What I Wish I Knew Sooner

Breaking into a creative industry can look glamorous from the outside… but behind every role, opportunity and success story are years of rejection, resilience and backing yourself when nobody else can.In this episode, we're joined by actor Brahmdeo Ramana, whose credits include The Bay, Emmerdale, Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as well as projects for Netflix and Apple TV+, to talk about what it really takes to build a career in TV, film and the creative industries.From leaving a career in finance to pursuing acting full-time, Brahmdeo shares the realities of navigating an industry with no clear roadmap, dealing with rejection and staying motivated when success doesn't happen overnight.We talk about:🎭 Breaking into the acting industry💼 Leaving a traditional career to pursue a creative path💪 Rejection, resilience & building confidence🎬 Working on productions including Marvel, Emmerdale & The Bay🧠 Comparison, self-belief & trusting your own journey🎨 Creativity, passion projects & building a career you love🤖 AI and the future of creative industries✨ And the advice Brahmdeo wishes he knew soonerKEY MOMENTS:00:00 Introducing Brahmdeo Ramana02:00 The biggest misconceptions about acting03:30 Leaving acting behind and finding his way back06:00 Why creative careers are never linear07:30 Booking his first major TV role09:00 Working on The Bay & Emmerdale11:00 How to break into the industry today13:00 Staying motivated through rejection17:00 Why your ideas are worth pursuing18:00 The person who believed in him first21:30 Taking risks and leaving finance behind23:00 Confidence, rejection & self-belief24:30 Working on a Marvel production32:30 AI and the future of acting38:00 Following passion over money39:30 What Brahmdeo wishes he knew soonerWhether you're pursuing a creative career, considering a big career change, or simply trying to trust your own path a little more, this episode is a reminder that success rarely follows a script.Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod 💛

We hear it all the time: start before you’re ready. But if it were that easy… why do so many of us still wait?Whether it’s fear of failure, perfectionism, self-doubt or waiting for the “right time,” so many of us hold ourselves back from starting the things we really want to do.But what if the right time isn’t something you wait for… what if it’s something you create?In this mini episode, we unpack:🚀 Why so many people wait to feel “ready” before they start⏰ Why the perfect time often never comes😬 How perfectionism and procrastination can keep us stuck🧠 The role self-doubt plays in holding us back💛 Why you don’t need permission to go after what you want✨ Why taking imperfect action can change everythingKEY MOMENTS:00:00 The right time isn’t something you wait for01:00 Why so many people hold themselves back02:00 Start before you’re ready03:00 The fear of failure vs learning as you go04:00 Perfectionism, procrastination & self-doubt06:00 Why social media can make us feel behind08:00 Why you don’t need permission to start10:00 Building self-trust and backing yourself12:00 Why action creates confidenceIf you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start something… this episode is your reminder that maybe the time is now.Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod and send this to someone who needs to hear it 💛 

Money is something that affects all of us… but most of us were never actually taught how to manage it.In this episode, we’re joined by Ola Majekodunmi, qualified financial advisor, public speaker and founder of All Things Money to talk about saving, investing, budgeting and building wealth in your 20s & 30s.From feeling behind financially to learning how to invest for the first time, we unpack the money conversations more people need to be having.We talk about:💸 How to actually start saving & investing📈 Building wealth even if you don’t earn loads🧠 Money anxiety, comparison & financial confidence🏡 Buying property, budgeting & financial goals💳 Credit cards, debt & student loans👩‍💻 Women & investing📱 The impact of social media on how we view success✨ And the financial advice we wish we knew soonerKEY MOMENTS:00:00 Introducing Ola & All Things Money02:30 Why schools don’t teach enough about money05:00 The biggest money mistakes people are making07:30 Feeling behind financially in your 20s & 30s10:30 Where to start with saving & investing14:00 Best investing platforms for beginners15:30 Property, relationships & financial goals19:30 “I don’t earn enough to save”22:00 Saving vs investing explained26:00 Debt, credit cards & student loans32:00 What Ola wishes she knew soonerWhether you’re just starting your financial journey or trying to feel more confident with money, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest conversation.Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod 🤍

With everyone talking about community right now, we wanted to ask the question… why does it feel harder than ever to actually find it?We grew up in environments where connection felt easy — school, university, even early careers — but as we’ve got older, building meaningful friendships and feeling part of something has become a lot less straightforward.At the same time, we’re more “connected” than ever online… yet somehow more disconnected in real life.So why is that? And what can we actually do about it?In this mini episode, we unpack: 🏡 Why community used to feel easier (and what’s changed) 📱 How social media creates the illusion of connection 🤝 The difference between having friends vs feeling like you belong 🌍 Why everyone wants a “village” — but no one wants to build one 😬 Why putting yourself out there feels uncomfortable (but is necessary) ☕ How small, everyday moments can lead to real connection ✨ Why we decided to start building our own community for “5–9ers”KEY MOMENTS: 00:00 Everyone wants a village — but no one builds one 01:00 Why community feels more important than ever 02:00 From built-in communities to building your own 03:00 The impact of remote work & post-COVID life 04:00 Why it’s harder to make friends as an adult 05:00 Social media vs real connection 07:00 Why “catch-up culture” isn’t real connection 09:00 Building community in small, simple ways 11:00 Why you have to put yourself out there 13:00 Finding your people (and trusting your intuition)If you’ve ever felt like you’re missing “your people” — this episode is for you.Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod and send this to someone who might need the reminder 💛 

In this episode, we’re joined by Jessica Lindfield - career strategist, author of Play the Game and founder of EmbraceHer.From the outside, Jess’s career looks incredibly successful. But behind the scenes, her experience with ambition, burnout and navigating corporate life hasn't always been straightforward.We talk about what it really means to “play the game” at work and why working hard alone isn’t always enough to get ahead.✨We also get into:why ambition needs to be sustainable (not just impressive on paper)confidence vs self-trust (and what actually moves the needle)how to build visibility without it feeling forcedthe career advice women aren’t always taughtand how to define success in a way that actually works for your lifeIf you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or unsure how to navigate your next move, this episode is for you.KEY MOMENTS:00:00 – Introduction to Jess Linfield02:00 – How her relationship with ambition has evolved03:30 – Chasing promotions vs enjoying your day-to-day04:30 – Rapid career growth at 24 (and realising it wasn’t what she wanted)06:00 – Why she created Embrace Her07:30 – What women are really struggling with: confidence vs career strategy09:00 – Why self-trust matters more than confidence10:30 – Imposter syndrome and getting out of your own way12:30 – How confidence is actually built21:00 – The DARE method explained30:00 – Why working hard isn’t enough (visibility, strategy & impact)💬 Follow us for more conversations on life, career & personal growth @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod💛 And if you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to follow, rate and share the podcast - it helps us reach more people who might need these conversations.

With everyone talking about the millennial career crisis, we wanted to ask the question… is it actually a crisis or are careers just evolving?Many of us were raised to follow a certain path: go to school, go to university, get a stable job, work hard, and eventually everything will fall into place.But the world we’re working in now looks very different.AI is reshaping industries, the job market is shifting, and more people are questioning whether climbing the traditional ladder is the only definition of success.So are millennials really lost or are we just redefining what work and purpose look like?In this mini episode, we unpack: 💼 Why so many people feel stuck or uncertain in their careers 🤖 How AI and technology are changing the job market 🧠 Why your job title shouldn’t define your identity 🎨 The importance of passions and creative outlets outside of work 📉 Whether university is still the “right” path for everyone 🔄 Why pivoting careers is more normal than we think ✨ And how to build a life that isn’t defined only by workKEY MOMENTS: 00:00 Are millennials actually in a career crisis? 02:00 Millennials were raised for a different world 03:30 AI, job security & the changing job market 05:00 The rise of personal brands and creator careers 07:00 University vs alternative career paths 11:00 Hustle culture vs Gen Z work values 13:00 Why life starts to feel like Groundhog Day 15:00 Finding purpose outside your job 18:00 Redefining success and pivoting careersIf you’ve ever felt like everyone else has their life figured out while you’re still working it out — this episode is for you.Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod and send this to someone who might need the reminder 💛 

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew Sooner, we’re joined by Adam Smith - Co-Founder of HelpBnk and Chief Community Officer - to talk about entrepreneurship, purpose, and why waiting for the “perfect time” might be the very thing holding you back.Adam shares his unconventional career journey, from following the traditional path into scientific research to leaving it behind, travelling the world, learning sales on the streets of Sydney, and eventually building and selling his own business.We explore what it really takes to start something from scratch, why execution matters more than ideas, and how surrounding yourself with people who have purpose can completely change the direction of your life.Along the way, Adam shares powerful lessons about taking action, embracing uncertainty, and why you probably have far more time than you think.✨ In this conversation we discuss:• Why the traditional career path isn’t always the safest option• The mindset shift that turns ideas into action• What entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes• Why community and purpose matter more than ever• The importance of doing things before you feel ready• How one conversation can change the trajectory of your lifeWhether you’re thinking about starting a business, building something on the side, or simply feeling stuck about your next step, this episode is a reminder that progress rarely comes from waiting - it comes from taking action.KEY MOMENTS:00:00 — Intro: Adam Smith (Co-Founder of HelpBnk)00:02 — Why He Walked Away From the Traditional Career Path00:03 — Traveling the World & Learning Sales Door-to-Door00:06 — Starting His First Business00:11 — The Story Behind HelpBnk00:19 — Turning Ideas Into Businesses: The HelpBnk Accelerator00:25 — The Rise of AI & Building a Personal Brand00:30 — “Do It Scared”: Taking Action Before You’re Ready00:35 — Why Execution Matters More Than Ideas00:41 — The Non-Negotiables for Building a Business That Lasts00:47 — What Adam Wishes He Knew Sooner00:52 — Advice for Anyone Feeling Stuck💬 Follow us for more conversations on life, career & personal growth @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod✨ And if you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to follow, rate and share the podcast - it helps us reach more people who might need these conversations.

As we wrap up love month, we’re talking red flags, green flags, and the standards we set in modern relationships…Are we becoming more self-aware or just more picky?Where did the obsession with “red flags” even come from?And how do you tell the difference between a genuine warning sign and just… being human?In this mini episode, we unpack:🚩What a red flag actually is (and what it isn’t)💬 Why consistency and communication matter more than grand gestures🎯 The difference between attention and intention🧠 How to spot subtle disrespect 🚦 Why not everything that makes you uncomfortable is toxic💚 And the green flags that genuinely point to emotional maturityWhether you’re dating, in a relationship, or just reflecting on your patterns, this one’s about listening to your intuition and not settling for less than you deserve.Follow us on socials @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod and send this to someone who needs the reminder 💌

In this episode, we’re joined by Rebecca Emery, founder of Not Born Yesterday, to explore how we’re seen, why visibility alone isn’t enough, and what it really takes to build trust and credibility in a noisy world.From PR and storytelling to perception, personal brand and modern visibility, Rebecca helps us unpack why being “out there” doesn’t always translate to being trusted and how the stories we tell (and don’t tell) shape how others experience us.We talk about what PR really is beyond headlines, how credibility is built over time, and why staying human, intentional and consistent matters more than chasing attention. Rebecca also shares the lessons she’s learned building her own agency, working closely with founders and brands, and what she wishes she’d known sooner about backing herself and showing up with confidence.We talk: 💬 Why visibility doesn’t automatically equal trust 🧠 How perception quietly shapes how we’re seen 📣 What PR really is (and what people often get wrong) 🌱 How to build credibility in a world that’s louder and faster than everKEY MOMENTS:0:00 Intro & meeting Rebecca1:00 What most people get wrong about PR11:00 Why PR matters for your career and personal brand13:00 What the people and brands who “get it” do differently16:00 Why building trust and real connection is so difficult today21:00 How to build credibility without it feeling forced25:00 What the shift toward GEO means for modern brands34:00 Staying visible in the age of AI without losing your human edge 35:00 How PR can support brands through a crisis 42:00 Lessons in resilience, reputation and leadership48:00 Taking the leap: navigating the uncertainty of starting her own business53:00 What Rebecca wishes she knew sooner🎙 Hosts: Senna & Serenity 📍 Guest: Rebecca Emery, Founder of Not Born Yesterday (@notbornyesterdaypr) 🔗 Follow us: @whatiwishiknewsoonerpod 

What I Wish I Knew Sooner is a podcast about the lessons no one teaches you — from careers and money to creativity, confidence, and navigating your twenties and thirties.Hosted by Senna and Serenity, each episode features candid conversations with founders, creatives, and industry experts, sharing the insights they wish they’d known earlier.