In this Sifting Session, Karen shares the story behind last week’s conversation with gardener and author Charles Dowding and a lesson that came from a rather humbling mistake.

When a technical error erased an entire interview (except for the final five minutes), what began as panic and embarrassment turned into an unexpected teacher ... one that spoke of humility, grace, and the quiet power of second chances.

In this reflective solo episode, Karen explores ...

🌱 How mistakes strip us back to what really matters.

🌿 Why grace and generosity often grow in the space where things go wrong.

🍂 What psychology and nature can teach us about failure, learning, and growth.

🌾 How to move from self-criticism to self-compassion and start again, wiser.

Rooted in real experience and gentle reflection, this episode is a reminder that every creative life, every meaningful project, and every season of growth is built on things that didn’t go to plan.

🎧 Listen now, and be reminded that mistakes don’t mean failure ... they mean you’re trying.

💬 Reflection Prompts

• What’s a recent mistake that still lingers in your mind and what might it be teaching you?
• Who has shown you kindness when you’ve stumbled, and how did it change how you saw yourself?
• Where in your life could you offer yourself (or someone else) permission to begin again?

🌾 Join the Conversation

Follow @thesievepod on Instagram ... a growing community where we can pause, exhale, and sift through the good stuff together.

in this episode of The Sieve, Karen speaks with renowned gardener, author, and teacher Charles Dowding, whose pioneering no dig method has inspired millions to see gardening, and life, differently.

Charles is known around the world for transforming the way we grow food, but at the heart of his work lies something deeper ... a philosophy rooted in trust, patience, and generosity.

In this thoughtful and quietly powerful conversation, Karen and Charles explore ...

🌱 What first drew him to the soil , and to Iona

🌿 The values that have shaped his lifelong approach to gardening and teaching.

🍂 How to work with nature’s rhythms rather than against them.

🌾 The importance of trust in the soil, in the process, and in ourselves.

🌻 How kindness, simplicity, and curiosity keep his work (and his life) in balance.

Together, they reflect on what it means to live by your values, to share knowledge freely, and to keep learning from nature’s quiet wisdom.

🎧 Listen now and be reminded that the best growth, in gardens and in life, often happens when we stop forcing, start trusting, and let things unfold in their own time.

🔗 Connect with Charles Dowding

• Website: www.charlesdowding.co.uk
• YouTube: Charles Dowding’s No Dig Gardening Channel
• Books: No Dig Gardening: From Weeds to Vegetables Easily, Organic Gardening, and more.

💬 Join the Conversation

Follow @thesievepod on Instagram ... a growing community where we can all pause, exhale, and sift through the good stuff together.

In this first Sifting Session, I share a personal story about what happens when two values pull you in opposite directions.

For me, that tension showed up in my first business, KA Equestrian ... caught between the urge to sustain a business I’d built, and the reality that it was no longer sustainable. Holding on felt safe, but it also meant staying anchored to something that no longer gave me joy.

In this episode, I talk about:

✨ The difficult but freeing decision to close KA Equestrian

✨ Why changing your mind isn’t failure, but wisdom

✨ What it means to make space for new passions and new growth

✨ The relief that comes with releasing outdated dreams

I also share some gentle prompts to help you reflect on where your own values might be colliding, and how you might give yourself permission to let go.

In this episode of The Sieve, I’m joined by chef, food writer, and sustainability educator Tom Hunt. Tom is known as an “eco-chef,” but his work goes far beyond recipes and restaurants. Through his Root to Fruit philosophy and his book Eating for Pleasure, People & Planet, he invites us to see food not just as fuel, but as a joyful act that connects people, planet, and values.

We talk about:

• The values that shaped Tom’s journey into food and sustainability.
• How pleasure and responsibility can sit side by side in the kitchen.
• The challenges of speaking up about climate and food without making people feel judged.
• What it means to live, and eat, in line with your principles.

This conversation is both inspiring and practical, with stories and insights to help you think about the values that guide your own choices around food and beyond.

✨ Next week, I’ll be sharing the first of our solo Sifting Sessions ... shorter, story-led reflections from me. The first one is called When Values Collide, and it’s about the lessons I learned when my first business, KA Equestrian, became unsustainable.

Join the conversation over on Instagram @thesievepod — I’d love to hear what values shape the way you live.

In this episode of The Sieve, Karen is joined by Dr David Robert Grimes ... physicist, cancer researcher, and author of The Irrational Ape ... for a wide-ranging conversation about truth, belief, and the battle against misinformation in a noisy world.

Together, they explore why humans are so susceptible to conspiracy thinking, how science communication can be both powerful and flawed, and what it really takes to stay curious and grounded in a culture that often rewards certainty over nuance. David shares personal insights from his own work in science and media, as well as his experiences navigating public discourse during some of the most polarising debates of our time.

This is an episode about evidence but also about empathy. A reminder that behind every strong opinion is often a story worth listening to.

In this tender, powerful conversation, Karen sits down with her friend Kate Latimer ... mother, maker, and creative soul ... for a moving exploration of what it means to live with integrity, even when life doesn’t go to plan.

Together they speak about teen pregnancy, the power of being exposed to a different way of living, surviving domestic abuse, raising children while healing, and the role of creativity in reclaiming a sense of self. It’s a story about resilience, softness, and the quiet, stubborn act of staying true to who you are.

If you’ve ever wrestled with how to hold beauty and struggle in the same breath, or wondered what it looks like to shape a meaningful life from the inside out, this one’s for you.

Connect with Karen: www.instagram.com/karen.anderson.fossoway

Connect with Kate: www.instagram.com/katelatimer_country

Next up on The Sieve: Scientist and author Dr David Robert Grimes joins Karen for a conversation about truth, misinformation, and the human side of science

Special thank you to the wonderful John McCusker for our theme tune.

In this episode of The Sieve, I sit down with the brilliant singer-songwriter Sam Kelly ... a BBC Folk Awards winning artist,and magnetic performer whose voice carries stories that feel both timeless and deeply personal.

We talk about the early roots of Sam’s love for folk music, and how his grandfather’s influence shaped the artist he is today. Sam opens up about his journey through the public spotlight on Britain’s Got Talent, and the importance of trusting your gut when navigating the music industry, and life.

We explore how he stays grounded when life gets noisy, what his creative process really looks like, and why making space for stillness is so essential. Plus, Sam shares the moving title track from his stunning new record, "Dreamers Dawn."

Whether you’re a musician, a creative, or simply someone trying to stay true to yourself, this conversation offers warmth, insight, and a generous dose of inspiration.

🎧 Listen in for:

• The power of musical inheritance
• What Britain’s Got Talent taught Sam about self-belief
• Tools for finding your way back to yourself
• Writing from intuition vs pressure
• A special preview of Sam’s new track “Dreamers Dawn”

🔗 Explore more of Sam’s work: www.samkelly.com

In this joyful, energising conversation, I sit down with David Flynn ... co-founder of The Happy Pear ... to explore what it really means to live with purpose, build a business from the heart, and find meaning in the everyday.

We talk about the early days of The Happy Pear, the power of habit, and how David and his twin brother Steve have built a values-led movement grounded in community, curiosity, and good food. From 4am sea swims to fatherhood, failure, and staying aligned through change, David shares with honesty and humour what continues to light him up.

Whether you're dreaming of starting something new, looking to reconnect with what matters, or just need a fresh dose of inspiration, this one will leave you smiling.