The Heart of It

Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper founded the company Amazing If, which focuses on making work better for everyone, and wrote the number 1 Sunday Times Best-Selling business book, The Squiggly Career: Ditch the Ladder, Discover Opportunity, Design Your Career. In this episode I talk with Sarah and Helen about their own squiggly careers, and what it’s like to work together and write together as a business duo who are also best friends. They also share with us how they both manage their own mental health and confidence  gremlins at work. Plus, of course, we discuss what’s ultimately at the heart of their work both at Amazing If, and on an individual basis.You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.

Gena-mour Barrett is a writer, TikTok star, and the Creative Editorial Manager at Netflix UK where she presents both the Netflix IX video interview series, and the 10/10 Would Recommend podcast. In this episode I talk to Gena about how she found her comedic voice on TikTok – where she’s known as @SmileGena – and we also have a really candid conversation about how grief and childhood trauma have informed her sense of humour and style of writing, and how satire has been beneficial to her own mental health. Plus, of course, we discuss what’s ultimately at the heart of her work.You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.

Louisa Maycock is the founder and owner of Girls On Tops – the t-shirt company that celebrates women in film. In this episode I talk with Louisa about the realities of running a business, getting comfortable with unexpectedly becoming an entrepreneur, as well as the magic and genius of Greta Gerwig. We also chat about the process of how her iconic, white t-shirts with the names of filmmakers emblazoned across them are actually made. Plus, of course, we discuss what’s ultimately at the heart of her work.You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.

Karen Arthur is a fashion creative and the host of the Menopause Whilst Black podcast. In this episode I talk with Karen about what it was like to make a massive career change in her 50s, when a combination of grief, depression and menopause prompted her to end her three-decades-long career in education to focus on her fashion design business full-time. I also talk to Karen about the benefits of going to therapy, her ‘Wear Your Happy’ initiative, and the importance of her podcast. Plus, of course, we talk about what’s ultimately at the heart of her work. You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.

Laura Jane Williams is the bestselling author of romantic comedies Our Stop and The Love Square, as well two non-fiction books: Ice-Cream For Breakfast and her memoir Becoming. In this episode, I talk with Laura about the realities of being a published author and what it was like to work as a nanny, while also being a newly published author and the dating columnist for a national magazine at the same time. We also discuss her fearlessness when trying something new and how it feels to now be making a living from her writing. Plus, of course, we talk about what’s ultimately at the heart of her work. You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.

Natalie Lue is a writer and podcaster who helps people ‘eliminate emotional baggage clutter for better relationships, self-esteem and work’ through her website Baggage Reclaim and her loyal social media following. In this episode I talk with Natalie about how she’s forged a career that works best for her, how she stays motivated as a self-employed person, and what it’s like to be a ‘recovering people pleaser and recovering perfectionist’. We also discuss how she’s built communication around mental health with her daughters, trying to control the uncontrollable, and of course, we talk about what’s at the heart of her work. You can follow Natalie on Instagram as @NatLue. You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.

Ben Williams is a former Royal Marine Commando turned tech entrepreneur, and the author of Commando Mindset: Find Your Motivation, Realize Your Potential, Achieve Your Goals. In this episode I talk with Ben about how he went from a life of drug addiction and mental health problems, to joining the Royal Marines and eventually running his own business. We discuss how he’s adjusted to life as a civilian, Imposter Syndrome, and how getting his foot stuck in a hanging basket in Afghanistan helped change his perspective on life. Plus, of course, we talk about what’s ultimately at the heart of his work. You can follow Ben on Instagram as @ben_williams_cm.You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.

Lex Gillies – also known on social as @TalontedLex – is a rosacea and skin positivity campaigner, beauty blogger, and ambassador for the British Skin Foundation. In this episode, I talk with Lex about how she went from working as a quantitative researcher for a bank in Leeds, to later becoming not only an award winning Pinterest expert, but one of the most influential people in skin and visible differences in the UK. We discuss her relationship with social media, her exciting new business The Real Skin Club, as well as what’s at the heart of her skin positivity work. You can follow Lex on Instagram as @TalontedLex. You can follow The Heart Of It on Instagram, and you can buy my book 'How To Work Without Losing Your Mind' at all good bookshops. The Heart Of It is produced by Cate Sevilla and Hannah Varrall, and edited by Hannah Varrall.