EducationSelf-Improvement

Life's What You Make it

Geal Productions

There are challenges as we grow older but there is also wisdom and opportunity to thrive and not fade into the background in later life. Join Valerie and Trish as they chat openly and honestly about reinvention, possibility and making the best of life you have.

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22 episodes
weekly
Avg 24 min
English

Episodes 22

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S2026 · E23
Thursday · 21 min
Episode 23
As the nights just begin to draw in, Trish and Val discuss the joys of night-classes - learning something new, meeting new people and, perhaps, meeting and learning the unexpected about a former partner!
S2026 · E22
August 20 · 25 min
Episode 22
Good vibrations and hard pronunciations are the theme this week as Trish recalls how a good deed led to her getting her first mortgage, Val talks about changing your life around and how do you say Worcestershire, as in the sauce?
August 13 · 27 min
Episode 21
Maintaining what you've got and resisting the pressure to look a certain way - no matter your age , owning your foibles and the joy of a smile are covered in this weeks episode, helping us navigate the joys and challenges of getting older
August 6 · 25 min
Episode 20
Trish talks about her recent hip replacement, Valerie visits the Botanic gardens, and they share words of wisdom about the best biscuits for dunking in tea! https://www.botanicgardens.ie/?ved=2ahUKEwin1pXk3pOWAxVQWEEAHd-uMkcQgU96BAgqEAM
July 30 · 40 min
Episode 19
Writer, Broadcaster, and Domestic Goddess, Barbara Scully joins the conversation in making the most of what she calls 'Part 3' of our lives. The art of reinvention is at the heart of her success but most importantly, taking charge of one's own life. Her no nonsense, take no prisoners approach in making the most of the final furlong rings true for those of us who agree wholeheartedly that 'Life is What You Make It'.Barbara is our special guest for Episode 19. Don't miss it! https://barbarascully.com/shows/
July 23 · 26 min
Episode 18
Getting older and the aches and pains - or as Trish calls it the 'organ recital' of aging is inevitable but it's how you deal with it that really matters. Val and Trish both believe that a positive attitude is key and Trish is forced to apply this to herself when she gets an unwelcome hip injury. They discuss the joys of of discovering new moths in Ireland - are humming bird moths becoming more common? and Trish stands up for daffodils in the face of changing trends in gardening. https://biodiversityireland.ie https://www.painscience.com/biblio/fascinating-landmark-study-of-placebo-surgery-for-knee-osteoarthritis.html
July 16 · 23 min
Episode 17
Val finally joins Trish on her early morning swim in Lough Derg and is taken by the camaraderie and life affirming nature of her dip. They say you should not meet your heroes but Trish sings the praises of Roddy Doyle whom she encountered recently at a local festival. ,
July 9 · 22 min
Episode 16
Looking back and looking forward: Trish tells us what she did at solstice and Val recalls a trip to Greece, memories spurred on by a discussion about planning for your retirement - practically, emotionally and financially!
S2026 · E15
July 2 · 23 min
Episode 15
Trish pays a visit to the Lighthouse Cinema and is inspired by Irish farmers while Val shares the joy of sport and seizing the moment.
June 25 · 22 min
Episode 14
A graveyard with a view - Valerie and Trish talk about the inevitable, planning for death by talking about where they'd like to lie when they die. Or be scattered if cremated and the options are many. And they have some great recommendations on books to read and places to go this summer.
S2026 · E13
June 18 · 22 min
Episode 13
Valerie and Trish have been on holidays and talk about the joys of travel, whether it be to Namibia or Glasnevin Cemetery. AI is here whether we like it or not and awareness is everything in how we use it, and above all their recommendation is to stay curious.
May 28 · 23 min
Episode 12
We value our friends but staying in touch isn't always easier. Valerie and Trish talk about making the effort to stay in touch and how to mange obsession with phones and social media, especially when it comes to grandparents and children.
May 21 · 21 min
Episode 11
Do you ever get distracted on the phone and end up on the road to Cork, when you should be heading to Limerick? Trish and Valerie do and take comfort in the their shared memory lapses. They remind each other to seize adventure and talk about the trials of nylon sheets, poached eggs and learning the cúpla focal (few words) in Irish.
S2026 · E10
May 14 · 24 min
Episode 10
Trish tell Valerie all about her post-retirement plans and they agree that space to dream - to look out the window - is key. Drinking milk reverently comes up while they agree that we all need space for sweet moments in life, whether you're traveling or having a stay at home holiday this year!
May 7 · 25 min
Episode 9
Water into wine? Valerie tells Trish all about her travels and travails walking through the Rioja region as a Camino pilgrim including a water fountain that dispenses wine. They discuss at what age do we stop looking at ourselves critically in pictures and agree that we need to look at the bigger picture.
April 30 · 23 min
Episode 8
You may have heard about downsizing as you get older but with more of our adult children living at home, what about upsizing? Is it even a thing? Trish and Val discuss the challenges and pitfalls of empty-nesters and children returning as adults. And they discover they both both had relations who worked in Guinness brewery in Dublin.
April 23 · 21 min
Episode 7
Val and Trish take a visit to Tuamgraney, Co Clare for a spot on Scariff Bay community radio and are inspired by the volunteers and the owner of McKernan Woollen Mills. Trish accidently takes a phone leading to a discussion about how to deal with occasional forgetfulness and and the freedom to try things out that getting older enables.
April 16 · 24 min
Episode 6
Val and Trish talk about the preserving memories from letter writing to Facebook posts and they share some tips on walking the Camino and why it's best not to be a hero.
April 9 · 23 min
Episode 5
Seizing the moment Trish recalls a memorable college performance with Brendan Gleeson while Val relives her recent amateur drama debut. They both go the birds - eagles, cormorants and egrets to be precise - as they discuss the joys of nature and share a tale of the singing telegram to the customer is king himself, Fergal Qunn.
April 2 · 24 min
Episode 4
It was used as a poison in ancient Rome but the nightshade family also includes potatoes, aubergines and tomatoes, and they could be making your arthritis worse! Trish and Val discuss how one small change made all the difference, wishing upon a falling star and the joys of travel.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes