How To Be 60 with Kaye Adams

On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we wander cheerfully off-piste — from the unexpected thrill of blue duck eggs and medication-induced hunger, to Valentine’s gestures that don’t quite go to plan. But it’s never just about the small stuff.

Kay opens up about losing her mum’s ring and why it’s shaken her more than she expected, sharing listener stories that prove lost things have a habit of turning up when you least expect them. Along the way, we get into inherited superstitions, magpies, lucky mandarins, and the strange rituals we lean on when life feels a bit wobbly.
Whether you’re fiercely practical or quietly superstitious, this one’s about memory, meaning, and why objects — and habits — can carry far more weight than they should. Because no one tells you how emotional the “little things” can become as you get older.
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On this week's episode, we're joined by journalist-turned-celebrant Mandy Appleyard, who shares the extraordinary story of what happened when her fiercely independent mum suffered a devastating stroke at 81 and then asked her daughters to help her die at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland.

Mandy opens up about the gruelling reality of becoming a carer overnight, the slow heartbreak of watching her mum lose her speech and independence, and the moment she and her sister Kay realised they couldn't talk their mum out of her decision. Because no one tells you what it's actually like - the hidden costs, the bureaucratic maze, the private flight over the Alps, the Swiss chocolates before the final drink, and the knock on the door from police the very next evening.

It's never just about one decision. It's about grief you can't process, guilt that lingers, a two-year criminal investigation, and somehow finding your way back to a life that looks nothing like before. Mandy's honesty about the messy, complicated reality of loving someone enough to let them go, even when every part of you wants them to stay, is breathtaking.

Whether you've been a carer, lost a parent, or simply wondered what you'd do if someone you loved asked you for the unthinkable, this one will stay with you.

Get in touch with your thoughts at [email protected].
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re talking about the strange emotional whiplash of midlife — from Valentine’s Day expectations (or lack of them), to the shock of realising how attached we are to things we swear don’t matter.
Kay opens up about losing her mum’s ring — and being blindsided by how deeply it hurts — while Karen reflects on the small, handwritten things you’d be devastated to lose, even though no one else would understand why. Along the way, there’s chat about ageing bodies, dodgy mattresses, grand-puppies, hotel keycard chaos, and why some weeks just hit harder than others.
Whether you’re quietly sentimental, fiercely unsentimental, loved-up, rolling your eyes at Valentine’s Day, or just having one of those weeks, this one’s a reminder that it’s never just about the thing itself — it’s about what it holds for you.
Get in touch with your thoughts at [email protected]
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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Michaela Strachan, TV icon, wildlife champion and a woman very clear on who she is at nearly 60. Michaela talks openly about early career labels, imposter syndrome, surviving breast cancer, menopause, mobility fears and the freedom that comes with no longer needing to perform for approval.

Whether you’re still carrying old narratives, adapting to a changing body, or quietly wondering what the next decade is really for, this conversation goes deeper than ageing clichés. It’s never just about looks. It’s about authority, resilience, scars you stop hiding and the relief of finally being comfortable in your own skin.

Michaela also shares why she’s very much not slowing down, as she heads out on her UK theatre tour, Not Just a Wild Life, starting this spring. It’s a live, reflective look back at an extraordinary career and the life lessons that came with it.
Get in touch with your thoughts at [email protected]
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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re waving goodbye to January, welcoming a galloping Year of the Horse, and asking whether manifestation actually works, or if you just need to press the button and hope for the best.
We talk big life decisions, house projects, pensions, and that moment when you realise your home really is your future, alongside small but strangely emotional wins, clean rugs, tomato seedlings, and the unexpected joy of a cancelled Sunday.
There’s also knitting, the £40, still-not-finished sock kind, the reality of post-chemo hair, ongoing side effects, and navigating travel insurance with forensic detail. Add in comfort TV you barely follow, and a proposed shared hobby that may or may not involve paddle tennis, industrial estates, and a firm demand for proper heating.
Whether you’re downsizing, starting again, stitching slowly, or just trying to get through the week with humour intact, this episode is a reminder that it’s never just about the thing, it’s about finding momentum when life’s been on pause.
Get in touch with your thoughts at [email protected].
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.