
Beautiful Misfits
Beautiful Misfits don’t accept the status quo. They know instinctively the way we’re living today is broken. But they believe the world can be a better place. And they fearlessly take the imaginative leap to change it. Join Mary as she talks to the authors and businesspeople, designers and poets, who are using their unique perspective to create a better, more beautiful, future. Their life lessons are sometimes funny, at others moving, but always insightful. And one thing is clear: we’ve never needed these beautiful misfits more.A Pixiu production.
Latest episodes

Nov 4, 2019 • 36min
Work Like A Woman: Philippa Perry: The Art Of Saying Sorry
The UK's most popular psychotherapist joins Mary and Emily Bryce-Perkins, co-host and Culture Director of Mary’s creative agency and consultancy Portas, to learn what parenting techniques can be applied in boardrooms, too. Plus, in this first episode of a new series, we workshop Mary's upcoming TED talk, learn who's doing business with kindness and hear an amazing piece of advice from a 91-year-old.

Jul 9, 2019 • 44min
Work Like A Woman: Plain speaking with Bryony Gordon
Telegraph writer Bryony Gordon had hidden her true self from others, and herself, for many years - until finally, one day, she wrote a column about her experiences of alcoholism, OCD and anxiety.Mary & Emily speak to Bryony about how her colleagues, bosses, friends and family reacted to her 'coming out' and how she came to own the skin that she's in, taking thousands with her as she told her story.This is the last episode of the first series - be sure to listen to the other wonderful people we've spoken to in the past couple of months, and subscribe to hear many more in the autumn...

Jul 1, 2019 • 35min
Work Like A Woman - exclusive extract
What kind of a podcast would we be if there wasn't a little treat every now and then? In this episode, Mary Portas and Emily Bryce-Perkins introduce two extracts from the book, Work Like A Woman, which inspired this podcast.This audiobook extract is published by Penguin. For more information, and to buy your copy, visit their website.

Jun 24, 2019 • 31min
Work Like A Woman: Selling sausage rolls with Roger Whiteside
The chief executive of Greggs, Roger Whiteside OBE, joins Mary and Emily to discuss how he's grown the baker, but not at the expense of his workforce. Over his career he's seen the worst excesses of alpha management culture... yet kept true to himself. How did he do it, and what can we all learn?

Jun 17, 2019 • 38min
Work Like A Woman: Campaigning with Caroline Criado Perez
Mary & Emily return to The Attic to talk POLITICS... and are joined by a campaigner who, amongst many notable achievements, persuaded the Bank of England to put Jane Austin on the £10 note.Now Caroline Criado Perez - OBE, don't you know - is on a mission to address the huge disparities in scientific research between men and women, and how that affects our everyday life.Her book, Invisible Women, is out now.

Jun 10, 2019 • 47min
Special: Mary live in London
This week we bring you a special edition of Work Like A Woman, where Mary was interviewed by broadcaster Miranda Sawyer in front of a live audience at the Shaw Theatre, London.Together they discuss Mary's roots, her progression through some of the most well-known high street brands, to the highs and lows that brought her to this point.Thanks to Penguin Random House for producing this live event, the staff at the Shaw Theatre, and our sponsors Natwest. To find out more just search NatWest: Rethinking Business .

Jun 3, 2019 • 42min
Work Like A Woman: Social editing with Viv Groskop
What does it take to hold a room? The world of stand-up comedy is still dominated by male comedians, but as writer-turned-comic Viv Groskop tells Mary Portas, it's all about finding your voice.Also on the programme, we peak behind the scenes of The Work Like A Woman book tour and Mary reveals the many names she's been called in the workplace.Thanks to the sponsors of this episode, Natwest. Find out more about how they're rethinking business here.

May 27, 2019 • 39min
Work Like A Woman: Embracing Failure with Elizabeth Day
Journalist and author Elizabeth Day made, as we all do, some questionable decisions when she started in her chosen career - some were in her power to change... others less so.In our feature interview this week Elizabeth tells us how those mistakes shaped her and how it helped shape her voice.Plus, Mary & head of culture Emily Bryce-Perkins discuss the week in business (including Jamie Oliver's recent misfortune) and we hear about the time Mary tried selling Kinky Knickers to a rather antiquated business.This podcast is sponsored by Natwest. Stay tuned to hear how their staff Work Like A Woman...

May 20, 2019 • 35min
Work Like A Woman: Flex Appeal with Anna Whitehouse
Everyone in the UK is entitled to ask for flexible working hours - but most of the time that request is denied. Mary and Emily sit down with Flex Appeal founder Anna Whitehouse (aka Mother Pukka) to discover what we can do to change the culture. Plus: Mary delivers her verdict on the week's business news, including the recent goings on at Richer Sounds.

May 9, 2019 • 4min
What is Work Like A Woman?
Alongside Portas Agency's culture director Emily Bryce-Perkins, and a host of guests from Bryony Gordon to Elizabeth Day, Mary talks work culture, kindness, flexible working, the mental load and much more.