The Life of Bryony

This week I’m joined by broadcaster, DJ and author Ashley James for a big, honest conversation about women and the shame we’re taught to feel about our bodies. We talk about how that shame starts in girlhood – from periods and pubic hair to the way we’re told to shrink ourselves and ‘bounce back’ after birth – and why so many of us learn to make ourselves smaller to be lovable, acceptable, or just left alone.​ Ashley shares how diet culture and punishing exercise ruled her life for years, what finally made her say “enough”, and how she slowly unpicked all the messages that told her she should hate herself. If you’ve ever hidden a tampon up your sleeve, worried about your “belly fat”, or felt like your body was somehow wrong, this episode will help you feel seen – and maybe start being a little kinder to the person in the mirror.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Ashley’s new book, Bimbo, is available to buy now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Ashley James

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After our main conversation about the messy, beautiful reality of motherhood, I had to ask Lorraine and Rosie all about the three things they each cannot live without. From the people who keep them afloat to the tiny rituals that make the chaos feel manageable, Lorraine and Rosie share the everyday lifelines that help them survive and actually thrive as mums and as a grandmother–mother duo. We talk about leaning on other women, finding comfort in unlikely places, and why it is never “needy” to ask for help. These are the unfiltered, practical things that make modern motherhood just that bit more bearable.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Rosie’s new book, Mother to Mother: Navigating Motherhood Through the Generations, is available to buy now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Lorraine Kelly & Rosie Kelly Smith

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, to mark Mother’s Day, I’m joined by actual daytime telly royalty: Lorraine Kelly and her brilliant daughter, Rosie Kelly Smith. We talk about what really happens after you have a baby – the bits the antenatal classes and “what to expect” books never quite prepare you for. Rosie opens up about her C‑section recovery, postnatal anxiety, dark intrusive thoughts and the terrifying street incident that left her scared to even leave the house with her baby. Lorraine shares how it feels watching your child become a mum, why women are so used to looking after everyone else, and how you can let yourself be mothered too. We chat therapy, medication, and the importance of building your own village when the old ones have disappeared. If you’re pregnant, a new mum, or still healing years on, this one’s for you.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Rosie’s new book, Mother to Mother: Navigating Motherhood Through the Generations, is available to buy now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Lorraine Kelly & Rosie Kelly Smith

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Partridge is back with me to share three essentials for coping with life as someone with ADHD. We talk about what it means to live in the “now”, how to quieten imposter syndrome, and why so many of us develop what Alex calls “success amnesia” and forget our achievements almost as soon as they’ve happened. Alex also shares the tiny daily practices that can gently build self-awareness, and explains why finding your people isn’t a luxury but a total lifesaver when your brain works differently. If you’ve ever felt “too much”, “not enough”, or just completely alone in how you experience the world, this one’s for you.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Alex’s new book ‘Why Does Everyone Hate Me?’ is released on 24th March 2026 and is available to pre-order now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Alex Partridge

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever felt crippled by perfectionism, terrified of rejection, or spent your life trying to make everyone happy – even at your own expense – then this episode is for you. I’m joined by Alex Partridge, host of the ADHD Chatter podcast and author of the new book ‘Why Does Everyone Hate Me?’, to talk about Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), a little-known but deeply felt condition that’s finally being recognised as a disability. Alex explains how RSD affects those with ADHD and neurodivergent minds, how the quest for perfectionism leads to exhaustion, and the emotional toll this takes on relationships, work, and self-esteem. We also dive into real-life stories, strategies for coping, and why understanding RSD is so important for anyone who feels ruled by fear of criticism or rejection. Whether you have ADHD or just want to understand your chattering mind better, this is a conversation that will make you feel less alone.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Alex’s new book ‘Why Does Everyone Hate Me?’ is released on 24th March 2026 and is available to pre-order now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Alex Partridge

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.