

Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky
Maria Hvorostovsky
Welcome to Anatomy of a Leader - a video podcast that shows you there are many faces of leadership, that perfection doesn’t and shouldn’t exist and that making mistakes (or taking detours) can often lead to deep insights about your superpowers.
My name is Maria Hvorostovsky. I’m a headhunter and Founder of HVO Search. I help ambitious leaders hire the most hard to find, high potential C-Suite talent.
Each week let me take you on a journey to discover what leadership really
🖋🕊
LinkedIn/ Insta: @mariahvo
WORK WITH ME: www.hirewithmaria.com
My name is Maria Hvorostovsky. I’m a headhunter and Founder of HVO Search. I help ambitious leaders hire the most hard to find, high potential C-Suite talent.
Each week let me take you on a journey to discover what leadership really
🖋🕊
LinkedIn/ Insta: @mariahvo
WORK WITH ME: www.hirewithmaria.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 27, 2024 • 1h 21min
#91 Life After Being a Successful CEO w/ Beatrice Lafon, Former CEO of Claire’s
Beatrice Lafon is a top retail troubleshooter, having been CEO of Claire’s Accessories, NED of SuperDry, a board member of Pizza Express and many more powerful retail brands. She is here to tell you about the life and sacrifices of a successful CEO and how to become one.
Whether you’re a seasoned CEO or even an aspiring one, and are interested in gaining insights into the world of retail, the hard choices you make as a CEO and how to live with them, or just want to reflect on your own leadership journey, then this episode is a must-watch.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer
02:52 - Joining Marks & Spencers
08:51 - Deciding to Go Down the Business Route
15:56 - Moving From a Big Business to a Small One
18:54 - The Hardest Thing About Working With Private Equity
22:14 - What Beatrice Was Most Proud of in Her Role at Claire’s
25:00 - The Retail Business Then vs. Now
29:54 - What the Younger and Older Generation Take for Granted
33:57 - What is Required Now to be a CEO?
37:06 - Why the Ability to Listen is the Best Quality a Leader Can Have
44:07 - Why Beatrice Stepped Down as Claire’s CEO
49:12 - Have You Sacrificed Your Personal Life as a CEO?
51:16 - Advice For Your Younger Self
53:43 - Making Mistakes
55:41 - Planning for the Unexpected: Death and Divorce
01:02:31 - Defining Success and Failure
01:06:45 - Sports and Leadership
01:12:04 - Why Life Doesn’t Have to be Hard
01:18:04 - The Best Piece of Business Advice You’ve Been Given
With 40 years of experience in retail, spanning from executive roles in blue chip companies like M&S and J Sainsbury's to leading turnaround efforts for PE-backed businesses such as Claire’s and Kondor, Beatrice is a seasoned expert in financial restructuring and operational leadership. She’s currently serving on multiple boards and driving restructuring efforts for companies like Pizza Express Group PLC.
Beatrice Lafon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctorbeatricelafon/
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycareerwithmaria/?img_index=1
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT AND GIVE IT THE THUMBS UP
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Feb 20, 2024 • 1h 4min
From Beauty Brand Expert to Founding Her Own Fragrance Brand - Michelle Feeney, Floral Street #90
Check out this course https://corporateladderdecoded.com/aff/6/ to accelerate your career and unlock your earning potential - full transparency: purchasing the course supports us, at no extra cost to you.
Michelle Feeney knows what it takes to build a cult beauty brand. She launched Creme de la Mer, led MAC to become the world’s biggest make-up brand and was the CEO of St Tropez. She took time off in her 50s only to launch a brand new fragrance brand - Floral Street.
If you’ve dominated your industry, but feel like you’ve got some enterprising left in you, then tune in!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
05:01 - What Was it Like Working with Private Equity?
09:28 - Building a Good Core Team
13:29 - The Estée Lauder Days
17:32 - Early Days of MAC
23:35 - How Floral Street Came About
25:06 - Taking Time Off at 50
28:58 - Entrepreneurship vs. Employment
30:07 - Leading Through Uncertainty: Covid and 9/11
38:16 - What Else Did You Learn About Yourself?
40:50 - How the Younger Generation Approaches Work
43:24 - Do Young People Not Know How to Work Hard?
51:10 - Are Schools Entirely Responsible for Teaching Our Kids?
59:04 - Advice You Would Give Your Younger Self
01:01:10 - What’s Next for Floral Street Perfume?
Michelle started her beauty career in New York, where she was headhunted by Estée Lauder. She was soon promoted to Vice President, Global Communications of MAC Cosmetics following their acquisition by Estée Lauder. Her work at MAC, primarily the legendary MAC AIDS Fund and Viva Glam initiatives, led it to become the global brand it is today. After moving back to the UK, Michelle became CEO of St Tropez.
After taking a year-long sabbatical, Michelle founded Floral Street in 2017, an independent, British brand committed to eco-responsibility. It is vegan and cruelty-free, and comes in planet-positive packaging.
*** Love Anatomy of a Leader? Help us grow! Check us out on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/ba3uVmwxVRvOXgEzBs4e
Michelle Feeney:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-feeney-838200b6/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_feeney_/?hl=en-gb
X: https://twitter.com/floralstreet_?lang=en
Website: https://floralstreet.com/
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycareerwithmaria/?img_index=1
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Feb 13, 2024 • 59min
#89 How to GROW Your Podcast With Fountain - The GAME-CHANGING Podcast Platform w/ Nick Malster
Check out this course https://corporateladderdecoded.com/aff/6/ to accelerate your career and unlock your earning potential - full transparency: purchasing the course supports us, at no extra cost to you.
Nick Malster, co-founder of Fountain App is here to share tips on effective podcast strategies, and his vision to create an innovative podcast platform for fellow podcast evangelists.
If you’re a die-hard podcast fan, or are a podcaster yourself and want some insights on how to make your podcast go the distance, then this episode is the one for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
02:34 - How the Fountain App Got Started
04:56 - Bitcoin and Gaming Mentality
08:47 - Podcast Relationship as a Long Distance Relationship
10:47 - Tips for Podcasters on Engaging with Their Audience
13:27 - What Have You Learned About Podcasts in General?
16:22 - Is Podcasting Dying?
17:50 - The Future of Podcasting
20:55 - Do Short Clips Help Expand Your Audience?
24:20 - TikTok Algorithm
25:29 - Fountain App’s Tools for Creating Clips
27:01 - Tips for Growing Your Podcast
32:32 - Perfectionism
34:02 - Going From Nike to Starting His Own Business
38:59 - Conflict Resolution
44:09 - Struggles with Mental Health and Alcohol Addiction
47:42 - When Did it Escalate?
49:34 - Attitudes to Quitting Drinking
54:29 - What’s Next for the Fountain App?
Before launching Fountain, Nick served as a Brand Manager at the renowned athletic footwear and apparel giant, Nike. In 2021, he turned his passion for podcasts into a visionary business venture by co-founding Fountain alongside his friend Oscar Merry. The idea took root during the lockdown, as Nick spent more and more time listening to podcasts.
*** Love Anatomy of a Leader? Help us grow! Check us out on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/ba3uVmwxVRvOXgEzBs4e
Nick Malster:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmalster/?originalSubdomain=uk
X: https://twitter.com/nickmalster?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
X: https://twitter.com/fountain_app
Website: https://www.fountain.fm/
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Feb 6, 2024 • 1h 39min
#88 From Area Sales Manager to AVON CEO: How to Carve Your Own Path to CEO with Angela Cretu
Check out this course https://corporateladderdecoded.com/aff/6/ to accelerate your career and unlock your earning potential - full transparency: purchasing the course supports us, at no extra cost to you.
Angela Cretu, the former CEO of Avon, is here to talk about how to become a leader on your own terms, from her experiences in her 25-year career at Avon.
If you’re a reluctant leader feeling like you don’t fit the mould, and need some inspiration, then you’ve got to watch this episode!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
07:54 - You Shouldn’t Behave Like Men to Advance in Your Career
12:10 - Too Much Testosterone in the Workplace
14:43 - Turning Your Biggest Barriers Into Your Biggest Multipliers
24:34 - Getting Her First Big Promotion
44:18 - Recognising Your Strengths and Accepting Your Weaknesses
53:36 - Feedforward, Not Feedback
56:44 - Tips for Building a Healthy Relationship With Your Partner
01:12:45 - Why Angela Didn’t Want to be the CEO of Avon
01:22:55 - Why She Decided to Leave Avon
01:33:00 - Advice for Women Who Want to Become a CEO
01:35:58 - Advice to Your Younger Self
Angela began her career at Avon 25 years ago, starting out as an Area Sales Manager in her native Romania, and eventually rising to CEO in 2020, despite her reluctance to assume the role. She has recently passed the mantle on, yet remains as an API Board Member and Senior Advisor appointed by N&Co in the Advisory Committee for the company.
*** Love Anatomy of a Leader? Help us grow! Check us out on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/ba3uVmwxVRvOXgEzBs4e
Angela Cretu:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-cretu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angela_cretu/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@avon_uk
Website: https://avon.uk.com/
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Jan 30, 2024 • 43min
#87 Charity: Water: Building a Business that Makes a Difference With Hannah Bellamy
Check out this course https://corporateladderdecoded.com/aff/6/ to accelerate your career and unlock your earning potential - full transparency: purchasing the course supports us, at no extra cost to you.
Hannah Bellamy, the Managing Director of charity: water, is here to talk about her mission for everyone to have clean, safe water to drink, as well as what it takes to run the business side of a charity.
If you want to make a difference in the world, but don’t know how to help, or want to know more about the logistics of running a charity, then this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
07:06 - Getting People to Care
12:54 - Realising Her Privilege
14:51 - Leaving the Corporate Life for charity: water
17:22 - The Business of Charity
21:51 - How Women are Impacted the Most by Not Having Clean Water
34:38 - What Can the Listeners Do to Help?
Hannah started her career in publishing, later moving into corporate responsibility and the nonprofit sector. She served as the founding CEO of United Way UK and is now the Managing Director of charity: water UK, where she oversees operations, boosts awareness, and builds a supporter base across Europe.
DONATE: https://bit.ly/4bjZJAI
Hannah Bellamy:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hannahbellamy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charitywater/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charitywater?lang=en
X: https://twitter.com/charitywater?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Website: https://www.charitywater.org/uk
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Jan 23, 2024 • 1h 4min
#86 How to be the Parent that RAISES Future Leaders w/ Educational Psychologist Dr. Patricia Britto
Check out this course https://corporateladderdecoded.com/aff/6/ to accelerate your career and unlock your earning potential - full transparency: purchasing the course supports us, at no extra cost to you.
Dr. Patricia Britto, an Educational Psychologist, is here to talk about how to develop emotional intelligence and how to raise future leaders.
If you’re keen to find out how you can raise your kids to be empathetic, resilient, and emotionally intelligent adults, or are looking for some tips to apply to your own life, then this episode is a must-watch.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
03:15 - Getting Into the Field of Educational Psychology
11:17 - Unpack My Childhood Trauma: Frequently Asked Questions for Psychologists
16:37 - Why the Cry it Out Method Doesn’t Work
22:49 - How Can Parents Support Their Children with Autism or ADHD?
28:05 - Why Mothers Need a Great Support Network
35:19 - Being a Stay at Home Mum is a Job
37:54 - Why Learning How to Emotionally Regulate is Vital
44:01 - Don’t Raise Your Kids to be People Pleasers
53:32 - Why the Naughty Step Doesn’t Help Children
54:20 - How Emotional Coaching Teaches Children to Process Their Feelings
59:15 - It’s OK to Regulate Yourself First
Dr. Patricia Britto-Ogini is an accomplished Educational Psychologist with a BSc in Psychology, MSc in Mental Health in Learning Disabilities, and a Doctorate, specialises in the needs of children with adverse experiences. Her extensive experience and collaborative approach in multidisciplinary settings highlight her dedication to improving vulnerable children's lives in education.
Dr Patricia Britto:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edpsy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drp.educationalpsychologist/
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Jan 16, 2024 • 1h 46min
#85 How to Lead as a Young Manager; LEADERSHIP Coach Heather Elkington’s Step by Step Guide
Check out this course https://corporateladderdecoded.com/aff/6/ to accelerate your career and unlock your earning potential - full transparency: purchasing the course supports us, at no extra cost to you.
Are you a young manager leading a team of people who are all older than you?
This week, I sat down with Heather Elkington, a leadership coach, author and social media star helping new managers become high-performing leaders.
If you’re feeling a lack of confidence in your management role, and want both advice and inspiration, then this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
02:01 - Becoming Obsessed with Working From a Young Age
04:55 - Firing People as a Young Manager
08:02 - Why You Should Work for a Small Company in the Beginning of Your Career
14:15 - From Being a Ruthless Control Freak to Learning to be Kinder
18:55 - Trying to Meet Harrods’ Impossible Standards
23:00 - Why Seeking Approval in Decision-Making Can Make You a Bad Manager
27:20 - Having the Courage of a Straight White Man
30:19 - Good Bosses, Bad Bosses, and Why You Should Take Control of Your Own Career
47:48 - Gen Z: Are They Entitled, or do They Just Know What They Want?
57:08 - Why You Should be Having More Difficult Conversations
01:08:08 - Emotional Intelligence
01:11:32 - Blame and Jealousy: Why We Feel it and How to Cope With it
01:18:57 - Leading With Intention
01:27:39 - What Are the Skills a Young Leader Needs to Develop?
01:33:30 - Why You Should Let Your Team Fail
01:39:21 - Learning How to Get Yourself Out of a Problem
Heather is the founder of In the Making Leadership, a company which was born from her own experiences of managing teams where everyone was older than her.
She’s spent the last 10 years leading fast-growing and effective SaaS companies like GoProposal and Sage, where she was Director of Operations, and she’s not even 30 yet!
*** Love Anatomy of a Leader? Help us grow! Check us out on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/ba3uVmwxVRvOXgEzBs4e
Heather Elkington:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heather-elkington
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipheather/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipheather
Website: inthemakingleadership.substack.com/
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Jan 9, 2024 • 1h 20min
#84 Messy Workplaces, Bad Bosses & Office Politics: Navigate the Workplace w/ Isabel Berwick Host of Working It Podcast
Help us grow - check out Fountain fountain.fm
This week’s guest is Isabel Berwick, an expert in helping people navigate post-pandemic careers and understand workplace cultures, in order for them to thrive at work.
The workplace has long been a site of drama - dealing with bad bosses, navigating office politics, salary negotiations, and the dreary 9-to-5 routine, not to mention sexist comments in the boardroom.
But, as the workforce evolves with the entry of Gen Z, current workplace cultures are being questioned, as they no longer align with contemporary work expectations.
If this is something you’re interested in, then this episode is for you!
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Messiness of Workplaces and Human Drama
04:09 - Workplace Emotions and Handling Polarisation Within Companies
09:18 - Workplace Anger and Factors Driving Employee Departures
10:37 - Main Reasons People Leave Their Jobs and the Role of Managers
12:13 - Challenges in Recruitment and Making Placements Work
14:21 - Questions to Ask Your Potential New Boss in an Interview
17:35 - Boomerang Employees
19:26 - Gen Z’s Perspective on Bad Bosses and Evolving Mentorship
21:06 - Gender Pay Gap and Transparency Measures in the Workplace
23:45 - Salaries and Negotiation: To Ask or Not to Ask?
25:53 - Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Strategies for Pay Equality and Diverse Leadership
26:49 - Shifting from Token Diversity to Inclusive Leadership
28:11 - Charisma in Leadership: Inspiring or Dangerous?
31:16 - Messy Workplaces: The Impact of Fear, Avoidance, and Communication Gaps
33:07 - The Problem with Feedback
38:11 - Accepting Your Blind Spots
40:52 - Why Radical Transparency is Unhelpful
41:58 - Learning from Younger Generations
42:48 - Isabel’s New Book: The Future-Proof Career
45:03 - AI, Pandemic, and the Future of Work
48:42 - Office Pros and the Notion of Belonging
52:34 - The Biggest Changes in Employee Expectations
55:55 - Matching Personal Strengths with Company Needs: Neurodiversity and Skills Alignment
01:01:41 - New Year’s Resolutions for Professional Growth
01:07:53 - Books that Shaped Isabel’s Thinking in the Past Year
01:11:07 - Exploring Failure and Its Role in Success
01:12:31 - Becoming Better Followers and Leadership Loneliness
Isabel is the host of the Financial Times Working It podcast and author of its namesake newsletter.
