Build Your Purpose Podcast with Tom Hicks

Episode 25 kicks off with someone I’ve known and respected for a long time, Fraser Goatcher, now Director of Women’s Rugby at Leicester Tigers. Fraser and I first worked together through the Sussex rugby county programmes, so it’s been brilliant to watch his journey from the grassroots game through to the elite level. In this episode, we reflect on that journey, the experiences that shaped him as...

Jo Bradshaw is a mountaineer who has climbed the seven summits, including Everest, and supports mental health charities. What does it really take to climb the world’s highest peaks—and more importantly, to build a life that actually feels meaningful? In this episode, we sit down with Jo Bradshaw—one of the few people on Earth to complete the legendary Seven Summits, including Mount Everest—to unco...

Sean Conway is an record setting endurance adventurer, author and speaker known for taking on long, demanding challenges and seeing them through with consistency and determination. From completing a self-supported triathlon the length of Great Britain to cycling around the world and completing 105 full Ironman distance triathlons in 105 days, Sean's CV of accomplishments is nothing short of ou...

This week we’re joined by former England rugby union player turned performance coach, Andy Long. From representing clubs like Bath, Newcastle Falcons, and Northampton Saints, to earning 2 England caps between 1997–2001, Andy’s journey through elite sport has shaped the powerful mindset he now shares with others. After his playing career, Andy went on to become Director of Rugby at Bishop’s Stortfo...

Darren Edwards is a world leading adaptive adventurer. After a climbing accident at 26 years old left him unable to walk he has gone on to achieve some incredible things. From recovery he went on to complete a record breaking kayaking expedition across the length of the UK as well as numerous other challenges including a world record attempt on the South Pole Darren is also a speaker and author wh...

Karl Hinett is a former British soldier, turned endurance athlete whose life was transformed after sustaining burns to 37% of his body in an explosion while serving in Iraq. Refusing to be defined by injury, he rebuilt himself through sport and adventure, climbing Manaslu, getting to the Lhotse Face on Everest, completing ultra-marathons, and raising significant funds for charity. Karl is now a mo...

Sam Cox is a former Royal Marine turned Polar adventurer. In 2023 he attempted a record breaking 2,000km journey unsupported and solo in Antarctica and is gearing up for his next epic challenge. Sam's journey from military service to empowering others to explore their own possible is one that has a huge amount of lessons for all of us. As a father he has insight into what it takes to balance big a...

Dr Raj Joshi is an expedition leader, Dr, adventurer and all round inspirational human! He has led expeditions on all 7 summits, including the Big Red Nose Climb on Kilimanjaro, raising £3.3Million He also led David Beckham deep into the Amazon as well as serving as the medical expert on Channel 4's SAS Who Dares Wins Outside of this, Raj is the founder of the Adventure Boutique where he desig...

Griffin Mims is a cinematographer and photographer working for world renowned expedition organiser, Alpenglow In 2025 he achieved a goal he was working towards for over a decade, summiting Mt Everest In doing so it culminated years of purposeful living Griffin first encountered the mountains as a child and knew then and there it was somewhere he wanted to be He joined the climbing club at College...

Ollie Hoskins is a former international rugby player. Representing the Western Force, London Irish, Saracens and Australia Since retiring he is now working with business and people to implement his expertise in sharpening mental skills towards performance We dove into the experience he had losing his job when London Irish went bankrupt The elation of being picked for his country And the trials of...

Oksana is a Professor of Law at Lviv State Universityof International Affairs who has also founded a deeply impactful NGO; the Foundation of Institutional Development. Oksana’s work confronts one of the greatest threats to democracy; corruption We explore how one does this during war time. In addition to this Oksana is also a mother and works to support her friends, family and colleagues during co...

Mark O’Donoghue is a dedicated police officer whose mission has extended far beyond the streets of his own community. Mark shares his journey from frontline policing to work supporting police and civilians in war-torn Ukraine. We dive into his efforts to deliver essential gear, provide English-language education, and build connections with Ukrainian communities under siege. Mark recounts his visit...

Adam Bastock is a sustainability-focused entrepreneur and the founder of Small 99, a company on a mission to help small businesses become more environmentally sustainable without the overwhelm. In this episode, we dive into the unique challenges entrepreneurs are facing in 2025—from economic uncertainty to digital burnout—and how Adam navigates them with resilience and clarity. He shares the minds...

Episode 12 – Building Resilience & Vision with James Frost of Flaming Phoenix In this episode of Build Your Purpose, we sit down with James Frost, founder of Flaming Phoenix, to dive into the journey of entrepreneurship from a fresh, young perspective. James shares his insights on the importance of goal setting, prioritizing health and well-being as a young entrepreneur, and what it really takes t...

Alex isn’t just a speaker or author — she’s the pirate co-captain behind the global movement Be More Pirate — helping rebels, rule-breakers, and changemakers rewrite the rules and reclaim their power. In this episode, we dive deep into: • What it really means to be a modern-day pirate • How to challenge the status quo with purpose • Why small acts of rebellion can drive big change This one’s raw,...

I sit down with Julia Davies —impact investor, philanthropist, and founder of We Have The POWER . After selling her business, she didn’t just retire—she put her money where her values are, funding businesses tackling the climate crisis and driving the circular economy. Julia isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. As a Patriotic Millionaire UK member, she’s calling for fairer wealth taxation. Sh...

🎙️ Conquering Fear & Chasing Big Goals with Rebecca Stephens In this episode of Build Your Purpose , we sit down with Rebecca Stephens , the first British woman to summit Everest 🏔️ and a powerhouse in leadership, adventure, and philanthropy. Rebecca shares her insights on: ✅ Building confidence to chase audacious goals 🚀 ✅ Lessons from expeditions that apply to the corporate world 💼 ✅ Th...

Rachel Savage is a former editor of The Big Issue turned entrepreneur who is transforming how brands craft their stories. Rachel shares her journey from the world of publishing to launching her own business, where she’s on a mission to empower women and rewrite the rules of storytelling in the business world. Together, we explore: The challenges and triumphs of women in business. How strategy—whet...

🌊 Ever wonder what it takes to conquer the vast Atlantic—and life’s greatest challenges? In this inspiring episode, we’re joined by the extraordinary Rosalind Chaston and Andy Hodgson A.K.A the Ocean Escapades Team, who share their incredible journey of purpose, perseverance, and pushing past limits. 🎯 From embracing curiosity to cultivating a growth mindset, this conversation dives deep into ho...

Nick Hunt is a business-leader with over 15 year’s experience with a FTSE 100 company. Throughout this time he has implemented purposeful and progressive strategies that galvanise both people and organisations. Through his experiences both as a consultant and entrepreneur Nick has worked with countless partners, all of which are benefiting from his passion, expertise and, of course, purpose. We sa...

Tom Clowes is one half of the first British brothers to summit Everest together. He's an adventurer, entrepreneur and international speaker whose journey into finding his purpose is fascinating. Along the way Tom talks about how his purpose has shifted from summiting some of the world's most impressive peaks to now focussing on his family. From climbing trees, to summiting Everest and leading expe...

Kenton Cool is one of the world’s leading mountain guides, with 18 summits of Everest to his name as well as 6 of the other 7 Summits. Kenton's journey into the high mountains shows us how to live a life of purpose and, importantly, fun! Through this conversation you'll learn: How to be more Sherpa Why you shouldn't let what you perceive others think of you shape who you are and why confidence and...

This week, we're thrilled to welcome an extraordinary guest who truly embodies adventure, resilience, and purpose. Meet Holly Budge, named Woman of the Year in 2023 , and an inspiration to thousands around the world. As an Everest summiter and the first woman to skydive Mount Everest , Holly has pushed the boundaries of what's possible. She has also conquered a grueling 1,000 km expedition across...

Lucy is a conservationist, entrepreneur and innovator who is rewriting how businesses interact with charities. After leaving a successful career in the city to pursue her purpose of creating Bare Kind, Lucy has continued her journey into self-development, leadership and sustainable business practices. We spoke about how the people around you are key to your success and what it takes to take that l...

Neil Laughton is a record breaking adventurer with achievements such as the Explorers Grand Slam, he is a former SAS Officer and award winning entrepreneur and businessman. Neil's story will instill in you the confidence that you really can achieve your purpose and overcome any challenges. Don't forget to like and subscribe as well as follow the pod @buildyourpurposepod and find out more a...