How To Belong Podcast
How to Belong is a podcast exploring the human quest to find a sense of belonging.
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Lea Turner: You Don’t Have to Proofread Who You Are
In this powerful episode of How to Belong, Naomi Lloyd sits down with Lea Turner—a trailblazer who’s redefined what it means to belong by building a community where “square pegs fit perfectly.”From shaking up LinkedIn with her unapologetic honesty to founding The HoLT, an inclusive space for small business owners, Lea shares what it really means to show up as your full self—especially when you don’t fit the mould.Lea opens up about losing her father at a young age, and how that grief—and the legacy of strength he left behind—has shaped her path. It’s a story of turning pain into purpose, difference into power, and visibility into a tool for lifting others up.Together, Naomi and Lea explore self-belief behind the scenes, creating true community, and what it takes to stop editing yourself to fit in.If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t belong or that it’s “too late” to start again, this is your invitation to stop proofreading who you are—and start owning it.Key Topics Covered:Lea’s journey from outsider to community leaderGrief and legacy: how losing her father shaped her missionBuilding The HoLT: a no-BS, burnout-free space for entrepreneursFacing stereotypes, criticism, and loneliness with authenticityThe messy reality of self-belief and resiliencePractical advice for showing up as your true selfConnect with Lea Turner:Website: leaturner.co.ukSubscribe to How to Belong for more stories about finding, losing, and rediscovering belonging in every chapter of life.Alongside hosting this podcast, I help people explore belonging through photography—whether that’s powerful headshots, personal rebranding, dating profile images, or family lifestyle shoots.Find out more at: www.naomilloyd.co.uk
Friendship, Chosen Family & the Grief of Letting Go — with Alex Alexander
Friendship, Chosen Family & the Grief of Letting Go — with Alex AlexanderWhat does it really mean to belong? In this powerful episode of How to Belong, I’m joined by Alex Alexander — connection advocate, speaker, and host of the Friendship IRL podcast — for an honest conversation about the role friendship plays in our survival, identity, and healing.Alex knows, deeply, that we aren’t meant to do life alone. Through her own story — shaped by childhood loneliness and a longing for support — she built the kind of chosen family she always needed. And now, she helps others do the same.Together, we explore the real heart of friendship: not just the joy of being seen, but the pain of letting go. Not just the celebration of connection, but the grief when friendships shift, fade, or end.This is a conversation about creating your village — and holding space for the seasons when it unravels.In This Episode:Why friendship is a form of survivalHow chosen family helps us feel grounded, safe, and like we belongThe quiet heartbreak of friendship breakups and slow fadesNavigating static seasons — when friendships stop growing but still matterHow to move through the grief of changing relationships without blame or shameWhat it means to build connection with intention, and why it’s never too late to begin againWhy It Matters:We often talk about romantic love or family as our main support systems. But friendship — deep, intentional friendship — can be just as life-giving. And when those friendships change or end, we feel it in our bones.Alex reminds us that connection is not a luxury. It’s what gets us through. And belonging isn’t about being surrounded by people all the time — it’s about knowing who will show up, and who we are when we’re with them.About Alex:Alex Alexander is the host of Friendship IRL, a podcast and platform that explores the messiness and magic of adult friendship. She helps people build and sustain meaningful relationships, offering tools for connection rooted in compassion, realism, and deep care.Links & Resources:Learn more about Alex’s work → https://alexalexander.comReflection Prompt:Whose absence are you grieving? Whose presence still anchors you? Let this episode be a gentle reminder: you’re allowed to release, rebuild, and belong — all at once.Follow Naomi Lloyd, host of How to Belong, for more conversations, insights, and reflections on the messy, beautiful business of finding your place in the world.Visit www.naomielloyd.com for more on belonging Explore Naomi’s photography work at www.naomilloyd.co.uk
Nashville, Dollywood & the Coat That Sparked Unexpected Connection
This is my very first solo episode of How to Belong—a short one, but I hope it resonates.After years of dreaming and planning, my husband and I finally took our magical music road trip through the American South: New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, and Dollywood. But the moment that stayed with me the most? It wasn’t on the itinerary.It was a coat—a bold, 1970s Joe Browns jacket that reminded me of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colours. Strangers stopped me to talk about it. It sparked little moments of connection everywhere we went. And somehow, it brought me full circle back to a childhood story I shared in the very first episode of this podcast.In this episode, I reflect on what it means to be bold, be visible, and how sometimes, the things we wear (and the way we show up) open doors to belonging we never expected.Featuring:– A magical music road trip from New Orleans to Dollywood– What my vintage coat taught me about confidence and connection– Why showing up fully as yourself matters– And a little Dolly wisdom, of courseWant to try out some Joe Browns stand-out clothing for yourself? Here's a link to their online store :https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=1120&awinaffid=1912342&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joebrowns.co.uk%2FEnjoyed this episode? For more insights on blogging, storytelling, and finding your voice, visit naomielloyd.com, follow me on Instagram @naomielloyd or @howtobelongpodcast
Kathy Lette on Reinvention, Motherhood, and Finding Belonging in Life’s Second Act
Today’s guest is the incomparable Kathy Lette—bestselling author, cultural firecracker, autism advocate, and queen of the witty one-liner. From co-writing the iconic Puberty Blues as a teenager to penning sharp, empowering novels like The Revenge Club and HRT: Husband Replacement Therapy, Kathy has built a career on saying the unsayable—and making us laugh while she does it.In this candid and joyfully irreverent conversation, Kathy opens up about:Navigating the heartbreak and resilience of raising her autistic son, Jules, who went on to become one of the first autistic actors on prime-time TV in Holby CityThe complexities of belonging as both a mother and a woman reinventing herself later in lifeHow humour has been her secret superpower through grief, exclusion, and reinventionHer passion for storytelling as a way to foster empathy, connection, and belongingWhat it means to thrive in your “second act”—with sass, sparkle, and zero apologiesKathy's latest book, The Revenge Club, is now available in paperback. Click here to get your copy : https://amzn.to/3RsgCAI
Finding Strength Through Setbacks with Luke Beastall
This week’s guest is one of the most down-to-earth, open, and vulnerable people I’ve ever had the pleasure to interview. Luke Beastall isn’t afraid to be raw and honest about how his path didn’t turn out the way he’d planned.From dreaming of a pro football career to being scammed by a fake agent and losing all confidence, Luke hit rock bottom. But through embracing vulnerability, leaning on his loved ones, and rebuilding his life from scratch, he discovered something even more powerful than his original dream—a deeper sense of belonging within himself and his purpose.Today, Luke is the founder of Musclecoach UK and Master Your Life, leading a thriving coaching business where he helps others find confidence and fulfilment. His journey is proof that sometimes, the setbacks are what set us free.In this episode, Luke opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, the power of community, and why saying yes to the unknown can change everything.Luke's courage to share his story is powerful, and his insights are a reminder that true belonging often comes from our most challenging experiences.Connect with Luke Beastall:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-beastall-720a2591/MuscleCoach Uk : https://www.musclecoach.orgInstagram: @beyondboardroompodcast and @masteryourlife.coachIf you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review! And join the conversation on social media using #HowToBelong.Follow me, your host, Naomi E Lloyd on:Naomi E Lloyd Author Website: www.naomielloyd.comPhotography: www.naomilloyd.co.ukInstagram: @howtobelongpodcast and @naomielloyd
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