GillHB & Friends

Entrepreneur and podcast host of 'Bigger than the Hustle' Bhavik was working in the corporate world when he decided to set up his own business with a friend. Several businesses later he realised that although he had the trappings of wealth it was just the 'veneer of a good life' and he could't do it anymore. Gill finds out what happened next and how he rebuilt his life 'one cell at a time'.

Bethan was living and working as a teacher in London when she and her partner (now husband) thought 'there has to be more to life than this!'. A move to Perth, Australia followed and after having her 2 children, Bethan is now running her own critical thinking training business. Gill finds out exactly what is 'critical thinking', how does she promote her business and 'the Repair Lab' which Bethan a...

When Gill first met Chris he was living in London and running a physiotherapy training company but roll forward a few years and he is now living in Kent and is The Speaking Mentor. Gill wants to know what exactly is a Speaking Mentor as she digs deeper to find out what happened to make Chris have such a big change in his life and career.

Having worked in various roles for the BBC and having had two children Ros Ball wrote, The Gender Agenda. Gill finds out what was the motivation behind it and how it came to be published. She discovers that two of Ros's passions are: equality, especially for women, as well as gardening. Ros is also in the process of writing and crowd funding the publication of her next book  'Women Who Won'. 

Gill talks to Wendy about her mental and physical journey from being addicted to running to then living with chronic pain to finally being able to move naturally. Wendy was in her early 40's and a busy Mum of 3 boys when she sustained an injury to her back that halted her in her tracks. She shares how she was determined not to give up finding a solution and, in the process found a new career as a...

Gill finds out what lead Stefan to leave a career in research to become an expert on Gardener's Question Time and a writer of over 60 books. They chat about: gardening, being a writer, his love of mycology (fungi and mushrooms), their joint dislike of 'cosmetic horticulture' and Stefan's recent venture into writing and publishing his first novel, 'The Marmalade Pot'. 

What is it about grief that makes it so hard for us to talk about it? Gill finds out from Maryline what type of situations and circumstances, that are often dismissed or ignored, can cause us to grieve. Maryline shares her own story and explains how unresolved grief, that we are often unaware of, can cause problems later in life and needs to be dealt with. She shares ways in which we can find our...

Gill and Paul were both cabin crew in their previous roles but with different airlines and met some years later.  Gill finds out what motivated Paul to set up the Virgin course to help people overcome their fear of flying, that she later assisted on for several years. Paul decided to stop a few years ago but has now started offering smaller more bespoke designed courses. Gill discovers what change...

Having faced personal challenges to even get to achieve her dream of becoming a performer Jessica then had to face graduating during 2020 and all that it meant. Her final performance before graduation, which would have served as a show reel as well letting any potential agents come and watch, was cancelled. Her new industry was closed with no chance of work. Jess tells her story of the highs and l...

Back at the end of 2019 Gill, her husband Clive and Eamonn were out for a walk with his dog Maggie. The conversation lead, amongst other things, to single use plastic, the state of the planet and what would need to happen to change it. Little did they know what was to happen. This episode is a continuation of that conversation, what they have discovered about themselves through 2020, the important...

Gill and Janey chat about what the arrival and impact of Covid meant for them both personally and professionally through 2020. They share how they maintained a good mindset throughout, using their skills to remain positive and be in a good position to help others. With the approach of 2021 they chat about how they are preparing for the year, not only with setting new 'directions', but also ensurin...

Little did Harriet know how much a girl's weekend away in the Algarve would change her whole life. Harriet was living in London, divorced and with a young daughter when she and some friends went away for a break. She met and fell in love with Miguel. Gill finds out about the pros and cons of marrying and living in the Algarve for over 10 years with a young family, as well as helping Miguel build "...

Sally used to be a geography teacher until a series of back operations meant she had to give up teaching. She lost her purpose in life and struggled both physically and mentally until she joined BEST, an online coaching programme for women and met Gill. Through a series of events and, still wanting to help people, she has created Cultivating Change, a new seed donation initiative to bring people t...

Graeme first picked up a guitar one Christmas Eve at the age of 11 and taught himself how to play. He only ever wanted to play music and so did exactly that! He joined Gryphon 40 years ago and they have just released their latest album. Gill wants to know what else happened in those intervening years and how Graeme came to set up and run his own recording studio - Morden Shoals. 

Honor Marks was Gill's very first podcast guest in January and they chatted all about her thriving gite business in the South of France. Covid and lockdown meant no guests. Gill finds out what Honor did, how she has survived and developed a whole new business. They also chat about how Honor has taken up the baton on being an 'authentic' mature woman on social media.  

When she was going through her divorce Janet was looking for support from someone objective to help her understand what was happening and navigate her way through. Through coaching she realised that she had been in a co-dependent relationship with a narcissist and learnt how to understand and deal with the behaviours through her divorce. Janet explains the traits of a narcissist and the reason peo...

Irina grew up in Romania with a mixture of logical and creative thinkers surrounding her. Writing poetry was the one constant through her life - from childhood to a career in the corporate world. A chance meeting lead her to publish her first poetry book and eventually take the decision to follow her passion as an author and poet.

Sophie Black grew up in a small town in Derbyshire but that didn't stop her from wanting to become a film maker and director. Gill finds out what inspired Sophie at a young age to want to make films and how she is now, not only building a film career, but helping to forge a film industry outside of London.  Gill also asks Sophie about the challenges she has faced being female.

Helen's a former journalist who was searching for 'what next' after a career break. She discovered the answer was staring her in the face, creating social media content. It brings together all the things she loves, writing, taking photos, videos and ultimately starting a conversation. She now helps others to grow an 'engaged' online community that supports them and their business.

How many people go on holiday to a Greek island and are so moved by what they see they feel they have to do something? Gill chats to Joel who did go on holiday to a small Greek island back in 2015 and witnessed first hand the plight of not only the refugees arriving but also that of the people who lived on the island. The result of that holiday ended up with the charity asnteamuk.org being created...

In the final episode of her mini series Gill talks to Stephen Avery from Back Door Shoes. She finds out  where the idea came from to make the shoes and how they have grown the business organically over the years. This year has presented it's own challenges of dealing with the changes Covid19 has brought with major events being cancelled. As a family business Stephen is passionate about building an...

Gill chats to amateur fruit and veg grower Joe Harrison about what lead him to take on an allotment. Joe talks about his memories as a child and how he is hoping to make similar memories for his 3 young children that will give them a love of growing their own when they are older. He's not only into growing his own food but into recycling as much as he can from his home. Nothing gets thrown away wi...

Gill chats to Rich Pennock from Haws Watering Cans, a family business who care about the work they do as a company to minimise their impact on the environment. Gill finds out about how they make their watering cans and also all the things you need to consider before buying one. Rich talks about Haws involvement with the charity 'Treesisters' and being members of 1% for the planet. 

Gardens are full of plants and flowers as well as fruit and veg. In this episode Gill talks to Amanda Haines a horticulturist, who also used to be an adult education teacher for students with a mental disability. Amanda shares her story about: how she became a horticulturist, the benefits and sense of achievement she witnessed in her students from growing their own, as well as how she went about r...

Ever thought about the amount of attention to detail and work that goes into making the perfect garden tool? Gill finds out by talking to Adam Greenman whose passion for designing and making 'just the right tool' started when he found his grand father's old garden tools in the shed. The enthusiasm for what Adam does and his ongoing desire to help gardeners both young and old is clear as he talks a...