#91 Redefining Support: From Construction to Lingerie with Nicola Fitzpatrick
Release Date: 10/19/2025
#95 Good Girl Economics Explored: Pricing, Perception, and Profit for Female Founders
Women's Business
In this special episode of Women's Business, I speak to Leila Ainge, my brilliant co-conspirator in our recent research project 'Good Girl Economics: The Price of Playing Nice.' This conversation is a review of our research: why do it, why now, the trends we discovered, and what we've both learned and will be implementing off the back of this research - particularly around pricing and perception. Join us as we uncover why women find it challenging to discuss profit, the impact of internalised misogyny, and how we can shift our mindset to embrace sustainable success. Leila's background in...
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#94 Women's Wellness and Work-Life Balance: Insights from writer and cancer survivor Rosamund Dean
Women's Business
In this week's episode I speak to Rosamund Dean, a journalist, author, and writer of the Substack 'Well, Well, Well.' Rosamund shares her journey from her early career as an entertainment journalist to navigating the overwhelm of the wellness industry following her breast cancer diagnosis and recovery. We discuss how her definition of success has changed, the pressures of motherhood, and the future-proofing of her body post-cancer. Rosamund also talks about her transition to freelance work, the joys and challenges of the Substack platform, and the importance of maintaining a healthful balance...
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#93: Knee Deep In Life, Healing and Humour with Laura Belbin
Women's Business
In this episode I speak to the inimitable Laura Belbin, better known as Knee Deep in Life on Instagram. Laura is an author, podcaster, and standup comedian who has used comedy to find light in the darkest of times. This conversation covers it all - from her early career experiences, her journey through therapy, dealing with childhood trauma, and how she discovered her true calling in comedy and completely reimagined and restarted her life. Laura shares the impact of her viral moments online, the challenges of being an influencer, and how she balances humor with raw honesty. This is an...
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#92 From Farm Life to Global Brand: Dani Pearce on Building Merry People
Women's Business
In this episode I speak to Dani Pearce, founder of the globally successful footwear brand Merry People. We start with Dani's early memories of farm life in Australia, her journey through various jobs, and the idea she had that led to her launching her brand. Dani shares how she navigated her company's growth, including securing her first factory in China, selling at farmer's markets, and transitioning to e-commerce. We also delve deep into her personal life, discussing the impact of motherhood on her career, her husband becoming the primary caregiver for their kids, and the importance of...
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#91 Redefining Support: From Construction to Lingerie with Nicola Fitzpatrick
Women's Business
In this episode I speak to Nicola Fitzpatrick, the founder of Elansu, a sports bra brand for fuller-busted women. Nicola's journey is truly fascinating, as she transitioned from a career in the male-dominated roofing industry to designing supportive sports bras to meet her own needs - bras that celebrated AND supported her feminine shape rather than just squashing it. We delve into her early work experiences, her foray into construction, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Nicola shares her motivations behind starting Elansu and the meticulous process of creating...
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#90 Fearless Female Leadership and Blending Purpose with Profit with Chloe Fallon
Women's Business
Join me as I speak to Chloe Fallon, founder of Lodestar Accounting. Chloe shares her journey from growing up in a single-parent household to founding her own accountancy firm, alongside starting her own family very young and having the build both alongside each other. We discuss her early career, the pressures of balancing work and family life, her fearless approach to leadership, and the pivotal moment that helped her to focus on purpose and impact over conventional measures of success, as she went about building her all-female team of accountants. Learn about Chloe's mission to support...
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#89 From Crippling Debt to Financial Freedom with Clare Seal
Women's Business
In this episode, I speak to financial coach, writer and podcaster Clare Seal. Clare shares her journey from racking up £27,000 in personal debt to becoming a financial educator and influencer. We discuss the decision to share her debt journey online, the steps she took to get out of debt, and the impact of motherhood on her financial decisions. Clare also dives into the importance of financial education for children and how parents can break the cycle of financial shame. We touch on the systemic struggles women face in balancing career and family life and discuss Clare's podcast 'Help Me, I'm...
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#88 Blending Pencils and Purpose with The Stationer's Tessa Sowry-Osborne
Women's Business
In this episode I speak to Tessa Sowry-Osborne, founder of The Stationer - a beautiful online stationery collection curated by Tessa's expert eye and born out of a true passion for stationery. We delve into Tessa's fascinating journey from her early career aspirations in theatre, through to grappling with various temp jobs and eventually finding her calling in the world of high-quality, beautifully designed stationery. We discuss her initial determination to curate a selection of products from scratch, and how the sudden, tragic loss of her mother spurred her to take the leap in setting up her...
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#87: Starting Over Sober to Flourish in Business with Jodi Clark
Women's Business
In this episode I speak to JodI Clark, the founder of Sober Flourish, a wellness-led platform empowering women to remove alcohol and reclaim their energy. JodI shares her remarkable journey from heavy drinking in her teens through to her newfound sobriety, reflecting on the pivotal moments that led her to quit alcohol and start her business. We discuss her early influences, career path, and the challenges she faced during the pandemic. Jodi also delves into her strategies for growing a large social media following and the importance of authenticity in business. Finally, we explore the...
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#86: Reimagining Financial Futures For Women with Victoria Whittington
Women's Business
In this episode I speak to the incredible Victoria Whittington, a female financial planner who stands out in a traditionally male-dominated industry. We dive into her journey from investment banking to setting up her own business, along with the unique challenges and insights she has gained along the way. Victoria shares her personal experiences, from childhood influences and career decisions to the impactful realisation she had during maternity leave. We explore how financial planning can be people-centric, the common misconceptions women have about money, and the importance of removing shame...
info_outlineIn this episode I speak to Nicola Fitzpatrick, the founder of Elansu, a sports bra brand for fuller-busted women. Nicola's journey is truly fascinating, as she transitioned from a career in the male-dominated roofing industry to designing supportive sports bras to meet her own needs - bras that celebrated AND supported her feminine shape rather than just squashing it. We delve into her early work experiences, her foray into construction, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Nicola shares her motivations behind starting Elansu and the meticulous process of creating a sports bra that truly supports fuller-busted women. We also discuss the systemic gender biases in various industries and the importance of representation and resilience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in breaking barriers and creating products that matter.
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This episode is brought to you by Victoria Whittington Financial Planning. Victoria knows how easy it is to put off sorting your finances. Life is busy. Work, family, and everything else always seem to take priority. That’s why her advice is clear, jargon-free, and designed to fit around your life, not the other way round. Her role is to help you turn what you want for the future into a clear plan, break it into manageable steps, and give you the support to keep going until you get there. If you’d like to have a friendly, no-pressure chat about what financial planning could do for you book a no-obligation 30-minute session here. Victoria Whittington Financial Planning is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.
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