The Sisterhood....In Session

Hosted by Sarah Ridge

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Episodes

130

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Since launching The Sisterhood Networking Group in 2022, it's founder Sarah Ridge has been introduced to some incredible women, all with amazing stories to tell. Now she wants to share those stories with you! So grab yourself a cuppa, sit back and relax and prepare to be inspired……..

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September 11, 2026Episode 13358 min

With Lisa Newport.....Founder Of Funky Diva Vibes

Lisa Newport is a speaker, author and creator of the Funky Diva Vibes® movement and the woman behind the Sausage Machine of Conformity. Drawing on a career spanning fashion and textile design, lecturing, education management and coaching, Lisa explores the tiny, ordinary ways we quietly squish ourselves to fit in - and how those seemingly insignificant moments can gradually shape our identity. Through her Spot the Squish approach, she challenges the invisible rules about how we're supposed to dress, behave, speak, lead, age and live, emboldening people to question the shoulds, make choices that feel more like them and sizzle into their Funky Diva energy. Lisa’s journey has been anything but linear. She started out as a fashion and textile designer after graduating from art school in the 1980s, before moving into lecturing, sales and eventually education management -including running the education department in a prison. After returning to self-employment, she became known for her work around colour, personal style and confidence, later moving into personal branding and visibility. But over time, Lisa realised the common thread running through her seemingly eclectic career had never really been clothes, education or even confidence. It was identity - and what happens when people feel able to express who they really are. Her own journey has played a big part in that discovery. Lisa talks openly about her “Treble F” years - Fat, Fed Up and Frumpy - when she felt she’d lost sight of herself, and the gradual process of rediscovering her creativity, preferences, voice and joy. That journey eventually led to Funky Diva Vibes® and her slightly ridiculous but surprisingly profound Sausage Machine of Conformity - Lisa’s metaphor for all those expectations, shoulds and invisible rules we absorb about how we’re supposed to dress, behave, speak, lead, age and live. Now in her early 60s, Lisa brings together nearly four decades of experience through speaking, workshops and creative experiences. Her work encourages people to Spot the Squish, question the shoulds they’ve accumulated along the way and feel emboldened to make choices that feel more like themselves. Find out more about Lisa and her work HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

September 4, 2026Episode 1321 hr 1 min

With Julia Darlington.....Leadership & Life Strategist

Julia had an extremely successful career as a Senior Leader for over 3 decades in the global Fashion Business. Leading large teams and navigating the unique challenges that come with being a woman rising up the corporate ladder. She was struck that whilst the industry is dominated by women, she found that this was not reflected in the heights they rose to and often found herself to be the only woman sitting at the top table. This inspired her to pivot at the age of 51 and she trained as a Coach. She had moved her family to Melbourne for work but decided to return and set up Julia Darlington Coaching & Consulting 10 years ago. With over three decades of international experience as a Senior Executive in the Fashion & Lifestyle industries, combined with her credentials as a qualified Business and Leadership Coach Julia specialises in empowering ambitious women in mid-life to lead both themselves and others fearlessly with unwavering confidence and soul led purpose. As a Creative Strategist she helps them to successfully navigate pivotal life and leadership transitions such as stepping up into Senior Leadership, Redundancy, career pivots and Peri/menopause. She helps women to achieve clarity of their true purpose and life vision and build rock solid inner confidence and self-belief. To overcome their fears, identifying and removing the barriers that hold them back so that they can achieve the professional recognition, financial success and personal fulfilment that they desire and deserve. Whether leading corporate strategies, building businesses, or navigating life’s crossroads, she partners with them as their trusted woman in the wings to define what they truly want and create a unique strategy to reach it. To stop playing small, feel emboldened and live a life they love. You can find out more about Julia and her work here:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliadarlington/ https://www.juliadarlington.com https://www.instagram.com/jjdarlington/ https://www.facebook.com/jjdarlingtoncoachingconsulting And you can also download her FREE GUIDE - Unshakable Confidence: 7 Essential Steps To Unlock Your Power https://www.juliadarlington.com/the-7-essential-steps-to-unlock-your-power-guide You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

August 28, 2026Episode 13151 min

With Lyndsey Clay.....Personal Brand Visibility Expert

PLEASE NOTE - in this episode we discuss infertility issues, IVF and miscarriage. Lyndsey Clay is a Personal Brand Visibility Expert and the founder of Connected Brighton, an award-winning concierge business she launched during the 2020 pandemic. After navigating failed IVF and divorce, Lyndsey set off travelling to process her grief and rebuild her sense of self, an experience that led her to write a blog, qualify in coaching and start her own business. Since founding Connected Brighton, she has been a finalist for 11 awards, won RWC Entrepreneur of the Year, been named in the Top 100 Inspiring Female Entrepreneurs list by Small Business Britain, and become a sought after voice on personal brand, resilience, and reinvention through her keynote talks, hosting her own radio show for Regency Radio and presenting a regular segment on Latest TV. Lyndsey grew up assuming she'd have no trouble conceiving, given her large family. She later discovered she was infertile, with hormone levels reversed from what they should have been, very few eggs remaining for her age, and a tilted uterus. This was followed by a missed miscarriage during IVF, then a divorce as the grief took its toll on her marriage. Lyndsey channelled the experience into a blog, Not The Blueprint, about not fitting conventional social norms, and trained as a life coach. During the pandemic, she recognised that her life no longer resembled that of her friends, most of whom were raising young families, and she wanted to build a new community while supporting her hometown's hospitality sector as it recovered from lockdown. This led her to found Connected Brighton, which hosts events encouraging people to spend their money in independent bars and restaurants. Five years on, the business has been a finalist for 11 awards and Lyndsey has been named in the Top 100 Female Founders in the UK, with plans to franchise. She now works with other founders, helping them grow their businesses and build income through their personal brands. You can find out more about Lyndsey and her work HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

August 21, 2026Episode 13052 min

With Fareeha Jay.....Award Winning Dietician

Fareeha Jay is an award-winning dietitian and former NHS Diabetes Specialist with six years of experience delivering education to people newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. She specialises in South Asian diets and provides expert, evidence-based nutrition advice to South Asians worldwide. She has developed the South Asian Eatwell Guide, which is now widely used in many NHS trusts and various charity organisations. Passionate about promoting healthy and sustainable eating within ethnic minority communities, Fareeha is also a prominent media dietitian with a global social media following of over 700,000 across 99 countries. Fareeha immigrated to the UK from Pakistan in 2004. Arriving in a new country brought many unexpected challenges. Although she had already completed a Master's degree in Anthropology in Pakistan, she quickly realised that understanding everyday English, regional accents and British humour was far more difficult than she had imagined. Even simple tasks, such as shopping for clothes or communicating confidently, felt overwhelming. The journey was anything but straightforward. Adjusting to the UK education system was challenging. She failed modules, repeated placements, and often questioned whether she was capable of succeeding. At the same time, she was raising two young children, had no family nearby for support, and her husband was working around 100 hours a week. What is often a shorter route became a six-year journey. But she never gave up. She successfully qualified as a Registered Dietitian, and more recently completed her postgraduate studies, continuing to build on her knowledge and expertise. Then in 2021, she made a life-changing decision. She stopped hiding. She embraced who she was, became active on Instagram and other social media platforms, and began sharing her work openly. The response exceeded anything she could have imagined. Rather than judging her accent, people embraced her authenticity. Invitations soon followed for television, radio, podcasts, public speaking engagements and national health projects. Today, Fareeha is an award-winning Registered Dietitian, postgraduate-qualified nutrition professional, educator and public speaker. She has developed the South Asian Eatwell Guide, which is now being used by NHS organisations across the UK, and continues to champion culturally inclusive healthcare for diverse communities. Despite all her achievements, she admits she still feels nervous every time she records a video in English. However, she believes that growth happens when we lean into discomfort rather than run from it. Fareeha's story is about far more than becoming a dietitian. It is a story of starting again in a new country, overcoming self-doubt, embracing identity, challenging perceived limitations, and proving that determination can overcome extraordinary obstacles. You find find out more about Fareeha HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

August 14, 2026Episode 12954 min

With Gill Sims.....Blogger & Author Of The Why Mummy Drinks Series

Gill Sims is the author of the hugely successful parenting blog and Facebook site ‘Peter and Jane’. She lives in Scotland with her husband, two children and Border terriers. Her first book Why Mummy Drinks was the bestselling hardback fiction debut of 2017, spending over six months in the top ten of the Sunday Times bestsellers chart, and was shortlisted for Debut Novel of the Year in the British Book Awards. Her globally bestselling Why Mummy… series has now sold over a million copies. Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood is her first YA book. Gill was an ambassador for Bookshop.org’s Read it Forward initiative in 2026, a charitable drive in partnership with BookTrust and Scottish Book Trust. She is also an author ambassador for the National Year of Reading. You can find out more about Gill and her work HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

August 7, 2026Episode 12853 min

With Aga Peda.....Founder Of Born To Click

Aga is a visibility strategist and digital marketing consultant with 17+ years of experience shaping online presence for global hospitality and luxury travel brands. Now running her own consultancy, Born to Click, she helps businesses get found, build trust and turn their online presence into real enquiries - through Google Business Profile management, website strategy and her digital product suite, the Visibility System™. Aga grew up in Poland, raised by parents who took her and her brother travelling whenever they could - and taught her to ask questions, stay curious and never stop learning. Her grandmother, a woman of few means but great wisdom, put it simply: "learn, because knowledge is power." It was a line that stayed with her. She worked night shifts on hotel reception while studying, fell in love with hospitality and went on to complete two master's degrees. Then, she made one of the biggest decisions of her life: leaving everything behind and moving to the UK alone, knowing nobody, starting from scratch. What followed was 17 years of building a career inside some of the world's leading hospitality and luxury travel brands. She regularly found herself in male-dominated environments, had to work harder to be heard and credits those experiences with making her sharper and more resilient. Then came the redundancy. Rather than a full stop, it became a turning point. She channelled everything she'd built into something of her own - Born to Click, a visibility consultancy and the Visibility System™, a suite of digital products built from nearly two decades of hard-won strategy. The name? That came from a bad date. When she mentioned her work one evening, her date said "oh, so you were born to click." The domain was free. The decision took seconds. The date didn't lead to a second one but the name stuck. Her grandmother was right. Knowledge is power. And now Aga makes sure the businesses she works with use it. Find out more about Aga and her work HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

July 31, 2026Episode 12745 min

With Annie Young.....Founder Of Next Stage Financial

Annie is an East London mum and founder of Next Stage Financial. She provides no fluff mortgage advice and specialises in helping self employed busy women juggling careers and families. Also, those with perhaps slightly more complex/unique situations achieve their home ownership and property investment goals. Mortgages are personal for her....... A few years ago, Annie was rejected for a mortgage due to having bad credit that she didn’t even know existed. She believes no one should have to go through what she experienced during such an emotional and stressful time - she lost out on a family home which was incredibly difficult . She has combined that experience with her previous 10 year career in property, spanning from development to estate agency, to make it her mission to empower women and make mortgage advice more trustworthy and transparent. Find out more about Annie and her work HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

July 24, 2026Episode 12652 min

With Janet Gourand.....Founder Of Tribe Sober

Originally from London, Janet relocated to Cape Town in 2001. She is married with one son and a chihuahua called June. She was a functioning drinker for decades, all whilst bringing up a family and holding down a responsible job. She finally quit drinking at 63 and has now been alcohol-free for 11 years. She's helped thousands of women, especially in midlife, change their relationship with alcohol through community and coaching. Janet had many years of experience in corporate life, both in Europe and South Africa. When she decided to stop drinking alcohol she tried AA but decided it wasn’t for her. Janet got sober by researching and attending a workshop in London. As her journey continued, she decided to use her professional background in training and development to design and facilitate her own workshop, in order to support people who wish to quit drinking alcohol. She set up a membership program, holding workshops via Zoom attended by people from all over the world. She has written a book - Tribe Sober – 90-day Reset. She also hosts a podcast 'Tribe Sober' which has been downloaded nearly half-a-million times globally. For more information, drop her a mail at janet@tribesober.com. You can also find more details via her website HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

July 17, 2026Episode 12549 min

With Natalie Silverstone.....Founder of Glamour Events Hire

Natalie is the founder of Glamour Events Hire and a passionate entrepreneur who specialises in creating unforgettable event experiences. From luxury weddings and corporate events to innovative AI-powered entertainment, she is known for bringing creativity, connection and memorable moments to every event she delivers. Alongside running her business, Nat is passionate about inspiring others to take the leap into entrepreneurship. She openly shares the highs, lows and lessons of building a business, encouraging others to back themselves, embrace opportunities and create a career they genuinely love. She always believed in creating experiences that bring people together, but my entrepreneurial journey hasn't been a straight line. Like many business owners, she started with a passion and a vision, but quickly realised that running a business takes resilience, adaptability and a willingness to keep learning. She founded Glamour Events Hire to help people create memorable events, from weddings and celebrations to corporate experiences, and over the years the business has continued to evolve alongside the changing events industry. One of the biggest lessons She learned is that saying yes to opportunities can completely change the direction of your business. That's led me into exciting areas like AI-powered event entertainment, corporate hospitality and working with festivals, opening doors I never imagined when I first started. Networking has also played a huge part in my journey too. Some of my biggest opportunities have come from conversations, relationships and simply putting myself out there. It's reinforced my belief that business is built on people, not just products or services. Like every entrepreneur, there have been challenges, setbacks and moments of self-doubt, but each one has helped her grow stronger, more creative and more determined. Today she is passionate about creating unforgettable experiences for her clients while encouraging others to believe in themselves, embrace change and recognise that you don't have to have everything figured out before you start. She is excited to share the reality of building a business - the highs, the lessons, the opportunities and why backing yourself is often the biggest step you'll ever take. Find out more about Natalie and her work HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!

July 10, 2026Episode 12441 min

With Hannah Martin.....Founder Of Rich Retiree

Hannah Martin is the founder of Rich Retiree - a website that helps women over the age of 45 prepare emotionally, physically and financially for retirement. Hannah is a qualified psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner, and a former award-winning advertising copywriter. She has spent the past 13 years helping women balance motherhood with careers and start businesses on her website Talented Ladies Club (www.talentedladiesclub.com), growing a global audience of over 120,000 monthly readers. A pensions expert, she works with women to ensure they are making the most of their pension plans. It is never too early to think about a pension, especially if you're building a business so can't rely on an employer-contributed one. Hannah specifically works with women and has spoken in national media and on BBC Radio on the topic. A female entrepreneur herself, Hannah didn't open her pension until her late 40s but is now looking forward to a rich retirement and wants other self-employed people to be able to do the same. Hannah also runs the Talented Ladies Club platform which at it's peak has had 100k readers each month. Find out more about Hannah and Rich Retiree head HERE . You have been listening to The Sisterhood....In Session Podcast - thank you so much for joining us! The Sisterhood Networking Group is an award winning franchise with branches in many locations across the UK. We are passionate about changing the face of in person networking, our goal being to make it as accessible and affordable for as many as possible. Nothing local for you to attend? Why not consider becoming a franchisee and host your own groups?! Just like our meetings, the opportunity is affordable and no experience is necessary. Plus you get to promote the day job at the same time. What’s not to love?!! Fancy adding some online networking into the mix?! You can join me Sarah Ridge for my FREE sessions twice a month. For more information on everything I’ve just mentioned just head to our website HERE . Thanks for listening!!