Tell Her
Tell Her - Extraordinary Ordinary Women
In Tell Her, I sit down with inspiring women, many of whom I’ve met as clients in my hair loss clinic, to explore their incredible life journeys. Each guest reflects on what they would tell their past, present, and future self if they could offer her heartfelt advice.
Our conversations shine a light on the resilience and strength of ordinary women doing extraordinary things. From navigating health challenges to surviving domestic abuse, undergoing treatments, and balancing work amidst adversity, these stories reveal the courage and wisdom that often go unnoticed.
Join us for real, raw, and uplifting discussions that celebrate the beauty of perseverance and the power of shared experiences.
Tell Her
Living Through War, Living With Dementia
In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of the Tell Her podcast, Sharni sits down with her longest-standing client, an extraordinary woman now 87 years young who has truly lived through it all.
Together, they explore her deeply personal journey navigating life alongside her beloved husband Ken, who was diagnosed with dementia. She speaks candidly about the broken care system, nearly losing their home to afford care, and the emotional toll of advocating for someone you love.
But her story doesn’t stop there. She also takes us back to her childhood during World War II, sharing memories of rationing, evacuation, and the strength it took to grow up in such uncertain times.
This conversation is a powerful reflection on resilience, love, and the importance of community. And spoiler alert it ran so long (and was so full of giggles and bloopers!) that we had to split it into two parts. Stay tuned for part two!
00:00 Introduction to the Tell Her Podcast
00:16 Life on the Move: From Hull to Kent
01:25 Settling Down for the Kids
01:43 Meeting Ken: A Love Story
02:08 Navigating Early Marriage and Career
07:58 Facing Dementia: Ken's Diagnosis
16:08 Challenges of Caring for a Loved One
30:50 The Struggles with Social Services
33:53 Exploring Care Home Options
35:02 Financial Struggles and Assessments
36:18 Social Services and Housing Issues
38:36 Systemic Issues and Personal Experiences
49:40 Reflections on War and Rationing
58:27 Advocating for Dementia Care
01:05:37 Challenges of Aging and Socializing
01:08:52 Struggles with Weekends
01:09:25 Coping with Loneliness
01:11:52 Cooking and Socializing
01:16:15 Reflections on Life and Regrets
01:22:11 Challenges with Dementia Care
01:27:57 Advocating for Better Care
01:40:00 Concluding Thoughts
🧠 What is Dementia?
- Alzheimer’s Association gives a comprehensive definition and explanation: “Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.”
wired.com+8
dementiauk.org+8
england.nhs.uk+8
alz.org+1
alz.org+1 - NHS’ dementia guide explains causes, symptoms, diagnosis, living well, and care pathways.
ABOUT YOUR HOST — SHARNI KNIGHTON
I’m Sharni Knighton, the creator and host of Tell Her. I was inspired to start this podcast after meeting so many extraordinary ordinary women through my hair loss and wig clinic. I wanted to give these women a space to share their stories and help them realize that what they see as “ordinary” is truly extraordinary.
As an educator, I also train stylists in the hair loss industry around the world — and I’m passionate about showing them who these incredible women are. I believe you should only step into this work if you’re ready to truly help and connect with the women you serve.
✨ Connect with my work:
- Hair Loss & Wig Clinic → www.sharniknighton.co.uk
- Training Academy → www.sharniknightonacademy.com
- IntelliMESH Product Line → www.intellimesh.co.uk
✨ Follow on social:
- TikTok → @sharniknighton
- Podcast TikTok → @tell.her.podcast
