International Women’s Podcast Awards
Moment of Entrepreneurial Inspiration
The International Women’s Podcast Awards recognise moments of brilliance in podcasting and the women and non-binary folk that produce them.
Episodes
6 days ago
Rory Stewart – Politics On The Edge
6 days ago
6 days ago
An insider’s view from former cabinet minister Rory Stewart OBE on the upcoming UK election and the difficulties a new Government will face taking over a country that he believes is bust, with public services we can't afford.
Rory is already selling out venues like the O2 in the autumn with his The Rest is Politics podcast co-host Alastair Campbell when they'll be debating the issues before the nation votes.
He shares candid stories from his eye-opening decade at the heart of Government, detailed in his memoir Politics On The Edge, saying there are elements of privilege in elected politics but it’s “bruising beyond imagination and only very unusual personalities usually survive in it.” Rory reveals he’d like to work on public policy for a Labour government, perhaps chairing a commission on Ai in the NHS.
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Royal Commentator & Historian Major General Alastair Bruce OBE
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Major General Alastair Bruce OBE is known for his engaging live TV commentary, here and in America, on royal weddings, jubilees, and the King's Coronation, giving viewers an accurate insight into ceremonial life and history.
Alastair - a direct descendant of the revered warrior king Robert the Bruce - is the current Governor of Edinburgh Castle, a role which dates back to 1107.
He reveals his love of the realm goes back to childhood when he made a detailed replica of the crown jewels from clay and a ballcock! Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, was intrigued by his long-held fascination when he filmed a documentary featuring an intimate conversation with the Monarch about her coronation of 1953.
Alastair has served 45 years in the Army, advised on set throughout the making of Downton Abbey and puts his extraordinary historical and royal knowledge to use on major films, including The King’s Speech.
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Exclusive with the UK’s Former Chief of the Defence Staff
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Former Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter gives his assessment on the current conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as reflects on his 45 years serving in the military.
Sir Nick says the world looks a lot more like it did in the 1910s and 1930s and explains the geopolitics behind why he believes conflict is now possible at a scale and intensity he hoped we’d never see again after 1945 came to an end.
Britain’s longest serving military chief since Lord Mountbatten shares fascinating stories from the start of his career as an 18-year-old soldier in the Northern Ireland Troubles to advising Prime Ministers and securing billions for defence.
General Carter is now lecturing at Stanford University in California, advising leading businesses and working for the Tony Blair Institute as well as with the charity Supporting Wounded Veterans.
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Astronaut Selection with Dr Tess Morris-Paterson
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
As NASA prepares to land people on the Moon for the first time since 1972, aerospace physiologist Dr Tess Morris-Paterson talks about her work selecting astronauts for missions like Artemis and what it takes to become an astronaut.
Tess explains the lunar orbit of the Moon's South Pole, discusses plans for astronauts to live and work under the Moon's surface, and how these missions will pave the way to travel to Mars using hydrogen from the lunar ice caps.
Tess went through the gruelling selection process herself with the European Space Agency. Combining her aerospace knowledge with a decade working in Formula One and Premier League football, she founded Astro Perform to design selection programmes and prepare candidates for the challenges of space flight.
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Bonita Norris on Conquering Everest at 22
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Bonita Norris became the youngest British woman to summit Everest in 2010, aged just 22. What was even more remarkable about her feat, was that she only started mountaineering at university.
Inspired and driven by the thought of seeing the curvature of the Earth from the world’s highest peak, Bonita explains how she conquered tough mental, physical and practical challenges to achieve her dream.
She recounts the moment she fell on the way down, landing on the treacherous Hillary Step – a near vertical rock face where many have perished. Find out how she survived.
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
How Our Body Clock Can Revolutionise Our Sleep and Health
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Eminent scientist Russell Foster, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at Oxford University, shares some of his extraordinary life’s work, taking us on a fascinating journey through the science of our body clocks.
As work and recreation time has become increasingly blurred, we’ve neglected our 24-hour biological clock which guides us towards the best time to sleep, eat and think.
Using his own studies and those of other international sleep scientists, Russell explains how new science has proved that living out of synch with our clock not only disrupts sleep, but leaves us more vulnerable to infection, cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and mental illness.
However, with the right knowledge, we can get back into our rhythm and live healthier, sharper lives.
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Alice Loxton – Bringing History to Life for Millions on Socials
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Historian Alice Loxton is on a mission to bring history to a wider, younger audience using the power of her 2 million followers on socials.
The 28-year-old presenter and author travels up and down the UK, filming intriguing bite-sized historical facts and little-known stories from various periods in authentic settings.
Alice has packed a lot in – working with The National Trust, Downing Street, Sky Arts, Christies, Sotheby’s, and more – and hosts documentaries on History Hit TV with Dan Snow who calls his co-presenter ‘the star of her generation - the next big thing in history’.
Her debut book Outrage is released in paperback this month and her new book, 18, is available to pre-order.
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Shoshana Stewart on Protecting Heritage & Communities at Risk
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
When a 26-year-old American astrophysics major arrived in the Old City of Kabul in Afghanistan to volunteer, she had no idea the work would become a major part of her life, helping tens of thousands of people survive and thrive in unstable, war-torn countries.
Shoshana Stewart, President of Turquoise Mountain, explains how the international NGO started with a chance conversation between the then Prince of Wales and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, followed by an extraordinary mission for her now husband Rory Stewart.
Eighteen years on, Shoshana shares the compelling story of how the charity supports artisans like rug makers, carvers, and jewellery designers whose lives and ancient traditions in Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Middle East are under threat, giving them a livelihood and restoring their pride in their cultural heritage.
The King's Lodge at The Connaught designed by Guy Oliver with support from Turquoise Mountain artisans
The King's Lodge at The Connaught designed by Guy Oliver with support from Turquoise Mountain artisans
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
How One Woman Exposed the World’s Biggest Fraud
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
Investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown reveals the remarkable story behind her exposing the 1MDB fraud in which billions of dollars were embezzled from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund.
From her kitchen table in London, Clare worked doggedly with the FBI and US Department of Justice on her one-woman investigation which toppled a government, implicated top politicians, leading institutions and involved Hollywood names, diamonds & a $250 million super yacht.
The complex story – which began for Clare as an environmental expose into the destruction of Borneo’s tropical rainforest - is the subject of a new Netflix documentary, Man on the Run.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is serving 12 years in jail for his part in the fraud, and his alleged mastermind, Jho Low, remains on the run, wanted for money laundering.
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
How the UK Brought Back its Monuments Men
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Six years ago, the British Army tasked Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick OBE with forming a unit to defend and preserve some of the world’s greatest cultural treasures, at risk of theft or destruction in conflict.
The former tank commander explains how the lessons learned by the real-life ‘Monuments Men’ in World War 2 - documented by Sir Leonard Woolley and whose story formed the basis of George Clooney’s film - were invaluable when he set up the British Cultural Property Protection Unit.
Tim designed a course for UNESCO to train Ukrainian armed forces in how to address these issues in the current conflict, and he’s just returned from Estonia where he’s been working with Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian forces.
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Former Hello! Editor in Chief Rosie Nixon on Reinventing Herself
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Hello! Magazine’s former Editor in Chief Rosie Nixon talks openly about how she unexpectedly found herself on the brink of burnout after 16 years at Britain’s favourite celebrity magazine.
Despite incredible career success, Rosie was running on empty and didn’t feel the same joy from the adrenalin-fuelled, glamorous publishing world she had once thrived in.
She spent hours walking in the Surrey hills, digging deep into how she felt and what she wanted, and has now trained as a life coach, helping other exhausted mid-lifers reinvent themselves. Rosie remains at Hello! one day a week as Editor at Large.
Photographs by David Venni
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
The Good Grief Trust - Help and Hope in One Place
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Grange Hill star Linda Magistris founded The Good Grief Trust after she lost her partner – BAFTA-winning director Graham Theakston - to a rare cancer and found little support to help her cope with his early death.
Linda has grown it into the UK’s leading bereavement network, bringing more than 900 specialist charities & services together under one umbrella for individuals and health care professionals.
Actors Greg Wise, Afterlife and Downton Abbey star Dame Penelope Wilton and Todd Carty are among its dedicated ambassadors.
The Trust is run for the bereaved, by the bereaved – people who understand different kinds of loss and who can offer some hope, gentle guidance, and expert direction to ensure the right, tailored help is found.
