On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Jackie Kay - poet, novelist, former Scots Makar and one of the sharpest, warmest thinkers on identity, belonging and getting older without shrinking. We talk about turning 60 as a clarifying moment, why writing is a lifelong form of processing, living on the margins by choice, love without cohabitation, grief, friendship, and what really matters as you age.

Whether you’re rethinking who you are, how you live, or how much of yourself you’re willing to give away, this is a conversation about staying whole, because it’s never just about getting older, it’s about getting clearer.

See Jackie Kay live in conversation with Russell T Davies at Pitlochry Festival Theatre on 16 January

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

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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re easing into 2026 the only way we know how: chatting through the small domestic dramas that somehow say everything about where we’re at. From the brutal satisfaction of taking the Christmas decorations down early (and judging everyone else who hasn’t), to the chaos of tangled fairy lights, surprise clothing labels, itchy arms, ageing bodies, drum kits, camper vans and gift-giving politics.

It’s never just about the tree - it’s about control, fatigue, humour, and learning to laugh at yourself when life refuses to be tidy. Whether you’re quietly relieved Christmas is over, negotiating changing bodies, or wondering why the men in your life are suddenly buying musical equipment, this one will feel very familiar.

A warm, rambling, honest start to the year - proof that companionship sometimes looks like two friends talking absolute nonsense and accidentally telling the truth.

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

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On this week’s Midweek Catchup, we’re firmly in that strange in-between zone where no one knows what day it is, Christmas feels like it happened months ago, and normal rules no longer apply. Kay and Karen swap Twixmas stories - from quiet family Christmases and gifts bought (or bought for oneself), to beachside holidays, culinary regrets involving oysters, and the weird emotional flatness that can creep in when the festivities fade.

It’s never just about what you did for Christmas. It’s about routines disappearing, bodies doing unexpected things, and realising that rest, recovery and small comforts matter more than forced cheer. Whether you escaped abroad, stayed close to home, or are still wondering where the week went, this episode is a warm, funny reminder that you’re not the only one feeling slightly untethered.

Because no one tells you that this bit - the lull after the sparkle - can be just as revealing as the big day itself.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.