"From the age of 13, I believed I was unworthy, undeserving of respect and that I had to accept the violence I was enduring."

In today’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Larissa Astara Gray shares her powerful story of survival, strength and how she reclaimed her power in the wake of her deeply traumatic experiences - including breaking free from toxic cycles and recovering from a drug addiction. As the founder of Better Boundaries, Larissa now helps others heal and set healthier boundaries.

Her journey offers valuable insights on the importance of self-love and healing from past experiences. If you've ever struggled with toxic relationships or finding your true worth, this episode will speak to you.

About Larissa:

Larissa Astara Gray is a passionate speaker, educator, and advocate for positive sex education, with a focus on empowering young people to navigate the challenges of modern relationships and sexuality. She is a leading voice on the impact of pornography on young minds and works tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of toxic sexual experiences. Larissa’s mission is to help young people understand healthy boundaries, consent, and self-worth, ensuring they are equipped to make informed choices about their sexual health and relationships.

Having experienced and overcome her own difficult and toxic relationships, Larissa now uses her personal journey to guide and educate others. She has created Better Boundaries Online, an educational platform that provides resources for young people, parents, and educators to address the harmful effects of pornography and promote healthy sexual relationships.

With over a decade of speaking experience, Larissa is a sought-after speaker, sharing her expertise in schools, universities, and various youth-focused settings. Her work is grounded in her belief that education is key to breaking cycles of trauma and ensuring that future generations can experience healthy, consensual, and fulfilling relationships.

You can connect with Larissa here:

Website: https://larissaastaragray.co.uk/

Better Boundaries Website: https://betterboundaries.co.uk/about/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-astara-gray-a98374202/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larissaastaragray/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larissa_astara_gray/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if one of the fastest ways to build real wealth isn’t starting from scratch… but stepping into something that already works?

In this episode, Casey Ridley claims that, done right, franchising can be one of the greatest creators of wealth in the world. When you hear how it actually works behind the scenes, it starts to make a lot of sense...

He and Darren get into what most people never see - that it's not just about systems and contracts. Successful franchising is about people, relationships and building something together that is bigger than you could ever do alone.

From choosing the right franchise owners to creating a business that genuinely supports them, this is how franchises truly scale and succeed.

If you've ever thought about running your own business, but felt stuck on where to start, or you want to grow faster without going it alone, this episode will open your eyes to what's possible.

More about Casey:

Casey Ridley is an entrepreneur and franchise leader based in Georgia, USA, and the driving force behind The Designery, a rapidly growing kitchen, bath, and closet franchise brand. He began his career by acquiring and transforming a small surplus construction business before scaling it into a multi-location operation and then franchising it nationally.

A strong advocate of franchising as a pathway to entrepreneurship, Casey focuses on helping individuals build successful businesses through structured systems, training, and support. Under his leadership, The Designery has expanded to dozens of locations across the United States, with a model centred on scalable growth, strong franchisee relationships, and a blend of national branding with local marketing.

He is also a franchisee himself, giving him a dual perspective on both sides of the model, and is known for his emphasis on execution, culture, and long-term business development.

You can connect with Casey here:

Website: https://thedesignery.com/about/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-ridley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caseyridley22/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casey_ridley_/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people don’t think about dementia care… until they have to.

In this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Paul Chambers shares how he went from a career in sales into the world of dementia care, and what that journey has taught him along the way.

This is an eye-opening conversation about what really happens when dementia enters a family’s life. From recognising the early signs, to getting a diagnosis, to navigating care options and the reality of costs, the episode covers it all. It also breaks down what to look for in a care home, the mistakes people make when choosing one and the questions more families should be asking before it’s too late.

More about Paul

Paul Chambers is the Dementia and Wellbeing Lead at Willow Bank Residential Dementia Care Home in Pershore. After more than 30 years working in sales and business development, a serious car accident in 2019 prompted him to reassess his career and move into the care sector. He began working in domiciliary and live-in care before moving into a customer relations role within a care home, where he developed a strong interest in supporting families navigating dementia.

Today, Paul focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with dementia, helping residents remain engaged, stimulated and supported while also guiding families through the challenges of diagnosis, care decisions and long-term support. He is particularly passionate about dementia awareness, cognitive stimulation approaches and ensuring residents continue to live with dignity and purpose throughout their care journey.

You can connect with Paul here:

Website: https://www.willowbankhadfield.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulchambers2009/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulyCFC

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to start a business and make money straight away?

Of course you do. But what if the real goal shouldn't be quick cash at all?

In this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren sits down with Cheryl White, founder of Apollo Care and a franchise consultant who has helped businesses across the UK turn their companies into successful franchise networks.

During their conversation, Cheryl explains a reality many new business owners struggle with - you don't launch today and start signing clients tomorrow. That isn't how strong businesses are built.

Instead, the focus is on building something far more valuable... a sustainable business that generates consistent revenue, grows over time and eventually becomes a saleable asset.

If you've ever considered starting a business, buying into a franchise or scaling your company through franchising, this episode gives an exclusive look into how it works behind the scenes.

More about Cheryl:

Cheryl White is the founder of Apollo Care and an experienced franchise consultant with more than 30 years in health and social care. After starting Apollo Care from scratch, she grew it into a successful care brand with franchises across the Northwest, Wales and the South. Alongside running Apollo, Cheryl helps other business owners franchise their companies, with a strong focus on sustainable growth, solid systems and long term value. She is known for her practical approach, high standards and commitment to building businesses that make a genuine difference.

You can connect with Cheryl here:

Website: https://www.apollocare.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylwhitefranchising/

Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.white.397/

Facebook (Business): https://www.facebook.com/apollocareservice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylwhite_franchising/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your business can’t run without you, you don’t own a business. You have a job.

Most owners start with the same vision - more income, freedom and time. Then, reality kicks in, and suddenly you’re buried in the day to day of chasing sales, answering everything yourself and wondering why growth still feels hard.

In this episode, Rod and Darren unpack why so many businesses get stuck there and how to break out of it. This is about building something that has value beyond you - something that can grow, scale and eventually run without you being glued to it. If that’s the goal, this conversation is essential listening.

More about Rod

Rod Kuchta is a business coach who works with UK-based small business owners to help them regain control of their companies, their time, and their long-term goals. Drawing on a background in sales leadership and business development, he specialises in helping owners step out of the day-to-day operations of their businesses so they can focus on growth, strategy, and building teams that can operate independently.

Through coaching, Rod helps business owners identify the gap between where their business is today and the vision they originally set out to achieve. His approach focuses on empowering teams, improving processes, strengthening leadership, and creating businesses that are sustainable, scalable, and ultimately valuable enough to sell or step away from.

Rod works with entrepreneurs who want more freedom, more time, and a business that delivers the lifestyle and financial results they originally started out to create.

You can connect with Rod here:

Website: https://entrepreneurscircle.org/coaches-directory/info/rod-kuchta/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-kuchta/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kuchta-Consulting-Ltd-100080935483410/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therodkuch/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going viral is NOT a strategy!

In today’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Bron Watson breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in modern marketing: visibility without direction.

Likes and connections aren’t a strategy, and neither is going viral. Bron explains why marketing only works when the long, medium and short game are aligned, and why every action has to answer one simple question: what are we doing next?

Awareness on its own doesn’t pay the bills, and engagement on its own doesn’t grow a business. If it doesn’t lead somewhere meaningful, it’s just noise. This isn’t simply a theory, either - Bron built and continued to lead her business through a double cancer diagnosis. So when she talks about resilience, long games and strategy, she’s speaking from lived experience, not just marketing textbooks.

If you’re serious about growing your business, building loyal fans and making your marketing drive revenue, this episode will challenge the way you think.

More about Bron:

Bron Watson is an Australian marketing strategist, business owner, and founder of The Social Coach and The Serenity Project. With decades of experience across corporate marketing, healthcare, and education, Bron combines commercial insight with deep personal resilience.

After building a successful marketing business, Bron was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and later with multiple myeloma in 2023. While continuing to run her business, she developed The Serenity Project, a framework that blends science, mindset, and practical resilience to help people navigate adversity.

Bron now works with small business owners to build raving fans through strategic marketing, while also advocating for a more human, trauma-aware approach to healing and healthcare.

You can connect with Bron here:

The Social Coach: https://thesocialcoach.com.au/

The Serenity Project: https://serenityproject.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwatson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bronwatsonme/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bron_watson/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wanted to build a new life in another country?

In today's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, immigration expert Oleg Schindler reveals his experience of moving to Canada, and how others can follow the same path. This conversation goes far beyond visas and paperwork, however.

Oleg and Darren dive into how immigration systems work behind the scenes, the political realities shaping decisions and why these conversations matter whether you run a business, lead a team or are simply curious about how the world is changing.

More about Oleg

Oleg Schindler is a licensed Canadian immigration consultant and the founder of two immigration practices based in Toronto and Ottawa. Originally from Ukraine, Oleg immigrated to Canada himself, giving him first-hand experience of the immigration process and the challenges faced by newcomers.

He specialises in helping individuals and families secure permanent residence, work permits and study pathways, as well as guiding entrepreneurs through Canada’s Start-Up Visa programme. Alongside his consultancy work, Oleg runs a specialist marketing service for immigration law firms and regulated consultants, helping them grow their practices through industry-specific content strategies built on real-world testing.

With a background in history and political science, Oleg combines practical immigration expertise with a deep understanding of policy, economics and global affairs, offering clients clear, strategic advice tailored to their individual circumstances.

You can connect with Oleg here:

Website: https://schindlervisa.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oleg.v.schindler/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schindlervisa/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-schindler/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We spend years studying for exams and learning job skills, yet no one teaches us how to manage the one thing that controls it all…

In this episode, Harry Mansfield explains how your thoughts drive your emotions, habits, resilience and, ultimately, your results. It's the difference between giving in and pushing through - between staying stuck and stepping forward.

Just like an elite athlete who crosses the finish line on mindset alone, we all rely on mental strength far more than we realise. If you want to understand why you think the way you do, and how to take back control, this episode is essential viewing.

About Harry:

Harry Mansfield is the founder of Awareness Key and is known as a mind power champion. She delivers practical training on how the mind works, helping people build resilience, improve performance, and manage difficult mental states.

Her work focuses on proactive, preventative support, including tools for handling low mood, anxiety, addiction patterns, and suicidal thoughts, alongside mindset coaching for goals and achievement. She also speaks publicly and offers one-to-one discovery calls through Awareness Key.

You can connect with Harry here:

Website: https://awarenesskey.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awarenesskey/?locale=en_GB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theawarenesskey/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-mansfield-mindpower-champion-4924071b3/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR9Goi7SK-Ps0XaAWodh9Ag

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.