What is true innovation and why does it matter?

Nell Masey O Neill and Amy Wilkinson get painfully honest about how “innovation” gets thrown around everywhere in the food industry, but rarely means what it should. Nell breaks down the difference between real innovation and the kind that just ticks boxes, sharing her experience as a nutritional biochemist who’s been in the technical, research, and leadership hot seats.

The discussion peels back what keeps big businesses stuck on the safe, short-term stuff—process, control, reporting—and why it’s startups and agile teams who seem to get the “fun” jobs of game-changing innovation.

But, as both speakers remind us, saying yes to true innovation isn’t just for the tiny disruptors. The episode is jammed with tools and mindsets for traditional companies and leaders who want to create cultures that are brave enough to try, fail, and actually learn.

Want to know why collaboration goes beyond sitting in the same room, and why mastering “real talk”—including giving feedback, pausing to reflect, and really listening—makes all the difference?

They cover it all, sprinkling in the practical: from small daily habits to building reflection into your team’s routine, and why a little courage (and a lot of honesty) goes a long way.

If you’re sick of innovation theatre and ready for something that actually moves the needle, you’ll feel seen, and walk away with real steps you can start today.

Welcome to Bethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin - your quick-fire briefing on what’s happening across the food and drink industry. In under five minutes, journalist and Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls shares the latest headlines, trends and developments to keep you in the know.

Explore more industry news at foodmanufacture.co.uk

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepod

You can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepod

Find Amy on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation.

IFP Labs sponsors the Fearless Foodie Podcast https://www.ifp-labs.com/en/index.php

This episode kicks off with Amy welcoming listeners to a space built for honest conversations about the food and retail world.

She immediately calls out the myth of an industry “reset” in January—reminding us that most teams start the year already stretched thin, still reeling from Q4 chaos. Drawing from her personal journey with burnout and her coaching work with food industry teams, she addresses the cultural patterns that reward unhealthy overwork—like being the “fixer” or the one who always picks up the slack.

She also identifies three core habits to let go of: taking on responsibilities that aren’t yours, staying silent when honesty is needed, and using overwork as a coping mechanism.

Listeners get actionable advice on small pivots—like practising saying no, speaking up even when it’s uncomfortable, and embracing micro-pauses to break the relentless cycle of busyness.

Amy gives a nod to Fearless Women Connect for those craving deeper connection, and closes by challenging everyone to choose three things they’ll leave behind this year to embark on a more fearless, fulfilling journey in food.

Timestamps

00:44 – Amy Wilkinson sets the stage for an honest chat
01:39 – Why “New Year reset” is a myth in food
02:17 – Amy Wilkinson on post-holiday burnout and the cycle of exhaustion
03:08 – The culture of over-functioning and blurred boundaries
04:01 – Behaviours that get praise but fast-track burnout
04:54 – “Carrying what isn’t yours” and the cost of over-responsibility
07:03 – How women in food especially get caught in the mental load
08:10 – Sponsor shout-outs and Fearless Women Connect info
08:54 – The need to speak up and stop self-silencing
09:54 – Why silence drains more than it protects
10:33 – Quick challenge: Say one honest thing in your next meeting
11:43 – Overwork as a false solution to overwhelm
12:52 – Micro-pauses and practical strategies for resetting
14:05 – What to let go for a braver, lighter year
15:52 – Call to action: What three things will you leave behind?
16:46 – Outro and where to find Amy Wilkinson online

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepod

You can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepod

Find Amy on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation as @amwyilkinsoncoach.

Link to our sponsors IFP Labs: https://www.ifp-labs.com/

Join our next intake of Fearless Women: Empowered to Rise: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk/fearless-women-rise/

And our FREE networking at https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk/fearless-women-connect/

Amy kicks things off by acknowledging just how relentless the next six weeks will be for anyone working in food and retail, with tighter deadlines, louder demands, and the expectation to spin a hundred plates without dropping a single mince pie.

Drawing from her own post-Christmas experience with burnout, she emphasises why it’s crucial to protect your energy proactively, and why pushing through at all costs simply isn’t sustainable—or admirable.

She shares four core resilience tools: knowing your non-negotiables, practising constructive capacity language (so you can push back effectively), setting healthy boundaries, and letting go of perfectionism.

She also gives real-life examples and gentle nudges for implementing these, from time-blocking your calendar for actual breaks (even if it’s just to eat lunch device-free), to using simple phrases that help you communicate workload limits without guilt.

The episode also reflects on the season's big themes—especially the importance of questioning "the rules," breaking the cycle of self-blame, and creating safe, supportive environments at work.

Amy calls out that most pressures aren’t in your head, and challenges listeners to reframe rest as a strategic act, not a selfish one.

As the show closes, Amy leaves listeners with heartfelt encouragement, an invitation to connect on LinkedIn, and details about joining Fearless Women Connect—a safe space for women in food and retail.

The overarching message: You’re not the problem; the pressure is real—and you’re doing brilliantly.

Timestamps

00:42 – The “Chaotic” Season Begins

01:31 – Burnout & Personal Lessons

02:22 – Realities of Christmas in Food/Retail

03:17 – Rethinking Resilience

05:04 – Boundaries & Permission

06:55 – Four Practical Tips

09:45 – Capacity Language

10:43 – Setting Boundaries Gently

11:30 – Letting Go of Perfection

12:23 – Recap of The Four Tips

13:34 – Season Reflections & Lessons Learned

15:03 – Asking for Help & Final Pep Talk

16:24 – Series Wrap & Next Steps

17:39 – Festive Wisdom & Farewell

18:37 – Outro

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepod

You can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepod

Find Amy on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation.

Microsearch Laboratories sponsors the Fearless Foodie Podcast https://micro-search.co.uk/

Welcome to Bethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin - your quick-fire briefing on what’s happening across the food and drink industry. In under five minutes, journalist and Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls shares the latest headlines, trends and developments to keep you in the know.

Explore more industry news at foodmanufacture.co.uk

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepod

You can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepod

Find Amy on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation.

Microsearch Laboratories sponsors the Fearless Foodie Podcast https://micro-search.co.uk/

Amy and Bethan get straight to the heart of what it means to be a “Fearless Foodie” in today’s food industry, especially for teams struggling to motivate their people and keep them engaged.

The episode kicks off with Bethan’s insights on leading from a flat structure—where the best ideas can (and should) come from the shop floor, not just the boardroom. We also hear why meaningful work matters for performance, commitment, and staff retention, especially in a sector still facing labour shortages.

Drawing from industry events and her own reporting, Bethan shares examples of how top companies are ditching rigid hierarchies for team empowerment—including the genius move of reframing “red” flags from bad news to action points. Amy dives into the reality of manufacturing environments where jobs are often repetitive and siloed, reflecting on how connecting daily work to a bigger purpose can be a game-changer—especially for Gen Z, who crave connection and rapid progression.

The pair also gets real about embracing mistakes, boosting psychological safety, and why the “lead from the bottom” approach is much more than just servant leadership—it’s about actively listening, enabling action, and letting those closest to the work teach the rest of the business. There’s debate about setting ambitious targets, the pros and cons of letting teams set their own goals, and the need for leadership to balance direction with genuine, bottom-up feedback.

Amy and Bethan wrap up by challenging listeners: Are you empowering your team with honest conversations? Have you walked the factory floor and truly listened? The challenge is to listen more than you talk; you might just stumble on the simplest, most effective fixes your business needs.

Timestamps

00:00:11 Welcome & episode intro with Amy and Bethan

00:01:15 What is “leading from the bottom”? —trends and industry research

00:02:52 Food sector labour shortages and frontline hiring

00:03:39 The link between meaningful work and motivation/performance

00:04:34 How flat hierarchies empower teams and bridge the strategy gap

00:05:39 Gen Z’s emphasis on connection and purpose at work

00:07:03 Conference highlights—leadership lessons from industry voices

00:08:29 “Shop floor is the most important”—humility in leadership

00:10:18 How psychological safety drives health, safety, and improvement

00:13:19 Red flag = action—changing mindsets around mistakes

00:16:07 Setting ambitious targets: pros, cons, and team morale

00:20:12 Should teams set their own targets? The bottom-up vs. top-down debate

00:22:42 Why blending direction with listening drives real results

00:24:53 Empower teams with simple solutions and hands-on leadership

00:26:19 Final takeaways: how to make work meaningful and drive change

00:26:37 Wrap-up, shoutouts, and what’s next for The Fearless Foodie

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepod

You can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepod

Find Amy on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation.

Microsearch Laboratories sponsors the Fearless Foodie Podcast https://micro-search.co.uk/

We kick off this episode with Amy and Nyree’s trip down memory lane, all the way back to hypnobirthing class and WhatsApp business masterminds. That instant “skip the small talk and go straight to heavy breathing” connection is the foundation for a raw, open conversation on why the food industry’s old rules aren’t working — especially for working parents.

Nyree opens up about her slow-burn realisation that work rules—full-time as default, “competitive” salary secrecy, presenteeism—aren’t natural laws. In fact, many were dreamed up by power holders decades ago and still weigh us down like an invisible rucksack. She talks about Jack and Grace’s bold approach: making part-time the standard, pushing radical flexibility, and refusing to pretend everyone fits the mould. But breaking the rules isn’t just about rebellion—it’s about rewriting them for real people, not just the status quo.

The conversation gets honest about why so many of us—especially women and parents—feel like we’re failing when the system is stacked against us. Amy and Nyree discuss how lockdown forced change, and why so many food businesses are sliding right back to the old inflexible ways. They cover the traps of “unlimited holiday” policies and the bittersweet reality that sometimes you have to live (not just write) new rules.

Nyree’s campaign for salary transparency, #SayThePay, gets a spotlight, and listeners are challenged to notice absurd workplace rules, shift what they can, and model bold boundaries for others—because small changes can make a big difference.

Whether you run a team, work on a factory floor, or you’re just exhausted by the pressure to “fit in,” this episode serves up real talk and practical encouragement.

Timestamps

00:00:11 Amy welcomes listeners and introduces Nyree.

00:02:22 Focus on breaking rules at work and Nyree’s passion for rewriting the playbook for working parents.

00:03:27 Discussion on flipping job norms—part-time as default, questioning 37.5-hour rule, and how invisible workplace “microplastics” shape us.

00:06:14 Nyree’s personal shift: realising it wasn’t her failing, but systemic work rules, and discusses the power of talking to others.

00:07:13 Lockdown as a leveller—closing gaps in flexible working and shifting professionalism.

00:08:10 Jack and Grace’s remote-first team, co-working spaces, and individualised flexibility.

00:09:10 When rule-breaking throws people—why some crave rules and how good rules can help, but “old-school” rules need challenging.

00:09:52 Experiments with unlimited holiday—why it didn’t work, and the importance of enforcing breaks.

00:11:18 Cultural challenges of walking the talk—Nyree’s struggle with guilt even in her own rule-breaking business.

00:14:40 Coaching insights: dropping the “baggage rucksack” and letting go of workplace conditioning.

00:16:21 Salary transparency campaign: #SayThePay—why “competitive salary” is bonkers, and how hiding pay increases inequality.

00:19:01 Takeaways for listeners: It’s not you, it’s the system. Small acts can challenge workplace norms; start where you are.

00:21:52 Modelling boundaries at work, being visible about parenting needs, and the radical power of honesty.

00:23:54 Perspective on generational shifts—Gen Z, talent strategy, and why food retail and manufacturing must change to attract the best.

00:24:15 Example from the police—structural change is possible everywhere, if there’s leadership will.

00:25:33 Plug for Jack and Grace—purpose-driven comms for organisations doing good, recent British Tomato Fortnight campaign.

00:26:41 Reflection on walking the talk and the ongoing work of living your company values.

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepod

“Say the pay” video: https://www.jackandgrace.co.uk/saythepay/

You can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepod

Find Amy on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation.

Microsearch Laboratories sponsors the Fearless Foodie Podcast https://micro-search.co.uk/