New Leap

Our guest for this episode is Matt Ingram who 3 years ago took a leap in deciding to establish his own honey company. From some old hives found on the farm, Matt has developed a fully-fledged business that seeks to challenge the bigger companies in their processes and message. Delving deeper into his work we discuss the importance of traceability with food products, the personal side to the brand, the production process and the Holt Hall Apiary vision. Matt is a bee and honey encyclopaedia so this episode is hugely educational and informative, and a must for anyone wanting to know more about how that sweet sweet nectar we all love is really made.

Wrap up warm for this one as Liv Sharron joins New Leap to talk about the mental and physical benefits of cold water swimming, and her initiative ‘Chilly Dippers’. We focus a lot on prioritising the exercising of your mental health in the same way we do our physical health, as well highlighting the simple yet monumental difference the natural therapeutic remedies of cold water have in propelling you into living in the ‘now’.Liv is an enthusiastic ambassador who fully embodies the message of this movement and makes a very good cause for wanting to turn your shower to cold in the morning…

This week's episode takes us into the world of recycled art, as Freya Hollingbery joins the show to discuss her wonderful work as a bottle-top artist. We discuss her journey thus far, the deeper meaning behind her pieces, and the power of perspective about objects that are so often discarded as 'waste' in society. There is a concurrent theme running through this episode about the benefit of following your passions to achieve increased happiness and satisfaction in your work. Freya was a very engaging guest and I hope you enjoy listening to her story and learning more about her art.

This week’s episode is another one that really embodies the concept of the New Leap. Our guest Jenna is just 3 months into her new role as a volunteer for the RNLI life boat station in St.Agnes, Cornwall. As a keen surfer and current beach lifeguard, Jenna is always in the sea. However, her role as a life boat volunteer will require a slightly different skill set and comes with different demands that she will have to adapt to. It’s great to get a first-hand account of the work, preparation and pressures of a lifeboat volunteer. The RNLI survive off of charity funding and whilst many people will never encounter them, they are always there ready and waiting for when we do.

A firecracker of an episode as Nikki Upton joins us to discuss her work as a firefighter for the London fire brigade. In addition to this she gives an exclusive insight into the incredible expedition that herself and the other 'Antarctic Fire Angels' are due to undertake as they plan to ski the width of Antartica in 2023. This was an extremely insightful chat as it is rare to hear first-hand accounts of what it takes to become a firefighter, and the day-to-day reality of their lives. Whilst the Antarctic adventure may be a little whilst away, Nikki explains the arduous planning, organisation and training that is taking place to ensure they are ready for this journey. This story perfectly encapsulates how determination and positivity are key factors for anyone looking to achieve their goals; no matter how extreme they may seem.

Getting into the January spirit by talking about mental and physical well being with the hugely inspiring Eddy Clarkson. We discuss Eddy’s personal battle with cancer and his road to not just recovering, but his breaking of barriers and the completion of his first Ironman. Eddy talks about his personal training brand that he has created and the focus on all round fitness and endurance sport, as opposed to quick-fix HIT regimes. Other discussion points include replacing motivation with action, the importance of sport for healing and goal setting. Eddy is a charming individual who gives an important reminder of the power of self-belief.

Sit back and get stuck into another episode of New Leap where the flavour of today's episode is nettles. This story fully embodies the concept of taking a leap of faith, as our guest Hugo gave up a stable job in finance to pursue his dream of creating his own product in the soft-drinks industry. This is a tale of self-belief and hard work as he has faced plenty of speed-bumps at the start of this journey - perhaps the biggest of these challenges was changing the perception that nettles are a bit of a nuisance...

Music is the word of today as we discuss the rapid progression of Fred’s career as a singer/songwriter and solo artist. The music world has been rocked by the current pandemic so it was a privilege to get the view-point from someone who is making their way in the industry and learning more about what it takes. Growth mindset vs fixed mindset is a key theme raised, along with learning to fail and enjoying the small wins.

We kick-off this brand new series discussing the challenge of 'Moving Abroad'. Our guest Jake discusses the ups and downs of a move of this nature, and we get into the details of his mammoth cycle-trip down to his new home on the southern coast of France. Jake highlights the key challenges for making such a leap and gives an insight into how it's been and his aspirations for the future. He also touches upon his top tips for travelling and encourages other to do the same. Merci Jake!