The Emma Guns Show

Anna Whitehouse is Mother Pukka (@motherpukka/@motherpukka) and she joins me on the show to talk about her website  www.motherpukka.co.uk,  being an influencer and why she's a 'foghorn for flexible working' (her words).

In our conversation we talk about her early journalistic career, being a mum and what it was that prompted her to start Mother Pukka and why the campaign for flexible working for parents is so important to her. 

I dare you not to be inspired by Anna, not least because she doesn't sugar-coat her messaging, but because she's being true to herself - and in this episode of the show she talks about the highs and lows of doing just that.

Her blog post 'I Quit' is mentioned during the show and explains exactly why flexible working is so important to her. She also explains how she handles online trolls, and her early career in journalism. 

EG xx

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Alessandra Steinherr (@alexsteinherr on Twitter/@alexsteinherr on Instagram) is Beauty Director of Glamour Magazine and a social media sensation who joins me on the podcast to talk about her impressive career as a beauty journalist, her thoughts on weight and body issues, the power of positive affirmations and the importance of staying curious. We also kick off with chatter about gossip, what it's really like working in such an image-obsessed industry and where Alex's dreams of becoming a beauty director really began. I went to the Glamour Festival recently to watch Alex's Facebook Live with Estée Lalonde and one question that cropped up again and again was how to start in the industry - Alex explains all in this show...

Alex is no stranger to long-haul travel thanks to shoots and interviews with supermodels and Oscar-winning actresses and she talks about how she manages such a jet-set lifestyle. To know Alex, and to listen to her in this episode, it's clear she has a lot of energy and we talk about how she channels it to be the best version of herself, how she unwinds and the only time she ever really switches off and does nothing... For anyone who battles with their weight Alex is right there with you. We discuss why a weight problem isn't a food problem, but an emotional one. 

If following Alex on social media isn't enough for you then definitely head over to her website alessandrasteinherr.com where you'll find her beauty reviews, an archive of her beauty shoots and much more besides. If you enjoy this conversation then please let Alex and I know by tagging in your comments on twitter and instagram or by emailing me at [email protected]. And finally, if you're listening on iTunes and you're enjoying the show, please leave a 5-star rating and written review to help the show carry on it's journey up the charts. Thank you. EG xx

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You've been sending in emails, DMs and tweets so it seemed timely to answer all your questions in one go in a special 'Ask Me Anything' episode.

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Rock chicks of the world unite! Caroline and I met at a Mötley Crüe concert, which is why this show starts, not with a deep-dive into all things skincare, but a reverie of our favourite rock bands - and rock gods. We talk about the concerts we were both at in the 1980s, the rock stars that make us go weak at the knees and Caroline's incredible backstage experiences... Music aside, Caroline is famous in the beauty world for her no-nonsense approach to skincare - an objective approach earned from over thirty years in the industry. Her reviews have the ability to sell-out product - dubbed 'The Caroline Hirons Effect' - and leave the shelves of major beauty retailers completely bare. She has worked on the shop floor, has consulted for years with brands and has probably had something to do with the creation of many of the products living in your bathroom cabinet right now. 

Because, who doesn't love an instagram story..?

Caroline is someone I've admired for a while, not least because she seems true to and at ease with herself. When she speaks people listen and I wanted to unpick when she realised her voice was one that was being heard by a huge audience, as well as by the upper echelons of the industry. As she says in the show, having spent years in corporate business, realising that her true voice was one that was influential felt great. It's a responsibility she doesn't take lightly and Caroline is a bit like your best friend and your mum - and perhaps that's why she's garnered such a massive global audience who really trust her. Her website www.carolinehirons.com is a portal reviews, advice and must-read 'cheat sheets' and you can follow her on instagram @carolinehirons and twitter @carolinehirons.

Pic credit: Dan Kennedy

Caroline launched her first ever skincare product this year - Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse, £24, and I ask her whether we can expect more products and innovations with her name on it... We also chat about acne and her tips for how to handle it and why it's such an emotional issue. As a qualified facialist Caroline talks about intuition and about the times either putting her hands on someone's skin or seeing something she thought was suspicious has possibly saved lives. 

Caroline also started the non-profit initiative Give & Makeup that aims to get everyday essentials into the hands of the women and children who need them. Whilst composing a blog post on beauty essentials Caroline started thinking about the people who have nothing, found this page on the Refuge website, scrapped the blog post and created the initiative. If you want to donate cosmetics, toiletries, clothes and childrens' clothes follow this link >> how to donate. 

Finally, if you want Caroline to return for a second instalment of the show then email me at [email protected] or tweet me @emmaguns using #EGpodcast. Enjoy! EG xx

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Joining me in this episode of the show is Luke Hersheson (@lukehersheson) the Creative Director at Hersheson's (@hershesons) salons and a member of The House of Experts at John Frieda. Let me just say this at the outset - Luke was a brilliant guest, not least because he's been tuning into the podcast and loves the show! In our conversation we talk about the fact Luke knew he wanted to follow his father's footsteps into hairdressing from a very young age, what it's like to have a busy, creative mind, his desire to want to make salons relevant again, travelling the world with supermodels and his pursuit of excellence. We each talk about our experiences with anxiety and the steps we've taken to overcome what feel, at times, crippling.  

Luke tells me the story of how he was signed and started working on global advertising campaigns. His first trip, in 2001, was with supermodel Gisele for Missoni and he explains what it's really like to have to step up to the plate and how creativity comes together on a shoot. As well as Gisele Luke has styled Victoria Beckham, Sali Hughes, Emma Watson and Sienna Miller - among many others. Also in this episode of the show we talk about the technical revolution, how perhaps social media didn't seem like something we had to get involved with when platforms such as Facebook and Twitter started cropping up, but also how to find balance in a world of technical/social overload. We talk about meditation, the apps to use and the techniques that can help you find balance as well as Luke's plans for the future and how he goes about setting goals.

Finally Luke and I chat about drive, about how passion spurs you on to work even harder, but also how to find a balance and why it's important to find and appreciate moments of calm between the frenetic schedules of fashion week and the like. We also kick the show off with an embarrassing tale from fashion week a few years ago when I stumbled into Luke at a party wearing one of the Hersheson Clip In Fringes. Every home should have one! There's no pesky waiting around for your hair to grow out after you've had a fringe cut in and it's so easy to clip-in and clip-out. I wish I could tell you I was a good model for it... The clip-in hair is just one part of Hersheson's excellent accessories offering - why not have a browse >> Hersheson's Accessories. 

The anxiety essence I reference in the show is from Helios >> Boronia Flower.

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One good thing about being 5'4" - snuggle potential with my taller guests.

Back by popular demand! In her second visit to The Emma G Podcast Nadine (@nadinebaggott/@nadinebaggott) returns to delve into, and debunk, skincare myths. You may know her as the Health & Beauty Editor of Hello! or as The Beauty Know It All over on YouTube, but one thing is for sure, she is an endless resource of skincare knowledge and beauty know-how. After her first visit, where we discussed Generation Y, #antisocialmedia and how she came to carve out one of the beauty industry's most impressive careers, listeners wanted more - and you've got it! Here she talks cosmetic procedures, what you really need from your skincare and her healthy sense of skepticism. But it's a 90 minute show so we obviously indulged in a little Real Housewives chatter...

Nadine is all about honesty - #nofilter #nofacetune and #ownyourshit

In this episode Nadine explains why she's so passionate about skincare. Why every woman should be googling the ingredients on their product labels - knowledge is power - and whether you really need to spend money on your anti-ageing creams. We also chat about her rules for sunbathing, whether or not essential oils should play a role in your beauty buying and why she loves a skincare expert in a white coat. Ever thought about going under the knife, getting injectables or having a laser treatment? Nadine gives a no-holds-barred account of what the pain is really like and whether the results are worth it. And if you've ever felt guilty about falling asleep in your makeup, listen to Nadine - you won't anymore...

Check out Nadine's product know-how and ingredient knowledge...

Note: Nadine called me after our chat to say she should have said Vitamin B3 and not Vitamin B12 when she was talking about Niacinamide. Blame the fact we were talking 19 to the dozen! 

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Dr Dennis Gross is one of the world's leading authorities in skincare. He is a dermatologist, scientist and dermatologic surgeon and I was thrilled to get the chance to have him on the show to talk about his own range of skincare - Dr Dennis Gross - and pick his brain about skincare generally, the types of ingredients we should be looking for in our products as well as when and how to look after our skin as we get older. What's wonderful about Dr Dennis Gross is his ability to make what can be quite complicated extremely simple and when it comes to skincare his approach is, 'If something doesn't make you look good then it's not working.'

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, £73.50 at Selfridges

I met with Dr Gross during his visit to London to launch his products into Selfridges, which includes his iconic Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel - a two-step daily regimen that smoothes and firms skin gently. The entire collection can be viewed here - Selfridges. Given his background in skin cancer I asked him to share his ABCDs of what to look out for, how to check yourself and why 'pink is the new red'. His website www.dennisgrossmd.com is a brilliant resource if you want some further reading on the subject. 

Finally, I couldn't resist quizzing Dr Gross about what else we can expect from him and from his range. He tells me about what's to come including new technology, devices, unique ingredients and light sources. Plus I also rave at him about the incredible Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad for Face, which I discovered via Alessandra Steinherr and which I urge everyone to try - it's one of my hero products. Dr Gross told me during our chat, 'I want people to try products that make them feel happy and look good' and his Glow Pads certainly deliver on that.

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It's highly unlikely, if you've ever seen pictures from a red carpet, flicked through a glossy magazine or watched a music video, that you haven't seen Caroline Barnes' (@CarolineBMakeup/@CarolineBarnesMakeup) work. One of the busiest makeup artists working today Caroline joined me to chat about what it's like to be a freelancer working in the beauty and entertainment industry, how to take time for yourself and how to live in and enjoy the moment. She also shares how she battled acne for years, her top-tip for covering a breakout and the product that really helped. We also talk about intuition, spiritual healing and confidence.

