Low to Grow

In this episode of Low to Grow, designer and CEO Destiny Pinto opens up about the deeply personal journey behind By Destiny Pinto—the accessories brand turning medical devices into bold, stylish expressions of identity. Living with rheumatoid arthritis, Destiny found herself searching for products that honored both her health needs and her sense of self. When they didn’t exist, she created them.She shares the realities of navigating university life with chronic illness, the emotional rollercoaster of being a solopreneur, and the power of community in the disability and chronic illness space. Destiny also breaks down her process in designing the Addison bag—built with accessibility at its core—and talks about what it meant for her work to be recognized by Vogue and BMW.This conversation is a heartfelt reminder that creativity can grow out of challenge, visibility matters, and slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind.What you’ll walk away with:A new perspective on how fashion design can empower people with chronic illnesses and hidden disabilitiesPractical insight into building a brand rooted in empathy, accessibility, and lived experienceAn honest look at balancing ambition with health—and how to listen to your body when it asks for restEncouragement to embrace your identity and turn personal obstacles into creative breakthroughsA framework for starting something meaningful as a solopreneur when resources are limitedLessons on cultivating community and trust in spaces shaped by vulnerabilityA reminder that visibility in fashion and media can change how people feel about themselves and their place in the worldFollow Low to Grow⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠⁠⁠Substack Newsletter⁠Connect with Destiny on her profile page on ⁠our website⁠! Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠⁠.

In this episode of Low to Grow, advertising industry veteran and long time sex-tech entrepreneur Cindy Gallop takes us inside the bold vision behind MakeLoveNotPorn and the uphill battle of building a sex-positive platform in a world that still treats open conversation about intimacy as taboo. She talks through the leap from her high-powered advertising career into social-impact entrepreneurship, the systemic obstacles she continues to face as a female founder around funding and algorithmic suppression, and why redefining sexual education matters for every generation.Cindy also opens up about the deeper mission behind her worl: creating a safer, more honest ecosystem for intimacy, consent, and human connection. She shares how community feedback fuels her resilience, why she’s developing new EdTech and FinTech solutions to push the industry forward, and how better sexual health can meaningfully support our mental well-being. This conversation is candid, refreshingly defiant, and packed with insights for socially conscious go-getters who care about change that actually moves culture.What you’ll walk away with:A firsthand look at how community-driven feedback can guide mission-centered entrepreneurshipA reimagined framework for sexual education grounded in real-world experiencesA clear understanding of the structural and funding challenges Sextech founders face, and how to navigate themWhy there needs to be more tech products that uplift marginalized communities rather than algorithmically suppress themA reminder that cultivating meaningful, real-life connections supports both emotional and mental well-beingFollow Low to Grow⁠Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠⁠⁠YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠Substack NewsletterConnect with Cindy Gallop through her profile page on our website!Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠.

In this episode of Low to Grow, climate advocate and social entrepreneur Natalie Chung traces the path from an 11-year-old school project to becoming one of the region’s leading voices in sustainable tourism and climate education. As the co-founder of V’air, Natalie breaks down how the platform grew from a student-led digital initiative into a hands-on eco-tourism movement creating real impact on the ground.She dives into the complexities of modern climate policy, the rise of philanthropy in funding climate solutions, and the hidden challenges social entrepreneurs face behind the scenes—from team dynamics to financial sustainability. Natalie also speaks openly about the emotional side of purpose-driven work: navigating personal relationships, coping with burnout, and learning to care for your mental health while caring for the planet.If you’re passionate about environmental impact or building a purpose-led career, this conversation offers a grounded and refreshing take on what sustainable leadership actually looks like.What you’ll walk away with:A behind-the-scenes look at building a climate-focused social enterprise as a young founder A clearer understanding of the gaps and opportunities in today’s climate policy landscapeInsight into how sustainable tourism can drive meaningful climate educationA realistic picture of team dynamics, and why interpersonal trust is a make-or-break factorTools for staying adaptable when a mission-driven project evolves with V'airA fresh perspective on environmentalism that makes space for nuance, diversity, and real-world constraintsStrategies for protecting your mental health while working in high-pressure, purpose-led fieldsA reminder of how meaningful relationships fuel long-term resilience and creativityFollow Low to Grow⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠⁠⁠Substack Newsletter⁠Connect with Natalie on her profile page on ⁠our website⁠!  Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠⁠.

In this episode of Low to Grow, future physician and community leader of over 400,000, Aghogho Okpara shares what it really takes to keep going when life keeps saying no. After six attempts to get into medical school, Aghogho opens up about the emotional weight of rejection, the quiet strength she drew from her faith, and the unwavering support from her father that helped her stay the course. Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t loud, it’s the decision to try again, and again.Aghogho Okpara opens up to Annie about how loss reshaped her purpose, why asking for help became her greatest growth edge, and how building her nonprofit, Achieve with Aghogho, and an online community of over 400,000 people taught her that success is never a solo journey. The conversation explores leadership, education as a path to equity, and the vital connection between physical movement and mental health.What you’ll walk away with:A resilience framework for moving forward after rejection instead of shrinking backA healthier way to process failure without tying it to your self-worthPractical insight on leaning into faith, support systems, and community during hard seasonsA blueprint for building meaningful, mission-driven communities that actually show up for each otherA leadership mindset rooted in teamwork rather than hyper-independenceA fresh perspective on education as a tool for empowerment and social equityFollow Low to Grow⁠Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠⁠⁠YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠Substack NewsletterConnect with Aghogho on his profile page on our website!Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠.

Charlie Rogers, entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of undefinables, opens up about what it really means to design a life that doesn’t fit inside a neat box. Charlie shares his winding journey through national level sports, entrepreneurship, and self-discovery, highlighting the power of embracing multiple passions rather than forcing yourself into a single identity.He talks candidly about motivation, vulnerability, emotional integration, and the surprising lessons that cycling off a cliff, rewiring academic expectations, and grinding through the book-writing process taught him. Charlie also reflects on the moments when “giving up” is actually a form of reinvention, and how community can help you rebuild with clarity and purpose.Whether you’re multi-passionate, creatively stuck, or redefining who you want to be, this conversation offers tools for navigating change without losing yourself.What you’ll walk away with:Permission to pursue multiple passions without apologyA new understanding of motivation—and how purpose, profit, and play each fuel itA framework for emotional integration to support healthier mental and emotional balancePractical steps to build community and deeper connections through vulnerabilityLessons from sports that can sharpen resilience and strengthen self-beliefA grounded look at what it really takes to write a book (and how to start your own)A mindset shift around “giving up” as a strategic reset, not a failureTools for managing your energy and mental health during seasons of reinventionInsight that understanding your interests is the gateway to genuine expertise and fulfillmentFollow Low to Grow⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack Newsletter⁠⁠Connect with Charlie on his profile page on ⁠⁠our website⁠⁠!  Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠⁠⁠.Chapters00:00 Embracing theUndefinable Self06:39 The Journey ofEntrepreneurship10:47 Motivation andCommunity Building11:23 Lessons fromSports and Personal Growth11:50 ResittingA-Levels, From ACC to A*AA!12:30 How cyclingoff a cliff got him to TEAM GB at European Triathlon25:08 ReframingSuccess and Enjoying the Process26:01 EmotionalThawing: A Journey of Self-Discovery32:39 TheTransformative Process of Writing a Book38:55 The Balance ofPerseverance and Reinvention44:11 EnergyManagement for Better Mental Health