Welcome to ”My Kind of Business,” a podcast hosted by Alex McCarthy, a Certified Business and Mindset coach dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business owners build meaningful, purpose-driven businesses.
In each episode, Alex dives into the real stories behind successful business owners, sharing their wins, struggles and everything in between. Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or just starting out, this podcast offers a blend of expert insights, mindset shifts and actionable tips to help you grow your business on your terms.
Join Alex as she speaks with inspiring guests from diverse industries who are breaking boundaries and building businesses that matter. From practical advice to motivational conversations, “My Kind of Business” is the perfect space to feel supported and empowered on your entrepreneurial journey.
Tune in for valuable lessons, actionable strategies and the reminder that we’re all in this together.
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Rebecca McCloskey on teaching, interior design & the art of growing slowly
mercredi 5 août 2026 • Durée 40:00
In this sixty-seventh episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Rebecca McCloskey, founder of Weave Interiors, a residential interior designer based in Tring whose story is a lovely reminder that the things we loved as children often hold the clues to what we're meant to do.
In this episode Alex and Rebecca explore:
The childhood passions and creative traits that hinted at her future work
Growing up around entrepreneurial grandparents and business-owning parents
The transferable skills teaching gave her, from planning to client care
How moving into her own home reignited her love of design
The long fertility journey and how it shifted her focus and priorities
Deciding to pursue interior design seriously and completing her course
Navigating those first projects and imposter syndrome during COVID
Her nature-led, biophilic approach and love of zoning open-plan spaces
Creative, local marketing and the challenge of promoting yourself
Landmark projects and the fulfilment of transforming clients' spaces
Building support networks and the second business, White and Weave
Prioritising family, slow growth and protecting her own wellbeing
Key Highlights
Why the hobbies you loved as a child can quietly shape the work you're meant to do
How teaching skills like planning, communication and empathy translate beautifully into running a business
Why home should be a sanctuary, and creating it should feel just as joyful as living in it
Why authentic client care matters far more than perfect content
How repeat clients and referrals are a truer measure of success than any metric
Why slow, considered growth can be the healthiest way to build a business around your life
Connect with Rebecca Weave Interiors: www.weaveinteriors.co.uk / @weave.interiordesign / Weave Interiors on Facebook
White and Weave (rental property design, installation and home staging): www.whiteandweave.co.uk / @whiteandweave.homestaging
In this sixty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex flips her usual format and turns the microphone on herself, sharing the story of the last eight years in business, the twists, the turns and everything she's learned along the way.
It's an honest, reflective one. Alex talks about growing from a quiet, imaginative child into a business owner, a mother and someone who cares deeply about personal growth. She opens up about the travel that changed how she saw the world, the accidental start of her first business, the leap into coaching, and how motherhood reshaped what she wanted her work and life to look like.
If you're building a business around your life rather than the other way around, this is the kind of episode you'll want in your ears.
In this episode Alex explores:
Her childhood, early confidence and the curiosity that shaped her
Why vulnerability matters in personal and professional growth
How travelling and living abroad expanded her worldview and planted the seeds for her business
The move from hospitality and export sales into running her own social media management business
Building confidence online and getting over the fear of being on camera
How becoming a mother changed her priorities and her whole approach to business
Why patience and self compassion are underrated parts of success
Where the business is heading next, including in-person events and new programmes
Key Highlights
How solo travel built the courage that later powered her business
The moment self-employment shifted into something aligned with who she is
Why investing in coaching and starting therapy changed everything
How motherhood became a reason to build differently, not to slow down
Sharn Khaira on Seven Figure Success and the Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective
mardi 19 mai 2026 • Durée 50:03
In this fifty-seventh episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Sharn Khaira, founder of the Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective, a global community dedicated to empowering Asian women to smash through cultural barriers, build thriving businesses and live the lives they truly deserve.
Sharn's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Raised in a strict Sikh family, she went from hiding in school toilets with no friends to becoming a seven figure subconscious and strategy business mentor.
After escaping a toxic corporate role, she built Desi Bride Dreams into an award winning wedding planning business featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC Asian Network and the UK's biggest wedding publications, before founding the Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective in 2017.
In this episode Alex and Sharn explore:
Growing up in a strict Sikh family and challenging cultural norms
The journey from isolation and self-doubt to unshakeable self-belief
Navigating workplace bullying, anxiety and knowing when to walk away
Leaving corporate in 2014 and launching Desi Bride Dreams against all odds
Transitioning from wedding planning into coaching and community building
Founding the Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective and its global mission
Subconscious reprogramming and the mindset practices that changed everything
Building a luxury personal brand that attracts high value clients
Charging premium prices with confidence and knowing your worth
Navigating grief, seasons in business and embracing change with resilience
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction to Sharn's inspiring journey [01:23] Childhood aspirations and societal challenges [03:26] Travel at 18 and breaking free from cultural restrictions [09:01] Transformative experiences from travelling and university [12:29] Workplace bullying and mental health struggles [14:38] Quitting corporate to start a wedding blog [18:30] Launching her first business and overcoming skepticism [22:08] Growing her wedding business into a high value brand [26:52] Transitioning into coaching and mentoring [33:16] Building a luxury brand and charging premium prices [35:22] Gratitude, visualisations and energy management [36:37] Navigating grief, seasons and resilience [41:18] Relentless drive, holistic strategy and subconscious programming [42:43] My business is expansion
From Apprentice to Agency Owner: Building a Transparent Marketing Business With Carl Darnell
mardi 12 mai 2026 • Durée 42:37
In this fifty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Carl Darnell, founder of crdone, a search marketing agency based in Bedford specialising in PPC, SEO and web design for small and medium sized businesses.
He began his career as a marketing apprentice at a local college before working his way up through well known brands, managing campaigns, working with data and presenting marketing performance to stakeholders right up to board level.
In this episode Alex and Carl explore the full journey from apprentice to agency owner, the mindset shifts required along the way and the practical foundations that have allowed crdone to grow sustainably.
In this episode Alex and Carl explore:
Carl's early career as a marketing apprentice and the path that followed
The decision to travel and how freelancing abroad led to founding crdone
Transitioning from freelancer to agency owner and what that shift really involves
Growing and managing a remote team through COVID and beyond
Building SOPs and processes that allow a business to scale sustainably
Hiring for attitude and what Carl looks for in the people he brings into the team
Creating strong company culture without a shared physical space
The books and frameworks that have shaped how Carl runs the business
His mission to make digital marketing transparent and genuinely understood
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and why starting with the end in mind matters
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction to Carl Darnell's story
[01:09] Childhood aspirations and family influences
[02:59] Discovering marketing through an apprenticeship in 2009
[05:08] Transition to Bourne Leisure and managing campaigns
[08:33] Deciding to travel and take a sabbatical
Your Brain Is Wired to Hold You Back in Business (Here’s How to Rewire It)
Épisode 55
mardi 28 avril 2026 • Durée 21:37
In this fifty-fourth episode of My Kind of Business, Business Coach Alex McCarthy shares a deeper look into the mindset patterns that shape how you show up, make decisions and ultimately grow your business.
If you have ever felt stuck, inconsistent or like you know what to do but are not following through, this episode will help you understand why. Instead of focusing on strategy alone, Alex explores the role your thoughts, beliefs and internal patterns play in your business results, and why growth is not just about doing more.
Alex opens up about why she does not always speak about this side of her work publicly, despite it being a core part of how she supports her clients. She explains how mindset and strategy work together, and why you cannot build a sustainable business without addressing both.
Drawing on her training as an NLP practitioner and executive coach, Alex breaks down how repetitive thinking patterns, the brain’s natural bias towards safety, and the Reticular Activating System influence what you notice, believe and act on in your business. She shares simple, practical ways to begin recognising and shifting these patterns so you can take more aligned and consistent action.
This episode is not about forcing positivity or overhauling everything overnight. It is about building awareness, understanding how your mind works, and making small, intentional shifts that create long-term change.
If you are ready to stop overthinking, move through resistance and start showing up with more clarity and confidence, this episode will give you a powerful starting point.
This episode is perfect for small business owners, freelancers, creatives, coaches and service providers who want to build a business that feels aligned, sustainable and rooted in self-trust.
💡 What You Will Learn
Why up to 95% of your thoughts are repetitive and how this impacts your business behaviour
How the brain is wired for safety rather than growth, and why this creates resistance when you try to move forward
The role of negative thinking patterns and how they influence your confidence, visibility and decision-making
🔗 Connect with Alex
Starting a Business After Teaching with Emma Davies: Lessons from the Founder of 'Is it Time to Play'
Épisode 30
mardi 7 octobre 2025 • Durée 43:10
In this twenty-ninth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Emma Davies – former teacher and Founder of Is It Time to Play? a creative online business supporting early years and KS1 teachers with playful, practical resources.
Through her website isittimetoplay.co.uk and social media community @isittimetoplay, Emma has built a vibrant space for educators who believe in the power of learning through play.
What began as sharing simple ideas on Facebook during lockdown has grown into a thriving online business offering downloadable planning packs, themed play provocations and time-saving classroom resources.
In this episode, Emma shares her inspiring journey from teaching in the classroom to running her own successful business, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. From balancing part-time teaching while starting out, to navigating the leap from security to self-employment — her story is full of honesty, encouragement and practical advice for anyone considering turning their experience into a business.
Emma’s story is a reminder that with creativity, courage and a clear sense of purpose, you can build a business that reflects your values and supports others in meaningful ways.
In this conversation Alex and Emma explore:
How Emma balanced part-time teaching while growing her business
The challenges (and freedom) of leaving a secure job behind
Turning a simple Facebook group into a full-time business
The mindset, resilience and personal growth behind entrepreneurship
Navigating freedom, flexibility and boundaries as a solo business owner
The power of community and staying true to your mission
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction and welcome to Emma
[02:10] Emma’s background and where Is It Time to Play? began
[06:30] Balancing part-time teaching with building a business
[10:45] Making the leap from secure employment to entrepreneurship
[15:20] Growing a Facebook community into a full-time business
[20:05] The importance of mindset, resilience and personal growth
[25:40] Freedom, flexibility and the challenge of boundaries
[32:15] Building a values-led, sustainable business
[38:00] Advice for teachers and creatives starting a business
[44:10] Final reflections and what’s next for Emma
Key Highlights
Connect with Emma
Connect with Alex
From NHS to Acupuncture Clinic Owner: Beth Mottershead’s Holistic Business Journey
Épisode 54
mardi 21 avril 2026 • Durée 48:28
In this fifty-third episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Beth Mottershead, a Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncturist based in Shrewsbury, for a thoughtful and open conversation about building a business rooted in intuition, balance and truly personalised care.
Beth’s journey into business did not begin with a clear plan. After working in the NHS, she made the decision to retrain in acupuncture at the age of 35, following her own experiences with health and a growing curiosity around holistic healing.
Making that transition came with its challenges. From financial sacrifices to stepping into the unknown, Beth shares what it really looked like to start again and trust herself in the process. Her story is a reminder that it is never too late to take a different path and create something that feels more aligned.
Today, Beth has created a calm and welcoming sanctuary where she supports her clients’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Her approach is centred around treating the root cause rather than just the symptoms, using a blend of acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, ear seeds and lifestyle guidance.
She specialises in areas such as fertility and women’s health, supporting clients through all stages of life, from hormonal balance and conception to pregnancy and menopause. Her work focuses on long term wellbeing, balance and prevention, helping people feel more connected to their bodies and their health.
In this episode, Alex and Beth explore how traditional Chinese medicine principles have shaped not only Beth’s treatments, but also the way she approaches business and life. From understanding yin and yang to trusting intuition and recognising the connection between emotions and physical health, this conversation brings a different perspective to what it means to build a business.
Beth also shares the practical side of growing her business, from starting with flyer drops and local community connections to navigating social media, finances and the realities of being a small business owner.
This episode offers an honest look at building a business that feels steady, aligned and meaningful, without losing the passion that led you there in the first place.
In this episode, Alex and Beth explore:
Timestamps
Key Highlights
Connect with Beth
Connect with Alex
From Dollhouses to Dream Spaces; Kate’s Bold Career Change into Interior Design
Épisode 19
mardi 22 juillet 2025 • Durée 41:26
In this eighteenth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Kate Parslow; a warm, thoughtful interior designer based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
Kate’s journey into business is rooted in a lifelong love of creating spaces that feel personal and full of soul. It all started with a doll’s house her dad made her when she was ten — a moment that sparked her obsession with homes that truly reflect the people who live in them.
After a detour in her twenties, it was a conversation with a friend at forty that gave her the final nudge to pursue interior design for real. Since then, Kate has built a business grounded in curiosity, kindness, and creativity — blending vintage, inherited and new pieces to create homes that aren’t about perfection, but about personality.
In this gentle, reflective episode, Kate talks about building a business later in life, navigating imposter syndrome, and the real power of our environments to impact how we feel day to day. She also shares honest advice for anyone wanting to make a change — no matter what age or stage you’re at.
We chat about letting go of pressure, trusting your instincts, and creating a business that truly feels like your kind of success.
If you’ve ever felt behind, questioned your path, or needed a reminder that there’s no deadline on following your passion — this episode is for you.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and welcome
01:15 – Childhood inspirations: the dollhouse story
05:30 – Overcoming doubts and training in interior design
10:45 – The turning point at 40
15:00 – Starting her business and juggling family life
20:30 – A transformative client story
30:00 – How home design can support wellbeing
35:45 – Managing imposter syndrome
40:00 – Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
45:30 – What “my kind of business” means to Kate
What to Expect
✦ The story behind a creative career change at 40
✦ How childhood passions can shape your future
✦ The emotional impact of thoughtful home design
✦ Honest talk about imposter syndrome and self-trust
✦ Encouragement to start, no matter where you’re at
Connect with Kate
🌐 Website:
Connect with Alex
Why Clients aren’t Converting - 5 Business Actions you can Take this Month
Épisode 47
mardi 3 mars 2026 • Durée 24:59
In this forty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Business Coach Alex McCarthy shares five subtle but powerful ways your business might be unintentionally turning away potential clients and how to refine each one this month to improve client conversion.