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
An Inside Look at Organised Crime in Britain
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Operation Ringtail culminated in convictions following the smashing of a drugs ring who smuggled more than £1.5 billion worth of cocaine into the UK, hidden in boxes of frozen chicken.
Leading the investigation was this week’s guest, Detective Chief Superintendent Carl Galvin - Head of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Carl talks about his 25 years as a covert operative, the ever-changing face of organised crime & how his expert teams work to stay ahead of the criminals. New crimes are constantly emerging, like the 3D printing of automatic weapons destined for terrorists which led to the first UK conviction for privately manufactured firearms.
Serious and organised crime is estimated to cost the UK taxpayer a staggering £47 billion a year, making it the most significant national security threat to our economy.
Saturday Jan 13, 2024
Adventures of The Jungle Doctor, Dr Chloe Buiting
Saturday Jan 13, 2024
Saturday Jan 13, 2024
Dr Chloe Buiting, known as The Jungle Doctor, is an Australian wildlife vet & conservationist whose love for nature & animals started as a teenager on the remote Lord Howe Island, described by Lord Attenborough as “so extraordinary it’s almost unbelievable.”
Chloe’s work includes fitting prosthetics on elephants in Chiang Mai who have lost limbs through treading on landmines; dehorning rhino in Africa to prevent poachers killing or maiming them & treating koalas burned in the Australian bush fires.
She’s an official Advocate for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize; on the board of Zoos Victoria – the first carbon neutral zoological facility in the world – and a consultant for Fauna & Flora.
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Driving Change in Women’s Sport with Sue Anstiss
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
2024 is an exciting year for women’s sport, not least with the Olympics in Paris on the horizon - the first Games in history to offer gender parity.
Sue Anstiss MBE has been involved in women’s sport for more than three decades - dedicating much of her working life to fighting for equality and driving change.
We explore the impact of teams like the Lionesses, some fascinating history, the challenges which still lie ahead and what equality in sport can do more broadly within society.
Sue directed the recent Netflix documentary ‘Game On – The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport’ featuring trailblazers like Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, broadcaster Clare Balding and Olympic gold heptathlete Dame Denise Lewis.
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Pioneering Nature-Based Solutions to Help Society & the Planet
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
Sunday Dec 17, 2023
As our climate emergency deepens, the CEO of Triodos Bank UK – one of the world’s most sustainable banks – explains how the current global banking system needs strong mandatory regulations to become a catalyst for a more sustainable future and fairer economy.
Dr Bevis Watts is the first, and perhaps only, environmentalist to lead a UK bank and has spoken at key conferences like Blue Earth Summit and COP26.
We explore how our financial world can use nature-based investments to tackle issues which threaten our way of life as well as the planet, providing more help for those in society who need it.
Bevis - former CEO of a wildlife trust and passionate scuba diver - also chats about his Swallows and Amazons-style adventure in a kayak which led to the discovery that wild beavers are back on the River Avon for the first time since Tudor days.
Beaver photographs by Dr. Bevis Watts
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Capturing ’Mambabatok’ Apo Whang-Od’s Beauty for Vogue’s Cover
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
When Vogue Philippines asked Artu Nepomuceno to trek to the remote mountain village of Buscalan to photograph 106-year-old tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od, he said yes immediately!
Apo Whang-Od is the last 'mambabatok' of her generation, keeping the thousand-year-old practice of 'batok' alive by training and inspiring her grandnieces in the ancient art of inking. Artu's intimate portraits of Apo Whang-Od - a cultural icon in the Philippines and beyond - graced the cover of Vogue worldwide, re-defining beauty.
He shares the stories and emotions behind what was a very personal journey, humbly insisting he was “just the photographer”. Artu says the spotlight belongs to 106 years of Apo Whang-Od’s pure beauty.
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Hannah Shergold on Science, Art, Psychology and Conservation
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Scientist, painter and former Army helicopter pilot Hannah Shergold on her "fascinating yet peculiar" journey to becoming an artist.
Hannah is one of the UK's most successful self-represented artists, best known for her extraordinary wildlife pieces which have raised more than £300,000 for conservation charities like Tusk and the Invictus Games Team UK.
She shares stories from her missions to austere & remote parts of places like Afghanistan and African trouble spots recovering the wounded in the Lynx; reveals her usual methods of creating her work - joking paint thinner is her assistant - and talks about her passion for psychology.
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
Gomi - Turning Plastic Waste into Beautiful Products
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
It’s shocking to learn that two million plastic bags are used every minute and a truckload of plastic is dumped into our ocean every 60 seconds.
Gomi - Japanese for trash - is the name of a young design studio in Brighton who are making stunning bespoke Bluetooth speakers and portable phone chargers with second-use Lime bike batteries and so-called ‘non-recyclable’ waste ordinarily destined for landfill.
Gomi co-founder and designer Tom Meades explains how they actually create the speakers and chargers inspired by artists like Jackson Pollock and why they're collaborating with thought-provoking brands like Paul Smith and Brewdog to reduce our impact on the planet and make something meaningful that lasts a lifetime.
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
Healing in Cabilla’s Ancient Temperate Rainforest
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
Against the backdrop of an ancient temperate rainforest at Cabilla on Bodmin Moor, a high-flying couple - both deeply affected by mental illness – have dramatically changed their lives and turned to the restorative powers of nature to help them and others heal.
Merlin Hanbury-Tenison served as a British Army Major and completed three tours of Afghanistan, but had a breakdown triggered by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from an IED explosion. His wife Lizzie, who worked with dynamic founders of brands like Green and Blacks and Charlotte Tilbury, suffered burnout and postnatal depression.
Together they’ve created a nature-inspired relaxing space for retreats where stressed out, worn-out people – including US military personnel and exhausted nurses - can recharge and reconnect with nature. Sound baths, somatic movement, wild water swimming, guided walks in the forest, yoga, pilates are just some of the offerings.
Photo by John Hersey
Photo by Bex Aston
Photo by Jenna Foxton
Photo by Sophie Bolesworth
Photo by Beth Druce
Photo by Bex Aston
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Waterhaul - Transforming Harmful Ocean Plastic into Sunglasses
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Frustrated by abandoned fishing nets - known as ‘ghost gear’ - dumped on their local Cornish beaches and coastline, marine biologists & keen surfers Harry Dennis and Gavin Parker searched for a sustainable solution.
They discovered the very properties which make discarded fishing gear such a threat to the ocean & marine life - it’s abundance, strength, durability and flexibility - make it a perfect material to work with, and so risked everything to set up Waterhaul.
After much trial and error, they’re collecting the nets and end-of-life material, recycling the plastic, separating the polymers, and turning harmful waste products into stylish sunglasses and eyewear, with plans to scale their already successful business.
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Physician & explorer Dr Jack Kreindler on putting more life into our years
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Recently back from a scientific study to the South Pole, health tech entrepreneur Dr Jack Kreindler talks about his life in emergency and high-altitude medicine and how we can put more life into our years.
Jack says he thinks of health as a gift and asset born of luck, inheritance, and a wise investment strategy with its purpose to not merely extend our days but to help us live our fullest lives.
Jack has worked with stars like Alan Shearer, Robbie Savage and Davina McCall on the extreme Comic and Sport Relief challenges and, in our podcast, explores how we can all ‘kick ass’ in our 80s and 90s thanks to the latest health tech as well as embracing fundamental basics like sleep, hydration, community, good nutrition and music.
Jack has also created WellFounded to enhance the mental and physical health of some of the most successful entrepreneurs and founders, treating them in much the same way as elite athletes, and he runs the ACT for Cancer Foundation with his wife.
South Pole drone footage courtesy of Taavet Hinrikus
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Judith Tebbutt’s kidnap story of hope, resilience & survival
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Jude Tebbutt was on holiday in Kenya with her husband David in 2011 when she was snatched in the dead of night by Somali pirates wielding AK47s.
Unbeknown to Jude at the time, the gunmen murdered her husband that night and held her for ransom in squalor, with barely any food, in filthy conditions for six and a half months.
Jude explains how she developed techniques to help her survive, stay mentally strong, cope with the daily threat of being shot and make it home “without going mad” to her wonderful 25-year-old son Ollie who negotiated her eventual release. Jude is a patron of Sir Terry Waite’s charity Hostage International – supporting kidnap victims and their families, and author of A Long Walk Home.
