FEATURE:
A New Year with The Trouble Club
Upcoming Events I Am Looking Forward To
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I am returning my thoughts…
IN THIS PHOTO: The Trouble Club’s CEO and owner Ellie Newton with recent guest Carol Vorderman
to The Trouble Club once more. Rather than look back at events I have attended in the past few months, I am looking ahead to what is to come. Urge people who have not joined yet to investigate. You can join here. Check out The Trouble Club and you can see what is coming up. As I write this (14th January), there are some exciting dates on the schedule already. On 27th January, I am attending How to Trust and Be Trusted, with Rachel Botsman. Taking place at The Conduit in Covent Garden, it is going to be a terrific event. This is an event run by Conduit who have asked The Trouble Club members to attend. As an example of the sort of events Trouble Club members attend, this gives you a good guide and insight:
“Rachel Botsman, in conversation with Helen Barrett, FT columnist, explores how trust shapes behaviour, culture, and connection.
In a world that feels more uncertain every day, trust is what keeps people, communities, and societies working together. Rachel Botsman, renowned thought leader on trust and author of How to Trust and Be Trusted, joins us at The Conduit for an illuminating conversation moderated by Helen Barrett, Financial Times columnist and expert on workplace dynamics.
Together, Rachel and Helen will delve into why trust is so essential—how it changes behavior, shapes cultures, and fosters open communication to solve problems. Drawing on real-world examples, they will unpack the dynamics of trust: how it is built, broken, and repaired, and why it is a cornerstone of strong connections and meaningful progress.
Rachel Botsman is a leading expert on trust in the modern world. She is the author of twocritically acclaimed books, What’s Mine is Yours and Who Can You Trust?, that have beentranslated into 14 languages. Her writings on trust have been widely published in the Guardian,Financial Times, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and Wired. Through herpopular newsletter, Rethink with Rachel, she engages with a community of over 85,000subscribers every week. On top of this, Rachel is an experienced broadcaster hosting the BBC series Money, Money, Money as well as her own podcast called Rethink Moments in which she challenges different cultural ideas and events with the help of experts in the specific field.
Helen Barrett is a London-based writer and editor specialising in art, design, architecture, fashion, and culture. A former Financial Times journalist and editor of the House &Home section, she now writes for the FT, The Telegraph, The Spectator, and more. Her work includes in-depth features on topics like London’s invented place names and Sydney Modern’s architects, as well as sharp reviews of books and music. An experienced interviewer, Helen has spoken with cultural figures such as Norman Foster, Es Devlin, and Peter Saville. She is also a director of the London Modern festival”.
Another event – which will be held on 30th January - at Conduit in Covent Garden is Diane Abbott: A Woman Like Me. This is going to be an historic night! The Trouble Club hosts a variety of inspiring and brilliant women across various fields. From the arts to politics, so many iconic women have enthralled and moved Trouble Club members. Diane Abbott is going to be one of the all-time great guests. You can buy her book here:
“Diane Abbott is a history-maker. From challenging expectations as a bright and restless child of the Windrush generation to becoming the first elected Black female MP in the UK.
We are incredibly honoured to be welcoming Diane, the mother of the House (the longest uninterrupted female MP) to The Trouble Club to discuss her outstanding life of service.
Ever since the day she first walked through the House of Commons as the first Black woman MP, she has been a fearless and vocal champion for the causes that have made Britain what it is today, whether it’s increasing access to education for Black children and speaking out against the Iraq war or advocating tirelessly for refugees and immigrants.
A unique figure in British public life, Diane has often had nothing but the courage of her convictions to carry her through incredibly hostile environments, from torrential abuse in the mainstream media and on social media, to being shunned by the political establishment, including by her own party.
Join us for an intimate evening with one of the most influential politicians in British history”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Adriana Brownlee is a Trouble Club guest on 11th February
The owner and CEO of The Trouble Club, Ellie Newton holds virtual coffee mornings for new members. For anyone about to join, this is a great opportunity to meet new members. I have been a member for nearly two years, though it is always a pleasure hearing from new Trouble Club members and networking. Even though I live in London so can’t afford to see events there, The Trouble Club also exists in Manchester. Great events held there. Boxer and lawyer Selma Masood will be hosted by The Trouble Club on 4th February. I am going to round up this feature writing why I love being a Trouble Club member and why it is important to keep writing about them in the hope people see it and join. I cannot emphasise enough the variety and quality of the guests. On 11th February, at the beautiful Kindred at Hammersmith, there is an event I am really looking forward to. 14 Peaks with Adriana Brownlee is going to be amazing:
“Adriana Brownlee just made history as the youngest ever female climber to summit the world’s tallest mountains (let’s hope she hasn’t peaked…….we’re here all night.)
On the 9th of October she summited the last of the fourteen peaks over 8000m, a feat only 64 people in the world have officially achieved. She is also only the second ever British climber to accomplish this.
Adriana will join us at Trouble to discuss her adventures, the highs and lows (both literally and emotionally) of being a world-renowned mountaineer and the incredible female mountaineers that have inspired her throughout her journey”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Caitlin Moran will appear for The Trouble Club at the Manchester Central Exchange Auditorium on 15th February
There are five more events I will highlight before closing up. I know that new events will be announced very soon. One of the biggest and most anticipated events in Trouble Club history is Caitlin Moran: For the Love of Women. On 15th February, at the Manchester Central Exchange Auditorium, there will be a packed crowd to welcome Caitlin Moran but also hear the incredible Lois Shearing. I am not attending the event in-person, though I am seeing it virtually. I am really pumped for this, as I am a fan and admirer of Caitlin Moran:
“CAITLIN MORAN PEOPLE, CAITLIN MORAN! Wow are we fans of this woman, can you tell? At Trouble we've been devouring her books and articles for years and it's about time she graced the Trouble stage.
Caitlin has hilariously documented the pot-holed road of womanhood from teenage sweat to midlife reinvention. She'll join us at The Trouble Club in Manchester to discuss how she's so brilliantly chronicled the journey and kept us laughing along the way.
We'll also dive into Caitlin's icons from the celebs she adored in her early years to the personal mentors who have shaped her incredible writing career. We'll discuss what kind of support we owe to the next generation and how her icons have changed as the years have progressed. There will also be lots of time for Q&A, so get your questions ready!
Caitlin Moran is an award-winning columnist for the Times and the author of multi-award-winning bestseller How to Be a Woman which has been published in 28 countries, and won the British Book Awards’ Book of the Year 2011. Her two volumes of collected journalism, Moranthology and Moranifesto, were Sunday Times bestsellers, and her novel, How to Build a Girl, debuted at Number One.
Our second speaker of the day is the incredible Lois Shearing who will join us to discuss the significant roles women are starting to play in far-right movements. From tradwives to femtrolls Lois will talk us through how and why women join these movements.
This will be our biggest event to date and it's taking place in Manchester, the home of our second Trouble location. Don't worry London members, the event will take place in the afternoon so that you can be back to London on the same day. Or stay, and enjoy the delights of the city”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Emily Austen is a very special Trouble Club guest on 19th February
I think I will wrap up with three selected events. On 19th February, at the stunning Allbright in Mayfair is Work Smarter with Emily Austen. What I love about the events is that they can be practical and useful in all kinds of ways. Whether it how to cope with bereavement or businesswomen speaking; networking coaches or authors discussing how they got where they were. Although a lot of fun is had at The Trouble Club, every event is designed so that you take something away:
“Busyness has become a status symbol. The 'more is more' philosophy still prevails, running us into the dirt and out of natural energy. We jostle for our position balancing work, family life, fertility, misogyny and mental health, and we have been told that working late, over-caffeinating, being the first in and last out, sacrificing our personal lives, and eating on the go, are conducive to succeeding long-term. But instead, we are burnt-out and less motivated than ever.
Join us as we meet Emily Austen, entrepreneur, bestselling author and founder of Emerge London to learn about her SMARTER method. We’ll reframe previous systems that our brains predict, switch our mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance, join the 8am club (not the 5am club), conduct a busyness detox, define what success means to us, track our energy not your time, identify and set healthy boundaries, time block, habit pair and switch to mono tasking, and so much more.
This is not for the bare minimum Mondays or the take it easy Tuesdays. It's an evening for those who strive for success; for ambitious women wanting to do it all, those who understand that you have to make a deposit to be able to make a withdrawal”.
Jumping to 5th March, that is when Trouble hosts Caroline Lucas: Another England. Her book that the event is based around is must-read. At a charged and divided time, this is going to be a compelling evening.
“One of our most requested speakers, Caroline Lucas, is coming to Trouble. For 14 years Caroline was the sole Green Party MP while also leading and co-leading the party. Having stepped down at the last election, Caroline is focussing on a different conversation, reclaiming Englishness from the far-right.
With the UK more divided than ever, England has re-emerged as a potent force in our culture and politics. But today the dominant story told about our country serves solely the interests of the right. The only people who dare speak of Englishness are cheerleaders for Brexit, exceptionalism and imperial nostalgia. Yet there are other stories, equally compelling, about who we are: about the English people’s radical inclusivity, their deep-rooted commitment to the natural world, their long struggle to win rights for all. These stories put the Chartists, the Diggers and the Suffragettes in their rightful place alongside Nelson and Churchill.
Join us as we meet Caroline Lucas, author of Another England and one of the most impactful politicians of the last decade”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Dr Haru Yamada
I am very interested in The Art of Listening with Dr Haru Yamada. Occurring on 11th March at Century Club in Soho, this is going to be one I would recommend to anyone who is thinking about joining The Trouble Club but is not sure yet. There is more information here. I am keen to get my hands on a copy of Haru Yamada’s Kiku: The Japanese Art of Good Listening which is released on 6th March. Another demonstration of the eclectic nature of events and speakers hosted by The Trouble Club. This year is going to be a rich and really brilliant one. It is wonderful being a member:
“Drawing on the Japanese concept of 'kiku', sociolinguist and listening expert Haru Yamada will join us at Trouble to share a transformation guide to becoming better listeners in our daily life. Kiku is a particular type of listening that goes beyond the superficial. It is a deep listening that brings us together.
Once you understand how hearing and listening work, you'll start noticing your own. You will gain a deeper understanding of the world. You'll read rooms better because you'll be reading more deeply between the lines of the people around you.
Dr Haru Yamada is a PhD sociolinguistics researcher, writer, and leading authority on the subject of listening. Her pioneering analyses of conversations has since led to international publications and journals used as staple textbooks in universities across the world, and her articles are regularly cited in academic work”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Selma Masood will be appearing at 100 Embankment Manchester on 4th February
Although this feature is less detailed than ones I have published previously, the objectives are still the same. Not only highlighting the incredible events The Trouble Club hosts at some wonderful venues – go and check each of them out to get an idea of the setting and location -, but they also emphasise how enriching it is. Not only is it fulfilling and a pleasure meeting fellow members and newcomers. Each speaker has an impact on me. I learn something every time. Think differently. Different emotions brought to the surface. I think I am made a more informed, conscientious and better person attending the events. That might sound weird or the wrong words. What I mean is that my mind and heart is opened in a way that it is not anywhere else. I am so thrilled and intrigued every time a new event is added to the schedule. I do think this year is going to e one of the most successful and best for The Trouble Club. In addition to events like the ones I have highlighted, there are social events, book clubs, member dinners and roundtable discussions. That social aspect that is brilliant is you are a new member. The very finest voices. These simply incredible women. I have had so many life-changing evenings at Trouble Club events. Moved profoundly. Evenings that were full of laughter. Others where members got up to share stories and open up to those around them. I am looking forward to seeing how the Trouble Club evolves, expands and moves in the coming year. Anyone who has heard of The Trouble Club but is not sure what to expect, I hope this feature has helped a bit. From the friendly and warm members to the beautiful venues and the wonderful guests, time and time again, I come away very fortunate being part of this phenomenal club. To those unsure or merely curious, when it comes to The Trouble Club, it is very much…
WELL worth exploring.