Outspoken Beauty

In this week's Minipod I'm telling you all about my very last minute decision to have a tattoo to celebrate my 43rd birthday. How did the family react? What after care product has Sali Hughes told me to use and will I get more??!!

I also have two AMAZING fragrance recommendations. One is from Zara, is made by one of the best perfumers in the world and is £25 (it smells like it's worth 5 times that) and the other is pricier but just so utterly addictive that I can't get it out of my head.

I also have info about gold boots, ask you if Reformer Pilates really is as good as everyone seems to thing it is (better be for the price) and tell you about a French makeup brand that only uses dyes from plants.

Enjoy my lovely Outspoken Beauties x

It's officially Bryony Blake time and this week we're talking about:

• An incredibly embarrassing thing that happened to me in a public place (warning: it's not for the faint-hearted)
• The fly that made the horror film even scarier.
• Why Bryony wasn't scared during one of the scariest theatre productions ever because the bad makeup was bugging her
• Snakes and why they should NEVER be worn as ties
• Sibling relationships

and of COURSE we have lots of lovely beauty recommendations for you.

Don't miss it Outspoken Beauties xx

In this (absolutely fascinating) episode I'm joined by former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan, Womens Health and Elle, the amazing Farrah Storr.

As you'll hear Farrah imagined that she'd be in magazines all her life but as the media landscape has changed, she's moved away and now spends her time running the UK division of Substack where she also publishes her own very successful newsletter Things Worth Knowing.

During the episode we discuss Farrah's career and where she is now. We have a really interesting conversation about how the role of editor has now shifted (the title no longer exists at Vogue, instead being called Head of Editorial Content) and what this means for the future of magazines. We also explore how many former edtors are now self-publishing on Substack and making more money then they did in their former high profile jobs.

This leads us to chat about we can not only get the best out of Substack as readers but also how easy it is to start one and build a wonderful community and potentially new career.

I hope that you leave this episode as inspired as I am. Substack really does seem like such a wonderful option for people who are sick of short form content that is based on annoying algorithms. Who knows, you could be earning enough on Substack to enable you to leave your job this time next year!

Check out Farrah's Substack here
Oh and my own one The Outspoken is here

In this week's Minipod I'm reflecting on the many responses that I had to my Instagram reel about the "little bits of wee" that have started appearing from time to time after particularly violent sneezes and laughing fits. I discuss the reasons this starts to happen (it's not just to do with birth) and share some of your brilliant suggestions for keeping things in check.

I also talk about Body Mass Index and how I was quite surprised about my "health weight" range.

Later I get onto beauty and recommendations with a truly phenomenal beauty box (the best I've ever come across), an amazing Insta handle you have to follow if you want amazing Mediterranean recipe ideas, an SOS balm that everyone could do with having and two books (one inspiring and the other utterly trashy but non putdownable).

Enjoy Outspoken Beauties xx

In this episode I chat to breath coach and founder of The Breath Space, Jamie Clements.

Jamie (who did an amazing breathing session at an event that I attended) suffered with severe anxiety and panic attacks and found that his whole life changed for the better when he discovered the power of breathing. He has now trained in many aspects of it and his built his career around helping others.

During the episode we chat about both of our experiences with anxiety, the power of breathing and also get into an unexpected but utterly fascinating conversation about the challenges of navigating being a man in 2023.

I found Jamie's opinions really opened my mind to how a lot of men must be feeling and also made me think about how I bring up my own son. It was truly enlightening and I'm so happy that we had it.

You can find out more about Jamie and his work here

This episode has the potential to change your health and I don't say that lightly.

My guest is Dr Federica Amati, an eminent medical scientist and public health nutritionist whose advice is backed by science and years of research and experience.

During our chat we discuss how by making changes to our diets and attitudes to food we have the potential to stave off a wide range of diseases and live longer, healthier lives. Federica gives really simple advice and her tips are affordable and so easy to incorporate.

Our chat goes further though with a discussion about Federica's frustration at the government's reticence to make healthy food part of their agenda, the huge profits that companies are making from fast food and the impact that living in poverty has on diet (the healthier foods should be far far more affordable). We also chat about the money that large coorporations are paying dieticians in the USA to push drinks containg aspartame. (It's truly shocking!)

Finally we have a chat about Federica's amazing book that comes out on 5th October. It's called Recipes For A Better Menopause and is brimming with excellent, science backed information about HRT, exercise and a plethora of wonderful recipes. You can pre-order it here

Also this is the link to the Association For Nutrition

This really is the most fascinating and important episode and I hope that you get lots out of it.

In this Minipod I'm chatting through some of the things that have been on my mind recently.

I question the amount of money that retailers are taking from brands having found out last night that it is a shocking amount (up to 80%). I also talk about how we make other people feel having had two very different experiences with people yesterday...one that left me feeling cold and insecure and the other that made me feel uplifted and happy.

I also chat about friendships in later life, my love for cheesy romance novels and why I don't think I'll ever be buying anything from Skims.

If you follow me on Instagram (@outspokenbeautynicola) you will have seen me post these thoughts yesterday, During the episode I give my reasoning behind them.

Hope this resonates with you Outspoken Beauties xx

Bryony has returned from a huge adventure but to Nicola's horror, the details are top secret. In the meantime Nicola is recording the podcast in the work loo....will someone disturb them and think that there is something wrong with Nicola after she has been in there for more than half an hour? Listen to find out!

Also:

• Nicola questions what exactly is going on at her Grandma's nursing home
• Bryony gets all excited reminiscing about Universal Studios
• There is a big bra debate
• Bryony thinks she has finally found the answer to Chub Rub
• Nicola and Bryony both have some bargainous beauty products to share
• And a whole lot more

Enjoy and we hope you have a good laugh listening this week

xx

I am so excited about this week's guest. I'm joined by the utterly brilliant actress, author, singer and mum Giovanna Fletcher.

Giovanna and I had so much fun recording this and we cover so many topics from motherhood to how Giovanna creates the perfect space for writing her books to how she carves out precious time for herself in a very busy life.

When it comes to beauty Giovanna explains why she prefers to wear minimal makeup but equally enjoys getting glammed up. She also goes into the important role that fragrance plays in her life and talks us through some of the products that work best for her.

I loved every minute of this chat. Giovanna is a warm, natural and genuinely lovely person and this all comes across in the episode. I know you'll love listening to this!

In this week's Minipod I'm chatting through some of the amazing launches I've been to this week. I'll tell you about the most scentsational fragrance for escapism and summer joy, why Bioderma have impressed me no end and will be going into detail about a new bath millk that does a range of wonderful things for both your mind and body. There's also a new serum from Dermalogica that has absolutely blown my mind.
I'm also talking side hustles, Substack and I have some new makeup favourites to tell you about.