Great Women Podcast

Charlotte Hurst – Type 1 Diabetes, Ultramarathons & Extraordinary Resilience

In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we speak to Charlotte Hurst — chiropractor, endurance athlete and the first British woman with Type 1 diabetes to complete the Marathon des Sables. Charlotte shares the extraordinary story of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as an adult after training for an Ironman, the fear and confusion of those early days, and how she went from lying on the floor on Christmas Eve after a severe hypo to competing in some of the toughest endurance races in the world. She opens up about resilience, burnout, under-fuelling, and the importance of building a strong support network when living with chronic illness. We also explore her work as a chiropractor for both humans and animals, the realities of female health and ageing, why strength and movement matter so much for women, and how endurance sport can offer rare moments of clarity and simplicity in an overwhelmingly busy world. An inspiring, honest and deeply empowering conversation about health, mindset, movement and discovering what you are truly capable of.

Hillary Graves – Founder of Little Dish – Making Healthy Food Kids Love

In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we speak to Hillary Graves, founder of Little Dish, about her journey from a marketing career in New York to building one of the UK's leading children's food brands. Hillary shares how she identified a gap in the market for nutritious, convenient meals for children and the challenges of creating awareness for a new category. She discusses the importance of staying true to her values while growing the business, and the role advertising, awards and partnerships have played in Little Dish's success. We also explore the realities of entrepreneurship, balancing work and family life, and the lessons Hillary has learned along the way.

Laura Palmer and Jessie Sullivan - Founders of Pellerin Books - The Truth About Modern Publishing

In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we’re joined by Laura Palmer and Jessie Sullivan, founders of Pellerin — the independent publishing house challenging the traditional publishing model and rethinking what long-term support for authors should look like. They discuss why so many writers are failed by the industry’s “feast or famine” approach, how discoverability really works in the age of algorithms and shrinking bookshop space, and why building a readership is a marathon, not a three-month publicity window. From idealistic pub conversations to launching a mission-driven publishing company, Laura and Jessie share the realities of modern publishing, the pressures facing authors and publishers alike, and why they believe the future of books lies in partnership, persistence and community. A fascinating conversation about creativity, business, storytelling and changing an industry from the inside out.

Jo Fairley - Founder of Green & Black's - So Much More Than the Queen of Chocolate

What do you do after being told at 16 you're not destined for greatness? If you're Jo Fairley, you become the UK's youngest magazine editor at 23, launch an iconic ethical chocolate brand from your Portobello flat, and just... keep going. In this episode of The Great Women Podcast, we're joined by the co-founder of Green & Black's, the woman who helped put organic, Fairtrade chocolate on the map long before anyone was talking about conscious consumerism. Jo opens up about the leap of faith it took to build something from nothing, what it really means to trust your instincts, and why purpose-driven business isn't just good ethics, it's good strategy. And she was far from done after chocolate. Co-creator of The Beauty Bible and now founder of On The Scent, a magazine for fragrance obsessives everywhere. Jo Fairley is proof that a brilliant career isn't one big thing. And something tells us she's not done yet. This is a conversation about bold moves, big ideas, and the power of never standing still.

Cindy Gallop - Founder of MakeLoveNotP*rn - Reframing the Conversation About Sex

Most of us grew up with little honest talk about sex — while distorted portrayals in p*rn became the default education for an entire generation. In this powerful episode, Cindy Gallop explains how taboo-driven sex education and unrestricted pornography are shaping unhealthy attitudes toward intimacy, consent, and connection. After a successful career in advertising, Cindy Gallop founded MakeLoveNotP*rn to challenge shame, normalize honest conversations about sex, and redefine healthy intimacy. She shares her experiences fighting ageism, embracing independence, and creating platforms that encourage transparency and connection. Bold, irreverent and unapologetic, Cindy Gallop will challenge everything you thought you knew about sex, intimacy, ageism, and the power of honest conversation.