Michelle Ford Interviews

What happens when a successful television executive swaps the boardroom for a stand-up microphone - and starts saying what plenty of midlife women are thinking?Comedian, writer, speaker and podcaster Cally Beaton joins Michelle Ford for a funny, frank conversation about confidence, menopause, feminism and finding your voice when society seems to expect you to quieten down.Known for QI, Live at the Apollo and her gloriously unfiltered social media observations, Cally shares the story behind her move into comedy. From a television career spanning MTV, ITV and the US to a pivotal conversation with Joan Rivers, she reflects on the experiences that made her question what she wanted next—including a car crash in Iceland.Her book and podcast, Namaste Motherf*ckers, capture that spirit of questioning expectations and embracing the messiness of life.Topics include:Cally’s journey from senior television executive to stand-up comedian.The advice Joan Rivers gave her that changed her life.Challenging myths about ageing and midlife.Midlife invisibility, confidence and taking up space.Advice on 'making the edit' - making sure your voice is heardWhy your next chapter doesn’t have to look anything like your last.Funny, candid and encouraging, this episode is for anyone wondering whether it’s too late to try something new.Featured book: Namaste Motherfckers by Cally Beaton.Cally is currently on tour. For more details check out https://callybeaton.com/live/Follow Michelle Ford Interviews for more honest, inspiring conversations about midlife, confidence and reinvention.Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: [email protected]: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalentProduced by: Tindall Productions👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic.Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.comConnect with Michelle at [email protected] for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond...Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michellefordofficial or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your missing daughter comes home eighteen years later. But is she really who she says she is?In this Book Club bonus episode of Michelle Ford Interviews, I’m joined by bestselling author Louise Candlish to discuss her latest psychological thriller, A Knock at the Door.Three-year-old Tippi Macklin disappears during a weekend away with her parents, prompting worldwide headlines and years of speculation. Eighteen years later, a young woman arrives claiming to be their missing daughter. Her return promises answers — but opens the door to even more questions.Louise shares the inspiration behind the novel, and we discuss the Madeleine McCann case and the public fascination surrounding missing children. We also explore the role of social media in the campaign to find Tippi, and how Louise handles the timing of DNA testing while keeping the suspense alive.And, of course, we talk twists: how she keeps surprising us just when we think every question has been answered.An intriguing look behind the pages at identity, hope and the art of keeping readers guessing.Follow Michelle Ford Interviews wherever you listen for more author conversations, celebrity interviews and inspiring stories.First broadcast on Brooklands Radio Book Club.💬 Connect with Us:Follow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.📸 Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspod🎙️ Podcast: Michelle Ford Interviews📺 YouTube: @michellefordinterviews🌟 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficial✉️ Email: [email protected]🛜 Website: michellefordinterviews.com👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic.Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.comConnect with Michelle at [email protected] for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond...Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michellefordofficial or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if being easily pleased is a strength - and one we can learn?Bestselling poet Donna Ashworth joins Michelle Ford to talk about her latest book, The Art of Being Easily Pleased, and finding magic in the minutiae: those small, everyday moments we can so easily miss.In a warm and thought-provoking conversation, we explore how to loosen the grip of our inner critic, question the labels we were given as children and make more room for gratitude, wonder and joy. Being called “quiet”, “wilful” or “difficult” needn’t define who we become.Donna shares her perspective on attention and the “red car” principle - how we start noticing more of what we’re looking for - and how that idea informs her approach to changing negative thought patterns. We also ask how we can welcome happiness when the world feels overwhelming, and whether we were ever equipped to carry so much news, worry and suffering.Along the way, Donna reads poems from her new book, including reflections on stardust, ancestry and the connections that reach far beyond our own lives. Could thinking about the generations before us help us feel a little less alone?In this episode:Finding everyday joy without pretending life is always easy.Letting go of childhood labels and allowing yourself to change.Gratitude, attention and interrupting toxic thought loops.Donna’s thoughts on the reticular activating system and noticing the good.Protecting your capacity for joy amid an overwhelming news cycle.Poetry, the power of opening a book at random and finding words when you need them.Karmic Tracks, The Moment Is You, and our connections to the universe and one another.The comfort of imagining a loving army of ancestors walking beside you.An uplifting conversation about paying attention, feeling connected and allowing small pleasures to matter.The Art of Being Easily Pleased by Donna Ashworth is Donna's latest book - a manifesto on finding joy and pleasure in everyday life.Enjoyed listening? Follow Michelle Ford Interviews for more honest, inspiring conversations about life, confidence and reinvention - plus Book Club episodes with the authors behind your next great read. Share this episode with someone who could use a little more wonder in their day.💬 Connect with Us:Follow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.📸 Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspod🎙️ Podcast: Michelle Ford Interviews📺 YouTube: @michellefordinterviews🌟 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficial✉️ Email: [email protected]🛜 Website: michellefordinterviews.com✍️ Media/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalentProduced by: Tindall Productions👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic.Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.comConnect with Michelle at [email protected] for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond...Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michellefordofficial or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to open your heart again after years of being single - and let the nation watch?On this episode Michelle Ford is joined by Janey Smith from My Mum, Your Dad for a warm, honest conversation about second-chance romance, rebuilding confidence and finding love in midlife.Recently engaged to Roger Hawes, Janey reflects on the brave decision to join the dating show with her son’s encouragement. With him heading off to university, she recognised that she wanted companionship - but putting herself out there meant confronting fears about trust, vulnerability and getting hurt again.We explore dating after heartbreak, navigating a relationship with someone who has experienced bereavement, and making space for a new love story while respecting the past.Janey also opens up about perimenopause and losing her confidence on stage as a singer after decades in the entertainment industry and why the person you see on screen might not tell the whole story.And, of course, we talk about Roger, their engagement and what this next chapter means to h er.In this episode:• Finding love in midlife after years of being single• Taking a chance on reality show My Mum,Your Dad• Roger, their engagement and building a future together• Navigating love after loss and overcoming past heartbreak• Trust, vulnerability and the fear of being someone’s “stepping stone”• Perimenopause, self-confidence and feeling comfortable socially• Dating apps, first impressions and giving connection a chanceIf you’ve ever wondered whether you could fall in love again, or felt nervous about taking that first step, this conversation offers warmth, reassurance and plenty to think about.💬 Connect with Us:Follow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.📸 Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspod🎙️ Podcast: Michelle Ford Interviews📺 YouTube: @michellefordinterviews🌟 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficial✉️ Email: [email protected]🛜 Website: michellefordinterviews.com✍️ Media/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalentProduced by: Tindall Productions#secondchances #midliferomance #mymumyourdad #loveover40 #realityshow #👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic.Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.comConnect with Michelle at [email protected] for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond...Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michellefordofficial or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Menopause can feel overwhelming - but good information and the right support can make an enormous difference. In this special episode, Michelle Ford brings together four leading experts - Jane James, Emma Bardwell, Dr Linia Patel and Lavina Mehta MBE - for a practical guide to HRT, nutrition, weight management and exercise during perimenopause and menopause.Jane James: Making informed choices about HRTMenopause mentor Jane James is the founder of the Menopause and HRT Discussion Group and community manager for Davina McCall’s Menopausing and Me community.Jane explains why HRT is not “one size fits all”, challenges common myths and shares advice for preparing for a GP appointment. She discusses what testosterone may be prescribed for, where to seek support and how menopause mentors and support groups can help.Jane also explains the NHS HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate, which currently costs £19.80 and covers certain eligible HRT medicines for 12 months.Emma Bardwell: Eating well through menopauseRegistered nutritionist Emma Bardwell is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The 30g Plan and The Fibre Effect.Emma explains why hormonal changes can encourage fat storage around the middle - and why eating well needn’t involve a complete dietary overhaul.Why are protein, fibre and plant diversity so important? Can food help alleviate menopause symptoms? Emma shares easy ways to improve everyday meals, explores phytoestrogens and suggests three simple nutritional changes we can make now.Dr Linia Patel: Menopause, weight and GLP-1 medicationDr Linia Patel is an award-winning women’s health dietitian, performance nutritionist and author of Food for Menopause and Life After Weight-Loss Medication.Linia encourages us to look beyond the scales and consider our energy, sleep, stress and overall wellbeing.She explains what GLP-1 weight-loss medications are, how they work and what may happen after someone stops taking them. We also discuss the importance of a holistic approach to weight management and getting enough protein, fibre, iron and other essential nutrients.Lavina Mehta MBE: Exercise for brains, bones and musclesLavina Mehta MBE is a health and fitness expert, personal trainer and author of The Feel Good Fix. Awarded an MBE for services to health and fitness, she is known for “exercise snacking” and her mantra, “Exercise for Sanity, Not Vanity”.Lavina explains why movement matters for our brains, bones and muscles - and how it may support mood, sleep and cognition while helping to ease anxiety.She shares achievable ways to add short bursts of movement to the day through exercise snacking and habit stacking. We also explore why strength training can help future-proof our bodies - and why strength, health and confidence matter far more than a number on the scales.This episode is packed with reassuring, evidence-informed advice to help you feel stronger, better supported and more confident about navigating menopause.This podcast provides general information and should not replace individual medical advice. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional before beginning, changing or stopping medication, HRT, supplements, diet or exercise.📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for interviews, recommendations and conversations about books, life, confidence, resilience and reinvention.Instagram: @michellefordofficial | @michellefordinterviewspodYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: @michellefordofficialEmail: [email protected]: michellefordinterviews.comMedia and brand enquiries: @kindlingtalentProducer: Emma Tindall @tindallpodcasts👉 Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with a friend who could use a little midlife magic.Explore the 'midlife library' at www.twowomenchatting.comConnect with Michelle at [email protected] for collaborations, ideas, and comments! Remember to rate, review, and share our show to join the laughter-filled conversation about midlife empowerment and beyond...Follow Michelle on Instagram at @michellefordofficial or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.