Kitchen Tales

Vibe Quiz Is Helping You Discover Independent UK Businesses Through Personality-Based Gift Finding

Finding the perfect gift can be surprisingly difficult. Endless categories, generic suggestions, and soulless online shopping experiences often leave people feeling uninspired. In this episode of Kitchen Tales, Rhona and Colline are joined by Cam Robertson, founder of Vibe Quiz, an innovative platform that helps people discover thoughtful gifts from independent UK businesses through a simple personality-based quiz. Cam shares the story behind Vibe Quiz, how his background in digital marketing helped shape the concept, and why supporting small businesses sits at the heart of everything he does. The conversation explores the challenges of building an online platform, the importance of maintaining a community-focused approach as a business grows, and some creative guerrilla marketing tactics that helped spread the word about Vibe Quiz. Along the way, the team discusses independent retail, customer experience, entrepreneurship, and the value of helping shoppers find gifts with real personality. In this episode: * How the idea for Vibe Quiz was born * Why traditional online gift shopping often feels impersonal * Supporting independent UK businesses through e-commerce * Personality quizzes and gift recommendations * Creative guerrilla marketing with QR code campaigns * Building a business while working in digital marketing * Growing a platform without losing its community roots * The challenges of driving website traffic and awareness * Future plans for Vibe Quiz Connect with Cam: Website: https://www.vibequiz.co.uk Email: cam@vibequiz.co.uk You can find out more about Colline's Kitchen at https://www.collineskitchen.com You can find out more about Thyme catering at https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook Strategy and marketing by https://www.junecontentstudio.uk This podcast is recorded and edited by Creative Content Studio https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk

Supporting Neurodiverse Children: ADHD, Autism, School Anxiety & Family Support with Kate Hudson

In this episode of Kitchen Tales, we welcome Kate Hudson, a neurodevelopmental and educational specialist based near Newbury, for an honest and insightful conversation about supporting neurodiverse children and families. Kate shares her experience working with children, young adults, schools, and parents navigating ADHD, autism, dyslexia, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), executive functioning challenges, and the realities of the SEND system. Together, the team discuss why diagnoses are increasing, whether neurodiversity is “just a fad,” and the importance of focusing on support rather than labels. If you’re a parent, teacher, caregiver, or simply interested in understanding neurodiversity more compassionately, this episode is packed with practical advice and thoughtful discussion. Find out more about Kate and her services at: https://www.katehudson.co.uk/about-kate [https://www.katehudson.co.uk/about-kate] You can find out more about Colline's Kitchen at ⁠⁠https://www.collineskitchen.com⁠⁠ [https://www.collineskitchen.com/] You can find out more about Thyme catering at ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook] Strategy and marketing by ⁠⁠https://www.junecontentstudio.uk⁠⁠ [https://www.junecontentstudio.uk/] This podcast is recorded and edited by Creative Content Studio ⁠⁠https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk⁠ [https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk/]

Kirstin Kaszubowska on Confidence, Resilience & Decluttering Your Mind

This week on Kitchen Tales, Rhona Everard and Colline Rufaro are joined by coach, facilitator, and “thinking partner” for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation about confidence, resilience, career direction, and learning how to slow down before burnout takes over. Kirstin shares her journey from a successful career in PR and storytelling into coaching and facilitation, helping individuals, founders, and teams untangle their thinking, navigate change, and reconnect with what really matters. The conversation explores: * Why resilience is a skill you learn, not a personality trait * The pressure young people face when choosing careers and university paths * Confidence, imposter syndrome, and difficult workplace conversations * The importance of “dropping anchor” and slowing your thinking down * How a simple conversation can completely change someone’s life Colline also opens up about a life-changing conversation that helped her realise she was doing too much and how one small moment of support transformed the direction of her life. Alongside the discussion, there’s also plenty of classic Kitchen Tales warmth and humour, including freezer organisation disasters, Sharpie labelling hacks, spice cupboard confessions, and what everyone’s having for dinner. Find out more about Kirstin and her work here: kirstinkaszubowska.com [http://kirstinkaszubowska.com/] You can find out more about Colline's Kitchen at ⁠https://www.collineskitchen.com⁠ [https://www.collineskitchen.com/] You can find out more about Thyme catering at ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook] Strategy and marketing by ⁠https://www.junecontentstudio.uk⁠ [https://www.junecontentstudio.uk/] This podcast is recorded and edited by Creative Content Studio ⁠https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk⁠ [https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk/]

Finding Balance: Food, Stress & Real Health with Matt Stroud from Xuberant Health

In this episode of Kitchen Tales, Colline and Rhona sit down with Matt Stroud, founder of Xuberant Health, to explore a more personal and practical approach to wellbeing. Matt shares how his own experience with stress, poor sleep, and pre-diabetes led him away from the fitness industry and into naturopathic health, kinesiology, and holistic coaching. What followed wasn’t a quick fix but a shift in how he understands the body: not something to control, but something to listen to. The conversation digs into the realities behind modern health advice why “one-size-fits-all” approaches often fall short, how stress shows up physically, and why small, manageable changes can have a bigger impact than extreme routines. Find out more about Matt’s work at https://www.xuberanthealth.co.uk [https://www.xuberanthealth.co.uk/] You can find out more about Colline's Kitchen at https://www.collineskitchen.com [https://www.collineskitchen.com] You can find out more about Thyme catering at https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook [https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook] Strategy and marketing by https://www.junecontentstudio.uk [https://www.junecontentstudio.uk] This podcast is recorded and edited by Creative Content Studio https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk [https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk]

Inside Pearl Collective: Piercings, Tattoos & Building a Community Hub

In this episode of Kitchen Tales, we’re joined by Deanna, founder of Pearl Collective in Newbury. Deanna shares her journey into the piercing industry, from getting her first piercings as a teenager to building her own studio and creative space. What started as a passion has grown into a collective that now brings together piercings, tattoos, beauty services, and independent businesses under one roof. We talk about how the industry has evolved over the years, why every piercing has meaning, and how small moments, like a child’s first ear piercing, can be just as important as more complex work. Deanna also opens up about the challenges of starting a business during COVID, finding the right premises, and creating a space that supports other creatives. Find out more about Pearl Collective at https://pearl-collective.co.uk [https://pearl-collective.co.uk/] You can find out more about Colline's Kitchen at https://www.collineskitchen.com You can find out more about Thyme catering at https://www.instagram.com/thyme_homecook Strategy and marketing by https://www.junecontentstudio.uk This podcast is recorded and edited by Creative Content Studio https://www.creativecontentstudio.co.uk