In this insightful and empowering episode of Nurture Your Zest, host Ashleigh King sits down with business exit strategist and operations expert Laurie Stirling to unpack what it really takes to build a business that doesn’t rely on you to survive. From her early beginnings in Australia to building and exiting a 14-year business, Laurie shares a powerful story of resilience, reinvention and redefining what success looks like on your own terms.

With honesty, clarity and a refreshingly practical approach, Laurie dives into the systems, mindset shifts and strategic thinking required to scale sustainably.

Key topics discussed:

🌵 From survival to strategy

Laurie shares her journey growing up in challenging circumstances, the pivotal moment that shaped her relationship with money, and how that experience fuels her mission to help others build financial independence through business.

🌵 Why you are not the problem in your business

Many founders believe they are the bottleneck, but Laurie explains why it’s almost always a system issue, and how shifting this mindset can unlock growth and reduce overwhelm.

🌵 The 5 business bottlenecks every founder faces

From brand awareness to cash flow, Laurie breaks down the five key stages where businesses get stuck — and how understanding your bottleneck can transform your results.

🌵 Stepping into the CEO role

Using the powerful “captain of the ship” analogy, Laurie explains why founders must move beyond doing everything themselves and instead focus on vision, strategy and direction.

🌵 Systems, delegation and scaling sustainably

If systems feel overwhelming, this episode offers practical, accessible ways to start — including how to document processes, delegate effectively and build a team that complements your strengths.

🌵 Building a business that can run without you

Laurie shares how she transitioned from running a business to helping others step back, scale up, and even prepare for exit — creating freedom, flexibility and long-term value.

🌵 Entrepreneurship, identity and mindset

From fear of visibility to capacity challenges, this conversation explores the internal blocks that hold founders back — and how to “lock in” and take action anyway.

Chapters

00:00 From leads to systems
02:05 Laurie’s journey: from Australia to entrepreneurship
05:56 Building a business from scratch (before social media)
09:52 Financial independence and the drive behind Laurie’s work
11:42 Adapting to change: technology, AI and staying ahead
12:57 The role of a founder: captain vs operator
16:32 Understanding business bottlenecks
17:56 The 5 bottlenecks explained
23:14 Using data to make smarter business decisions
25:07 When systems feel overwhelming
27:12 Strengths, weaknesses and building the right team
29:44 Customer personas vs real paying clients
31:23 Letting go: delegation, control and leadership mindset
34:02 Simple ways to start building systems
37:06 From bookkeeping to business exit strategist
42:25 Creating scalable impact and extracting IP
45:17 The power of collaboration and learning in community
47:15 Life beyond business: creativity and balance
48:16 Laurie’s “one word” to Nurture Your Zest

Links & Resources

Visit Laurie Stirling’s Website

https://www.lauriestirling.com/

Connect with Laurie Stirling on LinkedIn

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lauriestirling

Laurie’s Bottleneck Quiz

https://bottlenecks.scoreapp.com

Check Out Laurie’s Art Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ladylaurieartist

Connect with Your Host, Ashleigh King

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-elizabeth-king/

This podcast was filmed at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio. 🦩

If you would like to record a podcast or have any questions about starting a podcast please write to: 💌 bookings⁠@flamingoheights.co.uk ⁠

⁠www.flamingoheights.co.uk⁠

In this vibrant and thought-provoking episode of Nurture Your Zest, host Ashleigh King sits down with neurodiversity advocate and community builder Holly Knight, founder of Learn, Grow, Thrive.

Known for her unmistakable neon green hair and equally bright energy, Holly shares her deeply personal journey of discovering her neurodivergent identity, learning to unmask, and building spaces where young people feel seen, supported and empowered.

With honesty, humour and refreshing bluntness, Holly reflects on the realities of growing up neurodivergent, navigating burnout, masking, social expectations and the pressure to “have life figured out” in your twenties.

She also shares the powerful story behind Learn, Grow, Thrive, the programme she created to support neurodiverse young people aged 16–25 to find their passions, build confidence and explore meaningful opportunities beyond traditional pathways.

This episode is a celebration of authenticity, individuality and the courage it takes to show up in the world exactly as you are.

Key topics discussed:

🌵 Neurodiversity and self-acceptance
Holly shares how discovering her ADHD and autism helped her better understand herself and why masking throughout school left her exhausted. She reflects on the journey of unmasking and why embracing her “neon green energy” became a powerful act of self-acceptance.

🌵 The power of authenticity and unmasking
From being told she is “too blunt” to learning how authenticity builds stronger relationships, Holly explores the importance of showing up as your true self, even when it challenges social norms.

🌵 Learn, Grow, Thrive
Holly explains how her experience of feeling unsupported as a young neurodivergent person inspired her to create Learn, Grow, Thrive, a project helping young people aged 16–25 discover their passions, develop skills and access opportunities often overlooked in traditional systems.

🌵 Navigating burnout and boundaries
Holly opens up about ADHD burnout, the challenge of saying “yes” to everything that feels exciting, and the importance of setting boundaries, pacing yourself and learning when to rest.

🌵 Finding purpose in your twenties
The conversation explores the pressure many young people feel to achieve life milestones early, and why Holly believes your twenties should be about exploration, curiosity and discovering what truly matters to you.

Chapters

00:00 Embracing Vibrancy: The Power of Colour and Identity
02:33 Navigating Chaos: Finding Order in the Unpredictable
05:48 The Journey of Self-Discovery: Unmasking and Authenticity
09:52 The Challenges of Neurodiversity: Burnout and Boundaries
11:21 Supporting Young Minds: Learn, Grow, Thrive and Other Projects
15:03 Holly’s Kryptonite
17:11 Chaos, Structure and Being Blunt
23:02 Navigating Modern Dating and Communication Challenges
26:40 Friendship Dynamics and Neurodiversity
30:32 The Pressure of Adulthood and Societal Expectations
37:20 Finding Purpose and Creating Impact
43:15 The Importance of Rest and Self-Care

Links & Resources

Learn More About Learn, Grow, Thrive

celebratedifference.co.uk/tag/learn-grow-thrive/

Connect with Holly Knight on LinkedIn

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/holly-knight

Connect with Your Host, Ashleigh King

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-elizabeth-king/

This podcast was filmed at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio. 🦩

If you would like to record a podcast or have any questions about starting a podcast please write to: 💌 bookings⁠@flamingoheights.co.uk ⁠

⁠www.flamingoheights.co.uk⁠

CONTENT TRIGGER WARNING:

Listener and viewer discretion is advised.

Sensitive topics covered in this episode include:

Murder, violent crime, loss and bereavement, grief and trauma, mental health challenges, and financial stress.

If you find this topic upsetting and need any additional support, we’ve included some helpful resources below:

www.samaritans.org

mind.org.uk

www.informationnow.org.uk/article/bereavement/

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/money-and-mental-health/

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In this special International Women’s Day 2026 episode of Nurture Your Zest, Ashleigh King steps into the guest seat for a deeply personal and powerful conversation with Charlotte Nichols, founder of Harvey and Hugo and host of the PRsonal Podcast.

For the first time, Ashleigh swaps interviewer for interviewee, opening up about grief, trauma, entrepreneurship, money mindset, self-worth, and what it truly means to build a business rooted in purpose.

With honesty and vulnerability, she shares how the murder of her best friend at 21 reshaped her relationship with storytelling, how trauma can quietly influence leadership and identity, and how reclaiming her voice through podcasting became an act of healing.

This episode is a celebration of women’s resilience, creativity and courage, and a reminder that vulnerability is not weakness, but a superpower.

Key topics discussed:

🌵 Personal grief and growth

Ashleigh reflects on losing her best friend Joe to murder while studying journalism, and how that trauma caused her to step away from her dream career. She shares how grief resurfaces unexpectedly, how trauma responses show up in everyday life, and how storytelling can both heal and re-trigger.

🌵 Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio

Ashleigh shares the story behind Flamingo Heights, the bright, light-filled podcast studio she built after being made redundant and pivoting during COVID.

🌵 Vulnerability as a superpower

Ashleigh explores how smiling through trauma can be a coping mechanism, and how vulnerability, when handled responsibly, can unlock courage in others.

🌵 Resilience, money mindset & entrepreneurial reality

This episode also moves into the very real pressures of running a creative business.

🌵 Community and support

Ashleigh shares why she believes holding space for others is a gift — and why she’s learning to receive as much as she gives.

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Links & Resources

Visit Harvey and Hugo

harveyandhugo.com

Tune in to The PRSonal Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/@HarveyandhugoPR

Watch Ashleigh’s PRSonal Podcast Episode

https://youtu.be/9kUK2-RX_6g?si=5winv2deLEE_TwkF

Connect with Charlotte Nichols on LinkedIn

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/charlottenicholsharveyandhugo

Connect with Your Host, Ashleigh King

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-elizabeth-king/

This podcast was filmed at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio. 🦩

If you would like to record a podcast or have any questions about starting a podcast please write to: 💌 bookings⁠@flamingoheights.co.uk ⁠

⁠www.flamingoheights.co.uk⁠

Join your host, Ashleigh King, as she welcomes Reverend Zoe Heming - ordained minister, Canon for Mission at Newcastle Cathedral, disability advocate, and bold female leader, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about faith, AI, intuition, disability, and the urgent need for community in a divided world.

From asking “Are we making AI God?” to exploring what it means to lead vulnerably as a disabled woman in the Church, Zoe brings wisdom, courage, and curiosity to every topic.

Together, Ashleigh and Zoe dance through big questions about spirituality in the digital age, social justice, identity, inclusion, and what it really means to live in community.

Themes of this conversation:

🌵 Are we creating a new God in AI?

Exploring technology, spirituality, confirmation bias, and the responsibility we carry in an age of large language models

🌵 Faith, tradition & reason

Why zooming out matters, and how history, scripture, and curiosity help us navigate cultural polarisation

🌵 Intuition & female leadership

Trusting your instinct in a world that has historically silenced women

🌵 Disability as a gift (even when you didn’t ask for it)

Zoe’s journey into chronic pain, wheelchair use, and what vulnerability teaches us about leadership

🌵 Mary vs Martha energy

Presence, productivity, neurodiversity, and why listening might be more radical than doing

🌵 Community over individualism

Why “humans can’t save ourselves” and why thriving requires shared narrative, shared responsibility, and shared humanity

🌵 Inclusion without curation

Holding space for diverse experiences without weaponising identity

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This episode is for anyone navigating:

Faith in a modern world

AI and spirituality

Female leadership

ADHD and neurodiversity

Disability and identity

Social justice and inclusion

Or simply the longing for deeper community

Zoe reminds us that our limitations may be gifts, that curiosity is a spiritual practice, and that we are most alive in relationship with others.

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who’s wrestling with big questions about faith, identity, technology, or belonging.

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Chapters:

00:00 Exploring Community and Connection

02:44 Navigating Social Justice and Faith

06:14 The Role of AI in Modern Society

12:09 Intuition and Female Leadership

12:50 Embracing Diversity and Inclusion

16:09 The Importance of Listening and Presence

27:04 Navigating Life's Challenges and Disabilities

30:10 The Intersection of Faith and Disability

31:39 Embracing Limitations as Gifts

35:34 Vulnerability in Leadership and Community

38:52 Personal Identity Beyond Labels

42:54 Creating Inclusive Spaces for Diverse Experiences

45:54 The Importance of Listening and Learning

50:04 Nurturing Joy and Connection

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Important Links & Resources

Newcastle Cathedral Website

https://newcastlecathedral.org.uk/

Connect with Zoe on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/revdzoe/?hl=en

Learn More About the Newcastle Cathedral Team

https://newcastlecathedral.org.uk/learn/about-us/meet-the-team/

Connect with Your Host, Ashleigh King

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-elizabeth-king/

If you liked this episode, you may also like this one:

https://youtu.be/fydAMoBNTxg?si=HqZP-isUTLcWbh6g

This podcast was filmed at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio. 🦩

f you would like to record a podcast or have any questions about starting a podcast please write to:

💌 bookings⁠@flamingoheights.co.uk ⁠

⁠www.flamingoheights.co.uk⁠

That's right, Nurture Your Zest is BACK! 🌵

Season 4 of Nurture Your Zest is on its way, and we’re bringing you a fresh lineup of thoughtful, inspiring, and beautifully honest conversations.

