The JOY Broadcast with Ali Mortimer
Episode: Joy, love & nostalgia with "Boo & Bambi!"
Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Ali Mortimer (the JOY Coach)
Guest: Her sister, Alex (“Bambi Bird”/“Bams”)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the themes of joy, love, nostalgia, and sisterhood as Ali invites her sister, Alex (a.k.a. Bambi or Bams), to share heartfelt memories, laughter, and candid reflections. Set against the backdrop of their recent trip to the Maldives to celebrate Ali’s 50th birthday, the sisters explore what brings them joy, how they navigate loss, and the quirks that make their bond special. Using a “300 Questions” game, they reveal insights about nostalgia, life’s turning points, the impact of motherhood, and the lessons learned from loss.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Unique Sister Bond
- Ali introduces Bambi, describing her as her lifelong rock and the person who brings out a different side of her. This episode promises a look behind the usual “JOY Coach” persona, showcasing the chemistry and differences between the sisters.
- Quote (02:26, Bambi): “We sound so alike. No one's gonna be able to tell who's talking.”
2. Nostalgia and Family Memories
- The sisters jump into questions about nostalgia, discussing what triggers it for them—songs, smells, and anniversaries of loved ones.
- Ali (03:33): “Songs, I think, or smells. Songs and smells make me feel nostalgic... it was obviously the anniversary of Mum dying this week... Anything by Elvis will make me think of her and that makes me nostalgic.”
- Bambi (04:02): “Smells. Probably a really strong one for me. Yeah. I don't think I get as nostalgic as you. I think I take after Dad and can leave the past in the past.”
- They share childhood stories (boarding school, funny bathroom anecdotes), illustrating how memories are often clearer and more meaningful when shared.
3. Life Defining Moments and Loss
- Discussing what changed their worldview, both agree that their mother’s death was a pivotal moment.
- Ali (21:08): “Mum dying, interestingly, massively for me… I remember just thinking in 2016... do you know what? I've got one life, you know, we've got to live it.”
- The experience of motherhood is another major life change, bringing both immense joy and responsibility.
- Ali (08:59): “The experience of seeing and holding Tom for the first time and being a mum… you can never describe that first feeling of holding your first child.”
- Bambi (10:04): “What I do remember... is probably that closeness with Rich during that time… I don't think I've ever felt so close to someone going, you know, going through something that was quite traumatic...”
4. Humor, Quirks & Daily Joys
- The conversation is peppered with laughter and honest, unfiltered sharing about personal quirks:
- Running jokes about Ali’s “toilet anxiety” (06:57), traveling pants, and the sisters’ ability to laugh at themselves.
- Ali (12:18): “If you’re in my body, definitely don’t eat any kind of bean. Otherwise you will just literally bloat and fart throughout the day. Is that too much information?”
5. Imagining Different Futures
- The sisters dream about what they’d do if they suddenly inherited money, with candid reflections on their priorities.
- Ali (14:45): “A hundred thousand pounds would help us finish our house... If we had 10 million... we would always just use it to have a lot of fun in the best way we possibly could.”
- Bambi (16:19): “I'd be ringing you and say, do you want to go back to Maldives for two months? No kids, no husbands, just us again.”
6. Regrets, Kids, and Worries for the Future
- Ali says she lives to avoid regrets by using tools of perspective-shifting and staying conscious about her actions.
- Ali (27:13): “I don’t think I have any regrets because I’ve lived to make sure that I don’t have regrets.”
- Bambi shares common feelings of guilt over “not spending enough quality time” with her kids, and both sisters discuss anxieties over their children’s future in an uncertain world.
7. The Search for Empathy & Self-Care
- Bambi reflects on transitioning from a more judgmental attitude to empathy:
- Bambi (33:43): “I think... someone said something to me... You don't know what kind of morning that mother had... I think it's just that kind of change from being quite a judgmental person to being a much more empathetic person.”
- Ali (32:11): “JOY is the acronym for just on you. You have to spend some time every single day focusing just on yourself so that you can expand your capacity...”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On changing after loss:
- Ali (21:08): “Mum dying massively for me... I remember just thinking... we have one life, you know, we’ve got to live it.”
- On describing the unique experience of meeting your child:
- Ali (09:01): “The experience of seeing and holding Tom for the first time... I don’t think you can ever describe that first feeling... quite a unique experience of just overwhelming love.”
- On travel memories and quirks:
- Bambi (08:43): “But I’ve got my comfy pants on. And you were so upset that you put your comfy travelling pants on, wasted them on a day.”
- On the importance of walking (and self-care):
- Ali (13:55): “Go for a walk. I think going for a walk is totally underrated. I love my walks. I don’t like it when I can’t walk.”
- On teaching children about the future:
- Ali (24:46): "As long as we teach them to be good human beings, kind human beings that can think for themselves, that can create relationships, you know, we've got to set them up with the right morals and ethics, haven't we?"
- On regrets and parenting:
- Bambi (28:11): “I think probably not spending enough quality time with the kids.”
- On empathy and judgment:
- Bambi (33:43): “You just have to think what kind of morning has that mother had where she's had to bribe her kids with ice creams... I think it's just that kind of change from being quite a judgmental person to being a much more empathetic person.”
- Ali’s mission:
- (36:21): “My mission is to spread love, joy, peace and abundance to as much of the world as I possibly can, so that every person knows that they don't have to walk alone in their darkness.”
Memorable Timestamps
- 00:01–02:26 – Ali introduces the theme, her sister, and their Maldives adventure
- 03:30–05:51 – Nostalgia: Songs, smells, and the anniversary of their mother’s death
- 08:59–11:37 – The unique love of becoming a mother; birth stories
- 12:03–14:35 – Humorous “stranger inhabiting your body” and self-deprecating banter
- 14:45–17:20 – Fantasizing about newfound wealth; priorities and dreams
- 21:08–24:04 – Reflections on loss, mortality, and life perspective shifts
- 24:46–26:41 – Fears about the future for their children
- 27:13–29:07 – Regrets (or lack thereof) and parenting pressure
- 33:43–35:01 – Mantras and the evolution from judgment to empathy
Closing Reflections
The warmth, humor, and authenticity shared between Ali and Bambi make this a heartwarming episode filled with relatable moments about family, loss, joy, and self-compassion. Their conversation encourages listeners to savor the present, cherish relationships, invest in self-care, and strive for empathy both with oneself and others.
Enduring message:
“JOY is the acronym for just on you. You have to spend some time every single day focusing just on yourself so that you can expand your capacity to hold everything else that you've got going on in your life.” — Ali (32:11)