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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Cecil Adjalo, founder of Foundervine, one of the UK's largest and most vibrant accelerators, having designed a high-impact training program that provides ambitious entrepreneurs with the skills, tools, and support they need to confidently scale their ventures. Cecil has a passion for operational efficiency, automation, and creating data-driven organisations which led him into the field of Data and Analytics. He began his career by troubleshooting issues with hospital database software and later transitioned to management consulting, start-up creation, business intelligence, and strategy, with his passion for data and analytics ultimately leading him to where he is now.
In this episode, we cover:
The importance of focusing on a big vision and not being afraid to think bigHow to overcome imposter syndromeThe challenges of pitching to VCs and the importance of showing tractionThe role of affinity bias in the startup space and how to overcome itThe power of community building and creating a supportive ecosystem for underrepresented foundersLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adjalo/?originalSubdomain=ukFoundervine: https://www.foundervine.com/#Startup Experimentation playlist: https://bit.ly/3D9k67j -
Did you know that 20% of your employees, customers, and friends are likely to be neurodivergent? In today's episode, we're diving into the importance of neuro inclusivity in entrepreneurship, with Sasha Evans, a brilliant entrepreneur and expert in experience design and neurodiversity.
Join me, Hattie Willis, as I chat with Sasha about her journey into entrepreneurship, from theatre to startups, and how she's helping founders design for neuro inclusivity. We'll cover practical tips for founders with autism, ADHD, and beyond, as well as how neurotypical founders can create more inclusive experiences for their customers and stakeholders. Plus, we'll explore Sasha's brilliant series on LinkedIn, where she answers your burning questions about neurodiversity.
Sascha's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saschaevans/?originalSubdomain=ukUncommon company: https://www.bemoreuncommon.com/Zinc incubator: https://www.zinc.vc/
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Joining us this episode is Marcus Exall, serial founder, angel investor, and investor in residence at Virgin Startup. In this episode, Marcus shares his journey from building and exiting a digital advertising company to supporting countless founders along the way. We dive into his early days as an entrepreneur, from running a paper round as a kid to selling tickets at a nightclub, and how those experiences shaped his approach to business. Plus, we debunk some common myths around investment and entrepreneurship, and discuss the importance of freedom and failure in the startup journey. Don't miss this episode packed with insights and laughs!
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusexall/Monese: https://monese.com/gb/en/Up and to the Right: https://www.u2r.co/ -
Storytelling is one of the most underrated founder skills! Itâs critical for motivating your team, selling to customers, and of course, raising investment. It can also position you as a thought leader, which yes, helps all those things too. But itâs one of the things that trips sooo many founders up.
From pitches that make it obvious they were created to follow a formula, to LinkedIn posts that show zero personality, to team talks that end with glazed eyes, itâs so easy to get it wrong.
So in this episode, we're thrilled to have a very special guest who knows a thing or two about captivating an audience.
Joining us is Pascalle Bergmans, the multi-talented founder of PresenTales, a Pitch Training company which empowers senior leaders and executives to deliver their stories with impact and passion. With an impressive background performing on the West End in musicals like Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Robin Hood, Pascalle is no stranger to the art of engaging storytelling and owning a stage.
In this episode, we dive deep into Pascalle's wealth of knowledge and experience. We'll explore:
Lessons from the West-End that you need in your startup storytellingPractical tips for overcoming stage fright and delivering presentations with confidenceWhat authenticity and vulnerability in leadership communication really meansGrowing through LinkedIn Content marketing and how to get over the âCringeâ that holds us back from getting started
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalle-bergmans/?originalSubdomain=ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_presentales_/PresenTales Website: https://www.presentales.com/
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Have you ever wondered how to stay on top of the hottest new tech tools and trends as a founder? Curious how you can leverage platforms like TikTok and Instagram to market your B2B startup in a fun, engaging way?
Get ready to learn because in this episode I'm joined by Ghita El Haitmy, the smart and sassy founder of Tech Bible, which empowers professionals to gain a competitive edge by keeping them up-to-date on the latest tech through bite-sized social media content. Ghita has an amazing entrepreneurial journey to share.
Ghita started out working in a corporate role but always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. Her first startup was an AR app for the blind and visually impaired. When that wound down, she realized there was a huge need for someone to test and recommend the best new software tools for businesses. So Tech Bible was born, helping busy professionals cut through the noise and discover the tools and trends to boost their productivity. Ghita has grown a big following by making fun, relatable videos on TikTok and Instagram sharing her tech tips.
In our chat, Ghita and I dive into:
Her winding path to finding her calling as a founder and content creatorHow she's making a "unsexy" space engaging and growing a community on TikTokHer hard-won lessons on hiring, delegating, and avoiding burnout as a solo founderGhita's top tips for making content that educates while still being entertaining and relatableHow to find great mentors by leading with valueWhy focus and trusting your own vision is crucial as an early-stage founderStay tuned for an illuminating conversation packed with tactical advice and plenty of laughs along the way!
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghita-el-haitmy-a9ab7767/?originalSubdomain=ukInstagram: @techbible.aiTech Bible Website: https://www.techbible.ai/My Finder App: https://www.myfinder.uk/ -
Have you ever found yourself drowning in fundraising legals and language? This is the interview youâve been waiting forâŠ
In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Sam Simpson, Co-founder of FounderCatalyst, who's on a mission to simplify and accelerate the early-stage investment legal journey. Sam's not just talking the talk; he's walked the walk, having co-founded and exited several tech start-ups, including the 17th fastest growing company in Europe in 2017. Oh, and did we mention he took that company from ÂŁ0 to ÂŁ27m in less than 4 years?
But Sam's not just a founder; he's also an active angel investor with 32 investments under his belt in just 6 years. Plus, he's a sought-after board advisor. In other words, when it comes to navigating the minefield of fundraising and investment, Samâs who you want to learn from.
In this episode we discuss:
Simplifying the early-stage investment legal journeyInsider tips on SEIS/EIS and equity investmentStrategies for finding the right investors for your startupLessons learned from co-founding and exiting successful tech start-upsHow to think about valuing your early stage startupWhat Sam looks for as an angel and what really puts him off even a seemingly âgreatâ dealSo, whether you're a first-time founder trying to wrap your head around the legal jargon or a seasoned entrepreneur looking to optimise your fundraising game, this episode is packed with actionable advice and hard-won wisdom. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from one of the people I trust most in this ecosystem!
Links:
All about valuation: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/all-about-funding-round-valuation-2Toxic Term sheets: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/avoiding-toxic-term-sheets-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-ask-answeredUnderstanding how an angel thinks: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/understanding-how-angel-investors-think-2The end of an angel investment: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/blog/the-end-of-an-angel-investment-from-the-magic-to-tragic-2Founder Catalyst: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/companySamâs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsimpson1/?originalSubdomain=uk -
đ Whatâs it like to go Corporate Employee> Founder > Founder > Corporate Employee? At Not My First Guess we love a squiggly career path! đ
Thatâs why weâre so excited to have serial founder, and once again corporate employee, Adam Goodall share his journey and lessons learned, from taking the first leap into full-time entrepreneurship, to deciding when to sell, to why he's enjoying being back in someone else's company. đđĄ
Adam is a serial founder with two startups under his belt - ProConfirm and Coconut. With a background in accounting at PwC, Adam has focused on innovating in spaces that may not seem âsexyâ but have huge potential for growth.
Adam first co-founded a startup with his room mate Samuel O'Connor (who he would also co-found Coconut with too), when their work at PwC led them to spot an opportunity to digitise the manual process of verifying client finances.
They originally built ProConfirm as a side hustle while working corporate jobs but one of Adamâs biggest lessons was when to take the leap to full time. They soon gained traction, leading to acquisition interest from a major U.S. player. Post-acquisition, Adam discovered his love for product management, setting him on the path to their next venture, Coconut, on a mission to simplify tax and accounting software for sole traders, landlords & their accountants.
Since selling Coconut, Adam has now returned to employee life at Funding Circle and is brilliantly honest about what it was like to try to get a job as a serial founder (the hard and easy bits).
đ§ Together weâll explore:
- How to find great ideas, when you are and arenât looking for them
- Adamâs hard won lessons on fundraising for Coconut, even as a second time founder with an exit under his belt
- How to know when an acquisition offer is right for you
- Advice on validating your idea before building the right product: what an MVP should and shouldnât be
- And how we build a robust identity as founders so we can fully embrace a squiggly career path
Don't miss it! #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #FounderStories #fintech #startups #innovation #podcast
Links:
Coconut: https://www.getcoconut.com/Adamâs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjgoodall/?originalSubdomain=uk -
Are you worried youâre not using enough AI as a founder? I promise youâre not alone. In fact, after interviewing our incredible guest today, I went away and automated a LOAD of my own processes - sometimes you just need to understand the art of the possible!
This episode is a GREAT start - weâre joined by AI advocate Cien Solon, who is on a mission to make âAI for Allâ with her latest startups Launch Lemonade and Scale that Thing! Cien is a Product-Led Growth expert, a start-up consultant and a constant builder. She is also a Techstars mentor and part of the Angel Investing School team.
She has developed a portfolio of products from fintech, to AI tools to B2B SaaS and had a previous career in Marketing giving her an amazing view of the full journey.
Today, with Launch Lemonade, she allows anyone to build AI chat bots to help with very specific tasks - from a sales chatbot to speak with customers, to creating marketing copy, writing reports, the possibilities are mostly bound by our own creativity; thatâs why her consultancy startup Scale that thing helps businesses build their AI and Product-led Growth strategies and implement them.
So in this episode, as well as product building insights and advice from an incredible expert, expect plenty of inspiration on how you can implement AI in your own business!
Links:Cienâs Website:
https://ciensolon.com/Launch Lemonade App:
https://launchlemonade.app/Scale That Thing Website:
https://www.scalethatthing.com/ -
As well as being âBusiness Barbieâ to her followers on instagram, Rachel Harris, is an award-winning content creator, author, speaker, business owner, and most importantly, an accountant extraordinaire. Named as one to watch on the 35 under 35 list and recently crowned as the First Intuition Apprenticeship Mentor of the Year for 2023, Rachel is a true breakout star in the accounting world.
Rachel's passion for empowering accountants and small business owners shines through in her remarkable journey. From building the thriving Accountant She community of over 25,000 people to becoming the youngest-ever director and trustee of AAT, Rachel has been a trailblazer at every step. Sheâs also making an impact, including with her innovative corporate bursary scheme, launched in January 2023, fully funds aspiring accountants in financial hardship, providing them with the mentoring and support they need to succeed.
In this episode, we dive deep into Rachel's entrepreneurial journey and the invaluable lessons she's learned along the way. We'll explore:
The power of community-building and creating the support system you wish you hadWhat founders do and donât need to worry about when it comes to accountsThe most efficient way to pay yourself as a founderThe importance of setting an âinternal charge out rateâ to value your own time both in the company and out of itApproaches to valuing your company, and what Rachel looks for as an Angel Investor, and trains clients to prepare for in her mock âDragons Denâ investment readiness sessionsLinks:
Rachelâs business StriveX:
https://strivex.co.uk/Accountant_She Website:
https://www.accountantshe.co.uk/Rachelâs Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/accountant_she/?hl=en -
Ever wonder what it takes to transform from a passionate leader into a successful startup founder? In this episode, we'll uncover the secrets to building an innovative, AI-powered solution that's revolutionising the way managers drive team performance.
Joining us today is Sarah Touzani, the brilliant mind behind Waggle, an AI co-pilot empowering managers with the tools and insights to excel. Building on Sarahâs 15+ years experience in finance and tech, Waggle has already caught the attention of major players like Techstars and JP Morgan. Backed by a talented, diverse team, Sarah has navigated the challenges of fundraising, fostering culture, and forging strategic partnerships to position Waggle for exciting growth across the US and Europe.
In this candid, we'll dive into:
Key lessons learned in the leap from leader to founderStrategies for assembling a powerhouse team and aligning them around your "why"Tips for securing funding and leveraging accelerators to catalyse growthSarahâs approach to product development that attracts an eager customer baseHow Sarah maintained the vision while keeping operations running smoothlyAdvice Sarah wishes she had when first starting outLinks:
Founder Catalyst: https://www.foundercatalyst.com/Waggle: https://www.usewaggle.ai/ -
Joining us in this episode is Charlie Rosier, a seasoned entrepreneur and fourth-time founder. Her latest venture, Babbu, disrupts the early childhood education space with an innovative online platform tailored for children aged 0-5. Driven by personal experience and insights gained during lockdown conversations with fellow parents, Charlie recognized the overwhelming pressure parents faceâspending 37 hours weekly on childcare concerns alone. Determined to alleviate this stress, she birthed Babbu. Rooted in science but crafted by parents, Babbu reimagines the parenting journey, providing a supportive community and expert advice to empower parents in nurturing their children.
This episode we discuss:
Lessons learned as a serial founderGrief that comes with failed businessesWhy we have to value our time differently as foundersLessons in linkedin marketingFundraising - what Charlie knows now but didnât know when she startedBalancing being a mother with being a startup founder and the guilt that comes with itLinks to Babbuâs website:
https://babbu.co.uk/ -
This episode we are joined by Simi Lindgren Founder of Yuty.
Some of you may recognise Simi from our special episode on fundraising as an underrepresented founder, where she was joined by two other incredible guests. But we wanted to take the time to dive deeper into Simiâs story and insights building an AI startup.
Simi initially went to med school thinking that she would become a doctor. However, she soon realised that she wasnât there for the right reasons. This led her to dropping out of her degree and getting an internship at a magazine working in beauty, and ultimately leading her to following her own passions. Simi then built up her experience in the beauty industry, working in marketing communications where she matched brands and PRs with media celebrities and influencers. Having progressed really well, in 2020 she decided that it was time to do something herself, which led to the launch of Yuty.
Founded in 2020, Yuty is a venture capital backed technology company that uses AI to redefine hyper-personalisation, transforming the way brands can engage with their customers. The app provides data backed product recommendations delivered through a quiz, in order to help all customers, regardless of race, gender or ability, to find the product that is right for them. Having had personal experiences of not feeling seen or understood, and not being able to find the right products, Simi wanted to create something that was accessible for all, and after teaching herself to code, Yuty was formed.
This episode we discuss:
Choosing a path for the wrong reasons and going off the âbeaten pathâ despite pressure internally and from the familyWhy she went down the VC route with YutyChoosing an Investor Partner and how to manage themThe importance of constantly asking questionsAssumptions and why being curious is the ultimate founder traitPlus much much more!
Links:
Yuty website: https://www.yuty.me/
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This episode we are joined by Kate Berski, Co-Founder of Curlsmith, a high performance, inclusive haircare brand which she started with her husband in 2018. It soon became one of the fastest growing textured hair brands and would go on to retail at Ulta Beauty, Target, Boots and many more.
The idea for Curlsmith was formed out of a family struggle to find suitable haircare products for Kateâs niecesâ curly hair. Kate and her husband Michal soon realised that there was a gap in the market with lots of people unable to find appropriate products for their hair. Using her experience in advertising and brand consulting, combined with Michalâs experience working for some major beauty companies, they soon developed a community around an Instagram page that they launched, which shared advice, recipes and tips for people with curly hair, before they began the process of making their own product.
In this episode, we discuss:
The haircare industry and how Curlsmith was brought to lifeThe journey (and cost) of developing a productThe pros and cons of staying lean as long as possibleDigital vs retail channelsGoing down the VC route and how that helped grow the businessThe toll a startup has on your mental healthHaving a kid whilst running a business, and realising thereâs more to life than workWhat itâs like to sell your company How entrepreneurship compares to becoming an authorAnd much much moreâŠ
Links:
Kateâs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate.berski/Curlsmith website: https://uk.curlsmith.com/ -
This episode, we are joined by Tess Cosad, the CEO and Co-Founder of BĂ©a Fertility. As someone who takes much of her inspiration from injustice, Tess saw the pain and difficulties that many people were going through in their attempts to build a family, with access and affordability making the journey even more stressful and heartbreaking for many. In comes BĂ©a Fertility, a company that provides clinical-grade fertility treatment that can be shipped straight to your door, and costs 1/20th of what IVF would.
Tess has always been passionate about building businesses that make an impact. She was the first woman to lead a digital startup program to female entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia in 2018, and is also a pioneer of the FemTech industry having gained experience working with Hers By Design, and Emberson Ventures, a B2B marketing agency.
Despite often being one of the few women in male-dominated VC circles, Tess persists in her commitment to bring about positive change and support impactful solutions, by pushing evidence-based strategies and supporting founders who adopt similar change driven principles.
This episode, we discuss:
Mistakes and lessons learnt from Tessâs previous start-up venturesThe importance of speaking to your users/customersThe importance of storytelling and how this became Tessâs skillsetWhy being the keeper of the context is your most important role as CEO of a startupThe process of finding mentorsThe struggles of finding investors and raising funds, and the importance of keeping your passion throughout the processAnd much more including hilarious stories that had our editor chuckling almost the whole way through the edit!
Let us know what you think!
Links:
Bea Fertility website Brad Feldâs book Venture DealsFounders Pocket Guide to term sheets -
This episode, we are joined by Andy Ayim MBE, a serial founder and Angel Investor who is known for his human centered approach to business.
Over a decade ago, Andy cofounded Mixtape Madness, a proudly bootstrapped 7 figure business. When he left day to day operations there, he dove into Product Management with high growth startups such as WorldFirst, acquired for $700m by Ant Financial; and Series C startup Zilch where he was Head of Product Management. In 2018 he took his next leap, to become Managing Director at US based VC firm, Backstage Capital where he raised over $2.5M to deploy into underrepresented founders.
As youâll hear, improving equity in the startup ecosystem has been a huge driver for Andy, and led to his next startup, The Angel Investing School, a company on a mission to train the next generation of angel investors, including those who feel excluded by the current system, or havenât seen typically themselves represented among angels. Additionally, Andy supports startups, scaleups and corporates as an advisor; this is someone who knows what it takes to grow a company.
Andyâs impact has seen him get voted as one on the top 10 BAME Leaders in Tech in the FT, as well as being awarded an MBE for his services to diversity in tech.
Andy has also been one of our biggest supporters at IfWeRaise from the very early days, in fact even before I met my co-founder, and is now one of our Board Advisers, so it was extra special having him on the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
Andyâs personal user guide as his intro into the world of entrepreneurship (and why we probably all need one)Why Andy created Angel Investing School and how itâs evolvingThe importance of building social capital and a personal brand as a founderWhy fundraising isnât always the best optionWhat Andy looks for in founders from an Angel's perspectiveThe importance of storytelling and how to nail itThe backwards relationship we have with failure in the UKLinks:
Angel Investing School:
https://angelinvestingschool.com/Andyâs Personal User Guide:
https://andyayim.com/my-personal-user-guide/Mixtape Madness:
https://www.mixtapemadness.com/ -
This episode we are joined by Nicola Ward, Co-Founder of CakeDrop. Having both worked in the City, Nicola and her sister Anna had a conversation about how awkward office birthdays can be. Often forgetting to buy a cake and having to resort to a cheap last minute one from the shop around the corner. They felt that something needed to be done to improve the employee experience in the office and uplevel celebrations at work. This gave way to the idea for CakeDrop. CakeDrop began by delivering artisan cakes to offices for employee birthdays, supported by an online calendar that allowed office managers and HR teams to pre-schedule key dates for the year ahead. 7 years on, and CakeDrop have worked with customers such as Disney, Meta, Netflix and LadBible.
In this episode we discuss:
Evolving her business ideaRunning a business with a siblingHow CakeDrop began and how they got to where they are nowHow they reacted to lockdownBuilding a team and finding the right peopleLearning the difference between how your gut is leading you and how your anxiety is leading you to make decisionsPublic speaking and founder confidence The importance of momentum in fundraisingManaging your potential investor baseLink to the Cake Drop website:
https://cakedrop.london/ -
This episode we are joined by Felicity Halstead, founder of the company GoodWork. GoodWork is a not-for-profit that works with employers to create employment opportunities for young people from marginalised communities. Having had experience in youth programmes, as well as working with social mobility organisations and supporting entry-level recruitment in her job, Felicity saw first hand that a young personâs results on paper are not an accurate representation of how that person would apply themselves in the workplace. So often organisations would focus on past performance rather than potential. This led to the creation of GoodWork as Felicity hopes to breakdown systemic barriers to create more opportunities for young people.
In this episode, we discuss:
Preconceptions around what talent looks like and how to identify potentialTransitioning from only working in the public sector to the private sectorThe importance of finding your communityFundraising in the charity sectorThe community interest company (CIC) routeBeing a LinkedIn topvoiceThe impact of having an ADHD and Autism diagnosisLink to the GoodWork website:
https://www.goodwork.org.uk/ -
This episode, we are joined by Robert Hayward, founder of GoodFX, an international payments B Corp that turns currency conversion into social good, using the profits they make every time their customers trade FX, to support charities and create meaningful job opportunities for refugees. For anyone who doesnât know, The foreign exchange market, commonly referred to as the Forex or FX, is the global marketplace for trading currencies. Having spent 10 years in the city working in banking, Rob had started to wonder how he could put his skills to use and make a difference in the world. After initially rejecting an opportunity to work in FX, he realised that there could be a way to use some of the money the industry was making in lockdown to make a difference. This birthed GoodFX.
In this episode we discuss:
Robâs journey into entrepreneurship and how he used his skills learned in the corporate world to get thereThe intoxicating nature of working with a âbig fishâ companyUsing a business model as a vehicle for social changeRaising money as a B Corp, and the value of B Corp applicationsThe importance of having self value as a fundraiserThe necessity of bootstrapping when making an impact businessLink to the GoodFX website:
https://www.goodfx.co.uk/ -
This episode, we are joined by the founders of Future Kind Collective, Alicia Grimes and Natalie Pierce. Having initially met when Natalie interviewed Alicia for a job, the two found themselves working in the same company on strategy and service design projects focused on culture change. What started as a working relationship soon blossomed into a friendship and the two bonded on a shared feeling that something wasn't quite right about traditional culture consulting and that a change was needed. Alicia and Natalie thought that a more holistic approach was called for, with a focus on a genuine care for the people behind the business, prioritising people over profit, with as much focus on employees as customers. These ideas paved the way for the Future Kind Collective to be born, where a team was built that focuses on turning around the Culture of companies to create a better environment for all involved, or helping startups create great cultures from day 1!
How Alicia and Natalie met and the birth of Future Kind CollectiveImposter syndromeThe definition of CultureHow founders can use values to make decisions about what they do and donât doThe importance of saying no as founders
In this episode we discuss:Link to the Future Kind Collective Website:
https://www.thefuturekind.co/ -
In this episode weâre joined by James Roycroft-Davis.
James is a Serial Founder, Angel Investor and Host of the UKâs #1 Founder and Investor Mental Health Podcast - Vulnerable.
Heâs previously started businesses around weightless and dog training, but hadnât yet found his purpose and the business he wanted to build for the next 10 years, until in March 2023 he was diagnosed with Type 2 Bipolar Affective Disorder. When he started sharing about his diagnosis on his social media he was flooded with messages saying âthereâs no support for me or my support networksâ.Itâs what led him to co-found Baseline, as he puts it:The first company building technology, content, and community in the Bipolar space, to help people on the bipolar spectrum and their support networks to live better.
In this episode we dive into:
- Why first time founders need to stop giving investors god like status
- The shocking correlation between founders and the Bipolar spectrum
- How getting his diagnosis led to Baseline
- Building your first product on a shoestring with AI
- The importance of building for mental health sustainability as a founder
- The need for founders to nail content creation and personal branding
- And much more!
Jamesâ Business Baseline:
https://www.joinbaseline.co/Jamesâ Podcast, Vulnerable:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1K0x3TuxwlV8lhRhMJzcSD?si=3b8cb3208ce34ca2 - Vis mere
