🎥 This is a visual episode, don’t miss the full experience on YouTube, linked below!

For the final episode of 2025, I step out of the studio for a special on-site conversation with Simon Webster.

A few months ago, I felt the pull to donate my hair again, but this time, I wanted the cut to have a deeper impact. That led me to The Little Princess Trust, a charity providing free, real-hair wigs to children and young people experiencing hair loss through cancer treatment and other conditions. I decided to donate my hair and raise funds to support their work.

To do that, I needed the right hairdresser, someone with both skill and a story to tell. Enter Simon Webster. With 40 years in the hairdressing industry, three salon owners under his belt, and work spanning fashion weeks, session styling, music videos, and personal creative projects, Simon is the definition of a seasoned professional. His current salon, Simon Webster Hair, is based in the North Laine of Brighton.

We talk about hair, creativity, music, working with clients with cancer, and the profound impact a small act, like styling a wig, can have on someone’s life. This episode is a powerful reminder of how craft, care, and purpose intersect.

🔗 Links from the episode

Donate to The Little Princess Trust

Simon Webster Hair

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See you next Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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In this episode, I chat with Laura Coleman, author of The Puma Years, about growing up with two psychologists as parents, struggling with self-confidence, and finding her path in unexpected ways.

In her early twenties, she quit her job and backpacked to Bolivia, where she met Wayra, a rescued puma who would change her life. Living in a jungle sanctuary surrounded by quirky animals and unforgettable humans, Laura discovered resilience, healing, and the courage to embrace a life beyond expectation.

🔗 Links from the episode

The Puma Years

Laura Coleman

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See you next Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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Today I sit down with Ashley Winston, founder and owner of Palmdale Car Finders, ex-marketing specialist, and arguably the biggest car fanatic you’ll ever meet.

Ashley shares how he turned a lifelong obsession with cars into a thriving, purpose-driven career, and what it truly takes to build a business around what you love. What began as a conversation about entrepreneurship quickly unfolded into a mutual therapy session, touching on identity, fulfillment, and the courage required to follow the things that genuinely light you up.

He opens up about the highs and lows of running your own business, including the moment he nearly drove Palmdale Car Finders into the ground by chasing the trap of “more”: the bigger office, the flashier car, the image of success rather than the substance of it. Ashley speaks candidly about pulling himself back to the core mission of his company, and how staying grounded and true to that purpose has been the key to rebuilding and moving forward.

This episode is equal parts inspiring, insightful, and unexpectedly vulnerable. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to turn what you love into the work you do, this conversation is for you.

🔗 Links from the episode

Palmdale Car Finders

Ashely Winston on LinkedIn

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See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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Today's episode, I am joined by the wonderful Pippa Moyle, founder and CEO of the City Girl Network, a mission-led organisation helping women, non-binary people and trans femmes feel more connected, confident and empowered in their local communities.

What began as a small idea has grown into 27 communities across the UK, largely through the organic ripple effect of women experiencing the power of the City Girl Network and bringing it with them wherever they go.

Pippa founded the network at just 22 years old, and as she approaches the 10-year milestone, she shares the real story behind building a purpose-driven business. She opens up about feeling on the outside of friendship circles growing up, the strong work ethic instilled by her parents, her younger dreams of becoming a pop star, and the many challenges she’s navigated along the way.

This conversation was full of insight, honesty and relatable moments including the reminder that some of the best things in life take time.

Enjoy this inspiring deep dive into Pippa’s journey and the community she’s built for so many.

🔗 Links from the episode

City Girl Network

City Girl Network on Instagram

Pippa on LinkedIn

Pippa on Instagram

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See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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Brian Capron is back! Our last conversation, The Brian Capron Story: Before and Beyond Coronation Street, explored his full life, from childhood and early acting roles to run-ins with Sting, his rise to fame, and what he’s doing today.

In this episode, we bring Brian back to really break down his rise to fame and how his life changed almost overnight. From a run-of-the-mill actor to becoming a main character in Grange Hill, a series watched by 12 million viewers, and his time as Richard Hillman on Coronation Street he shares the highs, the pressures, and the unexpected ways success transformed his personal and professional life.

This episode is a must-listen for Coronation Street fans, theatre lovers, and anyone curious about what it’s really like to suddenly become a household name.

🔗 Links from the episode

Brian Capron

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See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

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Born and raised with a spirit of curiosity and determination, Lou Hill is the founder and owner of Humankind, a yoga and pilates studio primarily based in Kemptown, Brighton. From humble beginnings in a storage mart locker, Lou has expanded her business to four studios, each delivering the same welcoming and accepting community feel.

In this candid and uplifting conversation, Lou reflects on her journey as an entrepreneur, sharing the laughs and profound moments that come with building a business from the ground up. She opens up about her feelings regarding who we are meant to be versus what we do for work, and the lessons learned from her previous two business endeavours, decisions she initially viewed as personal failures but that ultimately shaped her growth and resilience.

Today, Lou continues to lead Humankind, creating spaces where community, wellness, and self-discovery intersect, while inspiring others to pursue their passions with courage and authenticity.

❤️Find Lou

Humankind (be sure to check out intro offers to new clients!)

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YouTube

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See you on Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born in Nigeria to an English father and a Nigerian mother, Joel Chidi Sydenham grew up on a farm surrounded by nature, creativity, and complexity. From a young age, he was a spirited child who questioned everything, driven by a desire to understand why.

In this deeply personal conversation, Joel reflects on his early love of storytelling, from having one of his short stories turned into a school play to the challenges of growing up mixed-race and not feeling fully accepted by either community.

He opens up about the painful parts of his journey, including his father’s incarceration and the loss of his mother before he could share his university dreams, and the lessons she left behind that continue to guide him. Though he studied chemical engineering, Joel’s creative spirit led him to poetry, painting, and eventually a full-time artistic career.

Today, he’s a poet, artist, and teacher, using his work to explore identity, healing, and joy.

❤️Find Joel

Instagram

Website

Prints

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See you on Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

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On today’s episode of Seasoned Professional, I sit down with the lovely Tessa Holladay!

I first came across Tessa through an article in The Times that shared the story of her young family’s bold decision to uproot their lives and move to Barbados. During our first introduction, I discovered that she’s also the founder of Saint Luke, a men’s clothing brand inspired by the spirit and style of the Caribbean.

In this episode, Tessa opens up about her childhood spent moving frequently, her early career and search for purpose, and the journey of building Saint Luke, from its beginnings creating travel bags to the vibrant, established brand it is today.

We also talk about the uncertainties of entrepreneurship, the feeling of not always fitting in, and the life-changing decision to leave England behind for Barbados.

It’s a warm, honest, and inspiring conversation about creativity, courage, and finding your place in the world.

Find Tessa❤️

Saint Luke

Saint Luke on Instagram

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See you on Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartfelt solo episode, Hannah reflects on her first year of podcasting, a year filled with courage, connection, and growth. From interviewing over forty incredible guests to finding her own voice, she opens up about what she’s learned about success, self-reflection, and overcoming fear along the way.

This episode also features a special appearance from Clay, Hannah’s partner and self-proclaimed “production assistant.” Clay shares what it’s like to watch someone chase their dreams from the sidelines, a perspective we rarely hear. It’s a powerful reminder that your journey impacts others, and that you are never alone in the pursuit of your goals.

Hannah shares insights on networking, gratitude, and the importance of carving your own path, no five-year plan required. As she prepares to bring her podcast back home to Canada, she celebrates how far she’s come and looks forward to the adventures ahead.

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See you on Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

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Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Andy Freeman, a creative powerhouse whose career has spanned some of the world’s top ad agencies and iconic brands.

Andy played a key role in the revolutionary Burberry rebrand, hailed by The Economist as one of the best rebrands of the 21st century.

From leading in-house creative teams to now running his own agency, Urbane, Andy has worn just about every hat in the industry: brand strategist, copywriter, creative director, photographer, videographer and occasional voice actor when needed.

In this conversation, we trace Andy’s journey from a mountainside town in Wales to the creative heart of London. Along the way, we explore everything from education and relationships to the power of networking and how to break into the industry as a new graduate. Andy opens up about the fears and growing pains of transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, and what it’s taken to build and evolve his business, culminating in a bold rebrand celebrating 15 years of Urbane.

It’s a candid, insightful, and inspiring look at how creative careers unfold, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

Find Andy!

Urbane

LinkedIn

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See you on Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.