Sisters of Defiance

Maxine Peake has never been particularly interested in fitting in, or taking no for an answer.From refusing to leave drama school when she was told she wasn’t cut out to be an actor, to securing her RADA scholarship with a bold promise to “rob a bank” if she couldn’t afford it, Maxine has always followed her own path. In this episode, she joins Anita to talk about growing up working class in the North, finding her place in an industry that didn’t always make space for women like her, and learning to trust her own voice.Maxine opens up about the classism and typecasting she experienced early in her career, specifically around being northern and overweight, and the pressure to conform to other people’s expectations of what an actress should be. She also speaks candidly about the personal and professional consequences of speaking out on political issues - including public backlash and losing work - as well as the pressures of social media and comparing yourself to others online.Now in her 50s, Maxine is busier than she’s ever been, with her career continuing to accelerate and no signs of slowing down. She reflects on finding creative freedom later in life, trusting her instincts, and why refusing to accept no for an answer is one of the most powerful things you can do.You can watch Maxine’s new show Last Seen on Apple TV nowIf you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Instagram - @sistersofdefianceAnita - @itsanitaraniMaxine - @betteblavatskySubscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitaraniAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com00:00:00 Coming up00:00:49 Introduction00:02:48 Maxine’s current career 00:04:38 Navigating politics and getting acting roles00:06:28 Working with Michaela Coel and Kate Winslet00:11:58 Childhood & being defiant00:15:02 Starting acting and dealing with rejection00:17:18 Family dynamics00:22:47 Joining the Communist Party and political roots00:25:14 Class stereotypes, accents, and privilege in Acting00:31:16 Persisting with acting00:35:22 Getting in to RADA 00:36:51 Clubbing with Sara Cox00:39:30 Ancient & Brave ad00:41:47 Ancient & Brave Weekly Ritual00:46:18 Securing the RADA scholarship and auditioning for Richard Eyre00:51:33 Working with Victoria Wood on Dinner Ladies00:53:45 Backlash over Political Statements 01:00:15 What’s next for Maxine01:05:00 Library of Wisdom01:06:42 Playing Myra Hindley01:09:06 Dance playlist01:10:56 Anxiety and hormonal changes01:12:47 Through the portal01:15:37 Quickfire questions01:22:35 Outro

Sindhu Vee has one of the most impressive but unexpected CVs in British comedy - she’s been an academic at Oxford University, an investment banker at a global company, became an award-winning standup after having 3 children and has even pivoted into acting. One thing is true; she has never wanted to fit into a box.In this episode, Sindhu joins Anita to talk about the importance of culture, growing up with a stammer, refusing an arranged marriage and learning from an early age how to see men as her equals. She shares what it was like taking on men in the boardrooms and on the trading floor, leaving everything to become a mother and making the unlikely leap from finance into comedy.Through it all, she reflects on the rebellious streak that has always been part of who she is - and why following your own intuition is so important.You can see Sindhu live on her UK tour Swanky hereIf you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Instagram - @sistersofdefianceAnita - @itsanitaraniSindhu - @sindhuveeSubscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitaraniAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com00:00 Coming up00:59 Introduction02:51 Sindhu questions her defiance 06:11 Growing up in India and breaking the rules 11:03 The scholarship interview 18:28 Sindu's upbringing and family expectations 29:05 Refusing an arranged marriage38:33 Ancient & Brave ad40:49 Ancient & Brave Weekly Ritual44:46 Leaving academia for investment banking49:23 Navigating a male-dominated workplace54:19 Overcoming a childhood stammer 59:01 The cost of motherhood01:06:48 Sindhu’s Swanky tour01:07:34 What’s next for Sindhu01:11:53 Library of Wisdom01:13:55 Dance playlist01:14:34 Through the portal01:16:18 Quickfire questions01:18:48 Outro

Sisters, we are so back! Sisters of Defiance, nourished by Ancient + Brave, returns for Series 2, with 10 more extraordinary women joining Anita in her home for honest, funny and emotional conversations about the moments of defiance that have shaped their lives.There are some very special Sisters lined up for this series, with plenty of stories of courage, rejection, reinvention, resilience and finding the confidence to do things your own way.Series 2 returns Tuesday 20th October, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday.In the meantime make sure you:Follow us on Instagram - @sistersofdefianceSubscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani

Dame Zandra Rhodes is one of Britain’s most iconic designers, who has shaped the worlds of fashion, art and culture for more than six decades.In this week's episode, Anita sits down with the woman who's dressed everyone from Freddie Mercury, Diana Ross and Lauren Bacall to British royalty. Zandra reflects on risking everything to chase her dream in America when nobody believed in her, opening her own museum, being a proud workaholic, finding the love of her life in her fifties, and why, even at 85, she still won't leave the house without her makeup.This is a joyful conversation about living life with creativity, choosing colour over conformity, and having the courage to follow your dreams.If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Instagram - @sistersofdefiance Anita - @itsanitarani Zandra - @zandra_rhodes_ Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com

Davina McCall has spent decades in the nation's living rooms. From Big Brother to becoming one of Britain's most trusted voices on menopause and women's health, she's built a career on warmth, honesty, and an extraordinary ability to share and make people feel less alone.Recorded live at Love Supreme Festival, Davina joins Anita for a deeply personal conversation about what happens when life forces you to stop and take stock. From undergoing brain surgery and breast cancer, to facing her own mortality, finding love again, and embracing the possibility of marriage for a second time, she reflects on the moments that have changed her perspective forever.Together, they discuss the profound impact of losing her sister, why Big Brother will always hold a special place in her heart, and how speaking openly about menopause helped dismantle shame for millions of women. Above all, Davina shares why she's never been afraid to talk about the things so many of us keep hidden - and why finding joy in the everyday has become her greatest act of resilience.This is a conversation about vulnerability, choosing honesty, and living life to the fullest even in life’s hardest moments.Content warning: This episode contains discussions about cancer and addiction. We know these experiences can be difficult to hear about, so please listen in the way that feels right for you. If you need support, or if this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, you'll find details of organisations that can help below.Macmillan Cancer Support - 0808 808 0000 - macmillan.org.uk Samaritans - 116 123 - samaritans.org NHS Alcohol support - NHS Alcohol support NHS Drug support - NHS Drug supportIf you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Instagram - @sistersofdefiance Anita - @itsanitarani Davina - @davinamccallSubscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com

Rose Ayling-Ellis has become one of the most influential voices for disability and inclusion in Britain. After rising to fame playing Frankie Lewis in EastEnders–the soap's first deaf character to use British Sign Language–she became a household name after winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, where her silent dance with Giovanni Pernice became a huge cultural moment. Since then she's taken on her first lead TV role in ITV's Code of Silence, won a BAFTA, and received an MBE for services to the deaf community.But none of it came easily.In this episode, Rose joins Anita to talk about a lifetime of fighting to be heard. From advocating for herself in the classroom as a child to challenging discrimination in the TV and film industry today, she reflects on the barriers she's faced, the assumptions people still make, and why she's refused to let other people's limitations define her.Together, they explore the loneliness of feeling caught between worlds - not "deaf enough" for some, yet constantly navigating a world that isn't built with disability in mind. Rose opens up about imposter syndrome, feeling unworthy of milestones like her BAFTA and MBE, why she's so often underestimated, and her determination to live life on her own terms. They also discuss why the fight for true representation is far from over, and why diversity must be intersectional. This is a conversation about resilience, breaking systems and refusing to let anyone else decide what you're capable of.If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Instagram - @sistersofdefiance Anita - @itsanitarani Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com Rose - @rose.a.e

Paris Paloma has cemented herself as one of the most exciting new voices in music. Her breakout hit Labour became a global feminist anthem, giving millions of women a language for experiences they'd struggled to put into words. Now, after touring with Florence + The Machine and building a devoted worldwide fanbase, she's showing that the most powerful protest songs don't always have to shout.In this episode, Paris joins Anita to talk about growing up rejecting traditional ideas of femininity and why she no longer identifies with the label of 'tomboy'. She opens up about living with OCD and her mental health, rejecting diet culture, and what it means to create art in a world that still judges women through the male gaze.Together, Anita and Paris explore feminism, the rise of the manosphere and red-pill culture, the misogynistic backlash she's faced online, and why, despite writing songs fuelled by righteous anger, Paris believes softness can be one of the most radical forms of resistance.This is a conversation about reclaiming womanhood, rejecting societal expectations, and finding strength without sacrificing tenderness.Content warning: This episode contains discussions about rape, sexual assault and sexual violence. We know these experiences can be difficult to hear about, so please listen in the way that feels right for you. If you need support, or if this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, you'll find details of organisations that can help below.Rape Crisis England & Wales - 0808 500 2222 - rapecrisis.org.uk The Survivors Trust - 0808 801 0818 - thesurvivorstrust.org Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Anita - @itsanitarani Paris - @parispaloma

Anoushka Shankar is one of the most celebrated musicians of her generation. Born into musical royalty as the daughter of legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar, she has spent more than three decades carving out her artistic identity; pushing the boundaries of Indian classical music, being nominated for 13 Grammy awards, collaborating with artists including Sting, Gorillaz and Lenny Kravitz, and performing on some of the world's biggest stages. But it’s not always been an easy journey.In this episode, Anoushka joins Anita to talk about identity, legacy, and what it means to choose your own path, even when it's uncomfortable. From growing up under intense public scrutiny to being branded a traitor by some within her own community, surviving childhood sexual abuse, and making the deeply personal decision to have a hysterectomy, she reflects on the moments that forced her to stop living for other people's expectations and start telling her own story.This is a conversation about pushing boundaries, finding freedom in honesty, and letting go of shame.Content warning: This episode contains discussions about rape, sexual assault and sexual violence. We know these experiences can be difficult to hear about, so please listen in the way that feels right for you. If you need support, or if this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, you'll find details of organisations that can help below.Rape Crisis England & Wales - 0808 500 2222 - rapecrisis.org.uk The Survivors Trust - 0808 801 0818 - thesurvivorstrust.org If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Instagram - @sistersofdefiance Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com Anita - @itsanitarani Anoushka - @anoushkashankarofficial

Clare Waight Keller has spent her career at the very top of fashion. From starting out at Calvin Klein in the 90s and working alongside Tom Ford at Gucci, to leading Chloé and Givenchy, designing Meghan Markle's wedding dress, and now serving as Global Creative Director at Uniqlo, Clare has helped shape the way generations of women dress.So how does a girl from Birmingham end up becoming one of the most influential designers in the world?In this episode, Clare joins Anita to talk about ambition, reinvention, and the difficult choices that come with building a life on your own terms. From leaving home at 17 to navigating motherhood alongside a global career, and leaving companies at the height of her success, she reflects on the moments that defined her, the risks that paid off, and the lessons she's learned from starting over.This is a conversation about trusting your instincts, embracing change, and having the confidence to choose growth over comfort.If you enjoyed the show, follow us at…Instagram - @sistersofdefiance Anita - @itsanitarani Clare - @clarewaightkellerSubscribe to us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@itsanitarani And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: hello@sistersofdefiance.com