Cat's Pajamas Conversations
By Carrie-Ann Wade
From bossing the networking game to mastering workplace emotions, we talk to brilliant business minds over the myriad of factors that affect the way we work.
We all face challenges getting to where we want to be, hearing from others who have faced or are facing those same issues can be just the launchpad you need to unblock your energy and springboard you to success.
All you need do is pour yourself a cuppa, pop in your earbuds and indulge in some aural inspiration.
Cat's Pajamas ConversationsAug 06, 2020
Cat's Pajamas Conversations Communicate Well with Sofia Cann
In this episode of Communicate Well, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Sofia Cann about her experiences of Long CoVid and how this has impacted her life and her work.
Sofia is a head of marketing and communications for three arts venues and a freelance publicist. She specialises in marketing and communications aw well as programming and producing events. She works with both businesses and individuals. Sofia is also a publicist for a number of familiar music, screen and stage personalities.
As well as highlighted the physical and mental health impacts of CoVid-19 and Long CoVid, Sofia also touches on the perimenopause and generally how we can benefit from talking more about our health and wellbeing in order to seek support and to help others.
Huge thanks to Sofia for sharing her experiences. If you want to find out more about Sofia's freelance work you can visit www.canncommunications.co.uk and you can connect with Sofia on Twitter via @sofiacann1, on Insta via @canncommunications or on LinkedIn.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations Communicate Well with Phil Woodford
In this episode of Cat's PJs Convos Communicate Well mini-series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks candidly with Phil Woodford about his experience as a stroke survivor. This is a real emotional rollercoaster, you will laugh and you will cry. Phil is so honest about the impacts on his life, both physically and mentally. (Trigger warning - there is mention of suicide).
Phil is the Director of Corporate Affairs at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and has over 20 years experience in marketing and communications. He is also about to publish his first book, 'From Prostitutes to Prime Ministers, My Words, My Life, My Experiences; A Memoir.'
If you would like to find out more about Phil visit www.philwoodford.co.uk and you can contact Phil on Twitter at @phil_woodford
Cat's Pajamas Conversations Communicate Well with Kate Jarman
In this episode of Cat's Pajamas Conversations mini-series, Communicate Well, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Kate Jarman about Flex NHS. Kate is the Director of Corporate Affairs at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and co-founder of Flex NHS.
Flex NHS is a support and resource network that promotes and enables flexible working in the NHS. Carrie-Ann and Kate talk about the advantages of flexible working, both for individuals and organisations, how to make this work and what some of the perceived barriers are.
For communications professionals, flexible working, in whatever shape or form that may take, supports work-life balance, wellbeing and productivity. Have you thought about how flexible working might help you? Hopefully this episode will support you to reflect on this and maybe start a conversation that enables you and your team to work differently.
Find out more about Flex NHS and join the conversation via @FlexNHS on Twitter or @FlexNHS on Instagram.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations Communicate Well with Comms Unplugged
In this episode of our Cat's Pajamas Conversations mini-series Communicate Well, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Sally Northeast, Darren Caveney and Georgia Taylor about Comms Unplugged. These three amazing communicators are the trio behind Comms Unplugged, a weekend designed to support comms pros with their wellbeing, development and learning. Find out more via www.commsunplugged.co.uk
A bit about Sally:
Deputy Director for OD, Communication and Participation at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust. After a degree in languages Sally trained to be a journo at the local paper in her home town. A few years later she hopped the fence into local gov comms, with a stint as a freelance and finally a move to the NHS.
A bit about Georgia:
Director of Communication and Marketing, for England’s newest urban local authority, BCP Council, serving the 400,000 residents of the city-region of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole on the glorious south coast. Georgia studied a PR degree in her hometown of Bournemouth, which included a placement at the council. She loved it so much she went back after the obligatory post-graduation travelling and hasn’t left since!
