Episode 96: Authenticity, Identity, And The Courage To Say No with Pauline Buckley

What if the truest version of you isn’t a fixed label but the choice you make right now? We sit down with guide and former HR leader Pauline Buckley to unpack authenticity, identity, and the courage it takes to live in alignment when culture nudges you to conform. Growing up as the hearing child of deaf parents, Pauline learned to listen in a way most of us never do. That deep stillness now shapes how she helps people remember who they are, who they’re not, and how to act on that truth with clarity and care.

We dive into the tension between masculine and feminine energies and why so many of us are stuck performing a self that feels safe but isn’t honest. Pauline offers a sharp lens on fear, division, and the shaken ant jar: when chaos rises, we turn on each other and forget our power. From COVID-era questioning to everyday boundary-setting, we explore practical ways to shift from fear to love, and from apologising to owning a clean no. We talk about alcohol, social pressure, and how removing numbing agents raises your energy and refines your friendships. Without sedation, you discover which spaces lift you and which habits you’re done carrying.

Stillness becomes the thread that ties it all together. Five quiet minutes a day can change how you hear your body’s signals, make decisions, and treat yourself. We discuss midlife hormones, people pleasing, and why many women find a new appetite for truth as tolerance for misalignment fades. The imagine if mindset invites you to dream and take one step toward it, even when others resist. You don’t need a perfect plan; you need a honest next move. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of creative problem solving, like using improv to build confidence in high-stakes rooms, and simple prompts such as is that true and how do you know that to be true that cut through noise and reveal what matters.

If you’re ready to live with fewer apologies and more alignment, this conversation is your nudge. Listen, share with a friend, and tell us: what truth are you ready to speak today? Subscribe, leave a review, and join our community to keep the conversation going.

If you would like to connect with Pauline; her website is https://www.paulinebuckley.com/ and you can find her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/paulinebuckley1/

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 95: Inside The Joe Wicks Protein Bar Controversy And What It Reveals About Ultra-Processed Food

What happens when a “healthy” label hides a legal sleight of hand? We sat down to watch Joe Wicks’ new documentary and found ourselves peeling back the bright colours, influencer endorsements, and protein promises to examine what ultra-processed foods really deliver to our bodies. From the first glossy montage to the cigarette-style warnings on a prototype bar, the story exposes how taste engineering and health halos pull us toward products that can be lawful yet still linked to serious health risks.

We talk through the scale of the problem in UK diets, why low-income families are disproportionately affected, and how the “it’s your choice” defence collapses under the weight of constant nudges and flavour profiles built for overconsumption. A shelf of additives tells its own tale: emulsifiers, sweeteners, and stabilisers that may pass regulations but raise red flags for metabolic health, inflammation, and the gut microbiome. The most unsettling part? Self-regulation means products can stack permitted additives to the limit, wrap them in nature-coded packaging, and market them as better-for-you.

Joe’s moral dilemma anchors the human side of the debate: should he release a bar designed to legal thresholds to prove the point? A lawyer deems it compliant yet wouldn’t let her children eat it. We unpack that tension and show how marketing splits its message—fun for kids on the front, soothing leaf motifs and vitamin claims for parents on the back—while the real sugar and additive story hides in the small print. Along the way we share practical moves you can make today: build your shop around real food, choose clean protein powders with single ingredients, batch-cook for speed, and carry simple snacks that don’t need a label to explain themselves.

Change won’t come from the till alone, so we call for clearer warnings and tighter limits on additives consistently tied to harm. Until policy catches up, knowledge and community are a powerful start. If this conversation sparked a rethink of your go-to bars, shakes, or snack swaps, tap follow, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find it. Then come tell us in our Facebook group: what’s the one “healthy” product you’re reconsidering after hearing this?

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 94. From ME To Mighty: How Jo Mayes Rebuilt Energy, Confidence, And Community Through Strongman Training

A decade ago, Jo Mayes rationed every ounce of energy just to manage the school run. Today, she’s stepping onto an invite‑only stone lifting field and carrying a 103‑kilogram rock for 36 metres—proof that small, repeatable steps can build a life you want to live.

We unpack the full arc of Jo’s transformation: pacing during COVID, daily walks that slowly grew, and the first gentle strength sessions that left her wiped out yet hopeful. She shares how a quiet garage gym became a bridge to the weights floor, why strongman felt both functional and empowering, and how a welcoming community turned training days into a source of energy rather than a drain. We talk candidly about imposter syndrome, competing alongside world‑class athletes, and embracing the event you can nail even when others don’t go to plan.

Nutrition takes centre stage too. Jo explains how tracking food supports her training, why she targets substantial protein to build and recover, and how simple carbs like oats and rice keep her sessions productive. We bust the “eat less, move more” myth for active women, dig into protein targets that actually sustain progress, and explore how strength training protects bone density, hormones, and long‑term vitality—especially in your 40s.

You’ll leave with practical takeaways: start with one step, choose training you enjoy so you can repeat it, fuel like it matters, and lean on community. If you’ve felt stuck, burned out, or unsure where to begin, Jo’s story is a reminder that consistency beats intensity and courage beats perfection. Enjoy the conversation, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and if it helps, leave a quick review and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

Come into the Far to Fabulous Facebook group to see Jo's legendary video.

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.