We’re back with another heartfelt conversation, and this week I’m joined by Fraser Fitzgerald, AKA Fraser Cooks.

Fraser grew up in Toronto with three siblings, he’s part of a set of triplets and has a younger brother. Fraser opens up about his deep dislike for school and being diagnosed with a learning disability and dyslexia, without receiving support that made sense to him. That lack of clarity led him to believe he couldn’t succeed, and for a long time, he carried the weight of feeling like he wasn’t capable of being “the good student.”

Everything began to shift when Fraser found cooking, specifically vegan cooking, his whole family is vegan now! While attending culinary school, he discovered not only his passion, but also a version of himself he hadn’t known before: someone who could excel, focus, and thrive when doing something he loved.

We talk about the success and influence of his younger brother, Eamon of Eamon and Bec, and how, through it all, he’s come to believe that his life is meant to take twists and turns.

This episode is a gentle reminder that success doesn’t have to be linear, and that passion can change everything.

🔗 Links from the episode

FraserCooks

FraserCooks YouTube

Everyday Eats - Eamon & Bec x FraserCooks

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YouTube

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See you next Tuesday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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⚠️ Content warning: In this episode, we talk openly about abuse, alcoholism, and death. Please take care while listening.

We’re back with our first guest of 2026, and it is none other than Lynn Johnston, the Canadian comic strip artist behind For Better or For Worse.

At its peak, For Better or For Worse was read by more than 230 million people worldwide and became beloved for its groundbreaking concept: characters who aged in real time over the 29 years the strip ran. Lynn Johnston is a celebrated Canadian storyteller and artist who used her work to explore real-life issues including love, grief, family dynamics, abuse, and LGBTQ+ identities, at a time when being openly gay was far less accepted.

In our conversation, Lynn shares what it was like growing up in a wildly creative family where her brother was favoured, and how she often felt she never lived up to her mother’s expectations. She speaks candidly about the unexpected sense of relief she felt after her parents passed away, no longer living under the weight of her mothers expectations. Lynn also opens up about her first marriage, the abuse she experienced, and how she grew through single motherhood.

While our conversation naturally touches on For Better or For Worse, it is ultimately about much more than comics. It’s a celebration of who Lynn Johnston is, and the life experiences that shaped her into the Canadian treasure she is today.

🔗 Links from the episode

For Better or For Worse

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xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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Welcome back to Seasoned Professional, I am so glad you are here!

This podcast explores the lives, lessons, and growth of people navigating their personal and professional journeys. In this solo episode, host Hannah Octavia reflects on her path as a podcaster and shares meaningful updates from her life, including her recent move back to Canada and the realities of maintaining a long-distance relationship.

Hannah dives into the importance of community support, celebrates reaching a fundraising milestone for the Little Princess Trust, and looks ahead to what’s coming for the podcast in 2026, more interactive content and a renewed focus on uplifting Canadian voices. She also opens up about the surreal experience of interviewing her idol, Lynn Johnston, and why vulnerability in content creation can lead to deeper, more authentic connections.

Thoughtful, honest, and reflective, this episode sets the tone for a year centered on growth, gratitude, and celebrating the people who inspire us.

🔗 Links from the episode

I Donated 12 Inches of My Hair for Cancer: A Conversation with Simon Webster

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xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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🎥 This is a visual episode, don’t miss the full experience on YouTube, linked below!

For the final episode of 2025, I step out of the studio for a special on-site conversation with Simon Webster.

A few months ago, I felt the pull to donate my hair again, but this time, I wanted the cut to have a deeper impact. That led me to The Little Princess Trust, a charity providing free, real-hair wigs to children and young people experiencing hair loss through cancer treatment and other conditions. I decided to donate my hair and raise funds to support their work.

To do that, I needed the right hairdresser, someone with both skill and a story to tell. Enter Simon Webster. With 40 years in the hairdressing industry, three salon owners under his belt, and work spanning fashion weeks, session styling, music videos, and personal creative projects, Simon is the definition of a seasoned professional. His current salon, Simon Webster Hair, is based in the North Laine of Brighton.

We talk about hair, creativity, music, working with clients with cancer, and the profound impact a small act, like styling a wig, can have on someone’s life. This episode is a powerful reminder of how craft, care, and purpose intersect.

🔗 Links from the episode

Donate to The Little Princess Trust

Simon Webster Hair

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xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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In this episode, I chat with Laura Coleman, author of The Puma Years, about growing up with two psychologists as parents, struggling with self-confidence, and finding her path in unexpected ways.

In her early twenties, she quit her job and backpacked to Bolivia, where she met Wayra, a rescued puma who would change her life. Living in a jungle sanctuary surrounded by quirky animals and unforgettable humans, Laura discovered resilience, healing, and the courage to embrace a life beyond expectation.

🔗 Links from the episode

The Puma Years

Laura Coleman

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xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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Today I sit down with Ashley Winston, founder and owner of Palmdale Car Finders, ex-marketing specialist, and arguably the biggest car fanatic you’ll ever meet.

Ashley shares how he turned a lifelong obsession with cars into a thriving, purpose-driven career, and what it truly takes to build a business around what you love. What began as a conversation about entrepreneurship quickly unfolded into a mutual therapy session, touching on identity, fulfillment, and the courage required to follow the things that genuinely light you up.

He opens up about the highs and lows of running your own business, including the moment he nearly drove Palmdale Car Finders into the ground by chasing the trap of “more”: the bigger office, the flashier car, the image of success rather than the substance of it. Ashley speaks candidly about pulling himself back to the core mission of his company, and how staying grounded and true to that purpose has been the key to rebuilding and moving forward.

This episode is equal parts inspiring, insightful, and unexpectedly vulnerable. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to turn what you love into the work you do, this conversation is for you.

🔗 Links from the episode

Palmdale Car Finders

Ashely Winston on LinkedIn

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See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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Today's episode, I am joined by the wonderful Pippa Moyle, founder and CEO of the City Girl Network, a mission-led organisation helping women, non-binary people and trans femmes feel more connected, confident and empowered in their local communities.

What began as a small idea has grown into 27 communities across the UK, largely through the organic ripple effect of women experiencing the power of the City Girl Network and bringing it with them wherever they go.

Pippa founded the network at just 22 years old, and as she approaches the 10-year milestone, she shares the real story behind building a purpose-driven business. She opens up about feeling on the outside of friendship circles growing up, the strong work ethic instilled by her parents, her younger dreams of becoming a pop star, and the many challenges she’s navigated along the way.

This conversation was full of insight, honesty and relatable moments including the reminder that some of the best things in life take time.

Enjoy this inspiring deep dive into Pippa’s journey and the community she’s built for so many.

🔗 Links from the episode

City Girl Network

City Girl Network on Instagram

Pippa on LinkedIn

Pippa on Instagram

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xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, Functioning Adult)

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Brian Capron is back! Our last conversation, The Brian Capron Story: Before and Beyond Coronation Street, explored his full life, from childhood and early acting roles to run-ins with Sting, his rise to fame, and what he’s doing today.

In this episode, we bring Brian back to really break down his rise to fame and how his life changed almost overnight. From a run-of-the-mill actor to becoming a main character in Grange Hill, a series watched by 12 million viewers, and his time as Richard Hillman on Coronation Street he shares the highs, the pressures, and the unexpected ways success transformed his personal and professional life.

This episode is a must-listen for Coronation Street fans, theatre lovers, and anyone curious about what it’s really like to suddenly become a household name.

🔗 Links from the episode

Brian Capron

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See you next Sunday!

xx Hannah Octavia

(Theme music curtesy of Fran Lusty's song, "Functioning Adult")

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