Sparkle and Thrive

Have you ever faced redundancy? It’s one of those moments that can feel like the rug is being pulled out from under you, but it can also open up a whole world of new possibilities!

For Anna Ison, leaving a job she loved after 20 years became a gateway to a whole new, exciting chapter – working as a social media manager from the comfort of home. 💻✨

But what’s life really like as a social media manager? How does Anna juggle clients, craft engaging content, and help businesses thrive?

🎧 Why you need to listen
If you’ve ever considered taking the plunge into life as a social media manager, now’s your chance to get the lowdown! Anna shares her journey, plus insider tips on what it takes to succeed in this flexible, fast-paced career. From mastering video content to AI secrets, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 🔥

0:00 How Anna’s social media journey began.

3:07 The most common social media challenges businesses face (and how Anna solves them like a pro!).

4:31 What content is working for businesses right now?

6:37 Nervous about going on camera? Hear top tricks to help you shine on video.

8:39 A sneak peek into Anna’s Instagram Business Masterclass.

13:23 Is social media management the career for you? Anna spills the beans.

15:12 Anna and Joy’s thoughts on AI & ChatGPT and how you can leverage them for content magic. 🤖✨

🚀 Ready to revamp your career?

Tune in to get the tools, tips, and motivation to make the leap into social media management. Enjoy! ▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

For details of links and resources mentioned in this episode, please visit TechPixies.com

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

There was a time when requesting to work from home (WFH) was like asking for the moon.

But once the pandemic hit and working from home became a necessity, we said hello to a diary full of Zoom meetings and saw nooks and crannies of our home become our workspace (thank you garden shed).

Of course, working from home has become the norm for women as they juggle work around illness, childcare or looking after an elderly parent, but one woman is intent on making the homeworking experience a whole lot better. ✨

Louise Goss created The Homeworker, a digital platform and printed magazine, after her career was interrupted, first by emigrating to Australia and then again by returning to the UK and having children. And because she couldn’t find a job that worked around her kids, she created her own. 👩‍💻

So, how has she made this a success?

Here’s why you need to tune in 🎧
In this episode, we tap into Louise’s expertise as a former broadcast journalist to gain top tips on camera confidence (because no one needs to be looking up your nose in a Zoom meeting!!!), and we also hear how Louise has monetised her magazine to create a revenue stream and a community of loyal fans.

Here’s what to listen out for:
[02:21] How emigrating to Australia sparked a business idea.

[06:53] Working from home is not shirking from home.

[11:30] Realising an idea.

[16;40] Top tips for being confident on camera.

[26;52] How to monetise a magazine.

Don’t take another Zoom meeting without popping in your AirPods for this. Enjoy! ▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

For links and resources mentioned in this episode, please visit TechPixies.com

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

“I looked around and found that in the increasing busyness of life, people were, while being in almost constant communication, losing connection with others.”
– Amita Dinmore

Do you have a powerful vision brewing? A dream that’s been percolating away for ages? 

When Amita Dinmore was inspired to trade in her teaching career for a bigger purpose – opening a community café in Hazelwood, Derbyshire – her vision wasn’t just her own. It was exactly what the local Parish Council had been dreaming of, too.

With no prior business experience, Amita turned her passion into reality. Today, her café isn’t just a place to grab a coffee—it’s a safe haven for the lonely, a supporter of local artisans, and a hub where people of all ages come together to volunteer and find purpose.

Here’s why you need to tune in
Amita shares tips, advice, and lessons from her journey. Whether you're dreaming of starting a café, launching a community space, or simply chasing your own dream, you won’t want to miss this one.

Here’s what to listen out for:

[04:42] Do you truly value yourself?

[05:32] What helped Amita set up the café?

[08:25] Hard-earned lessons from building a community hub.

[11:14] Why writing down your vision changes everything.

[13:54] What to do (and avoid) if you want to create a successful café or community space.

[14:44] What’s next for The Well-Kitchen?
 
Got a dream you’d love to achieve? Are you ready to do what you can with what you have and trust that it’s all going to work out? ▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

For details of links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit TechPixies.com

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

Whether you're a knitting ninja or a paintbrush prodigy, YouTube is THE place to share your creativity! But how do you turn your creative skills into a thriving channel? 🧶✨

Meet Anya Johnson, a crochet queen building a YouTube channel to supplement her income while she makes time to look after her grandchild.

