From Startup to Scale Up with Ellie Ruddock from Scale Up Development

Your Neyabourhood Startup with Rob Champan from Neya

To kick off season two of The ClusterCast podcast, I sit down with Rob from Neya, an AI-powered local neighbourhood app designed to help people connect with others nearby, discover local groups and events, get recommendations, share resources and generally feel a bit more connected to the place they actually live in. Which, in a world where most apps seem designed to trap you indoors doom-scrolling whilst slowly forgetting your neighbours exist, feels like quite a refreshing idea. We chatted about the story behind Neya supporting local communities, the challenges of building a genuinely useful platform, and the slightly rebellious idea that maybe technology should help drive people offline by connecting them online first.  There was also a definite lack of branding on my tailoring during this episode. Usually I look like I’ve been sponsored by my own co-working space, but on this occasion I forgot entirely. I did briefly consider posting myself a Cluster hoodie midway through recording, but thought that might look a little strange. Although now I think about it… probably very on-brand. Robs branded swag was on point, note to self Kevin, do better! Rob was a brilliant guest, genuinely interesting to chat to and I suspect this may not be the last time he tries to convince me to get more involved with an unlikely Neya group, wild swimming and me I confess will never see eye to eye though, sorry Rob! So if you’d like to hear more about Neya, local communities, Oxfordshire life, AI, startups, neighbourhood connection, and two blokes chatting into microphones, then give this episode a watch / listen. Subscribe to @TheClusterOx on YouTube for more relaxed chats with brilliant Oxfordshire indie businesses. And if you’re feeling generous, a rating and review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) really helps other lovely humans find the show and perhaps even recommend it to somebody in your actual neighbourhood. Revolutionary stuff! This episode is brought to you by The Cluster, a co-working and event space in Oxford. Find out more at clusteroxford.co.uk. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective, the team behind The PodBox OX podcast studio at The Cluster. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster Co-Working and Event Space in Oxford. Visit clusteroxford.co.uk to learn more. Subscribe on YouTube and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the podcast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Lights, Camera, Promotion with Jack Hales from The Pod Collective

In this mildly celebratory episode of The ClusterCast (mainly because we somehow stumbled past 10,000 YouTube subscribers… excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor), I sat down with Jack Hales from The Pod Collective - one half of the brilliant duo behind The PodBox OX podcast studio at The Cluster. We chat about how Jack and Hugo started The Pod Collective, what it’s actually like building an independent business, dealing with knock-backs without launching yourself into the sea, and why getting moving and consistency matter more than knowing it all (p.s. none of us do!) We also discuss podcasting, why businesses need to stop hiding behind online ads, leaflets and websites, and Jack once again unsuccessfully attempts to convince me to attend a salsa class. And genuinely… if you’re a small business and you’re not podcasting yet, why not? People don’t want more adverts shoved into their eyeballs, they want stories, personalities, honesty and connection. Podcasting gives people a chance to actually discover you, trust you and feel part of the journey. So book The PodBox OX today, record your podcast, stop overthinking it and reach your audience. That's you told! Subscribe to @TheClusterOx on YouTube for more relaxed chats with brilliant Oxfordshire indie businesses. And if you’re feeling generous, a rating and review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) really helps other lovely humans find the show. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster, a co-working and event space in Oxford. Find out more at clusteroxford.co.uk. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective, the team behind The PodBox OX podcast studio at The Cluster. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster Co-Working and Event Space in Oxford. Visit clusteroxford.co.uk to learn more. Subscribe on YouTube and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the podcast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ink Outside the Box with Lorraine Berkshire-Roe, Illustrator & Artist

If you’ve been following @TheClusterOx on Instagram, you might think Lorraine and I are doing a solid Scott and Charlene impression - we do spend a slightly alarming amount of time together. (No wedding planned. Calm down.) But in all seriousness, Lorraine Berkshire-Roe is one of those rare people you meet in business, someone with a completely different skillset, a similarly chaotic brain (with just a touch more order than mine), and a genuine passion for what she creates. And what she creates is pretty special. Lorraine is an outrageously talented illustrator who has quite literally penned the history of The Cluster, turning ideas, stories and moments into something visual, memorable and genuinely beautiful. My artistic peak was a questionable stick man - Lorraine, on the other hand, makes a living from what’s in her head. People aren’t just buying a service, they’re buying a piece of her creative brain, her perspective, and her ability to bring something to life in a way words often can’t. In this episode, we talk about her journey - from college to hop picking to teaching, to illustrating part-time, and eventually making the leap into doing it full-time. It’s a slightly different kind of business to many we’ve featured - built not around a model or system, but around talent, craft, and trusting your own creative instincts. And as they say, a picture tells a thousand words, so do yourself a favour and check out her work at www.lorraineberkshire-roe.co.uk [www.lorraineberkshire-roe.co.uk]. Just a small warning: you will be impressed. Subscribe to @TheClusterOx on YouTube for more relaxed chats with brilliant Oxfordshire indie businesses. And if you’re feeling generous, a rating and review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) really helps other lovely humans find the show. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster, a co-working and event space in Oxford. Find out more at clusteroxford.co.uk. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective, the team behind the PodBox OX podcast studio at The Cluster. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster Co-Working and Event Space in Oxford. Visit clusteroxford.co.uk to learn more. Subscribe on YouTube and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the podcast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Keep Calm & Curry On with Roshni Ray from Tikka and Tadka

If you ever needed proof that resilience, great food, and a bit of spice can get you through anything… this is it. In this episode of The ClusterCast, I sit down with Roshni Ray, co-founder of Tikka and Tadka, a catering company serving up seriously authentic Indian cuisine across Oxfordshire. Now, most people launching a food business just as the world shuts down might… panic, cry, or eat all their own stock. Roshni and her husband? Absolutely not. They pivoted and started delivering homemade curry boxes, giving people something genuinely joyful to look forward to during Lockdown (and frankly saving us all from another sad beige microwave dinner). We talk about how the business began, Roshni’s fascinating career journey, and how her family heritage, and her mum’s cooking, runs through everything she does. And yes, I can personally confirm: I was on the receiving end of a care package and it was delicious. We also get into why spices aren’t just ingredients, they’re a way of life, plus some brilliant advice for anyone starting out. My favourite? “Start smaller than you think you can… and consistency is key.” Simple. Annoyingly wise. Very effective. Also, Roshni fully validates the way I speak to Google like it’s my unpaid personal assistant, which frankly is the kind of support I need in my life. Subscribe to @TheClusterOx on YouTube for more relaxed chats with brilliant Oxfordshire indie businesses. And if you’re feeling generous, a rating and review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) really helps other lovely humans find the show. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster, a co-working and event space in Oxford. Find out more at clusteroxford.co.uk. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective, the team behind the PodBox OX podcast studio at The Cluster This episode is brought to you by The Cluster Co-Working and Event Space in Oxford. Visit clusteroxford.co.uk to learn more. Subscribe on YouTube and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the podcast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From Startup to Scale Up with Ellie Ruddock from Scale Up Development

On this episode of The ClusterCast, I’m joined by Ellie Ruddock, who looked at her already overflowing CV and thought, "music therapist, musician, lecturer, mentor, mother, wife... maybe there's room for one more" so she's added small business owner to the mix. Ellie has created and runs Scale Up Development, delivering training and coaching for professionals in healthcare and education. Join us as we talk about the highs, the lows and everything in between of starting a business and why just starting, finding support from peers and learning from people who’ve been there, done that and walked away with the scars of success and failure (because yes, they all teach us lessons) is the real way to survive and thrive. We also uncover Ellie’s slightly wilder side: disappearing off into the great outdoors to reset, recharge, and remember she’s a human being. Plus, we chat about vision boards, dream boards, manifesting… call it what you like. At the very least, it’s a way of turning vague hopes into something you can actually point at. Think wholesome graffiti… but for your future self. And because I’m a great friend (and she told me to remind you), I should mention Ellie has extended the special offer on Scale Up’s 'Service Audit Course' until the beginning of May. So if you’ve been circling it… consider this your sign. Subscribe to @TheClusterOx on YouTube for more relaxed chats with brilliant Oxfordshire indie businesses. And if you’re feeling generous, a rating and review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen) really helps other lovely humans find the show. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster, a co-working and event space in Oxford. Find out more at clusteroxford.co.uk. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective, the team behind the PodBox OX podcast studio at The Cluster. This episode is brought to you by The Cluster Co-Working and Event Space in Oxford. Visit clusteroxford.co.uk to learn more. Subscribe on YouTube and leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the podcast. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.