The Reinvention Diaries

Reinvention Diaries — "I Swear My Brain Didn't Use to Work Like This" Michelle and Nicola dive into how their brains seem to be working differently these days — from procrastination and deadline panic to losing words and walking into rooms with no idea why. They explore how perimenopause may be reshaping their mental strategies, what ADHD actually looks like in women (it wasn't even recognized in...

Hosts: Michelle Wright & Nicola Auckland Summary: This week Michelle and Nicola tackle another "Would You Rather" question: Would you rather know what people think of you or never know anything? The conversation explores how much of our behaviour is shaped by wanting to be liked, whether we truly care less about others' opinions as we get older, and the difference between constructive criticis...

Hosts: Michelle (Style Coach & Colour Analyst)) & Nicola (Brand Photographer) Episode Summary: Michelle and Nicola catch up after their holidays — Nicola's relaxing caravan trip to Scotland and Michelle's whirlwind 48 hours in Porto — before diving into a juicy hypothetical: Would you rather have financial security but answer to someone else, or financial uncertainty but answer only to you...

Hosts: Michelle & Nicola | ~39 min Summary: Michelle and Nicola explore why September—not January—is the real season for reinvention. From the back-to-school feeling hardwired into all of us to an Instagram post about women who launched businesses after 45, they unpack confidence, thicker skin, changing definitions of success, and why it's never too late to start something new. They wrap with...

Guest: Wendy Hill, Nutritional Therapist, founder of Hillstart Nutrition, author of Nourish to Flourish , and host of the Fab Female Nutrition podcast. Episode Summary: Michelle and Nicola are joined by Wendy Hill, who spent 27 years in the building trade running a family business before reinventing herself as a nutritional therapist at 45. Wendy shares her journey of leaving a male-dominated indu...

Michelle and Nicola record from Nicola's house for the first time, accompanied by a pack of dogs (including Betty the drama-queen poodle). This episode covers two main topics: a tribute to Dolly Parton and the month's theme — "the best decisions we nearly didn't make." Segment 1 — Remembering Dolly Parton The hosts reflect on Dolly Parton's passing and her enormous cultural impact. They discuss he...

The Reinvention Diaries — Episode with Emma Rushton Hosts: Michelle & Nicola Guest: Emma Rushton — PR consultant, crisis communications specialist, and founder of Roseleigh Media ( roseleighmedia.co.uk ) Emma Rushton is a PR consultant specialising in crisis communications and reputation management, working predominantly with charities and faith organisations. Based in Wolverhampton, she now w...

In this episode, Michelle and Nicola dive deep into what it really means to reinvent yourself — and why reinvention isn't about becoming someone completely new, but stripping away the masks and "shoulds" to reveal the person you were always meant to be. Topics covered: Eclipse chatter — Nicola's eclipse party plans, pinhole cameras, and why the next total eclipse in the UK isn't until the 2070s We...

Michelle and Nicola talk about the hidden cost of always putting yourself last — and why choosing yourself isn't the same as choosing against someone else. In this episode: Sleepless nights, low motivation, and the "safety/doorknob" fart game their kids play Wardrobe edits: Michelle's continuous decluttering vs. Nicola's 'overflowing' closet Why society teaches us that "selfish" is bad and being h...

Michelle and Nicola are back, and this week they're picking up where July left off — questioning the rules we live by, who made them, and what happens when you decide to stop following them. After catching up on a night out at a Conservative Club (surprisingly cheap gin and tonics), headshot sessions, and the joys of elastic laces and reformer Pilates, the conversation turns to something deeper: t...

Michelle and Nicola are back after a break – and neither of them actually switched off! They catch up on their very different holidays (Michelles's all-inclusive in Rhodes vs. Nicola's dog-friendly walks on the Yorkshire coast), before diving into a topic that came straight from Nicola's holiday reflection: the invisible rule book we all live by. In this episode: Why Nicola worked every single day...

Ever wondered which habits you picked up at the start of your business are quietly holding you back? This week Michelle and Nicola dive into the habits that sneaked in at the beginning — and why some of them need to go. In this episode: The caffeine conversation: why one of them runs on decaf and the other turns into Speedy Gonzales on a flat white Networking in Sheffield — plus a car that decided...

