Rad-Ventures! Real Stories. Rad Journeys.

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I sit down with Joe Hayes — founder of Kindful Creative — to talk about his journey from accountancy into video production, podcasting, and creative entrepreneurship.

Joe shares how his background in accounting shaped his discipline and approach to deadlines, but why spreadsheets alone were never going to be enough. We talk about building strong relationships in business, why human connection still matters in a world increasingly shaped by AI, and how the content landscape is shifting toward deeper, longer-form storytelling.

We also explore the idea that every business is becoming an entertainment company, the risks of chasing algorithms, and why mindfulness is more important than ever in a digital-first world.

A relaxed but thoughtful conversation about creativity, business growth, relationships, and staying human in a tech-driven age.

Chapters

00:00 – From accountant to creative

12:48 – Building Kindful Creative

22:56 – The evolution of content creation

35:54 – AI & human connection

51:27 – Mindfulness in a digital world

🌍 More about Joe & Kindful Creative

‪@kindfulcreative‬ ‪@joehayeskindful‬

https://www.kindfulcreative.co.uk/

/ kindfulcreative

/ kindfulcreative

/ kindful-creative

☕ Support the Show

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👋 About Me

Hey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. Rad-Ventures is where I have relaxed conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business minds about the journeys behind what they build.

Huge thanks to Kindful Creative for hosting, recording and editing this episode — massively appreciated.

And thank you to Joe for coming on Rad-Ventures and sharing his journey from accountancy to creative entrepreneurship. Proper conversation, really enjoyed this one.

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I sit down with Ross, founder of The Open Flame Experience, to talk about his journey through the catering world and into building a business centred around open-fire cooking and hands-on food education.

We talk about where his passion for food started, how travelling shaped the way he cooks, and why teaching people about food, fire and technique is such a big part of what he now does. Ross explains the thinking behind the Open Flame Experience, what actually happens at his sessions, and why hands-on learning is so important.

We also get into the realities of working in hospitality, how the industry has changed, the challenges caterers face post-COVID, and why collaboration and community matter more than competition. Ross shares his views on work-life balance, mental health in hospitality, and what it’s like building something new in a demanding industry.

A relaxed conversation about cooking, business models, creativity, travel, and finding enjoyment in the work you do.

00:00 – Introduction & meeting Ross02:57 – What is The Open Flame Experience?05:50 – Food education & awareness09:03 – Cooking techniques & open fire cooking11:59 – Hands-on experiences & course structure14:56 – Knife skills & tools17:48 – Ross’s catering background29:54 – The reality of the catering industry34:14 – Work-life balance in hospitality38:14 – Mental health in the industry45:58 – Travel & cooking abroad52:09 – Living in the moment58:01 – Collaboration over competition

Links:

https://theopenflameexperience.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/theopenflameexperience/

https://www.theburntchefproject.com/

https://www.instagram.com/pardoeandco/

https://www.alexpoleironwork.com/

Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:
☕ Buy me a Ko-fi - https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist
🎙️ Join the Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassist

About me!

Hey, I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. Rad-Ventures is where I sit down with business owners, creatives and entrepreneurs for relaxed conversations about work, ideas, tools, and the journeys behind what they do.

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I’m joined by Emma Boatman, founder of Boatman Admin Services, to talk about life as a virtual assistant and what it really looks like to run a VA agency.

Emma shares her journey from corporate work into virtual assistance, how her business evolved into an agency model over the last 10 years, and why she believes collaboration matters more than competition in the VA world. We talk about trusting associates, managing client relationships, and the realities of growing a service-based business without a rigid master plan.

We also get into tools, productivity, and communication — including Emma’s honest take on project management systems, using your inbox as a to-do list, and adapting to new platforms as the industry changes. The episode wraps up with Emma’s future aspirations, including a growing interest in travel and blogging.

A relaxed conversation about business growth, agency life, and what actually works behind the scenes.

