In this episode of Communicate Well, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Sofia Cann about her experiences of Long CoVid and how this has impacted her life and her work.
Sofia is a head of marketing and communications for three arts venues and a freelance publicist. She specialises in marketing and communications aw well as programming and producing events. She works with both businesses and individuals. Sofia is also a publicist for a number of familiar music, screen and stage personalities.
As well as highlighted the physical and mental health impacts of CoVid-19 and Long CoVid, Sofia also touches on the perimenopause and generally how we can benefit from talking more about our health and wellbeing in order to seek support and to help others.
Huge thanks to Sofia for sharing her experiences. If you want to find out more about Sofia's freelance work you can visit www.canncommunications.co.uk and you can connect with Sofia on Twitter via @sofiacann1, on Insta via @canncommunications or on LinkedIn.
In this episode of Cat's PJs Convos Communicate Well mini-series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks candidly with Phil Woodford about his experience as a stroke survivor. This is a real emotional rollercoaster, you will laugh and you will cry. Phil is so honest about the impacts on his life, both physically and mentally. (Trigger warning - there is mention of suicide).
Phil is the Director of Corporate Affairs at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and has over 20 years experience in marketing and communications. He is also about to publish his first book, 'From Prostitutes to Prime Ministers, My Words, My Life, My Experiences; A Memoir.'
If you would like to find out more about Phil visit www.philwoodford.co.uk and you can contact Phil on Twitter at @phil_woodford
In this episode of Cat's Pajamas Conversations mini-series, Communicate Well, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Kate Jarman about Flex NHS. Kate is the Director of Corporate Affairs at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and co-founder of Flex NHS.
Flex NHS is a support and resource network that promotes and enables flexible working in the NHS. Carrie-Ann and Kate talk about the advantages of flexible working, both for individuals and organisations, how to make this work and what some of the perceived barriers are.
For communications professionals, flexible working, in whatever shape or form that may take, supports work-life balance, wellbeing and productivity. Have you thought about how flexible working might help you? Hopefully this episode will support you to reflect on this and maybe start a conversation that enables you and your team to work differently.
Find out more about Flex NHS and join the conversation via @FlexNHS on Twitter or @FlexNHS on Instagram.
In this episode of our Cat's Pajamas Conversations mini-series Communicate Well, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Sally Northeast, Darren Caveney and Georgia Taylor about Comms Unplugged. These three amazing communicators are the trio behind Comms Unplugged, a weekend designed to support comms pros with their wellbeing, development and learning. Find out more via www.commsunplugged.co.uk
A bit about Sally:
Deputy Director for OD, Communication and Participation at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust. After a degree in languages Sally trained to be a journo at the local paper in her home town. A few years later she hopped the fence into local gov comms, with a stint as a freelance and finally a move to the NHS.
A bit about Georgia:
Director of Communication and Marketing, for England’s newest urban local authority, BCP Council, serving the 400,000 residents of the city-region of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole on the glorious south coast. Georgia studied a PR degree in her hometown of Bournemouth, which included a placement at the council. She loved it so much she went back after the obligatory post-graduation travelling and hasn’t left since!
A bit about Darren:
His son claims Darren “works on The Twitter”. But really, he is a communications consultant, creator of comms2point0, and owner of Creative Communicators Ltd. Darren's 23-year career in communications, marketing and PR spans 10 years as Head of Communications within local government, a director level role in the NHS and five years in private sector marketing, winning some awards with his teams along the way and he has worked with over 100 communications teams in his consultancy role.
We think you can tell that this is a passionate bunch and we are not surprised they are collaborating on Comms Unplugged, giving back to the communications community.
Welcome to the first episode of our Cat's Pajamas Conversations mini series, Communicate Well. In this series we talk to communications professionals about all sorts of issues relating to health and wellbeing.
In this episode, our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Rachel Royall, founder of Blue Lozenge, about what it is like to be a living organ donor.
Rachel is a leader in healthcare communications and engagement. She’s founder and MD of Blue Lozenge, a strategic consultancy in healthcare focusing on support for Integrated Care Systems and complex projects. She has led Board level communications for complex organisations including IBM, NHS, HMRC, Cabinet Office, Department of Health and Social Care and local government. She is also a visiting lecturer at Quadriga University of Science and Technology in Berlin.
Rachel is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications and a Chartered Institute of Public Relations Fellow and Chartered Practitioner.
Thank you so much to Rachel for sharing her story of living organ donation so candidly, not only sharing her own experiences but also offering advice to others who may want to find out more.
Follow her on twitter @RachRoyall or find Rachel on Linked In. You can find out more about Blue Lozenge via www.bluelozenge.co.uk
And to find out more about organ donation visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk
In this final episode of our Businesses Built on Passion series, our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks about the story behind Cat's Pajamas, what drives her and how Cat's Pajamas will grow in 2021.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Cat's Pajamas this year. Here's to a happier, healthy 2021 for us all.
In episode five of our Businesses Built on Passion series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks to Claire Thomas about her business Life Skills With Mrs T. Claire shares her purpose and passion, as well as some of her own journey, that has led her to set up her own business.
Life Skills with Mrs T is a place where skills can be learnt that can help you flourish where you’re at. A place where you can find the ability to dream again and learn how to meet these dreams through life coaching and learning self-leadership.
To find out more about Claire and her business visit www.lifeskillswithmrst.co.uk
In this episode of our Businesses Built on Passion Carrie-Ann Wade has the privilege of talking to the fabulous Trisha Chauhan, founder of Level Up London.
With a focus on women from diverse backgrounds, Level Up London creates brave, safe and uplifting spaces for women to find themselves and gain clarity in their journeys personally and professionally. With a focus on women's empowerment and through intersectional life coaching, Level Up London supports women to move forward in their jouneys.
Find out more about Level Up London on Instagram via @_leveluplondon_ and look out for the website launch in December 2020.
In this special episode of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Lee Griffith, coach and founder of Sunday Skies, about coaching and mentoring.
This episode was recorded for release on our Cat's Pajamas #SmallBiz100 day on 24 November 2020. We are taking this opportunity not only to promote small business owners but to share our news about the changes we are making at Cat's Pajamas to move towards the provision of mentoring programmes for communications professionals.
Carrie-Ann and Lee talk about the difference between coaching and mentoring, how they have made use of both during their own careers and the importance of investing in your own development.
If you would like to find out more about Lee an Sunday Skies you can visit www.sundayskies.com
There is a teeny tiny swear word in here so use your headphones if you are around little people or the easily offended!
In the third episode of our Businesses Built on Passion series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks to David Martos and Itseoritseno Onuwaje, co-founders of House of Cinn. House of Cinn launched in July 2020 not only to deliver scrumptious cinnamon buns to people at home, but more importantly to support rough sleepers in London and help break the cycle of homelessness.
House of Cinn has partnered with Street Cafe with the aim to build supportive communities around those who are rough sleeping. They have a buddy and back-to-work system in place to help the beneficiaries back into a supportive work environment, with jobs at House of Cinn when they’re ready for employment.
This is one serious business built on passion and David and Itse have a real sense of purpose about what they are aiming to achieve, we dare you not to feel inspired to spread a little kindness.
Find out more via www.houseofcinn.co.uk
In the second episode of our Businesses Built on Passion podcast series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Darren Caveney about his business Comms2point0.
As well as finding out more about what inspired Darren to set up Comms2point0, the pair talk about pubic sector communications, supporting the communications profession and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the industry.
Find out more about Comms2point0 via www.comms2point0.co.uk
Welcome to episode one of the second series of Cat's Pajamas Conversations. This series is focused on business built on passion and in the first episode our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks to Bev Logan of Bad Ass Mother Runners.
Bev talks candidly about her business journey, her mental health and what keeps her going.
Find out more via www.badassmotherrunners.co.uk
Thank you so much Bev for sharing your insights and for running such an amazing business built on passion.
This episode was recorded on 5 September in Wales as part of a planning weekend for the AWEsome Women's Retreat.
Jane Galloway from Quiet the Hive, Lorna Reeves from MyOhMy Events and Carrie-Ann Wade from Cat's Pajamas are collaborating to bring you the AWEsome Women's Retreat. The first of these Retreats is already fully booked and this conversation provides a taster of what delegates can expect.
The date for the Spring Retreat is set - 19-21 March 2021, the waiting list is now open so join the list via the link here. You will then have exclusive early access to secure your place when booking opens in January 2021.
Find out more about AWEsome Women via www.awesomewomensretreat.com
In this episode of Cat's PJs Convos our founder, Carrie-Ann Wade and Jane Galloway, founder of Quiet the Hive, celebrate their recognition as part of the #SmallBiz100 2020.
In the run up to Small Business Saturday on 5 December 2020, 100 small businesses around the UK are being recognised as part the campaign and both Carrie-Ann and Jane have been named as two of the small businesses in the #SmallBiz100.
Listen up to hear more about their journeys as small business owners, their most recent collaboration and why small businesses are so important.
Find out about Small Business Saturday via www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/small-biz-100
PS there are two tiny naughty words in this episode so maybe listen with headphones!
In this episode of Cat's Pajamas Conversations Carrie-Ann Wade speaks with fellow F:entrepreneur #ialso100 female entrepreneur Minoti Parikh.
Minoti is founder of TPL Experiences and in this podcast she talks about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted her business model and what she has learned about her approach to business. As well as the changes she has made to deliver her services to clients, Minoti has also found ways to collaborate with others throughout the pandemic.
Find out more about Minoti via LinkedIn, follow her on Twitter or visit the TPL Experiences website.
In episode 10 of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, Carrie-Ann talks to Katya Willems all about flourishing in your forties.
Katya is the founder of Easyinstamcr and you can find her on Instagram at @easyinstamcr
You can also follow Katya on Twitter via @easyinstamcr and on LinkedIn as Katya Willems.
This conversation was refreshing, inspiring and honest, it was great to get an insight into Katya's journey so far and to hear about why her forties have been her best decade yet.
Join Carrie-Ann Wade in episode nine of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, this time with Asif Choudry.
Asif Choudry is Sales & Marketing Director with resource, an award winning creative marketing and print provider. He is a CIM Fellow and Chartered Marketer. He is the founder of #CommsHero @CommsHero the award winning conference that is a community celebrating the heroics comms people perform every day. Although a big fan of social media, he’s not afraid to use tried and tested comms channels like meeting IRL (In Real Life), speaking on the phone and handwriting a letter or three.
In this episode, Carrie-Ann and Asif talk about the #CommsHero journey, what next - including the upcoming Comms Hero Week - and who Asif's Comms Heroes actually are.
You can connect with Asif via Twitter @AsifChoudry or Linked In. And you can find out more about Comms Hero Week and book your place at www.commshero.com.
Welcome to episode eight of our Cat's Pajamas Conversations podcast. In this episode Carrie-Ann Wade, founder of Cat's Pajamas, talks to Jane Galloway, who was our first ever podcast guest! Jane is founder of Quiet the Hive and is back to talk about all things Imposter Syndrome.
Jane explains what Imposter Syndrome is, you may hear it referred to as your inner critic or your Lizard Voice. The conversation explores who it makes you feel, how to recognise it and what might trigger it.
If you want to find out more about Quiet the Hive and how you can work on your own Imposter Syndrome you can visit www.quietthehive.com
and if you want to know more about The Compass, the course Jane mentions then visit courses.quietthehive.com
Jane and Carrie-Ann are also collaborating on an amazing project and you can find out more at www.awesomewomensretreat.com
Jane mentioned the Say Yes More Movement www.Sayyesmore.com and finally the book Jane recommended in the podcast is Playing Big by Tara Mohr.
In episode 7 of our podcast series, Carrie-Ann talks to Ceri-Jane Hackling, founder of Cerub PR. The podcast is all about PR in a pandemic, and they explore why PR and marketing is usually the first thing people cut and why you really shouldn't. Ceri-Jane also shares some of her tips and insider knowledge to support you to do your own PR through this pandemic.
To find out more about Cerub PR visit www.cerubpr.co.uk or follow them on Twitter via @cerubpr
You can also follow Ceri-Jane on Twitter at @CeriJane
In episode six of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, Carrie-Ann talks with Christine MacKay, founder of Salamandra UK.
Christine first founded Salamandra (Design & PR) in Johannesburg in 2006 and has since resurrected it in the UK as Salamandra.uk (Animation & Design) after falling in love with animation (whilst working in Auckland) as an impressive medium for B2B communications. Being a very visual person, Christine gets a real kick out of helping clients tell their story through delightful visual content, on any platform. Earlier this year, Christine was named in the UK's top 100 female entrepreneurs, celebrated alongside International Women’s Day at the House of Lords.
In this episode Carrie-Ann and Christine talk about how the lockdown situation in the UK has impacted Christine's business, how she has worked with her clients through this period and how her team has pulled together.
If you want to find out more visit www.salamandra.uk or you can follow on Twitter via @salamandrauk or Instagram via @salamandra.uk
