Why I started "Your second act" podcast (and why it's not about marketing tips)

I could be sharing marketing tips. After 20+ years of marketing experience and creating content for newspapers and brands, I've certainly got plenty of them. But when I sat down to plan my 2025 goals, I had the urge to share the stories that had connected deeply with me.

So instead of another marketing podcast, I launched "Your Second Act," a monthly show focused on the nuggets of wisdom from women doing brave things during their perimenopausal and postmenopausal years. The creative process has been challenging and, at times, frustrating, but rewarding.

The stories that won't let go

For years, I've been interviewing people and creating content professionally, but the conversations that stayed with me aren't about conversion rates or brand strategies. They are about the woman who went back to university at 68, the one who started a book club in a new town because she was lonely, the countless others who decided it was never too late to begin again.

These women taught me that your second act doesn't have to be smaller or safer than your first. Often, it is bolder, braver and involves confronting fears and then doing it anyway. Through them, I've learned that it's never too late to change your mindset about what's possible.

I'm navigating my own second act, and these stories remind me that the challenges that keep us connected also keep us empowered and energised. Whether it's moving somewhere new, managing grief, starting over, or simply trying to figure out who you are in this next chapter, we're not alone.

There's something powerful about hearing from women who've looked uncertainty in the face and taken that first step. Their stories aren't just inspiring but proof that reinvention is possible at any stage.

The learning curve that nearly made me give up

I've been talking about doing a podcast since autumn 2024, but by April 2025, I still hadn't done anything about it. I was paralysed about working out all the tech and processes, honouring the commitment, letting guests down and the possibility that I couldn't tell a story using audio. After all, years of written storytelling can’t act as a guarantee that I’d be any good at audio.

Then Clare Jackson, who runs her own successful Dwellbeing.podcast, asked me to go for a walk. She asked where my podcast was, and I confessed to my paralysis. Clare listened, walked through every fear with me, and said something simple that gave me the boost I needed: "You won't know if you don't try." She set me a deadline to schedule my first recording.

Sue Jessett became my debut guest, a most generous guinea pig who believed in what I was trying to do. Sue has the most amazing life story of reinvention but doesn't usually share it. I am so grateful she lent me her wonderful tale to support the podcast.

The technical reality

The tech side has been tough and nearly wrong-footed me at the beginning. I was trying to explain steps to guests while learning them myself. Now I know what I am doing and have a professional PDF to help guests onboard.

I record audio-only, not video, because this is how I consume podcasts. I love being able to absorb myself in something else while listening, whether walking, doing creative work or even some chores. I concentrate more on the podcast content when I am just listening rather than watching and listening.

Recording and editing

I use Zencastr ($20/month) to record remotely, capturing each person as a separate audio channel. I edit using Audacity, which is free and shows conversations as soundwaves that you can easily chop up and rearrange. This is the time-consuming part as I usually talk with guests for over an hour, but keep episodes around 30 minutes. There's genuine agony over what to include and what to leave out. Sometimes I edit to protect my guest, removing moments where they've overshared or included personal details that aren't needed to make the main point.

Creative & captions

For branding, I use Canva Pro (£120/year) to create clips for Instagram and LinkedIn. I wanted a punchy, punky presence that makes invisible stories visible, so I used a zine-style collage effect with fun animations like a pulsating mouth. For captions, I drop audio clips into Apple Notes to get transcripts, then import the text into Canva using "typewriter" animation.

Music & publishing

For music, I discovered Mobygratis. Moby's incredible resource that provides free instrumental music for creators. "Morning Span" perfectly captures the hopeful, contemplative mood that I wanted. I publish through Spotify for Creators, which is free and offers decent analytics. I want to add other platforms, but I'm currently out of brain juice to figure that out.

Aftercare matters

The topics I explore can be revealing and leave people feeling vulnerable. I spend time agreeing on the discussion’s structure to help guests feel comfortable, and so I understand where their boundaries are. Guests get the first listen of the edit and help name their episode, as this isn't just about extracting stories but about honouring them.

What season one looks like

I'm planning eight episodes for season one, taking me through to the end of the year and covering a broad range of topics. People have asked if I have goals to grow the audience and drive success. But I started this for pure enjoyment, to lose myself in storytelling and satisfy my curiosity about stories I've only heard pieces of. I also wanted to push myself completely out of my comfort zone with technology and learn new things. These are my goals.

Sometimes the best tip is to stop marketing and focus on what matters. These stories matter to me, and I hope they matter to you too.