On this week's episode is Charlotta Martinus, the Director of Teen Yoga Foundation. Charlotta shares her journey with yoga, why her passion is to help young people to thrive and how disconnecting from our environment helps open us to new ways of thinking and being. Her conversation in this episode is hugely inspiring, thought-provoking and wise. She describes her favourite yoga position for young people and herself! Charlotta is the world expert in yoga for teenagers and published her book on the topic last year to 5 star reviews and sold 1,000 copies in the first 6 months. She speaks on the BBC and writes for journals worldwide on the topic of yoga and teens. She founded the charity Teen Yoga Foundation, which exists to promote yoga for young people the world over, in 2003. She has trained over 1,000 students to teach therapeutic Teen Yoga. She works with UK government to bring yoga into the curriculum and also has collaborated with BBC, Sport England and the European Union to research the benefits of yoga for young people. Teen Yoga Foundation are currently providing a yoga class everyday at 10am for teenagers. To find out more visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/teenyogafoundation/ Or join a class on their YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW56cm0SXozQzVH3GNn6t8A? Online course: https://teenyoga.com/events/category/teenyoga-events/teenyoga-course/

Becoming Women

S3 Ep4: Charlotta Martinus - Yoga for Teenagers & Helping Them Thrive

This week's episode my guests are Amna and Kiran, co-founders of GirlDreamer. We talk about how their vision for GirlDreamer began, how they support women of colour around the world and the value in having a leadership mentality - we all have the ability to own what it is we want to do. Amna and Kiran share their tips for remaining positive during coronavirus lockdown and how this challenging time is breaking the barriers of traditional ways of working. Kiran and Amna set up GirlDreamer in order to inspire and support women of colour to pursue their dreams despite the barriers, stigmas and stereotypes they are faced with. They have created a series of unique initiatives supporting over 2,000 women on their journey from creating Europe's First Women of Colour Longboard Crew, the UK's First WoC Surf Crew, all women of colour advisory boards, set up empowerment school enrichment programmes as well as opportunities in photography, filmmaking, social entrepreneurship, business, emotional intelligence and leadership. They have also set up an award-winning blog on their website that is now run by global contributors, are recognised as one of Creative England's top 50 'most exciting, innovative and disruptive creative companies' in England' and recently sat down with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to discuss all things mental health, equality for all and the importance of youth leadership.  To find out more about GirlDreamer go to: www.girldreamer.co.uk.

S3 Ep3: Amna & Kiran - Empowering Women of Colour

On this week's episode is triathlete Emma Pallant. Emma chats about her training routine while in Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa and how she's keeping a positive mindset. She reflects on her running journey as a student, what she has learnt about not winning, and how it is a team effort to keep yourself strong. Emma is a former Team GB athlete, she won U23 European Cross Country, Silver at World School Games and 3rd at World Junior 1500m. The British athlete made the move to triathlon post knee surgery in 2012 and has gone from strength to strength. In 2016 Emma started racing Ironman distances and won IM70.3 UK and became World Duathlon Champion for the second year. More recently Emma has gone on to achieve the World 70.3 silver medallist, World Aquathlon Champion and last year in 2019 took 7 x 70.3 wins, 2 standard distance wins and 16 podiums in total. Emma is currently based in South Africa with her fiancé and when she's not busy training she provides triathlon coaching and supports brands Hoka, Team BMC, Aftershokz and Precision Hydration.

S3 Ep2: Emma Pallant - Learning How To Handle Disappointments

For the first episode of Season 3 I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Melissa Snaith, a Chartered BABCP accredited Clinical Psychologist who is the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) lead at Healios. Healios is a specialist online provider for mental health where clinicians can support children, young people and adults online in the comfort of their own homes at anytime.  In our conversation Melissa talks about the power of early experiences in childhood and how they can stay with you as an adult, the emotional well-being support her teams provide through their CBT services at Healios, and the importance of finding groups that value the things we value in ourselves. Melissa is trained in a number of psychological therapies including CBT, Schema Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has specialist qualifications and experience in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD difficulties.  She has worked in the NHS both on the frontline and commissioning services and is passionate about improving the quality of psychological therapy. As the CBT lead for Healios she works with her team to innovate and develop psychological therapy for a high quality service. As well as running a private practice, Melissa lectures and supervises in evidence-based psychological treatments at the University of Reading.

S3 Ep1 - Dr Melissa Snaith - Managing Panic Attacks & Valuing Yourself

In the last episode of Season 2, I am joined by Nikki Giant, the UK Girls’ Rights Strategy and Development Manager at Plan International UK. We talk through a whole host of topics, including girls education, career choices and how to make an informed decision. Nikki chats about the lack of confidence young girls can have and how this can make tackling everyday life a challenge, and gives wonderful advice on how young women shouldn't worry about how others perceive them. Nikki works to create UK-wide programmes to promote girls’ rights and gender equality with and for adolescent girls. Previously, Nikki was the founder and director of Full Circle Education, a social enterprise supporting children and young people through a range of educational and extra-curricular programmes to raise aspirations, attainment and school attendance. She was also the founder of a sister organisation, Girls Circle, which aims to educate, elevate and empower girls and young women across the UK. Nikki is the author of four educational books produced by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, exploring themes related to girl bullying, young people’s social and emotional development and e-safety.

S2 Ep8: Nikki Giant - Girls' Rights, Education & Self-Confidence

In this week's episode I am joined by Holly Sutcliffe, founder of Re:set School. Holly shares what led her to launch mindfulness workshops for teenagers, why reading and writing are crucial to her and her mental health and the power of escapism a book can bring. Holly bravely shares her experiences of overcoming trauma and sexual assault in her teenage years and how she learnt to address the emotional upset in her own time. She also chats about how we can all learn from and respect teenagers and her love for Miss Honey from Matilda. Holly, has over a decade of experience in education and personal and professional experience of mental health conditions. As someone who lives with PTSD and Anxiety (and has experienced Depression in the past) Holly wants to support as many people - particularly young people and teenagers - and empower them to maintain their mental health and wellbeing. She credits mindfulness, yoga and mindset with transforming her life and uses all three daily to keep her mentally well. Re:set School offers training for staff and immersive workshops for teenagers, with the focus on easily accessible techniques and tools that can be incorporated in to daily life to improve mental health and wellbeing. Holly is soon to launch a second online course after her successful course, Nuture, for anyone who considers themselves to be an educator.

S2 Ep7: Holly Sutcliffe - Navigating Adolescence

On this week's episode I am joined by the dynamic duo and Co-Founders of SheIsClothed, Kanndiss Riley & Tracy Lomanga. Kanndiss & Tracy met several years ago and bonded over their love of faux-fur coats and the rest they say is history! Hear the girls chat about why their passion and purpose is to support young girls transition from education into employment and what supportive friendships mean to them.   SheIsClothed focuses on the empowerment of girls and offer schools, organisations or businesses interactive self-development workshops that invigorate girls to get into further education and employment. Kanndiss & Tracy provide a combination 3-day programme to establish long-lasting mentoring, and enterprise development to equips your girls with the skills to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers they may face in society. They also host evening workshops in London and discuss topics such as sex education, sexual health and relationship troubles.   www.sheisclothed.co.uk

S2 Ep6: Kanndiss Riley & Tracy Lomanga - Supportive Friendships

On this week's episode is award winning children's coach, Natalie Costa, founder of Power Thoughts. Natalie talks about her own journey growing up and what power means to her. She chats about how we can all create "yes" moments, how we can learn from our mistakes, enjoy the moment more and not be afraid of failure. Natalie is incredibly passionate about teaching, coaching and providing a mindfulness service to children, and give them the ‘power’ over their own thoughts! With a background in psychology and having spent 12 years within the educational sector as well as becoming an accredited Performance Coach, Power Thoughts was born - which blends her past experience and deep understanding of children and their needs, now providing them with the tools to help them cope and thrive in the modern world. Supporting children from as young as five, Natalie have delivered Power Thoughts to over 3,000 children within schools and online. She has also been featured in the national press and TV, such as Stella Magazine, The Telegraph, Metro, Glamour Magazine and Good Morning Britain. Her programs are designed to help children recognise that they don't have to respond to every thought that they think, or react to everything that they feel. By doing this they are able to grow in confidence, feel happier and be more robust in dealing with the pressures of school, exams, transitioning, making friends etc. Natalie’s intention is always to be focused on helping one child at a time, to be as happy as they can be.  To book a one off "power session" with Natalie head to www.powerthoughts.co.uk.

S2 Ep5: Natalie Costa - Empowerment & Shining As You Are

On this week's episode is Shabnam Nasimi, the first woman from refugee background and British Afghan origin to have entered political life and the Conservative party. Shabnam chats about the anxiety she had learning a second language and fitting in as a teenager, and why we should all have the confidence to not feel any less than anyone else. She also chats about why positive role models were important to her growing up. Shabnam is a British Afghan social and political activist. She founded the Conservative Friends of Afghanistan, an organisation which works to strengthen the relationship between Britain, Afghanistan and supports a thriving democratic culture that is inclusive, collaborative, and encourages participation by British Afghan communities. Shabnam is also a Women's Rights Activist, protecting girls and women from forced marriage, domestic abuse and cultural and religious oppression in Afghanistan and around the world. She is an Ambassador of the 50:50 Parliament campaign which encourages women to stand for Parliament. https://www.cfafghanistan.org.uk/

S2 Ep 4: Shabnam Nasimi - Learning To Be Different

On today's episode is behavioural change specialist and author of The Kindness Method, Shahroo Izadi. Shahroo discusses the importance of putting our energy into feeling good, to listen to the conversation we have internally and be more compassionate to ourselves. She is a firm believer that we can change a habit forever and worrying isn't the answer. Kindness is. Shahroo draws on both professional experience of working in addiction and personal experience of losing 8 stone and learning to treat herself with kindness. Through her talks, workshops and one-to-one coaching, she is dedicated to sharing how self-compassion can help anyone change unwanted habits for good. The Kindness Method is currently available and book 2 The Last Diet is out January 2020. www.shahrooizadi.com

S2 Ep3: Shahroo Izadi - Self-Compassion & Feeling Good

On this week's episode author Fiona Thomas shares her experience of mental health and the importance of managing it in the workplace. She discusses the dangers of burnout and why creating a positive community online is so important. Fiona is from Birmingham, UK and was diagnosed with depression in 2012 and felt completely lost. She was unable to work for almost a year, and turned to blogging in that time turned as a hobby. However, though it started off as a way to pass time, Fiona quickly became obsessed with the online world, leading her to experience high levels of anxiety. Now a proud advocate for technology as a communication tool for those of us who suffer the crippling symptoms of mental illness, Fiona has used the internet to help hone her identity and create a supportive community. Fiona has her own website and is a freelance writer with work published on Metro, Grazia, Healthline, Heads Together, Mind and Happiful magazine. This book is an extension of her work, and a celebration of all that's possible through the power of social media. Buy Depression in a Digital Age here: https://amzn.to/2Kt5pfY. Blog post on pitching: https://fionalikestoblog.com/2019/07/07/how-to-pitch-a-mental-health-article-to-editors/

S2 Ep2: Fiona Thomas - Moral Support & The Positives of Social Media

In the first episode of Season 2 I speak with tampon tax campaigner, Laura Coryton. Passionate about periods, Laura, talks about making periods cool, why she wrote her book "Speak Up!", and how the rise in technology gives us a power to make changes we want to see in the world.  Laura led an international campaign against tampon tax, which was signed by over 300,000 people, and changed EU and UK law. She is also the author of ‘Speak Up!’, a campaign guide for rebel girls, and sat on the BBC steering committee for their 100 Women Series. In September this year Laura has co-founded and launched ‘Sex Ed Matters’, a social enterprise designed to deliver empowering Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) talks and workshops to UK schools. Twitter & Instagram: @sexedmattersuk.

S2 Ep1: Laura Coryton - Amplifying Your Voice & Making Changes

A thank you from Ella Sims for listening to the first season of the Becoming Women podcast and a sneak peak of the guests lined up for season two. See you in October!

Becoming Women: End of Season 1

In the last episode of Season 1 of Becoming Women, is bestselling author, Cait Flanders. She talks about how you can start saving money as a teenager, the benefits of spending time outdoors & the power of writing your own journal from a young age.  Cait is a former binge consumer turned mindful consumer of everything. Through personal stories, she writes about what happens when money, minimalism, and mindfulness cross paths. Cait's story has been shared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, Vogue, Oprah.com, Forbes, and more. Her first book, The Year of Less, is a self-help memoir and became a Wall Street Journal bestseller.

Ep 8: Cait Flanders - On The Power of Journaling & Saving Money

Mental health campaigner, Hope Virgo, talks about the importance of speaking to people about our problems and the need for emotional support. Plus, that we all need to challenge ourselves and that it is ok to fail.  Hope is the Author of Stand Tall Little Girl, and an award winning international leading advocate for people with eating disorders. Hope helps young people and employers (including schools, hospitals and businesses) to deal with the rising tide of mental health issues which affect one in four people. Hope is also a Director for the Speakers Collective, a Mental Health speakers Social Enterprise. Dump the Scales Campaign: https://www.change.org/p/eating-disorders-are-not-just-about-weight-dumpthescales

Ep 7: Hope Virgo - On The Importance of Talking & Her Anorexia Journey

A podcast for young girls - the next generation of female leaders. The Becoming Women podcast hosted by Ella Sims, is on a mission to provide honest conversations to help young girls feel understood and supported on their journey into womanhood. Each episode features an inspiring female guest talking about the challenges they have faced and what they would advice their younger self. You can find out more about Ella and her personal project on www.becomingwomen.com, on Twitter @becoming_women or Instagram @becomingwomen.

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Becoming Women

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