Favourite Positions (Alex)

Guest

Zach Hyland, Director + Content Producer

Overview

Join us for the very first episode of Favourite Positions and hear from Zach Hyland, Director + Content Producer.

At just 18 years old, Zach works for himself creating content for brands which he choses to collaborate with. From Greenpeace to Gary Vee, his talent clearly speaks for itself as he’s finding himself in high demand. Zach’s interesting upbringing has played a huge part in his confidence and ability to self motivate, balance work and life, as well as see the good in all things.

Takeaway

This episode highlights how vital it is to make time each day to do something you love. 

Find out how Zach has created a position that makes him happy and hear his recommendations on how you can do the same.

Links

Follow Zach on Insta: @zqfilm + DM him if you’re looking for content creation

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com

Guest

Jack Maddalena, Founder of Naurt

Overview

In this episode of Favourite Positions, we speak to the founder of the top tech start up in the UK, Jack Maddalena.

Jack is 25 year old and his location optimisation software, Naurt, will soon become a household name as they begin to work with brands everyone has heard of. In the 18 months since the start-up was founded, Jack has grown the company by 400%, secured over half a million pounds worth of investment and won multiple awards.

He talks openly in this episode about how he learnt to view his dyslexia as a positive (despite how the diagnosis was handled by his school), what he looks for when hiring his team members and how to prevent burn out with shit TV and well timed nights out.

Takeaway

This episode highlights how important it is to find the ‘why’ behind what you’re doing and remind yourself of it every day.

Links

Check out https://www.naurt.com/ before it becomes a household name and connect with Jack over on LinkedIn: Jack Maddalena

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com

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#FavouritePositions team

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Guest

Lucy Forgham, Freelance Interior Designer

Overview

Join us as we chat to freelance Interior Designer, Lucy, about designing a life you love.

Lucy is 26 and lives in Brighton with her dog, Ralph, who joined us for the recording, and kitten, Meeko. She has built a life that works for her and is at the beginnings of her journey as a freelance interior designer, having recently left an employed role.

Takeaway

Lucy talks about her experiences with a chronic health condition. Thanks to her openness, this episode seeks to provide whoever needs to hear it with the reassurance that whilst it can make your day to day so much harder, illness doesn’t need to stop people doing what they love to do and success can be defined in so many forms.

Links

Check out Lucy's Insta: @solmestudios and click the link in her bio there to visit her site

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com

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Guest

Alexandra Mehri, Teacher + Expert on Personal Social Citizenship and Health Education

Overview

In this episode, we speak to the teacher students dreams of.

Alexandra Mehri is an expert on Personal Social Citizenship and Health Education, teaching the importance of self-care to students and fellow teachers alike. Alex's words provide hope for students that there are people around them that care about their wellbeing above all else. Her advice also provides hope for aspiring teachers that whilst the job won’t be easy, it’ll be extremely fulfilling and there will be appropriate support. 

Takeaway

This episode highlights how if you don't put your own well-being first then you won't be able to do your best at helping those around you.

Find out how Alex makes sure she avoids burn out in a profession where everyone seems to be constantly stressed and undervalued.

Links

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com

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Guest

Emmanuel Oyemade, Founder of Modomise and winner of this year's Young Start-up Award

Overview

Hear entrepreneur Eman talk about how he launched a business whilst completing his degree through marrying his ambition with his talent.

Eman submitted his final pieces of university work the day before recording this episode. Whilst studying Product Design, he founded a company, Modomise, and is in the process of bringing his first product, Tower, to market. 

Tower is a modular desk tidy which can be personalised based on whatever it is you have on your desk. You can probably tell from this alone that Eman is somebody who not only loves to be organised but also wants to make the world around us an easier place for people to thrive in. 

Takeaway

This episode highlights the power of asking people if they can give you what it is that you want even if they haven’t advertised it as available. 

Find out how Eman has learnt to organise his time each day to be as productive and efficient as possible, scheduling time for work and play to ensure he's reaching his goals and having fun in the process.

Links

Follow Modomise on Insta: @modomise_ + stay tuned for updates on the release of Tower

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com

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#FavouritePositions team

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Guest

Louie Syred, Co-Founder of Peak Moods

49% of Gen-Z suffer from poor mental health every day. As a neuro-divergent person, Louie has struggled with self-medicating his ADHD, and his co-founder, Ben, was no stranger to the social pressure surrounding drinking. So after an eclectic mix of combined career experiences, the two former school friends found themselves asking the question: why do we seek to dull our minds every day with coffee and alcohol, instead of uplifting our minds to unlock our best potential?

Hear from Louie about how Peak are going to take over the planet with their ground-breaking creative ideology but also take the opportunity to hear a story we’re not often told about the amount of effort we should be putting in to what we love.

Takeaway

Thank you for your support.

Guest

Rebekah Few, freelance mental health + wellbeing consultant

Overview

Rebekah is an experienced freelance mental health and wellbeing consultant, facilitator and writer. 

She runs her own business (Not Lost, but Free) providing consultancy and training around popular psychological concepts and mental health to businesses. Her clients include Sony Music, Harrods, LinkedIn, Royal Mail and the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine.

When she moved cities from Birmingham to Brighton and left her full time position a few years ago, she pushed herself to reimagine her whole life. Her approach to life is as her business’s name suggests: free. 

If you’ve ever found yourself asking the question what is the purpose of my life then this episode will definitely be an interesting listen for you.

Takeaway

All we have to do to experience the very best things that life can offer us is free up our time.

Links

Check out Rebekah's website notlostbutfree.com for information about her services and also a whole host of blogs on topics from playing as adults to manifestation.

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com

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#FavouritePositions team

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Guest

Caleb Yule, Founder of Stories of Note

Overview

Caleb Yule is the founder of Stories of Note, a film company dedicated to recording and amplifying important stories that are seldom heard. 

Caleb works with non-profits and their funders, taking a strengths-based approach to storytelling, portraying all subjects in their best light.

Takeaway

Caleb is a master of timing and in this episode, he talks about how he has managed to work a 4-day week doing what he loves. 

For anyone who wants to work as little as possible and spend the time they are working doing what they feel most passionately about, this one is for you.

Links

Check out Caleb's incredible films by searching for Stories of Note on Vimeo and learn more about his services over on storiesofnote.com.

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions to hear about episode releases first. Check out the site the sexiest careers advice you’ve ever seen: favouritepositions.com

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Guest

Alex Young, Founder of Favourite Positions

Overview

Alex Young is the Founder of Favourite Positions, a platform dedicated to helping people find what they love to do. She has built a career around connecting people with one another and to initiatives that enable them to develop personally as well as professionally. 

Hear about where the concept of Favourite Positions came from and what she plans to do with it in the future, too.

Takeaway

Alex learnt at an early age that only we, ourselves, are responsible for our wellbeing and through experiencing pretty severe burn out, she had to rethink what a healthy lifestyle looked like. She talks about how to design a life that truly makes you happy and grounded through mindful routines.

Links

Follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and check out the website for the most eye opening careers insights you’ll ever see: favouritepositions.com

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#FavouritePositions team

Guest

Liz Gingell, Co-Owner of The Faerie Shop

Overview

Liz is the Co-Owner of The Faerie Shop, a physical shop and online space promoting wellbeing and inspiring people to realise and live as their authentic selves.

