Seasoned Professional

In this episode, we sit down with the legendary Brian Capron, actor, storyteller, and the man behind one of British television’s most infamous characters, Richard Hillman from Coronation Street.

Brian opens up about his early career, the journey to landing iconic roles, and what it was like portraying a soap opera villain the nation loved to hate. We also explore his work beyond the cobbles, including his acclaimed stage performances and personal reflections on a life in showbiz.

A must-listen for fans of British TV, theatre lovers, and anyone curious about the man behind the headlines.

🔗 Links from the episode

Brian Capron

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

Today’s guest is the lovely Bex Walker. Bex started her professional life in the world of science, pursuing a PhD in biology. But midway through that journey, she realized the academic track wasn’t the right fit. She pivoted to teaching—a field where, as a natural introvert, she was challenged to develop a strong public presence, learning how to communicate with impact and step confidently into the spotlight.

During this time, what began as a casual interest in pottery—shared with her husband, Stan—quietly grew. Over eight years, that creative hobby evolved into a business: Throw to Fire. It started as something they did after work, but as teaching became increasingly demanding, pottery offered Bex a sense of balance and calm.

Two years ago, she made the leap—leaving the classroom behind to pursue pottery full time. Since then, she’s built a life centered around creativity, craftsmanship, and intentional living.

From academia to entrepreneurship, Bex’s story is one of thoughtful transitions and quiet resilience. It’s a pleasure to have her with us today.

🔗 Links from the episode

Throw to Fire

Throw to Fire Instagram

Spark & Bell x Throw to Fire

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

In today’s episode, I sit down with Elliott Hasler—the son of Simon Hasler, who joined us a few weeks ago, and the writer-director behind Vindication Swim, which starred Jon Locke (another previous guest).

At just 24 years old, Elliott is already an accomplished filmmaker and cinematographer, having written, directed, and edited all of his films to date. And before you start comparing your own journey to his—something I’ll admit I did—it’s important to know that Elliott’s passion for filmmaking has been a decade in the making. What began as a school project turned into a spark that ignited his creative path, culminating in his first feature film at age 17—a project he and his family worked on for three years.

Elliott’s story is a testament to what’s possible when talent meets consistency, and when passion is pursued with heart and grit. It’s a reminder that age is just a number—and that dedication, creativity, and hard work are what truly matter.

🔗 Links from the episode

Relsah Films

Vindication Swim

WWII: The Long Road Home (Charlie’s Letters)

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

In today’s episode, I speak with Jay Bradshaw—a barber, creative entrepreneur, and community builder whose path to success has been anything but ordinary. Born in South Korea to a Korean mother and Irish father, Jay’s early life took him across Japan, Dubai, and Stockholm. While music, religion, and family shaped his upbringing, he struggled with traditional education, finding refuge in English, history, and creative expression. At his mother’s urging, Jay became the first in his family to attend university, studying music production. It was there that his passion for business took root.

Jay eventually found himself at a crossroads—longing for more freedom and authenticity in his work. A spontaneous decision to walk into a barbershop and ask for a job changed everything. Today, Jay has cultivated a loyal following and recently opened his own barbershop, TRMD—a space built on honesty, creativity, and community. His team describes it as more than just a workplace; it’s a place where people show up fully as themselves.

This is a conversation about trusting your instincts, redefining success, and building a life and career on your own terms.

TRMD.

Book a haircut, find a community

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

In today’s episode, I speak with Simon Hasler, a seasoned professional who spent over 20 years building a career in insurance before retraining as a Chartered Financial Advisor. Eventually, he opened his own firm, prioritizing flexibility and deep client relationships.

But Simon’s story doesn’t stop there. When his son, Elliott Hasler, began showing a passion for filmmaking at a young age, Simon saw an opportunity to support something truly special. What started as a proud parent cheering from the sidelines quickly turned into something more. Simon became a key producer on Vindication Swim—a powerful film about the first English woman to swim the Channel—offering not just financial advice, but organizational support and steady guidance on set.

It’s a conversation about the unexpected ways our careers can evolve, the beauty of family collaboration, and the joy that comes from helping others bring their vision to life.

Vindication Swim

Relsah Films

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of drug use, abuse, and death, which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening.

In today’s episode, I share part two of my conversation with John Locke. We pick up where we left off—with John reflecting on his return to education and how profoundly different it was from his difficult childhood experiences. He then shares stories from his 30-year career in local government, working with councils to ensure safe housing for those in need.

John talks about the importance of “getting your boots dirty”—physically showing up in communities, sometimes to fix a broken tap, only to discover the real reason for the call was something deeper.

What’s remarkable is that this chapter of his life began unexpectedly, after losing his job at a theatre. Yet in that work, he found both joy and purpose. Twelve years ago, John returned to acting, launching a one-man show that reignited his career. Since then, he’s gone from local productions to sharing the screen with Emma Stone—something he never could have imagined.

