Episodes

  • S5 E4: Equality and ambition for mums with Jelena Skene co-founder of Press Flow

    S5 E4: Equality and ambition for mums with Jelena Skene co-founder of Press Flow
    Feb 6 2025
    If anyone is ever in doubt about mum’s commitment to their careers post babies, please, use this conversation as proof that we are only ever more ambitious and focused. This week I’m talking to Jelena Skene, co-founder of 2 businesses raised alongside 2 small boys. It’s been a busy few years for Jelena! My main takeaway from our conversation, and there are many, is: just start. You can’t plan everything around having a family, if you have a business idea, just try it. I also loved her thoughts on what makes a good business idea, and what you actually need to create a successful business. If you’re looking for advice on how to effectively PR pitch your business, listen to the end, Jelena has some incredible practical tips. This episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave (www.ancientandbrave.earth/). If you’d like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order. Takeaways: Jelena’s path from law, to fashion to marketing agency and how planning for a family informed her choice to move into entrepreneurship The highs and lows of Covid with a business and a baby Jelena’s varied experiences of birth and mat leave in the UK and abroad Equality both in earnings and in childcare with Jelena’s partner The contrast between an anxious pregnancy and the positive realities of motherhood The benefits of city connections for business opportunities You don’t need an original idea to start a business, just a gap in the market The development of Press Flow alongside their first business and their fundraising plans for 2025 Community support and especially amongst female founders is invaluable for early-stage business How motherhood enhanced Jelena’s focus and ambitions and societal misconceptions about mums Jelena’s tips on effective PR pitches Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Jelena's Journey 03:01 Career Shifts and Discovering Passion 06:14 Navigating Parenthood and Career Decisions 09:13 The Impact of COVID on Business 12:01 Building a Business During Lockdown 14:54 Balancing Work and Family Life 18:00 The Experience of Motherhood 21:03 Life in Barcelona and Business Growth 24:09 Returning to the UK and Future Plans 28:19 The Importance of Cities for Connections 30:07 The Journey to Pressflow 34:11 Building Pressflow: A Strategic Approach 39:01 Community and Networking for Founders 42:04 Motherhood and Ambition 46:31 Finding Purpose as a Mother and Entrepreneur 49:05 Tips for Effective PR Pitching 52:08 Finding Personal Joy Amidst Business and Motherhood Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Jelena Skene Agency-turned tech founder of Press Flow and mother of two, Jelena has a background in digital marketing for major fashion and lifestyle brands. In March, 2024, Jelena co-founded Press Flow Limited with her husband, a free PR platform that connects experts, PR professionals, and journalists. Press Flow provides unlimited free pitching, making it an accessible tool for small businesses, personal brands, PR professionals, and experts seeking media exposure. Not their first business, prior to Press Flow, Jelena and her husband ran an agency and together through COVID juggled the demands of new parenthood and founder life for the first time. Jelena Skene Links: Website: https://www.pressflow.io/ LinkedIn (Jelena): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelena-skene-2a3a9b60/ LinkedIn (Press Flow): https://www.linkedin.com/company/pressflow/ Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
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    49 mins
  • S5 E3: Business growth and mum guilt - Solo episode with Caroline

    S5 E3: Business growth and mum guilt - Solo episode with Caroline
    Jan 30 2025

    I have been judging myself recently for some of the decisions I’ve been making. For 2025 my goal is business growth, and that means I’m making decisions that prioritise my work and my wellbeing at the cost of family time.

    There are a lot of expectations on us as mums and female founders: some from ourselves, from the people around us, the patriarchy. I am unpacking my feelings of mum guilt, and why I refuse to feel it anymore.

    This episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave(www.ancientandbrave.earth/). If you'd like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of the True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order

    Takeaways

    • Prioritising your business can throw up a lot of feelings of guilt for mum

    • It's OK to seek support with childcare, housework or in your business

    • Mums shouldn’t feel guilty for prioritising their careers

    • Networking and socialising can be draining, self-care is essential for maintaining energy and focus

    • It's important to challenge societal expectations of motherhood

    • Business retreats can provide valuable opportunities for growth

    • Finding a balance between work and family is a personal journey

    • Sharing experiences can help normalise the challenges of working mums

    Chapters

    00:00 Balancing Business Growth and Motherhood
    03:05 Navigating Guilt in Business and Parenting
    05:57 The Importance of Support Systems for Working Mothers
    08:48 Embracing Business Retreats and Personal Growth

    Links:

    Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/



    Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
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    10 mins
  • S5 E2: Exploring authenticity, business growth and resilience with Lea Turner founder of The Holt

    S5 E2: Exploring authenticity, business growth and resilience with Lea Turner founder of The Holt
    Jan 23 2025
    In this inspiring episode, I’m joined by Lea Turner, LinkedIn expert, community builder, and founder of Holt, a thriving membership platform for small businesses. Content warning: there is a mention of suicidal ideation as Lea reflects on her teenage years and missed ADHD diagnosis. Lea’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t planned. Like so many of my guests on the pod, she didn’t initially see herself as a business owner. Her entrepreneurial path began with a transcription side hustle, which played to her strengths and funded her travels. As her income grew to match her day job, she took the leap into full-time self-employment. We discuss how Lea managed her business while preparing for maternity leave, how her son has influenced her career decisions, and her remarkable pivot during the Covid-19 pandemic when her income streams dried up overnight. I think we can all relate to Lea’s struggles with showing up authentically on social media, but she has really nailed it. By embracing her uniqueness, she transformed her LinkedIn presence, skyrocketing her followers and opening the door to incredible new opportunities. We explore the positives and negatives of social media: It wasn’t easy for Lea to own her expertise, it took other industry leaders deferring to her as an expert in social media discussions before she could see herself in that light. She shares her experiences dealing with online trolls and how she’s developed a positive, resilient mindset in response to negativity. This episode is packed with insights about business growth, balance, authenticity, and resilience. I hope you’re as inspired by the conversation as I was! This episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave. If you’d like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order. Takeaways: How Lea navigated the pandemic as a single mum and business owner Lea’s late diagnosis ADHD and the challenges it presented particularly in her teenage years. Content warning: suicidal ideation Entrepreneurship was not initially on Lea's radar; it started as a side hustle to fund her travels and quickly matched her day job in earnings Partly due to her ADHD, Lea is comfortable with risk and knows that we always survive failure, so why not try? 4 years into her business, Lea fell pregnant, and knowing that mat leave wasn’t an option worked overtime to save as much as possible As her son went to school, Lea reassessed her work structure knowing it was incompatible with spending quality time with her son outside of school hours Her pivot into LinkedIn training came as a result of Covid and all her client work drying up overnight Lea initially struggled with authenticity on LinkedIn, but decided to embrace her uniqueness and got an incredible response She faced a lot of self doubt over calling herself a LinkedIn expert, but eventually recognised her skills as other business owners referred and deferred to her as expert Lea has suffered from some scary and unpleasant trolling online based on her appearance, but stood up for herself and has learnt to deal with it Building her membership platform, Holt, was a response to the needs of her already existing community of business owners As a scalable and more personally fulfilling business Holt is her focus for now, practising what she preaches, Lea has hired her team exclusively from the membership Lea is looking forward to creating more of a work/life balance in the future Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Lea Turner's Journey 06:15 Navigating Life During COVID-19 12:46 Overcoming Personal Challenges and Discovering ADHD 18:45 The Transition to Entrepreneurship 26:30 Building a Business and Embracing Change 28:10 Rediscovering LinkedIn: A Personal Journey 31:03 From Typing to Training: A Career Shift 33:01 Embracing Expertise: Overcoming Self-Doubt 36:49 Navigating Online Harassment: Standing Up for Yourself 39:49 Building a Supportive Community: The Holt 50:50 Work-Life Balance: Achieving Freedom as a Business Owner Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Lea Turner Lea Turner is an entrepreneur who transformed her life as a single mum through becoming a successful business owner. In 2019, she was working long hours typing medical reports while caring for her young son, barely making ends meet. Seeking a change, she began posting on LinkedIn, leveraging her humour and authenticity to connect with others. This approach quickly gained traction, leading to a substantial following, which currently stands at almost 200,000 followers and a fast growth LinkedIn training business. Over five years, Lea has built a six-figure income through her LinkedIn training, digital courses, and in-person workshops. In December 2024, she decided to close the doors on her LinkedIn training ...
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    52 mins
  • S5 E1: January vibes, my learning from 2024 and focus for 2025 - Solo episode with Caroline

    S5 E1: January vibes, my learning from 2024 and focus for 2025 - Solo episode with Caroline
    Jan 16 2025

    If January has been…Januarying, then you are not alone. I’ve found it difficult to come back to work this year, comparisonitis and anxiety have been getting the better of me.

    So in this week’s episode I’m sharing:

    • My biggest business learning from 2024
    • My focus for 2025
    • Who we've got coming up on the podcast for Season 5 (make sure you’re subscribed!)
    • The wellbeing tools I keep returning to

    This episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave (https://ancientandbrave.earth). If you'd like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of the True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order

    Resources
    Untamed by Glennon Doyle: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/untamed-stop-pleasing-start-living-the-no-1-sunday-times-bestseller-glennon-doyle/3463827?ean=9781785043352

    Takeaways

    • January can feel overwhelming, but it's important to embrace the vibes, whatever they look/feel like for you

    • Work-life balance is crucial for mums who are also business owners, I share the tools I keep coming back to

    • It's okay to take your time with personal and business goals

    • My biggest business learning from 2024 and my focus for 2025

    • Community support is vital for female founders navigating challenges

    Chapters

    00:00 Embracing January Vibes

    03:06 Navigating Work-Life Balance

    06:10 Self-Care and Mental Health

    08:57 Looking Ahead: Business Growth and Community Building

    Links:

    Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/


    Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
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    13 mins
  • Christmas Gift: Calming meditation with Jo Woodhurst, Head of Nutrition at Ancient+Brave

    Christmas Gift: Calming meditation with Jo Woodhurst, Head of Nutrition at Ancient+Brave
    Dec 19 2024

    For our season finale I am joined by the wonderful Jo Woodhurst, Head of Nutrition at Ancient + Brave. And as a special gift to our listeners, Jo has kindly recorded a 10 minute to help us reconnect and recharge during the busiest and most festive time of year. We all need it!

    This bonus podcast episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave. If you’d like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order.

    Links:

    Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

    About Jo Woodhurst

    Jo is a BANT registered nutritionist following a career pivot after teaching. She takes a holistic approach to wellness, giving people the tools to better control their health instead of restrictive diet programs. Her practice is about balance, long lasting changes and realistic lifestyle choices. Jo's work with Ancient and Brave includes advising on future formulations and writing health articles, as well as taking on the role of educating their audience in holistic wellbeing, interviewing health experts and writing copy for magazines and press articles.

    Ancient + Brave is a mission-driven wellness brand with an award-winning range of collagen, MCT oil and nootropic blends. They are a community-built brand and from day one, they have embraced innovation and sustainability. Social environmental responsibility is at the heart of everything Ancient + Brave does.

    They are B Corp certified, donate to 1 % for the planet, certified carbon neutral and a founding member of the ESG Mark.

    Jo Woodhurst’s Links:

    Website (Ancient + Brave): https://ancientandbrave.earth/

    Website (Jo): https://www.jowoodhurst.com/

    LinkedIn (Ancient + Brave): https://www.linkedin.com/company/ancientandbrave/

    LinkedIn (Jo): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-woodhurst-nutrition/

    Instagram (Ancient + Brave): https://www.instagram.com/ancientandbrave/

    Instagram (Jo): https://www.instagram.com/jo_woodhurst_nutrition/
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    11 mins
  • S4 E13: Creating a sustainable wellbeing practice with Jo Woodhurst, Head of Nutrition at Ancient+Brave

    S4 E13: Creating a sustainable wellbeing practice with Jo Woodhurst, Head of Nutrition at Ancient+Brave
    Dec 19 2024
    For our season finale I am joined by the wonderful Jo Woodhurst, Head of Nutrition at Ancient + Brave. And as a special gift to our listeners, Jo has kindly recorded a 10 minute meditation which is available as a separate bonus episode, out now. We all need it! Jo has been on her own journey in her approach to wellbeing. From burning the candle at both ends as a teacher, she moved into nutrition not only to reset how she nourished herself, but also inspired by her mum’s long illness and her approach to wellbeing. Now as a mum, business owner and Head of Nutrition at Ancient + Brave, Jo knows that it’s when we are busy that creating space for our own wellbeing slips. Jo shares her own wellness pillars, and why we need to approach them with flexibility and compassion. This podcast episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave. If you’d like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order. Takeaways: Finding moments of wellbeing in your day, even if it’s just 2 mins Jo’s experience of family illness growing up and the foundation of alternative approaches to wellbeing it created Jo’s own healing journey of how she nourishes herself Sustainability is at the heart of everything A+B does; our personal wellness is linked to the wellbeing of the planet The transition into motherhood and the changes in our identity The contradiction of the loneliness we can feel as a new mum with the amazing mum community that we are suddenly a part of Jo’s pillars of wellness, and why they are always the first thing to go when we’re busy Wellness goals are great, but we need to be flexible and compassionate with them How Jo has reconnected with her personal sense of joy outside of motherhood Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Holistic Wellness 02:53 Jo's Career Journey and Personal Transformation 06:12 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Health Perspectives 08:56 Navigating Motherhood and Community Support 11:56 Sustainability in Business and Personal Values 14:57 Pillars of Health and Wellness for Busy Mothers 29:43 Grounding and Connection to Nature 30:31 The Importance of Rest and Self-Care 32:36 Consistency vs. Flexibility in Wellness 35:20 Setting Realistic Goals for Wellness 39:29 Rediscovering Joy in Motherhood 43:41 The Mother Archetype and Self-Identity Resources: B Corps https://bcorporation.uk/ ESG Mark https://www.esgmark.co.uk/ Love Mercy https://www.lovemercyfoundation.org/ More info on the Mother archetype: https://ancientandbrave.earth/blogs/news/embracing-the-cycles-of-life-honouring-every-season-of-womanhood Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Jo Woodhurst Jo is a BANT registered nutritionist following a career pivot after teaching. She takes a holistic approach to wellness, giving people the tools to better control their health instead of restrictive diet programs. Her practice is about balance, long lasting changes and realistic lifestyle choices. Jo's work with Ancient and Brave includes advising on future formulations and writing health articles, as well as taking on the role of educating their audience in holistic wellbeing, interviewing health experts and writing copy for magazines and press articles. Ancient + Brave is a mission-driven wellness brand with an award-winning range of collagen, MCT oil and nootropic blends. They are a community-built brand and from day one, they have embraced innovation and sustainability. Social environmental responsibility is at the heart of everything Ancient + Brave does. They are B Corp certified, donate to 1 % for the planet, certified carbon neutral and a founding member of the ESG Mark. Jo Woodhurst’s Links: Website (Ancient + Brave): https://ancientandbrave.earth/ Website (Jo): https://www.jowoodhurst.com/ LinkedIn (Ancient + Brave): https://www.linkedin.com/company/ancientandbrave/ LinkedIn (Jo): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-woodhurst-nutrition/ Instagram (Ancient + Brave): https://www.instagram.com/ancientandbrave/ Instagram (Jo): https://www.instagram.com/jo_woodhurst_nutrition/ Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
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    45 mins
  • S4 E12: Changing fitness culture and balancing motherhood with Pip Black, founder of Frame

    S4 E12: Changing fitness culture and balancing motherhood with Pip Black, founder of Frame
    Dec 12 2024
    Pip Black started her business, Frame at 24. She and her co-founder Joan, have navigated huge changes across the fitness industry over the last 15 years. They launched in recession, tag teamed maternity leaves over 4 kids, raised funds, bought back their company and adapted almost overnight to Covid. But through it all, they have lived the brand, its values, and created a business which puts customer experience at its core - the key to their success. Coming back to exercise has been a huge source of joy for me this year, and Pip is clear: doing what you love, rather than pushing yourself as hard as possible, is what builds a healthy body. Takeaways Customer experience v marketing The pros and cons of starting a business at 24yrs old How Frame embodies their values as a BCorp Managing maternity leave as 2 founders have babies back to back How Frame responded to Covid and your gyms being closed for nearly a year How Pip makes it work living in Somerset whilst being very present in a London based business Why we should listen to our bodies and not trends when it comes to how we exercise Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Fitness Culture 07:38 Pip's Journey to Frame 16:15 Building Frame: Challenges and Innovations 23:55 Creating a Welcoming Fitness Environment 25:34 Accessibility in Fitness: Breaking Barriers 27:53 Core Values: Authenticity and Community 28:43 The Power of Partnership: Building a Business Together 32:51 Navigating Maternity Leave: Balancing Business and Family 35:46 The Challenges of Entrepreneurship: A Personal Journey 40:24 Lessons from COVID: Adapting to Change 46:56 Future Perspectives: Work-Life Balance and Parenting 49:56 The Joy of Dance and Fitness 51:10 Navigating Parenting During Lockdown 52:53 Balancing Work and Family Life 56:04 Finding Your Personal Exercise Style 01:01:06 The Importance of Community in Fitness 01:04:51 Listening to Your Body and Holistic Health 01:08:22 Innovations at Frame: Classes Tailored to Feelings Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Pip Black Pip Black is CEO and co-founder of Frame, a London-based fitness brand which pioneered the boutique pay-as-you-go studio movement in 2009. The pair raised £6m in PE investment in 2019, but since Covid have bought the business back and navigated their way out of these very difficult times. The brand now includes 5 locations across the city alongside a fast-growing Online offering. Pip studied Business at the University of Bath, including a year at the Australian Institute of Sport, before starting a career in Advertising before meeting business partner Joan Murphy in 2007. Together with Joan Murphy the two set out to build a brand which would encourage fit, healthy living through high energy and fun-filled classes. Frame has been operating for almost 16 years and proven that the pay-as-you-go fitness model is both profitable and can diversify into many areas including apparel, equipment and education. Pip and Joan launched Mumhood, their pre and post-natal sub-brand in 2016 and are hugely passionate about educating and motivating women to stay active throughout this stage of their lives for both their physical health and mental sanity! Pip Black’s Links: Website: https://moveyourframe.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pip-black-82652940/ Instagram (Pip): https://www.instagram.com/pipingablack/ Instagram (Frame): https://www.instagram.com/moveyourframe/ Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • S4 E11: Why am I obsessed with joy? - Solo episode with Caroline

    S4 E11: Why am I obsessed with joy? - Solo episode with Caroline
    Dec 5 2024

    What do you think is behind the global falling birthrate? Because social media thinks it’s mums’ fault (of course). We’re not sharing enough about how joyful motherhood is.

    Of course this is rubbish. But I do think it’s so important for mums to connect with their own sense of joy, outside of motherhood, outside of work, just for themselves.

    Reconnecting with my personal sense of joy has been…a journey. It honestly feels like this year is the first since I became a mum that I have truly connected with the things that spark it in me.

    This week’s episode is me unpacking why it’s so important for us mums to find sources of personal joy. And why the internet is wrong to blame us for the falling birthrate.

    Resources
    Female Founders Rise - https://femalefoundersrise.com/
    Othership app: https://www.othership.us/app

    Takeaways

    • Mums NEED to rediscover joy

    • Social media can create unrealistic expectations for motherhood

    • Mothers should not be blamed for declining birth rates

    • Finding personal joy can enhance the experience of motherhood

    • Self-care and relaxation are vital for mental health

    • Engaging in activities that bring joy is important

    • Gratitude can help in finding joy amidst challenges

    • It's okay to take time for oneself as a mother

    • Creating a joy list can be a helpful exercise

    • Sharing joy with others can enhance personal happiness

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Joy in Motherhood
    03:07 The Blame Game: Mothers and Joy
    05:55 Rediscovering Personal Joy
    09:08 Encouraging Joyful Moments
    11:55 Finding Joy Through Gratitude

    Links:

    Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

    Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/
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    13 mins