Conversations of Inspiration

In honour of the formidable Dame Deborah James, we are re-releasing this very special podcast episode.Having avidly followed the highs and lows of Deborah’s journey, Holly was honoured to have had the pleasure of speaking with her in 2020, and it’s a memory she will always treasure in her heart. In this episode, Deborah James, also known as Bowelbabe, joins Holly to talk about the rebellious spirit that would define her journey, from gymnast to Deputy Headteacher, journalist to campaigner — and then coping with the news that so many of us fear. It's quite remarkable now to hear the original plans she made then, which led to her raising millions of pounds for cancer research through her Bowelbabe fund. Deborah has left such a phenomenal mark on the world and her legacy will shine bright forever more. If there are any words to live by, it’s Deborah’s motto that we should all have no regrets, believe that we can do things we never thought possible, and most importantly — to always, always have rebellious hope. 

What makes a brand like Hush Homewear stand out from the thousands of fashion and e-commerce businesses out there? Yes it's the quality and style of the clothes, but it's also another key element that makes them truly one-of-a-kind — and that's the brand. If you want to know the secret to building an identity that makes thousands of customers return again and again, and remain loyal to you for life, hear Mandy Watkins' hard won wisdom on the subject...Mandy started her laid back clothing and lifestyle brand from the kitchen table back in 2003 with a redundancy cheque, a huge dose of ambition and a desire for warmer clothes. Growing up in Australia, Mandy spotted a gap in the market after moving to the UK where she struggled to find relaxed, stylish and cosy clothing suited to living in our changeable climate. After years of perseverance, determination and orders ever so slowly trickling through, Hush started to become a recognised and successful brand. However Mandy opens up about how her business' success was by no means easy, and explains the different routes to market she took in order to achieve the sales she so desperately wanted. Now, after having such a strong identity in the clothing industry, Mandy explains how she has not only built and maintained her brand, but also why as a small business you have the power to make sure the brand heart of your business is beating louder than ever, which as Mandy shares, is a game changing advantage if used effectively. Holly and Mandy share a passionate belief in sustainability, responsible consumer shopping and the positive effect that a work ethic can have on achieving your dreams. It is apparent that Mandy is, and always has been her true authentic self, and might that have had an effect on her business? You’ll have to listen to find out…If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with Liz Earle, founder of Liz Earle. This Conversations of Inspiration podcast episode is brought to you with support from Adobe Express.Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

With 2022 seeing the 50th anniversary since the first Pride took place in the UK, there couldn’t be a better time to celebrate the incredible trailblazer that is writer, model, presenter, and founder of The Queer Bible, Jack Guinness. Fighting for change, acceptance, and kindness within our society, Jack’s conversation offers crucial education about the LGBTQ+ community, and is one that should be heard by all. A self-confessed ‘queer missionary’, Jack’s journey has been one full of challenges, strength, and development. Growing up the son of a vicar with a very religious upbringing, Jack struggled internally with who he was taught he should be as a member of the church, and who he truly was as a queer man.In his younger years, views towards the LGBTQ+ community were still very blurred, and Jack struggled to find a safe space where he truly belonged. Yet little did he know that it was this turmoil that would ignite a fire to help so many others as he does today. Jack also opens up about the countless rejections and homophobia he faced in the fashion industry, and speaks to Holly about the language that we should be using in our society today when talking about members of the LGBTQ+ community, and that so many of us worry about getting wrong. Now, as his happiest self, Jack is the founder of The Queer Bible — a groundbreaking platform that celebrates the lives and works of the global queer community. He is on a mission to learn from others, share his knowledge with the next generation and to let all LGBTQ+ people realise that they deserve to not only survive, but thrive too.An enlightening and important conversation, celebrating Jack’s determination and courage to ensure our future is a more diverse and inclusive place for us all. As well as a testament to the power of finding your true self, and helping others to do the same.  And just remember in Jack’s very own words, “In a world that tells you you’re nothing, you’re everything.”

A leading expert in the farming industry, Tim Mead CEO of Yeo Valley, delves into a number of crucial topics around responsible farming, environmental consciousness and reveals how farmers can help to reverse the carbon crisis. This is an unmissable conversation that won’t only help our generation, but many to come. Tim’s family have been farming in Somerset for over 500 years and are known across the country for stocking our shelves with delicious organic milk, cheese and yogurts. However what we didn’t know is just how much hard work and grafting has gone into the Yeo Valley brand over the years. Tim grew up in the family business, but a tragic accident left Tim holding the reins aged just 26. Since then, he has been on a quest to not only continue his father’s legacy, but to follow his true north star which is encouraging, educating on and producing food that is made in a healthy, natural way. Having witnessed the introduction of industrial manufacturing, Tim shares that 55% of what we eat is classified as ultra processed food – and offers unmissable advice on how we can start to change that statistic to not only help ourselves, but our young and the environment. Contemplating the introduction of alternative milks, the importance of community and the marketing genius that changed the Yeo Valley brand forever, Tim’s story is one of hard work and determination that binds both legacy and heritage with adaptability and future proofing. If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford.This Conversations of Inspiration podcast episode is brought to you with support from Adobe Express.Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

