Are you following someone else's rules? Viv Groskop talks to poet Hollie McNish about the value of working out your own way to do something - even if it takes time. Hollie discusses her efforts to unlearn society's unhelpful lessons about being female, including frank conversations with her grandmother. And she explores nerves, pressure, being apologetic - and the sadness of putting poems about her gran into the past tense.

You can find out more about Hollie and her new book, Slug and Other Things I've Been Told to Hate at holliepoetry.com

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

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Are you doing it your way? Viv Groskop talks to designer and businesswoman Anya Hindmarch about the value of authenticity. Anya reveals how neuro-linguistic programming and autogenic training helped her beat chronic stage fright. She argues that nerves are useful, that you know more than you think and that emotion is not only useful, it is the heart and soul of any business.

Anya's book If In Doubt Wash Your Hair is out now. Find out more about Anya at anyahindmarch.com

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

@vivgroskop

Have you said what you came to say? Viv Groskop talks to Anneliese Dodds, Labour Co-Op Member of Parliament for Oxford East, about owning the House as the first female Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. How to communicate complex ideas, how to build trust, how to deal with the Daily Mail style police. And how to make sure that you are clear what you want to say - and say it.

Find out more about Anneliese at anneliesedodds.org.uk

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

@vivgroskop

Are you feeding your self doubt? Viv Groskop talks to writer Isabel Allende about how women can combat insecurity by celebrating each other. She talks of the value of feeling comfortable in your skin, knowing what you want to say and understanding that: "these people have come here to love you". Oh, and realising that she is not, after all, a flamboyant bitch. Isabel's new book, The Soul of a Woman is out now.

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is too.

@vivgroskop

Do you feel completely happy? If not, admit it out loud to yourself. That moment of truth will help. Viv Groskop talks to sociologist and life coach Martha Beck who argues that aligning with your truth will get rid of all your psychological suffering. They also discuss chronic public speaking nerves, how to train your animal brain as if it were a frightened horse - and what it's like to hang out with Oprah Winfrey and Elizabeth Gilbert.

Martha's new book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self is out now.

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is too.

@vivgroskop

Are you doing the work? Viv Groskop talks to Dr Nicole LePera, holistic psychologist and author of How to Do The Work. They explore the idea of healing yourself, learning to regulate your body and how that psychological and physiological work can help you to own the room. And Viv finds out how someone who "hates public speaking" manages an online following of millions.

Find out more about Nicole's work @the.holistic.psychologist

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

@vivgroskop

Do you know why you are doing this? Viv Groskop talks to Yewande Akinola MBE, chartered engineer and TV presenter, about the power of knowing your purpose when it comes to connecting to your audience. She reveals the setbacks and criticism that come with building a public profile and argues that if you think of your work as an extension of who you are, it becomes less daunting.

Find out more about Yewande's work at yewandeakinola.co.uk

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

@vivgroskop

Do you want it too much? Viv Groskop talks to TV presenter, actress and writer Mel Giedroyc about the power of not caring and how she was nearly too rock 'n roll to audition for what turned out to be her big break. They talk #strictlycomedancing, #GBBO and almost going bankrupt. And making mistakes. Like thinking: who the HECK is interested in whether a cake rises?

Mel's new book is The Best Things.

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

@vivgroskop

To celebrate International Women's Day 2021, Viv presents a special five-part series featuring psychologist Ethan Kross, author of Chatter: The Voice In Our Head and How to Harness It. In this fifth and final part Viv and Ethan discuss how they speak to their daughters about inner voice. How do you distinguish between your feelings and your thoughts? And how to talk to yourself with kindness and compassion. (Warning: May include Viv calling herself a "sweaty old cow.")

You can find out more about Ethan at ethankross.com

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

@vivgroskop

To celebrate International Women's Day 2021, Viv presents a special five-part series featuring psychologist Ethan Kross, author of Chatter: The Voice In Our Head and How to Harness It. Part four looks at negative thought loops and what to do when you are talking to yourself like a bully. How to know when to trust your intuition and when to seek external confirmation. And the six things you need to write down after every stressful moment you survive.

You can find out more about Ethan at ethankross.com

Viv's book, Lift As You Climb is out now.

@vivgroskop