Anna Marshall

I want to interview everyday people that I find extraordinary.

Not the celebrities we often hear interviewed who, following the death of a parent, went on to make millions setting up a start-up of some kind or another.

But ordinary, relatable people. My friends.

Losing a parent is surely one of the hardest things any of us will have to deal with in life. And yet, it is one we will all experience at some point.

I want to talk to those who experienced this all too soon. Those who lost a parent in their early formative years.

How has it changed them?

What are they doing now?

And most importantly what was the best thing their friends or family said to them during this time? How should we react on hearing a great friend of ours has suffered such a loss? There isn’t a guide book for this and many feel at a loss as to know how to react. Should I encourage them to talk about it? Or would they rather speak about anything but it? How do I not treat them differently whilst showing them that they have my full support?

In short what helped and what didn’t help them?

I am not coming at this from the angle of a psychologist. And I understand the incredibly sensitive and personal nature of the interview. I am approaching this from the angle of a friend trying to encourage the interviewee to share their experiences and give some helpful advice both to those going through the same thing and those trying to help their friends.

In this episode I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Anna who opens up beautifully and eloquently about the effects of losing her father at such a young age. We discussed an enormous range of topics from grief, to male influences to the #metoo movement in what was a fascinating hour shared with one of my favourite people! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did recording it. Thanks as ever for your continued support and particular thanks to the wonderful Anna Marshall!