Begin Again Moments: The Midlife Pivot
6/7/202614 min
In this inspiring episode of Begin Again Moments, we bring together two powerful conversations about reinvention, resilience, and finding a new path when life doesn't go to plan. Ruby Wax reflects on what happened when she lost her BBC show and found herself searching for a new sense of purpose. From studying psychotherapy to becoming a life coach and even selling handbags, Ruby shares the unexpected twists and turns that helped her build a meaningful new chapter in midlife. Mel Robbins then reveals the simple tool that transformed her life during one of her darkest periods. Struggling to get out of bed as her career, finances, and confidence unravelled, she discovered what would become the world-famous 5 Second Rule, a practical technique that helped her take action when motivation had disappeared. Together, these moments offer a powerful reminder that it's never too late to start again, reinvent yourself, or take the first small step towards a different future. To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsRuby Wax· Guest0:00
Television is my allergy Yes Yeah. It's my allergy. If I get near that, the, the cortisol starts filling up.
Davina McCall· Host0:07
It was interesting because television was your savior. Like, it- Yeah.
Ruby Wax· Guest0:10
And now it's something else.
Davina McCall· Host0:12
What happened?
Ruby Wax· Guest0:13
I think you mature.
Davina McCall· Host0:15
Yeah.
Ruby Wax· Guest0:15
Your, your brain gets wiser. Like, I'm lucky. There's a... I always s- there's an expression that says at a certain point you can turn into wine or vinegar after about 50.
Davina McCall· Host0:25
Oh, I love that.
Ruby Wax· Guest0:25
Yeah, it's good, isn't it? And so I, I really got interested in meditation, mindfulness, and I think that, um, means you're really interested in digging down.
Davina McCall· Host0:35
Mm.
Ruby Wax· Guest0:36
And that's really my interest. I don't wanna have sh- I don't do small talk. I, I mean, you know, I'm, I'll be funny, you know, especially if I know that's called for, but I, I, my real interest is when you speak below the radar.
Davina McCall· Host0:49
Yes.
Ruby Wax· Guest0:49
Yeah.
Davina McCall· Host0:49
And this, this podcast is called Begin Again, and I'm, I'm always thinking about how can people change something- Yeah ... in their life that will enable them to, on their deathbed, go, "I really f- I really-" I did it ... I fucking had a go.
Ruby Wax· Guest1:03
Yeah.
Davina McCall· Host1:04
Like- I tried.
Ruby Wax· Guest1:05
It's what I want on my epitaph ...
Davina McCall· Host1:07
I did everything I wanted to try. Exactly.
Ruby Wax· Guest1:07
I tried.
Davina McCall· Host1:08
And, um, but you did. I mean, you are. Like, you're, you're doing.
Ruby Wax· Guest1:13
Well, I did. I did. I mean, yeah. I was, I was kicked out of TV more or less. I coulda kicked my way back in.
Davina McCall· Host1:21
So what do you mean by that?
Ruby Wax· Guest1:23
Well- Well, after Ruby Meets ... yeah, I was doing, like, a, there was a great show, Boys with Toys, where we- Yes ... raced