Lucy Loves Maria McErlane

This week I have a slightly different episode for you, it’s just me. I wanted to take an opportunity to reflect back on the last year and a half of my podcast journey and the guests that I have had the pleasure of interviewing. 

I have 69 episodes you can listen back to featuring some really interesting guests. They all have a different story, different energy and a different level of humour which they generously share with me. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to my podcast as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it. Stay tuned for Season 3!

Here are the highlights:

(01:18) What I love about the podcast is listening to people 

(04:08) I talk about some of my favourite episodes 

(12:18) What makes my heart smile 

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com  

Produced by the Podcast Boutique 

This week’s guest is the fantastically talented Andrew Bourn. Andrew won the hearts of the nation when he was a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent in 2014 as one-quarter of ‘Jack Pack’, a swing band. The handsome quartet, have performed all around the world alongside global artists in some huge venues.

Andrew is now enjoying a solo career, offering his fans an unforgettable experience as he performs still with that sparkle in his eye! 

We talk all about his time on Britain’s Got Talent, having a drink with Alesha Dixon, recording his album and how his family are his whole world. 

Here are the highlights:

(02:18) Coping during Covid

(04:31) Britain’s Got Talent

(10:59) Performing with ‘Jack Pack’

(17:28) Backstage on Britain’s got Talent

(21:00) Andrew’s proudest moment

(22:17) Andrew’s book and podcast recommendations

(25:28) What annoys Andrew about himself

(34:55) What makes Andrew’s heart smile 

Contact Andrew:

Website: https://www.andrewbourn.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbournofficial/?hl=en 

Andrew’s book recommendation:

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey 

Andrew’s podcast recommendation: 

Parenting Hell with Josh Widdicombe and Rob Beckett 

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com   

This week I am joined by the inspiring Rachel Sacerdoti, founder of It’s So Simple – an innovative new business combining the best of a personal trainer, nutritionist and coach to help you transform your life in a truly sustainable way. 

Rachel lived the It’s So Simple story, going through her own transformative journey physically and emotionally to lose 30kg before founding It’s So Simple. 

In this episode we discuss how she started her business, what makes her heart smile and so much more! 

Here are the highlights: 

(00:59) You can make any change you want to make 

(05:08) There’s so much pressure on us 

(08:00) The story of It’s So Simple 

(12:35) Being a positive role model for body image 

(17:50) My proudest moment 

(22:39) Growth mode 

(26:12) The world is on our shoulders 

Connect with Rachel and It’s So Simple: 

Website 

Instagram 

TikTok 

Facebook 

YouTube 

Rachel’s book recommendation: 

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com    

This week’s guest is a serial entrepreneur, business advisor, investor and someone by his own admission has made a lot of mistakes, the brilliant Matt Haycox. Matt uses his own personal experiences, mistakes and successes to help and guide others.

We have a wonderfully open and informative conversation where we talk about Matt’s passion for business, learning from past mistakes and his Christmas dinner lasagne! 

Here are the highlights:

(06:24) Matt’s story

(17:16) Learning when things go wrong

(18:40) What draws Matt to certain businesses

(24:54) Matt's proudest moment

(27:10) What annoys Matt about himself

(29:08) Matt’s lasagne

(36:10) The nicest compliment Matt has received 

(38:23) What makes Matt’s heart smile 

Contact Matt:

Website: https://matt-haycox.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematthaycox/ 

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/matthaycox

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-matt-haycox-show/id1475301177 

Matt’s book recommendation:

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferris

Matt’s podcast recommendation: 

The Game with Alex Hormozi: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-game-w-alex-hormozi/id1254720112

Dropping Bombs The Real Brad Lea Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dropping-bombs/id1260808808  

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com   

This week’s guest is the actor, singer, wordsmith, and all-round brilliant person Tom Read Wilson. Tom has fabulous energy, a big smile and his voice absolutely captivates me. I am so delighted to have him join me on the podcast and hope you enjoy our chat as much as I did.

We talk about his passion for etymology, his love of all the Dames and of course his proudest moment along with a whole lot more.  

Here are the highlights:

(01:36) His father’s love of etymology

(04:04) What’s keeping Tom busy at the moment

(07:52) Celebs Go Dating

(11:15) Who’s on his work wish list

(12:32) Tom’s proudest moment

(17:09) What annoy’s him about himself

(21:03) The nicest compliment he’s ever received

(28:17) How he coped throughout lockdown

(36:51) What makes Tom’s heart smile 

Contact Tom:

Website: http://www.tomreadwilson.co.uk/ 

Instagram: @tomreadwilson 

Twitter: @tomreadwilson

Tom’s books:

Every Word Tells a Story

On The Tip of my Tongue: The Perfect Word for Every Life Moment 

Tom’s book recommendation:

Tallulah Bankhead: My Autobiography 

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com   

This week’s guest is the brilliant storyteller Hannah Peckham. This is my second chat with Hannah and we are talking about the release of her new book Conker and the Monkey Trap.  Hannah uses her brilliant stories to support children navigating their emotions and adults too! I continue to be inspired by her hard work especially knowing the effort that Hannah puts into her books.

Today we talk about smiles, Hannahs's new book and her newfound love of crystals!

Here are the highlights:

(03:20) Conker and the Monkey Trap

(07:53) Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens

(10:23) Summer plans

(15:49) Hannah’s crystals

(21:38) What makes Hannah’s heart smile?

Contact Hannah:

Website: http://www.littlebodhibooks.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h.j.peckham/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/h_peckham

Hannah’s book:

Conker and the Monkey Trap

Ticket link for Conker at Leonardslee: https://www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/all-events/conker-at-leonardslee

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com  

This week’s guest is the fascinating Iveta Zaklasnikova, she is a communications and speaking expert. I’m curious to find out how Iveta turns corporate leaders into confident communicators as well as learning about her amazing travels, her passion to get equal pay for women and getting her motorbike licence!

Here are the highlights:

(01:22) Learning to get her motorbike licence

(02:56) Focussing on her business

(11:54) Iveta’s proudest moments

(15:08) The nicest compliment Iveta has received

(17:56) Iveta’s book recommendation

(24:27) Iveta’s Netflix recommendation

(28:49) What makes Iveta’s heart smile

Contact Iveta:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivetazaklasnikova/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivetazaklasnikova/

Iveta’s book recommendation:

The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn

Iveta’s Netflix recommendation:

Fauda

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com  

This week’s guest is the brilliant Sarah Gwonyoma. Sarah is the founder of the Instagram account ‘What Sarah Read Next’ a place where she shares her reviews and recommendations of books she loves. I love it when people can turn their passion into something wonderful, not only for themselves but for so many others. We discuss why she started blogging and reviewing books, how reading helped her through grief, being a guest speaker at the upcoming Happy Place Festival and so much more.

Here are the highlights:

(02:22) Relocating back to the UK

(09:49) Why Sarah started blogging

(16:05) Don’t put pressure on yourself to read

(20:05) Writing her own memoir

(21:32) Sarah’s proudest moment

(27:28) Having to homeschool during lockdown

(30:42) On enjoying cooking

(36:21) On guest speaking at the Happy Place Festival

(39:03) Sarah’s book recommendation

Contact Sarah:

Instagram: @whatsarahreadnext

Happy Place Festival: https://www.happyplaceofficial.co.uk

Sarah’s book recommendation:

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan

Beyond Grief by Pippa Vosper

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com  

This week’s guest is the gorgeous Victoria Spence, she is the founder of the Glow Up Project, where she shares her own experiences with body confidence to help others find true confidence in themselves. Victoria is a great ambassador for promoting honesty in the sometimes cruel world of social media and encourages others to appreciate that Insta-perfect isn’t always as perfect as it seems.

We talk about Victoria’s eating disorder journey, the books that have changed her life and launching her new company, the Glow Up Project.

Here are the highlights:

(05:32) Victoria’s eating disorder story

(14:30) I try to really help women shift their mindset

(17:21) Victoria’s proudest moments

(20:42) Victoria’s current relationship with food and her signature dish

(23:14) Her book recommendations

(32:08) What makes her heart smile

Contact Victoria:

https://www.instagram.com/victorianiamh/

https://www.instagram.com/theglowupproject_/

https://matchstickgroup.co

Victoria’s book recommendation:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com  

This week’s guest is Angharad Marsh, a TV consultant, an agent for Milk Management and a busy mum to three daughters. She looks after some fantastic people, a few of which have been guests on my podcast. Angharad radiates a genuine kindness along with an incredible smile.

We talk about having twins and raising daughters, returning to work after maternity leave, her love for her job and for tequila!

Here are the highlights:

(04:38) The shock when Angharad found out she was having twins

(09:18) How Angharad started working in TV

(15:43) Angharad’s proudest moments

(19:33) Her book recommendations

(25:00) The nicest compliments Angharad has received

(29:35) What makes her heart smile

Contact Angharad:

Website: https://www.milkmanagement.co.uk/

Instagram: @angharadwyn11

Angharad’s book recommendation:

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Find out more about Lucy and listen to more episodes at http://lucygourlay.com