Michelle Ford Interviews

What does it take to open your heart again after years of being single - and let the nation watch?On this episode Michelle Ford is joined by Janey Smith from My Mum, Your Dad for a warm, honest conversation about second-chance romance, rebuilding confidence and finding love in midlife.Recently engaged to Roger Hawes, Janey reflects on the brave decision to join the dating show with her son’s encouragement. With him heading off to university, she recognised that she wanted companionship - but putting herself out there meant confronting fears about trust, vulnerability and getting hurt again.We explore dating after heartbreak, navigating a relationship with someone who has experienced bereavement, and making space for a new love story while respecting the past.Janey also opens up about perimenopause and losing her confidence on stage as a singer after decades in the entertainment industry and why the person you see on screen might not tell the whole story.And, of course, we talk about Roger, their engagement and what this next chapter means to h er.In this episode:• Finding love in midlife after years of being single• Taking a chance on reality show My Mum,Your Dad• Roger, their engagement and building a future together• Navigating love after loss and overcoming past heartbreak• Trust, vulnerability and the fear of being someone’s “stepping stone”• Perimenopause, self-confidence and feeling comfortable socially• Dating apps, first impressions and giving connection a chanceIf you’ve ever wondered whether you could fall in love again, or felt nervous about taking that first step, this conversation offers warmth, reassurance and plenty to think about.Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalentProduced by: Tindall Productions#secondchances #midliferomance #mymumyourdad #loveover40 #realityshow #

Menopause can feel overwhelming - but good information and the right support can make an enormous difference. In this special episode, Michelle Ford brings together four leading experts - Jane James, Emma Bardwell, Dr Linia Patel and Lavina Mehta MBE - for a practical guide to HRT, nutrition, weight management and exercise during perimenopause and menopause.Jane James: Making informed choices about HRTMenopause mentor Jane James is the founder of the Menopause and HRT Discussion Group and community manager for Davina McCall’s Menopausing and Me community.Jane explains why HRT is not “one size fits all”, challenges common myths and shares advice for preparing for a GP appointment. She discusses what testosterone may be prescribed for, where to seek support and how menopause mentors and support groups can help.Jane also explains the NHS HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate, which currently costs £19.80 and covers certain eligible HRT medicines for 12 months.Emma Bardwell: Eating well through menopauseRegistered nutritionist Emma Bardwell is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The 30g Plan and The Fibre Effect.Emma explains why hormonal changes can encourage fat storage around the middle - and why eating well needn’t involve a complete dietary overhaul.Why are protein, fibre and plant diversity so important? Can food help alleviate menopause symptoms? Emma shares easy ways to improve everyday meals, explores phytoestrogens and suggests three simple nutritional changes we can make now.Dr Linia Patel: Menopause, weight and GLP-1 medicationDr Linia Patel is an award-winning women’s health dietitian, performance nutritionist and author of Food for Menopause and Life After Weight-Loss Medication.Linia encourages us to look beyond the scales and consider our energy, sleep, stress and overall wellbeing.She explains what GLP-1 weight-loss medications are, how they work and what may happen after someone stops taking them. We also discuss the importance of a holistic approach to weight management and getting enough protein, fibre, iron and other essential nutrients.Lavina Mehta MBE: Exercise for brains, bones and musclesLavina Mehta MBE is a health and fitness expert, personal trainer and author of The Feel Good Fix. Awarded an MBE for services to health and fitness, she is known for “exercise snacking” and her mantra, “Exercise for Sanity, Not Vanity”.Lavina explains why movement matters for our brains, bones and muscles - and how it may support mood, sleep and cognition while helping to ease anxiety.She shares achievable ways to add short bursts of movement to the day through exercise snacking and habit stacking. We also explore why strength training can help future-proof our bodies - and why strength, health and confidence matter far more than a number on the scales.This episode is packed with reassuring, evidence-informed advice to help you feel stronger, better supported and more confident about navigating menopause.This podcast provides general information and should not replace individual medical advice. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional before beginning, changing or stopping medication, HRT, supplements, diet or exercise.📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for interviews, recommendations and conversations about books, life, confidence, resilience and reinvention.Instagram: @michellefordofficial | @michellefordinterviewspodYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: @michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia and brand enquiries: @kindlingtalentProducer: Emma Tindall @tindallpodcasts

Bonnie Garmus Interview: Peck & Peck, Lessons in Chemistry and Finding Success Later in LifeInternationally bestselling author Bonnie Garmus joins Michelle Ford to discuss her highly anticipated second novel, Peck & Peck, the phenomenal success of Lessons in Chemistry and her remarkable journey to becoming a published novelist later in life.Bonnie is the author of the global bestseller Lessons in Chemistry, which introduced readers to unforgettable chemist Elizabeth Zott and was adapted into the acclaimed Apple TV+ series starring Brie Larson. A former copywriter and creative director, Bonnie became a publishing sensation in her sixties - but her success was anything but overnight.In this candid, funny and inspiring conversation, Bonnie talks about growing up during the feminist movement of the 1960s and reflects on reinvention, resilience and refusing to give up. Before Lessons in Chemistry found a publisher, an earlier manuscript was rejected 98 times. One particularly cruel response even told Bonnie that she “must be really stupid” for failing to understand the rules of writing a book.Bonnie reveals the infuriating incident at work that prompted her to write the first chapter of Lessons in Chemistry. Fed up with the attitudes of the men around her, she created Elizabeth Zott as the brilliant, uncompromising female role model she wanted to look up to.She also explains how she taught herself 1950s chemistry while researching the novel - with some experiments becoming so dramatic that the fire brigade was called to her home twice!Michelle and Bonnie discuss the lasting impact of Elizabeth Zott, including the remarkable story of one reader who was inspired to make a life-changing decision of her own.The conversation then turns to Bonnie’s much-anticipated second novel, Peck & Peck. Set in New York City in 1982, this witty and wonderfully original story follows Batter Gray, a young man who feels left behind as his friends establish respectable careers. Batter has a very different gift: an instinctive “ear” for poetry.His life changes when he is hired by Peck & Peck - the world’s most prestigious, secretive and spectacularly dysfunctional poetry journal. Surrounded by an eccentric cast of characters, Batter begins a journey towards adulthood, purpose and his own identity.They include his formidable mother Rainey, a straight-talking typeface designer, and the heroic family dog after whom Batter was named. Bonnie explains why typography is so important to the story: words communicate not only through what they say, but through how they look.Bonnie and Michelle also explore the emotional power of poetry, the importance of creativity and originality, and Bonnie’s concerns about artificial intelligence and the need to protect human creativity.Above all, Peck & Peck is a funny, tender and fiercely original celebration of language, individuality and the courage to stand up for what you believe.In this episode:Bonnie Garmus on her new novel, Peck & PeckThe worldwide success of Lessons in ChemistryCreating Elizabeth Zott as a feminist role modelReinvention and finding success later in lifeSurviving 98 publishing rejectionsThe workplace incident that inspired her bestselling debutLearning 1950s chemistry—and calling the fire brigade twiceWriting a second novel after a global phenomenonPoetry, typography and the power of languageCreativity, AI and protecting original workStanding up for what you believe📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalent

The cloaks are on, suspicions are rising and the round table awaits as Michelle Ford Interviews returns for Season 11!In this opening episode, Michelle is joined by bestselling crime author, former criminal barrister and unforgettable The Traitors Faithful Harriet Tyce.Harriet takes us inside the castle to reveal what it was really like living in a world of secrets, suspicion and betrayal. Did her years questioning witnesses in court help her identify a Traitor - or did her instinct for finding hidden motives make it impossible to trust anyone?Michelle and Harriet explore how her legal career continues to influence her psychological thrillers, from building a convincing case and examining conflicting versions of the truth to creating characters whose motives are never quite what they seem.They also discuss Harriet’s latest novel, Witch Trial - a dark, twist-filled legal thriller about two teenage girls accused of murdering their best friend.When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, suspicion falls on her closest friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth. As the case reaches court, rumours of bullying, obsession, rituals and a teenage pact create a modern-day witch trial played out in the courtroom, the press and across social media. But when the girls reveal a chilling and unexpected defence, everyone is forced to question the evidence - and their own judgement.Who is telling the truth? Who can be trusted? And will you uncover what really happened before Harriet reveals it?It leads to a discussion about the history of witches in this country and our enduring fascination with them from Joan of Arc to the Salem Witch Trials and killing of hundreds of suspected witches in Scotland - but were they just menopausal herbalists using their decades of knowledge to treat conditions - was it just superstition and coincidence if things happened in villages that were interpreted as 'spells'?Plus, what is Harriet Tyce’s pet peeve? You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out…Witch Trial is out now.🎙️ About Book Club | Michelle Ford InterviewsBook Club | Michelle Ford Interviews brings you conversations with bestselling authors about their books, the stories behind them and the ideas that make us want to keep turning the pages.This interview was first broadcast on Brooklands Radio.If you enjoy psychological thrillers, crime fiction, book recommendations and author interviews, make sure you subscribe to Michelle Ford Interviews on your favourite podcast platform and on YouTube - always free.📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalent

Hello and welcome to a brand-new season - and you’ll notice a bit of a change around here!There’s new artwork, a new name and a fresh new vision as Two Women Chatting becomes Michelle Ford Interviews.After ten wonderful seasons, it felt like the right time for the podcast to evolve. The conversations have grown beyond where we began, and the new name reflects exactly what you’ll hear: warm, honest and entertaining interviews with fascinating people who have brilliant stories to share.And Season 11 has plenty in store.I’ll be joined by a well-known Faithful with a few tales to tell; a celebrity hairdresser using his own painful experiences to lead an inspiring anti-bullying campaign; and a much-loved mum who found romance with a fellow parent on My Mum, Your Dad - and whose television love story is now heading towards a real-life wedding.We’ll also be going back to the 'lab' for a very special new lesson, as the author behind a global publishing phenomenon returns with her eagerly awaited new book.Plus, expect bestselling authors, trusted experts, familiar faces and fearless adventurers - sharing the experiences that shaped them, the unexpected moments that changed everything and plenty of laughter along the way.Season 11 of Michelle Ford Interviews begins on 6 October.Make sure you’re following the podcast on any platform so you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to my YouTube channel at @michellefordinterviews, and come and say hello on Instagram at @michellefordofficial and @michellefordinterviewspodI’m Michelle Ford - and I can’t wait to share this new chapter with you.🎙️ Book Club | Michelle Ford Interviews brings you conversations with bestselling authors about their books, the stories behind them and the ideas that make us want to keep turning the pages.If you enjoy psychological thrillers, crime fiction, book recommendations and author interviews, make sure you subscribe to Michelle Ford Interviews on your favourite podcast platform and on YouTube - always free.📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalent

International bestselling thriller writer Ruth Ware joins Michelle Ford to discuss The Woman in Suite 11 - the gripping sequel to her breakout bestseller, The Woman in Cabin 10.Almost a decade after readers first met travel journalist Lo Blacklock aboard the ill-fated Aurora Borealis, Ruth returns to the character for another luxurious but deadly adventure.This time, Lo’s all-expenses-paid trip to a spectacular Swiss hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva should mark the perfect return to work. Instead, she encounters a terrified woman being held in the millionaire owner’s suite, an urgent plea for help and a body in the room next door. As Lo’s past catches up with her, she must decide how far she is prepared to go for someone she isn’t certain she can trust.Michelle and Ruth talk about revisiting Lo after the phenomenal success of The Woman in Cabin 10, the challenges of writing a sequel to a novel originally conceived as a standalone thriller and the ingredients that make a truly compulsive locked-room mystery.They also discuss the screen adaptation of The Woman in Cabin 10, now streaming on Netflix and starring Keira Knightley as Lo, alongside Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.If you enjoy psychological thrillers, twisting mysteries, glamorous settings and heroines who refuse to stop asking questions, this Book Club conversation is for you.Subscribe to Michelle Ford Interviews for more candid conversations with internationally bestselling authors, celebrities, experts and fascinating people — including regular Book Club episodes exploring the stories behind the stories.🎙️ About Book Club | Michelle Ford InterviewsBook Club | Michelle Ford Interviews brings you conversations with bestselling authors about their books, the stories behind them and the ideas that make us want to keep turning the pages.This interview was first broadcast on Brooklands Radio.If you enjoy psychological thrillers, crime fiction, book recommendations and author interviews, make sure you subscribe to Michelle Ford Interviews on your favourite podcast platform and on YouTube - always free.📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalent#RuthWare #TheWomanInSuite11 #TheWomanInCabin10 #KeiraKnightley #NetflixThriller #PsychologicalThriller #CrimeFiction #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #MichelleFordInterviews

Michelle Ford is joined by internationally bestselling thriller writer Linwood Barclay to discuss his gripping new novel, Not a Word.When Reece visits his parents’ home, he makes a horrifying discovery: his father is dead and the woman beside him is not his mother. What initially appears to be a murder-suicide soon raises troubling questions and Reece is drawn into a dangerous web of family secrets connected to his father’s former employer.Linwood talks about creating the twists, tension and ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances that have become hallmarks of his writing. He also reveals how growing up watching television in the 1970s helped shape his instinct for storytelling and how his years working as a journalist taught him to edit tightly, tell the story and keep readers hooked.The conversation also turns to Stephen King: from receiving every thriller writer’s dream endorsement to the genuine friendship that has developed between the two bestselling authors.Hear new author interviews every Thursday afternoon on Brooklands Radio. Listen on DAB across Surrey and West London, through the Brooklands Radio app, on your smart speaker or online.🎙️ About Book Club | Michelle Ford InterviewsBook Club | Michelle Ford Interviews brings you conversations with bestselling authors about their books, the stories behind them and the ideas that make us want to keep turning the pages.This interview was first broadcast on Brooklands Radio.If you enjoy psychological thrillers, crime fiction, book recommendations and author interviews, make sure you subscribe to Michelle Ford Interviews on your favourite podcast platform and on YouTube - always free.📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalent

Pop star Kavana - Anthony Kavanagh - joins Michelle Ford for a candid, funny and deeply moving conversation about his memoir, Pop Scars, now available in paperback.From growing up in a working-class Manchester family to appearing on the cover of Smash Hits, performing on Top of the Pops and achieving extraordinary fame across Asia, Anthony recalls the dizzying highs of becoming a pop star while still in his teens - and the painful reality of feeling like a failure by just 21.Anthony talks openly about hiding his sexuality while being adored by thousands of girls, living with ADHD, chasing dopamine and the spiral into alcohol and drug addiction that followed his move to Los Angeles. He shares some of his darkest moments, including taking drugs in a dumpster and searching bathroom cabinets for anything containing alcohol, as well as the realities of recovery, relapse and learning to live with sobriety.Yet Pop Scars is far from a relentlessly bleak memoir. Anthony’s remarkable eye for detail and wicked sense of humour bring every scene vividly to life: eating Pot Noodles on the sofa in Manchester; learning that his single had reached number eight while his mum passed him the phone searching for her teeth; and Victoria Beckham spilling Pimm’s down his white Kappa tracksuit] - before making amends with an unexpected first-class upgrade 20 years later.He also shares memories of the Spice Girls before global fame, his friendship with Amy Winehouse - whom he first met making meatballs in her Camden flat - and the affectionate nickname she gave him.At the heart of the conversation is Anthony’s love for his mother, Rita: a Manchester fortune teller who helped keep him grounded and who is now living with Alzheimer’s disease.Honest, compassionate and frequently hilarious, this is a conversation about fame, identity, addiction, recovery and survival - and the truth behind Anthony’s powerful observation: “Everybody has a rock bottom, and sometimes rock bottom has a basement.”This Book Club bonus episode of Michelle Ford Interviews was recorded live at the Brooklands Radio studios and first broadcast in November 2025.Please note: this episode contains frank discussion of alcohol and drug addiction, relapse and recovery.🎙️ About Book Club | Michelle Ford InterviewsBook Club | Michelle Ford Interviews brings you conversations with bestselling authors about their books, the stories behind them and the ideas that make us want to keep turning the pages.This interview was first broadcast on Brooklands Radio.If you enjoy psychological thrillers, crime fiction, book recommendations and author interviews, make sure you subscribe to Michelle Ford Interviews on your favourite podcast platform and on YouTube - always free.📚 Connect with MichelleFollow Michelle Ford for more author interviews, book recommendations, radio and podcast content, and conversations about books, life, confidence and everything in between.Instagram: @michellefordofficial @michellefordinterviewspodPodcast: Michelle Ford InterviewsYouTube: @michellefordinterviewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellefordofficialEmail: twowomenchatting@gmail.comWebsite: michellefordinterviews.comMedia/brand enquiries: @kindlingtalent