Brigid Delaney is currently a political speechwriter. She was a journalist for The Guardian, and wrote popular weekly column, ‘Brigid Delaney’s Diary‘,’ which we little a little about in this interview. She wrote that column for eight years. It is so good. Like unbelievably and consistently funny, it’s stood the test of time. Read the cheese story and the mansion story mentioned in the episode—so good!

Brigid also wrote Wellmania, the book that the Netflix series is based.

But the main thing we talk a lot in this interview about is stoicism, which is the focus of her most recent book, Reasons Not to Worry.

I have wanted to speak to her about it for a long time.

Brigid wrote an article about stoicism when COVID first started, and it felt like it offered a sort of solace I didn’t’ see anywhere else. I am in no way a professional stoic but I the concepts I find useful, particularly from a creative perspective.

Brigid’s favourite quote or mantra:

Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together but do so with all your heart — Marcus Aurelius

The Next Step podcast is available via The First Time podcast feed.