Photographs courtesy of Stephanie Belton Photography
Photograph courtesy of N Nastia Photography
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Dawa Geljen Sherpa on Classrooms in the Clouds
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Expert mountain guide Dawa Geljen Sherpa grew up in a big family in Lukla in Nepal – known as The Gateway to Everest.
As a young boy he worked hard tending his parents’ livestock with no access to school until he ran away from home aged ten in search of an education, funded by work he did on Everest as a kitchen porter.
After travelling the world guiding expeditions on some of the world’s most challenging mountains, Dawa founded Classrooms in the Clouds so children in the poorest, remotest parts of Nepal can learn.
The charity has so far built 70 earthquake-resistant, warm, safe classrooms and sponsored 26 female teachers as role models.
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
The Ultimate Seven Challenge with adventurer Oli France
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Oli France is back home in Wigan after completing the first of seven extraordinary expeditions – to travel under his own steam from the lowest to the highest point of every continent - an extreme challenge which has been five years in the planning.
He’s just cycled the equivalent of London to Moscow through Africa – facing furnace-like temperatures in Djibouti; hostilities & traffic chaos in Ethiopia; the kindness of the Masai in Kenya, as well as the knowledge he was a perfect ‘meal on wheels’ for lions! He finished on the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Oli explains what drives him to push himself to the limit, how he manages risk and builds mental resilience, as well as talks us through the expeditions ahead, including sub-zero conditions in the Antarctic, Mount Denali in Alaska, a 2,000- mile cycle across the Australian Outback and ocean row in Oceania, and Everest in Asia.
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
Mark De-Lisser - Connecting the World Through Song
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
Sunday Oct 01, 2023
If you watched the King’s Coronation Concert, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee music extravaganza, or were one of the millions tuned in to Prince Harry’s wedding, you’ll have heard some of choir director Mark De-Lisser’s arrangements.
Mark puts bespoke choirs together for major events, liaising with artists like Lionel Ritchie, Alicia Keys, Katie Perry and Andrea Bocelli. But he tells Helen it took years to discover his purpose in life after a series of failures in the wrong direction.
Mark gets the nation singing; leads Vicky McClure’s Dementia Choir; features in shows like Songs of Praise and The Masked Singer and is about to embark on quantifiable research to discover how singing affects our bodies and brains.
Sunday Sep 24, 2023
Sunday Sep 24, 2023
Olly Williams and Suzi Winstanley – known simply as Olly and Suzi – have travelled the world together tracking, painting, sketching and photographing endangered species in the wild.
Their unique method of creating their art has led to powerful interactions and encounters with bears and buffalo, sharks and seals, hyenas and wild cats, and more.
They’ve trekked through jungles, deserts, the poles and remote wildernesses experiencing the natural world at its most raw and humbling and have become passionate conservationists, using their art to highlight the threats many of their subjects face.
Olly and Suzi’s work is held in private and public collections - including the Damien Hirst “Murder Me” collection and at the Natural History Museum - and Olly has just published his first poetry book, Draw of the Wild.
* Images courtesy of Greg Williams Photography and ollysuzi.com
Sunday Sep 17, 2023
Conductor Dalia Stasevska Using Her Profile to Help Ukraine
Sunday Sep 17, 2023
Sunday Sep 17, 2023
Acclaimed Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska opened this year’s prestigious First Night of the Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall and went straight to Glyndebourne for a run of Benjamin Britten’s iconic A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
But in-between her high-profile musical appearances, Dalia – who was born in Ukraine - has been driving trucks into the war-torn city of Lviv, delivering generators, sleeping bags, warm clothes and essential supplies to those struggling to survive, as well as performing there.
She tells Helen she considered giving up her career in music for a while to concentrate on volunteering full-time but has decided to use her platform to keep people informed of the ongoing atrocities and to ensure the world doesn’t tire of the plight of Ukrainian people.
Photographs by Veikko Kahkonen
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
The Power of Mindset on the World’s Toughest Row
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
Find out how Theresa Patricios, Head of Investments at Convex, and Cam Parker from Swiss Re overcame extreme mental and physical challenges to complete the World’s Toughest Row in record time.
The Pacific Discovery 2023 four-strong team rowed 2,800 miles in just 34 days, 8 hours and 22 mins – the fastest mixed team ever – and have become the first reinsurance team to complete the race.
Theresa and Cam reflect on how they kept going through harsh weather, serious technical issues, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation. And they share their excitement at passing on the baton so another industry team can rise to the challenge, raising more funds for mental health charity Mind.
Photographs courtesy of World’s Toughest Row and Penny Bird
Sunday Sep 03, 2023
John McCarthy CBE on his role at Hostage International with Sir Terry Waite
Sunday Sep 03, 2023
Sunday Sep 03, 2023
Journalist John McCarthy was held hostage in Lebanon for more than five years. Now, three decades on, he’s helping others in similar situations through his role as Patron of Hostage International.
The charity was originally founded by John’s former cellmate and great friend Sir Terry Waite who himself was held for more almost five years, much of it alone.
John reflects on the fanfare he came home to in Britain, how the experience has influenced his life and how honoured he is to help Terry and Hostage International support families and former hostages through the ordeal of kidnap and illegal detention, which remains a global problem.
John's return to RAF Lyneham, UK
John reunited with former cellmates Brian Keenan and Terry Waite
Jill Morrell campaigning for John's release
John McCarthy with former girlfriend Jill Morrell
Sunday Jul 23, 2023
YouTuber Geoff Marshall shares his YouTube success
Sunday Jul 23, 2023
Sunday Jul 23, 2023
YouTube star Geoff Marshall reveals how and why he started making great quality, informative, interesting, fun transport films which have attracted more than 82 million views on his channel and are appreciated by his 314,000 plus subscribers.
Geoff travelled to all 2,563 trains in the UK followed by Ireland's 198 and held the Guinness World Record twice for visiting every London Underground station in the fastest time!
He shares his YouTube story, his passion for transport, chats about his new stand-up show - World’s Biggest Tube Nerd – and, in a rare contemplative moment, talks about a moving film he made about how travelling by train can sometimes help when people feel low.
Sunday Jul 16, 2023
Impressionist Jon Culshaw on playing long-form characters like David Bowie
Sunday Jul 16, 2023
Sunday Jul 16, 2023
Dr Who celebrates 60 years in November with special new episodes featuring former Time Lord David Tennant and Catherine Tate, and the release of an audio book voiced by impressionist Jon Culshaw in which the third and fourth Doctors meet and work together.
A life-long Dr Who fan, Jon came up with the idea for The Box of Terrors, written by Lizzie Hopley, based on Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker's time as the Doctors.
In part two of our special, Jon talks about the responsibility of playing David Bowie in an audio documentary on what it might of been like in the studio as Bowie recorded his final album, Blackstar.
Plenty of other guests drop in on this week's podcast including HRH King Charles, Chris Eubank, Tony Blair, William Hague, Les Dawson and Julian Clary.
Sunday Jul 09, 2023
Sunday Jul 09, 2023
On this week’s podcast we hear from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles, Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis and former PM Boris Johnson, thanks to the incredible talent and wit of impressionist Jon Culshaw.
Jon, who is busy rehearsing two shows for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe – LENA and Imposter Syndrome – stops off for a chat and some laughs on his way to record the latest episode of BBC Radio 4’s comedy programme Dead Ringers.
He shares his thoughts on how satire has changed since he first graced our screens on Spitting Image; recalls butterflies the size of seagulls when he got through to the then Prime Minister Tony Blair at No 10 posing as Leader of the Opposition William Hague, and explains how he starts to build and develop a new voice.
Sunday Jul 02, 2023
Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower on his dementia mission
Sunday Jul 02, 2023
Sunday Jul 02, 2023
Scott Mitchell talks about his life loving Dame Barbara Windsor - one of Britain’s national treasures - and their heart-breaking battle with dementia.
Scott is an Ambassador for Alzheimers' Research UK and is involved in campaigning, fundraising, and taking part in trials to help find a cure for a disease which affects more than a million people in Britain.
Scott says he feels blessed to have shared almost three decades with Carry On and Eastenders star Barbara and shares lots of happy, wonderful memories of their life together.
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Painter David Remfry RA on coordinating this year’s Summer Exhibition
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Sunday Jun 25, 2023
Acclaimed British painter and Academician David Remfry confesses he thought he’d never be asked to coordinate the Royal Academy's world-famous Summer Exhibition. When the call came, the 80-year-old artist says he was over the moon and said yes immediately.
Helen catches up with David at his London studio surrounded by his stunning work to find out what’s involved; hear about his colourful life in London and New York, and his daily passion for Afrobeats dancing.
David recalls leaving Hull in the '60s with his paintings packed in the back of a £50 van to seek his fortune in London; reminisces about living for two decades at the infamous Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan and talks about how his love of people inspires much of his work.
Main photograph courtesy of the Royal Academy of Arts
Sunday Jun 18, 2023
Milliner to rock stars and royalty, Jess Collett on her passion for hats
Sunday Jun 18, 2023
Sunday Jun 18, 2023
Twenty-five years ago, a young hat-maker secured a grant from The Prince’s Trust to help fund her own atelier.
So as milliner Jess Collett joined millions watching the King’s Coronation, she felt grateful for the help she’d received but also knew all eyes were on the stunning head pieces she’d designed for the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte in collaboration with Alexander McQueen. Jess said she’d waited "all her hat-life" for that moment!
She’s designed for Madonna, Helena Bonham Carter, Princess Eugenie, Samantha Cameron, Pippa Middleton and many more famous people, but her passion is making hats for everyone and seeing the confidence the right one can bring.
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
BAFTA and Emmy-winning cameraman Doug Allan on climate change
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
In part two of our special with multi-BAFTA and Emmy-winning wildlife and documentary film-maker Doug Allan, he discusses climate change and, in particular, the impact it’s having on the polar regions.
Doug says if the world had paid more attention to indigenous people in the Arctic and elsewhere, and listened seriously, we might have been more aware of the dangers ahead.
Doug shares more incredible stories behind capturing breathtaking material for landmark series like The Blue Planet and Frozen Planet as well as filming with Sir David Attenborough, who says cameramen don’t come much more special than Doug.
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan shares adventures on the ice
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Sir David Attenborough says cameramen don’t come much more special than Doug Allan.
The multi-BAFTA and Emmy-winning wildlife cameraman has filmed some of the most spectacular sequences for landmark programmes like Blue Planet. Orcas attacking gray whales off California; polar bears trying to catch belugas in a frozen hole in Arctic Canada and killer whales washing seals off ice floes in Antarctica. All on-screen firsts.
In part one of our two-part special, Doug recounts wonderful stories and adventures from his 60+ trips to the poles over the last five decades, filming underwater and on land.
He also recalls how he managed to escape the terrifying clutches of a determined walrus who mistook him for a seal!
Monday May 29, 2023
Kate Silverton on her ‘second act’ as a complex case child therapist
Monday May 29, 2023
Monday May 29, 2023
Journalist Kate Silverton tells Helen why she left a hugely successful career in broadcasting to become a child therapist.
Since studying psychology at Durham University, Kate has been fascinated with the complexities of how the brain works and the role it plays in shaping behaviour as well as our future mental health.
She works closely with The Princess of Wales on Her Royal Highness’s Shaping Us campaign and says they are both passionate about the science behind the importance of a child’s early years.
Kate’s first book – There’s No Such Thing as Naughty – is a best-seller and her second, There’s Still No Such Thing as Naughty, is due out this autumn.
Sunday May 21, 2023
Crime reporter Martin Brunt reveals undisclosed stories behind the headlines
Sunday May 21, 2023
Sunday May 21, 2023
Crime reporter Martin Brunt has covered some of the biggest and most notorious crime stories in British history for Sky News for the last three decades.
Still working in 24-hour breaking news, he’s finally found time to write a book - No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason – filled with previously undisclosed details and fascinating inside track.
Martin shares gripping dispatches about his relationship with violent prisoner Charles Bronson; an unusual encounter with his music hero Sir Paul McCartney; discusses the nations insatiable appetite for crime, both real-life and fiction, and reveals how a fascination with Valerio Viccei, the charismatic Italian robber behind Britain’s biggest ever jewellery heist, ended in a death threat!
Photograph by Mark Senn
Convicted robber Valerio Viccei
Sunday May 14, 2023
Chef Tom Sellers on life, his journey, and being ready for the next chapter
Sunday May 14, 2023
Sunday May 14, 2023
Helen joins Chef Tom Sellers at his stunning new London restaurant, Story Cellar in Neal’s Yard, for an honest and open chat about his journey and the next chapter in Tom’s story.
From the age of 16, he worked unforgiving hours in the kitchens of some of the world's most influential chefs – Tom Aikens, Thomas Keller and Rene Redzepi – and earned his first Michelin star just 16 weeks after opening Restaurant Story near Tower Bridge.
Ten years on and two stars to his name, he talks about the fear and pressure of opening somewhere new, being in the right mindset for a new challenge, how his journey has shaped him, provenance and his love of food, including baked beans on toast!
He also shares the narrative behind some of his well-known dishes, including the beef dripping candle which was inspired by his dad and his working-class roots.
Monday May 08, 2023
Monday May 08, 2023
Daniel Wiegand shares the story of how he came up with the concept and architecture for the electric Lilium jet as a young engineering student inspired by the V-22 Osprey - a vertical take-off US military aircraft -- and how he’s grown the company from the ground up.
More than a billion euros and some of the finest minds in aerospace and engineering are behind the creation of the world’s first, zero emissions electric vertical take-off and landing jet, an eVTOL, which it’s hoped will revolutionise the way we travel regionally.
Helen becomes the first British journalist to fly in the simulator at Lilium’s HQ in Munich where more than 800 people from 56 countries are working towards the aircraft's certification in 2025.
Monday May 01, 2023
Monday May 01, 2023
Blue Marine Foundation’s co-founder and former award-winning British film-maker George Duffield explains how overfishing is destroying the ocean’s biodiversity and its ability to store carbon yet is one of the world’s most solvable problems.
George hopes robust data gleaned from Blue’s partnership with scientists from Exeter University and Convex in the five-year Convex Seascape Survey will reveal how much carbon is stored in the seabed and he's confident the findings will provide a solution to help with runaway global temperatures.
Helen also hears some of George's favourite adventures as a diver and wildlife photographer - swimming with whale sharks and hammerheads in the Galapagos and diving under the ice with leopard seals in Antartica, which led to George winning the Natural History Museum's Underwater Photographer of the Year.
Sunday Apr 02, 2023
Sunday Apr 02, 2023
Herbert Hall Winery in Kent produces just 20,000 bottles of English sparkling wine a year but can be found in some of the most prestigious places, including Fortnum & Mason, and King Charles’s Highgrove collection.
Herbert farmed in Marden at the end of the nineteenth century. His great-grandson Nick explains why the land is perfect for growing grapes like Chardonnay, Pinor Noir and Pinot Meunier, and making wine in the Methode Champenoise, known as the traditional method.
Climatic changes have seen a dramatic rise in successful wineries in the south of England – and the perfect conditions have tempted Champagne Houses like Taittinger to buy acreage here in the UK.
Photographs by Andrew Yates
Sunday Mar 26, 2023
Sunday Mar 26, 2023
Hot on the heels of his exciting new album release, Grammy winning Bluegrass fiddler Michael Cleveland wows Helen with his breathtaking playing, live from his studio in Indiana.
Michael was born blind and is partially deaf, yet has risen to the absolute top of his game, collaborating with music legends like Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck and Vince Gill. As a youngster he played alongside ‘the father of Bluegrass’ Bill Monroe and has won countless awards.
Thanks to Airgigs.com, Michael records tracks for musicians all over the world from his basement studio. Lovin' of the Game - with his band Flamekeeper - is out now.
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Wim Hof Instructor Belinda Raphael explains the many health benefits and compelling science behind the famous Wim Hof Method, and shares stories from a recent expedition to Poland with The Iceman himself.
Belinda discovered cold-water therapy accidentally after she was left suffering chronic pain following a severe attack by a patient in her role as a critical care nurse practitioner.
Now she’s one of Wim’s 900 Warriors, teaching breath work and mindset techniques to increase cold water exposure and allow people to feel the invigorating and life affirming advantages.
Wim Hof has set more than two dozen world records for extreme temperature exposure – both in freezing cold and blistering heat – but his mission is to pass on the what he's learnt so millions can experience the health benefits.
Sunday Mar 05, 2023
Entrepreneur Jimi Daodu on building the first human centric Metaverse
Sunday Mar 05, 2023
Sunday Mar 05, 2023
The Metaverse is predicted to be a fast growing trillion-dollar industry by 2030, but how much do we know about it or understand how it might enrich our lives?
Vault Hill Founder/CEO Jimi Daodu and his team are building the first human centric virtual world designed to enhance human experiences.
Jimi takes us on a fascinating journey from his offices in Dubai through the endless exciting possibilities the Metaverse has to offer and explains how we can be part of this 3D phenomenon.
Helen and Jimi discuss everything from the virtual property boom to how it can be used for education, work, entertainment, climate change and they explore the measures needed to keep us safe.
Sunday Feb 26, 2023
Sunday Feb 26, 2023
The Black Cop – winner of Best British Short Film at last year’s BAFTAs – is the story of Gamal ‘G’ Turawa’s life - growing up with a white foster family in Kent, abuse by his biological parents and his experiences in the Metropolitan Police.
Despite the racism he suffered in the force, including having his face painted white by fellow officers, ‘G’ is proud to have served 25 years in the Met. He explains to Helen how he tried to fit in, desperately wished he was white, and concealed the fact he’s gay.
G now speaks all over the world, including to police forces, to help people own their story, find a sense of belonging and embrace who they are. The Black Cop was made by film-maker Cherish Oteka and can be watched on You Tube.
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
One boat, four rowers, 2,800 miles at sea, raising £100K for Mind
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Theresa Patricios - Head of Investments for Convex Insurance - and life-long friend Cam Parker talk about the mental and physical challenges of their upcoming 2,800-mile row across the Pacific, raising funds for mental health charity Mind.
As part of an organised race, their four-man team – Pacific Discovery 2023 – estimate spending 40 days at sea, rowing in two-hour slots, and carrying out research for the Convex Seascape Survey. Their ambition - to become the first re-insurance team to tackle an ocean.
Theresa has been drawn to the sea since she was a child growing up in Johannesburg and Cam is an accomplished free diver with the same passion for the ocean and an Atlantic row under his belt.
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
“Seeing John hold his bear made it really hit home that he was just a child when he was facing the Holocaust in Hungary” Rankin
Holocaust Survivor John Hajdu describes life as a small boy in Budapest as Jews were rounded up & killed, and his parents taken to concentration/labour camps in World War 2.
He describes the fear of hiding in a dark cupboard as four-year-old, surviving in a cramped ghetto with little food and dead bodies on the streets, being forced to wear a Yellow Star, and finally escaping Hungary through a minefield with just his teddy bear & clothes given to him in Vienna.
John, now 85, finds it’s desperately painful watching history repeat itself in Ukraine.
He was honoured to be photographed recently by Rankin who said: “John’s bear is a tangible reminder that the stories we are telling happened in recent history and we must learn from these events – for a better future.”
* Photographs by Rankin
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies / economist Paul Johnson explores the state of Britain’s economy and explains what’s needed for recovery and vital economic growth.
Paul – who writes a column for The Times newspaper – says the absolute priority is for inflation, currently at a 40-year high, to come down and be under control, and explains how trade-offs are essential.
He's a regular on programmes like Today on BBC Radio 4 and made front page headlines when he predicted Liz Truss’s economic pledges as she fought to become Prime Minister would crash the public finances, which they did in her Autumn mini budget.
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
Light Artist Chris Levine takes us behind the scenes on his sittings at Buckingham Palace to create the first holographic portraits of The Queen and explains how Her Majesty embraced his innovative and complex techniques.
‘Lightness of Being’ - which captures the Queen with her eyes closed wearing the Diadem she wore to her Coronation – and ‘Equanimity’ hang in London’s National Portrait Gallery.
Meditation informs Chris’s work - the Queen told him gardening at Balmoral was hers. He talks about being the wild card for the shoot; how he was allowed to choose what Her Majesty wore and their private audiences afterwards to look through the work.
He also reveals the Dalai Lama chuckled a lot as he posed for a rare portrait to mark his 80th birthday; recounts talking holograms with David Bowie in a chance conversation as the rock icon left the dry cleaners and hints at an upcoming major light project at Stonehenge.
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Professional climber Hazel Findlay on the extreme challenges she thrives on
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Hazel Findlay has been climbing for 27 of her 33 years. She tells Helen how tackling the most difficult, vertical, steep rocks is what motivates her most and shares her joy of sleeping in a makeshift hammock hanging from a sheer rock face.
On a recent expedition to Greenland, Hazel made two ‘first ascents’, climbing massive walls that no one has ever conquered, and explains how much harder it is to stay focussed in sub-zero temperatures and snow storms, with painful bare hands and frozen feet.
Inspired by the mental & psychological challenges of her very physical sport, Hazel has set up a coaching business - Strong Mind - to help other athletes overcome their fears and limitations – lessons she says are valuable for life in general.
Images by Jon Griffith and Cameron Maier
Footage by Max Montgomery
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Yeoman Warder Andy Merry on life at The Tower of London
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
More people have been to space than have been Yeoman Warders at The Tower of London - a role created by King Henry V11 after the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
Former Royal Marine Commando Andy Merry talks about the Yeoman Warders’ role in modern day history, giving us a behind the scenes look at guarding Her Majesty The Queen as she lay in state; their involvement in the proclamation of King Charles 111, and in the upcoming Coronation.
From his home in the shadow of The Crown Jewels, Andy shares some of the lesser-known stories and tales from the iconic Royal palace and fortress’s thousand-year history and invites Helen to witness the Ceremony of the Keys which has taken place every night at The Tower for the last 700 years.
Andy also talks about tackling Mont Blanc after his MS diagnosis.
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
Mindset Coach Kamran Bedi on how to create our own anxiety antidote
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
In our first podcast of 2023, Mindset Coach Kamran Bedi talks about how to deal with the overwhelming feelings many people have as a new year dawns, and how to achieve a positive mindset and live more in the present.
Kamran – author of The Anxiety Antidote & Your Mind is Your Home – tells Helen that now is a good time to take a look at our minds and shares positive tips on how to start.
He also reflects on the struggles he had with his own mental health in his twenties when there wasn’t as much help available and reveals the tools he uses to live a happy, content life.
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Entrepreneur and pioneer Margo Marrone reveals how she grew her business from a shop in London’s Kings Road 20 years ago - at a time when there was a lot of scepticism about ‘organic’ - into a global brand with a presence in more than 40 countries.
Margo – a pharmacist, homeopath, yogi and shaman - has dedicated her life to healing and finding natural ways to promote wellness of the mind, body and skin.
Her passion started as a young child growing up in Iran, inspired by the vibrant bazaars and remedies her mum and grandmother used. She qualified first as a pharmacist before exploring the world of homeopathy and the science behind a more natural approach.
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
Sam Zeller shares the story behind lifting the first ever World Cup for Physical Disability Rugby League for England, beating New Zealand 42-10 in a tough game to become champions.
Sam - a 23-year-old claims adjuster at Convex - says the England team's focus is now on getting more exposure for the game to ensure more people are able to play.
The England side is made up of players with cerebral palsy, brain injuries, missing limbs and so on, but Sam - who was born without a right hand - says the split makes the team special. He talks about training under former England full-back Shaun Briscoe, the commitment of Australian comedian/player Adam Hills to the sport and the pride his parents felt watching the game.
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
Consultant anaesthetist Dr Manish Raval of Moorfield’s Eye Hospital reflects on 11 years volunteering for Orbis, travelling to places like Peru, Zambia and Mongolia to work on surgeries on board their state-of-the-art Flying Eye Hospital and in the community.
Manish explains that 1.1 billion people have some sight loss yet 90% is avoidable. Orbis - a non profit organisation - empowers local medics in developing countries with the skills and resources to fight blindness on their own, teaching surgeries and techniques.
Manish specialises in paediatric anaesthesia and takes us round the world with examples of the charity's work.
In Ethiopia Orbis is heavily involved in eradicating trachoma – a bacterial infection which is the leading preventable cause of blindness. In Bangladesh volunteers teach cataract procedures and in Vietnam, where diabetes is a big problem, diabetic retinopathy surgery.
