Entrepreneur Jennifer Atkinson and BusinessCloud executive editor Chris Maguire have joined forces with Manchester-based video content specialist What Media to launch a new travel podcast.
Entitled ‘The holiday that changed my life’ the podcast interviews a different person every fortnight about the one holiday that changed the course of their life.
The guest for episode one is Dominic McGregor, co-founder of Social Chain with Steven Bartlett, and a partner in Fearless Adventures.
He talks about flying to Paris on November 13th, 2015, after closing a £1m investment round only to find himself at the centre of a terrorist attack that killed 130 people.
In the podcast McGregor reveals how the tragic events of that night forced him to confront his own relationship with alcohol.
Atkinson, who is the co-founder and executive chair of Travel Seen, explained how the idea for the podcast came up during a chance conversation with Maguire at a Christmas party in 2023.
“I mentioned to Chris that some of the biggest life-changing experiences of my life had happened while I was on holiday,” she revealed.
“In 2009 I was on a beach in Barbados when I was made CEO of ITC Luxury Travel, which was an incredibly proud moment for me.
“More recently a lawyer approached me on the same stretch of beach to tell me my near 20-year marriage was over and I better get a divorce lawyer!
“I thought Chris was joking when he said ‘that would make a great podcast’ but here we are!
“We’ve interviewed some amazing guests already, including a TV star, a contestant on Dragons’ Den and a woman who had a miracle escape from the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. It’s a gripping listen and every episode is different.”
Maguire, who is executive editor of BusinessCloud and TechBlast, said: “I love podcasts and I’m really excited by the potential of ‘The holiday that changed my life’.
“I’ve worked with the talented team at What Media before and I’m delighted they’re our production partners on this podcast.
“The best way to describe the content would be a mix of travel, business and lifestyle. We’ve got some amazing guests on season one and I hope people enjoy listening to their stories as much as we’ve enjoyed making them.
Atkinson’s company – Travel Seen – has also pledged to send one deserving listener on a life-changing holiday of their own.
“We recognise that the cost of living crisis means money is in short supply so we’ll be send one listener with a special reason on a life-changing holiday,” she said.
Chris Townsend, managing director of What Media, said: “We’re very excited by the podcast. Everyone who has listened to it has loved it. We moved to our new offices at the Ministry of Work in Swinton at the start of the year and the purpose-built studio is a perfect venue.”
‘The holiday that changed my life’ podcast is available on RSS, Apple and Spotify and can be downloaded here