This season, we’re sitting down with creative minds, purpose-led founders, and community builders who are doing things their own way. Embracing growth, navigating change, and building lives and businesses that nurture their zest.

If you love honest chats, curious minds, and stories that leave you feeling fired up (and slightly obsessed), you’re in the right place.

This season, we’re exploring what it really looks like to:

🌵 Build something meaningful

🌵 Embrace difference and turn it into your superpower

🌵 Lead, create, and grow in ways that feel aligned, not forced

🌵 Ask bigger questions about success, purpose, and community

🌵 ... and how to Nurture Your Zest, of course!

Season 4 launches Wednesday 19th February 2026, hosted by Ashleigh King 🎙️

-

🎧 Need to catch up? Tune in to previous seasons below:

https://youtu.be/61qFbb0RWfc?si=fC5Z1PbDw0QwjGjw

Why not connect with us on socials?

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/nurtureyourzest/?__d=1%2F

LinkedIn

https://uk.linkedin.com/company/nurtureyourzest

Nurture Your Zest is recorded and produced at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio 🦩

https://www.flamingoheights.co.uk/

Join your host Ashleigh King as she welcomes Mayira Thomas – poet, educator, speaker, and founder of Mayfly Coaching – for a heartfelt and profound conversation that spans identity, healing, emotional intelligence, and the power of truly being seen. Mayira brings a deeply rooted, cross-cultural perspective to her work.

Themes of this conversation:

🌵 Growing up between cultures, navigating assumptions and identity, and how these early experiences shaped Mayira’s mission to help others feel seen

🌵 The emotional weight young people often carry – from racism and cultural expectations to being silent caregivers – and why nurturing safe spaces is essential

🌵 Reframing how we see teenagers, especially boys, and giving them the tools to process emotion, build confidence, and ask for help

🌵 The importance of emotional self-leadership in adults – and how awareness, boundaries, and better communication create healthier homes and communities

🌵 Mayira’s creative and spiritual journey – from writing poetry and meditating in nature to embracing solitude, breathwork, and the beauty of slowing down

🌵 Why she believes creativity isn’t a luxury, but a survival tool – and how self-expression, not perfection, can lead us to personal freedom

Connect with Mayira Thomas:

💻 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/mayflycoaching/

⁠📲 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-lord-cpc-authentic-action?originalSubdomain=uk

⁠This podcast was filmed at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio. If you would like to record a podcast or have any questions about starting a podcast please write to: 💌 bookings⁠@flamingoheights.co.uk ⁠⁠www.flamingoheights.co.uk⁠

Join your host Ashleigh King as she chats to Christina Lord – coach, creative, breathwork facilitator, and soulful strategist who helps people reconnect with their true selves, navigate life’s messy middle, and reignite their inner spark.

Themes of this conversation:

🌵 The power of energy and embodiment – how emotions are “energy in motion,” and why tuning into your body is the first step to transformation

🌵 Living through the dark night of the soul – from grief and burnout to quitting her job, ending a 16-year relationship, and travelling the world to rediscover herself

🌵 Learning to listen to the whispers – why ignoring the “niggles” can lead to crisis, and how compassionate curiosity can guide us back to alignment

🌵 Breaking up with ‘shoulds’ and people-pleasing – how Christina stopped abandoning herself and began building a life rooted in radical honesty, boundaries, and self-trust

🌵 Letting go to grow – navigating life’s endings and beginnings, and why change, grief, and heartbreak can be unexpected invitations to rise

🌵 Rediscovering creativity and softness – how reclaiming play, presence, and feeling deeply can help you find your way home to yourself

🌵 Why breath is everything – from coaching to breathwork, how reconnecting with the breath can shift your nervous system, your perspective, and your life

Connect with Christina Lord:

💻 Website: https://www.authenticactioncoaching.com/

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-lord-cpc-authentic-action?originalSubdomain=uk

This podcast was filmed at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio. If you would like to record a podcast or have any questions about starting a podcast please write to: 💌

bookings@flamingoheights.co.uk

www.flamingoheights.co.uk