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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re recording on Christmas Eve and doing what we do best — talking honestly about how life actually feels at this age. From finishing a final round of chemo (and the brutal side effects no one really prepares you for), to the strange satisfactions of ticking off medication charts, to the sudden realisation that facial hair is… expanding.
There’s festive exhaustion, pension chat, karaoke confessions, overpriced Pilates mishaps, and the quiet emotional weight that sits underneath Christmas when you’re knackered, grateful, fragile, and still trying to make things feel “normal.”
Whether you’re powering through the holidays, stepping back to recharge, or laughing at the absurdities your body keeps throwing at you, this one’s a reminder that it’s never just about the jokes — it’s about getting through, together, with humour intact.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Sir Chris Bryant - MP, minister, memoirist, and living proof that life rarely runs in straight lines. Chris talks with fierce honesty about growing up too fast, coming to terms with being gay in a far less forgiving era, the strange road through the priesthood, and why resilience isn’t about pretending things didn’t hurt.
It’s never just about politics. This is a conversation about identity, shame, adventure, boredom, cancer, ageing, and why curiosity might be the real secret to staying alive inside. Whether you’re reflecting on the lives you didn’t live, settling into who you are now, or wondering how much past hardship really shapes us, this one lands with warmth, grit and unexpected laughs.
Because no one tells you how many versions of yourself you might have to survive before you feel at home.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re checking in just days before Christmas — with Kaye broadcasting from a hotel bathroom in London (puffer jacket, luggage rack and all) and Karen at home, navigating the final stretch of chemotherapy, festive expectations, and the strange emotional weather that comes with both.
It’s a wide-ranging, very real conversation about not quite feeling “Christmassy,” the pressure to show up when your body and head aren’t there yet, and how humour carries you through when things feel heavy. There’s talk of hair loss in unexpected places, steroid-fuelled appetites, vegan Christmas puddings, jigsaws as an emotional support system, and the joy (and menace) of a mystery Secret Santa chocolate bar.
Whether you’re powering through December on fumes, quietly opting out of forced fun, or discovering that ageing is never just about getting older — it’s about adjusting expectations — this one will feel familiar.
Because no one tells you how odd the in-between bits can feel: not ill, not fine, not festive, not miserable — just human.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Sunday Times bestselling author Lesley Kara, whose brand-new psychological thriller The Troublemaker is landing next year — and trust us, it’s going to keep a lot of women up past their bedtime.
We dig into the extraordinary story behind her so-called “late start”: the years of motherhood, endometriosis, surgical menopause, teaching stress, and sheer exhaustion that pushed her into clinical depression… and the single conversation that flipped her life from survival mode to creativity.
Lesley talks honestly about stepping into her sixties, the shock of sudden success, and what it feels like to finally do the thing she was born to do.
Whether you’re wondering if you’ve missed your moment, quietly nurturing a dream of your own, or just need a reminder that reinvention is real — this one will land.
Because no one tells you how powerful it can be to back yourself at 55.
Whether you’re rediscovering old ambitions, supporting ageing parents, or trying to work out who you are after everyone else has been looked after — you’ll feel seen here.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we tumble through the very specific flavour of December mayhem — Karen accidentally sleeping through chemo while the nurses wait to go home, the slow disappearance of her right eyebrow, and a restaurant saga that ends with a truly dreadful pizza and a packet of chocolate éclairs to recover from it.
Whether you’re still counting out sleeping tablets like an advent calendar or noticing that every jumper you own now looks suspiciously like your mother’s, there’s something familiar here for anyone navigating midlife with a raised eyebrow (or… half of one).It’s never just about the cold cap or the cancelled booking — it’s the absurdity, the warmth, and the little shocks of recognition when life over 45 throws up another “oh, so this is who I am now” moment.
