In this episode, Vanessa joins me for a thoughtful and unexpectedly moving conversation about what it's like to be the person everyone talks to, but rarely talks about. As the owner of a beauty business, Vanessa is used to listening, holding space, offering comfort, and often feeling more like a counsellor than a therapist when offering pedicure and manicure treatments in Monmouth.

She shares how meaningful it felt to be asked about her own life, especially at a time when her father's recent cancer diagnosis has prompted deeper reflection and soul-searching. Alongside the heavier moments, we drift back to simpler times - penny sweets, high-sugar school tuck shops, holiday brochures, and hours lost in the Argos catalogue and how she ended up in running her own business.

This conversation is a gentle reminder that those who help us feel better through the work they do often need time, care, and attention themselves.

In this episode we explore:

• The unseen emotional labour behind running a beauty business
• What it's like always being the listener — and rarely being asked
• Nostalgia and the comfort of small, shared memories
• How a family health scare can quietly reshape priorities

A reflective, human conversation about being seen, heard, and held, especially when you're usually the one doing that for everyone else.