IAM516- Presenter and Podcast Host Passionate About Storytelling

With a background shaped in the creative arts, Vicky continued her passion for communication and storytelling as a presenter, reporter, and producer on both radio and TV, as a writer and journalist, and in a workshop setting as a facilitator and speaker, creating the easier title, “Storyteller”.

She enjoys empowering and inspiring others to challenge themselves and live life to the full as she tries to do that in my life, she decided to reach out to incredible kickass people from my three biggest passions in life: music, adventure, and culture. Combining her love for presenting, interviewing, and empowering others, the Let’s Go Kickass Today podcast was born.

• CEO Hack: Practicing gratitude, traveling, and reading books: (1) The Subtle Art of Not Giving af (2) What a Time to be Alone (3) You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness Positivity
• CEO Nugget: Love who you are unconditionally, follow your passion, and be authentic always
• CEO Defined: Loving what you're doing and knowing why you're doing it

Website: https://vickyecarter.com/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/vickyecarter
https://twitter.com/GoKickassToday

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/vickyecarter
https://www.instagram.com/gokickasstoday/

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Transcription:

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Intro 0:02

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview?

If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of.

This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 0:29

Hello, this is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Vicky Carter of Let’s Go Kickass Today Podcast.

Vicky, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Vicky Carter 0:39

Thanks so much for having me. It's a real pleasure.

Gresham Harkless 0:42

Definitely, the pleasure is all mine. What I wanted to do is just read a little bit more about Vicky so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing.

With a background shaped in the creative arts, Vicky continued her passion for communication and storytelling as a presenter, reporter, and producer on both radio and TV, as a writer and journalist, and in a workshop setting as a facilitator and speaker, creating the easier title, “Storyteller”.

She enjoys empowering and inspiring others to challenge themselves and live life to the full as she tries to do that in my life, thus she decided to reach out to incredibly kickass people from my three biggest passions in life: music, adventure, and culture. Combining her love for presenting, interviewing, and empowering others, the Let’s Go Kickass Today podcast was born.

Vicky, are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO Community?

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Vicky Carter 1:28

Yeah. I am.

Gresham Harkless 1:30

Let's do it. I wanted to kick everything off to hear a little bit more about what I call your CEO story what led you to get started with your podcasts and all the awesome things that you're working on as well.

Vicky Carter 1:39

Yeah, sure. When I was four, my mom had a stroke and it shaped my whole perspective, as a child and for my whole life, because I saw life as a gift, one that you really must treasure, really see the joy in things and experience life to the full because you never really know what might happen tomorrow or in 10 years. I set out from a young age, I want to live my life to the fullest and do all these incredible things and experience these incredible experiences and travel to all these different places. I created this bucket list bizarrely that I wanted to live my life by my bucket list. Some of them were normal kind of average things, well normal as in having a family and a job that I enjoy was other things, snowboarding naked or walking. I haven't said what it is naked yet but apparel hopes.

I just built this perspective of life. Then as I grew up in developed, I was taught to work in radio. As you said, in TV, and the creative arts, and the skill set of working, as a presenter, reporter, and producer, I really wanted to tell more stories, on air and online on TV on YouTube, and stage workshops were such a mouthful. I decided to create this podcast exactly where I could inspire and empower the people and they could share their experiences with me, which have shaped them to become who they are today. Hopefully whoever's listening will be inspired and influenced by them, to then have a bit of reflection on their own life and gain a different perspective of their own world and change it for the better. That's what I'm hoping to do.

Gresham Harkless 3:18

Nice. I absolutely love that. Sorry to hear about your mom at a young age. But as you said, like a lot of times we forget, and we don't cherish life, and even the small things that sometimes we look over on a day-to-day basis in life unless sometimes something like that happens. It reminds us of how beautiful and how delicate to some degree life is and how we need to cherish every second if not every day of it.

Vicky Carter 3:42

Yeah, no, exactly. I completely agree. Especially like some people, I feel that they don't realize how precious life is until they have something like that it'd be wonderful. If people didn't have to have such an experience like that, to illustrate it to them, they could find the joy in the simple things because sometimes it's not just doing something wacky and wild, but it's small things like treating people as strangers with kindness or doing something good or, or complimenting someone or buying a coffee for a stranger and, and it's those things that make humanity a better place.

I think imagine if we all looked after, and reached out to other people instead of negatively bringing each other down picking other people but brought each other up like the world would be an incredible place. It's just a small simple step, hopefully in the right direction.

Gresham Harkless 4:29

Yes, absolutely. Of course, you can always go snowboarding naked as well, too, so that you can add to that list as well to appreciate life. But no, you're absolutely right with everything that you're doing. I know one of the ways obviously that you do that is by getting an opportunity to tell stories. I love stories and obviously, you do as well because you've had so many phenomenal people on your show and gotten the opportunity to hear all those different perspectives as you spoke to so I guess I wanted to hear a little bit more about your podcast tell us a little bit more about what we can find. Then I know we talked a little offline on some of the other things that you're doing as well, too. So I wanted to get a full idea of your Vicky Carter and all the awesome things you have working on.

Vicky Carter 5:06

Okay, sure. Yeah. My podcast is on the usual kind of platforms Libsyn, Spotify, iTunes, I think it's Stitcher, Pod Bean, and I make YouTube videos as well. So it's on YouTube, my podcast, and all of this links to it on my website. It's incredible. I mean, I was some days, so I wake up extremely early 330 in the morning for work. Yeah, and I'm exhausted at the end of the day. I could do it just sitting, sitting down, and chilling out. But I'm not that kind of person. I'm so active, I love to in all these different avenues that challenge and inspire me and I enjoy doing it because when it doesn't feel like work, then you love it and it's a real passion. I might be exhausted heading an hour away from home to go interview this person and when I get there, their energy is infectious.

It just wakes me up and it amazes me to learn all these people's different stories. I mean, I've spoken to people like musicians who come off bipolar medication, and they talk openly about their addiction to sex and drugs, or other musicians who share their experiences of being raped and how they're using such a traumatic experience to empower other women. I've spoken to adventurers who have hiked up Mount Everest and who've done it who are journalists who've who've travelled other first Victorian adventures, and people who are creating like women-only gyms, as well. So it's so varied. That's what I love about it.

The music, adventure, and culture, can be so varied that I can delve into all these different subjects. It's just basically an excuse for me to be able to cover a whole wide range of topics and a variety of subjects. But underlying everything is someone who is kickass and someone who takes my breath away and will inspire someone else. Because that's what I hope to achieve. Picking up from your second question, my other avenues crikey. I work full time as a producer and reporter for the BBC, which is very varied, I work across three shows, early breakfast and mid-morning.

I am also a freelance for a bit for radio. I also freelance, writing for my website, the independent, anywhere basically where we'll have me and I also report for a YouTube channel, which is a London-based YouTube channel where I get to go to really cool events in London and interview remarkable people and cover just unusual things such as incredible events, like a festival of competence, which was a whole event inspired by women for women, and there were nipple tassels, and there were workshops and talks about it, empowering yourself and meditation. Then other talks and events like a CBD pop up in central London. So it's very varied. Then occasionally now facilitate drama workshops as well, or, or two speeches, which I enjoy as well.

Just recently, I've started doing stand-up, which is interesting. It's a whole different ballgame stand-up, because you get live feedback, if you're not funny, you'll know. I share very personal stories with stand-up, which I don't put on my website. But in the future, I will write a book about it probably gonna be anonymous. I'm gonna say that now. But yeah, it's all just different forms of storytelling that I feel have shaped my experiences of traveling the world from a young age, and by myself and doing all these other different avenues of jobs and meeting all these incredible people I have, I still have shaped me of who I am today and yeah, just I'm happy.

Gresham Harkless 8:24

Yeah, definitely. You're staying busy, for sure. Everything you're juggling to have going on. But I love how you talked about it. I always say I'm a journalist at heart as well, too, because I just love the opportunity to hear people's stories and hear different perspectives and things. I love that it sounds like that's been the common theme and everything that you're doing, but at the same time, it manifests itself in so many different ways, which is what I definitely love and appreciate.

Vicky Carter 8:47

Yeah, so weird. Because when I was younger, I'd never seen myself as a journalist, like I had this one perception of a journalist and it wasn't someone who gathered stories as such. Now I'm like, Well, no, actually, I am a journalist. I love storytelling, and I love being able to give a voice to the voiceless and provide a platform to those with a unique narrative.

I strive to do that, just like you and all the incredible people you interview for this podcast, and we can hopefully reach and impact more people.

Gresham Harkless 9:15

Exactly, yeah, just as you say, give the voice to the voiceless. That's what we're trying to do as well. So let me ask you this. I want to ask you for what I call your secret sauce and it can be for you personally, you might have already touched on this but what do you feel kind of sets you apart and makes you unique?

Vicky Carter 9:32

I guess I'd say it's my attitude in life. I mean, growing up in the Middle East was quite unusual. Then traveling solo and being to so many countries and being an adrenaline junkie and putting myself in a remarkable amount of situations which I'm surprised that I survived to tell the tale and it's kind of built me up to have all these life experiences from such a young age growing up quickly and with maturity and learning about the challenges you can face in life. It's just made me a lot stronger. I guess my passion for storytelling and all of these different platforms plus wanting to empower people, and my experiences, just, I guess makes me unique.

Gresham Harkless 10:12

I appreciate that and appreciate you for sharing that with us as well. I wanted to switch gears a little bit and ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be an app or book or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient?

Vicky Carter 10:25

Oh, I'm all about books when I've got time. It's good to read them on the tube. I've got the top three, You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness Positivity and Start Living an Awesome Life. That's amazing. Yes, you can even read just chapter by chapter that's really good. What a time to be alone, the slump our guide. That's fantastic. It's about self-love and validation. The subtle art of not giving, that's good as well. Both of those three books, I think they look at different perspectives of your life, which I think are empowering, and inspiring, and I like to channel my thoughts with positivity and ways to have reflection. But I also think practicing gratitude is really important.

Sometimes I get, like super stressed and bogged down with all the different avenues of work I do with cross-promoting my podcast and social media, researching, actually doing the work, doing my full-time job and my hours, trying to manage a social life trying to go to the gym, trying to sleep. I think sometimes it's good to step back and take some time out for yourself, maybe do some meditation, practice gratitude, or go for a walk. My number one thing that always rejuvenates me and lifts me if I've been through a stressful period is traveling. I mean, traveling is the love of my life, and it always will be I've accepted that fact. It's pushed me, developed me as a person, and given me so many life experiences, and it's challenged me and it's made me think quickly on my feet for at least 10 years or so and it's got me through breakups and I've built friendships through it.

When I can, I like to go traveling, even if it's to a new local park, or a new art gallery, or if it's a bit further, and I'm seeing friends, even that chip, that plane journey, sorry, give me some time just to be on my own. I feel it's so important to be on your own sometimes and switch off from social media and all these conversations that you're having, and you're going a million miles an hour. So you can just focus on yourself and your mind and your thoughts. You can reassess, and practice gratitude and say, Okay, what are my next steps, breaking it down slowly? I think those kinds of things are important when you've just got a lot on your plate.

Gresham Harkless 12:25

Yeah, absolutely. So speaking of younger business selves, I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO, nugget. This is like a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. Or if you can happen to that time machine, what would you tell your younger business self?

Vicky Carter 12:37

Love who you are unconditionally, accept every part of you, follow your passions, and be authentic, always.

Gresham Harkless 12:48

Awesome. I love it. Now I wanted to ask you my absolute favourite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. We're hoping to have different quote and quote, CEOs on this show.

So Vicky, what does being a CEO mean to you?

Vicky Carter 12:58

It's loving what you're doing and how you're doing it. If you love your work, and you know what you want, you'll know where to go, you know how to do it, don't let anything stop you. Take those steps to get there. It's going to be a tough journey. But if you believe in your passion and your dreams, and you believe that you're good enough, then just listen to your heart and continue to do so. Because if you need to find what sets your soul on fire, you need to find what is your purpose in life. Once you do it, it's incredible.

Gresham Harkless 13:33

Absolutely, yeah, I often say it's hard to beat. It's hard to lose if you're running your own race. As long as you're staying true to yourself, you've done that work, you've understood, as you said, What sets your soul on fire, you're doing that and continue to do that and not give up on that, then you're right, it is a phenomenal place to be in a phenomenal feeling to feel.

Vicky Carter 13:52

Yeah, it is that clear. Of course, life will have its challenges and its obstacles. But if you love what you're doing, you won't see them as obstacles, you'll just see them as steps that you just have to cross and push even further. I mean, once you find something that you're really passionate about. It very often might not even be a business, you might be working in one job, and you might be passionate about a side hustle, or a hobby, or something.

But as long as you're enthused about some aspect in your life, then that's going to you're going to drive you and that's going to make you a different person and happy and fulfilled and I think that is for me the number one thing in life I've always said, I just want to be happy doing what I'm doing. Whether that's working in my dream job or serving in Bali, the world is our oyster and we shouldn't accept situations or positions or places that don't fulfill us.

Gresham Harkless 14:47

Absolutely. No, I love that and I love that reminder because often sometimes we forget that we're the artists and we have the opportunity to paint the life that we want to determine what fulfillment means determine what quote and quote being a CEO means, and how we'd have I met in our lives and not necessarily according to anybody else, but according to ourselves.

Once we do that, then we're able to kind of put in the steps and put into action and start the process towards doing that. I appreciate that definition and I definitely appreciate your perspective and your time, of course, and all the awesome things you're doing. What I wanted to do is pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional, you want to let our readers and listeners know. Then of course, how best they can get ahold of you find out about all the awesome things you're doing, and of course subscribe to the podcast.

Vicky Carter 15:26

Oh, thanks. Well, I just want to say you've inspired me so. I guess I'd say for anyone who wants to check out my interviews with my podcasts or any of my YouTube videos or my articles, any of my travel articles, or personal articles they're welcome to go on my website vickyecarter.com, I mean it's the same name because that's my name Vicky Carter for Instagram and Twitter as well so you're welcome to follow me on all social media platforms and hopefully we can make the difference in this world together.

Gresham Harkless 16:02

Be the change you wish to see.

Vicky Carter 16:04

Yes, exactly.

Gresham Harkless 16:05

Awesome. So we will make sure to have those links and information in the show notes as well so that everybody can follow up with you and connect and be that change that we want to see. Thank you so much again for inspiring me and being an awesome person and for awesome podcasts. I was in so many other things and I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

Outro 16:22

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co. I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community.

Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts. SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless.

Thank you for listening.

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