Welcome to Successville

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Emma Slade Edmondson, to  discuss the complexities of identity, self-perception, and the journey of navigating success. Emma shares her transition from a corporate career in advertising to pursuing her creative passions, including writing a book that addresses race and identity.  Useful links: Emma on Instagram Emma’s book - The Ha...

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Anne Ravanona shares her journey from burnout and perfectionism to speaking in front of world leaders and creating a funding platform for women. Useful links: Global InvestHer The Intersection - Sophie’s free Substack newsletter with additional info, hot takes and slow burns. Sophie’s Instagram Sophie’s Social Action Instagram Chap...

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Tasha Bailey, AKA Real Talk Therapist, to talk about her journey from childhood as a Golden Child, to becoming a therapist. Useful links: Tasha on Instagram Tasha’s book The Intersection - Sophie’s free Substack newsletter with additional info, hot takes and slow burns. Sophie’s Instagram Sophie’s Social Action Instagram Yearly Com...

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest and comedian Erika Ehler explore succession the world of comedy. They discuss early influences, the challenges of navigating the comedy scene, the importance of representation, and the evolving definitions of success in a creative career.   Useful links: See Erika Live at the Soho Theatre May'25 Erika on Instagram The Intersect...

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Rupal Patel to explore Rupal's unique journey into the CIA. They discuss the challenges faced by women and people of color in corporate environments, the importance of team dynamics, and the challenges of working in individualistic societies. Rupal shares her journey from a successful academic background to the challenges of entrep...

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Annabel Rivkin, to explore the intricate relationship between work and creativity, the personal journey of defining success, and the impact of childhood experiences on adult ambitions. Annabel and Sophie explore the importance of building meaningful relationships, the power of collaboration, and the unique perspective on midlife th...

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Selina Flavius to discuss creating Black Girl Finance, a platform aimed at empowering Black women in financial literacy and independence. She reflects on her upbringing, the challenges of being a young parent, and the importance of representation in finance. Selina shares her experiences transitioning from a stable career to entrep...

Your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Lauren Currie to explore success, the importance of community, and the challenges women face in defining their identities. Lauren shares the story of receiving an OBE, her entrepreneurial spirit, and framing the idea of success as a parent.  Useful links: Lauren’s Instagram Upfront’s Instagram The Intersection - Sophie’s free Subst...

In this episode of Welcome to Successville season 2, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by successful guest Jayde Adams (and occasionally her cat, Buffy Baby Boy), for an in depth conversation about the multifaceted nature of success. Together, they explore themes of personal growth, the importance of community and mentorship in navigating a path through he entertainment industry. Jayd...

In this episode of Welcome to Successville season 2, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by successful Ana Kirova, CEO of dating app Feeld, who discusses her journey through successes and failures, emphasizing the importance of community and collective achievements. Ana reflects on her personal identity and how it intertwines with her professional life as the CEO of Feeld, a dating app...

In the first episode of Welcome to Successville season 2, Pippa Vosper shares her journey of self-discovery, the impact of her childhood on her self-esteem, and her experiences in the fashion industry. From growing up in a pub owned by her mother that only employed women, which gave her a taste for glamour, to starting an eBay store and styling iD Magazine covers, Pippa discusses the importance of...

In episode 10, the final episode of series 1 of Welcome to Successville, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest, and literal icon Charlie Craggs. Sophie and Charlie’s discussion covers various topics related to success, visibility, activism, and the challenges faced by trans individuals. Charlie shares her journey from being a star student to becoming an influencer and...

In episode 9 of Welcome to Successville, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Stacey Grant Canham. Stacey and Sophie discuss their personal experiences with success and how it is often tied to external factors. They explore the concept of success in relation to their childhoods and the influence of their upbringing on their perceptions of success. Stacey shares her jo...

In episode 8 of Welcome to Successville, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Maryam Pasha. Maryam discusses her relationship with success and her involvement in TEDx London. She reflects on her academic success in school and university, and how extracurricular activities contributed the most to her future successes. Maryam also shares her role in coaching TEDx speake...

In episode 7 of Welcome To Successville, Successful Guest Donna Patterson tells friend and host Sophie Williams how she was sure life had peaked when she got a child Filofax.  In trying to wrangle the concept of success, Donna reflects on her career journey and the unexpected turns it took, including going through an employment tribunal. She discusses the influence of societal expectations and the...

In episode 6 of Welcome to Successville, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by two Successful Guests; Natalie and Naomi Evans, co-founders of Everyday Racism, to discuss success and activism. They share their experiences growing up and their views on success as young people, navigating the education system and the pressure to achieve good grades. They also discuss the journey of starti...

In episode 5 of Welcome to Successville, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Sarah Ellis. co-founder of Amazing If, to talk about her journey to success, and the bumps in the road along the way. They discuss the challenges and hard work behind their achievements, the importance of focusing on behaviours rather than shiny objects, and the impact of social media on com...

In episode 4 of Welcome to Successville, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Kevin Morosky. Kevin discusses his background and experiences that shaped his idea of success, including the importance of freedom and creativity. He talks about the challenges he faced in school and his role in mentoring and guiding young people to redefine success and understand their wort...

In episode 3 of Welcome to Successville, your friend and host Sophie Williams is joined by Successful Guest Rebecca Humphries, actress and best-selling author. Rebecca discusses her journey to success and the challenges she faced along the way, from drama school to the entertainment industry. Rebecca talks about the importance of self-producing work, choosing curiosity over overwhelm, and staying...

Ameena Hamid, a theatre producer, and the youngest woman to produce shows on the West End, discusses her journey and relationship with success. She reflects on her childhood aspirations of becoming a lawyer and the pressure she felt to achieve top grades. A life-changing event shifted her perspective on success, leading her to prioritize happiness and joy. Ameena also discusses the impact of her m...

Ben Pechey is the first guest to visit Successville. Ben and Sophie discuss the complex and nuanced experience of success, particularly for marginalized individuals. They delve into feelings of imposter syndrome and the constant fear of losing success. They also touch on the pressure to constantly achieve more and the difficulty of finding satisfaction in accomplishments. The conversation highligh...

Welcome to Successville, coming soon. Transcript: Hello, lovely listeners. It's me, your friend and host, Sophie Williams. And this is Welcome to Successville, a podcast where I have conversations with some of the most successful people I know to try to find out what is success? How do you know when you've got it? And is it really all it's cracked up to be? As a little background, over...