We started a business, send help!

This week we’re joined by the formidable Emma Fishlock, the no-BS, messy founder behind Real World Consultancy. Emma has helped over 1,000 founders and businesses grow, scale, and succeed, and she’s a passionate champion of female founders through her Strategic Circle community.Emma is the opposite of a gatekeeper. She openly shares the strategies, lessons, and frameworks that have helped so many businesses succeed, including insights from her Ambitious Growth Model book. And fair warning: she talks almost as fast as her strategic brain works.In this episode, we dive into:Why niching too early can actually hold your business backHow to find your zone of genius (and why it matters more than you think)The difference between being a great freelancer vs building a real businessWhy you can’t be both in the business and on the business foreverHow weak business foundations can end up costing you serious money laterIf you're building a business, thinking about scaling, or wondering whether you're actually running a business or just freelancing harder, this episode is packed with honest, practical advice.

It’s just us this week! We’re chatting about what we’ve been up to lately and the steps we’re taking to keep moving things forward. We also dive into the idea of “owning it” — a mindset we much prefer to the overused and often negative term “imposter syndrome.” Plus, we share a bit about our recent photoshoot with the amazing Heather Seed and how a little inspiration from America’s Next Top Model helped us stay focused and keep our best smize on!

This week we’re joined by Laura Davis from The Two Lauras, the only membership dedicated to social media freelancers, and she is dropping serious value.We’re talking:
Why niching down is the fastest way to attract your dream clients (hint: it’s not “everyone”)The power of the right CTA on social, and what most people get wrongWhen (and how) to outsource without blowing your budgetWhy the “viral algorithm” is basically a myth
Red flags to look out for when hiring ad account managersIf you’re building a business and want smarter, not louder, marketing, this one’s for you.

A short catch-up from us this week after the half-term juggle. We’re sharing what’s been going on behind the scenes, navigating the messy middle of business, realising that getting the gig is only the beginning, feeling completely paralysed by decisions, and the practical (and slightly overwhelming) process of consolidating our websites. We also chat about rediscovering Pinterest and why it’s quietly becoming a useful tool for us again.No big breakthroughs. No shiny “we’ve cracked it” moments. Just where we’re actually at.Thanks for being here with us. Keep your questions and feedback coming.And remember… “it’s in the post.”Nic + George x

What does it take to turn a Southern US comfort food into a breakout UK brand?In this episode, we sit down with Jane, co-founder of Homewrecker Cheese, to unpack the wild journey of building a startup from scratch and bringing a bold taste of the American South to British shelves.Jane shares the realities of launching a food brand, navigating culture gaps, hustling for retail wins, and what it really takes to land major stockists like Ocado and Selfridges. It’s a story of grit, flavour, and founder resilience, packed with lessons for anyone dreaming of turning a kitchen idea into a national product.If you love startup stories, food entrepreneurship, or behind-the-scenes retail journeys, this one’s for you.Huge shout-out to the Leamington Spa community for supporting "Jallen" on their journey so far, including the Fox and Vivian, Aubrey Allen and Farmers Fayre. You are the best!

This week, it’s just us catching up, getting honest, and sitting right in the messy middle of building our businesses. We share what’s been going on behind the scenes, the latest updates, and what’s currently stretching us (in all the ways).We also chat about the Creative Futures programme, one to have on your radar if you’re a startup or growing business in the creative industries in and around Warwickshire. Plus a detour into Exploding Kittens, the world’s biggest crowdfunded game, nearly a decade on.But more than anything, we want to hear from you. How are you doing? How are you navigating your own messy middle right now? So, let us know what’s really going on.Nic + George x

This week on We Started a Business, Send Help, we’re joined by graphic design expert Joanne Higgs (Jo Higgs Creative) to share practical branding tips for small businesses — plus the biggest design mistakes and icks she sees all the time 👀We chat logos, Canva overwhelm, DIY branding, and how to make your business look professional without the stress.🎧 A must-listen for small business owners, startups, and creatives.

This week, we’re doing what we do best: a honest recap.What we said we’d do.What we actually did.What’s still sitting on the to-do list staring at us 👀And sharing the biggest learnings from our recent trip to Birmingham for the 51% Club Strategy Reset Day.We dive into:Strategy (without the corporate fluff) with Emma Fishlock, Real World ConsultancyHow we should be using AI in our businesses with Michelle Johnson from Ideal Intelligence, including the genuinely game-changing AI prompts we learned (and are already using)It’s real, it’s a bit messy, and it’s hopefully helpful — especially if you’re building a business while juggling a million other things and wondering if you’re the only one who hasn’t figured it all out yet. Spoiler: you’re not.

Ever catch yourself thinking, “I’ll rest later,” “I’ll deal with that after this deadline,” or “This is fine” (when it’s very much not)?Yep, that’s self-abandonment, and it shows up a lot when you’re building a business.On this episode of We Started a Business, Send Help!, we’re joined by the brilliant Jennie from Work, Life Health to unpack how self-abandonment sneaks into our work, why it matters, and how to stop ghosting yourself in the name of productivity.We talk about:What self-abandonment actually looks likeThe sneaky autopilot habits keeping us stuckWhy big life overhauls don’t workThe power of small, boring, wildly effective micro-changesIf you remember one thing, make it this question:“What would she/he do?”Your future self — the one with boundaries who doesn’t disappear when things get busy — is a great accountability partner.If you’re building a business and want to recognise yourself along the way, this one’s for you.Press play. Send help. Let’s go.

We know we said our first episode would be next week, but then we remembered why we started this pod in the first place. It was to keep us accountable and showing up. So, that is exactly what we're doing!This is a quick chat, just us. Chewing the fat over what we've got going on, what we will be focusing this pod on as we hurtle headlong into 2026 and some random memes and references along the way.Next Monday we will drop our next episode featuring a guest expert who is all about fuelling us and our businesses in the best way possible. So, see you next week!

Welcome back to We Started a Business, Send Help! This is episode 22, and before we properly log off for Christmas, we’re jumping in with a quick catch-up. We’re sharing what’s been going on behind the scenes, a few lessons from the last couple of months, and a massive thank you to everyone who’s listened, sent feedback, and to all the brilliant guest experts we’ve had on the show. We’re taking a short break, but we’ll be back with our first episode of 2026 on 12 January, with more honest chats, real business moments, and plenty more learning as we go.Nic + George x

This week, we’re joined by the incredible Meeta Darji, an award-winning speaker and mindset expert specialising in mental resilience, public speaking with confidence and money mindset. After surviving a horrific car accident in the U.S., Meeta discovered the power of Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT), a powerful technique that helps reprogramme the mind and release deep emotional and energetic blocks.As small business owners, we all know that uneasy feeling when more money seems to be going out than coming in. Fear, scarcity, and stress can creep in fast, but Meeta is here to show us another way.Now, fair warning ...whenever we record an episode that leans a little on the woo woo side, the technical gods seem to test us. Beth Taylor our friend and psychic guide once watched our entire Instagram account vanish post going live, and this time the microphones and Riverside app decided not to cooperate. Thankfully, George had a backup running on her phone so the sound and video quality aren’t quite up to our usual standard, but the wisdom in this episode more than makes up for it.In this conversation, we explore how to shift from fear to financial flow, how tapping can help you retrain your mindset for abundance, and why changing your emotional energy around money can change everything.✨ Stick around until the end, Meeta guides us through a live tapping session to help clear your money blocks, just in time to welcome a prosperous new year!Nic + George x

It’s episode 20 and Christmas is nearly here! This week, we’re keeping it real with a quick catch-up and a big dose of honesty. Full disclosure: we scrapped the original episode because… well, it just didn’t feel right. So we hit reset, stripped it back, and decided to give you the unfiltered update on where we’re really at with our businesses right now.Thanks for riding with us through every twist, turn, and meltdown. Keep those DMs, topic ideas, and guest suggestions coming, this pod is as much yours as it is ours. Nic + George x

This week on We Started a Business, Send Help, we’re talking to Louie Tew, co-founder of TH&TH, the bridal brand born out of one wedding, a shoestring budget, and a wild twist of fate.After years in fashion and branding, Louie and her friends designed the bridesmaid dresses she couldn’t find anywhere — elegant, couture-style, but affordable. When the wedding photos hit Twitter (we mean, X!), a top magazine editor spotted them and demanded to know: “Who made those dresses?”That single moment lit the fuse for TH&TH. Today, the brand dresses bridal parties across the world.Louie opens up about what it really takes to build a business from scratch, delusion, creative risk, smart branding, and scaling without losing your soul.If you’ve ever built something from nothing (or are just trying to survive your latest pivot), this episode’s a must-listen.🎙️ We Started a Business, Send Help: honest founder stories, no filters, no fluff. Just the messy bits and belly laughs along the way!We are your co-hosts: Nic: Stylist and Founder of Wear the StarsGeorge: Luxury Brand Copywriter and founder of The Manifesto Studio wordy art prints

Black Friday and the festive season’s creeping in and small business owners everywhere are feeling the pressure. In this episode, we chat about getting ready for Christmas and tackling Black Friday without resorting to discounts. We share down-to-earth ways to stand out, stay visible, and keep sales steady through the busiest time of year.If you run a small product or service business, this one’s for you with honest conversation, practical ideas, and a sprinkle of festive chaos.

If you’ve been hearing that tools like Google’s AI updates, ChatGPT, and language-model search are changing the way customers find you online… you’re absolutely right. And today, we’re breaking down exactly how. We’ve brought in two of the best people to help us make sense of it: Jess and Kelly from Accentuate SEO, specialists in AI-driven search strategies and real-world optimisation for small businesses.We’re talking about what’s actually worth your time, what to stop stressing about, and the practical steps you can take to keep your website visible, even as search changes faster than ever.So if you want to stay ahead of the curve without needing a massive budget or a full tech team… this one’s for you.Btw, we always mess up something. This week's treat is saying episode 16 when it's actually episode 17?!!!As promised in the episode, here's the amazing AI SEO course Jess and Kelly have set up with small biz owners in mind.

Deborah’s story isn’t your average career pivot. After breast cancer treatment put life and work on pause, she didn’t just “go back”, she rebuilt. Add in a marriage breakup, relocating to another country across the other side of the world, and starting a business with her now-husband… let’s just say she’s navigated more than a few plot twists.We get into:Reclaiming who you are when life flips the scriptBuilding a business with your partner (and actually thriving)Creating work that supports your wellbeing, not drains itWhy “balance” isn’t soft. It’s strategy.This one’s for anyone who’s had to start over, rethink everything, or rewrite their story entirely.Guest:Deborah Tabbron, Co-Founder of Akela Abbott Ltd., helping people, leaders, and organisations grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose.Shout-outs this episode go to:Myintent.orgCoppaFeelWorking With CancerBreast Cancer AwarenessMacMillan Cancer SupportFemale Founders LeamingtonLizzie Hazel, Stratford-Upon-Avon Business Community1 Mill Street

Money — we all think about it, but no one really talks about it. In this episode of We Started a Business, Send Help!, we sit down with Rachel Kerr, a financial planner and founder of ⁠Albert and Mae Wealth Management ⁠on a mission to break the money taboo.We dive into:💔 How to handle money through divorce📉 What the UK Budget could mean for you💰 Building your emergency fund (and why it’s non-negotiable)📈 How to start investing confidently🔥 The power of the FU fund, and why everyone needs oneIf you’re figuring out finances, building a business, or just trying to get your money mindset in check, this one’s for you.Disclaimer:This content is for financial education purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your research, consider your specific goals and or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any major financial decisions. Past performance is not an indicator of future returns. Your investments can go up as well as down.👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more unfiltered chats about business, life, and the messy bits in between!

Money — we all think about it, but no one really talks about it. In this episode of We Started a Business, Send Help!, we sit down with Rachel Kerr, a financial planner and founder of Albert and Mae Wealth Management on a mission to break the money taboo.We dive into:💔 How to handle money through divorce📉 What the UK Budget could mean for you💰 Building your emergency fund (and why it’s non-negotiable)📈 How to start investing confidently🔥 The power of the FU fund, and why everyone needs oneIf you’re figuring out finances, building a business, or just trying to get your money mindset in check, this one’s for you.Disclaimer:This content is for financial education purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your research, consider your specific goals and or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any major financial decisions. Past performance is not an indicator of future returns. Your investments can go up as well as down.👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more unfiltered chats about business, life, and the messy bits in between!

We thought it's about time we answer some of the listener questions we've received, including how we got our first customers for our product and service businesses, biggest f*ck up at work and how to say no without p*ssing off your clients and customers. Yes, even the pushy ones!The questions we couldn't answers, we've lined up the right guest experts to come on and answer them properly for you.Keep the questions and the feedback coming.Shout-outs this episode go to:1 Mill Street co-working space and community51 Percent Club free female founder communityFemale Founders Community, run by Vicki Forty 4 coworking, Leamington SpaThe Fold coworking Leamington SpaLeamington Spa tennis and squash clubNic + George x

We thought it's about time we answer some of the listener questions we've received, including how we got our first customers for our product and service businesses, biggest f*ck up at work and how to say no without p*ssing off your clients and customers. Yes, even the pushy ones!The questions we couldn't answers, we've lined up the right guest experts to come on and answer them properly for you. Keep the questions and the feedback coming. Nic + George xWe Started a Business, Send Help! is a podcast where Nicola and George share the real, chaotic, and unfiltered journey of building a business from scratch. No buzzwords, no fake success stories, just the highs, lows, and (sometimes funny and cringe) learnings of entrepreneurship.🎙️ New episodes every Monday!We talk about:💡 Starting a business from zero🚀 Startup growth (and growing pains)🤯 Mistakes we’ve made so you don’t have to😂 Funny moments from the entrepreneurial trenchesFollow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/westartedabusinesspod/ #Startuppodcast #Businesspodcast #startupjourney

PR alone won’t build your brand anymore. The game has changed and visibility is everything. The brands and creators who win today are the ones who show up everywhere, across every platform, consistently. You can have the best product or service in the world, but if no one sees you, you don’t exist. Visibility beats PR every single time. 🚀We chat about how we navigate the "ick" of visibility in business can bring and share the amazing tips and insights we got from attending the East Village Visibility Agency launch in Birmingham earlier this week.Shout-outs this week:East Village Visibility AgencyThe Compound Studio Birmingham

Turning a lightbulb moment into a real, on-the-shelf product sounds exciting, until you realise it takes years of grit, setbacks, and sheer stubbornness to get there.In this episode, we chat with Laura Sparkes, founder of DriRun, the world’s first reusable, discreet bladder-leak pad for runners. Laura shares how she went from idea to innovation, what kept her going when things got tough, and why determination matters more than any business plan.If you’re a first-time founder wondering how to keep pushing when it feels like everything’s against you, this one’s for you.💡 Real talk, hard lessons, and zero p*ssing around.Shoutouts this episode go to:Andrew Peet at Zero Two Digital Kaye Allfrey Lauren, Founder of Wear 'em out padsInnovate UKPurdey's drinks (you'd have thought by episode 12, we'd know to keep the cans out of shot!!??!!)

You may have noticed, we disappeared from the Meta universe this week. Vanished. Just an hour after we uploaded our most-listened-to episode with psychic and guide Beth Taylor, both of our business Instagram accounts were deleted. No warning. No explanation. No way back.This has been a HUGE lesson for us. And today, we’re sharing the full story: what happened, what we’ve learned, and how you can avoid the same fate. Consider this your reminder to spread your wings beyond social media and start building your own marketing “real estate” that no one can take away overnight.The good news? We’re not going anywhere. We’ve started sharing our episodes and clips on YouTube, so come find us there and say hi!Thanks, as always, for listening, supporting, and sending us your kind messages. We couldn’t do this without you.Nic + George x

What does it really mean to bring your whole self into your business, and what magic happens when you do?In this episode, we’re joined by Beth Taylor, Psychic, Channel, and Guide in soul alignment and personal transformation.Five years ago, Beth made the leap from running a beauty business to fully embracing her psychic gifts. Today, she runs a thriving, high-end practice with incredible clients across London, Birmingham, Warwick, and the Cotswolds.Together, we dive into:What it looks like to show up authentically in business (and why it matters)How to move through fear of judgment when you decide to be yourselfWhy aligning your business purpose with your soul’s desires is essentialThe importance of making space to listen to your intuitionThe “life awakening” many people experience in their mid 30s to early 40sWhy your bank account often directly reflects your sense of self-worth (*gulp*)If you’ve ever worried that being too much of yourself might hold you back, or if you’re curious whether it’s really possible to succeed by being unapologetically authentic, this one is for you.Shout-outs this episode go to:Natural Elixir in WarwickBamford in DaylesfordCloud Twelve in Notting HillThanks for listening and if you have any questions send us a DM on Instagram.Nic + George x

This week, we’re reflecting on the weekly highs, lows and lessons of running our businesses. Nicola shares her journey of finding a new supplier and manufacturer for her upcoming styling products, covering everything from late night video calls and factory tours to unexpected challenges like small claims courts and less-than-ideal cash/product handovers in dodgy car parks. It’s a no-filter look at the realities behind the scenes: the wins, the mistakes, and the messy middle we’re still navigating.Thanks for listening, and see you next week when we’re joined by one of our brilliant guest experts!Nicola + George x

Blogs don’t have to be boring (or just endless walls of text stuffed with keywords). In this episode, we’re joined by Cath Lyon, a B2B content strategist who knows how to turn plain old blogs into real engines for growth.Cath walks us through the practical stuff that actually matters like how to pick topics people care about, write posts that sound human, and structure your content so it’s easy (and fun) to read.If you’ve ever stared at a blank page wondering “What should I even write about?” or hit publish only to hear crickets, this episode is packed with advice you can actually use to get people reading, engaging, and coming back for more.Shout outs this episode go to:Google analyticsMill Media (Cath's fave blog)Hemmingway editor (A brill writing and reading editor)

Ever stopped yourself from posting on socials? Convinced your brilliant idea is actually shite before anyone even sees it? Talked yourself out of doing the one thing that could actually move your business forward? Yeah… hi, welcome to the self-sabotage gang. It’s way more crowded than you think.This week, Nic and George are calling themselves out. From summer brain-fog to overthinking spirals, they’re unpacking all the ways they trip over their own feet, and the messy, trial-and-error ways they use to get unstuck. Spoiler: nobody’s got this figured out, but at least we can talk about it and be honest.So, if you’ve ever realised your biggest business enemy is actually… you in bed, scrolling Insta at 2 a.m., congrats, this episode is for you!Shout-outs this episode go to:Naturally Nourished with Meeta Mel RobbinsDr Joe DispenzaHay House High Performance Planner

This week, we speak to Lisa Taylor, brand voice pro and founder of Can I Have a Word?. From working in big beauty to running her own biz, Lisa knows the highs, lows, and awkward in-betweens of building a brand. They dig into why your tone of voice is everything, how to actually name your business without sounding like everyone else, and what it takes to create a brand people remember (and love).TakeawaysKnow who you’re talking to (your audience runs the show).Your tone = your brand’s personality, so make it count.Ditch the generic. Be bold, be you (with less swearing :-)).Don’t let AI make your copy sound like a robot. Filter it first!Always check if that dream name is actually available online.Name drops this episode go to the amazing The 51% Club, Heist House Studios, Who Gives a Crap, and more.Thanks for listening and we hope this little insights help you.Nic + George x

Summer brings the great juggle: kids off school, clients slowing down, sunny days calling you outside… and your business whispering “don’t forget me!”In this episode, we dive into how to enjoy the rest of the holidays without setting you up for chaos when you come back. From practical prep to stock clear-outs and getting service-based businesses client-ready, we’re here with tips and stories to help you start September feeling calm, not crushed.

If your business is for everyone, it’s for no one. This week, we dig into the power of niching down and why focusing on a clear, specific customer can help you stand out.And it’s a special one: our first ever guest expert episode with Tamsin Rennie, founder of Monroe Creative, and a pretty powerful brand and website strategist.Free tools Tamsin mentions and that are super helpful:Ideal Client workbook: https://www.monroecreative.co.uk/ideal-client-workbookBrand Clarity workbook: https://www.monroecreative.co.uk/brand-clarity-mini-course Guys, we finally have intro music! Thanks to the help from podcast editor extraordinaire, Sarah from @wearesigmasocial.See you next week.

Everyone loves your business idea, especially your mum and bestie. But what happens when you take it outside the group chat?This week, we’re talking about idea validation: how to find out if your idea actually has legs without spending loads of time or money. We cover why friends and family support is lovely, but not enough, and how to get feedback from people who don’t know (or love) you.From free tools like email sign-up pages to scrappy prototypes, we’re sharing practical, low-budget ways to test the waters before diving in.Still no intro music (but we have a brilliant local editor coming to help!) and our first proper expert guest is live next week! 

Starting a business is wild. Especially when you're doing it from your kitchen table with naff-all budget and no backup plan. In this episode, we’re digging into the real question: why the hell did you start a business in the first place?Because if you don’t know your "why", trust us, you're going to feel lost fast. The stats don’t lie: 1 in 5 businesses in the UK fail within five years. So if you're just in it for the money, there are easier ways. But if there's something deeper driving you, we’ll help you uncover it and use it to stay focused when things get chaotic (which they will).We’re sharing our own messy, unfiltered startup journey. The highs, lows, and awkward in-betweens, so you don’t feel alone in yours. Experts are coming soon, but for now, it’s just us (still no intro or outro music!), figuring it out in real time. Let’s go!Unofficial sponsor Trip Drinks keeping us calm this summer.Shout-out to the amazing The Five Hour Club, mentioned in this episode and perfect for parents hustling in school hours.

In this intro episode, we set the scene: Who we are, what we’ve tried (and failed) at in business, and what this podcast is really about.We’re sharing the highs, lows, and in-betweens of building a business from your kitchen table with next to no budget in real-time. It’s honest, messy, and a bit chaotic, but the experts are coming soon. Oh, and we’re still figuring out how to add music. Bear with us.