name for tearing apart her looks in the name of "journalism?"SEND US YOUR TAKESalmost40thepodcast@gmail.comFollow @_rajpander @almost40podLINKS: The Oscar Goes To Sue https://www.vulture.com/article/demi-moore-lost-the-best-actress-oscar-to-mikey-madison.htmlMillie's Post https://www.instagram.com/p/DGwZgLXSJuH/xoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 24, 2025
Almost Bridget Jones
The 4th instalment of the Bridget Jones movies released on Galentines/Valentines so Raj had to get into a Galentines/Valentines debrief featuring tales of how everyone celebrated (if they did - one person was "traumatised by dusty men buying red roses in Asda") and the last time they were single shamed (because why was Bridget still being single shamed as a single mother + widow? Leave us alone!)Do you prefer celebrating Valentines with lovers or friends?Email almost40thepodcast@gmail.comFollow @_rajpander @almost40podLINKS:https://www.instagram.com/acrumbofromance/https://www.screendaily.com/news/bridget-jones-4-scores-huge-102m-opening-weekend-at-uk-ireland-box-office/5202120.articlehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/cathyolson/2025/02/11/defying-gravity-why-2024-marked-a-historic-year-for-women-in-film/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 07, 2025
Almost Assessment: Martha Lucia
Podcaster Martha Lucia checks in with the Nurse for an Almost Assessment (an almost medical assessment where women are asked the most annoying/offensive questions they get asked on a regular basis). Martha gets into the most annoying question she gets asked as a 39 year old single lady, making peace with the biological clock, quitting her job to focus on her podcast, moving back in with her parents following a break up and more... Raj is dealing with the loss of Kanye and learning how to swear in Espanol. Follow@almost40pod @_rajpander @iamarthaluciaSend Baldoni/Lively tea to almost40thepodcast@gmail.comxoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 31, 2025
Almost There: Parle Patel
Creator, Actor, Producer (not gonna list everything else he does because we will be here all day), Parle Patel gets into how he got over having yesmanitis (when you say YES to everything anyone asks of you), bad behaviour from Aunty Ji's, how turning 30 during lockdown changed everything for him and why working for a mainstream media organisation wasn't the answer to all of his career related prayers. Raj reflects on her 16th birthday party, why you have you remember you are the prize at work and Blake Lively vs Just Baldoni. Also confirming that Raj or Parle are NOT dragons. almost40thepodcast@gmail.comFollow @almost40pod @_rajpander @planetparleUmbarro Trailer (Parle's first feature film): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNINQvNs2v4xoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 25, 2025
Almost An Aunty
Bollywood legend Zeenat Aman posted an image of herself wearing a sweatshirt with "Aunty" sprawled across it, loud and proud asking "which genius decided Aunty is a derogatory term?" So this episode is a deep dive on the Aunty. How do women feel about being called one? When were they first called one? What does the word mean to them? Are they currently in their Aunty era? It's like an ode to all the Aunty's of past, present and future... Aaannnndd I have a theory about Andrew Garfields glow up. You may be seated.Email almost40thepodcast@gmail.comFollow @_rajpander @almost40podLINKS: Zeenat Aman "Aunty" post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAIKm92Pvyp/Andrew Garfield: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEgcpKEAnPi/?igsh=MW51eXBoNGxvYnNocA== Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 16, 2025
Almost Assessment: Rena Annobil
Presenter, Producer and Writer, Rena Annobil checks in with the Nurse for an Almost Assessment (an almost medical assessment based on the most annoying/offensive questions women are asked on a regular basis). Rena gets into feeling an energy shift at 40, being proud of her nose, why £100 moisturisers don't work, perimenopause and more. Raj is still not over Big Flap Energy. Here's to being more Kanye!Follow:@almost40pod @_rajpander @renadannobilLinks:The insta account that I thought was called Ladies of 5th Ave is actually this https://www.instagram.com/ladiesofmadisonave/almost40thepodcast@gmail.comxoxo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.