Great Women Podcast

In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we speak to Charlotte Hurst — chiropractor, endurance athlete and the first British woman with Type 1 diabetes to complete the Marathon des Sables.Charlotte shares the extraordinary story of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as an adult after training for an Ironman, the fear and confusion of those early days, and how she went from lying on the floor on Christmas Eve after a severe hypo to competing in some of the toughest endurance races in the world. She opens up about resilience, burnout, under-fuelling, and the importance of building a strong support network when living with chronic illness.We also explore her work as a chiropractor for both humans and animals, the realities of female health and ageing, why strength and movement matter so much for women, and how endurance sport can offer rare moments of clarity and simplicity in an overwhelmingly busy world.An inspiring, honest and deeply empowering conversation about health, mindset, movement and discovering what you are truly capable of.

In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we speak to Hillary Graves, founder of Little Dish, about her journey from a marketing career in New York to building one of the UK's leading children's food brands.Hillary shares how she identified a gap in the market for nutritious, convenient meals for children and the challenges of creating awareness for a new category. She discusses the importance of staying true to her values while growing the business, and the role advertising, awards and partnerships have played in Little Dish's success.We also explore the realities of entrepreneurship, balancing work and family life, and the lessons Hillary has learned along the way.

In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we’re joined by Laura Palmer and Jessie Sullivan, founders of Pellerin — the independent publishing house challenging the traditional publishing model and rethinking what long-term support for authors should look like.They discuss why so many writers are failed by the industry’s “feast or famine” approach, how discoverability really works in the age of algorithms and shrinking bookshop space, and why building a readership is a marathon, not a three-month publicity window.From idealistic pub conversations to launching a mission-driven publishing company, Laura and Jessie share the realities of modern publishing, the pressures facing authors and publishers alike, and why they believe the future of books lies in partnership, persistence and community.A fascinating conversation about creativity, business, storytelling and changing an industry from the inside out.

What do you do after being told at 16 you're not destined for greatness?If you're Jo Fairley, you become the UK's youngest magazine editor at 23, launch an iconic ethical chocolate brand from your Portobello flat, and just... keep going.In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we're joined by the co-founder of Green & Black's, the woman who helped put organic, Fairtrade chocolate on the map long before anyone was talking about conscious consumerism. Jo opens up about the leap of faith it took to build something from nothing, what it really means to trust your instincts, and why purpose-driven business isn't just good ethics, it's good strategy.And she was far from done after chocolate.Co-creator of The Beauty Bible and now founder of On The Scent, a magazine for fragrance obsessives everywhere. Jo Fairley is proof that a brilliant career isn't one big thing. And something tells us she's not done yet.This is a conversation about bold moves, big ideas, and the power of never standing still.

Most of us grew up with little honest talk about sex — while distorted portrayals in p*rn became the default education for an entire generation. In this powerful episode, Cindy Gallop explains how taboo-driven sex education and unrestricted pornography are shaping unhealthy attitudes toward intimacy, consent, and connection.After a successful career in advertising, Cindy Gallop founded MakeLoveNotP*rn to challenge shame, normalize honest conversations about sex, and redefine healthy intimacy. She shares her experiences fighting ageism, embracing independence, and creating platforms that encourage transparency and connection.Bold, irreverent and unapologetic, Cindy Gallop will challenge everything you thought you knew about sex, intimacy, ageism, and the power of honest conversation.

We’re joined by Katie Waldegrave - a passionate advocate for better education and fostering.Katie shares her journey from classroom teacher to founding three impactful charities: First Story alongside William Fiennes, Now Teach with Lucy Kellaway, and her latest venture, Now Foster with Laurie Kilby.The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities within both the education and fostering systems, and the importance of creativity, community, and bringing more diverse life experience into both professions.Katie speaks powerfully about the role of stable, supportive relationships for children in care, and introduces innovative approaches like “Weekenders” - a model designed to open up fostering to more people in flexible, accessible ways. EL52HZVGRQcHoswf671l

In this inspiring episode Renee McGregor, a leading sports dietitian with over 25 years of experience, shares her journey from NHS pediatrics to working with elite athletes, offering a fresh perspective on nutrition, RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sport) and wellbeing. From mindfulness to the impact of social media, this conversation with Renee McGregor challenges toxic health narratives and redefines what it means to truly nourish your body.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Kristine Beese, founder of Untangle Money, as we explore the gender wealth gap and the unique financial challenges women face.From career breaks and caregiving to pension gaps and longer life expectancy, Kristine Beese unpacks the structural factors shaping women’s financial outcomes — and why traditional systems often fall short. She also shares practical steps for both individuals and employers to build confidence, improve financial wellbeing, and create a more equitable future.

Amaka Okafor traces her journey from growing up in Birmingham to carving out a powerful presence on the West End and on Netflix. She reflects on how her cultural heritage has shaped her identity and creative voice, and how early experiences in community theatre ignited both her passion and sense of purpose as a performer.Amaka shares candid insights into the realities of the acting industry—highlighting the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and building trust in both collaborators and oneself. She speaks thoughtfully about the role of community, the lessons learned through challenges, and how staying grounded has helped her navigate an often unpredictable career path.Looking ahead, she discusses her ambitions across film and theatre, her desire to tell meaningful, representative stories, and her commitment to creating work that resonates with diverse audiences. This episode offers an honest and uplifting perspective on resilience, creativity, and forging your own path in the arts.

In this episode, we speak to Charlotte Hill OBE, CEO of The Felix Project, about leadership, impact, and the realities of balancing a high-pressure role with motherhood.Charlotte Hill shares what true leadership looks like in practice—not just setting direction, but rolling up your sleeves and making things happen. In just over three years, she has overseen extraordinary growth, helping the organisation deliver nearly 16,000 tonnes of food to more than 1,200 community organisations across London—including 170 schools—and prepare over 1.3 million meals through Felix’s Kitchen.At its core, The Felix Project rescues surplus food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributes it to those who need it most. Following its merger with FareShare, the organisation now combines resources to support around 1.5 million people annually, reaching over 8,000 community organisations.With a career spanning leadership roles at UK Youth and Step Up To Serve—and an OBE awarded in 2019 for her services to young people—Charlotte brings a wealth of experience and insight, sharing lessons in leadership, resilience and creating meaningful social impact.

Before Johnny Mercer decided to run for Parliament, Felicity Mercer had no background in politics at all. Yet she quickly found herself at the heart of it — becoming the wife and campaign manager of a future MP and experiencing the intense highs and devastating lows of political life firsthand, including facing online abuse and personal threats.But her story doesn’t end there. Since stepping away from politics after the 2024 election, Felicity Mercer has reinvented herself as an entrepreneur, launching an award-winning business The Dress Barn.In this episode, we talk about being thrown into the deep end of politics and learning it all on the hoof, resilience through the toughest moments, and what it really takes to reinvent yourself and start again after public life.

What does it really take to turn a kitchen experiment into a purpose-led brand stocked across the UK?In this episode, we sit down with Lisa Puddle, co-founder of MOMO Kombucha, to unpack how she transformed small-batch home brewing into one of the country’s most respected kombucha companies - and a certified B Corp.Leaving behind a career in fashion marketing, Lisa and her husband Josh began brewing kombucha in their kitchen with a clear vision: to create a drink that was better for people and the planet. What followed was a crash course in entrepreneurship - navigating an emerging category, building a brand from the ground up, scaling production, and holding firm to their values as demand grew.

We are joined by Tracy Edwards, a pioneering sailor who made history as the first woman to skipper an all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race. Tracy shares her remarkable journey, from her challenging childhood marked by loss and rebellion to her ground breaking achievements in sailing. She recounts the scepticism she faced, the triumphs of her crew aboard Maiden, and the subsequent challenges, including a devastating financial collapse that led to her bankruptcy. Despite these setbacks, Tracy's resilience shone through as she founded the Maiden Factor Foundation, advocating for girls' education worldwide. The conversation delves into her experiences of breaking into a male-dominated sport, the importance of mentorship, and her ongoing commitment to empowering young women through education.