Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan Shares Final Hours Before Losing Sister Darci
Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan opens up about fame, body image, motherhood, and the devastating loss of her 19-year-old sister in her most honest interview ever. Holly reflects on the pressures that shaped her on Geordie Shore, what pushed her into years of cosmetic surgery, and how grief has transformed her life forever.
She shares the emotional final hours before losing her sister, how her family found meaning through organ donation, and why raising awareness has become her deepest purpose. Holly also reveals the hidden cost of reality-TV fame, the online abuse she endured, and the moment she realised she no longer recognised the person she had become.
Now, as a mum and a coach, she’s using her platform to help women build confidence, understand their bodies, and regulate their emotions through her coaching work.
Holly reveals:
◽ How fame magnified her anxiety and body image struggles
◽ The truth about working on Geordie Shore
◽ The heartbreaking final hours of her sister’s life
◽ How organ donation helped her family find meaning in the darkest moment
◽ Why becoming a mum shifted her priorities, patience and perspective
◽ How much she’s spent on cosmetic surgery and her plans for the future
◽ The intimacy rule that’s saved her marriage
◽ How emotional regulation transformed her mental health
◽ The mission behind her new coaching programme for mums
Holly Hagan, We Need To Talk
Content Warning: This conversation includes discussion of drug use and related experiences. If you or someone you know needs support, you can find resources here:
FRANK: https://g2ul0.app.link/651mTy9qXYb
What To Do In An Emergency: https://g2ul0.app.link/WjKmwV6qXYb
NHS Organ Donation - Link to Register: https://g2ul0.app.link/gtfy87FcnYb
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(00:00) Intro
(02:50) Holly Is Not a Geordie
(03:53) How Holly’s Parents' Split Affected Her at Age 7
(06:55) Holly’s Experience of Bullying at School
(10:21) The Persona Holly Developed as a Teenager
(14:58) Partying Up North vs Down South
(16:21) Holly’s Career Aspirations After School
(20:17) How Holly Was Cast in *Geordie Shore*
(24:35) Holly’s Experience Filming Season 1 of *Geordie Shore*
(32:40) Why Holly Returned for Season 2
(34:58) Welfare Then vs Now in Reality TV
(37:02) Geordie Shore's Popularity Peak in 2016
(38:07) Class in the UK and Reality TV Representation
(40:43) Shopify Ad
(41:46) Holly’s Relationship With Kyle From Geordie Shore
(45:13) How Holly and Jacob Met
(48:49) How Their First Child Affected Holly and Jacob’s Relationship
(54:16) How Holly and Jacob Salvaged Their Relationship
(58:33) Aura Frames Ad
(59:35) Holly’s Relationship With Social Media Today
(01:03:56) Surprise Letter From Sophie Kasaei
(01:07:32) Holly’s Relationship With Her Sister Darci
(01:09:50) Drug-Taking on Nights Out in the UK
(01:10:53) The Events of the Night Darci Died
(01:17:22) Darci’s Legacy Through Organ Donation
(01:21:14) Drug-Related Death Statistics in the UK
(01:22:06) Holly’s Advice After Losing Her Sister
(01:24:58) Thoughts on Grieving a Loved One
(01:29:31) Holly’s Self-Image and First Cosmetic Surgery at 18
(01:33:09) Holly’s Surgery History and How She Feels Today
(01:41:31) Holly’s Retraining and Regulation Practices
(01:47:55) Paul’s Takeaways
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This Is What They Made Me Do! We're Talking Women in the Music Industry
Paul sits down with Cher Lloyd, Myleene Klass and Estelle to hear the truth about working in the music industry. This is not one to be missed!
(00:00) Intro
(00:41) Cher Lloyd Talks Being Sexualised in the Music Industry
(08:34) Myleene's Experience of the 'Wild West' Music Industry
(23:46) Estelle's Experience as a Black Female Artist in the UK Music Industry
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Joshua Cavallo: The Pressure of Being The Only Openly Gay Footballer And Why So Many Stay Silent
Professional footballer Joshua Cavallo opens up about coming out as the world’s only openly gay active male footballer - and the reality he faced once the headlines faded. From his coach’s immediate response to the fear he’d lose the career he’d worked his whole life for, Josh reveals why so many gay players still feel unable to speak their truth.
Josh reflects on the years he spent living a double life, the isolation that defined his teens, and the moment he finally chose honesty over fear. He also shares the global ripple effect of his coming-out video, the abuse he’s endured in stadiums and online, and how falling in love with fiancé Leighton changed everything.
Josh reveals:
◽ Why he believes LGBTQ+ rights are moving backwards
◽ The family expectations he grew up with and why he felt he could never truly be himself
◽ The double life he lived as a teenager and the mental toll of hiding who he was
◽ The coming out letter he wrote to his family
◽ The conversation with his coaches that changed everything
◽ Why so many gay footballers still stay silent
◽ The homophobia he still faces every day
◽ How he secretly mentors closeted professional players
◽ How he proposed to his partner Leighton
Josh Cavallo. We Need To Talk
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(00:00) Intro
(03:35) How Josh's Maltese Heritage Shaped His Upbringing
(06:11) Paul Shows Josh a Childhood Photo
(07:57) What Josh Learned About Love From His Grandfather
(09:48) When Josh First Realised He Was Gay
(11:27) Josh on Developing and Maintaining a ‘Mask’
(14:22) Support Josh Had Starting Out in the Football Industry
(18:26) Leaving Dating Apps and Meeting His Fiancée
(23:33) How Josh Came Out To His Family
(33:03) How Josh Came Out to His Teammates
(37:20) Public Reaction to Josh Coming Out
(40:20) How Josh Realised He Wanted to Be an Advocate
(42:43) Did the League Embrace Josh’s News?
(43:44) Surprise Video Message For Josh
(46:20) Statistics Around Homophobia in Football
(48:05) Josh’s View on Homophobia in Today’s Football
(49:09) Why Josh Thinks the Problem Is Getting Worse
(51:23) Why Other Athletes Aren’t Coming Out
(52:18) Josh’s Experience of a Homophobic Attack
(54:52) Being on the Cover of Attitude Magazine
(56:26) Too Good To Go Ad
(57:42) Differences Playing Football in Australia vs the UK
(59:51) Times Josh Felt Unsafe on the Pitch
(01:05:21) Mentoring Closeted Footballers
(01:09:16) The Story of Josh's Proposal to His Fiancée
(01:13:35) Video Message From Fiancée Leighton
(01:16:26) Josh and Leighton on Having Children
(01:19:12) Adobe Express Ad
(01:20:19) Huel Ad
(01:21:45) How to Stop the Backslide in Civil Rights
(01:29:40) The Hypocrisy of the Qatar World Cup
(01:34:44) Josh’s Message to the Queer Community
(01:35:31) Most Memorable Conversation
(01:38:29) Paul’s Takeaways
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Why I Had To Leave The Jungle! We're Talking: I'm a Celeb
We sit down with I'm A Celeb stars Kerry Katona, Myleene Klass and Tulisa to discuss the highs and lows of their time in the jungle!
(00:00) Intro
(00:35) Kerry's Experience of Winning 'I'm a Celeb'
(05:46) Myleene's Experience of 'I'm a Celeb' and That White Bikini
(10:46) Tulisa's 'I'm a Celeb' Experience
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Ellie Goldstein on Strictly And The Hospital Conversation That Changed Everything
Ellie Goldstein was once told she’d never walk or talk. Now she’s danced on Strictly and graced the cover of Vogue. Today, she shares how she proved them all wrong.
Ellie is a model, dancer, and author. She’s worked with Vogue, Gucci, and Adidas, and made history on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. She’s now helping to change how people see learning disabilities in fashion and media.
Her mum, Yvonne, shares the powerful beginning of Ellie’s story. She talks about how doctors broke the news, how they were left alone in a hospital room, and the moment a nurse said, “The last mother who had one of these left it here. Do you want to do that?”
Together, they explain:
◽How Strictly changed Ellie’s life - and why she still trains with Vito
◽How Vito became more than a dance partner - he’s now family
◽Being ignored by model agencies - to becoming cover star of Vogue
◽Why spray tans and dance became her happy place
◽What she tells young people with learning disabilities chasing their dreams
◽The biggest myths about Down syndrome - and how Ellie proves them wrong
◽ How it felt meeting Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo
◽The powerful moment she looked in the mirror and said “you’re perfect”
Ellie Goldstein, We Need To Talk.
If you want to learn more about learning disabilities, check out these resources from learning disability charity Mencap https://g2ul0.app.link/HGSUr97VyYb
Mencap Mythbusters: https://g2ul0.app.link/xtvN8U4VyYb
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(00:00) Intro
(02:09) What Ellie Loved Most About Her Time on 'Strictly Come Dancing'
(03:38) Ellie's Relationship With Her Dance Partner Vito
(08:56) Paul, Ellie and Yvonne Watch Ellie's Cha Cha Cha
(10:48) Paul Gives Ellie a Surprise Gift
(13:21) The Reaction to Ellie Being on Strictly
(14:40) How Ellie Dealt With Comments From the Judges
(15:28) Support From the Strictly Production Team
(16:09) Paul Shows Ellie a Message From Surprise Strictly Judge
(18:42) Ellie's Favourite Dance on Strictly
(19:09) Who Ellie Wants to Win Strictly
(19:32) Ellie and Vito's Pre-Performance Rituals
(20:39) Ellie's Advice to Anyone Facing Challenges
(21:15) Aura Frames Ad
(22:16) Shopify Ad
(23:17) When Ellie First Felt Like a Model
(23:47) Ellie's Statue on the Southbank
(24:27) Ellie's Gucci Campaign
(26:46) How Ellie Started Out in Modelling
(28:46) Ellie's Vogue Cover
(32:01) Meeting Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
(35:07) Ellie's Books
(37:14) Yvonne Shares the Story of Ellie's Birth
(45:33) Down Syndrome Statistics
(45:59) Yvonne on How Her Experience Could Have Been Better
(49:09) How Yvonne Told Ellie About Her Condition
(50:18) What Yvonne and Ellie Appreciate About Each Other
(52:15) Quick Fire Questions for Ellie
(53:17) Ellie's Work as a Mencap Ambassador
(55:16) Paul's Takeaways
Sponsored by:
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The most powerful conversations are the ones we usually avoid. Hosted by Paul C. Brunson, We Need To Talk is a show that empowers people to have the conversations they avoid by creating a safe, supportive, and insightful space that encourages vulnerability, self-discovery, and real-world connection.
From breakups to breakthroughs, conflict to connection, we go beyond the headlines to uncover the human experiences and relationships that define us.
Instagram: @needtotalk
TikTok: @weneedtotalkpod