The Self Employed Mum Podcast

If you want to succeed as a small business, you need to find a way to stand out. So how do you actually do that? How do you figure out what it is that makes you unique, and find the confidence to show it? 🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a special one as it’s with one of the most creative and talented people I know- and also one of my best friends! I’m joined by Brand Designer and Illustrator Emmelie Coulson, who specialises in bold and colourful branding for female entrepreneurs. Emmelie is as creative as they come, and she has some great insights to share on how to express yourself through your branding and why it’s important to truly be yourself. She also shares her top tips for standing out online and the two of us chat through the details of how this has made a big difference in our own business growth too. Both Emmelie and I have two young children at home, and we also talk about the challenges (and solutions!) to juggling these two major things at the same time. Thanks for joining the conversation! Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share! Episode Links:Guest: Emmelie Coulson, Emmelie Coulson  DesignInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmeliecoulson.design Website: https://www.emmeliecoulson.co.uk/ Connect with me:Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.ukSubstack: https://theselfemployedmum.substack.com/ Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Let's talk about hormones. Whether you deal with an imblanace or disorder, are in the throes of peri-menopause or menopause, are pregnant/breastfeeding/in the early stages of motherhood or just feel really affected by hormonal changes at different points in the month- dealing with hormones is no easy feat.🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a very educational conversation with Dr. April Blake, Naturopathic Doctor and Women's Health Specialist and it is FULL of information, tips and advice on listening to your body, learning what helps and hinders you as an individual and planning your work (and home) life as best you can around the issues you face. April takes a holistic approach to treatment, looking at the root cause and what kind of lifestyle changes can be made first- and she shares her wealth of experience as both a doctor and as a woman herself. She also shares her own story of building a business as a self employed parent, and her move from California to Scotland to set up her clinic in Edinburgh. Thanks for joining the conversation!Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share! Episode Links: Guest: Dr. April BlakeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solstice_naturopathic/Website: https://www.solsticecentre.co.uk/Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Mini episode: Let's talk about why we need to celebrate Galentine's Day and celebrate YOU!I'm flying solo this Valentine's Day episode to talk about two different kinds of love: self love (I'm talking pride and self care here, not the racy stuff!) and friendship- the real, there for you through the toughest stuff kind of pals. This episode is all about the importance of: finding your people (ie. a community of likeminded female entrepreneurs), celebrating YOU and your progress, and making time for self care: why it should be a priority- and free of guilt, I might add.I‘m sharing lots of honest experience on:the loneliness of starting a business in a new country, the struggles of new motherhood and self employment, how I stepped out of my comfort zone to find my people (and then some) and why I’m working on allowing more time for me and celebrating my wins- big, small and any steps forward. There's a wee bit about the community I co created for female entrepreneurs in Glasgow and across Scotland as well (check out the link sofr Small Biz Big Chat below).Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with anyone you know who is feeling lonely in this world of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Let's help this community grow! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmSmall Biz Big Chat: meet ups for Scottish women in businessInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallbizbigchat/Website: https://www.smallbizcommunity.co.uk/Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

There are never enough hours in a day. ⌛️ Managing your time is one of the biggest challenges of self employment- especially when you’re also a mum. The good news is, there ARE ways you can make better use of the time you do have- and maybe even find a little for yourself. 🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a very honest conversation with Sarah Stewart, Time Management Coach and it is FULL of tips and advice on reducing overwhelm, increasing productivity and finding more hours to do the things you love. Sarah brings in a wealth of multi faceted experience from her previous career working in a global role for a big corporation, her training in mindfulness and coaching and her own lived experience of losing her mum at a young age and how that ignited her passion for making the most of the time we have on this planet. She also shares her own story of building a business as a self employed single parent, and how she plans each day- even her free time- to optimise time for what’s most important to her. Thanks for joining the conversation!Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share! Episode Links: Guest: Sarah StewartInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahstewart.co.uk/Website: https://www.sarahstewart.co.uk/ Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Is imposter syndrome always a bad thing? 🙇‍♀️What if we were to reframe that feeling, and focus on the growth that happens when we step outside our comfort zone instead?🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a very honest conversation with Kate Flory of Kapow Coaching focused on exactly that. Kate has been a coach for over twenty years and as someone who specialises in Confidence Coaching and Mental Fitness and Wellbeing she has seen people from all walks of life struggle with this notion of being an “imposter” in various areas of their lives.As well as lots of perspective, tips and advice that virtually of us need to hear (especially at this time of year!) Kate also shares her own journey starting and growing a business as a mum. We talk about mum guilt, hormones, plate juggling and how our role as mothers can sometimes lead to more imposter syndrome creepingin too. Thanks for jlining the conversation! Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!Episode Links:Guest: Kate FloryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kapowcoachingWebsite: https://www.kapowcoaching.comHost: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Small Fish Big Pod is now The Self Employed Mum Podcast! The podcast is shifting focus- from a female entrepreneurship podcast to a podcast specifically for entrepreneurs who are also mums.I thought about this a lot, as I don’t want to leave anyone out- I really don’t want to separate women into different categories as we are all figuring this out together.But running a business while raising small humans is an entirely different ballgame and for those of us who are in the thick of it right now- this is the kind of content we need. The kind of discourse we are passionate about creating and sharing. The kind of conversations we most need to participate in.So here we are! From now onwards the podcast will share stories, tips and perspective from female entrepreneurs who are also mums- and the topics we cover will be related specifically to the challenges of running a business while raising children.Listen in more detail above (it's a very short solo episode!)- regular episodes resume next week! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Clutter- it's hard to avoid it when you're busy and juggling ALL the plates.For some of us, it's physical clutter in our space. For others, it might be mental clutte. Or disorganization in our business or schedule. For manby of us (me!) it can feel like all of the above. the good news is- if you acknowledge it, and start working on the causes we CAN start decluttering our lives... and that's what this episode is all about. This week I chat with Home & Lifestyle Coach and Professional Organizer Elaine McKinlay, who explains why clutter happens, how it affects us, and why it's important to identify and acknowledge where declutter is needed. Elaine also talks us though her process and shares practical tips and advice for making a start on decluttering our own lives (and businesses!)- and keeping them clutter free. If you feel like your mind, your home or your business could use some decluttering, this episode is for you!Episode Links:Guest: Elaine McKinlayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearmountaindeclutteringWebsite: https://www.clearmountaindecluttering.comHost: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Self limiting beliefs: we all have them. And they can hold us back in so many ways, especially when it comes to building and growing our businesses. In this episode I chat with Mindset and Time Line Therapy Coach Karen Leigh, who shares her personal journey to finding her passion and working through her own self limiting beliefs to get to the positive and balanced place she is in today. Karen chats us through where self limiting beliefs come from, how to start addressing them and how to speak to ourselves in a more positive way, changing our behaviours for the better. She also shares tips and advice on finding a coach to help you work through these things, and why it's important to surround yourself with positive podcasts, books, social media accounts and people to help keep you on the right track.If you feel like your mindset is holding you back, in business or in life, this episode is for you!Episode Links:Guest: Karen LeighInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkarenleighWebsite: https://www.iamkarenleigh.com/Linked In: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/iamkarenleighHost: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com https://www.iamkarenleigh.com/

Brand photography- the good, the bad and the NEED to know: if you're a small business owner! I've teamed up with another fabulous brand photographer, Rebecca Holmes, for an honest, open, real heart to heart about all things brand photography.We talk about our clients' concerns and challenges, choosing the right brand photographer for your business, the difference between those of us who specialize in brand photography and those who have just started doing it on a whilm and we share our top tips and advice for making the most of your brand photography session. Rebecca and I also delve into our role as business mentors, share our own business journey and talk about some of the challenges that we've had with showing our own faces online.If you've ever wanted to know more about brand photography, how to tell who is the right brand photographer for you and your business or how to make the most of a brand photoshoot- this is the episode for you!Episode Links:Guest: Rebecca HolmesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaholmesphotographyOther links: www.rebeccaholmesphotography.comHost: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Uncomfortable with the 'money' aspect of running a small business? You're in good company. Most small business owners and freelancers find things like pricing and selling difficult to navigate and uncomfortable to talk about. But they're kind of an important part of running a business- we do need to