GlasGo Podcast: Recent Episodes
GlasGo Podcast
Celebrating some of the success stories Glasgow has as I talk to people from all walks of life who are in business for themselves or have found a career/job that they truly love
It was a pleasure to have Sgt John Fleming in recently to chat about his career in the Armed Forces. John, who has served since he was 17, chats through life as a soldier and his current role as a physical training instructor, helping soldiers develop their physical and mental strength.
In this episode, we're diving into a story that may sound like something out of a movie, between the ages of 17 and 21, Elliot Castro managed to commit fraudulent activity amounting to a estimated £2 million.
This isn’t a tale of success or something to admire. It's a stark reminder of how easily bad choices can lead to devastating consequences. We'll explore the allure, the mistakes, and most importantly, the lessons learned—because no amount of money is worth the cost of lost trust, lost freedom, and a damaged future.
I first interviewed Sophie around 4 years ago slap bang in the middle of COVID and it was good to finally meet in person and catch up on life, we chatted through Sophie's work in modelling, PR, charity work and the decision to re-enter the world of beauty pageantry several years after Miss Scotland. A real insight into going after the things you want to do in your career and some bits of advice that may help others.
Chance's are if you listen to the radio on the way to work in Glasgow you've listened to Des & Jennifer on Heart FM, we chat through Des's early years growing up in the Gorbals and school life, a varied career in radio, TV, comedy and notable the opening and closing of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, very interesting and honest chat and some great career experiences.
Tam is a household name in Scotland thanks to a successful career as a journalist, radio presenter, comedian and also for his TV work and restaurant reviews.We chat through the lot from his early days at school to the amazing success of his weekly radio show 'Off The Ball', we also chat through how he has found success in each area of his career, and of course a few laughs in there as well 😊
A business is difficult enough to run with all the trials and tribulations that come with it, and then throw in doing that with the ones you love the most.I sit down with my main sponsor MegaTech Projects to get the views on the ins and outs of a family business from 3 generations providing insight into a challenging industry
A pleasure to have former boxing promoter Tommy Gilmour in for a chat recently.
The Gilmour family have been involved in Scottish boxing for decades and it was great to sit down with Tommy and chat through his career promoting over 70 world title fights including the very memorable Pat Clinton fight, meeting Muhammed Ali, running the famous St Andrews Sporting Club, to his current career in darts management with players including Gary Anderson
Hugh Dallas is without a doubt one of the best referees that Scotland has produce, referenced by the numerous European matches and World Cup's that he has been a part of, we chat about Hugh's career on the pitch and some of his memorable moments both good and bad, this one is a must for any fans of football
Vivienne Lynch, born and raised in Glasgow, moved to the Scottish Borders to study Fashion at Heriot-Watt University and fell in love with lingerie very soon after. Vivienne started Miss Vivienne with a focus on good quality, empowering, inclusive lingerie for women that is also ethically and sustainably made here in the UK.
We chat through the challenges of building your brand, the things that nothing prepares you for when running your own business and the amazing community that has been built at Miss Vivienne ❤️
Amy Irons is a Scottish TV and radio presenter who has hosted a wide range of shows in her career, we chat through her early days of university and working at STV to taking a gamble leaving a full-time gig to the world of freelancing. An absolute pleasure having Amy on and a great insight into a demanding industry
It was great to start the year by sitting down with Darren and discussing his career in stand-up comedy.
From his early love of comedy to a comedy club debut that didn't go to plan to currently selling out his shows regularly, Darren is a great example of coming back from adversity in a hugely successful manner, delighted that he has found the success he deserves 😊
I finish 2023 by sitting down with St Mirren COO Keith Lasley for a chat about his career and current role.
We look back at Keith's unusual path into professional football, his many years spent at Motherwell a club he still holds dear, playing in England and then back up the road both playing and in management, we also look at Keith's transition into a boardroom position as COO and what the role looks like in the current climate of Scottish Football.
If you're a football fan in Scotland, chances are you have listened to the SSB phone in, I sit down with the current host Gordon Duncan to chat about his career and life in the hot seat fielding the weekly rants and banter of Scottish football fans 😂
If you've been to Edinburgh at some point chances are you've tried a Civerinos pizza and if not, give it a bash honestly 👌
I chatted with owner Michele about gambling it all on an idea and dealing with major changes in the economy over the last few years to ensure survival, opening in Glasgow and the challenges that have come with it and his hopes for a new generation of people coming into the industry.
This is a very insightful interview for anyone working either with children or in the teaching industry I'm sure you will relate to this one.
Holly is a primary school teacher currently working in a residential school working with kids from failed foster placements. We chat about the challenges and rewards that come from such a difficult role, the things that university doesn't prepare you for in the world of teaching and various other topics
Pretty sure if you're active on Twitter or YouTube you will have seen Callum's videos from all over the globe
We chat through some of the countries Callum has visited including Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, and Columbia to name a few, from spending time with the Taliban to going into the favelas in Brazil this lad's travels are off the scale 🌍
Listen in as I sit down with co-owner of Black Rooster Mick Kennedy, we chat through the rise of Black Rooster from an idea to a hugely successful franchise, We also have some football chat as we look back at Mick's time with Darvel and 'that' win over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup, life at East Kilbride and a new coaching partnership with Si Ferry
For those of you who don't know, Des has had a massively interesting career journey spanning a football career combined with running a successful business, football manager, columnist and FIFA-qualified football agent
Also the small matter of being part of an amazing team raising £2 million pounds for charity over the last 20 years, this is a brilliant conversation about business, sport and life in general with some laughs and amazing advice
Coming soon
Watch the 2nd part of my live show with Graeme Armstrong as he takes questions from our audience on a variety of subjects, some amazing questions from a brilliant audience and some great answers 😊
I got to sit down with newly crowned Miss Great Britain Glasgow Aimee McKay recently to talk all things about Miss Great Britain and Aimee’s journey to the final. Amazing insight into what goes on behind the scenes in these pageants and was also good to hear Aimee be so open about her own insecurities and how they have spurred her on to win the crown 👑
Do you think you have the stomach to be able to work in bio-hazard cleaning?, I sit down with Marie who owns MD Trauma to talk all things clean up from dealing with crime scenes and undiscovered deaths to managing more delicate situations with hoarders and several other situations. A real eye-opener into a harsh industry
Join me for my first-ever live episode as I sit down to a sold-out show at Webster's Theatre with one of Scotland's best writers Graeme Armstrong.
We talk about the massive success of "The Young Team" and the opportunities that have come to get involved with schools and prisons to encourage and inspire others, how the second book is coming along and some chat on life in general
Scott comes from generations of funeral directors going back 200 years in his family, it was massively interesting listening to his career journey and a great insight into an industry that most of us probably avoid talking about
We discuss Scott's start in the industry and the journey to gain trust and establish himself in a challenging environment, how he feels about death and why he loves his job
A really insightful conversation about the boxing industry with 2 lads who have been involved in the sport since they were kids
From starting out in the sport as a kid with different dreams to the ups and downs that have come with a career in the sport
Amazing honesty from both guys, really enjoyed this one 🥊
It's an industry that divides massive opinions with very passionate opinions on whether it's a valid career, I chat with an OF creator on how they got involved in the industry and what their views are on the general perception towards people working in the adult industry.
⚠️ Trigger Warning⚠️ This episode discusses baby loss and grief
Baby Loss Retreat was set up to help families trying to cope with the death of their baby. It was founded in February 2018 by Julie and Bryan Morrison who lost their daughter Erin. Erin was stillborn in 2003 at 37 weeks. Julie & Bryan started this retreat free of charge to bereaved parents throughout Scotland, providing a quiet environment to help couples reflect on their journey.
Julie and Bryan were amazing guests and I'm sure their journey will resonate with many people who have been in a similar position ❤️
Was a pleasure to have Gary Ferguson on the pod last week to discuss the Combat Journal he has created
Gary who served in the Navy as a mine clearance diver came up with the journal as a support to help others after spending years feeling disconnected from his own emotions in a massively challenging industry,
A really honest chat about your mental health and career and ensuring you take care of yourself
Nicholas entered the X-Factor at the age of 16 in 2013 and whilst still at school, beating off thousands of other hopefuls and eventually finished runner-up in the competition.We chat about the different pressures and experiences that the show threw at Nicholas, working with some amazing artists and mentors, having to cope with the pressure of expectation at such a young age, and an amazing journey through one of the world's biggest music competitions
John is a dog training and behaviour specialist who spent several years in the military and private security sector working with dogs specifically trained to carry out a variety of tasks on the frontline A very interesting career journey from military life to private work and then forming The K9 Way, this one is a must for anyone who has a love for dogs and if you're looking to make that jump into your own business
Great to get the chance to sit down with Zander recently and have a chat about his life
Zander is currently the only openly gay footballer in Scottish football and it was amazing to hear about his journey from growing up to his last couple of years coming out to both his family and then his teammates
Really honest and open chat with a top lad, we went through highs and lows and I really hope someone takes something from it
Jilly is an influencer who has amassed thousands of followers across her socials, we look at this journey of influencing as a career, also how Jilly came up with her Dula brand and the work that has gone on behind the scenes to launch her own clothing line. A must-watch for anyone with an interest in this industry, more than a few laughs in here as well 😂
Chance's are if you're a sports fan you have seen Emma presenting on your screen at some point as she is one of the countries best presenters, we chatted about Emma's intro to the industry at Clyde 1 and Emma's journey from there to currently presenting on BT Sports and Viaplay, from interviewing managers to golfing with Pep this interview is a fantastic insight into a role most football fans would love to do 😊
Not often I speak to people who sell a successful business to gamble on a new idea to the market and survive to tell the tale, Dougie is the man behind Scalp Studio Scotland which offers scalp micro pigmentation treatment for men who may be suffering from alopecia or other types of hair loss, we chat through why Dougie wanted to try this as a business and the challenges that have come with it 😊
Amazing episode getting the chance to sit down with one of Scotland's household names in the acting world, Jonathan Watson was kind enough to talk to me about his career from his early years and work in both theatre and TV to some of the highs and lows that come from this industry.
Body By Amy is the brainchild of Amy Hill, a personal trainer who went to the next step and opened her own fitness space, we speak about the highs and lows of owning your own business, the impact that COVID has had on things and the ups and downs that came with 2022, Amy is also fluent in BSL as both of her parents are hearing impaired, we discuss the importance of BSL and the impact learning it can have on others.
Barrington is the creative director of the award-winning Glasgow creative agency Too Gallus, he talks us through his career journey from exam struggles at school and uni, the job interview that changed his outlook and the never give up approach he adopted to begin his creative journey, Barrington is smashing it up as the creative director of Too Gallus and when you hear this journey, you'll understand why he's been a success 😊
One of the most famous footballers to come out of Scotland, Frank had a successful career including stints at St Mirren, West Ham and Celtic, we discuss Frank's career from his chance encounter into football, moving to London and how life changed for him, signing for his boyhood club and that courtroom incident, we cover it all with some amazing insight into a professional sporting career.
Box Fresh is the top destination in Glasgow for anyone wanting to get their trainers, shoes, handbags etc brought back to life, Chris returns to the pod to talk through the toughest 2 years he has faced as a business owner, showing real honesty about the decisions he took during COVID and how it's shaped the way he works now. Amazing insight into the highs and lows of running your own business and as usual the big man calls it as he sees it 😊
Alex is an engineer by day and in her spare time setup her Casa Lawson brand with a focus on DIY tutorials, projects and helpful tips and advice for decorating your home without breaking the bank, Alex talks about her journey into engineering and the reason for starting Casa Lawson, this episode is so inspiring for any young girl looking to get into engineering or a career in a male-dominated sector as Alex draws on her own experiences.