From her colourful ‘Granie’ Squares to her cosy, rainbow-bright Confidence Cardigan, Anya’s channel is a go-to for vibrant inspiration and crafty know-how. But she’s not just sharing her art – she’s building a business and creating a community. 🚀

And having proved that she can master YouTube, Anya has taken on tech challenge after tech challenge by launching her own crochet course and self-publishing a book on Amazon (whoop!).

Here’s what to listen out for:

[02:28] The power of YouTube for creative crafters and makers. 

[06:06] Do this to get comfortable on camera.

[07:41] Self-publishing on Amazon.

[08:30] Creating a fun Confidence Cardigan.

[09:44] The Sunflower Effect.

[20;39] How to make Shorts work for YOU.

So, if you’re still procrastinating about starting a YouTube channel and want to follow in Anya’s creative footsteps, press play now. ▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

For links and resources mentioned in this episode, please visit TechPixies.com

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

What do you do if you’ve been out of work for a while, especially if your confidence is in freefall because you feel too old for the job market?

Sarah Glassey says she felt like she wasn’t just in a pickle after being out of work for nine months, but “stuck in a whole vat of pickles in a factory”. And with the stress and some major ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) making their presence felt – “I’m too old,” and “I don’t have the right skills” – life was not going Sarah’s way. 😬

So, how did she turn things around?

Here’s why you need to tune in
Sarah didn’t just lean into adding social media skills to her CV to land herself a new job. She discovered a whole heap of tools – including one from a 1980s advert for a chocolate bar and another from the film Cocktail – that have given her back her sense of self-worth and helped her get promoted.

Here’s what to listen out for:

[02:50] The stress of not knowing what to do next.

[06:50] Looking at things differently.

[10:31] What to do when you don’t have all the skills for a job.

[18:34] How do you go after a promotion?

[21:54] Do a skills inventory.

[24:30] How are you talking to yourself?

[27:10] The power of 5,4,3,2,1.

[28:54] Coughlin’s law.

[35:15] Are you too old or not too old yet?

So, if you’re stuck in a rut and don’t know what to do next or want to get back to work in a role you love, this episode is for you. ▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

For details of links and resources mentioned in this episode, please visit TechPixies.com

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

What have you done recently outside your role as a partner, parent or professional? A guilt-free activity that is purely about having fun and leaves you saying, “I can’t believe I just did that”?

If you’re like most women, chances are you are prioritising everyone but yourself.

But author Eve Rodsky believes that carving out time to explore the gifts, talents and interests that make you you is a necessity if you want to live a happier, more fulfilled life.

But how do you do that, how do you communicate that to those around you, and how do you get over the guilt and shame? 

Here’s why you need to tune in
In this interview from the archives, Eve unpacks what a Unicorn Space is and describes her own failed attempt to find one using a Post-It note during the pandemic. She explores the communication styles of our CEO Joy and her husband Tim to demonstrate how you can have high cognition, low emotion conversations that let you implement boundaries and systems to ensure you have time for what Eve calls ‘daily flourishing’.

Here’s what to listen out for:
[01:00] What is Unicorn Space about?

[04:04] What is a Unicorn Space?

[08:33] The ‘Unavailable’ Post-It note.

[10:33] There is a formula for thriving.

[14:14] What is your communication style?

[21:26] What is your partner’s communication style?

[27:35] How do you communicate with yourself?

[35:09] Is Unicorn Space only for the privileged?

So, what will you do outside your role as a partner, parent or professional? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. ▶️▶️▶️

For details of links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit TechPixies.com

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

⭐ Trigger warning: this episode touches on domestic abuse. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, head to TechPixies.com for details of organisations that can offer support.

How do you build a business when you can’t put your face or name online?

That was the reality for Mimi Glenn, who, having escaped domestic abuse, was found every time she was resettled and tried to go for a new job or re-establish her business.

Mimi realised she needed a business that wouldn't be disrupted if she needed to move.

And thanks to the skills she gained through her training at TechPixies, she now runs a thriving digital marketing consultancy business. 

But when you can’t put your face or even your real name out into the world for fear of being found again, how do you engage with clients and build a reputable brand?

Here’s why you need to tune in
Mimi joins Joy for a brave discussion about the steps she took to protect her safety while running her business, how the TechPixies community has provided her with a safe, supportive space to reaffirm her skills, and how she’s structured her business. Plus, hear about the incredible charity Mimi is creating for those who have experienced domestic and sexual abuse and need help to set up their businesses safely online.

Here’s what to listen out for:

[02:44] How do you build a business without being visible online?

[06:41] How do you post on social media when you don’t want to be visible?

[10:21] How have you structured your business?

[14:09] If you’re working for free, do this.

[22:49} Always have a contract in place.

[26:30] The impact of TechPixies.

[31:01] Support Mimi’s charity for women looking for support after domestic abuse.

There’s so much to take away from this episode, so press play now and be inspired.
▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

Redundancy, death of a parent, separation and divorce. 🫨

If you were faced with all three in the space of a year, would you dive back under the duvet and retreat from the world, or would you hit the reset button?

For Kathryn Conway, life’s lemons offered a chance to reassess the path she was walking through life, and it led her to the door of TechPixies.

Drawn to the caring sense of community and the effervescence of founder Joy Foster, this is the story of how a journey that started with upskilling in social media led to Kathryn becoming TechPixies’ copywriter and funnel builder, getting to see the inside of a business she is passionate about.   

Here’s why you need to tune in
From Kathryn’s favourite TechPixies ‘Joyisms’ to how the life-changing DreamBuilder® Program helped her process her divorce, this episode is a testament to the strength found in the shared experiences of a supportive community and the power of ‘this or something greater still’.

Here’s what to listen out for:

[02:08] TechPixies finds you when you need it most.
[05:47] Keep your eyes on your own boat.
[13:03] How Kathryn got her job at TechPixies.
[19:12] Being allowed to thrive.
[27:39] Learning to forgive through the DreamBuilder® Program.
[31:10] This or something greater still.
[35:41] Trusting your gut instinct.

If you’re feeling stuck about the direction you should take next in life or need a reminder of what’s possible when you simply say yes to investing in yourself, this is the episode for you.

Press play now ▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

For links to resources mentioned in this episode, please visit TechPixies.com

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

“We don’t wait until all our teeth have fallen out to go to the dentist. So why do we wait until we’re in crisis to deal with our mental health?” 🤷

This is just one of the brilliant nuggets dropped by Kathryn Cettina, who jumped onto the Sparkle and Thrive Podcast to chat about MYNDUP, a platform that aims to ensure mental health care and wellbeing in the workplace is proactive, not just reactive.

Because for too long employees have waited until they’re in crisis to seek help, and once they reach out, they often discover they’re not at the right level of crisis to warrant treatment. 🤯

Here’s why you need to tune in
Learn how MYNDUP is plugging a gap in the market for timely care across a range of specialisms delivered by qualified professionals. Hear about the criteria you need to meet to become a MYNDUP coach or therapist and start spreading the word to your HR department or pals in workplaces around the globe. 

Here’s what to listen out for:

[00:55] What is MYNDUP?

[02:01] The health crisis that sparked the need for MYNDUP.

[04:52] Removing barriers to mental health care.

[09:10] Is it possible to become a MYNDUP coach?

[13:52] What can you get help with on the app?

To learn more, press play now ▶️▶️▶️

Let’s spread the word and make mental health care accessible for everyone!

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

You need to pull on a pair of brave pants if you’re serious about making some major shifts in your life. But once you’ve got some tools in your locker, those shifts needn’t be as scary as you first imagine.

Just ask Clare Learoyd. 💪

Forced to pivot from a plan for face-to-face to online Pilates classes as the Pandemic took hold, Clare Learoyd has gone from feeling afraid of social media to a complete shift in mindset about what she’s capable of. 🧘

Clare says making micro changes and their ripple effect has enabled her to go after her dream job with the RNLI and create an online business that means she won’t be having to ‘hook her knickers her foot to get them on when she’s 90’. 😂

Here’s why you need to tune in
Hear how TechPixies has helped Clare change her life and how the mindset tips and tricks she’s picked up benefit not just Clare but her daughter, too. Plus, discover what happens when you get out of autopilot and start creating a vision and practising daily gratitude.

Here’s what to listen out for:

[00:45] The words you use matter.

[03:22] The power of pilates for pelvic floor.

[05:18] The history of pilates.

[10:31] Feeling afraid of social media.

[12:27] Getting to where you want to be.

[15:54] Landing the dream job.

[18:06] The Brave Thinking Activation Tool.

[21:57] Don’t worry about the how.

[23:28] Write a gratitude journal.

And if you’re keen to improve your health and wellbeing, Clare’s online Pilates classes could be just what you’re looking for. Press play now and sign up to her classes here. ▶️▶️▶️

Love our podcast? Leave a review and get hold of our Quick Start Podcast Guide.

For details of resources and links mentioned in this episode, please visit TechPixies.com

Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on social media @techpixies and ping us a DM or drop us a line at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!