Guest: Julia Chi-Taylor, relationship coach, mentor, and international athlete who has been running for over 60 years. Julia works with people on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels and is still competing in her late 60s.

•        It's never too late to start running. Begin with lots of walking and a little running, take it slowly, and find a guide who understands you emotionally as well as physically.

•        The belief that recovery takes longer as you age is just that, a belief. Mindset and narrative around pain can spiral things down as much as the injury itself.

•        Blue Zones (Japan, Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda, Ikaria) show us a different model of communities living well into their 100s through movement, plants, purpose and community.

•        Running as meditation: the goal is non-attachment to outcome. Aiming for something AND letting go of the result is the ultimate practice.

•        Staying visible as you age is a choice. You can disappear into it, or you can keep showing up with energy.

•        If you're starting to exercise later in life, the goal isn't pace or distance; it's whether you enjoyed it. That's the measure of success.

•        Reactivity is an arrow to past wounding. Real stillness in running and in life means not reacting from old patterns.

00:09  Meet Julia: 50 years of coaching, running since age 6

02:34  How to start running later in life

04:59  Miracles in recovery: real stories

07:24  Jo's deadlift injury and healing journey

09:52  Blue Zones, aging myths and the beliefs we're fed

14:36  Being the oldest in the gym (and why it's great)

16:51  Making yourself invisible  and how to stop

19:11  Julia's spiritual path and the running-meditation connection

26:04  How Julia would coach Jo to start running

29:00  The Happiness Curve and the striving trap

33:13  Where to find Julia + Jo might actually take up running!

https://juliachitaylor.com

Ever looked around at your life and thought “is this it?” This week, Jo and Kev are joined by Rosie Freshwater: serial entrepreneur, wife, mum and now a DJ playing gigs across the UK.

Rosie's story is one of the most honest midlife reinventions you'll hear. Perimenopause and the empty nest landed at the same time, she started disconnecting from everything she'd worked hard to build and found her way back through music, TikTok and a whole lot of not giving a f**k what anyone thinks.

From borrowing her brother-in-law's decks to building a TikTok following as Roo's Renaissance, putting on the UK's first 80s modern remix dance event and planning to swap a country house for a one-bed in Hackney, Rosie is proof it's never too late to start over.

•        Perimenopause and empty nesting can collide and that identity crash is real

•        You don't need a course to start something new; YouTube and borrowed kit will do

•        Your existing friends might not get it. That's okay. Go find your tribe

•        Reinvention puts pressure on relationships, talking (and therapy) can get you through

•        The daytime rave scene is growing and it's genuinely multi-generational

•        Success looks different in midlife: happiness and freedom over money and status

•        Don't wait for permission. Try the thing. Don't give a f**k what anyone thinks

01:55 — Introducing Rosie + the midlife pressure points

04:10 — How the DJ journey started

06:10 — From borrowed decks to TikTok and paid gigs

08:03 — The 80s modern remix concept and live event

10:41 — Why creativity beat career: the total escape moment

11:48 — “ Bit old to do that aren’t you?”

12:45 — Finding a new tribe when your old one doesn’t get it

15:23 — Day raving and the multi-generational club scene

16:27 — Partner and kids: how family reacts to your reinvention

19:42 — Downsizing: letting go of your old identity

22:21 — Empty nest: how the boys are handling the move

25:35 — What’s next: Rue’s Renaissance as a brand and community

29:00 — Rosie’s advice if you’re standing on the edge of change

TikTok: @roos_renaissance Instagram @rosiefresh

Event: 80s Modern Remix Dance Party — 18th April, Bermondsey Social Club, London, 2pm–9pm

Are you in the middle of your own reinvention? Drop us a message — nothing's off the table. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with anyone who needs to hear this.

What does it actually mean to be fit and fabulous in your 50s and beyond? Jo and Kev dig into the science of why fitness matters more than ever at midlife, covering strength, cardio, and flexibility, while getting real about the overwhelming amount of conflicting advice out there. They celebrate some genuinely inspiring role models (and debate whether their abs are achievable), break down why you wake up feeling like a broken robot, and share practical tips for getting your body moving in the morning without a complete overhaul of your life.

•        Strength, cardio, and flexibility all matter, but you don't have to do everything. Pick what works for you.

•        Morning stiffness has actual science behind it: tendons and ligaments shorten with age, and your joints produce less synovial fluid. It's not just you being lazy.

•        Hydration is more important than most people realise; your muscles and ligaments are 70% water.

•        Maintaining weight loss is harder (and less glamorous) than losing it in the first place.

•        A simple morning routine; box breathing, knee hugs, hot shower, ankle rotations can genuinely help.

