OFC, You're Invited with Vanessa Maria

On OFC, You're Invited, neighbors Navied Mahdavian (New Yorker cartoonist, memoir author, TEDx speaker) and Anthony Leyton discuss how their friendship began at Anthony’s daughter’s birthday party soon after Navied moved to Folkston, bonding through shared interests like board games and D&D and deepening through weekly rehearsals for an amateur production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. They talk about how proximity, intentional effort, and comfortable silence help friendships form, what they’ve learned from each other about trying new things, confidence, competition, and embracing failure in midlife. The conversation also covers creativity for pleasure versus work, how identities shift over time, old friends versus new friends, friendships fading without closure, parenting and meeting friends through children, and storytelling as a way to create meaning in a chaotic life, ending with their final words: “light” and “adventure.”00:00 Meet the Guests01:09 How They Met in Folkestone02:01 Birthday Party Friendship Spark04:16 Moving Countries and Starting Over05:55 Making Friends as Adults12:05 Theatre as Friendship Catalyst15:11 Lessons from Each Other21:47 Creativity and Midlife Reset26:29 Midlife Crisis Reframe27:09 Identity After Milestones28:49 Adult Friendship Intentionality30:40 Old Friends New Mirrors32:34 Who Were You Then36:31 Escalator Politics38:21 Roles We Revert To41:41 When Friendships Fade46:12 Kids And Parent Friends48:30 Storytelling Makes Meaning51:56 One Word SendoffVanessa 📩 Join the mailing list: https://vanessamaria.os.fan/mailing-list Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nessamariaw/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nessamariaw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessamariawilson/ OFC, You're InvitedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofc.urinvited/

campaignEmma Slade Edmondson & Melissa Legarda on Friendship, Identity, and Building Goodfor Through Radical HonestyOn You’re Invited, host interviews Emma Slade Edmondson—author, strategist, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Goodfor—alongside her friend, creative partner, and co-founder Melissa Legarda, a journalist and podcast producer. They share how they first met in 2019 through a mutual friend on a campaign shoot, quickly built trust, and later deepened their bond through conversations in Paris that led to creating Goodfor, a purpose-driven storytelling house and conscious marketing consultancy producing podcasts, events, campaigns, and cultural consultancy. They discuss identity, mixedness, cultural fluency, workplace harm in creative industries, and how radical honesty, transparent communication, appreciation, and written agreements help them avoid resentment, resolve conflict, and support each other. Emma explains her children’s book Mixed and their evolving views on belonging, safety, and community.00:00 Meet Emma and Melissa01:09 How They First Met02:12 Creative Chemistry on Set04:25 From Shoots to Goodfor09:23 What Goodfor Actually Does11:52 Friendship to Business Partners13:22 Workplace Trauma and Safety17:14 Radical Honesty Playbook22:13 Contracts and Conflict Tools25:57 Showing Up for Each Other28:32 Community Is Inconvenience29:07 Why Mixed Was Written32:53 Belonging And Identity37:20 Travel Climate Responsibility39:00 Race Talks With Mom43:24 Learning From Each Other50:02 Safety Vulnerability Belonging52:04 Final Word And Thanks

On Of Course You’re Invited, host speaks with Mam Sham founders Maria Georgiou and Rhiannon Butler, childhood friends since age 11 who grew a London supper club into a creative storytelling studio spanning events, food, design and film, known for immersive, narrative-led experiences and using packaging and physical design as storytelling tools. They discuss meeting at secondary school, building their bond through shared humor and creativity, and how “play” became central to their process and a practical tool during stressful client moments. They trace early career detours through art-world and hospitality jobs, lessons from years of graft, and key moments in learning pricing and negotiation with brands. They explain the shift to positioning Mam Sham as a studio offering cohesive storytelling across media, critique content-farming brand events, and describe partnering with Asahi to support their existing supper club.00:00 Welcome and Introductions01:21 Meeting at Age 1106:30 Childhood Fears and Sleepovers08:21 Early Creative Collaboration12:47 The Power of Play16:41 Finding Courage to Start18:11 First Paid Gig20:46 The Graft and Growth21:30 Learning to Negotiate25:20 Social Media vs Events28:21 Becoming a Storytelling Studio32:25 Creating Authentic Brand Events34:38 Brands Back Creatives36:19 Why Events Feel Same37:01 Mini Eggs Satire38:21 Funding Community Events38:33 Asahi Supper Club Win40:09 Studio Storytelling Dreams43:25 Pricing Confidence Advice46:25 Imposter Syndrome Pitch48:16 Confidence Perception Trap51:20 Friendship Builds Confidence54:58 Brazil Spider Survival58:58 Gratitude And GoodbyeVanessa 📩 Join the mailing list: https://vanessamaria.os.fan/mailing-list Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nessamariaw/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nessamariaw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessamariawilson/ OFC, You're InvitedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofc.urinvited/

OFC You’re Invited, welcomes entrepreneur, coach, and former founder of SHFT Agency (exited in 2025) Chloë Downs, joined by her cousin Georgina Billings, an artist representative managing street artists and working to make the space more inclusive. They share how growing up as first cousins in South London felt like being siblings, recalling childhood adventures, family traditions, and how early exposure to art and open conversations built confidence and independence with a strong family safety net. They discuss trust, communication, and handling difficult conversations, noting differences between work and personal relationships, and how they maintain closeness even when living abroad. They reflect on identity beyond labels like “entrepreneur” or “mum,” exchange gratitude, and highlight Georgina’s earlier brand Idyllic Youth and Chloe’s caring nature beneath a tough exterior.00:00 Welcome and Guests00:26 Cousins Like Sisters01:17 Georgina’s Art Career02:25 Early Memories and Nicknames04:10 South London Childhood Joy06:36 Confidence From Upbringing07:54 Independence and Family Trust11:45 Building Trust With Kids13:37 Open Talks and Boundaries15:46 Family Dinner Table Test17:20 Staying Close Long Distance21:15 Leadership and Advice Roles22:23 Support System Into Adulthood26:44 Identity Beyond Work Labels29:29 Consistency Across Settings31:44 Radical Honesty and Accountability34:49 Handling Hard Conversations35:47 Directness And Misread Rudeness37:01 Friend Groups And Avoiding Confrontation38:27 Work Negotiation Builds Confidence41:21 Why Personal Talks Hurt More44:09 Misunderstandings And Clearing The Air45:05 Making Time For Friends46:57 Gratitude Segment Begins47:53 Shared Memories And Growing Up52:21 Auntie Role And Family Bond56:41 Hidden Sides And Past Hustles01:01:14 Final Word Game And Wrap UpVanessa 📩 Join the mailing list: https://vanessamaria.os.fan/mailing-list Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nessamariaw/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nessamariaw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessamariawilson/ OFC, You're InvitedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofc.urinvited/

Brotherhood, Business & Vulnerability: Kieran Hughes and Eugene Patterson on 18 Years of FriendshipVanessa Maria hosts “You’re Invited” with guests and best friends Kieran Hughes—founder of Trap House and 3QUENCY, a cultural agency that has worked with brands like Spotify and Dr. Martens—and Eugene Patterson, founder of Revibed Drinks sold in places like Holland & Barrett. They reflect on meeting in primary school in Erdington, how university and leaving Birmingham expanded their perspectives, and how building businesses has deepened their bond. The conversation centers on men’s vulnerability, safe spaces, panic attacks, breathwork, and the tension of societal expectations around masculinity, including the value of female friendships and learning across diverse cultures.00:00 - Intro, guest welcome and iconic best-friend introductions02:00 - How Kieran and Eugene first met - school days, green eyes and the rain story03:00 - From Birmingham to uni - how their friendship deepened through new environments06:00 - Male friendship, panic attacks and checking in beyond “I’m fine”07:00 - “Friendship is transactional” - what makes a relationship actually deep10:00 - Vulnerability, masculinity and why emotional safety between men matters13:00 - Being raised by women and how that shaped the way they relate to people16:00 - Fathers, survival mode and why this generation thinks differently about friendship24:00 - Bell Hooks, patriarchy and the mixed messages men are given26:00 - Nature or nurture - emotional intelligence, upbringing and why they feel ahead of the curve29:00 - Curiosity, open-mindedness and breaking out of the Birmingham bubble32:00 - Self-isolation, holding space and why people stay silent for too long35:00 - Talking about suicidal feelings, supportive parents and learning how to listen39:00 - What they thank each other for - brotherhood, belief and growing together42:00 - Final word challenge, Cannes memories and a warm closingVanessa 📩 Join the mailing list: https://vanessamaria.os.fan/mailing-list Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nessamariaw/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nessamariaw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessamariawilson/ OFC, You're InvitedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofc.urinvited/

Jasmine Douglas and Zoe Kezia on Building a Healthy Friendship Through Independence, Support, and Stability.Jasmine and Zoe explain they met years before Babes on Waves—initially through nights out and mutual connections (including Zoe knowing Jasmine’s brother first)—with gaps in communication before reconnecting through work when Zoe assisted Jasmine’s first Babes on Waves shoot and later became her assistant. They discuss how the friendship gradually became close, why Jasmine considers it her healthiest adult friendship.00:00 Welcome + Meet Jasmine (Babes & Waves) and Zoe00:26 Who They Are: Careers, Modeling, and Babes & Waves Origins01:26 How They Met: After-Party Era and Early Gaps02:58 From Instagram to Business: The First Babes & Waves Shoot03:48 Assistant Era: Systems, Organization, and Finding Direction04:45 When It Became Real Friendship: Shifts, Impressions, and Ambition06:35 Why It’s Their Healthiest Friendship: Boundaries Over Codependency08:15 How They Support Each Other: Space, “No”s, and Virtual Coworking10:38 Lessons Learned: Systems (Trello) + Secure Love Without Constant Contact12:50 Attachment Styles & Trust: Independence, Abandonment Fears, and Consistency14:50 How Friendship Shapes Your Career Confidence15:36 Negotiating Rates, Handling Difficult Clients & Avoiding Self-Interest Advice16:51 Friendships as Home: Triggers, Healing & Building Self-Respect18:55 ‘You Can’t Love Someone If You Don’t Love Yourself’—Reframing the Quote20:14 Proud Moments: Building Community, Brand Deals & ‘Flying the Plane’22:53 Jazz on Zoe’s Glow-Up: From Admin to Red Carpets24:58 Quick Fire Game: Compliments, Gratitude & One-Word Verdict27:30 Closing Thoughts + The Host Gets Put in the Hot Seat Next TimeVanessa 📩 Join the mailing list: https://vanessamaria.os.fan/mailing-list Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nessamariaw/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nessamariaw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessamariawilson/ OFC, You're InvitedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofc.urinvited/

In this heartfelt episode of 'You're Invited', Johnny Kay, the CCO at Versus, and his younger brother Nathan Kay, a renowned athlete, content creator, director, and editor, share their extraordinary journey of brotherhood, resilience, and personal growth. The brothers discuss their close-knit relationship, the impact of losing their father at a young age, and how it shaped their lives. They delve into their professional paths, the challenges they overcame, and how they consistently supported each other through thick and thin. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction01:17 Childhood Memories and Sibling Dynamics02:33 Coping with Loss and Personal Growth14:53 Navigating Adulthood and Career Beginnings24:12 Reflecting on Early Football Memories25:07 The Power of Manifestation and Self-Belief27:40 Influence of a Supportive Mother31:11 Traditions and Manifesting Dreams36:15 The Importance of Selflessness and Helping Others39:08 The Capacity for Change and Personal Growth44:32 Expressions of Gratitude and BrotherhoodVanessa 📩 Join the mailing list: https://vanessamaria.os.fan/mailing-list Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nessamariaw/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nessamariaw Linkedin: https://share.google/1jb4ioIqWCVjsan9G OFC, You're InvitedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofc.urinvited/

OFC: You’re Invited brings one guest per episode together with a +1 of their choice– a sibling, partner, cousin, close friend, or long-term collaborator. So much of how we understand ourselves comes from the people we move through life with- not from our jobs, or our bios, or the versions of ourselves we put online. This podcast is about making room for that.📩 Join the mailing list: https://vanessamaria.os.fan/mailing-list 📲 Follow Vanessa Maria: https://www.instagram.com/nessamariaw/