Liberté - Free to Be

I can't wait to share the new Liberté-Free to Be series with you and we go live next Tuesday 30th. I have a stellar line up of amazing guests all with a story to tell.

I am excited to be launching the new You Tube show too! https://bit.ly/libertefreetobeshow

I've had the pleasure of connecting with women from all over the world and I am constantly left feeling uplifted by their stories, their attitude and zest for life. Whenever I’m having a dip in confidence, they’ve been a great source of encouragement, so I wanted to create a space to not only share their stories and amplify women over 40 voices but also share my own passion for living a fulfilled life with freedom.

Join me as I share a fortnightly dose of midlife motivation, where you get to hear from some amazing people who are leaving a trail of inspiration along the way, breaking down midlife stereo typical barriers and proving it’s never too late to find new passion and purpose.

Your one stop shop full of real stories you can relate to, lifestyle inspiration, practical resources, from health and wealth, mindset to menopause, reinvention to rebellion , no subject is off limits!

Living a life of Liberté-Free to Be whatever we want to be in midlife and beyond.

Don’t forget to come and say hello @libertefreetobe on instagram https://www.instagram.com/libertefreetobe/?hl=en-gb

If you’re loving the podcast don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review, your support is much appreciated. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/liberté-free-to-be/id1439688816

Keep being fabulous x

https://liberteltd.com

There's lots going on behind the scenes in my life and as this is the last episode of Series 6 I thought now would be a good time to invite my wingman and husband Mark on the show.

I always wanted to show up as my authentic self on the podcast and share the reality of my life, it's not always as glamorous and easy as the instagram squares leave you to believe. Nobody's is remember!

Subjects covered-

• Online dating in your forties


• Taking chances and embracing change


• Love of travelling


• The power of music


• Reality of home life- making long distance work


• When life throws you curve balls


• What Mark thinks of the social media male gaze


• Making big life changing decisions


• What does retirement really mean - its not the end, just a new chapter


• Freetobe50


• What's next- travel plans

What does Free to be mean to Mark?

"Free to be means having the freedom to do what you want to do

To follow your dreams, your passions, if you’ve got a hobby that you’re passionate about follow it, do it as much as you can.

Don’t let life get in the way."

This is the last episode of the series as I take a short break for the summer. I'll be back in the autumn and already have an amazing line up of guests for you.

But in the meantime

Keep being fabulous

Rachel x 

https://linktr.ee/outofthebubble

Kay Binnersley is an award winning hairdresser and bridal hairstylist who has been in the industry for over 37 years. Working for herself from the age of 18, first as a freelancer then the last 26 years in her own salon.

But Kay isn't here to talk about hair, she's here to help lift the stigma around open up the conversation around Lichen Sclerosus and Vulva cancer.

If you're sat there thinking you've never heard of Lichen Sclerosus, neither had Kay until she was diagnosed with the condition recently. She is now on a mission to help educate other women especially as it's a subject no one wants to talk about. Conversations around breast cancer are now positively shared, Deborah James did an amazing job at lifting the taboo around bowel cancer yet mention the 'Vulva' word and we still find it uncomfortable.

So what is Lichen Sclerosus?

Lichen sclerosus is a long-term (chronic) skin condition. It causes the skin to become thin, white, and wrinkly. Lichen sclerosus may occur in men, women, and children at any age. But it is most common in women older than age 50, which is even more reason for us to be talking about it!

The symptoms of vulval LS vary from person to person. Sometimes, it causes no symptoms and is discovered during tests for other health problems.

The affected area of the vulva may:

• be very itchy and sore, which may be worse at night


• change colour, becoming pale or white


• develop small areas of bruising that look like blood blisters


• be more fragile than normal skin and possibly split

The causes of vulval LS are not known. It is not possible to get LS through sexual contact. It is not a sexually transmitted disease and is not infectious. LS is also not caused by hormonal problems or an allergic reaction.

Women over 50 are often struggling with other issues like cystitis, vaginal dryness and thrush which can all masque these symptoms and as not enough is known about the condition it can often be left undiagnosed. If left there is a chance it can lead to vulva cancer so it's so important we are made aware of these symptoms. Knowledge is power!

Topics covered-

• Who is Kay Binnersley?


• Passion for hair


• First symptoms- diagnosis


• Dealing with pain


• The impact it had on Kay's confidence and daily life


• Knowledge is power


• Statistics (1 in 100 women will be diagnosed with it and 5 in 100 will turn cancerous)


• Why do we find it so difficult to call our vulva by it's real name?


• How can we lift the stigma around this


• The petition to gain funding for research for a cure and support for those diagnosed.


• Why Kay is using her voice to create awareness around this condition


• Don't put off going to the doctors if you are worried about any symptoms


• Kays positive attitude to life

There is currently no cure, no remission, for Lichen Sclerosus only strong steroid ointments which put condition into remission at best. There is some evidence to suggest it may be an auto immune disorder and whilst it can affect men , it is mainly seen in women. Sufferers can live in pain and be affected physically and mentally, but it can be misdiagnosed due to lack of awareness and can increase the risk of certain cancers.

Sign the petition

There is currently no funding available for research to find a cure , support patients and help raise awareness. If you'd like to sign the petition to get this conversation on the table here's the link, your support is much appreciated.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/632780

What does Free to Be mean to Kay?

"Free to be the person you really want to be, with no holds or ties and no fears"

What does Free to Be mean to you?

If you would like to connect with Kay visit-

kaybinnersleyhair.co.uk 

You can also follow her -

Facebook Kay binnersley hair 

Instagram Kay binnersley hair

I'll be back with one more episode before taking a summer break

Keep being fabulous!

Rachel x

I am always inspired and excited when I hear about women who pivot careers and take brave steps to changing their life direction after 40 and this weeks guest is another great example.

Susan Esco is a vivacious and silverlicious midlife goddess raising the Vibe of Humanity, one smile at a time. Susan grew out her silver hair about ten years ago. She is also passionate about encouraging women to love themselves unconditionally and embrace their authenticity through her #DYEfree2BME silver hair movement.

Susan started her modelling career later I life and is now represented in both Los Angeles and Orlando markets for commercial acting and modelling. Seeing it as another way to spread the message of self love and personal power in midlife.

Who knew you could have so much fun blowing bubbles? Susan also provides Large Wand Bubbling Artistry for the entertainment industry as another avenue to raise the vibe.

She has been on her own journey of self discovery and came out as a lesbian at 50 finally learning to practice self love and discover the freedom to be her authentic self. Susan's two favourite mottos gives us a real glimpse in to her positive fun attitude to life "Make the world your dance floor" and "Carpe F'in Diem."

Subjects covered-

• Ditching the dye and embracing her grey hair


• Living an authentic life in midlife


• Coming out as a "late blooming lesbian" later in life


• Unravelling the old narrative


• Realising the fear of judgement


• Finding a new tribe


• The power of a receiving & giving compliment


• A new career in modelling and acting


• Discovering the fun of bubbles- 'bubble therapy'


• I've done the 'supposed to's' but now I'm doing the 'want to's'


• Listening to your inner voice

What does Free to be mean to Susan Esco?

"Free to be means to move through life in gratitude, to move through life with positivity and love of self and love of others. Freedom to be authentically me 100% of the time."

#freetobe

https://www.instagram.com/susanescoofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/DYEfree2BME/

Https://www.susanescosilvermodel.com/

Do you want to be part of the Liberté Free to Be community then check out our new range of t-shirts.

I'd love to see you spreading the word and rocking your new t-shirt so don't forget to tag me @rachelperu1 and @freetobe50 over on instagram

SHOP HERE

I'll be back next week , but in the meantime 

Keep being fabulous

Rachel x

⁠https://linktr.ee/libertefreetobe

I first met this week’s guest , Miranda Arieh as we both stood nervously outside BBC Radio Leeds station before we entered another round of the BBC Leeds radio “New Voices” presenter competition. I managed to make it to the final 5 but they were only taking 2 presenters, so it wasn’t meant to be. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the world of radio and presenting ⁠and whilst some may have seen it as a failure, I saw it as a great opportunity and as this is my 134th podcast interview I think it turned out ok. Miranda is now regularly heard on Radio Leeds sharing her work around mental health and I have loved following her ever since.*take a look at some of Miranda’s extensive media/radio coverage

Miranda Arieh is an award-winning mental health activist, public speaker and spiritual coach from Leeds, UK.