00:09  Why fitness matters over 50, strength, cardio, flexibility

02:34  The benefits: bone density, muscle mass, mental health, sleep

03:20  Inspiring role models; Mel C, Gwyneth, JLo, Gillian Anderson

09:43  Dylan Jones on male style and fitness over 50

14:33  Alison Cork's 10 tips for maintaining weight loss

21:23  Jo's progress and why it's harder than expected

23:47  Why you wake up stiff: the science explained

25:00  Morning mobility routine to fix it

[Add links here]

Subscribe, leave us a review, and tell a friend. We're on all major podcast platforms. Got a topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message ,nothing is off the table.

Skiing, Anxiety & the Power of Mindset — with Louise Pode, Ski Mindset Coach

Jo sits down with Louise Pode, a ski mindset coach based in the UK, for a frank and funny conversation about why so many women over 45 quietly stop doing the things they love and what it actually takes to get back out there. Louise shares her own journey from chronically anxious skier with two replaced hips to leading an international coaching practice and explains how psychology plays a far bigger role on the slopes than most people realise. If skiing has ever terrified you, made you feel like the oldest, slowest person on the mountain or left you questioning why you even bothered, this one's for you.

•        Your 'why' is everything. Before technique or training, Louise asks every client why they want to ski. That emotional anchor is what gets you through fear on the mountain.

•        Women over 45 are more likely to step back than step forward and it's not just about menopause. Decades of prioritising others, cultural expectations and internalised self-doubt all play a role.

•        Anxiety physically changes how you ski. Rigidity, leaning back, bracing; fear creates the very instability you're trying to avoid.

•        Learning to ski as an adult is genuinely hard. Expecting to crack it in a week sets you up to feel like a failure. Feeling comfortable on skis after a few days is already a win.

•        Environment matters enormously. Busy Christmas resorts with packed slopes are the worst place to learn or relearn. A quiet Italian resort beats Courchevel every time.

•        Men have anxiety too, they're just less likely to ask for help. Louise's one-to-one clients are almost exclusively women, but men do turn up at group masterclasses.

•        Overcoming anxiety is liberating beyond the slopes. Being able to look at a scary run and walk away with your head held high…that's the real goal.

00:57  Louise's background: physiotherapy, hip replacements and a love-hate relationship with skiing

02:06  The accident that changed everything and the sliding doors moment that followed

04:31  Why women 45+ tend to step back, not forward

06:52  Male-dominated slopes and the intimidation factor

08:57  How anxiety physically distorts your skiing

11:24  What good learning actually looks like and why your instructor matters, it’s less stressful

12:56  The coaching process; finding your 'why' before anything else

15:45  Louise's own moment of panic at the top of Mont Vallon and how she talked herself down

17:43 The hybrid skiing model for families of mixed abilities

20:06  Do men seek coaching? (Spoiler: sort of)

22:53  What Louise offers - five-session programmes, power-hours and a new online course

25:08  Masterclasses at Tamworth and Hemel Hempstead and what a full day looks like

27:28  Jo's experience and the best advice for anyone thinking of going back

•        Website: www.louisepode.com

•        Instagram: @coachingwithlou

•        Masterclasses coming soon in Hemel Hempstead

Mother's Day, it's more complicated than a card and some flowers. This week we dig into the real origins of Mothering Sunday (16th century, religious, nothing to do with Hallmark), why mums feel the need to be celebrated and the uncomfortable truth about how much of our identity as parents we've wrapped up in our kids.

We also get into delayed adult development, why young adults are struggling to launch, how we might be making it worse and why letting go is the kindest thing you can do. For them AND for you. Plus: the love letter that made Jo emotional, the Mother's Day plan that backfired spectacularly and what David Beckham got right about letting your kids fail.

•        00:45 — The real origins of Mother's Day

•        02:12— Why mums need to feel valued

•        04:20 — The love letter from Jo’s daughter

•        06:34 — Delayed adult development & the stats

•        09:54 — How our generation parents differently

•        10:48 — Tying our self-worth to our kids' outcomes

•        14:14 — Mother’s Day isn’t good for everyone

•        17:11 — The case for a day to yourself and Kev’s plan backfired

•        19:42 — Expectations vs reality

•        21:40 — Letting them fail…David Beckham

•        23:00 — Why you can't control the outcome

•        25:30 — How to detach without losing the relationship

•        26:45 — Finding your third chapter – the beginning of your post-parenthood

•        Mother's Day started as a 16th-century religious festival; the commercial version is a modern invention

•        Around 58% of 21-24 year olds currently live at home; independence is arriving 5-7 years later than in previous generations

•        Our generation ties its self-worth to our kids' outcomes more than any generation before us

•        Shielding your kids from every failure actually delays their ability to function independently

•        Detaching isn't about loving them less, it's about freeing you both to move forward

“When Our Grown Kids Disappoint Us” by Jane Adams

Kev gets brutally honest about retirement, what it actually means, whether you can afford it and what to do if you can't. With guest Richard Squire of My Finance Future, they dig into the financial realities facing people in their 50s & 60s: from FIRE movements to the PLSA's benchmark figures, legacy planning and why your first retirement budget will probably be laughed at. Spoiler: Jo laughed at Kev's.

Key Takeaways

•        Second & third careers, partial work & financial independence

•        FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is reshaping how people think about work & money

•        The PLSA estimates that a comfortable retirement in UK £60K pa after tax

•        Build your retirement budget from the bottom up.

•        Keeping mentally active matters

•        Helping kids is a newer, growing part of strategy

•        Start checking your pension now

•        00:45 — 4 stages of retirement, what it brought up for Kev

•        02:20 — Mortality reality check: losing parents, becoming head of family

•        03:10 — Triggers: empty nest, mortgage renewal, the oldest at work

•        04:30 — Introducing Richard Squire

•        04:59 — What does retirement mean today

•        06:09 — FIRE movement: Financial Independence, Retire Early explained

•        07:15 — Final salary pensions vs. modern approaches

•        08:09 — Keeping your brain active, why Kev worries about doing sod all

•        09:08 — Leaving a legacy vs spending it all

•        12:04 — Pension briefings at work

•        12:38 — Kev's 1st retirement budget, Jo's verdict: f**king ridiculous

•        13:39 — PLSA figures: what a comfortable retirement actually costs

•        15:00 — Why bottom-up personal budgeting beats mythical averages

•        16:38 – The go-go, slow-go and no-go years of retirement explained

•        18:30 – 3 approaches to planning: advisor, coach or DIY

•        22:25 – Kev's experience trying to move money out of a defined benefit pension

•        23:40 – The British Steelworkers DB scandal

•        24:30 – Where to start if you want to take control •        26:46 – Why getting pension decisions right first time matters

•        27:53 – What Richard's cashflow forecasting tool does

•        30:04 – Treat retirement planning like project management

https://myfinancefuture.com/learn-more

MyFinanceFuture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3tke_J8HrY

Inspired by the Winter Olympics, we dive into whether it's ever too late to hit the slopes and what to do when your partner just isn't that into it.

Kev is a seasoned snowboarder heading to Méribel in his 60s. Jo learned to ski at 57... under protest. We share our honest, sometimes hilarious experiences, plus practical advice for midlifers considering winter sports for the first time (or for the first time in a while).

Key Takeaways

·       Why the 2025 Winter Olympics felt so inspiring for older viewers

·       The 2030 Winter Olympics in France: 7 centres including Nice, Courchevel & Méribel

·       Why the average age of a new ski school student in Canada is 45

·       The real reason older beginners struggle; it's psychological, not physical

·       The physical and social benefits of skiing and boarding in midlife

·       Ski trips designed specifically for the over-50s

·       What to do when one partner loves it and the other... really doesn't

·       The rules: never teach your partner yourself

·       How to sweeten the deal and find the right resort for mixed-ability couples

·       Jo's ongoing negotiations about whether she'll ever ski again

Coming up: Jo talks to a coach who specialises in helping women over 45 rebuild their confidence on the slopes.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:44 – The Winter Olympics were inspiring

03:15 – What makes the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics different; multiple locations

04:25 – The 2030 Winter Olympics in France: 7-centre breakdown

07:00 – Kev heads to Méribel; two men over 60 on the mountain

08:00 – Jo's ski history (it's not pretty)

10:05 – The family Christmas ski trip to Méribel

11:20 – Jo learns to ski at 57 (under duress)

12:22 – Stats: average age of new skiers is 45 and cognitive ability at 50+

13:10 – The fear of falling problem

14:01 – Physical & social benefits of skiing in midlife

15:22 – Jo admits her fears of falling and her blocks

16:28 – Over-50s ski organisations & group holidays

19:00 – Club Med do social skiing for adults in term time, could this be the answer?

20:33 – Options when partners have different enthusiasm and skill levels

21:55 – Choices for going to a ski resort, rules and Golden rules: don't teach your partner; be back for après

25:25 – The infamous lost children incident in Méribel

28:45 – Will Jo ever ski again? Watch this space

RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Ski Gathering | Snow Camps Europe | Ski World Over 50s | Ski Club of Great Britain – Fresh Tracks (over 60s) | AARP 50+ Ski Club | Club Med social skiing

Think retirement is all about having enough money saved? Think again. In this eye-opening conversation, retirement coach Dawn Marcotte reveals the hidden challenges that hit six months after you leave work - the anxiety, the boredom, the loss of identity. Dawn breaks down the four stages of retirement and shares practical strategies for building a fulfilling post-work life, from creating your "curiosity list" to joining industry associations where your expertise still matters. This episode tackles the emotional and social aspects of retirement that nobody prepares you for, with honest discussion about depression and invisibility. disappear.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

·       Retirement coaching focuses on the emotional, social, and psychological changes - not finances

·       The first 6 months feel amazing, then many people experience anxiety and depression

·       Without planning, it takes 2 years on average to figure out retirement happiness

·       The four stages: Honeymoon → Lost → Exploration → Reinvention

·       You need to replace: routine, intellectual stimulation, purpose and social connections

·       Create a "curiosity list" of things to explore without judging if you'll be good at them

·       Join industry associations to mentor others

·       Quality of relationships is the #1 predictor of happiness

·       Society tells retirees to "be small"

TIMESTAMPS

00:52 - What is a Retirement Coach? Dawn explains the non-financial side of retirement coaching and why it's needed

01:40 - Why the first six months of retirement feel fantastic

02:03 - The "Now What?" Moment. When boredom and anxiety set in

03:13 – Why am I not having the time of my life?

04:02 - Key Elements for Retirement Success

04:33 - Dawn compares retirement boredom to the end of summer holidays as a kid

05:40 - DIY Jo discusses people who think they'll paint the house repeatedly (the Severn Bridge analogy)

06:45 - Most people feel lost 6 months to a year after retiring

07:56 - The Four Stages of Retirement

08:22 - The Reinvention Stage

08:43 - Giving Back Through Your Passions

09:44 - Why some people never reach the reinvention stage

10:02 - When grandchildren grow up and don't need you anymore - then what?

11:45 - UK retirement age is rising to 67-70, meaning 15-20 years to fill

13:00 - How removing structure without replacement can cause depression

14:20 - Baby Boomers & The Retirement Crisis

15:04 - The Introvert-Extrovert Marriage Challenge

16:00 - Why men particularly struggle when all their friends were at work

16:44 - Kev's Retirement Plans, he is considering snowboard instructor training to manage the transition

18:32 - The Need for Intellectual Stimulation

19:09 - Dawn's coaching technique: brainstorm things you're curious about

19:42 - Using your career expertise to mentor others after retirement

22:00 - Dawn recommends public speaking to share expertise

23:45 - Culture "be small" in retirement

24:17 - Tony Robbins' Six Human Needs

25:19 - Research shows relationship quality is the #1 indicator of happiness at any age

27:19 - Joining Organizations, finding people who enjoy what you enjoy to build new social connections

28:09 - Dawn's Book: "Filling the Blank Page"- practical guide to building a retirement of passion and purpose

30:00 - New Website Launch dawnmarcotte.com

30:30 - Dawn offers to help UK listeners find coaches i

When your adult children get married, you're not just gaining an in-law you're potentially entering a minefield of power struggles, boundary conflicts and family drama. This week, we unpack "brat-ults (privileged young adults publicly cancelling parents) through the lens of celebrity wedding wars, then dig into what happens when your first child ties the knot. From Brooklyn Beckham's 6 page Instagram manifesto to the universal challenges of dealing with your kids' partners, wedding ceremonies and prenup conversation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The "Brat-ult" Phenomenon: Privileged young adults publicly cancelling parents

Entitlement vs. Legitimate Conflict: The difference between healthy boundaries and entitled behaviour

1st Marriage Milestone: Parents in their mid-50s/early-60s typically experience their first child's wedding

The Partner Question: Do you express concerns about your child's relationship

Power Struggles Are Real: Wedding planning can become a battleground between families

"Us" Matters: Supporting your adult child's relationship means accepting their partner is their priority

Prenup: Best done when couples are in love and with wealth inequality

Grandchildren Pressure: Being obsessive about grandchildren

Independence Is Healthy: Teaching children self-sufficiency early creates better boundaries

The Divorce Reality: With a 48% divorce rate, statistical concerns about marriage are valid but tricky

Let Them Make Mistakes: Adult children need to make their own choices

TIMESTAMPS

00:30 Brat-ults, cancelling parents and wedding conflicts

00:59 - What are "brat-ults"? Dr. Elizabeth McCain's article on privileged young adults in conflict with their parents

01:53 - Celebrity examples: Brooklyn Beckham and Prince Harry

03:00 - Jo's frustration with Brooklyn’s entitled behaviour and public family feuds

04:38 - The psychology of spoiled children and parental guilt

06:43 - Social media's role in normalising parent cancellation, by the rich and famous

07:08 - The immaturity of public family conflicts

08:22 - Brooklyn Beckham's wedding as the catalyst

09:26 - Plot twist: When did the Spice Girls get old?

09:52 - Parents in their 50s/60s experiencing their first child's wedding

10:24 - Power struggles behind the scenes at the Beckham wedding

10:57 - The new family dynamic: Your kid is no longer a kid

12:06 - Do you like your child's partner? What if you think it won’t last?

13:30 - The importance of "the us" in relationships

14:15 -Jo's take on not being married herself

15:05 - Mother's sense of loss when a child marries

16:43 - Jo's parenting style: Independence from an early age

17:23 - Single parenting and teaching self-sufficiency

18:33 - In-law relationships: Does it really matter if you don't click?

19:20 - Power struggles over the wedding ceremony itself

19:35 - Mumzilla vs. bridezilla: Jo's prom dress experience

20:33 - Making mistakes and learning independence

20:52 - The grandchildren pressure problem

22:11 - Kev's statistical approach to marriage advice for his boys

23:01 - The prenup debate: When does it make sense?

23:47 - Deed of trust: Jo's experience with wealth protection

24:33 - Wealth inequality and prenup timing

25:20 - Kev - Would you tell your child you don't like their partner?

26:06 - Malevolence vs. minor annoyances

27:17 - Wedding planning involvement

28:52 - Final thoughts: Freedom, boundaries and respecting choices

We celebrate our podcast's 1st anniversary on Valentine's Day by diving into dating after 50, relationship maintenance and why this made-up holiday matters more than we thought.

Forget just celebrating Valentine's Day, we're celebrating a full year of podcasting! In this milestone episode, we reflect on our journey from starting with different co-hosts to building an audience (slower than expected!), going viral with 200K views and even getting nominated for a Pro-Ageing Podcast Award.

But the heart of this episode is about love after 50. We explore the three types of people on Valentine's Day (singles, established couples, and newly dating), confess how we nearly let Valentine's Day slide after 8 years together and share what people actually prioritise when dating post-50: intelligence, humour, honesty and kindness.

We get brutally honest about the challenges of dating later in life, the baggage everyone brings, financial compatibility conversations, health considerations and the reality that 35-40 years of habits won't change. From joint bank accounts (we don't have one) to understanding your partner's "money language," we cover the conversations you need to have before fully committing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Podcasting reality check: We overestimated Year 1 success and learned listeners dip in and out rather than following.

 Valentine's serves as a reminder to invest effort in your relationship, not just celebrate on one specific date.

Post-50 dating priorities shift: Intelligence, humour, honesty and kindness matter most (men add facial attractiveness; women add dependability).

Everyone over 50 has baggage; we think it's actually a red flag if they don't.

The comfort zone trap is real: Cohabitation can lead to taking each other for granted if you're not careful

Money means different things: Safety, control, freedom, or love, understanding your partner's "money language" is crucial

We took 4.5 years before moving in together, there's no rush when you're building something real

TIMESTAMPS

00:27 - Introduction & First Anniversary
01:54 - Year One Highlights and Surprises: Viral Posts & Award Nominations

02:49 – Lessons Learnt from Our First Year
04:10 - The Three Categories of Dating for People over 50 on Valentine's Day

05:41 – The Evolution of Our Valentine’s Day
06:18 - The Comfort Zone Trap: How We Nearly Let Valentine's Slide
10:15 - What People Over 50 Actually Look For in Partners
11:29 - The Baggage Factor: Everyone Has a History
14:07 - Blended Families & Why We Had It Easier

14:55 – Our Primary Motivation When We Started Dating Each Other in Our Mid 50s
16:21 - Health & Wealth: The Delicate Conversations – Do you want to be a nursemaid?

17:19 - It Is Important to do Things Together
19:00 - Financial Compatibility: Joint Accounts vs. Independence
21:21 - Emotional Transparency, Past Relationship Trauma & Understanding Your Own “Money Language”
23:34 - Our Relationship Journey  & Philosophies to Dating
25:53 - Our Opinion on Dating post 50

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Anthony Robbins quote on Year 1 vs. Year 5 expectations
 • Sunday papers article on dating characteristics post-50
 • Research on financial compatibility in couples
 • Love languages and attachment styles theory
 • Previous viral episode: Should Adult Children Spend Christmas With Us?

CONNECT WITH US

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Instagram: @whenthefuckdididbecomeold