Episodes

In this captivating episode of How to Belong, Naomi sits down with the multi-talented Rob Bell—broadcast journalist, engineer, adventurer, and co-host of the Sketchplanations podcast. Rob’s passion for seeking meaningful connection takes centre stage as they explore the profound impact of friendships on our sense of belonging. Together, Naomi and Rob dive into: Navigating Friendships: The unique ways men and women approach building and maintaining friendships, and why these differences matter. T...

Our second episode in Season 2 - and what an extraordinary episode too. My guest, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE—peace strategist, CEO of the International Civil Society Action Network, one of the few trained female UN peace negotiators, and host of the If You Were in Charge Podcast—had to reschedule this very recording due to a last-minute invitation to attend President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Her connection to one of history’s great peacebuilders adds a poignant and inspiring dimension to this c...

Belonging is something we navigate throughout our entire lives, but two of the most profound experiences that shape our sense of connection are birth and grief. These moments—at opposite ends of life—challenge and transform how we relate to ourselves and those around us. In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah Youell, a hypnotherapist, coach, and diversity advocate who has spent the last 15 years helping individuals, families, and organisations create environments where everyone feels they belong....

In this episode of How to Belong, I sit down with Suzy Reading, a psychologist, yoga teacher, and self-care expert who has helped thousands navigate change, grief, and stress with more kindness and resilience. Suzy is an Instagram superstar in the wellbeing space, known for her gentle wisdom and practical tools that make self-care accessible to everyone. But her journey hasn’t been without challenges. She shares her experience of moving from Australia to the UK, becoming a mother, and facing pro...

The Greater the Intimacy, the Greater the Rewards: How Deep Relationships Create True Belonging with Naomi Stonier This episode didn’t just stay with me—it embedded itself in my core. I didn’t realise how much I needed some of these truth bombs, but I really did, and I have a feeling most of us do. Naomi has a way of explaining things that opens doors to a much more peaceful life, one where relationships don’t just survive—they thrive. Today, we’re diving into one of the most important aspects o...

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...

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 rai...

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 momen...

What 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 othe...

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 l...