English actress
POPULARITY
Categories
Tracie has an update on Amy Griffin's The Tell—including the alleged discovery of the "real" Claudia. Rich issues a correction to "Our Vogue" (integrity matters), and we dive into Hannah Murray's memoir The Make-Believe, which is about how a she tries to get involved with a cult, but they didn't even want her.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.Tracie's SubstackInstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Poppy Jamie is a proud mystic and tarot reader, who balances her background in cognitive science with the esoteric. ‘The Book of Living Magically' encourages you to live a life far more extraordinary than logic ever allowed you to believeCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Milly Goldsmith is a London-based content creator and entrepreneur with a loyal and rapidly growing online community. Her book 'Things I told my notes App' is a secret diary of an over sharer. It's a relatable, honest and inspiring collection of inside thoughts about love, life and personal growth - the good, the bad, and the laugh-out-loud funny.Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Max & Sam Marcham are mother and son, both psychotherapists who specialise in psychosexual issues. They co-wrote ‘Porn Bomb' after becoming concerned with the volume of young males seeking therapy due to problems stemming from watching pornographyCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Caroline Helleman, talking about her new book ‘The Kennedys and The Windsors', the story of the two dynasties, one born, one madeCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are. Chris Barnardo is a designer, illustrator and biomedical engineer. He co-founded The Wand Company, which develops and manufactures collectibles and prop replicas for Star Trek, Pokemon, and Amazon Studios. His novel 'Advances in the art of Being' is an accessible and immersive story set in a future where artificial intelligence, machine intelligence, and people all wrestle with their sense of belonging, and each with their own personal mortalities. It's a book of our time as humanity journeys into the post present to face these questions for real. Beau L'Amour is a writer, art director and editor who has written and produced several films. Since 1988 he has been the manager of the estate of his father, Louis L'Amour, a foremost storyteller of the American West. Louis thrilled a nation by chronicling the adventures of the brave men and women who settled the frontier. There are more than three hundred million of his copies in print around the world. They collaborated to write 'Skyring Water' an epic novel of Cold War suspense. Mark Farrington recently retired after nearly forty years of teaching writing. He his a four time winner of the Outstanding Faculty Award in the John Hopkins MA in Writing Program. His debut novel 'Loss of Life' is about facing the people who harmed us, as well as the people we harmed. It's a poignant reminder that we're all the totality of what we've done. ...Melissa Marr is a former university literature instructor who writes fiction for adults, teens and children. Her books have been bestsellers both domestically and internationally. Her new historical fantasy romance novel 'A Treason of Magic' is a "Buffy-meets-Bridgerton" tale of star-crossed love and ancient curses with a female duke, a Regency era faery hunter, and the monster she must defeat. It's the first in a duology of standalones and was inspired by her love for Scottish folklore. G. D. Wright joined Kent Police at the age of 18 and worked in a variety of uniformed roles. At the age of 29, and completely out of the blue, he suffered to cardiac arrests that led to the diagnosis of a life limiting and incurable disease of the heart. He was unable to continue policing and retired at the age of 30. He bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour, and spent years dreaming up stories. He now writes full time. 'Against the Tide' asks If the truth could destroy you, would you choose to know it? Nancy Peach combines being a practicing doctor working for the NHS and a national cancer charity with being the mother of three children. She is the author of The Mother of All Problems, and Hot Mother. Her latest is 'My Big Fat Empty Nest' Emma Lowther was a winner of the 2021 London Writer's Award. She is a queer, neurodivergent, northern writer. She trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and now works as an actor. Her debut novel 'Fellow Creatures' is partially set at one of London's most elite drama schools, and explores class, ambition, obsession, sexuality, identity, and the devastation success can wreak.
Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are. Ed Needham is the Editor and Publisher of Strong Words Magazine. He joins us every month with some new book reviews, which this month includes Maggie O'Farrell's Land.Luke Goebel has won various awards for his debut novel 'Fourteen Stories, None of them are Yours'. His screenwriting credits include Eileen, starring Anne Hathaway and McKenzie Thompson, and Causeway, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry, who received an Oscar nomination for his performance. Luke's breakout thriller 'Kill Dick' was described by Playboy as "a car chase of a novel" and "the kind of book that makes you want to write" Set in 2016 on the cusp of a consequential presidential election, the story unravels in LA. It's star and (mostly reliable) narrator is 19 year old Susie, an aspiring artist, recent NYU dropout, and opioid addict. Mandy Baggot is a bestselling romance writer who loves giving readers that happy-ever-after. 'Summer Ever After' is set on the island of Corfu, and tells the story of forty year old Faye, who is divorced from her cheating husband and is managing a boutique hotel when her life takes a turn she had't predicted, and she falls for a twenty-something ex-professional basketball player! ...Tracy Rees is the author of ten novels, and was the first winner of the Richard & Judy Search for a Bestseller Competition. She was also shortlisted for the RNA Epic Romantic Novel of the Year. 'The Golden Feather' is an addictive, spellbinding fantasy adventure for adults. Despite publishing almost a book a year since her Richard & Judy win, one story has continued to grip Tracy's imagination, the seeds of which were sown a decade and a half ago. Joseph Birchall was born in Dublin, and spent much of his twenties living abroad in California, Israel and France before returning home to establish a successful family business. A lifelong writer, he began his creative journey at eleven, with his first play, and later explored screenwriting and novels. 'Reported Missing' offers readers a high-stakes, twist-filled story that will keep them guessing until the final page. It's the second installment in the Detective Darcy Doyle series. Guy Burt wrote his first novel when he was 18. Since then he's had a career as a BAFTA-winning screenwriter, writing various television dramas. He also writes literary fiction and lives in Valencia. 'The Glass Field' is set in Britain in 1986 in the long shadow of the Cold War and the aftermath of Chernobyl. It follows tow adolescent outsiders whose shared fear of nuclear catastrophe brings them together. Jenny Gretton has travelled extensively and previously had several exciting jobs, including a film extra, and a speakin part in a Bollywood film. Her debut novel 'It's All About Butty' was inspired by real experiences in the world of medicine.
This week we're sharing our favourite reads of the year so far, from the novels we couldn't put down and 2026's most-talked about titles to the memoirs that kept us up at night. Consider this your summer reading inspo: including the ultra-hyped Strangers by Belle Burden, Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash and Devil Wears Prada-style thriller Workhorse. As promised, we're also reviewing the trad-wife thriller Yesteryear again, as well as the addictive true story of how actor Hannah Murray found herself sucked into a creepy wellness cult. Enjoy huns and please do share your book recs in the comments! Our next book club will be announced in the next couple of weeks – watch this space hunnies! You can also find our 10 best books of all time over on Patreon, where we drop bonus eps every month and offer our main eps completely ad-free.Get 10% off our fave (flat pack!) furniture brand Swyft Home with our code straightup10 at swyfthome.comTry the adaptogenic coffee that changed our lives with 20% off using code straightup at londonnootropics.comFollow us on IG @straightuppod and TikTok @straightuppodFind us on YouTube @straightupmediapodEmail at hello@straightuppodcast.co.ukRecs/ reviews: Strangers, Belle Burden Belle Burden on the Collapse of Her 20 Year Marriage & Her Bestselling Memoir, The Oprah PodcastWhy I Don't Feel Sorry for Belle Burden, Kathleen Harmer on Substack Yesteryear, Caro Claire BurkeI'm obsessed by the trad wife world — this was the best way to expose it, The Times The Caro Episode, Diabolical LiesLost Lambs, Madeline Cash “I Always Felt Ripe for a Cult”: Meet Madeline Cash, Author of the Year's Buzziest Debut, Interview Magazine The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness, Hannah MurrayWorkhorse, Caroline Palmer Hooked, Asako Yuzuki. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Katrina Wood, talking about her father Percy Herbert's autobiography ‘Time will pass Johnny'. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and held at Changi Prison for 4 years. In later years, he became an actor, appearing in more than 70 films, including The Bridge on the River Kwai and Mutiny on the Bounty.Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Marilyn S. Greenwald is a professor of journalism at Ohio University and a former news reporter. Her book ‘Jane Fonda: There's a Great Deal to Say' tells the story of Fonda's devotion to movement politics, tracing the evolution of her activism. Since the late 1960s, she has identifiedas, an activist first and an actor second, using her celebrity as a vehicle to convey her views.Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Anita Slominska is a postdoctoral fellow at the Research Institute of the McGill University Heath Centre. Her book ‘OtherEndings: Organ Transplantations and the Burdens of Hope' is a powerful mix of memoir and medical inquiry exploring transplant wait list ethics and mortality.
Ian McLaren is a Tech Coach who is on a mission to help people understand the huge benefits of AI and how we can start to understand and use it in our everyday livesCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Bruna De Palo is a neuroscience-based executive coach and leadership strategist with over 3000 hours of experience helping leaders in Fortune 500 companies, including Google and American Express. Her book ‘The Brain Instruction Manual for Leaders: What Nobody Told You About Working with Humans' asks why leaders experience the same problems again and again? Miscommunication, stress, resistance and conflict. Bruna says the problem isn't you, it's your brainCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Entrepreneur of the Week, Tom Abbey, Founder of Vamoosh, founded in 2016, it has become a globally recognised business redefining performance within laundry and household cleaning. It was inspired by a real household problem – removing stubborn pet hair from fabrics, the brand launched its breakthrough Pet Hair Dissolver in 2017, which is the world's first and only product of its kind. They were recently honoured with a King's Award for Enterprise for International Trade.Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Graeme Donald, Our Trivia Guru. This month we are looking at words with hidden links. What, for example, is the very direct and feline connection between the words 'dandelion' and 'panties'? or the connection between 'Nazi' and the word 'ignition'?Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Thomas S Mullaney, talking about his latest book ‘How We Disappear: A Personal History of Information'. The book begins with the death of his father and expands into the question, What actually survives us?Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Kim Pearson is a nutritionist and author of ‘The Nozempic Diet Book', empowering you to take back control of your weight for good with fast, natural and lasting weight lossCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are.Guy Lloyd is our resident UK Publishing Expert. In a 40 year publishing career, Guy worked for some of the biggest publishing houses in the business, including Penguin Random House, BBC Books and Virgin. He joins us once a month for all the latest book news. This month he's talking about the decline of WH Smith, The Beano, The British Book Awards, and new books from Jo Brand and Celia Imrie. Robin Rowan's mother was a writer and his father was an engineer, so he was brought up on Wind in the Willows and Meccano. He became an engineer but writing alos remained an abiding passion. His short story collection 'Skimming the Surface' blurs truth with fiction. The author is the main protagonist in each story who meets a principle character, developing a relationship with them as either friend or foe. Rob McIvor began his writing career at a music magazine before moving into business journalism, and later, corporate and political affairs. An experienced touring and long-distance cyclist, he has also served as a director of Audax UK, the governing body for endurance cycling in the UK. 'What Goes on Tour' is a Tour de France mystery that sees Jim Chatham investigating his father's fatal cycling accident. ...Dr Marc Abraham OBE aka 'Marc the Vet' is a veterinary surgeon, broadcaster, and one of the UK's best-known animal welfare campaigners in the world. He was the presenter of the documentary Dogspiracy, and is a passionate advocate for children's understanding of animals and each other. His debut children's picture book 'Leon's Reef' is a joyful, colourful book that takes children aged 3 and over on an unforgettable undersea adventure. It shows young readers that communities thrive when every creature - however different - is valued, included and respected. Christine Carbo grew up in Florida and Montana. After earning a pilot's license, pursuing various adventures in Norway, and a brief stint as a flight attendant, she got an MA in Linguistics and taught college-level courses for over a decade. Her latest novel 'The Confession Artist' is a propulsive thriller that pits a small town ex-cop against a viral vigilante killer. Leonie Swann's debut novel 'Three Bags Full' was an instant hit, topping the bestseller charts in her native Germany for months. Her latest novel in her cosy crime series is 'Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For'The TRE Book Show airs every Friday between 14.00-16.00CET (repeated Sunday from 13.00CET)
Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are.Ed Needham is the Editor and Publisher of Strong Words Magazine. He joins us every month with some new book reviews, which this month includes Brendan Cooper's The Ball of the CenturyEmer McLysaght & Sarah Breen are co-authors of the Aisling series. 'Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling' was the bestselling fiction title of 2017 in Ireland, and it s sequel 'The Importance of Being Aisling', won the award for best popular fiction book at the 2018 Irish Book Awards. Combined, all five books in the series have sold more than 400,000 copies to date. Their latest novel 'Our Deadly Summer' is a hilarious and heartfelt story about friendship, young women and bad men.Danny Singer spent his early career as a Military Intelligence Officer, gaining first-hand insight into the inner workings of the security services. 'Nothing Left to Lose' is about Flight MH066, when it mysteriously vanished an hour after leaving Kuala Lumper. It's a gripping, thought-provoking story of survival, identity and the price of freedom....P M Emerson is an English print journalist who spent over four decades working for publications, news outlets ande medical bodies nationwide. Her novel 'Suppression' features an unlikely partnership between a monk and a prostitute, who are at the centre of a Lincolnshire town's rebellion. It's set in 1536 when England is in turmoil. Seth Panitch is a playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker. He's also a professor of theatre and heads the MFA Acting program at the University of Alabama. His debut novel 'Antique' is a touching story about the value people place on the objects in their lives and on themselves. It's a tale of second-chances, family, and the overarching question we find ourselves asking: after everything is said and done, what am I worth in the end? Amanda James has written since she was a child. Her dream of becoming a published writer came true in 2010 when she had her first short story published. Her novel 'The Secret Library' is filled with warmth, whispers of magic, and the irreplaceable comfort of books. It's for anyone who knows how one story can change anything.The TRE Book Show airs every Friday between 14.00-16.00CET (repeated Sunday from 13.00CET)
Tommy Barnes worked as a graphic designer in London for 15 years and performed as a stand-up comedian in his spare time. After being happily made redundant, he set off to France with his girlfriend. There they started a microbrewery, and his book ‘A Beer in the Loire' shared his story. His new book is ‘Something Brewing in Cornwall' which talks of his French dream crumbling, and his location to a cramped cottage in Padstow, CornwallCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are.Francesca de Tores is a novelist, poet and academic. She is the author of five previous novels including 'Saltblood' which won the 2024 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Her latest novel 'Cast Away' is the reimagined real-life story off Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for the classic, Robinson Crusoe. It's a sweeping tale of isolation and tenacity, asking: Who is a man, when everything is stripped away? Robert J Sawyer has won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best science-fiction novel of the year. 'The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine' is the much-anticipated sequel to the bestselling 'The Downloaded'. It debuted in a six-month exclusive window as an Audible Original narrated by Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser. Tracey Cook read history at Oxford University, before producing a documentary series for the BBC, and working in journalism and PR. After graduating from the Faber Academy Writing a Novel Course, she was longlisted for the Bridport Novel Prize in 2021. Her debut novel 'Wings over Valletta' is an inspiring and heart-wrenching story of World ·War Two.It combines action at the secret nerve centre of Malta's military defence with a romantic entanglement and a desperate search for a child. ...Samantha Moody is a British American writer located in the Cotswolds. She got her start professionally writing custom smut romances for private commission. She now has a comic in development and writes for various podcasts. Her novel 'Sleuths' is about a fan, a celebrity and a crime...Brent van Staalduinen is the award-winning and bestselling author of the novels Unthinkable, Nothing By Life, and Boy. His latest novel 'The Peace Thieves' is about the search for peace during a civil war, and through the long, fraught years that follow. Eirinie Carson is a member of the Writers Grotto in San Francisco. Her debut novel 'Bloodfire, Baby' is a maternal gothic story of the fourth trimester, heritage, class, and all of the things our mothers pass along to us
Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Lyndsay Dianne Russell, artist painting one of the lion sculptures taking over London for the World CupCatch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
It is Carer's Week in the UK. Karolina Gerlich is the Chief Executive of The Care Workers' Charity. She is a former care worker who regularly briefs MPs and government on social care workforce policy. They are celebrating a long-overdue moment of national recognition for unpaid carers - and hoping the conversation will also include England's 1.6 million paid care workers who stand alongside them in every home, care home and community in the country. Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Brenda Navarro, co-founder of Be Spain Savvy. Today we are talking about roundabouts in Spain, the Basque Country, Spanish lunch hours and cockroaches! Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Julie Talbot is a UK Property Investor, and full-time nomad who has spent the past 17 years living outside the UK. In 2022, she took her kids out of school to embrace what many call a "worldschooling" lifestyle. They recently left Nepal, are currently in Cambodia, and might be heading to Laos soon! Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Entrepreneur of the Week, Louise Hill, Founder of Go Henry - the money app helping kids learn to earn, save, spend and invest. Her expertise in kids banking was recognized when she appeared as an expert judge on The Apprentice (series 19)Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Jordan Adams and his brother Cian have both been diagnosed with the faulty MAPT gene that causes Frontotemporal Dementia, giving them a 99.9% chance of developing FTD in their 40s. Having lost their mother to the disease at just 52 years old, the brothers have dedicated their lives to raising awareness of dementia and making the condition visible before it ultimately impacts their own lives. Jordan recently completed 33 marathons in 33 days raising almost 2 million pounds. Catch Hannah live - 'TRE In The Afternoon' - Monday-Thursday from 15.00CET - on tre.radio
Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are.Sasha Debevec-McKenny is this year's winner of the world's largest and most prestigious literary prize for young writers - Swansea University's Dylan Thomas Prize - for her debut poetry collection 'Joy is my Middle Name' It is the third poetry collection to ever win the coveted prize and was chosen in a unanimous decision by the judging panel. The poems document the journey of crawling through your twenties and emerging into your thirties, navigating sex, race, womanhood, addiction, sobriety, consumerism, and pop culture. Kristen Perrin is originally from Seattle, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before moving to the UK to do a Master's and a PhD. 'How to Cheat Your Own Death' is the latest installment in the award-winning Castle Knoll Files in which Annie Adams and her Great Aunt Frances team up across decades to solve two interlocking murders. Anna James is the acclaimed author of the Pages and Co. series. Anna was Book News Editor at The Bookseller and Literary Editor at Elle UK. She hosts literary events and panels and is the co-founder and host of the London YA Salon. 'Alice with a Why' is an enchanting tale inspired by the beloved classic story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. ...Stuart MacBride is the bestselling author of many Logan McRae and Ash Henderson novels. He's also published standalones, novellas, and short stories, as well as a slightly twisted children's picture book for slightly twisted children. His latest crime thriller is 'Blood, Rust and Steel'Lauren Ho is a former legal counsel turned author whose writing explores the messy, heartfelt, and often humorous realities of modern life. Originally from Malaysia, she has lived across Europe, and now resides in Singapore. 'Two Lives with You' asks of the two main characters 'What if they never married?' For an overwhelmed husband and wife, that what-if wish comes true in an emotional and bittersweet novel about choices, sacrifice, and the love that they might lose forever. Andrew Rae has published his debut poetry book at the age of 85. 'Transcendence' delves into the moments that awaken a deep sense of connection with something beyond the physical realm. Melinda Leigh is the award-winning number 1 Amazon Charts and Number 1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Echo Road, the She Can series, the Midnight series, and the Scarlet series. She has sold over 16 million copies of her books. 'You Can Tell Me' is her latest page-turner featuring true crime writer Oliva Cruz.
