Reflective Rebels Podcast: Human Stories, Brave Business

Ben Hickman
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For business owners who feel like their days define them instead of the other way around - and are ready to do something about it. Real stories of brave action from people who stopped pretending everything was fine and actually made a change. Not polished success stories or corporate LinkedIn b******t. Just honest conversations about the leaps people took, what they risked, and what's happened since - the messy, the meaningful, and the still-figuring-it-out. We talk about what shaped you, the moments that changed you, and what joy looks like now that you're building a business without selling your soul. You'll feel less alone in whatever you're going through, find courage in someone else's story, and maybe get the push you need to take your own brave action. A business podcast for UK business owners who want real growth without selling their soul. Life's too short to be shit.

  1. 4D AGO

    Fear of Failure: Why I Nearly Never Made This Episode

    There's a thing you've been putting off. Ben nearly didn't make this episode for the same reason: fear of failure, fear of judgement, fear of looking like a plonker in front of people he respects. This solo episode is him thinking out loud about what actually stops us from doing the things we want to do, recorded walking up a hill in Cumbria because sometimes you just have to go. Listen if you... Have been telling yourself you'll do the scary thing when you've got more time, more confidence, or more of a clue what you're doing.Know there's something you could put out into the world but keep finding reasons not to.Spend more energy worrying about what people will think than actually doing the thing.Feel like everyone else has it more together than you, and starting something new will just expose that.Keep waiting to feel ready, even though you suspect ready isn't coming. Keywords: fear of failure, overcoming self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of judgement, imposter syndrome, brave action, self-doubt business owner, courage, people pleasing, fear of what people think, UK business coaching podcast, starting something new Five Lessons Fear is almost never about the thing itself. The excuse is rarely the real reason.Most people are not watching, and most people do not care. The audience you're performing for in your head is bigger than the one that actually exists.The people it's not for don't matter. Make it for the one person who hears it and does something differently as a result.You are not supposed to be good at something the first time. Aim for four out of ten. Get it done. Learn.Life is in the doing, not the arriving. Waiting until you're ready means waiting through most of it. Key Moments with Timestamps 00:01 — Ben explains why solo episodes are finally happening in season two. 02:30 — He admits the real reason he kept putting them off: self-doubt and fear of what people would think. 04:07 — Three things he'd say to a client standing where he was: most people won't see it, the ones who hate it aren't your people, and you're not supposed to be good at it yet. 06:34 — Why aiming for four out of ten is not lowering your standards but finally giving yourself permission to start. 08:00 — The invitation: write down the thing you've been wanting to do, ask three questions about it, then go. Quotable Moments "The ego trying to protect us from feeling like an outsider is one of the biggest things that stops us from going out there and doing the things we want to do." "F**k them. This is not for them." "It would be totally arrogant, bizarre and bonkers to believe that on go one, I'd be any good at this whatsoever." "Life is not in me getting to the summit of the hill. Life's in this moment right now in me having a bloody go." About Ben: Ben Hickman is a business coach and host of Reflective Rebels, on a mission to spread joy. reflectiverebels.co.uk Support the Podcast: The best thing you can do is share this episode with one person you think needs to hear it. Get in Touch: reflectiverebels.co.uk and reflectiverebels.co.uk/newsletter Episode length: Approximately 10 minutes.

    10 min

  2. MAR 3

    I Doubted Myself Every Single Day (And Built an Animation Studio Anyway) - Lou's Story

    Lou wakes up every morning and her brain tells her she can't do it. That she's not good enough. That she should quit. Every day. And then she does it anyway. Lou is the founder of an animation studio (built in Carlisle, run internationally) with credits on CBeebies and a viral flying pig racking up 16 million Giphy views in four months. She's been told by recruiters she'd never make it. By doctors she'd never heal. By her own head, daily, that this was impossible. This conversation is about what self-belief actually looks like, not the Instagram version, but the daily, grinding, sometimes tearful reality of building something brave. Listen if you: Doubt yourself daily but refuse to give up on your dreamWant to build something meaningful but wonder if you're good enoughNeed proof that self-belief can be built, not just born withAre ready to stop waiting to feel readyKey Takeaways: Self-belief and self-doubt aren't opposites, they live side by side every dayThe people who succeed aren't the ones without fear, they're the ones who get faster at bouncing backConnections and relationships are the real engine behind every career breakthroughFail fast, learn fast. Don't spend a year on something when a day will tell you the same thingBelief in yourself is a practice, not a personality traitTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction06:00 What makes people fall in love with characters and stories09:00 Little Lou — art easels, Saturday morning cartoons and the Teletubbies moment18:00 College, university and finding your people25:00 The recruiter who said "you're not good enough — come back when you're better"29:00 Quitting the day job and going all in39:00 Working on CBeebies' Cloudbabies — and having a baby at the same time42:00 Self-belief vs self-doubt — the daily fight47:00 The tools Lou uses to get out of her own head51:00 Healing from autoimmune illness the doctors said was incurable57:00 Pigasus — the flying pig with 16 million views and a serious messageWant more honest stories like this? Join the rebellion: reflectiverebels.co.uk/newsletter Find Lou: @loukneath | @positivelypigasus | positivelypigasus.com | plus3k.tv Find Ben: @reflective_rebels | reflectiverebels.co.uk/newsletter

    1h 6m
  3. Leaving the Life You ‘Should’ Live: Jim on Burnout, Reinvention, and Finding His Way Back to Himself

    12/02/2025

    Leaving the Life You ‘Should’ Live: Jim on Burnout, Reinvention, and Finding His Way Back to Himself

    When the version of your life that looked “right” stops feeling like you, what happens next? In this conversation, Jim talks honestly about the long arc of his working life: teaching in London, climbing the leadership ladder, reaching a point where the system no longer fed his soul, and the quiet realisation that something had to change. We talk about identity, ambition, leaving a career that once made sense, and the strange relief of admitting “this isn’t who I want to be anymore.” And through it all, a clear thread runs: connection, conversation, nature, and the people we choose to share our lives with. Jim reflects on optimism in dark moments, the pull of the fells, adventure, parenting, building something on your own terms, and what it means to feel like yourself again. Not in a big dramatic way, just in the very human way so many of us recognise. If you’re standing in the messy middle of ambition, exhaustion and wanting a life that feels more yours, you might hear something in Jim’s story that steadies you. Listen if you’re: A business owner or leader wondering what “the next chapter” even is Tired of spinning plates and pretending it’s all fine In a career that once fit but doesn’t anymore Questioning what success actually means Craving connection, meaning and something real Quotable moments: “Sometimes it’s just moving on to the next chapter.” “I felt divided – there was work me and there was real me.” “What brings me joy is connection. It doesn’t need to be big stuff.” “You can scream into those fells and the wind and they don’t give a shit.” If this conversation lands with you, you’ll probably love the newsletter – stories, reflections and gentle rebellion for people who are done pretending everything is fine. Join here: reflectiverebels.co.uk/newsletter Connect: Instagram: @reflective_rebels

    56 min
  4. When the Metrics Stop Making Sense: Ricky on Purpose, Possibility & Letting Life Change Shape

    11/18/2025

    When the Metrics Stop Making Sense: Ricky on Purpose, Possibility & Letting Life Change Shape

    If you have been feeling a quiet shift in yourself that you cannot quite name but you know is there, this conversation might give you some company. Ricky talks about the moments that shaped him, the things he has let go of, and the parts of himself he is finding again. We go from childhood memories of being the tech obsessed “shiny buttons” kid, to DJing in dark clubs, to building a tech agency, to the grounding work he does as a Samaritans listening volunteer. He also speaks about being born with one leg and what it meant to grow up with parents who backed him fully while keeping things real. From early limitations he had to face, to the quiet courage of choosing what felt true to him, Ricky shares how these experiences shaped how he moves through the world. There is also an honest moment about how he and his partner made peace with the version of their life that does not include children right now. Not with regret, but with clarity and acceptance. We also get into the shift he is feeling today. The old metrics of success like speed, productivity and constant growth no longer land. What feels more important now is community, meaning and a softer way of living. Do you need a goal to take action, or can you follow what feels human and true? Listen if you: are questioning the old definitions of success want conversations that sit in the grey feel a shift but do not yet have words for it prefer honesty over performance are navigating changes in identity, purpose or energy Key quotes "I always loved the shiny buttons." "At some point I realised being a fireman probably was not going to happen." "There is something softer pulling me now." "I have always liked helping people." Ricky's SoundCloud Listen here: Fake Blood, Sweat and Tears Connect with Reflective Rebels Website Newsletter Instagram @reflective_rebels Coaching enquiries

    55 min
  5. Becoming badass When the Five-Year-Old Stops Running the Show - Theresa’s Story

    11/04/2025

    Becoming badass When the Five-Year-Old Stops Running the Show - Theresa’s Story

    Theresa has lived many lives... across continents, careers, and versions of herself. From a childhood in Zimbabwe and South Africa to teenage years in Portugal and now life in Carlisle, she’s spent years learning what it means to belong, to rebuild, and to finally take up space as the adult version of herself. In this conversation, she talks about movement, motherhood, grief, and growing into the kind of woman who calls her own shots. The kind who’s learned that strength isn’t about pretending everything’s fine, it’s about owning the whole story, even the messy chapters. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been performing someone else’s version of your life, or you’re just tired of holding it all together, this one’s for you. Listen if you: Feel like you’ve been “fine” for too long and want something more realKeep shape-shifting to fit where you are but never quite feel at homeNeed a reminder that confidence can come later in life, and that’s okayAre trying to make peace with the messier parts of your storyWant to hear from someone who’s figured out how to stop shrinking herself Lessons from her story: You can start again — more than once. Reinvention isn’t failure; it’s what living looks like.Confidence doesn’t appear overnight. It builds quietly through hard-won momentsYou’re allowed to outgrow people, places, and versions of yourself.Owning your story means owning all of it, even the parts you’d rather forget.Community doesn’t just happen; you create it. Memorable quotes: “Five-year-old me was kind of running the show. Adult me actually knows what she’s doing and she can run the show.” “Sometimes we’ve just got to talk about the shit things too — not just the ones that happen to us, but the ones we do. It’s all part of our story.” “I always say the things other people don’t say. I get those looks like, ‘Oh gosh, you said that,’ and I’m like, yeah, I did.” “If women are confident, it often comes across as something else. But it isn’t. I’ve stepped into my adult shoes — I’m properly living my life.” “Granny made me become a celebrant. She didn’t follow her dreams, so I’m making sure I follow mine.” About the Podcast We’re Done Pretending is a Reflective Rebels podcast hosted by Ben Hickman. Real conversations about the beautiful, messy muddle of being human. No quick fixes. No corporate masks. Just honest stories about joy, loss, identity, and the work of becoming ourselves again. Coaching: If this conversation resonated and you’re ready to find a life that feels good to you, email ben@reflectiverebels.co.uk. Follow Reflective Rebels: https://www.instagram.com/reflective_rebels/ on Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter: reflectiverebels.co.uk/newsletter for news, and updates for exhausted humans. Read Theresa’s writing: https://substack.com/@theresawritesnow

    1h 2m
  6. I Can't Give Everything to Everyone Else Anymore - Laura's Story

    10/21/2025

    I Can't Give Everything to Everyone Else Anymore - Laura's Story

    Do you measure yourself by what you've accomplished instead of how you actually feel? Laura did. Chief executive of a charity, studying for a degree, doing two voluntary roles, raising her son as a single parent. When people asked how she was, she'd rattle off what she'd achieved. "Yeah, I'm great, I'm fine." Her friends knew it was coming. She didn't. One afternoon at 3pm, her skin started crawling. Pancreatitis. Hospital for three months. Couldn't work, couldn't trust herself to make decisions, had to move back in with her parents. The turning point: lying in bed one night, hearing her mum and dad tend to her son because she couldn't get up. That's when she thought: I can't give everything to everybody else anymore. This conversation is about what happens when your body forces you to stop. About the "big s****y stick of motherhood" we beat ourselves with. About rebuilding when you realise you don't know who you are without all the roles. About learning to be Laura before being anything else. Listen if: You're checking emails while making breakfast for your kidsYou say "I'm fine" while listing everything you've achievedYou feel guilty if you're not doing the best you can do all the timeCleaning feels like "me time" because it's the only thing you can controlYou don't know who you are without your roles Five lessons from Laura's story: 1. You can't give everything away to everyone else  Laura was chief executive, student, volunteer, single parent - trying to be all things to all people. There was no space left for her. That's not sustainable. 2. When you don't stop, your body will stop you Laura ignored every warning sign until pancreatitis put her in hospital. If you don't choose to slow down, it chooses you. 3. Identity beyond roles takes rebuilding piece by piece  After her breakdown, Laura didn't know who she was without CEO, mum, student. She had to rebuild from scratch: "Is that one of my pieces? Is that me?" 4. Vulnerability isn't weakness  People called Laura an "ice queen" who never showed emotion. That compartmentalising left her isolated and burnt out. Now she 'cries at adverts' and feels stronger than ever. 5. Joy comes from presence, not proving yourself  Laura used to measure herself by achievements. Now joy is playing PlayStation with her son, reading without scrolling her phone. Being there, not performing. About the host Ben Hickman is the founder of Reflective Rebels, coaching overwhelmed business owners and exhausted professionals. With 14+ years running his own business (including hitting burnout in 2015), Ben gets what it's like when you're giving everything away to things that maybe aren't the important things. To find out more visit www.reflectiverebels.co.uk We're done pretending everything's fine. We want more than coping. We want a life that feels like ours. 56 minutes • For anyone still trying to prove they're good enough

    58 min
  7. I Keep Doing What Everyone Else Wants: Finding Your True Creative Voice - Beatrix's Story

    10/07/2025

    I Keep Doing What Everyone Else Wants: Finding Your True Creative Voice - Beatrix's Story

    Do you spend all week waiting for Friday evening to finally do your real work? Not the emails, not the meetings - the work that actually matters to you? Beatrix does. She waits all week for what she calls "mythological time" - when she can finally shift away from everyone else's demands and into genuine creative work. The problem: The to-do list could now fill seven days a week. Operational tasks have crowded out everything else. From filmmaker to farmer to self-shooting director, Beatrix kept wearing different uniforms trying to fit what others expected. Until an Orthodox priest in Siberia looked her in the eyes and asked: "What's happened to your soul?" That question led her from London to Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides, and finally to making work on her own terms. After four years of institutional funding rejection, she launched a crowdfunder and raised completion funding in four weeks - from people who actually wanted to see her work. Now she's self-distributing her documentary and working on a project that integrates everything she's been told to keep separate. Listen if you: Feel like your days define you instead of the other way aroundKeep building things that look good but don't feel like yoursWait all week for the moment you can finally do your real workHave projects gathering dust because you couldn't get approval or didn't have the confidence to share themWonder why you keep shape-shifting to fit what others needFeel like you've been tuning a radio dial your whole life trying to find your clear signal Lessons from her story: 1. Mythological Time vs. To-Do List Time - You need to protect time for your real work with stubbornness. Otherwise the demands will eat everything. 2. The Priest's Question - Sometimes a stranger sees what you've been ignoring - that you've drifted so far from yourself you don't even notice anymore. 3. "I Didn't See There Was Any Choice" - Sometimes the bravest thing is admitting you can't keep going the way you've been going. 4. Four Years of Rejection, Four Weeks of Success - Gatekeepers saying "no" doesn't mean your work isn't good. It might just mean you're asking the wrong people. 5. Tuning the Radio Dial - Finding your true work isn't about choosing one thing. It's about integrating all the parts of yourself you've been told to keep separate. Follow Beatrix: Website: trixpixmedia.com Social: @trixpixmedia Coaching with Ben: If this resonates and you're ready to find your own clear signal, email ben@reflectiverebels.co.uk Follow Reflective Rebels: @reflective_rebels (Instagram) | Ben Hickman (LinkedIn)

    1h 1m
  8. Get Your Hands Dirty (Why We Need to Feel Nature Again) - Ray's Story

    09/23/2025

    Get Your Hands Dirty (Why We Need to Feel Nature Again) - Ray's Story

    Episode Summary Ever felt like you're too comfortable? Too insulated from real experiences? Ray's story follows a man who's spent his life saying "yes" to random invitations, from "do you want to come climbing?" at a carnival to adventures that nearly killed him in Peru. If you're feeling stuck in routines or wondering whether you should follow that thing that's been calling to you, Ray's story shows what's possible when you trust what grabs you physically and get comfortable being uncomfortable. Five Lessons from Ray's Story 1. Say yes to throwaway conversations The biggest opportunities often come disguised as casual suggestions. The magic isn't in the invitation - it's in saying yes when most people would say "maybe later." 2. Your body knows before your brain does Ray felt those Welsh hills in his bones before he could articulate why. Sometimes you need to trust what grabs you physically, not what makes logical sense. 3. The humble ones change everything Ray calls himself a "right wimp" while describing surviving at 19,000 feet. Often the humble ones shape other people's lives - they're too busy doing the work to notice how extraordinary they are. 4. Let people get messy Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is stop protecting them from getting their hands dirty. 5. Keep going when you're broken Ray was "wobbly" for years after a school attack but never stopped living. You don't have to be fixed to keep moving forward. Key Quotes "It's hard to describe - you know when something grabs you, when something kind of gets hold of you." "Get out there and do something. Get your hands dirty. Bang your head on the wall. Smack your knuckles on the rock." "You've just got to get out there and feel a bit of nature. Get away from all this comfort and material bollocks." Connect with Reflective Rebels If Ray's story stirred something in you - if you recognise that feeling of being too comfortable or wondering what you're missing by playing it safe - you're not alone. Join the email community at reflectiverebels.co.uk/newsletter for honest insights about getting unstuck and first access to gatherings where you can connect with other people who are done pretending everything's fine. And if you're ready to make changes that feel scary but right - drop me an email about coaching. Because sometimes we need support to say yes to the things that matter.

    51 min
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For business owners who feel like their days define them instead of the other way around - and are ready to do something about it. Real stories of brave action from people who stopped pretending everything was fine and actually made a change. Not polished success stories or corporate LinkedIn b******t. Just honest conversations about the leaps people took, what they risked, and what's happened since - the messy, the meaningful, and the still-figuring-it-out. We talk about what shaped you, the moments that changed you, and what joy looks like now that you're building a business without selling your soul. You'll feel less alone in whatever you're going through, find courage in someone else's story, and maybe get the push you need to take your own brave action. A business podcast for UK business owners who want real growth without selling their soul. Life's too short to be shit.

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