The Small & Supercharged Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

'Nothing was ever accomplished in uncomfortable underwear' - a quote I, and many others, wholeheartedly agree with. And it comes from the founder of Stripe and Stare, a brand dedicated to righting this!

Katie has grown this business from her kitchen table, sampling products and testing them at a small scale up to the multi million pound company it is today, that names Fearne Cotton and Oprah (yes, THE Oprah) amongst its fans.

But it's been a rollercoaster. From serious debt to the highs of customers investing in the brand, growing the business and team... and as you'll hear, it's clear that Katie really is just getting started.

Inspiration and inspirational people are all around us... but we don't always see them, do we? Perhaps we are too bogged down in the day to day to notice? Or maybe some of us just can't see it when it's standing in front of us? 

On a recent trip to Edinburgh, I met an amazing chap called Charlie. Dressed in a cloak, he gave a group tour with a Harry Potter theme, and I- as well as the rest of the crowd - were completely captivated by not just his delivery, but his passion, his knowledge, how genuinely excited he was about everything he had to share. 

A lot of the time, we see people shouting about why they're brilliant, but I personally prefer to see people show their greatness through action, not their own 'reviews'!

This got me thinking- inspired by Charlie - about what makes people inspirational? Exceptional? How we can spot, nurture and support them, and how we can examine our own behaviour and adjust to inspire others, just like Charlie- and many others- do for me.

The world of PR is constantly evolving. Not all that long ago, it was all about press releases and building relationships with traditional media, whereas now it's this alongside social media, influencers, events, content creation and a lot more. To survive, let alone thrive, agencies need to adapt, and Bloxham PR, lead by founder Kaylie Bloxham, is one that has pivoted, adapted and grown in a constantly evolving climate.

On today's episode, Kaylie talks about the Bloxham journey, growing a team, highs and lows, juggling motherhood and business, events, long term relationships and also shares some brilliant tips for brands dipping their toes into the world of PR.

The term influencer gets used a LOT, but do you know what one really is? What defines an influencer? Does the term get attributed to people with a certain following? And are you one?

When it comes to being an influencer, how do we make a difference for good? What are good and less than good ways to use our influence online and beyond?

I'd love your thoughts on this one...

In 2022, Ashleigh Wicheard won the Markel Magnolia Cup. This fabulous charity horse race not only raised funds for a great cause- The Brilliant Breakfast, as part of The Prince's Trust, but it also brought representation, inclusivity and more into the spotlight. And a lot of the credit for this has to go to Ashleigh Wicheard, my guest on this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast.

We discuss what winning the Magnolia Cup meant, why taking the knee was so powerful, diversity in equestrianism, being open to uncomfortable conversations and how we can all be allies for important issues that we might never experience ourselves, but really matter.

Tune in, learn, enjoy and do give Ashleigh a follow- she's @missblackequestrian over on Instagram and shares some great content around racing, diversity, representation and so much more. 

Christmas really is coming. We're probably just days away from hearing Mariah or Slade on the radio... and yet some brands are very badly prepared for Christmas. But don't worry, I'm here to help!

Christmas is a big time of year for many retailers with profit made over the next few months carrying them over into Winter, and yet, there's the tenancy to be a bit last minute about it all, isn't there?

On this episode of the podcast I share six things you can do right now to help your business grow and thrive during the festive season. I hope you find it useful... it's a good one!

If you haven't heard about The National Equine Show, you are in for a treat! Today I am joined by event director, Liz Ormesher, to talk all about this new show. From amazing guests to skills, shopping and sustainability, Liz talks us through the plans for this shiny new event that will be hitting the NEC in March 2023.

Although The National Equine Show is new in our space, we also talk about Raccoon Media Group, the company responsible for the show, and their heritage in creating incredible events in the outdoor and wellbeing space.

And one last thing, if you hurry up, you can bag yourself a ticket FOR FREE! The show has allocated a certain number of tickets to give away, and although they are fast approaching that number (a lot more have been allocated since recording), you can still grab yourself one!

The media is full of negative news- there's no denying that- but even with all that's going on, today, I want to urge you to not skimp on investing in yourself. More than that, I want to encourage you to invest in yourself more than ever. Don't worry- I haven't completely lost my mind, there are LOADS of ways you can invest in yourself for free, and there are loads of them in this podcast! Enjoy.

What do liver lacerations, curtains and waxed cotton have in common? Yes, it's Odette Insoll, the founder, creator and superstar behind Nouvelle Habit!

Odette's business started due to a need she'd identified as a rider who didn't like the cold and suffered with chilblains. Via many prototypes (made from curtains!), the amazing Moorland Riding Skirt that we know and love was born.

But now, Odette has launched additional skirts including a walking/shooting skirt that is simply perfect for dog walkers and those who love the great outdoors too!

Odette talks to us about the journey she went on from near death experience to creating stunning bespoke riding and walking skirts for so many people. There were a lot of twists, turns, and a global pandemic along the way!

Tune in, enjoy, and definitely go and check out Odette's website for lots of ideas and inspiration too.

The news has been full of doom and gloom of late- from the challenging costs of diesel and petrol alongside rising costs of food and more of now, to increased pressure, price rises and even scarcity of fuel, food and lots more to come. But is it all doom and gloom? No... I don't think it is.

I'm not here to tell you that things aren't going to change, but hopefully this podcast will provide you with some steps you can take to help your business over the next few months. I also look at the evidence around how some businesses grow and thrive during recessions- so while sweeping generalisations about doom and gloom are dramatic and create good headlines, the evidence doesn't support this... and it's worth having a look at that too. 

I hope you find this one useful... I think you will.