Begin Again Moments: Letters of Gratitude

One of the most moving parts of Begin Again is the moment a guest receives a letter from someone who has loved them, inspired them, or helped shape their journey. These letters often reveal the impact we have on others in ways we never fully see ourselves. In this special Begin Again Moments episode, we bring together three unforgettable letters of gratitude. Andi Oliver receives a heartfelt letter from one of her greatest inspirations, Floella Benjamin, reflecting on the influence she has had and the path she has forged for others. Tom Davis is surprised with a deeply personal letter from his wife, Kathryn, who shares her gratitude for the strength, love and resilience he showed throughout their fertility journey, and the father he has become. And Seann Walsh receives an emotional letter from his partner, Grace, who reflects on watching him grow into the kind of parent he once needed himself. Together, these letters are a celebration of love, growth, resilience and the extraordinary power of hearing what we mean to the people closest to us. To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Sponsored By:Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

• 0:01Speaker 00

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• 0:29Speaker 01

  Who would you say was like one of your most positive influences? Like, can you name me a few positive influences?

• 0:35Speaker 02

  Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, James Baldwin.

• 0:39Speaker 01

  British?

• 0:41Speaker 02

  British, Flora Ella Benjamin.

• 0:42Speaker 01

  Okay, I'm gonna stop you there.

• 0:43Speaker 02

  Right, okay.

• 0:44Speaker 01

  Because we've got something for you.

• 0:50Speaker 01

  It's for you. Feel free to read it out loud to us.

• 0:54Speaker 02

  Oh, Davina, you're gonna make... Yes, yes.

• 0:59Speaker 02

  Oh, it's from, it's from Flora Ella? Yeah. Oh, stop it, she's always making me cry.

• 1:08Speaker 02

  Dear...

• 1:09Speaker 01

  God, Davina, sorry.

• 1:11Speaker 02

  Dearest darling Andy, you were one of my special Play School babies that I'm so proud of. Yes, I watch it with enormous pride and admiration as you continue to flourish and spread your infectious, unique personality across the nation.

• 1:29Speaker 02

  Creating joy and happiness everywhere you go, inspiring others to discover their full potential by being an intrepid, unstoppable, stylish role model.

• 1:40Speaker 02

  You have your own special way of connecting and creating excitement and laying the path of enlightenment which others can follow. I love you for that and for making a difference by changing attitudes and perceptions.

• 1:51Speaker 01

  Yes!

• 1:53Speaker 02

  Here's looking at you, my darling, rising higher and higher through the round window, sending virtual hugs full of love, joy and happiness, Flora Ella, your Play School auntie. Why are you trying to kill me?

• 2:04Speaker 01

  But how lovely is that?

• 2:06Speaker 02

  Oh my God.

• 2:07Speaker 01

  Isn't that amazing?

• 2:12Speaker 01

  And do you know what?

• 2:14Speaker 02

  She was like-

• 2:15Speaker 01

  Can I say something? In five years' time, you'll be writing a letter for someone like that, who will say that you were her role model. Honestly, that's the joy of life and being such a positive-

• 2:29Speaker 02

  Because without Floella, there would be no me.

• 2:34Speaker 01

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• 3:16Speaker 01

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• 3:44Speaker 01

  So, we may have spoken to Catherine.

• 3:47Speaker 03

  Oh, God.

• 3:48Speaker 01

  And Catherine wrote something in here, and I'm going to read it out loud to you, because I want you to enjoy it.

• 3:55Speaker 01

  So, "Dear Tom, what a ride it's been since that Friday in Nando's."

• 4:02Speaker 01

  To say I'm so glad we met is just not enough. You made me feel like this is my fairy tale. You are the kindest human and always make people smile and laugh with your unique sense of humour. Grace is such a lucky girl to have you as her daddy and she will be your biggest fan when she's old enough to watch you. I can't wait for what's to come for you in this crazy career, but we will be right beside you. Love always, Catherine and Grace.

• 4:34Speaker 04

  Very sweet.

• 4:36Speaker 01

  Isn't that lovely?

• 4:37Speaker 04

  That's very lovely, yeah.

• 4:40Speaker 01

  We will be right beside you.

• 4:41Speaker 04

  Very nice. That was what I expected, yeah. So, yeah, it's very, yeah. It is the thing, right? It's, yeah, the, yeah, coming together. It's the past and the present.

• 4:52Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 4:52Speaker 04

  Thank you for doing that, that's very kind.

• 4:57Speaker 01

  This is a letter for you from Grace.

• 5:01Speaker 04

  Oh, God.

• 5:02Speaker 01

  And we were just wondering if you would read it out to us.

• 5:06Speaker 04

  Oh, God, okay.

• 5:09Speaker 04

  Oh, no. Oh, God. I, I feel sick. Is this on every show?

• 5:17Speaker 01

  We do try and get something for everybody.

• 5:19Speaker 04

  Not from Grace?

• 5:21Speaker 01

  Not from Grace, Grace is on every show, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 5:24Speaker 04

  Oh, no.

• 5:28Speaker 04

  What I admire most about Sean, which I have told him before, is his unwavering dedication to his work slash dream. Despite life's challenges, he's never given up. He continues to write and create and his shows just keep getting better with each passing year. I'm just so proud of what he does and has achieved, especially how he inspires our daughter and will eventually inspire our son. While he's certainly had a profound impact on me, I'd say the most tangible change is that he's turned me into a coffee connoisseur. To quote Sean, I say.

• 6:10Speaker 01

  Tell me.

• 6:11Speaker 04

  I'm always telling her.

• 6:15Speaker 04

  When we met, she was on, she was on the instant coffee. And so I, I've shown her like the world of like the long black.

• 6:26Speaker 01

  You've changed her life.

• 6:27Speaker 04

  Changed her life, I really have for the better. Coffee is important.

• 6:34Speaker 04

  We're like the ultimate odd couple. Yeah, but I love that. We do our own thing and then come together to just be. We take long walks around West London, drink coffee, and just talk about whatever is going on that week. Obviously, nine out of 10, that's something Wilder has done. Parenting's been a wild ride, but I couldn't be happier that I get to do it with Shaun. He is so loving, so generous, so playful, and so affectionate with them both. I'm grateful for Shaun's understanding and support of our co-sleeping decision.

• 7:05Speaker 01

  Oh. That is a big deal.

• 7:09Speaker 04

  Was, was that a decision? Or was that for, no, um, that's, uh, yeah, I'm in with Wilder and graces in with.

• 7:17Speaker 01

  You know who, um, Catherine Ryan is a big co-sleeping, um, advocate?

• 7:22Speaker 04

  Oh, really?

• 7:23Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 7:24Speaker 04

  Yeah. Oh, it's my favourite thing.

• 7:25Speaker 01

  I think it's amazing and it makes them feel very safe.

• 7:29Speaker 04

  Do you know what? This is good. Wilder, the other night, she woke up, I went in, cuddled her to sleep. I then, I don't know why I did this. I think it's because I wanted to watch TV in bed. So I went into our main bed in the bedroom. And in the morning, Wilder said, Daddy, you weren't there to look after me.

• 7:57Speaker 04

  Right, I am never, ever getting out that bed ever again. Ever. I'm in there till she's thirty. I don't care. I do not care. A husband to be like, it's gotta be time that your dad gets out of the bed. I'm not going anywhere. Sorry, mate.

• 8:17Speaker 01

  But you know, my dad was like, my dad like, like that, like I'd want to sit on his knee and give him cuddles like until he died. Like I was, you know, it just.

• 8:26Speaker 04

  I bet.

• 8:26Speaker 01

  Never stops.

• 8:27Speaker 04

  No. Anyway, go on, go on. There's more, there's more, sorry. He, he never pressures me to get the kids to sleep on their own and instead prioritizes their needs. It's truly amazing and it makes me love him even more. Having a partner like Shaun makes navigating parenthood feel more manageable. But after saying all of this, I'd also like to ask him publicly.

• 8:51Speaker 04

  What does it say? To stop leaving banana skins on the side.

• 9:00Speaker 04

  Well. Do you? Hey.

• 9:05Speaker 04

  Maybe I might have an issue. She's funny. With putting, she is funny. Yes, she's very funny. And I, I, I might have issues putting banana skins in the bin.

• 9:18Speaker 05

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