Nailing It

What do you do when the spotlight fades and doors start slamming shut?For former reality TV star Layla Flaherty, the answer was to take an idea and run with it — all the way to the top.In the latest episode of Nailing It, Layla joins host Jay Hynd to share her extraordinary journey from the unfair fallout of Desperate Scousewives to founding Urban Paws, now one of the UK's leading animal talent agencies.Facing public backlash and struggling to find work, Layla hit rock bottom. But this determined Galway girl had no intention of giving up. Instead, she channelled her love of animals and media knowledge to carve out a niche no one saw coming. Today, her agency supplies animals for film, TV, fashion and ad campaigns for global clients like Disney, Gucci, Stella McCartney, Rihanna, and even the Andrex puppies. In this honest and inspiring episode, Layla opens up about: Why pets can earn more than people (and often are the breadwinners) The strict welfare protocols behind animals on set How doubt from others fuelled her drive The mindset that helped her go from 'cancelled' to CEO It's a must-listen for anyone with a side hustle, a setback, or a dream that doesn't fit the mould."I definitely think anyone can run a business if you've got determination, grit, and self-belief."Listen now to hear how Layla Flaherty is Nailing It — with an empire built on passion, perseverance, and pets.

Peter Kinsella, owner of Liverpool's much-loved restaurant and deli brand Lunya, has seen it all during 15 years in the hospitality industry.In this edition of the Nailing It podcast, Peter joins host Jay Hynd for a candid conversation about the highs and lows of building a successful food business, from bold ideas to brutal setbacks.Inspired by Barcelona's bustling tapas culture, the Wirral-born entrepreneur took a leap of faith to open Lunya in the then-new Liverpool ONE. Little did he know that the 2008 financial crash lurked in the background.And that was just the start. In his decade and a half at the helm, Peter has steered Lunya through its fair share of storms — including the seismic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet today, Lunya and its Albert Dock sister restaurant, Lunyalita, remain a fixture of the city's dining scene.In this frank and fascinating chat, Peter reflects on how a mix of quality, authenticity and savvy decision-making has kept the brand thriving. Packed with practical insight for anyone starting out in business, especially in food, hospitality, or retail, this must listen episode shows how staying true to your values may be the ultimate strategy for success. "Brand is everything," Peter says. "Imagine having a bar of Blackpool rock. No matter where you snap it, it says Blackpool halfway up. A business should be like that."Snap Peter in half and the chances are it'd read: Catalan inspired. Merseyside made.

Claire McColgan CBE, the driving force behind many of the city's biggest moments, joins host Jay Hynd to reflect on three decades of shaping Liverpool's cultural identity.As Director of Culture, Major Events and Tourism for the City of Liverpool—and Associate Director at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority—Claire has been pivotal in putting Merseyside back on the global map. From securing Eurovision to staging unforgettable spectacles like The Giants, her work with Culture Liverpool has helped transform the city into a destination for world-class events.In this candid chat, Claire discusses her family ties to Liverpool, her mission to make the arts more inclusive, and how those values helped power the city's success as the European Capital of Culture in 2008.She also opens up about the high-stakes gamble of making Liverpool a host city for COVID-19 test events and the sleepless nights that sometimes come with leading from the front.This episode of the Nailing It podcast is a must-listen for anyone who cares about creativity, community, and what it takes to make a city sing."It's been a privilege," Claire says of her role. Listening to this episode feels like one, too.

Scouse Drag Superstar, Danny Beard is our latest guest on Nailing It.Danny won Ru Paul's Drag Race UK in 2022, before that they gained success following Britain's Got Talent and has since presented on Radio One, and become the face of Pride across the UK. Danny is taking his show 'Straight Expectations' on the road with various dates across the UK this September with a night at Liverpool's Playhouse Theatre on Saturday 14th.Danny talks about making it in the drag world, dealing with fame and success and gives a great insight on how a performer can stay on top of their game and keep the jobs and roles coming in.‘Straight Expectations’ will take you on a musical and comedy journey through the eye of a 6-foot, scouse drag queen. Expect anecdotes about life growing up gay in 90’s and 00’s Liverpool, and what was expected of you, and becoming Britain’s next drag superstar. There’ll be hot celebrity gossip, and of course a soundtrack to the perfect night out. Danny will be asking, and trying to answer, all the right and wrong questions.  What makes a drag queen? Who’s drag really for? Is it really fair to pick on straight people? After all, it’s not their fault.

In this episode of Nailing It, we dive into the fascinating journey of Liverpool food icon, Maray and Tom White, a key figure in Liverpool’s vibrant food scene and the mastermind behind QVO Hospitality and the brains behind the renowned restaurant.Tom discusses his beginnings in visual arts that took an unexpected and successful turn into hospitality, leading to the creation of one of Liverpool’s most beloved dining spots.The Maray story started in the summer of 2014, inspired by Tom’s experiences in the lively Le Marais district of Paris. At Maray, the menu is a homage to Middle Eastern flavours, complemented by excellent wines and bold cocktails. Tom shares how these elements combined to create a unique culinary experience that has captivated Liverpool’s food scene.Tom delves into the intricacies of branding Maray, emphasising that a brand extends beyond “a logo and colour palette”. He discusses the thought process behind the restaurant’s distinctive visual identity and how these elements contribute to the overall dining experience at Maray.Tom recounts Maray’s growth from its humble beginnings on Bold Street to expanding to multiple locations across Liverpool, including Allerton Road and Royal Albert Dock, and now a site in Manchester. He also opens up about the decision to eventually close the Allerton Road location, illustrating that not all closures have to signify failure.Tom’s journey in the hospitality industry is marked by both challenges and triumphs. He candidly discusses the realities of owning a hospitality business, from the pressures and obstacles to the rewarding moments of success and community impact.The conversation also veers into a friendly debate on the food scenes of Liverpool versus Manchester. While Liverpool holds a special place in Tom’s heart, being his birthplace, he provides insightful comparisons and acknowledges the strengths of both cities in the culinary world.Join us for an engaging conversation with Tom White, as we explore the creative and business aspects of running a successful restaurant, and gain a deeper understanding of the culinary landscape in Liverpool and beyond. Whether you're a foodie or a budding entrepreneur this episode offers a wealth of insight and inspiration.

Laura Hughes has been raising awareness of the impact of knife crime for the past five years. Her brother Colin was brutally murdered following a knife attack in Bootle in 2001. Since then, Laura has fought to save lives through awareness campaigns across Liverpool and beyond, giving talks to school children, running marathons, and now campaigning to see bleed control packs in all public places.This episode is the most important, impactful podcast we've recorded. It's a challenging listen but probably the most powerful audio you will hear this week. Laura tells the story of Colin's murder and the aftermath that ripped through her family. From finding out her brother was brutally attacked and murdered to facing his killers in court, there are no holds barred. This story will stop you in your tracks. But, as Laura says, if it can prevent one more person from being killed at the hands of another, then its job done.Please listen and pay full attention to Laura's story. It may save the life of someone you love. 

CEO of Agent; an award-winning, full-service brand and communications agency, Paul Corcoran shares his story to success and emphasises how creating a 'good' workplace will always produce great results.From his team's four-day working week to running national campaigns which have changed the law for the better, Paul and his team pride themselves on doing good business everyday. 

Nailing It is all about sharing inspiring stories and giving you insightful tips on how to nail it in business or at work.This week's guest does that everyday of his life with his business and leadership coaching programme Ways To Way.Jamie Wray is founder of Ways TO WOW which is an experiential training & development agency that offers gamified training workshops, team building activities and brand experience support that are designed to improve organisational culture, customer experience, brand identity and personal performance.He believes that every business, no matter the sector or the size, can grow through installing " "wow moments" within its culture. Whether it's the extra touches you can give a customer during a dining experience, creating excitement amongst your team or giving yourself an extra special treat to boost morale. He has joined us armed with incredible tips for anyone in business, anyone managing a team or anyone who is looking for some inspiration on how to feel more motivated and engaged at work.How to keep your team motivatedHow can you keep improving your customer experience?What are the secrets to being a good leader?How can you motivate yourself more at work?How do you find the best team member for the job?How to stop procrastinating?And so much more.

In the latest episode of Nailing It we meet SEO expert Liam Quirk the founder of Quirky Digital.Liam talks about the power of SEO marketing and why every business needs an SEO plan, no matter the size. Liam set up Quirky Digital less than five years ago and already the company's turnover is £1.2m. He talks about the challenges he has faced during his business's launch, how he sometimes enjoys becoming a Digital Nomad and how he plans to grow internationally. Liam shares his top three tips on how to start your SEO plan from scratch, things you can do for free, right now to help get your company website ranking on Google.