Jessica Hepburn - Jessica Hepburn

Jessica Hepburn: Unlikely-athlete-turned-record-breaker inspiring people to #livebigandbrave when life doesn’t go to plan Everest Summiteer | Channel Swimmer | Marathon Runner |Desert Island Discs Devotee | #AdventureMind Ambassador Your Shit is Your Superpower!

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New book. Out now.

Jessica Hepburn poses with an oversized copy of the book cover for Save Me From the Waves. A roundel on the image reads Stanfords Book of the Month

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Introducing

Save me from the Waves: The Adventure Retreat

Save Me From the Waves – the adventure retreat

In association with SwimQuest

NEWS: I’m launching my first ever three day and week-long ‘in person’ retreats

Formentera, Spain – May 2025

Scotland – December 2024 (SOLD OUT) & December 2025

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Books

Save Me from the Waves | 21 Miles | The Pursuit of Motherhood

Jessica Hepburn's three book covers: Save me from the Waves, 21 Miles, and The Pursuit of Motherhood

Currently being developed for the screen by Erebus Pictures & the BFI, adapted by Anoushka Warden

New Book: Save Me From the Waves

Stanfords ‘Book of the Month’

‘A truly inspirational woman’ Maxine Peake

‘Deeply moving’ Ann Daniels, Polar Explorer

‘Funny, sad, always hopeful’ Psychologies Magazine

21 Miles

Swimming in search of the meaning of motherhood

An Outdoor Swimming Society Book of the Year

A Mumsnet Summer Read

‘Just delicious’ Lisa Faulkner

The Pursuit of Motherhood

Amazon Bestseller

‘A must read’ Kate Brian, Author of the Complete Guide to IVF

Adventures

‘Unlikely Athlete’ becomes the first woman in the world to complete ‘The Sea, Street, Summit Challenge’ –
swim the English Channel; run a road marathon (London); and summit Mount Everest

Sea

English Channel Swimmer, 2015

Street

London Marathon Runner, 2017

Summit

Everest | Chomolungma Summiteer, 2022

Arts

Save me from the Waves: The Adventure Retreat - book now

Save Me From the Waves: The Adventure Retreat

Co-Founder and Director, 2016 – 2019

Lyric Theatre Hammersmith exterior

Executive Director, 2005-2015

Save me from the Waves: The Adventure Retreat - book now

Save Me From the Waves: The Adventure Retreat

Fertility Fest: the world's first arts festival dedicated to fertility, infertility, the science of making babies and modern families

Co-Founder and Director, 2016 – 2019

Lyric Theatre Hammersmith exterior

Executive Director, 2005-2015

Awards & Ambassadorships

Jessica Hepburn receives the Fertility Foundation's Fertility Hero Award

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Press, Podcasts & All That Stuff

Jessica's appearances in The Telegraph, Channel 5, and Woman's Hour

Latest Press, Media & more

Events & Talks

Jessica Hepburn gives a talk on stage at an event

Upcoming Events

Substack

The Three Most Important Things I’ve Learnt About Life – So Far.

1. Live Big and Brave
Live big and brave has been my personal hashtag…

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Instagram

My dearest friend Tara’s dad - Shivaji Lal - has

My dearest friend Tara’s dad - Shivaji Lal - has died at the amazing age of 93. His funeral was on Friday. It was the most beautiful day including an Indian Puja ceremony followed by a service at Golders Green Crematorium - where over a decade ago I said goodbye to my own dad. I was honoured to be asked to deliver a tribute at the service. For those of you who have read my books you’ll know Tara because she’s in all three of them, and for those of you who are readers of my Substack (link in bio) you’ll know we’re now working together on a new book/project called ‘Your Shit is Your Superpower’. Tara’s dad is someone who sadly struggled his whole life with severe mental health issues, for which he was hospitalized on several occasions. So I said in my tribute that I believe his living to such an amazing age was an act of love for his two daughters who experienced so much loss in their life including losing their mum to cancer when they were children, and their brother to suicide when he was 20 years old. Tara always says we don’t do death well in the Western world but Friday was a truly perfect goodbye. Go gently Shev. You are loved - and the greatest gift you gave all of us were your three incredible children, one of whom I feel so blessed is my dearest friend - and ps. the pic of us outside the crematorium is with our other best friend Beth (also in my books) and the photo was taken by my first boyfriend Dan (who gave me the David Bowie album in ‘Save Me From The Waves’) and who was Tara’s brother’s best friend. Friday was a day of ‘perfect pain’ shared with some of the most important people in my life - my sangha, my family 💙

November Notices: my monthly newsletter has just d

November Notices: my monthly newsletter has just dropped into people’s inboxes and is available to all on Substack (link in my linktree in bio). It’s about superpowery shit and stuff. And if you want to be part of my ‘Big & Brave Family’ and my ‘Your Shit is Your Superpower Project’ it’s highly recommended reading! 😉😀

#adventuremind #livebigandbrave #yourshitisyoursuperpower

My appearance on the chart-topping podcast @postca

My appearance on the chart-topping podcast @postcardsfrommidlife with @lorrainecandy and @trishoftheday has just dropped (link in linktree). It was recorded live at the Leicester Square Theatre at the beginning of the month and is all about changing careers in midlife. I talk about how and why I went from CEO of @lyrichammersmith to CEO of Jessica Hepburn plc! I also reveal what I feel my next adventure in life could be. Also featuring the business leader Karen Blackett OBE @karen.blackett.71 and careers expert Sarah Ellis co-author of ‘Squiggly Careers’ and cofounder of @amazingif Thanks to everyone who came - Lorraine and Trish are fabulous hosts and it was an evening full of inspiration. Now available for your listening pleasure too. Enjoy!

#livebigandbrave #yourshitisyoursuperpower

Just made my @bbcradio4 Loose Ends debut from @str

Just made my @bbcradio4 Loose Ends debut from @stratfordlitfest - with Dame Harriet Walter, John Douglas Thompson, Robert Popper, Emily Burns and Wes Finch, hosted by the great Stuart Maconie. Thanks to everyone who was listening live just now on the radio and messaged me. If you missed it you can catch it on BBC iplayer - link in my linktree. Big butterflies, and big butterfly moment!

#livebigandbrave #savemefromthewaves

Heading for a night at the gorgeous- looking @thev

Heading for a night at the gorgeous- looking @thevineyardhotel tonight to give my fourth after dinner speech for @rolex for @Deaconsjewellers. And tomorrow bright and early to @stratfordlitfest to record @bbcradio4 #looseends live at 12noon and then give a talk about #savemefromthewaves at 6pm (link in bio). That’s where going from the streets of London to the top of the world takes you. It’s quite a journey let me tell you.

#livebigandbrave #yourshitisyoursuperpower

Will be speaking at Crawley Library today at 6.30p

Will be speaking at Crawley Library today at 6.30pm about positive aging and ‘Save Me From The Waves’! If you can crawl to Crawley come join me!

PS. Yes, those pics are all me! And yes, I know (now) #ageing not aging - this ageing writer clearly can't spell!)

#livebigandbrave #yourshitisyoursuerpower

The only way is Essex cause I’m on route to my t

The only way is Essex cause I’m on route to my third event of the day @redlionbooks - a fab indie bookshop in Colchester. Starts at 6pm. Not too late to come if you’re a bookish Essex girl (or boy) xxx

#savemefromthewaves #authorevent

Meno-roars, today online at 12 noon (link in my li

Meno-roars, today online at 12 noon (link in my linktree) with @peppy.health & me & an amazing line up of expert panellists. Over 1000 people have signed up already. ROAR

#menopause #menopauseawarenessmonth #livebigandbrave #yourshitisyoursuperpower

The Library of Celsus. One of the greatest librari

The Library of Celsus. One of the greatest libraries of the ancient world situated at Ephesus in Turkey - which I had the joy of visiting during my summer adventures (photo taken by my good self). As soon as I saw it I thought of using it as a pic to promote my library talks this autumn. Use them or lose them! Tonight #Uxbridge library. Next Wednesday 23 October #Crawley library. And on Tuesday 12 November - #Highgate library. All the links are in my linktree. Join us tonight if you’re a West Londoner - event starts at 6.30pm

#savemefromthewaves #livebigandbrave

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