Nicole Bremner

“You can have a successful career, you can make all the money in the world, but if you’re afraid of food and losing control of your body, you are not happy.”  *Trigger warning* This podcast contains content about eating disorders. Is it ever possible to really love your own body? Like many high-achieving young women, I slipped into an eating disorder in my late teens and early 20s. Thankfully having children turned me around, but what I was left with was body dysmorphia – what I see in the mirror is probably not what others see. In this incredibly open and honest episode, I chat to emotional eating, digestive and hormone expert, Amber Romaniuk. Amber helps  women achieve optimal health through mindful eating and self-care.  On her podcast, The No Sugarcoating Podcast, Amanda offers advice on difficult topics like food addiction, roadblocks with weight-loss, body acceptance and more. The show has had over a million downloads and is listened to in over 88 countries, which goes to show just how prolific these is

“When we first started computing, computers were the size of rooms, now the devices are in our hands and on our wrists. The next logical step is in our field of vision.” What is the future of technology? When you think back to how computers and devices like mobile phones have changed since they were first introduced, it’s quite astonishing – if a little scary. But how can this technology be used positively when it comes to our built environment? My guest today is Jordan Kostelac, who is Director for Proptech in the Asia Pacific region for real estate firm JLL. JLL is not so much a property firm but rather a tech firm that provides for the property industry and in September 2019 formed JLL Technologies. Based in Hong Kong, Jordan’s role is to solve challenges in real estate through the creation and deployment of Property Technology and says that the next 10 years will see augmented reality become commonplace.  We talk about how human and technological innovation are pushing our buildings in new directions as o

“I’d gone from having this great career, which I’d worked really hard for, to having this other life as a housewife.”The coronavirus pandemic has been tough for so many people but for some it has also enabled them to take a step back, restock and finally follow their dream. Jenny Guertin is one of those people. In April 2020, she set up Sharkie & Bear, a vegan-friendly earring and accessories brand – a manifestation of her passion for design and helping women feel good about themselves.But Jenny didn’t start her career in design. She is like so many highly qualified women, who in order to have a family, have had to sacrifice their career and give up the corporate world.  Jenny studied Maths and Management at Leeds University before heading into the world of accountancy, corporate finance and business recovery, where she lived and played hard. Her world was turned upside down however when she met, fell in love with and married her now husband, an RAF fighter pilot, and quit her job and uprooted her life to

“People have crossed the road to avoid speaking to me in the past and I can’t blame them.”Today my guest is Helen Garlick – fellow author, divorcee, YouTube presenter and cocker spaniel owner! Until recently Helen was a family lawyer and mediator and has written six issues of The Which? Guide to Divorce, but she recently stepped back from all that to write her memoir, No Place to Lie. The book is a brutally honest memoir about the secrets that shrouded her family, namely her brother David’s suicide on St David's day in 1981, and a secret her mother took to her grave – one Helen only found out about in a note written on the back of an envelope found in her mother's belongings.In the book, written in lockdown, Helen very eloquently unpicks and articulates what is often a really complex relationship with parents – in Helen’s case her relationship with her mother and her grandmother and grandmother-in-law. ‘It wasn’t an easy relationship with my mother,” Helen explains. “She was just different, that’s w

“The value of time for entrepreneurs is the most important thing.”Have you ever felt a need to clone yourself? I know I have. Running a business,  family and podcast – there just never seems to be enough time in the day. I have today’s guest, the queen of delegation outsourcing expert and coach Imogen Cook, to thank for taking some of the pressure off my shoulders  as she introduced me to Kim, who runs this podcast. In 2015, Imogen went from a full-time corporate world that she hated to launching a dynamic company that helps entrepreneurs accelerate their businesses by leveraging high-quality, yet affordable, Virtual Assistants from the Philippines. Her idea for The Freedom Geek came about while she was building her own real estate business, where she raised finance from angel investors to fund property projects. Facing burnout, she ran an advert on a Filipino job website looking for someone she could delegate to. Inundated with responses, and surprised by the quality of the skillset available, Imogen hired o

“A lot of girls don’t look in the mirror…they’re afraid of what they will see, of not loving what they will see, because of the imagery they are exposed to on social media every single day.”Today’s guest, Marsha Powell, is the ambitious CEO of BelEve UK, a London-based charity created to offer support, guidance, education, confidence, self-esteem, opportunities, positive solutions, and role models to young girls. Having herself grown up in a large family (her mum was one of nine children and Marsha herself has three sisters), Marsha has been surrounded by love and support, particularly from women, all her life. When her mother died suddenly from cancer at just 52, Marsha created BelEve as her legacy – helping to keep her mother’s ‘magic’ alive. “I was 32 when my mum died so I know what it’s like, as an adult, not to have a cheerleader. But I also know what it’s like to have one,” she says. “What if I could recreate some of what my mum gave me for other girls who don’t have that?” Marsha believes every girl ne

“The purpose of your life can be different to that thing that makes you feel alive.”How many times have you thought hard about building a career on one of your passions? It’s the dream, isn’t it – finding your spark and then being able to make money doing the thing you enjoy?My guest in this episode of The Nicole Bremner Podcast is Forex trader, educator and business owner, Lewis Crompton, who is all about making money work hard for you, rather than you working hard for your money. He travels the world teaching people how to trade, sometimes in front of over 14,000 people, earning him the nickname, The Travelling Investor. But, trading is not something that came naturally to him, nor is it his passion.“It’s a skill that I’ve mastered and it’s given me the freedom, choice and ability to live my life of passion,” he says. “Trading for me is more of a purpose, it’s something that I do and help other people do because it’s a doorway to living the life you want to live.”Lewis talks to me candidly about his religio

“The story of me has been really hard work, loads of self-analysis, a bucket load of therapy and also giving myself permission to have a team around me that help me be me.”Today’s guest on The Nicole Bremner Podcast is partly to thank for me being able to speak eloquently in public as her Pitch Perfect Club is where I learnt so many helpful skills in this area.   Comedienne, MC, West End performer, speaker mentor, podcaster and filmmaker Emma, ‘Em’ Stroud has many strings to her bow and joins me straight from filming a trailer for her new immersive film about mental health and how we “show up” in life and business. Em’s mission is to get people to laugh, think and play more through her global movement Laugh, think, play.  She speaks candidly about her upbringing and how it has led to making certain decisions in life and business, choosing to become a mum and how that has helped her look in the mirror and ask: “Who am I if I pull away the identity of my work, what does ‘Em’ really stand for and how do I want t

EP86: “Imagine, you’re coming back from your honeymoon, you’re newly married and you’re told you can go back to Florida but your husband can’t go with you – it was so shocking.”On February 22, 2007, something truly devastating happened, which turned Canadian-born Lauren Cohen’s life upside down. On returning to America, where she lives, from her honeymoon in Thailand, her husband was deported and told he could never return to the US. This sparked a journey that has seen Lauren become a top international immigration lawyer, helping others to avoid a similar fate. She is now a bestselling author, speaker and cross-border expert with a globally-acclaimed advisory service, assisting entrepreneurs and real estate professionals and investors expand their global footprint so they can live, work and play anywhere in the world. Lauren tells me about how she recovered from this traumatic time in her life, her new book, Finding your Silver Lining in the Business Immigration Process, and the countries to invest at a time

EP85: “Get too big for your boots, it’s what you need to do to make it.”My guest today already has a decade of business experience under her belt, yet she is only in her early 20s. Liv Conlon started her first business when she was just 13, importing products from China and selling them online. After leaving school at 16, she founded her next business, ThePropertyStagers, which revolutionised how the UK sells properties and became a seven-figure business within two years. Named UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 and 2020, Liv is now a personal brand expert, helping other like-minded entrepreneurs grow an internationally-recognizable brand through her  The Thought Leader Method. She’s also written a book, Too Big for Your Boots, which has been hailed by co-founder of Netflix, Marc Randolph, ,as “the step-by-step guide that I wish I had when I was starting out."We talk about the lack of support there is for young people interested in becoming entrepreneurs and how Liv is working with government to c

EP84: “In the traditional fashion industry, there’s about 30-40% over production on average every season – if you can find a way to tackle that, you’re tackling a big part of the problem.” Did you know that the fashion industry emits more carbon than the airlines and maritime industries combined? The effect of fast fashion on the environment is an issue that has been highlighted more frequently in the press in recent years but is enough being done? Today my guest is Aslaug Magnusdottir, an Icelandic fashion entrepreneur responsible for the launch of luxury women’s fashion e-commerce site Moda Operandi, customisable women’s fashion store Tinker Tailor and sustainable fashion brand Katla. Sustainable fashion has shaped Áslaug's career but through her American-based, Icelandic-focused brand, Katla, she has created a company centred around on-demand manufacturing to produce clothes that are kind to the environment, people and animals. Katla clothing also has a unique tracking number so purchasers can learn a

EP83: “The wonderful thing about sailing boats is that you’re always on your toes – you’re always racing a little.”Those who follow me on socials will know that my partner Paul and I are avid sailors and love nothing better than escaping to the Mediterranean to spend time together with our families on his X-Yacht, Savvy of London.So, it was an absolute honour for this episode to speak with X-Yachts CEO Kræn B. Nielsen, who is not only as passionate as us about sailing but also power-boating, open-water swimming and paddle boarding too.Denmark-based Kræn’s love of sailing started as a child with classic small dingy lessons but, after writing a letter to one of his country’s best sailors, Olympic gold winner Jesper Bank, in 1992, he managed to join the national team. “Back then, I was a hardcore sailor but now I’m a hardcore cruiser,”  he tells me. X-Yachts was founded in 1979 and was responsible for the X-79, which won what was then the biggest yacht race in the world, Sjælland Rundt. The company is now renown

EP82: “Every single city is unique – the result of the direct forces that act upon it…they are a physical manifestation of the society that we live in and they represent the best of us.”What makes a city a good place to live? Is it the buildings? The infrastructure? The history perhaps? In this episode of the Nicole Bremner podcast, I speak with Monika Jaroszonek, co-founder of Ratio.City, about what shapes a city and how data can be used to help develop and transform cities for the better. Toronto-based Monika is inherently passionate about cities. Ever since she was a child she was fascinated by the various different factors that make up a city. This fascination evolved into a career in architecture, which then led to her co-founding Ratio.City, a dynamic Proptech company that helps city builders make data-driven decisions for urban transformation. Monika explains how technology can be used to build more liveable cities through increased density, affordable housing, well-designed municipalities, and better

 EP81: “Imposter syndrome is that feeling that you’re a fraud, that whatever success or achievements that you’ve had are down to luck and the fear that any minute now someone is going to tap you on the shoulder and expose you as the fraud you think you are."Imposter Syndrome can be totally debilitating but it can also be used as a force for good. In this episode of the Nicole Bremner podcast, I explore this subject with my guest, inspirational keynote speaker, transformational coach, author and fellow podcast host, Caroline Flanagan. Caroline was the only black student in an all-white school, was one of a tiny minority of students of colour at Cambridge University and one of the only people of colour at two of the world’s most prestigious law firms. She now works with some of the most influential international global organisations including Latham & Watkins, Kirkland and Ellis, Morgan Stanley, Google and Shell, to increase the number of women and people of colour in leadership.Caroline talks about he

EP80:  In the last of our live podcasts we interview  The Property Twins, Tonya and Rea. With England still in lockdown we talk about how much of the burden of homeschooling  and childcare typically falls on women and the myth of having it all. While many aspects of Tonya and Rea's lives are similar - they're both mums of two, they started as lettings agents and their husbands even work together - there are many differences too. Particularly in their choices in property. Tonya is a very hands-on property manager favouring HMOs and student lets while Rea prefers a more hands off approach developing and selling. About The Property Twins :In their early 20s Tonya and Rea began their property careers in estate agency in their hometown of Chelmsford. Working from the bottom of already established businesses as trainee negotiators, up to management positions before setting up their own property companies some years later.   Since selling her estate agents in 2018 Rea spends the majority of her time design

EP 79 :  Elinor believes that success in construction is all down to one thing; mindset. In her experience lack of self belief holds people back from what could be a very rewarding career in construction. Elinor was always attracted to the construction industry and started her career studying architecture and then specialising in construction management. When the pandemic hit and construction sites in Australia closed Elinor realised that she really enjoyed the coaching and mentoring side of her job. She set out to write a book, launch a podcast and establish herself as Australia's first construction coach. About Elinor Moshe :Elinor Moshe is an ambitious and driven thought leader in the construction industry. Her passion to guide, inspire and direct future leaders and industry professionals led to her founding Australia's first construction coach, The Construction Coach. She is also the host of the Constructing You podcast, and #1 best-selling author of a one-of-a-kind book, Constructing Your Caree

EP78: It's easy to forget that many of the high street and travel chains collapsing were already on that path pre-covid. The global pandemic has just been the nail in their coffin, unfortunately. But there are some good signs coming out of this beleaguered sector. I was joined by Jayne Rafter, co-publisher of RLI, Retail Leisure International, a long-running print and digital magazine about some of the trends she believes will save those companies nimble enough to adapt to changing consumer demand and habits. Interestingly RLI faced its own challenges at the start of lockdown quickly switching from print-only to both digital and print. In doing so they increased their circulation from 20,000 a month to over 85,000 digital subscribers and growing. About Jayne Rafter :Jayne Rafter is the Co-Founder & Publisher of RLI, the world’s only global retail and leisure magazine established in 2004, and the Global RLI Awards which celebrate retail and leisure excellence on a global scale now in its fifteenth yea

EP77: Savills research recently said senior housing was the last untapped sector in the property industry.  To discuss this as well as recent trends in the elderly living market I welcome back Andrew Fyfe. He shared his recent paper published in conjunction with the University of Aberdeen and Elderly Accommodation Counsel about the supply of senior housing in Scotland. We also talked about his venture Sovereign Property Partnership which is planning their next move for their research to create a matrix for homes that shows which technology products can help people with certain diseases and disabilities stay independent for longer.About Andrew Fyfe  :Andrew Fyfe is co-founder of Sovereign Property Partnership. His research in the field of senior housing first alerted him to the difficulties faced by the ageing population and inspired him to want to investigate further. He is a published research author and currently sits on two cross-party government groups concerned with ageing in Scotland.Follow Andrew:Linke

EP76: In this podcast we discuss ways property developers can create a tradable market for their investors by utilising blockchain technology and list on global exchanges. We touched on women in the current day traders v. hedge fund tussle and why some crypto currencies are so volatile. Yael founded the Women in Block global network, advancing women influencers in the blockchain industry. She's also a regional co-chair at FIBREE, the Foundation for International Blockchain and Real Estate Expertise, the leading international network for exchanging knowledge between the real estate industry.About Yael Tamar:Yael has spent almost two decades in the financial markets. She started at a Wall Street broker dealer as an analyst, moving to M&A and private equity, as well as financial engineering, structuring products and indices for pensions funds and family offices. Yael worked on the largest IPO of an Israeli real estate company on AIM and served as an executive on the largest MVNO in Israel that was liste

EP75: Tear jerker alert! Amy really was such a lovely guest. I welled up, and so did she, as she opened up about the near-failure of her business and what she did to move on and learn from her mistakes. Clearly it's still raw but her humility and willingness to talk about provides us with such value. Also an HGTV presenter and best-selling author Amy Mahjoory who mastered the art  of strategic networking while in a corporate environment before transferring her skills to real estate. Over the last 8 years have raised over $16 Million in private money.  Amy also discussed her traditional roots and how she defied her family's dream for her to pursue entrepreneurship. In this podcast we also discussed her journey with mentors and coaches in which a system Amy encourages that you can apply to yourself. Also how she transitioned from being a shy kid to being an extrovert and how this attitude propels her to greater heights.About Amy Mahjoory:Amy is an expert real estate investor and educator, best selling