Shows
Ctrl Alt DeleteI have something to tell you...Announcing a new two book special by me, Emma Gannon, including a free virtual workshop and special intro from Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way. **Books are only on sale until midnight on June 4th**Get yours here: poundproject.co.uk/shop/a-year-of-nothingIt's been a year since I last posted on this podcast.Sometimes it’s all a bit too much.Have you considered doing nothing about it?For years, I have written about work, wellbeing and productivity. Then I was struck down by chronic burnout an...
2024-05-2403 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteFrancesca Specter (Replay): How To Be Alone (And Enjoy It)Hello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay from last year with Francesca Specter, author of Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it, and the creator of the Alonement podcast. Francesca coined the term Alonement, which is different from being lonely - we talk about learning to enjoy your own company, tips and tools, and how we can speak about solitude in a more nuanced way. Hope you enjoy this conversation.My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks...
2023-07-0633 minCtrl Alt DeleteEmily Weiss (Replay): On Building GlossierThis replay is Emily Weiss, founder of Glossier, who, after build a community on her blog Into The Gloss, saw an opportunity to create a new beauty experience that celebrates and speaks to the customer directly. Founded in 2014, Glossier is a digital-first beauty company with a mission to give voice through beauty and since launching, Glossier has introduced 36 products, opened two permanent stores (NY and LA), raised $186 million in funding, and has welcomed 3 million customers the Glossier community. And that was back in 2019 when we recorded this episode so I’m not sure on those stats now but I'm st...
2023-06-2937 minCtrl Alt DeleteMadeleine Dore (Replay): Screw Productivity GuiltHello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay of a conversation with writer and interviewer Madeleine Dore, recorded in April 2022. We discuss her book ‘I Didn’t Do The Thing Today’; a gentle, wise, and insightful look at letting go of productivity guilt, and the relationship between our output with inner self worth. Hope you enjoy.My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-mentioned-on-ctrl-alt-delete-podcastTwitter: Twitter.com/emmagannonInstagram: Instagram.com/emmaga...
2023-06-2236 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteThe Success Myth Diaries #5: Tim Clare on AnxietyWelcome back to The Success Myth Diaries. Today's guest is Tim Clare, performance poet, author of two fantasy novels and nonfiction books including WE CAN'T ALL BE ASTRONAUTS, which won Best Biography/Memoir at the East Anglian Book Awards. His latest book COWARD a brilliant book about why we get anxious and what we can do about it (one of my favourite books on anxiety). His podcast Death Of 1000 Cuts, a podcast for readers, writers, and anyone who fancies being a little bit happier while they do those things. In this episode we discuss his three success myths around...
2023-06-1536 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteThe Success Myth Diaries #4: Fiona Arrigo on SpiritualityWelcome back to The Success Myth Diaries! My guest today is the wonderful Fiona Arrigo who is beloved for her ever-evolving wisdom and heart-based living for the changing times: a visionary in her field, she works globally as a Biodynamic Psychotherapist, Intuitive Healer, Mentor and Life Teacher. She runs The Arrigo Programme which is a profound healing system, developed in conjunction with Fiona’s expert team of practitioners, which you can find out more about here: https://thearrigoprogramme.com. It was so wonderful talking to Fiona about her success myths, about how the world is going through massive change, an...
2023-06-0835 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteThe Success Myth Diaries: #3 Jeff Hamaoui on MidlifeWelcome back to The Success Myth Diaries! Today’s guest is Jeff Hamaoui, a seasoned teacher, master facilitator and Chief Innovation and Education Officer for Modern Elder Academy. The Modern Elder Academy is a program for people going through midlife transitions - they are on a mission to reframe midlife from a crisis to a calling. Their purpose is to help you find a renewed sense of purpose and I really love what they do - and how they talk about ageing, success and purpose. I hope you enjoy hearing Jeff’s myths of success - such an interesting episo...
2023-06-0131 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteThe Success Myth Diaries #1: Chelsea Fagan on MoneyWelcome to the Success Myth Diaries! A brand new mini-series to accompany my new book The Success Myth: Letting Go Of Having It All which is out TODAY. My book unpicks the 8 success myths, from happiness to money to productivity to celebrity to the idea of ‘arriving’, looking at all the different ways traditional success is marketed to us and how it can take us off track to what really makes us personally fulfilled. To celebrate I am interviewing a selection of people I admire about what success means to them, and I’ve asked them to come with their t...
2023-05-1833 minCtrl Alt DeleteLena Dunham (Replay): Dealing With Online LifeHello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is an oldie but a goodie with writer and director, Lena Dunham, recorded in 2017. It was an absolute treat getting to hang out with Lena on an exciting sunny Friday morning in her London hotel room, so I hope you enjoy our conversation.My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-mentioned-on-ctrl-alt-delete-podcastTwitter: Twitter.com/emmagannonInstagram: Instagram.com/emmagannonuk Hosted on...
2023-05-1128 minCtrl Alt DeletePoppy Jamie (Replay): On Being Happy Not PerfectHello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay from from 2021 with entrepreneur, author and presenter, Poppy Jamie, a leading voice in the mental wellbeing and mindfulness space. In this episode we discuss flexible thinking, launching the first talk show on Snapchat ‘Pillow Talk with Poppy’ and her first book Happy Not Perfect. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Poppy.My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: http...
2023-05-0436 minCtrl Alt DeleteGreta Gerwig (Replay): On Being A Multi-HyphenateHello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay with the acclaimed actor, writer and director Greta Gerwig, recorded way back in 2018. We spoke about the release of her debut film, Ladybird and life as a multi-hyphenate.. Hope you enjoy this little trip down memory lane!My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-mentioned-on-ctrl-alt-delete-podcastTwitter: Twitter.com/emmagannonInstagram: Instagram.com/emmagannonuk Hosted on Acast. See acast...
2023-04-2723 minCtrl Alt DeleteNick Hornby (Replay): Dealing With RejectionHello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay episode from 2021 with the iconic Nick Hornby, author of many novels, including High Fidelity, About a Boy, and Juliet, Naked. In this episode we talk about creative advice, thoughts on rejection, and being published. I hope you enjoy our conversation!My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-mentioned-on-ctrl-alt-delete-podcastTwitter: Twitter.com/emmagannonInstagram: Instagram.com/emmagannonuk Hosted on...
2023-04-2028 minCtrl Alt DeleteDaisy Buchanan (Replay): When A Job Turns ToxicHello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay episode from 2022 with Daisy Buchanan, an award winning journalist, author and broadcaster. In this episode we discuss her career as a whole and dig into the themes in her novel ‘Careering’ - all about the toxic relationship we can have with our jobs. Hope you enjoy.My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-mentioned-on-ctrl-alt-delete-podcastTwitter: Twitter.com/emmagannonInstagram: Instagram.com/emmagannonuk
2023-04-1334 minCtrl Alt DeleteTara Brach (Replay): Trusting Your GoodnessHello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay from 2021 with the inspirational teacher Tara Brach, who is known for her work around mindfulness, meditation, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening. In this episode we discussed her book Trusting The Gold: Learning to Nurture Your Inner Light, which I really recommend checking out. Hope you enjoy!My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-mentioned-on-ctrl-alt-delete-podcastTwitter: Twitter.com/emmagannonInstagram: Instagram.com/emmagannonuk
2023-04-0630 minCtrl Alt DeleteCatherine Gray (Replay): The Power Of Personal WritingThis is a replay episode from 2021 with award-winning author Catherine Gray, best known for her The Unexpected Joy of books. She’s now back with a brand new book called Sunshine Warm Sober: Unexpected sober joy that lasts which is available in paperback now. The book is all about her eighth sober year and what she’s learned since her last books. We talk about the power of personal writing, setting boundaries and changing the way you live to live a better life for yourself. I find Catherines writing raw, reflective and helps the reader root for themselves. Hope you e...
