The Lemonade Podcast

Joining me for episode 11 of Lemonade is one of my best friends, Annie Clarke. Annie is many things - a yoga teacher, author, wellness expert, and mama to name a few - as well as someone who has truly mastered the art of holding space for others in their times of need.

In this special episode, Annie and I reflect on the integral role she played during one of the hardest periods of my life – supporting both myself and Ben, my late fiancé and her dear friend, as we navigated his illness. Acting as primary and secondary caregivers, we talk about the respective challenges we faced while navigating Ben's terminal diagnosis during lockdown. Annie also offers her invaluable insight on the concept of "holding space", and how we can show up better for our loved ones. Whether you're currently supporting someone in need, or trying to process your own grief, I've no doubt you'll take something important away from this conversation.

Connect with Annie below -

Joining me for episode 10 of Lemonade is the wonderful Gulwali Passarlay, refugee rights advocate, campaigner, and author of the acclaimed memoir, The Lightless Sky. When he was just eleven years old, his mother made the heartbreaking decision to send him away from Afghanistan after his father was killed.

In this insightful conversation, Gulwali tells me about his childhood growing up in rural Afghanistan. He sheds light on the challenges faced by the country, and the impact of conflict and war on its people. He also speaks openly about his own journey from Afghanistan to Europe as a child, highlighting the dangers faced by countless refugees who are forced to make similar journeys. We discuss the challenges refugees encounter upon arrival in the UK, and the rise of right-wing ideologies. I learned so much from this episode - about the resilience of the human spirit, the complexities of seeking asylum, and the importance of staying compassionate and informed. Gulwali's insights on how we can all play a role in supporting refugees and advocating for a more just world were both eye-opening and inspiring.

I'm thrilled to kick off season two of The Lemonade Podcast with the incredible Amber Jeffrey—a powerhouse speaker, mentor, and the voice behind The Grief Gang podcast. Amber’s story is nothing short of inspiring. At just 19, she lost her beloved mum, Susan, to a sudden heart attack. Struggling with isolation, suicidal ideation and the lack of relatable support, Amber channeled her pain into action, launching the Grief Gang podcast to break the silence around loss and to build a community for those who feel unseen.

In this episode, Amber opens up about her journey through grief and the birth of The Grief Gang movement. She dives into the power of connecting with others who’ve walked the same path, and challenges the notion that only professionals hold the key to healing. We talk about the threads of hope that bind those of us navigating loss and how grief isn’t something to "get over", but something to live alongside. Amber reflects on how her mum’s death has shaped her, driving her to take risks and build a life marked by resilience. Her insights are profound and I’m sure her wisdom will resonate with you as much as it does with me.

The incredible Stacey Heale is a true multi-hyphenate - a fashion academic, speaker, campaigner, and author of upcoming memoir, 'Now is not the Time for Flowers'. In November 2016, her husband Greg Gilbert, the lead singer of Delays, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. He died five years later in September 2021, leaving Stacey with two small children, Dali and Bay.

In this refreshingly honest, no-holds-barred conversation, Stacey and I lift the lid on the reality of navigating cancer diagnoses, our roles as primary caregivers to our late partners, and dealing with regrets in the wake of their deaths. We discuss the unique fallout of partner loss, the misconceptions surrounding grief, and the lessons we've learned. Stacey also chats to me about her fabulous debut book, which examines the messy and unexpected realities of love, desire, motherhood, death, grief, identity, and personal growth.

International speaker, storyteller for The Forgiveness Project, and best-selling author of the book 'Unbroken', Madeleine Black, joins me on the podcast to tell her story of experiencing sexual violence at the hands of two men when she was just thirteen. Years later, Madeleine made the courageous decision to forgive the men who hurt her. Forgiveness, she believes, was key to healing and leading a fulfilling and happy life, no longer governed by the past. 

Madeleine and I discuss the mental and physical impact of trauma, and how her experience of gang rape led to suicidal ideation, disordered eating, and destructive drug and alcohol use. We talk about the culture of victim blaming and the shame that often arises in those who experience sexual assault. She shares the tools that helped support her recovery, including finding her voice, therapy and plant medicine.