Inspireland

Lizzie Acker is one of the most well loved stars from The Great British Bake Off after instantly becoming a fan favourite in 2021. She was praised across the nation for being so open about living with ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Now she has a huge following on social media where she uses her voice and platform to share both her amazing bakes and her life with Neurodiversity. Lizzie is on a mission to increase awareness, change education and inspire young people as she says ‘the more we speak about it, the more we can create a neurodiverse-friendly culture for everyone’. 

Follow Lizzie on Instagram: lizzieacker_

This is one of the most powerful, honest and raw interviews I've ever done. Claire Farrington gave birth to her son Theo eleven weeks early in 2016 and three weeks after his birth she and her partner Andrew were told that baby Theo has Down's syndrome. In her own words Claire bravely admits the diagnosis was "frightening", the future was "dark" and she "barely knew how to cope". No doubt that Claire is not the first parent to ever feel this way but she is one of the few courageous and inspirational mothers candidly opening up and sharing with me the deepest, darkest thoughts and feelings she had during that time. Eight years on Claire is reflecting on her journey as a mum of a child who has Down's syndrome. It's an emotional and raw story of grief, pain, fear, heartache, beauty, love, humanity, acceptance and celebration. Claire's brutal honesty during the dark times is an inspiration and lesson to, not just parents of children with Down's syndrome, but all of us. I hope Claire and Theo touch your heart as much as they have touched mine.

Follow Claire and Theo's inspirational journey on Instagram: mumonadifferentpath

Jonathan Niziol is an international male model who had a life that looked perfect on the outside but he was harbouring deep secrets on the inside. His harrowing story highlights the importance of male mental health; from tragedy, addiction, intense feelings and isolation. He is now taking the brave step of sharing his story in the hope that it encourages other men who need help to acknowledge their feelings and seek the support they need. Men, it's not weakness to admit you're struggling. It's courage. And here's why...

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Katy was born into a London cult where she was trapped for 30 years. During that time she was never told who her parents were. Today she shares intimate details about the horrific conditions inside the cult including how she was rarely allowed outside and wasn't even allowed to go to school. She tells me how she finally escaped and reveals how she eventually found out who her real parents were.

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HH Princess Olga Romanoff is Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, meaning the princess is related to His Majesty King Charles. The princess lives in a 28 room private estate in England's Kent countryside and she invited me to her home to have tea. During our conversation we talked about her relationship with the British royal family today, how she looks after her country residence, tragedy in her family and whether being a princess in 2024 is a privilege or a burden. Princess Olga is (in her own words) rebellious and eccentric and you're about to find out why...

Find out more about Princess Olga: https://www.provenderhouse.co.uk/

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John Awen is a recovering heroin and crack cocaine addict. He's had nine stints in prison (one in HM Belmarsh which is arguably the UK's toughest prison), had an overdose, was sectioned, stabbed and shot - all related to his drug fuelled lifestyle. John tells me the moment he knew he had to change his life, how he did it and what he does every day to maintain his recovery. His book 'Living Hell to Living Well' is a superb read and I was fascinated by his story of how he became a published author.

Find out more about John and buy his book here: https://johnawen.com/