20 NOT SOMETHING

It takes a special kind of guest to launch the FIRST ever episode of The Book of Firsts podcast... and I'm certain I found the perfect person for the job.Today I am joined by baker, badminton seasonaire and the best florentine biscuit maker I've ever met... the wonderful Peter Sawkins.His memorable first: Achieving the unexpected...(AKA WINNING BAKE OFF) First he wants: Starting from scratch in a new city.First he wished he'd never had: Struggling with anxiety as a teenager.We dive deep into Peter's firsts and discuss all things from how winning Bake-Off helped him 'chill out', to big fish small pond syndrome, and reframing his difficult teenage years in an attempt to move forward and learn from the past.He also gives us the inside scoop into his latest ventures, including a brand new baking book which was released earlier this week! You can order 'Peters Baking Party' here!—----------------------------------------The Book of Firsts Podcast is hosted by Emma Tindall. With music by Alec Switzman and proudly sponsored by First and Last Coffee. If you'd like to get in touch regarding a guest, topic or just want to give some thoughts on the episode, please email thebookoffirstspodcast@gmail.com—---------------------------------------Social Media: Emma Tindall: @tindall2.0Peter Sawkins: @peter_bakesSponsors: @firstandlastcoffeevintageAlec Switzman: @rugsvalentine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WE'RE BACK BABY... Not only from a brand new location, but also with a brand new theme, name, premise, music... I'm gunna level with you guys, it's a brand new podcast: THIS is The Book Of Firsts.Imagine all the best bits of 20 NOT Something, but bound into a page turning new format. We're still reminiscing on those formative years, but now with an exciting new twist…Each wonderful guest flicks back through the pages of their lives and explores three key first time experiences:✔️ A memorable first they've had

...baby, let's talk about you and me... Actually, let's not. Instead let's talk to a man and a woman all about their perspective on sex and how age, gender and individual experiences have shaped the way they give and receive pleasure. This episode I am joined by two friends, let's call them Dan and Poppy, who get down and dirty (pun intended) recounting personal stories and experiences to shine a light on the differences men and women have when it comes to talking about sex. As with all of these episodes, the opinions shared on this subject matter, are in fact just that, OPINIONS. Totally respect that no one likes a sweeping generalisation of genders when it comes to topics like sex, but some really interesting points are raised in this chat, many of which I found highly relatable so I'll be interested to hear if you guys did too. We talk all things from surrendering egos and faking orgasms to admitting ignorance in the bedroom and the difference between sex in your twenties compared to your thirties and forties.  I hope you enjoy it! Also, Netflix recently released this amazing new show 'The Principles of Pleasure' (annoyingly after we recorded this episode as it would have cleared a lot of our questions up!) but if you enjoyed this episode then definitely give it a watch as it's right up the same street. Drop us a line @20notsomething with any thoughts/feelings on the ep and if you have time to leave us a review then we'd really appreciate it! 

Today I am joined by international speaker, confidence coach and founder of Confident and Killing It, Tiwalola Ogunlesi. Tiwa moved to the UK from Nigeria aged 15 and began to struggle with low self-esteem issues throughout her teenage years. After graduating from university she felt immense pressure to live up to the expectations she'd set for herself, get a job and become a quote on quote ‘Adult'. She finally accepted a job at an engineering firm in Oxford, despite having no real interest in the company, or the job, and so as a year or more went by Tiwa found herself slowly suffocating in the boredom and monotony of living a life she felt incredibly uninspired by. It was around this time that Tiwa decided to start volunteering at a local church and become a youth leader; there she met various girls aged 15-17 and realised from speaking to them on a regular basis that there was a major confidence crisis in yet another generation of girls growing up in the world thinking they weren't good enough. Tiwa started making videos on instagram about the subject matter and 2 years later she was working full-time on her own business, Confident and Killing It, the self-love revolution to wake women up to their worth and dare to live the life they truly desire... Since then, Tiwa has equipped over 3000 women in London, Lagos, New York and Johannesburg at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy For Girls with the tools and knowledge they need to be confident.  She has been interviewed by the likes of Jameela Jamil, spoken at UN women's conference, recently signed a book deal with Harper Collins and worked her ass off to ensure that the next generation of women we raise are ready to look themselves in the eye and say those three words which we all seemingly struggle with so much; I love myself.You can pre-order Tiwa's book 'Confident & Killing It' HEREOur favourite Millennial Minesweeper quote this week was: "Perhaps imagination is not where we go to escape reality, but where we go to remember it" - Glennon Doyle

This week I'm joined by a very good friend of mine, discussing all things sex and her journey into bisexuality. If you're in the mood for some VERY open chats, hilarious tales of some problematic threesomes, emotional accounts of nearly losing loved ones over coming out and potentially TMI on all of the above... then this is the episode for you. We discuss all things from defining the words slut and slag, emotional vs physical sex, biphobia, threesomes, polyamory, sex parties, coming out as bisexual and the big question (if it's even answerable) of whether sex is better with a man or a woman...Quote of the episode: 'Sometimes you have to take the D to get to the V. And sometimes you're in a threesome shagging the boyfriend because you fancy his girlfriend.'  Iconic. Resources referred to in the pod which you might want to check out after the ep are below: The sex party we talk about here Homophobic study we talk about hereFind us on Instagram hereFULL DISCLOSURE: This episode is very much two friends having a relaxed conversation about certain topics surrounding sex and bisexuality. These are OUR OPINIONS which obviously may differ from yours or your own personal experiences.  

Today's guest is someone I have wanted to come on the podcast for a long time... I'm so excited to tell you that this episode I am joined by the UK's Leading life coach and No.1 international best selling author Jacqueline Hurst. Growing up in North London, Jacqueline was bullied from an early age, which lead to her feeling incredibly lonely and isolated. Throughout her teenage years she turned to drugs and alcohol, and entered her twenties decade with cripplingly low self-esteem as well as  suffering from anorexia, bulimia and severe anxiety. Her early twenties saw Jacqueline through various jobs as a PA and a secretary, but she continued to struggle internally and was fighting a battle which was showing no signs of easing. It was an incredibly tough period of her life and by the time Jacqueline hit 25 she was squatting in an empty flat, suffering from drug addiction, out of touch with friends and family and had hit what she refers to as rock bottom. It was only after finally admitting she needed help, that Jacqueline was able to turn a corner, get clean and take ownership over her life again. She discovered self-development and travelled to the US to get training in neuro-linguistic programming where she found a passion for coaching and understanding the importance of mindset. When Jacqueline turned 30, she became a full-time life coach, qualified hypnotherapist and an NLP master practitioner.This is of course an incredibly condensed overview of what was a decade of tremendous highs and unthinkable lows. Jacqueline has since gone from strength to strength in the coaching world, as well as being a columnist for GQ, she has also written the best-selling book ‘How To Do You', and has helped thousands of people across the world to step into their power and realise their full potential.  Jacqueline's tremendous empathy, vulnerability and brutal honesty has impacted so many lives, myself included, and her desire to grab life by both hands every day is infectious. In her powerful words “Every day now I feel grateful I'm still alive. There are so many times I should have died from the number of drugs I'd taken. Now I'd just put my arms around the 15-year-old girl I was and tell her how much I love her”.You can find out more about Jacqueline's coaching courses and classes here  Order her book 'How To Do You' (which will absolutely change your life) hereYou can also follow her on Instagram here We sadly didn't have time to play Millennial Minesweeper this week but one thing Jacqueline said which will stick with me for a long time is: "We are so busy trying to control the situation that we lose ourselves. We think it's the situation that creates how we feel but it's not. It's our minds.' - Jacqueline Hurst

Got something slightly different for you guys this week...Welcome to the 'Getting The ICK' bonus episode where we are chatting all things dating, relationships and your biggest turn-offs.  We've all got different opinions on what is considered an absolute no-go when it comes to dating, and in this episode we hear from all of you at home about your biggest and most bizarre icks ... from bad tattoos and not liking dogs, to still chatting with your ex and sneezing in public places, we've got you covered.I also thought what better person to talk through all these 'icks' with than with someone I actually used to date... because what could possibly go wrong with that?! Introducing the wonderful guest of this episode, Fraser McDonald, who's brutal honesty and welsh charm is the perfect solution for a healthy (and incredibly icky) debate . Really hope you guys enjoy this listen as much as we enjoyed recording it. Thanks to everyone who sent in voice notes and messages - sorry we didn't get to use them all! Feel free to hit subscribe to be the first to get notified of new eps and have a fabulous week.  You can also find us on Instagram here.

Today I am joined by Television Presenter Chris Bavin.You might know him from presenting on a host of BBC food shows, but Chris actually spent the majority of his twenties working in wholesale food exports. Turning 20 on the turn of the century, Chris was headhunted to work for a large company selling flowers before moving on to fresh produce. His decade was spent prioritising his career above most other things, and 2 years after meeting his wife Millie, the two of them opened their own high street store called 'The Naked Grocer', when Chris was 29. They ran the business for seven years and in that time the store won the title of 'National Independent Retailer of the Year' twice thanks to its loyal customers, their passion for fresh ingredients and being ahead of its time with no plastic packaging. Chris's career then took an unfor-seen turn in his thirties when in 2013 he was cast to co-present Eat Well For Less on BBC One, which lead him on to present other shows including Food: Truth or Scare and judging on Britain's Best Home Cook with co-star national treasure Mary Berry. Chris is a food fanatic, a proper people person and can banter his way out of trouble in any given situation. His twenties are evidence that working towards something you're deeply passionate about, can often lead you somewhere better than you could have predicted.Our favourite (and perhaps most contested) Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was: 'The problem isn't the problem. The problem is the way you think about the problem' - Stephen Bartlett 

This series in addition to our usual episodes we're going to be flip-flopping with the 'Let's Talk About 'X' bonus episodes.A few of you mentioned that you wanted to hear more themes relating to the decade in terms of dating, sex, feminism, ableism, friendships etc. and so I've decided to throw together this mini series to explore those ideas in a bit more detail.In this Let's Talk About: Women and Power episode , you'll be hearing from two previous guests on the podcast who are both good friends of mine, Emma Fleming and Laurence White. First you'll be hearing from Emma; this was such an interesting chat as we  debated whether women posting sexualised content on social media platforms is a form of 'empowerment'  or whether it contributes to the objectification of our bodies. This conversation really made me realise that when it comes to talking about women online it boils down to our internalised misogyny and our JUDGEMENT of each other. Emma and I discuss everything from comparing nudes and the dangers of choice feminism, to discussing the power that comes with expressing your sexual desires as a woman.You can read the article Emma refers to about nude collections online here.You'll also hear from social media artist Laurence. Laurence has actually got an exhibition coming up at the South Place Hotel in London where he's featuring 9 paintings of famous women throughout history. So I thought what better time to sit down and have a chat with him about where he got his inspiration from to paint purely women for this exhibitio, whether he considers himself a feminist, and how dedicating time to draw these female icons has taught him more about female empowerment and the struggles women face. Laurence's exhibition starts TOMORROW (Thursday 18th February) and he'll be in residence for 3 months so do go and check it out! You can check out more of his art work here. 

Seeing us into a brand new Season is author, journalist, Limbless Association trustee and public speaker Ella Dove. Ella's early twenties saw her constantly chasing highs; she was a social butterfly with dreams of spreading her wings in the journalist world. The first few years of the decade were spent pursuing her career while juggling a hectic social life; attending multiple press events, eating and drinking out frequently and trying to find her flow in the fast paced environment. It was a whirlwind few years and the concept of ‘slowing down' was totally alien to her. However, aged 25, Ella experienced a traumatic freak accident which would change her life forever. While out on a run with her sister, she tripped and fell, landing awkwardly on her right leg. What she thought was just a broken leg then transpired to be something far more severe. After three days in intensive care Ella's right leg had to be amputated below the knee. In one moment everything seemed to change; and Ella felt the life she had so carefully planned out for herself suddenly collapse around her. The following years of recovery were mentally and physically draining; accepting the new challenges of being an amputee paired with rigorous rehabilitation practices and therapy forced Ella to listen to her body and not berate herself for lacking productivity. It was a long road but Ella was determined to walk it; and she did just that. Ella is now a public speaker, a trustee for the Limbless Association and published her debut novel ‘5 Steps To Happy' while still working as a journalist. She is a true inspiration and provides help, comfort and reassurance to those suffering, while using her journalistic talents to change the narrative around disability in the media.In her own reassuring and moving words ‘there is hope after trauma. There is light through the dark. It will get better.' Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper quote this week was:  'To succeed in life you need 3 things; a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone' - Reba Mcentire

As this messy, meandrous and most definitely memorable year draws to a close, it's time to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce on some of the best moments from the 20 NOT Something Podcast. You'll be hearing all the best bits from the likes of Elizabeth Day, Paul Brunson, Poppy Jamie, Chemmy Alcott and more as we look back on key moments from some inspiring, profound and entertaining conversations.   Thank you so much for listening, rating, reviewing, subscribing and just generally supporting this podcast. It would not exist without you wonderful listeners keeping it going and for that I will be forever grateful. There's no favourite Millennial Minesweeper quote from this episode sadly, so I'll just stick my favourite one from the year here instead..."Time isn't precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time, but the one point that is out of time: The Now." - Eckhart Tolle 

