Episoder
-
Join Amy in this inspiring episode of the Really Good Conversations as she chats with British knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney.
Genevieve shares how her passion for knitting began at age five, her mission to preserve UK manufacturing, and the challenges of balancing a family and growing business.
Learn about her commitment to craftsmanship, creating ethical collections, and the lessons she's learned from grassroots growth to building a thriving brand.
We discuss:
Genevieve's passion for knitting and interest in preserving a dying craftmanship
How her experiences working with global fashion brands inspired her to do things differently
Staying true to her own values; even when it means going against industry norms
Why sustainability and ethical production are central to Genevieve’s business model
Balancing a young family whilst building a business
The future of knitwear production and how she strives to make a positive impact
A must-listen for anyone passionate about sustainability, creativity, and small business innovation.
Visit Genevieve Sweeney - https://www.genevievesweeney.com/
-
Join Amy as she chats with Sarah Ward, CEO of the Giftware Association and a powerhouse in the gift and home industry.
Sarah shares her inspiring journey, from her early retail roles as a schoolgirl to leading the UK's largest trade body.
Together, they delve into the vital role of the Giftware Association in supporting businesses, the often-underrated skills gained in retail, and how small businesses can prepare for international trade with confidence.
Sarah also reveals why empowering women in business has become important for her and shares invaluable advice for small businesses, highlighting the magic of collaboration and her enduring passion for people and products.
Whether you're in business, have a product, or are simply curious about the world of trade, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
Key topics of discussed:
Sarah’s personal journey in retail and leadership
The role of the Giftware Association
Valuing retail and industry skills: building successful careers and businesses
Preparing for International Trade
Empowering women in business
The magics of collaboration and building strong business relationships
Giftware Association - www.giftwareassociation.org
Sarah Ward LinkedIn
-
Mangler du episoder?
-
When Covid-19 hit, the hospitality industry had to pivot, with many adopting at-home dining options.
Award-winning Norwich restaurant Farmyard took on this challenge, determined to ensure their dishes tasted as good at home as in their Michelin-listed restaurant. They transformed their best offerings into high-quality frozen meals for home enjoyment.
Fast forward to 2024: Husband and wife duo Hannah and Andrew made the tough decision to close their restaurant of 7 years fully and focus on Farmyard Frozen.
In this episode of Really Good Conversations, Hannah shares their journey of redefining frozen food with restaurant-quality meals, navigating challenges, the creative dynamics of working with her husband, and Farmyard’s exciting future plans.
Pivoting in a Pandemic: How Farmyard shifted from fine dining to frozen meals. Quality Standards: The challenges of ensuring restaurant-quality food at home. Creative Dynamics: Insights into running a business as a husband-wife team. Lessons Learned: Overcoming misconceptions about frozen food. Future Plans: Farmyard’s vision to make fine dining frozen a household name.Tune in for an inspiring journey of food innovation and making tough decisions in business.
Check out Farmyard Frozen at:
https://farmyardfrozen.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmyard_frozen/
-
In this episode of Really Good Conversations, Amy chats with parenting expert and author Sue Atkins on navigating modern parenting challenges in a tech-filled world.
Hear Sue’s journey from 18 years of teaching to becoming a leading voice in parenting, offering practical advice for parents.
Sue shares insights on building children's confidence, setting boundaries around digital devices, and fostering real-life connections in a digital age.
They discuss the importance of delayed screen access for younger children and practical strategies for managing social media with teens.
Tune in for valuable advice on creating tech-free spaces at home, helping children develop resilience, and using Sue’s “digital jungle” tips for healthy, balanced tech use.
They discuss:
Balancing Tech & Real life Strategies for delaying smartphone access Tips on device-free times Parents setting a positive example Engaging kids in conversations about digital safetyWhether you're a parent or just curious about the impact of digital devices on children, this episode is packed with insights and tips for everyone.
Sue has a huge amount of resources available for parents:
Sue Atkins Website: https://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/
Navigating the digital jungle: https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/
Tips & Scripts for parents: Building confidence in saying 'no' to smartphones until aged 14:https://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Smartphones-downloadable.pdf
Language matters: Why ‘Safety Settings’ Speak Louder Than ‘Parental Controls. Navigating the Digital Jungle: Tips and SCRIPTS To Start Important Conversations.https://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/2024/08/language-matters-why-safety-settings-speak-louder-than-parental-controls-scripts-to-start-important-conversations/
Anti-Dopamine Parenting! Breaking the Cycle: A New Approach to Parenting in a Digital Agehttps://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/2024/07/anti-dopamine-parenting-breaking-the-dopamine-cycle-a-new-approach-to-parenting-in-a-digital-age/
Sweets and Screens: The Dopamine Battle for Your Kids’ Attentionhttps://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/2024/07/what-exactly-is-a-dopamine-crash-here-are-ways-to-handling-it-more-positively-at-different-ages/#
SCRIPTS for Setting Social Media Boundaries with Kids.https://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/2024/09/scripts-for-setting-social-media-boundaries-with-kids/
Digital Jungle SCRIPTS: Navigating the Algorithm Generation: A Guide for Parentshttps://sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/2024/08/digital-jungle-scripts-navigating-the-algorithm-generation-a-guide-for-parents/
-
In this episode, Amy chats with Georgie Davies, founder of Yogipod, a yoga and lifestyle brand that helps people find calm through handmade, sustainable products.
Georgie shares her journey from the fast-paced world of fashion and burnout to discovering the benefits of yoga, which led her to start her own business.
Learn about the art of block printing, how she juggles yoga teaching, product creation, and the challenges of running a small business, all whilst trying to find balance in life.
We discuss:
Transitioning from burnout Finding inspiration overseas Stepping away to step forward The art of block printing Building a yoga lifestyle brand - with handmade products and teaching Balancing business and teaching Challenges and highlights Community and collaborationWhether you're a yoga enthusiast or a budding entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
Yogipod website: https://yogipod.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogi_pod/
-
In this episode of Really Good Conversations, Amy chats with Michelle Ferron, founder of Good Tuesday, a sustainably conscious stationery brand for those who want to organise their lives with style.
Michelle shares her inspiring journey from launching the business on Etsy during the 2020 pandemic to scaling it into a million-pound company.
They dive into the challenges of growing a small business, including navigating Brexit, Royal Mail strikes, and a hacking incident. Michelle also reflects on key milestones, such as the rebrand and achieving B Corp certification.
Michelle also offers advice on overcoming adversity and maintaining ethical business practices.
They discuss:
What prompted Michele to start the business in lockdown
Challenges they have faced and how they’ve overcome them
Key milestones and achievements
Rebranding from Once Upon a Tuesday to Good Tuesday
Balancing profit and ethical practices
Value business advice
Growing a business and a family
Tune in to hear her valuable insights into business growth, resilience and profit.
Find out more about Good Tuesday at www.goodtuesday.com
-
"Finding beautiful ways to say the things that matter."
In this episode of Really Good Conversations, Amy speaks with Stacey McNeil, the creator of card and gift brand Fox Under the Moon.
What started as a pandemic hobby has grown into a thriving brand, capturing hearts with its heartfelt artwork and inspiring messages.
Stacey shares her journey from the stresses of primary school teaching to entrepreneurship. The challenges she has faced, how she used social media to build a loyal following with over 250,000 followers, the secrets behind her consistent branding, and how she turned her passion into a successful business.
They discuss:
Stacey's personal journey with mental health, leaving her career and pressing the reset button How a pandemic hobby turned into the Fox Under the Moon brand The organic growth of the brand through social media The challanges faced along the way Working with her husband Jamie and how they stay saneTune in to learn how Fox Under the Moon became an award-winning brand and discover Stacey's tips for fostering community and creativity online.
Fox Under The Moon - www.foxunderthemoonart.com
-
"The only thing certain in life is death, taxes, and uncertainty."
In this episode of the Really Good Conversations podcast, host Amy chats to Melissa Browne, a financial expert, author, and speaker dedicated to enhancing financial literacy, particularly among women.
Mel shares her fascinating journey from an aspiring lawyer to accountant to financial educator, discussing the pivotal moments and challenges that shaped her career.
They discuss:
The time she gave all of her divorce proceeds to charity The taboo of talking about money The importance of financial education Understanding your money story Practical tips for managing money in relationships The future of money in a digital worldListen in for an engaging conversation filled with valuable insights and personal anecdotes that highlight the importance of financial independence and literacy.
You can find out more about Mel, her financial courses at https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/
For FREE resources and downloads: https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/freebies
Follow her on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/melbrowne.money/
-
There is a magic in collaborating with people in conversation, when you both achieve more than you could alone.
In this episode of the Really Good Conversations podcast Amy sits down with Peter Anthony, an expert in professional communication who helps individuals and corporations achieve better outcomes through the power of effective collaboration.
They uncover the magic of collaborative conversations, discussing Peter's journey from traditional sales to a more effective, collaborative approach.
Peter outlines the six moments that matter in any conversation and explore the importance of setting goals, building rapport, and understanding decision-making processes.
Whether you're looking to improve your personal or professional relationships, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.
Find out more about Peter Anthony at https://peteranthonyconsulting.com/
The Book: Collabradabra (Link)
-
Running a business as a solo entrepreneur can be lonely. How do you even make friends when you're running businesses?
In this episode of the Really Good Conversations Podcast Amy chats to Rebecca Saunders, the founder of The Champagne Lounge — a membership community connecting businesswomen across regional Australia.
Rebecca shares her inspiring journey from the UK to Australia, where she built a successful video production company before creating The Champagne Lounge to connect and empower women.
Amy and Rebecca discuss the importance of community connections, personal branding, and the role of confidence in business.
Rebecca shares some practical advice for building networks and maintaining quality conversations in a digital world.
Key highlights:
Rebecca's Inspiring Journey from the UK to Australia Starting a Video Production Company The creation of The Champagne Lounge Building Networks and Making Friends in Adult life & business The Role of Confidence in Business Celebrating Milestones with Champagne Maintaining Quality Conversations in a Digital WorldTune in for insights on navigating entrepreneurship, building networks, and embracing personal confidence.
Website: http://rebeccasaunders.com/ The Champagne Lounge: https://www.thechampagnelounge.com/ Socials: @therebeccasaunders and @thechampagnelounge_ -
Discover the transformative power of life planning, the importance of self-discovery, and how to cultivate a meaningful relationship with yourself.
In this inspiring episode of Really Good Conversations Amy chats to Shannah Kennedy, a master life strategist, coach, bestselling author of 'The Life Plan' and co-author of her latest book 'Elevate'.
With over 20 years of experience, Shannah shares her journey from corporate burnout, insights on effective coaching, and the significance of breathing and pacing our fast-paced lives.
We discuss:
Shannah’s journey to becoming a life coach
The most important relationship is with yourself
Essential communication skills for effective coaching
Techniques for deep listening and creating a safe space
The benefits of having conversations with yourself
Power of journaling and vision boarding
Tune in for valuable insights and actionable tips.
Learn the art of having meaningful conversations with yourself and elevate your life.
Find free resources, books and more information from Shannah at:
Website: https://shannahkennedy.com/
Human Elevation: https://www.humanelevation.com.au/
-
In this episode of the Really Good Conversations, Amy sits down with Tashi Dorjee, also known as "The Failed Founder" on his YouTube channel.
Tashi shares his incredible journey from running a $10 million startup called Two Space to transitioning to a Corporate Exec at a Fortune 500 company.
They discuss the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the importance of taking the leap, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Tune in for an engaging and insightful conversation:
Tashi's Entrepreneurial Journey The Two Space Concept Lessons from Failure Investment in Startups Transition to Corporate Life Tashi's Unique Family Background that has shaped his entrepreneurial spiritCheck out Tashi's YouTube 'The Failed Founder' for more business insights, tips and advice
https://www.youtube.com/@thefailedfounder
Connect with Tashi on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashiddorjee
-
As the pandemic began in March 2020, Lisa Hollinshead found herself stranded in Spain with her son whilst visiting family.
Instead of focusing solely on her own survival, she was inspired to address the isolation many faced. This led her to rally 250 volunteers to build an online platform to unite people globally provide help to one another.
In this episode, Amy chats with Lisa, PR specialist and founder of Social101 and OneAnother, about her entrepreneurial journey and drive.
Lisa shares her inspiring journey from launching a kindness platform during the pandemic to addressing corporate social responsibility through volunteer leave days.
Tune in to hear:
How Lisa creating a digital platform with 250 volunteers across the world
Challenges and pivoting in business
The CSR lip service and lost volunteer days
A key piece of advice for anyone considering PR for their business
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on building connections through kindness.
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn
Find out more about One Another www.oneanother.io
Social 101 - https://social101.com/
-
Take a moment for yourself as Jem Fuller guides you through a Mindfulness Moment.
Prior to record our podcast interview 'Conscious Communication & Overcoming Ego', Jem kindly recorded a guided mindfullness moment.
Take a listen and enjoy.
-
The art of conscious communication and how it can transform your personal and professional life.
In this episode of the Really Good Conversations Amy speaks with Jem Fuller a leadership mindset and communication coach, speaker and author.
Jem gives us an insight into his fascinating life journey to date, he really has lived the extremes. From barefoot backpacking through the Indian sub-continent, to senior leadership with an array of adventurous experiences in between.
We dive into:
The power of conscious communication What prompted Jem to write the book 'The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men'. Common communication challenges in the workplace and relationships The role of ego 'That Conversations' - how to approach those crucial conversations we often avoidTune in for an enlightening conversation filled with practical advice and inspiring stories.
Jem has also provided a gift for our listeners - free access to his Mindfulness Course
Jem Fuller Website: https://jemfuller.com/ Jem Fuller Instagram Mindfulness Course Get free access with the code Jem provides at the end of our conversation TEDx Talk - How Concious Communication Can Change Your Game -
Content Warning: Alex Marshall has hijacked this week’s podcast episode as our host! God help us all!
Would you believe we have been running this podcast for a year!
To celebrate running the podcast for 1 year, Really Good Conversations co-founder Alex Marshall puts Amy in the hot seat to find out what goes into making a podcast and how she has kept it going since May 2023.
Tune in for a fun and informative episode:
Why we started this podcast
What happens behind the scenes
What Amy would change with a years worth of knowledge
The best type of guest
And of course - Amy is put on the spot to answer questions from our pack
This episode is full of insights for anyone thinking about starting a podcast or anyone who has wondered how easy it is to release an episode.
Let us know what you think about Alex’s hosting skills, should we have him again?
A huge thank you to all of our amazing guests so far and for everyone who listens.
Links
StartsWithA : www.startswitha.co
Really Good Conversations: www.reallygoodconversations.com
Amys LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyfaulkner/
-
Join Amy in this enlightening episode of Really Good Conversations as she talks with Hermione Olivia, serial entrepreneur and founder of 'CEO Yourself'.
Hermione shares her inspiring journey from Australia to London and the powerful message behind her platform designed to empower women to become the best version of themslves — Cherish Every Opportunity.
Hermione shares:
The catalyst to CEO Yourself Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood Navigating cultural nuances in business and new markets Trusting your instinctsThis episode is motivating, uplifting and includes practical advice for anyone aiming to excel personally and professionally.
CEO Yourself
Hermione Olivia Instagram
CEO Yourself Instagram
-
From a musician urged by his father to get a "real job" to the founder of a tech platform that's revolutionising the live entertainment industry.
Amy chats to the multi-talented Ned Walker, founder of Hot Giggity, a live entertainment booking & promotion platform.
Discover Ned's transition from musician to marketer to tech entrepreneur, as he shares insights into his journey from pursuing his passion to revolutionising the live entertainment industry for artists, agents, venues and music fans.
Ned shares insights into:
His musical roots
The trials of transforming passion into a tech startup
The highs and lows of creating a SaaS product
Relentless pursuit of innovation
This episode is a must-listen for aspiring innovators and music lovers alike!
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a music enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersection of passion and innovation, Ned's story offers valuable insights and motivation from someone who is living and breathing his own brand.
Links:
Hot Giggity Website: www.hotgiggity.com
Ned Walker LinkedIn
Ned Walker Spotify
Check out Ned’s original music and upcoming gigs on his own Ned Walker Hot Giggity Profile
Fun Fact: Ned was a member of TripleJ Unearthed winning band Shifter and has supported artists and bands such as Blondie, Spider Bait, The Living End, Eskimo Joe, Grinspoon and Sneaky Sound System. In his gigs, Ned plays a mix of covers and originals. Playing guitar and piano, he covers tunes from all decades and genres, from easy listening to crowd-pleasing bangers! -
Discover how a simple family walk sparked a mission to combat single-use plastic waste and led to the creation of a sustainable, convenient plastic straw alternative.
We dive into the eco-conscious world of business with Charlotte Walsh, the engineer turned eco-preneur and the innovative mind behind the UK's Silicone Straw Company.
Join Amy as she explores Charlotte's journey:
From concept to manufacturing Navigating the challenges of producing a food-safe product in the UK Going slow Her commitment to quality over cost Launching a business with 3 young children ‘The Year of Being Rejected’If you're passionate about environmental change and curious about the ins and outs of starting a product-based business, this episode is a must-listen!
Links:
https://www.thesiliconestrawcompany.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/thesiliconestrawcompany/
-
Dive into the world of mead, the ancient drink that's making a modern comeback with Tim Engelbrecht, founder of Greedy Bear, Sydney's pioneering meadery.
In this episode of Really Good Conversations, we explore the fascinating history of mead, its accidental discovery, and how Tim's adventurous spirit led him from wedding photography to reviving the world's oldest alcohol.
Amy chats to Tim about:
The environmental benefits of mead Greedy Bear's branding challenges Crowdfunding - Round 1 and the upcoming campaignWhether you're a business enthusiast, a history buff, or just looking for a good story, this episode is a treasure trove of insights and inspiration.
Look out for Greedy Bears Crowdfunding campaign launching 15th April
Connect with Tim and Greedy Bear:
Website Instagram Making Ends Mead Podcast Tim's Wedding Photography - Se mer
