S6, Ep3 – In conversation with Madeleine Spencer
21 February 2025
In this episode of Life & Smile we turn the conversation to beauty and wellness (and covering everything in between) with a guest whose voice you will need no introduction to, as it’s immediately recognisable from her brilliantly addictive podcast Beauty Full Lives.
Madeleine Spencer joins Dr Reena on Harley Street, giving her expert take on the evolution of media, her career journey so far as a podcaster and journalist, and how she makes it work effortlessly on a daily basis. Plus, discover how her key interest in the topic of beauty began, just how she keeps her audience engaged, and, of course, her top recommendations to add to your little black book.
Conversation Show Notes – The Recap
The urge to write was with Madeleine every single day, from a very young age, so there was never any doubt that this would become her career focus. After completing several initial internships to gain experience, her early struggles with agoraphobia made things a bit more challenging, prompting her to pivot her approach. She then started a blog, which proved to be ideal as it allowed her to work from home and manage her condition more comfortably.
Madeleine found that the daily discipline and sense of purpose she gained from writing also helped ease her agoraphobia. She began working freelance, initially taking on whatever work she could find, which gradually led her into the fold of publications across many different spheres—a journey that eventually connected her with leading, well-respected publications. The most important part for her has always been the act of writing regularly and consistently, which remains integral to her happiness and fulfilment.
Madeleine has long been fascinated with beauty, having grown up in the vibrant eighties, and she finds make-up endlessly compelling and interesting. It amazes her that something you apply in the morning only to remove at the end of the day can bring so many people such deep joy and confidence.
As a journalist, Madeleine takes great care to remain engaged and excited by the content she produces. When she finds a topic intriguing, she hopes that her audience will feel the same way — a strategy that has, without a doubt, continued to captivate and compel her readers. She truly loves writing about subjects she genuinely enjoys, making the process fun and rewarding. When her readers connect with that enthusiasm and love her work as much as she does, it brings her immense happiness and satisfaction.
When asked to offer advice to her younger self, Madeleine emphasises the importance of remembering why you want to do it in the first place and sticking to your guns, especially in a highly competitive and challenging landscape. She stresses that caring deeply about your craft and resilience in the face of setbacks are crucial—because those setbacks can never be taken away from you, and often they provide a powerful push forward.
When it comes to the three ultimate desk items, Madeleine’s choice is clear: it must be the ultimate beauty trio—fragrance, a nourishing lip balm, and soothing hand cream—which bring a small but essential touch of comfort and joy to her workday.
Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas
Focus on what you’ve got in hand and do the best you can with it – if the quality of the work is high enough, it will get you to the next step.
Don’t overthink the bigger picture and focus on each small step on the ladder as you get there.
Look at what you can do with what you have. Comparing yourself to others, especially in a career that’s not linear, is not realistic.
Have an inner sense of why you’re doing something in the first place – if you get knocked back, get back up again.
The real riches can’t be taken away from you.
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Previous episodes
S6, Ep4 – In conversation with Vishal Amin
This episode of our sixth season will be one to take notes from, as Dr Reena is joined by Vishal Amin. As the Co-Founder of Until, the first members club and workspace for health and wellbeing professionals, Vishal is an inspiring entrepreneur renowned for sharing his insights on startups, leadership, and mindset.
S3, Ep11 – In conversation with Simon Thomas
Dr Reena was particularly keen to be joined in conversation on this very inspiring and motivating episode by a household name who many of us will of course recognise instantly from his Blue Peter years. It is of course Simon Thomas.
