The Simplified CEO

Claire Bartlett
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Simplified CEO is the podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs navigating perimenopause while scaling their service-based business to six figures. Hosted by business strategist Claire Bartlett, each episode blends practical business strategy with the science of what's actually happening in your brain and body during perimenopause - so you can stop pushing harder and start building smarter. If you're a coach, consultant, or change-maker who's exhausted, overwhelmed, and ready to redesign your business around your biology - this is the show for you. So go ahead and hit follow, grab your coffee, and let’s redesign your business to be more sustainable, spacious, and sympathetic. New episodes drop every Wednesday on all major podcast platforms. 

  1. Jul 1

    How to Scale to Six Figures During Perimenopause Without Working More Hours

    If you've hit five figures in your business and you're wondering why scaling to six feels like running through treacle - especially when you're also navigating perimenopause - this episode is going to stop you in your tracks. Claire breaks down exactly why the hustle-culture playbook for six figures doesn't just fail perimenopausal entrepreneurs: it's biologically working against you.   What You'll Discover•      Why the strategy that built your five-figure business is the wrong strategy for scaling to six - and how perimenopause changes the equation entirely •      The neuroscience behind why sustained cognitive load is genuinely harder during perimenopause, with insights from Dr Lisa Mosconi's neuroimaging research •      The Inner CEO Audit: how to identify your busy, builder, and breakthrough tasks - and why most of us are spending our sharpest hours on the lowest-value work •      The Operations Edit: simple, low-cost automations that can return hours to your week almost immediately •      The Three Block Week: how to structure your working week around your energy patterns so the important work gets done consistently - even on the foggy days   Episode Highlights•      "The exhaustion you're feeling is not a personal failing - it's a signal. And the signal is screaming: it's time to do this differently." •      Claire shares the moment she realised she'd built a 'gilded cage' - a business that looked impressive from the outside but felt like a prison on the inside •      A plain-English breakdown of what is actually happening in your brain during perimenopause, and why more hours will never fix a biological misalignment •      How to design your working week with CEO time, operations time, and growth time - and why protecting all three is what compounds into six figures   Register for the 6FIGURE PERIPRENEUR MASTERCLASS here: https://therealclairebartlett.com/webinar-registration. And if something in this episode clicked for you, share it with a woman in your world who needs to hear it. Then drop Claire a message on Instagram @theclairebartlett and tell her what landed.

  2. Jun 24

    How to Scale Your Business Through Perimenopause (Without Burning Out)

    If you've been pushing harder in your business while perimenopause silently rewrites the rules, this episode is going to land. Claire Bartlett cuts straight to what nobody in the business coaching world is saying: scaling through perimenopause isn't a motivation problem, a mindset problem, or a strategy problem - it's a design problem. And once you see that, everything changes. What You'll Discover•      Why the business model that built your success was designed for a hormonal profile you no longer have - and why that's not a failure, it's a design flaw •      The three non-negotiables for sustainable scaling in perimenopause: Energy Architecture, Revenue Simplicity, and the Back Office Before Visibility model •      What energy architecture actually means in practice - and how one client went from working constantly with inconsistent income to four focused hours a day with her most reliable revenue in three years •      Why complexity is the enemy of the peripreneur, and how a single, high-value, simplified offer outperforms five scattered ones every time •      The perimenopause confidence piece - why imposter syndrome sits differently when it's layered on top of a hormonal identity shift, and what to do instead of waiting to feel like yourself again •      What a Perimenopause-aware Monday morning actually looks like - and how Claire structures her own working week around her real energy, not the hustle version of it Episode Highlights•      The neurological truth behind brain fog: when oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate, the part of your brain responsible for working memory and cognitive switching is directly affected - this is biology, not personal weakness •      The automation lightbulb moment: when clients realise their business can function while they rest. that on a 40% brain day, something is still happening in the background - is one of the most powerful shifts Claire witnesses in her programmes •      A client message that stopped Claire in her tracks: 'I just want to feel freer. I want to be able to plot. I want to not live in fear of not having enough money coming in' and why that freedom comes from structure, not a mindset course Resources & LinksSimplified CEO Foundations (introductory membership — £47/month): https://therealclairebartlett.com/simplifiedceofoundations-626714 Simplified CEO School (six-month group programme): https://therealclairebartlett.com/simplified-ceo-school-info Connect with Claire on Instagram: @theclairebartlett If this episode resonated, share it with a fellow peripreneur who needs to hear it. And if you haven't already, subscribe so you never miss an episode - new conversations drop every week.

  3. Jun 17

    Perimenopause and Confidence: How Colour Psychology Can Help You Rebuild

    What does it actually feel like to lose your confidence, your focus, and your identity - all at the same time? In this deeply honest episode of The Simplified CEO™ Podcast, Claire is joined by colour analyst and former personal stylist Laura Coote to explore the profound and often overlooked connection between perimenopause, confidence, and colour psychology. If you have ever opened your wardrobe and thought, "I have no idea who I am anymore," this one is for you.   What You'll Discover•       How perimenopause strips back the mask - and why that can ultimately be empowering •       The science and psychology behind colour analysis and how your season can become a confidence anchor •       Laura's raw and honest account of closing her business due to perimenopause symptoms, including memory loss and face blindness •       Why cognitive and emotional symptoms are the least talked-about - and most impactful - side of the perimenopausal experience •       How dopamine dressing and intentional colour choices can support your mood during hormonal transitions •       What both women wish they had known sooner - and the business changes that would have made all the difference   Episode Highlights•       Laura shares the moment she broke down outside a client's house and realised something had to change •       Claire and Laura discuss how GPs are still telling women they can't be perimenopausal without a hot flush - and why this is so dangerous •       The powerful reframe: perimenopause doesn't take things from you, it strips away what was never truly you to begin with •       Laura's experience of being prescribed testosterone - and the spark it gave back to her that she thought was gone forever   Connect & Take ActionIf this episode resonated with you, share it with someone else in your life who needs to hear it - and leave a review to help more peripreneurs find the show. Follow Laura Coote on Instagram to explore colour analysis and perimenopause content that actually validates your experience. Connect with Claire on Instagram: @theclairebartlett Register for 6 figure Peripreneur Masterclass - the live training where Claire shows you how to redesign your business around your biology. Grab your spot at https://therealclairebartlett.com/webinar-registration

  4. Jun 10

    How to Keep Building When Perimenopause Stops You in Your Tracks

    What happens when perimenopause, a late ADHD diagnosis, and the dream of running your own business all land at the same time? In this episode, I sit down with Rachael Jackson — founder of Women in Business Network Birmingham and community interest company Array of Light — to talk about the messy, honest, and ultimately empowering reality of building two businesses through some of the most challenging years of her life. If you've ever felt like you've lost yourself, this one is for you.   What You'll DiscoverWhy perimenopause often doesn't look the way we expect — and how even our closest people can spot it before we doThe NHS postcode lottery of perimenopause care, and why Rachael eventually went private (and wishes she'd done it sooner)How ADHD and perimenopause symptoms collide and intensify each other — including restless legs, mental fog, and overwhelming emotionThe practical strategies Rachael used to keep moving her businesses forward on the days she could barely functionHow she completely redefined what success looks like — and why 'busy' is no longer a badge of honourThe identity loss that comes with leaving corporate — and how to start the journey back to yourself  Episode HighlightsRachael's husband was the one who spotted the pattern and named it first — and that moment of validation changed everythingFilling in a symptom questionnaire for the first time and realising just how extreme things had become — even for someone who always plays things downBuilding not one but two businesses through perimenopause, a late ADHD diagnosis, and some of the darkest emotional months of her lifeThe mindset shift from corporate productivity to intentional, values-led success — and why her KPIs look completely different now  Enjoyed This Episode?If this conversation resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman in business who needs to hear it. Every share helps this podcast reach the women who need it most. And if you'd like support simplifying your business in a way that works with your hormones, not against them, head to https://www.instagram.com/theclairebartlett/ to find out how we can work together.

  5. Jun 3

    She Went Through Menopause Twice Before 35 - Here’s What She Learnt

    What does it feel like when menopause doesn’t arrive gradually - but hits all at once, before you’re 35, while you’re trying to run a business and raise a family? In this episode, Claire is joined by Lucy Blackmer, founder of Blackmer Advisory and known across social media as The Menopause Mum, who shares a story that challenges everything we think we know about perimenopause. Lucy went through chemical menopause twice and then a full hysterectomy in her early thirties - arriving in surgical menopause with no gradual warning, almost no support, and cognitive symptoms nobody had prepared her for. It’s a conversation that will make you rethink who perimenopause affects, when it can happen, and what it truly means to run a business through it. What You’ll DiscoverWhy chemical and surgical menopause create a “cliff edge” experience - no gentle transition, just sudden onset of intense symptomsThe cognitive symptoms (brain fog, anxiety, self-doubt, decision paralysis) that hit hardest after Lucy’s hysterectomy - and why no one warned her they were comingHow perimenopause symptoms are routinely misread as performance issues in the workplace - and what genuinely helpful support looks like insteadWhat small business owners, sole traders, and tiny teams can actually do to support employees and themselves through this transitionWhy curiosity - not diagnosis - is the most powerful tool available when symptoms start to show upPractical tools including journaling and a word cloud meditation technique to help you tune back into what you genuinely needConnect With LucyFind Lucy on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook as ‘themenopausemum’ Let’s Keep the Conversation GoingIf this episode landed for you - share it. Send it to the woman in your network who’s wondering why everything suddenly feels harder. Come and tell Claire what resonated over on Instagram at @‌theclairebartlett. And if you’re not yet subscribed, now is the time - new episodes every week.

  6. May 27

    Perimenopause and Business: How to Protect Your Capacity and Keep Growing

    If you've been wondering whether perimenopause is reshaping the way you work - and whether that's actually okay - this episode is for you. Business mentor and growth coach Nicky Masson joins Claire Bartlett - The Simplified CEO - for one of the most honest conversations yet about how perimenopause impacts your business, your body, and ultimately, your identity as an entrepreneur. This is the conversation your best friend should be having with you. What You'll DiscoverWhy joint pain and brain fog are more common perimenopause symptoms than hot flushesHow Nicky shifted from structured time management to a capacity-first approach, and why that distinction changes everythingThe real reason hustle culture doesn't work for women in midlife - and it's not just mindset, it's biologyWhy slowing down isn't the opposite of ambition, and how to let go of the guilt that says otherwiseHow emotional intelligence becomes your greatest business asset during perimenopauseThe unexpected gift both Claire and Nicky have found on the other side of this transitionEpisode HighlightsNicky's honest account of waking up in physical pain every day - and the practical workarounds that keep her business runningThe moment Claire realised she had redesigned her entire business around perimenopause before she even knew that's what she was doingA powerful exchange on why comparing our work capacity to men's is a fundamentally flawed benchmarkNicky reframes perimenopause not as a limitation, but as something close to a superpowerConnect & Continue the ConversationIf this episode resonated with you, share it with a business-owning friend who needs to hear it. You can find Nicky on Instagram @‌nickymasonglobal and on LinkedIn - she would love to connect. And come and say hello to Claire on Instagram @‌theclairebartlett. She'd love to hear which part landed for you.

  7. May 20

    How to Stop Apologising, Start Saying No, and Redesign Your Business Around Your Biology

    If you've ever sat in a meeting secretly recording it on your phone, convinced someone was about to "find you out" - this episode is for you. Claire sits down with Naomi Holbrook, The Unconventional Weight Loss Coach, for an honest, science-backed conversation about what perimenopause really does to our brains, our businesses, and our sense of self. From late ADHD diagnoses to the joy of finally dropping the mask, this one goes deep. What You'll DiscoverWhy so many women in perimenopause receive a late ADHD diagnosis - and the neuroscience that explains itThe real reason your brain feels like a packed filing cabinet (and why that's completely normal)The difference between work-life balance (a myth) and intentional integration (a game-changer)How the "veil slipping" during perimenopause can actually be the beginning of a profound liberationWhy "no" is harder for women than "sorry" - and how reclaiming it changes everythingHow Naomi rebuilt her health, her business, and her life after walking out of a 20-year corporate careerEpisode HighlightsNaomi reveals she used to secretly record meetings on voice memos because she couldn't retain information - and eventually resigned, believing she was "going crazy"The jaw-dropping statistic: women aged 45–54 now have the highest suicide rate in the UK - and why perimenopause, caregiving, and hustle culture are all part of that pictureClaire and Naomi unpack why Gary V and Alex Hormozi's business advice simply doesn't apply to a 45-year-old woman navigating hormonal changes and a business at the same timeThe birth of JoMo - the joy of missing out - and why both Claire and Naomi have fully, joyfully embraced itConnectCome and continue this conversation with Claire on Instagram @theclairebartlett - she'd love to hear what landed for you. Find Naomi Holbrook: Instagram: @naomiholbrookcoachFacebook & LinkedIn: Naomi Holbrook If this episode resonated, share it with a female entrepreneur who needs to hear it - and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Simplified CEO.

  8. May 13

    5 Tools That Run My Business So I Don’t Have To

    If your business only works when you do, it’s not a business - it’s a full-time job with extra stress. In this episode, Claire pulls back the curtain on the exact five tools that keep her two six-figure businesses running in under 20 hours a week, so you can stop white-knuckling your way through your to-do list and start building a business that works without you having to be “on” all the time. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause and craving more cognitive breathing room, or you’re simply done with the manual-everything approach, this one is for you.   What You’ll DiscoverWhy being a busy business owner and a successful one are not the same thingThe five tools Claire uses daily to automate, systemise, and protect her energyHow Calendly can do far more than just send a booking link (most people use only 10% of what it can do)Why a CRM like GoHighLevel isn’t just for big businesses - and how to start simpleThe truth about batch-scheduling social content and why it actually makes your posts betterHow AI tools like Claude can remove the blank-page paralysis without stripping out your authentic voice  Episode HighlightsClaire’s honest turning point: how perimenopause brain fog forced her to build proper systems - and what she discovered on the other sideThe complete client journey in her business, from first discovery to onboarding, mostly automatedWhy batching content in one focused afternoon produces better work than daily posting ever didThe real learning curve with AI - and how long it actually took Claire to get output she could use directly  Ready to Simplify?If today’s episode lit a fire under you, come and tell Claire which tool you’re starting with first - she genuinely loves hearing this. Find her on Instagram at @‌theclairebartlett. And if you’re an established entrepreneur navigating perimenopause and wondering why hustle culture suddenly feels impossible, grab your spot on the free Perimenopause Business Revolution Masterclass - https://claire-bartlett.co.uk/webinar-registration If this episode helped you, a quick review makes a huge difference - and sharing it with another female entrepreneur you know could genuinely change her week.

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About

The Simplified CEO is the podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs navigating perimenopause while scaling their service-based business to six figures. Hosted by business strategist Claire Bartlett, each episode blends practical business strategy with the science of what's actually happening in your brain and body during perimenopause - so you can stop pushing harder and start building smarter. If you're a coach, consultant, or change-maker who's exhausted, overwhelmed, and ready to redesign your business around your biology - this is the show for you. So go ahead and hit follow, grab your coffee, and let’s redesign your business to be more sustainable, spacious, and sympathetic. New episodes drop every Wednesday on all major podcast platforms. 

Information

  • Creator
    Claire Bartlett
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Claire Bartlett
  • Show Website
    The Simplified CEO