A Month Living in the Lake District

Joanne Brook‑Smith, founder and editor‑in‑chief of Crave Magazine, joins Michael Millward to share what it’s really like to spend an entire month living and working in the Lake District. Drawing on her background in journalism and lifestyle writing, Joanne talks candidly about how she started Crave during the pandemic from her kitchen table, before diving into the realities of her Lake District escape.

Across the episode, Joanne paints a vivid picture of life in the South Lakes: early‑morning writing sessions, afternoons spent wild swimming in jewel like fairy pools of turquoise crystal-clear water, and discovering natural water slides, paddle‑boarding spots, and quiet walking routes far from the tourist crowds.

Joanne also shares an insider’s guide to the region’s food scene highlighting Michelin‑starred dining at the Gilpin, panoramic lunches at Linthwaite House, and the foodie haven of Cartmel where sticky toffee pudding was invented.

This episode blends lifestyle inspiration, travel insight, and practical tips for navigating the Lake District during peak season. Whether you’re planning a visit, dreaming of a slower pace of life, or simply curious about how a lifestyle editor unwinds, Joanne’s month‑long adventure offers a refreshing, thoughtful perspective on work‑life balance.

Discover more about Joanne and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

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Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

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Keywords: Lake District living, Crave Magazine, Joanne Brook‑Smith, wild swimming, Cartmel sticky toffee pudding, Gilpin Hotel, Linthwaite House, lifestyle journalism, work‑life balance, Cumbria travel, South Lakes, Haven holiday home, UK staycations, outdoor lifestyle, food and travel podcast.

Rest, rituals, and nervous‑system awareness can help people reclaim a sense of self

Dr. Stephanie Steele‑Wren of Psychology Works joins host Michael Millward for a deeply human conversation about identity, burnout, neurodivergence, and the small, practical shifts that help us reconnect with who we really are.

Drawing on nearly twenty years in psychology, Dr. Stephanie explains how chronic stress keeps the nervous system in permanent “on mode,” why this erodes both physical and mental wellbeing, and how simple, accessible emotional‑decompression techniques can reset the brain throughout the day.

They explore:

• How neurodivergence shaped Dr. Stephanie’s career and inspired her private practice.
• Why “reclaiming yourself” is less about grand life changes and more about intentional micro‑moments.
• The link between physical exhaustion, nervous‑system overload, and mental‑health decline.
• Everyday decompression strategies — from stepping outside for 30 seconds to playing a quick game of Mahjong Solitaire.
• The importance of hobbies and self‑connection rituals in rediscovering identity beyond job titles, parenting roles, and societal expectations.
• How becoming a parent reshapes identity, and why many adults struggle to name a single thing they do just for themselves.

This episode is warm, insightful, and full of relatable moments — including Dr. Stephanie’s reflection that “rest doesn’t have to be a marathon… it can be sprinting rests,” and Michael’s realization that his quick gaming breaks are nervous‑system resets.

Discover more about Stephanie and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

Singer‑songwriter True Istina joins host Michael Millward for a deeply personal and uplifting conversation about creativity, resilience, and growing up with a dream to perform. True shares how music became her lifeline during the isolation of COVID 19 lockdown a place where she could express emotions she “could no longer put into words” and begin healing through songwriting.

Across the conversation, True reflects on:

• Her early life in the arts, from dance and theatre to her first experiences in Hollywood’s pilot season.
• The emotional journey behind her debut album, written as a teenager navigating anxiety, loneliness, and self‑discovery.
• Her evolution as an artist, now shaping a second album with deeper, more alternative sounds and mature storytelling.
• The power of vulnerability, and why she chose to release songs that were originally “way too vulnerable” to share.
• Her creative philosophy, treating music as a journal and a universal language that helps her, and her listeners, make sense of life.
• Life beyond the studio, including her love of drawing, open‑water swimming, and hiking to disconnect from LA’s fast pace.

True also offers a glimpse into her upcoming single A Matter of Time, a reflective piece about growth, setbacks, and finding who you’re meant to be.

This episode is thoughtful, warm, and inspiring — a conversation about creativity, courage, and the quiet moments that shape us. Perfect for listeners who enjoy authentic storytelling and the artistry behind the music.

Discover more about True and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

Aligning how you see the world and how the world sees you

In this thought‑provoking episode of Rest and Recreation, host Michael Millward explores what it really means to live a limitless life with mindset and abundance coach Natalie K. Wynn, author of Manifest Your Limitless Life and founder of Inspire Life 365.

Drawing on neuroscience, lived experience, and her signature ATM Method — Awareness, Transformation, Movement, Natalie explains how many high‑achieving professionals unknowingly operate from subconscious scarcity patterns that shape their choices, behaviours, and ultimately their wellbeing. She says, “95% of the things that we're doing is on auto-program… coming from the subconscious mind.”

Michael and Natalie unpack how burnout often stems from misalignment, living a life shaped by other people’s expectations rather than your own authentic desires. Natalie highlights the early warning signs of burnout, from over‑functioning and people‑pleasing to chronic exhaustion, and inner conflict, which she describes as being like, an internal tug‑of‑war many listeners will recognise.

Their conversation ranges from subconscious programming formed in childhood, to the importance of becoming the person you want to be before trying to “do” your version of success. Michael reflects on pivotal moments in his own career, including promotions earned by stepping into the identity of the role long before the title arrived, a real‑world example of Natalie’s philosophy.

This episode is rich with practical insight, gentle challenge, and moments of humour, all woven into a deeper exploration of how to create a life that feels aligned, intentional, and genuinely yours.

A compelling listen for anyone navigating career crossroads, burnout, or the search for a more authentic version of success.

Discover more about Natalie and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

The value of putting yourself first

In this thought‑provoking episode of Rest and Recreation, host Michael Millward speaks with elite copywriter turned inspirational-writer Anton Volny, creator of the blog and newsletter Permission to be Powerful.

Drawing on a 15‑year career writing for industry giants including Tony Robbins, Neil Patel, and Ramit Sethi, Anton shares the personal journey that led him from high‑pressure marketing rooms to developing a philosophy centred on emotional clarity, boundaries, and self‑respect.

Anton explains how years of therapy, introspection, and professional experience taught him the importance of “putting yourself first”, not as an act of selfishness, but as a foundation for healthier relationships, better work, and genuine personal agency. 

Together, they explore:

• Why so many people distract themselves by solving others’ problems instead of facing their own
• How workplace naivety leaves early‑career professionals vulnerable
• The difference between “safe” and “unsafe” people, and why boundaries matter
• How emotional development can change friendships, jobs, and life trajectories
• What “power” really means when it’s not about controlling others, but about finding your voice

Anton also reflects on the highs and lows of his copywriting career, the office politics that shaped his departure from major clients, and the inner transformation that inspired his forthcoming book Hell and Paradise.

This is a conversation about clarity, courage, and reclaiming your dignity — one that will make you think about how you live, work, and relate to others.

Discover more about Anton and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

Living Within Your Means, So You Can Live Life on Your Terms

Angela Tipton, founder of FireYourCareer.com and host Michael Millwarddiscuss one of the most powerful, and challenging life skills: learning to live within your means so you can live life on your terms.

Angela shares her journey from scientist to Fortune 500 lab manager, to MBA graduate, to marketing professional, and ultimately to someone who realised that financial freedom wasn’t about earning more, but about using money with intention. She describes the moment she discovered how much student‑loan interest she had “just watched disappear”, and how that shock led her and her husband to pay off more than $85,000 of debt in just 18 months.

This conversation explores:

• How a vision board can keep long‑term goals alive
• Why writing down your objectives dramatically increases your chances of achieving them
• The sacrifices and mindset shifts required to eliminate debt
• How to stay focused when friends, neighbours, and colleagues spend beyond their means
• The difference between keeping up with the Joneses and keeping up with your why
• Why financial independence gives you choices, including about when you will retire and what retirement will be like.
• How people at any income level can build financial freedom through mindful decisions

Angela explains the principles behind FIRE - Financial Independence, Retire Early, and how her platform helps people grow traditional careers in a way that creates genuine financial flexibility. Whether early retirement is your goal or you simply want more control over your future, Angela’s approach centres on clarity, discipline, and living according to your own values rather than other people’s expectations.

Discover more about Angela and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – within your means at the trade prices available to members of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

Rediscovering purpose beyond work when career identity breaks down

Loss of career identity can feel disastrous, but what if it’s also an invitation to rediscover purpose? In this thought‑provoking episode of Rest and Recreation, Michael Millward talks with Avi Maderer, the “optimistic futurist” whose work sits at the intersection of human meaning and artificial intelligence.

Avi uses his experience as a data analyst and technologist to show why the real AI revolution isn’t just technical or economic — it’s civilizational. “Everyone’s talking about industrial revolutions… but very few people are speaking about the actual impact of AI on humanity as a whole.”

Michael and Avi explore

• The hidden human costs of AI adoption, including reduced neural activity when we outsource thinking to machines.
• Why literacy, empathy, and deep reading matter more than ever in an age of instant answers.
• The collapse of traditional career pathways, as entry‑level roles disappear and experience becomes harder to acquire.
• How individuals can become “AI‑proof” by leaning into uniquely human strengths — interpersonal connection, ethical judgment, nuance, and purpose‑driven work.
• Why this moment resembles the Enlightenment more than the Industrial Revolution, and what that means for personal agency and societal change.

Avi also shares how he helps people uncover their purpose and apply it in ways AI cannot replicate — from social impact roles to human‑centred careers — and offers listeners a free 30‑minute purpose‑discovery session.

This episode challenges assumptions, reframes fears, and opens a richer conversation about what it means to be human in an AI‑saturated world. As always, Rest and Recreation won’t tell you what to think — but it will certainly make you think.

Discover more about Avi Maderer and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – at trade prices to anywhere in the world at trade prices as a member of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

Don't trust your love life to fate, take the scientific approach

A thought‑provoking episode of Rest and Recreation, sees host Michael Millward and Mila Smith, a Berkshire based science‑backed relationship consultant, about one of life’s most misunderstood transitions: how to go from being single to becoming part of a healthy, lasting couple.

Drawing on her journey of unhealthy relationships and divorce to nine years of stable, happy marriage – Mila explains how focusing on science rather than fate resulted in a revitalised love life. As Mila says, “I had a few unhealthy relationships… then one day I realized, it was not luck and it was not someone else's fault… I was the cause of the problem!”

Mila and Michael unpack:

• Why modern dating feels harder than ever, and how apps create an “illusion of abundance” that keeps people searching instead of connecting.
• The unrealistic expectations of partners. Can you be lover, friend, co‑parent, adventure buddy, therapist, and soulmate all at once.
• The three scientific pillars of a healthy relationship:
• Trust, not just in fidelity but in emotional safety.
• Shared key life values, from family and money to spirituality and politics.
• Constructive conflict resolution, including the “time‑out” technique to prevent arguments from escalating.
• Why love and relationship are not the same thing, and how passion inevitably evolves into companionate love rooted in friendship – “one of our fundamental evolutionary needs.”

Michael reflects on cultural differences, personal experiences, and the importance of learning how relationships really work – rather than assuming they should come naturally. Together, they highlight that successful coupledom isn’t about fate or chemistry alone, but about conscious choices, aligned values, and shared rules for navigating life together.

Warm, insightful, and refreshingly honest, this episode will make you not just to feel love, but to understand it.

Discover more about Mila Smith and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – at trade prices to anywhere in the world at trade prices as a member of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

Take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

What happens when the job you worked so hard to achieve no longer fits the life you want to live?

A licensed clinical psychologist, life coach, and long‑time yoga teacher, Alise Murray joins host Michael Millward to discuss: What happens when your ideal job no longer fits the life you want to live?

Alise spent years building a career she loved — clinical work, teaching, and eventually a coveted assistant professorship — only to discover that the realities of academia were squeezing out the very parts of the work that once lit her up. As she puts it, “It’s like suddenly I’m wearing a size eight shoe when I have a size nine foot.”

Alise explains how she made the bold decision to focus on home and family, and talks candidly about the fear of leaving stability, the financial challenges that followed.

Yet she also shares how those difficult years taught her to align spending, time, and values — Your banking app can be a mirror of the life you’re actually living.

The episode explores:

• How to recognise when your “dream job” is no longer the dream
• The emotional and practical realities of walking away from a secure career
• Why boundaries matter — and what happens when institutions ignore them
• The role of self‑reflection in major life decisions
• How financial habits can reveal your true values
• The importance of designing a life that fits, rather than forcing yourself into one that doesn’t

Alise now runs a successful private practice built around, integrating psychology, coaching, and whole‑body wellness. Her story is not about abandoning ambition — it’s about redefining it

Discover more about Alise Murray and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rachael mentions the book: The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work, which is available from Amazon.

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – at trade prices to anywhere in the world at trade prices as a member of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.

Recruiting and managing a virtual assistant is more complex than you expect.

Michael Millward chats with Rachael Davila– founder of Extra Hands Virtual Assistants, VA mentor, and author of Do I Need a VA? – for a conversation that goes far deeper than the usual “hire a helper” advice. Drawing on more than 20 years in the virtual assistant industry, Rachael explains how small business owners can work out whether they truly need a VA, what kind of support will actually help them, and how to build a relationship that unlocks time, creativity, and strategic focus.

Across the episode, Rachael shares her accidental entry into the VA world, how she built a long‑running business, and why the biggest barrier for overwhelmed entrepreneurs isn’t delegation—it’s mindset. She breaks down the two core VA types (“doers” and “collaborators”), the internal identity shift required to hand off work, and the surprising ways a VA can become a sounding board, operational partner, and catalyst for growth.

Listeners will hear real examples of clients who transformed their businesses, learn why processes matter, and discover how to assess their own readiness – including the simple pre‑work that makes hiring support far less daunting.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a virtual assistant could help you reclaim time, reduce stress, or finally move those big ideas forward, this episode will make you think.

Discover more about Kate Hendrickson and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers

Rachael mentions the book: The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work, which is available from Amazon.

Rest and Recreation is made on Zencastr, because it is so easy to use. Visit Zencastr.

Travel – at trade prices to anywhere in the world at trade prices as a member of The Ultimate Travel Club.

Health – The Annual Health Test from York Test is conducted by an experienced phlebotomist at your home or workplace. Hospital standard tests for 39 health markers.

A Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and guidance for effective lifestyle changes anytime.

Visit York Test and use this discount code REST25.

Tech Problems? – Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote our referral code WPFNUQHU.

Be a Guest Visit Matchmaker.fm. Use code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We recommend that potential guests take one of the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

Thank you to you for listening.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscription.