Life on the B Side

Episode 39: The Autumn Excuse: Therapy, ROMO, and Comfort TV

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…
 
 
 

Episode 38: Office Politics – How I married my colleague

Today I am celebrating 21 years of marriage to a man I met at a work event.
And with that in mind, I decided to share (without planning or script or anything for that matter) the brief story of how that happened.
Unlike my marriage, this episode is short, sweet and without incident ;)
No, but honestly, this is just me sharing a meet-cute that I think set us off on the right foot…

Episode 37: Hedonistic Heights of A-Side Holidays - Lessons learned from Tan Lines, Tequila and Terrible Decisions

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????

Episode 36: Life Moves Pretty Fast: On Perspective & Advice from Ferris Bueller

Need some life coaching? Best place to start? Classic 1980s John Hughes films…
What does a day off with Ferris Bueller have to do with how we see our own lives?
Quite a lot, actually. In this episode of Life on the B Side, I explore the power of perspective — from standing high above Newcastle at Grey’s Monument, to gazing at dots in an art gallery, to watching Ferris and his friends seize the day in Chicago.
We might not have realised how much advice Mr Hughes packed into his films when we were young, but rewatching them now is having a profound effect on me so I thought I’d share it with you.
P.S. You’re not dying, you just can’t think of anything good to do…

Episode 35: Living Inside Out: Camping through every season of family life

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.

Episode 34: The Worst Summer Holiday of my Life: 16 and stuck in Las Americas with Roy Chubby Brown (sort of)

Bit of a nostalgia trip in this episode — but not the dreamy, golden kind.
Today I’m taking you back to the summer I was 16. A holiday that was meant to be a break from real life... but turned into two long, emotional weeks that I’ve never quite forgotten.
It involved:
One well-meaning but emotionally unavailable dad
A lot of alcohol (not mine)
Silent dinners, full ashtrays, and no way home
And a teenager trying to make sense of it all
It’s raw, it’s honest, and — looking back — it taught me more about boundaries, expectations, and emotional survival than any sunny postcard moment ever could.
Because not all holidays are fun.And not all coming-of-age stories come with a sunset.

Episode 33: The Linchpin Life: On Emotional Labour, Mental Load & Midlife Self-Rescue

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…

Episode 32: Life After Last Orders – What I lost – and found – when I gave up drinking.

I gave up booze – and it wasn’t all gains.
In this episode, I talk honestly about what I lost, what I found, and what surprised me when I stepped away from alcohol.
No preaching, just real talk about sober curiosity, social shifts, and what’s left behind.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction issues, head to  www.drinkaware.co.uk and click on support lines – there's a dozen places you can call for support or advice.

Episode 31: ‘The Art of Procrastination’ The Experts Guide to Getting F*ck All Done

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.

Episode 30: Sixteen Years and The Ghosts We Grew From

Yes, I have been missing for two weeks!
But I come back and bring you tales of post-natal ghosts, house-buying and my very own Nurse Ratched.
And yes they are all linked!!