The Phoenix Conversations

In this episode, I’m talking to Paul Dykes, a man who has reinvented himself so many times he has turned it into a way of life. From employed school-leaver to IT engineer, live music entrepreneur, corporate leader, business founder, coach, trustee, app creator and drummer, Paul’s story is not a neat career plan. It is a gradual unfolding of curiosity, courage and asking, “who am I now?” when life changes shape.Paul has built a business to just under £1m, closed it, started again, and kept phoenixing. Today, he helps founders and executives lead from the inside out through Curious Minds Coaching, while building a live music tech platform, supporting an empowerment programme in West Kenya, playing drums in a function band and, quite literally, feeding people. Recent BBQ for 22 included.Highlights:(02:30) - A curious child, a village fair, and the tiny traction engine moment (08:46) - When IT became less about tech and more about asking better questions (13:40) - Building a business from a hunch that potential was being left on the table (22:33) - The Covid curveball that forced a sharp turn and a fresh start (27:12) - Self-leadership, or how to stop leading your business from the outside in (32:35) - The parts of you that feel scared are not the whole of youConnect with Paul:Curious Minds Coaching, bringing Self Leadership to founders, executives and businesses - www.curiousmindscoaching.co.ukGigbrite, making live music performances shine- www.gigbrite.app Urenga Empowerment Programme, transforming young lives - https://invest.urenga.org Not Quite Saints, event band for corporate & private functions - https://www.instagram.com/notquitesaintsmusicConnectHOW, leadership development & coaching - www.connecthow.com Curious Brainfarts - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/curiousbrainfarts/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-dykes/Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Dani Wallace, founder of IATQB Ltd and fearless leader of the I Am The Queen Bee movement.Dani’s story moves from growing up on the council estates of Preston, through domestic violence, homelessness and single parenthood, to becoming one of the UK’s most powerful voices in empowerment, speaking and visibility.We talk about reinvention, survival patterns, self-sabotage, entrepreneurship, asking for help, and what it really means to build a life that feels rooted rather than frantic.Dani brings honesty, humour and a seriously practical dose of wisdom, reminding us that no matter what we’ve lived through, we can still choose to fly anyway.Highlights:(03:08) - Dani looks back at growing up in Preston and the coping mechanisms that shaped her voice(07:52) - Leaving home at 16, chasing singing work and quietly choosing a different life(17:17) - The crash point: toxic relationships, single parenthood and becoming homeless(20:12) - The car park moment where Dani realised she could stop letting life happen to her(30:09) - The quote that sparked the Queen Bee movement: fly anyway(42:53) - Dani’s advice for anyone facing change: stop running, make space and listenConnect with Dani:www.iatqb.comwww.instagram.com/thequeenbeedaniwww.facebook.com/thequeenbeedaniwww.facebook.com/groups/386708721935406www.linkedin.com/in/iamthequeenbeeConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode of The Phoenix Conversations, I’m talking to Kevin Mark-Watts, a business coach and author of The 10-Minute Rules. Kevin’s story begins with a childhood love of football, a knock to his confidence at school, and an unexpected discovery that he was very good with people, sales and human connection.We talk about retail, redundancy, Crystal Palace Football Club, community sports education, imposter syndrome, mindset, and how all those different chapters eventually fed into the work Kevin does now. His story is a brilliant reminder that the detours are not always mistakes. Sometimes they are quietly collecting the skills, perspective and resilience we need for the next version of our lives.Highlights:(02:38) - Kevin shares how football shaped his childhood and confidence(05:42) - The early retail job that helped him discover his people skills(09:04) - How imposter syndrome showed up when leadership moved beyond arm’s reach(14:00) - The unexpected interview that led Kevin into Crystal Palace Football Club(18:06) - Building a community sports business that supported children’s wellbeing(25:03) - How setbacks, psychology and lived experience became The 10-Minute RulesKevin’s links:Website: https://book.the10-10minuterules.com/homeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mark-watts-13123822/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.markwattsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevin.markwatts1010minuterules/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the10-10minuterulesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinthe1010minut?_r=1&_t=ZN-96BPXYutOxaConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode of The Phoenix Conversations, I’m talking to Patty Azzarello, author, speaker and business advisor, whose latest book Why is SHE Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom is out now. Patty’s story is sharp, funny and incredibly honest, from childhood bullying and fear to becoming the youngest general manager at Hewlett-Packard at thirty-three.We talk about reinvention, courage, mentors, awkward rooms full of men, and the quiet panic that can sit behind even the most impressive career. Patty shares how she learned to get into the conversation, ask for help, trust her strengths and stop ruling herself out before anyone else had the chance. It’s funny, practical and a very welcome reminder that being scared does not mean you are not qualified.Highlights:(02:58) - Growing up safe at home, but scared of the world outside(08:15) - The picnic moment that changed how Patty saw her future(17:10) - Forcing her way into the conversations where careers are made(20:06) - The painful lesson that great work alone is not always enough(25:06) - Why scared does not mean disqualified(37:32) - Patty’s powerful advice: never take yourself out of the gameLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattyazzarello Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pazzarello777/Website: https://pattyazzarello.com/Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode of The Phoenix Conversations, I’m joined by Chris Ducker, keynote speaker, bestselling author and leadership advisor. For more than 15 years, Chris has worked with leaders and organisations navigating pressure, complexity and constant change, helping them sustain performance, make better decisions under pressure and lead with clarity over the long term.We talk about Chris’s entrepreneurial journey, his own experience of burnout, and the strategies behind his third book, The Long-Haul Leader. His message is clear: success that is not sustainable eventually becomes failure. This conversation is for anyone who looks successful on paper but feels depleted in reality, and knows it is time to rethink performance, leadership and life for the long haul.Highlights:(08:15) - How Chris’s move into entrepreneurship became his first real reinvention(12:56) - Why building a management team changed everything(16:46) - The driving lesson that became a business philosophy(22:16) - The four pillars of becoming a long-haul leader(26:32) - Chris opens up about burnout, depression and anxiety(34:17) - Why burnout recovery needs to include the body, not just the mindWebsites: https://chrisducker.comhttps://longhaulleader.comhttps://youpreneur.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisducker/Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m talking to Susan Quilliam about a life shaped by courage, curiosity and a deep interest in people. We explore the threads that have run through her journey from childhood, writing, psychology and teaching, through to publishing, coaching and relationship work.What I love about this conversation is how thoughtful and wide-ranging it is. Susan shares the reinventions that took her from educational publishing into self-development and relationship coaching, the unexpected path that led to rewriting The Joy of Sex, and why her work now is centred on helping us better understand inner conflict and what it means to be human.Highlights:(02:53) - Susan reflects on the childhood beginnings of writing and curiosity(07:25) - Losing her parents and stepping into a completely new life in London(12:12) - Why starting her own publishing company changed everything(17:56) - How relationship writing and coaching became her true calling(22:27) - The surprising path that led her to rewrite The Joy of Sex(26:48) - How the pandemic sparked the idea behind The Torn ProjectTORN PROJECT LINKSWebsite: thetornproject.comThe Torn Podcast: available on https://thetornproject.com/resources/podcast/ or wherever you get your podcastsInstagram: @thetornprojectLinked In: The Torn ProjectConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m talking to Elliot Kay about what it means to keep rebuilding yourself when life never seems to hand you the neat, obvious path. We talk about feeling different as a child, wanting to belong, and the moments that pushed him to change direction and back himself properly.What I love about this conversation is how honest and human it is. Elliot shares the reinventions that took him from outsider to dancer, trainer, speaker, author and CEO, and why the messy middle is not a sign to quit, but a sign to keep going.Highlights: (03:14) - Elliot opens up about growing up feeling different and out of place (05:00) - The blunt conversation with a friend that changed everything (07:25) - Why he chose to rebuild his relationship with his father (09:43) - How Rudolf Nureyev inspired him to go all in on dance (15:25) - The moment speaking clicked and everything started to come together (32:59) - Elliot’s advice for surviving the messy middle and keeping goingConnect with Elliott:https://thespeakersawards.com/https://thespeakersummit.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kay/Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m talking to Margaret Brown about what it really takes to rebuild your life when it feels like everything has been stacked against you. We talk about childhood wounds, self-worth, difficult relationships, and the moments that force you to decide who you want to become next. Margaret shares her journey with real honesty, and it is both moving and deeply inspiring.We also talk about the work she does today as an award-winning executive leadership coach, organisational development specialist, and bestselling author of Culture Pays. With more than 35 years of experience, Margaret now helps leaders build values-led cultures where people stay, thrive, and give their best. She also shares how her LeaderShift© model grew from everything she has lived through and learned along the way.Highlights: (02:30) - Margaret opens up about the childhood that shaped her confidence (06:54) - How marrying the wrong person became a major turning point (08:48) - The bold pitch that changed everything and started her business (12:45) - The moment her father finally gave her the words she needed to hear (18:17) - Losing security, finding new direction and writing Culture Pays (27:23) - Margaret’s advice for anyone standing on the edge of changeConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Stuart Grant, founder of Digital Authors Toolkit and one of the publishing industry’s leading website designers for authors.Stuart is a specialist in GEO, SEO and author tools, has created over 400 author websites, and is the highest rated author web designer on Reedsy. We talk about his work helping authors get discovered online, grow their audience, and build websites that genuinely support their careers.We also get into the life-changing diagnosis that reshaped everything. Shortly after the birth of his daughter in 2019, Stuart was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour and went through brain surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and lockdown.He shares how that experience sharpened his sense of purpose, changed the way he thought about work and time, and ultimately led him to build something more meaningful. It is honest, uplifting, and such a powerful reminder that reinvention is not always planned, but it can still lead somewhere extraordinary.Highlights:(03:16) - Stuart looks back on the childhood moment that shifted his path(11:00) - The hearing test that led to a life-changing diagnosis(17:12) - Why positivity became such an important part of survival(18:25) - How illness and lockdown pushed Stuart towards building his own business(22:08) - What makes author websites actually work(31:13) - Stuart’s advice for anyone facing change they did not chooseStu is more than happy to receive emails or enquires and you can find him at:DigitalAuthorsToolkit.com or email [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartgrantuk/https://www.instagram.com/stuartgrantuk/https://x.com/stuartgrantukhttps://x.com/digiauthorkithttps://www.instagram.com/digitalauthorstoolkitConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Becca Mascull for a brilliant conversation about reinvention, creativity and what it means to keep choosing a new path, even when it feels uncertain. We talk about the long road from teaching to becoming a published novelist, the self-belief it takes to keep going, and why the thing quietly waiting in the background of your life might actually be the thing you are meant to follow.We also get into confidence, pseudonyms, publishing, money, and the reality of building a creative career across different seasons of life. Becca shares so much honesty about risk, resilience and trusting your instincts, and this one is such a hopeful reminder that reinvention does not have an expiry date.Highlights: (02:44) - Becca on being a reader, writer and natural storyteller from the start (11:41) - The moment she knew teaching was no longer the right fit (15:38) - When Plan B finally became Plan A (17:15) - Why publication took years, and why she did not give up (22:53) - How writing under different names became its own reinvention (37:33) - Her advice for anyone standing on the edge of changeConnect with Becca at:https://linktr.ee/beccamascullConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Baiju Solanki, psychologist, entrepreneur and leadership expert, for a rich conversation about reinvention, identity and what it means to stay human in an AI-driven world.As the founder of EnSpirit Global and EnSpirit AI Technologies, and the author of Human First and other influential books, Baiju helps individuals and organisations build human-first cultures rooted in self-leadership, accountability and authentic impact.We talk about the many versions of reinvention across his life, from family expectations and career pivots to divorce, health, authorship and purpose. It is an honest conversation about shame, confidence, leadership and the inner work that shapes how we show up in the world.There is so much here about trusting yourself, taking ownership of your journey and leading with more intention, especially when life asks you to change.Highlights:(02:41) - What childhood taught Baiju about pressure and not feeling good enough(04:19) - The book that sparked his first real reinvention(10:23) - The New York moment that made him question everything(21:00) - How divorce forced a deep identity shift(28:05) - Why humanity matters even more in an AI-driven world(32:24) - Baiju’s advice for anyone standing on the edge of changeContact Baiju at:https://baijusolanki.com/https://www.instagram.com/baijusolanki/https://www.linkedin.com/in/baijusolanki-performance-psychologist/https://leadershipassessement.scoreapp.com/Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m doing something a little different and taking you behind the scenes of a very special day, receiving my MBE at Windsor Castle. After sharing a little of the story online, so many people wanted to know what the day was actually like, from the build-up and the nerves to the ceremony itself, that I thought I’d sit down and tell the full story properly.I talk about the campaign that led to the award, what it was like walking through Windsor Castle with my family, and the surreal, lovely moment of meeting Prince William. It is personal, reflective and quietly celebratory, with a few funny details along the way too, including armed guards, cobbles, the gift shop and a lunch at The Ivy to round it all off.Highlights: (02:27) - Why I was nominated for the honour in the first place (05:42) - The letter that changed everything (11:56) - Waiting inside Windsor Castle for my moment (16:24) - My conversation with Prince William (20:09) - The gift shop moment was slightly out of hand (21:33) - Why the whole day felt so special in the endhttps://www.bookmagic.aiLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarrahermbeSubstack – https://lucymccarrahermbe.substack.com TikTok, Instagram & Threads - @lucymccarrahermbeConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Susan Payton, who discovered the power of storytelling after sharing what she thought was a very ordinary story with 1,500 business owners in 2015. The response changed everything. That one moment reshaped her business and her life, and set her on the path to becoming the founder of The Business of Stories, an international bestselling author, podcast host, and trusted voice on how entrepreneurs can stand out by telling the right story.We talk about reinvention, resilience, and how Susan rebuilt her path through personal change, business pivots, and a growing belief that stories are not fluff, they are one of the clearest ways to connect, build trust, and attract the right people. It is honest, encouraging, and full of reminders that your next chapter does not have to look anything like the last one.Highlights: (02:23) - Susan reflects on the kind of child she was (10:42) - The life shifts that shaped her reinvention (19:48) - How The Business of Mums became The Business of Stories (21:38) - The moment storytelling became the business (24:10) - From nervous pitch to five paying clients (33:13) - Why you can start a new story from todaySusan’s links:Susan's book: https://thebusinessofstories.com/freebook/ Susan's podcast: https://thebusinessofstories.com/podcast/thebusinessofstories.comConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

When Safaraz Ali MBE failed every one of his GCSEs, he thought the factory floor was his future. What followed was a journey that took him from inner city Birmingham into financial services, then into social care, and ultimately into building businesses that now employ more than 1,300 people across the UK.In this conversation, Saf shares how a calculated commercial move into the care sector became a genuine calling, why apprenticeships deserve far more respect, and how diversity in leadership must be intentional.As CEO and Co Founder of The Pathway Group, founder of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, Entrepreneur in Residence at The Open University and Ambassador for Birmingham City University, his work spans skills, employability, health, foster care and entrepreneurship.His advice on reinvention is honest, grounded and refreshingly practical.Highlights:(02:44) Growing up in Alum Rock with no English spoken at home(06:53) Failing every GCSE and choosing education as a way out(17:02) Leaving a secure financial services career to start again(22:01) Entering social care for business, finding purpose instead(25:44) Championing apprenticeships and driving diversity in leadership(32:16) Receiving an MBE and the real meaning of reinventionConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Jude Jennison, Founder of Leaders by Nature, who empowers leadership teams to drive business growth and navigate change with confidence. After 17 years at IBM, where she managed a $1 billion budget and led UK, European and global teams, Jude stepped into a very different kind of leadership work.Today, she partners with blue chip companies and fast growing entrepreneurial businesses, working alongside her herd of horses to transform nonverbal leadership and team behaviours. A bestselling author of three leadership books and host of the podcast Leading through Uncertainty, Jude shares how fear, courage and presence shape the way we lead.Highlights: (01:27) From Nottingham to IBM, and 17 roles in 17 years (08:22) The women’s conference in Rome that changed everything (10:39) Taking a year off, stripping back identity, and rebuilding from scratch (18:22) Overcoming fear of horses, and the five minute lesson in true leadership (23:48) Buying a horse before knowing what she was doing, and not giving up (34:51) Reinvention advice, trust life, take the step, and build your supportGet in touch with Jude at:www.leadersbynature.comhttps://www.LinkedIn.com/in/judejennisonConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Witty, founder of Advantage Media, which he launched in 2005 from the spare bedroom of his home. What began as a done for you publishing system for busy business leaders has grown into a global authority building company serving thousands of clients across 50 US states and 13 countries.We explore how Adam’s innovative approach attracted Forbes, leading to the launch of Forbes Books in 2017, followed by partnerships with SXSW and Entrepreneur. From appearing on the Inc. 30 Under 30 list to leading a company recognised multiple times by Inc. 5000, Adam shares the reinventions behind the success. This is a conversation about resilience, authority and embracing change as fuel for growth.Highlights: (03:15) Early lessons in resilience and entrepreneurship (10:20) Launching Advantage Media from a spare bedroom (17:30) Reinventing after losing his first company (23:45) The Forbes partnership and building authority at scale (30:10) Why writing a book changes how the world sees you (34:10) Embracing change in the age of AIIf you’re looking to connect with Adam, he welcomes connections at [email protected], or visit theauthoritycompany.com and adamwitty.comConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Pownall, founder of Heather’s Media Hub, a purpose led digital strategy and communications consultancy working across healthcare, research, technology, cybersecurity and membership organisations.After nearly two decades in publishing, including 15 years in senior medical publishing roles, Heather made the bold decision in 2018 to leave corporate security and build her own consultancy from scratch.We talk about coming from a working class, risk averse background, navigating self doubt in the early years of business, and leading major digital transformation projects with measurable impact.Heather shares how loss, burnout and a later diagnosis of ADHD and dyslexia reshaped the way she works and leads. This is a powerful conversation about trusting your expertise, walking away when values no longer align, and building something that truly lasts.Highlights:(02:23) Leaving a secure senior role with no safety net(05:19) Early experiences of being dismissed at school(11:38) Thriving, then questioning corporate life(14:24) The leap into entrepreneurship and loss of identity(19:39) Discovering neurodivergence and reclaiming confidence(24:54) Reinventing again and stepping into bigger leadershipConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

This conversation with David Horne is one of those episodes that stays with you. David is an award winning entrepreneur, founder of Add Then Multiply, and a former CFO who has raised over £120 million and bought or sold more than 30 companies. He’s also a bestselling author and advocate for fairer funding, particularly for female and underrepresented founders. But this episode isn’t about titles or achievements, it’s about what happens when success falls apart and who you become on the other side of it.David shares his journey from global corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, the deep reckoning that followed a failed business, and the unexpected moments that helped him rebuild with more meaning, humility, and purpose. This episode is about resilience, starting again when things fall apart, and trusting that there is still something worth moving towards.Highlights: (02:06) How early travel sparked a lifelong pull towards reinvention (06:58) Failing a defining exam and learning how to recover (11:27) Moving countries and rebuilding identity from scratch (16:35) Burnout, corporate collapse, and walking away (19:01) Losing everything, denial, and a spiritual awakening (27:33) Why becoming an author can change everythingConnect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-horne/https://www.facebook.com/david.horne.967https://x.com/David_B_HorneConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

This episode is a deeply moving conversation with Anne Whitehouse, a former Cambridge scientist turned power alchemist.Anne shares how burnout ended her career in university engineering and became the doorway into a completely different way of understanding health, power, and identity. We talk about subconscious conditioning, inherited patterns, and why burnout and self-silencing are not personal failures.Anne also speaks with extraordinary honesty about losing her daughter, Rebecca, and how that devastating loss reshaped her work and her purpose.This is a powerful conversation about grief, trauma, and what it really means to rebuild yourself from the ground up.Highlights:(03:11) Childhood intuition and knowing there was more to reality(12:05) Burnout, misogyny, and the body saying no more(14:58) Illness as the doorway into deeper healing(24:15) Losing Rebecca and living with grief and PTSD(36:41) Rebuilding power and safety after traumaConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

This conversation fascinated me. Joseph McGuire has spent decades studying how we read people, not just through words, but through faces, bodies and behaviour. He’s taught the ancient Chinese art of face reading and body language since the 1980s, blending it with modern negotiation and interrogation skills to help leaders make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.We talk reinvention, intuition, and why so many people miss red flags in business and relationships. From C level hiring to dating dynamics, this episode is about seeing beyond the surface and understanding the person behind the title, before it costs you time, trust or millions.Highlights:(02:39) Realising you can read people long before you have language for it(06:01) Leaving Ireland and the reinvention that changed everything(11:13) Turning intuition into a practical, teachable skill(19:13) Why executive hires fail more often than we admit(29:28) Spotting red flags in high stakes interviews and relationships(34:56) Reinvention, trust and learning to see clearlyConnect with Joseph:Email: [email protected] profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-mcguire-face-facts/Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

I’m joined by Dayna Byfield, a burnout prevention strategist and keynote speaker, to talk about the kind of burnout that hides in plain sight. The “I’m fine” burnout, where you keep performing, adapting, and carrying everyone else until there’s nothing left. Dayna shares how being visibly different as a kid shaped her drive, her resilience, and her default setting of becoming whoever the room needed.We also dig into what makes her work different, she’s trained in interdisciplinary problem-solving and behaviour change, with 20 years across entrepreneurship, connection, biology, and cultural change. Dayna brings sporting performance principles (yes, including Formula 1) into leadership and well-being, pushing for supportive structures, not just louder “self-care” messaging.Highlights:(02:25) - “Little Dayna was always big Dayna”, and why being visibly different shaped everything(04:58) - The bullying moment that taught her to shapeshift to feel safe(07:58) - “I got two and a half A levels”, and how General Studies hinted at her real strengths(13:51) - The burnout that literally stole her voice, and the wake up call from the chairman(21:32) - When the good stuff (love, marriage, a baby) becomes the pressure cooker(30:33) - Back to uni, polymath energy, and her mission to redefine power as quiet and gentlewww.daynabyfield.com (launching soon)Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

I’m joined by Lee Chambers, Founder and CEO of Male Allies UK, and honestly, his story is a masterclass in reinvention. We go all the way back to growing up on a council estate in Bolton, being the kid who couldn’t stand unfairness, and how that same “I’ll step in” energy shaped everything that came after.After a career spanning corporate finance and building and exiting a tech company, Lee now helps organisations engage men in inclusion and build effective allyship. He’s a Great British Entrepreneur Award winner, was named 2023 UN Women Changemaker of the Year, and received the Freedom of the City of London in 2024 for services to equality in business.In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to rebuild after life knocks you sideways, and how allyship gets practical when it’s grounded in everyday choices, not just good intentions.Highlights:(03:15) - Growing up in Bolton, social justice instincts, and being “the kid who stepped in”(07:29) - University pressures, mental health struggles, and journaling before it was trendy(11:50) - Redundancy as a turning point, boiler room living, and starting a business anyway(16:29) - The health crisis that changed everything, losing mobility, then fighting to walk again(21:45) - Becoming a stay-at-home dad, loneliness, and the eye-opening baby group moment(34:35) - What Male Allies UK actually does, engaging men in inclusion and building real allyshipYou can connect with Lee Chambers at:https://www.maleallies.co.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leechambers-1/And get your copy of Lee’s book here: Momentum: 13 Ways To Unlock Your Potential.Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m chatting with the brilliant Jane Duncan Rogers, coach, author, former corporate HR high-flyer, accidental pioneer, and someone who has reinvented herself more times than most of us change phone contracts. Jane grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, learned to switch on confidence on purpose, and followed her curiosity through therapy, community living, travel, and building meaningful work.We also talk about what changed when Jane’s husband died, and how grief pushed her into a surprising new chapter, helping people face the practical realities of death without fear taking the wheel. If you’re standing on the edge of a change, Jane’s advice is simple, and quietly brave.Highlights:(02:27) Growing up in Belfast, and the moment she realised “normal” was not normal(05:08) How shy teenage Jane built a confidence persona, one awkward question at a time(10:04) A sudden death, a spiritual detour, and the decision to walk away(14:06) Cleaning toilets on a Greek island, then accidentally joining the management team(21:28) Widowhood at 54, the “hard questions”, and why end-of-life planning became her mission(29:03) Her best reinvention advice, do it, you will learn something either wayConnect with Jane:Writer of Embracing Ageing on Substack Author of 3 booksTedX speaker: How to Do a Good DeathWebsite: www.janeduncanrogers.com- Facebook - LinkedInConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

This final episode of 2025 is one of the most meaningful I have ever recorded. I share the moment I learned I had been awarded an MBE for services to publishing and diversity, and the wave of disbelief, emotion and gratitude that followed. This honour is not only mine, it belongs to every woman who has ever stepped into authorship, every writer whose voice was once quiet, and every person who believed in reinvention later in life.I look back at the early years of the Business Book Awards, the shock that sparked my mission for greater diversity, the women who joined my writing programmes and the extraordinary community that grew from those first conversations. I talk about the birth of the Phoenix Theory, my new partnership with Advantage Media Company and the exciting work ahead. As we enter 2026, I invite you to ask what wants to rise in you next.Highlights:(01:42) The moment I opened the letter announcing my MBE (04:55) How the Business Book Awards revealed a powerful truth (07:30) Why women’s voices needed championing and how Abu was born (09:48) The rise of the Phoenix Theory and what it represents (11:35) Becoming a partner at Advantage Media Company (12:55) A New Year invitation to notice what is ready to rise in youConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

This festive episode is a little different, because it is just me, sitting with the spirit of the season and reflecting on a year that has been full of growth, surprises and reinvention. I share what it has meant to navigate a year where life and work wove together in the most unexpected ways, and how moments of challenge, celebration and stillness have shaped my path. From the highs of book launches and awards to the quiet lessons that came from turning 71, this year asked me to grow in ways I could never have predicted.I talk about the joy of returning to the old Chelsea Library to launch my book, the thrill of seeing BookMagic AI win two major awards, the power of speaking on real life stages again, and the unexpectedly emotional experience of podcasting weekly with my childhood friend Lisette. I also reflect on the people who supported my mission, the milestones in my family life and the quiet truth that endings often hold the beginnings we need most. As we move towards 2026, I hope this episode gives you permission to pause, breathe and notice who you have become.Highlights:(01:38) Why the start of 2025 was difficult for so many entrepreneurs(04:22) Launching my fourteenth book in the library that shaped my childhood(06:55) Winning two awards for BookMagic AI and what it meant to me(08:48) The joy and vulnerability of podcasting the year of being 70(10:24) The mentors, partners and colleagues who shaped my year(13:05) My Christmas message and the power of reflection before a new chapter beginsConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

