Women's Business

• #93: Knee Deep In Life, Healing and Humour with Laura Belbin

  In this episode I speak to the inimitable Laura Belbin, better known as Knee Deep in Life on Instagram. Laura is an author, podcaster, and standup comedian who has used comedy to find light in the darkest of times. This conversation covers it all - from her early career experiences, her journey through therapy, dealing with childhood trauma, and how she discovered her true calling in comedy and completely reimagined and restarted her life. Laura shares the impact of her viral moments online, the challenges of being an influencer, and how she balances humor with raw honesty. This is an insightful and heartfelt story, full of self-reflection and moments of humour, moments of clarity, and moments of total openness. A must listen.  Find Laura on Instagram here  Join me on Instagram here  -------------- This episode is supported by April & White, a brand built on a passion to fuel the imagination of children everywhere, not least with their beautiful bespoke letters from Father Christmas for your little ones.  Sonia the founder approaches every product with an eye for beauty and detail to really keep the magic alive for your little believers, applying calligraphy by hand so that every letter and envelope is unique, personalised, and magical. Alongside her letters from Santa Sonia has a glorious selection of stocking fillers to make your kids' Christmas even more special, from beautifully boxed reindeer food to North Pole chocolate pennies and reindeer bells and even a magical memory journal to capture the sparkle and wonder of their Christmas. Order your letters from father Christmas by 5th December to be sure to receive them in time for the big day, and check out aprilandwhite.co.uk to shop now. Magic awaits. --------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS  01:24 Meet Laura Belbin: Knee Deep in Life 02:50 Laura's Early Life and Career Aspirations 04:34 Navigating Adulthood and Early Career 14:42 The Birth of Knee Deep in Life 18:35 Going Viral and Its Aftermath 19:30 Comedy as a Coping Mechanism 20:36 Therapy and Self-Discovery 38:39 Challenges of Content Creation 44:09 Authenticity and Online Presence 45:30 Handling Online Criticism 47:12 Personal Growth and Boundaries 49:58 Parenting and Personal Struggles 54:06 The Journey of Self-Discovery 58:58 Motherhood and Real-Life Challenges 01:03:21 The Importance of Compassion 01:06:48 Embracing Imperfection 01:23:26 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

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• #92 From Farm Life to Global Brand: Dani Pearce on Building Merry People

  In this episode I speak to Dani Pearce, founder of the globally successful footwear brand Merry People. We start with Dani's early memories of farm life in Australia, her journey through various jobs, and the idea she had that led to her launching her brand. Dani shares how she navigated her company's growth, including securing her first factory in China, selling at farmer's markets, and transitioning to e-commerce. We also delve deep into her personal life, discussing the impact of motherhood on her career, her husband becoming the primary caregiver for their kids, and the importance of maintaining kindness and authenticity as a leader. Tune in for a candid conversation about resilience, growth, and staying true to oneself in business. Find Merry People online here  Find Merry People on Instagram here  Join the conversation with me on Instagram here  ----------- This episode is supported by April & White, a brand built on a passion to fuel the imagination of children everywhere, not least with their beautiful bespoke letters from Father Christmas for your little ones. Sonia the founder approaches every product with an eye for beauty and detail to really keep the magic alive for your little believers, applying calligraphy by hand so that every letter and envelope is unique, personalised, and magical. Alongside her letters from Santa Sonia has a glorious selection of stocking fillers to make your kids' Christmas even more special, from beautifully boxed reindeer food to North Pole chocolate pennies and reindeer bells and even a magical memory journal to capture the sparkle and wonder of their Christmas. Order your letters from father Christmas by 5th December to be sure to receive them in time for the big day, and check out aprilandwhite.co.uk to shop now. Magic awaits.  --------- Episode Highlights 01:20 Meet Dani Pearce: Founder of Merry People 02:25 Danny's Early Life and Career Beginnings 09:47 The Birth of Merry People 28:32 Challenges and Early Struggles 32:27 Balancing Side Jobs and Business Growth 35:37 Yearly Growth and Digital Shift 37:30 Going Global: US and UK Expansion 43:43 Balancing Motherhood and Business 54:45 Future Plans and Retail Expansion 58:17 Leadership and Personal Growth 01:02:22 Final Thoughts and Advice  

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• #91 Redefining Support: From Construction to Lingerie with Nicola Fitzpatrick

  In this episode I speak to Nicola Fitzpatrick, the founder of Elansu, a sports bra brand for fuller-busted women. Nicola's journey is truly fascinating, as she transitioned from a career in the male-dominated roofing industry to designing supportive sports bras to meet her own needs - bras that celebrated AND supported her feminine shape rather than just squashing it. We delve into her early work experiences, her foray into construction, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Nicola shares her motivations behind starting Elansu and the meticulous process of creating a sports bra that truly supports fuller-busted women. We also discuss the systemic gender biases in various industries and the importance of representation and resilience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in breaking barriers and creating products that matter. Find Elansu on Instagram here Shop Elansu here Join me on Instagram here  ------- This episode is brought to you by Victoria Whittington Financial Planning. Victoria knows how easy it is to put off sorting your finances. Life is busy. Work, family, and everything else always seem to take priority. That's why her advice is clear, jargon-free, and designed to fit around your life, not the other way round. Her role is to help you turn what you want for the future into a clear plan, break it into manageable steps, and give you the support to keep going until you get there. If you'd like to have a friendly, no-pressure chat about what financial planning could do for you book a no-obligation 30-minute session here.  Victoria Whittington Financial Planning is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.   ----------- 01:20 Meet Nicola Fitzpatrick: From Roofing to Sports Bras 02:33 Nicola's Early Work Experiences 05:24 Navigating Career Paths and Family Expectations 07:36 Challenges and Triumphs in the Construction Industry 12:22 Gender Bias and Representation in Construction 30:10 The Decision to Start Elansu 34:59 Designing for Women's Needs in Sportswear 35:30 Challenges in Women's Health Research 37:07 The Journey of Creating a Sports Bra 39:55 Prototyping and Testing 45:02 Balancing Quality and Pricing 50:02 Empowering Women Through Design 57:08 Personal Reflections and Advice 01:03:48 Resilience and Final Thoughts  

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• #90 Fearless Female Leadership and Blending Purpose with Profit with Chloe Fallon

  Join me as I speak to Chloe Fallon, founder of Lodestar Accounting. Chloe shares her journey from growing up in a single-parent household to founding her own accountancy firm, alongside starting her own family very young and having the build both alongside each other. We discuss her early career, the pressures of balancing work and family life, her fearless approach to leadership, and the pivotal moment that helped her to focus on purpose and impact over conventional measures of success, as she went about building her all-female team of accountants. Learn about Chloe's mission to support values-driven businesses and her commitment to providing a work environment that integrates work and life. It's a story is one of resilience, balance, and purposeful leadership. Find Chloe on LinkedIn here Find Lodestar on Instagram here  Find Lodestar's website here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here  ----------- This episode is brought to you by Victoria Whittington Financial Planning. Victoria knows how easy it is to put off sorting your finances. Life is busy. Work, family, and everything else always seem to take priority. That's why her advice is clear, jargon-free, and designed to fit around your life, not the other way round. Her role is to help you turn what you want for the future into a clear plan, break it into manageable steps, and give you the support to keep going until you get there. If you'd like to have a friendly, no-pressure chat about what financial planning could do for you book a no-obligation 30-minute session here.  Victoria Whittington Financial Planning is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. ------------ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 02:48 Chloe Fallon's Early Work Memories 06:10 University and Career Beginnings 13:02 Balancing Career and Motherhood 17:21 Founding LodEstar Accounting 24:42 Building a Female-Led Remote Team 29:20 Leadership and Personal Reflections 31:27 The Importance of Leadership and Legacy 33:38 Finding the Right Clients and Values Alignment 35:11 The 80% Rule and Outsourcing for Growth 37:50 Challenges of Being a Female Founder 41:34 Evolving Leadership Styles 53:12 Balancing Business and Personal Life 55:53 Reflecting on Success and Personal Growth 01:04:28 Final Thoughts and Contact Information  

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• #89 From Crippling Debt to Financial Freedom with Clare Seal

  In this episode, I speak to financial coach, writer and podcaster Clare Seal. Clare shares her journey from racking up £27,000 in personal debt to becoming a financial educator and influencer. We discuss the decision to share her debt journey online, the steps she took to get out of debt, and the impact of motherhood on her financial decisions. Clare also dives into the importance of financial education for children and how parents can break the cycle of financial shame. We touch on the systemic struggles women face in balancing career and family life and discuss Clare's podcast 'Help Me, I'm Poor,' which explores money in popular culture. This episode is packed with valuable insights into managing money, overcoming financial challenges, breaking down financial taboos, and financial education for our kids (and ourselves!) too.  Find Clare on Instagram here  Find Help Me I'm Poor the podcast here  Join the conversation with me on Instagram here  ---------- This episode is brought to you by Victoria Whittington Financial Planning. Victoria knows how easy it is to put off sorting your finances. Life is busy. Work, family, and everything else always seem to take priority. That's why her advice is clear, jargon-free, and designed to fit around your life, not the other way round. Her role is to help you turn what you want for the future into a clear plan, break it into manageable steps, and give you the support to keep going until you get there. If you'd like to have a friendly, no-pressure chat about what financial planning could do for you book a no-obligation 30-minute session here.  Victoria Whittington Financial Planning is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.   ------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 01:20 Meet Clare Seal: Financial Coach and Writer 03:04 Clare's Early Life and Career Beginnings 11:38 Navigating Debt and Financial Struggles 16:23 The Turning Point: Facing Financial Reality 19:17 Starting an Instagram Account for Accountability 30:59 Financial Coaching and Career Evolution 34:38 Questioning the Morality of Influencer Culture 34:58 Motherhood and Financial Education 35:46 The Motherhood Penalty 37:48 Balancing Work and Family Life 43:42 Financial Education for Kids 49:07 Recalibrating Financial Practices 52:10 Help Me, I'm Poor Podcast 01:01:30 Advice for Younger Self 01:06:14 Final Thoughts and Where to Find Clare    

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