Fitness and lifestyle coach and international speaker Basma Al Kakoun joins Jo to explore what resilience really means once the pressure to ‘hold it all together’ falls away.

Basma shares her journey from a conservative upbringing to public speaking champion, the life-changing impact of her son’s muscular dystrophy and autism diagnoses, and how she learned that real resilience means pausing, asking for help and choosing one small, aligned action at a time.

Key takeaways

1. Being resilient does not mean doing everything alone — sometimes resilience is asking for help, asking for a hug, or admitting something isn’t working for you.

2. Small actions count. A five-minute walk or stretching while the kettle boils may feel tiny, but repeated actions build.2.

3. You do not need to change everything today — take one thing from this conversation and make one small choice that supports you.

You can sign up here to clarity & Courage’s free weekly Newsletter and unsubscribe anytime: https://joryeclarityandcourage.com/newsletter

Website https://joryeclarityandcourage.com/

Podcast:https://joryeclarityandcourage.com/podcast-938955

Links & resources

1. Basma Al Kakoun — website: https://www.basmakakoun.com/

2. Work with Basma (services & plans): https://www.basmakakoun.com/plans3. Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

4. https://www.facebook.com/smiley.bk.9/

In this raw, honest and deeply thought-provoking episode of The Pivot for Life Podcast, Jo sits down with guitarist, educator, creative entrepreneur and lifelong artist Robbie Calvo.

From career-ending injuries and financial collapse, to rebuilding his life from nothing multiple times, Robbie shares the honest reality behind starting again — and why purpose, creativity and human connection matter more now than ever before.

Together, they challenge us to stop sleepwalking through life and consciously reconnect with what really matters.

Key takeaways

1. We don’t always control what happens — but we do choose how we respond

3. Purpose often reveals itself through adversity

MEDIA & LINKS

Robbie Calvo Official Website / Interior Design & Artwork

3. Robbie Calvo Facebook 4. Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/robbiecalvo/

You can sign up here to clarity & Courage’s free weekly Newsletter and unsubscribe anytime: https://joryeclarityandcourage.com/newsletter

Website https://joryeclarityandcourage.com/

Podcast:https://joryeclarityandcourage.com/podcast-938955

In this episode, host Jo sits down with leadership coach and founder of Leaders by Nature, Jude Jennison.

From overcoming a fear of horses to driving a tuk-tuk 1,200km across India, Jude shares powerful lessons on leading through uncertainty, the magic of non-verbal communication, and why true courage often means trusting yourself enough to begin.

This is a warm, honest conversation about growth, purpose, and the conscious choice to keep pivoting for life.

Key Takeaways:

1. “Courage grows through action, not certainty. It’s about sitting in the fear and saying, I’m scared, but I’m going to lead confidently through it.”

2. “Boldness isn’t a personality trait you’re born with. It’s often shaped by the environment and support around you.” 3. “You can’t change somebody else’s behaviour, you can only change your own. And when you change your own, you completely influence others in a different way.”

Website: www.leadersbynature.com Leadership App: www.askopus.co.uk

Free Tool: Take the Team Performance Scorecard Donate: Support Jude’s fundraiser for girls’ education & maternal health in India: https://fundraiser.bhumiusa.org/page/SisterhoodRally2026

Connect: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jude.jennison LinkedIn Link https://www.linkedin.com/in/judejennison/

Guest: Sarah Stenton, Founder of Middle Age Madness

Host: Jo Rye

Welcome to the very first episode of The Pivot For Life Podcast!

I’m your host, Jo, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start this journey than by sitting down with my wonderful friend, Sarah. This is a conversation that’s been years in the making, two mates, a few life-changing curveballs, and a whole lot of laughter and honesty.

In this episode, we get raw and real about the moments that forced us to stop, step back, and fundamentally change the direction of our lives. We talk about the “perfect storm” of events that led to my brain hemorrhage and Sarah’s own story of navigating a health scare with her husband, the stress of running a business, and the perimenopause that ultimately sparked her phenomenal online community, Middle Age Madness.

Together, we explore what it really takes to let go of who you thought you had to be and find the courage to step into who you’re truly meant to become. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on a hamster wheel and wondered if there’s more to life, this one’s for you.

What We Cover in This Episode

We kick things off with a proper introduction to Sarah, a friend, a survivor, and a self-confessed “rock star”, before diving into how Middle Age Madness was born out of sheer frustration with the menopause. Sarah shares what life looked like before her pivot: running an estate agency, molding herself to fit in, and slowly losing sight of who she was. Then we explore the “perfect storm” that changed everything, COVID, mounting business stress, and the terrifying moment her husband collapsed from a blood clot. I open up about my own story: the 10-mile run, the brain hemorrhage, and what it felt like when my body finally said "no". We talk about the clarity that comes after a forced stop and how facing fear, whether on social media or in front of a mirror, has shaped our new chapters. Sarah gets honest about body confidence, posting a video in a swimsuit, and explains why she chose to protect her peace that day. We share the power of becoming your own biggest cheerleader, the importance of letting go of people who make you feel smaller, and how the menopause, for all its havoc, can strip away the bullshit and help you step into what Sarah calls "cronehood". We discuss the ripple effect of holding each other’s hands through hard times, the challenge of dealing with online trolls, and why, after everything, life finally feels calm, fabulous, and exactly where we’re meant to be.

Resources & Links

- Connect with Sarah: Find her incredible community on Facebook at Middle Age Madness. https://www.facebook.com/middleagemadness

- Connect with Jo: For more resources and support, visit Clarity & Courage. https://joryeclarityandcourage.com/

- Book Mentioned: When the Body Says No by Dr Gabor Maté https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Body-Says-No-Hidden/dp/178504222X

- Music: Let the Road by Peter Ash

Thank You for Listening!

Thank you for joining me on this first episode. If today’s conversation has inspired you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review; it truly helps these stories reach more people who might be on the edge of their own pivot.

Until next time, stay curious, stay courageous, and keep pivoting for life.

Jo x

The Pivot For Life Podcast is where real people share real stories of change, courage, and clarity.

Hosted by Jo Rye, a coach and founder of Clarity & Courage, this podcast explores the powerful moments that inspire us to take a different path — the life pivots that shape who we become.

Through warm, honest conversations, Jo and her guests talk about what happens when life invites us to change — whether through loss, new beginnings, or the call to follow a long-forgotten dream. You’ll hear stories of career reinventions, relocations, rediscoveries, and quiet acts of bravery that transformed ordinary lives into extraordinary journeys.

Having faced her own life-altering pivot, Jo brings empathy, humour, and insight to every episode — reminding us that even in the messiness of change, there’s always growth, wisdom, and possibility.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about what’s next, this podcast is your invitation to pause, reflect, and find the courage to pivot — for life.

✨ Because one pivot can change everything.