Sharing Tales

Jessica is a multi-award-winning cognitive, clinical and somatic hypnotherapist who has been offering life-changing programmes to her clients for the past ten years. Her mission is to help those who want to stop reliving the same patterns born from trauma and challenge, and to radically change lives by helping people to start a path to their chosen future. With a focus on supporting creatives, Jessica has been featured as one of the Evening Standard's Best Wellness Practitioners, and in various global media including Marie Claire, The Sunday Times, Tatler, and Women's Health. “Millennial Londoners have Jessica Boston on speed dial to help them break out of the behavioural patterns holding them back in life.” Evening Standard In this episode, we explore how Jessica overcame the trauma and pain from the events of a childhood which left her feeling and believing the world was unsafe; the joy of having a young creative mind inspired by colours, music and Disney; and how even in the depths of our own despair we can find hope and loving support from the good people who walk along beside us. It was as a result of her own healing through hypnotherapy that Jessica is now changing the lives of others through her deep transformative work. An inspiration for those who seek to use their pain as a catalyst for purposeful living. SOCIAL MEDIA @happymarlolife @rebekah_clark78 @iamjessicaboston WEBSITES www.happymarlo.com www.jessicaboston.com

Patrick is a celebrated artist who has had his work shown in galleries all over the world, and featured alongside artists such as Sir Anthony Gormley, Gavin Turk, Shepherd Fairey, and many more. He has exhibited in a number of shows, and his pieces appear in the private collections of well-known and respected collectors. In 2020, he appeared on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year show, and was awarded the Galerie Heimat & NG Art Creative Residency Prize which saw him spend a month this summer in the South of France. In addition, Patrick has worked with a number of brands including Faberge, ITV, and Bentley. As a little boy, Patrick was taken into long-term foster care and much of his creative work now deals with the idea of identity and ‘fitting in'. He recognises those themes as universal and he seeks to explore what makes people do what they do to have a sense of belonging. As Patrick says, “the sense of being in a tribe is all around us”. We talk about some of Patrick's early experiences, and the difficulties of growing up, when children can be so cruel; the relief of moving away to college and a fresh start; his realisation that he was naturally good at art; and a life, and a mother, which taught him the importance of simply being kind. SOCIAL MEDIA @happymarlolife @rebekah_clark78 @patrickmoraleslee WEBSITES www.happymarlo.com www.patrickmoraleslee.co.uk

Emma is the founder of Emma Tynan International, and The Channel Society ™, where she is passionate about supporting women, helping them to identify their gifts and to stretch beyond their limiting beliefs whether self-imposed, familial, or cultural. The eldest of two daughters, Emma was born and raised in Catholic Ireland to human rights activist parents who were also journalists. Our conversation explores Emma's early gift of seeing the usually unseen, turbulent times at school with abusive teachers, and how she overcame a long period of depression in her adolescence and young adulthood to become a healer for others. After living all over the globe, Emma now lives in Seattle with her husband, two boys, and their pug. It's from this idyllic sacred indigenous land that Emma joins me to chat, taking a break from the writing of her first book which speaks to the profound intersection of politics, spirituality, and the impact on women. SOCIAL MEDIA @happymarlolife @rebekah_clark78 @emmatynan_ WEBSITES www.happymarlo.com www.emmatynan.com

Susie is the founder of Family Flow, a ‘coming soon' app giving parents insights and tools to support their parenting journey. A family psychologist, she is passionate about family life, and about putting ourselves first in order to give our best to others. Currently in the trenches of busy family life, with four children aged two to 17 years, Susie understands family struggles. She specialises in stepfamily wellbeing, and is a great advocate for differently wired children, understanding the increased challenges faced by parents (and educators) trying to nurture and develop these wonderful children. In this conversation we traverse a childhood spent in the Wirral, where Susie and her family were heavily involved in the Wirral Schools Concert Band. We also talk about childhood bereavement, and how Susie and her family coped with the loss of her sister Judith, when all three siblings were still quite young. SOCIAL MEDIA @happymarlolife @rebekah_clark78 @familyflowapp WEBSITES www.happymarlo.com www.familyflowapp.com

