Conversations of Inspiration

• S23 Ep6: Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Singer-Songwriter: Embracing motherhood, midlife & menopause with music

  In this joyful and deeply honest episode, Holly is joined by pop icon, mum of five, and Kitchen Disco queen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor for a conversation that sparkles with humour, heart, and authenticity. From her early hits Groovejet and Murder on the Dancefloor to her empowering new album Perimenopop — a bold celebration of midlife and womanhood — Sophie opens up about every chapter of her journey through music, motherhood, and midlife. She reflects on growing up in a creative household, the influence of her mother’s career, and how fame, family life, and the ever-evolving music industry have shaped her perspective. Sophie talks candidly about the juggle of touring with five boys at home, the realities of public scrutiny, and how the Kitchen Disco series — born in lockdown — reignited her creative fire and deepened her connection with fans. As she steps boldly into her “sod-it” era, she shares her thoughts on resilience, emotional balance, and living unapologetically — where joy, honesty, and authenticity lead the way. Bursting with laughter, insight, and inspiration, this conversation is a glittering reminder to embrace every version of yourself — chaos, courage, sparkle and all.

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• S23 Ep5: ⁠Polly Vernon, Journalist & Author: The power of women speaking out — The fearless feminist

  You know those conversations that leave you buzzing — proud to be a woman, alive in your skin and ready to take on the world? This is one of those. In this episode, Holly speaks with Polly Vernon — journalist, author and all-round truth-teller — known for her fearless interviews with the likes of Donald Trump and Harry Styles, and her sharp, insightful writing for The Times and Grazia. Describing herself as a “thoroughly imperfect, atypical feminist,” Polly is rewriting the sisterhood rules. Together, they explore everything from growing up in a feminist household to navigating expectations around motherhood and childlessness, aging and appearance, fitness and feminism, trauma and resilience. Polly is unflinchingly honest about the pressures women face — and why open, unfiltered conversations about health, choice and defining womanhood on our own terms matter more than ever. She says what many only dare to think — and that courage, that raw authenticity, is what makes her voice so powerful. This is a conversation that challenges, comforts and might just make you a little braver too. Trigger warning: This episode includes mentions of rape and abortion, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you prefer to skip these parts, the discussion on rape runs from 15–23 minutes, and abortion from 46–49 minutes. Please take care while listening.

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• S23 Ep4: Nikki Trott — Author, Speaker, Strategist & Advisor — Trusting your gut: why following intuition is better than a business plan

  Warning: This podcast could change your life! What if business wasn’t just about profit — but about purpose, joy and soulfulness too? What if trusting your instinct could lead you to achieve great things? In this episode of Conversations of Inspiration, Holly is joined by Nikki Trott — author, speaker, strategist, and advisor — whose journey has taken her from consulting for iconic luxury brands like Mulberry and Mercedes, to writing her visionary book, Sacred Business. Nikki shares how returning to her roots after years of nomadic living, and relying on her intuition, has shaped every step of her journey: from walking away from a successful but unfulfilling career, to reimagining entrepreneurship as a practice rooted in values and fulfilment.  Together, Holly and Nikki explore the blending of spirituality and business. They also reflect on feminine strength, navigating grief, personal growth and letting go — while offering practical wisdom for building businesses with authenticity. This conversation is a powerful reminder that success can be redefined. Business can be both strategic and sacred, ambition can be reimagined and trusting your intuition can open doors you never expected to walk through. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to build a business that truly reflects who you are — and do it with joy, purpose and depth — this episode will speak straight to your heart.

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  1:14:40

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• S23 Ep3: ⁠Kate Halfpenny, Founder of Halfpenny London: Celebrating individuality & empowering brides

  What does it take to design a wedding dress—or build a business—that’s not just beautiful, but deeply meaningful and empowering? In this heartfelt conversation with celebrated bridal designer Kate Halfpenny, you’ll find yourself wanting to be her BFF as she speaks with refreshing honesty about the magical journey of creativity, courage, and self-belief. From growing up in a creative household and interning with Vivienne Westwood, to styling Rihanna and repurposing fabric scraps with her late mum, Kate carved her own place in a fiercely competitive industry. She shares how resilience, individuality, and kindness shaped her brand, while opening up about the pandemic, bucking trends, and the underestimated power of body confidence. Kate also reveals why dyslexia isn’t a flaw but the “secret source” to unstoppable creativity. At the heart of it all is her mission: to design dresses that are far more than fabric and lace—garments that empower women to feel extraordinary on their own terms. This is a love letter to confidence, creativity, and the quiet bravery of trusting you’re already enough.

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• S23 Ep2: A RUDE awakening – why creativity should rule the world: Abi & Rupert Meats, Founders of RUDE

  What happens when you refuse to colour inside the lines? In this joyful episode, Holly chats with Abi & Rupert Meats — the powerhouse couple behind RUDE and Everyday Sunshine, a gallery and coffee shop dedicated to optimism and community. Purveyors of positivity in every sense, they’ve been creating unapologetically bold, colourful work for 25 years. From hustling in their first studio to collaborating with Apple, Vogue and the Tate, they share the highs, lows, wins and losses of building a life around creativity. Now, they’re driving a movement to bring creativity back into children’s lives. Their new book, CREATE, is a rallying cry for a generation growing up in a world where art is being sidelined in schools. Abi & Rupert talk openly about why creativity isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a lifeline — and how they’re on a mission to put a copy of CREATE in every primary school in the UK. So, if you’ve ever wondered what the world might look like if we treated joy and imagination as seriously as maths and science, this episode is for you.

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