Speed Beauty by Caroline Barnes

Caroline Barnes Speed Beauty is a brilliant resource for anyone who uses makeup, from beauty enthusiasts or those of us who have to do their makeup in a rush. She has funnelled her many years of expertise into easy-to-follow, 60 second clips giving tutorials on everything from the 40s red lip, smokey eye and perfect eyeliner, and much much more. If you want to request a video simply email [email protected] or tweet me at @emmaguns using the hashtag #EGpodcast

Pink Heaven Cream by Jenny Harding for treating reactive and eczema-prone skin.

MAC Studio Fix Powder - One of Caroline's essential tools for covering spots and breakouts.

The Joe Rogan Experience feat. Henry Rollins. On being creative and not built to live the 9-to-5.

Caroline's website Caroline Barnes. To get in touch with Caroline, see her portfolio of work and her clients.

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This episode of the show follows a slightly different format from the usual long-form interviews. I'm talking all things elimination and by that I mean the unavoidable topic of cutting out particular food types. I'm not, for one second, suggesting that anybody cuts out either dairy, gluten or sugar without good reason - consulting a GP or nutritional therapist, for example, should be the first move. However, if it is a decision you have come to then this show features interviews with three real women who, for reasons of their health and/or wellbeing, have cut out either gluten, dairy or sugar. 

The purpose of this podcast is to simplify what can be a bamboozling topic, not to promote the idea of making radical changes to one's diet.

Before we get into the interviews I asked Judy Johnson (@jjjourno/@judy_jay) from Get the Gloss onto the show to talk about the rising 'noise' around clean eating movements, elimination and extreme diet regimes.

Layla talks changing taste buds...

Talking about her reasons for and experience with cutting out dairy is Layla Randle-Conde (@laylabombayla) from Earth Zest Cosmetics. The unexpected side-effect of no longer consuming dairy is one I certainly hadn't expected...

Scroll to 13:00 for my interview with Layla.

More addictive than a Class A drug?

Joining me to talk all things sugar is Emma Stavrinides (@moreliemoo/@emmastavrinides) whose experience of cutting out the sweet stuff when her health was threatened was featured in a Women's Health article here >> Real Life: I lost 4 stone in 9 months. Her perspective on looking at it as a lifestyle change, not a diet, is a useful one.

Scroll to 27:30 for my chat with Emma.

Tired of your tummy troubles..?

Finally Lauren Naylor (@laurenpnaylor/www.laurenpatricia.com) opens up about her years of embarrassing IBS attacks and how cutting gluten from her diet made all the difference. If you've suffered with IBS - and Lauren doesn't hold back in her description of some of hers - then you may be interested in how cutting out gluten has helped her manage them.

Scroll to 53:00 to hear Lauren's story.

If you did catch the Horizon Documentary: Clean Eating the Dirty Truth you might like to read this piece by Zoe Harcombe (@zoeharcombe) on the Clean Eating Movement.

As I've mentioned, this podcast does not support eliminating anything from your diet without first finding out if it's necessary. With the noise, confusion and sometimes conflicting information around the best diets, how to eat and what to avoid out there, what I'm supporting is the idea of being informed. 

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Joanna McGarry (joanna_mcgarry/joanna_mcgarry) joins me to talk about 'adding threads' to her considerable talents. A beauty journalist for over a decade Jo recently made the decision to embark on a full-time degree in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. 

The idea of a 'mid life leap' - making a dramatic shift from a career to a calling - has been around for some time, but in Jo's case she is broadening her knowledge, rather than choosing one over the other. I couldn't wait to sit down with Jo to find out why Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture called to her and how she was going about continuing to contribute to one of the country's most popular magazines as their Beauty Director-at-Large.

In my time with Jo we talk in detail about how she came to make the decision, what it's really like to go back to school in your thirties and why timing was an important factor.

Somehow, via talk of meditation, we also bond over a love for reality TV, where we sourced our style inspiration as teens without the likes of instagram and twitter and how mindfulness is playing a role in both our lives.

Tim Ferriss - 'The Human Guinea Pig' - find his podcast archive here...

The Tim Ferriss podcast Jo and I talk about is: Tim Ferriss: The Art and Science of Learning Anything Faster.

Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind over Body on Amazon

Dubbed 'popular science writing at its very best' and on Jo's reading list was: Cure: A Journey Into the Science of Mind over Body by Jo Marchant. The book/website Jo referred to as an entry-point for meditation and mindfulness is: Mindfulness: Finding Peace in  a Frantic World.

Audrie & Daisy: A Netflix Documentary

The must-see documentary Audrie & Daisy, which is available on Netflix.

Jo's library of features and interviews can be found on her Author Page >>

Jo's feature archive can be found on the Stylist website on her Author Page.

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