Women's Hour

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Originally broadcast on: http://radiosoapbox.com Radio Soapbox

Women's Hour broadcasts live every Sunday at 7:00p.m. uk time. 

Join us every Sunday at 7pm uk time for Women’s Hour, the show that celebrates and amplifies the voices of women from all walks of life. Each week, we dive into a rich blend of topics, from personal stories and current affairs to health, culture, and the challenges women face in today's world. With expert guests, thought-provoking discussions, and inspiring interviews, Women’s Hour offers a platform for empowerment, education, and connection. Whether you're tuning in for insightful advice, a dose of inspiration, or just a moment to feel heard, Women’s Hour is here to celebrate you.


In this episode of Women's Hour, host Shelley navigates a lively and somewhat chaotic evening as she attempts to connect with co-host Jo Wood, who is dealing with technical difficulties and an unexpected intruder alarm. Shelley shares her reflections on Mother's Day, her recent birthday indulgences, and the challenges of balancing work and personal life. Despite the technical hiccups, the conversation flows with humour and candidness, touching on the joys and frustrations of everyday life.

Later, Shelley welcomes guest Vikki St. Leger, a renowned vocal coach and transformational coach, to the show. Vikki shares her journey from a sports coach to a multifaceted music professional, discussing her work with students, including those on the autism spectrum. She highlights the importance of personal development in vocal coaching and shares inspiring stories of her students' successes, including one who won The Voice. The episode wraps up with insights into Vikki's current projects and her passion for continuous learning.

[00:02:06] Unknown:

Good evening to all the beautiful ladies out there. Welcome to Women's Hour. You are listening live   via radiosoapbox.com.   Today's date is Sunday 03/23/2025.   The end of another long week.   So   let's get on with the show. I should be joined by young captain Jo Wood any minute. I've allowed her in the ring but for some reason she's not coming through.   Jo, if you are listening,   why have you not come through?   I hope all of you beautiful women have had a wonderful week. We are fast approaching if you're in The United Kingdom, Mother's Day next Sunday.   Is that something that you're gonna be spending lots of money on or is it just a gimmick?  

Let's face it, we're all kind of tied aren't we? You feel like my mum always says oh don't worry about it' and I say the same to my daughter actually,   It's, it's not a big issue.   Anyway, I'm gonna have to refresh this stream a second just because I can't understand   why young Jo Wood is not on board.   Where the devil is she?   Let's see if I can give her a call on messenger   because I've got all new gear. This is the problem. All the gear and no idea.   It was my birthday last week. I reached the grand age of 48.   I was gonna say 44 then.  

That would have been nice wouldn't   it? Right let's see if we can get Jo in this way.   I have got a guest lined up here for half past seven so I hope it all works then.   We're ringing, we're ringing.   Good evening, miss young Jo  

[00:03:44] Unknown:

Wood. Hello?  

[00:03:45] Unknown:

Hello. Can you hear me?  

[00:03:47] Unknown:

I can.  

[00:03:49] Unknown:

Can you hear me? I can. You're sounding crystal clear.   So can you explain to me a minute, Jo? What was it saying? Because it said that you wanted to come into the studio, but   I pressed the button, but you're not there.  

[00:04:04] Unknown:

Hang on.   It says waiting on host to   approve your request.  

[00:04:13] Unknown:

Rumble was definitely dodgy at the moment.   No worries. It's okay. I'm sure we're coming over loud and clear. I hope so anyway because, I've just saying to the audience, I've got my I've got all the gear, but no idea. It's all hooked up, Jo.  

[00:04:27] Unknown:

Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Well, you're gonna have to have me sort of on route because I just had   an intruder  

[00:04:36] Unknown:

alarm go off.   Oh.  

[00:04:39] Unknown:

I'm going to have to I'm   gonna have to   go down and sort that.   Crikey. Crikey. One of the little darlings is hiding in the corner.  

[00:04:52] Unknown:

Do they know what time it is? Do they know you do a radio show? I mean, I know you're supposed to be at work.  

[00:04:59] Unknown:

Well, this is the thing, Shelley. This is what I find very   irritating   about having to work. It just it really does   get in the way of everything.  

[00:05:12] Unknown:

It does. It does.   It's the bane of my life.   I've actually done what did I do? On Friday I went to work and I was feeling rough as.   Obviously my job is a support worker at the moment. My stop by in go between jobs   It's not,   it's not the dream job and I wasn't feeling very well because it was my birthday.   I overindulged   a little bit. I had   my fair share of wine, no more than usual, than a pizza with everything I'm not supposed to have, garlic, cheese,   and then I had some birthday cake with cream on. Oh, it was delicious, but crikey, did I pay for it? Did I pay for it on the Friday?   So Joe's gone out of range, so I will quit keep talking to you about my day of feeling   absolute rubbish.  

Warren, I can see you online. Are you hearing Joe talk?   Just checking. I'm here. No. No. It's okay. It's   okay. I'm just explaining about my, oh, my overindulgence on my birthday, and then it meant that I couldn't even go out for my birthday meal on the Friday because I was feeling so rough.   So   that will teach me   we forget all of these things because I'm dairy intolerant, well intolerant to anything supposedly from a cow,   and, I do like a bit of cake. My daughter did bring a lovely Victoria sponge cake from Marks and Spencers,   and when I turned my back, the dog ate half of   it. I'm kind of glad because   I would have eaten that later on in the evening, and then on Friday, I would have been really ill, really ill.  

Anyway   have you sorted out your problem is there an intruder?  

[00:06:58] Unknown:

No   I don't think so I'm just gonna pop you on mute a minute you don't really want to hear me screeching at anybody. No. Okay. You do that. I'll I'll carry on talking.  

[00:07:10] Unknown:

So, obviously, Joe's at work. And, yes. I was saying about my bad day at work. As a support worker, I took out two gentlemen this week, and you could say it's a really   very very relaxed job, and it's quite,   yeah. It's,   how do you put it? If you're in the right frame of mind, it can be really enjoyable.   So Rumble is not playing my live stream audio. Okay. That's interesting. Thank you, Warren.   I'm gonna message Darren.   Damn computers.   Damn everything.   Technical stuff. It's just not my cup of tea really, I hate it. If anything   it stresses me out big time.  

Anyway,   can you come here?   Text Darren.   Bless him. Every week, every week. This is because I've got this new piece of software and my computer   crashed down crashed out about   half an hour to go. I've got a dodgy lead and it's quite a new Mac. This is just some really boring information for you.   Anyway,   yes.   So I went to work,   and   I took two gentlemen, both separate times, to Costa Coffee,   went for a drive,   and sat down in the rain,   and watched the sea. Lots of people say it's really lovely,   listening to a bit of radio too, which I like.   And,   yeah. Because I was feeling so rough,   it was just horrible. I couldn't wait to get home. And I was just dying for somebody to say, can we go home?  

And   yes can we go home and watch a movie? Darren's just been and he's just disabled the microphone   button oh Joe's alarm's going off crikey it could be an entertaining show thanks babe  

[00:09:02] Unknown:

sorry,  

[00:09:03] Unknown:

No. That's alright. That's  

[00:09:05] Unknown:

Sorry, Shelley. Don't do.  

[00:09:07] Unknown:

That's alright. You're multitasking.   I understand. And it's alright. Everybody's just walked in here. It's just so professional.   Car problems.   You know, I took my dad's car back to him yesterday. I hoovered it all out and made it look nice and   I've got my son's   Caddy van to drive around into us. I finally sort myself out with a car. Who's let you? Who's his van? Yeah. Well it's been outside for about three weeks, parked up and yesterday I went to get in it and of course the battery was flat.   So,   anyway, he's Not so good. I know. So he's just come around now to   put those things on, jump leads, that's it, and Darren's gonna take it for a spin for me so I can drive it to work tomorrow. Put what things in it? Jump leads.  



[00:09:54] Unknown:

Oh, the jump leads?  

[00:09:56] Unknown:

Yeah. So in case, well, like I said Darren will take it for a spin in a minute and then hopefully he'll be alright for tomorrow.   Otherwise I'll be walking to work and I don't fancy that, I don't mind the walk, but the gentleman I'm supporting, last time I supported him, we went for a three mile walk. Now if I have to walk all the way to work, then a three mile walk, then all the way home, I won't be happy. I know I'm trying to get my steps in. That'd be a lot of exercise for you, won't it? A lot. A lot. Yes. A lot. Are you alright there? Are you settled?  

[00:10:27] Unknown:

Well,   I'm gonna exit the building because there doesn't seem to be anybody here.   Lobby   detected canteen   door.   Oh, okay.   Alrighty.   Okay. I'm spilling the building, people.   It's like watching someone's criminal   police   program isn't it? It is exciting  

[00:10:53] Unknown:

and I've been enjoying watching all of these,   documentaries   actually, police crime thrillers and   psychology stuff.   It's, getting in the minds of other people, but I hope you're safe anyway.  

[00:11:09] Unknown:

Well, you know what I'm like?   I was like, oh,   they're tall buggers. I was gonna swear   them.  

[00:11:18] Unknown:

What have they done?  

[00:11:21] Unknown:

They've got into the building.   Oh, dear.   Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. But why did this  

[00:11:38] Unknown:

Shall I play a song?  

[00:11:40] Unknown:

Okay.  

[00:11:43] Unknown:

So our guest anyway, at half past seven this evening is the amazing Vicky St. Leger,   and I hope I've said that right. It's not until you have to pronounce people's names that you realize that actually, like, oh, how do I pronounce that?   Anyway, I think I said it right, but she's a vocal coach and stuff, and she's really well recognized in Cornwall, actually. A lot of people   up in their career playing the game, so it'll be interesting to chat to her in a little bit, providing she can get through and get into rumble and stuff like that.   But, yeah,   my week's been quite   well after my Friday feeling ill, like I was dying. And then you see, I got to about midday, and I was like, do you know what? I can't go out tonight. I'm feeling too ill. So I messaged everyone, canceled it. Then an hour later, I thought, do you know what? Pooper.  

I said, you're party pooper. I know. And then after after an hour, I thought I'm feeling alright again. So I rebooked the table,   and then an hour later I was feeling rubbish. I was like no I can't go.   That was fine though, it was nice to have an evening in and I'm not one for birthdays like that, it doesn't really bother me.   I'm sat here though with my beautiful flowers that you got me Jo on the side of my computer table.   I do, I love flowers and I think at the moment you can see everything starting to bloom can't you? It's   it's getting exciting.  

It's just another week until the clocks go back forward.   What's the saying? Fall spring forward back winter? Oh, I don't know. I always get things back to fro.  

[00:13:21] Unknown:

Spring forward   and step back for winter. Right.   That's really the only way I can remember it is   spring forward as in  

[00:13:33] Unknown:

So we lose an hour, don't we? We lose an hour. It's the one that we don't like.   I think it happens on Mother's Day doesn't it? When all the mothers actually want is a lion and actually they lose an hour.   I'm not really into Mother's Day like that, what about you Jo? I know your daughter isn't in this country, does she still send you a card for Mother's Day?  

[00:13:54] Unknown:

I generally get flowers.  

[00:13:57] Unknown:

Do you?  

[00:13:59] Unknown:

Moon pig. Moon pig dot com. Yeah. I generally get flowers.   So that's that's good but you know I mean she is a little unpredictable   so I don't know what'll happen   this year.  

[00:14:14] Unknown:

But would you feel upset if you didn't get a card or your flowers?   No. No. It doesn't bother me. It's it's all so   commercialized,   isn't it?  

[00:14:25] Unknown:

Yeah.   Yeah.   No. I don't I don't well, you know, I don't sort of, you know, get into the whole Christmas  

[00:14:33] Unknown:

thing. No. You didn't even put a tree up. That's   that is sad.  

[00:14:38] Unknown:

No decorations.   No no nursing.   Absolutely nothing.   So sort of anything to sort of do, you know, Valentine's,   Mother's Day,   Christmas Day, I don't get involved in it. Easter though, Easter,   I absolutely adore Easter.   Not because of eggs or chocolate or anything like that. I just   I don't know.   Be because I always   associate Easter with, like,   the full arrival   spring. Yeah. And I love the springtime.  

[00:15:17] Unknown:

I love the spring. At the moment, the colors are just amazing,   and I do think it takes an older person in life, I don't think you get many teenagers that appreciate the flowers and the colours and stuff but we we say every week what a long winter it's been. But   yeah, I like Easter and we've been to the range this afternoon and I've spent so many money   on Easter   decorations   and stuff because I'm planning on doing an Easter themed photo shoot.   Yeah. Yeah. But, you know, it was in and out in fifteen minutes and,   lovely little straw rabbits, garlands, little eggs, and stuff like that. So   now I just have to get a person in with a rabbit.  



[00:16:04] Unknown:

Last week, and they didn't have any of that  

[00:16:08] Unknown:

stuff. Oh.   And it was all 20% off today as well.  

[00:16:14] Unknown:

Now I wanna go there,   but I can't.  

[00:16:17] Unknown:

I can't. No. Well, I had to use the old credit card today.   Give it a bastion. It would be alright for another month. You've got to spend money to make money and that is so true, unfortunately.  

[00:16:28] Unknown:

Well, that is true.   That is very, very true.  

[00:16:32] Unknown:

So now I have to go through all the heaps of messages I had from people sending me pictures of their children and their rabbits   to find that model like face.   I haven't had a chance to go back,   and read through all those messages.   I couldn't believe it. I got so many photos of people and their rabbits,   and people's children. I've got a child, cute child but no rabbit and it was like I really want somebody that's got a cute child and a rabbit that I can use and I think I'm gonna bring in the lines that if you bring a real rabbit A type of rabbit?   Any rabbit?  

What do you mean what type of rabbit?   A real rabbit. Breed? Sorry?  

[00:17:12] Unknown:

Well, I mean, they come in different breeds. Any breeds. Just a pet rabbit.  

[00:17:17] Unknown:

Okay. Just a rabbit, yeah. And if they bring a real rabbit,   I'll give them something else.   Some are more cute than others. Yeah. I know, but it's just it's just a thing, isn't it, Jo? It's just thinking outside of the box, running a business,   doing an Easter promotion, and if they've got a real rabbit and they bring it along, they'll get something free, either an extra digital print or maybe an Easter egg. I don't know, haven't thought that far ahead, but the planning is all there. Sorry?  

[00:17:48] Unknown:

Does the rabbit what about the rabbit? Does it get a carrot?  

[00:17:54] Unknown:

No, I don't think so. I don't think so. It'll only be like fifteen minutes, I haven't got time to feed a rabbit and all of that stuff. I don't know, we'll see what keeps the rabbits quiet. I mean, if anybody had any little baby chicks, they wanted to bring those. I've seen all of these people with chicks and things, and it's just like how do I say, you know, could you come to the studio for a couple of hours and let me hire your chicks? That's gotta be,   like, cruelty to animals, isn't it?  

[00:18:19] Unknown:

I don't know what's worse. Chickens or little chicks or rabbits?   Because they've got, like, a tiny little heart, and they get stressed   very quickly.   I'd be somewhat worried that the rabbit's gonna go out  

[00:18:34] Unknown:

in a box, or it's just going to Oh my god. Don't you've got me worried now. What if the flash from the lights gives them a heart attack?  

[00:18:43] Unknown:

Oh, I didn't think of that. Oh, I know. They'll be fine. They'll be  

[00:18:48] Unknown:

fine.   Tune in for a couple in a couple of weeks time for an update on that one. Crikey. I mean, do you do you have, like,   a fan? You know, in the summertime, if it gets hot in your bedroom I do. I remember what those fans are for. Days of heat. They're in my loft. Perhaps I should bring one down.  

[00:19:06] Unknown:

Yes. Yeah. I would say do that.   I I'd be somewhat concerned about the rabbit.  

[00:19:15] Unknown:

Yeah. And you should know because you did used to work in a vets. That does make you almost a vet.  

[00:19:22] Unknown:

Almost as much as a pilot. Yes.  

[00:19:25] Unknown:

So what have you been up to?  

[00:19:30] Unknown:

Do you know what? My own stance is that is I really don't know.   I don't know   because   I'm trying to work out whether   I have mentally   just   turned off   or I've just been extremely   busy, and   it's almost like, okay. That job's done. Raise that from your memory and move on to the next one. Do you know what I mean? Do you ever get like that? Oh my god, yeah.  

[00:19:57] Unknown:

On on Wednesday, no, on Thursday when it was my birthday,   me and mum went for cake and coffee   and,   I went to the Cashpoint machine afterwards to draw out some cash to pay the dog groomer.   Went to pick up the dog and I couldn't find this £20 note anywhere.   You know it's like one of those things, you go to the Cashpoint machine, you take your cash off your pop, you don't really think anything more of it. But I lost this money and I couldn't for love nor money think where has this £20 gone?   I tipped my handbag upside down and everything like that.   I phoned   Sainsbury's   or Tesco's, whichever one, and I asked if anyone had handed in a £20 note. I mean, who is gonna do that? Would you hand in a £20 note if you saw it blowing down in the road?  

Would you hand in a £20 note if you found it on the floor?  

[00:20:52] Unknown:

Do you want me to answer that?  

[00:20:55] Unknown:

Exactly, exactly. She said I'm sorry nobody's handed in any cash.   I checked on the online banking and it said £20 had gone and I was like well I must have just taken it and somehow I've lost it. It never happened to me before.   That's horrible feeling. It's a horrible feeling and then yesterday I had a text message from the bank   saying we're sorry that you encountered a problem with our ATM,   we've added 20 pounds to your account.   So I think that they issued the 20 pounds   and I didn't even wait for it because my mind was already on the next thing, going to pick the dog up. Oh, okay.   So our brains are just far too busy at the moment, aren't they? Yeah.  



[00:21:37] Unknown:

Yeah. I mean, you know, I'm I'm   I've probably said worse on air,   but this last week, I've not known my arse from my elbow.   You know, I've got two jobs, So I've been doing the other one, and then I've come to this one.   And then   I'm still trying to sort farmer stuff out,   and, yeah, it's and and then I'm trying to organize my   house,   and I've got Gippo Grey coming on Tuesday   to pull out   my   built in wardrobes and things.   So then oh, I bought carpet.   I bought some carpet at Traeger because that's gotta go down in the room. The wardrobes have gotta come out, the built in ones.   I'm suspecting I'm gonna have to plaster   part of the wall, then I'm gonna have to paint that.  



[00:22:29] Unknown:

Yes. So I might mentally mentally and physically, I've been busy. You have been. And perhaps this is what you should have planned ages ago, people to come and stay with you, and then it kind of got you to pull your finger out and crack on.  

[00:22:42] Unknown:

Well, yeah. I, you know, I I have been having a little chuckle to myself about that. Because   when I had my daughter at home, obviously, when she lived with me now she's an adult. She doesn't.   But as a teenager,   like, if the house was, like, ultra clean and ultra tidy,   She'd go,   who's coming over?   Always, wouldn't you? You would always, like, go, oh, that's out of place, put that in its place, or get some fresh flowers or whatever.   Yeah. So   it's true though, isn't it? You sort of do it for other people and not for yourself.  

[00:23:17] Unknown:

You do. I remember that day when you and Chan came over for dinner a couple of years ago when you both arrived in your dressing gowns, which I loved.   But that day I was like frantically cleaning the bathroom and stuff and   none of you even went upstairs and used it.  

[00:23:34] Unknown:

Oh did we not? No,  

[00:23:36] Unknown:

most annoying.   I've had a big clean up this week and I think when Phoebe was here on Wednesday it was so funny, I was dusting. I haven't dusted or hoovered,   might not even been since Christmas, that's bad because I've been lazy and not in the mood to do anything and on Wednesday, because the sun was shining so much, I was like right, we've got to crack on with this. So she had a cloth, she was like kind of helping   and when I was dusting my guitars,   I wish I filmed it. All the dust that had gone in the air,   she was just stood there waving her arms around in it. Amazing to her. It's so cute. Yeah.  

So her first encounter with dust was at nanny's house.   What would others say to that though? Oh, I know. I know. I must tell her actually. Well I know she's a bit of a clean freak, and   she does like to have the odd moan about this,   my cleaning sometimes. It's because I've got this rug in the lounge that the dog just loves rubbing into, and it's a shaggy thing. Trying to get all the dog's hairs out is a nightmare, but anyway   then on my birthday it continued, the sun was shining again it was like crack on because you said to me what have you been doing? I'm like self cleansing and cleaning my house and you're like on your birthday?   Does it matter?  

I've got the mojo and I often find you get the mojo when you haven't really got the time   to do these things.  

[00:24:58] Unknown:

I find that when I'm at work   I'm going, oh, do you know what? If I was at home I'd be doing x y and zed. I'd be pulling out those wardrobes myself, I'd be painting the walls,   And I know damn well if I was at home, I wouldn't be doing   that. But it's like when I'm not there, all of a sudden, I've got all this inspiration   to do it.  

[00:25:19] Unknown:

Yeah. It used to be like that when I used to clean my nan's clean house, and she would have me clean in the shower and stuff with a toothbrush on the inside.   Oh, I know! She was quite a neat freak. She was very proud and she loved her home.   She would have me once a year cleaning all the skirting boards and stuff, and the windows   just stood there watching me.   I think crikey, I don't even clean my own windows!   If I could just tune in for an hour every week and think right I'm gonna do this but now I think the cleansing of this house is going very well   and now a bit of sunshine I should be ready for a bit of DIY.  



[00:25:59] Unknown:

Oh,   how's your your vegetable plot going in the carton?  

[00:26:03] Unknown:

Well, I haven't ordered the vegetables. It's all ready to go   and I've had to speak to people because this is all new to me, and everything I've ever tried to grow has not grown.   So these planters are a lot, oh, about one beta by three.   So I shall,   yeah, I think we'll aim for April,   because   some some gardeners say March is too soon.   Okay? If we carry on having frost,   there's a tip for you newbies like me.   So   and then it's like what do you grow?   Do I use one of them just for potatoes?   We've got to grow things that we're gonna eat.   I don't know, but I've got to do it. After Darren's done all that work, I've got to just go out there and plant some seeds.  



[00:26:51] Unknown:

Well, I ordered some   lavender plants.   Oh, nice. Arrived   the end of this week.   And I was like, are you having a laugh? Are you having a laugh? And it was one of those things. When you see something in photographs or pictures,   they look they look like the size that they're advertising,   don't they?   I'm I'm not even joking. I'm not even joking.   I ordered 12.   Okay? And I'm like, okay. They're they're a good size to take out of the sort of little plant pot that they've been grown in, and then I put them into some bigger   pots. Well,   I well,   if I just say   that they were the size   of   a baby fingernail and then they got posted through my letterbox. It gives you some indication as to how big they weren't.  



[00:27:50] Unknown:

Oh, no.  

[00:27:52] Unknown:

It   took to a whole another level, flowers by post.   I'm like, what on earth?   I mean, they're very good quality.   They're minute,   and they smell divine even at such a young stage.   But they're honestly, they're no bigger than my baby fingernail.  

[00:28:15] Unknown:

Oh well I'll have to have a cutting   how very grown up.  

[00:28:20] Unknown:

Yeah I'm petrified   to plant them outside like you said in case there's a frost they're gonna blooming die.  

[00:28:28] Unknown:

Yeah. Best hold off or put them near a window. I sound like quite the expert don't I?  

[00:28:37] Unknown:

If I'm popping by a window.  

[00:28:39] Unknown:

Yeah. I've got a nice deep window by my kitchen that's just a waste of space. I think I'll do that.   You know, every year I try and grow sunflowers and I think I put them outside too soon, they just never last. I mean, one year, and I'm going back about twenty odd years ago, I planted them and my garden, crikey, they were about seven foot tall, they looked amazing.   Oh wow. Yeah. So a lot to live up to though.   That was a long time ago, obviously had greener fingers then.   Yeah. So apart from gardening, any other gossip?  

[00:29:14] Unknown:

No. No. Not really.   Busy organizing   well, trying to organize the rally for the nineteenth   in Truro,   In between everything else,   I'm going to be that crazy woman just rocking back and forwards in a corner because I think I've got too much on.  

[00:29:36] Unknown:

Yes. It's not good when you've got I don't know. Sometimes I think it's nice to be busy, isn't it? But then on the other hand, it's like it can really get too much.   I I was like that last night, Saturday night, you think you could just chill. And I thought, do you know what? I've got photo sessions to edit. Let's do it now. Let's get it done. Because otherwise I think people are gonna start handing me in the next couple of days, and I can't stand it when people keep pressurizing you.  

[00:29:59] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. Just it's horrible.   But you know when whenever I've done a rally, I always go, that's it. I'm done. Yeah.  

[00:30:07] Unknown:

Yeah yeah every time  

[00:30:09] Unknown:

I've already got that feeling before it's even started  

[00:30:13] Unknown:

well at least you recognize   the feelings   yeah but that that goes to show it will be a good one because they're always good  

[00:30:22] Unknown:

Well I hope so, I do hope so, but yeah watch this space. We will, we will, so that's the April  

[00:30:30] Unknown:

19.   Right and with that my lovely I'd better let you go and   do your final bits before you move home, and I've got a wonderful guest lined up.  

[00:30:39] Unknown:

Well, I'm gonna be listening because I'll be leaving work now,  

[00:30:43] Unknown:

after I've seen off my intruders   from the buildings.   I mean, they're probably in there having a shower or something really nice.  

[00:30:52] Unknown:

Oh, yeah. Crack on. Crack on. Yeah. I'll and on my way home. Alright, my angel. Well, I'll speak to you in the week.   Alrighty. Talk to you later. Take care, miss Jo Wood. Bye bye.   Bye. Right.   So onto our guest.   I have the awesome   I'm I'm really worried about,   saying her name in case I get it wrong.   Can you hear me? Oh, there we go. Vicky St. Leger?   That's it. It is right. Well well done, Shelley. Right. Let me just get the screen up a minute, Vicky.   So I did give a brief,   introduction   earlier. Let me just remove that so I can see your lovely face. Good evening, Vicky. Thanks for Good evening. Coming on. How are you doing?  

[00:31:41] Unknown:

I'm alright thank you, yeah I'm having a nice lazy Sunday and then I thought oh no I need to do my hair and makeup.   Oh you look amazing and look at it. It's a little bit Sunday hair.  

[00:31:52] Unknown:

Oh tell me about it, I can't quite cope having curly hair in a fringe it needs to be straightened but never  

[00:31:57] Unknown:

mind. Yeah. I have curly hair, I have the same problem. Yes.  

[00:32:01] Unknown:

Some people are like why do you straighten it? It's like well because it's just easier isn't it? But I've just on your my computer literally crashed about   half an hour after I started.   So I'm on your,   website, actually, Vicky.   You're a woman of many talents, aren't you?   So you're a transformational   coach, voice coach, producer, director, songwriter,   lyricist,   vocal performance coach, counselor,   personal development coach, coach, artist developer, multi instrumentalist,   proficient in a wide range of instruments.   So,   crikey. And I actually know a few people that you've mentored, Vicky, actually, which is probably why we're friends on Facebook.  

So Yeah. Tell me, how did you get on this journey of doing all of these amazing things?  

[00:32:57] Unknown:

It started out really   many years ago when I was,   probably a young girl,   very much into   sport.   I used to swim for Cornwall at a very early age, probably about the age of 11, 12,   and then went on to swim for England. Oh, crikey.   Took a job around about   early twenties   where in a sports center. I always wanted to be a PE teacher, but I didn't get the grades.   So I took a job in the sports center and had all my training paid for, so I became a sports coach.   And   it started from there really. And then I just went on,   met my husband, Baz, much later on,   going back twenty years ago now.  

In the meantime joined lots of bands,   lost my mum which led me into counselling   and,   never really gave up the music because it was always sort of running along the side of the counselling, and then,   met Baz, who has been my mentor.   You know, he's been he's been in the game   for sixty five, seventy years. He's, you know, he's a lot older than he looks,   and a wealth of knowledge so he's really been my mentor and and sort of encouraged me into   teaching and   and   and and hence that's where I am today.  

[00:34:29] Unknown:

Yeah. And I see, like, your students   out and about and uploading stuff that they're doing and stuff and, at one point I was looking, I was thinking I'd really like some vocal coaching, but time isn't right right now, but yeah, I will. And if I do I'll have to borrow some of your books because   I can see all your books behind you and I love books.  

[00:34:50] Unknown:

Yes this is my real happy space it's just it's   a a library and every every wall is  

[00:34:57] Unknown:

is like this. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, it's great. It's great. I I feel for my children actually when it's that time and they've got to clear up all my stuff because I know something about books, isn't it? They're like part of your growing   %.   Yeah. Definitely.   Yeah. Yeah. I was reading on your website about, I mean, you also work with   students who are on the autism spectrum.   And you've got one student in particular   that is non verbal but sings. Yeah. Oh, tell us a bit about him.  

[00:35:30] Unknown:

Kyle. Wow. He's quite a phenomenon. He's,   a wonderful guy.   It used to be called classic autism.   It's I think it's changed now, but he was diagnosed with classic autism, so he doesn't speak   at all. He's completely nonverbal, except for the odd word like yes, no,   and dog because he hates dogs.   But the first time he came to me,   he sang a song and then   turned to me, and I and I went to speak to him, and then there was nothing.   And I thought oh my gosh what do I do now? Or you just make my hair stand up on end.   Yeah. How how do you how do you communicate with a guy   that can't speak?  

So it's it's been a big learning for me but I've   been with Kyle now for probably twelve, thirteen,   maybe even fourteen years.   It's been a long journey.   He is about to he's, like, probably about 10   videos go viral over a million,   you know, a million viewers.   He's quite a phenomenon all over the world. Our TikTok videos just people love him,   because he's just   there's no ego. You know? He just   loves to sing, and that's how he communicates.   And quite often, he'll   choose a song lyric,   to reflect how he's feeling.   One particular time,   his mom and I were talking at the other side down the other side of the room,   and we were talking about his sister going off to America because she was a model at the time.  

And   Kyle starts putting on songs like please don't go. Please don't go. Oh, wow.   You know, so he's choosing the songs with the lyrics   that sum up how he's feeling.   Yeah. He's a wonderful guy,   and has taught me so much about communication,   you know, and and   it doesn't have to be verbal.   No. You know, that's non Yeah. Yeah. That non con that nonverbal communication   is just   so it's huge.   And just being in his presence,   it's a real privilege. You know? He's a wonderful guy. He's got some very exciting things coming up this year,   which I can't say yet. Wish I could, but it's very exciting. Yeah.  



[00:38:01] Unknown:

So so how does it kind of work then? Somebody wants a vocal coach, they come to you, you   listen,   assess,   tell them off, tell them their strengths, tell them their weaknesses.  

[00:38:12] Unknown:

Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. And like And that's it. That's it.   We work we work I work on a holistic basic   basis so everybody could that comes through the door,   you know, everybody's different.   They bring their fears, their insecurities,   and   you have to work on those. You have to be able to understand   the person,   first and foremost,   you know,   what are they bringing to the table,   and then being able to work with those fears and obviously teach them the skills at the same time, and   then develop   as they go. But it is a it's a learning process. It's a long learning process of growth,   you know, personal development because it's the voice. You know, it's the human voice. It's not like playing a piano or a guitar, which is an extension of us.  

It's the human voice, so it's so so personal to us, which is why so many people are afraid to sing.   And because   human nature is, you know, we judge people. Well, I don't but you know Yeah. Yeah. In general in general people like to to scrutinize and hence why the x factor and shows like that were so good because   you know people loved   they loved the ones that were were funny and not good and The underdogs.   Yeah.   Yeah. Exactly. Yeah.  

[00:39:34] Unknown:

Oh, the honey It's a lovely breakfast. I can imagine. I mean, I went to a funeral a couple of weeks ago.   I don't know why hymns are always so, like, high, aren't they?   I'm sure you are. There was a couple of people, men in particular, and they were really singing their hearts out, and it was lovely to hear because I think people are scared to sing out loud, don't they? You hear it quite often some of these songs, even I'm like just like Malvin because I think I can't hit those  

[00:40:01] Unknown:

notes. Exactly. Yeah. We are afraid. Yeah. Definitely.  

[00:40:05] Unknown:

Yeah. So I mean Yeah. And a lot of Sorry. Carry on. Sorry. Go. No. You alright?  

[00:40:10] Unknown:

Yeah. A lot of people that come through the door are are very afraid. Yeah. Doesn't matter what day.   Yeah. They're afraid. You know? It's our it's our,   you   know, it's our it's our soul. It's our, you know, it's we're we're full of fragility   and   vulnerability,   and and we're exposing that when we sing. So, yeah, you have to sort of contain that and hold people and   not not judge and all of that.  

[00:40:37] Unknown:

Yeah. Have you had some like really bad people though come your way and you're like you can't do anything   with  

[00:40:44] Unknown:

them? I've had some bad people but I've never not been able to do anything. Oh, great stuff.  

[00:40:50] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. Because they do say that that anyone can sing can't they? They say that but  

[00:40:55] Unknown:

Yeah. It's hard work.   I have a guy at the moment, Ben, he's been coming probably,   let's say,   almost eighteen months,   but when he first started he couldn't sing a note in tune,   and I thought oh no this is gonna be hard. It's hard to work with that then if they like haven't got a sense of tune?   You have to do pigeon steps, you know, you have to do   it in the utmost   let's try this, let's try that, you know,   you're literally   doing this and because they know that they can't sing and so their   self is even more fragile   so you've got to   really be very very gentle and and careful with them,   but he's gone from   not being able to sing a note in tune to now,   hosting an open mic night.  

Wow.   Which is wonderful. He's put a lot of work in, he's really put a lot of work in, which, you know, practice obviously comes into it, but he's,   he's been very very determined and he's he's wanted to do it so desperately.   You know, plays guitar and and and is hosting an open mic night in Hail so yeah. Oh, that is good.   It's doable,   but it just takes a lot longer.  

[00:42:18] Unknown:

Well, it's great for somebody to have that passion isn't anything. I can't sing a note but I really want to sing   so   I mean you've worked with some quite big names as well haven't you?   Yes tell us tell us about your limelight spots then who you've worked with and what you've been doing? Oh  

[00:42:36] Unknown:

crikey   okay well,   Simon Fuller was probably well one of the biggest,   he is the world's biggest music manager   He's huge, absolutely huge,   and he   started Fox TV. Not sure if you know Fox TV in America.   And he started   the American Idol series,   you know, the Pop Idol series,   but it obviously started in America First and a whole host of other things. So he is this huge guy, he was Simon Cowell's manager,   so he's, you know, he's top dog.   And,   I worked with   a privately for him,   and it was a young girl that lived in Penzance.   And Simon Fuller used to to,   drink, let's say, drink socially with her father   in Mayfair. He lived in London.  

And,   the dad said,   what can you do for my daughter? And he said, oh, oh, I'll throw a million at her. She you know, she lost her sing. I'll throw a million at her.   Let's see what we can do.   So she came to me, and he was paying me privately   to work with this young girl. Bless her heart. She was 18 at the time,   and, she had a lovely voice,   but she didn't have the passion.   She really loved singing, but she didn't want really to do anything with it. And   she was invited   to his place for Christmas dinner with Madonna,   Sean Penn, who she was married to at the time.  

There were about eight other very famous people,   and she turned it down because   she she wanted to,   have Christmas dinner with her granny.   Oh.   And I was like, well, bless you, you know,   you know what you want and you know what you don't want, and you know she was happy   to to stay with her granny that's what she wanted and and so yeah didn't didn't go anywhere but you know   had that been somebody else   you know it would it would have flown but she she was just a homegirl.  

[00:45:00] Unknown:

Yeah. I can imagine but what a choice to have to make between your granny and famous people isn't it?   Yeah. I would ask can my granny come to me? Granny.   Yeah. Oh, can granny come too? They would have allowed that I'm sure.  

[00:45:13] Unknown:

I'm sure, yeah.   Yeah.   So,   yeah. Yeah. Lovely  

[00:45:18] Unknown:

story really. Yeah. That is. So how many students   are you tutoring at the moment then? Do you find that you get a waiting list? Is there like right?  

[00:45:27] Unknown:

I've got a huge waiting list. I I have probably about 10 inquiries a day. I just can't get to   them. I've really had to cut down. I'm getting older. Health is not so great. So and   Baz, my husband's, his health's not so great. So I'm sort of, you know, looking after him here and there.   So I've probably got about 20 at the moment, which is enough.   They take a lot of energy.   You know, you're giving and Absolutely.  

