The Rise and Hive

This week we’re riding the high from an incredible in-person event that left us reflecting on why we started this journey in the first place.We talk about the power of connection, the magic that happens when people come together, and what it means to create spaces where people feel seen, heard and encouraged to take a step towards the things they really want.Which is quite fitting, because in a moment of being big, bold and brave, we spotted an opportunity and asked Paul Merson if he’d come on the podcast.And he said yes.Cue a mad dash as we scrambled to look professional, set up an official email address, and convince ourselves we absolutely belong in these conversations.One of this week’s biggest takeaways?You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.Ask for what you want. The worst someone can say is no. Sometimes they surprise you and say yes.Elsewhere, there are further developments in the ongoing bin saga. The new food waste collections have officially begun and, in a dramatic turn of events, Liane’s bin went missing on day one. The role of Bin Ambassador has never been more demanding.We celebrate some brilliant wins in Braggers Corner, share the Glory of the Ordinary, and finish as always with gratitude.Connection. Courage. Community. And a missing bin.Just another week at The Rise and Hive. 💛

This week we’re tackling a very important question…What’s your stance on Yorkshire puddings?Are they reserved exclusively for a traditional roast beef dinner, or are they welcome alongside any roast? Do they belong on a Christmas dinner? How many are you having? And perhaps most importantly… are you team crispy bottom or team stodgy?As expected, we have strong opinions.We also revisit last week’s potato debate, where the people have spoken and roast potatoes have emerged as the clear winner. Quite right too.And in a surprising subplot, we hear how broadcaster Liz Kershaw became unexpectedly invested in Liam’s salt consumption during a recent holiday, leading to some serious questions about acceptable seasoning levels.Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and unsolicited salt commentary.Just another normal week at The Rise and Hive.Short, snappy and guaranteed to make you hungry.

This week we’re riding the high that comes from being around people who are doing brave things.You know the feeling. Hearing someone’s exciting plans, celebrating their wins, watching them take a leap, and somehow finding yourself feeling a little braver too.We talk about the positive ripple effect of connection and why courage can be contagious.We also share the story behind the name The Rise and Hive Podcast and where it all began. Bringing together Northern Rise and The Hive Within, our mission has always been simple:Creating a hive built on connection that gives people the courage to rise into their true selves.Elsewhere, there is an urgent update on the food waste bins. Some residents have become a little overexcited and started putting them out ahead of schedule, forcing the council to intervene on social media. Naturally, Liane has accepted her unofficial role as Bin Ambassador and self-proclaimed Champion of the Bins.Braggers Corner shines a spotlight on Cam and the launch of her new business, including the badass photoshoot she’s booked as she steps boldly into this next chapter.Connection. Courage. Community. Compost caddies.And as always, we finish with gratitude.

This week we revisit last week’s ear cleaning debate and can confirm… despite all official advice, absolutely everyone is still using cotton buds. Mostly on a wet ear.Then onto this week’s important question…What’s your favourite type of potato?Because for us, potatoes are an elite food group. Roasties, mash, chips, waffles, dauphinoise… we support all potato activity in this house.The only issue?Liane would like you to keep your butter to yourself.We get into our potato rankings, the versatility of the humble spud, and why no one can really be trusted if they “don’t like potatoes.”Short, carby and deeply important listening.

This week we’re talking about comparison and how easy it is to look at where someone else is in their chapter while completely forgetting the blood, sweat, tears, failures and setbacks it probably took to get there.Because most of the time, we’re comparing ourselves to someone else’s highlight reel… not the full story.We also have some big news, we’re applying for the Independent Podcast Awards 👀A very real example of taking our own advice and going for it before we feel “big enough” or established enough. Big, brave, bold moves and all that.Elsewhere, there’s exciting bin chat as the new food waste bins finally arrive, because we know this is the sort of update our listeners have come to expect from us now.Real life, mindset shifts, courage, compost caddies and as always… gratitude.

This week we revisit last week’s shoes on or off debate and somehow end up on an important side quest… should dogs be allowed on beds?For us, it’s a hard yes.Then onto this week’s Question of the Week…How are you actually cleaning your ears?Because if you’re not using cotton buds for ears… what exactly are you using them for?We unpack the great cotton bud confusion, our questionable habits, and somehow end up taking a sharp turn into a completely unverified history lesson involving a man, a feather, and making himself vomit through his ears.Do not quote us on any of this.Short, chaotic, lightly educational and absolutely not medically endorsed.

This week we’re talking about the reality of having a wobble… and how easy it is to get pulled into negative self talk when life feels heavy.We both share some of the challenges we’ve faced over the last week and the importance of recognising what’s actually happening before disappearing down the spiral. Sometimes the answer is tapping into your toolbox, using the things that help you re-regulate, reset and move through the feeling instead of getting stuck in it.We also get into our frustration with the media and the way women are so often treated as easy targets. After the recent backlash around Jemma and Stacey Solomon’s  PR trip to Miami, we unpack why tearing women down continues to be such low hanging fruit.There’s also a conversation around deep listening after we realise there have been a few very real moments on the podcast where we absolutely were not listening to each other properly… and yes, apologies were required.Elsewhere, Liane gives an important update on the new toothbrush situation, and Melissa delivers genuinely groundbreaking news… she has cleaned her AirPods.As always, we finish with gratitude.

This week’s Question of the Week gets unexpectedly divisive…Shoes on or off in the house?What about house shoes?Is that technically the role of a Croc?What if you’re just nipping to the bin?And are you actually enforcing these rules with visitors… or quietly judging them afterwards?We also ask the important question, does the rule only apply if you’ve got carpets?Plus, we revisit last week’s crisp debate and the nation remains split. Potato crisps are strong contenders, but can anything really beat the flavour of a maize-based crisp?And finally… Melissa’s “no chocolate for Lent” situation needed revisiting, with some questionable bending of the rules that absolutely needs unpacking.Short, snappy, and guaranteed to make you look at your hallway differently.

This week we’ve both been on our travels again, Melissa headed to Manchester to see Tame Impala, while Liane took on the glitter, glamour and intensity of the Open World Schools Championships at Blackpool Tower.Somewhere between concerts, dance competitions and filling the car up with fuel, we found ourselves reflecting on what it actually means to feel rich in life, and how much of that comes down to being values aligned rather than chasing material things.There’s also a strong Glory of the Ordinary section this week, featuring Liane’s electric toothbrush giving up on life, the emotional rollercoaster of nearly losing the electric blanket too, and a genuinely concerning moment involving what appeared to be skid-marked knickers… which thankfully turned out to be fake tan.A false alarm, but an important one nonetheless.Real life, small joys, slight chaos and the usual gratitude to finish.

This week we revisit last week’s deodorant debate and the people have spoken… there’s not much love for a roll on - apart from Liane’s brother-in-law, who proudly uses an unscented ladies roll on (there was judgement).Some die-hard Dove fans are still willing to splurge, while others are only now discovering the actual price of deodorant and frankly, aren’t coping well.Then onto this week’s important question…Do you prefer a potato-based crisp or a maize-based crisp?Turns out people feel VERY strongly about this. We uncover some shocking revelations around cheese and onion, confess to demolishing family-sized bags solo, and take a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a good old Scampi Fry.Short, snappy, salty in more ways than one… and guaranteed to make you crave crisps by the end of it.

This week we’re talking about the highs and lows… or the ebbs and flows… of life, and how quickly your mood and energy can shift from the smallest things.Comparison creeping in? Very real.One tiny thing throwing your whole vibe off? Also very real.We get into the power of self awareness, honest communication, and recognising what’s actually going on before you disappear into a spiral or take it out on everyone around you.Melissa gives an update on her injured foot, which at this point is giving strong dead person vibes, while Liane brings some genuinely exciting Glory of the Ordinary in the form of a fresh bumper pack of Sharpies.Small joys. Mood swings. Real life.And as always, we finish with gratitude.

This week’s Question of the Week is more divisive than you’d think…Are you loyal to a deodorant brand… or are you just following the price?We get into it, from the reality of “natural” deodorants (good for the planet… questionable for anything else), to the absolute unenjoyment of a roll-on (why is it so wet?), and the quiet rage of the pink tax.Melissa also makes it known… she loves the smell of man. Make of that what you will.Elsewhere, the biscuit chat continues as house chocolate enters the conversation, and we uncover a revelation… how are you actually supposed to pronounce Blue Riband?Short, snappy, and full of opinions you didn’t realise you had.

This week we’re unpacking Melissa’s community fundraising event… and like most worthwhile things, it came with both highs and lows.The highs?Fun, laughter, dancing, connection, and raising money for a good cause.The lows?People turning up early and derailing the prep plans… plus Melissa admitting she maybe wasn’t her best self in the stress of it all. (Liane needed to have a quiet word.)We also meet some unexpected new podcast followers at the local cricket club, proving once again that your people can appear where you least expect them.Elsewhere, we get into limited edition KitKats, Liane’s rekindled love affair with pickled onions, and Bragger’s Corner rightly shines a light on Melissa for completing her coaching course, Reiki course, and pulling off a cracking event.Real life, real wins, a few wobbles, and as always… gratitude.

This week’s question of the week… and we’re not going to lie, we didn’t enjoy this one.Would you rather have a hand for a foot… or a foot for a hand?It raises more questions than answers. Practical ones. Important ones.How are you picking your nose?What’s happening with socks?And does this completely disrupt the foot pic economy… or take it to a whole new level?We get into it (reluctantly), and somehow commit to an answer.Plus, we revisit last week’s KitKat debate and come in with a firm decision on whether it’s a biscuit or a chocolate bar.Short, snappy, slightly unhinged… and guaranteed to make you question things you didn’t need to question.

Life’s been… a lot this week.Melissa’s been in the thick of it, busy, overwhelmed, and trying to keep up, and we get into how the podcast has been her anchor. In slightly less emotional but equally important news… Melissa has a new hoover (a Shark, no less), and what’s been happening with the old one turns into a surprisingly weighty bit of Glory of the Ordinary.Bragger's Corner is back, and this time it’s Melissa stepping up, now officially a Level 2 Reiki practitioner.Liane, meanwhile, has manifested an elephant. As you do.It’s a mix of real life, small wins, and finding your feet when things feel full.And as always, we finish with gratitude.

In this bonus episode, Liane shares her journey with vulnerability, starting from a belief that many of us carry without even questioning… that she could never.That thought shaped more than she realised, until she decided to challenge it in a big way… signing up for a marathon after doing one run.We get into the real stuff, the “I’m not good enough” narrative, the fear of fear itself, and the moments where imposter syndrome creeps in and tries to keep you playing small.This is about what happens when you stop keeping those thoughts to yourself and start saying them out loud. Because when you do, they lose their power.It’s an honest conversation about pulling back the curtain on the doubts, the worries, and the things we all think we’re the only ones feeling.Turns out… we’re not!

After last week’s deep dive into your personal rules for eating food off the floor (we learned a lot)… a new debate emerged.Is a KitKat a biscuit… or a chocolate bar?This week’s Question of the Week takes a turn into serious territory as we unpack the elite tier of biscuits. The ones that actually deserve a spot at the top. The dependable ones. The underrated ones. The controversial ones.There are opinions. Strong ones.So we need yours.What is your biscuit of champions?Ask your friends, your family, your colleagues, anyone who’ll entertain the conversation, and report back to @theriseandhivepodcast.Short, snappy, and guaranteed to start an argument in the group chat.

This one covers a lot…After Melissa opened up in our bonus episode, we’re talking about the response - thank you!Meanwhile, Liane is firmly in the snot phase of illness (you know the one), and Melissa makes a confession that might divide the room… blowing your nose without a tissue. We’ll let you decide where you stand.Braggers Corner is shining bright, big love to Morven for her marathon achievements, and to Christopher for passing his driving test.There’s the usual Glory of the Ordinary (including the petrol price situation!) and we revisit our Stardust and Soil challenge, which involved a 2 and a half hour somatic breath work experience that involved a fair bit of… unexpected manhandling.As always, we finish with gratitude.

After last week's shocking discoveries about those of us who are plate lickers, we had to keep the momentum going.This week's question:You've dropped your food on the floor... are you still eating it?We're diving into the real rules of the 3 second rule. Are you strict with it, stretching it to 5 or 10, or pretending it never applied to you in the first place? Furthermore, does it hit different it's its hot... or worse, sticky?As always, we want your answers so ask your friends, your family and your colleagues, and report back to the @theriseandhivepodcast on instagram.Short, snappy, and slightly exposing. Just how we like it.

This one’s a bit different.In this bonus episode, Melissa shares what really came up for her on her first solo trip, and how it became a bit of a full circle moment.We talk about what it means to actually be vulnerable (not just say you are), facing the parts of the last year that haven’t been easy, and what happens when you give yourself the space to figure things out on your own.There’s something in here about independence, self-trust, and becoming more of who you already are… even if that feels uncomfortable at times.It’s honest, it’s a bit raw in places, and it’s a conversation that goes deeper than our usual episodes.If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding it together on the outside but know there’s more underneath, this one’s for you.

This week we're taking you behind the scenes of what it actually looks like to figure this all out in real time, including the humbling realisation that our USB-C mics are very much not Bluetooth.There were moments. But we stuck with it, learned a lot, and turned a bit of chaos into something we're genuinely proud of.We're also celebrating our new jingle (and yes... we think it's a banger), getting into the usual glory of the ordinary with hair washing schedules, outfit confessions, and the small things that make up real life.Plus, a big moment for us, our very first Bragger's Corner shoutout. Big up Jay - Sobriety Life & Mindset Coach for stepping forward and sharing his success https://www.instagram.com/fifteen3forever?igsh=NHkxejI3dzFvZnV4As always, it's honest, a bit messy, and soaked in gratitude.If you’re loving the journey, come and follow us over on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theriseandhivepodcast?igsh=MWtueXVmaG9wb3Q0dQ== 💛Lots of love L&M 💋

Liane and Melissa are exploring cutting edge questions that everyone wants to know the answer to.After the furore of the great towel and flap drying debate, we tackle a new questions - are you licking your plate after your tea?Ask your friends, family, colleagues and nail tech and report back on the @theriseandhivepodcast instagram page.Its short and snappy and designed to give you a little mid week pick me up.

Episode 5 and… we’re official, baby.This week, we’re talking about the pressure to be a “perfect pigeon” and why it’s holding so many women back. From overthinking photos to holding ourselves to impossible standards, we’re exploring the gap between how things look and how they really feel.Melissa shares reflections from her first solo trip and the reminder that some of the best things in life are actually the simplest, connection, fresh air, and getting out of your own head. There’s a deeper conversation coming on mindset, because there’s a lot to unpack here.We also celebrate launching our new insta page and dive into Liane’s Stardust and Soil challenge.Expect the usual mix of northern chat, small wins, and a bit of chaos, including bin drama, foisty flap concerns, and continuing the very important question of how often you are all washing your towels!

Episode 4 and we’ve come full circle.Melissa goes back to a letter she wrote to herself in March 2025… and it turns out, she actually did the thing. What started as an idea is now a podcast, and we get into what can really change in a year.Then, as always, it takes a turn. We’re asking the big questions… how are you drying your flaps? And how often are you actually washing your towels? It’s confession corner meets glory of the ordinary, and nothing is off the table.It’s honest, it’s a bit chaotic, and it’s very us. Alongside the laughs, there’s gratitude, a few mindset shifts, and the usual nudges you didn’t know you needed.So… what did you say you’d do this time last year? 👀

Okay… so maybe it didn’t flop, but it definitely didn’t go to plan.This week we’re unpacking last week’s “fail” where we forgot to hit record. But it’s not really about that. It’s about fear, the fear of getting it wrong, and all the ways we hold ourselves back from the things that actually bring us growth (and a bit of joy).From our own amateur moment to taking a leaf out of James Dyson’s book, we’re getting honest about why we don’t do the things we know we should… usually because we’re too busy worrying what other people might think.There’s the usual chaos. A confession that really should’ve stayed private (nose-picking… and where it ends up), plenty of bin craic, and the reminder that maybe it’s time to stop overthinking and just get on with it.And of course, we’re finishing with our gratitude and a few golden nuggets we’re taking from the week.

Episode two and we’re getting honest. From dirty knickers and the confession that gym gear doesn’t always get washed… to the unexpected highlight of bin day and the questionable promise of a sex swing in the loft. It’s chaos, it’s real life, and it’s very northern. Alongside the laughs, Liane and Melissa share their usual gratitude, mindset shifts, and a few golden nuggets to take with you.If you loved today’s conversation, come and join our community over on Instagram. Follow us at @northern.rise and @thehivewithin.

In our first episode, we introduce ourselves and share how this podcast came to life. What started as daily voice notes between two friends quickly became something we didn’t want to keep to ourselves. We talk about the joy of capturing the ordinary, reflecting out loud, and sharing the small insights that come from real life. Expect honest conversations about mindset, gratitude, supporting other women, and the beauty of the everyday.