Conversations of Inspiration

This is a conversation that teaches us all what can be achieved when we refuse to let others define us. A tragic accident would set Josh Patterson on a different path and define his purpose for the rest of his life. But as he seeks to make change in the most extraordinary way, what happens when your formative years are captured for the nation to watch and dissect from their sofa?   This week Holly...

A child refugee, tech pioneer, philanthropist, businesswoman, mother and true trailblazer, Dame Stephanie paved the way for generations of women to come, by using intuition and action to break ideological views of what women are capable of. In her conversation with Holly she shares the breadth of her experiences, struggles and her unrelenting energy for creating positive change. After escaping Naz...

Jens Knoops is a man who is obsessed with chocolate. After starting his brilliant artisan hot chocolate business in 2013, Jens’ journey has catapulted him into a world that not only brings him joy everyday but that brings each of his customers a little magic too. Holly talks to Jens about the huge passion he has for his products, the sustainable goals he has for Knoops and his decision to expand t...

Holly’s guest this week is a fascinating one, David Gandy, a man whose image is synonymous with high fashion and whose face has graced countless magazine covers, billboards and our televisions. Whilst sharing a cup of tea with Holly on her sofa, David delves into the story behind his career, life as a father, and his recent experiences of founding David Gandy Wellwear. Holly soon learns that David...

It’s that time already - Holly’s Christmas special!  Every festive season, Holly sits down and reflects on all of the wonderfully inspirational conversations she has had with guests throughout the year and it’s her absolute pleasure to take you on this journey with her.  In the last episode of 2021, Holly revisits some of her most favourite guests and anecdotes from throughout the year. From David...

This week, Holly has one of her most thought provoking and emotional conversations yet, with Dr Willard Wigan MBE, a man famous for creating the world's tiniest and most beautifully crafted micro-sculptures that are invisible to the naked eye.  Growing up in the sixties, with undiagnosed dyslexia and autism, Willard experienced a heart-breakingly difficult childhood as his confidence was crushed a...

Nadiya Hussain MBE is a woman whose journey and whose words are seared into the consciousness of all of us. Who could ever forget that tearful victory speech when she won The Great British Bake Off?  But the most remarkable thing about Nadiya is not what a talented baker she is but the way in which she has courageously tuned in to her inner voice, broken down barriers at every turn and challenged...

In a captivating conversation, Katy Emck OBE delves into her inspirational story as Founding Director of Fine Cell Work, a charity and social enterprise which tackles social rehabilitation by teaching prisoners the art of creative needlework.  Together with the late, great Lady Anne Tree, Katy began working with prisoners to create fine, commercial needlework which is now sold to customers across...

In one of Holly’s most anticipated interviews, she speaks to her heroine Bobbi Brown about her influential journey as a serial entrepreneur and her success in building a beauty empire.  Recognising the need for diversity amongst makeup products within the industry, Bobbi followed her gut as a budding makeup artist, to build a brand for all skin tones and types. Fast forward thirty years, and Bobbi...

This week Holly speaks with Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of one of the nation’s most beloved brands, Specsavers. Having always been one to challenge stereotypes, Dame Mary built her business not from the kitchen table, but on a table tennis table in her spare room and has continued to excel throughout her career ever since.  Seizing an opportunity to revolutionise the industry in the 1980’s, Dame...

How could each of us channel our passions into a cause for good? That’s exactly what Becky Sheraidah did when she founded Arthouse Unlimited. Believing that offering a sense of purpose is at the heart of improving our happiness, health and wellbeing, Becky began working with a collective of artists, each living with complex neuro-diverse and physical support needs, to create stunningly beautiful p...

Sir John Timpson, chairman and owner of Timpson is the very embodiment of building a business with family truly at its heart and kindness as a guiding principle. Hailing from a very long line of entrepreneurs, five generations of the Timpson family have been involved in the business that bears their name, business has always been in the blood. Recognised for his creative approach to employee recru...

A story of how a little true passion can snowball into a triumphant business, Tilly Walnes, founder of Tilly and the Buttons, shares her incredible journey; a decade of lessons learnt and the benefit of building a strong community through her own love of sewing.  Feeling frustrated that her day job didn’t allow her to be creative with her hands, Tilly began sewing and writing her blog, with a miss...

“There are 18 inches between your head and your heart,” David tells us, as he seeks to demystify what it means to be a truly connected brand. A mission-led entrepreneur, David Hieatt is a real visionary with extraordinary business agility. Founder of Howies, The Do Lectures, and Hiut Denim, he encourages all of us to challenge the story of who we are, who we can be, and how each of us can shape an...

This week Holly speaks with singer, TV presenter, and female founder Rochelle Humes. A woman of many talents, Rochelle Humes’ journey into the public eye started when she joined the British pop band, S Club Juniors, aged just 12, and would set her on the path towards creating a life she loves. This episode follows Rochelle’s journey, from the early days of her pop career to navigating the juggle o...

In this episode, Holly talks with Charlie Bigham, founder of Charlie Bigham’s ready meals. A brand name synonymous with ‘home cooking’, this episode goes behind the brand name to meet the founder himself. Charlie’s story is a fascinating one, after taking an industry by storm, he used his commitment and vision to not only challenge the status quo of ready meals but to build a business that acts as...

A lifelong obsession was ignited when Neal Whittington was given a £7 WHSmith voucher as a child. Neal has since gone on to carve his own niche in stationery with his brand ‘Present and Correct’ and amassed legions of fans with his beautifully curated collections, mixing vintage with new, tapping into our nostalgia and our own ‘human-ness’ to connect beyond technology and screens. In this episode,...

With a mantra that it is the energy you put in, that will see you succeed, artist Lucy Sparrow is the epitome of being utterly passionate (obsessed even) with the product you are creating.  Crafting felt creations to make you smile, her instantly recognisable pieces blend the world of colourful, tactile creations with a hard-hitting social commentary that tackles the world of gun crime, the sex in...

Anya Hindmarch has forever been one of Holly’s biggest inspirations. Not only as a fashion accessories icon with her incredible artistry and creativity, but also because she really has set the bar in terms of holistic branding and true immersive experience. So, for Holly, this Conversation of Inspiration is a real moment in time. Join this captivating conversation for a glimpse into the world thro...

This conversation is an absolute ode to doing what you love. Florence and James Kennedy, founders of Petalon are icons of sheer graft, determination, passion and love. Their business is everything to them, Petalon is not only a labour of love but a glimpse into their soul. As consumers, they wanted more affordable, more beautiful flowers than was currently available and so they set out on an incre...

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill is the epitome of female strength. Not only physically, but mentally resilient; determined, grounded and focused - purely driven by her passion for sport and her competitive nature. A true representation of what you can achieve when you have the confidence to know that you are in the right place at the right time. Jessica shares with Holly her lifelong dedication to sport,...

This week’s episode of Conversations of Inspiration sees Holly speak with psychotherapist, speaker and author, Anna Mathur. Anna is a strong believer that needing help and support isn’t failure; it’s a prerequisite of being human.  It’s easy to feel like a failure. It’s easy to feel guilty for not giving enough of yourself to your work, to your family, to your friends, and it's easy to feel alone...

Natalie Campbell, CEO of Belu Water is the very embodiment of female empowerment. After deciding at 15 that her life's mission was to be a CEO (thanks to Puff Daddy), she embarked on her journey with such drive and determination that she started her own business at the age of 19.  With a personal ethos around finding your ‘why’ and a philosophy that if it feels ‘too much’ then take a step back and...

This week Holly speaks to James Daunt, founder of Daunt Books and CEO of Waterstones.  James is a passionate champion of independent high streets, so much so, that his reason for joining Waterstones as CEO was to turn the ship at the brink of failure in order to prevent what would have been a devastating loss to British independent book selling.  James’ view is that our high streets were in declin...

In this week’s episode of Conversations of Inspiration Holly talks to designer and founder Jenny Packham. Raw, open and searingly honest, this interview will leave you in no doubt of the burning energy and powerful impact that living creatively can have on the world. Jenny Packham is one of the UK’s most successful fashion brands, her designs have graced red carpets and been worn by the most influ...