This week Kaye and Karen are joined by Donna Ashworth. Bestselling poet, wellbeing advocate, and author of Loss: The New Collection.

Donna talks about the family diagnosis that rewired everything. Dropping the perfectionism. Saying what she actually thinks. Building a life that's calmer and more honest, even when it's messy.

They get into grief beyond bereavement. Outgrowing identities, letting go of roles that no longer fit, and why walking away from something takes more courage than anyone tells you.

A conversation about permission, getting older, and why the best bit might still be ahead.

Get in touch at podcast@htb60.com.

Donna's new book Loss: The New Collection is available now in hardcover, featuring nearly 150 poems including previously unpublished work.

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On this week's Midweek Catchup, we're recording across borders — Kaye at home, Karen on a sunny balcony in Seville, and honestly, it's never felt more deserved. Because behind the coral sandals and the cold red wine is a week that nearly didn't happen.

Karen shares the full story of her three-day hospital stay, the scans, the scares, and the moment she ran out the door with the cannula still in. We talk about why "you've finished chemo" doesn't mean you feel finished, why therapy in real time might be smarter than toughing it out, and why nobody warns you that turning a corner still feels like looking over your shoulder. On the lighter side, Kaye reveals Ian's new tap dancing obsession (performed in a t-shirt that wasn't quite long enough), a mango-related betrayal at breakfast, and the news that a portaloo has appeared in the driveway.

Plus, a heads-up that this Friday's guest is the brilliant Donna Ashworth. Whether you're mid-treatment, post-treatment, or just trying to steal five minutes of sunshine for yourself — this one's for you.

Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com.

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Rosie O’Donnell, who opens up about building a life that finally feels like her own - from leaving America for Ireland, to raising a teenager in her 60s, and redefining what really matters.

It’s never just about getting older, it’s about what you carry with you. Rosie reflects on losing her mother at a young age, how that shaped her drive, and why every birthday now feels like “extended play.” There’s honesty, humour, and a refreshing refusal to pretend that life or fame has all the answers.

Whether you’re questioning what success looks like now, juggling family in a different season of life, or quietly wondering if you’re allowed to want something simpler, this one hits home. Because no one tells you that peace can sometimes mean stepping away, not pushing harder.

Get in touch with your thoughts at podcast@htb60.com

Rosie brings her acclaimed show Common Knowledge to the Glasgow Comedy Festival, appearing at the King’s Theatre for her Glasgow debut on 26 March

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