2023-03-3033 minCtrl Alt DeleteIan Leslie (Replay): How To Disagree SuccessfullyThis is a replay for 2021, with writer Ian Leslie. He is the author of multiple acclaimed books on human behaviour. He writes about psychology, culture, technology and business for the New Statesman, the Economist, the Guardian and the Financial Times. He also writes a Substack called The Ruffian with brilliant articles on topics like why you should disagree with yourself. In this episode we are discussing his new book Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together. Hope you enjoy this chat on why disagreeing is a good thing, and how we can...
2023-03-2332 minCtrl Alt DeleteBella Mackie (Replay): On Writing & JoggingThis episode was recorded in 2019, with bestselling author Bella Mackie on her book Jog on. Since this episode aired, Bella’s novel How To Kill Your Family has become a UK bestseller, topping the charts for months, if you haven’t read it already it’s a great holiday read, although potentially awkward if holidaying with your family. Hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane with Bella.My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.booksh...
2023-03-1634 minCtrl Alt DeleteAva Duvernay (Replay): "Dare To Be Yourself"Hello - this is a replay episode with the incredible Ava Duvernay. In 2016 she was named one of Oprah Winfrey's SuperSoul 100 visionaries, and in 2017 she became the first Black woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, for her film 13th. This episode was recorded in 2018, around the time the film A Wrinkle in Time came out (starring a mega cast of Oprah, Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon) which she directed. We chatted about her career, the film and how she changed careers later in the life and how there is no rush when it comes to...
2023-03-0919 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteSam Conniff (Replay): How To Deal With UncertaintyThis is a replay episode. I have two very exciting guests for you today, the brilliant Sam Conniff and Katherine Templar Lewis, who are here to talk all about uncertainty, a theme that feels especially prominent right now. Life is uncertain and it feels so difficult to deal with. In this episode we are discussing their brand new project The Uncertainty Experts, a powerful three-part interactive documentary scientifically proven to reduce our fear of the unknown, reduce anxiety, increase empathy and improve decision-making and problem-solving. In our conversation we discuss all these things, how this new research is pushing th...
2023-03-0231 minCtrl Alt DeleteHolly Bourne (Replay): How To Keep WritingMy guest today is the brilliant author Holly Bourne (recorded in 2021) who started her writing career as a news journalist, where she was nominated for Best Print Journalist of the Year. She then spent six years working as an editor, a relationship advisor, and general 'agony aunt' for a youth charity - helping young people with their relationships and mental health. (TW: This episode discusses rape and sexual assault.)Inspired by what she saw helping young people, she started writing teen fiction, including the best-selling award-winning 'Spinster Club' series which helps educate teenagers about feminism. When she...
2023-02-2436 minCtrl Alt DeleteHolly Bourne (Replay): How To Keep WritingMy guest today is the brilliant author Holly Bourne (recorded in 2021) who started her writing career as a news journalist, where she was nominated for Best Print Journalist of the Year. She then spent six years working as an editor, a relationship advisor, and general 'agony aunt' for a youth charity - helping young people with their relationships and mental health. (TW: This episode discusses rape and sexual assault.)Inspired by what she saw helping young people, she started writing teen fiction, including the best-selling award-winning 'Spinster Club' series which helps educate teenagers about feminism. When she...
2023-02-2326 minCtrl Alt DeleteCaitlin Moran (Replay): Middle-age, Marriage and Her New BookToday's guest (recorded back in 2020) is the brilliant Caitlin Moran! Award-winning columnist, author, scriptwriter. She is the eldest of eight children, grew up in Wolverhampton and she published her first novel at the age of 16. She then became a columnist at The Times aged 18 and has gone on to be named Columnist of the Year six times. Her popular novel How to Build a Girl is now a movie with Beanie Feldstein playing her. She is perhaps most known for her multi-award-winning bestseller How to Be a Woman which has now been published in 28 countries and won the British Book Awa...
2023-02-1626 minCtrl Alt DeleteLaura Mucha (Replay): On Love & AttachmentToday’s guest (recorded back in 2021) is with the amazing Laura Mucha, an ex-lawyer, author, award-winning poet, and speaker. Her first book, Love Factually / We Need to Talk About Love is the result of ten years of interviews with hundreds of strangers aged 8-95 years old across every continent, and it is fascinating. The Guardian describes her as “a fantastic nosy parker”. She is such a talented writer and researcher and I think you’ll fall in love with her like I did when you hear this episode. Her debut poetry collection, Dear Ugly Sisters is out now and her debu...
2023-02-0943 minCtrl Alt DeleteMartha Beck (Replay): Why You Should Tell The TruthHello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is a replay episode (recorded in 2021) with brilliant Martha Beck, a return guest! I wanted to invite her back on, to talk about her book The Way Of Integrity. Martha Beck, if you didn’t already know, is a Harvard-trained sociologist, world-renowned coach and New York Times bestselling author. She has published nine non-fiction books, one novel, and more than 200 magazine articles. The Way of Integrity is her new book all about being your full undivided self, coming back to your true nature, it's about not telling lies to yourself or...
2023-02-0237 minCtrl Alt DeleteMeg Mason (Replay): From Almost Binning Her Book, To BestsellerThis was recorded in 2021. My guest today is Meg Mason, author of several books including the recent instant Sunday Times bestseller Sorrow and Bliss. She began her career at the Financial Times and The Times of London and has been a regular columnist for GQ, ELLE and Vogue. I absolutely loved Sorrow & Bliss and reached out to Meg's team as soon as I finished reading it. The quote on the cover from Anne Patchett says: ‘'I was making a list of all the people I wanted to send it to, until I realised that I wanted to send it to...
2023-01-2640 minCtrl Alt DeleteGenelle Aldred (Replay): How To Communicate Like a ProThis episode was recorded in 2021. Genelle Aldred, newsreader, communication expert, and now author who has worked as a journalist at many of the UK largest broadcasting organisations for over a decade, including BBC, ITV and ITN. In this episode we discuss her debut book Communicate for Change: Creating Justice in a World of Bias unpicking some of its fascinating themes: how to make a positive difference, how to think for yourself, how to have better conversations and how to recognise our own biases and blind spots. This book encouraged me to ask better questions and question my own assumptions, br...
2023-01-1939 minCtrl Alt DeleteSamantha Clarke (Replay): Life As A Happiness ConsultantThis is replay of an episode recorded in early 2020. My guest today is Samatha Clarke, an author and Happiness Consultant. She is a teacher of Guardian Masterclasses and lecturer at The School of Life and expert on work happiness, culture and relationships. Whenever I speak to Sam, she always says something that makes me reflect on my work life. She has given me amazing advice in the past on setting better boundaries which has therefore grown my business in turn because I'm less likely to burnout when my boundaries are firm. Sam has just released her first book called Lov...
2023-01-0527 minCtrl Alt DeleteDr Emma Hepburn (Replay): How To Have A Happy BrainToday's replay episode is the brilliant psychologist Dr Emma Hepburn. She has over 15 years experience of working with and treating mental health difficulties. She is also someone I've followed on Instagram for years (@thepsychologymum on Instagram). In this episode we talk about her book A Toolkit for Modern Life: 53 Ways to Look After Your Mind). She shows how we can understand our own brains better and be more self-compassionate. She is all about about bringing psychology to people beyond the clinic. She is also the author of A Toolkit for Happiness and has a new book out soon called...
2022-12-2930 minCtrl Alt DeleteSophie Heawood (Replay): What To Expect When You Weren't Expecting To Be ExpectingMy guest today is the brilliant Sophie Heawood. I've followed Sophie's work for years, I've loved her columns and celebrity interviews in the Guardian, VICE and her brilliant newsletter The Sophist. In this episode, we discuss her first book The Hungover Games, a beautiful funny open-hearted memoir about single motherhood and what to expect when you weren't expecting to be expecting. I read it in a day and I think you will also love it. Hope your enjoy!Read Sophie Heawood's book: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/153/9781784707644My Substack page, come and say hi: https...
2022-12-2234 minCtrl Alt DeleteRana Foroohar (Replay): Are Big Tech Companies Evil?Hello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete this is a replay of my episode with Financial Times columnist Rana Foroohar from February 2020. She is a writer who investigates how today’s biggest tech companies are hijacking our data, our livelihoods, and our minds. This episode is on her book Don't be Evil and The Case Against Big Tech - aka Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google) and how tech has changed and how it's changed us. We discuss the question: can we rebel against tech now or are we just too embedded? I hope you enjoy this fascinating episode.
2022-12-1528 minCtrl Alt DeleteOliver Burkeman (Replay): Productivity Is A TrapHello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete this is a replay of my episode with Oliver Burkeman recorded in October 2021. He is an award-winning feature writer for The Guardian and writes a popular weekly column on psychology called This Column Will Change Your Life. In this episode we discuss his new book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, an uplifting, engrossing and deeply realistic exploration of productivity and time management, rejecting the society’s obsession with 'getting everything done’ and one of my favourite non fiction books.’ I hope you enjoy this episode! Four Th...
2022-12-0835 minCtrl Alt DeleteNaomi Alderman (Replay): Life As A PolymathMy guest today is one of my favourite authors, the incredibly inspiring force of nature that is Naomi Alderman! She is the multi-award-winning novelist of Disobedience and The Power. The film adaptation of Disobedience had just come out starring both Rachael McAdams and Rachel Weisz. The Power is one of Obama's favourite books! It's an incredible sci-fi/dystopian novel about gendered violence and the fetishisation of power. The premise of the book is that women are more powerful than men. God becomes a “she”; and men are frightened to walk alone at night.We discuss life as a...
2022-12-0130 minCtrl Alt DeleteSophie Walker (Replay): How To Be More ActivistThis is a replay of my episode with Sophie Walker from April 2020. Sophie is a feminist activist, author and founding leader of the Women’s Equality Party. In this episode we are chatting about Sophie’s new book 'Five Rules for Rebellion' which is an inspiring, five-step journey to incorporating activism into our daily lives. It features stories of new and seasoned activists – from Amika George to Jack Monroe. It's all about feeling less full of despair, and more able to channel your anger, arm yourself with hope, practise perseverance and connect with others more compassionately. Hope you enjoy the ep...
2022-11-2431 minCtrl Alt DeleteEmma Forrest (Replay): Terrible First Drafts & Writing Your LifeToday's guest is one of my favourites Emma Forrest – it is a replay episode that we recorded back in December 2019. She is the author of three novels, an essay collection and the memoir Your Voice In My Head, one of my favourite memoirs on mental health. In this episode we discuss her new novel ROYALS and we chat about her career, creativity, meditation, her writing process and even a little story about Adam Driver. Emma has a brand new brilliant memoir out called Busy Being Free “A Lifelong Romantic Is Seduced by Solitude" and will leave a link to it i...
2022-11-1732 minCtrl Alt DeleteNatalie Lue (Replay): How To Actually Get Stuff DoneHello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete podcast! Over a series of three episodes I've been chatting to someone whose work I really admire and enjoy, Natalie Lue, author, podcaster and host of The Baggage Reclaim Sessions. She helps people-pleasers, perfectionists and relationship strugglers become more of who they really are and achieve what they want to achieve. In this episode we are discussing how we can find more time to focus and do our 'deep work', inspired by Cal Newport's brilliant book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World and Oliver Burkeman's '3 or 4 hou...
2022-11-1038 minCtrl Alt DeleteLaura Dockrill (Replay): Motherhood, Mental Health & MeThis is a replay of an episode from 2020 with brilliant Laura Dockrill, an award-winning author and illustrator. What Have I Done? an incredibly moving and honest memoir on motherhood, mental health and postpartum psychosis. In this episode, we discuss Laura's mental health journey, recovery, what it's like when a raw blog article goes viral, and why this memoir is a love letter to family and friends. This is Laura's story and I hope you grab a copy of this important book.My Substack! https://thehyphen.substack.com/Laura's book What Have I Done?: https...
2022-11-0135 minCtrl Alt DeleteChristine Armstrong (Replay): The Myth Of Work-Life BalanceThis episode is with Christine Armstrong, author, researcher and speaker on the future of work. She is known to 'blow up the bullshit about working parenting and dig into the truth about what works and what really doesn’t.' You might have read her piece in the Times that went viral called 'why working mums are being sold an impossible dream about work/life balance — and how to set the record straight' a piece promoting the publication of her brilliant book The Mother of All Jobs: How to Have Children and a Career and Stay Sane(ish). We reco...
2022-10-2736 minCtrl Alt Delete#367 Anisah Osman Britton: On How Tech Can Empower You*This is a sponsored episode* Hello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete. Today I have a special episode for you, in partnership with Dell Technologies & Microsoft, who can help you find the right technology and offer advice to help your business grow and succeed – and this conversation is part of their 2022 small business Podference which is a UK podcast-based conference, a place to share advice and inspiration to support all small businesses. :)SO onto the guest! I’ve been wanting to interview Anisah Osman Britton for a while now having crossed paths a few years back...
