The Reluctant Capitalist: Building a Business Without Selling Your Soul with Marisa Guthrie
Release Date: 11/19/2025
The Reluctant Capitalist: Building a Business Without Selling Your Soul with Marisa Guthrie
Own Your Time
In this episode of Own Your Time, Sarah Stewart sits down with anti-capitalist business coach and upcoming author of The Reluctant Capitalist, Marisa Guthrie, for a radical conversation about redefining success, time and what it means to do business differently. Together, they unpack how small business owners can operate within capitalism without perpetuating harmful systems, why scaling small can be a bold and values-aligned choice and how ethical pricing, mindful marketing and time reclamation are not just buzzwords but revolutionary acts. If you’ve ever questioned the hustle, resisted...
info_outline
S2, Ep22: Work-life balance, time pressures and pivoting with Kat Wong
Own Your Time
Episode Summary: What if you could build a meaningful, impactful career without sacrificing your time, your health or your sanity? In this powerful episode, Sarah is joined by Kat Wong, whose career has spanned the BBC, Apple and now her own platform, Oh Yeah, supporting mid-career professionals navigating change. From hitting the “pips” live on air to leading international teams, Kat shares what decades in high-pressure, time-sensitive roles have taught her about boundaries, leadership and working with intention. This is a must-listen for anyone feeling stretched thin, curious about...
info_outline
S2, Ep21: Digital detox with Florence Achery
Own Your Time
Retreat Like It’s 1999: Digital Detox for Real Life with Florence from Yoga Retreats and More What if your business grew because you put your phone down? In this conversation with Florence, founder of Yoga Retreats and More, we talk about digital detoxing without ditching your ambition. Florence runs “Retreat Like It’s 1999” weekends in Cumbria, where guests switch off, sink into nature and remember what it feels like to be fully present. No doomscrolling. No ping-induced panic. Just connection, breath and a proper night’s sleep. We dig into my love-hate relationship with technology,...
info_outline
S2, Ep20: The importance of setting boundaries with Sharon Smith
Own Your Time
What if boundaries weren’t just a self-care buzzword but the thing actually standing between you and burnout? In this episode, I’m joined by Sharon Smith, leadership coach and founder of Own Your Leadership, for a no-nonsense conversation about time, boundaries and why saying yes to everything is a fast track to overwhelm. Sharon shares the behind-the-scenes of how she went from burned-out teacher to boundary-setting business owner and what she learned the hard way about people-pleasing, capacity and leading well. If you’ve ever felt guilty for saying no, if your calendar is packed but...
info_outline
S2, Ep19: Property, projects and hustle culture with Melissa Lewis
Own Your Time
What if your business didn’t demand all of your time? If you’ve ever chased a timeline, hustled yourself into burnout or assumed success required sacrificing your weekends, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Melissa Lewis - property investor, entrepreneur and co-founder of Venrus, a proptech platform making investing simpler, faster and way less confusing. Melissa's story is all about redefining what "success" looks like and learning how to design a business around time freedom. From hitting her goals early to facing full-blown burnout, her journey is a total permission slip to stop...
info_outline
S2, Ep18: Quietly bold + seasonally aligned with Sarah Philp
Own Your Time
What if rest wasn’t something you had to earn? And what if planning didn’t need to feel like pressure? In this beautiful, slow-paced conversation, I’m joined by the quietly bold Sarah Philp - psychologist, coach, and founder of Saorsa Psychology (Gaelic for freedom). Her work supports educators and leaders in making space for reflection, renewal, and a more seasonal way of living and working - yes, even within the rigid structures of the school year. We talk about so much more than education here. This episode is an invitation to reconsider how you approach time, rest, leadership, and...
info_outline
S2, Ep 17 How to Create Success Without Side Effects with Oli Cooke
Own Your Time
What if the very success you’re chasing is quietly draining the life out of you? In this episode, I’m joined by mindset and performance coach Oli Cooke, who helps driven entrepreneurs create success without the side effects. His “Rapid Root-Level Shifts” method helps untangle fear, anxiety and internal resistance that can sneak in as your business grows. Now, as a former pharmacist myself, I couldn’t help but fall in love with that tagline, success without side effects. Because let’s be real, success that costs your health, peace or weekends isn’t really success, is it? Oli’s...
info_outline
S2, Ep 16: Matt Wing
Own Your Time
What if feeling energised, clear-headed, and calm was your default… not just the rare exception? In today’s episode of Own Your Time, I’m joined by high-performance coach Matt Wing, who proves that it’s never too late to shake things up and feel better in your body, your schedule and your life. At 53, Matt ditched the burnout cycle, gave up booze and built a business helping busy people do the same. We talk about the habits that actually make a difference, what changed for Matt after an ADHD diagnosis and why strength training might be your best-kept secret for long-term health....
info_outline
S2, Ep15: Mette Baillie
Own Your Time
In this uplifting and insightful episode, Sarah chats with award-winning designer and dressmaker Mette Baillie, founder of Freja Designer Dressmaking in Edinburgh. With decades of experience crafting timeless, made-to-measure garments, Mette brings a deeply intentional and sustainable approach to fashion… one that goes far beyond trends. They dive into: Mette’s journey from childhood creativity to professional couture How what you wear can literally change how you show up and how others perceive you The surprising link between clothes and productivity Why a capsule wardrobe can...
info_outline
S2, Ep14: Why procedures in your business matter
Own Your Time
(The audio is a little funny in this episode, apologies - hopefully it's not too annoying. The content is important!). Let’s be real, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) sound like the most boring thing in the business world. But what if I told you that creating a few simple SOPs could be the reason you finally get to take a holiday without your laptop… and return to zero fires? In this episode, I’m walking you through a behind-the-scenes game-changer for reclaiming your time, avoiding overwhelm and giving your future self a step up. Because when everything lives in your head, even...
info_outlineIn this episode of Own Your Time, Sarah Stewart sits down with anti-capitalist business coach and upcoming author of The Reluctant Capitalist, Marisa Guthrie, for a radical conversation about redefining success, time and what it means to do business differently.
Together, they unpack how small business owners can operate within capitalism without perpetuating harmful systems, why scaling small can be a bold and values-aligned choice and how ethical pricing, mindful marketing and time reclamation are not just buzzwords but revolutionary acts.
If you’ve ever questioned the hustle, resisted bro-marketing tactics or wondered how to build a business that feels good, this conversation is your permission slip to opt out of the grind and into something more sustainable.
What we cover:
-
The philosophy behind anti-capitalist coaching and why it’s not anti-money
-
How Marisa’s values-led path from philosophy grad to purpose-driven entrepreneur unfolded
-
The power of pricing ethically: balancing fairness, sustainability and self-worth
-
Marketing without manipulation: what it means to dissolve shame instead of amplify it
-
Why time is your most fragile resource and how to stop spending it on the wrong things
-
The radical act of scaling small and honouring your energy
-
How solopreneurs can build intentional ecosystems that support equity and collective care
-
The rise of the reluctant capitalist and why this business model is the future
Resources and links:
-
Marisa’s Website: https://marisaguthriecoaching.co.uk/
-
Substack Newsletter: The Reluctant Capitalist on Substack https://substack.com/@marisaguthrie
-
FREE Masterclass: Fair & Fearless Pricing https://marisaguthriecoaching.co.uk/free-masterclass-ethical-fair-fearless-pricing
Time stamps:
-
00:00 – Welcome + The problem with hustle culture
-
02:00 – What anti-capitalist coaching really means
-
05:00 – Marissa’s journey from philosophy to purpose-led business
-
08:30 – Why time, not money, is your most fragile resource
-
13:30 – Buying back your time: the true solopreneur dream
-
17:45 – Ethical pricing: balancing fairness and fearlessness
-
24:30 – How resourced businesses can do more good
-
30:00 – Shame-free marketing: what needs to change
-
38:00 – The rise of the solopreneur as the new standard
-
41:00 – Marissa’s book The Reluctant Capitalist and what to expect
-
46:00 – Final words + quickfire “Time Crunch” round
About Sarah:
I'm your host, Sarah Stewart, Glasgow-based time management expert. My approach combines the wisdom of traditional time management strategies with the transformative power of mindfulness. My commitment is to help you get more time for the things that really matter.
If you are ready to ditch the hustle culture and overwhelm, and instead embrace peaceful productivity; you are in the right place.
Sarah’s Links:
Get More Time Course (Self-Study):
This course is for the successful solopreneur or small business owner, and it lays out the steps you need to take so you can get more time for the things that really matter.
https://www.sarahstewart.co.uk/get-more-time-course
FREE Time Audit Workbook:
Where I share my framework to audit your time, so you can get more time for the things that really matter
https://www.sarahstewart.co.uk/timeauditworkbook