Conversations of Inspiration

Jeanette Aurdal Founder of The Oak & Rope Company On finding success being who you were always meant to be  Want to know how Jeanette Aurdal made the transition from being a passionate hobbyist to building a thriving brand, celebrated for its handcrafted creations? Jeanette shares how a fire that reduced her business to ashes was both her darkest moment and greatest springboard — helping her e...

Inspired by her Indian heritage, Vanita founded her business after noticing a gap in the market for convenient, quality brow services. In doing so, she not only brought an ancient beauty technique to the 21st century, but also disrupted a whole industry. Hear how she’s ‘raised eyebrows’… WHY YOU WILL ENJOY THIS EPISODE Hear how Vanita’s heritage, the influence of London and her creative centre, al...

At just 17 years old, Henry had a serious diving accident which left him paralysed from the neck down. Finding himself trapped between a past he no longer recognised and a future he couldn't imagine, Henry shares how he found the mental resilience to overcome the darkest of times, to discover a life filled with light. WHY YOU WILL ENJOY THIS EPISODE Discover how it was possible for Henry to find n...

Joanna Jensen launched Childs Farm fuelled by a wish to help her daughters’ eczema-prone skin. Her story is one of entrepreneurship, determination and the strength of a mother’s love. From agonising challenges such as divorce, losing her home and confronting illness, to achieving incredible success, Joanna’s journey is remarkable. WHY YOU WILL ENJOY THIS EPISODE You’ll hear how, through trusting t...

Hailed as a retail genius, credited with transforming Topshop into a global fashion phenomenon and working wonders at Whistles, Jane began her career at the bottom of the ladder and honed her craft from the ground up with grit and creativity. Here, she shares how, in a world driven by data, instinct has been her guiding light. WHY YOU WILL ENJOY THIS EPISODE Discover the power of being emotionally...

Meredithe shares her journey from being a one-woman operation at the kitchen table to building an eternally joyful, internationally recognised, party accessories brand. Discover how, with ‘team’ at the heart of everything and a belief that imagination equals freedom, she retains the essence of what makes Meri Meri special. WHY YOU WILL ENJOY THIS EPISODE You’ll be inspired by a story of eternal op...

Karen Millen OBE started her iconic brand with £100 and 100 metres of cotton. Hear how she built and sold a thriving fashion empire against the odds — before being declared bankrupt and getting divorced. How did she learn to embrace her future once again and do what she loves? Find out here… WHY YOU WILL ENJOY THIS EPISODE Learn about getting comfortable with embracing failure and benefiting from...

In this very special episode Holly is thrilled to sit down for a second time with Marcia Kilgore, the visionary founder of Beauty Pie, Soap & Glory, FitFlop and more, to share her inside knowledge on the real beauty industry and how it has changed in recent years. Recognising that there is a new generation of knowledgeable and savvy customers looking to shop with brands whose values are rooted...

“After breast cancer, you can’t get the old you back, not really. BUT you can build a new version of yourself; wiser, stronger, less fearful, more joyful, more aware, more compassionate and with a greater sense of purpose.” These are the words of Rosamund Dean, journalist, author, breast cancer survivor and also Holly’s incredible guest this week. Rosamund’s vulnerability in sharing her experience...

Meet Alex Wright and Jack Scott, founders of DASH Water, a soft drinks brand that is making a difference, one wonky lemon and one curly cucumber at a time. This episode is packed full of insights from two entrepreneurs who are on a mission to disrupt an industry and make an impact.  Growing up with farming backgrounds, both Alex and Jack saw first-hand the monumental waste of bruised and misshapen...

When you’re a footballing legend how can you use your platform as a force for good?  That’s the conversation shared between Holly and Rio in this week's fascinating episode. Humble, honest and inspiring, Rio is renowned as one of our most beloved sportsmen but in more recent years Rio has turned his talents to breaking down taboos and campaigning for positive social change. Rio talks openly about...

“I didn’t know how to function any more. And then, one day, I watched my dad make a really simple overnight bread, mixing flour, salt and yeast in a bowl. Watching something so simple transform into something so magical made me feel safe.” Meet Kitty Tait and Al Tait, the daughter and father duo who are exceptional bakers with an even more exceptional story.  At just 14, Kitty struggled with anxie...

“I was homeless, I had no teeth and I was dying.” These are the words of DJ Fat Tony, world famous DJ, artist and author of the candid memoir, I Don't Take Requests. Tony grew up on a council estate in Battersea and his hedonistic lifestyle, and rise to fame, made him the DJ of choice for a generation of superstars - from the Beckhams to Elton John. After struggling with a decades-long addiction t...

If anybody embodies the spirit of a certain era of British fashion, it is Tanya Sarne OBE, founder of the iconic fashion label, Ghost. In this episode, Tanya shares her extraordinary life story, from her humble beginnings as a child born in the war to refugee parents, to travelling all over the world. Her journey had many remarkable moments along the way — moments she generously shares openly from...

“I get emotional because this is a craft I love. It is my life.” These are the words of Keith Brymer Jones, master ceramicist, design expert, author and self-proclaimed emotional judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down. A dyslexic child, Keith found an affinity with clay, ultimately turning his academic struggles into his best-selling and iconic Word Range of ceramics. Now, with over three decades o...

How can you take your passions and turn them into a brand that touches the hearts of thousands nationwide? Cath Kidston Padgham MBE built a thriving British business by embracing her love of textiles, interiors and print, and following her heart. But how? Reflecting on the pivotal moments that led her to success, Cath and Holly explore the breathtaking highs Cath experienced, as well as the heartb...

As one of the most inspiring stories you'll ever hear, this is a conversation that really will make you appreciate the beauty of life.  This week, Holly speaks with TV presenter, author and disability activist Sophie Morgan to find out more of what we can achieve when we refuse to let what happens to us in life — or other people — define us. Paralysed in a car crash when she was just eighteen year...

How do you evolve with your brand as a founder?  For over three decades Boden has been serious about style that makes you smile, and this week, Holly sits down with Johnnie Boden CBE to revisit his story since they first met in 2018.  Having weathered recessions, Brexit, Covid and now a cost of living crisis, Boden has established itself as a quintessentially British brand, that is also taking the...

Jacqueline Gold CBE, Chief Executive of Ann Summers, made it her life mission to empower women both in the boardroom but also in the bedroom, and unashamedly too. She tackled taboos, redefined an entire industry and made a lasting impact on the next generation of women in business.  As Jacqueline once said, “As women, we should boldly lift our heads above the parapet and celebrate our own successe...

It’s a tough job but someone has to do it. Chantal Coady OBE – AKA The Chocolate Detective — is on a mission to help you uncover the finest and most ethical chocolate around. Fuelled by a lifelong love of all things chocolate, Chantal’s business journey began at just 23, opening Rococo on the Kings Road, and stocking in the likes of Liberty, Heals and British Airways. However, there have also been...

As women, how on earth is it possible to build a business and grow with it over decades — whilst raising a family, weathering the storms of life and remaining inspired, motivated and engaged throughout? Baroness Ruth Rogers CBE is someone who has done just that and today, her pioneering Michelin starred restaurant The River Cafe remains one of the most in-demand culinary institutions in London, 36...

Do you want to learn how to do, think and be better – for our planet and in life itself?  You are not alone. And it’s not just us in a personal capacity, either. Mark Shayler — thinker, doer, creator, speaker and author — helps brands too. He shows how big companies can think like small ones and small companies can think like big ones, to make sure they stand apart, remain relevant in our society...

What does it mean to be a cultural provocateur? When your mission is to awaken, to communicate, to reveal truth and even to provoke action — all through the art of photography?  In this exclusive interview, Holly speaks to Rankin, one of the most influential photographers of our time, renowned for his ability to capture the essence and truth of his subjects rather than simply taking their pictures...

Have you ever been in need of a safe space to share your most personal questions or concerns as a woman and just not known where to turn? If so, it’s an experience shared by many — especially the 2.5 million people who’ve joined Peanut; the groundbreaking app set up by Michelle Kennedy to ensure that no woman ever has to navigate womanhood alone.  Whether it’s to connect, form friendships or just...

Want to meet the man who’s revolutionising the mental health movement?  With our mental health care system in crisis and people struggling more than ever before, Danny Gray (founder of men’s makeup brand War Paint), saw a need for change. So he launched a revolutionary mental health platform called JAAQ. Driven by his own learned experiences as a teenage victim of bullying, and having been diagnos...