WHAT THEY SAY

THEY SAY Studios
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WHAT THEY SAY is a podcast by THEY SAY STUDIOS, hosted by co-founders Amy-Lee Cowey-Small and Jessica Ashman, two women building a creative and digital world on their own terms. It is where work meets real life - motherhood and ambition, friendship and business, burnout and belief - with honest, funny, thoughtful conversations between Amy, Jess and their guests, from founders and creatives to leaders rewriting the rules, about what it really takes to build something you love and stay (mostly) sane.

Episodes

  1. Sep 29

    WHAT THEY SAY about maternity leave when you run the business

    In this episode of WHAT THEY SAY, Amy-Lee and Jess turn the mic back on themselves again to talk about maternity leave, motherhood and what stepping away actually looks like when the business is yours. There is a certain full-circle feeling to this one. Jess joined THEY SAY while on maternity leave. Now, Amy-Lee is preparing to take hers. Different babies, different stages of the business and a very different version of THEY SAY in between. But when you are a founder, maternity leave is not as simple as handing over your laptop and disappearing for a few months. There is the practical side of preparing the business, the emotional side of letting go, and the question neither of them can completely avoid: what happens when one of us is not there? Together, they get into: What maternity leave actually looks like when you run your own businessThe difference between Jess joining THEY SAY on maternity leave and Amy-Lee preparing to step away from itHow they are preparing the business, the team and each other for a founder being outLearning to let go of control when you are used to being involved in everythingThe realities of balancing motherhood with the responsibility of running a companyHow their roles as founders have evolved as THEY SAY has grownWhy building a business that can exist without you might be one of the hardest - and most important - parts of growthPlus, they talk honestly about the emotions that come with stepping back from something you have built, trusting someone else to hold it and accepting that business and life will not always move according to the same plan. WHAT THEY SAY is the podcast from They Say Studios, where creative meets digital, work meets real life, and there is always a bit of chaos. Made for women building big lives, not just big careers, and for anyone carving out their own path.

  2. Jul 9

    WHAT THEY SAY about redefining success with Nnenna Onuba

    After 17 years in investment banking with firms including Rothschild and PwC, Nnenna walked away from corporate life to build a business rooted in balance. Today, she wears many hats as a founder, angel investor, board director and advocate for inclusive leadership. But this isn't just a conversation about entrepreneurship. It's about knowing when to take the leap, building a career that reflects your values and challenging the traditional definition of success. Together, they get into: • Why entrepreneurship isn't as glamorous as social media makes it look • The importance of side hustling before taking the leap • Why the future of leadership depends on the skills we've labelled as "soft" • What financial freedom really means and why money creates choice • Why managing your energy matters more than managing your time Plus, Nnenna jumps into our They Say / We Say quickfire, sharing her thoughts on the biggest career myths, leadership clichés and the advice women need to stop listening to. WHAT THEY SAY is the podcast from THEY SAY Studios, where creative meets digital, work meets real life, and there's always a bit of chaos. Made for women building big lives, not just big careers, and for anyone redefining success on their own terms.

  3. May 10

    WHAT THEY SAY about building a business with your best friend

    In this episode of WHAT THEY SAY, Amy-Lee and Jess turn the mic on themselves to talk about how They Say Studios really began, from best friends first to business partners second. What started as an idea, quickly became a conversation about building something bigger together. But starting a business with your best friend is not just about having a shared vision. It is about honesty, hard conversations and figuring out how to grow side by side while being in completely different seasons of life. Together, they get into: • The moment Amy-Lee knew she wanted Jess on board  • What it takes to build a business with someone you love and trust  • Navigating co-founder dynamics while balancing different life stages  • Competitor analysis, trademarking and the financial realities of getting started  • Why keeping it honest is the only way to keep it working  • How to protect the friendship while growing the business Plus, they share the real story behind the early days of THEY SAY Studios. The uncertainty, the laughs, the risks and the lessons they have learned so far. WHAT THEY SAY is the podcast from They Say Studios, where creative meets digital, work meets real life, and there is always a bit of chaos. Made for women building big lives, not just big careers, and for anyone carving out their own path.

  4. Mar 29

    WHAT THEY SAY about building a brand with Amy Rollings

    In this episode, we’re joined by Amy Rollings, founder of CLUB MERA- a premium non-alcoholic aperitif built for a new way of socialising. We’re in the middle of a cultural shift. More people are drinking less. Gen Z are redefining how they socialise. And at the same time, there’s a growing movement towards independence, ownership and building something of your own. In this conversation, we explore: – Why drinking culture is changing – What that means for brands and experiences – The reality of building a business (beyond the idea) – Why showing up consistently matters more than a five-year plan – And the shift away from traditional corporate paths This isn’t just about one brand. It’s about where culture is heading next. Watch now and tell us what you say.

  5. Mar 1

    WHAT THEY SAY about making space when you’re not given it with Ayo Akinsete

    In this episode of WHAT THEY SAY, Amy-Lee and Jess sit down with hospitality heavyweight Ayo Akinsete, Chief Operating Officer at The Dean Group, to talk about making space when you’re not given it- and leading with calm, credibility and quiet confidence.  From Ile-Ife in Nigeria to South Carolina, Vegas, London and now Ireland, Ayo has built a global career across some of the world’s most recognisable lifestyle hotels. But this isn’t a CV recap. It’s a conversation about what it really feels like to be the only one in the room - and choose to stay anyway. Together, they get into: How to build credibility in industries that weren’t built with you in mindRepresentation that’s real, not just a line in a strategy deckCultural intelligence, mentorship and opening doors for the next generationWhy leadership is less about ego, more about servicePlus, Ayo jumps into our They Say / We Say quickfire, giving his take on big leadership clichés like "you have to fit in to lead" and "calm leaders finish last".  WHAT THEY SAY is the podcast from THEY SAY STUDIOS- where creative meets digital, work meets real life, and there’s always a bit of chaos. Made for women building big lives, not just big careers, and for anyone carving out space in rooms that weren’t designed for them.

  6. Feb 9

    WHAT THEY SAY about running a business that never sits still

    THEY SAY Studios was built in airports, coffee shops and voice notes. Amy-Lee in Palma, Jess in Singapore - running a global creative and digital studio powered by collaboration, not co-location. This first episode of WHAT THEY SAY is the story of how THEY SAY Studios began. How a couple of girls with laptops, big ideas and no shared office built a remote-first, female-founded studio across borders. We dig into how remote working really shapes creativity, leadership and connection. How you build culture when your team is everywhere. Lead a creative business across time zones. Keep standards sky-high when you are never in the same room. We get into: How THEY SAY Studios started and why it had to be different Building a remote-first branding, creative and digital studio from Palma and Singapore Creative collaboration without a shared office Remote leadership, trust and communication What actually works (and what really does not) when your team is fully onlineThis episode is for creatives, founders, agency owners, freelancing girlies and anyone leading a remote team who wants the honest version of how a global studio really runs.

    WHAT THEY SAY about running a business that never sits still
  • 6 Episodes

About

WHAT THEY SAY is a podcast by THEY SAY STUDIOS, hosted by co-founders Amy-Lee Cowey-Small and Jessica Ashman, two women building a creative and digital world on their own terms. It is where work meets real life - motherhood and ambition, friendship and business, burnout and belief - with honest, funny, thoughtful conversations between Amy, Jess and their guests, from founders and creatives to leaders rewriting the rules, about what it really takes to build something you love and stay (mostly) sane.

Information

  • Creator
    THEY SAY Studios
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 WHAT THEY SAY
  • Show Website
    WHAT THEY SAY