From Accountant to Creative Entrepreneur | Joe Hayes on AI, Content and Human Connection

From Accountant to Creative Entrepreneur | Joe Hayes on AI, Content and Human Connection

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I sit down with Joe Hayes — founder of Kindful Creative — to talk about his journey from accountancy into video production, podcasting, and creative entrepreneurship. Joe shares how his background in accounting shaped his discipline and approach to deadlines, but why spreadsheets alone were never going to be enough. We talk about building strong relationships in business, why human connection still matters in a world increasingly shaped by AI, and how the content landscape is shifting toward deeper, longer-form storytelling. We also explore the idea that every business is becoming an entertainment company, the risks of chasing algorithms, and why mindfulness is more important than ever in a digital-first world. A relaxed but thoughtful conversation about creativity, business growth, relationships, and staying human in a tech-driven age. Chapters 00:00 – From accountant to creative 12:48 – Building Kindful Creative 22:56 – The evolution of content creation 35:54 – AI & human connection 51:27 – Mindfulness in a digital world 🌍 More about Joe & Kindful Creative ‪@kindfulcreative‬ ‪@joehayeskindful‬ https://www.kindfulcreative.co.uk/ / kindfulcreative / kindfulcreative / kindful-creative ☕ Support the Show Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going: ☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist Thanks for tuning in — your support means the world! 👋 About Me Hey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. Rad-Ventures is where I have relaxed conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business minds about the journeys behind what they build. Huge thanks to Kindful Creative for hosting, recording and editing this episode — massively appreciated. And thank you to Joe for coming on Rad-Ventures and sharing his journey from accountancy to creative entrepreneurship. Proper conversation, really enjoyed this one.

Open Fire Cooking, Culinary Education & Hospitality Life | Ross – Open Flame Experience

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I sit down with Ross, founder of The Open Flame Experience, to talk about his journey through the catering world and into building a business centred around open-fire cooking and hands-on food education. We talk about where his passion for food started, how travelling shaped the way he cooks, and why teaching people about food, fire and technique is such a big part of what he now does. Ross explains the thinking behind the Open Flame Experience, what actually happens at his sessions, and why hands-on learning is so important. We also get into the realities of working in hospitality, how the industry has changed, the challenges caterers face post-COVID, and why collaboration and community matter more than competition. Ross shares his views on work-life balance, mental health in hospitality, and what it’s like building something new in a demanding industry. A relaxed conversation about cooking, business models, creativity, travel, and finding enjoyment in the work you do. 00:00 – Introduction & meeting Ross02:57 – What is The Open Flame Experience?05:50 – Food education & awareness09:03 – Cooking techniques & open fire cooking11:59 – Hands-on experiences & course structure14:56 – Knife skills & tools17:48 – Ross’s catering background29:54 – The reality of the catering industry34:14 – Work-life balance in hospitality38:14 – Mental health in the industry45:58 – Travel & cooking abroad52:09 – Living in the moment58:01 – Collaboration over competition Links: https://theopenflameexperience.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/theopenflameexperience/ https://www.theburntchefproject.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pardoeandco/ https://www.alexpoleironwork.com/ Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going: ☕ Buy me a Ko-fi - https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist 🎙️ Join the Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassist About me! Hey, I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. Rad-Ventures is where I sit down with business owners, creatives and entrepreneurs for relaxed conversations about work, ideas, tools, and the journeys behind what they do.

Collaboration Over Competition: Building a VA Agency with Emma Boatman

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, I’m joined by Emma Boatman, founder of Boatman Admin Services, to talk about life as a virtual assistant and what it really looks like to run a VA agency. Emma shares her journey from corporate work into virtual assistance, how her business evolved into an agency model over the last 10 years, and why she believes collaboration matters more than competition in the VA world. We talk about trusting associates, managing client relationships, and the realities of growing a service-based business without a rigid master plan. We also get into tools, productivity, and communication — including Emma’s honest take on project management systems, using your inbox as a to-do list, and adapting to new platforms as the industry changes. The episode wraps up with Emma’s future aspirations, including a growing interest in travel and blogging. A relaxed conversation about business growth, agency life, and what actually works behind the scenes. Follow Emma:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-boatman/ https://www.instagram.com/boatmanservices/ 00:00 – Introduction to Emma Boatman02:55 – The evolution of virtual assistance05:53 – Collaboration over competition08:57 – What a VA role really looks like11:49 – Building Boatman Admin Services14:49 – Challenges and business growth 17:48 – Agency model vs freelancing20:43 – Finding and trusting associates23:38 – Personal insights & fun questions30:40 – Productivity tools (or not 😅)37:27 – Managing email & communication48:10 – Travel dreams & future plansIf you’re enjoying Rad-Ventures, you can support the podcast here: ☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist [https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist] 🎙️ Patreon: /radminassist

Too Old for TikTok? Absolutely Not

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, Michelle Haslam shares her journey from a career in finance to becoming a TikTok creator and digital marketer. We talk about authenticity, growing an audience at any age, dealing with online negativity, and why social media has no “age limit.”Michelle opens up about navigating trolls, building confidence on camera, and how sharing real experiences can help others feel less alone. We also discuss email management, content pressure, creativity, and the evolving world of digital marketing.Please note: The final few minutes of this episode have a slight audio distortion due to a compression issue — apologies, and thanks for sticking with us.More Michelle: @Michelle_Haslam  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCOGxWWItiSZCtIl3jAjTGFQ] https://www.instagram.com/michelle.haslam.official/https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle.haslamhttps://www.tiktok.com/@michelle.makes.moneyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michellehaslam/If you need supportTalking about online abuse and social media pressure can be tough. If you’re struggling:Samaritans (UK) – 116 123 (24/7)National Bullying Helpline – 0300 323 0169Support the ShowEnjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going:☕ https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist🎙️ Patreon: /radminassistThanks for tuning in — your support means everything.About MeHey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin pro, and host of Rad-Ventures. I share real conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, and business owners who are building careers on their own terms. Subscribe for more rad chats every other Thursday.

The Business of Wellness: Nikkola Wright on Email, Ops & Experiences

In this episode of Rad-Ventures, Nikkola Wright talks about her work at Nikcollab, where she supports wellness professionals and retreat hosts with the operational side of their businesses. We chat about how she shifted from general virtual assistant work into a niche where organisation, structure and calm behind-the-scenes support really matters. Nikkola shares how her background in law shaped her approach to project management, why retreats need solid processes to run smoothly, and the tools she uses day-to-day — including Trello, Google Workspace, and simple, sustainable systems for managing client work and email. We also get into creating immersive client experiences, the reality of working in the wellness space, and her long-term dream of running her own retreat venue. A relaxed conversation about work, career paths, tools, and the realities of supporting service-based businesses. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Nikkola & Nicolab02:31 – Moving from VA to wellness support04:47 – What “business support” looks like in wellness07:45 – Retreat formats and how they work09:57 – Nikkola’s career path from law to wellness12:29 – How education influenced her approach15:14 – Corporate events vs. retreat experiences17:51 – Creating immersive moments20:25 – Quotes and reflections22:54 – Google vs. Microsoft27:48 – Trello, tools & organisation34:06 – Community & networking41:40 – Nikkola’s long-term aspirations46:43 – Wrap-up More about Nikkola https://nikcollab.com/ https://www.instagram.com/rebel_businessmethod Enjoying Rad-Ventures? Help keep the podcast going: ☕ Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist [https://ko-fi.com/radmin_assist] 🎙️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/radminassist Thanks for tuning in — your support means the world! More about me Hey! I’m Radmin — founder of Radmin Assist, freelance admin support pro, podcast host, and small business champion. I created Rad-Ventures to share real, relaxed conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives and business minds from all walks of life. If you’re into entrepreneurship, freelancing, systems, or just love a good story — you’re in the right place. Subscribe and stick around for more rad chats!