Begin Again with Davina McCall

Begin Again with Davina McCall is your reminder to live a life that you love! We’re all guilty of staying inside our comfort zone. We’ve convinced ourselves to settle, to accept our lot in life, that it’s too late, too scary, too much. But what if you could approach change in your life differently? What if you could be excited about stepping outside of your comfort zone? What if you gave yourself permission to reinvent yourself? Every week, Davina grabs you by the hands and sits you down on the big green sofa for honest, personal conversations with the people who chose change. These are national treasures, everyday heroes, and leading experts, who help you step outside of your comfort zone, embrace reinvention, and get excited about what comes next. Begin Again is a space where both big changes and small shifts are celebrated as a chance to grow, rediscover yourself, and start again.  So come on in, get comfortable, and join Davina in Britain’s living room where you get to begin again and again and again! Instagram: @beginagain LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davina-mccall-82204a19b/

  1. Gisèle Pelicot: After Everything That Happened... I Didn’t Expect To Fall In Love Again  | Pt. 2

    11 hrs ago

    Gisèle Pelicot: After Everything That Happened... I Didn’t Expect To Fall In Love Again  | Pt. 2

    In Part 1 of Gisèle Pelicot’s story, she spoke to Davina about her life before the world knew her name, the marriage she believed she had, and the moment she began to discover the truth of what had happened to her. This is Part 2 of Gisèle Pelicot’s story on Begin Again. Gisèle opens up about the public and private aftermath of the case, the impact on her children, and the pain of having to tell her family that their lives had changed forever. Gisèle reflects on why she chose to waive her right to anonymity, what it meant to let the world know her name, and why speaking publicly became a way to help other women feel less alone. She talks about the trial, the women who wrote to her, the strength she found in their support, and the responsibility she felt to challenge the shame too often carried by victims. Davina and Gisèle also speak about rebuilding after trauma: staying connected to her family, finding love again, learning to trust, processing anger, and holding on to hope without denying the pain of what happened. This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, drugging, trauma, court proceedings, and abuse, which some viewers may find difficult. Please watch with care. At its heart, Part 2 is a conversation about courage, justice, love, and the power of refusing to carry shame that was never yours. Gisèle Pelicot reminds us that speaking the truth can help others feel less alone, and that beginning again can also mean standing up, not only for yourself, but for every woman who has been taught to stay silent. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod Buy ‘A Hymn to Life’ here:Exclusive discount code for Gisèle’s audiobook can be found here: Hardback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hymn-Life-Shame-Change-Sides/dp/184792896X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pKtWbZhPB1Me57eLekSRlRNTiKNoYduQoXz3CqbwwvY.6BNLixMym6UnLPYhwlSkqOF7fhXDf1AKLW_mmcGaeSM&qid=1781522906&sr=8-1 Audiobook (read by Emma Thompson): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Gy9pylmMgYWm6zOvcvv6Y?si=d3f1f19009134671 ✨ Exclusive discount code for Gisèle’s audiobook can be found here for A HYMN TO LIFE by Gisele Pelicot exclusively for Begin Again (this offer is valid until 1st July 2026) To claim your exclusive £9.99 audiobook of for A Hymn To Life, enter Y9DMKZKJ572HM at checkout on Google Play by 1st July. UK and Ireland only.  Redemption link: https://play.google.com/redeem?code=Y9DMKZKJ572HM ✨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) Do Health Ad (01:11) Episode Introduction (01:42) Part 1 Recap (02:29) Gisele Explains Why She Thinks It Was Hard For Some People To Believe Her Story, But Also How It's Helped Others (03:53) What It Was Like For Gisele To Tell Her Children What Their Father Had Done (06:49) Why Gisele Continued To Live In The Same House And Sleep In The Same Bed (09:09) Why Gisele Tries To Hold On To The Positives Despite Her Abuse (09:44) Why Gisele Decided To Go Public Later In The Trial (10:39) Gisele On Preparing To Face Her Attackers In Court And Watching The Videos Of Them Raping Her (12:13) How Gisele Fell In Love Again After Her Traumatic Experience, And Her Continued Faith In Humanity (13:55) Gisele On Wanting To Speak With Her Ex-Husband One Day (14:40) How Happy Gisele Is That Her Relationship With Her Children Is Repairing (15:49) Why Gisele's Lack Of Memory Of Her Attacks Makes Things Easier For Her (17:46) Davina Emphasises The Importance Of Gisele's Book (18:42) Davina Thanks Gisele For Her Bravery In Telling Her Story 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 min
  2. Gisèle Pelicot: My Life Before The World Knew My Name | Pt. 1

    12 hrs ago

    Gisèle Pelicot: My Life Before The World Knew My Name | Pt. 1

    Gisèle Pelicot became known around the world when she waived her right to anonymity in the sexual assault trial that shocked France and beyond. But before the headlines, before the courtroom, and before the world knew her name, Gisèle had a life, a family, a marriage, and a story of her own. This is Part 1 of Gisèle Pelicot’s story on Begin Again. In this episode, Gisèle joins Davina to talk about her life before the case became public. She reflects on falling in love as a teenager, building a family, becoming a mother, and the life she believed she was living with the man she had trusted for decades. Gisèle speaks with extraordinary dignity about the moment her life began to change, the questions she had no answers for, and the painful process of discovering what had happened to her. She reflects on the moments she could not explain at the time, the questions that went unanswered, and the devastating betrayal of discovering what had happened to her. Davina and Gisèle also discuss why so many victims struggle to speak, and why shame should never belong to the person who has been harmed. This conversation ends as Davina asks Gisèle what it felt like for people not to believe her. That question, and everything that followed, continues in Part 2 of Gisèle’s story. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again and to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod Buy ‘A Hymn to Life’ here: Hardback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hymn-Life-Shame-Change-Sides/dp/184792896X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pKtWbZhPB1Me57eLekSRlRNTiKNoYduQoXz3CqbwwvY.6BNLixMym6UnLPYhwlSkqOF7fhXDf1AKLW_mmcGaeSM&qid=1781522906&sr=8-1 Audiobook (read by Emma Thompson): https://open.spotify.com/show/1Gy9pylmMgYWm6zOvcvv6Y?si=d3f1f19009134671 ✨ Exclusive discount code for Gisèle’s audiobook can be found here for A HYMN TO LIFE by Gisele Pelicot exclusively for Begin Again (this offer is valid until 1st July 2026) To claim your exclusive £9.99 audiobook of for A Hymn To Life, enter Y9DMKZKJ572HM at checkout on Google Play by 1st July. UK and Ireland only.  Redemption link: https://play.google.com/redeem?code=Y9DMKZKJ572HM ✨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(00:01) Do Health Ad(01:11) Why Gisèle Pelicot’s Story Matters(01:55) What Beginning Again Means To Gisèle(03:02) Meeting Dominique Pelicot At 19(04:30) Gisèle’s Life Before The World Knew Her Name(05:33) When The Abuse Began(06:29) The First Time Gisèle Questioned Him(08:26) How Gisèle Discovered The Truth(10:33) Seeing The Photos For The First Time(12:46) How The Drugging Was Uncovered(13:51) Chemical Submission, Shame & Speaking Out 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 min
  3. 18 June

    The Press Shamed Me So Much I Left The Country | Amanda de Cadenet

    Amanda de Cadenet became famous as a teenager, but behind the headlines was a young girl trying to survive. This is the story of the woman behind the image. In this episode of Begin Again, Amanda de Cadenet joins Davina to talk about fame, shame, care, motherhood, sobriety, recovery, and what it means to finally tell your own story. Amanda opens up about growing up fast in the public eye, going out clubbing at 14, being surrounded by older men, and trying to act like an adult long before she was ready. She reflects on the pain of feeling unprotected, the shame she carried as a young woman, and how being put into care while already famous became one of the most frightening and defining experiences of her life. Davina and Amanda also explore the brutal reality of press intrusion, from paparazzi outside her school and care home to the tabloid body-shaming that eventually pushed her to leave the UK and start again in Los Angeles. Amanda speaks honestly about becoming a mother at 19, getting sober, breaking generational cycles, and why her daughter helped save her life. They also discuss Amanda’s work as a photographer, storyteller and advocate for women, including how her own experiences of postpartum depression, grief and shame led her to create spaces where women could speak openly about the things they had been taught to hide. At its heart, this is a conversation about survival, self-forgiveness, and reclaiming the parts of yourself that the world tried to define for you. Amanda de Cadenet reminds us that shame can only survive in silence, and that sometimes beginning again means finally telling the truth in your own words. 🌟 Like, comment, and subscribe for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Tap the bell to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Amanda de Cadenet: https://www.instagram.com/amandadecadenet/  ✨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 (01:31) How Amanda And Davina First Met (02:16) Why Clubbing At 14 Changed Everything (03:32) How Absent Parents Shaped Amanda’s London Upbringing (08:48) What Happens When Vulnerability Meets Predatory Men (11:20) How Drugs And Alcohol Entered Amanda’s Life So Young (13:19) SexualAssault At 14 (14:54) Why Amanda Went Into Care After Being Arrested (26:23) How Amanda Began A Relationship With Duran Duran’s John Taylor (28:00) What Hosting The Word Really Meant For Amanda (32:31) Why Media Harassment Pushed Amanda To Leave The UK (35:15) How Atlanta Saved Amanda’s Life (36:53) What Getting Sober Finally Made Possible (38:23) How Amanda Started Over In America Without Fame (40:21) How Amanda Found Her Passion For Photography (44:31) When Amanda Photographed Keanu Reeves For Vogue (45:59) The Real Story Behind The Conversation With Demi Moore (53:31) How Grief Led Amanda To Become A Counselor (58:21) Amanda’s Advice For Processing Grief In A Healthy Way 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 11min
  4. Fatboy Slim The Chaos Behind The Fame, Fatherhood & The Legacy of Fatboy Slim!

    11 June

    Fatboy Slim The Chaos Behind The Fame, Fatherhood & The Legacy of Fatboy Slim!

    behind Fatboy Slim. In this episode of Begin Again, Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, joins Davina to talk about fame, family, sobriety, music, and the chaos behind becoming one of Britain’s most iconic DJs. Norman opens up about the early years of discovering music, changing his name, finding freedom through punk, and realising that DJing was not just about playing records, but about bringing people together. From The Housemartins to Fatboy Slim, he reflects on the moments that shaped him, the identity he created, and why he always wanted to be remembered. Davina and Norman also explore his relationship with Zoe Ball, becoming a tabloid “power couple,” raising children in the middle of fame, and what happens when life becomes chaotic behind the scenes. He speaks honestly about partying, parenthood, divorce, friendship, and why their greatest triumph has been remaining a family even after the relationship ended. At its heart, this is a conversation about legacy, joy, and learning to begin again when the life you built no longer fits who you are becoming. Fatboy Slim reminds us that success is not the same as peace, and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is change the music and keep dancing. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Follow us here :📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Fatboy Slim: https://www.instagram.com/officialfatboyslim/?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 (01:47) The Real Reason He Changed His Name To Norman (03:14) How His Family Sparked A Lifelong Obsession With Music (06:49) Why Music Became More Than Just A Hobby (08:26) How Punk Music Changed Everything (22:17) Do Health Ad (23:27) Why Brighton Became The City That Shaped His Future (26:23) How Joining The Housemartins Changed His Life (28:54) What Legacy Does Norman Want To Leave Behind? (32:14) How Norman And Zoe Ball Navigated Fame, Love, And Divorce (36:32) Coffee Rave Promo (37:02) How Skint Records Was Born And Why He Became Fatboy Slim (39:05) What Happened When Fatboy Slim Made His First Two Albums (40:38) The Story Behind The Rockafeller Skank's Global Success (42:09) Why Music Still Matters More Than Ever (44:23) What Woodstock ’99 Was Really Like From The Stage (45:53) How Big Beach Boutique Became A Brighton Legend (51:41) What Happens When Clubbing Culture Changes With Age? (54:51) Why He Stopped Performing Drunk And Chose Sobriety (01:05:58) A Letter From Damian Harris And What It Revealed (01:08:01) What His Son’s Letter Meant To Him (01:13:32) Epilogue: Norman Signs His Book For Davina 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 19min
  5. Author Jojo Moyes: Me Before You, Rejection & Starting Again In Her 40s

    4 June

    Author Jojo Moyes: Me Before You, Rejection & Starting Again In Her 40s

    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

    1hr 16min

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About

Begin Again with Davina McCall is your reminder to live a life that you love! We’re all guilty of staying inside our comfort zone. We’ve convinced ourselves to settle, to accept our lot in life, that it’s too late, too scary, too much. But what if you could approach change in your life differently? What if you could be excited about stepping outside of your comfort zone? What if you gave yourself permission to reinvent yourself? Every week, Davina grabs you by the hands and sits you down on the big green sofa for honest, personal conversations with the people who chose change. These are national treasures, everyday heroes, and leading experts, who help you step outside of your comfort zone, embrace reinvention, and get excited about what comes next. Begin Again is a space where both big changes and small shifts are celebrated as a chance to grow, rediscover yourself, and start again.  So come on in, get comfortable, and join Davina in Britain’s living room where you get to begin again and again and again! Instagram: @beginagain LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davina-mccall-82204a19b/

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