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Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball
Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball

101: Solo Holidays, Sore Bones and Freaky Dreams

June 10, 2026 • 48m

Summary

⏱️ 10 min read

Overview

Jo Wiley and Zoe Ball catch up on their contrasting weeks - Jo battling soggy British weather while Zoe escapes to Jason Vale's Juicy Escape wellness retreat in Portugal. They discuss garden challenges from relentless rain, sleep habits and the elusive quest for comfort in middle age, celebrate National Carers Week, share gardening tips including the Chelsea Chop technique, and swap music recommendations from their latest discoveries.

Zoe's Wellness Retreat Escape

Zoe calls in from Jason Vale's new Juicy Escape retreat in southern Portugal, describing a week-long wellness program featuring juicing, exercise classes, and optional evening meals. The retreat offers everything from sunrise yoga and spin classes to pickleball and paddle tennis, attracting diverse guests seeking weight loss, mental health breaks, or respite from daily life. She highlights meeting wonderful people including a mother of six kids under 10, and enjoying activities like rebounding and themed spin classes set to Dirty Dancing and Grease soundtracks.

  • The retreat offers a packed daily schedule including sunrise yoga, run club, sauna, rebounding, and themed spin classes
  • Zoe is on the 'fuel week' plan which includes an evening salad alongside juices, featuring ingredients like spinach, melon, dates, and black beans
  • Guests attend for various reasons: weight loss, mental health, grieving, recovering from cancer treatment, or just needing a break
  • Zoe bravely tried pickleball and paddle despite admitting she's hopeless at all sports involving a ball
" I've always thought it's quite cruel Joe that my name is Ball and I am hopeless at all sports that involve one. "

Solo Travel and Finding Peace

The conversation explores the value of solo travel and being comfortable alone, with Zoe describing how the retreat allows her to read, meet diverse people, and find proper relaxation. They discuss how solo experiences - whether eating alone, going to the cinema alone, or traveling alone - offer freedom from others' expectations and the luxury of following your own rules, though some people find the concept uncomfortable.

  • The retreat attracts people from all walks of life on their own, creating opportunities for meaningful connections
  • Solo travel provides freedom to do exactly what you want without pleasing anyone or conforming to expectations
  • Being at peace with yourself and not having to make conversation can be restorative
" I think it's good for you. I think if you can just be at peace with yourself and just not have to make conversation and just kind of be in your own head and do exactly what you want to do, that's the dream isn't it? "

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