Gutsy Voices

This week's guest is Catherine Edsell, an expedition leader. Catherine runs her own business as an expedition leader leading adventures to Namibia and Mongolia. In this week's episode, she shares her story about how she became an expedition leader after studying dance performance in university. Her story takes her through training, becoming a mother, and then became an active expedition leader again. We also talk about how Catherine gave a TEDx London talk by following her gut even though she...

This week's guest is Adrian Hall, who has been living with cancer for 16 years.Adrian was originally diagnosed with a rare cancer in his leg in 2004 and was cleared after surgery and treatment. But the cancer came back, and that’s when Adrian’s story gets really interesting. In today’s episode, Adrian talks to us about the experimental treatment study he’s been a part of for the last four years and what that looks like in his everyday life. He also talks about how he had to leave work after h...

This week's guest is Elizabeth Steinthal, the founder and head teacher of Educare Small School. Liz started her career in education rather inconspicuously by following in her sister's footsteps. Her life then took her around the world to Spain and Texas giving her a view of education across cultures. In this episode, we talk to Liz about her educational philosophy and her experiences that inspired it. We also talk about how she started Educare Small School 23 years ago to create a place where...

This week's guest is Erin Deluga – a wife, a mother of two, and an educator now working as a principal of a large high school.Erin's life and career have offered her lots of opportunities to be gutsy, and she is not one to shy away. In today's episode, we talk about her path to becoming a teacher and education administrator and the challenges she's faced as a principal. She also shares her story about being a mother to two lovely young girls, the youngest of whom has Down's Syndrome. Er...

This week’s guest is James Alexander Lyon, a fashion photographer.In his photography, James works for greater diversity in the fashion world both on the catwalk and in the media. In today’s episode, you’ll hear James tell us about his work with aspiring models, and specifically those with disabilities. But James’ gutsy story goes beyond his work. He’s been sober for 11 years, and we also talk to him about how he became sober and how he is traveling along the “road to wellville.”James Alexande...

This week's guest is Claire Firth, a zoo keeper and graphic designer. Claire's journey to becoming a zoo keeper began in earnest around her 40th birthday. But truthfully, it began in her childhood with a love of animals. In this week's episode, we talk to Claire about what her job is like, what made her decide to take the leap and return to school, and what it's like being a "mature" student in a program with mostly 19-20 year-olds. We hope you'll be just as inspired as we were with how Clair...

This week's guest is Miguel de Almeida, a graphic designer specialising in the wine industry. At 18, Miguel left his home in Portugal to study at university in Wales pursuing his dream of becoming a graphic designer. Now years later, and through hard work and some gutsy choices, he's working in his dream career designing for wine brands and pursuing his love of wine. In this week's episode, you'll hear all about Miguel's job, but you'll also hear about how he manages living away from his love...

This week's guest is Cath Howe, an author, a teacher, a creative.Cath is an author who writes about real kids in a mess, and she gets her inspiration from her own life and experiences. She has published two books and is working on her third for "tricky tweens" or children aged 9-12. Cath started her career as an English teacher, but after an episode of ill health, had to take a step back from full-time teaching and rearrange her life to accommodate her passions while maintaining her health. I...

This week's guest is Maggie Hennessy, who has recently completed a trek along The Great Wall of China in support of Princess Alice Hospice. Maggie's story starts long before her trek in China though. She originally came to the UK as an economic migrant at the age of 17. Maggie has faced adversity in her life including working her way out of poverty as well as managing healthcare for her son as an infant and her partner as he faced brain cancer. And in this week's episode, you'll hear how Magg...

Today's guest is Jude Faultless, an actor/copywriter/mother of one. When we first spoke to Jude about being on our podcast, she told us a story about how a friend of her's had commented that he did not know many people who made the choices she did and how this took her by surprise. In our episode, we talk to Jude about how she made her life choices and thereby actively designed her life. And while it's not all roses, she does love the stable base surrounded by lots of variety.Today's Song - D...