I had the pleasure of talking with Sally Gunnell about her journey from being an elite athlete to navigating life after retirement. Sally is still the only woman to hold the World, Olympic, European, and Commonwealth Gold Medals
at the same time, a phenomenal acheievement.

We discussed the importance of mindset, body image, motherhood, and the challenges women face in maintaining health and fitness.

Sally shares her insights on how to inspire women to embrace their bodies, the significance of mental wellbeing, and lots of practical advice for staying active.

What I love about Sally's approach is how simple it is, just starting with small daily changes can make a huge difference to how you feel.

"Starting simple is key to maintaining fitness"

If you'd like to find how you could Improve your health and fitness with Sally visit www.lifehurdle.com

Chapters

02:15 Mindset and Transition from Athletics

06:50 Body Image and Motherhood

10:14 Inspiring Women and Health

14:22 Practical Fitness Advice

19:34 Mental Wellbeing and Exercise

21:25 Sleep and Its Importance

23:34 Holistic Approach to Health

24:58 Redefining Success

28:10 Future Goals and Community Building

@sallygunnell

body confidence ,athletics, mindset, body image, motherhood, women's health, fitness advice, mental wellbeing, sleep, holistic health, community support

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Keep being fabulous

Rachel

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Danielle,Broadbent, a broadcaster, body confidence coach and campaigner, and someone whose energy is as uplifting as it is grounding. From the moment we met a couple of years ago, I knew we shared the same passion for helping women feel more at ease in themselves and this conversation really reflects that.

Danielle opens up about her journey with body confidence and how a life changing TV experience on CH4 Naked Beach completely shifted the way she saw herself. Not her body, but her mindset. And that’s where everything started to change.

We talk about the years we both spent worrying about how we looked, the moments we held ourselves back, and the freedom that comes when you finally let that go.

There’s also a really honest conversation about social media, the good and the bad, and how to keep showing up even when it feels hard.

And alongside all of that, Danielle shares the work she’s doing to create change within the education system, something that comes from a deeply personal place and affects so many families.

This is a conversation about perspective, resilience, and learning to trust yourself again.

💫 What We Cover

• Danielle’s journey from self doubt to self acceptance
• How mindset shifts can change everything
• The reality of diet culture and breaking free from it
• Social media, confidence, and handling negativity
• Finding your voice and stepping into new opportunities
• Starting something new in your 40s
• Letting go of people pleasing and learning to say no
• Why lived experience is your strength
• Danielle’s campaign to support children with additional needs in education
• The importance of alternative pathways and being seen as an individual

🔥 Key Takeaways

• The way you look is the least interesting thing about you
• Confidence comes from how you think, not how you look
• You don’t need everyone to understand you
• It’s never too late to try something new
• Even one message saying “this helped me” makes it worth it
• Being yourself is enough

💬 A Moment to Remember

“The way I look is the least significant thing about me.”

🌿 About Danielle

Danielle is a radio presenter, body confidence advocate and campaigner. She uses her voice to support women in feeling more confident in themselves, while also working to raise awareness and push for change in education for children with additional needs.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

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Keep being fabulous

Rachel x

body confidence for women over 40, self acceptance, confidence in your 40s, body image podcast, women empowerment, mindset shift, starting over later in life, authentic living, social media and confidence, women supporting women, SEND support UK, alternative education pathways, functional skills vs GCSE.

This week I’m joined by Alicia Kite, a fashion industry veteran and resilient entrepreneur, about her inspiring journey from success to bankruptcy and back, her innovative shapewear brand, and her insights on confidence, self-love, and continuous learning.

Key topics

Alicia Kite's journey in the fashion industry

Resilience through bankruptcy and rebuilding

Innovative shapewear that feels like a second skin

Takeaways

Resilience is key to overcoming setbacks and achieving success

Confidence starts with how you feel in your wardrobe and self-image

Continuous learning and self-belief are vital for personal and professional growth

"Trust yourself and keep going."

Chapters

05:19 Early Entrepreneurial Spirit and Fashion Journey

08:36 Building a Successful Fashion Business

11:30 Life Changes and Challenges

14:29 Resilience and Reinvention

17:30 The Power of Image and Personal Branding

25:00 The Journey of Reinvention

31:59 Empowering Women Through Support

38:37 Embracing Change and Self-Acceptance

44:38 The Power of Learning and Growth

Alicia Kite's Website - https://aliciakite.com

@alicekiteshapewear

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Keep being fabulous

Rachel x

Some conversations just leave you smiling the whole way through, and this was definitely one of them.

This week I’m reflecting on my powerful conversation with Mina and honestly, there was so much food for thought.

What happens when you say yes to something that terrifies you?

This week on the podcast, Lise Thorne @walking_this_way and I talk about saying yes before you feel ready, body acceptance, money confidence, and why women must stop staying small.

I'm joined by refreshingly honest content creator Lise Thorne , who is also the founder of The Money Conversation and Welcome Home Project, to talk about rebuilding confidence in midlife.

Just before turning 40, Lise boarded a plane to Thailand for a Muay Thai retreat. She almost didn’t get on that flight. That decision became the foundation for a new relationship with movement, self-belief and identity.

If you’re navigating midlife change, struggling with confidence, or wanting to feel more in control of your money — this episode is practical, honest and empowering.

Confidence isn’t something you wait for.It’s built. Decision by decision.

Lise is a real power house and another great example of what we can achieve when we step out of our own way.

Keypoints-

02:18 – The Airport Tears
Why Lise almost didn’t get on the plane to Thailand.

06:40 –Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready
The identity shift that comes from doing the scary thing anyway.

11:25 – Movement as a Mental Health Tool
Why even small physical action changes your state.

15:10 –Body Confidence vs Body Acceptance
Why acceptance can feel more honest — and more powerful.

19:45 –Becoming an “Athlete” at 20+ Stone
Challenging stereotypes and redefining what strength looks like.

24:30 – The £100,000 Investing Lesson
The financial decision that changed everything.

29:10 – Why Women Must Join the Money Conversation
Closing the financial confidence gap.

33:45 – Pressure, Midlife & Modern Womanhood
Career, body, family — and choosing not to shrink.

38:20 – The Welcome Home Project
Supporting vulnerable single mothers and refugee families in practical ways.

43:10 –What Confidence Really Is
Action first. Certainty later.

45:55 – Final Reflections
Why growth rarely feels glamorous — but always builds strength.

Go and follow ⁠@walking_this_way to keep up to date with their progress.

If this conversation resonated with you:

• Subscribe to Liberté – Free to Be

• Leave a rating or review

• Share it with a woman who might need to hear it today

The more women who find this podcast, the more confidence, courage, and permission we can spread.

✨ See you next week for another inspiring conversation.

Keep being fabulous

Rachel x

“Hot Flash” is the talk of Yorkshire right now.

It isn’t just a romantic comedy about menopause… it actually feels like a real shift in seeing midlife women being seen on screen.

Because how many times have we seen women at this stage of life properly represented on screen?

Writer and producer Jan Birley has created something that feels real. Real women. Real stories. Not glossy. Not pretending. Jan shares her journey of creating the film, the importance of representation in the film industry, and the unique challenges faced in bringing this project to life.

Hot Flash is a romantic comedy celebrating Yorkshire grit and wit. A failed menopausal hairdresser is sacked from her job. Needing to fund her son's school trip, she discovers the only way to true success is to be true to herself. Even amidst brutal brain fog...

One of Yorkshire’s favourite actors Gaynor Faye will be taking the lead and our very own Primed For Life, Christine Talbot will be featuring as herself. You may even spot a few more familiar faces appearing too!

Jans own story of how she’s stepped out of her comfort zone to make this film happen is another example of how its never too lat to follow your dreams and you just don' t know what it may lead to.

I had the pleasure of attending the press day and took a sneaky peak behind the scenes. The energy on set is amazing, you can tell there is so much passion and love for this film, I can't wait to see come to life.

We need more of this. More stories that show women as funny, complicated, visible, not fading into the background.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to 'Hot Flash' and Its Significance

04:36 The Protagonist's Journey and Relatability

07:46 The Importance of Representation in Film

10:33 Challenges in Film Production

13:35 Yorkshire as a Cultural Backdrop

16:36. The Role of Music in Film

19:38. Personal Journey and Motivation

22:29 Anticipation for Filming and Future Plans

25:21.Collaboration and Creative Control

Go and follow @hotflash.film to keep up to date with their progress.

If this conversation resonated with you:

• Subscribe to Liberté – Free to Be

• Leave a rating or review

• Share it with a woman who might need to hear it today

The more women who find this podcast, the more confidence, courage, and permission we can spread.

✨ See you next week for another inspiring conversation.

Keep being fabulous

Rachel x

menopause, women in film, Hot Flash, Yorkshire filmmakers, representation, comedy, women's stories, film industry, personal journey,

This series is all about sharing women that inspire me and also bring me joy.

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Sophia Cook, creator, bringing midlife in colour. Mum at 40, movement, home, figuring it out as she goes.

We talk honestly about confidence as something you work at, not something you either have or don’t. Sophia shares her story of loss, reinvention, motherhood, body image, creativity and why being seen — especially later in life — really matters.

We talk about how our clothes can become our armour, colour as expression, changing bodies, perimenopause uncertainty, and the responsibility (and freedom) of showing up for ourselves and for our children. This is a conversation about visibility, legacy, and giving yourself permission to take up space — exactly as you are.

Warm, funny and real.

01:49 Confidence, grief & rewiring self-belief
07:13 “If you can’t see yourself, be the thing you want to see”
09:20 Motherhood, legacy & being seen
13:02 Creativity, money & flexible careers
15:59 Love, intuition & trusting your gut
23:47 Body changes & perimenopause conversations
27:22 Clothes as armour & self-expression
31:12 Posting even when it feels uncomfortable
34:05 Raising children without body shame
37:05 Creativity, photography & reclaiming confidence

If this conversation resonated with you:

• Subscribe to Liberté – Free to Be

• Leave a rating or review

• Share it with a woman who might need to hear it today

The more women who find this podcast, the more confidence, courage, and permission we can spread.

✨ See you next week for another inspiring conversation.

Keep being fabulous

Rachel x

confidence • body image • being seen • motherhood • self-acceptance • creativity • perimenopause • fashion as expression • women’s stories