What if retirement wasn't the end of the adventure... but the beginning?

When Nicky Genders retired at just 55, she and her partner Andy didn't settle into a quieter life. Instead, they created a plan that would allow them to swap routine for freedom, travelling the UK and Europe full-time in their campervan.

Better known online as Retired and Inspired, Nicky shares how they made the leap into vanlife, the practical steps they took before retiring, and how a love of caring for other people's pets unexpectedly turned into a thriving pet-sitting business that helps fund their travels.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why planning ahead made early retirement possible
• The realities of full-time campervan life
• How pet sitting opened the door to affordable travel
• Building a business around a lifestyle you love
• Why it's never too late to redesign your retirement on your own terms

If you've ever wondered whether your retirement could look a little different—or whether life after work could be your greatest adventure yet, this episode will leave you feeling inspired to start making a plan.

To follow Nicky's adventure and to buy her book, use the links below:

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🎙️ Living Life Differently is the podcast for people in midlife who know life isn't a dress rehearsal. Each month, I speak to ordinary people doing extraordinary things, proving it's never too late to change direction, chase a dream, or create a life that feels more like you.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's dreaming of a different future.

To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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What if the life you've carefully built is stopping you from living the life you really want?

In this episode, I talk with Charlotte Mabbutt, a mother of four who made the bold decision to step away from the conventional path and create a completely different life for her family.

Together with her husband and children, Charlotte first set off on an adventure towing a caravan through Portugal to join a world-schooling community. That journey eventually led them to make an even bigger leap, leaving the UK behind to begin new chapters in Thailand and Indonesia.

We talk openly about the realities of making such a dramatic change, including money, fear, education, family life, and the practical process of dismantling the life they'd spent years building in the UK.

This isn't a conversation about escaping responsibility or chasing an unrealistic dream. It's a thoughtful exploration of what happens when you stop asking "What should I do?" and start asking "How do I actually want to live?"

If you've ever felt trapped on the hamster wheel of work, bills, and routine, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

You can follow Charlotte and her family here:

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To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

Website: https://livinglifedifferently.com

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingLifeDifferently 

Podcast: https://livinglifedifferently.com/podcast/

To celebrate 25 episodes, my sister Ellie takes over the host's chair and asks the questions I've been asking my guests all year. Together, we explore some of the pivotal moments, adventures, challenges and decisions that have shaped my own journey.

From cycling across countries and learning to ride a motorbike in my fifties, to leaving behind the idea of a "normal" life and creating one filled with purpose, freedom and adventure, this is a candid conversation about what it really means to live life differently.

If you've ever felt the pull to do something bigger, try something new, or rewrite the script for the second half of your life, I hope this episode gives you the courage to take that first step.

Because the most interesting chapters of life are often the ones we never planned.

To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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And if you'd like to follow Ellie's journey in Portugal, here are her links:

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Kat Bird shares a fascinating insight into a life shaped by bold pivots, brave decisions, and embracing change when it mattered most.

From serving as a young woman in the Royal Navy working on helicopters, she later transitioned into a long career as an Air Traffic Controller, all while choosing an unconventional lifestyle living on boats.

Then, after several key life events prompted a rethink, Kat and her family took another leap — buying a motorhome and creating a whole new chapter of freedom, travel, and adventure through Wandering Bird.

This episode is packed with perspective, resilience, and proof that it’s never too late to change direction.

You can follow Kat's adventures here:

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To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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What happens when the UK no longer feels like the right fit for your family?

In this episode, Emma Smithson shares how she, her husband and daughter made the bold decision to leave the UK and start again in Thailand.

We talk about the real reasons behind the move — including the rising cost of living — and what it’s actually like building a new life abroad. From creating a sustainable lifestyle to documenting their journey on YouTube, Emma opens up about the practicalities, fears and freedoms that come with stepping off the expected path.

We also dive into their decision to “unschool” their daughter and what learning looks like outside the traditional system.

This isn’t a holiday story.

It’s about choice, courage and designing life differently.

If you’ve ever wondered could we actually do this? — this episode is for you.

Follow the Smiths On Tour here:

Website: https://www.smithsontourblog.com/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Smiths_On_Tour

£1 Club: https://buymeacoffee.com/smithsontour

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smiths_on_tour

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smiths_on_tour1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566108217957

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To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingLifeDifferently 

Website: https://livinglifedifferently.com

In this episode, I’m joined by Morgan Price who made the huge decision to emigrate to Australia with her family. We talk honestly about what led her to that moment, the fears and doubts that came with it, and how it felt to uproot not just herself, but the people she loves the most.

We get into:

• Why the idea of leaving the UK kept pulling at her
• The practical realities of emigrating (beyond what social media shows)
• What surprised her most once they arrived
• And how the move reshaped her sense of possibility for the future

If you’ve ever dreamed of moving abroad, felt restless with the life you’re living, or wondered whether you’re brave enough to choose a different path — this conversation will resonate deeply.

It’s about more than emigration. It’s about trusting yourself when the "safer" option is to stay put.

Follow Morgan's adventures on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@prices_aussie_adventure

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To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingLifeDifferently 

Website: https://livinglifedifferently.com

Kate's future was mapped out from a young age as she aspired to be a Doctor. After reaching the point of starting her surgical training, she experienced burnout.

This made her stop in her tracks, take time out from her employment and really think about what she wanted to do next.

What lay ahead was a completely new life; a life far removed from the stresses and strains of life in a busy London hospital as she made the decision to focus on starting a new life in Portugal whilst still being able to work on her own business.

To follow Kate, find her here:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katebennettbrown

To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingLifeDifferently 

Website: https://livinglifedifferently.com

How does a Scottish woman go from classroom teacher to certified Sommelier, carving out a brand-new life in the wine world?

In this episode, Morag takes us on a journey that’s anything but ordinary. From moving abroad and navigating new cultures, to stepping into motherhood, to building a career in education before making a bold pivot into her true passion — wine — her story is one of curiosity, courage, and reinvention.

We also dive into a deeply personal chapter: the health scare that forced her to pause, reassess, and redefine what really matters. Her honesty and perspective will leave you thinking about your own path, and what might be possible if you let yourself explore new places and new versions of you.

It’s an inspiring, heart-warming conversation — I hope you love it as much as I did. 

To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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Helen once had a thriving career as a Consultant Surgeon and Senior Leader in the NHS — but a love of nature led her down an entirely different path.

In 2010, she and her husband bought a 26-acre field and began transforming it into a thriving wild haven — planting 20,000 trees, sowing wildflowers, digging ponds, and creating homes for birds and bats.

Then, during a summer picnic in 2017, one spontaneous conversation sparked an idea: what if they could do this full-time? That moment led to the birth of Make it Wild, a rewilding business that now helps individuals and companies across the UK boost biodiversity and reconnect with nature.

In this episode, Helen shares her inspiring journey from surgeon to rewilding entrepreneur — and what it really means to live a life that gives back.

You can follow Helen and Make it Wild here:

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To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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When Emily struggled to get a job despite being a graduate from Cambridge University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, she made a decision which altered the whole course of her life.

Whilst living in London, she applied to be a bicycle courier and after a near miss with a vehicle and a chat with the driver, her perspective on life shifted.

With a love of cycling and travel, she announced to friends and family that she was going to cycle around the world. Fast forward to when we catch up today and she has written two books about her cycling life and now makes a living from all things cycling related.

You can follow Emily here:

Instagram

Substack (where she writes regularly)

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To connect with me and find out more about Living Life Differently then follow my social media channels or visit my website:

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