Lemonade Leaders

After reaching breaking point, Becci McEvoy rebuilt her life and business from the ground up. In this episode, she shares how leaving a 13-year career, navigating her husband’s mental health crisis, and being diagnosed with PMDD led her to create Be Heard Socials - a business that champions balance over burnout.Becci opens up about redefining success, building flexibility into her work, and helping other women show up online in a way that actually feels good. It’s an honest conversation about resilience, wellbeing, and finding your voice - even when life feels too loud.Find Becci here.

In this episode, we speak with Soni Panda, founder of By Soni Panda x, an inclusive hosiery brand. We explore what really happens when the plan falls apart, and how the unexpected detour can lead to something far better. From the heartbreak of a dream that didn’t launch to the joy of building a purpose-led fashion brand from the ground up, this conversation is all about resilience, reinvention and rediscovering your confidence.We dive into: • The moment everything didn’t go to plan, and why that became the turning point • How imposter syndrome can knock you flat… and still become fuel for growth • Why purpose matters more than perfection when building a brand • The power of dopamine dressing and showing up for yourself • Creating a space where everyone feels confident, comfortable and seenIf you’ve ever doubted yourself, pivoted unexpectedly or questioned your place in the room, this episode will remind you that the most meaningful journeys often begin when Plan A falls apart.Find Soni on LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Instagram, TikTok and By Soni Panda x on Instagram and their website.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

When a Cancer Diagnosis Interrupts Your First Year of BusinessStarting a business is challenging enough, but what happens when life throws you a diagnosis that changes everything? In this episode, Riannon speaks to Tom Pratt, a founder who discovered he had cancer just six months after launching his company, Albert Road Consulting. He shares how facing illness reshaped his perspective on work, success, and resilience, and why the experience ultimately confirmed that self-employment was the right path.They also discuss navigating recovery, finding focus after a late ADHD diagnosis, and how volunteering became a cornerstone of a more purposeful life and business.Find Tom and Albert Road Consulting online and on LinkedIn.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

From Anxiety to Awareness: The Mindful Generation StoryWhen Laura became a mum, she expected sleepless nights, but not the wave of anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and overwhelm that followed. What started as a personal struggle soon became her purpose.In this episode, Laura shares how she turned her own experience of postnatal anxiety into The Mindful Generation, a business helping parents understand their minds, break generational patterns, and raise emotionally aware children.From rewiring subconscious habits to teaching nervous system safety in schools, Laura is redefining what it means to be a mindful parent.Learn more about Laura on her website, Instagram and LinkedIn.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

From Honeymoon to Haircare Hero: A Journey from Redundancy to Curly SuccessWhen a dream honeymoon ended with redundancy, most people would have taken time to recover — but for this week’s Lemonade Leaders guest, it became the catalyst for change.In this episode, Riannon chats with the founder of a feel-good haircare brand reshaping the curly hair industry. She shares how being laid off days after her honeymoon pushed her to build something better, creating inclusive products that empower people to embrace their natural hair.Expect an honest conversation about resilience, inclusivity in beauty, and why rejection really can be redirection.Find Gaia and Tootilab on their website, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

After years of juggling a high-pressure marketing career and family life, Gemma Sewell hit breaking point. What followed, panic attacks, anxiety, and a powerful wake-up call, became the catalyst for a complete life shift. Now a transformational coach, Gemma helps others move away from burnout and towards a life that feels free, balanced, and true to who they are. In this episode, we talk about redefining success, letting go of toxic productivity, and rebuilding from rock bottom with purpose. Find Gemma on her website and Instagram.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

After losing her grandmother, Brynn O’Connell channelled her grief into creating Dauntless - a hosiery brand designed to finally fit tall women. Drawing on her background in data science, Brynn rebuilt the traditional sizing system to celebrate real bodies and redefine what comfort looks like.In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Brynn shares how loss inspired her to start again, the lessons she’s learned about resilience and self-acceptance, and why there’s never a perfect time to turn an idea into reality.Find Brynn chatting on Instagram, and you can find more about Dauntless on their website and Instagram.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

