Explore every episode of the podcast The Travelling Optimist Podcast with Steve Ody

Greeting optimists and welcome back to the home of optimism. How are you? I hope all is well. 

Right now I’m feeling great, as you all know I’ve taken a side step into the heady world of finance and become a qualified mortgage advisor. I have to say I’m thoroughly enjoying this new adventure and helping people with the purchase of their new homes. I think my time in travel has served me well in that really it’s all about looking after people and helping them achieve their goals! Same service, different industry and I’m loving it!

My guest in this episode is my good friend and travel legend Gary Wardrope.

Gary brings his story to life on the podcast and we run through what has been an incredible journey so far in his life and an adventure that show no sign of slowing down one bit. 

His story begins in Canada, takes in a tour of Europe, a chance opportunity to use his Ski knowledge here in the UK and carve out what has been a very successful career. 

But behind this story is a guy who trusted his intuition and took action. I mean how many of would open up the phone book and get to speak to one of the titans of the travel industry. Gary is an entrepreneur who saw opportunities and then put in place strategies to achieve the goals. 

The conversation takes us back and forth around the travel industry, the people, the hope and the positiveness of an industry that keeps getting hit but bounces back every time.

So this is me and Gary Wardrope, a kindred spirit, a man who followed his passion, rolled with the punches and set in train, from a chance meeting in Leeds, a career that has spanned 40 years and now he has reignited his passion for skiing competitively at the age of 62! It proves that age doesn’t really matter - you’ve just got to go for it! 

You can connect with Gary on Facebook to follow his adventures on the slopes!
Thanks for listening.
Hugs
Steve

Greeting optimists - I’m back, fresh from a bout of covid! It took 2 years to get to me but It seems I couldn’t evade it any longer. And so it’s time now for me to unleash another episode of the podcast into your eardrums and an exploration into the perfection of a work life imbalance!

My guest in this episode is President of Sweet Financial Partners Brittany Anderson. Brittany is an acclaimed author of three books, a sought after speaker and host of the Dream Architect Life podcast. Brittany’s insights have been featured in the Huffington Post, Inc and Forbes Magazine and is the creator of Ultimate Advisor coaching platforms. Her experience in building and engaging teams has led her to work with a plethora of CEO’s and business owners all over the States. But more importantly she is mother to three wonderful children.

Our conversation went very quickly and we covered such a lot in the space of an hour so please stay alert as there are some great insights to take away with you. Brittany was very generous with her time and I’m so grateful to her for that. She firmly believes in serving others and giving exceptional value in everything she does. It’s also no coincidence to find that she is an incredibly hard working and empathetic person who is pursuing a life that fulfills her purpose.

So this is me and Brittany Anderson discussing work ethic, motherhood, imposter syndrome, finding your lane, the positive influences of people in your life, staying confident in all that you do.

But ultimately this is a wonderful and empowering conversation with a leading light for women in business, a woman who has a brilliant meaning for optimism and someone who doesn’t have a work life balance, she has a perfect work life imbalance!

You can connect with Brittany here:
Linked In
Website
US Book
UK Book

Thank you so much for your support.
Steve

Greetings optimists!

I hope that life is good for you. Things have been busy and amazing here at Optimist HQ. Having become FCA registered in the last month I’m helping some amazing people with their mortgages and also helping some travel clients with their holidays as well. But whatever you’re doing I hope you’re feeling great!  

Okay, it’s that time again for another episode of the travelling optimist. So get yourself ready, turn up the volume and get set for a really inspirational conversation about the life and journey of Kelly Cardenas.

I’ve wanted to get Kelly on the show for a while , I’ve followed him on the socials and was honoured to guest on his incredible podcast last year - finally we were able to align our diaries so I could repay the favour and get him to share his life and experiences with you. 

Kelly is a true optimist, these foundations were very much laid from a positive upbringing and having incredible parents who consistently re-enforced Kelly’s life with positive affirmations that have had a profound and beautiful effect on his life and ones that Kelly is now passing on to his children. I guess if you are going to leave a legacy, that is a pretty good one.

Kelly has been featured in Forbes magazine, spoken to thousands of people all over the world about what it takes to be a success and run a successful business. But it’s not all been roads paved with gold. There have been failures, a lot of money has been lost but he was never hindered by the the fear of failure. Because failure isn’t a word in Kelly’s vocab. There's only winning or learning, never failure.

So this is me and Kelly Cardenas talking about life in the hair industry, what it takes to live a great life and that it’s okay to trust your intuition and your faith. 

This is a beautiful conversation with a guy who’s realizing his dreams and it’s okay to be tenacious in the accomplishment of those dreams. 

But ultimately, this is a conversation with a wonderful human who’s belief system is unsinkable , has the heart of a lion and is truly living his best life by making people happy.  

You can connect with Kelly on the socials below. He'd love to hear from you even if it's your favourite De La Soul song!

Instagram
Linked In
Website

Thanks for your support, I appreciate the love!
Steve

Greetings optimists! I hope you are having an incredible day. It’s time to lend me your ears for another episode of the podcast to be unleashed upon your eardrums! So get yourself comfortable, turn the volume up a notch as I don’t want you to miss a second of this wonderful conversation - it’s amazing to have you join me.

My guest on the show is someone I have admired from a distance for a while. Based in the US, Mike Malatesta is a hugely successful entrepreneur, acclaimed author, business mentor and podcast host. Mike’s career spans more than 3 decades. A time where he experienced the highs and lows of being a business owner. It hasn’t all been plain sailing but there was a series of events throughout Mike’s life that have eventually shaped him and the trail he has been blazing. 

This is a story about not being afraid of taking a risk, moving home to start something fresh and exciting, having the tenacity to keep going despite having doubts about your ability. Keep an ear out for Don. I think most people will have had their own Don in their life at some point.

But without Don, Mike wouldn’t have met Butch Weiss and the subsequent founding of a business that catapulted them on the course of success.

This is an uplifting conversation about the trials and tribulations at the coal face of life and business, the tragedy of losing your friend and business partner and the subsequent drifting through life that we all sometimes find ourselves in. But Mike came through this phase with acceptance of what happened and and even stronger belief that if things could work once they can work again

So this is me and my friend Mike Malatesta a determined and humble man who dared to dream and was prepared to put the work in to breakthrough to success 

But ultimately this is a tale of a guy from Milwaukee who was never afraid to reset the sails of life and set a new course to greater accomplishments and happiness.

You can connect with Mike and order his acclaimed books at his website - www.mikemalatesta.com

KEEP THE OPTIMISM LEVELS HIGH

Okay, what’s life really like when you’re legally blind? How would this disability shape your life? Would you relocate thousands of miles to play American football and go to University? My guest today is Aaron Golub and that’s exactly what he did.

Aaron was the first legally blind person to play division one college football. The next step is to play in the NFL. You’ve got to be highly talented to get a place at a college at this level of sports. But life has never been easy for Aaron, this is a guy who has had to dig deep throughout his life to get the results he wanted. His disability has defined him but in the most positive of ways and he admits in our conversation that if he were given the chance to be born with perfect eyesight he wouldn’t do it! That, for me, says everything about this outstanding young man.

This is a conversation about grit and determination, it’s about personal drive and setting big goals for your life. Aaron is one of those guys whose wisdom belies his age. His level of gratitude for everyone that has helped him and who put their faith and trust in him is evident throughout our conversation.

So this is me and Aaron Golub – entrepreneur, speaker and all round great guys talking about his life so far and his dreams and goals.  This is a conversation about not giving up and also putting the time in to achieve what you want. Facing down adversity and coming out a better person.

This is a guy who really knows what he wants, he works hard every day and strives to improve every day, even if it’s just 1%. He knows all about the compound effect!

But ultimately this is man who truly understands that putting others above yourself is the foundation of his success.

Please connect with Aaron on all the socials
Linked In
Instagram
Twitter
Website

Thank you so much for listening. Please do share the podcast with your fiends, family and colleagues.
x

Greetings optimists – how are you all today?

I really hope you’re all feeling great!

So, do you remember the excitement of your first sale, or your first gig or your first mini success in your first job? I do, it was a Minolta Digital Camera when I worked Saturdays at Dixons in the mid 80’s. I felt like I was walking on air for the rest of the day! Do you still get excited – I know I do. Let me know in the comments about your first ever sale or success!

My guest today, Sharon Sloane, remembers her first sale – it was EPIC and funny and joyous and it will bring back memories for those of you who have hussled 24/7 to carve out your own trail and get your business off the ground.

Sharon is an innovator, a leader, a wife and a mother and I feel so privileged to have been able to spend time with her. Sharon’s a busy lady, her work has been featured on the leading TV channels in the USA, Forbes Magazine, Time magazine amongst many others plus her work has received over 80 awards. This is a lady who is at the top of her game.

So what is the conversation about, well it’s about having great parents who were great role models and gave Sharon the encouragement she needed and sound advice, it’s about the Platinum rule not the golden rule, it’s about knowing and feeling that everything will work despite setbacks.

So this is me and Sharon Sloan talking about her life. It’s a story about a kind and generous lady with a big dream, a lady who dismissed the nay sayers and has since built a business that she is rightly proud of.

This is a conversation filled to the brim with lovely stories, warmth and insight. It’s a story of determination, passion and the ability to grind out the results that’s needed despite difficult situations.

But ultimately this is a conversation about a lady whose work is literally saving peoples lives.

Please do reach out to Sharon and connect, she is awesome!
Linked In and you can see what her company does at Will Interactive

I appreciate the love everyone, thanks for listening and supporting the show. Don't forget to like, share and comment when you see the posts on all the socials.
Hugs
Steve

Greeting optimists and a very happy new year to you all. Here’s to a fabulous 2022 and I couldn’t think of any other person to kick off the podcast in 2022 than my guest Richard Kaufman.

Rich is a guy who has been through a lot in life. The loss of his father when he was very young, drink dependency from the age of 12, drug use, he was thrown out of the military and he would be the first to admit that his destructive behaviour was leading him down a path to oblivion. 
But the kindness and forgiving nature of a business owner in the winter of 1988 was a huge turning point for him. As you will hear in the conversation, Rich had an angel looking down on him that night and he’s not looked back. There have been a couple of blips along the way, but we all have those right?

More importantly though, since that fateful night in 1988 Rich has been sober, that’s 33 years. That alone is a monumental achievement and he is rightly proud of it.

Rich returned to the military for another stint, this time after a harsh comment from one of his peers, who didn’t think he could make it in the military. This set the wheels in motion for becoming soldier of the year and rising among the ranks to become the leader that was always inside of him.

This conversation is littered with insight and wonderful stories, from spending time with Lennox Lewis to having the chutzpah to ask for advice from Gary Vaynerchuck.

But behind this success is a man who would do anything for anyone, a man who is infinitely humble and so grateful for the people he has in his life.

His is the human embodiment of a phoenix, he’s had his fair share of his back against a wall moments and been seemingly lost and not knowing which way to turn. But everytime Rich rises from those flames to re-invent himself and truly be the Comeback king!.

This is a conversation about willpower, tenacity, it’s about learning from your mistakes and importantly not being afraid to ask for help. It’s a conversation about how a man’s start in life has not determined his future.

But ultimately this is the story of a guy, who gets back up every time he’s knocked down, learns from his experience and marches on with happiness in his heart and a spring in his step towards his goals and dreams. 
Oh and don’t ever join the military with orange hair! 

Please connect with Rich on all the socials
His Vertical Momentum Podcast
Linked in
Instagram
Facebook

You can buy RIch's book, A Hero's Journey here on Amazon

This episode is dedicated to the life of Simon Jordan. The father of flow!

We've all got a story right? Yes, of course we have. My guest on this episode of the Travelling Optimist  has a story and experience of life that is not just compelling, it's mind blowingly cool.

My guest today is the incredible Deborah Henley.  Deborah is a mum, business leader, Master NLP practitioner, clinical hypnotherapist, entrepreneur, coach, best selling author and her work has been featured on the BBC, channel 5, GMTV and the UK’s national press.  Deborah is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and relayed her story with grace and eloquence and spoke openly about the times of struggle and sadness but also the times of joy and victory. 

She is a woman who is leading a wonderful and hugely interesting life and our conversation takes us from Hong Kong to Peru - back to the UK. Guiding people round the vineyards of Burgundy by bike and life on the waves of the major oceans where she sought solace and ultimately found happiness.

I first came across Deborah Henley via, friend of the show, Simon Jordan. I loved the fact that Deborah empowers people by helping them find their story. So I delved a bit deeper in to her own story and the more I learned about her life and experiences , the more I wanted her to come on the show. 

This conversation hits so many podcast sweet spots - dramatic pivots in life, heartbreak & joy, huge levels of personal courage, the overcoming of seemingly insurmountable obstacles and finding your purpose.

Its a conversation about leadership, perseverance, endurance, pain, adventure - it’s about always putting a metaphorical foot in front of the other despite your situation. 

This is a woman who is helping herself by helping others, she is helping others find their true self by getting them to dig deep in to their soul to find their story, to think about their future self and it’s producing incredible results for her clients. 

This is a conversation with a lady who has experienced the highs and lows that life threw at her and came out stronger, happier and more energized. 

But ultimately this is the story of a beautiful human who is not afraid to change course on her journey of life, has a never quit attitude and Deborah makes sure her light shines like the sun.

I hope you enjoy this one!

You can connect with Deborah on all the socials:
Linked In
Instagram
Twitter

Deborah’s book Your Leadership Story is available from all good book sellers, I would highly recommend you order a copy - it is a life changing book. You can also book yourself onto one of Deborah's incredible leadership courses via her website https://www.deborahhenley.com/ 

Finally thank you to Deborah for being a wonderful guest.

I appreciate the love - a

Greetings Optimists! How are you?
If someone had said 2 years ago that I’d be speaking on a podcast with one of the planet's most eminent and forward thinking physicians I would have said something along the lines of ‘have you been smoking some illegal substance’ or words to that effect. But, here we are and we talk about amongst other things saving mankind! You can’t get bigger than that!

So, Dr Kim Solez is a pathologist, professor and an entrepreneur, a man who is also modest of his achievements, a man who is now writing a memoir of his first 75 years and also looking to use Artifical Intelligence to help with some of the world's biggest issues! 

Kim has crammed a lot into his life and we really only scratch the surface of those 75 years in this incredible conversation. His multiple awards, his journeys abroad, the futuristic views of mankind plus his faith in the youth of the world to get us all to a better place. There really is something for everyone in this conversation.

Personally I loved the fact that by being able to speak to someone of the calibre and high level thinking of Kim made me stretch and think, but it also left me with a few more questions as well. And I think this is what is so great about Kim, he sows the seeds of what can be done and lets you then grow them to expand your world even more. 

And this is a conversation about removing those barriers to your thinking and stretching your thoughts so much that they start to inhabit the space where huge and incredible things happen.

There’s also a childlike spirit about Dr Kim Solez. One that I instantly recognised and related to. A spirit that’s not been diminished by time but has become positively luminescent by time, this spirit enables him to lead his life with openness and constantly be in the pursuit of the new.

So this is me and Dr Kim Solez talking about his incredible life, his amazing achievements and he tells us what the world could look like in just a few years.

Kim is a man who is happy not fitting in, he’s a risk taker, a lifter of people, a man who loves being a cheerleader of life and is striving to leave the world in a much better place.

But ultimately this is a conversation on how he’s leading a fulfilled and happy life one block chain, one protein fold and most importantly one smile at a time.

Please connect with Kim on all the socials:
Instagram
Linked In
and for more cool stuff check out his You Tube Channel
You Tube

Thanks so much for listening, I really appreciate it and don't forget to leave a review for me.
Hugs
Steve 

Greetings optimists! 
I want to introduce you to the amazing James Chatfield.

James is a talented musician, songwriter and an unapologetic lover of busking! He decided to follow his dream and passion to bring his unique sound to the streets of the UK and unleash the joy that it gives people. 

Okay, It’s not all been plain sailing, questions about his chosen career path (we’ve all been there!), abusive passers-by, blood-stained fingers from playing in the cold and earning nothing from a day's playing.  

But this is a story of having faith in your abilities, building the muscle of resilience and being persistent and true to yourself. It’s not about proving people wrong so much as it’s about that feeling, deep in your soul that tells you, you are doing the right thing. And it’s these attributes and the mindset that I see in entrepreneurs every day, and James just is the musical version! 

And I sincerely hope by listening to his music and our conversation that it has the same positive effect on you too.

So this is me and James Chatfield, talking openly about life on the streets of the UK playing his guitars. The hurdles he’s had to navigate, the beautiful moments he’s witnessed to get to this point in his life and of course his appearance on 
Ted X.

But ultimately, this is a conversation with a dude who’s had millions of likes and downloads on social media, a guy so talented and humble, whose belief in his ability is so strong that he just wants his music to bring joy to the world.

You can connect with as on all the socials - Instagram, Tiktok, twitter and Facebook. Just search for @basschatfield.
He also has quite a library of videos of his work on YouTube which I would highly recommend. 
Please do support James and download his album.
Thanks.
Steve 

Welcome everyone to the latest show of the Travelling Optimist podcast. This latest episode is choc full of goodies. 

Today we’re going to explore the beautiful world of relationships. Now our relationships with everyone in our life has a profound effect on our well being. It’s no secret that over the last 18 months some of our relationships have been understandably strained, sadly some have not been able to recover but some have thrived and grown from a new found connection.

But what’s the secret to having incredible relationships? What’s the secret to having intimate relationships?  I think everyone will have their own answers to these questions but queue my latest guest on The Travelling Optimist podcast, John Kenny, the relationship guy!

John is widely regarding as a pre-eminence in relationships and has been featured Talk Radio and a heap of other media including the Telegraph. 

If I were to describe John in a short sentence I’d say that he’s calm, he’s balanced and he has an energy and light that belies an emotionally destructive past that he endured for a large chunk of his life.

I really enjoyed my conversation with John, we flow into John’s past to find themes of self sabotage that, from the outside looking in, crippled a young and talented athlete and hampered a young man who kept attracting similarly destructive people into his life. 

But John doesn’t have any regrets, and some of the myriad reasons why so many people are turning to him to help rediscover their relationship mojo, is in part due to him mastering the art of forgiveness and acceptance of himself. 

So this is me and The Relationship Guy John Kenny talking about life as a budding GB sprint star , his journey and experiences and how he uses these learnings to help others who find themselves in similar positions. 

But ultimately, this is a conversation with a guy who has found his lane, it’s the lane that has led him to a much higher purpose, a lane where he puts his metaphorical GB sprint vest on every morning and is now embarking on a race with no finishing line,  a race - to change the world, one relationship at a time. Oh - he loves 80’s music too.     

You can connect with John on all the socials below. Let me know your thoughts, leave a review if you can, that would be awesome.

Thank you for listening - sending you good vibes!

Connect with John on:
YouTube
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
Website

John's superb podcast is well worth a listen too!

Hi everyone, welcome to the podcast, 

How’s things going - what have you been up to? Whatever it is I really hope you’re feeling great.

It’s that time for another episode of the podcast, this is a great conversation with someone who is truly inspirational. So kick back, tune in and get ready for another feast for your ears with the Travelling Optimist Podcast.

Now I’ve already mentioned the I word. Inspiration, it’s normally paired with the M word motivation and also the P word passion.  It's a huge pleasure to introduce todays guest who is someone who truly does embody all of these wonderful words and is the king of overcoming adversity.

Erik Allen is a husband, father and entrepreneur and the host of a couple of incredibly successful podcasts too.

But this is a brilliant conversation about a guy who really had a bad start to life, a childhood that would feel so alien to many of us. We talk about this and how he coped with an abusive step father who would regularly beat up his mother. 

This is a story about addiction, depression, abuse and lies. But it’s also a conversation about hope, it’s a conversation about love and it’s a conversation that confirms no matter how dark things seem there is always a chink of light at the end of the tunnel which can sometime come at you in lots of different disguises. 

One of those disguises happened  one day in a remote part of Idaho. Erik was working at a coffee shop and a young lady plucked up the courage to hand him a leaflet about attending a church group. 

Now, Everything happens for a reason and all of those events, and they were terrible, all those events that Erik went through were preparing Erik for this momentary encounter, an encounter that would change the course of his life that he didn’t dream possible.

The young lady in question is now Eriks wife of 15 years and they have 2 wonderful children together. 

So this conversation is about taking responsibility for your life, having the courage to change course and trusting your intuition. 

But ultimately this is one man’s story about one serendipitous moment and changing the legacy of his family for generations to come.

You can connect with Erik on all the social sand his website:
Instagram
Linked in
Website

You can listen to his excellent podcasts too:
Top rated MMA
The Erik Allen Show

I can’t do this show without you guys, thank you so much for listening.
If you would like to support the show I have now got a Buy me a Coffee link set up. I love coffee but you can also buy me a beer or a cake! 
Your support is incredible - I couldn’t do it with my guests of course but also to you my ever growing Optimist Tribe.

Wishing you a fabulous week ahead.
Steve
x

"No man is an island entire of itself".
Now, my interpretation of this phrase is that to be successful in all areas of your life you can’t do it on your own.

In the context of living your best life and my guest Mike Pagan in his new book ‘Mental Wealth’, it means you need people in your network who will be there for you, offering you the proactive support and encouragement to make a truly positive difference in your life and unlock your potential.

Mike is an author of multiple books, a motivational speaker and acclaimed coach with decades of experience in helping others achieve phenomenal success. 

But, there have been stages in his life and career where Mike has found himself lost, alone and isolated due to a lack of significant support. But what he learnt to do was to surround himself with his own hand-picked Mental Wealth team. This has led him on a journey to a happier life, be more successful in business and he now feels more mentally and physically able to navigate the next stage of his journey.

Mike is very much an optimist. You can feel his positivity throughout the conversation but I also felt that Mike is one of those rare people who will give you the facts straight and I can see why he’s been so successful in is career. This attribute is a key to why so many retiring elite athletes come to him for advice when they transition back into ‘normal life’.

So this is me and super coach and author Mike Pagan talking about the importance of having the right people around you.

It’s a conversation about not asking for permission to live a fulfilled life, learning to ask better questions to support other people and enabling us all.

But ultimately this is a conversation about making self-care a priority in our lives and not being too proud to ask for help.

Thanks for listening everybody –to connect with Mike go to his website and you can also connect with Mike on Linked In.

 If you’d like to support the podcast the easiest and most impactful way to do this is subscribe to the show on your favourite podcast host – Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon, Google, Stitcher etc.

Sharing the show with your family, friends and colleagues is always greatly appreciated.
You can now find some great content for the Travelling Optimist on YouTube,
Instagram and now Tik-Tok aswell.

I love your support I appreciate your support and I don’t take it for granted. Thank you.
Stay well everyone.

Happiness - Purpose - Serving others & Optimism

All of these words could pale into insignificance when, as covid started to grip the planet, your business loses 96% of its income! That’s right ……. 96%. How would you handle this situation, what would you do with your back against this seemingly unscalable wall? How do you stay positive, what do you do to get back on your feet again? 

Well, I tread this beautiful terrain with my friend Dan T Rogers in a truly wonderful conversation  - so sit back, plug in and enjoy this feast for your ears on the travelling optimist podcast.

I’m reminded of a quote from Mahatma Ghandi – he said that strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will. I know a lot of people, particularly in the travel industry that can relate to this quote but in my conversation with the awesome Dan Rogers I hope you will see how that quote really does apply to him.

It struck me that this is a guy that could have just thrown his arms up in defeat and walked away. 

Instead he embraced his situation and rather than feel sorry for himself he threw himself into serving others, and letting the markets and the universe decide his fate. There’s no doubt you’ll realise that Dan is an inspiring leader, albeit a very humble one, and please don’t underestimate the size of Dan’s contribution that he and his new team are making. 

I love everything that Dan stands for and that his business system sets yourself up to put your clients and community as the heroes.

So this is me and Dan Rogers reminiscing about our early escapades on our paper rounds, taking about covid, staying happy, being judged on what you do, adding value even if you don’t get paid, and the importance of family.

But ultimately this is a conversation about Dan’s grit and determination to be part of something bigger than himself and to look back in 20 years and feel proud of what he’s achieved.

You can connect up with Dan on Linked In and more information about Dan's brilliant system to create client superheroes is here at Sales Sidekick 

Thanks so much for listening, if you'd like to support the show, the best and most impactful way would be to subscribe on Apple, Amazon, Google, Amazon or the player of your choice.

Stay well everybody

Hey everyone, welcome to the podcast. How have you been, what have you been up to? It’s been a crazy few weeks, hence my lack of episode releases, but I’m back and I’m fully charged.  Thanks so much for downloading and listening, don’t forget to subscribe and recommend the show to your friends, loved ones and colleagues.

So sit back, grab a drink, put a Do Not Disturb sign up and have a listen to another brilliant conversation on the Travelling Optimist podcast.

 Todays guest is acclaimed coach, speaker, author and all round awesome guy Rob Pardi.

So its 1997 - Rob and his wife Desiree were achieving their dreams and goals and looking forward to a life of travel and wonderful experiences. Then BANG. They were delivered the news we all dread!

It was incredible to speak with Rob, he spoke very candidly and openly about his and Desiree’s life together. We talk about the 11 years that she so bravely fought her battle with breast cancer and what that was like for her, living it, and what it was like for Rob as her full time carer.

But this conversation is not just about sadness and despair, it’s a conversation about love and joy, happiness and  determination.

It’s about life! The article I mentioned in the show is a New York Times piece that can be dowloaded here. It's such a powerful and emotional article that is a must read.

This is a superb conversation about how to break out of complacency. 
Valuing the ordinary moments in your life so you are able to live an extraordinary life 
It’s about not waiting for a diagnosis to start living. 

But ultimately this is a heart breaking and heart warming story of a man who now doesn’t measure his life in the number of years but rather measures his life in the currency of JOY.

You can buy his and Desirees book 'Chasing Life' at www.chasinglifethebook.com

Please do connect and reach out to Rob on Linked In and Robs website is robertpardi.com
Thanks so much for listening. 
Hugs
Steve

So, let me introduce you to Matt Halloran, this conversation came about from some communication on social media after I listened to Matt in conversation with Kelly Cardenas. There were a few things that Matt spoke about in that show that really piqued my interest. So I invited him on the show and he graciously said yes!

I had an inkling that we would get along, we share the same values, we share a child like spirit that probably gets us into more trouble than not. But in this wonderful conversation with Matt he tells us about his life, the early days. The serendipitous moment of choosing, one day, to reach out to a man called Ron Carson. From that moment on Matt has made sure he sits at the table of life and is unapologetically himself with everyone he meets and everything he does.

Matt is such a brilliant person who is the ultimate optimist and one of those people that you just feed off his energy so your day is even brighter.

So this is me and Matt Halloran, a guy from Kalamazoo, a man who learnt from an early age to make the best of every situation.

It’s about making right choices and learning from the bad ones

Understanding that today is a gift and to live in the present

It’s about living an abundant life 

But ultimately this is all about Matt’s journey to find his passion, help people live a better life and to be the better man!

Please connect with Matt on Linked In and his website is here at Proudmouth.com.
Please also listen to his excellent podcast Be Your Own Load - you won't regret it!

Okay lets rock! Thanks for listening everyone.
Steve

Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast and the home of optimism, insight and uplifting stories. It’s that time for another episode So click the download button, turn up the volume and settle down to a great conversation – it’s so brilliant to have you join us. 

How are you all? How’s life with you? What have you been up to? Whatever it is I really hope that you are grabbing life by the horns and doing some extraordinary things. 

Which segways nicely with my gust on this latest episode of the travelling optimist. My guest today is friend of the show Louise Budgen. For those of you who listen regularly, Louise was one of my first guests when I started the podcast and she’s also my coach. That episode, I think it was the third or fourth, she mentioned that we are human beings not human doings and this really had a profound effect on me and I know that conversation resonated with a lot of my listeners. 

What we didn’t do in that show was go into too much detail about Louise’s background but we do now.  In this episode Louise imparts some incredible insight for us all to take in and shares with us her story and how all of the defining moments as a child and being an adult has now shaped her life and her desire to help people really blossom and find their place.

This is a truly uplifting conversation with a wonderful human being who survived a horrific car accident, has become a cancer thriver twice, followed her intuition to become a coach and is using these experiences to help her clients and run a thriving business.

So this is me and my coach, Louise Budgen talking about the story of her life and experiences

• It’s a story about having the courage to trust your intuition
• It’s about making sure you find time for the non negotiables in life
• Stepping out and becoming more visible and understanding that everything happens for reason.
• But ultimately this is all about a lady who isn’t afraid to swim upstream to get to where she wants to go and is leading an extraordinary life!

Please connect with Louise on the following platforms, you won't regret it.
 Linked In
You can email Louise at louise@extraordinarylifesuccess.com 

Thanks for listening!
Steve
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Tony Chiapetta is an incredible leader with a vision and a plan. He's a man on a mission, but it hasn't always been plain sailing. There's been a few bumps in the road, some steep learning curves and a number of very big decisions have had to be made along the way.

This is a conversation about his story and what he did to lift his business and ultimately his life from being in chaos to a place where his vision is aligned with his team and his clients. There’s synergy and happiness flowing in and out. He shares with us his strategy to achieve this flow and I think this is one of the most insightful conversations I’ve had so far on the podcast and I’m so grateful to Tony for sharing his story.

So this is me and Tony Chiapetta, talking about his life, setting the goal of studying at the University of Southern California and then having to tell his parents he didn’t want to become a doctor, setting up his IT business at the tender age of 23, making some tough decisions and his learnings along the way.

This is a conversation with someone who truly believed that what he was doing was absolutely the right thing to do and had the courage of his convictions to see it through. 

But ultimately this is about a guy from Southern California who has found that by being dedicated to serving his clients and by doing something you love it will bring you infinite rewards.

Please connect with Tony via the following channels:
Linked In
Website
Twitter

Thanks so much for listening, don't forget to share and leave a review. If you'd like to connect with me , that would be awesome just click here and all you need will be displayed gloriously before your eyes!

Steve
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Gary Apps is a true leader, a lover of a challenge, he's truly authentic in everything he says and does and someone who goes All In no matter what.

This is a truly wonderful conversation where I am honoured that Gary is so honest and open about his life, his business, his family and I know that you will all enjoy listening to our conversation. I'm sure it will resonate with you all.
I would encourage you all to connect with Gary on all the socials below but more importantly, if you wanted to show him support then please do sponsor him on his quest to cycle the Tour de France route a week ahead of the pros, all in aid of Cure Leukaemia.

And this is one of the main reason I started the podcast, to be in a position where it can do some good and hopefully it will inspire you to give to a worthy cause. As someone that loves riding a bike I can tell you that riding this course will be a supreme test of character and resolve but Gary's grit and determination will get him through this challenge.

This is Gary's Just Giving page, NO DONATION IS TOO BIG! He is going to raise £30k so every pound counts if you can spare it. Please give generously.

You can connect with Gary on Linked In and of course if you know of any restaurants and hotels that you can introduce Gary then this would be an added bonus too! Here is his company  website https://www.myfish.company/

Thanks so much for listening.
Steve
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Neil Armstrong is a man on a mission. He's addicted to fixing problems and is helping business owners across the UK get their mojo back by enabling them, through his tried and tested methodology, to take a step back and really work on their business rather than in their business.
 Growth Cycle Coaching was borne out of a desire to help business owners grow and in turn their businesses grow too. This 'helping others' mentality is something that Neil has used all through his life, even to trying to improve the skills of Canadian and US rugby players when he left university.
 So this is me and Neil Armstrong, a guy who has found his lane in life, and someone with immense likeability, but ultimately the big question he wants you to ask yourself is - How Can You Do It Better?

FREE COACHING SESSION for one hour. Connect with Neil through the links and get in touch with him. You won't regret it!

You can reach out to Neil via me or his Linked In profile or email Neil at neil@growthcyclecoaching.com . The website is https://growthcyclecoaching.com/
 
Thanks for listening, as always I am so grateful.
Stay well, stay happy and keep the optimism levels high! 

Episode 29 is with the incredible magician, podcast host and leadership trainer Ricky Locke. 

To all of us in Ricky’s network we know that he’s one of life’s really decent, kind and funny people. He’s one of those people that you connect with immediately. Which is a good thing really because when you perform in front of strangers a lot – it helps to be able to build rapport straight away. 

But for those of you who don’t know Ricky he’s a man of many talents and tricks and this is really a chance to peer behind the bright lights of the magic circle, a select group of people that Ricky rightly and proudly belongs – and we catch a glimpse into the life of a young man who took a gamble on his talent. He took that leap of faith, as Steve Harvey said, he jumped off that cliff of life, pulled the chord and waited for his parachute to open. 

What he didn’t know was there was a worldwide pandemic around the corner and in the space of a few weeks his livelihood was swept from under his feet.

He started his superb podcast called Unlocked with Ricky Locke, he’d already built up a sizeable Youtube portfolio of videos and changed course to use technology to his advantage. 

So, this is me in conversation with Magician Ricky Locke talking about his life so far, it’s about being positive, it’s about showing up with optimism in your heart every day and it’s about having perspective and being connected with like-minded people.

Ricky is a really gifted, hard working guy, he always sees the best in people but ultimately this is about a talented man’s desire to align himself with his passion and just be happy.

You can connect with Ricky and I'd highly recommend it in the usual social plus his website is www.rickylocke.co.uk

Linked In
You Tube

Thanks so much for listening and spreading the word, I really appreciate it..
Stay well everyone
Steve
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Hey everyone, welcome to the podcast – the home of optimism, insight and uplifting stories.  How’s everything going? I really hope you’ve had a great couple of weeks………….. soo……

It’s that time again for another episode of the Travelling Optimist – so wherever you are, whatever you’re doing turn it up, settle down or ramp it up – it’s amazing to have you dialled in, I really appreciate it. 

Being unconsciously incompetent - you've stumbled along and before you know it you've achieved some great things - you don't know how you did it but you did - reflecting on what happened is part of the process and this is what my guest on this episode did.

My guest today is Jerome Myers from Dreamcatchers and Myers Methods. Jerome is a property investor and coach and is a self confessed corporate America dropout. 

He was an experienced engineer and ran a successful and profitable division of a multi million dollar business on the east coast of the US. Things were going well, he was earning good money, but one day, despite running a profit he realised some major decisions were being made for him that didn’t sit right. He knew it was wrong and my take from the conversation is that everything happens for a reason. If Jerome’s bosses hadn’t acted in the way they did he wouldn’t be a successful property investor and in charge of his own destiny.

Jerome is a guy who seized the day and took an opportunity to make a difference to his family and be a person who inspires others to change their life in beautiful ways.

So this is me and Jerome Myers talking about learning to be flexible, being optimistic and always learning. 

But ultimately this podcast is all about an inspiring man who loves to unlock the potential of those around him with the keys to happiness and success so they can catch their dreams, not chase them!

You can connect with Jerome here:
Linked In
Website
You can listen to his podcast here - Dreamcatchers Podcast

Thanks so much for listening - I can't tell you how much myself and my guests appreciate it.
Keep the optimism levels high!
Hugs
Steve

Ex Navy Seal Commander Rich Diviney is my guest on the show. It was an incredible conversation and I really hope that you find some golden nuggets of insight to help you take your endeavours to the next level.

In a career spanning more than twenty years, Rich completed more than thirteen overseas deployments - eleven of which were to Iraq and Afghanistan. Being the officer in charge of training it led Rich to be able to identify a successful recruit’s core attributes – these are the innate traits for how a person performs as an individual or within a team.

It’s this knowledge and experience that led Rich to write his first book - The Attributes - 25 hidden drivers for optimal performance – if you go to The Attributes website you can take a test and see what attributes guide you and I would highly recommend you buy his book as well – I’ll put details in the show notes.

Rich is a true gentlemen, it was a real honour to have in on my podcast and I really hope that what we talk about in some way helps you identify what your attributes are and enable you to take your life to the next level.

So, this is me and navy Seal Commander Rich Diviney talking about life as a Navy Seal, it’s about:

• having the right mindset 
• Optimal not peak performance
• The power of humour and laughter 
• Never ever doubt yourself

But Ultimately this is all about one man’s desire to be the best he can be in all areas of his life, his need to keep challenging himself and to lead a life of discovery.

Website - The Attributes
What Are Your Attributes? Take the Assessment
You can connect with Rich on Linked In, Instagram & Facebook

Okay, I took the Attributes assessment and here are my results. I'd love to see what yours were. You can email me at thetravellingoptimist@gmail.com 

My Grit scores
Courage                (5.49) MEDIUM  
Perseverance       (4.52) MEDIUM       
Adaptability           (5.44) MEDIUM         
Resilience             (5.83) MEDIUM 

My Mental Acuity scores
Situational Awareness           (4.91) MEDIUM          
Compartmentalization           (6.28) HIGH       
Task Switching                      (7.71) HIGH         
Learnability                            (8.15) HIGH 

My Drive scores
Self Efficacy                (4.97) MEDIUM          
Discipline                    (5.6) MEDIUM       
Open Mindedness       (4.17) MEDIUM         
Cunning                      (4.95) MEDIUM 
Narcissism                  (4.8)  MEDIUM 

Take care everyone, choose optimism every day and be the best you can be.
Steve
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Hello everyone and welcome to the home of optimism, insight and uplifting stories.

Okay - When I started the podcast, almost a year ago, I wanted to be able to connect everyone who would listen with people who are doing extraordinary things and leading extraordinary lives to, in some way hopefully, inspire us all. 

Although he would never admit it, Thomas Kim is someone who is doing incredible things in a way that you’d never think is possible. Not everyone could take an ordinary car wash business and turn it into a co-operative and community hub that serves the community. Business aside - if anything can bring some perspective into our lives right now, Thomas’s incredible story will surely do it. 

His father left home when he was seven and left the family at a time that would have seen many children crumble. Nowadays, rightly or wrongly, the words resilience and strength are sometimes overplayed when describing people. But Thomas Kim knows exactly what those words mean. The events of the day his father left have weaved a golden thread through his life – He wouldn’t be where he is today If that hadn’t of happened. Thomas is one of those beautiful people who only see the good in things. Searching for positives in every situation.

Belief is a word that features heavily in his life. He has an unwavering belief in his faith, a jedi like belief in the power of lifting people and communities to a better life through gratitude and trust.

This belief was tested in the most tragic of ways, a way that no parent should ever be tested but out of tragedy came hope. Out of tragedy came a vulnerability and a deeper inner strength that he didn’t know he and his wife, Evelyn, had. 

This is a conversation about the kindest of humans, it’s about courage, vulnerability and hope. 

It’s about lifting people up, not knock them down. 

It’s a story about giving people a chance, terrible loss but more than anything it’s about living a wonderful terrible life.

Please do connect with Thomas via the channels below to find out more on the incredible covid cleaning technology he is using and the inspirational way he puts purpose over profit.
LinkedIn
Everclean website

Thanks so much for listening - don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple, Spotify, Amazon and Google.

We'll be back soon with another episode of the Travelling Optimist very soon.

My guest in this episode is John Taylor from What’s in the Bag. John is the reason that I started the Travelling Optimist so it's only right that he gets to share his incredible story with us. 

John’s journey starts as the kid who always wanted to be outside climbing trees to becoming a mind-set coach and golfing Buddha for people all over the world. 

Born into a military family, John learns to adapt to change at an early age as his father is posted all around Europe. Leaving school John joins the army too, with distinguished tours in Afghanistan and Bosnia.

He loves eastern philosophy and conveys this thinking to his clients who benefit from JT’s wise and beautiful teachings. If I was to summarise John I would say that he brings a fresh perspective to life his calmness and energy is nothing but remarkable and I loved having a conversation about his life. 

He’s one of the kindest and most compassionate people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

So this is a conversation about life, mindfulness and finding your zen baby!   

Please connect with John via his website , Instagram and LinkedIn.
He's got a great podcast too on - Spotify , Google or Buzzsprout

Thanks for listening.. If you’d like to support the podcast, the best and most impactful way of doing this is to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify even Amazon and Google too. Sharing the show with friends, family and colleagues is always greatly appreciated. 

I am so grateful for your support of the podcast, I don’t take it for granted but I also know from comments I receive every week that it’s making a difference – and that is the only reason I started it. 

Take care, stay strong, choose optimism every day and remember - it’s important to enjoy the ride and we’ll be back soon.

Today my guest is Manuel Astruc MD. 
Based out of the USA, Manuel is a certified psychiatrist with 20 years experience and the founder of Your Next Act  - a coaching organisation with the sole aim of helping you swap burnout and stress for real, lasting and true happiness.

Manuel’s own story of burnout has inspired a better conversation about how to avoid or overcome the damaging effects of burnout all over the world. 

 He takes the wisdom he’s learned and brings it to business owners and entrepreneurs to help them battle the stress and mental exhaustion that high achievers can feel. Manuel enables you to recognize how focusing on your mental fitness translates into greater success, both in life and in business.

Burnout is very real, particularly during these challenging times we are all facing. 

Covid brings with it a set of challenges that we all have to face up to every day and I know Manuel will provide us with incredible understanding into this issue and hopefully if it resonates with you our conversation will help you to look out for the tell-tale signs.

Please reach out to Manuel on his Facebook page  and his website Your Next Act.

He has a wonderful video that you can register and access here too, do have a look.

As always thank you for listening everybody. If you’d like to support the podcast, the easiest and most impactful thing you can do is subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify even Amazon and Google too. Sharing the show with friends, family and colleagues is always greatly appreciated. 

I am so grateful for your support, I don’t take it for granted. 

Take care, stay strong, choose optimism every day and remember, as Manuel said - it’s important to enjoy the ride and we’ll be back soon.

James Elwood is MD of NFL Weekends , a young entrepreneur, full of energy and hope. An all round good guy, sports fanatic and lover of travel.  

This is a story of perseverance, remaining steadfast in your vision despite huge challenges and building your network so that when this pandemic abates and we can all travel again.

His career has taken him to Harrods when he left school down to Oz and new Zealand for a few spells to play cricket and got the travel bug when he worked with several of the UK’s top travel companies.

 James set up NFL Weekends just before covid struck. Now that could have been that, throw in the towel, look for something else - but it wasn’t – James decided to fight, to use the most challenging of times to build his network, build more relationships and double down on his positive mindset. He’s going be ready for when the travel gates open up again and his clients can once again hear the phrase ‘welcome aboard this flight to Miami International Airport or JFK New York.

Please connect with James on the usual socials:
Linked In
Facebook
Instagram

He's gone through a lot over the last 10 months, no-one associated with travel are out of the woods yet but James' mindset and attitude is perfect - just like Tom Brady's!!

My guest is the super cool Pete Cann - The Laughter Man. Pete is on a fun filled mission to bring the positive benefits of laughter to the world and introduce laughter yoga to 1 million people in 2021! 
Since he discovered Laughter Yoga, entrepreneur Pete has transformed his business and family life and is on a mission to share his infectious secrets and get the planet laughing along with him.

Laughter is like a medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. We’ve all experienced times when we’ve just laughed so hard our tummy muscles hurt right? It strengthens our immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress.

 I first met Pete Cann on the 17th of December last year when he hosted a laughter yoga session just before our company Christmas lunch. He led us on a 30 minute journey of laughter that still makes me laugh when I think about it and I still do the exercises.

Pete's website is www.petecann.com
Please connect with Pete on on the socials below and you can find him now on Clubhouse too.
LinkedIn
Facebook
Tik Tok
Instagram

I’m so grateful to everyone that listens to the show. If you’d like to show your support of the podcast, the best way is to keep on sharing, reviewing and subscribing on your podcast player. 

You are all amazing, thank you so much, stay well everyone and if you feel your optimism levels need a top up – all you’ve got to do is have a little laugh. 

Sending you all a massive virtual hug, stay well.
Steve 
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In this latest episode of The Travelling Optimist I chat with performance coach, author, dynamic public speaker, visionary and thought leader Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco.

Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco is the CEO of People Building, Inc., and the powerhouse behind the “What Are You Made Of?” movement and we deep dive in to Mike's past and find out what he's made of.

Mike is a man you need to listen to, he's been featured by Yahoo! Finance as one of the Top Business Leaders to Follow in 2020 and is on a mission to inspire others to achieve greatness. C-Roc had a fire lit in him at an early age. That fire has ignited him with a fierce desire to compel people to see the greatness inside themselves using past life events to fuel their fire.

Past hardships can be a powerful gravitational force that keeps you down and forces you to think small. To get out of orbit you need Rocket Fuel so Mike has written a book called Rocket Fuel that gives you insight to convert setbacks in to success.

You can get in contact with  via his website www.mikecroc.com/ and you can order his new book here too.
Mike is prolific on social media with his insight so please link up with him at:
Linked In
Instagram
Twitter

The best way to support the show is by subscribing on the player of your choice, if you can leave a rating or review that would be awesome too.  
As always, thank you so much for listening. Stay well and safe and see you for the next episode.
Steve 
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How to Speak Yorkshire!
Nah then, ‘ere’s an int to chattin’ reight Yorkshire! (Hello, here is a guide to speaking proper Yorkshire)
#1 - Ye ‘ave tuh drop yer ‘H’ as in ‘has’ and ‘her’, and yer ‘T’ as in ‘that’ and ‘cat’, replacing the ‘T’ with a slight ‘h’ sound, known as a Glottal Stop (try not to choke!).
#2 - Everyone has heard of the phrase “Tin Tin Tin”, usually spoken as if it means something or other. But, it should be written more like: ‘t’in’t in’t tin.. as in “It isn’t in the tin”. See how it works? Lots of dropping of T’s.