Hear her talk about the importance of listening to what it is that you don’t like doing when thinking about the kind of life you really want to have. Liz has learnt and continues to learn what she needs to about running her own business as she goes and doesn’t let the sheer amount of things she’ll need to get to grips with in order to make it a success put her off doing it in the first place because nothing matters more to her than freedom in her every day.

Takeaway

Taking stock of what we have that benefits us and eliminating shit from our lives that doesn’t make us feel good is really the key to doing more of what we love.

Links

Find out more about the shop by searching for 'The Faerie Shop' on Facebook and definitely pay it a visit if you're able to.

Please do follow us on Insta: @favouritepositionspodcast and on LinkedIn: Favourite Positions and share anything which resonates with you.

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#FavouritePositions team

Guest

Fraser Davidson, Founder of Cub Studio, has over 15 years of experience in the animation industry and his work with comedians on various projects has gained acclaim as well as several million YouTube hits.

Overview

In this episode, we speak to Cub about how they've been able to nurture their team further and expand their capabilities in to new directions.

Takeaway

Fraser talks about the simplicity and importance of trust within a work space and the undeniable impact that has on the culture of the team. So often, job adverts and company websites list all the features they offer employees but perhaps taking a much more stripped back approach could be more effective - the bottom line is that we all want to feel like we're doing something meaningful with our time and if our work space can give us the confidence to do that then we're likely to find greater enjoyment in our day to day.

Links

Check out Cub Studio's engaging animations over on cubstudio.com and find plenty of resources on finding what you love to do over on favouritepositions.com. Favourite Positions is also on Instagram @favouritepositionspodcast so feel free to connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new series!

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Guest

Lizzie Boyd is the Founder of The Pod HR, a small squad of HR freelancers with a tonne of experience, including Lizzie, that exists to help businesses with their people stuff.

Overview

In this episode, we chat to Lizzie about the impact of putting people first, avoiding burn-out and why we avoid having difficult conversations.

Takeaway

There is a clear take away from this episode which is: take a moment to pause, check in with yourself and then check in with those around you. So many work place issues can be solved by communicating honestly, first with yourself then with your team.

Links

If you'd like to chat through an HR concern then you can get hold of the wonder woman that is Lizzie via her site: thepodhr.com or by emailing her at hello@thepodhr.com. If you're interested in hearing more from us on finding what you love to do then check out favouritepositions.com. 

You can also find us on Instagram @favouritepositionspodcast - feel free to connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new series!

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#FavouritePositions team

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Guest

In this episode, we chat to globally recognised tattoo artist, Lui Lopez. Lui specialises in the Japanese cartoon style, Manga and currently works out of Studio Hatch in Brighton, though regularly travels to cities around the world for guest spots.

Takeaway

Lui's experiences working in different places across the globe has given him invaluable insight into what makes an inclusive environment where people can thrive. He shared honestly in this episode the dangers of using profit as the main motivator and beautifully emphasised the simple but absolutely essential message that being kind to yourself and to others is more important than anything else.

Links

You can follow Lui's travels and see the world class art he creates over on his Instagram @luilopeztattoos and whilst you're there, check out our daily motivational posts @favouritepositionspodcast.

Thank you so much for listening, we hope you found this episode as enjoyable to listen to as we did to record. This episode is part of the culture + careers series, we'd love to hear what you think about it so feel free to leave us a review. Please do share the link to the series with anyone you think will benefit from knowing about it, we really appreciate your support.

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Guest
In this episode, we speak to Greg, Head of Fundraising at Team Domenica, about how inclusivity at work is world changing. Team Domenica is a social enterprise charity. Their vision is for people with learning disabilities to be valued in the workplace, to reach their full potential and feel included as members of society.

Overview
Hear Greg talk about how the mission he and his team are on to help people with learning disabilities discover their career potential, to create employment opportunities and to remove barriers to work in local communities.

Takeaway
We all have an opportunity, through our work, to make this world a place where everyone feels valued, no matter what we do.

Links

You can follow the incredible journey Team Domenica are on over on their website teamdomenica.com and across all social media platforms, too.

You can find more resources on finding what you love to do and creating health and happy work place culture over on favorutiepositions.com. You can also find us on Instagram@favouritepositionspodcast- feel free to connect with us there!

Thank you so much for listening, this is the first of 10 episodes which will make up the culture + careers series, we'd love to hear what you think about it so feel free to leave us a review. Please do share the link to the series with anyone you think will benefit from knowing about it, we really appreciate your support.

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Guest
Beth Lewis is the People Experience Lead at TrustedHousesitters, a global, pet-loving community on a mission to create a world where pets enjoy their owners’ vacations just as much as they do!

Overview
In this episode, Beth talks about why TrustedHousesitters have transitioned into a remote-first organisation, how to support team members all around the world, what to look for in a progressive work space and how to prevent burn-out.

Takeaway
The future of work is exciting, it comes with new challenges but will unlock an enormous number of positives, one of which being the ability for individuals to have autonomy over their working patterns. Beth and her team have made a commitment to enabling flexible ways of working, including non-linear work days, because that was something that they found out was desirable for the company. This attitude and action is inspiring. There is no better time than now to take steps towards a more inclusive and caring world of work.

Links
Learn more about TrustedHousesitters via their website trustedhousesitters.com and find plenty of resources on finding what you love to do over on favouritepositions.com. Favourite Positions is also on Instagram @favouritepositionspodcast so feel free to connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new series!

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Guest
Rachel Mathia is a Learning and Leadership Expert. She supports the executive team at lululemon with their leadership and cultivates the team culture.

Overview
Hear from Rachel on how to lead with your personal values and create a career where you are truly thriving, nobody knows this topic better than she does.

Takeaway
Rachel says the most valuable asset she's taken from her experiences is the immediate power of leadership. She says that the most successful team leaders she has worked with shared qualities of generosity, a level of humility and strengths within communication and that it is through these traits a confidence and resiliency grows within the company, allowing them, and others, to take calculated risks.

Links
Find out more about what Rachel does and check out her brand new game, 'What's Below The Surface', on rachelmathia.com. Please leave us a review so we can find out what you think about the series and share it with anyone you think will benefit from it. Visit favouritepositions.com if you'd like to read the hottest careers advice out there and follow us on Instagram if that's your thing, we're @favouritepositionspodcast and we're posting daily inspiration - good vibes only over there.

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Guest
Bec is a fully qualified, BANT registered Nutritional Therapist with a unique mind-body-emotion approach, addressing root causes of ill health, not just physical symptoms. Her additional training as a restorative yoga teacher, EFT and breath work practitioner also feeds into her holistic approach.

Overview
I sat down with Bec to find out how to bring my own body back into balance when I felt burnout and wanted to share her life changing words of wisdom with you all.

Takeaway
Bec's own decision to redefine what success looks like to ensure it includes her health is simple and inspirational. I also genuinely love her tips on taking short breaks to focus on breathing or getting some movement in as they feel really manageable, as someone who currently couldn't face an hour long wellbeing focused class due to other time commitments and complete lack of ability to focus for that long (though I am trying to change that).

