Walking This Way

Hello again, Rockstars! In this festive episode, I’m joined by the irrepressible Adrienne d’Souza - queen of Christmas chaos, community champion and one of the funniest, warmest women I know.Adrienne spent her life at the heart of Christmas: growing up in her family’s toy shops, running the iconic Hamleys and Harrods toy departments, and later running one of London’s best-loved party shops for 15 years. She has seen everything - the queues, the meltdowns, the impossible-to-find toys, and the mega celebs who tried to do their shopping on 23 December with no security.But this episode is about much more than retail madness. We talk about: ✨ The emotional weight midlife women carry trying to “make the magic happen” ✨ Christmas after losing a loved one, and how Adrienne rebuilt joy after her mum died ✨ Parenting, empty nest Christmases, new traditions and letting go of perfection ✨ Sensory overwhelm and recognising that magical moments aren’t universal ✨ The small, unexpected acts of kindness that become the heart of the seasonAnd Lise answers some of your festive questions, from present wrapping tips (using tea towels!), to the joys of open water swimming.In this episode you’ll hear:The behind-the-scenes reality of Christmas in Harrods and HamleysAdrienne’s first Christmas without her mum — and how she created new traditionsWhy midlife women often feel crushed by expectationsThoughts on sensory overload, neurodivergent families and seasonal overwhelmPractical ideas for finding calm, connection and joy this ChristmasBe a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...Follow the show and get all the links you need on LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/walking_this_wayEmail us: [email protected] the get in touch form HERE - https://tr.ee/r-ePylKE8HSend us a voice message HERE- https://www.speakpipe.com/WalkingThisWayProduced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

Hello Rockstars! Welcome back to your next Walking This Way Challenge - our fortnightly moment to focus on small, achievable wins that boost your wellbeing. This one has a festive twist, because let’s be honest… the next couple of weeks can feel full on.Christmas parties, school events, family logistics, food prep, shopping, wrapping, travelling, trying to keep the magic alive (and not open the mulled wine too early) - it’s a lot. Which is exactly why this challenge matters.For the next two weeks, I want you to find one small moment of calm just for yourself. A quiet pocket of time where you shut out the noise, pause the to-do list, and simply breathe.It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be fancy. But it does have to be for you.Whatever you choose, make sure it isn’t housework or Christmas prep disguised as self-care. This is permission, from me, to be totally selfish for once and prioritise calm over chaos.And I’d love to hear how you get on. In fact, you’ll hear messages in this episode from listeners who smashed the first challenge - from extra dog-walk minutes to early-morning pyjama workouts and rediscovering the joy of walking. Your stories genuinely mean the world to me.So good luck, Rockstars. Find your calm, protect it, savour it - and share it with me. All the links you need are below.Share your success: Here's how to get in touch...Follow the show and get all the links you need on LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/walking_this_wayEmail us: [email protected] the get in touch form HERE - https://tr.ee/r-ePylKE8HSend us a voice message HERE- https://www.speakpipe.com/WalkingThisWayProduced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

Hello you gorgeous rock stars! Welcome back to Walking This Way - and if you’re new here, you are so very welcome. This is the show for midlife women who want honesty, connection, courage and a bit of nonsense alongside the messy, magical bits of this chapter of life.Today I’m joined by the fabulous Vanessa McDaid, a woman who radiates bravery, energy and kindness. Vanessa and I talk about how we met (spoiler: it involves water, Instagram DMs, and eventually a naked photoshoot with strangers), and how a single toe-dip outside your comfort zone can change everything.Vanessa shares her story of walking away from a high-flying corporate career at 50, navigating family dynamics, volunteering in hospice care, rediscovering purpose and building a life that feels as successful as it looks. We unwrap jealousy, partnership, parenting older kids, midlife emotions, and why this season of life is less about loss, and much more about rebirth, reinvention and rediscovering yourself.If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, tired, unsure, or just quietly desperate for a fresh start… this episode is a gentle hand on your back saying: “Go on. Take the first step.”In this episode you’ll hear:How one brave message led to swimming lessons, new friendships and a life-changing photoshootWhy midlife is the perfect time to pivot, try new things and form new neural pathwaysThe emotional load of modern motherhood, and how jealousy, guilt and resentment show upWhat Vanessa learned from stepping away from corporate life and doing volunteeringHow to change your “state” when life feels stuckWhy this chapter of life is a relaunch, not a declineThe power of vulnerability, female friendships and saying yes before you feel readyBe a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...Follow the show and get all the links you need on LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/walking_this_wayEmail us: [email protected] the get in touch form HERE - https://tr.ee/r-ePylKE8HSend us a voice message HERE- https://www.speakpipe.com/WalkingThisWayProduced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

Hello Rockstars! Welcome to our very first Walking This Way Challenge, your fortnightly dose of tiny-but-mighty self-care.Every two weeks, I’ll set you a small, totally achievable challenge designed to help midlife women build confidence, energy and wellbeing through tiny steps that add up. No marathon training, no Everest expeditions. Just simple wins we can all celebrate.This week, we’re getting moving. Your challenge is to do one small piece of purposeful movement every day that stretches you just a little. Nothing epic. Nothing time-consuming. Just something you’ll feel quietly proud of.If you already walk the dog, add five purposeful minutes. Try ten squats. One burpee (yes, one counts). A gentle jog around the block. Cleaning the windows if you really want to break a sweat! Anything that’s new, intentional, and feels like you’re showing up for yourself.So have a go, keep it small, and please share your wins, wobbles and photos with me. The joy of this community is doing it together.This week’s challenge recap:Choose one small piece of purposeful movement each dayMake it something just a little bit hardKeep it short and achievableShare how you get on with the Walking This Way communityShare your success: Here's how to get in touch...Follow the show and get all the links you need on LinkTreeEmail us: [email protected] the get in touch form HERESend us a voice message HEREProduced by The Good Studio

Hello you gorgeous rock stars! Welcome to the very first episode of Walking This Way - my new space for midlife women who are ready to rediscover their fabulousness, one brave step at a time.In this episode, I’m sharing how this whole thing began: the moment I realised I’d lost myself a little, the scary trip to a Muay Thai retreat that changed everything and the parkrun that taught me more about courage (and tears!) than any medal ever could.This is about movement, midlife and self-care in its truest sense - showing up for yourself, even when it feels hard. Whether you’re juggling kids, parents, hormones or hope, Walking This Way is here to remind you that every small act of self-love counts.So lace up your trainers, grab a cuppa, and let’s start walking this way together.In this episode you’ll hear:How a Muay Thai retreat helped Lise reconnect with her confidence and purpose.The parkrun story that became a metaphor for showing up — no matter your size, pace or fear.Why courage often looks like everyday self-care.An invitation to midlife women everywhere to take part, share stories and inspire each other.Be a part of the show: Here's how to get in touch...Follow the show and get all the links you need on LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/walking_this_wayEmail us: [email protected] the get in touch form HERE - https://tr.ee/r-ePylKE8HSend us a voice message HERE- https://www.speakpipe.com/WalkingThisWayProduced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk