Ep 32: The no-BS guide to building a real business with Emma Fishlock

Ep 32: The no-BS guide to building a real business with Emma Fishlock

This week we’re joined by the formidable Emma Fishlock [https://www.themessyfounder.co.uk/], the no-BS, messy founder behind Real World Consultancy [https://realworldconsultancy.org/]. 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmamaywhiterwc/]. 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 [https://realworldconsultancy.org/theambitiousblueprint] 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 back * How 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 business * Why you can’t be both in the business and on the business forever * How weak business foundations can end up costing you serious money later If 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.

Ep 31: Owning it, photoshoots and USA

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!

Ep 30: The social media advice no one talks about with Laura Davis

This week we’re joined by Laura Davis from The Two Lauras [https://thetwolauras.com/], 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 wrong * When (and how) to outsource without blowing your budget * Why the “viral algorithm” is basically a myth * Red flags to look out for when hiring ad account managers If you’re building a business and want smarter, not louder, marketing, this one’s for you.

Ep 29: Pinterest, meltdowns, and the messy middle

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

Ep 28: A Startup Story with Bite with Jane, Homewrecker

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 [https://www.foxandvivian.com/], Aubrey Allen [https://aubreyallen.co.uk/] and Farmers Fayre [https://www.farmersfayre.co.uk/]. You are the best!