Women's Business

Hosted by Nicky Denson-Elliott

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138

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Women’s Business is the award-winning podcast where Nicky Denson-Elliott talks to women who have built businesses about how they actually did it. Each episode starts with their earliest memories of work and the careers advice , then follows the real story: the founding moment, the growing pains, what they’d do differently, and the practical advice they’d give anyone starting out today. If you’re a female founder at the beginning, or thinking about taking the leap, this is where you hear from women a few steps ahead of you. Winner, Independent Podcast Awards Business & Money, 2025.

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November 9, 2026Episode 1311 hr 15 min

#131: Voices Beyond the Norm: Vicky Quinn-Fraser on Writing and Identity

In this episode I speak to author and book coach Vicky Quinn-Fraser, who shares her path from a working-class ex-mining town and a private school scholarship to studying archaeology as a mature student, working in forensics, then marketing and direct-response copywriting before moving into ghostwriting and book coaching. Vicky discusses publishing snobbery and why independent publishing can offer freedom, how books often support business through credibility and opportunities rather than direct income, and why foundational clarity and lived experience shape a distinctive author voice. She describes a late autism diagnosis, masking, empathy, and adapting frameworks like “eat the frog” to fit different brains. Plus we discuss AI’s flattening effect on writing and thinking. So much to enjoy! Find Vicky on LinkedIn here Find Vicky's website here Join the conversation with me on Instagram here Vicky shouted out friend of the pod Yinka Ewuola ----------- This episode is brought to you by Victoria Whittington Financial Planning. Victoria knows how easy it is to put off sorting your finances. Life is busy. Work, family, and everything else always seem to take priority. That's why her advice is clear, jargon-free, and designed to fit around your life, not the other way round. Her role is to help you turn what you want for the future into a clear plan, break it into manageable steps, and give you the support to keep going until you get there. If you'd like to have a friendly, no-pressure chat about what financial planning could do for you book a no-obligation 30-minute session here . Victoria Whittington Financial Planning is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products . This episode is also supported by the Life Threads podcast . It's hosted by Professor Lynda Gratton — she's a professor at London Business School, one of the world's top thinkers on the future of work, and the author of The 100-Year Life. And her new podcast is genuinely brilliant. It's an eight-part series, and each episode takes one of the threads that makes up a fulfilling working life — mastery, cooperation, friendship, adventure — and brings it to life through real conversations with extraordinary people. We're talking Grayson Perry, Julia Gillard, Robert Waldinger. It's the kind of podcast that makes you think differently about where you are, and where you're going. If you're someone who takes your career seriously — and I know you are, because you're here — Life Threads is exactly the kind of content you should have in your ears. Search Life Threads in your chosen podcast app, or click here to listen on Spotify or here to listen on Apple

November 2, 2026Episode 1301 hr 6 min

#130: The Art of Challenging Conversations with Rachel Cashman

In this episode I speak to “fearless facilitator” Rachel Cashman about her unconventional life and career. We talk about her secretive family history, 'feral' teenage years, and the moment working in a care home that set her on a career path she is still on today, with a strong sense of justice being the thread that has run through her work since. We also talk about Rachel's superpower: facilitating challenging conversations. What it looks like to 'go there', with advice on how to navigate those conversations yourself in the workplace, or with clients. Find Rachel on LinkedIn here Find Rachel's website here Rachel shouted out Dame Sue Hill and Amara Ahmed. Join the conversation with me on Instagram here ---------- This episode is brought to you by Victoria Whittington Financial Planning. Victoria knows how easy it is to put off sorting your finances. Life is busy. Work, family, and everything else always seem to take priority. That's why her advice is clear, jargon-free, and designed to fit around your life, not the other way round. Her role is to help you turn what you want for the future into a clear plan, break it into manageable steps, and give you the support to keep going until you get there. If you'd like to have a friendly, no-pressure chat about what financial planning could do for you book a no-obligation 30-minute session here. Victoria Whittington Financial Planning is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. This episode is also supported by the Life Threads podcast . It's hosted by Professor Lynda Gratton — she's a professor at London Business School, one of the world's top thinkers on the future of work, and the author of The 100-Year Life. And her new podcast is genuinely brilliant. It's an eight-part series, and each episode takes one of the threads that makes up a fulfilling working life — mastery, cooperation, friendship, adventure — and brings it to life through real conversations with extraordinary people. We're talking Grayson Perry, Julia Gillard, Robert Waldinger. It's the kind of podcast that makes you think differently about where you are, and where you're going. If you're someone who takes your career seriously — and I know you are, because you're here — Life Threads is exactly the kind of content you should have in your ears. Search Life Threads in your chosen podcast app, or click here to listen on Spotify or here to listen on Apple

October 19, 2026Episode 1291 hr 20 min

#129: Building Online Worlds with Rachel Emma Waring

My guest this week is creative marketing strategist and launch expert Rachel Emma Waring . Rachel talks to me about her early beliefs about hard work and money, her freelance set design career in immersive theatre, and how she shifted into wedding styling, including producing over 100,000 hand-stamped wooden place cards before feeling boxed in by repetition. COVID accelerated her pivot into marketing, first through Pinterest strategy, then into launch and sales support, emphasising that selling is a creative act rooted in psychology, storytelling, and world-building. We discuss the “trust recession,” “launch ick,” and the “slug zone” mid-launch lull, stressing pre-launch hype, list/audience growth, listening to what audiences think they want, and continuing to sell through silence. Find Rachel online here Find Rachel on instagram here Join the conversation with me on Instagram here Rachel recommends Aiza at Studio Coya and Lois Mac ----------- This episode is supported by Merry People - THE best ankle welly boots around. Warm, comfortable, and stylish, I wear mine every day in Autumn and Winter and not just when it's raining! Merry People NEVER discount. Their boots are priced fairly and consistently so there’s no buyer’s remorse. Let this ringing endorsement from me be the sign you've waited for - these are boots to buy and wear forever! Grab yours here

October 11, 20261 hr 8 min

#128 Women's Voices in Myth: Challenging Patriarchy with Jas Elmer

Ooh is this a great episode for you with mythologist and author Jas Elmer. Jas discusses growing up in 1980s East End London with a hardworking single mother, unhelpful careers advice, and explains how studying ancient world studies led her into the classics We talk about the origins of mythology as oral storytelling used to make sense of inner and outer worlds, and that patriarchal interpretation shapes how women are portrayed in myths; she “dusts off” those readings in work like Goddess with a Thousand Faces and Slay, about erased female dragon slayers. She also shares using stories of descent to navigate a 2024 nervous breakdown. It's a fascinating deep dive into women in mythology - I loved it! Find Jas on Instagram here Jas shouted out menopause specialist Kate Codrington Don't forget to join the conversation with me here ---------- This episode is supported by Merry People - THE best ankle welly boots around. Warm, comfortable, and stylish, I wear mine every day in Autumn and Winter and not just when it's raining! Merry People NEVER discount. Their boots are priced fairly and consistently so there’s no buyer’s remorse. Let this ringing endorsement from me be the sign you've waited for - these are boots to buy and wear forever! Grab yours here

October 4, 2026Episode 1271 hr 0 min

#127: Pioneering Beauty with Millie Kendall OBE: From Ruby & Millie to British Beauty Council

Remember Ruby and Millie? This is that Millie! AKA Millie Kendall OBE, beauty entrepreneur and founder of the British Beauty Council. In this episode Millie talks to me about growing up in her hairdresser father’s salon, her rebellious school years, and building a career by focusing on communications, marketing, formulation, and packaging after realising she couldn’t cut hair. She discusses launching Shu Uemura, Aveda and Tweezerman in the UK, co-creating Ruby & Millie with innovations like tool-attached products and a premium-to-mass distribution model that was pioneering in the industry. We also discuss Millie's desire to found the British Beauty Council, which she did in in 2018 - to give a £28bn sector a unified voice, improve its reputation, and drive transparency and sustainability through research and initiatives. Millie is a giant of her industry with loads of insight - enjoy! Find The British Beauty Council here Find Millie's website here Join me on Instagram here --------- This episode is supported by Merry People - THE best ankle welly boots around. Warm, comfortable, and stylish, I wear mine every day in Autumn and Winter and not just when it's raining! Merry People NEVER discount. Their boots are priced fairly and consistently so there’s no buyer’s remorse. Let this ringing endorsement from me be the sign you've waited for - these are boots to buy and wear forever! Grab yours here

September 27, 2026Episode 1261 hr 4 min

#126: The Psychology Mum on Tips for Managing Burnout and Beyond with Dr Emma Hepburn

This week I speak to clinical psychologist and illustrator Dr. Emma Hepburn - known best as The Psychology Mum online. Emma is a trusted mental health voice for many who uses her hand-drawn illustrations to simplify complex matters of the brain Emma shares early influences on work, her path from architecture to psychology, and describes when she started using simple drawings to communicate complex ideas, including how the “capacity cup” analogy emerged in a community brain injury group and later went viral online, leading to wider recognition and book deals. Emma discusses her own pandemic-era burnout, and talks us through the symptoms of clinical burnout, plus her strategies for recovering. Loads of tangible takeaways in this one. Find Emma's Instagram here The woman Emma shouted out was Dr Emma Svanberg AKA Mumologist Don't forget to join the conversation with me here -------- This episode is supported by Merry People - THE best ankle welly boots around. Warm, comfortable, and stylish, I wear mine every day in Autumn and Winter and not just when it's raining! Merry People NEVER discount. Their boots are priced fairly and consistently so there’s no buyer’s remorse. Let this ringing endorsement from me be the sign you've waited for - these are boots to buy and wear forever! Grab yours here

September 20, 2026Episode 12553 min

#125: Lessons in Launching A Challenger Brand in a Crowded Marketplace with Tish Carless

My guest this week is Tish Carless, co-founder of Picoso, a spiced non-alcoholic drinks brand inspired by her years in Mexico City and Madrid and her decision to stop drinking at 26. Tish shares early work influences, and discusses the social dynamics of sobriety and how a lack of exciting alcohol-free options helped spark Picoso with co-founder Tom, a drinker. We discuss starting a drinks brand with no prior experience - from developing flavours to funding the first products, and their strategy to launch in hospitality before retail, securing listings including Selfridges and Whole Foods along the way. A really interesting and honest discussion with lots of insight for founders. Find Picoso online here Find them on Instagram here Tish shouted out Lucy Georgia, founder of Sonny Eyewear Join the conversation with me on Instagram here ------------- This episode is supported by Merry People - THE best ankle welly boots around. Warm, comfortable, and stylish, I wear mine every day in Autumn and Winter and not just when it's raining! Merry People NEVER discount. Their boots are priced fairly and consistently so there’s no buyer’s remorse. Let this ringing endorsement from me be the sign you've waited for - these are boots to buy and wear forever! Grab yours here

September 13, 2026Episode 1211 hr 13 min

Beyond Mindset: How Brain Infrastructure Influences Success With Natalie McKenzie

My guest today is Natalie McKenzie, brain specialist and founder of BIS Services where she supports people suffering from brain injuries. Natalie discusses her whole journey, from studying psychology, and entering brain injury rehab after landing a charity role, then later launching BIS overnight when the charity collapsed, ultimately growing the company to 82 employees across the UK. She explains how modern overstimulation, screens, notifications, task switching, and decision fatigue drain cognitive resources and contribute to burnout, which can impair executive function, memory, sleep, and long-term brain health. Natalie distinguishes brain “infrastructure” from mindset, outlines using cognitive assessments and her COGS method with entrepreneurs, and gets into some tips and strategies to support anyone who wants to optimise their brain and minimise the impact of constant information bombardment! Find Natalie on Instagram here Find Natalie's website here Natalie shouted out Dr Louise Newson Join the conversation with me on Instagram here ---------- This episode is supported by Merry People - THE best ankle welly boots around. Warm, comfortable, and stylish, I wear mine every day in Autumn and Winter and not just when it's raining! Merry People NEVER discount. Their boots are priced fairly and consistently so there’s no buyer’s remorse. Let this ringing endorsement from me be the sign you've waited for - these are boots to buy and wear forever! Grab yours here

September 6, 2026Episode 1211 hr 4 min

#123: From Chief Snowflake to Becoming The Funny Mummy with Alyssa Kyria

We're baaaaack with a banger! And my guest this week is Alyssa Kyria, AKA The Funny Mummy on Instagram. We talk all about Alyssa's path, from her early aspirations to be an actress, to becoming a comedian and entrepreneur. We discuss growing up with hardworking parents, Alyssa's early determination to perform, and the harsh realities of acting auditions, including creative self-promotion and low-paid jobs. She shifted into comedy for more control, performing characters and paid cabaret. After becoming a mum, she co-founded Bring Your Own Baby Comedy to create daytime, baby-welcoming shows for parents, which grew organically to 27 venues and provided connection and relief for mothers. This is a great conversation about innovation, resilience, spotting a gap in the market, and laughing through it all - lessons for everyone! Find Alyssa on Instagram here Alyssa shouted out friend of the pod Alison Perrry Join me on Instagram here ------------- This episode is supported by Merry People - THE best ankle welly boots around. Warm, comfortable, and stylish, I wear mine every day in Autumn and Winter and not just when it's raining! Merry People NEVER discount. Their boots are priced fairly and consistently so there’s no buyer’s remorse. Let this ringing endorsement from me be the sign you've waited for - these are boots to buy and wear forever! Grab yours here

July 12, 2026Episode 1221 hr 4 min

#122: Where Make Up Meets Comedy with Viral Sensation Genevieve Turley

In this episode I speak to makeup artist and comedian Genevieve Turley, who went from years of slow Instagram growth to gaining 90,000 followers in a week after a comedy reel went viral. Genevieve shares how she blended beauty with humour to help women feel seen and less intimidated by makeup, while showing up on camera as herself, without apology. She explains that virality doesn’t automatically bring brand deals, emphasises consistency, and discusses maintaining integrity when big brand deals are on the table. Find Genevieve on Instagram here Join the conversation with me on Instagram here Join The Wilder Collective and find tickets for Wilder:LIVE here