A bestselling collection of work/life essays by Annie Ridout (non-fiction author, journalist for nationals, viral poet and Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter)
annieridout.substack.com (https://annieridout.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Today, I’m speaking with Caro Giles: a writer and mum-of-four, based in Northumberland. Her writing has appeared in various publications, she was named BBC Countryfile's ‘New Nature Writer of the Year’ in 2021 and she writes a regular column for Psychologies magazine. Caro’s beautiful debut book, Twelve Moons, was published by HarperNorth earlier this year.
She tells me about raising her four daughters as a single mother, losing herself behind the mask of motherhood, putting her children’s needs ahead of her own and also dreaming about a future where she gets to choose a base that gives her energy and the opportunity to meet new people.
I was particularly interested in Caro’s experience of home-educating three of her four daughters, as well as navigating the frustratingly complicated ‘system’ when you have neurodivergent children. We also spoke about the power of making online connections, when you’re limited in terms of how far you can travel.
Show notes:
Caro can be found on Substack: carogiles.substack.com (https://carogiles.substack.com/)
And on Instagram @carogileswrites (https://www.instagram.com/carogileswrites/).
Get full access to Annie Ridout at annieridout.substack.com/subscribe (https://annieridout.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
3 Nov 2023
Interior designer Joanne Hardcastle on creating a home by bringing in colour
Today I’m speaking with Joanne Hardcastle.
Joanne is a Yorkshire born-and-bred interior designer and stylist, a content creator, she was on the BBC’s Interior Design Masters and she’s a writer.
In this episode, we talk about the importance of interior design in creating a sense of home and belonging, how Joanne designed the brilliantly bold and colourful interiors in her own home, and how it feels when your children start to leave home.
She has such lovely energy, it was a joy to have this chat.
Show notes:
You can follow Joanne on Instagram @hardcastletowers (https://www.instagram.com/hardcastletowers/?hl=en).
Get full access to Annie Ridout at annieridout.substack.com/subscribe (https://annieridout.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
27 Oct 2023
Karen Arthur on leaving London for Hastings
I met Karen Arthur on a spiritual retreat some years ago and have loved following her ever since. She started the #wearyourhappy hashtag, celebrating bright colours and bold patterns and joy, in general. In this episode, we talk about her lovely childhood in Oxfordshire, being desperate to leave and - eventually - move to London, a spell in Helsinki, working as a dance teacher, raising two daughters, the difficult separation from their father and shaking things up in her late 50s, after a breakdown/ breakthrough. She now lives in St Leonards-on-Sea, in Hastings, and tells me whether or not she feels this is now ‘home’.
Show notes:
Listen to Karen’s podcast, Menopause whilst Black (https://www.thekarenarthur.com/menopausewhilstblack).
Follow her on Instagram: thekarenarthur (https://www.instagram.com/thekarenarthur/).
Check out The Joy Retreat (https://www.thekarenarthur.com/the-joy-retreat).
Photo credit Mr Perou
Get full access to Annie Ridout at annieridout.substack.com/subscribe (https://annieridout.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
20 Oct 2023
On leaving east London for Frome in Somerset: the pros, the cons
Just after the pandemic, we left London - where I was born and raised - to try life in the Somerset countryside, living on the edge of a small town called Frome.
At the time, I was homeschooling two of our three children and saw this as an adventure we were going on, thinking we’d probably return to London after a year or two.
But that’s not what happened.
Our children wanted to make friends and so they joined a local school, which meant they quickly settled into life in Somerset.
While I was struggling with the potential longevity of this ‘adventure’ we’d set out on, I found myself drawn to the garden, where I felt at peace.
I created a patch of wild meadow and now realise this might have been an attempt to lay literal roots that might then strengthen the metaphorical roots.
Now, I sometimes panic about not living in the city I consider ‘home’ - and raising my children there - but I also love the beautiful countryside life in Frome. The welcoming, creative community, the wonderful friends I’ve made and the lower cost of living.
So this is my story: of where Home used to be, where Home is now, what I find hard, what I love, what I’ve learned about ‘home’ being many different things - and what I see happening in the future…
Show notes:
I talk a lot about ‘home’ on Instagram @annieridout (http://v).
This is my book, Raise your SQ (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raise-Your-Transform-Spiritual-Intelligence/dp/1804191272), that I mention in the episode.
And here are the other episodes of Home (https://annieridout.substack.com/), as well as my personal essays and business tips.
Get full access to Annie Ridout at annieridout.substack.com/subscribe (https://annieridout.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
13 Oct 2023
Author Clover Stroud on her obsession with trying to find 'home'
In this episode of Home, the author and journalist Clover Stroud talks about the sudden and devastating destruction of her childhood home, when she was 16 years old, and how this led to several years spent travelling around Ireland and then America.
Clover talks about the yearning she felt to become a mother, on returning to the UK, and how she created a new sense of home, as a single mother to her young children, before meeting her husband, Pete.
Now, Clover is doing a three-year stint in Washington DC with her young family and she tells us what she’s doing to create a sense of belonging but also why she’s struggling to make it feel like home over there.
Show notes:
You can follow Clover on Instagram @cloverstroud (https://www.instagram.com/clover.stroud/).
Buy her books (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Clover-Stroud/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3AClover+Stroud).
And listen to her podcast, Tiny Acts of Bravery (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tiny-acts-of-bravery/id1695768614).
Get full access to Annie Ridout at annieridout.substack.com/subscribe (https://annieridout.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
6 Oct 2023
Author Marchelle Farrell on moving from the Caribbean to the English countryside
In today’s episode of Home (https://annieridout.substack.com/s/home), I’m talking to Marchelle Farrell who was born and raised in Trinidad, came to England aged 19 to study and then… fell in love. And ending up staying.
She now lives in Somerset, not far from me, and is finding ways to commune with the land in a bid to create a sense of ‘home’ and belonging for her and her young family.
Marchelle speaks beautifully about both the ways she finds joy and the difficult aspects of life, as a Black woman living in a country that has often been hostile to her.
Have a listen, and let me - and Marchelle - know what you think.
Annie x
Show notes
This is Marchelle’s wonderful memoir, Uprooting: From the Caribbean to the Countryside – Finding Home in an English Country Garden (https://canongate.co.uk/books/4466-uprooting-from-the-caribbean-to-the-countryside-finding-home-in-an-english-country-garden/).
And you can follow her on Instagram @afroliage (https://www.instagram.com/afroliage/?hl=en).
Get full access to Annie Ridout at annieridout.substack.com/subscribe (https://annieridout.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
29 Sept 2023
I wanted stability. My mum announced we were going to Spain
This interview with Java Bere - writer, illustrator, table stylist - is a truly inspiring tale of travelling, art and creativity.
She talks about craving stability, as a child - instead of the nomadic childhood she had - but then developing the travel ‘bug’ herself before settling in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire.
It’s full of joy and beauty but it’s also deeply sad in one part, where Java talks about losing her baby daughter, Alma.
To listen to Java’s beautiful words and wisdom on being from multiple places and cultures and creating ‘home’ wherever she is, click the play button.
Show notes
- Follow Java on Instagram @javabere (https://www.instagram.com/javabere/?hl=en-gb)
- Visit her website: javabere.co.uk (https://javabere.co.uk/)
- Listen to her podcast: On the Irregular (https://www.ontheirregular.javabere.co.uk/)
Get full access to Annie Ridout at annieridout.substack.com/subscribe (https://annieridout.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
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