She moderates FT events, serves as the editorial lead for the FT Women in Business Forum, and is author of an upcoming book about thriving in the workplace - The Future-Proof Career.
Isabel Berwick:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-berwick-8b4922167/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/isabelberwick/?hl=en-gb
X: https://twitter.com/IsabelBerwick
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/working-it/id1591925469
FT: https://www.ft.com/working-it
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Buy the Books:
The Future Proof Career by Isabel Berwick - https://amzn.to/3NRirpm
From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks - https://amzn.to/3tzaa2E
The 100-Year Life by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott - https://amzn.to/48nVVgd
Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson - https://amzn.to/3TNBjcN
Playing Big by Tara Mohr - https://amzn.to/3TS5wrg
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
Check out the podcast on Fountain - https://fountain.fm/show/ba3uVmwxVRvOXgEzBs4e
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Jan 2, 2024 • 11min
#83 How to Have a Difficult Conversation with Your Boss - Kate Waterfall Hill
Happy New Year from all of us at Anatomy of a Leader!
Are you wrapped in a warm blanket not ready for the world, considering quitting your job so you don’t have to face your toxic boss ever again?
Before you make any rash decisions - I’ve put together a clip from one of the most downloaded episodes of 2023 with Kate Waterfall Hill - leadership coach and TikTok sensation with her Linda the toxic boss persona.
In this clip I ask Kate:
- How to spot a toxic boss
- How to have a tough conversation with them
- How to figure out your values
Are you struggling with a toxic boss?
Let me know in the comments or leave a review in Apple Podcasts with your thoughts.
Kate Waterfall Hill:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-waterfall-hill/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katewaterfallhill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katewaterfallhill/
Website: https://www.waterfallhill.co.uk/
Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Buy the Books:
The Intentional Leader by Tim Hebert - https://amzn.to/3LG6kdE
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier - https://amzn.to/3rmMBsM
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith - https://amzn.to/46tQyKZ
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com
Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Dec 26, 2023 • 1h 29min
Bill Bailey Xmas Special 2023 - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year #82
Buy the book: https://amzn.to/3MCG8jT (Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to Happiness)
Bill is witty, humble and full of wisdom. I felt very fortunate to have spent two hours getting to understand his mind.
I’m sure you will love this conversation as much as I did.
#billbailey #humour #christmas
Timestamps:
02:40 - Bill growing up with many interests
05:36 - When did you discover you were funny?
09:30 - Being an outcast
11:34 - How do you measure success for yourself?
13:51 - What’s your process of writing shows?
24:09 - How to balance the need for being funny and combining serious topics?
26:09 - What is humour?
29:23 - Why do we have the need to laugh as humans?
32:49 - What’s your worst joke?
39:33 - The thrill of performance
41:32 - Sharing the stage with Robin Williams / depression
46:23 - Feeling down at Christmas
50:27 - What hardship have you endured and what did they teach you?
52:31 - Grief & loss of Bill’s mother
58:29 - Loss of Sean Lock - comedian and close friend
57:53 - Performing at Royal Opera House
01:04:56 - What did you enjoy more, Strictly Come Dancing or Royal Opera House?
01:08:49 - How did what you learn at Strictly inform future performances?
01:19:52 - Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?
01:23:23 - Advice for younger self & finding your own voice
Bill Bailey is one of the most brilliant performers of our time. Although renowned for his stand-up comedy, Bill is much more versatile than that.
He is a skilled musician, incorporating musical elements in his shows. He did that brilliantly recently at The Royal Opera House. It turns out he is a very skilled dancer as well, having won Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 with his dance partner Oti Mabuse.
He has appeared in a variety of television shows and films, including Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and Doctor Who and has written several books, including Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness, which we discuss on the show.
We talked about:
* His many interests and how he has combined them in unique ways
* Being an outcast
* Performing with Robin Williams / depression in comedians
* Grief and the death of his mother
* His advice on happiness at Christmas
* Finding your own voice
* Finding confidence
* Role of humour in society
* His worst joke
* And whether Strictly Come Dancing was his most favourite performance
Bill Bailey:
X: https://twitter.com/BillBailey
IG: https://www.instagram.com/billbaileyofficial/
Website: https://billbailey.co.uk/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/billbailey
Follow Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com
Contact: anatomyofaleader@hvosearch.com
Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/
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