What It's Like ... with Luce

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with founder of plant-based chocolate brand, Love Raw. Growing up with two entrepreneurial parents, this week’s guest had no idea how much of an impact her family's businesses would have on her adult life. Taking a detour into the world of finance first, it wasn’t too long before her inner entrepreneur bubbled to the surface and she took a leap of faith into the world of health foods. Setting up shop in her in-laws' garage, she never would’ve expected Whole Foods to be the company that took a chance on her, but an initial order of 500 cases, an appearance on Dragons Den and multiple supermarket shelves later - it’s safe to say this was a risk that massively paid off! To tell her story in her own words, here’s what it’s like to be Rimi Thapar.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with women’s rights activist and Singapore’s first ever burlesque performer. Coming from a very conservative, traditional family, growing up this week’s guest stifled her creativity and expression to please her family - but always knew there’d come a point she needed to let it be free. When it came to career choices, she first followed a more conventional path on entering the world of IT. Starting her first job in the UK, she spotted a burlesque club down the street from her office and everything changed. From her first solo show to performing on some of the biggest stages in the world and changing legislation in her home country, she has quite the story to tell. Here’s what it’s like to be Sukki Menon, otherwise known as Sukki Singapora.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by executive coach, leadership development consultant and founder of The People Person. From an early age, this week’s guest was never afraid to rock the boat if it meant she was able to chase after what she really wanted. Driven and ambitious, she followed wherever life took her and ended up rising to the top of the corporate ladder before realising she was deeply unsatisfied. Taking a step back to evaluate things, she found herself being drawn to a new calling - and that’s how The People Person came to fruition. Now, an author and successfully transforming peoples' lives on a daily basis, she’s sharing her words of wisdom and secrets to finding true self-belief. Here’s what it's like to be Lara Cullen.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with founder of Jay’s Virtual Pub Quiz. Doing as it says on the tin, the quiz was a lockdown success story and has since continued connecting people across the world with weekly quizzes online. Keeping the nation entertained, however, was not always this week’s guest’s day job. From acting as a child to ending up living on the streets of London for the guts of 18 months, it’s fair to say life hasn’t always been smooth sailing - but no matter what hit him, he managed to stand firm and weather the storm. Letting me in on everything from breaking a Guinness world record for the biggest quiz with over 180 thousand people, to receiving an MBE from the Queen and how he put his life back together after being homeless, here’s what it's like to be Jay Flynn.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with the founder of Sentidu Life Coaching, a method that specialises in mental focus and emotional mastery. Growing up in a turbulent environment, this week’s guest knows exactly what it means to turn a bad situation on its head. Overcoming eating disorders, a period of domestic abuse and bouts of depression, she decided it was her purpose in life to share her experiences in the hopes of helping others. Giving her tips on how to live life to the fullest, here’s what it’s like to be Elena Perella.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with founder of Confetti, a mission led snack company that crafts award winning produce dense with nutrients and plant goodness. Beginning her career journey as a maths teacher, this Singaporean founder never imagined owning a business within the food industry. Always creative and packed full of entrepreneurial spirit, she had become tired of her 9-5 and decided to quit in search of adventure. On a trip around the world, she picked up on the amount of food waste and the problems it was causing for the health of our planet. So instead of continuing on with her travels, she decided she needed to plant her feet on the ground and get to work figuring out ways to put a stop to this. A little while and a whole lot of work later, Confetti was born. Quickly sweeping the aisles of Singaporean supermarkets and food retailers, people liked what they were tasting and she realised she was on to something great. To share her story here’s what it’s like to be Betty Lu.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with bestselling author of Filter This, Unfiltered and most recently, Corpsing: My Body and Other Horror Shows. Growing up in Dublin, pursuing writing was never in the plans and ambitions of this week’s guest. Always creative, however, she went down an artistic path and chose to delve deeper into the world of sculpture. During her early twenties, following a bad experience with drugs, she suffered a nervous breakdown that quickly derailed everything and set her on an entirely new trajectory. From cheffing and catering with her husband to stumbling upon the opportunity to write a food column in one of Ireland’s national newspapers, things started to look up for the budding novelist and once she got a taste for creating narratives, she couldn’t get enough. Currently working on the second draft of her fifth book, she shares with me the struggles of getting published, how she overcomes self doubt and everything in between. Here’s what it’s like to be Sophie White.

On today's episode, I'm chatting with a British recording artist, songwriter and producer. Born in Nottingham, this week's guest's very first memory of music is being given a Pink Floyd CD by his Dad. Discovering and experimenting with different sounds and genres, he fell in love with the guitar in his teens as a form of escapism. Coming to the conclusion that he wouldn’t be able to make his passion his day job, he ended up taking another path in life and found himself working for Parliament in London. Surrounding himself with like-minded people in the capital, he began making music again for fun and it was then that he found his voice. From plays on BBC Radio One to tours and record deals - he shares the harsh realities of the music industry and why despite it all, he could never give it up. Here’s what it’s like to be Joel Baker.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by the co-founder of Happy Out, a cafe concept that started in two shipping containers on the shores of Dublin’s Bull Island. Entrepreneurship is something that has always come naturally to this week’s guest. Wanting to own his own business has been his ambition for as long as he can remember but never could he have guessed, that a few years down the line he’d be co-founder of two coffee shops that have taken Dublin by storm. The first brand in Ireland to adopt the shipping container as a home for their cafe, Happy Out had people eagerly queueing up from the moment it opened its doors. Sharing the realities of working in the coffee industry and how he built his business from scratch, here’s what it’s like to be Brian Hanratty.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founder of Saluto London, a clothing brand curating vintage womenswear and up-cycling one-of-a-kind creations from textiles that would have otherwise gone to landfill. This week’s guest is a prime example of how life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it to. Beginning her career journey chasing a job at a magazine, she worked a total of thirteen internships to get her dream role - only to discover it wasn’t quite what she’d been hoping for. At a loss as to what to do next, it was a trip to one of the biggest vintage fairs in London that made the penny drop. A sort of love at first sight, she realised she needed to be working with vintage clothing and started buying and selling unique pieces to her friends. What started as a tiny operation turned into a full scale online store and soon, a studio in the centre of the city. To share how she did it, here’s what it’s like to be Hannah Stacpoole.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with founder of iDAL, a professional booking platform and community for models providing an alternative to traditional agencies by streamlining bookings. Her earliest ambitions to be a journalist, took this young entrepreneur from Kazakstan to London where she would meet the model behind her idea. Chatting to her friend about the struggles within the industry, they stumbled upon a solution to making things more flexible for young girls wanting to model and study at the same time. What began as a fun part time project, slowly transformed into a platform with the potential to change the way model booking operated forever. Talking me through the journey from accidentally meeting an angel investor to finding her perfect co-founder in lockdown, here’s what it’s like to be Mariya Grinina.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by juice therapist, founder of The Juice Works and LAB Fitness. Growing up in Spain, this week’s guest was a foodie before she even knew what the term meant. Indulging in home cooking with a real emphasis on quality ingredients, she has always lived a healthy lifestyle. Moving to Ireland to better her English and then staying to follow her passions, it was only when her mother developed a serious illness that the potential healing powers of raw juice caught her eye. Witnessing first hand the seemingly miraculous effect drinking daily concoctions had on her mother’s health, she signed up to a course and two years later her business was born. Chatting about the benefits of supplementing with juice, the realities of the health industry and her journey to where she is today, here’s what it’s like to be Laura Armada-Buch.

On today’s episode, I’m speaking with lifestyle entrepreneur, founder of Bournemouth 7’s festival and podcast host. Growing up above pubs in London, this week’s guest was a born entrepreneur. From a young age he had a natural business mindset which he carried through to his adult life, resulting in him being responsible for hosting 14 festivals and 1500 events. From starting out in nightlife promotions as a final year student to setting up the world’s largest sport and music festival, this week’s guest has quite the story to tell. Sharing his insights into successful branding, taking risks and the power of keeping things simple, here’s what it’s like to be Roger Woodall.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with wearable journalist and co-founder of Hashtag Our Stories, a platform empowering mobile journalists to share stories of people positively changing their world. Growing up, journalism wasn’t on this week’s guest’s radar. Completing a marketing degree, he realised he could use his newfound storytelling skills in a more impactful way and decided to apply for fellowships in the media industry. Landing in South Africa, he was quickly immersed and found himself falling in love with the work. Challenging prejudice as his driving force, he carved a name for himself and began reporting on what was happening around him. Years later after having hitch-hiked from Durban to Damascus, reporting from active war zones and working for CNN, he decided he wanted to do things his own way. Championing selfie or mobile journalism as a more powerful way to relay news, Hashtag Our Stories was born and continues to disrupt the way we consume information. To share his journey, here’s what it’s like to be Yusuf Omar.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with the founder of Duco, performance apparel made from ocean plastics and organics. As a young child, this week’s guest had a natural talent for entrepreneurship. Reminiscing on his first business venture at just seven years old, he held on to that creative spirit through out his school years and has never looked back. Going indoor rock climbing one day with his best friend, led him to stumble on his current entrepreneurial idea after realising the clothing worn for the sport could do with a bit of an upgrade. Starting with just £25, he could never have foreseen his sustainable clothing brand would now be valued at £2 million and be supplying the official kit of Great Britain’s Olympic climbing team. To share his experience, here’s what it’s like to be Kieran Miles.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with an actress who’s credentials include the likes of Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds and most recently, BBC’s The Syndicate. As soon as she could talk, this week’s guest loved to perform. Taking acting more seriously as she grew up, she sought out representation and began auditioning alongside her high school studies. Appearing in small commercials and TV bits whilst living in Florida, it was a move to LA after graduation that changed everything for the British-American actress. From booking her first gig in Hollywood to working during COVID-19, she chats to me about the journey, her hopes for the future, the less glamorous side of one of the world’s most notorious industries and the challenges she’s faced along the way. Here’s what it’s like to be Liberty Hobbs.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with co-owner and CEO of Unibra, a Belgian family-owned company operating in the real estate and drinks industries. Having grown up in the Congo, this week’s guest has always had ties with Africa but he hadn’t imagined, after moving back to Europe following the death of his father at age 12, he’d ever end up working back there. Dipping his toes in entrepreneurship after graduating from university, it was his mother’s suggestion he enter the family business and re-establish the company on the African drinks market, having previously owned a number of breweries. Taking up the offer he set to work and years later finds himself CEO of a successful retailer in the space alongside managing the real estate end of things as well. Sharing his secrets to entering foreign markets, balancing two different industries and overcoming challenges, here’s what it’s like to be Thibault Relecom.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by a professional chef. With some of his earliest memories being in the kitchen, it wasn’t too much of a surprise that this week’s guest found his way back there a few years down the line. Working as a model and athlete, it was his peers that suggested he share his recipes online after sampling his cooking on shoots and at training. Beginning with a picture of scones in his parents garden, led to the growth of his platform and a DM from BBC One producers asking him to take part in Yes Chef, a cooking competition that he’d go on to win. Moving to London and immersing himself in the culinary scene opened him up to countless opportunities, one of which placed him as the face of M&S Food. To share his story, here’s what it’s like to be Chris Baber.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with television presenter, creator and voice of the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. Reminiscing on the fact that her earliest ambitions were to become a dancer, this week’s guest has always had an interest in the world of entertainment. Getting a taste of the industry through appearances in various music videos and dance gigs as a child, she stumbled upon presenting as a way to make ends meet and feel in love. Finding her break through voicing the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, her interest in sports presenting grew and with the exposure came new, well-deserved opportunities in that area. Chatting to me about the highs and lows of her career journey, her experiences with sexism in a male dominated industry and her recipe for success, here’s what it’s like to be Layla Anna-Lee.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting all things performing with a Belgian actor. From an early age, this week’s guest found his home on the stage. Whether it be with music or drama, he always loved entertaining people and so when it came to making decisions following high school graduation, there was no doubt in his mind about what his future career would look like. Enrolling in a conservatoire in Antwerp, he set to work honing his craft and it has been one success after another since then. Landing on our Netflix home screens after appearing in the British TV drama, Baptiste, the Belgian native has had quite the journey. To share the behind the scenes thus far, here’s what it’s like to be Boris Van Severen.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with winner of Formula E’s open talent call for presenters. Growing up, this week’s guest was not one to ever be camera shy. Discovering a love for talking alongside a flair for creativity, it wasn’t long before she found the perfect outlet in setting up a Youtube channel. Expanding her online community through engaging content, led to numerous opportunities in the world of television presenting and once she got a taste there was no going back. Working with the likes of the BBC and British Council, she fell in love and decided to apply for the role at Formula E. To take us through the entire journey, here’s what it’s like to be Derin Adetosoye.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with a fashion influencer and designer. Adventurous with her style from as long as she can remember, this week’s guest definitely knows how to make a statement. Inspired by the likes of Lady Gaga in her teenage years, she feel in love with style’s ability to tell a story and began expressing herself through the clothes she was wearing. Beginning to make a name for herself in the Irish industry at just 16, she started sharing her look books online and never imagined that a few years later she would have a platform of almost 20,000 people and her very own brand. To share her story, here’s what it’s like to be Grainne Binns.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by a nutritional coach and personal trainer. Growing up a dancer, this week’s guest was no stranger to living an active lifestyle. Exercising for fun, it wasn’t until she discovered training as a way to distract herself from a difficult course that she unearthed her passion for fitness and nutrition. Educating herself and finding a job in a gym, she decided to start uploading her journey to social media and that’s when everything began to change. Realising that her physical body changes were what kept her followers engaged, she developed an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise until a turning point came after a bikini competitor show. To share her story and her unique perspective on the fitness, health and diet industries, here’s what it’s like to be Nathalie Lennon.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with an Irish fashion blogger and YouTuber. With ambitions of being a singer as a child, this week’s guest discovered a love for fashion through costumes she wore onstage. Realising how she dressed had an impact on how she felt during a performance, became something that translated into her every day life and she decided to take the plunge and share outfit ideas with others online. Growing a following of over eighty thousand people, she quickly found her space on the internet and figured out how to keep an audience engaged. Sharing her thoughts on the longevity of influencing, dealing with hate and how she stays relevant, here’s what it’s like to be Charleen Murphy.

On today’s episode, I’m picking the brains of the founder of HUH, an Irish clothing brand donating 10% of sales to mental health organisations. Growing up, this week’s guest was a keen entrepreneur before he even knew the meaning of the word. From commenting to his daily paper round to selling iPhone covers in school, his dedication to hard work only grew stronger as the years went on. Leaving for America, he could never have guessed that a global pandemic would lead him to create his very own clothing brand - and all for a good cause too! Chatting to me about his mission, navigating competition in a saturated online market and the small business advantage, here’s what it’s like to be Mark Donnelly.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with founder of Pink Week and social impact coordinator at Lemonade, an insurtech company driven by social good. Taking an interest in the hardships of the world around her for as long as she could remember, it wasn’t until the passing of her mother to breast cancer that she decided to dip her toes into humanitarian work by founding Pink Week. Aiming to raise awareness within the younger generation, her campaign went from strength to strength raising thousands of pounds over the years. Leaving her first project behind, after graduating university she packed her bags to continue making an impact in Tel Aviv, working for an insurtech company with giving back at its core. Sharing her thoughts on the value of campaigning within Gen Z demographics and how the pandemic has affected fundraising for charities, here’s what it’s like to be Nina Rauch.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with a mental health advocate and See Change ambassador. From a young age, this week’s guest has been experiencing a degree of anxiety. Growing up happy and outgoing, it didn’t impact her life until her later teenage years when she dealt with depression and anxiety at a larger scale. Making it through the tough times made her realise just how much of a stigma there was around mental health and how much she needed someone to look up to in times of need. Stumbling across an email enquiring for ambassadors, she hit reply and began sharing her story in the hope it would inspire others. Countless speaking engagements, a popular social media platform and podcast later, here’s what it’s like to be Abigail McDonnell. 

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with professional make up artist and YouTuber. Growing up in Sydney, Australia, this week’s guest struggled with self confidence from a young age. Discovering makeup as a way to express herself and relieve her insecurities, she decided to turn her passion into her day job and went to college to study it further. Working on the Chanel counter, it wasn’t long before she took to Youtube to share her looks which ultimately changed everything for her. Seven years, 1.4 million subscribers and a move to Ireland later, she’s sharing the behind the scenes of her journey, the dark sides of the beauty industry, balancing life online with reality and how she deals with hate comments. Here’s what it’s like to be Stephanie Lange.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with fashion photographer and founder of camera strap brand, That Candid Shot. From the moment she clicked her first picture on a disposable camera, this week’s guest fell in love with the art form. Experimenting with genres during school, she decided to take things a step further and study photography more in depth. Having spent time at fashion weeks growing up and becoming friends with influencers during her college years, she realised the potential in street style photography and everything took off from there. Growing an impressive roster of clients that included the likes of Sarah Ashcroft, Pixie Lott, Rachel Stevens and Lottie Moss, it wasn’t long before she became the go to for snapping the perfect Instagram moment. Sharing her story along with how she built her very own camera accessory business, here’s what it’s like to be Rebecca Spencer.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with former Miss Singapore, serial entrepreneur and founder of Soul Rich Woman - the number one female entrepreneur club in Asia. From six figure debt to millionaire in one year, this week’s guest hasn’t always had it easy. Growing up she had been supporting herself and her family since the age of 14 by teaching extra curricular classes and it was applying for Miss Singapore that changed everything. Mastering the art of confidence, she took what she had learnt from pageantry and turned it into a coaching business. Finding success in that field, led to investing in a lucrative cafe chain and finally following her true passion in setting up the support group she currently runs. Expanding across Asia and taking it to number one, Soul Rich Woman has helped thousands achieve their dreams. Talking me through her entire journey here’s what it’s like to be Genecia Alluora.

