The Midlife Entrepreneur

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, host Jo welcomes Sophie Fawcett, a brand strategist, cancer survivor, and the founder of TONIC, pioneering medical apparel. Sophie shares her inspiring journey from shaping major UK fashion brands, to founding TONIC after experiencing the inadequacies of traditional hospital wear through her own shoulder surgery. With sustainability and thoughtf...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo talks to Carol Lovell, the adventurous founder of Stow London, a luxury handbag and accessories brand known for its British design and Spanish craftsmanship.  Carol shares her inspiring journey from launching Stow in 2013, navigating the rapid growth, handling personal and business challenges, to making the bold decision to step back in...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, Jo interviews Louise Webster, a communication specialist and founder of Beyond the School Run, an award-winning platform dedicated to empowering mothers by utilising their skills and talents. Louise shares her inspiring journey from working in PR with major brands to addressing the barriers mothers face in the workforce. She details the evolutio...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, host Jo interviews Hansine Johnston, the founder and creative director of Hansine, a resort wear brand known for its sophisticated silhouettes and modern bohemian aesthetic. Hansine shares insights into her multicultural upbringing, her pivot from a career in fashion sales with Valentino and Armani to launching her brand at 45. She discusses how...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo invites Joanna Jensen, founder of Child's Farm, to share her inspiring journey of building and selling an award-winning children's skincare brand. Joanna discusses the emotional highs and lows of selling her business, navigating investment challenges, and the critical importance of resilience. She also introduces her book, &apo...

Embracing Flexibility as a Midlife Entrepreneur  Join Jo on the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast's season two finale as she reflects on valuable lessons learned about flexibility. Listen to conversations with inspiring business founders like Clare from Mini Mozart, Florence from Bellevue Law, Priya from Nudea, Julia Collins, and Lucy Yeomans of Drest, emphasising the importance of adaptability in...

In this penultimate episode of season 2 of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo is joined by Clare Shaw, founder of Mini Mozart, a London-based music education company specialising in live classical music classes for babies and toddlers.  Established in 2005, Mini Mozart offers interactive sessions led by professional musicians, combining live performances, storytelling, and sensory activities to...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur, Jo is joined by Emma Knight, an award-winning book publicist and founder of Studio 49, a communications agency specialising in book publicity.  Together, they delve into Emma's journey of founding her own agency after 20 years in employment, discussing the challenges and rewards of taking such a bold step in midlife.  Emma shares insights into her...

In this episode of the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo interviews Florence Brocklesby, a lawyer and the founder of Bellevue Law, a B Corp certified boutique law firm which specialises in workplace law and commercial disputes. Florence discusses her journey from working at large international law firms to creating Bellevue Law from her garden office after struggling to find a firm that accomm...

In this episode of the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo welcomes Priya Downes, the founder and CEO of Nudea, an ethical and sustainable underwear and sleepwear brand. Priya shares her inspiring journey from working at the World Bank and luxury fashion houses like Chanel and Burberry, to launching and growing Nudea. She discusses the pivotal moments that led her to focus on creating comfortabl...

In this episode of the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, Jo welcomes Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey, stylist, journalist, and founder of The FairGround, a digital marketplace for purpose-led brands. Ginnie discusses her transition from British Vogue to entrepreneurship, her dedication to promoting sustainable shopping, and the challenges and rewards of launching The FairGround. The conversation covers topics...

In this episode Jo interviews Anna Foster, the founder and creative director of E.L.V. Denim, an innovative up-cycling fashion brand. Anna shares her journey from a 20-year career as a fashion editor to creating a brand that challenges the norms of overconsumption in fashion. She discusses the pivotal moments that led her to question the industry and her role in it, the challenges and breakthrough...

In this episode of the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, Jo interviews Julia Collins, founder of Collins and Green Art, a vintage art gallery based in West London.  Julia shares her journey of transitioning from a 15-year career in finance to pursuing her passion for art after a 20-year sabbatical to raise her family.  After her children left for university, Julia started Collins and Green Art, which...

To kick off the second season of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo welcomes Lucy Yeomans, founder and co-CEO of Drest, the innovative fashion styling app that’s transforming the way we interact with luxury fashion through gaming and technology. They discuss her remarkable career and the innovative fashion styling app that's merging luxury fashion with gamification. From her transforma...

Reflecting on The First Season of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast Jo wraps up the inaugural season of the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast by sharing heartfelt thoughts and insights from the show. She emphasises the importance of honesty, integrity, and authenticity and thanks her guests for sharing their journeys.  She discusses the purpose of her podcast: to inspire and motivate midlife individuals...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, Jo interviews Claire van Bekkum, co-owner of Monuskin, a UK-based skincare brand. Claire shares her journey from a successful 20-year publishing career to becoming a midlife entrepreneur alongside her husband Laurent. She discusses how they redefined the Monuskin brand, redesigned the packaging, and launched innovative skincare lines. Claire als...

In this episode of the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo talks to Gabby O'Connor, Founder of Iris Organics, an independent organic candle and diffuser business.  Gabby shares her journey from an HR and recruitment career in London to motherhood in Buckinghamshire, where she developed her passion for alternative medicines and essential oils into a thriving business. She speaks candidly abo...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, Jo Glynn-Smith interviews Abigail Wilmore, a prominent HR leader, CEO and founder of People Flow. Abigail shares her career journey from starting at the shop floor to becoming a Chief People Officer at top fashion brands like Tom Ford and Stella McCartney. She discusses the inspiration behind her career shift to HR, the challenges she faced, and...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur, Jo sits down with Instagram specialist Kirsty Raper, founder of Rebuildagram and Co-founder of Reels Rockstars. Kirsty discusses her journey from a City career in PR and communications to launching a social media training business during the pandemic.  She shares personal stories including the tragic loss of her husband, the challenges of single parenth...

In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo interviews Anna Mason, a fashion designer and entrepreneur from London. Anna shares her inspiring journey, starting from her early aspirations to her education at the Royal College in London, and working with fashion giants like Karl Lagerfeld, Max Mara, and Valentino. Anna talks about the challenges and triumphs of launching her own label in...

Building a Nutritional Brand: Jennifer Mo on the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast In this episode, Jo interviews Jennifer Mo, a nutritional formulations expert and co-founder of the award-winning brand Pura Collagen. Jennifer shares her extensive background in sports nutrition, anatomy, and bioscience, highlighting her journey from a college athlete to a professional working with elite athletes and sp...

Starting Over: A Midlife Entrepreneur's Journey with Juliet Fallowfield In this episode, Jo interviews Juliet Fallowfield, a seasoned PR professional and podcaster with over 25 years of experience with luxury brands like Burberry, Chanel, and De Beers. Juliet shares her transition from a corporate career to founding her own PR and podcast consultancy, Fallowfield and Mason, in 2020 amidst per...

Sasha Wilkins: From Fashion Journalism to Found by Sasha Wilkins  In this episode of the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast, host Jo speaks with Sasha Wilkins, a renowned journalist, broadcaster, author, and founder of Found by Sasha Wilkins, an antiques business specialising in 19th-century English ceramics. Sasha discusses her diverse career, from her pioneering days of blogging with Liberty London Gi...

This is a show that’s all about building a business in midlife. At a time when many of us will be living into our 100s and possibly working into our 80s, career pivoting in midlife is not going to be just a trend, it will become a necessity. Each episode Jo will be sitting down with a different business owner to explore their personal stories and learn from their business journeys.  Inspired by he...