Speaking Spaces is a new podcast for entrepreneurs, SMEs and thought leaders, brought to you by Louise Chandler-Rutt of local business Soundbite Media.

In this episode, Louise breaks down how to craft a simple, compelling, and effective elevator pitch. She shares a three-step formula to clearly communicate what you do, who you help, and the value you provide—wherever your conversations take place.

• Rethink the 30-Second Rule: Attention spans are shorter than ever, so your pitch needs to be concise and grab attention quickly.
• Use It Everywhere: Your elevator pitch isn't just for in-person networking; use it on LinkedIn, your website homepage, sales calls, and casual conversations.
• Avoid Jargon: Plain English converts faster than industry buzzwords that confuse your audience.
• Focus on Outcomes, Not Features: Talk about what your service does for people and how it makes them feel rather than just listing what you do.

To build or refine your pitch, structure it around these core elements:

1. Who You Help: Identify your target audience clearly.
2. What Problem You Solve: Address the specific pain point they face.
3. The Outcome You Create: Highlight the tangible benefit or result they achieve.

• Wedding Cake Maker: "I help couples planning their wedding who struggle with finding a valuable, beautiful wedding cake to achieve a delicious cake delivered to their venue."
• Louise’s Pitch: "I help small business owners simplify their marketing so they can attract consistent clients without burnout."
• HR Consultancy Transformation:
• Before: "I offer HR consultancy."
• After: "I help small teams handle people problems confidently so they grow without legal stress."

Got a pitch you want to test out? Refine yours this week and share it with Louise!

• Email: louise@soundbitemedia.co.uk

What does it take to cook with true passion? In this episode of Cloke Cooks, Chris Cloke chats with celebrity chef Steven Saunders, owner of The Geranium restaurant, at his beautiful home cookery school at his private finca (farm) in Spain.

Steven shares the story of how his mother’s incredible home cooking (and her French heritage) inspired his career, how a school careers adviser set him on the path to catering college, and his rise through the ranks after training at the world-famous Savoy Hotel in London.

They also dive into the realities of the kitchen (the heat, the grueling hours) and why you simply cannot cook great food without putting your heart into it.

• The Spark: How Steven’s mother (and grandmother’s French roots) embedded a love for food, pastry, and entertaining into him from the age of five.
• The Career Pivot: Why Steven chose catering college over his teenage dreams of becoming an actor or singer.
• Kitchen Realities: The dedication, long hours, and intense heat of the kitchen environment.
• The Finca Cookery School: How Steven hosts hands-on masterclasses at his private country home, utilizing on-site ingredients.
• The Magic of Local & Seasonal: Why The Geranium is ranked in the top 25 in Spain—focusing on fresh, local, and in-season produce grown right at the finca (like papayas, mangoes, and a banana plantation) paired with fresh seafood from the Andalusian coast.
• Demystifying Desserts: Why you should stop buying store-bought desserts and try making your own (including Steven's tips on a modernized, easy Baked Alaska and his seasonal chocolate mousse with fresh cherries).

• Beef Wellington
• Fresh Lobster
• Modernized Baked Alaska (With Italian meringue and homemade ice cream)
• Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Cherries

Cloke Cooks is produced by Chris Cloke and brought to you by ProClean Direct.

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About Basingstoke is Basingstoke's Podcast Network supported by IncuHive, now open at Houndmills.

We support local people to become podcasters - find out more at aboutbasingstoke.com

In this episode of You Are Not Alone: Conversations for Mental Health & Wellbeing, we dive into a feeling that so many of us experience but rarely talk about openly: "too-muchness." It’s not necessarily a single crisis, but rather the slow, heavy accumulation of daily demands: work, family, life admin, unread messages, and endless notifications.

We explore what overwhelm actually looks like (hint: it’s often highly functional on the outside), why we feel guilty for struggling, and how we can practice realistic self-care by focusing on what is next rather than all.

• The Mask of High-Functioning Overwhelm: Overwhelm doesn't always look like staying in bed; many overwhelmed people are still turning up, parenting, working, and supporting everyone else while drowning on the inside.
• A Sign of Strength, Not Failure: Overwhelm is not a sign that you are failing; it is a sign that you have been carrying too much for too long.
• Redefining Self-Care: Real self-care isn't about perfect morning routines or expensive spa days. It’s about small, simple acts that make you feel $1\%$ better—like stepping outside, drinking water, or saying "no."
• The Power of Connection: We often carry our burdens quietly to avoid being a hassle, but opening up often reveals that we are not alone in our struggles.
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• The Chatty Cafe at Proteus Creation Space
• What: A warm, welcoming space to connect over a cup of tea, a book, or a craft project.
• When: Mondays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
• Where: Proteus Creation Space, Council Road, Basingstoke.
• Contact: info@proteustheatre.com | 01256 354541
• Talk Club Basingstoke
• What: A UK men’s mental health charity helping men improve their "mental fitness" in a safe, open space.
• When: Fortnightly.
• Where: Basingstoke Town Football Club (Committee Room).
• Contact: talkclubbasingstoke@gmail.com
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If you are struggling and need to talk, please reach out. Support is always available:

• Samaritans: Call 116 123 (Available 24/7)
• If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, please contact emergency services or urgent mental health support straight away.
• 
  

Next Episode: We will be exploring high-functioning anxiety—what it looks like, why people become experts at hiding it, and what can help.

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About Basingstoke is supported by IncuHive.

In this episode, we chat with Lou Eddy, a long-time Basingstoke marketing consultant who has turned festival organizer for a new event.

Lou shares her inspiring story of turning a 40th-birthday poolside joke in Ibiza into a full-blown reality for her 50th year: EddyFest!

• From a Poolside Dream to Reality: How a casual chat with friends ten years ago evolved into a major local event.
• The Behind-the-Scenes Grind: Lou discusses the complex logistics of setting up a festival—from noise control and water access to securing permits from the local council.
• The Magic of Curation: Choosing the perfect blend of local artists, TikTok sensations, and classic covers to create the ultimate "Boho meets Disco" vibe.

• Where: Little Park Farm, Mortimer (a working farm complete with a rustic vibe and potentially a few roaming chickens!).
• When: Friday, August 7th & Saturday, August 8th (Saturday is the main day, but two-day tickets are available for campers).
• Accommodation Options: Campers are welcome! Standard camping spots, caravan parking, and pre-pitched luxury tents (via Sleepy Teepee) are available.
• Tickets: Under-10s go free! Get your tickets and book parking/camping at https://eddyfest.co.uk/

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About Basingstoke is Basingstoke's Podcast Network supported by IncuHive, now open at Houndmills.

We support local people to become podcasters - find out more at aboutbasingstoke.com

In this episode of Cloke Cooks, Chris Cloke sits down with Vilnis Baiks from VB Distillery, a truly unique, small-scale producer operating right out of a local garage in Basingstoke.

Vilnis shares his lifelong connection to brewing, inspired by his grandparents' traditional beer and botanical recipes, and how a lockdown hobby transformed into an official craft distillery.

From high-quality vodka, gin, and rum to an eccentric mushroom-infused spirit, this episode explores the passion behind local, small-batch distilling and why keeping things independent is the secret to unforgettable flavor.

Cloke Cooks is produced by Chris Cloke and brought to you by ProClean Direct.

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About Basingstoke is Basingstoke's Podcast Network supported by IncuHive, now open at Houndmills.

We support local people to become podcasters - find out more at aboutbasingstoke.com

In this introductory episode, Marie Greenhalgh introduces herself and shares the vision behind You Are Not Alone: Conversations for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Inspired by her experience leading the Baton of Hope event in Basingstoke, Marie emphasizes the crucial power of open, honest conversations around mental health, neurodivergence, and wellbeing.

This podcast is designed to be a safe, down-to-earth space to talk about the things we all carry but often hide behind our busy schedules. It’s not about professional fixing or clinical lectures; it's about real, relatable talk to remind you that you don't have to go through life's challenges alone.

Each week, Marie will dive into topics that affect many of us but are rarely discussed openly, including:

• The Feeling of "Too Muchness": Coping when everything feels like it's piling up.
• Loneliness: Navigating the feeling of isolation, even when you aren't physically alone.
• The Barrier to Talking: Exploring why it's so hard to speak up, even when we know it helps.
• High-Functioning Anxiety: What it's like when everything looks perfect on the outside, but doesn't feel that way on the inside.
• The Weight of Pressure: Understanding the heavy expectations we carry daily.

Additionally, the podcast will actively shine a light on local and national support systems, ensuring listeners know where to turn before hitting a crisis point.

Your Challenge: Find one tiny moment in your day that feels even slightly good or a little bit calmer than the rest. It could be a breath of fresh air, a nice chat, something blooming in the garden, or a great cup of coffee.

Optional: Jot it down in your phone's notes app or a notebook. Use it as a small anchor to come back to.

• Local & National Support: Options for professional care and community resources will be shared at the end of every upcoming episode.
• Remember: If you can only manage to say, "I'm not sure I'm okay," that counts, and it matters.

Thank you for listening, and welcome to the conversation.

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About Basingstoke is supported by IncuHive

In this episode of Cloke Cooks, host Chris Cloke sits down with Bruce from Hornet Chilli to explore how a backyard gardening hobby transformed into a booming Basingstoke business producing over 6,000 bottles a year. Bruce shares the secrets behind their signature fermented chilli sauces, explaining how a 30-day fermentation process with lactobacillus breaks down harsh, bitter enzymes to unlock a smoother, sweeter, and more complex heat. From renting an entire field in Bedfordshire to keep up with demand to being jokingly evicted to the garden shed by his wife, Bruce dives into the passion and logistics required to scale up an artisan sauce brand.

The conversation also highlights Hornet Chilli's "flavor first" philosophy and their unique product lineup, including their incredibly popular Blazing Chilli Crunch made with avocado oil, garlic, and fried onions. Bruce gives practical advice for anyone looking to start fermenting at home, revealing his ultimate 3% salt rule and why the Scotch Bonnet reigns supreme as his personal favorite pepper. Tune in to discover why local farm shops are ditching mass-produced supermarket brands for independent, small-batch flavor, and find out where you can catch Hornet Chilli at their next big local event.

Cloke Cooks is produced by Chris Cloke and brought to you by ProClean Direct.

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About Basingstoke is Basingstoke's Podcast Network supported by IncuHive, now open at Houndmills.

We support local people to become podcasters - find out more at aboutbasingstoke.com

In this episode of BASINGSTOKE BUSINESS, Steve Randall is joined by content confidence coach and consultant Kate Llewellyn, owner of local business The Content Consultancy.

They talk about AI, search engines, social media and how to find your voice and confidence when creating content for your business.

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You can also listen to the live stream version of our new daily shows at aboutbasingstoke.com/live or ask Alexa to "Launch About Basingstoke." Or get the podcast on your favourite podcast app or YouTube.

HUGE THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

We're proud to be supported by IncuHive with their new location at Stephenson Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke offering dedicated offices, hot desks, and amazing business support. Find out more at incuhive.co.uk and tell them you heard about them at About Basingstoke.

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