Show Us Your Bits

Our guest this week is legendary food writer, illustrator and broadcaster Elisabeth Luard. Joining us from London, Elisabeth candidly recalls adventures from her extraordinary life, describing how, after growing up in Uruguay and boarding school, she was a young journalist on Private Eye, when she met her husband, Nicholas Luard. Marrying at 21 and having four children in quick succession, Elisabeth decamped to rural Andalusia, finding a way into food writing and the traditional recipes via the locals at the school gates where her kids learnt to trap and skin rabbits. After a couple of shows in a top wildlife gallery exhibiting her natural history paintings, she started writing about food in 'The Field' magazine accompanied by her own illustrations, but her passion was to write a book about real peasant cookery and the importance of knowing the land, the limitations of fresh produce and only using what's seasonal and local. A concept that seemed transgressive at the time, but has, as she says, come full circle. Full of wisdom and wit, Elisabeth has travelled all over the world and enlightens us about some of the foods she's encountered along the way, such smoked reindeer tongue, as well as making a case for bringing back salep, a powdered dried orchid root. She doesn't 'do' jewellery as she's always cooking, but she shows us two of her treasured rings - a sapphire ring belonging to her late daughter, Francesca, as well her welsh gold wedding ring. Writing regularly on Substack (elisabethluard@substack.com)Elisabeth's fascination with the natural world as well as the world of food and its interconnectivity with culture continues. She says that like the wood-wide-web, we're all connected and that to forget that would be a terrible mistake. Wise words indeed.

Brighton maker, artist, business woman and entrepreneur Sophie Darling joins us for a fascinating chat about sustainability and slow fashion, describing her creative process and how she creates her signature hand-printed jackets, which are all art pieces in themselves. Sophie describes how a surprise trip to Mississippi nurtured her creativity when she was young, but that it wasn’t until she’d done a screen-printing course that she found her passion, leading to a  hugely successful label Kimchi with her friend Holly Atelier. Now running a creative hub in her Brighton studio, Sophie does workshops and feels passionately about nurturing younger creative talent. Unable to wear rings anymore, Sophie shows us her lovely necklaces. A (possibly Tiffany) silver locket bottle for perfume on a chain gifted by her father to her mother and now has been passed onto Sophie’s daughter. The funny story behind her wedding ring with braille on the outside because ‘Love is Blind’, as well as a beautiful ‘Darling’ necklace, which is a collaboration with a local tattoo artist and self-taught jeweller James Robinson. She says that it’s her resilience, determination and passion that has seen her through. Inspiring, funny, lively and yet very down to earth, Sophie continues to thrive creatively. Find out more on her website, sophiedarling.com, catch her on Insta @sophie_darling_. She runs an open studio once a month and will be part of the open studios in May for Brighton festival.  

We're thrilled to welcome top ten best-selling author, Elly Griffiths. Fresh from her UK tour promoting her latest book, The Frozen People, Elly gives us a fascinating insight into her writing life and her journey to becoming one of the UK's most cherished crime writers. She talks about the inspiration for her books, the amazing research she does and her writing process. She shows us the lucky crime-themed necklace gifted to her by a friend when she won the prestigious Crime Writer's Association dagger award, the highest accolade in crime writing, as well as her mother's ring which she wears to allow her to 'absorb some of her calm'. Elly talks about her love of Italy and her Italian heritage and says that not being a perfectionist is what's seen her through. Delightfully warm and down to earth, Elly is full of great advice and also shares her reading and writing tips. 

Brand expert Zoe de Pass says she was at the 'right time and in the right place' to become an influencer when she set up hugely successful 'Dress Like A Mum'. The name came after someone told her, whilst she was going to a meeting with her newborn baby, that she didn't look like a mum at all. Having been at the forefront of influencers online for the last decade, she talks about how she's seen influencing change over the years and the importance of setting boundaries. Her latest project, Zoe de Pass eyewear showcases Zoe's funky, colourful style. She says she's 'never worn beige' and her funky sunglasses are in hot demand, embraced by celebrities like Sophie Ellis Bextor. Zoe shows us her engagement ring, which she's redesigned herself twice, her tiffany ring from her cool Canadian Godparents, her heart shaped locket with pansies and pearls, as well as a family heirloom charm bracelet. Listen to Zoe's inspiring tips for business how to embrace your own style

Alice and Josie are back in the new podcasting studio introducing season six and love is in the air. They have a catch up and natter about all things to do with Valentine’s Day, from first crushes to fancy food. Alice tells the story of her very long first crush and how he unknowingly inspired her to make personalised jewellery. As well as talking about love tokens and Alice's soul mates collection of charm animals who mate for life, they embrace the love of friends in this jolly, uplifting chat.

It's Christmas approaching and Alice and Josie are in a festive mood as they discuss their family traditions, including the tat that goes into stockings for the kids, Christmas wreath making (Alice only does it for the free fizz) and come up with a podcast festive ditty. Josie talks about her appearance on Woman's Hour this week and the announcement of her new book deal and the buzz around You & Me & You & Me & You & Me, whilst Alice talks about the Posh Totty Designs pop-up in Westfield and the trends in personalised jewellery for Christmas. Along the way they give lots of recommendations and inspiration for presents from the guests on this series - including Freya North's Book Lovers Journal, the gorgeous La Pochette bags, Mama Shrooms, Gilly Smiths cookery book retreats and the fabulous spiced mead from local bee-inspired restaurant and bar, Apiary. Wishing all the listeners a very jolly festive season.