Digital Marketing can be a daunting area for small business, something you know you need to be on top of but it feels like there's too much to learn to even get started. But as everything moves more and more online - from shopping, to learning, to health, to work (and even more so in a post-Covid world) it's something you can't afford to ignore! So when I was picking topics for my Topic Chats, which cover a series of topics that are handy for folks starting a business or project, I knew we had to cover digital marketing somewhere along the way.

And who better to teach us all about this world than Lucy McGregor, who runs a boutique digital marketing agency. Stemming from a personal health journey following the Christchurch earthquakes, Lucy's agency specialises in working with health and wellness businesses, and as such is the perfect blend of her sociology studies, digital expertise and person interest in health and wellness.

Join me for this fun chat with Lucy where I ask her all those burning questions about online marketing - what kind of budget do I need? What channels should I focus on? What on earth is SEO? Do I need to join TikTok?! This quick 30 min chat will be the perfect starting point or sense check for all your digital activities...

(PS. Check out Lucy over on Instagram @lucykateonline and feel free to ask her more questions!

It's fairly common these days to see businesses built on sustainability and social values, but today's guest takes things to the next level – aiming to be the most sustainable brand in the world. I doubt you'll be surprised when I tell you who we're chatting with... Brianne West from Ethique.

In an absolute dream 'light bulb' moment Brianne (a science student at the time), noticed her conditioner was 95% water. When you think about the fact that you have water in your bathroom already, seems pretty crazy. So much unnecessary plastic and packaging!

And so Ethique was born, making concentrated solid beauty bars, back then with home printed packaging, concocted in her kitchen with her Mum's help. Nowadays Ethique is a global leading brand, not only disrupting but absolutely smashing the beauty industry, and already saving almost 10 million plastic bottles from the landfill.

Now with an aim to save half a billion bottles by 2030, I can't wait to talk to Brianne today and hear this whole story - where it all began, what this crazy journey has been like, and how they plan to reach these brilliant goals.

Find out more about the wonderful world of Ethique and have some fun with Brianne and the team over on Instagram @ethiqueworld, and remember you can order online at ethique.com.

You've no doubt heard the phrase that so many businesses are born from a personal need for something that you can't find on the market. That is especially for today's guest – Emily from Petite Eats.

After Emily had her first baby George, she wanted to feed him healthy, whole, organic food, which she made herself at home. But when she wanted to feed him out and about (which if you've had kids will know is always a minefield!) there was only the supermarket pouch options, which she found didn't quite fit the bill for what she wanted to feed her baby.

As the trend goes, if you're looking for something and can't find it, chances are other people are too! And so, with a toddler and another baby on the way, Emily and her husband launched Petite Eats, creating shelf-stable pouches of whole, organic baby food, perfect for feeding out and about or an easy option for at home too.

As suspected, she struck gold, filling a need many parents have, and Petite Eats has grown beautifully over the past few years. Since then they've expanded into feeding accessories (born from yet another need she had for her second baby!), and other silicone toys, and no doubt more to come...

Join me today for this really fun, honest and open chat with Emily - all about the ups and downs of launching a new business and parenting - and trying to do both at the same time.

PS. Like Emily said in our chat, she loves connecting with her customers on social media - so make sure you check out Petite Eats on Instagram @petiteeatsnz and join the community. You can also see and buy the full Petite Eats range on their website petiteeats.co.nz and lots of baby stores around NZ.

You'd be forgiven for thinking this week's episode is another 'solo pod' but no, I do have a guest joining me, we just sound pretty similar because... this week's guest is my sister Fran!

Fran has a background in marketing and graphic design, which has led her (via roles some awesome marketing roles in NZ businesses) to launch her own boutique creative and branding agency, Designfetti.

Nowadays as well as working as a creative account manager at a media agency, she also runs Designfetti, as well as raising her two amazing kiddies, well maybe I'm biased because they're my niece and nephew.

So of course when I was looking at topics to cover on my topic chats, branding was right at the top of the list, I knew I had to twist Fran's arm to come on to share her wisdom. Today we'll be chatting all about why building a brand is so important, who to work with to create your brand, some tips, tricks and red flags, and also of course geeking out a bit over some of our favourite business's packaging and branding...

When Miranda and her flatmate Jacinta applied for a summer holiday business accelerator program after uni, little did they know they'd end up creating a kickass social enterprise that's working hard to tackle period poverty across New Zealand.

Their 'Buy 1 Give 1' scheme for pads, tampons, cups and undies sees corporate across the country (like ANZ, Flick Electric, Xero and TradeMe) provide free period products to staff while at the same time donating tons of products to schools and organisations in need. They've recently added an individual gifting programme too, and also work hard alongside government to educate and campaign for free period products in schools

In this chat with co-founder Miranda we'll hear all about where this all started, how it's grown, and how she balances all of this alongside her full-time job at NZ Post - plus we'll learn a thing or two about period inequality along the way too.

Safe to say what started as a summer project has turned into something pretty special – come along and hear this amazing story with me on Pep Talk today.

If you're interested in signing up your workplace to Dignity, want to make a gifting donation yourself, or are an organisation looking for a donation, head to dignitynz.com for all the info and to sign-up. You can also keep up with their awesome work on Instagram over at @_dignitynz.