Wild, Wise & Working Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/second-act-success Real conversations with midlife women turning wisdom into wins. Host, Jackie Naghten, celebrates the power, ambition and potential of midlife women in business. Each episode brings inspiring conversations with standout entrepreneurs and leaders who’ve reinvented their careers - and their lives - in their second act. Packed with energy, insight and practical takeaways, the show empowers women to think bigger, back themselves and build thriving businesses on their own terms. It’s inspiring, motivating and designed to spark momentum for anyone ready for their next chapter. Jackie Naghten 9b8ae823-85dc-5a55-84cf-360dd572d684 yes Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Coming Soon: Wild, Wise & Working en Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:01:03 +0100 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:02:12 +0100 https://wildwiseandworking.transistor.fm/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/rBP9FvZT8CVf7CWHxxy2ibMgjvDqNcdwKkYQF3GmWKs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yNzEy/OTM3YWU1OGNiMGEw/NzEwZWJmMzQ2YmMw/MWU2Yi5wbmc.jpg Wild, Wise & Working https://wildwiseandworking.transistor.fm/ episodic Jackie Naghten Real conversations with midlife women turning wisdom into wins. Host, Jackie Naghten, celebrates the power, ambition and potential of midlife women in business. Each episode brings inspiring conversations with standout entrepreneurs and leaders who’ve reinvented their careers - and their lives - in their second act. Packed with energy, insight and practical takeaways, the show empowers women to think bigger, back themselves and build thriving businesses on their own terms. It’s inspiring, motivating and designed to spark momentum for anyone ready for their next chapter. Real conversations with midlife women turning wisdom into wins. Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter Jackie Naghten No Yes GoHenry's Louise Hill: Building a fintech empire after 50 11 11 GoHenry's Louise Hill: Building a fintech empire after 50 full 6e3ea115-de16-4c75-9222-c30a7aea25d5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/4d8cd2a1 What happens when a frustrated parent's iTunes bill turns into a category-defining fintech business used by millions of families? Louise Hill set out to build something the whole world needed, and then she did exactly that.

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Louise Hill, co-founder and chairwoman of GoHenry, the prepaid card and financial education app now used by millions of families across the UK, US, Spain and Italy. After two decades in retail and e-commerce, working with names like Next, John Lewis and Debenhams, Louise spotted a gap that didn't exist yet and built it herself. She's spent the last decade turning that idea into a genuine category leader, while also becoming one of the UK's most persistent voices campaigning for financial education in primary schools.

The conversation traces Louise's career from a graduate scheme at House of Fraser, through six years of management consultancy parachuting into glass factories and doorbell manufacturers, into 25 years at the coalface of the UK's shift to e-commerce. Jackie and Louise talk candidly about divorce, financial downsizing, and the long, unglamorous slog of fundraising (300 phone calls, 300 no's, before the right introduction landed). They dig into where GoHenry's idea actually came from, how Louise validated it before building anything, and why she was determined from day one to build for scale rather than build small. Along the way, Louise reflects on curiosity, mentoring younger entrepreneurs, and why women in midlife are far from written off, especially now AI is levelling the playing field for anyone willing to have a go.

This is a candid, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention, and proof that two decades of "ordinary" corporate experience can be exactly what makes an extraordinary business idea work.

Covered in this episode:

  • The iTunes bill that started it all: how a frustrated single parent's observation became the spark for GoHenry
  • Why Louise was adamant GoHenry shouldn't be "educational theory" but real money, real cards, real learning
  • The cold outreach story behind GoHenry's first big break, including the 300 calls and 300 no's before meeting Visa's then head of innovation, Ray Redmond
  • How two decades in retail and e-commerce, from House of Fraser to running operations for the Cotswold Company and Hotel Chocolat, gave Louise the operational grounding to build and scale a business
  • The earlier business that didn't work out, sold for £1 and an earn-out that never materialised, and the lesson it taught her about building for scale from day one
  • Raising the first £692,000 to get GoHenry off the ground, and why founders need to be ahead of the curve on funding, not raising with hindsight
  • Going through divorce while building a career and a business, including the financial downsizing that came with it
  • Why some founders build small, lifestyle businesses on purpose, and why that's just as valid as chasing global scale
  • Louise's take on AI, curiosity, and why women in their 40s, 50s and 60s are uniquely placed to combine analogue experience with new technology

About my guest: Louise Hill
Louise Hill is the co-founder and chairwoman of GoHenry, the prepaid debit card and financial education app for children that she helped build into a category-defining fintech business used by millions of families worldwide. Before GoHenry, she spent two decades at the forefront of UK retail and e-commerce, working with major names including Next, John Lewis and Debenhams. She's now one of the most prominent women in UK fintech, a vocal advocate for financial education in schools, and an active mentor to younger entrepreneurs. Louise is proof that the best business ideas often come from solving your own ordinary, everyday problem.

GoHenry: https://www.gohenry.com/

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> What happens when a frustrated parent's iTunes bill turns into a category-defining fintech business used by millions of families? Louise Hill set out to build something the whole world needed, and then she did exactly that.

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Louise Hill, co-founder and chairwoman of GoHenry, the prepaid card and financial education app now used by millions of families across the UK, US, Spain and Italy. After two decades in retail and e-commerce, working with names like Next, John Lewis and Debenhams, Louise spotted a gap that didn't exist yet and built it herself. She's spent the last decade turning that idea into a genuine category leader, while also becoming one of the UK's most persistent voices campaigning for financial education in primary schools.

The conversation traces Louise's career from a graduate scheme at House of Fraser, through six years of management consultancy parachuting into glass factories and doorbell manufacturers, into 25 years at the coalface of the UK's shift to e-commerce. Jackie and Louise talk candidly about divorce, financial downsizing, and the long, unglamorous slog of fundraising (300 phone calls, 300 no's, before the right introduction landed). They dig into where GoHenry's idea actually came from, how Louise validated it before building anything, and why she was determined from day one to build for scale rather than build small. Along the way, Louise reflects on curiosity, mentoring younger entrepreneurs, and why women in midlife are far from written off, especially now AI is levelling the playing field for anyone willing to have a go.

This is a candid, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention, and proof that two decades of "ordinary" corporate experience can be exactly what makes an extraordinary business idea work.

Covered in this episode:

  • The iTunes bill that started it all: how a frustrated single parent's observation became the spark for GoHenry
  • Why Louise was adamant GoHenry shouldn't be "educational theory" but real money, real cards, real learning
  • The cold outreach story behind GoHenry's first big break, including the 300 calls and 300 no's before meeting Visa's then head of innovation, Ray Redmond
  • How two decades in retail and e-commerce, from House of Fraser to running operations for the Cotswold Company and Hotel Chocolat, gave Louise the operational grounding to build and scale a business
  • The earlier business that didn't work out, sold for £1 and an earn-out that never materialised, and the lesson it taught her about building for scale from day one
  • Raising the first £692,000 to get GoHenry off the ground, and why founders need to be ahead of the curve on funding, not raising with hindsight
  • Going through divorce while building a career and a business, including the financial downsizing that came with it
  • Why some founders build small, lifestyle businesses on purpose, and why that's just as valid as chasing global scale
  • Louise's take on AI, curiosity, and why women in their 40s, 50s and 60s are uniquely placed to combine analogue experience with new technology

About my guest: Louise Hill
Louise Hill is the co-founder and chairwoman of GoHenry, the prepaid debit card and financial education app for children that she helped build into a category-defining fintech business used by millions of families worldwide. Before GoHenry, she spent two decades at the forefront of UK retail and e-commerce, working with major names including Next, John Lewis and Debenhams. She's now one of the most prominent women in UK fintech, a vocal advocate for financial education in schools, and an active mentor to younger entrepreneurs. Louise is proof that the best business ideas often come from solving your own ordinary, everyday problem.

GoHenry: https://www.gohenry.com/

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 2994 What happens when a frustrated parent's iTunes bill turns into a category-defining fintech business used by millions of families? Louise Hill set out to build something the whole world needed, and then she did exactly that.

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Louise Hill, co-founder and chairwoman of GoHenry, the prepaid card and financial education app now used by millions of families across the UK, US, Spain and Italy. After two decades in retail and e-commerce, working with names like Next, John Lewis and Debenhams, Louise spotted a gap that didn't exist yet and built it herself. She's spent the last decade turning that idea into a genuine category leader, while also becoming one of the UK's most persistent voices campaigning for financial education in primary schools.

The conversation traces Louise's career from a graduate scheme at House of Fraser, through six years of management consultancy parachuting into glass factories and doorbell manufacturers, into 25 years at the coalface of the UK's shift to e-commerce. Jackie and Louise talk candidly about divorce, financial downsizing, and the long, unglamorous slog of fundraising (300 phone calls, 300 no's, before the right introduction landed). They dig into where GoHenry's idea actually came from, how Louise validated it before building anything, and why she was determined from day one to build for scale rather than build small. Along the way, Louise reflects on curiosity, mentoring younger entrepreneurs, and why women in midlife are far from written off, especially now AI is levelling the playing field for anyone willing to have a go.

This is a candid, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention, and proof that two decades of "ordinary" corporate experience can be exactly what makes an extraordinary business idea work.

Covered in this episode:

  • The iTunes bill that started it all: how a frustrated single parent's observation became the spark for GoHenry
  • Why Louise was adamant GoHenry shouldn't be "educational theory" but real money, real cards, real learning
  • The cold outreach story behind GoHenry's first big break, including the 300 calls and 300 no's before meeting Visa's then head of innovation, Ray Redmond
  • How two decades in retail and e-commerce, from House of Fraser to running operations for the Cotswold Company and Hotel Chocolat, gave Louise the operational grounding to build and scale a business
  • The earlier business that didn't work out, sold for £1 and an earn-out that never materialised, and the lesson it taught her about building for scale from day one
  • Raising the first £692,000 to get GoHenry off the ground, and why founders need to be ahead of the curve on funding, not raising with hindsight
  • Going through divorce while building a career and a business, including the financial downsizing that came with it
  • Why some founders build small, lifestyle businesses on purpose, and why that's just as valid as chasing global scale
  • Louise's take on AI, curiosity, and why women in their 40s, 50s and 60s are uniquely placed to combine analogue experience with new technology

About my guest: Louise Hill
Louise Hill is the co-founder and chairwoman of GoHenry, the prepaid debit card and financial education app for children that she helped build into a category-defining fintech business used by millions of families worldwide. Before GoHenry, she spent two decades at the forefront of UK retail and e-commerce, working with major names including Next, John Lewis and Debenhams. She's now one of the most prominent women in UK fintech, a vocal advocate for financial education in schools, and an active mentor to younger entrepreneurs. Louise is proof that the best business ideas often come from solving your own ordinary, everyday problem.

