I’m Emily Austen, founder and CEO of London based PR Agency, EMERGE. I am passionate about launching and scaling small businesses, and have been fortunate enough in my 13 year career, to work with some of the most exciting, category defining brands in the world. I started my business when I was 22 years old, fresh out of University. Since that time, the world has got louder. Our expectations have got harder, and our lives have become busier. Fobbing friends off with the stock answer we have all became accustomed to, ‘I’m so busy,’ is an attempt to compel, conflate and convince. But when did being too busy become a mark of status? Why is the goal to never have any free time? And just what the fuck is everyone doing? Are we setting unrealistic expectations for future entrepreneurs and business owners, by encouraging them that a maniacal approach to diarising is the standard? I'm really interested in the difference between busy lives, and full ones, and keen to understand how the smartest people I know create systems and processes to enable them to do it all.
This podcast aims to give you a realistic, detailed insight into the honest stories, the failures, the triumphs, the intricacies, the mistakes, the come backs, the fuck ups, from those set to make their mark; the leaders, movers and shakers, trailblazers and game changers. We cover imposter syndrome, cashflow, hiring and firing, call out culture, resilience, anxiety, global growth, daily routines + knowing when to quit, choosing the best in the Busi-ness, to help you cut through the noise, and optimise your success.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I’m Emily Austen, founder and CEO of London based PR Agency, EMERGE. I am passionate about launching and scaling small businesses, and have been fortunate enough in my 13 year career, to work with some of the most exciting, category defining brands in the world. I started my business when I was 22 years old, fresh out of University. Since that time, the world has got louder. Our expectations have got harder, and our lives have become busier. Fobbing friends off with the stock answer we have all became accustomed to, ‘I’m so busy,’ is an attempt to compel, conflate and convince. But when did being too busy become a mark of status? Why is the goal to never have any free time? And just what the fuck is everyone doing? Are we setting unrealistic expectations for future entrepreneurs and business owners, by encouraging them that a maniacal approach to diarising is the standard? I'm really interested in the difference between busy lives, and full ones, and keen to understand how the smartest people I know create systems and processes to enable them to do it all.
This podcast aims to give you a realistic, detailed insight into the honest stories, the failures, the triumphs, the intricacies, the mistakes, the come backs, the fuck ups, from those set to make their mark; the leaders, movers and shakers, trailblazers and game changers. We cover imposter syndrome, cashflow, hiring and firing, call out culture, resilience, anxiety, global growth, daily routines + knowing when to quit, choosing the best in the Busi-ness, to help you cut through the noise, and optimise your success.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to juggle it all with grit and grace. Erin Dana Lichy was selling real estate developments in New York before she turned 23, went to grad school at NYU for sustainable development, and then threw herself into entrepreneurship—learning the hard way when her first business failed, but using that experience as her “real business school.”
Fast forward to today: Erin is a powerhouse. She’s a mom of four, a cast member on The Real Housewives of New York City, the co-founder of a mezcal brand born out of her love for Tulum, and now the author of a beautiful new book that blends her family traditions, entertaining, and food into something inspiring and accessible.
In this conversation, she shares her lessons on resilience, building businesses from scratch, balancing motherhood and ambition, and why trusting your gut is the smartest move you can make.
This is a story of hustle, reinvention, and doing it all on your own terms. Here’s Erin Dana Lichy—let’s get into it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guest is chef Kate Austen – the winner of The Great British Menu 2024, and someone who knows a thing or two about pressure. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to walk away from a steady job in pursuit of something bigger, the mental and physical toll of competing on national TV, and what happens when you go from working behind the scenes to suddenly being in the spotlight. Kate shares the reality of putting your entire career on the line for one main course, how she handled the highs and lows of the process, and what’s next after such a defining moment. She’s also my sister – which means I’ve been taste-testing her experiments long before the judges did.
Our sponsor is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com for 15% off with code SMARTER.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guest is someone who truly redefined the fitness accessories space. Natalie Holloway is the co-founder of Bala, the brand that turned ankle weights into must-have wellness accessories and became a global movement along the way. After burning out in advertising, Natalie and her husband Max swapped agency life for a sabbatical – and ended up creating one of the most design-forward, purpose-driven fitness brands out there. From bootstrapping and shipping Shark Tank orders by hand, to navigating wild growth, burnout, and building a business with three kids under four – Natalie’s story is as inspiring as it is honest. This one’s for anyone who’s ever Googled 'how to find a factory' at 2am.
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Today’s guest is one of those people who makes you sit up, take notes, and seriously question why we’re still doing things the way we are.
Tash Grossman is the founder and CEO of Slip, the B2B startup transforming dull, forgettable digital receipts into powerful post-purchase marketing tools. She's a former management consultant who swapped client decks for startup chaos—and did it with the clarity of someone who lives her life on a Google spreadsheet.
In this episode, we talk about everything from what inspired the business (hint: it involves a Zara return gone wrong) to the emotional toll of fundraising, hiring, and being a 20-something female founder in a room full of older white men called Paul. Tash shares how she built Slip from a bold idea into a scalable tech business, what she’s learned about leadership, and why she’s more afraid of failure than spiders, heights, or horror movies combined.
We also get into the realities of hustle culture, the myth of balance, and why launching a startup young is both a blessing and a strategic advantage. Whether you're deep in founder life or just addicted to ambitious women rewriting the rules, this episode is full of unfiltered lessons, smart thinking, and one very relatable fear of morning sickness ruining a Series A.
Our episode sponsor is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com for 15% off with code SMARTER.
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This week’s guest is someone who understands that good marketing isn't just about campaigns—it’s about people. Jo McClintock is the VP of Brand & Marketing at Trainline, and one of the most commercially creative marketers working in tech today.
From launching new customer segments at Screwfix in her early twenties to repositioning Moonpig as a modern gifting destination, Jo’s built her career by pairing data with deep human insight. She’s worked across travel, telco, and ecommerce—helping brands grow, reposition, or rebuild—always with an eye on what actually drives behaviour.
In this conversation, Jo talks candidly about what it means to build people's trust, what most early-stage businesses get wrong about their customers, and why marketing is less about stunts—and more about substance. We also talk parenting, burnout, navigating wedding planning while running a team, and her refreshing take on building a career without a university degree.
Jo is sharp, honest, and deeply insightful—and this episode is full of practical gold.
Our sponsor this week is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com for 15% off, with code SMARTER.
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Today’s episode is a deep dive into grit, gut instinct, and the kind of entrepreneurial vision that reshapes an entire industry.
Vanita Parti launched Blink Brow Bar in 2004 — back when threading was virtually unheard of on the British high street, let alone in department stores. What started as a single chair tucked between lingerie rails in Fenwick has since become a nationwide brand, credited with bringing brows into the beauty conversation in a completely new way.
We talk about everything from cultural shifts and copycats to customer loyalty and scaling with soul. Vanita shares what it was like to pitch an unproven idea, face rejection from big-name retailers — and then get those same calls back once word started to spread. We also get into the intensity of founder obsession, the reality of growing a service brand at scale, and why the post-pandemic world pushed her to rethink everything from store footprint to DTC.
It’s a conversation about branding, bravery, and building something that lasts — and one that proves you don’t need to be first to everything, but you do need to do it differently.
This episode sponsor is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com for 15% off with code SMARTER.
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Today’s guest is someone who has built a career not just on killer plots—but on a deep understanding of what it means to be human.
Gregg Hurwitz is the bestselling author of 26 thrillers, the creator of the Orphan X series, and a writer whose work spans everything from comics and screenplays to Shakespearean tragedy. Yes, really. He holds a master’s from Oxford in exactly that.
Gregg has written for Marvel and DC, consulted on blockbuster films, helped script the World Cup opening ceremony, and still manages to release a novel a year—each one tightly plotted, psychologically rich, and wildly addictive.
We talk about everything from how he turned a teenage obsession with storytelling into a life’s work, to what thrillers can teach us about morality, masculinity, and the “strange language of intimacy.” He opens up about creative discipline, the reality of Hollywood deal-making, the evolution of the Orphan X character across ten novels—and why, if you’re writing fiction, it better be the story you have to tell.
This conversation spans from fifth-grade mystery novels to Shakespeare, from childhood dictionaries to stunt-plane research trips—and somewhere in the middle, we even manage to touch on Bond, Measure for Measure, and what it takes to write something truly timeless.
Here’s Gregg Hurwitz.
Today's episode sponsor is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com with code SMARTER for 15% off.
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Today’s guest is someone I’ve been so excited to speak with: Sabina Nawaz. Sabina is a global CEO coach, TED speaker, and now, the author of the brilliant new book You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need. With decades of experience coaching senior leaders in over 30 countries — from Fortune 50 companies to nonprofits and government agencies — Sabina has seen it all when it comes to what makes great managers thrive... and what quietly undermines them.
In this conversation, we talk about:
Sabina also shares her own journey — including how she once went from “best boss ever” to “boss from hell” almost overnight, and what it took to turn that around.
This episode is full of hard-earned wisdom, practical tools, and compassionate insights for anyone navigating leadership — whether you’re a first-time manager or a founder scaling fast.
So if you’ve ever struggled with delegation, wrestled with feedback, or wondered why leadership sometimes feels a little bit lonely… this one’s for you.
Head to www.happymammoth.com with code SMARTER for 15% off.
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Today’s guest is one of the most quietly powerful women in the entertainment industry — and someone who has shaped the careers of some of the most influential names in British media, music, and culture. Mary Bekhait is the Global CEO of YMU, the talent management powerhouse behind household names in TV, sport, music, digital, and literature. Her journey from a freelance music journalist and record store assistant to the boardroom is anything but linear — and it’s exactly that eclectic, strategic, and deeply human approach that has defined her leadership style.
In this episode, Mary lifts the curtain on what it really means to manage elite talent — from helping household names navigate global careers to scaling creator-led businesses in the age of equity deals, social-first strategy, and content IP. We talk about longevity in the spotlight, boardroom ambition, managing scandal with clarity, and what it takes to lead with impact — all while raising a daughter and reshaping one of the UK’s most influential agencies in the post-COVID era.
Mary doesn’t chase the spotlight herself — but she’s been instrumental in building and protecting the people who do. So if you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to go the distance — in fame, in leadership, or in life — this one’s for you.
Happy Mammoth is our episode sponsor, and they are offering listeners 15% off online now. Head to www.happymammoth.com
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Meet Ashley McDonnell – Global Brand Leader at Puig
From a Dior exhibition at 16 that lit the spark, to now shaping the future of luxury at Puig, Ashley McDonnell has taken one of the most intentional – and impressive – routes through the luxury industry. Raised in rural Ireland, she set her sights on Paris early and carved her own path through the French “Grande École” system, earning her place at HEC Paris, the alma mater of nearly every major luxury CEO.
Her early career saw her managing digital transformation for LVMH at the group level, before joining Dior HQ in Paris to lead the global digital strategy for their travel retail division. She then made a strategic leap to Google, where she managed LVMH's ad portfolio, before returning to luxury to help build the next generation of global beauty brands at Puig. And that's before she decided to start Ireland's first ever global fashion week.
Now based in Paris, Ashley brings the same grit, clarity, and global perspective to every brand she touches – combining best-in-class luxury thinking with future-facing digital expertise.
For 15% off Happy Mammoth, head to www.happymammoth.com with code SMARTER.
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This week’s guest is a cultural powerhouse. Candace Bushnell — the woman behind Sex and the City — didn’t just write a column; she sparked a global phenomenon that redefined modern womanhood on screen and beyond. But her story doesn’t stop with Carrie Bradshaw.
In this candid, wide-ranging conversation, Candace opens up about legacy, longevity, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in a world hooked on the next big thing. From navigating the brutal realities of publishing and television deals to the personal cost of creating something that outgrows you, she shares the unfiltered truth about staying relevant — and sane — in the spotlight.
We talk politics, money, the pressure to follow up a smash hit, and the difference between being a writer… and making writing your life. Bold, brilliant, and refreshingly honest, Candace brings decades of hard-won wisdom to the mic.
This is one for anyone chasing creative success — and wondering what happens when you catch it.
Thanks to our sponsor, Happy Mammoth. Head to happymammoth.com and enter code SMARTER for 15% off.
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My guest today is the brilliant and endlessly creative Dylan Lauren, founder and CEO of Dylan’s Candy Bar — a business she launched in 2001 that has since become one of the most iconic and joyful retail experiences in the world. You’ve probably seen the rainbow-striped stores, the oversized lollipops, the celebrity fans, or the jaw-dropping candy displays that look more like pop art installations than shop fittings — and that’s all by design.
In this conversation, Dylan shares the story of how she built a brand that blends fashion, art, and pop culture — inspired by everything from Willy Wonka to FAO Schwarz, from childhood travel to growing up in a famously creative household. We talk about:
We also touch on leadership, collaboration, burnout, and why some of the best business ideas still come from simply trusting your gut — and keeping a sketchbook close.
If you’re an entrepreneur, a retail obsessive, or someone looking to blend joy with business savvy, this one’s for you.
Thanks to our sponsor, Happy Mammoth. Head to Happymammoth.com and use code SMARTER for 15% off.
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Amanda shares her path from liberal arts student to Wall Street analyst, private equity investor, and later brand builder for Supergoop! and Olaplex. She emphasises her passion for merging creative brand storytelling with hard commercial discipline. At Supergoop!, she helped convert sunscreen into a daily wellness staple by innovating formulas like the iconic “Unseen” and focusing on mission driven growth and retail strategy. As she stepped into the CEO role at Olaplex, Amanda prioritised understanding the science, the salon stylists, and global market nuances while assembling a leadership team to scale the brand’s story and restructure its foundation. The episode also touches on her leadership philosophy, marketers’ use (and misuse) of AI and virality, her firm belief in clarity of brand DNA, and the challenge and thrill of balancing high stakes global business travel with being a mother.
Thanks to our sponsor, Happy Mammoth. Head to Happymammoth.com and use code SMARTER for 15% off.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
