Live & Linking #91 with Karen Eckstien

This episode is a resilience masterclass with Karen Ekstein — business growth and resilience expert, speaker, and all-around superstar 

If you're feeling the weight of year-end pressure, facing challenges in business or life, or just need a bit of a boost, this one is for you.

Karen shares her incredible personal journey through 30 surgeries, near leg amputation, and chronic illness, and how she came out stronger, happier, and more resilient than ever. 

She doesn't just talk about resilience.

She lives it. 

And she’s packed this conversation with tools, insights, and stories to help you build yours too.

We dive into:

• Some of Karen’s 8 tools of resilience (T4, Gratitude, Accountability, and more)
  

• How to deal with setbacks and keep going when life keeps knocking you down
  

• The difference between surviving and thriving, and how to choose your mindset
  

This episode isn’t woo-woo.

It’s practical, uplifting, and powerful. 

Whether you're a business owner, a team leader, or someone who just needs a little encouragement, you'll love this show.Website: www.kareneckstein.co.uk Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareneckstein-helping-you-manage-risk Phone: 07973 627039

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Live & Linking #90 with Dave and Karen Meadows

What do you do when life gives you a massive nudge? 

You build something brilliant. 

That’s exactly what Karen and Dave did when ITV made them both redundant. With a baby on the way, no job, and a whole lot of courage, they poured their redundancy pay into a cabin at the bottom of their garden, and started PUSHED, a now award-winning animation company.

We chat through the entire journey. 

From their first projects to landing clients like the BBC, NHS, and celebrity chefs, to weathering the storms of economic crashes, Brexit, and COVID. It’s not all been easy. But every challenge made them stronger—and their team of five is now one of the most respected creative studios in the South West.

But this episode isn’t just about animation. 

It’s about the people who show up when it matters. Karen was the first person to pay me for LinkedIn training. She believed in me before I did.  And she even sent me scones in the post. That small gesture changed everything.

We talk about community, connection, and how little things, like a thank-you card or an offer of support, can ripple out in ways you’ll never expect.

We reminisce about the COVID morning calls, where our little online gang kept each other going. 

We talk about Richie Cridge designing my new website, and James Twigger offering help over a quick chat. This is what happens when you surround yourself with good people.

It’s not just about business. It’s about backing each other, celebrating wins, and lifting each other up when things get tough.

Karen and Dave also share how PUSHED landed on Amazon Prime, how they got through lockdown by pivoting to e-learning, and why they’re now proudly part of Small Business Saturday’s #SmallBiz100. 

They open up about the pressures of pricing, imposter syndrome, and why having a good team and a solid community makes all the difference.

So whether you're starting out, facing a wobble, or just need to hear a real story from real people, this one's for you. It’s full of gold, grit, and loads of laughs.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/karenmeadows-pushedanimation

Website: https://pushed.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/pushed_design

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/pushed_design

Email: [email protected]

Small Business Saturday - https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/

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Live & Linking #89 with Tom Griffiths

If you're a small business owner who avoids looking at your numbers, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Tom Griffiths, a fractional CFO who's on a mission to demystify the numbers and help business owners make smarter decisions. 

We cover the difference between profit and cash (it’s not what you think), why so many people get into trouble with HMRC, and how a simple spreadsheet could stop your business going under.

Tom’s got a brilliant way of making finance feel less scary and more like a useful tool. Whether you're turning over £50k or £15 million, there’s something in here that will make your business better. 

We talk forecasting, director’s loans, cash flow traps and even how to spot the best time of year to take a holiday—just by looking at your books.

Grab Tom’s FREE 13-week cashflow forecast tool here: https://cash-flow-forecast.gr-site.com/

About Tom GriffithsTom is a business owner and finance expert who helps small businesses build a growing, successful company. With over 10 years of finance experience from JPMorgan, he now works directly with business owners to simplify the numbers and make smarter decisions. 

Whether it's M&A, exit planning, or everyday cash flow, Tom makes the complex feel manageable.

Connect with Tom Website: synergycfosolutions.co Free Cashflow Tool: cash-flow-forecast.gr-site.com LinkedIn: Tom Griffiths, CFO

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Live & Linking #88 with Jeff Wenberg

If your website or pitch isn’t turning heads or getting results, this week’s episode of Live & Linking is going to help you fix that. I’m joined by Jeff Wenberg, a full-stack marketer who’s helped scale some seriously big online businesses. 

These days, he’s working with coaches and entrepreneurs to rebuild demand for their offers without changing a thing about what they sell. It’s all in the messaging.

We unpack what makes a pitch truly effective and why so many business owners lead with the wrong message. Jeff explains why your headline, your landing page, even your LinkedIn bio should focus on what your audience is already thinking about. 

Forget clever wording or long explanations. If your message isn’t clear in the first few seconds, people will scroll right past. We also talk about the role of AI in marketing and how Jeff created PitchGPT to help people get out of their own heads and into the minds of their customers.

From his early days in Nashville to landing roles at Leadpages and Salesmsg, Jeff shares real stories with solid lessons. There’s something here for anyone looking to sharpen their communication, attract better clients, and create content that actually moves the needle.

Connect with Jeff:Website: https://jeffwenberg.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffwenberg/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjeffwenberg/PitchGPT: https://jeffwenberg.com/pitchgpt

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Live & Linking #87 with Anjie Carless

What colour are you? 

This week, I chat with the ever-insightful Anjie Carless, founder of Cortex Training Ltd and a seasoned coach with a passion for helping people understand themselves and each other. 

Anjie uses Insights Discovery.  This is a colour-based personality profiling tool rooted in Jungian psychology.  She uses it to help teams communicate better, grow stronger, and genuinely thrive. She’s been at it for nearly two decades and knows exactly how to spot a “Sunshine Yellow” from a mile away.

In our chat, we explored how knowing your personality colour can totally shift how you show up at work (and on LinkedIn). From figuring out why some people frustrate you to discovering how to find the perfect VA, Anjie breaks it all down in a super practical way. 

She even shares what my profile says about me.  Surprise, surprise,  I’m Yellow with a dash of Green! Plus, we dig into the role colours play in leadership, business decisions, and even marketing  (And why your logo colour might say more than you think).

If you lead a team, run a business, or simply want to understand people better, this episode is full of takeaways. And if you’re in Devon and curious about profiling, Anjie’s got some special workshops lined up.

Email Anjie: [email protected]

Call: 07824 559724

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What happens if LinkedIn locks you out?

That’s exactly what happened to Melanie Goodman—and she had no idea why. In this episode, Melanie shares how her account was suddenly restricted, the hoops she had to jump through with support, and why it took over two months to get her profile back. For anyone worried about losing access to their LinkedIn, this is a must-listen.

We get into the common triggers that can cause restrictions (spoiler: it's not always obvious), plus the workaround Melanie used by transforming her company page to keep engaging with her audience. She also introduces us to Substack—what it is, why she chose it, and how she grew a list of 25,000+ subscribers in just a few months. It’s clever, practical, and might just change how you think about LinkedIn vs email.

Melanie runs Trevisan, a specialist LinkedIn consultancy for professionals in the legal, financial and regulated sectors. With her combined expertise as a lawyer and marketer, she helps leaders create smart, compliant, and effective LinkedIn strategies. If you want to protect your presence and build more resilience into your business, Melanie’s story is packed with tips and real-world inspiration.

Connect with Melanie Goodman:Website: https://www.trevisanconsulting.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniegoodman-training-marketing/Substack: https://www.linktank.pro/linktankEmail: [email protected]

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In this episode of Live & Linking, I’m joined by Helen Young, Marketing Officer at the Growth Hub

Helen is someone who truly understands what it takes to support small businesses across Devon and Somerset.

They have even supported me.  And you’ll hear all about it during the show.

We dive into Helen’s journey from running a family holiday home business to shaping marketing for one of the most proactive business support hubs in the UK. 

She opens up about the real challenges business owners face (hello, bookkeeping!), how the Growth Hub helps solve them, and why face-to-face support still matters in this digital world.

We also talk about what makes a good event, why networking is a must for any business owner, and how Helen and her team are using AI to stay ahead of the curve. I

Connect with Helen Young and the Growth Hub: Email: [email protected] Website: heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk LinkedIn: Growth Hub on LinkedIn Digital Support: heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/digital-link Phone: 03456 047 047

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Taming the AI Overwhelm - Live & Linking #84 with Wendy Rogers

In this episode, I’m joined by Wendy Rogers, an AI and tech tools expert helping small businesses reduce overwhelm and feel more confident with all this newfangled tech. 

Based in Liverpool, Wendy breaks it down without the jargon and shows us that you don’t have to be a techie to make AI work for you.

We dig into the stress a lot of people feel when they hear about AI. 

“Should I be using ChatGPT? Or Gemini? Or Claude?” Sound familiar? Wendy shares simple ways to get started, how to avoid shiny object syndrome, and the one thing to do before you go signing up for yet another tool.

You’ll hear about practical things AI can help with—emails, social posts, recipes, spreadsheets—and how to use tools like Descript, Gamma, and Perplexity to get time back in your business. Wendy also shares how to create custom GPTs, keep your prompts tidy, and stop your ChatGPT from turning into a digital junk drawer.

Grab the free list of tools mentioned in this episode here: https://just.15mins.day/34079/files/68da9aaedca92_1759156910_ai-tools-from-live-linking-ashley-leeds-the-15-minute-guy.pdf

Connect with Wendy: https://www.savetimeinbusiness.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyrogers-ai/

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Money Confidence Starts With A Conversation  

Here’s another cracking episode from the Live & Linking show, and this week I’m joined by Abby Birch.  She is a financial wellbeing coach, motivational speaker, and all-round money mindset champion. We’re talking honestly (and practically) about something that affects all of us: money.

Abby shares why money is still a taboo in the UK, how shame plays a massive role in our financial decisions, and what we can do about it. 

We dive into her 3Cs framework

Control

Clarity, and 

Connection

This is a great way to get back in charge of your finances without judgment or overwhelm. Whether it’s budgeting, saving for a holiday, or just not panicking when the boiler breaks, Abby’s approach is simple, relatable, and full of easy wins.

We also highlight two brilliant support services—MoneyHelper and StepChange—for anyone needing free, trustworthy help. Abby’s big message? You’re not bad with money, you’ve just never been taught how to manage it—and that’s fixable. If you’ve ever felt confused, stuck, or ashamed when it comes to your finances, this one’s for you.

Connect with Abby Birch: Website – https://www.mymoneyexplained.com Email – [email protected] LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-birch/

Abby is a financial wellbeing and money expert with 25 years of experience helping people feel more confident and in control of their finances. She works with organisations, individuals, and neurodivergent communities to reduce financial stress and build financial resilience through practical, engaging, and stigma-free support.

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Live & Linking #81 with Stephanie Marshall

IIn this episode of Live & Linking, I chat with the unstoppable Stephanie Marshall.  She is a multi-award-winning bookkeeper, accountant, podcaster, author, and community builder. If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling too much, Stephanie’s story will resonate with you in all the best ways.

We dive into how she built her thriving practice ABCSUK during the pandemic, launched a podcast to help those who couldn’t afford premium services, wrote a book to fix the UK’s financial literacy gap, and even created a safe community space for introverted bookkeepers. 

All in just three years!

This is a masterclass in making an impact without burnout. 

We talk content, confidence, and community. 

And if you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast but feel nervous? 

Stephanie shares exactly how she did it.  Just by starting in her PJs, one episode at a time.

Connect With Stephanie

• Website/Links: https://linktr.ee/abcsuk

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-marshall-micb-pmdip-icpa/

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