In this special episode, I sit down with my daughter, Hannah Helsby (22), to reflect on the life chapters that have shaped her so far. From school days, exams and tough decisions to university, part time jobs and an incredible year working with Adidas.

Hannah shares her journey with refreshing honesty, offering insights into the choices she’s made, the lessons she’s learned, and how resilience and hard work have guided her along the way.

We cover:

• ✈️ Taking a gap year to travel and why employers value it.
• 🎒 Early school years, exams, and how connecting with teachers makes all the difference.
• 🌱 Building confidence through activities outside the classroom.
• 🗣️ How schools could do more to encourage young people to speak not just listen.
• 🔑 Making the bold decision not to take A-levels and the importance of exploring different options.
• 🛍️ How her passion for fashion and real life business issues have shaped her educational choices
• 🎓 Choosing the right university and course without giving in to outside pressure
• 👩‍💼 The role of part-time jobs in developing confidence and preparing for interviews.
• ❤️ Navigating a first breakup
• 🏠 Why living in university halls wasn’t the right fit.
• 👟 The highs and lows of applying for a placement year with Adidas from initial rejection to landing a dream role and thriving.
• 💡 How hard work and resilience have underpinned every step of her journey so far.

This conversation is a reminder that there isn’t one “right” path, only the one you create for yourself. Hannah’s story shows the power of exploring, persevering, and backing yourself even when the road takes unexpected turns.

👉 Perfect for students, parents, employers, or anyone curious about the real-life experiences shaping the next generation.

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#powerofconversation #genzconversations #facetofaceconversation #liverpoolpodcast #letstalk #conversationconfidence #genzconfidence #gcseresults #alevels #motheranddaughterpodcast #lifelessons #universitylife #careertips #genzvoices #fashionbusinessstudent

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In this special episode, I sit down with my daughter, Hannah Helsby (22), to reflect on the life chapters that have shaped her so far. From school days, exams and tough decisions to university, part time jobs and an incredible year working with Adidas.

Hannah shares her journey with refreshing honesty, offering insights into the choices she’s made, the lessons she’s learned, and how resilience and hard work have guided her along the way.

We cover:

• ✈️ Taking a gap year to travel and why employers value it.
• 🎒 Early school years, exams, and how connecting with teachers makes all the difference.
• 🌱 Building confidence through activities outside the classroom.
• 🗣️ How schools could do more to encourage young people to speak not just listen.
• 🔑 Making the bold decision not to take A-levels and the importance of exploring different options.
• 🛍️ How her passion for fashion and real life business issues have shaped her educational choices
• 🎓 Choosing the right university and course without giving in to outside pressure
• 👩‍💼 The role of part-time jobs in developing confidence and preparing for interviews.
• ❤️ Navigating a first breakup
• 🏠 Why living in university halls wasn’t the right fit.
• 👟 The highs and lows of applying for a placement year with Adidas from initial rejection to landing a dream role and thriving.
• 💡 How hard work and resilience have underpinned every step of her journey so far.

This conversation is a reminder that there isn’t one “right” path, only the one you create for yourself. Hannah’s story shows the power of exploring, persevering, and backing yourself even when the road takes unexpected turns.

👉 Perfect for students, parents, employers, or anyone curious about the real-life experiences shaping the next generation.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel to help build our community.

More episodes and information on our offer: www.talkontowalkon.com

IG @talkontowalkon

FB @Talkontowalkon

#powerofconversation #genzconversations #facetofaceconversation #liverpoolpodcast #letstalk #conversationconfidence #genzconfidence #gcseresults #alevels #motheranddaughterpodcast #lifelessons #universitylife #careertips #genzvoices #fashionbusinessstudent

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this reflective episode, Michelle and Patrick explore the lasting social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, five years on from the first lockdown.

With honesty, humour, and insight, they unpack how our communication habits have shifted and what we risk losing if we don’t reclaim the art of real conversation.

Key talking points are: -

🗓️ Looking Back: Five Years Since Lockdown A trip down memory lane to 2020 to those surreal months staying home adjusting to isolation.

💬 Has the Art of Conversation Declined? From Zoom meetings to Snapchat voice notes and self-service checkouts, is digital convenience leaving human interaction behind?

👥 Generational Divide

• Midlifers, found relief in slowing down, embracing the “permission to pause.”
• Gen Z and Alphas, however, spent formative years in isolation, missing out on key social development. Many young people now feel anxious about phone calls or unfamiliar conversations despite constant “chatting” online.
• Elderly impact of losing the power of simple interactions as a result of tech takeover.

💼 Changing Work Culture has the rise of tech replaced real, meaningful workplace connection? Hybrid models are here to stay but what did we lose and gain?

• Decline of spontaneous “watercooler chats” affecting collaboration, confidence, and creativity.
• Zoom fatigue & virtual frustration - Michelle and Patrick share personal experiences of disconnection and the limits of online communication.

🏙️ The New Normal the growth of co-working spaces and companies like Adidas doubling down on in-person culture, highlights our need for human contact.

👁️ Why Face-to-Face Still Matters

· The role of hospitality & performing arts: How real-world experiences shape communication skills and confidence in young people.

· Eye contact, body language, the magic of spontaneous moments can’t be replicated with social media "likes", emojis or voice notes.

📢 Call to Action: Intentional Interaction - Michelle and Patrick urge listeners to reconnect, make time for good conversation and actively seek out uplifting social connections. Stop putting off the coffee meetups, the catch-up calls, and those awkward but essential conversations.

Let's "Talk on to Walk on" with Michelle and Patrick and see where it leads...

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel to help build our community.

More episodes and information on our offer: www.talkontowalkon.com

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#powerofconversation #podcastcouple

#midlifepodcast #midlifecouple #genzconversations #artofconversation #intentionalinteractions

#reconnect #facetofaceconversation #midlifeconversation #watercoolertalk #liverpoolpodcast

#hybridwork #letstalk #conversationconfidence #genzconfidence

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.