Trainer Talk - The Podcast

Publicity: this week is the week of interruptions it seems - and not just to our lockdown routines. We were interrupted in the pre-chat, interrupted in the main chat and then interrupted in the guest chat! Things definitely take a somewhat feline turn, although Sharon's been out and about with foxes and wild horses too. There's a rogue milkman on the loose, rude cyclists and joggers and the Queen is in the Top Five apparently (good job Your Majesty). Sharon tries to excuse why she's not yet learnt Spanish and Ginette tries to learn to say 'no' - or at least 'not yet'. We cover off the business side of things with a great guest spot from Carrie talking all things publicity - so if you've got an opinion, you've got a shot! It's all about collaborations too as we get ready to launch an exciting new programme and if we get some feedback, we'll know to talk about it.

To charge or not to charge (that is the question): this week we celebrate milk, wine o'clock, amazing views and appreciative clapping. On the flip-side life is still weird, dog walks are getting stressful and we consider the downside to the flood of free information and over-night 'experts'. In copyright news, we're claiming 'Vexit' as the term for when this is all 'over' and we also talk about why money needs to keep circulating. Sharon's clothing is complimenting her and Ginette's most definitely not cheap. There are a ton of virtual Trainer Talk Locals to choose from (there are some hotspots in there) and lastly we'd like you to be upfront about what it takes to be successful with your online course.

Feeling Good and Keeping Going: in a week that most of us will find stranger than normal, we discuss why Shirley from Facebook isn't the best source of information, the miracle of time-travel and wine o'clock (FYI Fridays at 5.30pm). We also talk about why Sharon's version of tea is really just glorified hot water and milk, why Ginette shouldn't be afraid and our special guest Jane Brook from House of Colour tells us about why our clothes do more than just protect our modesty. She also talks about having to bin Zayn from One Direction (literally) and why she's been playing grown up knock and run. In our serious bit (yes, there was one), we discuss the opportunities that the current situation presents to small business owners and the pleasant surprises that can happen when we have to look at alternatives. Last but not least, Jem digs her heels in, we tell you how you can be exotic with the Trainer Talk Locals and why good quality video is a must for online courses.

Practical Positivity: as it turns out, we *can* record two podcasts in one week and still have plenty to say ... Sharon gets firm about conspiracy theories and personal responsibilities, while Ginette tries to explain why so many opinions get presented as facts. We discuss the importance of considering your own and others' mental health, which at the moment pretty much means staying off social media for all except essential activities! We also discuss looking for the silver lining - the opportunities that present themselves when things don't go according to plan. Sharon's been Welsh for a month (although it'll be longer by the time you see this), Scamp has an epic daydream (during the podcast) and Ginette wants us to bring in learner experiences and perspectives to online training. And given that we're recording this early, it might all be completely irrelevant by the time it comes to you listening!

Staying Positive: it's the winging it edition this week as Sharon has a bit of a diary mix-up and we record with next to no prep! Unsurprisingly there's pretty much only one topic on the main agenda. Still we do our best to add a positive spin and have lots of fun recalling the previous Trainer Talk Live, Sharon's first Thursday night club and Ginette's insistence that it's fun disguised as work. Naturally we also have time to pat Mr Harris on the head (there's a good boy), talk a bit about faff time, express gratitude for surprise presents and marvel at a whole three floors of Dunelm (duvetastic). Jem's relishing the sea-air, while Ginette has some very clean sand in her trainers and even the driftwood in Wales is trying to get in on the Wildlife act. Finally we talk about a whole raft of Trainer Talk Locals coming up (fingers crossed) and the benefits of having an online-course-specific community.

Online Courses: in a week where Ginette gets to talk about her favourite subject (which is, let's face it, every week), Sharon's starting to settle in Mumbles, but not appreciating the horizontal rain or the notoriety of living in the same location as the first Welsh Covid19 case! We also discuss clichés, magic bullets, and delivery in your pyjamas, mud, supercilious cats and why some people just can't be told - even if they wear the juice (all is explained in the podcast, honest). And lastly Sharon does a funny, Sharon does a funny ...

Coping with Change: in the first bi-country edition of the podcast, Sharon scares her new gym instructor into buying her wine and Ginette contemplates what life would have been like without Trainer Talk (scary). We both agree that it might be quite nice to spend a Sunday like normal people (whatever that means), before discussing the finer points of understanding and dealing with major change. Jem (the legend) approves of the beach and has settled in enough to make her first interruption of the new location. We celebrate two new Trainer Talk Local locations in Edinburgh and the East Midlands, get confirmation beyond doubt that brownies ARE cake and talk about the power of a completion certificate. Plus, apparently it rains a lot in Wales - who knew? (I did.)

Getting People To Events: this week's episode is brought to you by the words 'momentous', 'surreal' and 'conundrum'. As Sharon prepares for the next chapter, Ginette experiences high impact on the derriere (no, not like that, gutter mind!). We get a bit deep, but it is an emotional week and not just because of St Valentine. In exciting news, we have a new Facebook group just for the Podcast and we talk about three key things to bear in mind when organising events for people to attend (did we mention we like you to book early?). Instead of wildlife, Sharon now has trees jumping out in front of her and Ginette somehow manages to let a horse creep up behind her. We're also getting close to the first Trainer Talk Live of the year and we end on a somewhat musical note in the online course creation Top Tip. By the time you read this, Sharon *might* have finished unpacking ...

Podcasts: we don't quite want to admit it's the end of January, but it's been a funny sort of week ... or has it? Sharon explains why she missed a few live streaming days (apparently it's something to do with Amy having a mum AND a dad, but no apostrophe) and Ginette counts her blessings, even if it takes a while to get to the right 'P'. In Top of Mind, we get all meta by talking about podcasts - the what, the how and then more what - see if you can spot the really smooth edit in the middle of this one. Sharon forewarns of emotional times ahead and Ginette wonders if seals would actually be able to jump out at anyone. We'd both love people to plan ahead more and agree that when it comes to it, you gotta love a bit of Brian.

Visibility: this week we talk about just how visible we need to be in our businesses to make sure we can generate the all-important Know, Like and Trust. But the big news is that we finally know which is more important to Sharon: Rafa or Jem? In the meantime, Ginette can't stop the phone ringing, we question whether cake exists if there's no evidence of it and also wonder if Facebook is actually something to be grateful for. Our considered opinions swing from conquering fears before you have to all the way through to how to defeat a troll (unless you're at a loose end). Scamp meets some chickens, there are even more Trainer Talk Locals coming and if you decide to repurpose your content, make sure you do it with due care and attention!