Amit is the CEO of Nexa, an award-winning pioneering digital growth agency based in Dubai, a father to two girls, and a lifelong Everton supporter. He also happens to be one of my oldest friends from school. A natural trailblazer and a visionary, Amit has led the holistic expansion of Nexa from its beginnings in 2005, to now employing over 100 staff across offices in the UAE, UK, USA, and Australia. He is also the founder of STEM for Kids Dubai, which offers a range of educational support programmes for children aged 4 to 11 years. We delve into the circumstances around Amit's first experience of true unconditional love, the critical role that expectations from school teachers can play in determining a person's opportunities, and the power of exposure to different types of people and thinking which can influence your path from an early age. SOCIAL MEDIA @happymarlolife @rebekah_clark78 @amit_nexa WEBSITES www.happymarlo.com www.digitalnexa.com www.STEMforKids.ae

Donna Easton is a Joyologist, a mama, a laugher, a singer, a mindset and business coach, an artist, a mass-karaoke cabaret performer, and an entrepreneur. After a ‘pandemic awakening' she left a corporate career of 25 years, and is now dedicating her life to spreading all things joyful. She has developed Joyology ®, a unique blend of NLP mindset coaching, hypnotherapy, energy work, joy activations, and 80s music. What's not to love? Donna's mission is to “help stuck humans re-awaken the kick-ass, glitter-flinging magical unicorn they were put on this earth to be.” And from what I have experienced, she is the perfect person for this job! During this conversation we reminisce about fond memories of music from the 80s (Madonna, Kylie and Smash Hits), chat about Donna's loving and wise Little Nan, and discuss the impact of throwaway comments on tender little hearts. SOCIAL MEDIA @happymarlolife @rebekah_clark78 @mylifeshines (IG) @LifeShine (FB) @scaredymumma (Twitter) WEBSITES www.happymarlo.com www.mylifeshines.com

Dr. Carlos Saba helps people build businesses that make them happy. For him, work can't just be about making money. It also needs to be about applying what he loves doing in the service of others. The questions he likes to answer are “who am I really?” and “how do I make things that people will pay for?”. As the co-founder of the Happy Startup School, Carlos is passionate about startups and spirituality, and he thinks of business building as a voyage of self-discovery. So if this is part of Carlos the man, who was Carlos the boy? In this first episode of the new series we talk about Carlos' early years in the Philippines and the UK; the mixed-race experience; fitting in or not; and how the ways we were parented impact the way we try to parent our own children. SOCIAL MEDIA @happymarlolife @rebekah_clark78 @kungfucarlos @happystartups LinkedIn: Dr. Carlos Saba - Curriculum Designer, Facilitator and Coach - Vision 20/20 | LinkedIn WEBSITES www.happymarlo.com http://thehappystartupschool.com http://happystartupsummer.camp http://alpittu.de http://happypricing.co

Sharing Tales is a podcast for anybody who has had a childhood - that's right, all of us! We're creating space for people to share their own personal stories of childhood, and how these events impacted the adults they are today. You'll hear from a wide range of compelling voices, which inspire, inform, give us something to think about, and often help us to feel less alone in our own experiences and understanding of life.

Nicolas Croix is a Parisien, born and bred. Now based in North London with his young family, he is the founder and CEO of Moonworkers, a next generation HR platform which launched in the UK last year. In his previous career, Nicolas was a producer and production manager in the French entertainment industry, working across branded content, documentaries, live shows, and commercials. During this time, he produced more than 20 prime-time TV shows, whilst producing footage from leading stage musical productions including Cabaret, the Lion King, and Mamma Mia. In this episode we explore some of the lasting wounds that Nicolas experienced due to traumatic early years in the schooling system; his subsequent rebellion against learning; later pride in gaining a place at the University of Cambridge; a football match which inadvertently changed the cause of his life; what Nicolas call’s ‘Finding my Easy’; and the path to entrepreneurship. Nicolas perfectly demonstrates through his stories, how life can take many twists and turns, and how one can suddenly find purpose and drive, where it was previously missing. At a time when there is much dialogue on the future of education, Nicolas’ own difficult school journey further prompts us to ask, how can we radically improve this important chapter of our children’s lives? Social Media @bekah_wells78 @sharingtalespodcast @moonworkers_official Links www.moonworkers.co.uk https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nicolascroix

Tracey Chalk, aka The British Mother, describes herself as a wanderlust soul. A creative, wife, educator, mother to three children, and now a conscious entrepreneur, she brings all of herself to the different roles she plays in life. After an early career in fashion PR, Tracey returned to university to study towards her PGCE (post graduate certificate in education), going on to teach English and drama to children and teens. However, as she started to grow her young family, and dedicate time to exploring the world with her husband and children, new ideas and pursuits began to take root. During this episode we talk about the big impact of losing both her parents, in childhood and early adulthood; how this inspired Tracey to grab life with both hands with an attitude of gratitude; her confident and independent approach to motherhood; the expression of her creative desires through platforms such as The British Mother; and her current journey of building a conscious swimwear brand for teens and young women, Children of the Deep. Tracey is brilliant fun, and her positive energy a pleasure to be around. She told me about her ‘love language of Summer’ which actually sums Tracey up perfectly – she’s full of joy and sunshine. SOCIAL MEDIA @bekah_wells78 @sharingtalespodcast @thebritishmother @childrenofthedeep Links http://www.thebritishmother.com

Louisa is the founder of Breathe, Balance, Be, a wellbeing practice and community based in the UK. A qualified Yoga Nidra teacher, a Breath-Body-Mind ™ teacher, and a professional hypnotherapist, her passion is in supporting others to breathe better, and feel better. We spend time exploring some of the highs and lows that Louisa has experienced to date. Our conversation takes us from her half-Danish roots and her commitment to Hygge living; her entry to the corporate world by way of London and New York, which eventually resulted in burnout and stress; escaping the rat race to train as a yoga teacher in India; and whilst still grieving for her father who passed away from cancer, Louisa faced her own stage-four cancer diagnosis. Louisa shares insight on the importance of our breath. Encouraging us to appreciate that which is so critical, and yet often something we take for granted. The path to our own healing journeys can quite literally start under our noses. With a gentle and warm manner, Louisa embodies a quiet strength and resilience which is truly impressive. Her work is timely and much needed - simple, powerful, safe, and accessible. A nourishing soul indeed. SOCIAL MEDIA @bekah_wells78 @sharingtalespodcast @louisa.breathebalancebe LINKS https://www.breathebalancebe.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisarasmussen/

Henry Hall started his life in the foothills of the Appalachia mountains in Alabama, USA. Growing up as a ‘regular farmboy’, the course of his life altered when he left home to go to university, and later went on to complete his studies at Harvard Law School. Whilst at the latter, his contemporaries included leading US figures, not least the future President Obama. Henry’s world opened up during his time studying in Cambridge, Mass. and led him to work in emerging markets following the collapse of the Soviet Union. During this episode we discuss what life was like growing up in the American Deep South; the importance of razor focus in order to achieve your dreams; evolving to allow room for inward travel; and the journey to alignment of mind, body, and purposeful contribution, as he looks ahead to the next chapters of his life. Henry’s reflections are fascinating, and allow an insight into worlds which most people do not have access to. A thinker and philosopher, Henry invites us to consider ‘Amor Fati’, the notion of loving and accepting our fate, whatever that might look like. Social Media @bekah_wells78 (Instagram) @bekahclark (Facebook) @henrykhall (Instagram) Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrykhall/

Rhian is style personified so it is no surprise that she has dedicated her career to the creative industry. She describes herself as a multi-creative, and her work has taken her to the four corners of the globe working with leading luxury brands, including Paul Smith, Ralph Lauren, and Anya Hindmarch. In this episode we talk about Rhian’s creative pursuits; the devastating and unexpected loss of her father; the beginnings of her motherhood journey and some of the challenges of this role which aren’t discussed enough; and reflections on the lessons that life has thrown her way. Rhian is open, frank, and very good company. She speaks to the importance of resilience, and how successful we can be in different areas of our lives, despite the difficulties we might face. Social Media @sharingtalespodcast @bekah_wells78 @rhianpowncebydesign Links www.rhianpowncebydesign.com

Giselle is a magical human being. A London-based spiritual guide, teacher, and writer, her mission is to share how we can each create and curate a spiritual practice, so we can handle whatever life throws at us. With a modern approach to mysticism, Giselle helps all kinds of people, from all over the world. She has a quiet presence full of wisdom and grace. Our conversation explores the impact of early childhood trauma; the power of manifesting and the difference between getting what you want, and what you need; appreciating the lesson of ‘wherever you go, there you’ll be’; and the courage to take the leap to create a life that is authentically yours. Bringing her unique insights and experience, Giselle has an incredibly special energy which brings comfort and encouragement, that we all have what it takes, exactly as we are. Social Media @gisellelpm Links www.gisellelpm.com

Sharing Tales returns for a new series and we continue to explore the themes of change and transformation. What also connects each of these new episodes are experiences of tremendous loss. As a collection, these episodes explore how we process, heal, and move forward having gone through the loss of a parent, childhood innocence, good health, or even versions of ourselves. Jason is a born raconteur. A film and TV executive based in the United States, during the course of this episode Jason paints a cinematic canvas of his life so far. We discuss his early years growing up in Northern California, almost 300 miles from San Francisco; his entry to the world of entertainment working simultaneously at Entertainment Tonight and Disneyland; an unexpected assignment which led him to live in the Middle East; and the moment where he met the love of his life, his now wife, just as his beloved mother lost her battle to cancer. Funny, charming, and warm, Jason takes us on a journey of adventure, with a strong sense of ‘everything is possible’ if you believe it to be so.

Robyn is an entrepreneur and media exec who has worked in culture and communications over the past 15 years. Her career has seen her deliver campaigns and programmes for some of the UK’s most well-known brands and businesses, and earlier this year she co-founded a leading online platform which helps designers find work opportunities in the creative industry. During our conversation we talk about how being outwardly scrappy and confident early in her career, led Robyn to some pivotal opportunities and responsibilities, when she really needed more nurturing and support; the way in which these experiences have shaped her own empathetic leadership approach; and recognising the importance of connection and authenticity. Robyn is definitely somebody you want on your team, or as your friend! Generous, kind, and a person who does exactly what she says she will, Robyn is making the world a better place just by being her authentic self. This is a great conversation to round off this debut series. SOCIAL MEDIA Sharing Tales @sharingtalespodcast Rebekah Clark @bekah_wells78 LINKS www.designjobsboard.com

Bree Verity is a Queen of Storytelling! Inquisitive by nature, she attracts people and stories, and has recently applied these talents to her new business Arc Storytelling, which she launched last year. A true global citizen, we sat down (remotely) and had a good natter about Bree’s early career in her native Canada, starting out as a 19-year old TV reporter in a Fargo-esque community; her first international jaunt when she went travelling around Australia, and happened upon her now-husband; subsequent moves to London and New York inspired by exciting work opportunities; and now her most recent move to New Zealand, where she and her family moved at the start of lockdown to explore how different life there might be, compared to their previous East London base. The world provides almost a cinematic backdrop to Bree’s lived experiences. Travel is a big part of the narrative, but of course there is so much more. We delve into how to manage life when it doesn’t go to plan; the acknowledgement that being a good person doesn’t automatically mean you get what you want; and that sometimes you need to take risks which require true faith that everything will work out as it is meant to. This conversation fizzes with positivity and joy! SOCIAL MEDIA Sharing Tales @sharingtalespodcast Rebekah Clark @bekah_wells78 Bree Verity @breeverity5 LINKS LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/breeverity/ Arc Storytelling - www.arcstorytelling.com

Katy Walton is a mother, wife, author, and professional storyteller. Bright, funny and warm, she is somebody you could sit and spend hours chatting away with and still have much more to discuss. During this episode we talk about motherhood, marriage and love; the importance of connection, community, and compassion; and how perhaps what society needs now more than ever is what Katy calls a ‘tribal revival’. We also explore magic, and the impact of spiritual communities. Katy shares the transformative experience she had when she met the Huni Kuin, a Brazilian Amazonian Tribe, during an evening around the fire and underneath the stars. In those moments, Katy witnessed teachings and wisdom, which she now incorporates into the way she chooses to live her life. Thought-provoking, clever, and fun, Katy speaks with compelling conviction about how there is much more to life than only what we see, whilst enveloping the listener in her charm and warmth. SOCIAL MEDIA Sharing Tales @sharingtalespodcast Rebekah Clark @bekah_wells78 LINKS Katy Walton LinkedIn Katy’s children’s book The Land of Belching Bog

Hannah is a multi-passionate writer, influencer, coach, and author. In her media work she’s a copy and creative director to mega-brands and broadcasters, working with the likes of 20th Century Fox, Universal, Gucci, Nike, and Lululemon. And in her wellbeing business, she is known as ‘High Vibe Hannah’, founder of The High Vibe Life. I always thought that Hannah led an interesting and creative life, but it wasn’t until we sat down for this conversation that I realised I didn’t know the half of it! Hannah speaks with candour and vulnerability about the journey she has been on since being a teenager at school in St Albans. From “bad girl to good girl” in her teens and early twenties, when as an addict and girl-gang leader she found herself facing 20 years in prison; to jumping on a plane to start a new life in the UAE, only to once more find her rebellious nature landing in her hot water; and the current transformation she is going through, finding healing, releasing trauma, and becoming whole. Loving who she was and is, Hannah is now leveraging her rebellious streak to help empower others by creating revolutions for positive change. Hannah’s storytelling is beautiful, raw, and honest. She eloquently demonstrates how from some of life’s darkest experiences, we can look inwards to seek the light and opportunities for rebirth. SOCIAL MEDIA Sharing Tales @sharingtalespodcast Rebekah Clark @bekah_wells78 Hannah Swanston @high_vibe_hannah LINKS www.thehighvibe.life

Mimi is a bestselling author, host of the Empathy for Breakfast show, and Secrets of the Gap podcast. A true global citizen, her career in advertising has led her to live in 7 locations and counting! Mimi currently resides in Dubai with her young daughter. During this episode we talk about how advertising is in Mimi’s blood, having been inspired to follow in the footsteps of her dear dad, an original British Mad Man; the recent work assignment which inadvertently set her on the path she is now on, driving the conversation around the global empathy deficit; and the next chapter, which sees a new adventure for Mimi and her little girl, as they travel to different parts of the world to discover the role that empathy and curiosity play in the cultures and societies they will immerse themselves in. Mimi is wise and insightful. This conversation brings new learnings and thoughts to consider around the role of storytelling in our lives, and how we can learn to better understand each other as human beings. SOCIAL MEDIA Sharing Tales @sharingtalespodcast Rebekah Clark @bekah_wells78 Mimi Nicklin @MimiNicklin LINKS www.miminicklin.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/miminicklin/

Shaline Manhertz is a person who is many things in her life. A mother, a partner, daughter, sister, an ambitious business partner, and forever friend to a group of amazing women. Positive and optimistic by nature, Shaline’s energy is infectious. She is the type of person who makes you feel you can achieve anything, with effort and a bit of luck. During our hour together, we talk about the deep bond that Shaline shares with her mum, and how that has influenced the way she has mothered her own children in turn; and the challenge of finding the balance between living for your children, and living for yourself, in order to not lose who you are in the process. In 2017, Shaline was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. We discuss how she was determined to handle this life-changing news with grace. Whilst in hospital she arranged her own birthday party in the canteen there, surrounding herself with family and friends. For those who know Shaline this is typical of her inspiring attitude. Now in remission, Shaline is focusing on the future and her plans to enjoy it to the maximum. In her own words, she is grateful to feel “hashtag blessed”. Social Media Sharing Tales @sharingtalespodcast Rebekah Clark @bekah_wells78 Shaline Manhertz @shalinemanhertz Links www.shalinemanhertz.com tAO8r1siiR7ucloO8VVt

Corinne Shields is a producer, songwriter, singer, health & wellness practitioner, and business owner. During our conversation together, we explore how this quiet, talented young musician from Southampton summoned the courage to apply to the famous Brit School, and got in - no small feat! After being signed, and managed by a well-known presenter and radio DJ, Corinne’s music career took a pause, and she changed direction to train as a hairdresser in East London. The promise of this new creative outlet wasn’t to be, leading her to reassess once more her place in the world. She found her answer in health and wellness. Once a singer-songwriter, always to be one, we discuss how now Corinne is bringing together all of her different talents and passions to create a life of her own design. We cover music (natch), mindset, chasing Craig David, mistakes reframed as learnings, and more. And, if you listen to the end, you’ll be rewarded with a surprise special treat, courtesy of Corinne. Social Media Sharing Tales @sharingtalespodcast Rebekah Clark @bekah_wells78 Corinne Shields @_corinneshields_ Kin Wellness @kin.wellness

In this ten-minute teaser episode, I share a little about the genesis of Sharing Tales, explaining why and how this new podcast has come to be. Born from an event series I created just before lockdown I realised I wanted to hold space for different voices to share the stories that have impacted their lives to date. I talk about my personal passion for storytelling and how powerful I believe our own narratives are, along with a love for mantras, affirmations, and how they can help us to navigate life. We hear and read much about the lives of famous people, and those with a profile, but what’s often more interesting to me are the relatable tales, that people ‘like us’ have to tell. In honour of my upcoming guests who have shared their stories with such vulnerability and candour, I felt it only right to tell a little of my own personal story. The turbulent start I had in life, and how that resulted in a lack of identity, insecurity and shame. The power of resilience, and recognising the truth of ‘this too shall pass’. I finish up by giving a taster of some of the conversations to come, and the low-down on release dates and plans for series 2! Social Media @sharingtalespodcast @bekah_wells78

Sharing Tales is a new podcast creating space for people to share their own stories. Empowering for those who tell, and those who take time to listen. Hosted by Rebekah Clark, interesting and interested people meet at her virtual table to discuss some of the important chapters of their lives: events which have shaped them, the passions which excite them, and the lessons life is teaching them.