PODCAST · business
The Midlife Entrepreneur
by Jo Glynn-Smith
The Midlife Entrepreneur is the podcast for women who are building businesses later in life. Hosted by Jo Glynn-Smith, career transitions expert, coach and entrepreneur, who works with founders every day, each week Jo sits down with a different business owner to unpack the real stories, turning points and hard-won lessons behind their ventures. The show also features the 15 Minute Masterclass, where seasoned experts share practical advice designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage. Honest, inspiring and genuinely useful, this is the show that proves it is never too late to back yourself. Top 15% of podcasts globally and charting on Apple's Entrepreneurship category. New episodes every Tuesday.
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EP41: Claire Burrows, Founder of Air & Grace, the footwear brand created around the idea that women shouldn't have to choose between style and comfort.
This week Jo sits down with Claire Burrows, founder of London footwear brand Air & Grace, to discuss building a business in midlife by solving the style-versus-comfort problem. Claire shares how redundancy pushed her to launch in 2014 after 20+ years in buying, design, and product development, funding early work with her life savings, renting out her home, and borrowing money. She explains developing the patented Tender Loving Air technology with technologist Kevin Ban, including setbacks like rejecting the first production run, running out of money, and later winning a Metro Newspaper competition that enabled a pivot from a failed wholesale plan to direct-to-consumer via Shopify. Claire describes learning marketing, e-commerce, and cashflow management, using consumer events to drive early sales and feedback, and later refocusing online. Her advice highlights investing in legal support and knowledge, keeping teams lean, and trusting red flags earlier. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:47 Redundancy Sparks the Leap02:39 Finding the Comfort Gap04:25 Building the First Prototype Team08:02 Naming Air and Grace09:21 First Product and Early Setbacks12:51 Tender Loving Air Tech15:03 Funding and Cost Realities16:38 Pivot to Direct to Consumer19:24 Shopify Site and Winning Investment21:04 Learning D2C Marketing and Finance22:40 Money Mindset Shift22:57 First Hire Milestone23:22 Selling Comfort Online23:42 Consumer Events Playbook25:30 Trade Show Chaos Story26:18 Online Focus Tipping Point26:59 Back To In Person27:40 New Product Evolution28:22 Best Selling Flat29:27 Color Range Strategy30:12 Surviving Tough Markets31:51 Streamlining For Growth32:54 Team Culture Energy33:33 Business Owner Surprises34:40 Shoemaking Complexity35:46 Three Two One Framework36:06 Worth Every Penny40:44 Team Size Regrets42:25 Quit Earlier Lesson44:07 Thanking The Technologist45:02 Final Wrap And GoodbyeVisit at https://airandgracelondon.com/Follow on Instagram @airandgraceSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Innovate when Everyone is Copying You with Melisse Shaban, CEO of Aramore skincare, a US based longevity science company.
This week Jo sits down with Melisse Shaban, CEO of Aramore, a US-based longevity science company, to share three ways to innovate when everyone else is copying you in a low-barrier, noisy market. First, Melisse advises pursuing technical innovation by identifying unmet, unknown, or evolving needs, and reframing familiar problems (such as “longevity” versus “anti-aging”) while staying open to new formats and delivery systems across categories, from GLP-1s and peptides to sleep and recovery tools. Second, she stresses being honest and authentic in a world where it’s hard to tell what’s real, arguing that trust and truth-telling drive meaningful innovation. Third, she recommends constant discovery—looking in unexpected places, staying curious, and using practices like affirmation—while remaining focused and credible, as Aramore does by targeting cellular health in skin through long-term science. 00:00 Welcome to Masterclass00:34 Why Copycats Win01:04 Unmet Needs Drive Innovation01:27 New Longevity Mindset03:46 Formats and Recovery Trends04:56 Authenticity in Noisy Markets07:24 Brave Truth Tellers08:11 Discovery and Self Belief12:02 Aramore Inside Out Skin14:08 First to Market Focus15:18 Science Led Differentiation16:13 Wrap Up and SubscribeSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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EP40: Antonia Philp, Paediatric Nurse & Co-Founder of Nursem, the award-winning skincare brand created on a hospital ward.
This week Jo speaks with Antonia Philips, a pediatric nurse and co-founder of Nursem, an award-winning handcare brand created to solve the cracked, bleeding hands caused by constant handwashing with harsh antiseptics. Antonia shares how she and her husband Jonny spent seven years researching and testing products (including Manuka honey) while raising three children and continuing her nursing career, eventually moving to flexible bank shifts after burnout. They discuss finding support through the Newcastle Science City incubator, standing out in a saturated skincare market, listening to customers via a 2,000-person testing panel requiring 90% approval, and scaling a small team as they aim to enter grocery. Antonia explains the Nursem Promise, donating a month of free handcare per product sold, with 700,000 promises delivered and a million targeted by 2027, and reflects on working with her husband, managing energy, and planning for an investor exit without losing purpose. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:50 Balancing Nursing and Business04:15 Staying Connected to Nursing07:31 Handwashing Damage Explained09:01 Searching for a Real Solution11:46 Building the Formula and Testing14:57 Packaging and Early Feedback16:13 Funding and Incubator Support17:07 Launch and Giving Back18:38 Burnout and Energy Management23:36 Sleep and Support24:13 Running as Therapy24:24 Standing Out in Skincare25:58 Customer Led Product Expansion27:40 Working With Your Spouse31:36 Team Growth and Grocery Plans33:38 Exit Pressure and Purpose39:59 Three Two One Reflections45:45 Final Thanks and Wrap Uphttps://www.nursem.co.uk/ Support the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Avoid Burnout with Rosie Nixon, Coach, Founder & Best Selling Author.
This week Jo speaks with Rosie Nixon, coach, founder of Rosie’s Reinvention Retreats and author of The PRO Method, about three ways to avoid burnout before it derails you and your business. Rosie explains burnout as a workplace-based syndrome where demand outstrips recovery, often showing up as insomnia, irritability, anxiety, overwhelm, low motivation and reduced creativity. Her three tips follow the PRO framework: first, Pause—calm the nervous system through micro-pauses like getting outside, breathwork (count four in, hold two, release six), or exercise, and take longer time away if needed. Second, Reflect—get curious about what’s happening, name emotions, clarify what matters now, and identify unmet needs and values. Third, Organise—map small, values-aligned steps forward, including letting go of responsibilities, work or relationships that no longer serve you. 00:00 Welcome to Masterclass00:34 What Burnout Looks Like02:11 PRO Method Overview02:31 Pause to Reset07:19 Reflect with Curiosity09:36 Organise Next Steps12:21 Reinvention Mindset14:33 Book and Farewellhttps://www.rosienixon.co.uk/Follow on Instagram @rosiejnixon Support the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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EP39: Vivien Wong, Co-Founder of Little Moons, the brand that's turned a niche product into a global obsession.
This week Jo sits down with Vivien Wong, co-founder of Little Moons, to discuss how the brand introduced mochi ice cream to the UK in 2010, grew from restaurants into FMCG, and scaled after going viral on TikTok during the pandemic with user-generated “Tesco adventure” videos that drove immediate purchase. Vivien shares the operational strain of a sudden “hockey stick” demand surge—COVID hiring constraints, machinery limits, and supply shortages—plus lessons on maintaining quality, retailer relationships, and culture while expanding into more supermarkets and selling in over 38 countries. She explains how her father’s cancer diagnosis prompted her to leave a city finance career, why she self-funded through five years of restaurant sales, and how she and her brother managed a sibling partnership. Vivien reflects on burnout, the impact of private equity bringing in a CEO, investments in coaching/therapy/training, and announces Mini Moons launching exclusively in Sainsbury’s. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:43 TikTok Viral Breakthrough03:47 Scaling in a Pandemic06:56 Pivotal Leap from Corporate09:08 Building with a Sibling12:21 Perfecting Mochi from Scratch14:39 Landing Yo Sushi Deal16:42 From Restaurants to Retail19:51 Hiring and Letting Go22:30 Burnout and Better Boundaries25:07 Learning to Slow Down25:26 Working On Business25:42 Flavor Trend Hunting26:36 Stepping Back With CEO27:43 Trusting Leadership Team28:47 Favorite Flavors Origins29:47 Three Two One Segment30:45 Coach Versus Therapy32:54 Dog As Investment35:06 Working Mum Lessons37:44 Hiring Mistakes Regrets38:48 Questions For Dad40:03 Thanking Key Advisor42:00 Networking And AI Tools43:14 Mini Moons Launch44:22 Closing And FarewellSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Attract more Clients using TikTok with Kate Waterfall Hill, Leadership Coach, Author & Creator of 'Linda the bad manager'.
This week Jo sits down with Kate Waterfall Hill, a leadership coach, author, podcaster and creator of 'Linda the Bad Manager', to share three ways to attract more clients using TikTok. First, Kate advises making TikToks and shifting mindset by recognising that business owners and decision-makers are on the platform, then creating content that educates, entertains and engages without feeling high-handed. Second, she recommends finding a repeatable format that fits your brand, testing different styles, and sticking with what works rather than constantly switching when early posts get little engagement. Third, she stresses that consistency beats perfection: record and edit on your phone, repurpose across platforms, batch record, and keep showing up, noting that in her first year 97% of revenue came from TikTok and that visibility matters more than going viral.00:00 Welcome to Masterclass00:34 Tip One Mindset Shift01:41 Facing TikTok Fears03:35 Linda Origin Story05:05 Building Linda Universe06:18 Tip Two Find Format07:11 What Is Linda08:40 Sticking With It10:03 Tip Three Consistency10:23 Repurpose and Batch11:25 Results and Revenue14:38 Final Recap and CloseSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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EP38: Anna Richards, Founder and CEO of FrolicMe, the pioneering female-led ethical erotica platform created for women and couples.
This week Jo sits down with Anna Richards, founder and CEO of FrolicMe, to discuss building a female-led ethical erotica platform in midlife and redefining how adult content can centre female pleasure, consent, and authentic connection. Anna shares how a lack of erotic content reflecting women’s desires led her to start a blog in 2013–14, then launch FrolicMe in 2015 with 20 self-produced films alongside stories and galleries, funded with limited resources and without investors. She explains how she learned production by finding mentors and industry contacts, kept teams small and collaborative, and built growth largely through SEO because advertising options were limited, reaching 1.6 million monthly visitors and breaking even around year three. Anna describes expanding into audio in 2019, banking a year of content post-COVID, navigating age verification requirements, and the challenges of social media bans. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro02:08 Why FrolicMe Began04:50 Fear and Going Taboo06:00 Testing the Idea With a Blog07:23 What Women Want From Erotica10:20 From Stories to Films13:34 Breaking Into Production18:00 First Shoots and Self Funding22:23 Ethical Erotica and Consent24:54 Growing With SEO29:21 Competition and Cultural Pushback30:50 Early Website Panic32:04 Organic Growth Milestones33:24 Breaking Even Without Investors35:04 Production Costs Evolve36:45 Location Shoots Aesthetic37:46 COVID Audio Pivot39:30 Fantasy Storytelling Details41:38 Age Verification Challenges46:13 Marketing and Social Media48:15 Family Reactions and Normalizing50:07 Founder 321 Takeaways55:48 Final Thanks and Wrap Visit at www.frolicme.com Follow @frolicme_anna or @frolicme_offical Support the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways for British Brands to Succeed in America with Thea Green MBE, Beauty Entrepreneur and Founder of Nails.INC
This week Jo sits down with Thea Green MBE, founder of Nails INC. and Holler & Glow, to share three ways British brands can succeed in America. First, Thea says distribution is your best advert: focus on one key retail partner where you’ll get strong visibility, prove performance with clean data, and consider short-term exclusivity rather than spreading thinly across multiple retailers with poor shelf placement. Second, because it’s hard to outspend US corporates on advertising, she advises leaning into your USP and founder storytelling and using partnerships, collaborations, and retailer exclusives so bigger brands and retailers amplify your launch. Third, she recommends celebrating European heritage and quality—standards, ingredients, and manufacturing stories—to appeal to Americans’ perception of European-made products as premium and safer, while noting US retail buying cycles can be slower and require long lead times. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:39 Advice One Distribution First02:37 Win One Retailer04:34 Advice Two Outsmart Ad Budgets05:39 Partnerships and Collaborations06:53 Advice Three Sell Europe09:35 US Market Watch Outs11:56 Retail Timelines and Seasonality13:51 Recap and ClosingSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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EP37: Lucy Macnamara, Founder of Aspiga, the award-winning sustainable fashion brand celebrating 20 years in business.
Building Aspiga: Sustainable Fashion, Slow Growth, and ADHD in EntrepreneurshipThis week Jo speaks with Lucy Macnamara, founder of Aspiga, an award-winning sustainable fashion brand built on ethical production and positive impact. Lucy shares how she started with 250 hand-beaded sandals from Kenya sold through friends while working full time, then left her charity role after gaining early wholesale traction. She explains Aspiga’s steady, long-term growth through wholesale, online and pop-ups, later moving operations to London and building teams, and how retail stores began unexpectedly during lockdown through low-risk landlord offers, eventually expanding to around 10 shops. Lucy discusses the realities of managing staff, cashflow, supplier problems, and crises, her ADHD diagnosis in her 50s and how openness helped the team adapt, and her focus now on creating a sustainable business that can rely less on her while maintaining long-standing investments in artisans and community projects in Kenya. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:42 Slow Growth Mindset02:49 First Product and Early Sales03:32 Leaving Charity to Go Full Time05:10 Wholesale Growth and Cash Flow05:56 Early Money Struggles06:46 Midlife Advantage and Self Belief08:53 Hiring and Building a Team11:33 Managing Staff Expectations14:27 Going Above and Beyond15:47 From Pop Ups to Stores18:29 Retail Expansion Challenges20:11 ADHD Energy and Routines21:52 Sleep and Night Worries23:34 Entrepreneurship Ups and Downs24:25 ADHD and Crisis Mode25:18 Late Diagnosis Realizations26:34 School Struggles and Self Doubt28:38 Leading Teams with ADHD32:13 Future Plans and Ownership34:12 Funding and Industry Know How36:40 Three Two One Advice37:01 Sustainability Roots in Kenya41:15 Money Mistakes and AI Checks44:40 Mentors and Asking for Help46:26 Final Thanks and Wrap Up Support the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Increase Engagement on Instagram with Milla Richardson, Instagram Expert and Founder of Pink Storm Social.
15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Increase Engagement on Instagram with Milla RichardsonThis week Jo sits down with Milla Richardson, Instagram expert and founder of Pink Storm Social, to share three ways to increase engagement on Instagram, explaining that engagement now includes comments, saves, shares and DMs and directly impacts reach via the algorithm. First, Milla advises grabbing attention in the feed with strong visuals, curiosity-driving hooks/headlines, and faces or behind-the-scenes people content, noting Instagram is increasingly personality-driven. Second, she recommends starting more conversations by asking questions in captions, replying to Stories, using Story engagement stickers (polls, sliders, question boxes) with simple prompts, and using DMs to build relationships, even setting short daily engagement windows. Third, she encourages being more personable and relatable through storytelling, sharing experiences and business journeys without oversharing; Jo recaps and asks about planning, and Milla describes loosely rotating selling, connecting, relationship-building and useful content.00:00 Welcome to Masterclass00:39 Why Engagement Matters01:58 Tip One Grab Attention02:27 Hooks Visuals and Faces05:51 Tip Two Start Conversations07:27 Stories Stickers and DMs09:30 Tip Three Be Personable12:13 Storytelling Without Oversharing12:55 Recap and Content Planning15:19 Wrap Up and Subscribe Follow Milla @pinkstormsocialSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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EP36: Maxine Laceby, Co-Founder of Absolute Collagen, from stay-at-home mum to creating one of the UK's fastest-growing direct-to-consumer businesses.
Maxine Laceby: Starting Absolute Collagen at 50 and building a £30m DTC BrandThis week Jo sits down with Maxine Laceby, co-founder of Absolute Collagen, to discuss how she built a pioneering liquid collagen, direct-to-consumer brand in midlife. After 25 years as a stay-at-home mum, turning 50 and studying fine art led Maxine to a self-identity project, “Dare to Go Bare,” and a wellbeing journey that began with homemade bone broth and evolved into discovering collagen. In 2017 she launched Absolute Collagen with her daughter Darcy, growing it from a kitchen-table idea into a £30m business, raising £15m investment, and earning major rankings and awards. Maxine credits transferable “mum skills” like emotional intelligence, intuition, and reading people, alongside a consumer-first mindset, strong team culture, hiring to offset weaknesses, and choosing aligned partners over money. She emphasizes authenticity, integrity, and scientifically proven claims in a “Wild West” supplement market.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro02:23 Motherhood Skills to Boardroom03:06 Emotional Intelligence as Superpower05:11 Designing for the Absoluter08:01 Dare to Go Bare Origins10:51 Finding Maxine Under the Masks13:47 Kids Reactions and Leading by Example15:39 Always a Problem Solver17:51 Collagen Discovery with Darcy19:13 Early Results and Hair Science21:55 Mother Daughter Business Dynamic23:28 Empowered Family Collaboration26:08 Respect and Boundaries27:07 Scaling With Great Hires29:29 Authenticity Versus Celebrity32:09 Brand Integrity and Science33:58 Culture Fit and Team Freedom34:53 Investment and Valuation Lessons38:39 New CEO and Absoluter Mindset40:44 Three Two One Advice43:33 Thanking Brad and ClosingSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Scale Your Productivity with AI with Georgie Barrat, AI Expert, Broadcaster, Founder & Creator of The AI Method.
This week Jo sits down with AI expert, broadcaster, and AI Method founder Georgie Barrat to share three ways to scale productivity with AI. First, Georgie advises “onboarding” your AI like a new employee by creating an AI blueprint: a North Star vision document, ideal audience details, and “voice DNA” samples for emails, newsletters, and social posts, stored via tools like memory, projects, or custom GPTs to improve outputs and avoid confusion from overly long threads. Second, she recommends using voice input to reduce friction, brainstorm more naturally, and let AI consolidate ideas into well-formatted drafts you can refine. Third, she suggests building a simple toolkit by choosing one main AI tool and targeting repeat weekly workflows for small, high-impact time savings, while factchecking and ensuring the final work still sounds like you. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:59 Tip 1 AI Blueprint Onboarding03:16 Where to Store Context04:34 Avoid Long Threads06:06 Tip 2 Talk to AI07:57 Tip 3 Workflow Toolkit10:36 Small Wins Over Hype11:37 Recap and AI Sandwich15:32 Closing and SubscribeSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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EP35: Kate Cotterill, CEO and Co-Founder of She Grows Veg, empowering more people to grow their own.
From City Marketer to Heirloom Seed Disruptor: Kate Cotterill on Building She Grows Veg in MidlifeJo kicks off a new season by speaking with Kate Cotterill, CEO and co-founder of She Grows Veg, an heirloom seed company launched in November 2023 with Instagram grower Lucy Hutchings. Kate shares how a garden design course led to their partnership, how Lucy’s 120,000-strong following revealed pent-up UK demand for heirloom seeds, and how Kate left a 25-year marketing career to start the business at 46. They discuss what heirloom seeds are versus hybrids, She Grows Veg’s rapid growth from a £17,000 crowdfund to £1.4m turnover and a 30+ person team, two Chelsea Flower Show gold medals, and the challenges of funding, scaling operations, website crashes, and seed production lead times. Kate also describes their women-focused hiring model, AI-driven content and customer support, new veg-growing app, charity work, and advice to research then act. 00:00 Welcome and guest intro01:55 Why seeds04:58 Market shift to growing07:51 Heirloom seeds explained10:46 Funding and crowdfunding13:22 Product build and packaging15:49 Chelsea spotlight and website crash19:07 Scaling team and operations22:13 Energy routines and tech24:59 Co-founder roles and balance25:28 Finding Your Yin Yang25:59 Seed Hunting Secret Sauce26:26 Funding the Fast Growth28:44 Angel Investing Explained30:17 Scaling Teams and Roles31:14 Production and Stock Fears32:54 Customer Support with AI34:00 Family Support and Midlife Drive36:33 Pinch Me Chelsea Moments37:45 Digital Marketing Disruption39:39 Next Phase and Veg App41:04 Joy of Growing and Reviews42:41 Advice to Just Go44:23 321s People AI Premises47:22 Do Differently and Thank You50:35 Final Wrap and GoodbyeSupport the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: [email protected] Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneurContact: [email protected] CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Midlife Entrepreneur is the podcast for women who are building businesses later in life. Hosted by Jo Glynn-Smith, career transitions expert, coach and entrepreneur, who works with founders every day, each week Jo sits down with a different business owner to unpack the real stories, turning points and hard-won lessons behind their ventures. The show also features the 15 Minute Masterclass, where seasoned experts share practical advice designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage. Honest, inspiring and genuinely useful, this is the show that proves it is never too late to back yourself. Top 15% of podcasts globally and charting on Apple's Entrepreneurship category. New episodes every Tuesday.
HOSTED BY
Jo Glynn-Smith
CATEGORIES
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