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You can have a lifetime of work behind you and still feel like a beginner again, especially when you finally have time to face the hobbies you parked years ago. We lean into that moment, the mix of excitement and doubt, and ask a simple question: how do you start making art or music when you’re convinced you’re “not that person”?

We sit down with David and Joe Dunwell to talk honestly about learning music as an adult, the fear of failure, and why it helps to decide what you want music for. Maybe it’s mastering scales and songwriting craft, or maybe it’s learning a handful of songs to play at home for friends. We also get practical about confidence building through open mic nights, showing up before you perform, and using YouTube and local beginner lessons to get the first tools in your hands.

Then we head to the North York Moors to meet artist Sue Slack, whose work is shaped by landscape, colour, and the changing light. She shares down-to-earth ways to begin drawing again, focusing on small subjects, making a little time each day, and experimenting without demanding perfection. We also talk about why joining an art group can be a powerful antidote to isolation in retirement, giving you both motivation and like-minded company.

If you’re searching for retirement hobbies, creative retirement ideas, beginner guitar advice, open mic confidence, or beginner drawing and painting tips, this is a warm push towards action. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a nudge, and leave us a review, what creative thing will you try this week?

If you would like a go at Painting you contact Sue on

http://www.sueslack.co.uk/

Too find out more info about The Dunwells follow the link below

https://www.thedunwells.com/

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If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.

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We head to Sutton Bank on the North York Moors to find out what it really takes to keep a national park healthy, welcoming and protected. We meet the people making it happen, from volunteer managers planning for decades of restoration to a retired teacher rebuilding dry stone walls that could stand for 200 years.
• Sutton Bank as a base for cycling, walks, dark sky events and all-access routes
• The hidden layers of the moors, from wildlife habitats to archaeology and community projects
• What a national park protects, and why it is for everybody
• Who volunteers, what motivates them, and how flexible roles can be
• Youth ranger days, school outreach, River Esk Reconnect work and virtual walks for care homes
• Moorland fire recovery, peat restoration, and the long timeline of “wetter is better”
• How the park tries to remove barriers, from transport to welfare facilities
• Paul’s volunteering journey, skills training, public-facing ranger support and the pride of leaving a lasting legacy

Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode.

Support the show

If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.

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We spend an evening with Kitchens For Everyone York to understand how a volunteer-run kitchen serves hot meals with dignity for people who are homeless or in vulnerable situations. We hear how outreach, teamwork, and small acts of welcome create purpose for volunteers and real connection for guests.
• why extra time in retirement can feel unsettling, and why volunteering fills the gap
• what Kitchens For Everyone York does, from sit-down meals to street outreach
• how the charity started, how it is funded, and why donations stretch further without paid staff
• how a Wednesday service runs, from orders and hot drinks to food served at tables
• volunteer roles that do not require cooking skills, from prep to tea and coffee
• what outreach looks like, including safety, pairs, routes, and checking on regulars
• what volunteers say they get back, from purpose and gratitude to new friendships across ages
do check out your local food kitchen and see if you can go and give them a hand.
Please don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe.

Also if you would like too find our more about the "Food Kitchen" please click on the following link https://kitchenforeveryoneyork.org/

Support the show

If you enjoy the show, please click the “Support the show” link and follow the instructions. Your support means the world to us; we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Thank you everyone.