This conversation with Paul Avins is a remarkable look at what reinvention truly means when life hands you challenge after challenge. Paul is one of the UK’s most sought after scale up strategists and business coaches, known for helping founders grow multi million pound companies with practical, battle tested insight. Across more than 20 years, he has supported over 1000 clients to break the one million mark, with many scaling far beyond, and has built and sold several companies himself.Alongside this impressive track record sits a deeply personal story of adoption, dyslexia, identity shifts and a near death experience that changed him completely. Paul speaks with honesty, humour and emotional depth about the moments that shaped him and the shift from ego led ambition to service and contribution. His reflections on patience, seasons of growth and the courage to rebuild are powerful for anyone navigating change. This episode will stay with you long after you finish listening.Highlights:(01:46) How adoption shaped his earliest sense of identity(04:58) Growing up dyslexic and the search for self worth(09:32) The university moment that sparked a major life pivot(14:20) Reinvention as a slow burn, not just a dramatic event(24:35) The heart attack that became a defining rebirth(28:40) Paul 1.0 to Paul 2.0, shifting from ego to contributionConnect with Paul:www.paulavins.comwww.scaleupcoaching.comConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this conversation, Lisette and I travel through the many reinventions that shaped her life, from a spiritually attuned child who learned early to hide parts of herself, to a woman who rebuilt, rewrote and reclaimed her identity again and again. Lisette Schuitemaker is the author of seven books, a pioneering impact investor, and a respected board director and chair. She has worked across communications, entrepreneurship and personal development, co hosted The Year of Being 70 and is now writing The Inner Life of Money.Her honesty about depression, intuition and the power of choosing a different path offers a refreshingly human take on change. From entrepreneurship to healing work to impact investing, Lisette's story shows that transformation is rarely tidy, but it can be deeply liberating, and sometimes it brings you back to the truest version of yourself.Highlights:(01:30) How Lisette and I first met and the seeds of her earliest reinvention(04:10) Becoming a teenager who consciously reshaped her identity(08:45) The dream that ended her engagement and prompted a new path(13:32) Leaving a successful company when her conscience shifted(20:55) Naming lifelong depression for the first time and finding support(26:40) Training as a healer and discovering the work that reshaped her lifeYou can learn more about Lisette at:https://lisetteschuitemaker.com/Take her Childhood Conclusions Test at https://lisetteschuitemaker.com/test-your-childhood-conclusions/And connect with Lisette at https://linkedin/in/lisetteschuitemakerConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

Talking to Tony Robinson OBE felt like sitting down with someone who has lived nine different lives, each one shaped by courage, curiosity and a refusal to settle for anything that does not feel true. Tony is a multi business owner, speaker and author of nine books across entrepreneurship, fiction, satire and poetry. He chairs Yorkshire in Business, runs its Yorkshire Coast Workshops subsidiary and leads organisations he founded, including the Micro Business Alliance. His work across enterprise, education and advocacy has earned him an OBE, multiple lifetime achievement awards and a reputation as one of the UK’s most influential champions of small business.What I loved most is how Tony approaches every reinvention the same way he approaches writing, by following what he loves, staying open to surprises and trusting the clues life places in front of him. He has built and run businesses for decades with his long time business partner Clare Francis, campaigned for fairer treatment of micro business owners and helped shape national enterprise standards. Tony shows that reinvention is never about dramatic declarations. It is about movement, experimentation and letting the next version of yourself emerge through doing. His generosity, grit and belief in community run through everything he touches, and his journey is a reminder that it is never too late to reshape your life with creativity and purpose.Highlights:(02:41) The early reinvention sparked by illness and homeschooling(06:58) How sport, theatre and stubbornness shaped Tony’s identity(11:05) From English and Philosophy to trade unions and industrial relations(16:28) Walking away from corporate life to start from nothing(24:21) Funding cuts, collapse and rebuilding from the ground up(31:09) The sabbatical that led to Enterprise Rockers and a global movementConnect with Tony:Website https://TonyRobinsonOBE.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyrobinsonobe/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonyRobinsonOBE X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/TonyRobinsonOBEConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

I loved this conversation with Penny Hopkinson. She has one of those careers that looks like a straight line only in hindsight. From being the lone woman in technical journalism in the late 60s to becoming the Queen of Operations Manuals, her story is full of grit, curiosity, and a brilliant refusal to be boxed in. Penny shows that reinvention is not a single moment but a lifetime of choosing the next right step, even when the path feels wildly unconventional.Penny is now a leading specialist in systems and operations manuals, drawing on her years as a trade and tech journalist, Middle East correspondent, and quality writer. She is also the CEO of Manual Magic AI, her innovative app that helps organisations create clear, engaging SOPs with real ease. It all builds on her bestselling book Manual Magic, and her mission to make knowledge sharing work for every age, learning style, and ability.Highlights:(01:47) How Penny began her career in a male dominated world(04:35) The unexpected influence of her father and a 600 degree hot wire cutter(09:10) What she learned from interviewing business leaders(13:57) The moment Middle East journalism ended and a new path opened(21:17) Why video is becoming the single source of truth for training(27:23) How Penny built her Manual Magic AI app and what it can now doConnect with Penny:www.manualmagic.aihttps://waitlist.manualmagic.ai/ www.linktr.ee/pennyhopkinson   https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhopkinson Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I talk with Michael Serwa, one of the UK’s most in-demand coaches. Michael coaches the elite using his signature no-bullshit approach. Since 2011, he has built the most successful personal coaching practice in the UK. He is the author of From Good to Amazing and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including GQ, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, BBC, and Sky.Michael shares his extraordinary story of arriving in London from Poland with almost nothing, working his way up from retail to becoming a high-value coach for clients at the top of their game.We discuss what it really takes to reinvent yourself, why mindset trumps circumstance every time, and how desperation and inspiration can be equally powerful motivators for change. Michael’s journey proves that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable when you back yourself fully.Highlights:(02:27) – Growing up in Poland and the mindset that shaped him(07:53) – From Zara shop floor to management: the first big reinvention(11:16) – Discovering personal development and a new calling(13:58) – How redundancy forced him to launch his coaching business(21:15) – From broke coach to six figures and beyond(33:17) – Michael’s advice on radical reinvention and self-investmentConnect with Michael:Website: michaelserwa.comConnect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

This week, I sit down with the brilliant Sapna Pieroux - brand consultant, author, speaker, and self-proclaimed karaoke queen. Sapna shares her extraordinary story of reinvention, from postnatal depression to a cancer diagnosis and through the loss of her father, to rediscovering herself through joy, creativity, and community.We talk about what it means to rebuild your life after the unthinkable, how gratitude can ground you in your darkest moments, and why finding joy (even in the form of karaoke networking) can completely transform your outlook. This one’s about hope, humour and second chances.Highlights:(03:40) – Life after postnatal depression and the first reinvention(06:20) – From corporate life to entrepreneurship and authorship(10:40) – Facing breast cancer and choosing to pause the business(12:20) – Healing, grief and rediscovering purpose(17:10) – Singing, joy and the birth of The Notworkers(20:10) – Building BrandVisions.AI and creating a legacy project(23:50) – How joy and visibility became her new brand(26:20) – Gratitude, purpose and finding meaning in hardship(28:40) – Embracing visibility and freedom in midlifeConnect with SapnaLINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sapnapieroux/WEBSITEhttp://www.innervisions-id.comAPP WAITLISThttps://waitlist.brandvision.app/Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

Before sharing other people’s stories of second chances and fresh starts, I wanted to begin with my own. At 40, everything I thought I was fell apart - my marriage, my career, my sense of identity. What followed wasn’t just survival, it was a masterclass in starting again. In this first episode, I open up about how I rebuilt my life piece by piece and discovered that reinvention isn’t a one-time event, it’s a lifelong rhythm.From career collapse to new family, from business creation to tech startup founder at 70, this is the story of rising from every ending with a little more courage and a lot more clarity. Highlights:(04:10) - Reinvention as a lifelong rhythm, not a single moment(08:59) - Building new family, work, and self in my 40s(14:50) - The power of small decisions that spark new chapters(18:06) - Creation, visibility and fire in my 60s(24:30) - Becoming a 70-year-old tech founder and podcast host(27:00) - What reinvention really means: becoming more yourself every time you start againKey Insights:When everything falls apart, you have to start over.Reinvention begins in the silence that follows collapse.You turn your life around by reframing pain as purpose.Reinvention keeps us young and vibrant.A single small decision can open a door to new opportunities.Creation is a form of reinvention that leads to personal growth.Women's voices need to be amplified in the publishing world.Embracing technology can lead to exciting new ventures.Lightness of body can lead to lightness of mind and spirit.Reinvention is about redesigning our lives, not just recovering from setbacks.Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

Life doesn’t always go to plan, but reinvention is where the real magic happens. I’m Lucy McCarraher- author, entrepreneur, and serial reinventor, and in The Phoenix Conversations, I talk to people who’ve turned collapse into courage and setbacks into spectacular comebacks. From rebuilding careers and relationships to rediscovering purpose and passion, these are stories of second chances and powerful new beginnings. Whether you’re craving a fresh start or standing on the edge of change, this podcast reminds you it’s never too late to rise again - because your next chapter could be your best one yet.Connect with Lucy:Website - https://bookmagic.aiTikTok - @lucymccarra Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthorFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/