F*ck, I'm Nearly 50

SEASON 2 > EPISODE 4In this episode of F*ck, I’m Nearly 50!, I’m joined by coach, facilitator, speaker and all-round bullshit detector Vashti Whitfield.And honestly… this conversation felt less like an interview and more like a mirror.Because over the past few months I’ve been doing Vashti’s Radical Reframe program and it has challenged me to look at some things I’d never really stopped to question before.The stories I’ve been carrying.The beliefs driving my behaviour.The patterns that have quietly shaped my relationships, decisions and sense of self for years.And one of the biggest realisations?You can be successful. You can be capable. You can be high-functioning. And still be running on old code.✨ If you’ve ever thought:“Why do I keep doing the same thing over and over?”“Why do I know what I should do but still don’t do it?”“Why do I feel like something’s off, even though my life looks pretty good on paper?”“Why do I keep putting everyone else’s needs before my own?”This episode is for you.THIS EPISODE GETS INTO:🧠 What a Radical Reframe actually is💭 How our thoughts become beliefs and our beliefs become behaviour🔍 Why it’s so hard to see our own patterns⚡ Why so many people reach their 40s and 50s and realise they’ve been living on autopilot❤️ The powerful concept that your behaviour is your beliefs📖 Looking at your life in chapters and what those chapters reveal🎯 The difference between attachment and commitment💡 Why replacing “should” with “could” creates more freedom and choice📝 How a Bucket List and a Fuck It List can expose what you truly want🎭 The inner characters and stories that hijack us when we’re stressed, scared or threatened🫁 The power of pause, breath and creating space before reacting🌱 Why personal growth isn’t about becoming someone else, but remembering who you are💬 What it means to live intentionally rather than automatically❤️ Grief, resilience and rebuilding life after loss🎬 The story behind Vashti’s beautiful documentary Be Here Now👩‍👧‍👦 What she learned about presence, perspective and raising two young children after losing her husband Andy to cancerWHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS CONVERSATIONWhat I love about Vashti is that she doesn’t tell you what to do. She helps you see what you’re doing. And once you see it… you can’t really unsee it.There were a few moments in this conversation where I found myself thinking: “Shit… I’ve been doing that for years.” Not because anything was wrong.But because some of the ways I’d learned to operate no longer fit the life I’m trying to create.What Vashti’s work has reminded me is that awareness isn’t the end goal.Choice is. The ability to pause. To notice. To question.And then consciously decide who you want to be in that moment.Because maybe the next chapter of our lives isn’t about becoming someone new. Maybe it’s about letting go of everything we’re not.ABOUT VASHTI WHITFIELDVashti Whitfield is an executive coach, facilitator, speaker and creator of Radical Reframe, a transformational coaching program that helps people uncover the beliefs, patterns and stories shaping their lives.Following the death of her husband Andy Whitfield from cancer, Vashti became known for her powerful documentary Be Here Now, which chronicles their family’s journey through illness, grief, love and resilience.Today she works with individuals, leaders and organisations helping people navigate change, challenge old thinking and create lives that feel more aligned, intentional and meaningful.🌐 Learn more: https://www.vashti-whitfield.com🎬 Watch Be Here Now: https://www.beherenowfilm.com🎙 Listen to the Radical Reframe PodcastConnect with Vashti on instaConnect with Vashti on LInkedInLet me know what you'd love to hear about next.🔥 Let’s keep the conversation going! 🔥📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube – Subscribe here! 💬 Join the community – Follow me on Instagram @fckimnearlyfifty and share your thoughts on this episode. Or connect with me on LinkedIn.🎧 Never miss an episode – Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.📢 Spread the word – If you loved this episode, share it with a friend (or 10). Because midlife is better when we figure it out together.Because f*ck, we’re nearly 50, and isn’t that amazing? 🚀

SEASON 2 > EPISODE 3Dr Mark WilliamsIn this episode of F*ck, I’m Nearly 50!, I’m joined by neuroscientist, author and speaker Dr Mark Williams, one of Australia’s leading voices on the impact of screens, devices and technology on the brain.And honestly… this conversation scared me a little.Because I went into it asking a question I think a lot of us are quietly wondering:👉 Is my screen time making me less sharp?👉 Is it making my kids less focused?👉 Are we losing our ability to think deeply, remember things, be bored, connect properly and just… be?And what Mark makes really clear is this:It’s not just about screens.It’s about what screens are replacing.Stillness.Boredom.Face-to-face connection.Movement.Sleep.Nature.Real conversations.Real life.✨ If you’ve ever thought:“Why can’t I focus anymore?”“Why am I always reaching for my phone?”“Is this affecting my kids more than I realise?”“Am I modelling the behaviour I’m trying to stop?”This episode is for you.THIS EPISODE GETS INTO:🧠 What screens are actually doing to our brains📱 Why phones, notifications and constant switching are making us more distracted👧 Why children’s developing brains are especially vulnerable🚨 Mark’s view that this generation may be the first to be “dumber” than their parents🏫 Why screens in schools and edutech may not be helping kids learn😬 The link between screens, stress, cortisol, behaviour and attention💬 Why real-life social connection is one of the best things we can do for brain health🌿 Why nature, boredom and unstructured time are essential, not optional🔕 Why turning off notifications is one of the simplest ways to improve focus🍽 Why phones don’t belong at the dinner table, in bedrooms or in bathrooms💡 Why social media isn’t actually social🤖 What Mark really thinks about AI, smart glasses and the next wave of tech💪 Why creatine may help with memory, attention and brain energy for some people❤️ Why volunteering, community and “gas bagging” might actually help us live longerWHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS CONVERSATIONMark doesn’t make this feel like a guilt trip.He makes it feel like a wake-up call.Because this isn’t about being anti-technology.It’s about using technology well.It’s about remembering that our phones are supposed to work for us, not the other way around.And the bit that really stayed with me was this:When we choose presence over distraction…Connection over convenience…Real life over constant scrolling…We’re not just managing screen time.We’re shaping how our kids think, feel, connect and experience the world.And maybe we’re also giving ourselves back something we didn’t realise we’d lost.Our attention.Our memory.Our creativity.Our calm.Our ability to just be.ABOUT DR MARK WILLIAMSDr Mark Williams is a neuroscientist, author and speaker who helps people understand how the brain works and how modern technology is changing the way we think, learn, focus and connect.His book Screen Smart Children is a practical guide for parents who want to help their kids thrive in a world that never switches off.🌐 Learn more: https://www.drmarkwilliams.com/📘 Read Mark’s book: Screen Smart ChildrenLet me know what you'd love to hear about next.🔥 Let’s keep the conversation going! 🔥📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube – Subscribe here! 💬 Join the community – Follow me on Instagram @fckimnearlyfifty and share your thoughts on this episode. Or connect with me on LinkedIn.🎧 Never miss an episode – Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.📢 Spread the word – If you loved this episode, share it with a friend (or 10). Because midlife is better when we figure it out together.Because f*ck, we’re nearly 50, and isn’t that amazing? 🚀