A story of strength and courage, this remarkable account is full of thought-provoking advice that will quite literally change your life. This conversation is truly going to make you reevaluate not only the way you live, but how you react, think, feel gratitude and express yourself, too.  “If I survive today, tomorrow I will be free.” These are the words of 16-year-old Edith Eger whilst imprisoned in the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, in World War Two. Now one of the last Holocaust survivors on the planet, Edith shares her fascinating take on why, “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference,” and also so inspirationally explains how she learnt to turn hate into pity throughout her time at Auschwitz.  After suffering unimaginable horrors including the loss of her parents, imprisonment and torture, Edith realised that freedom, when it came, was much more than being outside the gates of the heinous death camp and was actually a battle within her own mind. After a decade of suffering from crippling survivor's guilt, Edith trained as a psychologist, reclaiming her own power and enabling her to work with patients to help them choose to free themselves from their own thoughts to ultimately liberate them.  Edith shares with Holly her first-hand account of her time living through the Holocaust, a story that is almost unbearably hard to hear and yet one in which Edith’s enduring spirit, wisdom and love shine brightly through the darkness. This is a must-hear episode, as Edith is one of our last living survivors able to share her perception of such a terrible times in history. Edith teaches us the most valuable of life lessons and in her very own words – “What happens to us in life is not the most important thing. Rather the most important thing is what we do with our lives.” If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with Mo Gawdat.  This Conversations of Inspiration podcast episode is brought to you with support from Adobe Express. Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

Josh Littlejohn, founder of Social Bite and The World's Big Sleepout, shares his vision and blueprint for making meaningful change in the world through entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, the power of manifestation, and the role of spirituality. The podcast also explores scaling challenges, the potential for zero homelessness, and the importance of using privilege to advocate for marginalized communities.

Dare to dream it, dare to believe it and dare to do it! That’s the motto of Charlotte Tilbury MBE — the makeup guru with the Midas touch, a woman trailblazing a makeup revolution and empowering women through the transformative power it brings.As a British female entrepreneur and one of the most influential makeup artists of her generation, Charlotte Tilbury has distinguished herself as being a true creative visionary who has completely disrupted the beauty industry. And although ‘empowerment’ isn’t usually a word associated with it, Charlotte explains how her frustration with this market as a young woman, along with her unique understanding of what women want, has helped her to build a global brand that champions the face of beauty in a different way. Charlotte reveals what has always fuelled her determination to pursue her passion, and how practising manifestation, living in the future and giving people the opportunity to feel their most confident self, has allowed her to surpass her greatest dreams. As Charlotte says, “You have to believe the dream”, and this endless belief in her ideas, self and future are only a few reasons for her inspirational success.  If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown and Jones Road Beauty. This Conversation of Inspiration podcast episode is brought to you with support from Adobe Express.Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

Little did Guy and Jo Schanschieff know that a chance conversation at the Taj Mahal in 1991 would spark an idea that changed their lives forever. With Bambino Mio now being the largest reusable nappy brand in the world, Guy Schanschieff MBE shares with Holly the highs and lows of their epic adventure to do business for good. Their mission to eliminate single use plastics from nappy production, before the rise of the internet and the conscious consumer, hasn’t always been easy. However with 90 billion nappies being thrown away every single year, and 1% of all plastic production being used to make single use nappies, we really do have to commend Guy and Jo for their sheer determination, belief in their product and ability to remain agile enough to enforce change. Not only does Guy share key stats and figures that explain the importance of consumer choices on the environment, but he also depicts some life changing advice that he learnt when overcoming some of Bambino Mio’s incredible challenges as the business has evolved.Today, over 20 years later, after a wedding, three children, over 100 awards and selling in over 50 countries worldwide, Bambino Mio is a brand that we must all support, along with the incredible founders behind it. This is a conversation that encourages taking risks, having confidence and remaining committed to your vision. It’s a ‘must listen’ to take a step towards a better future. If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with Paul Lindley, founder of Ella’s Kitchen.  This Conversations of Inspiration podcast episode is brought to you with support from Adobe Express.Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

Mo Gawdat had it all. An illustrious 30 year career in tech, serving as the Chief Business Officer of Google X, all the money he needed and more, and was happily married with two children. However despite his many riches, he never felt completely satisfied. Fascinated by his lack of fulfilment and with his passion for technology, Mo began building an algorithm for happiness. Then, after the sudden and devastating loss of his son Ali, Mo turned to his calculation for happiness to make it through the darkest period of his life, and soon swore to honour Ali’s death, by helping one billion people to become happier. Now a best selling author and public speaker, Mo’s expertise on achieving happiness is captivating, as he shares his theory that we are all born with happiness as our ‘default state’, but it is the circumstances or choices we make whilst growing up that create unhappiness from within. Mo also discusses his second area of expertise  —  the rise of Artificial Intelligence  —  and how by just 2029, the smartest being on planet earth won’t be a human. A topic that can often be difficult to comprehend, Mo explains what AI is, and most importantly why we must learn to coexist alongside it. Discussing the art of practising gratitude, accepting grief and also revealing his secret formula of how to unlock a life that is 99% joyful, this truly is an unmissable episode, which Holly swears has already completely changed her life. If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with Asma Khan, founder of The Darjeeling Express.  This Conversations of Inspiration podcast episode is brought to you with support from Adobe Express. Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

Whilst each founder is unique, there is a golden thread that unites them all. In this episode, Holly explores what has driven each brand’s success.From triumph through adversity, each founder has faced the highs and lows of life, each experience contributing to their success. Over the next hour, Holly revisits some of the most pivotal moments in each of their lives and how that moment would lead them on to future success.Including conversations with Bobbi Brown, Dr. Willard Wigan MBE, creator of the world's smallest micro-sculptures, female tech pioneer Dame Stephanie Shirley, as well as the nation’s sweetheart Nadiya Hussain, Knoops founder Jens Knoop and ultra-athlete Josh Patterson. Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? It's worth following Holly Tucker MBE and Holly & Co on Instagram, and subscribing to our weekly newsletter on our website, where Holly downloads her thoughts, and exclusively shares small business finds and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice.