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On this weeks bonus episode, Bryony sits down with writer, creator and “sober mum” Cat Sims for a brilliantly honest conversation about the three things that help her live her best life. From daily AA meetings and the reality of long-term sobriety, to why she unapologetically takes solo trips away from her family for four nights at a time, Cat opens up about the routines and boundaries that keep her sane. The pair also get into the double standards around motherhood, the joy of being alone, and why making a cup of tea for one can feel oddly euphoric. Cat also reveals the surprisingly therapeutic habit that might just change your life, having full-blown conversations with yourself while walking around the park in AirPods. Funny, raw and wildly relatable, this is a conversation about recovery, motherhood, freedom, and finding small ways to hold onto yourself in the chaos of everyday life. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Matt Haig Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig  Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I’m joined by writer, creator and fellow sober woman Cat Sims for a conversation that is raw, funny, uncomfortable in places, and deeply hopeful. We talk about what “functioning alcoholism” really looks like when you’re a mother, why so many women struggle in silence, and the strange loneliness of feeling completely out of control while still appearing to hold everything together. Cat opens up about blackout drinking, cocaine, shame, motherhood, marriage, and the terrifying moments that finally forced her to confront her addiction. We also talk about recovery, AA, emotional sobriety, social media, parenting teenage daughters, and why learning to apologise might be one of the bravest things a person can do. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered if their drinking has become a problem, and for anyone who needs reminding that change is possible, even when it feels impossible. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Cat Sims  Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig  Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Haig is back for this bonus episode! After our main conversation about The Midnight Train and his mental health journey, I wanted to dig into the three things he actually leans on when his brain wants to sprint off in twelve different directions at once. Matt talks honestly about addiction, breakdown and why undiagnosed ADHD made his life feel like constant self-sabotage. He shares how the “boring” stuff – sleep, routine and structure – became his first line of defence, why sobriety turned out to be the most exhilarating decision of his life, and how love, friendship and family stopped him disappearing into the darkness. If your mind feels messy, addictive or out of control, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need perfect habits – just a few non-negotiables that help you keep going. BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Matt’s new book, The Midnight Train, is available to buy from 21st May. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Matt Haig Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I’m joined by Matt Haig – bestselling author, mental health advocate, and the man whose books have quietly sat on so many of our bedside tables, getting us through the dark nights. Matt’s new novel, The Midnight Train, returns to the universe of The Midnight Library and asks what happens when we stop chasing “what if” and start making peace with the life we’ve actually lived. We talk about depression, suicide, and what it really feels like to be trapped in your own mind – and why survival, not tragedy, is now the story we should tell about mental illness. Matt opens up about late-diagnosed autism and ADHD, agoraphobia, shame, and shoplifting, and how all of it somehow turned him into a writer. We also explore why books are still the bravest kind of media, how travel helped his recovery, and why he now dreams of opening a bookshop. If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out, like you’re “too much” or “not enough”, this conversation will make you feel a little more seen – and a little less alone. BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Matt’s new book, The Midnight Train, is available to buy from 21st May. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Matt Haig Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig  Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our first conversation, Paris Paloma talked about patriarchy, protest songs and mental illness; now I’m asking her a different question: what are the three things she absolutely cannot live without when the world feels too loud? From the chaos of the music industry to the emotional toll of being permanently online, Paris shares the small, grounding essentials that keep her tethered to herself and her joy. We talk about what really sustains her offstage, how she carves out space to be a human being as well as an artist, and why learning to ask for what you need is not “being a diva” – it is survival. ALBUM DETAILS: Paris’ new album, Fatal Flaw is released on 4th September 2026. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Paris Paloma Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is my new musical obsession, Paris Paloma – an artist whose songs about diet culture, ageism, mental illness and toxic beauty standards have racked up hundreds of millions of streams around the world. Paris writes blisteringly honest music about what it means to live as a woman under patriarchy, and why so many of us are taught to shrink ourselves just to survive. We talk about the viral success of “Labour” and the messages she gets from listeners who say her work has transformed the way they see themselves and their place in the world. We dig into what it means to be labelled a “political” artist, why nothing is truly apolitical, and how patriarchy harms men as well as women. Paris also opens up about depression, therapy and the “warring parts” of herself that inspired her song “Hunter”, and why turning pain into art can be a lifeline. ALBUM DETAILS: Paris’ new album, Fatal Flaw is releasing on the 4th September 2026. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Paris Paloma Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig  Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ruby Wax is back and, instead of talking about fame and despots, she’s letting us into the three things she genuinely can’t live without. These are the anchors she leans on when life feels a bit wobbly and she needs something to bring her back to herself – from the pills that keep her stable, to the “mind gym” practices that help her stay present, to the furry companions who somehow make everything softer and funnier. We talk about what actually supports her day-to-day, how she keeps herself on a more even keel, and why looking after your mind is mostly about small, consistent acts of care. If you’ve ever wondered what really keeps Ruby steady(-ish), this episode is for you USEFUL LINKS: Tickets to Ruby’s tour, Absolutely Famous, can be bought here. And you can join Frazzled Café online 7 days a week here: https://www.frazzledcafe.org/  WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Ruby Wax Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I’m joined by Ruby Wax – comedy hurricane, TV icon and the woman who gave many of us permission to talk honestly about our own “mad” minds. Ruby looks back on the glory days of nineties telly, when she was let loose on the world’s biggest names and told to make mischief – all while quietly battling depression behind the scenes. We talk about fame as an addiction, why being liked felt like her life support, and how she ended up in clinic even when everything looked perfect on paper. There are unforgettable stories of chaotic interviews with Madonna and Trump, surreal dinners with Fergie and Andrew, and despots who thought she was their new best friend – plus what all of that taught her about ego, fear and survival. If you’ve ever wondered how someone can be the funniest person in the room and still be struggling inside, this episode will stay with you long after you’ve listened. USEFUL LINKS: Tickets to Ruby’s tour, Absolutely Famous, can be bought here. And you can join Frazzled Café online 7 days a week here: https://www.frazzledcafe.org/  WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Ruby Wax Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig  Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sian Williams is back! In our main episode we talked about anxiety, overwhelm and why so many of us feel like we’re just white-knuckling our way through the week; now Sian is sharing the three things she personally leans on to keep herself grounded. We talk about the movement that gets her out of her head and back into her body, how her five kids quietly (and not so quietly) keep her ego in check, and why music – from upbeat playlists, to first gigs to an unexpectedly brilliant Barry Manilow study – has shaped the way she thinks about confidence, nostalgia and not caring what other people think. If you’re juggling a busy brain, big feelings and a lot of responsibilities, this one’s for you BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Sian’s new book, The Power of Anxiety, is available to buy now. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Sian Williams Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m joined by Dr Sian Williams – former BBC news anchor turned NHS counselling psychologist – who has swapped the newsroom for the therapy room to sit with people living through complex trauma, anxiety and stress. She talks about what she’s learned from reporting on some of the world’s worst days and now helping people survive their own, and why so many of us feel we don’t “deserve” our feelings. We get into anxiety as a full-body, thinking-feeling-doing experience, why trying to out-think it only makes it louder, and how to stop self-silencing and people-pleasing at the expense of yourself. Sian shares her “orchids and dandelions” way of understanding highly sensitive people, and why changing your environment – not who you are – is the key to finally feeling like you’re enough. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive” or wished you could grow a thicker skin, this episode is your reminder that you have always mattered, and your feelings really do count. BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Sian’s new book, The Power of Anxiety, is available to buy now. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Sian Williams Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig  Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard  Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Jamie East  A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People‑pleasing psychotherapist extraordinaire Emma Reed Turrell is back! In our main episode we talked about why so many of us are terrified of letting people down; now Emma is sharing the three things she personally leans on to keep her own people pleaser in check. We talk about the tiny nudges that help her move from “whatever you like” to “this is what I want”, how she spots the early warning signs in her body, and why the right friendships and family dynamics make all the difference. It’s gentle, honest and weirdly reassuring – like eavesdropping on your therapist’s real life. If you struggle to say no, or slow down, this one’s for you. BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE My new book, People Pleaser, and Emma’s book, Please Yourself, are both available to buy now. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Emma Reed Turrell Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East    A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m joined by psychotherapist and author Emma Reed Turrell, the woman I basically tried to blag a free therapy session from. With my new novel, People Pleaser, out this week, I’ve asked Emma to help me – and you – untangle our chronic urge to keep everyone else happy. Emma specialises in people pleasing: that paralysing fear that someone’s cross with you and that you’ve let the whole world down. Together we dig into why people pleasing is actually a survival response, why it’s not as kind as it looks, and why it might even be selfish not to put yourself first. Emma shares why it’s essential that some people are annoyed with us, how to let others be “wrong” about you, and why co‑regulation (not bubble baths) is what our nervous systems really crave. If you’ve ever lost sleep over a throwaway text, casual email or simple work critique, this episode is for you. BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE My new book, People Pleaser, is available to pre-order and is out on 23rd April. And Emma’s book, Please Yourself is available to buy now. LINK FOR SPA VOUCHER To be in with a chance to win a £200 spa voucher to celebrate the release of People Pleaser, enter the competition here. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Emma Reed Turrell Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Editor: Rowan Jacobs Exec Producer: Jamie East    A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, makeup artist and internet star Genevieve Turley is back, and this time we’re tipping out her handbag to find the three beauty essentials she cannot live without. From quick hair fixes to glow-giving skincare and a clever multitasking makeup staple, Genevieve proves you don’t need a 27-step routine to feel like your best self. We talk about real-life beauty for women our age, how to feel good in the skin you’re in, and why simple products can be genuinely transformative on busy days, school runs and nights out. If you’ve ever stood in front of the mirror feeling overwhelmed by products and expectations, this one’s for you. LINK TO TICKETS Genevieve’s debut show, Laughter Lines, is at the Leicester Square Theatre on 10th May 2026. Grab your tickets here. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Genevieve Turley Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Jamie East    A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I’m joined by the utterly brilliant Genevieve Turley – former military burns nurse turned bridal makeup artist and accidental Instagram sensation. Genevieve talks about swapping the Air Force and life‑changing injuries for a career helping women feel genuinely comfortable in their own skin, and why seeing real trauma means she no longer sweats the small stuff about ageing. We get into toxic beauty culture, Botox pressure, and why she’d rather invest in SPF than fillers. She shares properly useful, affordable skincare basics: how to work out your skin type with a post‑shower test, why double cleansing matters, and the simple routines that actually fit around kids, chaos and real life. If you’ve ever felt invisible at a makeup counter or confused by beauty trends, this one will make you feel seen, represented and a bit less alone.   LINK TO TICKETS Genevieve’s debut show, Laughter Lines, is at the Leicester Square Theatre on 10th May 2026. Grab your tickets here. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Genevieve Turley Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Jamie East    A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our main conversation, Josie helped us navigate the wild west of supplements and wellness marketing; today, we’re zooming in on the everyday habits she genuinely relies on, none of which involve complicated regimes or expensive powders.​ I ask Josie to share the three things she simply can’t live without when it comes to feeling grounded, energised and sane in modern life. We talk about food rhythms, why your body hates surprises, and how simple movement and ultra‑practical tweaks can change your mood, hormones and sleep far more than a new pill ever could.​If you’ve ever wished someone would just tell you what actually helps in real life, this episode is for you. BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Josie’s book, How Not to Take Supplements, is available to pre-order now and will be released on 4th June 2026. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram. 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: Josie Porter Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias Editor: Luke Shelley Exec Producer: Jamie East    A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.