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In this first of our 'summer specials' episodes, we chat with political scientist of China, published author and TED speaker, Chris Kutarna. As an intellectual and academic he usually spends his time thinking, writing and bringing diverse groups of people to think differently together. But that all changed when Covid hit and Chris's new normal was as the middle man between Chinese manufacturers and western governments panic buying Personal Protective Equipment. If you want to connect with Chris he's https://twitter.com/ChrisKutarna on Twitter or https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniker/ on LinkedIn. Seeking Out is a podcast about everyday people with interesting experiences to share. In our first series we focused on the next generation of under 30s and we are working on bringing a second series or The Next Generation in the Autumn. In between these two we will be bringing you ad hoc special episodes over the summer. -- About Seeking Out -- Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share. Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK. And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences. Due to the social distancing measures, this episode of Seeking Out was recorded on Zencastr! The Seeking Out team: Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher Roberts Show idents: Ellie Beaven Music: AudioNetworks, Tom Summers Design and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan Channon Social Media: Adele Burrows Editing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher Roberts Storytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel Miller Researcher: Kath Russell Transcription: Juliet Gupta Executive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

Have we got a treat for you this week! To mark and celebrate the end of our first series, we have put together a 'Best Of' special episode featuring all of the Seeking Out team's favourite moments from the last 16 episodes. If you have dipped in and out during the series or are a new listener, then this episode is the perfect way to get a feel for what Seeking Out is all about. We will be returning after the summer with a new series. In the mean time, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter (on our website) or subscribe to the podcast on Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from, that way you will be notified when the new series drops.Thanks to all of you for listening and encouraging us, thank you to all of our guests and a very big thank you to the amazing Seeking Out team: Lou Bray, Ellie Beaven, Adele Burrows, Dylan Channon, Annabel Miller, Ella Maher Roberts, Kizzy Bray, Tom Summers, Juliet Gupta, David Boddington and Kath Russell. Thanks also to our two sponsors (Storm and Dialect) who have supported us throughout the last 3+ months.-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.Due to the social distancing measures, this episode of Seeking Out was recorded on Zencastr!The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

On this week’s episode Seeking Out co-host Lou Bray interviews presenter and gamer Shay Thompson. We tap into the games industry, and learn about Shay's experiences from the early days as a runner to more recently presenting the finals of a sim-racing tournament. Shay also talks about the challenges of being a black woman in the games industry and we find out more about her own initiatives to make gaming more inclusive.If you want to find out more about what Shay is working on, you can find her presenting Glass House Games on YouTube or discover more about the Level Up Link Up initiative on Twitter, @leveluplinkup.-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.Due to the social distancing measures, this episode of Seeking Out was recorded on Zencastr!The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week we delve back into the world of young entrepreneurs and we ask, "How the hell does a music graduate end up running a company that makes mind-controlled, beer-pouring robots?" And the answer comes from our guest, Ed Howell, who is the Managing Director of Thirsty Thoughts, a company focused on marrying technology with drinks!If you want to find out more about Thirsty Thoughts, pop along to their website and you can also follow them on Instagram (@thirstythoughtsteam).-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.Due to the social distancing measures, this episode of Seeking Out was recorded on Zencastr!The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week, we speak with Millie Clare, the 21 year-old founder of the inclusive cosmetics brand, Human Beauty. We find out what drives Millie's mission to make cosmetics accessible to all and how her own disability has become her critical edge in the world of beauty.You can find out more about Human Beauty on their website humanbeauty.co.uk, and you can head over to Instagram (@humanbeautyldn) and you can also connect with Millie (also on Instagram) here @milliefclarex.-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.Due to the social distancing measures, this episode of Seeking Out was recorded on Zencastr!The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

We are in the process of editing a few more interviews which we will share with you in the next few weeks, so in the meantime, we have something a little different for you this week.Regular listeners of the podcast will know that we always end every episode of Seeking Out by asking our guests to share their mantra or favourite inspirational quote. So, sticking to that theme, this week we have a short episode about mantras. More specifically... about the mantra that has guided Seeking Out co-host, David Maher Roberts. Where it comes from, what it means to him and how and when hr found myself leaning heavily on its meaning.-- About Seeking Out -- Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week we talk with Femke Vroom whose passion for dance from a very early age saw her push herself and overcome a load of obstacles so that she could compete at the Dutch national championships, then the Europeans and finally The World UDO Championships for Street Dance which took place in Scotland during the summer of 2018. She tells us about that amazing year and what happened on the road to Glasgow.You can find out more about The UDO World Championships on their website. And if you want to connect with Femke on social media she's @femke.vroom on Instagram!-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.Due to the social distancing measures, this episode of Seeking Out was recorded on Zencastr!The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week we speak with diversity and inclusion advocate, Joyann Boyce about her journey from studying Psychology to setting up her own social media marketing agency, The Social Detail. You can find out more about The Social Detail on their website. And if you want to connect with Joyann on social media she's on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.Due to the social distancing measures, this episode of Seeking Out was recorded on Zencastr!The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

For this episode, Seeking Out's Annabel Miller interviews ethical fashion designer Sarina Saddiq about the challenges of starting up and running Smart Squid, an eco clothing brand that recognises climate change as one of the most pressing issues of this generation.-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded in a cafe in the city of Bath (before lockdown!).The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week, we talk with Kenna Ngoma, whose story is a heady mix of Manchester City Football Club, alcohol-infused ice cream and The Apprentice (yes, the TV show!). If you want to find out what kind person ties all of these things together, then lend us your ears for 20 mins...If you want to connect with Kenna on socials he's on Instagram and Twitter. -- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded using Zencastr.The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign and Artwork: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Adele Burrows, Annabel MillerResearcher: Kath RussellTranscription: Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week, we speak with startup CEO, Dana Lattouf. Back in 2013, Dana arrived from Jordan to study Business Administration at Bath University. At the end of her 4-year degree, she turned down the kind of job offer that graduates would normally snatch up... and instead of getting a good salary and paying off her student loans, she decided to take a massive leap and build her own business.You can connect with Dana on Linked In.This is the third episode in our entrepreneur-centric mini series - if you missed the other episodes (Ep 4 with Paul Hetherington and Ep 5 with Georgia Stewart), you can download them on Apple Podcast, Spotify or on our website.-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded in the Seeking Out studios in Bath.The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsEditors: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Researchers: Kath Russell, Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week on Seeking Out, we speak with Amber Conroy who in 2017 at the age of 15 engaged with the Repeal the 8th movement in Dublin (Ireland) which ignited a passion for activism and women's rights. We discover how and why she connected to this cause and how it continues to influence her today.You can connect with Amber on instagram - @ambieconroy - and you can also find out more about the Seeking Out podcast on our website.-- About Seeking Out --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people who have inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded in Hertfordshire in the autumn of 2019.The Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsEditors: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Researchers: Kath Russell, Juliet GuptaExecutive Producers: David Boddington, David Maher Roberts

This week's episode follows a young musician, singer-songwriter in the band Hum Fuzz. He shares his story - a continuing pursuit of passion for music.He describes how the band started out, how his degree at BIMM is helping him and even gives advice for other young musicians.If you want to connect with Leo on social media he is @only.slightly on Instagram and you can find Hum Fuzz on Spotify and on Instagram (@hum_fuzz) You can also find out more about the Seeking Out podcast on our website.-- Show Notes --Seeking Out the Next Generation is a podcast about everyday people with inspiring stories to share.Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded via Zencastr (yes, we are socially distancing).Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsStorytellers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Researchers: Kath Russell, Juliet GuptaExecutive Producer: David Boddington

Part 2 of our series of entrepreneur-focused interviews in which we try to understand what makes a startup CEO tick. This week, we chat with Georgia Stewart, CEO of Tumelo - a financial technology business that enables investors and pension contributors to influence the businesses that they invest in.If you want to connect with Georgia on social media she is @iamgeorgias on Twitter and the company is @tumelohq and their website is https://www.tumelo.com/. You can also find out more about the Seeking Out podcast on our website.-- Show Notes --Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find them on Twitter @StormUK.And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded at Runway East co-working space in Bristol.Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks, Tom SummersDesign: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsResearchers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Kath Russell, Juliet GuptaExecutive Producer: David Boddington

This week we talk with Paul Hetherington, a 22-year old CEO and co-founder of Neuro AI - a business that makes computers specifically for Artificial Intelligence. This is the first of a number of interviews we are doing with the next generation of entrepreneurs to find out about their business but also about what makes them tick as people. If you want to connect with Paul on social media he is @phethers on Twitter and the company's Twitter handle is @AiNeuro and their website is www.neuro-ai.co.uk. You can also find out more about the Seeking Out podcast on our website.-- Show Notes --Seeking Out is supported by Storm, an agency that builds world-class digital products and services for startups, scale-ups and corporate innovators. Find us on Twitter @StormUK. And also by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of engaging tech and gaming audiences.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded in our Bath studios.Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworks + Tom SummersDesigners: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsEditing: Kizzy Bray, Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsResearchers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Kath RussellExecutive Producer: David Boddington

This week we meet Sarah, who has battled with chronic pelvic pain since childhood. No longer happy having her voice unheard, Sarah uses social media to advocate for change in women’s healthcare and to create a safe space where women can share their experiences and ask for support, without fear of judgement. “The momentum and seeds of change come from grassroots activists that are on social media that are talking to people and getting people riled up and leading people to find a voice... because if they didn’t have their voice on social media, they might not know how to use it.”  If you want to connect with Sarah on social media she is @mypelvicpain on Instagram. You can also check out her website https://www.mypelvicpain.co.uk/And find out more about Seeking Out on our website.-- Show Notes --Seeking Out is supported by Dialect, the full service marketing agency that specialises in the art and science of audience engagement.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded in Oxford and Bath.Seeking Out team:Co-hosts: Lou Bray, David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworksDesigners: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsResearchers: Ellie Beaven, Ella Maher Roberts, Kath RussellExecutive Producer: David Boddington

"I get an adrenaline rush. I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I love feeling scared and a tiny bit sick before I go on stage. But it's not the same fear of failure now... more, this is something I really enjoy. I really like speaking in front of people and I like the buzz that it gives me."This week we meet Siena, a 16-year old actor/entrepreneur/youth politician who develops ninja-like public speaking skills early in her life and has a big impact in both the worlds of startups and politics.If you want to connect with Siena on social media she is @siena_jw on Instagram.And find out more about Seeking Out on our website.-- Show Notes --Seeking Out is supported by Dialect, the content and media agency that specialise in the art and science of audience engagement.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded outside Society Cafe, Bath and partly in Dialect's studios in the centre of Bath.Credits:Guests: Siena Jackson-Wolfe, Wendy from St Albans Amateur Theatre Group and Mohammed Aidid.Interviewer and researcher: Louise BrayHost: David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworksDesigners: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsProducers: Louise Bray, David Maher RobertsExec Producer: David Boddington

“I think I’ve always been a bit, a bit more ‘why not’ than some other people maybe. And just a bit more proactive… in that… Nothing’s impossible. And if you’ve got enough people, enough contacts, enough support around you, you can pretty much do anything… Within reason.”In this first episode of Seeking Out The Next Generation, we meet Alice McNeil, a 19-year old software developer and some time musician... from a little town in Wiltshire. Her story is one of resilience when coping with grief and proactivity in making things happen for herself.If you want to connect with Alice on social media she is @alicemcneil24 on Instagram.And find out more about Seeking Out on our website.-- Show Notes --Seeking Out is supported by Dialect, the content and media agency that specialise in the art and science of audience engagement.This episode of Seeking Out was recorded partly in Victoria Park, Bath and partly in Dialect's studios in the centre of Bath.Credits:Guests: Alice McNeil, Paul McNeil, Hannah SweetInterviewer and researcher: Ella Maher RobertsHost: David Maher RobertsShow idents: Ellie BeavenMusic: AudioNetworksDesigners: Annabel Miller, Dylan ChannonSocial Media Manager: Adele BurrowsProducer: David Maher RobertsExec Producer: David Boddington