My thanks to Ian Skillicorn for permission to feature this podcast
Ursula Bloom: A Life in Words, is a five-part podcast based on the autobiographical writing of bestselling author Ursula Bloom. The podcast is part of a current revival of Ursula's work. Wyndham Books is reissuing her novels (as ebooks, with paperbacks to follow) and the British Library recently chose one of her novels (writing as Mary Essex) for its acclaimed Women Writers series.
Ursula was a fascinating figure, and a household name for most of her life. Between 1924 and 1981 she wrote over 560 books, which at one point earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. As well as novels, Ursula wrote short stories, and radio and stage plays. She was also a Fleet Street journalist, with such varied roles as agony aunt, beauty editor and chief crime reporter. The podcast is a great insight into life on the home front in World War I, and the world of publishing books, newspapers and magazines in the 1920s to 1940s.
The Podcast is available to listen for free from :
Ursula Bloom was a prolific writer whose fifty-seven year writing career spanned over 500 books. As well as writing under her own name she also used several pen names and wrote a variety of genres. This podcast looks back at the life of this extraordinary writer.
Although I had heard of Ursula Bloom, and vaguely remember my mother occasionally reading her novels, I didn't know very much about Ursula Bloom's life so this autobiographical podcast has been really informative. Much of twentieth century literary history is now confined to the annals of the past, so reissuing this author's interesting writing is helping to keep history alive in an easily accessible format.
The podcasts are well produced and are free to listen providing you have access to one of the streaming services mentioned above. I'm a frequent user of Spotify so it was no trouble at all to find the podcast and listen at my leisure. Broadcast in five parts, this autobiographical account takes us from Ursula's early life during the Great War, through to her prolific career as a successful writer, Fleet Street journalist and agony aunt. The podcasts are perfectly narrated by Lisa Armytage and give a fascinating account of Ursula's life and a great insight into a long forgotten way of life.
I've really enjoyed listening to A Life in Books and each podcast is such an interesting way to learn more about the life and times of this fascinating author. I look forward to discovering Ursula Bloom's fine writing which is now reissued in ebook format by Wyndham Books and the chance to rediscover Ursula Bloom's writing for myself.
Ursula Bloom was one of the most popular bestselling authors of the twentieth century. She wrote over 560 books, a feat which earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for many years, as the world’s most prolific female writer. She also wrote short stories, radio and stage plays, and worked as a Fleet Street journalist.
UNLEASHED: THE GAME CHANGERS is an inspiring and empowering YouTube Talk Show and Podcast hosted by Women's Rights Activist, Author, Entrepreneur, Speaker & Host Paola Diana.
Unleashed: The Game Changers introduces 20 inspirational champions of change, successful women and men who have faced huge personal and professional challenges and who have all dramatically changed their lives for the better.
The first series of Unleased: The Game Changers includes conversations with Claudia Doval the Jiu jitsu black belt World Champion speaks openly for the first time about her fight with Bulimia and her experiences of sexual abuse, with female airline pilot Captain Brenda Riepsaame Wassink whose extraordinary sideways emergency landing saved the lives of her passengers, with award winning film makers and pioneering LGBTQ couple Shamim Sarif and Hanan Kattan about diversity, prejudice and religion, with Melanie Seymour Global Head of Black Rock and Vice President of the Advisory Board of Women in Banking and Finance about glass ceilings and equality in the work place, with TV chef & cookery author Ching He Huang, about how financial setbacks paved the way to her success and with Neuroscientist Sarah J. Caddick, about human behaviour and the behaviour of change and challenge.
In her signature no filter, no hypocrisy style, Paola Diana speaks to leading scientists, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors, activists, athletes, philanthropists about game changing career moves and personal changes that have transformed their own lives and the lives of others. Subjects discussed range from mental health, relationships, discrimination, gender equality, and self-defence to business, sport, religion, neuroscience, and fake news.
Unleashed: The Game Changers explores the lives of inspirational people who have been brave enough to change their lives more than once. The first season includes 20 episodes which feature interviews with inspirational people and leaders from the fields of Business, Sport, Science, Politics, Law, Film, and the Arts. Unleashed: The Game Changers shows that we should not be blinded by fear, instead we should embrace change and be brave enough to change our lives. Episodes of Unleashed: The Game Changers have been watched 200,000 times.
Paola Diana: Game Changer
“I left in awe of her willingness to say the unsayable
no matter what trouble it will cause”
Helen Rumbelow, The Times
Paola Diana’s own life story is one of inspirational change and challenge. As a child and a teenager, she suffered physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her father, which lead to bulimia and depression. Escaping at 19 to attend university, she never returned to her family. Instead she carved a path for herself. Despite facing sexual discrimination, she forged a career as one of the only females in Italy working in politics
She ran a Think Tank in support of the former Prime Minister of Italy and President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi’s political campaign. And then went on to found her own Think Tank PariMerito (Equal Merit), which she used to lobby the Italian Government to pass new equality laws in the workplace, including a new bill requiring every company board to have minimum 30% female representation.
In her personal life she has moved to completely new cities where she knew no one three times in her life, Bologna, Rome and London. Each time relishing the challenge of building up a new life for herself from scratch. A commentator and critic of sexual equality, domestic abuse, and violence against women, she is incredibly outspoken, honest and brave in tackling taboo subjects around women.
Saving the World by Paola Diana
Part manifesto for change part historical and sociological essay, Saving the World charts women’s condition through the centuries, analysing their treatment within political, religious, economic and societal contexts to form a bigger picture of their place in the world; because to understand the present, and make a meaningful difference, we must get to grips with the past. This is a journey that concludes with a clear vision for a better society in which all women are set free from fear, violence and oppression. Paola Diana impresses on us that this world we inhabit, dominated by men and often seemingly immutable, is far from the only one possible.
On Friday 22nd May, Paola launches the first in a special series of new lockdown podcasts with Trisha Goddard, host of the popular TV show Trisha.
Trisha Goddard, the pioneering TV presenter and the first black woman to front a British chat show, opens up about everything from dating younger men, feeling 17 at 63, and sex in your 60s to controlling men, what it’s like to be the breadwinner in a marriage, and boyfriends who need mothering, as well as how she finally found the one, in an honest and candid chat with Paola Diana.
About Paola Diana
A bestselling author and political activist, Paola Diana is a mouthpiece for female equality, having experienced both domestic abuse and sex discrimination throughout her life. Now a London based entrepreneur and campaigner for equal rights Paola has dedicated her life to championing sexual equality in business and politics.
In her home country of Italy, Paola is the founder of the organisation PariMerito (Equal Merit), which she used to lobby the Italian Government to pass new equality laws in the work place, including a new bill requiring every company board to have minimum 30% female representation. Prior to starting PariMerito Paola ran a Think Tank in support of the former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi’s political campaign, which had a focus on issues including welfare, female employment and structural policies in favour of the family and equal opportunities.
In the UK Paola is also an entrepreneur starting her first business as a single mother of two, she now runs three separate businesses and has established herself as a market leader in recruitment and lifestyle services, recognised as one of London’s most influential service providers for high net worth individuals, families and corporations around the world.
