Olivia Rodrigo is listening to her gut

Olivia Rodrigo lying in a field of flowers in an image from her album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.

“Olivia Rodrigo’s third album, released on 12 June, is the unexpected outcome of listening to her gut. Now 23, she already had two critically acclaimed albums, Sour (2021) and Guts(2023), under her belt as she set about writing her new album. She was also in a brand-new relationship, and not just any relationship. She was happily in her first proper ‘adult’ relationship, and it promised to deliver all the inspiration and stimulus for an album dedicated to the heights and depths of being in love. Or so she thought.” Read more at Woman Alive…

When ‘carenting’ feels too much

“As I write this, a text comes through from my dad: Mum was whisked into hospital during the night with dangerously high blood pressure. She’s being closely monitored. Will I be able to visit her? he asks. A feeling of panic rises in me – I have a deadline first thing in the morning, and a list as long as my arm to get through before going out of town tomorrow; ‘Not today unfortunately’ I tell him. Thankfully she’s soon back home with new medication. But that’s not always the case.” Read more at Woman Alive…

Sparkling hopes for Wiston Estate’s wine

Kirsty and Richard Goring at Wiston Estate's English Sparkling wine vineyard
Kirsty and Richard Goring at Wiston Estate's vineyard where they make award-winning English Sparkling wine.
Kirsty and Richard Goring at Wiston Estate’s vineyard

“Kirsty Goring grew up in London, and is the daughter of Nicky and Sila Lee, who developed The Marriage Course. Kirsty’s passion for wine was kindled at Sunday lunches with friends’ parents, at her Oxford college (her tutor was the ‘Don of the Wine Cellar’) and at the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Now, it encompasses everything that goes into making Wiston Estate’s award-winning wine as well – and more besides. Her role as brand director is as much about her own capabilities as it is about an extraordinary set of circumstances unfolding over several decades…centuries even. They have all converged, providentially, to create just the right conditions, at just the right time, for an idea that was conceived over 50 years ago to finally come to fruition.” Read more at Woman Alive…

© Alexandra Noel / Woman Alive 2026

Reclaiming women’s voices

Minnie Driver as Sarah in The Faithful: Women of the Bible, with Jeffrey Donovan as Abraham.
From The Faithful: Women of the Bible by Fox TV

“On 12 April, the annual Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, gathered stars of stage (and screen) to celebrate standout contributions to theatre over the past year. Presenting the award for ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ was Minnie Driver.

It felt poignant: she currently stars in The Faithful: Women of the Bible, a six-episode Fox mini-series which reimagines well-known biblical stories from a female perspective, and makes women the central characters.” Read more at Woman Alive…

The healing power of the arts

A woman painting a picture as a way to find healing through the arts and creativity.

“A new book, Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt, explains why engagement in the arts can actually improve health outcomes as well as contribute to our overall wellbeing. Dr Fancourt is Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London, and has built up a body of evidence from scientific studies over several decades to show that creativity and the arts do our bodies and minds serious good.” Read more at Woman Alive magazine…

Faith, truth and romanticising Wuthering Heights

"Wuthering Heights" with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie

The case for re-reading Emily Brontë’s book

"Wuthering Heights" with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie

“Wuthering Heights”, Emerald Fennell’s new film based on the classic tale by Emily Brontë, paints a starkly different story from the original book. While the title’s quotation marks are absolutely necessary, perhaps don’t take one reviewer’s advice urging cinema-goers not to bother reading the book at all. If anything the film makes a strong case for revisiting it.” Read more at Woman Alive magazine

I had a baby at 49!

How mum-of-three Katie Barringer’s family grew in unexpected ways

A baby looks up at the camera with a smile - for an article by Alex Noel, writer and digital marketer.

“Katie Barringer met husband Tim while they were both living in Hong Kong. They married back in the UK in 2016, when Katie was 39. A natural optimist, Katie gave little thought to any challenges there might be in starting a family around the age of 40. Their first child, Sam, arrived the following year in 2017, and they soon started trying for a second baby. Katie had no reason to suppose there would be any problems.” Read more at Woman Alive magazine

Where Do I Belong?

Brené Brown has some answers

“Interviewed recently on Steven Bartlett’s podcast The Diary of a CEO, Brené Brown (his most requested guest ever) reflected that, of all her books, Braving the Wilderness was “the only prophetic book that I think I’ve ever written”…” Read more at Woman Alive magazine.

Brené Brown speaking on stage - for an article on Belonging by Alex Noel, writer and digital marketer.

The eternal light of LUX

Rosalìa’s new album, LUX, is one to inspire devotion

Rosalìa's album cover for LUX, featuring her in a while top and nun's habit - for an article by Alex Noel, writer and digital marketer.

“If there was ever an album to inspire devotion, it would be LUX by Rosalía. Since its release on November 7th, it has been received to rapturous applause. And not for the reasons you might expect. LUX (which means ‘light’ in Latin) doesn’t tick a set of boxes guaranteed to win over audiences or aim to please an algorithm…” Read more at Woman Alive magazine.