pepp talks with sue richards

What you eat - and when - could be the business strategy you've been overlooking. In this episode of Pepp Talks I'm joined by Becki Beard, qualified nutritional therapist and founder of Rebecca Beard Nutrition, for a conversation that goes well beyond food.  Becki shares her journey from primary school teacher to nutrition expert (via a stint as a cleaner that turned out to be the best d...

Ever feel like something's not quite right, but you can't put your finger on what? This week I'm joined by mindset coach Maria Newman - 2nd dan black belt, audiobook addict, and the woman who went from 15 years in corporate to building a business that actually lights her up. We dig into: why so many of us stay stuck even when we know we want change the three things that determine wh...

This week I'm joined by Abigail Langridge, founder of It's Your Time, who spent over 20 years as a PA before building a time management business that actually fits real life. We talk about: Why clearing your mental load comes before any calendar hack How to work with your natural energy rhythms instead of against them Why your diary should be a "moving target" rather than rigid...

Still undercharging - but no one's actually asked you to? You might be making pricing decisions that aren't yours to make. In this episode, I talk about one of the most quietly damaging habits she sees in self-employed women: deciding what clients can afford before they've said a single word. It feels like kindness. But it's removing a choice that was never yours to make - and...

The thing you nearly didn't say because it felt too obvious? That might be the most valuable thing you know. In this episode, I explore the expert blind spot - what happens when you've been living inside your knowledge so long you can no longer see its value. The closer you are to your own expertise, the harder it is to believe it's worth sharing. This episode is here to change that...

Busy but not moving forward? Always responding, never quite directing? That's the reactive business trap - and it's not just a productivity problem. It's a nervous system problem. In this episode, I unpack why constantly operating in reactive mode quietly dysregulates you - and what shifts when you choose, even in small ways, to get back in the driving seat of your business. In this...

Do you know the answer - but keep talking yourself out of it? In this episode, I explore three things that are really one thing: what happens when a driven, capable woman stops trusting herself, and what it looks and feels like when she starts again. We're talking about why being busy isn't the same as moving forward, why rest is one of the smartest business strategies you're probab...

From Stretched Thin to Strategically Focused (with Claire Callaghan) What happens when a highly skilled professional stops squeezing clients into every gap in her diary - and starts protecting her time instead? In this episode, I chat with Claire Callaghan, a chartered physiotherapist of nearly 30 years who has expanded her work to include women's health, wellness memberships, speaking engage...

Have you ever wondered why cold leads aren't flooding your DMs the way business coaches promise? In this honest, unscripted (and pretty vulnerable) episode, Sue shares the story of receiving her very first cold Instagram DM inquiry - after years of consistent online presence - and why that's completely normal. This episode is a reminder that social media highlight reels don't tell t...

Feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be everywhere online? In this episode of Pep Talks, I'm joined by Meg Hudson - aka Marketing Meg - a marketing mentor who helps business owners cut through the noise and build a focused marketing strategy that actually works. We get into why trying to do everything in your marketing is the fastest route to burnout and mediocrity, and what to do instead....

If you've been feeling flat, foggy, or like you're constantly running on empty, this episode is for you. I’m getting honest about letting my own workout routine drift - and the unexpected impact it had on my energy, my focus, and my business. This isn't a fitness episode. It's a conversation about the deep connection between physical movement and the inner energy that drives yo...

What does it actually take to build a thriving business without burning out? In this episode I'm joined by Tara Punter, founder of The Thriving Business Woman, coach, mentor and host of the Thrive in Life and Business podcast. Tara shares the raw story of the burnout that landed her in A&E alone during COVID - and exactly what she changed so it never happened again.  We talk about spottin...

Do you ever feel like you want to grow your business but simply don’t have the capacity? Many ambitious women get stuck in a cycle of overthinking and analysing because they worry that taking action will leave them even more overwhelmed. In this episode, I explore why the real issue often isn’t your workload, but the mental load of trying to hold the entire path forward in your head. When you focu...

In this episode I’m sharing a personal update about the evolution of my work and why I’m now stepping into the role of business mentor for ambitious women in business . After some recent market research conversations with clients and business owners, it became clear that the work I’m now truly known for is mentoring women to build sustainable businesses that support their lives, energy, and wellbe...

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Give to Gain and it's sparked a lot of debate. Many women already give huge amounts of their time, energy and care, often putting their own goals and wellbeing last. So what does Give to Gain really mean, especially for business owners? In this episode, I'm exploring the idea of generosity in business and why giving your time, energy...

If you are a self-employed mum trying to grow your business while managing family life, this conversation will land. Sue chats with Sarah, founder of Breathwork for Children CIC, about the realities of building a purpose-driven business without burning out. Sarah shares how she went from tutoring and working with home-educated children to launching a social enterprise supporting children, parents,...

Have you ever felt like you don’t quite belong? In this episode, I explore the “outsider” identity and how it shapes the way we show up in friendships, social spaces and business. As a natural introvert, I’ve often questioned my visibility, impact and place in the room, especially in louder, high-energy environments. We’ll talk about: • The hidden impact of feeling like an outsider • Introversion...

What do you do when you’re showing up consistently in your business, but it doesn’t feel like it’s working yet? In this episode of pepp talks , I’m sharing an honest reflection on consistency, comparison, and staying visible when the results aren’t obvious. Using my own podcast journey, I talk about the doubts that creep in, the impact of comparing yourself to others, and why consistency often fee...

Overwhelm doesn’t stay contained - it ripples outward. In this episode of Pepp Talks , Sue shares a powerful real-life story that reveals how stress, pressure, and emotional load are unconsciously mirrored by the people closest to us - especially our children. You’ll hear why self-care isn’t indulgent, what science says about emotional contagion and nervous system co-regulation, and how small shif...

In this episode, Sue Richards speaks with Jemma Pimlott, founder of Life Admin Hive, about building a business as an overwhelmed mum while carrying the mental load of family life, home education, and work. Jemma shares her journey from social worker and community nurse to business owner, and how years of self-doubt, ADHD, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome kept her stuck in preparation mode. She...

Are you putting everyone else first and leaving yourself until last? In this episode, Sue speaks directly to self-employed mums who feel stretched thin between their business, their family, and everyone else’s expectations. She explores why so many women prioritise relationships with others over their relationship with themselves - and the quiet cost this self-sacrifice has on energy, wellbeing, a...

As a mum building a business, it’s easy to feel ruled by obligation - family needs, school events, and the expectations you place on yourself. In this episode, Sue explores the powerful difference between having to do something and choosing to do it, and how “I have to” thinking can quietly drain your energy, increase guilt, and slow your business growth. Inspired by a real client conversation, Su...

In this episode, Sue shares why boundaries, structure and flexibility are the key to sustainable success for self-employed mums who want to avoid burnout and feel more at ease in life and business. Sue explores how each element works, why none of them works on its own, and how bringing them together can help you create a life and business that actually feels good to live inside - without burnout o...

In this episode, Sue shares a candid reflection from a weekend away with friends - and the powerful lessons it revealed about boundaries, energy, people-pleasing, and staying aligned during the festive season. You’ll hear: Why December can trigger old patterns and people-pleasing How to hold your boundaries when others push back What to do when your choices make people uncomfortable A simple minds...

Christmas overwhelm is real - but it’s not inevitable.  In this episode, I’m sharing why so many ambitious women reach December already exhausted, and how to break the cycle. We’ll explore boundaries, energy management, emotional load, and the small changes that make the biggest difference during the festive season. If you want a calmer Christmas with less stress and more presence, this episode is...