Conversations of Inspiration

As the year takes its final bow, Holly looks back on twelve extraordinary months filled with transformation, creativity and unexpected magic. From filming her very first TV series, Be Your Own Boss, to diving into the fast-evolving role of AI in creative businesses, Holly reflects on the moments that shaped her 2025. You’ll love this episode as it’s a celebration of connection: the friendships, shared wisdom and honest storytelling that make a founder’s path not only less lonely, but infinitely richer. Holly revisits standout conversations with NailsINC’s Thea Green MBE — who compares founding a business to motherhood; visualisation expert Maya Raichoora — who shares transformative mindset techniques for counteracting negativity; and Katie Piper OBE — who embraces midlife with courage while challenging how women are objectified. Donna Ashworth, Vivien Wong and Kate Halfpenny also return to help Holly unpack the year’s most meaningful themes — sharing their souls, insights and creative fire, which in turn will ignite something special in listeners too. Filled with heart, this episode is a reminder that while the founder’s journey is never easy, staying curious, connected and true to yourself remains the ultimate path to success. It’s proof that stories really do have the power to change everything.

In this episode, Dune Group’s founder and chairman, Daniel Rubin, joins Holly to explore a remarkable career spanning five decades. From his family’s shoemaking roots, to building one of Britain’s most recognisable footwear brands, Daniel reflects on what it truly takes to survive and thrive in an industry that never stops changing. With his new memoir, Sole Survivor, Daniel shares the real lessons behind the highs, the crises and the inevitable mistakes that shaped him. He talks about sensing when to pivot, the art of holding your nerve in unpredictable markets and learning quickly when things go wrong — all while keeping a clear vision at the heart of the brand. Wise, candid and full of hard-earned insight from a fifty year career, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention and the power of learning from every step along the way.

In this inspiring episode, Holly is joined by Katie Piper OBE — author, TV presenter, charity campaigner and a shining example of resilience and hope. From a happy childhood in Hampshire, to surviving a devastating acid attack in her twenties, Katie shares how she refused to let trauma define her, choosing instead to rebuild her life with courage, compassion and self-acceptance. With warmth and honesty, Katie reflects on motherhood, ageing and redefining beauty and identity — particularly in the way women grow older. Her latest book, Still Beautiful: On Age, Beauty and Owning Your Space, shares the secrets of recognising your worth, cultivating lasting confidence and discovering the true beauty of ageing. She explores what it truly means to live authentically and to celebrate individuality. This conversation is a heartfelt celebration of resilience. It touches on the beauty of living life on your own terms — a reminder that even after unimaginable hardship, we all have the power to rebuild, redefine and shine from within.

In this inspiring episode, Holly Tucker chats with Maya Raichoora — international speaker, author of Visualise and Nike’s first-ever mental fitness trainer — about unlocking the power of training our minds like our bodies. Maya shares how mental fitness and visualisation, a technique once reserved for the top 1% of elite athletes like Ronaldo, Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods, helped her overcome ulcerative colitis and thrive. She reveals daily practices that helped rewire her brain, like starting the day with the phrase “Show me how good it gets” and shares the secret to how that helps. She also explores how neuroscience can be the key to building resilience and shaping your mindset for a positive outcome. They discuss reframing happiness as a journey, embracing all experiences and calming imposter syndrome, while sharing Maya’s bold pursuit of her dreams, including becoming Nike’s first mental fitness trainer. Maya encourages us to “live like a predator, not prey” pursuing our goals with courage, focus and determination. This episode shows that our minds aren’t just something we have to accept — they’re something we can nurture, train and get curious about. With compassion, consistency and courage, we can all unlock our limitless potential — just like the top 1%. Want to know how? Listen now. 

What does it take to turn a simple idea into a British beauty institution — at just 23 years old? In this episode, Holly is joined by Thea Green MBE, founder and chairwoman of Nails.INC, for an honest, enlightening and uplifting conversation about her 26-year journey building an iconic brand. From her early days as a Tatler fashion editor, to launching the UK’s first nail bars inspired by American salons, Thea shares how courage, creativity and a touch of rebellion helped her redefine an industry. She opens up about growth, setbacks and the balance between grit and self-compassion. Plus we hear how she learned to accept imperfection, forgive herself, and juggle more than she ever thought possible, from baby bottles and business plans, to bedtime stories and investor meetings. Thea’s moving letter to her younger self is a love note to the girl who dreamed big, made mistakes and never stopped believing in the power of creativity and connection. An inspiring listen for anyone chasing a dream, feeling mum guilt or navigating the beautiful chaos of building something meaningful.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, a renowned singer-songwriter and pop icon, dives into her vibrant journey through motherhood and midlife. She discusses juggling her musical career while raising five boys, drawing humor and resilience from both experiences. Sophie reflects on her transformative Kitchen Disco series and its unexpected success during lockdown. Embracing her 'sod-it' era, she passionately champions midlife and perimenopause with her album, Perimenopop, celebrating every facet of womanhood. Her candid insights deliver both laughter and inspiration.

You know those conversations that leave you buzzing — proud to be a woman, alive in your skin and ready to take on the world? This is one of those. In this episode, Holly speaks with Polly Vernon — journalist, author and all-round truth-teller — known for her fearless interviews with the likes of Donald Trump and Harry Styles, and her sharp, insightful writing for The Times and Grazia. Describing herself as a “thoroughly imperfect, atypical feminist,” Polly is rewriting the sisterhood rules. Together, they explore everything from growing up in a feminist household to navigating expectations around motherhood and childlessness, aging and appearance, fitness and feminism, trauma and resilience. Polly is unflinchingly honest about the pressures women face — and why open, unfiltered conversations about health, choice and defining womanhood on our own terms matter more than ever. She says what many only dare to think — and that courage, that raw authenticity, is what makes her voice so powerful. This is a conversation that challenges, comforts and might just make you a little braver too. Trigger warning: This episode includes mentions of rape and abortion, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you prefer to skip these parts, the discussion on rape runs from 15–23 minutes, and abortion from 46–49 minutes. Please take care while listening.

Warning: This podcast could change your life! What if business wasn’t just about profit — but about purpose, joy and soulfulness too? What if trusting your instinct could lead you to achieve great things? In this episode of Conversations of Inspiration, Holly is joined by Nikki Trott — author, speaker, strategist, and advisor — whose journey has taken her from consulting for iconic luxury brands like Mulberry and Mercedes, to writing her visionary book, Sacred Business. Nikki shares how returning to her roots after years of nomadic living, and relying on her intuition, has shaped every step of her journey: from walking away from a successful but unfulfilling career, to reimagining entrepreneurship as a practice rooted in values and fulfilment.  Together, Holly and Nikki explore the blending of spirituality and business. They also reflect on feminine strength, navigating grief, personal growth and letting go — while offering practical wisdom for building businesses with authenticity. This conversation is a powerful reminder that success can be redefined. Business can be both strategic and sacred, ambition can be reimagined and trusting your intuition can open doors you never expected to walk through. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to build a business that truly reflects who you are — and do it with joy, purpose and depth — this episode will speak straight to your heart.

What does it take to design a wedding dress—or build a business—that’s not just beautiful, but deeply meaningful and empowering? In this heartfelt conversation with celebrated bridal designer Kate Halfpenny, you’ll find yourself wanting to be her BFF as she speaks with refreshing honesty about the magical journey of creativity, courage, and self-belief. From growing up in a creative household and interning with Vivienne Westwood, to styling Rihanna and repurposing fabric scraps with her late mum, Kate carved her own place in a fiercely competitive industry. She shares how resilience, individuality, and kindness shaped her brand, while opening up about the pandemic, bucking trends, and the underestimated power of body confidence. Kate also reveals why dyslexia isn’t a flaw but the “secret source” to unstoppable creativity. At the heart of it all is her mission: to design dresses that are far more than fabric and lace—garments that empower women to feel extraordinary on their own terms. This is a love letter to confidence, creativity, and the quiet bravery of trusting you’re already enough.

What happens when you refuse to colour inside the lines? In this joyful episode, Holly chats with Abi & Rupert Meats — the powerhouse couple behind RUDE and Everyday Sunshine, a gallery and coffee shop dedicated to optimism and community. Purveyors of positivity in every sense, they’ve been creating unapologetically bold, colourful work for 25 years. From hustling in their first studio to collaborating with Apple, Vogue and the Tate, they share the highs, lows, wins and losses of building a life around creativity. Now, they’re driving a movement to bring creativity back into children’s lives. Their new book, CREATE, is a rallying cry for a generation growing up in a world where art is being sidelined in schools. Abi & Rupert talk openly about why creativity isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a lifeline — and how they’re on a mission to put a copy of CREATE in every primary school in the UK. So, if you’ve ever wondered what the world might look like if we treated joy and imagination as seriously as maths and science, this episode is for you.