Performing In Life - The Trafalgar Education Podcast

Ep 7 - Donna Easton - Making Happiness and Joy a priority in Life

You know those conversations that just make you feel better about being alive? This is one of them. Donna Easton joins us for a warm, funny and genuinely life-affirming chat about something we all deserve a lot more of - joy. Not the Instagram version. The real, messy, dancing without wine kind. We talk about the days when life feels like a mixed-up soup, why we need to stop punishing ourselves for being human, and how something as simple as the words we use about ourselves can change everything. There's also a very important conversation about social media and what it's quietly doing to young people's sense of worth. And then there's Little Olive. Donna's nan. Silly, badass, and honestly a blueprint for how to live. Donna shares her three keys to unlocking joy that might just change how you look at an ordinary Tuesday and her advice is the kind that sticks with you long after you've finished listening. Funny, honest, and full of heart. This one's a good one. Come as you are. Leave a little lighter.

EP6 - Suneet Sachdeva: Blood, Sweat and Bubble ‘Tea’rs

From Yearbook Dreams to Bubble Tea Empire: Suneet Sachdeva on Passion, Resilience and Purpose. From being voted “Most Likely to Win Big Brother” in his school yearbook to founding the UK’s largest bubble tea brand, Suneet Sachdeva has built an empire one cup and one challenge at a time. In this episode of Performing in Life, Suneet shares the story behind Bubble CiTea, the company he launched in 2013 that now spans over 55 stores and employs more than 600 people, with plans to reach 300 through franchising. But behind the bright colours and tapioca pearls lies a story of persistence, purpose, and pure self-belief. We talk about: * Turning a teenage dream into a nationwide business * The tough early years: from skipping meals to sampling bubble tea every day * Learning Mandarin in China to transform his supply chain and mindset * Scaling sustainably while learning to let go of perfectionism * Being a proud voice for the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of representation * Leading a diverse team of 48 nationalities and breaking down communication barriers * The lessons of entrepreneurship – grit, gratitude, and never letting others define your limits With honesty, humility, and a yearbook full of ambition, Suneet shows that success isn’t about luck - it’s about loving what you do, holding your vision, and turning every setback into fuel for what comes next.

Ep5 - Bethany Weaver: Becoming Dorothy in Wicked

In this episode, we dive behind the curtain with Bethany Weaver in her first ever interview as she shares her incredible journey from teaching at Stagecoach to stepping onto one of the most iconic movie sets of all time - Wicked: For Good. We talk about everything from her early performance instincts to surreal moments like meeting Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the quirks of filming with a dog on set, and what it felt like to put on THE blue and white gingham dress. She opens up about the audition process, working with director Jon M. Chu, and why those famous slippers aren’t actually red. Beyond the glitz, she reflects on: *  The power of theatre and creativity to give kids options *  Her favourite Wicked song (and the moment that made her cry) *  How performance builds confidence, resilience, and spontaneity *  The importance of being yourself — because that’s the best version With honesty, humour, and a touch of sparkle (literally - those crystal slippers!), this is a conversation about dreams, self-belief, and why this is just the beginning.

Ep4 - Hayley Palmer - That’s Show Business

Turning Rejection into Stardom: Hayley Palmer on Confidence, Grit & Glitter TV Presenter, Producer, and all-round powerhouse Hayley Palmer joins us to talk about her journey from Stagecoach dance teacher to Sky TV prime-time presenter - and the sparkle (and setbacks) along the way. Armed with her trusty prop - a tiara - Hayley opens up about learning to wear her crown with confidence, building resilience in an unpredictable industry, and celebrating every small win (even if it’s just a post-it note reminder!). We talk about: * Her early days teaching at Stagecoach and how it built her confidence * Creating At Home with Hayley from her dining room during lockdown and convincing big names to come on the show * Why self-belief, gratitude, and “good old-fashioned grit” matter more than luck * The art of inner work including mindset, EFT tapping, and staying grounded amid the chaos * Why rejection is part of show business and how to turn every “no” into a “not yet” * Handling live TV slip-ups like a pro (and what to do when things go wrong on air!) Full of infectious positivity, humour, and practical advice, this episode shines a light on what it really takes to Perform in Life - tiara slightly tilted, but never falling.

Ep3 - David & Carrie Grant on How Love, Music & Family shaped us

This episodes Performing in Life guests are true icons of British music and television - David & Carrie Grant, BAFTA award-winning broadcasters, vocal coaches, authors, and campaigners whose work has inspired generations of performers. From the early days of Pop Idol and Fame Academy to BBC Radio London’s Saturday Breakfast Show, their story is one of creativity, conviction, and compassion. Together, they’ve coached global stars, raised a proudly neurodiverse family, and shown how love, art, and kindness can change the world one song, one student, one open conversation at a time. We talk about: * The reality of fame, artistry, and learning to “live the moment” * How they met (on a train!) and built a lifelong partnership in music and life * Vocal coaching with Gwyneth Paltrow, Robbie Williams & Take That * Why Stagecoach and performing arts education matter more than ever * Parenting a neurodiverse family - building community, empathy, and bigger tables, not higher walls * Breaking boxes and labels by staying curious, kind, and open-minded * Their book A Very Modern Family and what it really means to create safe harbours for others * The songs that move them most and the joy that still drives their work With humour, heart, and a lot of harmony, David and Carrie remind us that performance is about so much more than applause. It’s about courage, authenticity, and showing up as your true self.