We also hear from listeners — including Jill, whose “Year of Being Brave” feels like exactly the kind of spark so many women are craving as 2026 approaches. Plus: tiny trip-hazard dogs, quiet-table negotiations, and why Kaye absolutely should not come to Karen’s final chemo session
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Fitness expert Jacqueline Hooton joins Kaye and Karen for a grounded, funny and honest conversation about ageing well. She talks about staying strong through shoulder surgeries and osteoarthritis, tackling internalised ageism, navigating post-menopause health, and why balance, bone strength and everyday mobility matter more than any “anti-ageing” promise.
It’s a warm, motivating reminder that you’re never past the point of starting — and you don’t need to shrink your life to fit anyone’s expectations.
Jacqueline’s book Strong is out now.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re talking Christmas chaos, stubborn husbands, and the kind of A&E visit that derails even the best-laid festive plans. Kaye finds herself doing the night shift in a waiting room full of germs, Karen is wrapping up head-torches and shoehorns like they’re luxury gifts, and both of them are wondering when life got quite this ridiculous.
Whether you’re panic-buying presents, fighting off winter bugs, or just trying to get one night of proper sleep, this one will feel comfortingly familiar. It’s never just about the holidays, of course. It’s about ageing with humour, muddling through the medical dramas, and realising no one tells you how often you’ll end up discussing footwear aids in your sixties.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Scott Hastings, the rugby legend who has lived through the unimaginable and still finds a way to smile. After losing his wife and teenage sweetheart, Jenny, to suicide after 45 years together, Scott shares the reality of grief, resilience, and what it means to choose joy without ignoring pain.
Whether you’re navigating your own storms or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation meets you with honesty, tenderness, and hope. We talk about living with someone you love through mental illness, how grief changes a family, and why being kind - even when you’re tired - matters more than ever.
Because no one tells you how to survive after the future you planned disappears. Yet here Scott is swimming in Wardy Bay each week, celebrating small joys, finding peace where Jenny found hers, and holding love and loss in the same breath.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re braving the Baltic chill with toilet confessions, rap-induced bafflement at Hamilton and the ongoing saga of Karen’s chemo side effects. Whether you’re the type who cleans your loo with a brush or a wad of loo roll, you’ll feel right at home.
It’s never just about the weather. It’s the insomnia, the metallic taste, the pockets of joy found in ginger puddings and planting tulip bulbs in the rain. And because no one tells you this, we also cover the sheer discipline required when you suddenly work from home in a house that’s somehow nine degrees.
If you’ve ever wondered why your dog needs a dressing gown, why hugs from strangers hit differently now, or why your heating rules are basically a Presbyterian religion, this one’s for you.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Maria McErlane, who brings sharp humour, unapologetic honesty, and a lifetime of mischief as she talks about ageing, invisibility, reinvention, sex, grief, and why she finally surrendered to an e-bike.
Whether you’re feeling more third age than old age or still trying to work out who you are at 60+, this one lands. Maria opens up about changing identities, losing confidence, chasing curiosity, and why keeping your world small is the fastest way to feel older than your years.
She also shares stories from her years in showbiz, the realities of life on the fringes of fame, and how she and Graham Norton now dish out dilemmas and laughter on their own podcast Wanging On.
Because no one tells you that the most interesting part of your life might start right when society decides you’re invisible.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we tumble from hairstyle envy to spit jars, chemo side effects and the baffling joy of a bowel screening kit.
Whether you’re currently debating how often to wash your neck, dealing with metallic mouth, or wondering if your partner’s dawn chorus of throat noises means anything medically, this one’s for you.
It’s never just about hair, feet or poo samples. It’s about laughing through the slog, finding comfort in shared indignities, and remembering that somewhere out there is a woman who genuinely enjoys her screening kit.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Fiona Clark, author of Menowars, who’s calling time on the confusion around menopause. From HRT debates to vaginal health taboos, Fiona tackles the mixed messages women face - and reminds us that post-menopause isn’t “after the storm,” it’s the rest of our lives.
Whether you’re wondering if you should be on HRT, baffled by conflicting advice, or just tired of whispering the word vagina, this one’s for you. Because no one tells you how much grey area there really is between hot flushes and healthy ageing.
Fiona's book "Menowars" is available now from Amazon and all good bookstores!
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, Kaye and Karen prove that nothing is off limits — from cheap heaters and dodgy white diets to the hazards of sending a voice note mid-fart. Kaye confesses her accidental “audio offence,” Karen blames chemo for her skincare woes (and possibly Kaye’s face cream), and somehow it all ends with Kim Kardashian’s pubic-hair lingerie.
There’s reflection too — on finding pockets of joy, dodging misery, and laughing through the rough patches with friends who tell it like it is.
Because no one tells you how much you’ll need both laughter and brandy to get through midlife.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by the brilliant writer Sally Wainwright — the mind behind Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Riot Women.
Sally opens up about life in her sixties: from learning to play the drums to discovering the joy (and terror) of taking real time off. She talks about menopause, creativity, and the strange comfort of finally catching up with yourself — emotionally and otherwise.
Whether you’re navigating your own reinvention or just wondering if it’s too late to start something new, this one’s for you. Because no one tells you that growing older can be the most rebellious act of all.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, Kaye and Karen dive into the real highs and lows of midlife - from insomnia and itchy skin to the deep joy of mashed potatoes and dental sticks.
Between chemo updates, Calamine lotion nostalgia, and a heated debate over wine through a straw, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most ordinary moments become the funniest parts of getting older.
Because this is life in your sixties: a little tired, a little itchy, but still laughing through it all.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Siobhan Daniels, the self-proclaimed retirement rebel who swapped burnout for a camper van named Dora and never looked back. At 60, Siobhan sold her home, hit the road, and rebuilt her life from the ground up. Now 66, she’s thriving — proof that freedom and fulfilment aren’t reserved for the young.
Whether you’ve ever dreamed of walking away from it all or just want to feel a little braver in your own skin, this one’s for you. Because no one tells you how liberating it can be to start again at 60 or how much joy there is in finding your happy place on your own terms.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, Kaye and Karen swap gallows humour for sleepless nights — and find themselves comparing coping mechanisms that range from midnight lentil mashing to burning old parkas. Karen’s chemo fatigue meets Kaye’s restless mind, and between them they land on something every woman over 45 will recognise: the impossible balance between slowing down and staying strong.
Whether you’re running on fumes or trying to find your own off switch, this one’s for anyone whose brain refuses to clock off — even when your body’s begging it to.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
⚠️ Disclaimer: The discussion includes mentions of sleep remedies and supplements. Always check with your medical team before trying any new sleep aids or treatments.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Denise Black — actor, singer, and unapologetic non-conformist — who’s proving that life in your sixties can be wilder, wiser, and far more liberating than you’d expect.
From being told she was “too fat” or “too disabled” for TV to embracing her silver hair and refusing to fade into the background, Denise opens up about body image, visibility, and the power of not caring what anyone thinks anymore.
It’s funny, fierce, and full of the kind of honesty you only earn with time. Whether you’re wrestling with self-doubt, dyeing your roots, or learning to live life on your own terms — this one’s for you.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, Kaye and Karen dive into the strange, funny, and surprisingly touching realities of Karen’s chemo journey — from debating whether to cut her hair to discovering a treatment called Happy Endings and, yes, blending up a breast milk smoothie.
Whether you’re navigating your own health battles or just trying to laugh through life’s curveballs, this one’s a reminder that midlife rarely goes to plan — but it’s always worth talking about.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by legendary hairstylist Sam McKnight, the man behind Princess Diana’s iconic short hair and decades of runway glamour.
But at sixty, Sam swapped Chanel and Versace for compost and calm — and found something far more stylish: peace of mind.
He talks about getting off the hamster wheel, learning to say no, and discovering that real luxury is living on your own terms.
Whether you’re still sprinting through midlife or dreaming of slowing down, Sam’s story is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t require a catwalk, just courage.
Hair by Sam McKnight is available online and from SpaceNK, Selfridges, and Marks & Spencer.
Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.
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