Hannah Murray's Memoir The Make-Believe (with Rhiannon Houch) Chelsea welcomes writer and The Hidden History of Magick Podcast co-host Rhiannon Houch to dive into “The Make Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness” by “Skins” and “Game of Thrones” star Hannah Murray. They unpack Hannah's path from magic school class to wellness cult, how a search for healing spiraled into a mental health crisis, and her stunning depiction of life with bipolar disorder. Plus: weird MLM movie recs, Etsy wands and YET another cult leader just loooooooving martial arts. A content warning: This episode contains discussions of sensitive topics, including disordered eating, diet culture, suicidal ideation, very difficult mental health discussions, and non-PC language used within the cult. Take care while listening and find helpful resources here. Contact us or send us your voice notes: hello@glamoroustrash.com Follow Chelsea: Instagram @chelseadevantez Join the cookie community: Become a member of the Patreon Thank you to our sponsors: Quince - Go to quince.com/glamorous for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Thrive Causemetics - Get 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/glamorous Libro.fm - Click here to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with your first month of membership using code TRASH. Show Notes: Dringo! Card Where to find our guest: Rhiannon Houch Work with Rhiannon Listen to The Hidden History of Magick Instagram *** Glamorous Trash is all about going high and low at the same time— Glam and Trash. We recap and book club celebrity memoirs, deconstruct pop culture, and sometimes, we cry! If you've ever referenced Mariah Carey in therapy... then this is the podcast for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, two debut authors received the Women's Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction, each worth £30,000, respectively. Anita Rani spoke to the two winners, novelist Virginia Evans and Lyse Doucet, known to listeners as the BBC's Chief International Correspondent.The Women's T20 Cricket World Cup has begun. Nuala McGovern talked to Clare Connor, former England women's captain, now the outgoing Managing Director of England Women. Over her 18 years in the job, Clare has overseen the professionalisation of the women's game as well as a big boost in grassroots participation.The government has announced how it is planning to roll out quicker and easier access to educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists for SEND families. Nuala spoke to the Schools Minister Georgia Gould and Principal Educational Psychologist for Salford, Claire Jackson, about the upcoming Experts at Hand programme.Last week, Hannah Murray, who played Gilly in Game of Thrones, told Anita that during the final season of the show, the papers wrote she was pregnant - when she wasn't. Hannah said that maybe this was the only acceptable way for a woman in the public eye to gain weight. Following a strong listener response, we discussed if there is a right way to talk about women's weight. Anita was joined by Alex Light, a body confidence activist and author and Dr Dolly Van Tulleken, food policy researcher, policy consultant and visiting researcher at the MRC epidemiologist unit in Cambridge University.Have you ever had one of those moments when life feels so circular that you just can't believe it? A 'once-in-a-lifetime synchronicity' is what the poet Emily Cullen called it when she discovered that a poem she had written seven years ago, inspired by her eight year old son, turned up on the English exam paper he was sitting in Ireland. Anita caught up with Emily and son Lee.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Annette Wells
Last night, two debut authors received the Women's Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction, each worth £30,000, respectively. Anita Rani speaks to the two winners, novelist Virginia Evans and Lyse Doucet, known to listeners as the BBC's Chief International Correspondent.Last week, Hannah Murray, who played Gilly in Game of Thrones, told Anita that during the final season of the show, the papers wrote she was pregnant - when she wasn't. Hannah said that maybe this was the only acceptable way for a woman in the public eye to gain weight. Following a strong listener response to that item we discuss if there is a right way to talk about women's weight. Anita is joined by Alex Light, a body confidence activist and author and Dr Dolly Van Tulleken, food policy researcher, policy consultant and visiting researcher at the MRC epidemiologist unit in Cambridge University. England is hosting the 2026 T20 Women's World Cup this summer, and England and Sri Lanka launch the competition with their match at Edgbaston today. This is the first time that 12 teams will competing for the World Cup trophy – an increase on previous years. Anita talks to Melissa Story, a cricket player for Gloucestershire and a commentator for BBC's Test Match Special, about how the tournament works, the players to watch - and the matches we can't miss.This week the Royal College of Psychiatrists launched its first ever Women's Mental Health Strategy. It was instigated by Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists who chose women's mental health as a key focus when she took up her post three years ago. As Lade steps down from that role, she joins Anita to talk about why she thinks that the women's mental healthcare is in crisis and her vision for improvements.When bride-to-be Kayley Stead was left alone at the altar on her wedding day in 2022, she did what few would think to do - she let the wedding continue. Kayley's photos of enjoying her wedding alone, including the speeches, the first dance and cutting the cake, went viral. Other women congratulated her for celebrating herself and still enjoying the day. Four years on, she's found love again - she's engaged! - and she says she wants her wedding to be "a big party." She joins Anita. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt
In 2024, Gisèle Pelicot waved her legal right to anonymity for the trial of her then husband, declaring that shame has to change sides. Her then husband had drugged and raped her and invited other men to rape her, filming as they did so. He was found guilty of her aggravated rape, along with 46 other men. Gisèle has now written her memoir, A Hymn to Life and joins Nuala McGovern to talk about her decision to have an open court, the devasting effect on her and her family of her ex-husband's actions and finding love again in her 70s.New Ground is the UK's first purpose-built co-housing community for women over 50, designed and developed on their own terms. The women moved in ten years ago, and the community is still going strong. But what's it really like to live this way? Kylie speaks to two residents, Jude and Ann.Hannah Murray is best known for playing Cassie in E4's teen drama Skins, and as a regular in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones as Gilly. But behind the scenes Hannah was struggling with her mental health, and she found herself involved in an organisation that offered courses in magical healing. The following year, Hannah was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She's since retired from acting and written a memoir about those turbulent times, called The Make-Believe – A Memoir of Magic and Madness.A newly qualified doctor, Charlotte Buttercase, has said she was subjected to repeated sexual harassment and intimidation while studying medicine at the University of Manchester. 32 other female students have now come forward to report similar abuse. Charlotte joins Nuala alongside Henry Budden, the co-chair of the BMA medical students committee. Mother Courage and Her Children is Bertolt Brecht's 1939 tale of a wartime profiteer who prefers to see herself as a savvy survivor and devoted mother. Currently on stage at the Globe in London for the first time, Nuala speaks to playwright Anna Jordan who has adapted the story for a modern audience. Why is this story one for retelling now and why does it continue to be performed more than 80 years later around the world?Produced by Kirsty McQuire Presented by Kylie Pentelow
The way women give birth is changing, according to BBC analysis, which has discovered that one in four births in England are now emergency caesareans. The current figure is 26% - an increase of 8% in the past five years - and the rate of elective caesareans has also gone up. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists say the system is struggling to cope with this increased level of unplanned surgeries. To discuss what's behind the rise and the potential impact on women, presenter Kylie Pentelow is joined by BBC Health Correspondent Catherine Burns, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Alison Wright, and Helen Cheyne who's a Professor of Maternal and Infant Health Research at the University of Stirling. Hannah Murray was at the height of her fame as an actor in 2016, having found fame as the much-loved Cassie in E4's teen drama Skins, she was now a regular in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones as Gilly. But behind the scenes Hannah was struggling with her mental health, and she found herself involved in an organisation which offered courses in magical healing. The following year, Hannah was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She's since retired from acting and written a memoir about those turbulent times, called The Make-Believe – A Memoir of Magic and Madness. Women's rights charity FiLiA has launched a new national campaign to get Sexual Entertainment Venues, commonly referred to as strip clubs, off the streets. This is informed by new research examining how the venues are viewed and experienced by women living, working and moving nearby. They spoke to more than 700 women across Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester, with 55% of women opposed to the venues, and 8% expressing supportive views. Dr Laura Favaro, Director of Research at FiLiA, joins Kylie to discuss their report. The female CEO of dating app Hinge has said that Gen Z "need AI to start conversations on dating apps because they lack the confidence of older generations". Jackie Jantos told the BBC that daters in their 20s are spending less time with other people, compared to two decades ago, has affected their ability to meet and chat in person. To discuss whether AI could help or hinder dating, and the challenges of meeting people IRL, Kylie is joined by author and journalist Olivia Petter and Jessica Evans, founder of events company BODA, which stands for Bored of Dating Apps.And BBC Music correspondent Mark Savage joins us to discuss the breaking news that Kayna King, the entrepreneur and founder of the Mobo awards, has died aged 57 from colon cancer. The Mobo Organisation called her one of the UK music industry's "most fearless champions". Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Sarah Jane Griffiths
Hannah Murray found fame when she was just 17, playing the self-destructive Cassie in E4's Skins. She juggled an English degree at Cambridge University alongside playing Gilly in HBO's Game Of Thrones and went on to film Detroit, directed by Kathryn Bigelow. When the physical and mental stress required from these roles began to take its toll, Murray sought treatment from a reiki healer. From there, her life began to spiral as she became heavily involved with a ‘healing' organisation whose promises of real-life magic and enlightenment were increasingly seductive. She ended up being sectioned after a psychotic break and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now, she has written her first book. The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness is a deeply personal account of these events, written with compulsive lyricism. It takes readers on a journey to the edges of reality, where magic is possible, and where the liminal space between what is real and what is imagined becomes ever more porous. In this episode we delve into Hannah's breakdown and what it taught her. We discuss living with BPD, her decision to quit acting and why, as a society, it's so important to talk about severe mental health conditions - even if it makes us uncomfortable. Plus: when does our modern obsession with ‘wellness' go too far? ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction 04:30 Acting Roles and Emotional Toll 07:51 The Memoir 09:17 Traumatic Filming and Aftermath 11:57 Failure to Be Happy Always 16:06 Rapture Highs and Bipolar 18:14 Reiki Rabbit Hole and Cult Questions 28:50 Wellness as Addiction 30:25 Hotel Breakdown Begins 32:17 Exorcism and Delusions 33:26 Realizing You're Sectioned 35:18 Medication and Coming Back 36:12 Shame to Compassion 42:55 Bipolar Mania Explained 48:41 Leaving Acting and Moving On
On this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, Hannah Murray shares the experience of writing her debut book, a memoir called The Make Believe: A memoir of magic and madness. Hannah worked as an actor for over a decade, starring in E4's Skins and HBO's Game of Thrones. She studied English at Cambridge University and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. The Make Believe is a deeply intimate and honest memoir about acting, fame, mental illness and the struggle to leave a cult-like organisation whose belief in magic shattered Hannah's reality. Hannah met up with Steph just a few days before her book's release to discuss her fascinating journey from acting into creative writing. together they dive into the unique structure and focus of her memoir, the creative challenges of portraying a fractured reality in a way that feels logical for the reader, and how the process of revisiting and reshaping difficult memories into a narrative ultimately helped her reclaim her personal story.
Game of Thrones actor, Hannah Murray, joins Brendan to discuss her memoir The Make Believe, which recounts her experience becoming involved in a wellness community that led to her believing she was the saviour of the planet. She reflects on the search for belonging, and how she eventually found her way out.