Ms. Jo Malone CBE: From Surviving Breast Cancer to Rebuilding My Life

Begin Again with Davina McCall

FlightStory

Society & Culture, Mental Health, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Education

4.6 • 972 Ratings

🗓️ 7 August 2025

⏱️ 74 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of Begin Again, Jo Malone CBE opens up about her incredible journey of resilience, transformation, and reinvention. Best known for creating iconic fragrance brands, Jo takes us behind the scenes of her personal battles—from childhood struggles to surviving breast cancer—and how these challenges fuelled her success and growth. Jo candidly shares how surviving cancer not only reshaped her outlook on life but also sparked a new chapter of self-discovery and starting over at 50. With deep reflections on faith, family, and perseverance, she reveals how she rebuilt her life and brand after the hardest moments, and how a renewed sense of purpose drives her forward. In this powerful conversation, Jo talks about the importance of resilience in both life and business, how embracing reinvention can lead to a new beginning, and what it takes to live life on your own terms. This episode is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the power of transformation, and the belief that it’s never too late to restart. 💬 Drop a comment: What’s your biggest takeaway from Jo’s journey? 👉 Follow us on Instagram: @beginagain 🎥 Watch more on TikTok: @beginagainpod (00:00) Intro (00:01:14) Resilience and Career Shifts (00:03:15) Like & Subscribe! (00:03:34) Growing Up with a Gambling Father and Working-Class Roots (00:07:15) Caring for Family: Jo's Early Childhood (00:12:04) Overcoming School Struggles and Pursuing a Better Future (00:13:16) Jo's Relationship with Her Mother and Moving Forward (00:14:50) Moving to London at 16: Beginning a Career (00:16:05) Faith and Doubt: Jo’s Spiritual Journey (00:18:51) Ancient & Brave Ad (00:20:18) Airbnb Ad (00:21:29) Letting Go of Jo Malone Business and Facing Cancer (00:29:15) Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction Journey (00:32:49) Unexpected Participation in Cancer Treatment Trial (00:35:01) Survival, Hope, and Reclaiming Her Life After Cancer (00:36:26) Losing Her Sense of Smell During Cancer Treatment (00:39:12) Leaving Jo Malone London: A Crisis of Identity (00:42:08) Rediscovering Purpose with Jo Loves (00:46:35) Overcoming Anxiety and Embracing Change (00:53:16) Taking a Gap Year at 60 (00:58:11) Jo and Gary’s Relationship and Support (01:01:26) Smelling Gary’s Illness: A Unique Gift (01:05:33) Expanding Jo Loves and Exploring the Five Senses Sponsored by:Ancient + Brave - https://ancientandbrave.earth/pages/planet Airbnb - https://www.airbnb.co.uk/host Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	When I was diagnosed, I could feel my sense of smell disappearing, and I just thought, my God, I can't tell anyone that. I'm Joan alone and I've got a global fragrance company. I remember the teacher said, you're lazy and you're stupid and you will never make anything of your life. And I just thought, you're absolutely wrong. And I used that humiliation to motivate me. There is no stopping you. I'd like to talk about your breast cancer diagnosis.
0:22.9	I just looked at my body thinking, I'm never, ever going to be attractive again.
0:27.3	I'm never going to be able to live my life.
0:29.1	We then get to the end of the chemo, and I found something and the other one.
0:32.9	I had to go through it all again.
0:34.6	I felt like it was stripped of everything I was. My darling and husband
0:39.2	never left my side. But then something happened. I feel like crying. I don't know why.
0:44.3	The way the world is at the minute, faith is an important thing. It makes me want to be a better
0:50.4	person. I look at my life now and today is all that matters. Yesterday, it's gone,
0:54.7	I can't do anything about it, but I can learn from everything. Yes.
1:00.0	Ms. Joe Malone, CBE, The Legend. I am so excited to talk to you because I've always loved
1:07.4	you and your sense of smell because what you've delivered to us
1:12.0	throughout your journey and career has been so overwhelmingly gorgeous. But I had no idea
1:21.5	about the twists and turns that your life had taken where you'd come from, how hard you'd worked.
1:30.4	I had no idea about the turmoil with your business and how Joe Loves began.
1:39.5	And also about I had no idea about your new venture, which I'm so excited to talk about.
1:45.7	So there's a lot to get out here, Joe.
1:48.2	But thanks so much.
1:49.9	Thank you.
1:50.9	I love sharing my story.
1:52.9	I love.
1:53.7	And because I think one of my biggest aims is always if someone listens to me,
	...

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