Sisters of Defiance

Davina McCall has spent decades in the nation's living rooms. From Big Brother to becoming one of Britain's most trusted voices on menopause and women's health, she's built a career on warmth, honesty, and an extraordinary ability to share and make people feel less alone.
Recorded live at Love Supreme Festival, Davina joins Anita for a deeply personal conversation about what happens when life forces you to stop and take stock. From undergoing brain surgery and breast cancer, to facing her own mortality, finding love again, and embracing the possibility of marriage for a second time, she reflects on the moments that have changed her perspective forever.
Together, they discuss the profound impact of losing her sister, why Big Brother will always hold a special place in her heart, and how speaking openly about menopause helped dismantle shame for millions of women. Above all, Davina shares why she's never been afraid to talk about the things so many of us keep hidden - and why finding joy in the everyday has become her greatest act of resilience.
This is a conversation about vulnerability, choosing honesty, and living life to the fullest even in life’s hardest moments.

Content warning: This episode contains discussions about cancer and addiction. We know these experiences can be difficult to hear about, so please listen in the way that feels right for you. If you need support, or if this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, you'll find details of organisations that can help below.
Macmillan Cancer Support - 0808 808 0000 - macmillan.org.uk
Samaritans - 116 123 - samaritans.org
NHS Alcohol support - NHS Alcohol support
NHS Drug support - NHS Drug support
If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…
Instagram - @sistersofdefiance
Anita - @itsanitarani
Davina - @davinamccall
Subscribe on YouTube www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com

Sisters of Defiance is nourished by Ancient & Brave
https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet

Presented by Anita Rani
Producer: Flossie Barratt
Technical Producer / Editor: Will Gibson Smith
Social Media Manager: Anna Richmond
Graphic Design: Sunny Formats
Sisters of Defiance is an Illuminaunty production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rose Ayling-Ellis has become one of the most influential voices for disability and inclusion in Britain. After rising to fame playing Frankie Lewis in EastEnders–the soap's first deaf character to use British Sign Language–she became a household name after winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, where her silent dance with Giovanni Pernice became a huge cultural moment. Since then she's taken on her first lead TV role in ITV's Code of Silence, won a BAFTA, and received an MBE for services to the deaf community.
But none of it came easily.
In this episode, Rose joins Anita to talk about a lifetime of fighting to be heard. From advocating for herself in the classroom as a child to challenging discrimination in the TV and film industry today, she reflects on the barriers she's faced, the assumptions people still make, and why she's refused to let other people's limitations define her.
Together, they explore the loneliness of feeling caught between worlds - not "deaf enough" for some, yet constantly navigating a world that isn't built with disability in mind. Rose opens up about imposter syndrome, feeling unworthy of milestones like her BAFTA and MBE, why she's so often underestimated, and her determination to live life on her own terms. They also discuss why the fight for true representation is far from over, and why diversity must be intersectional.
This is a conversation about resilience, breaking systems and refusing to let anyone else decide what you're capable of.
If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…
Instagram - @sistersofdefiance
Anita - @itsanitarani
Rose - @rose.a.e
Subscribe on YouTube www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com

Sisters of Defiance is nourished by Ancient & Brave
https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet

Presented by Anita Rani
Producer: Flossie Barratt
Technical Producer / Editor: Will Gibson Smith
Social Media Manager: Anna Richmond
Graphic Design: Sunny Formats
Sisters of Defiance is an Illuminaunty production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris Paloma has cemented herself as one of the most exciting new voices in music. Her breakout hit Labour became a global feminist anthem, giving millions of women a language for experiences they'd struggled to put into words. Now, after touring with Florence + The Machine and building a devoted worldwide fanbase, she's showing that the most powerful protest songs don't always have to shout.
In this episode, Paris joins Anita to talk about growing up rejecting traditional ideas of femininity and why she no longer identifies with the label of 'tomboy'. She opens up about living with OCD and her mental health, rejecting diet culture, and what it means to create art in a world that still judges women through the male gaze.
Together, Anita and Paris explore feminism, the rise of the manosphere and red-pill culture, the misogynistic backlash she's faced online, and why, despite writing songs fuelled by righteous anger, Paris believes softness can be one of the most radical forms of resistance.
This is a conversation about reclaiming womanhood, rejecting societal expectations, and finding strength without sacrificing tenderness.

Content warning: This episode contains discussions about rape, sexual assault and sexual violence. We know these experiences can be difficult to hear about, so please listen in the way that feels right for you. If you need support, or if this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, you'll find details of organisations that can help below.
Rape Crisis England & Wales - 0808 500 2222 - rapecrisis.org.uk
The Survivors Trust - 0808 801 0818 - thesurvivorstrust.org

If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…
Anita - @itsanitarani
Paris - @parispaloma
Subscribe on YouTube www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com

Sisters of Defiance is nourished by Ancient & Brave
https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet

Presented by Anita Rani
Producer: Flossie Barratt
Technical Producer / Editor: Will Gibson Smith
Social Media Manager: Anna Richmond
Graphic Design: Sunny Formats
Sisters of Defiance is an Illuminaunty production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 performing on some of the world's biggest stages. But it’s not always been an easy journey.
In this episode, Anoushka joins Anita to talk about identity, legacy, and what it means to choose your own path, even when it's uncomfortable. From growing up under intense public scrutiny to being branded a traitor by some within her own community, surviving childhood sexual abuse, and making the deeply personal decision to have a hysterectomy, she reflects on the moments that forced her to stop living for other people's expectations and start telling her own story.
This is a conversation about pushing boundaries, finding freedom in honesty, and letting go of shame.
Content warning: This episode contains discussions about rape, sexual assault and sexual violence. We know these experiences can be difficult to hear about, so please listen in the way that feels right for you. If you need support, or if this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, you'll find details of organisations that can help below.
Rape Crisis England & Wales - 0808 500 2222 - rapecrisis.org.uk
The Survivors Trust - 0808 801 0818 - thesurvivorstrust.org
If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…
Instagram - @sistersofdefiance
Anita - @itsanitarani
Anoushka - @anoushkashankarofficial
Subscribe on YouTube www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com

Sisters of Defiance is nourished by Ancient & Brave
https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet

Presented by Anita Rani
Producer: Flossie Barratt
Technical Producer / Editor: Will Gibson Smith
Social Media Manager: Anna Richmond
Graphic Design: Sunny Formats
Sisters of Defiance is an Illuminaunty production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the most influential designers in the world?
In this episode, Clare joins Anita to talk about ambition, reinvention, and the difficult choices that come with building a life on your own terms. From leaving home at 17 to navigating motherhood alongside a global career, and leaving companies at the height of her success, she reflects on the moments that defined her, the risks that paid off, and the lessons she's learned from starting over.
This is a conversation about trusting your instincts, embracing change, and having the confidence to choose growth over comfort.
If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…
Instagram - @sistersofdefiance
Anita - @itsanitarani
Clare - @clarewaightkeller
Subscribe on YouTube www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com

Sisters of Defiance is nourished by Ancient & Brave
https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet

Presented by Anita Rani
Producer: Flossie Barratt
Technical Producer / Editor: Will Gibson Smith
Social Media Manager: Anna Richmond
Graphic Design: Sunny Formats
Sisters of Defiance is an Illuminaunty production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.