Meet Kim Plowright, whose life was slowly absorbed and reshaped by caring for her parents, both of whom developed dementia.

Her father was diagnosed first, and Kim found herself trying to problem-solve his slow erasure before her mother was also eventually diagnosed. Years followed of chaos, repetitive routines and conversations, boredom, frustration and fear — and sometimes violence. Much of it fell to Kim, as an only child, alongside her partner.

Social media provided a way of coping, offering space for the dark humour needed to survive the intense emotional pressure of caring for two people while holding down a demanding career.

After both her parents died in 2015, within six months of each other, Kim recalibrated by taking time out from her career in digital — a year she is still taking. She found her way back to art, which she had studied at Oxford University. What began with online drawing sessions led her back into classrooms and studios, and eventually into teaching.

Almost by accident, Kim became a drawing tutor, running life drawing, portrait and creative classes in community settings. When funding cuts closed those courses, she set up her own life drawing class, creating a safe space where people have permission to try, fail and challenge themselves.

This is a story about the realities of caring, and how creativity can help rebuild a sense of self after everything else has fallen away.

Music: Morning Span provided by Mobygratis #mobygratis

Kim Plowright on caring for parents with dementia

Meet Clare, whose decision to make Marseille her home began with a simple longing — to speak another language.

Living in a London house share with multilingual flatmates, she felt the frustration of being limited to English, sparking a determination to conquer another language. A sabbatical in a small town outside Marseille gave her a taste of life immersed in another culture. And when Brexit and Covid combined to close the window on EU residency, she made the giant leap and moved to France.

But as Clare discovered, learning the language is just one part of the adventure. There’s also the challenge of navigating French bureaucracy, healthcare systems, job hunting, housing, and the all-important task of finding your kind of people.

Five years on, she shares the highs and lows of building a life abroad, and why working as a waitress in a busy food hall last summer finally made her feel anchored in her adopted city.

Marseille is having a moment, and Clare paints a vivid picture of the energy, grit, and beauty that make it so special — and why it will always hold her heart.

Music: Morning Span provided by Mobygratis #mobygratis

Clare Marsland moves to Marseille 

Meet Jo, who has navigated the complex world of medical weight management solutions with determination and resilience. From participating in NHS medical trials including the Covid vaccine to exploring bariatric surgery, semaglutide Wegovy injections, and tirzepatide Mounjaro treatments, she’s been on a quest to feel fitter and healthier.

Throughout her journey, she found support from a group of local bariatric patients and opens up about the reality of being a larger person navigating everything from airplane seats to restaurants, dealing with unsolicited opinions about her weight loss choices, rude comments from construction workers, and discovering that food noise is a constant for some people.

Jo shares the ongoing challenge of learning to enjoy food after surgery and struggling to recognise how her body has changed. She reveals how she found her way to genuine self-acceptance and the hard-won lessons learned in feeling more comfortable in her body - because the numbers on the scale aren’t everything.

Trigger warning

This episode includes discussion about weight, eating behaviours, medical weight loss procedures, body image and food-related issues. Please take care of yourself while listening.

Support and resources

If you are struggling with eating issues or need support, visit https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk or talk to your GP about help in your local area.

Music: Morning Span provided by Mobygratis #mobygratis

Jo Bingham on feeling comfortable in your own skin

Meet Bryony, a quietly tenacious connector whose story weaves through heartbreak, heritage, and hard-won community.

Born in Herne Bay, she left Kent as a teenager and returned decades later, newly single and starting over in Margate. She came back for an exciting role at Turner Contemporary, just as the gallery’s arrival was stirring debate in the local community.

It was a time of creative ambition and a personal quest for connection to ease the loneliness.

A seasoned communications and marketing consultant, Bryony’s career has taken her from the British Museum to BookTrust, English National Ballet to grassroots domestic abuse charities. But despite a career spent helping others find their voice, she has some honest reflections on the challenges of making friends in midlife, and why introducing yourself at a party can feel unexpectedly loaded.

That longing for connection is what led her to create Bee’s Bookshare, a joyful, opinionated open to all community group to talk about books, with no pressure to perform and no expectations around commitment.

Join us as we talk about why adult friendship is so much harder than it should be, the surprising grief of being ghosted, and why some hobbies just don’t stick (especially, pottery and creative writing in our case). This is a conversation about friendship, identity and the quiet power of starting small.

Work with Bryony: https://beebeecomms.com/

Read about Bee's Bookshare: https://beesbookshare.co.uk/

Music: Morning Span provided by Mobygratis #mobygratis

Bryony Bishop on building a sense of connection and belonging

Meet Sue, a pint-sized powerhouse who learned to use her North London working class background, neurodiversity and gut instinct to overcome those who underestimated her.

Follow her story through 1950s Camden, leaving school without qualifications and her success as a mature student.

Her career saw her supporting the most vulnerable in women's refuges and inner London schools. She retired after burnout and recovered by finding a passion for creativity. She returned to university at 68 to study art and is now an accomplished weaver.

She explains the importance of vulnerability and feeling the fear but doing it anyway. I take a lot of heart from her words and I hope you do too.

Music: Morning Span provided by Mobygratis #mobygratis

Sue Jessett goes to uni at 68

Sharing nuggests of wisdom from women doing brave things during their second act.

I've spent more than 20 years interviewing people for newspapers and brands. Now it's time to share the stories of people that have given me inspiration as I navigate my own second act.

Whether it's moving to another country, starting over in a new town, making friends later on in life, managing grief of trying out a new job or hobby, overcoming challenges keeps us connected, empowered and energised.

I hope you enjoy these stories too!

Your Second Act