This week on Spinning Plates, I speak to Siobhan Priest (Shiv). I love seeing her posts about her life as a firefighter in the London Fire Brigade.
Shiv started her working life as a model and continued in that job when she became a single mum to her daughter, at the age of 24.
However she says she was always looking for a helping role in life. Firefighting appealed from an early age but it took many years for her to research it properly and then go for it when her second child, her little boy, was starting school.
She loves the routine and stability that her job gives her, and being part of a watch where she has 10 ‘brothers’.
Shiv says that every day is different, and putting out a fire is fun, as it’s a hands-on job and they are professional problem-solvers.
Shiv is proud of being a firefighter and of influencing other women to follow in her footsteps, and it was an absolute joy to meet someone so excited and fulfilled by their job.
On Spinning Plates this week, I spoke to Louise Boyce. Louise is a content creator, author and model.
She has 3 children aged 13, 10 and 6, and she has developed a huge following for her fun and largely positive take on motherhood, which she makes fun of, in her online reels.
She told me how she started modelling at the age of 15 and became bulimic to reach the weight goals set by the industry at that time.
After she had her first baby she went back to modelling as a plus size (or size 12+) model, but after lockdown she started playing around with funny films about motherhood. Her USP is that she plays the child using tiny doll’s hands, and her husband is characterised as a bit of a buffoon - which she’s happy to say he’s totally supportive of.
We agreed that laughter IS the best medicine. That, and having a rant with a girlfriend!
Listen to the full episode now via the link in my bio xx
Welcome to Season 19 of Spinning Plates! It makes me so happy to see how this podcast we started back in 2020 has grown 🩷 talking to these women is always the highlight of my week.
My first guest of this season is a great one! Dr. Sian Williams is a journalist and broadcaster and author. She trained as a trauma assessor while working at the BBC and is a registered counselling psychologist. She presents the fabulous Radio 4 series and podcast ‘Life Changing’ which I totally recommend.
She has 5 children, the eldest being in their 30s, the youngest 17. Sian told me about having her glorious and unexpected first son when she had just got her first job in the newsroom in London. She also talked about how she values her close relationship with her step daughter.
Sian has just published a new book called ‘The Power of Anxiety: How to Ride the Worry Wave’ which talks about turns sensitivity into a strength.
I felt instantly relaxed by Sian’s beautiful voice and gentle counselling manner… and could have easily revealed all my deepest secrets to her!
I have such fond memories of the ‘Read My Lips’ shoot 💋 It was then that I was first introduced to the Michael Nash team (who have worked on all of my artwork since), Charlotte Tilbury who did the most immaculate feline tick 💕 and Mert Atlas and Mac Piggott who did such a great job taking these shots ✨
The 25 year anniversary edition of ‘Read My Lips’ is now on all streaming services 🥰
I’ve poured a lot into this anniversary release.. unreleased songs, photos and even some voicenotes of 22 year old me discussing a few of the songs and my thoughts on pop and my career. Quite entertaining for me to listen back to!
You can pick up your copy on April 18th for Record Store Day ✨ #rsd2026
@MaisieHPeters and I share a keyboard player in Tina, and now we also share dance moves! Such a fun night at Maisie’s sold out KoKo show (gorgeous voice 🥰) where I came out to dance the routine from her song ‘My Regards’ with her and Tina, and stuck around to sing a bit of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’! Well, there was a giant disco ball in the house so it had to be done… 🪩
On Spinning Plates this week, I speak to Helen Dukes. Helen is an entrepreneur and DJ, and mum to 2 daughters, 11 year old Anya and 19 year old Lottie .
She is the founder of Disko Kids, a clothes and accessories brand that I love for its roots in music, festivals, sparkles and fun.
It also has at its heart a deep connection with charities such as Winston’s Wish. This child bereavement charity helped Helen navigate the death of her partner Ade when their daughter Lottie was just 3.
Helen told me how she strove to create video memories of Ade for Lottie, which was very hard for Ade at the time, but which Lottie really appreciates now, aged 19.
We talked about being a female founder and the passion for her business that has kept her going throughout the past 10 years. Helen says that Disko Kids is like her third child - frustrating at times but she loves it to bits. I know that feeling all too well!
My guest on Spinning Plates this week is Anna Lunoe, an Australian DJ, singer, songwriter and producer. She lived and worked in LA for 8 years, performing at festivals such as Coachella. She is a successful and very influential DJ in the world of EDM, and has had a radio show on Beats 1 radio for over a decade.
She’s now back in her hometown of Sydney, and has an 8 year old daughter and a 6 year old son and I caught up with her after she’d spent the night in Sydney Zoo for her son’s birthday. We recorded our podcast chat in my dressing room just before my gig there.
I loved her idea of 2 night reset away, alone, every few months, which she and her husband take turns in doing.
Following on from her 2024 album Pearl, last year Anna released the song ‘Girl’, a collab with Melanie C, another of my inspiring Spinning Plates gals.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
This week on Spinning Plates, I speak to Siobhan Priest (Shiv). I love seeing her posts about her life as a firefighter in the London Fire Brigade.
Shiv started her working life as a model and continued in that job when she became a single mum to her daughter, at the age of 24.
However she says she was always looking for a helping role in life. Firefighting appealed from an early age but it took many years for her to research it properly and then go for it when her second child, her little boy, was starting school.
She loves the routine and stability that her job gives her, and being part of a watch where she has 10 ‘brothers’.
Shiv says that every day is different, and putting out a fire is fun, as it’s a hands-on job and they are professional problem-solvers.
Shiv is proud of being a firefighter and of influencing other women to follow in her footsteps, and it was an absolute joy to meet someone so excited and fulfilled by their job.
Listen to the full episode now sophieellisbextor.komi.io/ xx
1 day ago | [YT] | 395
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor
On Spinning Plates this week, I spoke to Louise Boyce. Louise is a content creator, author and model.
She has 3 children aged 13, 10 and 6, and she has developed a huge following for her fun and largely positive take on motherhood, which she makes fun of, in her online reels.
She told me how she started modelling at the age of 15 and became bulimic to reach the weight goals set by the industry at that time.
After she had her first baby she went back to modelling as a plus size (or size 12+) model, but after lockdown she started playing around with funny films about motherhood. Her USP is that she plays the child using tiny doll’s hands, and her husband is characterised as a bit of a buffoon - which she’s happy to say he’s totally supportive of.
We agreed that laughter IS the best medicine. That, and having a rant with a girlfriend!
Listen to the full episode now via the link in my bio xx
1 week ago | [YT] | 614
View 6 replies
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Welcome to Season 19 of Spinning Plates! It makes me so happy to see how this podcast we started back in 2020 has grown 🩷 talking to these women is always the highlight of my week.
My first guest of this season is a great one! Dr. Sian Williams is a journalist and broadcaster and author. She trained as a trauma assessor while working at the BBC and is a registered counselling psychologist. She presents the fabulous Radio 4 series and podcast ‘Life Changing’ which I totally recommend.
She has 5 children, the eldest being in their 30s, the youngest 17. Sian told me about having her glorious and unexpected first son when she had just got her first job in the newsroom in London. She also talked about how she values her close relationship with her step daughter.
Sian has just published a new book called ‘The Power of Anxiety: How to Ride the Worry Wave’ which talks about turns sensitivity into a strength.
I felt instantly relaxed by Sian’s beautiful voice and gentle counselling manner… and could have easily revealed all my deepest secrets to her!
New series we are GO 💥 sophieellisbextor.komi.io/
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 859
View 11 replies
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
I have such fond memories of the ‘Read My Lips’ shoot 💋 It was then that I was first introduced to the Michael Nash team (who have worked on all of my artwork since), Charlotte Tilbury who did the most immaculate feline tick 💕 and Mert Atlas and Mac Piggott who did such a great job taking these shots ✨
The 25 year anniversary edition of ‘Read My Lips’ is now on all streaming services 🥰
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2,487
View 46 replies
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
The 25th Anniversary reissue of ‘Read My Lips’ is out now for @RecordStoreDayUK! 💋 Tag me in your photos if you get one, I want to see! 🩷
I’ve also released an exclusive ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ bundle over on my store to celebrate 💃 head over to the link in my bio to grab one xx
1 month ago | [YT] | 2,310
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Here she is! ‘Read My Lips’… 25 years later 💋
I’ve poured a lot into this anniversary release.. unreleased songs, photos and even some voicenotes of 22 year old me discussing a few of the songs and my thoughts on pop and my career. Quite entertaining for me to listen back to!
You can pick up your copy on April 18th for Record Store Day ✨ #rsd2026
1 month ago | [YT] | 2,392
View 50 replies
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
@MaisieHPeters and I share a keyboard player in Tina, and now we also share dance moves! Such a fun night at Maisie’s sold out KoKo show (gorgeous voice 🥰) where I came out to dance the routine from her song ‘My Regards’ with her and Tina, and stuck around to sing a bit of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’! Well, there was a giant disco ball in the house so it had to be done… 🪩
2 months ago | [YT] | 1,527
View 23 replies
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
This day last year! Filming the visuals for ‘Relentless Love’ 💕
2 months ago | [YT] | 1,512
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor
On Spinning Plates this week, I speak to Helen Dukes. Helen is an entrepreneur and DJ, and mum to 2 daughters, 11 year old Anya and 19 year old Lottie .
She is the founder of Disko Kids, a clothes and accessories brand that I love for its roots in music, festivals, sparkles and fun.
It also has at its heart a deep connection with charities such as Winston’s Wish. This child bereavement charity helped Helen navigate the death of her partner Ade when their daughter Lottie was just 3.
Helen told me how she strove to create video memories of Ade for Lottie, which was very hard for Ade at the time, but which Lottie really appreciates now, aged 19.
We talked about being a female founder and the passion for her business that has kept her going throughout the past 10 years. Helen says that Disko Kids is like her third child - frustrating at times but she loves it to bits. I know that feeling all too well!
Listen to the full episode here sophieellisbextor.komi.io/ xx
2 months ago | [YT] | 582
View 7 replies
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
My guest on Spinning Plates this week is Anna Lunoe, an Australian DJ, singer, songwriter and producer. She lived and worked in LA for 8 years, performing at festivals such as Coachella. She is a successful and very influential DJ in the world of EDM, and has had a radio show on Beats 1 radio for over a decade.
She’s now back in her hometown of Sydney, and has an 8 year old daughter and a 6 year old son and I caught up with her after she’d spent the night in Sydney Zoo for her son’s birthday. We recorded our podcast chat in my dressing room just before my gig there.
I loved her idea of 2 night reset away, alone, every few months, which she and her husband take turns in doing.
Following on from her 2024 album Pearl, last year Anna released the song ‘Girl’, a collab with Melanie C, another of my inspiring Spinning Plates gals.
Listen to the full episode now here sophieellisbextor.komi.io/ 🥰
2 months ago | [YT] | 742
View 10 replies
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