The Pin Drop Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Marianne Jones has had an incredible 30-year career in journalism.

She has worked everywhere from the Daily Mirror to Marie Claire, was on the launch team of UK Grazia and stayed there as deputy Editor for 12 years. She was Editor in chief of Stella Magazine at Sunday Telegraph and then editor of The Telegraph Saturday Magazine and has won ‘Editor of the Year’ a record three times.

She left journalism with severe burnout at the start of 2022. 

She launched ‘Been There Done That Got the Podcast’ with Kat Farmer two years ago (which has reached no1 in news entertainment charts and has had a whopping 1.25m downloads).

Marianne now steers her own ship and writes in a freelance capacity for a variety of national newspapers and magazines & has written extensively about burnout and her mum’s experience with dementia (who sadly died just four months ago).

Her area of specialism is women’s lifestyle & championing the voice of the midlife woman. 

We talk about:

• How journalism has changed over the years
• Trying to do it all.  Kids, career, and not complaining!
• Marianne's career highlights. Trailblazing in a man's world.
• Experiencing burnout. Aged 56.
• Stress management and taking back control
• The impact and lack of funding for Dementia 

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Thanks for listening!
Vicki

 Laura Hoggins, aka ‘Biceps’ is one of London’s Top PTs. She is the Founder of Team ‘LIFTED’ an online coaching & community, she is a Fitness Consultant, a Presenter, the Author of ‘LIFT YOURSELF’ and a Podcast Host. 

I guess she is what you might call a 'Fitfluencer'. 

But unlike many social media 'fitness types', Laura unapologetically does NOT fit the 'mould'. 

She is relentlessly passionate about helping people start their strength & fitness journey and navigate through 'gymtimidation'. She pioneered the art of 'being real' in (what is often) the artificial world of fitness; where most people are busy chasing unrealistic images relating to body image. 

Laura is all about how good it feels, what it does for you mentally, emotionally and often what it looks like to have a shit day. 

She embraces the fact that (in her words) she doesn't look like a typical fitness 'model'. And that is what makes her so relatable, vulnerable and inspiring. 

But don’t misunderstand, this woman is super strong. She trains like a machine, competes in weightlifting comps, runs marathons, she EVEN does pilates.

We first met in the back of a truck on a press day for 'SAS; Who Dares Wins' and the rest, as they say, is history.

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Anne Sebba is a true female pioneer. A trailblazer. And yet a very humble one - I had to persuade her to record with me as she didn’t think her story ‘qualified’ as someone who has dealt with challenge, adversity and defied societal ‘norms’. You’re about to find out that it absolutely does.

Anne is a Biographer, Lecturer, Journalist, former Reuters foreign correspondent and author of eleven books for adults. Her first job was at the BBC World Services in 1972. 

And she was the first woman Reuters took on as a graduate trainee, later firing when she became pregnant with her first child.

Anne has written international best-sellers about iconic women through history, many of who have faced adversity of their own - Mother Teresa, Laura Ashley, Wallis Simpson, Les Parisiennes (women of Paris living through 1940s). Ethel (Rosenberg) who was electrocuted for conspiracy to commit espionage. 

Anne's current book is about the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz. A story of incredible female solidarity and survival. 

Anne has made regular TV appearances, radio interviews, several of her books have been commissioned for film and TV. She is a Speaker for institutions around the world. 

Anne is also a Mother and Grandmother. With 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

I have known Anne for 14 years…from the first days of opening my fitness business, Barreworks. These days, Anne weight trains with me, every Tuesday morning at 7.15am, come rain or shine. If ask her to do 10 reps, she do 12. And at the age of 72, she has a tenacity and self-reliance that is quite awe-inspiring to me.  She has thrown herself into every conceivable activity since her wonderful husband Mark passed away several years ago, determined to live every second of life with vigour and vitality. 

I can't wait for you to meet her and I know that you will love her too.

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Mandy Hickson has over 30 years experience within aviation. 
She joined the Royal Air Force in 1994 and was a the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, where she operated in hostile environments, including patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone over Iraq. 

Since leaving the RAF she retrained as a facilitator, speaker and coach. Drawing on her experience of calculated risk-taking, decision-making under pressure and the critical role of the human in the system, she transfers lessons from the cockpit to other management and leadership contexts.

Mandy has been invited to share her insights with some of the most successful organisations across the world. And she has recently launched her bestselling book, ‘An Officer, not a gentleman’, her inspirational journey to become a pioneering female fighter pilot. 

I was introduced to Mandy via Dan Lowes, a fellow RAF and Red Arrows pilot who has also been on the podcast. 

We talked about:

* ‘The human in the system’

* Taking risks

* Controlling controllables, self-efficacy (choice)

* Barriers to success

* Allies along the way

* Mandy's transition out of the military

* Mandy's  most vital lessons, how they are relevant to us all 

* Coping with high stress & pressure

* Living aligned to your purpose

* When Mandy met Tom Cruise!

Follow Mandy @mandyhicksonspeaker
Find out more about her at www.mandyhickson.com
Buy Mandy's book 'An Officer Not a Gentleman' here

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Chloe McNiven is a former professional dancer with an impressive background in the entertainment industry. Over ten years, she worked as a performer in TV, film, and stage alongside renowned artists like Elton John, Little Mix, and Zara Larsson.
She has become an Ultra runner, and a Mum.
She has explored ventures as a DJ and building a successful property company but driven by her true calling to help others transform, Chloe set up The Soul Hub in 2020 in lockdown, the pioneer of cold tubs suitable for home usage.

Chloe has studied and mastered various techniques, including NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), she has a diploma in cold water immersion, and has become a breath work expert and a life coach. 

She has since built an incredible community and sold thousands of tubs, coaching countless people through their own journey with cold water therapy.

The Soul Hub’s mission is to change as many lives as possible through the transformative effects of cold water.

And this is not based solely on theories and strategies; it derives from a deeply personal journey of overcoming significant challenges. Chloe has triumphed over childhood abuse, battled eating disorders, and experienced growing up with addicts. Her intimate understanding of these struggles allows her to connect with clients on a profound level and she is living proof that their methods work.

I came across Chloe through my own desire to practise cold water therapy at home, following a number of experiences in more extreme environments (ice holes in Chile, rowing the Pacific, daily plunges in frozen lakes in Norway) that have got me hooked on the life-changing benefits cold water immersion can bring.  

Exposure to cold water is known to boost cardiovascular circulation, immunity and to reduce inflammation. It can reduce muscle pain/stiffness, activate brown fat (which keeps the body warm, controls blood sugar and insulin levels and burns calories.) But the real benefit comes from the impact on our mental state - triggering the release of dopamine, increasing libido and reducing stress.

It literally builds resilience and helps us develop a greater feeling of control in our lives.

Have a listen to the different ways Chloe and I have benefited from cold water exposure and get ready to follow our progress as we take on the Freezbrury challenge this February. We would LOVE you to join us!

@the.soulhub 
www.thesoulhub.com 

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Rachel Walsh is an icon of British sport. She started playing hockey at the age of 12 and at 14 was selected for England U16. She played for England U18, U21 and was awarded 55 Senior caps throughout her impressive career.  

Rachel played alongside her sister, Kate Richardson Walsh for many years until she moved to Germany and then The Netherlands to play semi-professionally taking on new cultures, languages and some of the best teams in the world. 

Entering the corporate world, first at BSKYB, then Adidas and now Tag Heuer,  Rachel believes that so many transferable attitudes and behaviours from sport have positively influenced her career and her leadership of teams. As someone who clearly has an appetite for winning, she is also refreshingly comfortable with failing, has a high work ethic and thrives on seeing women in particular, succeed.

I can't wait for you to hear this conversation. Rachel has an infectious energy and an openness that made for a truly insightful chat.

Follow Rachel @missrachelwalsh 

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Kris King is a seasoned ultra-runner, an elite fitness coach, and the self-proclaimed sadistic mastermind behind Beyond The Ultimate Races. If you’ve followed my journey you may know that I've participated in their brutal 'Ice Ultra' (250kms across Arctic Sweden in temperatures of -35 degrees) and the equally tough but utterly wonderful 'For Rangers' race (230km across the Savannahs of Kenya supporting the work of the The Rangers who protect Kenya's wildlife from poachers).  

In essence, Kris' job is to design and execute some of the world's toughest races - making them both challenging for professional ultra runners and achievable for  extremely mediocre ultra runners, like me. 

He’s most often found tearing along jungle roads in a 4×4 or flying over ice lakes on a snowmobile, giving spine-tingling speeches around campfires and kicking well-drilled emergency protocol into action when necessary. He brings together a world-class team of local guides, logistics experts and international medics who not only keep you safe, but cheer you on every step of the way. 

Kris has that perfect balance of sadistic psychopath and caring, enabling, nurturing human. Which means he and his team push you to your absolute limits all the while making you believe that you can achieve the seemingly impossible.

I can't wait for you to meet him. And maybe, just maybe set your sights on one of his races.

Follow Kris:
@kris_kingy
@beyondtheultimate
www.beyondtheultimate.co.uk

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Oli Patrick is one of the World's leading pioneers of lifestyle strategy. In simple terms that means he is a thought-leader in optimising people's health.  

Oli has devoted his career to exploring, championing and inspiring global businesses to apply, contemporary wellbeing strategies. He was Head of Physiology at Nuffield Hospitals where he led the largest team of applied physiologists, wellbeing advisors and nutritionists in the UK. Oli has also worked on London's Harley St, to deliver the most advanced health assessment and health evaluation service available globally. 

I came across Oli at Perform X and heard him speak about wellness in the workplace - how to get companies and their people to really care about their health and well-being - and how to take responsibility for it. I loved his no-nonsense approach and how well it aligned with the goals of We Are Intrepid - focusing not just on reducing stress but also on how we can increase our stress capacity - and more than that, take responsibility for our own health, rather than devolving that responsibility to others. 

I was so impressed with Oli's approach, I have since become a certified coach of his Stress & Resilience Academy - 'Future Practise'. And I'm proud to incorporate elements of this into my coaching, mentorship, keynotes and general approach to my own life.

Oli has recently launched his own podcast 'The Energy Equation' through the High Performance app/platform so you can dive even deeper into his profound knowledge there.
Follow him @clinical_wellbeing and @futurepractice_
https://www.oliverpatrick.com/

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Alice Law is a Stress Management Consultant, Reiki Master, Mindfulness Practitioner, Vedic Meditation Teacher and Speaker. 

She is host of the 5* rated podcast 'Unstressable' and Co-Founder of online membership platform 'Unstressable'. 

I met Alice at the very first Unstressbale retreat just last month co-hosted by Mo Gawdat whom I consider a great friend since doing his podcast Slo-Mo, and having the privilege of spending time with him as I have developed my story. 

Alice works holistically with clients teaching them how to identify, limit and manage their stress through mind, emotions, body & soul. Helping people to become the calmest version of themselves so they can reach their greatest potential. She also works with companies like RBS, Coutts, Joe Media and The British Embassy Washington. She has been featured as an expert on Good Morning La La Land, the Evening Standard Magazine, CNBC, ABC and Fox News. 

Alice understands stress from a unique position after she went through chronic stress for an 8-year period when she was faced with loss in every aspect of her life all at once.

During this time, she discovered the most effective processes for not just managing stress, but how to prevent it going forward. It is now Alice’s mission to help as many people as possible to dis-identify from stress and return to their natural state of calm & happiness. 

She is on a mission to make 1 million people 'unstressed' every year. And I could not be a bigger advocate of that ambition. 

Follow Alice @lawali_life

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki

Lauren Steadman is a British Paralympic Triathlete Champion.  She has spent over 18 years as an athlete and has competed in 4 Paralympic Games, winning Gold in Tokyo in 2020.
Lauren was born with a congenital limb difference, missing her lower right arm. But it is quite clear that there is nothing Lauren can’t do. Or can’t put her mind to. 

She has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Business. She was awarded an MBE in 2021 and an Honorary Doctorate by The University of Portsmouth this year.

Lauren has appeared on SAS: Who Dares Wins AND Strictly Come Dancing. 

She is a PHD student - currently researching for her thesis in mental health & wellbeing in athletes and its application to high performance.

And her latest achievement is that she has recently become a crossfit athlete. And I had the honour of  partnering with her for her first Crossfit competition recently.

I can't wait for you to meet this real life legend who literally takes everything in her stride, what a huge inspiration she is. 

Follow Lauren @laurensteadmann

Don't forget to share, rate/review, download and subscribe to the Podcast, this helps us to continue growing the audience and continue to secure incredible guests to inspire you to be a little more...intrepid.

Thanks for listening!
Vicki