In this episode of Becoming BOLD, I sit down with Andy Ayim MBE, speaker, facilitator, angel investor and one of the most wonderful humans I know. We talk about how growing up in Tottenham in an entrepreneurial Ghanaian family, taking the road less travelled has helped shape his path and allowed him to build a life of intention. Andy shares how a solo backpacking trip to Latin America shifted his mindset from “there must be more than this” to a deep belief that where you start should never define where you end up. We dig into confidence, limiting beliefs and how he built a global startup accelerator without any prior VC experience by backing his curiosity and his transferable skills.We explore his love and light framework, why your first manager can make or break your belief in yourself, the power of white space for thinking, and how to build a “win bank” so you have real evidence to fight your inner critic. We also share the story of our shared mentor, the late Francis Mainoo, and what legacy really looks like in everyday life.If you are the first or only person from your background in the rooms you are walking into, if you are rebuilding confidence after a setback, or you are just tired of sleepwalking through your life, this conversation will give you language, perspective and a nudge to choose the bolder path today.In this episode we cover:Growing up in Tottenham and finding courage in an entrepreneurial familyBackpacking, white space and learning to actually thinkCorporate access, bias and why the game often feels riggedThe love and light framework for purpose-led workConfidence, limiting beliefs and building your own evidence bankLegacy, mentorship and the quiet ways we shape other people’s lives

What does it take to make people feel something before they even press play?In this episode, I sit down with Anthony Smith, Director of Trailers at Flight Studio, the creative force behind some of the most powerful visual storytelling in media today, from Disney and Marvel to Sky, 007, and of course, The Diary of a CEO.Anthony takes us behind the scenes of how trailers are made, what it means to build emotion in under 60 seconds, and how he helped grow The Diary of a CEO from 300K to over 11 million YouTube subscribers.We talk about the creative process, storytelling psychology, and why caring 1% more each day is the real growth hack.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn attention into emotion - (and emotion into loyalty) this one’s for you.🎧 Tune in to hear:The anatomy of a great trailer (and what most brands get wrong)How to build creative teams that out-care their competitionWhy storytelling is still the most powerful form of marketingThis one’s a masterclass in emotional marketing.

If you want to up-level yourself as a speaker (and get paid), this one's for you!In this epic conversation, Alex Merry and I discuss the nuances of public speaking, from building connections on LinkedIn to getting paid for speaking engagements. We dive into the need for authenticity (especially today), the balance between messages for money and meaning, and tips for overcoming nerves and engaging your audience. We emphasise the value of practice, community, and the power of social media as a tool for honing your speaking skills.Ket Takeaways:Building relationships on LinkedIn can lead to valuable opportunities.Public speaking is about sharing ideas, not self-promotion.Having a dual message for money and meaning is crucial for success.Understanding the audience's needs is key to getting paid for speaking.Engaging the audience creates a memorable experience.Practice is essential for building confidence in public speaking.Social media can be a powerful tool for testing communication skills.Authenticity resonates more than perfection in speaking.Overcoming nerves can be achieved through various techniques.Creating a connection with the audience enhances the impact of the talk.Chapters:00:00 The Journey of Connection03:06 Public Speaking Insights and Challenges06:06 Building Resilience Through Experience09:09 The Importance of Purpose in Speaking11:45 Navigating the Speaking Industry15:11 Crafting Messages for Impact18:00 Getting Paid to Speak20:50 Evaluating Speaking Opportunities28:00 Understanding Event Importance and Budgeting31:03 The Reality of Speaking as a Profession34:01 Targeting the Right Audience for Speaking Engagements34:52 What Makes a Great Speaker?40:10 Embracing Authenticity in Public Speaking45:54 Managing Nerves and Anxiety Before Speaking53:02 Final Tips for Aspiring SpeakersIf you enjoy, like, subscribe and share with a friend!

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Aimee Barrett (actor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Candid Studios) to talk about how a single click of a camera shifted her confidence, sparked a business idea, and turned into a movement empowering women to see themselves differently.

Candid Studios is the hottest self-portrait studio in London, leading the self-love revolution, changing how women see themselves.

We dive into:

• Aimee’s journey from the stage of The Great Gatsby to launching Candid with her sister Lily.

• How a tough breakup and a spontaneous “sister date” led to a photo that changed everything.

• Why self-portraits are a radical act of self-love.

• The power of community, sisterhood, and women supporting women in business.

• Practical advice on reframing negative self-talk, surviving the luteal phase madness, and asking: What if it turns out better than you imagined?

This conversation is raw, funny, and deeply inspiring. If you’ve ever struggled with confidence, doubted your worth, or held yourself back from showing up boldly - this episode is for you.

In this episode, I sit down with Caleb Ralston, the brand strategist behind the explosive growth of Gary Vee’s and Alex Hormozi’s brands. Caleb shares his journey from scaling other people’s brands to launching his own consulting firm, Ralston, and the lessons learned along the way. We discuss the challenges of building a personal brand, the importance of learning from failure, and how to balance content creation with running a business. Caleb also reveals his philosophy of giving massive value for free, building trust with your audience, and why authenticity and empathy are essential for success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, content creator, or just starting your brand journey, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.Connect with Caleb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebralston/or watch his free 6-hour YouTube course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch4Sl0POBhUBecoming BOLD is a podcast where we have honest conversations with entrepreneurs and change-makers about their journeys to embracing the BOLDest version of themselves.This is the podcast my younger self desperately needed. As an undiagnosed ADHDer, I fell through the cracks of the system. This is why I feel strongly about the need for more representation in entrepreneurship and more stories from the unconventional.Get ready for some BOLD conversations, and prepare to be entertained and inspired. Hosted by LinkedIn Top Voice Amy Weidner as part of The BOLD Agency. You can connect with Amy on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amweidner/

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Daisy Morris, a truly BOLD entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and founder of Selfhood, to explore the messy, inspiring journey of building a purpose-driven business.

We dive into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the impact of social media on our mental health, and the importance of staying true to yourself while creating meaningful work.

Daisy shares her experiences of pivoting careers, building a business from scratch, and the power of community in entrepreneurship. We discuss breaking free from traditional career paths, setting boundaries with technology, and creating work that truly matters.

If you're a woman entrepreneur, creative, or someone building a business on your own terms - this episode is for you (all details in comments) 👇

📌 Topics covered:

- Pivoting careers with purpose

- Mental health and entrepreneurship

- The importance of community

- Setting boundaries as a woman in business

It was such a BOLD and beautiful conversation, be sure to connect with Daisy, read her book and follow The Selfhood.

Links:

Daisy Morris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisy-morris-the-selfhood/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_self_hood/?hl=en

Daisy’s Book “Community is your Currency’: https://amzn.to/3ILAFJi

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (the Meta whistleblower): https://amzn.to/46puK6t

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://amzn.to/4kVfKRh

Deloitte Survey: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/digital-media-trends-consumption-habits-survey/2025.html

If you like this episode, please subscribe and give us a rating - we'd be thrilled!

In this episode of Becoming BOLD, we dive into Amy Kiernan's journey toward embracing boldness, and she offers incredible advice for anyone looking to do the same.

Amy shares her career journey, which started in sales at Hot Press magazine and later was part of Twitter's launch team in Canada. Her decision to leave Twitter after a decade and return to Ireland during COVID marked a significant turning point, prompting her to pursue a Master's in coaching with a focus on confidence.

Amy is now innovating a new sales method that blends her extensive experience with a deep understanding of the inner world of salespeople.

Our conversation explores crucial themes for personal growth, including the importance of self-awareness, overcoming fear (especially the fear of rejection and judgment, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn), and cultivating a resilient growth mindset.

Amy highlights how adopting a learner mindset, inviting curiosity, and recognising that thoughts become reality are key to achieving financial freedom and personal empowerment.

I feel this episode will be massively relatable for women entrepreneurs wanting to build a personal brand on LinkedIn. It also gives great advice for anyone looking to step out of their comfort zone and become BOLD.

In this episode, I interview the incredible Nike Master Trainer and Founder of Lifting Women - Alex Hipwell.

In this inspiring conversation, we discuss everything from running a business as a single mother, the importance of showing up for ourselves across all aspects of our lives, the need for women to do more strength training (especially in peri-menopause), eating to to fuel our bodies, the myth of motivation, being driven by your why, taking action, how the gym isn't 'just for thin people' and the joys of dating over 40.

There was SO much to unpack, I just know you'll love this one.