Francesca Specter is a journalist and author of 'Alonement: How to be Alone and Absolutely Own it'. She came up with the concept of alonement, which essentially means spending time alone and actually enjoying it - which is a something a lot of us find difficult! In this episode, Francesca discusses how she deals with loneliness, how she's come to enjoy time alone, and whether the nerves of eating out alone ever *really* go away. Francesca Specter: chezspecter Alonement: How to be Alone and...

Eliza Butterworth has been playing Lady Aelswith in The Last Kingdom since she was 21-years-old. After eight years, the series is finally coming to an end and she's now leaving the character behind. In this episode, Eliza discusses what's next, how she deals with rejection in her career, and how she maintains her health and wellbeing while working internationally. Eliza Butterworth: elizabutterworth Podcast host: molly.raycraft See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Martins Imhangbe has been on the acting scene since he left school, but Bridgerton was his first TV experience. His role as bare-knuckle boxer, Will Mondrich, put him in the spotlight. In this episode, Martins explains how he's staying grounded, why he's taking on a plant-based diet, and whether he'd step into the boxing ring in real life. Martins Imhangbe: martins_imhangbe_ Podcast host: molly.raycraft See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special International Women's Day episode, we speak to Jess Joy, co-founder of I Am Paying Attention, Cherrelle Skeete, actress and co-founder of Blacktress, and Stephanie Daniels, a menopause coach. They share their insights on three overlooked areas of gender equality (ADHD/Autism diagnoses, being black and female/non-binary, and menopause in the workplace) and what more can be done to #BreakTheBias. I Am Paying...

It’s been eight years since Ella Henderson released her debut album ‘Chapter One’, after appearing on The X-Factor. Since then, she’s suffered from anxiety attacks, focused on her wellbeing, and found love. In this episode, Ella shares how she manages her anxiety, what life is like living in a church, and how she’s used her experiences of mental health to produce her new album: ‘Everything I Didn’t Say’. The book Ella recommends: 'Lost Connections' by Johann Hari See acast.com/privacy for...

In this episode we talk about the reality of being a rising star in the world of fitness influencing, and hear how Lily turned 30,000 followers to 3 million in lockdown. A woman driven by passion, Lily’s cookery books are inspired by the Mediterranean. Lily has kept a balanced life through practising what she preaches, hard work and a great relationship.Join 3.22 million other users and follow Lily on You tube and check out The Anti-Inflammatory & Immunity Boosting Cookbook. See...

Mark Livings is an award-winning serial entrepreneur and brains behind a wonderful new range of alcohol-free spirits. He talks candidly about burnout, business and of course healthier drinking choices. To find out more about Lyre's and their free mixology classes, visit lyres.co.uk and follow them on Facebook and Instagram See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, model, and body positive activist Hayley Hasselhoff is known for being one of the world’s leading Curve models. Hayley (who’s dad happens to be David Hasselhoff) is currently contributing fashion and wellbeing editor at Marie Claire UK. She’s also a fashion stylist who’s worked on This Morning and Good Morning America – and she’s had leading acting roles, including as Amber in ABC’s Huge, where she played a girl with body dysmorphia. Today we talk about her new podcast, about her...

Kat Pither is the 31-year-old founder of Yogi Bare, 500-hour certified yoga teacher and wellness journalist and writer.     Kat says with Yogi Bare she has created as a brand for rebels and misfits. It’s the physical manifestation of the concept of yoga being for everybody and everybody.   From humble beginnings, Kat envisioned a way of channelling her creativity to find her own way of managing acute anxiety and PTSD through yoga and wellbeing.   As we chat she explains that it wasn’t a...

Zoë Aston, is the author of Your Mental Health Workout: A 5-Week Programme to a Healthier, Happier Mind (https://yourmentalhealthworkout.com/).  She’s a London-based therapist, mental health consultant, speaker and author with over a decade's experience working with mental health. As well as her book, Zoë has created an online 5-week programme that will get your mental health in shape.  Like many who work in this space, Zoe has her own mental health back story. A sensitive child, she...

Peter Maciver, aka, PMAC, runs a successful fitness business coaching clients on and off line (https://www.pmacfitness.com/). His clients include celeb names and regular people – but whoever he's training his focus is on results. In lockdown he created a 12-week Transformation programme and continues to come up with innovative ways to reach – and challenge – anyone wanting to get fitter, and improve their life. He’s created a life he’s happy with – through as he says ‘hard graft’ – that means...

It's my final episode of the BALANCE podcast (this is James typing here) - but the podcast will continue! So there was no one better to welcome back than returning hero: the great Freddie Fox. Freddie can be seen stealing the show in The Pursuit Of Love (on iPlayer).   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What a man. What a life. What energy. We chat with the great Gennaro Contaldo about a remarkable life dominated by his great passion: food. The icon of Italian cuisine also shares tips for eternal youth. And we chat about another great love of his: Parigiano Reggiano.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We sit down with one of the truly great Britons: the iconic Barry Hearn. The self-made sports promoter talks about an extraordinary life packed with ups and downs - with the ups proving genre-defining. Barry is a hugely inspiring figure, having made his fortune from his proud working-class roots with hard work, passion, a lust for life and a never-say-die attitude putting him on top of the world.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We chat with one of the icons of the world of wellbeing: the great Fiona Arrigo. Fiona is founder of The Arrigo Programme, she is an internationally acclaimed and much-loved psychotherapist, intuitive healer, mentor and Life teacher. We talk about Fiona's remarkable journey into wellbeing, and what her thoughts are as we all come out of lockdown. To find out more about Fiona and to work with her, please visit her site to find out more.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

Talk about a timely episode: we chat with renowned breath guru to the stars: the remarkable Alan Dolan. To find out more about Alan - including a chance to book sessions with him - please visit his site.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Egads - what a pleasure it was for BALANCE to chat with the sort of chap you'd take home to meet your mum: the great Nikesh Patel. We chat Nikesh's life and career, diversity and much more - including Nikesh's insightful process for picking a project (something we can all be inspired by). Starstruck is out now on iPlayer   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Say hello to your new favourite person: the great Jessie Mei Li. Jessie makes for warm and wonderful company as we chat her life, how she is an inspiration to so many and how she will continue to inspire. This makes for an incredibly powerful and very special episode. Shadow & Bone is out now on Netflix. And you can follow Jessie on Instagram here.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Lloyd-Hughes has a career to die for - but you wouldn't know it to spend time in his company. Henry has shone in hit after hit: Killing Eve, Les Miserables, The Pale Horse and, now, global smash The Irregulars on Netflix. Yet he somehow undercuts everything with winning self-deprecation. It was a pleasure to chat with Henry, who truly lifts the lid on the world of acting. The Irregulars is available to watch now on Netflix.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

Madeleine Shaw is positive force of nature - listen for yourself. Talk about someone who has found their calling in life! Here, the wellbeing influencer, nutritional therapist and author talks about finding her calling, her work with BetterYou and much more. Feeling stressed or anxious? Madeleine's soothing tone will change all that. To find out more about Madeleine's work with BetterYou, please visit here.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Woooooo!" We chat with the greatest wrester of all time, an icon of the WWE and beyond, the Nature Boy: Ric Flair. At 72 years young, we meet a Ric who's - after years of very heavy living - putting on the brakes. We talk his remarkable life, the immense pride he has in his daughter Charlotte (who could well usurp his world record 16 world titles) and, of course, upcoming Wrestlemania! WrestleMania is a two-night event streaming live on Saturday 10th April and Sunday 11th April,...

Strap in for a strong contender for "loveliest person ever" - the incredibly talented Thaddea Graham. This rising star of the acting world is the lead in the new Netflix hit show The Irregulars. Set in Victorian England, this series follows a street gang who are enlisted by a certain Sherlock Holmes. But please be warned! This is a very different show to what you might expect - with plenty of thrills and chills along the way (BALANCE has just about returned from behind the sofa). Thaddea...

We chat with one of Britain's best comedians: the great Jen Brister. Jen - a star of Live At The Apollo - talks candidly about parenthood, as well as her brilliant book The Other Mother, out now in paperback and also strongly recommended as audiobook. We would also recommend you catch Jen live whenever is legally possible - she's one of the best in the biz. This episode was recorded live at Always Be Comedy.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

BALANCE and Fora - The Flexible workplace platform reimagining the working day - have partnered to bring you the 'Amazing Lives' podcast. This is a live-streamed recording hosted by BBC Radio London's Jumoké Fashola, with special guest Antoinette Tuff, created and produced by Tim Arthur. Antoinette became an accidental hostage negotiator when a gunman entered an elementary school in Georgia, USA. “The first words I heard were, ‘today everybody dies.’ That's when I looked up and saw him...