Ask Charly Leetham

Rise and Shine: Your Dose Of Business Tech Inspiration

Where small business tech meets plain English. Charly Leetham brings decades of hands-on experience helping business owners harness technology - without drowning in jargon or wasting time on fluff. Whether you're a DIY'er trying to make sense of your website, emails, or software, or you just want to know if your IT team is talking sense, this podcast is for you. Each episode is packed with practical advice, real-world tips, and insights from the trenches. If you've ever thought, "There’s gotta be a better way to do this tech stuff" - you’re right. Charly is here to show you how.

Author

Ask Charly Leetham

Category

Technology

Podcast website

askcharlyleetham.com

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

Why Choosing the Right Tools for Your Business Is Crucial (2025/400) 13.02.2025

🛠️💼 Are your business tools helping—or holding you back? In this milestone episode, Charly dives into why choosing the right tools is critical for your business’s success. Discover how: 💡 Free tools can cost more in the long run through hidden inefficiencies 🔍 Regular tool reviews can uncover productivity gaps and areas for improvement 📊 Needs analysis ensures you’re not overpaying for feature...

What Is Name Spoofing in Email & Why Due Diligence in Payment Requests Matters (2025/399) 12.02.2025

📧💡 Could you spot an email that looks like it’s from YOU? In this episode, Charly shares a real-life experience of receiving an email that appeared to come from her—with a fake payment request. Learn how to: 🚩 Identify name spoofing in emails and spot the subtle signs of fraud 💰 Avoid falling for fake payment requests with simple due diligence steps 🔐 Protect your business from email scams th...

Why You Shouldn’t Open Suspicious Email Attachments (2025/398) 11.02.2025

📧🚫 Think twice before opening that email attachment! In this episode, Charly explains the real dangers hidden in suspicious email attachments and why one wrong click could compromise your entire business. Learn: ❌ What happens when you open a malicious attachment (think malware, ransomware, and data breaches) ⚠️ Common signs of a dangerous email—even if it looks like it’s from someone you know...

How to Identify and Deal with a PayPal Scam Email (2025/397) 11.02.2025

🚨💳 Worried about PayPal scam emails? In this episode, Charly breaks down the red flags to watch for and how to protect your business from phishing attacks. Learn how to: ✅ Spot common signs of PayPal scams (suspicious links, fake sender addresses, urgent requests) ✅ Verify if an email is legit without clicking risky links ✅ Report and respond safely to phishing attempts Charly also shares pra...

How Can You Improve Productivity with Email? (2025/396) 09.02.2025

📧💼 Feeling overwhelmed by your inbox? In this episode, Charly shares practical tips to boost your productivity using email rules and filters. Discover how to: ✅ Organise your inbox automatically ✅ Prioritise important emails ✅ Reduce distractions from non-essential messages Charly explains how simple tweaks to your email settings can help you save time, stay focused, and manage your workload...

Why Aren’t Your Emails Being Delivered? How do you Fix It (2025/395) 08.02.2025

📧🚨 Still having trouble with emails not reaching inboxes? Whether it's your email marketing program, web server, helpdesk, or standard emails, improper authentication might be the culprit. In this episode, Charly dives into  DKIM, SPF, and DMARC  (yes, again!) and explains how failing to authenticate one service can affect others. Learn how to  fix email deliverability issues, avoid spam fol...

How to Plan Projects for Maximum Efficiency & Client Satisfaction (2025/394) 07.02.2025

🚀📅 Do you aim for perfection before launching a project, or do you leave room for client-driven improvements? In this episode, Charly shares her insights from years of working with clients and explains why flexibility is key in project planning. Learn how to balance efficiency with adaptability, ensuring smooth launches while being open to adjustments based on client feedback. Whether you’re lau...

How to Get a Business Phone Number & Still Maintain Work-Life Balance (2025/393) 06.02.2025

📞💼 Running a business but don’t want to use your personal phone number? In this episode, Charly shares her experiences managing a remote business and the challenges of separating work and personal calls. Discover cost-effective solutions for maintaining a professional phone presence while still being able to disconnect, including virtual phone systems and VoIP services like 3CX. Learn how to set...

Facebook Flags Linux as a Cybersecurity Threat – What Does This Mean for Your Business (2025/392) 05.02.2025

In this episode, Charly discusses Facebook’s recent move to flag Linux-related discussions as cybersecurity risks, blocking posts and users. She breaks down the risks of relying on social media as your primary communication channel and explains why businesses must own their online presence. Learn why having a website and building a community on your own platform is essential for long-term stabilit...

Why Your Clients Are Your Golden Geese & How to Raise Prices the Right Way (2025/391) 04.02.2025

💰✨ Are you nurturing your "Golden Geese," or driving them away? In this episode, Charly shares a personal experience with a provider’s price increase and reflects on how businesses should treat their loyal clients. Learn the importance of customer retention, how to provide value while increasing prices, and strategies for communicating price changes without losing trust. Discover actio...

How to Tell If a Website Is Legit & Build Trust with Your Customers (2025/390) 03.02.2025

🔍🛡️ Can you spot a fake website? In this episode, Charly shares recent cybersecurity experiences from her family and breaks down how to verify if a website is legitimate. Learn essential tips for identifying scam sites, protecting yourself from online fraud, and ensuring your business builds trust with customers. Discover how businesses can improve conversions by implementing security measures li...

How the US TikTok Ban Affects Your Business & How to Stay Resilient (2025/389) 02.02.2025

📢🚨 Is your business prepared for the impact of the US TikTok ban? In this episode, Charly breaks down how the potential ban could affect businesses relying on TikTok for marketing, brand awareness, and customer engagement. Discover how to future-proof your business, diversify your online presence, and avoid reliance on a single platform. Learn practical strategies to safeguard your digital marke...

How to Develop a Zero-Trust Security Model for Your Business (2025/388) 01.02.2025

🔐🚫 Are you ready to eliminate implicit trust and strengthen your business’s defenses? In this episode, Charly explores the Zero-Trust Security model, a cutting-edge framework based on “never trust, always verify.” Learn how Zero-Trust minimizes risks by requiring user and device verification, implementing micro-segmentation, and using advanced monitoring tools. Discover actionable steps to incor...

The Role of Cybersecurity Certifications in Strengthening Your Business (2025/387) 31.01.2025

🏅🔒 Are cybersecurity certifications worth it for your business? In this episode, Charly breaks down essential certifications like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS, explaining their focus, applicability, and purpose. Learn how these certifications can help manage security risks, build trust with customers, and protect sensitive data, including credit card transactions. Discover actionable steps to e...

How to Recognize and Respond to Zero-Day Vulnerabilities (2025/386) 30.01.2025

🛠️⚠️ Are zero-day vulnerabilities putting your business at risk? In this episode, Charly explains what zero-day vulnerabilities are and how cybercriminals exploit them before patches are available. Discover defensive strategies like advanced endpoint protection, behavior-based threat detection, and the importance of staying updated on emerging threats. Learn actionable steps, including subscribing...

The Importance of Building a Strong Cybersecurity Culture in Your Business (2025/385) 29.01.2025

🛡️💼 Is your team actively contributing to your business’s cybersecurity? In this episode, Charly explores the concept of cybersecurity culture and how fostering a shared commitment to security among all employees can strengthen your defenses. Learn actionable steps to incorporate cybersecurity discussions into team meetings, lead by example with secure practices, and incentivize employees to prom...

Strengthening Your Business’s Cybersecurity: Practical Tips and Strategies (2025/384) 28.01.2025

🛡️🔑 Is your business secure against modern cyber threats? In this episode, Charly shares practical examples of how to enhance your cybersecurity strategy, covering risk assessments, the importance of changing default usernames and passwords, and removing old employee accounts. Learn why timely software patches and understanding internal and external threats are essential. Tune in for actionable s...

How to Secure Your Business’s IoT Devices: Lessons from the Mirai Botnet (2025/383) 27.01.2025

🔐📡 Are your IoT devices secure? In this episode, Charly dives into the vulnerabilities of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, referencing the infamous 2016 Mirai botnet attack that disrupted major platforms like Twitter and Netflix. Learn how smart devices like cameras and printers can become entry points for cyberattacks if not properly secured. Discover actionable steps, including creating an in...

The Role of Secure Software Development Practices in Cybersecurity (2025/382) 26.01.2025

👨‍💻🔐 Is your software built with security in mind? In this episode, Charly discusses the importance of integrating cybersecurity into the software development lifecycle to reduce vulnerabilities. Learn how adopting secure coding practices, conducting regular code reviews, and using SAST/DAST tools can help you detect and mitigate risks during development. Discover actionable steps for providing...

Understanding and Protecting Your Business from DDoS Attacks (2025/381) 25.01.2025

🌐⚠️ Is your business ready to handle a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack? In this episode, Charly breaks down how DDoS attacks overwhelm networks, making services unavailable, and shares essential strategies for defense. Learn to protect your business with tools like Cloudflare and AWS Shield, monitor traffic for anomalies, and develop a response plan to minimize downtime and losses. Di...

The Importance of Cybersecurity Awareness for Small Businesses (2025/380) 24.01.2025

🔐📢 Is your small business prepared for cyber threats? In this episode, Charly emphasizes the critical role of cybersecurity awareness in reducing vulnerabilities. Learn how even basic knowledge can safeguard your business, foster a culture of vigilance where employees feel empowered to report suspicious activities, and keep security top of mind with ongoing education. Discover actionable steps l...

How to Secure Your Business’s Customer Data: Essential Steps for Data Protection (2025/379) 23.01.2025

🔐📊 Are you safeguarding your customers’ sensitive information? In this episode, Charly covers the critical steps to protect customer data, including identifying personally identifiable information (PII), payment details, and account credentials. Learn how to implement encryption to secure data at rest and in transit and use role-based access controls (RBAC) to restrict access to sensitive inform...

The Role of Security Audits in Protecting Your Business (2025/378) 23.01.2025

🔍🛡️ Are your security measures truly effective? In this episode, Charly explores the importance of security audits in systematically evaluating your business’s defenses. Learn about different types of audits—compliance, technical, and operational—and discover how to act on audit findings to strengthen your security posture. Audit Tools to investigate Compliance Audits Nessus - Offers both free an...

How to Protect Your Business from Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) (2025/377) 21.01.2025

💻🔒 Are Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) lurking in your network? In this episode, Charly demystifies APTs, explaining how these sophisticated, long-term cyberattacks can infiltrate even small businesses. Learn to recognize signs like unusual network traffic, slow system performance, and suspicious logins. Discover essential security measures, including strong passwords, firewalls, phishing pre...

The Importance of Regular Cybersecurity Strategy Reviews (2025/376) 20.01.2025

🔍🔒 Is your cybersecurity strategy keeping up with evolving threats? In this episode, Charly highlights the necessity of regular reviews to address new vulnerabilities, system updates, and employee training needs. Learn how to schedule semiannual strategy reviews, use a comprehensive checklist to evaluate key areas, and adapt your approach to stay ahead of cyber risks. Discover actionable steps t...

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