FEATURE:
Trouble…in a Good Way
IN THIS PHOTO: CEO and Founder of ByErim, Erim Kaur, will speak at The Trouble Club on 28th June
Returning to a Brilliant and Inclusive Club (and Offering a Personal Apology)
__________
I am going to look ahead…
IN THIS PHOTO: Jess Davies was compelling when she was The Trouble Club’s guest on 20th May at Ladbroke Hall/PHOTO CREDIT: Rhiannon Holland
to events until the end of June. It is quite a packed schedule for The Trouble Club! I am going to start by looking back at events I have attended recently that left an impression. I will end by stating why the ever-evolving and diverse club is one that constantly provides inspiration, community, importance and urgency. The range of speakers that have appeared blows the mind! Even though I have a sort of wish-list of people I would like to see there – including a returning Laura Bates, Michaela Coel, Lauren Laverne, Jameela Jamil, Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson and a whole host of musicians, actors and authors -, the women who do appear are fantastic! If you have not joined yet and are enjoying membership then I would recommend it. You can find them on Instagram. Led by their brilliant Owner and CEO Ellie Newton, the fabulous team hosts these incredible and memorable events at a range of interesting spaces through London (they also host events in Manchester). I am going to end with a bit of a personal apology as one of my best/worst traits is booking tickets to events with The Trouble Club before I check if I am available or can get there in time – which sometimes means having to cancel and disappoint myself! However, I am going to look back at some phenomenal events I have attended since my previous feature about The Trouble Club. I will omit a few, though you can check out their schedule and some of the events past and ones coming up. Even though I will not go into detail about Fats Timbo, Viv Groskop or Sanam Mahloudji, they were great events that I thoroughly enjoyed (and I mentioned them in my previous Trouble feature from March). I am going to start off by looking at the wonderful evening at The Ministry (in Borough) where I and other Trouble members attended The Life of a Black Woman DJ with DJ Paulette on 15th April (I also mentioned Paulette in my previous feature but want to come back to her as she was especially engaging and extraordinary). Earlier this year, Paulette spoke with Mancunion about a book that everyone needs to own:
“When they approached me to write [the novel], I was like yeah, I’ve got loads of material,” she reflected, thinking of the decades of diaries that encompassed her personal and professional journey. However, this was seemingly not enough, with editors through the writing process advising against Welcome to the Club’s narrative: “They said it’s not sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll enough”. This struck a nerve.
“When people were telling me that my story wasn’t relevant”, she was coerced to question “why is your story relevant and mine isn’t?” Beginning the writing process in 2021, “this is when the world had changed” for Black writers such as herself. No longer was their writing being immediately dismissed. Following the reignition of the Black Lives Matter movement in the early pandemic, “people were now looking for that story” she reflected, “it became possible to talk about the Black experience and to see that as relevant”.
Paulette reminisced on the early period of her career in a similar way, writing in her first chapter, Finders Keepers: “I fought for recognition” and a space “in the boy’s club”. It’s obvious from the novel that this fight was not something that ceased quickly for her.
The recognition of non-white creatives and consumption of their work increased in the following years, while feeling like relatively distant history now, which created a collective mindset shift towards Black creatives. Alongside creating more opportunities, it also created more frustrations. I enquired into the responsibility that intrinsically comes with such an intersectional identity as DJ Paulette, and the frustrations of only being spoken of as a queer, Black, female DJ – never just a DJ. She simply explained, “I have to be a representative and I have to lean into that. I’m okay with that”.
Whilst this representational responsibility within the creative sphere is something that Paulette acknowledges, she continued, “Sometimes it’s frustrating, you know, I can’t speak for everyone, not every Black, female DJ is from Manchester or working-class but also studied at university and wrote her own book”. For her, Welcome to the Club is creating visibility of one life, a life that could be relatable, enlightening or inspiring. “When I started there was no one – so I wanted to be that”.
Titling the novel The life and lessons of a Black woman DJ she encompasses its purpose. Paulette is a singular Black woman DJ using her 30-year career to project this experience in an attempt to enlighten people who are similar and opposing to her.