A bit about Darren:
His son claims Darren “works on The Twitter”. But really, he is a communications consultant, creator of comms2point0, and owner of Creative Communicators Ltd. Darren's 23-year career in communications, marketing and PR spans 10 years as Head of Communications within local government, a director level role in the NHS and five years in private sector marketing, winning some awards with his teams along the way and he has worked with over 100 communications teams in his consultancy role.
We think you can tell that this is a passionate bunch and we are not surprised they are collaborating on Comms Unplugged, giving back to the communications community.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations Communicate Well with Rachel Royall
Welcome to the first episode of our Cat's Pajamas Conversations mini series, Communicate Well. In this series we talk to communications professionals about all sorts of issues relating to health and wellbeing.
In this episode, our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Rachel Royall, founder of Blue Lozenge, about what it is like to be a living organ donor.
Rachel is a leader in healthcare communications and engagement. She’s founder and MD of Blue Lozenge, a strategic consultancy in healthcare focusing on support for Integrated Care Systems and complex projects. She has led Board level communications for complex organisations including IBM, NHS, HMRC, Cabinet Office, Department of Health and Social Care and local government. She is also a visiting lecturer at Quadriga University of Science and Technology in Berlin.
Rachel is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications and a Chartered Institute of Public Relations Fellow and Chartered Practitioner.
Thank you so much to Rachel for sharing her story of living organ donation so candidly, not only sharing her own experiences but also offering advice to others who may want to find out more.
Follow her on twitter @RachRoyall or find Rachel on Linked In. You can find out more about Blue Lozenge via www.bluelozenge.co.uk
And to find out more about organ donation visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk
Business Built on Passion - Cat's Pajamas Communications
In this final episode of our Businesses Built on Passion series, our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks about the story behind Cat's Pajamas, what drives her and how Cat's Pajamas will grow in 2021.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Cat's Pajamas this year. Here's to a happier, healthy 2021 for us all.
Business Built on Passion - Life Skills With Mrs T
In episode five of our Businesses Built on Passion series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks to Claire Thomas about her business Life Skills With Mrs T. Claire shares her purpose and passion, as well as some of her own journey, that has led her to set up her own business.
Life Skills with Mrs T is a place where skills can be learnt that can help you flourish where you’re at. A place where you can find the ability to dream again and learn how to meet these dreams through life coaching and learning self-leadership.
To find out more about Claire and her business visit www.lifeskillswithmrst.co.uk
Business Built on Passion - Level Up London
In this episode of our Businesses Built on Passion Carrie-Ann Wade has the privilege of talking to the fabulous Trisha Chauhan, founder of Level Up London.
With a focus on women from diverse backgrounds, Level Up London creates brave, safe and uplifting spaces for women to find themselves and gain clarity in their journeys personally and professionally. With a focus on women's empowerment and through intersectional life coaching, Level Up London supports women to move forward in their jouneys.
Find out more about Level Up London on Instagram via @_leveluplondon_ and look out for the website launch in December 2020.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations with...Lee Griffith
In this special episode of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Lee Griffith, coach and founder of Sunday Skies, about coaching and mentoring.
This episode was recorded for release on our Cat's Pajamas #SmallBiz100 day on 24 November 2020. We are taking this opportunity not only to promote small business owners but to share our news about the changes we are making at Cat's Pajamas to move towards the provision of mentoring programmes for communications professionals.
Carrie-Ann and Lee talk about the difference between coaching and mentoring, how they have made use of both during their own careers and the importance of investing in your own development.
If you would like to find out more about Lee an Sunday Skies you can visit www.sundayskies.com
There is a teeny tiny swear word in here so use your headphones if you are around little people or the easily offended!
Business Built on Passion - House of Cinn
In the third episode of our Businesses Built on Passion series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks to David Martos and Itseoritseno Onuwaje, co-founders of House of Cinn. House of Cinn launched in July 2020 not only to deliver scrumptious cinnamon buns to people at home, but more importantly to support rough sleepers in London and help break the cycle of homelessness.
House of Cinn has partnered with Street Cafe with the aim to build supportive communities around those who are rough sleeping. They have a buddy and back-to-work system in place to help the beneficiaries back into a supportive work environment, with jobs at House of Cinn when they’re ready for employment.
This is one serious business built on passion and David and Itse have a real sense of purpose about what they are aiming to achieve, we dare you not to feel inspired to spread a little kindness.
Find out more via www.houseofcinn.co.uk
Business Built on Passion - Comms2point0
In the second episode of our Businesses Built on Passion podcast series, Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Darren Caveney about his business Comms2point0.
As well as finding out more about what inspired Darren to set up Comms2point0, the pair talk about pubic sector communications, supporting the communications profession and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the industry.
Find out more about Comms2point0 via www.comms2point0.co.uk
Business Built on Passion - Bad Ass Mother Runners
Welcome to episode one of the second series of Cat's Pajamas Conversations. This series is focused on business built on passion and in the first episode our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks to Bev Logan of Bad Ass Mother Runners.
Bev talks candidly about her business journey, her mental health and what keeps her going.
Find out more via www.badassmotherrunners.co.uk
Thank you so much Bev for sharing your insights and for running such an amazing business built on passion.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations From Inside the Hive
This episode was recorded on 5 September in Wales as part of a planning weekend for the AWEsome Women's Retreat.
Jane Galloway from Quiet the Hive, Lorna Reeves from MyOhMy Events and Carrie-Ann Wade from Cat's Pajamas are collaborating to bring you the AWEsome Women's Retreat. The first of these Retreats is already fully booked and this conversation provides a taster of what delegates can expect.
The date for the Spring Retreat is set - 19-21 March 2021, the waiting list is now open so join the list via the link here. You will then have exclusive early access to secure your place when booking opens in January 2021.
Find out more about AWEsome Women via www.awesomewomensretreat.com
Cat's Pajamas Conversations Small Biz 100
In this episode of Cat's PJs Convos our founder, Carrie-Ann Wade and Jane Galloway, founder of Quiet the Hive, celebrate their recognition as part of the #SmallBiz100 2020.
In the run up to Small Business Saturday on 5 December 2020, 100 small businesses around the UK are being recognised as part the campaign and both Carrie-Ann and Jane have been named as two of the small businesses in the #SmallBiz100.
Listen up to hear more about their journeys as small business owners, their most recent collaboration and why small businesses are so important.
Find out about Small Business Saturday via www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/small-biz-100
PS there are two tiny naughty words in this episode so maybe listen with headphones!
Cat's Pajamas Conversations with...Minoti Parikh
In this episode of Cat's Pajamas Conversations Carrie-Ann Wade speaks with fellow F:entrepreneur #ialso100 female entrepreneur Minoti Parikh.
Minoti is founder of TPL Experiences and in this podcast she talks about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted her business model and what she has learned about her approach to business. As well as the changes she has made to deliver her services to clients, Minoti has also found ways to collaborate with others throughout the pandemic.
Find out more about Minoti via LinkedIn, follow her on Twitter or visit the TPL Experiences website.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations with...Katya Willems
In episode 10 of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, Carrie-Ann talks to Katya Willems all about flourishing in your forties.
Katya is the founder of Easyinstamcr and you can find her on Instagram at @easyinstamcr
You can also follow Katya on Twitter via @easyinstamcr and on LinkedIn as Katya Willems.
This conversation was refreshing, inspiring and honest, it was great to get an insight into Katya's journey so far and to hear about why her forties have been her best decade yet.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations with...Asif Choudry
Join Carrie-Ann Wade in episode nine of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, this time with Asif Choudry.
Asif Choudry is Sales & Marketing Director with resource, an award winning creative marketing and print provider. He is a CIM Fellow and Chartered Marketer. He is the founder of #CommsHero @CommsHero the award winning conference that is a community celebrating the heroics comms people perform every day. Although a big fan of social media, he’s not afraid to use tried and tested comms channels like meeting IRL (In Real Life), speaking on the phone and handwriting a letter or three.
In this episode, Carrie-Ann and Asif talk about the #CommsHero journey, what next - including the upcoming Comms Hero Week - and who Asif's Comms Heroes actually are.
You can connect with Asif via Twitter @AsifChoudry or Linked In. And you can find out more about Comms Hero Week and book your place at www.commshero.com.
Cat's Pajamas Conversations with...Jane Galloway
Welcome to episode eight of our Cat's Pajamas Conversations podcast. In this episode Carrie-Ann Wade, founder of Cat's Pajamas, talks to Jane Galloway, who was our first ever podcast guest! Jane is founder of Quiet the Hive and is back to talk about all things Imposter Syndrome.
Jane explains what Imposter Syndrome is, you may hear it referred to as your inner critic or your Lizard Voice. The conversation explores who it makes you feel, how to recognise it and what might trigger it.
If you want to find out more about Quiet the Hive and how you can work on your own Imposter Syndrome you can visit www.quietthehive.com
and if you want to know more about The Compass, the course Jane mentions then visit courses.quietthehive.com
Jane and Carrie-Ann are also collaborating on an amazing project and you can find out more at www.awesomewomensretreat.com
Jane mentioned the Say Yes More Movement www.Sayyesmore.com and finally the book Jane recommended in the podcast is Playing Big by Tara Mohr.
Cat's Pajamas Convos with Ceri-Jane Hackling
In episode 7 of our podcast series, Carrie-Ann talks to Ceri-Jane Hackling, founder of Cerub PR. The podcast is all about PR in a pandemic, and they explore why PR and marketing is usually the first thing people cut and why you really shouldn't. Ceri-Jane also shares some of her tips and insider knowledge to support you to do your own PR through this pandemic.
To find out more about Cerub PR visit www.cerubpr.co.uk or follow them on Twitter via @cerubpr
You can also follow Ceri-Jane on Twitter at @CeriJane
Cat's Pajamas Convos with Christine MacKay
In episode six of Cat's Pajamas Conversations, Carrie-Ann talks with Christine MacKay, founder of Salamandra UK.
Christine first founded Salamandra (Design & PR) in Johannesburg in 2006 and has since resurrected it in the UK as Salamandra.uk (Animation & Design) after falling in love with animation (whilst working in Auckland) as an impressive medium for B2B communications. Being a very visual person, Christine gets a real kick out of helping clients tell their story through delightful visual content, on any platform. Earlier this year, Christine was named in the UK's top 100 female entrepreneurs, celebrated alongside International Women’s Day at the House of Lords.
In this episode Carrie-Ann and Christine talk about how the lockdown situation in the UK has impacted Christine's business, how she has worked with her clients through this period and how her team has pulled together.
If you want to find out more visit www.salamandra.uk or you can follow on Twitter via @salamandrauk or Instagram via @salamandra.uk
AWEsome Women's Retreat - meet your team!
Listen to this podcast to find out more about the AWEsome Women's Retreat. The Retreat is a collaboration between Jane Galloway, founder and director of Quiet the Hive, Carrie-Ann Wade, founder and chief collaborator at Cat's Pajamas Communications, and Lorna Reeves, founder and director of MyOhMy Events and MyOhMy Weddings.
The podcast gives you the chance to find out more about the collaboration, what we hope you will gain from the weekend and how you might benefit from being part of the AWEsome Women's Retreat. It really is all about helping you find your awareness, will and energy.
Find out more and book your place via www.awesomewomensretreat.com
Follow on Instagram at @awesome_womens_retreat or join the Facebook community at Awesome Women's Retreat.
If you want to know more about the amazing work to empower women by Quiet the Hive visit www. quietthehive.com and you can keep up with what Jane is doing via @quiet_the_hive on Instagram or on Facebook.
Carrie-Ann can be found at www.cats-pajamas.co.uk or across the socials via @catspjs_uk on Twitter and Instagram where you can see her latest work and collaborations.
And to find out more about Lorna and the fabulous work she is doing with MyOhMy Events visit www.myohmyevents.com or follow along with all of Lorna's latest activity via Instagram @myohmy_events or the Facebook group.
Cat's Pajamas Convos with Lorna Reeves
In episode five of Cat's Pajamas Convos, Carrie-Ann discusses pivoting your business with Lorna Reeves. Lorna is the founder of both MyOhMy Weddings and MyOhMy Events and has recently made the move to pivot her business due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lorna discusses how she has made the move to provide a new service to her clients, why she did this and whether you should too. Pivoting is not for everyone and Lorna provides some practical advice and tips to support small businesses when thinking about pivoting.
You can find out more about Lorna via www.myohmyevents.com or you can follow her on Instagram and find her on Facebook.
Thank you so much Lorna for taking part in our podcast!
Cat's Pajamas Convos with Lisa Anderton
Welcome to episode four of our Cat's Pajamas Convos podcast series. In this episode Carrie-Ann talks to Lisa Anderton, founder and coach at eight Leadership Coaching about experiencing the menopause in the workplace. Lisa also works in healthcare and shares her advice, tips and wisdom to support working women with the menopause.
Find out more about Lisa via www.eightcoaching.com or follow Lisa on Twitter @TheLisaAnderton
Cat's Pajamas Convos with Martin Evans
In episode three of Cat's Pajamas Convos Carrie-Ann talks all things crisis communications with Martin Evans. Martin is the founder of Tandem Comms and is also a founding member of the Cat's Pajamas Collaborative.
Planning is key to managing a crisis, as is the ability to keep calm. Martin talks about crisis communications and shares some of his own experiences from the military and healthcare.
If you would like to find out more about Martin visit www.tandemcomms.co.uk or email martin@tandemcomms.co.uk
Cat's Pajamas Convos with Mikaela Jackson
Welcome to episode two of Cat's Pajamas Convos. Our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks to performance coach Mikaela Jackson about overcoming overwhelm. Mikaela explores what overwhelm is and when it can strike, as well as talking through tips to support you.
This episode of our podcast focuses on clarity, boundaries, expectation setting and balance. Being self aware can help you manage feeling overwhelmed.
Thank you so much to Mikaela for sharing her thoughts and insight. If you want to know more about how Mikaela can help you visit www.shealmighty.com
We hope you enjoyed this episode all about overcoming overwhelm and look forward to our next Cat's Pajamas Convos!
Cat's Pajamas Convos with Jane Galloway
Welcome to the first episode of Cat's Pajamas Convos. We are talking to Jane Galloway, founder of Quiet the Hive, about the art of networking. Our founder Carrie-Ann Wade talks with Jane about how challenging many of us find the idea of networking and why. Jane offers insight, tips and practical advice on how we can overcome our fear of networking.
Carrie-Ann mentions dealing with tricky questions but didn't come back to this later on - we are so sorry! Jane has shared the following advice on this conundrum.
In this conversation Jane references Anna Cuddy's TED Talk on power posing. You can view it here.
If you would like to find out more about Jane's work and Quiet the Hive visit www.quietthehive.com
If you are a member of the Collaborative you can access the Quiet the Hive hints sheet on the art of networking via www.cats-pajamas.co.uk/cat-s-pjs-members-resource-library
Thank you so much to Jane for sharing her wisdom and insight, as well as being the first guest on Cat's PJs Convos.
PS we promise C-A will stop calling these editions in future and call them episodes :-) she needs to get used to this podcasting malarkey!
Welcome to Cat's Pajamas Convos
Listen to Cats PJ's In Conversation
From bossing the networking game to mastering workplace emotions, we talk to brilliant business minds over the myriad of factors that affect the way we work.
We all face challenges getting to where we want to be, hearing from others who have faced or are facing those same issues can be just the launchpad you need to unblock your energy and springboard you to success.
All you need do is pour yourself a cuppa, pop in your earbuds and indulge in some aural inspiration.