Working Hours

Recorded on 11/09/2025

Jessica Spencer runs Aladdin’s Cave Jewellery, a third-generation family run business in Queens Arcade Leeds, alongside her mum, Roberta. The shop has been in the same location for over 45 years.

From being a little girl, Jessica always loved 'treasure hunting'. She’s always loved the stories that antique and vintage Jewellery pieces carry, the idea that someone wore and cherished each piece long before it reached their shop.

That’s why Aladdin’s Cave focus on sourcing unusual, one-of-a-kind treasures for people who want something with meaning, not just another mass-pro...

Recorded on 31/10/2025

J Warren Jones was born in Leeds in the early 70s and lived in Wakefield for most of his life. Travelling extensively in his late teens and early twenties and working in the gambling trade for 20 years before starting Mrs Atha’s café in Leeds in 2012. A fresh start doing something to make people happy rather than the morally corrupt world of gambling. He ran the popular café for 12 years, serving the city centre and surviving a global pandemic, before finally closing it's doors earlier this year.

Warren in his own words is, "now a...

Recorded on 16/09/2025

As a Health and Lifestyle Coach with over 20 years' experience in medical research, including a BSc in Biomedical Science and a PhD in Drug Metabolism, Louise Guilfoyle is passionate about using science to empower people to take control of their health.

Through personalised, evidence-based coaching, Louise helps her clients cut through the confusion of conflicting health advice and make sustainable changes that boost energy, reduce stress, and support long-term wellbeing.

As a working mum Louise understands how hard it can be to prioritise your own health amidst the demands of work...

Recorded on 04/08/25

Derek Miller is native of Chicago where he got his background in acting and improv at Improv Olympic, Second City and Piven Arts. Derek spent 20 years in Hollywood, teaching and performing at The Second City, iO West, and UCB. His improv show Opening Night! ran for 20 years with over 1,000 (mostly) sold-out performances.

He used his improv chops on shows like Scrubs, The Goldbergs, Wedding Band, and Drunk History; in movies like Transformers 3; and in over 100 commercials. He’s also written on three TV series, a sketch show, and a feature film released on Am...

Recorded on 22/05/2025

Asma Khanum is a pioneering Speech and Language Therapist of Bangladeshi heritage and the CEO of Chatterbug Speech and Language Therapy Service. With a wealth of experience, Asma is deeply committed to supporting children with SLCN, drawing from her unique perspective as a neurodivergent individual and a mother of neurodivergent children. Her work has earned her the ASLTIP Leadership Award, recognising her dedication to high quality, tailored support for every child with SLCN.

Join Asma in this talk to explore our innovative solutions and learn how you can make a profound impact on...

Recorded on 03/09/2025

Dave Pike joined the Trades Union Conference (TUC) from the NEU (National Education Union) where he was leading on activist development and mobilisation. Dave has worked on several high-profile campaigns, including leading the NEU's response to Covid in the East Midlands and mobilising around pay campaigns, as well as a number of local disputes - including with a large education service seeking to restrict the voice of LGBT+ educators.

Further, Dave has a wealth of experience in organising with care workers and delivery drivers. He also brings to the TUC valuable experience in...

Jin-Theng Craven recorded on 03/10/2025

Infinitely curious and endlessly imaginative, Jin-Theng Craven thrives at the crossroads of art, culture, and storytelling. A former broadcast journalist, banker, and artists’ agent, she brings a rare multi-lens perspective to her work as a filmmaker and arts producer. Her projects span art exhibitions, international festivals, and documentary films — all driven by a desire to excavate hidden stories and bridge the worlds of “East” and “West.”

From co-producing Singapore Uncovered with Asia House in London to creating documentaries like Being and Becoming Chua Ek Kay (2013) and Ahmad Zakii Anwar: Edge of Obedience (2...

Recorded on 27/06/2025

Laura Stubbs runs social media agency, Coucou Social Media, helping small businesses and charities in Leeds get their message out to a wider audience online.

She has worked in marketing for 15 years and is also a Trustee of Made with Music, a charity which bring accessible music events to families in Yorkshire. Laura formed her social media agency in 2023 to enable her to support her autistic son. Her family flexi-schools (part home educates) and are passionate advocates for SEND reform.

https://www.instagram.com/coucousocial

https://www.coucousocial.co...

Recorded on 05/08/2025

Emlyn Hagan was born in Liverpool and has lived in Leeds for nearly 28 years.

Leaving school at 16 Emlyn completed an apprenticeship with Ford Motor Company in Liverpool, following which he worked as an Electrician – Control Specialist. In 1994 he took voluntary redundancy and moved to Ware in Hertfordshire to work as an Electrical Technician in a pharmaceutical factory.

A brief spell as a Technical Support Manager in Newcastle followed before he moved to Leeds to complete a 4 years BSc in Business Information Systems. In year 3 of his degree Emlyn found a placement wi...

Recorded on 22/06/2025

In this engaging episode, join Kirsty Elton as she shares her unique journey from aspiring teacher to Viking-inspired business coach.

Kirsty opens up about her early dreams, her experiences in healthcare recruitment, and the pivotal moments that led her to where she is today. She dives into the challenges of her MS diagnosis, her perspectives on social media, and her passion for making a lasting impact through her work and her recently published book.

Discover the wisdom behind her leadership style, her thoughts on work-life balance, and what drives her to...

Recorded on 19/06/2025

In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Dr Stewart Manning recounts his lifelong passion for medicine, shaped by childhood experiences and a genuine desire to care for others.

From memorable stories about medical school pranks and meeting famous personalities while serving as the Leeds United doctor, to the impactful charity work he now pursues in retirement, this episode takes you through the highs and lows of a storied career.

Learn how personal tragedies and professional challenges shaped Dr Manning’s approach to patient care and advocacy, and gain a greater understanding of...

Recorded on 07/04/2025

Olivia Collins is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Ahead Partnership, a purpose-led business which drives inclusive growth and social impact through bespoke skills and careers engagement programmes that support young people.

Olivia is a Philosophy graduate from the University of Leeds, specialising in ethics and aesthetics. Olivia started her marketing career in the recruitment industry before gaining experience agency-side and moving to Ahead Partnership.

In her current role, she develops and implements marketing and communications strategies for social impact programmes across the UK.

Olivia's favourite programmes to work...

Recorded on 12/06/2025

Michael Guy is a digital strategist with a background spanning leadership business analysis and accessibility. He spends his time making sense of messy systems. Over the years, he’s worked with charities, membership organisations, and SMEs—often at that difficult, slightly tangled stage where everyone knows something needs to change, but no one’s quite sure where to start.

His role is often about helping teams focus, prioritise, and move forward with confidence rather than deploying technology for the sake of it. A firm advocate for value and impact Michael translated his approach into h...

Recorded on 14/04/2025

Britta Ofori-Kuragu is a Purposeful Parenting Practitioner, Young Entrepreneurship Specialist and a Digital Safety Monitoring Analyst. She is also the Founder of Better Being by Britta Ltd and Purposed Potential CIC — the latter being a non-profit community interest company set up to equip and empower young people with entrepreneurial, financial literacy and future-ready skills

Britta is a passionate advocate for children, families, and purposeful living. After a 14-year career in Adult Social Care, where she was honoured as Colleague of the Year 2013, she made a bold shift in 2022 toward work more deeply aligned wi...

Recorded on 22/04/2025

Richard Michie has been in marketing since before the internet, cutting his teeth in old school Direct Marketing. Then the internet came and made his job 1,000,000 times faster and a lot more fun!

Throughout his career he has worked client side in translation (twice), holidays, nursery furniture, big book mail order (ask your mum), and renewable energy and worked for digital agencies in Yorkshire too.

Richard launched The Marketing Optimist in 2016 vowing to do marketing in a different more agile way to the traditional marketing agency set up.

He’s...

Recorded on 19/02/2025

Candice Waldie is the Owner of Recovering my Balance. She’s an experienced Mental Health and Wellbeing Professional with over 6 years of extensive experience in mental health training.

Candice has lived experience of c-ptsd, anxiety and depressive disorder and was recently diagnosed with Autism. She is adept at delivering high-quality training courses and fostering a positive learning environment.

She’s also currently studying to be a Therapeutic Coach and she’s volunteering as a Region of Learning Ambassador for West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Website: https://recoveringmybalance.co.uk

Inst...

Recorded on 19/03/2025

Jack Hurley is an artist who started later in life and is mainly known for the Rubbish Seaside series of parody travel posters. Originally from the South, he’s lived in Leeds for well over two decades and was a mental health worker in the city for much of that time.

https://loudribs.com/

https://www.instagram.com/loudribs/

https://www.facebook.com/

Recorded on 18/02/2025

This is the third consecutive episode where the guest has allowed me to use their video for YouTube. If you'd like to be on the show and you're up for being on YouTube Get in touch. There's only 18 free places left for the podcast - yeah, I do need to change the intro monologue again but, I don't have time.

Emma Longbottom is a Wellbeing Coach, Energy Healer and Yoga Teacher based in Leeds, UK. She is the founder of Wellbeing with Emma

Emma is passionate about empowering people to reclaim...

Recorded on 24/04/2025

Micky P Kerr is a dedicated teacher and aspiring footballer who transitioned into a professional comedian and author.

Micky discusses his early dreams of becoming a football player, the reality check during teenage years, a newfound passion for music, and the eventual turn towards teaching and comedy.

His journey continues through teaching experiences, comedy gigs, and the challenges faced along the way, including our usual suspects COVID-19 and Brexit, social media strategies, business risks, and the struggle between teaching and pursuing artistic passions.

As if he doesn't have enough...

Recorded on 18/02/2025

Claire Kenny is a company founder, writer and content creator.

She’s has 25+ years of experience as a commercial copywriter and communications professional, with recent projects including editing a factual book on the history of Motown for an internationally-known performer and copywriting for a major beauty brand.

As a 40 plus influencer, Claire was a 2 x finalist in the Yorkshire Blog Awards and has been published in Woman and Home, the Yorkshire Post, and Yorkshire Life.

She is also a columnist in the Yorkshire Times and Yorkshire Businesswoman magazine.

...

Recorded on 03/03/2025

Dean Smith's current job role, is as a Warehouse Operative for AW Hainsworths in Leeds.

Dealing with the curing, sizing and packing of cloth to be sent to fashion houses. They also supply the Military all across the world and the Royal Family - just to name drop.

Recovery Runners is a voluntary organisation.

It was set up in 2021 by Dean Smith and Jamie Heselden as a community group for people dealing with addiction, mental health problems, illness and more. Dean and Jamie have won multiple community awards for...

Recorded on 13/02/2025

Paul and Rebecca Bolster are the owners of Tasty Kitchen and Coffee, a beloved family-friendly café in Oakwood, Leeds.

They’ve built Tasty Kitchen & Coffee to where it is today with a lot of hard work and by understanding their internal and external customers - what they want and need. This is supported by our thriving outside catering business, where we have catered for several large scale events including backstage catering at Leeds Festival for artist for 6 years, as well as regular corporate and party catering throughout the Leeds area.

Paul has...

Recorded on 25/02/2025

Kim Heslip is the founder of Nest and Flourish Interiors, a Yorkshire-based interior design studio dedicated to creating inclusive, accessible spaces that enhance wellbeing, dignity, and independence. Following a 20-year career in nursing, including 15 years as a community nurse, Kim witnessed first-hand how thoughtfully the designed environment can transform health and quality of life. Inspired by this impact, she retrained in interior design at the National Design Academy and now specialises in creating beautiful, supportive spaces for family homes, workplaces, and community settings.

Kim’s unique healthcare background shapes her approach to design, en...

Recorded on 13/03/2025

Neil Wilson is the Managing Partner at Chadwick Lawrence, a leading West Yorkshire based law firm recognised for its progressive approach and commitment to employee wellbeing.

Neil's journey into law began after completing his law degree (LLB) in 1996 and qualifying as a solicitor in 1998. Unlike many solicitors, Neil did not go straight down the legal route after school, opting instead to move to Germany to learn the language and study European Business Studies. He then moved to a government managerial position for 14 years, before changing careers to law aged 33 having studied for his...

Recorded on 13/02/2025

Kirsty Scott is the co-owner and joint managing director of Leeds-based construction marketing agency, Harris Creative.

Kirsty took over the business along with her business partner Neil Craven in 2020 in a management buy-out, having previously been PR director at the company.

Kirsty has worked in PR and marketing for her entire 18-year career, and – apart from a brief stint in a graduate role with HBOS – has always worked with small agencies, starting out promoting toys and baby products, and gradually moving further and further into the world of B2B marketing.

Jaydon Rowbottom

Recorded on 20/03/2025

Jaydon Rowbottom has a lifelong passion for art and creativity from his early aspirations to becoming a versatile and successful illustrator, artist, and maker professionally.

In this episode Jaydon delves into his experiences with school, the influence of family, and the challenges and joys of turning a creative hobby into a profession.

He talks about his current projects, including his part-time work with an all-female-led event set design company called Bazaar, and his aspirations to work on larger scale projects and collaborate with more people. Jaydon also...

Recorded on 28/02/2025

Dr Reem Ameri is an Educational Psychologist and Founder of Loom Psychology. She is also a qualified teacher and has over 20 years of experience in education and Psychology. Her company offers virtual psychological assessments for children and young people aged 0-25 years. Her story-driven assessments tap into her love of powerful storytelling.

Dr Ameri works with Local Authorities, schools and directly with families. Her mission is to make psychological advice more accessible for children and families through using technology to break down geographical barriers.

As a mum of 4 (plus one fur...

Recorded on 29/01/2025

Simon Williams is the owner and director of SW Retail Consultancy Ltd. Their strap line is 'Big ideas, Simple solutions' and this is exactly what they try to deliver to their clients. Simon works closely with business owners who want to deep dive into their organisation to understand their opportunities for growth and savings.

Data is the key to unlocking the potential of every organisation and this is where SW Retail Consultancy start. Analysing the sales in, structuring it into a simple, easy to understand format, and then shining a light on performance...

Recorded on 09/01/2025

Holly Thompson currently works as a property photographer and EPC assessor for an estate agent full time as well as having her own wedding photography business.

Holly’s work has varied from working in newspaper publishing, advertising and marketing, to a 5-year stint as a chef, to health and safety work during Covid and finally to kick-starting her dream of being a photographer.

Holly left advertising in 2019 after building up clients to start her first year as a wedding photographer but, due to Covid she needed to diversify quickly to survive.

Recorded on 13/01/2025

UPDATED VERSION 29/07/2025 WITH FOLD TRACK Resistance, Refusal, Ridicule

Thanks to Seth for letting us use this in the episode. Buy the single, it's good and it's less than £3 quid: https://www.patreon.com/FoldFM/shop/resistance-refusal-ridicule-audio-single-1712348?source=storefront

Seth Mowshowitz is a neurodivergent father of 2 neurodivergent children and the benevolent dictator of Leeds music collective & now community group Fold. He has as many nationalities as he has limbs.

He’s a designer with 25 years’ experience. He’s a big picture thinker.

He’s a self-employed music producer & performer...

Samantha Rudd

Recorded on 19/01//2025

Samantha Rudd, is from Leeds is married with a beautiful 6 years old son with Autism. During the week Samantha is a supply teaching assistant working at various schools.

She had attended the classes at SOS Dance in Morley for 2 years until she decided to start teaching the routines herself and the rest, as she says, is history. Sam says teaching dance is, right up my alley! She loves to empower and inspire people through Commercial Dancing.

You can follow Samantha and SOS Dance on Instagram https://www...

Recorded on 24/01/2025

Steve Bootle is a freelance photographer based in North Leeds, with over 25 years’ experience.

Steve works mainly in corporate, business and commercial photography, concentrating on business portraits and PR. He also covers events and conferences, along with weddings and bar / bat mitzvahs.

We discuss the challenges and rewards of a career behind the lens, the impact of the digital revolution on photography, and the ongoing influence of social media on his industry. Steve also delves into the realities of freelancing, the importance of networking, and his hopes for the future, including hi...

Bunmi Owolabi and Dr Pedi Obani recorded on 23/12/2024

In this compelling episode, we explore the transformative work of AfriKindness, a charity dedicated to advocating for kindness, cultural understanding, and racial harmony among children and young people.

Founders Bumni and Pedi share their journeys, emphasizing the importance of empowering families and addressing complex racial challenges through community engagement, co-production, and educational initiatives. They also discuss the organization's rapid growth, the impact of COVID-19 on their mission, and the crucial role of social media in amplifying their message and reaching a global audience.

https://afrikindness...

Farina McKay recorded on 17/12/2024

In this episode, we hear from Farina McKay, a dynamic professional who reminisces about her childhood dreams of working with monkeys at a zoo, then navigating through creative writing aspirations, and ultimately finding her niche in linguistics and sales within the cybersecurity field.

Farina shares insights into her current role in an identity advisory company, discussing the challenges and rewards of sales, and the impact of remote work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, she touches upon her advocacy for more women in tech, the complexities of social media, and the...

Tayba Azim 17/12/2024

Tayba Azim runs her own private practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy, organizes and facilitates psycho-spiritual retreats, and provides Mizan Therapy—womb healing techniques to address conditions of the reproductive organs, emotional health, and unresolved trauma.

With over 15 years of experience in mental health, domestic abuse, and trauma, she focuses on supporting women all over the world, of all ages, especially the South Asian community, particularly Muslim women, and those that are neurodiverse.

Tayba employs an Islamically-informed approach in her counselling, tailored to her clients' needs, educating Muslim women about their rights within Is...

Melissa Canavan recorded on 19/11/2024

In this episode, Melissa Canavan reflects on her unique and varied journey from having childhood dreams of working in roles as diverse as a Royal Dishwasher to eventually finding her calling in nursing and coaching.

Melissa shares insights into the challenges faced during her education and early career, the important personal decisions that led her to write a book and offer coaching, and the transformative life experiences that have guided her professional and personal growth.

As always, we discuss the impact of societal issues like COVID-19 and climate change...

Miranda Arieh recorded on 13/11/2024

Miranda Arieh is the HEROES Group Work Programme - Founder & CEO, offering 'Healing, Education and Recovery of Emotional Strength'. She’s an Award-Winning Mental Healthcare Consultant, a Lived Experience Practitioner, a Trauma Informed Care Specialist and a BBC Radio Presenter. In this compelling episode, Miranda shares her journey from aspiring singer to a mental health advocate and public speaker.

Drawing inspiration from punk and grunge artists, Miranda channelled her creativity into creating the HEROES Group Work Program, a mental health initiative designed to help individuals recover from trauma.

Facing he...

Andy Simpson recorded on 23/10/24

In this episode, Andy Simpson shares his journey from childhood aspirations of being an RAF pilot to co-running a successful signage business, FastSigns, with his father. He discusses his early interest in sports, his educational path in computer science and maths, and his eventual entry into the signage industry through franchising. Andy also dives into the challenges and opportunities brought by COVID-19 and reflects on the importance of sustainable practices and social media in modern business.

You can find Andy at: https://www.fastsigns.co.uk/leeds/

So, 150 episodes...

Alan Thompson recorded on 06/11/2024

Alan Thompson is the founder and Managing Director of Business Dad Ltd.

And is often recognised from the back of his head, usually in a photograph at an event where he can often be found hovering around the food and drink table.

Having been a Business Adviser under the EU-funded AD:Venture programme from 2018-2023, working with new start to 3 year old businesses offering advice, mentoring and being the one to hold them to account. When the EU funding finished, he set up Business Dad Ltd to continue working...

Colin Grist recorded on 04/09/2024

Colin Grist is the other Co-Founder and the Creative Director at Few and Far.

Few and Far help charities make the world a better place. Proud to work only with charities and do-good organisations in bringing their experience and expertise in digital to a sector in real need of support.

Colin worked for almost 15 years in digital - across design and development - creating award-winning work for organisations such as: WaterAid, The Bank of England, Blue Cross and Mind.

Colin speaks openly about his own mental health...