In this episode, I spoke to Julie Hall - entrepreneur, two-time president and mentor for essentially anyone looking to get back on track. I’ve had the the privilege of previously working alongside Julie but after hitting a few frustrating roadblocks in my own life recently, I’ve now appointed Julie as a mentor.

We spoke about and when work becomes a huge part of your identity, what it’s like to start a company from a room in your flat, when to stop and when to keep going and why we absolutely shouldn’t think networking isn’t for us. There were lots of life lessons in this episode, words I know I will hold onto from this point so I really hope you enjoy listening along to this conversation.

Hi and welcome back to Women Who Fail. In this episode, I spoke to Michelle Jamieson, a proudly working-class research psychologist, community activist, and author currently finishing her PhD at the Uni of Glasgow.

Stemming from personal experiences of living with a complex mental health condition, her work has dealt with issues such as the impact of austerity, complex trauma, and life outcomes for those living with severe mental illness. Her work has been translated into articles and books, as well as affirmative action in community services. Michelle’s latest book, The Austerity Cure: The Impact of Benefit Sanctions on Mental Health was published in 2020 with an Edinburgh-based publisher.

In her spare time, she likes to think of herself as an amateur artist, true crime sleuth, and semi-outdoor person. I really hope you enjoy listening to this chat with Michelle.

Published work: https://www.michellekjamieson.com/books

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themichjamm/

Website: https://www.michellekjamieson.com/

In this episode, I spoke to textile artist and co-founder of Spot Design Market, Anna Hepburn. Before we recorded this episode, Anna asked me if her more positive angle on failure was ok for the podcast and my response to this was of course an emphatic, 'yes'. Anna spoke to me about her experience of lockdown both on an individual and a business level and she shared these words that really stayed with me after we stopped recording:

"We fail to give ourselves time, a lot of the time. I often wonder what that thing is that’s inside us all, that keeps us constantly on the go."

Anna has made Glasgow her home and feels like its a city that really gives back to creatives - something that she didn’t experience during her time in London working in set design.

In 2019 she co-founded Spot Design Market and truly enjoys using this platform to support fellow creatives. On the subject she says, "If I can and spot can give a platform to people in order to boost their business, why are we not all doing something like that? Let’s help each other get to where we want to go…".

https://www.annahepburnstudio.co.uk

https://www.thespotdesignmarket.co.uk

In this episode - my first ever face-to-face interview - I spoke to Glasgow-based Junior Doctor, Catherine Humphreys. We explored dealing with failure within the medical profession, what it’s like to work within a role where there is no room for error, and how that impacts your emotional wellbeing.

We dived into the benefits of working within good systems of failure as well as what it means to not commit to a specialist pathway within a profession that expects this and only this of you.

Finally, Catherine and I chatted about mental health and the impact of not sharing how you really feel both on you, and those around you. Mental health is a prominent theme within our conversation. If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, you can access support at the following places:

https://www.samaritans.org/?nation=scotland

https://www.samh.org.uk (Scotland)

https://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/

https://www.mind.org.uk (England)

As always, if you’re finding these conversations useful, please consider sharing it with a friend or, reviewing it from wherever you tune in from.

Thanks a see you again soon!

In this episode I sat down to have a blether with Aileen McKay, a Scot currently resident in Berlin who this time last year set off to cycle an unsupported lap of Scotland to follow in the footsteps of some of Scotland’s historical heroes. Many studies of Scottish society, history and culture have been gender blind. A feminist analysis is needed and although Aileen wouldn’t call herself a historian, her passion and knowledge for the subject gripped me from beginning to end. A huge thank you to Aileen for getting in touch one year after her expedition and for sharing her moments of failure.

Follow Aileen on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/aileenenglishtutor/?hl=en

In June 2015, Isabella set up a social enterprise in Glasgow called StepUp Shoeshine CIC. The idea came to her at 3 AM in the morning and within 24 hours, she had the beginnings of a board in place and had started completing funding applications. Her social enterprise featured on The One Show.

Following a successful career in sales and marketing Isabella decided she wanted to use her business skills to help others step back into work.

For many years she volunteered with debt charities and had been involved in youth work but she wanted to channel her energy into helping people rebuild their lives.

Isabella talks to me about the break-up of her marriage; why people will always matter more than things; building a social enterprise from scratch and remembering that you're more than a mum, although, this is much easier said than done.

'For the unwritten part of your life.'

In 2018, Natalie Whittle left her life in London, moved to Glasgow and opened a truly beautiful and welcoming literary hub in Govanhill in Glasgow's Southside.

It was a risk and relocation that she felt was necessary in order to be happier. Natalie came on the podcast to talk to me about her failure to make the most of London-living and what it’s like to start a creative project without fully planning for the challenges that you’re going to encounter.

Natalie shares her excitement for the up-and-coming, Glasgow Papers, a collection of stories about migration and entrepreneurship and regeneration in the Southside.



If you enjoy the conversation between Natalie and I, I’d be really grateful if you could rate or review the episode - it really helps spread the word to other people!

My guest today is Amy Shipway. With over 14 years experience in the fitness industry, from her first job selling running shoes, to becoming General Manager of Scotland’s largest Circus School; Amy is an experienced leader who has always been passionate about helping others’ achieve their goals. 

Her love for travel and meeting new people has taken her on some exciting adventures: from training in Flying Trapeze in Tasmania to working and living in Brazil, where she trained at Circocan International School and, over a 5 year period, ran annual Circus Fitness Retreats there.

Now running her own business, Amy was inspired to create ALT Fitness as a space to bring all of the alternative fitness disciplines (including circus, dance and yoga) that she loves under one roof in a radically inclusive environment. It’s a gym for people who hate the gym!

On the subject of failure, Amy says, "Something that has really helped me get over the crippling fear of failure is taking ’the fear’ to it’s logical conclusion: for me this was “what if my business fails and I can’t pay back the money I had to borrow to start it?! I’ll be ruined!” The reality is that if I ever was in dire straits financially, I could just get another job. Or two jobs. And if that still wasn’t enough, I could declare bankruptcy, sell my flat and move back in with my parents… I like my parents so it would actually be fun to live with them again. Suddenly the worst case scenario feels a bit more manageable than the doomsday scenario in my head."

Dance, stretch, spin, sweat and fly at Glasgow’s hub of alternative fitness!

https://www.altfitness.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/altfitnessglasgow/

https://www.instagram.com/ashipwa/

NOTE: This episode contains some discussion around postnatal depression and OCD. If you are affected by anything mentioned in this episode, please scroll to the bottom of the page for places where you can seek support. Take care.

Hi and welcome to todays episode of Women Who Fail with me Heather Tosh. My guest today is the hugely courageous and emotionally intelligent, Natalie Ventilla. Natalie is a Shiatsu Practitioner and Founder of Zen Health and Zen Kids. She facilitates wellbeing workshops, promoting mindful and holistic practices in Glasgow where she lives with her husband and three children.

On the subject of failure Natalie says:

Fear of being a failure and showing my vulnerabilities has stopped me from reaching out and connecting fully and authentically with myself and those around me. Overcoming this has been life changing.

Follow Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenhealthglasgow

If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in today's episode, you can access support at the following places:

https://www.samaritans.org/?nation=scotland

https://www.samh.org.uk (Scotland)

http://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/

http://www.mind.org.uk (England)

My guest today is, the extremely inspiring, kind and resilient, Holly Elliott.

Holly is the owner and director of of Helping Hands, an osteopathy clinic specialising in the support and treatment of dancers, as well as us mere mortals. Previous talents and job titles include: dancer, choreographer, video blogger for mobile phone company Orange - god saying that makes me feel old - aupair and now talented business owner and osteopath.

On the subject of failure, Holly says:

I tend to gloss over failures and look for positives within them or just deny they ever happened. This allows me to live in blissful ignorance until they come to haunt me again.

Follow Holly on social media:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/helpinghandshealth/

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If you're enjoying the podcast so far, I'd love for you to share it with one friend. Follow WWF on social media for a first look at future guests and live interviews:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womenwhofail/