Shows
Connected with IvaModelling Exposed: Our Untold Truths and Journey Forward with Rebecca PearsonIn this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Pearson, who has spent nearly 25 years in the modelling industry. Together, we explore what it truly means to grow up in a world obsessed with image, beauty, and perfection. We share honest reflections on the burnout, the pressure, and the hidden costs that come with being constantly in the spotlight. From Rebecca’s early days to her decision to speak out through her blog Modeltypeface, we dig into the realities most models don’t talk about openly. Our conversation reveals how the industry has—or hasn’t—changed, and what it takes to r...2025-07-2925 minConnected with IvaWhat If One Serendipitous Moment Changed Everything? Tamta Mosulishvili on Storytelling, Friendship & Quintet LondonIn this heartwarming episode of Connected with Iva, I sit down with Tamta Mosulishvili, the founder of the poetic and emotionally rich brand Quintet London. Our conversation unfolds like the story behind her brand—deeply personal, beautifully crafted, and grounded in meaning.We reflect on serendipity—how it brought us together and how it continues to shape the friendships and possibilities in our lives. Tamta shares the message behind Quintet, how each gift is more than an object—it's a vessel for storytelling, evoking emotion, and creating meaningful connections.Together, we explore: The power of cre...2025-07-2229 minConnected with IvaAfraid to Begin? That's Exactly When You ShouldWhat if the fear you feel isn't a stop sign, but the doorway to your purpose?In this solo episode, I get honest about my own journey with loneliness and that unsettling feeling of not knowing what I’m here for. I talk about how fear almost kept me from stepping into the work that lights me up — and how I learned that clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes because of it.If you’ve ever waited to feel “ready,” or thought everyone else knows what they’re doing but you — I made this one for you...2025-07-1511 minConnected with IvaNot This Anymore: Choosing Identity on Your Terms with Noemi GuneaIn this expansive episode of Connected with Iva, I sit down with the multi-talented Noemi Gunea to explore the layered theme of identity, especially through our shared Eastern European roots. We dive into what it means to unlearn inherited cultural conditioning, how to gamify life to reconnect with joy, and why putting your desires on a pedestal can distance you from your power.Together, we reflect on the energetics of manifestation, navigating the tension between scarcity and safety, and how most of us live stretched across time — carrying old wounds, chasing future dreams, and forgetting the quiet st...2025-07-0827 minConnected with IvaBetween Boundaries, Beauty & Becoming with Melise WilliamsIn this episode, I catch up with the wonderful Melise (@melise_w) for a real, relaxed conversation that goes deeper than the surface. From the highs and heartbreaks of the modelling world to quiet shifts in how we relate, date, and create — nothing’s off-limits. We explore boundaries, life in front of a camera, and how AI is changing the way we express and protect ourselves online.It’s part catch-up, part therapy, and completely unfiltered.2025-07-0131 minConnected with IvaNo Moment Is Secondary: Ella Eiveren on Modelling, Movement, and Making it CountWhat does it mean to live like no moment is secondary? Model and founder Ella Eiveren shares her journey through modelling, entrepreneurship, and self-trust—with practical wisdom on building something real while staying deeply present.2025-06-2427 minConnected with IvaFrom Loops to Alignment: Let's Be Excellent with Aziza RansomeToday I'm joined by Aziza Ransome, host of Psychology Of The Heart, for a heart-centered talk on breaking loops, realigning with your truth, and why “let’s be excellent” beats chasing perfection—every time.2025-06-1717 minConnected with IvaWearing Meaning: Serendipity, Social Media & Slow Fashion with Harriet from SaywoodClothes can spark connection—and in this episode with Harriet, founder of Saywood, we explore the serendipity of style. From slow fashion to sustainability, we talk about how what we wear shapes conversations, inspires community, and reflects conscious living. We also chat about social media, shared ambition, and why success is sweeter when it’s collective.Don’t miss Saywood’s limited-time pop-up events:📍 50 Cross Street, Islington: 4–29 June📍 The Hair Shop, Hitchin: 14 June📍 Avantelier, Notting Hill: 2–13 JulyTune in for stories, inspiration, and the magic of fashion that means something.2025-06-1027 minConnected with IvaRedefining Success: Identity, Career Pivots & the Reality of Modelling with Janice SommerJanice has crafted a fascinating career journey - from working as a model to becoming a communications consultant focusing on venture capital funds in Berlin. In this episode, we explore reinvention, learning from failures (or the lessons that help us grow), and trusting your instincts. She reveals what modelling really teaches you (hint: it's not just about photos) and how those skills translate to the business world. We also discuss industry pressures, AI's growing role, and how to define success on your own terms.2025-06-0337 min
Connected with IvaWhy Not Be Happy? Healing People Pleasing, Real Talk and Connection with Em-J SmithIn this episode I chat with Em-J Smith, who I met on a film set a year ago, about healing, authenticity, dating, and the messy joy of human connection. Recorded in our pyjamas (because why not?), we explore:People-pleasing - How to undo it, even if it costs us relationships.Dating's perfection myth - Why apps feel fake and real life flirting is oddly hard.Trauma and resilience - Smiling as armor, and why feeling down is human. Authenticity starvation - Craving real talk in a world of small talk.2025-05-2736 minConnected with IvaConversation Costs Nothing: Fashion, Community & Passion with Sarah SoulsbyWhat starts with fashion becomes so much more. In this episode, Sarah Soulsby shares how her love for style sparked a growing community—where brands, inspiring women, and everyday passion come together. From lockdown beginnings to meaningful connections, this is a story of how self-expression can bring people closer, one outfit (and conversation) at a time.2025-05-2025 minConnected with IvaThe Power of Reconnecting with Your Body: Angelica Merritt on Self-Connection, Womb Wisdom & Inner HealingIn this episode of Connected with Iva, I speak with author and herbalist Angelica Merritt about the importance of reconnecting with the body—beginning with the often-overlooked wisdom of the womb space. Drawing from her book, Womb Witch: Herbal Magick for Reproductive Health, Angelica offers practical and intuitive ways to cultivate inner awareness, support healing, and deepen self-connection.We also dive into topics that are often seen as taboo or embarrassing—but are completely natural and vital to understand. This episode invites you to tune into your body with curiosity and care, and to embrace what’s real r...2025-05-1334 min
Connected with IvaConnection Isn't Always Comfortable: My Night in a Room of 100 StrangersWhat happens when you step into a room with 100 strangers, all seeking connection? In this episode, I unpack the beauty and discomfort of being surrounded by people—but still navigating your own emotions. If you’ve ever craved belonging yet felt overwhelmed by social spaces, this one’s for you.2025-05-0611 minConnected with IvaWhen Anxiety Falls Apart + Guided Meditation for CalmIn this episode of Connected with Iva, I open up about my personal journey with a cavernoma — a health condition that shook my world but also brought deep clarity. I reflect on how, in moments of real crisis, the wall of made-up worries we often build through anxiety tends to collapse, revealing what truly matters.To close the episode, I guide you through a calming meditation, accompanied by beautiful music from @francisfauxmusic. You can connect with Francis and explore more of his work at www.francisfaux.co.uk.Take a deep breath, and let's connect.2025-04-2911 minConnected with IvaMindfulness Through The Lens - A Conversation With @anasta_fotoIn this episode of Connected with Iva, I sit down with the wonderfully thoughtful @anasta_foto to explore the rich intersection of mindfulness, embodiment, and photography. Together, we dive into the quiet presence required to truly capture a moment, the link between inner stillness and visual storytelling, and how photography can become a moving form of meditation and self-connection.Anasta opens up about her journey as a photographer and how she’s found grounding and inspiration through practices that invite slowness and presence—including ecstatic dance, contact improvisation, and 5Rhythms. We also touch on the importance of safe...2025-04-2237 minConnected with IvaLonely or Lost? Why Purpose Might Be the AnswerIn this episode of Connected with Iva, I open up about a time in my life when I felt deeply lost — constantly seeking connection, yet nothing felt truly meaningful. I was surrounded by people, but inside, I felt empty. It wasn’t until I began to explore my deeper purpose that something shifted. The loneliness didn’t magically disappear, but the void I once felt slowly began to fade.We dive into the powerful connection between purpose and loneliness, and why chasing external connection without inner meaning can leave us feeling more isolated than ever. If you’ve ever...2025-04-1509 minConnected with IvaWhy Human Connections Are Key to Happiness and Well-beingIn this episode of Connected with Iva, we explore the essential role human connections play in our happiness and survival. Why do we need connection, and how does it impact our mental well-being? Tune in as I dive into the science behind human bonds, featuring insights from Johann Hari’s Lost Connections, and discuss how social disconnection leads to depression and anxiety. Learn why strong, meaningful relationships are vital for thriving in today's world.We’ll also uncover how connections release the "love hormone" oxytocin, reduce stress, and improve resilience. Plus, we’ll reflect on the challenges of lon...2025-04-0814 minConnected with IvaFear Isn't The EnemySomeone asked me recently what my biggest fear in life is—and that simple question sent me on a journey inward. In this first episode, I reflect on fear itself: where it comes from, how it shows up in our lives, and why so many of our fears are rooted in childhood experiences or unmet emotional needs. From the fear of failure to the fear of loneliness, I explore how these invisible threads can quietly shape our choices, relationships, and sense of self. This episode is an invitation to get curious about your own fears—not to judge them, but...2025-03-3014 min