The Disruptive Niche

Today is a special day. Not only is it my birthday (woohoo!!!!!!!), but I also have the absolute pleasure of speaking with the fabulous Louise from The M Word. I have wanted to get Louise on for ages, and the time has finally come!!! The M Word is all about the menopause and, as Louise says on her website, she is ‘passionate about helping society understand the magnitude and mightiness of the menopause by talking about it’. She is ‘on a mission to revolutionise women’s experience of the menopause by educating those around them, both at home and in the workplace to ensure they don’t have to go it alone or suffer in silence any more’. In this frank discussion we talk about whether the workplace is doing enough to support women get through this, and what can be done to make it less of a trauma. Louise also talks about how she combines Solution Focussed Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy to help women ‘liberate themselves from the crippling effects of anxiety and negative thinking’ which so often surrounds the menopause. This podcast is so important, for men, women, children to understand what the hell is going on with women’s bodies and minds during this time, and how we can navigate it together, without it being a taboo subject. Also look out for more information surrounding the menopause on World Menopause Day on 18th October. (Please excuse slight sound loss in areas due to disrupted internet). You can find more about The M Word here:- Website Menopause in the workplace Solution Focussed Hypnotherapy Fan Fatale Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Richard is one of the few full-time magicians in the UK, and has travelled all over the world performing for high end corporate clients as well as at weddings, parties, etc (his trip to Venice sounds out of this world!). He speaks all about how he got started, becoming a member of esteemed The Magic Circle, and how he is one of the very few people that perform theatrical pickpocketing. This has led to him being hired by and working alongside Gloucestershire Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Gloucestershire and Crimestoppers to help them with crime prevention. Richard also talks about how COVID has meant he has now gone online, and with the help of his friend and fellow magician, Kelly Scorah, they can now play to audiences all over the world. Richard states on his website that ‘being a magician isn’t just about being able to perform great magic tricks - it’s also about personality, warmth and humour’, and this comes across in spades in our chat. Enjoy!

John talks to us from Ontario, Canada, about demystifying SEO and how building relationships is key to a successful business. We chat about how John started his adult working career at Red Pages (the Yellow Pages of websites) and subsequently Yellow Pages back in the early 2000s, when dial up was the only internet connection and it was quicker to manually look up an address than to search for it. We also talk paper rounds, rainy Lancaster University and John’s own podcast, Local SEO Today. This is a fascinating insight into probably the most important aspect of any website and business. Well worth a listen. John can be found here:- Local SEO Search Local SEO Today LinkedIn Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram Yelp

We are back with a bang. Yes, after a few weeks off, we have returned bigger and better, and kicking us off after our break is Heather from Pool2Lake Open Water talking to us about open water swimming. Heather's enthusiasm for open water swimming is evident in our chat as she talks passionately about how cold water swimming can have a massive positive impact on mental health, and how 'mind over matter' is a major part of letting go in the water. Heather talks about how since lockdown has ended, more and more people of all ages are trying out open water swimming, as its popularity grows. She also lets us into her 'bucket list' swim back home in South Africa after she was a 'spotter' for a group of Channel Swimmers. Grab a cuppa and enjoy. You will be desperate to pull on a wetsuit and give it a go by the time you have finished!!!! Details of Pool2Lake Open Water can be found here:- Pool2Lake Open Water Book a session Instagram Facebook

In this week’s episode we have gone truly global, and speak with Christie from Active Soul, a fitness trainer in New Zealand focusing on health and fitness in women from their early 20s, through pregnancy, post partum and into the menopause. Christie is an absolute powerhouse of enthusiasm, and she shares with us her journey from primary school teacher in Stepney, East London (where we met 20+ years ago!!), to award winning fitness trainer back in her home town in New Zealand. We talk about how her business has changed from initially just focussing on new mums, to now including all stages of a women’s lifecycle. Christie is passionate about understanding how a woman’s body changes throughout their life, and how there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ option when it comes to exercising safely. Covid, like the rest of the world, forced her business into lockdown, but she managed to go online pretty much overnight and has now a hugely successful online membership programme available to everyone. Join us on this fascinating chat about how important it is to have an exercise programme that is right for you, as well as reminiscing about nearly throwing up on a military boot camp and putting my son in a gym’s creche while I went and had coffee and cake!!! You can find all the information about Active Soul here:- Active Soul Facebook Instagram Online membership Retreats (for when the borders open up again)

As it is the first Monday of July, today is Teenpreneur day, where we talk to entrepreneurs who started their businesses while they were in their teens. Today, I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with one of the hardest working people I know - the DJ and Producer, Lewis. Lewis started his DJ business when he was just 15, and now at 22, he’s got some impressive credits under his belt. He was (and possibly still is) the youngest person to ever DJ at Ministry of Sound, has his music produced under Columbia Records, Sony Music and Somnthin’ Records (he regularly has his music featured on the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Kiss FM), runs events under Flaminco30 (his ‘locked in virtual clubbing’ livestreams he has produced over lockdown have been insane), oh and also runs Floodlight Media, a graphic design brand. Lewis talks to us about how he knew from an early age what he wanted to do, and how he set about working his socks off to achieve it. He shares how the support from his parents has been invaluable, and how his dad used to drive him to all his gigs and help him set up before he was old enough to have a car. Lewis is an incredible businessman, and an absolute inspiration to any teen. Details of where to find Lewis can be found here:- Lewis Instagram Facebook Soundcloud

Julie from Arty Heaven talks to us about her fascinating journey into painting with the 2,000 year old process of encaustic wax and how winning a competition with the Tate Modern catapulted her love of art to become her full time career. It is evident from listening to Julie speak just how passionate she is about her work, and it is a joy to listen to. “Something magical happens during the process of applying [the wax], and viewing it, and I believe it continues to live, morph and evoke strong feelings for years to come.  Every changing season, or sunny day changes the way it is viewed and perceived.”  Julie talks to us about how Covid-19 has made her reassess her work, balance. She will be hosting less in-person workshops, which gives her the time to create more art, including more commissions. However, fear not, as she also has a You Tube channel dedicated to showing you how to paint with this incredible medium. As well as creating magical works of art, Julie also sells all the equipment you would need on her website to either get started in painting with encaustic wax, or if you are a seasoned pro, where to top up your supplies. This really is a fascinating talk all about art, wax and bees, with a slight nostalgic nod to our studio-sharing days. Details of Julie’s site can be found here:- Arty Heaven Art for sale Shop You Tube channel Instagram Facebook Twitter

In this week’s episode we talk to Dan, one half of Sea Chips, about their healthy salmon skin snacks, and how the idea was borne from his time as a chef and seeing how this ‘waste’ product could be sustainably reused. “Whilst we were sourcing our salmon skins, the fishmongers would tell us they usually throw the skins away. We soon discovered that almost half of all seafood  caught in the UK is thrown away, so we decided to address this issue by using the usually wasted yet nutrient-packed skin to create our crisps!” Dan ended up appearing on Dragon’s Den, and rejecting an offer from Touker Suleyman. He talks to us about his reasoning behind this, and how an Instagram message from Jonathan Brown, the ‘King of Salmon’ changed the shape of their business (note to self, always read and respond to Instagram messages!). Earlier this year, they launched Sea Snax, human grade healthy salmon skin treats for dogs, which, due to the high Omega 3 in them, is ideal for a glossy coat, cognitive function and are suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Not only are Sea Chips and Sea Snax a sustainable, British company (produced in Cumbria), but they also donate a portion of their profits to support ocean charities, who are actively helping to clean up our seas and oceans. (Apologies for slight loss of sound quality in some parts due to poor reception due to thunder storms). Details of Sea Chips and Sea Snax can be found here:- Sea Chips Sea Snax Sea Chips Instagram Sea Chips Facebook Sea Chips Twitter Sea Snax Instagram Sea Snax Facebook Sea Snax Twitter

In this week’s episode we talk to award winning make up artist Clare about how her business had to close overnight due to Covid-19, and how she has managed to get through the last 3 months. Alongside her TV, film and editorial work, Clare is also passionate about making women over 40 feel fabulous. She is a great believe that the most expensive products are, in a lot of cases, not the best, and to not dismiss cheaper brands. She also has a deep hatred for contouring!!! After a stay in hospital with Covid-19, as well as the enforced lockdown, it gave Clare the opportunity to return to her first love - painting. She has since painted a number of canvases which are available to purchase through her Alyna Art. Details of Clare Pinkney Makeup & Hair can be found here:- Clare Pinkney Makeup & Hair Facebook Instagram Alyna Art

On this week’s podcast we celebrate the work of Liverpool artist Mikey who has been brightening up the lives of his local area with his beautiful window art celebrating the #ArtforNHS movement. He talks about how it came about, anonymous design suggestions being put through his door and painting back to front. Mikey’s instagram can be found here:- Ardeth_Cramp

Today is TEENPRENEUR day!!! Once a month we showcase entrepreneurs who started their business when they were in their teens. Their actual business may not be niche, however these young people are disrupting the business world with their age, drive and enthusiasm. Phoebe started her performing arts school, SASA School of Performing Arts, at the age of 18, and in just 5 years has won awards, taken over another theatre company, graduated from University with a First Class Honours, and has grown her business exponentially!!! Here, Phoebe talks about how important it is to have a mentor from the start, how she wasn’t - and still isn’t - taken seriously as a business woman because of her age, and how starting a business in your teens is the best age to do it. Phoebe’s passion for her business is evident in this insightful chat all about being a teenage entrepreneur. Details of SASA School of Performing Arts can be found here:- SASA School of Performing Arts Facebook Twitter Instagram Vacancy information

This week I have the absolute honour of speaking with Vincent, one half of the brains behind Noveltea. Noveltea has basically fused two of the great British public’s favourite things together - alcohol and tea - and made the most delicious and unique drink. Vincent talks about meeting his business partner, Lukas, on the terraces of St James’ Park, their shared love of tea and alcohol, developing the Noveltea brand, pitching to Fenwicks, the (very British) history of Earl Grey Tea, and the next chapter in the Noveltea story, including the launch of their crowdfunding campaign. Details of Noveltea can be found here:- Noveltea Crowdfunding campaign Instagram Facebook Twitter

Roll up. Roll up. Today we talk with Jess from Showtime Circus about her amazing circus school.. Jess’ enthusiasm and love for what she does just oozes throughout as she talks openly about teaching both in person and having to take it on-line, having to be more ‘business-like’ in her approach to running classes, and performing on stage at the Magic Circus in Benidorm Palace last year.  Classes include aerial hoop and silks, acrobatics, juggling and much, much more! Life is most certainly ‘Better Upside Down’!!! Details of Showtime Circus can be found here:- Showtime Circus Facebook Instagram Twitter

In this episode we chat to Ele from The Barefoot Accountant about being the most un-accountaty accountant around, her niche in creative clients, and her passion for gigs. We also talk about how Solo Armada, the ‘meet up’ for solo gig-goers who have a shared passion for music came about, and how she is on the panel of The Rattle, a global collective of over 200 artist and innovators that rewrite the rules of music, art and startups. Ele can be found here:- The Barefoot Accountant Solo Armada The Rattle Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

In Conversation with Siobhan Murphy, family and newborn photographer, author of satirical book and creator of educational grammar cards. Links to Siobhan’s work:- Siobhan Murphy Photography - FaceTime baby shoots and more Things that Annoy Me by Kay Carlton (Siobhan’s pseudonym) - Facebook page and Amazon link SPAG cards - Key Stage 2 grammar learning resource cards

Jet introduces what the Disruptive Niche Podcast is all about.