The School Run

The School Run with Jane & Liv

The School Run Podcast is co- hosted by mum (Jane) and daughter (Liv) we focus on topics which you weren't taught at school e.g. personal development, effective communication, relationships, health, well-being & so many more. We offer insights from two generations, helping you to build your dream life. Each episode provides practical advice and tasks to implement immediately, encouraging growth and self-improvement. The aim is to inspire you to become the best version of yourself, dream big and bet on yourself. Liv was 15 years old when she started the podcast with her mum in 2023.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep 195 - Just Be You: Confidence, Courage and Finding Your Own Path with Haylie Jones

    What if the most powerful thing you could ever learn was simply to be yourself? In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by Haylie, actor, fitness enthusiast and Principal of Little Voices Blackburn with Darwen and the Ribble Valley, for a wonderfully honest conversation about confidence, courage, self-discovery and following your own path. Haylie's journey certainly hasn't followed a conventional route. As a young girl, she dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. But an unexpected opportunity to audition for a BBC comedy series changed everything, introducing her to acting at just 11 years old. From performing on television and studying drama to exploring British Sign Language and Deaf Studies at university, Haylie discovered that finding your place in the world isn't always straightforward. After university, she found herself working behind a desk at Bupa, increasingly unhappy and knowing something wasn't right. Then she made a brave decision. She left her job, contacted Little Voices and sent an email that would change the direction of her life. Seven years later, having worked as a tutor, supported the head office team and managed the original Little Voices business, Haylie became its owner. Today, she helps children discover their confidence through drama and singing, creating the safe, supportive environment she wishes she'd experienced herself. But this conversation goes much deeper than performing arts. Jane and Haylie explore the difference between confidence and arrogance, why confidence grows through experience and why being your authentic self is one of the greatest strengths you can develop. Haylie also talks openly about ADHD, self-awareness, challenging society's expectations and learning to stop looking outside yourself for approval. There's a fascinating discussion about fitness, strength training and HYROX, and how pushing herself physically has helped Haylie develop resilience, discipline and a healthier relationship with herself. As she beautifully explains, she once trained for perfection. Now she trains for peace. And when Jane asks what she wishes school had taught her, Haylie's answer is wonderfully simple. Kindness. Because we never really know what somebody else might be carrying into the classroom, workplace or everyday life. Throughout this uplifting conversation, one message shines through: Just be you. Nobody can do you better than you. An inspiring and refreshingly honest episode about confidence, personal growth, finding your voice and having the courage to create a life that feels right for you. And don't miss Haylie's lovely school run memory about sharing wired headphones with her best friend on the school bus! Follow @littlevoicesbdrv on Instagram Support The School Run Enjoyed this episode? Please follow, leave a review or share it with someone who might need to hear Haylie's story. Buy us a virtual coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun Connect with us Instagram: @theschoolrun_official Discover Little Voices and how we help children build confidence through drama and singing:https://www.littlevoices.org.uk Podcast Production The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real. https://makingdigitalreal.co.uk Disclaimer The views expressed are those of the individual participants. Information shared is for general discussion and should not replace appropriate professional advice.

  2. Oct 19

    Ep 194 - Come As You Are: Confidence, Neurodiversity and Finding Your Strengths with Jannine Gentle

    What if we spent less time focusing on what's wrong with people and more time discovering what's right with them? In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by Jannine Gentle, founder of InSpirit Learning Partners, Gallup-certified strengths coach and passionate advocate for helping people understand what makes them unique. Growing up in West Yorkshire, Jannine was a shy young girl who often appeared far more confident on the outside than she felt on the inside. That contrast eventually led her on a journey of self-discovery, learning to understand her strengths, trust her instincts and become comfortable in her own skin. From leaving college and returning to study subjects she genuinely loved, to building a successful career in sales, training and leadership development, Jannine shares how the right people, opportunities and encouragement helped shape her journey. But this conversation goes much deeper than career success. Jannine talks openly about raising neurodivergent children, navigating the education system and exploring her own possible neurodivergence later in life. She shares the realities of balancing family life, business and personal wellbeing, and why understanding what makes us different can be one of our greatest strengths. Jane and Jannine explore confidence, self-awareness, imposter syndrome, positive psychology and why we should celebrate people's natural talents rather than constantly focusing on their weaknesses. There's also a lovely conversation about the teachers, mentors and family members who believed in Jannine, including a teacher who encouraged her to join the boys' football team at school. And when Jane asks what she wishes school had taught her, Jannine's answer is something we can all relate to: understanding friendships, navigating relationships, communicating confidently and learning how to handle disagreements. Because surely these are some of the most important life skills we can learn? Throughout the conversation, one message shines through: Come as you are. Everybody's welcome. An uplifting, funny and honest conversation about confidence, neurodiversity, parenting, human connection and discovering what makes you, you. And don't miss Jannine's hilarious school run memory involving her mum, a forgotten cornet and a rather determined pursuit of the school bus! About Jannine Gentle Jannine is the founder of InSpirit Learning Partners Limited, helping individuals, teams and organisations develop their strengths, improve performance and create more inclusive workplaces. Instagram: inspiritlearningpartners Facebook: Inspirit Learning Partners Ltd Tik Tok: @inspirit55 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspirit-learning-partners-ltd/ www.inspiritlearning.com Support The School Run Enjoyed this episode? Please follow, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit from the conversation. Buy us a virtual coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun Connect with us Instagram: @theschoolrun_official Little Voices, helping children build confidence through drama and singing:https://www.littlevoices.org.uk Podcast Production Edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real. Disclaimer The views expressed are those of the individual participants. Information shared is for general discussion and should not replace appropriate professional advice.

  3. Oct 12

    Ep 193 - Dare to Show Up: Confidence, Purpose and High Performance with Phil Holdcroft

    What does confidence really look like? Is it appearing calm, capable and completely in control? Or is real confidence being prepared to step into the unknown, knowing you might fail, and giving it a go anyway? In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by Phil Holdcroft, founder of High Performance Journey, former Royal Air Force pilot, endurance athlete, speaker, husband and dad. And Phil’s story is quite a journey. At school, he didn’t have his future mapped out. He studied biochemistry, found himself on a graduate programme in London with the salary, company car and mobile phone that should have meant he was doing brilliantly... but he was deeply unhappy. Then came the Royal Air Force. Phil describes it as discovering “the thing I never knew I always wanted to do”, beginning an incredible two-decade military career and finding a sense of purpose he hadn’t experienced before. But one of the biggest challenges of Phil’s life happened away from the military when his youngest daughter, Isla, was diagnosed with leukaemia at just 22 months old. Suddenly, all the toughness and resilience Phil thought he understood were tested in a completely different way. As Isla began her journey towards recovery, Phil set himself five increasingly difficult physical challenges over five years, raising money for the charities and people who had helped his family. The final challenge? Rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. Phil and Jane talk about resilience, purpose, leadership, mental fitness and the importance of human connection. They explore what happens when an identity that has defined you for years changes, and why leaving the military forced Phil to think carefully about who he was without the uniform. There’s also a fascinating conversation about the advice we give young people and how even loving, well-intentioned words can sometimes create beliefs about what we are and aren’t capable of achieving. Today, through High Performance Journey, Phil uses everything he has learned about leadership, performance, teamwork and resilience to help individuals and teams discover what they are capable of. And his definition of confidence might just change the way you think about it. Confidence isn’t the absence of fear. It’s having the courage to show up, step into the arena and try, even when success is far from guaranteed. An inspiring, moving and wonderfully honest conversation about purpose, family, identity, connection and discovering just how much might be possible when you’re prepared to have a go. If you enjoy The School Run, please follow the podcast, leave us a review or share this episode with someone who might need to hear Phil’s story. You can find out more about Little Voices, our classes, our work with schools and how we help children build confidence for life at: littlevoices.org.uk Follow The School Run on Instagram: @theschoolrun_official If you’d like to support the podcast and help us keep these stories flowing, you can buy us a virtual coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun Podcast Production: The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real. makingdigitalreal.co.uk Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are shared as respectfully as possible and are those of the individual participants. The information, opinions and recommendations presented are for general information only. Please seek appropriate professional advice where needed.

  4. Oct 5

    Ep 192 - Know Your Worth: Finding Your Strengths and Your Own Path with Sarah Aires

    What if the thing you’re naturally brilliant at is something you haven’t fully recognised yet? In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by photographer and entrepreneur Sarah Aires for a wonderfully warm conversation about confidence, creativity, education and finding the path that actually feels like yours. Sarah’s journey certainly hasn’t followed a straight line. At school, she was academic and initially thought her future might lie in science, medicine or law. But something didn’t feel quite right. A brave decision to change direction became one of the first steps towards understanding something that would take her years to fully appreciate: just because you’re good at something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s where you belong. Sarah shares how her career took her through business, sales and account management before she eventually discovered the combination that really worked for her: creativity and people. Today, she brings those strengths together as a professional photographer, with a fascinating approach to capturing people at their most natural. She even creates professional headshots remotely, photographing people and teams without needing to be in the same room. But this conversation goes much deeper than photography. Jane and Sarah talk about comparison, creativity, trusting your instincts, finding your own “superpower” and why we can spend far too much of our lives looking sideways at what everyone else is doing. Sarah also shares the story of unexpectedly homeschooling her two daughters for two years and what that experience taught the whole family about education, different learning styles and bringing the wonder and excitement back into learning. And when Jane asks Sarah what confidence really means to her, her answer is beautifully simple: “Knowing your worth.” Because perhaps confidence isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. Perhaps it’s about knowing who you are, understanding what you bring and being comfortable enough to stay in your own lane. A warm, honest and uplifting conversation about finding your strengths, doing things differently and becoming more comfortable with exactly who you are. Sarah Aires is the founder of Headshots with Sarah, a remote portrait photography business working with professional services teams, franchises, national networks and individual leaders, in the UK and overseas. She spent 16 years in business development and key account management, where she learned her real passion was people, not spreadsheets, before changing career after having children. Her clients need nothing more than their own mobile phone and a window, while Sarah, at the other end in her Devon farmhouse, takes control of the camera and becomes encourager, cheerleader and guide. It's a clever solution that feels a little like magic, especially for people who'd rather not be in front of a camera, and the result is images that match their brand and still feel real and human. https://www.linkedin.com/in/headshotswithsarah/ https://headshotswithsarah.com/ Podcasts for us are all about learning, sharing stories and starting conversations. They are, of course, completely free to listen to. If you enjoy The School Run and would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea while we’re planning future episodes, you can support us here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun Get in touch: You can find us on Instagram @theschoolrun_official. For information about Little Voices, visit: http://www.littlevoices.org.uk Podcast Production: The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real. Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are shared as respectfully as possible and are those of the individual participants. The information, opinions and recommendations presented are for general information only. Please seek appropriate professional advice where needed.

  5. Sep 28

    Ep 191 - Summer ReRun : From Opera Singer to Little Voices – The Jane James Story

    For this week’s Summer ReRun, we’re heading back to a very personal episode of The School Run, and this time Liv is taking over. Instead of Jane asking the questions, Liv turns the tables on her mum to find out more about the woman behind Little Voices and the journey that brought her to where she is today. And what a journey it has been. Jane talks about discovering her love of singing as a little girl, training as an opera singer, performing on stage and eventually studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. But, as is so often the case with the stories we share on The School Run, life didn’t follow the plan. There’s the London Marathon, an experience Jane credits with teaching her some of her biggest lessons about resilience and determination. There’s the devastating aftermath of what should have been a straightforward operation, which led to numerous surgeries and the possibility that she could lose part of her leg. Then there’s the realisation that the career she had spent years preparing for might not actually be the life she wanted. What followed was teaching, motherhood and, eventually, a conversation around a coffee shop table in Blackburn that would lead to the creation of Little Voices. What began with a couple of classes in 2007 grew into something far bigger than Jane could ever have imagined, helping children across the country find confidence, friendships and, most importantly, their own voice. It’s a wonderfully honest conversation between mum and daughter about dreams changing, overcoming difficult chapters, following opportunities and recognising that the destination you originally had in mind isn’t always where you’re supposed to end up. And there’s another reason we wanted to bring this one back... If you’ve ever wondered what Jane actually sounds like after all those years training as an opera singer, make sure you stay until the end. There’s a rather special performance waiting for you. A lovely trip back into The School Run archives, and an episode that captures perfectly something we’ve believed since the very beginning: You really don’t have to have it all figured out at school. Podcasts for us are all about learning, sharing stories and starting conversations. They are, of course, completely free to listen to. If you enjoy The School Run and would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea (or Liv’s favourite, a chocolate fudge brownie frappe with soya milk, coffee and cream!) while we’re planning future episodes, you can support us here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun Get in touch: We always love hearing from our listeners. You can find us on Instagram @theschoolrun_official and @mrsjanejames, search for Jane James on Facebook, or email us at mrsjanejames@icloud.com. For information about Jane’s company, Little Voices, visit: http://www.littlevoices.org.uk Podcast Production: The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real. makingdigitalreal.co.uk Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are shared as respectfully as possible and are those of the individual participants. The information, opinions and recommendations presented are for general information only. We are simply a mum and daughter sharing our thoughts, personal experiences and conversations with guests we respect. Please seek appropriate professional advice where needed.

  6. Sep 21

    E190: Summer ReRun : Your Journey To Being Awake, with Veronica Simister of The Olive Jar

    For this week’s Summer ReRun, we’re heading back to a conversation that means an enormous amount to both of us. Jane and Liv are joined by Veronica Simister, affectionately known as V, the founder and custodian of The Olive Jar, a six-week transformational course that listeners to The School Run will have heard us talk about many times. But this episode is about much more than a course. V has become a huge part of our lives, and looking back at this conversation reminds us just how much of an impact she has had on the way we think, reflect and understand ourselves. We talk about The Olive Jar, personal growth, the stories we tell ourselves, understanding who we really are and what can happen when we give ourselves the space to stop, look inwards and begin making changes. There are some podcast conversations that stay with you long after you have stopped recording. This is most definitely one of them. We feel incredibly lucky and grateful to know V, and very privileged to be bringing this conversation back as part of our Summer ReRun series. To find out more about The Olive Jar, you can contact V at veronica@veronicasimister.com. You can also find the digital Olive Jar course at: https://theolivejar.online/ Podcasts for us are all about learning, sharing stories and starting conversations. They are, of course, completely free to listen to. If you enjoy The School Run and would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea (or Liv’s favourite, a chocolate fudge brownie frappe with soya milk, coffee and cream!) while we’re planning future episodes, you can support us here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun Get in touch: We always love hearing from our listeners. You can find us on Instagram @theschoolrun_official and @mrsjanejames, search for Jane James on Facebook, or email us at mrsjanejames@icloud.com. For information about Jane’s company, Little Voices, visit: http://www.littlevoices.org.uk Podcast Production: The School Run Podcast is edited and produced by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real. Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are shared as respectfully as possible and are those of the individual participants. The information, opinions and recommendations presented are for general information only. We are simply a mum and daughter sharing our thoughts, personal experiences and conversations with guests we respect. Please seek appropriate professional advice where needed.

  7. Sep 14

    E189: Summer ReRun : If It Scares You, Run Towards It - Rachel Haslam

    For this week’s Summer ReRun, we’re heading back into The School Run archives for a brilliant conversation with Rachel Haslam, founder of Team Academy and self-proclaimed Director of Awesomeness. Rachel’s experience of school was far from easy. Traditional learning simply didn’t work for her, and she left school with no GCSEs. But while the classroom might not have recognised her strengths, they were already there. She was entrepreneurial, creative, brilliant with people and determined to do things differently. We talk about learning styles, understanding your personality, surrounding yourself with the right people, building great teams and why education and workplaces need to recognise that we simply don’t all learn, communicate or perform in the same way. Rachel also shares a piece of advice that has stayed with us ever since: “If it scares you, run towards it.” And, in true School Run fashion, the episode ends with a deeply personal memory of a conversation with Rachel’s mum on the journey home from school that had a profound impact on her life. Funny, moving, refreshingly honest and packed with things to think about. This is exactly the kind of conversation our Summer ReRuns were made for. Podcasts for us are all about learning and sharing, of course free to listen to. We have some small costs to cover so if you would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea and Chocolate fudge brownie Frappe with soya milk, coffee and cream (Liv’s favourite) when we are planning them out please click here ….. ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun⁠⁠ **Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials @‌theschoolrun_official / @‌mrsjanejames on Instagram, or search and follow Jane James on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at **⁠⁠**mrsjanejames@icloud.com **⁠⁠ --- Links: For information of Jane’s company Little Voices head to ⁠⁠http://www.littlevoices.org.uk⁠⁠ --- This podcast is edited by Mike Roberts from ⁠Making Digital Real⁠ Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are just a mum and daughter, sharing their thoughts and chatting with guests that we really respect and sharing our personal stories and insights. Please seek professional advice if you need it. Thanks to Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real, our remarkable editor, for his skilful work on each episode. Mike's expertise ensures our podcast is always a great listen. Thanks, Mike, for being an essential part of The School Run Podcast! Contact him on Making Digital Real : https://makingdigitalreal.co.uk/

  8. Sep 7

    E188: Summer ReRun : Live, breathe & love who you are with Liz Warom - founder of Temple Spa

    In this episode we revisit the special episode when Jane & Liv were lucky enough to chat with the founder of Temple Spa, Liz Warom. Liz has been married to Mark for 47 years and founded her wonderful British skincare brand in February 2000. The Temple Spa story began in the Mediterranean. Believing that your body is a living temple the brand now provides an experience so that you can look the best version of yourself. Jane & Liv ADORE this brand and Jane has used it for over 20 years and naturally introduced Liv to it from an early age. This is a fabulous conversation. To contact Temple Spa visit www.templespa.com They are also on all social media platforms We encourage you to check out their spa experience at home, their spa’s around the country and the opportunity of working with Temple Spa as a consultant. This episode is sponsored by Colour Me Beautiful and you can take advantage of an amazing discount on your Colour Analysis, a gift voucher or any service they offer if you ring CMB Head Office and quote THE SCHOOL RUN. For more information and to take advantage of a special DISCOUNT please contact the CMB Head Office and QUOTE: THE SCHOOL RUN , please contact: Cliff Bashforth +44 (0)1772 750 052 email: ⁠⁠cliff@cmbdirect.co.uk⁠⁠ web: ⁠⁠http://colourmebeautiful.co.uk⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠http://colourmebeautifuldirect.co.uk⁠⁠ Instagram @‌colourmebeautuk Podcasts for us are all about learning and sharing, of course free to listen to. We have some small costs to cover so if you would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea and Chocolate fudge brownie Frappe with soya milk, coffee and cream (Liv’s favourite) when we are planning them out please click here ….. ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun⁠⁠ **Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials @‌theschoolrun_official / @‌mrsjanejames on Instagram, or search and follow Jane James on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at **⁠⁠**mrsjanejames@icloud.com **⁠⁠ --- Links: For information of Jane’s company Little Voices head to ⁠⁠http://www.littlevoices.org.uk⁠⁠ --- This podcast is edited by Mike Roberts from ⁠Making Digital Real⁠ Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are just a mum and daughter, sharing their thoughts and chatting with guests that we really respect and sharing our personal stories and insights. Please seek professional advice if you need it. Thanks to Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real, our remarkable editor, for his skilful work on each episode. Mike's expertise ensures our podcast is always a great listen. Thanks, Mike, for being an essential part of The School Run Podcast! Contact him on Making Digital Real : https://makingdigitalreal.co.uk/

About

The School Run Podcast is co- hosted by mum (Jane) and daughter (Liv) we focus on topics which you weren't taught at school e.g. personal development, effective communication, relationships, health, well-being & so many more. We offer insights from two generations, helping you to build your dream life. Each episode provides practical advice and tasks to implement immediately, encouraging growth and self-improvement. The aim is to inspire you to become the best version of yourself, dream big and bet on yourself. Liv was 15 years old when she started the podcast with her mum in 2023.

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