What happens when you stop living for everyone else and start creating a life that feels deeply aligned?In this episode, I sit down with the wonderful Kareen Griffiths - leadership capacity expert, speaker, coach, and yes, even a DJ! Kareen is one of those women with kindness in her eyes, a joyous smile, a wicked sense of humour, and an infectious "Don’t just stand there then, let’s get going!" energy from the second you meet her.Her story isn't about a single dramatic transformation, it's about decades of learning boundaries, navigating grief, embracing mindfulness, and ultimately choosing joy as a daily practice rather than a destination.We dive into what it really takes to back yourself, break free from people-pleasing, navigate life’s transitions, and tap into an underlying passion to believe in yourself. Hilariously funny, deeply honest, and wildly inspiring, this conversation will leave you ready to embrace your own "anything is possible" energy.✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 6am. ✨⁠Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠Host: Kate McDougleProduced by: Alice McDougleCo-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise CairnsMixed by Ed WallerEdited by Miri StevensDesign by Alice McDougle

From facing redundancy in her thirties and navigating online dating in her pyjamas to marrying at Gretna Green for £500, becoming a mother at 42, and swapping traditional gender roles with her husband, Amanda’s life is proof that life doesn't follow a rigid timeline.

In this episode, we explore:

- Writing Your Own Rules: Why Amanda chose a £500 wedding, flipped family dynamics with a stay-at-home dad, and built a life around what truly mattered to her.

- Fertility & Autonomy: Why understanding your fertility early gives you choices rather than panic.

- Reinventing Your Career: The power of "portfolio careers" over searching for "the one job," and why it's never too late to start over.

- Practicing Confidence: Why confidence isn't something you are born with - it’s a muscle you have to actively train.

- The Reality of Influence: Shifting away from corporate metrics to focus on real human connection and positive change.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re waiting until you’re "ready" or wondered if it’s too late to make a big pivot, this episode will give you the nudge you need to step up and make intentional choices.

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 6am. ✨⁠

Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]

Host: Kate McDougle

Produced by: Alice McDougle

Co-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise Cairns

Mixed by Ed Waller

Edited by Miri Stevens

Design by Alice McDougle

What happens when the path laid out for you doesn't fit, and the industry you want to join wasn't built for you?

 In this episode, host Kate is joined by Helena Nicklin - actress turned wine expert, writer, broadcaster, entrepreneur, and podcaster. Helena shares her remarkable journey, starting with a pivotal "f**k it" moment when, faced with a lead acting role, she chose what felt like the safer path: stepping away from acting and into the wine trade.

Together, they unpack:

• The grief and thrill of making a major career change.
• How she revolutionised wine education by removing the elitist, overly technical jargon to make it accessible to everyone.
• Navigating misogyny and imposter syndrome in a traditional, male-dominated industry - and building female-led support networks to fight back.
• Midlife reinvention, selling up in London, and lowering her cortisol by relocating to the Isle of Wight.
• What it truly means to be a "multi-potentialite" and how to celebrate your own wins, even when you don't always feel "finally fabulous".

This conversation is an inspiring reminder that you never have to fit into a pre-existing box. Sometimes, the most fulfilling career is the one you carve out entirely on your own terms.

Follow Helena on instagram! @helenasips

Helena's website!

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 6am. ✨⁠

Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Host: Kate McDougle

Produced by: Alice McDougle

Co-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise Cairns

Mixed by Ed Waller

Edited by Miri Stevens

Design by Alice McDougle

What happens when the system tells you you're not enough, but you refuse to believe it?

In this episode, Shelly shares how growing up with dyslexia left her feeling like she had to hide the fact that she couldn't keep up in a system that wasn't built for her. Afraid of being exposed and believing she wasn't good enough, she found freedom through creativity and learned to trust her instincts over society’s expectations.

From lying about her age to get into art college at just 15, to building an award-winning business in her twenties, Shelly pushed through barriers to achieve her goals. But after becoming a mum, overwhelmed by anxiety and closing the business she'd worked so hard to build, she was forced to redefine what success really meant.

Today, Shelly helps others heal through a holistic approach to anxiety and trauma, sharing practical insights into the mind, body and nervous system. Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do isn't push harder, it's trust yourself enough to take a different path.

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 6am. ✨⁠Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠Host: Kate McDougleProduced by: Alice McDougleCo-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise CairnsMixed by Ed WallerEdited by Miri StevensDesign by Alice McDougle

What if the best opportunities in life are the ones you never planned for?

In this episode, Charley shares how following her curiosity took her from the UK to China, Hong Kong and Singapore, shaping an international career defined by courage, resilience and an openness to the unknown.

From navigating culture shock, language barriers and leading teams across Asia to walking away from a successful career to start again, she reflects on the experiences that taught her to trust her instincts and embrace uncertainty.

Today, her work is driven by something bigger than success. As a diversity and inclusion leader, she helps organisations create meaningful change, proving that meaningful change begins with curiosity and the conviction to act on it.

This conversation is a reminder that you don't need to have your whole life mapped out. Sometimes, the most extraordinary path is simply the one you're curious enough to follow.

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 8am. ✨⁠

Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Host: Kate McDougle

Produced by: Alice McDougle

Co-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise Cairns

Mixed by Ed Waller

Edited by Miri Stevens

Design by Alice McDougle

In her 20s, Steph spent years chasing perfection, worrying about what other people thought, and pushing hard to succeed as a musician. But her perspective on life completely shifted when her son was diagnosed with congenital CMV - a common virus that’s harmless for most adults but can affect a baby during pregnancy.

In this honest and inspiring conversation, Steph shares how navigating her son’s diagnosis - and a system that often required her to fight for support - uncovered a strength she never knew she had. She talks about finding confidence through adversity, leaving fear and judgement where they firmly belong, the power of community, and how music gave her the courage to fight for her son and step into a new, empowered version of herself.  

This episode is a reminder that life rarely goes to plan, but sometimes the hardest chapters become the ones that shape us into the people we're meant to be.

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 8am. ✨Donate to CMV Action here.

Donate to Dame Vera Lynn's Children's Charity here.

⁠Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠Host: Kate McDougleProduced by: Alice McDougleCo-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise CairnsMixed by Ed WallerEdited by Miri StevensDesign by Alice McDougle

What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start trusting yourself?For this 15th episode of ‘Finally Fabulous’ I am joined by Emma Sexton: a creative strategist, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for women - whose life has been shaped by one simple belief: freedom is worth designing your life around.

Emma discusses the moments that transformed her life from finding the confidence to trust her own instincts, to navigating one of her toughest life chapters: heartbreak, her dad's cancer diagnosis, and the uncertainty of starting a business, all at the same time. Rather than chasing perfection, Emma learned to see life as an experiment. Every setback became a lesson, every challenge an opportunity to grow, and every bold decision another step towards building a life that felt authentically hers.

In our conversation, we explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the power of community, and how creativity can become a powerful form of therapy during life’s most challenging moments. Emma also shares the "f**k it" moments that helped her redefine what fulfilment looks like, such as why freedom became her ultimate measure of success.

If you've ever felt like an outsider, questioned the traditional path, or dreamed of designing a life that truly reflects who you are, this conversation is for you.

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 8am. ✨

Emma's website - https://www.emmasexton.com

Listen to Emma's podcast here!

Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube & ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Host: Kate McDougle

Produced by: Alice McDougle

Co-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise Cairns

Mixed by Ed Waller

Edited by Miri Stevens

Design by Alice McDougle

What happens when you've spent most of your life putting everyone else's needs before your own?

In this episode, artist, creative entrepreneur and workshop facilitator Lucie Flynn shares her journey from chronic people-pleasing and self-doubt to building a life rooted in confidence, creativity and self-trust. Growing up as a highly sensitive empath, Lucie became so focused on caring for others that she gradually lost touch with herself. From walking away from a career that left her overwhelmed, to leaving a relationship that eroded her confidence, she reflects on the moments that forced her to ask a difficult question: Who am I when I stop living for everyone else?

Lucie opens up about rebuilding her identity through art, creating spaces where women feel seen and heard, and the transformative power of setting boundaries, even with the people we love most. Now in her 50s and experiencing a new level of visibility and success, she shares why confidence isn't something you find, but something you build every time you choose yourself.

Lucie's story is a reminder that confidence doesn't arrive all at once, it grows every time you stop seeking permission and start trusting yourself. If you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, self-doubt or losing yourself in someone else's expectations, this episode will resonate deeply.

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 8am. ✨Follow Lucie on Instagram @lucie.flynn

Check out Lucie's artwork here - https://www.lucieflynnstudio.co.uk ⁠Donate to ESDAS (East Surrey Domestic Abuse services) by clicking this link.

Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Host: Kate McDougle

Produced by: Alice McDougle

Co-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise Cairns

Mixed by Ed Waller

Edited by Miri Stevens

Design by Alice McDougle

What happens when your brain is constantly searching for the next challenge?

In this episode, Georgina Bisby shares her journey as an editor, author, presenter, entrepreneur and mum of three, and how a lifelong need to stay busy, stimulated and creating has shaped the way she works and lives.

From discovering ADHD and understanding why traditional structures never quite fit, to building a YouTube channel with millions of views during recovery from illness, Georgina talks about turning “what can I do?” into a mindset rather than standing still.

She opens up about learning to work with her strengths instead of against them, finding purpose through action, and how that same instinct to learn, adapt and keep moving has influenced everything from her career to parenting and advocacy.

Georgina's YouTube channel

Follow Georgina on Instagram - @georginabisby_diy

Click here to donate to the National Autistic Society

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 8am. ✨ Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Host: Kate McDougle

Produced by: Alice McDougle

Co-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise Cairns

Mixed by Ed Waller

Edited by Miri Stevens

Graphics by Don Sheard and Tom Matthews

Design by Alice McDougle

She left home at 16. Walked away from a glamorous life that left her feeling lonely. Became a single mother. And still built a life entirely on her own terms.

This week on Finally Fabulous, we’re joined by the incredible Jay-T. Born and raised in East London with Barbados roots, Jay-T is a Head of Culture Transformation, advocate for change, proud mother, and a woman who has never stopped asking herself: “What’s next?”

In this powerful conversation, she opens up about trusting her instincts when life no longer fit, rebuilding after difficult chapters, and finding the courage to choose herself again and again.

This episode is about resilience, reinvention, and what happens when you refuse to let your circumstances define your future.

If you’re feeling stuck, standing at a crossroads, or wondering whether it’s too late to start over, this conversation is your reminder that change is possible and your next chapter could be your best one yet.

🎧 Listen now.

✨ New episodes Wednesday's fortnightly at 8am. ✨

Episodes also streamed on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube & ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠

Stay connected! 🔗 Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠@finallyfabulouspodcast ⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest? Drop me an email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Host: Kate McDougle

Produced by: Alice McDougle

Co-produced by Matt Williams and Francoise Cairns

Mixed by Ed Waller

Edited by Miri Stevens

Design by Alice McDougle