The Crossroad

This week, Rachel Aitken is joined by Dame Sarah Storey, British Paralympic athlete, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest Paralympians of all time.

In this emotional and inspiring episode, we unpack navigating school pressures from unkind peers, all the while training as a teenage Paralympian swimmer, to winning three gold medals in the same summer she received her A-level results. You will hear that from a young age, Dame Sarah Storey’s journey has been defined by multiple pivotal moments. In this episode of The Crossroad, Sarah candidly reflects on the setbacks and heartbreak that led to an extraordinary career switch from the pool to the bike. She imparts her learnings of resilience behind decades at the top of elite sport, what mental resilience means and what life at the Paralympics is really like beyond the podium.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios – the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today and Nuuri. Our proud sponsor. Go and check them out!

‘Being a Jack of all trades is really a super power.’

Diving into the moments that truly shape us, this week’s guest, Kelly Bond, is nothing short of extraordinary. We explore the pivotal phone call in the midst of the pandemic that completely changed the trajectory of Kelly’s singing career — and how that professional crossroad collided with a deeply personal one soon after.

From navigating PCOS and endometriosis from the young age of eight, to advocating for female gynaecological and mental wellbeing, this conversation is raw, honest and full of purpose.

Alongside this, Rachel and Kelly discuss powerful moments and collaborations — including Abbey Clancy putting Elle Sera’s Golden Pill on the world wide map — and Kelly’s huge involvement with Bebe’s Hive, following the Southport attacks in her home town, and the importance of community in times of great need.

This episode is about resilience, reinvention, and rising — no matter what crossroads you face.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios – the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today!

This week, Rachel Aitken sits down with highly successful Sports Broadcaster, Chris Mallaband to talk about the long crossroads of turning a dream into reality.

From writing match reports in Cubs at just eight years old to developing what he calls a “huge, disproportionate obsession” with sport, Chris always knew where his passion lay — even if it felt a million miles away from his upbringing in Hampshire.

For years he lived a remarkable double life: working a 9–5 in a demanding corporate job during the week, then spending weekends chasing his broadcasting dream — sometimes finding himself interviewing global stars like Tiger Woods, before heading straight back to a washing powder factory on Monday morning.

Chris shares the persistence it took to keep going when the dream felt further away than ever, the moment his big break finally came at the iconic Radio City, and the determination required to keep pursuing something when no one else can quite see the vision yet.

An inspiring conversation about passion, patience, and the courage to keep showing up — even when success feels just out of reach.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios – the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today!

Rachel Aitken sits down this week with adventurer, author and world-first record holder, Mark Agnew.

From “Captain Calamity” headlines to an arrest in the Arctic Circle, Mark’s journey is anything but straightforward. In this gripping, honest and often humorous conversation, he opens up about failure, identity and the relentless pursuit of something bigger than himself.

Mark shares the reality behind extreme exploration, from failed Atlantic crossings and public setbacks to the mental and physical demands of attempting one of the world’s toughest challenges: crossing the Northwest Passage by human power alone. He reflects on the moments that nearly broke him, the pressure of expectation and how redefining success changed everything.

This is not a story of fearless adventure. It is one of resilience, perspective and learning to embrace the “headwinds” that life throws your way.

Raw, inspiring and full of insight, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the greatest breakthroughs come from our lowest points.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios, the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today.

Rachel Aitken sits down this week with ChroME Founder, author, TedX speaker and Presenter, Kate Harrison. 

Kate brings light into darkness. Her presence truly glows in a room! However, it hasn’t always been light for Kate. In this vulnerable, honest and empowering conversation, Kate opens up about how she pulled herself out of the crossroad of post-natal depression, the fall of a successful business, plus, how she took the mantel when finances crumbled rapidly. Kate’s story is not one for overnight success. It is one of resilience, strength and humour in the darkest of times for not only herself but her family unit as she knew it. Her story will hopefully bring you the tools and support you need, should you find yourself at any of these twists of life’s crossroads. In Kate’s wise words ‘even storms get tiered too’. We can’t wait for you to hear this.  

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios – the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today.

This week, Rachel Aitken sits down with comedian and podcaster Joel Wood — a creator with over a million followers who’s built a huge online audience through sharp humour and painfully relatable moments.

In this episode, Joel opens up about the paradox of being naturally shy while finding his spark in drama class, navigating school bullies, and the unexpected life lessons that came from working on a farm before eventually taking the leap and moving his life to London.

They dive into the reality behind the rise of his content creation success — how it was built, what it really takes to grow an audience, and the pressure that can come with it. Joel also shares how he deals with online trolls, the mindset needed to keep showing up, and why authenticity has been key to connecting with so many people.

Funny, honest, and refreshingly real — this is a conversation about finding your voice in the most unlikely places.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios – the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today!

In this weeks episode of The Crossroad Podcast, Rachel is delighted to sit down with fellow Scottish lass, Jennifer Reoch. Jennifer is a former Miss Scotland winner, law graduate, national Radio Presenter, BBC Broadcaster - alongside so much more. In this episode, Jennifer unpacks the realities behind her multifaceted journey.

Balancing the world of beauty pageants with a law degree and a love for travel and the outdoors, Jennifer challenges assumptions and redefines what it means to be both driven and multidimensional. She shares how she navigated judgment, carved out her own identity, and ultimately transitioned into broadcasting.

Honest, funny, thought-provoking, and empowering, this conversation explores ambition, resilience, and the courage to defy expectations. Whether you're at a crossroads yourself or questioning the labels society places on success, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to fit into one box to forge your own path.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios – the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today!

This week, the crowd goes wild as Rachel Aitken sits down with 'the one and only' Chesney Hawkes. This is truly a candid conversation about life, music, and the split second moments that change everything.

From growing up in a rock-and-roll household to the surreal feeling of what he calls “John Lennon’s fairy dust” brushing his career, Chesney reflects on the highs, the stories behind the spotlight, and the influences that shaped him.

He also opens up about the deeply personal crossroads he finds himself at today—how the loss of a dear friend has shifted his outlook and why it’s led him to start saying yes to everything.

Honest, nostalgic, and full of heart, this episode is a reminder that life’s unexpected turns can spark a whole new chapter.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world to us and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us @thecrossroadpod on Instagram.

Finally, a huge shout out to Prism Studios – the phenomenal team behind the episode you are hearing today!

Our guest this week is Iona Stephen, professional golfer turned broadcaster, who has quickly become one of the most recognisable voices in the game.

Iona’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. After her playing career was cut short by injury, she found herself at a crossroads, stepping away from competition and into the world of sports media. Since then, she’s worked with Sky Sports Golf, the BBC, NBC Golf Channel and beyond, covering some of the biggest tournaments in the world!

In this conversation, Iona shares the lessons she’s learned along the way: from the discipline of golf to the craft of presenting, the importance of preparation, and why she always “learns her lines.” She also reflects on the challenges of building a new career in the public eye, and the joy of being part of a sport she still loves deeply. This is a conversation about change, resilience, and finding new ways to stay connected to your passion.

If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world and allows us to keep creating. You can also follow us on Instagram ⁠@thecrossroadpod⁠.

And a big shout out to Prism Studios - the team behind the episode you are hearing today!

Our guest this week is David Smith MBE, gold medallist, multi-disciplinary athlete, and someone who has faced more crossroads than most of us can imagine. 

David’s story is one of relentless resilience. From missing out on the Winter Olympics by a hundredth of a second, to standing on top of the podium at London 2012 just two years after a life-changing cancer diagnosis, his journey has been marked by triumph and setback in equal measure.

Over the last 15 years, David has undergone seven spinal surgeries, faced paralysis, and learned to reframe life not just as an athlete, but as a human being driven by values, curiosity, and gratitude.

This conversation is about identity, resilience, mortality, and the art of being present, even when the future is uncertain. If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow. It means the world and allows us to keep creating. 

You can also follow us on Instagram ⁠@thecrossroadpod⁠.

And a big shout out to Prism Studios, the team behind the episode you are hearing today!