The Solo Coach

Ever wondered why great leaders seek to understand, before seeking to be understood?

In this week's episode of The Solo Coach Podcast I sit down with Fiona Kearns, Business Psychologist and long-time member of Headingley Speakers and the Public Speaking Association to discuss the challenges of leadership, how to build healthy high-performing teams and what we can learn from Toastmasters about leadership and building personal confidence.

In our great conversation, Fiona shares her own personal career journey as well as what led her to public speaking, and what she's learned from it. I even manage to sneak in a cheeky table topic at the end!

I highly recommend this episode to anyone who's wondering what a Business Psychologist does or who is interested in finding out more about Toastmasters or the PSA.

Thank you to Fiona for being a stellar guest 🌟

Listen now - https://www.thesolocoach.co.uk/podcast

What can the West learn from the East? And what can the East learn from the the West?

A few months ago, I delivered a coaching workshop for the Global Networking Group organised by Lisa Howell. Afterwards, one of the attendees, Klaus Schmitt, reached out to me for a chat.

That conversation quickly turned into one of the most fascinating podcast interviews I've recorded to date.

Originally from Germany, Klaus has spent over 20 years living and working in Shanghai, China, building a life and career helping leaders, entrepreneurs and organisations navigate the complexities of communication, leadership and culture.

In Episode 45 of The Solo Coach Podcast, Klaus shares his remarkable journey from Germany to China, the lessons he's learned along the way, and the cultural differences he's observed between East and West.

We explore everything from communication styles and leadership to work-life harmony, curiosity, adaptability and why, perhaps more than ever, we need to become less judgemental and more understanding of one another.

This conversation challenged some of my own assumptions and left me reflecting deeply on how we connect, communicate and collaborate, both professionally and personally.

If you're curious about leadership, culture, personal growth, travel, or simply understanding people a little better, I think you're going to enjoy this one.

Episode 45 of The Solo Coach Podcast is available now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music: https://www.thesolocoach.co.uk/podcast

Last weekend my friend James and I cycled just over 100 miles from Leeds to Scarborough via the back roads, including the dreaded Hanging Grimston climb: 1.3 miles at an average gradient of 10%, with ramps up to 20%.

It was a tough day in the saddle. A long slog into a gentle headwind, with a chilly sub-10° start.

Initially, I felt strong, and by the first of our two café stops, I thought our pacing was spot on.

However, Leeds Marathon road closures at the start of the ride, combined with a spot of pre-ride faffing, meant we set off later than planned.

That delay had a knock-on effect throughout the day.

By the time we reached our second café stop at around 66 miles, we realised we were going to need to put in a serious effort if we wanted to make it to the seafront for fish and chips and a cold beer before catching our train home.

James absolutely emptied the tank, pulling us along at around 25mph for over an hour. After that, we took turns on the front, each giving the other chance to recover.

Eventually, I cracked.

I stopped at the side of the road and lay down in the verge completely spent, right at the point we really didn’t have time for it.

Thankfully, my teammate was there to pick me up.

After a pep talk and a few words of encouragement, we climbed back onto our two-wheeled steeds and attacked the roads to the coast with everything we had left.

And somehow, we made it.

Just enough time for fish and chips on the seafront, which we ended up finishing on the train back to Leeds.

The obvious lesson is probably: Set off earlier next time. And check for road closures beforehand.

But for me, the bigger takeaway was the power of teamwork when things get difficult.

Sometimes, you simply need somebody beside you to help you keep believing you can make it. Somebody to encourage you when your energy dips, share the load, and remind you what you’re capable of when your head starts telling you otherwise.

We got there because we worked together. And honestly, I think life works better that way too.

Who might you need on your team this week to help you reach your destination? Or who might need you on theirs?

It's that time again... Time for a new episode ( #44!) of The Solo Coach Podcast! 🥳

This week, I’m joined by Fliss Lee, branding specialist and founder of Honest Folk, for a thoughtful and honest conversation about building a business that actually works for you.

We talk about so much more than just “brand” in the traditional sense. This is about identity, boundaries, and the often overlooked reality that many of us end up building businesses that look great on the outside… but don’t feel right on the inside.

Fliss shares her journey from designer to brand coach, how burnout forced her to rethink the way she worked, and why so many of us get stuck in the trap of doing what we think we should be doing, rather than what we actually want.

A taster of what's to come:

• Why your brand is so much more than your logo
• The identity shift that comes with truly understanding your value
• How to set boundarieswithout losing opportunities
• Letting go of “should” and designing your business on purpose
• Why everyone has a brand, even if they’re employed

I’ve also been really enjoying Fliss’s own podcast, Do Your Thing – a brilliant listen for small business owners trying to build a business that actually works for them. It’s honest, relatable, and full of "me too!" moments.

Listen to Episode 44 here: https://thesolocoach.co.uk/podcast

I've a confession to make.

I absolutely flipping adore public speaking, and watching great speakers in action.

The best leaders I've experienced and look up to are those who are masters on stage. They captivate the hearts and minds of their audience. They make you want to believe in them and follow them, even if you've only just met them.

And this week I've had the pleasure of attending a fantastic Presentation Masterclass led by the marvellous Paul McGee, as well as the Toastmasters International District Final.

I've been deeply moved by the stories and vulnerability shown on stage by these true leaders in their fields. The sort of speakers who make you feel like YOU matter, and that YOUR contribution as the audience is valued and needed to make their presentations complete.

To solidify my learning and share some of the gifts I've received this week, I've recorded Episode 43 of my podcast, where I share my Top 5 Public Speaking Lessons from these world-class speakers.

Episode 43 is now available to listen: https://www.thesolocoach.co.uk/podcast

Who's your favourite speaker, and why?

Mine is Martin Luther King Jr., for standing up for what he believed in and inspiring millions with his words.

Had an absolutely fantastic day at the Presentation Masterclass with Professor Paul McGee aka The SUMO Guy, PMA International Limited.

Paul skillfully walked us through how to create presentations that are impactful and captivate your audience.

We also learnt the importance of capturing our audience's attention in the first and last 90 seconds of our presentation, ways to use questions to engage the audience and how to use quotes, stories and the power of 3 for ensuring our content lands well and reaches hearts and minds.

I loved meeting the other delegates, and had lunch sat with an MD, three salespeople with over 100 years' sales experience between them and learnt lots about the optics industry.

I often feel like the people with, and places where, we spend our time are as important as what we spend our time doing. And today, I was in the presence of TITANS! 💪🏻

Next up: the Toastmasters District Final in Liverpool this weekend! Roll on Saturday 🥳🥳

Happy Hump Day! How's your week going? Making rigorous progress or ready for the weekend already?

I'm somewhere in between! Although I'm glad to say, closer to the former than the latter.

Have a great Wednesday everyone 🤠

Who here has ever thought about writing a book?

It is something that has been on my mind for a long time, and this week on The Solo Coach Podcast I speak with someone who helps coaches turn that idea into reality.

My guest is Helen ONeill, Portfolio Career Specialist, Future of Work Coach and founder of Coach Write, where she helps coaches turn their expertise into published books.

Helen shares her journey from a 25 year corporate career that no longer felt right, to building a portfolio career centred around coaching, writing and helping others bring their ideas to life.

In this conversation we explore:
• Why so many coaches feel the pull to write a book
• How writing can become a powerful journey of personal development
• The identity shift that happens when you become an author
• Practical ways to overcome the blank page and actually get started

Helen’s story is deeply relatable, and if you have ever felt that quiet nudge to write a book of your own, this episode might be exactly what you need.

Listen in all the usual places here:
https://www.thesolocoach.co.uk/podcast

And do take a look at Helen’s work if the idea of writing a book speaks to you. She really knows her stuff when it comes to helping coaches turn their knowledge into something lasting. Thanks for your listen! 😁

Who else finds marketing a chore… and secretly thinks it’s a bit of a dark art?

Who else has tried posting consistently, only to realise they were really just “posting and hoping”?

And who would love some tried, tested and timeless advice… completely free?

Well, I’ve got some good news.

Episode 41 of The Solo Coach Podcast is now live, and I’m joined by Ryan Austin, founder of Big One Marketing.

We talk honestly about what marketing actually means in 2026, and what small and medium-sized businesses need to focus on if they want to stand out from the crowd.

Inside this episode, we explore:

• Why shouting louder is not the answer
• The difference between marketing and sales
• Why consistency beats intensity
• Common mistakes business owners make
• How to know when it’s time to get help

It’s a conversation between two friends who are also clients of each other, reflecting on marketing, coaching, and the very real challenges of running a small business… especially when you’re selling something people cannot physically see.

If marketing has ever felt overwhelming, confusing or frustrating, this one is for you.

Tune in wherever you get your podcasts:

https://www.thesolocoach.co.uk/podcast

Howdy folks! 🤠

Today I'm excited to release a conversation from before Christmas, with the fantastic Lauren Firth, founder of Be Reyt Social.

We'll be finding out how Lauren started her business, and hearing from a social media expert on how to craft an authentic message and how 'the numbers' don't always tell the full story.

We'll also be talking about the highs and lows of running your own business, including facing into rejection and how to establish a sense of work-life harmony. (Spoiler alert: We're both still working on it!)

I really enjoyed my chat with Lauren, and it's impossible not to feel uplifted and inspired by her style, approach and outlook. Thank you, Lauren!

Listen here: https://www.thesolocoach.co.uk/podcast

And do subscribe, leave a review and share if you enjoyed the episode.