PJ Ellis (00:38)

Okay, let's get into it.

we're with a lady who's about to start her own podcast. And she's been doing so many amazing things over the last couple of years. Born out of a lived experience, which no doubt we'll delve into. And I think today we're to be talking about everything from loss to emotional skills, to burnout, perfection, culture, courage, and everything else in between. Welcome to Wit and Grit.

The lovely, the ice, the brilliant Hannah, Tyers how are you?

Hannah Tyers (01:06)

I'm very good, thank you. Thank you so much for having me.

PJ Ellis (01:09)

Hannah, we've heard a lot about you, Will Crawford. I should know his episode number. I think it was episode 21 or something like that. Because you will always be called episode 28 now. You know that, don't you Hannah? Yeah. Cool. The best episode. There we go. Look forward to it. I can't wait.

Hannah Tyers (01:19)

Okay, yeah, the best episode, but yeah.

Andy (01:24)

Drunk stop

Hannah Tyers (01:24)

Thank

PJ Ellis (01:26)

Fill us in Hannah, in a nutshell, who is Hannah, what is Hannah, what you're up to Hannah, tell us a little bit more please.

Hannah Tyers (01:32)

So on the surface, I am one of the world's youngest female chartered surveyors. And that took me kind of seven years to get to that position. Under the surface and under, you know, the rest of the iceberg, I grew up with an alcoholic mum and she passed away four years ago. So I have now kind of really honed in on what my purpose in life is.

and I've always wanted to help people at school when we were discussing careers I wanted to be a doctor to help people and I think it's quite nice to look back at that because I'm doing so but in a very different way and I just wasn't sure when I was younger how I was going to do that and at the time it was very different to even go into doing a degree apprenticeship.

So I was one of probably the only people that did that in my year, but the benefits to that are incredible because you obviously don't have any student debt, you earn while you learn. There's no downfalls in my opinion. And I think for me, especially with life experience, you have to be doing things to learn. You have to make those connections with people and understand because so many people that I met on the way.

I'm now in contact again, now that I've started my own business. And I feel like that's one of the skills, I'm sure we'll come onto it later, but that's one of the skills that I think we're not taught because that network is your basis for your life. And no matter if it's 10 years down the line or five years down the line, someone's going to come up that you know, because the world is small. Like you can say that there's a lot of people on the planet, but the world is small, especially in the construction industry.

So I obviously had to do my qualifications, but I knew that it wasn't what I would be doing forever. I truly feel like a burning fire to help people like in my core. And I know that that's the path that I want to be on. And I have always spoken about my problems to my family. I have a very, very good support network, but I know that not everyone is as fortunate to have that. And basically I created Soulful to replicate that for other people.

So when I was going through my mum's addiction and when she passed away, was, you know, we were all, our whole family, at a loss of where to turn to for support. And it was late nights Googling, it was scrolling, it was looking for someone that was talking about it because I didn't want a solution. I just wanted to know that I wasn't the only one that was going through that. And the feeling of not being alone can actually help you to move forward because you...

you start to talk about what you're going through because you know that you're not the only one, you're not the only one out. So yeah, I basically started the platform to bridge the gap between looking for support and finding support because there is so much out there. There's charities, there's individuals, there's community events that you can go to. There is so much, so many people, like even you guys, know, where do you find that? Where do you learn that at school? So yeah, basically I put everything.

Andy (04:28)

So.

Hannah Tyers (04:30)

in a platform online and share my story so other people don't feel alone.

Andy (04:35)

perfect. just like to go back to the 18 year old Hannah and going into a male dominated industry construction. think it was, and I don't know what the biases around chartered surveyors, but I would imagine there's pretty heavy dominance around males as well. So what, what was that like? Take us back to 18 year old Hannah.

Hannah Tyers (04:39)

Mm.

Yeah.

Andy (04:57)

before lot of the further things happened in your life. Who were you then? Who were you then? What was your aspirations then?

Hannah Tyers (04:58)

Yeah.

So I think for me, I didn't really know what I wanted to do as a career and I fell into construction because my dad was in the industry. So fortunately, or unfortunately, I've always grown up around construction. So the banter, the way that people speak to each other, the way that people act. So because I'd had that experience, it wasn't a shock to the system, which I do feel like people struggle with if they go into something that they've not.

you know, experience before. So when I went in, you know, you, it's kind of, you go into the first day and you think that you're just going to be making tea and you're going to be doing the printing and you're going to be doing all of that. And it is this joke, but I was such a strong character. Like I knew who I was from a very young age because I had to, I had to have that resilience. I had to have that guard up and I wasn't going to take anyone kind of telling me what to do.

and kind of taking the mick, but not everyone has that. And I feel like that's the skills that I'm trying to teach people, because it's confidence, it's self belief, it's knowing in yourself. That's actually not how I want to be spoken to. And I'm going to tell you that rather than just letting it happen, because I do feel like once you let those things happen, people take advantage. Unfortunately, there is those kind of people in the world. So I think.

Yes, it was very male dominant, but I also was very strong in who I was and people weren't going to mess with me and I made them very aware of that when I started on site and people would always, you know, my peers would always encourage that to the subcontractors. They'd say, don't mess with Hannah. She like manages your money or, you know, and it was kind of a joke, but it was a confidence boost that I needed because if they didn't do that, I know I was sure of myself, but

other people looking inwards if they didn't know me like working with me every single day they would be like she's just a girl she's just a woman you know she doesn't know what she's doing and actually I've done all of my theory I've done the education I've proved myself and then you just have to actually prove yourself in real life

Andy (07:07)

And what was that journey like from 18 to eventually qualifying?

Hannah Tyers (07:12)

⁓ A very stressful one. It was very full on. Obviously throughout my studies, I was dealing with mum's addiction getting worse and worse. And it was the third year of university that she passed away. So I still had two years of university to go and a chartership and working and life. And, you know, when it first happens, you don't think about.

I didn't think about my coursework and I remember replying to one of the team leaders and I was like, my mum's just died. Like, what do I do? Like, what do I actually do? And they were like, well, I'm not really sure. And I was like, what do you mean you're not really sure? And then how are you meant to feel supported in that environment? Or what, like, what is the answer? But I never had any extended time. I don't know if that's something to be proud of, but I just got on with it because unfortunately, one of the biggest lessons from grief is that life does just move on.

PJ Ellis (07:59)

.

Hannah Tyers (08:04)

and you have to grow into that. And I think it's a perspective of grief because of how fast I know that life can be taken away. So I wasn't going to just sit and be sad and use it as an excuse for reasons that I didn't achieve. I almost used it as fuel and flipped it into motivation that I will achieve and show people that you can get through it. And now I'm sat here and I feel like I can be that light at the end of the tunnel for people because people say to me all the time,

I've not lost anyone, but if I do, I know that I'll be okay because you were. And that to me is exactly what I made Soulful for. That is exactly what my purpose is. And it started off just being as long as I can help one person to feel that way. But I've reached half a million people already, so I'm doing something right and making such a difference. And this is only the beginning. So it's super exciting.

Andy (08:56)

Yeah, last question for me then I'll let PJ jump in. I just want to finish, again I'm not ignoring all the stuff you just said, we're really going to get into that. What was it like the day after you qualified as a chart surveyor? How did you feel?

Hannah Tyers (09:03)

That's fine.

So I, despite the self-confidence mask that I may put on sometimes, I thought I'd failed. So the actual process of gaining chartership, you do your coursework, your submission, that's absolutely fine. You have an hour interview and you basically have questions and questions and questions on your ability. And that's based on the competencies and things like that.

And I'd never been in that scenario before. You obviously have like tests and trials and things like that. But when it's on the line that that was actually my chartership and that was going to be, was either then or I don't get it. It was so serious to me. And I knew the whole time that I was going to get it because I gave myself no choice. I put the work in. I knew that I had that behind me. But there was a final question. I had no idea on the answer.

because it wasn't my specialty in surveying. So there's obviously different types of surveyors. And I remember calling my manager and I said, that's it, I've ruined it. I absolutely ruined it. I was so good. I did everything. And then I did that last question and that little bit of self doubt. You don't get your results for a week, which was the most intense week of my life because every single day I was like, I know I failed, I know I failed. And I think that's where I first started to realize how impactful your thoughts and how you talk to yourself are because I passed.

And when I got the email, I was on site and I was shocked and I cried and I was excited and I was relieved. But then it hits you that what have you actually done it for? The only person I wanted to call was my mum in that time. What does success mean when you have no one to tell? And I think that's when this journey of creating soulful really started for me because success is great and having all of these accolades is incredible. But...

like who do I, what am I doing it for if it's not my complete purpose in life? And then instantly I wanted to be a counsellor for the other APC students so instantly I was like yeah I want to help people get through that because that was hard and I had no one to be a voice in that time so that's what I'm going to do and then it's just kind of flourished into something so much more than that.

PJ Ellis (11:21)

What does success mean when you have no one to tell? Wow. I'm living that life, I think, at the moment with that perspective.

I want to get back even further than the 18 year old Hannah because you've mentioned a few things that really resonate with me. One minute you've gone from I'm sure of myself. I know who I am. I know where I'm going to. also have a self confidence mask, Can I ask you, how long was your mom suffering with addiction?

Hannah Tyers (11:48)

Yeah, was most of my life from speaking with my family. I think it started after my brother was born and he's three years younger than me. But then as we grew older, we obviously started to see more of it. I think it was very well hidden by my parents, whether that was my dad trying to cover it or my mum trying to cover it and everything was very hidden.

PJ Ellis (11:48)

was experiencing that.

Hannah Tyers (12:12)

But when the divorce came in 2008, I think it all started to come out of the woodwork. It was very obvious that something was going on behind the scenes. You know, it was a really difficult and horrible time and I honestly wouldn't wish it upon anyone. And it's funny because it now makes me very conscious of who I choose to be the person because I don't want to ever put my children through what I was like put through. And I'm not blaming my parents at all. It's just the way that it went.

but yeah, it was most of my life. think from about eight, I started to realize what was going on. Obviously didn't understand because I didn't know alcohol was at that time. But then it started to be as I was growing into a teenager, we'd be arguing more and then it just started to be, we'd be finding the drink and all of those kinds of things. So yeah, as we obviously grew up, we had to grow up very quickly. I took a lot of care of my brother.

PJ Ellis (12:47)

So.

Hannah Tyers (13:05)

just as a maternal figure and I think that's why we're so close now. Yeah.

PJ Ellis (13:09)

Yeah.

So you become a carer almost at eight years old potentially to a point maybe without you even knowing and then beyond.

Hannah Tyers (13:16)

Yeah.

PJ Ellis (13:18)

And then all of a sudden, 21 year old Hannah comes out as a charter to Bayer. She's on site telling people not to mess with her. mean, we talk about resilience, don't we a on this pod? this self-confidence this resilience, you think it was the journey that you went on through your mom, the divorce, the alcoholism?

Hannah Tyers (13:24)

⁓

PJ Ellis (13:33)

and

the death,

Hannah Tyers (13:34)

it's a little bit of both. I think it's that nature nurture. I think I really have this innate kind of confidence thing. My mum was a very confident person. My dad's a very confident person. So I've been brought up in that kind of realm. But I do think a lot of my resilience is from what I've been through. And I also think a really great skill is the talking.

the being able to talk in my family unit. You know, we'd been through a lot as a family. So I lost my two aunts when they were 19 and 20 from cystic fibrosis. So I would have been eight. So it was that same year of the divorce. So from a very young age, grief was a very normal conversation. And I now have an incredibly strong relationship with my nan. And I think because I've lost my mum and she's lost her daughters, it almost inevitably brought us closer.

But we talk about absolutely everything and it's so important to just get it off your chest and it's the most simple skill just being able to talk. But I read something from Mind yesterday that was 64 % of UK adults don't feel comfortable talking about their feelings. And I honestly, I had to sit there and just think, wow, like how do we encourage people to talk? They don't like, they're suffering, they know that they are.

Andy (14:51)

Thank

Hannah Tyers (14:54)

but they don't know how to talk because we're not taught that in school. know, we're not taught the basic, like the basic need of a human is to talk their emotions out, literally get it off your chest, have someone to soundboard. You don't even need an action. It's all active listening, isn't it? It's about just take it all in. This is them just venting, give them the space to talk and then just...

Andy (15:13)

Thanks

Hannah Tyers (15:18)

they'll just feel better. it's, active listening is the most simple skill but it's also the hardest one. Like holding silence is so awkward sometimes and you feel yourself like, oops, I feel it. Like, because it's human nature to just be like, it's silent, it's really awkward. But actually giving people that time, they then start to share more and share more and share more. And then they share what they actually want to tell you in the first place. And they feel better for it because it's off their chest, it's actually out of their system.

Andy (15:45)

It's actually one of the key sales skills, isn't it? You know, sometimes when you're trying to sell to just shut up and kind of talk. Just looking at that skill, Hannah, so if I go home tonight and I sit down 18 year old Sam and 16 or 15 year old Ben and go, right boys, right, we need to talk more, don't we? And I think most parents would say that to the teenage kids.

How would you, what are the steps? What are the basic steps that someone listening to this now who wants to go home to encourage a greater conversation with their kids could take? If you were there on the coach on the shoulder, what would you be saying to them?

Hannah Tyers (16:19)

So I think if you straight up say we need to talk more, it's a normal child's reaction to say, oh, I'm not doing that because they've been asked to do something. Whereas if you bring it in more naturally, if you're out on a walk or something like that and it's a more of a flowing conversation, that's when the conversations that actually matter happen. It's not when you're sat at a dinner table. And I think that's a really big.

point to say, you know, it's not about sitting across from your children saying, like, this is what we're going to do and it's regimented and this is how we talk. It's actually practicing just talking. So if you started talking or they heard someone online like myself with a voice talking about something that they've been through, they'd think, okay, I'm not the only one dealing with that. She's talking about it. She's feeling good. Okay. And then the next time they interact, they're talking about something that I really relate to. dad, what do you think about this? That's conversations and that's how

like conversations like that start, not tell me about your day. No one's going to tell you about your day, honestly, if you make them feel uncomfortable. It's about creating the spaces that people feel confident in doing that.

PJ Ellis (17:27)

Yeah, creating those spaces.

Tell us a little bit more about this soulful thing. You're not practising anymore, I believe. Is that right?

Hannah Tyers (17:34)

No, I still will be a chartered surveyor. I have to keep up my training every single year but I'm not doing that anymore.

PJ Ellis (17:37)

Yeah, okay.

Wow.

Hannah Tyers (17:43)

me. I just I can't let it go. just I

too hard for that to let it go.

PJ Ellis (17:47)

Okay, talk to me about that then. Letting it go. Why wouldn't you not let it go?

Hannah Tyers (17:52)

Because I believe in myself and what I'm doing, but I think it's always nice to have a little bit of a cushion that I could do something else if I needed to. And I've always been brought up with quite a logical mindset. I don't want to give something up that I've worked for where it's a qualification, because that was a period in my life and I'll always have that. And if I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be here. So it almost feels like a disservice to myself if I just let it go.

Because yes, Soulful is on the way up and yes, I'm going to be successful, but I wouldn't be there without that. So to let it go would be taking away a huge part of who I am.

PJ Ellis (18:32)

And do you think that was something that was born out of the life you had? You saw people give things away, whether it be emotionally or physically, or you saw your mum at times, and forgive my clumsy language, but struggle in life,

Hannah Tyers (18:45)

possibly it comes from seeing, I guess it's that grief perspective, seeing how quickly things can be given up. You know, my mum was a psychiatric nurse, she was very, very intelligent. And it's almost ironic because I need someone like her to help me with soulful. So it would have been perfect, but I wouldn't be in this position without what happened. So it's like a bittersweet thing sometimes. But I think she had it all.

She had everything. She had an amazing husband. She had two amazing children. She had the life of success that we were talking about once looked like, but she wasn't happy in herself. She wasn't happy as a person. She had a lot of things that happened in her childhood that, you know, she didn't even discuss with us, but I know has happened. And I think seeing that of how quickly it can actually make a difference and can actually take away someone's life.

Obviously in a very long span of time, the drinking was fuelled by those reasons. I just think, why would you give that up? I just, will never understand why people give the precious thing of life up because I would do, like you say, I would do anything to have two more seconds with my mum. I would do anything to have that final hug, to tell her that I passed, to, you know, see her smile and I know she cheers me on.

And even though she's not here and when you said like, what was your reaction when you passed? I instantly heard my mum like squealing with joy, just so proud of me. And it's so nice that I can feel that and I can hear that. And yes, okay, it's really sad, but it's also really nice because I know that I've done the right thing by her.

⁓ and that's something that's really important to me. I never want it to be a disrespectful talking about her life because I wasn't there for her life. I was only there when I was born. And people go through their own journeys and make their own choices and I'm not going to have that on my shoulders. But yeah, I guess it is a perspective of not wanting to lose something that people take for granted, I guess.

Andy (20:48)

that what was people's reaction when you said, chartered surveying seven years, been there, done that, don't want to do that anymore. I want to set up a, however you described it, wellness, wellbeing platform because I want to do this instead. Were people cheering, slapping you on the back and cheering you along, where they're going, what have you been doing, Hannah? Have you hit your head?

Hannah Tyers (21:04)

and

So

I think it's funny that you say that because I had this discussion with my dad last night and he's the logical side of life, you know, get your qualifications, make sure you have a safety net. And of course, he's very nervous that I've given up a high paying job living in London, all of that thing, because that's what he believes success is. And to me, success is helping people. And I am on so much less.

than what I was in my job, but I am so much happier because success to me is being able to spend time with my family. I go on daily walks with my nan. You know, that time is limited. I get to see my dad. don't live together, but we live up the road. I get to see him at least twice a week. And when you're my age, you normally live away. I live with my brother, which is the most important thing for me because obviously we grew up together and we need each other a lot more than I think we let on.

And it's so funny because in the mornings we'll come down for breakfast and we're like, isn't this so weird? Because we used to do that when we were younger and mum would have set our breakfast up and it's such a nice memory to be able to continue that. So yeah, I think that's where I'm at. think everyone's proud of me. They're proud that I'm following my dream. I think they're just a little bit nervous because I am changing industry, but it's just time.

and I know that it's working and also it's difficult, isn't it? Because there's a culture shift that we're trying to implement. So I'm essentially trying to sell something to someone who doesn't even know that they need what I do. And that is the most difficult part of Soulful. So I know that the culture is changing and I know that we're ahead of the curve, which is such a great position to be in.

Andy (22:50)

Mm.

Hannah Tyers (22:58)

It's just a little bit frustrating that you can't have everyone as open-minded to want to learn those things and want to look inwards and actually we can be happy and you're allowed to be truly happy. It's just how do you do that when you're not taught that at school?

Andy (23:12)

So your brother Lewis, it's Lewis isn't it? Yeah, he's in the business with you now.

Hannah Tyers (23:14)

Yeah.

No, so he's a bricklayer, so he works for my dad, but he's helping with a lot of the content in terms of filming for males in construction. males can relate to him a bit more, but it's about creating that space. You know, I can't go in as a woman and be like, I understand how you feel, because he's like, well, don't really. But yeah, he's helping a lot, especially the younger kind of males in his friendship group.

His videos annoyingly are getting more traction than mine. So it is a young thing that people are starting to get into. And the fact that we can do it together, I think the biggest benefit of Soulful for me so far has been the fact that Lewis has opened up about everything. He spent four years bottling absolutely everything up. And literally a few months ago, we'd had the conversation about what had happened and how he was feeling and what's going on.

and you know we were both crying it was a very emotional time and he was like I would not be here and I would not be able to be talking to you this way if you hadn't started Soulful and made me feel that I could talk and I think for me because I'm so protective of him that's the biggest thing you know that's the biggest benefit so far.

Andy (24:30)

Do you know what intrigues me, P, just I'm listening to Hannah. I can in my head already think of all the young, impressive 20-somethings we've had on the pod. We've obviously got Hannah, we've got Daniel, we've had Will and Peggy, and I kind of could go on. Hannah, why would you think, and I'm not trying to stereotype, but it's just a fact of the guests we've had on. Why are there so many young people who are conscious of our mental fitness?

Hannah Tyers (24:49)

Yeah.

Andy (24:58)

or the need to support each other in the current world today? What do you think is driving that or is it just coincidental?

Hannah Tyers (25:06)

So I actually think the stereotype sits with normally the people that helping people have been hurt in the past and they're making that choice. They either decide to be the same as the person that hurt them or they do the opposite.

And I think it's that resilience thing because people help people because they've experienced what it's like without that. They've experienced what it's like to find something that works and they want to share it with the world. So yes, in a way is young people and we're starting to talk a bit more because that's the way that the world's going. It's how social media is coming across. It's what everybody's talking about. But I think the stereotype actually sits in what they've been through in their life.

to put them in that position that they feel they need to as a purpose and as a direction, they need to give back to people to help them feel like they don't need to go through what they did.

Andy (26:02)

Yeah. So what's it like as an entrepreneur then? Let's move it on. What's it like today as Hannah at Soulful? Where are you?

Hannah Tyers (26:09)

I honestly, I just feel

so happy. I think there's this huge thing about starting a business that you're scared and you think you're going to fail and all of those things. And I just think it's what we're talking about now. It's not talking to yourself like that. Why would you not be successful? Why would it not work? Because we're putting the work in behind the scenes and people need this. So it only makes sense to work.

And I think the biggest and the most difficult part of it has been starting. And I think you wrote about it in your LinkedIn, know, just pressing go and learn on the way. And I truly believe that I've just been doing that. You know, I don't have any experience in marketing or finance or, you know, all of those things that are in the background you need to be doing to be running a business. But I'm just learning as we go. And, you know, I don't have the funds right now to do that.

like externally and get someone to help. So I have to learn. I have no choice but to learn. But in doing that, I know my business inside and out. I know what works. I know how to do this. I know where this sits. And when I then have people that I can bring on, they have this kind of template of the business of what it truly is at its core that they can then take on. And I think

It's quite interesting. don't know if you've watched the Gordon Ramsay series recently on Netflix. I'm convinced he's handpicked every single one of his employees and I think it's incredible because how much they value like what they're part of and I really hope that Soulful is like that. Everyone that works for us. I want them to feel soulful to be soulful to know exactly what it means and

Andy (27:33)

Halfway through it, yeah.

Hannah Tyers (27:54)

It's ironic because the word soulful actually is quite a sad word. means to be really depressed and full of sorrow and things like that. And I set the task of changing the definition in the dictionary of soulful over the years. will take time, but I'm optimistic that I'll be able to do that because why does soulful have to be a bad thing? It literally means to me to make your soul feel full.

So why does it have to be a negative thing? And whoever I need to write to, if anyone's listening that knows what to do, you can let me know. I just want to make the world a better place. And if I can share my experience and make just one person feel like they're not alone, then I've done my job. So as an entrepreneur, I feel like I'm happy because I know my purpose and I know that I'm fulfilling that in doing what I'm doing. I think if I was setting up a business in something that I wasn't so passionate about, I wouldn't be setting up the business.

PJ Ellis (28:47)

If Dr. Samuel Johnson was still alive, you'd be writing to him now to change the definition of soulful in the dictionary, wouldn't you? I think he's long gone now, unfortunately. It was a question I was going to ask that Andy asked about entrepreneur, slightly different in the sense that you talk with purpose, passion, not necessarily having that nine to five and that salary that comes with it, that where do I go, how do I do it, when do I do it, who do I do it with? ⁓ you burnt out yet?

Hannah Tyers (28:50)

Hahaha

Yeah.

No.

PJ Ellis (29:13)

Okay. what I like about Soul Film, it talks about that almost preemptive sort of support as well. So are you tuned in to the fact that you could burn out and are you sort of preempting that and what are you doing to preempt that? Yeah.

Hannah Tyers (29:24)

Yeah, massively, massively.

I think one of the most important things is scheduling and rest. And obviously, the hours that go into starting a business are incredible. And it is a lot of working late and things like that. But when I started, I was very clear with myself, I would be working until five o'clock, and I would not work at the weekend. And I actually last week worked an extra day.

And I felt how tired I had become, but I'm so aware of when something's not working. Because if I turn up to say a podcast and I'm tired, it's not beneficial for you. It's not beneficial for me. I'm not going to be functioning at my highest and optimal rate. And I just don't want the business to have that kind of aura. Everything that is put into it is 110%. And I have to make sure that I'm filling my own cup before I try and fill everyone else's. And that's one of the pillars of Soulful.

it's so simple but it's so important because if you're tired, if you're trying to go to the gym and do all this thing and see friends and go out and recover from drinking and you know there's so much that everyone's trying to do as well as then having all of the information off of social media and scrolling and you know when do you actually catch a break and I think doing nothing, walking or

Andy (30:35)

Good.

Hannah Tyers (30:46)

You know, nothing with screens and social media. Me and my family have on a Monday morning, we all send our screen times to each other on our group chat and we have a competition. And it is a little bit of a fun and games, but it also makes you kind of realise, my goodness, I've been on there for so long or, you know, and then we'll sit and we'll have conversations and we'll say, you know, I feel like we've not seen each other. But then you've been scrolling.

And we all laugh and it is a joke, but I think since we've started to do that, we have actually interacted and properly connected with each other. You simple things like, do you guys have dinner all around the table with all of your family at dinnertime and talk? Because so many people don't. So many people go to their room and they eat or they eat at different times. And I know that people are on different schedules, so it's not that, but...

PJ Ellis (31:30)

.

Hannah Tyers (31:32)

Even like a Sunday lunch, everyone sits around the table, no phones, no distractions. And it's those simple things that it's almost like the olden days to this generation. Like what, you sit and talk? What, why would you do that? But it makes a massive difference. You get to talk about how everyone's week was, what everyone's looking forward to, how they are. And it's that space for communication. And I think that's what is being taken away from the generation with the social media. There isn't no spaces anymore.

PJ Ellis (31:43)

Yeah

Hannah Tyers (32:00)

because you don't sit at a table, you'd rather be watching Netflix and eating, or you'd rather be scrolling than eating, or just all of these things that are getting in the way, but it's almost self-inflicted.

Andy (32:12)

So tell us a little bit Hannah, let's try and promote the business a little bit. So how does it work commercially? What sort of services you're offering? What sort of problems are you solving? What sort of people are you helping?

Hannah Tyers (32:24)

So primarily my audience is young people because they can relate to me. So it's young people probably from around 16 up to 30. So the platform itself is free for individuals. So you can go onto our platform. It's a scrolling platform. So you scroll down to the letter of soulful that you relate to or you need. So each letter stands for something different.

And then within that, there's different practitioners or charities or the professional advice, because obviously I'm not the professional, I'm just the lived experience talking and being that gateway to the professional advice. So then you can click on their links and it will take you to their pages, their external kind of links. And we also host events that then showcase those practitioners, which is...

a much better way to make it accessible for people because for example we've got an event on Sunday and it actually would cost everyone £200 for them to have a psychotherapist session and a breathwork practitioner for an hour. Our tickets are £12 and the reason that we can do that is because we're obviously working together to create an event that is affordable for people.

because young people can't afford, you know, 12 pounds. You know, they're trying to keep their snacks at school and things like that. They can't, like, they don't see the long-term impact, but I feel like that's also a generational thing. We want short-term, we want that dopamine, we want that hit quickly. I don't want to invest in my long-term, my long-term wellbeing. And I think that's the culture shift that's waiting to happen. Because once people see that they're actually investing in their future self and understanding who they want to be in the future, and that starts today.

That's when Soulful will really grow kind of individually. And then the other side of it is the business side. So we sell the platform to businesses. We go through the details, whether that's looking at their ⁓ absent days, whether stress is being reported to HR, all those kinds of things, the internal factors. And then we give them like a report of whether the Soulful workshop that I do within the companies has improved the workforce.

based on a variety of different things. So it asks them about, you know, how do you feel in yourself? How do you feel overall? How do you feel about the practical tools that you currently have for your wellbeing? Do you know who to speak to? Do you know who your contact is? And one of the most incredible things that I'm learning whilst doing this, and it's quite scary actually, is I'll ask someone, do you have a HR department or an email that I could contact? And they're like, I don't actually know who that is. That's frightening.

That's really

Andy (35:02)

Yeah.

Hannah Tyers (35:03)

frightening that people are starting work and they don't know who that person to go to is. And I think with Soulful then being a part of like, you know, I guess it's an employee benefit scheme kind of, people don't have to worry about that person because Soulful is always here with the professional advice.

And then just checking in again, it's a communication thing, checking in that, you know, everything's running smoothly, any feedback that we've had. But I think everyone is individuals and they have to choose whether they listen to what I'm saying or not. And if they don't, that's OK. And if they do, that's also a great thing. You know, I'm not I'm not getting too bogged down in people not listening because I know my North Star, my direction is to move forwards and it's going that way. So.

shutting out what I can't control is a huge part of making Soulful a success.

Andy (35:56)

How, how's your fancy coming up to Birmingham and the Ottoman speaking to 500 or 600 people about it?

Hannah Tyers (36:02)

I'd love to. I'd really love to.

Andy (36:03)

Okay, okay, well,

PJ Ellis (36:04)

You're in.

Andy (36:05)

we will talk to you about that offline, we, Peej? Last, quickly for me, and then I'll shut up for bit for Peej. I imagine if, I don't think this is unfair, my 18-year-old wanted to go to one of your events. He'd probably not want his mates to know, or not want them to see him. So how do you... ⁓

PJ Ellis (36:05)

You're in. Well indeed.

Hannah Tyers (36:09)

Thank

you.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

Andy (36:23)

How do you make it comfortable? How do you create the right sort of environment? So those sorts of preconceptions of weakness or embarrassment don't matter. So you get the right kids who need the right sort of help in those sorts of rooms.

Hannah Tyers (36:37)

So I think for me, it kind of starts before the event, because he would have listened to what I'm saying about not caring about what you can't control. So things like what people think about you, your mates opinions of you. Because once you block those out, a lot of your mental bandwidth is then freed up to be able to thrive. So

He wouldn't be in a position that he wanted to come to the event but would be nervous what his friends think because he knows who he is. He has the confidence to say, no, actually I do want to invest in my long-term wellbeing. I want to be part of this community and I'm going to go to the event. And by flipping that, it's more than likely his friends will come too.

PJ Ellis (37:15)

what's that data set look like in relation to the people that do interact with your platform? Is it more female?

Or is it? you finding? What's that split?

Hannah Tyers (37:24)

So I think it's probably 60 % female. But like I say, because my brother's involved and also because all of the partners that are involved, I'm trying to mix it between male and female. So people like Will, for example, is on the platform and we'll be doing a podcast with him. So it's about bridging that gap and bringing them into the space so people can see what they're getting into before they get into something.

And I think that's what it is, is people want to dip their toes in and just feel comfortable before they fully go in. And that's just human nature, isn't it? You don't like the unknown. But I actually think that you learn the most in the unknown, you know, at the edge of your comfort zone, you learn the most because you're pushing yourself to your limits and nobody gets anywhere by just having success, success, success. You have to fail. You have to fail in public, which I think all of us are, you know, understanding we're putting podcasts out there hoping that people...

PJ Ellis (37:47)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Hannah Tyers (38:14)

listen to what we're saying and believe in who we are and what we're doing. And I think that's a huge learning point back to what you were saying about being an entrepreneur, you just can't be scared to fail. And you have to just use it as a building block and just continue with that resilience to get through. And I think that's put us where we all are now. you know, having like minded people to talk to it's so refreshing, because you know what I'm talking about, I know what you're trying to do.

I think that makes a huge difference. So naturally we've actually created the space for this conversation because we're all on the same page.

PJ Ellis (38:46)

Yeah, I love that, mate. And genuinely, I think we are, you know, I'm looking at, you know, the S's for small moments. ⁓ open your mind. You understand how you feel. I could go on. And under those sort of titles, you've got so much support and signposts and it's absolutely fantastic. You know what you feel like? I say to this a number of times to Andy about what I think Whitting Grit could be as well. I feel like Soulful is that old school.

Hannah Tyers (39:01)

I

PJ Ellis (39:10)

school nurse that you had, could knock on her excuse me, I'm struggling with this or I've hurt my knee or I'm not feeling well today. And she was just there all the time to support you in any way, shape or form that you needed it.

Hannah Tyers (39:13)

don't. I

PJ Ellis (39:22)

So you're doing amazing things. You know, follow us for a lifetime of support today, tomorrow for life.

Hannah Tyers (39:25)

Thanks.

PJ Ellis (39:29)

and all that. what's your tomorrow look like?

Hannah Tyers (39:32)

So putting myself out there and speaking to as many people as possible because

I truly believe that when you make people feel a certain way, they actually want to help you. It's not about what I'm saying, what I'm doing. You're going to remember this conversation for how you feel. And that's one of my favourite quotes. It's on the page. And that's the space that Salford's creating.

It's not about what I say at all. obviously sharing my story is great, but feeling like you're not alone, feeling like someone else is in the boat with you and feeling like, ⁓ I do know and I do have the tools that if this ever happened, I would know what to do. I'm not saying that life isn't difficult. Life happens to everyone, but it's how we deal with what happens to us is what defines us, not what happens to us.

Andy (40:14)

Last question from me. Is there a question we should have asked you that we haven't that would bring alive what you're really trying to achieve and you're setting out to do?

Hannah Tyers (40:23)

⁓ I think we've spoken about most of it and I feel like people will kind of hear the passion for what I'm doing in my voice and my story. And I just think maybe the biggest question would be like, why, why now? Like, why is it so important in this kind of day and age? And my answer would be if not now, when, and if not me, who? And it's one of a great kind of pieces of advice that I had very early on in my soulful journey. But if I don't talk about my

story, who is going to talk about it? And I didn't have a voice when I was younger. I didn't have someone on social media that was talking about the things that I do. You know, I've got videos going out in a couple of weeks about planning a funeral and people are like, my god, like that's quite intense. And I'm like, I'm a young person and I had to plan a funeral and I had no idea what to expect. You know, you're meant to plan a funeral for an elderly parent, not when you're 21. And how do you do it? And what's involved? And

Who do you call and what do you actually do when someone dies? Because yes, it's really difficult when someone dies and there's grief and there's the emotions, but there's also the practicalities, right? There's the finances, there's who do you call and how do you do that? And if I don't tell people who's doing it, who is?

PJ Ellis (41:35)

the saddening, I mean slightly different circumstances but I too was in that car park with that leaflet not knowing what to do and what to say and where to go once you lose that person so all that sort of stuff will be so helpful it really really will. So if someone listening today feels a little bit overwhelmed whether they're 16 or 60 what's one small moment would you suggest they take?

Hannah Tyers (41:48)

Yeah.

From today, I think allow yourself to feel how you're feeling because your feelings are signals and know that they are just temporary. This moment will pass and we're all sat here today and we've got through things and you can too.

PJ Ellis (42:17)

Wow, yeah, someone said to me recently, your emotions wash over you, but don't let them drown you. ⁓ Anything from you, Andy, before I wrap up, mate?

Hannah Tyers (42:22)

Yeah.

Andy (42:25)

Only one real quick here, just something I scribbled down that you said earlier. you said you're conscious of who I choose to be. If a young, again, not just young people, how can we help people choose who they want to be rather than feel that they're a victim of circumstance?

Hannah Tyers (42:45)

So I think this is quite a difficult thing to teach because one of the greatest lessons that I learned from my mum's addiction is it's all about them and like how they feel and their choices and you have to be ready in yourself to change and if you aren't interested in understanding who you are, why you are the way you are, why you react the way that you do

you're never going to be able to move forward because it's always going to be something external. And I think for me, this whole soulful journey, you know, I'm still healing. I'm not healed and it's over and grief's done. Like that's for life. And I think being able to hold up a mirror to yourself is one of the greatest skills because people don't want to see who they are because they may have actually been fallen victim for so long that actually it's just a whole load of excuses that face them.

And I think being conscious about who you are is a skill that you have to learn from blocking out a lot of the external things that people can't do right now because everything on social media is about comparison and it's all what are they doing? Why do they have that and I don't? But if you know who you are, you're going to understand and be conscious of who you are and who you want to be.

So you have to make that step of being able to accept that you're ready to look inwards to be able to move forwards.

PJ Ellis (44:08)

identities all over the place at the moment. did a cyber sort of

conference yesterday and they were talking about that that these kids have been pushed into this social media digital world without realising exactly who they are and what they're all about and who their values are. Well thank you for reminding us that. We always end with a few takeaways as you can imagine there's probably a lot here that we'll no doubt share on social over the next couple of months but for me I mean Andy's just nicked the one that was right at the top but I'll scribble that one out but it says here

Hannah Tyers (44:21)

Yeah. Yeah.

Thank you.

Just kidding.

PJ Ellis (44:39)

Why would you not be successful? Love that question. I'm to ask myself that a lot more. The feeling of not being alone can help you move forward. We learn the most in the unknown. I haven't lost someone, but I know I'll be okay because you are. That's amazing. Just press go, learn on the way. Check this one out. People remember how you made them feel. I'm a big believer of that. What does success mean when you have no one to tell?

Hannah Tyers (44:40)

I'm I'll

PJ Ellis (45:03)

Send each other your screen times and see what happens create

space for that communication if not now when and if not you who and Schedule rest that's me talking to myself in the mirror schedule rest because you definitely definitely need it mate Hannah episode 28 Turning pain into passion to help others will always get a double green tick from us. Thank you. Thank you

Hannah Tyers (45:07)

Thank you. Thank you.

Andy (45:18)

You

PJ Ellis (45:32)

Thank you so much. We're so grateful to you, mate.

Andy (45:34)

Brilliant.