Episode 100: Losing My Mum To Cancer, Building The Next Big Podcast, and My Life's Mission

Thank you to everyone who has helped me reach this point. I don’t take your support for granted. Every like, comment and subscription genuinely means the world to me.

I feel honoured that 100 episodes coincides with reaching 1,000 subscribers, and I’m excited to keep building from here.

In this episode, I reflect on the past three years of Personable, the lessons and growth along the way, and what’s next for me and the podcast. I’ll also be focusing on strengthening the show’s narrative and building a closer community for core listeners.

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Harvey Bracken-Smith marks a major milestone: 100 episodes of Personable. Instead of hosting a guest, Harvey turns the mic on himself for a deeply personal, unscripted reflection on the journey so far: from the podcast’s origins at a music festival to its growth into a global platform helping listeners become the best they can be.

In this special episode, Harvey shares the story behind Personable, the lessons learned across 100 conversations with the world’s best, and the personal experiences: including the loss of his mother, Louise, that shaped his drive, discipline, and mission to spread love, learning, and ambition into the world.

In this episode, Harvey discusses:
◽️ The origins of Personable: from a sleepless night at a music festival to a global platform
◽️ Grief, resilience, and how loss shaped his mission
◽️ Lessons from 100 episodes: consistency, courage, and community
◽️ The importance of love, discipline, and applied knowledge
◽️ Goals for the future: building community, growth, and purpose
◽️ What’s next: evolving Personable into a global movement

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⏱ Timestamps
00:00 Intro: Harvey welcomes listeners to episode 100  
06:10 Learning his mum’s diagnosis and the shock that followed  
08:45 Processing grief and pushing forward instead of pausing  
10:55 August 12 2022: the idea for Personable is born  
19:55 Hitting milestones: 100 episodes & 1000 subscribers  
23:20 Why passion matters more than fame or money  
27:05 The odds of success and why love keeps you going  
30:30 Learning from 100 guests — the value of curiosity  
41:00 Finding purpose through loss and faith  
45:10 Choosing your hard: growth through struggle  
48:00 Life lessons, legacy, and what’s next for the podcast  
50:10 Final message — “Just try.”  
51:45 Closing thanks & sign-off

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📌 Resources
Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): https://x.com/harveybsmith_
◽️ Newsletter: https://personable.substack.com/

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ The Draft (Sign up): https://thedraft.io
◽️ Fundraising: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023. 

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.