In this episode of Yours For The Making, host Robin Johnson is joined by Robbie Kelly, founder of Basil’s Fungi Farm, a thriving gourmet mushroom business based in Hastings. From culturing mycelium on petri dishes to supplying chefs across the UK, Robbie shares his remarkable journey from teenage curiosity and chef life to pioneering sustainable urban mushroom farming.

Discover the science behind mushroom cultivation, how mycelium networks connect ecosystems, and why mushrooms might be the future of food, medicine, and environmental innovation. Whether you're a chef, grower, biohacker, or sustainability advocate, this episode delivers rich insight into one of nature’s most fascinating organisms—and the

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Robbie built a gourmet mushroom farm from his spare bedroom
• The difference between oyster, lion’s mane, Cordyceps & more
• How to propagate and grow mushrooms using mycelium
• The challenges of launching an agri-startup with zero funding
• Why mycelium networks are the “internet of the forest”
• Tips for DIY mushroom growing at home
• How to build a purpose-led, resilient micro-business
• Why taking risks matters—and how to survive the startup phase

In this show, we discuss:

Gourmet mushroom farming, how to grow mushrooms at home, mycelium cultivation, sustainable agriculture uk, oyster mushroom kits, lion’s mane recipes, mushroom growing startup, urban farming UK, Cordyceps mushroom health benefits, DIY mushroom grow kits, small-scale farming, food entrepreneur podcast, fungi and ecology, how to grow lion’s mane, mushroom spore propagation, mushroom farm business uk, regenerative food systems, soil biology podcast, artisan food growers, mushroom farming tips for beginners

KEY MOMENTS:

00:00 – Why taking risks is worth it

01:20 – Meet Robbie Kelly from Basil’s Fungi Farm

02:00 – What are gourmet mushrooms?

02:45 – Saprophytic mushrooms and species overview

03:40 – Robbie’s journey: from chef to grower

04:30 – Starting a mushroom business from a bedroom

05:15 – The Hastings mushroom yard setup

06:00 – How to grow mushrooms using sawdust & straw

07:00 – Understanding mycelium: cloning & propagation

08:20 – Using Petri dishes, grain, and culture slants

09:20 – The underground network: mycelium & ecosystems

11:00 – From petri dish to pounds of sawdust

12:00 – Mushroom fruiting: how long it takes

13:20 – Grow room conditions: humidity, temperature, air

14:45 – Always learning: growing vs. running a business

15:40 – The toughest part of starting up

17:00 – Selling to chefs and scaling up locally

18:30 – Could he hire staff? Scaling challenges explained

20:30 – Long-term vision: small-scale, human business

21:30 – Mushroom grow kits for home use

23:00 – Can you grow mushrooms in your garden?

24:00 – Medicinal mushrooms & supplements: do they work?

25:30 – Growing Cordyceps: tricky but possible

27:00 – Why some mushrooms can’t be grown sterile

28:30 – Home mushroom growing: kits vs. DIY

29:10 – Robbie’s favourite mushrooms to cook with

30:30 – Markets, meetups & mushroom visibility

31:30 – Why local home delivery is tricky

32:20 – Best advice for new growers

33:30 – Where to learn mushroom cultivation

34:30 – The hidden risks of mushroom farming

35:30 – Spores, mold & building a...

In this episode of Yours For The Making, Robin Johnson is joined by metalworker, maker, and creative powerhouse Charis Williams, also known as The Salvage Sister. From welding sculptures in her garden workshop to empowering women and beginners to confidently use power tools, Charis is on a mission to make hands-on creativity accessible for all.

You’ll hear how Charis went from a soul-crushing job at a bank to building a life around reclaimed materials, self-taught skills, and unshakeable creative passion. She shares her journey through the world of murals, woodworking, welding, television appearances, and now - launching her own online course platform designed to teach practical tool skills to beginners in a safe, empowering way.

Whether you're a hobbyist, aspiring maker, or professional creative, this conversation is packed with laughter, grit, and insights into running a creative business from scratch.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why Charis left a corporate career to pursue creative freedom - and how motherhood played a pivotal role
• How she built The Salvage Sister brand from kitchen-floor commissions to national TV shows
• The challenges of teaching power tools to beginners - and how safety + confidence go hand in hand
• Why she’s launching a comprehensive online tool training platform for DIY beginners
• Real talk on burnout, creative energy, and the constant juggle of business, family, and passion
• How makers can monetise their craft without losing the joy of making
• Advice for anyone thinking about starting a creative career later in life

This is for:

Beginner makers ready to pick up tools for the first time, women looking to build DIY confidence, Creatives juggling family, freelance, and making, workshop hosts and community educators, fans of hands-on learning, reclaimed materials, and metalwork plus anyone considering turning their creative hobby into a business

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson - founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on shows such as The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

In this episode of Yours For The Making, host Robin Johnson sits down with custom motorcycle builder and creative powerhouse Tom Simpson, the founder of Foundry Motor Co.

Based in Chichester, Tom has spent the last 15 years handcrafting some of the UK’s most admired custom bikes - from oily-rag Triumphs to retro-futurist cafe racers that wouldn’t look out of place in Blade Runner.

Tom shares how he went from blacksmithing ornamental railings to TIG-welding speedo brackets in a custom bike workshop, and why everything changed when he opened the new Foundry Coffee Lounge, a destination café and creative hub for bikers, builders, and vintage vehicle lovers.

Whether you’re into custom motorcycle building, metalwork, TIG welding, or you’re dreaming of launching a brand around your passion - this episode is packed with insights, stories, and laughs from one of the UK’s most thoughtful makers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Tom built a business out of custom bikes (without a business plan)
• Why hand-filing aluminium and TIG welding are his therapy
• The inspiration behind Foundry’s signature “streamliner-meets-cafe-racer” style
• What goes into creating a social space for bikers & makers
• The real economics (and emotional drive) behind working solo vs scaling up
• Why new bikes can’t match the charm of vintage machines
• Tools, mishaps, coffee machines, old trucks, and everything in between

Key Moments:

0:00 - Introduction: Tom Simpson and Foundry Motor Co

0:25 - First Motorcycle Experiences and Early Passion

2:30 - Transition from Sales to Motorcycle Building

4:35 - How Foundry Motor Co Began

7:15 - New Workshop and Coffee Shop Location

11:02 - Design Philosophy and Bike Inspiration

15:03 - Workshop Tools and Metalworking Techniques

20:37 - Personal Motorcycle and Riding Experiences

22:42 - Goodwood Revival and Automotive Passion

24:36 - Design Inspiration and Bike Building Process

29:29 - Custom Motorcycle Scene Evolution

34:32 - Working on Motorcycles and Challenges

40:16 - Family and Passing on Mechanical Knowledge

42:54 - Early Motorcycle Memories

47:14 - Old vs New Motorcycles

49:23 - Future Plans for Foundry Motor Co

54:10 - Motorcycle Community and Networking

55:27 - Advice for Young Motorcycle Enthusiasts

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson - founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on shows such as The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.