Begin Again with Davina McCall

What if success is not the end of the story, but the beginning of becoming yourself? In this episode of Begin Again, bestselling author Jojo Moyes joins Davina to talk about rejection, reinvention, and the story behind becoming one of the world’s most loved writers in midlife. Jojo opens up about the years before Me Before You, when books were rejected, sales were low, and she wondered whether she would have to find a new career. Then everything changed. Her work went on to sell millions around the world, but success brought new challenges: emotional responsibility, pressure, and the painful realisation that she had no boundaries. Davina and Jojo also explore childhood loneliness, becoming fiercely independent, learning to ask for help, and the cost of always saying yes. They discuss why achieving the life you once dreamed of does not protect you from having to begin again. Jojo speaks honestly about divorce, and how even when it is messy and complicated, handling it with kindness can bring a clarity you never expected. They talk about identity, midlife loneliness, dating again and motherhood. How ambition and trusting yourself are the secrets to protecting your peace after years of pushing through. At its heart, this is a conversation about what happens when the life you dreamed of finally arrives, and you still have to learn how to live inside it. Jojo Moyes reminds us that beginning again is not about starting from nothing. It is about learning to honour who you are now, not just who you had to become to survive. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Follow us here:📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Jojo: https://www.instagram.com/jojomoyesofficial/?hl=en  ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (02:07) What Is A Narcissist? (09:26) Identifying A Narcissist (15:48) The Different Types Of Narcissists (21:57) How Narcissistic Parents Affect Their Children (30:08) What Is Gaslighting? Narcissism In Relationships (34:18) Shopify Ad (35:19) Why Some People Are Attracted To Narcissists (43:47) Why It’s So Hard To Leave A Narcissistic Relationship (53:15) Narcissism In Kids (01:03:29) Why People Go Back To Narcissists (01:06:04) Narcissism In The Workplace Sponsored by: Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off Shopify - Shopify.co.uk for £1 a month trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Begin Again moment, Seann Walsh reflects on his childhood, his relationship with his dad, and the small family rituals he missed growing up, from sitting around a table to having clear boundaries at home. Alain de Botton then explains how childhood instability can shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships and our sense of worth, and why adulthood is about learning to stop giving other people power over who we are. This is a 'moments' episode, taking some of the best moments rom the show so far; for the full episode search ‘Begin Again’ followed by Seann or Alain wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the world knows your story, but you’re still trying to understand it yourself? Malala Yousafzai has lived a life the world thinks it knows. But behind the headlines is a young woman who lost her childhood, was forced to grow up too fast, and then had to discover who she was beyond everyone else’s expectations. In this episode of Begin Again, Malala joins Davina for a deeply personal conversation about courage, identity, freedom and love. She reflects on growing up in Swat Valley, the father who taught her to use her voice, the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, and the attack that changed the trajectory of her life at just 15. But this conversation also reveals a different side of Malala: feeling lonely at school in the UK, trying to make friends, searching for who she wanted to be at Oxford, and learning how to reclaim the childhood she never got to have. Davina and Malala also talk about love and marriage, including why Malala once believed she would never marry, and what changed when she met the person she couldn’t imagine life without. At its heart, this is a conversation about losing yourself, finding your voice, and beginning again on your own terms. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Malala: https://www.instagram.com/malala/?hl=en Finding my way available here:https://www.waterstones.com/book/finding-my-way/malala-yousafzai/9781399619349  ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (01:10) An Introduction To Malala’s Story (04:39) Growing Up In Pakistan With A Supportive Father (12:07) Watching Her Mother Sacrifice Her Own Dreams (20:01) Why Education Became So Powerful For Malala (23:25) Losing Her Childhood And Becoming A Voice For Children (30:50) The Day Everything Changed For Malala (35:21) Reclaiming Her Childhood In Her 20s (41:40) School In The UK And Meeting Alice (47:26) Studying At Oxford And Finding Freedom (54:19) Balancing Personal Life, Education, And Advocacy (57:50) Why Malala Wrote Her Memoir (58:46) Living With PTSD And Trauma (01:04:51) Getting Therapy And Asking For Help (01:07:12) Finding Love With Her Husband, Asser (01:16:30) Staying Focused On Her Mission (01:19:09) The Malala Fund And Its Mission Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this deeply moving episode of Begin Again Moments, we bring together two powerful conversations exploring spirituality, grief, intuition, and the signs that can guide us through life’s hardest moments. Elizabeth Day shares the extraordinary psychic reading that helped her finally let go of her long journey through fertility struggles and miscarriage. She reflects on the emotional release that came from feeling truly seen, and how trusting something beyond logic gave her permission to find peace and move forward. In the second moment, Dr Tara Swart talks about grief, signs, and healing explores how nature, dreams, community, and intuition can help us stay connected to those we’ve lost. From white feathers and robins to long walks and lucid dreaming, this discussion looks at the comfort many people find in feeling that love continues beyond loss. Together, these moments invite us to consider the unseen forces that shape our lives, and the possibility that healing can come from places we don’t fully understand. To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narcissism doesn’t just damage relationships,  it can make you lose trust in yourself. In this episode of Begin Again, psychotherapist and narcissism expert Kathleen Saxton joins Davina to explain what narcissism really is, how gaslighting works, and why the damage can be so hard to recognise when you are still inside it. Kathleen breaks down the hidden patterns of narcissistic relationships: the charm, confusion, silent treatment, public/private switch, and the slow erosion of your confidence. Davina and Kathleen also explore narcissistic parents, trauma bonds, why leaving can feel impossible, and how growing up around narcissism can make you lose sight of who you really are. At its heart, this is a conversation about gaslighting, self-doubt, identity, and the long journey back to trusting yourself again. Kathleen Saxton reminds us that beginning again after narcissistic abuse is not about becoming harder. It is about finally learning to believe yourself. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Buy 'My Parent the Peacock': https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parent-Peacock-Discovery-Narcissistic-Parenting/dp/1399822594 Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Kathleen: https://www.instagram.com/clinicwithk/ ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (02:07) What Is A Narcissist? (09:26) Identifying A Narcissist (15:48) The Different Types Of Narcissists (21:57) How Narcissistic Parents Affect Their Children (30:08) What Is Gaslighting? Narcissism In Relationships (34:18) Shopify Ad (35:19) Why Some People Are Attracted To Narcissists (43:47) Why It’s So Hard To Leave A Narcissistic Relationship (53:15) Narcissism In Kids (01:03:29) Why People Go Back To Narcissists (01:06:04) Narcissism In The Workplace Sponsored by: Shopify - https://www.shopify.com/uk for £1 a month trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices