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: 

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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.