Explore every episode of the podcast Power Done Differently
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence Bavanandan on Finding Your Voice, Holding Space, and Commanding Attention with Authenticity | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:44:49 | |
Do you ever struggle to feel heard in the boardroom? Do you want to use your voice to make a positive change? Well, you're in the right place. Join me as I sit down with Florence Bavanandan, a classically trained soprano and vocal coach, turned podcaster, and entrepreneur as we talk about finding your voice through what she's learned in both the performing and the business worlds. Doing power differently starts with speaking differently, and as Founder of Clear Voice Consulting, Florence is working to address the wider conversation surrounding women speaking up, feeling heard, and retaining their authenticity while doing so. In the episode, we delve into the importance of advocating for yourself, why women speaking up is only solving half the problem of getting a more inclusive workplace, and Florence’s own journey from farm girl, to a classical singer, to an entrepreneur. Florence also discusses the value of having difficult conversations despite not finding common ground, and why the pressure of making a career out of your passion isn't always a good idea. | |||
| Wera Hobhouse MP on Protecting the Values of Open Society and Liberal Democracy in Parliament | 21 Mar 2023 | 00:33:48 | |
Brought to you in partnership with 50:50 Parliament, I’m joined this week by Wera Hobhouse MP, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change and Transport as we delve into the importance of championing an open society in Parliament. In the episode, Wera reflects on how her upbringing in post-war Germany helped shape her commitment to protecting the values of liberal democracy, flaws and all, and why you need to defend these from the centre. We explore her passion for protecting the environment, how serving in local government influenced her approach as an MP, and how a backbench MP in the minority can influence legislation. Wera also opens up about the firsthand bloodbath of crossing the political aisle, and her memories of the night the Berlin Wall came down, so settle in, and get ready to listen as we explore the life and career of one of the Liberal Democrats rising stars. | |||
| Lu Li on What the Startup Ecosystem Would Look Like if it Hadn't Been Invented by Tech Bros in Silicon Valley | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:43:18 | |
Do you ever feel like your life is all about achieving what other people expect of you, ticking boxes to get ahead in a corporate career that, while others are excited… you’re not? Have you thought about launching your own business, but felt startup culture wasn't inclusive enough? Well, you’re not alone. My guest this week has been there, done that, and wrote the book on it! Joining me is Lu Li, Founder of Blooming Founders, aka the ‘Wikipedia of startup content’ and Author of Dear Female Founder. In the episode, we look at how Lu is redefining the UK’s startup ecosystem away from Silicon Valley wannabe tech bros, and towards a better, more inclusive, community-driven model. We also explore Lu’s resilience in the face of challenge, how in March 2020, after delivering 150 events, almost 3 years of workspace operations, and building a community of 6000+ members, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to shut everything down, before pivoting and coming back even stronger. Throughout the episode, Lu shares her advice on bootstrapping your business, making business more human, changing investor culture, and why there has never been as much potential capital in the hands of women as there is now. This is an episode I can't wait to share with you! | |||
| Baroness Jenkin on a Lifetime in Parliament and Getting More Conservative Women Elected | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:47:51 | |
In another episode brought to you in partnership with 50:50 Parliament, this week I sit down with the formidable Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, or Anne as she prefers, to talk about the challenges of getting conservative women elected to Parliament. As the Co-Chair of Women2Win, a campaign group she co-founded with former Prime Minister Theresa May, Anne has been on the front lines of the fight to get more women elected on behalf of the Conservative Party. Anne and I explore what Women2Win does to help women candidates, what she’s learned from a lifetime in Parliament, and the pride she feels for her family’s role in achieving women’s suffrage in the UK. She'll also share her thoughts on imposter syndrome as a Baroness and why women don't talk about their health enough. So grab your popcorn because we're about to dive into a real-deal conversation about empowering women in politics! Notice: | |||
| Jan Livingston Mokhtari on Growing a Purpose-driven Brand that Celebrates the Californian Grey Whale | 07 Feb 2023 | 00:46:47 | |
Do you ever wonder what it takes to build a successful brand that's true to your values? Join me as I sit down this week with Jan Livingston Mokhtari, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer of Gray Whale Gin. We explore how family and environmental purpose is driving this premium gin brand from strength to strength while helping the planet, one “glass of California” at a time. Jan shares the story of how nature inspired the brand, the innovations she and her husband made to help conserve capital, and what ‘good’ looks like through their partnership with ocean conservation charity Oceana. Throughout the episode, Jan shares her insights on entrepreneurship, balancing work and family, and how to build a brand that's true to its roots, one that her daughters can be proud of. You'll hear all about Jan’s experience scaling her business, including the pivotal moment when she and her husband had to choose between growth and staying true to their values. So, grab a glass of gin (preferably Gray Whale!) and join us as we explore the story behind this highly successful and purpose-driven brand. About Jan Livingston Mokhtari: | |||
| 50:50 Parliament's Frances Scott on Building a Better, More Gender-Balanced Democracy | 20 Jan 2023 | 00:36:24 | |
Joining me for the first of a very special new sub-series looking at getting more women elected to power across the UK is Frances Scott, the driving force behind 50:50 Parliament, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in parliament. In this episode, Frances shares the mission and vision of 50:50 and how her daughter's election to school council opened her eyes to the lack of representation for women in leadership roles. She explores how that representation for women isn't just limited to politics - it's an issue that affects us in all areas of life - and shares her thoughts on what needs to be in place for women to thrive in leadership roles - representation, resources, responsibility, and respect. Tune in to hear more about how 50:50 is working to create a more equal and representative government for all. About Frances Scott: | |||
| Elizabeth Lesser on the Power of Women's Storytelling and Speaking Truth to Power | 20 Jan 2023 | 00:51:57 | |
Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| Joy Morrissey MP on Finding the Middle Ground After Brexit and Why It’s Time to Make Politics Boring Again. | 27 Apr 2021 | 01:14:06 | |
For my last episode of the season, I’m joined by my fellow American in London: Joy Morrissey. Joy is the Member of Parliament for Beaconsfield and currently serves as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. I wanted to talk to Joy in part because she has such an incredible story. She’s only the third American-born female MP in UK history, the first to enter Parliament after a general election, and the first to hold a seat in over 80 years. At the 2019 election, Joy unseated Dominic Grieve, the former UK Attorney General who had held the seat for two decades. I also wanted to understand what being a Conservative meant in a post-Brexit context and so that’s exactly what I did. We delve into how she first got involved in politics and why, despite voting Leave in 2016, she once thought she’d be working for the European Commission. We explore healthcare inequality in the US, the rise of nationalism and finding the middle ground in divided political cultures, how women are carrying the uneven burden of child-care in the pandemic, and why it’s well worth time we make politics boring again (along with many other topics along the way). Delivering balanced and intelligent answers to some really quite probing questions, and proving that you can disagree without being disagreeable, Joy is exactly the type of elected official we need more of. So until I see you all again in September with another batch of good troublemakers doing power differently, stay brave, stay kind and stay powerful. You can change everything for the better. | |||
| Author Sophie Williams on Being an Anti-Racist Ally | 20 Apr 2021 | 00:51:31 | |
After yet two more police shootings, and video of a black soldier being pepper sprayed, all in less than a week, this was an episode I originally planned to release as part of my next series in September, but I simply couldn't hold this back now. So, joining me on this week’s Power Done Differently is Sophie Williams, an advocate, activist, and author of the books Anti-Racist Ally and the newly released Millennial Black. A Creative Media Producer by trade, having worked on several notable productions including the Crown, Orange in the New Black and The End of The F***ing World, Sophie found herself the voice of a movement after an Instagram post went viral. We delve into all the uncomfortable topics we need to be having right now: We talk about George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Belly Mujinga, Stephen Lawrence, and so many other names that should still be here, how black women have been the backbone of much of social progress, defining what privilege looks like - for people off all ethnicities - and why you need to overcome the need to be liked by everyone. For Sophie, there’s a difference between simply not being racist and actively being an anti-racist. From her TEDTalk, we also discuss the glass cliff, how we all too commonly see it in politics today, and the regressive situation that is bound to happen when under-represented women of colour are placed into that poison chalice position. In her books, one of the suggestions Sophie makes for anti-racist allies is to “just listen” and so that’s exactly what I’ve tried to do, and I hope you will too. | |||
| Anti-Brexit Campaigner Gina Miller on Making Nigel Farage Blush and How to Disarm Your Enemies with Kindness. | 13 Apr 2021 | 00:53:06 | |
If you’ve been following the never-ending saga that is Brexit, or even just looked at Twitter at any point during, Gina Miller will be a household name to you. A serial entrepreneur, passionate philanthropist and advocate for responsible capitalism, Gina shot to fame over twice leading successful Supreme Court cases to ensure Brexit be democratically debated in parliament and who, in the process, became something of a favourite punching bag for extreme Brexitiers both online and off. But, if that’s all you know about her: there is so much more. In this episode of Power Done Differently, Gina and I sit down to talk about all things democracy: how the UK’s political system could do with some pretty serious reforms, why the Leave campaign won with emotion, and how she’s been cast aside one too many times for being an outspoken woman of colour. Gina also discusses her approach to befriending her bullies, surviving domestic abuse, how she made Nigel Farage loose his composure on national TV, and why she remains staunchly against looking, sounding, and behaving like a politician. In their review of her debut book, Rise: Life Lessons in Speaking Out, Standing Tall & Leading the Way, The Sunday Times called Gina, “a woman of true grit and courage, of whom we should all - whatever our views on Brexit - be proud.” This episode is a must-listen for anyone devoted to restoring sense, decency and emotional intelligence in politics. | |||
| BONUS: Former HRH Princess of Luxembourg Tessy Antony de Nassau on Motherhood, Psychedelic Research and Launching a Global NGO. | 06 Apr 2021 | 00:16:37 | |
You know how leftovers can sometimes be the best bit of a gutsy meal? Well, it’s the same with podcasts - there’s always rich pickings cut in the editing process, and they’re just too good not to share. I simply had to make a bite-sized episode from some of the best bits I cut from my interview with Tessy Anthony de Nassau, UNAIDS Ambassador, Co-Founder of the new feminist clothing line, Human Highness, and (of course) former Princess of Luxembourg. Tessy gave such an honest and candid interview, back during the ‘Tell It Like It Is’ days of the podcast, I couldn’t cram it all into the first one! So stick the kettle on and enjoy 16 minutes of discovering how Tessy learned to play with her children, the logistics of launching free summer schools in Sierra Leone, Uganda and India, and delve further into her research on psychedelic medical treatments - there’s so much more to Tessy than meets the eyes. | |||
| Best for Britain CEO Naomi Smith on Confronting YouTube’s Radicalisation of Young Men, Racial Injustice During the Northern Ireland Conflict, and What Went Wrong with the Remain Alliance. | 30 Mar 2021 | 00:59:57 | |
Joining me on this week’s Power Done Differently is Naomi Smith, CEO of the pro-Europe campaign group Best for Britain, and co-host of one of my favourite podcasts, OH GOD, WHAT NOW? Naomi has been up close on some of the most significant political failures in the UK over the last decade. She was one of the few who predicted that the last election would end badly for Remainers, but when she tried to warn them, she was shouted down by MPs. So of course we talk about Brexit, the Labour Party and the Lib Dem's, but we also talk about so much more. Naomi gets candid about growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles, what that can teach us about a post Brexit/Trump world, and how the racial harassment of a classmate by a teacher exposed her to how power can corrupt, and how abusers will use that power. We explore the role big tech has in the radicalisation of young men and directing violence towards women, alongside why most politicians don’t have the real life experience to be good leaders. While Naomi claims she has no interest in running for office again, I can’t help but feel politics would be all the better for having more women like Naomi Smith in power. | |||
| Former Utah State Science Advisor Dr. Carol Curchoe on Redefining IVF Lab Management, Not Fitting Stereotypes, and Why the Politicization of Education Risks Becoming Like the Handmaid’s Tale. | 23 Mar 2021 | 01:00:21 | |
Diving right into the controversial topics, renowned biologist, fertility expert, and former Utah State Science Advisor, Dr Carol Curchoe joins me to talk about everything from abortion terminology and vaccine denialism to the challenges of STEM cell research in the US. A high school dropout with a complicated family background, Dr Curchoe didn’t take the usual path to becoming a distinguished scientist and successful start-up entrepreneur. She managed to break the cycle of poverty and become the first in her family to go to college, gaining her GED and working part time as a waitress - something she says should be akin to national service! In this week’s Power Done Differently episode, Dr Curchoe and I delve into her journey from smoking cigarettes in the high school car park to founding ART Compass, a successful startup which modernises the technology IVF labs use for automating data and improving patient care. We also discuss the importance of mentors, not fitting stereotypes, and the Handmaid's Tale-esque politicization of science education across America. Dr Curchoe is a passionate advocate for taking the pain out of IVF, and that compassion and candour for one of the hardest experiences women will go through really stands out in the interview, so press download and listen now. | |||
| SPECIAL: Cassandra Rae and Rachael Amesbury on Meghan Markle and the Temptation Myth of Women in the Public Eye. | 16 Mar 2021 | 00:23:39 | |
It feels like the entire world is talking about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, whether they watched the Oprah interview or not, and while I'm not one for royal gossip, I am interested in what it can tell us about discussions of power and the ways in which women in the public eye are portrayed for trying to do things differently. In watching the media coverage, it was the same age old stories being told: It was Meghan who was the 'temptress,' it was Meghan who took Harry away from his family, and quite frankly a lot of other incredibly sexist comments. It was incredibly tiring, and I couldn't help but feel like if we are interested in promoting a more inclusive and caring form of power, this was a teachable moment. Joining me to dissect the rabbit hole that is the British Royal Family is one of my previous guests, Comedian and Copywriter Rachael Amesbury, back by popular demand and because even when discussing serious topics, we still need the occasional laugh. | |||
| Ellevate Network CEO Kristy Wallace on Amplifying the Stories that Change Minds, and How Communities Can Accelerate Progress for Women in Power. | 09 Mar 2021 | 00:53:28 | |
You don’t need to figure out everything on your own, that’s the message of this week’s Power Done Differently guest, Kristy Wallace. Kristy is a former investment banker, turned startup executive, who is now CEO of Ellevate Network, the world’s largest professional network for women, alongside serving as host of the Ellevate Podcast: Conversations with Women Changing the Face of Business. In the episode, Kristy and I talk about why communities are so important for accelerating the progress of women in power, how adding more diverse voices to the table isn’t an attack on white middle-aged men, and the fact that it really is the conversations that happen when you're not in the room that are most important for opening doors in your career. Kristy also opens up about how to fire someone with kindness, why leaders should be taking a big step toward creating a culture where all types of people can succeed, and much more. An absolute must-listen, which will both empower and inform. Download now. | |||
| Mixing It Up, Premium Drinks Entrepreneur Dee Charlemagne on Blending Diversity, Sustainability and Health to Change Not Just What People Mix in Their Drinks, But Also Stand for the People Who Want to Change What-and-Who They Mix With. | 02 Mar 2021 | 00:58:22 | |
This week’s Power Done Differently guest is on a mission to get people drinking better, and talking more. Former ad executive, turned entrepreneur, Dee Charlemagne is Co-Founder of AVEC Drinks, a line of premium, better for you mixers that bring 21st century values to a market still mostly stuck in the past. A first generation American, born and raised in the Bronx, Dee delves into the importance of intersectional identity as a black female founder, how she awkwardly fits between two very different worlds, and the privilege that is for entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams while still paying the rent each month. Dee and I also discuss how AVEC is bringing people together during the pandemic and the shocking statistic that only 40 black female founders have ever raised more than $1 million in Venture Capital funding in the US. With AVEC having already created a buzz on the drinks scene since its launch last year, being named a product to watch by the New York Times’ drinks critic Florence Fabricant, my money would be on adding Dee to that list quite soon. So pour yourself a stiff one and sit back and enjoy this week’s Power Done Differently episode. | |||
| Silicon Valley Women of Influence Jennifer LeBlanc on the Cultural Problems in Big Tech, Emptying Every Bank Account She Had in 2008, and Why You’ll Always Benefit More from Investing in Female-Led Start-Ups. | 23 Feb 2021 | 00:47:34 | |
Imagine being told you only had five years to live unless you ditched your high-stress lifestyle ASAP. Well, that’s exactly what happened to high-flying entrepreneur and former tech marketing exec Jennifer LeBlanc. Jenn is the Founder and CEO of Palo Alto-based ThinkResults Marketing, ranked as the 10th fastest growing private company in Silicon Valley in 2017, alongside serving as Founder of the Changing Tides movement, a platform which helps women in business get the investment they need, and author of two best selling books. On this week’s Power Done Differently, Jenn candidly discusses the devastating effects of her divorce and its lingering after-effects on her personal and professional life, how she emptied every bank account she had during the 2008 banking crisis to save her business and support her staff, and her unwavering drive to push capital into the hands of female founders. She also reveals the moment she realised she’d been running on empty, and gets frank about why all women should start talking about money far sooner than we actually do. A must-listen for anyone invested in closing the gender-gaps in startup culture. | |||
| Serial Entrepreneur, Turned Beauty Disrupter, Divya Gugnani on Creating Fewer, Faster and Cleaner Beauty Products, Why She’s Slow to Hire and Quick to Fire, and How You Don’t Need to be a Natural Salesperson to Succeed in Business. | 16 Feb 2021 | 00:58:39 | |
Quite the opposite of many of my Power Done Differently guests, Divya Gugnani never had huge aspirations growing up. Instead, all she wanted was to be a mid-level lawyer living in suburban utopia; white picket fence and all. But 60+ investments and a talent for co-founding successful start-ups are proof of her ‘accidental’ entrepreneurial story, and she’s not building that picket fence anytime soon. Listen as Divya shares her journey from proudly working 80 hour weeks at Goldman Sachs to hosting a cooking show on NBC, selling her e-commerce business to QVC for millions and co-founding Wander Beauty, a cosmetic company that specialise in multi-purpose beauty products for women constantly on the go. Divya also opens up about the personal pain points behind launching Wander, why she’s slow to hire and quick to fire, and how taking investment can be like a marriage without divorce. Honest and down to earth, Divya’s episode is well worth a download for anyone who doubts their own risk-taking abilities. You too can achieve great things. | |||
| Former MP And Government Minister Anna Soubry on How Politicians Failed to Predict the EU Referendum, Why Emotion Will Always Win Over Reason, and What She Really Wanted to Tell the Thugs Who Harassed Her on the Campaign Trail. | 09 Feb 2021 | 01:05:50 | |
Deliberate, brazen and direct, Anna Soubry is one of the most outspoken figures in UK politics, and yet she’s also someone who refuses to get her fingers dirty in the cesspits of populist extremism. In this week’s Power Done Differently episode, the former barrister, journalist, MP and Government Minister joins me as we dissect the decline, and tribalisation, of the Liberal Democrat party, the Remain side’s failure to use emotion when campaigning for a second EU referendum, and why women in political offices are both criminally underrepresented, and then over-scrutinised. Anna also shares her experience of abuse, harassment and death threats in the wake of fellow MP Jo Cox’s murder. Unapologetic yet empathetic throughout, Anna showcases a brand of political leader who we’ve not seen much of in recent years. It makes you wonder, where have all the good ones gone? An antidote to our polarised political climate, listen now for a much-needed dose of sensibility and reason. | |||
| Advertising Titan, Turned Sex-Tech Revolutionary, Cindy Gallop on Being Pro Sex, Pro Porn, and Pro Knowing the Difference. | 02 Feb 2021 | 01:06:20 | |
Everybody watches porn. Nobody talks about watching porn. Former BBH America Chair Cindy Gallop is adamant that this needs to change, and since her 2009 Ted Talk on socialising sex went viral, she’s been driving the discourse on that area we’re all the “most f*cked up” about. The Founder of the world’s first crowdsourced social sex platform, Make Love Not Porn, Cindy is a fierce advocate for everyone knowing the difference between sex and porn. In this week’s Power Done Differently episode, Cindy and I delve into the desperate need for equal representation in the creative direction of pornography, the toxic monopoly of sites like Pornhub, and her own struggles in getting investment due to society's love / hate relationship with ‘adult content’. Assertive, ardent and extraordinarily engaging, this episode should be required listening for anyone who watches porn (ok, that’s practically everyone) or has a vested interest in their own sexual self worth (er, yep, should be practically everyone too). Listen now. | |||
| Goodbye, Tell It Like It Is. Hello, Power Done Differently! | 01 Feb 2021 | 00:50:24 | |
Ok, the cat’s out of the bag: Tell It Like It Is... is no more. But don’t worry, you'll still get your weekly dose of echo-chamber free conversations that keep you thinking for days to come. We’ve been on a sabbatical, learned a lot of things about ourselves and have come back more grown up, more nuanced, and ready to embrace our own power with a brand that matches that mission. | |||
| REPLAY: Andrea Gamson on the Ethics of Paid Charity CEOs, What a ‘Monk Day’ is, and Why Eating Out Should be a Ritual Rather than Routine. | 26 Jan 2021 | 00:27:27 | |
In my final replay before season two, I simply had to reshare this delicious bite-sized episode with Andrea Gamson, Co-Founder of Social Starters and winner of the WISE100 award. Andrea gave me so much brilliant content as you’ll remember that I couldn’t cram it all into the first episode! While both episodes were full of sage advice, this bonus episode really captured what we have to look forward to once we’re out of lockdown again - which if like me is really starting taking its toll - can’t come soon enough. Find out why Andrea believes social impact careers are universally underpaid, how small local businesses have really been at the forefront of innovation during COVID-19, and the impact mediation has had on her confidence and serenity. | |||
| REPLAY: What Does the Biden/Harris Win Mean to Women Around the World? | 19 Jan 2021 | 00:54:20 | |
A woman of colour will be the Vice President of the United States tomorrow. Read that again. No coup attempt could stand in the way of that monumental diversification of power and we need to talk about it again. On this special episode, originally aired days after the November election, I was joined by a quartet of leading women in politics to discuss the result of the 2020 Presidential Election and what comes next. | |||
| REPLAY: The Lincoln Project's Tara Setmayer on the Conservative Case Against Trump, and the Jerry-Springerisation of Politics. | 12 Jan 2021 | 01:13:29 | |
A facist coup, an impending impeachment and a Twitter ban for Trump - January 2021 has seen the political discourse of the last 4 years come to a violent head. This episode, recorded last year with the Lincoln Project’s Tara Setmayer is now more relevant than ever, as we approach the inauguration ceremony encased in a cloud of volatility. But it's conversations like these which signal a way out. I’m a dedicated Democrat and Tara a staunch Republican, but in this conversation, we discovered more similarities than differences. The episode highlights that dire need for civil conversation, respect and understanding between the divided masses. Listen now for some blessed relief from the doom and gloom. | |||
| SPECIAL: Tell It Like It Is 2020 Lookback. | 05 Jan 2021 | 00:38:32 | |
Deep breaths everybody - we made it to 2021. What a year 2020 has been. A lot of pain for a lot of people, and some joy too, certainly for me. I’m so grateful to the awesome women who have agreed to share their time, both on the episodes released to date and in the brilliant content I’ve got coming your way in 2021. While I take a few weeks off over January, and prepare to launch the next series bigger and better than before, I wanted to take a look back at some of my favourite bits of the podcast, starting with the a compilation of best of the #TellItLikeItIs, or ‘TILII’ round. | |||
| BONUS: Amanda Brill on Having a Gun Pointed at Her Temple, What Changed Her Beliefs as a Republican White House Intern, and Why We Need to Look Beyond Tribalism. | 29 Dec 2020 | 00:20:12 | |
You know how leftovers can sometimes be the best bit of a gutsy meal? Well, it’s the same with a big plate of podcast - there’s always rich pickings in the editing process, and they’re just too good not to share. We simply had to make a delicious bite-sized episode for international lawyer Amanda Brill, because she had so much to talk about. In this bitesize episode, Amanda discusses everything, from the experience of having a gun pointed at her temple, and then becoming engaged to a card-carrying, gun-owning NRA member; what it was like for her as a young Republican interning in the Clinton White House and her subsequent shift to the Democrats - plus how to talk to Trump supporters. Her stories of loving people across our respective tribes were a calming way for us to close out 2020 and look forward to a brighter year ahead. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| #24 - Healthtech Pioneer Maryline Marquet on Home Care Innovation, the Economic Value of Human Life, and Why No One is Telling Her What to Do. | 22 Dec 2020 | 01:02:32 | |
How much is a single year of your life worth? It may surprise you to learn the government has a price...and it’s probably less than you think.. Discover the shocking truth about the economic value of human beings, with health-tech pioneer Maryline Marquet. Maryline is the VP of Operations for APACMed, the Asia-Pacific Medical Technology Association, alongside sitting on the board for a number of digital healthcare companies including the London-based Avegen, and Paris founded start-up FeelEat. Maryline and I discuss healthcare innovation as part of a larger value system which includes education, and how populism takes advantage of a lack of education to exploit the vulnerable. Maryline and I also delve into why there aren’t more women in prominent medical positions and the compassionate role that Midwives play everyday. Health and healthcare is one of the most intimate and universal experiences of our lives. We need more perspectives in our understanding of how we approach it, and Maryline offers a thoughtful discussion on the issues surrounding it. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| #23 - Financier Jennifer Dowling-Rowe on Traveling with Newborns, Why You Should Always Talk About Things When They’re Going Wrong, and the Need for More Women in the Investing Community. | 15 Dec 2020 | 00:51:24 | |
Jennifer Dowling Rowe is a wearer of many hats. She’s the Co-Founder of Headwaters Volatility Solutions, a pioneering hedge fund alternative, she’s a marathon runner, and oh yes - she’s a mother to six children! Find out how she’s managed (hint - it’s not about being perfect).. Jenny and I dive headfirst into why running a business is like a marriage (especially when your co-founder is your husband), why Jenny chooses to take her children with her to international business conferences, and why being the only woman in the room needs to change. Jenny also opens up about a shocking #MeToo moment while she was still in her teens, and gets real about returning to work after a nine-year year break to raise her family. Understated, sophisticated, and one-hundred-percent motivated, find out what makes Jennifer tick in this week’s episode. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| #22 - Physician and Beauty Entrepreneur Dr. Manisha Singal on Treating Inflammation With CBD, What it Means to be on the Frontline of the COVID-19 Crisis, and Why Having Compassion for Yourself is So Important. | 08 Dec 2020 | 00:50:19 | |
What would you do if you were told your hair dye was the cause of your chronic skin condition, and the chemicals from it would remain in your body for months after use? For Dr. Manisha Singal, Hospital Chief Medical Officer, and Co-Founder of the prestige skincare company Aaethera Beauty, the answer lay beyond a cocktail of synthetic medications, and instead in the captivating world of CBD. If you’ve ever wanted to get the real lowdown on the natural chemicals making waves in the world of modern medicine, this week’s episode is a fantastic place to start.. Join me as Manisha answers many burning curiosities about CBD, alongside talking about her experiences of being a front-line doctor in the COVID 19 crisis. Manisha exudes compassion, empathy, and humility. In a year that’s been a lot about our health and the health of those we love, voices like Manisha’s are a joy to listen to - a treat for the mind and the soul. | |||
| #21 - Fortune 500 Leadership Consultant Lisa Kohn on Her Turbulent Childhood as a Cult Survivor, Battling with Addiction, and Her Journey to Forgiveness. | 01 Dec 2020 | 00:59:13 | |
There’s something unnerving about the phrase ‘mild cocaine habit’, but Lisa Kohn owns it. She opens up with me about the stories behind her latest book, 'To the Moon and Back: A Childhood Under the Influence in which she details her turbulent childhood and early adulthood as a cult survivor', and her battle with addiction. There’s so much in Lisa’s story that’s remarkable, from watching her mother be married at a mass wedding at Madison Square Garden, to snorting lines of coke with her father’s friend, the Judge. But Lisa’s story, despite the many twists and turns, is a human story at heart - a heroine’s journey in processing trauma and finding a path out of it to get on with life. Stuff we’ve all been through and stuff we’re all still trying to learn. | |||
| #20 - Culture Expert Michal Levison on Using Food to Combat Loneliness at Work, How an Injury Ended Dreams of Becoming a Classical Musician, and Separating Jewish Culture from Religion. | 24 Nov 2020 | 00:58:09 | |
Imagine a consulting firm, but instead of crafting powerpoints and spreadsheets, you help teams connect and collaborate….with food! Well, that’s what Michal Levison has done by launching (or should we say ‘lunching’) Seasoned Moments. Michal has been on a mission to use food as a gateway to create relationships, fight burnout and fuel innovation. She joins me to talk about her work, how ‘Zoom meals’ are combating loneliness during COVID-19, and how she pivoted her entire life plan following a career-ending injury as a classically trained pianist aged just 17. Michal also speaks candidly about the differences between growing up in Israel, vs the fast paced mentality of 1980s New York, and the first hand horror stories of working in advertising that taught her that it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. | |||
| SPECIAL: What Does the Biden/Harris Win Mean to Women Around the World? | 17 Nov 2020 | 00:55:10 | |
A woman of colour will be the Vice President of the United States. This is monumental for the diversification of power and we need to talk about it. On this special episode, I’m joined by a quartet of leading women in politics to discuss the result of the 2020 US Presidential Election. | |||
| #19 - BAFTA Winning MTV Veteran Muki Kulhan on Working with Ozzy Osbourne, Why the Sun Makes Her Feel Powerful, and How Virtual Reality is the Future of the Arts Industry. | 10 Nov 2020 | 00:55:25 | |
BAFTA Award winning Executive Immersive/XR Producer and fellow transatlantic import Muki Kulhan joins me to talk about her 20 year career creating groundbreaking content for music, broadcasting, and entertainment. Muki and I delve into everything from her time developing mobile games for The Osbournes (yes, those Osbournes) to the benefits of virtual reality and how it can help the arts industries during lockdown. The Muki-International Founder and Chief Innovation Officer looks back at her whirlwind career at the forefront of the 90s digital revolution at MTV and discusses her decision to go solo, working with A-List clients like Universal, Live Nation, the BBC and Marvel. | |||
| #18 - Perfume Entrepreneur Frankee Adams on Burnout in the Charity Sector, the Desperate Need for Diversity in the Fragrance Industry, and Why Cancel Culture Should Be… Well… Cancelled. | 03 Nov 2020 | 01:05:22 | |
It's not often someone switches careers as drastically as Frankee Adams. She’s gone from anti-sexual violence advocate to perfume entrepreneur by way of a fast-paced career in sales, building her own brand and business model from scratch, launching the perfume subscription service Bare & Bond. Frankee shares with me what it means to look after yourself after her personal experience of burnout, and realising that just because she was young didn't mean she was invincible. Frankee also discusses bringing personal and artistic connection back to perfume, steering away from the soulless, over-sexualised adverts which don’t add value or meaning to the consumer. Genuine, relatable and with a multifaceted bag of life experience shining through, Frankee’s episode is as intriguing as it is entertaining and informative. | |||
| #17 - NYC Mayoral Candidate Dianne Morales on Feminine Leadership, What Defunding the Police Actually Means, and Why the System is Rigged Against Women of Colour. | 27 Oct 2020 | 00:58:12 | |
If elected, Dianne Morales would be the first woman, and woman of colour to be Mayor of New York City. She’s been challenging the white dudes in suits tropes we’ve seen since the beginning of time her whole career. The former CEO of a community driven non-profit, Dianne wants to shake up the system from the top down, and describes herself as 'an ally from within'. On this week’s episode, Dianne and I talk about what it really means to defund the police, the challenges she’s faced being a minority woman in a leadership role, and how the American education system is continuing to fail Women of Colour in terms of advancing them into positions of power. An empowering episode, with deep and nuanced discussions of a range of social justice issues, Dianne’s time on the podcast gives us hope for the future of female influence - you’ll be thinking about it for days after. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| #16 - Award-Winning Producer Aradhna Tayal on Why She's Sick of Being Asked What it’s Like to be a Woman in Tech, Ending Tokenism and Why You Should Always Outsource Rather than Pick From Your Network. | 20 Oct 2020 | 00:54:47 | |
When leading media consultant Aradhna Tayal is feeling that ever-present voice of imposter syndrome (oh yes, it affects her too despite having 12 years at the BBC under her belt), you know what she does? She gets out her CV, looks at her achievements and says to herself, "I am AWESOME!". What a tactic! In this episode, Aradhna and I talk about diversifying the skill set of tech teams, the way that networking should work, and of course, what feminism has got wrong over the years right. Aradhna also delves into combating tokenism on industry panels, and how she rescued Radio TechCon, the UK’s leading radio technology conference. If you’re in production, or looking to switch careers into audio tech, Aradhna’s episode is a must-listen. She even tells me what makes a really good podcast! | |||
| #15 - Humanitarian, Activist and Former HRH Princess of Luxembourg Tessy Antony de Nassau on Sex Education, Psychedelics, and Combating Burnout In Public. | 13 Oct 2020 | 00:55:05 | |
Tessy Antony de Nassau is a former Princess of Luxembourg, but that’s honestly the least interesting thing about her! She’s also a humanitarian, activist and social entrepreneur who is currently pursuing a PHD in integrative medicine. Tessy and I talk about combating burnout and depression in public, people wanting her to work for free, and the launch of her new clothing line Human Highness. A former UN and NATO decorated Peace Keeper, Tessy is also mother to two teenage Princes and discusses the dire need for better sex education for young boys, how her own #MeToo moment while in Kosovo has driven her advocacy for women in conflict zones, and why other women have been some of the biggest obstacles to her career - something we don’t acknowledge or talk about enough. This is an outstanding episode, so get settled in with a glass of something and be prepared to meet the woman behind the tabloid fever. | |||
| #14 - The Lincoln Project's Tara Setmayer on the Conservative Case Against Trump, and the Jerry-Springerisation of Politics. | 06 Oct 2020 | 01:14:24 | |
It’s time to rethink our biases. This week, I invited Republican Tara Setmayer, Conservative Political Commentator, podcaster and Senior Advisor to the Lincoln Project, to a brilliant conversation which transcends political boundaries. Despite sticking points on less comfortable topics such as abortion, this episode really highlights how we have far more similarities between us than we do differences, and clears the air for a conversation between the divided masses. Tara explains how she got involved in Republican politics, how she’s supporting her husband’s cricket clothing line LondonRoyce, and the Jerry-Springerisation of politics under Donald Trump - a man who we both legitimately despise. Tara also gets candid about being tokenised in Republican politics, the struggles she’s had with her body image, and how her mum is her biggest inspiration in life. | |||
| #13 - Business Consultant Sahar Schwaninger on Fleeing Iran, Realising She Lacked a Mind-Body Connection, and How to Bring More Humanity to Business. | 29 Sep 2020 | 01:02:48 | |
Joining me on this week’s episode is Sahar Schwaninger, Founder and CEO of the culture & mindset development consultancy, Human Harbours. In this candid, deep and often touching episode, Sahar talks about being born in Iran during the revolution, fleeing the country with her parents at an early age, and how in becoming a mother herself, she was able to re-examine her trauma. Sahar and I also dive into how the shallowness of corporate culture has led to chronic burnout for many employees, the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to coin new words for nuanced concepts in both our personal and professional lives. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| BONUS: #ENTRYLEVELBOSS Author Alexa Shoen on How the Rich are Taking Advantage of COVID-19, Why She’ll Never be One of “The Marketing Girls”, and the Networking Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make. | 22 Sep 2020 | 00:18:06 | |
You know how leftovers can sometimes be the best bit of a gutsy meal? Well, it’s the same with podcasts - there’s always rich pickings in the editing process, and they’re just too good not to share. I simply had to make a delicious bite-sized episode for familiar voice Alexa Shoen, Author of #ENTRYLEVELBOSS and internet career guru - Alexa gave me so much insightful content, I couldn’t fit it into the usual hour. In this bitesize episode, Alexa and I talk about economic insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis, the differences between how Europe and America have handled the pandemic, and the real problem of corporate trophy wives - the perfect 18-minute coffee-break interlude for the middle of your working day. | |||
| #12 - International Lawyer Amanda Brill on Bad Bosses, Being Sent Nudes by a Friend’s Husband as Brett Kavanaugh Was Confirmed, and the Innate Desire to Surround Herself with Beautiful Objects. | 15 Sep 2020 | 00:42:40 | |
A high flying lawyer representing clients in the arts, films and television industries, as well as investors, innovators and multinational corporate entities surely doesn’t have time for anything else, right? Wrong! Amanda Brill, top international immigration lawyer and Name Partner of the law firm TL Brill Parisi also volunteers for Age UK, and has a secret instagram alter ego dedicated to fashion and all things pretty. Amanda joins me on this week’s episode for a deep dive into keeping up with ever-changing US immigration laws and the President’s manic 3am Tweets, the lessons learned from having an egotistical maniac for a boss, and how her own experience of sexual harassment came in the same week as the Brett Kavanaugh case. | |||
| #11 - Best-Selling Author Tracey Lovejoy on Making a Co-CEO Model Work, and Getting Past Her Beliefs that Being Successful Was Evil. | 08 Sep 2020 | 00:45:54 | |
Has there ever been a catchier book title than ‘Move Fast, Break Shit, Burn Out: The Catalyst Guide to Working Well’? This week, I’m joined by the author of said catchy book, social scientist and performance coach Tracey Lovejoy. Tracy has worked as a coach with many major brands - Amazon, Facebook, Google and Vodafone, and sets herself apart from the sea of life coaches with one word: research. In this episode, Tracey explains how her background as a social scientist has been essential in building a no BS brand, how she’s managed to make the Co-CEO model work for her, and how we can avoid the career mistake equivalent of calling someone else’s baby ugly. If you’re wondering what coaching is really about, and how it overlaps with therapy, you’ve come to the right place. Download now for an insightful conversation into optimising your career goals, as well as a hot-take on why Sex and the City is not everyone’s favourite show. | |||
| #10 - Advertising Titan Lynn Power on How Shampoo Can Save the Ocean, Why Your Co-Founder Should Complement Rather than Clone, and Why You Should NEVER, Under Any Circumstance, Get a Perm. | 01 Sep 2020 | 00:50:54 | |
As feminist icon Fleabag put it: hair is everything. This week’s episode is ALL about hair, with former J. Walter Thompson CEO and sustainable haircare entrepreneur Lynn Power talking to me about starting a beauty company in the middle of a pandemic. Lynn, along with having the ultimate surname for this podcast, also has the best mansplaining story we’ve heard so far. Yes, it’s funny, and yes, it involves a horrific male misunderstanding of the female anatomy. Besides that little gem, you’ll also find out how Lynn co-founded the minimalist japanese inspired haircare brand Masami, which uses sustainable seaweed from the north coast of Japan as it’s moisture-giving ingredient - and why discussing money with your co-founder straight away can save a lot of bother in the long run. Lynn and I also get down and dirty with discussions on ageism, diversity in the C suite, and why advertising is one of the worst offenders in terms of the gender pay gap and #MeToo moments. | |||
| BONUS: Andrea Gamson on the Ethics of Paid Charity CEOs, What a ‘Monk Day’ is, and Why Eating Out Should be a Ritual Rather than Routine. | 25 Aug 2020 | 00:26:37 | |
You know how leftovers can sometimes be the best bit of a gutsy meal? Well, it’s the same with podcasts - there’s always rich pickings in the editing process, and sometimes they’re too good not to share. I simply had to make a delicious bite-sized episode for Andrea Gamson, entrepreneur and winner of the WISE100 award. Andrea gave me so much brilliant content that I couldn’t cram it all into the first episode! Find out why Andrea believes social impact careers are universally underpaid, how small local businesses have really been at the forefront of innovation post COVID-19, and the impact mediation has had on her confidence and serenity. | |||
| #9 - Cassandra Turns the Mic on Herself: I Dive Into Why Success is Just Another Word for Freedom, Moving to Europe Aged 18 with Just $250 in My Pocket, and Why Democratising Power is the Most Important Task Ahead of All of Us. | 11 Aug 2020 | 00:44:05 | |
You asked for it, and you've got it. It’s my turn to sit on the other side of the studio table. Asking the questions is the familiar voice of Alexa Shoen, the first ever guest on the podcast, who probes gently and deeply into what makes me, a) so badass, and b) so Cassandra. I tell the story of the philosophy behind the podcast - why it’s needed, what it’s inspired by and how it came to be a reality. I’m introspectively honest about my troubled childhood, and dissect the self-identified arrogance of my early 20s, hypothesizing that it was probably a good thing to ask for outlandish sums of money outright when I got into the business world. I also talk about how curiosity pushed my career forward, and how becoming a mother highlighted how those ‘outdated’ ideas of what feminism in the corporate world looks like (i.e. maternity cover and lack of breastfeeding facilities) are still very much modern, unresolved issues. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| #8 - Marketing Guru Andrea Enright on Being an Urban Cowgirl, the Cutting Edge of Mediocrity, and Why Making Risky Decisions Are Crucial to Personal Development. | 04 Aug 2020 | 00:53:44 | |
Andrea Enright gives you permission not to categorise yourself. She’s a personal branding and marketing expert who doesn’t believe in boxes, unless that’s really, really what you’re into - in which case - own it! In this effervescent episode, Andrea and I discuss Andrea’s time in the Peace Corps - including moonlighting in a few SyFy Channel movies, how the rosy days of motherhood can be nothing short of a myth, and why booking an Airbnb for a weekend alone, just a mile from home, was the best act of self care she could have given herself. Warm, open and relentlessly honest, Andrea also introspects about her own subconscious biases from growing up in 1980s America in light of the ongoing Black Lives Matter Movement, and explains why honouring your mind and body is an important skill to pass on to our children. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| #7 - WISE100 Award Winner Andrea Gamson on Grieving for the Fairytale Myth of True Love, the Dangers of Ignoring Nuances in Gender Politics, and Why the Body Positivity Movement Has a Long Way to Go to Reach Perfection. | 28 Jul 2020 | 00:58:03 | |
It turns out that the Beatles were right - love is all you need. But not in the way you’d think. This week’s guest, WISE100 winning trailblazer Andrea Gamson, explains how radical self love was the key to her career success and to overcoming imposter syndrome. Andrea and I also take down the myth of true love and dive into why no one talks about how being single is actually, like, fine? Andrea is the Co-Founder and CEO of Social Starters, a network that facilitates mentorship and training between business consultants and start-ups with the overall goal of promoting sustainable entrepreneurship. That sounds wordy and corporate on the outside, but the story of how this became Andrea’s goal has many twists and turns, including why she wrote letters to prisoners at HMP Brixton for two years of her life. Treat yourself to this compelling episode over a cup of coffee and possibly a biscuit - things are about to get radical. | |||
| #6 - Veteran TV Producer Terry Marsh on the Instant Connection Women Have Together, Why Boys Shouldn’t be in the Same STEM Classrooms as Girls, and How Asking for What You Want is the Only Way to Get it. | 21 Jul 2020 | 00:50:05 | |
Trailblazing the way for TV technology, Terry Marsh has had a 40 year career serving as Head of BBC Schools, Vice President for European Programming at the SyFy Channel and as Executive Director of the WISE Campaign, promoting more women in STEM careers. Terry talks about why she initially turned down the BBC, and how the MeToo movement is so embedded in the media industry that it leads to a culture of sexual assault still feeling like the victim’s fault. Terry and I get down to the bones of the patriarchy, why women are still seen as objects and how the anti-feminist movement gaslights people into thinking that their problems aren’t worth talking about. There’s a lot to chew on in this hard-hitting yet supercharged episode, so kick back, and get empowered. Real, relatable, or downright wrong? We want to know! | |||
| #5 - Flower Power: E-commerce Expert Verity Tuck on the Rapid Growth of Her Gift-Delivery Business LVLY, Why CVs Aren’t as Important as You Think, and Why Early Discussions on Money are Essential for Building Entrepreneurial Trust. | 14 Jul 2020 | 00:49:05 | |
Flowers, but faster? Verity Tuck, Co-Founder of Australian e-commerce website LVLY says yes, absolutely. Getting same-day delivery of flowers and gifts across Australia is now possible thanks to Verity and her Co-Founder Hannah, who between them realised there was a gap in the market for speedy ‘I’m-thinking-of-you-right-now’ gifts. On this week’s episode, Verity and I dissect the impact of rapid business growth caused by COVID-19, why the hiring process is more about charisma and competence than qualifications, and how her co-founder decided to split her own external salary with Verity in order to grow the business. Also on offer is a discussion of privilege against the backdrop of the BLM movement, how feminism has been engulfed by corporates, and how Verity found out that she’s really f*cking good at colouring in. Listen now! | |||
| #4 - Graphic Designer Evan Sargent on Why Your Client is WAY More Useful than Your Boss, the Joys of All-Female Leadership, and How Getting Fired Was Actually a Good Thing. | 07 Jul 2020 | 01:03:50 | |
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but if Evan Sargent had been around back then, it might well have been. Evan is the Co-Founder of the Brooklyn based creative agency, Commit, and in this week’s episode she reveals how her business model of lightning-fast brand-building - 24 hours from concept to completion - works wonders for time-strapped entrepreneurs. Evan and I also discuss what it means for a brand to be labeled as ‘world-changing’, why women rather than men automatically have the responsibility of representing other oppressed minorities, and why the client should be directing the creative process the whole way through. Feminine leadership is a hot topic in this episode and Evan explains why having an all-female company, and a client base made up of 80% women, is a refreshing alternative to traditional structures of power and influence. Get inspired: listen now! | |||