This Is A Token with Alex Monroe

We are so excited to kick off Season 2 of ‘This is a Token’ with the witty and wonderful Raven Smith. Raven is a wearer of so many interesting hats - from Humorist, Writer and Cultural Commentator to Instagrammer, Style Icon and more recently Jewellery Designer! You will of course recognise Raven and his slightly naughty influence from our genderless collaboration, 'Alex Monroe x Raven Smith'.

Listen in, as Raven and Alex have a fun and fascinating chat about his most meaningful ’tokens’. From a pair of pinky signet engagement rings left intentionally blank, to a theatrical necklace he has lived in for the past 9 years highlighting the sheer sentimentality of those personal treasures that sit next to your skin and your heart every single day. Plus, as is always promised with Raven, there are some hilarious reflections on being a chronic extrovert, Poirot as a cure for insomnia and how volunteering as marshall during the pandemic brought out his inner head girl!

You can follow Raven on Instagram and Twitter @raven__smith www.instagram.com/raven__smith/?hl=en

You can read Raven’s American Vogue Column here www.vogue.com/contributor/raven-smith

Discover Rochelle Canteen Shoreditch, as recommended by Alex and Raven! www.instagram.com/rochellecanteen/?hl=en

Peruse The Sunday Times best-seller Raven Smith’s Trivial Pursuits here www.waterstones.com/author/raven-smith/470167

For all things Alex Monroe jewellery, visit our website www.alexmonroe.com

To discover our collection of Wedding Bands, go to www.alexmonroe.com/jewellery/rings/wedding

You can find our very own Coin Necklace here www.alexmonroe.com/engraved-coin-necklace

For everything you need to know about the Alex Monroe x Raven Smith Collaboration, visit www.alexmonroe.com/ravensmith

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our final episode of Series 1 of ‘This is a Token’, Alex and his daughter Connie (podcast co-producer and technical assistant) take a moment to reflect on the series, their favourite moments and the incredible guests Alex has had the pleasure of speaking to about their lives and their jewellery over the past few months.

Thank you so much for tuning into Series 1!

We are looking forward to welcoming you back for Series 2 very soon!

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our latest episode of ‘This is a Token’, Alex is joined virtually by fashion model, diversity campaigner and all-round icon of the British Fashion scene, the wonderful Erin O’Connor MBE. In a lively and uplifting discussion, Erin talks Alex through her favourite pieces of jewellery, many she has acquired on her travels around the world with her work since she was spotted at 19 years old!

Listen in as Alex & Erin (with an appearance from Alex’s daughter and podcast co-producer Connie) talk about the overt sexualisation of young women in the public eye, the strength of character that comes from forever being in and out of fashion, and adorably, how in the hands of her youngest son Eddie, her Alex Monroe ‘Peace’ necklace will forever be her ‘Pizza’ necklace!

You can follow Erin O’Connor on Instagram @erinoconnor and Twitter @erin_o_connor

Erin walking the runway for Couture Fashion Week in Paris whilst pregnant with her second child www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/a25975792/erin-oconnor-schiaparelli-catwalk-pregnant/

For more information about Claddagh Rings, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claddagh_ring

For all things Alex Monroe jewellery, visit our website www.alexmonroe.com

You can see our Peace (‘Pizza!’) Necklace here www.alexmonroe.com/flower-power-peace-sign-necklace

Find Erin’s Tyrannosaurus Necklace here www.alexmonroe.com/tyrannosaurus-rex-necklace

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex is joined virtually by fellow jeweller, and co-founder of jewellery brand 'Tatty Devine', the marvellous Rosie Wolfenden MBE. Just like Alex Monroe, Tatty Devine hand-makes all their pieces in the UK with a strong commitment to ethical practices and sustainability, and are known and loved worldwide for their original and fun, statement acrylic jewellery. Rosie talks Alex through her favourite and most meaningful treasures, from her beloved grandmother’s necklace, to the personalised antique signet rings she and her husband wear as a symbol of their marriage.

Listen in as Alex and Rosie talk about the bridge between art and commerciality, the role of jewellery as a playful and often political statement, and how accessorising allows us to to look different, express ourselves creatively, and communicate to an increasingly globalised and homogenised world exactly who we are!

You can follow Rosie Wolfenden on Instagram @rosiewolfenden and Tatty Devine @tattydevine

Both Alex and Rosie love Rob Ryan, you can find out more about his work here https://robryanstudio.com/

You can find a Parakeet Necklace similar to Rosie’s, here www.tattydevine.com/products/paradise-parakeet-super-statement-necklace

You can find more information about the Fawcett Society here www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/

For all things Alex Monroe jewellery, visit our website www.alexmonroe.com

You can see our Ocean Diamond Ring here www.alexmonroe.com/ocean-diamond-ring

Discover our Lobster Necklace here www.alexmonroe.com/lobster-necklace

You can find out about the V&A Museum’s latest exhibition here www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/alice-curiouser-and-curiouser

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our latest episode of ‘This is a Token’, Alex is joined virtually by the incredible Zinnia Kumar. A Chartered Ecologist, published scientist, sustainability advocate, cultural theorist, and internationally recognised fashion model, Zinnia talks to Alex about the trinkets and jewellery she has on her person everyday, as a meaningful and grounding reminder of who she is.

Listen in, as Alex and Zinnia discuss working to engineer social and environmental change from inside the fashion industry, the symbolic transformation of a dragonfly into a pair of elephants, and how jewellery can function as a measure and reward, to symbolise how far we’ve come.

You can find Zinnia Kumar at http://zinniakumar.com/ and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @zinniakumar

You can find the book Alex is reading, ‘The Way Home’ by Mark Boyle here https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781786077271?gC=5a105e8b

For more information about Social Anxiety, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-anxiety/

To learn more about Australia’s Little Penguins and how to support them, go to https://penguinfoundation.org.au/

For further reading on East India Company and Blackbirding, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbirding

For all things Alex Monroe jewellery, visit our website www.alexmonroe.com

Discover Zinnia’s Elephant In-Line Diorama Necklace www.alexmonroe.com/elephant-diorama-necklace

See our very own Indian Elephant Necklace www.alexmonroe.com/indian-elephant-necklace

To view our Dragonfly Necklace www.alexmonroe.com/teeny-tiny-dragonfly-necklace

If you are interested in finding out more about our bespoke service, visit www.alexmonroe.com/bespoke

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our newest episode of ‘This is a Token’ Alex is joined at home in London, by the wonderful actor Olivia Williams. Best known for her brilliant roles in Wes Anderson’s ‘Rushmore’, ‘The Sixth Sense’, ‘An Education’ and ‘Friends’, Olivia talks to Alex about three unique and precious rings, each given to her by three special and very different women in her life.

Listen in as old friends Alex and Olivia discuss adventures in Afghanistan, unusual techniques of attraction, and the complexity of jewellery that is so precious and full of sentiment, it can often be quite difficult to wear with ease.

To read about Olivia’s filmography, go to www.imdb.com/name/nm0931404/

For information on writing a will www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/free-cheap-wills/ or www.gov.uk/make-will

For all things Alex Monroe jewellery, visit our website www.alexmonroe.com

If you are interested in finding out more about our bespoke service, visit www.alexmonroe.com/bespoke

You can read about our Sustainability and Ethical Gemstones here www.alexmonroe.com/sustainability

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Please note, that this podcast was recorded during one of the less strict periods of the coronavirus pandemic, with all the necessary safety measures in place.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Alex is joined at his home in London by brilliant textile artist, friend and self confessed ‘non-jewellery lover’ Tessa Brown, for a chat about some bittersweet jewellery she owns, with a fascinating, dark and complicated family history.

Listen in as Alex and Tessa discuss her stepmother’s South American adventures with a Texan treasure hunter, a pair of spectacular Chilean ‘handbag’ earrings and how jewellery so often represents the remnants of legacies that are a part of who we are.

You can find Tessa Brown at www.tessabrown.co.uk

For more information about selling gold, go to www.mastermeltgroup.com

For further reading on Anne Jennings Brown, visit www.extremegeographer.com/family-matters/an-everlasting-love/march-1968-a-roatan-odyssey-part-3

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Please note, that this podcast was recorded during one of the less strict periods of the coronavirus pandemic, with all the necessary safety measures in place.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of ‘This Is A Token’, Alex is joined virtually across many miles and oceans, by none other than brilliant US actor Beanie Feldstein. Star of Booksmart, Ladybird and How to Build a Girl, Beanie talks Alex through 3 of the 12 rings she wears every single day and the stories behind each one.

Listen in as Alex and Beanie, with an appearance from Alex’s daughter Connie, discuss relationships and teenage awkwardness, getting to know the Wolverhampton accent and how her jewellery connects her to her magnificent style-icon mum.

Follow Beanie on Instagram and Twitter @BeanieFeldstein

You can find more about Beanie’s filmography here www.imdb.com/name/nm2788156/

For more information about the LGBT Foundation;, visit lgbt.foundation/how-we-can-help-you

For all things Alex Monroe jewellery, visit our website www.alexmonroe.com

Discover Beanie and Bonnie’s matching necklace  www.alexmonroe.com/rays-of-hope-necklace

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor and close friend, Lloyd Hutchinson, best known for his prolific stage work with the National Theatre alongside many other brilliant productions, joins Alex at home for a chat about a life spent performing, and how three gold rings will always connect him to his late and much-loved father John.

Listen in as Alex and Lloyd discuss a childhood in Northern Ireland amongst 'The Troubles', being directed by an unknown Danny Boyle in 1980's Belfast, and how a humorous misunderstanding with his father plus a lucky poker game, underpins the unusual origins of his wedding ring!

You can find more about Lloyd’s filmography here www.imdb.com/name/nm0404371/

For more information and support on bereavement, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/coping-with-bereavement/

For further reading about The Troubles, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Troubles

For all things Alex Monroe jewellery, visit our website www.alexmonroe.com

To explore our collection of Wedding bands, go to www.alexmonroe.com/jewellery/rings/wedding-rings

To discover our gender-neutral jewellery collaboration with writer Raven Smith, go to www.alexmonroe.com/ravensmith

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Please note, that this podcast was recorded during one of the less strict periods of the coronavirus pandemic, with all the necessary safety measures in place.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.