Clowning Around Again

What does it really take to keep building businesses, and when is it time to let one go? This week on Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud is joined by entrepreneur Andy Coleman for a lively conversation about the realities of running multiple businesses, following new ideas, finding humour in the chaos and making time for what matters beyond work. With Andy's colourful take on entrepreneurship and some unexpected personal stories along the way, there's plenty to laugh about and reflect on.

In Andy's own words:

1. Multiple business owner (never had a job)

2. Family first (Hayley says she has an extra child with me)

3. Built to make people happier (nice to be nice)

Connect with Andy:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-coleman-6343aa49

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andycoleman84/

• BizzFest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bizzfestofficial/

• BizzFest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/BizzFest-61574892497511/

• BizzFest website: https://www.bizzfest.co.uk/

Follow Em:

• Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/

• Website: https://emstroud.com

As the year draws to a close, are you giving yourself enough time to pause and reflect? In this short solo episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud explores the power of taking a beat, reflecting with kindness and finding moments for yourself when life gets busy. With personal reflections, a little humour and a reminder that change doesn't have to wait until January, Em invites you to think about what really matters as we head towards a new year.

Follow Em:

• Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/

• Website: https://emstroud.com

What makes a great leader, and how do you create an environment where everyone has the chance to be brilliant? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud chats with Susan Douglas CBE, CEO of the Eden Academy Trust, about educational leadership, building trust and creating a culture where staff and young people feel valued and supported. Drawing on her experience in special education, SEND inclusion and international school leadership, Susan shares why high expectations and genuine curiosity matter, what we can learn from Singapore's approach to improvement and why sometimes we need to rethink the way things have always been done. They also explore teamwork, creativity, the joy of singing and an unexpected encounter involving Jimmy Choo that led to quite an adventure. A warm, funny conversation about bringing out the best in people and finding joy along the way.

Susan Douglas CBE is CEO of the Eden Academy Trust, a national SEND adviser and an incurable enthusiast for making education better — preferably without making it more complicated. When she's not working with schools, government or international education systems, she can usually be found singing barbershop, planning her next adventure, walking Freddie the lurcher or enjoying life by the sea in Southsea. She believes passionately in children, people and possibility — and equally passionately that life is far too short to be dull.

Connect with Susan:

• LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/susan-douglas-cbe-84068b2bb

• Eden Academy Trust: https://theedenacademy.co.uk/

Follow Em:

• Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/

• Website: https://emstroud.com

Who are we when life changes, our children grow older and the things that once defined us start to shift? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud is joined by Sharon Fasanya for a funny, thoughtful conversation about identity, turning 50 and rediscovering what matters at different stages of life. With 24 years of experience in infrastructure and two teenage boys, Sharon reflects on balancing career and family, reconnecting with herself beyond motherhood, and why menopause deserves more open conversation and understanding in the workplace. They also explore cultural identity, the influence of social media, work-life balance and finding fulfilment in unexpected places. It's a conversation about embracing change, questioning expectations and making space for the person you're becoming.

With 24 years in infrastructure, Sharon knows a thing or two about building things, fixing things and pretending she has a plan, which is pretty much her approach to parenting two sporty teenage boys.

She's now approaching the landmark of 50, proving age is just a number (albeit one that seems to be getting suspiciously bigger).

Still curious, adventurous and determined to see as much of the world as possible with her family, preferably with good food and a cocktail waiting at the end of the day.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-fasanya-21a14b21
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshazzaseatbelts

Follow Em:

• Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/

• Website: https://emstroud.com

For years, Ali Spooner was trying to win approval from people she didn't even like. So what changed? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud chats with Ali, founder of Liberated Leadership, about breaking free from people-pleasing, trusting yourself and finding the confidence to be who you really are. Ali shares how a difficult period after leaving corporate life led her towards an unexpected path to personal freedom, why the word 'should' can hold us back, and what workplaces often get wrong about having fun. From leadership and self-trust to the freedom of trying something new without needing to be good at it, this is an honest, funny conversation about letting go of expectations and finding your own way.

Ali is Chief Liberation Officer, recovering people-pleaser, rock chick and founder of Liberated Leadership.

She helps brilliant women stepping into bigger leadership roles spot the patterns, contradictions and teeny tiny moments where they dismiss their brilliance, dilute their ideas or wait for permission they no longer need.

She holds up a mirror to what they can't yet see for themselves, so they can say what they really think, trust their judgement when there's no guaranteed right answer and end a difficult day knowing they're bloody good at their job.

Connect with Ali:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-spooner/

Follow Em:

• Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/

• Website: https://emstroud.com

What does entrepreneurship actually look like beyond the success stories? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud is joined by Shalom Lloyd MBE to talk about entrepreneurship as a way of life, from leaving a 30-year corporate career and learning to live with risk and ambiguity to building purpose-led businesses across the UK and Africa. They get into the loneliness that can come with entrepreneurship, learning to put yourself first, the people who help cushion the difficult moments, and why success does not have to mean following somebody else's formula. Shalom also shares the story behind Naturally Tiwa Skincare and UTÖ, her intimate lubricant created to open up conversations around vaginal dryness, women's health and pleasure. It's a funny, candid conversation about business, purpose, impact, self-care and creating solutions to problems that deserve to be talked about. Pasted text Pasted text

Shalom Lloyd MBE is a mother, pharmacist, entrepreneur, and business leader with over 30 years of experience in drug development, clinical research, and building purpose-led businesses across Africa and the UK. She is the founder of Naturally Tiwa Skincare, a natural skincare brand rooted in African heritage and sustainability, Founder of eMQT and General Manager of The Body Shop Nigeria, where she led the launch of the brand's first store in Nigeria and West Africa. Passionate about ethical leadership, innovation, and social impact, she champions representation, women's empowerment, and the creation of businesses that deliver meaningful change.

Connect with Shalom:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shalom.lloyd3/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomlloyd/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalom-ijeoma-lloyd-mbe-25980b6/
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ShalomLloyd
• Naturally Tiwa Skincare: https://naturallytiwaskincare.com/

Follow Em:

• Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/
• Website: https://emstroud.com

Why can one sleep tip work brilliantly for one person and do absolutely nothing for another? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud is joined by sleep coach, author and professional speaker Beatrix A Schmidt to talk about insomnia, why sleep is deeply individual and why generic advice can only take us so far. Beatrix shares her own experience of developing insomnia in her twenties, what it taught her about working with the mind and body, and why she encourages people to think about sleep as a skill and a puzzle rather than something they should simply be able to do. They also explore overthinking, how sleep changes through life, self-care and why curiosity can be more useful than judging yourself when sleep isn't working.

About Beatrix A Schmidt Beatrix A. Schmidt is a sleep coach for adults, professional speaker, and the author of Sleep Skills for Life (2025) and The Sleep Deep Method® (2014). She works with professionals who have tried and tested generic sleep advice without success, helping them fully overcome long-term insomnia and persistent sleep problems. After living with long-term insomnia herself, Beatrix has spent over 12 years studying sleep and helping clients develop practical and effective Sleep Skills so they can sleep well consistently again every night.

Connect with Beatrix: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesleepdeepmethod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatrixaschmidt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatrixaschmidt Website: https://www.beatrixaschmidt.com/ Sleep Skills for Life: https://www.beatrixaschmidt.com/bookpurchase

Follow Em: Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/ Website: https://emstroud.com

What happens when people are already working at full capacity and leaders keep adding more change? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud is joined by leadership expert Graham Wilson to explore human capacity, high performance and what organisations can learn from elite sport and the military about recovery. They get into overwhelmed teams, why clarity matters when leading change, creating space to think, designing a business around a life you actually want, and why play, reflection and celebrating progress all have a place in high-performing teams. Graham also brings in lessons from his own experiences in the British Army, leadership, entrepreneurship and historic motor racing. A conversation about how we work, lead and perform without forgetting the humans doing the work.

Graham Wilson is a leadership expert, author and founder of Successfactory®, who has spent more than three decades helping leaders and teams around the world create high-performance environments where extraordinary results become possible. Drawing on a career that spans the British Army, corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, mountaineering and historic motor racing, he brings a practical, human and refreshingly real-world approach to leadership. His purpose is simple: awakening possibility in leaders and teams to deliver extraordinary results.

Connect with Graham:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrahamWilsonLeadershipWizard Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadership_wizard/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadershipwizard/ Successfactory: https://www.thesuccessfactory.co.uk/ Website: https://www.grahamwilson.com/

Follow Em:

• Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-back/about
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/
• Website: https://emstroud.com

What does bravery actually look like when you're building something from scratch? In this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud talks to Louise Hill about building GoHenry, taking risks and learning to keep going when the answer is no. Louise shares how her parents gave her permission to fail, what repeated fundraising rejection taught her about knowing when to stop changing the pitch and start finding the right people, and why GoHenry once pitched to 103 funds during a single raise. They also explore making space for life alongside work, the importance of play and wonder, and the uncertainty of deciding what comes next after years spent building a business. A candid conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience and having the courage to try. About Louise Hill

Louise Hill, financial education campaigner and Founder of GoHenry

Louise Hill is Executive Chair and Founder of GoHenry - the money app helping kids learn to earn, save, spend and invest. Louise has built the business from the ground up, from launching GoHenry in the UK in 2012, expanding to the US in 2018, then acquiring French Fintech Pixpay in 2022, followed by the merger with US Fintech Acorns in 2023.

Louise is a passionate advocate for financial education and campaigned tirelessly to make the subject compulsory in all schools from primary age, with success - financial education is now set to be introduced in primary school curriculums in England from September 2028. Her expertise in kids' banking was recognised when she appeared as an expert judge on The Apprentice (Series 19).

Keen to nurture UK businesses, Louise works to support several UK-based start-ups and is part of Innovate Finance's Unicorn Council for UK FinTech (UCFT), driving growth in the UK FinTech sector, as well as a Board Advisor for The Payments Association. She is also a huge supporter of women in business, regularly mentoring female founders to drive cultural change around female leadership.

GoHenry: https://www.gohenry.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-hill-5197614/

Follow Em:

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/
• Website: https://emstroud.com

What if a career isn't a ladder to climb, but a creative extension of who you are and the contribution you want to make? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud is joined by Eleanor Ford to rethink what careers can actually look like when we move beyond linear paths, fixed job titles and inherited ideas of success. Drawing on Eleanor's experience as a founder, coach, systems thinker and Chief People Officer, they get into creativity, career transitions, emotional runway, reflection, experimentation and why fear can shut down the very thinking we need when the future feels uncertain. It's a lively, thoughtful conversation about giving ourselves permission to explore, challenge the rules we've inherited and build working lives that make more sense for who we are now.

Ellie Ford is an anthropologist-turned-founder, coach and systems thinker working at the intersection of leadership, human behaviour and ambitious systems change, partly through her role as Chief People Officer at Zine VC, and partly through her work with founders, leadership teams and boards navigating growth and high-stakes decisions. An exited founder herself, Ellie previously founded and sold a tech startup to Time Out Group and later led The Good Lab, a cross-sector innovation lab backed by 12 of the UK's largest charities. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-ford-8b27661/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/eleanorhford

Follow Em:

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheComicCoach

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emthecomic

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/em-stroud/

• Website: https://emstroud.com