HeadRightOut

As a business advisor who feared heights, Jo Bradshaw never would have dreamed that just a few years later she would summit Mount Everest and lead expeditions across the world. Having now reached six out of the seven highest peak summits, on each of the seven continents, Jo shares how her biggest challenge found her learning to manage the blended symptoms of grief, menopause and lockdown, and how new adventures have since been born. In her conversation with Zoe, she is so incredibly honest about how severely her perimenopause symptoms affected her and how HRT has been a total gamechanger, giving back her life. While her last mountain is still on hold, Jo talks about her return to physical training: from the endurance walking and cycling events she designed last year, to the miles she needs to cover in her newest challenge, coming up in March 2022; a race in Lapland.

SHOW LINKS:

Jo’s website - www.jobradshaw.co.uk

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_jobradshaw/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jobradshawadventurer

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-bradshaw-keynotespeaker/

***PLEASE VOTE FOR HEADRIGHTOUT IN THE SPORTS PODCAST AWARDS:***

In the Best Urban and Adventure Category

https://www.sportspodcastawards.com/categories/18

https://www.facebook.com/HeadRightOut/

https://www.instagram.com/headrightout/

https://twitter.com/HeadRightOut

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-langley-wathen/

[email protected]

SHOW NOTES:

Author, Julia Goodfellow-Smith talks about her need to adventure, and how it was spurred on by a personal health scare and the death of her mother. We chat about why it took her 25 years to realise that there were many things on her bucket list. One in particular that really needed conquering, she discovered she could actually do it. The resilience and positivity of this woman is incredible. Julia shares insights about our superpowers and how we can harness them to use to our advantage.

Zoe Langley-Wathen 00:20

Well, hello lovely people! Welcome to the HeadRightOut podcast. In today's episode, I'm going to be talking to Julia Goodfellow-Smith, and we're going to be talking about her need to adventure, and how it was spurred on by the death of her mother just before retirement, and a personal health scare. And we discuss how it took her 25 years to realise that there were many things on her bucket list. But one thing in particular that she really needed to conquer, and that she could actually do it. My goodness me the resilience of this woman is incredible. And we talk about our superpowers and how we should harness them to use to our advantage. And for me, I could really see a direct link with work ethics and routine and just think about how you operate in your own work life. I'm pretty certain you'll find your superpowers there, lurking somewhere. So Julia recently published a book and we're going to talk about her book as well. So without further ado, I am going to launch into our conversation to HeadRightOut.

Zoe Langley-Wathen 01:37

Well, hello everybody, and welcome to the HeadRightOut podcast. Today is the 7th of July 2021, and I have with me today a very special lady. Her name is Julia Goodfellow-Smith, and she is going to talk to us, all about making your dreams a reality. So there's some very exciting things that she has been up to of late, so I'm going to just read you a little bit about Julia and what she's what she's been doing. So Julia Goodfellow-Smith is an ordinary person who is doing something extraordinary. Living her bucket list, she would like to help others do the same, which is why she has written this book. She has held a variety of management and consultancy roles in a range of sectors, including conservation, volunteering, banking, and construction. She is currently focusing her attention on adventure, writing, and presenting. Julia lives close to the Malvern Hills with her husband, Mike. She spends a lot of time either wandering on the hills or working in their small woodland nearby. She is a member of the Women's Institute and Toastmasters International, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a senator of Junior Chamber International JCI.

Zoe Langley-Wathen 02:53

Wow. That is amazing. So, Julia, thank you. Thank you so much for agreeing to come on the podcast that is quite a list of things that you've been up to there, and that you have attached to your name? Where do we start? I think before I just dip in and allow you to tease out some of that I would just like to start with a quote from your book. And I believe it might even be the first quote. It's on page nine of your book. And this just absolutely resonated with me, because I did get a pre-copy to read for Julia. So it says "life is to be lived as a magnificent adventure, or not at all". And wow. Was that...? I didn't actually write down who wrote that quote. I think it was... it was a lady.

Julia Goodfellow-Smith 03:44

It was Helen Keller.

Zoe Langley-Wathen 03:45

Helen Keller. Yes, I was. I was about to say Helena Bonham-Carter but I know that's not right!

Julia Goodfellow-Smith 03:50

No that's not quite right.

Zoe Langley-Wathen 03:51

No it's not is it?!

Julia Goodfellow-Smith 03:52

So? Well? Yeah. I mean, that just absolutely sat with me perfectly. Because that's that's what I'm about. So where did this come from this need to adventure and this realisation that if life is about adventure, you've got to just grab it. What was that all about?

Julia Goodfellow-Smith 04:09

Well, there are two things that have happened to me that have had a big impact on my desire to adventure. The first happened quite a long time ago now - twenty years ago, and it was my mum, she died from cancer at a very early age, she was only 59. And I was in my thirties. And I thought to myself, I can't wait for retirement to have adventures, because she died six months before she retired. So that got me really thinking about how I was spending my life and what I was doing for work and things like that. And my life did change radically after that moment, but more recently, I had a bit of a health scare. I know it's a bit of a cliche, but I was told that I had a lung condition. That means that as I get older, I'll be more susceptible to respiratory disease when I found that out, the words that I heard were actually, "i...

Only the 10th person in history (the 4th woman and first swimmer from the Czech Republic), Abhejali Bernardová has completed the coveted ‘Oceans Seven’ - a physically gruelling and mentally demanding open-water swim across seven channels around the world. Zoe talks with Abhejali about her more recent challenge; an Extreme Ultra-Triathlon, crossing 1111kms from Dover to Prague.

This conversation is definitely not just about swimming, running and cycling, however, as the deep and powerful methods of self-talk and managing the mind during endurance challenges are shared. With such a positive, thought-provoking and calm approach to this episode, it is an ideal opportunity to consider the condition of your own headspace prior to event preparation.

SHOW LINKS:

https://www.instagram.com/abhejali/

https://www.facebook.com/AbhejaliB

https://twitter.com/abhejali?lang=en-GB

https://abhejali.cz/ (Czech website - English site being built)

SHOW NOTES:

*Please note error in the introduction - the date of editing the show is 2nd January 2022, not 2021 as stated.

• Zoe's introduction to the guest - Abhejali Bernardová [01:39]
• Abhejali's bio: from Czech Republic, 44yrs old, runner, open-water swimmer, extreme ultra-triathlete, member of Sri Chinmoy marathon team. She is the 10th person in history, 4th woman and first swimmer from Czech Republic to complete Oceans Seven. She has completed a 6-day run and is a multiple national champion at 100kms and 24 hours. She was nominated for both 2018 and 2019 world Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year. [02:15]
• Why 1111kms? [04:33]
• What is the Oceans Seven? [05:55]
• Self-transcendence and meditation to assist the mental side of physical challenges. [08.31]
• A choice of choosing challenge in order to learn more about self. [11:05]
• Meditation techniques used. [12:17]
• Dealing with the difficult mind stuff with meditation, mantras and music. [14:20]
• The Oceans Seven criteria. [17:56]
• The support crew on boat and land. [19:14]
• Characterising an ocean - describing its personality. [21:41]
• Witnessing the bioluminescence. [24:42]
• About the training and commitment. [25:48]
• Logistics of organising the Extreme Ultra-Triathlon. [30:17]
• Funding challenges. [32:10]
• What's next? [33:03]
• Abhejali's HeadRightOut Moment. [35:08]
• How Abhejali's life has been changed. [38:17]
• Wrapping up the conversation and her book (to come). [40:41]
• Zoe's reflection on her conversation with Abhejali. [43:56]
• A HeadRightOut Moment from Iain. [45:12]
• Gained weight - up to 16st. Lost weight through walking, running and then cycling- specifically, time-trialling.
• In two years, gained a certificate in the Best British All-Rounder Competition in cycling for averaging 23mph.
• How this moment has changed Iain's life.
• Brief introduction to next week's guest - Siobhan Daniels. Motorhome living, retired, positive and pro-aging campaigner.
• Request for listeners to follow, rate and review HeadRightOut. Ratings can also be left on Spotify now.
• Thanks, good wishes for 2022 and HeadRightOut Hugs.

PHOTOS OF ABHEJALI:

PHOTOS OF IAIN - THIS WEEK'S LISTENER HEADRIGHTOUT MOMENT:

In this Solopisode, Zoe shares in more detail about the three pillars of HeadRightOut, EXPLORE, CHALLENGE, and OBSERVE. She talks about what they mean for her, for the podcast, and HeadRightOut as a business, and ultimately, what they mean for YOU. They have, after all been written with you in mind. Zoe knows she’s not alone in the way her brain operates and that there are billions of people, women in particular, who share the same fears, and the same pain points as her. Zoe believes these pillars will speak to you, as they have spoken to her, and she’s so excited to share them with you.

Why not take some time to EXPLORE what opportunities are open to you in your life? How you can make the CHALLENGES work for you with a little planning and belief in yourself. And with a daily or weekly journal, you could OBSERVE the impact it has on your routine, and open up further doors for you to adapt and grow. E.C.O. = EXPLORE, CHALLENGE and OBSERVE.

Enjoy making magical inroads into your best life, making time and space to feel uncomfortable. Take risks and challenge yourself to HeadRightOut using Zoe’s EXPLORE, CHALLENGE and OBSERVE method. Make it part of your own ECO-system, and before you know it, it'll become habit.

SHOW LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/HeadRightOut/

https://www.instagram.com/headrightout/

https://twitter.com/HeadRightOut

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-langley-wathen/

[email protected]

Belinda Kirk - Episode 11 on HeadRightOut talking about the benefit of adventure on wellbeing.

Nahla Summers - Episode 9 and Stephie Boon - Episode 7 on HeadRightOut talking about how they avoid planning, preferring to fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants. Nahla talks also about having 'blind optimism'.

Julia Goodfellow-Smith - Episode 2 talking about planning for a bucket list and how to go about achieving these goals in her book, 'Live Your Bucket List'.

Joanna Penn - Author and Creative Entrepreneur :

Joanna Penn can be found on her website The Creative Penn

Joanna also hosts both The Creative Penn Podcast and the Books and Travel Podcast.

SHOW NOTES:

• Zoe introduces the outline and intention of this episode with the main focus being the three pillars of HeadRightOut. [00.23]
• Starting with request to hit 'follow' in your podcast app. Rate, review and share with a friend. Show them how to listen to a podcast if they've never done it before. [02:51]
• Monetisation - considerations for the future of sustaining the show. Feedback received along with unprompted requests to financially support the show and thanks. [03.50]
• Fresh new year approaching. Changes Zoe has made to her routine, including rising super-early and use of Google Calendar. [05:59]
• Potential for more Solopisodes than originally intended, if the listeners want them? Please let Zoe know - message on socials or [email protected]. Can be on a variety of topics including perimenopause, caring for elderly parents, planning or packing for an adventure. [09:01]
• The Three Pillars of HeadRightOut - main ...

After the sudden death of her husband, Sue Plastow and her family left their Italian truffle orchard to return to the UK. Less than 12 months later, she is finding her feet again with exciting plans ahead that involves outdoor adventures, good food and a space for women to walk and talk. Her children experienced a wonderfully feral upbringing of travel and freedom. Now it’s Sue’s turn to find adventures to honour her late husband’s memory. Her positivity and zest for life is infectious. While she is aware that she is still grieving, Sue knows that the only way forward is to reach back to old skills, reach out for support, and reach up towards the future.

SHOW LINKS:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/nakedtartufi/

https://www.instagram.com/englishlanguagefoodschool/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/nakedtartufi

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/nakedtartufi/

***PLEASE VOTE FOR HEADRIGHTOUT IN THE SPORTS PODCAST AWARDS:***

In the Best Urban and Adventure Category

https://www.sportspodcastawards.com/categories/18

https://www.facebook.com/HeadRightOut/

https://www.instagram.com/headrightout/

https://twitter.com/HeadRightOut

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-langley-wathen/

You can email Zoe: [email protected]

SHOW NOTES:

• An audio clip from Sue’s conversation [00:00]
• Zoe’s introduction to the guest [00:45]
• Thank you for voting and news about HeadRightOut being a finalist in the Podcasting for Business Awards in the Best Health & Wellbeing category. Request to vote in the Sports Podcast Awards [02:33]
• Sue Plastow’s bio across thirty years of family travelling and living abroad [03:58]
• Sue’s fears and reservations about adventuring with a young family of four children under the age of five [07:37]
• How Sue’s children, now young adults, have benefitted from a childhood of freedom and away from the conventional education system [08:52]
• Children barefoot and feral, roaming anywhere; living in the mountains, and near the Med, snowboarding, skiing and sailing [09:52]
• What her children are doing now and about their healthy emotional wellbeing [11:12]
• Why Sue thinks she’s always been resilient [12:24]
• Sue’s study/travel timeline, into a relationship, marriage and children, normal life attempt and then campervan adventures with the family in Canada [13:09]
• What you learn to live without - living simply on the road [14:36]
• Getting cold in Canada so moving to Dubai, doing desert drumming and sandboarding [15:27]
• Talking through the personal circumstances that’s brought Sue and family back to UK [17:23]
• Global Financial Crisis (GFC), Australia, Malaysia, South of France, Switzerland, Italy and Sue’s husband’s death [17:41]
• Quick thinking prior to travel corridors closing due to the pandemic - rapid move back to UK and how everyone is coping [18:32]
• Not wanting others to think they have to just crack on because Sue did [19:45]
• How Sue and the family have found the things they need to survive and move on; honouring her husband’s life [20:32]
• Sue looking back through her arsenal for skills to draw upon - what could she do? Cookery, social/communication, teaching English, gaining TEFL qualification [21:56]
• The importance of connection with other midlife women [23:57]
• Zoe’s similar experience of grief/loss [24:36]
• A lurching horror vs a transformation - not wanting to be prescriptive about grief [26:44]
• Message to all: You’re not alone and there are glimmers of hope [28:27]
• Zoe’s old saying from someone years ago ‘Out of every adversity...’ [28:42]
• The importance of food and travelling, cookery classes and a bridge between cultures [29:50]
• Travel adventures with food, outside and a podcast about it [30:36]
• New events kitchen - called Naked Tartufi [31:35]
• New concept of outdoor adventure, food and walking along the South West Coast Path - a Moveable Feast [32:23]
• A therapy, communication, tribe, group of women coming full circle from the bonding experiences of bringing up the family tribe [34:38]
• The magic of walking and talking [35:24]
• The impact of travelling so much on Sue and her children. Seeing...