Show Us Your Bits

International best-selling author Lulu Taylor joins us to talk about her latest novel, The Legacy of Secrets. With her trademark elements of a winter setting, a spectacular country house and a family riddled with secrets and complexities, this must-read page-turner has us gripped. Lulu shares stories from her writing life and shares the mystery behind her grandmother’s diamonds, as well as the spectacular tale of getting Nancy Mitford’s pearls. Utterly riveting! Find out more @misslulutaylor

Resourceful Michelle Ford is a ray of sunshine on the podcast this week. Having lived all over the world, it was whilst in America that she cashed in on the novelty of her English accent and became a voice-over artist. After a successful career, she pivoted in midlife after her Covid lockdown chats with her neighbour inspired them to start a podcast. Two Women Chatting is full of midlife wisdom with guests ranging from Anthea Turner to Dame Judi Dench, but today Michelle gives us her personal tips on filling in the gaps behind your kids, keeping a long-term relationship alive and how humour is essential. Michelle shows us her mother’s ring, her granny’s cup and saucer, which reminds us all of the importance of connection over a cup of tea, as well as a favour from her wedding in 1992.  Michelle has recently re-discovered her love of music and has her own radio show on Brooklands Radio available DAB and online and on smart speaker. She says her life hack is learning to be brave. Check out her podcast Two Women Chatting wherever you get your podcast, or go to the website  www.twowomenchatting.com Follow her on instagram @michelleford_twc #poshtottydesigns

This week we’re discussing essential fashion tips for transforming your wardrobe with down to earth influencer, Michelle Barret. She tells us about her extraordinary career, talking her way into working in costumes on big movies to being a stylist for celebrities like Katy Perry. As a single mum, juggling it all hasn’t been easy, but after the pandemic, Michelle’s career pivoted when she did a wardrobe challenge on Facebook Live, and her business, The Capsule Closet Stylist took off. Her no-nonsense practical advice has blown up online and her packages offering style advice and wardrobe edits are all the rage. She shows us her treasured keepsake, including a Posh Totty Designs  ‘Brave’ necklace gifted to her by a friend, her daughter’s special Bee toy, a homemade teddy bear made out of her granny’s wool coat and her grandfather’s military silk medals.A self-proclaimed ‘blagger’ Michelle says she’s been successful  just ask and see what happens. Check out capsuleclosetstylist.com  at and see her videos on Youtube @capsuleclosetstylist and on Insta.

 Never Give Up – with Jo Godden from Ruby Moon  It’s publication day for Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency  – Josie’s cosy crime is out in the world! We’re chatting about new projects, including Alice’s gorgeous NEW dinky charm bracelet collection  This week’s guest, Jo Godden from @rubymoon.uk, is pure inspiration  She’s the founder of an ethical, sustainable swimwear brand — and now she’s launching the world’s first fully recyclable swimsuit  After seeing the harsh realities of factory work during her fashion career, Jo created Ruby Moon to make a difference. During lockdown, she went even further — teaming up with scientists to invent a process to recycle lycra!  Total game-changer for the fashion industry. Jo isn’t a “things” person, but she brought along a beautiful beaded evening purse from her stylish grandmother Ruby (who taught her to sew) and a stunning silver clip purse from 1817 from her other grandmother Nancy  Plus, some amazing memorabilia from their trip on the Cunard Line to New York   Support Jo’s incredible journey and grab your own sustainable swimsuit here  "https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/circ-suit-the-worlds-first-recyclable-swimsuit-1" (https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/circ-suit-the-worlds-first-recyclable-swimsuit-1)  Tune in to Show Us Your Bits – stories behind the special things we hold dear  #ShowUsYourBits #RubyMoon #SustainableFashion #EthicalBusiness #NeverGiveUp #FemaleFounders #RecyclableSwimsuit #PodcastLove #EcoFashion #WomenInBusinessAlice Rivers-Cripps

In this Halloween Special, Alice and Josie join forces to share some of their own special ‘bits’ that mean the most to them. Full of anecdotes and laughter, their chat includes the story behind Alice’s sky-scraping unwearable Manolo Blahnik black stilettos on display in a glass case, as well as the story behind Josie’s tube poster of her first novel, It Could Be You. Alice, who says she’s a keeper rather than a hoarder describes all the fun she’s had with her large hat collection and Josie shares her love of music, and how it led to her buying her husband a juke box. Alice reveals the story behind the ‘Pickle’ orange lifebuoy and how much the word means to her and James, as well as Josie’s Mamma Bear bangle from her girls, and her Morano glass bead necklace. As they’re both obsessed with the Celebrity Traitors, Alice shows a fabulous signed menu from the legend, Alan Carr. All this as well as a discussion about Halloweens past and present. If you're inspired to share some of your own keepsakes, then please do get in touch with the show @showusyourbitspodcast on Instagram and Facebook,

Alice tells the emotional story behind her favourite ‘Share A hug necklace’ which created when she went to Kosovo with the charity Women For Women International nine years ago. Iliriana Gashi, the Director of the charity in Kosova, joins us to tell us about the  extraordinary work she does to make sure that womens stories are heard, especially those who have been sexually violated.  A medical doctor by training, Iliriana has found her calling working with women in need, by teaching them about income generation, their health and how to network and build their community. She’s helped over 35,000 women since 1999 to rebuild their lives after war. In this emotional chat, Ilirana shares her own experience of being a refugee and how it feels to lose your identity and how we all need more empathy for people who are displaced. Having seen so much hardship and the horrors of war, she truly shines a light of hope. She shares the special pieces that mean the most to her, including the ring her parents gave her when she qualified as a doctor, a card her son made her for mother’s day when her family had found safety in Switzerland, a dried rose and a necklace, both presents from inspirational women. She says that living with love is the thing that has seen her through. If you’re inspired by this chat, (as we certainly were) head to @womenforwomen

Style icon Paula Sutton from Hill House Vintage joins us from her incredible house in Norfolk. An author, podcaster, TV presenter and lifestyle influencer, Paula had a big London career in the fashion industry, but with three children under three, something had to give. She sold up in London and moved her family to Hill House where set about furnishing the house with vintage pieces. She started selling the curiosities she loved on Ebay, which then became a blog, a big instagram following, then YouTube, and now a podcast all about the joy of home with Susannah Hawkins. She works with brands and sees her instagram content as like being in charge of her own magazine where she gets to be the photographer, model, stylist and art director. She says the trick is to be authentic and don’t overthink it and to talk about what you want to hear and see. She gives us her top tips for getting a bargain at a car boot sale, how to revamp old furniture by using paint and simple reupholstering and inspires us to be as bold and flamboyant in our clothing choices in midlife.She loves her quiet Norfolk country life with dog walks and home baking, gardening, writing her cozy crime novels in her writing hut. She shows us a precious brooch from her late mother bearing her name, Lydia which she keeps on her desk as a talisman, a brass pocket watch that she wears with her tweed waistcoats and some silver paste glamorous 1930’s earrings.  She says it’s important to remember that you will get through dark times and says her life hack is that ‘this too shall pass’. Follow Paula @hillhousevintage and find her unputdownable cosy murder mysteries ‘The Potting Shed Murder’ and ‘The Body In the Kitchen Garden.’ Her podcast Joy of Home.

Today we're joined by inspirational entrepreneur, author and campaigner Sahar Hashemi OBE. Full of wit and wisdom, Sahar says the key to success in business is to dream big, but start small. She describes her own journey from a discontented solicitor to setting up Coffee Republic, the hugely successful coffee chain.Having written a book called Anyone Can Do It, it was during the Covid lockdown that a simple tweet provided the catalyst for her to champion female entrepreneurship and find a way to educate people about brands built by women. Buy Women Built is now a thriving network for female founders, with 160 Buy Women Built brands on Ocado, 100 in Wholefoods, and growing every day. Alice is proud to be a member of this incredible movement, which includes some of the best and most recognised brands in the UK today.Disciplined and organised, Sahar is a fan of decluttering in the summer and winter, but has some special sentimental pieces she holds close, including her father’s reading glasses, a chunky gold Celine bracelet she bought in Paris, and a miniature angel gifted by her mother. The angel sits by her bed as a daily reminder that her mother is watching over her.She says that if anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly — just give it a go. After all, we’re here for such a short time, we might as well go at a hundred miles an hour with our hair on fire.For more of Sahar’s wise words and business tips follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn @saharhashemiOBE.

Brighton buddies Alice and Josie are back for another season of the podcast and are embracing the Autumn. Yes, they're chucking out the flipflops and discovering the joy of digging out the winter jackets - especially when that involves finding a lost lippy, or money in the pocket. Hey! It's all about the little things. With a debrief about their summer travels, they're both feeling that life human connection is more important than ever. If you're also reeling from how fast the world is changing, then join them as they share the wisdom of their guests, their stories about their keepsakes and jewellery and the often surprisingly simple life hacks that have seen them through. Funny, lighthearted, full of anecdotes and home truths, the podcast that has been described by a listener as "The Antiques Roadshow crossed with Desert Island Discs". Join Alice and Josie every Friday wherever you get your podcasts.