PODCAST · business
Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds
by Ministry of Work
‘Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds’ is a podcast that celebrates the region’s most inspiring thinkers, innovators, and leaders. Each episode dives deep into the lives and work of remarkable individuals from a variety of fields who are making a lasting impact both locally and globally. From groundbreaking entrepreneurs to inspiring visionaries, we explore their personal journeys, uncover their ideas, and discuss the future of Greater Manchester.Whether you’re seeking inspiration or keen to learn from the region’s brightest talents, this is your gateway to the minds shaping the future of Manchester and beyond.
Episodes
-
39. Performance, Portfolio and Property - Ryan Hughes
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…
more -
38. Passion, Energy & Staying Curious - Nicola Collister
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...
-
37. Travel, Ambition & Building Your Dream Life – Michelle Coulson
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...
-
36. Pro Raising, Angels and Tech - David Levine
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…
more -
35. Hard Knocks, Hospitality & Hotel Football—Jessica Southworth
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...
-
34. MAFS, Sales & Male Dominated Spaces - Sophie Brown
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...
-
33. Football, Education, and Finding Purpose – Aaron Burns
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,...
-
32. Shyness, Sales, and the Drive for Freedom – Joe Averill
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…
more -
31. Jigsaws, Justice, and the 1% Rule – Emily Moffat
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...
-
30. Bands, Sales, and Blind Faith – Jack Frimston
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...
-
29. Nootropics, LivedX, and Youth Mental Health – Daniel Wilsher
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...
-
28. One Minute Briefs, Heart Attack, and Hitting Number 1 - Nick Entwistle
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...
-
27. Gaming Raves, TEDx License Hustle, Council Estate to CEO - Simran Whitham
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...
-
26. Battle Rap Granny, Afflecks In-House Creative, Never Too Old - Joy France
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...
-
25. Drag Queen Zine, Creative Powerhouse, Culture Flipper: Liam Heeley
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…
more -
24. Beating cancer not just once or twice but THREE times - Hospitality expert, Ashley Carter Lawlor
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,...
-
23. Music For Pets, Multi-Million Deal, Business in LA: Amman Ahmed
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...
-
22.Corporate Agony Aunt, Headhunted by Gary Neville, From Overdelivering to The Overlap: Izzy Panton
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...
-
21. Brothers In Business, From Burnley, Building The Next Social Chain?: Morgan and Niall Ratcliffe
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...
-
20. Lucy Wilkinson - "It's Not Just Entertainment–It's Therapy"
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...
-
19. Jordan Stachini - "I quit my job, moved cities, and figured it out as I went."
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...
-
18. Chris Maguire - "I realised the harder I worked, the luckier I got.”
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...
-
17. Paul Cheetham-Karcz - "I work seven days a week… because I love it."
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...
-
16. Jennie Bailey - “I sold my first 150 pairs of shoes… before I even had any.”
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…
more -
15. Lewis Kemp - "Do You Want a Business or an Ego Boost?”
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…
more -
14. Lucy White - “I Never Had the Attitude That I Couldn’t Do Something”
In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Lucy shares how her upbringing in Salford shaped her entrepreneurial journey—building businesses with nothing but determination, learning on the go, and taking risks without fear. From launching an events company with no experience to...
-
13. Ryan Williams - “Social Media Excited Me-I Knew I Had to Take the Leap”
In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Ryan Williams, the entrepreneur behind the viral media sensation It’s Gone Viral. Ryan shares his journey from struggling with academia to discovering his passion for IT and ultimately building a thriving social media…
more -
12. Hattie Pearson - "Opportunities don't always align, but you have to be ready when they do."
In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we explore the journey of Hattie Pearson. A Manchester based radio DJ whose resilience and passion drove her to become successful in a very competitive area. From being a trailblazer in education, navigating the evolving media landscape, and...
-
11. Charles Burdett - “I thought it was just a dumb little card deck—now it’s sold hundreds of thousands worldwide”
In this episode of Greater Manchester's Greatest Minds, we meet Charles Burdett, a designer-turned-entrepreneur who turned a “dumb little idea” into a global success story. Charles shares how his love of design, combined with resilience and curiosity, led to the creation of Pip Decks—a tool now...
-
10. Jackie Hyde - "Three hits: an accident, cancer, and financial trouble—but we didn’t stop."
In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, Jackie Hyde shares her incredible journey of building a thriving insurance business while overcoming immense personal challenges. From navigating a traumatic accident and a cancer diagnosis to breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry,...
-
9. Phil Jones MBE - "‘If you looked at me at 16, you'd go, ‘No hope.’"
In this episode of Greater Manchester's Greatest Minds, we sit down with Phil Jones, the MD of Brother UK, a leading printer company based in Manchester. Phil’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of personality. While he wasn't the top student in school, his passion, drive,...
-
8. Dr Vikas Shah MBE - "People think being a CEO is all glamorous; it’s not!"
In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Vikas Shah, a true entrepreneurial trailblazer. Starting his business journey in his teens, Vikas went on to purchase his father’s textiles company, transforming it into a thriving business in today’s competitive market. We...
-
7. Naomi Timperley - "I got hounded by the BBC to do Dragon’s Den"
In this episode of Greater Manchester's Greatest Minds, we chat with Naomi Timperley, a tech innovator, mentor, and community builder. From launching Baby Loves Disco to mentoring over 500 entrepreneurs, Naomi shares her journey of resilience and reinvention. We explore her Dragon’s Den…
more -
6. Ash Jones - “I want us to be a flagship for Personal branding”
In Episode 6 of Greater Manchester's Greatest Minds, we sit down with personal branding trailblazer Ash Jones. As a pioneer in shaping personal brands across the UK - especially in Manchester - building the profiles of names like Gary Neville and Sacha Lord. Join us as Ash shares his journey into...
-
5. Will Evans - "I always fantasised about having a brewery one day"
In this episode, we talk to pioneer of local lager Will Evans— an adopted Manc who had a mission to make a beer that ‘tastes like home’ for Greater Manchester. Will dreamt of having his own brewery since his first sip of beer as a kid and these days, he’s making his lifelong dreams come true....
-
4. Helen Hardy - "I feel like every entrepreneur will have a story like this!"
In episode 4 of Greater Manchester's Greatest Minds, we chat with Helen Hardy, a Geordie entrepreneur who moved Manchester. Helen is the founder of FOUDYS, the leading retailer of women's football merchandise. She shares how she found herself in this business and what she's learnt along the way....
-
3. Laura Pomfret - "My Goal Is To Bring Down Klarna!"
In this episode, we sit down with Manchester-based founder Laura Pomfret, the visionary behind Financielle—a platform empowering women to take control of their finances. Unlike traditional financial advice, Laura’s approach addresses the unique challenges women face, providing resources to help...
-
2. Dan Kelsall - "If I had said the wrong thing, that's it, money gone!"
In this episode, we talk to Bury-born marketing genius Dan Kelsall—a marketer who’s built and exited his own agency, working with brands like Ladbrokes, Coral, and KFC. Unlike most marketers who stick to safe, predictable moves, Dan specialises in helping startups and small businesses grow from...
-
1. Dan Sandler - “My life was like a mission impossible movie.”
In the pilot episode of Greater Manchester's Greatest Minds, we chat with Dan Sandler, a South Manchester-born entrepreneur behind multiple successful businesses, including QR code table service, a car rental company, and 'Damage Control,' an app that tracks existing damage in rental cars. Dan...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
‘Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds’ is a podcast that celebrates the region’s most inspiring thinkers, innovators, and leaders. Each episode dives deep into the lives and work of remarkable individuals from a variety of fields who are making a lasting impact both locally and globally. From groundbreaking entrepreneurs to inspiring visionaries, we explore their personal journeys, uncover their ideas, and discuss the future of Greater Manchester.Whether you’re seeking inspiration or keen to learn from the region’s brightest talents, this is your gateway to the minds shaping the future of Manchester and beyond.
HOSTED BY
Ministry of Work
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds have?
Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds currently has 39 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds about?
‘Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds’ is a podcast that celebrates the region’s most inspiring thinkers, innovators, and leaders. Each episode dives deep into the lives and work of remarkable individuals from a variety of fields who are making a lasting impact both locally and globally. From...
How often does Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds release new episodes?
Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds has 39 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds?
You can listen to Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds?
Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds is created and hosted by Ministry of Work.
URL copied to clipboard!