Every L Podcast

Ep 54 | reDEFINEd Success: How Losing My Business Helped Me Rediscover My True Identity feat. Ashley Verma

Our guest this week is Ashley who opens up about the struggles and losses she experienced, and how they ultimately led her to reDEFINE her own understanding of success. We delve into the importance of being kind to ourselves and the power of self-love and affirmation. Ashley's story serves as a reminder that through difficult times, it's crucial to acknowledge our own worth and treat ourselves the way we do our loved ones.
Ashley's journey not only transformed her as a mother and wife but also as a business owner. We explore her path from a successful dance career to opening a thriving boutique studio in London, to the unexpected closure brought on by the pandemic up to the creation of her new business and podcast Bizzimumzi.
Here are 3 talking points from the episode:
1. The importance of self-care and self-kindness2. The power of self-reflection and sharing personal struggles3. Resilience and adapting to change
Join us as we navigate through Ashley's empowering story, and discover how she discovered her true identity and built a brand with her daughter. We'll also touch on the joy of community and the importance of giving back. Stay tuned until the end, when Ashley graciously offers words of advice and encouragement for all our listeners.
Be sure to follow me on IG for exclusive content @EveryLPodcast
More about Ashley and Bizzimumzi:
Bizzimumzi was created by Ashley Verma’s own experience of becoming a first-time Mom in February of 2020. “Becoming a parent is life-changing. It’s a gift and lets be real… It’s terrifying! Once the little bundle of joy arrives, you quickly realise this isn’t all perfect Instagram shots. No, this is now all about survival!”
 
Ashley Verma – self-proclaimed “ always coffee-infused” – was born and raised in Moundsville, West Virginia. She began a professional Broadway career at just 19, performing on Broadway and around the globe. It was while performing that her fitness career began, teaching sold out classes and personal training the elite. Jumping the pond with her British husband, she launched her first fitness business Define London. Ashley’s fitness business was thriving pre-COVID-19, and she was the go to personal trainer for the likes of celebrities Jourdan Dunn, Pippa Middleton, Lorena Rae and Lisa Snowden.
The global pandemic gave Ashley the harsh slap of reality when she found her Define London brick and mortar having to close down. Forced to pivot to virtual practices, she had just given birth to her daughter, Adiya, and her husband was frequently travelling to Uganda building his solar energy business. She felt overwhelmed, finding great struggle at times, but began to combat the postpartum depression by sharing ‘Mommy and Me’ workouts and vlogging adventures with Adiya on their Youtube channel, Bizzimumzi.
Celebrating her daughter’s first birthday, Ashley began to feel a bit more normal in a ‘new normal’ world. She and her husband were expecting a second child, but things took on a tragic turn at 12 weeks when they received news of a miscarriage. “Motherhood, parenting…. It’s bananas! I found myself spiralling, depressed with the miscarriage news. I was doing my best to be the best for Adiya while grieving the loss of my child. There is no baby book for this, It’s life!”
Surrounded by family and friends, Ashley was encouraged to start a podcast about her journey and bring on other Bizzimumzi’s to share their life experiences. Ashley’s journey creating Bizzimumzi has been beyond therapeutic for her and through weekly feedback after a podcast launch, so does her following.
The Bizzimumzi community is not just about the pretty bits. Ashley and every Bizzimumzi is unapologetically At Its Best, even when “At Its Best” has paint on the walls, cries filling the room, and you haven’t washed your hair in 4 days. We All Got This!
X (Twitter): @BizzimumziInstagram: @BizzimumziFacebook: Bizzimumzi
 

Ep 54 | TRAILER | reDEFINEd Success: How Losing My Business Helped Me Rediscover My True Identity feat. Ashley Verma

The full episode goes live on Monday 4th September 2023 at 7am BST
 
Please help more people hear these incredible stories by sharing, rating and reviewing the podcast 👊🏾
for exclusive content follow me on IG @everylpodcast

Ep 53 | Becoming a Solo Dad: Navigating Loss, Healing, and Empowering Others Along the Way feat. Alec Grant

Alec is a solo dad who has navigated loss, healing, and empowerment along the way. In this heartfelt conversation, I delve into the challenges of becoming a widower and the importance of support during difficult times. During the conversations, you will hear Alec talk on:
coping with grief
finding purpose in adversity
and empowering others
This episode holds a special place in my heart and I hope you are inspired and uplifted.Be sure to follow me on IG for exclusive content @EveryLPodcast
More about Alec:
TBC

Ep 53 | TRAILER | Becoming a Solo Dad: Navigating Loss, Healing, and Empowering Others Along the Way feat. Alec Grant

The full episode goes live on Monday 28th August 2023 7 am BST
 
Please help more people hear these incredible stories by sharing, rating and reviewing the podcast 👊🏾
for exclusive content follow me on IG @everylpodcast

Ep 52 | Defying The Odds: My Unexpected Path to Motherhood feat. Steph Bennett

Today, we'll dive deep into the unexpected path that our guest, Steph, took to become a mother. We'll be exploring the emotions Steph felt when faced with the news that having children might not be possible, and how they navigated the world of fertility treatments, dating, and self-discovery. We'll also be discussing the importance of finding support, the impact of societal pressures, and the incredible power of trusting your instincts.
I hope you are encouraged and motivated to pursue your dreams regardless of if you can follow the traditional route or create your own.
Follow us on Instagram: @EveryLPodcast for exclusive content
More about Steph:
Solo mama, marketing and social media consultant, and host of For the Love of Kids podcast.
Stephanie is a marketing and social media consultant with twenty years of experience and has worked for some incredible brands during that time including Nespresso, Lavazza, Pernod Ricard, Google, Gatwick Airport, RSPCC, Harrods, Hotels.com, and Great Ormond Street Hospital. 
Now a freelance consultant she provides marketing and social media services, website development, produces podcasts, is a mentor, trainer and business development strategist. She’s also launched a parenting podcast, 'For the Love of Kids' to share her experiences and those of others; a passion project inspired by her pursuit of becoming a solo parent and raising a toddler. 
Steph is never one to shy away from following her instincts, Steph believes in never settling for anything less than butterflies and has found real purpose in working on the things that really matter to her in life.

Ep 52 | TRAILER | Defying The Odds: My Unexpected Path to Motherhood feat. Steph Bennett

The full episode goes live on Monday 21st August 2023 7 am BST
 
Please help more people hear these incredible stories by sharing, rating and reviewing the podcast 👊🏾
for exclusive content follow me on IG @everylpodcast

Ep 51 | Finding Success on Your Own Terms: My Journey Without Drama School feat. Ashley Joseph

Ashley is my latest guest and shares his incredible journey in the performing arts industry, sharing his experiences and insights. Topics that will be covered include:
The Power of Grounding and Advocacy
 Navigating Auditions and Opportunities
Overcoming Setbacks and Rediscovering Creativity
To have this conversation with someone as talented and inspiring as Ashley is a joy. It further proves that no matter how "successful" someone can appear it may not be how they see themselves and you don't always know what they have been through to get where they are.
I hope you are encouraged and motivated to pursue your dreams regardless of if you can follow the traditional route or create your own.
Follow us on Instagram: @EveryLPodcast for exclusive content
More about Ashley:Ashley is a commissioned writer. He has just finished writing on Series 2 of the Award-winning BBC series JoJo & Gran Gran and is currently writing on Series 3. Credits include 5’s A Crowd, 13:60, The BBC Radio 1Xtra take it on advert, The drawing board. His adaptation of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice which received 4-star reviews from The Times and Everything theatre.
TV and Film include:SLHD (Amazon Prime), Al Cowlings in Nicole and OJ, All About the McKenzies (ITV2), Laur and Disorder (Masked Pony Productions), Lenny Henry’s Funny Black Singles (Leopard Films, BBC Comedy), EastEnders (BBC) and Strapped (Central Films). Ashley voices the role of Jared in the first Black British BBC animated series JoJo & Gran Gran which can currently be seen on CBeebies and the BBCiplayer streaming service.
Theatre credits include:Red Dirt (Arcola Theatre), Jack and The Beanstalk (The Shaw Theatre), The Bubbly Black Girl and Robin Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Aladdin (DeMontfort Hall Leicester), The Warriors LDN (The Barbican), Look Black in Laughter (Hackney Empire), Look to the sky (Half Moon Theatre UK tour), Twelfth Night (Nottingham Playhouse), Locked In (Half Moon Theatre National Tour), The Blacks (Stratford East), Father’s and Son’s (The Albany Theatre), The Dong (London Bubble) and Sugar Snap (Soho Theatre).
Presenting credits include:The Sir Ashley J & DJ B-Radz Live Nation takeover show, Saudia Arabia Formula E Concerts, (Live Nation), Latitude Festival, Dubai Music Week (Live Nation), MTV Base, BBC’s Radio1 Hackney Weekend Festival, The 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, torch relays (BBC & CH4), Serious About StreetDance Championships (Indigo o2). Ashley is the Emcee for international Hip-Hop show BLAZE (Holland, Bahrain, Belgium, Berlin and Dubai). He is also the presenter and co-creator of the UK hit improvised comedy show, ACTing Up!
 

Ep 51 | TRAILER | Finding Success on Your Own Terms: My Journey Without Drama School feat. Ashley Joseph

Full episode goes live on Monday 14th August 2023 7am BST
 
Please help more people hear these incredible stories by sharing, rating and reviewing the podcast 👊🏾
for exclusive content follow me on IG @everylpodcast

Ep 50 | Growth Happens At The Edges: Overcoming Loss and Finding Purpose feat. Anni Townend

Anni shares her transformative experiences with humanistic psychology and one-to-one therapy. She discusses her journey from living in the countryside, to leading workshops and partnering with leaders. Anni opens up about the significant loss and shock she experienced with her first ectopic pregnancy and how it affected her sense of purpose and direction.
Anni shares her personal story of loss and finding meaning, and how she was eventually able to become a proud mother of two daughters despite initial doubts. Anni highlights the significance of her name and reflects on her experiences in the gardening world, drawing inspiration from permaculture and the concept of growth happening at the edges.
I am impressed and grateful to have had the opportunity to have this conversation with Anni. Her honesty, resilience, and unique perspective on personal growth make for an inspiring episode.
Follow me on Instagram: @EveryLPodcast for exclusive content
More about Anni:
Anni Townend is a Leadership Partner, Coach and Mentor to Executive Teams and Senior Leaders, as well as being an Author, Facilitator, Entrepreneur and Podcast Host of Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend.
With more than 30 years’ of experience, Anni has built a strong reputation of unlocking leadership confidence, capability and performance in organisations across various markets. She has also written extensively on the topics of Assertiveness and Diversity in the workplace.Anni passionately believes in the power of open conversation and is known for incorporating the Walk and Talk in all her work - in-person and virtually - with individuals, teams, and large groups in organisations. She is skilled at helping create a safe environment in which people feel seen, heard and understood and are able to have the conversations that matter to them.
Socials:Instagram: @leadersinconversationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anni-townend-leadership

Ep 50 | TRAILER | Growth Happens At The Edges: Overcoming Loss and Finding Purpose feat Anni Townend

Full episode goes live on Monday 7th August 2023 7am BST
 
Please help more people hear these incredible stories by sharing, rating and reviewing the podcast 👊🏾
for exclusive content follow me on IG @everylpodcast