The Small & Supercharged Podcast: Recent Episodes
Rhea Freeman
Do you want to promote your small business better? Are you an influencer looking to be sponsored or to become a brand ambassador? Are you a business or influencer looking to nail your social media? Work with magazines? Feature on websites? Understand the value of photography, PR, content marketing, and so much more in your business? You've come to the right place.
Each week, social media and marketing expert Rhea Freeman shares tips, tricks, new developments, real life experiences and proven strategies to help you promote your business, brand or self better. As a social media consultant with years of PR, marketing, content and social media experience in the equestrian and country industry, Rhea shares her tried and tested strategies that you can implement NOW and make a difference to what you're doing. And there's a special guest every other week too giving a different perspective and their top tips.
What do cellars and 'that space under the stairs' have in common? Both are places that Alice Rivers-Cripps developed her incredible brand, Posh Totty Designs, before the company found its home in Brighton!
Alice's journey into the world of jewellery started in Mexico, when she found a passion, and developed further when she started stamping silver in a way that hadn't been seen before. Although traditional silversmiths thought she was crazy using stamps on precious metals, not only did people 'get' it, they loved it to the point that the business has been able to scale and now employs around 50 members of staff - how incredible is that!
Alice is a huge inspiration- passionate, talented, and adoring of her customers, her creations, and her team. On this episode, she also shares where she got the brand's name from, an incredible collaboration, and so much more.
Over the last few weeks, I've received some lovely emails saying that I've been nominated for awards. Brilliant, you might think- and you're right- but two of them had a sting in the tail. If I filled in the entry form and pressed 'submit', I HAD to agree that if I made it to shortlist phase, I would definitely pay to attend the awards. And some awards have very long shortlists. The tickets plus transport and hotel ran to hundreds of pounds, and I'd have to go back on projects committed to in order to enter. Which didn't seem right to me.
Don't get my wrong, I know it costs money to run awards. And I know that award dinners cost money, but this pay to play concept feels odd to me. Especially when it's a sneaky pay to play. And that's what I talk about in today's podcast.
I love being able to say I'm multi award winning, and there are some incredible awards out there (huge shout out to Digital Women and Enterprise Nation!), but some have hidden costs that run into many hundreds. And then you have to ask yourself... is it worth it? Is the potential accolade worth the cost in time and money? I'd love your thoughts... here are mine on paying to enter awards, and hidden costs too...
It feels like forever since we chatted, but this week, after the AMAZING interviews I've shared as part of the You've Got This book launch, I'm back- just me!
To ease me back into 'normal' podcasts again, I took the suggestion of a fab follower (thank you Ceandice aka Main Tax Co!) and threw open the question box on Instagram. And now, I'm answering your burning questions.
How did I get the publishing deal? What's next? How did I get into this line of work? Where did it start? Did I go to university?! I answer all the questions - there's no gatekeeping. If you've listened for a while, you'll know there never is!
Anyway- I hope you enjoy it- it feels weird to be chatting to everyone again like the pre book times, doesn't it?! I hope you love it. It's great to be back!
Siobhan Miller, founder of The Positive Birth Company, found herself supporting women all over the world after her own traumatic birth experience led her to hypnobirthing, and changed her professional direction too!
Siobhan worked in marketing before her second child came along. She'd already decided she wanted to change career and had gone back to university to study for a Masters in Psychology. But it was the birth experience with her first child, and the desire to have a completely different experience second time around, that caused her to find hypnobirthing and everything that followed.
So profound was its impact that she became a hypnobirthing teacher, supporting parents to be around London. She saw the impact and wanted to help more people beyond London, and so the online side of the business and The Positive Birth Company was, well, born!
This is the last special episode of the podcast, sharing the stories of the fabulous founders who let me interview them for my latest book, You've Got This. I hope you really enjoy this...
When you have three small children and no entrepreneurial background, what do you do? Well, if you're Janine Allis, you found Boost Juice and become one of Australia's most respected businesswomen. And I still can't believe Janine agreed to let me interview her for my book, You've Got This!
Janine left school at 16, worked in advertising, went travelling, sold timeshares in Spain and Portugal, and worked on a yacht in the South of France hanging out with rockstars and royalty! Then, at 27, she found herself back in Australia with a two year old child. When she started working again, she met her now husband, Jeff, and it was after the birth of her third child that her entrepreneurial side came out!
Now, Janine has over 800 Boost Juice Bars all over the world, is an author, founder of The Business Academy, was one of Lord Sugar's advisers on The Celebrity Apprentice Australia, was a business mentor on Australian Shark Tank, and SO much more too!
Listen to find out more about Janine, her journey, and the incredible lessons she's learnt along the way. This one is jam packed with brilliant advice. I think you'll love it.
What happens when a Stanford University project catches the eye of a venture capitalist? Well, in one world, you carry on as before. In another, and if you're Jenny Lefcourt, you explore the idea, raise $1 million and go on to co-found WeddingChannel.com!
Today, that would be some feat, but Jenny and her cofounder did this when internet shopping wasn't really a thing- Amazon had only just started selling books! And yet, with grit, determination and a lot of work, WeddingChannel.com thrived and was eventually sold.
Now, Jenny is a General Partner at early stage venture capital firm, Freestyle, which invests in early stage tech companies. She's also co-founder of All Raise, a non-profit to support diversity in tech, and has angel invested in a range of businesses including Minted, Discord, and Main Street Hub.
Jenny is an incredible lady with so much knowledge to share. She does this here, on this special episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast and, of course, in my latest book, You've Got This.
Ever think that the odds are stacked against you?
Jo Franco arrived in America with her mother when she was five, only able to speak Portuguese, the language of Rio de Janeiro, where she was born. She helped her mum clean at weekends to make ends meet, but also started to develop a passion that would shape her whole life, a love of languages.
She learnt English to help her mum and other immigrants understand the language, to translate documents, and interpret everyday life. Although she couldn't physically travel, the idea of travel and language excited her, and so she expanded her world through learning French and Italian too.
Jo's world expanded when she moved to Manhattan for university before studying abroad in Paris (when she started a YouTube channel) and then moving to Los Angeles before being offered a job in New York, which she didn't take despited the $65k of student debt.
And then, one day in LA, Jo's life changed again when she was pitched to front her own travel show. From this point on, Jo's career has continued to skyrocket in many different ways, including a travel show on Netflix and the development of her own online communities and platforms that support journalling and languages.
Prepare to be seriously inspired. And to find out more about Jo, read her story and advice in You've Got This, the book!
If you love Emma Bridgewater the brand, you're going to adore this latest episode of the podcast with founder and all round legend, THE Emma Bridgewater!
Emma started her company when she couldn't find the perfect gift for her own mother. Through starting small, trying and testing, asking for help, developing and carefully growing, her eponymous business grew to the one we see today with a factory in her beloved Stoke-on-Trent (which produces around 1.9 million pieces of pottery a year!) as well as HQ in London.
Emma was a complete delight to talk to. Her journey is inspiring, her manner so warm, and her advice so on the money. So pour yourself a cuppa- ideally in an Emma Bridgewater mug, and have a listen.
Astrid & Miyu is an incredible jewellery brand that now has stores all over the world - it's come a long way since founder, Connie Nam, started the business in 2012, in her London flat.
Connie created the brand after identifying a gap in the market for jewellery that sat in the 'affordable luxury' area, paired with the warm shopping experience she'd enjoyed when browsing boutiques in Seoul, Korea, where she was born. After spotting this gap, Connie got to work, building up the brand before she wanted to take the next step and get a physical store. For this, investment was needed, which was incredibly hard to come by, but she did and opened four stores pre-pandemic. Since, she has continued to open jewellery shops, piercing and tattoo studios all over the world.
What started off as a career in investment banking following an MBA has now morphed into more than the founder of a global brand. Not only is Astrid & Miyu known for its jewellery, it's also known for its eco credentials, giving to charity, and supporting many other small business leaders too.
To find out more about Connie and Astrid & Miyu, grab your copy of my new book, You've Got This!
Kasia Bromley's career started at Alexander McQueen in haute couture after she came over from Poland to study fashion in Edinburgh. Soon after her graduation, she started designing clothing, but it wasn't until 2016 that the brand we know today as ACAI officially launched.
Kasia and her husband, Joe, co-founded the brand when they were expecting their first child. Kasia had previously identified a gap in the market for outdoor clothes for women that allowed them to confidently explore the outdoors- something she'd really wanted as she always had an affinity with spending time in nature and knew of the positive impact this could have.
Utilising her fashion background and her extensive knowledge of technical fabrics, ACAI was born, but it took a long time to build it to the brand that's so well known and loved today. At one point, financial issues led to the couple having to move out of the family home and live apart in different countries to make ends meet, but this only served as fuel for Kasia and ACAI.
A change in strategy saw ACAI launch online in 2017 and the business has grown at an incredible rate since then.
I was delighted to speak to Kasia for my latest book, You've Got This, and it's a joy to share this interview with you here today. Don't forget, you can grab your copy of You've Got This through Amazon, Bloomsbury direct and all good bookshops.
Laura Tenison is an incredible lady- who I was lucky enough to have as a panellist at my book launch event in January too!
Laura always had a passion for business, starting in her teenage years, and this grew into a desire to create a clothing brand. Her initial idea didn't quite work out, and Laura had to take a detour via French property development to get the money she needed to start her fashion company. Then, a horrific car accident saw Laura hospitalised and sharing a room with a terminally ill mum who was buying clothes for her children, and the two batted ideas back and forward about clothing for children and babies that actually helped, didn't cost the earth but was still great quality. The seeds for JoJo Maman Bébé were well and truly sown.
Laura developed her company alongside raising her own family, growing the business until ultimately selling it in 2022. Since this time, she's gone on to found an award winning holiday company called Wonderful Escapes in Wales that runs retreats, offers self catering holiday accommodation and so much more.
Nicola Elliott's journey to NEOM Wellbeing began when she realised that her lifestyle (which included jetting around the world as a journalist working for some of the most popular glossies) was taking a toll on her health as she began to suffer from really bad anxiety. She needed to do something, and started to address areas in her life that were lacking- exercise and daylight being the first two- before developing a keen interest in nutrition and then the world of aromatherapy and essential oils.
She trained as an aromatherapist and started making blends for her friends after she noticed the significant impact they were having on her life. This led Nicola to develop a blend called Real Luxury to help her feel calm and in control. This is now one of the company's best sellers.
Using aromatherapy to support wellbeing in this way scaled to four products available to buy before growing 'brick by brick' into NEOM Wellbeing, a brand that has over 200 products and stores all over the world.
Find out more about Nicola's journey, NEOM Wellbeing, some true golden nuggets and so much more in You've Got This- out now!
Lisa's journey to become a driving force in the wellness industry started some 15 years ago when a trip to the doctors got her thinking about 'food as medicine'. This concept changed her life.
Although Lisa is now known for the incredible brand, Kroma Wellness, she was also the founder of Beaming Wellness, a superfood cafe that developed a cult following.
In 2021, Kroma Wellness was born, launching just as the global pandemic began. This caused many pivots but ultimately led to an incredible brand that has gained investment from 100 powerful women including celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Seinfeld, and being featured in some of the best publications in the world.
Read all about Lisa, Kroma Wellness, and the journey she's taken in You've Got This- out now!
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know about Wild Cosmetics. The company that made deodorant... well... interesting! And more than that, made influencers start actively promoting it to their audience.
Charlie Bowes-Lyon is the co-founder of Wild Cosmetics, a brand that, initially, couldn't get any investment in its idea for sustainable yet effective deodorant because the market was 'too small'. To get that initial support, the team needed to prove their business prowess with another product before achieving their ultimate goal which allowed them create the product we know as Wild deodorant today.
But even then, it didn't come easy. It took over 20 iterations to get to a product the team were happy with... and then covid happened as the brand was launching! And yet, Wild thrived.
This is a story of a Wildly successful brand, but also how 'failure' isn't final, why it's important to think around the issue, and how believing in your own vision is so important for success.
You can find out all about Charlie, Wild Cosmetics, and lots more in my book, You've Got This, available now.
SPECIAL EPISODE- You've Got This, Tracey Cole!
Change your thoughts, change your world? Abso-flipping-lutely!
There's no doubt that the power of the mind is incredible. It can allow us to confront issues and face fear head on, or it can make us retreat and play small. When we understand this and work on our mindset, just like we would other aspects of our wellbeing and health, the results can be truly remarkable, as an individual and as a business owner.
Enter Tracey Cole, an Accredited Master Trainer of NLP. I've been lucky enough to train with Tracey and was delighted when she agreed to share some of her words of wisdom for my book, You've Got This, and for this podcast too. We chat about limiting beliefs in all their guises, neuroplasticity, and how when we understand and start to challenge our values and thoughts, we can change our world and the opportunities available.
You can find out all about Tracey, as well of her words of wisdom and tips for a better mindset, in my book, You've Got This, available now.
SPECIAL EPISODE- You've Got This, Jo Tutchener Sharp!
Before Jo founded Scamp & Dude, she'd enjoyed a successful career in PR, running her own agency. After her children, she decided that the PR lifestyle wasn't compatible with two young children, so she decided to sell her agency and set up her own skincare brand with a friend. But then, a horrific headache landed her in hospital and, eventually, she faced brain surgery to remove a 'lump' on her brain. Unsure if she'd survive the operation, she started to go back over her life and was worried that she hadn't done enough to leave a legacy and help others. She vowed, should she wake up, she'd do something different.
Needless to say, she did wake up, and with a new passion for life, launched Scamp & Dude. Originally, the brand was aimed at children with the Superhero Sleep Buddy and clothing range that launched in Liberty, but it quickly became apparent that the real market was women... and so started the route that led to the Scamp & Dude we see today.
As Jo's business has continued to grow, so has her drive to help others- her Super Scarf campaign is testament to this, with over 60k scarves donated to women with cancer at this point.
Jo's journey is inspiring, fascinating, and absolutely heart wrenching. You can find out all about it, as well of her words of wisdom and tips for success, in my book, You've Got This, available now.
Suzanne Mulholland aka The Batch Lady has become a household name thanks to her simple (and delicious) meals that can be made in advance to make sure there's always an answer to that question 'what's for dinner?'. But Suzanne didn't come to this through her love of cooking- quite the opposite.
After working in the city as a time management guru for many years, Suzanne turned her organisational skills to family life when her own children came along. She decided that coming up with and cooking dinner from scratch every night wasn't for her, but she still wanted to provide delicious, healthy food for her family, so she started batching.
The parents at school asked how Suzanne did it, she shared this through a charity batch cooking evening, and the response was such that Suzanne decided to share it more widely, and started The Batch Lady.
But it wasn't all plain sailing. Many of her friends thought she was crazy to put herself out on social media, but she had big dreams and it was an essential step to help achieve them. Fast forward to now, and her fifth book has just hit the shelves (it's BRILLIANT), as well as her first TV series, Batch from Scratch, which she presents with Joe Swash.
To find out more about Suzanne, see www.thebatchlady.com.
To grab your copy of You've Got This, head to Amazon or Bloomsbury
You might know Mark Blundell as a Formula 1 driver, or a TV personality, but he's also the founder of MBP, a sports talent agency that works across sponsorship, talent management, brands and events.
Mark started his business alongside his career behind the wheel, but this wasn't that well known until he actively started to grow the business after his racing days.
Despite having confidence and lots of form in his racing and presenting career, transferring these skills to a new setting with new hurdles to overcome was far from easy. However, not one to shy away from a challenge, Mark worked incredibly hard to hone his pitch, deliver results, and build relationships. This combination has proved hugely successful- not just for Mark and MBP, but the talent, brands and events that work with the team.
I first heard Mark speak at Theo Paphitis' SBS event and was taken with his story, honesty and openness. I reached out to see if he'd consider speaking to me for You've Got This, sure he'd say no... and damn me, he said yes! In fact, not only did he say yes, but he's been so supportive, as has Jo at MBP, of the book, the podcast, and more besides. I learnt a lot from Mark during his chat with Theo and also from my chat with him. His words really had an impact, but his attitude, his support, and his values, arguably, even more so.
To find out more about MBP, see www.wearembp.com
To grab your copy of You've Got This, head to Amazon or Bloomsbury
SPECIAL EPISODE- You've Got This, Brie Read
Put your hand up if you've had that feeling of your tights making their way down your legs and just wanted to scream? Well, this happened to Brie Read, founder of Snag, to the point she had to remove said tights in public. Instead of screaming and accepting the situation, Brie started researching the issue and found that she wasn't alone. The more she digged, the more she realised that women seemed to accept ill fitting clothes as just part of life- and she was done with it, and so the journey of Snag started.
Today, Brie and Snag are multi award winners, hugely successful, expanding into numerous different markets and have amplified the voices of and supported thousands and thousands of tight wearers all over the world. On this episode, Brie tells us more about her journey, the blocks, and how she overcame them...
Read all about Brie, Snag, and overcoming blocks in my new book, You've Got This - available from all good bookshops NOW!
Joanna Jensen isn't just a lovely lady and a brilliant businesswomen, she's a fierce supporter and investor of female founded businesses, who all benefit from her experience, knowledge and understanding of the business world.
Joanna founded Childs Farm when her daughter struggled with eczema, and nothing that was on the market really cut the mustard. This led Joanna on a journey of learning, trying, testing- not only did the product have to work, but it needed to be fun and create joy in the children using it... fast forward and that was the foundation of Childs Farm.
It wasn't easy (that's a HUGE understatement), but Joanna nurtured and grew this brand to become the leading personal care brand for children and babies, and eventually sold a significant percentage of the company in 2022.
Since this time, Joanna has used her incredible knowledge to support amazing female founded brands and invested in a range of companies including Small & Supercharged Podcast friends Lemonade Dolls, The Clothes Doctor, Hunter & Gather, and many more.
Joanna is incredible- a powerhouse and someone I'm so grateful to. Not only has she contributed to the book, but she was also on the amazing panel at Hatchards Book Event in January 2025. What a lady!
To find out more about Joanna, see www.joannajensen.co.uk
To grab your copy of You've Got This, head to Amazon or Bloomsbury
To kick off the special You've Got This podcast series, I'm sharing the story of (and the insights provided by) Simon Alexander Ong, author of Energize AND one of the terrific panellists coming to the book event at Hatchards, Piccadilly!
Simon is an award winning life coach, keynote speaker and author of the best selling book Energize. But he didn't always want to be a coach, actually, he came across it during his time working in the financial sector. His interest deepened and he started to study alongside his full time job. Later, he started coaching and this grew to the point that he stopped working in financial services and dedicated all his working time to coaching and, latterly, speaking and writing too.
It was such a joy to speak to Simon for You've Got This, and I'm delighted I can share our full chat with you here... enjoy!
Got You've Got This? If not, grab it from Amazon or Bloomsbury here!
Well hello there- I wanted to restart with a podcast with a bang, and what bigger bang than the launch of You've Got This- a book I am SO proud of, it really is a bit of magic. And on today's episode, I talk all about it...
Get ready to hear about why You've Got This is a must for your library, how it's going to help you get crystal clear on want you want, to set useful goals, and then overcome the common blocks that stop you from achieving them. You're not alone... because... YOU'VE GOT THIS!
Grab yours from Amazon https://shorturl.at/W1umz
...Bloomsbury direct... https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/youve-got-this-9781399416764/
...and any good book shop!
Oh- and I also chat about the book launch event at Hatchards on the episode- here's the link to that too! Grab your tickets! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/youve-got-this-with-rhea-freeman-and-guests-at-hatchards-piccadilly-tickets-1111355457089
A very short and sweet one today... and the last new episode for this year. I know, I'm sad about it too, but let me explain...
As you may know, I have a book coming out in January with Bloomsbury (it's called You've Got This, available in all good bookshops and Amazon), a lot of press to do around it, a book launch even in London to sort, an awards ceremony, my lovely clients, Mastermind Group, children, life... to be honest, it's a lot, and I want to dedicate as much time as I can to my book launch, so I've decided, as much as I don't want to, to just pause the podcast for December.
There have been some amazing guests this year, so there's plenty in the back catalogue, and come January, there's a LOT coming your way as I'm able to share some of the behind the scenes interviews I did as part of the book. They're SO good, and you're going to love them.
So, Merry Christmas- I'll still be on social media and in all the places, so I'll see you soon! Have a good one.
Jo Deakin was an interior designer before finding her way to creating her own eponymous brand that doesn't just design beautiful, British, fine bone china- it also creates a moment to pause and reflect around an old fashioned British tradition.
Jo started her journey when she identified a gap in the market for truly special cups and saucers that were a joy to use, told a story, and also encouraged people to take a moment out of the busy world - or slow down and sip - as her tag line says.
Her background in interior design and passion for colour and geometric lines played a huge part in the process, but so did her belief in British manufacture, and even today her whole range is made in Stoke. Of course, British made isn't the cheapest, and we discuss this in detail. How it can be easy to think the grass might be greener on the cheaper side, why it's so important to stay in your lane, and the opportunities that doing this has created for Jo, too.
What can you give? Often, when we approach things like collaborations and agreements, our first thought it about what we want and what we can take from a situation to help us achieve our goal... but can you imagine if we thought about what we could give instead? How would that change the game for you?
This week, I've been working on some collaborative opportunities and I always look at the value I can give to the person or brand who's helping me to achieve my objective. Yes, I know what I want to achieve and what will help me do that, but I quickly look at ways to make every situation a win for everyone. Why? Because why the heck not!
Relationships that are worth anything aren't built on one person taking and the other being exploited. That just leads to short lived connections, resentment, and outcomes that serve one party - perhaps- on a short term basis. And I for one am not interested in that.
So, what would happen if you looked at what you could give rather than what you could take? Here are my thoughts on why it matters and how it can change a lot more than you might think.
Rachel Watkyn is an incredible lady. She discovered the need for The Tiny Box company when trying to start another business, ended up on Dragons' Den (and got investment!) by accident, supports women in business... and all this from less than ideal beginnings that included hospitalisation and being put into care at a very young age.
Despite this, Rachel has not only created an incredible company that supports small businesses with their packaging, she also shares her knowledge through her own website, has plans for micro loans to Third World countries, and has an exciting business on the horizon.
We discuss so much in this episode, from confidence to investing in women, drugs, software, being the change, going after what you really want, the life changing impact of Sierra Leone and so much more. It's a superb listen.
Everyone does Black Friday, right? Well no, no they don't, and this podcast shares why you shouldn't if it doesn't work for you.
Business is about profit, and whilst many businesses see orders increase when they slash their prices, if it isn't making profit, then why on earth are you doing it?!
When Black Friday rolls around, a number of businesses, particularly smaller ones, feel that to be in with a chance of making sales, they need to slash prices. I'm here to say that that might not be the case at all. And whilst, when Black Friday first appeared in the UK, it felt crazy as a business not to get involved, now, more and more brands are pushing again it.
On this episode, we chat about why you might want to push back, how to get that messaging across, how to know if it works, and when to get on board too.
Lucy Gray, aka Doodling Lucy, was told that you couldn't make a business from art. This was by a teacher... what a shortsighted statement that was....
Initially, she listened to this limiting and, quite frankly, inaccurate statement, taking action on it and taking a course in psychology at university. But, luckily, the opportunity presented itself for Lucy to embrace her talents again and create Doodling Lucy which is a brand that has become a real hit with so many people. Today, we chat all about the growth of the business, covid, Australia, finding a way to make it work, and so much more besides.
I LOVED chatting to Lucy on this podcast. Her perspective on her business, being self employed, embracing adventure and serving her community was so interesting and I'm so grateful that she shared her thoughts on this episode.
One Minute Briefs isn't just a fun outlet that has created a community of well over 100k, but it's actually a brilliant way to think about so much, as Nick Entwistle, creator of One Minute Briefs, explains.
I've followed Nick and One Minute Briefs for a long time and have been wowed by the creative concepts created by his community in just one minute. When nothing is a 'stupid idea', and speed means you can't procrastinate, over analyse or talk yourself out a something, what could happen? Great things... let me tell you!
On today's podcast, Nick shares the story of One Minute Briefs and some awesome campaigns that have been created, but also the value of community, the responsibility of supporting such a big community, and what it's like managing such a high profile feed.
Let me take you back to when you started this journey. You may have had a big goal and you then chipped away at it to get there. But what happened then? Did you continue to say 'yes' to things that got you to your goal, even if it meant you weren't really heading in the right direction for your next goal? Today, it's a deep one...
Lately, I've been giving this subject a lot of thought. I've been thinking about 'the fear' that grabs you when you want to say no to an opportunity, but it's something you would have previously given a limb for. The worry of jinxing yourself by being 'picky'. The drag back to 'old you' when your new goals don't really align. Being brave. Trusting the process. And checking in with yourself to see if you're heading in the right direction, and course correcting if you aren't.
As my next book is out soon, and lots of things have changed for me over the last year, it's something that I've been working on and untangling. Having the self awareness to realise you're not going in the right direction is a skill in itself, knowing what to do with this information is something else, and then acting on it- that's the scary bit. But if we don't, we risk feeling really unfulfilled. And with life being so flipping short, why would we risk that? Tune in... let me know what you think.
A little while ago, I stumbled across Hunter & Gather, a brand that taps into ancestral knowledge of nutrition and health, combines this with a modern lifestyle, and then creates products that are unapologetically not the cheapest available... but the strong educational aspect of the brand explains why. I loved so much about the brand, so I reached out to co-founder Amy Moring to see if she'd come on the podcast and chat all things Hunter & Gather, and she said yes!
We know that ultra processed foods aren't great for us, but Amy and her co-founder Jeff took that another step further to find out why... and what could be done to balance busy lifestyles with the need for quality foods. They set about educating themselves, then sharing this knowledge with others, and then started creating a brand around it.
It wasn't an easy journey. They needed to change public opinion through education, and also needed to create understanding around quality and price. They're not the cheapest- and nor do they pretend to be, but why do businesses often opt to compete on this aspect, when there's a large number of people who will pay for quality if the understanding is there?
Hunter & Gather was build around a mission and a vision, to provide quality and convenience, but it's taken a long time, to build their tribe, to get onto supermarket shelves... and Amy explains the journey on this episodes. It's a brilliant one.
Tech can be overwhelming - but by burying your head in the sand, you're doing yourself, your business and your life a disservice. In fact, you're probably making all of the above a LOT harder. That's why you need to listen to this week's episode - it could change your world!
Podcast guest, Beverly Clarke MBE, wasn't born into tech, quite the opposite, but has evolved and adapted over the years to become a trailblazer, educator, coach and consultant around all things technology. So passionate is she about the subject that she's also the founder of the charity 'Technology Books for Children', and is a trustee and ambassador for the Digital Poverty Alliance.
This year, Beverly's contribution to the world of tech was honoured with an MBE - which she talks about on this episode too.
Feeling a bit down or uninspired? I promise you, by the end of this podcast with Charlie Hindley, you won't!
I met Charlie when he was wearing a cloak on a street in Edinburgh, ready to guide a group of people around a graveyard. Yes, it's the truth, but only part of it. Charlie (I spoke about Charlie a few episodes ago) guided the Potter Trail when I was on holiday in Edinburgh. Now, I love Harry Potter, but there was something about the 90mins spent in Charlie's presence that stuck with me. His passion. His zest for what he does. His kindness. It really was a kind of magic.
On this episode, we talk about Charlie's journey from chorister to actor via a lot of amazing destinations. We talk about passion, purpose, bringing your all to every situation, and why it's so important to do what you love - for everyone's sake.
Lucy Hall is a complete powerhouse. Not only is she the lady behind Digital Women (and its goal of empowering 1 million women through digital skills and education), but she's also the founder of social media event Social Day, the Digital Women Awards, has run her own agency, and does a lot more too.
Lucy's passion for digital started from a young age when her love of eBay and selling on there led her to coding, social media, and so much more. Now, Lucy trains and supports women through Digital Women in addition to her events.
On this episode, we talk about growing a business, AI, the power of community, making skill sharing pay, her love of sales, obsession with spreadsheets, building a membership, running events - you name it, we cover it!
Sophie Gregory, also known as @farmer_in_training, is a first generation farmer with a 400 strong organic dairy herd. What might comes as a surprise is that she actually started out as an accountant!
Her husband's passion to have a dairy farm coupled with having her first child created a route into farming that she didn't expect. Learning from the calves upwards, Sophie threw herself into the farm and learnt all she could, and now she's taken it to another level. She sits on boards (including the NFU Dairy Board) to support the industry, is passionate about education at all levels with Discover Farming and is having her own classroom built on the farm, and invests time and energy in her own continuing professional development. She's also a Nuffield Scholar, an accolade she was awarded because of her passion, dedication, and the charity's belief in her.
Sophie's passion for farming and business shines through, and it was a true joy to get under the skin of agriculture in this way. We also chatted about the part that social media plays in it all. You might be surprised! I found it fascinating- I really hope you do too!
'Nothing was ever accomplished in uncomfortable underwear' - a quote I, and many others, wholeheartedly agree with. And it comes from the founder of Stripe and Stare, a brand dedicated to righting this!
Katie has grown this business from her kitchen table, sampling products and testing them at a small scale up to the multi million pound company it is today, that names Fearne Cotton and Oprah (yes, THE Oprah) amongst its fans.
But it's been a rollercoaster. From serious debt to the highs of customers investing in the brand, growing the business and team... and as you'll hear, it's clear that Katie really is just getting started.
Inspiration and inspirational people are all around us... but we don't always see them, do we? Perhaps we are too bogged down in the day to day to notice? Or maybe some of us just can't see it when it's standing in front of us?
On a recent trip to Edinburgh, I met an amazing chap called Charlie. Dressed in a cloak, he gave a group tour with a Harry Potter theme, and I- as well as the rest of the crowd - were completely captivated by not just his delivery, but his passion, his knowledge, how genuinely excited he was about everything he had to share.
A lot of the time, we see people shouting about why they're brilliant, but I personally prefer to see people show their greatness through action, not their own 'reviews'!
This got me thinking- inspired by Charlie - about what makes people inspirational? Exceptional? How we can spot, nurture and support them, and how we can examine our own behaviour and adjust to inspire others, just like Charlie- and many others- do for me.
No, that wasn't a typo. Today we're talking about the ability to find a problem to every solution, how you can identify this unhelpful behaviour, and how it's limiting you and your own growth.
A little while ago, I had a random chat with someone who had this way of operating. They explained their issues, I asked questions and they generated ideas that would have be helpful in overcoming the issues - and every time an excuse appeared as to why they wouldn't be able to do this. At the same time, they explained how the current situation was neither productive or sustainable.
It puzzled me. From looking from the outside in, the solutions were obvious, easy and do-able, but to them, nothing was. They were in a problem focussed mindset, not a solution focused one.
We can all stray into this way of thinking from time to time, but when we identify it, we can take positive steps, have a quiet word with ourselves, and challenge a different way of thinking. Hopefully this podcast will help you if you identify yourself in any of the above!
Sarah Elebert is not new to the Small & Supercharged Podcast, but her latest venture, co-founded with best friend Nichola, is.
The duo started their business, Envious Styling, to help provide women with stunning dresses to rent that made them feel a million dollars, but they did it differently. The dresses are selected to fit specific sizes and shapes, and Nichola provides styling advice (she's a certified Personal Stylist) so everything works how it should. And between them, they've also launched a product set to revolutionise wardrobes all over the world.
On top of all of this, both ladies are mums with Sarah having two girls (in addition to two other businesses), and Nichola having four boys, and both manage the juggle admirably.
On this episode, Sarah talks about founding a brand with your best friend, company growth and development, how everything ties together, and how she manages it all.
In the UK, we're now part way through the second week of the summer holidays, and I know how hard it can be. You have work, the heat, life, and now full time child activity provider/cook/cleaner/fixer/adjudicator of sibling squabbles to add to the list. It's a lot.
As a mum of two lively boys, I wanted to share some tips that have helped me this summer holiday so far, just in case one helps you. I'm not perfect (at all), suffer from the mum guilt the same as everyone else I know, but I really do think that the tips and, I guess, insight gathered from managing twins alongside being self employed could help you if you're struggling.
Listen, enjoy, get yourself a cup of tea, cut yourself some slack, and PLEASE share whatever hacks and tips are helping you this summer too! We're in this together!
What do cookies, creativity, Regé-Jean Page, Zoella AND Brazilian Bum Bum Cream have in common?! It's Baked By Steph, a brilliant, fun, hobby turned business that Steph Giordano started in 2019.
Steph became obsessed with beautiful biscuits and the decoration of them as a hobby. As she perfected her fun designs, people started to notice, and this quickly turned into people asking to buy her creations and brand collabs. Now, through continually developing her range and tapping into what's happening in the world now, Steph and her team create gifts, treats and cookies that win favour and go viral because of all of this!
It hasn't been plain sailing (or baking!) - when Steph's hobby started to attract attention online and orders started to come in, she had to scale and had a steep learning curve. She's also had a few viral moments that saw her account grow by thousands and thousands in a short space of time, and she still has that love/hate relationship with social media!
Find out all about Steph, her business, her biscuits, and SO much more on today's episode.
Fast fashion is a regular feature on many a newsfeed for all the wrong reasons. These cheap and often poor quality garments aren't designed to be with their purchaser for long, and are set to be worn a few times before finding their way to landfill. But there's another way.
Enter Lulu O'Connor, founder of The Clothes Doctor. During her previous career in the City, Lulu began to notice her own buying habits. She had items she loved that she threw away because they'd lost their shape, colour or appearance, or maybe needed mending on an alteration, and resorted to those fast fashion pieces we all know so well. But it was when Lulu took a much loved coat to be mended (with little success) that the idea struck her, to turn back the clock on how we care for products that matter, and start a business that allowed people's beloved items to be altered and fixed well, to give them a much longer life.
When the pandemic struck and the successful business was unable to operate, Lulu started to develop another side of the business - products. The company had already been sending little 'thank yous' back when clothes came in for a make over, but now the focus turned to products that were sustainable, good for clothes, effective, and preserved the life of these special and often more expensive pieces.
From sticking on labels in a small office to the operation she has now, Lulu takes us through her journey from idea to reality...
Lemonade Dolls is one of the fastest growing lingerie brands in the UK. It started life - as a community initially - when its founder, Lemon Fuller, started an Instagram account in 2017. She had worked in the entertainment industry for a number of years and kept seeing her incredibly talented friends suffer with a chronic lack of self confidence. It annoyed her. So she created a community to support others who didn't see themselves as the stars they were, and this developed into Lemonade Dolls, an inclusive, colourful and convention defying lingerie brand which extends way beyond bras!
On today's episode, we talk about growing a brand with purpose at its heart, why community is everything, feeling limitless, investment, and headline grabbing campaigns that saw a lot of bra-clad ladies in London on the run up to the General Election.
Be prepared to be inspired, feel empowered, and maybe even considering your underwear choices!
Urgh- if I had a penny for every time I see someone's work stolen online, I'd be a pretty rich woman. And think, if the people who had their work stolen earned money from it, they'd be a lot better off too!
On today's episode, I'm talking about sharing v. stealing, copyright infringement, the importance of asking (and waiting for!) permission, big bills and why IT'S NOT OK TO STEAL.
I've had a few 'chats' with people online on more than one occasion about this. About how they're stealing, why a 'credit' doesn't pay the bills, and plenty more besides.
So please listen, learn, ponder, research how it all works, and do a better job of sharing content online! Obviously, this isn't legal advice, but copyright matters - as does defending it - and legal issues aside, it's a really rubbish thing to do!
An open ended title, but a very apt one- on episode 300, I'm asking for your opinion on the kind of podcasts you love the most.
I believe that anything we do should be under constant revision- we shouldn't just do one thing and stick with it forever because it 'works', we should always be striving to improve and iterate, and with over 300 episodes in the bag (more than 300 as the Podmases aren't numbered!), I've learnt a lot. I've been looking at the data and downloads, I know what I'm planning to do based on this, but I would LOVE your input too!
Send me an email (rhea@rheafreemanpr.co.uk) or DM me on Instagram @rheafreemanpr and tell me what you think of solos v. interviews, and who you'd love to hear on the pod. I'm all ears!
The world of PR is constantly evolving. Not all that long ago, it was all about press releases and building relationships with traditional media, whereas now it's this alongside social media, influencers, events, content creation and a lot more. To survive, let alone thrive, agencies need to adapt, and Bloxham PR, lead by founder Kaylie Bloxham, is one that has pivoted, adapted and grown in a constantly evolving climate.
On today's episode, Kaylie talks about the Bloxham journey, growing a team, highs and lows, juggling motherhood and business, events, long term relationships and also shares some brilliant tips for brands dipping their toes into the world of PR.
Ah- deep question, right? But it's more business related, why are you the one for your customers, rather than why are you the best of a bad bunch?
The current political campaigns at play teach many things- why it's impolite to shout over each other, why fact checking matters, and why repeating why the other person is bad isn't a good marketing strategy.
By pinning you conversion hopes on a client thinking you're not as bad as the other person, you're not giving yourself a chance to shine, and you're certainly not making them feel happy with their choice. You're saying 'these people are rubbish'- that's it, you're not saying 'we can help you solve your problem or pain point because'. See the difference? One makes you say 'tell me more- I can't wait for you to help me', the other makes you say 'well, I suppose you're the best of a bad bunch...'. Always strive to be option one.
...and on today's episode, we're learning all about it...
Rebecca Honeywell-Ward started Honeywell Bakes as a way to help juggle the demands of children, stay creative, tap into a trend, and the need to earn money years ago. From the kitchen table, her business was born, and quickly scaled to premises when the house became filled with boxes for the company's delicious bakes.
But the journey hasn't been easy. From saying no to a huge company because of its terms to the changing landscape of social media, a global pandemic, massive price increases and so much more, the company has been met by many challenges... and has solved these along the way, without compromising the values at its core.
On this episode, Rebecca shares everything Honeywell Bakes- very inspiring, very honest, and really interesting.
Don't worry, I won't be telling you how to vote and I won't be discussing policies here... but I was slightly surprised to see Rishi pop up amongst the hilarious dog and cake making videos that usually seem to invade my TikTok feed. He was talking about one of his policy announcements, dispelling myths... and doing it in a very clever way that was native to the platform, was designed in line with what works well for the platform, and yet didn't undermine professionalism.
Of course, the Conservatives are not the only party you'll find over on the app best known for lip synching and trending dances, Labour also has an account- more posts, a lot more varied, and with a very different strategy but still designed with the platform in mind.
You might think this is madness, but this is a brilliant example of why it's SO important to know the segments of your audience, know where they hang out, and then meet people where they are- an absolute fundamental part of any marketing campaign.
So, what do you think? Is TikTok the place for politics? Have you seen either of the accounts I'm talking about? They're definitely worth a look- not necessarily what they're saying, but how they're saying it, why they're there, and how they're tailoring the content to fit the eyeballs it'll find. It's going to be very interesting to see how this evolves...
Marina Gibson has just released her first book- Cast Catch Release- but the journey to get to where she is now has been anything but smooth.
The story begins when she was a child and her family spent a lot of time fishing. Although she wasn't all that interested at the time, over the years her interest grew and became a huge passion that helped her in her darkest times and has now become a career through the Northern Fishing School and many more enterprises too.
But to get here wasn't easy. Marina has overcome prejudice, preconceptions, painful personal circumstances, judgements and so much more to develop her businesses, welcome more people into the world of fishing, support those suffering with cancer, and share great work in salmon conservation.
Marina is hugely inspiring- not just because of what she's done in the fishing world, but how her work has helped to make fishing more accessible to so many more people... she's a real trailblazer and I think you're going to love this episode.
Ah- perfection. That unicorn that is always slightly out of reach and will more than likely hold you back from achieving anything good.
Yes, aiming for perfect and holding yourself (or others) to impossible standards is unlikely to create the results you want- and on today's episode, we delve into why, and also some strategies to break out of the perfection cycle, to allow you to fulfil your potential.
But, before you dive in, this is not (repeat, not!) an excuse for crappy and substandard work. This is to help you find a system that allows you to feel empowered, understand the value of putting out your best work, why you need to press 'go' on projects, and how a good review and reflection process can help elevate what you do, far more than perfection!
A picture says a thousand words, and for Hannah Wilson founder of Quoted Visually, it's attracted thousands and thousands of fans too!
What began as a personal tool to help Hannah process information blossomed into an enviable Instagram following, the attention of icons like Steven Bartlett and Simon Alexander Ong (amongst others!), along with a community of over 118k enthusiasts.
Not only has Hannah developed a name for herself providing illustrations for businesses and projects, she's also formed a community with other creatives and is empowering others with her expertise through a transformative course.
Discover how harnessing the power of illustration can amplify your message and your business, hear Hannah's views on collaborating with competition, the downsides of working alone, and so much more.
If you're feeling a bit deflated about social media and your engagement, listen to this!
On this episode, I talk about what engagement is, how it's worked out and why it matters... but also the invisible engagement that we can't see that often moves the needle and is really hard to quantify. I also dip into what 'good' looks like (based on industry average stats) and some tips to help boost valuable engagement, rather than just going after hollow numbers.
It's short, sweet, but jam packed with useful information. I hope you find it useful and it stops you feeling deflated about you social media!
S'more'a'licious was a kitchen table, pandemic project, started by Laura Vogan as she overcame postnatal depression following the birth of her daughter. It began with s'mores kits and has now developed to a full marshmallow business that makes its own delicious marshmallows, marshmallow fluff, and also continues to make s'more kits... but with her own marshmallows now!
Laura talks about founding, scaling and growing the business, the highs (not just sugar ones!) on the journey, tricky times, feeling she couldn't carry on, working with influencers, going viral... and why she's quitting....
Before you panic (which was the reaction to Laura's post about this!), listen to the podcast. S'more'a'licious is very much here to stay, but the stress and worry connected to social media and the engagement posts receive (or don't!) has been put to one side, and Laura tells us why...
It can feel really strange telling the world about the product or service that you offer, can't it? But the harsh truth is that if you don't promote what you do or sell, then no one will know it exists.
Even at the moment, when it's no secret that times are hard, it's STILL important to tell people what you do. Why? Because if you don't tell them, they won't know, and then when that person needs that thing, they won't even think of you.
Business is tough right now, but without self promotion, you're in a downward spiral that doesn't lead anywhere good.
In this episode, I share ways to make it feel less yucky and weird, how to reframe the situation, and why it really matters that you do this....
Ever heard of 'Stacey Solomon Day'? No, it's not an awareness day you've missed from your social media planner, it's a day- so called by Stamptastic- because it's the day that Stacey shared their product and everything changed,
Stamptastic is a brilliant small business, designed to make anyone who has to label clothing's life a whole lot easier. But what you might not know is that Stacey Solomon blew up this brand a few years ago, and created something that is forever known by the Stamptastic team as 'Stacey Solomon Day'. In just 24 hours, Stamptastic made over £125k of sales from that one social share.
Since this time, the brand has continued to develop. I'd heard about Stamptastic and Fran a while ago and followed the business, and then at this year's Small Business Sunday event, Fran spoke to Stacey (who was the fireside chat guest) and I was absolutely blown away. I knew I had to get her on the podcast... and luckily she accepted. It's a good one.
Doubter, naysayers, those who just don't 'get' you... know who I mean? Why on earth are you listening to them!?
This podcast is all about those who say you can't... and more importantly, why it's REALLY important to not take this 'feedback' on board. It's inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger's book 'Be Useful- Seven Tools For Life' that I would absolutely recommend. The amount of times this man was laughed at, mocked and was told what he wanted wasn't possible is mind blowing. And let's be honest, he's not done too badly, has he?!
We seem to take other people's uneducated opinions more seriously than our own. We don't accept that some people don't see things as we do, have our knowledge, our worldview, our drive or determination, and yet we let their doubt kill our dreams.
Why this this?
And that is what today's podcast is all about. How to smile and nod, think about who you share your goals with, and remember why you're in the best position to decide how your life is going to pan out...
I heard Sanjay Aggarwal, co founder of Spice Kitchen, speak at Theo Paphitis' SBS Event in 2024. He was part of a panel and talked about how his business started as a project to keep his mum, co founder Shashi, busy in her retirement. Little did they know what that Christmas Day idea would grow into... and how it continues to grow today.
After being inspired by Sanjay's story and his take on business too, I reached out to see if he'd come and share his wisdom on the podcast, and to my delight he accepted. We talk about the start of the business, when he knew that it was going to be a success, the highs, lows, learning curve, saying no to supermarkets and a whole lot more. It's a masterclass that I think you're going to love.
Trends can be a great way to increase reach and engagement on the social media content we post, but are all trends good trends? That's what today's podcast is all about.
In the world we live in, jumping on trends is seen as a fast track to viral content. Not only is this not exactly true, but jumping on the wrong trends that conflict with your brand values can be hugely damaging. That's why it's important to assess each trend- not just in terms of reach, but in terms of deeper brand values, alignment, and whether or not it's going to actively support your ethos and efforts, or work against them.
Find out how on today's episode...
Lucy Claire Dunbar has an incredible brand, very exciting plans for the future, and a huge presence online and beyond. Social media was the catalyst that took her drawings from sketches for herself to the world, and what a brand she's built.
Lucy has drawn illustrations capturing so many poignant moments, from the pandemic to Vernon Kay's marathons, Mrs Hinch's support of her son Ronnie to how sad everyone felt when Matthew Perry passed away. She has a real skill for seeing what's going on in the world and being able to capture this is a way that speaks to so many people.
But Lucy didn't fall into this. Her journey to get here today was long and went via some very serious health issues, limiting beliefs (thanks to some of her teachers!), lack of confidence, and way more besides.
Lucy's story is very inspiring. She shares all about how she came to be where she is now, drawing celebs, growing on social media, and why people really should just go for it.
Have you see the rebranding of Tate and Lyle? It's transformed its logo from a dead lion being circled by a number of bees to something a lot more modern... but you might be surprised to know which part of the process caused a stir.
Was it the old logo depicting a dead lion? (I didn't notice either!) Or that people thought the logo change was a win for the 'woke' brigade?! I read similar headlines more than once and was more than a little dumbfounded. Today, I chat about why people rebrand, why rebrands are hard, and how- just maybe- we need to cut brands a little bit of slack? Enjoy!
Susan Bonnar is one heck of a lady! She started her career in the Royal Navy as an air traffic controller, but after twenty plus years, she left as her husband was also serving and she needed to be at home for her family. During her time in the Navy, she'd started making cards and wanted to do more of this when she left but realised that without a network, it was incredibly hard to reach an audience and sell.
This led to the formation of a collaborative group, which developed over time to become the British Craft House... but it wasn't a linear journey. In fact, it was listening to Sir Tom Hunter at Theo Paphitis' SBS event a few years ago that kicked everything up a level, as Susan discusses on today's episode.
And it's gone full circle... at Theo's event last week, Susan was a speaker on the main stage. And she was hugely inspiring and simply incredible.
What a lady... you're going to love this one...
Did you know that Facebook was 20 in February? How old does that make you feel?!
Well, in light of this pretty momentous birthday, I took the time to reflect on how social media has changed our lives over the last 20 years. What we've learnt, what we are now able to access, what it's meant for business, the dangers, the future, and so much more besides.
And yes, Facebook being 20 makes me feel really old. But I did spend the first few years dodging friend request from people I tried to avoid in real life at school, so I wasn't the first one on there, but I have been there much longer than I'd like to admit.
What about you? How do you think Facebook and social media in general has changed the way we live? The way we do business? For good and bad? I'd love to know...
Stacey MacNeill was a school teacher, as was Jamie, her husband when they came to the realisation that they were on a very destructive path that didn't lead to anywhere good. They needed drastic action, so they sold up and moved into a camper van and got job in North Wales managing a campsite... before the pandemic... which stopped everything.
During this time, one of a Stacey's friends was struggling and she just couldn't find a card that said what she wanted to. So she drew a picture, added words, and shared it on social media. And it kind of went from there!
Since this time, Stacey has won Theo Paphitis's #SBS (which is how we met!), grown her range, works with her husband in the business, won Gift of the Year and SO much more.
Prepare to be inspired in more ways that you might expect, as Stacey shares her journey from mental health struggles and very challenging times to where she is now, providing the right words for every occasion and supporting people on their own path.
When did you last go to a face-to-face event? Do you see the value in them anymore?
What a difference a few years can make. Pre 2020, face-to-face was THE way to do events and network, but covid changed that and gave many people a very steep learning curve on all things Zoom/Teams and more. Over the last couple of years, in person events have started to grow again- but do they have the value they did before we realised what we can do from home?
In this episode, I chat about the value of face-to-face and the unexpected extras that come with being in the same space as the people like you.
Poppy Webber isn't just an educator, a YouTuber, a business owner, an award winner, an author and a saddle fitter(!), she was a teenage mum without any qualifications to her name, but through determination, grit and help from the Prince's Trust, transformed her life.
Poppy takes us back what it was like being a teenage mum with next to nothing, getting a degree and Masters in psychology and how this lead her to saddle fitting, a shower company, becoming a YouTuber and so much more besides.
This lady is an utter legend. I'm lucky to call her a friend and a client and it's an utter joy being able to share her story with you. Such an inspiring, humble and talented individual. You'll be blown away.
If you have the start of an idea, a desire to get into a different space, or just a notion to explore something else, this podcast is for you.
Often, we look at how to grow and scale an existing business, but what happens if you're at the very very start? Or if you're looking to start a separate sub brand or explore a different market and you don't know where to even begin? It can feel utterly paralysing and overwhelming.
On this episode, we start at the spark of an idea and begin to develop this into next steps to help you make progress in the right direction, to build momentum and knowledge to allow you to take positive steps...
Have you ever really wanted something- to speak to someone, ask a question, or something else... and you were just afraid to ask? This podcast is all about why you need to feel the fear and do it anyway, and the great things that can happen if you just ask!
It sounds crazy- and whether it's fear of failure, fear of rejection, or something else, so many people don't ask for what they really want or need. In today's podcast, I discuss why it's important to ask, how to increase your chances of success, and how to embrace the possibility of a no and push on all the same!
I hope you find this useful... and I really hope it makes you ask for more...
Have you ever questioned why you're insured? For lots of us, we see an amount go out of our bank account every month or year, and we don't see any return or get any enjoyment from that cost. Which might lead you to question 'is insurance worth it?'. That's what I chatted to Lawrence Gill from KBIS about on today's podcast.
Of course, Lawrence does have some skin in the game as he's Executive Director of KBIS, but we talked about premiums, risk, reducing cost, and making sure your money is covering you for all the right things.
This isn't a sales podcast- far from it- but when everyone is looking at their expenses and seeing how to reduce them, I was keen to share more about insurance. It's one of those things we hope never to use- some of us never do- but can still be very costly. Equally, if we do have cause to use it, it can be worth its weight in gold. This podcast will lift the lid on how it all works, and it might even save you some money, help increase your understanding, and help you ensure you're insured for what you need!
...in my opinion, anyway!
In the first Small & Supercharged podcast episode of 2024, I talk about why I don't like New Year's Resolutions, why I think they're the fastest way to feel miserable in January, and what you can do instead to help you achieve what you want for the year ahead.
I'm talking goals, reverse engineering, creating a blueprint, the anatomy of a good goal, where resolutions come from and so much more!
Tune in, listen, and let me know what you think! Are you #teamresolution or #teamgoal?
All good things must come to an end, and it's already time for our final Podmas of 2023. On this episode we're catching up with Claire Williams (British Equestrian Trade Association), Lucy Millar (Run Dog Food), and Amanda Marshall (3 Donkeys Clothing).
Not only do we hear about their businesses and how they can help you with your Christmas gifting dilemmas, they also share their Christmas thoughts, who received human scales under the tree? Who wants a puppy? Who would love to see Dolly Parton at Christmas?! It's all in this episode and more!
Each year, I hand over to members of my membership group, Small & Supercharged Mastermind, on the run up to Christmas... enjoy the final Podmas episode of 2023!
Podmas is back for episode three and on this episode we're catching up with Ruth Chappell (Dressage Anywhere), Louise Towl (Ready to Ride Physio), and Julia McHugh (Your Horse Is Your Mirror).
Not only do we hear about their businesses and how they can help you with your Christmas gifting dilemmas, they also share their Christmas thoughts, who's not a fan of turkey? For who does Grand Marnier signal Christmas? Who would love to go and hang out with Russell Howard?! It's all in this episode and more!
Each year, I hand over to members of my membership group, Small & Supercharged Mastermind, on the run up to Christmas... enjoy episode 3!
Podmas is back for episode two and on this episode we're catching up with Cathy Wright (Cathy's Chocolates and Cakes), Emily Cole (Emily Cole Illustrations), and Becky Kew (Q Dressage)
Not only do we hear about their businesses and how they can help you with your Christmas gifting dilemmas, they also share their Christmas thoughts, who HATES Christmas music, if sprouts are the work of the devil or an unsung star, and what our lovely ladies would like to find under the tree! There's lots more too!
Each year, I hand over to members of my membership group, Small & Supercharged Mastermind, on the run up to Christmas... enjoy episode 2!
Podmas has started (yay!) and on this episode we're catching up with Jane Badger (Jane Badger Books), Liz Daniels (EquiTeam) and Tracey Cole (Tracey Cole NLP).
Not only do we hear about their businesses and how they can help you with your Christmas gifting dilemmas, they also share their Christmas thoughts, whether Scrooge was misunderstood, if gravy or bread sauce 'wins' for them, and if any Christmas products received have ever been regifted! There's lots more too!
Each year, I hand over to members of my membership group, Small & Supercharged Mastermind, on the run up to Christmas... and it starts today!
Superpowers aren't just reserved for superheroes, far from it, we have superpowers (things we can do better than others- that's my definition anyway!) and we can even develop them if we put the work in.
When we look at people's attributes/qualifications/achievements/skills, some seem to shine brighter than others. These are often ones that it's easier to quantify, but actually, I think the game changing superpowers are a whole lot more subtle. And that's what I am talking about today- five underrated superpowers that can do so much.
The thing is, these superpowers can be honed and developed when self awareness is present. They can move talented people to the next level, leave a lasting impression (for the right reasons) and open the door to so many opportunities. We all have access to these and many others, and yet, only a fraction of people are aware of what they can do.
Put on your metaphorical skin-tight superhero outfits and let's talk superpowers.
If you've always thought that a merchandiser was solely concerned with how to display product, think again, there's a LOT more to this role than you (or I!) might think, as Sarah Giddings, founder of The Stables Retail Consultancy shares on today's podcast.
On this episode, Sarah talks about her journey from high street powerhouse Next to starting her own business, how we can all apply some big brand thinking to stock levels and buying, the importance of the right data, what to do if you haven't been collecting valuable information to date, and plenty more besides.
She also shares some top tips that you can apply today to produce better results... I think this is a must for product based businesses, and a podcast that delivers lots of value and lots of things to think about too...
Awareness days can be an incredible part of your content calendar, and a huge force for good. Some brands get on board and promote the messaging, raise money for the cause or charity, and generally do really good, positive things that help truly support the cause.
And some, don't.
As we emerge from October and Breast Cancer Awareness month, I have been genuinely saddened to see some brands exploiting this month to further their own reach and growth with zero connection to the cause. Yes, being connected to an awareness day can be very positive from a business perspective, but if you're doing this through exploitation- in my opinion at least- it's not OK.
On this episode, I talk about how to use awareness days properly, for the benefit of all concerned... it's really not that hard and a huge amount of good can be done by supporting these calendar events correctly. Here's how...
Childs Farm is a brand I know well, thanks to one of my children using a whole lot of it when he was small, but I didn't know all about the lady behind the brand until we chatted for this week's podcast- and what a lady she is!
Joanna Jensen started her Childs Farm journey in response to her own daughter's need for something that helped her skin but also smelt nice and made bath times fun. As her business grew, so did Joanna's desire to give back, and one of Joanna's outlets was RDA and supporting this incredible charity through her work with her brand.
Then a meeting at a dinner with the legend that is Natasha Baker gave Joanna the chance to take a different role in equestrian sport, through becoming a part owner of Natasha's Lottie aka Keystone Dawn Chorus. This duo went on to compete in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo... well, she actually took two silvers individually and team gold, but who's counting?!
Joanna talks about how she grew and sold a majority share in her business, what she's doing now, a special event next year, and what it's been like to be involved with the RDA and para dressage at the highest level. It's a lovely one to listen to.
2024 might feel close, but with over 60 days to go, there's still a lot of time to make a difference. Please don't wait for the clock to strike midnight and the New Year to begin, act now!
Why do we wait when we can act? And how much progress do we miss out on when we put these dates in our heads that make us pause in the pursuit of our dreams? On today's episode, I'm sharing my views on this and why, in my opinion at least, we need not wait, we need to act.
An incident last week reminded me very clearly that tomorrow isn't guaranteed for anyone, and this was part of what came from this time of thought.
What happens when you mix Emily Cole Illustrations with Designed for Dogs? I'll tell you what you get, the most incredible collaboration of dog beds, toys, blankets and more. And that's what we are talking about on today's podcast!
The Emily Cole X Designed for Dogs range soft launched at Burghley Horse Trials and is now online, so I took the opportunity to catch up with Emily and Holly to talk about how the collaboration started, the things to consider along the way, and plenty more besides.
Not only is the podcast great fun, but it's a great opportunity to see behind the curtain, to get a feel for what makes collaborations work in brand alignment and commercial terms too. There's a lot more to it than you might expect.
Criticism can feel very personal, can't it? When people critique your performance, product or offering and tell you everything that's wrong, it can create feelings of anger, annoyance, frustration and so much else.
But constructive criticism? That can be a complete game changer. It can help you identify areas of growth and development, find blind spots, develop your offering, and take your product or service to the next level.
However, not all criticism is created equal, and not everyone is capable of giving, asking for, or receiving 'feedback' in this way. On this episode, I talk about how to ask, how to receive, and why it's useful to ask trusted people to critique what you do, and how it can make you even better than before, if you don't take it personally!
Are you truly happy? I don't mean that fleeting happiness that is the result of a singular good thing and goes away quickly, I mean a deep down happiness with where you are in life. Yep- it's a deep question.
On today's podcast, I talk about happiness, a feeling of being stuck, and pro active steps you can take to improve your happiness on a fundamental level- if you want to.
It can be hard to get out of an unhappy- or maybe accepting- state, but to live a contented, happy life, it's important. The good news is that when you've acknowledged where you are, accepted that there is possibility out there, challenged your thinking, and started taking proactive steps towards a fulfilling goal, well, it's an absolute game changer. As I chat about on today's episode.
Multi-stream income, multi-stream marketing, posh ways of saying don't put your business eggs all in one basket. That's what today's podcast is all about.
Over the last few weeks, I've been on the radio a fair amount regarding a comedian and how monetisation on one of his platforms has been turned off. Regardless of the reasons behind this, it struck me as a good reason to record a podcast about the benefits of spreading risk when it comes to income streams, marketing- most things really. This is particularly important if the place you're counting on to put food on the table or get your message out to the world is not under your control and doesn't belong to you.
Hopefully you'll enjoy this episode and it'll provide some food for thought, to help you along your way to building a better business or a better marketing strategy.
'You're so lucky!', 'That was a stroke of luck!', 'You get all the luck!'... or even 'Yep, I was so lucky!'. Do any of these sound familiar?
I've been doing a whole lot of interviewing and chatting over the past few weeks, and I've heard so many people say 'I've been really lucky' and statements of that ilk, that it got me thinking about luck, hard work, and why we seem to confuse the two.
On this episode I chat about luck, being unlucky, hard work, overnight success, self talk, and acknowledging hard work in others. I'd love to hear if you've said that you're lucky when you've achieved something that took a LOT of hard work (in a self deprecating way), or if someone has ever told you're lucky when, again, you have worked your backside off to achieve it.
Do you think it's time to change the narrative? Yep, I do too...
Louise Robertson has her own business in North Wales where she teaches first aid to people in the outdoors, works with Mountain Rescue, and facilitates a variety of outdoor pursuits... but this hasn't always been the case. In fact, Lou was incredibly unconfident at school and went through the majority of her life to date believing she was stupid and would never achieve anything. Until everything changed.
Here, Lou talks about playing small, how covid changed things, how her confidence grew and what she's been able to achieve since she changed her nos to yeses and silenced the voice in her head that told her otherwise.
This is a hugely inspiring podcast- give it a listen.
Are you busy? Stressed? Stretched? In the world we live in today, most people feel these things from time to time (sometimes at the same time), but that doesn't mean you should count yourself out.
What do I mean by this? I see an increasing number of posts on social media at the moment that, on the surface seem to offer support... but the undertone - in my opinion at least- encourages people to scale back dreams, make excuses for not striving towards goals, and count themselves out. And I just don't think it's helpful on any level.
On today's podcast, I talk about this- about why you shouldn't count yourself out, why these posts could be damaging, and an alternative way that I think is a whole lot more helpful.
Have a listen and let me know what you think.
Georgia Plimbley has a significant Instagram following of 200k plus, something that grew over a short space of time as Georgia started to share more and more of her passion for working horses at liberty (without saddle or bridle) and the connection this brought. But this isn't where it started for Georgia, as today's podcast explains.
Georgia has worked on films as a rider, performed tricks on horseback for audiences, and during this time learnt a huge amount about horses- not the obvious, but what really makes them tick and how to get the best from them through connection. She now uses her time to teach people the joys of liberty and real connection between horse and human.
With a following this size, Georgia has also become an influencer- although she hates the word- and we touch on the highs and lows of this. There will definitely be a sequel...
Do you reflect? Reflection is a huge part of coaching and mentoring. Being able to look at situations for the highs and lows, the wins and the woes, to find the clues that give us the opportunity to develop further is really useful.
It can help you highlight areas where you're an utter rockstar, which can then feed into your self awareness connected to strengths and weaknesses. It can also highlight situations you find difficult, knowledge gaps, areas for improvement and more.
The good thing about reflection is that it's not just about where you need to improve, it's also about identifying your zones of genius, and this can be hugely useful for you as a person, but also you as a brand and business too.
I'd love your thoughts on reflection- it's a very powerful training tool that can offer lots of opportunity for growth.
Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is an iconic event on the eventing and general equestrian calendar, but this year, it's a bit different. 2023 is the first year that Stable Events will be running Blenheim, and I took the opportunity to catch up with the event organiser, Katrina Midgley, to get all the information for you.
Although Stable Events is new to Blenheim, it has an impressive portfolio of events including The Game Fair to its name. The team is bringing a really exciting and jam packed schedule to Blenheim, with fabulous sponsors and opportunities for BHS members too, and I can't wait to see it unfold. There really is something for everyone.
And I'll be there too, hosting the Behind the Blenheim Stables talk stage with Jonty Evans.
Over the last few weeks, we've seen a pretty dramatic rebrand that saw an iconic blue bird (and a whole language created around it) replaced with a black X. Seemingly overnight. This is a pretty unusual rebrand, and that's what inspired me to chat all about the whys and wherefores of rebranding- why you might want to, evolution, messaging, loyalty, cost... the list goes on!
I hope you enjoy this one... I'd love to know your thoughts on it.
BETA International is the UK's trade show for equestrian and country businesses. It takes place in September, is held at Stoneleigh, and is a great place to network, see new products, and speak to the people behind the best known brands in the equestrian and country community. On this episode of the podcast, I caught up with Claire Williams, Executive Director of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA), that owns BETA International, to find out what the 2023 event has in store for anyone attending.
We discuss product awards, stand awards, sponsors, the Gala Dinner, and the BETAs (the British Equestrian Trade Awards) that will be awarded to the winners at the Gala Dinner on 10th September. Listen, enjoy, and if you want to bag yourself a free ticket, head to www.beta-int.com
There aren't many people that have escaped the Barbie-mania that has swept over the Uk over the last few months, and that's far from accidental. Barbie the toy has always been a little bit of a crowd splitter, with people liking or hating the doll that was seen to symbolise a lot about women, but the film... that hit differently.
As someone who was most definitely in the 'not a fan' camp, I started noticing the marketing campaign as it unfolded quite a few months ago. There were filters, collabs, pink billboards... and when the film premiered (and the Malibu Dream House was available on Air BnB), the PR machine that is Barbie went up many (many) levels. I've been in awe of how everything pink and Barbie has infiltrated so many areas of our lives over the last few months. As I chat about in this episode of the podcast.
Even though the reported budget exceeds what most have to spend in a few lifetimes, there's a whole lot to learn from Barbie, as I share in this episode of the podcast. I'd love to hear your thoughts too...
What a treat you're in for today- pun intended!
On today's podcast, I chat to Lucy Millar, the lovely lady behind Run Dog Food, which is a cold pressed dog food brand for working and pet dogs that launched at the start of the pandemic.
Lucy's dedication to creating truly exceptional food for dogs is inspiring, and as you'll learn from our chat, it wasn't an easy road. Lucy talks about what cold pressed dog food is, why she created a dog food, her highs, lows, successes and stresses. And we get a preview of what's to come too!
This is a brilliantly honest chat about starting a business when the world was falling to bits, how she overcame obstacles, the positives of planning and much more besides. Enjoy.
Threads has been everywhere since it launched less than a week ago. With Meta's latest app receiving 100 million plus sign ups (which is incredible) in just a few days, I wanted to share some tips and thoughts to help you get to grips with Threads (if you'd like to!). On this episode, I explain where it fits in the social media landscape, why I like it, what's missing, and plenty more besides.
I've condensed this into seven questions as I've been doing a fair amount of TV and radio about this shiny new app, so I have picked out the recurring themes to deliver you a fast guide to help you on your Threads journey!
Niki Baxter of Baxter Equine Services is well known in the equestrian space for her stunning clips, perfect plaits and sharp quarter marks, but she's also had her fair share of viral content and the trolls and opinions that come with it.
One of Niki's videos recently received well over 150 million views, and the comments she received provided a great opportunity to discuss whether going viral is all it seems, and the fairly significant negatives this can have.
Niki also discusses dealing with opinions on social, social license to operate and why we all need to be aware of this, and shares lots of tips too.
It was an absolute joy to speak to Niki and hear her insight on all these subjects. Not easy ones but very important ones for any user of social media and any equestrian too.
Have you every been impersonated online? A couple of weeks ago I was, and I wanted to share what I learnt, in case it ever happens to you. I also wanted to share some tips around how to spot a faux account.
My impersonator (affectionately referred to as 'fake me') did a really good job. They took lots of elements from my account and bio, targeted people I knew, and bizarrely even promoted a course I run (I assume this was some kind of trust gaining exercise), but they let themselves down on a few points, which I chat about on the podcast.
It's really important we all stay vigilant when it comes to impersonation. There are so many stories of brands being targeted, and then fans and followers being led astray through various links.
I hope this podcast is useful. It was an accelerated learning path for me, and I always try and reframe these 'tests' as 'what can I learn here?' and in this case, what can I share with you all. Enjoy!
Nermina Pieters-Mekic is a singer, a songwriter, a mum, a model, a Real Housewife of Cheshire and is also the founder of new equestrian brand Equidae London.
On this episode of the podcast, Nermina talks to us about how she came to this point, what makes Equidae different, her hopes for the future, and also takes us behind the scenes on the research and development side of the collection that has taken years. Nermina's vision is clear and I was utterly inspired by the amount of work that has gone into creating a strong launch collection that embodies the key values of the brand without compromise.
Enjoy, share, get behind the scenes, and find out how Equidae London came to be.
What are you values? As in, what things are important to you and influence your behaviour and thoughts?
As part of my ILM Level 7 in Coaching & Mentoring, and NLP Master Practitioner and Coach certification, I've done a lot of work around values and how these can drive us. You might think you know what your values are, you might have a vague idea, or you might not really know, but I've found doing a deeper dive in this area really enlightening.
Values come from beliefs and they can cause us to make important decisions in life. By understanding your values (and why you have them), you can understand decisions more, and if you work with others, understanding their point of view can be hugely beneficial too!
I'd love to know your thoughts on this. Have you ever done a values questionnaire? Were you surprised by any? And how do your values guide you?
Emma Blundell is the Managing Director of Mount St John, a well known stud based in Yorkshire that focuses on the mares, instead of the stallions, and has changed the face of breeding in the UK and beyond.
What started as a university project quickly developed into a business which saw Emma use embryo transfer to allow top class mares to compete and breed at the same time, much like well known stallions at the top of the sport.
Mount St John now has a string of incredible horses bearing its prefix, including Mount St John Freestyle and Mount St John VIP, to name but two.
The science and knowledge that goes into each pairing is utterly mind blowing, as Emma explains how it all works and how a lot goes into breeding at Mount St John.
Emma also talks about the highs and lows of running a business, and shares lots of great tips and information about everything to do with her business journey.
Should you ever work for free? On this episode of the podcast, I'm going to talk about seven reason why you might want to work for free, and seven reasons why you shouldn't.
This is a subject that I talk about and ponder a fair amount. Whether it's when I have been asked to give my time for free, or when it's talking to others as they work out whether or not they should.
Whatever job you do, you're more than likely to have people ask you for things for free. Maybe you're a business being asked to give product to support a cause, or an influencer being asked to promote a product without money changing hands. This podcast isn't to say you shouldn't work for free, far from it, it just helps to show when working for nothing can be a really good idea, and when it really isn't.
What do you think? What have I missed? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it all.
Alanna Clarke is a dressage rider, a law student, an influencer, and has one of the most amazing collections of saddlepads I've ever seen... and today she joins me on the podcast to talk all things influencer.
Alanna shares her thoughts on if influencers should be paid, what it's like working with brands, dealing with online hate and plenty more besides. She also talks about how she grew her platforms to over 72k on Instagram and over 132k on TikTok, advice for influencers, amazing opportunities and everything and anything in between.
Tune in, enjoy, and let us know if you listen!
If you listened to last week's podcast (and if you didn't, definitely do!), you will have heard part one of Ruth Chappell's London Marathon journey. This week, you're hearing the finale.
From what it was like along the way, hitting the wall, the feeling of finishing, the support from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, fund raising, and what it meant to cross that finish line and see her mum and dad waiting for her, Ruth shares it all.
I'm so, so proud of this lady- you'll feel inspired and more by just pressing play and tuning in. Promise!
Ruth Chappell is a friend of the podcast, the lady behind Dressage Anywhere, and she joins us on the podcast to talk all about her first completion of the London Marathon.
From Couch to 5k to pushing herself to run 26.2miles for a charity incredibly close to her heart, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, I wanted to share this story with you. Because if you're feeling like you can't do something you really want to. If you feel something is beyond your reach. Listen to this. Because Ruth felt like this. And she completed the London Marathon and raised well over £2000 for charity.
It wasn't smooth sailing (or running). Back issues, blisters and Covid a few weeks before the Marathon threw a bit of a spanner in the works, but she did it. And I couldn't be prouder to celebrate her on the podcast.
This is part 1 as it's such a great story and journey I didn't want to edit any out... so join us next week for part 2.
Ben Eagle is the host of Meet the Farmers and Rural Business Focus, and has just started a new business dedicated to helping others embrace podcasting in the rural world, called RuralPod Media. With so many strings to his bow and such an interesting journey from growing up on a farm in Essex to where he is today, I was keen to hear everything!
On this episode, we discuss the power of podcasting to build communities and increase understanding, the diversity in farming, Ben's own journey, entrepreneurship, mental health, and more besides.
Have you heard that quote that says you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with? It turns out that that number might be slightly more than five (recent research suggests), but I believe, wholeheartedly, that the people we surround ourselves with have a HUGE impact on us. Not just in terms of how we feel and what we do, but also on achieving our goals and potential, striving for more and having a happier life.
Tribes go back a long way, and today's tribes aren't quite the same as they used to be, but they do still impact us in every area of our lives. On today's episode, I talk about the influence those close to us can have- and that includes people we follow on social media- and how this awareness can help us in big ways...
Dani Waldman is an Olympian, a showjumper, and the lady who took the equestrian world (and beyond) by storm with her incredible feathers that 'flew' behind her as she tackled some of the world's most challenging courses.
You might think that this splash of colour would be welcomed, but you might be surprised to hear that Dani was subjected to some serious online trolling for expressing her identity through her feathers. And this caused her to develop #flyingfeathers and #ownyouRIDEntity hashtags, which led to a community that celebrated all the good things about being authentically you.
On this episode of the podcast, Dani talks about her Olympic dreams, achieving success, what the experience was like and what she did after. She chats about how her #flyingfeathers started and how that has developed, and what the future holds too.
I heard Dani speak at Spoga Horse Creator Days, and beyond being completely mesmerised by her feathers, I loved the passion and honestly she brought to the stage. And I am so pleased she agreed to come on and share this with everyone through the podcast.
Have you ever dreamt of seeing your name in the national press? Maybe a TV appearance? Or what about the radio? On this episode of the podcast, I talk about all three and how they can be accomplished on zero budget.
For many, national press is a goal, and I can understand why. It absolutely gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling and others really respect it. But don't be set on getting your name in print at the expense of the niche media. As I explain on this week's episode, you might find one has greater value to your business and one has greater value to your ego.
To find out the one tool I used to get column inches and a TV appearance at the very end of last year, tune in, have a listen, and get going!
Mochara is a relatively young brand, launching just before Covid, but in that time, Tara and her team have made a big impression on the equestrian industry, and on today's episode, I find out all about the idea behind the brand, plans for the future, and more.
The idea for Mochara came to Tara when she was studying at Hartpury and needed clothes to take her from horses to going out to the gym... and everything else too. Not a fan of heavily branded items, Tara started to research the market and created the Mochara brand.
Since this time, the brand has weathered (and grown) during a global pandemic, had huge shows, and is now looking for investment, and Mochara is tackling this issue in a rather brilliant, slightly unusual, way.
Public speaking can be a great way to grow you personal brand, but it can also be great for any business brand as it helps to show you as a true expert in your field and, of course, your brand or business gets exposure at the same time as you do. But public speaking isn't for everyone... is it for you?
On this episode of the podcast, I talk about the positives of public speaking, how I got into it, and some of the benefits it's had for my brand. Be under no illusion, initially I was completely terrified of taking to the stage, but it turns out, it's actually quite good fun when you get into it. And the benefits outweigh the fear.
Tune in, enjoy, and do hop over to Instagram to tell me whether you'd take to the stage for you brand.
Georgia Kavulok is an equestrian influencer and content creator who grew 100k+ subscriber YouTube channel, 31k+ follower Instagram account and 84k+ TikTok following through sharing her journey with her horses and other animals. The platforms all have her Lilpetchannel name.
On this episode of the podcast, Georgia shares how she became an accidental influencer, her beliefs around what makes a good influencer, opportunities that have come her way, and there are lots of tips for people interested in becoming content creators or simply improving their content because they just love doing it.
Georgia is honest, open, shares the highs and lows, and provides some really good insights for brands and influencers alike. It's a good one!
Whenever we share a piece of content, we want it to be seen by as many relevant people as possible, but going viral is another level, and that's what I'm talking about in this episode.
Viral content takes on a life of its own and can blow up in a short space of time, getting hundreds of thousands or even millions of eyeballs on it. In some cases, it can make it into mainstream media too. But the question here is, is that the goal? Does that help your cause, brand or business? And can you even control what goes viral and what doesn't?
On this episode of the podcast, I talk about what going viral really means, the impact it can have on your account, and whether or not that necessarily supports your brand or the objectives of your account.
What to you think? Do you aim to go viral with your content?
Today is International Women's Day, and what better way to celebrate than sharing 12 of the fabulous ladies in the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group?
I asked members to share the best bit of advice they'd ever received, and Tracey Cole (Tracey Cole NLP), Chelle Mullen (Storm & Grace), Carolyn Watson (Haynet Mate), Claire Barker (Barker & Sloane), Donna Case (The Horse Feed Guru), Emily Cole (Emily Cole Illustrations), Liz Daniels (Equiteam), Louise Towl (Ready to Ride Physio), Odette Insoll (Nouvelle Habit), Jane Brindley (Horse Riding with Confidence Scotland), Amanda Marshall (3 Donkeys Clothing) and Ruth Chappell (Dressage Anywhere) answered!
Lots of great life advice and words to live by this International Women's Day- enjoy!
Inspiration is a funny thing. It can appear in the most random of places and can lead to the most amazing things, can't it? A lot of the time, inspiration appears with no input from you at all, but what happens if you put yourself in different situations and expose your mind to a whole new set of possibilities?
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Theo Paphitis's #SBSEvent2023 and was also asked to host a breakout session. It was an incredible day for lots of different reasons, but going outside the industry where I spend a lot of my time was interesting for lots of different reasons too.
I think it's important for anyone on a small business journey- or any journey at all- to always be looking for opportunities to learn, develop and grow. There are plenty of ways to do this that are very close to what you do, but it's also worth taking a look a little further afield to see if there's any golden nuggets or sparkling gems you can apply to what you do that others have had success with in different places. Here's my thoughts on it all. I would love to hear yours...
Brian Chappell is a cyber security expert, having worked in the industry for many years, authored books, spoken at events, and worked with international companies connected to the topic. While the whole subject can feel scary- no one wants to think about being hacked and losing their data- there are some really easy things we can all do to keep our online world a whole lot safer.
Brian talks about how hackers work. why passwords really do need to be different for different accounts, what two factor authentication actually means, and shares lots of actionable tips that just make a LOT of sense.
As discussed in the episode, Brian is giving a webinar on this subject for Small Business Britain and Lloyds Bank Academy called How to Protect Your Customers' Data next week... here's the link to that https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kqt1X09QRfucMlflCUDY1w
Have you noticed? Every time social media is mentioned in the news lately, it's for something bad, isn't it? This publicity then increases people's fear around it's use- and I get it- but we need to remember that the issues that make the news are in the minority, that social media will continue to be a part of our lives... and that burying our heads in the sand won't solve anything... and that's what this podcast is all about.
The main issue for me is that it's not the platform's fault. It's like blaming paper for what journalists write, it's the conduit for the badness. The badness comes from people who use it. They are the problem.
I do understand the fear, particularly when we look at the younger generation and their use of it moving forward, but deciding to ban something that can be so beneficial isn't the answer. Or, at least, I don't think it is...
Social media ads are here to stay. We all have the ability to place them, but that doesn't mean that the whole process isn't overwhelming. Particularly if you're just starting out.
As a Meta Lead Trainer, I teach a fair amount about the ads process and how ads work on the different platforms, but for this episode I wanted to go deeper and speak to an ads specialist who works across a range of platforms, and that's Aggie Meroni, the founder of White Bee Digital.
Aggie has worked for years with a range of businesses when it comes to placing ads on social, and here she gives us a masterclass in how to get started on the ads journey. Yes, it can feel like a lot, but with Aggie's help, tips and some of her fab freebies and checklists, it needn't be at all.
Find out whether the boost button really is a waste of money, how much money she suggests you need to spend to make an impact, and why Christmas should start in September if you're serious about ads... it's a good one!
There are so many quotes that refer to comfort zones and how they're 'bad', and although I'd never say that, I do agree that the magic doesn't happen inside them. You need to look beyond for that.
On this episode of the podcast, I chat about comfort, stretch and danger zones and how I've been doing a lot to grow my comfort zone by operating a lot of the time in the stretch zone. Maybe even tiptoeing along that line between stretch and danger (I'm a daredevil at heart!).
Tune in and let me know what you think- where do you like to spend your time? What do you call the stretch zone? Are you a daredevil too?!
Spoga Horse is an equestrian trade show that happens in Germany in Cologne, and what's exciting is that this year's event also has an additional event for influencers, called Creator Days. I'm delighted to say that I am speaking at this event, and I'm also excited to share all the info about Creator Days with you with Kristina Sehr, the lady behind the Spoga Horse Creator Days event.
Kristina shares about how Creator Days started in 2022 and how it's grown from a one day event to a two day event with lots more people and a livestream for 2023!
Listen, enjoy, make sure you follow Creator Days on all the platforms and have a look at the schedule so you can make sure you don't miss anything on the livestream too, through ClipmyHorse! It's going to be a fab event, I really can't wait.
With this week being home to Blue Monday, it seemed like a good excuse to have a chat about the potential issues that come from using awareness days as part if your content plan.
Of course, the right awareness days can add a lot to your messaging, your brand, and your customers, but when brands latch on to any day they think they can 'make' work for them, it rarely ends well.
Hopefully this episode will provide some food for thought, and a bit more background about Blue Monday that might encourage a little more research before other days are adopted into your plan.
Kieran Smith is an equestrian content creator, a TikTok star with over 200k followers, and I had the pleasure of chatting to him at Your Horse Live this year on the stage. And from that chat, I knew I had to get him on the podcast for you!
Kieran chats about jumping on dance trends to grow his TikTok, but then changing his strategy and fully embracing who he was to allow his fans and followers to get to know him properly. A move that saw his account growth accelerate.
On this episode, Kieran talks about community, connection, spreading positivity, being authentically you and so much more. It's a great listen. Enjoy.
Big title, hey? Well, it's 2023 and on the very first episode of the New Year I'm sharing eight tips to help you achieve your dreams in 2023. And spoiler alert, it doesn't involve New Year's resolutions, because I don't believe in them and rarely see them succeed without a proper plan.
Hopefully you're feeling rested and excited after Christmas and the New Year, and this episode might just help you along your way to achieving your big goals and ambitions in 2023...
Welcome to the Twixmas episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast. On this episode, I caught up with some members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group and asked them to share tips for 2023, lesson they'd learnt in 2022, and quotes to live by. Some really thought provoking ones. I hope you love this episode too.
Featuring Jane Brindley from Horse Riding with Confidence Scotland, Teresa Lewis from Teresa Lewis Art, Harriet Wallis from Harriet Wallis Marketing, Amanda Marshall from 3 Donkeys Clothing, Claire Barker from Barker & Sloane, Donna Case from The Horse Feed Guru, Jane Badger from Jane Badger Books, Liz Daniels from Equiteam Connected, Rachel Philpott from Little Margate Equestrian, Ruth Chappell from Dressage Anywhere, Tracey Cole from Tracey Cole NLP, and I chipped in too!
It's the last Podmas for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Claire Williams - Executive Director of BETA, Zoe Kiff - founder of Honest Riders, Becky Kew - founder of Q Dressage, and Jessica Thatcher from EQCO and ZV Textiles.
We chat all Christmas from lots of angles- who hates Christmas lunch? Who turned up to the recording in a Christmas jumper? Who did really badly on the quiz? Who gets soap every Christmas? It's all answered in this episode!
Enjoy!
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Donna Case aka The Horse Feed Guru, and Ruth Chappell who you might know better as the lady behind Dressage Anywhere.
We chat all things, not just Christmas, including cantankerous cobs, being mistaken for a child, themed trees, and so so much more!
Enjoy!
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Carly O'Brien from COB'S Equine Services and COB'S EVA, Cathy Wright from Cathy's Chocolates and Cakes, and Rachel Philpott from Little Margate Equestrian.
We chat all things Christmas from chocolates to pony days and there's a hefty dose of quiz questions too!
Enjoy!
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Liz Daniels- part of the Equiteam trio, Maeve Sheridan from Activate Your Seat, and Hermione Perry from The Little Feed Company.
We chat ponies under the tree, turkeys wearing boots, heated socks, poultry porridge, and plenty more besides.
Enjoy!
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Amanda Marshall from 3 Donkeys Clothing, Tracey Cole from Tracey Cole NLP, and Faye Harlequin from Horseshoe Hearts & Home.
We chat Pegasus, cows, fire, aggressive turkeys, Barker & Sloane, freezing time and SO much else too. Sounds like a festive chat, doesn't it?!
Enjoy!
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Kelly Ude-Martinez from The Knights of Middle England, Claire Barker from Barker & Sloane, and Louise Towl from Ready to Ride Physio.
We chat Baileys hot chocolate, day skippers, indoor arenas and the joys of bread sauce...
It's a good one- lots of laughs, leather and festive cheer.
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Tracy Ormrod aka Dressage TestPro, Odette Insoll aka Nouvelle Habit, and Jess Gale aka Froxfield Dressage and Decomplicating Dressage.
We chat horses under trees, knitted gifts, bread sauce, and there's another challenging quiz to enjoy too!
It's a good one- lots of laughs, leather and festive cheer.
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Liz Shepherd aka the lady behind Yeoman Haylage, and Diane Fisher aka Dr Di aka All The Kings Horses.
We chat must-buys, forager's fizz, allergy inducing gifts, meat free Christmases and a whole lot more!
It's a good one- lots of laughs, leather and festive cheer.
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Tiffany Lay from Ladybridge Leatherworks, Alyson Egan from Centaur Line Equestrian, and Nicky Sutcliffe from Equitravel Safe and Sport Horse Select.
We chat must-buys, best and worst gifts, Christmas treats, and there's also a quiz that isn't exactly a success!
It's a good one- lots of laughs, leather and festive cheer.
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back for 2022, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Eleanor Lelliott from SpiceMule, Jane Badger from Jane Badger Books, and Harriet Wallis from Harriet Wallis Marketing and Hand Forged Hearts.
We chat must-buys, best and worst gifts, Christmas treats, and there's also a quiz that isn't exactly a success!
Get yourself a book, a mug cake, and enjoy!
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
It might be the early November, but Podmas starts TODAY, and I am so excited to be sharing some of the brilliant people from inside the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group with you.
On this episode, I catch up with Jane Brindley from Horse Riding with Confidence Scotland, Louise Gillings who makes up 1/3rd of Equiteam, and Sophie Sacco from Foxy Equestrian.
We chat must-buys, best and worst gifts, Christmas treats, and there's also a quiz that isn't exactly a success!
Pour yourself a Snowball, get Elf on the TV, and joy!
Music credit: "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
If a podcast could be a newsletter, this is the one!
As we start Podmas next week (eek!), I wanted to share a bit about that with you, and when I started chatting about that and how it all works and why, I then wanted to share some other bits with you too! These include Small Business Saturday (I'm one of the #SBS100 for 2022), Your Horse Live (I'm speaking on the stage each day) and so much more! There's also info about free webinars, live Rider Clinics with Dr Diane Fisher- CMO of BETA, BETA at Your Horse Live, awards, Christmas markets and so much more. Enjoy!
Evie Toombes is a truly inspiring equestrian. Not only does she showjump competitively and create really beautiful content, she's also tube fed 20 hours a day and has a number of significant health issues that impact her day to day life.
Her influencer journey started when she was just 11 and a school bully decided to 'expose' her health issues. Instead of waiting for this to happen and feeling powerless, Evie took control, started a blog, and started telling her story, in her own words.
This open approach is a theme through everything that Evie does, from her work with schools to help promote understanding and conversations around invisible illnesses to her honest social media. This is an absolute joy to follow and gives an insight into what she has to do to not just compete, but also exist.
Evie is one inspiring lady, and it's an absolute joy to share today's podcast with you. Prepare to feel very inspired...
The term influencer gets used a LOT, but do you know what one really is? What defines an influencer? Does the term get attributed to people with a certain following? And are you one?
When it comes to being an influencer, how do we make a difference for good? What are good and less than good ways to use our influence online and beyond?
I'd love your thoughts on this one...
In 2022, Ashleigh Wicheard won the Markel Magnolia Cup. This fabulous charity horse race not only raised funds for a great cause- The Brilliant Breakfast, as part of The Prince's Trust, but it also brought representation, inclusivity and more into the spotlight. And a lot of the credit for this has to go to Ashleigh Wicheard, my guest on this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast.
We discuss what winning the Magnolia Cup meant, why taking the knee was so powerful, diversity in equestrianism, being open to uncomfortable conversations and how we can all be allies for important issues that we might never experience ourselves, but really matter.
Tune in, learn, enjoy and do give Ashleigh a follow- she's @missblackequestrian over on Instagram and shares some great content around racing, diversity, representation and so much more.
Christmas really is coming. We're probably just days away from hearing Mariah or Slade on the radio... and yet some brands are very badly prepared for Christmas. But don't worry, I'm here to help!
Christmas is a big time of year for many retailers with profit made over the next few months carrying them over into Winter, and yet, there's the tenancy to be a bit last minute about it all, isn't there?
On this episode of the podcast I share six things you can do right now to help your business grow and thrive during the festive season. I hope you find it useful... it's a good one!
If you haven't heard about The National Equine Show, you are in for a treat! Today I am joined by event director, Liz Ormesher, to talk all about this new show. From amazing guests to skills, shopping and sustainability, Liz talks us through the plans for this shiny new event that will be hitting the NEC in March 2023.
Although The National Equine Show is new in our space, we also talk about Raccoon Media Group, the company responsible for the show, and their heritage in creating incredible events in the outdoor and wellbeing space.
And one last thing, if you hurry up, you can bag yourself a ticket FOR FREE! The show has allocated a certain number of tickets to give away, and although they are fast approaching that number (a lot more have been allocated since recording), you can still grab yourself one!
The media is full of negative news- there's no denying that- but even with all that's going on, today, I want to urge you to not skimp on investing in yourself. More than that, I want to encourage you to invest in yourself more than ever. Don't worry- I haven't completely lost my mind, there are LOADS of ways you can invest in yourself for free, and there are loads of them in this podcast! Enjoy.
What do liver lacerations, curtains and waxed cotton have in common? Yes, it's Odette Insoll, the founder, creator and superstar behind Nouvelle Habit!
Odette's business started due to a need she'd identified as a rider who didn't like the cold and suffered with chilblains. Via many prototypes (made from curtains!), the amazing Moorland Riding Skirt that we know and love was born.
But now, Odette has launched additional skirts including a walking/shooting skirt that is simply perfect for dog walkers and those who love the great outdoors too!
Odette talks to us about the journey she went on from near death experience to creating stunning bespoke riding and walking skirts for so many people. There were a lot of twists, turns, and a global pandemic along the way!
Tune in, enjoy, and definitely go and check out Odette's website for lots of ideas and inspiration too.
The news has been full of doom and gloom of late- from the challenging costs of diesel and petrol alongside rising costs of food and more of now, to increased pressure, price rises and even scarcity of fuel, food and lots more to come. But is it all doom and gloom? No... I don't think it is.
I'm not here to tell you that things aren't going to change, but hopefully this podcast will provide you with some steps you can take to help your business over the next few months. I also look at the evidence around how some businesses grow and thrive during recessions- so while sweeping generalisations about doom and gloom are dramatic and create good headlines, the evidence doesn't support this... and it's worth having a look at that too.
I hope you find this one useful... I think you will.
The second Summer of Safety podcast with the British Equestrian Trade Association is here, and today we're chatting all about safety (obviously!), standards, fitting and lots more too.
On this episode, I caught up with Claire Williams, Executive Director of BETA, to chat all about the standards that apply to riding hats and body protectors. We also chat about the importance of a good fit and why buying online can make hat and body protector fitting a challenge.
The British Equestrian Trade Association's second Summer of Safety is in full swing. With lots of fabulous lives, content, competitions and information, I took the chance to catch up with Claire Williams, Executive Director of BETA, to chat about the campaign in its second year, new information, and the Accident & Equipment Reporting Form. This brilliant form launched late last year and has been catching incredible data for the equestrian trade ever since. By reporting injuries and accidents, we as equestrians have the chance to help influence safety decisions and design of the future, just by sharing what happens to us when we're with our horses!
Find out more about BETA's passion for safety, the form, and so much more on this episode of the podcast.
Reels have been in the social media news a lot of late, and whilst many people like watching them, creating them can be a bit of a time consuming chore.
And yet, if you try and shun these short-form video snippets, the chances are that you'll be losing out on reach and getting your message and content out to the people you really want to see it.
So what can you do? On today's podcast, I talk you through some really simple, fast Reels ideas that anyone can do in moments. I promise.
Are they going to be as good as the incredibly timed masterpieces we see on the accounts of influencers whose job it is to create content? They'll be different to these, and that's fine too. But through using the tools inside the app and changing your thoughts from 'no, I don't want to' to 'how can I make this work for me?', you have a much (much) greater chance of Reel success and Instagram growth.
Oh, this is one of the most requested podcasts, so I am delighted to be able to bring you a podcast all about labelling your sponsored/gifted/affiliate linked content.
I do understand that it can be really confusing, but I always refer people to the guide available on the ASA's (Advertising Standards Authority) website that helps talk people through it all. So I reached out to the people over at the ASA and I'm really thrilled to say that they have listened to this podcast and have said they're happy with the content. Why did I do this? Because it's so important to me that everything is as accurate as it can be. I want you to listen, learn, check out all the free resources and no longer be confused about what to label your content (when you need to, of course).
This is a podcast for influencers- yes- but it's a podcast for anyone who has ambitions to be an influencer, who receives free products or payments (but maybe doesn't see themselves as an influencer), and also brands. Yes, brands, I'm talking to you. It's really important you know how this works too.
We need to be doing a better job of labelling content correctly. I see so, so many examples of incorrect and misleading ads. We need to do better.
You might know Ruth Chappell as the lady behind Dressage Anywhere, but she is a lady of many talents, and her previous life in publishing has helped me a HUGE amount over the last few months. As promised on last week's episode, she's on the podcast talking all about it!
Ruth used to work in publishing full time and has brought all her skills to the project of getting my book into the world! In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the book process- really useful if you're thinking of writing your own book, because as I said last week, the writing might be the easy bit for you too!
In addition to Ruth and the part she played in the book's 'birth', we also talk about Emily Cole's designer wizardry and wonky spines, and Jane Badger's amazing knowledge and very kind hand-holding with the end bit of the process!
Small & Supercharged: Small steps to supercharge your brand on a budgetTHE BOOK, is available now. And I'm going to tell you all about how it came to be.
No, this isn't a story of writing in quiet, tranquil surroundings, it's rather more real than that! Writing the book was the easy bit (although most of it was written on evenings and weekends around work!), but getting the book from Word document to printed book... not easy at all!
I've had people ask me how the book came into existence, and I wanted to share a bit of it from my side. On the day the book should have been released (but the Amazon fairies released it a few days early... more about that next week!), I wanted to talk to you about the process.
I also wanted to and do want to thank all of you for all your support. Your kind comments on social media, your pictures of the book in your hands, screenshots of your orders- they're everything. And all your support has meant that the book made it to the no 1 spot in public relations. Which I am beyond delighted about!
Equitas is more than a brand, it's a movement, created to empower, support and help women thrive and grow in the equine industry.
Equitas is run by four fabulous people- Sarah Elebert (who's a Small & Supercharged Podcast veteran, Masterminder, all round good egg, new mum, coach and eventer), Sarah Campbell, Michael O'Flynn and Shane McCarthy. I had the pleasure of speaking to Shane and Sarah Elebert all about the idea behind Equitas, the vision for the future, and the HUGE amount of support this movement has had since it launched a few short weeks ago.
To support and empower, Equitas distributes amazing content from contributors from all over the UK. It's a really exciting movement to follow. And here we find out all about it!
Do you pin? You might pin on Facebook, but did you know that you can also pin on Instagram too?
This fairly new addition to Instagram's functionality means that content creators like you can pin three posts of their choice to the top of their Instagram profile.
Why is this a good thing? Is it useful? Is it the best thing since sliced bread? Or maybe not?! I'm on the fence at the time of recording, so I chat through the pros and cons of pinning on Instagram. What do you think?
Natasha Baker OBE is well known for her riding prowess, having brought home medals on her debut appearance at any Paralympics in London 2012, something added to at Rio and Tokyo. But do you know how Natasha started riding? How her attitude and focus allowed her to get to where she is today? Or why she wouldn't hold Sir Lee Pearson's medal(!)?
On this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, Natasha shares her journey from where her passion with horses started to going down the centre line in London. We also talk about sponsors and support, social media, ableism and disability, and Natasha shares some really great insight and tips around this, based on experiences she's had.
This is an incredibly uplifting listen- Natasha's bubbly personality and enthusiasm is infectious. Enjoy!
It can be incredibly overwhelming to work out where you should be on social media. There's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Clubhouse and more emerging all the time. But where should you start? How can you decide? That's what we're talking about today.
On this episode, I go through how to assess the platforms, think about your audience, work through content styles, and compare these elements and more to create an order for where you need to focus.
When you feel you should be everywhere (or maybe you are!), it can have a negative impact on you being able to make a real impression anywhere. It's important to grow, look at new markets and grow your social media presence, but if you're so overwhelmed you don't know where to start and aren't dedicating enough time to anywhere to give you the maximum chance of success, you need to revisit and realign your strategy. And this podcast should help.
The Dodson & Horrell Bolesworth International Horse Show is just two weeks away, so what better time to catch up with Nina Barbour to talk about all things Bolesworth.
Nina shares how Bolesworth came to be, from her grandfather's passion for dairy farming through to the International showjumping spectacular that is fast approaching. Nina also talks about her passion for showjumping and how being a competitor herself helps her keep her finger on the pulse, the riders competing, the attractions available to ensure that Bolesworth provides something for all the family, and so much more.
We also chat about safety- something that is very close to Nina's heart and a cause she's passionate to champion to help keep grooms and riders a whole lot safer. We speak about how BETA's Safety Hub is also part of this.
As you may or may not know, I'm a #SheMeansBusiness Accredited Trainer. This is a programme run by Meta and powered by Enterprise Nation in the UK and Ireland, and I'm delighted to be able to share this training as a podcast to help you get more creative and build your brand through Facebook, Instagram... and beyond!
On this podcast, I'm going to share tips and tricks around building your brand through social media with lots of branding points to help your brand identify stay as cohesive online as it is offline. We'll also look at your brand's values, its purpose, and the connection between customer, creative and copy.
To round off, we'll look at advertising vs. organic content alongside the mix of engaging, exciting and educational posts it's good for a brand to share across its social media platforms.
For more information on #SheMeansBusiness, see https://www.enterprisenation.com/campaigns/she-means-business/
Rachael aka Ray the Goth has grown a sizeable social media following on both Instagram (22.7k) and YouTube (16.1k). Despite some amazing brand partnerships, opportunities and friendships, it hasn't all been plain sailing for Ray. She's had numerous negative comments regarding her weight, her horse's condition, and had World Horse Welfare called to her horse after some trolls took exception to her, and lots more too.
Needless to say the accusations were baseless, but it still left a very sour taste that meant Ray made some changes (such as location tags) to her content.
Ray shares the highs, the lows, the opportunities, and some great tips for people looking to grow a genuine, authentic following and find the right people for them.
I'm a bit passionate about this one.
If you're looking to grow a brand or a business in any sphere, in 2022, social media is an essential part of the marketing mix. And that applies to riders too.
With social media, you have access to billions of people, fans and followers, brands who might want to sponsor you, maybe even owners who would like to work with you and invest in you, TV opportunities... quite literally anything you could want. And yet, so many riders leave so much on the table here.
The days of sponsoring a rider based solely on results is fading fast (for most, it's already long gone), but the good news is that riders have SO much at their fingertips that they can utilise with minimal effort and time (honestly), that they actually have more opportunities- whether that be for sponsorships, affiliations, owners and anything else- than ever before!
In this episode of the podcast, I share a few thoughts on all the above.
Lou Gillings, Liz Daniels and Liz Somerville, aka EquiTeam, join me on today's podcast to chat all about confidence, growing an online membership group for riders, in person events to extend the positive work the camps do, and how it all started (Lou got blamed!).
The ladies chat through the idea behind EquiTeam and how the in person camps started, but also how the positivity, fun and community built in person up in Scotland is now available online through the new EquiTeam online membership.
We share the highs and lows of the journey so far, and the amazing things that can be achieved when you have the right people around you. Which is something members of EquiTeam online community, and the ladies themselves, definitely have.
We all know that testimonials, reviews and endorsements are important to what we do - whether we're a product based business, a service provider, or an influencer... but how do you ask for testimonials? Or more precisely, how do you ask for testimonials without feeling really uncomfortable? This podcast should help.
It's important to think about what we gain- as consumers or interested parties- from testimonials. It's that extra information. It's more than simply what a product or service does. It can both repel and attract people. But that's what we want. We want testimonials to give people extra information to make informed decisions. It's not arrogant or self centred to do this- it's very much part of how everything works. It's word of mouth in the written form. And that's pretty important.
Sue Williams is an incredible animal trainer... not just a dog trainer, president of the Guide of Dog Trainers, a professional behaviour consultant, TV star and more, she's also trained a record breaking llama and a display pig too!
During covid, Sue started doing work online- something that she'd previously shied away from, but something that was the only option with restrictions. In addition to online consultations, Sue also developed an online training platform called Pawesome, to create an online training community for people wanting to train their dogs.
In addition to chatting about all of the above, Sue chats about some of her incredible training stories, the work she does, covid puppies, and so much more too.
Sue has been a huge help to me personally in finding our puppy Indy and is a real wealth of knowledge on all things dog. She's incredible.
Can you believe that it's the 200th episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast?! Since it launched, it's won an award, had close on 200k downloads, hosted a number of incredible guests telling amazing stories, and shared some tips, tricks and knowledge connected to promoting brands and businesses better, and I've loved every moment.
In this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, I share some of the key things I've learnt some 200 episodes in. It's definitely been a journey! Here's to the next 200!
Bronte Clare Mitchell started Femme Magazine at a time when print magazines were seeing significant drops in circulation. But with a very clear focus to provide something a bit different, Bronte created Femme Magazine and the surrounding community, which continues to grow and thrive.
In this episode of the podcast, Bronte chats about starting a female focused rural magazine and her desire to share stories from readers and business founders alike, through to brand collaborations and York Fashion Week- helping to show how country clothing can work incredibly well in less rural settings.
You'll hear lots of mentions of brands you know and love too! Enjoy!
Are press releases dead? It's a question I get asked a fair amount, and while the short answer is no, the longer answer is more a 'no... as long as...'. That's the thing- the world has changed from the days of being able to write a press release, send it out, and then feel happy that you've done big things in helping get your amazing new product out there. Now, you have the option to do a whole lot more with that press release... and that means it can be used for so much more than was originally intended. On this episode of the podcast, I explore why the humble press release is very much alive and kicking, and how to make it (and the process of building your press list, etc) work really well for you.
Foxy Equestrian started life thanks to a fur pom pom that the founder, Sophie Sacco, created at her dining room table! Having a passion for horses her whole life, working with horses was an obvious step, but creating a whole brand... maybe not! From a humble pom pom created from an old fur coat to a full collection of bespoke base layers, hat silks, leggings and more, Sophie talks us through the whole business, her love of challenges and desire to create really exceptional unique products for her customers. She also talks about how you do Badminton and Windsor with a broken leg and ailing lorry... it's definitely a good listen!
How do you decide who to have as a brand ambassador for your brand? And if you're an influencer, how do you pitch to a brand when it comes to working with them?
On this episode of the podcast, I share five essential questions I would ask connected to anything brand ambassador. Not only are these questions useful, but they allow the influencer to really sell themselves and share what's special about them. Equally, these questions also allows brands to find out all about the influencer, and start to think about how they could, potentially, be incorporated into a marketing plan.
What questions do you ask? What did I miss? Let me know...
Have you heard about Equilibrium Products' Golden Ticket giveaway? Well, in addition to chatting all about Equilibrium Products, new products, safety and Mikey, Laura Szuca, UK Sales Director for Equilibrium Products, tells us all about it! The podcast shares all the background behind the huge giveaway that is set to span the summer, some of the incredible prizes and great brands involved, how you can win, and lots more. We also chat about Equilibrium Products' work around horse happiness and safety- the research, the testing, and how the brand really is incredibly passionate about all things equine.
We all know that repurposing content is a great idea. Not only does it make all the content that you create work harder and give it more chance of being seen by your audience, but it also reduces the workload from your point of view as you don't need to keep creating new content, all the time, for every new platform. But simply cross-posting might not get the best results, as when you post the same content, to different platforms without any adjustment for the platform, it doesn't appear to be native. And if you want people to engage in what you're saying AND you want the functionality such as tags, etc to work, you need to do a bit of work too!
On this episode of the podcast, I share seven easy content tweaks to make it work better on all the platforms you want to post to. I hope you find it helpful!
DVR Equestrian started life as a kickstarter campaign and has since produced incredible, technical clothes made sustainably, as founder Danielle Reynolds explains.
Danielle designs all the clothing herself- she started making them too- and is a real authority on sustainability, recycled materials, and how we can make better choices at the same time as expecting high performance in our equestrian products.
In addition to this, Danielle shares some of the things that makes DVR different, including a repair service (I know!), allowing people shop by value, and so much more. She also shares some non-equestrian switches that are pretty marvellous too!
Collaborations are a great way to promote your brand and grow your audience, and there are LOADS of ways that you can collaborate with brands, whether you are one or if you're an influencer.
In this episode of the podcast, I chat through five ways to collaborate with brands, to ensure everyone benefits and you achieve your goal for the collaboration- whatever that is.
Making money while you sleep aka passive income isn't just a dream, in fact, many people can use their skills and knowledge to provide education and services in automated ways, as Lucy Griffiths, online entrepreneur and author of Make Money While You Sleep explains.
But Lucy didn't just decide to launch into the online world on a whim, and it was actually some pretty harrowing events and a traumatic birth that led her to a complete career change, from globe-trotting journalist to online course creator.
This is a really brilliant interview and shows the journey Lucy has taken to get to where she is- using her experiences to shape her next step and not letting health challenges stop her, but more cause a pivot in how she spreads her message. She also used a particular event she was told about as a foundation to want to do more good, which I find particularly inspiring.
Do be warned though- this podcast is labelled as explicit for good reason and I would advise you to skip the first four minutes or so if you're triggered by acts of violence against women or if you're around young/sensitive people as an incident is described in graphic detail.
Membership groups have continued to grow in popularity over recent years, and it's easy to see why. In addition to getting valuable training, the right memberships can also provide members with supportive communities, opportunities, and the possibility of business (and maybe even life) enhancing connections too.
But not all memberships are created equal. Having run the Small & Supercharged Membership group for a few years now, and seen many others in action, I have packed this episode with tips to help you find the right membership group for you- that is, if you're interested in them at all.
And, of course, if you'd like to find out more about the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group, you can do that here https://www.rheafreemanpr.co.uk/small-supercharged-mastermind/
Aztec Diamond is a young brand that has made a huge impact on the equestrian industry since it launched in 2014, thanks to founder, Jordan McCabe, and her team.
Jordan talks about growing her brand and how it has evolved to the provide riders with quality essentials in very wearable colours. We also chat about the really innovative side of what Aztec Diamond does in creating products that are very different to what's available when they hit the market.
Of course, no journey is without its bumps, and Jordan shares these too.
From the striking show stands to advent calendars, working with influencers to listening and developing around customer feedback, it's a really great listen.
What does success look like to you? Is it all about the money, or is it about something else? In this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, I talk about finding out what matters to you, not letting someone else's definition of success dictate your actions, and that all important profit vs. turnover discussion.
This podcast isn't saying it's right or wrong to have big money goals, far from it. It's more about looking at those numbers to make sure it's a true number not a vanity metric, not comparing yourself to someone's else's definition of success, and making sure that what you do makes you happy. However that looks.
What do you take for granted in your equestrian life? Being able to see your horse when you like? Being able to get off your horse whenever you like? Or how about in normal life? Being able to cope with loud noises or even read at speed when needed? Probably all of these and more. But that isn't the case for everyone. As Zoe Squirrell, International Para Rider explains on today's episode.
Zoe was born prematurely and suffered a brain haemorrhage that caused the disabilities she has today. She found riding as a form of therapy, rode at school as part of her PE GCSE, and then went on to start her para rider journey with some amazing horses.
Of course, there have been many ups and downs, including huge trips to ride, lame horses, taking a break, and doing amazing things at National Championships.
Zoe shares her journey, the trials and tribulations she has faced, and also the importance of accessibility.
Tune in, enjoy, and learn. Zoe is incredibly inspiring and passionate about education.
When you say 'no', how does it make you feel? For many of us, saying no to opportunities, to work, can fill us with fear from all sorts of angles, and can make what should be a 'no', a resounding 'yes!'. But is that a good thing? I don't think it is.
Of course, the reason you want to say no has a huge bearing on this, but if you're saying yes because you feel you should, then this one is for you.
We all have 24 hours in a day, and it's important we use our time well. Not just for work, but for all the other bits that make life brilliant for us. Each time we say 'yes' to something, we're saying 'no' to something else, because part of our time for the day, week or month has been eaten. Which makes it all the more important that our ability to say no really is as good as it can be, so we leave space for the game-changing amazing stuff, politely decline the things that don't light us up, and push forward towards our goals.
Wow- that two letter word really does have a lot of power, doesn't it?!
It's been a while since I recorded an interview with someone in person, but on today's episode I'm joined by my video and podcast editor (who's also my husband, but you'll probably get quite quickly!), Laurence Freeman.
We all know that the popularity of video continues to surge on social media- but how can we take better videos? How can what we capture make editing easier and faster? And does sound really matter if we're looking at the moving pictures?!
On this episode, Laurence shares the knowledge he's gathered from editing videos for me and many other brands over the years, as well as some great tips to make your videos better, and make them a whole lot easier to edit- whether you do it yourself or someone else does!
Video is here, and it's growing... you can't avoid it any longer!
I don't know about you, but I feel like 2021 has been a long learning experience, do you feel like that? It's taught me a lot- and I'm very grateful for it- and I wanted to share these points in the first podcast of 2022.
From what three months of homeschooling taught me (more than what a vertices is!) to simple pleasures, the things that really matter to asking for what you want. I've been schooled. And I'm ready to take all this learning forward into 2022. Whatever that has in store...
But it isn't just about me, I would love to know what 2021 taught you- the good, the bad and the ugly. Comment over on my Instagram post all about this podcast- I'm @rheafreemanpr over there!
Ohhh- this is a bit different, but I am excited to share this with you! Today, I'm talking you through how to create an Instagram promotion in five easy steps- and the training is provided by me (obviously!) but using one of the amazing #SheMeansBusiness trainings that are provided by Facebook themselves. As a #SheMeansBusiness accredited trainer, I provide lots of training through my groups, workshops, and Enterprise Nation, and this one translates well to podcast.
On this podcast, I'm going to share, step-by-step, how to promote a post on Instagram. This can be great for high performing posts that you want to reach more people, with a call to action that you want (so you might want people to visit your website or message you, for example), at a budget and duration to suit you.
For more information on #SheMeansBusiness, see https://www.enterprisenation.com/campaigns/she-means-business/
It's our final Podmas of 2021, and we're ending with the fabulous Jacks Watts from Perrinpit Farm.
Jacks shares how she started providing beef boxes from the farm's own cattle during lockdown, and how her business has grown from there. This year, not only has Perrinpit Farm been able to provide British meat to a growing number of people in the local area and beyond, but the farm's meat also won TWO Great Taste Awards in 2021!
This episode of Podmas was recorded Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Dr Diane Fisher aka All The King's Horses.
Dr Di is a trauma consultant, Chief Medical Officer of the British Equestrian Trade Association, and a dressage rider who's recently graded as a para rider. In this episode, Di chats about the aims of her accounts and the amazing Rider Clinic, reporting accidents through BETA's new form, dressage goals and dreams, and staying a bit safer when we can.
This episode of Podmas was recorded Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Eleanor Lelliott from SpiceMule.
SpiceMule is a brilliant business that creates delicious mug cakes, spice rubs, stove top brownies, and spice blends to help all of us create yummy food with minimal effort- perfect for busy people! Ellie is a real joy to listen to, and also shares details on a fab colour-changing collaboration this year... listen to find out what that's all about!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Thea and Heidi from HorseTribe and HorseFest.
HorseFest's first in person event was due to happen in 2021, but due to covid, got moved to 2022. However, that hasn't stopped founders Heidi and Thea from making an impact. In fact, the pandemic led them to start HorseTribe, an online learning platform that helps to promotes HorseFest's key values of education and inclusivity in the equestrian space.. but in the comfort of your own home! And the ladies share all about it on today's Podmas.
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Rebecca Ellis from Digital Horse and Equi-Light
Digital Horse is the social media platform for equestrians that promotes community and connection in a truly hate free way. In addition to this business, Rebecca and her mum also run Equi-Light, which is a new brand dedicated to providing equestrians (and beyond) with beautiful hats and headbands with USB charged lights in the front to help make dark days a lot brighter!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Jade Stock from Out And About Poultry and Mortimer Rose Wealth Management.
Jade is known as 'The Turkey Lady' on most social media platforms, thanks to her award winning birds, and the hilarious tales she shares about how they enjoy their life (and cause havoc in the process!). On this episode of Podmas, we chat about turkeys, shortages, avian flu, what to look for when it comes to buying turkeys, and why her hands were numb at the time of recording!
We also chatted about Jade's other business, Mortimer Rose Wealth Management- how that came to be and the kind of services she offers for people with this hat on. It's a good one!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Louise Towl from Ready To Ride Physio.
Louise has moved a lot of her business online over recent months, and now teaches pilates via an online membership to riders all over the UK. In addition to chatting to us all about this, Louise also shares her TWO new courses- one's designed for pregnant riders, and the other is aimed at riders looking to get their fitness for riding back after having a baby.
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Amanda Marshall from 3 Donkeys Clothing.
Amanda created the 3 Donkeys 2-into-1 coverall design to make life for outdoor ladies a whole lot easier. With the well placed zip around the middle, 3 Donkeys' coveralls can be unzipped to answer calls of nature. The Classics and Dartmoors can also function as jackets and over trousers on their own too! Brilliant gifts for anyone equestrian, country, or who just wants to keep clean!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live in the Small & Supercharged Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Poppy Webber from Peewee Saddlery and Hippo Horse Showers
Poppy has brought saddle fitting and saddle fitting info to the masses with her incredible Lives and YouTube channel, both of which were started during lockdown to help prevent boredom! As a qualified saddle fitter, she fits saddles and even has her own range, but also wanted to educate people around the subject to help them make better choices- and how this idea has flown!
In addition. Poppy is one half of Hippo Horse Showers, a business that started by accident when Poppy's husband made her a horse shower. And as they say, the rest is history. Although with Poppy, it's glitter covered history and has been making a lot of horses a whole lot happier in winter and beyond!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Becky Kew from Q Dressage.
Becky chats all about why she started Q Dressage and her desire to bring pattern, colour and sparkle to the world of dressage while still maintaining the quality and performance that riders need. It's great to see how well she's done this and grown the business over the years to include more and more lines. Many make great Christmas gifts for non-riders too!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Emily Cole from Emily Cole Illustrations.
Emily's cartoon horses have been entertaining many (many) equestrians since she first put pen to paper a few years ago. Funny and oh-so-relatable, Emily's drawings are available as prints but also on a growing range of stationery, homewares, mugs, pyjamas and more... perfect Christmas gifts and great treats for yourself too!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Odette Insoll from Nouvelle Habit.
Odette started her business in 2020, to solve the problem of getting wet and cold when riding in the winter. After many prototypes and a whole lot of experimentation, the Riding Skirt was born! In addition to picking lining fabrics from Odette's own supply, there's also the option to pick your own and have something made for you that's completely unique. Odette shares how Riding Skirts can last a lifetime, how they make great gifts, and what's coming up in the future too!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Kelly Ude-Martinez from The Knights of Middle England.
Kelly is one of The Knights of Middle England and here she shares a whole heap of experience based gift inspiration in terms of jousting, horse archery, trick riding and side saddle- all of which you can have a go at, no matter your riding experience.
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Claire Barker from Barker & Sloane.
Claire specialises in luxury skincare formulated for outdoor skin, and has many award winning products in her range. She's recently launched a brand new cleanser which has a refill option, and has also opened her Christmas shop that provides a host of luxurious skincare products for men and women that are easy to use, effective, and support British farming too as the products are made using essential oils from British farms.
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Zoe Kiff from Honest Riders and Honest Horse.
Zoe has recently released a new collection of stunning equestrian clothing that has strong eco and sustainability credentials, but is also lovely to wear both in the saddle and out of it. In addition, she's developed a range of horse care that continues to grow and removes waste from shampoos and, more recently, washes. In fact, a new 'flavour' has just been released. And for Christmas, the horse care and rider clothing side has combined in a range of Christmas gift boxes too.
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group. It was recorded at the end of November.
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Mike Huddart from Huddart Heavy Horses.
Mike is passionate about heavy horses, since his parents bought a Shire mare in foal instead of a bike for him! Now, Mike is keen to introduce more people to heavy horses through fabulous experiences, which just so happen to be perfect for Christmas too!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group. The Lives (and Podmas) will run during December- make sure you come and join us!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Podmas is back- and today, we're joined by Jane Badger from Jane Badger Books.
Jane publishes horse and pony fiction- new books and classics alike- perfect for young and more seasoned horse enthusiasts. On this episode, Jane talks all about her latest releases, her own book which is a sequel to the famous Jill series... perfect Christmas gifts!
This episode of Podmas was recorded as a Live broadcast in the Small & Supercharged Facebook Group. The Lives (and Podmas) will run during December- make sure you come and join us!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Over the last couple of years, there's been a real surge in awareness around mindset and how it can impact everything you do. In fact, I did my NLP Practitioner training a while ago, and I'm training for my Master Practitioner now because it's packed full of useful tools that I use in my business coaching. And I train with the lady that is on today's podcast- Tracey Cole.
Tracey is a Master Coach who found NLP through her own confidence issues in the saddle... and the rest is history! Now, Tracey is a Master Coach who offers sessions to riders and non-riders, but also trains people to support others with NLP, and she also has a business course coming out in the New Year!
In this episode, Tracey tells us all about NLP (what is is and how she got into it!) and also shares some very valuable tips and tricks that will help so many people at this time of year.
Authenticity is a word we all hear a lot when it comes to social media- but is it just a buzzword? I don't think so. In fact, I think it's essential for social media to be truly effective, to help you connect with your people, and for you to stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons.
On this episode, I chat all about authenticity and how to really step into the true, authentic you online. And why it matters.
Yes, having nothing to hide behind can be scary, but it's the only way- I think- to make social media truly work for you on a long term basis. Here, I explain why and share some tips for achieving it.
3 Donkeys clothing is well known for its brilliant 2-into-1 coveralls, but did you know that founder, Amanda Marshall, had the idea many years ago? It was a chance conversation and a well connected friend who helped Amanda make the idea a reality just three short years ago.
From why the brand is called 3 Donkeys to where the original idea came from, the importance of making in the UK and being sustainable to what's next for Amanda and the brand, this podcast shares it all. We also hear about Amanda's highs along the way, which include being nominated for a prestigious award (twice!), Charlotte Dujardin, ThisEsme and Burghley!
There's so much more to 3 Donkeys than meets the eye, and it's a joy to be able to share the brand and the lady behind it with you all on this episode.
Last week, Instagram announced that Links on Stories would now be available to everyone. Previously, people with 10k plus followers had access to this functionality and others didn't. But this change means that follower number is no longer a barrier. But is it necessarily a good thing?
On this episode of the podcast, I talk about how the Link sticker can benefit brands, influencers and followers too, but I do also talk about the potential downside of links generally, and how to navigate around this.
I've had the ability to link from Stories for a good while now and while it is really handy in certain situations, I do think it's important to be aware of what these circumstances are and not overuse the sticker to the detriment of the content that you're creating and posting natively. But more about that in this episode!
Waring Brooke is a young British knitwear brand, founded by Samatha Brooke, that has become a firm favourite in recent years. But Waring Brooke is far from an overnight success, this is the second version of the brand that has so many important values at its heart.
Samantha shares how she found knitwear from art, what the first version of Waring Brooke looked like, why being sustainable and British is really important, and how Waring Brooke and its ability to create unique, monogrammed accessories allows customers to become part of the brand. In fact, their initials can be knitted into the socks, snoods, headbands and more that are available.
This is a really fab listen about all things Waring Brooke and how Samantha is a lady of many, many talents.
The thought of public speaking strikes fear into the heart of many a brave business owner... and I was the same until a few years ago. But in just two days time, I'm speaking at the Festival of Female Entrepreneurs, and I don't feel scared at all. I feel excited. But it wasn't always that way.
Don't worry, this isn't a podcast all about what a great public speaker I am- that would be a rubbish listen (and I can always improve!), but as I know this is such an issue for so many, I wanted to share a little about how I overcame my real fears about it. The thing is, public speaking and sharing your message can be great for the people listening and you as a brand too. Meaning that if you can work on how you feel about it, it could reap huge rewards for all concerned. This is what I did. I'm not saying it was conventional or that you should try it too, but it definitely worked for me.
The Knights of Middle England take part in lots of shows each year, but what's slightly unusual about these knights is that one of them is female... and she's called Kelly Ude-Martinez! This week, we chat about being a female knight, horseback archery, all the adrenaline, the tough times of 2020, and a bumper 2021.
Kelly has been involved with and loved horses for as long as she can remember- starting off down the slightly more conventional eventing path, before finding a love for polo. Polo led Kelly to the Knights of Middle England- a company that combined her loves of horses and performance- and a job as a knight, a teacher, a performer, and provided the chance to inspire lots of little girls too.
In 2020, the company's entire show season was cancelled due to covid, and with the teaching revenues hit too, Kelly also shares what it was like getting through those times when there were still a lot of mouths to feed and no income.
I know, I know, it's only October, but Christmas IS coming, and for small businesses, it's very much here now!
For small businesses, now is the time to get all your Christmas ducks (maybe turkeys?!) in a row. For brand ambassadors and sponsored people, now's the time to be reaching out the brands you work with and asking them about their Christmas campaigns and how you can help. And for consumers and fans, I share lots of ways you can help the brands you love have a better Christmas, and most of them are completely free for you to do!
As always, if you tune in, please do screenshot and share to Stories. And please, please consider implementing some/all of the above, whether you're a brand, an influencer or a buyer. It could make a huge difference.
Tamsin Sprawling launched Sprawling & Osborne in 2019, originally to find a use for deer hide, something that is often unused when the animal is eaten. This desire for sustainability in country clothing grew from stunning boot tassels made from cowhide into an entire range of UK made clothing.
Tasmin now designs a range of country clothing made using sustainable materials, cut and sewn in the UK, on a made to order basis. Not only does this approach reduce waste, but it also means that bespoke pieces can be created to perfectly fit everyone.
On today's podcast, Tamsin shares how she grew her business, why it started, where it is now, and what's to come in the future for this young, British business.
According to a few different sources, there are over two million podcasts in existence at the moment. But should you start one? On this episode, I share what rocks and sucks, what's a yay and a nay, about creating and producing a podcast.
As with any form of content creation, there's a time commitment and potentially a financial commitment too, and as with so many things, it's unlikely to be an overnight success. BUT with persistence, dedication, and passion, having your own podcast can reap huge rewards. And not just in the ways you'd think!
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Claire Lomas MBE is a truly incredible lady. After a freak eventing accident in 2007, Claire became paralysed from the chest down, ending her eventing dreams and career as a chiropractor.
Claire endured incredibly dark times following her injury, but she's gone on to do some truly amazing things since!
Not only has Claire been awarded an MBE, she lit the Paralympic cauldron in 2012, and has raised over £800k for charity by undertaking challenges such as walking the London Marathon in a robotic suit, handcycling around the UK and more.
Claire has also written a book about her journey (actually, she's written two but the second is yet to be released!), now works as an inspirational speaker and fundraiser with her goal firmly set on raising one million pounds for charity, to help cure paralysis.
Here, she tells us all about everything!
Have you ever asked yourself where you should be? Not geographically, but more on social media?!
With so many social media platforms available today, it can be incredibly hard to work out where you need to be, to deliver the maximum return on your effort. Being overwhelmed by all the things can lead to a lack of impact which, when you're trying to be in all the places, and you're doing a lot of work, is more than a little galling. Hopefully, this podcast will help.
On this episode, I take a look at different ways to work out where you could be, and where your audience are. I also explore different content types, and how to get the info you need to make those decisions. I hope it helps!
2021 has been a busy year for many, and Stef Bennett, the lady behind @wife_onthe_farm on Instagram, Bennetts Willow Barn and Bennetts milk round would definitely agree.
Not only have Stef and her husband opened a new cafe on the family farm in Worcester, they've also welcomed a third child to the family (a month before the cafe opened!), grown the milk round that started during Covid, and continued to grow their glamping business too.
On this episode of the podcast, Stef talks all about her journey from solicitor to small business owner, farm diversification, ice cream, juggling mum life and work life... and a very special event that's happening in September with me- Social Sessions- which combines social media workshops with chat, cake, and a whole lot more too.
We all know social media gets a lot of stick around trolling and negativity, but did you know that some platforms have various controls to help you take the power back?
On this episode of the podcast I share some of the features inside Instagram's settings to help you have more control over your negative interactions with people on Instagram.
We all know that not everyone who uses social media is a 'nice' person- and we know that trolling, threatening behaviour and general negativity absolutely exist. Whilst we might not be able to prevent anything negative ever coming our way, there's a lot available, inside the app, inside Settings, that you can use to help stop a lot of it ever entering your DMs or clogging up your comments.
- It could well be more than six... I lost count!
Victoria Hutton aka Video by Victoria is a freelance videographer and editor based in London, and has previously held the roles of Head of Video at both Mumsnet and HELLO! Now, in a slight change of direction, she's helping businesses of all sizes embrace and see real results from their use of video.
Victoria started her business not that long before Covid, and being unable to work in the way she was planning certainly caused her to get creative and pivot, and create the #selfshootclub. Now, in addition to inspiring creators and founders to create their own video through lifting the lid on techniques and more, Victoria has also worked on some stunning campaigns for brands like Holly & Co and The Positive Birth Company, to name but two. And the great thing is, she takes us along on the journey through her social media!
Of course, in addition to hearing all about Victoria's journey, we also chatted about the highs and lows of self employment and Victoria kindly shared some hints and tips to help us all take better video. Enjoy!
Posting something on social media every day can be hugely overwhelming, can't it? And posting something RELEVANT on social media EVERY SINGLE DAY can be even more overwhelming, but this podcast will help!
We'll touch on content pillars, specific content types to add into your schedule regularly, awareness days and how to research them, how to make sure you get events and other key dates in your schedule... and before you know it you'll have lots of ideas meaning you'll never run out of them again!
And, of course, when you know what you're posting, it makes it a whole lot easier to batch your content together, schedule, and make your life a whole lot easier!
Believe in Yourself might be a drawing by Emily Cole (that I happen to have on the wall in my office!), but it's also something that we all need to do a little more, don't you think?
A little while ago, Emily added a Believe in Yourself mug to her gorgeous collection, and to celebrate its launch she teamed up with Jane Brindley from Horse Riding With Confidence Scotland, Donna Case aka The Horse Feed Guru, and me, to offer one winner a prize bundle to help them believe in themselves a little bit more. When the competition was still running, we virtually met up to chat about what that phrase means to us- and this is the result!
I'm lucky to have known these three ladies for a while now as all are members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group and are friends too. All have amazing stories to share around times when they believed in themselves, and have also picked up tips and tricks that have helped them to push themselves further, summon up courage when they needed it, and step into what they are capable of.
This is a fun one. Yes, there's lots of tips and stories, but it was such fun to record and I really hope you'll love it too.
What do you use hashtags for on your social media posts?
For most of us, hashtags provide enhanced discoverability, allowing people who don't already follow us to find us through a shared interest or need. But hashtags can do a whole lot more than that, in fact, they can be a great way to grow a solid online community too. On this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, I'll be looking at how you can use hashtags to grow your online community in a number of easy and highly effective ways.
Have you heard of BETA? Most people in the trade have heard of the British Equestrian Trade Association, but not everyone is aware of the work of BETA- although if you're an equestrian you will have come into contact with BETA's work more than you might think. The label on your body protector, the logos on your feed bags, the training the retailers in the shops you visit receive- all connected to BETA.
On this week's episode, I speak to Claire Williams, the Executive Director of BETA, and Dr Di Fisher, Chief Medical Officer of BETA, about BETA's Summer of Safety; what that's all about, amazing competitions and who's coming on Live to share their experiences.
In addition, Claire and Di talk about safety as a whole, and the great work that's going on behind the scenes to help keep us safer- not to scare anyone- simply to make the equestrian sport we all love as safe as it can be. It's a good one!
Do you need a Facebook Group?
Well, it depends. Facebook Groups have HUGE scope to help you find likeminded people, connect around shared passions and interests, and build a true community, but they can be hugely demanding from a time point of view. And if you don't put in the work, they're unlikely to yield the results you'd like...
A little while ago, I was giving a webinar and someone asked me whether they should have a Group or a Page on Facebook. To me, they're very different animals, so I took the opportunity to explore this a bit further on this week's episode of the podcast. Hopefully, if you tune in, you'll be a whole lot more informed and it'll help you understand the key differences between Pages and Groups, to find which one/s suit you the best, to help you achieve what you like.
Covid has caused a whole lot of pivots this year, and being unable to work in the usual way certainly gave Maeve Sheridan the opportunity to drive another part of her business forward.
Maeve is a veterinary physiotherapist, a human physiotherapist, and also runs Activate Your Seat, which is an online exercise programme created to help riders improve strength and flexibility in the saddle through carefully tailored exercises done against the resistance of a bungee.
Since Maeve trained as a human physio, she's continued to develop her skillset, become a veterinary physiotherapist, moved her human side to work exclusively with riders, and found a way to work with them all over the world. Maeve's knowledge is second to none, and seeing how she works with riders and horses, how she shares her knowledge on social and through the Rider Clinic (with Dr Diane Fisher) and other lives, is a joy to watch, and a real joy to share too.
Find out how Maeve has created a business that has accommodated Covid and continues to grow and expand in all sorts of ways.
'Are newsletters dead?' I was asked this question on a training a few weeks ago. And I couldn't say 'no' fast enough. Because I really don't think they are. I think quality mailing lists are magic.
We know that not everyone you send your email to will open it. And we know that out of everyone who opens it, not everyone is going to click through and take the action/s we like... but that doesn't mean they're dead.
There are SO many reasons why email marketing is incredibly valuable to businesses, brands and influencers, and I explore these in this week's podcast.
What do you think? Are you an email marketing devotee or have you slightly neglected your list of late and need to show it a teeny bit more care and attention?
Not all that long ago, I had an email land in my inbox from Issy Carlill, also known as Zigzag Eventing. Issy had a story she wanted to share, that she felt would help others, and I jumped at the chance.
A few months ago, Issy's two horses were involved in a road accident. Thankfully, both horses recovered and are OK, but that wasn't the only thing going on in Issy's world. In fact, at around the same time, Issy was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, and persistent concussion syndrome. The latter being from a concussion sustained from two years ago.
These are big subjects, so I called on Dr Diane Adamson, trauma consultant and Chief Medical Officer of BETA, to talk to us about brain injury and concussion in relation to what happened to Issy. And as you'd expect, she also offers lots of tips and information about how to deal with concussion, when to seek help, and so much more too.
A while ago, I produced a podcast about how to pitch to be on a podcast and it went down really well. I regularly get asked about how to connect to brands about being brand ambassadors, so I thought I'd apply the format to this idea and see how we get on...
It's competitive out there- with billions of people using social media and many wanting to be the next big thing, it's hard to be seen and heard. But the good news is that you can, if you go about it the right way.
This podcast doesn't guarantee you'll get a yes each time you ask, but it should, hopefully, improve you chances by a considerable amount and, more importantly, ensure that whatever the answer or outcome, you're building connections and forming relationships that may help you achieve your goals in the future, and will enhance your enjoyment of social media... because the social bit in social media is really important!
Lauren McDermott (previously known as Hunters & Heels) has an Instagram following of 100k, and has created a business as an influencer that also supports businesses she loves- but it hasn't always been this way.
Over the last few years, Lauren has worked to grow her following by sharing what she loves, and that's something that 100k people and brands have bought into too. In this podcast, Lauren shares how her passion for Instagram helped her change job at Bobbi Brown to spend more time at home with her young family, create kits containing items she adores, co-design products to support causes close to her heart, and enjoy amazing experiences with her family too.
Of course, this has all taken time, dedication, hard work, and a clear direction - and Lauren shares it all in this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast.
Finding the right brand or influencer to collaborate with can be tough, can't it? With so many potential options out there (and so many potentially great options too!), how do you pick the perfect collaboration partner for you? Well, in today's episode, I'll help you find the right one.
I'm not going to lie- it is a bit of a jungle out there, but I've managed to condense my top tips into five key points to look for when you're trying to find the right 'person' to collaborate with. From alignment to benefit and a whole lot of other ideas along the way, this podcast should help you, whether you're a brand looking to work with other brands or influencers, or you're an influencer looking to work with other influencers or brands.
As always, if you tune in and you like what you hear, please do consider rating and reviewing- it means a lot!
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) can be seen as a bit of a dark art, but as Tim Cameron Kitchen, the chief ninja over at Exposure Ninja explains, at its heart, it's something we can all do.
Tim started his career as a drummer, and found his way to where he is now in a less than conventional way, having learnt everything from on the ground up on the job!
On this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, Tim talks about SEO, busting myths, simplifying jargon, and sharing some great tips that anyone can use to make it easier for your potential customers or readers to find you when they visit their favourite search engine and put in those all important words.
As I mentioned (a few times!) in this episode, in addition to being the chief ninja at Exposure Ninja, Tim has also written a fab book called How To Get To The Top Of Google. If you want to explore all of this a bit more, I'd definitely recommend having a look at that too!
Have you lost your social media mojo? You're not alone, so many people are feeling fatigued with social media. And it's hardly surprising when you think about it!
Over the last year, we have all endured the craziest events that have led many of us to social media to connect. Whether from a business perspective or a personal perspective, social media has in many cases provided a way of connecting to friends, family, customers and people who get us and are facing the same challenges and difficulties as we are. But there's also a dark side to it that ranges from negativity and misinformation to a whole lot worse.
In this episode of the podcast, I chat about some ways to help your find your social media mojo again, or, at the very least, see the positive benefits it can have for you as a person or for your business, with just a few important adjustments and tweaks.
With over 100k followers, Beth Sen is a popular equestrian influencer who's well known for her stunning images, beautiful horses, gorgeous outfits, and her passion for being kind.
During the time since Beth started her account, she has grown a following of over 100k loyal followers, worked with numerous equestrian brands, supported her followers, and she's even started her own photography business too!
In this episode of the podcast, Beth openly talks about how she grew her account, the kind of content she likes to create, working with brands, if influencers should get paid, and why she's so passionate about being kind to each other on social media.
If you follow Beth, you'll know that through her account she covers a range of subjects, including sexual assault and racism. And these subjects are very briefly mentioned here too.
Engagement is something that most social media users think about- well, more than think about, some obsess over it. How to nurture it, how to increase it, and how to create content that users want to engage with.
But what is engagement? What's an engagement rate? Why does it even matter?
On this episode, I talk all about engagement and what it means, how we can nurture and develop engagement, and how we can actually help to grow our own social media engagement by being what we want to attract on social media. It might sound a little out there, but as you'll hear in this podcast, it really does work. I'll show you why, too.
'Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?' is a question that most, if not all of us, have been asked at some point. But the chances are that what you wanted to be when you were first asked, what you thought you might do when you left school, and what you're doing now, are all different. Am I right?!
This week, I caught up with Jane Brindley, who's a coach with extensive experience in hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, NLP and performance coaching. Did she want to be this 'when she grew up'? Did she do this when she left school? No, far from it.
In this episode, Jane talks about how her life and the learnings she's picked up along it have helped guide her to the point she is now. And how a tragedy in her life made her find a new path. Not only has this new path been hugely rewarding for Jane, but she's helped a huge number of riders from performance backgrounds and with confidence issues to enjoy their horses more and achieve their goals through her business Horse Riding With Confidence Scotland.
And more than that, Jane feels she's really found her stride now. At a time when her friends are retiring, she's just getting started.
Prepare to feel uplifted, empowered, and a lot more certain that every experience you have in your life is leading you to exactly where you need to be. Enjoy!
Ever felt a bit overwhelmed about which social media platform/s you should be on? This podcast will help.
Whether you're just starting out in the world of social media or you're looking to add more platforms to your existing offering, this episode talks through how to pick where to be, what questions to ask yourself, and how to get the maximum from them when you've made your choice.
There's a whole lot of choice out there when it comes to social media platforms, and it can be really overwhelming, but by looking at who uses them, the kind of content that really works on the different platforms, and so much more, you can make the right decision (or decisions) for you! Enjoy.
Before I even explain this one and how good it is, can I just say that the trigger warning at the start should be taken seriously. This podcast is amazing and I am so, so grateful to Victoria Brant aka Wimpy Eventer for coming on, sharing everything, and being so open and honest.
This podcast will make you laugh and probably cry as Victoria talks to us all about the last 15 or so months of her life including the birth of her son George, a devastating miscarriage, feeling invincible, plans for the future, and how she keeps her hair looking so lovely (you asked, Vic answered!).
In addition, Victoria answers a load of questions that our followers (as in her followers, and my followers!) submitted via Instagram, so keep an ear out for that.
I hope you enjoy this episode. I don't often get teary when recording, but with this one I did. However, it will leave you on a huge high with a whole lot of smiles, and mega admiration for the powerhouse that is Wimpy Eventer.
If you're feeling overwhelmed in your quest to be consistent on social media, you're going to love this episode- it's all about batch content and how to create a LOAD of content in a fairly short amount of time.
From professional images to flatlays, quotes and tips to videos and Reels, this podcast is packed with tips and tricks to help you create your content in an efficient and streamlined manner, to help you save time, create better content, and let's be honest, feel pretty smug. And that is a lovely feeling when it comes to social media!
If you tune in, please do screenshot, share to Stories and tag me- do you batch? Have you tried it? I'd love to know!
Do you use LinkedIn? After this podcast, I think you might use it a whole lot more...
I'd like to introduce you to Jennifer Corcoran, a LinkedIn expert who I connected with through, yes, LinkedIn! After we both won awards through Enterprise Nation's Top 50 Advisers, Jennifer reached out, connected, and we got chatting. Following this, I completed one of Jennifer's courses, learnt lots, and wanted to share.
On today's episode, Jennifer lifts the lid on LinkedIn. We talk about how she found LinkedIn to start with, why she decided to focus on LinkedIn out of all the platforms available, favourite parts of LinkedIn, profiles vs pages, highs and lows, and some great tips from Jennifer that will help you make positive changes to your LinkedIn today. Enjoy!
This episode's working title was simply 'the voices' because that seemed the best description!
Over the last year particularly, there have been a LOT of free challenges, webinars, courses, downloads, you name it, promoted online. Have you noticed? And, often, these are created by people you don't know and have never met (but you fall into their ads audience online).
This can be great as it can help you to discover people who have skills you don't that you can learn from. But what happens when there are too many people offering these amazing things and you start to feel a bit overwhelmed? Maybe you've even signed up or downloaded some (all!) of these free resources, and instead of you feeling empowered and educated, you feel paralysed because you're more confused than ever and don't know what to do for fear of doing everything wrong?
Yeah- that's what the voices can do to you! And on this week's podcast, I'm talking all about them, how to find the right ones to listen to, why it's really important to silence the others... and how you're already pretty damn fabulous as you are- you're simply improving on what you have!
You know when you get an email at 9.28pm and you need to reply instantly? Well, that was how this podcast with the lovely, honest, and fun Flo Carter aka @flocartereventing came to be.
Flo has been a supporter of the podcast for a good while now, but it was one particularly episode that spurred her into action, the one all about how to pitch to be on a podcast. And my goodness me, the email I received was a masterclass.
As per the podcast, Flo ticked all the boxes, and shared why she felt that you lovely lot would like to hear from her. I agreed wholeheartedly with what she said, I wanted to hear everything about the journey.
Flo is a 19 year old event rider who, at the end of a disappointing 2019 season decided to turn to social media, to find others with similar experiences. But she couldn't. She'd found a gap in the market for higher level equestrians to share their very honest take on the highs and lows of the sport. And so, in 2020, Flo decided that her social media accounts would lead the way.
In the space of just 12 short months, Flo's social media quadrupled with over 25k Instagram followers and over 10k monthly views on YouTube.
In this podcast, Flo shares her journey to this place, but also what it's like to have a social media account that explodes, what it's like to work with brands, how she works with the algorithm, and so much else.
It's a great episode- thank you so much Flo for reaching out!
Have you seen Guides on Instagram? This relatively new feature provides a way for users of the platform to organise and group together content by whatever theme or idea they like.
In this podcast, you'll learn all about the three different types of Guides you can create through Instagram, pick up some ideas about how you might be able to use them on your account, and how they can help content live for longer on the platform.
I hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a few moments and would consider rating and reviewing this podcast, I'd be hugely grateful!
Let's talk about Make It British, shall we? This fab business and community was created by Kate Hills with the simple aim of helping British-made brands grow, and she is passionate and then some about it!
Kate shares her passion for UK made and how she came to setting up Make It British after working for two big high street brands who had their products made abroad.
Well aware of all the incredible skills developed in the UK throughout history, Kate set about researching what was really available here and found lots of incredible manufacturers still beavering away, creating beautiful things, and delighting customers. Fast forward a little, and Make It British was born!
In this podcast, we chat all about Make It British, the potential benefits of making in the UK, how to find the right manufacturer for you, and #madeinukday which is on 9th March 2021!
Do you want to work with a brand ambassador or an influencer?
Do you want to be an influencer or a brand ambassador? Is there even a difference?! That's what today's podcast is all about!
I regularly get asked this question, and it's easy to see why there's a confusion, because in many ways, they're very similar. However, there are reasons why you might opt to work with one vs. the other, or reasons why you as an influencer might like to stay unattached to any particular brand.
Influencers, brand ambassadors, and sponsored people are such a key part of so many industries now, and take up an increasing amount of marketing budgets because of the ROI that they can deliver. That is, if the right brand ambassador or influencer is selected. Not only does this episode cover the basics in terms of the difference, it also goes a bit deeper and shares loads of tips around working with both.
As always, if you tune in and like what you hear, please consider leaving a review- I'd really appreciate it.
Will Bees Bespoke is a well known British brand, based in Salcombe, whose beautiful bags are eye catching, easy to use, and have bespoke touches to make them extra special too. On this episode, I chat to James Marshall, co-owner of Will Bees Bespoke, about growing brands, social media, the future, and so much more.
We discuss the transition between shows and the Salcombe shop to online, working with influencers, USPs, and a stunning new, exclusive collection that has the loveliest story behind it.
As you'd expect, there's a great story behind the brand, a muddy low, soaring highs, a discussion about what's to come from this fab brand, a lot of dogs(!), and some great tips for people starting out and wanting to grow a too.
I had a message not that long ago from someone who was feeling a bit lost. Because usually at this time of year, they would be planning for things that, with the current regulations, are in doubt at best, and have already been cancelled at worse. Think shows, in person events, markets, all the things that are challenging at the moment. They asked if I'd consider doing a podcast about how to plan for uncertain times... and I thought it was a great idea.
So this episode is how to plan for uncertain times. When the world seems to have gone mad and you're not sure what you can do (or what you'll be able to) now or in the future. Here's my advice...
Can I ask a teeny favour? If you listen to and love this podcast, would you consider leaving a review? It helps more people learn about the podcast and get a dose of inspiration when they need it too!
You are in for a treat today- if you love Verena aka Girl About The Yard on Instagram, you're going to adore this one!
On this episode, I chat to Verena about, well, everything. From why she started the account to how it has grown, who she chooses to work with and spreading joy, being yourself and not following the crowd, hate vs. feedback, The Archers, being an influencer, collaborations, donkeys and horses... there's something for everyone in here!
Verena has developed a brilliant Instagram account with great numbers and superb engagement, and has expanded her brand into merchandise and now a new membership called Own Your Ride. She also shares the most brilliant Stories that are the perfect mixture of uplifting and informative, fun and fabulous... Lillibet the donkey and Oscar the horse are regular features too, as is tea and delicious food- what more could you want?!
If you're an influencer, want to increase and grow your influence and the brands you work with, or simply want to feel very positive about social media again and the great things it can do, you are going to love this, and Verena's Girl About The Yard platforms too.
Have you ever wanted to be a guest on a podcast? Or have you ever wondered how a podcast host decides who to have on the show, and who to say 'no thank you' to? Well, I am about to lift the lid on it... because I think, as with so many things, it's useful to see it from both sides of the fence.
You might be surprised to learn that I have a LOT of requests from people to be on this very podcast here. And the vast majority of the time, the 'pitches' come from people who I've never heard of or interacted with before. And I can't think of one of those people i have said yes to. On this podcast, I share why that is, how to improve your chances of making the cut if you decide to pitch to be on anyone's podcast, and some things that I always look for (and rarely see) when it comes to podcast pitches that I receive...
As always, if you tune in, please do screenshot and share to Stories. And if you'd like an extra gold star, I would LOVE it if you'd consider leaving a review. Thank you!
Have you heard of #SheMeansBusiness, She's Got This, or the Festival of Female Entrepreneurs? These are just three campaigns run by Enterprise Nation to help support female founders... and on this episode I got to chat to Lauren Malone, the lady responsible for these three campaigns and more.
In addition to sharing her passion for supporting females in business, Lauren also talks about the challenges of moving from a predominantly off line event platform to a completely online service (thanks to Covid), how she and the team have adjusted, the positive impact this has had, the fact that Zoom fatigue is real, and so much more. We also explore the #SheMeansBusiness programme, She's Got This, and the flagship Festival Of Female Entrepreneurs event.
I have the privilege of working with Lauren through the #SheMeansBusiness campaign, which is a programme run by Enterprise Nation and powered by Facebook to help ladies get online and improve their digital skills, to help further their business and brand. To find out more, hop over to Enterprise Nation - it's all there!
Ahhh- 2021, what are you going to bring us?
It's always important to look ahead in business and life, and the start of the year seems like a good time to do this in a more formal way, and that's what this podcast is all about- what we can expect to see in 2021. Or, more precisely, what my predictions are.
So what do you think is going to happen with the social media, marketing, and influencer world? How do you think moving things online in 2020 will change our world moving forward? Well, here are my thoughts on it... what do you think? Do you agree?
Whatever 2021 brings, I feel that after 2020 we'll be ready for it.
If you're feeling a bit lost, down, or just 'meh' about the current situation from a business point of view, this podcast, with Emma Jones, the founder of Enterprise Nation, will help.
It's such an odd time, and 2020 was very strange too... but this lady has not only weathered the storm, but she and her team at Enterprise Nation have worked incredibly hard to support small businesses all over the UK with every aspect of this constantly changing landscape. And they have done. And then some.
In this episode, Emma chats about why and how she started Enterprise Nation, her hopes for 2021, the positives from 2020 that aren't reported in the press, initiatives to support small business for free, resilience, success stories, highs and lows, what it's like to receive an MBE, Lunch & Learn... and that's just a snapshot.
In addition to all the above, Emma's optimism is inspirational. And I feel a bit of well placed, considered optimism at the moment is much needed. I hope you do too.
I didn't know how to end 2020, because it's been a crazy year, hasn't it? How do you end a year where we've had a global pandemic, had restrictions that we would have never imagined, and now get panicky if anyone gets within 2m of us?! Or is the last one just me?
But, with reframing front of mind, I wanted to talk about the lessons that 2020 has taught me. Because I have learnt A LOT. Some of it was surprising, some of it reinforcing, but I hope that all of the things I've learnt will be useful to you too.
And I also want to say, as we end this year, that even though we have all endured some very dark times, and there are no doubt challenging times ahead, there has also been some positives to come out of 2020. A huge number of small businesses have been founded in 2020 (yes, some from necessity, but still), what's important (and I mean REALLY important) has been brought into sharp focus, the fact that we have all got through 2020 and found a new level of resilience we didn't know we had, that we have incredible people- doctors, nurses, scientists and more who are amazing and on our side, and that geographical limits no longer apply thanks to Zoom and more.
So here's to you 2020 - well, more here's to the lessons you've taught rather than everything you've brought to the party!
Welcome to the final episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Donna Case from The Horse Feed Guru, Faye Harlequin from Horseshoe Hearts & Gifts, and Sharon Howe from Mulberry Tree At Home.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the seventeenth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Ruth Chappell from Dressage Anywhere, Jade Stock from Out & About Poultry and Mortimer Rose Wealth Management, and Nicky Sutcliffe from Equi Travel Safe and Sport Horse Select.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the sixteenth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Charlotte Martin from Fruit Bat Textiles, Teresa Lewis from Teresa Lewis Art, and Rebecca Ellis from Digital Horse.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the fifteenth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Rachael Coulter from Stable Manager, Sophie Green from Evergreen Mindset Coaching, and Alyson Egan from Centaur Leatherworks.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the fourteenth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Charlotte Ellis from Welly Banter Creations and Jessie Lee from Jessie Lee Photography.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the thirteenth episode of this year's Podmas. On this episode we're joined by Tiffany Lay from Ladybridge Leatherworks, Amy Pridige from Muddy Mare Clothing, and Emma Batcheler from Hooves & Love.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the twelfth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Thea Roberts & Heidi Hunter-Cope from Horsefest, Sophie Callahan, Megan Pollitt from Feather & Fell, and Hayley Files from Equissentials Dressage.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the eleventh episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Zoe Kiff from Honest Riders, Martha Lily Thompson from Martha Lily Photography, and Sarah Gray from Rider Eye.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the tenth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Sarah McDermott from EquiCoach Online and Elebert Eventing, Claire Ford from Claire Ford Vet Physio, and Nicola Kinnard-Comedie from NKC Equestrian.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the ninth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Victoria Bodey from Equiboodle, and Emily Cole from Emily Cole Illustrations.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the eighth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Lucie Trapp from Lucie's Lambs, Victoria Freer from Little Grouse, and Tracy Ormrod from Dressage TestPro.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the seventh episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Jane Brindley from Horse Riding With Confidence Scotland, Catherine Orpin from Touch of Tweed, and Abbi Grief from Abbi Grief Photography.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the sixth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Claire Barker from Barker & Sloane, Emma Laws from The Fuzzy Sheep Photography, and Amanda Dowie from Georgian Dollar.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the fifth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Carly O'Brien from COB'S Equine Shop & Services, Maeve Sheridan from Activate Your Seat, and Sarah Johnstone from Apt Cavalier.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the fourth episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Anna Green from Salthouse England, and Nicola Stuart from Equestrian Fitness.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the third episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Amna Ahli from the Equi Nation app, and Tamsin Sprawling from Sprawling & Osborne
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the second episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Amanda Marshall from 3 Donkeys Clothing, Diane Adamson from All The King's Horses, Odette Insoll from Nouvelle Habit, and Kathryn Bell from Team Equestrian Shop.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Welcome to the first episode of this year's Podmas - today's episode is with Emma Warren from Hiho Silver & Dimpsey Glamping, and Sarah Pittendrigh from Simply Bows & Chair Covers and Sarah Pittendrigh Coaching.
On this festive episode, we'll be talking about great gifts for loved ones, different Christmases, time hacks, a bit of business chat, and the ladies will also be answering some slightly random Christmas based questions too!
Small & Supercharged Podmas will be running each week day until 24th December, with each episode featuring members of the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. If you tune in, please do screenshot, share, and tag us all - let's spread a little Christmas cheer!
Intro music- "Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
The words 'Facebook Live' and 'Instagram Live' can put the fear of God into people... and I get why. Going Live, in a place where the world can see you, you can't edit, and you're open to anything can feel terrifying. What if you get tongue tied? What if something goes really wrong? What if no one turns up!? Have you ever had any of these worries? Well, this podcast is for you!
On this episode, I chat through the huge benefits of going Live (and why Lives can be brilliant for your brand), but also address the main worries I hear about going Live and, hopefully, provide answers and strategies to help you navigate each one. Because going Live and connecting with your fans and followers in this way can be huge... and I don't want you missing out!
Have you heard of Barker & Sloane? This stunningly beautiful skincare brand, founded by Claire Barker, launched at The Game Fair last year and literally flew off the shelves. Combining sustainability credentials with high quality formulations to support outdoor skin, it's hardly surprising that this brand continues to go from strength to strength. You'll notice the names are more than a little brilliant too, and firmly connect the brand to its target market.
The initial idea came from the want to make the precious honey produced by Claire's bees go further, and that has led to Barker & Sloane and even more.
Of course, no business journey goes without a hitch, and Claire openly talks about the lows that her business has faced along the way including a name change, delays in getting products approved, and missing the Christmas trade last year. But don't worry, there's a LOT of highs too. And this is all for a business that's just 18 months old.
This is a seriously inspirational episode; I know you're going to love it.
Supporting the small businesses you love has never been more important - and in this podcast I share seven ways that everyone can help support the businesses they love, without it costing them a penny.
Everyone's financial situations are different, but a common theme I see online all the time is people's desire to help and support small businesses. So I wanted to do my bit to help. Because while buying gifts from the businesses you love this year will obviously help them (I mention this too), there are lots of things you can to help that don't cost any money at all. By utilising the skills, the following, and simply your ability to engage and communicate, you can help people's content get in front of more people, find new fans, and your kind words could well help to lift someone up who's having a tricky week too.
And as an added bonus, I've thrown in a few extra ideas if you're a brand ambassador or sponsored person. Because now really is the time to help out the people who support you.
What's been good about today? It's a good question, isn't it?
On today's podcast, I talk to the amazing Jackie McCormick, a Solution Focused Therapist and her insights on, well, everything, are just amazing!
We chat about how the mind works and how the actions we take each day help to strengthen the pathways in the brain - whether that's good or bad. We discuss looking for the positives, even on dark (and, at the moment, Covid filled!) days. We talk about the small steps we're all capable of taking to help improve the way we feel... and the knock on benefits that these have on our brain chemicals.
We chat about how being solution focused can help you achieve your 'preferred future', help with confidence, anxiety, performance and phobias... and how slight adjustments in the way you think - how simple exercises you can do - can change your path.
As we are on the brink of lockdown 2.0 in England, this podcast is a MUST listen to now, if you're listening to this when Covid 19 and lockdowns are a distant memory, or you're in another part of the world, you'll still finish listening feeling empowered, a lot more in control, a solution focussed.
Don't worry, it's not about running!
If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I recently completed the Couch to 5k Challenge. This is a free, NHS app that takes you from no running to running for 5k or 30 mins in one go at the end of nine weeks.
Over the nine weeks, I was obviously challenged physically, because I'm not a runner. I genuinely find running really hard, but I learnt a LOT during the process. And the thing I learnt the least about was probably running!
In this podcast, I talk through what I learnt from the Couch to 5k, because I learnt an awful lot more about life, business and mindset than I expected from a challenge that left me a sweaty mess and the colour of a tomato each time I completed a run.
I'd love to know if you've had a similar experience. Has a physical challenge brought mental challenges into focus? Has it changed the way you focus or adjusted your belief in yourself and your mindset?
Can you imagine if your entire Instagram account vanished overnight thanks to a 'friendly' chap who gained access and then wanted you to pay to have it back? This is exactly what happened to The English Stamp Company not all that long ago. And that's what we're chatting about on today's podcast.
But don't think this is a sad one - far from it. Yve Grady-Crewes from The English Stamp Company tells us all about the experience, what she learnt, how they got their account back, and also how incredible their fans, followers and supporters were during the whole thing, helping them to build a new account when theirs was deleted after the company failed to pay.
Yve also shares some great tips on how you can help protect your account from the same thing happening, talks to us about collaborations and working with influencers...and there's a lot of talk about stamps too! From how The English Stamp Company started, ALL the things that stamps can be used for, and how personalised stamps are a growing trend in the business world...
Welcome to the fourth special episode of Small & Supercharged Conversations. This time, I'm joined again by Ruth, Jane and Nicola; three ladies from Small & Supercharged Mastermind group, to talk about online learning.
On this episode, I chat to Ruth Chappell - the lady behind global online dressage training and competition platform Dressage Anywhere, Jane Pike - the mindset master who runs online training and confidence building platform JoyRide as part of her business Confident Rider, and Nicola Kinnard-Comedie - the lady who delivers valuable online and in person equine based training to horse owners and professionals through her business NKC Equestrian.
On this episode, we talk about how to pick the right training for you, changes due to Covid, the evolution of businesses over time, impact, learning curves, staying in your lane... and so much more!
This the second part of this Conversation, so if you haven't listened to part 1, make sure you do!
Instagram Stickers can be pretty, fun, show a reaction... but they can do a lot more besides. In fact, they can also help to get your content in front of more people, help inform decisions connected to what you post, encourage engagement, find superfans- the list goes on and on!
In this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, I chat through 11 stickers you should be using on your Instagram Stories. As you'd expect, there are plenty of ideas when it comes to how to use them too.
And that's not all - over on my website, there's an in-depth blog about the 11 stickers discussed today, a few words of warning, and loads of ways that you can use them in your content starting from today.
There's no doubt that Covid has changed things for many people, and Dr Diane Adamson is definitely one of those. As a trauma consultant, Diane is used to dealing with medical emergencies, but when Covid appeared, Diane's focus was shifted to Covid.
As light relief, Diane started a Facebook group, called All The King's Horses, combining her medical knowledge with her passion for horses and personal knowledge of injury which changed her riding forever.
Fast forward to now, and Diane holds regular Rider Clinics helping to educate people around injury, recovery, medical terms and how to report accidents correctly too. She's also pursuing her dreams of being a dressage rider.
Three months ago, Diane won the very first mentoring competition that I collaborated on with Equiboodle's Victoria Bodey, and Emily Cole Illustrations. Over the last few months, I've had the absolute pleasure of getting to know Diane and I'm so excited to share this podcast with you.
Welcome to the third special episode of Small & Supercharged Conversations. This time, I'm joined by three ladies from the Small & Supercharged Mastermind group, to talk about online learning.
On this episode, I chat to Ruth Chappell - the lady behind global online dressage training and competition platform Dressage Anywhere, Jane Pike - the mindset master who runs online training and confidence building platform JoyRide as part of her business Confident Rider, and Nicola Kinnard-Comedie - the lady who delivers valuable online and in person equine based training to horse owners and professionals through her business NKC Equestrian.
We chat online training, all the tech, learning your craft before you teach it, investment, and the positives and negatives of online vs in person. It's a good one!
And don't forget that in two weeks time, we'll be back for part two! See you then.
There's no doubt in my mind that this year, Christmas will be weird. But that doesn't mean it can't still be good. It doesn't mean that, as a small business, you can't make sales and delight your customers. It doesn't mean that as an influencer or brand ambassador, you can't do your bit to help the brands you love. And it doesn't mean we can't make the best of the situation... and hopefully this podcast will help you do this.
I know it feels like Christmas is miles away, but I promise you that the weeks will fly by and you'll be pleased you did the prep now, to make your Christmas go well - maybe even better than ever. And by getting ahead now, you could well be able to support more small businesses because you have time to plan, to order, and to deliver amazing things to your loved ones that also directly help the people behind the small businesses and brands you love so much online.
In this episode we chat about how to support small businesses you like without spending money, how you can potentially spend less but buy things with more meaning and a story for your loved ones, how getting ahead of the game can save you money, and how now, more than ever, it's important to be kind. I also chat Black Friday, why you MUST tell your customers what you sell if you sell a product... and I chat all about the Small & Supercharged Christmas market too.
Stallion AI and I go WAY back, in fact, I first met Stallion AI over 15 years ago when went there to pick a stallion for my beloved cob mare... and how things have changed in that time!
In this episode, I talk to Tullis Matson, the founder of Stallion AI. I find the journey of Stallion AI fascinating, from the tragic event that started the whole business through to breeding a Suffolk Punch filly using sexed semen a few months ago (a deliberate choice as a step to help save an endangered breed), working with endangered species all over the world to looking after stallions like Big Star. In addition, Tullis shares some other aspects of his business, from a new project that will help preserve tissue to cloning, canine breeding to the conference suites they have at Stallion AI. And, of course, we have a good chat about social media and pivoting due to Covid too!
Welcome to the second special episode of Small & Supercharged Conversations. If you didn't listen to part one two weeks ago with the same group of ladies, you might want to go back and tune into that before you listen into this one.
For this episode, I'm joined by equine portrait photographer and brand photographer Sophie Callahan, equine portrait and event photographer Martha Lily Thompson, and designer and shop owner Victoria Bodey from Equiboodle.
This time, we're chatting about photography and use of images, copyright issues, why it's important to upskill, social media strategy, and prejudices shown due to gender... I was pretty shocked about this one too!
As always, if you listen, please do screenshot, share to Stories and tag us all - I'd love to know if you enjoyed it!
This feels self indulgent BUT, you asked, and I answered! In all seriousness, this one has moments where everything gets a little deep, and there are bits I haven't shared that much before, but I hope it will interest you. Actually, more than that, I hope it will inspire you.
I don't know about you, but I find it really interesting to hear about people's journeys. What makes them tick. Why they are how they are. How they run their business. And it turns out that a lot of my followers were interested in a bit about my business journey and more too. Which was flattering, rather surprising, but it was fun to share - a bit like therapy too.
So, here we go, eight things about me... I chat about the kind of businesses and people I like to work with, what inspires and motivates me, how my children influence my decisions (they don't know they do!), what I'd change about social media, and how I started down my career path... you ready?! I really, really hope you enjoy it.
Amanda Dowie is the lady behind equestrian jeans brand Georgian Dollar, and as with so many businesses, there's a lot more to this brand than meets the eye.
From the chat that started the whole journey to having to admit to owning one more horse than her husband thought, being stocked in shops and the associated buzz, to the real cost and stages that launching a new business faces, Amanda shares it all here.
And the name? Oh yes, you'll hear all about why Georgian Dollar is called Georgian Dollar, and how each of Amanda's much loved horses has at least one hoof in the brand too.
Get ready to smile - Amanda's enthusiasm and zest for life is infectious.
Welcome to the first special episode of Small & Supercharged Conversations.
This episode is with equestrian/brand photographer and lifestyle blogger Sophie Callahan, Victoria Bodey who's the founder of Cirencester tack shop and gorgeous clothing range Equiboodle, and equestrian and event photographer Martha Lily Thompson.
I'm lucky enough to work with these three ladies in different ways, and all are members of my Small & Supercharged Mastermind group. To get to share their knowledge and loveliness with you is brilliant.
Oh, and did I mention that in addition to covering a couple of big topics, the ladies also answer questions from listeners? Enjoy.
What does 'brand' mean to you? And what does building a brand mean to you?
It can feel a little overwhelming to think about your brand or building one, but I hope that this podcast will help. We often think of brands in terms of logos, colours and font, don't we? These attributes are definitely part of the mix, as they help people to identify your brand, but your brand is so much more than this.
Your brand should be in your every fibre and its fingerprints over everything you say and produce. It should be what you believe in and who you are at your core. What people can expect from you and what you deliver, consistently. It's far, far more than a specific colour.
This is, indeed, quite a big thing, and a big one to put across in everything you do, but it's more than possible, as I explain in this episode of the podcast, all about building a brand online. Enjoy!
Let's talk data.
We all use data to make all sorts of decisions in our day to day lives, but what Diarm Byrne, his business partner event rider Sam Watson, and the team at Equiratings have done, is allow data to influence our equestrian lives too. And actually make the stats a lot more accessible, add context, and influence key decisions around the training and safety of the world's elite riders.
Diarm chats about the start of the business from working with federations through to Event Rider Masters, the amazing Equiratings podcast (hosted by Nicole Brown, a previous podcast guest!), OnForm, Eventing Manager, and plans for the future too.
Have you tried Reels yet? These little up to 15 second videos have taken social media by storm in the last few weeks - and it's easy to see why. With inbuilt editing tools, AR filters, the ability to upload pre recorded clips, and add music (well, if you're not a business account!); Reels have got masses of scope for you, whether you want to use them for fun or for your brand or business.
In this podcast, I give a whistle-stop tour of Reels to help you feel more confident when it comes to getting started. At time of publishing this episode of the podcast, Reels are being prioritised on Instagram, which means that there's never been a better time to give it a go!
If you want to see the Reel you hear on this podcast, or to check how I'm using them for quick tips and ideas, hop over to Instagram (I'm here) and have a look. My Reels are usually shared to my grid too, or you'll find them all in the specific Reels tab.
There are few people in the equestrian industry who don't know Emily Cole. From her first sketch of Nick Skelton that went viral to more recent creations, many people have a piece of Emily's collection in their home or office.
But what you might not know is that Emily was on course to be an Architect, until a sketch drawn in the small hours got shared by Horse & Hound, went viral, and Emily started working with British Showjumping. Of course, there's a little lot more to Emily's journey from there to here, including developing numerous collections, commission work for brands, and lots more besides.
We also talk about Emily's favourite product (a lot like asking her to pick her favourite child!), the history of Marcel, favourite sketches, the lows, copyright infringement, the highs, big fibreglass horses, working with Horse & Hound, and so much more!
I have the absolute pleasure of working with Emily, and as you'll hear in this podcast, she is a complete legend. Modest, incredibly talented, kind, brilliantly funny, and her own biggest critic.
Are you stealing or are you sharing other people's work on social media?
Of course, you're sharing, right? You wouldn't dream of stealing, would you? Or maybe you've been doing it without meaning to?
The thing is, sharing properly on social media can help brands, influencers and friends, because the credit goes back to the correct person (when it's shared properly) and/or the correct permission has been given in order to allow you to share.
The other thing is stealing. And that's not good.
Not only is it rude, and can actually damage people's brands, but you could also be infringing their copyright and that could land you with a big fine.
As I say in the podcast, I'm not an expert in copyright law, but I have seen this happen a good few times. And I work with a number of professionals who have experienced these issues too. As the person who's sharing the work of whoever, you need to do the work, read the Ts and Cs, ask the relevant permissions, etc.
Clare Haggas, formerly known as Clare Shaw, is a well known artist in the country space. But in addition to the most stunning pieces or art you will see on walls, around people's necks as scarves, and also as soft furnishings, Clare is fascinating.
If you follow Clare on social media (and if you don't you should!), you'll know how honest this lady is about everything in her world. From being at rock bottom and losing everything through addiction to where she is now.
In this episode, Clare shares everything, from how she runs her social media, to the soon to be released Black Label, creating wearable art and why limited editions matter, working with retailers, the development of her business, and even how the colours changed in her pieces during different stages of her recovery.
Prepare to be seriously inspired. Not just by Clare's art, but by everything!
Brand ambassadors and how to find good ones are recurring themes in so much of what I do. Getting the right brand ambassador for your brand can be HUGE, but getting the wrong one can cost you time and money... and add to your stress levels too.
And more than that, it's not good for the ambassador either!
So, to help you navigate the jungle that is brand ambassadors, I've put together The Brand Ambassador Checklist for you. You can download and print it off through my blog - fill it in if you like - to help you find the right people to help you promote your brand to your target market.
And if you're an influencer who would love to be a brand ambassador, listen in and maybe use these points to assess your own account from a brand's point of view. I think it'll really help!
To download your FREE The Brand Ambassador Checklist - pop over to the shownotes on my blog and download through the link at the bottom of the page.
Have you heard of Noelle Floyd? Most of the equestrian world will have heard of Noelle Floyd the 'brand', whether as the blog, the magazine which shared the most stunning images and amazing stories with the world, or, more recently, the online training platform Equestrian Masterclass by Noelle Floyd. But what do you know about the lady behind this brand? Well, you're in for a treat.
Noelle tells us all about how she got to where she is today- and what a journey it's been so far! Her passion for the equestrian world has remained a constant throughout everything she's done, but her ability to pivot and evolve her business in line with her readers and fans is just next level.
I am sure you'll be blown away by this chat. Not just when it comes to the journey or the 'truth bombs' the Noelle drops connected to everything from community to social media and the equestrian world, but also her passion to empower equestrians. To talk about the topics that no one talks about. To stop the judgement and to encourage learning. Enjoy!
Which one do you have? Personal, Creator or Business?
These are the three types of Instagram account available on the platform, and each one is different to the other (and some are more different than others!). In this podcast, I talk through the main differences that you might want to consider when trying to decide which one you need, (hopefully) provide enough information for you to be happy with your decision... and also remind you that you can switch between the different accounts as needed.
It can feel like a big decision when it comes to which type of account to pick, I know that, but hopefully this podcast will make it a little less overwhelming.
Zoe Kiff, founder of Honest Riders, is well known for her gorgeous clothing designs, but at the core of Honest Riders is something even greater - and that's the drive to be sustainable.
In fact, Zoe is so committed to this that it's in every aspect of what she does, from the organic cotton used to make her clothing to the Fair Wear factories used, ensuring every horse care item is cruelty free to the way she packages parcels. Zoe has learnt (and shares) a huge amount sustainability through her social media - and not just in relation to Honest Riders. In relation to everything... enter the Sustainability Challenge.
In this episode we talk about why it's important to be sustainable but also the Sustainability Challenge (which launches on 1/7/20) which encourages people to ditch, switch and commit to six small changes around the home, yard and beyond. Not only does this challenge help to inspire and unite, but what I always admire about Zoe is how there's no guilt tripping involved. There's resources and information, and also the desire to help people make small and practical changes to make a big impact.
Now, who's googling bamboo toothbrushes?
Direct messages aka DMs provide us all with amazing ways to connect to people on social media, form friendships and build relationships. But these precious little messages also get abused - a lot- and that's what today's podcast is all about. When you shouldn't send that damn DM... because these are really, really important. What's more, EVERYTHING I talk about in this podcast has happened to me or people I know in one way or another.
I chat about DMs that are unpleasant, unprofessional, inconsiderate, unsolicited approaches, and DMs that are either SPAM or fall into my 'excessive' category. We need to get the light shining on all of it so we can use DMs correctly. If you use social media and direct messages at all, this one is a good listen!
Teresa Lewis is an artist who was ill-health retired way before retirement age due to a variety of health issues. Over time, Teresa found art to be a creative outlet that also helped her to make a difference to the people who received her pieces, improve her feelings of self worth, and later develop a business that offers both commissions and products to equestrian and rural enthusiasts.
In this podcast, Teresa talks about her journey to where she is today, gives some great advice to people suffering with invisible illnesses, chats about imposter syndrome, and also shares some tips on what she does when she has down days. We also talk about her business journey and turning a hobby and passion into a business, the highs and lows so far... and so much more too.
As always, if you tune in, please do screenshot, share to Stories and tag us both. It's an inspiring one!
Are you lacking a little bit of Instagram Story inspiration? Fear not! To celebrate the launch of my Instagram Stories course (Social Supercharge: Instagram Stories), this podcast is all about five Instagram Stories you can do this week. And it's packed with other cheeky tips too, to help you get on board and enjoy them.
Instagram Stories provides an incredible opportunity to connect with your followers on a different, unfiltered, authentic and sometimes slightly random level. Stories can build incredible connections, make you even more relatable, and so much more too.
This podcast was recorded to celebrate the launch of my new Instagram Stories course, but as an extra treat, I've got a freebie with the five ideas discussed in today's podcast too - so if you're lacking Instagram Stories inspiration you can still crack on and get on with your Instagram Stories!
Nicole Brown is a well known equestrian broadcaster working with Event Rider Masters (ERM) as a presenter, commentating at various equestrian events, and being one of the hosts on the Equiratings podcast... and on this episode she tells us all about it!
From why Alice Fox-Pitt is her hero to how to pronounce her co-host's name on the Equirating's podcast, how she got into commentating, what it's like working with ERM and the BBC presenting team, puppy slobber and Clare Balding, and so much more too!
What comes over so, so strongly in this episode is Nicole's incredible determination and work ethic. In addition to all of the above, she has a series of other projects on the go and also a little boy to keep her on her toes.
Tune in, enjoy, and get sharing.
Building an authentic social media following is hard, isn't it? You have to keep showing out, creating content, engaging... the list goes on. But is there an easier way? A fake way?!
As you'll probably know, you can buy followers and likes on the different platforms, but in this podcast I use this as an example of why a fake following is worth very very little, and why it's SO much better to seek those genuine connections, those actual people who care about you and your business, and to put the time into engaging with your people- your tribe.
There are lots of reasons why growing a fake following is a waste of your time and, actually, could hurt your account too, as you'll find out about in this podcast.
And I also chat about a few things you really need to do, yes you, to help grow your account with the right people...
Ben Atkinson is part of Atkinson Action Horses, a family business that is known for the most incredible range of highly trained horses and ponies that are used for films, TV and live events. As the business name suggests, Ben's horses and his training focus on action... and if you've seen a display or follow Ben on Instagram (and if you don't, you should!), you'll have seen Ben doing... well... what hasn't he done with his horses!
In addition to building a diverse business with around 55-60 horses(!) doing a lot of different jobs, Ben has also grown a sizeable social media following with 192k followers on Instagram, 55k on Facebook and more on other platforms.
In this episode, Ben talks about stunt riding, how he has grown his business, his work with horses, and a good dose of social media tips and tricks too. Enjoy. This is a great listen.
Hashtags and tags can be a great way to get your content discovered, find new likeminded people, help small businesses you love, be part of a movement... and even find the solution to a problem! But how do you use them? Today's podcast is a speedy guide to hashtags and tags, to help you use them well for maximum benefit.
We talk all about hashtags - from their function on the different platforms to how they work, how to pick your hashtags and why relevancy really matters.
We also chat about tagging brands - why it can be a great idea, when to do it, when not to do it, and how to do it for maximum benefit too.
Let's get tagging...
Kate Lewis, who you may know better as Blob The Cob on Instagram, has a huge social media following on Instagram and YouTube, showjumps, coaches and produces horses... and on this podcast she tells us all about, well, everything.
We talk about why her account is Blob The Cob, growing a social media following, how it all started, and what she shares on social media. But one HUGE topic we discuss is mental health. And on listening to this again, I want to say a HUGE thank you to Kate for being so incredibly honest because I know this will help people.
Kate talks about confidence, how she shared her mental health struggles online, and how she deals with this on a day to day basis. We also talk about the impact this had on her work, and why social media is so, so important.
We discuss the amazing highs that Kate has experienced in her career, her favourite platform, tips for people looking to grow their account. Honestly - it's superb!
I can't quite believe that we're over 100 podcasts now - how did that happen?! To celebrate this, I wanted to share a couple of snippets from your top three podcasts. And they happen to be from Gracie Tyte (aka Pony Nuts), Olivia Towers, and Megan Elphick (aka Elphick Event Ponies).
In this podcast, I share two snippets from each of these podcasts that I love - I love all the podcasts I put out (I wouldn't put them out there if I didn't!), but as these were the top three. based on downloads, when we reached 100, I wanted to share these with you too. We talk about meltdowns, negativity, being real, getting started on Instagram, and so much more.
Pop over to the show notes on my blog to get links to the full episodes of these podcasts.
Abi Lyle is an International dressage rider who's well known for her amazing Instagram Stories, equestrian achievements, coaching, Britney knowledge... and she has the most beautiful accent too.
In this episode she talks about being an influencer (and how that title makes her feel!), boundaries between work and home life, mindset and competition nerves and some amazing tips to manage these, her #dragfreedressage campaign around online hate towards riders, and so much more too.
We also chat about sponsors and there are lots of tips for riders looking to work with brands.
This podcast is a little bit different as in addition to our initial chat, Abi asked her followers what they wanted to know, so there are lots of questions in this one about equine subjects and more.
I've been working from home for about 10 years now, and even though I'd like to think I've earned my stripes on that level, I think it's fair to say that this kind of working from home is new to me and everyone else!
In this week's episode, I share a load of tips to help you not just survive, but thrive when it comes to working from home. I want you to listen and feel like you're not alone (because you're not). That we're all in this together (because we are!). To feel the pressure lift, and to have some ideas, tips and tricks to help you thrive during your time working from home.
From plans to snacks, mental health to gratitude, exercise to enlisting the help of the Paw Patrol or the cast of Frozen, it's all in here. I hope you enjoy it. And more than that, I hope it helps you navigate this lockdown situation in a way that's better for you.
Esme Higgs, also know as ThisEsme, is an equestrian influencer and then some. With a combined following of over 500k across YouTube and Instagram, Esme is popular with brands, events and federations alike.
In this episode, Esme talks about how it all started and what her YouTube channel has grown to be. We talk about opportunities, what it's like managing and growing such big platforms, riding Badminton horses, and working with events.
We also chat about the amazing charity work that Esme has done, particularly for The Brooke, and how a trip overseas really was a life changing experience.
Esme works with a number of high profile brands and her insights into this all are fascinating from all the angles. She also shares some tips for people looking to grow on social media too.
Can you believe that we're on episode 100 of the Small & Supercharged Podcast?! A HUGE thank you for all your support. It means the world to me.
On today's 100th episode, I chat about what I've learnt from doing 100 podcasts. It's a must if you're thinking of starting your own podcast or you're keen to get the behind the scenes scoop on how the podcast comes together - from batching to booking guests, consistency to doing live events, it's all in here. And I do digress a little too - some things never change, right?! Enjoy!
To check the show notes and get all the info, have a look at the blog here.
Have you ever met someone whose Instagram handle is just their first name?! Well, today, you are!
Lucy Earl, also known as Lucy Bella Earl, English with Lucy, and simply @lucy on Instagram talks all about social media, YouTube channels, being an influencer, and transitioning a following to country lifestyle.
Lucy has grown her YouTube channel from zero to over 3.4 million in a very short space of time and now also has a second channel with over 50k subscribers. Her Instagram is currently sitting at 217k followers too... and what you might be surprised to hear is that all three platforms have very different content.
Tune in, get inspired, learn all about how Lucy grew her platforms, why she's not worried about people unfollowing, and her tips for influencers too. It's a good one!
This was not the podcast I had planned for today, but Coronavirus and the impact it's having on small businesses is already pretty extensive, so I switched podcasts and today we're focusing on this. On how to help support small businesses during Coronavirus. Because we really need to.
Lots of the ideas in this podcast will cost you nothing to do but could well make the world of difference to a small business near you. And the other ideas, I hope, will make you think slightly differently about supporting small businesses during this time. Respecting people's procedures. Calling them if you can't get in-store and seeing if they can deliver or post. Not just taking the easiest option to get your essentials. All of this and more.
I've put together a blog about this with a list, and I've put a graphic together that you can find on my Instagram or my blog with six top tips to help small businesses during this time.
Have you heard of 'the Kate Effect'? The one when the Duchess of Cambridge wears a garment or accessory from a brand and, overnight, their business explodes? Well, today we're chatting all about the Kate Effect with founders of Hicks & Brown, Alice & Rosie, who have experienced this first hand.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore one of Hicks & Brown's fedoras just after New Year and Alice and Rosie have barely had a moment to get their breath since then! In this episode, the ladies share all about what it felt like to see the Duchess in one of their hats, what happened afterwards, the highs, a few tricky bits that you might not think about... and how they used to take home homework in the form of card writing to ensure everyone received the true Hicks & Brown experience.
Have a read of the shownotes here with all the links.
If you've ever looked around at other people's social media and felt a little 'meh' about your own, this is for you. I think we can all, if we're honest, say that in our scrolling we've found posts that are doing really well, and seen accounts that have grown really fast, and wonder why it's not happening for us. Have you?
When this happens, we have a choice. We can nod, smile, be pleased for them but accept that we're different people with a different tribe. Or we can get jealous and try and morph into someone we're not.
We're not going to do the latter. It has no value for you or me. And I want you to put the work into your social media so it benefits you.
On this episode, I chat about why you need to 'do you' - why it's not just important for your account, your brand and your audience, but why it's important for your sanity too! Enjoy
To most of us, trolls and their trolling ways are incredibly hard to understand - but for some people, like Sam Callahan, it's something he has to deal with every day. And it's not just about him, it's about his family too.
Since being an X Factor finalist, Sam's profile has increased along with his social media following... and the trolling he receives. Here, he shares his experiences with trolls, being physically assaulted for who he is, receiving death threats, what it's like when your family get trolled... and his top tips for dealing with trolls too.
Although this subject is clearly a heavy one, this podcast is eye-opening but also inspiring in how, despite some people's desire to knock Sam and what he does, he's absolutely thriving.
This podcast has been labelled as explicit as it does contain swearing.
There's no doubt that with a blog, maybe a vlog and ALL the social media channels that we all have today, everyone needs to be generating more content than ever before. But what happens when those ideas run dry? And you're completely lacking inspiration? Don't panic, this podcast is packed full of ways to get your creative juices flowing again, to help you create amazing content.
From free websites that generate ideas based on keywords to listening to your customers, looking for recurring themes on forums and groups and more, this podcast will help fill your content creation inspiration cup to the brim, so you're chomping at the bit to get writing, filming or recording.
To see the show notes with all the ideas listed, pop over to my blog here and have a read.
Annabel Brocks is a lovely, luxury lifestyle brand best known for its reversible headwarmers, but what do you know about the lady behind it? Let me introduce you to Annabel Brocks also known as Belle.
In this episode, Belle chats about her two businesses: Hawkins Organic and Annabel Brocks. We chat lifestyle, reversible headwarmers, copycats, and huge highs like working with Charlotte Dujardin for Annabel Brocks. And we chat about what's core to the Hawkins Organic range, some celebrity riders that love it... and how Belle and Mike test the products before they go anywhere near an animal!
We also talk about the new Nourish range from Annabel Brocks that's beautifully designed around 'good' foods that Belle found out about during her recovery. In addition, the collection does a lot of good with the purchase of every piece creating a charitable donation for Breast Cancer Now and Macmillan.
Prepare to be uplifted, inspired and smile too. Belle is a real diamond and is incredibly lovely with it.
User Generated Content (also known as UGC to its friends) has never been more popular on social media. For brands, using pictures their customers have created, showing their products in action, can be HUGELY beneficial. And for influencers and customers, seeing your pics shared on a big brand's account can be lovely too... when it's done correctly.
In this episode, I chat all things UGC, from how to generate it to asking for permission, the benefits to brands and customers through to what else it can show people about the products you sell, and the kind of people/activities they're made for.
I think this is an important episode as when done correctly, User Generated Content has MASSIVE value for everyone. But when done badly, it can leave a rather bitter taste at best, and maybe even a big bill for the brand too.
What do you think about User Generated Content? Have you been featured without permission? Have you found it great for your brand? Have you found it grew your account? Let me know over on Instagram.
Megan Elphick, also known as Elphick Event Ponies, is a producer, an event rider, and also an influencer. With sizeable followings on YouTube and Instagram, Megan talks about how her account started as a way to get her horsey fix at University, how falling off at Badminton Grassroots made her relatable and grew her following, and how her commitment to showing the good and bad has been hard but important for her as a brand.
We talk about the many positives of having an account like Megan's from sponsorships to incredible opportunities like the meet and greet at Olympia is 2019. We also talk about the negatives including the massive amount of work, being unable to reply to every DM as there aren't enough horse in the day, and lots more.
And we're joined by Megan's lovely mum too!
Have you ever had a troll? Not the kind that lives under a bridge, the other internet kind?
I'm lucky that I've only had a couple of minor brushes with trolls and based on some other people's troll experiences, mine is nothing. But I wanted to share my experience with you in case you're worried about this happening to you, or you've had it happen to you and you've felt bad about it. I want to say that you're not alone. It's not you, it's them. And I also chat about how I dealt with my minor troll, how it's suggested people deal with trolls, and so much more.
As I say, I KNOW that my troll is a pretty tame troll (I know of people whose trolls are next level nasty), but it doesn't have to be someone who's absolutely evil to make you feel awful, less than, and so much else.
So today, we're talking trolls. Not the kind that live under bridges waiting for goats. The internet kind. I'd take a troll under a bridge any day!
Have you ever considered starting a magazine? On today's Small & Supercharged Podcast I chat to Hollie-Ella, founder and editor of In The Country Magazine, who launched a magazine after seeing a gap in the market just a few years ago.
Hollie-Ella talks about the journey launch (via a trip to New Zealand!), launching a printed publication in the digital age, learning everything from scratch, the highs and lows, great interviews and exciting plans for the future too.
We also have a chat about influencer marketing in the equestrian and country space, the current situation and the pressures influencers face. It's a great episode. And you can see all the show notes here too.
I know this is a controversial one, but please know it comes to you from the right place. I'm looking out for you here. And sometimes, unfollowing or muting someone - even if it's just temporarily - on social media, is absolutely the right thing to do.
The thing is, it often has less to do with them and more to do with you, and that's fine too. For your mental health, for your anxiety, for your sanity and for everything else that matters in actual real life, please tune in, listen to the points I'm making, and think about whether unfollowing or muting any accounts that have a negative impact on your might help.
Because social media should be a happy, positive place. Of course you'll see things that aren't always happy because that is life, but overall, you should use it and feel uplifted and connected. If you're feeling less than, sad, upset, angry, bullied... and more negative emotions besides, it might be worth seeing what a little distance from the accounts that cause these feelings can do.
And the great thing is that when you unfollow on Facebook or mute on Instagram, the person doesn't know, so they won't be upset by your decision. And you can still go and look at and engage with their content when you like, it just won't be on your feed automatically.
Read more about the four reasons to unfollow or mute on social media on my blog.
HAPPY NEW YEAR- actually, Happy new decade... and what a podcast I have for you today- it's with Sophie Callahan!
Sophie is an equine portrait and equestrian and country brand photographer in addition to being a lifestyle blogger. And she's also all about the goals. Although you can set goals at any time of the year, the start of a new one seems like the perfect time - it's usually a time when people set resolutions, but we're turning that idea on its head a little - and you'll hear why if you tune in.
In this episode, we also chat about Sophie's practical application of The Law Of Attraction, and all about her brand new Instagram challenge designed to help people start 2020 on the right track with a plan for their social media. You can follow along on Instagram by following #myruralbusinessjan20.
See the shownotes with all the links over on my website.
I can't believe this is the last Podmas! And what a 24 days it's been!
In this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podmas I chat about highs and lows of 2019, a very exciting development for 2020, living Christmas through the children, the power of the right jumper, psychedelic vegetables and how one reindeer in particular shows the power of an enduring brand!
Music used -“Jingle bells” by scottholmesmusic.com
Thank you SO much if you've listened to the last 23 podmas episodes (24 including this one!), I hope you've loved it.
You can find the shownotes for this one and all the other episodes of Podmas on my website.
Liz Somerville is the Practice Manager and Managing Director at Loch Leven Equine Practice, a business she owns with her husband, vet Hugh Somerville. With a very exciting ahead and some great things that have happened in 2019, it's a great episode.
2019 has seen the launch of Loch Leven's own podcast, The Podcasting Equine Vets, and this is one of Liz's highs for 2019. Having this podcast, I can completely relate to the thrill of podcasting - I mean there's LOTS of work too, but it is special. We also chat about Hugh's trip to Tokyo next year, whether food or family is the highlight of Christmas, and what Liz has asked Santa for this year.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Lindsay Robertson aka Lindsay Robertson Photography is an incredibly talented photographer who's well known for her equine and canine photography, but also her work with rural brands too.
In this episode, she chats about her highs for 2019 including working with Hiho Silver at Blair Castle Horse Trials and tormenting riders(!), moving to the Outer Hebrides, lots of lovely present picks, being weatherproof... and a herd of ponies too! And we do have quite a giggle as well.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Lindsey McDean is the lady behind The Ladies Countryside Community and is also one half of The Animal Therapy Hub. And she's on today's Podmas.
In this episode, Lindsey shares how a fall from her horse on the road made her take a step back from riding, but also how that allowed her to explore her other countryside passions more... and set up a community around them! And as you can guess by now, we also chat food, drink, reindeers and the best gifts... which just so happen to have a horsey theme!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Sharon Howe is co-founder of The Mulberry Tree At Home, an equestrian and country lifestyle brand that grew from a desire to have beautifully designed wooden products in the home with country and horsey touches.
In this episode of Podmas we talk about how the business came to be, highs and low, being Dasher, and making your own rugs... or not!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Becky Wren, also known as Country Bumpkin Chic, won this year's Countryside Blogger of the Year Award. And she's on today's Small & Supercharged Podmas!
On this episode we chat about what winning her award meant to her, why an unplanned public swim is her low for this year, why anything with Heston's name on it is a Christmas food must... and Becky throws in an unusual favourite Christmas film too!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Amanda Marshall launched the 3 Donkeys brand in 2019 and, in less than a year, has really changed the ladies coverall scene for good!
In this Small & Supercharged Podmas Podcast, Amanda tells us about the highs and lows of business in 2019, the best Christmas gift she's ever received, the most random... and which reindeer she'd be too! We also chat about breakfast with the Chairman, doubters, Dartmoors... and being itchy!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Jane Pike from Confident Rider is a legend. Simple. But in case you haven't met her yet you are in for one heck of a treat! In this episode we chat about Jane's JoyRide programme, feeling like Oprah, reindeer research, avocados, summer Christmases and SO much else. This was such a fun and funny one to record. I hope you love it.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Emma Batcheler is the lady behind equestrian gift brand Hooves & Love. This company not only provides a great collection of gift boxes filled with treats that any equestrian would love, it also provides the option to create your own box, and supports a number of small businesses... it also has a product that gives a donation to charity for each one sold. And we talk doughnut holders too. Because would Podmas be complete without it?!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer.
Have a read of the show notes and find all the links here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Amy Pridige from Muddy Mare talks about the new #horsemates collection designed to raise money for the Riding for the Disabled Association, bad Christmas jumpers, thoughtful personalised plates and so much more on today's Small & Supercharged Podmas.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Melanie Clarihew is the co-founder of lovely British brand Mackenzie & George. Mackenzie & George is well known for being a British belt maker, but in addition, the company also sells a range of fedoras, feather brooches, clutches and an array of gorgeous accessories. In this podcast you'll hear all about new additions, duplicate Christmas gifts, and a must see Christmas film.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer.
Have a read of the show notes and find all the links here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Zoe Kiff from Honest Riders is on today's Podmas, chatting about her brand, the amazing eco challenge her company ran this year, festive gift boxes, being Blitzen... and how she can relate to the Grinch at this time of year. And so much more too!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Equestrian portrait and commercial photographer Sophie Callahan is on today's Small & Supercharged Podmas. In it we chat about her year of change and adapting to mum/work life, what this means for 2020, some exciting things to come, a very sweet present, AND a very random one a few years ago!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer.
Have a read of the show notes and find all the links here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Ruth Chappell is a great friend of mine, a really kind soul, and the lady behind Dressage Anywhere too! We chat all about the highs of this year including work with Riding for the Disabled Association, future birthday celebrations, and the most random/best Christmas present that grassed up her cat!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Olivia Towers of Olivia Towers Dressage (obviously!) is on today's podmas. In it she talks all about her highs and lows for 2019, throwing shapes at the Nationals (well, maybe Sausage rather than Olivia herself!), a very random Christmas gift, and a stable door checking ritual on Christmas Day.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Kathryn Bell is the lady behind Team Equestrian, a business that provides personalised and equestrian team clothing, in addition to some slogan ts and jumpers. In this Podmas, Kathryn chats homemade recipes, gifts with poo emojis, and we set the record straight on whether or not mulled wine counts as alcoholic!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Martha is the lady behind Martha Lily Photography and I was thrilled to catch up with her on this episode of Podmas. In this episode, she chats about highs for 2019 including working with the lovely Olivia Towers Dressage, a very very unusual favourite festive food, and a lovely 'best gift' that is bound to make you smile.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Sarah Johnstone is the lady behind equestrian brand Apt Cavalier, an apparel brand aimed at event riders. Sarah chats about the highs of 2019 including Blair Castle International Horse Trials and the recognition the brand enjoyed, the lows of 2019, what's coming up in 2020, and asks when it is too early to watch a Christmas movie!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Emma Warren has many strings to her bow. Not only is she the MD of Hiho Silver, but she also runs Dimpsey Glamping with her husband and works with Blackdown Shepherd Huts. In this episode of podmas, she talks about the family member who embodies Christmas, a very random most random gift, a big year (and a LOT of jewellery designing!) for Hiho Silver... and why a gin isn't just for Christmas!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
You know someone takes Christmas seriously when they grate candy canes... right?!
Donna Case, also known as The Horse Feed Guru, is an absolute fountain of knowledge when it comes equine nutrition, and more than that, it seems that she takes Christmas just as seriously too. From THE candle she's hoping to find under the tree to the ultimate hot chocolate in Santa mugs, this is a great episode.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Emily Cole is the incredibly talented illustrator behind Emily Cole Illustrations. In this festive episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, Emily chats about famous faces, exciting plans for next year, ALL the Christmas food, and how most unicorn products in the world will eventually find their way to her!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Faye & Barry are the couple behind Horseshoe Hearts & Gifts, a company known for making beautiful ornaments and creations from used horseshoes. In this podcast, Faye and Barry talk about highs and lows of 2019, a love of food, and how Faye's favourite Christmas gift ever started a whole business. It's a lovely one!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Do you know what a devil on horseback is?
Charlotte Miller is the lady behind the award winning Forelock Journal blog and came on the Small & Supercharged Podmas Podcast to chat about her highs and lows from 2019, all the Christmas food, and her most random Christmas gift ever... which is quite a special one!
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-24th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
What's Buble got to do with it?!
Victoria Bodey of Equiboodle is on today's Small & Supercharged Podmas. Find out what she likes to drink at Christmas, which reindeer she'd be, her highs, her lows, what Michael Buble has to do with anything... and so much more!
Also, Equiboodle is running an advent calendar competition over on its Facebook page between 1-24th December, so make sure you pop on over there to be in with a chance to win some amazing prizes.
This is part of the Small & Supercharged Podcast's Podmas where each day, between 1-25th December I'll be sharing some Christmas cheer with a little help from some of the incredible people I work with in one way or another.
See the shownotes with all the links on my website here.
Music used -"Jingle bells" by scottholmesmusic.com
Whether you have a blog for your personal brand or a website and everything else that goes with a business, you'll have made decisions about your branding. From the colours you use to the fonts, layout and more, your decisions when it comes to branding speak before people get to the words you write.
But branding isn't just a logo, far from it, and that's why I was so excited to speak to Fiona Humberstone aka The Brand Stylist on the Small & Supercharged Podcast. Fiona talks to us about branding, finding your niche, and appealing to your target customer in addition to so much else. It's a really inspiring and exciting episode for anyone who wants to understanding branding and the power of design a little bit more.
Fiona also shares a bit about balancing motherhood and business and, in fact, shares some really interesting insights around this and why she has styled her business how she has.
Do you want to use Instagram Stories more but you're not really sure where to start? Or you're proficient but stay within 'normal' and don't stray beyond? Well this is the podcast for you!
In this podcast, I give a step by step guide about how to use Instagram Stories, extra info on how you can use stickers (and why you'd want to for engagement!) and plenty more besides!
As I said on the podcast, I have put together a guide about five ways to use Instagram Stories that you can download here. They're a great place to start. And you know I mentioned adding hashtags to Stories? I have a blog here all about hiding them on your Stories (and why you'd want to!).
Have you heard of Martha Brook London? Martha Brook is one of my absolute favourite stationery brands, and the lady behind the brand, Martha Keith, is a real inspiration. And I was lucky enough to get her on the Small & Supercharged Podcast.
In this podcast, Martha talks about how it all started, the legendary Stationery Advent Calendar, collaborations with GHD for Breast Cancer, working with Ruby from the Great British Bake Off, designing bespoke products for customers, and Friends of Joules... and how to bag your own amazing press - a real cause close to my heart.
Along the way, Martha talks about the highs and lows of building Martha Brook London, talks about some pieces her and her team have created bespoke for customers, celebrating wins, awards, the highs of running a business like Martha Brook, and so much more too.
Martha is, as always, honest, open and hilarious, and I hope you love this episode as much as I do.
To see the shownotes and the link to the video discussed, come on over to my website here.
Have you ever been asked to work with a brand and you're flattered... but something tells you it might not be a great idea? Don't ignore that niggle - actually, there are lots of reasons why, as an influencer, you really should say no to a brand. And actually, if you're a brand and you're asked to collaborate with another, there are some solid reasons why the answer might be a no too! In this podcast, I talk through six reasons to say no to a brand... whoever you are!
As the influencer market is a growing one at the moment, especially in the equestrian and country space, I thought this would be a good one to do. From conflicts of interest to products you'd never buy, misleading followers to more besides, here are six reasons why you should say. Enjoy!
There are a few swear words in this one... so not one to listen to with the kids!
I am delighted to share this week's podcast with equestrian celeb Victoria Brant - aka Diary of a Wimpy Eventer. It'll have you in stitches very early on and (in my opinion!) delivers throughout.
Victoria started her Facebook page 'Diary of a Wimpy Eventer' just three years ago and, since that time, has grown to 30k+ followers on Facebook, 13k+on Instagram, and a huge number of website visits each month. Since she started sharing her journey online, Vic (as well as Pat!) have become celebs in the equestrian space. In addition to having three self published books, clothing ranges, and numerous brand connections, Vic has now started running her own events and so much more.
In this episode, Vic honestly shares the highs, the lows, the opportunities, the issues and so much more about her journey...it's a really interesting episode that I hope you love it as much as I do.
The final countdown to Christmas is on, and if you're a brand, blogger or influencer, you need to be making plans for Christmas!
For shops and brands, Christmas is a big deal, and that's why working out your content when you have a little breathing space before it all starts properly is a really good idea. The same applies for influencers. When Christmas gets closer and things like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other events come up, time seems to evaporate and when this is the case often what comes out in our content is not our best work.
As we approach Christmas, we'll no doubt see a surge in competitions, gift guides and so much more... and there's nothing wrong with these. But if you can spend a little time planning what you're going to do now, you can create different, interesting and engaging content that's going to stand out for all the right reasons, help you achieve what you want... and will reduce the pressure on you as every other area of your life and work ramps up to celebrate Santa!
I'd love to know what your festive plans are - or just tag me on Insta @rheafreemanpr when they're out into the world.
And don't forget if you enjoyed the episode to screenshot, share and tag me in your Instagram Stories- let's spread the Small & Supercharged vibes!
Is work/life balance a myth? Or you bored of trying to find the perfect moment of balance and falling short? Worry not - this is the podcast for you.
In the second episode recorded in front of an audience, I chat to Victoria Bodey (founder of Equiboodle), Sophie Callahan (Sophie Callahan Photography), Emma Warren (Hiho Silver) and Melanie Clarihew (Mackenzie & George) about work/life balance, planning, strategies to say sane, ambassadors, highs, career journeys and SO much more!
This episode was recorded in front of an audience at Equiboodle in Cirencester - because of this you might notice a slight difference in the audio. We also have a great section at the end where members of the audience ask questions... it's a fab episode!
Find the show notes and information about all the amazing ladies on the panel here in the show notes.
Have you ever had a spark of an idea that scared you a bit... but then kind of got a mind of its own? Yeah- that's exactly what happened with the Small & Supercharged Podcast Live!
I had an idea to do a live recording of the Small & Supercharged Podcast a while ago - inspired by the fact that the podcast is now over a year old, I've had incredible feedback, and I'd heard a live podcast recorded by the powerhouse Holly Tucker, founder of Not On The High Street and Holly & Co. And I liked the idea. I didn't want to do the same thing, but the thought of a live recording interested me a lot.
I mentioned this idea to Victoria Bodey, founder of Equiboodle... and she offered her stunning shop as the venue. And as they say the rest is history.
In this episode of the podcast, I talk through the idea, the development, the fears, the worries, the result and everything else too. I hope it inspires you to push yourself a little bit... if you need a push, this is it.
This is the first EVER Small & Supercharged Podcast Live, meaning that this episode was recorded in front of an audience.
Victoria Bodey is the founder of Equiboodle, the most beautiful tack shop, based in Cirencester. From 'accidentally' starting a business when she decided to sell her own competition kit, Victoria has grown an incredible business online and in real life, from her Cirencester base.
Victoria is selective about the brands and the pieces from those brands that she carries. She mentions one of the most recent brands to join Equiboodle and talks about her experience of being accepted to stock Holland Cooper Equestrian, and meeting Jade Holland Cooper in order to become a stockist.
In addition to selling a handpicked collection of equestrian brands, Victoria has also developed her own range of clothing, which continues to grow. In fact, the very first piece, the Vixen Cowl Neck, sold out three times. Now, in addition to the Vixen, Victoria also has a t-shirt and a vest.
We round up this live episode with some questions from the audience and lots of laughs too!
Whether you're a brand who gets approached more than you'd like or a person who wants to work with a brand, this one is for you. And rather than sharing five things you SHOULD do, I'm sharing five genuine things that I know brands have to deal with that will give you a big old cross next to your name if you do.
And for brands - you're not alone - none of these five points are unique to you - and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I hope that by sharing this you feel a lot more reassured.
So, here are five ways not to approach a brand, from the overuse of specific punctuation(!) to getting the name wrong, being oh so demanding and other things besides.
And potential ambassadors/collaborations and influencers... don't do these, it'll serve you well!
Pop on over to see the show notes here for more details and links.
Mindset is so, so important in any aspect of our life. And more than that, the way you feel about yourself in one area can transfer into other areas too. And this episode really looks at this under a microscope with a lady who's developed and runs an amazing membership site focussing in on mindset and confidence- Jane Pike, from Confident Rider.
In this episode, Jane talks about how what we think can impact what we do, how to help improve our own mindset, the importance of having a big goal, some different ways to look at situations to help us reframe our triggers and issues, retraining our feelings connected to situations that are beyond our comfort zones, and how to 'deal' with lack... it's a great episode!
If you know me at all, you'll know how passionate I am about you having your own website- I really believe that it's an essential for anyone who wants to build an online brand or business.
But when you've built your website and added your content... how do you get people to it? To see everything you have created? Well that's what today's podcast is all about. In it, I share five ways to promote your website that are not only effective, they're free too! Dive on in, enjoy, and start promoting your website with these tips!
Victoria started the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club to help encourage and support women in what was at the time a male dominated sport. Creating an amazing community in addition to helping ladies learn to shoot was at the centre of Victoria's mission, but as her business grew, her time to do anything else shrank. Something she really needed more of as her father was very ill during this period. This combination ultimately led to her burning out.
Fast forward to today where Victoria has changed her mindset, reorganised her business, developed strategies and created balance in her life which has moved her away from burnout to being a best selling author of her first book Make It Happen. In this episode, Victoria shares everything with us.
Before you listen to this - please be aware that I do not think I have this work/life/mum balance thing sorted.
I'm doing this podcast because it was requested over and over again. I don't feel I have this nailed. But I hope that in sharing this and how I 'do it all' you might feel inspired, take a little comfort from the fact that we're all winging it, or get a few ideas on how to make your work/life/mum life balance a little easier.
I do have some things right (I think), the start of something things I can improve on (delegation!) and there are lots of tips I've shared here. I hope that you'll find some tips, ideas and hacks that might help your business to help you power on, achieve more... and bring you a little more peace of mind too. As that's really important.
In this episode I talk about how as a self employed person my life and work do meld together and the line between the two is blurred, and how little life hacks (like meal planning) can and do and have a positive impact on my business. I go into detail about lots of things, from why I love my cleaning lady (and why I think it's so good for my business) to the joys to the slow cooker... and working your backside off too! Enjoy x
Do you suffer with anxiety? Confidence issues? Maybe imposter syndrome? Well strap yourself in because on this podcast I chat to Chloe Brotheridge, author of The Anxiety Solution and Brave New Girl all about it.
We talk about being anxious vs anxiety (and how to tell the difference), steps to master your anxiety, anxiety on social media and so much more before we pop over to confidence. Because they're linked for most people. And in the podcast Chloe talks about confidence, imposter syndrome and how we can help ourselves. It's SUCH a good one.
If you're thinking of starting a new social media account, whether it's on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, you name it - it can be scary. Because when you start it you're going to have a big fat zero under your name. You'll start with zero fans and zero followers. And that's absolutely fine.
Actually, it's more than fine - it's where everyone starts and is actually a very exciting place to be.
In this podcast, I'll tell you how to push beyond zero pretty quickly, but also why you only need to worry about one person at a time. You ready?
Teddy The Shetland is an amazing little horse. Not just because he's incredibly cute, but because he's a superstar equine influencer with a reach well beyond the equestrian world.
In this episode I speak to Teddy's owner, event rider Alice Goring, about everything Teddy. From how he got started on Instagram to the speed of growth, the opportunities that have come his way that have been mind blowing, and all the charity work he does too - which left me a little choked up too. You might know how involved Teddy is with the Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, but you might not know about the work he does with other charities too.
From Dior to Hovis, Amazon to Good Morning Britain with Valegro, Teddy and Alice have done some incredible things.
We also get a look at what the future holds for Alice and Teddy... and there's even mention of a Teddymobile. This is genuinely an amazing episode.
Are you a rider? Do you want to promote yourself better on social media? Or are you not really sure if you even need it? This podcast is for you!
In it I talk about why you might not need social media if you're a rider, when you absolutely do need social media, and why and when it has value and the possible opportunities this can open.
I talk about how to get started on your social media quest, how to make big wins, the value of behind the scenes and more.
I also talk about it from a brand's point of view, and how brands can look at what riders are doing on their social media to help them find better people to work with... it's a good one!
Are you ever so slightly confused by websites? Whether you're fairly proficient or not, this is a must listen to podcast if you have or want to have any internet 'real estate'.
Ray from Worcester Web Studio is an absolute professional and talks us through hosting to website design, SEO to SSL certificates, moving websites to changing platforms... and even how to get quotes for website development work you want to do...and everything else along the way.
As you'll hear, not only did I just chat to Ray about all of the above but I also asked him YOUR questions, by which I mean the questions that you sent into me to ask him... so it's part podcast, part workshop! Enjoy!
There's no doubt that competitions can be a great way to grow your following, reach and even engagement on social media... but do you know how to run them properly and for the best chance of success? In this podcast I take about the guidelines you NEED to be aware of as well as some tips for when it comes to how to make the competition a real success.
Carrie Green is founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association and has built the most incredible business and community around her goal of providing female entrepreneurs with a place to go for help, support and education.
From starting at nothing, right up to running the very successful Members Club at the Female Entrepreneur Association, becoming a published author, and SO much more. Carrie takes us through her journey including the highs and lows on the way.
The podcast is packed with incredible insight into running and growing a business, hitting rock bottom and coming back. Carrie also shares so great tips that really helped her to condition herself for success.
Do you remember that day in March when Instagram and Facebook crashed? When we all kept refreshing our feeds, checking the Wifi, shaking the phone... then going to Twitter to see if it was just us with the issue? I do!
The Facebook and Instagram crash wasn't exactly a great thing at the time but we can take SO many lessons from it, as I discuss in this week's podcast.
Social media is the most amazing tool, but building your empire on borrowed land that might be taken away or changed without your knowledge is not a strong strategy. Here are some ways to overcome the issue...
Have you heard of The Game Fair? This incredible event brings together so many elements of the countryside and is due to take place at Hatfield House at the end of July. In this podcast, I chat to Gemma Payne, Head of Marketing at The Game Fair, about the event. From how she got involved to start with and how she got the position she's at now, to new initiatives that you'll see this year, how you even start to organise an event like The Game Fair... and everything else in between!
We talk about the shopping village, the attractions, the different zones, working dogs... we talk about it all!
What does social media success look like to you? Is it having a big ginormous number under your name... or is it something else? In this episode I talk all about what 'success' really means, what this might look like to you, how you can measure one type of success if you want to... and so much else.
But I don't just talk about the stuff you can measure, log and calculate like followings and engagement rates. Oh no. I also talk about the stuff you can't see- the connections, friendships and SO much more that social media can provide, and how these successes may be more valuable that the biggest following there is.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have sponsorship requests hitting your DM regularly, free products thrust in your direction and a following of well over 100k on just one of your Instagram accounts? I spoke to Gracie Tyte, the lady behind @pony_nuts, @ponynuts_extras and @gracietyte on Instagram to talk about the highs of being an equestrian influencer as well as the opportunities, the lows, dealing with brands, what the future holds and all of her tips for aspiring equestrian influencers and brands too.
If you're and equestrian and equine brand, or someone who wants to be the go-to for leading equestrian brands to work with, this is the podcast to listen to. It's packed with juicy tips and information.
It sounds an odd title, doesn't it? But learning how we can annoy our social media followers is a massive step in keeping them happy and encouraging genuine growth and engagement on our accounts.
In this episode I give eight ways to annoy your social media followers, from the oh-so-obvious (like poor quality images and captions) to perhaps less obvious ways like being inconsistent. And, of course, through learning how to annoy our social media followers, we also explore how to keep them happier and more engaged. It's a good one...
Denise Duffield-Thomas is well known for her money mindset work, her writing (she's the author of three books including her most recent, Chillpreneur), and her openness around making life and business so much easier and more 'chill'. In this podcast, we talk about so much including money blocks and charging your worth, boundaries, batching, and leading a more Chillpreneur lifestyle (that still allows you to get stuff done, grow and develop). We also talk about how to action these changes and how just tiny tweaks each day can add up to a huge difference, helping you to have the business and life you really want.
Have you heard that Instagram is currently testing hiding likes on posts? As usual, this has sent many people into a bit of a flap, but I'm here to share my views on it based on what I've read about it all, how it could be really positive for users of Instagram, how it could well improve the quality of what we see on the platforms... and also how it could relieve some of the anxiety connected to posting on Instagram.
Let's talk about hiding likes on Instagram, shall we?
Do you have goals for your business or your life? Olivia Towers - dressage rider, coach, entrepreneur and a whole lot more does. In this episode, Olivia shares her big dreams with big caveats, how she could have gone down a very different path, some questions she asks herself in her business, how she works with sponsors... and so much more.
Olivia was a guest on the podcast in episode 33 too - this is the second part of that podcast.
Making the decision to get a brand ambassador or sponsored rider on board for your brand can be a really big deal. And there's always the chance that you'll get it wrong. But there are lots of things you can do to assess a potential sponsored rider or brand ambassador before they even know you're considering them. And in this podcast, I'm sharing a number of things you can look at to give you the best chance of finding the right person or people for your brand.
And if you're someone who wants to be a brand ambassador, there are LOTS of tips that you can apply to what you're doing if you want to stand out from the crowd.
After qualifying eight horses for the Regionals, Olivia Towers was sure at least one of her horses would make it to the dressage Nationals. But during the warm up of one competition, Olivia had what she describes as a meltdown, and a real turning point in her life.
A complete mindset overhaul was needed, and so Olivia set to work learning all she could to improve every area of her life. This lead to a growing social media following, improvements in her riding, huge changes in her general outlook and mindset, and so much more.
This is part one of a two parter... come back in two weeks time for part 2!
How do you promote your stand when you go to an event? Do you hope people will find you by accident or are you telling everyone in all the ways you can think of? In this episode of the podcast, I talk about how to promote your stand at an event to get that all important traffic to generate sales. I also talk about how to promote your stand before and during the event, and how you can get brand ambassadors and sponsored riders to help you too.
Did you know what you wanted to do when you left school, or did you transition into your career as time has moved on? In this week's episode I catch up with the founder and editor of equine career magazine, Equine Transition, and talk all about careers in the equestrian industry.
We talk about that pivotal moment that made Sarah start a magazine through to advice and top tips connected to moving into the industry at different times and in different ways. Whether you're new to the equine industry, you want to side step within it or you're looking at career options right now, you'll love this episode.
Have you heard about Canva? It is one of my favourite websites, simply because it allows me to create the social media graphics I want on my grid or feed easily, quickly, and for free!
In this episode of the podcast, I talk about how I use Canva, some ideas for posts and templates, how to download your work... and how Canva works so well with graphic designers too.
If you have a look at the show notes for this episode on my website, or even the freebies section of my website, there's a free download called 'Five steps to great social media graphics'
Have you ever gone to buy something and been disappointed with the selection available? That's exactly what happened to Becci Harrold from Super X Country some nine years ago and led her to creating a whole brand! Originally focussing on bespoke cross country colours, Super X Country has now grown to include a range of rider wear and horse wear... and there's even more in store for the future!
Becci talks about the highs and lows of running Super X Country and gives some amazing advice for people thinking of starting a business. It's a really good listen!
Testimonials can be HUGELY valuable to your business or blog... but how do you feel about asking for them? And what do you even do with these amazing words when you have them? In this week's episode I talk to you about how to get amazing testimonials, how to ask for them (you can even borrow my exact words!), what to do with them when you get them, asking permission, and so much more.
I also talk about why testimonials mean so much... and why they can reach your potential customers in different ways. This episode could well change your view on testimonials... and that really could be big for your business.
Ever wondered how to get into a seriously competitive part of the equine industry? Or even bag your dream job? Well this is the podcast for you. In this episode I talk to Donna Case, The Horse Feed Guru, about how she became an independent equine nutritionist, her journey to where she is today and so much more.
In this podcast, Donna also talks about her business now - what she loves and what she's not so keen on, and also provides tips and advice for people looking to get into the industry or land their dream job in the future.
Do you understand the term 'native' when it comes to social media? After this episode you will, and you'll also understand the value of posting native content on your social media. Not only can posting natively increase your engagement, it can increase your reach too, as discussed.
But this podcast also talks about when NOT to post natively, and how to create native elements to drive traffic to content outside the platform. Enjoy!
Do you want to change your business to make it more in line with your passions and beliefs? Maybe you want to start a new business that reflects your values? Or maybe you want to see how Zoe Kiff has build her brand, Honest Riders, with her ethical beliefs at its core.
Not only is Zoe passionate about her business, but each decision made has a business point behind it - how to make packaging easier on the environment while still delivering a luxury service, creating exceptional products with green credentials and so on. It's a really good listen!
Social media can be a huge drain on time, so if you're spending time doing anything on social media, you need to make sure you're using your time well. In this case, to grow your equestrian business.
In this podcast, I talk all about how to use social media to grow your equestrian business, how you need to USE the platforms, consider your images, get yourself out there, get your work to do the talking, create value in your content, the value of video, and lots more.
Batch working can be a great way to make the most of your time... and with the amount of content we all need to produce nowadays, this is certainly key! So for this episode, we catch up with Rachel Bragg (aka Sweet Images Photography), Queen of the Flatlay, who talks through batch working when it comes to photography, and producing images for social media.
In this episode, Rachel also shares her top tips for batch working, how to create a lot of content from each 'scene' or flatlay you set up, and how to make sure you really make the most of the time you have blocked out to create your content.
Do you add Stickers and GIFs to your Instagram Story? They can both add a lot to an Instagram Story, and can even help improve your engagement and interaction too. You might even be able to use the responses for content creation, buying, and market research!
In this episode I talk about six 'functions' you can add to your Instagram Story, including polls, products, questions, GIFs, links and countdown.
Starting a blog can feel big and scary - whether it's for pleasure or business. But if you do, it can deliver huge amounts of fun, new opportunities and lots more, and Charlotte Miller from The Forelock Journal explains.
In addition to talking about the how and the why, Charlotte also talks about how she won an award for her blog (Haynet Equestrian Blogger of The Year) and what that meant to her, tips to others who want to start blogging, and more.
Facebook groups can be so, so good, but it's not all unicorns and rainbows... sadly! I set up my first Facebook group, the Small & Supercharged group, in October 2017 and I've learnt a lot since that time. In this episode, I talk about what rocks and sucks about Facebook groups... you might be surprised about a few.
The point of this podcast is to give you a little information about what goes into running a Facebook group. Whether you're hoping to start your own, or you just want to give the admins of a group you're in an easier time (they'll thank you for it!)
Sponsored riders and brand ambassadors are sources of debate in the industry, and for very good reason. Some riders, in whatever role, add huge value to a brand, and some don't. And that's what started Pippa Hawksfield and Jess Crofts' journey.
In this podcast, we talk to the ladies from Stride Management about what rider management really is, what it's not, how riders can find the right brands to work with, and how brands can find riders to help them achieve their goals.
There's no denying that I have a bit of an addiction to learning. Which is very useful in my line of work. But I do appreciate that not everyone has a huge budget to spend on this. The good news is that you don't have to spend a fortune. Actually, you don't have to spend any money at all.
In this episode, I chat through some great ways to learn on a budget, some great ways to learn for free, as well as some things to be aware on when you're looking at who to learn from. I also move onto lower cost ways to learn, including membership groups, online courses and even workshops and events.
I also dip into the difference between free and paid for content.
Branding. I love it. And I know I'm not the only one! In today's podcast we talk to Kirsty Fleetwood from new brand Fleetwood & Foxgrove about branding. Having recently branded her new scarf business, and having had a pretty extensive history in branding and marketing, Kirsty has some real nuggets to share.
This is a big one. Brand ambassadors.
I get asked about brand ambassadors a lot, so I thought this would be a great way to share my ideas on this subject. From two sides. Firstly, if you're a brand, how to pick an ambassador. And if you're an influencer and potential brand ambassador, how to know which brands to say yes to.
I've decided to combine the two sides of this discussion because I think that understanding and thinking about both angles is really important. At the end of the day, you pick ambassadors to help your business, and you work with brands because you like them and want to help them. So let's get that knowledge shared, shall we?
If you've tuned in before, you might well have 'met' Emma Warren. If not, don't worry - you're about to! Emma is MD of Hiho Silver, a brand I have the pleasure of working with. In September, Hiho ran its first 'instameet' style event, Style Skills & Silver, and in this podcast we chat about it.
Style, Skills & Silver was the first event of its kind, so we talk about that too - why it's important not to be afraid of trying new things in your business. We also talk about the power of collaboration and how working together is so, so important.
Should you do your own PR? I believe that you should. Don't shoot me or send any hate mail, I'm not turning on PR people here, I'm actually trying to help!
See, I believe that for many businesses, particularly niche ones, it is possible to do your own PR and you should try. Why? Because doing this not only helps you develop your own skills and build your own contacts, it'll also help you develop a much greater understanding of PR for if/when you decide to outsource. Have a listen to the full episode for more information...
Laura Hodgkins is better known as Girl About The Farm and, particularly on Instagram, has built up a sizeable tribe of fans and followers. But she's only been farming two years. And before that was a real city girl!
In this podcast, Laura chats about making the change from city life to country life, the different challenges faced, blogging her journey, winning silver at The British Farming Awards and lots more. It's a good one!
Content. Do you hear that word a lot?! I feel like I say it a lot. And in this episode I say it a LOT, so apologies in advance!
The thing is, content is vital for your business. But you can make it work for you. Blogging might be the most obvious form of content, but there's plenty more to choose from!
In this episode I talk about content, the value it can bring, the different types, and a few crafty hacks to help you get the most out of anything you create.
In this episode I talk to equine photographer Sophie Callahan about her pregnancy. Well, not the pregnancy as such, but how a very challenging pregnancy has already changed her business, how she's planning to evolve in her business moving forward, coping with a small child and working, and lots more too. It's a good one...
In this week's episode I share seven apps I have on my iPhone that I think help to make running a business easier. They're a mixture of free and paid for apps, and some are linked to the desktop versions of software I love too.
I hope you'll find this podcast useful, I use most of these apps most days, that's how much I love them!
In this week's episode I speak to Ruth Chappell from Dressage Anywhere. In this episode, not only do we talk about Dressage Anywhere, the issues with running an online only business, creating touch points, social media, and more, we also talk about dealing with competition, cyber security and some of the things Ruth loves about Dressage Anywhere.
Today we're talking all about Instagram Stories - I LOVE Instagram Stories. Not only are we talking about them in today's show, but I'm giving you five ways that you can use Instagram Stories for your brand or business. And I honestly think that out of the five ways mentioned, you can apply a good number to your Instagram account, whatever the account. I know... quite a claim!
I've also got a freebie connected to this podcast - so it's basically a download covering the points discussed in today's podcast that you can use as a handy reference tool. See the Freebies section on my website here.
Today I get to introduce you properly to Emma Warren. Emma is a client, a great friend, the Managing Director of Hiho Silver, the creator of luxury glamping location Dimpsey, mum, wife... and SO much more.
In this podcast, Emma talks about the route her career has taken (and it's not conventional on any level!), being multipassionate (and how this isn't a new thing), juggling, the speed of change and LOTS more.
Today on the Small & Supercharged Podcast we're talking about collaborations... if you follow me on any platforms you'll know I'm a HUGE fan!
My most recent TEDx talk was all about collaborations, and this feels like a bit of an extension of that with more examples, more detail, and a bit more guidance. I promise you that collaborations can add massive value to you business for very little cost. You just need to keep a few things in mind... have a listen to find out more.
Today on the Small & Supercharged Podcast I talk to Lucy Robinson from Fairfax & Favor - the lady who's heading this year's Fairfax & Favor Breast Cancer Care campaign.
This is the third year the company has run this campaign and, each year, has raised a sizeable amount of money for this amazing charity. This year, Lucy's been given the task or raising as much as possible for Breast Cancer Care
In this podcast we talk about the idea behind the campaign, how it's being promoted this year, the design of the product itself and a whole lot more.
I'm a HUGE fan of Fairfax & Favor and have a pair of these amazing tassels. To find out more, go to www.fairfaxandfavor.com
Today on the Small & Supercharged Podcast we're talking about augmented reality... in the form of Instagram Face Filters!
When Kylie Jenner's Face Filter popped into my life, it signalled a very clear change in the Instagram platform for me. Not only did I look a LOT more polished, but this particular filter gave me a glimpse as to how we can bridge the gap between online and in store shopping... and how we can do it really really well! Enjoy!
Today on the Small & Supercharged Podcast I chat to Sophie Callahan all about commercial photography... and it's a really good one.
In this episode we talk about why we all need images, whatever business we're in, how to find the right photographer for you and what questions to ask as well as different types of photography for business.
Sophie recently did a photoshoot for me and came to my house and took images of me and the horses as well as more commercial shots for my website. If you're thinking of having photographs for your brand but don't know where to start, or you're not sure what kind of images you could use in you business, this is the podcast for you!
To find out more about Sophie Callahan, have a look at her website here - https://www.sophiecallahanphotography.com/
In this episode I talk about social media changes and why we shouldn't fear them! Yes, whenever there is a change in social media algorithms, there are SO many scaremongering blogs and vlogs released - I bet you've seen them too? In this podcast, I'm going to talk about why you shouldn't fear these changes and what they should mean to you instead.
Running a small business can be really lonely - you're not sure what to do, where to go for advice and who to ask for help and support. The Small & Supercharged podcast and community can help with all that! From PR and marketing tips and advice through to social media, photography, branding, small business hacks, collaboration successes, the latest developments, how they did it and actionable steps that you can take to succeed, you'll find it all here.