The Blooming North Podcast

This episode digs deep on the hot topic of body image. This isn’t a new discussion point, but it’s one that is constantly evolving and the stats speak for themselves. So we’re checking in and seeing how the land lies now across media, social media and branding. Questioning whether there is anything that can be done to nurture a more positive outlook on body image, for all shapes and sizes and gene...

We co-exist with social media now as if it has always been there and yetit’s still a relatively new form of communication, with limited controls andboundaries. There are many positives to social media platforms, theyprovide us with connectivity and community that can be truly inspiring. Butwith such an ease of unlimited accessibility it undeniably invites a dark sideto social media. We’ve invited...

Recorded at a special International Women’s Day event hosted by WACL (Women in Advertising, Communications and Leadership), this episode of the Blooming North Podcast features a collection of short conversations with female trailblazers across the media and leadership landscape. Each guest shares their perspective on a powerful leadership question, capturing honest insights on what shapes them, an...

In this special on-location episode of the Blooming North Podcast, host Lisa records live from Goodison Park, home of Everton Women, to celebrate International Women’s Day. Joined by Dawn Paine, former CMO of Nintendo and Universal Pictures and Co-Founder of Aurora, and Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community, the conversation explores what modern leadership really looks like. Together they d...

What does healthy masculinity actually look like today - and why does it start much earlier than we think?   In this episode of The Blooming North Podcast, Lisa is joined by Mike Nicholson, Director of Progressive Masculinity, and Seb Randle, Founder of The Helpful Space, to unpack one of the most talked-about (and often misunderstood) topics of our time: boys, men, and the future of allyship.   F...

After an amazing response to an event back in October where bloom teamed up with TWIPN for an unapologetically bold exploration of the realities of 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚. We needed to have the guests back to explore the topic more.   Our host Lisa is joined by  Anna Sampson, author of the IPA report ‘Time for Some New Age Thinking’, and Jacquie Duckworth, co-founder of Visible Inc., whos...

This week we've got some exciting news as we introduce and announce the 2026 president and vice president, Beth Sutherland and Saskia Starritt who join Lisa for this festive episode. We have games – ‘chrimmy prezzy keep or did you keep the receipt?’ and a quiz for our guests.  Find out what they thought of the year so far and everything they are looking forward to next year.    Kindly sponsored by...

Welcome to this month’s Blooming North Podcast Host Lisa welcomes two remarkable bonus dads who share their heartfelt journeys of stepping into parenthood. James Attwater, Regional Agency Lead at Seedtag and committee member of the Bloom North network, is a proud bonus parent to two kids. Keiran Gillam, station manager in the fire service, is a bonus parent to none other than our very own Beth Sut...

Welcome to this month’s Blooming North Podcast.    In our latest episode host Lisa is joined by Hattie Pearson, DJ and Presenter and Sue Benson, founder and CEO of The Behaviour’s Agency to talk all about women misbehaving.    Lisa, Hattie and Sue dive into the world of rule breaking, abandoning traditional career paths and being labelled “bossy.”    So if you’re outspoken and proud, un ‘lady like...

Welcome to this very special episode of the Blooming North Podcast! Joining LIsa today is Danielle Bromley. Danielle is commercial director at crossover, a family woman and Manchester networker. However she joined Lisa in this episdoe to share her story as a cancer survivor. Danielle shares with us all the stuff that goes with cancer that no one really mentions, or understands. Danielle is incredi...

This Week Dr Sally Alwan joins Lisa to share her inspiring story of building her life from the Ground Up.  She was born in Iraq before her parents gave up their lives to move to the UK to complete their PHDs on a funded program. Due to the gulf war, their funding was pulled, and they went into survival mode. Listen as Sally talks about resilience, growing up as a cultural minority and how she beat...

This is a special episode of the Blooming North podcast. Joining Lisa in the studio are some of Manchester's favourite presenters. Until recently they were waking you up, or getting you home on the formidable Capital FM breakfast and drivetime shows.  It’s none other than Rachel Burke-Davis and Wingman!!!  Do you want to know what happens next?  We all experience change and yes shit happens – but...

In this episode, sponsored by our friends at Spotify, we're talking Resilience. Joining Lisa to discuss this subject is Stacey Copeland, a trailblazer in British sport. Stacey was a professional football player and played in the FA cup final before moving into professional boxing winning silver in the European Championships and gold at the prestigious Balkans tournament. If that wasn't enough she...

In this episode, sponsored by our friends at Spotify, we’re talking about modern sobriety. Joining host Lisa are Jack Owens, one of the founders of the Sober Media Network and Jayne Andrew who has worked in the media industry for over 30 years and is now 3 years sober. They discuss the sobriety movement and both the challenges that still exist and the evolution both Jayne & Jack have witnessed ove...

  In this episode Lisa talks to the incredibly accomplished Kathryn Smith with a long list of credits to her name including Football Develeopment Manager at Manchester FA, non executive director at Rotherham United Community Trust & Oldham Active, professional footballer and 3W referee and qualified teacher and coach. Under discussion is the topic of making shifts in your career, doiig what you wa...

Joining Lisa in our latest episode are Kelsie Hughes, Runcorn women's football 6 a side player and Quality Assurance specialist in Pharmaceuticals and Amanda Wah, Gym Owner, Personal Trainer and Gladiators Contender 2025. In honour of International Women’s Day, which is Saturday 8th March, we wanted to delve into our guests business and sporting backgrounds to discuss how we can Accelerate Action....

Joining Lisa this episode is Holly Clark and Carolyn Tipper to share their expertise on how to support better mental health for you and your colleagues, family and friends. Holly is a Mental Health First Aid & Suicide First Aid Instructor Member from the organisation Blooming Mind. She works with companies to improve the mental health of their teams to end stigma surrounding it and recently ran a...

In this special episode of the Blooming North podcast, Lisa is joined by 2024 co-presidents Sarah and Liv, familiar faces and names to the Bloom North Network.  At the end of a successful, busy and sometimes challenging year leading over 60 women and 8 committees we asked Sarah and Liv to share their reflections on the last 12 months. They told us about some of the achievements they are most proud...

We have two special guests joining Lisa on today's episode, the first being Iona Holloway, founder of the personal development brand, Brave Thing. Iona is the best selling-author of Ghost – Why Perfect Women Shrink and is committed to getting more brave women in every room.  Also joining us is Katie Kendall, a name and face familiar to many in the Manchester marketing community. Katie is the found...

Today we’re joined by Lucy Shutt-Vine, Career Confidence Coach at LSV Coaching and Head of Talent Development at Captify and Dr. Christopher Owen, Inclusivity Development Manager at Manchester Pride, delivering the All Equals Charter, an intersectional LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion programme, listed as one of the top 50 Northern Gamechangers of 2024.  Our host, Lisa Hughes, talks to these fascinating...

Welcome to Part 3 In this special series of podcasts, where we are joined by Vicki Robinson, CEO of Bloom North’s 2024 nominated charity The Miscarriage Association to discuss pregnancy loss and help us understand ways in which we can support colleagues, friends or partners and to provide information for those who may have been affected by pregnancy loss. In this episode, Vicki shares advice with...

In this special series of three podcasts, we are joined by Vicki Robinson, CEO of Bloom North’s 2024 nominated charity - The Miscarriage Association - to discuss pregnancy loss and help us understand ways in which we can support colleagues, friends or partners and to provide information for those who may have been affected by pregnancy loss. In Part 2, we discuss the role and responsibilities work...

In this special series of three podcasts, we are joined by Vicki Robinson, CEO of Bloom North’s 2024 nominated charity - The Miscarriage Association - to discuss pregnancy loss and help us understand ways in which we can support colleagues, friends or partners and to provide information for those who may have been affected by pregnancy loss. In part 1, Vicki will be talking to Lisa about some of t...

This episode we welcome Grace Sharp, Planning & Partnership Manager, Wavemaker and Nicola Lynch, part of the Bloom North Podcast committee and Business Development Director at Sport Social Podcast Network to explore the topic of the relationship between the generations in the workplace.  There are big challenges and barriers women can face at different stages of their career as host Lisa Hughes de...

On this episode of The Blooming North, we welcome Daniele Fandaca, founder of Token Man consulting, and Manny Afambu, Affiliate Account Director at EssenceMediacom and Bloom Allyship Committee member to discuss the topic of Allyship.  Host Lisa Hughes digs deeper into defining what allyship really is, and why our guests feel it’s important an important area to discuss. In this insightful conversat...