Wish you had some company while taking your morning commute? Need some new listening material after playing your favourite song on repeat for weeks? Want to broaden your mind about crucial topics in today society? The Heart of It is perfect for you.
Hidden away in plain sight on a multitude of podcast apps lies The Heart of It.Created by Canadian born and London based blogger, vlogger and author, Estée Lalonde, the eight-episode audio discussion explores a range of personal topics, investigating what they mean to us as a society. Through the series, Estée becomes your best friend, guiding you through her journey from childhood to adulthood, and as the title suggests, getting to the heart of the features which have made her who she is today.
Stepping away from her YouTube channel and producing content on an entirely different platform, with no imagery at all, means there’s a significant reliance on spoken word to make it fun, creative and and interesting, but Estée makes it seem effortless. The second you listen to her voice, you become entranced. Her soft accent andrelaxing tone make you feel at ease while keeping an aura of seriousness around the subject at hand.
Accompanied by a different guest speakerfrom all walks of life on each episode, ranging from award-winning tattoo artist Amy Black to 19-year-old Nina Donovan, the poet behind Nasty Women, the podcastturns into a platform for influential womento showcase their stories. The chemistry between herself and the guests is beautiful, giving the podcast more of a personal and honest touch instead of sounding scripted.However, at times the interviews and Estée’svoice overlap, highlighting the editing and detracting from the conversational essence. There are also some awkward responses from Estée which can make you cringe occasionally but with that said, who doesn’tlove a bit of cheese?
The episodes, titled: Protest, Tattoos, Makeup, Feminism, Strength, Mom, Identity and Travel, allow Estée’s personality and beliefs to shine through. She doesn’t put a filter on her life picking out only the best bits; she shares her entire experiences, even the controversial ones shown in her first episode, Protest (but I won’t spoil it for you). You can undoubtedly tell each subject hasbeen carefully selected so they are relevant in today’s society and it allows Estée to open up about her journey of self-discovery. Although it’s not a bad thing, the podcast is not a light listen; you do need to pay attention, otherwise you will miss important discussions expressed by the fascinating and thought-provoking individuals featured.
Overall, the first series of The Heart of Itis utterly brilliant, and there is no doubt about it. The concept is extremely well thought-out, and there is undeniable evidence showing how much time andeffort Estée and her team have put intothese eight episodes. The sophisticated yet charming nature of the podcast is the perfect companion, especially for those of you who are new to the marvellous universe of podcasts.
Available to listen to on Apple, Spotify, RSS, iHeart & Sticher.