Claire Davis is a Coach, Personal Trainer and Nutritional Advisor. She’s also one half of the award-winning Midlife Mentors who help people transform their lives through their retreats, workshops and podcast.

She’s back by popular demand on The Next Chapter, this time answering your Christmas questions about the not-so-perfect parts of this magical time of year.

In the conversation we discuss:

* How to cope with difficult relatives over the festive season (when your stomach is in knots.)

* What to do if you don’t even like your in-laws.

* What to do if Christmas isn’t what you imagined it to be.

* How to enjoy all the treats without feeling terrible.

* What happens when you’re given a present you just don’t like.

Plus so much more. Thank you so, so much to everyone who asked a question and if you didn’t, I’m pretty sure the answers will help you in some way. If you’re wrapping or feeling a little overwhelmed, Claire is a wonderful person to have in your ear.

www.elliebarkerwrites.com

Monty Saul says she had an idyllic childhood – she describes her roots as ‘working class and filled with love.’ Then one night, a drink in a nearby pub in Cookham, Berkshire changed everything.

Monty was spotted by a photographer, and not just any photographer, a world-famous fashion photographer. Before she knew it, she found herself being whisked away to the world of Vogue and Dior. I’ll let Monty tell you everything that happened (it’s an amazing story!) but Monty shows that by taking a chance, well, who knows where it will take you?

For Monty she became a model for Dior, travelled around the world and then she met her husband Roger. He was busy creating his own business- you know the one - Mulberry.

Together they continued creating their brand and not only that, a wonderful home for their 3 boys and family which is now also a walnut farm.

In this conversation we discuss:

* What it’s really like to be a fashion model in your teens

* What happened when she was chosen to model for our late Queen in Buckingham Palace in a first-of-its-kind private show.

* How she coped with all the scrutiny and knock-backs of the fashion industry and why she believes we should never feel intimidated by anyone.

Monty’s story shows what can happen when you’re prepared to work hard, take risks, follow your heart and be true to yourself. She humble, open and down to earth – it’s easy to see why her home today is still filled with all that love.

(I know, I know it’s me again but this is the last of the special series…)

This is the 3rd of 3 different recordings to mark reaching 100 episodes of The Next Chapter podcasts. It’s just me and around 18 minutes long. But I thought it might help if I shared what I’ve learned. I’ve listened to all these conversations more than once and I pick up something new every time which really helps me with my own wobbles.

What I’ve always tried to do with the podcast is show I’m with you all the way. We can do this together, whatever Next Chapter you’re facing and even in the midst of storms, doubt and wondering where we should step next… there is always another way.

As I type this I am cringing, going red, wanting to watch 10 Hallmark films back-to-back and pretend I haven’t done this - but then, well that’s hardly the essence of Next Chapter living, now it it?

As part of our week of special recordings at Flowerpot HQ to mark our 100th episode of The Next Chapter - for one week only - today’s guest is well… me.

I battled with this idea for a long time, but then a conversation with a former guest and friend Nick Hounsfield, founder of The Wave, changed my mind when he gave me some great advice/a little talking to you.

“Ellie, if you don’t explain you, your story and what you’re trying to do, nobody will understand.”

Therefore - I handed over the microphone and podcast to fellow journalist/also my husband Rob Murphy. I hope you will see in this conversation that my true belief that it is possible to create a life we love, and when it doesn’t work our the first (or gazillion other times) there is always another way.

We discuss:

* How rejection has been a very big theme in my life and why I believe it’s so important

* The importance of the love and people you have around you

* Why I know you absolutely have what it takes to live a life you love

* Top of the Pops, Robbie Williams and meeting my GMTV heroes for the first time

(And yes I did make my normally hard-hitting crime correspondent husband Rob Murphy say “hello gorgeous person.. it was part of the deal…obvs)

I hope you enjoy the conversation and it helps in some way. Normal business will resume next week.

As The Next Chapter by Ellie Barker reaches its 100th episode, I wanted to share with you just a few short words about it:

* Why I started The Next Chapter podcast

* Why I think you’ll love it

* What I’ve learnt from the podcast episodes

* The potentially devastating effect on our mental health when we don’t live lives we love

* How these conversations can at the very least help with your first steps

I have 100 inspirational episodes with people who have changed their lives, taken a risk, started a Next Chapter and they want to share their lessons with you. You can find more here:

https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/podcast-1

Will Chase grew up on a small family farm in Herefordshire called Tyrrells Court. He says it was idyllic but describes himself as a bit of a ‘brute’ at school.

All he wanted was to be a farmer and in his 20s he secured a huge loan to buy his family farm. But then he went bankrupt.

He ran away, but then he returned and thank goodness he did because it was while he was back selling potatoes to supermarkets he had his Eureka! moment. What if he turned them into crisps instead?

So, they became Tyrrells crisps - you know the ones. They were loved and sold all over the world and just six years later he sold the business for a reported 30 million pounds.

You could say that was enough of a Next Chapter. But no. He went on to create Chase Vodka which he later sold to Diageo for an undisclosed sum. And now his Next Chapter living continues as he steps into the wellness industry with Willy’s Apple Cider Vinegar.

In this episode we discuss:

* Why we can never substitute experience

* How he turned his bankruptcy into a multi-million pound business and the lessons he learned

* The importance of staying true to yourself and your values throughout it all and what happens when you don’t.

* How he still wakes up and worries at 3.30am

Will talks about why he believes so many of us have got it wrong, looking for something on the outside when really it’s how we live our life that matters. Plus it’s really all about who we become as we face the ups, downs and struggles Life inevitably throws our way. He believes you don’t have to have amazing exam results or lots of money behind you to build a life you love - just curiosity, a willingness to learn and the ability to treat people well along the way.

Miranda always loved books and stories as a child.

But what Miranda didn’t know then was this love of books would help her create her very own empire. Miranda worked in publishing for 20 years and ended up at Penguin Random House with the huge job of Editorial Director and then Senior Commissioning Editor too.

But when a change came in Miranda’s home life, she left the corporate world. It was when she was considering what to do next she came across the inspirational Do Lectures, she sent an email and everything changed. She founded the Do Book Company and these little pocket books are now inspiring people all around the world.

I’ll let Miranda explain everything but in this conversation we discuss:

* What it really takes to create a best-selling book

* How simple actions like sending an email can change your life

* What to do when your life isn’t working for you

* Is it really a career change we need, or is it something else?

This is a fascinating look at behind the scenes of the publishing world, but it’s also an honest, fun and insightful story of how one woman created a life she loves all around her passion - which now suits her and her family.  

To learn more about Miranda and the Do Books: https://thedolectures.com/speakers/miranda-west/

To keep in touch with me (and to receive Free Chapters from my latest romance novel Do We Really Have To Do This? click here: 

https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/

Susan Lewis has written 56 books. She’s written in different genres and her novels are enjoyed by readers all over the world. You can listen to her whole story in S9: Ep 4.

But what does it take to be so creative?

Now Susan is back to answer your questions.

In this episode we go deep into the ins and outs of Next Chapter living.

We discuss:

* The importance of setting boundaries

* The real reason we must carve out time for what we love

* How it all comes down to self-belief and how we can nurture this

* Romance - in and out of her books.

Susan’s latest book Nothing To See Here is out now. To learn more about her books you can find her at

https://susanlewis.com/

To learn more about me and my books you can find me at https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/bookshop

Miranda always loved books and stories as a child.

But what Miranda didn’t know then was this love of books would help her create her very own empire. Miranda worked in publishing for 20 years and ended up at Penguin Random House with the huge job of Editorial Director and then Senior Commissioning Editor too.

But when a change came in Miranda’s home life, she left the corporate world. It was when she was considering what to do next she came across the inspirational Do Lectures, she sent an email and everything changed. She founded the Do Book Company and these little pocket books are now inspiring people all around the world.

I’ll let Miranda explain everything but in this conversation we discuss:

* What it really takes to create a best-selling book

* How simple actions like sending an email can change your life

* What to do when your life isn’t working for you

* Is it really a career change we need, or is it something else?

This is a fascinating look at behind the scenes of the publishing world, but it’s also an honest, fun and insightful story of how one woman created a life she loves all around her passion - which now suits her and her family.  

To learn more about Miranda and the Do Books: https://thedolectures.com/speakers/miranda-west/

To keep in touch with me (and to receive Free Chapters from my latest romance novel Do We Really Have To Do This? click here: 

https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/

William Hanson had no idea when his granny gave him a book on etiquette as a young boy that it would, as he says, ‘launch a thousand ships.’ He became Britain’s youngest Etiquette Expert and he began travelling all over the world teaching.

He also had no idea when he visited the BBC in Manchester, that the person on work experience who showed him the way to the studio would become one of his best friends and they’d go on to create one our biggest podcasts.

Help I Sexted My Boss is hosted by unlikely best friends William and radio DJ Jordan North. They have millions of downloads every month, they recently won the Listener’s Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards and they’ve sold out the London Palladium (twice).

In this conversation we discuss:

• How we really can create our own luck

  
  



• What it takes to create a podcast listened to by millions all over the world

  
  



• The true importance of manners (clue: it’s all about respect)

  
  



• And what happened when a graduate trainee at a well-known bank ate his peas with his knife

  
  

I also make a very embarrassing confession to William - which as you’ll hear - shows how gracious, lovely and humble he is.

William has some wonderful stories. He’s so open but also shows how anything really is possible. He also tells us the truth about his assistant Josephine… I promise you, you don’t want to miss this.