It's International Women's Day! This week, host Kristin talks with you- sharing a few reflections, pledges and feelings - good and not-so-good - around International Women's Day. Enjoy this short episode and share with your favourite women - and maybe the men who need to hear it. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equa...
Mar 08, 2022•9 min•Season 5Ep. 8
This week, Kristin is speaking with Julie McCalden. The reality of Life as an artist wasn’t working for Julie, despite her lifelong love of art. Childhood memories and a freak accident collided to help Julie choose her next move- now she’s on a saucy quest to bring the joy of good salsa to the people of the UK. For more on Julie and Salsa Stories, go to www.salsastories.co.uk (and read the blog- it's great!) #salsastories https://www.instagram.com/_salsastories/ https://www.facebook.com/Salsa-St...
Mar 01, 2022•52 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Emergency medicine isn’t usually a laughing matter... unless you’re Stefania Licari. Stefania spent years training and excelling through medical school to become a doctor, only to decide to pursue her dream of acting and comedy. Today, this exceptional woman is finding a way to do both -- sometimes with hilarious results. This week, Kristin talks with Stefania about her multi-faceted career, life as an Italian in the UK post-Brexit, what it's (still) like to be a (female) doctor in 2022, and her...
Feb 22, 2022•43 min•Season 5Ep. 6
This week, Kristin is in conversation with Rebecca Megson-Smith. While she doesn't usually think of herself as a romantic (she's been told otherwise on the podcast!) Kristin loved Rebecca’s story of not just finding a career path, but also her real first love, after 35. So, old softie that she is, Kristin thought Rebecca's story was perfect for a Valentine's Day release. Rebecca let fate dictate her life and found herself in a "greasy pole" corporate job and a misguided marriage, never quite kno...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 5
This week Kristin is joined by the fascinating Dr. Naeema Olatunji. Naeema knew she was ready for a career change, but a frightening accident involving her son shifted her focus and helped her to find her calling and go back to school later in life. Now owning her own successful chiropractic practice, Dr. Naeema has turned to writing- specifically her story, Raised as a Lie . Raised as a Lie explores her experiences growing up amidst deceit, denial, and racism- and the path she finally found to ...
Feb 08, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 4
This week Kristin is speaking with Tracey Jane. Amongst other things, a pregnancy at 18 meant that Tracey took some time to find her career passion. When her son was just three, she opened her own successful business, but a brush with death made her realise it was time to follow a dream for herself. Tracey is now a make-up and special effect working in film, with a current focus on the horror genre. Living the dream! Or is it the nightmare? For some of Tracey's beautifully gory work... (if you c...
Feb 01, 2022•32 min•Season 5Ep. 3
This week, Kristin chats with her old friend (with a new mission), Rachel Kinley. Rachel has seen a lot of change in her life with a cross-country move, a series of jobs, time spent being a stay-at-home mom and divorce being just a few major life events. But it was finding new meaning in a career that she wasn’t even sure she wanted in the first place, that led her to start her direct trade business empowering women, Meridian Lee. For more on Rachel, Meridian Lee and its mission, or to buy their...
Jan 25, 2022•49 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Nicole DeBoom was a swimming natural from age 5, an Olympic hopeful, half of a professional triathlon power couple, and a champion triathlete in her own right. After inspiration struck at the height of her triathlon career, she left it all behind to start a business, inspire women, and build a community. Now, 15 years on, she's sold the business, started again and continues to support women, tell stories and create community. Nicole is a ball of joyful energy, offering fantastic advice based on ...
Jan 18, 2022•58 min•Season 5Ep. 1
For this final episode of 2021, Kristin invited back former guests of The Second Chapter to offer words of reflection on 2021, words of wisdom for 2022, and advice for anytime. Twelve former guests sent their inspiring and insightful thoughts for your listening pleasure. Season five of The Second Chapter starts 18th January! We can't wait to share more stories of amazing women over the age of 35 who have changed their lives and/or careers. --- Subscribe, review and share The Second Chapter- wher...
Dec 28, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 11
This week concludes Kristin's talk with A'Lelia Bundles and wraps up Season 4 of The Second Chapter! A'Lelia is the great-great-granddaughter of African-American entrepreneur, Madam CJ Walker, whose story was the inspiration for the Netflix series, Self-Made (originally published as On Her Own Ground ). A'Lelia's great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker, was an icon of the Harlem Renaissance. This week, A'Lelia and Kristin discuss race relations in America, what A'Lelia no longer has time for at 69, wh...
Dec 07, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 10
In this episode, Kristin talks with A'Lelia Bundles. A'Lelia is the great-great-granddaughter of African-American entrepreneur, Madam CJ Walker, whose story was the inspiration for the Netflix series, Self-Made (originally published as On Her Own Ground ). A'Lelia's great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker, was an icon of the Harlem Renaissance. But A'Lelia Bundles has spent her life finding her own ground, as an Emmy award-winning network TV news producer and journalist, an author and activist. A'Leli...
Nov 30, 2021•37 min•Season 4Ep. 9
This week, Kristin combines two of her worlds speaking with Gill Kirk. Despite a "humble Glaswegian working class" background, Gill has walked the halls of Oxford and Parliament. She’s set up her own business, written for corporations, stage and screen, and been a kickass single mum. A perfect The Second Chapter guest indeed! She’s also written Skin in the Game , the dark, hilarious climate-change play Kristin is producing at the New Wimbledon Studio theatre in November. If Kristin's conversatio...
Oct 27, 2021•54 min•Season 4Ep. 8
This week Kristin speaks with Debbie Page. To say Debbie is a potter or a ceramist is an understatement. Despite finding a feel for clay in her early teens, it took her decades to make it her career. Now pots are Debbie’s life! Don’t know what a moon jar is? Just love hearing some really uplifting chat from someone who has found their thing? Either way, you’re in the right place… this is Debbie Page! Debbie Page is a studio potter, based in South Oxfordshire. She was introduced to the joy of wor...
Oct 19, 2021•50 min•Season 4Ep. 7
This week Kristin concludes her talk with Janet Sternburg, focusing on Janet's latest chapter, photography. (Featured cover art in some players is Janet's photography) Janet has led a very full life, personally and professionally. She’s survived cancer and earthquakes; is a fine art photographer, a writer of literary books, a maker of theatre and films, and an educator. To sum it all up, she calls herself (rightly) an artist. In part one, Janet talked to Kristin about her early passion for writi...
Oct 12, 2021•23 min•Season 4Ep. 6
This week Kristin talks with Janet Sternburg. Janet has led a very full life, personally and professionally, and she’s certainly not finished yet. She’s survived cancer and earthquakes; is a fine art photographer, a writer of literary books, a maker of theatre and films, and an educator. To sum it all up, she calls herself (rightly) an artist. In this part one episode, Janet talks to Kristin about her early passion for writing, her pioneering book The Writer on Her Work ("groundbreaking . . . a ...
Oct 05, 2021•34 min•Season 4Ep. 5
This week I’m talking with brand new graduate (in her 40s), Jen Roehrig. Jen was pursuing her first second chapter when a freak occurance left her unable to walk. After struggling with her mental health and feelings of fragility for nearly a decade, Jen decided at 40 that it was time to pursue her long-term dream of acting. With an integrated masters degree in drama performance and touring theatre under her belt, Jen is now ready to take on the world- and in true The Second Chapter style, hopes ...
Sep 28, 2021•36 min•Season 4Ep. 4
This week, Kristin speaks with She's on Top founders, Jessica Wright and Tracy Hornik. Jessica and Tracy have been friends nearly their entire lives. Despite life taking them in different directions for nearly two decades, they reunited several years ago and now run She's on Top. She’s on Top is a highly engaged membership community, where women unlock exclusive access to expert workshops, brainstorming sessions, one-on-one problem-solving meetings, fun social events, and more. Their community p...
Sep 21, 2021•44 min•Season 4Ep. 3
This week Kristin chats with Jennifer Baker, who studied as an artist but found herself on a mountaintop in Italy, raising a family and living without her art. A successful translation business took her even further away from her original passion until Covid forced her to ask herself some tough questions. Once she stopped hiding and started saying yes, the magic started happening... My paintings are an ode to life, to becoming, and to majesty. They are a reminder to take a moment to release the ...
Sep 14, 2021•55 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 4! In this season opener, Kristin speaks with Carol Drinkwater. Carol began her working life as an actress, a career which quickly showed her to be a rising star, marked for Hollywood. Abuse by a famous director changed her path but she has remained an actor and has gone on to add successful novelist, olive farmer, environmentalist and more to her career story. ** We do talk about bullying and sexual abuse in this episode, which may be upsetting to some listeners ** For more on...
Sep 07, 2021•45 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Welcome to The Second Chapter Season 3 finale! This week Kristin is joined by Taiwo Dayo-Payne. After speaking with Taiwo, we knew her story and her message had to end season 3. Taiwo started out as an actor, but in a rare twist, found success to be less satisfying than she hoped and accidentally discovered her next steps through volunteering. Her latest chapter, The New 5ifty, finds her working with people approaching or in their middle years, helping them reconnect with their own passion and i...
Jul 14, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 10
This week, Kristin is speaking with Pam Munter who proudly calls herself ‘an outspoken advocate of living an unconventional life’. In a time when it wasn’t encouraged, Pam wanted to be something other than a teacher or nurse. She has spent her life exploring a wide array of different careers, including clinical psychologist, a singer/recording artist and author and an award-winning playwright. Currently she's focusing on writing; her recent book Fading Fame: Women of a Certain Age in Hollywood t...
Jul 06, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 9
This week Kristin talks everything from Scrabble to the state of the world with guest Marcia Ledford. Marcia worked as a civil rights attorney for over 30 years, including as an ACLU cooperating attorney on constitutional matters, prior to her ordination. In her forties when a higher calling wouldn't stop "bugging her", she decided it was finally time to take the leap, though she certainly hasn't given up fighting for civil liberties for all. Through her organisation Political Theology Matters ,...
Jun 29, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Pam Moore doesn't do everything... but she's close. This week, Kristin talks with Pam who went from being an Occupational Therapist to writing for some of the world's biggest publications, running Ironman triathlons, coaching other women on body positivity, hosting Real Fit podcast and raising a family. Pam shares a lot of great stories, including the very romantic way a gift from her husband helped her writing career flourish and she even shares some tips for listeners who may dream of a career...
Jun 22, 2021•57 min•Season 3Ep. 7
For the first time ever on The Second Chapter, Kristin has a guest back for an update. Back in season one, you loved the story of Melissa Davey, who left corporate life at 65 to become a filmmaker. Melissa’s film has been officially released, so Kristin jumped at the chance to speak with her again. Today, we talk about the film, our shared loved of ensuring women of all ages have a platform to tell their stories, and what's next for the now 70-year-old filmmaker! This week on The Second Chapter ...
Jun 15, 2021•35 min•Season 3Ep. 6
This week, Kristin chats with teacher and lawyer turned psychologist, Julia Bueno. As regular listeners will know, there are several female-centric topics that Kristin feels don’t get enough attention or open discussion, one being pregnancy loss. Julia has taught and practiced law, but following her own painful experience with miscarriage, became a psychologist. Her first book, The Brink of Being , encourages people to reflect upon this often misunderstood and little discussed event. She’s worki...
Jun 08, 2021•45 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Ever had your womb massaged? You might be tempted to after listening to this week's episode with Louise Pitman. Louise went to university at 35, despite having young children and a rocky marriage. She spent years as a probation officer before finding a new calling helping women through the various cycles of their life, using yoga, menopause support and... you guessed it... womb massage. For more information on Louise's four-week yoga course for women or any of the things we talk about on the sho...
Jun 01, 2021•48 min•Season 3Ep. 4
This week, Kristin is chatting with Kate MacDougall who has worked as an actor, for Sotheby's, has owned a dog-walking company and more. Now, Kate writes things, mainly about dogs and the countryside and interiors but also the odd bit of children’s homework or reminders to worm the Jack Russell. Her first book, ‘London’s Number One Dog Walking Agency’ has been published by Bonnier in the UK (released on 8th April)and by William Morrow in the US on 6th July. To buy the book: hyperurl.co/DogWalkin...
May 25, 2021•48 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Imagine the best brownie you've ever tasted... this week Kristin chats with brownie (and cake and biscuit and more) bespoke baker, Lynsey Bleakley of Bumble and Goose. Lynsey found her calling as a health visitor with the NHS until events in her life made the job too painful to continue. When she turned to baking for therapy, it became more than a distraction, it became a business. You can find (and order in the UK!) Bumble and Goose bakes at https://www.bumbleandgoose.co.uk/ Instagram: @bumblea...
May 18, 2021•35 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 3! This week, Kristin chats with Lora Kelley, a singer-songwriter who saw how her life and perspective changed once she was in her 30s and wanted to sing about it. Starting out as a make-up artist, Lora now explores the "middle space" between ingénue and retiree on her new album, Domystique- what happens between youth and old age and what comes with it. Lora also has a lot to say around what it means to her to be a woman - to own your right to deciding your prime, claiming inde...
May 11, 2021•49 min•Season 3Ep. 1
This short bonus episode is a re-cap of where we’ve been so far and a preview of what's to come for Season 3. A great episode if you haven't listened yet (what are you waiting for?!) and are wondering where to start! All the love to you- and we look forward to being back in your ears on 11th May for Season 3. --- Subscribe, review and share The Second Chapter- wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts or on podchaser.com - For transcript, go to thesecondchapterpodcast.com - If you like what...
Apr 21, 2021•6 min•Season 2Ep. 11
