Allegedly Thriving

Issy and Martin

Success on paper, imposter syndrome in practice. Allegedly Thriving is a weekly podcast with Issy and Martin for anyone building a business whilst quietly wondering whether they are doing any of it right!

  1. 5 hr ago ·  Video

    #13 - Big June, Bad Luck, and Bouncing Back

    It’s been a few weeks, and Issy returns with a story Martin has been desperate to tell: the day she joined the gym… and somehow managed to injure both ankles within minutes of signing a 12‑month contract. From the initial road rage omen, to the treadmill dismount that turned into a double “pop”, to the brutal reality of A&E, crutches, and a toddler who thinks hiding them is comedy gold—this episode is a chaotic reminder that small business life doesn’t pause just because your body does. Also in this episode: Why embarrassment is sometimes worse than painHow your business survives without you (even when you’re convinced it won’t)“Big June” and the behind-the-scenes pressure of busy seasonHats, animals with accessories, and a surprisingly deep debate about roleplay and costumesIf you enjoy honest small business chat with a dose of dark humour, subscribe, share it with a fellow founder, and leave us a review. What is the most ridiculous thing that has derailed your week? Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    40 min

  2. 24 Jun ·  Video

    #12 - Ducks, Phones and Gyms

    Your smartwatch says you slept ten and a half hours, but you remember staring at the ceiling and watching YouTube. So which do you trust: your body or your data? We start with our weekly “thriving or surviving” check-in and quickly land on the messy reality of modern life in business: low energy, too many inputs, and a constant sense that everything needs sorting right now.  From sleep tracking and tired brains, we move into digital wellbeing and smartphone boundaries. We talk about the weird trap of needing your phone for work, banking, and everyday life, while also feeling anxious about what happens if you switch it off. Do Not Disturb helps, but the fear of the 1am buzz is still there and we share a proper middle-of-the-night emergency call story that explains why that dread is so sticky. If you have ever thought “I’d love to disconnect, but I can’t”, you will recognise yourself here.  Then we lighten it with the stuff that genuinely keeps us steady: small joys, comfort books, comfort films, and music you never skip. We debate whether rewatching a favourite film multiple times a year is comforting or just odd, and we end up talking about how art, stories, and songs can change your mood fast. There’s also gym induction dread, the “day pass” that isn’t a day, and the very real fear of using a machine wrong and going viral, plus a quick nod to cult TV and a friend’s AI called Holly.  If any of this hits home, subscribe to Allegedly Thriving, share it with a mate who needs a laugh, and leave us a review. What is the one boundary or small joy you are choosing this week? Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    28 min

  3. 17 Jun ·  Video

    #11 - Holidays, Sleep and Crocs

    The fastest way to spot a founder is simple: ask them to take a week off and watch the panic set in. We’re Martin and Izzy, and we’re balancing two very different ends of the small business world, from solo creative work to building a studio hire space that can operate without the owner hovering over every decision. That contrast sparks a frank chat about holiday guilt, letting go, and why switching off can feel weirdly similar to leaving your child overnight for the first time.  We get practical about what actually helps: handovers that are clear, processes that are written down, and the mindset shift from doing everything yourself to overseeing people you trust.  We also dig into the reality of a family business and why strict boundaries matter, including a surprisingly relatable professionalism problem: when your Google contacts accidentally CC “Dad” into a client email. It’s funny, but it’s also a reminder that branding, communication, and role separation are part of running a credible business.  Then we zoom out into social media pressure, online anonymity, and the myth that everyone must have a public presence to be “real”. From there we end up where Britain often ends up: politics, soundbites, and the HS2 saga, complete with a genuinely tempting alternative plan involving a high-speed roller coaster. We land the plane with the smaller stuff that keeps you sane, like decompression rituals after work, sensory discomfort with “outdoor clothes”, grounding scepticism, and an unfiltered debate about Crocs.  If you enjoy honest business talk with a bit of chaos, subscribe, share this with a fellow founder, and leave us a review. What’s the one thing you struggle to switch off from? Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    33 min

  4. 10 Jun

    #10 - Ghosting, bears and piercings

    In this episode of Allegedly Thriving, Izzy opens with an uncharacteristically slick intro before they immediately agreeing that the podcast probably needs a helpline disclaimer. Feeling fresh from a long Easter break they talk about unread messages, professional anxiety and whether you should save the good stuff for “special occasions" or just enjoy them now! They round out with wedding-industry horror, Build-A-Bear trauma, the weirdness of collecting things. Its the usual mix of insightfulness and chaos Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    38 min

  5. 3 Jun

    #09 - Attention, Banter and Titanic II

    In Episode 8 of Allegedly Thriving, Martin tries to keep the ship pointed vaguely at “podcast structure” while Izzy admits she’s still in surviving mode. Izzy opens up about the weird creative-business paradox: the more attention and praise she gets, the less confident she feels, then covers ways to quiet her brain  - Think repainting the kitchen pink, learning embroidery, and leaning fully into “grandma chic.”  Then the conversation does what this podcast does best: veers hard into culture and chaos. Repetitive tasks (crochet vs soul-crushing science), British bureaucracy, national trolling and the big question: if a show or film is rubbish, do you leave or do you sit there out of spite because you paid for it? Expect strong opinions on Avatar, unexpected drive-in trauma from A Star Is Born, a love letter to terrible films (including Titanic 2), and a comfort-watch roll call from Brooklyn Nine-Nine to Twilight  Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    40 min

  6. 29 May ·  Video

    08: Imaginariums, Geese and a special Guest

    Welcome to our first one with Video - a huge thanks to Issy for letting us use her Looks Like We Made It set for this one - we are working on our own in coming episodes so watch out for that! in this one Issy’s away recharging this week, so Martin’s drafted in special guest James for a proper catch-up. James is a music guru and an Synth savant and currently works around the North East helping primary school kids work together to create a band - think school of rock but with all the required checks and qualifications! James is here to tell us all about his launching of the Junior Producer Club, where kids step into an “imaginarium of synths” and leave with a track they actually made.  Expect tangents, chaos, and at least one conversation about strangled geese, so in other works the same as every other week. To get in touch with James about his Junior Producer Club and anything else to do with synths or music creation, email him at juniorproducerclub@gmail.com Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    30 min

  7. 27 May

    #07 - Shoot tired, Ocean Village and Easter Bunnies

    In Episode 7 of Allegedly Thriving, Izzy and Martin are back in the studio with more space, more distance, and (thankfully) less bao-bun-and-death ambience than the last mobile episode. Martin’s thriving after saying yes to a huge opportunity: photographing the Business Beats Cancer annual gala dinner at St James’ Park and experiences the special kind of exhaustion known as shoot tired. Izzy’s thriving too leaning hard into self-care, think skincare routines, solo Metrocentre shopping, and a serious reading streak! Along the way, they go off-road into airports, duty-free perfume chaos, business class lounges, the weirdness of selling channels at 2am, and Izzy’s childhood cruise memory where money had no meaning and the bill definitely did. Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    43 min

  8. 20 May

    #06: Bao Buns, Branding and Death

    In Episode 6 of Allegedly Thriving, Izzy and Martin finally nail the intro, only to immediately record in the noisiest possible location: The Stack in Seaburn, a giant tin box of kids, music, and questionable puns. Martin’s thriving after sitting down to map out proper short, medium and long tem goals.   Izzy’s thriving too but theres a quick hard left into mortality: the weird comfort of planning your own death, the fear of a stupid death, and what “legacy” actually means when you strip away money and status. Somewhere between McDonald’s orders, coffee slander, and the ethics of saying “bougie”, they stumble into a surprisingly solid branding conversation: why audiences can sense quality, why consistency matters more than constant rebrands and how a few stable “brand DNA” elements can carry everything else. This weeks teachable moment: “People change their brand rather than fixing the problems underneath.” This is all about us having a chat, a laugh and hopefully share some hints and tips to help survive life! Thanks for listening to Allegedly Thriving and for coming along for the inevitable detours. If you want to learn more about the two potentially unhinged presenters: Martin - Photographer and Owner of Terry Harrison Art: Martin Newham Photography  and TerryHarrisonArt Issy - Director, Owner and all round Digital Genius:  Howell Studios and Howell Media

    32 min
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About

Success on paper, imposter syndrome in practice. Allegedly Thriving is a weekly podcast with Issy and Martin for anyone building a business whilst quietly wondering whether they are doing any of it right!

Information

  • Creator
    Issy and Martin
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Allegedly Thriving
  • Show Website
    Allegedly Thriving

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