Life on the B Side

This week I’m talking about doing it all on my own — not the kind of “solo” you’re thinking of (behave), but the scary kind where you have no one to blame but yourself. It’s about fear, freedom, and that weird middle ground where you want help… but also absolutely don’t touch anything.

Shorter one today and it's about my first silly decision in my 50s! It’s been 11 years since I last ran a marathon — and I swore I’d never do it again. Yet here I am, lacing up my trainers and setting my sights on Amsterdam 2026. This isn’t about fitness goals or midlife reinvention (well, maybe a little). It’s about falling back in love with running… or at least learning to tolerate it again — one slow, slightly salty mile at a time.

This week on Life on the B Side, I’m taking a short break from moaning about my impending 50th birthday (yes, it’s still happening) to share a story I first wrote six years ago — one that marked the first time I ever spoke publicly about growing up in a home with domestic abuse. It’s not the chirpiest of topics, but it is an important one — especially as October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. The story begins in 1989, with a 13-year-old me belting out The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” and believing I was Susanna Hoffs… until my neighbour’s applause revealed something much darker: that the walls we thought kept our family secrets actually didn’t. If this episode brings up anything for you, please know you’re not alone. Support links are shared at the end of the show.

Episode 41: Fear, F*ck Ups & Finding My Voice – A Year of Talking to the Wall Almost a year ago, I hit “publish” on my very first podcast episode (recorded in a cupboard, no less). Forty-something episodes later, I’m still here — slightly less terrified, a lot more sweary, and definitely finding my voice. In this episode I’m looking back at everything I’ve learned in a year of podcasting: the fear that nearly stopped me, the f*ck ups that taught me more than perfection ever could, and the joy of connection (even when it feels like I’m still just talking to the wall). If you’ve ever thought about starting something new but fear, procrastination or perfectionism got in the way — this one’s for you.

Autumn has always felt like a natural reset — a season for slowing down, turning inward, and finding comfort in small rituals. And I am going ti milk autumn as an excuse for all of the above this year. In this episode, I talk about how past therapy now helps me mirror the rhythm of the seasons, why ROMO (Relief of Missing Out) feels especially powerful right now, and the comfort TV that makes my autumn evenings feel just right. I also need suggestions for new comfort TV please…

It's a bit of a stretch to say that there are life lessons to be found in foam parties and champagne diving in the Med. But as I've had cause to think about the holidays I took in my twenties, I thought there MUST be something in those escapades, something that is more than just memories of questionable decisions, cheap cocktails and painful sunburn. And I am I the only one dreading the sound of that Saga Holiday brochure hitting the door mat and it actually being relevant to my age group????

Camping isn’t just a holiday — it’s a crash course in family life.From sleepless nights in a teepee tent to teens glued to campsite WiFi, and one unforgettable trip with a stubborn VW campervan named Albert, I’ve camped through every season of parenthood. Join me for campsite characters, family mishaps, and a reminder that sometimes the soggiest trips make the best stories and teach us the most about ourselves.

Ever feel like you're the glue holding everything (and everyone) together? Same. In this episode, I dive into the reality of being the family linchpin and the trap of being a ‘capable woman’. And I accidentally discover what drove me to become the Carlsberg Wife and the decision I have taken to step into something new, whatever that might be…

This episode is 4 days late. 4 days! And that’s all down to the one skill I have comprehensively mastered, honed and turned into an art form. Procrastination. Come with me to discover how you too can achieve boss-level procrastination. You might never get anything done again, and you will feel uncomfortable the whole time but then where’s the fun in feeling accomplished? Send help. Please.

Just because school’s out doesn’t mean we don’t keep learning a thing or two. What a f*cking ramble this is! It’s been like a parent therapy session for me :) The ‘lessons’ and observations in here apply to school life whether your child has just finished formal education or they’re just starting out. TBH they probably apply beyond the school years so if you wanna hear someone chatter on about catholic convent school in the 80s and 90s, modern creative way kids can torture each other and how there is no grey area in maths (you’re either great or shit at it) then this episode is for you. Well done Class of 2025! You did it! (And Covid will not spoil the celebrations this time).

There was a time I had a look. I was styled, curated, possibly even iconic (in my own head). But now? My wardrobe won’t return my calls. In this episode, I’m digging through my style history — from the fashion highs of the 90s to the current-day chaos of not knowing what to wear... at all. Was there a peak? Did I miss it? And what do you do when your clothes no longer feel like you? If you’ve ever stood in front of your wardrobe and wondered what happened to your once-glorious fashion intuition — welcome. You’re in the right place

Is it just me, or does life start to feel... compact as we get older? Not in a minimalist, Zen kind of way — more like, “When did my idea of a big night out become a garden centre café and a browse in B&M?” As the world quietly shrinks — fewer last-minute adventures, more “meh, it’s too far” — I’m wondering: am I being charmed into becoming a local lifer? Or is there a chance that the next phase of life might actually expand my world again? Maybe I’m ready to rediscover the city (and myself) — with less FOMO and more comfy shoes.