Sisters of Defiance podcast for women hosted by Anita Rani, nourished by Ancient + Brave

Sisters of Defiance - Series Two

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Sisters of Defiance Series 1

Missed Series One? Go back to where it all began, with Anita’s conversations with Dame Meera Syal, Anoushka Shankar, Clare Waight Keller, Paris Paloma and many more.

Each episode closes with The Last Offering, where Dr Jenna Macciochi and Jo Woodhurst reflect on the episode’s themes and the wisdom of the women who came before us.

Listen to Series One here

We’re proud to welcome back Sisters of Defiance, the podcast hosted by Anita Rani and nourished by Ancient + Brave, for a second series.

Through raw conversations and brave stories, the series shines a light on women whose names you know, but whose real stories are rarely told. Their journeys have challenged expectations, reshaped culture and redefined what’s possible. Each episode explores the untold realities behind success, resilience and modern womanhood.

This series, Anita is joined by Ancient + Brave’s Director of Nutrition and Education, Jo Woodhurst, where we will share our Weekly Ritual. Drawing on ancestral wisdom and modern science, Jo shares simple, practical rituals you can take home and weave into everyday life, to help all of us live a truly brave life.

And in this series, we’re delighted to have Choose Love as our official charity partner. Choose Love is a movement putting love into action, getting emergency aid and life-changing support to refugees and displaced people around the world. They stand with people who show what living bravely really means, every single day.

Join us wherever you find your podcasts over the next 10 weeks as we introduce you to some of the most courageous, groundbreaking women of our time. Discover our Sisters of Defiance on YouTube

Introducing this week’s sister of defiance…Deborah Meaden

This week, Anita sits down with Deborah Meaden to talk business, independence and living life on her own terms. Deborah traces her defiance back to age 11, when she bought the pony her parents had refused her, then found work to pay for it. She left school at 16, worked her way through jobs from Brighton to London, then returned to grow the family holiday park business before buying it from her parents.

She opens up about her marriage to Paul, her choice not to have children, and why women should let go of the guilt and look after themselves. After 21 years on Dragons’ Den, she backs businesses she believes in, speaks out on climate change and finds her grounding in nature. And she’s still looking ahead with curiosity, and no rigid plan.

This week’s Weekly Ritual: Living with the seasons

Keeping up with each new season can feel like a lot. But our bodies have evolved to respond to these shifts, and this week we explore how to follow their lead.

We look at why autumn is a good moment to focus on immune health, and why it helps to see the immune system as something that works for us every day. We cover the foundations that support it, from sleep and stress to seasonal foods like orange root vegetables. Plus a kitchen toolkit of ginger, lemon and garlic, and why vitamin D matters through darker UK winters.

Notice the season. Nourish yourself.

Meet Our

Anita Rani, award winning Broadcaster, Writer and Producer

Anita Rani is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and author. She presents BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and BBC One's Countryfile, has written the Sunday Times bestseller The Right Sort of Girl, and serves as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Chancellor of the University of Bradford.

Maxine Peake, Actor, writer, director

Maxine Peake is a BAFTA-winning actor, writer and director from Bolton. She first found fame as Twinkle in Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies, followed by Shameless, Silk, The Theory of Everything, Peterloo and Funny Cow. On stage, she played the title role in Hamlet at the Royal Exchange. Her own plays, including Beryl and Queens of the Coal Age, champion working-class and female voices. She is also a Trustee of the Working Class Movement Library in Salford.

Deborah Meaden, Entrepreneur, investor & Dragon

Deborah Meaden is one of Britain’s most formidable businesswomen - a hugely successful entrepreneur, investor and the longest-serving female Dragon on Dragons’ Den. From starting her first business at just 19 to building and selling a multimillion-pound company, Deborah has spent decades breaking glass ceilings and taking up space in boardrooms.

Choose Love is a movement putting love into action, getting emergency aid and support directly to displaced communities, fast.

In 11 years they have funded over 620 grassroots partners in 51 countries, supported over 9.7 million people and raised over £125 million for people displaced by conflict, climate change and natural disasters.

Support Choose Love

Sisters of Defiance Series 1

Missed Series One? Go back to where it all began, with Anita’s conversations with Dame Meera Syal, Anoushka Shankar, Clare Waight Keller, Paris Paloma and many more.

Each episode closes with The Last Offering, where Dr Jenna Macciochi and Jo Woodhurst reflect on the episode’s themes and the wisdom of the women who came before us.

Listen to Series One here