How To Own The Room - podcast cover

How To Own The Room

Inspirational women share advice on presenting and confidence, with comedian and writer Viv Groskop. Want to learn the secrets of brilliant public speaking? Each episode, Viv chats to a guest about what owning the room means to them. What is their approach to commanding attention and respect in the workplace, and beyond? This is the place to hear personal experiences of wonderful women at the top of their game, as they talk all things power, presence and performance. You’ll find lots of practical advice for developing great presentation skills, finding your voice and turbo-charging confidence. Plus masterclasses with tips and tricks on overcoming nerves, curing imposter syndrome, and knowing how to prepare. Our agenda is to inspire every woman to shine in the spotlight and push outside her comfort zone. Guests have included Hillary Clinton with her thoughts on public speaking (and pant suits!); broadcaster Gabby Logan on building resilience and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson on cultivating self-belief. Not to mention the likes of Margaret Atwood, Professor Mary Beard and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. You’ll find words of wisdom from entrepreneurs and CEOs; award-winning writers, actors and activists; politicians and therapists. Check out the back catalogue: it’s an amazingly rich resource that’s built up since the podcast started in 2018, with Nigella Lawson as our first guest! How to Own the Room is the brainchild of presenter Viv Groskop, an award-winning writer, comedian, broadcaster and performance coach. She switched from journalism to stand-up comedy in her late thirties and became fascinated by stereotypical ideas around women and performance. She passionately believes that being yourself in front of other people is a skill we can all master, to enrich our emotional and practical lives. She is one of the most sought-after speakers for stand-up, MCing, awards hosting and keynote speaking. Viv’s best-selling ‘How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking’ formed the basis for this podcast. Her other titles include 'Lift As You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition’ and ‘Happy High Status: How to be Effortlessly Confident’. www.vivgroskop.com

Episodes

22.6 Carrie Sun, author

How do you swap a soul-crushing job for one that sustains you? Viv talks to the writer, Carrie Sun, whose new memoir, Private Equity, is about to be released in US and UK. The story draws on Carrie’s own experience of being headhunted to be Executive Assistant to a billionaire. The competitive role was glamourous but 24/7, unrelenting and led to burnout in the face of a pitiless boss. Carrie critiques capitalism and systems of misogyny, giving extraordinary insight into extreme hustle culture wi...

Feb 09, 202432 minSeason 22Ep. 6

22.5 Kate Stephens, CEO

How do you find the confidence to pursue the work you want and ace an interview? Viv chats to Kate Stephens, the CEO of Smart Works, an amazing charity with celebrity backers whose mission is to help marginalised women break the cycle of rejection and deprivation that comes from long-term unemployment. Since 2013 they’ve helped over 30,000 women prepare for job interviews by giving them coaching, styling and an outfit to wear at their interview chosen from new clothes donated by fashion brands a...

Feb 02, 202433 minSeason 22Ep. 5

22.4 Joanna Jensen, entrepreneur

How do you find the self-belief to pursue a brilliant idea, convince investors in your vision and pick yourself after setbacks? Viv chats to Joanna Jensen, the founder, former CEO and now brand ambassador of Child’s Farm, a family skincare brand she developed from her kitchen table. It’s an unabashed success story, built from the challenges of a recent divorce and two young children, and driven forward by Joanna’s conviction and hard work. She tells Viv how necessity, belief in the product and u...

Jan 26, 202437 minSeason 22Ep. 4

22.3 Angela Saini, science journalist and author

How do you connect with audiences on a deeper, truer level? Viv talks to award-winning journalist and author , Angela Saini , about combatting pseudo-science and reaching people by peeling back the layers of thinking. Her celebrated books include: Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong, Superior: The Return of Race Science and her latest The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule. Angela tells Viv how her grounding in news journalism in her 20s helped hone her skills to write succinctly, to deadline an...

Jan 19, 202440 minSeason 22Ep. 3

22.2 Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako, presenter and moderator

How do you create the best panel experience? Viv talks to professional moderator, Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako, about managing nerves, getting the best out of interviewees on stage and handling feedback. Based in her home city of Hamburg, Germany, Alexandra hosts an array of sessions – from author interviews to tech start-up pitch events and festivals such as the African Book Festival in Berlin. It’s about taking charge of a space in a way that makes everyone relax. And while it all seems to come na...

Jan 12, 202428 minSeason 22Ep. 2

22.1 Patsy Palmer, actress and DJ

How do you learn to say no and do what makes you happy? Viv talks to the actress, Patsy Palmer, best-known for her role as Bianca Jackson in EastEnders, who now lives in Malibu, California. Exuding chill vibes from the sofa, Patsy talks to Viv about how finding her happy places – including weekly DJ sets - came from following her own instincts for joy and not living up to anyone else’s expectations. Patsy is unapologetically content in her sunny slice of heaven where she lives with her husband, ...

Jan 05, 202430 minSeason 22Ep. 1

21.5 Evanna Lynch, actress and writer - Happy High Status

How do you find your voice and your confidence when people expect you to be only one thing? How can you overcome thoughts that keep you small? Actress and writer Evanna Lynch joined the cast of the Harry Potter series as Luna Lovegood for the fifth film in 2006 at the age of 14. She went on to star in a number of independent films and in the TV crime series Silent Witness. In 2021 she published her debut memoir, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting, a candid account about her life focusing on fragi...

Jul 03, 202329 minSeason 21Ep. 5

21.4 Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer-songwriter - Happy High Status

How do you bounce back from a major knock to your confidence? How do you maintain focus and poise even when you’re exhausted or overwhelmed? In this fourth in our series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer/songwriter and the powerhouse behind one of the best things to come out of the pandemic: Kitchen Disco. Sophie first became known in the late 1990s as a teenager, as the singer of the indie rock band The Audience. The band was unceremoniously droppe...

Jun 30, 202331 minSeason 21Ep. 4

21.3 James O’Brien, broadcaster - Happy High Status

Can you be “too confident”? How entitled is too entitled? In this third of a series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to broadcaster and journalist James O’Brien, LBC presenter and author of How They Broke Britain (coming in Nov 2023), about challenging difficult and entitled people (especially certain privately-educated politicians), coming to terms with his own insecurities and finding a kind of humility after experiencing a major setback in his forties. Plus James reveals how ...

Jun 29, 202333 minSeason 21Ep. 3

21.2 Fatima Whitbread, Olympic athlete - Happy High Status

What happens when you swivel the lens away from yourself? In this second of a series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to Olympic athlete and world champion javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread, star of I’m a Celebrity and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Win and fundraiser for Action for Children. Fatima examines how the extremes of a difficult childhood and of athletic excellence in adulthood affected her confidence. Fatima was abandoned as baby and grew up in a series of children’s homes ...

Jun 28, 202338 minSeason 21Ep. 2

21.1 Tom Allen, comedian - Happy High Status

Can you be both insecure and confident at the same time? In this first of a series of Happy High Status takeover episodes, Viv talks to award-winning comedian Tom Allen, star of The Apprentice: You’re Fired and Bake-Off: Extra Slice, about his life on and off stage and what he has learned about managing nerves, coping with the reactions of audiences and critics and, most of all, living with self-criticism. Tom tells Viv that it’s a mistake to assume that comedians perform from a place of self-as...

Jun 27, 202329 minSeason 21Ep. 1

20.6 Angela Cretu, CEO

How do you achieve and stay authentic? Viv talks to Angela Cretu, CEO of Avon, one of the biggest beauty brands in the world. Growing up in Communist Romania she says she learnt about gender and social equality, while ideas of self-expression or personal ambition weren’t present. After the revolution in 1989, Angela joined Avon at the age of 24 as the company moved into this emerging market and she flew - building new teams at home and internationally. She tells Viv how important it was for her ...

Jun 23, 202339 minSeason 20Ep. 6

20.5 Lucinda Chambers, fashion director

How do you follow a dream? Viv talks to the fashion legend, Lucinda Chambers, who worked at Vogue from the age of 21, eventually working her way up to become fashion director at the iconic magazine. Chatting in Lucinda’s beautiful west London home, she tells Viv about how she learned graft in her childhood and about working hard to follow creative sparks. Despite being in the glamorous world of fashion, Lucinda reveals that she never took it for granted and made sure her feet stayed on the groun...

Jun 16, 202337 minSeason 20Ep. 5

20.4 Curtis Sittenfeld, novelist

How do you simply get things done? Viv talks to the American writer, Curtis Sittenfeld , whose new novel, Romantic Comedy , is already a bestseller and has been selected for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. They chat about feminist breakthroughs, navigating the room – literally and metaphorically, and what to do with your hands in a photoshoot with an A-list movie star. She tells Viv that it’s a feminist act to assume knowledge by the women in your audience. And on the business of pushing projects...

Jun 09, 202334 minSeason 20Ep. 4

20.3 Isabel Wilkerson, author

How do you nurture self-belief? Viv talks to the bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson, about cultivating gentle trust in ourselves. The Pulitzer prize-winning writer of narrative nonfiction, whose latest book, Caste , explores the inner workings of an American hierarchy, talks to Viv about bringing your absolute all to the stage and creating an experience of communion with the audience. Such deep and generous sharing in this space is balanced, though, with a word of c...

Jun 02, 202344 minSeason 20Ep. 3

20.2 Claire Fuller, author

How do you keep going when your mouth turns ‘sticky’? Viv talks to the award-winning writer, Claire Fuller about lessons from life, digging back into tales from when Claire worked in marketing and a pitch ran aground. Offering tips and tricks for persevering through awkward moments, Viv celebrates Claire’s honesty for admitting when things haven’t gone well and also for celebrating the moments that most definitely have. They talk about carving out a writing career later in life, while working an...

May 26, 202334 minSeason 20Ep. 2

20.1 Marielle Wyse, fashion entrepreneur

Launching series 20 with a splash of colour and pizazz, Viv talks to fashion label guru, Marielle Wyse, about finding that thing you love and doing with all your heart. Having worked in TV documentaries, Marielle took time out to look after her small children and then found a spark, pursuing her own childhood passion for clothes and making, setting her on a new, exciting path, founding Wyse London. Marielle advises remembering the thing you used to run to as a child and reveals how the Covid loc...

May 19, 202337 minSeason 20Ep. 1

19.6: Masterclass on How to Be Confident

What is the secret of fearlessness? How do you focus if you’re feeling nervous? In this final episode of the How to Own the Room masterclass series, we dive back into the back catalogue for key tips and tricks on How to Be Confident. Actress Petra Massey ( Sandstrom, Miranda ) is best known for clowning and physical theatre - she carries herself with a profound inner confidence, and talks to Viv about channelling fear through her body in a productive way. Another counter-intuitive trick for conf...

Apr 21, 202319 minSeason 19Ep. 6

19.5: Masterclass on How to Prepare (Part 2)

In this week’s round-up of all the best tips and tricks for confidence and performance, we continue with the theme of preparation. Talking to actress Nicole Ansari ( Deadwood) and her husband Brian Cox ( Succession) , Viv discusses their definitions of owning the room while involving other people. Former TV presenter turned best-selling author Dawn O’Porter talks very movingly about how easily we can get distracted by what is not working, while entrepreneur Sharmadean Reid , one of the first bla...

Apr 17, 202322 minSeason 19Ep. 5

19.4: Masterclass on How to Prepare

Everyone loves to feel prepared, but what would happen if you didn’t really prepare at all? How do you prepare for the moments of pressure? In this masterclass, Viv is interested in our different relationships with preparation. Writer and commentator Bryony Gordon says if you're passionate about your subject, then you don't need a script, while Labour MP Jess Phillips thinks it's important to celebrate the imperfections in spoken delivery. Entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow is great at talking in a var...

Apr 07, 202322 minSeason 19Ep. 4

19.3: Masterclass on How to Cure Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever felt like you can’t do certain things? What do you do to tackle your own self-doubt? In this 3rd episode, Viv turns traditional thinking about imposter syndrome on its head, and considers alternative outlooks from her guests. Professor Mary Beard talks about the misogynistic origins of public speaking, dating back to the Roman Empire, and actress Katy Brand says that in her experience, confidence can ebb and flow. If you find yourself feeling like an imposter, Paula Hines says that...

Mar 31, 202330 minSeason 19Ep. 3

19.2: Masterclass on How to Overcome Nerves

Where does confidence come from? What can you do if you’re very self-conscious and you feel really uncomfortable in front of others? In this second episode of weekly masterclasses, Viv talks about nerves and confidence, and how they really do go hand in hand. From archive interviews, Viv's previous guests share their words of wisdom. In the very first episode Nigella Lawson stresses that you don't need to be perfect. Since then we have had many other guests including Margaret Heffernan , busines...

Mar 24, 20231 hr 1 minSeason 19Ep. 2

19.1: Masterclass on How to Know What to Say

How do you work out what you want to say and what you think people are expecting? If you want to speak up, how do you know where to start? In this new batch of episodes coming up over the next few weeks we’re going to dig into our archive of over 150 interviews. In these weekly masterclasses, each episode will tackle the things that really matter: confidence, overcoming nerves, imposter syndrome. This week, Viv looks into what makes a great speech - or knowing what to say. Hillary Clinton advise...

Mar 17, 202324 minSeason 19Ep. 1

18.8 Dawn O’Porter, Novelist and TV Presenter

How do you regain your confidence? Viv talks to the author, TV presenter, social media influencer and founder of fashion line Joanie, Dawn O’Porter, on finding your voice again. Dawn, who lives in LA with her husband the actor Chris O’Dowd and their two children, tells Viv with frank honesty about a dark time in her life when her TV career nosedived, how she lost her confidence and eventually wrote her way out of it. She shares her tips about holding onto self-worth when things aren’t going the ...

Nov 18, 202233 minSeason 18Ep. 8

18.7 Catherine Mayer, Writer and Activist

How can we thrive wearing many hats? Viv talks to the author and co-founder and President of the Women's Equality Party, Catherine Mayer, about shifting emphasis to achieve greatest effect. Catherine shares how having an awareness of your audience and the room you’re in can make it a good experience for you and boost your voice within it. Catherine reveals that while she makes calculations about where to pitch her arguments, they all stay true to her beliefs. Catherine lost her husband, the musi...

Nov 11, 202237 minSeason 18Ep. 7

18.6 Elaine Bedell, Arts CEO

How do you bring together a winning team so that all voices can contribute to the room? Viv Groskop talks to the Chief Executive of the Southbank Centre, Elaine Bedell, on energy, stress and successfully leading teams of talented creative and commercial people. Elaine became the first woman in the top job at the Southbank Centre in 2017. She joined after a 30-year career in TV in which she developed shows such as The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Saturday Night Takeaway, Love Island and I’m a ...

Nov 04, 202234 minSeason 18Ep. 6

18.5 Gabby Logan, Broadcaster

What helps to build resilience? Viv Groskop talks to the broadcaster, Gabby Logan, who has pioneered sports presenting for women in the UK. Just this year she co-led the BBC’s coverage of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and Women’s Euro 2022. She tells Viv what it was like to start at Sky in her 20s when the channel was just four years old; presenting two live shows a day in a team formed of new voices and old hacks. Gabby shares some of the personal tragedies that have shaped her, such a...

Oct 28, 202238 minSeason 18Ep. 5

18.4 Debbie Wosskow OBE, Entrepreneur

How do you put on your game face every day? Viv Groskop talks to the co-founder of AllBright, Debbie Wosskow, on purpose, energy and drive. She launched the startup Love Home Swap, inspired by the film The Holiday, and sold it for $53 million in 2017. Debbie hails from an entrepreneurial family and tells Viv how she’s never been shy to talk about work, business and money. She reflects on how her family background helped to de-risk the idea of business. Together with her business partner, Anna Jo...

Oct 21, 202237 minSeason 18Ep. 4

18.3 Elizabeth Strout, Writer

How can you overcome stage fright? Viv Groskop talks to award-winning writer and nominee for this year’s Booker Prize, Elizabeth Strout, ahead of the ceremony. She reveals an intervention that enabled her to handle public events that would previously have sent her spinning into panic. Elizabeth tells Viv how the spaces that allow her to write are the ones in which she’s not needed by anyone. Riding the subway is good, but even better is her studio in Maine. Despite Elizabeth’s success now seemin...

Oct 14, 202233 minSeason 18Ep. 3

18.2 Kamila Shamsie, Writer

Can you easily switch between private and public modes? Viv Groskop talks to the award-winning writer, Kamila Shamsie, about the different kinds of energy she needs in her life as a successful author. She tells Viv about the peace and solitude required for writing fiction and how audiences’ curiosity fuels her public persona. Kamila shares with Viv her thoughts on the long history of patriarchy and the way it cuts across every facet of life. She reveals her thoughts on the power of her platform ...

Oct 07, 202235 minSeason 18Ep. 2
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