Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds

29. Nootropics, LivedX, and Youth Mental Health – Daniel Wilsher

In this moving episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Daniel Wilsher—founder of Damaged Goods and Orb. drinks, TEDx speaker, and the driving force behind LivEdX.
Daniel’s journey starts in Rochdale, shaped by early loss, trauma, and years of inner struggle. But what follows is an inspiring transformation: from battling addiction and burnout to becoming one of the UK’s most compelling voices on youth mental health.
 
🔗 Daniel’s linksLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-wilsher-448996168/LivEdX - https://www.livedxlearning.com

28. One Minute Briefs, Heart Attack, and Hitting Number 1 - Nick Entwistle

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Nick Entwistle—advertising creative, heart attack survivor, and the force behind the viral One Minute Briefs community.
From surviving a life-changing health scare at 26 to helping take the NHS Choir to Christmas number one, Nick’s story is a masterclass in resilience, instinctive creativity, and the power of online communities.
He shares how a simple idea-one ad, one minute, every day-turned into a global creative movement, collaborating with the likes of Coca-Cola, WWF, and Lucozade. Whether he's directing films, designing public art from wheel trims, or sparking campaigns from bedroom Wi-Fi, Nick proves that the best ideas don’t need permission—they just need action.
 
🔗Nick’s links
One Minute Briefs — https://x.com/OneMinuteBriefs
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickentwistle/

27. Gaming Raves, TEDx License Hustle, Council Estate to CEO - Simran Whitham

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Simran Whitham—founder of Format Group, gaming event trailblazer, and proud council estate kid turned creative entrepreneur.
Simran’s story takes us from Barlow Road in Tameside to packing out warehouse raves with Sony, Ubisoft, and EA—and becoming the first person in the UK games industry to secure a TEDx license.
From being rejected by colleges to building his own events empire, Simran opens up about discovering the truth behind the games industry, launching grassroots events from nothing, and why he refuses to stop innovating.
Whether it’s designing energy drinks, fashion lines, or full-blown festivals, Simran is rewriting what a creative business can look like—with passion, purpose, and a lot of grit.
 
🎟️ Events:
TEDxNorthern Quarter- https://www.tedxnorthernquarter.com/
Format Festival (Liverpool)—Oct 30 - https://format.gg/

26. Battle Rap Granny, Afflecks In-House Creative, Never Too Old - Joy France

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Joy France—a poet, performer, creative catalyst, and battle rapper who didn’t truly find her voice until her 50s.
Joy’s story takes us from quiet classrooms in Clifton to poetry slams, rap battles, and turning a tiny room in Afflecks into a haven for Mancunian creativity. Diagnosed with autism later in life, Joy opens up about growing up feeling invisible, how creativity cracked her world wide open, and why saying “yes” to bizarre opportunities has become her way of life.
From taking cabbages for walks through Manchester to spitting bars in underground rap battles, Joy is a walking manifesto for defying expectations, embracing the weird, and doing life your way—no matter your age. 🔗 Watch Joy's Battle Rap Documentary: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nv_LN2Nq2Es

25. Drag Queen Zine, Creative Powerhouse, Culture Flipper: Liam Heeley

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Liam Heeley—photographer, creative connector, and co-founder of HEADS—the grassroots platform redefining what it means to build community in the UK’s creative scene.
From leaving university to pursue freelance photography, to co-creating a space where artists, designers, and musicians can truly belong, Liam’s journey is a powerful reminder that you don’t need permission to start something meaningful—you just need vision, consistency, and the right people around you.
He shares how HEADS went from a DIY zine to a city-shaping collective, why creative scenes thrive on authenticity over hype, and what it really takes to build something that lasts in a world that moves fast.
🔗 ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-heeley-2a855112a/ ⁠
🔗 https://www.headscreative.com/

24. Beating cancer not just once or twice but THREE times - Hospitality expert, Ashley Carter Lawlor

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Ashley—hospitality powerhouse, cancer survivor (three times over), and unapologetically passionate advocate for service that exceeds expectations.
Ashley shares her journey from pub life in Timperley to Disney Cruise Lines, Hawksmoor, and her journey into entrepreneurship with AFD Events. 
But it’s the grit behind the CV that hits hardest: a stage four cancer diagnosis at 19, a brain tumour at 30, and most recently, an above-elbow amputation in 2023 following a third unrelated cancer diagnosis.
She speaks candidly about resilience, redefining strength, the unexpected community found in hospital wards, and why she’s not just building a business—but reshaping what hospitality means, one detail at a time.
Whether she’s serving burgers on a cruise ship or consulting at Wrexham FC, Ashley’s story is a reminder that empathy, passion, and refusing to accept less than excellence are what truly set you apart.
🔗 Ashley’s Justgiving Page:
 https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ashleysarmy

23. Music For Pets, Multi-Million Deal, Business in LA: Amman Ahmed

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Amman Ahmed—entrepreneur and innovator—whose journey from self-funded startup to a global pet wellness empire is a testament to vision, resilience, and thinking differently.
From launching MusicForPets with just £1,000 to leading an eight-figure acquisition by Create Music Group, Amman’s story is a masterclass in turning setbacks into rocket fuel, building niche communities, and trusting the unconventional path.
He opens up about battling early self-doubt, why staying scrappy matters even after major success, and how staying true to his mission helped him scale without selling out.
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammanahmed/

22.Corporate Agony Aunt, Headhunted by Gary Neville, From Overdelivering to The Overlap: Izzy Panton

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Izzy Panton—strategist, speaker, personal brand advocate, and proud Bury native—whose unconventional path from enterprise rentals to executive roles, viral TikToks, and media partnerships is anything but ordinary.
Izzy opens up about growing up with strict parents and the pivotal moment when she realised she didn’t need permission to take up space. She shares how hard work, relentless self-belief, and leaning into her unique identity helped her break through rooms where she didn’t initially belong.
From renting cars in Bolton to leading recruitment at UA92 and now heading up sponsorships for The Overlap, Izzy’s story is a masterclass in knowing your worth, building your personal brand, and redefining success on your own terms.
She talks candidly about career pivots, navigating impostor syndrome, what it really means to build a legacy, and why stepping back after becoming a mum became the biggest power move of all.
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/isobelle/

21. Brothers In Business, From Burnley, Building The Next Social Chain?: Morgan and Niall Ratcliffe

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we’re joined by the Ratcliffe brothers—two Northern lads who turned a football scholarship and a borrowed laptop into a fast-growing marketing agency with clients across the UK.
Morgan and Niall share how growing up in Burnley with zero exposure to entrepreneurship shaped their mindset, how they navigated food banks and remote jobs in the U.S., and why success came not from privilege but pure graft.
They open up about what it’s really like building a business as brothers—from sharing a single-bedroom flat to running a 20-person team—and why moving to Manchester became a defining moment for their brand.
 
🔗 https://www.noticed.co/

20. Lucy Wilkinson - "It's Not Just Entertainment–It's Therapy"

In the latest episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we sit down with Lucy Wilkinson—one of the region’s most iconic children’s entertainers—to talk about how she built a joyful, purpose-led business from the ground up.
Lucy shares how growing up as a natural performer, being underestimated, and following an unconventional path led her to a career that blends entertainment with therapy. She opens up about the emotional depth behind clowning, what adults often get wrong about play, and how she uses laughter as a tool to help children feel safe, seen, and heard.
We dive into:
How she turned a love of entertaining into a mission-driven business
Why being a clown is about emotional connection—not just comedy
The moment she realised her work was a form of therapy
What she’s learned from over 20 years of bringing joy to others
This episode is packed with heart, humour, and a powerful reminder of how play can heal.
🔗 ⁠https://www.loubylou.co.uk/⁠