Katie Piper's Extraordinary People

After losing the sight in her right eye at age 11 and losing her eyesight entirely at age 17, Lucy Edwards lives in a world not constructed for her. Lucy has the very rare genetic condition incontinentia pigmenti, one that only about 1,200 people have in the world, and 97% of those people, are women. At the time, and as a teenager, whilst having the utmost support from her nearest and dearest, Lucy struggled, and her mental health took a hit. Now, at 26 years old, and as a presenter, producer and content creator, Lucy has dedicated her social media and TikTok channel to educating her followers on her day to day, and in 2021, Lucy was announced as Pantene’s newest Ambassador, for a product line featuring trailblazing technology making packaging accessible for the blind and visually impaired. Lucy and Katie discuss the strength of the mind, societal pressures and obviously, their current haircare routine! This is a Somethin’ Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grace Victory is a fighter. After starting her YouTube channel at 21 years old, writing a book, being a body positive activist, a digital creator, a TedX speaker and falling pregnant with her first child, Grace had already fought for who she wanted to be, and life was going in the right direction. But in December 2020, Grace was struck down by a severe case of Covid-19, forcing her to give birth to her baby boy 2 months early, and being put into a coma 2 days later. A year on from “waking up”, and now a loving mother to her son Cyprus, Grace and Katie discuss trauma, the debilitating effect of coma dreams, and feeling empowered through her ongoing recovery. This is a Somethin’ Else production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Holly Ramsay is making waves in the podcast and social media world, speaking out about her own struggles with mental health, which in turn is helping others not to feel so alone. After the courageous decision to open up about her sexual assault at university, on Instagram, Holly decided she would tell her story exactly the way she wanted. So last year she started her very own podcast 21 & Over, describing her journey, and chatting to her guests about the struggles they’d overcome too. Today, in her first guest spot on another podcast, Holly passes on her host hat to Katie, as the pair discuss the importance of self-care, having the right people around you, and cancel culture in 2022. This is a Somethin’ Else production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tilly Lockey is a 16 year old with a superhero style difference. As a model, presenter and ambassador for Open Bionics, a company which develops medical devices that enhance the human body, Tilly is on a journey to help give as many other children like her, a chance at having hands again too. Tilly lost both of her hands when she was just 15 months old, after battling a devastating strain of meningitis. The support from her family and her incredible inner strength has got her where she is today, and world, watch this space! Tilly isn’t stopping yet! Katie and Tilly talk about dark days, showing up for yourself and others and how, at 16, she continues to help Open Bionics develop the Hero Arms of the future!  This is a Somethin’ Else production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2019 Dr Julie Smith decided to start making videos to post on social media about how to help keep our minds healthy. Little did she know, a pandemic was just beginning and her knowledge and expertise was about to help millions of people on the world wide web. Dr Julie is a Clinical Psychologist, blogger, online educator, Tik Tok genius, and as of 6th January, an accomplished author too! Inspired by her own quick and easy watching videos, Dr Julie has written ‘Why Did Nobody Tell Me This Before?’, a book with practical, easy reading guidance on how to help our minds thrive! Listen to Dr Julie tell Katie about negative bias, healthy habits, and how to look after the minds of the next generation.  This is a Somethin’ Else production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fatima Timbo is a comedian, model and content creator, making waves in the industry about the treatment of people with disabilities. Fatima has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism that has restricted her growth, and she has had her fair share of negativity from others over her 24 years and which she still gets today.  In Fatima’s words, she now has an “invisible shield” and has found comedy and modelling to be some of her favourite things to do. She has been part of BBC Three’s “Laugh Lessons”, where some of the best new comedians on the scene tell their story through sketches about their modern life, and more recently you may have seen her on Celebrity Gogglebox as part of Channel 4’s Black to Front Project, part of the channel’s commitment to improve black representation.  Fatima is passionate, funny and here to make a change and the pair talk about Fatima’s life growing up, changing how you feel inside and how we all have something to offer the world. An extraordinary person indeed! This is a Somethin’ Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lucy Dawson is the epitome of the word extraordinary, and what this podcast is all about! At 20 years old, whilst in her final year of university, Lucy experienced head pain which quickly evolved into manic episodes, leading to her being sectioned by medical professionals for 3 months.  This however was the opposite of the treatment Lucy really needed. As we now know, she had encephalitis, a deadly and acute inflammation of the brain and due to the malpractice at the hospital, she is also now paralysed on her left leg.  Listen to Lucy tell Katie about her pretty unbelievable story, and as a model and activist, what Lucy is doing now, so others don’t go through what she did. This is a Somethin’ Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Candice Brathwaite started blogging about being a black British mother in 2016. An online space that was Candice’s for the taking, and boy did she claim it! After sharing her story and helping other mothers whilst she was at it, Candice grew a dramatic online following, and in May 2020 released her first book ‘I Am Not Your Baby Mother’, to critical acclaim!  Now a presenter, author and campaigner for making motherhood inclusive for all, Candice released her second book ‘Sista Sister’ in the summer this year, a collection of essays of advice she wished she’d heard when she was a young black girl.  Katie and Candice catch-up on this chapter of Candice’s story, and the many that have got her to where she is today.  This is a Somethin’ Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anton Ferdinand is a former professional football player, husband and father and is now using his own experiences to mentor the next generation of young players.  Anton was involved in probably the biggest racism case within English football in 2011 when John Terry was accused of using racist language towards him during a huge West London Derby.  The repercussions of the incident had a huge impact on Anton’s mental health, which he talks about candidly in his BBC documentary “Anton Ferdinand: Football, Racism & Me” which aired in November 2020.  Anton speaks generously to Katie about the loss of his mother, changing perceptions and being a family man.  This is a Somethin’ Else production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack Ivens-Gardiner is living his best life as a married, gay man with autism, but finding his place in the world hasn’t always been so easy.  Katie met Jack at ITV studios many moons ago, doing his job in production on ITV daytime. Katie loved Jack’s vibrant clothes and kind nature, and the two found common ground more recently as they made their voices heard about their invisible disabilities in a new ITV campaign.  Jack and his husband Wes have also recently adopted a little boy and made an informative podcast about the process called “2 Dad’s Can Do It”, and along with their Instagram page are hoping they can help others on their own adoption journey too. Jack tells Katie about living confidently with autism, how some companies could do better for their neurodiverse employees and how he kept his gay balloon to himself until he was ready to let it fly!  This is a Somethin’ Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices