The Midlife Entrepreneur

Jo Glynn-Smith
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Midlife Entrepreneur is the podcast for women who are building businesses later in life. Hosted by Jo Glynn-Smith, career transitions expert, coach and entrepreneur, who works with founders every day, each week Jo sits down with a different business owner to unpack the real stories, turning points and hard-won lessons behind their ventures.  The show also features the 15 Minute Masterclass, where seasoned experts share practical advice designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage. Honest, inspiring and genuinely useful, this is the show that proves it is never too late to back yourself.  Top 15% of podcasts globally and charting on Apple's Entrepreneurship category. New episodes every Tuesday.

  1. 2d ago

    15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways for British Brands to Succeed in America with Thea Green MBE, Beauty Entrepreneur and Founder of Nails.INC

    This week Jo sits down with Thea Green MBE, founder of Nails INC. and Holler & Glow, to share three ways British brands can succeed in America. First, Thea says distribution is your best advert: focus on one key retail partner where you’ll get strong visibility, prove performance with clean data, and consider short-term exclusivity rather than spreading thinly across multiple retailers with poor shelf placement. Second, because it’s hard to outspend US corporates on advertising, she advises leaning into your USP and founder storytelling and using partnerships, collaborations, and retailer exclusives so bigger brands and retailers amplify your launch. Third, she recommends celebrating European heritage and quality—standards, ingredients, and manufacturing stories—to appeal to Americans’ perception of European-made products as premium and safer, while noting US retail buying cycles can be slower and require long lead times.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:39 Advice One Distribution First 02:37 Win One Retailer 04:34 Advice Two Outsmart Ad Budgets 05:39 Partnerships and Collaborations 06:53 Advice Three Sell Europe 09:35 US Market Watch Outs 11:56 Retail Timelines and Seasonality 13:51 Recap and Closing Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    15 min

  2. Jun 16

    EP37: Lucy Macnamara, Founder of Aspiga, the award-winning sustainable fashion brand celebrating 20 years in business.

    Building Aspiga: Sustainable Fashion, Slow Growth, and ADHD in Entrepreneurship This week Jo speaks with Lucy Macnamara, founder of Aspiga, an award-winning sustainable fashion brand built on ethical production and positive impact. Lucy shares how she started with 250 hand-beaded sandals from Kenya sold through friends while working full time, then left her charity role after gaining early wholesale traction. She explains Aspiga’s steady, long-term growth through wholesale, online and pop-ups, later moving operations to London and building teams, and how retail stores began unexpectedly during lockdown through low-risk landlord offers, eventually expanding to around 10 shops. Lucy discusses the realities of managing staff, cashflow, supplier problems, and crises, her ADHD diagnosis in her 50s and how openness helped the team adapt, and her focus now on creating a sustainable business that can rely less on her while maintaining long-standing investments in artisans and community projects in Kenya.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:42 Slow Growth Mindset 02:49 First Product and Early Sales 03:32 Leaving Charity to Go Full Time 05:10 Wholesale Growth and Cash Flow 05:56 Early Money Struggles 06:46 Midlife Advantage and Self Belief 08:53 Hiring and Building a Team 11:33 Managing Staff Expectations 14:27 Going Above and Beyond 15:47 From Pop Ups to Stores 18:29 Retail Expansion Challenges 20:11 ADHD Energy and Routines 21:52 Sleep and Night Worries 23:34 Entrepreneurship Ups and Downs 24:25 ADHD and Crisis Mode 25:18 Late Diagnosis Realizations 26:34 School Struggles and Self Doubt 28:38 Leading Teams with ADHD 32:13 Future Plans and Ownership 34:12 Funding and Industry Know How 36:40 Three Two One Advice 37:01 Sustainability Roots in Kenya 41:15 Money Mistakes and AI Checks 44:40 Mentors and Asking for Help 46:26 Final Thanks and Wrap Up   Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    47 min

  3. Jun 9

    15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Increase Engagement on Instagram with Milla Richardson, Instagram Expert and Founder of Pink Storm Social.

    15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Increase Engagement on Instagram with Milla Richardson This week Jo sits down with Milla Richardson, Instagram expert and founder of Pink Storm Social, to share three ways to increase engagement on Instagram, explaining that engagement now includes comments, saves, shares and DMs and directly impacts reach via the algorithm. First, Milla advises grabbing attention in the feed with strong visuals, curiosity-driving hooks/headlines, and faces or behind-the-scenes people content, noting Instagram is increasingly personality-driven. Second, she recommends starting more conversations by asking questions in captions, replying to Stories, using Story engagement stickers (polls, sliders, question boxes) with simple prompts, and using DMs to build relationships, even setting short daily engagement windows. Third, she encourages being more personable and relatable through storytelling, sharing experiences and business journeys without oversharing; Jo recaps and asks about planning, and Milla describes loosely rotating selling, connecting, relationship-building and useful content. 00:00 Welcome to Masterclass 00:39 Why Engagement Matters 01:58 Tip One Grab Attention 02:27 Hooks Visuals and Faces 05:51 Tip Two Start Conversations 07:27 Stories Stickers and DMs 09:30 Tip Three Be Personable 12:13 Storytelling Without Oversharing 12:55 Recap and Content Planning 15:19 Wrap Up and Subscribe   Follow Milla @pinkstormsocial Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    16 min

  4. Jun 2

    EP36: Maxine Laceby, Co-Founder of Absolute Collagen, from stay-at-home mum to creating one of the UK's fastest-growing direct-to-consumer businesses.

    Maxine Laceby: Starting Absolute Collagen at 50 and building a £30m DTC Brand This week Jo sits down with Maxine Laceby, co-founder of Absolute Collagen, to discuss how she built a pioneering liquid collagen, direct-to-consumer brand in midlife. After 25 years as a stay-at-home mum, turning 50 and studying fine art led Maxine to a self-identity project, “Dare to Go Bare,” and a wellbeing journey that began with homemade bone broth and evolved into discovering collagen. In 2017 she launched Absolute Collagen with her daughter Darcy, growing it from a kitchen-table idea into a £30m business, raising £15m investment, and earning major rankings and awards. Maxine credits transferable “mum skills” like emotional intelligence, intuition, and reading people, alongside a consumer-first mindset, strong team culture, hiring to offset weaknesses, and choosing aligned partners over money. She emphasizes authenticity, integrity, and scientifically proven claims in a “Wild West” supplement market. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:23 Motherhood Skills to Boardroom 03:06 Emotional Intelligence as Superpower 05:11 Designing for the Absoluter 08:01 Dare to Go Bare Origins 10:51 Finding Maxine Under the Masks 13:47 Kids Reactions and Leading by Example 15:39 Always a Problem Solver 17:51 Collagen Discovery with Darcy 19:13 Early Results and Hair Science 21:55 Mother Daughter Business Dynamic 23:28 Empowered Family Collaboration 26:08 Respect and Boundaries 27:07 Scaling With Great Hires 29:29 Authenticity Versus Celebrity 32:09 Brand Integrity and Science 33:58 Culture Fit and Team Freedom 34:53 Investment and Valuation Lessons 38:39 New CEO and Absoluter Mindset 40:44 Three Two One Advice 43:33 Thanking Brad and Closing Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    46 min

  5. May 26

    15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Scale Your Productivity with AI with Georgie Barrat, AI Expert, Broadcaster, Founder & Creator of The AI Method.

    This week Jo sits down with AI expert, broadcaster, and AI Method founder Georgie Barrat to share three ways to scale productivity with AI.  First, Georgie advises “onboarding” your AI like a new employee by creating an AI blueprint: a North Star vision document, ideal audience details, and “voice DNA” samples for emails, newsletters, and social posts, stored via tools like memory, projects, or custom GPTs to improve outputs and avoid confusion from overly long threads.  Second, she recommends using voice input to reduce friction, brainstorm more naturally, and let AI consolidate ideas into well-formatted drafts you can refine.  Third, she suggests building a simple toolkit by choosing one main AI tool and targeting repeat weekly workflows for small, high-impact time savings, while factchecking and ensuring the final work still sounds like you.  00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:59 Tip 1 AI Blueprint Onboarding 03:16 Where to Store Context 04:34 Avoid Long Threads 06:06 Tip 2 Talk to AI 07:57 Tip 3 Workflow Toolkit 10:36 Small Wins Over Hype 11:37 Recap and AI Sandwich 15:32 Closing and Subscribe Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    16 min

  6. May 19

    EP35: Kate Cotterill, CEO and Co-Founder of She Grows Veg, empowering more people to grow their own.

    From City Marketer to Heirloom Seed Disruptor: Kate Cotterill on Building She Grows Veg in Midlife Jo kicks off a new season by speaking with Kate Cotterill, CEO and co-founder of She Grows Veg, an heirloom seed company launched in November 2023 with Instagram grower Lucy Hutchings. Kate shares how a garden design course led to their partnership, how Lucy’s 120,000-strong following revealed pent-up UK demand for heirloom seeds, and how Kate left a 25-year marketing career to start the business at 46. They discuss what heirloom seeds are versus hybrids, She Grows Veg’s rapid growth from a £17,000 crowdfund to £1.4m turnover and a 30+ person team, two Chelsea Flower Show gold medals, and the challenges of funding, scaling operations, website crashes, and seed production lead times. Kate also describes their women-focused hiring model, AI-driven content and customer support, new veg-growing app, charity work, and advice to research then act.   00:00 Welcome and guest intro 01:55 Why seeds 04:58 Market shift to growing 07:51 Heirloom seeds explained 10:46 Funding and crowdfunding 13:22 Product build and packaging 15:49 Chelsea spotlight and website crash 19:07 Scaling team and operations 22:13 Energy routines and tech 24:59 Co-founder roles and balance 25:28 Finding Your Yin Yang 25:59 Seed Hunting Secret Sauce 26:26 Funding the Fast Growth 28:44 Angel Investing Explained 30:17 Scaling Teams and Roles 31:14 Production and Stock Fears 32:54 Customer Support with AI 34:00 Family Support and Midlife Drive 36:33 Pinch Me Chelsea Moments 37:45 Digital Marketing Disruption 39:39 Next Phase and Veg App 41:04 Joy of Growing and Reviews 42:41 Advice to Just Go 44:23 321s People AI Premises 47:22 Do Differently and Thank You 50:35 Final Wrap and Goodbye Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    51 min

  7. Apr 21

    15 Minute Masterclass: 3 Ways to Lead with more Purpose and Positive Impact with Mirry Christie, CEO and Founder of B.Able.

    Jo hosts the 15 Minute Masterclass and interviews Mirry Christie, CEO and founder of Be.Able, about three ways to lead with more purpose and positive impact. Mirry advises starting with the business by identifying priority social and environmental focus areas, engaging teams beyond the boardroom, and making practical improvements that add brand value, reduce waste, improve staff wellbeing and retention, and prepare for investors and future regulation. Second, she encourages action closer to home through conscious consumption, reusing, recycling, repairing, community support, and projects like selling clothes on Vinted and local initiatives such as Remnant Revolution. Third, she stresses talking honestly and transparently about impact to counter greenhushing/greenwashing, build communities of brands, and inspire others, noting resource use is at 1.8 Earths today and heading toward two by 2030. 00:00 Welcome to Masterclass 00:35 Purposeful Leadership Question 00:54 Start With Business Impact 02:11 Social and Environmental Priorities 03:43 Making Change Practical 06:20 Advice Two Home Habits 07:51 Community Projects and Brands 09:53 Advice Three Talk About It 11:08 Building Communities for Impact 12:51 Recap and Final Thoughts 15:30 Subscribe and Contact Connect with B.Able here: https://www.bable.world/ Follow on Instagram @bable.world Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    16 min

  8. Apr 14

    EP34: Zoe Levey, Editor and Founder of Wildflower Press, publisher of Wildflower Magazine.

    This week’s guest is Zoe Levey, founder of Wildflower Press and editor of Wildflower Magazine. With over two decades in senior commercial roles across major magazine titles, Zoe left Conde Nast in 2017 after her son’s SEN diagnosis to create more flexibility, moved to the Cotswolds, and launched an independent publishing business designed to feel special, seasonal, and collectible. Eight years on, Wildflower is distributed nationally in the UK and stocked by Waitrose, M&S and WH Smith, and has expanded into Wildflower Live events, the Little Green Book for independent businesses, and a Wine Club. Zoe explains her brand-led approach, self-funding and lean resourcing model, the skills she had to rebuild outside a large company (distribution, subscriptions, finance, digital), where AI may help efficiency, and the importance of boundaries, patience, and trusted people. 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:55 Meet Zoe Levey 02:02 Why Start a Magazine 02:51 Designing Wildflower 04:57 Naming the Brand 06:45 Building the First Issues 08:48 Lean Team and Finances 09:52 Growth Pains and Skills 12:03 AI for Efficiency 14:36 Live Events Return 16:28 Seasonal Editorial Process 18:43 Weekly Rhythm and Balance 22:18 The Turning Point Story 23:31 Chasing Work Life Balance 24:07 Lists And Starting Projects 25:07 Eat The Frog First 25:47 Rest And Self Care Boundaries 27:04 Protecting Mornings And Breaks 28:46 Phones And Blurred Work Lines 30:33 Three Two One Framework 31:00 Worthwhile Investments 34:49 Career Skills And Confidence 36:29 Mistakes Hiring And Structure 39:35 Distribution Lessons And COVID 42:39 Thanking A Key Mentor 44:08 Final Wrap And Call To Action Find out more about Wildflower here: https://wildflowermagazine.co.uk/ Follow them on Instagram @wildflowermagazine Support the show Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com www.joglynnsmith.com MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com

    45 min
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About

The Midlife Entrepreneur is the podcast for women who are building businesses later in life. Hosted by Jo Glynn-Smith, career transitions expert, coach and entrepreneur, who works with founders every day, each week Jo sits down with a different business owner to unpack the real stories, turning points and hard-won lessons behind their ventures.  The show also features the 15 Minute Masterclass, where seasoned experts share practical advice designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage. Honest, inspiring and genuinely useful, this is the show that proves it is never too late to back yourself.  Top 15% of podcasts globally and charting on Apple's Entrepreneurship category. New episodes every Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    Jo Glynn-Smith
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Midlife Entrepreneur
  • Show Website
    The Midlife Entrepreneur

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