What's Love Got To Do With It

Today I'm joined by one of my favourite people who I've known for two decades. In this conversation we talk about the joy of platonic love and overcoming the challenges that can arise in friendships.  SUBSTACK: Get 10% off your substack subscription forever by clicking here! (This link will expire on Wednesday the 26th of April!)

This week I sit and chat to Annie Lord. Annie is a columnist for British Vogue and is the author of one of my favourites books - Notes On Heartbreak. I adore Annie and really loved having this conversation with her. Enjoy! Find Annie: Instagram

Tj is a neuroscientist, the co-founder of Neurify and an international speaker on the topic of mental health. He began his career lecturing in psychology at the University of Exeter before launching Neurify in COVID to support companies and schools across Europe. Tj has now delivered over 250 training experiences and amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram with his simple, neuroscience-backed mental health teachings. During Tj's sessions you discover how our modern, digital-based lives are impacting our minds and the optimal way to live in order to feel motivated, connected, calm and healthy. Find Tj:  Instagram Website

Dr Sohère Roked is a Hormone and Integrative Medical Doctor, she specialises in combining bioidentical and body identical hormones and functional medicine to enhance hormone optimisation. Dr Roked believes that hormonal balance is the foundation of health and wellbeing. A general practitioner and formerly a psychiatrist, Dr Roked constantly saw patients with symptoms that conventional medicine wasn't able to treat and this inspired her to focus on integrative medicine and bio-identical hormone therapy. She has treated thousands of clients and is recognised as one of the few GPs in the UK to cover both conventional and holistic medicine. Find Sohère: Instagram Website

In this episode, Natalie and I deep dive into cycle awareness, our inner seasons, the disconnect between the way we live compared to the outer seasons, how cycle tracking shifts during pregnancy and a whole lot of information that is vital if you are someone who menstruates - or if you know someone who menstruates.  Find Natalie: Instagram Website

I'm very excited to introduce you to my new best friend, Charlie Craggs. I echo British Vogues statement that Charlie is "the voice of a community." She is also an activist, author and actress who - even through the relentless diversity she's faced in her life - has remained one of the most positive humans I've ever known. Her commitment to supporting the trans community is inspirational. We can all learn something from Charlie. Find Charlie: Instagram

Francesca Oddie is hands down one of my favourite people. She's on my dinner party guestlist alongside Stephen Fry, Christopher Nolan and George R. R. Martin. I could ask her a million questions and never get bored. Francesca's a phenomenal astrologer, who as you'll hear in this episode, takes astrology from something whimsical and make believe, to something that has substance and practicality, enabling it to become a tool we can use for our own self development. She's also one of the experts on Written In The Stars, a new dating show on Discovery+. Enjoy! Find Francesca: Instagram Website

Hello and welcome to season two! I'm really happy to be back in your ears and to kick a new season off with a bang. Today I'm talking to Donna Lancaster. Donna is an elder in training, with a background in child protection. She has trained and worked with couples and individuals as a therapist for ten years and she was the head of teaching at Hoffman Institute. Donna is the co-founder of The Bridge Retreat and she is the author of two wonderful books - The Bridge and Wise Words for Women. She truly is one of the wisest people I know and in this episode we explore healing in all it's glory. Find Donna: Instagram  Website

This episode is the season finale and what a way to round up nine phenomenal conversations, because today I'm joined by my partner Mat. Mat doesn't do this kind of thing, he rarely, if at all uses social media and he's not big on the public speaking thing but when I had the idea to do this podcast, I always wanted to end the season with a conversation between us two and with a little gentle persuasion, he was up for it too. Our love story is the reason why I'm doing this work. Falling in love with Mat was the beginning of a monumental chapter in my life and the relationship we have co-created together has resulted in helping others heal. Which is wild. And that's the reason why our relationship is the thing in my life that I'm most proud of. It's also a great illustration of how relationships can be a space for us to heal. I am the prime example of someone who went from being anxiously attached, co-dependent and consumed with a fear of being abandoned, to a happy, secure and content partner and here is an insight into our journey of how we got there. I hope you enjoy our conversation in which we reflect on falling in love, breaking up, coming back together and co-creating our relationship into something majestic. 

TW: sexual abuse, suicide attempts and drug/alcohol addictions. Today I am joined by Emma Payne. Emma is a world champion athlete who has overcome huge adversity in her life and has an incredibly inspiring story. Emma and I went to the same college many many many years ago and actually lost touch until our paths crossed again recently and we decided to sit down and record together. Her story is one of insight and inspiration, however it does come with a trigger warning. In this episode we discuss physical and sexual abuse, suicide attemps and alcohol and drug addictions. Yep this is a big conversation. So if you aren't feeling in the right headspace today to listen, I recommend coming back to this episode another time. Emma's story shines a light on the darkness that comes with addiction and her road to recovery will be an inspiration for so many of us. Emma: @emj289 Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

In this episode I sit down to chat with Kayla Nielsen. Kayla is a yoga teacher, founder of GLOW Yoga Retreats and has most recently built from the ground up, a beautiful retreat centre in Northern Nicaragua in Central America. It was in Nicaragua that she met her wife Alix and in this episode she tells us all about their love story. Kayla also openly and honestly speaks about falling in love with a woman and her journey navigating that unexpected path. There are many parallels with Kayla's relationship experiences and my own - and listening to her story and understanding the knowing she felt that Alix was the person she wanted to be with forever in such a short period of time really speaks to my soul. As a side note, Kayla and I were due to record a week before this episode but her power was down. Just before we recorded this episode the power dropped again so there are points in the conversation in which the sound isn't the greatest. About 8 minutes in, it's a little crackly for a couple of minutes but this conversation is a favourite of mine and I can't wait for you to hear their love story. Kayla: @kaylalanielsen Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

In this episode I'm joined by the wonderful Sabi Kerr. Sabi is a self-love coach, feminine embodiment guide and leadership mentor. She guides women to feel deeply worthy, to connect to their bodies and soul mission, and live with purpose, passion, pleasure and prosperity. Through 1:1 coaching, her podcast Release Your Radiance, group programs and workshops, Sabi's mission is to guide as many people as possible to step into their truest essence, find their voice and forge their authentic path in life and business. Sabi and I met a couple of years ago and since then have kept in touch through social media where we have both shared our relationship woes and insights, so I'm thrilled to have her on the show to discuss the complexities and the awakening that can be found in the world of break ups and uncoupling. Sabi: @sabi.kerr Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

Today I am joined by Angelica Malin. Angelica is an award winning entrepreneur, journalist and author, as well as the founder and editor in chief of about time magazine. She very recently published Unattached, a wonderful book consisting of 30 personal essays written by 30 different women on their experiences of being single. Unattached reflects both the unique challenges and the glorious benefits of singlehood. Representation of single women in their 30's looks a lot like Bridget Jones and not so much like women who are stepping into their power and shrugging off the shackles of traditional labels, and that's exactly what Angelica is here to do. She's kickstarting a single revolution and it was a pleasure to have this conversation with her. Angelica: @jellymalin Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

In this week's episode I'm joined by the incredible Africa Brooke. Africa is a globally recognised consultant, coach, speaker, and writer who specialises in helping people move through self-censorship and other forms of self-sabotage. Our work is so intrinsically linked through helping others overcome self sabotage that I had to get her on the show. Alongside self sabotage, we also discuss fear of abandonment, conscious communication and the importance of values. This conversation was a joy to have and I cannot wait for you to hear it. Africa: @africabrooke Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

In this week's episode I'm joined by Cathy Reay. Cathy is a writer and disability consultant. As well as advocating for disability justice, she also writes and speaks about dating, relationships and single motherhood. And in today's conversation, we explore a range of topics from sex, marriage, motherhood and polyamory. I love the way Cathy speaks about polyamory and in this episode she shares some wonderful insights. You'll be able to hear how lit up she sounds when we discuss it too. Her passion for smashing down boxes really is palpable and it was a joy to speak to her about a type of love that often gets left out of the conversation. Cathy: @cathyreaywrites Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

In this week's episode I'm joined by George, founder of The Tin Men. The Tin Men is a platform dedicated to widening perspectives and conversations around political advocacy for men and boys. During this episode, we explore both the expectations and the stereotypes of men in relationships and dating, as well as the ways in which we can better use language and linguistics to positively step away from identity politics. George: @thetinmen Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

Today I am joined by the wonderful Lotte Bowser. I first heard about Lotte and her fiancé Ben's love story in the summer of 2020 when Ben was undergoing treatment for stage 3 soft tissue sarcoma, an extremely rare type of cancer. Later that year, their journey led them to Mexico where Ben began to receive treatment at a specialist centre in Tijuana. Heartbreakingly just as things were beginning to look hopeful, Ben contracted coronavirus and passed away. And here began Lotte's unfathomable journey into widowhood, at just 30 years old. In this episode Lotte and I chat about her and Ben's unconditional and purest kind of love and how it evolved pre and post diagnosis. We also discuss how the use of psychedelics has been paramount in helping Lotte understand that there is so much more to be explored after we leave our physical bodies. The way Lotte speaks and writes about love and grief has touched the hearts of thousands of people and so, if you've experienced partner loss or are in the midst of grief right now, I hope this episode helps in even just the smallest way possible. Lotte: @lottebowser Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

In this very first episode of the very first season, I'm joined by my dear friend Niomi Smart. Niomi and I met only a few months ago but made an instant connection to one another. Niomi is the founder of Smart Skin and one of the kindest and sweetest souls I have ever met. In 2020, she found herself navigating her way through earth shattering heartbreak and abandonment and today she talks so beautifully about her experience, and the tools and practices that brought her back to life. Niomi: @niomismart Me: @laurajenkinson / @whatslovegotpod

Welcome to What's Love Got To Do With It. The podcast that shares intimate stories around the complex yet wonderful world of love, relationships, dating and heartbreak. I have two joys in this world, one is love and the other is storytelling. So I'm thrilled to combine the two for you here.