Despite all his success, John reflects on what truly matters: family, love, and connection. Acting has been a blessing, but it doesn’t define him. Hollywood isn’t the dream—at least not yet. But I say: never say never, John.

Vindication Swim

John Locke Films

John Locke IMDB

John Locke on Instagram

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

In today’s episode, we sit down with the incredible John Locke, star of Vindication Swim. John grew up in Brighton with his loving parents, but as an only child, he often felt lonely. School was a challenge—he faced relentless bullying and struggled academically due to undiagnosed dyslexia. However, he found solace in deep friendships, especially with his lifelong best friend, David Kolakowski.

From a young age, John had a remarkable gift for accents, memorization, and using his voice. His parents recognized his talent and enrolled him in acting classes. This sparked a passion that carried him through the National Youth Theatre and into a career in acting. But despite years of dedication, financial struggles persisted.

John shares an intimate and life-changing moment—watching his heavily pregnant wife walk toward him and realizing he could no longer pursue acting as his sole career. He had responsibilities to uphold, leading him to step away from the industry.

This first part of John’s journey is filled with formative experiences and heartfelt memories from the early years of his career. Join us next week as we explore his transition into local government and, ultimately, his inspiring return to acting.

Vindication Swim

John Locke Films

John Locke IMDB

John Locke on Instagram

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

In honour of International Women’s Day, I’m excited to re-release a very special episode. I also want to take a moment to thank all the incredible women who have given their time to come on the show and share their life stories. Your experiences, wisdom, and honesty continue to inspire me and so many others.

Today, we dive into an inspiring career journey with Clare Fuller. Starting as a hospice nurse and advancing through the healthcare system, she earned her master’s degree at 50, launched her own business, and created a podcast about advanced care planning that provided space for a fellow nurse who was dying.

Despite my initial nervousness, this conversation left me feeling surprisingly calm and enlightened. Please take care while listening.

This episode also marks a special moment for me—Clare was the first woman I had on the podcast. We spoke about the immense successes of her career, but what stood out to me was how she balanced it all around her children. Upon first editing the conversation, I didn’t fully acknowledge the sacrifices she spoke about, but upon reflecting on my past conversations with both men and women, it became so clear to me: women are more likely to consider their families and children when making career decisions. This is such an important part of the conversation, and I’m grateful to Clare for sharing her story with me.

This is a rerelease of one of my favourite episodes in honour of International Women’s Day.

Speak for Me: End of Life Care Expert, patient rights campaigner, educator, and Lasting Power of Attorney Consultant.

Conversations About Advanced Care Planning Podcast (Listen on Spotify)

Conversations About Advanced Care Planning Podcast (Listen on Apple Podcasts)

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

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 solo episode, I take you through my winding career journey—the dreams I had as a child, the expectations placed on me, and the moments of crisis that forced me to rethink everything. I share how I once believed teaching was my calling, only to realize in university that it was the last thing I wanted to do—yet I stuck with it for three more years. I reflect on the bold declarations of my early 20s, swearing I’d never move back home, never be a teacher, never follow a predictable path… only to find myself doing exactly that.

From teaching to waiting tables in England, searching for creativity in job listings, and ultimately starting this podcast, I’ve learned that uncertainty and self-discovery are part of the process. And now? I’m happy—teaching, creating, and embracing the fact that change is always an option. If you’ve ever questioned your path, this episode is for you.

If you love real talk and inspiring stories, hit the follow and notification button and be part of this journey with me! Your support truly means the world. 💛

This Will Change What You Know About Success: Natascha Cadle on Building a Career in Media (Listen on Spotify)

This Will Change What You Know About Success: Natascha Cadle on Building a Career in Media (Listen on Apple Podcasts)

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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

Struggling with starting a podcast or staying consistent in your podcast journey? In this solo episode of the Seasoned Professional, Hannah Octavia gets real about the podcast struggles, and passion project struggles that come with building something from the ground up.

From overcoming self-doubt and creative burnout to navigating podcast challenges and learning that success takes time, this episode is all about honesty in podcasting and sharing the podcasting reality behind the scenes. If you're chasing dreams, battling imposter syndrome, or need motivation for creators, this self-improvement podcast is for you.

Join me as I reflect on building a brand, the overnight success myth, and the growth mindset it takes to keep going. Whether you're into entrepreneurship podcasts, staying motivated, or just need a reminder that staying patient is key, this episode is packed with podcasting lessons, career motivation, and real talk about the creative journey.

If you love real talk and inspiring stories, hit the follow and notification button and be part of this journey with me! Your support truly means the world. 💛

❤️ Subscribe to my channel for more

YouTube

📲 Find Seasoned Professional on social media!

Instagram

TikTok

Interested in being a guest on the podcast?

Click to apply!

See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

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

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