In this episode, I’m talking to Paul Dykes, a man who has reinvented himself so many times he has turned it into a way of life.

From employed school-leaver to IT engineer, live music entrepreneur, corporate leader, business founder, coach, trustee, app creator and drummer, Paul’s story is not a neat career plan. It is a gradual unfolding of curiosity, courage and asking, “who am I now?” when life changes shape.

Paul has built a business to just under £1m, closed it, started again, and kept phoenixing.

Today, he helps founders and executives lead from the inside out through Curious Minds Coaching, while building a live music tech platform, supporting an empowerment programme in West Kenya, playing drums in a function band and, quite literally, feeding people. Recent BBQ for 22 included.

Highlights:

(02:30) - A curious child, a village fair, and the tiny traction engine moment

(08:46) - When IT became less about tech and more about asking better questions

(13:40) - Building a business from a hunch that potential was being left on the table

(22:33) - The Covid curveball that forced a sharp turn and a fresh start

(27:12) - Self-leadership, or how to stop leading your business from the outside in

(32:35) - The parts of you that feel scared are not the whole of you

Connect with Paul:

Curious Minds Coaching, bringing Self Leadership to founders, executives and businesses - www.curiousmindscoaching.co.uk

Gigbrite, making live music performances shine- www.gigbrite.app

Urenga Empowerment Programme, transforming young lives - https://invest.urenga.org

Not Quite Saints, event band for corporate & private functions - https://www.instagram.com/notquitesaintsmusic

ConnectHOW, leadership development & coaching - www.connecthow.com

Curious Brainfarts - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/curiousbrainfarts/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-dykes/

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Dani Wallace, founder of IATQB Ltd and fearless leader of the I Am The Queen Bee movement.

Dani’s story moves from growing up on the council estates of Preston, through domestic violence, homelessness and single parenthood, to becoming one of the UK’s most powerful voices in empowerment, speaking and visibility.

We talk about reinvention, survival patterns, self-sabotage, entrepreneurship, asking for help, and what it really means to build a life that feels rooted rather than frantic.

Dani brings honesty, humour and a seriously practical dose of wisdom, reminding us that no matter what we’ve lived through, we can still choose to fly anyway.

Highlights:

(03:08) - Dani looks back at growing up in Preston and the coping mechanisms that shaped her voice

(07:52) - Leaving home at 16, chasing singing work and quietly choosing a different life

(17:17) - The crash point: toxic relationships, single parenthood and becoming homeless

(20:12) - The car park moment where Dani realised she could stop letting life happen to her

(30:09) - The quote that sparked the Queen Bee movement: fly anyway

(42:53) - Dani’s advice for anyone facing change: stop running, make space and listen

Connect with Dani:

www.iatqb.com

www.instagram.com/thequeenbeedani

www.facebook.com/thequeenbeedani

www.facebook.com/groups/386708721935406

www.linkedin.com/in/iamthequeenbee

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode of The Phoenix Conversations, I’m talking to Kevin Mark-Watts, a business coach and author of The 10-Minute Rules. Kevin’s story begins with a childhood love of football, a knock to his confidence at school, and an unexpected discovery that he was very good with people, sales and human connection.

We talk about retail, redundancy, Crystal Palace Football Club, community sports education, imposter syndrome, mindset, and how all those different chapters eventually fed into the work Kevin does now.

His story is a brilliant reminder that the detours are not always mistakes. Sometimes they are quietly collecting the skills, perspective and resilience we need for the next version of our lives.

Highlights:

(02:38) - Kevin shares how football shaped his childhood and confidence

(05:42) - The early retail job that helped him discover his people skills

(09:04) - How imposter syndrome showed up when leadership moved beyond arm’s reach

(14:00) - The unexpected interview that led Kevin into Crystal Palace Football Club

(18:06) - Building a community sports business that supported children’s wellbeing

(25:03) - How setbacks, psychology and lived experience became The 10-Minute Rules

Kevin’s links:

Website: https://book.the10-10minuterules.com/home

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mark-watts-13123822/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.markwatts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevin.markwatts1010minuterules/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the10-10minuterules

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinthe1010minut?_r=1&_t=ZN-96BPXYutOxa

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/