The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - Your Agony Aunts Are Back!

Episode Date: January 22, 2026

In this Agony Aunt special, Rachel and Millie solve all your burning issues including; a wedding dilemma, a friend’s flirty boyfriend and a 25 year age gap crush. British Gas is proud partner of the Barclays Women’s Super League and The Rest Is Football Daly Brightness. Learn more about the BWSL Football Tariff here: https://wsl.theenergyshop.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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like heart disease and cancer. The healthier you means more moments to cherish. Take control of your well-being and book an assessment today. Medcan, live well for life. Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. Hello everyone and welcome to Daily Brightness. This episode is normally a Q&A, but this time we've got a little special edition and we are doing Agony Ants. Seeing as though, we all enjoyed them last time. Our favourite, Rach, kick us off. Okay, so the first one is a wedding dilemma and it says, hey girls, love the pod. Thank you very much. Appreciate you. I'm getting married next year. I've always been a people pleaser, but my dad has consistently let me down and caused hurt. My siblings feel the saying but haven't cut contact. I have and he's made minimal effort since over a year and he hasn't

asked about my children. Am I doing the right thing not inviting him to my wedding? I feel guilty but I honestly can't stand him anymore. He's never cared. I'm going to say your wedding is your wedding. Nobody else is so you need to do what's right for you. But what I will say is if you do think you're going to regret it, you really need to sit and think hard about it. But it's your day and ultimately you choose what you want to do. Yeah, I'd 100% agree with Rach. And you don't want to regret it in either way. You don't want to regret not having him there,

but you don't want to regret having him there and then it's been ruined. Or you feel in a type of way. And like Rachard said, what I will say is this is literally yours and your partner's day. So nothing should interfere. It doesn't matter whether they're blood-related or not. Nothing should interfere.

You dictate every decision, who's there. And if you have the slightest concern that there's going to be drama for it or it's going to ruin your day, then I think you've already got your answer. But there's no right or wrong. I think that's important to state as well. I think, like I said, it's yours and your partner's day. So, yeah, we can advise,

but ultimately I think you have to make your decision for you and your partner. Yeah. Think of the scenarios. Think of him been there and think of him not been there and which one probably affects you the most. And if you're getting too anxious about him, been there or not been there, I think that.

There's your answer. Yeah, your answer's kind of there. but I hope you come to a decision and I hope I wish you all the best for your wedding. I hope you have a lovely day. Next. I need advice. I'm a single mum.

I was out with my best friend of 10 years and her boyfriend was being flirt with me. I told her next day and she accused me of being jealous, but I'm single saying I crave her boyfriend's attention. I'm a lesbian, so I have no interest in him. I don't want to fall out over this. What would you do? If you told me that Sarah was flirting with you,

I wouldn't be like You're just jealous, Millie. Like, I'd have to die deeper into it. If they're into the opposite sex. Exactly. That's what I mean. It's perfect example. Yeah.

We would probably laugh and joke about it. You're a straight girl and you told me that Sarah was flirting with you. I'd be like, wait a minute. What? Like, for you to tell me that, I'd be like, that's weird. Something's going on.

Yeah. If she's going to fall out of you over that, then block and delete me. Then I think she probably already as concerns, if I'm honest, I think there's already things happening. If that is immediately defensive to you with the context of the situation

in terms of you're not into guys and you're a best friend of 10 years and the fact that you've gone to her with this, you could have just left it. Like, and luckily, she should see it as luckily he's flirting with you and not someone that's never going to tell you. But equally, yeah, what I don't like about this

is the best friend is blaming her. Like, you need to look a little bit at her closer to her. He's flirting with her. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's like the defence, but that's what makes me then think, hmm, as there are other red flags within the situation

and she's just attacked the first thing at the first opportunity. I don't know, yeah. I mean, like you said, I would never expect you to come at me if I did come to you and say, besty bestie's been flirting with me, which she does, of course, she does. I'm kidding.

I'd be like, first of all, I think I'd be like, okay, what do you mean? I'd need a bit of context. I'd need some examples or like, what is it? And then I'd be questioning my partner and been like, listen, like, it's not a big deal, but what the hell? Like, what's going off? Is it a misunderstanding?

I think I'd be more likely to question my partner than I would be questioning my best friend. Yeah, and I wouldn't be getting defensive going with an attention seeker, especially if they're single. And do you know what I mean? They could go and just be with anyone or whatever. I think the response is a little bit concerning, if I'm honest. But it then makes me think there's other situations maybe going on between them that you don't know about. And maybe she's just lashed out and is struggling.

So I'd maybe try and check in again and just like, is everything. all right. And also, it depends on the way you've said it. If you've gone like, oh, my friend's flirting with me. Yeah. Like, if you just sat down, maybe, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know what the situation is on how is, have a conversation. That's what I will say. Have a conversation. Ten years of friendship is too long to throw away. So I think, and especially over like a bit of flirting, like, I have a conversation. Yeah, I agree. And I'm sure you can get to the bottom of it. So I hope you get it sorted. But yeah, next one, Besty. This one's really making me laugh. My friend borrowed my

England shirt for a festival, spilled orange juice on it and it's permanently stained. Do I say something or do I let it go? I mean, if it's me, I'm going to go. Let it go. It's material. What's the saying? Life's too short to stuff a mushroom.

Like, to cry over spilled milk. Like, you're literally going to cry over spilled orange juice. Yeah. But I wouldn't be, I wouldn't be losing sleep over that, to be honest. It made me giggling. To be honest, every time I put it on, I'd be like, way, that was when you was at the festival. there's probably a funny story attached to it.

Also, I sure orange juice must come out. Do you know what's brilliant for stains, giving you a little tip here, Marcella water, gets off waterproof mascara, gets anything out of tops. But yeah, don't lose sleep over that. Please, there's bigger problems in the world. Yeah, just let it go.

Just let it go. Now, this is an interesting one. I'm always the one to message or organise things. If I don't make contact, I don't hear from anyone. I've stopped reaching out first, and now I feel really lonely. I'm nearly 30 with no close friendships. How do I build new ones as a homeowner with two dogs?

It's getting me down. Aw. That's really sad. But what I would say is you're not alone because you've got two dogs and they are the best company in the world. And they're never let you down ever. And you've got two dogs. That's two ways to their best life.

So let's address the first part of the... The first part winds me up because I feel like that is quite common. And I've had that. I feel like I'm a bit like that. I told you when people don't reply in groups. Yeah. Back to my point. But the first part is I think you've done the right thing

stopping reaching out because then you know where you stand and then you don't have to waste any more time on people that aren't going to make you a priority in their life. Whether it's a friendship or a relationship or family or whatever, you should, if they're people you care about, you should always be a priority. And I've always said this. It takes two seconds to send a text.

And you should want to see your people. That's what I mean. And I agree with that. because I feel like sometimes, like, in my life, I have been the person that reaches. Yeah. And like, I'm quite forthcoming with that. And I find that quite hard as well, sometimes when I'm like, well, actually. When did you last ring me?

Or when did you even have to reach first? Or would you, yeah, why do I always have to ring first? Why do I always have to text first? And I know there's sometimes, like, different scenarios that play into that. But it's not a nice feeling. I will agree. No, not at all. What I would say is get yourself down to pub, walk your dogs to the pub.

Find like a local community, you know, there's groups and stuff on Facebook, like, you know, also listen to our podcast, we're here. You've always got a friend in us. But what I will say with the friends, one, just flipping it, have you questioned them on it? Have you had a conversation and been like, listen, guys, I'm feeling like this is really bothering me. Because sometimes we make decisions and we react without actually having a conversation and give them the benefit of the doubt. Have a conversation and be like, this is affecting me, this is bothering me. like they might have an explanation. I mean, for me, I'm very quick to block and delete.

So toxic trait, I will. I ain't got time for it. If you don't want to make effort, then cool. No worries by. But have a conversation first. See if there's an explanation. See if there's a change. If not, then cool.

There's a world full of people that would love to be your friend. Like Rachel, get your dogs. Go down to a calf. Dog walking is the best way to meet people. It's the best. You end up having conversations everywhere and anywhere. And get yourself down to a local pub. going to pub quiz or yeah honestly I think just don't be afraid and it doesn't matter like how old

you are or whatever like just step out of your comfort zone a little bit and be brave enough to do it there's so many people that would love to be a friend alongside me and rachel we're always here Taylor brightness is here for everyone for each right we're going to take a quick break and then we'll come back and do a few more of these agony ants we are loving them so far welcome back guys we are going to do a few more agoniance and we're going to start one that is a girlfriend who parties often. I'm seeing a girl who goes out a lot. We don't see each other much due to work.

She's 30. Surely she's over the partying days. Do I continue and just deal with it or say something? I don't like that line. I don't like that line. She's 30. Surely she's over partying. Why does there have to be a limit on when you start partying?

Let me tell you, we're going to be 80 and me and Rachel are still going to be partying together. I don't. I think that line is. the one that's like a bit of a hiccup for me, but the first part is they don't see each other much due to work. So to me, it sounds like he's not prioritising the relationship. So party all you want in my eyes. If you want to go and party, that's your life. You do that. You still need your own life. But what is the work? And then you've got party. But where do you

meet for the relationship? But we need to know the work hours. Are you on night shifts? Are you in the night shifts from the week? see much each other due to work. So that to me means they probably got the same work patterns, regardless, whatever it is. But then I just think... I think there's a couple things they need to figure out. Somebody's too old to party.

30's never too old to be partying. Ain't nobody's telling me when I'm stopping partying. I do think you should have a conversation and say, where do I fit into your world? Yeah. And then work out if you actually can fit into each other's world. And you're partying a lot. You know, you've got to get work-life balance.

Work-life party. Party hard. Love harder. You know. But you've got to respect what people need to do in their own time. If that person's got a really stressful job and then going out with the mates is something that prepares them for the next week. And maybe that's not the one for you. Yeah, you can't really tell someone to stop doing what they enjoy just to be in a relationship.

I think it's balanced. Everything is balanced. But the question they've asked is, do I continue and just deal with it or say something? No, don't deal with it. Have the conversation. Communication is key in every walk of life. Sit down. Amen.

Have a chat. That. Also, why don't you just get a little bottle of wine if they like party and then just be like, listen, want to do a little, little dinner, bottle of wine, sit down. Moving on. 25 year age gap crush. I have a massive crush on someone, but the age difference is 25 years. Should I go for it or not?

To me, it's not a problem, right? I think that's not, that gap isn't too horrific for me. But it depends how older people are, I think. Because I think once you get like over 30, like those age gaps, So like they don't make, like, like, 30 to 55 to me is like, I mean, I could meet someone that's 55, like no way, you look like 40.

Yeah. Or, you know, but if you're like 18 and that person's 43, I'm not here for that. I'm fully with you on that. But what I will say is without us knowing that, it's very hard to make... Answer and give an honest. To give you advice on it.

But what I will say is if you want to go for it, like don't wait for the opinions of others. Guess what? There are going to be opinions left right and center regardless of what you do. And no one in this world can tell you who to love. If you love someone, go for it.

Don't ever. And do you know what? Go for it. Go on a couple days. See how you feel. And then if it don't work out, it doesn't work out. No one says you have to go and marry that person

and be gluten for the rest of your life. Like, just, yeah, I think the age of the two people is very important. I personally wouldn't probably be attracted to somebody 25 years older than me. But that's me. That's not me saying you should. And it depends what stage you're at in life as well. If you came to me, If you came to me and you said to me, you're 32 and you said to me, you've met someone that's 57.

My first thought would be how and like, I'd ask the question. Who, what, where, when? Yeah, but then I'd be like, do you love them? Yeah, okay, sound, do it. Yeah, no one can really answer that for you. You've got to answer it for yourself. But just go for it and see how you're feeling. And then if you don't, if you're not feeling it, then cool, have a conversation, you go your separate ways.

But I think if you go through live wanting other people to make decisions on your relationships or friendships, I think. then you're always going to be unhappy. It has to be your decision. You have to be happy. Yeah. Go for it. Go for it, girl. Actually, go for it.

Boy, I don't know, whoever you are. Okay, last one. I coach my six-year-old daughter's football team. She's ace, a brilliant reader of the game, and the queen of assists, but she doesn't see it. She thinks because she isn't scoring all the goals, she's not any good. Now she wants to quit.

Has there ever been a time you question your own ability and what advice got you over that hurdle? My ability was always questioned. Always. But what I will say to her is, It's not always about the goals, and Millie can give you all that advice. Listen, football, there's more to football than scoring goals. There's assists.

Defending. Goal line tackles. There's last ditch defending. There's amazing saves that get made. And I think just zoom out from the position and zoom into the impact that you have on your team and your teammates. I do also think it's quite hard as a six-year-old, isn't it, to see that? Yeah. Just remind him of having fun.

That's the most important thing. And just little reminders that, oh my God, you did that. brilliant pasto and I also think that comes from the coaches that you're the environment that you're in and if like because obviously when you're a kid you want to score you want to be the superhero you want to kind of do all that amazing thing but I think it's up to like parents and coaches to remind people of I don't know let's just say Sophia might be player of the match but actually Harriet you did an amazing tackle like you did a brilliant block that's what made the team win like remind the team and the kids of like other moments not just the superstar

moments of scoring. Because at that age as well, it's not about individual brilliant. It's all about your kids getting along and the girls getting along with each other and having a good time. So keep doing those reminders. And yeah, tell them to listen to our podcast.

We'll give them advice. Yeah, keep going. Right, guys, that is it for the Agony Ans. We absolutely loved it. Keep sending them in and there'll be more episodes like this coming your way. Speak soon. Love that limited edition episode.

Bye-bye.