GoHenry: https://www.gohenry.com/

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> GoHenry founder, midlife entrepreneur, women in fintech, second act success, midlife career change, midlife women in business, women founders, financial education for kids, female entrepreneur UK, midlife reinvention, women entrepreneurship, business after divorce, how GoHenry started, building a business in your 50s, women starting businesses after 40 Yes Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Louise Hill From glamour agent to hair and beauty founder: Judy Koloko's incredible second act 10 10 From glamour agent to hair and beauty founder: Judy Koloko's incredible second act full fab17bbb-fbd1-4bda-af66-d72c759cb8f4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b3665b35 You've had decades of experience, built a network, and always known there was something bigger waiting. But what does it actually take to step into that gap, build a business from scratch, and raise nearly £1 million on little more than belief and a brilliant idea?

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Judy Koloko, founder of The Steam Bar, a premium scalp and hair care brand built for people with natural, curly, coily and afro-textured hair. After nearly three decades working her way through the fashion industry, from glamour agencies to managing talent for the world's top creative houses, Judy spotted a gap that no one else was filling, and decided she was the one to fill it.

The conversation travels the full arc of Judy's journey: the graft of building a career from a two-week internship, the early entrepreneurial instincts that surfaced in a handbag line nearly stocked by Harvey Nichols, and the personal reckoning in her forties that made her look beneath the wig and finally honour her crown. Jackie and Judy explore what it means to turn lived experience into a business idea, how to raise money on conviction alone, and why the network you have built over decades is one of the most valuable assets you will ever own. This is an honest, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention and why midlife really is the moment your experience becomes your competitive advantage.

Covered in this episode:

  • How Judy got her first break by sending a speculative CV to a glamour agency and turned a two-week work experience placement into a career that eventually put her in rooms with the world's top supermodels and creative talent
  • The handbag line called Just Judy that nearly made it to Harvey Nichols, and why pregnancy and bandwidth forced her to let it go, but left her with the taste for building something of her own
  • The personal wake-up call in her forties: taking her wig off and seeing the damage that years of chemicals, relaxers and traction had done to her scalp, and the determination to start honouring what lay beneath
  • How a conversation with a long-term colleague about their daughters' hair, and the absence of premium scalp care products in any mainstream department store, crystallised The Steam Bar idea
  • How Judy became the first UK brand ever to win a place on Sephora's Accelerate programme, a six-month accelerator run in collaboration with the 15% Pledge, and what it felt like to walk into a Sephora summit and find herself sitting alongside the team behind Rare Beauty
  • Raising close to £1 million, largely without a trading history, by selling conviction, story and personal credibility, including through a Dragons Den-style angel investor event where Jackie herself stepped forward to back the business

About my guest: Judy Koloko

Judy Koloko is the founder of The Steam Bar, a premium hair and scalp care brand stocked in Selfridges, Sephora and BT Edit Mayfair. She spent nearly three decades working across some of the UK's most respected fashion and creative talent agencies, rising from a glamour agency internship to managing photographers, stylists and art directors for the creme de la creme of the industry. In 2024 she became the first UK founder to win a place on Sephora's prestigious Accelerate programme. She is living proof that the longer the road, the richer the foundation you build on.

Mentioned in this episode:

  • Sephora Accelerate — Sephora's accelerator programme for indie beauty founders
  • The 15% Pledge — the organisation partnering with Sephora on the Accelerate programme
  • Selfridges — UK retail partner for the Steam Bar

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> You've had decades of experience, built a network, and always known there was something bigger waiting. But what does it actually take to step into that gap, build a business from scratch, and raise nearly £1 million on little more than belief and a brilliant idea?

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Judy Koloko, founder of The Steam Bar, a premium scalp and hair care brand built for people with natural, curly, coily and afro-textured hair. After nearly three decades working her way through the fashion industry, from glamour agencies to managing talent for the world's top creative houses, Judy spotted a gap that no one else was filling, and decided she was the one to fill it.

The conversation travels the full arc of Judy's journey: the graft of building a career from a two-week internship, the early entrepreneurial instincts that surfaced in a handbag line nearly stocked by Harvey Nichols, and the personal reckoning in her forties that made her look beneath the wig and finally honour her crown. Jackie and Judy explore what it means to turn lived experience into a business idea, how to raise money on conviction alone, and why the network you have built over decades is one of the most valuable assets you will ever own. This is an honest, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention and why midlife really is the moment your experience becomes your competitive advantage.

Covered in this episode:

  • How Judy got her first break by sending a speculative CV to a glamour agency and turned a two-week work experience placement into a career that eventually put her in rooms with the world's top supermodels and creative talent
  • The handbag line called Just Judy that nearly made it to Harvey Nichols, and why pregnancy and bandwidth forced her to let it go, but left her with the taste for building something of her own
  • The personal wake-up call in her forties: taking her wig off and seeing the damage that years of chemicals, relaxers and traction had done to her scalp, and the determination to start honouring what lay beneath
  • How a conversation with a long-term colleague about their daughters' hair, and the absence of premium scalp care products in any mainstream department store, crystallised The Steam Bar idea
  • How Judy became the first UK brand ever to win a place on Sephora's Accelerate programme, a six-month accelerator run in collaboration with the 15% Pledge, and what it felt like to walk into a Sephora summit and find herself sitting alongside the team behind Rare Beauty
  • Raising close to £1 million, largely without a trading history, by selling conviction, story and personal credibility, including through a Dragons Den-style angel investor event where Jackie herself stepped forward to back the business

About my guest: Judy Koloko

Judy Koloko is the founder of The Steam Bar, a premium hair and scalp care brand stocked in Selfridges, Sephora and BT Edit Mayfair. She spent nearly three decades working across some of the UK's most respected fashion and creative talent agencies, rising from a glamour agency internship to managing photographers, stylists and art directors for the creme de la creme of the industry. In 2024 she became the first UK founder to win a place on Sephora's prestigious Accelerate programme. She is living proof that the longer the road, the richer the foundation you build on.

Mentioned in this episode:

  • Sephora Accelerate — Sephora's accelerator programme for indie beauty founders
  • The 15% Pledge — the organisation partnering with Sephora on the Accelerate programme
  • Selfridges — UK retail partner for the Steam Bar

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 3115 You've had decades of experience, built a network, and always known there was something bigger waiting. But what does it actually take to step into that gap, build a business from scratch, and raise nearly £1 million on little more than belief and a brilliant idea?

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Judy Koloko, founder of The Steam Bar, a premium scalp and hair care brand built for people with natural, curly, coily and afro-textured hair. After nearly three decades working her way through the fashion industry, from glamour agencies to managing talent for the world's top creative houses, Judy spotted a gap that no one else was filling, and decided she was the one to fill it.

The conversation travels the full arc of Judy's journey: the graft of building a career from a two-week internship, the early entrepreneurial instincts that surfaced in a handbag line nearly stocked by Harvey Nichols, and the personal reckoning in her forties that made her look beneath the wig and finally honour her crown. Jackie and Judy explore what it means to turn lived experience into a business idea, how to raise money on conviction alone, and why the network you have built over decades is one of the most valuable assets you will ever own. This is an honest, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention and why midlife really is the moment your experience becomes your competitive advantage.

Covered in this episode:

  • How Judy got her first break by sending a speculative CV to a glamour agency and turned a two-week work experience placement into a career that eventually put her in rooms with the world's top supermodels and creative talent
  • The handbag line called Just Judy that nearly made it to Harvey Nichols, and why pregnancy and bandwidth forced her to let it go, but left her with the taste for building something of her own
  • The personal wake-up call in her forties: taking her wig off and seeing the damage that years of chemicals, relaxers and traction had done to her scalp, and the determination to start honouring what lay beneath
  • How a conversation with a long-term colleague about their daughters' hair, and the absence of premium scalp care products in any mainstream department store, crystallised The Steam Bar idea
  • How Judy became the first UK brand ever to win a place on Sephora's Accelerate programme, a six-month accelerator run in collaboration with the 15% Pledge, and what it felt like to walk into a Sephora summit and find herself sitting alongside the team behind Rare Beauty
  • Raising close to £1 million, largely without a trading history, by selling conviction, story and personal credibility, including through a Dragons Den-style angel investor event where Jackie herself stepped forward to back the business

About my guest: Judy Koloko

Judy Koloko is the founder of The Steam Bar, a premium hair and scalp care brand stocked in Selfridges, Sephora and BT Edit Mayfair. She spent nearly three decades working across some of the UK's most respected fashion and creative talent agencies, rising from a glamour agency internship to managing photographers, stylists and art directors for the creme de la creme of the industry. In 2024 she became the first UK founder to win a place on Sephora's prestigious Accelerate programme. She is living proof that the longer the road, the richer the foundation you build on.

Mentioned in this episode:

  • Sephora Accelerate — Sephora's accelerator programme for indie beauty founders
  • The 15% Pledge — the organisation partnering with Sephora on the Accelerate programme
  • Selfridges — UK retail partner for the Steam Bar

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> midlife women entrepreneur, women founders UK, second act business, midlife reinvention, women in business podcast, afro textured hair brand, scalp care products, Sephora Accelerate programme, raising investment as a woman, fashion industry career, midlife career change, product based business advice, how to raise money for a startup as a woman, building a beauty brand from scratch midlife, turning lived experience into a business idea No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Judy Koloko From £300 to 15 businesses: Darya Simanovich on immigrant entrepreneurship 9 9 From £300 to 15 businesses: Darya Simanovich on immigrant entrepreneurship full 408da39a-b087-49e9-afd7-c51c7487855f https://share.transistor.fm/s/d326b68d What would you do if you arrived in a new country with £300 in your pocket, barely speaking the language, knowing almost no one? Darya Simanovich called it a start, and what she built from there is nothing short of remarkable.

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Darya Simanovich, entrepreneur, business mentor and author of The Immigrant Entrepreneur- a raw, honest account of building from nothing in a country that wasn't hers. Originally from Russia, Darya arrived in London at 22 to study at Imperial College and never really left. In the two decades since, she has launched 15 businesses, sold one, and is still actively building, all while raising three children and supporting other founders to do the same.

Jackie and Darya cover a remarkable amount of ground in this conversation: the moment the 2008 financial crash closed a corporate door and opened an entrepreneurial one, the swim school born out of a basement pool and a new mother's need for human connection, and the Chelsea crêperie that survived six years, a pandemic, and Brexit before Darya decided to sell. 

But this episode is really about the mindset underneath all of it: how to spot a problem worth solving, why sales is the first skill every founder needs, and why being direct, whether you're Russian or just plain tired of the British habit of not saying what you mean, is actually a superpower. Darya's "100 coffees" framework alone is worth the listen, and her core belief that you should fall in love with the problem rather than the solution will stay with you long after the episode ends.


Covered in this episode:

  • Arriving in London at 22 with £300, limited English and no contacts and why Darya saw that as an opportunity rather than a crisis
  • How the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 ended her corporate career and pushed her towards building her own businesses
  • The Chelsea swim school that started as a personal pool, grew into a five-day-a-week operation, and began simply because Darya couldn't find one nearby
  • Why Darya believes entrepreneurs should "fall in love with the problem, not the solution" 
  • The 100 coffees framework: how writing 100 names on a blank piece of paper and starting conversations can become the foundation of any new business or consultancy.
  • The honest truth about sales - why women in particular struggle to sell themselves.
  • Knowing your customer deeply enough to build for them, and why "women aged 18 to 65" is not a target audience


About my guest: Darya Simanovich

Darya Simanovich is a serial entrepreneur, business mentor, and author based in London. Originally from Russia, she came to the UK at 22 to study risk management and financial engineering at Imperial College London, and went on to build 15 businesses across sectors including childcare, hospitality, and property management. She runs a mastermind and events community for entrepreneurs, works full-time supporting early-stage founders, and has recently written The Immigrant Entrepreneur, a candid account of what it takes to start from nothing. What makes Darya remarkable is the combination of mathematical rigour, direct practicality and genuine warmth she brings to every founder she meets.

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk




]]> What would you do if you arrived in a new country with £300 in your pocket, barely speaking the language, knowing almost no one? Darya Simanovich called it a start, and what she built from there is nothing short of remarkable.

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Darya Simanovich, entrepreneur, business mentor and author of The Immigrant Entrepreneur- a raw, honest account of building from nothing in a country that wasn't hers. Originally from Russia, Darya arrived in London at 22 to study at Imperial College and never really left. In the two decades since, she has launched 15 businesses, sold one, and is still actively building, all while raising three children and supporting other founders to do the same.

Jackie and Darya cover a remarkable amount of ground in this conversation: the moment the 2008 financial crash closed a corporate door and opened an entrepreneurial one, the swim school born out of a basement pool and a new mother's need for human connection, and the Chelsea crêperie that survived six years, a pandemic, and Brexit before Darya decided to sell. 

But this episode is really about the mindset underneath all of it: how to spot a problem worth solving, why sales is the first skill every founder needs, and why being direct, whether you're Russian or just plain tired of the British habit of not saying what you mean, is actually a superpower. Darya's "100 coffees" framework alone is worth the listen, and her core belief that you should fall in love with the problem rather than the solution will stay with you long after the episode ends.


Covered in this episode:

  • Arriving in London at 22 with £300, limited English and no contacts and why Darya saw that as an opportunity rather than a crisis
  • How the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 ended her corporate career and pushed her towards building her own businesses
  • The Chelsea swim school that started as a personal pool, grew into a five-day-a-week operation, and began simply because Darya couldn't find one nearby
  • Why Darya believes entrepreneurs should "fall in love with the problem, not the solution" 
  • The 100 coffees framework: how writing 100 names on a blank piece of paper and starting conversations can become the foundation of any new business or consultancy.
  • The honest truth about sales - why women in particular struggle to sell themselves.
  • Knowing your customer deeply enough to build for them, and why "women aged 18 to 65" is not a target audience


About my guest: Darya Simanovich

Darya Simanovich is a serial entrepreneur, business mentor, and author based in London. Originally from Russia, she came to the UK at 22 to study risk management and financial engineering at Imperial College London, and went on to build 15 businesses across sectors including childcare, hospitality, and property management. She runs a mastermind and events community for entrepreneurs, works full-time supporting early-stage founders, and has recently written The Immigrant Entrepreneur, a candid account of what it takes to start from nothing. What makes Darya remarkable is the combination of mathematical rigour, direct practicality and genuine warmth she brings to every founder she meets.

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk




]]> Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 3118 What would you do if you arrived in a new country with £300 in your pocket, barely speaking the language, knowing almost no one? Darya Simanovich called it a start, and what she built from there is nothing short of remarkable.

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Darya Simanovich, entrepreneur, business mentor and author of The Immigrant Entrepreneur- a raw, honest account of building from nothing in a country that wasn't hers. Originally from Russia, Darya arrived in London at 22 to study at Imperial College and never really left. In the two decades since, she has launched 15 businesses, sold one, and is still actively building, all while raising three children and supporting other founders to do the same.

Jackie and Darya cover a remarkable amount of ground in this conversation: the moment the 2008 financial crash closed a corporate door and opened an entrepreneurial one, the swim school born out of a basement pool and a new mother's need for human connection, and the Chelsea crêperie that survived six years, a pandemic, and Brexit before Darya decided to sell. 

But this episode is really about the mindset underneath all of it: how to spot a problem worth solving, why sales is the first skill every founder needs, and why being direct, whether you're Russian or just plain tired of the British habit of not saying what you mean, is actually a superpower. Darya's "100 coffees" framework alone is worth the listen, and her core belief that you should fall in love with the problem rather than the solution will stay with you long after the episode ends.


Covered in this episode:

  • Arriving in London at 22 with £300, limited English and no contacts and why Darya saw that as an opportunity rather than a crisis
  • How the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 ended her corporate career and pushed her towards building her own businesses
  • The Chelsea swim school that started as a personal pool, grew into a five-day-a-week operation, and began simply because Darya couldn't find one nearby
  • Why Darya believes entrepreneurs should "fall in love with the problem, not the solution" 
  • The 100 coffees framework: how writing 100 names on a blank piece of paper and starting conversations can become the foundation of any new business or consultancy.
  • The honest truth about sales - why women in particular struggle to sell themselves.
  • Knowing your customer deeply enough to build for them, and why "women aged 18 to 65" is not a target audience


About my guest: Darya Simanovich

Darya Simanovich is a serial entrepreneur, business mentor, and author based in London. Originally from Russia, she came to the UK at 22 to study risk management and financial engineering at Imperial College London, and went on to build 15 businesses across sectors including childcare, hospitality, and property management. She runs a mastermind and events community for entrepreneurs, works full-time supporting early-stage founders, and has recently written The Immigrant Entrepreneur, a candid account of what it takes to start from nothing. What makes Darya remarkable is the combination of mathematical rigour, direct practicality and genuine warmth she brings to every founder she meets.

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk




]]> business, midlife, midlife women, darya simanovich, entrepreneur No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Darya Simanovich Transforming life admin into a midlife business - with Catherine Ann Reid 8 8 Transforming life admin into a midlife business - with Catherine Ann Reid full 3f91277f-2c51-4077-87b4-f2c309eb2c61 https://share.transistor.fm/s/4c00e0a4 What do you do when you're drowning in life admin, raising a child with complex needs, navigating a divorce and you suddenly realise nobody has actually solved the problem? If you're Catherine Ann Reid, you build a tech company from scratch.


In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Catherine-Ann Reid, founder and CEO of Doqit – a smart life admin app designed to help people organise their documents, manage deadlines, and reduce the invisible mental load of modern life. Catherine Ann's route to the startup world came not from a tech background, but from 30 years in B2B sales and communications, combined with the very personal experience of knowing that something had to change.


Together, Jackie and Catherine Ann walk through the full entrepreneurial journey: from the lightbulb moment and years of quiet research, through the unexpected gift that Covid gave to a business built for a newly digital world, to the pivots, the investor conversations, and the hard-won wisdom of building something meaningful later in life.


This is an honest, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention, and why experience really is your competitive advantage.

Covered in this episode:

  • The backstory: 30+ years in communications, a late-in-life baby, a divorce and a daughter with a rare genetic condition
  • The life admin lightbulb moment and the £100 late tax return that sparked it
  • Why the problem isn't disorganisation: it's the explosion of fragmented digital life
  • The investor question that stumped her – and how Covid answered it overnight
  • Navigating the shift from B2B confidence to B2C reality
  • Defining the ideal customer: meet Jennifer, 39, married, working full-time, and desperate to reclaim her weekends
  • How Doqit works: documents, deadlines, reminders, and secure sharing
  • The realities of building a business as a lone parent with caring responsibilities

About my guest: Catherine Ann Reid


Catherine Ann Reid is the founder and CEO of Doqit, a life admin management platform born from personal frustration with disorganised paperwork and the very real cost of dropping life's admin balls. A FinTech Scotland Innovation Challenge winner, she has spent over 30 years in B2B sales, communications and strategy – and is living proof that it's never too late to build something remarkable.


Catherine-Ann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineannreid/
Doqit – try it free for 7 days: https://www.doqit.io/

Mentioned in this episode: Ideas Fest – the UK's 'Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs': https://ideasfest.uk/

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk




]]> What do you do when you're drowning in life admin, raising a child with complex needs, navigating a divorce and you suddenly realise nobody has actually solved the problem? If you're Catherine Ann Reid, you build a tech company from scratch.


In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Catherine-Ann Reid, founder and CEO of Doqit – a smart life admin app designed to help people organise their documents, manage deadlines, and reduce the invisible mental load of modern life. Catherine Ann's route to the startup world came not from a tech background, but from 30 years in B2B sales and communications, combined with the very personal experience of knowing that something had to change.


Together, Jackie and Catherine Ann walk through the full entrepreneurial journey: from the lightbulb moment and years of quiet research, through the unexpected gift that Covid gave to a business built for a newly digital world, to the pivots, the investor conversations, and the hard-won wisdom of building something meaningful later in life.


This is an honest, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention, and why experience really is your competitive advantage.

Covered in this episode:

  • The backstory: 30+ years in communications, a late-in-life baby, a divorce and a daughter with a rare genetic condition
  • The life admin lightbulb moment and the £100 late tax return that sparked it
  • Why the problem isn't disorganisation: it's the explosion of fragmented digital life
  • The investor question that stumped her – and how Covid answered it overnight
  • Navigating the shift from B2B confidence to B2C reality
  • Defining the ideal customer: meet Jennifer, 39, married, working full-time, and desperate to reclaim her weekends
  • How Doqit works: documents, deadlines, reminders, and secure sharing
  • The realities of building a business as a lone parent with caring responsibilities

About my guest: Catherine Ann Reid


Catherine Ann Reid is the founder and CEO of Doqit, a life admin management platform born from personal frustration with disorganised paperwork and the very real cost of dropping life's admin balls. A FinTech Scotland Innovation Challenge winner, she has spent over 30 years in B2B sales, communications and strategy – and is living proof that it's never too late to build something remarkable.


Catherine-Ann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineannreid/
Doqit – try it free for 7 days: https://www.doqit.io/

Mentioned in this episode: Ideas Fest – the UK's 'Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs': https://ideasfest.uk/

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk




]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 3208 What do you do when you're drowning in life admin, raising a child with complex needs, navigating a divorce and you suddenly realise nobody has actually solved the problem? If you're Catherine Ann Reid, you build a tech company from scratch.


In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Catherine-Ann Reid, founder and CEO of Doqit – a smart life admin app designed to help people organise their documents, manage deadlines, and reduce the invisible mental load of modern life. Catherine Ann's route to the startup world came not from a tech background, but from 30 years in B2B sales and communications, combined with the very personal experience of knowing that something had to change.


Together, Jackie and Catherine Ann walk through the full entrepreneurial journey: from the lightbulb moment and years of quiet research, through the unexpected gift that Covid gave to a business built for a newly digital world, to the pivots, the investor conversations, and the hard-won wisdom of building something meaningful later in life.


This is an honest, energising conversation about resilience, reinvention, and why experience really is your competitive advantage.

Covered in this episode:

  • The backstory: 30+ years in communications, a late-in-life baby, a divorce and a daughter with a rare genetic condition
  • The life admin lightbulb moment and the £100 late tax return that sparked it
  • Why the problem isn't disorganisation: it's the explosion of fragmented digital life
  • The investor question that stumped her – and how Covid answered it overnight
  • Navigating the shift from B2B confidence to B2C reality
  • Defining the ideal customer: meet Jennifer, 39, married, working full-time, and desperate to reclaim her weekends
  • How Doqit works: documents, deadlines, reminders, and secure sharing
  • The realities of building a business as a lone parent with caring responsibilities

About my guest: Catherine Ann Reid


Catherine Ann Reid is the founder and CEO of Doqit, a life admin management platform born from personal frustration with disorganised paperwork and the very real cost of dropping life's admin balls. A FinTech Scotland Innovation Challenge winner, she has spent over 30 years in B2B sales, communications and strategy – and is living proof that it's never too late to build something remarkable.


Catherine-Ann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineannreid/
Doqit – try it free for 7 days: https://www.doqit.io/

Mentioned in this episode: Ideas Fest – the UK's 'Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs': https://ideasfest.uk/

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk




]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Catherine Ann Reid Is your idea ready? Five questions every midlife business founder needs to ask 7 7 Is your idea ready? Five questions every midlife business founder needs to ask full 5403456f-4863-4d80-834e-47a121951d0f https://share.transistor.fm/s/403619e6 In this episode, Jackie goes solo to answer the questions every new business founder needs to ask.

If you've been sitting on a business idea for months (or years), turning it over in your mind but not taking action, this episode is for you. Because the reason most women never act on their idea isn't lack of passion or ambition, it's not knowing where to start. So on this special episode, Jackie gives you exactly that: a clear, practical framework built around five key questions that every successful founder – whether they knew it or not – has had to answer before their business existed.

Drawing on conversations with previous guests including Kim at Auris Tech, Gillian at Peachaus, Jane at Sona, Angela at Eve Biology and Lise at Walking This Way, Jackie identifies the patterns that connect them all and explains you how to apply those lessons to your own idea, right now.

Coming up in this episode:

  • Why having an idea is not the same as having a business
  • The one-sentence test that tells you if your idea is ready (and what to do if it isn't)
  • Why nobody is going to steal your idea and why sharing it is your best next move
  • The difference between a unique idea and a unique angle
  • What a "moat" is and why your business needs one
  • Why no competition in your market is a red flag, not a green one
  • The honest truth about money, pricing and why passion without profit is just a hobby
  • How to overcome imposter syndrome and back yourself when self-doubt creeps in
  • A special offer: the first five listeners to get in touch get a free half-hour call with Jackie

The Five Questions:

  1. What's your idea – and can you actually solve the problem?
  2. Why hasn't this been done before – and who else is doing it?
  3. What's the market you're walking into?
  4. Why are you the right person to build this?
  5. What's the commercial model – and how does the money actually work?

Free downloadble worksheet to help you work through the five questions

Download HERE (vist the episode website if link doesn't work: https://wildwiseandworking.transistor.fm/)

WIN A FREE 30-MINUTE IDEA PLANNING MEETING WITH JACKIE

The first five people to get in touch via the voice message link, or the show's 'get in touch' form - via the links below - will get the chance to brainstorm their business idea with Jackie.

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk


]]> In this episode, Jackie goes solo to answer the questions every new business founder needs to ask.

If you've been sitting on a business idea for months (or years), turning it over in your mind but not taking action, this episode is for you. Because the reason most women never act on their idea isn't lack of passion or ambition, it's not knowing where to start. So on this special episode, Jackie gives you exactly that: a clear, practical framework built around five key questions that every successful founder – whether they knew it or not – has had to answer before their business existed.

Drawing on conversations with previous guests including Kim at Auris Tech, Gillian at Peachaus, Jane at Sona, Angela at Eve Biology and Lise at Walking This Way, Jackie identifies the patterns that connect them all and explains you how to apply those lessons to your own idea, right now.

Coming up in this episode:

  • Why having an idea is not the same as having a business
  • The one-sentence test that tells you if your idea is ready (and what to do if it isn't)
  • Why nobody is going to steal your idea and why sharing it is your best next move
  • The difference between a unique idea and a unique angle
  • What a "moat" is and why your business needs one
  • Why no competition in your market is a red flag, not a green one
  • The honest truth about money, pricing and why passion without profit is just a hobby
  • How to overcome imposter syndrome and back yourself when self-doubt creeps in
  • A special offer: the first five listeners to get in touch get a free half-hour call with Jackie

The Five Questions:

  1. What's your idea – and can you actually solve the problem?
  2. Why hasn't this been done before – and who else is doing it?
  3. What's the market you're walking into?
  4. Why are you the right person to build this?
  5. What's the commercial model – and how does the money actually work?

Free downloadble worksheet to help you work through the five questions

Download HERE (vist the episode website if link doesn't work: https://wildwiseandworking.transistor.fm/)

WIN A FREE 30-MINUTE IDEA PLANNING MEETING WITH JACKIE

The first five people to get in touch via the voice message link, or the show's 'get in touch' form - via the links below - will get the chance to brainstorm their business idea with Jackie.

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk


]]> Mon, 04 May 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 2417 In this episode, Jackie goes solo to answer the questions every new business founder needs to ask.

If you've been sitting on a business idea for months (or years), turning it over in your mind but not taking action, this episode is for you. Because the reason most women never act on their idea isn't lack of passion or ambition, it's not knowing where to start. So on this special episode, Jackie gives you exactly that: a clear, practical framework built around five key questions that every successful founder – whether they knew it or not – has had to answer before their business existed.

Drawing on conversations with previous guests including Kim at Auris Tech, Gillian at Peachaus, Jane at Sona, Angela at Eve Biology and Lise at Walking This Way, Jackie identifies the patterns that connect them all and explains you how to apply those lessons to your own idea, right now.

Coming up in this episode:

  • Why having an idea is not the same as having a business
  • The one-sentence test that tells you if your idea is ready (and what to do if it isn't)
  • Why nobody is going to steal your idea and why sharing it is your best next move
  • The difference between a unique idea and a unique angle
  • What a "moat" is and why your business needs one
  • Why no competition in your market is a red flag, not a green one
  • The honest truth about money, pricing and why passion without profit is just a hobby
  • How to overcome imposter syndrome and back yourself when self-doubt creeps in
  • A special offer: the first five listeners to get in touch get a free half-hour call with Jackie

The Five Questions:

  1. What's your idea – and can you actually solve the problem?
  2. Why hasn't this been done before – and who else is doing it?
  3. What's the market you're walking into?
  4. Why are you the right person to build this?
  5. What's the commercial model – and how does the money actually work?

Free downloadble worksheet to help you work through the five questions

Download HERE (vist the episode website if link doesn't work: https://wildwiseandworking.transistor.fm/)

WIN A FREE 30-MINUTE IDEA PLANNING MEETING WITH JACKIE

The first five people to get in touch via the voice message link, or the show's 'get in touch' form - via the links below - will get the chance to brainstorm their business idea with Jackie.

Be a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk


]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Combatting stress through tech innovation - with Jane Ollis 6 6 Combatting stress through tech innovation - with Jane Ollis full ec38dc27-d357-4e0e-833f-8fa55aa1334f https://share.transistor.fm/s/37300ddc Jackie is joined by Jane Ollis, founder of Sona – a pioneering health tech business developing an AI-powered device designed to measure and reduce stress in real time.

Jane’s career is anything but ordinary. From starting out as a medical biochemist to working internationally in senior leadership roles, sitting on boards across healthcare and renewable energy, and even interning at NASA, her path has been driven by curiosity and a desire to solve meaningful problems.

But it wasn’t until later in life – after raising a family and building a successful corporate career – that Jane paused to ask a deeper question: what legacy do I want to leave behind?

What followed was a bold move into the world of deep tech, a space rarely occupied by women in their 50s. Driven by a growing fascination with the role of stress in chronic illness, Jane set out to understand what stress is really doing to our bodies – and more importantly, what we can do about it.

This conversation is a powerful exploration of reinvention, courage and the realities of building something from scratch. It’s also a fascinating insight into the science of the vagus nerve, the future of preventative health and why your next chapter might be your most impactful yet.

Coming up in this episode:

  •  The moment in midlife that sparked the question: what’s my next legacy?
  •  Why stress is still overlooked in modern healthcare – and why that needs to change 
  •  Moving “upstream” of illness and rethinking how we approach chronic conditions 
  •  The unexpected discovery of the vagus nerve – and its link to stress regulation 
  •  Turning a two-page idea into a deep tech product (that started life in a shoebox) 
  •  The reality of building a business: persistence, problem-solving and “professional begging” 
  •  Why networks, not just ideas, are the real superpower in your 50s 
  •  Courage as an uncomfortable but essential part of entrepreneurship 
  •  Launching Sona – and the emotional reality of finally bringing a product to life 
  •  Why your 50s might be the perfect time to build something meaningful

About My Guest: Jane Ollis

Jane Ollis is the founder of Sona, an innovative health tech company developing an AI-powered vagus nerve stimulation device to help reduce stress and improve sleep.

With a background in medical biochemistry and a career spanning senior leadership roles across healthcare, energy and innovation, Jane has spent decades working at the intersection of science and real-world impact. She has also served on boards across the NHS, government and private sector.

Now, she’s combining that experience to tackle one of the biggest – and most overlooked – challenges in modern health: chronic stress. Through Sona, Jane is on a mission to bring personalised, preventative solutions to millions, starting with a simple but powerful idea – helping people feel better, every day.

Connect with Jane

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Jackie is joined by Jane Ollis, founder of Sona – a pioneering health tech business developing an AI-powered device designed to measure and reduce stress in real time.

Jane’s career is anything but ordinary. From starting out as a medical biochemist to working internationally in senior leadership roles, sitting on boards across healthcare and renewable energy, and even interning at NASA, her path has been driven by curiosity and a desire to solve meaningful problems.

But it wasn’t until later in life – after raising a family and building a successful corporate career – that Jane paused to ask a deeper question: what legacy do I want to leave behind?

What followed was a bold move into the world of deep tech, a space rarely occupied by women in their 50s. Driven by a growing fascination with the role of stress in chronic illness, Jane set out to understand what stress is really doing to our bodies – and more importantly, what we can do about it.

This conversation is a powerful exploration of reinvention, courage and the realities of building something from scratch. It’s also a fascinating insight into the science of the vagus nerve, the future of preventative health and why your next chapter might be your most impactful yet.

Coming up in this episode:

  •  The moment in midlife that sparked the question: what’s my next legacy?
  •  Why stress is still overlooked in modern healthcare – and why that needs to change 
  •  Moving “upstream” of illness and rethinking how we approach chronic conditions 
  •  The unexpected discovery of the vagus nerve – and its link to stress regulation 
  •  Turning a two-page idea into a deep tech product (that started life in a shoebox) 
  •  The reality of building a business: persistence, problem-solving and “professional begging” 
  •  Why networks, not just ideas, are the real superpower in your 50s 
  •  Courage as an uncomfortable but essential part of entrepreneurship 
  •  Launching Sona – and the emotional reality of finally bringing a product to life 
  •  Why your 50s might be the perfect time to build something meaningful

About My Guest: Jane Ollis

Jane Ollis is the founder of Sona, an innovative health tech company developing an AI-powered vagus nerve stimulation device to help reduce stress and improve sleep.

With a background in medical biochemistry and a career spanning senior leadership roles across healthcare, energy and innovation, Jane has spent decades working at the intersection of science and real-world impact. She has also served on boards across the NHS, government and private sector.

Now, she’s combining that experience to tackle one of the biggest – and most overlooked – challenges in modern health: chronic stress. Through Sona, Jane is on a mission to bring personalised, preventative solutions to millions, starting with a simple but powerful idea – helping people feel better, every day.

Connect with Jane

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 2569 Jackie is joined by Jane Ollis, founder of Sona – a pioneering health tech business developing an AI-powered device designed to measure and reduce stress in real time.

Jane’s career is anything but ordinary. From starting out as a medical biochemist to working internationally in senior leadership roles, sitting on boards across healthcare and renewable energy, and even interning at NASA, her path has been driven by curiosity and a desire to solve meaningful problems.

But it wasn’t until later in life – after raising a family and building a successful corporate career – that Jane paused to ask a deeper question: what legacy do I want to leave behind?

What followed was a bold move into the world of deep tech, a space rarely occupied by women in their 50s. Driven by a growing fascination with the role of stress in chronic illness, Jane set out to understand what stress is really doing to our bodies – and more importantly, what we can do about it.

This conversation is a powerful exploration of reinvention, courage and the realities of building something from scratch. It’s also a fascinating insight into the science of the vagus nerve, the future of preventative health and why your next chapter might be your most impactful yet.

Coming up in this episode:

  •  The moment in midlife that sparked the question: what’s my next legacy?
  •  Why stress is still overlooked in modern healthcare – and why that needs to change 
  •  Moving “upstream” of illness and rethinking how we approach chronic conditions 
  •  The unexpected discovery of the vagus nerve – and its link to stress regulation 
  •  Turning a two-page idea into a deep tech product (that started life in a shoebox) 
  •  The reality of building a business: persistence, problem-solving and “professional begging” 
  •  Why networks, not just ideas, are the real superpower in your 50s 
  •  Courage as an uncomfortable but essential part of entrepreneurship 
  •  Launching Sona – and the emotional reality of finally bringing a product to life 
  •  Why your 50s might be the perfect time to build something meaningful

About My Guest: Jane Ollis

Jane Ollis is the founder of Sona, an innovative health tech company developing an AI-powered vagus nerve stimulation device to help reduce stress and improve sleep.

With a background in medical biochemistry and a career spanning senior leadership roles across healthcare, energy and innovation, Jane has spent decades working at the intersection of science and real-world impact. She has also served on boards across the NHS, government and private sector.

Now, she’s combining that experience to tackle one of the biggest – and most overlooked – challenges in modern health: chronic stress. Through Sona, Jane is on a mission to bring personalised, preventative solutions to millions, starting with a simple but powerful idea – helping people feel better, every day.

Connect with Jane

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Jane Ollis From Fashion Director to Founder - with Gillian Ridley Whittle 5 5 From Fashion Director to Founder - with Gillian Ridley Whittle full 958aece8-ea04-4050-821e-4dd1a4db77bf https://share.transistor.fm/s/f4fab4aa Jackie is joined by Gillian Ridley Whittle, founder of Peachaus - an ethical lingerie and wellness brand built around comfort, community and genuine care for women's bodies. Gillian's CV reads like a who's who of British retail: Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Topshop and a four-year stint in Australia working for Target and Myer. But it was leading Topshop through the pandemic, watching it sold to Asos, and being made redundant shortly after, that forced a reckoning she'd been quietly building towards for years.

What followed wasn't a pivot so much as a homecoming, back to an idea she'd sketched out on a beach in Melbourne in 2016, back to the belief that fashion could be a force for good and back to underwear: the category she'd fallen in love with at M&S and never quite let go of.


Jackie and Gillian's chat explores the gap between external success and internal fulfilment, the anxiety Gillian had hidden behind a capable exterior for years and the slow, determined process of building something that actually aligned with who she is. It's also a masterclass in listening to your customers, from a blackboard outside a teepee at a wellness festival to bra fits in WeWork offices. and following the evidence wherever it leads.

Coming up in this episode:

  • From trainee buyer to Topshop Fashion Director, and what the high street lost when the golden era ended
  • Leading Topshop through Covid, the sale to Asos, and what came after
  • The anxiety hidden behind a high-flying career, and the moment something had to change
  • The Pinterest boards, the deck and the six-year slow burn to launching Peachaus
  • Why fashion can be a force for good, and what that actually means in practice
  • How the name Peachaus came about, and the deeper meaning behind it
  • The pivot from online brand to bra-fitting service and why the customers made it obvious
  • What a blackboard outside a teepee tent at a wellness festival taught Gillian about her business
  • Why most women are wearing the wrong bra size, and the health consequences nobody talks about
  • Peachaus's partnership with CoppaFeel and the move into women's workplace wellness

About My Guest: Gillian Ridley Whittle

Gillian Ridley Whittle is the founder of Peachaus, an ethical lingerie and women's wellness brand. With over 25 years in fashion retail — including director-level roles at Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Target Australia and Topshop — she launched Peachaus to put comfort, care and community at the heart of an industry that had lost its way. Peachaus now operates a bra-fitting service for corporate clients alongside its product range, and Gillian is building it into a national — and eventually global — movement.

Peachaus website: https://peachaus.com/
Gillian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-ridley-whittle-89a62313/

EXCLUSIVE PEACHAUS DISCOUNT CODE FOR 15% OFF: WILDPEACH15

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Jackie is joined by Gillian Ridley Whittle, founder of Peachaus - an ethical lingerie and wellness brand built around comfort, community and genuine care for women's bodies. Gillian's CV reads like a who's who of British retail: Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Topshop and a four-year stint in Australia working for Target and Myer. But it was leading Topshop through the pandemic, watching it sold to Asos, and being made redundant shortly after, that forced a reckoning she'd been quietly building towards for years.

What followed wasn't a pivot so much as a homecoming, back to an idea she'd sketched out on a beach in Melbourne in 2016, back to the belief that fashion could be a force for good and back to underwear: the category she'd fallen in love with at M&S and never quite let go of.


Jackie and Gillian's chat explores the gap between external success and internal fulfilment, the anxiety Gillian had hidden behind a capable exterior for years and the slow, determined process of building something that actually aligned with who she is. It's also a masterclass in listening to your customers, from a blackboard outside a teepee at a wellness festival to bra fits in WeWork offices. and following the evidence wherever it leads.

Coming up in this episode:

  • From trainee buyer to Topshop Fashion Director, and what the high street lost when the golden era ended
  • Leading Topshop through Covid, the sale to Asos, and what came after
  • The anxiety hidden behind a high-flying career, and the moment something had to change
  • The Pinterest boards, the deck and the six-year slow burn to launching Peachaus
  • Why fashion can be a force for good, and what that actually means in practice
  • How the name Peachaus came about, and the deeper meaning behind it
  • The pivot from online brand to bra-fitting service and why the customers made it obvious
  • What a blackboard outside a teepee tent at a wellness festival taught Gillian about her business
  • Why most women are wearing the wrong bra size, and the health consequences nobody talks about
  • Peachaus's partnership with CoppaFeel and the move into women's workplace wellness

About My Guest: Gillian Ridley Whittle

Gillian Ridley Whittle is the founder of Peachaus, an ethical lingerie and women's wellness brand. With over 25 years in fashion retail — including director-level roles at Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Target Australia and Topshop — she launched Peachaus to put comfort, care and community at the heart of an industry that had lost its way. Peachaus now operates a bra-fitting service for corporate clients alongside its product range, and Gillian is building it into a national — and eventually global — movement.

Peachaus website: https://peachaus.com/
Gillian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-ridley-whittle-89a62313/

EXCLUSIVE PEACHAUS DISCOUNT CODE FOR 15% OFF: WILDPEACH15

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:01:00 +0100 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 2803 Jackie is joined by Gillian Ridley Whittle, founder of Peachaus - an ethical lingerie and wellness brand built around comfort, community and genuine care for women's bodies. Gillian's CV reads like a who's who of British retail: Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Topshop and a four-year stint in Australia working for Target and Myer. But it was leading Topshop through the pandemic, watching it sold to Asos, and being made redundant shortly after, that forced a reckoning she'd been quietly building towards for years.

What followed wasn't a pivot so much as a homecoming, back to an idea she'd sketched out on a beach in Melbourne in 2016, back to the belief that fashion could be a force for good and back to underwear: the category she'd fallen in love with at M&S and never quite let go of.


Jackie and Gillian's chat explores the gap between external success and internal fulfilment, the anxiety Gillian had hidden behind a capable exterior for years and the slow, determined process of building something that actually aligned with who she is. It's also a masterclass in listening to your customers, from a blackboard outside a teepee at a wellness festival to bra fits in WeWork offices. and following the evidence wherever it leads.

Coming up in this episode:

  • From trainee buyer to Topshop Fashion Director, and what the high street lost when the golden era ended
  • Leading Topshop through Covid, the sale to Asos, and what came after
  • The anxiety hidden behind a high-flying career, and the moment something had to change
  • The Pinterest boards, the deck and the six-year slow burn to launching Peachaus
  • Why fashion can be a force for good, and what that actually means in practice
  • How the name Peachaus came about, and the deeper meaning behind it
  • The pivot from online brand to bra-fitting service and why the customers made it obvious
  • What a blackboard outside a teepee tent at a wellness festival taught Gillian about her business
  • Why most women are wearing the wrong bra size, and the health consequences nobody talks about
  • Peachaus's partnership with CoppaFeel and the move into women's workplace wellness

About My Guest: Gillian Ridley Whittle

Gillian Ridley Whittle is the founder of Peachaus, an ethical lingerie and women's wellness brand. With over 25 years in fashion retail — including director-level roles at Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Target Australia and Topshop — she launched Peachaus to put comfort, care and community at the heart of an industry that had lost its way. Peachaus now operates a bra-fitting service for corporate clients alongside its product range, and Gillian is building it into a national — and eventually global — movement.

Peachaus website: https://peachaus.com/
Gillian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-ridley-whittle-89a62313/

EXCLUSIVE PEACHAUS DISCOUNT CODE FOR 15% OFF: WILDPEACH15

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Gillian Ridley Whittle Personal mission to booming business - with Eve Biology founder, Angela Patton 4 4 Personal mission to booming business - with Eve Biology founder, Angela Patton full ca10267f-f1fa-41aa-a6c8-ad6320ecffc6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/923f6027 In this honest and energising episode, Jackie is joined by Angela Patton, founder of Eve Biology. What started as a deeply personal frustration - being told by her GP to slow down, take antidepressants and find a less demanding job - became the spark for a science-backed nutrition brand built specifically for women in midlife.

Angela shares the moment she walked out of her doctor's surgery and decided she wasn't done. She talks candidly about navigating perimenopause alongside an autoimmune condition, becoming her own guinea pig, and the research rabbit hole that led her to build Eve Biology from the ground up. It's a story of rage turned into purpose and a business born out of refusing to accept that her best years were behind her.

The conversation digs into the science of midlife nutrition in an accessible, eye-opening way - from the role of adaptogens in calming anxiety and improving sleep, to why sugar becomes a bigger issue post-menopause, and why oestrogen loss puts women's heart health at real risk. Angela also gets refreshingly practical about building a product business: the regulatory hurdles, the power of focus groups, and why trusting your own instincts matters more than following everyone else's advice.

Covered in this episode:

  • Angela's GP appointment that changed everything, and why she refused the antidepressants
  • How women are shuffled out of their careers by unrecognised perimenopause symptoms
  • Becoming her own guinea pig: a year of self-experimentation with nutrition and supplements
  • What adaptogens are, how they work, and why ashwagandha was a game-changer for Angela
  • The link between falling oestrogen, cortisol, anxiety and sleeplessness
  • Why your nutritional needs change significantly in midlife - and the small tweaks that make a big difference
  • The surprising findings from Eve Biology's focus group - and what the customers taught Angela
  • Sugar, heart health and why oestrogen loss matters more than most doctors let on
  • The content challenge every product business underestimates
  • Eve Biology's exclusive discount for Wild, Wise and Working listeners - Listen to find out!

About My Guest: Angela Patton

Angela Patton is the founder of Eve Biology, a science-backed nutrition brand designed for women in midlife. With a background in digital marketing and strategy, Angela combined her professional expertise with hard-won personal experience to identify a gap the supplements industry had long ignored: women over 40. Eve Biology launched in 2023 and now ships across Europe and the US.

]]> In this honest and energising episode, Jackie is joined by Angela Patton, founder of Eve Biology. What started as a deeply personal frustration - being told by her GP to slow down, take antidepressants and find a less demanding job - became the spark for a science-backed nutrition brand built specifically for women in midlife.

Angela shares the moment she walked out of her doctor's surgery and decided she wasn't done. She talks candidly about navigating perimenopause alongside an autoimmune condition, becoming her own guinea pig, and the research rabbit hole that led her to build Eve Biology from the ground up. It's a story of rage turned into purpose and a business born out of refusing to accept that her best years were behind her.

The conversation digs into the science of midlife nutrition in an accessible, eye-opening way - from the role of adaptogens in calming anxiety and improving sleep, to why sugar becomes a bigger issue post-menopause, and why oestrogen loss puts women's heart health at real risk. Angela also gets refreshingly practical about building a product business: the regulatory hurdles, the power of focus groups, and why trusting your own instincts matters more than following everyone else's advice.

Covered in this episode:

  • Angela's GP appointment that changed everything, and why she refused the antidepressants
  • How women are shuffled out of their careers by unrecognised perimenopause symptoms
  • Becoming her own guinea pig: a year of self-experimentation with nutrition and supplements
  • What adaptogens are, how they work, and why ashwagandha was a game-changer for Angela
  • The link between falling oestrogen, cortisol, anxiety and sleeplessness
  • Why your nutritional needs change significantly in midlife - and the small tweaks that make a big difference
  • The surprising findings from Eve Biology's focus group - and what the customers taught Angela
  • Sugar, heart health and why oestrogen loss matters more than most doctors let on
  • The content challenge every product business underestimates
  • Eve Biology's exclusive discount for Wild, Wise and Working listeners - Listen to find out!

About My Guest: Angela Patton

Angela Patton is the founder of Eve Biology, a science-backed nutrition brand designed for women in midlife. With a background in digital marketing and strategy, Angela combined her professional expertise with hard-won personal experience to identify a gap the supplements industry had long ignored: women over 40. Eve Biology launched in 2023 and now ships across Europe and the US.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0000 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 2541 In this honest and energising episode, Jackie is joined by Angela Patton, founder of Eve Biology. What started as a deeply personal frustration - being told by her GP to slow down, take antidepressants and find a less demanding job - became the spark for a science-backed nutrition brand built specifically for women in midlife.

Angela shares the moment she walked out of her doctor's surgery and decided she wasn't done. She talks candidly about navigating perimenopause alongside an autoimmune condition, becoming her own guinea pig, and the research rabbit hole that led her to build Eve Biology from the ground up. It's a story of rage turned into purpose and a business born out of refusing to accept that her best years were behind her.

The conversation digs into the science of midlife nutrition in an accessible, eye-opening way - from the role of adaptogens in calming anxiety and improving sleep, to why sugar becomes a bigger issue post-menopause, and why oestrogen loss puts women's heart health at real risk. Angela also gets refreshingly practical about building a product business: the regulatory hurdles, the power of focus groups, and why trusting your own instincts matters more than following everyone else's advice.

Covered in this episode:

  • Angela's GP appointment that changed everything, and why she refused the antidepressants
  • How women are shuffled out of their careers by unrecognised perimenopause symptoms
  • Becoming her own guinea pig: a year of self-experimentation with nutrition and supplements
  • What adaptogens are, how they work, and why ashwagandha was a game-changer for Angela
  • The link between falling oestrogen, cortisol, anxiety and sleeplessness
  • Why your nutritional needs change significantly in midlife - and the small tweaks that make a big difference
  • The surprising findings from Eve Biology's focus group - and what the customers taught Angela
  • Sugar, heart health and why oestrogen loss matters more than most doctors let on
  • The content challenge every product business underestimates
  • Eve Biology's exclusive discount for Wild, Wise and Working listeners - Listen to find out!

About My Guest: Angela Patton

Angela Patton is the founder of Eve Biology, a science-backed nutrition brand designed for women in midlife. With a background in digital marketing and strategy, Angela combined her professional expertise with hard-won personal experience to identify a gap the supplements industry had long ignored: women over 40. Eve Biology launched in 2023 and now ships across Europe and the US.

]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Angela Patton Midlife magic – Walking This Way with Lise Thorne 3 3 Midlife magic – Walking This Way with Lise Thorne full a6d72e43-4a89-437e-9e9c-e4d3fbc72880 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2fa2c238 In this warm and candid episode, Jackie is joined by entrepreneur, podcast host and Instagram phenomenon Lise Thorne. They dive deep into the realities of midlife: the juggle, the joy, the fear, the freedom and what it truly means to be a midlife woman and run multiple businesses today.

They talk honestly about the 'clusterf**k' that so many women navigate in their 40s and 50s: the sandwich generation, perimenopause, teenage children pulling away and aging parents pulling closer. But threaded through all of it is a real sense of possibility and purpose.

The conversation covers the challenges of the sandwich generation and spans from Lise's journey  running a 150-person talent tech business – wrestling with imposter syndrome in a bigger body – to completing a gruelling 100km Trail Walker across the South Downs, which sparked her Instagram account @walking_this_way. 

You'll find out about Lise's 'Welcome Home' project, housing single mothers and asylum seekers, and her work teaching midlife women how to invest through 'The Money Conversation'.

And then, of course, there's Lise's naked photo shoots – a powerful and hilarious exercise in body acceptance.

Covered in this episode:

  • The midlife pivot and the 'clusterf**k' – menopause, teenage children, aging parents and more
  • Why midlife is the time to make new friends – and let some old ones go
  • Lise's journey from tech entrepreneur with imposter syndrome to Instagram community builder
  • The founding story of @walking_this_way and the 100km South Downs Trail Walker
  • Naked photo shoots and body acceptance
  • The Welcome Home Project – housing homeless single mothers and asylum seekers
  • Why midlife women need to start investing, and why it's never too late
  • Bob – the voice in your head, and how to make peace with it


About My Guest: Lise Thorne

Lise Thorne is an entrepreneur, community builder, fellow podcast host and fierce advocate for midlife women. She founded Dynamic Futures, a talent tech organisation, in 2005 and grew it to a team of 150 people before her entrepreneurial journey took a more personal turn – training for the 100km South Downs Trail Walker, discovering the power of movement, and creating @walking_this_way.

She hosts The Walking This Way Podcast, runs The Money Conversation – teaching midlife women how to invest – and founded the Welcome Home Project. 
Lise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walking_this_way/
Walking This Way Podcast: https://walkingthisway.transistor.fm/
Lise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lise-thorne-4101686/
The Welcome Home Project: https://livinginmagazines.co.uk/the-welcome-home-project/

Business shout outs:
Louise Jowsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisejowsey/

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> In this warm and candid episode, Jackie is joined by entrepreneur, podcast host and Instagram phenomenon Lise Thorne. They dive deep into the realities of midlife: the juggle, the joy, the fear, the freedom and what it truly means to be a midlife woman and run multiple businesses today.

They talk honestly about the 'clusterf**k' that so many women navigate in their 40s and 50s: the sandwich generation, perimenopause, teenage children pulling away and aging parents pulling closer. But threaded through all of it is a real sense of possibility and purpose.

The conversation covers the challenges of the sandwich generation and spans from Lise's journey  running a 150-person talent tech business – wrestling with imposter syndrome in a bigger body – to completing a gruelling 100km Trail Walker across the South Downs, which sparked her Instagram account @walking_this_way. 

You'll find out about Lise's 'Welcome Home' project, housing single mothers and asylum seekers, and her work teaching midlife women how to invest through 'The Money Conversation'.

And then, of course, there's Lise's naked photo shoots – a powerful and hilarious exercise in body acceptance.

Covered in this episode:

  • The midlife pivot and the 'clusterf**k' – menopause, teenage children, aging parents and more
  • Why midlife is the time to make new friends – and let some old ones go
  • Lise's journey from tech entrepreneur with imposter syndrome to Instagram community builder
  • The founding story of @walking_this_way and the 100km South Downs Trail Walker
  • Naked photo shoots and body acceptance
  • The Welcome Home Project – housing homeless single mothers and asylum seekers
  • Why midlife women need to start investing, and why it's never too late
  • Bob – the voice in your head, and how to make peace with it


About My Guest: Lise Thorne

Lise Thorne is an entrepreneur, community builder, fellow podcast host and fierce advocate for midlife women. She founded Dynamic Futures, a talent tech organisation, in 2005 and grew it to a team of 150 people before her entrepreneurial journey took a more personal turn – training for the 100km South Downs Trail Walker, discovering the power of movement, and creating @walking_this_way.

She hosts The Walking This Way Podcast, runs The Money Conversation – teaching midlife women how to invest – and founded the Welcome Home Project. 
Lise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walking_this_way/
Walking This Way Podcast: https://walkingthisway.transistor.fm/
Lise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lise-thorne-4101686/
The Welcome Home Project: https://livinginmagazines.co.uk/the-welcome-home-project/

Business shout outs:
Louise Jowsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisejowsey/

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:01:00 +0000 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 3173 In this warm and candid episode, Jackie is joined by entrepreneur, podcast host and Instagram phenomenon Lise Thorne. They dive deep into the realities of midlife: the juggle, the joy, the fear, the freedom and what it truly means to be a midlife woman and run multiple businesses today.

They talk honestly about the 'clusterf**k' that so many women navigate in their 40s and 50s: the sandwich generation, perimenopause, teenage children pulling away and aging parents pulling closer. But threaded through all of it is a real sense of possibility and purpose.

The conversation covers the challenges of the sandwich generation and spans from Lise's journey  running a 150-person talent tech business – wrestling with imposter syndrome in a bigger body – to completing a gruelling 100km Trail Walker across the South Downs, which sparked her Instagram account @walking_this_way. 

You'll find out about Lise's 'Welcome Home' project, housing single mothers and asylum seekers, and her work teaching midlife women how to invest through 'The Money Conversation'.

And then, of course, there's Lise's naked photo shoots – a powerful and hilarious exercise in body acceptance.

Covered in this episode:

  • The midlife pivot and the 'clusterf**k' – menopause, teenage children, aging parents and more
  • Why midlife is the time to make new friends – and let some old ones go
  • Lise's journey from tech entrepreneur with imposter syndrome to Instagram community builder
  • The founding story of @walking_this_way and the 100km South Downs Trail Walker
  • Naked photo shoots and body acceptance
  • The Welcome Home Project – housing homeless single mothers and asylum seekers
  • Why midlife women need to start investing, and why it's never too late
  • Bob – the voice in your head, and how to make peace with it


About My Guest: Lise Thorne

Lise Thorne is an entrepreneur, community builder, fellow podcast host and fierce advocate for midlife women. She founded Dynamic Futures, a talent tech organisation, in 2005 and grew it to a team of 150 people before her entrepreneurial journey took a more personal turn – training for the 100km South Downs Trail Walker, discovering the power of movement, and creating @walking_this_way.

She hosts The Walking This Way Podcast, runs The Money Conversation – teaching midlife women how to invest – and founded the Welcome Home Project. 
Lise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walking_this_way/
Walking This Way Podcast: https://walkingthisway.transistor.fm/
Lise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lise-thorne-4101686/
The Welcome Home Project: https://livinginmagazines.co.uk/the-welcome-home-project/

Business shout outs:
Louise Jowsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisejowsey/

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter Yes Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Lise Thorne Building a tech-for-good business in your 60s – with Kim Antoniou 2 2 Building a tech-for-good business in your 60s – with Kim Antoniou full 7875c755-0d97-43b3-aed0-b2c0aab68e49 https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb52bbd8 What happens when lived experience, midlife clarity and a stubborn refusal to accept “that’s just how it is” collide with technology?

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Kim Antoniou – award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Kafoodle, Auris Tech and Fonetti – to explore how midlife women can reinvent themselves, build purpose-led businesses, and create work that genuinely makes a difference.

Kim’s journey into tech didn’t come from a traditional background. Instead, it grew out of real-world challenges, curiosity, and a determination to design solutions that put people first. Together, Jackie and Kim talk candidly about confidence, courage, age, and what it really takes to start again in your 40s and beyond.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever thought: “I’ve got more to give… I’m just not sure where to start.”

About my guest

Kim Antoniou is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder whose work focuses on designing meaningful technology that solves real problems and improves lives. Her companies span innovation, assurance, and tech-for-good – all rooted in deep listening, collaboration, and lived experience.
Kim's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-antoniou/
Kafoodle: https://www.kafoodle.com/
Auris Tech: https://www.auris.tech/
Fonetti: https://www.fonetti.com/


Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> What happens when lived experience, midlife clarity and a stubborn refusal to accept “that’s just how it is” collide with technology?

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Kim Antoniou – award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Kafoodle, Auris Tech and Fonetti – to explore how midlife women can reinvent themselves, build purpose-led businesses, and create work that genuinely makes a difference.

