That’s right, TWO EPISODES with guests this series!
We were super happy to be joined in this episode by the lovely Hayley Hudson of Hudson Admin and founder of The VA lounge, to discuss the mighty benefits of relevant memberships for us as VA’s.
Working remotely can have many benefits, but what happens when you want to bounce ideas off someone or you want to gain a new certification for your business?
We hear from Hayley about how and why she set up the VA Lounge, plus she has invited all Assist This Podcast listeners to join The VA Lounge launch coffee club -
BIG VA MEET UP on Tuesday 3rd June, 12 - 1 pm
(How fab is that!?).
Sign up via this link: https://hudsonadminsupport.activehosted.com/f/22
Don’t forget, we LOVE hearing from you!
Got any questions about being a VA or want to share your VA story anonymously, then contact us via assistthispodcast@gmail.com
Follow us at:
Instagram: @AssistThisPodcast
LinkedIn: Assist This Podcast
We’re back and we’ve brought a guest!
In this episode, we’re joined by Caroline Marshall, founder of VA agency Upsource and host of the Bump to Business Owner podcast, to dive into all things maternity leave as a freelancer or business owner.
With Abbie five months into life with baby number two and starting to ease back into work, it felt like the perfect time to chat about navigating that tricky return, setting boundaries, and finding support.
Plus, we put Caroline in the hot seat for a fun round of "Delegate or Not".
🎧 Tune in for an honest conversation about motherhood, freelancing, and the art of letting go.
You can find Caroline at: @Bumptobusinessowner and @weareupsource on instagram.
You can subscribe to her VA Substack here: carolinemarshallupsource.substack.com/subscribe
That’s right folks, it’s awards season!
In this episode we debate the benefits of applying for awards (even if you don’t get shortlisted), how to handle award-night nerves, and how to use an award nomination to your advantage through your marketing.
(We also have a brief foray into a discussion about how not to trip over your dress and flash the photographer.)
Let us know how applying for an award has impacted you. Has it opened new doors for you? Did you meet a perfect client at the award night dinner? Did the application process give you a wake-up call that changed the direction of your whole business? Drop us a line on assistthispodcast@gmail.com.
Happy listening!
Here are some of the awards we spoke about (and others) that you can apply for. Share with us on social media if there’s others you’d recommend!
UK VA Awards 2025 (entry submissions open now, deadline is 30th April 2025)
Strategic PA Awards 2025 (open soon)
East Midlands PA Awards 2025 (entry submissions open now deadline is 14th February 2025)
Business Support Awards 2025 (nominations open now)
Has your VA business morphed into something totally different over time? Or do you long to move into a new niche or offer some new services? You are not alone!
In this episode we explore how our businesses have evolved from our initial visions, and we discuss how to push through the difficult times when you’re in the process of going through a business evolution.
We’d love to hear how your business has changed over time – email us at assistthispodcast@gmail.com.
In our festive finale for 2024, all five of us come together to reflect on a year filled with highs, growth, and plenty of laughter. Sporting our finest Christmas jumpers, we share our biggest wins—everything from life-changing milestones like babies, awards, and new homes to unexpected joys (yes, even free frying pans made the list!). But above all, we celebrate the greatest gift of all: the continuing friendship and incredible community we’ve built together.
Thank you for being part of our journey this year—see you in 2025!
Join us in this episode as we discuss how we all manage our client tasks and workloads. We share tips and tricks we have learned along the way to help us juggle everything. There are no right or wrong answers with this, but rather, what works best for you and your business.
Plus Kirsty gets drowned out by workmen……
What happens as a freelancer, when life happens?
In this episode, the ladies get real about life challenges and how they juggle running a business with being human.
Amy, Kirsty and Elspeth step out of various comfort zones to share what they have put in place to assist them in running their businesses in the hope it may help someone listening.
If you have your own story to share, then we are all ears. You can email us via assistthispodcast@gmail.com
We are SO excited to welcome our first-ever special guest: Amanda Johnson; a true pioneer in the virtual assistant industry and the reason behind how the Assist This girls met!
Prepare to be inspired as Amanda shares her incredible journey, from creating her own VA business to becoming a leading trainer and mentor for thousands of VAs.
This exciting and insightful conversation touches on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, navigating client relationships, and the power of community. Amanda's wisdom and experiences are full of actionable advice, whether you're just starting or looking to grow your VA business. You'll also hear about the importance of collaboration over competition, the evolving nature of the VA industry, and why building deep, authentic connections is key to success.
Don't miss this must-listen episode with the “godfather of the VA world” Amanda Johnson!🌟
Amanda Johnson - VA Training Academy - VACT Ltd
@vatrainingacademy
We're back and better than ever! 🎉
Season 2 is officially here, and what better way to celebrate than with a behind-the-scenes look at some of the funniest bloopers from season 1!
From Granny Rennisons' infamous “burpy” International Fried Rice to Amy's sudden disappearances and even frogs; we've got it all! Hear the slip-ups, the flubs, and the moments that made us laugh so hard, that we almost had to hang up the mics!
We hope you enjoy listening to this exclusive sneak peek into the chaos behind the scenes of making the Assist This podcast!
How do we manage it all and stay motivated when things get tough?
Life can be chaotic and challenging at times, but how can we juggle everything whilst running a thriving business?
In this episode, we explore burnout, managing our priorities, support networks, self-care, and where our motivation comes from.
In this episode Abbie, Elspeth and Kirsty discuss the pros and cons of being an associate VA and also taking on associates in your team (spoiler alert: neither is easy!). There’s a whole lot of trust involved! They also discuss a nightmare Ctrl Alt Delete story from a listener who recalls a time where they were ghosted by an associate who didn’t complete their work with a client.
In this episode Amy, Kirsty and Suzy chat about taking the leap into self-employment. They explore the mindset shift from being an employee to being your own boss as well as discussing some of the challenges and joys we have experienced as a result.
Kirsty also asks “What’s one thing you wish you knew before becoming a VA?", a question she can’t even answer herself!
We would LOVE to hear from you about what you would like to hear us chat about. Do you want us to talk about a particular VA subject or include different segments?
Join us for a special bonus episode to celebrate International Virtual Assistants Day. Our five hosts share just what it means to them to be a VA (spoiler alert: it includes freedom, flexibility and the avoidance of office politics!) and we also share a wealth of insights from our lovely listeners.
In this episode, Kirsty starts with, "I don’t know anything about marketing!" but we believe she's got more insights than she thinks! Join our hosts as they dive into the world of marketing, discussing how to find your niche and why LinkedIn and Instagram might not be the best fit for everyone.
We also celebrate 'Work from Home Day' (May 17th) with a VA confidential segment, addressing the downsides of working from home and offering practical tips to overcome them.
When starting up as a VA, it can feel overwhelming to know what you need to have in place and what you can wait on, or may not even need.
In this episode we explore:
Suzy gets undressed, Kirsty hangs out with Hot Priest and Elspeth has a meltdown over a particular communication tool………plus a shocking Ctrl Alt Delete story leaves us speechless 😶
Policy Bee: https://www.policybee.co.uk/EHVirtual
Society of virtual Assistants: https://www.societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk/
Amanda Johnson: https://vact.co.uk/
Katie N Brand Photography https://katien.aweb.page/
In this episode, Abbie, Elspeth and Amy talk money – how to justify your rates, what to charge for, when to bill, and most importantly knowing (and charging) your worth.
In the VA Confidential segment, the ladies ponder a question from our very own Amy – how do you prepare for a holiday when you are self-employed?
Amy also shares her highlights from her recent trip to New York and Washington D.C.
Jack of all trades, master of none (or maybe master of one?!). In this episode we discuss the services we offer as VAs and the underlying pressure to niche into a particular service or industry.
Suzy also offers up a horrifying Ctrl-Alt-Delete story of her own.
Get involved in future episodes by sending your Ctrl-Alt-Delete and VA Confidential stories to assistthispodcast@gmail.com
In this episode we explore all things networking, discuss some of the amazing conferences coming up, and answer your latest Ctrl-Alt-Delete and VA Confidential stories.
Get involved in future episodes by sending your Ctrl-Alt-Delete and VA Confidential stories to assistthispodcast@gmail.com
🥳It’s International Women’s Day (and our launch day!) 🥳
The team share our experience of working with women clients and we discuss whether the Virtual Assistant Industry is predominately female-led. If so, why?
Hear our latest Ctrl Alt Delete and VA Confidential stories and listen as 2 of us are rudely interrupted by 2 additional podcast team members…… 🐈⬛🐈
Get involved, send your Ctrl Alt Delete and VA Confidential stories to assistthispodcast@gmail.com
Meet the amazing team of Abbie, Suzy, Kirsty, Elspeth and Amy as we try to justify our reasons for starting this podcast!
We introduce you to the features of the podcast and explain how you can get involved.
Have a story you are burning to share?
Send your Ctrl Alt Delete and VA Confidential stories to assistthispodcast@gmail.com
