What if the bravest thing you ever do… is stop pretending you're fine?

Meet Iona Holloway: bestselling author of Ghosts, magnetic keynote speaker, ex-Google high-achiever turned imperfection activist—and today’s guest on Fearless and Flawed. She’s not here to sugar-coat the struggle or sell you a “just be confident” script. Iona cracked herself open to stop shrinking. Now? She teaches others how to become the bravest version of themselves—not when they feel ready, but while they're still trembling.

From Scottish hockey fields to the pressure-cooker of corporate America, Iona’s story isn’t one of overnight transformation. It’s one of raw reclamation, guided by a life philosophy she calls the 5 & 95 Rule: Live a life that 5-year-old you would be delighted by, and 95-year-old you would be damn proud of.

You’ll hear us get bold and beautifully unfiltered about:

✨ High-functioning pain and the invisible weight of “being fine”

✨ Why perfection is an open-air prison (and how to get out)

✨ Her 5-step Brave Methodology for untangling self-doubt

✨ The pressure-cooker of motherhood meets entrepreneurship

✨ Speaking your truth when your voice is shaking

✨ What we owe our 5-year-old selves and 95-year-old future

And here’s the sass-kick in the soul: you don’t have to burn it all down to build something braver. You just have to stop abandoning yourself.

Loved this episode? Fire it off to a woman in your life who needs to be reminded she’s not broken, she’s awakening. Oh, and if you haven’t already, hit that shiny ‘Subscribe’ button. We’ve got more truth bombs coming right at ya.

Come for the fire. Stay for the freedom.

Ever fallen in love with something so deeply that you rearranged your entire life around it? Today’s episode asks that very question—and offers a wildly refreshing answer, in a tiny porcelain cup.

Meet Sarika Sake: former United Nations gender advisor turned certified sake professional. She’s not your typical sommelier—she’s a soulful rebel on a mission to revive a 2,000-year-old sacred beverage and reimagine it as a bridge between self-care, culture, and fierce female independence.

Over one transformative sip of sake on a family trip to Japan, Sarika knew everything had changed. What followed? A 10-year journey from curiosity to calling—with a few detours into face yoga, skincare, and sparking a cultural renaissance from Madrid to Massachusetts.

You’ll hear:

💥 How one accidental taste reawakened ancestral memory—and launched a movement

💥 Why women were banned from brewing sake for centuries (yes, seriously)

💥 How Sarika built not one, but three brands rooted in love, rebellion, and fermentation

💥 What sake can teach us about embracing our contradictions (hello, yoga and cocktails)

💥 The surprising way skincare, storytelling, and spiritual ritual all flow from the same source

Turns out, it’s not about choosing one lane—it’s about honoring every part of your story.

Sarika reminds us: you’re allowed to evolve. Loudly, lovingly, and a little off-script.

Loved this episode? Send it to your favorite wine lover or beauty buff, and make sure you’re subscribed for more real-deal convos every week.

What if chasing the dream means choosing a different one altogether?

Annie Woodbury thought she’d be cutting movie trailers in L.A.—but instead, she’s editing wedding films in Florida and loving every second of it. In this episode, we meet a woman who redefined success on her own terms, built a thriving freelance career straight out of college, and discovered that contentment isn’t complacency—it’s a quiet kind of power.

We talk creative chaos, algorithm hustle, and what it really costs to be a woman in a creative industry that never stops moving.

You’ll hear:

- Her scrappy start—dog walking, Upwork gigs, and a Facebook post that changed everything

- Building a freelance identity before she even had a diploma

- Why she turned down her literal dream job in Hollywood (and what happened next)

- Releasing the pressure to “make it big” and choosing to love her life now

- The rogue power of picking peace over prestige

Sometimes, the boldest move isn’t chasing the most glamorous path—it’s choosing the one that actually fits. Annie’s story is proof that clarity, not clout, is the dream.

Know a woman who needs to hear this honest, liberating take on success? Share this episode—and if you haven’t yet, hit subscribe so you never miss a truth bomb. This is Fearless and Flawed. Let’s keep rewriting the rules.

What if the reason you feel stuck isn't because you're doing it wrong—but because you're doing it someone else's way?

Meet Aida Ramos: a quiet disruptor in a loud world and the founder of Thinking Side, where meaning is translated—not just words.

A sworn translator based in Madrid, Aida didn’t start her business out of confidence. She started it terrified—and did it anyway.

This episode peels back the perfectly filtered curtain on what it really takes to build a business when the voice in your head says, “I don’t know where to start.” (Spoiler: You start anyway.)

You’ll hear stories of:

✨ Building a global business from scratch—without flashy marketing

✨ The power of referrals, reputation, and real relationships

✨ Going from self-doubt to “actually, I know what I’m doing”

✨ Translation in the age of AI—and why human nuance still wins

✨ The deep emotional labor of bridging culture, context, and meaning

✨ A bold reminder: you only need to be brave one choice at a time

Some people translate documents. Aida? She builds bridges between worlds.

If you’ve ever wondered whether imperfect action is enough—you’re about to get your answer.

Loved it? Then share this with a woman rewriting her own rules. And if you haven’t subscribed to Fearless and Flawed, what are you even doing? Go hit that follow. Let’s keep getting real together.

What if giving up on your dream was the very thing that made it come true?

Meet Sion Dayson—award-winning author, voiceover artist, and walking proof that surrender can be a superpower. From a rainy decade in Paris to the sun-drenched coast of Spain, Sion’s journey is packed with unexpected turns, a few publishing heartbreaks, and one very serendipitous mic check that sparked a whole new career.

In this episode, we dive into how Sion made the leap from novelist to voiceover pro, what it’s really like building a creative business abroad, and why she believes success doesn’t come from pushing—it comes from paying attention to the lightbulb moments.

We talk AI, imposter syndrome, nervous energy (and why dancing it out works), plus what it takes to keep a human voice heard in a machine-driven world.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• 🎤 Confidence comes after clarity—why Sion trained for 9 months before saying “I’m ready”
• ✨ Serendipity loves a surrender—how letting go brought her two book deals in 48 hours
• 📣 Voiceover is more than talking—a masterclass in breathwork, tech, and self-promotion
• 🤖 AI isn’t the enemy—it’s the prompt for stronger boundaries and better ethics
• 🧠 Your inner voice knows—and it might sound more like a gut feeling than a soundbite

Sion’s story is a reminder that reinvention isn’t a detour—it’s part of the path.

🎧 Tune in for a funny, warm, and eye-opening conversation that’ll have you thinking twice about your next “no”... and possibly dancing to Outkast before your next pitch.

Want to connect with Sion Dayson or learn more?

Head over to fearlessandflawed.com for guest links, episode extras, and more.

That’s the question Julia Horne found herself asking—14 years after turning a nursery sing-along into one of the most joyful, multicultural early years programs in London.

She wasn’t trying to become an entrepreneur. She was a singer, a mum, and a volunteer with a knack for connecting through music. But one forgotten playlist (hello ADHD), a car full of reggae and calypso CDs, and a very enthusiastic group of toddlers later… Juma’s Journeys was born.

Fast-forward over a decade, and Julia’s created something remarkable:

🦁 A signature character (Juma the Lion!)

🌍 A monthly travel-the-world class for kids aged 0–5

🎶 A curriculum that celebrates global music, sensory play, and imagination

📦 48+ multicultural lesson plans—with parents begging for more

But the real story? It’s what happens when a founder finally sees her idea for what it really is—not just a local class, but a movement. One with global legs.

In this Fearless and Flawed episode, we talk about:

🦁 Turning passion into a franchise model

🦁 Why kids’ classes are really about educating parents

🦁 Pricing, planning, and growing after you’ve already succeeded

🦁 How to show up, even when you don’t feel “business-minded”

🦁 The big vision: Juma boxes, Juma shows, and cultural experiences in every living room

Julia’s story is proof that you don’t need a pitch deck or an MBA to create something powerful—you need a spark, a map, and a parachute (literally… she has one).

✨ Listen to the full episode in the comments—and bring your whole imagination with you.

You know those moments when burnout forces you to rethink everything—and you come out the other side stronger, fiercer, and doing squats like a boss?

That’s exactly how Vanesa Nicolosi turned a career crisis into Grow StrongHer, a bold fitness movement helping women reclaim their strength, energy, and confidence.

But this isn’t your typical “I fell into fitness” story. Vanesa’s journey took her from Argentina to Dubai to Spain, navigating high-stress jobs, a major injury, and a life-altering realization: movement isn’t just about the body—it’s about healing the mind too.

Now, through her personalized programs and online community, she’s changing the way women move, think, and thrive.

In this episode, Vanesa gets real about what it takes to build a brand from scratch (hello, 2 free ads and sheer grit), why strength training is non-negotiable, and how she’s helping women everywhere ditch the scale and grow strong on their own terms.

Key Takeaways:

💪 How burnout, injury, and a bold leap led Vanesa to launch Grow StrongHer

💪 The truth about strength training—and why it’s about life, not looks

💪 How to start a business when you have no clue, no clients, and a pandemic

💪 The real mindset shift that fuels long-term wellness (spoiler: it's not about bikini season)

💪 Why empowering women to move is about more than fitness—it’s about freedom

Vanesa’s story is your reminder that building something meaningful doesn’t require perfect timing or a perfect plan—just the courage to start, the heart to keep going, and the belief that strength is already inside you.

Ready to move, grow, and thrive? Visit growstrongher.com and start your journey today.

You know those moments where everything shifts—not because of a grand plan, but because you finally said yes to yourself? That’s exactly how Gabrielle Thil went from IP lawyer and filmmaker… to walking 1,000 miles across Spain and becoming a spiritual somatic love coach.

Yep, you read that right. Gabrielle swapped courtrooms and camera sets for breathwork, energy healing, and helping women rebuild self-trust so they can attract the love they deeply deserve.

But this isn’t your typical “find your purpose” fairytale. It’s raw, radiant, and real. Gabrielle opens up about living with vitiligo, navigating vulnerability in her 20s, and how learning to feel—really feel—was the most radical thing she ever did. Spoiler: it led to her husband, her business, and a whole new way of being.

In this episode, we explore the messy, magical path from heartbreak to healing, from somatic work to soulful love—and why your breath and your body already hold the map.

Key Takeaways:

💫 Why somatic work is the game-changer most mindset methods miss

💫 How one 1,000-mile pilgrimage rewrote her story (and her love life)

💫 The nervous system shift that makes you magnetic—not desperate

💫 Reclaiming pleasure as power, even when you're running a business

💫 What it really means to trust yourself again after heartbreak

Gabrielle’s story is a reminder that healing isn’t a detour—it’s the direct path to who you’re meant to be.

Want more? Visit gabriellethil.com or follow her on Instagram for calming vibes, real talk, and plenty of light.