Your Next Chapter With Angela Raspass | Business & Life Beyond 40 |inspiring Possibility

Nicky lane had ticked all the boxes that she had been told with the essence of a good life qualifications a good job marriage motherhood. So why at 33 did she find herself disillusioned and disappointed? Living what she described as a mediocre life and feeling guilty about how she felt?   Nicky decided to ask herself different questions, questions that led her to tapping into not just logical choices, but heart led feelings and desires. And that's where she found her why that became the catalyst for her brave and expansive change journey in business and life.   I'm sure you'll find this conversation about personal evolution and possibilities, both inspiring and enjoyable.   Show Notes   Your life may not be “bad” – you’re not homeless, so you “should” be happy – that’s not a universal truth. The actual truth is that you don’t have to accept mediocrity.   Give yourself permission to not accept the status quo, to be brave, to back yourself and create your own path   Conduct a Head and Heart exercise – my h

It was one day in 2012 when Fiona Redding really woke up. She was 37, at home with two tiny kids, drinking every day, overweight, unfit and unhealthy. She had financial issues, could not find employment and felt deeply disconnected and very, very alone staring down the barrel of a future life that she could just not imagine living. She sat with one burning question that she could no longer escape – “How has this become my life?”.   Something really needed to change.   It’s now seven years after the day when she started the journey to become the person she wanted to be. Fiona decided to get out of her own way and her life has completely transformed in every single area. Through the Happiness Hunter, she is now focused on helping you get out of yours, as she teaches and shares everything that she's learned. I had the chance to speak with Fiona to hear about that journey and I'm delighted be able to share her insights with you.   Show Notes   You start with a decision – my life is no longer acceptable to me. I

Sophie Andrews had created an award winning highly successful bookkeeping business. Her background of fashion and gemstones in the UK led itself brilliantly to her focusing on the needs of people in creative fields, and the business flourished.   But after 15 years of dedication, the demands began to take their toll, physically and emotionally. Sophie's priorities had shifted. She was becoming bored, the desire for the work was no longer there. And to be honest, she knew that burnout was waiting just around the corner. It was time for significant change, and as many of us realise, letting go of the known to step into the unknown can be hard.  But we can do hard things! In this conversation Sophie and I talk about reframing our thoughts, letting go of old stories that keep us stuck, and choosing to swap striving for space so new ideas can make themselves heard.   Show Notes   The bookkeeping business was never my passion, but as a divorced, single Mum, control over my future was paramount, and I knew I could

Deb Vawdrey knew she had given her all in her marriage. Her realisation that she needed to move on after almost 30 years was not a snap decision. Although she was filled with fear, she was absolutely clear - it was time to step into a new chapter. And when Deb released herself from the paradigm she had known for so long, she absolutely blossomed. In this conversation, Deb shares her experiences, the role that spiritual connection and community played in her growth, her ability to listen to her inner voice, and how these all combined to transform her the multi-dimensional Yogi and businesswoman that she is today. I hope you find this episode as encouraging and energising as I did.   Show Notes   I gave myself permission to pursue what most called me I’ve not had an immediate aha moment – my change arc has been, and still is, a slow burn which is fine as I don’t have a use-by date! I know the emotional exhaustion of being the only person making the effort in a relationship, feeling like it’s an uphill battle t

In 2005, Tamara Agnew was working as an executive assistant in a law firm in Edinburgh. It was a good job, but she knew that there was more waiting for her. She had a young daughter and a strong yearning to be a great role model, to show her daughter it was possible to choose and change to create your path the life that you want. And so Tamara went back to university as a mature age student and discovered the benefits of having lived before she chose to study. In this conversation, Tamara and I discuss her experiences and her choices for future study beyond her undergraduate degree, and the paths and opportunities this has opened up for her. We hope you enjoy this conversation.   Show Notes   My Mum worked in my Dad’s business, she could not contribute to my world. I have no judgment around that, I just know I wanted something different for my kids I was carrying a hangover from school, of feeling not good enough My husband became my “Belief Buddy”, he encouraged me to just do it and balanced me with the kno

Show Notes   When our son left home I became an empty nester and wondered, who am I now? I was feeling disconnected from my life and told myself I had no right to feel that way – after all, I had a great home, son, husband and career I began to ask myself the hard questions, starting with “why am I feeling this way?” I knew I needed a significant lifestyle change– my background of all or nothing thinking was simply not sustainable I replaced mindless social media scrolling with a mindset upgrade and decided to prioritise me I needed replace the automatic stories in my head that “I couldn’t change”, and that focusing on my own fitness and health “was self-absorbed”. I also needed to change my relationship with food which was very black and white – there is good food and bad food and very little in between I bought an apple watch, a bike, joined a gym, enrolled in a program that focused on mindset and gradually things began to change As my positivity and confidence reappeared, I began to question my career too

It was the contrast between weekdays and weekends that made such an impact on Gary and Lisa. During the week they ran a family daycare service where they took care of small children who were dearly loved, wanted and cherished. But on the weekends when they were crisis carers in the foster system, they saw a very different reality. They also saw how babies and small children were easy to find placements for, but for teenagers, happy endings were far rarer as adolescents were shifted from placement to placement, with no stable family influences. Their outcomes were bleak. Although Lisa and Gary felt overwhelmed by the size of the systematic problem, they couldn't walk away from it. And an early 2020 they began to put their plan into action step by step. Today they've established and run a foster farm home for teenagers in rural New South Wales, alongside a charity “Give them a chance”. Their young charges are flourishing in an environment of acceptance, love, and clear boundaries. This is a beautiful story of n

Jennifer Gwyn Jones knows what it feels like to keep pushing down a yearning for change. She knows how easy it is to become constrained by what you can do what you think you should do. How you can become easily stuck in “it's okay, it's going okay” land. But now Jan also knows what it feels like to break free, to be bold and brave and leave a 17-year career to strike out in a new direction that just kept on calling. If you've ever wanted to stop what you're doing now and begin something new, especially if you're currently in a corporate role, or other profession, you will get so much inspiration from this conversation. We talk about the vital role that self-compassion plays when you step out of your comfort zone, how to tap into your own internal wisdom, how to design a rich fulfilling business and life and so much more in this mini guide to courageous change.     Show Notes   When you ignore the thing that’s calling you, that you’re yearning for, eventually your health suffers If you journal, revisit what y

At the end of 2020 I was all tapped out creatively. I’d finally set my book free in the world, meeting a huge personal goal and I needed to allow myself time and space to just be for a while. I did have to battle a little with an inner critic who, in her inimitable judgmental way, assured me I’d disappear into obscurity if I dared to put my pen down awhile. I chose not to listen, allowed myself space to regroup and this new 10 part interview series all about change is the result several months later. It also coincides with a fresh chapter for me – a new online home that reflects my equal focus on strategy and self-worth.   Show Notes Business change comes in evolutions.   Buckling under and following the “rules” to continually crank out content and stay visible is just not sustainable. Taking a creative break is often the best thing you can do, so give yourself permission to step back if you need too, especially in the weird world that COVID 19 has thrust upon us   Belief buddies are vital - they can he

Charlotte Maya was 39 with two small sons when she lost her husband to suicide. She had no idea Sam was so close to the edge and was utterly shell-shocked. “I had a plan, and this wasn’t it”, said Charlotte. Since that day, she has learned so much about resilience and mental health and suicide and decided to speak out and help to release the stigma. Her Next Chapter began when she hit publish on the first post on her blog, Sushi Tuesdays, six years after she lost her husband. Show Notes Seeing something through the lens of experience and realising you have the desire to contribute is life-changing If you can help just one person with the contribution you decide to make, it really is worthwhile How we choose to treat ourselves reflects our capacity for holding our own power Take good care of yourself – I dedicated Tuesdays to Charlotte – Shabbat! We all have losses in life - you can deal with the good and the bad, even the horrifying and still find grace We can out so much pressure in ourselves – choose kin

