What if the career you thought was forever… wasn’t?
What if changing direction wasn’t failure, but a sign you were listening to yourself?
In this episode of The Showing Up Stronger Podcast, I sit down with Hannah Harley Young, presenter, food communicator, entrepreneur, podcaster and mum, to discuss career change, motherhood, ambition, confidence, comparison and trusting your gut.
Hannah spent 13 years working in photography, photographing high-profile names including members of the Royal Family, the Beckhams and Rihanna. But as the industry changed, she began questioning whether it was still where she wanted to be.
That led her to food, a lifelong passion rooted in her multicultural family. She launched Crazy Sexy Food as a side project through YouTube and a podcast. During lockdown, it reached the UK top 10 on Apple Podcasts, opening doors to presenting and live hosting at events including Taste of London and Big Feastival.
Hannah shares what it’s like to step into a new career, manage nerves and imposter syndrome, and enter rooms where everyone else seems more experienced. She explains why nerves can be a sign that you care, rather than something to eliminate.
We also talk honestly about motherhood, ambition and maintaining an identity outside of being a mum. Hannah shares how time alone, exercise and support from others help her reset without guilt.
A key theme is comparison. Hannah discusses feeling like she started too late and worrying that time was running out. Her advice is simple: stay in your own lane.
Your journey doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Your experience, story and perspective can be your biggest strengths.
Together, we discuss:
• Hannah’s journey from photographer to presenter and food communicator
• Starting Crazy Sexy Food as a side project
• Career change and trusting your gut
• Nerves, confidence and imposter syndrome
• Balancing motherhood with ambition
• Creating time and space for yourself
• Dealing with comparison and social media pressure
• Feeling like you’ve started too late
• Starting small and building gradually
• Why your experience can be your USP
This episode is a reminder that there is no single timeline for success. Your career and priorities can change, and you don’t need everything figured out before taking the next step.
Trust your gut. Stay in your own lane. Your journey doesn’t need to look like anybody else’s.
Follow Hannah on Instagram: @hannahharley and @crazysexyfood
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This series is proudly sponsored by Revive Active, offering an exclusive discount to Showing Up Stronger podcast listeners. Use code STRONGER15. Find Revive Active in Boots, Holland & Barrett, pharmacies and health stores, or online at reviveactive.com.