In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, I sit down with Kheyla Buchanan, founder and CEO of Mother Nature’s Recipes. Kheyla shares how her own breastfeeding struggles inspired her to become an NHS peer supporter and create a brand that offers herbal teas, resources, and community support for women at every stage of life.

We explore the taboos around motherhood, from the unspoken realities of birth and breastfeeding to the pressure of societal expectations, and how honest conversations can create lasting change. Kheyla also opens up about her choice to have a home birth, the importance of informed decision-making, and the cultural traditions that once prioritised caring for new mothers.

If you’re curious about holistic health, breaking taboos, or building a purpose-led business rooted in lived experience, you’ll take a lot from this inspiring conversation.

https://mothernaturesrecipes.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/mothernaturesrecipes

https://youtube.com/channel/UC6BPPxkwBO6q6LphQXtoo3g

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Claire Hill’s childhood was shaped by poverty, loss and responsibility beyond her years. After losing her dad at just eight years old, she helped care for her siblings while her mum faced mental health challenges. Despite the odds, she found a love of learning, a flair for business, and the resilience to keep moving forward.

In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Claire shares her journey from growing up with secondhand uniforms and stigma to becoming a teacher who spearheaded her school’s pioneering free meals programme, ensuring every child started the day with breakfast. She opens up about the battles with imposter syndrome that followed her into adulthood, the leap she took in leaving teaching to build her creative business, and the powerful “worry to warrior” mindset that now shapes her work as a self-belief coach.

We also talk about the importance of early intervention, the systemic changes needed for equality of opportunity, and why self-belief is the true foundation for success. Claire’s story is one of grit, transformation and hope - showing how even the hardest starts in life can lead to creating lasting change.

Find more about Claire here:

https://www.clairehill.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/iamclairehill

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/iamclairehill

https://www.tiktok.com/@iamclairehill

Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Two burnouts. One health scare. And a decision that changed everything.

In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, I speak with the founder of The Lifestyle VA, Mel Maw, who shares how her career in the music industry and later as PA to a global CEO pushed her to the edge - twice. After her spleen was removed following a major health scare, she knew she couldn’t keep working the same way.

What started as a sabbatical in Bali became the catalyst for discovering the virtual assistant world, landing her first client, and eventually building a thriving business that helps busy entrepreneurs and families reclaim their time and reduce their mental load.

We talk about the warning signs of burnout, the importance of boundaries, the invisible “mental load” so many women carry, and the grit it takes to go from sofa-surfing to building a business that creates freedom for both clients and team members.

If you’ve ever pushed your body too far in the name of work, this conversation is a reminder that change is possible - and sometimes, it’s the hard moments that spark the brightest new paths.

Find more about Mel here:

https://www.thelifestyleva.net/blog-1/mel-the-lifestyle-va

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/melaniemaw-virtualassistant

https://www.instagram.com/thelifestyleva_agency/

Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

For 10 years, Louise Duncum thrived in the creativity of designing clothes for High Street brands, but something was missing: a deeper connection with the women wearing her designs. After enduring one toxic boss too many, she decided life was too short to stay unhappy. Retraining as a personal stylist, she launched Weiz Styles, helping ambitious women align their wardrobes with their potential.

In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Louise shares how she turned frustration into freedom, why there was no plan B, and the ripple effect that confidence through style can have on every part of life and work.

Find out more about Louise: https://weizstyles.com/

Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Darya Simanovich arrived in the UK with just £300 and no English - 20 years later, she’s built 15 businesses. In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, we dive into her journey of resilience: 10 failures, 5 successes, and 1 exit. We talk about why failure is a muscle, the “100 Coffee Strategy” every founder should know, and how motherhood gave her the courage to take risks. An inspiring reminder that perseverance turns life’s lemons into lemonade.

Find Darya on Instagram & LinkedIn

Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

What happens when your body forces you to stop and re-evaluate everything? For Victoria Harman, a sudden life-threatening neurological illness and redundancy while on medical leave became the unexpected turning point that pushed her to follow her long-held dream.

In this episode of Lemonade Leaders, Victoria shares her journey from senior leadership roles at global brands like Levi’s and TikTok Shop to founding Rajani Baker, a platform celebrating South Asian craftsmanship and wearable art. She opens up about resilience, health, cultural appreciation, and what it really means to reinvent your life when tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn setbacks into opportunities, or what it takes to create something meaningful out of life’s toughest moments, this episode is for you.

Find out more about Victoria here: https://www.rajanibaker.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/rajani_baker/

Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

When Caroline Marshall was made redundant just months after becoming a mum — at a company that didn’t even have a maternity policy — she faced an uncertain future. Burnout, financial pressure, and a toxic “tech bro” culture could have ended her career. Instead, she turned her skills into a business that now supports dozens of women across the UK and beyond.

In this candid conversation, Caroline shares:

• The reality of maternity discrimination in 2025 (and why it’s worse than you think)
• How she built Upsource, a 36-strong team providing high-calibre virtual assistant and business support services
• Why empathy and flexibility aren’t “soft” skills — they’re the future of leadership
• The resilience it takes to rebuild your career while raising young children

From redundancy to running a thriving agency, Caroline’s story is a rallying cry for working mums, founders, and anyone who’s ever been underestimated.

Find Caroline at: https://bumptobusinessowner.com/ and https://weareupsource.co.uk/

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Seven days after giving birth, Funmi Lawal’s world changed forever. A sudden stroke left her fighting for her life and facing the possibility that she might never walk or speak again. But against all odds, she relearned how to walk, endured years of dialysis, survived a kidney transplant, and went on to create Klip Knix, an award-winning adaptive underwear brand restoring dignity and independence to women worldwide.

Funmi opens up about the personal challenges that shaped her journey, from losing both her parents within a year to the devastating loss of her beloved son in 2021. Through grief, health battles, and business setbacks, she found the strength to keep going.

In this powerful conversation, she shares how her lived experience became the spark for innovation, the moment she took on Kim Kardashian in a legal battle (and won), and why passion is the fuel that keeps you moving forward.

From ICU to QVC, this is a story of resilience and unstoppable purpose.

Find Funmi and Clip-Knix at www.clip-knix.com and @clipknixuk

Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders

Lemonade Leaders is the podcast that dives into the real, raw, and remarkable stories of founders, changemakers, and everyday leaders who’ve faced life’s toughest challenges and turned them into something extraordinary.

Hosted by Riannon Palmer, founder of Lem-uhn, each episode is a candid conversation that goes beyond the glossy headlines. You’ll hear about the moments that nearly broke them, the resilience that kept them going, and the unexpected ways they’ve created businesses, movements, and ideas that make the world a little better.

From life-threatening illnesses to career-defining risks, personal loss to hard-won victories, Lemonade Leaders is here to inspire you, move you, and remind you that even the sourest lemons can become the sweetest lemonade.

Hit follow and join us for stories that do good and feel good.

Find us on TikTok and Instagram @lemonadeleaders