🎙️ EPISODE 11: FFS WE MUST STOP OUTSOURCING OUR WORTH

Why dating apps, networking groups, gurus and validation-seeking keep pulling you away from yourself.

Are you constantly looking outside yourself for proof that you're enough?

In this episode, I'm talking about something that's become a huge problem in today's world: outsourcing our worth.

Whether it's dating apps, networking groups, self-development gurus, manifestation coaches, social media validation, or people promising to "fix" your life, many industries profit from your self-doubt.

The truth?

The moment you genuinely know your worth, you become much harder to manipulate, recruit, sell to, or control.

I'm sharing why vulnerable moments make us easy targets, how to spot the red flags, and why real growth isn't found in another course, another membership, or another person's approval.

It's found by coming home to yourself.

This is a raw conversation about self-worth, healing, boundaries, trusting your intuition, and learning to lead your own life instead of following someone else's script.

Because your worth was never missing.

You were just taught to look for it in the wrong places.

✓ Why people outsource their worth without realising it

✓ The business model behind insecurity

✓ Dating apps and the validation trap

✓ Networking groups, gurus and false belonging

✓ The difference between empowerment and dependency

✓ Why real self-development isn't always glamorous

✓ Learning to trust your own voice again

✓ How to stop becoming someone else's business model

✓ Coming home to yourself

"The moment you stop outsourcing your worth, you stop becoming somebody else's business model."

NCS Society is a community for people creating their next chapter with honesty, courage and connection.

No gurus.

No hierarchy.

No pretending.

Just real conversations, real growth and real people finding their way back to themselves.

Follow NCS Society or join us here

Real Talk. Real Growth. Real Freedom.

🎙️ EPISODE 3: WHY MAKING FRIENDS AS AN ADULT IS SO BLOODY WEIRD

Welcome back to The Next Chapter Experiment.

In this episode, Gem tackles a topic that doesn't get talked about nearly enough: adult friendships, loneliness, identity and what happens when life doesn't quite look the way you imagined it would.

Because let's be honest...

Making friends as an adult is weird.

One minute you're surrounded by people through school, work, relationships and family life. Next, you realise your social circle has quietly become smaller, life has become busier, and you're wondering where everyone disappeared to.

But this episode isn't really about making friends.

It's about something much deeper.

It's about reconnecting with yourself.

In This Episode

✨ Why social media has convinced us everyone else has their life sorted

✨ The problem with toxic positivity and always showing the highlight reel

✨ Why so many people feel disconnected despite being constantly connected

✨ The reality of becoming an empty nester, a new singleton, widowed, divorced or even a "single married person"

✨ Why friendships often disappear when life changes

✨ The importance of taking responsibility for your next chapter

✨ How to rebuild confidence, identity and a stronger sense of self

✨ Why energy matters more than age, relationship status or job title

The Truth About Next Chapter Society

Next Chapter Society isn't built around people who have perfect lives.

It's built around people who have been through real life.

People who have experienced loss, change, disappointment, setbacks and uncertainty.

But instead of staying stuck there, they've decided to keep showing up.

To try new things.

To meet new people.

To take ownership of what happens next.

Because the people who thrive in their next chapter aren't necessarily the people who've had it easiest.

They're the people who keep moving forward.

The Big Idea

Next Chapter Society isn't really about friendship.

Friendship is what happens along the way.

It's about energy.

It's about surrounding yourself with people who are curious, proactive and willing to participate in life.

People who don't wait to be rescued.

People who don't spend years blaming their circumstances.

People who ask:

"Right then... what's next?"

Join Next Chapter Society

If you're ready to stop sitting on the sidelines and start creating your next chapter, we'd love to welcome you.

👉Learn more or Join us

About The Next Chapter Experiment

Hosted by Gem, founder of Next Chapter Society.

A podcast about friendship, reinvention, wellbeing, identity, adventure and building a life that feels aligned with who you are now — not who you used to be.

Because your next chapter isn't about becoming someone else.

It's about coming home to yourself and creating a life that feels good from the inside out.

And the best chapters are rarely the ones we planned. ✨

#TheNextChapterExperiment #NextChapterSociety #AdultFriendships #EmptyNesters #PersonalGrowth #NewBeginnings #LifeAfterDivorce #WidowedNotFinished #ManchesterCommunity #MidlifeReinvention #Wellbeing #PersonalDevelopment #FriendshipAfter40 #LifeByDesign #SouthManchesterCommunity #EnergyIsEverything

🎙️ EPISODE 10: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE "WE MUST CATCH UP" LIARS

Welcome back to The Next Chapter Experiment.

