Welcome to this month’s Blooming North Podcast Host Lisa welcomes two remarkable bonus dads who share their heartfelt journeys of stepping into parenthood. James Attwater, Regional Agency Lead at Seedtag and committee member of the Bloom North network, is a proud bonus parent to two kids. Keiran Gillam, station manager in the fire service, is a bonus parent to none other than our very own Beth Sutherland, VP of the Bloom North Network. In this uplifting conversation, James and Keiran open up about the realities of being a bonus parent, from navigating complex family dynamics and building trust, to the joys of watching their stepchildren grow. Whether you're a bonus parent yourself, considering blending a family, or simply curious about modern family life, this episode offers honest insights, practical wisdom, and plenty of heart.   This podcast is sponsored by Pubmatic: Building a better supply chain for the future of digital advertising.     Host: Lisa Hughes Founder and director of Lisa Hughes Coaching.  Web: LisaHughesCoaching.com Socials: @LisaHughesCoaching    Guest: James Attwater.  Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jamesattwater Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to this month’s Blooming North Podcast.    In our latest episode host Lisa is joined by Hattie Pearson, DJ and Presenter and Sue Benson, founder and CEO of The Behaviour’s Agency to talk all about women misbehaving.    Lisa, Hattie and Sue dive into the world of rule breaking, abandoning traditional career paths and being labelled “bossy.”    So if you’re outspoken and proud, un ‘lady like’, or are navigating challenging perceptions in your career or personal life, this episode is for you.    This podcast is sponsored by Gum Gum, the contextual first ad tech company. Creating the perfect match between brands and consumers.   Host: Lisa Hughes founder and director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughes.coaching.com Insta @LisaHughesCoaching   Sue Benson Web - https://thebehavioursagency.com/  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/suebenson-brand-happiness-expert/   Hattie Pearson  Insta @hattiepearson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to this very special episode of the Blooming North Podcast! Joining LIsa today is Danielle Bromley. Danielle is commercial director at crossover, a family woman and Manchester networker. However she joined Lisa in this episdoe to share her story as a cancer survivor. Danielle shares with us all the stuff that goes with cancer that no one really mentions, or understands. Danielle is incredibly candid and very open about her experiences and shares how some of the hidden costs and physical changes can take people by surprise as well as the recovery process and how that impacts relationships, work and all facets of life. * Please note we will be talking about diagnosis, recovery, relationships and life after cancer and this content may be triggering for some people. So please exercise your own judgment as you listen. Danielle Bromley. Commercial director at crossover and cancer survivor. ⁠linkedin.com/in/danielle-bromley⁠ Instagram: danbrommers Host: Lisa Hughes founder and director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughes.coaching.com Insta @LisaHughesCoaching   This podcast is sponsored by Gum Gum, the contextual first ad tech company. Creating the perfect match between brands and consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Week Dr Sally Alwan joins Lisa to share her inspiring story of building her life from the Ground Up. Born in Iraq, her parents came to the UK 40 years ago with her parents who were doing PHDs. Unfortunately their funding got pulled and she had to overcame the odds of being a cultural minority with low socio-economic status to build an amazing life as a doctor, now living in Manchester.    This podcast is sponsored by Gum Gum, the contextual first ad tech company. Creating the perfect match between brands and consumers.   Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coachig Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com Insta @LisaHughesCoaching Guest Dr. Sally Alwan https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-alwan-89a61b277 https://www.instagram.com/drsally_orthodontics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a special episode of the Blooming North podcast. Joining Lisa in the studio are some of Manchester's favourite presenters. Until recently they were waking you up, or getting you home on the formidable Capital FM breakfast and drivetime shows.  It’s none other than Rachel Burke-Davis and Wingman!!!  Do you want to know what happens next?  We all experience change and yes shit happens – but their ‘shit happens’ moment was monumental!! How did they get through it and why are they still smiling?  Plus there’s a special announcement in this podcast!! If you don’t already know Rob Rach and wingman are up to something and they reveal all in this podcast. Instagram:Follow the team on what they do next. @DecommissionedUK Racheal Burke-Davies. @Rachbduk. Nige Clucas:  @NigewingmanClucas This podcast is sponsored by Spotify, your daily companion. Host: Lisa Hughes, Founder and Direcgtor of Lisa Hughes Coaching. Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ Insta:@LisaHughesCoaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, sponsored by our friends at Spotify, we're talking Resilience. Joining Lisa to discuss this subject is Stacey Copeland, a trailblazer in British sport. Stacey was a professional football player and played in the FA cup final before moving into professional boxing winning silver in the European Championships and gold at the prestigious Balkans tournament. If that wasn't enough she then made history as the first British woman to win a Commonwealth boxing title. Stacey now spends time commentating for the BBC whilst running her company ‘Pave the Way’ dedicated to promoting gender equality in sport and challenging stereotypes. Stacey is the perfect guest for this podcast, not only because boxing is one of the toughest sports there is out there but also outside the boxing ring Lisa discusses with Stacey change, set backs and transitions and finds out how she has cultivated a resilient mindset throughout her career. This podcast is sponsored by Spotify, your daily companion. Host: Lisa Hughes founder & direct of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ Insta: @LisaHughesCoaching Stacey Copeland Web: https://stacey-copeland.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/staceycopelandboxer/   https://www.instagram.com/pavethewayuk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, sponsored by our friends at Spotify, we’re talking about modern sobriety. Joining host Lisa are Jack Owens, one of the founders of the Sober Media Network and Jayne Andrew who has worked in the media industry for over 30 years and is now 3 years sober. They discuss the sobriety movement and both the challenges that still exist and the evolution both Jayne & Jack have witnessed over time in terms of conversations around sobriety. We also explore the unique challenges of sobriety in the media industry.. Jayne talks through her transition from the ultimate party girl to 3 years sober and Jack talks about the launch of the Sober Media Network which has been described as a much needed free networking and social movement for the media industry. This podcast is sponored by Spotify, your essential daily companion. Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ Insta: @LisaHughesCoaching Jack Owens https://www.linkedin.com/company/sober-media-network/ Jayne Andrew @jayneandrew76 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayne-andrew-1732ba141/   This podcast is sponsored by Spotify; your essential daily companion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  In this episode Lisa talks to the incredibly accomplished Kathryn Smith with a long list of credits to her name including Football Develeopment Manager at Manchester FA, non executive director at Rotherham United Community Trust & Oldham Active, professional footballer and 3W referee and qualified teacher and coach. Under discussion is the topic of making shifts in your career, doiig what you want, going against the grain and generally being a kick ass woman! brave, because in our lives we are going to need to be super brave to change jobs, have a very difficult conversation, do things that people say you can’t do and go against the grain!   This Podcast is sponsored by Mobsta. Placing brands in perfect moments, with multi-channel digital activation, fuelled by behavioural data intelligence and superior location knowledge. https://mobsta.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/mobsta/ https://www.instagram.com/mobsta_ltd/ Guests:  Kathryn Smith Bio: Non Executive Director, Trustee & Management Exec, EDI Lead Kathryn Smith | LinkedIn Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of LIsa Hughes Coaching Web:https://lisahughescoaching.com/ Insta:: @ LIsaHughesCoaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining Lisa in our latest episode are Kelsie Hughes, Runcorn women's football 6 a side player and Quality Assurance specialist in Pharmaceuticals and Amanda Wah, Gym Owner, Personal Trainer and Gladiators Contender 2025. In honour of International Women’s Day, which is Saturday 8th March, we wanted to delve into our guests business and sporting backgrounds to discuss how we can Accelerate Action. Emphasising the urgency of making faster, more effective strides towards gender equality. Guests: Kelsie Hughes - Quality assurance specialist in pharmaceuticals.  Plays for Runcorns women’s football 6 a side  @kelsieleighhughes  Amanda Wah Gym Owner, Personal Trainer, Gladiators Contendor 2025  Momentum Collective, Warrington. www.momentumcollective.co.uk www.amandawah.com @amandawahfitness Host @LisaHughesCoaching This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory. Produced by Manchester One Media:  Producers: Nigel Mclucas and Josh woods  Instagram @mcronemedia www.Manchesteronemedia.com  #InternationalWomensDay2025. #IWD2025. #ChooseToChallenge. #WomensRights. #GenderEquality #accelerateaction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining Lisa this episode is Holly Clark and Carolyn Tipper to share their expertise on how to support better mental health for you and your colleagues, family and friends. Holly is a Mental Health First Aid & Suicide First Aid Instructor Member from the organisation Blooming Mind. She works with companies to improve the mental health of their teams to end stigma surrounding it and recently ran a workshop for Bloom North supporting parents in creating Mentally Healthy Homes. Carolyn is an Executive Coach, enabling leaders to overcome organisational and personal challenges through transformational coaching. Mental health affects us all so this is an episode not to be missed. Holly and Carolyn discuss the evolution of conversations around mental health, how working remotely has increased the importance of having a mentally healthy home environment as well as workplace. With the workplace we discuss how leaders can model good practices and offer support without overstepping boundaries and the balance between productivity goals and mental health wellbeing. From a personal point of view we discuss how to advocate for yourself or others, some routines and decompression that could support your own mental health, and also recommend resources to find out more about this crucial topic.    Guests:  Holly Clark, Mental Health First Aid & Suicide First Aid Instructor, Blooming Mind https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyclarkbloomingmind/ https://www.bloomingmind.co.uk/   Carolyn Tipper,  Executive Coach  https://cthesolution.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyntipper/   Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ Insta: @Lisa Hughescoaching     This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of the Blooming North podcast, Lisa is joined by 2024 co-presidents Sarah and Liv, familiar faces and names to the Bloom North Network.  At the end of a successful, busy and sometimes challenging year leading over 60 women and 8 committees we asked Sarah and Liv to share their reflections on the last 12 months. They told us about some of the achievements they are most proud of, why they took on the role and what has been a priority for them over the past year.  They also shared with us what they’ve learnt and share some top advice for our incumbent Bloom North president.      Guests:  Olivia Waite  Sales director at Channel factory – who are also our podcast sponsors.    Sarah Fleming Director of the right and the left marketing consultancy  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-fleming-43b4b71a/ therightandtheleft.co.uk   . Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ Insta: @Lisa Hughescoaching     This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have two special guests joining Lisa on today's episode, the first being Iona Holloway, founder of the personal development brand, Brave Thing. Iona is the best selling-author of Ghost – Why Perfect Women Shrink and is committed to getting more brave women in every room.  Also joining us is Katie Kendall, a name and face familiar to many in the Manchester marketing community. Katie is the founder of Plantfood which helps companies improve employee performance and wellbeing in the workplace.  The conversation covers a range of topics including why juggling becomes such a struggle for some people, healthy coping mechanisms, why some of us are just surviving and the importance of priorities. Katie recently ran a workshop for Bloom North on finance and shares some financial planning strategies that can help with that aspect of juggling that we often all struggle with. This informative and entertaining episode is one not to miss!   Guests:    Katie Kendall  Katie is the founder of Plantfood. Helping companies improve employee performance and wellbeing in the workplace.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kendall-emcc-64ba0220/ https://www.plantfoodcoaching.com/   Iona Holloway  Iona is the founder of the personal development brand, Brave Thing.  Best-selling author of Ghost - Why Perfect Women Shrink.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ionaholloway/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ionaholloway Website: https://www.bravething.co/ Hire Iona to speak at an event: https://www.bravething.co/speaking Meet Your Inner Child (Free 7 min breathwork session): https://bravething.co/seven       Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ Insta: @Lisa Hughescoaching     This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re joined by Lucy Shutt-Vine, Career Confidence Coach at LSV Coaching and Head of Talent Development at Captify and Dr. Christopher Owen, Inclusivity Development Manager at Manchester Pride, delivering the All Equals Charter, an intersectional LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion programme, listed as one of the top 50 Northern Gamechangers of 2024.  Our host, Lisa Hughes, talks to these fascinating guests about what growth means to them, how having a strong inner circle is key and how you can stay relevant in work environments that are constantly changing and evolving .      Guests:    Lucy Shutt-vine Instagram: @lucyshuttvine_careercoach   www.lucyshuttvine.com      Dr Christopher Owen  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecjowen/ Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ @LisaHughesCoaching   This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory. Produced by Joel Tudor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Part 3 In this special series of podcasts, where we are joined by Vicki Robinson, CEO of Bloom North’s 2024 nominated charity The Miscarriage Association to discuss pregnancy loss and help us understand ways in which we can support colleagues, friends or partners and to provide information for those who may have been affected by pregnancy loss. In this episode, Vicki shares advice with us including how to be a supportive manager or friend to someone affected by pregnancy loss and anything that it might be wise to avoid saying. She also offers advice for those who have been affected by pregnancy loss on how they might access support.  Don't forget to listen to our previous two episodes which you can listen to here: Part 1 -  Breaking down the barriers   Part 2 - The Workplace   To reach out or find out more about the Miscarriage Association, you can find them here: Website: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miscarriageassociation/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiscarriageAssociation Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ @LisaHughesCoaching   This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory. Produced by Joel Tudor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special series of three podcasts, we are joined by Vicki Robinson, CEO of Bloom North’s 2024 nominated charity - The Miscarriage Association - to discuss pregnancy loss and help us understand ways in which we can support colleagues, friends or partners and to provide information for those who may have been affected by pregnancy loss. In Part 2, we discuss the role and responsibilities workplaces have to support women who have been affected by a pregnancy loss and what protocols should be in place to support them.  If you missed Part 1, you can listen to it here: https://podfollow.com/1684200049/episode/f80a214e8c20ba8ac869c465e9baae3d9dc49682/view Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast so you'll be notified when our next episode releases! To reach out or find out more about the Miscarriage Association, you can find them here: Website: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miscarriageassociation/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiscarriageAssociation Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ @LisaHughesCoaching   This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory. Produced by Joel Tudor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special series of three podcasts, we are joined by Vicki Robinson, CEO of Bloom North’s 2024 nominated charity - The Miscarriage Association - to discuss pregnancy loss and help us understand ways in which we can support colleagues, friends or partners and to provide information for those who may have been affected by pregnancy loss. In part 1, Vicki will be talking to Lisa about some of the stats around pregnancy loss, the different types of loss, and how and where you can find support as well as telling us a little bit more about the wonderful support offered by the Miscarriage Association. Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast so you'll be notified when our next episode releases! To reach out or find out more about the Miscarriage Association, you can find them here: Website: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miscarriageassociation/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiscarriageAssociation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode we welcome Grace Sharp, Planning & Partnership Manager, Wavemaker and Nicola Lynch, part of the Bloom North Podcast committee and Business Development Director at Sport Social Podcast Network to explore the topic of the relationship between the generations in the workplace.  There are big challenges and barriers women can face at different stages of their career as host Lisa Hughes delves into how women can support and help each other at different life stages and how the workplace has changed over the years.  We discuss the role models women have at different life stages and the value different perspectives can bring to teams and try and answer that age old question, is age just a number…    Guests:    Grace Sharp Planning & Partnership Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-lennon-sharp-76640a15b/     Nicola Lynch Business Development Director  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-lynch-470a8a21/   Host: Lisa Hughes – founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ @Lisa HughesCoaching Produced by Joel Tudor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of The Blooming North, we welcome Daniele Fandaca, founder of Token Man consulting, and Manny Afambu, Affiliate Account Director at EssenceMediacom and Bloom Allyship Committee member to discuss the topic of Allyship.  Host Lisa Hughes digs deeper into defining what allyship really is, and why our guests feel it’s important an important area to discuss. In this insightful conversation our guests share their own personal experiences as well as advise on how to be an active ally.    Guests:    Daniele Fiandaca Founder of Token Man consulting - an inclusion and diversity consultancy. https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielefiandaca/  https://www.tokenman.org/maleallyship   Emmanuel Afambu, Affiliate Account Director, EssenceMediacom Host: Lisa Hughes - founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ @LisaHughesCoaching   This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory. Produced by Joel Tudor   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This month our host Lisa Hughes is joined by Lindsey Kane, an entrepreneur who is currently CEO of her own brand JOLT – an anti-ageing supplement which has disrupted the longevity market and Coralie Watson,co-founder and director of Theme Socials, a full-service personal branding agency.  You may remember Lindsey & Coralie from the Bloom North Panel Event earlier this year on Personal Branding and Authenticity, and on this episode we’re diving even further speaking to them on the all important topics of courage, confidence and crying. They will share their experiences of moving out of their comfort zones and how to deal with the challenges and emotions that may bring and also how to support others in your workplace who may be more or less emotional than you are.    Guests: Coralie Watson https://www.linkedin.com/in/coraliewatson1/ https://www.instagram.com/shelifts.thefork/   Lindsey Kane   https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-kane-20ba60134/ https://www.instagram.com/lindseykane0/ https://www.joltmyworld.com/   Host: Lisa Hughes founder & director of Lisa Hughes Coaching Web: https://lisahughescoaching.com/ @LisaHughesCoaching   This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory. Produced by Joel Tudor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re delighted to welcome to this week’s episode Imogen Tazzyman, Executive Creative Director at McCann who some of you may already be familiar with from our recent panel event, Dismantling Stigmas and Promoting Inclusivity.  Imogen joins our host Lisa Hughes and Jordan McDowell, Strategy Director at McCann Manchester to delve into the tricky subject of stigmas in the workplace.  They discuss why women still have to navigate outdated stigmas in the workplace, the role of perception and how it can limit how women behave in the workplace, and how men and women in leadership roles can support others in their organisation.    Guests:    Imogen Tazzyman  Executive Creative Director. McCann  linkedin.com/in/imogen-tazzyman-8a784314     Jordan McDowell  Strategy Director, McCann Manchester  linkedin.com/in/jordan-m-b879b52b     This podcast has been sponsored by our friends at Channel Factory and is a Voiceworks Production.       Host: Lisa Hughes founder and director of Lisa Hughes Coaching. Web: LisaHughesCoaching.com Insta: @LisaHughesCoaching Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lisahughescoaching Produced by Joel Tudor   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices