Shows
The Fearless Foodie PodcastS1 E10 How To Survive Food & Retail’s Christmas Chaos Without Burning OutAmy kicks things off by acknowledging just how relentless the next six weeks will be for anyone working in food and retail, with tighter deadlines, louder demands, and the expectation to spin a hundred plates without dropping a single mince pie. Drawing from her own post-Christmas experience with burnout, she emphasises why it’s crucial to protect your energy proactively, and why pushing through at all costs simply isn’t sustainable—or admirable.She shares four core resilience tools: knowing your non-negotiables, practising constructive capacity language (so you can push back effectively), setting healthy boundaries, and let...
2025-11-1118 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastBethan's Bite Sized Bulletin November 2025Welcome to Bethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin - your quick-fire briefing on what’s happening across the food and drink industry. In under five minutes, journalist and Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls shares the latest headlines, trends and developments to keep you in the know.Explore more industry news at foodmanufacture.co.ukLinks and Resources:Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.ukFB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepodYou can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepodFind Amy on In...
2025-11-0504 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastFrom Factory Floor to Boardroom: Why Every Voice Deserves to Be HeardAmy and Bethan get straight to the heart of what it means to be a “Fearless Foodie” in today’s food industry, especially for teams struggling to motivate their people and keep them engaged. The episode kicks off with Bethan’s insights on leading from a flat structure—where the best ideas can (and should) come from the shop floor, not just the boardroom. We also hear why meaningful work matters for performance, commitment, and staff retention, especially in a sector still facing labour shortages.Drawing from industry events and her own reporting, Bethan shares examples of...
2025-11-0428 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastWhy It’s Time to Rewrite the Rules of Work with Nyree AmbarchianWe kick off this episode with Amy and Nyree’s trip down memory lane, all the way back to hypnobirthing class and WhatsApp business masterminds. That instant “skip the small talk and go straight to heavy breathing” connection is the foundation for a raw, open conversation on why the food industry’s old rules aren’t working — especially for working parents.Nyree opens up about her slow-burn realisation that work rules—full-time as default, “competitive” salary secrecy, presenteeism—aren’t natural laws. In fact, many were dreamed up by power holders decades ago and still weigh us down like an invisible...
2025-10-2827 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastWhat 30 Years in Food Retail Taught Me About Success (and Sanity) with Gail PaddyFrom teenage cake-decorating dreams to director-level influence in UK food retail, Gail Paddy’s story is proof that passion and perseverance can pave even the most unexpected career paths. Amy and Gail kick off with the early days—how a love for food (and some bold moves at 15) led Gail into food science and retail, despite the lack of clear opportunities.Their chat highlights just how much breadth exists in food retail; Gail shares how cycling through departments like commercial, marketing, and product development built her expertise, gave her empathy for other teams, and set her up for...
2025-10-2140 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastWhy Keeping It Real in Leadership Feels Risky – And Why It’s Worth ItWe kick off with Amy and Danny catching up and quickly getting to the crux: what does it really mean to be authentic at work, and why does the word so often make us cringe? The pair agree there’s a fine line between honesty and TMI, and dives into why being “yourself” never means dropping professionalism or using authenticity as an excuse for poor behaviour.Danny reveals the internal conflict of trying to fit into extremely corporate cultures and the valuable lesson he learned when he realised some environments just aren’t made for everyone—and that’s oka...
2025-10-1433 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastThe Truth About Supplier–Retail Partnerships with Breige DonaghyThis week Amy dives deep with Breige Donaghy, who shares her journey from food science graduate to Tesco’s Director of Product Development & Innovation. She explains the critical differences in retail philosophy between giants like Tesco and community-focused Co-op, and why that breadth of experience shaped the way she leads teams and builds supplier partnerships today.Breige and Amy get hands-on discussing the realities of food development, including why product developers deserve more credit than just being “the fluffy ideas people.” There’s a refreshingly open take on the weight (and the privilege) of driving...
2025-10-0742 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastBethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin October 2025Welcome to Bethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin - your quick-fire briefing on what’s happening across the food and drink industry. In under five minutes, journalist and Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls shares the latest headlines, trends and developments to keep you in the know.Explore more industry news at foodmanufacture.co.ukLinks and Resources:Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.ukFB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepodYou can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepodFind Amy on In...
2025-10-0103 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastCuriosity in the Food Industry: Why Fearless Leaders Ask More QuestionsEver felt out of your depth in a big meeting, worried you’ll look silly if you ask a question? You’re definitely not alone. Amy and Bethan kick things off by shining a light on those moments of fear—reminding us that most people in the room are too busy worrying about their own questions to notice yours! Bethan draws from her journalism career, explaining how curiosity is non-negotiable if you want to really get to the heart of things (and why it’s okay to not know all the food industry acronyms!).The episode e...
2025-09-3030 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastClear, Kind and Fearless: How Being Honest Helps You Build Influence at WorkThis week, Amy is joined by Angharad Ross, executive coach, seasoned commercial leader and self-proclaimed collector of difficult conversations. Together, they peel back the layers on why honest, clear communication is so essential in the food and retail industry, and why it’s so easy to shy away from it. The duo dig into the neuroscience behind why we avoid “hard chats” (spoiler: your brain is just trying to protect you), how fight or flight responses can turn a cost-benefit discussion into a full-blown emotional event, and how practising these conversations—at work and at home—makes a world of...
2025-09-2331 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastEpisode 2 Why You Don’t Need to Be the Smartest Person in the Room to LeadThis episode is as down-to-earth as it gets. Amy kicks off with a reminder that fearlessness isn’t about having zero doubts—it’s about doing the scary stuff anyway. Enter Danny, who admits to feeling like an imposter when first asked to co-host, setting the honest and relatable tone of the chat. Danny’s story is a powerful testament to grit, curiosity, and learning on the job. He talks through climbing the career ladder without formal qualifications, managing teams of scientists, and the lessons he’s learned about leading people who might technically have “more” experience.Amy and Danny...
2025-09-1629 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastBethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin September 2025Welcome to Bethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin - your quick-fire briefing on what’s happening across the food and drink industry. In under five minutes, journalist and Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls shares the latest headlines, trends and developments to keep you in the know.Explore more industry news at foodmanufacture.co.ukLinks and Resources:Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.ukFB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepodYou can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepodFind Amy on I...
2025-09-1002 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastEpisode 1 The Fearless Foodie: Building a Bolder, Braver Food IndustryIt’s a new beginning for the podcast. Amy jumps right in by addressing the elephant in the room: going solo after 208 episodes with Lucy. She reassures listeners that The Fearless Foodie Podcast is an evolution, not a departure—still focused on real experiences, honest answers, and practical help for everyone trying to thrive in the relentless (but brilliant) world of food and retail.Amy gets real about the tough parts of food industry life: the toxic patches, the wobbly moments, the burnout she once suffered, and the loneliness that can creep in. But she doesn...
2025-09-0917 min
The Courageous Coach PodcastSeason 2 Episode 19 - The Courageous Coach with Amy WilkinsonAbout The Guest:Amy Wilkinson is the founder of Fearless Foodies, a coaching and training company dedicated to empowering professionals in the food industry to communicate with confidence, influence, and impact.After more than two decades in new product development, commercial and marketing roles within corporate food manufacturing, Amy took the leap to start her own coaching business nearly five years ago. Drawing on her wealth of industry experience and her passion for people, she now delivers transformative workshops and coaching that inspire emotionally intelligent leadership and confident communication.Known for her engaging...
2025-09-0454 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastWhy No One is Coming to Save You—And How to Take Control of Your Food CareerIn this episode, we focus on a critical aspect of career development—owning your own growth. We begin by highlighting the necessity of taking personal responsibility for professional development. Reflecting on our experiences, we stress that waiting for employers to offer training opportunities can hold you back. Instead, we urge listeners to look beyond current roles and consider the long-term skills and knowledge required in an evolving food industry.We explore the idea that personal development isn't just about career advancement but also about enriching your entire life. We share inspiring stories of individuals who fou...
2025-05-0125 min
The Courageous Coach PodcastEpisode 2 - The Courageous Coach with Amy WilkinsonAbout the Amy Wilkinson:Amy Wilkinson is the founder of Fearless Foodies, a coaching and training company dedicated to empowering professionals in the food industry to communicate with confidence, influence, and impact. After more than two decades in new product development, commercial and marketing roles within corporate food manufacturing, Amy took the leap to start her own coaching business four years ago. Drawing on her wealth of industry experience and her passion for people, she now delivers transformative workshops and coaching that inspire emotionally intelligent leadership and confident communication. Know...
2025-03-2044 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastFrom Self-Doubt to Self-Assurance: Leadership Tools for Women in Food with leadership coach, Nicky Foster Today on "Oh For Food's Sake," we welcome Nicky Foster to explore the complexities of confidence and leadership challenges in the food industry. Confidence, often hampered by imposter syndrome and self-doubt, can be nurtured through small, consistent actions that build competence and self-belief. Our discussion highlights the impact of gender socialisation, where societal expectations differ for girls and boys, often creating a bias when women appear more confident and assertive.Nicky shares her experiences from her retail career, including the trials of advocating for flexible working as a new parent and the profound personal growth fo...
2025-01-2338 min
The Fearless Foodie PodcastStreamlining Product Development with Stage Gate in the Food IndustryWe start by introducing the concept of the Stage Gate process and its relevance in the food industry. We explain it as a series of decision points (gates) where projects are evaluated before moving to the next stage. We then address common misconceptions, such as the belief that the Stage Gate process is a "sales prevention" structure, emphasising instead that it is a flexible framework adaptable to different business needs and projects.Our discussion moves on to the flexibility and implementation of the Stage Gate process, highlighting how it can be tailored to fit various project complexities...
2024-06-2028 min
The Fearless Foodie Podcast5 ways to be a Fearless FoodieThis episode starts as we discuss the success of our first in-person networking event and announce the exciting extension of these engagements through monthly Zoom calls discussing podcast topics.We talk about recognising your strengths and seeking help for the weaknesses, framing challenges as opportunities for growth in the food industry and enforcing the necessity of staying authentic to your abilities, particularly when faced with external pressures. Together, we unpack the significance of maintaining well-being amidst business challenges and celebrating diverse thought processes, sharing anecdotes that illustrate these themes.We discuss further the p...
2024-02-0134 min