Today I am joined by Mindset Coach from the A-Game Consultancy,  Adam Smith. Adam spent the majority of his twenties in the North of England working in Hospitality at some of the most prestigious bars in the North. His decade consisted of living in various cities, travelling for 4 months, having 2 long term relationships, being a best man twice, and by his late twenties was nationally recognised in the bar he managed. Adam's twenties were adventurous and adrenaline fuelled, but, like many of us, not without adversity. Adam also attended over 15 funerals throughout the course of the decade, and after a time struggling himself also attempted to commit suicide. 18 months ago Adam decided a change was needed, he left the only career he knew in hospitality and started up the A Game Consultancy with two other well-being professionals, both also conveniently called Adam, and is now attempting to be the man he always knew he could be, driven by a desire to help others avoid the same pain he experienced.Adam's honesty, vulnerability and empathy when discussing topics like mental health and suicide contributes to why he is widely considered such a profound and effective mindset coach. In his words, My twenties were a balance of crying myself to sleep and laughing until my cheeks hurt. I look back with compassion, understanding, regret, humour and so much more'. Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper quote this week was; '‘The best of life exists beyond everything we are meant to feel bad about lacking' -  Matt Haig. *TRIGGER WARNING* - This episode includes references to and details of depression and suicide.

Today I am joined by psychotherapist and author Emma Reed Turrell. Emma's early twenties saw her graduate from Cambridge university and swept straight into a grad job at Procter & Gamble where she worked in sales and marketing for the best part of 10 years. Her twenties, as she recalls, were all about trying (and mostly failing) to find her tribe while frequently feeling flattened by imposter syndrome. Riddled with people pleasing tendencies Emma found herself working in a job that didn't fulfil her and continuously tried to impress both socially and in a tricky corporate climate, before reaching the realisation that this was not the path for her and was in fact jeopardising her own integrity. It was actually her first therapy experience aged 23 that sparked in Emma a journey of self-awareness that led to her to re-train over the course of her twenties to become a therapist herself at 29.And I think I speak on behalf of all her readers and clients when I say, ‘thank god she did'. Emma is now a practicing psychotherapist and as well as being Director of ‘The Therapy Loft' has also this year published the must-read guide which will transform the way you live ‘Please Yourself'. As well as having potentially the best name ever, Emma is a wonderful writer, an anecdote queen, and the friend we all need to remind us that you can choose to continue to try to be liked by everyone or you could aim to be unconditionally accepted by some. Her book has certainly changed my life for the better and I have no doubt it will do the same for you...Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; 'We can never have enough of what we never truly wanted' - Nicky Clinch

Welcome to the 'Are We Nearly WHERE Yet' mini series! It's SO great to be back and bringing you even more brilliant guests filled to the brim with stories, anecdotes, colossal failures and mishaps in order to get you through your twenties decade. This week it is my PLEASURE to be introducing you to journalist, presenter, podcaster and all round ICON... JOSH SMITH!! I know what you're all thinking… how does one go about interviewing the ultimate interviewer?! It's pretty apparent that the best interview with Josh would probably be one he would host himself, sadly we don't have that luxury today, so it's going to be me who'll be taking the ‘reigns' on this one... Growing up in Cambridgeshire, Josh never really felt like he fitted in. He suffered with social anxiety, OCD and felt that he lacked a sense of identity in his tiny sub-urban village. It was actually when Josh moved to London in his early twenties that he really started to discover who he was. Able to finally explore his sexuality, he was inundated with the freedom and opportunity this city gave him; soaking up the parties, people and places. With an initial dream of conquering the fashion journalist world, Josh encountered exciting opportunities and multiple rejections before landing a job at Glamour UK where he is now contributing editor.Throughout the decade, Josh has gone on to interview some of the biggest stars in the world, from Kylie Jenner and Reece Whitherspoon to Victoria Beckham and Oprah Winfrey.  A hugely successful journalist and interviewer, he creates a safe space for his guests to open up while balancing hilarious anecdotes with deeper philosophical and personal conversations surrounding mental health, empowerment and stepping into your true authentic self. In a society so consumed with speaking out and turning up the volume, Josh reminds us all of the importance of listening and how it really can be our greatest superpower.Josh is also an ambassador for children's mental health charity Place2Be and host of the Reign with Josh Smith Podcast, which is just as uplifting, unfiltered and utterly addictive as he is.  Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was: ‘To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness' - Bertrand Russell 

My guest today needs very little introduction. That being said, she perhaps deserves the best introduction of all time. Which would actually probably only occur, if she were to write it herself....An award winning journalist, podcaster, and author; this is the woman who has not only taught an entire nation of success wielding workaholics how to fail, but also how to feel, how to move forward and how to find comfort in the uncomfortable. I am of course talking about Elizabeth Day. Elizabeth grew up in Northern Ireland and began her journalism career at just 12 years old as a youth columnist for the Derry Journal. Her early twenties saw her graduate from Queens College Cambridge with a History Degree before working as a journalist reporter for various papers including the Evening Standard, The Sunday Telegraph and the Observer where she stayed for 9 years. Her twenties, on paper, were a plethora of professional success; a renowned award winning journalist on the rise gifted with a perfect balance of empathy and intellect that allowed her to write and communicate at an incredibly high standard. However, running parallel to a successful professional career was a difficult and complex personal life. In her early twenties Elizabeth suffered the tragic loss of an ex-partner which in turn set in motion a fear of losing loved ones, pertaining to romantic relationships in particular. Her twenties contained a series of long-term partners, or mini-marriages as she likes to refer to them, and throughout the decade she struggled with people pleasing tendencies, lack of confidence, and the continuous fear of feeling  like she was never or could ever be ‘enough'. Since leaving the decade behind Elizabeth has gone onto some extraordinary achievements; publishing 7 books including her award winning debut novel Scissors Paper Stone, and her brilliant non-fiction work How To Fail, part memoir, part manifesto. She has also helped thousands of women across the UK in her honest and deeply moving recollections of personal struggles with relationships, divorce and conceiving children. Elizabeth's willingness, bravery and sheer vulnerability to raise such important topics, is what makes her, in my opinion, the best interviewer around and it is no surprise that her infamous podcast How To Fail recently hit over 20 million downloads. Her most recent venture, Magpie, a fictional psychological thriller - hits shelves this September and it might just be her best piece of work yet. It's hard to imagine what this spectacularly intelligent, driven and accomplished person could possibly be doing on a podcast meant for people who have no clue what they're doing or where they're going in life. But if there's one thing Elizabeth Day has taught me over the years, it's that no matter what your perceived level of success is or when it comes, we are all just human beings trying to find our way. We fear, we fall, and we fail. Our Favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; “You must remember that no decision is ever really the wrong decision. Because it's the decision you made at the time. Respect your past self and her choices.” ― Emma Gannon, Olive

Today I am joined by Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist, Personal Empowerment and Transformation Coach, CEO, Author and Speaker, Emmy Brunner. Despite this formidable list of accomplishments and a successful career spanning over 20 years, Emmy entered her twenties decade in a state of crisis. Her early twenties were spent trying to navigate the complexities of adulthood; attempting to get her foot in the door of what was at the time a very white-male centric profession, Emmy was also battling with an eating disorder, anxiety and self-harm behaviours. These coping mechanisms were a means to an end, and she now realises that her twenties were essentially a path to finding ‘rock bottom' before discovering the fork in the road to take her to where she needed to be;  a state of acceptance and compassion for herself. Throughout the decade she suffered through several toxic and abusive relationships including getting married to the wrong person and several other personal battles she  fought to overcome.Half way through her twenties in 2005 Emmy also founded The Recover Clinic, which has gone on to become Europe's leading outpatient service, treating sufferers of trauma, depression, body dysmorphia, anxiety, eating disorders and addiction. Her dedication to helping others overcome tenuous battles helped Emmy in her own self-discovery and she is an advocate of living a life fuelled by compassion and happiness instead of fear. Her first book released earlier this year, 'Find Your True Voice', has helped many to identify, and overcome unresolved trauma negatively impacting their mental health.Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week is; Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.- Truman Capote*TRIGGER WARNING* - This episode contains references to and examples of eating disorders and abusive relationships. 

This weeks guest calling in all the way from Mexico is the exceedingly talented Moises Hermenez. At 21 Moises left home and moved to Spain in mid winter with nothing but a few clothes and a few dreams, his first solo travel venture which would set in motion a love for escape and adventure later on. Upon returning to Mexico to finish his degree at Architecture school; he reached his final term and unexpectedly quit. Much to his fathers disapproval who then refused to speak to him for several months, it was then that Moises decided to nurture his creative desires and started his career as a tattoo artist.In the following years Moises learned a lot about himself; returning to Spain he got into a relationship and was soon after married. However upon returning to Mexico, Moises quickly realised the mistake he had made jumping into marriage so soon and within a year they had divorced. It was a really difficult time in Moises's life; feeling lost and unsure of his path, he fell into a depression. His only natural reaction to this pain was to drop everything. He sold his studio, got rid of all his belongings and left everything behind. The last 4 years of his twenties were spent travelling around the world. From North America and the Caribbean and across to Europe. He was homeless and had nothing to his name except the person he was and the clothes on his back; but that was enough for him. At 29 he met his future wife Cammille and the two of them returned to Mexico together to start life all over again. Moises is now an extremely talented tattoo artist - with people from all over the world travelling to the city for the chance to get his artwork inked on their bodies. He recognises his twenties as being a crazy time, but despite some turbulent years is very much grateful to have experienced, learned and grown through them. Our Favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; 'The bad news is, nothing lasts forever. The good news is, nothing lasts forever' - J. Cole. You can find more of Moises's artistic talent on Instagram @eldragon__ and his wife's textile company @camille.auclair. 

Today I am joined by activist, athlete, and adaptive downhill skier Vasu Sojitra. When Vasu was just 9 months old he was diagnosed with septasimia, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg. Growing up in India and then the US, Vasu spent his teenage years with low confidence, often wishing he was somebody else, or in his words, a normal kid. In the 5th grade he started skiing, and with it he found a sense of purpose and belonging. Gripped by the adrenaline, power, and rush this avenue had given him, Vasu went from strength to strength and after graduating from a Mechanical Engineering Degree at the University of Vermont, he set out to build a more diverse platform in the adaptive sports world. Vasu's twenties were incredibly formative not only for his development as an athlete, but also in challenging the biases that come with being a disabled person of colour. His film ‘Out on a Limb' was picked up by several film festivals and inspired many to consider the setbacks in their own lives. It was a particular defining moment as Vasu began to gain more traction and started building relationships with brands and networking. He went on to become the first adaptive athlete for The North Face, is a Founding Member for The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E Initiative, and the Inclusive Outdoors Project and is also a Disabilty Access Strategist for the Avarna Group. Vasu's determination to provide a visible platform to elevate and celebrate others in marginalised communities is truly inspiring. He once said ‘Diversity is all of us. Inclusion is being invited to the party and equity is being asked to dance'.

Today I am joined by Entrepreneur, Author, Podcaster and founder of the award winning mindfulness app Happy Not Perfect - Poppy Jamie. In 2012 Poppy graduated from the London School of Economics and subsequently travelled to LA to work with MTV as ITNS youngest ever British Presenter launching Pillow Talk with Poppy,. It was on a night out in LA that she met friend and future business partner Suki Waterhouse. Hitting it off straight away they launched the fashion accessories brand Pop & Suki. The following year was a whirlwind; the business popped off (pun un-intended) and Poppy found herself living a life fuelled with events, shoots and success as the brand went from strength to strength. To an outsider, Poppy was living the dream - surrounded by celebrity friends, a thriving business with considerable financial backing, working with her best friend every day, and a social calendar to die for. But inside, Poppy was fighting a battle that not even she fully understood. Riddled with anxiety, stress and exhaustion Poppy's mental and physical health began to deteriorate until one day it snapped. In 2016 Poppy suffered an emotional breakdown. She was hospitalised and diagnosed with chronic exhaustion. Unrecognisable to herself, Poppy was frustrated with why she wasn't happy when on the surface she had everything she ever wanted. Realising something needed to change she spent the following years trying to better her mental health and find more active ways of combatting these emotions. In the latter years of her twenties Poppy launched the Happy Not Perfect mindfulness app and also published her first book and started the podcast with the same title, impacting many lives along the way. Poppy's twenties journey is evidence that sometimes our darkest times happen, so as to provide more light for our future.  We talk all things travel, silencing our 'bitchy inner critic', time, self-acceptance, happiness, perfection, being dumped by 12 year old boys and discovering who we are on the snakes and ladders board game otherwise known as life. Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper quote this week was; I think everything in the world is about just having fucking confidence in who you are at any given moment - Three women by Lisa Taddeo

Today I am joined by ex pro footballer and high performance coach specialist Drewe Broughton... AKA 'The Fear Coach'.By the age of 20, Drewe had already made some considerable steps in his footballing career. Part of the England Under 20's he was playing alongside the likes of Michael Owen and Rio Ferdinand, with a sponsorship from Adidas under his belt and a growing reputation. However, the intense pressure, soul searching and fear that crept into Drewe's professional and personal life, lead to some turbulent years in his twenties.  After a 17 year playing career and nearly 600 professional matches representing a host of clubs in the EFL, at 32 Drewe retired from football and found himself divorced, bankrupt, living out of his car and in the midst of an emotional breakdown. He took himself to a sporting rehab clinic and began his healing process towards self acceptance and understanding why his life panned out the way it did.  In this episode we discuss his turbulent twenties decade; talking all things football, the future, addiction, the difference between healthy and unhealthy fear, and uncover  what it is that we're all so afraid of...Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper quote this week was:'The more you complain about your circumstances and situation, the more you'll stay stuck to them. - James Smith' 

Today I am joined by Photographer, Food Writer and Chef Elainea Emmott. Elainea entered her twenties decade wanting many things... To be creative, loved, thin, beautiful, talented and successful. So not asking for too much… Not having the funds to go to University, Elainea got a PA job at an advertising agency where she met her soon-to-be  husband. She married at the ripe old age of 19, and her early twenties were spent pursuing a career in fashion. Landing an MA in Manchester, she then worked several placements in London before an opportunity presented itself at Pollyanna boutique as a designer for their own label under the critical eye of Rita Britton. By her late twenties Elainea had started her own fashion label, Chalk, and enjoyed the creativity and purpose this industry gave her, selling her clothes to well known brands across the world. But it wasn't all smooth sailing for Elainea and over the following years she experienced many ups and downs; four years after giving birth to her son Wesley, Elainea divorced her husband meaning she was forced to move away from the fashion world and worked various jobs, from personal training to financial services, while trying to sustain a steady income and keep a roof over her and wesleys heads. Her thirties and forties was a whirlwind of adventure, heartbreak and physical and mental challenges. She got into a nasty motorbike accident, became a photographer for protest groups, got treated like shit in various organisations as a secretary, discovered cooking, helped her son through depression, featured on a Netflix cooking show and now works in casting at a talent agency. This, albeit a very condensed version of a pretty sensational life, is why it's going to be so hard to only talk about the twenties decade in this particular episode. Elainea has had a plethora of adventures and exciting avenues over the years and is probably one of the most interesting and inspiring people I've ever spoken to. Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” ― Oscar Wilde

This weeks guest is celebrity dating guru, podcaster, match-maker and general all round legend, Paul Carrick Brunson.Despite being praised by Oprah Winfrey herself for his match making skills, and captivating the nation with his smooth talking advice on 'Celeb's Go Dating', Paul actually started out his career in the investment banking world.  His twenties were spent working for various billionaire's, travelling the world and trying to make as much money as humanly possible... However, realising this wasn't rewarding him emotionally, he found himself wanting more. Gripped with a desire to re-build black family structures and help people sustain healthy relationships, by 2009 Paul had founded onedegreefromme matchmaking and relationship coaching service. From here he has gone on to co-host several hit dating shows including Lovetown USA and Celebs go Dating and has published the infamous guide to dating ‘It's Complicated but it doesn't have to be'. Paul and I chat all things relationships, marriage, business, visualisation, self-love and acceptance, and learning that the ONLY person who can break you, is yourself. Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper quote this week was; 'Vulnerability isn't about winning or losing. It's having the courage to show up when you can't control the outcome' - Brene Brown 

Ever heard of a little show called THE CIRCLE on Channel 4?..  Well this weeks guest didn't just win over the nation with her sock curls and catfishing skills, but she also went on to win the whole bloody thing... it's the one, the only Natalya Platonova. Natalya's twenties started off in the events world in London where she reminisces on some hectic years full of chaos, carnage and cocktails.  It was a lavish lifestyle, but when Natalya hit her mid-twenties, she decided she needed  more structure and discipline in her life, so joined the British Army and never looked back...Earlier this year she was crowned winner of The Circle and has since been on a rollercoaster journey shoved under the spotlight. Her recent venture is further proof that you never know how one decision could set your life into a motion you never expected it to go. Natalya and I chat all things events, spontaneity, being a woman in the army,  societal pressures, her tactics in The Circle, and how her twenties were the messiest but most rewarding years of her life (so far!)...Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; 'For what it's worth, it's never too late, or in my case, too early, to be whoever you want to be' - F Scott Fitzgerald

Kicking off Season FOUR (can you bloody believe it) is my ultimate podcasting pal, the glorious Taylor James.Taylor's 20s were an amalgamation of trying to do the right thing, while never truly feeling right in thing he was doing… This chat is so honest on so many levels as Taylor discusses the pressures he felt throughout the decade to conform to what ‘society' expected of him, how he dealt with personal factors in his home life which forced him to grow up quickly, and how the last years of his twenties were the hardest time of his life. That being said, he is now a hugely successful podcaster after launching The Waffle Shop  last year, a weekly chat discussing all things mental health.  Now he looks back on the decade with pride, something he never expected to feel when reminiscing on some extremely tough times. In this episode we chat all things work satisfaction, finding your purpose, the mental health conversation and coping with all the shit life throws at you.Our favourite Milennial Minesweeper quote this week was;‘What's the best thing you've learned about storms? That they end' - Charlie Macksey 

In this special Bonus Episode I am joined by Life Coach and founder of Achieving Ambition, Sarah Burrows. What is a life coach? Do I need one? What do they actually DO? Join Sarah and I discussing all of the above and much more as she dispels some of the myths surrounding Life Coaching and what it really means to frame a positive future.  We chat all things confidence, visualisations, negative bias, fluidity, female empowerment, purpose and how we can begin to find the best versions of ourselves.If you find this episode an interesting listen then check out these reading materials that Sarah kindly recommended:'Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' - Stephen Covey 'The Chimp Paradox' - Steve Peters

What if I told you that the pubs opening this week was only the second most exciting thing to happen....

What better way to round off Season 3 than with the wonderful Will Manning from Capital Radio. Though on paper Will's twenties looked like he always had it figured out, getting his first hit radio show on KISS FM straight out of uni, we chat through the tricky nature of navigating an industry in the media and highlight how not everything is as glamorous or straightforward as it seems...Will and I chat all things rejection, dating, presenting, social media, the future, turning 30 and the all important question that everyone wants to know - 'do we ever truly get our shit together?' Have a listen to find out.Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was: There are 2 common motivations for comparing yourself to others: 1 - Trying to figure out whether you're doing a good job 2- Trying to make yourself feel better

'Today you have the choice. You can choose to be scared, or you can choose to ski fast'. Wise words spoken by Chemmy Alcott's coach just minutes before she skied the most profound race of her life. The moment she decided to let go of her fear of failure. This weeks guest is the infamous Chemmy Alcott - multi-alpine ski champion, mum of 2, successful broadcaster and presenter, a coach and an inspirational speaker... (a formidable list!) Chemmy began her twenties decade faced with a lot of physical and mental adversity. Training hard for multiple events she competed rigorously; however soon after the 2006 Olympics, Chemmy's Mum sadly passed away, leaving her to navigate the rest of her twenties without her primary source of guidance and support. The following years were tough, but gave Chemmy a new outlook on life which not only prepared her for the intense career she was about to embark on, but also how to make the most out of every single day.We discuss Chemmy's journey through grief, her travelling adventures, the highs and lows of competitive sport, falling in and out of love and how overcoming her fear of failure and finally embracing imperfection lead her to discover just how much control she had over her success. Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was;‘Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game' - A Cinderella Story (for all you Hilary Duff Fans out there...)

Adam's twenties were spent cooking, job hopping, teaching, travelling, eating, partying and exploring. Working his way up in the world of Youth Work, he quickly found himself becoming a quote-on-quote "adult", buying a house with his girlfriend at the time and working his way up to head of year. However, after a few years, Adam realised that he wasn't done with the hedonistic party -fuelled lifestyle yet and yearned to travel and explore more of the world. Realising that himself and his partner at the time wanted different things, they separated, and shortly afterwards Adam got made redundant.  Taking this redundancy as an opportunity, he used this time to go travelling around India and shortly afterwards South East Asia, where he discovered his love for food and new flavours. Upon returning to the UK he launched the Shropshire Food Lad blog and was crowned winner of Channel 4's cooking series Crazy Delicious. As if the stars aligned he also reunited with his former partner and the 2 of them started a family together. Adam's thirst for life is almost as infectious as his delicious dishes on whoever is lucky enough to try them. His twenties just goes to show that time really is the best healer and that it always pays off to follow your gut. Our Favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; ‘If you tell someone they can be anything and they turn out to be merely ordinary, that's a pretty crushing feeling' - Alain de Botton

Phoebe's twenties could quite easily be perceived as a classic romantic-comedy, with cricket playing the lead role that would usually go to Hugh Grant... Starting off the decade with the dream of becoming a pro cricketer, Phoebe competed at club and county level. However when she was just 23, her father sadly passed away, causing Phoebe to re-evaluate her reasons for playing, resulting in taking a time out from cricket to focus on herself and her career.  She spent the rest of the decade working her way up the corporate ladder in Brand Management, until last year when she decided to return to the sport and give her dream another go...Phoebe and I talk all things cricket, grief, taking time outs, sacrifices, women in sport, and how it is NEVER too late to change direction... Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." ― Maya Angelou

This weeks guest is Generation UK's Chief Operating Officer,  Lewis Jenkins. Starting out his decade globe trotting around the world, Lewis always knew he wanted to travel, explore and work abroad. Deciding to pursue a career in finance, he witnessed the financial crash first hand as an intern on Wall Street in New York, and subsequently found himself in his mid twenties totally broke and struggling for work. Flash forward one year and he was training as a political risk consultant, flying business class around the world while trying to stay afloat in the harsh corporate climate, or, in other words, got everything he ever wanted in the form of a high flying job and 5 star travel…By the end of his twenties, Lewis had ticked a lot of boxes in terms of hot girlfriends, a prestigious masters degree, five star travel and the trappings of success... but he wasn't happy. Realising he was chasing something totally unattainable, he quit his job and bought a one way ticket to Australia with nothing but a business plan and an idea. In this episode we discuss all things travel, unemployment, chasing perfection and how getting everything you can possibly want is sometimes the worst thing that can happen to you...Our Favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was;“Time isn't precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now - Eckhart Tolle 

One of my favourite chats of the series so far, I had the absolute pleasure of being joined by stand-up comedian Fern Brady. A shy catholic school girl turned dry-witted stand up comedy goddess, Fern's twenties journey was complex, colourful and far from straight forward. Though she clearly had a talent for journalism, Fern couldn't fight off the urge she had to pursue comedy, and the majority of her twenties were spent fuelling her side hustle and wondering whether she made the right decision...Fern and I talk all things 'choices', her desire to break through class barriers, living up to expectation and the comparisons between working as a female comic in stand-up to the more 'honest' sexism in strip clubs.Our Favourite Millenial Minesweeper Quote this week was;'The more I speak to people about the wilderness of their twenties, the more I realise that perhaps the greatest achievement of this particular decade, is living through it' - Elizabeth Day, Failosophy.  

Ever heard of a little show called Big Brother? Ok, how about, I'm a Celeb? Britain's Got Talent? The Circle? X-Factor?… Well now I've got your attention… Introducing TV Director BEN HARDY, the man behind the camera of some of the UK's biggest hit shows. Ben started off his twenties working in a balloon emporium trying balloons for a living, and finished the decade as series director of the biggest show to ever hit British Television... But HOW did he get there? We discuss all things from working in handbag shops to pay rent, disastrous dating attempts, the old school TV landscape,  taking leaps of faith, getting his big break on Big Brother and how the marital pressures inflicted on 20 Somethings making the actual process of falling in love even more terrifying and challenging than it already is....Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was; 'Perfectionism is our denial of two very basic truths of existence:We are not perfectWe are not ultimately in control'

Beginning her twenties soaking up sorority life at the University of California Santa Barbra, Christina spent the decade working various gigs from door-to-door sales to a concierge job, before finally finding her feet as a teacher. All this mucked in with a hectic social life, navigating the mechanics of an on-and-off 8 year relationship and trying to maintain  friendships which had run their course... Christina found herself hustling, but far from a version of herself which felt truly authentic.Christina's twenties felt like a combination of falling hard and fast in every possible way; whether that was into a new job, a new country, or a new love interest. In this episode we discuss all things rejection (both romantically and career wise), relationships, burning the candle at both ends, re-locating to the UK and how thinking even BIGGER and even BOLDER will pay off in ways you'd never expect...Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was:'Unrealistic goals are the only goals worth setting' - Success Consciousness 

Kicking off Season 3 is Karate World Champion Jordan Thomas. Despite a childhood injury resulting in doctors telling him he would never walk again, at 4 years old Jordan set his dream in motion of becoming Karate World Champion. 20 years later and *spoiler alert* that's exactly what he did….Now preparing for his Olympic debut, Jordan and I reflect on his hectic decade; discussing all things from his relationship with his father and the parent/coach dynamic, having to work full-time to fund his sport, the social sacrifices that come with any high performance sport and how the power that comes from believing in yourself can carry you through even the deepest of defeats….Our favourite Millennial Minesweeper Quote this week was:‘If you're not willing to fail, you can't innovate. If you're not willing to build a vulnerable culture, you can't create.' - Brene Brown - ‘The Call to Courage'

A very honest, frank and interesting discussion with mental health advocate Sarah Loftus, talking about what the word health actually means today, and exploring why mental health issues are so prevalent in young people; drawing from Sarah's personal experiences of anxiety, depression and anorexia over the past 6 years.Sarah and I also discuss the prevalence of social media in both helping and hindering the health movement, being in control of your own mind, the stigma surrounding mental health labels and how the journey towards having a healthy 'mind and body' is totally different in every situation. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains some explicit content including references to eating disorders, depression and suicide. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR.Before Season 3 drops in February here is a lovely bonus episode for you all to dig your ears into.  A brilliant chat with blogger, reality tv show survivor and my wonderful friend Emma Fleming; talking about decision making in your twenties and why it's so hard to 'let the chips fall where they may'...Emma and I discuss her decision to go sober, the repercussions of that decision in a time of her life where the boozing culture is so imbedded (remember when going out, out was a thing?) and, as a result, leading to further decisions about recalibrating certain friendships. 

As both 2020 and Season 2 draw to a close, I am delighted to be joined by none other than Olympic Athlete and Team GB Sprinter, Adam Gemili. At just 18 years old Adam ran the second fastest 100m ever run by a British Junior, and was selected to take part at the London 2012 Olympic games. As a result, Adam entered his twenties decade as an Olympic finalist, with a big reputation to uphold and an even bigger dream of becoming one of the fastest men in the world. He competed rigorously in his early twenties, breaking the 10 second barrier for the 100m race at just 21, before suffering a nasty hamstring injury and then coming back with a vengeance to compete at Rio 2016. Despite losing out on a medal position by three thousandths of a second, Adam's perseverance, dedication and passion for the sport has carried him through to win multiple awards since, including gold and silver in two separate 4x100m relay events.Adam and I chat all things sprinting, dealing with success at an early age, the Olympic Games, juggling relationships with an athletic career, coping with defeat, and how being a decent human being is probably the most important, valuable and meaningful goal you can aim for in life. Our favourite Millenial Minesweeper Quote this week was;'The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same'

This week I was joined by TV Producer Lucy Terrell. Lucy's twenties were catapulted into uncertainty when at 24 she quit her steady 9-5 in Advertising to pursue a career in TV,  while simultaneously breaking up with her long term boyfriend, moving out of her flat and finding herself sleeping on a friend's floor, fairly broke and wondering what the hell she was going to do next... The following years were tough; trying to work her way up a notoriously tricky industry during a recession wasn't easy. She worked hard and partied harder, was in and out of jobs and frequently questioned how it was all going to work out, before eventually getting into her stride and finding that her slightly reckless decision had paid off enormously. Now as a producer on some of the UK's biggest food shows like The Great British Bake Off and Masterchef, Lucy reflects on her twenties happily and treasures the fond memories, while simultaneously rather relieved she doesn't have to go through them again! Lucy and I chat all things, TV, dating and relationships, removing excess baggage, turning 30, and that no matter how much of a 'hot mess' you think you've become, things always have a way of figuring themselves out in the end.  Our favourite Millenial Minesweeper quote this week was: “I think when you're in your 20s you feel like there's this giant cut off point when you're 30, because you feel like you have to be ‘young' to achieve loads of things. - Elizabeth Day

This week I was joined by the brilliant Anna Blackman, a partner at PWC. Starting at PWC in her early twenties, Anna has now been at the company for 19 years. Her twenties decade was predominantly spent working her way up the corporate ladder in auditing; however, though it may appear like a smooth ascent on paper, Anna struggled to adapt to the corporate environment in the beginning and opens up in this interview about how this affected her mental health. We talk about getting married in your early twenties, feeling like the world is judging you, catastrophizing,  surviving and thriving in a corporate environment and that learning how to control the controllables while letting the other shit slide, may just be the most valuable lesson of all. Our favourite Millenial Minesweeper quote this week was ' Marriage just consumes less space in the lives of single women and in our culture than it once did ' - Stylist Magazine

From getting fired at ASDA to an Emmy nomination… it is my absolute pleasure to welcome award winning comedian, the sensational JAYDE ADAMS! A west country girl with a flare for acting, Jayde's early twenties were spent performing in any way she could, from devising shows and acting in the theatre, to several stints as a priest in a blow up moving cathedral at festivals across the UK..In her mid twenties, Jayde made the big move up to London where she landed in the East London Drag Queen scene and began her stand-up comedy journey gigging around London. She got her big break in 2014 when she won the ‘funny women' award, and has since gone on to win multiple awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, host Channel 4's ‘Crazy Delicious' and most recently long-listed for an Emmy award for her latest Amazon Prime piece ‘Serious Black Jumper' Jayde and I talk all things stand-up comedy, the drag queen scene, coping with loss and bereavement, saying YES to everything, and how the power of confidence and truly believing in yourself can totally transform your life. Our favourite Millenial Minesweeper Quote this Week was: 'Wherever you go there's a five hundred pound load of shit waiting for you. And that's perfectly fine. The point isn't to get away from the shit. The point is to find the shit you enjoy dealing with.' - Mark Manson ‘The subtle art of not giving a Fuck'

This week I had the pleasure of being joined by Coaching Psychologist Glenn Whitney. Most of Glenn's twenties were spent studying, exploring and working in multiple countries around the world. Writing for the highly esteemed Wall Street Journal for seven years, Glenn moved around Europe chasing his dream of becoming a financial and sports journalist before settling in London. However, as Glenn moved into his thirties and started a family, he began to veer away from the journalist route he had paved for himself, and started studying full time for a Counselling and Psychotherapy degree, having gained so many benefits from having counselling himself. Now, Glenn is a leadership and coaching psychologist, working with senior business professionals and olympic sports coaches.Glenn and I talk all things work/life balance, the concept of 'regret', mental health, failing faster, the rise of Great Britain at the Olympic Games and how the ‘try, try and try again' mantra has a whole new meaning when it comes to modern entrepreneurship… 

This week I chatted to the glorious Sports Presenter and Podcast Host Rachel Stringer. Growing up, Rachel had big dreams of pursuing a career as an 800m runner, having competed for team GB throughout her teenage years. However, her twenties decade didn't quite pan out the way she had envisioned; after several set backs, Rachel veered away from her professional running dream and landed in the busy world of TV, where she was given the opportunity to train as a sports presenter. Diving head first into the unknown, Rachel accepted the opportunity and spent the latter part of her twenties building a name for herself, travelling around the world from Tobago to Japan, South America to China, and reporting at huge sporting events such as the championship and FA cup finals and Wimbledon. Rachel's twenties journey just goes to show that goals and plans can change and that when they do,  it is something to be celebrated. Good opportunities can come out of bad situations, and often in a way we'd never expect....‘Rules are made to be broken. Plans are made to be changed.'

* WARNING* This episode will make you want to quit your job and buy a one way ticket to the furthest away place imaginable...Nicola's twenties were mostly spent gallivanting across the globe, taking every opportunity to go somewhere new and try something different. From India to Asia and South America, Nic travelled, worked, fell in love and explored, before eventually ending up in Sydney where she  currently works as a Senior Talent Consultant.Nic's twenties journey is proof that it's totally possible to fulfil those travelling desires and secure a prosperous, fulfilling job at the end of it. You should never have to feel like you need to choose between jetting off and settling down, and often it's the total terrifying presence of the unknown, which when nurtured properly,  can actually bring so much clarity. We chat all things travelling, holiday romances, going against the grain, falling with purpose and all the colourful stories that come in between; including a rather comical instance of Delhi belly… Our favourite Millenial Minesweeper quote this week was: In a world where we can be anything, our biggest fear is feeling distinctly ordinary'...

Concluding series one is the incredibly inspirational Aaron Phipps. When Aaron was just 15 years old he contracted Meningitis C and underwent life changing surgery, resulting in him becoming a bi-lateral below knee amputee.  After spending a year in hospital, the rest of his teenage years were spent recovering, rehabilitating and adapting to his new life-changing circumstances.  In his early twenties, Aaron took part in the Totton 10k wheelchair race to raise money for Meningitis Research Foundation. He then went on to compete at multiple races including two London Marathons. Aaron was then scouted by GB wheelchair rugby and after years of vigorous training and dedication, was selected to play at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Aaron has since become the first disabled British person to climb Mount Kilimangaro without assistance and has now raised an astonishing £250,000 for Meningitis Research foundation. While continuing to train with team GB, Aaron is now also a motivational speaker and proud father of two.Aaron and I chat all things wheelchair racing, balancing international athleticism with family life, the London 2012 Paralympics, setting massive goals and charging at them, and how going through the trauma that he went through has left him with a new found outlook on life which has changed his whole perspective on how to be happy.

This weeks guest is the glorious screen writer Gemma Hurley. After graduating in 2009, Gemma had big dreams of pursuing a writing career. But, like many of us, had absolutely no idea how to get there. Taking up several low paid freelance jobs in London Gemma's early 20's were spent trying to get a foot in the door; from taking plays up to Edinburgh Fringe, to going for meetings with producers, she never quite got the big break she was looking for.  Succumbing to the difficulties of pursuing such a difficult career path, Gemma turned to working in advertising, where she felt her writing dream slowly begin to slip away.However, three years ago, Gemma was given an opportunity that forced her to make a choice. To become a 'proper adult' and break free from the London rental trap, or quit her job and dive head first into the writing career she always wanted to pursue. I'm thrilled to tell you, she chose the latter. What Gemma describes as one of the most reckless decisions she's ever made, turned out to be the most rewarding in every way possible. She is now an active screenwriter, had several of her projects optioned and is represented by one of the UK's biggest agencies. Gemma and I chat all things writing, the lack of diversity in the arts world, pursuing your passion in the face of rejection, and how even though you might think you're not getting anywhere, it's likely that the opportunities we make for ourselves in the present will come full circle to reward us in the future, often in a way we'd never expect… 

This week I was joined by the tenacious Cam Jarrad. In his early twenties, Cam spent his time doing ski seasons before making the giant leap from a farm in Devon to the London corporate world. Discovering very quickly that this wasn't right for him, he left to start up his own business and travel the world. Spurred on by the idea of being his own boss, Cam journeyed across several continents, and upon returning to settle in London the second time was open and ready to take on the challenge. Cam and I chat all things travel, being your own boss, creating your own opportunities, his early desire to be a 'millionaire' which actually transpired into just wanting to learn as much as possible and how not matter what happens or how many times you fuck up, you can always go home. 

This week I chatted to the exuberant Jovan Miller. An international athlete with a thirst for knowledge, Jovan spent his twenties playing lacrosse in the MLL, studying for two Bachelor of Science degrees in the US and then an MA in the UK. After several successful years spent hustling on the pitch, Jovan went on to work as a coach, inspiring and motivating new athletes in the game which he spent the decade dedicated to. Jovi is now a teacher in the states, and also uses his social platforms to instigate discussions on sports politics, being a black athlete playing a notoriously white sport, and more recently providing history lessons to help people better understand the Black Lives Matter movement. (I can safely say I've learned more from one of Jovan's online teaching videos than I did in the entirety of my history GCSE!) Jovan and I talk all things Lacrosse, studying while being an international athlete, moving abroad, the black lives matter movement and how the education system needs to allow future generations to think more critically in order to for them to better understand the world they live in.

This weeks guest is the multi talented director, writer and performer Richard Crawford.Though beginning his acting career at the age of 18 at the Edinburgh Fringe, it took Richard the majority of his twenties to fully find his feet in the arts world. Taking time out to travel, Richard journeyed around the world before returning to London with a new found perspective, drive and desire to pursue his acting career.What followed were several hard years of grafting, auditions, stand up comedy gigs and rejections before Richards big move to New York at the end of his twenties, where his creative cogs finally began to set the wheels in motion. Richard is now a Director, writer and performer having founded the award winning Secret Theatre company, putting on shows around the world. Richard and I chat all things travelling, taking that scary leap into the creative industry, being broke, refusing to ‘grow up' and how focussing on the smaller wins you achieve can actually propel you on to something you never expected to happen...

Imagine never consciously setting yourself any goals… then having a hugely successful career playing England Rugby. Enter, Nigel Redman. Making his first cap for England at just 20 years old, his decade was spent training, supporting his team mates, and adapting to the ever challenging lifestyle of being an international athlete. He played in two world cups, was voted England's best player of the year, and beat the formidable All Blacks team, all before retiring in 1999 to pursue a career in coaching. Nigel now works as an elite coach developer for British Olympic Swimming, using his unique perspective on goal setting and personal development to help other athletes achieve their goals and dreams. Nigel and I chat all things England Rugby, balancing a busy career with your personal life, retirement, saying YES, and how attempting to better yourself to who you were yesterday, is often enough to get you to where you want to be...‘If I was a video game, my super strength would be I could play while hurt and no one would know. And so when you talk about people with 'natural talent', I think an attitude and a mindset can take you and awfully long way. If you've got natural talent, brilliant - use it. If you've got natural talent AND a terrific mindset - wonderful. It's when you see the two of those things in tandem, you really do see somebody who's a super star.' 

A party animal with a thirst for fun Luke used his 20's decade to let loose, travel, party, explore, eat, drink and venture a little, or a lot, on the wild side... Coming back from his travels to the UK in his mid twenties, Luke pursued a career in Pharmaceutical sales. A few years later, he realised that there was something missing from his busy corporate career and jam packed social life, and set out on a totally new adventure all together… opening London's first EVER all vegan pub - THE SPREAD EAGLE! Luke and I chat all things travelling, relationships, work/life balance, and how it doesn't matter where you end up or if you don't have a clue where you're going, as long as you have a good time along the way...‘Just go and enjoy yourself, do whatever feels right. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, don't listen to what anybody else says, just do what you wanna do'.