What if the thing you thought made you different was actually something almost every woman experiences?In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, we explore how one founder turned a common yet unspoken issue, breast asymmetry, which affects 94% of women, into a purpose-led business transforming women’s confidence. Kate Taylor is the founder of Evenly, a supportive community that unites women and provides effective, non-surgical solutions for breast asymmetry.From engineering innovative bra inserts to creating a supportive community, this conversation dives into: Turning lived experience into a brand with purpose Why women’s health conversations still face stigma The realities of building a business as a mother Finding fulfilment through helping othersA powerful reminder that the best ideas often start with solving your own problem, and helping others along the way.Learn more about Kate and Evenly on the website and Instagram.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

What happens when life throws you two huge curveballs - redundancy on maternity leave and a late ADHD diagnosis?In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Riannon Palmer sits down with marketing strategist Sophie Griffiths, who shares how these moments shaped her journey from corporate life to building a thriving business on her own terms.Sophie opens up about:The shock of being made redundant while on maternity leave.The trial-and-error of testing business ideas while raising two young children.How an ADHD diagnosis reframed the way she works, and why working with her brain, not against it, became the turning point.The lessons she now shares with other women on creating businesses that give freedom, not burnout.This is a story about resilience, self-trust, and finding the right way forward when the path ahead looks uncertain.Find Sophie via her website, LinkedIn or Instagram.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, I’m joined by Tamryn Dicks, founder of Pharsyde Solutions, a company on a mission to stop burnout from destroying small businesses.Tamryn’s story is raw and real. Her own brutal burnout cost her health, happiness, and almost her marriage and business. But it also sparked the mindset shifts that rebuilt her life and shaped her mission: helping business owners create thriving companies without sacrificing themselves.We talk about:Why 80% of small businesses fail before year fiveThe dangers of hustle culture (and how to escape it)The difference between stress and burnoutHow Tamryn rebuilt her business, doubled her income, and cut her hours in halfWhy protecting your wellbeing is the smartest business move you can makeFind out more about Tamryn and Pharsyde Solutions here: www.pharsyde.co.uk.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, I sit down with Kheyla Buchanan, founder and CEO of Mother Nature’s Recipes. Kheyla shares how her own breastfeeding struggles inspired her to become an NHS peer supporter and create a brand that offers herbal teas, resources, and community support for women at every stage of life.We explore the taboos around motherhood, from the unspoken realities of birth and breastfeeding to the pressure of societal expectations, and how honest conversations can create lasting change. Kheyla also opens up about her choice to have a home birth, the importance of informed decision-making, and the cultural traditions that once prioritised caring for new mothers.If you’re curious about holistic health, breaking taboos, or building a purpose-led business rooted in lived experience, you’ll take a lot from this inspiring conversation.https://mothernaturesrecipes.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/mothernaturesrecipeshttps://youtube.com/channel/UC6BPPxkwBO6q6LphQXtoo3gFind us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Claire Hill’s childhood was shaped by poverty, loss and responsibility beyond her years. After losing her dad at just eight years old, she helped care for her siblings while her mum faced mental health challenges. Despite the odds, she found a love of learning, a flair for business, and the resilience to keep moving forward.In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Claire shares her journey from growing up with secondhand uniforms and stigma to becoming a teacher who spearheaded her school’s pioneering free meals programme, ensuring every child started the day with breakfast. She opens up about the battles with imposter syndrome that followed her into adulthood, the leap she took in leaving teaching to build her creative business, and the powerful “worry to warrior” mindset that now shapes her work as a self-belief coach.We also talk about the importance of early intervention, the systemic changes needed for equality of opportunity, and why self-belief is the true foundation for success. Claire’s story is one of grit, transformation and hope - showing how even the hardest starts in life can lead to creating lasting change.Find more about Claire here:https://www.clairehill.uk/https://www.instagram.com/iamclairehillhttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/iamclairehillhttps://www.tiktok.com/@iamclairehillFind us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Two burnouts. One health scare. And a decision that changed everything.In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, I speak with the founder of The Lifestyle VA, Mel Maw, who shares how her career in the music industry and later as PA to a global CEO pushed her to the edge - twice. After her spleen was removed following a major health scare, she knew she couldn’t keep working the same way.What started as a sabbatical in Bali became the catalyst for discovering the virtual assistant world, landing her first client, and eventually building a thriving business that helps busy entrepreneurs and families reclaim their time and reduce their mental load.We talk about the warning signs of burnout, the importance of boundaries, the invisible “mental load” so many women carry, and the grit it takes to go from sofa-surfing to building a business that creates freedom for both clients and team members.If you’ve ever pushed your body too far in the name of work, this conversation is a reminder that change is possible - and sometimes, it’s the hard moments that spark the brightest new paths.Find more about Mel here:https://www.thelifestyleva.net/blog-1/mel-the-lifestyle-vahttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/melaniemaw-virtualassistanthttps://www.instagram.com/thelifestyleva_agency/Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

