Sophie Ziegler is the founder and creative force behind The OTTO Connection, a real-world social community designed to reconnect single people through relaxed, fun, low-pressure events and friendships. After finding traditional dating scenes uninspiring, Sophie launched OTTO in 2022 to build a welcoming space where being single feels vibrant and where people can expand their lives alongside like-minded friends rather than swiping through apps. Today, OTTO thrives as a growing community that champions genuine connection, shared experiences, and joyful socialising beyond the digital dating treadmill.
The Otto project, and why it was set up.
Why being single can be a good thing!
Later life love. What is it?
The 80 year olds that fell in love!
The odd pressure to be part of a couple.
Why accomodating the baggage is difficult.
How we can be sideswiped by our hurt young feelings.
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You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
A subject that has caught the imagination of the nation.
Fat Jabs!
A special episode with Sarah Vine and Lucy Cavendish, with role reversal - Sarah interviewing Lucy!
A fascinating, relatable and insightful conversation.
Hello and welcome to the podcast where we talk honestly about weight loss, body image, and everything that comes with it, emotionally, socially, and psychologically.
Two brilliant voices: journalist and author Lucy Cavendish, and columnist and commentator Sarah Vine.
Together, we’ll be exploring the realities behind the headlines, from the rise of weight loss injections to the lifelong mental load of being overweight, and what it really means to change your body in a world that never stops having an opinion.
This is a conversation about more than pounds and calories. It’s about confidence, shame, freedom, identity… and the complicated journey of feeling at home in yourself.
Let’s begin.
Key points of the episode:
The wrongness of fat shaming, including fat shaming of people on jabs.
Lucy's theory on when her weight problem started.
How people are put on the pill for virtually every reason, and it's connection to weight loss.
How modern fashion does not cater for women with shapes.
"The only thing you can control"
How the root of the problem can have started at a really early age.
The revelation from her Dr that led her to the fat jabs.
The transformations experienced by both of them.
An important message from Lucy about this subject.
Possible reasons from an evolutionary point of view.
How society has changed, but we haven't.
How our bodys hormones are very strong drugs.
How partly it was an identity shift for Lucy.
Lucy's "Sliding Doors" wonderings, if I had found this earlier, would my life have been better?
When the dust settles; how to survive life changing challenges and disaster with specialist Lucy Easthope (S4 Special Episode)
Lucy Easthope - The UK's Number One Disaster Recovery Expert!
Easthope is one of the UK’s foremost experts on disaster recovery, emergency planning and the long-term aftermath of major incidents.
Among her roles, she has been:
Professor-in-Practice of Risk & Hazard at Durham University.
Visiting Professor (Mass Fatalities & Pandemics) at the Centre for Death & Society, University of Bath.
Research Associate at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Massey University in New Zealand.
Her work spans the real-world consequences of disasters: implementation of recovery, supporting bereaved families and communities, and critiquing the “recovery myth” (the assumption that communities return to “normal” after a disaster) in her academic writing.
Major works & impact
In March 2022 she published her memoir When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster, which brings together her experiences with major incidents (including 9/11, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 7/7 London bombings, the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire and the COVID-19 pandemic) and reflects on what recovery really means.
Her work emphasizes how disasters reshape lives permanently, how response must account for human and social dimensions (not just infrastructure) and how voices of impacted people must be heard.
From interviews, she speaks candidly about hope, fragility and the human dimension of her work. For example, she says:
“I think one of the things is … just take incredible joy from a moment in the day … My work is one of the greatest privileges … just seeing people being great a lot. So that gives me a lot of hope."
Lucy and Lucy dive deep into a fascinating conversation here:
Stories of Espionage and Nazi wives - The Dark Side of Life | Jane Thynne (S4 E3)
Jane Thynne is a British novelist and journalist, best known for her historical fiction set in pre-war and wartime Germany. Born in Venezuela and educated at St Anne’s College, Oxford, she worked as a journalist for publications including The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, and the BBC. Her acclaimed Clara Vine series — beginning with Black Roses (2013) — follows an Anglo-German actress drawn into espionage in 1930s Berlin, blending meticulous historical research with compelling storytelling. Writing also under the pen name C. J. Carey, she is the author of Widowland (2021), an alternative history imagining a Nazi-occupied Britain. Thynne’s novels are praised for their atmospheric detail, strong female protagonists, and exploration of politics, culture, and power in turbulent times.
How Nazi women are not often talked about through history.
How Magda Goebbels went from being a devoted Zionist to a committed Nazi.
Her experience of living in "Widowland", and the experience of her researched "Cemetry Women"
Why she stopped being a journalist for a while.
The sad loss of her husband.
How the experience changed her and the way she thinks.
How the "Good Cop/Bad Cop" dynamic then changed with her parenting.
Some fascinating WW2 history.
The only correct answer to the question, "Why do you want to do this job", when being interviewed for the secret services!
Why Herman Goerings brother is commemorated as Righteous Among the Nations.
A fascinating example of how one mans infactuation with an actress caused thousands to die and affect world geopolitics.
Advantages of Age is a UK-based social enterprise and community platform founded by Rose Rouse and Suzanne Noble. Created to challenge the negative stereotypes surrounding ageing, the initiative celebrates the creativity, vitality, and entrepreneurial spirit of people over 50.
Through its online magazine, workshops, and community network, Advantages of Age promotes a positive, empowered view of later life. It highlights stories of reinvention, creative expression, and business innovation, showing that ageing can be a time of growth and opportunity rather than decline.
The founders bring a dynamic mix of experience to the project. Rose Rouse, a journalist, writer, and poet, has written extensively for The Guardian, The Independent and others, often exploring themes of identity, community, and social change. Suzanne Noble, an entrepreneur and jazz singer, co-founded the app Frugl and later created Startup School for Seniors, helping over-50s develop new business ventures.
Together, they’ve built Advantages of Age into a movement that celebrates wisdom, creativity, and resilience—encouraging people to live fully, regardless of age.
Key Points of the Episode:
How it all began auspiciously in a hot tub.
A feast from "Death World"
Facebook Live Sessions - live from the hot tub - "Mini Salons!"
The enjoyment of connecting people.
The problem solving in the community they have created.
The negative aspects of aging.
...and the positive aspects.
Sex advice for mature people- and the success of a random Facebook page.
How it became a massive podcast that now attracts worldwide experts.
The joy of people finding their tribe.
The balance of age being significant - with life experience, but not letting it define you.
Some things on their bucket lists...
How to grieve; death, the dead and one woman’s relationship with learning how to live . Halloween special with writer Hannah Betts (S4 E2)
Hannah Betts is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and columnist across a range of subjects for an array of British newspapers and magazines, principally The Times and The Telegraph. She has been a journalist for almost three decades.
After a career as a junior Oxford academic, Betts spent nine years at The Times, writing and editing in a number of guises, including op-ed columnist and Deputy Chief Leader Writer. She went freelance in 2007. Betts’s interests cover all aspects of the zeitgeist: not least, feminism, social and sexual mores, mental health, fashion, royalty, the arts, literature and history.
Since July 2021, she has written a popular weekly column for The Daily Mail entitled: “Better…Not Younger”. She is also Senior Contributing Beauty Editor for UK Harper's Bazaar, and has consulted widely in this field. Perfume is her particular passion and expertise.
She pens a monthly style column for The Critic, writes internationally for Air Mail, and is a frequent radio and documentary guest.
Her interview subjects include Margaret Atwood, Taylor Swift, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Jean-Paul Guerlain and Mona Hatoum. For journalistic purposes, she has played the part of Scarlett O’Hara, Marie Antoinette, a Victorian servant, lighthouse-keeper, dairy farmer, Arctic explorer, red-carpet celebrity, naked diner and ferret handler.
In 2019, Hannah Betts was awarded a President’s Medal by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for improving the lives of people with mental illness through her journalism. She is a respected voice on the subjects of depression, sobriety and relationships.
Betts is a Londoner with a penchant for blue whippets. Her favourite periods are the 1590s and the 1180s BC.
Key Points of the Episode:
Her mental health medal and her writings on mental health
Her atheism and her thoughts on it.
Why people judged her on writing about depression and the magic of "Dr. Journalism"
Why she is a "Born Again Snowflake"!
Her famous dog "Pimlico"
Raw reflections from the woman who spent her life editing others - Jo Elvin Unedited (S4 E1)
Jo Elvin is an Australian-born journalist and editor best known for her influential role as the founding editor of the British edition of Glamour magazine. Born in Sydney, Elvin began her career in journalism in Australia, working for publications such as TV Week and Cleo. She later moved to London, where she established herself in the UK media industry.
In 2001, Elvin launched Glamour UK, pioneering the concept of the “handbag-sized” glossy magazine. Under her leadership, Glamour became the UK's best-selling women's magazine, known for its accessible tone, celebrity features, and focus on modern women’s lives. Her innovative editorial approach earned her multiple industry awards and cemented her reputation as one of Britain’s most successful magazine editors.
After leaving Glamour in 2017, Elvin became the editor of You magazine, the Sunday supplement of The Mail on Sunday. Beyond her editorial work, she is also known for her charity involvement, witty public commentary, and presence on various media panels and podcasts.
Elvin remains a respected voice in fashion and lifestyle journalism, admired for her sharp editorial vision and trailblazing influence on women’s media.
How angry she was that she was nearly deported, although there was no legal reason for it.
How her desire to be a writer was based solely on wanting to meet pop stars.
How it was a relief for her to hear pop stars that she looked up to say they hated high school too!
How a comment from a comedian boosted her confidence.
How magazines helped her feel what she truly wanted to feel.
The success of her magazines about feminism post Sex in the City.
How she became institutionalised and was scared to leave magazines....
Melinda McDougall is a registered Medical Herbalist (MSc, MNIMH) specialising in women’s health, based in London.
She holds a Master of Science degree in Herbal Medicine, where her training included anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmaceutical medicine, botany, biochemistry, diagnostic skills, and traditional herbal knowledge.
Melinda is particularly passionate about supporting women through key life transitions such as menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause. She works holistically, aiming to discover and treat root causes of symptoms rather than merely masking them.
She has consulted with women across the UK and internationally, offering support and guidance via an online clinic in addition to her London-based practice.
McDougall has also served as Vice President of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH), a professional body for medical herbalists in the UK (founded in 1864).
In addition to her clinical practice, she speaks at conferences, webinars, and podcasts, especially on herbal medicine and menopause. Before becoming a herbalist, she worked in journalism and documentary-making, a background that she says helped her develop listening skills and the ability to dig into complex issues. Originally from Australia, she now lives and works in London.
Melinda’s professional philosophy blends scientific research with traditional herbal wisdom, emphasizing an integrative, patient-centred approach.
Key Points of the Episode:
How medical herbalism adds a whole new layer to diagnosis and treatment.
How we stand on the shoulders of our genius ancestors who worked it all out.
How she spotted a massive gap in treatment.
How we would not be here without plant medicine
How the menopause can be a loss of some things, but a great gain in others.
S3 E10- The Ghostwriters Handbook | Imogen Edward-Jones
Imogen Edwards-Jones (born June 1968) is a British author, journalist, and broadcaster best known for her sharp, witty exposés of hidden worlds and her bestselling Babylon series.
Born in Birmingham, Edwards-Jones grew up in the Midlands and was educated at Malvern Girls’ College before going on to study Russian at the University of Bristol. Her fascination with language and culture led her to spend time in Russia, an experience that would later inspire her first book, The Taming of Eagles: Exploring the New Russia, an account of life in the early post-Soviet years. She later trained in journalism at City University, London, setting the stage for a career that would combine reportage with a flair for storytelling.
Edwards-Jones first gained recognition as a novelist with works such as My Canapé Hell, Shagpile, and Tuscany for Beginners. But it was the Babylon series that made her a household name. Beginning with Hotel Babylon in 2004, the books offered an insider’s view into glamorous but tightly guarded industries—from aviation to fashion, restaurants, hospitals, and even weddings. Written with a blend of humour and scandal, and often based on real insider testimony, the series sold over a million and a half copies in the UK alone and was translated into dozens of languages. Hotel Babylon went on to be adapted into a BBC1 drama, bringing her work to an even wider audience.
Her writing has also taken a more personal turn. The Stork Club is a candid and moving account of her own experiences with IVF treatment, while The Witches of St Petersburg draws on her love of Russian history and culture, re-imagining the story of two aristocratic sisters in the court of Tsar Nicholas II.
Alongside her books, Edwards-Jones has written widely as a journalist, contributed to newspapers and magazines, and appeared frequently as a broadcaster. Her style—part investigative, part satirical—makes her a distinctive voice in contemporary British writing.
She lives in London with her husband, television producer Kenton Allen, and their daughter, whose godmother is the author Candace Bushnell. Outside her professional work, she has a long-standing interest in the esoteric, counting herself as a member of London’s College of Psychic Studies, and she jokingly describes herself as an “honorary Cossack.”
S3 E9 - The Psychology of Love - Dr Kalanit Ben Ari
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
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Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
With a career spanning more than two decades, Imogen Edwards-Jones has carved out a niche as a storyteller who thrives on lifting the lid on closed worlds, whether glamorous, absurd, or deeply personal.
The secret of a 27 year successful marriage.
*Why ghostwriting is a learning curve each time. *How she can "spend months" working on a project for someone and they would not recognise her! *An odd hotel fact! *Some delicious naughty stories! *Some unfortunate things that happen on flights. *How she studied Russia and loved the contrast and starkness of it. *How she feels about Russia now. *How narcissism does not really exist in Russia. *How she was interviewed on Wogan. *More on a happy marriage and red flags to watch for. *A fascinating anecdote about Marylyn Monroe.
Has this podcast inspired you and would you like to learn more?
You can reach out to Lucy, love coach, relationship counsellor, couples counsellor extraordinaire and author of "How to have extraordinary relationships with absolutely everybody".....