make a living after all! This episode I interview Money Coach Ray Dodd, who talks us through why many of us have negative perceptions about money, self limiting beliefs surrounding money and our worth, and offers an alternative perspective on what more money can mean not only for our own lifestyle, but for the world around us. She also shares her own business story and journey (the tough stuff too- not just the highlights!) and gives us some great tips for challenging our current beliefs and perceptions around money, limitations and future goals. If you feel like your perceptions on money are holding you back, this is the episode for you!Episode Links:Guest: Ray DoddInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ray_dodd/Other links: https://bio.site/raydoddHost: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Episode 32- the podcast is back for season three, and I'm back from materntiy leave!I've actually been back to work from mat leave for a while, but it's been quite the adjustment around here. This is a solo episode and it's all about my experience with maternity leave as an entrepreneur, and the struggle to find a new normal as I return to work. I talk about hiring a virtual assistant to keep things ticking over, trying to take a "proper" leave from your business and how I staggered my return back (or tried to anyways).If you're planning for mat leave, or planning to return from one this episode is full of honest truths and perspectives on how it felt for me, what the biggest challenges were and what I'm working through now, almost one year in to my return. Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Episode 31 is part three of a new mini series all about Motherhood & Entrepreneurship.This week I’m joined by Marion Elkin-Greener, psychologist, small business owner and mum to three kids (and three dogs too!) We talk through the expectations put on us as women, "having it all" and how to combat the pressure we put on ourselves and better take care of our happiness and wellbeing . Marion shares her personal experience of starting a business while managing a full time career and a busy household, and her professional perspective on motherhood and entrepreneurship from the standpoint of an experienced psychologist. This episode is full of tips, advice and lots of honest perspective on the challenges we face as mums in business- and is totally relatable no matter where you are at in your entrepreneurship journey.If you’re juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship, trying to grow a business with small kids at home or a small business owner who is thinking about starting a family: this mini series is for you! Episode Links:Guest: Marion Elkin-Greener, Mental Health Musings by MerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mental_health_musings_bymer/Radio Show: https://obanfm.scot/shows/mental-health-musings-with-mer/Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Episode 30 is part two of a new mini series all about Motherhood & Entrepreneurship.This week I’m joined by Susan Ferguson, long time entrepreneur and mum of three, to chat about finding the elusive work life balance- and the boundaries that we need to create to effectively juggle self employment and motherhood.We share our lessons learned after years in business, why being open and honest on social media is so important, and talk a little bit about the shift we’re seeing in more REAL (and less “perfect”) content online.Susan also gives us her top tips for running a business with small kids at home, and shares what has worked well for her- with lots of honest perspective in between.If you’re juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship, trying to grow a business with small kids at home or a small business owner who is thinking about starting a family: this mini series is for you! Episode Links:Guest: Susan Ferguson, Sunshine MediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinemediabiz/Website: https://www.sunshinemediaonline.comHost: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

The Self Employed Mum: Mini Series Part OneEpisode 29 is part of a new mini series all about Motherhood & Entrepreneurship.Entrepreneurship is hard. Motherhood is hard. Pregnancy is hard. What happens when the three collide? This episode is all about planning for maternity leave as a self employed mother or mum to be. I'll share my challenges and experience of going through this twice, from planning for mat leave to maternity pay to outsourcing and everything in between- with lots of honest perspective on expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves while pregnant and running a business. Whether you've been through this before, are pregnant for the first time or are planning on growing your family at the same time as your business: this mini series is for you! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ & https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbigpod/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

(BITESIZE EPISODE)Episode 28 deals with a major obstacle for most (if not all) female entrepreneurs: imposter syndrome. 90% of women in the UK have felt held back by imposter syndrome and it is especially prevalent amongst women small business owners. In this episode we'll look at why imposter syndrome affects female entrepreneurs more than men/those in professional careers and how to identify imposter syndrome in yourself before I share a five step strategy to dealing with imposter syndrome as an entrepreneur. If you've ever struggled with self doubt, feelings of inadequacy or fear of failure, this episode is for you!Episode Links:The Telegraph Business article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/women-entrepreneurs/imposter-syndrome-women-careers/Marie Claire article: https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/work/how-to-combat-imposter-syndrome-when-wfh-706324Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ & https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbigpod/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

(BITESIZE EPISODE)Episode 27 is all about taking a break as an entrepreneur: why it's important, why it's challenging, and how to make it happen. I share my top tips for planning ahead to allow yourself to take a proper (guilt-free) break, including what I did to prepare for my REAL week off and what happened to my business while I was gone. Spoiler alert- I survived and so did my business, totally unscathed. This episode is for anyone who runs a business, from those just starting out to those well established (and everyone in between): it might be just the nudge you need to get that next holiday booked, guilt and worry free. Episode Links:Harvard Business Review article: https://hbr.org/2015/08/the-research-is-clear-long-hours-backfire-for-people-and-for-companiesHost: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Part two in a new series of mini episodes titled "Branding Small Business"- these short, actionable episodes are chock full of small business tips, advice and ideas- each one focused on a topic specific to creating a strong brand as a small business. This episode is all about finding your own unique brand values- and the best way to communicate them with your audience. We'll talk through what brand values are and why they're important before we delve into a step by step process for determining what values best represent your brand and how to communicate them effectively with your audience via your website and through social media and content creation. If you're just starting a small business, thinking about a rebrand or want to power up your branding- these mini episodes are for you! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Brand values are a powerful part of your brand identity: they give meaning to what you do, they make your audience feel more invested in your work and they communicate what’s important to you, as a business owner and as a person. Laura has made her brand values front and centre for her business, Fernweh UK, and she feels it’s one of the most important things she’s done to get to where she is today. In Episode 25, Laura shares her business story, from studying design to being inspired by nature and creating a business around all the things she loves most- and how finding and sharing strong brand values has helped her to find her path going forward. She talks us through each of her brand values, how she managed to pinpoint them, and how she uses her website and social media to communicate those values with her audience. We also chat about the importance of authenticity, standing out in your industry, and taking time out to think about the big picture stuff- not just at the start of your business journey, but regularly.Tune in now- and don't forget to let us know what you think by leaving a review or hitting "subscribe" to be the first to know when new episodes air! Episode Links:Guest: Laura Sheriffs, Founder of Fernweh UKwww.fernwehuk.comhttps://www.instagram.com/fernwehuk/https://www.facebook.com/fernwehuk/Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishphotoco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Episode 24: Branding Small Business Series- Finding Your USP & Sharing it with your AudienceThe first in a new series of mini episodes titled "Branding Small Business"- these short, actionable episodes are chock full of small business tips, advice and ideas- each one focused on a topic specific to creating a strong brand as a small business. This episode is all about finding your own unique selling points- and the best way to communicate them with your audience. We'll talk about four main points to think about when determining your USPs (plus a bonus category) and all the ways you can communicate to your audience what it is that sets you apart from the competition.If you're just starting a small business, thinking about a rebrand or an established business who wants to power up their branding- these mini episodes are for you! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Pandemic Perspectives (Part Two of Two): lessons learned keeping small businesses afloat in 2020This episode is a collaborative exploration of the silver linings Scotland’s small business community found during a year that challenged our resilience, our ability to adapt and our will to survive as entrepreneurs in the midst of a global pandemic. Bringing 26 small business owners together, across Scotland, England and all the way over in Canada, sharing the unique silver linings of what the past ten months has taught us and the important lessons we will take forward into this new year and the future of our businesses.  This collaboration celebrates ‘community over competition’, passion and resilience- and the ways in which we have adapted to support each other and be there for our communities through incredibly challenging times.This episode features (in order of appearance):Rhiannon (host): https://www.instagram.com/smallfishphotoco/ & https://www.instagram.com/rhiannoneale/Alice: https://www.instagram.com/papeteriebespoke/Alex: https://www.instagram.com/alexfraser_coaching/Heather: https://www.instagram.com/badgalboocha/Hayley: https://www.instagram.com/hayleypalmquistphoto/Emmelie: https://www.instagram.com/weewildmonsters/April: https://www.instagram.com/agateandayre/Lorna: https://www.instagram.com/bizmixer/Jill: https://www.instagram.com/midlifesmarts/Sandra: https://www.instagram.com/chiyaandchai/Shuna: https://www.instagram.com/theteajenny/Cat: https://www.instagram.com/paintspylons/Dana: https://www.instagram.com/diversitydana/Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com