Episodes

  • Sarah Vaughan Discusses ‘Little Disasters’: Maternal OCD, Motherhood Truths, and Breaking the Stigma

    Sarah Vaughan Discusses ‘Little Disasters’: Maternal OCD, Motherhood Truths, and Breaking the Stigma
    Aug 11 2025
    TRIGGER WARNING: Please be aware, this episode contains references to sensitive content around maternal mental health and mentions a potentially distressing fact around post-natal depression and harming children. This week, I’m joined by Sarah Vaughan – acclaimed author and journalist – for an honest conversation about maternal mental health and parenting. Sarah opens up about her own experience with maternal OCD, shining a light on a subject that is so often misunderstood and left unspoken. We talk about the importance of sharing these stories, how being honest can help break down long-held stigmas, and the power of knowing you are not alone. Sarah shares her perspective on motherhood, the realities of navigating parenting alongside intrusive thoughts, and why talking openly can help others feel seen and supported. If you’ve ever felt isolated in your worries as a parent, or curious to understand more about maternal OCD, Sarah’s honestly and gentle wisdom will leave you feeling heard, supported, and far less alone. LINKS TO SUPPORT GROUPS If the content around maternal mental health and perinatal OCD resonated with you today and you would like support, please consider the following charities: Maternal OCD: https://maternalocd.org/ Maternal Mental Health Alliance: https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/ BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE 📚 Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan Sarah’s novel referenced in our conversation is Little Disasters: a gripping novel exploring motherhood, judgment, and the silent struggles many women face. It’s available in all good book shops, and the screen adaptation is available to stream on Paramount+. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 🗣️ Got something to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512—just start your message with LOB. 💬 Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB 📧 Prefer email? Drop me a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.co.uk If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who might find Sarah’s insights helpful – it really makes a difference! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Sarah Vaughan Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig & Jonathan O'Sullivan Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The Life of You – Cally Beaton on People Pleasing, Assertiveness and Owning Your Needs

    The Life of You – Cally Beaton on People Pleasing, Assertiveness and Owning Your Needs
    Aug 8 2025
    In this episode of The Life of Bryony, comedian and author Cally Beaton tackles real-life listener dilemmas. Drawing on her own journey of midlife reinvention, Cally explores why people pleasing holds many of us back and why setting boundaries – especially as women – can feel radical. Cally shares her insight into the messy realities of change, ignoring naysayers, and the freedom that comes from putting yourself first. If you want to quieten the inner critic, embrace self-acceptance and have the confidence to be unapologetically yourself, this episode is for you. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB Prefer email? Drop us a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it - it really helps! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Cally Beaton Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig & Jonathan O’Sullivan Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    8 mins
  • From Power Suits to Punchlines: Cally Beaton on Menopause, Midlife, and Reinvention

    From Power Suits to Punchlines: Cally Beaton on Menopause, Midlife, and Reinvention
    Aug 4 2025
    In this episode of The Life of Bryony, comedian and author Cally Beaton breaks down the taboos and stereotypes around midlife, menopause, and the supposed “invisibility” of women as they age. Drawing from her book, Namaste Motherf**kers, Cally shares personal stories and scientific insights, challenging what society – and the animal kingdom – really tell us about women and aging, and why life after 40 is just the beginning. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB - Prefer email? Drop us a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Cally Beaton Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig & Jonathan O’Sullivan Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The Life of You - Nicola Jane Hobbs on Letting Go, Asking for Help, and Rewriting the Rules

    The Life of You - Nicola Jane Hobbs on Letting Go, Asking for Help, and Rewriting the Rules
    Aug 1 2025
    Why does rest feel so radical for women? In this episode, Bryony poses listeners’ questions to Nicola Jane Hobbs, looking at the hidden pressures women face to "do it all," especially during demanding periods like school holidays. Nicola shares practical advice on asking for help, having candid conversations with partners about the mental load, and why letting go of perfectionism can feel both scary and liberating. They unpack the link between self-worth and productivity, offer actionable tips for managing guilt around relaxation, and highlight how compassionate self-talk and community support can help women reclaim rest – and joy – in their daily lives. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB Prefer email? Drop us a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Nicola Jane Hobbs Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    11 mins
  • Why Women Struggle to Relax: Nicola Jane Hobbs on Burnout, Societal Pressures, and Reclaiming Rest

    Why Women Struggle to Relax: Nicola Jane Hobbs on Burnout, Societal Pressures, and Reclaiming Rest
    Jul 28 2025
    Why do so many women find it nearly impossible to truly relax? In this candid episode, Bryony sits down with psychologist and author Nicola Jane Hobbs, whose viral writing on burnout and rest has struck a chord across social media. Together, they unpack why women often feel they must “earn” rest, how societal and internalised pressures fuel chronic stress, and why relaxation can feel threatening or out of reach. With practical, science-backed tools – from micro-moments of respite to reframing self-worth – Nicola shows women how to reclaim relaxation in their daily lives, even amidst relentless to-do lists and summer holiday chaos. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB - Prefer email? Drop us a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Nicola Jane Hobbs Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • The Life of You - Kavana on Coming Out and Finding Confidence to Be Yourself

    The Life of You - Kavana on Coming Out and Finding Confidence to Be Yourself
    Jul 25 2025
    Ever come out in the middle of a conga line? Singer and writer Kavana joins Bryony Gordon to answer listener questions about embracing who you are – whether you’re telling your cat or the world. From childhood obsessions with The Wizard of Oz to tips for setting boundaries, they chat about shame, social media anxieties, and why no one’s paying as much attention as you think. If you’ve ever worried about oversharing, feeling “loud and proud,” or just want some reassurance, tune in for laughs and wisdom – plus a reminder that you’re perfectly fine just as you are. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB Prefer email? Drop us a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it - it really helps! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Kavana Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    7 mins
  • From Pop Stardom to Sobriety: Kavana on Addiction, Fame & Finding Recovery

    From Pop Stardom to Sobriety: Kavana on Addiction, Fame & Finding Recovery
    Jul 20 2025
    What happens when fame, addiction, and the longing for acceptance collide? In this deeply personal episode, Bryony sits down with Anthony Kavana – nineties hitmaker and now author of "Pop Scars” – for an unfiltered conversation about the highs and lows of pop stardom, coming out, and the painful realities of addiction. Kavana shares how chasing validation in the spotlight led to a hidden spiral of drinking, drugs, and prolonged struggle. From heartthrob posters to rehab, he details the emotional cost of living a lie, the brutal cycle of relapse, and the raw process of rebuilding self-worth outside of fame. Through honest conversation, he shares lessons learned, the pain and growth found in hitting rock bottom, and how embracing vulnerability became his path to healing. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB - Prefer email? Drop us a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Kavana Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Ashley Roberts – Transforming Bedtime Routines & Embracing Aging with Confidence

    Ashley Roberts – Transforming Bedtime Routines & Embracing Aging with Confidence
    Jul 18 2025
    In this bonus episode, Ashley Roberts – former Pussycat Doll, broadcaster, and wellness advocate – joins Bryony to answer listener dilemmas about sleep, ageing, and self-acceptance. Ashley shares her honest take on battling an overactive mind at bedtime, the rituals that help her wind down, and why putting the phone away is her number one rule for better sleep. The conversation dives into feeling invisible with age, embracing confidence at every stage, and breaking free from societal hang-ups. And Ashley opens up about dating younger, finding joy in healthy relationships, and why she feels more vibrant than ever in her forties. Packed with relatable advice and uplifting stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking real talk about wellbeing, self-worth, and living life unapologetically. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512 - just start your message with LOB Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB Prefer email? Drop us a line at lifeofbryony@dailymail.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx Credits: Host: Bryony Gordon Guest: Ashley Roberts Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Ceyda Uzun Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    6 mins