Share

cover art for 11. Annie Clarke on caregiving, grieving, and the art of holding space

The Lemonade Podcast

11. Annie Clarke on caregiving, grieving, and the art of holding space

Season 2, Ep. 11

Joining me for episode 11 of Lemonade is one of my best friends, Annie Clarke. Annie is many things - a yoga teacher, author, wellness expert, and mama to name a few - as well as someone who has truly mastered the art of holding space for others in their times of need.


In this special episode, Annie and I reflect on the integral role she played during one of the hardest periods of my life – supporting both myself and Ben, my late fiancé and her dear friend, as we navigated his illness. Acting as primary and secondary caregivers, we talk about the respective challenges we faced while navigating Ben's terminal diagnosis during lockdown. Annie also offers her invaluable insight on the concept of "holding space", and how we can show up better for our loved ones. Whether you're currently supporting someone in need, or trying to process your own grief, I've no doubt you'll take something important away from this conversation.


Connect with Annie below -


Instagram

Website



To be the first to know about every new episode of The Lemonade Podcast, please click 'subscribe' and connect with me on Instagram.


We are proudly sponsored by Nurecover. Head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.



More episodes

View all episodes

  • 10. 10. Gulwali Passarlay on leaving Afghanistan as a 12-year old child refugee

    46:28||Season 2, Ep. 10
    Joining me for episode 10 of Lemonade is the wonderful Gulwali Passarlay, refugee rights advocate, campaigner, and author of the acclaimed memoir, The Lightless Sky. When he was just eleven years old, his mother made the heartbreaking decision to send him away from Afghanistan after his father was killed.In this insightful conversation, Gulwali tells me about his childhood growing up in rural Afghanistan. He sheds light on the challenges faced by the country, and the impact of conflict and war on its people. He also speaks openly about his own journey from Afghanistan to Europe as a child, highlighting the dangers faced by countless refugees who are forced to make similar journeys. We discuss the challenges refugees encounter upon arrival in the UK, and the rise of right-wing ideologies. I learned so much from this episode - about the resilience of the human spirit, the complexities of seeking asylum, and the importance of staying compassionate and informed. Gulwali's insights on how we can all play a role in supporting refugees and advocating for a more just world were both eye-opening and inspiring.If you'd like to stay in touch with Gulwali, you can follow his work on Instagram. You can buy his memoir, The Lightless Sky, here.To be the first to know about every new episode of The Lemonade Podcast, please click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.We are proudly sponsored by Nurecover. Head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.
  • 9. 09. Amber Jeffrey on the loss of her mum, mental health, community and hope

    01:04:42||Season 2, Ep. 9
    I'm thrilled to kick off season two of The Lemonade Podcast with the incredible Amber Jeffrey—a powerhouse speaker, mentor, and the voice behind The Grief Gang podcast. Amber’s story is nothing short of inspiring. At just 19, she lost her beloved mum, Susan, to a sudden heart attack. Struggling with isolation, suicidal ideation and the lack of relatable support, Amber channeled her pain into action, launching the Grief Gang podcast to break the silence around loss and to build a community for those who feel unseen.In this episode, Amber opens up about her journey through grief and the birth of The Grief Gang movement. She dives into the power of connecting with others who’ve walked the same path, and challenges the notion that only professionals hold the key to healing. We talk about the threads of hope that bind those of us navigating loss and how grief isn’t something to "get over", but something to live alongside. Amber reflects on how her mum’s death has shaped her, driving her to take risks and build a life marked by resilience. Her insights are profound and I’m sure her wisdom will resonate with you as much as it does with me.If you'd like to stay in touch with Amber, follow her on Instagram and check out her podcast on Spotify.Support Resources:The Grief SchoolSamaritans UKThe Good Grief TrustThe New Normal CharityTo be the first to know about every new episode of The Lemonade Podcast, click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.We are proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.
  • 8. 08. Stacey Heale on the fallout of partner loss, the lessons in grief, and reclaiming our identity

    01:13:20||Ep. 8
    The incredible Stacey Heale is a true multi-hyphenate - a fashion academic, speaker, campaigner, and author of upcoming memoir, 'Now is not the Time for Flowers'. In November 2016, her husband Greg Gilbert, the lead singer of Delays, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. He died five years later in September 2021, leaving Stacey with two small children, Dali and Bay.In this refreshingly honest, no-holds-barred conversation, Stacey and I lift the lid on the reality of navigating cancer diagnoses, our roles as primary caregivers to our late partners, and dealing with regrets in the wake of their deaths. We discuss the unique fallout of partner loss, the misconceptions surrounding grief, and the lessons we've learned. Stacey also chats to me about her fabulous debut book, which examines the messy and unexpected realities of love, desire, motherhood, death, grief, identity, and personal growth. Stay connected with Stacey on Instagram, and pre-order 'Now is not the Time for Flowers' here.To be the first to know about every new Lemonade episode, click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.The Lemonade Podcast is proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.
  • 7. 07. Madeleine Black on shame, courage, and the power of forgiveness

    43:24||Ep. 7
    International speaker, storyteller for The Forgiveness Project, and best-selling author of the book 'Unbroken', Madeleine Black, joins me on the podcast to tell her story of experiencing sexual violence at the hands of two men when she was just thirteen. Years later, Madeleine made the courageous decision to forgive the men who hurt her. Forgiveness, she believes, was key to healing and leading a fulfilling and happy life, no longer governed by the past. Madeleine and I discuss the mental and physical impact of trauma, and how her experience of gang rape led to suicidal ideation, disordered eating, and destructive drug and alcohol use. We talk about the culture of victim blaming and the shame that often arises in those who experience sexual assault. She shares the tools that helped support her recovery, including finding her voice, therapy and plant medicine. If you'd like to connect with Madeleine, you can follow her on Instagram and check out her website here. If you're based in the UK and have experienced sexual violence, please consider seeking support from Rape Crisis England & Wales.To be the first to know about every new Lemonade episode, click 'subscribe' and follow me over on Instagram.The Lemonade Podcast is proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.
  • 6. 06. Bradley Dryburgh on the gifts in adversity and how to craft our purpose

    57:47||Ep. 6
    Bradley Dryburgh was born with a rare, genetic condition known as cystic fibrosis. When he was just three weeks old, his parents were told the condition would ruin his life, and that it was unlikely he'd survive his teenage years. Now, in his mid twenties, he considers his illness a blessing. Not only has he defied that prognosis, he has gone on to become a sought-after keynote speaker, podcaster and marathon runner, raising funds that have contributed to key innovations in cystic fibrosis treatment across Australia. In this episode, Brad tells me about his close encounters with mortality and the hard-earned lessons he learned that transformed his outlook on life and led him to pursue a different, more meaningful path. We discuss the gifts in adversity, the power of the words we tell ourselves, how to craft our purpose, and the medium of storytelling to uplift and inspire hope in others. He is living-proof that anything is possible. I'm sure you'll find this conversation as uplifting as I did! If you'd like to connect with Brad, you can follow him on Instagram and check out his popular podcast, 'A Lot To Talk About', here. To be the first to know about every new Lemonade episode, click 'subscribe' and follow me over on Instagram.The Lemonade Podcast is proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.
  • 5. 05. Liv Thorne on solo motherhood and the grief for what could have been

    46:10||Season 1, Ep. 5
    The lovely Liv Thorne, author of Liv’s Alone: Amateur Adventures in Solo Motherhood, joins me for episode 5 of Lemonade. In 2016, aged 37 and single, Liv made the empowering decision to have a baby on her own via IUI with donor sperm. Liv opens up about the devastating loss of her parents when she was just a teenager, resulting in a deep-seated fear of abandonment which led her to remain single throughout her twenties and thirties. We talk about grieving what 'could have been' and the power found in taking control of our circumstances. She explains the process of sourcing sperm and conceiving via intrauterine insemination, and the realities of solo parenting. You can keep in touch with Liv on Instagram, and buy her fabulous memoir here.To be the first to know about every new Lemonade episode, click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.The Lemonade Podcast is proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.
  • 4. 04. Imogen Carn & Sally Douglas on sudden loss, grief brain, and connecting to our loved ones on the other side

    01:07:21||Season 1, Ep. 4
    'Good Mourning' podcast hosts and authors Imogen Carn and Sally Douglas join me for episode 4 of Lemonade.Im and Sal speak openly about the sudden loss of their mums Vanessa and Rose at the start of the covid-19 pandemic. We discuss survivor’s guilt, the mental and physical symptoms of grief, and swap tips that can help us to cope with it, like kundalini breath-work, meditation and journalling. We set out to answer some of life's burning questions; is there life after death? Where do we go? Are our deceased loved ones still with us in some way? We share our experiences of signs and psychic mediumship, and how they've helped us to find comfort.You can follow Im and Sal on Instagram. If you're grieving and are in need of support, consider joining their Facebook community, and buying their wonderful grief guide 'Good Mourning: Honest conversations about grief and loss' here.To be the first to know about every new Lemonade episode, click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.The Lemonade Podcast is proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.
  • 3. 03. Georgie Crawford on five star moments, post traumatic growth, and re-writing our story

    51:10||Season 1, Ep. 3
    In episode 3 of Lemonade, I chat to the incredible coach, speaker, podcaster and bestselling author of ‘Glow’, Georgie Crawford. In 2017, Georgie was diagnosed with breast cancer, when her daughter Pia was just seven months old. Within just one month of being diagnosed, she underwent a full course of fertility treatment and two major surgeries.Georgie and I talk about a rock bottom moment in her life that acted as a catalyst for radical personal transformation. She speaks openly about the physical and mental impact of her cancer diagnosis, and shares the tools that were integral to her recovery. We swap tips on how to put our best foot forward each day, how to trust our process, and how to cultivate resilience and joy in the face of our adversity. Georgie is a true inspiration - I've no doubt this conversation will inspire you as much as it did me!You can buy Georgie's fabulous book, 'Glow', here, and follow her over on Instagram. The Good Glow podcast is available to stream on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.To be the first to know about every new Lemonade episode, click 'subscribe' and connect with me on Instagram.The Lemonade Podcast is proudly sponsored by Nurecover. Head to their website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.