Building your Brand

In this special live recording, my first ever, I'm joined by director, designer and relentless maker Gavin Strange (Director at Aardman Animations and creator of Jam Factory) for a joyful, honest and deeply inspiring conversation about creativity, consistency and carving out your own path.
From building a 25-year personal project alongside a full-time creative career, to teaching himself electronics to build a life-sized virtual pinball machine, Gavin shares what it really looks like to stay creatively alive over decades; not just seasons.
We talk about stop-frame animation, side projects, public speaking, learning in public, raising creative kids, and why it's not your employer's job to make you creatively fulfilled.
If you've ever felt like you're "not the naturally talented one," or you're waiting for permission to start; this episode will give you the nudge you need.
Key Takeaways
If you don't get the opportunity; build your own version of it. When the door doesn't open, make something anyway. If you practise the thing before you're chosen for it, you'll already be ready when the moment comes.
When you treat your side projects like a playground, you'll grow without fear. When you create a space where you can experiment, break things and try again, you remove the pressure; and that's where real growth happens.
Repeating the work, builds strength. Creativity isn't about waiting for a breakthrough. It's about repetition. Do the work over and over; and one day you'll look back and realise you've built creative muscle you didn't know you had.
When you take responsibility for your own creative fulfilment, you stop waiting. It's not your job, your clients or your industry's responsibility to keep you inspired. When you own your growth, you unlock momentum.
If you protect your creativity with rhythm and routine, it will flourish. Even two hours in the evening, consistently, can change everything. Creative energy doesn't need endless time; it needs intention.
When you stay curious, you stay alive. Falling down rabbit holes, learning new tools, trying something "unnecessary" is not distraction; that's how you stay creatively awake.
 
Episode Timestamps
03:48 – Live recording begins & Gavin's creative journey (Aardman + 25 years of Jam Factory)
08:41 – How stop-motion animation actually works (pre-production to post)
14:33 – Getting bored, long projects & taking responsibility for your creativity
17:54 – The origin of Jam Factory & learning in public
25:53 – Building a life-sized virtual pinball machine (and why side projects matter)
31:04 – Balancing creativity, family life & routine
36:20 – Public speaking, fear & putting yourself forward
44:43 – Generative AI, creative fear & what still excites him about animation
 
Mentioned in the Episode
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Chicken Run
Strange Kids Toys (creative project Gavin has with his son)
OFFF Festival (creative conference mentioned)
Signalnoise (James White)
 
About the Guest
Gavin Strange is an award-winning Director and Designer for the UK's beloved creative studio Aardman. Working there for over seventeen years, Gavin's creative output ranges from title sequences to channel idents, short films to Christmas ads and everything in-between. His work is diverse in nature but all held together of a common thread of fun and high energy. By night he goes under the alias of 'Jamfactory', indulging in all manner of passion projects, from filmmaking to illustration, pinball to photography. He even puts out wonky music under the (other) alias of 'Project Toy'.
Event Sponsors
Matt Joyce https://matt-joyce.com/
Studio Cotton https://studiocotton.co.uk/
Adobe Express https://adobe.com/express (Aff link)
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I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and edited by me and recorded live at Cornerstone in Cardiff with Kingsbane Studio
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch this and all of my solo episodes YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode of The Building your Brand podcast I share three simple ways I'm becoming more productive in my business; without slipping into toxic hustle culture.
As a creative business owner juggling multiple roles, I have been experimenting with practical systems that reduce friction, minimise distractions, and save time. From using a physical app-blocking device to batch-creating content and building a master business dashboard, these small changes are making a big difference.
If you're spinning lots of plates in your business and want realistic, sustainable ways to create more focus and breathing room; this episode is for you.
 
Key Takeaways
Add Physical Friction to Reduce Digital Distraction Using a physical app-blocking device (instead of just software) makes it harder to mindlessly scroll. The added friction breaks the muscle memory of picking up your phone — while still allowing intentional check-ins.
Batch by Stage, Not Just by Task Instead of creating one episode at a time from start to finish, Liz batches the stages of production — recording multiple episodes in one session, editing in another, and scheduling in another. The same method works for content creation (like writing carousel posts in bulk).
Build a "Master Business Hub" Creating a central board for affiliate links, brand assets, workflows, and processes saves time and reduces back-and-forth. It empowers collaborators and prevents unnecessary delays.
Productivity Should Support, Not Consume, Your Life This isn't about constant optimisation. It's about creating systems that support your energy, focus, and sustainability as a business owner.
 
Episode Highlights
00:20 – Introduction: Productivity (without toxic hustle culture)
00:59 – The Padlock App & reducing social media distraction
04:20 – Batching podcast episodes & content creation
05:31 – Writing 25+ carousel posts in one session
06:39 – Creating a Master Business Trello Board
09:10 – Invitation to share your productivity hacks
 
Mentioned in the episode
Padlock App – A physical app-blocking device that locks selected apps until you tap your phone against it. https://padlock-app.com/ Use code: LIZ (Affiliate link: 30% discount code)
Trello – https://trello.com Project management tool used to create a master business board.
Adobe Express – https://www.adobe.com/express/. (Aff Link) Used for brand kits and shared design assets. 
Adobe Premiere Pro – https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html Used to batch edit podcast episodes on a single timeline.
 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode and if there's anything you use in your business to help with productivity, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Today on the podcast, I am chatting to my friend and voicenote partner in crime Nikki McWilliams. I always find it interesting when people run multiple different brands, and I love to hear how they manage it, how they do it all, and how it all fits together.
Nikki not only has a solid personal brand, but she also runs two distinct online shops: one selling her famous biscuit-inspired homewares and another dedicated to stationery. In this episode, we delve into how she keeps it all clear in her head, how she juggles the workload, and how she maintains consistency across different businesses.
We also discuss the massive shift in social media marketing—from the polished "flat lay" era to the rise of "scrappy" reels—and why having multiple "squirrel pots" of income is the key to feeling secure as a self-employed creative.
 
Key Takeaways:
The "Squirrel Pot" Strategy: Nikki treats her different businesses and income streams as "squirrel pots." Having multiple streams provides security because when one area (like luxury cushions) ebbs, another (like affordable stationery) might flow
Distinct Branding for Distinct Audiences: While both brands sit under her name, Nikki uses different visual vibes and colour palettes to separate them—one is luxury and gift-focused, while the other leans into nostalgia and necessity .
Scrappy Content Wins: We discuss the mindset shift required to move away from perfectly polished content. Surprisingly, the posts that take the least time to create (like filming in pyjamas on a phone) often perform the best
The Art of the Creative Pitch: Nikki shares a brilliant story about how she won a PR trip on a cruise by pitching with a physical, hand-made passport instead of just a standard email.
Agility is a Superpower: As a small business owner, you don't have to stick to a plan if it isn't working. Nikki explains why she is currently leaning more into stickers and stationery because that is what is selling right now.
 

Episode Highlights:
01:00 – The origins of the Biscuit Shop (2010) and the rise of the Nikki Supply Store (2017) via the bullet journaling trend
07:00 – How Nikki balances a personal brand with two product-based businesses
15:00 – Why self-employment can actually feel more secure than a traditional job in the current economy
18:00 – How to pitch to brands and get paid properly for content creation
25:00 – The struggle of pivoting from high-production content to "scrappy" authentic video
37:00 – Nikki's future goals: YouTube monetization and designing a sticker book

 
About The Guest:
Nikki McWilliams is a designer and small business owner based in Scotland. She is the founder of Nikki McWilliams, known for her iconic biscuit-themed cushions, and Nikki's Supply Store, a go-to shop for bullet journaling and stationery supplies.
You can find her biscuit shop at nikkimcwilliams.com and her stationery shop at nikkisupplystore.com. Follow her on Instagram at @nikkimcwilliams and @nikkisupplystore, or search for Nikki McWilliams Design on YouTube.


 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Are you building your business from alignment or from pressure?
In this episode, I share 7 things I'm not doing in my business; even though the internet says I should. From posting daily and niching down further, to scaling faster and launching constantly, we're unpacking the online "rules" that often lead to burnout instead of sustainability.
If you're an entrepreneur, creative, or small business owner feeling overwhelmed by business advice, today's episode will help you rethink growth, visibility, and success on your own terms.
I talk about:
Why posting every day isn't the only growth strategy
The truth about niching down
Depth vs scale in business
Why constant launching can create pressure
The danger of building from fear
If you've ever felt behind, not strategic enough, or like you're not doing "enough" then this episode is your permission to pause and choose alignment over algorithms.
 
Key Takeaways
Not all "shoulds" are aligned with your vision: Just because something works for someone else doesn't mean it's right for you. Strategy without alignment leads to burnout.
Depth can be more powerful than scale: Bigger isn't always better. Building for impact, connection and sustainability may serve you more than chasing numbers.
Consistency doesn't have to mean constant: You don't have to post daily, launch quarterly, or pivot with every trend. Intentional visibility can be more powerful than relentless output.
Fear shouldn't be your business strategy: Many online "rules" are rooted in fear; fear of irrelevance, slow growth, or being left behind. Building from alignment creates longevity.
 
Episode Highlights
00:00 – Why I'm questioning business "shoulds"
01:35 – Not posting every day
03:10 – Not niching down into something microscopic
05:00 – Choosing depth over scale
06:45 – Stepping off the launch treadmill
08:10 – Not chasing trends
09:30 – Not outsourcing everything (yet)
10:45 – Why I refuse to build from fear
12:00 – Final thoughts: Choosing alignment over noise
 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Has the fear of being trolled ever impacted how you show up online? It definitely has for me, and sometimes I feel like I can't share all the things that I want to in case I attract hate.
Today on the podcast I'm chatting to Rhiannon Louden, who is a brand and wedding photographer, all about an incident where she got trolled and exactly how she handled it.
A big facet of this conversation is about values, and I love that it comes back to something that has been chatted about on this podcast so many times before: the importance of your brand values. Rhiannon shares a candid story about a reel featuring a trans wedding that attracted significant hate, and how she navigated that storm while protecting her clients and standing by her beliefs.
We touch on personal branding, attracting the right clients, running your business with integrity, and why "going viral" isn't always the dream we think it is.
 
Key Takeaways:
Viral isn't always a victory: Rhiannon shares how a reel hitting 5 million views brought a wave of hate rather than just "success". It serves as a reminder that visibility without the right audience can be damaging.
Values act as a filter: Being vocal about your values (e.g., trans rights) effectively repels people who don't align with you. While the trolling was difficult, it ultimately solidified her niche and signaled safety to her ideal clients.
Client care comes first: When the post blew up with negative comments, Rhiannon's first priority was her couple. She communicated openly with them and gave them the option to delete the post, prioritizing their mental health over the "viral" reach.
Have a crisis plan: It is helpful to think about how you would handle trolling before it happens. Having a process—like warning clients or knowing when to turn off comments—can help you stay calm in the moment.
Separating your brands: We also discuss Rhiannon's decision to run two separate brands (Rhiannon Neale for weddings/families and Rhiannon Louden for branding) to ensure her messaging stays clear and relevant to each specific audience.
 
Episode Highlights:
02:00 – Rhiannon's journey from journalism to photography and moving to Scotland.
04:00 – The decision to split her business into two distinct brands to clarify her messaging.
06:00 – The story of the viral reel: How a post celebrating a trans wedding attracted millions of views and a storm of hate.
13:00 – Handling the fallout: How Rhiannon communicated with her clients and gave them the power to decide the post's fate.
15:00 – The aftermath: Why repelling bigots is actually a business positive, and how it has led to more aligned inquiries from the LGBTQ+ community.
19:00 – The reality of viral fame: Why we need to stop romanticising the idea of "blowing up" online.
 
About The Guest:
Rhiannon Louden is a photographer and brand mentor based in Scotland. She runs two businesses: Rhiannon Neale, focusing on alternative, documentary-style wedding and family photography, and Rhiannon Louden, where she offers personal brand photography and mentorship for female entrepreneurs. She is passionate about diversity, inclusivity, and helping business owners show up authentically.
You can find her wedding work at https://rhiannoneale.com/ and her branding work at https://www.rhiannonlouden.co.uk/
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Rhiannon's Viral Post: The reel discussed regarding the trans wedding (though comments are turned off!).

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!