Her Handmade Hustle Unplugged: A Podcast Helping Independent Businesses Get Seen, Remembered and Chosen.

What Toy Story 5 Taught Me About Being Human in Business I didn't expect a family trip to the cinema to leave me thinking about AI, marketing and small businesses...but here we are! In this episode, I'm sharing why Toy Story 5 struck such a chord with me, the surprising parallels between Woody, Jessie and today's business owners, and why I believe being human is becoming your biggest competitive a...

This week's episode wasn't the one I planned to record. A trip to a shoe shop with my daughter somehow turned into helping an elderly gentleman, his dog and a trolley full of Aldi shopping get home safely. What followed got me thinking about trust, kindness, perspective and why making people feel safe might be one of the most important things we do - not just in business, but in life. In this epis...

Ever wondered whether the way you show up in your relationships might be exactly the way you show up in your business? In this slightly unhinged episode (recorded whilst folding washing, because apparently that's where my best business ideas happen), I'm exploring the surprising similarities between relationship styles and business styles. Are you a people pleaser who says yes to everything? Do yo...

People aren’t just Googling anymore…they’re asking AI for answers. In this episode, I’m talking about the huge shift happening in how people search for businesses online - and why your website now needs to do more than just “look nice”. We’ll chat about: - how AI tools like ChatGPT are changing search - why some businesses are getting found (and others aren’t) - and the simple things you can start...

Recorded on the way home from the dentist, this off-the-cuff episode explores the idea of “signs” in business. From a personal moment that stopped me in my tracks to the small signals we often ignore, this is a reminder that the direction you’re looking for might already be right in front of you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...

If you ever feel stuck with what to write or post about for your business, then today’s episode is for you. I’m talking all about how to notice the small things happening around you in your everyday life - and turn them into a ready-made content bank you can dip into whenever you don’t know what to post, write or say. Because the truth is… you’re not short of ideas - you’re just filtering them out...

What if the thing you’ve been avoiding… is actually the thing that would grow your business? In this bite-sized 15-minute episode, I’m talking about something I see all the time with small business owners (and something I’ve definitely been guilty of myself too) - avoiding the one task that would actually move things forward. Whether it’s sorting your website, improving your SEO, setting up your G...

Are you building your business undercover? In this episode of Her Handmade Hustle , I’m taking inspiration from Netflix’s Love Undercover (and a slightly embarrassing story about the time I dated a footballer) to talk about something far more important - visibility in business. If you’ve ever downplayed your experience, called your business “just a little thing,” avoided sharing your prices, or fe...

In this episode, Joanne chats with Eileen Boydell , founder of Wild & Worthy , about identity, life changes and what happens when you quietly stop backing yourself. What we talk about in this episode: - What “Wild & Worthy” really means - Why women don’t lose themselves - they adapt - How life changes can affect confidence and visibility - Why being seen in business feels emotional, not strategic...

Why do people sometimes like your business… but still not choose you? In this episode, I’m diving into the psychology behind being chosen - and why visibility alone isn’t enough to turn interest into enquiries. I'm exploring how confidence, clarity and reassurance influence decision-making far more than facts, features or constant posting. We’ll talk about: - why people don’t always choose the “be...

Being Found When It Matters What happens when someone is actively looking for what you do… and you don’t show up? In this episode, I’m talking about why being visible online isn’t the same as being found - especially when people are searching locally and ready to buy, book or enquire. This conversation was sparked by a very real, very festive moment when our toilet blocked over Christmas - and I n...

I started a TikTok channel… and didn’t tell a soul. In this episode of Her Handmade Hustle, I share the honest reality of a 4-week secret TikTok experiment where I started a brand-new account from scratch to see if it was actually possible to grow an audience quickly as a small business owner in 2025. No shortcuts. No viral hacks. No pretending to love every second of it. I set myself strict rules...

In this chaotic, rum-fuelled hotel-room episode, Joanne and her husband dive into the real truth about running a creative business. From the rise of AI in small businesses to the power of assertiveness, confidence and clear boundaries, this unfiltered chat covers the emotional rollercoaster of self-employment, why it isn’t for everyone and why support and belief matter more than anything. If you'r...

Running a creative business can be beautiful… and brutally hard. In this episode of Her Handmade Hustle Unplugged , Joanne gets honest about what happens when the dream doesn’t match the reality. When the sales are slow, the doubts creep in and you start wondering if you’re really cut out for it. Expect humour, honesty, and a few unlikely stories.. It’s a wake-up call (delivered with love!) for ev...

Ever feel like life and business have both cranked the volume up too much? Between the constant notifications, family chaos and the endless “shoulds” of running a handmade business, it’s easy to lose track of your own voice. In this week’s episode of Her Handmade Hustle Unplugged , I’m talking about what happens when everything gets too loud - and how to tune back into what you really want. From l...

Want a way to grow your audience without shouting on social media or feeling pushy about selling? In this episode, I’m sharing why podcasting is one of the best marketing tools for creative business owners - whether you start your own show or simply get yourself featured as a guest. I’ll walk you through how I got started, the simple tech setup I use and why podcasting feels so much easier than co...

Are you haunted by past mistakes, self-doubt or the fear of failure? In this episode of Her Handmade Hustle Unplugged , I’m sharing ghost stories (yes, real ones!) alongside the invisible “ghosts” that creep into our businesses - the doubts, failures and bad experiences that hold us back. We’ll talk about how to confront those fears, exorcise old failures and finally step forward with confidence i...

Marketing doesn’t have to feel salesy, scary or limited to social media. In this episode, I’m joined by Anna Short from Boo Marketing (Small Business Britain’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs 2025) to share simple, confidence-boosting strategies for small business owners. Discover: Why you don’t need to be a marketing expert to succeed The confidence shift that makes marketing feel simple and human H...

Talking about tax and accounting might not sound exciting… but if you’re running a creative business, it’s one of the most important conversations you can have. In this episode of Her Handmade Hustle Unplugged , I sit down with Alison Boucher, founder of Boucher Accountants, to chat about the money questions most of us are too embarrassed to ask . Alison is not your typical accountant - she’s frie...

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Rachel, the founder of LoveLossDiscoballs - a heartfelt business born from unimaginable grief. After losing her husband to suicide, Rachel found herself navigating the raw realities of loss, motherhood and healing. But instead of hiding her pain, she channelled it into something creative, joyful and honest. This is a story about love, loss, starting again -...

Dealing with criticism as a small business owner in your forties can feel especially tough - especially when you're rediscovering who you are and finally putting yourself out there. In this episode, I’m talking about how unsolicited opinions and unwanted feedback can shake your confidence, stall your ideas and make you question everything. You’ll hear personal stories, why criticism hits harder in...

In this emotional episode of the HHH Unplugged podcast, I’m joined by the extraordinary Lucy Thompson - a medical tattoo artist and founder of the Nipple Innovation Project (NIP) , the UK’s first mastectomy tattoo charity. Lucy is a true pioneer in the art of hyper-realistic 3D nipple tattoos , offering fully-funded tattoos to breast cancer patients who have undergone mastectomy or breast reconstr...

Feel like you’re “too quiet” to build a memorable brand? Think again. In this episode of Her Handmade Hustle: Unplugged , we’re busting the myth that you have to be loud, bold or always online to be seen. If you're a creative female entrepreneur who prefers to stay behind the scenes, this episode will show you a gentler, more authentic way to build your brand. We’ll explore what branding really me...

Sometimes we forget that behind every handmade product is a story -  not just of craft, but of courage, healing and personal transformation. In this episode of Her Handmade Hustle: Unplugged , I share the moments from a weekend spent surrounded by women whose creativity has helped them move through illness, trauma and self-doubt. From fairy houses, to meaningful tattoos and market stalls full of s...

Are you a creative entrepreneur who feels pressured to follow every Instagram trend just to stay visible? In this refreshingly honest episode, I share the 5 Instagram habits I refuse to follow - and exactly why I believe they can harm your brand as a creative business owner. From overdone rants and forced language like "slide into my DMs" to copying trends that don't align with your values, this e...