People Are Everything

Celebrating 5 People Who Shape Us – Season 2 Wrap | People Are Everything with Julia Duthie

Season 2 of People Are Everything is a wrap! Host Julia Duthie reflects on the incredible guests who shared stories of the 5 most influential people in their lives.
From mentors to family, each episode highlighted how relationships shape identity, careers, and purpose. Julia also shares behind-the-scenes insights, the podcast’s journey to the Apple Podcasts Top 100, and what’s coming in Season 3.
Topics Covered:
– Why we reflect on who shapes us– Highlights from standout guests– How the show has grown and resonated– Season 3 sneak peek– Listener feedback and cultural impact
Season 3 launches early September.
#PeopleAreEverything #JuliaDuthie #InfluentialPeople #PodcastWrap #SeasonFinale

The 5 People Who Shaped Mark Massett: Comedy, Identity & the Birth of Brenda | People Are Everything

Barber, performer, and viral content creator Mark Massett joins Julia to reveal the five most influential people in his life — and how they helped shape his comedy, identity, and alter ego, Brenda. From a no-nonsense English teacher to his irrepressible mum, from icons like Caroline Aherne and Madonna to the legendary Paul O’Grady, Mark’s story is packed with heart, humour, and honesty.
They dive into the power of creative expression, finding your voice as a queer performer, and how real people and raw moments inspire the most meaningful art. Plus: the origin of Brenda, navigating vulnerability, and why comedy is more than just laughs.
Episode Highlights (no timecodes)
The origin of Brenda and how she became a viral characterCreating parody content during lockdown and beyondWhy a bold, fearless English teacher left a lifelong impactThe influence of Mark’s mother — funny, flawed, and fierceHow Caroline Aherne’s comedy became a blueprint for truthMadonna’s unapologetic boldness as a beacon of early identityDiscovering confidence and queerness through pop culturePaul O’Grady’s legacy of humour, drag, and humanityThe role of humour as both deflection and connectionChoosing authenticity, setting boundaries, and living with intention
Subscribe for more real conversations about the people who shape us.
Follow Mark:TikTok | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook: @markmassett
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From Burnout to Emotional Wealth: Lindsey Frances on Healing, Sophrology & Living Fully

In this rich and reflective episode, Julia Duthie welcomes emotional wealth advisor and podcast host Lindsey Frances.
Known for blending psychology, sophrology, and biometric data to support high-performing individuals, Lindsey shares the stories behind the five people who’ve shaped her life. From her resilient mother and practical father to the pioneering founder of sophrology, Dr. Caicedo, Lindsey’s reflections offer wisdom, warmth, and a deeper look at how we embody and maintain emotional wealth.
Expect thought-provoking insights, honest vulnerability, and an energising call to slow down, tune in, and reconnect—with ourselves and each other.

Series 2 EP8: Adam Bruderly

In this powerful episode of People Are Everything, Julia Duthie speaks with Adam Bruderly about the pivotal experiences that shaped his life—from surviving 9/11 as a 22-year-old in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center to redefining success and wealth through fatherhood, wellness, and curiosity. Adam shares how trauma sparked transformation, how he honours his father's legacy in unexpected ways (like a beer label), and how one defining moment from his wife changed the course of his life forever. This conversation is a testament to resilience, intentionality, and the extraordinary influence of ordinary people.

Series 2 EP7: Helen Normoyle

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In this warm, insightful, and inspiring episode, Julia is joined by Helen Normoyle—an accomplished CMO, women’s health entrepreneur, and fierce advocate for change. They discuss Helen’s rich career history, the people who’ve shaped her journey, and her passion for transforming the conversation around menopause. From heartfelt tributes to her family and lifelong friendships to the founding of My Menopause Centre, Helen’s reflections offer wisdom, humour, and a powerful call to back women at every stage of life.

Series 2 EP6: Jess Gregson

In this warm and thoughtful conversation, Julia sits down with business leader, creative connector, and Extra Brain founder Jess Gregson. What starts with a tribute to the colourful characters of Jess’s youth evolves into a powerful meditation on community, influence, and the unexpected ways people shape our lives.
From anonymous Uber drivers to lifelong friends, Jess reflects on the mentors, moments, and music that have stayed with her. Expect stories of leadership, integrity, finding your tribe, and the gentle magic of being yourself—professionally and personally.
This is a story of energy, openness, and influence in its quietest and most impactful forms.

Series 2 EP5: Chris Grimes

In this soulfully energetic episode, Julia is joined by actor, improviser, coach, and fellow podcaster Chris Grimes. Known for his "The Good Listening To Show", Chris brings his signature warmth, humour, and reverence for storytelling into the People Are Everything space.
 
From childhood in Uganda to a lifelong love of Laurel and Hardy, Chris shares the five people who’ve shaped his journey — including comic heroes, coaching influences, and his late father, whose legacy inspired a powerful new storytelling venture. Together, Julia and Chris explore creativity, connection, charisma, and what it really means to stay “on the bus.”
 
Expect laughter, wisdom, and a few unexpected squirrels — all wrapped in Chris’s inimitable, joy-filled presence.

Series 2 EP4: Lucy H. Pearce

In this rich and deeply thought-provoking episode, Julia speaks with bestselling author and publisher Lucy H. Pearce about what it means to reclaim women’s voices, creativity, and embodied experience. From discussing how Western culture has historically silenced women’s knowledge to founding her own publishing house, Womancraft, Lucy shares how her life and work challenge patriarchal norms and carve space for new ways of being.
Together, they explore cycles, creativity, motherhood, identity, and the healing power of women’s circles. They also reflect on what it means to feel powerful after menopause, the role of mentors (met and unmet), and how personal transformation often begins with asking the right questions.
This is a passionate, permission-giving conversation about the stories we tell, the ones we’ve lost, and the futures we can shape.

Series 2 EP3: Damian Baetens

In this reflective and quietly powerful episode, Julia sits down with long-time friend and cultural changemaker Damian Baetens. From a spontaneous jukebox moment that ignited a lifelong passion for music, to navigating the highs and lows of the industry, Damian shares the people and pivotal moments that shaped his journey.
 
He recounts his early years in Manchester’s vibrant scene, what it meant to move to London and work alongside music industry legends, and how a return to the North East brought not only creative clarity, but love, fatherhood, and a sense of home. From his role in supporting over 15,000 startups to launching a nostalgic DJ event in his fifties, Damian’s story is a reminder that legacy isn't just about milestones—it's about the people, places, and choices that make us.
 
A story of reinvention, music, and finding your place in the world.

Series 2 EP2: Sophie Bryan

In this vibrant Season 2 episode, Julia sits down with the brilliant Sophie Bryan — workplace culture expert, TED speaker, coach, and unapologetic rebel.
Together they dive into Sophie's eclectic journey: from HR professional to culture change-maker, sex life coach, and burlesque dance school founder. Sophie shares how her daughter, her trailblazing aunt, inspiring friends, and the revolutionary Maria Montessori have shaped the person she is today.
Expect deep honesty, plenty of laughter, a little rule-breaking (of course), and a fresh perspective on how personal freedom, curiosity, and soulful connection can transform both life and work.