In this special bonus-episode I take a look back at some of my earlier podcast conversations where we discussed barriers and overcoming them. 
Featured are chats with designer, Chrissa Amuah; doctor, Hannah Campling and Andrea Gordon a corporate communications expert. 

If you have taken the LEAP, what barriers presented themselves to you and how did you overcome them? 

You contact me via my socials, @JAXXSHEPS on everything! 

Music c/o Pixaby

My guest this week is quadruple threat, Vanessa Cruickshank.  From creative child, to  being in a girl-band to working within the NHS,  property to presenting and finally acting.

Her self starting, go getting nature, knows no bounds and in January she was named as one of the Voice newspaper’s Ones to Watch in 2022.

Listen to hear how Vanessa navigated her way through working at the NHS, to building a successful property portfolio, before itching her creative scratch and landing a spot on community radio, which in turn led to a successful cable TV show, Tell Vanessa. 
October 2021 saw Vanessa's first theatre production Within These Four Walls take to the stage and this conversation charts the peaks and troughs along the journey to reach that point.  

Follow Vanessa on Insta @therealvanessacruickshank
Find me on all socials @Jaxxsheps

Music: by  LesFM and Ivymusic from Pixaby  

I’m so delighted to bring you the latest LEAP conversation with Kima Otung. Kima is a successful RnB and Neo-Soul artist, whose former life saw her working as a successful (albeit unhappy) corporate lawyer. 

In this chat we talk about the conflict of straddling her Nigerian and Welsh heritage and the challenges faced by children of immigrants. We talk about the gravity of existing in someone else's image and finding a happy place in music. 

Kima also shares tips on how to start monetising your music so grab your journal, because you're going to want to take notes. 

Follow Kima @KimaOtung
Follow me @JaxxSheps

Although overall this is an uplifting chat, during the conversation  we discuss themes of self-harm so if you’re struggling, I encourage you to talk to someone and to explore the resources below.

@calmzone, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
@mindcharity, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
@papyrus_uk, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
@samaritanscharity, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
@heads_together, www.headstogether.org.uk

Music: Flying and Uplifting by  LesFM from Pixaby 

Lisa Bent, author of Symona's Still Single  is an inspirational figure.
She's a qualified counselor and HR professional and was prolific on Facebook when it came to romance related status updates. Her status updates were so fun, so creative and enthralling - that many said she should write a book.
Well last summer (2019) the possibility of a book became a reality as she became one of Jacaranda’s 2020 writers.
In December Lisa Bent, took the leap leaving her day job to focus on her writing and from September 2020 she became a published author

Growing up Jamelia Donaldson always loved hair, but as a grown up like many, she found herself working all of the hours under the sun working in the corporate world. Recognising that her day job was not her passion and after experiencing what she describes as a quarter life crisis, Jamelia went about finding time in addition to her 12 hour working day to create, nurture and launch her business, Treasure Tress. If you suffer from not enough hours in the day to start that business-isis listen to find out how Jamelia did it!
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Music: Hip Hop Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

It’s a fact that the higher up the career ladder you climb the less diverse it becomes, of the 500 CEOs on the Fortune 500 list, only 24 are women, that’s just 5%.While I’m impressed with the women who have made that list, there are none that look remotely like me which speaks on the challenges that black women specifically face when advancing their career. In this episode I speak to Andrea Gordon. Andrea is a black woman who deserves to be celebrated, despite experiencing doors literally being slammed in her face she has now found her voice as the Global Head of Communications for Travelex and in our chat describes how despite moments of imposter syndrome, she has equipped herself to overcome challenges, to put in action being the narrator of her own story and the importance of patience. I can see her becoming a CEO real soon!
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Hip Hop Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Star Tips is the brainchild of Stevie Hutson CEO of staffing company Superstars. The Star Tips installments aim to provide practical advice for people who are thinking about Taking the LEAP in their career and each is installment is based on a letter of the LEAP acronym.
Star Tips part one was about Listen. In this second installment Stevie and I discuss E of the LEAP acronym and the many ways in which you can Equip yourself before taking action; from financially equipping yourself to getting interview ready and from volunteering, to free resources for further training. As always we have a real giggle, while imparting some great advice, so tune in to hear how you can get yourself equipped to Take the LEAP. 
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Music: Hip Hop Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

In this instalment I chat to design entrepreneur Chrissa Amuah. Chrissa is the founder  and creative director of AMWA Designs an African inspired homeware brand. She keeps it really real in this story and reveals the circumstances around losing herself and landing in debt at a young age and the steps she took to be able to find herself, switch things up and Take the LEAP. Chrissa drops some real gems, so tune in and enjoy!
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Hip Hop Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

There are some people who know from a young age, what their calling is, but for most of us, that calling remains a pipe dream. Alexandra Sheppard had a pipe dream but is now a shining example of allowing herself to listen to her inner calling for just long enough. Earlier this year, Alexandra fulfilled her dream when her young adult fiction novel Oh My Gods, landed on shelves and she was officially a published author. Find out how she went from talking the talk, to walking the walk and Taking the LEAP. 
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Hip Hop Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Star Tips is the brainchild of Stevie Hutson CEO of staffing company Superstars. The Star Tips installments aim to provide practical advice to people who are thinking about Taking the LEAP in their career.
Before taking the leap, it's worth reflecting on your current circumstances and asking the question "could you be happier" either where you are or elsewhere? Stevie and I discuss L of the LEAP acronym and the importance of Listening to your inner voice and the advice of those around you, to establish how to move forward.
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Hip Hop Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/