In this episode, Michelle and Nicola record from Michelle's kitchen (their studio days are behind them — for now), amid the chaos of early mornings, a daughter heading off on holiday, and a husband conducting what may or may not have been a performance review with the washing machine. What we talk about: Living on autopilot Do you still structure your life around school holidays even though you do...

Welcome back to The Reinvention Diaries, the podcast where Michelle and Nicola talk to women about reinvention, rediscovery, and regaining confidence. In this episode: After a chaotic start (wrong recording day, a dog with dental surgery, and a studio move looming), Michelle and Nicola dive into this week's theme: "Is It Just Me?" — questioning the expectations and milestones that society quietly...

Michelle and Nicola are back for a wide-ranging chat about modern life, modern manners, and whether technology is quietly disconnecting us all. In this episode: 🌡️ The Great British Heatwave – The girls kick things off with the week's big talking point: extreme heat, red weather warnings, schools closing, trains without air con, and the joys of cold supermarkets. Plus, Nicola reveals her obsessive...

Michelle and Nicola open with their usual warm, unfiltered banter before diving into this episode's big theme: the opportunities we let slip by because we're always waiting for the "right" moment. What we talk about in this episode: Turning 50 and the unexpected tiredness that comes with the birthday comedown Why your 50s (and beyond) might actually be your best decade – wisdom from an 80-somethin...

The Reinvention Diaries – Birthday Reflections and Real Talk Michelle and Nicola are back, and this week there's a milestone birthday to celebrate — Nicola has just turned 50! Join them for a candid, funny, and refreshingly honest conversation about what it really means to hit a big birthday, and why it might just be something to embrace rather than dread. In this episode: Michelle's birthday week...

The Reinvention Diaries – Episode: Body Confidence & Summer Skin In this episode, Michelle and Nicola dive into one of the most relatable topics around: body confidence as the warmer months arrive. What happens when the cosy layers come off and the pressure to "look good" kicks in? In this episode, we talk about: Grounding and why putting your bare feet on the grass might actually be good for...

Michelle and Nicola get real about why they're not taking their own advice — and what they're doing about it. In this episode: Finding your focus window — Nicola has a lightbulb moment about working to her brain's natural rhythms, pinpointing mornings as her most productive time The distraction tax — why it can take a full 20 minutes to regain concentration after an interruption, and why working f...

Masking, Mental Load & The Invisible Weight Women Carry How often do you say “I’m fine” when you’re actually exhausted, overwhelmed, or quietly struggling? In this episode of The Reinvention Diaries , Michelle and Nicola dive into the very real topic of masking – the ways women often keep showing up, smiling, coping, and carrying on… even when life feels heavy behind the scenes. From masquerad...

Eleanor Hancox is an award winning brand strategist, creative director, podcast host ("Who Told You That?"), and author. She runs No.75 Design, a branding agency and creative studio in Lincoln, alongside her husband Matt, helping small business owners find and communicate what makes them truly unique. What we talked about: Eleanor's philosophy of being a "respectful rebel" — knowing the rules, the...

🎂 Reinvention Diaries – Episode 53: One Year Reflections & Growth It's our birthday! The Reinvention Diaries turns one, and we're celebrating by looking back at a year of podcasting, growth, and more than a few tech disasters. Did you know that only 1% of podcasts make it past 21 episodes? We've done 53. We're calling that a win. In this episode, Michelle and Nicola reflect on: How the podcas...

Connection Over Competition: Female Empowerment & Building Your Tribe Michelle and Nicola are joined by special guest co-host Debbie Firmstone for a warm, wide-ranging conversation about female solidarity, the power of women's networking, and why connection always beats competition. In This Episode: 🎉 What We've Been Up To The girls catch up on life before diving in — from promoting the Big B...

In the final episode of this three-part mini-series, Michelle and Nicola dive into one of the most surprising stages of reinvention — when other people start to recognise the new version of you before you do. In this episode we cover: Why your external identity often shifts before your internal one catches up The strange, uncomfortable feeling of being introduced as your "new self" when you don't...

Episode 2: Taking Action In this episode, Michelle and Nicola dive into one of the biggest blockers in any reinvention journey: waiting until you feel ready. Spoiler — that day may never come. What we talk about: Why reinvention is more like experimentation than a polished launch The identity shift that happens when you leave behind who you were to become someone new The myth of the "fully formed"...