My Kind of Business

In this thirty-eighth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Sanne van der Ende – personal trainer, community-builder, and founder on a mission to bring kindness, compassion, and joy back into fitness. Sanne shares her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial household to completely rebuilding her life after years of depression, negative body image, and an unhealthy relationship wi...

In this thirty-seventh episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Bec Johnson – funeral industry marketer, speaker, and Founder on a mission to support independent funeral directors and change the way we talk about death. Bec shares her journey from uncertainty in her career to finding purpose in the funeral industry. She discusses pivotal moments that shaped her path, including transformat...

In this thirty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Sue Chalmers – founder of Willow & Hen and former motor industry professional turned lifestyle store owner. After years working in the motor industry, Sue reached a point where she knew she wanted to build something more aligned with who she was. That intention led her to open Willow & Hen – the calm, community-focused...

In this thirty-fifth episode of My Kind of Business Business Coach Alex McCarthy invites you to slow down, breathe and take an honest look back at 2025 so far - the wins, the wobbles, the surprises and the spaces where you grew without even noticing. Alex shares her own reflections from this year, including the fears she faced when launching this very podcast, the moments of doubt that nearly stop...

In this thirty-fourth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex McCarthy speaks with Sareena and Nim, sisters and co-founders of Serene Baby, a Bedford-based business supporting parents and babies through baby massage, yoga and wellbeing classes. What began as Sareena teaching baby massage from her living room has grown into a thriving community-led business helping families across Bedfordshire feel mo...

  In this thirty-third episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Lauren Troiano, a Female Founder and Entrepreneur behind two Bedfordshire-based businesses: The Little Marketing Company and The Little Yoga Company. Lauren shares her journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, explaining how maternity leave inspired her to build businesses that align with her values. Through The L...

In this thirty-second episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Jessica Leader – co-founder of SureStay Group and former corporate marketing professional turned property entrepreneur. After a successful career managing marketing budgets and brand reputations in the corporate world, Jess realised she wanted to do work that created both profit and purpose. That realisation led her to co-foun...

  In this thirty-first episode of My Kind of Business, business coach Alex McCarthy dives into the crucial role of mindset in business success, exploring how self-belief and emotional intelligence shape everything from your confidence to your decision-making. Alex shares five powerful mindset shifts that help business owners grow with clarity and calm — from replacing pressure with presence, to fo...

In this thirtieth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Sarah Summers – Registered Nutritionist and founder of Sarah Summers Nutrition. Sarah helps midlife women navigate menopause with clarity, energy, and confidence, without confusion, fad diets, or endless Googling. After 30 years in the corporate world, Sarah’s own breast cancer diagnosis became a turning point that reshaped her li...

In this twenty-ninth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Emma Davies – former teacher and Founder of Is It Time to Play? a creative online business supporting early years and KS1 teachers with playful, practical resources. Through her website isittimetoplay.co.uk and social media community @isittimetoplay , Emma has built a vibrant space for educators who believe in the power of lear...

Episode 28: How to Align Your Career and Life with Sarah Burrows In this twenty-eighth episode of My Kind of Business Alex is joined by Sarah Burrows – Accredited Career & Business Coach and Founder of Achieving Ambition. Sarah helps women who feel stuck, lost or unfulfilled in their careers to discover a purpose-filled path, whether that’s a career change, developing leadership skills or step...

In this episode of My Kind of Business, business coach Alex McCarthy shares five practical steps to help you attract more clients and grow your business with confidence. From defining your ideal client to nailing your offer, building visibility, creating trust, and asking for the sale, Alex combines actionable business strategies with honest stories from her own journey and her clients’. You’ll di...

In this twenty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Steph Flynn – former midwife and founder of Birth Nerd , who is redefining antenatal education and changing the conversation around birth. Steph’s journey is one of passion, purpose and transformation. With a background in nursing and midwifery, and a lifelong fascination with the power of birth, she went on to create Birth Ner...

In this twenty-fifth episode of My Kind of Business Alex is joined by Vicki Yadav – Founder of Primary Steps, who made the inspiring transition from teaching into business ownership. Vicki’s journey is a powerful example of resilience, adaptability and determination, showing what’s possible when you step away from a secure career and build a business on your own terms. From her early aspirations i...

In this twenty-fourth episode of My Kind of Business Alex is joined by Katie Corkill – Founder of Katie Corkill Decorating, an award-winning entrepreneur who has carved her own path in a traditionally male-dominated industry, moving from corporate life into trade business ownership with resilience, curiosity and determination. Katie’s story is one of courage, adaptability and growth. From early in...

In this twenty-third solo episode of My Kind of Business, Alex dives into five of the most common mistakes small business owners make — and, more importantly how to avoid them. Drawing on personal experiences and client stories, Alex unpacks the pitfalls that often hold business owners back. From financial blind spots to the dangers of burnout, this episode is packed with practical advice and enco...

In this twenty-second episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Amy Robinson – a Beauty Business Owner and Educator who has built her business from the ground up, starting in her mum’s kitchen and growing into a thriving beauty space and educator brand known for empowerment, confidence and connection. Amy’s story is one of resilience, persistence and transformation. From childhood challeng...

In this twenty-first episode of My Kind of Business Alex is joined by Anna Botley – a coach, yoga teacher, and space-holder who helps women stop people-pleasing, speak their truth, and rebuild their relationships from the inside out through embodied presence, nervous system work, and everyday self-respect. Anna’s story is one of self-discovery, resilience, and redefining success. From early jobs t...

In this twentieth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Tia Harris – a Shropshire-based mum, coach and creator of The Motherhood Shift. Tia shares her powerful journey from corporate leadership into the world of coaching, where she now supports women in one of the most transformative seasons of life: motherhood. They explore how her childhood experiences shaped her business decisions,...

In this nineteenth solo episode of My Kind of Business, Alex opens up about the real, raw experience of navigating motherhood while running a business. Alex shares her personal journey through the chaos and joy of early motherhood - from the mental load of juggling multiple roles to the invisible weight of postnatal anxiety. She talks honestly about the guilt many mothers carry and the necessity o...

In this eighteenth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Kate Parslow; a warm, thoughtful interior designer based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Kate’s journey into business is rooted in a lifelong love of creating spaces that feel personal and full of soul. It all started with a doll’s house her dad made her when she was ten — a moment that sparked her obsession with homes that truly refl...

In this seventeenth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Elena – a creative and multi-passionate business owner who runs not one but two unique businesses: a keepsake sewing business and a candy floss venture. Elena’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t planned – in fact, she calls herself an accidental business owner. After working night shifts in police custody and navigating life...

In this sixteenth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Helen Scotchford, Founder of The Face Therapist – an advanced skincare clinic based in Marston Moretaine, Central Bedfordshire. Helen’s journey into entrepreneurship started after years of struggling with her own skin issues and a deep passion for skincare. While still working in her corporate job she began studying skincare and s...

In this fifteenth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex shares some honest reflections and practical strategies for when business feels hard. Whether you're in a dip, feeling low on motivation, or just questioning what you're doing it all for, this episode is here to help you reset. Alex explores how to manage your energy, reconnect with what matters, and shift your focus back to creating rather th...

In this fourteenth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Nicole Bilham – founder of Wild Bird Marketing, a strategic marketing and sales agency for heart-led founders. After 13 years working in the commercial team at ITV, Nicole decided to leave corporate life behind and build something of her own. She launched her business in early 2019 with a clear intention: to create a business tha...