Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds

Born in a two-bed terrace in Salford, Ryan Hughes grew up surrounded by grafters, chaos, and community. The street taught him everything — how to read people, how to graft, and how to make choices that defined his future. While one childhood friend ended up behind bars, another chased overtime and stability. Ryan stood somewhere in between, determined to find his own version of freedom. Kicked out...

From her Stockport roots in a hard-working, working-class family to the boardrooms of some of the UK’s biggest brands, Nicola Collister’s story is one of relentless curiosity and reinvention. In this episode, Nicola reflects on the choices that defined her path-from turning down a grammar school place as a teenager, to walking away from university in pursuit of independence, to breaking barriers a...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie sits down with Michelle Coulson — founder of Remote Rebellion — for a conversation about burnout, breakups, Bali, and building a life that actually feels like yours. Michelle’s journey begins in Bolton, then moves through a wild childhood in Spain, a career in corporate recruitment, and a dramatic decision to call off her wedding just w...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie sits down with David Levine—tech head, founder, investor, and the force behind Manchester Angels—for a masterclass in serendipity, startups, and saying no. David's story starts in Dublin, where he grew up in a tiny Jewish community, got hooked on computers at 13, and accidentally entered (and won) Ireland’s biggest science fair. He shar...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie sits down with Jessica Southworth – hospitality leader and sales mentor – to uncover an astonishing story of survival, setbacks, and stubborn success. Jessica grew up in Droylsden, where her childhood was equal parts chaotic and carefree. As she opens up, we hear how addiction shaped her home, how she found herself pregnant at 16, and h...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie sits down with Sophie Brown – tech sales leader, public speaker, and reality TV alum – to unpack a story that’s anything but conventional. Sophie’s journey began in Cheltenham, but her ambition led her to Manchester’s fast-paced tech scene, where she built a career in sales from the ground up – without a degree and often as the only wom...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie sits down with Aaron Burns – former Manchester United academy player turned entrepreneur and speaker – to unpack a story that begins on the pitch but stretches far beyond it. Aaron’s journey started with dreams of footballing glory, rising through the ranks at one of the world’s most prestigious clubs alongside legends like Ronaldo, Gig...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie sits down with Joe Averill – founder of LEVEL, a customer-centric workspace solution. Joe’s story isn’t one of loud ambition. Painfully shy growing up and allergic to public speaking, he never seemed the type to lead sales calls or host podcasts. But what he lacked in volume, he made up for in drive – especially when it came to creating...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie chats with Emily Moffat – co-founder of pieceful, a purpose-driven jigsaw brand – about building a business from scratch while working a full-time job and protecting the most important relationship in her life. Emily didn’t grow up dreaming of being a founder – in fact, she thought business was something other people did. But a walk in...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Eddie sits down with Jack Frimston, co-founder of one of Manchester’s fastest-growing lead generation agencies, to unpack a story that didn’t start in business, but in music. Jack’s journey began on stage, chasing a dream of becoming a professional musician. From his early days in teenage bands to busking across Europe, performing at Trafalga...

In this moving episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Daniel Wilsher—founder of Damaged Goods and Orb. drinks, TEDx speaker, and the driving force behind LivEdX. Daniel’s journey starts in Rochdale, shaped by early loss, trauma, and years of inner struggle. But what follows is an inspiring transformation: from battling addiction and burnout to becoming one of the UK’s most compell...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Nick Entwistle—advertising creative, heart attack survivor, and the force behind the viral One Minute Briefs community. From surviving a life-changing health scare at 26 to helping take the NHS Choir to Christmas number one, Nick’s story is a masterclass in resilience, instinctive creativity, and the power of online communities. He sh...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Simran Whitham—founder of Format Group, gaming event trailblazer, and proud council estate kid turned creative entrepreneur. Simran’s story takes us from Barlow Road in Tameside to packing out warehouse raves with Sony, Ubisoft, and EA—and becoming the first person in the UK games industry to secure a TEDx license. From being rejected...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Joy France—a poet, performer, creative catalyst, and battle rapper who didn’t truly find her voice until her 50s. Joy’s story takes us from quiet classrooms in Clifton to poetry slams, rap battles, and turning a tiny room in Afflecks into a haven for Mancunian creativity. Diagnosed with autism later in life, Joy opens up about growing...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Liam Heeley—photographer, creative connector, and co-founder of HEADS—the grassroots platform redefining what it means to build community in the UK’s creative scene. From leaving university to pursue freelance photography, to co-creating a space where artists, designers, and musicians can truly belong, Liam’s journey is a pow...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Ashley—hospitality powerhouse, cancer survivor (three times over), and unapologetically passionate advocate for service that exceeds expectations. Ashley shares her journey from pub life in Timperley to Disney Cruise Lines, Hawksmoor, and her journey into entrepreneurship with AFD Events.  But it’s the grit behind the CV that...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Amman Ahmed—entrepreneur and innovator—whose journey from self-funded startup to a global pet wellness empire is a testament to vision, resilience, and thinking differently. From launching MusicForPets with just £1,000 to leading an eight-figure acquisition by Create Music Group, Amman’s story is a masterclass in turning setb...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Izzy Panton—strategist, speaker, personal brand advocate, and proud Bury native—whose unconventional path from enterprise rentals to executive roles, viral TikToks, and media partnerships is anything but ordinary. Izzy opens up about growing up with strict parents and the pivotal moment when she realised she didn’t need permi...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we’re joined by the Ratcliffe brothers—two Northern lads who turned a football scholarship and a borrowed laptop into a fast-growing marketing agency with clients across the UK. Morgan and Niall share how growing up in Burnley with zero exposure to entrepreneurship shaped their mindset, how they navigated food banks and remote jobs in the U.S...

In the latest episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Lucy Wilkinson—one of the region’s most iconic children’s entertainers—to talk about how she built a joyful, purpose-led business from the ground up. Lucy shares how growing up as a natural performer, being underestimated, and following an unconventional path led her to a career that blends entertainment with therapy. S...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Jordan, a dynamic entrepreneur whose journey is defined by bold pivots, relentless drive, and a passion for empowering others. Jordan shares how a leap of faith led to the creation of a thriving business, the lessons learned from navigating challenges, and why embracing vulnerability is key to authentic leadership. From candi...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Chris Maguire, a journalist, editor, and entrepreneur who has spent decades breaking stories and uncovering the truth. Chris shares how he knew from the age of nine that he wanted to be a journalist, how he hustled his way into top newspapers, and why he once sat in a van for hours just to get a photo of a crime suspect. We a...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Paul Cheetham-Karcz, founder of Sedulo, to talk about his journey from a working-class upbringing in Stockport to building a £20M+a-year financial consultancy. Paul shares how growing up in a council estate, rejecting a “job for life” mentality, and taking huge financial risks shaped his success. He opens up about his struggl...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Jennie Bailey, founder of Calla Shoes, to talk about how she turned a personal struggle into a thriving business. Jennie shares how an unexpected redundancy and an unplanned pregnancy pushed her to take the biggest risk of her life—starting a footwear brand from scratch, without any experience in shoemaking. She opens up abou...

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Lewis Kemp, founder of Lightbulb Media, to talk about his unconventional journey from a council estate in Bolton to leading a thriving marketing agency.   Lewis shares how his early experiences-like door-knocking in the rain and facing constant rejection-shaped his resilience and business mindset.   He opens up about being di...