Moments: Living Under the Spotlight | Jason Donovan & Amanda de Cadenet

What does it take to keep going when life keeps testing how badly you want the dream? In this episode of Begin Again, Alexandra Burke joins Davina for an emotional and deeply personal conversation about X Factor, grief, motherhood, love, faith and the determination that has carried her through every chapter of her life. Alexandra looks back on the extraordinary road to becoming a star: singing alongside her mum as a child, Stevie Wonder wanting to sign her at just 12 years old, being sent home from X Factor at 16, and the mother who eventually pushed her to go back and try again. She opens up about what was really happening in her life during that first rejection, why she now knows she wasn’t ready, and the remarkable full-circle journey that followed. She also speaks movingly about losing her mum, the grief she still carries and how becoming a mother herself has changed the way she understands the sacrifices her own mum made. Alexandra shares why she has fiercely protected her two boys, how she met her partner Darren after years of choosing the wrong relationships, and the moment she realised the family life she has now is everything she once prayed for. Now, playing Chaka Khan on stage in I’m Every Woman, Alexandra reveals why the most challenging role of her career is bringing parts of her own past back to the surface, why she has had to learn to leave Chaka at the theatre, and why she plans to return to therapy when the show ends. This is a conversation about rejection, grief, resilience, faith and refusing to give up on the life you know you’re meant to have. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨ Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm  We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/ (00:00) Intro (01:20) Why “I’m Every Woman” Means So Much (06:51) How Her Mum Inspired Her (15:08) Alexandra’s Bond With Her Mum (18:57) Singing With Her Mum as a Child (20:06) Why She Turned Down Stevie Wonder (25:49) Get Busy Living With Monzo (27:24) Monzo GBL Ad (28:35) Leaving School at 16 for Music (30:21) Her Abusive Relationship at 16 (31:50) Rejected by The X Factor at 16 (32:50) Coming Back to Win The X Factor (38:15) How Chaka Khan Helped Her Heal (39:23) Performing for Chaka Khan (41:51) Why She Keeps Her Children Private (48:35) How She Met Her Husband Darren (53:58) Finding Out She Was Pregnant (58:20) Going Back to Work After Giving Birth (59:42) Pregnant Again Seven Months Later (01:01:46) Pre-Eclampsia During Her Second Pregnancy (01:03:12) Why She Wants More Children (01:06:20) How Alexandra Found Her Confidence (01:09:15) Honouring Her Mum Through Her Foundation Sponsored by: Monzo - Download Monzo. Monzo Current Accounts are for 16+ and UK residents. Ts&Cs Apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the life you dreamed of turns out completely differently than you expected? In this episode of Begin Again, Natalie Imbruglia joins Davina for an honest and deeply personal conversation about fame, failure, motherhood, ADHD, perimenopause and finding fulfilment on your own terms. Natalie reflects on finding fame young, running out of money when that fame faded, and then experiencing extraordinary global success with Torn. She opens up about the pressure that followed, becoming scared to leave the house, being dropped by record labels, and eventually walking away from music because she thought she was no longer meant to sing. She also speaks candidly about spending years trying to create the relationship and family life she thought she was supposed to have, her journey to becoming a mother, and why she now feels nothing is missing. Natalie also shares how ADHD, neurodivergence and perimenopause have helped her understand herself in a completely new way. This is a conversation about success, identity, reinvention and letting go of the life you thought you should have in order to build one that actually feels right. 🌟 Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨ Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm  We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/ (00:00) Intro (01:18) Why “Algorithm” Marks a New Chapter (05:29) How Performing Became the Dream (08:22) Intuition, Spirituality & Manifestation (11:52) Stories From YOU! (Ad) (13:20) Davina Tries Monzo! (Ad) (14:30) How “Neighbours” Changed Everything (23:05) What Happened After “Neighbours” (27:17) How an ADHD Diagnosis Changed Everything (30:29) Moving to the UK and Running Out of Money (33:05) Breaking Into the Music Industry (38:44) The Story Behind “Torn” (41:04) The Pressure of the Second Album (43:36) Why She Made “Male” (45:26) Getting Dropped and Finding Purpose (48:22) Marriage, Love & Being Single (49:55) The IVF Journey to Motherhood (58:07) The Reality of Perimenopause (01:05:10) A Surprise Gift Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this joyful episode of Begin Again Moments, Trinny Woodall and Prue Leith challenge everything we're told about getting older. In two inspiring conversations, they share why ageing shouldn't mean becoming quieter, safer or less ambitious and why they both intend to grow old disgracefully. From embracing confidence and taking risks to continuing to work, create and have fun, they prove that getting older can be about gaining freedom rather than losing it. A celebration of ageing boldly, living fully and refusing to let a number define what comes next. To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Ancient + Brave - https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet and use code BEGINAGAIN for 20% off your order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your worst moment is actually your biggest gift? In this episode of Begin Again, broadcaster and television producer Richard Bacon joins Davina for a funny and deeply moving conversation about public failure, addiction, ADHD, love and building a new life after everything changes. Richard reflects on landing his dream job at Blue Peter, the betrayal by a close friend that turned his private life into a national headline, and what it felt like to lose everything so publicly at just 22 years old. He shares how unexpected people rallied around him, why the chaos that once got him into trouble later became one of his greatest strengths, and how he learned to keep moving forward when others believed his career was over. Together, Richard and Davina explore his relationship with addiction, his ADHD diagnosis in his forties, and the relief of finally understanding the way his mind works. Richard explains how that diagnosis helped him make sense of both his scattered attention and extraordinary ability to hyperfocus, and why the qualities he once struggled with have become central to his creativity and success. But this conversation is about much more than headlines. Richard speaks movingly about his wife Rebecca, the excitement of falling in love, and the grounding force she has been throughout their marriage. He recalls being told by his doctor that he might not be alive without her, and the terrifying moment, one year later, when he was placed into a coma and his family were warned that he might not survive. This is a conversation about love, public failure, second chances and finding the people who help you stay grounded when life becomes chaotic. If you’ve ever felt defined by a mistake, struggled to understand your own mind, or wondered whether it’s possible to rebuild when life goes completely off script, this episode is for you. ✨ Discover Richard’s podcast, Why Are You More Successful Than Me:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-are-you-more-successful-than-me-with-richard-bacon/id1895025167 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhyAreYouMoreSuccessfulThanMe  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yWlm1mVITUj5DBDo15YAg  🌟 Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again. Tap the bell so you never miss a new episode. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨ Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm  We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/ (00:00) Intro(01:14) Intro to Richard Bacon(08:49) Richard's parents, their relationship, and his upbringing(11:10) Fidning Broadcasting(12:47) First job in live TV(17:08) How Richard got banned from the State Opening of Parliament with Newsbunny(20:09) Richard talks about some of the crazy shows he worked on early in his TV career(21:36) Getting banned from McDonalds for life(22:55) ADHD diagnosis in his 40s(27:21) Meeting his Wifem Rebecca(28:21) Monzo Ad(29:23) Ancient & Brave Ad(36:54) Landing Presenting Slot on Blue Peter(42:49) The Scandal that got him Fired(43:51) His Best Friend Leaking The Story To The Press(48:40) Shopify Ad(53:54) The Aftermath of Getting Fired(58:16) Getting into Radio and deciding to move to LA(01:05:50) Richard's near death experience and going into a coma(01:07:28) Richard's relationship with alchohol(01:11:02) What's next for Richard, how much he loves change Sponsored by: Monzo - Download Monzo. Monzo Current Accounts are for 16+ and UK residents. Ts&Cs Apply. Ancient + Brave - https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet and use code BEGINAGAIN for 20% off your order Shopify - https://shopify.co.uk for £1 a month trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description: In this episode of Begin Again Moments, two powerful conversations explore the hidden cost of life in the public eye. Jason Donovan and Amanda de Cadenet reflect on the intense scrutiny that comes with fame, sharing the personal impact of media attention, public judgement and press intrusion. Together, they reveal what it takes to protect your identity, your relationships and your peace when your life is constantly under the spotlight. To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if understanding the universe could change the way you live? In this episode of Begin Again, Professor Brian Cox joins Davina for a conversation about existence, consciousness, mortality and the extraordinary improbability of being alive at all. Brian explains why the atoms that make us have travelled across billions of years of cosmic history, why the universe gave rise to conscious life, and how understanding our place within it can completely transform the way we see ourselves. Together, they explore what happens when we die, whether science leaves room for spirituality, why curiosity matters more than certainty, and why accepting that life is temporary can make it infinitely more precious. But this conversation is about much more than science. Brian reflects on the book that changed his life, the teachers who shaped his thinking, his unexpected journey from rock musician to world-renowned physicist, and why saying "I don't know" may be one of the most important things we can learn. Davina and Brian also discuss grief, fear, hope, the search for meaning, and why seeing the bigger picture of the universe can make us feel more connected to one another, not less. This is a conversation about awe, curiosity, purpose and the remarkable privilege of being alive. If you've ever looked up at the night sky and wondered why we're here, questioned what gives life meaning, or wanted to see the world with fresh eyes, this episode is for you. 🌟 Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again. Tap the bell so you never miss a new episode. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨ Find out more about Brian Cox's live shows and work: https://briancox.org/ ✨ Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (01:25) Introduction to Brian and his new show Emergence (11:04) The Book That Changed Brian's Life (16:14) Monzo Ad (17:44) Spiritual beliefs & The Universe (21:10) How The Universe was Formed (23:13) The recent discovery of where Gold comes from (25:34) How Carl Sagan's TV show 'Cosmos' inspired young Brian (32:07) Getting into music and playing in Dare (38:58) Monzo Ad (39:58) The importance of hard work and luck in forging your path ( 41:49) What happens when we die? (47:31) The importance of space travel and scientific research (59:24) The Hadron Collider (01:04:10) Why Brian Became A Teacher (01:07:53) Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Computers (01:13:08) How Astronomy can give people a better perspective on life (01:16:44) A letter from a student (01:23:12) A letter from Dare bandmate Darren Wharton (01:27:51) What Brian wants for the Future Sponsored by: Monzo - Download Monzo. Monzo Current Accounts are for 16+ and UK residents. Ts&Cs Apply. We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She was given just 18 months to live. They got 12 more years together. In this episode of Begin Again, motivational speaker and bestselling author Pete Cohen joins Davina to share the extraordinary love story that changed his life forever. Pete opens up about meeting his wife Hannah by chance, falling in love as she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, and why leaving was never an option. Together, they faced impossible decisions, raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for life-saving treatment, and defied every expectation to build another twelve years together. But this conversation is about much more. Pete reflects on the regrets that still stay with him, why he wishes he'd been more present with Hannah, and how grief transformed the way he thinks about love, fear and what really matters. He shares how watching Hannah embrace life in the face of death changed him forever, and why her legacy continues to shape the way he lives today. Davina and Pete also explore the fear of losing the people we love, what it means to truly show up for someone in their darkest moments, and how grief can become a reminder to live more intentionally rather than something we simply survive. This is a conversation about love, loss, resilience and the extraordinary impact one person can have on your life, even after they're gone. If you've ever loved someone deeply, lost someone you couldn't imagine living without, or wondered how to carry on after heartbreak, this episode is for you. 🌟 Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about grief, love, resilience, purpose and beginning again. Tap the bell so you never miss a new episode. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod  ✨ Watch Pete's award-winning documentary, Team Hannah, and learn more about Hannah's extraordinary story: https://www.teamhannah.com/  ✨ Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm  (00:00) INTRO (01:14) Pete Cohen and Team Hannah (01:53) Growing Up With Learning Difficulties (03:12) Struggling at School (04:17) Becoming a Fitness Coach (05:12) How Pete’s Parents Shaped Him (07:32) How Pete Met Hannah (09:45) Hannah’s Brain Tumour Diagnosis (12:31) Chronic Fatigue and Finding a Mentor (14:32) Raising Money for Cancer Treatment (16:14) Falling in Love Through Cancer (17:05) Experimental Cancer Treatment in America (19:48) Ancient & Brave Ad (20:50) Do Health Ad (22:00) Why Pete Filmed Hannah’s Journey (24:14) Grief and Celebrating Through Suffering (27:16) Pete’s Biggest Regret (31:33) Hannah’s Love of Quilting (36:50) Ten Years Cancer-Free (37:47) A Gift From Hannah (39:32) The Team Hannah Documentary (43:23) Davina’s Mission for Begin Again (44:07) Pete’s Next Chapter (47:44) Advice for Grief and Caring for Someone Sponsored by: Ancient + Brave - https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet and use code BEGINAGAIN for 20% off your order Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this uplifting episode of Begin Again Moments, Melanie C shares the love story she never expected to find. After ending a long-term relationship, the Spice Girl turned solo artist found herself navigating dating apps for the very first time. She opens up about meeting her partner, Chris, the calm and safety he brought into her life, and how finding love in her 50s has transformed the way she lives. From being a self-confessed workaholic to discovering joy beyond her career, Melanie reflects on why she's happier, more confident and more creative than ever before. She also shares why it's never too late to start something new, embracing new challenges, finding love later in life, and redefining what happiness looks like. To hear the full conversation, watch the complete episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The people who benefit most from your lack of boundaries are often the ones who react worst when you finally set them, boundary expert Nedra Glover Tawwab explains why. In this episode of Begin Again, licensed therapist, relationship expert and bestselling author Nedra Glover Tawwab joins Davina to explore how to create healthy connections without losing yourself. Together, they unpack what a boundary actually is, why different relationships require different boundaries, and how speaking up for your needs can transform the way you love, work and live. Nedra explains why setting a boundary can feel so frightening, particularly when you fear rejection, conflict or abandonment. She shares how to respond when someone becomes angry, withdraws or gives you the silent treatment—and why another person’s reaction does not necessarily mean your boundary was wrong. Davina and Nedra also explore codependency, hyper-independence and healthy dependency. They discuss why constantly rescuing, fixing or supporting other people can leave you exhausted and invisible, and how fear of losing a relationship can lead you to give up too much of yourself to keep it. Nedra opens up about growing up around addiction, being exposed to adult problems from a young age, and learning to listen before she was able to speak freely for herself. She reflects on how those experiences shaped her understanding of people and led her towards a career helping others build healthier relationships. They also discuss parenting, consent, vulnerability and the patterns we carry from childhood into adulthood. Nedra explains why your children are not younger versions of you, why healing cannot happen entirely in isolation, and how relationships give us the opportunity to practise everything we have learned about ourselves. At its heart, this is a conversation about loving people without abandoning yourself. Nedra reminds us that we are not permanently trapped by our childhood, attachment style or past relationships. Change may feel uncomfortable, but as long as we are alive, we have the ability to show up differently. Nedra Glover Tawwab reminds us that boundaries are not about pushing people away. They are how we protect our energy, communicate our needs and create relationships in which both people have space to exist. 🌟 Follow for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨ Follow Nedra: https://www.instagram.com/nedratawwab/ ✨ Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much, much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (01:02) Meet Nedra Glover Tawwab (01:24) What Is a Boundary? (03:36) How to Set Boundaries With Your Children (08:13) How Growing Up Around Addiction Shaped Nedra (11:11) Becoming the “Therapist” as a Child (13:37) The Client Who Changed Nedra’s Career (16:08) When People React Badly to Your Boundaries (17:59) How to Respond to the Silent Treatment (21:42) Why Other People’s Reactions Aren’t Always About You (25:18) How to Set Boundaries Around Sex (27:02) Do Health Ad (28:13) saily Ad (29:07) How to Open Up and Be Vulnerable (32:50) Loving Someone Who Struggles to Let You In (34:01) Codependency, Hyper-Independence and Healthy Dependency (39:32) How to Build a Healthy Relationship After Unhealthy Love (42:32) What Your Breakup Can Teach You About Yourself (45:18) How to Stop Passing Your Triggers to Your Children (49:31) Why Asking for Help Feels So Hard (51:42) How Small Acts of Kindness Can Change a Life (54:33) How to Reconnect With Your Inner Child (58:34) What’s Next for Nedra Sponsored by: Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this heartfelt episode of Begin Again Moments, we bring together two moving conversations about the powerful relationship between mothers and daughters, and how the way we are raised can shape the parents we become. Sophie Ellis-Bextor reflects on her close relationship with her mother, Janet Ellis, and the influence her childhood has had on the way she raises her own children. From growing up with a famous working mother to having a strong, grounded family around her, Sophie shares the lessons she has carried into motherhood and the importance of creating a safe place her children will always want to return to. Katie Piper then receives an emotional letter from her mother, Diane, reflecting on Katie's extraordinary journey through trauma and recovery, and the strength, resilience and compassion she now passes on to her own daughters. Katie shares how becoming a mother has allowed her to carry forward the greatest gifts her own mother gave her, while using the wisdom of everything she has lived through to shape the parent she wants to be. Together, these moments explore the invisible threads that pass from one generation to the next, the lessons we inherit, the love we carry forward, and the profound journey of daughters becoming mothers. To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices