For the third chapter of Tales of Hers, we sit down with broadcaster, podcaster and farm-dwelling mum of two Polly Harding: on busy, beautiful chaos, learning to slow down, and going a little easier on yourself.
You'll know Polly's voice from The Hits Drive, where she's on air each afternoon alongside Matty. More recently, you'll know her from her own podcast, Slow It Down: an honest, generous space about choosing a more balanced way to live.
Off air, she's at home on the farm with her husband and their two little ones, Charlie and Frankie, in what she lovingly calls her "busy, beautiful chaos era."
From the moment we spoke to Polly, she felt like an OF HERS woman through and through: warm, funny, real, and carrying a great deal while never once taking herself too seriously. So we asked if she'd join us for the next chapter of Tales of Hers. To our absolute delight, she said yes.
To Polly, thank you. For your time, your honesty, and for letting us into your world, chaos and all. We're so grateful to have your voice inside Tales of Hers.
We sent her the one leading question we will always begin with. What chapter are you in right now, and what is this version of you wearing? A few more followed, and what came back made us laugh, nod, and feel a little emotional, all at once.
On the chapter she is in.
"I am in my 2 kids 3 and under era! Still haven't weaned my 15 month old girl Frankie and working full time with a lot of travel in the mix. We are in our busy, beautiful chaos era! Oh and sleep?! What even is that?!
This version is currently wearing my gorgeous new Of Hers Sailor Collar Georgie Sweater in Grey Arquerite (woohoo, so lush!!!) with a pair of blue jeans!"
Busy, beautiful chaos. We can't think of a better way to describe this particular season, the kind where the days are full to the very brim and somehow still slip through your fingers. There's something grounding about a piece you can pull on without thinking and still feel completely like yourself in it. The Sailor Collar Georgie with a pair of blue jeans is exactly the sort of easy pairing we hoped for on busy days.
On slowing down.
"It is very ironic I started this podcast because if you know me, a lot of the time I am a chaotic hot mess. This podcast has been a wonderful reminder every week to try not just talk the talk but walk the walk. Especially in this wild ride that I am in at the moment. And it truly is way more about the small daily things that can be tweaked. ACTUALLY being present for a cup of coffee, a small 10 min meditation can be a total reset or even a gentle stretch before bed. It is really asking 'how can I gently nourish my nervous system today?'"
How can I gently nourish my nervous system today? What a question to keep in your back pocket. We love that slowing down doesn't have to be grand or unreachable, it's the cup of coffee you actually taste, the ten quiet minutes, the small stretch before bed. The little things, done on purpose.
On getting dressed across her worlds.
"Haha! Great question. Man, my fashion has evolved over the years and it is constantly changing. I used to wear so much colour and bright patterned items to express myself and I feel like I have really opted for comfort over anything since having babies. Often, I will be in activewear before work to trick myself in to doing a morning workout. Then, come work time you will often find me in jeans and a top. I am a jeans girl through and through! But I am looking to branch out a bit more as I rediscover my style after having kids so watch this space…"
Rediscovering your style after having children is its own chapter, finding your way back to the things that feel like you, in your own time. So much of what OF HERS is built around lives right here: the belief that ease and beauty are never opposites, that comfort and feeling good can absolutely be the same outfit. A jeans girl through and through. We'll be watching this space too.
On feeling most like herself.
"I find if I actually visualise an outfit ahead of time I feel way more confident in it and empowered wearing it. I think because I am actually more conscious of what I am wearing and I have put more thought and energy into it instead of slapping together something which doesn’t feel as thought out. A bright colour or a flattering top always makes me feel good!"
There's something so lovely in this, that confidence often comes from intention. From giving a little thought and energy to how we want to feel before the day begins. A bright colour. A top that's just right. Small, deliberate choices that change how you carry yourself.
On what she hopes Charlie and Frankie take from her.
"To be kind, to stay curious and know that they are far more capable than they think despite whatever the world tries to tell them. To ensure the voice in their head is one that is loving and to trust their gut above everything else!!! Ultimately I want them to be able to stand their ground and believe they can do anything they put their mind to."
To ensure the voice in their head is one that is loving. We read this one more than once, so beautiful and powerful all at once.
On not taking herself too seriously.
"I think becoming a parent is so humbling because no matter how much you plan, organise and envision your day to go things can flip in an instant and you have to learn to roll with the punches. Surrendering to this and being able to have a laugh at yourself is a far more enjoyable way to ride the hard times out instead of resisting and constantly feeling like a failure (which I am guilty of too). We are all just winging it together, have no real clue what we are doing and could be gone tomorrow. There is something quite liberating in that and I think if we remembered that more we wouldn’t take ourselves so damn seriously!"
We are all just winging it together. There's so much relief in that sentence. The permission to laugh at yourself, to stop performing the idea of having it all figured out. Nobody does. And there's something freeing in remembering it.
On who she is when the mic is off.
"I have always tried to be the most authentic version of myself behind the mic although that took a few years to master. I have thought about this a bit lately and sometimes worry I give the best version of myself to the radio and the exhausted one to my family as when I get home I am so exhausted. But overall, what you see on the radio is who I am… just maybe a more energiser bunny version."
We suspect every woman who gives a lot of herself to her work has felt this exact worry, we certainly have. The honesty here is its own kind of generosity, and the truth that the version on the radio and the version at home are the same person, just with different amounts left in the tank some days.
On letting go.
"Ooh I love this question. The concept of balance being a working mum. It just doesn’t exist. You are never going to get it 50/50 in perfect harmony because that just isn’t realistic. Some days will require so much more attention and energy for your kids and work will have to take a backseat and then sometimes work will ramp up and you feel like a failure of a mum! But it all ebbs and flows and over time finds a rhythm. There are seasons for everything and you can’t be everything to everyone at the same time. Give yourself some grace and learn to talk to yourself like a loving best friend because guess who is with you for the long run? You! So treat yourself with some damn respect and go a little easier on yourself. Pep talk over but you’re doing way better than you think."
We could not have written a better note to end on.
Talk to yourself like a loving best friend. Go a little easier on yourself. You're doing way better than you think.
There's a reason Polly felt so right for this chapter. She's many things at once, broadcaster, podcaster, wife, the mum in the busy beautiful chaos, the friend who makes you laugh until you cry and she carries all of it with humour and heart and a refreshing refusal to pretend it's tidy.
To the women winging it together, the ones rediscovering their style, the ones learning to talk to themselves a little more kindly.
This one is for you.
With love,
Rachael& Georgie x
You can hear Polly on The Hits Drive, listen to her podcast Slow It Down, and follow her on Instagram @pjdeejay.