2022-10-2034 minCtrl Alt DeleteAfrica Brooke (Replay): Why Uncomfortable Conversations MatterAfrica Brooke is a consultant, coach, writer and speaker who specialises in helping many people including public figures. entrepreneurs, teams, and individuals with challenges related to self-censorship and self-sabotage. I really enjoy following Africa’s work, her straightforward (yet compassionate) no BS route to helping people examine what is going on with them, establish boundaries and define their values. There is such a genuine curiosity to Africa’s approach which I love.In January 2021. Africa published an open letter called ‘Why I’m leaving the cult of wokeness’ which has now been read almost 5 million times. You can read t...
2022-10-1346 minCtrl Alt DeleteAnna Codrea-Rado (Replay): The Carrie Bradshaw Freelance MythThis is a replay of my episode with the brilliant writer Anna Codrea-Rado from April 2021. She writes about freelancing, business, culture and technology, with a particular focus on work life. I really enjoy her podcast Is This Working on these themes, I especially loved her episode on burnout. In this episode, we discuss her first book, You’re the Business: How To Build a Successful Career When You Strike Out Alone - a handbook for anyone who works for themselves or is curious to know more. Hope you enjoy this conversation!Anna's book: https://uk.boo...
2022-10-0646 minCtrl Alt DeleteAnn Friedman (Replay): Can Work And Friendship Mix?Today's replay episode is with Ann Friedman, one half of the popular podcast Call Your Girlfriend and now author of the New York Times Bestselling book Big Friendship, a friendship bible on how to keep each other close. This book is authored by both Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow, (Aminatou has also been a guest on Ctrl Alt Delete, episode number #183 if you fancy going back and listening) and Big Friendship is the story of their own ten-year, complex, loving friendship. They share their highs, lows, and wisdom with honesty, hilarity and compassion. They've weathered life-threatening health scares and...
2022-09-2924 minCtrl Alt DeleteTrinny Woodall (Replay): The Art of A Makeover (At Any Age)This episode is a replay from 2018 with Trinny Woodall, author, fashion advisor and beauty entrepreneur. You may know her from the hugely popular Trinny and Susannah makeover days. Her and Susannah met in 1994 and wrote a weekly fashion column for The Daily Telegraph. This led to the launch of their own fashion-advice business and first book. They were then commissioned by the BBC to host What Not to Wear in 2001. In total they co-wrote eleven style advice books, many of which became hugely successfully best-sellers in the UK and America. In this episode we talk about the launch of...
2022-09-2225 minCtrl Alt DeleteJulia Quinn (Replay): How She Wrote BridgertonThis is a replay of my episode with the brilliant Bridgerton author Julia Quinn, recorded in 2021. She is a No.1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen consecutive NYT bestsellers including Bridgerton. The Duke and I is back in Sunday Times bestseller list in the U.K twenty years after publication and this was of course partly due to the fact that on December 25, 2020, Netflix premiered Bridgerton, based on her novels adapted by Shonda Rhimes. We spoke about writing, believing in your abilities and the moment she got the phone call from her agent about Bridgerton being optioned. Hope y...
2022-09-1528 minCtrl Alt DeleteAlain De Botton (Replay): Life Is Not Meant To Be PerfectThis episode is a replay with the brilliant Alain de Botton. He is a writer of multiple books described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life.’ His first book, Essays in Love, was published when he was twenty-three and went on to sell millions of copies. He is also the co-founder of The School of Life, one of my favourite platforms, which is an education space dedicated to a new vision of education, emotional intelligence and self-knowledge. The School of Life's latest book, is called A Simpler Life: a guide to greater serenity, ease, and clarity and came out in Janua...
2022-09-0837 minCtrl Alt DeleteGlennon Doyle (Replay): Getting UntamedThis is a replay with the amazing Glennon Doyle. We recorded this in the depths of the 2020 lockdown. She is the author of Love Warrior (which was an Oprah Book Club selection), as well as her New York Times bestseller Carry On, Warrior. In this episode, we are discussing her new book "Untamed. Stop pleasing, start living" which then went on to becoming a #1 New York Times bestseller and (a Reese's Book Club selection), and Adele herself endorsed the book on her Instagram, saying “this book will shake your brain and make your soul scream.”Get...
2022-09-0139 minCtrl Alt DeleteDolly Alderton (Replay): Everything She Knows About Writing A MemoirWelcome back to this replay episode of Ctrl Alt Delete. Recorded three(?) years ago, writer Dolly Alderton and I discuss her memoir Everything I Know About Love, writing truthfully, turning thirty and how her life changed when her memoir sky-rocketed her to suddenly being in the public domain.Dolly Alderton is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author. I've known Dolly since our freelancing days at places like The Debrief magazine where I worked in 2014 and it's been so fun watching her career blossom in so many different directions over the last decade. Dolly is the author o...
2022-08-2538 minCtrl Alt DeleteCathy Heller (Replay): How To Build A Life You LoveWelcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete, this is a replay episode with the brilliant Cathy Heller. Cathy is the host of the popular podcast Don’t Keep Your Day Job, now rebranded as The Cathy Heller show which is one of my favourites, it has had over 20 million downloads and she is a great conversation. In this conversation we talk about her book of the same name Don’t Keep Your Day Job which was released in 2019. It’s a great practical careers book and goes into detail about how to find the work you’re meant to do, find you...
2022-08-1841 minCtrl Alt DeleteCate Sevilla (Replay): How To Deal With A Toxic WorkplaceThis is a replay episode from 2021 with the brilliant Cate Sevilla! She is currently editor in chief of Huffington Post UK and author of How to Work Without Losing Your Mind. The book is a relatable and reassuring guide to the messy, stressful and sometimes bizarre side of work that everyone experiences but no one talks about. I loved this book because it’s for people who don’t necessarily want work to take over their lives, people who don’t necessarily want to keep climbing a ladder or taking over the world, it’s for people who simply would li...
2022-08-1133 minCtrl Alt DeleteHashi Mohamed (Replay): The Truth About Luck & PrivilegeMy guest today is Hashi Mohamed, one of the UK’s leading barristers, a BBC broadcaster and author on social mobility in Britain. His book is out now, called People Like Us. He is one of 12 children, Hashi came to the UK as an unaccompanied child refugee from Kenya in the summer of 1993 when he was just 9 years old. When he arrived he spoke basic English, attended failing school, raised on state benefits in a deprived area of North West London. Today, he is also a published author who attended Oxford University for his postgraduate degree and Bar School on...
2022-08-0438 minCtrl Alt Delete#396 Tetyana Denford: Should You Self-Publish Your Book?My guest today is Tetyana Denford, a Ukrainian-American author, translator, and freelance writer. Her debut novel, Motherland, based on an incredible family secret that was revealed by her maternal grandmother, was longlisted for the Readers Digest Self-Published Book Awards, and has been met with critical global acclaim. She is also the author of a beautiful poetry book series on the topics of hope, magic, empowerment, and love. This episode is about self-publishing, something Tetyana know so much about and we discuss the pros and cons of both self-publishing and traditional publishing, how to keep going with your writing and...
2022-07-2829 minCtrl Alt Delete#395 Matt Bell: How To Enjoy Writing Your NovelMy guest today is author and novelist Matt Bell! Today we’re chatting about his latest book Refuse To Be Done, a guide to novel writing, rewriting and revision. He is also the author of multiple novels included Appleseed which was A New York Times Notable Book and he teaches creative writing at Arizona State University. I absolutely loved this latest book on how to write and rewrite a novel in three drafts and have been using tools from it as I work on my own future fiction projects. We chat all about novel writing a lot in this on...
2022-07-2137 minCtrl Alt Delete#394 Donna Lancaster: Healing Ourselves & Post-Pandemic GriefMy guest today is Donna Lancaster and you are in for a treat. Donna’s work has been recommended to me by so many people, through work of mouth, she is incredible and has worked as a coach and therapist for more than 25 years. She was formerly the head of teaching at the Hoffman Institute UK and she might be perhaps most well known for co-creating The Bridge Retreat, a six-day personal development experience, if you are intrigued, you can check out her website for more information and also the Amazon Prime documentary called Love(d) which shares the st...
2022-07-1441 minCtrl Alt DeleteJamie Bartlett (Replay): The World’s Biggest Crypto ConThis is a replay episode with Jamie Bartlett recorded back in 2019, he is the bestselling author of multiple books including The Dark Net and People vs Tech. In this episode we are discussing his podcast The Missing Cryptoqueen, a BBC Sounds podcast described by The Telegraph as ‘the most gripping podcast since Serial’: the podcast uncovers the mysterious story of Dr Ruja Ignatova who persuaded millions to join her financial revolution, a new cryptocurrency called One Coin that turned out to be a scam. Jamie Bartlett and Georgia Catt made the podcast trying to track her down and present a st...
2022-07-0734 minCtrl Alt Delete#393 Louise O'Neill: The Problem With Having Online 'Idols'My guest today is the author Louise O’Neill – today we are discussing her brilliant new book IDOL – a riveting darkly delicious story that interrogates our relationship with our internet heroes asking how well we can ever really know the gurus we look up to and their carefully curated profiles. It is written with Louise’s signature style, reminding me of her much applauded book Asking For It, a novel about the life-shattering impact of sexual assault, which published in 2015 to widespread critical acclaim. I think this is her best work yet, and I love all her books fiercely. I hope you...
2022-06-3039 minCtrl Alt Delete#392 Vicky Spratt: We Need To Talk About Britain's Housing CrisisMy guest today is Vicky Spratt, the author of TENANTS: The People on the Frontline of Britain's Housing Emergency and journalist whose work regularly shapes public policy. She is also currently the iPaper's Housing Correspondent. Her 2016 campaign Make Renting Fair got letting fees in England and Wales banned, and she has spoken at political conferences, appeared on BBC News, Newsnight, Woman's Hour, Radio 4 and tons more. Vicky is an incredible voice on this issue and I found this episode really galvanising, enraging, inspiring and empowering. Vicky has a way of making people wake up and feel engaged when it c...
2022-06-2345 minCtrl Alt Delete#391 Francesca Specter: How To Be Alone (and Enjoy it)My guest today is Francesca Specter, author of Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it, and the creator of the Alonement podcast. You guessed it, today we are discussing how to be alone - something I’m really passionate about as someone who values alone time, takes myself on solo trips and loves Julia Cameron’s suggestion of The Artist Date, where you take yourself on a date. Francesca speaks so brilliant about this and coined the term Alonement, which is different from being lonely - we talk about learning to enjoy your own company, what this means...
2022-06-1634 minCtrl Alt Delete#390 Clemmie Telford: What Does "Influencer" Even Mean Now?My guest today is Clemmie Telford, Creative Director, podcaster and author But Why: How to answer tricky questions from kids and have an honest conversation with yourself and a podcast with the same name. She is also the founder of the blog Mother of All Lists which hit over 1 million reads in 2018 she uses her social channels to enable frank, open and honest conversations, some of her most recent episodes are on domestic abuse to grief to ADHD to debt. She has been praised for showing her vulnerability around the highs and lows of Motherhood, discussing the challenges of...
2022-06-0938 minCtrl Alt Delete#389 Sheila Heti: Art is the Opposite of an AlgorithmMy guest today is the brilliant Sheila Heti, author of Motherhood and How Should a Person Be? In this episode we discuss her latest book Pure Colour, a new novel l about art, love, loss and time. It has been described as a galaxy of a novel: explosive, bright, huge and streaked with beauty. Sheila Heti has also been described as philosopher of modern experience - and I really enjoyed this conversation. Motherhood, her novel which grapples with the question of whether or not to have kids was a huge inspiration on me - and I think Sheila is...
2022-06-0233 minCtrl Alt Delete#388 Dr Rafa Euba: The Truth About The "Happiness" IndustryDoes happiness even exist? Dr Rafa Euba doesn't think so. He is a consultant psychiatrist, based in London, born in the Bask Country, Spain and after qualifying in Medicine, he became a psychiatrist in England. He has worked in many different settings, from exclusive clinics to slums, and his work on depression moved him to write a book on how we are not designed to be happy, called "You are not meant to be happy. So stop trying!" It is such an interesting book, looking at the myths of happiness, how our brains are not designed to keep us...
2022-05-2623 minCtrl Alt Delete#387 Delia Ephron: Falling In Love Over EmailMy guest today is Delia Ephron: bestselling author, screenwriter and playwright. Her movies include You've Got Mail (starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks) and The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, she has written novels and non-fiction, and her journalism has appeared in the New York Times, Oprah magazine and Vogue. She collaborated with her sister, Nora Ephron, on a play, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, which ran for two years off-Broadway, and today we are chatting about her brilliant new memoir called Left on Tenth, A Second Chance at Life - a beautiful book about many things: Delia's...
2022-05-1927 minCtrl Alt Delete#386 Josh Roberts: Why We're So Bored At WorkMy guest today is Josh Roberts, author of Anxious Man and Generation Drift (Why We’re Up Career Creek and How to Paddle Home). He is a mental health writer, speaker and consultant; and cohost of the Voicemale podcast with Jamie Laing. He started his career as a Strategy Consultant at Deloitte, before moving into advertising. Three years ago, he experienced a rather intense mental breakdown which culminated in being diagnosed with a Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Inspired by comments and stories he received, he resolved to quit his job and devote my time to trying to help others th...
2022-05-1238 minCtrl Alt Delete#385 Alex Soojung-Kim Pang: Is It Finally Time For The 4 Day Week?Welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete. My guest today is Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author and consultant devoted to helping companies and individuals harness the power of rest to shorten our workdays, while staying focused and productive. He is the author of four books, including SHORTER, REST and The Distraction Addiction. He speaks so brilliant on the topic of the 4-day week and future of work, and how deliberate rest makes creative careers more productive and sustainable.In this episode we dive into the four day week, will it ever happen? What are the benefits? How the pandemic has changed...
2022-05-0530 minCtrl Alt Delete#384 Clemmie Burton-Hill: The Power Of Classical MusicClemmie Burton Hill on the podcast today. I became friends with Clemmie years ago now when she interviewed me at Hay festival about my book and ever since then we spoke about books, work, life and everything in between. Clemmie is a broadcaster, author, novelist, journalist, violinist and a lover of arts and music. On the morning of January the 20th 2020, only weeks before the pandemic turned the world upside dow, Clemmie suffered a catastrophic brain injury. One moment she was in a meeting in New York where she lives with her husband and two children. She is one...
2022-05-0236 minCtrl Alt Delete#382 Jamie Klingler: A Year of Intense Transformation (Part 1)Hello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete! (Just a heads up in this one we talk about weight loss, alcohol dependency, mental health and big life changes.) My guest today is Jamie Klingler, born and raised in Philadelphia and has lived in London for almost twenty years working in publishing and events. She is a writer and speaker/campaigner for women’s safety. In December she was named #9 in the UK Communicators of 2021 by PR Week for her work with Reclaim These Streets. In this part one of the episode we discuss Jamie’s life transformation over the lockd...
2022-04-2827 minCtrl Alt Delete#381 Fearne Cotton: Finding Meaning in a Messy WorldFearne Cotton is one of the best-known and most popular broadcasters in the UK and is most recently known as the founder of the wellbeing brand and podcast, Happy Place. This came off the back of her first book Happy in 2017 which was a Sunday Times Bestseller. This was the first in a series of books talking about her own positive, and some of the not so positive, experiences with happiness. Happy Place Podcast now has over 40 million downloads and had over 10,000 people attending two Happy Place Festivals in the UK. I really enjoy Fearne's laid back, warm and a...
2022-04-2147 minCtrl Alt Delete#380 Jamie Varon: How To Set Boundaries On Social Media (Part 2)Hello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete, my guest today is Jamie Varon: writer, designer, digital course creator, and creative consultant living in California. Today we are talking about her book Radically Content - Being Satifisied in an Endlessly Dissatisfied World. If you enjoy Jamie’s musings, vignettes and writing that she posts on her Instagram to thousands of people you’ll absolutely love having a physical copy of this book. Jamie and I crossed digital paths years ago in the blogging space and I thoroughly enjoyed this chat for the podcast as this topic of defining our own...
2022-04-1427 minCtrl Alt Delete#379 Jamie Varon: How to Be Radically Content With Your Life (Part 1)Hello and welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete, my guest today is Jamie Varon: writer, designer, digital course creator, and creative consultant living in California. Today we are talking about her book Radically Content - Being Satifisied in an Endlessly Dissatisfied World. If you enjoy Jamie’s musings, vignettes and writing that she posts on her Instagram to thousands of people you’ll absolutely love having a physical copy of this book. Jamie and I crossed digital paths years ago in the blogging space and it’s just so great that we got to have this chat for the podcas...
2022-04-1431 minCtrl Alt Delete#378 Clover Stroud: Writing About Life & Death (Part 2)Welcome to part 2 of this conversation with writer and journalist Clover Stroud, as we discuss her third memoir The Red Of My Blood: a brutal, bold and brilliant artistic piece of life writing about family, survival, death and grief. I really felt like I lived this book as opposed to reading it, as Clover really goes deep and invites the reader in to experience it all with her. Just a reminder to make sure you listen to part one first, as this is part two of the conversation! Hope you enjoy Clover's wise and beautiful words.
2022-04-0728 minCtrl Alt Delete#377 Clover Stroud: Writing About Life & Death (Part 1)My guest today is writer and journalist Clover Stroud. I adore her writing and outlook on the world. Her first book, The Wild Other, was shortlisted for The Wainwright Prize. Her second book, My Wild & Sleepless Nights: A Mother's Story was rated one of the 'best books of the year, 2020' by the Observer and the Telegraph and was a Sunday Times bestseller. And her third memoir The Red Of My Blood might just be my favourite of them all. In this book, Clover is looking at life, death and grief. She is asking the question: can death bring...
2022-04-0724 minCtrl Alt Delete#376 Madeleine Dore: Letting Go Of Productivity GuiltMadeleine Dore is my guest today, a writer and interviewer exploring how we can broaden the definition of a day well spent. Her book I Didn’t Do The Thing Today is gentle wise and insightful look at letting go of productivity guilt and it is out now. It’s a truly wonderful look at how we unravel the relationship between our output with inner self worth. With Madeleine’s excellent writing interspersed with lots of other wise voices, this book helps the reader feel less anxious, stressed or disappointed and takes productive routines off a pedestal and helps us embrac...
2022-04-0437 minCtrl Alt Delete#375 Farrah Storr: Are Newsletters the New Magazines?Come and say hello to Farrah and I on my Substack The Hyphen'! https://thehyphen.substack.com/p/a-conversation-with-farrah-storr?s=wToday we are talking about writing, career changes, magazines and Substack newsletters! Some exciting news also that I have launched my very own SUBSTACK newsletter! Check it out here: https://thehyphen.substack.com/ If you sign up, Every month, you’ll receive my Hyphen round-up for free, and for paying subscribers, you’ll gain access to the full archive, a monthly book recommendation that we can all read together, a regular Q&A ins...
2022-03-2431 minCtrl Alt DeleteSeth Godin (REPLAY): Do You Have A Creative Practice?Today I’m replaying one of my favourite episodes with one of my favourite people, Seth Godin! He is like an unofficial mentor to me, I follow his work religiously and he continues to have a huge impact on me. He is the author of 20 books, and his blog, which you’ll find at Seths.blog is one of the most widely read blogs on the Internet and he blogs every single day. He helps people find dignity and motivation in their creative work, and he has been a huge influence on me over the years. We talk about his...
2022-03-1733 minCtrl Alt Delete#374 Julia Hobsbawm: Do We Still Need Offices?My guest today is Julia Hobsbawm: entrepreneur, writer, and consultant who addresses the challenges of this hyper connected age. She is Chair of the content and connection business Editorial Intelligence. She is the author of six bestselling books including The Simplicity Principle and Fully Connected. Today we are discussing her latest book The Nowhere Office, a book that proposes a radical new way of thinking about work both now and in the future. This isn’t an anti-office book but more a look at what the world now looks like: are offices not needed in the same way? What do...
2022-03-1052 minCtrl Alt Delete#373 Daisy Buchanan: When A Dream Job Turns ToxicMy guest today is Daisy Buchanan, an award winning journalist, author and broadcaster. She has written for every major newspaper and magazine in the UK and hosts the brilliant bookish podcast You're Booked, where she interviews legendary writers from all over the world about how their reading habits shape their work. She is the author of How To Be A Grown Up, The Sisterhood and the novels Insatiable and Careering. I’ve known Daisy for a long time so it was really fun to sit down in person and have a chat. In this episode, we dig into her ca...
2022-03-0338 minCtrl Alt DeleteRebecca Seal (REPLAY): Do You Ever Feel Lonely?My guest today is Rebecca Seal, an episode all about loneliness and working from home. Rebecca is the author of Solo: How to Work Alone (and Not Lose Your Mind). It’s a fantastic book absolutely filled to the brim with wfh advice and tips and anecdotes. It's a science and evidence-based exploration of what working alone does to your brain and well-being, and how to cope with the more difficult aspects of solo work. She doesn’t shy away from talking about her own tough times in her own freelance life which I personally found super helpful. Initially, she...
2022-02-2834 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#328 Elizabeth Uviebinené - Pressing The Reset Button (On Work & Life)Elizabeth Uviebinené is a multi-award winning author. She is a columnist at The Financial Times and co-author of Slay In Your Lane her debut bestseller which Vogue said “gave a voice to the next generation of young black British women’. Elizabeth has worked as a brand strategist such as Nike, Google and Bumble. She has been listed as one of the most influential people in London by the Evening Standard and a Marie Claire Future Shaper award. Her new book, The Reset: Ideas To Change How We Work and Live explores the impact of resetting our approach to work in so...
2021-05-0633 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteElizabeth Day (REPLAY): On Creating 'How To Fail' Book & PodcastThis is a replay of an episode recorded in 2019 with the brilliant Elizabeth Day around the publication of her book How To Fail, a brilliant memoir slash manifesto she published off the back of her incredibly successful podcast How To Fail with Elizabeth Day, a celebration of the things that haven't gone right. A podcast that keeps on growing and giving us such brilliant guests and food for thought. Since this episode, Elizabeth has written another book called Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong and also been announced as a new presenter on Radio 4's Open Book...
2021-04-2939 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#326 Grace Beverley: Working Hard + Hardly WorkingToday’s guest on the podcast is author and entrepreneur Grace Beverley. She was voted London's Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the founder of sustainable style brand TALA and fitness tech brand Shreddy. Her first book is out now, Working Hard, Hardly Working: How to achieve more, stress less and feel fulfilled. By the age of just twenty-three, Grace has been named first in Forbes' 30-under-30, graduated from Oxford University, and has a Sustainable Business accreditation from Harvard Business School. I found her book really interesting, looking into what the working landscape looks like especially to Gen Z...
2021-04-2239 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#325 Emma Reed Turrell: Are You A People Pleaser?My guest today is psychotherapist Emma Reed Turrell. She read English at Cambridge University, worked in business, sales and marketing for 10 years, and then returned to her earlier passion for psychology and mental health. That took her on the path to becoming a psychotherapist and she now runs a busy private practice alongside writing. Her first book Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live is out now, and as a recovering people pleaser. I absolutely loved talking to her all about the book, which I highly recommend, it will help you get better at...
2021-04-1531 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#324 Anna Codrea-Rado: Losing Your Job + Going FreelanceToday's guest is Anna Codrea-Rado is a journalist, author and podcaster. She is The Queen Of Freelancing. She writes about business, culture and technology, with a particular focus on working life. and I also really recommend her brilliant podcast Is This Working. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, BBC, Wired, the Paris Review, New York Magazine, the Atlantic, Refinery29, Monocle and many others. Her first book, You’re the Business: How to build a successful career when you strike out alone is out now. It’s a handbook for anyone who works for themselves. It re...
2021-04-0847 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#323 Christie Tate: The Power Of Group TherapyToday on the podcast is the New York Bestselling writer and essayist Christie Tate. She has written for the New York Times (Modern Love), The Rumpus, The Washington Post, among others. Now she has an incredible memoir out called Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life which was picked by Reese Witherspoon's book club. We discuss writing memoir, the grief that follows publishing a book that took 5 years and how the kindness of strangers really can save us. I really loved this conversation, hope you do too.Order your copy of...
2021-04-0140 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#322 My OLIVE Book Launch! (Me Interviewed by Ann Friedman)This episode is a replay of the virtual launch event I did to release my debut novel OLIVE in America in March 2021! OLIVE is my debut novel about a group of four friends, with different ideas and expectations of motherhood. The novel begins with Olive having just broken up with her boyfriend of almost a decade in which he decides he’s ready for kids, and she is not. Her decision to be child-free impacts her friendships too as they navigate their 30s. The wonderful Strand Book Store put on this virtual event for me (one of my absolute fa...
2021-03-3049 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#321 Penny Wincer - The Imperfect Art Of CaringToday's guest is Penny Wincer, a Melbourne born, London dwelling author, speaker, podcaster and freelance photographer. In this episode we discuss her experience as a mother and carer, her writing about work life and creativity, and raising a neurodiverse family. Penny’s first book Tender published is out now. She has also just launched a new podcast called Not Too Busy To Write, alongside author Ali Millar. Listen in as they navigate the world of writing, publishing and creativity whilst juggling the demands of motherhood, caring and other paid work, without losing themselves in the process. Hope you enjoy t...
2021-03-2733 min
Ctrl Alt DeleteDawn O'Porter (REPLAY): The Freedom of Writing FictionThis is a replay of a previous episode with Dawn O’Porter. Dawn has actually come on this podcast 3 times, but this is a replay of the latest conversation we had in 2019, about her brilliant novel So Lucky. She is the author of 6 books including the award-winning YA books Paper Aeroplanes and Goose, her first adult novel The Cows was a Sunday Times Bestseller and her latest book "SO LUCKY" is also a Sunday Times bestseller. The novel is about three women and how life really isn't as perfect as it looks. Ruby is feeling like she's failing as a...
2021-03-2228 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#318 Julia Cameron (New): How To ListenToday's guest is the amazing Julia Cameron - a return Ctrl Alt Delete guest! Her brand new book The Listening Path is out now. If you are a fan of The Artist's Way, you will LOVE it. It was so great getting to chat to Julia all about the power of listening. Over six weeks, readers will be given the tools to become better listeners: to their environment, the people around them, and themselves. Award-winning writer Julia Cameron is the author of twenty-four books, fiction and nonfiction, including The Artist's Way, Walking in This World, The Vein of Gold...
2021-03-1827 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#316 Julia Quinn: On 'Bridgerton'Today's guest is Julia Quinn, the No.1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen consecutive NYT bestsellers including Bridgerton. Last week The Duke and I was number 8 in the paperback Sunday Times bestseller list in the U.K. This was the first time any of Julia’s books have been in the Sunday Times bestseller list, partly due to the fact that on December 25, 2020, Netflix premiered Bridgerton, based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family, adapted by Shonda Rhimes and Chris Van Dusen. We spoke about writing novels, believing in your abilities and the moment she go...
2021-03-1129 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#314 Priyanka Chopra Jonas: An Unfinished MemoirMy guest today is the wonderful Priyanka Chopra Jonas, multi-award-winning actor and producer. A former Miss World, she made her movie debut in 2002 and has appeared in more than sixty films produced in India and the United States. For all the work in association with UNICEF, she was awarded the prestigious Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award in 2019. In February 2021, Priyanka published her first book, a memoir called Unfinished which she wrote during the 2020 lockdown and we discuss the book in this episode: her reflections, her multi-hyphenate life, stories about her family and career, how she met her husband, how her r...
2021-03-0423 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#307 Laura Mucha: Love, Relationships & Attachment TheoryWelcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete! Today’s guest is with the amazing Laura Mucha, an ex-lawyer, author, award-winning poet, and speaker. Her first book, Love Factually / We Need to Talk About Love is the result of ten years of interviews with hundreds of strangers aged 8-95 years old across every continent, and it is fascinating. The Guardian describes her as “a fantastic nosy parker”. She is such a talented writer and researcher and I think you’ll fall in love with her like I did when you hear this episode. Her debut poetry collection, Dear Ugly Sisters is out now...
2021-01-1450 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#305 Rebecca Seal: Solo Work & LonelinessMy guest today is Rebecca Seal, an episode all about working from home. Rebecca is the author of Solo: How to Work Alone (and Not Lose Your Mind) it’s a fantastic book absolutely filled to the brim with wfh advice and tips and anecdotes. It's a science and evidence-based exploration of what working alone does to your brain and well-being, and how to cope with the more difficult aspects of solo work. She doesn’t shy away from talking about her own tough times in her own freelance life which I personally found super helpful. Initially, she thought it w...
2021-01-0435 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#300: 300th SPECIAL Episode: Answering YOUR Voicenotes!Hello hello it is my 300th episode of Ctrl Alt Delete, so I wanted to do something a little different to celebrate YOU for being here. I answered a selection of listener voicenotes: on advice to my younger self, starting a creative projects, favourite guest moments, building community, how to read for work and leisure, please loads more. I hope you enjoy this one, and if you did let me know because then I'll know to do more! HAPPY HOLIDAYS and I hope 2021 is a brighter year for everyone. All my love. Emma xo- My...
2020-12-2430 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#286 Dr Soph: Self-Sabotage & Seeking SafetyWelcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete! Today's guest is clinical psychologist Dr Soph where we discuss the topic of self-sabotage and how it can be a useful thing that tells us about ourselves and what we want.My new book SABOTAGE is out TODAY and to celebrate I am publishing this conversation with the brilliant Dr Soph about the topic and about her career as a therapist. I recently discovered Dr Soph and her brilliant Instagram presence and am so glad I have. She also contributed some wise nuggets to SABOTAGE which I am very grateful...
2020-09-2435 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#285 Quieten Your Inner Critic: A Sneak Peek of SABOTAGE (Audiobook)Welcome back to Ctrl Alt Delete. I am excited to share a snippet of my SABOTAGE audiobook here for you! (Out on Sept 24th!)I wanted to give you lovely listeners a sneak peak of my SABOTAGE audiobook! SABOTAGE: How to Silence Your Inner Critic and Get Out of Your Own Way is my newest non-fiction book publishing on the 24th September (in both UK and US), available to pre-order now! (Links below!)The book is a personal exploration of my own journey of self-sabotage, and more broadly, how most of us have a t...
2020-09-1708 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#277 OLIVE series: Natalie Lee on Motherhood & Me Time (#4)Hello and welcome to this special OLIVE mini series — all around the topic of my debut novel OLIVE which is out TODAY! In lieu of a launch party, I’ve decided to release this 4-part series on 4 different women’s varying experiences and attitudes towards motherhood, based on the topics within the book.The novel centres around Olive and her three best friends, Bea, Cecily and Isla. Bea is a mum of 3 who loves her busy chaotic home, Cecily is newly pregnant feeling apprehensive and excited, Isla is struggling with her fertility and undergoing IVF treatment. Olive...
2020-07-2324 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#276 OLIVE series: Clover Stroud's Wild & Sleepless Nights (#3)Hello and welcome to this special OLIVE mini series — all around the topic of my debut novel OLIVE which is out TODAY! In lieu of a launch party, I’ve decided to release this 4-part series on 4 different women’s varying experiences and attitudes towards motherhood, based on the topics within the book.The novel centres around Olive and her three best friends, Bea, Cecily and Isla. Bea is a mum of 3 who loves her busy chaotic home, Cecily is newly pregnant feeling apprehensive and excited, Isla is struggling with her fertility and undergoing IVF treatment. Olive...
2020-07-2341 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#275 OLIVE series: Jessica Hepburn on Life After IVF (#2)Hello and welcome to this special OLIVE mini series — all around the topic of my debut novel OLIVE which is out TODAY! In lieu of a launch party, I’ve decided to release this 4-part series on 4 different women’s varying experiences and attitudes towards motherhood, based on the topics within the book.The novel centres around Olive and her three best friends, Bea, Cecily and Isla. Bea is a mum of 3 who loves her busy chaotic home, Cecily is newly pregnant feeling apprehensive and excited, Isla is struggling with her fertility and undergoing IVF treatment. Olive...
2020-07-2338 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#274 OLIVE series: Emma Sexton on Being Child Free By Choice (#1)Hello and welcome to this special OLIVE mini series — all around the topic of my debut novel OLIVE which is out TODAY! In lieu of a launch party, I’ve decided to release this 4-part series on 4 different women’s varying experiences and attitudes towards motherhood, based on the topics within the book.The novel centres around Olive and her three best friends, Bea, Cecily and Isla. Bea is a mum of 3 who loves her busy chaotic home, Cecily is newly pregnant feeling apprehensive and excited, Isla is struggling with her fertility and undergoing IVF treatment. Olive...
2020-07-2336 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#269 Glennon Doyle: Envy & Jealousy Are Useful EmotionsGlennon Doyle is someone I've wanted to have on the podcast for years, ever since I read her book LOVE WARRIOR (which was an Oprah Book Club selection), as well as her New York Times bestseller CARRY ON, WARRIOR. An activist and thought leader, Glennon is the founder and president of Together Rising, an all-women led nonprofit organisation that has revolutionised grassroots philanthropy – raising over $25 million for women, families, and children in crisis. She lives in Florida with her wife and three children.In this episode we discuss Glennon's new book "Untamed. Stop pleasing, start living" whi...
2020-06-2541 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#220 JP Watson: The Art of Crowdfunding A BookPRE-ORDER SABOTAGE HERE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poundproject/the-pound-project-part-six-emma-gannon/descriptionMy guest is JP Watson, a writer, editor and the founder of The Pound Project, an independent publisher based in Birmingham. I've been following The Pound Project since pledging for previous books launched on the platform: including Jordan Stephens, Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. JP started the company from a simple premise: is a good story worth something? I am really excited to announce that I have a launched a special limited edition pocket-sized book, with the Pound Project called Sabotage. It's a...
2019-09-2634 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#131 Emma Gannon (me!) On My New Book, The Multi-Hyphen MethodA special one-off episode where I AM THE GUEST on my own podcast! I am interviewed in this episode by my literary agent and head of Gleam Titles, Abigail Bergstrom, about my new book.We talk about my brand new book The Multi-Hyphen Method: Work less, create more and design your own career.The first question on the back of my book is: world of work is changing – so how do you keep up?In this episode we talk about multi-hyphenate careers, the new definitions of success, flexible working, the work-life blend, talking about...
2018-05-2837 min
Ctrl Alt Delete#38 Cindy Gallop - Why You Should Work For Yourself & The Future Of SexCindy Gallop is an advertising consultant, founder and former chair of the US branch of advertising firm BBH . She is the founder of the IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn. Cindy’s TEDTalk "Make Love Not Porn" was one of the "most talked about presentations" at the 2009 TED conference and has been watched over one and a half million times. We talk about the future of sex, what “social sex” means, her company Make Love Not Porn, why people (women especially) should work for themselves and why we shouldn’t believe a lot of the random sex surveys out there. Cindy is the fountain...
2016-09-2630 min