This week, Gem tackles one of the biggest myths in modern adult life:

"We must catch up soon."

Do we though?

Because let's be honest...

How many times have you bumped into someone, promised to organise a coffee, a drink, a walk or a catch-up... and then done absolutely nothing about it?

No judgement.

We've all done it.

But somewhere between good intentions, busy diaries, work, family, golf, padel, Pilates, dog walks and life generally doing its thing, many of us have become experts at talking about connection rather than actually creating it.

In This Episode

✨ Why "We must catch up soon" has become a national pastime

✨ The difference between good intentions and real action

✨ How social media can create the illusion of connection

✨ Why so many adults know lots of people but rarely see them

✨ The hidden reason friendships fade over time

✨ Why organising a coffee sometimes feels harder than planning a military operation

✨ The power of becoming a "doer" rather than a "one day" person

✨ How small actions create meaningful relationships

The Truth About Adult Friendships

Most people aren't short of people.

They're short of action.

They've got contacts.

Acquaintances.

Followers.

WhatsApp groups.

People they genuinely like.

But connection doesn't happen through good intentions.

It happens through participation.

Through saying yes.

Through showing up.

Through sending the message.

Through booking the coffee.

Through getting out of the house.

The Big Idea

Intentions don't create connection. Action does.

The friendships, opportunities, experiences and memories we cherish don't come from conversations about doing something.

They come from actually doing it.

Because life isn't lived in the planning.

It's lived in the showing up.

What This Has To Do With Next Chapter Society

At its core, Next Chapter Society is a community of doers.

People who stop waiting for the perfect moment.

People who share what they're already doing and invite others to join.

People who understand that a coffee, a walk, a gym class, a game of padel or a spontaneous drink can be the start of something meaningful.

No pressure.

No awkward networking.

No endless online chatter.

Just real people creating real opportunities.

Join Next Chapter Society

If you're tired of talking about doing things and ready to start doing them, we'd love to welcome you.

👉 https://www.skool.com/next-chapter-society-5646/about?ref=fa5bc545ead44463b19ebb6f38b337c8⁠�

About The Next Chapter Experiment

Hosted by Gem, founder of Next Chapter Society.

A podcast for people who want more from life, more connection, more adventure and more meaningful experiences.

For people who know there's still plenty of life left to live and aren't prepared to spend it sitting on the sidelines.

Quote From This Episode

"Life's too short for imaginary coffees."

Challenge For This Week

Think of one person you've been saying "We must catch up soon" to.

Stop talking about it.

Send the message.

Pick a date.

Get it booked.

Hashtags

#TheNextChapterExperiment #NextChapterSociety #AdultFriendships #ConnectionMatters #LifeAfter40 #MidlifeReinvention #PersonalGrowth #FriendshipAfter40 #EmptyNesters #Wellbeing #PersonalDevelopment #CreateYourNextChapter #TakeAction #EnergyIsEverything #MakeLifeBigger #ShowUp #DoersNotTalkers #ManchesterCommunity #LifeIsForLiving #BanterBuddies

🎙️ EPISODE 9: HAVE YOU OUTGROWN YOUR OWN LIFE?

Welcome back to The Next Chapter Experiment.

This week, Gem explores a question that many people secretly ask themselves but rarely say out loud:

Have you outgrown your own life?

Not because your life is bad.

Not because you're ungrateful.

Not because everything is falling apart.

In fact, this episode is for people who've built a good life.

The house.

The family.

The career.

The business.

The routines.

The responsibilities.

The life they once dreamed of.

But somewhere along the way, they've changed.

And now they're wondering whether the life they've built still fits the person they've become.

In This Episode

✨ Why "fine" can sometimes be the most dangerous place to stay

✨ The hidden challenge of evolving whilst your life stays the same

✨ Why so many people feel stuck despite having everything they thought they wanted

✨ The difference between being grateful and settling

✨ How our priorities naturally change as we move through different chapters of life

✨ Why outgrowing old routines, friendships and expectations is completely normal

✨ The importance of giving yourself permission to evolve

✨ The question that could change everything:

"What do I actually want?"

The Truth About Growth

One of the biggest myths about adulthood is that once you've built a life, you're supposed to stay exactly the same.

But life doesn't work like that.

You change.

Your experiences change you.

Your losses change you.

Your successes change you.

Your values evolve.

Your priorities shift.

And sometimes the person who created your current life isn't the same person living it today.

That's not failure.

That's growth.

The Big Idea

You can be deeply grateful for your life and still want more from it.

You can appreciate everything you've built and still feel ready for a new adventure.

You can love your life and still recognise that you're evolving.

The goal isn't to start over.

The goal is to stop pretending you haven't changed.

What This Has To Do With Next Chapter Society

At Next Chapter Society, we believe your next chapter should reflect who you are now, not who you were ten or twenty years ago.

That's why our community is full of people who are curious, open-minded and ready to create new experiences, friendships and opportunities.

Not because they're running away from their lives.

Because they're running towards a bigger, more aligned version of themselves.

Join Next Chapter Society

If you're ready to stop shrinking yourself to fit an old chapter and start creating one that feels more like you, we'd love to welcome you.

👉 https://www.skool.com/next-chapter-society-5646/about?ref=fa5bc545ead44463b19ebb6f38b337c8⁠�

About The Next Chapter Experiment

Hosted by Gem, founder of Next Chapter Society.

A podcast for people navigating change, rediscovering themselves and creating a life that feels exciting, meaningful and aligned with who they are becoming.

Because life isn't about staying the same.

It's about growing into who you're meant to be.

Quote From This Episode

"You can be grateful for your life and still want more from it."

Question To Reflect On

Have you actually outgrown parts of your life... or are you still trying to squeeze yourself into a chapter that's already finished?

#TheNextChapterExperiment #NextChapterSociety #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeReinvention #LifeTransitions #EmptyNesters #PersonalDevelopment #SelfDiscovery #LifeAfterDivorce #NewBeginnings #GrowthMindset #FriendshipAfter40 #Wellbeing #CreateYourNextChapter #Identity #LifeByDesign #EnergyIsEverything #Purpose #PersonalEvolution #TheNextChapterStartsNow

🎙️ EPISODE 8: ONE DAY ISN'T A DAY OF THE WEEK

Welcome back to The Next Chapter Experiment.

This week, Gem explores two of the most dangerous words in the English language:

"One day."

One day I'll join that class.

One day I'll book that trip.

One day I'll get fitter.

One day I'll make more time for myself.

One day I'll start living the life I keep talking about.

Sound familiar?

For many of us, especially as we move into a new chapter of life, "one day" becomes the place where dreams, plans and possibilities quietly go to gather dust.

Not because we don't care about them.

Because life gets busy.

Responsibilities take over.

And before we know it, another year has passed.

In This Episode

✨ Why "one day" can be one of the biggest traps we fall into

✨ The hidden cost of waiting until everything feels perfect

✨ Why confidence rarely comes before action

✨ How life starts to feel different when you become more aware of time

✨ The difference between planning your life and postponing it

✨ Why so many people stay stuck in "fine" for years

✨ The question that could change your next chapter:

What have you been saying "one day" about?

✨ How to stop waiting and start participating in your own life

The Truth About Time

At some point, many of us realise something powerful:

Life isn't necessarily getting shorter.

But it is getting more valuable.

We become more aware of how quickly the years pass.

How important experiences become.

How precious our time, energy and attention really are.

And that's when the question shifts from:

"What if it doesn't work?"

To:

"What if I never try?"

The Big Idea

The biggest risk isn't failure.

The biggest risk is postponing your life.

Because the perfect moment rarely arrives.

The perfect version of you isn't coming.

And most of the best things in life begin before you feel completely ready.

What This Has To Do With Next Chapter Society

Next Chapter Society is built around one simple belief:

Life is happening now.

Not when you've lost the weight.

Not when work settles down.

Not when the kids leave home.

Not when you feel more confident.

Now.

It's a community for people who are ready to stop waiting for permission and start creating experiences, memories, friendships and opportunities in the chapter they're living today.

Because the next chapter isn't something you wait for.

It's something you create.

Join Next Chapter Society

If you've been waiting for a sign, this might just be it.

👉 https://www.skool.com/next-chapter-society-5646/about?ref=fa5bc545ead44463b19ebb6f38b337c8⁠�

About The Next Chapter Experiment

Hosted by Gem, founder of Next Chapter Society.

A podcast for people who know there's still more life to live, more adventures to have and more stories to write.

For people entering a new chapter and ready to stop putting themselves at the bottom of the list.

Quote From This Episode

"The biggest risk isn't failure. The biggest risk is postponing your life."

Question To Reflect On

What have you been saying "one day" about... and what would happen if you started today instead?

#TheNextChapterExperiment #NextChapterSociety #OneDayIsntADayOfTheWeek #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeReinvention #LifeAfter40 #NewBeginnings #EmptyNesters #PersonalDevelopment #TakeAction #LifeByDesign #Wellbeing #AdventureAwaits #FriendshipAfter40 #CreateYourNextChapter #EnergyIsEverything #StopWaiting #LiveFully #MakeLifeBigger #YourNextChapterStartsNow

🎙️ EPISODE 7: THE PEOPLE YOU START LIFE WITH AREN'T ALWAYS THE PEOPLE YOU GROW WITH

Welcome back to The Next Chapter Experiment.

This week, Gem explores a truth that many people experience but few feel comfortable admitting:

The people you start life with aren't always the people you grow with.

Not because anyone has done anything wrong.

Not because friendships have failed.

Not because relationships have become toxic.

Simply because life changes.

And so do we.

As we move through different chapters of life, our priorities shift. Our interests evolve. Our values deepen. Our energy changes.

And sometimes the people around us continue on a different path.

That's not betrayal.

That's growth.

In This Episode

✨ Why friendships naturally change as we get older

✨ The difference between outgrowing people and abandoning people

✨ Why growth can sometimes feel lonely

✨ The challenge of navigating the "in-between" chapter

✨ How life transitions can change our relationships

✨ Why many adults feel disconnected even when they're surrounded by people

✨ The importance of finding people who align with who you're becoming

✨ Why energy and mindset matter more than age, background or relationship status

The Hidden Reality Of Adult Life

Many people find themselves in a strange place.

They love their friends.

They care about their family.

They appreciate the people in their lives.

But they also feel like something has shifted.

The conversations aren't the same.

The interests aren't the same.

The priorities aren't the same.

And for the first time, they're looking for people who understand the chapter they're in now.

Not the chapter they were in ten years ago.

The Big Idea

You don't have to leave your old friendships behind.

But you're allowed to create new ones too.

You're allowed to seek out people who inspire you.

People who challenge you.

People who energise you.

People who remind you that life is still full of possibilities.

Because growth doesn't always mean losing people.

Sometimes it simply means expanding your world.

What This Has To Do With Next Chapter Society

At Next Chapter Society, people come from completely different backgrounds.

Different careers.

Different life experiences.

Different stories.

But they share something powerful:

A willingness to keep showing up.

A curiosity about life.

A desire to keep growing.

And an energy that says:

"I know there's more to come."

Because real connection isn't built on age, relationship status or job titles.

It's built on mindset.

Join Next Chapter Society

If you're ready to meet people who are aligned with the chapter you're living now, we'd love to welcome you.

👉 https://www.skool.com/next-chapter-society-5646/about?ref=fa5bc545ead44463b19ebb6f38b337c8⁠�

About The Next Chapter Experiment

Hosted by Gem, founder of Next Chapter Society.

A podcast for people navigating life's transitions, creating meaningful connections and building a life that feels bigger, richer and more aligned with who they are becoming.

Because sometimes the next chapter isn't about starting over.

It's about finding the people who belong in the story you're writing now.

Quote From This Episode

"You're not losing people. You're evolving. And you're allowed to find people who fit the person you're becoming."

#TheNextChapterExperiment #NextChapterSociety #AdultFriendships #PersonalGrowth #LifeTransitions #MidlifeReinvention #FriendshipAfter40 #EmptyNesters #PersonalDevelopment #LifeAfterDivorce #NewBeginnings #GrowthMindset #Wellbeing #CreateYourNextChapter #FindYourPeople #CommunityMatters #EnergyIsEverything #ManchesterCommunity #TheNextChapter #KeepGrowing

🎙️ EPISODE 6: IS THIS IT?

Welcome back to The Next Chapter Experiment.

This week, Gem tackles a question that many people think but rarely say out loud:

"Is this it?"

Not because life is terrible.

Not because you're unhappy.

Not because everything is falling apart.

Quite the opposite.

This episode is for the people who've built a good life.

The career.

The family.

The home.

The routines.

The responsibilities.

The life they've worked incredibly hard to create.

And yet somewhere beneath it all, there's a quiet feeling that something is missing.

Not more success.

Not more stuff.

Just... more life.

In This Episode

✨ Why so many successful adults find themselves feeling restless

✨ The difference between being unhappy and being under-stimulated

✨ How routine can quietly turn into stagnation

✨ Why boredom is one of adulthood's most unspoken struggles

✨ The danger of living the same year ten times instead of living ten different years

✨ Why spontaneity disappears as we get older

✨ The simple question that can completely change your next chapter:

"When was the last time you did something for the first time?"

✨ Why energy comes from participation, not consumption

The Big Idea

Most people don't need to completely reinvent their lives.

They don't need to move to Bali.

Quit their jobs.

Sell everything they own.

Or start over from scratch.

They simply need more moments that make them feel alive.

More experiences.

More conversations.

More adventure.

More curiosity.

More opportunities to surprise themselves.

Because life isn't meant to be endured.

It's meant to be experienced.

What This Has To Do With Next Chapter Society

Next Chapter Society isn't about making your diary busier.

It's about making your life bigger.

Bigger experiences.

Bigger opportunities.

Bigger conversations.

Bigger memories.

It's for people who know there's still more to come and aren't prepared to spend the next ten years watching life from the sidelines.

Whether it's trying something new, meeting someone unexpected, joining a class, grabbing a coffee, playing padel, going boxing, heading to the cinema or simply saying yes more often...

The next chapter starts with participation.

Join Next Chapter Society

Ready to make life bigger?

👉 https://www.skool.com/next-chapter-society-5646/about?ref=fa5bc545ead44463b19ebb6f38b337c8⁠�

About The Next Chapter Experiment

Hosted by Gem, founder of Next Chapter Society.

A podcast for people entering a new chapter of life and looking for more connection, adventure, wellbeing, friendship and purpose.

Because the best chapters aren't always the ones we planned.

They're often the ones we have the courage to create.

Quote From This Episode

"The goal isn't to make your life busier. The goal is to make it bigger."

#TheNextChapterExperiment #NextChapterSociety #IsThisIt #MidlifeReinvention #LifeAfter40 #EmptyNesters #PersonalGrowth #FriendshipAfter40 #NewBeginnings #Wellbeing #AdventureAwaits #PersonalDevelopment #CreateYourNextChapter #LifeByDesign #ManchesterCommunity #EnergyIsEverything #SayYesMore #LiveFully #TheNextChapter #MakeLifeBigger

🎙️ EPISODE 5: WHO ARE YOU WHEN NOBODY NEEDS YOU?

Welcome back to The Next Chapter Experiment.

This week, Gem explores a question that many people quietly wrestle with but rarely talk about:

Who are you when nobody needs you?

For years, many of us build our identities around being needed.

Being the parent.

The partner.

The business owner.

The carer.

The organiser.

The problem solver.

The one everyone relies on.

But what happens when life changes?

When the children grow up.

When relationships end.

When retirement arrives.

When the business no longer needs every ounce of your attention.

When life suddenly creates space.

For some people, that space feels exciting.

For others, it can feel incredibly uncomfortable.

Because underneath all the responsibilities, many of us have forgotten something important:

Who we are.

In This Episode

✨ Why so many people lose themselves whilst building a life for everyone else

✨ The hidden identity crisis that can come with empty nesting, retirement, divorce and major life transitions

✨ Why being needed isn't the same as being fulfilled

✨ The difference between reinventing yourself and reconnecting with yourself

✨ How responsibilities can quietly become your entire identity

✨ Why self-neglect isn't noble — it's exhausting

✨ The power of curiosity, adventure and rediscovering what lights you up

✨ How to create a next chapter that's built on possibility rather than obligation

The Big Idea

The next chapter of your life isn't about becoming someone different.

It's about remembering who you were before life became one giant to-do list.

Before the labels.

Before the responsibilities.

Before everyone else's needs came first.

Because when you reconnect with yourself, everything changes.

Your confidence.

Your energy.

Your relationships.

Your outlook.

And ultimately, your future.

What This Has To Do With Next Chapter Society

At its heart, Next Chapter Society isn't about filling a diary.

It's about helping people reconnect with themselves through new experiences, meaningful conversations and genuine connections.

Many of our members have spent years looking after everyone else.

Now they're choosing to invest in themselves too.

Not out of selfishness.

Out of self-respect.

Because life isn't over when one chapter ends.

Often, that's exactly where the most interesting chapter begins.

Join Next Chapter Society

If you're ready to explore what's possible in your next chapter, we'd love to welcome you.

👉 https://www.skool.com/next-chapter-society-5646/about?ref=fa5bc545ead44463b19ebb6f38b337c8⁠�

About The Next Chapter Experiment

Hosted by Gem, founder of Next Chapter Society.

A podcast about friendship, wellbeing, reinvention, identity, adventure and creating a life that feels aligned with who you are now.

For people entering a new chapter and ready to make it count.

Quote From This Episode

"The next chapter isn't about becoming someone new. It's about coming home to yourself."

#TheNextChapterExperiment #NextChapterSociety #Identity #PersonalGrowth #MidlifeReinvention #EmptyNestSyndrome #LifeAfterDivorce #RetirementLife #SelfDiscovery #PersonalDevelopment #NewBeginnings #Wellbeing #FriendshipAfter40 #WomenOver40 #MenOver40 #LifeTransitions #Purpose #ComingHomeToYourself #CreateYourNextChapter #EnergyIsEverything