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Walking The Dog with Emily Dean
Janette Manrara (Part One)
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Today we’re in South London’s Burgess Park with television presenter, choreographer and professional dancer Janette Manrara - and we have a very special bonus guest - her daughter Lyra!
Janette is best known for appearing as a professional dance on Strictly Come Dancing - and since 2021 she has co-hosted Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two! Janette is married to her Strictly co-star Aljaž Škorjanec and their daughter Lyra was born in July 2023 - we think she was pretty taken by Raymond (and the geese!)
Janette has a history with dogs back at home in Miami - but life as a performing family means that she doesn’t have a dog at the moment… but there may be one in the future!
After her family immigrated from Cuba to Miami, Janette tells us about being a happy child in a happy household and how that gave her a positive outlook on life. She tells the story of how she went from working in a bank to becoming a professional dancer - and what happened when she met Aljaž for the first time… was it love at first sight?!
Tiny Dancer, Big World: How to Find Fulfilment from the Inside Out is out on Thursday 12th September - you can buy your copy here
Follow Janette on Instagram @JManara
Follow Emily:
Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean
X - @divine_miss_em
Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence
Music: Rich Jarman
Artwork: Alice Ludlam
Photography: Karla Gowlett
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Amanda Wakeley (Part One)
45:16|This week, Emily and Raymond are taking a walk in Battersea Park with the legendary fashion designer Amanda Wakeley and her Labrador Luna (who was sporting a very stylish red bandana!) Amanda tells us about her happy and chaotic childhood with a succession of Labs and Jack Russells and her family in Cheshire. We find out what life was like for Amanda at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and how making clothes in the school holidays led her to creating her own label and pioneering her clean, glam and wearable style.We highly recommend you listen to Amanda’s podcast Style DNA - where she speaks to extraordinary people about their personal styles and the psychology behind the clothes they wear. It's available on all podcast platforms!Follow Amanda on Instagram @amandawakeleyFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettCandice Brown (Part Two)
37:30|We’re halfway through our walk with the brilliant Candice Brown as well as her three dogs Albus, Severus and Sibyl!Candice tells us more about her pre-Bake Off life working as a secondary school teacher in a special educational needs department and how she is driven by a strong sense of injustice. We also get a peek into the intensive process of getting on the Bake Off - and the positives and negatives that followed on from starring on that show. Follow Candice on Instagram @CandiceBrownWe highly recommend you take a visit to The Green Man in Eversholt - for a truly dog-friendly pub and the best bacon butty on earth as well as an amazing menu of fresh, local and seasonal food. Candice’s books Happy Cooking and Comfort are available now. You can buy your copy here!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettCandice Brown (Part One)
39:29|We’re on a delightful country walk this week with the legendary Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown! Candice has three dogs - Albus, Severus and Sibyl, and there are a plethora of other dogs in the Brown family! It’s clear Candice has a real passion for her dogs - and she tells us the story behind how she came to rescue each of them. After growing up in pubs run by her parents - Candice has gone on to run her own pub! It's called The Green Man in Eversholt and it’s absolute dog (and human) heaven! Candice tells us all about how her childhood gave her such a strong family bond and also gave her a passion for food. She also tells us how food helps her to deal with ADHD - and how it might have helped her to win Bake Off! Follow Candice on Instagram @CandiceBrownWe highly recommend you take a visit to The Green Man in Eversholt - for a truly dog-friendly pub and the best bacon butty on earth as well as an amazing menu of fresh, local and seasonal food. Candice’s books Happy Cooking and Comfort are available now. You can buy your copy here!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettCecelia Ahern (Part Two)
41:59|We're midway through our stroll in Regent's Park with the international bestselling author Cecelia Ahern! Cecelia tells us about what it was like to have her debut novel PS I Love You adapted into a film when she was in her early twenties.We chat about Cecelia's new novel, Into The Storm, which explores themes of unprocessed guilt, complicated female characters and the influence of pre-Christian rituals. It's a rather brilliant, suspenseful book and and you can get your copy here!Cecelia also tells us about dealing with panic attacks and how writing helped her overcome them, and her rather fabulous trip to The White House. Follow Cecelia on Instagram @official_ceceliaahernFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettCecelia Ahern (Part One)
29:14|Join Emily and Raymond in London's Regent's Park for a walk with the international bestselling author Cecelia Ahern! Cecelia has a dog called Buddy, he's a standard poodle with a regal attitude, who is back at home in Dublin while Cecelia is in London working - but we think we need to plan a trip to Ireland because it sounds like he and Raymond would get on VERY well. Cecelia grew up in Malahide with her sister, mum and dad - before her parents divorced. It was an unusual childhood, because Cecelia's dad is Bertie Ahern - the high profile Irish politician who went on to become Taoiseach! We learn all about Cecelia's fascinating story - from when she attempted to get into Eurovision to writing her debut novel, PS I Love You at the age of 21 and the whirlwind experience of the book becoming a worldwide hit. Cecelia's new book - Into The Storm is available now! You can buy your copy here!Follow Cecelia on Instagram @official_ceceliaahernFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettBryony Gordon (Part Two)
38:36|This week Emily and Ray are sheltering from the rain on the sofa in Battersea with the journalist, broadcaster, podcaster and author Bryony Gordon! Bryony tells us about how she got into journalism, why she chose to write about her twenties and how she feels about being raw and open in her writing. She also tells us about a very special friendship…You can listen to Bryony’s brilliant podcast The Life of Bryony on all podcast platforms!Bryony’s brilliant books - including Mad Woman, Mad Girl, The Wrong Knicker and Glorious Rock Bottom - are all available to purchase here!Follow Bryony on Instagram @bryonygordonYou can subscribe to Bryony’s monthly newsletter here!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettBryony Gordon (Part One)
35:59|It’s a rainy day in Battersea - so join Emily and Ray as we get cosy on Bryony Gordon’s sofa! Byrony is journalist, broadcaster, podcaster and bestselling author. She doesn’t have a dog - but we’ll forgive her because she let Raymond sit on her very fabulous tassled blanket. Our chat covers everything from Bryony’s legendary childhood dog Polo, to her stuggle with OCD and how she has learned to understand her intrustive thoughts. You can listen to Bryony’s brilliant podcast The Life of Bryony on all podcast platforms!Bryony’s brilliant books - including Mad Woman, Mad Girl, The Wrong Knicker and Glorious Rock Bottom - are all available to purchase here! Follow Bryony on Instagram @bryonygordonYou can subscribe to Bryony’s monthly newsletter here!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettBella Mackie (Part Two)
49:11|Emily and Raymond are on Hampstead Heath with Bella Mackie and her labrador, Barney (who we can all agree is a bit of a national treasure) Bella tells us about her love story with Greg James and how a childhood obsession with Victorian true crime started her on the journey to writing her million-selling first novel How To Kill Your Family. We also chat about being direct - and whether that can be considered as a compliment and unfortunately, one of Barney’s toys meets a watery grave…Listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Barney (and Greg James) from September 2022 hereFollow Bella on Instagram @mackie_bellaBella’s new novel What A Way To Go is a gloriously funny and dark story about dysfunctional families in the shiny but cruel world of the extremely wealthy - you can get your copy here!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla GowlettBella Mackie (Part One)
52:31|This week we’re on Hampstead Heath with the brilliant author Bella Mackie - and her labrador, Barney! Barney (aka Banana Head) is no stranger to Walking The Dog - he has previously appeared on this podcast with Bella’s husband Greg James! He’s a pretty special dog - and we were thrilled to take him out again. Bella’s always had dogs throughout her life and Barney came into her life after she and Greg went to Battersea with the intention of getting a small dog… he may not have been what she wanted to get but it’s clear Bella loves Barney a hell of a lot. Bella tells about her childhood in North London, how moderating an online comment board led to her to changing her name, and how running helped her to manage her anxiety and OCD. Listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Barney (and Greg James) from September 2022 here Follow Bella on Instagram @mackie_bella Bella’s new novel What A Way To Go is a gloriously funny and dark story about dysfunctional families in the shiny but cruel world of the extremely wealthy - you can get your copy here!Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye LawrenceMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett