Life Working with Vicky Clarfelt – Details, episodes & analysis

Many of us have dreamt of throwing our cards up in the air, moving abroad and setting up a book shop...Alex Holder actually did it! 

Alex Holder is a writer, journalist, creative director and owner of Salted Books, Lisbon. Alex was at the heart of London’s creative community, known for her work as an executive creative director in advertising and as content director at Elle. But after quitting her job and seeing a financial therapist, Alex reframed her thinking about time, money and creativity. This shift of perspective sparked her bold decision to move to Lisbon and set up Salted Books. I really enjoyed our super inspiring conversation about reframing the role of work in our lives and how we can choose to live - and work - differently. If you're considering a big change, or curious about navigating changing ambitions in work and life, this episode is for you!

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at https://www.clarfeltandco.com 

Alex Holder - https://alexholder.co/about/ and @alexandreholder on instagram 

Salted Books - https://saltedbooks.com/ and @saltedbookslisbon on instagram 

'Open Up: Why Talking About Money Will change Your Life' by Alex Holder - (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44281511-open-up)

Alex's book recommendation is 'All Fours' by Miranda July - (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197798168-all-fours)

Chapters 

(00:00) Introduction to Life Working

(00:40) Meet Alex Holder

(03:51) Alex's Career in Advertising

(11:03) The Shift: Maternity Leave and New Perspectives

(17:24) Time and Money

(22:06) Moving to Lisbon and Opening a Bookshop

(28:22) Freedom, Anxiety about the Unknown, and Work-Life Balance

(33:43) Conclusion

Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt 

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Socials and Content by Zina Wilkins

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A podcast exploring moments where our work and personal lives intersect and the journeys we go on when they do. 

Open, inspiring and remarkable conversations with guests ranging from an award winning novelist to creative directors, broadcasters, entrepreneurs, and even a happiness consultant! Expect chats filled with love, loss, creativity, grief, parenthood, happiness....Adam Brody shrines, Usain Bolt boat parties...to list a few!

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In her twenties, Lucy was working her dream job in film casting, rubbing shoulders with the stars and mortifying herself in front of celebs. But when her father’s dementia worsened, Lucy had to quit that life to become his carer. She turned to writing as a creative outlet and today she is an award-winning YA novelist. 

I’ve known Lucy for twenty years and have always been inspired by her resilience, positivity, creative talent and her lens on the world. Her story is a reminder of how life’s unexpected twists, turns and losses can lead us onto new paths. 

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at https://www.clarfeltandco.com 

Lucy Ivison - @lucyivison on instagram and Lucy's Books

Support for families affected by Dementia - https://www.dementiauk.org/

Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt 

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Socials and Content by Zina Wilkins

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Life Working

(00:15) Meet Lucy Ivison

(01:06) Casting + Celeb Encounters

(06:05) A Turning Point - Family Challenges

(15:26) Quitting Her Dream Job

(17:44) Becoming an Author + Caring + Loss

(28:38) Lucy's Career Today

(30:01) Conclusion

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're kicking off 2025 with Sarah Hesz, an advertising director turned tech startup entrepreneur and advocate for supporting parents with loneliness, childcare, and going back to work.

Struggling with the unexpected isolation and loneliness of being a new mother led Sarah and a fellow mum to create Mush, a social app for parents with over a million downloads. Being a female founder is tech isn't always easy, but Sarah is fuelled by her mission to support parents everywhere, she explains how parental loneliness and childcare are issues that have huge economic and societal impact on all of us.

An honest, open and practical conversation about solutions to the challenges of work and parenting.

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at www.clarfeltandco.com

Chapters

(00:00) Introducing Sarah Hesz

(02:02) An Introvert in Advertising

(03:10) Loneliness and Early Motherhood

(05:45) Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

(08:05) Identity as a Working Parent

(11:14) Founding Mush: A Social App for Parents

(17:33) Being a Female Tech Start-up Founder

(21:37) Societal Impact of Parental Loneliness

(24:00) Mothers in Work and Building a Better Society

(26:45) The Economy, Businesses and Supporting Parents

(33:25) Compartmentalising and The Mental Load

(34:45) Sarah's Top Tip for Parents

Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Socials Content by Zina Wilkins

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For creatives, it can be hard to know where to draw the line between you and your work.

Peigh Asante is a true multi-hyphenate, he is the co-founder of Swim Dem Crew, a creative director in advertising, a community leader and an entrepreneur.

When his music career didn’t work out, Peigh turned to running to work through the disappointment. However, a knee injury stopped him in his tracks and to rehabilitate Peigh taught himself to swim as an adult. Ten years later he runs Swim Dem Crew, a club that empowers underserved communities through swimming and a global brand that works with the likes of Puma, Google and Usain Bolt.

A super positive and insightful conversation about defining what 'work' means in your life, overcoming failure, burnout, boundaries, personal brand, passion and creativity.

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at www.clarfeltandco.com

Peigh Asante - https://www.itspeigh.com/ and @peigh on instagram

Swim Dem Crew - @swimdemcrew on instagram

Chapters

(00:00) Meet Peigh Asante: A Journey from Music to Swimming

(01:40) Defining Work

(02:35) Injury and Learning to Swim

(06:48) Swim Dem Crew and Community Empowerment

(08:10) Collaborations and Partnerships

(10:12) Peigh's Music Career

(16:00) Balancing Creativity and Constraints

(21:04) Personal Branding and Identity

(22:25) Burnout and Boundaries

(26:51) Reflecting on Work and Life

(27:34) Final Thoughts

Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Socials Content by Zina Wilkins

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Blue Monday we're speaking with Happiness Consultant, Samantha Clarke. Sam is on a mission to change our thinking around wellbeing and work as the author of 'Love It or Leave It, How to be Happy at Work', a lecturer at the School of Life and Simon Sinek's InspireU, a neuroaesthetician and global change-maker.

Sam and I chat about what it means to be happy at work, her personal journey balancing her health and career, and how 'purpose' doesn't have to be as elusive and challenging as it often seems.

A wise, insightful, and timely conversation about stress, conflict and compromise at work, job titles and self-worth, different generational and cultural perspectives on work, and how our environments shape us.

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at www.clarfeltandco.com

Samantha Clarke - https://www.samanthaand.co/ and @samanthaand_ on Instagram

'Love It or Leave It, How to be Happy at Work' by Samantha Clarke

Chapters

(00:00) Meet Samantha Clarke

(00:55) Journey to Happiness Consultancy

(05:53) Defining Happiness and Fulfilment at Work

(06:56) Job Titles, Purpose Umbrella and Self Worth

(09:27) Cultural Perspectives on Work and Identity

(12:19) Generational Differences

(14:30) Finding Your Values

(17:08) Stress, Conflict and Compromise

(19:50) Happiness on the Spectrum of Emotions

(20:40) Historical Emotion, Purpose and Choice

(22:22) Locating Pain

(23:05) Monetising Hobbies

(24:40) Illness and Realisations

(28:40) Neuroaesthetics, Grief and Personal Growth

(32:03) Does Work Define You?

(33:39) Our Environments Shape Us

(34:30) Final Thoughts

Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Socials and Content by Zina Wilkins

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An extra special season finale - we're joined by Harriet Minter, the award-winning broadcaster, writer, coach, sex therapist-in-training and workplace revolutionary... this episode truly has it all!

Harriet has spent decades writing about and changing the future of work. She famously launched the Guardian's Women in Work section, has appeared on the BBC, Sky News, and sparring with Piers Morgan on the GMB sofa. She hosted a top ten business podcast, has two TED talks and two books on leadership and hybrid work.

Harriet and I went behind the scenes of her illustrious career, exploring how her childhood shapes her views about women and work, her mid-life-crisis, and how she overcame childhood traumas and fears about money. She shared how her diabetes diagnosis shifted her approach to work and how looking at our personal relationship styles can actually tell us a lot about improving our work relationships.

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at https://www.clarfeltandco.com 

Harriet Minter - http://harrietminter.com/ and @harrietminter on Instagram and LinkedIn

Harriet's Book - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57302763-wfh-working-from-home

Harriet's TED talks on women and work and what yoga taught her about failure

Chapters

(00:00) Meet Harriet Minter

(02:04) Harriet's Childhood and Struggles with Asthma

(05:32) Impact of Parents' Business on Harriet's Career Views

(11:54) Launching Women in Leadership at The Guardian

(14:50) Realisations and Milestones

(21:41) The Courage to Quit

(23:50) Reframing Financial Fears

(26:00) Overcoming Childhood Traumas

(28:43) Sickness and Work

(39:28) Rethinking Work Structures

(42:29) Personal and Workplace Relationships

(44:12) The Gottman Institute and Toxic Work Relationships

(49:15) Leadership Styles

(51:24) Final Thoughts

Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Socials and Content by Zina Wilkins

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back!! Starting off S2 with Becky Barnicoat, acclaimed cartoonist for The New Yorker, Guardian, BuzzFeed, The New Statesman and more.

Becky shares her long journey to cartooning professionally —from facing discouragement as a child, feeling isolated in formal institutions, and chronic insomnia, to her success as a cartoonist and the launch of her new book 'Cry When the Baby Cries.'

We chat about the struggles of creative expression, being true to yourself at work, flow state and finding your unique creative voice, and the challenges of new parenthood!

Becky Barnicoat - @beckybarnicomics on insta

Get Becky's book - Cry When The Baby Cries

@lifeworkingpod on insta - follow us for more episodes and bonus video content!

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Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt 

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Video by Nada Smiljanic

Mixed by George Powell

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at https://www.clarfeltandco.com 

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Guest Introduction

(01:25) Becky's Childhood Interest in Cartooning

(03:00) Unspoken Rules

(04:19) Not Being Naturally Talented at Drawing

(05:45) Fighting to Pursue Art at School

(09:38) Identity Struggles and Creative Voice

(12:40) Not Being True to Yourself at Work

(13:50) Insomnia and Rediscovering Drawing

(17:00) Waking Dreaming and Flow States

(18:34) Professional Cartooning

(19:05) Pressure, Self-Doubt and Creative Process

(23:20) Infantilised at Work, Fear of Being Fired

(25:20) Cry When The Baby Cries

(25:40) Struggling at Work

(27:12) Wardrobe Woes and Ballet Flats

(28:55) Parenting and Cartooning

(29:48) Loneliness

(30:47) Consumerism and Parenting

(32:37) Conclusion

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a micro-bakery and a newborn in her tiny flat, to make-shift bakeries catching fire and getting rejected by potential investors, to an iconic chain of unforgettably pink bakeries across London with queues down the street - Sourdough Sophia is an unusual story of family legacy and traditional craft intersecting with business acumen, entrepreneurial grit, and working professionally with family.

We had an honest, relatable chat about the challenges and rewards of running a family business, sacrifice, resilience, validation and coming back from failure, managing stress, the value of community, and Sophia's German heritage and mission to bring real bread to the UK.

Sophia Handschuh - @sourdoughsophia on insta

@lifeworkingpod on insta - follow us for more episodes and bonus video content!

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Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt 

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Video by Nada Smiljanic

Mixed by George Powell

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at https://www.clarfeltandco.com 

Chapters

(00:00) Meet Sophia: Founder of Sourdough Sophia

(01:31) A Rustic Childhood and Family Traditions

(03:52) Escaping to the UK

(05:24) The Bread Crisis in the UK

(07:48) The Origin Story of Sourdough Sophia

(10:24) Closing the Business in Covid

(14:11) Balancing Work and Personal Life

(14:33) Marriage and Work Stress

(15:55) Fire!

(17:37) A Rough Start

(19:40) Success, Resilience, Validation

(23:18) Doing Business as a Couple

(26:24) Expanding the Business

(27:04) Rejected by Investors

(27:37) Community Funding and Investment

(28:07) Family Legacy

(29:38) Future Plans and Conclusion

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A near death experience led Dwayne on the adventure of a lifetime - an expedition to the North Pole. Today he is a professional explorer, TV presenter and the Chief Scout.

Dwayne moved from Jamaica to North London aged six, after experiencing childhood depression and a violent, life-threatening experience in adulthood, Dwayne decided to walk to the North Pole - becoming the first black Briton to do so. His adventures inspired him to support a new generation of young and underprivileged kids to connect with the outdoors.

We spoke about resilience, defying others' expectations, developing self-confidence, courage and imposter syndrome, male role-models and parental influence, and how to avoid getting eaten by a polar bear!

@dwaynefields on insta

@lifeworkingpod on insta - follow us for more episodes and bonus video content!

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Hosted by Vicky Clarfelt 

Produced by Taqwa Sadiq

Edited and Mixed by Talia Augustidis

Artwork by Poppy Newman

Video by Nada Smiljanic

Brought to you by Clarfelt + Co, a people consultancy. Find out more and say hello at https://www.clarfeltandco.com 

Chapters

(00:00) Meet Dwayne Fields: Adventurer and TV Presenter

(01:48) Life in Jamaica

(04:42) Adjusting to London

(05:57) Childhood Depression

(06:40) Relentless Violence

(07:22) Life-Threatening Encounter

(10:39) Defying Others' Expectations

(12:30) Rediscovering Nature

(13:52) Turning Point

(15:08) The North Pole

(15:27) Financial Barriers

(17:05) Matthew Henson

(17:37) Defying Expectations

(18:41) Journey of a Lifetime

(20:16) Another World

(21:45) Escaping a Polar Bear

(24:26) Mental and Physical Journey

(26:43) Balancing Family and Working Abroad

(27:54) Chief Scout

(29:08) Kids and Self-confidence

(32:08) Find Dwayne Online

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.