The Start Up Support Surgery
Introducing the Start Up Support Surgery hosted by Dr Jo Watkins —a podcast tailored for medics and healthcare heroes ready to blend their medical expertise with entrepreneurship. Dive into a world where you juggle your medical calling with building a business or side hustle, carving out flexibility amidst the chaos of work and family life. Discover a new realm of aiding others beyond the NHS's constraints. Starting a venture isn't a walk in the park—it's a wild ride of emotions and learning curves. With two decades of balancing medicine and business as a GP, I'm thrilled to share my experiences, insights, and conversations with experts and fellow healthcare professionals. Join me on this journey of growth, exploration, and empowerment—because your entrepreneurial story starts here.
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Episide #16 - Kate Toon - Navigating The Path To Success With Your Online Business (Expert)
12/30/2024
Episide #16 - Kate Toon - Navigating The Path To Success With Your Online Business (Expert)
Kate Toon is honest, funny, straight talking and just the energy you need as you get started and moving in business. In this episode we talk about all things online business. Starting, scaling, funnels, social media, building an audience, offers, books, passive income and building the thingies. It’s brilliant. More about Kate: Kate Toon is a British born business mentor and award-winning digital marketing coach who now lives in Australia with her partner and teenage son. She is a brilliant online entrepreneur success story and has been a huge inspiration to me. Straight-talking, copywriting coach, educator, speaker, author and podcaster. There is not much Kate can’t do! Kate describes herself as a misfit on a mission: to help other business humans create their own version of online success. She’s also a bumfluencer in the online world as her bottom has been the focus of much media attention in recent years! Books In Six Figures While You Sleep I explain how you can transform your service-based skills into lucrative online products &– from coaching and courses to digital downloads, memberships and masterminds. I walk you through the positioning, processes, pricing and profile building, explaining the tech, the marketing, the sales tactics and how to keep customers coming back for more. Six Figures in School Hours I share practical and doable tips for parents to run a successful business, make serious money and not burn themselves to a frazzle in the process. Six Figures in School Hours is a smart, honest business self-help book that gives you the skills, the tools and the confidence to never again need to choose between a successful business and a happy family life. To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration. Resources: Kate’s Books: Kate also runs her membership along with various courses and off the shelf content for those businesses wanting to expand and learn about SEO and copywriting
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Episode #15 - Dr Annie Padget - A Living Example Of Working For It All, And Having It All (Expert)
12/23/2024
Episode #15 - Dr Annie Padget - A Living Example Of Working For It All, And Having It All (Expert)
Annie Padgett joins me this week on the Podcast. She is someone I have never spoken to before but we met last week on social media and we set up a call to chat. We decided to hit record. She is quite literally wonder woman. Annie has 4 businesses and is a GP Partner plus she is mum to 5 children under the age of 10. We connected on social media, sent some voice notes to each other and then jumped on this call. Let’s see what came up in our conversation. Some GREAT take homes here. To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration. Find Annie Padgett via Facebook Instagram Website
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Episode #14 - Emma Presern: The Return! (Case Study)
12/16/2024
Episode #14 - Emma Presern: The Return! (Case Study)
Dr Emma Presern is back for a second episode! We first spoke in Episode 9 of the first series which was recorded in March 2023. This was before Emma launched her first cohort of Rebellious Medics. Now she has navigated a successful launch and is about to go for the second cohort. Emma is a GP who has had a real journey. She has suffered with burnout and is now supporting others who feel the same. She has taken time out of programme and she has completely changed her life and lives in the hills in North Wales. She is an incredible role model to so many now and has so much to give other Medics. To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration. You can find Emma on or on social media @rebelliousmedic
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Episode #13 - Dr Aileen Alexander - Lifestyle Medicine leading to sustainable weight loss (Case Study)
12/09/2024
Episode #13 - Dr Aileen Alexander - Lifestyle Medicine leading to sustainable weight loss (Case Study)
Aileen Alexander is a medic who has done what so many medics hope to do. She’s now running an incredibly successful online lifestyle medicine business with clients across the globe. In this episode we talk about how she started off on this path as a bit of an accident but has had the same struggles and hurdles as us all along the way. Pricing, imposter syndrome, failed launches… Her story will inspire you to keep moving forward one step at a time. Dr Aileen Alexander is a former NHS GP who left in 2019 to pursue a career in Lifestyle Medicine specialising in sustainable weight loss and food freedom for women. She began her entrepreneurial journey in 2016, and navigated crippling imposter syndrome before hiring mentors to scale her business and replace her GP income and ultimately making the leap to leave the NHS! Since then, Aileen has worked with hundreds of patients across the UK and internationally, guiding them toward long term health improvements. Supported by a close knit team of four, she balances her career with family life as a stepmom of two and is currently expecting her own child! Aileen is a firm believer in work-life balance and ease over hustle. She has demonstrated that with the right systems, processes and mindset you can run a successful and growing business while working less than 35 hours a week! Aileen's expertise has reached a wide audience through a TEDx talk in 2022, an article she was invited to write for Hello!, and features in publications like Stylist, Prima, and Fabulous. She’s grateful for the chance to share her passion for lifestyle medicine and connect with people who are looking for a sustainable approach to health. To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration. Aileen can be found here: LinkedIn: Instagram: Website: Email:
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Episode #12 - Dr Sui Wong - Finding your inspiration in the creative process (Case Study)
11/11/2024
Episode #12 - Dr Sui Wong - Finding your inspiration in the creative process (Case Study)
I can think of no better way to wrap up the first series of the podcast than with a case study episode from one of my founding members. Dr Sui Wong is an expert in her field. Working within the NHS and private sector splitting her time along with her research post and running a business… and writing books! She’s amazing. In this episode Sui shares, warts and all, her journey into business. The highs, the lows, the struggles and the things she’d do differently now. Some incredible advice to her early entrepreneurial self Find what inspires you and enjoy the creative process and the impact that has on your joy of the day job See business as one big experiment The learning is in the doing. Take action. To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration. To get in touch with Dr Sui Wong Sign up to her regular newsletter via If you would like to catch up on past newsletters, she has posted extracts of them here: INSTAGRAM: And here are the list of her books with links: Mindfulness for Brain Health: Break Free from Migraines Naturally: Sleep Better to Thrive: Quit Ultra-Processed Foods Now: NEW!! Launch 11/11: Sweet Spot for Brain Health:
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Episode #11 - Jo Randall - Setting up a website that suits you (Expert)
11/04/2024
Episode #11 - Jo Randall - Setting up a website that suits you (Expert)
Jo Randall is a website designer who create stunning and strategic Squarespace websites for savvy female service-providers who are ready to make an impact. She started out in design many years ago, but of a different kind (interiors), veered wildly off-path into the corporate world and recently returned to design, this time focused on websites, which feels like coming home for her. Jo spends most of her time most days on Squarespace but, when she’s not doing that, she loves hiking and camping with her dog, and also has a side-hustle creating mosaics and running mosaic workshops. She has audits, power hours and comprehensive packages available on her website. Instagram LinkedIn Website www.jorandall.co.uk To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #10 - Shannee Baker - Get some legal back up and getting the basics in place (Expert)
10/28/2024
Episode #10 - Shannee Baker - Get some legal back up and getting the basics in place (Expert)
Something a little bit different today as we chat with a lawyer who lives and breathes the issues around Medics and GP’s. As Medics we tend to avoid lawyers like the plague. Shanee Baker is a strong corporate commercial lawyer, having qualified at the Bar of England and Wales. She has held a number of senior roles in large corporations including Capita PLC and the British Medical Association as Senior Counsel to the General Practitioners Committee. She is the founder and creator of LMC Law and has grown, what started as a small consultancy, into a business that covers almost three quarters of England in terms of Healthcare clients. An expert in her field, she brings her strong commercial background into the healthcare arena, as well as advising a number of commercial clients. Her practical, no nonsense approach and her understanding of the needs of her clients is paramount to the ethos of the business. In this episode we discuss the importance of having the legal back up and basics in place. Shanne and her company LMC Law will offer a free hour long call to discuss any needs of Medics and their own businesses or their GP partnerships. Website: Drop her a line via her website for any further information and to book your free consultation. To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #9 - Emma Presern: A Journey from burnout to Role model (Case Study)
10/21/2024
Episode #9 - Emma Presern: A Journey from burnout to Role model (Case Study)
My guest today is Emma Today I am sharing something a bit different. People have been telling me to do a Podcast for a little while and I when we were in Canada during the winter I decided to just get on and DO it. So, I asked one of my clients, Emma Presern to be my first guest. She said yes and we hit record while I was in my Zoom office which is a switched off sauna while we are in Canada during the winters. This was very unplanned. I had a vague idea of hanging the interview off some pillars but it was really just a good chat. Emma is a GP who has had a real journey.She has suffered with burnout.She has taken time out of programme and she has completely changed her life now. She is a role model to so many now and has so much to give other Medics. I wanted to share this conversation as there are so many important aspects to it. You can find her on Or on social media @rebelliousmedic To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #8 - Rosie Khan: Going with your gut, and being consistent (Expert)
10/14/2024
Episode #8 - Rosie Khan: Going with your gut, and being consistent (Expert)
Chatting to Dr Rosie Khan is always a pleasure. She is a calm, knowledgable and inspirational GP who has followed her gut and her own path out of full time GP and into a world that has given her skills such as coaching, NLP, hypnosis and lifestyle medicine. Rosie gives an honest account of what it takes to move into the entrepreneurial space and shares her reflections. We discuss the use of AI and showing up on social media. Rosie talks about the importance of taking the right advice at the right time from others. Rosie;s advice to her early entrepreneurial self was very sound: - Do something that lights you up. - Take consistent action. It can be overwhelming running a business and there are so many things to think about. You hold a lot in your head, so you need to get an organisational system in place. Rosie uses the free version of Asana! - Look after yourself. - Might be hard and might be stressful - Figure out your non-negotiables and stick to them! - You need the energy. Find Rosie at her website or on Instagram or Linkedin. Instagram @drrosiekhan To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #7 - Tanya Lynch: The Power of journalling (Expert)
10/07/2024
Episode #7 - Tanya Lynch: The Power of journalling (Expert)
Tanya Lynch is a therapeutic journalling coach and expert retreat facilitator. Her company Ease Retreats specialises in collaborating with all sorts of authors, both well known and first timers on her writing retreats. She is most alive when supporting people in their journaling and making real life experiences rich and rewarding for others. Tanya and I connected via Twitter over 9 years ago, we met, had a coffee and have remained firm friends ever since. Tanya is a cheerleader and genuine positive energy on the end of an email, a substack post or instagram and her personality is infectious. In this episode she explains how journaling can help us as parents, healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs. Her half hour sessions in our monthly evening call within the Medics and healthcare entrepreneurs community are always really popular. If you want to know more about Tanya or her journaling reach out to her via her website Tanya writes regularly on Substack Email her at To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #6 - Dr Rebecca Ryell: Building a travel business while being a GP Partner and having three busy boys (Case Study)
09/30/2024
Episode #6 - Dr Rebecca Ryell: Building a travel business while being a GP Partner and having three busy boys (Case Study)
Dr Rebecca Ryell, Bex, is one of my clients yes, but more importantly, we go back a long way, she is a great friend and inspiration to me and my family. Becs helped give us the push we needed to decide to take a year out and travel with the kids back in 2017 which led to me wanting to work more remotely to fit it around more travel in our lives. Now, 7 years later she’s on her own journey doing just that alongside a medical career that she also loves. Bex is a GP partner, a trainer and a medical educator at Swansea University. Recently, Bex and Pete and their family, three boys at time of filming they are 15, 11 and 8 have been adventuring all over the place including in Sri Lanka recently and she has blown me away with her energy, tenacity and humour on the way via regular social media posts. They backpacked from their doorstep in South Wales to Sri Lanka and back via Frankfurt and Bangalore on the way there and Frankfurt to save money on flights and transport costs for a 3 week adventure. No airport parking. No shuttle buses. No door to door airport transfer (that’s our go to) No day to recover at the end before normal life resumes. They all live life to the full and more. Squeezing every little bit out of their annual leave. This chat is likely to inspire you to do the same. She is amazing. If you are someone who is wanting to travel more adventurously then she is your girl. Jump on a call and have a chat with her and be inspired to see and do even more than you thought was possible. Website Book complimentary call via website. Regular Masterclasses - Next one 21st October 2024 - link on website Instagram: @rebecca_ryell_travel To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #5 - Rachel Harington: How to start and scale an online business (Expert)
09/23/2024
Episode #5 - Rachel Harington: How to start and scale an online business (Expert)
I first connected with Rachel back in January 2018 when I went to a networking event at Allbrights in London. She was offering an online training programme to get people doing their first 10km run at the time and we connected as I was asking her about software. She jumped on a call with me in August 2019 with me when I was weighing up my options and introduced me to Kajabi the software I continue to use today. At the time we were operating a local business with no online element but it was on the to do list. In Dec 2019 we invested in 3 months of coaching with Rachel to get started and up and running with Kajabi and our first online course. She was amazing and taught me everything I know about Kajabi and online business and email marketing. She has been there ever since cheering me on, helping with pivots and bumps in the road and always happy to help me and my clients. She is a regular expert on the Masterclasses within my programme and from October she will be doing a monthly slot within the Digital Doctor Membership as a resident coach for those wanting to grow, scale and reach more ideal clients. Rachel Harington @iamrachelharington James Wedmore Rachel is on James Wedmore’s Next Level Coaching Programme and has been to his live events in Sidona and knows him well. James’ Podcast is often recommended in the modules. Mind Your Business Podcast To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #4 - Nerys Frater: How to take a group NHS programme that you are passionate about into the online space and the mindset shifts this takes (Case Study)
09/16/2024
Episode #4 - Nerys Frater: How to take a group NHS programme that you are passionate about into the online space and the mindset shifts this takes (Case Study)
Nerys has a story that every GP who wants to embark on an innovative service within their own practice, GP cluster or in a private capacity needs to hear. In this discussion Nerys talks us through her own journey from securing some funding for a group NHS project through to running a successful online business for patients with pre diabetes and diabetes. Nerys didn’t wake up one morning wanting to be a business woman but she found a problem when trying to help her patients and was passionate enough about a solution to put the work into make something happen. That led her to growing a group programme and subsequently reaching out to me in January 2022 for support in the next stage of her growth.. Nerys’s advice to someone entering this space is sound. She suggests that all medics entering into this world need a coach and a mentor and need to invest in learning about sales and marketing and NOT more medical courses. This is where I come in. The Start Up Support Programme and The Digital Doctor Membership give you just that. Combining formal learning in recorded videos and accompanying workbook with live coaching, mentoring, hand holding and encouragement. As a special offer in September I am offering these two programmes as a bundle to celebrate the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine conference in Newcastle. The first 20 people to sign up will also receive a free 45 minute 1:1 session with me and a guaranteed place on my online VIP Masterclass Day on Monday 30th September. Please click on the link in the Show Notes for full details. Nerys Frater Social Media @thelifestyleclnic BSLM Special Offer To find out and connect with Jo: From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #3 - Portia Gibson, the Post Op Nurse: From nearly giving up on business altogether to a sell out workshop (Case Study)
09/09/2024
Episode #3 - Portia Gibson, the Post Op Nurse: From nearly giving up on business altogether to a sell out workshop (Case Study)
Portia is innovative, relentlessly passionate about helping others and a pleasure to work with. Portia has been a part of The Start Up Support Programme and The Digital Doctor Membership for 9 months and has been on every twist and turn along the way. This interview tells us more about this and the mindset it took to keep going. Portia shares her sound advice and top tips and is always looking for ways to learn, develop and grow personally and professionally. I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did! You will find Portia at Website Social Media @postopnurse.portia Email: Resources: To find out more information about Jo and her work - From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #2 - Tracy Jones from Inspire to Outstand: Do I really need CQC and where do I start? (Expert)
09/09/2024
Episode #2 - Tracy Jones from Inspire to Outstand: Do I really need CQC and where do I start? (Expert)
This is a question I get asked over and over again. It is a minefield, a hot potato, a can of worms and every other possible analogy. Tracey Jones from Inspire to Outstand helps us understand a little more about the process and may well have the answer to any questions you have. Tracey has been on both sides of the CQC as she has her own aesthetics clinic and works now with a previous CQC inspector to get businesses approved. You will learn about the process, the pitfalls and the costs that are involved but also the reasons why this is so important as a medic venturing into the world of operating as a business. I will also be interviewing Kate, Richard and Vian from Hexagon Health on the Podcast soon but if you are considering whether or not either of these organisations can help you I would suggest just picking up the phone to talk to them. Inspire to Outstand Tracey Jones (CQC - Inspire to Outstand) Hexagon Health Alliance - Kate, Vian and Richard have put together a great option for those that are looking for a different way of getting around the inevitably of needing CQC as a doctor. Please reach out and talk to them about whether they have an option that can help you. CQC Website To find out more information about Jo and her work - From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration.
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Episode #1 - Dr Sara Lou Wylie: Starting up a coaching business as a doctor (Case Study)
09/09/2024
Episode #1 - Dr Sara Lou Wylie: Starting up a coaching business as a doctor (Case Study)
Well this is EXCITING! I figured that my first ever Podcast should be with one of my first ever members. Dr Sara Lou Wylie is a powerhouse of a Mum, GP and now an Overwhelm Coach to women up and down the country. When we connected she was just embarking on her journey and had started the Transformational Life Coaching Diploma with Tom Dillon. She jumped into The Start Up Support Programme and The DIgital Doctor Membership with both feet and has taken small, imperfect, forward moving action every step of the way. This is a lively and honest chat about the ups and the downs of entrepreneurship. Warts and all. We talk about traveling and work, carving our own path in life and share insights. Her top tips on entrepreneurship at the end are spot on and food for thought for anyone taking this route. Sara Lou can be found here: Website Her Freebie is available on her website - 5 Ways to Beat Overwhelm Sara Lou Linkedin: Sara Lou Instragram: Resources: To find out more information about Jo and her work - From ‘Stethoscope to Start up’ free PDF giving you the blueprint for getting started as a Medic becoming an entrepreneur. How to find the time, money, people and resources that you need. This will also give you access to a weekly newsletter, offers and inspiration. Tom Dillon Transformational Life Coaching for Doctors
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Coming Soon - The Start Up Surgery
09/03/2024
Coming Soon - The Start Up Surgery
The Start Up Support Surgery is a podcast to inspire medics and healthcare professionals who want to take their medical skills, passions or interests and start a business or side hustle alongside their busy day job and family life which creates flexibility and freedom along with a completely different way of helping people outside of the limitations we are all facing in the NHS today. Getting started in business is not easy. It is a huge learning curve and offers a rollercoaster of emotions along the way. As a doctor who has been learning about business over the last 20 years alongside my career as a portfolio GP it is a huge honour and privilege to be able to share with you my insights along with interviews with experts and case studies from other medics and healthcare professionals that I have worked with over the last few years.
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