[00:45:58] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah.  

[00:46:00] Unknown:

So, yeah, gotta try and find the balance. I'd love to do more, but, yeah, I can't. I mean, at one one point, we had about, what, nearly 80 students between Bas and I. We had nearly 80.   Wow.   Yeah. We were working seven days a week.  

[00:46:14] Unknown:

That's too much though, isn't it?  

[00:46:16] Unknown:

Oh, yeah. I mean, when when we were in our sort of thirties and forties or when I was, it yeah. But not   not now.  

[00:46:25] Unknown:

Oh, amazing. Have you had choirs as well before? Did you used to run a choir?  

[00:46:30] Unknown:

I did. Yeah.   Was it a choir? I suppose,   crikey. I've done so many things.   I think I probably have done a choir. I did it,   what was it called?   I can't remember what it's called. God. It was an adult   singing group.   Rockefellers.   Yeah. Rockefellers. So it was,   a group of about 10   adults, and we do sort of seventies disco.   We used to go out and do the pride festivals and,   so it was all sort of   harmonies and yeah. But it was all modern stuff. Yeah.  

[00:47:09] Unknown:

So how how do you continue to develop yourself though as a coach and a musician? I mean, do you have time for that?   I I know you've learned a lot of things like that, but you don't ever stop really developing, do you?  

[00:47:23] Unknown:

Sure absolutely. I'm studying at the moment. I'm,   can't really say who it is until I've finished but I'm studying with one of the world's greats at the moment   which is why I've kind of cut down the teaching hours because I need the other hours to to study and thoroughly enjoying it and really stretching myself.   I feel like I've come full circle with it because it's to do with the sort of counseling psychotherapy.   Yeah. I can't really say any more than that until   until I've qualified.   But, yeah, it is constant learning. And, you know, every on the music side, every person that comes through the door,   you're learning.  

You know,   every person throws you a new challenge.   They're all so interesting. You know, people are just interesting, and they bring their problems and they bring their troubles and their woes and   and, yeah every   they they keep you on your toes.  

[00:48:25] Unknown:

I can imagine but I mean if you're like a counselor and stuff and you're studying like psychotherapy and things like that it's always evolving and changing isn't it? Always new ideas of what's been done. Yeah.  

[00:48:37] Unknown:

Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. You've got to keep on top of it. I've never ever stopped learning. I mean, I trained   to be a counsellor thirty years ago, and I've never stopped reading, as you can see, never stopped reading you know if ever there's a I never read fiction   I'm always reading   you know how can I do it? I'm a bit like that yeah yeah  

[00:48:57] Unknown:

yeah yeah  

[00:48:58] Unknown:

I just have a thirst for knowledge   which is it's my hobby. It's my hobby to learn more. Yeah. I'm blessed. You know? I am blessed.  

[00:49:07] Unknown:

You've got certainly a lot of books. I love it.   That's my go to now. Like, what do you want for your birthday? I'm like, oh, an Amazon gift voucher so I can buy a book or something.   Because I can obviously see something. But, so, what has been, like, one of the highlights of your career then?   Oh. I bet you've got loads of them. What really stands out?  

[00:49:31] Unknown:

Oh,   okay.   So I mean,   I get a real kick off of anybody   doing well. That, you know, it fires me up on a daily basis.   You know, Basna   will sit and have dinner, and we're like, oh, I'm gonna chat about the students, and   they all fire me up. They all   make me very happy. I feel very fulfilled.   You know? It's a lovely job. I suppose   one of my students winning The Voice was a a bit of a highlight.  

[00:50:06] Unknown:

And who was that again?  

[00:50:08] Unknown:

That was Molly.   Molly Hocking. Right. Yeah. In 02/2019,   I think it was.   And Molly was,   again, she came   she was at Kids R Us, and she wasn't getting the lead roles, so mum brought her to me   to develop her voice.   She couldn't she was singing out of   tune, and needed more confidence,   and she was this most painfully shy   girl   that couldn't even look you in the eye and would giggle every time she got something wrong, you know, and and doing the exercises   on the piano, she'd giggle.   You know, it was so uncomfortable for her.   And,   actually, one her mom was gonna punish her one day and said, right. I'm gonna I'm what do you call it? Grounding you.  

And   you're not gonna have your singing lessons anymore because you've whatever it was she'd done.   She said, well and she lived in St. Ives.   She said, well, I'm just gonna walk to The Keys.   Oh, yeah. You won't stop me. I'm gonna walk.   It's probably about five miles.   But she was that determined, a very, very determined young lady. Yeah. And,   and there she was five years later,   you know,   on stage  

[00:51:29] Unknown:

and owning.   Owning it. And the voice is the one, let me, recall, that's the one where they all have their back. All the judges have the back to the singer, don't they?  

[00:51:38] Unknown:

Yeah.  

[00:51:39] Unknown:

So they purely go by voice, which I love. Right. Yeah. Yeah.  

[00:51:43] Unknown:

Yeah. She but she had a quality with her voice that, you know, and I just thought as soon as I heard her, I thought, oh, it was something special.   Something really something special. You know? Some of them,   they're very, very good, and then occasionally you'll get one that's   oh, that's really, really good. Extra I call them extraordinary   because they are,  

[00:52:03] Unknown:

and you've met Jacob, haven't you? Oh, I was just thinking about Jacob. Oh, and it makes my hairs   stand on end because we had   Jacob twice at the care home I used to work at   and   oh and when he sang Born Free   I mean all of his songs you're just like oh amazing   Yeah he's something else yeah he's something else. And for him to get to that age as well and then decide I want to start singing.  

[00:52:33] Unknown:

Yeah yeah it's wonderful   and it's so endearing as well because he doesn't even know how good he is.   It's   so lovely. Oh, it is. He really doesn't know how good he is, and he is destined   for for success.  

[00:52:49] Unknown:

Yeah. I think you're right. And I did say that to him when I did his photos for him. I said, don't forget about me when you're rich and famous, will you? Yeah. Bless him. No. He's he's really good. And he's is he about 18 now? I don't even know if he's reached 18, but not quite, May, I think he's 18. Right, but to go for it, I think he had quite a hard time at school, his mum was telling me and stuff and then he just kind of one day sang and it's like oh I want to be a singer and I can sing.   And what type what type of music do you call it that he kind of, like, specialises in really? Oh,  

[00:53:25] Unknown:

it's old old classic. I mean, a lot of people call it crooning, don't they? I suppose, you know, it is he's a crooner, but,   yeah. Sometimes I don't really like to pigeonhole people because he could do so much more, but this sort of stuff that he sings is all classic, you know, Frank Sinatra, Elvis.   But god yeah I mean his tone is exquisite,   yeah and when you're back   in my room   I've got two huge speakers here and this huge speaker here and I sit in between   and it's just mind blowing.   Yeah. It's really  

[00:54:03] Unknown:

long. I like watching your videos that come up on your Facebook page actually of all your upcoming young stars and you do a bit of photography as well.  

[00:54:11] Unknown:

Only for pleasure. Yeah. Just for pleasure. Yeah. No. That's Yeah. I was gonna talk to you about that actually because I need some photos. Oh.  

[00:54:18] Unknown:

Okay. Yeah. We've been talking a bit.   Yeah. Yeah. It's it's   contacts, isn't it? Yeah. Because I see Chris,   like Selena. Yeah. No, I know quite a few of your pupils actually,   and I like talking to, like, local people on this show. And your name popped up a couple of weeks ago, and I was like oh, I must send her a message. Message and then obviously I did.   And I'm really grateful that you came on to, like, have a chat with us. So right we've got another   no no you're welcome, we've got another five minutes. Is there anything like really I know you've got this, like, secret mission that you're doing, but   apart from that, is there anything else, like, pretty big coming up at the moment?  



[00:54:59] Unknown:

Oh, I I mean, the stuff with Kyle is pretty big.   That's, like,   big, big, big, big, big.  

[00:55:07] Unknown:

You're dying to tell us, aren't you?  

[00:55:10] Unknown:

I would love to tell you, but it can't be. I'd be told off. It's I'd told you.   Because it's still in the planning stage, but it's very exciting, and it involved it involves a trip abroad, a trip to America.   Oh, that's worth it.   Yeah. Yeah. Very, very, very, very exciting.   We've got albums coming up. So Jacob's doing an album,   and Ellie, young Ellie, and   probably Lois as well. So two of my students, they're   gonna be recording for Netflix,   yeah, which is very exciting.   Don't know what what,   programs they'll be for.   But once they're recorded and it's sort of put out there, then we'll we'll know a bit more.  

But the fact that they've been been asked to record,   for Netflix is wonderful.  

[00:56:02] Unknown:

Yeah. I mean, most people   say you don't know that if you're in Cornwall you've got no chance at success for anything you want to be in and actually we've produced quite a few   stars really, aren't we?  

[00:56:16] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. There are avenues,   and I do I do think it is   who, you know,   sometimes, you know, it's getting that foot in the door.   But, yeah, some exciting things coming up.   And in the meantime, we just plod on.   But it's never plodding on because everybody that comes through the door is just wonderful. You know? You never know  

[00:56:42] Unknown:

in what direction they're gonna go. So I suppose, like, the life coaching, it all comes into the kind of singing aspect of it  

[00:56:51] Unknown:

as well. Of course. Yeah. Because you're developing the person, you have to develop the person   to be able to cope with   standing on a big stage   and delivering   a a song   with confidence.   You know, you   you without and and that's what we're doing at the moment with Jacob. You know? It's building   Jacob's self esteem,   his self belief, all of that. It all comes hand in hand   with the voice. You know? You have to work on all of that.  

[00:57:23] Unknown:

Yeah. So many aspects.  

[00:57:25] Unknown:

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, wow. You can't send that you can't send them out there on a big stage with those nose   of belief.   No. It won't work.  

[00:57:34] Unknown:

No. No. No.   And, you know, they've got to have that part, haven't they, that they can talk to the audience as well when just that little bit of showbiz kind of you do see some people that they're really good, but they've got no,   I don't know what the right right word, stage   presence, so to speak. In the background. They they have to engage with your   crowd. But,   yeah. Oh, it's nice. I mean, you sound like you've got the dream job, really. It must be. You you love it so much and every day, I suppose, is kind of a different day and seeing your pupils progress.   Yeah.  

Because you're I'm very lucky. You've written some songs as well, haven't you?   Yes. Yeah. I haven't had a chance. Right now on spine climbing. To look. Yeah. I'm gonna have a little look later. I should have looked at it before, but that's the story of my life.   I had to come and get some coaching about how to be more organized.   But,   I've never won.   Well, thank you so much for joining us, Vicky, it's been really lovely. I'm so happy to be. No you're welcome and I look forward to finding out this big news.   Yes, all will be revealed. All will be revealed. Let's give out some details about Vicky a minute. So if you wanna find Vicky on the internet,   her website   is vikkistleger.com   and that's just vidoublekistleger.com   and you can find Vicky   on Facebook.  

What's your main platform that you use Vicky?  

[00:59:04] Unknown:

Oh Facebook mainly. Facebook.  

[00:59:07] Unknown:

Yeah. Right. Well, I'll tell you what people, go and check out our stuff and check out our students and then you'll get to see when this big news happens.   Well, thank you so much my lovely and we'll have to do it again in the Jass and more. You're very welcome. Thank you. You take care and we will speak to you soon, speak about this photography stuff.   We will. Alright my lovely. You take care. Thank you. Bye.   Wow. That was awesome, and that's bringing us to a close. I'm just gonna play   the outro music.   So   I will be back   same time next week. I'll also be here on Wednesday   with the Shelley Tasker Show. Hopefully you've got Mr Rich Yellan coming on this Wednesday. I'm just waiting for him to confirm, he did confirm a couple of weeks ago. So that will be good but   things happen don't they? So I'm just waiting for that double confirmation.  

Anyway, so I will play you out with the music and I'll see you on Wednesday,   either on Rumble or RadioSoapbox.com.   Coming up next is Eric Von Essex on Fogham Hall Radio.   And, have an awesome week, everybody.   Let's find the outro music.   Is it gonna play?   Yes. Have a good week.