Kim’s journey into tech didn’t come from a traditional background. Instead, it grew out of real-world challenges, curiosity, and a determination to design solutions that put people first. Together, Jackie and Kim talk candidly about confidence, courage, age, and what it really takes to start again in your 40s and beyond.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever thought: “I’ve got more to give… I’m just not sure where to start.”

About my guest

Kim Antoniou is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder whose work focuses on designing meaningful technology that solves real problems and improves lives. Her companies span innovation, assurance, and tech-for-good – all rooted in deep listening, collaboration, and lived experience.
Kim's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-antoniou/
Kafoodle: https://www.kafoodle.com/
Auris Tech: https://www.auris.tech/
Fonetti: https://www.fonetti.com/


Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 01:01:00 +0000 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 2594 What happens when lived experience, midlife clarity and a stubborn refusal to accept “that’s just how it is” collide with technology?

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Kim Antoniou – award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Kafoodle, Auris Tech and Fonetti – to explore how midlife women can reinvent themselves, build purpose-led businesses, and create work that genuinely makes a difference.

Kim’s journey into tech didn’t come from a traditional background. Instead, it grew out of real-world challenges, curiosity, and a determination to design solutions that put people first. Together, Jackie and Kim talk candidly about confidence, courage, age, and what it really takes to start again in your 40s and beyond.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever thought: “I’ve got more to give… I’m just not sure where to start.”

About my guest

Kim Antoniou is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder whose work focuses on designing meaningful technology that solves real problems and improves lives. Her companies span innovation, assurance, and tech-for-good – all rooted in deep listening, collaboration, and lived experience.
Kim's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-antoniou/
Kafoodle: https://www.kafoodle.com/
Auris Tech: https://www.auris.tech/
Fonetti: https://www.fonetti.com/


Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Kim Antoniou Welcome to Wild, Wise & Working - with Jackie Naghten 1 1 Welcome to Wild, Wise & Working - with Jackie Naghten full ca50d832-9e3f-4a4f-b052-6ea6e1b7b746 https://share.transistor.fm/s/736e4ff5 Welcome to the very first episode of Wild, Wise and Working, the podcast for midlife women turning wisdom into wins. I’m your host, Jackie Naghten, and in this episode, I’m taking the mic to share my story, and why I started this show.

This show is for women who feel there’s still something more to achieve, something they’ve been dreaming of or putting off for years. Whether it’s reinventing your career, chasing a personal challenge, or embracing a fulfilling second half of life, this is your space to explore, learn, and be inspired.

In Episode 1, I take you through my journey:

  • Working as Brand Director of Topman, taking part in the launch of Topshop Oxford Circus in 1999 - the biggest and most popular destination fashion store in the world at the time.
  • Facing life-changing challenges, including my husband’s serious illness, breast cancer, financial setbacks and caring for aging parents.
  • Reinventing my life, flying solo and discovering what it truly means to live your best life in your second act.
  • Why being wild, wise, and working isn’t about recklessness or grinding, it’s about freedom, drawing on your experience, and actively participating in life.

I also share:

  • How this podcast will feature inspirational women entrepreneurs, leaders and change-makers.
  • Opportunities for listeners to share your stories, ask questions, or even have your business featured on the show.
  • A glimpse of the exciting episodes to come, starting with a 65-year-old tech entrepreneur tackling global literacy challenges.

Whether you’re feeling lost, curious or ready for your next chapter, this episode sets the tone for a podcast that celebrates resilience, courage, and reinvention.

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Welcome to the very first episode of Wild, Wise and Working, the podcast for midlife women turning wisdom into wins. I’m your host, Jackie Naghten, and in this episode, I’m taking the mic to share my story, and why I started this show.

This show is for women who feel there’s still something more to achieve, something they’ve been dreaming of or putting off for years. Whether it’s reinventing your career, chasing a personal challenge, or embracing a fulfilling second half of life, this is your space to explore, learn, and be inspired.

In Episode 1, I take you through my journey:

  • Working as Brand Director of Topman, taking part in the launch of Topshop Oxford Circus in 1999 - the biggest and most popular destination fashion store in the world at the time.
  • Facing life-changing challenges, including my husband’s serious illness, breast cancer, financial setbacks and caring for aging parents.
  • Reinventing my life, flying solo and discovering what it truly means to live your best life in your second act.
  • Why being wild, wise, and working isn’t about recklessness or grinding, it’s about freedom, drawing on your experience, and actively participating in life.

I also share:

  • How this podcast will feature inspirational women entrepreneurs, leaders and change-makers.
  • Opportunities for listeners to share your stories, ask questions, or even have your business featured on the show.
  • A glimpse of the exciting episodes to come, starting with a 65-year-old tech entrepreneur tackling global literacy challenges.

Whether you’re feeling lost, curious or ready for your next chapter, this episode sets the tone for a podcast that celebrates resilience, courage, and reinvention.

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:01:00 +0000 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 841 Welcome to the very first episode of Wild, Wise and Working, the podcast for midlife women turning wisdom into wins. I’m your host, Jackie Naghten, and in this episode, I’m taking the mic to share my story, and why I started this show.

This show is for women who feel there’s still something more to achieve, something they’ve been dreaming of or putting off for years. Whether it’s reinventing your career, chasing a personal challenge, or embracing a fulfilling second half of life, this is your space to explore, learn, and be inspired.

In Episode 1, I take you through my journey:

  • Working as Brand Director of Topman, taking part in the launch of Topshop Oxford Circus in 1999 - the biggest and most popular destination fashion store in the world at the time.
  • Facing life-changing challenges, including my husband’s serious illness, breast cancer, financial setbacks and caring for aging parents.
  • Reinventing my life, flying solo and discovering what it truly means to live your best life in your second act.
  • Why being wild, wise, and working isn’t about recklessness or grinding, it’s about freedom, drawing on your experience, and actively participating in life.

I also share:

  • How this podcast will feature inspirational women entrepreneurs, leaders and change-makers.
  • Opportunities for listeners to share your stories, ask questions, or even have your business featured on the show.
  • A glimpse of the exciting episodes to come, starting with a 65-year-old tech entrepreneur tackling global literacy challenges.

Whether you’re feeling lost, curious or ready for your next chapter, this episode sets the tone for a podcast that celebrates resilience, courage, and reinvention.

Be a part of the show:


Produced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk

]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon Coming Soon: Wild, Wise & Working Coming Soon: Wild, Wise & Working trailer b6b8dc90-0e5b-4d68-a44d-b3ae0edb594e https://share.transistor.fm/s/d19904cb Welcome to Wild, Wise & Working, the new podcast from Jackie Naghten - Real conversations with midlife women turning wisdom into wins.


If you’re in your 40s, 50s or 60s and feeling that familiar pull - the itch that your next chapter could be your best one - this show is for you.

In each episode, Jackie sits down with extraordinary women who’ve ripped up the rulebook and reinvented their careers: founders, leaders, creatives and changemakers who’ve taken decades of resilience, experience and hard-won wisdom and transformed it into something remarkable.

You can expect:

  • Honest conversations about pivots, plot twists and moments of self-doubt
  • Practical insights you can apply to your own second act
  • Mindset shifts to help you see midlife as a launch pad - not a deadline
  • Inspiring stories of reinvention, courage and possibility

If you’re ready to feel empowered, motivated and reminded of just how powerful you already are, hit follow and come along for the journey.

Your next chapter starts here.

Join Jackie on Wild, Wise & Working.

Be part of the show

  • Leave Jackie a voice message HERE - https://www.speakpipe.com/restartrequired
  • Email Jackie at Jackie@JackieNaghten.com 
  • Follow Jackie on LinkedIn HERE - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackienaghten/
]]> Welcome to Wild, Wise & Working, the new podcast from Jackie Naghten - Real conversations with midlife women turning wisdom into wins.


If you’re in your 40s, 50s or 60s and feeling that familiar pull - the itch that your next chapter could be your best one - this show is for you.

In each episode, Jackie sits down with extraordinary women who’ve ripped up the rulebook and reinvented their careers: founders, leaders, creatives and changemakers who’ve taken decades of resilience, experience and hard-won wisdom and transformed it into something remarkable.

You can expect:

  • Honest conversations about pivots, plot twists and moments of self-doubt
  • Practical insights you can apply to your own second act
  • Mindset shifts to help you see midlife as a launch pad - not a deadline
  • Inspiring stories of reinvention, courage and possibility

If you’re ready to feel empowered, motivated and reminded of just how powerful you already are, hit follow and come along for the journey.

Your next chapter starts here.

Join Jackie on Wild, Wise & Working.

Be part of the show

  • Leave Jackie a voice message HERE - https://www.speakpipe.com/restartrequired
  • Email Jackie at Jackie@JackieNaghten.com 
  • Follow Jackie on LinkedIn HERE - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackienaghten/
]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:37:42 +0000 Jackie Naghten Jackie Naghten 122 Welcome to Wild, Wise & Working, the new podcast from Jackie Naghten - Real conversations with midlife women turning wisdom into wins.


If you’re in your 40s, 50s or 60s and feeling that familiar pull - the itch that your next chapter could be your best one - this show is for you.

In each episode, Jackie sits down with extraordinary women who’ve ripped up the rulebook and reinvented their careers: founders, leaders, creatives and changemakers who’ve taken decades of resilience, experience and hard-won wisdom and transformed it into something remarkable.

You can expect:

  • Honest conversations about pivots, plot twists and moments of self-doubt
  • Practical insights you can apply to your own second act
  • Mindset shifts to help you see midlife as a launch pad - not a deadline
  • Inspiring stories of reinvention, courage and possibility

If you’re ready to feel empowered, motivated and reminded of just how powerful you already are, hit follow and come along for the journey.

Your next chapter starts here.

Join Jackie on Wild, Wise & Working.

Be part of the show

  • Leave Jackie a voice message HERE - https://www.speakpipe.com/restartrequired
  • Email Jackie at Jackie@JackieNaghten.com 
  • Follow Jackie on LinkedIn HERE - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackienaghten/
]]> Business, midlife, women, entrepreneurship, real-life stories, interviews, mid-life challenge, second act success, next chapter No Jackie Naghten Tim Beynon