Begin Again with Davina McCall

What if success is not the end of the story, but the beginning of becoming yourself? In this episode of Begin Again, bestselling author Jojo Moyes joins Davina to talk about rejection, reinvention, and the story behind becoming one of the world’s most loved writers in midlife. Jojo opens up about the years before Me Before You, when books were rejected, sales were low, and she wondered whether she would have to find a new career. Then everything changed. Her work went on to sell millions around the world, but success brought new challenges: emotional responsibility, pressure, and the painful realisation that she had no boundaries. Davina and Jojo also explore childhood loneliness, becoming fiercely independent, learning to ask for help, and the cost of always saying yes. They discuss why achieving the life you once dreamed of does not protect you from having to begin again. Jojo speaks honestly about divorce, and how even when it is messy and complicated, handling it with kindness can bring a clarity you never expected. They talk about identity, midlife loneliness, dating again and motherhood. How ambition and trusting yourself are the secrets to protecting your peace after years of pushing through. At its heart, this is a conversation about what happens when the life you dreamed of finally arrives, and you still have to learn how to live inside it. Jojo Moyes reminds us that beginning again is not about starting from nothing. It is about learning to honour who you are now, not just who you had to become to survive. Buy We All Live Here: https://amzn.to/4dQHepU 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Follow us here:📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Jojo: https://www.instagram.com/jojomoyesofficial/?hl=en ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (02:07) What Is A Narcissist? (09:26) Identifying A Narcissist (15:48) The Different Types Of Narcissists (21:57) How Narcissistic Parents Affect Their Children (30:08) What Is Gaslighting? Narcissism In Relationships (34:18) Shopify Ad (35:19) Why Some People Are Attracted To Narcissists (43:47) Why It’s So Hard To Leave A Narcissistic Relationship (53:15) Narcissism In Kids (01:03:29) Why People Go Back To Narcissists (01:06:04) Narcissism In The Workplace Sponsored by: Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off Shopify - Shopify.co.uk for £1 a month trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the world knows your story, but you’re still trying to understand it yourself? Malala Yousafzai has lived a life the world thinks it knows. But behind the headlines is a young woman who lost her childhood, was forced to grow up too fast, and then had to discover who she was beyond everyone else’s expectations. In this episode of Begin Again, Malala joins Davina for a deeply personal conversation about courage, identity, freedom and love. She reflects on growing up in Swat Valley, the father who taught her to use her voice, the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, and the attack that changed the trajectory of her life at just 15. But this conversation also reveals a different side of Malala: feeling lonely at school in the UK, trying to make friends, searching for who she wanted to be at Oxford, and learning how to reclaim the childhood she never got to have. Davina and Malala also talk about love and marriage, including why Malala once believed she would never marry, and what changed when she met the person she couldn’t imagine life without. At its heart, this is a conversation about losing yourself, finding your voice, and beginning again on your own terms. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Malala: https://www.instagram.com/malala/?hl=en Finding my way available here:https://www.waterstones.com/book/finding-my-way/malala-yousafzai/9781399619349 ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (01:10) An Introduction To Malala’s Story (04:39) Growing Up In Pakistan With A Supportive Father (12:07) Watching Her Mother Sacrifice Her Own Dreams (20:01) Why Education Became So Powerful For Malala (23:25) Losing Her Childhood And Becoming A Voice For Children (30:50) The Day Everything Changed For Malala (35:21) Reclaiming Her Childhood In Her 20s (41:40) School In The UK And Meeting Alice (47:26) Studying At Oxford And Finding Freedom (54:19) Balancing Personal Life, Education, And Advocacy (57:50) Why Malala Wrote Her Memoir (58:46) Living With PTSD And Trauma (01:04:51) Getting Therapy And Asking For Help (01:07:12) Finding Love With Her Husband, Asser (01:16:30) Staying Focused On Her Mission (01:19:09) The Malala Fund And Its Mission Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narcissism doesn’t just damage relationships, it can make you lose trust in yourself. In this episode of Begin Again, psychotherapist and narcissism expert Kathleen Saxton joins Davina to explain what narcissism really is, how gaslighting works, and why the damage can be so hard to recognise when you are still inside it. Kathleen breaks down the hidden patterns of narcissistic relationships: the charm, confusion, silent treatment, public/private switch, and the slow erosion of your confidence. Davina and Kathleen also explore narcissistic parents, trauma bonds, why leaving can feel impossible, and how growing up around narcissism can make you lose sight of who you really are. At its heart, this is a conversation about gaslighting, self-doubt, identity, and the long journey back to trusting yourself again. Kathleen Saxton reminds us that beginning again after narcissistic abuse is not about becoming harder. It is about finally learning to believe yourself. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Buy 'My Parent the Peacock': https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parent-Peacock-Discovery-Narcissistic-Parenting/dp/1399822594 Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Kathleen: https://www.instagram.com/clinicwithk/ ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (02:07) What Is A Narcissist? (09:26) Identifying A Narcissist (15:48) The Different Types Of Narcissists (21:57) How Narcissistic Parents Affect Their Children (30:08) What Is Gaslighting? Narcissism In Relationships (34:18) Shopify Ad (35:19) Why Some People Are Attracted To Narcissists (43:47) Why It’s So Hard To Leave A Narcissistic Relationship (53:15) Narcissism In Kids (01:03:29) Why People Go Back To Narcissists (01:06:04) Narcissism In The Workplace Sponsored by: Shopify - https://www.shopify.com/uk for £1 a month trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when everyone thinks they know you, but no one sees what you’re really carrying? In this episode of Begin Again, Trinny Woodall opens up about the moments that shaped her life, her identity, and the woman she has become. Known for her energy, style, honesty and reinvention, Trinny reflects on the public version of herself people thought they understood, and the private struggles that were happening underneath. Trinny shares the truth about addiction, recovery, and the moment she realised she had to want to change her life for herself. After years of trying to hold everything together, she speaks about taking responsibility, starting again, and learning who she really was when everything else had been stripped back. This conversation also explores one of the most painful chapters of Trinny’s life: grief after losing Johnny, the father of her daughter. Trinny speaks honestly about the emotional and practical fallout of loss, becoming the person who had to keep things moving, and how selling her house became part of both survival and a new beginning. She opens up about ageing, energy, beauty, menopause, and why she refuses to disappear as she gets older. For Trinny, how we present ourselves is not about vanity, but about agency, identity, and asking: who do I want to be today? At its heart, this is a conversation about change, grief, self-worth, and finally refusing to live as the version of yourself other people expect. Trinny Woodall is proof that beginning again is not about becoming someone else. It is about finally becoming yourself. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod Follow Trinny: https://www.instagram.com/trinnywoodall/?hl=en Follow Trinny London: https://www.instagram.com/trinnylondon/?hl=en ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (03:06) How Trinny Became “Trinny” (08:07) Trinny’s Upbringing And Relationship With Her Parents (11:59) Starting Her First Business At School (13:39) Working In The City In A Man’s World (19:02) Drug Addiction And Rehab (26:49) How Trinny Rebuilt Herself After Rehab (29:26) Shopify Ad (31:21) Why Self-Image Matters To Trinny (35:02) Meeting Susannah Constantine (37:53) Miscarriages, IVF And Fertility Struggles (41:18) How Trinny Fell Pregnant With Lyla (44:43) How Trinny Met Her Husband Johnny (52:56) Losing Johnny And Coping With Grief (01:01:35) How Trinny London Helped Rebuild Her Life (01:08:14) Ageing Disgracefully (01:14:02) Trinny’s Advice For Women To Live Happier Lives Sponsored by: Shopify - Shopify.co.uk for £1 a month trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we dive into the evolving dynamics of parenting as your children grow into adults. Dearbhla Mescal shares her journey of adjusting to her children's adulthood, discussing how to navigate the shift from traditional parenting to supporting them as independent adults. She reflects on how to remain close while respecting their autonomy, finding balance in the new stage of their relationship. Following that, Mel Robbins offers practical advice on how to maintain a healthy relationship with your adult children. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries, staying connected, and embracing the changes that come with this stage of life, while also highlighting the crucial role of communication in sustaining strong, supportive bonds. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on how to gracefully transition into a new phase of parenting as your children become adults, offering insights and real-life wisdom on fostering these crucial relationships. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices