Question of the week: How are you cleaning your ears?

Rise up and find your Hive

This week we’re riding the high that comes from being around people who are doing brave things. You know the feeling. Hearing someone’s exciting plans, celebrating their wins, watching them take a leap, and somehow finding yourself feeling a little braver too. We talk about the positive ripple effect of connection and why courage can be contagious. We also share the story behind the name The Rise and Hive Podcast and where it all began. Bringing together Northern Rise and The Hive Within, our mission has always been simple: Creating a hive built on connection that gives people the courage to rise into their true selves. Elsewhere, there is an urgent update on the food waste bins. Some residents have become a little overexcited and started putting them out ahead of schedule, forcing the council to intervene on social media. Naturally, Liane has accepted her unofficial role as Bin Ambassador and self-proclaimed Champion of the Bins. Braggers Corner shines a spotlight on Cam and the launch of her new business, including the badass photoshoot she’s booked as she steps boldly into this next chapter. Connection. Courage. Community. Compost caddies. And as always, we finish with gratitude.

Question of the week: What is your favourite type of potato?

This week we revisit last week’s ear cleaning debate and can confirm… despite all official advice, absolutely everyone is still using cotton buds. Mostly on a wet ear. Then onto this week’s important question… What’s your favourite type of potato? Because for us, potatoes are an elite food group. Roasties, mash, chips, waffles, dauphinoise… we support all potato activity in this house. The only issue? Liane would like you to keep your butter to yourself. We get into our potato rankings, the versatility of the humble spud, and why no one can really be trusted if they “don’t like potatoes.” Short, carby and deeply important listening.

Big, bold and brave moves

This week we’re talking about comparison and how easy it is to look at where someone else is in their chapter while completely forgetting the blood, sweat, tears, failures and setbacks it probably took to get there. Because most of the time, we’re comparing ourselves to someone else’s highlight reel… not the full story. We also have some big news, we’re applying for the Independent Podcast Awards 👀 A very real example of taking our own advice and going for it before we feel “big enough” or established enough. Big, brave, bold moves and all that. Elsewhere, there’s exciting bin chat as the new food waste bins finally arrive, because we know this is the sort of update our listeners have come to expect from us now. Real life, mindset shifts, courage, compost caddies and as always… gratitude.

Question of the week: How are you cleaning your ears?

This week we revisit last week’s shoes on or off debate and somehow end up on an important side quest… should dogs be allowed on beds? For us, it’s a hard yes. Then onto this week’s Question of the Week… How are you actually cleaning your ears? Because if you’re not using cotton buds for ears… what exactly are you using them for? We unpack the great cotton bud confusion, our questionable habits, and somehow end up taking a sharp turn into a completely unverified history lesson involving a man, a feather, and making himself vomit through his ears. Do not quote us on any of this. Short, chaotic, lightly educational and absolutely not medically endorsed.

Tapping into the toolbox

This week we’re talking about the reality of having a wobble… and how easy it is to get pulled into negative self talk when life feels heavy. We both share some of the challenges we’ve faced over the last week and the importance of recognising what’s actually happening before disappearing down the spiral. Sometimes the answer is tapping into your toolbox, using the things that help you re-regulate, reset and move through the feeling instead of getting stuck in it. We also get into our frustration with the media and the way women are so often treated as easy targets. After the recent backlash around Jemma and Stacey Solomon’s  PR trip to Miami, we unpack why tearing women down continues to be such low hanging fruit. There’s also a conversation around deep listening after we realise there have been a few very real moments on the podcast where we absolutely were not listening to each other properly… and yes, apologies were required. Elsewhere, Liane gives an important update on the new toothbrush situation, and Melissa delivers genuinely groundbreaking news… she has cleaned her AirPods. As always, we finish with gratitude.