If Anne Can

Today’s podcast episode features the indomitable Ann Carney. 

Ann was trapped in a cycle of overwork and bad health habits when at the age of forty-five, knowing she had to make changes, she decided to try to run. Like many beginners, she started too fast and would have given up if it wasn’t for a serendipitous meeting with a cousin she hadn’t seen in years. 

He guided her through a couch to 5k, and gaining confidence; she took out an advert in the local paper. She co-founded Chorlton Runners, a club which started with a couple of members and has grown to a membership of over six hundred, and the club is one of the most successful in Manchester. 

Ann knows that as well as having the courage to make the first step, novice runners also need a helping hand and a supportive structured programme to build momentum step by step. That’s why the Couch to 5K programme is still an integral part of the Chorlton Runner’s ethos and one Ann actively supports.

Having found her passion and identity, Ann could have been happy to reap the personal rewards, but she is a person who uses their grit, drive, and boundless energy to make things happen for others. 

Please listen to Ann’s inspiring story, and for anyone out there who thinks I could never do that, look for a guide because once you have someone at your side, the following steps are so much easier. 

Reference
You can find out more about Chorlton Runners here https://www.chorltonrunners.co.uk/

My guest today is Chloe Richards, a brave and strong breast cancer survivor emerging from a period of loss and change. She is refocusing her business to deliver her mission to help women succeed in the workplace.
We talk about

• How women struggle to describe their value in the workforce.
• How it's important to take the time to reflect on your success and find the words to do this in a way that feels authentic.
•  Creating behavioural diversity in the workplace so people can communicate in a way that resonates with them.  
• Celebrating differences helps people to fulfil their potential and bring value in different ways.
•  Taking the time to step back and be clear about what you won't tolerate builds resilience.
• Redundancy and striking out on your own.
• The experience of a breast cancer diagnosis.
• Dealing with loss and change and strengthening of purpose
• Being fearless. Being stripped back but brave enough to seek the light and move forward.
• Seeking help, trusting others and mentally dealing with both loss and illness.
•  Reflecting on values and developing a mission to help women succeed so they can effect change at work, making life better for everyone. 

The book I gave to Chloe is 
H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald
 

Want to be a waser reather than a wisher? Listen to this episode and I promise you will get some inspiration to get up, get out and keep going!

My guest today is Steve Pullen, a judo 7th Dan and holder of the MBE for his service to blind and disabled judo. 
He is a coach and has guided judokas to the Olympics, Paralympics, World and European Championships.
Steve heads up a group of coaches whose prime objective is to increase and expand judo teaching facilities in North West England to integrate able-bodied and disabled judo.
Outside of judo, Steve was in charge of physical education at the acclaimed Chethams School of Music in Manchester.
Steve's reputation, passion and commitment are recognised throughout the world. 

We talk about

• Discipline - cultivating the habit of never being late.   
• The importance of early role models and inspirational coaches
• Developing independence and resistance from difficult circumstances, in Steve's case having to spend several years in hospital with severe burns when he was a young child.
• Being tough minded, overcoming and getting there by driving yourself
• Being a waser not a wisher
• Changing the lives of others through coaching
• Knowing when to change direction and try something new
• Avoiding self-destruction when a life's practice comes to an end
• Using your hard earned skill set to forge yourself a new identity
• The power of strong relationships
• The importance of keeping dreaming.  
  
  

Do you know what having the power of your convictions means? Not sure, then listen to today's episode
 
My guest this week is Jane Lockwood; Jane is an activist who lived in Greenham Common to protest the horror of war and nuclear weapons. She has spoken at the UN and the Royal Albert Hall. She subsequently relocated to  Australia, became a Head Teacher and led a national training programme. Jane is reigniting her passion for writing and talking and has contributed to two books on healing from childhood abuse. 

In this fascinating discussion, Jane talks about
 The Importance of Education
The drive to escape a complex background and being determined to work hard and take the opportunity to go to university. 

Becoming an Activist
The influence of her father's political stance and his support nurtured Jane's instinct to do something about bad things.

Greenham Common Experience
Jane answered the call and was deeply affected and horrified by the sight of nuclear weapons. She felt there was no other option but to become physically involved. This has led to a life-long need to take action.

Defying Expectations
Being different - Jane found her rebellious nature supported and encouraged by others. She believes fear is the driver of stopping people from doing things. By sticking with others, you gain strength. Not having family or career responsibilities at the time of Greenham made Jane's activism easier. She braved the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence or even being shot on sight. She was prepared to take the risk because other people were unable to.

Strong self-knowledge
MI is moving to a remote part of Australia.
Becoming a teacher gave Jane a ready-made family. Being in the Outback gave Jane great happiness. She was living in connection to the land and being outdoors.  An unlimited horizon and space give Jane a spiritual connection.
Ending her teaching career with the Aboriginal people was a revelation and inspiration to fight inequality and patriarchy.

Looking forward with hope
Across the world people are still struggling, and the situation for women remains complicated. National movements lead to inspiration.

Focus on the Spiritual
Jane continues the daily journey of looking at herself, taking steps to a better life, and feeling comfortable in her skin. Nature and seeking her path was more fulfilling than established religions.

References
You can find out more bout Jane  Lockwood here:

https://greenhamwomeneverywhere.co.uk/jane/

This a project to document the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, recorded testimonies, oral and written, included from over a hundred women who were part of the camp; there is a visual and music archive and information about current and future events by the project.

Jane has some artwork on these sites

Contemporary Markmakers Totnes 

https://www.instagram.com › contemporarymarkmakers

and the blog https://markmakers.avenda.uk/ 

Etsy shop name handmaderosarybeads

The book I chose for Jane: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

My guest today is Rowena Birch, an Olympic and European judo champion. Rowena is also the current president of the British Judo Association.
Outside of judo, Rowena has coached at elite levels across many sporting disciplines and corporate leadership. She has retrained as a financial advisor and now runs her own business.
Rowena talks about how she coped with not being selected for the Barcelona Olympic games by prioritising her training and reorganising her life to maximise her focus.
Self Belief and reflective self-discovery. Being in the right place and loving the sport is vitally important, as is knowing that just because you don't get instant results doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. 
The mindset of enjoying the journey. The danger of over-focusing on results instead of the process. Keeping going relies on finding ways to enjoy what you are doing.
After Competition. Using the skills learned from the experience of competitive sport and applying them to coaching and revelling in an environment of learning - creating and developing new skills.
Letting go of an elite sporting persona and finding a new place in the world of judo after the elite competitions. - Adjusting techniques to a new reality and accepting that your body and circumstances have changed.   
Core Identity - The importance of being part of the judo community, how the core values  of honesty, integrity, courage and respect have shaped Rowena's identity
embuing a passion for learning and self-development.
Starting new challenges   Using the tools of being an athlete to embrace new challenges and learn new skills. Breaking new tasks into logical, systematic pieces. 
 

References

You can find out about Rowena's business here: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/partner/goldenbirchesfinancialplanning.

I chose Rowena's book: How Much is Enough: Money and the Good Life by Edward Skidelsky and Robert Skidelsky.

Reach Kate Hughes at: https://outsidethelines.org/

My guest today is Oonagh McDonnell, the founder of It's Her, a social enterprise based in Manchester that researches, develops and delivers collaborative and engaging activities, courses and workshops that support women and help them change their narrative.

Oonagh's story is rooted in adapting to adversity and overcoming loss, beginning with her mother's death when she was eight years old, which left her feeling responsible for three younger siblings. 

After studying at Manchester University, she developed a love for the city and the diverse voices of the women who call Manchester home.

The devastating loss of her sister necessitated Oonagh to completely change her career,  shifting her focus and seeking opportunities in the Middle East that would not have been available in the UK. 

Her experience observing women in Saudi Arabia who forged their life, despite their obstacles sharpened her focus on the still considerable barriers to equity in the UK. Oonagh founded It's Her, a social enterprise aiming to enable all women to achieve equity. 
Oonagh believes that when women put themself in a position to thrive, the whole family and society, in general, reap the benefit.

Reference 
You can find out more about Oonagh's enterprise It'sHer: www.itsher.uk

The Book I chose for Oonagh is Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. 

In this episode, we celebrate the importance of accessing green space and consider the historical actions of others and how these actions made it possible for us to enjoy the ability to ramble in the countryside.

These conversations were recorded over the Kinder Mass Trespass 90th anniversary weekend in the High Peaks of Derbyshire in Hayfield village hall.

I want to thank Joss Underwood from the Tent People, who organised a fantastic pop-up event on the village green in Hayfield and generously introduced me to today’s guests, Helen Darby, Dorothy Collins and  Kate Ashbrook.

 Ninety years ago, members of the young communist league gathered at Kinder Scout here in Derbyshire, to highlight the fact that walkers were denied access to areas of open country. When the group reached the plateau of Kinder Scout, there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers. As a result, six ramblers were arrested. They received jail sentences ranging from two to six months for offences relating to violence involving the keepers.

According to the Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group website, this act of civil disobedience was one of the most successful in British history. It arguably led to the passage of the National Parks legislation in 1949[8] and helped pave the way for establishing the Pennine Way and other long-distance footpaths. Walkers' rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland were eventually protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW Act) of 2000. 

Reference
Reach Helen Darby  on Instagram @helenlouisedarby or at their website www.helendarbypoetry.com

Follow Kate Ashbrook's blog here: https://campaignerkate.wordpress.com/

Castlefield viaduct: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castlefield-viaduct

Find out more about the Tent People:  www.thetentpeople.co.uk

Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group: https://kindertrespass.org.uk/

Sue France helps women in business make the best connections and is the founder of sue France Creative Connecting in Cheshire.
She says, " I instinctively know who to match with who, and every day there is a new success story within my group."
She has lovingly built a tribe of interconnected women who joyously build relationships.  
I joined Sue at one of her networking events held at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre and chatted with her to learn more about her thoughts about networking, and how she injects so much joy into the process.
 I also spoke to those attending the event to find out what they thought about networking, and we even gave the dreaded elevator pitch a go!

Here are the highlights of our conversations

Sue France 
Web: https://suefranceccc.com/

Why there is no joy in old-style networking

• Having to wear a delegate badge and then enter the room to sink or swim with a group of strangers.
• Emphasis on selling, not  on listening 
• Elevator pitches with no help are very scary!   

What does Sue do to encourage people to enjoy networking 

• There is no  pressure to perform 
• Huge emphasis on relationship building which continued even through COVID
• Making events accessible to everyone regardless of age or business

Voices from Sue's networking event  

Fiona Drake coach
Instagram:  Fiona_Drake_Coaching
Web: www.fionadrake.com
#The Adventure Chronicles 

Fiona Drake is the 'adventure mentor' on a quest to awaken your spirit of adventure, so you fall madly in love with midlife.

Fiona's thoughts on networking 

• Networking brings the intrinsic human desire to belong, connect and collaborate. 
• Most people are beneficial, but it's essential to be you at an event, and you will find those who are aligned with you and your values. 

Claire Lucas
Instagram: Claire_Lucas_hypnotherapy
Web: www.clairelucastherapies.com

Claire is a clinical hypnotherapist who specialises in weight reduction, stress, anxiety, fears, phobias and business confidence.

Claire's thoughts on networking 

• Attending a supportive event fulfils the need to connect  
• Networking is hugely important when you run a  solo business as it replaces the relationships you would otherwise build with colleagues. 

Sarah Osborne
Instagram: @sonutrition
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-Osborne-52b37677

Sarah was inspired to study and founded her business, So Nutrition, following personal experiences in her family.  

Sarah's thoughts on networking 

• Networking is vital to growing a new business. 
• Networking when you have a business is very different to networking in the corporate world.  

Helen Greenwood
Instagram: helengreenwoodcreative

Helen is a Canva training and creative content coach, helping women in business attract more clients by creating scroll-stopping visual content in Canva.

Helen's tip for networking

• Canva business card - a practical solution for connecting electronically

Sarah  Pickles
www.sarahepickles.uk

Sarah is an inspirational speaker, author and beauty school founder. Her mission is to help and empower women giving hope and celebration through education and transformation. 

Sarah's thoughts on networking 

•  It is worth making an effort to attend a networking event as, inevitably, you will find a  positive connection. 

Making an event Special 

My guest today is Toni Dudsak, a business leader currently working as the Executive Director of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in New York.
Toni is a force of nature with tremendous energy, and this, combined with her strategic insight, ensures any organisation she is associated with is propelled to new heights.
Toni also has the gift of organising elegant, fun events that flow beautifully without a hint of stress or sloppiness.
Here are some of the highlights of our conversation. 

One hand washes the other.

• Be there for anyone who needs assistance. 
•  Being open and giving will pay dividends when you need to call on others for help.   

Bringing people together to make an event a success

• Appreciate everyone who has helped.
• Make sure you celebrate and talk about the event.
• Invite people in and allow them to contribute.

Cookie Baking Appreciation

• Make a personal thank you to the people who have helped you or your organisation.
• Make appreciation  a team event.
• Develop a team ethos to encourage strong relationships. 

Developing community

• Being careful not to exclude anyone
• Forging community through events  

Creating an event at home

• The Italian culture of sharing food 
• Learning to be a generous host 
• Sharing what you have made and opening your door to others.

Developing the confidence to host an event.

• Planning is key
• Start small and think about what you are comfortable with 
• Keep it simple
• Build up confidence and progress onto more significant events.
• Bringing people together in your home shows you who you are and that you are comfortable in your skin.    
• Perfection does not exist; you can only do your best. 

The details of an event.

• Small details do make a big difference.
• Personal touches are appreciated.
• Be open and talk to people.
• What do you want to share?
• Let people contribute if they want to.

 
Reference

You can learn more about Toni here: linkedin.com/in/toni-dudsak-1132a34