The book is a written role model, the protagonist a unique identity navigating the creative world: “I didn’t want to just put myself out there but the fact that I exist – not even that I exist but that it exists and it is possible”. ‘It’. Queer. Black. Working-class. Northern. Woman. Success.
“I didn’t want it to be a me-biography”, she mused, “I wanted to focus on the music, focussing on the personal story but only from the point of where I had discovered this self – this self that I still am”. The novel begins in 1992, when DJ Paulette was still just Paulette, halfway through her degree, halfway through her divorce, and her first DJ gig had just fallen into her hands.
Beginning chronologically, we are taken through the beginnings of her DJ career. “What happened from 2002 to 2008, when I was in Paris, was I started to experience the real-life politics of it”. During this chapter (London to Paris: Eurostar), the novel “stops being a story of me and becomes a story of the career, of being a female creative”.
Why did you not want to write a me-biography as you phrased earlier? She replied, “I’m not dead. I’m still working, I’m still DJing and I didn’t want to feel like I’m shutting off because I’m still going”. While the highs and lows of her career undoubtedly shaped the DJ Paulette that we listen to today, “I wanted the book to really make a space the foundation of the job [instead of] people seeing it as a hobby you can just retire”. The novel has a much higher purpose than outlining one person’s DJing career, “I want politicians to read it and to get to understand what the culture is”.
A contender for the all-time best Trouble Club event happened at Union Chapel on 30th April. SLAGS! An Evening with Emma Jane Unsworth & Dolly Alderton was electric! The beautiful venue packed in hundreds of people – perhaps the most-attended event The Trouble Club have held in years – to witness something truly special. You should buy Emma Jane Unsworth’s book, as I have started reading it and can thoroughly recommend it! Because this interview from The Guardian caught my eye, and it is in promotion of SLAGS!, I wanted to include sections from it here:
“My favourite book growing up
After my nanna’s Mills & Boons, stolen from her bedside table, I’d have to say Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. Another iconic ginge. Also Anne and Gilbert were the greatest “will they/won’t they?” until Mulder and Scully in The X Files.
The book that changed me as a teenager
Like a lot of 90s teenagers, I loved Judy Blume’s Forever. Thanks to Judy for putting it all out there, especially birth control. Not sure I’ll ever get over the idea of a penis called “Ralph”, but on the demystification front it was otherwise flawless.
The writer who changed my mind
In my early 30s Jennifer Egan showed me what books could do; the playfulness of A Visit From the Goon Squad was really inspiring. I’m also grateful to Maggie Nelson for The Argonauts, and to other writers who have written about motherhood and bodies so honestly and brazenly.
The book that made me want to be a writer
The Romantic poets are to blame for this! All those passionate feelings and excesses. And the symbolists. Let’s chuck them in there. I was a wreck when I discovered Yeats. I genuinely think most of my career has been a massive “I’ll show you” campaign in reaction to Yeats.
The book or author I came back to
I didn’t get Patricia Highsmith for a long time. People kept telling me to read her but I kept getting stuck. Then I hit my 40s and something clicked. Now I think Strangers on a Train must be one of my favourite books, and such an education in how to write effective, elegant humour.
The book I reread
Wintering by Katherine May. I find this book so soothing. I listen to it on audiobook, over and over. It’s such a good antidote to the stresses of modern life. I feel like it resets my nervous system. I dip in and out of it, like an ice bath. Which is possibly the most middle-aged thing I have ever said.
The book I could never read again
Anything by anyone I’ve ever dated and then been ghosted by, you know who you are”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Mónica Feria-Tinta
A venue I did not even know existed, The Magic Circle Theatre London, hosted two incredible and different speakers on 7th May. I was there to see Trouble Meets Ferne McCann and A Barrister for the Earth: Meet Mónica Feria-Tinta. Both brilliant, I would recommend you read this interview with Ferne McCann about her new podcast and motherhood. If you have not bought A Barrister for the Earth: Ten Cases of Hope for Our Future by Mónica Feria-Tinta, then do so now. I was moved by both events and came away learning a lot. Questions were asked, but I had more based on what they said, so those talks stayed with me. I am going to move to two more recent events before casting ahead to future ones I am looking forward to – and one or two I am sadly unable to attend. On 20th May, I was lucky enough to be at Ladbroke Hall for No One Wants To See Your D*ck with Jess Davies. I have fanboyed quite a bit over Davies’s book, No One Wants to See Your D*ck. It is a remarkable, important, often shocking and personal book. I am re-reading it now and learning new things. I follow Jess Davies on Twitter and Instagram, and her content is always so important. What she shares and discusses. She was so candid, funny, bold, brilliant and sharp for that Trouble event. An incredible writer and speaker, her knowledge, intellect and passion was hugely impressive (that sounds patronising; I was just a bit mesmerised by that evening!). There are great interviews with Davies (including this from Quake), but I want to take once more from a fabulous interview from The Guardian, where Davies talked about No One Wants to See Your D*ck and personal experiences online. Having images of her shared when she was so young. She talked about that with The Trouble Club - and it was heartbreaking. When she speaks about it, there is no doubt other women can relate:
“Her book sets the spotlight firmly back on the perpetrators to ask how their online behaviour could ever be accepted as “normal”, or “just what happens”. Davies doesn’t have to look very hard to find activity that should disturb anyone: nudify requests where AI apps are used to create fake nude images (“nudify my sister/cousin/mum/dead wife”); the collector culture – “One thread, for example, where someone requests images of girls from Birmingham or my home town Aberystwyth, gets hundreds of thousands of views because men from those places click on them,” she says. “Someone would say: ‘Has anyone got X from Plymouth?’ And men would reply: ‘Yes, I’ve got her, have you got Y?’ For me, that really hit home. These are men in our daily lives who we see every single day, whether it’s in the shops or at the school gate, or in our homes.”
Davies saw things she almost wishes she hadn’t. A game called “Risk”, for example, which has various versions but the premise is that someone posts a woman’s picture and if someone else “catches” it – by responding within five minutes – the original poster has to give him the woman’s full name and socials. One man was “risking” pictures of his mate’s wife and daughter. When asked how his own wife would react if she knew, he replied: “Divorce, no questions asked. She’s a bit of a prude. The risk makes it hotter somehow.”
Her book describes several games like this. In “Captions” someone posts a picture and the real name of a woman and others create detailed captions, usually involving violent rape and humiliation fantasies. In “Make Me Ashamed” someone posts a picture of his mum, for example, and invites the most graphic response in order to make him regret it. She sees cybermobbings play out: someone posts a picture of a girl with freckles and “kind brown eyes” along with her contact details and the instruction, “Go ruin her”. Others add, “Let her know she’s a whore” and “Tell her how she needs to get fucked”. At this point, Davies says, looking at this gently smiling, oblivious girl, she felt a crushing weight on her chest.
Still, Davies is glad she saw all this. “Those men exist in such an anonymous, secretive world and I’m glad I know what they’re talking about, what they’re doing,” she says. Her book includes pages of advice on how to protect yourself online – how to have content removed, how to block and report, how to call this out, where to seek help – and also looks at projects to tackle it. Davies herself goes into schools and talks to boys. She points to the loss of community and the decimation of youth services – in England, there was a £1.1bn cut in funding between 2010 and 2021. The internet has filled this void. “The boys I speak to are usually 14 to 19 and some have never had a conversation about consent before,” she says. “How are we expecting so much from them when they are blasted with content telling them to act a certain way?”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Georgina Sturge
One more event from the past before looking ahead to a selection coming up. Muslims Don’t Matter: Sayeeda Warsi in Conversation was at Covent Garden’s The Conduit and happened on 22nd May. You can buy her book here. It was a powerful and incredible event. I have not mentioned how important the interviewer is in making the events so captivating. Usually Ellie Newton – but not for each and every one -, I always take something away from every Trouble Club event. On Wednesday (28th May), there is A History of the UK in Data with Georgina Sturge. Taking place at SPACES Camden, this is one that is particularly interesting. Facts, figures and history all in one event:
“Almost everything in life can be reduced down to data. Facts and figures can open our eyes to the most exciting of possibilities and the most terrifying of threats. No one knows this more than Georgina Sturge. Georgina is the House of Commons Library statistician. When MPs need numbers, they come to her.
Join us as we explore the times the UK has counted itself - from the revolutionary first census of 1801 to modern worries over technological surveillance. Condensing a whole society into numbers brought hidden problems to light: mapping cholera deaths in Soho led researchers to a single deadly water pump and the discovery that industries like firework-making were almost entirely staffed by women helped improve workers' rights.
Records reveal the remarkable presence of escaped American slaves living in nineteenth century Leeds, and that by 1901 there were 600 professional Italian cooks in the UK. Sturge also tracks those who have resisted the state's attempts at tabulation - people burning survey forms, stripping naked in protest and, in the case of 500 Suffragettes, avoiding the 1911 census by skating all night round Aldwych roller rink”.
One thing that is quite new for The Trouble Club is holding two events in the same venue. It means you get this double-header where you can either see one or both of those interviews. Table for One with Emma Gannon and He Said, She Said with Award-Winning Barrister Charlotte Proudman will be at Marylebone Theatre on 3rd June. There is a bit of a downside but, as I will explain a bit at the end, there are also some big benefits to this type of event. I shall provide a bit of information about both before moving on. From Trouble’s website, here is what you can expect from Emma Gannon (where she will discuss her book, Table for One):
“We have been fans of Emma Gannon for YEARS and she is finally gracing the Trouble stage to talk about the most important relationship we’ll ever experience…the one with ourselves!
The award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author of eight books has just written the ultimate novel for those wanting to put the focus squarely back on themselves.
Funny, fierce and life-affirming, TABLE FOR ONE is a love letter to you. If in doubt, date yourself!
Join us as we meet the acclaimed author to discuss her career to date and how she manages to create the most brilliant yet relatable reads. We’ll discuss heartbreak, major life transformations and ultimately becoming comfortable at a table for one.
EMMA GANNON is the award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author of eight books, including her latest non-fiction, A Year of Nothing, and Olive, her debut novel, which was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award. Emma also runs the popular Substack newsletter, The Hyphen, hosts creativity retreats all over the world, and she is a judge for the 2025 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction”.
He Said, She Said: Truth, Trauma and the Struggle for Justice in Family Court by Charlotte Proudman will be discussed following the interview with Emma Gannon. Go and buy Proudman’s essential book. I am looking forward to hearing what she has to say. Someone else I follow on social media, her content is so vital. Below are more details regarding what you can expect if you are coming along to the event on 3rd June:
“The family courts are failing the very people they’re meant to protect. Women seeking safety from abuse are instead met with disbelief, hostility, and a system that too often sides with their abusers. Award-winning barrister Charlotte Proudman will expose these injustices - both in the courtroom and beyond.
In this powerful and urgent discussion, Charlotte will reveal the harrowing real-life cases she has encountered, the misogyny embedded in the legal profession, and the systemic failures that continue to harm women. She will share the voices of those silenced for too long and offer a compelling vision for reform.
This won’t just be a conversation - it will be a call to action. Don’t miss it.
“Dr Charlotte Proudman is an award-winning barrister, academic, and campaigner Charlotte represents survivors of rape, domestic abuse and controlling behaviour in the family courts whilst also challenging misconceptions across the sector. She uses her knowledge and experience of the justice system to advocate for legal change and protect victims.” Legal 500”.
Six more events that I shall get through fairly quickly. One of the biggest that The Trouble Club have organised – in terms of the reaction the speaker will get – is one that I am a bit upset about. I shall explain why later. At St Johns Hyde Park on 9th June, Still Beautiful with Katie Piper is happening.
“Katie Piper is one of the most compelling voices on trauma, recovery, and self-worth today.
In her characteristically unfiltered and deeply compassionate style, Katie will join us at The Trouble Club to talk about the realities of aging in a society obsessed with youth, the pressure to remain flawless, and how beauty ideals often silence the more powerful stories women carry with them.
We will discuss how trauma, recovery, and time reshape not just our bodies but also our sense of self. Katie brings unique insight into how we can reclaim our identities as we age, challenge narrow standards of appearance, and stop apologising for the natural process of growing older.
Expect frank conversation, quiet strength, and fierce encouragement. This is not about going back. It’s about moving forward.
Katie Piper OBE is an international bestselling author, inspirational speaker, TV presenter and charity campaigner. She is a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women and a presenter for BBC Radio 2. Katie shared her remarkable story in a Channel 4 documentary called ‘Katie: My Beautiful Face’, which was watched by over 3.5 million viewers and nominated for a BAFTA in 2010”.
Her book, Still Beautiful: On Age, Beauty and Owning Your Space, is out on 6th June. It is one you will want to buy. I am looking forward to reading it. Many people will have heard of Katie Piper but might not know her story and the trauma she has experienced. This book is going to be a very moving and emotional read:
“Age is a gift not everybody is given…
When a life-threatening acid-attack left Katie Piper physically and visibly scarred at just 24, her approach to ageing was irrevocably changed: she now sees each passing year as a reminder of the privilege of being alive.
Over a decade on from sharing her story for the first time, Katie reflects on what it means to age well within a world that has too often made women feel irrelevant or invisible for going through the natural ageing process.
From how to know your worth to how to take up space in a society that tells you to be small, this book will help you cultivate a confidence you can depend on and find the real beauty in getting older”.
I am really looking forward to Madame Matisse! With Sophie Haydock on 12th June at The Hearth in Queen’s Park. I have seen Sophie Haydock speak with The Trouble Club before, so it is going to be great to hear her discuss her new book. I would advise anyone who has not booked a ticket for this event to go and do so as it is going to be really interesting:
“Join us for an intimate evening with award-winning author and journalist Sophie Haydock as she discusses her latest novel, Madame Matisse. This captivating work delves into the lives of three remarkable women - Amélie Matisse, Lydia Delectorskaya, and Marguerite Matisse - who were integral to the life and art of the renowned French painter Henri Matisse.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1930s France, Madame Matisse brings to light the untold stories of these women, exploring themes of love, ambition, sacrifice, and the complexities of muse-artist relationships. Haydock's meticulous research and evocative storytelling offer a fresh perspective on the art world, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of women in shaping artistic legacies.
During the event, Haydock will share insights into her writing process, the historical context of her characters, and the inspiration behind bringing these women's narratives to the forefront”.
Spitfires, Helicopters & Life in the Sky: Trouble Meets Pilot Katherine Moloney is going to be fascinating. Taking place on 18th June at The Tab Centre Shoreditch, I did not know much about Katherine Moloney but was really curious. The statistic around women pilots in the U.K. is really shocking, so this is going to be an evening that will shine a light on that and raise some powerful and necessary questions:
“Currently, only 5% of pilots in the UK are women. Katherine Moloney is on a mission to change this.
Get ready to go wheels up with one of the most dynamic voices in aviation today. Trouble is sitting down with pilot Katherine Moloney for a wide-ranging Q&A that spans vintage warbirds, modern helicopters, and everything in between.
From flying Spitfires with precision to piloting helicopters with ease, Katherine will join us to dive into life behind the joy stick. But it’s not just about the machines, this conversation is about the mindset, the grit, and the purpose behind it all which for Katherine includes Elevate (her), a growing community designed to support, mentor, and elevate women who are chasing big dreams in aviation and beyond.
Expect stories from the sky and insights into leadership, resilience, and ambition. Whether you are an aviation nerd or someone looking for inspiration to live bolder, this is not one to miss”.
A rescheduled event, All the Other Mothers Hate Me with Sarah Harman is on 28th June at the beautiful Conway Hall. Another book that you need to get, it is notable that this event takes place on a Saturday. The Trouble Club has social events at weekends but not many of their main events like this. It is a good opportunity for those busy with work to turn out. I am looking forward to being at Conway Hall for the morning:
“Sarah Harman is a recovering journalist with over a decade of experience reporting on major breaking news around the world. After years of reporting the biggest stories, Sarah has turned her hand to creating the drama instead.
Sarah will join us to discuss this year’s biggest thriller, All the Other Mothers Hate Me which was acquired in a major 9-way auction and is soon to be adapted for screen by the makers of The Bear.
'SPIKY, WITTY, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR' PANDORA SYKES
'AN ABSOLUTELY WILD RIDE: IMAGINE IF THE WRITERS OF MOTHERLAND TRIED THEIR HANDS AT A MISSING PERSON MYSTERY’ INDEPENDENT
All the Other Mothers Hate Me is set to be a blockbuster. Join us as we meet Sarah to discuss how she created this incredible thriller”.
The final two upcoming events take place at Conway Hall on the same day. In a first I think, we have three events at the same venue on the same day. That could change if things get rejigged but, after Sarah Harman at 11 a.m., there is a break before we go back for Building A Beauty Empire with Erim Kaur at 5 p.m. Perhaps an event you would think I would not be that interested in – most of those attending will be women -, I am excited to hear Kaur speak:
“What do you get when you mix a grandmother’s kitchen table, sheer grit, and a vision for modern beauty rooted in heritage? You get ByErim, the viral hair and beard oil brand built from scratch by none other than Erim Kaur, one of the most compelling young founders in beauty today.
Join us for an energising conversation with Erim as she shares her early life story, the real origin of her business (hint: it includes late nights, homemade formulas, and plenty of hustle), and the rollercoaster of scaling a brand that now commands a cult following.
We’ll dive into:
The ByErim kitchen-table-to-cult-brand journey
The highs and heartbreaks of being a founder in the spotlight
What it takes to create a brand that always sells out
How Erim became the largest female Sikh influencer in the UK
And - of course, what it means to be a troublemaker for good in today’s business world
This is Trouble meets entrepreneurial grit. Don’t miss it.
Erim Kaur is the CEO & Founder of ByErim which has sold over 100,000 units worldwide, with retailers in the UK and the UAE. After winning Natwest x Telegraph’s female Entrepreneur of the year, she was then selected to be part of the cohort for Goldman Sachs x Oxford University mini MBA. Erim has built a loyal following of over 750,000 across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Erim is the largest female Sikh influencer in the UK”.
Right after Erim Kaur is Trouble Meets Entrepreneur Grace Beverley. There are some great interviews with Beverley (including this one from last year). If you have not booked a ticket or know much about the speaker, here are some more details:
“A serial entrepreneur, changemaker and one of our most requested speakers at Trouble, Grace Beverley is an innovator by nature. Founder of activewear brand TALA, fitness tech brand Shreddy, and personal organisation brand The Productivity Method, and Co-Founder of AI company Retrograde, Beverley has a global following of over 3 million people.
Join us as we meet this incredible force in the world of business. We’ll discuss building outstanding organisations, finding purpose and beating procrastination. Known for confronting big topics in an informal & accessible way, Grace is a leading voice on female funding, the representation of women in media, sustainable fashion and entry into entrepreneurship, which she has spoken about on BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour, Bloomberg News and Vogue Business.
Despite tackling mammoth topics, Grace will prove that you don't need to take yourself too seriously to be a revered businesswoman”.
The Trouble Club is growing all of the time. A new team with a range of different interviewers (though Ellie Newton takes most of the events), there are these new venues to explore. I am ending with a bit of a personal apology. I did mention how I book nearly every event coming up. When the text comes through announcing new stuff, I always jump in and book my ticket! Time was when the events all pretty much started at 7 p.m. and the venues were mostly within a short distance of where I work. Though a necessary move, many are now starting early, so it is impossible to get to them on time (as I finish work at 5/5:30 p.m.). It does mean that I will miss at least one coming up. I will not be able to see Katie Piper, which I am gutted about – as I cannot get to Hyde Park so quickly after work that evening. I might also miss the start of Emma Gannon, though I might just about be able to make it. Apologies to Ellie Newton, as I try and make as many events as possible but realise I might need to U-turn or be a bit tardy to one or two coming up soon. That is why Saturday events are great. The ones that start at 7 too. I suppose various venues are only free at particular times, so you have to grab what you can. However, it is sad to have to pass on some events because of the early start (and I have a couple of tickets I might need to donate back because of the starting times). In any case, I have at least six or seven upcoming events in the next month that I will be able to get to – so it is not like I am missing out! A big thanks to Ellie Newton and her amazing team for always putting on these wonderful events with some compelling and brilliant women. I hope (and know) that The Trouble Club keeps going for many years to come. If you are not a member already then I would strongly urge you to…
CHANGE that now.