Beauty Full Lives

In this episode, Madeleine is joined by the broadcaster Emma Willis, who takes me through her beauty journey from her childhood, where her heroes were Sandy from Grease and Kylie Minogue, both of whom she says appealed because they have that girl next door thing about them, through her years of smoky eyes while working at MTV, all the way to today, where she’s more focussed on health and discussing the realities of how she safeguards hers.Emma also talks about the effect being pregnant had on her body, her favourite brown mascara, and the joy of Nez Hasan's microblading skills. The episode was produced by Rich Jarman, with artwork by Sung Lee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Madeleine Spencer is joined by the writer Ella Ward, who, in Ella's words "has worked in advertising for 22 years. This means she has a proclivity for profanity and doesn’t respect punctuation. In 2018 she was hit with the cancer stick, which apart from being rather frightening also encouraged a foray into oversharing on Instagram, and then – magically – writing. Her first book, 27 Letters to my Daughter, was released through HarperCollins Australia in 2022. A novel is on its way. Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, child, dog, cat and many neuroses."During the episode, we touch on all those things, and others besides - the joy of bright pink lipstick, especially. You may find some of the topics triggering, so do please be aware of that when listening.The episode was produced by Rich Jarman, with artwork by Sung Lee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Madeleine Spencer is joined by the exonerate, journalist, public speaker, podcast host, and author Amanda Knox.Between 2007 and 2015 she spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for murder and every single one of those years was splashed across the front pages of newspapers worldwide - often accompanied by the nickname “foxy knoxy”, which she explains in this episode was merely a soccer nickname from school reporters took to because, well, the world had by this point deemed Amanda foxy, her appearance making her more newsworthy. In this episode, Amanda tells her story and also adds the human experience of those traumas such as the challenge to overcome her claustrophobia in prison, what she eventually ate on being released, finding herself opening doors for the first time in years and talks about moments we know from the press, but with her details, her feelings and thoughts throughout.The episode was produced by Rich Jarman, with artwork by Sung Lee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author, artist, and slow-living advocate Giselle La Pompe-Moore believes that everything you need to be content lies within, and that there are no barriers to spirituality - you just have to take a moment to take it in (which, incidentally is the name of her book, Take It In). She joins me in this episode to discuss how she entered through the frenzy of modern life and found that doing less helped her to find her inner core self - and use it to help others do the same. There's a guided meditation at the end of the episode, if you'd like to partake. This episode is powered by Amly Botanicals. For 22% off your order, use the code BEAUTY22 at checkout at amlybotanicals.co.uk.The episode was produced by Rich Jarman, with artwork by Sung Lee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I first met Tova Leigh at the launch of her first book, Fucked at 40, which as the title suggests is a rather no holds barred look at some of the things Tova had experienced in her then 40 years.I liked how forthright, fun, and funny she was, and put her on my wish list of guests to come on the podcast. The pandemic slightly thwarted our efforts to have a chat, so in the end, we recorded this episode over zoom.In it, Tova explains how she went from a studious married woman living in Jerusalem to a divorcee in London, before meeting her husband Mike and going on to have three children. Does that sound like a neat and rounded off happy ending after which our heroine rides off into the sunset? Probably, but Tova, being the boldly honest woman she is, adds nuance, talking about the mental and physical trauma of having children, the need to travel away from them sometimes to reconnect with herself, and the desire that, despite loving them, they’d on occasion, in Tova’s words, ‘just fuck off.’We also talk about enjoying rather than performing sex, how she navigates representing her relationship online, and how Tova has used the very same face cream since she was 20. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carrie is an artist who works in a variety of media creating her designs on items as varied as car bonnets, plates and paint cans made of ceramic. She has worked in film, performance and sculpture. Carrie's website describes her output as “anarchic artworks where vintage floral, kitsch, royal and religious crockery is given a new twist by refiring with layers of new ceramic decals." Carrie is perhaps best known for her mosaic home which has become so well known over the twenty years that she has been decorating it, that it has become a recommended stop for tourists making the trip to Chiswick where Carrie lives.To record this episode of the podcast I visited Carrie's home, which as you can imagine doesn't really need a door number because the house is immediately recognisable, standing out from the red bricked buildings on the street thanks to its multi coloured mosaics of all sorts including a cheshire cat, flying eyeballs, dancing skeletons and palm trees covering the front of the house. The legend "I'm an artist, your rules don't apply” is displayed prominently. A bumper detail on the taxi parked in front of the house, also covered in mosaic, reads ‘beware artists, they mix with all classes of society and are therefore the most dangerous.’I first became aware of Carrie's work when I received one of her pieces as a Christmas gift - a plate which said ‘buy less, fuck (excuse the expletive) more.’ It was kitsch, and yet anarchic. I was curious, so went to take a look at her mosaic house. Here’s a woman with a story, I thought, so I asked her on the podcast. Carrie’s answer to being invited on a podcast focussing on beauty was ‘I hardly have a ritual - I just wash off grout.’ That sealed it - I had to have her come on to tell her story, and to explain how a woman with such a keen eye for adorning had never been seduced by beauty.We sat in her garden to record this, which is why you can hear cars, wind, her dog scratching around, and the general bustle of London. I hope to you that adds to the picture, fleshing out what it’s like to have a very frank conversation with a very frank woman. We talk about all sorts from Dolly Parton to art as therapy to how Princess Diana helped to destigmatise self harm to her friendship with a death row inmate. I loved this having this conversation, and I hope you enjoy listening to it.(A little warning before you listen, as you may have guessed, Carrie isn’t one for holding back, and you might find some of the topics we discuss triggering.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actress Kristen Bell believes, in her own words, 'in moderation with everything.' In today's episode, she talks about how this relates to her attitude towards food, make-up, and her career, as well as running through the products which mean which she simply can't get by without.This episode is sponsored by Scandi brand Mantle, who are kindly offering 20% off their face and body products with the code MADELEINE - but only to the first 50 buyers, so get in there quickly if you'd like to take advantage of the discount to try their CBD-powered wellness products. You can check out their products at https://www.hellomantle.co.uk or @hellomantle on Instagram.To browse Hello Bello products, head to https://hellobello.co.uk.This episode was produced by Rich Jarman, with artwork by Sung Lee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode in the Innovator's Series, in which I'm shining a light on some of the brands doing excellent things within the industry, I'm joined by GP specialising in dermatology Dr Anita Sturnham to discuss EVERYTHING you need to know about IPL, and about the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL device.We cover how it works, who it is suitable for, why it's safe to use at home, and little details around using an IPL device like the shaving before and - a question I was desperate to have answered - what on earth happens to the hair once it's given up the ghost?This episode is powered by Braun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I’m joined by the TV personality and author Georgia Toffolo. We spend some time discussing the acneic skin that has affected her confidence deeply throughout her life to the extent where she was allowed special dispensation to apply a layer of foundation during her stint on I’m A Celebrity, as well as lots of joyous things: dogs, Abba, her top beauty essentials, and politics which, for Georgia, is a topic that arouses great passion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

English fashion designer Alice Temperley MBE founded her eponymous brand in 2000 after stints at the Royal College of Art and Central St Martins, and her designs have since been worn by Kate Middleton, Madonna, Beyonce, and Halle Berry, among many, many others.Today, Alice and I discuss that ascent and some of the challenges that have come with running a brand alongside being a mum, how being a creative at the helm of a business can at times pull you away from the very thing that put your name on the map, her signature red lipstick, the origin of that inimitable Temperley aesthetic, and her collaboration with Oskia London, for whom she created the 'LOVE' massage candle*.*10% of the RRP is donated to Women to Women International, for whom Alice is an ambassador, when purchased directly from either Temperley London outlets or Oskia online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m joined in this bonus Innovators episode by Alex Tomic and Nik Mirkovic, who founded the Australian oral care brand HiSmile, and who continue to run it today.We talk about how they came to found the brand and how they made the most of a business idea - both are very keen on working with the best minds and on constantly trying to improve on what’s currently on the market.They are big believers in the North Star idea of reaching towards a huge goal which is, for HiSmile, to create the ultimate whitening products that don’t damage teeth.If you'd like to buy anything from HiSmile with a 15% discount, please enter MADELEINE at check out.Ad info: I work with HiSmile on my platforms regularly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's second bonus episode in this series in which I’m highlighting some incredible brand stories and talking to the people behind it all to find out just how they did it, I’m joined by Lizzie Pike, the co-founder of Face Halo. Since launching in 2017, Face Halo has replaced around 370 million wipes in the UK, saving over a billion makeup wipes from ending up in landfill sites globally. Now, Face Halo want to close the loop, and are asking those who’ve got Face Halos which have reached the end of their life (which is after around 200 wash cycles, FYI) to send them back in so they can be upcycled to make clothing, which you can buy on the Face Halo website. This range, called Modern Merch, comprises buttery soft tracksuits, cleverly-designed t-shirts, and some other bits.In today’s episode Lizzie explains how she went from air stewardess to mum to being at the helm of a global beauty business, and how she prioritises her time and energy, as well as sharing some wisdom which might hit home if you’re listening with a fantastic business idea jotted down on a napkin somewhere.This episode is sponsored by Face Halo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.