Canadian born, with Welsh heritage, Sara Jones came to Australia as a 14-year-old. Many years later, after years of work with indigenous communities, Sara has developed a deep, reverential relationship with the land through the practise of Wayapa Wuurk, an earth connection practice that is based on ancient Indigenous wisdom that focuses on taking care of the Earth as the starting point for creating Earth Mind Body Spirit well-being. It has changed her life and the lives of all who choose to explore it. Show Notes   Our planet is a terrarium. It is the earth that sustains us, not the Universe A daily interaction with our environment leads to an understanding of our reciprocal relationship We all have hunter gatherer ancestors who lived off the land – it’s time to honour the ancient ways of those who loved successfully in harmony with the environment Living in cities has led to our sense of disconnection from the land, and often a sense of overwhelm that can lead to emotional paralysis. When we take time to pa

What do you do when you come back from a year of travelling and realise you can no longer fit into your previous corporate life? You do the thing that’s calling you, because you know you don’t want regrets. “My inspiration began with a backpack, a handful of dreams and a vision - to bring ethical and beautifully handcrafted accessories to a global market, whilst ensuring the artisans who create them are empowered to earn a dignified and sustainable income”, explains Harjit. The result? A beautiful, ethical business fashion business for stylish women that places the artisan at the heart of the story, with each and every product handmade by the artisans who are empowered by a fair and sustainable income. Show Notes   70-80 years of life – it’s such a tiny period of time, really When my Mum began to become unwell, it made me question – would I ever make my own dreams come true? When she got well, I felt I needed to make the change more than ever – I was compelled When my husband and I travelled for a year I fel

When Maria started on this entrepreneurial adventure she told herself “if in 5 years’ time I can’t make it work, I can always go and get a job”. Once she realised she needed to let go of the idea of there being a formula to follow, she was able to see that she’d been going in the wrong direction, trying to build a business based on the wrong things, overriding her own intuition. This realisation freed her and the result – a beautiful, bountiful thriving business that supports her just as much as she supports her clients all around the world.   Show Notes   You need to try, you need to know you gave IT a shot Trust your gut, you’re the only one who knows what’s right for you Let go of the opinions of others – that’s tremendously freeing! Get a Mentor to help with emotional mastery   I now know to make decisions in business and life that are based on my values – Truth, Service and more recently, Sovereignty   The most important thing you can do in business is build relationships   My philosophy is to

“I’ve always been drawn to the environment to indigenous culture, a connection to country” Suzy tells me. “It embodies more than just living in the country. We are connected to that land and we impact the land in what we do and how we do it”. Suzy speaks with a reverential appreciation that underpins all that she has done, is doing and will do in what she describes as a mosaic, portfolio career. In one of her core next chapter focus projects, Suzy has founded Two Green Threads, a NFP that cares for the carers of our wildlife, a significant and much-needed entity.   Show Notes   I fell into this work really. I saw wildlife hurt on the road and when I went to a country show and came across a wildlife group who rescue, rehabilitate, and release. I signed up for an orientation course on the spot. Within 3 months I was juggling my daytime work and caring for wildlife. It delivered a fair bit of stress but I loved it.   It feels like a privilege to care for animals, you need to adopt a stillness no matter what

Kerry describes herself as being “born as a therapist”, with people coming to her for as long as she can recall with their emotional issues, eager for guidance. In this conversation, she shares many of her own emotional growth experiences, from navigating single parenthood, learning how to prioritise her own needs, escaping a poverty mindset, and gathering her courage to take the leap from full-time employment into the world of entrepreneurship where she now openly shares her journey with chronic illness with an almost 10,000 member strong online community, supporting her clients through their own challenges so they can mindfully thrive in their new lives.   Show Notes   The Louise Hay program, where I became a You Can Heal Your Life trainer was a turning point for me. I knew my Mum (who had terminal cancer and passed away whilst I was in training) regretted never having had the chance to achieve what was possible for her, so I answered my own call and quit my job This was my first experience of trust in th

Marnie Downer describes herself with self-deprecating good humour as a Generation Xer with a misspent youth, a penchant for travel and a burning desire to change the sickness model in or society. Our conversation ranged far and wide from her early days as a naturopath and teacher within her industry to a new-found passion for supporting women through the menopause journey after she experienced anxiety fear and a sense of guilt and found so little full-bodied support available. Great Dames, Embrace the change one hot flush at a time is her next chapter.   Show Notes   Starting my business was terrifying! It was easier traveling through Iraq then it was taking on this challenge.   I experienced a whole lot of “I can’t do this” and then the penny dropped after about 2-3 years in business   Marketing was a little scattergun at first and then I realised there is no magic, and that consistency is the key   Resilience, tenacity and a commitment to your why are all vital   At 48 I had a strong story, a sens

Karly practically vibrates with authenticity, honesty and purposeful energy and it’s impossible not to feel elevated after connecting with her. She has known both hard failure and delicious success and this allows her to share with an honesty that feels rare in the entrepreneurial space and quickly eradicates any pressure you might be feeling to “get it right, quickly” when you are in business for yourself. This is a conversation that will help you to see that next chapters are never final, that progress is always possible and that being true to yourself is your greatest gift, as that’s where impact always comes from.   Show Notes   The external measurements of success we’re subjected too can be the biggest catalysts for doubt and a sense of unworthiness – let them go!   Asking yourself, “how much is enough for you” and designing your activities around that truth sets you free   No censoring of yourself, don’t hold back, your business will be sustainable when you are you   A closed first can’t grasp a

This is an exciting episode for me, celebrating a significant personal milestone and launching a new Podcast Series! I’ve completed my book, “Your Next Chapter – Ditch your doubt, own your worth, and build the business you really want” and it’s available for pre-order on my website here. This episode walks you through the adventure and also signifies a return to podcasting with the “Under the Radar – ordinary women doing extraordinary things” series. I trust you’ll enjoy the next 8 episodes highlighting the projects, plans and next chapter journeys and experiences of a fabulous group of women just like you. Show Notes My book notes journal says 2018, and yet I only just finished by manuscript in September 2020. Sometimes our goals and plans are waylaid by circumstance, but if it’s important enough to you, you’ll always return and manage to hit the mark. Imposter Syndrome and the Comparison Trap, two tools of the trade that your Inner Critic engages to keep you safe and small in your Familiar Zone, were challe

“We’ve been taught that thin = happy” says Leanne, “and that fads work and there is some perfect or right way to eat”. The trouble is none of this is true! Restriction is not sustainable. A punishment mindset is not sustainable. What is sustainable is trusting ourselves, following our instincts, eating for the joy and love of food!” It’s a relief to chat with Leanne, a health and wellbeing coach for women who is based in Melbourne and encourages women to redefine wellness, what it actually means for you to be a Well Woman. This is a conversation that will get you thinking, moving and eating!   Show Notes   It’s time to design your own Wellness Map – a set of ideas that fit you personally instead of you generically.   What ways of moving bring you joy? Do that. What feels nourishing to eat for you? Eat that. What role will fun play in your life? Enjoy that!   How you can lean into trusting yourself and your instincts and choices? By listening to your body and doing what it tells you! It does speak to you

Samantha has been a performer her whole life – “I sang for 50 cents at weddings and a dollar at funerals from when I was a little girl. I sang backup for MC Hammer and with Joan Sutherland at the Australia Opera. I’ve led shows and developed my own. I’ve always been happiest on a stage but I’ve also been stuck in “people pleaser and approval” mode and that’s taken its toll. It even lead me to dropping the dream of being a performer for the “sensible” career option of accounting on the behest of my family. Over the years Sam invested so much time and energy checking, testing, showing different pieces of herself to different groups to fit in and be seen in the way she felt she needed to be. It was exhausting. And when this is your focus, you begin to lose track of who you really are. But Sam has now interrupted this cycle. She chose to shift her gaze, to weave all the pieces of her into a whole. She began to approve of herself and appreciating where she’d come from, so she would never need to fit in anywhere ag