If you have been visible but not converting consistently, questioning your messaging, your offers or even your direction, this episode will help you step back and assess your business through a more strategic lens. Instead of assuming you need more visibility or a complete rebrand, Alex explains why small refinements in positioning, communication and leadership often create the biggest shifts in sales.
Alex explores the quiet misalignments that frequently sit beneath slow business growth, including overly broad positioning, unclear calls to action, feature-led offers, lack of conviction in pricing, and creating content from pressure rather than confidence. She shares practical strategies to strengthen your foundations so you can attract clients with more clarity and ease.
This episode is not about doing more, posting more or chasing trends. It is about refining your messaging, strengthening your offer positioning and leading your business with confidence so that the right clients feel safe and ready to invest.
If you want to sharpen your approach, increase conversions, and build a sustainable business rooted in clarity and self-trust, this conversation will help you reset and refocus.
This episode is perfect for small business owners, service providers, coaches, creatives, freelancers and founders who want consistent client attraction, stronger sales strategy and long-term growth without hustle or burnout.
What You Will Learn
Why broad or unclear positioning weakens client attraction and reduces conversions
How to refine your messaging so your ideal client instantly recognises themselves
The difference between creating valuable content and including clear calls to action that drive sales
How to position your offer around emotional transformation and tangible results instead of features alone
Connect with Alex
Making it Work - Faye Newman on Building a Design Business, Podcasting & Self Belief
Épisode 14
mardi 17 juin 2025 • Durée 39:31
In this thirteenth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Faye Newman – founder of Faye Newman Design, a kitchen and bedroom design studio and host of the Love Your Kitchen podcast.
Faye shares her refreshingly honest journey from childhood dreams of becoming a plumber to building a thriving design business and podcast — despite never imagining self-employment would be part of her story.
With over eight years of industry experience and more than three as a business owner, Faye reflects on how a neighbour’s kitchen project unexpectedly set her career in motion. She opens up about the mindset shifts that helped her move from employment to entrepreneurship, the crucial role of her support network, and the lessons she’s learned along the way — from pricing confidently to embracing visibility.
We talk about the importance of taking risks, navigating anxiety, and trusting that you’ll be okay — even when things feel uncertain. Faye also shares the pride she felt securing a podcast sponsor before launching, and how her show now plays a key part in her business growth and creative expression.
Whether you’re at the start of your business journey or evolving your next chapter, this conversation is a down-to-earth reminder that building a business takes courage, support, and a willingness to put yourself out there.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 – From Childhood Dreams to Career Paths
02:56 – Navigating the Kitchen Industry
06:13 – The Journey to Entrepreneurship
09:04 – Overcoming Initial Challenges
12:11 – Current Business Landscape and Growth
15:01 – Moments of Pride and Achievement
18:01 – Mindset and Risk in Business
18:38 – Navigating Anxiety and Embracing Risks
19:35 – The Joys of Business Ownership
22:39 – Facing Challenges in Entrepreneurship
28:21 – Support Systems During Tough Times
33:57 – Key Advice for Aspiring Business Owners
What to Expect
✦ An unexpected path into the world of kitchen design
✦ The mindset shifts needed to go from employee to business owner
✦ Why a support network can make all the difference
✦ Learning to price confidently and value your work
✦ How podcasting supports connection and business growth
✦ Honest advice for anyone considering self-employment
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Her honest advice for anyone stuck at the start: take one step today and trust the process
Timestamps:
00:01 - Flipping the rules to share my personal journey 01:29 - Childhood: confidence, imagination and early work 04:05 - Wanting to travel and work abroad 05:22 - How travel shaped my mindset and courage 06:23 - Meeting digital nomads and location-independent work 09:13 - From a PGCE to export sales and corporate life 11:29 - Overwork, boundaries and seeking new directions 13:43 - Long-term travel and life-changing experiences 17:52 - The fight for confidence and authenticity 19:00 - Moving to Australia and working in tech 20:48 - Back to the UK and setting up my first business 23:16 - Building and scaling my social media business 26:08 - Investing in coaching and facing self-doubt 27:37 - Aligning my business with personal development 28:48 - Starting therapy and shifting my mindset 30:23 - Pursuing NLP and coaching qualifications 31:48 - Navigating the pandemic and evolving my business 34:20 - Launching in-person networking and community 36:45 - Feeling aligned and embracing motherhood 38:18 - Travelling solo in Sri Lanka 40:00 - Meeting Dave and starting a new chapter 44:08 - Pregnancy, unexpected changes and big decisions 46:23 - Balancing family with business 50:23 - Staying purposeful through podcasting and minimal social 53:45 - Patience and trusting my timeline 56:51 - Future plans: scaling gently and in-person events 60:23 - Advice: start now, take one step and trust the process
Resources & Links: Book: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
