Shows
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessBuilding Boundaries with Standard Operating Procedures with Becca MaiAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Ever feel like your wedding business is running you instead of the other way around? You're not alone. Meet Becca Mai, the unapologetic "SOP Queen" who transformed her decade-long wedding planning career after an MS diagnosis forced her to create boundaries in her business. What emerged was a revelation that would benefit every creative entrepreneur: standard operating procedures aren't just for corporate teams—they're the secret weapon for wedding pros who want to scale without sacrificing their sanity."Standard operating procedures are the black and white lines of you...2025-05-1325 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessHarnessing The Power of Short Form Video Content For Your Wedding Business with The Wedding DuoAsk Jac & Ben A Question!How does a husband-wife team build a wedding empire reaching over half a million people? Meet Dominic and Serena of The Wedding Duo, who've transformed their combined 30 years of experience into a thriving business that spans wedding planning, DJing, and viral content creation.Their story begins unexpectedly – Dominic leveraged his stand-up comedy background to excel as a wedding DJ, while Serena built her career in event planning. Neither imagined their casual San Antonio side business would explode into a six-figure enterprise allowing them to relocate while maintaining operations from afar. Wh...2025-05-0632 min
Theatre Of Red48: Theatre of Red | Episode 48 | Ben JacobsIn episode 48, Shaun speaks with Ben Jacobs about the potential deals for Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, the futures of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho, and the crucial Europa League semi-final against Bilbao. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2025-04-3035 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessThe Psychology Behind Luxury Wedding Clients: Insights from Elizabeth SolaruAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Ever wondered what separates truly luxury weddings from those that simply cost a lot? Elizabeth Solaru, multi-award winning luxury business consultant and former cake artist to Queen Elizabeth, pulls back the curtain on the exclusive world of high-net-worth clientele.Elizabeth's remarkable journey from microbiologist to headhunter to luxury entrepreneur provides the perfect backdrop for her revolutionary insights. She reveals that luxury isn't defined by budget alone, but by understanding the psychology behind different types of wealthy clients. "You could have King Charles and Ozzy Osbourne with identical budgets," Elizabeth explains, "...2025-04-3034 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding Business🔒 WNTT: The Anxiety No One Talks About: Wedding Pros in CrisisSubscriber-only episodeAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Introducing our new segment, We Need To Talk (WNTT). Where Ben & Jac tackle the issues no-one talks about in the Wedding Industry.Ever sat in your car before a wedding, heart racing, convinced you can't possibly deliver what your clients expect—despite years of successful experience? You're not alone.This candid conversation pulls back the curtain on the wedding industry's silent epidemic: anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the crushing self-doubt that plagues even the most accomplished professionals. When Ben shared a raw video ab...2025-04-2526 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessBlogging for Wedding Bookings: Turn One Post into $15,000 with Adrienna McDermottAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Ever published a blog post that disappeared into the internet void, never to be seen again? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation with Adriana Mott, founder of wedding marketing agency Ava and the Bee, we uncover how one strategic blog post helped a client book a $15,000 wedding—and how you can do it too.Adriana brings a unique perspective as someone who's walked in your shoes. Before founding her agency, she ran a successful wedding planning, floral design, and bridal boutique business. She learned blogging strategy through necessity, not th...2025-04-2338 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessTurning Your Wedding Passion into a Profitable Business with Tammy JohnstonAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Tired of being a "glorified hobbyist" in the wedding industry? In this eye-opening conversation with business coach Tammy Johnston, we uncover the crucial mindset shifts and practical strategies needed to transform your wedding business from struggling side-hustle to profitable enterprise.Tammy pulls no punches as she dissects the common pitfalls trapping so many talented wedding professionals. The harsh truth? Being excellent at photography, planning, or floristry isn't enough – true success requires mastering the eight fundamental pillars of business that apply across all industries. Most wedding pros are spending 85-90% of th...2025-04-1538 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessAdvertising Your Wedding Business with Facebook & Instagram in 2025 with Kyle MelocheAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Ready to transform your wedding business with Facebook and Instagram advertising? This episode delivers game-changing insights from digital marketing expert Kyle of Social Geeks, who manages Wedding Academy's successful ad campaigns.Before spending a single dollar on ads, Kyle emphasizes the importance of preparation. Your business is like a bucket—Facebook ads are the tap that can fill it with leads, but if your bucket has holes (poor systems, confusing website, no follow-up process), you'll waste your investment. Smart wedding pros install tracking tools like Google Analytics and the Facebook Pi...2025-04-0146 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessThe Art of Marquee Weddings: Secrets from Susie EvansAsk Jac & Ben A Question! Step into the stunning world of marquee weddings with Susie Evans, founder of Susie Evans Wedding and Events Co. In this episode, we unpack the unique challenges and endless possibilities that bespoke marquee weddings present. Susie shares her journey into the wedding industry, revealing how her passion for creating memorable experiences evolved into a successful career characterized by a commitment to personalization and luxury.Discover the ins and outs of transforming blank outdoor spaces into breathtaking celebrations that reflect the unique vision of each couple. Susie emphasizes the importance of u...2025-03-2433 minWedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessIntroducing The Global Wedding Excellence Awards: Your Time to ShineAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Wedding professionals, your moment for global recognition has arrived! The Wedding Academy proudly introduces the Global Wedding Excellence Awards (GWEA) – our inaugural celebration of exceptional talent throughout the wedding industry.After mentoring over 8,000 wedding professionals across two decades, we've witnessed the extraordinary passion, creativity, and dedication that defines this industry. Now, we're creating the spotlight you deserve. Whether you're a planner crafting flawless events, a photographer capturing timeless moments, or a newcomer bringing fresh innovation, GWEA offers the perfect platform to showcase your excellence to the world.The aw...2025-03-2209 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessBuilding a Brand That Stands Out in a Crowded Market with Craig PetermanAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Step into the world of wedding photography with Craig Peterman, a visionary who has mastered the art of building a brand that resonates with couples. Join us as we explore Craig's inspiring journey, starting from his roots in high school photography to becoming a sought-after name in the wedding industry. His unique approach to storytelling, where candid moments take center stage, offers invaluable insights for aspiring photographers looking to make their mark.Discover how Craig emphasizes an authentic client experience, crafting luxury services that cater to each couple's narrative. We'll...2025-03-1729 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessHow I Built It: From Drama Teacher to Award-Winning Wedding Planner with Sally GallisAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Sally Gallis, a former drama teacher with a passion for storytelling, has made a striking transition into the world of wedding planning, founding her own successful business, Luna and the Lane, in Brighton. She unravels her fascinating journey from the classroom to orchestrating unforgettable celebrations, revealing how her drama teaching skills played a pivotal role in shaping her new career. Sally’s story is more than just a career change; it’s a testament to courage and the incredible power of transferable skills that many educators possess when they seek new paths....2025-03-1041 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessSafeguarding Your Wedding Business: Legal Insights with Leah WeinbergAsk Jac & Ben A Question!What if you could safeguard your wedding business against unexpected challenges and legal pitfalls? Join us on this eye-opening episode of Wedding Empires as we welcome the formidable Leah Weinberg, a former wedding planner who has seamlessly transitioned back into law to become a pivotal force in the wedding industry. Leah shares her unique journey, unveiling how she established Weinberg Legal amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to champion the needs of wedding and event professionals. Her background provides her with a rare perspective, enabling her to dispel common legal mi...2025-03-0322 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessHow to Become a Go-To Wedding Professional for International Couples with Alida SzilfaiAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Join us as we embark on a captivating journey into the world of destination weddings with the remarkable Alida Silify C., a distinguished wedding planner from Eastern Europe. Ever wondered what it takes to plan an international wedding and why Hungary is becoming a hotspot for such events? Get ready to uncover Alida's fascinating path into the industry, her expert strategies for navigating cultural nuances, and how she bridges the gap in language and time zones with international clients. This episode promises an exhilarating look into becoming a trusted expert in the...2025-02-2410 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessBONUS The Must-Attend Event for Wedding Pros: Inside the Wedding Business CEO Summit with Heidi ThompsonAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Unlock the secrets to a thriving wedding business and a balanced life as we welcome Heidi Thompson, the bestselling author behind "Clone Your Best Clients" and the mastermind of Evolve Your Wedding Business. Discover how the upcoming Wedding Business CEO Summit on the 17th February can transform your work weeks from exhausting marathons to sustainable journeys. Heidi shares her unique motivation for creating a free, accessible space where wedding professionals can focus not just on booking more weddings but also on nurturing their personal well-being. With specialized sessions li...2025-02-1215 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessChaos, Comedy, and Married At First Sight MAFS AustraliaAsk Jac & Ben A Question!How does a spontaneous trip to Japan end up with an unexpected twist, and what does it have to do with our voice struggles? Join us on this quirky adventure as we come back from a whirlwind trip filled with unexpected turns, including a hospital visit that put our vocal cords to the test. As we gear up for upcoming travels to Malaysia and Vegas, we toss around jokes about Vegas weddings while diving into the current wedding industry trends. The impact of economic factors like inflation and interest rates is no...2025-02-0517 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessGrowing Your Wedding Business on a Shoestring Budget with Jessica BishopAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Join us as we sit down with Jessica Bishop, the inspiring founder of the Budget Savvy Bride, who transformed her personal wedding planning blog into a go-to destination for budget-conscious couples. Discover Jessica’s journey and her innovative strategies to grow a brand from scratch without spending a fortune. Learn from her experience of juggling a full-time job while reinvesting in her blog. Aspiring wedding professionals will gain invaluable insights on building businesses sustainably, underscored by Jessica’s remarkable achievement of selling over 250,000 copies of her best-selling book through savvy network leverage....2025-02-0318 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessCollaboration Over Competition: Building Strong Vendor Relationships with Dimitris PavlidisAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Discover the captivating world of wedding cinematography with Dimitris Tavlidis, a celebrated filmmaker from Greece with a portfolio boasting over 400 destination weddings. Dimitris shares his incredible journey from filming a bride's preparation to becoming a sought-after expert in the wedding industry. Learn the art of creating seamless, memorable events by building strong relationships with fellow vendors and professionals. Dimitris sheds light on essential strategies for effective communication, flexibility, and mutual respect, and reveals how these elements contribute to an unforgettable experience for couples and foster lasting collaborations.Explore the pivotal...2025-01-2823 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessThe Art of Wedding PR: How to Get Your Work Published with Meghan ElyAsk Jac & Ben A Question!In this exciting episode of Wedding Empires, we’re joined by the incredible Meghan Ely, owner of OFD Consulting and one of the most influential voices in the wedding industry. Meghan combines her in-the-trenches event experience with her PR expertise to help wedding professionals get the recognition they deserve. With accolades from the Public Relations Society of America and Eventex, Meghan has a proven track record of elevating brands through media exposure. Her clients have been featured in prestigious outlets like The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, Architectural Digest, and Style Me Pr...2025-01-2140 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessJB: We want your questions and I Do Disasters!Ask Jac & Ben A Question!What could possibly go wrong at a wedding? Uncover the hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy world of wedding mishaps with our new podcast segment, "I Do Disasters." Join us as we dive into real-life stories of matrimonial mayhem, where everything that could go wrong did, and find out how these golden lessons can save your special day from going sideways. Plus, discover our revamped website, now home to a vibrant online magazine offering a treasure trove of insights on business, marketing, finance, and more.But that's not all! Ben...2025-01-1603 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessGoHighLevel: Revolutionizing Wedding Businesses with Kyle MelocheAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Prepare to be intrigued as we welcome Kyle, the mastermind behind Social Geeks, to unveil the transformative potential of Go High Level (GHL). This episode is a treasure trove for digital marketers and creative professionals, offering a glimpse into a platform that promises to revolutionize business operations. If you've been wrestling with managing different tools like HubSpot, Kajabi, or Zapier, Kyle's insights into consolidating them into GHL's seamless system will be a game-changer for you.Brimming with practical advice, the conversation takes us through the multifaceted benefits of GHL for...2025-01-101h 06
Rage WhaleEp 77: [Guest 22: Ben] The Geek Episode: Sci-Fi, Star Wars & The Taskmaster ExperienceWho is this joining us today from the Dark Side? It's Ben Connolly, long time friend of Kev who is a talented photographer and huge Sci-Fi Fan. So we dedicate the episode to this subject that we haven't really discussed much before which bring up lots of interesting conversations about science, technology as well as movies which often creep into Horror. But first of all, we chat about our London trip to participate in The Taskmaster Experience that was lots of fun. Drew and Ben both have some cosplay in common with a specific character we get to see...2024-12-051h 26
Talking GardensShane ConnollyFloral designer Shane Connolly joins Talking Gardens this time to talk about sustainable floristry, his own garden in Worcestershire and the places he would have to include a piece of in his dream garden, from Villa Cimbrone in Italy and The Mezquita of Cordoba in Spain to Glenarm Castle garden in Northern Ireland. The renowned event florist, who holds the Royal Warrant and was famously commissioned for two royal weddings, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and HM The King’s Coronation, also explains which shrub he can’t stand, who he would have as his dream garden designer and why no...2024-11-1951 min
Theatre Of RedTheatre of Red | Episode 27 | Ben JacobsIn episode 27, Shaun speaks with Ben Jacobs about the second departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy, the arrival of Ruben Amorim, the potential pursuit of Alphonso Davies, Jeremie Frimpong, Viktor Gyokeres and much more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2024-11-1343 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessFinding Calm in Chaos: Mindful Practices for Wedding ProfessionalsAsk Jac & Ben A Question!After leaving behind the badge and the pressures of police work, Hayley Robinson found solace in yoga, transforming her career into one of healing and stress management. Join us as Hayley shares her compelling story and expertise, revealing how yoga became her sanctuary and solution for dealing with stress, especially for those affected by PTSD. Her unique journey into the world of weddings uncovers how she applies her skills in high-pressure environments, and her partnership with Ben adds an intriguing dynamic to the wedding industry's hidden challenges. Hayley's insights offer valuable lessons...2024-10-2138 min
Wedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding BusinessFrom behind the lens to going viral on TikTok: Angela Brushe's StoryAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Join us for a lively start to Season 3 of Wedding Empires, where we sit down with the talented Angela Brushe, a photographer whose journey from Adelaide to the Sunshine Coast is as captivating as it is humorous. Angela shares her childhood fascination with photography, sparked by a simple camera gift, and her unexpected detour that landed her amid a thriving wedding scene. Her tales of navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, all with a touch of serendipity and resilience, add both depth and delight to our conversation.Curious about...2024-10-2038 min
Rural Queensland Today with Ben DobbinDavid Connolly, NFF – Live animal trade latest (18 September)David Connolly from the NFF talks to Ben about the latest on the issues surrounding the live animal traide2024-09-1809 min
A Slice of MedievalRichard I with guest Ben Kane | A Slice of Medieval #3Sharon Bennett Connolly and Derek Birks are joined by bestselling historical novelist, Ben Kane to discuss the life and times of Richard I and how he portrays him in the Lionheart trilogy.
Music by Adriel Fair licensed from Epidemic Sound2024-09-0342 min
BEST OF LONDON🫣💎 GREATEST BANDS and COMEDIANS to see LIVE including BILL BURR, FLEETWOOD MAC, FERN BRADY, TOMMY TIERNAN, CHRIS KENT, JOHN KEARNS, ACDC and MORE as revealed by COMEDIAN JOHN MEAGHERJOHN MEAGHER was recently featured in ROLLING STONE who said he was "Ireland's next great comedian." The Irish Times said “it's like watching a young Irish Billy Connolly” he won an award at last year’s Edinburgh Festival and he's been a finalist at the greatest Best Act competitions including ones at The Hackney Empire, The Leicester Mercury's, the BBC AND The Leicester Square Theatre.
He’s also turned his hand to investigative journalism and has an explosive documentary coming out on BBC Radio 4 in April called The Devil's Own which is going to shock the...2024-07-2810 minWedding Empires - Grow and Market Your Dream Wedding Business🔒 WNTT An Update from Us and Overcoming Wedding Professional HurdlesSubscriber-only episodeAsk Jac & Ben A Question!Curious about the latest shifts in the wedding industry and some juicy behind-the-scenes stories? We kick off with a story of resilience and adaptation as I share my journey from the turbulence of Bonza's liquidation to finding new skies as a content director for a major radio network in Bundaberg. Joined by Benjamin Connolly, we reflect on the hurdles currently facing wedding professionals, from the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to economic uncertainties. Plus, we chat about why recording in person makes all the difference and the...2024-07-0620 min
On the Time LashIn the Timelash #6 - Mikey SmithSend us a text"Pip will have the salmon"In a raucous series finale, Ben and Mark welcome actor, presenter, and host of Mikey & Who, Mikey Smith to tease his upcoming project with David Burton, and submit his five choices for the Tinsel Tunnel.Mikey's choices call into question the veracity of Doctor Who actor anecdotes, provide marriage counselling to Pip and Jane Baker, reappraise a lost incarnation of the Doctor, and interrogate what are we actually doing here exactly?Listen all the way to the end for Ben and Mikey...2024-06-061h 33