Conversations of Inspiration

This might just be the most humbling lightbulb moment Holly has had this whole series. In just 15 minutes, you can learn the life-changing skill of freeing yourself from your past and controlling your present — allowing you to achieve anything you put your mind to.

Letting the past distract her is a battle that Holly has faced herself over the years, especially when recalling certain times at notonthehighstreet. But it wasn’t until she met with the formidable Dr. Edith Eger, that she suddenly realised it’s possible to readjust our mindsets and undo this harmful pattern. 

Edith is wisdom personified. She shares so many pieces of incredible advice when it comes to only focusing on the positives in our lives and what empowers us, and this really struck a chord with Holly — especially coming from someone who has lived through something as traumatic and horrific as the Holocaust. 

Holly explains how she learned that it’s not arriving at the destination that is the prize, but actually the journey itself. This is a lightbulb moment that will stay with you forever. And if you ever find yourself focusing on the past – just remember to be more Edith! 

You can hear Dr. Edith Eger’s full episode here. 

Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas, and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice.

Renée Elliott had no real inkling of what her purpose was, until walking down the aisle of a health food store in Boston. Little did she know that this moment would ignite her dream, and lead to her opening the first organic supermarket in the UK in 1995 — Planet Organic. 

With no prior experience but a determination to build a business that would make a difference to people's lives, Renée learnt ‘on the job’ when she had an idea to bring organically grown food to the mainstream shopper. 

However, Renée’s world was turned upside down when her business partner tried to take ownership of the business in a period where Planet Organic was thriving. Renée opens up about this achingly stressful experience, how she battled through it, and how it has shaped the person she is today. 

Renée is a true trailblazer we can all learn from, with an inspirational mindset and shares with Holly the guiding principles she’s learnt on her journey so far. She’s an unapologetically emotional, female founder, continuing her mission to spread positivity and encourage people to live the healthiest, happiest life possible — as demonstrated through her second business, Beluga Bean. 

This conversation is a tonic for anyone that needs to hear why, “Everything will always be okay”. 


If you would like to work with Renée at Beluga Bean, you can email her at [email protected], and if enjoyed this episode, head on over to hear Holly’s talk with Greg Hoffman, Nike’s former CMO, which we think you’ll love too. 

Plus for more unfiltered insight, subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

Imagine how happy you could be if you were able to find the beauty in everything. Want to learn the art in less than 15 minutes?

Taken from her conversation with Anya Hindmarch CBE, one of Holly’s ultimate female business icons, Holly recalls Anya explaining the story of designing her much loved crisp packet handbags, and how you really can make everyday ‘ordinary’ items extraordinary. 

Hearing Anya tell this tale ignited a lightbulb moment for Holly, as it took her back to when she realised that her calling was to seek out the neverending beauty within small businesses – which is how her first business, notonthehighstreet, was born. 

Holly explains how ever since, she has been on a quest to scale the unique, and in doing so has become a proud leader of the small business community. She also sheds light on how we as humans are totally one-of-a-kind and beautiful in our own way, and so surely this should be reflected in our businesses?

What are the ways you could take run-of-the-mill items and transform them into something wonderful? When did anyone say that products like handbags can't be fun? If you'd like some inspiration, we think you're going to love this...

You can hear Anya Hindmarch CBE’s full episode here. 

Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas, and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice.

This week Holly speaks with Marisa Hordern, founder of London based jewellery brand, Missoma.

Born at the kitchen table, Missoma started as a side hustle. Now, after over a decade of incredible hard work and grit, Missoma is an iconic jewellery brand beloved by millennials and A listers alike.

Often referred to as an overnight success, Marisa sheds light on this misconception, and the first seven years she battled through to get her business off the ground, where at her lowest point, she considered terminating Missoma all together. 

However, with love, passion and determination, Marisa recognised that ‘going through the trenches, makes you appreciate things more’, and looking back shares what decisions she made to turn the tables in order to be where she is today. 

Talking about the pivotal moments on her journey, from creating a new niche for demi-fine jewellery in the industry, to changing her business model from largely wholesale business to an online retailer, which really changed the game. 

Marisa also shares with Holly her top pieces of advice from her business journey so far – from building a loyal team, to the importance of digital marketing in our modern age, and sharing her expertise on sustainability and being honest with your customers. 

It’s a conversation that speaks to the bravery and passion in all of us, of what might just be possible if we are prepared to trust our gut, challenge the status quo and most importantly, be confident in ourselves and our dreams.



If you enjoyed this episode, head on over to Holly’s conversations with Sahar Hashemi, founder of Coffee Republic, which we think you’ll love too. 

Plus for more unfiltered insight, subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

This week, Holly shares why business is not just a one way road to success, but also reveals the key to overcoming the darkest, most difficult times that so many founders face by mastering the art of problem solving. 

When Holly spoke with Lord John Bird, she was in total awe of his knowledge, his experience, and his overwhelming confidence in his vision – but what has really stayed with her is how he turned his business around, when The Big Issue was in terrible financial trouble and just months away from closure. 

John’s experience struck such a chord with Holly, as his story is much like her own. Holly’s first business notonthehighstreet in its earliest days almost met its demise multiple times due to cashflow issues, and it was down to Holly to save her business each time. Here, Holly recalls those hardest days, and shares the steps she took to turn it around. 

So are you facing a problem that you just can’t solve? Or do you need a little inspiration to see how the tables really can turn? Listen now to hear how both Lord John Bird and Holly changed their futures for the better…

You can hear Lord John Bird MBE’s full episode here. 

Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas, and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice.

“We can all do something” are the words of Josie Naughton, who is at the centre of the pioneering humanitarian aid movement, Choose Love. It’s a charity that promotes compassion, people helping people, and true generosity of heart. 

When Josie and her friends saw the refugee crisis unfolding in Calais in 2015 they decided to take action by raising £1,000 and organising a van load of donations to be delivered to Calais. With no former charity experience, a lack of fundraising budgets or highly paid executives, their grassroots campaign quickly went viral and redefined the sector. 

Having now raised £70 million, which has helped over four million people, Choose Love is a movement ingrained in our society, and one that so many simply couldn’t live without. 

Josie’s previous career in the music industry (working with Coldplay no less), coupled with an instinctive ability to really empathise with others, fuelled a different way of thinking. It enabled her to not just raise money but to change the world through charity. She explains how the idea for their revolutionary pop-up shop in Carnaby Street was coined, which encourages shoppers to, “Shop your heart out, leave with nothing and feel the love”. 

With the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War happening right now in Ukraine, Josie speaks with Holly about her vision for the charity, its groundbreaking work and the challenges that lay ahead.

And just remember as Josie says, “The refugee crisis is an extremely complex and political business in many ways, but there is nothing confusing or complex about a child having nowhere to sleep”. So listen, digest that thought, and remember – if you can choose anything, choose love. 

If this episode strikes a chord, Holly’s talk with Kristin Hallenga, founder of CoppaFeel!, might be of interest, too.  

Plus for more unfiltered insight, subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

In our fast paced world, we can be so focussed on the future, that we very rarely take time to reflect on the past. But this week, Holly has a task for you that is going to help you look back, and recognise just how far you’ve come. 

Taken from her conversation with the beauty icon that is Bobbi Brown, this week’s lightbulb moment is inspired by Bobbi’s letter to her younger self, which Holly was lucky enough to witness her read. In Bobbi’s letter, she shares exactly what she wished she’d known as a younger woman, opens up about her vulnerabilities and also reveals the secret mantras that she swears by, to live a happy and fulfilled life. 

Having also written her very own letter a few years ago, Holly explains why she found it so cathartic and this week, has tasked you, our incredible listeners, to write your very own version.

What are your greatest learnings? What do you wish you had known earlier? And more importantly, what are you waiting for? Find some time, and start writing – we don’t know one person yet that’s ever regretted it, yet many who have found it to be the greatest release. 

You can hear Bobbi Brown’s full episode here. 

Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas, and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice.

Have you ever wondered how you can ditch the career ladder and find an alternative route to success, where progression doesn’t just depend on promotion? Have you asked yourself, what am I good at? What do I stand for? What motivates and drives me?

This week Holly speaks with Helen and Sarah, co-founders of Amazing If, an award-winning career development company with a twist. 

Champions of the Squiggly Career, Helen and Sarah are at the forefront of a fundamental shift that’s happening in the workplace. Where the traditional linear path is being replaced with a squiggly line that can allow you a career every bit as unique as you are. One that is full of opportunity, freedom and purpose – without having to constantly move roles and companies in order to progress.

Currently, 65-70% of us feel we have to leave a job in order to change our role or position, but what if you just needed to squiggle? Amazing If is a platform that allows each of us to challenge the status quo. Not only arming us with the right tools and skills we need to thrive in a career we love, but also crucially instilling the inner confidence to recognise our strengths, where we can apply them to widen our expertise and believe that you can pursue the career you deserve.

So are you looking to make a move in your career? Listen, as you might not have to change as much as you think.

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with 
Edward Perry, founder of Cook. 

Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice. 

When it comes to business, we’re taught from the very first day that profit is the core measurement for success. But what if Holly, Rowan Gormley and even Richard Branson told you you were wrong?

When Holly met with Rowan Gormley, founder of Naked Wines and CEO of Majestic Wine, she was completely captivated by not only his fascinating business journey but also his wisdom. Rowan was headhunted personally by Sir Richard Branson, and shares with Holly, the key equation that he learnt from Richard when it comes to running a successful business – and here’s a hint: it’s not based on sales.  

This sparked a lightbulb moment for Holly as she shares her own personal experiences of only wanting to surround herself with loyal and lifelong friends, and so why would customers be any different? 

Here, Holly reveals why business can’t be learnt from a textbook, and instead explains how you should retrain the way you think about achieving success – just like Rowan and Sir Richard Branson have done.  

You can hear Rowan Gormley’s full episode here. 

Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas, and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice.

This week, Holly was lucky enough to sit down with Shamil Thakrar, over a cup of Dishoom’s freshly brewed chai tea, and learnt what’s really at the heart of his business.

At the very beginning, Shamil and his co-founders set out with the goal of bringing the beauty of the Irani cafés they so loved in Bombay to the UK. Now with nine restaurants across the country – boy did they do just that.

Coming from a business school and consultancy background, in his younger years, Shamil was far from the path of owning a restaurant. However, with passion and more than a stroke of determination to prove the naysayers wrong, he used this experience to follow his dream. In 2010, the first Dishoom restaurant was born.

However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing, and Shamil learnt that focusing solely on the numbers and profits was holding both him and the business back.  

Shamil soon began pioneering a new approach – putting culture, soulfulness, kindness and authenticity centre stage, fuelled by his recognition that, “Anything, to be truly successful, has to have a bit of poetry at its heart”. 

Encapsulating what it means to be in love with your business, Shamil shares how incorporating creativity with history and art has allowed him to build a truly immersive brand, loved by many. 



If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with 
Lord Billamoria, founder of Cobra Beer.

This Conversations of Inspiration podcast episode is brought to you with support from Adobe Express.

Enjoying listening to these unfiltered chats? Subscribe to Holly’s weekly newsletters on our website, where she shares small business inspiration of all kinds, exclusive nuggets of wisdom from her and her guests, plus offers, creative ideas and topical, 'ungoogleable' business advice.