The Platespinning Academy Podcast

After what was only supposed to be a weeks break, the Platespinning Academy Podcast is back after eight months. This raw and humble episode shows the reality of living life after burnout and simply not being able to spin all of the plates, no matter how badly you want to make things work. I discuss outsourcing and the gap between desperately needing to do it, but not quite having the finances bein...

Building and running a business is often a lonely activity if you're a Solopreneur. Unless you are highly self-motivated, laser focused and super committed, it can be demoralising when curveballs hit, or when sales aren’t coming in quickly enough. Business is tough for everyone! There are no quick wins – it’s a marathon not a sprint. Having moral support whilst you’re on your business journey...

Many people have an overwhelming desire to contribute and make the world a better place, and some choose to do that work by building a business that supports that purpose. Building a legacy is more than just running a business however. Whilst we still need to make enough money to live off, building a legacy through business is so much more than just an income. It becomes a way of life and is inter...

Managing and prioritising our own wellbeing whilst already feeling overwhelmed and at capacity can be a tough one to manage alongside our general day to day stresses. Add in the current weight of the world on our shoulders which is unbearably heavy for many people right now, and it can feel an almost impossible task. With our own personal wellbeing ultimately being OUR responsibility and no one el...

With annual World Book Day celebrations upon us again, many schools will be participating in one way or another. The pressure for kids to dress up can often be too much for already overwhelmed parents and caregivers, and if we don’t make it happen we may be left with feelings of guilt, and feel like we’re failing for not making more of an effort. Having raised my bio kids during the 1990’s and 200...

Many Entrepreneurs find themselves more prone to burnout than the average person. There is always work to do, and being natural high achievers, we always want to do our best and succeed. But at what cost to our physical, mental and emotional health? Some Neurodiverse traits can also bring with them unhealthy patterns of boom and bust when it comes to productivity, accomplishment, and pacing (or la...

As a parent/carer, running a business during the half term and end of term school holidays can feel impossible at times. With so many distractions going on, is it any wonder a lot of entrepreneur parents feel disillusioned at the thought of keeping things going, knowing that income and visibility will be affected should they decide to take time out when the kids are off. Because a lot of parents/c...

This episode is a special one, I’m joined by the brilliant Dawn Baxter, a multi-passionate entrepreneur, single mother, and someone who truly understands the highs and lows of carving out a life on your own terms. We get into the big conversations around living in the present, building a meaningful legacy, and the impact of empathy, especially when navigating the challenges of being neurodiverse i...

They say, “It takes a village,” but what happens when your village doesn’t quite understand your self-employment journey? I explore what “the village” looks like when you’re your own boss and why finding the right support system is absolutely vital. When I transitioned from traditional employment to self-employment, I quickly realised that not everyone in my immediate circle could relate. The lack...

Time blocking - it’s a productivity tool that can transform your day, but only if it’s done right. I share how time blocking has shaped my approach to balancing business and life, and how it can do the same for you. I compare it to the structured school timetables we all grew up with and talk about why discipline is still crucial, even when self-employment offers the freedom to set your own schedu...

Keeping up with housework can feel like an endless battle, but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, I share my 5-step system for organising household chores - designed to make life easier, not more stressful. Inspired by the structure of my fire service days, this system breaks housework down into manageable steps, so you can stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed. To make i...

When you work from home, the line between work and life can blur into one big, messy tangle. In this episode, I talk about the concept of “clocking off” and how it’s so much harder to achieve when your office is also your living room, kitchen, or spare bedroom. Back in the day, traditional workplaces had time clocks to mark the start and end of the workday - a clear boundary that many of us workin...

Creativity isn’t just a hobby - it’s a lifeline. In this episode, I share my journey of carving out creative time and why it’s so essential, especially when life feels overwhelming. From my days as an eBay reseller to discovering furniture painting as a therapeutic outlet during tough times, creativity has always been a way for me to find balance and breathe through the chaos. Even while running a...

We often hear the saying, “It takes a village,” but what happens when that village just isn’t there? In this episode, I reflect on the idea of “the village” and what it means when you’re building a business or raising a family without that crucial support system. I share my personal story of raising stepchildren alone after their mother passed away - a time when chaos was constant, and survival me...

Let’s talk about housework—the real kind, not the picture-perfect version we see on social media. In this episode, I share my thoughts on the unrealistic pressure to keep a “perfect” home and why it’s time to ditch the guilt and embrace realistic, personalised goals for your space. I’ve spent time in online cleaning forums (trust me, it’s a journey), and one thing became clear: there’s no one-size...

The mental load - it’s that constant, invisible juggling act of thinking, planning, and managing that keeps life running smoothly, yet it often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. In this episode, I dive into what the mental load really is, why it matters, and how it can take a toll on our well-being, especially for those of us trying to balance it all. I share my own experience of running a househo...

Meal planning for a family can feel like a never-ending challenge—deciding what to eat, managing dietary needs, and keeping meals both healthy and interesting. In this episode, I share my personal experience of cooking for a large family, tackling food allergies, and the struggles of avoiding processed foods while still making life manageable. We’ll talk about the reality of forgotten meal prep le...

Burnout isn’t just about feeling tired—it’s your body’s way of saying “enough is enough.” From chronic fatigue in 2002 to Fibromyalgia in 2018 and even a heart attack at 45,  I know firsthand how burnout can creep up like a frog in boiling water—slowly, until it’s too late. I chat about why it’s so important to recognise your limits, set boundaries, and build systems that support your well-being....

Stepping into self-employment can feel like freedom, but here’s the catch - you might end up being your own worst boss. In this episode, I’m talking about how to avoid that trap by adopting a CEO mindset and creating your own employment contract. When you’re self-employed, it’s easy to let work hours creep longer, skip breaks, or overcommit yourself. That’s why I recommend setting clear terms for...

Have you ever wondered where all your time actually goes? I’m diving into the game-changing practice of time tracking - a crucial first step before you can master time blocking or effective scheduling. Time tracking is about more than just jotting down tasks; it’s about understanding how long things truly take and weaving that knowledge into your day-to-day routine. My experience with time audits...

Is self-employment really a choice, or is it sometimes a necessity? This is something I’ve thought about a lot, and in this episode, I’m sharing my own journey to unpack it. For me, the idea of self-employment started to take shape out of frustration with traditional jobs. The inflexibility, the lack of control - it was draining. I’ll never forget being disciplined at work for something as simple...

Hey there, and welcome to the very first episode of The Platespinning Academy Podcast ! I’m Nic Davies, productivity mentor, entrepreneur, and someone who knows all too well what it’s like to try and keep all those plates spinning without letting them come crashing down. Over the years, I’ve juggled multiple businesses, projects, and personal commitments, and let me tell you—it hasn’t always been...

Let’s talk about self-care—the kind that doesn’t get the Instagram spotlight. I’m diving into what I like to call "unsexy self-care" because, while bubble baths and spa days are great, they’re not the real foundation of looking after ourselves. In this episode, I’m getting real about the basics: drinking enough water, eating proper meals (at the right times and in the right portions), an...