Genecia has kindly gifted listeners:

- Secrets of Personal Branding
- How to delegate 80% of your to-do list to your assistant so that you can focus on your zone of genius

On today’s episode, I’m picking the brains of former world champion kickboxer and karate Olympic hopeful. Sport has been heavily featuring in her life since she can remember. Always looking for somewhere to get moving, it was walking inside a gym in her hometown of Sligo that kickstarted everything - quite literally. Taking up kickboxing took her all the way to the top as she established herself as one of the world’s best athletes in the sport. Suffering in silence, no one knew her career and life were about to turn on their heads during a holiday where her family witnessed her pain for the first time, that had been there for years. Being diagnosed with Crohn's disease didn’t hold her down however as she returned to take home the world champion title once again. Switching lanes, the athlete traded in her gloves for a karate belt and with the Olympics in sight, set about conquering a new arena. Sharing her journey so far, touching on the dark side of sport and letting me in on the realities of life as an elite athlete, here’s what it’s like to be Caradh O’Donovan.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with founder of Westlakes Hemp, Cumbria’s first CBD company. Throughout her life, this week’s guest has been faced with adversity. Diagnosed in her teenage years with Bipolar and later in her twenties with Borderline Personality Disorder, it was out of her mental health conditions that her business was born. The turning point for her came in 2015 when Storm Desmond hit and quite literally washed away her life as she knew it before. Placed on suicide watch and struggling to cope, a doctor in America suggested trying Cannabis and from there, everything took off. Researching into the healing affects of CBD oil and trying it out for herself, she was amazed with the dramatic results and set about creating an authentic retail outlet in order to help others. Talking me through everything, here’s what it’s like to be Nic Hewitt.

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with podcast entrepreneur and professional speaker. A Massachusetts native, this week’s guest struggled to find his life’s path. After deciding college wasn’t for him despite numerous offers from baseball recruiters, he set about testing the waters with a variety of jobs until he fell into what would eventually lead him to his biggest turning point yet. Making good money working in construction, no one could’ve guest that he was on the verge of suicide and following a near attempt he realised something had to change. Quitting his job and diving head first into his passion for podcast resulted in him creating the life he’s living successfully today. Sharing how he turned his dream into his reality, here’s what it’s like to be Kevin Palmieri.

On today’s episode, I’m picking the brains of a serial entrepreneur. Growing up in Monaghan, this week’s guest began his roller coaster career journey as a radio officer in the British Merchant Navy. Realising it was perhaps a job that could only take him so far he left, went on to gain some more qualifications and for the next 30 years found himself working with Shell Mex and BP. Relocating back to Ireland led him to discover his first solo business idea that appeared in the form of tomatoes and well the rest is a long and exciting history. At 87 years old, having just rewritten his memoirs in the book, Adventures of a Serial Entrepreneur, here’s what it’s like to be Fred Duffy.

On today’s episode, I’m speaking with founder of The Human Entrepreneur, a network empowering young entrepreneurs with the skills to achieve their ambitions. Born and raised in Mumbai, this week’s guest struggled to find his passion. Growing up he tried numerous roles within the corporate world until he finally decided it wasn’t for him. Stumbling across entrepreneurship, he furthered his interest in the subject by enrolling in university to complete a course based on it. Whilst there he began to battle with a new challenge - social isolation and anxiety. Already living with OCD, he found finding his feet a little more challenging than expected and so founded his next business idea to solve the problem. Talking us through the whole journey, here’s what it’s like to be Varun Balsara.

On today’s episode, I’m speaking with the founder of The Coven, a support network for female founders. Growing up, this week’s guest expected to take a very different path in life. Wanting to study medicine, she found herself being unable to finish her A Levels and having to pivot in life and find a new adventure. Trying out a multitude of different jobs, she fell into a weekend role at a wedding florist where she worked until she had enough money saved to head off to Thailand. Finding herself at a crossroads again whilst out there, she made the decision to set up her own florist business and came back to Essex ready to begin life as a young entrepreneur. Discovering how lonely working for yourself can really be, she came up with the idea of a subscription based online support network which would eventually find itself featured in Forbes, Huff Post, Evening Standard -  to name a few. Sharing her experience, here’s what it’s like to be Sapphire Bates.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to Ireland’s country director of Movember - the world’s leading mens’ health charity focusing on tackling prostate and testicular cancer alongside mental health and suicide prevention. Working with the charity for seven years now, non-profits were not always in this week’s guest’s future. Familiar with the concept of Movember through taking part as a college student, he was intrigued when he came across a job opening within the organisation and went along to the interview out of curiosity. Bowled over by the passion behind the campaign, he jumped at the chance to work with them and even cancelled a trip to South East Asia to begin straight away. Chatting to me about his experiences campaigning so far, why there’s been a lack of awareness for mens’ health and most importantly why we should all take part in this month's activities and donate, here’s what it’s like to be Jack O’Connor.

On today’s episode, I’m speaking with founder of shrtcttng, a platform aimed to help people turn their stories into skills. Growing up in Brazil, this week’s guest has been fascinated with the art of story telling from as early as she can remember. Leaving a law degree behind, she went in search of creativity abroad and landed herself in London where she first began to take an interest in human behavioural studies. Catching the travel bug, she moved across Europe to Amsterdam and then to Barcelona where shrtcttng was born. Chatting to me about life as a freelancer, making friends in new cities and the importance of human connection, here’s what it’s like to be Nicole Ingra.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to co-founder of CanO Water, an infinitely recyclable alternative to single use plastic bottles in the form of a resealable can of natural spring water. From a young age, this week’s guest always knew to follow his passion. Despite initial fears and a lack of confidence, he took his love for art and music and turned it into a day job setting up a successful events company at 18 and carving a career in DJing that’s taken him across the globe. Little did he know that a trip to Thailand with two friends would soon change everything. Shocked by the plastic pollution they encountered on that holiday, the three friends returned home determined to find a solution to one of the world’s biggest threats. Coming up with the idea to put water in a can was just the beginning of their incredible journey and sharing the entire experience, here’s what it’s like to be Josh White.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founder of Impact School, a platform helping businesses make a global impact by scaling online. From a young age, this ambitious Forbes top ten entrepreneur envisioned a life of success. At 18 she left school and went straight into the corporate world of asset management where she thought she’d climb her way up the ladder but quickly realised this wouldn’t be the path for her. Miserable in her job, she turned to her other love for an escape - fitness - and built up an online platform to share her journey. With a community big enough to leave her job for, she began living life as an influencer and it wasn’t until she was dropped from the Gymshark athlete programme that everything changed. Noticing a need for help when it came to scaling online businesses, she set to work devising a method that would eventually land her on the Forbes list and take her to Dubai where she lives now. Chatting to me about how it started, the pressures of being a young CEO and what it really means to be successful, here’s what it’s like to be Lauren Tickner.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founder of Fearless Media and The Go House, Ireland’s first and only Tik Tok house. From as early as fourteen years old, this week’s guest has been making videos. A big fan of Youtube, he had ambitions to make it on the platform and started out sharing information videos on cricket. Fast forward a few years, after having taken a break from content creation, he became fully focused on pursuing a career in videography and it’s safe to say his hard work paid off. Established and settled as founder of a media company, he felt it was time for a new venture and together with his co-founder came up with the idea to put ten creators in a house and document the experience. The Go House came to life after just eight weeks of planning and caused quite the stir across the country. Sharing his journey thus far, here’s what it’s like to be Thomas Arnold.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with sleep consultant and bestselling author. One of six children, this week’s guest was surrounded by an ethos of entrepreneurship growing up. Opening her own property auctioneering business at just 23, she quickly learnt what it took to make an idea come to life and then better yet, make a success out of it. Over the years, she established herself in her chosen space but after having her first child and experiencing difficulty finding resources and information on sleep training, she decided to delve deeper into the field and so Sleep Matters was born. Changing up careers completely, she swapped auctioneering for paediatric sleep consultancy and since then she’s become a best selling author, amassed a huge following and gained fans in quite a few celebrities. Talking me through her tried and tested method, building a powerful brand and working with Vogue Williams, here’s what it’s like to be Lucy Wolfe.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with former bodybuilder and founder of Pascu Media, a growth focused online marketing agency. Not one to shy away from adversity, this week’s guest has quite the story. Growing up in Romania and enduring a lot of bullying as a child, he found solace in sport early on - a theme that would crop up time and time again for the ambitious entrepreneur. Taking part in martial arts at a high level, he searched for the same outlet a few years later when studying in the UK but instead discovered a new found love for weights and the gym. This need for an escape led him to try his hand at bodybuilding and it’s safe to say a hobby quickly turned into a dangerous obsession that nearly meant he missed out on graduation. Taking part in competitions took over his life and it wasn’t until he reached the crossroads of going pro with the help of steroids, that he decided it didn’t have a place in his life anymore. Moving to London following graduation he was faced with a challenge once again, this time involving extortionate rent prices and a cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. Taking a leap of faith, he spent everything he had on a camera and well the rest is an exciting history. Sharing his story from day one, here’s what it’s like to be Dragos Pascu.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with founder and CEO of Viv for your V, earth friendly period care delivered straight to your door. Growing up in Tampa, Florida surrounded by a large family filled will entrepreneurial spirit, it wasn't a huge surprise that this week’s guest would go on to create something of her own. Moving to Boston to study Marketing and Managing Social Impact, it was during an assignment for an elective that her idea was born. Realising the harmful impact period pads were having on the environment, she set out to find the solution and so was the beginning of the bamboo fibre, 95 per cent biodegradable product, she is behind today. Sharing how she brought her vision to life, here’s what it’s like to be Katie Yara Diasti.

*Katie has kindly offered listeners a discount on Viv products so use WHATITSLIKE10 at the checkout for money off your order. 

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with co-founder of Talivest, a company empowering organisations to improve their employee experience through its suite of data-driven products and who, in her spare time, also happens to be a recording artist. Born in Montreal, the female entrepreneur is an absolute pro at taking leaps of faith. From setting up her own HR business in Canada to moving to Ireland, meeting her co-founder and starting what would become her next chapter in life, she certainly knows a thing or two about perseverance and embracing new adventures. Spending her time off indulging in her other passion -  music - she has also managed to successfully launch herself into the Irish music scene. Chatting to me about being a woman in business, juggling two demanding day jobs and the behind the scenes of her journey so far, here’s what it’s like to be Laura Belyea.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with founder and CEO of Grypmat, the multi purpose non-slip flexible tool tray. Coming from a small conservative farming town in Ohio, this week’s guest didn’t grow up in an area that encouraged becoming hugely successful. Struggling with imposter syndrome, he began his working life in the Airforce National Guard so he could go to college and study mechanical engineering. From his early days playing with lego, he’d always had a knack for innovation so it was no surprise that on identifying a big pain point in his job as a jet mechanic, he set about creating a solution. Tired of his tools sliding off the curved surface of the aircraft, he took inspiration from the non-slip phone mat in his mom’s car and Grypmat was born. Bringing the product to life is only the beginning of his incredible story as he quickly sold to the likes of NASA, the FBI, Disney and secured fans in the Shark Tank judges where he appeared to successfully pitch his idea. Named one of 2018’s best innovators by Time Magazine, here’s what it’s like to be Tom Burden.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with an Irish TCR racing driver and finalist of Motorsport Ireland/Sport Ireland Young Driver of The Year. A true family affair, this week’s guest grew up surrounded by motorsports. Taking advantage of the go-karts they had in the garage, he quickly fell in love and worked hard to take things to the next level. Being nominated for Young Driver of the Year, opened doors for him and his time in single seaters took him from Formula Vee all the way to Asia to compete with Formula 4 and test a Formula 3 car. Now trying his hand at Tour Car Racing, he is battling his way through the championship with his eyes firmly locked on the top spot. Sharing his experiences so far, here’s what it’s like to be Max Hart.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with founder and CEO of Huckletree, a company building co-working hubs and communities across the UK and Ireland. Growing up in an entrepreneurial household, this week’s guest knew from an early age what it would take to create a successful business. However, despite studying the subject at university, it was the world of film that first caught her eye for which she moved to New York to pursue. Coming to the realisation that becoming a working actress was perhaps an unrealistic career for the ambitious entrepreneur, she decided to leave it and the city behind and pick up her life back in London. She didn’t return from America with nothing though, as during her time there she discovered the concept of co-working and had an idea brewing ever since. Enlisting the help of her co-founder once settled back in the UK, she set to work drawing up plans for what would soon become Huckletree, her very own collection of co-working spaces with an emphasis on supporting innovation and cultivating communities. Sharing how she did it and everything in between, here’s what it’s like to be Gabriela Hersham.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with one of Amsterdam’s rising music stars. Growing up in the home of EDM, it didn’t take long before this week’s guest had transformed his childhood bedroom into a makeshift studio. Teaching himself the ins and outs of mixing via Youtube tutorials and industry blogs, at just thirteen years old he was ready to take the stage and entertain crowds. It was during this time he secured his first gig with the help of friend Martin Garrix and from there, things only went up. Deciding to pursue the career full time, he delved into producing his own tracks and landed his first international show playing the opening slot at Ushuaïa Ibiza. Not long after, he teamed up with Martin once again and released the track that would attract eyes from some major record labels. Since that day, the Justin Mylo brand has grown from strength to strength and the 24 year old has no intentions of stopping anytime soon. Chatting to me about the early days, pressures of living such a hectic lifestyle, the effects of the virus and his new release Still Around, here’s what it’s like to be Emilio Behr.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with CEO and founder of Ground Plan Studio marketing agency and Peace Over Pieces domestic abuse non profit. Coming from a multi-national family, growing up in the conservative state of Missouri was an interesting experience for this week’s guest. Being made to feel different due to the ethnicity of her parents wasn’t the only hurdle she had to overcome however, as she was also a victim of domestic abuse. At just 16, realising the severity of her family’s situation, she founded a drop shipping company in an attempt to earn money to move her mother and siblings out of home. The setting up of her online store, Soak Boutique, gave the ambitious young founder an insight into what would become her entrepreneurial future. In junior year of college, inspiration struck her again as she brainstormed ways to pay her tuition fees and so was the beginnings of Ground Plan Studio. Fast forward six months, her marketing agency now boasts over 50 clients including the likes of Lisa Vanderpump and Postmates and her non profit organisation to help domestic abuse survivors connect, is in full bloom. Sharing her journey, here’s what it’s like to be Clara Baldwin.

It's the 50 TH EPISODE... and today I’m chatting to Youtube star and one of the UK’s biggest online influencers. From the start, this week’s guest knew he was heading for the world of entertainment. Interested in editing and stitching pieces of film together, he chose to study the subject at university where he fell in love with the idea of setting up a Youtube channel. Releasing fun challenge videos with his sister’s friend, it wasn’t long before he’d built up a following and made a name for himself in the online space. Going full time on the platform just six months after graduating uni, his audience now boasts numbers of over one million people and hasn’t stopped growing since the very first day he clicked upload. Sharing his thoughts on how Youtube has changed throughout the years, finding fame on the internet and his important decision to speak about mental health struggles on his channel, here’s what it’s like to be Mark Ferris.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to author, speaker and co-founder of GEM Advertising. Growing up this week’s guest had quite the different start to life than what you would expect looking at his LinkedIn today. Putting on a pair of ice skates at the age of three, he had his sights set on taking his figure skating career all the way to the Olympics. Learning the harsh realities of failure at a young age when this didn’t happen, gave him the drive he needed to pursue his other passion for business and entrepreneurship. Now, co-founder of a multi million dollar advertising agency, TEDx speaker and author of Honest to Greatness, an observation on how today’s leaders use brutal honesty to achieve massive success - I think it’s safe to say all that time learning to pivot on the ice translated pretty well into real life as he transformed a hard situation into a fully fledged corporate success story. To tell us how he did it, here’s what it’s like to be Peter Kozodoy.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to one of India’s first electronic dance music producers and DJs. Raised in a traditional New Delhi family of chartered accountants, his career path was set out for him before he was even born. One evening having celebratory drinks following the completion of an accountancy exam, the young creative spotted a poster for a Dutch DJ who was playing a gig in his area and he never looked back. Taking music production classes at an academy in secret, he quickly realised he had quite the talent for it and began uploading his tracks to social media where they quickly gained traction. Becoming the first Indian to sign with Hardwell’s record label, things were snowballing for him until right before his first international gig in 2015 when tragedy stuck with the passing of his father. A pivotal point in his career, it was from that moment he decided to really go for it and seven years later he is a pioneer in his field and one of India’s best. Opening for artists such as Justin Bieber Martin Garrix and Steve Aoki, here’s what it’s like to be Sartek.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founder of Hunter Communications and The Collaborations Agency, the first of its kind in Ireland. Growing up in Dublin, the entrepreneur had been adventurous from the word go but it was a summer spent in Paris after graduating from school, that changed everything. Bitten by the travel bug, she landed herself a role working on airlines in London where she learnt a lot about the day to day operations of a brand and more importantly, how to publicise and manage its reputation. Returning back home a few years later, she fell into her calling as a PR manager and dove straight into the industry head first. Making a name for herself pounding the pavement, lead to an opportunity to go out on her own and well, the rest is an almost 12 year history. Chatting to me about the importance of online creators, the longevity of influencers and how she grew her company from a two women show in her upstairs bedroom to a bustling office of people in the centre of the city, here’s what it’s like to be Lynn Hunter.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to a neuroscience expert, writer and author living with Cystic Fibrosis. Born with the genetic disorder, this week’s guest had no ordinary childhood. Living in 23 different cities before the age of 18 as her family struggled to finance her illness, she became an incredibly imaginative kid, a trait that would soon become the foundation blocks to her future career success. Being fired from a job in recruitment due to multiple hospitalisations, the ambitious entrepreneur found herself on social security disability - little did she know at the time that while couch surfing off Craig’s List, she had reached the beginning of her pivotal adventure. Surviving well past her estimated life expectancy of 14, now in her thirties, she hasn’t let anything hold her down. Writing a book from the hospital bed, speaking on stages across the US and becoming an expert in the field of neurolinguistic programming, here’s what it’s like to be Klyn Elsbury.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to Irish broadcaster and host of RTÉ Radio One’s Liveline. Finding his passion for conversation through his early work as a social worker, radio has been a huge part of his life for as long as he can remember. Coming across a newspaper ad for a producing training scheme at Ireland’s national broadcaster, he jumped at the chance and dove straight into what would become his new world. Beginning as a producer on the Pat Kenny show, it wasn’t long before the ambitious young talent found himself being called up to work alongside Gay Byrne and well, it all kicked off from there. Landing Liveline, gaining a reputation as the man of the people, dabbling in TV work and penning three books are just some of the experiences today’s guest has encountered. Sharing his journey, here’s what it’s like to Joe Duffy.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founder of WANDR, an award-winning product strategy and UX design firm with the mission of building user friendly, appealing B2B SaaS products. Born in South Korea, this ambitious entrepreneur developed a love for travel and the open-mindedness gained from such experiences, from a young age. Moving to the U.S. with her family and eventually settling in LA, she embraced the digital nomad lifestyle and never looked back. Not one to let fear get in the way of her ideas, fresh from college she took a prototype of an app all the way to Shanghai to seek investment - an adventure that would mark the beginning of what was to come, eventually. Sharing her journey from landing in huge personal debt to creating and launching an award winning tech company, here’s what it’s like to be Jinny Oh.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founders of the Tribus podcast, a show discussing modern life with nothing off limits! Meeting through a mutual friend, the three guys come from a range of backgrounds, with two owning their own media companies and the other a law graduate. They joined me to delve deeper into the world of podcasting, what it takes to establish that power dynamic, picking themes, topics and finding your niche in a saturated market - ultimately this episode is your how to guide to starting a podcast. With out further ado, here’s what it’s like to be Dan, Matthew and Nico of the Tribus podcast.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founder of My Tennis Events who also happens to be an ex-Apprentice candidate. Sitting in front of her TV at age nine, this week’s guest can remember being mesmerised by Lord Sugar’s board room from the moment she saw it. Taking her first steps into the world of business at just 14 she has since built herself up quite the career. Making it to the final five of The Apprentice season 13 wasn’t the first time she’d experienced success, as prior to becoming a household name she had escalated her tennis events company to become the leading player in its field. Solving issues with shopping during COVID via her new online ordering platform, Shopping Slot, and lending a hand to budding entrepreneurs through a new coaching scheme, there’s little this individual can’t do. Sharing her story of how she did it, here’s what it’s like to be Sabrina Stocker.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with Asia’s youngest certified speaking professional. Following a childhood of intense bullying, this week’s guest left behind a traditional career in accountancy for a lifetime of sharing his stories to inspire others. Taking Singapore’s corporate sector by storm, this individual is no stranger to a Ted X stage and has transformed the mindsets of some of the continent’s most influential business leaders with his words alone. Author, voice of the millennial generation and self-confessed introvert, the speaker and coach knows how to make and impact and then some! Here’s what it’s like to be Benjamin Loh.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with one of Ireland’s biggest fashion, travel and lifestyle bloggers. Born and raised in Limerick, it was clear from a very young age that this guest had a knack for spotting style. Spending time in the modelling industry as a teenager and editing a magazine at university, it was a move to New York for a job at Tourism Ireland that propelled her into the social media world. Sharing her outfits on her lunch breaks soon grew into a fully fledged influencing career and when she returned home to Ireland it was evident big changes were coming her way. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Kris Jenner at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, jet setting off to places like the Maldives and walking the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival are just some of the crazy experiences she has encountered. Sharing her journey thus far, here’s what it’s like to be Louise Cooney.

Visit Louise's channels:

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with co-founder and CEO of Happy Scribe, a transcription tool for researchers, journalists, podcasters and media production companies. Growing up in a small French village, this week’s guest always had a love for creating new things and by the age of 15 he was already deep into his first entrepreneurial project. Moving to Dublin to further his studies, he fell in love with the international vibe of the city and it was here his life changed forever. Tasked with transcribing over 10 hours of research, he felt that in this day and age there had to be a better way to translate audio files into written word without manually listening to his own voice drone on for days. So with the help of his roommate, he set out to find the solution and such is the story behind what would soon become his fully fledged transcription technology company, just two years later. From his family home in Paris, here’s what it’s like to be André Bastié.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with founder and CEO of the City Girl Network. Starting out her career in journalism as a way to entertain her passion for music, this female founder had her sights set on making a difference from the very beginning. Experiencing that all too familiar sense of graduate anxiety and fish-out-of-water syndrome, she left the world of PR and chaotic city of London for the idyllic shores of Brighton - where the lightbulb moment struck. Setting up an event in the hope to make some friends in her new city, she quickly realised the power of people in numbers and thus, the idea to create a global network of likeminded women finding their feet in new places across the globe, was born. Sharing her story, here’s what it’s like to be Pippa Moyle.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with owner of The Rolling Donut and Wildflower Cafe. Born with the delicious doughy baked goods running through her veins, this female entrepreneur had her sights set on growing the family business from the moment she was old enough to walk. Spending summers as a child helping her dad sell donuts from his stall at festivals, it came as no surprise that she would eventually look to carve out a career for herself in the food industry. Returning home from Australia many years later with a new found hunger for success, this week’s guest hit the ground running opening up a brand new cafe alongside a fresh location as part of The Rolling Donut rebrand. Against all odds, she persevered and now heads up one of Dublin’s most successful donut chains. With all that being said, here’s what it’s like to be Lisa Quinlan.

On today’s episode I’m chatting with founder and CEO of New Mine, a company specialising in deploying enterprise-level blockchain mining operations. What began as an interest in cryptocurrency, soon transformed into a successful company - which at just 19 years old, he brought to life, in his med-school dorm room. Now 23, I think it’s fair to say we could all learn a thing or two from the ambitious entrepreneur who has also found himself co-founding a digital asset hedge fund in Palm Beach, gaining membership to the Forbes-approved Young Entrepreneurs Council and setting up his own charity targeted at providing sustainable aid to impoverished communities. Speaking to me about his journey, here’s what it’s like to be Ibrahim Alkurd.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting to founder of Bike, Row, Ski and Performance Therapy Ireland. Swapping an engineering degree for a full on career in the world of fitness and physical therapy, this week’s founder has never been one to shy away from risk, especially if it meant spending each day doing what he loved. Starting out by opening what would become North Dublin's first CrossFit affiliate and Ireland's first Catalyst Athletics weightlifting affiliate, things grew, quite literally, from strength to strength and it's been all go ever since! Coming up with the idea to create a brand new studio class involving all three of the Concept2 ergs, he launched his latest venture - aptly named Bike, Row, Ski - and in just a few months of business, began attracting plenty of attention from overseas. Taking me through his journey from the very beginning, here’s what it’s like to be Stephen Weinmann.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with an award-winning journalist and author, who just so happens to be Tatler magazine’s ex features director. Growing up, this week’s guest knew she would forge a career in journalism but how, was the million dollar question. Graduating with a degree from London School of Economics, she realised with a jolt of reality that entering the world of storytelling wasn’t going to be as straightforward as stepping on to a well paid graduate scheme in one of the city’s corporations, as many of her friends were setting out to do. A stroke of luck and a tenacious attitude rewarded her with an opportunity to assist on the features desk at the Evening Standard and well, the rest is history! Taking her across the sea to the sandy deserts of Abu Dhabi and plunging her into the notorious world of Labradors, castles and dukes - her life is quite the compelling story in itself. Currently working on her fourth book in lockdown we spoke about making it in media, dealing with online trolls and what it’s really like to release a novel. Without further ado, here’s what it’s like to be Sophia Money-Coutts.

On today’s episode, I'm joined by an incredibly inspiring racing driver who certainly knows how to feel the fear and do it anyway! First sitting in a Go Kart at the age of 7 in Ecuador, this guest has had quite the career to say the least. Moving to Italy alone at 14 to take part in the single-seater world of formula racing, no one would’ve ever predicted this young talent would be lying in a coma fighting for his life just a few years later. Sharing his journey to Formula 2, the near fatal crash in Spa last August, future plans and his recovery process during quarantine - here’s what it’s like to be Juan Manual Correa.

On today’s episode, I'm joined by founder and CEO of Popertee, the first global data platform that uses artificial intelligence to match audiences with locations - in other words, Airbnb for popup shops! From a young age, this guest knew she was entrepreneurial so when the time came to leave behind a successful career in the corporate 9-5 to pursue her dream of being her own boss, she didn’t have to think twice. Chatting everything from taking part in the Irish Apprentice to the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic, here’s what it’s like to be Lucinda Kelly.

On this week’s episode, I'm joined by co- founder of Andrson, a platform using bespoke audio artificial intelligence to directly link unsigned musicians with music industry professionals. Picking up the violin at just three years old, this week’s guest is no stranger to the world of music and has pretty much centred his life around it. From meeting his business partner in a singing group whilst at university to co-directing a music management company, this entrepreneur certainly seems to know how to hit the right note when it comes to turning a passion into a viable business. Chatting to me from his home in Dublin, here’s what it's like to be Neil Dunne.

On this week’s episode, I'm joined by founder and former CEO of Bamboo. Recently renamed, UpMarket, the app is designed to eliminate the dreaded queue and allows customers to order ahead and pick up from local restaurants and cafes. What started as a WhatsApp message to his local barista, grew into a gap in the market for a service busy 9 to fivers didn’t even know they were crying out for. Sharing his experience with entrepreneurship, here’s what it’s like to be Luke Mackey.

On this week’s episode, I talk to co-founder of Ambr Eyewear. After experiencing the harmful effects of blue light first hand, this digital marketer turned entrepreneur saw an opportunity and dove right in. Realizing that combatting digital eyestrain didn’t have to mean compromising on style, himself and his partner managed to combine fashionable frames with virtually clear lenses that would soon be flying off the shelves quicker than they could’ve ever imagined.  Sharing his secrets to success, here’s what it’s like to be Daniel Nugent.