Part 1: The Truth About Reality TV & How to Cut Through the Noise

What does it take to really have the X Factor?

Maz Farrelly has shaped some of the biggest TV shows of our time, from Big Brother to The X Factor, and has worked with global icons from Beyoncé to Prince Charles.

Maz knows how to grab an audience’s attention and hold it. Her content has been watched over 8 billion times!

She’s an ‘Olympic-level storyteller’, which is why this is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. We didn’t want to cut it; we could have chatted for hours longer.

After years in the TV industry, Maz now brings her storytelling skills into boardrooms, onto stages and into big businesses around the world; helping companies win attention, master storytelling, elevate customer experience and lead like a rock star.

In this first part episode, Maz takes us behind the curtain of reality TV - how she got into the industy, the rise of reality TV and what it taught her about human behaviour.

As someone who grew up watching these shows, Amy found it fascinating to hear how they were created.

She also shares the “doom message” she gave contestants before they entered the public eye, the hard truth about chasing fame, and why being “interesting” is a skill - especially when everyone is shouting.

Maz shares her personal journey, hilarious moments to thought-provoking reflections, this episode is packed with straight-talking wisdom and media-savvy gold.

• How Big Brother broke the rules and changed TV forever

• The unseen consequences of reality TV fame

• What Maz told contestants before they signed up to the shows

• Why charisma and authenticity aren’t always the same

• The three-question test she uses to decide if something’s “interesting”
  
  

And be sure to tune in for Part 2: Moral Codes, Reinvention & Living on Your Own Terms

Find out more about Maz:

What does it mean to create your future?

For Natalia Talkowska, it’s not just a phrase but a way of life.

Born in communist Poland with dreams of working for Disney or NASA, she took her first flight to London with little money, no connections, and a big sense of curiosity. Today, she is a serial entrepreneur, six-time TEDx speaker, and the founder of Natalka, a consultancy blending neuroscience, storytelling and visual thinking to help organisations simplify complexity.

In this episode, Amy chats to Natalia about her journey from childhood dreams to working around the world.

They explore why visuals are such a powerful tool for human connection, how neuroscience explains the stories that stick, and why doodling might be the key to unlocking creativity and reducing stress.

Natalia’s shares her global projects: Doodleledo, which brings people together through doodling, and Good Souls, a movement to combat loneliness and spark meaningful conversations worldwide. Natalia reflects on connection in a digital age, how to navigate information overload, and the role she hopes AI will play in shaping our creative future.

Her energy, optimism and belief in human connection are infectious. Whether you’re curious about creativity, fascinated by neuroscience, or simply need encouragement to take your own leap, this conversation will leave you inspired to start creating your own future.

Key Topics:

• Why Natalia believes “there are no walls, no rules” when it comes to creating your future.

• The neuroscience behind why stories and visuals help us connect and remember.

• How Doodleledo grew from a simple idea into a global movement in 27+ countries.

• The mission of Good Souls: fighting isolation by connecting one billion people.

• Natalia’s hopeful but realistic view of AI’s role in creativity and human imagination.

For more information:

https://www.natalkadesign.com/

Doodleledo https://www.doodleledo.com/

Good Souls: https://www.instagram.com/_goodsouls/

What happens when a career built on success no longer feels like enough?

In this episode Amy chats to her old colleague and friend Serena Dodd.

After a high-energy career in TV and events, Serena Dodd hit a wall - literally on the way to London Waterloo - when a panic attack forced a rethink.

Serena shares her journey from realising “something needs to change” to finally stepping away from the industry, then the pivotal year that followed: retraining as a coach, rebuilding confidence, and rewriting her identity.

Serena explains why she calls herself an “Aliveness Coach” , what feeling alive actually means and living beyond apathy.

We also talk about Fly, the global community she’s building for coaches to counter isolation, learn together and deliver richer services.

Serena’s story is a reminder that success isn’t static: she was a success before, she’s a success now, and the courage to pivot made all the difference.

Key Topics Discussed:

• A London Waterloo wake-up

• Taking the steps to change

• Moving beyond apathy: why recognising and addressing “living on autopilot” is the first step to feeling truly alive.

• “Aliveness” = intention + purpose, not perfection

• Replace “cul-de-sac thoughts” with “motorway thinking.”

• Community (Fly) reduces isolation and elevates practice

Serena Dodd is co-author of My Dad Thinks I’m a Fairy, host of the Made to Fly podcast, and founder of Fly.

www.serenadodd.com

Made To Fly Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/made-to-fly/id1827931677

Book: My Dad Thinks I'm A Fairy - Book Link

Fly: The Coaches Network - www.wearefly.com