BrightIAM

In this third episode of The Champagne Series sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard 🥂 Rachel Mailer – Female Founder and Dating Expert joined me on the #BrightIAM podcast couch. 

@rachelmailercoaching shared how she started her career and business from a series of failed dates and lessons learnt along the way. A really bright and bubbly conversation with a woman who has so many stories to share. You'll love the happily ever after ending on this one.

Pour a glass, sit back and enjoy a conversation between Lucy Black @lucyblack_official and dating expert Rachel Mailer.

This is 🎙️BrightIAM - The Champagne Series 🥂 

The Champagne Series is a bold, unfiltered podcast where powerful women
come to tell the truth and share their stories - not the polished versions, the
real ones.

Set in a beautiful, high-energy space, each conversation blends
honesty, humour, and depth as we uncover the stories behind the success, the
struggles no one saw, and the moments that changed everything.

It’s a celebration of self-expression, resilience, and women who chose to do life on their own terms - with a glass of champagne (or non-alcoholic alternative) in hand and nothing held back.

Filmed at The Podcast Room Brighton

In this second episode of The Champagne Series sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard 🥂 Brand Strategist, Powerhouse Speaker and Woman of Inspiration @geraldinespurway joined me on the podcast couch. We got honest about the realities of building businesses while caring for others, the invisible load women still carry, and why the playing field feels frustratingly uneven at times.

From hard hitting straight forward advice with no fluff to laughs and life reflections - this episode has it all.

Pour a glass, sit back and enjoy a conversation between Lucy Black @lucyblack_official and the wonder of a woman Geraldine Spurway.

This is 🎙️BrightIAM - The Champagne Series 🥂 

The Champagne Series is a bold, unfiltered podcast where powerful women
come to tell the truth and share their stories - not the polished versions, the
real ones.

Set in a beautiful, high-energy space, each conversation blends
honesty, humour, and depth as we uncover the stories behind the success, the
struggles no one saw, and the moments that changed everything. It’s a celebration of self-expression, resilience, and women who chose to do life on their own terms - with a glass of champagne (or non-alcoholic alternative) in hand and nothing held back.

Filmed at The Podcast Room Brighton

In this first episode of The Champagne Series 🥂 sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard - Cabin Fever author and female founder Mandy Smith gets honest about the realities of building a business while caring for others, the seasonal life chapters and career pivots in a woman's journey and the uneven playing field for women in business.

From the patriarchy to the mile high club... this opening episode has it all. 

Pour a glass, sit back and enjoy a conversation between Lucy Black
@lucyblack_official and the wonder of a woman Mandy Smith.

This is 🎙️BrightIAM - The Champagne Series 🥂 

The Champagne Series is a bold, unfiltered podcast where powerful women
come to tell the truth and share their stories - not the polished versions, the
real ones. Set in a beautiful, high-energy space, each conversation blends
honesty, humour, and depth as we uncover the stories behind the success, the
struggles no one saw, and the moments that changed everything. It’s a celebration of self-expression, resilience,
and women who chose to do life on their own terms - with a glass of champagne
(or non-alcoholic alternative) in hand and nothing held back.

Filmed at: The Podcast Room Brighton

They did it! Picking up the conversation, Lucy continues her chat with the Kilimanjaro team - reflecting on the experience now they’ve had time to process it all.

In this episode, hear from the climbers as they continue to reflect on:

• Their time on the mountain
• The moments that challenged them most
• What kept them going
• And how it feels to have raised over £100,000 for Kidscape

Because this was never just about reaching the summit. It was about resilience, shared experience, and turning something incredibly tough into something that can help others.

They did it! A few months on from their Kilimanjaro climb, Lucy sits down with the team to reflect on what it really meant - beyond the summit.

In this episode of BrightIAM,  hear from the climbers as they share more about:
- Their time on the mountain
- The moments that challenged them most
- What kept them going
- And how it feels to have raised over £100,000 for Coram Kidscape

This wasn’t just a physical challenge. It was personal, emotional, and for many, deeply connected to why they chose to take part.

This is the story behind the climb, in their own words.

In this soul-stirring episode, Lucy welcomes BrightIAM’s newest recruit, Jocelyn Crouch, whose story begins with a poster in a train station coffee shop and leads to a sign-up within just three days. But this isn’t just about a spontaneous decision. It’s about the power of attraction, the courage to say yes, and the ripple effect of purpose-driven adventure.

Together, they explore:

• The Spark: How a single poster stirred something deeper and why Jocelyn couldn’t look away.
• The Random meeting: How Lucy and Jo first met.
• The Mountain: The awe, the fear, and the questions - what does Kilimanjaro represent, and how do we prepare for it physically, mentally, and emotionally?
• The Training: From gear to grit - Jocelyn shares her evolving plan, the support of friends, and the unexpected ways her life is shifting
• The Ripple Effect: How her story is inspiring others to step forward, ask questions, and imagine themselves in the frame.
• The Outlook: What this journey is teaching her about life, legacy, and the kind of impact she wants to make.
• The Attraction: Why this mission and trip resonate – what does bullying mean to Jo and how can clarity, authenticity, and shared purpose continue to draw people in.

This episode is a celebration of serendipity, courage, and connection. It’s about how one moment can change everything and how we keep that energy growing.

In this deeply moving episode of BrightIAM, we sit down with two extraordinary women - Cerri McDonald and Rosee Elliot - whose personal journeys through life and inspirational spirit would lift that mountain off of the ground. We talk bullying, exclusion, and self-discovery, looking at how empowerment, change and challenge has shaped their lives.

Cerri, a creative force and advocate for change, inspired to climb by her daughter’s experience and recent life changes and Rosee, a passionate voice for inclusion, healing and fashion, at 75 Rosee jumps from planes and climbs mountains – an inspiration to all. They open up about the moments that defined them – looking at playground cruelty to workplace discrimination, they share how bullying leaves scars and how those scars can become fuel for transformation.

Together, we explore:

• How did Cerri and Rosee first get involved with Kidscape Kilimanjaro?
• What experiences of bullying shaped their sense of identity and purpose?
• What has been their hardest moments - and what helped them through?
• What training or preparation are they doing for the mountain?
• What creative, spiritual, or community tools have helped them along the way?
• What do they want young people, parents, and educators to understand about bullying today?

This episode is a raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful conversation about resilience, legacy, and the power of standing united. Whether you’ve faced bullying yourself or want to be part of the solution, Cerri and Rosee’s stories will stay with you.

Tune in, be inspired, and join the movement to rewrite the narrative.

In this high-energy episode, Lucy sits down with Josh Braid, Ollie Kuehne, and Sam Wood - the unstoppable trio behind the Sea-Summit challenge to unpack their Ironman-worthy journey from sea level to the summit of Kilimanjaro for Kidscape.

From coastal grit to mountain glory, this conversation dives deep into:

• The Challenge: A multi-discipline endurance feat combining swimming, cycling, and trekking across thousands of vertical metres.
• The Route: From the Indian Ocean to the Roof of Africa - tracing the team's path through Tanzania’s wild terrain, remote villages, and relentless climbs.
• The Tasks: Navigating logistics, altitude, and exhaustion while staying mission-focused and impact-driven.
• The Kilometres: Over 500km of physical and mental resilience, culminating in a summit push that tested every limit.
• The Inspiration: Why they are doing it, who for, and how this adventure is sparking new conversations around purpose, perseverance, and legacy.

Expect laughter, honesty, and a few goosebumps as Lucy draws out the heart behind the hustle and explores how extreme challenges can unlock extraordinary impact.

In this energising episode of BrightIAM, Lucy Black welcomes two powerhouse
voices from the fundraising sector - Erin Freeman and Leigh Wetherall from The
Charted Institute of Fundraising special interest group: ‘Insight in Fundraising’ for a dynamic conversation on innovation and opportunities within the sector.

Together, they unpack key insights from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s
September Conference, spotlight sector innovations, and explore the trends
reshaping how we connect, campaign, and catalyse change. From digital disruption to donor engagement, the trio shares practical takeaways and bold ideas for 2026 and beyond.

Listeners will also enjoy a celebratory look at the upcoming Insight in Fundraising
Awards 2026 with this year marking their 20th Anniversary. This will be a milestone moment to celebrate the brilliance, creativity, and impact of data-led
fundraising across the charity sector.

Erin and Leigh offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the CIoF’s evolving goals, its
role in championing fundraisers, and the importance of community, recognition, and resilience.

Challenges from capacity gaps to shifting donor behaviours are tackled head-on,
with a solution-focused lens and a spirit of optimism. Expect laughter, honesty, and a shared commitment to building a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable fundraising future.

In this energizing and insightful episode of BrightIAM, we sit down with Courtney Harrness - nonprofit leader, grant-writing expert, and community builder—to explore the transformative power of relationships and storytelling in the nonprofit world.

Courtney believes that while funding challenges and resource gaps are inevitable, the realsolution lies in connection. From grassroots organizations to global networks, he’s seen how trust, empathy, and belonging can turn reactive struggle into proactive impact.

This episode is a masterclass in relational leadership, featuring practical wisdom, personal reflections, and a roadmap for nonprofits ready to deepen their community ties.

Together, we explore:

• Why are relationships more powerful than resources in nonprofit success?
• What does it mean to shift from reactive to proactive - and how can storytelling help?
• How can nonprofits create clear, inclusive pathways for community engagement?
• What does internal storytelling look like - and why is it often overlooked?
• How can LinkedIn and other platforms be used to build meaningful relationships, not just visibility?
• What role does empathy play in nonprofit leadership - and how can it be cultivated?
• For smaller organizations, what does “relationship-first” strategy look like in practice?
• What stories have shaped Courtney’s own journey and how do we invite an encourage others to share theirs?

This episode is a call to action for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and changemakers: build trust, tell your story, and invite people in. Because when relationships lead, transformation follows.