Sisters of Defiance

Anoushka Shankar is one of the most celebrated musicians of her generation. Born into musical royalty as the daughter of legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar, she has spent more than three decades carving out her artistic identity; pushing the boundaries of Indian classical music, being nominated for 13 Grammy awards, collaborating with artists including Sting, Gorillaz and Lenny Kravitz, and perfo...

Clare Waight Keller has spent her career at the very top of fashion. From starting out at Calvin Klein in the 90s and working alongside Tom Ford at Gucci, to leading Chloé and Givenchy, designing Meghan Markle's wedding dress, and now serving as Global Creative Director at Uniqlo, Clare has helped shape the way generations of women dress. So how does a girl from Birmingham end up becoming one of t...

Singer, songwriter, and performer Beverley Knight is one of Britain's most celebrated artists and a woman who has spent her career breaking boundaries on her own terms. Beverley and Anita talk about the ambition and determination that have carried her through more than three decades in the music industry. From a life-changing trip to see Prince in concert that would eventually lead to an extraordi...

Fatiha El-Ghorri has taken the British comedy scene by storm over the past few years. Her wit, candour and fierce sense of self have made her one of the most distinctive voices in British comedy. In this week's episode, Fatiha reflects on the defining acts of defiance that have shaped her life. She talks about leaving an arranged marriage she knew wasn't right for her, rebuilding her life after di...

Gisèle Pelicot has emerged as one of the most influential feminist voices of current times. Her extraordinary courage has sparked conversations around the world about justice, dignity, and the treatment of survivors of sexual violence. After becoming the central figure in a landmark French rape trial, Gisèle made the remarkable decision to waive her anonymity, choosing instead to speak openly abou...

Emma Grede has built some of the most influential brands of the modern era, but behind the businesses and boardroom is a woman who has never been afraid to question who gets to lead, who’s allowed to speak openly about ambition, or to take up space. In this episode of Sisters of Defiance, Anita sits down with Emma to talk about power, money, motherhood, resilience, and the defining moments that sh...

Dame Meera Syal has graced our screens, bookshelves, and stages for decades - but behind the wit, brilliance, and groundbreaking work is a woman who has spent her life quietly and powerfully defying expectations. In the very first episode of Sisters of Defiance, Anita sits down with Meera to talk about identity, ambition, belonging, and what it meant to grow up feeling caught between cultures whil...

What happens when women stop playing safe? In Sisters of Defiance nourished by Ancient + Brave , Anita Rani sits down with extraordinary women who have challenged expectations, broken rules, taken risks and refused to live according to anybody else’s idea of who they should be. Through honest, joyful conversations, guests reflect on the moments that made them: the first acts of defiance, the failu...