Image: Louisa Bailey Photography
With the latest addition to our family there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks while I’m adjusting to life with our new baby.
I’ll still be posting the very coolest real Jewish weddings every week, but there’ll also be a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom I greatly admire. These women successfully combine running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.
The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions in just 140 characters or less….
Today I’m chitter chattering with Aleisha McCormack, the brains and voice behind the Save the Date Wedding Podcast. I’ve been lucky enough to be a guest on Aleisha’s podcasts twice and you can hear the episodes here and here!
Aleisha has travelled the globe interviewing fascinating people including Richard Branson, Spice Girls and Prime Ministers, and with over a decade of experience on radio, screen and stage under her belt, Aleisha brings wit and game to the world of podcasting. Her hit wedding planning book Smart Wedding
will have a second print run in 2015. She lives in London with her husband, Rich.
What was your first job?
I was 16 and selling home wares. I didn’t have a clue. I got really creative when it came to making stuff up at about crockery, if Wedgwood knew what I was promising their customers…
Tell me more about your career before launching the Save The Date podcast
How long have you got?! Lot’s of TV work both on camera and off, writing for panel shows and stand up comedy. The podcast is a perfect mesh of all of my skills.
What made you start the Save The Date podcast?
I wrote a book Smart Wedding and after doing some promo for it, I realised just how much I love talking to people about weddings. I love listening to podcasts so it felt like it was meant to be.
What inspires you to keep growing and developing it?
Well I’m ambitious and driven. I’m my own boss and whether it fails or succeeds is sort of up to me so that really keeps the fires burning.
What obstacles have you overcome along the way?
Podcasting as an activity, I think is relatively new to a lot of people, ladies in particular, so it has been really not just selling the podcast but stepping back and selling the whole concept of listening to a podcast full stop.
What is the best opportunity the Save The Date podcast has brought you?
Meeting awesome people like Karen!
What’s your best tip for a work / life balance?
Switch of devices after 7pm (or whenever your set time is). I really need to listen to my own advice more often!
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?
Trust your gut. I’m not a believer in anything woo woo but I do believe in my own intuition and if something doesn’t feel right, I bail…or at the very least question it. Also like my Dad always said, ‘If it’s too good to be true, it probably is’.
97% of Britain’s small creative businesses are run by women. Why do you think this is?
The women creatives that I know have really made a commitment (and sacrificed) to launch their businesses. There’s a drive there that I don’t see as much in blokes. Comedians especially are like ‘Stuff you, I can smash this’ and they usually do.
How did you meet your husband?
Ah we met on facebook. Australian Rich had just moved to London. We Skyped and eventually I took a leap of faith and bought a plane ticket from Melbourne to London to meet him. I wrote a comedy festival show about the experience…of course.
What was the highlight of your wedding day?
I should say, ‘Marrying the love of my life’ or having ‘Being with those who love us’ but I’m going to say the dancing. I LOVED the dancing.
Was there anything standout about what you wore?
My dress was a $300 of the rack. I loved it so much. It was wool and warm. I’m all about comfort and feeling fabulous and it smashed both of those criteria.
Looking back, is there anything you would change about your wedding?
We both agree that we would have put another $2-5k into doing less. We took on a lot of jobs in the lead up to the day….we’re workers but we were exhausted afterwards and both agreed that picking up crockery the day before from a warehouse could have been avoided.
What are your top tips for brides-to-be when planning their wedding?
Shush the opinionators…the loud mouths that always have something to say about everything. It’s absolutely your day, so own it and do what you want to do. Life is too short for obligation.
Any marriage tips?
Play PS4 together…Be an active listener. Listening is really underrated in our society (and hey I’m not perfect) but really listening is a skill for ALL relationships.
Image: Louisa Bailey Photography
Favourite quote?
‘Jerry, just remember, it’s not a lie if you believe it’ (George Costanza)
Favourite gadget?
iPhone! Toss up between my Podcast app (installed on every iPhone after the last IOS update!) or RunKeeper app.
Favourite film?
The Royal Tenenbaums. If I could step inside Wes Anderson’s movie worlds, I think I’d be very happy.
Last holiday?
Venice. Don’t judge me but I was underwhelmed. Too many people.
Currently reading?
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
If you could be trapped in a lift with any living person who would it be and why?
My friend Julia. I miss her so (she’s in Oz) and we can talk all day. The lift would be repaired too soon!
Tell me something about you that most people don’t know… preferably non work-related
I went to 16 different schools. I always say that my Mum was like Cher in the movie Mermaids, when something didn’t go to plan for her, we moved.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Shooting things on the Playstation and The Real Housewives (NYC, Beverly Hills, OC).
What did you do today?
Talked to myself (and eventually my wonderful listeners)…recorded an upcoming episode of the podcast!
What’s next?
Good question Karen! I have so many podcast episode themes up my sleeve, hopefully I can carry on doing this for a while and expand the brand into some other podcasts…I’ve got a lot to say!
Thank you Aleisha! Find the Save The Date Wedding Podcast on:
@Twitter
@Facebook
@Pinterest
@Instagram
