Sophie Ellis-Baxtor

Shows

Episodes

  1. Episode 193: Lauren Petrie

    Oct 12

    Episode 193: Lauren Petrie

    Lauren Petrie is a bereavement midwife. The time when you would meet her in her professional capacity is at the most painful time of a parent’s life: when you have been told, during your pregnancy, that your baby has died. Lauren’s eldest daughter Mia is studying at University. Her second daughter Jada was stillborn. It was Lauren’s experience of how she was treated - good and bad - during that traumatic time, that has influenced her career and determination to create positive changes in Jada’s name. Lauren’s story came to my attention when comedian Russell Howard shared earlier this year that he and his wife Cerys had lost their baby, and how they had been helped in their darkest times by Lauren. We talked about how important it is for parents to spend time with their beautiful baby after the birth, to hold and talk to their baby and to take photos, to create the only memories they will ever have of that child. With Baby Loss Awareness Week running 9-15 October, this felt like the right time to bring this chat to you. Although this is incredibly difficult subject matter, Lauren is warm, generous and wise, and she left me feeling inspired by the way she has leaned into her grief, and has created a hugely positive legacy for Jada. TRIGGER WARNING. This podcast contains upsetting content about losing a baby. Spinning Plates is presented by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Claire Jones and post-production by Richard Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Begin Again Moments: Daughters Becoming Mothers | Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Katie Piper

    Jul 11

    Begin Again Moments: Daughters Becoming Mothers | Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Katie Piper

    In this heartfelt episode of Begin Again Moments, we bring together two moving conversations about the powerful relationship between mothers and daughters, and how the way we are raised can shape the parents we become. Sophie Ellis-Bextor reflects on her close relationship with her mother, Janet Ellis, and the influence her childhood has had on the way she raises her own children. From growing up with a famous working mother to having a strong, grounded family around her, Sophie shares the lessons she has carried into motherhood and the importance of creating a safe place her children will always want to return to. Katie Piper then receives an emotional letter from her mother, Diane, reflecting on Katie's extraordinary journey through trauma and recovery, and the strength, resilience and compassion she now passes on to her own daughters. Katie shares how becoming a mother has allowed her to carry forward the greatest gifts her own mother gave her, while using the wisdom of everything she has lived through to shape the parent she wants to be. Together, these moments explore the invisible threads that pass from one generation to the next, the lessons we inherit, the love we carry forward, and the profound journey of daughters becoming mothers. To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Episode 191: Caroline Hirons

    Sep 28

    Episode 191: Caroline Hirons

    Caroline Hirons is a skin care expert, author and founder of Skin Rocks. She has just pulished her 4th book 'Skin Rules: Expert Advice You Can Trust'. She told me that she hates writing books becuase of her ADHD but that she is extrememly proud of her books and feels this is the best one yet. It includes advice on looking after your skin through some of life's huge changes including pregnancy, GLP-1s, cancer treatment and the menopause. Caroline has 4 grown up children: two in their 20s and two in their 30s. She built her career alongside motherhood, as she wanted two children before she was 25 and says she planned her pregnancies 'like a machine'. We talked about how she kept a priority space for the thing she really cared about, in amongst having such a young family. Caroline told me how she's still parenting (about 25 times a day onthe phone!) even though her children are now aged 34 to 22. In fact she took a call from one of them mid interview! She describes being the parent of adult children as being a bank teller, taxi driver and consultant! Caroline now has three granchildren and has talked with great passion about the new level of love to which granchildren take you. She made me laugh talking about her love for her own children now being downgraded by the arrival of her granchildren! The love she feels for her grandkids does sound pure magic! Spinning Plates is presented by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Claire Jones and post-production by Richard Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Episode 122: Natasha Bedingfield

    04/08/2024

    Episode 122: Natasha Bedingfield

    Natasha Bedingfield is a New Zealand-UK singer and songwriter who started out in the business at a similar time to me. Another shared link is that we are both currently on a new adventure with songs we brought out originally in our early 20s! How's that for a coincidence? We've each been on an unexpected and exciting journey with our old songs... both because of recent films. The film 'Anyone but You' featured Natasha's 'Unwritten' which originally charted nearly 20 years ago. And my adventure has been because of 'Murder on the Dancefloor' being used to great effect in 'Saltburn'.   Natasha talked about her place in her own family's politics, where her brother Daniel was the first to get into the music industry. Natasha had to fight to pursue her music career; in her family's eyes, that 'place' had already been taken by her sibling! (Sidenote: Daniel's debut single 'Gotta Get Thru This' kept Murder off the top spot in the charts 22 years ago - not that I'm holding a grudge or anything, Daniel!) Natasha has a little boy who is now 6. When he was 2, he was taken seriously ill with a spontaneous brain abscess He had to have two surgeries and was in hospital for 5 weeks. Thankfully there was a cure and he is fully recovered, but the time he was in hospital was obviously an extremely difficult period for Natasha and her husband. Natasha remembers having to perform a gig while her son was still in hospital. She shared how terribly difficult that was, and how in a room full of small talk she would suddenly blurt out 'My son's in hospital!'. On a lighter note (pun intended) Natasha and I talked about how having a baby changed our singing range - for the better! And we agreed that we are both really enjoying the new ride with our old songs from the early 2000s. Spinning Plates is presented by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Claire Jones and post-production by Richard Jones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Episode 192: Dolly Jones

    Oct 5

    Episode 192: Dolly Jones

    Dolly Jones is a former Vogue.com editor who spent over 20 years at Condé Nast overseeing digital content at director level. Based on her experience of motherhood whilst in these roles, she has written a book called 'Leaving the Ladder Down' which is a funny, positive and practical guide for women thinking about how parenthood might affect their career. She has two children aged 11 and 13. Dolly describes getting support for young children during your working hours as the 'patchwork quilt of childcare'. She also said that one of the many women she spoke to for the book, hadn't realised till she had children herself, that as a parent you can feel that you've run a marathon before you even get to work! She also asked people to share their worst parenting mistakes, and once she had shared her own, people were very forthcoming with some great stories! Overall the book has a reassuring positivity, which I love. With both of Dolly's children now at secondary school, she spoke about how our identity is like a little candle flame, and said that now that school drop offs and pick ups are a thing of the past, she is looking forward to putting a bit more time into nurturing that flame. For instance she's started learning the piano, and can now play 'very badly'. So I asked her to play us out with a tune. But she seemed oddly reluctant to do so! Spinning Plates is presented by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Claire Jones and post-production by Richard Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Episode 89: Siobhán Donaghy

    03/06/2023

    Episode 89: Siobhán Donaghy

    Siobhán Donaghy is a singer songwriter best known as one of the Sugababes. The Sugababes have now reformed in their original line-up and last year wowed Glastonbury to the extent they had to close the field they were performing to, because so many people wanted to get to see them - shows just how delighted people are to have the band back together.  Siobhán signed her first record deal at the incredibly young age of 14, and told me how her mum and dad agreed to put their house on the line for her career. They had huge success as the Sugababes, but also some very turbulent times.  Siobhán shared with me that she suffered absolutely crippling stage fright and panic attacks back then, and up until the point she became a mum. Having children has made her much less anxious on stage. To the extent that it was only half way through our chat that Siobhan casually mentioned they'd been performing at Wembley stadium the night before! Siobhán has a little boy aged 5 and a little girl born just after the first lockdown, aged 2. We talked about the pros and cons of taking your own children to your gigs when you are performing. Let's say she's had a better reaction from her little boy's first gig recently, than I have had over quite a few years with mine! We agreed that performing on stage now can feel way less stressful than being at home with the kids... and as if to test that theory out, the Sugababes will be performing at the O2 on 15th September 2023! Spinning Plates is presented by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Claire Jones and post-production by Richard Jones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.