Nurture Your Zest

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Kim McDermottroe , an exceptionally talented Teesside-based creative director, costume and puppet designer, illustrator, and TEDx speaker, for a deeply moving exploration of the neurodivergent imagination. Carving out a thriving 23-year creative career from her home town of Billingham, Kim lives and breathes the tactile world of character design. In t...

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Liza Knight , founder of Mint Business Club, tea enthusiast, and "semi-feral entrepreneur", for a conversation that is as refreshing as a well-brewed cup of Lapsang Souchong. With 22 years of experience as a tea merchant and a deep expertise in business coaching, Liza brings a uniquely grounded perspective on what it really takes to run a su...

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Samantha Castro , creative video producer, Founder and President of Newcastle Film Club, and former Flamingo Heights team member, for an inspiring conversation about gumption, global moves, and the power of grassroots community. From growing up in a high-achieving Air Force family in Texas to navigating the rigours of UK spousal visas, Sam shares how...

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Charlotte Nichols — founder of the award-winning PR agency Harvey & Hugo and host of the PRsonal podcast — for an incredibly raw, honest, and empowering conversation about business, motherhood, and the courage to "rise" after life shatters your plans. In this 17th year of her entrepreneurial journey, Charlotte pulls back the curtain on t...

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Kenny Primrose , teacher, writer, and host of The Examined Life podcast, for a thoughtful and deeply resonant conversation about wisdom, curiosity, and what it really means to live well in a world of constant noise. From the audacity of writing letters to David Attenborough and Gordon Brown to find "the right questions," to navigating the fl...

In this insightful and empowering episode of Nurture Your Zest, host Ashleigh King sits down with business exit strategist and operations expert Laurie Stirling to unpack what it really takes to build a business that doesn’t rely on you to survive. From her early beginnings in Australia to building and exiting a 14-year business, Laurie shares a powerful story of resilience, reinvention and redefi...

In this vibrant and thought-provoking episode of Nurture Your Zest, host Ashleigh King sits down with neurodiversity advocate and community builder Holly Knight, founder of Learn, Grow, Thrive. Known for her unmistakable neon green hair and equally bright energy, Holly shares her deeply personal journey of discovering her neurodivergent identity, learning to unmask, and building spaces where young...

CONTENT TRIGGER WARNING: Listener and viewer discretion is advised.  Sensitive topics covered in this episode include: Murder, violent crime, loss and bereavement, grief and trauma, mental health challenges, and financial stress. If you find this topic upsetting and need any additional support, we’ve included some helpful resources below: www.samaritans.org mind.org.uk www.informationnow.org.uk/ar...

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Paul King – Co-Founder of Flow Software Solutions, host of The Modern Compliance Podcast, surveying software specialist, family man, and passionate champion of underdog businesses, for a grounded, energising and deeply practical conversation about entrepreneurship, community, industry change, and doing work that truly matters. From solving “hair on fi...

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Reverend Zoe Heming - ordained minister, Canon for Mission at Newcastle Cathedral, disability advocate, and bold female leader, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about faith, AI, intuition, disability, and the urgent need for community in a divided world. From asking “Are we making AI God?” to exploring what it means to lead vulnerably as...

That's right, Nurture Your Zest is BACK! 🌵 Season 4 of Nurture Your Zest is on its way, and we’re bringing you a fresh lineup of thoughtful, inspiring, and beautifully honest conversations. This season, we’re sitting down with creative minds, purpose-led founders, and community builders who are doing things their own way. Embracing growth, navigating change, and building lives and businesses...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she welcomes Mayira Thomas – poet, educator, speaker, and founder of Mayfly Coaching – for a heartfelt and profound conversation that spans identity, healing, emotional intelligence, and the power of truly being seen. Mayira brings a deeply rooted, cross-cultural perspective to her work.  Themes of this conversation: 🌵 Growing up between cultures, navigating assump...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Christina Lord – coach, creative, breathwork facilitator, and soulful strategist who helps people reconnect with their true selves, navigate life’s messy middle, and reignite their inner spark. Themes of this conversation:  🌵 The power of energy and embodiment – how emotions are “energy in motion,” and why tuning into your body is the first step to tra...

🔞 Content trigger warning: Listener and viewer discretion is advised. Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Robert Little – coach, podcast host, former door-to-door salesman, and passionate advocate for community, connection, and living life with intention. Themes of this conversation:🌵 Embracing challenges – the importance of mental resilience for facing any challenge whether that be fas...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Dawn Young – podcaster, founder of Cluarantonn Podcast Agency, and passionate advocate for ethical true crime storytelling. Themes of this conversation: 🌵How a love for true crime and a gap in Scottish representation inspired Dawn to start Scottish Murders 🌵The bold decision to transition from co-hosting with her sister to going solo – and how it help...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Tamma Carel – environmental consultant, founder of Imvelo, and passionate advocate for sustainable business. Themes of this conversation:🌵Growing up in South Africa and how her early connection to nature shaped her mission to protect it🌵Navigating the challenges and opportunities of immigration, and how adapting to a new country built resilience and c...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Jamie Pell, occasional DJ, mental health advocate and business founder.🔞 Content trigger warning: Listener and viewer discretion is advised.  Sensitive topics covered in this episode include: Suicidal ideation, isolation and loneliness, alcohol, burnout.  If you find this topic upsetting and need any additional support, there are some useful contacts a...

 Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Kathryn Wharton, curator, community creator and storyteller  Themes of this conversation: 🌵Storytelling across different stakeholder groups 🌵Curating history, and sharing stories, to amplifying stories through tech, and then marketing stories by sharing them 🌵The value of reading and books. 🌵Women in Tech and how it started. 🌵Kathryn’s gift of bui...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats with Ann English, a creative visionary who has profoundly impacted Ashleigh with her unique vision mapping techniques. Ann discusses her journey of self-discovery and the power of hyperphantasia—thinking in vivid pictures and multisensory experiences. They explore the importance of visual thinking, embracing strengths and dreams, and how to transform ideas...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Charlie Hoult, serial entrepreneur, family man and lover of poetry and yoga! Charlie Hoult is an award-winning business leader, angel investor, and entrepreneur. In this conversation, we explore his multifaceted career and personal journey Themes of this conversation: 🌵Charlie reflects on his experience competing in the local Mayoral Campaign, the chal...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Nic Redman, voice coach, author of On the Mic, and host of 'The Voice Coach Podcast'. 🎙️ Nic is a multi-talented accent chameleon who loves to help her clients find and celebrate their unique vocal signature. Themes of this conversation: 🌵Nic’s favourite party trick accents as a child 🌵The wonky path which brought Nic to what she’s doing now today 🌵F...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Laura Richards, host of the ‘Idea Junkies’ Podcast 🎙️Laura has a background of marketing and PR, who has found her calling in building and making apps through using AI and no-code. She’s been fortunate to secure spaces on some of the elite accelerator and incubator programmes in the North East of England and globally, providing her with the opportunity...

This International Women’s Day we feature the bright, shining light of positivity which is Sarah Jane Phelps! Sarah is committed to making the world a little brighter, unlocking each person’s purpose from within. As a self-confessed ‘Modern Day Mary Poppins’ Sarah works with individuals, organisations and families to be the best they can be.  Themes of this conversation: 🌵 Overcoming limiting bel...

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Andy Haddon, Founder of the ‘Big River Bakery’ and Host of the ‘Big River Rising’ Podcast. Andy is an academic, an activist and a change maker seeing social problems other people miss, and working out solutions to solve them for the greater good. Themes of this conversation: 🌵The ‘power of the stottie’ and how it inspires communities as messaging a too...

In this episode, join your host Ashleigh King as she chats with Kayleigh Laverick, the Founder of Mamma Social Co, and Co-host of the Mamma Social Co Podcast 🔞 Content trigger warning: Listener and viewer discretion is advised.  Sensitive topics covered in this episode include: Suicidal ideation, isolation and loneliness, post natal depression (PND), neurodiversity and post traumatic stress disor...