The Life of Bryony

My guest this week is my new musical obsession, Paris Paloma – an artist whose songs about diet culture, ageism, mental illness and toxic beauty standards have racked up hundreds of millions of streams around the world. Paris writes blisteringly honest music about what it means to live as a woman under patriarchy, and why so many of us are taught to shrink ourselves just to survive. We talk about the viral success of “Labour” and the messages she gets from listeners who say her work has transformed the way they see themselves and their place in the world. We dig into what it means to be labelled a “political” artist, why nothing is truly apolitical, and how patriarchy harms men as well as women. Paris also opens up about depression, therapy and the “warring parts” of herself that inspired her song “Hunter”, and why turning pain into art can be a lifeline.

ALBUM DETAILS:
Paris’ new album, Fatal Flaw is releasing on the 4th September 2026.

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: Paris Paloma

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

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, Ruby Wax is back and, instead of talking about fame and despots, she’s letting us into the three things she genuinely can’t live without.
These are the anchors she leans on when life feels a bit wobbly and she needs something to bring her back to herself – from the pills that keep her stable, to the “mind gym” practices that help her stay present, to the furry companions who somehow make everything softer and funnier. We talk about what actually supports her day-to-day, how she keeps herself on a more even keel, and why looking after your mind is mostly about small, consistent acts of care. If you’ve ever wondered what really keeps Ruby steady(-ish), this episode is for you

USEFUL LINKS:
Tickets to Ruby’s tour, Absolutely Famous, can be bought here.

And you can join Frazzled Café online 7 days a week here: https://www.frazzledcafe.org/

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: Ruby Wax

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Editor: Rowan Jacobs

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

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

This week, I’m joined by Ruby Wax – comedy hurricane, TV icon and the woman who gave many of us permission to talk honestly about our own “mad” minds. Ruby looks back on the glory days of nineties telly, when she was let loose on the world’s biggest names and told to make mischief – all while quietly battling depression behind the scenes. We talk about fame as an addiction, why being liked felt like her life support, and how she ended up in clinic even when everything looked perfect on paper. There are unforgettable stories of chaotic interviews with Madonna and Trump, surreal dinners with Fergie and Andrew, and despots who thought she was their new best friend – plus what all of that taught her about ego, fear and survival. If you’ve ever wondered how someone can be the funniest person in the room and still be struggling inside, this episode will stay with you long after you’ve listened.

USEFUL LINKS:
Tickets to Ruby’s tour, Absolutely Famous, can be bought here.

And you can join Frazzled Café online 7 days a week here: https://www.frazzledcafe.org/

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: Ruby Wax

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Editor: Rowan Jacobs

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

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

Dr Sian Williams is back! In our main episode we talked about anxiety, overwhelm and why so many of us feel like we’re just white-knuckling our way through the week; now Sian is sharing the three things she personally leans on to keep herself grounded. We talk about the movement that gets her out of her head and back into her body, how her five kids quietly (and not so quietly) keep her ego in check, and why music – from upbeat playlists, to first gigs to an unexpectedly brilliant Barry Manilow study – has shaped the way she thinks about confidence, nostalgia and not caring what other people think. If you’re juggling a busy brain, big feelings and a lot of responsibilities, this one’s for you

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Sian’s new book, The Power of Anxiety, 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: Sian Williams

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

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 I’m joined by Dr Sian Williams – former BBC news anchor turned NHS counselling psychologist – who has swapped the newsroom for the therapy room to sit with people living through complex trauma, anxiety and stress. She talks about what she’s learned from reporting on some of the world’s worst days and now helping people survive their own, and why so many of us feel we don’t “deserve” our feelings. We get into anxiety as a full-body, thinking-feeling-doing experience, why trying to out-think it only makes it louder, and how to stop self-silencing and people-pleasing at the expense of yourself. Sian shares her “orchids and dandelions” way of understanding highly sensitive people, and why changing your environment – not who you are – is the key to finally feeling like you’re enough. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive” or wished you could grow a thicker skin, this episode is your reminder that you have always mattered, and your feelings really do count.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Sian’s new book, The Power of Anxiety, 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: Sian Williams

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Mitchell Lias

Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

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