Find it hard to make time to be present? To plan your days with purpose? To find a bit of time for you? 

When you're juggling ALL the plates, caught up in the busy day to day responsibilities and 'to-do' lists how are you meant to practice mindfulness?

I am no expert in this area- but thankfully I know someone who is! This episode I'm joined by the wonderful Nicole HR, Mindfulness Practitioner and Life Coach and all around insightful human being and mum. 

Nicole explains to us what mindfulness is, how to practice it in small ways and in big ones, and how to implement tiny changes into your day that will make a big impact. She walks us through the science behind mindfulness and why it's so important- especially as women who are jugling a lot. 

This episode is full of perspective, advice and actionable steps you can take today to start seeing- and feeling- a big difference in your wellbeing. 

Thanks for joining the conversation!   Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!

Episode Links:
 
Guest:
Nicole HR, Mindfulness Practitioner and Life Coach

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_h.r/
Website: https://nicolehr.co.uk/
 
Connect with me:


Rhiannon Louden, Brand Strategist & Photographer, Business Mentor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonlouden.co.uk & https://www.instagram.com/rhiannoneale
Website: https://www.rhiannonlouden.co.uk
Substack: https://theraremumchronicles.substack.com/ 

 
Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Never mind the highlights. It’s the hurdles we’ve overcome that tell the most honest- and interesting- story.
 
Courage and Chaos is back for a new season- and I’m starting this one out by sharing the real, raw, honest truths about my own business journey as a female entrepreneur.
 
With a focus on five major obstacles and the ways I overcame them, I’ll walk you through my seven years of full time self employment (and the many years of side hustling before that) to get to where I am today: with two thriving business, co founding a community of female entrepreneurs in Scotland and raising two small humans.
 
Covering a move overseas and setting up a business in a new country, matresence and motherhood, disability parenting, a worldwide pandemic and a host of other things that tested my determination (and stubbornness) this episode is all about learning things the hard way, adapting, and celebrating growth and perseverence- even when it looks different than you thought it would.
 
Thanks for joining the conversation!   Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!

Connect with me:
Rhiannon Louden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonlouden.co.uk & https://www.instagram.com/rhiannoneale

Website: https://www.rhiannonlouden.co.uk

Substack: https://theraremumchronicles.substack.com/ 



Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

There is SO much pressure on new mums to be perfect- to love every minute of that newborn stage, to do everything “right”, for all of it to feel natural and beautiful.

So when it doesn’t, and the tough stuff crops up, we feel like we are doing something wrong. Like we weren’t meant to be mums. Like we are failing.

On next week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum 🎙️ I chat with Susie Dale of @matrescence_club and it’s easily the most honest, real, raw chat about motherhood I’ve ever shared.

Susie talks us through matrescence, the evolution of motherhood and the importance of educating, sharing and supporting new mums- as well as lots of honest perspective from her own journey into motherhood as an entrepreneur.

Thanks for joining the conversation!
 
Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!
 
Episode Links:

Guest: Susannah Dale, Matrescence Club
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matrescence_club
Substack: https://substack.com/@matrescenceclub

Connect with me:

Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk
Substack: https://theselfemployedmum.substack.com/ 


Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Mini episode: How to keep your business afloat when sh*t gets tough

How do you keep your business going when you're dealing with big things in your personal life? Whether it's grief, stress, change or all of the above, it's incredibly challenging to stay on top of everything as a business owner when the sh*t has hit the fan. 

This is probably the most personal episode I've ever recorded- as the past eight months have been really tough for me and I've learned a lot about what to do (and what not to do) when it comes to taking care of both your business, and yourself. 

I share a little bit about what's been going on in my family life, how I've managed to keep both of my small business afloat during it all and my five top tips for surviving a challenging time as an entrepreneur. This episode is FULL of honest persective and advice and it's for anyone who is currently struggling to navigate life and business during a tough time in their life.  

Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with an entrepreneur you care about- especially if  you know they are dealing with a lot just now. Let's help this community grow! 


Episode Links:

Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonm

Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

If you want to succeed as a small business, you need to find a way to stand out.
 
So how do you actually do that? How do you figure out what it is that makes you unique, and find the confidence to show it?
 
🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a special one as it’s with one of the most creative and talented people I know- and also one of my best friends!
I’m joined by Brand Designer and Illustrator Emmelie Coulson, who specialises in bold and colourful branding for female entrepreneurs.
 
Emmelie is as creative as they come, and she has some great insights to share on how to express yourself through your branding and why it’s important to truly be yourself. She also shares her top tips for standing out online and the two of us chat through the details of how this has made a big difference in our own business growth too.
 
Both Emmelie and I have two young children at home, and we also talk about the challenges (and solutions!) to juggling these two major things at the same time.
 
Thanks for joining the conversation!
 
Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!
 
Episode Links:

Guest: Emmelie Coulson, Emmelie Coulson  Design
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmeliecoulson.design Website: https://www.emmeliecoulson.co.uk/

Connect with me:

Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk

Substack: https://theselfemployedmum.substack.com/ 

Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Let's talk about hormones.

Whether you deal with an imblanace or disorder, are in the throes of peri-menopause or menopause, are pregnant/breastfeeding/in the early stages of motherhood or just feel really affected by hormonal changes at different points in the month- dealing with hormones is no easy feat.

🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a very educational conversation with Dr. April Blake, Naturopathic Doctor and Women's Health Specialist and it is FULL of information, tips and advice on listening to your body, learning what helps and hinders you as an individual and planning your work (and home) life as best you can around the issues you face.

April takes a holistic approach to treatment, looking at the root cause and what kind of lifestyle changes can be made first- and she shares her wealth of experience as both a doctor and as a woman herself.

She also shares her own story of building a business as a self employed parent, and her move from California to Scotland to set up her clinic in Edinburgh.

Thanks for joining the conversation!

Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!

Episode Links:
Guest: Dr. April Blake
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solstice_naturopathic/
Website: https://www.solsticecentre.co.uk/

Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk
Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Mini episode: Let's talk about why we need to celebrate Galentine's Day and celebrate YOU!

I'm flying solo this Valentine's Day episode to talk about two different kinds of love: self love (I'm talking pride and self care here, not the racy stuff!) and friendship- the real, there for you through the toughest stuff kind of pals.

This episode is all about the importance of: finding your people (ie. a community of likeminded female entrepreneurs), celebrating YOU and your progress, and making time for self care: why it should be a priority- and free of guilt, I might add.

I‘m sharing lots of honest experience on:the loneliness of starting a business in a new country, the struggles of new motherhood and self employment, how I stepped out of my comfort zone to find my people (and then some) and why I’m working on allowing more time for me and celebrating my wins- big, small and any steps forward.

There's a wee bit about the community I co created for female entrepreneurs in Glasgow and across Scotland as well (check out the link sofr Small Biz Big Chat below).

Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with anyone you know who is feeling lonely in this world of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Let's help this community grow!


Episode Links:

Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonm

Small Biz Big Chat: meet ups for Scottish women in business
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallbizbigchat/
Website: https://www.smallbizcommunity.co.uk/


Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

There are never enough hours in a day. ⌛️

Managing your time is one of the biggest challenges of self employment- especially when you’re also a mum. The good news is, there ARE ways you can make better use of the time you do have- and maybe even find a little for yourself.

🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a very honest conversation with Sarah Stewart, Time Management Coach and it is FULL of tips and advice on reducing overwhelm, increasing productivity and finding more hours to do the things you love.

Sarah brings in a wealth of multi faceted experience from her previous career working in a global role for a big corporation, her training in mindfulness and coaching and her own lived experience of losing her mum at a young age and how that ignited her passion for making the most of the time we have on this planet.

She also shares her own story of building a business as a self employed single parent, and how she plans each day- even her free time- to optimise time for what’s most important to her.
Thanks for joining the conversation!

Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!

Episode Links:
Guest: Sarah Stewart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahstewart.co.uk/
Website: https://www.sarahstewart.co.uk/

Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk
Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Is imposter syndrome always a bad thing? 🙇‍♀️

What if we were to reframe that feeling, and focus on the growth that happens when we step outside our comfort zone instead?

🎙️This week’s episode of The Self Employed Mum Podcast is a very honest conversation with Kate Flory of Kapow Coaching focused on exactly that. Kate has been a coach for over twenty years and as someone who specialises in Confidence Coaching and Mental Fitness and Wellbeing she has seen people from all walks of life struggle with this notion of being an “imposter” in various areas of their lives.

As well as lots of perspective, tips and advice that virtually of us need to hear (especially at this time of year!) Kate also shares her own journey starting and growing a business as a mum. We talk about mum guilt, hormones, plate juggling and how our role as mothers can sometimes lead to more imposter syndrome creepingin too.

Thanks for jlining the conversation! Don't forget to like/follow the podcast to stay up to date on new episodes, and if you like what you hear please give us a share!

Episode Links:

Guest: Kate Flory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kapowcoaching
Website: https://www.kapowcoaching.com

Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk

Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Small Fish Big Pod is now The Self Employed Mum Podcast!

The podcast is shifting focus- from a female entrepreneurship podcast to a podcast specifically for entrepreneurs who are also mums.

I thought about this a lot, as I don’t want to leave anyone out- I really don’t want to separate women into different categories as we are all figuring this out together.

But running a business while raising small humans is an entirely different ballgame and for those of us who are in the thick of it right now- this is the kind of content we need. The kind of discourse we are passionate about creating and sharing. The kind of conversations we most need to participate in.

So here we are! From now onwards the podcast will share stories, tips and perspective from female entrepreneurs who are also mums- and the topics we cover will be related specifically to the challenges of running a business while raising children.

Listen in more detail above (it's a very short solo episode!)- regular episodes resume next week!



Episode Links:

Host: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/
Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonm

Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com