If you're listening to this, and like me, often feel on the brink of burn out then I can't recommend checking out Bec's Instagram enough. Prior to recording this episode, she took me through some EFT and I felt 100x calmer for it. She is so knowledgeable and caring, I feel honoured to have had her share some of her wisdom in this episode and I hope you have found it calming.

Links
Find out more about Bec + her work on Instagram @becmilligan_ and on her site becmilligan.com. You can also find plenty of resources on finding what you love to do over on favouritepositions.com. As you know by now, Favourite Positions is also on Instagram@favouritepositionspodcastso please do connect with us there. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the series!

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Guest
Laura Hunter is the Co Founder of The Now Work, a platform designed to connect independent sustainability experts with the work that needs to happen, now. Their mission is to connect world-changing people to world-changing work.

Overview
In this episode, we talk to Laura about her experiences to date and hopes for the future of work, which she believes needs to be the Now of Work.

Takeaway
Laura is on a journey to make changing the world possible by changing the world of work and it was inspiring as ever to hear about how she's doing that. I appreciated her complete transparency around suffering with imposter syndrome and burning out and loved her advice on time blocking self care activities into your diary, prioritising them as much as work related tasks in order to work in a sustainable way.
If you feel like you're currently a square peg pushing yourself into a round hole then perhaps its time to check out what other options are out there for you that you'll be more comfortable in, be that by changing roles or going freelance, or like Laura, taking the leap to create your own thing entirely. Life is too short to stay in a position you aren't happy in and there are organisations out there that will celebrate you and your individuality, they might be harder to find than they should be but they're there.

Links
You can learn more about the Now Work on thenowwork.com or by searching on Instagram for @thenowwork.

If you're looking for a new role then do also check out the purpose driven Jobs Board I'm managing on behalf of media agency, The Know, by visiting theknowmedia.co and clicking 'Jobs Board' on the homepage.

If you're yet to follow us on Instagram then please do, we're@favouritepositionspodcast.We'd love to hear your thoughts on the series!

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#FavouritePositions team

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Guest

Phoebe Hanson is a climate and social justice activist and the Chief Operating Officer of Force of Nature, a youth-led start-up which empowers Gen Z to step up, rather than shut down, in the face of the climate crisis.

Overview
I was honoured to be able to sit down with Phoebe to find out how she creates a culture of hope when working in an anxiety inducing field. She truly does embed activism and sustainability in every facet of her life, always striving to do the best for our people and planet, and encouraging others to do the same.

Takeaway
Phoebe and the team she cares for are not only empowering one another to be their best selves in and outside of work but they're also supporting global community of young people.

93% of employees say that acting on climate at work is important to their personal sense of motivation and wellbeing. We all need to do more to ensure we're allowing this hugely important issue to form part of our work, as individuals and as teams.

Hearing the ways the Force of Nature team are freeing themselves from traditional work place restrictions really is eye opening, from providing transparency around everyones salary to speaking truthfully about their wellbeing. Their website states that they advise business leaders and challenge business-as-usual and I feel Phoebe put that across perfectly during our conversation. They truly are a team of young trailblazers.

Links
Find out more about what they're doing and how you can get involved in their work, helping young people turn eco-anxiety into action and driving intergenerational solutions with business leaders. Visit www.forceofnature.xyz and follow them on Instagram @forceofnature.xyz.

If you're yet to follow us on Instagram then please do, we're@favouritepositionspodcast.We'd love to hear your thoughts on the series and connect with you!

Thank you for your support, always.

#FavouritePositions team
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Guest 

Shoshanna Davis is the Founder of Fairy Job Mother, a community that empowers 15,000+ students, graduates and young professionals with the skills and mind-set to stand out, get hired and progress in their careers. She felt frustration over the lack of relevant career guidance and available to young people post-school and university so decided to take matters into her own hands.Through her platform, she's been able to help hundreds of students and graduates land jobs at the likes of Google, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, THG, HelloFresh, BT and has partnered with some amazing employers and brands including UCAS, Bright Network, Rate My Placement, Newton Europe, Zoella & more!

Overview

Fairy Job Mother is a young professionals ‘one-stop’ shop for all things career advice and progression. Shoshanna has created tonnes of resources and shares insights on topics including finding your dream job, gaining a promotion, salary negotiation, building your own business and more.

Takeaway

Regardless of background, everyone should be equipped with the skills, mindset and resources to progress in their career.

Links 

Learn more about Fairy Job Mother on Instagram @thefairjobmother and stay tuned for Shoshanna's exciting next steps.
If you're over on Instagram and we're yet to connect then say hello! 
We're@favouritepositionspodcast and we wouldlove to hear your thoughts on the series.

Thank you for your support, always.

#FavouritePositions team 
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Calypso Barnum-Bobb is a Self-Discovery Coach, Speaker and Host who helps people re-discover and express their most authentic selves so they can create lives they're obsessed with.

She leads 1:1 and group coaching sessions, talks and workshops in collaboration with leading global brands, including Nike, adidas, SOHO house, Lost Village music festival and the London College Of Fashion. She also runs a challenge for her community called 21 Days Of Self-Discovery, helping groups of people realise their greatness.

She's also the co-founder of People Like Us Retreats- the inclusive retreat company that holds transformational retreats for the modern human and the host of her brand new podcast Self-Centred with Calypso.

Hear about her fascinating journey to date and get an exclusive insight into what she's planning next.

Find out more about Calypso: https://msha.ke/calypsobarnumbobb

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x

Charlie Partridge has lived a life. Working as a performer, he has hosted events all over the globe to hundreds of thousands of people from New York and LA to Paris and London. He's toured shows with The New Scientist and hosted the Moth Live (one of the most downloaded podcasts in the world).

I first came across Charlie during his performance last year at Brighton Fringe and became obsessed. He was bringing hardcore beats from the underground German Haus scene as Acid Klauss, a Bavarian beatboxer, music producer, club veteran and comic creation. Charlie has created a huge variety of live entertainment experiences, to the highest possible standard, for all manner of clients including Fortune 500 companies, celebrities, Royals, charities and broadcasters. Testimonials on his website echo my own feelings about his talents, with Meta exclaiming that booking him for a team event has gone down in history for them and Wilderness stating that he is the best act they have ever had the pleasure of booking!

Hear from Charlie about where his imagination comes from, how he got into the position he's in and what he loves most about what he does.

Find out more about Charlie: https://charliepartridgecomedy.co.uk/

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x

Daisy Morris is a social media strategist and the Founder of social media consultancy and digital community, The Selfhood.

Studying Fashion at University, Daisy specialised in digital media and online consumer psychology, laying the vital foundations upon which her growth in the online world would be built.

After graduating she worked in creative agencies, within teams at in-house fashion brands, and on specific activations and events for global brands, such as Pernod Ricard, Nasty Gal, and Diagio.

In this episode, Daisy tells us how, in 2019, she quit her job after finding frustration in the lack of down-to-earth, real, and human advice available for those trying to find their way in the world of digital marketing and social media.

With a fire in her belly and an undeniable enthusiasm to support others in finding their voice on social media, she went on to found The Selfhood. The company was born to teach business owners and creatives how to share their talents and promote their work online, in the most actionable and authentic way.

Daisy tells us how the main premise of The Selfhood is that it aims to make URL interactions feel just as human as IRL ones. She uses funny tongue in cheek videos, memes, and vibrantly designed interactive content to share the know-how on building meaningful communities and connections on social media with business owners, creators, students, and creatives, far and wide.

Eager to found a sense of community in real life, as well as in the digital world, Daisy also runs her own sell-out community-centric events and away from the world, she has started a netball team for women looking to make new friends in London, which has been a huge success and continues to grow.

Find out more about Daisy: https://www.theselfhood.com/social-links

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x

Sal is a Mindset, Mood & Movement Coach. Though he's the first to tell you that he's not your typical life coach - he doesn't preach positivity.

He's also not a conventional business coach – he won't examine your spreadsheets.

As you'll find out in this episode, Sal listens very deeply to individuals and business founders and encourages them to see what they're not comfortable seeing, so they can move on up to a new level of consciousness. He believes that in guiding them to see their truth, a shift is created in their perspective that frees them from fear and unease. Essentially, he create the conditions for positive change and personal growth.

He has been on a journey of profound personal growth himself. Hear about how he compiled his first list of the 'things he needed to work on for himself' as a child, how his anxious 'high achiever' tendencies in early adulthood led him to pursue success in business, relationships, financial stability, constantly looking or next ‘thing’ to make him happy and how, in searching for answers to him unease, over the last 20 years, he has studied Indian philosophy, practiced yoga and become a yoga teacher.

It was a real honour to record with Sal and I hope you enjoy listening to his incredible story to date.

Find out more about Sal: www.saljefferies.com

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x

George Bettany is the Co-Founder of Sanctus, a coaching organisation which offers a holistic and sustainable approach to growth, blending personal and professional development with proactive wellbeing support.

George charts his personal journey from being an active child to a promising football player then an entrepreneur who dropped out of Uni to focus on his original business. He speaks openly about how ultimately, he and his business partner burnt out during the pursuit of that first business.

They both struggled with their mental health and wellbeing and didn't know how to to unbottle the way that they'd been feeling. They felt the space that they needed didn’t exist. Neither of them felt “ill” enough for therapy, and they didn’t even know where to start with trying to explain how they were feeling to friends and family.

George explains that he found his ‘place’ in life through solving that exact problem with Sanctus. People needed somewhere to talk and to connect that didn’t yet exist. And so Sanctus, meaning “pure” in Latin, became a living, breathing brand on a mission to change the way the world views mental wellbeing in the workplace and to give people the space that they need.

George has recently taken on the role of Chief Purpose Officer and talks during this episode about what he loves most about what he does as well as the challenges he's faced and how he's overcome them.

Find out more about Sanctus: https://sanctus.io/

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x

John Thornton is probably the most fearless employee I’ve ever met. We got to know one another at an all day long event at innocent smoothie’s head quarters, where he worked at the time. I had the pleasure of both hanging out with him and getting to see him do what he does best, which is write. He has since moved on from innocent to work as the Senior Creative of Surreal, a healthy cereal brand but during his time copy writing for the well known and loved smoothie brand, he caused an internet-wide argument about a blue drink, nearly poisoned the nation's children with Conker Milk, got himself banned from the company LinkedIn account, enraged an army of Covid-deniers, had to be airbrushed out of the TV ad I wrote...and he says those were the better days. In his own words, it is a miracle he wasn't fired.

Hear about how he went from being told off at school for cheekiness to being told off at work for the same thing but somehow not enough to get in serious trouble and just enough to make a name for himself in the creative marketing world, for the right reasons.

Find out more about what John's up to here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thornjohnton/

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.


Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x

Becci Paige is the Founder of Stay In Your Lane Vintage, a hand picked vintage clothing store with a physical location in the heart of Brighton’s lanes and online shop.

Becci began her business two goals in mind. She wanted to create a sustainable clothing brand and to create an experience that made people happier than before they walked in. Having gotten to know her myself via being a customer, I can confidently say she is succeeding on both fronts. Becci’s background in retail made her see that there were not enough shopping spaces to make humans feel safe and included. She says it baffled her how we are so immersed in harmful stereotypes and these have attached themselves to clothes. From how clothes are marketed to how shops segregate their layout, she set out to do things different, creating a genderless clothing store and a place for each and everyone to feel truly welcome. Regardless of who the garment was originally manufactured for, if it fits and makes you feel fabulous then she believes it is made for you! Many of the pieces available for sale have been reworked and so are totally unique.

Becci has made shopping sustainably and feeling empowered to dress however makes you feel your most confident simple. Hear her story on how she went from a hopeless place to a business owner with a clear mission and a lease of life she didn’t see coming.

Visit SIYLV's site here: https://stayinyourlanevintage.com/

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x 

 Hilary Owen is the Head of Marketing at Escape The City, the leading purposeful job board, helping mission-driven job seekers find work that they believe in, at organisations doing things differently.

They believe you shouldn’t need to compromise on flexibility or ways of working that suit you, and that working for a cause you truly care about is more possible now than ever. We couldn't agree more, obviously.

Their platform showcases 1,000s of organisations doing business for good, for people and our planet. Because life’s too short to do work that doesn’t matter. Their tag line is: Do Something Different, don’t waste 40+ hrs a week being unhappy and that's exactly what Hilary did.

Before joining Escape, Hilary worked in fashion brand and content marketing in New York and London.

She left in January 2021 to pursue a simpler life — starting with converting a campervan and subsequently spending the summer in Cornwall.

Hilary is a thought leader in work place culture and shares openly what’s worked for her in her career to date to ensure she’s fulfilled and living her best life!

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.
#FavouritePositions team x

The plant-based meat alternative market is heaving with products in 2022 – but perhaps no brand has quite captured the attention of meat eaters, flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans alike quite like THIS. With its hyper-realistic versions of common meat products, THIS has been making it easier to make plant-based like-for-like ingredient swaps since its launch in 2019.

Andy Shovel co-founded THIS alongside business partner Pete Sharman, with whom he now shares the role of Co-CEO. Prior to THIS, the pair established and ran a burger restaurant chain – yes, serving real meat. While the origins of the company seem antithetical at first, Andy says it actually makes perfect sense – both are big lovers of the taste of meat, who want to be able to replicate it in a cruelty-free, sustainable way.

It has been a whirlwind few years for Andy but his tongue-in-cheek, light-hearted approach keep him grounded through it all. Not only can THIS products be found on the menu in Café Nero, Honest Burger and Prezzo, just to name a few, but he and his team have also been winning awards, including a Food Matters Live Award for Plant-Based Product of the Year.

Hear from him about how he went from selling animal meat burgers to setting up one of the largest disrupter brands in the plant based food industry.

We're @favouritepositionspodcast on Instagram, be sure to connect with us there if you'd like to join our online community of people who are finding what they love to do.

Thank you for listening and for your support, always.

#FavouritePositions team x

...

Hi, It's Alex here, Founder of Favourite Positions.

I’ve recently become the Director of a company that just over 3 years ago, I was working an entry level job for. My career to date has been fast paced and I’ve learnt a lot in a short space of time. Some lessons were more painful than others but I’m a firm believer that there are positive sides to any experience. 

In this podcast episode, I go into what I've done to get to where I am now, the 'mistakes' I've made along the way and what I'm most excited about for both Favourite Positions and the company I am directing, Projects.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for all of your incredible support, words of encouragement and openness throughout this series. Hearing how this platform has helped you is so special to me and to my amazing Mum, Angela, who produces the podcast.

#FavouritePositions team x

Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast and if you’re new here then hello for the first time. My name is Alex and I’m the Founder of this platform. I designed it to help inspire people to find what they love to do! 

This is the start of our 4th series and for the first time, we’re proudly collaborating with Projects for the next 10 episodes. Projects is a coworking space provider with 2 stunning spaces in Brighton and many more set to open across the UK. 

I’m joined by Alana Harris who runs one of Projects’ spaces and is also leading on Projects’ marketing, she’s going to be cohosting this series with me and I’m so lucky to have her onboard. 

In this episode, I talk you through what you can expect from the upcoming series, introduce Alana properly and discuss with her what’s going on in the world of work right now (we cover topics such as meaningful work, flexible working, what different generations want from work, burn out, and AI) . We also end the episode with an exciting announcement about a new venture we have planned!

If you’re yet to follow Favourite Positions on socials then please do, it’s always so fulfilling to hear from our listeners about what they thought about the episodes and find out what career challenges they’re facing - you can connect with us @favouritepositionspodcast on Insta and by searching for Favourite Positions on LinkedIn. You can also listen to all of the other 3 series via all major streaming platforms and read our handy expert written guides on our website: favouritepositions.com - we have articles up about getting into a huge range of roles, improving your overall wellbeing at work and inspiring a high-performing team.

If you’re yet to join Projects’ online community then you’re missing out! Follow us on social media @projectsbtn and benefit from better business related advice, we’re always posting about how to benefit people and the planet whilst maximising profit! We’d love to connect with you there, too.

In fact, if you’d like to experience working from a Projects space yourself then get in touch! You can book a tour and trial here: https://www.projectsclub.co.uk/visit-us

Look forward to bringing you the next episode of ‘What’s Working’ next week - until then, we hope you get to do something you love.

Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast and if you’re new here then hello for the first time. My name is Alex and I’m the Founder of this platform. I designed it to help inspire people to find what they love to do! 

This our 4th series and for the first time, we’re proudly collaborating with Projects for the next 10 episodes. Projects is a coworking space provider with 2 stunning spaces in Brighton and many more set to open across the UK. 

I’m joined by Alana Harris who runs one of Projects’ spaces and is also leading on Projects’ marketing, she’s going to be cohosting this series with me and I’m so lucky to have her onboard. 

This episode, we’re fortunate enough to be joined by the incredible, Lynn Anderson Clark. Lynn is the Co-founder and CEO of The Know, purpose-driven media company.

The Know’s mission is to help people feel less stressed about current affairs and more capable of implementing small changes in their daily lives, as well as incentivising heftier change in policy and investment. Lynn talks to us about her career to date, how she avoids burning out and what she knows about the work life desires of both millennials and Gen Zs.

Find out more about The Know here: https://www.theknowmedia.co/

If you’re yet to follow Favourite Positions on socials then please do, it’s always so fulfilling to hear from our listeners about what they thought about the episodes and find out what career challenges they’re facing - you can connect with us @favouritepositionspodcast on Insta and by searching for Favourite Positions on LinkedIn. You can also listen to all of the other 3 series via all major streaming platforms and read our handy expert written guides on our website: favouritepositions.com - we have articles up about getting into a huge range of roles, improving your overall wellbeing at work and inspiring a high-performing team.

If you’re yet to join Projects’ online community then you’re missing out! Follow us on social media @projectsbtn and benefit from better business related advice, we’re always posting about how to benefit people and the planet whilst maximising profit! We’d love to connect with you there, too.

In fact, if you’d like to experience working from a Projects space yourself then get in touch! You can book a tour and trial here: https://www.projectsclub.co.uk/visit-us

Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast and if you’re new here then hello for the first time. My name is Alex and I’m the Founder of this platform. I designed it to help inspire people to find what they love to do! 

This our 4th series and for the first time, we’re proudly collaborating with Projects for the next 10 episodes. Projects is a coworking space provider with 2 stunning spaces in Brighton and many more set to open across the UK. 

I’m joined by Alana Harris who runs one of Projects’ spaces and is also leading on Projects’ marketing, she’s going to be cohosting this series with me and I’m so lucky to have her onboard. 

This episode, we’re talking to Josh Connolly, resilience coach and one of the UK’s most influential mental health speaker.

TW: We need to put a trigger warning in here because suicide is briefly touched upon so if listening to any references about this topic isn’t supportive of you in your journey then we apologise and welcome you to listen to any of our other episodes.

Josh speaks incredibly openly in this episode and mentions that in December 2012, he began planning his suicide. He had just become sober, but after years of dependency and a lifetime of trauma, he explains that he was completely lost.   

He tells us that back then, he believed that resilience was the ability to keep going no matter what, to avoid any struggle and show up. That ideal drove him to a place where he felt the best thing to do for his children was to take his own life. Today, he has a new idea of resilience. One that is fluid, that allows him to struggle and ask for help. Listen to Josh talk about how he’s learnt to understand what he feels, knows what he needs as a result and is able to communicate that within his activities and relationships.

https://www.joshconnolly.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/josh_ffw/

If you’re yet to follow Favourite Positions on socials then please do, it’s always so fulfilling to hear from our listeners about what they thought about the episodes and find out what career challenges they’re facing - you can connect with us @favouritepositionspodcast on Insta and by searching for Favourite Positions on LinkedIn. You can also listen to all of the other 3 series via all major streaming platforms and read our handy expert written guides on our website: favouritepositions.com - we have articles up about getting into a huge range of roles, improving your overall wellbeing at work and inspiring a high-performing team.

If you’re yet to join Projects’ online community then you’re missing out! Follow us on social media @projectsbtn and benefit from better business related advice, we’re always posting about how to benefit people and the planet whilst maximising profit! We’d love to connect with you there, too.

In fact, if you’d like to experience working from a Projects space yourself then get in touch! You can book a tour and trial here: https://www.projectsclub.co.uk/visit-us

Welcome back to the Favourite Positions podcast. In this series, we've teamed up with Projects who run high-end, inclusive work spaces. We're asking experts from diverse industries 'What's Working?' for them and their teams, discussing the future of work and coming up with strategies for bringing the best out of ourselves and those around us.

This episode, we’re joined by Pauline Roussel.

Pauline is an expert in coworking spaces and community. Over the last 8 years, she has dedicated her time and effort to better understand the world of modern workspaces. Her mission is to teach people and companies about how to create spaces that work best for them and help them to attract and retain talent by being one step-ahead when it comes to their workplace strategy.

She’s the co-founder of Coworkies, a global job board setting the hiring and recruiting standards for the coworking and flex industry. The job board is the outcome of 5 years of travelling, visiting over 500 coworking spaces around the world.

She is also the co/author of "Around The World in 250 Coworking Spaces" a 350 pages coffee table book highlighting 250 founders of coworking and collaborative workspaces and their stories.

https://www.instagram.com/coworkies

https://www.linkedin.com/company/coworkies/

https://www.coworkies.com/

Pauline talks to us about her career to date, how to create inspiring work spaces and what she thinks the future of towns and cities around the world will look like - spoiler: coworking spaces play a leading part!

We hope you find this episode insightful! We will be back next week with another one so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsbtn. 

You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-harris-9504a4212/

With over 17 years in communications working at London’s top beauty agencies, Jasmine Wicks-Stephens has worked with the industry’s best talent and a plethora of amazing brands from all aspects of beauty.

She launched her own agency Known five years ago. Her team is made up of likeminded go-getters and brand builders including PR pros, designers, social media managers, events specialists, marketing pros and experts in everything else you could possibly need to get your brand, Known. Their clients range from global market leaders to indie start-ups. 

In 2020, Jasmine launched a skincare brand, Faace. Working alongside the beauty insiders she has known for over a decade, she created her own brand to fill a gap in the market, giving consumers a new, more direct way to shop for their skin. Faace launched with a capsule collection of Period, Tired and Sweaty Faace masks and the brand is now stocked in retailers across the globe - from Harrods and Lane Crawford to Lookfantastic and Boots ME.

For anyone interested in starting their own company, this is not one to miss.

We spoke to Jasmine about sustainability, community, trust and autonomy, being a female founder and what success looks like. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it.

Find out more about Known here: https://www.known-community.com/

Check out Faace here: https://www.wearefaace.com/

Connect with Jasmine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-wicks-stephens-b912641b/?originalSubdomain=uk

We hope you find this episode insightful! We will be back next week with another one so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsbtn. 
You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-harris-9504a4212/

In this series, we are interviewing a range of inspiring experts across diverse industries, finding out how they got into the positions they’re in and what they think the world needs to look like.

This episode, we’re fortunate enough to be joined by Thom Elliot, who alongside his brother James, founded the incredible pizzeria chain Pizza Pilgrims which as of the time of this recording has 25 sites around the UK.

Thom talks to us about the journey they’ve been through to get Pizza Pilgrims to where it is today, the importance of surrounding yourself with passionate people and how to cultivate the happiest team possible

He also gives us a low down on how to make the best pizza in the world, so it’s not an episode to miss. 

Please stay tuned on the Projects website for our interview with Thom which will go live in November.

You can check out Pizza Pilgrim’s story in more detail here: https://www.pizzainthepost.co.uk/pages/who-we-are#:~:text=Pizza%20Pilgrims%20was%20born%20in,famous%20pizzaoli%20in%20the%20world

We will be back next week with another so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking to Jonathan Reid, a podcasting and personal branding specialist who has achieved incredibly impressive things in his career to date, all through self-taught practises. His company, Reidentify helps B2B businesses and their representatives become thought leaders in their industry. 

He also runs an organisation called Purpose Led, through which he impacts thousands of driven people on a regular basis through a weekly podcast, speaking engagements at schools, universities and corporates across the UK and he hosts his own events too. 

Jonathan is all about impact, positive mindset and leaving the world a better place than how you found it!

He’s a fountain of wisdom and we know you’re going to really enjoy this episode.

For anyone wanting to connect with Jonathan, you can find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-reid-654566172/

Learn more about Reidentify:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/reidentify/

Listen to Purpose Led:

https://www.purposeledclub.com/

We’ll keep you up to date with any events we run with him, too and hope they’re not far in the future.

Thank you for listening. We will be back next week with another so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN. 

You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.

Garrett Keogh is an expert in uncertainty and this episode is exactly what you need to listen to if you’re feeling worried about the future.

As a pioneer in the digital sector, he has worked at a senior level for huge brands, from MTV to AOL, running digital and content departments and leading digital strategy. He’s delivered major campaigns for BBC, ITV, SKY and Red Bull, led social media strategy development for the BBC and helped launch some of its biggest TV brands online. 

Garrett talks to us about his career to date, starting out as a journalist, writing about which printers and other new technological devices were worth purchasing, then reviewing websites in magazines (yes, that wa a real job) to eventually running his own agency, building from scratch to a multi-million-pound turnover with clients including TGI Fridays, NBC Universal, Sony, HP, Nike, Sky and more. 

We loved hearing from him about his take on how the changes we’re experiencing currently in the world of work are really exciting and how technology can continue to evolve and enable us to live better lives.

Find out more about the Uncertainty Experts here: https://www.uncertaintyexperts.com/

We hope you find this episode insightful and we will be back next week with another so stay tuned. As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN.

In this episode we had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Sam Hornsby, co founder of creative career app ERIC. 

ERIC is an award-winning platform connecting the next generation of talent to the creative industries.

Sam and her childhood best friend Mae founded ERIC, which is on a mission to give young people access to career experiences, initiatives & opportunities, whilst also helping creative companies get these opportunities in front of their target audience.

We spoke to Sam about what Gen Z want from the world of work, what companies can be doing to ensure they’re making diverse and inclusive hiring decisions and what exactly the creative industries are.

Thank you for listening, we hope you found this episode insightful and we will be back next week with another so stay tuned - next week will actually be our last in the series, it’s not going to be one to miss! 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-hornsby-25a95334/?originalSubdomain=uk

https://www.meet-eric.com/

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eric-creative-career-app/id1593220987

As always don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram. We are @favouritepositionspodcast and @projectsBTN. 

You can also let us know how you found this episode via LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you and find out what’s working for you right now.

Founded in 2022 by curator Eden Maseyk and entrepreneur Luke Davis, Helm Gallery in Brighton is the result of a collective vision; one that aims to provide a never-before seen arts and exhibition space in the heart of the city. 

The gorgeous gallery space is made up of two floors. A ground floor consisting of a rotating selection of limited-edition prints and highly sought after original pieces carefully selected and curated by the team. Downstairs is home to the exhibition hall, a vast area that hosts cutting-edge shows, classes and immersive experiences.

Helm places a huge emphasis on ensuring their doors are open to everyone. They are determined to make the art world more inclusive and accessible. They never charge anyone to view the art and their events series focuses on showcasing as many art forms as possible, including music, dance and interactive workshops.

We sat down with Eden and Artist Liaison, India Coles, to discuss why it’s so important to wider society to make art more accessible.

Learn from the experts on the finest contemporary art in the world about the magic of creativity.

Stay up to date with Helm here:

https://helm-gallery.com/

As for us, we’re wrapping up this series on a high as we have a new venture to tell you about

As of 2024, we will be doing LIVE in person ‘What’s Working?’ events. Starting early in the new year, join us as we collectively shape the future of work at our new FREE event series  – these 90 minute sessions are packed with expert speakers, an insightful panel discussion and network opportunities.

Engage in panel talks dissecting critical work-related topics from AI to hybrid working, gather actionable insights and contribute to thought-provoking conversations about the future of work.

Join discussions led by top speakers, gain fresh perspectives and discover approaches that can help you to redefine how you view work.

We’ll be sharing the links to our 'What's Working?' events soon so stay tuned if you want to be part of shaping the future work.

Thank you so much for listening to the first of our collaborative podcast series between Favourite Positions and Projects, it’s been such a pleasure to interview all of the inspiring guests we’ve had on over the past few months and we can’t wait to release more episodes next year.

You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:

https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/projectsbtn/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-harris-9504a4212/

Please do reach out and let us know how you’ve found the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes.

Wishing you a wonderful end to the year.

We’re looking forward to exploring what the future holds with you.

Episode description: 

In this episode of Favourite Positions, Alex sits down with Bailey Greetham-Clark, the founder of Be Great Fitness. Bailey shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a prominent figure in the health and fitness industry. Discover how he turned his struggles into a mission to make fitness accessible to all, especially vulnerable groups. Bailey's story is a testament to the power of resilience, passion and community-driven initiatives.

Key points discussed:

• Bailey's early life and upbringing in challenging circumstances
• The transformative power of running and physical activity
• Transition from running to boxing and early coaching experiences
• Founding Be Great Fitness during the pandemic and its mission
• The impact of inclusivity and accessibility in fitness programs
• The role of social media in growing Be Great Fitness
• Bailey's perspective on community-driven fitness and its future
• Advice for young entrepreneurs and organizations promoting health and wellbeing
• Upcoming projects and national expansion plans for Be Great Fitness

Resources and links:

• Be Great Fitness
• Follow Bailey on Instagram

You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:

https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/

As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description: 

In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex sits down with Stefanie Sword-Williams, the dynamic founder of 'Fuck Being Humble,' to explore her journey of embracing authenticity and self-promotion in the workplace. From her early life experiences growing up across different continents to the challenges she faced in toxic work environments, Stef shares how these shaped her resilient and adaptable nature. Discover the inspiration behind 'Fuck Being Humble,' the impact of its bold name, and the community it has fostered. Stef also delves into her process of writing and publishing her book, navigating the pandemic, and her vision for the future of work. Tune in to gain valuable insights on building a personal brand, the power of self-promotion, and practical advice for those looking to carve their own unique career paths.

Key points discussed:

• Stef's childhood and school experiences in Leeds and the US
• Discovering her authentic self and confidence from a young age
• Transition from university to her first job in marketing and branding
• Challenges faced in a toxic work environment and lessons learned
• The inspiration and motivation behind starting 'Fuck Being Humble'
• The significance of the provocative name and its impact
• Early days of hosting events and building a community
• The importance of authenticity and self-promotion in career growth
• Bootstrapping the business and navigating financial constraints
• Writing and publishing her book 'Fuck Being Humble'
• Stef's perspective on the evolving future of work
• Advice for individuals navigating their careers and the importance of continuous self-promotion
• Embracing flexibility, passion and creativity in career choices

Resources and links:

• Fuck Being Humble
• Connect with Stefanie Sword-Williams on LinkedIn
• Follow Fuck Being Humble on Instagram

You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:

https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/

As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description: 

In this episode of Favourite Positions, Alex sits down with Bud, the founder of BARCO, Boxless and Men of Melanin. Bud shares his journey from growing up in Brighton, navigating challenges in the education system, and pursuing a career in professional basketball to becoming a prominent figure in community activism and business consultancy. Learn about his initiatives aimed at improving inclusivity, sustainability and mental health support for men of colour. Bud's story is a testament to the power of resilience, community and the drive to make a difference.

Key points discussed:

• Bud's early life and upbringing in Brighton
• Experiences and challenges in school
• Transition from school to professional basketball
• The impact of a professional sports career on personal growth
• Transition from basketball to the business world
• Founding and goals of BARCO, Boxless and Men of Melanin
• Insights into the creation and impact of these organisations
• Leadership qualities and advice for fostering inclusive cultures
• Future goals and upcoming initiatives

Resources and links:

• BARCO - Black Anti-Racism Community Organisation
• Boxless Consultancy
• Men of Melanin
• Follow Bud on LinkedIn

Upcoming event:

• Brighton Carnival: Join us for a celebration of Black culture at St. Ann's Well Gardens in Brighton. Enjoy performances, great food and a vibrant parade. Check out the carnival details and mark your calendars for a day of fun and community spirit! More info here

You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:

https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/

As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description: 

In this episode of Favourite Positions, Alex chats with Mike Turner, co-founder of Bird & Blend, a unique tea company known for its innovative blends and strong community focus. Mike shares his journey from his early days in Manchester and Warwickshire, to his experiences as a ski instructor in Canada and how he and his Co-Founder Krisi built Bird & Blend from the ground up. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of starting a business, the importance of sustainability and the future of the tea industry. Mike's story is a testament to the power of passion, resilience and staying true to your values.

Key points discussed:

• Mike's early life in Manchester and Warwickshire
• The influence of his family and school experiences
• Transition from working various jobs to starting Bird & Blend
• The initial idea and inspiration for Bird & Blend
• Overcoming challenges in the early days of the business
• Importance of sustainability and how it's integrated into Bird & Blend
• The role of community and customer focus in Bird & Blend's success
• The impact of company culture and the journey to becoming a top employer
• Future plans and growth for Bird & Blend

Resources and links:

• Bird & Blend Tea Co.
• Contact for partnerships: info@birdandblendtea.com / meg@birdandblendtea.com
• Follow Bird & Blend on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and Linked In:

https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/

As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description:

In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex chats with Olamide Majekodunmi, the inspiring founder of 'All Things Money,' to delve into her journey of promoting financial literacy and inclusion among young adults. From her early life in East London to her unexpected transition into entrepreneurship during the pandemic, Ola shares how these experiences have shaped her mission to educate others about personal finance. Discover the motivation behind 'All Things Money,' the challenges Ola faced and the strategies she used to build a thriving community. Ola also discusses her process for creating educational resources, her experience working with major brands and her vision for the future of financial education. Tune in to gain valuable insights on managing finances, building a successful platform and fostering a supportive community.

Key points discussed:

• Ola's early life and upbringing in East London
• Her transition from university to entrepreneurship during the pandemic
• The inspiration and motivation behind starting 'All Things Money'
• The importance of financial literacy and how to improve it
• Practical steps for young adults to achieve financial stability and growth
• The process of creating eBooks, workshops and other educational resources
• Ola's experience with brand partnerships and the criteria for collaboration
• Strategies for negotiating better salaries and benefits
• The impact of live events and workshops on building a community
• Staying informed about changes in the economy and financial markets
• Future goals for 'All Things Money' and fostering financial literacy

Resources and links:

• 'All Things Money': Website
• Connect with Ola: Instagram
• Follow 'All Things Money' on TikTok: All Things Money TikTok
• Listen to the 'All Things Money' podcast: All Things Money Podcast
• Recommended book: "Money: A User's Guide" by Laura Whateley
• Financial comparison websites: Money.co.uk, MoneySuperMarket.com
• News sources for staying updated: BBC News, Money Saving Expert

Please stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:

• Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
• Alex Young on LinkedIn

As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description:

In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex sits down with Rifa Thorpe-Tracey, a multifaceted professional known for her contributions to the digital and creative industries, as well as her efforts in empowering women through coaching and community initiatives. From her upbringing in South London with a Mauritian background to her journey in the tech world and beyond, Rifa shares how these experiences shaped her path. Discover her insights on using intuition in decision-making, the creation of impactful community events and her vision for empowering women in tech and creative fields. Tune in to gain valuable insights on personal growth, leadership and creating inclusive spaces.

Key points discussed:

• Rifa's childhood and early influences in South London
• Navigating the creative and digital industries with a unique perspective
• The inspiration behind her community initiatives, including 'She Says' and 'Spring Forward Festival'
• The role of intuition in decision-making and professional growth
• Creating inclusive and empowering spaces for women in tech and creative industries
• The journey from digital agency roles to founding 'Refigure'
• Practical advice for women on negotiating salaries and benefits
• The importance of self-investment and continuous personal development
• Rifa's vision for the future of her coaching and community work

Resources and links:

• 'Refigure': Website
• Connect with Rifa Thorpe-Tracey: LinkedIn
• Follow 'Refigure' on Instagram: @refigure

You can stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn

As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform; we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description: 

In this episode of Careers Unlocked, Alex chats with Hannah Cox, Director of betternotstop and The Better Business Network. Hannah shares her journey from her challenging childhood in South London to becoming a successful business leader and advocate for sustainability. She opens up about her experiences with bullying, a cancer diagnosis and the loss of family members, all of which shaped her resilience and drive. Discover how Hannah transitioned from running her own club nights at university to founding betternotstop and The Better Business Network, building and supporting a community of organisations around to UK who want to use their business as a force for good. Learn about her ambitious Project Salt Run, where she'll be running 100 marathons in 100 days to raise awareness and funds for those affected by climate change.

Key points discussed:

• Hannah's early life in South London and Hertfordshire
• Impact of bullying and family challenges on her development
• Transition from university to running her own businesses
• Founding betternotstop and The Better Business Network
• Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Importance of sustainability in business and the benefits of B Corp certification
• The concept of collective action in The Better Business Network
• The Better Business Summit and its impact
• Hannah's motivations and preparations for Project Salt Run
• Advice for business leaders on making a positive social and environmental impact

Resources and Links:

Connect with Hannah: LinkedIn

Project Salt Run Instagram: Project Salt Run

betternotstop: Website

Better Business Network: Website

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

B Corp Certification

Carbon Literacy Project

ClientEarth

Mind Over Mountains

Goodfest

Blue Earth Summit

Stay Up to Date with Us on Instagram and LinkedIn:

• Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
• Alex Young on LinkedIn

As always, please reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description: 
In this episode of 'Favourite Positions: Careers Unlocked,' Alex chats with Molly, Co-Founder of Flexa, to explore her journey from working on a farm during her childhood to creating a groundbreaking platform that redefines flexible working. Molly shares her unique experiences, including a rigorous gap year, her university life at Oxford and her career in investment banking, which ultimately led her to identify a significant gap in the market. Discover the motivation behind Flexa, the challenges Molly faced and how Flexa is changing the future of work for millions. Molly also discusses the impact of flexible working on diversity and inclusion, the importance of employee value propositions and her vision for the future of Flexa. Tune in to gain valuable insights on navigating the evolving landscape of work and fostering a more inclusive, flexible work environment.

Key points discussed:

• Molly's early life and upbringing in London and Somerset
• Her transition from university to investment banking and the intense gap year experiences
• The inspiration and motivation behind starting Flexa
• The challenges faced in the early stages of building Flexa, including the impact of the pandemic
• The role of flexible working in enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion
• The concept of employee value proposition and its significance
• Strategies for companies to introduce flexible working arrangements
• How individuals can identify and negotiate flexible working options
• Staying informed about changes in the future of work
• Future goals for Flexa and the broader vision for the future of work

Resources and links:

• Flexa: Website
• Connect with Molly: LinkedIn
• Recommended study: Nick Bloom’s research on remote and hybrid work
• Articles on flexible working: BBC Worklife, Harvard Business Review

Please stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:

• Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram: Favourite Positions Instagram
• Alex Young on LinkedIn: Alex Young LinkedIn

As always, please do reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform, we're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description:

In this thought-provoking episode of Career Unlocked, Alex sits down with Dean Connell, a creative director with over two decades of experience in the interior design industry and the founder of the innovative design consultancy, I-AM.D.C. Dean shares his journey from growing up in inner-city London to becoming a leading voice in sustainable and circular design. He discusses the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including his transition from working at Phones4U to studying interior design at Kingston University and eventually launching his own design consultancy. Dean opens up about his unique philosophy that takes cues from nature to transform traditional workspaces and hospitality environments into sustainable, circular spaces. He also shares his passion for moving beyond 'tick box' sustainability and creating lasting, desirable pieces that transcend functionality. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of design, sustainability and the evolving nature of work.

Key points discussed:

• Dean’s early life in inner-city London and his transition from working at Phones4U to studying interior design
• The importance of focusing on specific skills and developing discipline in one’s career
• Dean’s experiences working as a junior designer and the evolution of his career in the interior design industry
• Founding I-AM.D.C and the inspiration behind challenging the 'take, make, waste' mentality in design
• The integration of circular principles into his work and the importance of creating lasting, repairable and adaptable furniture
• Dean’s approach to moving beyond 'tick box' sustainability and fostering a community committed to circular design
• The impact of technology and innovation on the future of workspace design and how AI and VR may influence the industry
• Dean’s views on the importance of community and user-centered design in creating sustainable and functional workspaces
• Insights into Dean’s most rewarding career moments, including working in Japan and developing the Sessions project
• Upcoming projects and initiatives at I-AM.D.C, including collaborations with Patch co-working spaces

Resources and links:

• Connect with Dean Connell: LinkedIn
• I-AM.D.C: Website
• Patch Co-Working Spaces: Website
• Living With Buildings: The Sessions House Project: Website

Stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:

• Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
• Alex Young on LinkedIn

As always, please reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform. We're so grateful that you're here.

Episode description:

In this deeply impactful final episode of the Career Unlocked series, Alex sits down with Rose Rowkins, a passionate and experienced Suicide Prevention Trainer. Rose shares her journey from growing up in North West London to becoming a leading advocate for suicide prevention. Throughout the conversation, Rose opens up about her career path, which includes working as a Samaritans volunteer, training prisoners in listening skills, and creating the innovative "Talking about Suicide: 10 Tools" (TAS10) session. Rose also discusses the emotional challenges of her work, the importance of structured training and her commitment to making suicide prevention everyone’s business. Whether you’re interested in mental health, advocacy or simply want to be a better support to those around you, this episode is a must-listen.

Key points discussed:

• Rose’s early life in North West London and how it shaped her love for diverse communities
• Her early career experiences, including volunteering with Samaritans and training in prisons
• The development and impact of the TAS10 session and its importance in suicide prevention
• Insights into the misconceptions and myths around suicide and how to approach sensitive conversations
• Rose’s unique approach to building trust and creating safe spaces in her work
• The challenges and rewards of balancing a demanding career with family life
• The importance of structured training in suicide prevention and Rose’s role in shaping educational programmes
• How personal interests like yoga, singing and travel contribute to Rose’s wellbeing and effectiveness at work
• Practical tools for organisations to integrate wellbeing and suicide prevention into their workplace culture
• Rose’s advice for individuals who are concerned about someone in crisis and how to approach the subject of suicide

Resources and links:

• Connect with Rose: LinkedIn
• Start the Conversation: Website
• Samaritans: Website
• Talking about Suicide: 10 Tools (TAS10): Website

Stay up to date with us on Instagram and LinkedIn:

• Favourite Positions Podcast Instagram
• Alex Young on LinkedIn

As always, please reach out and let us know how you’re finding the series and feel free to send us any suggestions for topics you’d like us to explore in future episodes! Thank you for listening and supporting the platform. We're so grateful that you're here.