Following a lengthy stay in an adolescent psychiatric unit at 14 years old, Miranda learned first-hand, how cold the medical model of mental health treatment can be and set out to learn a better way to alleviate my suffering. She went on course after course, ate up books of spiritual teachers, and decided to dedicate her life to transforming my attitudes, trigger reactions and life-long patterns. Sure enough, she started to recognize that all the triggers she felt were an opportunity for spiritual growth and began to enjoy the process of learning. Of getting to know herself, befriend herself, hold herself…

Miranda felt let down by a mental health system where many patients were set up to fail. A system that is not recovery-focused; a system that puts ‘managing symptoms’ above healing. An in-built culture of ‘survive’ not ‘thrive’, awash with a river of stigma flooding through the system. So, she decided to go look from the inside.

After over a decade of finding her feet and securing roles at some of the leading mental health charities, including Mind, Community Links and Time To Change, Miranda started to be invited to share her story up and down the country at mental health conferences, awareness-raising events, on the radio and television.

Now, working as Network Mental Health Lead for the NHS BHR Primary Care Network in her hometown of Leeds, Miranda founded The HEROES (Healing, Education and Recovery of Emotional Strength) Groupwork Programme. This is an 8 week/20-hour educational therapeutic treatment programme that she has designed from scratch for patients from some of the most deprived areas in Leeds to join.  Looking to expand this service throughout the NHS in 2023 and create a movement, not just a treatment.

The foundation of all the work that Miranda does has self-compassion at the core as a ‘bridge’ to practising presence and being able to live in the present moment. Practising presence is the essence of inner peace. You may even start to realise that the present moment is, in fact, all that really exists… 

‘The most important relationship you will ever have in your life is the one you have with yourself’.

Subjects covered-

·      BBC Radio Leeds ‘New Voices’ competition connection

·      Mirandas experience of the mental health service

·      Living in your comfort zone

·      Self-care and therapy

·      Self-compassion isn’t selfish.

·      What does self-compassion really mean?- the bigger picture.

·      Working with the NHS  and implementing the HEROES programme

·      Stepping out and facing your fears

·      It’s more than ok to fail! 

www.mirandaarieh.co.uk and 

Instagram @mirandaarieh

Facebook @mirandaarieh

Do you want to be part of the Liberté Free to Be community then check out our new range of t-shirts.

I'd love to see you spreading the word and rocking your new t-shirt so don't forget to tag me @rachelperu1 and @freetobe50 over on instagram

SHOP HERE-https://liberteltd.com/shop-2 

Keep being fabulous  

Rachel ⁠⁠ 

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/libertefreetobe⁠⁠

I first heard Alex Jay Lynam speak at Dani Wallace’s Bee Inspired event in March and I was so struck by their Don’t Fear the Queer talk which left a powerful impression on me. Since then I started to question myself and the work I do on my podcast. Was I really showing up and creating a fully inclusive space for women on my platform, and if not why? 

Looking over the 130 guests I’ve invited on the show so far, I don’t think I’ve ever had an open conversation with someone from the gay or queer community. I’m holding myself accountable as I think I’ve been avoiding the topic for fear of getting things wrong, not wanting to offend people, saying the wrong thing, and upsetting somebody. Listening to Alex made me realise that we all have an opportunity in whatever work we’re doing to include and show our support for people from the LGBTQ community.

From the age of 5 Alex had a love of musical theatre and they had the opportunity of working with a range of celebrities in theatre and TV.  From the age of 10 they were determined to be in the West End, you would even have watched them on Coronation Street.
By the time they were 12 Alex begun questioning their identity and sexuality and when auditioning for Masculine roles and being knocked back, the question came up, ‘Am I a boy or girl.’ 

Alex came out in high school as a cis female lesbian, a decision they thought would ease the uncertainty of how they felt about their body, but it got worse as they were then bullied in high school and also into college.  Not fitting the ‘stereotype’ of a musical theatre female, feeling isolated and shamed, Alex dropped out of college.  

The following years saw Alex hit the party life in Manchester hard, into alcohol and substance misuse.  Their mental health declined further, falling into abusive and toxic relationships.  Alex felt there was no light at the end of the tunnel, with little support and guidance around the questions of gender and self-discovery, they felt alone.

Hearing their story really hit home just how important our role is in showing up and  supporting anyone we know that may be coming out. It’s easy to assume once they’ve taken that brave step then the weight drops off their shoulders, but if there isn’t that open acceptance from society how do they feel valued? 
Alex’s life was spiralling out of control and at the age of 22 they were arrested; they were given the option to change their path or go to prison.
Thankfully Alex chose the latter and completed a journey of rehabilitation, learning how to find and build their self-love.  They finally got to place when they could embrace their true self and came out as non-binary.

Alex has used their life experience along with their previous work with young people and vulnerable adults in all different settings, to create Beyond the Binary. With a passion to help schools, companies, families, and individuals around LGBTQIA+ inclusion through training, consultancy, and public speaking, so that everyone can be seen and heard unapologetically as themselves.   

We all have a responsibility to make sure no one is left out of the active inclusion conversation. Alex reminds us that it’s ok to get things wrong, use the experience to learn and have honest and open conversations.

What does Free to Be mean to Alex?
“Free to be means for me to be my whole self and be my whole self in the spaces that I take up and being able to be safe in the spaces that I am. Being able to be visibly queer and not have to worry that I’m going to be hit with discrimination or abuse”.

Whilst it’s great that June is Pride month this should not just be a token gesture so I’m making a commitment today to make sure I include and seek out more midlife stories from those in the LGBTQ community who want to share their stories.

https://beyondthebinarywithalex.co.uk/about-alex-inclusivity-advocate/
https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebinary4/

Keep being fabulous  
Rachel ⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/libertefreetobe⁠⁠

I first met Fay when we were both shooting with Refinery29 for an Avon campaign and I adore her energy and attitude to life.

Fay Reid is the founder of 9 to 5 Menopause - which she set up on Instagram after starting the menopause and finding there were no women she could relate to, when researching her symptoms. Fay launched 9to5menopause on social media, initially just to share tips and present menopause in a more realistic light (not old, white, and grey haired as usually depicted online).

When Fay started going through the menopause there was a lack of information – 

“I started having symptoms at the age of 46 but the people who were talking about menopause were White, affluent women who didn’t have a job. They recommended private clinics, nutritionists, and yoga. That is not my life, I’ve got a job to go to. So, I started 9 to 5 Menopause, because there were no women in the workplace talking about menopause. I wanted to champion the average woman who’s got to run for a train in the morning and has to sit through a meeting having hot flushes"

Fay’s aim is to highlight and inform women of all ages and ethnicities that the menopause is nothing to fear and to share her tips for navigating this transition in a woman's life. 

I’ve been a big fan of the work Fay is doing and I’m also inspired be her new found love of weight training, which she shares on her instagram account. Gyms and exercise classes can often feel a bit intimidating as an older woman, but Fay has really embraced the challenge and her progress is amazing. Another example that it’s never too late to try a new sport or activity!

Subjects covered-

·      Who is Fay Reid? 3 words that describe Fay and why she chose them.

·      Behind the scenes of our Refinery29 shoot day.

·      Fay shares her own experience of the peri and menopause.

·      Lack of representation for black women going through the menopause.

·      Keeping it real on social media.

·      Grieving for the loss of her mum. 

·      The challenges of midlife. 

·      Bouncing back and changing direction later in life.

·      The menopause comes in all ages , sizes and colours.

·      Discovering weight training and the positive impact it’s had on her life.

·      Representation and inclusivity matters.

·      What’s next?

What does ‘Free to Be’ mean Fay Reid?

Free to be means own who you are and be happy with it. Don't get side tracked in to thinking you need to be something else. Be who you want to be and be happy with that"

What does Free to Be mean to you?

To find out more visit- www.fayreid.com

Follow Fay on Instagram @9to5menopause 

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review so we can share all these inspiring women far and wide.

I'll be back next week , but in the meantime  

Keep being fabulous  

Rachel x

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/libertefreetobe⁠⁠

I spend a lot of time talking about the impact of low body confidence in women over 40 but what about the younger generation? How can we help support them and enable them to grow up without all the body image issues that our generation were handed down? 

Do you worry about your child’s body image? 
Do you struggle to support them with their body image?

⁠Anupa Roper⁠, a.k.a Sparrowlegs is a mum of two and in the last three years has transitioned from primary school teacher to children’s author and body image educator. Anupa allowed her label of ‘skinny’ to affect her choices and her feelings of worth for a long time. Now she wants to empower the next generations by helping them to feel happy in their own skin. 

I asked Anupa how she would describe herself in 3 words and why?
Kind - I would consider myself as a kind person, always putting others first and considering how my actions would make them feel. I like to think this is because it’s a reflection of what I would wish others to be too 
Talkative! My school reports always cited me as chatty, and I have to say that true - I love a natter. I’m super interested in what others have to say so I’m a good listener too 
Just me - I’m a mixture of so many things that make me me. The work that I do involves me helping others to see that being ourselves, being unique, is okay because we are all great just the way that we are. 

I had such an interesting talk with Anupa, and we so often hear body confidence conversations from the plus-size community, so it was refreshing to hear Anupa’s perspective as a slimmer woman.  Anupa really does know how it feels to be uncomfortable in your own body. After spending years hating her ‘skinny’ legs and ‘skinny’ arms. She spent years being told how small she was and being questioned about whether she ate enough! Anupa has walked the path of being defined by her size and appearance and understands how to work towards having a better body image. She is passionate in wanting to support the next generations to do this too.

My nickname at primary school was speck four eyes as I wore thick glasses and I hated them. I'm sure you can relate to how cruel young children can be to each other when it comes ot name calling. Anupa was called "Sparrowlegs" and has now now learnt to embrace her body and is owning the name. 
⁠Sparrowlegs⁠ is a beautifully illustrated book for under 7’s about a sparrow who learns to love the feathers she is in. Sparrow embraces her amazing body and thinks that you should too!

Women like Anupa are creating a positive ripple effect for future generation, and we all have a part to play. Being mindful of the language we use around our children, young adults and grandchildren can make a big difference to their mental wellbeing and how they grow feeling about their bodies.

What does "Free to Be" mean to Anupa?
"Free to Be happy in our own skin is how I would interpret that, both on the outside and inside too. We just need to learn to be comfortable with who we are and not feel the pressure to be anyone else."
What does 'Free to Be' mean to you?

To find out more visit-
⁠www.sparrowlegs.com⁠
Instagram ⁠@miss_sparrowlegs⁠
Purchase ⁠Sparrowlegs⁠

 I'll be back next week but in the meantime  
Keep being fabulous  
Rachel x ⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/libertefreetobe⁠⁠

I'm a great believer that people come in to your life when you need them and this weeks guest is one of those women. JoJo Smith has not only helped me hugely with my own self belief and sense of direction but she's also become an incredible friend. JoJo is the founder of CreativSas, along with being a best selling author, motivational speaker, radio show and podcast host. Jojo Smith empowers and elevates her clients in crowning their courage, confidence, and self-belief to show that they have the power to grant their own wishes into reality. You only need to spend a few moments in JoJo's presence to pick up on her boundless enjoy and positivity but spend a couple of hours with her and you'll also realise JoJo has a wealth of business expertise and she means serious business.

"The foundation of any fairy tale is believing in yourself." It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks unless you believe in yourself.

JoJo is a proud Midlands girl and has been on her own emotional rollercoaster from a very young age, she ended up being taken into care at the age of 18 months, her mum had MS and she's never known her birth father. JoJo has lived in childrens’ home over the course of her young life and, certainly developed resilience and initiative. She then moved to be with her amazing foster family.

JoJo has enjoyed fabulous careers in catering and retail but her dream was always to do something for herself and to run her own business. A pivotal moment brought JoJo to face herself head on and heal some wounds, focusing on what she wanted and the change she wanted to make on the world. Thats when the reels magic started to happen and she's been creating magic ever since.

"At a younger age, I subdued my sparkle, wanting to fit in with everyone else from childhood to early adulthood. But I soon discovered there’s nothing quite as rewarding as being unapologetically yourself and letting everyone else know it too. Now I help you find the magic in your own brand,  holding your hand along the way until you're ready to let go and have your own adventure."

Subjects covered

    - Who is JoJo Smith? How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

- JoJo’s story of being a successor of the care system.

- Being true to yourself and finding the courage to walk away from the things that are fully aligned with wo you really are.

- Being Sassy not sorry

-  Self belief.

-  Self awareness.

-  Steeping in to the spotlight.

-  Getting your foundations right.

-  Learning to embrace change instead of fearing it. 

- The Big Wish “Chateau SAS”.

-  FAB U SAS

-  The Sweet Retreat.

- What’s your superpower and how to own it.

What does Free to be mean to Jojo Smith?

"Free to be means being sassy not sorry.

That means lively, bold, full of spirit and a little bit cheeky and totally unapologetic for being so."

What does free to be mean to you?

For more information visit- https://www.creativsas.co.uk/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creativsas/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CreativSAS

Best selling book- Loving Yourself Beyond Belief

I'll be back next week but in the meantime  

Keep being fabulous  

Rachel x ⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/libertefreetobe⁠⁠

*AD/ Sponsored by Osavi.com

Welcome back to a new week of Liberte Free to Be and I am delighted that this week’s episode is sponsored by Osavi Health Supplements.

I know I’m not alone in becoming more health-conscious, particularly in midlife, and I want to be the best version of myself I can possibly be and part of that is looking after my health from the inside and out. 

I’ve recently discovered Osavi Health Supplements which is an honest, innovative supplement brand for ‘health-savvy’ people who want to live and feel well. Osavi offers the purest, highest-quality nutritional supplements using science-based innovation to create safe and natural products. With a wide range of products and formulas to suit everyone, All Osavi’s supplements  are designed with carefully selected ingredients, and I really love that there’s no artificial ingredients, additives, or fillers. 

I also love that Osavi are a UK brand, based in my beautiful home turf of Yorkshire ,with a friendly and experienced local team working in the nutrition, supplement, and wellbeing industry for many years and who really want to help you.

I have recently started using their Herbal Sleep Support capsules and have noticed a real difference in my quality of sleep in just a few days.  I will tell you more about this and how my sleep has improved later in the show.  

You can find more information at Osavi.com

On with the show.

Are you feeling disconnected from your femininity and sensuality? 

Do you find yourself constantly in your head, unable to tap into your inner confidence and fierceness? It's time to meet this weeks guest Jane Wood, founder of  FemChi and is here to help you regain that lost fire.

You may have already heard that I'm taking on a new challenge this year and will be performing a live solo burlesque performance at this years Womanifest and Jane is the woman making this happen! #watchthisspace

Subjects covered-

·      Who is Jane Wood

·      Where did her love for dance begin and how did she nearly lose it?

·      Where the inspiration came from to start Femchi

·      What is the FemChi programme?

·      Midlife and the menopause

·      Grief and the empty nest

·      Connecting with your sensuality and feminine energy

·      Why older women still feel judged for expressing their sensuality

·      Why burlesque?

·      Womanifest

·      My journey in to the world of burlesque and how Jane is helping me

·      Coach Jane and why she’s passionate about helping the younger generation feel confident in their bodies

What does Free to Be mean to Jane Wood?

"Accepting the good, the bad and the ugly. Accepting every aspect of me, because there's some days that I'm not going to be perfect, its accepting the imperfections around my life and being kind to myself"

What does Free to Be mean to you?

To find out more- 

www.femchi.org

Instagram @femchi_cj

Facebook @Femchi

I'll be back next week but in the meantime  

Keep being fabulous  

Rachel x ⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/libertefreetobe⁠