Creatives Like Us

In this episode of Creatives Like Us, Angela Lyons interviews Ella Orr, a personal branding coach, public speaker and social media marketer. Ella shares her journey from being a teacher to discovering her passion for social media marketing after a personal loss. She emphasises the importance of personal branding, the mindset shift required to embrace it and the value of networking and building connections. Ella also discusses the support she received from mentors and the significance of visibility in business. The conversation concludes with Ella's advice to her younger self and her aspirations for future projects.

Connect with Ella
LinkedIn here
TikTok here
Instagram here

About Ella
Ella is a personal branding coach and the owner of Much More Social, which she started in 2018. Before retraining in social media marketing, she was a teacher for many years. 

Ella runs individual and group training as well as a consultancy on personal branding, social media strategy and content creation. She speaks about personal brand in masterclasses and at events and enjoys being a guest on podcasts and live interviews. 

She delivers LinkedIn training, her favourite platform, but is also an avid content creator on her Instagram and TikTok platforms. 

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

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Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

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The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

Angela Lyons sits down with Kayleigh Hall, a brand and website designer who transformed a "naive" leap of faith into an 11-year thriving freelance business. From accidentally discovering graphic design weeks before her uni interview to her obsessive love of typography, Kayleigh's journey is both inspiring and relatable. 

Kayleigh opens up about experiencing workplace microaggressions as the only Black woman in her agency and how that painful experience led her to build a business where she chooses who she works with. She shares her advice to her teenage self: "Go where your skills are, not where you feel like you're allowed to go." 

Packed with practical wisdom, vulnerable moments and plenty of laughs, this episode celebrates authenticity, resilience, and trusting your gut.

Connect with Kayleigh: 

• Website: hallcreative.co.uk
• Instagram: @hallcreative
• LinkedIn: hallcreative

Black Ballard

Join Our Table (JOT)

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

In this solo episode of Creatives Like Us, Angela Lyons discusses the often daunting topic of public speaking, emphasising its importance for small business owners and freelancers. 

She shares personal experiences and practical tips for building confidence, starting small, and effectively communicating ideas. The conversation highlights the significance of visibility, authority, and clarity in public speaking, while also addressing common fears and the value of authenticity.

Angela encourages listeners to embrace opportunities for public speaking, whether through networking events, podcasts or local meetups, and to practice their skills to enhance their professional presence.

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

In today's podcast episode, Angela takes a different format to the podcast by diving into public speaking with guest Festus Akinbusoye. He shares his personal experiences and provides practical advice on conquering fear and nerves while delivering powerful presentations through storytelling. Also he covers the significance of repetition in ensuring key messages resonate with listeners. 

Festus Akinbusoye is a public figure, entrepreneur, passionate advocate for young people, and former Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire (2021–2023). With over 20 years in business and a strong record of public service, Festus is passionate about public safety, business and finding solutions to problems that face communities.

Connect with Festus
LinkedIn here
Website here

Creatives Like Us - The Event
A practical, creatively-fuelled knowledge sharing workshop for Black and Brown business owners and freelancers.
Thursday October 16 2025
Tickets and more information here

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

Do you love or loathe social media? In this episode, I'm sharing how I was someone who absolutely loathed social media to using it with purpose for my business - Lyons Creative.

I talk about practical tips on managing social media without burnout, including how I use time limits, content planning tools and the content pillar method to stay consistent. 

You'll learn about my approach to LinkedIn and Instagram, why the long game matters for service-based businesses and how to repurpose content effectively. Plus, I'm sharing some exciting personal news about being nominated for the Black Podcast Awards and details about the final Creatives Like Us event!

Creatives Like Us - THE EVENT. Tickets on sale - a few remain. Get them here!

Join 'The Best 90 Days Ever' - by Hannah Isted.* Improve your marketing in the next 90 days with just 10 minutes a day. Join here.

Plan your content with Metricool*. Try it here.

*Contains an affiliate link

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

In this engaging conversation, Yolanda Sissing, founder of Pinkleaf Social and co-founder of the Anti-Social Socialites, shares her journey from a conventional career to becoming a social media consultant for purpose-driven brands.

She discusses the catalyst that led her to pursue her passion, the importance of redefining networking and her diverse clientele focused on social impact. 

Yolanda also shares her aspirations for future projects, advice for marketers and personal reflections on life and career.

Connect with Yolanda
Yolanda is an Ethical Social Media Marketing Strategist, the founder of purpose-driven storytelling company PinkLeaf Social & the co-founder of a growing global community of antisocial networkers. 

She is an advocate for ethical marketing, equality, social conscience and ripping up the rule book!

Her personalised training and bespoke workshops empowers purpose-driven business owners, particularly Black-owned businesses and female founders, to be braver as they leverage strategic social media to make a big impact.

As co-founder of the Antisocial Socialites, she's rewriting the networking rulebook for thousands of professionals who hate traditional networking and the 60 second pitch.

In her spare time she's an active blogger, public speaker, serial volunteer, vocal feminist, conscious parent and storyteller. 

Find her on LinkedIn, Instagram and via her website

Creatives Like Us the EVENT - Thursday 16 October 2025, tickets and more information here.
A knowledge sharing, creativity-fuelled workshop for Black and Brown business owners and freelancers.

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

In this episode of Creatives Like Us Angela Lyons opens up about how this podcast has become her creative outlet and why she believes every single person has creativity within them. She shares exciting news about the upcoming Creatives Like Us event, celebrates community wins and reminds listeners that bringing something new into being, whether it's a business idea or a podcast episode, is the essence of creativity.

Join us for the Creatives Like Us event. Tickets and more information here.

Podcast feedback and suggestions: [email protected]

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

The mic flips for our Creatives Like Us season finale! Host Angela Lyons takes the guest seat while producer Heather Pownall leads an open, honest conversation about Angela’s journey from launching the podcast to growing her voice and confidence as a Black creative business owner. From the behind-the-scenes work to the meaningful messages from listeners, Angela shares the milestones, the lessons, and the moments that made season one unforgettable.

We’re talking vision, resilience, and the power of showing up and Angela isn’t stopping here. She shares what’s ahead: the Creatives Like Us live event, more solo episodes, and a focus on welcoming more creatives of colour and amplifying voices for season two. This finale is both a celebration and an inspiring look at what’s next.

Creatives Like Us - the Event
Thursday 19th October 2025
Get your ticket and more information here

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

In this inspiring penultimate episode of the season - the final guest interview of Creatives Like Us, Angela sits down in-studio with the radiant Vanessa Belleau — multidisciplinary creative, executive coach, TEDx Speaker and founder of Beautiful Water Studio and High Fifteen. 

Vanessa opens up about what it really means to own your creative identity — even when you don’t fit into traditional boxes. From her early days in corporate data and trend forecasting to painting emotional pieces now exhibited in London galleries, she shares a raw, joyful story of pivoting, purpose and self-belief. 

🔑 In this episode:
• Turning art from an emotional outlet into a business
• Being “too much” — and making that your superpower
• The link between creativity and leadership
• Why dreaming big shouldn’t feel off-limits
• The beauty of starting where you are 

Whether you’re creative-curious or deep in the game, this episode will leave you feeling seen, empowered and ready to make your next move — unapologetically. 

🎨 “There’s art I sell, and art I keep. That’s my secret garden.” – Vanessa Belleau

Connect with Vanessa:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessabelleau/

High Fifteen Website: https://www.beautifulwaterstudio.com/

Instagram High Fifteen: https://www.instagram.com/highfifteen_/

Beautiful Water Studio: https://www.beautifulwaterstudio.com/

Instagram ART: https://www.instagram.com/beautifulwaterstudio/

This episode was recorded at the Tooting Film Studios in March 2025. Big thanks to the team especially Mira. 

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!

In this episode, Ange sits down with Heather Ebanks, a graphic designer, photographer, and founder of the blog Digital Fluidity. Originally from South London and now based in South Wales, Heather shares her journey of navigating the creative world as a woman of colour, particularly within corporate spaces that didn’t always appreciate or amplify her voice. From her early creative sparks (hint: think hair salons and Essence magazine) to her bold pivot from corporate admin roles to creative direction, Heather offers a candid look at the highs and lows of finding her place in the design industry.

Together, Ange and Heather explore the challenges of being overlooked in creative spaces and how Heather learned to claim her space, launch Digital Fluidity, and reconnect with her artistic spark. They discuss her upcoming podcast Creatively Eccentric, a platform that shines a spotlight on underrepresented designers, older creatives, and women of colour in design. Along the way, they dive into the joy of community, the overwhelm of having too many ideas, and the power of affirming, “I’ve got this.” This episode is a heartfelt love letter to self-trust, creativity, and the freedom to define success on your own terms.

Links and where to find Heather: 

Heather's Blog/Website: https://digitalfluidity.com

Heather's Instagram: @HeatherEbanks

If you have enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review here. Thank you!

Support the show

Contact Information

This podcast is hosted by award-winning graphic designer Angela Lyons of Lyons Creative.

If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be featured on this podcast, please contact Angela here.

Are you creating your own podcast? My set up is easy as I record on Riverside. You can check it out here.

You can follow and connect here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast website
Instagram - Creatives Like Us Podcast
Join the mailing list

Buy me coffee or a cuppa tea!

The opinions of our host and guests are their own.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe with the podcast provider of your choice or leave us a review. 

*this may contain an affiliate link - I only promote things I use and believe in.

Thanks!