Follow Emma:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-boatman/

https://www.instagram.com/boatmanservices/

00:00 – Introduction to Emma Boatman02:55 – The evolution of virtual assistance05:53 – Collaboration over competition08:57 – What a VA role really looks like11:49 – Building Boatman Admin Services14:49 – Challenges and business growth
17:48 – Agency model vs freelancing20:43 – Finding and trusting associates23:38 – Personal insights & fun questions30:40 – Productivity tools (or not 😅)37:27 – Managing email & communication48:10 – Travel dreams & future plansIf you’re enjoying Rad-Ventures, you can support the podcast here:
☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist
🎙️ Patreon: /radminassist

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, Michelle Haslam shares her journey from a career in finance to becoming a TikTok creator and digital marketer. We talk about authenticity, growing an audience at any age, dealing with online negativity, and why social media has no “age limit.”Michelle opens up about navigating trolls, building confidence on camera, and how sharing real experiences can help others feel less alone. We also discuss email management, content pressure, creativity, and the evolving world of digital marketing.Please note: The final few minutes of this episode have a slight audio distortion due to a compression issue — apologies, and thanks for sticking with us.More Michelle: @Michelle_Haslam  https://www.instagram.com/michelle.haslam.official/https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle.haslamhttps://www.tiktok.com/@michelle.makes.moneyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michellehaslam/If you need supportTalking about online abuse and social media pressure can be tough. If you’re struggling:Samaritans (UK) – 116 123 (24/7)National Bullying Helpline – 0300 323 0169Support the ShowEnjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist🎙️ Patreon: /radminassistThanks for tuning in — your support means everything.About MeHey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin pro, and host of Rad-Ventures. I share real conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business owners who are building careers on their own terms. Subscribe for more rad chats every other Thursday.

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, Nikkola Wright talks about her work at Nikcollab, where she supports wellness professionals and retreat hosts with the operational side of their businesses. We chat about how she shifted from general virtual assistant work into a niche where organisation, structure and calm behind-the-scenes support really matters.

Nikkola shares how her background in law shaped her approach to project management, why retreats need solid processes to run smoothly, and the tools she uses day-to-day — including Trello, Google Workspace, and simple, sustainable systems for managing client work and email.

We also get into creating immersive client experiences, the reality of working in the wellness space, and her long-term dream of running her own retreat venue.

A relaxed conversation about work, career paths, tools, and the realities of supporting service-based businesses.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Nikkola & Nicolab02:31 – Moving from VA to wellness support04:47 – What “business support” looks like in wellness07:45 – Retreat formats and how they work09:57 – Nikkola’s career path from law to wellness12:29 – How education influenced her approach15:14 – Corporate events vs. retreat experiences17:51 – Creating immersive moments20:25 – Quotes and reflections22:54 – Google vs. Microsoft27:48 – Trello, tools & organisation34:06 – Community & networking41:40 – Nikkola’s long-term aspirations46:43 – Wrap-up

More about Nikkola

https://nikcollab.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rebel_businessmethod

Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:
☕ Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist
🎙️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassist

Thanks for tuning in — your support means the world!

More about me

Hey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. I created Rad-Ventures to share real, relaxed conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives and business minds from all walks of life.

If you’re into entrepreneurship, freelancing, systems, or just love a good story — you’re in the right place. Subscribe and stick around for more rad chats!

Meet Ali Yates and Debra Paynter — two brilliant Yorkshire-based entrepreneurs and co-founders of Generator Gals and Lunar & Wild. In this episode, we dive into their journeys from corporate chaos to creative control, balancing parenting with productivity, their love/hate relationships with tools like Asana and Moxie, and the reality of freelancing in a digital world.From carpet counters to content creators, this one’s packed with laughs, life lessons, and a whole lot of Yorkshire sass.https://www.debrapaynter.co.uk/https://www.aliyates.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/debs.does.asana/https://www.instagram.com/aliyatesva/Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Guests03:35 Yorkshire Pride and Banter06:33 Project Management Tools: A Deep Dive09:27 The Journey to Becoming Virtual Assistants15:29 The Reality of Self-Employment24:31 The Birth of Generator Gals28:33 Launching Lunar and Wild31:49 Balancing Work and Family Life35:17 Community Building and Support36:33 Reflections on Age and Personal Growth41:46 Favorite Quotes and Inspirations49:14 Essential Apps for Productivity51:34 Exploring TikTok Trends and Content Creation53:50 The Challenges of Content Creation57:30 Email Management and Organization01:00:16 The Chaos of Life and Work01:07:18 Future Aspirations and Self-EmploymentSupport the ShowEnjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist🎙️ https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassistThanks for tuning in — your support means the world!*****About MeHey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. I created Rad-Ventures to share real, honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business minds from all walks of life.If you’re into entrepreneurship, freelancing, systems, or just love a good story — you’re in the right place. Subscribe and stick around for more rad chats!

In this episode of Radventures, I chat with Karen Sigalas, a brilliant business coach who turned redundancy into opportunity. We dive into the power of mindset, navigating career transitions, and the importance of recognition in the workplace. Karen opens up about her own coaching journey, shares tips for embracing social media, and reflects on personal growth, resilience, and the magic of motivational quotes.

Whether you're feeling overlooked at work or thinking about a career pivot, this one's full of empowering insights and honest reflections.

📌 Topics: Career change, mindset shifts, business coaching, feedback, personal branding, LinkedIn, gratitude practices, resilience, and more.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Karen Sigalas and Her Journey

02:58 The Importance of Coaching and Recognition

05:31 From Redundancy to Realization: Karen's Turning Point

07:55 Finding Purpose Through Coaching

10:45 The Shift from Corporate to Coaching

13:21 Mindset and Resilience in Business

15:38 The Impact of Feedback on Performance

18:19 The Role of Education in Shaping Careers

20:50 Encouraging a Growth Mindset in the Next Generation

23:17 Reflecting on Progress and Achievements

29:30 Embracing Social Media and Personal Growth

33:22 Reflections on Age and Personal Development

37:53 Quotes That Inspire and Motivate

39:22 Navigating Technology and Productivity Tools

42:44 Aspirations for the Future and Personal Branding

49:02 Rad-Ventures Outro.mp4

Coach Karen:

https://www.coachkaren.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karensigalascareercoach/

https://www.youtube.com/@UCW81AGY13B29b_1FeE--dmQ

Support the Show

Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:

☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist

🎙️ https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassist

Thanks for tuning in — your support means the world!

*****

About Me

Hey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. I created Rad-Ventures to share real, honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business minds from all walks of life.

If you’re into entrepreneurship, freelancing, systems, or just love a good story — you’re in the right place. Subscribe and stick around for more rad chats!

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I’m joined by Becci McEvoy, social media marketer and founder of Be Heard Socials, for an open, honest, and inspiring chat about Instagram, business growth, and redefining success on your own terms.We talk about everything from mindset shifts and managing overwhelm to why simplifying your strategy is often the most powerful move. Becci shares her unexpected path to self-employment, the freedom it's given her, and how tools like Asana help her stay on track — even with ADHD tendencies in the mix.Whether you're a business owner, a content creator, or just someone figuring out your next step — this episode is packed with insight, humour, and plenty of relatable moments.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Be Heard Socials03:12 – The Power of Instagram for Business05:49 – Simplifying Social Media Strategies08:53 – Mindset and Engagement on Instagram11:57 – The Long Game of Impact15:01 – The Journey to Self-Employment17:57 – Finding Freedom in Business24:47 – Navigating Career Transitions27:36 – Finding Purpose and Happiness32:04 – The Power of Manifestation34:46 – The Journey of Self-Employment39:32 – Redefining Success41:15 – Reflecting on Life's Milestones49:23 – Exploring Productivity Tools54:48 – Future Aspirations and Business GoalsMore on Becci:https://beheardsocials.com/https://www.instagram.com/beheardsocials/https://youtube.com/@beheardsocials?si=NrdyjE9eSH5OXKrLhttps://open.spotify.com/show/4GMYLap6caphOdvSwxXl8gSupport the ShowEnjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist🎙️ https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassistThanks for tuning in — your support means the world!*****About MeHey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. I created Rad-Ventures to share real, honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business minds from all walks of life.If you’re into entrepreneurship, freelancing, systems, or just love a good story — you’re in the right place. Subscribe and stick around for more rad chats!

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I sit down with G from Ray Social to talk about everything from homeschooling and redundancy to Canva chaos, freelancing, and finding joy in your business.

G shares her unique path into marketing, how she built a business during the pandemic, and the ups and downs of navigating the freelance life. We dig into the difference between employment and self-employment, the emotional side of leaving a “proper job,” and why your business should reflect you — not a blueprint.

If you’re a creative, freelancer, or just trying to figure out what freedom looks like for you, this episode’s got real talk, laughs, and plenty of practical insight.

00:00 – Introduction to G from Rare Social
03:00 – The Journey of Homeschooling
05:49 – Transitioning into Marketing
08:57 – The Impact of Redundancy and Freelancing
12:12 – Navigating Self-Employment Challenges
15:08 – Reflections on Business Growth
18:02 – The Reality of Freelancing vs Employment
22:36 – The Reality of Employment vs. Self-Employment
25:39 – Finding Security in Creativity
28:21 – The Trade-offs of Self-Employment
29:11 – Reflections on Age and Life Changes
31:12 – Quotes That Inspire and Motivate
34:41 – Choosing Between Google Suite and Microsoft 365
40:10 – The Journey of Content Creation
43:00 – Navigating Essential Apps for Creatives
45:58 – The Love-Hate Relationship with Canva
51:57 – Managing Email Overload
52:59 – The Evolution of Business Focus
57:55 – Finding Joy in Creative FreedomMore on G:

www.rayofsocial.com

https://www.instagram.com/rayofsocial/

Support the Show

Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:
☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist
🎙️ https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassist

Thanks for tuning in — your support means the world!

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, host Radmin is joined by Rachel and Ciaran McKenna of Woodhazel Consulting to explore the real-world dynamics of entrepreneurship, sales, and marketing in today’s evolving business landscape.

From confidence in selling to aligning your business philosophy with client needs, this conversation dives into the human side of business. They explore how systems and automation can support—but not replace—authentic communication, why AI is a tool, not a threat, and how personalisation remains at the heart of success.

Whether you're starting your business, building a team, or navigating change, this episode is packed with insights on leadership, continuous learning, and staying grounded in your “why.”

More WoodHazel:

https://woodhazel.ie/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-mckenna-25a56237/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-mc-kenna-3b24318b/

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Woodhazel Consulting02:52 – The Philosophy of Selling06:06 – Building Confidence in Sales08:45 – The Journey to Entrepreneurship12:02 – Navigating Life Changes and Business14:56 – The Importance of Team Dynamics17:46 – Marketing and Sales Integration20:49 – Understanding Individual Motivations23:59 – The Role of Choice in Business26:55 – Risk and Reward in Entrepreneurship29:56 – Team Management and AI Dynamics40:31 – Embracing Change and Innovation43:10 – The Role of Systems in Business45:49 – Personalisation vs. Automation47:12 – The Importance of Personal Touch49:19 – Experience and Continuous Learning50:51 – Reflections on Life Stages53:17 – Quotes that Inspire54:53 – Technology Preferences56:45 – Essential Apps for Communication58:57 – Future Aspirations and Growth

Support the Show Section

Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:

☕ Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist
🎙️ Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassist

Your support helps make more episodes (and caffeine-fuelled edits) happen. Thank you!

******👋 About Me

Hey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion.

I created Rad-Ventures to share real, honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business minds from all walks of life.

If you’re into entrepreneurship, freelancing, systems, or just love a good story — you’re in the right place.

Subscribe and stick around for more rad chats!