In this episode, I’m joined by Sophie Bell, Managing Director at Toast, to talk about what authentic brand storytelling really looks like in practice. We explore why keeping your message simple matters, how to connect with your audience in a genuine way, and why trying to say too much often dilutes your impact.

Sophie shares her experience of working with brands across documentaries, advertising, and branded content, and explains the idea of story finding, identifying real voices and real stories that naturally align with your brand. We discuss how to avoid overwhelming your audience, the role of honesty and transparency in building trust, and why letting go of control can actually strengthen your message.

We also talk about the pressure to create constant content, particularly video, how to focus on quality without burning out, and how AI can support creativity for small businesses, not replace it.

If you want to strengthen your content, clarify your message, and approach authentic brand storytelling with more confidence, this episode will give you practical insight and reassurance.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and meet Sophie Bell

01:00 What story telling means for brands

02:20 How successful brands tell simple, effective stories

04:30 Choosing one clear message for your content

07:10 What authenticity really looks like in brand storytelling

09:20 Polished versus informal content and what works best

11:40 Creating quality content without burnout

14:40 Quality versus quantity in brand content

18:45 Why AI is not just for big companies

22:05 How AI can elevate creativity and storytelling

27:05 First steps for experimenting with AI

Find Sophie here:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

LET’S CONNECT

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Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To Life

If you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/support

Mentioned in this episode:

Support this podcast for the price of a coffee

if you loved this episode please consider sending me a one-off tip. It helps me to keep bringing this podcast to you, for free. If you'd like to support this podcast, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/support

Getting Started on Amazon Checklist

If you’re planning to start selling on Amazon, this free checklist covers the key things you need in place before you list your products. It’s a simple way to make sure you haven’t missed anything important. Download it here: https://mailchi.mp/72c24952cf50/amazon_checklist

Are you unsure whether to choose a free or professional Amazon selling plan?

This episode dives into the key differences between the two options to help you make an informed decision.

This episode aims to clarify which selling plan might be best suited for your needs, whether you're just starting out or ready to scale your business.

Mentioned in this episode:

The costs involved in selling on Amazon: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c29dd180-03c9-48b9-9e3c-c232514805ca/

LET’S CONNECT

Join my free Facebook group for product makers and creators

Follow me on YouTube

Find me on Instagram

Work with me

Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To Life

If you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/support

Mentioned in this episode:

Getting Started on Amazon Checklist

If you’re planning to start selling on Amazon, this free checklist covers the key things you need in place before you list your products. It’s a simple way to make sure you haven’t missed anything important. Download it here: https://mailchi.mp/72c24952cf50/amazon_checklist

Get your free Amazon set up checklist

Support this podcast for the price of a coffee

if you loved this episode please consider sending me a one-off tip. It helps me to keep bringing this podcast to you, for free. If you'd like to support this podcast, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/support

What does inventing a product really look like behind the scenes?

In this episode, I’m joined by Zoe Chapman, inventor of The Whizzer, the world’s first compact, unisex portable toilet. Zoe shares how a very real parenting problem turned into inventing a product that’s now used by families, campers, travellers and adults with medical needs.

We talk openly about the realities of building a product based business, from manufacturing and protecting your idea, to appearing on Dragon’s Den, selling on Amazon, and managing growth without big budgets or a team.

This is a friendly, honest conversation for anyone thinking about inventing a product, or already building one and wondering if what they’re experiencing is normal.

In this episode, we cover

1. How Zoe went from an idea on paper to inventing a product people genuinely need
2. Knowing when there’s enough demand to take a product to market
3. What manufacturing really involves when you don’t have funding
4. The reality of Dragon’s Den, before filming and after it airs
5. Selling on Amazon, visibility, margins and learning as you go
6. Burnout, resilience and why your why matters more than anything

If you’re building a product business and feeling overwhelmed, this episode will help you feel reassured, informed and far less alone.

Find Zoe here

www.whizzer.co.uk

Instagram handles @kiddiwhizz @whizzer_world

Facebook: Kiddiwhizz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-a-chapman

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and meeting Zoe

03:00 The problem that led to inventing a product

08:40 Validating the idea and understanding demand

13:00 Manufacturing, factories and protecting your product

20:10 Behind the scenes of Dragon’s Den

25:00 What happens after the show airs

35:00 Selling on Amazon and managing margins

50:00 Lessons learned, burnout and resilience

01:03:15 Final advice for product based founders

LET’S CONNECT

Follow me on YouTube

Find me on Instagram

Work with me

Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To Life

If you enjoy this podcast, and you’d like to leave a tip, you can do so here: