One of the joys of social media is the opportunity to meet inspiring and supportive people you would never otherwise bump into!
One of these is Siobhan Daniels, previously a BBC journalist, now living the van life dream (Covid of course curtailing the travelling currently) interviewing women over 50 for her book and challenging stereotypes about what it means to be an older woman today.
Photo: Siobhan Daniels - Photo copyright Siobhan Daniels
I was introduced to Siobhan by another inspirational friend, Rachel Peru of The Out of the Bubble Podcast.
In late January, Siobhan invited me to do her first Instagram Live broadcasting from her motorhome in Norfolk to me in my little cottage in Yorkshire.
We had such a joyful and uplifting conversation about dreams and adventures, feeling excited in our 50s and 60s to live life to the full and funny tales about motorhomes and caravan parks!
Photos: Rachel Peru - Copyright Rachel Peru
Siobhan very kindly asked me to talk about The Joy of SUP Podcast, the podcast I launched in December with my first guest, the incredible Cal Major, going live on Christmas Eve. You can read more about why I launched the podcast and my conversation with Cal.
We also discussed Brave Enough - A Journey Home to Joy - the featurette film, created with Frit Sarita Tam of Passion Fruit Pictures which will be premiering in February about my coast to coast paddleboarding trip 162 miles from Liverpool to Goole raising money for The Wave Project and 2MinuteBeachClean Foundation in summer 2019.
Photo copyright: Siobhan Daniels
Siobhan was one of the first people to buy a ticket for the screening and I am so grateful for her support and enthusiasm.
'We rise by lifting others' is one of the themes of my podcast and this also came up in our conversation - how important it is for women to support and cheerlead each other to set out on new adventures, relationships, careers and creative projects in our 50s and 60s and beyond. Both Siobhan and Rachel embody this message and are brilliant examples of women cheering other women on!
Photo copyright: Siobhan Daniels
It was an absolute joy to chat to Siobhan and an honour to be her first Instagram Live guest. What a nerve wracking experience that must have been for her but as we said, We Can Do Brave Things!
You can find more about Siobhan and read her account of our conversation here.
And if you would like to catch up with the full conversation it is on her Instagram here.
Do tune in to her Instagram for future Insta Lives with interesting and inspiring guests.
Thank you so much again Siobhan for inviting me to be part of your series of interviews and for a wonderful chat. Thank you too for showing us that you're never too old to dream a new dream and that van life and adventures are for every generation! Enjoy your journey! Jo x
PS if you would also like to join Siobhan for the Brave Enough screening, please just click here and to watch the trailer below!
Film: Frit Sarita Tam of Passion Fruit Pictures