The Midlife Entrepreneur

This week Jo sits down with Anna Richards, founder and CEO of FrolicMe, to discuss building a female-led ethical erotica platform in midlife and redefining how adult content can centre female pleasure, consent, and authentic connection. Anna shares how a lack of erotic content reflecting women’s desires led her to start a blog in 2013–14, then launch FrolicMe in 2015 with 20 self-produced films al...

This week Jo sits down with Thea Green MBE, founder of Nails INC. and Holler & Glow, to share three ways British brands can succeed in America. First, Thea says distribution is your best advert: focus on one key retail partner where you’ll get strong visibility, prove performance with clean data, and consider short-term exclusivity rather than spreading thinly across multiple retailers with po...

Building Aspiga: Sustainable Fashion, Slow Growth, and ADHD in Entrepreneurship This week Jo speaks with Lucy Macnamara, founder of Aspiga, an award-winning sustainable fashion brand built on ethical production and positive impact. Lucy shares how she started with 250 hand-beaded sandals from Kenya sold through friends while working full time, then left her charity role after gaining early wholesa...

15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Increase Engagement on Instagram with Milla Richardson This week Jo sits down with Milla Richardson, Instagram expert and founder of Pink Storm Social, to share three ways to increase engagement on Instagram, explaining that engagement now includes comments, saves, shares and DMs and directly impacts reach via the algorithm. First, Milla advises grabbing attention...

Maxine Laceby: Starting Absolute Collagen at 50 and building a £30m DTC Brand This week Jo sits down with Maxine Laceby, co-founder of Absolute Collagen, to discuss how she built a pioneering liquid collagen, direct-to-consumer brand in midlife. After 25 years as a stay-at-home mum, turning 50 and studying fine art led Maxine to a self-identity project, “Dare to Go Bare,” and a wellbeing journey t...

This week Jo sits down with AI expert, broadcaster, and AI Method founder Georgie Barrat to share three ways to scale productivity with AI.  First, Georgie advises “onboarding” your AI like a new employee by creating an AI blueprint: a North Star vision document, ideal audience details, and “voice DNA” samples for emails, newsletters, and social posts, stored via tools like memory, projects, or cu...

From City Marketer to Heirloom Seed Disruptor: Kate Cotterill on Building She Grows Veg in Midlife Jo kicks off a new season by speaking with Kate Cotterill, CEO and co-founder of She Grows Veg, an heirloom seed company launched in November 2023 with Instagram grower Lucy Hutchings. Kate shares how a garden design course led to their partnership, how Lucy’s 120,000-strong following revealed pent-u...

Jo hosts the 15 Minute Masterclass and interviews Mirry Christie, CEO and founder of Be. Able, about three ways to lead with more purpose and positive impact. Mirry advises starting with the business by identifying priority social and environmental focus areas, engaging teams beyond the boardroom, and making practical improvements that add brand value, reduce waste, improve staff wellbeing and ret...

This week’s guest is Zoe Levey, founder of Wildflower Press and editor of Wildflower Magazine. With over two decades in senior commercial roles across major magazine titles, Zoe left Conde Nast in 2017 after her son’s SEN diagnosis to create more flexibility, moved to the Cotswolds, and launched an independent publishing business designed to feel special, seasonal, and collectible. Eight years on,...

In this episode of the 15 Minute Masterclass Jo Glynn-Smith chats to Camilla Newman, co-founder of Baillie Newman, who shares three ways to create events with impact that build memories and shift brand perception. First, she advises “engineer the feeling” by prioritising how guests feel from arrival, then choreographing the event’s cadence with connection points, surprise, momentum, and a strong f...

In this episode Jo chats to Amanda Hall, co-founder of Beck and Hall, a luxury relocation service that goes beyond removals to deliver fully installed, home-ready moves (layouts, installations, stocked cupboards, flowers) using trusted specialist partners, with recognition from media including Condé Nast Property, House & Garden, and Vogue.  Amanda explains how the end of her 23-year marriage,...

Jo speaks with Rebecca Hopkins, co-founder of Balance Me, a B Corp certified skincare brand rooted in science and naturally active, clinically backed formulas. Marking 20 years in business, Hopkins shares three ways to maintain brand relevance: evolve brand expression without losing the brand’s core essence, amplifying what the brand can authentically and legitimately own (including clinical credi...

Jo hosts The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast and interviews Nadia Hussein, a multi award-winning hair and makeup artist, educator, and founder of Hair Loving, a UK-made brand supporting women experiencing hair loss from menopause, postpartum changes, PCOS, cancer treatment, and hormonal shifts.  Nadia shares being diagnosed with early menopause at 18 due to thalassemia-related iron overload damaging...

Jo interviews Caroline Goyder, speaker coach and author of Gravitas, about three ways to be yourself as a public speaker. Caroline explains that many people fear speaking due to past experiences of judgment and offers practical tools to feel safer and more authentic.  First, shift focus from impressing to asking “How can I help?” by understanding what the audience needs and simplifying the message...

This episode features Chloe Luxton, founder and creative director of Bramley, a B Corp-certified bath, body and wellbeing brand known for its natural essential-oil blends and a sustainable ethos. Chloe shares her background from Paperchase to Cowshed at Soho House, and how Bramley began in 2009 when she couldn’t find a natural, soulful, beautiful bathroom product range for her husband Charlie’s co...

Jo is joined by Anna Youngson, a retail and merchandising expert and founder of Majury Merchandising, who helps fashion founders make smarter data-led decisions to grow profit. Anna shares three ways to maximise sales opportunities: (1) know your customer, using the fundamentals of the five rights of merchandising - right product, right price, right place, right quantity, and right time; (2) alway...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast Jo chats to Sophie Rowell, interior designer and founder of Cote de Folk.  Sophie shares her transition from a 24-year career in fashion styling and art direction to interiors after a difficult period that included her marriage breaking down, becoming a single mother, her best friend dying of cancer, and a health crisis that prompted her to rethi...

In this episode of the 15 Minute Masterclass, Jo interviews Rachel Carvell-Spedding, Founder and CEO of Navygrey, a B Corp certified clothing brand specialising in high-quality knitwear. Rachel shares three critical strategies for building brand loyalty, community, and trust: 'Tell the truth,' 'Make people feel something,' and 'Keep showing up.'  She underscores the i...

Join Jo on The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast as she converses with Helen Hopkins, also known as the Mealtime Maverick. Helen, a batch cooking specialist, wellness coach, and author with a massive online following, shares her entrepreneurial journey from going viral on Instagram in 2024 to publishing her first book, Mix and Match Batch. Helen discusses the pressures and rewards of her newfound fame,...

In this episode of the 15 Minute Masterclass, Jo is joined by Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole, for an insightful discussion on elevating networking skills. Helen breaks down the common misconceptions about networking and emphasizes the importance of shifting your mindset from 'networking' to 'connecting.' She shares practical tips including going in with an open mindset, bein...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo introduces Michelle Pughe-Parry de Klerk, the founder of the Women's Chapter, a community fostering the growth of women in business. Since 2014, the Women's Chapter has reached over 30,000 women through events, thought leadership, mentoring, and initiatives, becoming the first women's network in the UK to achieve B Corp certifi...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, hosted by Jo Glynn-Smith, the focus is on new plans for the upcoming year. Jo celebrates a successful first year of the podcast, expresses gratitude to listeners, and introduces exciting new features. These include the '15 Minute Masterclass' series, aiming to provide expert advice on various business topics. Jo emphasises the importan...

In this special end-of-season and year-end episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, host Jo reflects on her journey of nearly a year in podcasting, emphasising the key theme of resilience learned from her conversations with various entrepreneurs. Jo then passes the microphone to her summer interns, Song and Issie, who interview her about her career pivot at the age of 47, the challenges she fa...

This week on The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo interviews Katherine Elphick, marketing consultant, web designer, and founder of Elphick & Co., a boutique Shopify agency. Katherine shares her unique journey transitioning from art history at Christie's to working with luxury brands like LVMH and Burberry, and eventually running her own successful e-commerce development business focused o...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo welcomes Emma Pratt, founder of Elsie and Tom Candles. Emma shares her inspiring journey from her career in legal marketing to overcoming a stroke at 42, which left her unable to walk, talk, or see properly.  During her recovery, Emma rediscovered her creative passion, leading to the creation of her natural home fragrance and cosmetics b...