Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of drug use, abuse, and death, which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening.

In today’s episode, I share part two of my conversation with John Locke. We pick up where we left off—with John reflecting on his return to education and how profoundly different it was from his difficult childhood experiences. He then shares stories from his 30-year career in local government, working with councils to ensure safe housing for those in need.

John talks about the importance of “getting your boots dirty”—physically showing up in communities, sometimes to fix a broken tap, only to discover the real reason for the call was something deeper.

What’s remarkable is that this chapter of his life began unexpectedly, after losing his job at a theatre. Yet in that work, he found both joy and purpose. Twelve years ago, John returned to acting, launching a one-man show that reignited his career. Since then, he’s gone from local productions to sharing the screen with Emma Stone—something he never could have imagined.

Despite all his success, John reflects on what truly matters: family, love, and connection. Acting has been a blessing, but it doesn’t define him. Hollywood isn’t the dream—at least not yet. But I say: never say never, John.

Vindication Swim

John Locke Films

John Locke IMDB

John Locke on Instagram

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See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, we sit down with the incredible John Locke, star of Vindication Swim. John grew up in Brighton with his loving parents, but as an only child, he often felt lonely. School was a challenge—he faced relentless bullying and struggled academically due to undiagnosed dyslexia. However, he found solace in deep friendships, especially with his lifelong best friend, David Kolakowski.

From a young age, John had a remarkable gift for accents, memorization, and using his voice. His parents recognized his talent and enrolled him in acting classes. This sparked a passion that carried him through the National Youth Theatre and into a career in acting. But despite years of dedication, financial struggles persisted.

John shares an intimate and life-changing moment—watching his heavily pregnant wife walk toward him and realizing he could no longer pursue acting as his sole career. He had responsibilities to uphold, leading him to step away from the industry.

This first part of John’s journey is filled with formative experiences and heartfelt memories from the early years of his career. Join us next week as we explore his transition into local government and, ultimately, his inspiring return to acting.

Vindication Swim

John Locke Films

John Locke IMDB

John Locke on Instagram

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honour of International Women’s Day, I’m excited to re-release a very special episode. I also want to take a moment to thank all the incredible women who have given their time to come on the show and share their life stories. Your experiences, wisdom, and honesty continue to inspire me and so many others.

Today, we dive into an inspiring career journey with Clare Fuller. Starting as a hospice nurse and advancing through the healthcare system, she earned her master’s degree at 50, launched her own business, and created a podcast about advanced care planning that provided space for a fellow nurse who was dying.

Despite my initial nervousness, this conversation left me feeling surprisingly calm and enlightened. Please take care while listening.

This episode also marks a special moment for me—Clare was the first woman I had on the podcast. We spoke about the immense successes of her career, but what stood out to me was how she balanced it all around her children. Upon first editing the conversation, I didn’t fully acknowledge the sacrifices she spoke about, but upon reflecting on my past conversations with both men and women, it became so clear to me: women are more likely to consider their families and children when making career decisions. This is such an important part of the conversation, and I’m grateful to Clare for sharing her story with me.

This is a rerelease of one of my favourite episodes in honour of International Women’s Day.

Speak for Me: End of Life Care Expert, patient rights campaigner, educator, and Lasting Power of Attorney Consultant.

Conversations About Advanced Care Planning Podcast (Listen on Spotify)

Conversations About Advanced Care Planning Podcast (Listen on Apple Podcasts)

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.