top of page
Rebel thoughts, ideas and
conversations.
Reflections from the quiet rebellion.
Here's our space for honest writing on life, work, enoughness and doing things differently. Think stories, insights, and questions from the journey for those done pretending everything’s fine.
All Posts
You've Got to Have Joy: Greg Johnston on Grief, Courage, and Team Evie
Reflective Rebels Podcast Season 2 Episode 11 Greg Johnston's favourite day of the week is Friday. Fish and chips, a film with the girls, easing into the weekend. The kind of simple, ordinary joy that doesn't need explaining. It took a lot to get there. Greg and his wife Jill lost their daughter Evie in September 2015. She was six months old. In those six months she faced more than most of us will face in a lifetime, seventeen operations, a complex combination of cardiac and
Ben Hickman
Jun 92 min read
Finding Calm in the Chaos of Business Ownership to Regain Your Freedom
Starting a business often begins with a dream of freedom: freedom to create, freedom to choose your hours, freedom to build something meaningful. Yet, many entrepreneurs find themselves trapped instead. The business that was supposed to set them free becomes a source of constant pressure. They are physically present every day, emotionally burdened by every decision, and mentally unable to switch off. This post explores why calm must come before strategy to break free from thi
Ben Hickman
May 203 min read
Redundancy, Rainbow Farts & Building a Business From Nothing: Lisa Jackson's Story
Three weeks before Christmas, Lisa Jackson lost her job. No savings, no plan, no idea she was about to start a business. Fifteen years later, Acorn Marketing is still going, she's written a children's book called Dr. April and the Rainbow Farts, and she's finally doing the creative work she was always meant for.
Ben Hickman
Apr 287 min read
Trust Yourself: Building a Business From Scratch When Everything Feels Uncertain - Abigail Fleming's Story
Abigail Fleming spent 15 years in London fashion before walking away to build an interior design business from scratch. On career change and daily panic.
Ben Hickman
Apr 144 min read
Starting Over at 50 With No Plan, No Savings and No Confidence - Rebecca Bird's Story
Rebecca Bird was an MD, burned out, on anxiety pills, and working until 11pm every night. At 50 she walked away and started her own business with no plan and no savings. This is her story.
Ben Hickman
Mar 315 min read
Why Success Doesn't Feel Like Success (And What To Do About It)
Something weird happens when things are going well and you still feel awful. One bad thing lands and suddenly that's all you can see. This episode is about the negativity bias, the arrival fallacy, and why the most instinctive response to pressure is usually the wrong one.
Ben Hickman
Mar 244 min read
How to Back Yourself in Business Before You Feel Ready
Reflective Rebels Podcast Season 2 Episode 3 - Cat Park How to Back Yourself in Business Before You Feel Ready Most business owners know the feeling. You've got an idea, a gut feeling, a thing you keep almost doing. And then the thinking starts. What if it doesn't work? What if I'm not ready? What if I wait until I've got a proper plan? Backing yourself in business is one of those things that sounds simple until you're actually standing at the crossroads. Cat Park has been at
Ben Hickman
Mar 173 min read
Fear of Failure: Why I Nearly Never Made This Episode
I'd been meaning to record solo episodes since before season one. The reason I kept putting it off wasn't time. It was fear of what people would think. This is me thinking out loud about that gap, and what I finally said to myself to close it.
Ben Hickman
Mar 103 min read
She Built an Animation Studio While Doubting Herself Every Day: A Business Owner's Story
Lou runs an animation studio and created Pigasus - a flying pig about self-belief. But she wakes up every day doubting herself. Her story about building something real while your brain tells you you can't. Reflective Rebels Podcast S2E1.
Ben Hickman
Mar 33 min read
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown - Why This Book Started Our Book Club in Carlisle
Brené Brown's Daring Greatly changed how I think about vulnerability and courage - and it's why this book club exists. A personal reflection on the book that started it all.
Ben Hickman
Dec 1, 20251 min read
The Brain at Rest by Dr. Joseph Jebelli - A Rebellious Book for Burnt Out Times - a review from our Carlisle book club
In a culture obsessed with productivity, reading about rest feels rebellious. Our member Jane reviews The Brain at Rest and explains why daydreaming might be the most productive thing you do.
Ben Hickman
Nov 28, 20252 min read
Where the River Flows by Rachel Havekost - An Honest Review About Heavy Books from a Carlisle book club member
A memoir about eating disorders and divorce didn't relate for our member - and she's honest about why. A review about knowing when a book is too heavy for where you are.
Ben Hickman
Nov 27, 20252 min read
You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero - The Book That Changed How We Talk at our Carlisle book club
One person suggested this book. We all read it. Now we mention manifestation at nearly every book club meeting! How You Are A Badass changed our group conversations.
Ben Hickman
Nov 25, 20251 min read
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - Review - A Carlisle Book Club Member's Raw Reflection
What if you could undo every regret? A book club member, Christine, reflects on The Midnight Library, childhood stories, and learning that wherever you've been is exactly where you needed to be.
Ben Hickman
Nov 24, 20253 min read
Becoming Badass (When the Five-Year-Old Stops Running the Show) – Theresa’s Story
Theresa’s story is one of movement, loss, and finding her voice. From Zimbabwe to Carlisle, she’s learned what it means to stop letting the five-year-old version of herself run the show, and to finally step into the badass, grown-up version who calls the shots.
Ben Hickman
Nov 4, 20252 min read
I Can't Give Everything to Everyone Else Anymore (A story of burnout recovery)
Laura gave everything to everyone else. Chief executive, single parent, studying, volunteering - zero time for herself. Then her body made her stop. Pancreatitis put her in hospital for three months. The turning point: lying in bed hearing her parents tend to her son because she couldn't get up. Her story about what happens when you can't give everything away anymore.
Ben Hickman
Oct 21, 20257 min read
Do You Spend All Week Waiting for Friday Evening to Do Your Real Work? Beyond creative burnout.
Feeling like you're doing what everyone else wants instead of your real work? Beatrix's story shows how to stop people pleasing, integrate your creative identity, and finally trust your gut over gatekeepers.
Ben Hickman
Oct 7, 20257 min read
Get Your Hands Dirty (Why We Need to Feel Nature Again) - Ray's Story
Feeling stuck in your comfort zone? Ray's climbing story reveals why getting uncomfortable and saying yes to scary opportunities changes everything.
Ben Hickman
Sep 23, 20255 min read
Still Alive: Patricia's Story
Patricia's journey from Hong Kong expat to stroke survivor reveals what really matters. After working "all hours God sent," a life-threatening stroke forced her to rebuild everything. Her story spans prison counseling, business ventures, and facing death twice. From learning to read again to finding joy in opera, Patricia's transformation shows how slowing down isn't optional and kindness is the point.
Ben Hickman
Sep 9, 20256 min read
Manifesting Freedom: The Girl Who Refused to Stay Small
From Polish immigrant at 10 to entrepreneur manifesting success - Ewa's story of breakdown to breakthrough, discovering manifestation as practical mindset work, and choosing freedom over security. Episode 3 of Reflective Rebels Podcast.
Ben Hickman
Aug 26, 20259 min read
Latest from Instagram
bottom of page