By Karen Andrews | The Happy Side of 40
The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.
NOTE: These are strange times in which we find ourselves and I'm conscious that with so much going on "normal" life feels like a distant memory. This episode was recorded before the full impact of Covid-19 was clear so it isn't mentioned during our conversation. I know that, for me at least, listening to podcasts on normal life is a welcome respite from the rolling news conference we are currently living through. Hence why I am publishing this episode now, I hope it may help others to have a temporary escape at least.
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In this week's episode I'm delighted to chatting to Katie Robbins from KT Robbins Ceramics. Katie started out as a marketeer, working in a corporate role in PR, before taking a break to be at home with her kids. In search of a creative outlet she tried out a variety of classes before discovering a joy in pottery, specifically porcelain pottery. Now she fills her days doing something she loves - making beautiful vases, mugs and candle-holders from her home studio.
"It's like it's where I always should have been, but I never knew it."
What we talked about:After a slightly longer than planned hiatus, Being Heard is back! And I'm thrilled to be talking to Jo Hooper from @madandsadclub. Following recovery from her own mental health breakdowns back in 2018, Jo describes her 'year of breakdowns' as a trigger which planted the seed to change her working life and do something differently. She left her corporate job and has subsequently used her own experiences to carve out a new role. Working with companies to support their mental health practices and with individuals to help them figure out a way to work that allows them to manage their mental health and to stay healthy.
We don't have to give up on wanting to feel successful just because we have, or are, struggling with our mental health.
What we talked aboutPopping up in her trademark bright yellow coat this week is my guest Helen Wills. Formerly an Operations Director in the leisure industry, Helen left the corporate world to concentrate on creating her family. While at home with her first child she simultaneously discovered the world of blogging and a joy in writing that she never knew she had. Putting the two together she created Actually Mummy. A mummy blog with a twist that has evolved over the years into a place for conversations around issues for women over 50 and about parenting teens. With her bold colours on Instagram and her honest opinions, Helen is an advocate for every woman over 50 who still feels she has so much more left to give. This is a woman who is definitely #50NotOut.
"Yes my joints ache, my capacity for work after drinking alcohol has diminished and I'm damned if I can find a heel that will let me run around London as comfortably as I once did. But it's nothing that flat heels, Becks Blue and ibuprofen gel can't solve, and there is nothing about my age that limits my tenacity, my project management skills or my energy for a job worth doing."
What We Talked About:This week my guest is creative business mentor and fellow podcaster, Charlie Swift. Back in 2016 Charlie was working in social media marketing when she was made redundant for the second time. Realising that employment did not equal job security, Charlie decided to try self-employment and see where it would take her. With no formal plans in place, it took a year of "muddling through" until she found her path. She discovered the sort of clients she wanted to help, then it was just a matter of how. Two years and a baby later, she has pivoted away from social media marketing into mentoring small business owners. By following her curiosity and allowing herself room to evolve, she is now finding fulfilment by helping her clients to figure out their goals and push their businesses forward.
What We Talked AboutFor the last two years Helen Perry has steadily created her own colourful corner of the internet. Previously a BBC journalist, she started her instagram account (@notaboutthekids) to help transition from the role of full-time mum back into work after a break of eight years. This space began. as the name suggests, with a conscious decision that it would not be about her role as a mother. Instead she wanted to explore her love of photography and chatting to other like-minded women; all of which has enabled her to build an incredible community around her account. Now Helen teaches others about social media, works with small businesses, writes and organises social marketing events.
What we talked about:My guest this week on the podcast is the wonderful Becky Avery, owner of Hazel & Blue - a Wiltshire based company making soy based candles and candle making kits that smell absolutely divine. Becky is someone who has always dreamed of having her own business. Before Hazel & Blue there were several other ideas but none that made it to fruition. But a perfect storm of falling in love with the candle-making process, hitting a milestone birthday and having time off for a major operation all combined to give her the push to launch her business and she hasn’t looked back since.
What we talked about:Welcome back to Season 2 of Being Heard! This is a very quick solo episode from me to explain why I’m switching up the format a little.
This season I'll be interviewing creative women who have left behind their previous careers to navigate a more creative, fulfilling path. Each week a new guest explores their personal stepping stones to a fulfilling career and what career change has taught them about themselves.
I do hope you enjoy this season. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject, you can find me over on instagram @thehappysideof40 and if you’re interesting in finding out more about my research, you can sign up for a monthly letter from me over on my website at www.thehappysideof40.com/newsletter/.
"I always say to clients, don't share anything publicly that you haven't already processed yourself. And you'll know that you've processed it because you will be unattached to how it's received by people. Whatever anyone says won't really bother you, or whoever reads it won't bother you -- then that's a good sign that it's safe for you to share it."
This week is the last episode of Season 1 and my guest is a researcher, coach and podcaster who helps humans transcend self-doubt. Sas Petherick has a degree in Educational Psychology, is qualified with the Coaches Training Institute and has a Masters in Coaching & Mentoring alongside a multitude of other academic qualifications.
Sas developed an interest in researching self-doubt and now through her work, she helps women like you and me understand how to stop our self-doubt holding us back and instead cultivate self-belief, self-acceptance, self-trust and self-worth.
For links and resources, including Sas' podcast recommendations, see the full show notes.
You can find myself or Sas on Instagram @thehappysideof40 and @saspetherick.
"We often look for permission outside of ourselves. If I say to my friend 'I'm so tired' and I'm hoping she'll say 'well you don't have to come to the party, it's alright'. But that's not her job. It's not her responsibility to give me permission to take care of myself. It's my responsibility."
My guest this week describes herself as an Overthinkers' coach, helping others through her writing, teaching and podcasting to "spend less time overthinking and more time enjoying your life". Gabrielle Treanor understands what it means to be an Overthinker. Several years ago she recognised the need to quieten her own mind and free herself from the weight of constant worrying.
Her curiosity on how to do this took her along a path into researching positive psychology, mindfulness and brain science. Gabrielle's podcast, Pressing Pause, is like a weekly ten minutes of mindfulness that we could all do with in our lives. She offers techniques, strategies and reflection points for Overthinkers like me to deal with fear, develop resilience and calm our minds.
For links and resources, including Gabrielle's podcast recommendations, see the full show notes.
You can find myself or Gabrielle on Instagram @thehappysideof40 and @gabrielletreanor.
"Failure isn't as scary as I thought it was going to be. But it is inevitable, you're going to fail. You're going to mess up. You're going to upset people. Not everyone is going to agree with you. You're going to have feel like you're in a bit of a spotlight, which is incredibly uncomfortable for an introvert. But do you know what? It passes. That feeling of discomfort passes. And from that I actually feel like a stronger, more confident person."
This week on Being Heard, I'm joined by Jessica Rose Williams. Jessica is a talented writer, photographer and podcaster. After years of feeling deeply unfulfilled in job at the NHS, she took the monumental decision to simplify her life.
Decluttering her wardrobe was just the beginning. Jessica now lives a more intentional life in the countryside, saying no to the things that don't add value and as she says on her blog -- "It changed everything for the better, and I wouldn't go back".
Jessica has written for 91 magazine, Project Calm and Cosmopolitan as well as her own regular blog about living with less, capsule wardrobes and the lessons she's learned along the way to discovering her creativity.
One of Jessica's latest projects is The Little Chapters, a podcast she started with her friend Kayte Ferris where we can listen in to their open conversations on topics ranging from Self-employment to 'Woo'.
For links and resources, including Jessica's podcast recommendations, see the full show notes.
You can find myself or Jessica on Instagram @thehappysideof40 and @jessicarosewilliams.
The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.