Uncanventional

Tracy Edwards is a round the world sailor and activist championing girls education.

After leaving school with no qualifications, Tracy went travelling and ended up as the cook upon a boat competing in the Whitbread Round The World Race. However in 1989 she returned to the Race with the first all female crew. As a team they fought against female stereotypes and proved that women are equal to men. During the episode we talk about how Tracy got into sailing, her work with The Maiden Factor and her passions for getting girls all over the world into education.

You can find Tracy on Twitter, @TracyEdwardsMBE and The Maiden Factor @maidenfactor

Uncanventional. The podcast that proves you can be successful by doing something unconventional.

Neve Gordon-Farleigh has hosted an 8 part series to bring you advice and an insight to talking an alternative routes to going to university. We have been joined by a variety of guests and discussed things from, apprenticeships to dropping out of university, to going to drama school and working your way up.

In this final episode we reflect on the series and bring to you some of our best bits. We say many thank you’s and Neve even shares her own answer to the big final question, ‘What do you know now, that you wish you’d known at 18?’.

You can find Neve on social media @Neve_GF and you can follow the podcast on Instagram @uncanventionalpodcast

Steph Parry is a Musical Theatre Performer and Actress currently starring in Mamma Mia The Party.

After watching Steph perform during lockdown I wanted to chat to her about her career and route into the industry. Throughout the episode we discuss how Steph went from working in a Doctors practice to being on a West End stage and the differences between going to university and following your passion. Steph also shares some of her career highlights and who she looks up to in the industry.

You can find Steph on social media, @thatstephparry

Abbie Dewhurst is a Weather Presenter and Journalist for BBC Look North.

Getting into the media industry can be difficult, however after leaving school Abbie Dewhurst worked her way up through the industry. From making cups of tea and carrying cables to now being a weather presenter for BBC Look North. Throughout the episode we discuss Abbie’s most asked question ‘How to get into the media industry?’, her use of social media and her advice for young people. Abbie also shares some of the behind the scenes secrets that you wouldn’t know whilst watching her on TV.

You can find Abbie on Twitter, @Abbiedew, and on Tik Tok @abbiedewhurst.

Georgia Coan is a Journalist, Producer and Podcaster for the BBC.

After leaving school Georgia went to college and found her love for Journalism. Throughout the episode we talk about Georgia’s start in local radio, her BBC apprenticeship and why she always wanted to be a journalist. She also shares her advice for young journalists and the invaluable skills and advice she gained from being mentored through the John Schofield Trust.

You can find Georgia on Twitter, @georgia_coan

Bethany Collins and Alexa Rendell.

Meet Bethany Collins and Alexa Rendell, for today’s episode I wanted to talk to other young people who haven’t had conventional routes since leaving school. For Bethany this meant living at home and going to university and we discuss some of the stigma surrounding this. Whereas Alexa shares her experiences as an apprentice and why she chose to defer going to university this September.

You can find Bethany on Twitter, @bethanyjcollins

You can find Alexa on Twitter, @alexa_rendell

Robin Gordon-Farleigh is an ex comms strategist and founding partner of Manara Global.

Robin Gordon-Farleigh has 23 years experience of working in the government. He spent 6 years working at 10 Downing Street for both David Cameron and Theresa May. Throughout the episode we talk all about life behind the famous Downing Street door and some of his career highlights from meeting royalty to bumping into some famous faces. Robin shares his experiences of what it was really like working in such a prestigious building and the pressures that comes with the job.

You can find Robin on Twitter @RobinG_F

Molly Thompson is a YouTuber, Instagrammer and Travel Enthusiast.

After leaving school Molly went to Leeds Arts Uni to study an arts foundation course. Molly vlogged her whole university experience, from moving out to most importantly the ups and downs of going to university. Throughout the episode we talk all about her foundation course, what life is like now as a full time YouTuber and her experiences of solo travelling round Australia.

You can find Molly on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok @beauty_spectrum. Make sure if you aren’t already, to go and subscribe to Molly’s YouTube channel - Beauty Spectrum

Emma Bentley is a camerawoman and journalist for the BBC.

After leaving school Emma undertook an apprenticeship and is now a camerawoman and journalist for the BBC. Throughout the episode we talk all about apprenticeships and what it’s like working for the BBC. Emma also shares some of the incredible people she’s worked with like, Prince William and Kate, David Attenborough and Fiona Bruce.

You can find Emma on Twitter @EmmaLBentley and Tik Tok @justemmawithacamera

Izzy Radford is a writer, director, voice actor and fellow podcaster.

In 2018 she started a blog documenting her experiences of what it was like dropping out of university and her life post academia. Throughout the episode Izzy shares the importance of putting yourself first and whether or not she regrets dropping out of university.

You can find Izzy’s blog at https://www.izzyrad.co.uk/