For 10 years, Louise Duncum thrived in the creativity of designing clothes for High Street brands, but something was missing: a deeper connection with the women wearing her designs. After enduring one toxic boss too many, she decided life was too short to stay unhappy. Retraining as a personal stylist, she launched Weiz Styles, helping ambitious women align their wardrobes with their potential.In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Louise shares how she turned frustration into freedom, why there was no plan B, and the ripple effect that confidence through style can have on every part of life and work.Find out more about Louise: https://weizstyles.com/Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Darya Simanovich arrived in the UK with just £300 and no English - 20 years later, she’s built 15 businesses. In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, we dive into her journey of resilience: 10 failures, 5 successes, and 1 exit. We talk about why failure is a muscle, the “100 Coffee Strategy” every founder should know, and how motherhood gave her the courage to take risks. An inspiring reminder that perseverance turns life’s lemons into lemonade.Find Darya on Instagram & LinkedInFind us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

What happens when your body forces you to stop and re-evaluate everything? For Victoria Harman, a sudden life-threatening neurological illness and redundancy while on medical leave became the unexpected turning point that pushed her to follow her long-held dream.In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Victoria shares her journey from senior leadership roles at global brands like Levi’s and TikTok Shop to founding Rajani Baker, a platform celebrating South Asian craftsmanship and wearable art. She opens up about resilience, health, cultural appreciation, and what it really means to reinvent your life when tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.If you’ve ever wondered how to turn setbacks into opportunities, or what it takes to create something meaningful out of life’s toughest moments, this episode is for you.Find out more about Victoria here: https://www.rajanibaker.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/rajani_baker/Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

When Caroline Marshall was made redundant just months after becoming a mum — at a company that didn’t even have a maternity policy — she faced an uncertain future. Burnout, financial pressure, and a toxic “tech bro” culture could have ended her career. Instead, she turned her skills into a business that now supports dozens of women across the UK and beyond.In this candid conversation, Caroline shares:The reality of maternity discrimination in 2025 (and why it’s worse than you think)How she built Upsource, a 36-strong team providing high-calibre virtual assistant and business support servicesWhy empathy and flexibility aren’t “soft” skills — they’re the future of leadershipThe resilience it takes to rebuild your career while raising young childrenFrom redundancy to running a thriving agency, Caroline’s story is a rallying cry for working mums, founders, and anyone who’s ever been underestimated.Find Caroline at: https://bumptobusinessowner.com/ and https://weareupsource.co.uk/Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Seven days after giving birth, Funmi Lawal’s world changed forever. A sudden stroke left her fighting for her life and facing the possibility that she might never walk or speak again. But against all odds, she relearned how to walk, endured years of dialysis, survived a kidney transplant, and went on to create Klip Knix, an award-winning adaptive underwear brand restoring dignity and independence to women worldwide.Funmi opens up about the personal challenges that shaped her journey, from losing both her parents within a year to the devastating loss of her beloved son in 2021. Through grief, health battles, and business setbacks, she found the strength to keep going.In this powerful conversation, she shares how her lived experience became the spark for innovation, the moment she took on Kim Kardashian in a legal battle (and won), and why passion is the fuel that keeps you moving forward.From ICU to QVC, this is a story of resilience and unstoppable purpose.Find Funmi and Clip-Knix at www.clip-knix.com and @clipknixukFind us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Lemonade Leaders is the podcast that dives into the real, raw, and remarkable stories of founders, changemakers, and everyday leaders who’ve faced life’s toughest challenges and turned them into something extraordinary.Hosted by Riannon Palmer, founder of Lem-uhn, each episode is a candid conversation that goes beyond the glossy headlines. You’ll hear about the moments that nearly broke them, the resilience that kept them going, and the unexpected ways they’ve created businesses, movements, and ideas that make the world a little better.From life-threatening illnesses to career-defining risks, personal loss to hard-won victories, Lemonade Leaders is here to inspire you, move you, and remind you that even the sourest lemons can become the sweetest lemonade.Hit follow and join us for stories that do good and feel good.Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders