Sofa Stories

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Join NB, Choc and our very Special guest this week - Jennifer Dooley. There’s a very good reason why Jen is on the sofa with us and it coincides with an exclusive announcement this week. No spoilers here.

This episode is filled with a variety of topics including - a recent corporate padel tournament, the importance of stretching, coffee preferences and potential alternatives, a deep dive on chocolate, a bit of vicarious rum tasting and more.

Contributors;

Jamie -https://www.instagram.com/the_stretch_station?igsh=MXFuNWljZDM4ZGpheQ==

David Howarth - House Of Rum

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhowarthhouseofrum?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

https://www.instagram.com/officialhouseofrum?igsh=MWM1eml2bTFicXp0Mw==

Let’s get into it… 

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Come with NB and Choc on a journey from Choc Towers to the Oval Office (figuratively) to the pubs of The Wirral and back. No strong opinions or bias here (except for the beers) we are just curious and chatting things through. But as always we’d love to hear your thoughts. 

DM us on IG either just for a direct chat or share or to feature on our next episode.

https://www.instagram.com/the_sofastories_podcast?igsh=MTQ3cGJxNXJlaTJ2Zw==

Let’s get into it…. 

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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NB & Choc take a little look behind the scenes at Oli’s Chocolate Smash Cake for Gary Neville’s 50th amongst many other stories this week local and global including, leadership, confidence, Trump, Young Voices, MC Grammar, The Pollen Club Manchester, Snore-proof beds, Mr Chows Parkgate and believe it or not MORE. So rather predictably…. LET’S GET INTO IT… 🚀 

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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Casual 5K…

Including Bakery Rave rumours - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAbhuWAAuh6/?igsh=MWJqNjk1d3M0dDY2bA== manifesting themselves within the sofa stories multiverse, nudge, hint Jon Wilkin (Half Dozen Other). 

OLI’S order for Gary Neville. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGaRuH8sTkm/?igsh=MW9rM3YxdnRjZW9jaw==

Padel Tripper - https://www.instagram.com/padeltripper?igsh=NGUweHZqd2xpMnFj

And frankly LOADS more, listen in and let us know (DM us on the gram) what you notice. 

NB and Choc 🫶🏼

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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High energy catch up with NB and Choc.

Including;

A nostalgic and impromptu rendition of “Come On You Reds” reminiscent of The Class Of 1994 at Man United.

The origins of art forms Hip-Hop and Podcasting  you didn’t know you needed. 

Chitter chatter about MC Grammar, Young Voices and yet even more of an ECLECTIC mix of convo to run/ walk or do the house work to.

Join the chat on Instagram @the_sofastories_podcast 

LET’S GET INTO IT…

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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We are absolutely thrilled to interview Carol Shanahan OBE, welcoming her to The Sofa Stories Family.

EFL Football club owner, entrepreneur, disruptor and a passionate builder of communities.

From her upbringing in Lincolnshire and West Bromwich (the latter where she discovered her love of football), to going straight from school into a career, applying for a job as main frame IT operator despite the description stating that it wanted a man! She went for it and got the job!

We talk to Carol about founding a business (Synectics Solutions which was sold to Synova Capital in 2024) which became the global market leader in counter fraud technology to then taking the decision in May 2019 to buying Port Vale Football Club which had become a passion for her since Synectics relocated to Burslem in 2009. 

We hear of the highs and the lows, promotion, relegation, even having Robbie Williams on board as one of the club’s Life Presidents! Carol is most certainly a disruptor.

What is a constant however throughout Carol’s life is her sincere commitment to helping and serving the community. The Hubb Foundation that she and her husband Kevin founded, explemifies this commitment, with delivery of activities and free meals during school holidays to the children in the Burslem area of Stoke on Trent. 

Furthermore, the Foundation, together with the Port Vale Foundation, helped deliver over 375,000 meals to the local community during Covid-19 and lockdown.

As the esteemed Dr Sally Harris (reknowned in the sports industry) said:

“Carol is the only football owner I know who has really invested for the community and made the the community part of her world. She is such a positive force in the world of sport”.

This interview is a fantastic listen for those who are interested in business, sport, education and overall inspiration.

Let’s Get Into It… 

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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Film maker, YouTube sensation, content rebel, travel inspirer, Floyd Mayweather fight sneaker-in’er 🥊, zero dollar traveller (think NY to LA), does Simon Wilson need an introduction? Surely not! But he does deserve a good old fashioned “BIG-UP”! 🙌🏻🤩

Don’t take our word for it, listen for yourself.

If the way Simon speaks about travel doesn’t make you want to emulate some of it, nothing will. His passion for experiencing the world, its people and sharing its stories will fill you with endless inspiration.

His storytelling is completely infectious, in this podcast - in equal measure to his videos, give it a listen, you will not regret it, this episode is riddled with golden nuggets of pure awesomeness. 

Enjoy!!

NB & CHOC.

Big thanks to Producer Compton Harry Photography for making this happen. -https://www.instagram.com/comptonharryphotography?igsh=OHQzemxraHRmZ3lz

Follow Simon Wilson’s travels;

IG https://www.instagram.com/simonjwils?igsh=MXUxcHFjd2plbjFueg==

YT https://youtube.com/@simonwilson12?si=iyWmhznkCGpuN4ST

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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There’s been a LOT going on with NB and Choc (SHOCK) lately. While NB has been on a Padel trip to Alicante for 30 or so hours, Oli has been joining the travels vicariously. In this Episode NB interviews Ian Ryder of Padel Tripper, live-style in Alicante along with more behind the scenes look at what’s going on in Cheshire, Manchester and beyond from The SS team.

Episode includes an NB Padel masterclass.
As always we venture to places we did not anticipate, we hope you will be as excited and delighted to listen as we were to hit record.

Let’s get into it.

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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PADEL - what’s all the fuss about?

If you’re not playing Padel yet, chances are you know someone who is. In this episode of Sofa Stories, NB and Choc speak with Kris Ball - CEO of The Padel Club. 

We delve into why Padel is the fastest growing sport in the UK and learn about origins of The Padel Club and how Kris Ball turned a vision into reality thanks to his resilience, drive and help from a stellar team of investors from the sporting, business and lifestyle world.

A unique and inspiring story we’re sure you’ll agree.  

Let’s get into it…

Padel Hub what’s app link - https://chat.whatsapp.com/LULJRpzxjZmC2kzraWXSLh

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻

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In our first bonus episode, NB has a quick impromptu chat with XMP Richard Graham about politics, padel and podcasts. It is all going down at The Padel Club Gloucester Quays.Since 2012 Richard has served Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak since November 2012 as their Trade Envoy: first to Indonesia, then also to ASEAN, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Follow @the_sofastories_podcast on Instagram. Send us a voice note with any questions and/ or thought provoking and inspiring statements which we can engage with on the show. We encourage our listeners to join the conversation. 🙏🏻