Simon Cockram Presents

#82 Mike Lane-Evans - Is Communication the Secret to Business Success?

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Lane-Evans, founder of Forefront Coaching Ltd, to dive deep into the art of powerful communication. With a background as a professional actor and over 15 years of experience on stage, Mike now coaches individuals and teams across industries to deliver unforgettable pitches, presentations, and meetings—whether in person or online. Mike has worked with global names like Barclays, ABN AMRO, ACCA, Techstars, and Imperial College London, helping them clarify their message and communicate it with maximum impact. But this conversation goes beyond corporate success—it’s about why people struggle to connect with others, and what we can do to change that.
Mike reveals the three core principles behind great communication: active listening, knowing your ‘why’, and engaging your audience through storytelling. He explains how most people focus on optics and outcomes, without understanding the real mechanics behind connection.
Whether you’re preparing for a big pitch, leading a meeting, or just trying to get your point across better in everyday life, this episode is packed with insight. We also explore the common mistakes people make when speaking and how Mike helps his clients overcome them to truly land their message. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a better understanding of how to use your voice, body language, and story to connect authentically. If you want to level up your communication skills and become a more impactful speaker, this one’s a must-watch.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

#81 Richard Few - Why Sales Has a Bad Reputation (And How to Fix It)

In this episode, Simon Cockram is joined by Richard Few, founder of Sales Geek, for an honest and insightful conversation about the world of sales—why it’s misunderstood, and how we can change that. Richard shares his personal journey from leading a global sales team in a billion-pound company to walking away from it all in search of meaning, time with his family, and a more impactful life. He opens up about the emotional and practical challenges of leaving a high-paying corporate role, and how he turned a bold idea into a multi-million-pound business helping small companies grow.
They dive deep into why sales has such a bad reputation, breaking down the psychology behind it and how outdated views have shaped how people feel about “selling.” Richard explains how Sales Geek is on a mission to shift that perception—by making sales more human, ethical, and accessible.
The episode also covers practical insights on sales techniques, training, and what small businesses often get wrong when trying to scale. Richard offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their sales approach, build confidence, or simply understand the value of good communication in business.
Whether you're a founder, a frustrated sales professional, or someone considering a career pivot, this episode is packed with wisdom, humour, and straight-talking advice from someone who’s lived it.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this conversation helped shift your view of sales.

#80 Lucy Wahl - The Hidden Cost of Clutter: What It’s Really Doing to You

In this inspiring episode, Simon Cockram sits down with Lucy Wahl, founder of LMW Edits, a boutique professional organising company based in San Francisco. With a background that includes Princeton, an MBA from UCLA, and experience in fundraising at Stanford, Lucy brings a unique and thoughtful perspective to the world of home organisation.
Lucy shares how clutter is far more than just mess — it’s a source of stress that impacts our mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. She explains how an organised home can be the foundation of a well-lived life, especially for busy professionals and families juggling multiple demands. Simon and Lucy dive into everything from the psychology of tidying to simple, habit-based solutions inspired by Atomic Habits.
 
They talk about communication in relationships, teaching kids to clean up, reshaping gender roles at home, and how to stop resenting your partner over household chores. Lucy’s advice is practical, empowering, and full of compassion.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by your space or want to create a home that supports your best life, this conversation is packed with insight and real-world tools. Don’t miss this one — it’s time to declutter your home and your head.
 
0:00:00 Welcome Lucy & Why She Organises
0:04:00 Clutter, Stress & Cortisol
0:08:00 Mindset Shift: Organising Is a Skill
0:12:00 The Atomic Habits Approach to Tidiness
0:16:00 Delegating and Teaching at Home 0:20:00
Communication in Relationships 0:24:00 Asking the 'Dumb' Questions
0:28:00 Impact of Clutter on Relationships
0:32:00 Learned Behaviour from Childhood
0:36:00 Defining 'Tidy' in a Household
0:40:00 Realistic Standards & Social Media Influence
0:44:00 Teaching Kids to Clean Up
0:48:00 Parental Roles & The Nanny Dynamic
#DeclutterYourLife #HomeOrganization #MentalWellbeing #AtomicHabits #LucyWahl

#79 Jools Tyrer - Secrets Mums Wish You Knew About Work After Kids

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Jools, host of the Top 5 rated parenting podcast Mama’s Flightpath—an uplifting and empowering show for mothers navigating the thrills, turbulence, and sometimes WTF moments of returning to work after having a baby. Jools shares her raw and inspiring story—from the emotional challenges of matrescence and postnatal burnout to rediscovering her identity, rebuilding confidence, and ultimately changing careers to support and uplift other mums.
 
We dive into her transformative SHINE Framework (Self, Health, Identity, Needs, Empowerment), a practical and empowering tool to help women reconnect with themselves and redefine success on their own terms. Whether you're a new mum facing the daunting return to work, struggling with mum guilt, or simply asking "Who am I now?"—this episode is for you. Expect honest conversation, relatable insights, and a deep reminder that you’re not alone.
✨ Mama’s Flightpath speaks directly to ambitious, career-driven women aged 30–45 navigating the return to work after their first baby. Hosted by Jools—a coach, speaker, and mum of one—the podcast releases new episodes every Tuesday, sharing real stories, expert insights, and community support to help you rebuild confidence and thrive.
CHAPTERS
0:00:00 Welcome and Introduction
0:00:30 Matrescence: The Transition to Motherhood
0:02:00 Identity Shift After Becoming a Parent
0:07:00 Returning to Work After Maternity Leave
0:12:00 Emotional Toll of Leaving Your Baby
0:15:00 COVID-19 and the Working Parent Experience
0:20:00 Jules’ Personal Journey and Breakdown
0:28:00 Starting Therapy and Rebuilding Confidence
0:33:00 Creating Community and Finding Purpose
0:37:00 Discovering a New Career Path
0:42:00 Training as a Coach
0:47:00 Building Self-Awareness and Confidence
0:53:00 Becoming a Role Model for Your Children
0:58:00 Parenting, Health, and Values Alignment
1:05:00 The Power of Vision Boards and Manifesting
1:14:00 SHINE Framework: S is for Self
1:21:00 Emotional Awareness and Heartfelt Connection
1:27:00 H is for Health in the SHINE Framework
1:33:00 I is for Identity: Who Are You Now?
1:39:00 N is for Needs: Understanding Your Own
1:45:00 E is for Empowerment: Taking Back Control
1:51:00 How to Connect with Jules
1:54:00 Final Words and Reflections
 
#Motherhood #Matrescence #SHINEFramework #MamasFlightpath #WorkingMum #PostnatalSupport #WomenAtWork #ParentingPodcast #ConfidenceCoach #CareerGrowth #SimonCockramPresents

#78 Lucy Challenger - How Psychedelics Heal Deep Wounds

In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Simon Cockram speaks with Lucy Challenger, a qualified psychedelic facilitator and integration coach, to explore her personal and professional journey through guided psychedelic therapy. Lucy shares her experiences with psilocybin and MDMA-assisted journeys, and how these sacred medicines have helped her — and her clients — reconnect with the body, release trauma, and create deep, lasting change.
This conversation dives into healing, surrender, emotional release, and the importance of safe, supported integration. Lucy’s work is rooted in postgraduate training from Exeter University (MA in Psychedelics, ongoing), EMARK certification, and extensive study in somatic, trauma-informed, and relational practices. She specialises in one-to-one and couples journeys, guiding clients through preparation, ceremony, and deep integration with intuitive presence and clinical understanding. Her approach blends energy and bodywork, shadow and tantric embodiment, and collaborative care — offering a sacred space to explore grief, shame, desire, and reconnection. Whether holding ceremony or facilitating integration, Lucy brings clarity, compassion, and reverence to each unfolding.
In this episode, we cover: The difference between recreational and guided psychedelic use How trauma is stored in the body Surrendering control and accessing deeper truths The emotional power of MDMA and psilocybin sessions Why integration is essential for lasting change Lucy’s approach to working with desire, grief, and embodiment
www.lucychallenger.com
Trigger warning: This episode includes themes of trauma and intense emotional experiences. Listener discretion is advised.

#77 Max Sinclair - How to Launch an AI Startup (And Actually Get Funding)

Curious about how to launch and scale an AI startup in 2025? In this episode, we’re joined by Max Sinclair—founder of www.ecomtent.ai—to uncover the reality of building a venture-backed startup in the age of AI.
Max spent 6 years in global leadership roles at Amazon before founding Ecomtent, a cutting-edge AI tool helping sellers generate visual and written content optimised for AI-powered search. Ecomtent is already a favourite in the Amazon seller community and has secured backing from eBay Ventures.
 
We dive into how Max turned his idea into a funded company, his journey through startup accelerators, and how AI is transforming ecommerce and search. He also shares advice on raising capital, building momentum, and standing out in a crowded tech space. Max studied AI at Mila—one of the world’s top AI institutes—and now hosts The New Frontier: AI for Ecommerce podcast on Spotify and Apple.
 
Chapters
0:00:00 – Max’s First In-Person Podcast Interview
0:04:00 – Controversial Beliefs and Counterintuitive Ideas
0:08:10 – Why Lived Experience Matters in Business
0:12:58 – Predicting Technology Trends for Competitive Advantage
0:17:40 – Selling the Controversial Vision to Investors
0:22:59 – The Advantage of Startup Agility and Speed
0:28:44 – The Lean Startup Mindset: Validate First
0:34:35 – What Is an Accelerator and How It Works
0:41:46 – Why Angels Invest: Alignment and Narrative
0:48:40 – How We Prioritise Product Features and Roadmap
1:00:00 – Raising the Bar with AI in Education
1:04:00 – The Future of Work and Global Inequality
1:08:00 – AI, Tariffs, and the Rebirth of American Manufacturing
1:12:00 – Who Controls the Truth in an AI-Driven World?
1:16:00 – Algorithmic Bias and Model Fine-Tuning
1:20:00 – Centralised AI Control and Privacy Risks
1:24:00 – AI and the Risk of Authoritarianism
1:28:00 – Using AI for Public Good vs Surveillance
1:32:00 – The Government's AI Knowledge Gap
1:36:00 – Authenticity in the Age of AI Content
 
📌 Topics: how to build an AI startup, ecommerce tech, raise VC funding, startup accelerators, AI trends 2025, Amazon founder tips, investor-ready advice.
 
👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more unfiltered startup conversations with real founders and disruptors.

#76 Mark Pymm - The Reality of Becoming an Entrepreneur

Mark Pymm – Resilience, Leadership & the Future of e-Mobility
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Pymm — EV charging pioneer, visionary entrepreneur, and leadership strategist. Mark shares the raw truth behind scaling a multimillion-pound EV business not once, but twice — and the personal cost that came with it.
From suicide attempts to founding one of the UK’s leading EV infrastructure companies, Mark’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless drive.
He opens up about: Navigating chronic failure and extreme adversity Building and selling ChargedEV — twice The reality of leadership under pressure
Why putting people first is a superpower in business
The future of transportation, sustainability, and EV tech How to lead with purpose, heart, and high standards
Whether you're a founder, leader, or just someone searching for meaning in the madness, this is a conversation about more than business — it’s about life, loss, and what it really takes to make it.
🔗 Topics Covered: EV charging infrastructure & business growth Resilience and mental health in entrepreneurship Strategic leadership and people-first culture Emerging tech & sustainability in transportation
 
Don’t miss this powerful, honest, and deeply human conversation.
 
👇 Like, subscribe, and leave your thoughts in the comments.

#75 Mark Dallimore - Can Finding Purpose Change Your Life?

In this powerful and inspiring conversation, Mark Dallimore shares his journey from burnout and mental health struggles to a life of alignment, purpose, and abundance.
If you’re a senior professional or entrepreneur feeling stuck, chasing success but craving meaning — this episode will show you a new way forward.
🌱 What You’ll Learn Why success without purpose can feel empty — and how to fix it
The inner vs. outer purpose paradox How to break free from emotional patterns and limiting beliefs Tools for mindfulness, resilience, and clarity
How healing your past can unlock your financial future Strategies to align your business with your true self and mission
💡 Who This Is For Senior professionals, entrepreneurs, and high performers ready to go beyond hustle and create a life of meaning, impact, and inner peace.
✨ Let’s Spark Transformation Mark brings real-world experience, energetic mastery, and a deep understanding of what it takes to unlock true potential. If you’re ready to take aligned action and create lasting change — this episode is for you.

#74 Simon Duan - Are We Living in a Simulation? Consciousness, Reality, and the Science Beyond the Physical

Are we living in a simulation? In this mind-expanding episode of Simon Cockram Presents…, we’re joined by scientist and metaphysical researcher Simon Duan.
With a background in engineering, business, and innovation, Simon now explores the intersection of consciousness, quantum physics, and ancient wisdom. Simon shares his journey from mainstream science to uncovering the mysteries of human potential, after a powerful spiritual experience involving a witch doctor in China. We explore spoon bending, ESP, remote viewing, near-death experiences, and what quantum theory tells us about the nature of reality.
 
Could the universe be a sophisticated simulation? What is the role of our consciousness in shaping the world around us? We also discuss altered states, meditation, lucid dreaming, and what modern research suggests about life after death and parallel realities. Simon believes we’re on the edge of a paradigm shift—one where science, spirituality, and human consciousness are no longer at odds. If you're curious about the deeper nature of existence, manifestation, vibrational energy, and metaphysical science, this conversation is for you.
📍 CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Introduction & Welcome
1:17 – Scientist to Consciousness Researcher: The Origin Story
5:54 – The Wisdom Tooth That Changed Everything
9:28 – The Witch Doctor and Incantation: A Turning Point
12:20 – Entering the Paranormal Research World
16:40 – Mind Over Matter: Spoon Bending & Teleportation
23:22 – Remote Viewing, ESP & Precognition Explained
27:40 – Is Science Evolving? The Need for a New Paradigm
32:14 – Simulation Theory and the Matrix Hypothesis
38:32 – Dreams, Death & Different Realities
43:12 – The Role of Psychedelics, Lucid Dreaming & Meditation
50:04 – Plato’s Realm of Forms & Platonic Computation
57:36 – Nested Realities, Vibrational Frequencies & Consciousness Channels
1:04:00 – The Spiritual Realm, Mediumship & Life After Death
1:09:00 – Precognition, Teleportation & Changing Physical Parameters
1:16:00 – Manifestation, Meditation & Accessing Higher Self
1:21:58 – The Role of Thought & the Power of Conscious Awareness
1:26:02 – Case Studies: Time Perception, Astral Realms & The Tortoise Race
1:34:22 – New Science vs Mainstream: Illusion or Reality?
1:40:45 – Closing Thoughts: Expanding the Limits of Human Understanding
 
#QuantumConsciousness #SimulationTheory #MetaphysicalScience #SpiritualAwakening #SimonDuan

#73 Lisa Poole - What Every Woman Should Know About Menopause

In this powerful episode, dietitian Lisa Poole dives deep into what women really need to know about menopause. From hormones to HRT, metabolism to mindset, Lisa breaks down the science and busts the myths. She explains how oestrogen impacts weight gain, why HRT isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and how food, exercise, and lifestyle play a massive role in managing symptoms. You’ll learn why crash diets fail, why carbs shouldn’t be feared, and how emotional eating and past trauma can influence habits in midlife.
 
Whether you’re perimenopausal, menopausal, or just supporting someone who is—this episode is packed with honest, practical advice for long-term wellbeing. 🎧
 
Key topics: Understanding menopause & perimenopause symptoms The truth about HRT and hormone balance Why women gain weight during menopause Emotional eating, trauma, and breaking the binge cycle Nutrition advice based on science (not social media!) Why walking is underrated and effective How to eat with intuition, not restriction Building habits that actually last
 
💡 Real, compassionate, evidence-based advice from someone who gets it. #MenopauseSupport #WomenOver40 #HRTFacts #MidlifeWellness #NutritionAndHormones