Sunday Nov 06, 2022
Sunday Nov 06, 2022
It’s Friday night at St Columba’s Church in London’s Knightsbridge. Helen joins Haircuts4Homeless founder Stewart Roberts at work and chats to some of those who turn up for a free cut and warm meal.
Stewart started offering homeless people haircuts eight years ago. He now has 600 volunteers who have given more than 40,000 cuts all over the UK and Ireland, and the charity is proud that Game of Thrones star Lena Headey is an ambassador.
Hear Me, See Me - a beautiful book of black and white portraits of Haircuts4Homeless guests shot by Jack Eames – is on sale to help raise funds so the work can continue. Stewart says: “It might be ‘just a haircut’ but it’s the kindness shown that makes a homeless person know people care.”
Portraits by Jack Eames
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
As COP27 approaches, Callum Roberts - Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter - talks about the Convex Seascape Survey, an ambitious five-year scientific research programme to fathom out how the ocean could be a vital asset in slowing planetary warming.
The seabed is the ultimate sink for carbon emissions but has been overlooked and undervalued because of insufficient and inconclusive data.
Working with BLUE Marine Foundation, scientists will gather and analyse accurate data to quantify how healthy seascapes thriving with life can absorb carbon, in a project which has never been more critical.
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Adam Kingl gives us an insight into how to attract, motivate & retain Gen Y
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Globally renowned business expert Adam Kingl talks to Helen about the three generations in today’s workforce - baby boomers, Gen X and Gen Y
By 2025, it’s estimated Gen Y will make up 75% of the global workforce but a typical Gen Y doesn’t tend to stay in a job long-term.
Adam explains the paradigms and events which have led to the creation of a generation who demand a better work-life balance; more flexibility; positive career development; commitment to a more sustainable world and strong team culture.
We discuss reverse mentoring, side hustles, digital natives, Gen Z and the importance of assessing the health of a company through the lens of a sociologist – by observing behaviours.
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
As Hampton Court Palace prepares to host the 10th Tusk Conservation Awards, Helen is in Northern Kenya with the awards' partner/co-creators Ninety One to meet their first ever winner, Tom Lalampaa.
Tom - CEO of the North Rangelands Trust - explains how he’s found success brokering peace with feuding tribes in Northern Kenya using a conservancy method to ensure communities, wildlife and the habitat can thrive together.
Tom tells Helen about life in the Samburu Tribe, growing up with nomadic parents and 16 siblings, and reflects on what it meant to receive his award in London from Tusk’s royal patron HRH William, the Prince of Wales.
Sunday Oct 09, 2022
Sunday Oct 09, 2022
As the UK’s cost of living crisis deepens, Helen meets the Deputy Editor of MoneySavingExpert.com - Helen Saxon - for advice on what we can all do to survive the coming months.
With energy rates soaring, as well as food, broadband, council tax and fuel going up in a way we haven’t seen since the 1970s, Helen shares her expertise and offers some practical advice.
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis started the business 20 years ago when a discount email to friends took off. Martin and his MSE team have gone on to help millions of people cut costs, find great deals, beat the system and fight their corner.
Sunday Oct 02, 2022
Inside ’007 Elements’ as we celebrate 60 years of James Bond
Sunday Oct 02, 2022
Sunday Oct 02, 2022
60 years ago Sean Connery uttered those immortal words “Bond, James Bond” when Dr No premiered in October 1962.
As the franchise celebrates the milestone with a focus on the iconic music scores, Helen talks to Neal Callow - Art Director of the last five Bond films starring Daniel Craig – and Austrian entrepreneur Jakob Falkner – the man behind the world’s first permanent Bond installation.
Neal and Jakob created ‘007 Elements’ 3,000m above sea level inside a glacier in Solden in the Austrian Alps where the most dramatic chase scenes from Spectre were filmed at Ice Q.
Neal gives an insight into what it’s like being part of the Bond family, the pleasure of working with Daniel Craig and explains why designing Elements to pay homage to the music, films, gadgets, action-scenes, characters and locations with Jakob was so special.
Music from Bond 25 - played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sunday Sep 25, 2022
Sunday Sep 25, 2022
Fresh from performing 25 one-woman shows at the Fringe, New York comedian Emily Wilson talks to Helen about her “life-changing” experience in Edinburgh.
In the show, written by Emily and Sam Blumenfeld, Emily shares the humiliating story of being a finalist on The X Factor USA when she was just 15, performing in front of Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and the other judges.
Through hysterical, self-deprecating stand-up, archive footage and original songs, Emily transports audiences back to 2011 and the embarrassing moments of her rollercoaster journey through boot camp to the finals and - boy - do we share her pain!
FIXED will be in London at the Soho Theatre January 12th through the 21st.
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Ten-year-old Betsi Rose Powley tells Helen that sharing her battle with Ewing Sarcoma - a rare form of cancer - with 70,000+ followers on Instagram has kept her positive through gruelling chemo & radiotherapy, and made her happy she's helped others cope with with their treatment.
In her first podcast, Betsi says making short films from her hospital bed at The Royal Marden kept her going, gave her the confidence to talk to other young cancer patients for support and sparked the idea for a unique project to help other poorly children.
She’s raised more than £23,000 so she can design pyjamas with special areas for tubes & ports so PJs no longer get cut up during treatment and has started her own label BAM Wear - Betsi And Monkey. Follow @betsiatthemarsden
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
Pilot and founder of Spitfires.com Matt Jones shares extraordinary stories with Helen from his record-breaking and risky circumnavigation of the globe in G-IRTY - a beautifully restored 1943 Mk IX Silver Spitfire.
Matt and his team flew 22,138 nautical miles around the world in just four months, crossing deserts, red mountains, barren areas of Russia, fields of ice and stunning cobalt lakes - climbing “a pilot’s Everest”.
They aspired to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the iconic single-engine aircraft, honouring its role in history, and succeeded. A stunning documentary of the expedition is out soon.
Sunday Jul 24, 2022
Sunday Jul 24, 2022
This week Helen visits a small primary school in Ntumbiri in Northern Kenya to meet Ephantus Mugo - winner of Disney's Conservation Hero Award 2020 - to find out and experience how children are learning the value of conservation to improve their lives.
Ephantus explains the challenges rural communities in Kenya face and how, in his role as Conservation Education Programme Coordinator for Lewa Conservancy, he’s helping them to solve those challenges and co-exist in harmony with the beautiful endangered species who share the land.
Ephantus grew up in the coffee producing area of Mount Kenya seeing nothing more than squirrels (!) in terms of wildlife. He tells Helen what drives him to make a difference and talks about the success of the Next Generation of Conservationists project pupils took part in with families from investment firm Ninety One.
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Stephen King described Sarah Pinborough’s psychological thriller Behind Her Eyes as ‘bloody brilliant’. Netflix snapped it up and made it into a hugely successful six-part series in record time
The ending - #wtfthatending - trended on social media and the book, like many of Sarah’s others, shot to the top of best-sellers lists all over the world.
Sarah talks us through what happened, how her mum fell asleep when it aired, how the ending of all her books has to be written first, and teases her new thriller Insomnia which is also being adapted for TV.
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
This week I’m in Northern Kenya with an 11-person team from investment firm Ninety One to document their unique experience taking part in Tusk's annual marathon through the beautiful Lewa Wildlife Conservancy alongside some of the world’s most endangered species.
The corporate team raised money for Tusk and visited incredible projects funded by the conservation charity, including schools, to see first-hand the difference the fundraising makes.
More than £6 million has been raised since the marathon began 22 years ago, helping save the black rhino population from the brink of extinction, protecting critically endangered Grevy's zebra, and providing healthcare, water, education programmes, and much more.
Find out how Emily, Steph, Ethan, Sheena and Marius from Ninety One’s London and Cape Town offices got on in the African Bush competing in one of the world's most challenging marathons and the impact the trip had on them all.
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
London’s Ambulance Service is the busiest in the world, receiving around seven thousand 999 calls a day.
Jules Lockett shares stories from her 21 years at the heart of the Emergency Operations Centre - as a call-handler, trainer & now EOC General Manager – and reveals her pride in wearing the NHS/Ambulance uniform.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Jules talks about 50 years of Pride and how London Ambulance Service supports LGBT, ensuring staff can be themselves and feel supported. Jules is Co-Chair of the LAS LGBT Network.
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Sir Jackie Stewart OBE shares more stories from his incredible F1 career
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
In part two of our special, F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart explains the dangers of emotion & how he managed to remove that emotion before a race by forcing himself to read despite having severe dyslexia.
The former three-times World Champion talks about how dangerous racing was in the sixties & seventies, his crash at Spa in 1966 and the safety measures he fought hard to bring in, even though it didn’t make him popular.
Sir Jackie, who remains one of motor sport’s greatest ambassadors, reveals how he started the champagne spraying tradition on the podium by accident & chats about today's star Lewis Hamilton.
Friday Jun 17, 2022
F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart OBE on his lifelong passion for motorsport
Friday Jun 17, 2022
Friday Jun 17, 2022
In part one of our two-part special, former three-times World Champion Sir Jackie shares stories from his heyday in racing – the close bond with other F1 drivers & their families, the excitement, glamour & adrenalin but also the incredible dangers & sadness of losing friends on the track.
Jackie’s beloved wife of 60 years, Helen, was his stopwatch, timing his laps to the millisecond with unwavering accuracy. Lady Stewart is suffering from dementia and Jackie talks about how he’s using the sharpness & speed of motorsport to inspire the finest young PhDs in the world to find a cure.
Some of those PhDs will be attending the Sir Jackie Stewart Classic in Scotland, an event to help raise funds for his charity, Race Against Dementia.
Sunday May 29, 2022
Mindset & Performance Coach Simon Jeffries on positive change
Sunday May 29, 2022
Sunday May 29, 2022
Simon Jeffries, co-founder of The Natural Edge, explains how mindset is a skillset & the path to long-term happiness begins & ends with our minds.
Drawing from his own personal experiences, including eight years & three tours as a Special Forces soldier, Simon shares some simple tips for making positive change, starting the journey to turn our potential into peak performance.
If you’ve plateaued, hit a wall, or feel frustrated with life, then Simon’s words will resonate & hopefully help you see how a change of mindset is key & there for everyone.
Sunday May 22, 2022
Backstage with broadcasters Whispering Bob Harris & Danny Baker
Sunday May 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
Led Zeppelin’s frontman Robert Plant is to thank for two of the nation’s most loved & respected broadcasters hitting the road to share extraordinary stories from a combined 100 years in the music business.
Bob Harris & Danny Baker have been touring Britain with ‘Harris and Baker’s Backstage Pass’ recounting tales from the most seminal moments in music history featuring icons like David Bowie, Marc Bolan, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Van Morrison, The Beatles & many more greats.
Helen secures her own backstage pass and catches up with Bob & Danny in their dressing room at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London.
Sunday May 15, 2022
Sunday May 15, 2022
To mark Dementia Action Week, Dr Dennis Chan from UCL reveals the ground-breaking work he & research colleagues are doing to detect Alzheimer’s disease - one of the biggest causes of dementia - years, even decades, before symptoms like memory loss show.
Dr Chan explains how Virtual Reality is useful in testing & how everyday digital data like our heart rates, sleep patterns & breathing patterns gathered on smart devices can be crunched to identify ‘fingerprints’ which allow the earliest signs of diseases like Alzheimer’s to be detected.
EDoN – Early Detection of Neurodegenerative diseases – is an ambitious global project, spearheaded by Alzheimer’s Research UK. It’s hoped this kind of big data will help scientists like Dennis make faster breakthroughs, enabling them to test new preventions and treatments.
Sunday May 08, 2022
Sunday May 08, 2022
Helen travels to the southern tip of the Western Isles to learn everything there is to know about one of life’s great delicacies & what it’s like to be an oyster farmer in one of the most beautiful, remote places in the Outer Hebrides.
Gerard MacDonald founded the company after a visit to France & the realisation that the cold pristine waters of the Atlantic could offer the perfect habitat. Landing on a white sandy beach in a small aircraft, Helen discovers Gerry’s work is not for the faint-hearted!
Sunday May 01, 2022
Olympic gold medallist Dame Flora Duffy on making history for Bermuda
Sunday May 01, 2022
Sunday May 01, 2022
Triathlete Dame Flora Duffy dreamt of winning the Olympics from the age of seven when she started competing in triathlons in Bermuda where she was born & spent her childhood.
Fast-forward to Tokyo 2020, and the 34-year-old won gold in typhoon conditions – finishing her cycle, swim & run more than a minute clear of Britain’s silver medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown.
Flora gives Helen an insight into the mindset of an Olympic champion, the pressure she felt as favourite in Japan, her brutal training regime and how she has her sights set on defending her Commonwealth title this year & her Olympic title at Paris 2024.
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Actor Vicky McClure shares her determination to shine a light on dementia
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Line of Duty star Vicky McClure introduces us to her Dementia Choir, subject of a third series on BBC1 this autumn.
She explains how science has proved the positive impact music has on those living with dementia, something she sees when she’s with the choir members and experienced with her nonna Iris, who died of dementia.
Vicky also reveals how she uses music to help her prepare for roles in dramas like Trigger Point; chats about an incredible decade in Line of Duty, and the first film she's made with her production company - Build Your Own Films - in her home town of Nottingham.
Sunday Apr 03, 2022
Sunday Apr 03, 2022
After 24 years as a correspondent, Foreign Affairs Editor & Diplomatic Editor at Sky News, award-winning journalist Tim Marshall has used his experiences to write best-selling books using maps of crucial regions to explain the geo-political strategies of world powers.
Tim - who is commentating on the situation in Ukraine and writing for publications like The New Statesman - explains why he thinks this conflict is the best example in the world of geography being a determining factor.
He tells Helen there's been an outpouring of need for context in what he describes as a 'watershed moment' in our history - from both a detailed level on the ground and a bird's-eye view of why this is happening and the deep background & history to it all.
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Helen meets TikTok star The Hebridean Baker on the Isle of Seil
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Sunday Mar 27, 2022
Coinneach Macleod, who comes from a small crofting settlement on the remote island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, reveals how he’s unexpectedly become known to millions all over the world as The Hebridean Baker.
Coinneach’s unique blend of delicious recipes & fascinating stories from the Scottish Islands, music, stunning scenery, culinary secrets from his Aunt Bellag (93) & Gaelic in his one-minute baking films has attracted more than 17 million views on TikTok.
The fact the videos went viral have led to publication of a beautiful cookery book - featuring a “wee slice” of the Hebridean life Coinneach's so proud to share - numerous TV appearances & an upcoming book tour of America.
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Helen chats to actor Neil Morrissey about almost everything!
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Actor Neil Morrissey was catapulted to fame in Men Behaving Badly & has been on our screens for the last four decades, in drama & comedy.
The Good Karma Hospital star tells Helen about growing up in children's homes from the age of ten, being taken away from his parents, and how acting saved him.
He also explains what it was like being a household name through the phone hacking years, talks about his pub, brewing his own Morrissey Blonde, new projects with broadcaster Sara Cox & Richard Osman & his love of relaxing in the middle of nowhere in France.
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
The Ukrainian refugee crisis is the fastest growing in Europe since the second world war & could last years, with more than 2 million people already abandoning their homes following Russia’s invasion.
Founder & CEO of Indigo Volunteers Holly Penalver talks about her charity’s role at the Ukranian borders, the extraordinary international response & the need for the UK to urgently issue more visas.
Holly and her teams work in the field in countries like Serbia, Bosnia & Greece long after the headlines are over, coordinating the grassroots refugee response and matching volunteers to organisations which provide vital support.
She says the current momentum for Ukraine is unlikely to be sustained therefore explains the need to pace ourselves for the mid- to long-term humanitarian crisis.
Sunday Mar 06, 2022
Afghan news presenter Shabnam Dawran on standing up to the Taliban
Sunday Mar 06, 2022
Sunday Mar 06, 2022
To mark International Women's day, we hear from Shabnam Dawran – a national news presenter from Afghanistan – who made headlines all over the world for standing up to the Taliban in Kabul when she was refused entry to her TV studios in the first few days of the new regime.
The 26-year-old was forced to flee her home country a few months ago after being threatened at gun point & sharing her story on social media.
With support from Convex, Shabnam is building a new life in the UK with her younger brother and sister but dreams of returning to her family in Afghanistan in safer times & resuming her career as a national news anchor.
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Melanie Sykes shares her relief at being diagnosed with autism
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Broadcaster & editor-in-chief of The Frank Magazine Melanie Sykes speaks openly to Helen about her recent discovery she’s autistic & her new-found determination to speak out & help others.
Melanie has embraced her diagnosis at the age of 51 & says she’s looking at life through a different lens, unpicking and making sense of some of the past.
Melanie also talks passionately about the magazine she founded; her love of creating, interviewing, elevating & inspiring others, and a life-changing trip to India to connect with her family’s roots.
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
As a young boy, Alessandro Savelli grew up in Genoa in Italy enjoying pasta made by his grandmother. When he wanted to start a brand from scratch, he came up with the idea for Pasta Evangelists, offering hand-made fresh pasta and the ingredients for delicious sauces delivered through the letterbox.
Alex and his partner Finn pitched on Dragons Den two years ago for £75,000 of investment but were turned down. They humbly listened to the Dragons’ advice but continued with their plans and sold a major stake in their company last year for £40 million.
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
Netflix say The Queen's Gambit has broken all records for the most watched limited series, with 62 million households gripped by their seven-part drama. But the story behind it is just as fascinating.
Co-creator & executive producer Allan Scott bought the rights to the Walter Tevis book in the eighties & tells Helen the trials & tribulations behind trying to get studios interested in the story of orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon. Chess being the blocker.
Allan, who brought us iconic films like Don’t Look Now starring Donald Sutherland & Julie Christie and the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, jokes he thought he was hallucinating when he watched the first episode air from his hospital bed!
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
Helen chats to ARTAH founder & nutritional therapist Rhian Stephenson
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
As well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions fade & over-ambitious goals for a new body start to slip, wellness guru Rhian Stephenson explains the power of food and how to feel good & energised all year round.
Rhian is a nutritional therapist & naturopath who gave up her role as CEO of Psycle London to create her own wellness company, ARTAH out of her passion to help and inspire people to enjoy optimal health.
As a child Rhian suffered unexplained respiratory illnesses & skin conditions which were only resolved when, aged 17, a naturopath discovered she was allergic to a protein in milk.
Sunday Jan 16, 2022
Actor Peter Wight on his upcoming BBC drama & film Cyrano
Sunday Jan 16, 2022
Sunday Jan 16, 2022
British actor Peter Wight tells Helen about filming the upcoming BBC drama The Reckoning, based on the life of disgraced entertainer Jimmy Savile. He also chats about working with Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage on Cyrano which is out at cinemas now.
Peter, who has graced our screens & performed on stage for five decades, shares stories of working with legendary film director Mike Leigh; brushing shoulders with Hollywood’s Brad Pitt & Kiera Knightley & explains what drove him as a teenager to become one of Britain’s finest theatre actors.
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Film writer/director & mentor Fredi Nwaka talks about his new comedy
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Fredi Nwaka’s latest film, On the Other Foot, about a white racist cabbie who find himself stuck in a black body for 72 hours is comedic as well as thought-provoking.
Fredi looks back on growing up as the only black child in the seaside town of Deal in Kent; reflects on his time in a notorious London gang and explains how he draws on his experiences to mentor young offenders & gang members to help steer them away from a life of crime.
The award-winning writer & rapper works in schools, prisons and in America with Crips & Bloods gang members.
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Simson Uri-Khob talks about his life saving black rhinos in Namibia
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Simson Uri-Khob is CEO of Save the Rhino Trust Namibia & this year’s winner of Prince William's Tusk Lifetime Award for Conservation in Africa.
He explains why he’s dedicated his life to protecting the world’s last free-roaming black rhino population in the desert from poachers & preserving their habitat with the vital help of local communities and leading conservation charity Tusk.
Simson also recalls taking the Duke of Cambridge rhino tracking in Namibia’s Kunene region & their joy at finally seeing one for 30 seconds after hours of trekking!
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Helen chats to brand strategist & FLEX author Annie Auerbach
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Annie Auerbach explains how learning to flex in our work & home lives, being rebellious & reinventing the rules, helps to create a smarter, happier life.
Annie is the co-founder of trends & cultural insights agency Starling and an expert in the future of work.
Her book on living & working on our own terms was written before the pandemic & has been critically acclaimed by the FT, Sunday Times Style, Stella & many more publications. Discover how Annie's findings can help you.
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Sunday Nov 28, 2021
Born in the UK to American parents, Jared Blumenfeld is one of America’s most innovative environmental leaders. He attended COP26 in Glasgow & gives us his take on what was achieved at the UN’s climate change summit as well as talking about the progress being made in California & the extreme weather America’s largest state is experiencing.
Jared believes we’ve gone beyond the precipice with climate change & that big business needs to be held more accountable for its actions. He also describes his extraordinary one-man 2,662-mile trek from Mexico to Canada, across searing deserts & rugged mountain ranges, on the stunning Pacific Crest Trail.
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Helen chats to master jewellery artist Sabine Roemer
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sabine knew at the age of 15 she wanted to design jewellery & work for herself. She shares fascinating stories of making a bracelet for Morgan Freeman for the Oscars; a golden corset for Angelina Jolie for the Maleficent 2 red carpet & reflects on precious time she spent with former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Sabine explains how she helped women in Botswana make a living, teaching them to make more sophisticated jewellery from ostrich eggshells & talks about the importance of giving back after surviving a terrifying cloud burst & devastating floods in India which destroyed entire villages & mountainsides.
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
This year’s Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year & Royal Marines Veteran Mark Ormrod tells Helen how his life was devastated in a split second in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2007. He stepped on & triggered an improvised explosive device on routine foot patrol in Afghanistan. He was just 24 & lost both legs & his right arm.
Mark has raised more than £600,000 to help other veterans & a film is being made of his inspirational story based on his book, Man Down.
He shares how, with the unwavering support of friends & family, he came back from suicidal thoughts, changing his mindset to become an 11-times medal winner at the Invictus Games, a peak performance coach & motivational speaker.
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Helen chats to musicologist & BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Dr Hannah French
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Dr Hannah French takes Helen on a musical journey through her life as a baroque flautist, studying and tutoring at the Royal Academy of Music. She talks about her passion for Bach & the pleasure she gets helping audiences unlock the fascinating secret stories classical music holds.
Hannah has Ehlers Danlos syndrome – a genetic collagen deficiency which means she dislocates easily. She explains how she copes with the chronic pain, describing it as a constant companion she’s learnt to live with, and reveals how she fights the pain to make way for her music.
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth gives a fascinating insight into his job as as Britain’s first ever Director Space for the Ministry of Defence, responsible for building & delivering a national space programme for the UK.
A fast-jet pilot of 20 years & former leader of the combat arm of the Royal Air Force, AVM Smyth reveals he’s currently concentrating on low earth orbit, operating 63 miles above our planet and beyond.
His focus is looking back at Earth from space, using satellites & state- of-the-art technology to help with issues like climate change, agriculture, coastal erosion & to militarily protect & defend our nation.
Sunday Oct 24, 2021
Sunday Oct 24, 2021
As Britain prepares to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26, meteorologist Clare Nasir talks about the deep learning and research going on at the Met Office where she works by some of the biggest brains in climate science.
Clare says the science behind climate change has been known for decades and points out that this autumn the Nobel Prize for Physics went to two scientists for their work on the Earth's climate & reliably predicting global warming back in the sixties.
But we're now on the frontline, experiencing extreme weather, and chasing our tails. Clare stresses the need has never been more urgent to change our lifestyles and reduce our CO2 emissions.
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Helen free-falls at 125mph from 15,000 feet for an exhilarating sense of life as a member of The Tigers Army Parachute Display Team, in the capable hands of their leader, Sgt Frank Millerick.
Frank has done more than 3,000 jumps and talks about his passion for instructing hundreds of soldiers, watching them go from zero to hero, and seeing that light bulb moment. He talks openly about the challenges of life in the military and his pride at being part of the British Army’s Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Helen chats to endurance runner & mental health activist Dan Keeley
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
As we mark World Mental Health Day, Dan Keeley shares his battles with his own mental health in the hope his journey can help others who may feel too afraid to speak up.
Dan, who describes being bi-polar as both a blessing & a burden, talks about his extreme adventures including running unsupported from Rome to Home – 1,250 miles in 65 days – to raise awareness. His sights are now set on Mont Blanc’s ultra-marathon.
He’s just delivered his first TEDx talk on the power of speaking up when we’re suffering for which he received a resounding standing ovation.
TEDx photographs by Simon Finley