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Liz Copping & Michelle Ford Podcast Hosts of Two Women Chatting your midlife sanctuary for laughter, inspiration and community.

Liz Copping & Michelle Ford
Original Hosts of Two Women Chatting

How two midlife empty nesters became podcast hosts, as much as a surprise to them as anyone!

It was a fateful meeting the night I put the bins out on a dark November evening, having just moved to a new house, when Liz walked by and said hello.  Delighted to see a friendly face I told her I always had a teabag or bottle of wine ready for visitors… and a friendship began.

 

We discovered we were both in the same stage of life.  Our kids had either moved out or were about to and we were re-evaluating our lives as empty nesters, feeling mixed emotions.

 

And then covid hit.

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As rules were relaxed and we could meet outside or socially distanced we found we got along really well, laughing a LOT and eager to find new purpose in our lives.  We considered starting a business, perhaps along the lines of business networking but it was eventually our kids at a garden ‘focus’ group we dragged them into, that suggested we start a podcast as our conversations seemed to have us all in stitches.

 

Enter stage right, two midlife women with no podcast experience, no celebrity connections but a whole lot of ideas. 

 

We named our company Lifestyle Lounge as the name was available at Companies House but, rule number one, do a thorough google search as we eventually found out it was also the name of a swingers club in LA!  Too late for us unfortunately so that’s stuck but we realised Two Women Chatting was a far better podcast name and, as they say, does exactly what it says on the tin!

 

So began a steep learning curve of website design, multi-track recording, talent booking, graphic design, SEO understanding and so much more.  If it’s your dream to start a podcast, consider how long you think it might take you - and then double it.

 

We did a lot wrong including not listening to our gut and going with suggestions we weren’t comfortable with, we misjudged how much time it took and, how embarrassing is this and never to be repeated, forgot to press record on one particular guest!  Fortunately they were kind enough to do another date with us.

 

But as we became more comfortable and confident, booked more household names like Anthea Turner, Claire Sweeney, Angie Best, Judy Murray and, our greatest to date, Dame Judi Dench, listened to ourselves and, importantly, believed in ourselves we settled in for the long term and embraced stepping outside our comfort zone.  To be fair, I’d had plenty of experience on a mic as a voice actor but reading scripts and audiobooks is entirely different to interview skills, especially when your knees are knocking under the table interviewing a big celebrity!  Liz, with zero mic experience, was timid to begin with but has grown exponentially into an active participant who really enjoys the interviews as much as I do.  We found that our skillsets really complemented each other and we found our groove.

 

So, where are now?  After 6 seasons and 73 episodes, Liz decided to step away from the show to spend more time with her grandchildren, her garden and her golf swing. We both listened to the advice of so many of our guests and setting boundaries, adjusting life balances.  The podcast is now downloaded in 95 countries from Angola to Zimbabwe, mostly by midlife women who want to find an authentic, entertaining chat and maybe learning something along the way.   

 

Season 7 kicked off in early May 2024 with Michelle as the solo host.  The name didn't change as it's still 'two women chatting' (one could argue it was three women chatting before!).

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Season 8 will be back in September 2024 with some great names already booked and lots of midlife topics that listeners have been asking for.

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So please continue to support the programme and keep in touch through email twowomenchatting@gmail.com or instagram @michelleford_twc

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Contact us if you would like content or comments on our specialist subjects which are midlife, empty nesting, parenting, reinvention, career changes or having a bad day!

Meet the host behind the podcast

Michelle Ford

Michelle has lived a nomadic life with her husband  of 30 years and three kids, relocating from the UK to the USA, to Singapore and now back in Blighty.  Voice acting for nearly 20 years, she has narrated audiobooks, commercials and voice projects for international clients as she moved her booth around the world.

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Michelle is now pressing the reset button as an empty nester and enjoying a new career in podcasting. This podcast has pushed her to try new things, learn to say 'no' when she wants but also to say 'yes' to pushing outside her comfort zone.  She’s convinced that she lost all her ‘filters’ at 50 and is loving the freedom that brings!

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You can hear her on Brooklands Radio on Tuesdays 1-4pm co-hosting with Baz Richards, catch her monthly midlife column in Community Life (Weybridge, Runnymede & Cobham) or quarterly in Premier magazine, Surrey.

Two Women Chatting
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