Excel against the Odds

In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, i was delighted to interview Natalie Edwards about her experiences of running her craft business, Made in the Button Room, whilst living with complex nerve damage in her spine.

Natalie is the founder of Made in the Button Room, small business based in Gloucestershire where playful crochet meets creative planet-kind making. From her sunny spare room affectionately called The Button Room, she designs original amigurumi patterns and kits such as the Button Room Minis range, creates eco-conscious crochet baubles, keepsake greetings cards and framed crochet art.

Alongside her products, Natalie teaches crochet through 1:1 lessons and workshops, and stocks natural yarns and notions for fellow eco-makers. Her work champions sustainability, community, and creativity, proving that handmade can be beautiful, fun, and kind to the planet.

Links: 

www.linktr.ee/madeinthebuttonroomWebsite is coming but not live yet. That will be www.madeinthebuttonroom.co.uk

Facebook and Instagram is @Natalie Edwards (all on link above)

My only online shop currently (until website is up is) www.thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/shop/madeinthebuttonroom

Excel against the Odds:

Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠⁠

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Zoë Chapman is the inventor of the Whizzer, the World’s tiniest toilet.

The Bootstrapped Solo Founder, launched her business  during the pandemic. Despite attempting the impossible, she knew how much her product could help millions so sacrificed everything and within a year of launching, she was approached to appear on BBC's Dragons Den. Her episode aired in 2023 leaving the nation tearful after sharing the challenging journey that had led to the launch of her multi-award winning product.Soon after securing offers from both Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett, she launched the adult version due to popular demand. This enabled her to singlehandedly transform the business, breaking every sales forecast, gaining the title of Great British Entrepreneur and solving the long-standing toileting troubles of everyone from families on-the-go and outdoor enthusiasts to those in need of a more discreet medical aid.

Alongside breaking toilet talk taboo, Zoë openly discusses the challenges that come with running a business as a single mother with life-long mental health conditions including her battle with Bipolar which she had used as her superpower.

To connect with Zoe:

Website: https://kiddiwhizz.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiddiwhizz

Excel against the Odds:

Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠⁠

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emily Forbes is a published author, certified coach, and founder of Wylde Wellbeing. Emily has been on a personal journey through chronic illness, surgeries, moving towards wellness and finding ways to improve her wellbeing over the last few years.

Emily’s book 'Too Hard to Swallow' is about her personal journey with chronic illness. It’s part memoir, part self-help, and in it, she shares how she found peace within the illness - and how you can too. She blends her personal story with scientific explanations and practices and exercises that will help you to magnify your own wellbeing. 

In this episode we discuss the challenges of living and working with chronic illnesses, explore the disability work gap and talk about the female gender gap. It’s a fascinating discussion and I hope you enjoy the episode.

To connect with Emily: https://go.wyldewellbeing.uk/home-6672Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyldewellbeingcoaching/

Book: BalboaPress  

Book (Kindle Edition): TooHard to Swallow: Amazon.co.uk: Forbes, Emily: 9781982289324: Books

Excel against the Odds:

Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠⁠

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, I was delighted to interview Debbie-Lyn Connolly Lloyd, the founder of DL Models Ltd.

Debbie-Lyn has FND and set up her business DL Models Ltd to empower people who lack confidence, to believe in themselves again and strive for their dreams, by sharing her story and changing standards in the fashion and beauty industry, so that they can feel represented, beautiful and more confident.

In this episode, Debbie-Lyn talks about her experiences of running a business with a chronic illness and gives advice for anyone aspiring to a career in modelling.

For more details:

Website: www.dlmodelsltd.com

Excel against the Odds:

Chronic Empowerment Hub: ⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub⁠

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, I was delighted to have the chance to interview Jen Parker, the founder of Fuzzy Flamingo, a book publishing business.

Jen is a multi-award-winning business owner, editor and designer.

She's passionate about books and her mission is to make publishing more transparent, less intimidating and more accessible for authors.

Jen is also a published author herself having written her book:UNFLIP: Changing your life after a life-changing diagnosis

Jen lives with ankylosing spondylitis and in this episode she talks about her diagnosis and how she manages running her own business with looking after her health.

For more details:

Website: https://fuzzyflamingo.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-parker-fuzzy-flamingo/

Excel against the Odds:

Chronic Empowerment Hub: https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hub

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this month's episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Pat Porter, also known as Pat the Inventor!

Pat is a problem-solving inventor, entrepreneur, and public speaker.

As the creator of The Perpetual Bird Feeder and host of the Invisible Me podcast, she tackles everyday challenges—whether in baby products, accessibility, or wildlife care.

Her podcast raises awareness about invisible health conditions and disabilities, educating and empowering listeners.

Pat is also available for consultancy, coaching, and 1:1 business startup chats on bootstrapping, being a female founder, and navigating entrepreneurship as a neurodivergent innovator.

She can be contacted on social media. www.pattheinventor.co.uk

Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn. (Look up Pat the Inventor.)

Excel against the Odds:

Chronic Empowerment Hub: https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-chronic-empowerment-hubWorkbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting to Kristie Norris, the founder of ETA Girl Friday and Kristie's Sitters.

Kristie Norris is an accidental entrepreneur, starting out in business in 2017 as a Travel Consultant after being made redundant.  In 2020 made the change to become a Virtual Assistant and after running online networking sessions and supporting local groups get online niched down to a Zoom Producer to support online workshops and meetings.

In 2024 after having to move out of her rental accommodation in January, she added another string to her bow, becoming a House and Pet Sitter travelling across the UK giving pet owners peace of mind their pets are well looked after in their own home while they enjoy a well-deserved holiday.

A great side effect of this change is that Kristie’s health has improved with fewer migraines and more manageable fatigue.

Please take a look at her website www.kristienorris.com or email her at [email protected] or call 01686 246246.

Excel against the Odds:

Chronic Empowerment Hub Waitlist: ⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/waitlist-membership-eato⁠⁠⁠

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Joseph Williams, the co-founder of Clu and Access to Funding. In this episode, we discuss his career, the barriers faced by disabled entrepreneurs and the Lilac Review.

Joseph’s career began in a call centre, where he was regularly reported for asking too many questions. Autistic and deemed ‘trouble’, he was about to be fired—but fortunately, someone saw his problem-solving talent, called him an analyst, and that moment jumpstarted his career in technical innovation.

With two decades of leading strategy across media and technology companies and a passion for improving the world we live in, Joseph is now Co-Founder and CEO of Clu, an ethical-AI that identifies human potential. He also advises government, education, and industry on the skills economy, future of work and economic mobility.

You can contact Joseph using the following channels:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdttwp/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/getaclu

https://www.getaclu.io/

Excel against the Odds:

The Resilient Business Workshop 12/3/25:

⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/resilient-business-masterclass⁠.Chronic Empowerment Hub Waitlist: ⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/waitlist-membership-eato⁠⁠

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode marks four years of the Excel against the Odd podcast!

In this episode, I tell you about my story and why I believe that it is important to learn to run your business in alignment with your health,

I then take you through the five main ways you can ensure that your business works for you and your health.

I hope you enjoy this episode!

The Resilient Business Workshop 25/2/25:

https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/resilient-business-masterclass.

Chronic Empowerment Hub Waitlist:

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Excel against the Odds podcast, it was wonderful to be joined by Melissa Smith, the Owner & Founder of Paws In Earnest. Melissa was diagnosed

Website: www.pawsinearnest.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Socials: @pawsinearnest (Instagram, Facebook & TikTok)

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-smith-676379121/

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Chronic Empowerment Hub Waitlist:

Workbook for running a successful business with a chronic illness: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/eato-workbook⁠⁠⁠

One to One Power Hour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://start.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/strategypowerhour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To join the Entrepreneurs against the Odds Facebook group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/entrepreneursagainsttheodds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linked In: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/excel-against-the-odds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