Let me know how you get on!

So in the latest episode of The Travelling Optimist I take you to Yorkshire - Gods Own Country! My guest is Andrew Bodle, a successful business owner and entrepreneur with a relentless and tenacious spirit. 

Andrew is a true Yorkshireman, he’s literally made from the steel that was forged by his ancestors! Andrew is so much the embodiment of a Yorkshireman when he goes to give blood he pumps out the finest 5 pints of Yorkshire tea instead! 

Andrews's spirit has certainly been tested recently and we chat very openly about success, setbacks and tragedy and his desire to leave a lasting legacy for his family. It was, at times, very emotional hearing his story, one that he knows is being replicated over the world with Covid-19, but it's a story of resilience, not giving up, steadfastness, strength, goals and inspiration.

Enjoy.
Stay well everyone.
Steve

You can get in contact with Andrew by clicking the links below and if you need any cleaning products or advice in this area then contact him through his Hygeia Group website .
Andrew Bodle on social:
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In

In this latest episode of The Travelling Optimist I chat with Paul Cleary.

Paul is the Managing Director and owner of the UK’s leading independent luxury holiday company – Caribtours.

With a name like Caribtours it has a history that is intrinsically linked to the beautiful islands of the Caribbean and more latterly with other luxury destinations in the Indian Ocean and Arabia and Africa.

Words to describe Paul are energy, vision, infectious enthusiasm and an obsession for the personal touch. 

Paul has led the company to countless awards and an enviable reputation in the industry that most companies aspire to.

We have a brilliant conversation about life, thin threads of life, serendipitous moments that shape our lives, opportunities even during these challenging times and why he got involved in travel.
You can contact Paul via Linked In or through the Caribtours website.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did talking with Paul.

Steve 
x

Hello and welcome to the Travelling Optimist Podcast – the home of optimism, insight and uplifting stories. How are you? I hope that you’re doing well – staying focused, keeping up the optimism levels! 

Today we’re talking with Zimbabwean Brighton Tau Muluswela. He’s Founder and CEO of Bushlife Africa Safaris.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he’s fanatical about conservation and it goes without saying he’s passionate about Africa. On top of that he works with the NHS and he’s committed to helping vulnerable people with mental health issues.

As anyone who knows me, Africa has played an integral part in my life and I’m thrilled to be able to have a chat with Brighton. We’ll take you on a journey to Africa so that when all this covid stuff is done you will be inspired to travel to one of mother natures most incredible continents.

You can connect with Brighton via Linked In and Facebook.

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast, I'm overwhelmed by everyone's comments and I'm thrilled that you like it.
Take care and until next time.
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Welcome back to part 2 of a wonderful conversation with Brepic Communications CEO Justin Breen, plus his 2 wonderful boys making a cameo appearance for their first podcast show!

First off we review part 1 very quickly including this:
1. Positive mindset leads to
2. Incredible connections that leads to
3. Your success
and this
5000 calls to get his first 5 clients
and how Justin writes exceptional PR pieces for his clients in a style that resembles how his war hero and successful businessman father wrote his diary. It's in his DNA, literally!

So in part 2 we chat about personality tests like Kolbe and Strength Finder and how they can be a huge benefit to you personally and also when you might be looking for new team members to join you.

The number one reason why businesses retain a PR company to help them move from being the best kept secret to getting in front of the right people.

It's a super second part that I hope you enjoy. The boys brought another very cool dimension to this podcast that makes everything that Justin does for his family come to life!

Please do order a copy of Epic Business, it is really good. Also you can connect with Justin on Linked In.

Thank you for listening to the show and welcome to the Optimism Tribe!
Enjoy
Steve
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Part 1:
This latest episode of The Travelling Optimist flies us all the way over the pond to the US of A to meet Justin Breen.

Justin is an award winning entrepreneur and author of the best selling book Epic Business.

Starting off his career as a journalist and writing for the Northwest Ties of Indiana. After having his salary halved overnight Justin dived deep into his inner entrepreneur and launched his business - Brepic Communications in 2017. But that's only half of the story. Prior to the huge achievement of setting up his own business (any business owners who listen will know the feeling of immense excitement at start up stage) Justin engaged with 5000 businesses to pitch his PR business to. Out of those 5000 he had 5 business owners say yes.  He's never looked back.

Listen in to hear Justin's vision for the future, where he gets his writing style from and what it takes to be an entrepreneur in these strange but optimistic times.

You can but Justin's book - Epic Business at Amazon and Barnes & Noble - It is an incredibly well written book, understandably, with 30 secrets to building your business exponentially.
Reach out t Justin via his website https://www.brepicllc.com/ or Linked in 

Thanks so much for listening. Stay well and keep blazing your trail.
Steve
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Hello and welcome to the Travelling Optimist Podcast. I hope you are well and things are going fabulously. Whatever you are doing, I hope you are blazing a trail in these weird times.

Todays guest is the best parenting coach on the planet - Sue Atkins. Sue has been featured on the BBC, SKY, Channel 5 and various national radio stations. Sue is the Parenting Coach for Disney but my favourite description of Sue is that she is the 21st century Mary Poppins!
On top of that she a NLP Master Practitioner and EFT Practitioner too.

Sue talks about parenting skills and offers some tips to get through this era of corona virus if you have kids, but these insights are perfect for adults to use for themselves too. We all go on marketing and business courses all the time but we don't ever go on courses for the MOST important job of our lives - raising happy children!

You can reach out to Sue via her website www.sueatkinsparentingcoach.com
and Linked-In here.

I am so grateful to everyone for listening, thank you. Stay well so you can blaze a trail!
Hugs
Steve
x

Hello & Welcome to the latest episode of the travelling optimist podcast.
How’s everything going?
It’s been a bit mad at Casa Travelling Optimist, but I realise that we’re 7 months in to the pandemic and for some of my listeners things haven’t really changed for the better. With that I really hope that the little injection of positivity and optimism from the podcast helps with your day.

Don’t forget to subscribe, review and share the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon and Google, and thank you to everyone for listening.

Our guest today is Lauren Ashcroft, a young entrepreneur who is fulfilling her dream of starting her own business.  Lauren has a background in the coaching industry and has spent a lot of time working with entrepreneurs around the world.

Lauren was made redundant from a leading German tech start-up at the beginning of the pandemic. Now, as one door closed – another door opened and Lauren saw this as an opportunity to make some significant changes in her life and finally take the leap of faith to start her own business. 

She has successfully run a Kickstarter campaign to launch her first product which is called the Ultimate You Planner and draws on her passion for goal setting. It’s a planner that’s designed to empower anyone to create their best future.

You can purchase the incredible Ultimate You planner at www.uyplanner.com  and you can contact Lauren at:
https://www.instagram.com/ultimateyouplanner/
https://www.facebook.com/UltimateYouPlanner 

Wishing you a fantastic week ahead and thank you for listening.
Steve
x

It's not about receiving - it's all about giving. This episode has guest Greg Davies talking about his new book, the power of giving that has been his mantra for last 12+ years, not surprising as he is a Regional Director for BNI.

Greg uses his passion for telling stories to help businesses and communities thrive, and people overcome limiting beliefs.

He’s a multi-award winning director of BNI, corporate trainer, international speaker and now he can add BEST SELLING AUTHOR to that list as well. 

Greg has some incredible insight into helping others achieve their goals. We talk about the book, his passion for helping businesses and his ability to weave a story that has an impactful message.

Key Take Aways

• Gratitude - the unlock of unlocks!
• Do the right thing and make the right choices.
• Leave a legacy - Alfred Nobel.
• Build your business through trust.
• Stay positive.

You can buy his book 'Infinite Giving' - The 7 Principles of Givers Gain on Amazon and you can visit Greg's Story Fella website at https://www.thestoryfella.com

Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe and review the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon and any other podcast player you use.
Take care everyone, 
Hugs

Welcome to The Travelling Optimist Podcast with Steve Ody.

Simon Jordan is an all round top guy. He's mindfulness personified and has a deep understanding of his purpose in life.

Simon Jordan, best selling author, speaker, coach, entrepreneur and lover of wildlife and the planet, takes us on a journey from the Dorset coast in the UK to the mountains of the Himalayas. Via some incredible insight on how to lead a life full of abundance and in 'flow'.

We hear about his adventures from swimming in the Sea, we can't miss an opportunity to mention the amazing Wim Hof (The Ice Man), how optimism (obvs) has played a positive part throughout his life, a top tip on vodka and what was that about Yak dung Simon?

Interspersed with details of the #5thingsclear project a worldwide community of lovers of the planet, Plus news on a new book he has put together, celebrating the community of all weather sea swimmers that Simon belongs to - order a copy, all proceeds go to a mental health charity, https://westbaywildswimmingbook.co.uk/.

If you'd like to get in contact with Simon or order the excellent and free e-book '5 Steps to Creating a Powerful Brand' just click through to his website here.

The world has gone a bit bananas, please take care everyone.
Thanks for listening
Steve
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Please do subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google and Amazon and leave me a review or rating, thank you so much.

if you have any examples of being in flow email us at thetravellingoptimist@gmail.com

Sometimes you can just get carried away in the moment can't you?

I found myself in need of a willing guinea pig, to help me with some new podcast equipment and test it all works. In to the breach, unknowingly, steps the incredible Richard Harvey from Pharian Ltd . It turned out to be the most lovely chat after finding out he got a 1st in English Language and Linguistics at University!

Never one to miss an opportunity and also to really make sure the new 'stuff' works, I asked him what the difference between descriptive and prescriptive language is. All of a sudden our IT guru Richard became very animated with hand gestures and thoughtful commentary, the like of which I never knew existed!

I do feel I lured him in a bit, sorry Richard, but I found his knowledge of the English language totally awesome! It was one of those serendipitous moments and I'm so glad he had the time to chat with me.

I hope you enjoy it everyone. Stay well and thank you so much for listening.

Please subscribe to the podcast and don't forget to give me a 5* rating please on Apple, Spotify, Google and Amazon. I am so grateful..
Hugs.   

This latest episode of The Travelling Optimist Podcast takes us, well me mainly, down memory lane and I talk to the lovely Sue Ricketts who was my very first boss in travel. We discuss all things Jetsave, careers and Sue shares with us a few tips for anyone starting their journey in to work, like I did way back in 1987. 
Sue really guided me perfectly on my journey with work, sales and travel. Those principles have helped me throughout out my career! Thanks Sue. 
Don't forget to subscribe and download the podcast on your player of choice and please do let me have any feedback you have about work, any tips you have or reminisce about your time at Jetsave!
Hugs
Steve
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This weeks episode we head for the hills of the Calla Ronda in Andalucia and chat with Ashley Higgins from Andalucian Cycling Experience.
https://www.andaluciancyclingexperience.com/
Our conversation was a bit like a lovely bike ride with a few down hills, a couple of steep ascents, some free wheeling on the flat bits and a couple of stops to admire the view!

After moving out to Spain in 2004, Ashley and his then girlfriend Claire decided to move to Spain and start a new business. In their first year they got married, moved and started up the incredible business. They are a shining example of fantastic team work, stretching goals and a clear vision.
Starting off with four bikes and a couple of roof racks, they now have two mini vans, 70 bikes and a couple of local guides as well.

Having been into bikes all his life, this really is the epitome of living the dream but it wasn't all plain sailing and we dive a little bit into the struggles and highlights of their 16 years in business and paint a lovely picture of what it's really like to cycle in one of the worlds most beautiful areas.
Enjoy and thanks for listening.
Steve
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You can contact Ashley through the website 
https://www.andaluciancyclingexperience.com/pages/Contact.html
and don't forget to mention The Travelling Optimist for your exclusive discount when you book a trip with them. Adios!

In this weeks episode we take the long way down to South Africa and chat to luxury travel industry supremo Ed Steyn.
Ed is CEO of Wanderlust BDC - https://wanderlustbdc.com/ , where your profits are his passion, and has had an illustrious career spanning over 20 years in the luxury travel brand sector.
It was fantastic to speak with Ed and we discuss lockdown life in South Africa, his passion for tourism and really making a big difference to his clients, what motivates him every day and some very cool stories about life in the bush and the the extra mile you have to go when looking after guests in a luxury safari camp!
I hope you enjoy the podcast as much as I did when talking to Ed.

Don't forget to subscribe and review the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. You can also connect with me on Twitter https://twitter.com/SteveOdy and Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveody/ .

Please contact Ed through his website if you'd like to know more about him helping your travel brand stand out. 

Best wishes to everyone and thanks for listening.
Steve

This weeks episode takes us on a journey to Tanzania with my good friend  and safari expert Jake Cook. Jake has just come back from managing Ikuka Camp in Ruaha National Park.

It was great to chat with Jake and learn some insights in to living in Tanzania and running a safari camp. I hope you enjoy it and don't forget to subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, Stitcher etc. Thanks so much. x

Connect with me on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/SteveOdy
Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveody/

Jambo and Karibu to the Travelling Optimist Podcast with Steve Ody which I’m sure you all know is hello and welcome to The Travelling Optimist Podcast with Steve Ody in Swahili! 

Right, we’re still in lockdown – how are you coping with things? Have you learnt something new? Here in the UK it’s all still a bit surreal but by and large everyone is getting on with things as they should, social distancing and staying home but I know there are plenty of people and families who must be climbing the walls – hang in there guys, hang in there. I must confess to getting itchy feet and desperately want the lockdown to end and get back to work! Whatever happens though, please take care, stay happy, look after yourself and your loved ones and also a big shout out to those on the front line caring for everyone affected by Corona, chapeau to you all! . 

This weeks guest on the Travelling Optimist is someone I’ve known for a few years now. Jake Cook has had the  Africa travelling since 2007 where he got stuck into conservation work in Botswana and South Africa.  At University he spent a year working for an award-winning education-focused NGO, culminating in a co-project with The Ministry of Education in Tanzania. Since then he has managed or guided at long established luxury safari and beach camps in six countries across the continent and has visited many more on personal and professional recce trips. Jake has previously outfitted safaris in the UK for two leading luxury safari companies. He is passionate about conservation, community, tourism and hospitality in Africa and is a true professional when it comes to looking after clients. 

Listen out for elephants, lions and the beautiful birdsong of the African bush!
Sit back and think of Africa!

So, today's episode of the Travelling Optimist Podcast with me Steve Ody is all about escape, a chance to press reset and trust me, I’m pressing that button a lot at the moment! 

It’s a beautiful chance to getaway, transport yourself to a place of unrivalled, wonderfulness. We’re going to Africa on The Travelling Optimist Podcast and talk to a safari guide, naturalist and professional photographer and hopefully leave you wanting to take your next adventure to Zambia and Zimbabwe.

He studied Zoological Conservation at University, managed camps across Africa, he is one of just a few hundred original South Luangwa guides and moved to Zambia where he worked for several years before coming home to set up Armstrong Safaris.

Matt Armstrong is founder and head guide of Armstrong Safaris and what has always struck me whenever I meet up or speak to Matt is his passion for wildlife and giving clients a safari experience that leaves them in awe of his experience and knowledge. His photography really captures Africa in a true and raw sense.

So, lets all transport ourselves to Africa and have a chat with Matt about his time in Africa. 

Matt can be contacted through his website https://www.armstrongsafaris.com/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/armstrong_safaris/

"Just being there is enough” Matt truly believes that just being in wild spaces is really what the whole safari experience should be about. Whatever you see is a bonus and funnily enough, the more you surrender to being in the wild and letting her show you all sides of her, then you generally end up seeing a great deal more that if you were to “chase” sightings. 

Matt's photography skills comes from a love of wildlife. Here are his 6 top tips for photographing in the bush.

• Patience - It can take years to get a shot you want.
• Know your equipment, take time to get to know what i can do. 
• Have a goal - know what you want to photograph
• Get off the vehicle - game changing for images
• Ignore the rules (of photography)
• Shoot for yourself 

Matt's photography has also been transferred into art through https://www.emilylamb.co.uk. You can buy Emily's art and 100% of all proceeds go towards fighting wildlife crime. 

The next amazing show will be out soon. Don't forget to subscribe, review and rate on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thanks for listening and keep dreaming of Africa! 
Take care everyone.
Hugs.
Steve. 

This is the last episode in the series of Corona beating podcasts. It's been such an enlightening experience and this last episode is a real beauty! Jim talks about some simple but effective ways to combat this difficult time we are experiencing and ways to feel great.
 
 "Hey everyone, how are you. How’s week two of the lockdown going? 

This first series of my podcasts has centred around giving you strategies to help you navigate these choppy waters, to steer a course for yourself and your loved ones that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so without this enforced period of sequestration

There’s no doubt the world will be a different place when we venture out of our cocoonment. What I truly hope is that everyone comes out of the other side with a different perspective on their life. Perhaps we will be more about community than self, more about talking than texting, more volunteerism over materialism. Whatever it is lets all make a decision to come out of this stronger and better. The show is afterall about optimism!

I have huge pleasure introducing someone that I’ve known for a few years now and really looked on in admiration his enthusiasm and zest for life, his business, his clients and genuinely is one of the nicest guys on the planet. He is one of those rare people that after just a moment with him you are immediately more optimistic and motivated. We’re going to delve a bit deeper and try to find out some of his secrets to a happy and healthy life

Jim passed out as a Royal Marines Commando in 2009. With a plan to only ever serve 4-5 years, he was, in his words, lucky enough to be quite busy during that period, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, along with training packages in Germany and Egypt.

About 9 months before he left, he attended open trials for the Great Britain Bobsleigh Team, having been a Sprinter in his youth, and spent every hour of the home stretch of his military career training, and became 1 of only 6 men and women to make the International Team, from the 130 that initially trialled that year.

2 years later, and having spent huge stretches of time out of the Country and competing for Team GB, Jim moved to East Grinstead, where he started ATLAS Fitness Conditioning, a functional fitness training business designed to help busy, working people build a great foundation of strength and fitness.

5 years on and ATLAS boasts a team of 6 amazing coaches. It’s these trusted coaches’ ability to hold down the fort that allows Jim to pursue his other passion - travel….."

Jim can be contacted through his website www.afconditioning.co.uk where you can claim your FREE 2 week unlimited class pass (subject to Corona restrictions)
 
To finish I would just like to say it’s been a huge privilege to have spoken to all of my last four guests and I hope that you have found their advice and help something that you can incorporate into your life during these tough times. I guarantee you will not regret it and you will be ready, ready to take on life when we come out of the other side of this virus.

Xavier Rudd wrote in his song,  Follow the Sun - “Tomorrow is a new day for everyone, brand new moon and a brand new sun”. Remember the sun has risen millions of times before you and I were here and it will after we’re gone, so in this microcosm of time that we have on this earth  LET'S make the most of it.

Stay safe, stay strong.
 Steve
 x

 Hey everyone and welcome to the next episode of the Travelling Optimist Podcast with Steve Ody where we look to give everyone some amazing tips and info to help navigate through the thick fog from the fallout of the corona virus.

The next few months are going to be scary for some of us, an anxious time, there will be some stressful moments for sure (particularly when you have so many people working from home) but this time can be a huge opportunity as well. It’s important to keep looking on the brightside of life wherever possible, look after yourself, following the advice from government will be critical but we can all come out of this in better shape than when we came in.

Our guest today is a life coach who measures her success by the difference she makes to her clients lives. Set up a coaching company over 5 years ago and works from a beautiful peaceful studio in rural East Sussex, England. 

Louise has helped many people get connected to their true self and through coaching they have learnt how to trust, love and simply be in their own lives. 

Two of Louise’s favourite words are connection and present.

Louise sees the life changing benefits of self connection, also the importance of a true connection to nature and diet.

She actively encourages her clients to try and live always in the present day, as she believes this is the only place where the magic of life for anyone can unfold, she also introduces her clients to easy daily meditations.

"To help another get connected to who they were born to be has to be the most fulfilling thing a human being can do for another” and this is exactly what Louise does.

Louise particularly likes to work with people who are coming back from an ‘Life Challenge’, as this is very much the journey that unfolded for her. A motorway car accident followed by 2 major health issues taught Louise resilience and much more, she chose to use these opportunities to develop and grow as a person and become the person she was born to be.

During this time of uncertainty, as Louise can’t run her Workshops or Coaching Day Retreats she finds herself with time on her schedule and is willing to support anyone who feels ready to explore that connection and start their own journey to true self, so if you are keen to take up this generous offer of free coaching, please do email your reasons why to louise@tdacoaching.co.uk stating why you think you are ready for coaching and Louise will be in touch thereafter.

I’ve had the immense pleasure of knowing today’s guest for several years, Luoise is an amazing life coach and business entrepreneur. Louise is one of those people who would light up the room wherever she goes, her attitude to life is incredibly positive. Louise is an all-round manifestor of good things into her life and embraces a life centred on a plant based diet and focusing on what she has control over and not what she doesn’t.

Her coaching has taken her on a journey of self-discovery, balance and peace. Louise loves helping people succeed in life and has raised thousands for charity over the years as well.

You can find out more about how Louise can help you at www.tdacoaching.co.uk

Stay well everyone, stay strong.
Steve
x

"Anything you need, anything at all, just ask us. It's very likely that we'd be able to introduce you to the right people"

Hey everyone, I hope this finds you well and adjusting to life during this difficult time.
I am dedicating this episode of the Travelling Optimist Podcast with Steve Ody to my travel industry colleagues and all business owners. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you and as each day brings something new to the table I hope that there are some nuggets of info that might help you get through this period of uncertainty. I don’t have all the answers, I wish I did, I think there’s still a lot of people out there facing a time of serious hardship but I want you to know that you’re not alone, don’t feel stranded. If there’s anything that comes out of this show it’s to stay connected to your network and talk regularly. Together we can get through this difficult phase and come out of it stronger and healthier and happier. 

I am joined in this episode by someone with what must be the coolest sounding surname in the world, Nic Morreale-Devereaux. Nic is the co-owner and director of Base Practice Support which he set up just over 3 years ago.

Nic has led a hugely successful entrepreneurial career and has unbelievable amounts of knowledge and experience in a number of arenas, the retail and catering industry, the property business and selling property worldwide but also has vast experience in structuring finance deals and property portfolio strategies, he’s worked as a business consultant is sales and marketing before he spotted an opportunity to ‘make a dent in the world of accountancy’. 

Base Practice Support is an accountancy outsourcing service business. They provide solutions to accountancy practice owners that mean they can concentrate on growing their business
He is a great supporter of a local charity near to where he lives called CHUMS, it supports children with learning difficulties and mental health issues. And I know this is a charity that is close to his heart.
Nic’s phrase that has helped him throughout his life is ‘its not what happens to you, it’s how you deal with it. We all face, have faced in our lives some tough times – but these are often unavoidable so I believe we have to take what life throws at us on the chin and always look up, that’s how we bounce back stronger.’ 

For more information about Nic and his incredible business check out his website at https://basepracticesupport.co.uk/basepractice/index.php

You're not alone, so if you want to contact me and have a chat then please use sales@citrustravel.co.uk and I will get back to you.

I totally believe that this is a huge opportunity for everyone to reconnect with 'you' and your network. Let me know how it goes. 
Stay strong and in the words of the US Rock band Journey - Don't Stop Believing!

Steve
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Hi everyone, how are you, I hope you're all well during these difficult times.
I wanted to publish a trailer for my podcast to put some background into the journey I'm taking with the Travelling Optimist. 
I've been in travel all my life and right now it is an industry that has been obliterated, it feels like we've had a rug pulled from under our feet. It's all very worrying but in these times of uncertainty there are plenty of opportunities as well.
The first 4 episodes are going to be with some extraordinary guests to help everyone find a clear path through this fog we're in. We'll look at personal finances and some strategies to help relieve some of the worry, we have a look at business and what can be done to alleviate the financial pressure but also tips on maintaining the relationships you will need once we're out of the Covid-19 mess, then we're off to a place of Zen with a life coach where we will look at ways to create some balance and harmony and look after our mental health. Finally, we will concentrate on our physical health with an ex Paratrooper who knows what it takes physically to get through tough times.

I hope you enjoy the Travelling Optimist Podcast with Steve Ody. It's going to be a great ride!
x 

"I look upon myself as a conscience" - Doug Bennett DipPFS

I don’t know where this podcast journey is gonna take me but I’m super excited to share it with you and I hope I can inspire you to take the trip you’ve always wanted, start the business you’ve always wanted start and just become the person you’ve always wanted to be.  

This show was really borne out from the sadness I’m currently feeling for all my industry colleagues (and clients that can no longer go on their holidays) who are facing a time of great uncertainty and are most probably feeling stressed and anxious about the future. It’s completely understandable and I feel that pain too. 

So in my first few podcast shows I wanted to put together a series that will be packed with info and strategies to provide some clarity in these uncertain times and hopefully help you navigate onto a clearer path forward. Maybe it’s a time to press your reset button, spend this time connecting with old friends, neighbours and family! You know, set the table, sit down and prepare good and wholesome meals as a family, read with the kids, be creative as a family or it you are on your own maybe schedule time for a little exercise or skype friends every day. 

Either way if you ever feel over-whelmed, I want you to reach out to me, know you are not alone and I’m only an email or message away!

There have already been some amazing stories of people being kind and caring to strangers and neighbours, we’ve already got a neighbour Whatsapp group going to help our vulnerable neighbours if they need help but the most amazing thing about this is we are already thinking about having a street party when this is all over! How cool is that?

So, the travel industry has been pretty much decimated by the spread of Covid -19 – anyone linked to the travel industry is going to be hugely affected. Airlines are asking staff to take unpaid leave, making people redundant. Travel companies are battening down the hatches with huge levels of redundancies, homeworkers are massively affected as they are commission based plus hotels, taxi firms, ground operators and the support businesses that keep the industry going and airports. This is huge! 

The rug has firmly been pulled from under our feet. 

We are in uncharted waters right now. Most peoples worlds have been turned upside down and life is going to be tough for a lot of people, but there’s a number of things that you can do, that I’m going to do, to help ease the situation and take some of the stress away, enable us to look forward to and plan for life after Covid-19.

But there’s always opportunities, they might not be in evidence now but there will be, I truly believe it. Let’s be kind to each other, be grateful for what we have as there’s always others that are worse off, if some of the tips and info in this episode has helped just one person then it would have been worth it.

I couldn't think of a better guest to have on my first ever podcast. I've known Doug for 11 years and in that time he's become one of my best friends. He is in the top 2% of financial advisors in the world, a respected international speaker, successful entrepreneur, chair of trustees at an amazing charity called Us in a Bus, conqueror of Mt Kilimanjaro, 3 Peaks Challenge competitor and all round amazing guy who I call the gift that keeps on giving!

If you would like help with ideas and help from a personal finance point of view then please contact myself or Doug and mention the podcast.

Contact details: 
steve@citrustravel.co.uk
dougbennett@tpllp.com
Website is www.dougbennett.tpllp.com 
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