Conversations of Inspiration

The lead up to receiving exam results really can be one of the most anxious times in our lives, and often it's the same for our children — but why? 

In just ten minutes, hear Holly’s own experiences of exam failure and get some real perspective on why school education is only a chapter in our lives. This week, Holly gets thinking about the many opportunities out there for each and every one of us depending on our strengths and abilities, and it might just help you, too. 

Taken from her conversation with Robin Hutson OBE, hospitality connoisseur and founder of The Pig Hotel collection, this short clip is of Robin's heart-wrenching letter to his younger self. It spans his own experience with exams and offers key pieces of advice he wished he'd known as a young man when it comes to looking beyond school, and following your passion. 

You can listen to Robin Hutson’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.

In just 15 minutes, hear Fearne and Holly’s experiences of the highs and lows of parenting, and how they both manage the family juggle throughout the most hectic of times, and in very different ways…

In busy periods like the summer holidays, it’s so easy to find that making time for yourself has once again fallen to the bottom of your ‘to do’ list isn’t it? 

Since becoming a parent herself, Holly has always had a business baby to care for as well as her son Harry – and so, this week, Holly is here to share the techniques she has mastered over the years that help her to manage her responsibilities, her quality time with family and friends, her business and also her mental health. Holly also explains why parenting is not always a pretty picture, no matter what your Instagram feed shows you, and we think it might just make you smile. 

Holly’s lightbulb moment comes from her conversation with her dear friend Fearne Cotton, who readily admits that being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but equally, that is a gift like no other. Listen now to hear how Fearne manages the spectacular juggle that is parenthood, in a very different way to Holly.

You can listen to Fearne Cotton’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.

Every single one of Holly’s guests this series has been inspirational, passionate and holds the treasure that is their own unique story. But what Holly also recognised, is that they have each faced loss, devastation and pain in some way – and yet have somehow managed to rise from the ashes of the truly bleakest of times. 

In this episode, Holly reflects on some of the key moments from each of her guest’s stories – some profound, some tear-jerking and some downright funny – and all of them shed light on the mindset, determination and strength it takes to follow and achieve your dreams. It's a stark reminder that everything is achievable, and quite possibly closer than you think. So whatever you might be going through, join Holly in celebrating these life changing journeys, and people who have each wrestled their vision into reality. 

This includes humbling parts of conversations with Edith Eger, Holocaust Survivor, the Happiness Expert – Mo Gawdat, Charlotte Tilbury MBE, Josh Littlejohn MBE who is on a mission to end homelessness, Nike’s former CMO and author of Emotion By Design, Greg Hoffman, farming enthusiast and YEO Valley’s CEO Tim Mead, Mandy Watkins — founder of hush, and the incredible trailblazer and founder of The Queer Bible, Jack Guinness. 

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. 

After Holly's incredible conversation with Boden's founder Johnnie, Holly reflects on the highs and lows she has faced when it comes to trusting people in business — along with her top recruitment tips — all in less than 10 minutes!

When you’re a business founder, hiring people is possibly one of the hardest arts to master isn’t it? They might look like the world’s best on their CV, but something might not sit quite right in your tummy – and that’s fine, but understanding the importance of building the right team, really could make or break your business. 

This week, Holly shares all when it comes to who you surround yourself with, and explains why it can quite literally be life changing. Having experienced dishonesty in the workplace that almost left her with nothing, Holly opens up about her own story and the mottos she's learnt along the way, to help with building a reliable support network. 

Holly’s lightbulb moment comes from when Johnnie reveals the unimaginable turmoil he experienced himself when a member of his team carried out the ultimate betrayal. Since then, Johnnie holds trust as the very top quality he looks for in his employees – and here he explains why. 

You can listen to Johnnie Boden’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.

Among the millions of other businesses on our planet, what makes one brand a cut above the rest? Is it the size of the business or the amount of money they have? No. In the words of Author and Nike’s former Chief Marketing Officer, Greg Hoffman, it’s that brand's ability to, “Go way beyond simple observations and assumptions”. And with a brand that connects as deeply as Nike has with millions of customers around the world, this is a rare opportunity to learn from the very best. 

In just one conversation, you’ll hear all the creative genius Greg knows about building a successful brand, and the three key documents he insists are crucial for a business to have when starting. You'll also hear someone with a phenomenal entrepreneurial spirit and the kind of awe-inspiring understanding of what makes human beings tick. 

For over two decades, Greg was at the beating heart of every strategic and creative decision at Nike. He was instrumental in transforming it from being a shoe company to a brand that resonates on a truly global scale. As a young boy, Greg was the victim of racism, and threw himself into art and sports to escape from reality. Little did he know that these two passions would allow him to evolve from Nike’s intern, to leading some of the most powerful marketing campaigns in history. 

Holly talks to Greg about your responsibility as a founder to protect your brand story, and how powerful brands need to understand the importance and craft of storytelling. He also shares how to drive growth while connecting with your customer.

This isn't just remarkable insight for founders to listen to, but for anyone who is creative or enjoys popular culture. You will gain a deeper understanding of the true power of brand when used well, and how it can not just engage us emotionally, but also change our behaviour and inspire us to join movements that evolve our whole society. 

So are you ready to learn something fascinating? In the words of Nike's iconic strap line: Just do it. 

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with David Hieatt, founder of Howies, The Do Lectures and Hiut Denim.

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. 

In just 12 minutes, listen to how you can plan for your brightest future by re-evaluating what success means to you. 

Have you ever sat down and thought about what you consider ‘being successful’? Not just based on what we’re taught it means, to make more money or buy a bigger house – but have you been honest with yourself about what makes your heart full after a hard day’s work? 

This week, Holly bares all when it comes to recognising what success means to each of us individually. For a long time, Holly was running after the success she thought she should want, until she realised that no materialistic thing could give her the sense of purpose that she wanted. Now, Holly feels success every day, and she’s here to tell us why. 

Taken from Holly’s exclusive interview with the infamous Dame Mary Perkins DBE, co-founder of Specsavers, Mary shares in this short episode, the very best pieces of advice that she has learnt through building her globally recognised brand. Recalling her own experiences, Mary reveals her secret remedy for success – and you'll discover it's the opposite to what you've been told all these years...

So ask yourself, how will you know when you’ve achieved the success you want?

You can listen to Dame Mary Perkins’ 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.

In honour of the formidable Dame Deborah James, we are re-releasing this very special podcast episode.

Having avidly followed the highs and lows of Deborah’s journey, Holly was honoured to have had the pleasure of speaking with her in 2020, and it’s a memory she will always treasure in her heart. 

In this episode, Deborah James, also known as Bowelbabe, joins Holly to talk about the rebellious spirit that would define her journey, from gymnast to Deputy Headteacher, journalist to campaigner — and then coping with the news that so many of us fear. It's quite remarkable now to hear the original plans she made then, which led to her raising millions of pounds for cancer research through her Bowelbabe fund. 

Deborah has left such a phenomenal mark on the world and her legacy will shine bright forever more. If there are any words to live by, it’s Deborah’s motto that we should all have no regrets, believe that we can do things we never thought possible, and most importantly — to always, always have rebellious hope. 

What makes a brand like Hush Homewear stand out from the thousands of fashion and e-commerce businesses out there? Yes it's the quality and style of the clothes, but it's also another key element that makes them truly one-of-a-kind — and that's the brand. If you want to know the secret to building an identity that makes thousands of customers return again and again, and remain loyal to you for life, hear Mandy Watkins' hard won wisdom on the subject...

Mandy started her laid back clothing and lifestyle brand from the kitchen table back in 2003 with a redundancy cheque, a huge dose of ambition and a desire for warmer clothes. Growing up in Australia, Mandy spotted a gap in the market after moving to the UK where she struggled to find relaxed, stylish and cosy clothing suited to living in our changeable climate. 

After years of perseverance, determination and orders ever so slowly trickling through, Hush started to become a recognised and successful brand. However Mandy opens up about how her business' success was by no means easy, and explains the different routes to market she took in order to achieve the sales she so desperately wanted. 

Now, after having such a strong identity in the clothing industry, Mandy explains how she has not only built and maintained her brand, but also why as a small business you have the power to make sure the brand heart of your business is beating louder than ever, which as Mandy shares, is a game changing advantage if used effectively. 

Holly and Mandy share a passionate belief in sustainability, responsible consumer shopping and the positive effect that a work ethic can have on achieving your dreams. It is apparent that Mandy is, and always has been her true authentic self, and might that have had an effect on her business? You’ll have to listen to find out…

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also enjoy Holly’s episode with Liz Earle, founder of Liz Earle. 

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

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

There’s a saying that if you make a living doing what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life – and this week Holly highlights how this is not only true, but genuinely possible for everyone. 

Taken from her conversation with Henry Dimbleby MBE, co-founder of fast food chain LEON, Holly reflects on Henry’s obsession with fast food and how acknowledging this was his key to success. 

Sharing the early signs that she remembers of finding her own diamond, Holly recalls how she recognised and used her love of shopping with small businesses to build the good life she’d always wanted. Holly also draws on how often our experiences working in jobs that just aren’t for us, can often lead us to finding our calling, and ultimately how there are hidden opportunities in the greyer patches of our lives. 

Henry’s success story is truly inspirational, and is one that exhibits how following your passion, no matter what it is, is enough to build a business – Henry’s was an ever growing love for fast food… so what is yours?

You can listen to Henry Dimbleby’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.

With 2022 seeing the 50th anniversary since the first Pride took place in the UK, there couldn’t be a better time to celebrate the incredible trailblazer that is writer, model, presenter, and founder of The Queer Bible, Jack Guinness. 

Fighting for change, acceptance, and kindness within our society, Jack’s conversation offers crucial education about the LGBTQ+ community, and is one that should be heard by all. 

A self-confessed ‘queer missionary’, Jack’s journey has been one full of challenges, strength, and development. Growing up the son of a vicar with a very religious upbringing, Jack struggled internally with who he was taught he should be as a member of the church, and who he truly was as a queer man.

In his younger years, views towards the LGBTQ+ community were still very blurred, and Jack struggled to find a safe space where he truly belonged. Yet little did he know that it was this turmoil that would ignite a fire to help so many others as he does today. 

Jack also opens up about the countless rejections and homophobia he faced in the fashion industry, and speaks to Holly about the language that we should be using in our society today when talking about members of the LGBTQ+ community, and that so many of us worry about getting wrong. 

Now, as his happiest self, Jack is the founder of The Queer Bible — a groundbreaking platform that celebrates the lives and works of the global queer community. He is on a mission to learn from others, share his knowledge with the next generation and to let all LGBTQ+ people realise that they deserve to not only survive, but thrive too.

An enlightening and important conversation, celebrating Jack’s determination and courage to ensure our future is a more diverse and inclusive place for us all. As well as a testament to the power of finding your true self, and helping others to do the same.  And just remember in Jack’s very own words, “In a world that tells you you’re nothing, you’re everything.”