The Phoenix Conversations

Lucy McCarraher
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement

Life doesn’t always go to plan, but reinvention is where the real magic happens. I’m Lucy McCarraher- author, entrepreneur, and serial reinventor, and in The Phoenix Conversations, I talk to people who’ve turned collapse into courage and setbacks into spectacular comebacks. From rebuilding careers and relationships to rediscovering purpose and passion, these are stories of second chances and powerful new beginnings. Whether you’re craving a fresh start or standing on the edge of change, this podcast reminds you it’s never too late to rise again - because your next chapter could be your best one yet.

  1. 4 days ago

    From Fear of Failure to a Life of Reinvention: Geoff Sober

    In this episode, I’m joined by Geoff Sober, coach, entrepreneur and lifelong learner, to talk about the many reinventions that have shaped his life. Geoff tells us how watching his father turn down opportunities through fear of failure influenced his own determination to say yes, take risks and keep moving towards something bigger. We also talk about teaching, business, property, coaching and the setbacks that unexpectedly became turning points. Geoff shares why he believes unfulfilled potential deserves to be taken seriously, how failure can create growth, and why sometimes the thing that feels like everything falling apart is actually the beginning of your next chapter. Highlights: (02:18) - How childhood labels can quietly shape the identity we carry into adulthood (07:37) - Watching fear of failure up close, and deciding to live differently (15:31) - The football injury that destroyed one plan and opened the door to another (20:36) - From award-winning business to liquidation, and why Geoff now sees it as a gift (25:15) - The client who went from empty nest to running the Status Quo fan club (32:37) - If the same idea keeps calling you, maybe it is time to stop ignoring it Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

  2. 31 Aug

    From Survival to Self-Worth: Sarah Piddington on Reinvention

    In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Piddington, health and safety consultant and founder of Safe and Well Together. Sarah shares how a traumatic childhood, a near-death experience in her early twenties and a move from Australia to London became the catalyst for a completely new chapter in her life. We also talk about reinventing her career, building a business around a more human approach to health and safety, and why listening, curiosity and well-being matter so much in the workplace. Sarah also shares what she has learned about boundaries, self-worth and letting go of responsibility for other people’s approval. Highlights: (02:30) - How a difficult childhood shaped Sarah’s resilience and instinct to advocate for others (05:10) - The near-death experience that made her decide she could not keep living the same way (12:02) - The unexpected career move that took Sarah into health and safety (17:44) - Why neuroscience and psychology completely changed the way she approached her work (23:18) - Starting her own business and choosing clients who genuinely cared about people (31:38) - The boundaries that helped Sarah stop carrying responsibility that was never hers Connect with Sarah: www.safeandwelltogether.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpiddington/ https://www.instagram.com/sarahpiddington/ Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

  3. 24 Aug

    Reinvention, AI and the Power of Becoming More Human

    In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel Acutt, founder of profiletest.ai, whose career has taken him from South Africa to Switzerland, hospitality, entrepreneurship, sales, behavioural profiling and now AI. Daniel shares the turning points that shaped his journey, including career setbacks, starting again from scratch and learning to follow opportunities without always knowing exactly where they would lead. We also talk about building businesses, the lessons that come from expensive mistakes, and how behavioural profiling can help people make better decisions. Daniel explains why he believes AI should support human thinking rather than replace it, and why staying curious, grounded and connected to who you really are matters more than ever. Highlights: (01:56) - From a ‘terrible child’ to a career built around people, possibility and reinvention (06:36) - The moment Daniel realised nobody knew who he was, so he could become whoever he wanted (10:02) - Going from top student to career roadblock, and having to start all over again (18:02) - The opportunity that turned into eight years of fast-tracked entrepreneurial learning (25:43) - The expensive business lesson: hire people who say ‘I’ll figure it out’ (31:47) - Why Daniel believes using AI to think for you could make you less capable of thinking for yourself Contact Daniel here: https://profiletest.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielacutt https://www.instagram.com/dannyacutt Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

  4. 17 Aug

    Reinventing Again: Andrea McLean on Failure, Shame and Starting Over

    In this episode, I’m joined by Andrea McLean, a high-profile British broadcaster, multiple Sunday Times bestselling author and TV favourite, best known for 13 years on Loose Women and 11 years on GMTV. Andrea shares the story behind some of her biggest reinventions, from building a 24-year television career and interviewing stars including Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé and Ariana Grande, to leaving TV, launching a women’s personal growth business, losing it during the pandemic and starting again in Spain with her husband and dog. We also talk about Andrea’s latest book, Shameless, the identity shifts that come with failure and change, and what she has learned about resilience, recovery and beginning again when life takes an unexpected turn. Highlights: (02:57) - How growing up around brave decisions made reinvention feel like part of Andrea’s DNA (08:12) - Her default response to life’s body blows, absorb it, work out what’s happening and make a plan (13:27) - Accidentally applying to be a weather presenter and somehow ending up on television (19:28) - The ‘don’t let them smell the fear’ approach to learning live TV on the job (30:15) - Losing the business, losing the home and creating something new while recovering from long COVID (41:04) - Andrea’s advice when life feels too big: pull back, zoom out and remember this isn’t all there is Connect with Andrea: https://andreamclean.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreamcleanspeaks/ https://www.facebook.com/officialandreamclean/ https://www.instagram.com/andreamclean1/ https://x.com/andrea_mclean https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shameless-Finding-Freedom-Resilience-Through/dp/0241762812/ Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

  5. 10 Aug

    Why Reinvention Starts With Questioning Your Reality

    I’m joined by Francis Rodino, AI growth architect, author and founder of the Leads Machine framework. After more than 20 years in digital marketing, including work with the BBC and PlayStation, Francis left corporate life to help service businesses build more predictable sales systems. Francis shares how creativity, technology, entrepreneurship and personal development have shaped his journey, including the mindset shifts that helped him leave corporate life behind. We also get into AI, the danger of outsourcing too much of our thinking, and why noticing that quiet feeling of “something isn’t right” can be the beginning of a completely new chapter. Highlights: (03:53) - Growing up between cultures and learning to live with a shifting sense of identity (12:43) - Why being good at getting things done does not always fit corporate politics (22:58) - How AI can help us work faster, but also miss the mark faster (25:43) - The corporate role that finally pushed Francis towards entrepreneurship (29:18) - Unlearning decades of conditioning and expanding what felt possible (37:39) - Why that nagging feeling of dissatisfaction is worth paying attention to Connect with Francis: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/francisrodino Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

  6. 3 Aug

    What Matters Most with Jeannie McGillivray

    I’m joined by Jeannie McGillivray, co-founder and CEO of Remote and co-founder of Autumn, an AI-powered operational intelligence platform. Jeannie shares how a working-class childhood, an art degree, a pottery apprenticeship and a record label all became part of an extraordinary route into technology and entrepreneurship. We also talk about building a business with her husband, turning a website project into a software company and developing Autumn after spotting a gap in how businesses use AI. Jeannie’s story is a brilliant reminder that reinvention is rarely linear. Sometimes the next chapter appears when you follow your curiosity, trust your skills and begin before you feel completely ready. Highlights: (03:08) - How Jeannie’s childhood shaped her resilience and ambition (08:52) - Leaving Brighton to begin a pottery apprenticeship in Shropshire (15:19) - How a record label unexpectedly became a website business (20:30) - The project that transformed them into a software company (28:08) - Building AI tools to solve their own business problems (40:53) - Why boldness begins with simply starting Connect with Jeannie: https://autm.ai/ https://jeannie.online/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniemcgillivray/ Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

  7. 27 Jul

    What Happens Next? With Chris Daems

    In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Daems, Chartered Financial Planner, Fellow of the Personal Financial Society and director of Cervello Financial Planning. Chris believes financial planning should have one simple purpose: helping people achieve their goals so they can live the life they want. We talk about his journey from nearly being sacked at the bank to building a successful, values-led business, publishing two books and hosting a podcast with his daughter. Chris also shares why money is only part of the picture when planning your next chapter, and how kindness, purpose, lifelong learning and tiny experiments can help us create a life that feels meaningful as well as financially secure. Highlights: (05:33) - The day Chris expected the sack and received a promotion instead (10:40) - Leaving corporate life to build a business around his values (15:55) - The self-doubt behind the first two and a half years (18:32) - How one uncomfortable encounter sparked a kindness project (23:35) - Why having enough money is not the same as having a life plan (29:52) - Using tiny experiments to shape your next chapter Connect with Chris: https://www.cervellofp.co.uk/who-we-are/chris-daems/ https://uk.linkedin.com/in/chris-daems-19130517 Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

  8. 20 Jul

    The Wild Elder With Sharon Eden

    In this episode, I speak with Sharon Eden, the Spiritual Psychotherapist Coach who helps midlife businesswomen and leaders move from ‘There has to be more to life than this’ to knowing who they are now, where they are going and what truly lights them up. Sharon shares how a traumatic childhood, early motherhood and years of feeling like a misfit became the foundation for more than 40 years of professional wisdom. We also explore her journey through education, psychotherapy, entrepreneurship and repeated reinvention. Sharon is the founder of The Wild Elder’s Soulful Boardroom, author of the bestseller Re-Discovered, creator of the Wild Elder’s Code and a powerful voice on elderhood and eldership. With her gift for seeing what others miss and naming what has gone unspoken, she reminds us that reinvention is not something we need to explain. We need to embody it. Highlights: (02:49) - The bright young girl trying to survive an abusive childhood (08:12) - How becoming a mother gave Sharon a reason to rebuild (14:56) - Returning to education when she knew there had to be more (23:18) - Watching a successful business slowly fall away (27:40) - The words from her mother that created a new life mission (34:00) - Stop explaining your reinvention and start embodying it Connect with Sharon: https://thewildelder.com https://www.thewildelder.com/the-soulful-boardroom https://www.re-discovered.life https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharoneden1/ Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

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About

Life doesn’t always go to plan, but reinvention is where the real magic happens. I’m Lucy McCarraher- author, entrepreneur, and serial reinventor, and in The Phoenix Conversations, I talk to people who’ve turned collapse into courage and setbacks into spectacular comebacks. From rebuilding careers and relationships to rediscovering purpose and passion, these are stories of second chances and powerful new beginnings. Whether you’re craving a fresh start or standing on the edge of change, this podcast reminds you it’s never too late to rise again - because your next chapter could be your best one yet.

Information

  • Creator
    Lucy McCarraher
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Lucy McCarraher
  • Show Website
    The Phoenix Conversations