Starting the Conversation

In the FIRST episode of the new format, I'm sitting down with one of my fav work pals (and a past guest of this podcast), Fiona Grayson, to have a good old chat about the reality of running a business when your personal life goes a little downhill. In the past 8 months both Fi and I have gone through breakups and it's safe to say there's a whole lot we didn't expect around how this would impact wh...

Transitioning your side-hustle into a full time business is incredibly exciting, but there's no denying that it's a huge deal and comes along with a unique set of challenges. Whilst it's not something I've experienced myself, I know how beneficial it is to hear the honest experiences of others who have done the same. Enter, Anna Dunleavy. If you're not familiar with Anna, she really does define th...

As it's Mental Health Awareness week, I've partnered with planning and productivity extraordinaire Josephine Brookes to discuss our experiences of mental health whilst building a business on both of our podcasts.   If you're not already familiar with Josephine, she's a planning and productivity mentor for side-hustlers and an all round lovely human. Her philosophy is all about doing less and focus...

If you're not already familiar with Linda Blacker, I can't wait for you to listen to this episode and get to know the London based Creative Director, Photographer and Set Designer. From 20 th Century Fox to Blogosphere Magazine and Stand Up To Cancer, Linda's distinctive style and diverse portfolio is incredibly impressive.  In this episode, I sat down with Linda to chat about all things creative,...

Something I'm all about exploring here on the podcast is not only the impact running a business has on us as business owners, but also how it can affect those closest to us. It's safe to say that the dynamics of my friendships have shifted since I started my business. Through experience, I've discovered that expecting friends to be followers/supporters of my work is an unhealthy line to draw, for...

If you're familiar with my story, you'll know I begun my business at age 17 and over the years, have definitely noticed the impact that starting so young has had on both me and my work. To explore this topic, I thought I'd sit down with a guest who shares a similar story... Polly Vadasz is the illustrator and shop owner behind Sighh Studio - a stationery & accessories brand selling beautifully and...

As one girl bands, our businesses directly flow from who we are... so it makes sense that the more self aware we are about our strengths & weakness', the better we can show up within and serve our business'. Becoming conscious of where I fall short and taking action to counteract that weakness is something I'm continuing to find value in as I level up my business. Whilst this episode feels a littl...

Whilst it's a topic we rarely talk about, having no clients / struggling with cash flow / feeling a bit like we're failing is something so many of us can relate to. When I experienced a 'season' (hate that word...) of this last year, I was so overcome with shame and guilt that I kept it to myself. Since things have shifted, it's been remarkable to share my story and see how many others are finding...

As someone with anxiety, the prospect of attending 'business' events (cue big crowds, new people and foreign venues) has never been an easy thing for me. And whilst 4 years ago I couldn't even get on a train without ending up in a total state, I now find myself turning up to events with a sense of confidence, despite that daunted feeling not going away. But don't be fooled, it's not been an overni...

Love insta stories but feel like a total fool when showing your face? Find other talking to camera stories a little dull and don't want to add to the pile? If so, this episode is for you! As someone who feels a little too comfortable talking into a phone, I'm sharing tips for gaining confidence, showing your face and most importantly, keeping it engaging for your followers.  _____ Find the show no...

If you're familiar with this podcast, you'll know I'm a little efficiency obsessed. Anything which promises to save me time, make me more productive and ultimately give me more freedom to work ON my business is a total winner for me. In the first of this weeks' #Take5 episodes, I'm sharing 5 apps which have helped to streamline my business. Ready to let technology work in your favour and up your e...

When I first heard the story of todays guest, I knew it wouldn't be one I'd forget easily.   Today's guest Syreeta runs lifestyle store and studio MOSS, a brand which was born from a desire to create light out of darkness after her partner Rob suffered a brain haemorrhage and stroke in 2014 and their lives suddenly changed forever. I found myself in complete awe of her courage, kindness and abilit...

Welcome to the 50 th episode of Starting The Conversation! Uploaded exactly a year to date since the podcast first launched! I've loved hosting this podcast over the last twelve months and sharing the real-life narrative of running a business with you and I'm so happy you're tuning in to listen.   To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to bring something a little different to this podcast episode a...

This episode feels totally full circle for me. The Creative Leap podcast hosted by today's guest was actually the very first podcast I ever listened to and something that sparked me to start my own podcast journey a year ago. I reached out to Cat for some advice back then and she also happened to be my first ever guest on here too. It only felt right to mark a year of Starting The Conversation wit...

If you've been connecting with me for a while, you'll know I recently had a very exciting launch within my business – Gather & Grow, a workshop style retreat for female entrepreneurs. In my usual style, I jumped head first into the launch, ready to figure out the details as I went along and trusting that things would all come together eventually – because things always work out in the end don't th...

Sustainability is a hot topic right now and for many of us, building this into our business is something we're all become more and more conscious of. From reaching a manageable workload to lowering the impact you have on the environment, today's guest is certainly doing her part. After falling in love with Cath's stationery designs last year and using her desk pad every single day, I knew I needed...

Would your business survive without Instagram? Survive may seem like a bit of an extreme word, but in actual fact, so many business' solely rely on the app to market their goods or services.   It's understandable. Instagram is 'the place to be' for many of us; it feels fun, relevant, and natural, so why work harder to develop other platforms if Insta is already working for you? Sound about right?...

The start of the year isn't always the easiest. You're transitioning back into work after taking time off, everyone seems to be adding to the noise of 'new year new me' and you're sat questioning if you're capable of reaching the goals you're setting… This episode is a total must listen if you're resonating with any of the above. I sat down with Sophie French (mindset message coach and total babe)...

Curious about how others are finding getting 'back to it' after taking a break from work? Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the looming tax return deadline? Well this episode is most certainly for you. I sat down with Julia Day (financial coach and overall lovely person) to chat about our experience of easing back into work after the Christmas break and how we're utilising the 'new year new me' spirit...

Whilst 'new year new me' isn't my thing, I'm all for using any opportunity to look ahead, set intentions and get my tiny brain in gear. So in the first episode of 2019, I'm talking all things INTENTIONS. Tune in to discover just how I did at achieving my 2018 intentions, find out the personal and business intentions I've set for 2019, get some tips for sustainable goal setting and learn about how...

It's safe to say that this has been a pretty full on year for my business… Through a whole host of highs, lows, challenges and achievements, the past 12 months have been rich in lessons. If you fancy gaining an insight into my business this year, tune into this episode to discover 5 truths my business has taught me (and is continuing to remind me of) within 2018. PS - this is the FINAL episode of...

Confession. My phone usage often totals 7+ hours a day. Pretty awful right? Well, whilst I'm taking a much-needed break from work this Christmas, I'm committed to stepping back from and breaking up with my phone. We can shut our laptops, clear our calendars and put our out of office on, however our phones make it very easy to slip back into work mode which is why in this episode I'm sharing the ac...

In the first of two bonus episodes released today, I'm sharing what it's taken for me to plan my first proper Christmas break and exactly how I've made it happen. I rarely take real time away from my business, however right now, 2 whole weeks of no work at all feels very needed. I couldn't find much out there to help me make it happen hence these two bonus episodes. It's no secret that resting awa...

Now that the year is coming to a close and 2019 feels scarily close, I've been reflecting on how my business has developed over the last twelve months. Investing in my business (with both time and money) has created significant growth this year and I've seen a direct link between intentionally putting time and money into my business and seeing the benefits because of this. In my latest episode, I'...