Anita Rani: Inspirational Women & The Freedom of Solo Travel | Lorraine

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]You've got the best job here. This is basically you and your house >> Yes.

[00:00:03]>> and saying to all these amazing inspirational women, "Okay, come around for a cup of tea."

[00:00:07]>> And they're saying, "Yes."

[00:00:08]>> Well, why not?

[00:00:09]>> blowing my mind. Yeah. And to launch with Dame Mary felt like such a a full circle moment. I wrote to her when I was 14.

[00:00:19]>> Did you?

[00:00:19]>> And you know, if they say if you can't see it, you can't be it. I remember watching her on TV when I was a teenager, and there she is 30 odd years later, and we are in conversation talking about everything in this very frank chat about what it takes to be Mary. So, yeah.

[00:00:35]>> My new podcast.

[00:00:36]>> Excellent. You've got some cracking guests.

[00:00:38]>> Yeah.

[00:00:38]>> Really good. Really inspirational women.

[00:00:41]>> Emma Greede, you know, East London girl done good.

[00:00:44]She's gone off to America and become what is it? One of the wealthiest self-made women, and she's from Plaistow, the eldest of four. There she is. Um Giselle Pelico.

[00:00:54]>> Oh, Giselle Pelico.

[00:00:54]>> Um Fatima El Gorey. I mean, women from fashion, from film, from music. Like I've just the whole lot, and it's >> And what a joy to get to talk to them for such a long time and to really, you know, you can really then find out so much about them. I mean, Giselle, I I interviewed her myself earlier on this year.

[00:01:12]What a woman she is.

[00:01:13]>> Yeah. Extraordinary.

[00:01:14]>> I I still, honestly, it's what You know, I know you said she's one of the most inspirational people you've ever met. I I I completely agree. She was remarkable.

[00:01:23]The forgiveness, the lack of bitterness.

[00:01:25]>> Yes, exactly. And there's that there's an understanding of just that mentality.

[00:01:30]And she's written her book, so she came in to talk to me about all of it, but what it takes to be her and her journey, but also just her presence in my home.

[00:01:39]She was so calm and so frank and so giving. I Yeah, just what an inspirational woman.

[00:01:44]>> that woman went through at the hands of her husband and other men, you know, drugged and and and raped and assaulted and and so, you know, so many times. You think for goodness sake, she's going to be this kind of like wreck of a human being.

[00:01:56]>> And she's she's found love again.

[00:01:58]>> How about that?

[00:01:58]>> Nice. Which is great, isn't >> Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Well >> There's hope for us all. There's hope for us all when someone like that can stand up and say, "I'm okay."

[00:02:05]>> And that's exactly. And I guess that's the point of Sisters of Defiance, the podcast. It's telling >> Yeah, I know. It's a good [laughter] title, isn't it? Uh Lorraine, you've got to come and talk Tell me about your story.

[00:02:14]>> I am very defiant.

[00:02:16]>> Oh, we know.

[00:02:16]>> [laughter] >> And we love it. Um it's it's understanding what it takes to be these extraordinary women. And I find that And you know this cuz you do the same thing for a living. It's having conversations to understand that in order to do something extraordinary, to be an innovator, you've probably had to ruffle a few feathers.

[00:02:34]>> Yeah. That's true. That's true.

[00:02:36]>> along the way. And it's just And when I listen to other people's podcasts or watch interviews, the ones that really stay with me are the stories that are universal, that really connect, and make me feel like, "Oh, she did it. So, maybe I can do something, too." And Mira's episode is the first one that dropped, as they say in the podcast world.

[00:02:54]>> [laughter] >> Um and I'm so overwhelmed by the response.

[00:02:57]>> That's great.

[00:02:58]>> It went straight in at number 10.

[00:02:59]>> Fantastic.

[00:03:00]>> And which is And And that's I feel that's because people want to hear this.

[00:03:03]>> They do. They want stories. And also, it's about trust as well. People have got to trust you. And that's a huge honor when people trust you with their stories and and will talk to you about it and they're not afraid to, you know, just to to share quite a lot that's going on. Do you have a wish list? I mean, you've already fulfilled a lot of it.

[00:03:19]>> So many. I mean, there are so many incredible women. Madonna would be amazing. She's got some new music coming out, putting out to the universe. Oprah.

[00:03:27]Um there's a Bollywood actress called Rekha, who is unbelievable.

[00:03:31]Lorraine, the door is open. If you want to come to East London, get your shoes off. And you know what? I I might even bake you a cake. I got I got >> That's it. So, no. You don't have to say anything. No, it's done. [laughter] It's done. It's done. It's done. As if all this wasn't enough. Obviously, we see you in Countryfile.

[00:03:46]>> Yes.

[00:03:47]>> That show is more important than ever it was >> Yes.

[00:03:50]>> because so many of us are disconnected from the countryside, sadly. We don't understand it as much as we would want to. And this is our window into into the world. And and also, obviously, for the people who do live it, it's a chance for them to show us what it's all about.

[00:04:04]>> Look at this. Oh my goodness. Where did you get this clip from? Running away from the cows. It's very dangerous as well. They never tell you about that, do they? It's like one of the most dangerous.

[00:04:13]I mean, getting into nature, grass underfoot. So, I live in the center of London, which I love. But there's just something about the minute you are in the countryside. And it We live on this tiny island. It's so accessible to all of us. I used to go out onto Ilkley Moor's when I was a kid. As a family, we used to day trip and just play around.

[00:04:30]And the minute we'd leave the center of Bradford's and be on the Moor's, it's like therapy on tap.

[00:04:35]>> Oh, uh Ilkley Moor's >> worries disappear. And so, yes, I kind of feel that the more we do that, the more we take our shoes and socks off, and just feel it, and see the horizon, and breathe that fresh air, the better for our mental health.

[00:04:48]>> And you've [snorts] been doing a bit of traveling. I know you did Race Across the World with your lovely dad. Um and that kind of brought you the joy of traveling, and actually traveling on your own. So, not something mad that 89% increase, particularly in women, are deciding or are actually on holiday or traveling on their own.

[00:05:07]>> Yeah, it doesn't surprise me. Um and I'm I'm a massive pusher of women getting out there and traveling on their own.

[00:05:14]>> Sure. Um because why not? I feel like we kind of now we've got a generation of women who are saying, "We've been told that it's all about youth and beauty, but actually we've been sold a nonsense." The older we get, as we know, the more independent we get, the wiser we get, the more confident we become.

[00:05:30]And the world is accessible. And the more we can get out there and and see it for ourselves, and have those experiences, the more we can feel that we have the power to do what we want to do. You know, you don't have >> to remain small. You can be Love this.

[00:05:43]>> Yeah. Come on, sisters. [laughter] And yeah, and to do Race Across the World with my dad. Everywhere I go now, everyone just wants to say, "Where's dad? Where's Val, the legend?"

[00:05:52]>> know. It's as if you >> a monster.

[00:05:54]>> No.

[00:05:54]>> Aw. He carries that in his wallet.

[00:05:57]>> No. And I'm so >> Yeah, he's beautiful.

[00:05:59]>> So very handsome.

[00:06:01]>> He's had a few marriage proposals.

[00:06:02]>> I'm not surprised.

[00:06:03]>> He's got a He's got a Facebook fan page.

[00:06:05]My mom's like, "Yeah, have him. I'm not bothered."

[00:06:07]>> [laughter] >> Yeah, they'll be be 50 years for my mom and dad this year.

[00:06:10]>> Aw, that's fantastic. What a good guy.

[00:06:12]Now, look, you can hear new episodes of Anita's podcast every Tuesday. And then Giselle interviews >> next week.

[00:06:18]>> week.

[00:06:19]And Emeli Sandé was this week is this week. They're all great.

[00:06:21]>> Good luck with it.

[00:06:21]>> Thank you so much.

[00:06:22]>> Sisters of Defiance. I love it. What a great title.