Marcus is a local lad who is currently the Head of Social Media & Communications at Ipswich Town FC, we speak about Marcus finding his way in a very popular industry, taking a chance starting out at Hamilton FC with no guarantee of a job and the journey it has taken him on since, perfect watch for anyone looking to take a chance on something they love and have a passion for.
Delighted to get the chance to interview Si Ferry recently, we cover Si's recent move into management with Open Goal Broomhill and the challenges he has faced so far, also touch on Si's playing career and of course his own hugely successful podcast Open Goal.
Jade left university with a degree in law and ready to move into a challenging and tough industry, during COVID she traded that off to move into a very different but just as difficult job in the world of online gaming/streaming. Jade shares her story from taking a massive gamble, family reaction, trying to consistently deliver content for her followers and the difficulty in becoming established in a very male orientated industry.
Most people will know Jane as the amazing 'Isa' from Still Game, there is so much more to Jane's career when you dig a little deeper and we cover it all, from finding her way in the world of acting and performing to moving into a completely different career path in teaching, also some very funny moments in this one as well 😂
David McGurk has always had a creative appetite for making things and managed to combine that with a passion from his childhood to establishing himself in a market that is huge for collectors worldwide, was great to sit down with David and hear how this idea initially came about, to turning it into a reality and managing to combine it with work and a family. From the nerves of making his first figure to being asked to provide the backdrop to an advert in the Super Bowl this is a brilliant example of where an idea can take you if you believe in it.
Great to have John Viola back in the studio, he has worked as a football agent for a vast number of years and he gives a brilliant insight into a job that is highly interesting to all football fans, we discuss many of John's clients, the ups and downs of being an agent and some outstanding stories from his time with players throughout the years
Julie was a guest I had been keen to get on for a while and this episode doesn't disappoint, amazing chat looking at Julie's career journey from wanting to act as a child to some of her more well known parts in Chewin the Fat, Balamory & Scot Squad to name a few, really interesting insight into Julie's career and a must for anyone who harbours dreams of a career in this challenging industry
Was a pleasure to have Reece back on and catching up on the last 2 years since we last spoke, was brilliant to chat through what he's been up to, his big move with TSOS to a new studio with all the stress that comes with it, his other work he has been up to and loads of other random chat 😊
Had the chance recently to sit down and talk to Crofty & Grado from Go Radio's breakfast show, we chatted about the show and how the lads get on away from work, also discuss both of the guys career journeys and some absolute bits of comedy gold in this one 😂
Was good to sit down with Harry and Archie from The Problematix recently to chat through their amazingly quick rise, from joining forces in January they have secure themselves a record deal and have some massive things coming, 2 cracking lads and I think a brilliant episode for anyone looking for a bit of encouragement to go and chase their dreams 😊
Was good to sit down and chat with Myles who has been smashing it with his cookery videos over the past couple of years, we chat about putting yourself out there on social media, his famous Irn Bru Pakora and where that saying of his comes from 😂
Got the chance to sit down with the amazingly talented lads from comedy sketch group Weegie Hink Ae That, was great to chat to them about their journey so far and their experiences on what has been a whirlwind few years for them. Remember the name because they will be going all the way
I got the chance to sit down with Jean Johansson recently, Jean currently hosts 'A Place in the Sun' and has worked on various high profile TV shows throughout her career
In this episode we speak about Jean's career in journalism, broadcasting and presenting, looking at all the highs and lows and the incredible amount of things that go on behind the scenes, alongside that the challenges of leaving the industry for a number of years and trying to get back into the business, we also discuss Jean's recent documentary that she filmed for BBC Scotland along with some listener questions
Graeme is the author of the award winning book 'The Young Team' journeying a young mans life through teenage years and gang culture and everything that comes alongside it, We covered loads of topics in this episode including
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The inspiration behind 'The Young Team'
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Graeme's own journey through his teenage years
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Moving away from alcohol and substance addictions
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Writing his 2nd book 'Raveheart'
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Hopes for the future
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Will there be a follow up or a tv show for 'The Young Team'
And loads of questions from listeners 😊
Delighted to have this man back on the pod as we catch up on what's changed since coming through the last 2 years, cancellations, new job, it's all here, top man and an hour of failing to keep a straight face for me 😂
Episode I had been chasing for a while and I finally managed to sit down with Garry Sweeney recently, we spoke about various points of Garry's acting career including
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Making career choices at school
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College
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Working in films from a young age
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Landing massive parts in Small Faces & The Acid House
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Challenges of the audition process
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Working in between acting jobs
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Still Game
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River City
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Being recognised
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Future Plans
Loved this one Garry is a cracking guy and speaks so highly of the people he has worked with throughout his career, definitely should be seeing more of this guy on the screen
Had the pleasure of speaking to Livingston FC manager David Martindale last week, loads of topics in this one
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Being a young player with Rangers & Motherwell
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Going from football to looking for a job
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Getting involved in crime and paying the price
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Changing his path and going to uni to get a degree
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Volunteering at Livi and the road to the managers job
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How time in prison affected his life
Got the chance to sit down with former footballer Steven Smith recently, we discussed a career spanning Rangers, Norwich, Aberdeen, Preston, Portland Timbers, Rangers & Kilmarnock which threw up loads of discussion points such as
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Coming through youth system at Rangers
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Dealing with injuries from a young age
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Making the 1st team breakthrough
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Standards
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Playing in England and America
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Highs & Lows
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The move from playing to coaching
Amazing episode and Steven was honest and up front about his career as a player looking at things we never really understand from a fans perspective, a must watch for any kids with ambitions of being a footballer
First interview of 2022 and it was a pleasure to see down with Stephen Purdon, aka Bob from River City for a chat about his career, covered some amazing events from Stephen's journey including
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Early harsh lessons in Ratcatcher and Sweet Sixteen
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Going to college
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River City
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Panto with Grado
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Low points
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Advice and fellow actors Stephen has looked up to
Absolute gent and was a pleasure doing this one hope you all enjoy
Was brilliant to sit down with Paul Pettigrew, creator of Gamtalk which looks to educate young people on the dangers of gambling, Paul talks through his own journey to coming up with Gamtalk and draws on his own experiences to help youngsters at various schools and football clubs throughout the UK, we also touch on Sky Sports picking up on the great work Paul is doing and what the future holds for Paul and Gamtalk
In this episode Dom who owns Canotto Pizza in Glasgow tells us about how he came up with the idea for the business and the part Youtube played in the making of Canotto Some brilliant advice in here for anyone who wants to make a massive career change and that age isn't a barrier when doing so.
Join me as I sit down with Al as we look through his career on the decks to date, from starting out as a 6 year old wanting to learn more to getting his first mix listened to, gigging and the opportunities that have came off the back of it, Al has opened for some of the biggest acts in the world and he has some brilliant advice for anyone looking to get involved in this industry.
Welcome back for the 2nd part of this amazing interview and get yourself ready for an absolute rollercoaster of emotions in this one.
We pick up with the band supporting YungBlud and also the opportunity to go stateside with Lewis Capaldi as they chase that record deal that they deserve. Listen to the emotional journey behind 'Happy Place' and the absolute carnage when Stevie and Al's legend of a dad Bertie joins them on tour 😊
Saint PHNX are a band born in Wishaw from brothers Stevie and Alan Jukes, in the first part of my podcast with the lads they talk about their early years in music with Vigo Theives and later on the beginning of Saint Phnx What a story you're in for as we go through the band trying to get a label, getting chased by every major label in the US to a crazy 10 days in America that was eventful to say the least 😂. Getting a record deal and releasing first album DDMN as well as the story behind the video shoot in Iceland for Deadmen 😂
Sat down last week with Scottish BAFTA nominated filmmaker James Price to talk about the local film industry and the journey that he's been on since leaving school at an early age James has achieved a massive amount so far in his life and his humble approach to his work doesn't tell half of his story, glad he came on and shared with me as we went from being a young guy in Springburn to meeting his idol Peter Mullan, being nominated for a Scottish BAFTA to producing a music video for Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos 😂
Weegies is currently taking Amazon Prime by storm just now as it follows the lives of Glaswegian actors Steve and George as they wait for their big break whilst trying to balance everything else in life
I sat down with Stephen who is the sole creator and co-writer of the show to find out more about the journey from having an idea to getting the show on TV, looking back at Stephens own career journey in a tough industry and some of the less glamorous jobs he has found himself in 😂
Some really honest detail on Stephens own mental health battles in the acting industry along with some sound advice for anyone who may find themselves in a similar predicament as they try to build a career for themselves
Love getting people on who have done well for themselves and Stephen was a class guest, some cracking stories, honesty and a cracking guy all made for a brilliant episode
Join me as I speak to Heather who makes her living creating online content on OnlyFans and other adult sites as well as working as a stripper
We look at how Heather who is degree educated got into the industry and her own views on how she earns a living as well as the stereotypes that come along with it, the massive increase in people working on OnlyFans etc and how she became a stripper
Massively interesting chat with Heather in an area that people seem to have a big fascination with and her honesty made for a brilliant episode ☺️
Great episode with retired police officer Jamie Allan
We looked back through Jamie’s career in the police in Glasgow starting off on the beat in Possilpark, working in CID, Scottish Crime Squad, Surveillance teams and the Drug Enforcement squads Brilliant insight into a very interesting career and some amazing insight into the devastating impact drugs had on the city in the 80's, also the massive changes in policing in his own career and much more
Glasglow Girls Club is massive community helping women succeed in business with support and a fantastic community championing women to grow and glow
I sat down with the creator of this amazing community Laura Maginess to get into the detail behind the massive rise of GGC and the work involved, we look at
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Working life
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Idea of GGC
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Changing an idea into a long term business
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Challenges that COVID threw up
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Being your own boss v working for others
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Listener Questions
Can tell within 5 minutes of talking to Laura why GGC is such a massive success and the effort Laura has put in to creating this fantastic place for females to grow with massive levels of support from a fantastic community of like minded people
Had an amazing chat with Kenny and I can honestly say I left this interview in such a good mood, Kenny is such a positive guy who genuinely loves where he is right now in his business life and it was great to look over his last year and also before that, we look at
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Starting a business
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Leaving a job you love
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Lockdown and what changed for him
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Client Relationships
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Fitness Myths
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Pressures of growing a brand
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Listener questions
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Hopes for the future
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Social Media
And also some controversial chat around lunch choices 😂
Ever met someone on a dating website and had a bizarre dating experience? this will be the episode you've been waiting for as I sat down with local author Jane Fulton
Jane has had her fair share of dating mishaps ranging from the bizarre to comedy gold, these all form part of her debut book "30 Reasons to swipe left" where Jane is brutally honest about her own dating experiences in the online world, we chat about loads of things in out interview including
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Where the idea of the book stemmed from
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Taking the idea from concept to a published book
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Challenges in getting a publisher
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Dating world
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Social Media
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Janes other business 😂
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Worst dating experiences
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Creating a decent dating profile
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Red flags for online dating
Had a brilliant interview with Jamie Paterson last week aka Jamie the Joiner, Jamie is self employed and runs his own company but that's the tip of all the things we spoke about including
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School life and moving into work
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Apprenticeships
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Working for someone else
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The change to going it alone
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Creating content for Socials
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Pitfalls that come with social media
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Hiring staff
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COVID
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Advice for anyone looking to get a trade behind them
Loved this interview, Jamie held nothing back and gave a really honest interview on a tough industry and gives some really valuable advice for anyone who is looking to get into this line of work
Latest episode sees me chatting to Graeme Stirling owner of @gs_cattle_and_creels and Head of Food at @dockyardsocial Nothing held back in this interview as Graeme talks about the good and the bad within an industry he has spent almost 20 years working in and we chat through many areas including - Falling into the industry from school - Learning his trade - The intensity that comes with the job - Dark side of the industry and what Graeme would like to see change - Winning chef of the year and running a massively successful restaurant at a young age - Branching out on his own during the pandemic - Dockyard and current role - and much more Was amazing getting the chance to pick this mans brain, with over 20 years in this industry he was brutally honest about a job he loves and didn't flinch at a single question, be interested to hear the feedback on this one
Sat down with Mark Rafferty owner of Mr Blonde that's based in the Merchant City area of Glasgow and is one of Glasgow's popular spots for getting a cracking cut, a cheeky pint and some chat
Really interesting chat with Mark covering
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Leaving school with no idea of what to do next
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Travelling
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The search for a job he liked
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Getting the chance to grow a career in hair
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Mr Blonde
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Dealing with massive highs and crushing lows
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Building a great team
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COVID
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Hopes for the future
Listen to the story behind 2 of the most popular places to eat in Glasgow as I spoke to Chris McInnes from @Lunch Glasgow and Tophskis, this episode covers loads of topics including
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Life in retail before moving into family business
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Growing the advertising and branding of @Lunch
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Coping with demand
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Opening Tophskis
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Creating a strong team of staff
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COVID and impact it had
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Future plans
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Work/Life Balance
Amazing chat with a guy who is smashing it in Glasgow right now, insight is incredible and when you listen you will realise why these 2 places are as successful as they currently are.
Ever had an idea for a business then picked it up again 20 years later?
Todays guest fits that bill to perfection as I talk all things boobs with Jayne Lasley from Fairlie Curved, Jayne who provides on trend and affordable fuller bust clothing as well as styling advice, after spotting a massive gap in the market, due to circumstances through COVID Jayne took the plunge and started out on her own, in what had been a whirlwind first year we talk about
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Where the concept originally came from
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Creating a styling and advice page to starting a business
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Building a brand and gaining customer trust
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Using Social Media as the main advertising platform
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Imposter Syndrome
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Selling the brand worldwide
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Work/Life Balance
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Future Plans
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Advice for anyone looking to start a business
Brilliant chat with Jayne who by her own admission thought the time for starting a business had passed her by, through lockdown she took the chance on it and it's currently going amazingly well and long may that continue
Join me for the podcasts first audio/video interview with legendary football agent John Viola
John is a Glasgow man brought up in the East End who has worked his way into becoming one of the countries most successful football agents and we look at that journey in more detail today including leading the way in training and education for new agents coming into the industry
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The journey of becoming a football agent
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Dealing with the many public perceptions of the industry
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The high level of work that goes on behind the scenes
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Reality of being a football agent in a tough industry
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Making his own way and building a name for himself
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His first big deal and a very big telephone call
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JV Academy and why he started it
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Players missed out on and getting a deal over the line
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And loads more
An amazing insight into the world of a Football Agent and if you are looking to find out more you can access details of JV Academy on all social media platforms
John and his partner Phil host regular free webinars to talk about how people can join them in the industry as football agents with the help of their unique courses and training systems, you can register at the link below
https://footballagentacademy.com/webinarregistration
Sometimes I will go out to listeners and ask for anyone they would like to see on the podcast and todays guest is without a doubt the most requested name I have had to date
Richard Dickson is a young entrepreneur who has had an eventful journey from leaving school and then college to where he is now, in this episode we discuss
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What Richard was like at school and what he wanted to do when he left
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College and work life
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Becoming his own boss
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MMA and the perception of loads of money that comes along with it
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Investments
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Property
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Cryptocurrency
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Dealing with hate online
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Setbacks and learning from them
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Investor Watch Uk
An amazing insight into a young man who has built his business from scratch and continues to thrive for more, some brilliant advice and opinions on this episode and a must for anyone with an interest in these industries
Episode 34 sees me sitting down with Gareth Gonet, owner of B12 Entertainment, Gareth runs this alongside a full time job and I was curious to find out how he combines his own career alongside event promotions and talent management, we discuss - How B12 started and where the idea came from - Getting things moving and launching his own events - Dealing with big changes before first event even started - Becoming disillusioned with trying to balance B12 with work and family life - The throwaway comment that got him back in the game - Future plans for B12 and the scope for making it a full time career Great insight into the stress that running a business alongside a full time career can bring and the reasons that people do it, a must listen for anyone branching out alongside their own job
At some point of your life you've probably had a cracking business idea but either not had the cash to push on with it or didn't fancy the risk of losing your money
Craig Gallagher from Quinnergy took that risk and borrowed £800, 4 years later his company is turning over £1 million a year and we discuss every part of this journey in this episode
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Working life before the idea of starting a business came about
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Taking 'that' loan of £800 and the risk involved
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Growing the company early days and the early decisions that helped long term
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Creating a positive working environment at Quinnergy
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Advertising on Social Media platforms and adapting to changing markets
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Big moments on the journey
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Almost walking away
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The realities of a cash flow business
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Support for others looking to start a business
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The future of Quinnergy
Great episode and inspiring chat with someone who took a massive gamble and watched it pay off through hard work and never giving up
Always good when I speak to someone who could have very easily gone down a different road but they made a choice and grew from it, John from Fridge Angels fits this description perfectly and todays episode gives a great example of someone developing a skillset and turning it into a business for themselves, Myself and John go through
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Being asked to leave school and having to find a job
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Going from a job he wasn't that bothered about to a business
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Building a business with no real experience
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Support from friends and mentors
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Who came up with the name 'Fridge Angels'
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Choices growing up
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Inspirations
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Advice for anyone looking to start out on their own
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Support for kids who want to be their own boss
Episode 31 sees us delve into the world of journalism and presenting as I speak to Sophie Wallace
Sophie is a journalist and a news presenter for STV News and I'm pretty sure you would have seen one of her news bulletins over the past few months, delighted that Sophie agreed to come on and talk to me about her career so far, we discuss loads of subjects on this episode including
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How Sophie realised she wanted to work in journalism
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Her first early break
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University and working alongside studies
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Work Experience and how presenting became part of the journey
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Getting her break at STV
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Dealing with setbacks of being unsuccessful for roles
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Entering Miss Scotland twice!!
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Encouragement for anyone looking to work in media industry
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That 'Barlinnie' news update 😂
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Listeners Questions
Really good episode and one I'd imagine kids at school leaving age will take a keen interest in who want to pursue a career in journalism, Sophie speaks openly and honestly about her career to date, it's fair to say you need to be prepared to put the graft in and this episode will give you a good starter for planning your own journey ☺️
As we've reached episode 30 what better way to celebrate than to speak to someone who has a massive amount going on in their life I sit down with James Hughes to talk about his 20 years to date in the hairdressing industry and also the skills he is adding in another area of his life in the world of life coaching, we discuss so much in this episode including - Changes in schooling and the impact that had on James growing up as a teenager - Working in the hairdressing industry - The opportunities that came from his hard work - 'Imposter Syndrome' and how James dealt with that at points in his career - Life Coaching and the impact on James - The massive success of his home acct 'The Buchanan Interior' - Advice on the hard work needed when going into hairdressing at entry level - Moments that have defined him Great chat with someone who has had real longevity in an industry that can see a high turnover of staff on a regular basis, and also James's views and honesty on his own journey have all added to a fantastic interview
Most of you will know someone who has had to cancel or postpone a wedding over the last year, in this weeks episode you will also get the perspective of the people who plan these special days and events for people, I sat down with Heather from Make Believe Events who has been involved in this industry for 12 years and we covered a range of topics including - Where the concept of MBE began - Breaking into a tough market filled with competition - Building the company up - The purchase that would have a massively positive impact over last 12 months - Diversifying and finding other ways to bring in money - Inspirations - The impact of COVID on the wedding industry - Inspirations - and much more A really honest interview from Heather who tells it exactly like it for both the highs and the lows and provides an amazing insight into a company struggling with the current climate.
I generally get a feeling within the first few minutes of how an interview will go and what sort of feeling I have about how it will be received, this one was a winner from the word go and I have no doubt you will all agree
Kirsten is a showbiz writer for the Daily Record and she talks about her career in depth during this episode amongst loads of other topics like
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Working for her local newspaper building her experience
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University
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Grabbing the opportunity of dream job(eventually) after the best interview ever!!
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Dealing with pre-judgments of journalists and the industry
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Working with COVID in a new job
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Kirsten's debut book 'The Swipes of My Life' and what went into it(not to be missed 😂)
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Running her home IG account and the massive support it provided during lockdown
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Inspirations
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Future Plans
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Listener Questions 😂
Cracking interview and gives a great insight into the world of showbiz journalism providing some brilliant detail for anyone interested in this career, cannot wait for the book to come out it will be absolute gold and overall one of the most enjoyable interviews I've done spent 90% of it laughing 😂
This episode contains the perfect example of people who are in a job but see how they could make improvements for their clients if they were to launch their own business.
Johnathan and Craig took the jump from being PT's for a big company to opening their own health facility and we discuss every step of the way in this episode including
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What prompted the move from being PT's to wanting to go out on their own
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The impulsive decision from CJ that set the wheels in motion
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Challenges getting the gym built
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Any last minute doubts about the business
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What Train MBS offers it's clients
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The fitness industry on Social Media
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Advice for anyone looking to kickstart their fitness journey
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Future plans for Train MBS
And much more from 2 guys who are refreshingly honest and open about their views on the industry and how they hope they can play their part for their clients, when we get back to some level of normality I would urge you to go and check out the guys facility and see if they can help you with your own goals
There is nothing better than hearing a journey where someone has come up with an idea and followed it right through to a business and also takes the time to give back to the people who need it as well
Tony O'Neill from Animalia Apparel fits this description to a tee, we spoke last week about how he has built the Animalia brand and went right back to the start of his journey looking at
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Tony's own background and his story so far
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The volunteering roles that have laid the groundwork for the support he provides to others now
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What prompted him to start the brand and the journey that took him on
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Working with some of Scotlands best young athletes
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Giving back and some of the support options that Animalia provide to others
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COVID and the impact it's had
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A Scottish Brand with a social heartbeat and the origins of this
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Tonys own values that he truly buys into
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Advice for anyone looking to get involved in clothing industry
Tony wears his heart on his sleeve throughout the interview and I think it's an endearing quality from someone who has grafted to get their dream out there and knows first hand the blood, sweat and tears it takes to do this, great interview and please check out Animalia Apparel a brand made in Scotland
I say this often but this was genuinely one of the best interviews I've done with the podcast and trust me when I say it's worth the listen 😊
Todays episode saw me sit-down with radio presenter Ali Wright, Ali has her own show on West FM and you will also hear her on Clyde 1 smashing it as well, In a whirlwind hour we went through loads of different subjects including
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How Ali got started in Radio
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The great support network that helped her settle in the industry while learning on the job
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Landing her own show
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Balancing radio work alongside another job and the challenges this presents
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Switching off from work
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Embarrassing moments on air 😂
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Working alongside some absolute legends including Gavin Pearson, George Bowie and Cassi
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Advice for anyone looking to get into radio industry
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Meeting some of her fav people
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Dealing with the lovely Glaswegian public
Massively helpful hour for anyone looking to get involved in radio as well as finding out a little more about the absolute graft that goes into being a radio presenter.
Just when you thought we had covered everything possible on this podcast think again, this week I delved into the career of a Mortician with Louise who was kind enough to give us some insight into a career which a lot of people remain curious about but know very little, we discuss
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Becoming a Mortician and how that journey started for Louise
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The conversations with her Careers Officer that steered her away from the industry for a period
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Dealing with what can be an upsetting role
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Chasing your dream job and getting it
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Who inspires Louise in the industry
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Listener Questions including what is the strangest thing she has found 🙈
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Career advice for anyone looking to join this industry
Amazing insight and big thanks to Louise for taking the time to provide this level of detail and information to people, this was the most questions I have ever had for a guest and Louise covered all of them.
Join me as I chat to Property Developer and Letting Agent Nick Ponty, Nick is also one half of the Scottish Property Podcast
Lot's of people are looking to move into the property development market and this is one of the main things we talk about as well as
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How Nick started off in the property world with his own first purchase
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The Letting market and the journey to having his own Letting Agents
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Myths that people have about being a property developer
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Getting started on your own
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COVID and the impact that has had on current market and potentially future
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Using Social Media to advertise your services
Really useful starting point for anyone looking to get involved in property as a potential career and some really helpful advice from someone who has made that journey themselves, You can also listen to Nick on The Scottish Property Podcast every Wednesday on all the usual platforms.
What better way to start the year that with the guest that brings Positive Patter to Glasgow I sat down with Kat who runs Yer Awrite on Instagram and is responsible for cheering up Glasgow on a daily basis, Kat has ran the massively popular page since 2018, we talk about loads of things including - Where the idea for Yer Awrite came from - Challenges of managing a successful Social Media presence - Getting to know her followers - What the future is for Yer Awrite - Podcast coming back? - Being able to come up with amazing content on a daily basis Also some very interesting listener questions as well as discussing the "crush" (Kat's words no mine) she has on Jackie McNamara
Join me for the final episode of 2020 as I sit down with creator of Papercut Posies owner Shona Rogerson, Shona is another business owner who has managed to create a very niche business from her own ideas, in this episode we chat about - How Papercut Posies began and the challenges that came with it - Building a brand in such a niche market - The world of Social Media - Learnings that Shona has taken from business so far - Advice for others looking to take the leap into being their own boss - Mentors and people who have helped Shona so far Really good episode to end the year on and again one that will appeal to people who maybe have an idea that doesn't fit the normal business ideas, get yourself out there and got for it!!!
We have arrived at Episode 20 of a busy year and tonights interview is a perfect example of someone who has had to adapt their whole business which not only had the difficulties of being a start up this year but also in the year when so many businesses have been hit hard by COVID I sat down with Colette Lord who you may know better as The Buffet Lady, we chat through a number of different subjects including - Starting a new business in a very challenging climate this year and how Collette has adapted - The famous Cook-along videos that have been picked up by national press - Measuring milestones and success - Inspirations and Advice that Colette has received along the way - And would she beat Jamie Oliver in a cook-off? Great episode and a fascinating insight to a business that has taken the year by storm despite the circumstances and how adapting to the market has enabled Colette to keep her business on track
Join me as I get the chance to sit down with Glasgow singer/songwriter Ben Monteith
Ben is easily recognisable as one of the best and most popular buskers in the city and has been for the last few years, He has also released songs and albums off his own back without a record label behind him, in this episode we talk about
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Ben's love of music and where it began
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Busking and the ups and down of performing in Glasgow City Centre
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Waking up to hundred of thousands of followers after one of his performances went viral
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Releasing his own music without the support of a label or management
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Touring with EmilI Sande
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The creative process behind writing a song
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What the future holds
No doubting you've heard Ben sing at some point if you have been in Glasgow over the past few years, listen in and get to know the man behind that incredible voice
If someone approached you with a business idea of constructing railway platforms out of polystyrene would you think it would be realistic? George Rowe certainly did and worked hard to introduce innovative technology into the UK railway industry, after 10 years I have been lucky enough to get to sit down with George and discuss all manner of subjects such from his business to his football career - The massive challenges of bringing such an unusual concept to a well established industry - Building the MegaTech brand - The Highs/Lows of running a company - Working with Family - Being a footballer and combining that with the business world - Inspirations for George - The world of football journalism - Charity and what that means to George Trust me when I say this is one of the best conversations I've had with someone on the podcast and you will not fail to take inspiration from listening to this episode
Ever fancied writing your own book and getting it published? If yes then tonights guest will be right up your street, join me as I chat to local and now published author Paula Johnston, we discuss many different areas of the process of having an idea to releasing it to the world. You can grab a copy of The Lies She Told now on Amazon or even better download to your Kindle!! - Where the inspiration came from for The Lies she Told - Dealing with writers block and remaining positive - Trying to get book published - What the follow up book(s) may look like
This may be a company that you may or may not have heard of but Parrucche has been around for 10 years now and I guarantee you that you will know someone who has used the boutique at some point, Parrucche is a unique wig boutique that covers all aspects of wig wearing and has supported countless people through hair loss through cancer and alopecia as well as clients looking for a change I sat down with owner Melanie Burrell to look back on a decade full of ups and downs in what is a very tough market to even break into let alone become one of the leaders, some of the things we chat about are - What prompted Melanie to start Parrucche - The challenges in setting up and establishing herself in a tough market - Early days of the business - Dealing with the emotional side of the company and supporting clients through devastating periods in their lives - Challenges of COVID - Melanie's own inspirations - Building a Social Media profile for the business in a client sensitive manner
I loved this episode and if there is one of the podcasts I've recorded that I would urge people to have a listen to it's this one, Melanie and her team do fantastic work and deserve a great deal of credit for the help and support they provide to people in their time of need
Join me as I have a chat with Birmingham Ladies and Scotland International footballer Christie Murray Christie is a very successful player from the ever growing female game and it was brilliant to sit down and chat with her, in this episode we discuss - How football began for her - Moving to America at 16 for a scholarship - Her fantastic playing career with Queens Park, Celtic, Glasgow City, Arsenal, Bristol City, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Liverpool and Birmingham - Representing her country - Playing in both the Women's Champions League and World Cup - Coping with injuries and the massive expectations that come with playing at this level
A great insight for fans of the game or anyone who has children who are in the footballing world and looking to progress, Christie gives an open and honest insight into her own career and the ups and down that come with it.
Thinking about becoming a Tattoo Artist? Before you do listen to my interview with one of the best know Tattoo Artists in Glasgow as I sit down with Roberto Poliri Roberto discussed the harsh reality of a tattooing apprenticeship and the qualities that anyone interested should have before they look to apply for a role. We also discuss Roberto's own journey from his 10 years in the industry both training and then establishing himself as a name that people trust to get their work done correctly. We also look at the effects of social media on the industry and obviously I had to know what the best/worst pieces that he has done along with one of the most bizarre stories i've ever heard about a tattoo gone wrong
Join me for one of the most open and honest interviews I've done on the podcast as I sit down with Glaswegian comedian Gary Faulds We discuss how comedy started for him and the videos that led to him becoming an overnight sensation right up to talking about playing to a sold out crowd at the Armadillo and his plans for the future Gary is very open on how the massive changes comedy brought to his life were both positive and negative and how he deals with the social media bubble Went through the full range of emotions on this one and really grasped why Gary is one of the countries favourite comedians right now
Something a bit different this week as I have a look back at the past 11 episodes and all of the amazing people who have taken the time to come on the show.
I have picked a selection of moments from how some of the guests came up with their business, any challenges they have maybe faced into and any advice that would give others, key moments for them and of course a few comedy moments.
Join me for Episode 11 as I have a chat with Eric and Greg who both own Glasgow Barbers Slicks From being mates working together to running a successful business together this is a journey well worth a listen, how did they meet? do they fall out often? it's all here. We look at how the concept for Slicks came about, how the guys both worked hard to grow the company, the challenges that come along with starting a business. Also looking at how school life was for Eric and Greg and how that played a part in both their journeys so far along with the mentors they have both had on the way 2 local lads who are doing great things just now and delighted to have had the chance to sit down with both of them
Episode 10 sees me interviewing John Allison who runs dog training company The K9 Way John talks to me about his time in the army training and working with military dogs in Afghanistan and the USA We also look back at how the company began and the various experiences that have helped John develop a highly successful business dealing with a large volume of regular customers and how he builds that trust with his clients Great insight into a specialist area and also one for the dog lovers
Join me for Episode 9 as I sit down and chat to Derek Friel or as is he is maybe better known The Fat PT Derek discusses his own journey over the past 2 years from going through his own battle with weight loss to then becoming a PT and training and inspiring others on their own fitness journeys We talk about running a business as well as the qualities that ensure Derek is never short of clients in what is a highly competitive market, Anyone looking to here a brutally honest story of how someone has smashed their goals and has a massive impact on the clients who come to him for help
Episode 8 sees me speak to Joseph McCabe who owns Glasgow clothing brand B-Heard Clothing In this episode Joseph discusses getting the brand off the ground and some of the highlights for him so far, also some of the outstanding charity work that the company carries out every month Joseph is another example of taking an idea into reality and roping in his family to help him on that journey as well
Join me as I sit down with Chris who owns Boxfresh Glasgow, the UK's original mobile sneaker cleaner Listen to a brilliant journey on how Chris started the company and the sheer graft put in to establish Boxfresh as a brand, also how Chris uses his own experiences to help others and the standards he sets for his team For anyone looking to start up something from scratch this is a perfect base to listen first hand to someone who has done just that and absolutely smashed it
Join me as I sit down with Graeme and discuss his career in barbering as well as his new venture creating some amazing Vegan food on Rascals Kitchen Really enjoyed making this episode Graeme is a passionate guy who is hungry to succeed and is a massive example for anyone who hasn't gained the grades they wanted at school or feels they have no obvious career path.
Strap yourselves in for this one it's a belter
I sat down with Reece last week and had a brilliant interview with the man who owns Theatre School of Scotland
We discuss how TSOS began for Reece and the graft it's taken to get him to this stage, we also delve into Reece's own acting career and his hopes for future for both himself and the company
Anyone looking for an inspirational hour get this on and get motivated, prime example for me of someone who has a vision in their mind and puts in the work required to make it happen
As always let me know your thoughts
Join me for a fascinating conversation with Jordan Clark aka Jord.Art Listen to how artwork started for Jordan and how he has went from a few ideas to having a massive customer base, doing work for Boxfresh and the Dockyard Social as well as thousands of online followers loving his work Jordan also discusses the impact that the Boxfresh team had on him at the start of his venture and some people he thinks would be positive additions to the GlasGo Podcast
Episode 3 seen me having a chat with The Wee PT
Vivienne is smashing it just now with her Brutal Bootcamps and her PT sessions specifically aimed at the female market(guys can join in too lol)
Really good story on someone who took their own experiences working for a massive gym to starting from scratch on her own business and brand whilst juggling being a mum as well
This weeks episode features Sarah from Pudges Cakery
Sarah is a home based baker who has recently left her full time job to pursue her passion of baking and turn it into a career
Between baking speciality cakes to order and supplying various local businesses Sarah has seen her following increase to over 13k on Instagram
Hope you enjoy guys please let me know your thoughts
Listen to the first Episode of Life Goals Podcast as I sit down with Ashleigh Anderson the founder of FACE make up in Glasgow, hear Ashleigh's story of growing a business and succeeding in a tough market.