10 small business podcasts that share the BEST tips & advice

As a watercolour illustrator I spend hours and hours painting wonderful watercolour illustrations for businesses and private clients, from house portraits, to maps, to wedding stationery and more.

I am also a business owner who loves to learn and develop myself and my skill set, so while I’m drawing and painting I LOVE listening to business podcasts. They are more bitesize than audiobooks but longer form than the content we get on social media. I learn so much from them and I’m SO grateful to the people who put out such valuable free content.

I often share the episodes I love (or get really excited listening and feel like I have to talk about them!!) and as a result, I am often asked for business podcast recommendations, so finally, FINALLY I am putting together a list of my top 10 business podcasts for small businesses who love learning and I hope some of these are useful for you too. 

A few caveats this is a non-exhaustive list and something that will no doubt change over time, but at time of writing are 10 of my favourite business podcasts. I’m not giving out prizes, they are in no particular order, and I’ve purposefully avoided some of the big obvious ones (ask me if you want those too!) because we hear enough about those! It’s likely I’ve forgotten some so don’t tell me off, but do let me know if you have any for me to add! 

These are some of the best business podcasts with inspiring and thought provoking conversations, stories from people at all stages of business and life, advice and actionable points. I love them and hope you do too! 

For those skimmers that don’t have time to read there is a list below, but for those after a bit more info, I’ve expanded on each one so keep reading (plus there are some bonus ones at the end).

1 - Building Your Brand, Liz Mosley

What is it: Branding marketing and small business chats

When is it: Weekly with new episodes every Wednesday

Why I like it: I find Liz so easy to listen to, it really feels like you are part of the conversation. She asks insightful questions and has a great balance of chat and direction throughout the episodes. A mix of solo episodes and guest interviews, including a recent conversation with me, which was such a pleasure (and slightly surreal to be on the other side of the podcast for once!). Liz and I chatted about the power of kindness in business and you can listen here. With over 100 episodes there are hours of great tips and advice and I highly recommend listening to Liz talking to Katie Chapell about their rejection challenges, something that has changed the way I think about putting myself out there forever. It’s E87 ‘How to Use Rejection to Grow Your Business. Also, Liz’s podcast website (by Studio Cotton) is SO GOOD and you can choose your episode by topic, there is even a reading list of guest’s books or recommendations they’ve made. 

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: A watercolour map for a beautiful conversation estate map in Devon (I’ve included this for each one, just to remind you of some of the things that I do, because apparently I don’t tell people enough!)

2 - Women’s Business, Nicky Elliott of The Wilder Collective

What is it: Exploring women’s career paths, to inspire and empower women 

When is it: Weekly with new episodes every Monday

Why I like it: I love that Nicky really delves into the journey of her guests, she really gets to the nitty gritty of the whole story, from early memories of work, first jobs up to the present day. It's your weekly reminder that everyone's journey is different and there are many ways to find your own version of success and happiness or contentment. Nicky seems to ask questions that are really different and I have found so many incredibly inspiring women through her podcast as well as hearing new insights from people I’m more familiar with. I highly recommend this to all female business owners and people, but also to the men. The allies who want to learn and understand more, this is such a brilliant place to come. 

Nicky has also got an awesome community, The Wilder Collective and has a real gift for bringing amazing people together, I highly recommend finding out more!

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I was listening while painting a house portrait decoration commission (of a really tricky house!)

3 - The Social Sunday, Hanah Isted of HI Communications

What is it: Making marketing easy for small business owners

When is it: When it suits Hannah (I love this), mainly on Sundays unless it’s a special daily series which she puts out occasionally. There are plenty in the back catalogue to work through!

Why I like it: Hannah is in my opinion a marketing genius. These episodes are bitesize, around 10 minutes each and give practical marketing tips to help make small business owner life easier. Hannah’s is a podcast I go to when I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, rather than adding to the noise of all the things you should be doing, she has a brilliant way of stripping back or simplifying tasks and reminding you about your time, focus and priorities. It’s super accessible and I often search through episodes for particular topics if I’ve got a focus, for example email marketing or launching something new. 

Hannah also runs The Best 90 Days Ever, a daily prompt to your inbox with group help and accountability to help you market your small business in just 10 minutes each day. Check Hannah out as she has a book (same title) if you’d rather work through it yourself and some other fantastic offers. As a really down to earth human who is all about helping others and making things easier and doing it in a way that works for you, I highly recommend at the least getting on her email list!

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I was listening working on some sketches for my first book illustrations!

4 - Starting the Conversation, Alice Benham

What is it: Business, marketing and behind the scenes, with open, honest conversations and practical advice.

When is it: Weekly with new episodes every Tuesday

Why I like it: Alice is some kind of wizard who can take a scrambled, overwhelmed business brain and bring clarity and direction from just one episode, or inspire action to drive your business forward. A mix of solo episodes and guest interviews, the back catalogue of over 200 episodes there is something for everyone and any situation. I often revisit episodes as I’m tackling that challenge or area of business. 

If podcasts aren’t your thing (then bless you for getting this far!) Alice also has a book ‘The Digital Marketing Handbook’ which is packed with actionable tools and advice and a fantastic reference for small business owners . I definitely recommend checking that out too.

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: Sketching out a house portrait for a beautiful house in Norfolk.

5 - RE: The Podcast, Ellie Kime & Rachel Waring

What is it: the podcast for small business owners, by small business owners (formerly known as The Business Proposal Podcast)

When is it: It’s over!!!!! In 2024 Ellie & Rachel announced they are stopping after 5 years, but there is a whole 5 years worth to keep you going! 

Why I like it: Like a chat with friends, Ellie and Rachel have a way of making you feel part of the gang. They’re an excellent double act and bring their different experiences and personalities to both solo episodes (I guess duo episodes?!) and guest interviews. I’ve been listening since the start, that’s five years of podcast goodness, so they must have been doing something right! I’ve also met and worked with a lot of people through their pod. (including both Ellie and Rachel) so if you’re on the hunt for people doing great things, check out some of their previous guests. 

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I listened in while driving to teach a watercolour workshop this week.

6 - Showing Up with Vicki Knights

What is it: ‘Getting visible with genuine confidence’. A mix of guest and solo episodes with tips, insights and conversations to inspire and learn from. 

When is it: Weekly episodes released on Tuesdays

Why I like it: Vicki is a visibility strategist, branding photographer and positive psychology coach practitioner which gives her a wonderfully rounded insight into small business life. Although relatively new, she has had a brilliant array of inspiring guests who have brought their own expertise to the episodes. I love that Vicki has a really down to earth approach and offers so many practical tips to help people feel better about visibility within their businesses. 

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I listened in while painting some hares for a magazine cover.

7 - Doing It For The Kids, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland

What is it: A podcast for freelance parents all about the everyday practicalities of running a small business around your kids

When is it: Thursdays (when Frankie and Steve can manage getting it out there)

Why I like it: I found this (award winning) podcast a year or so ago and very quickly binged every episode then joined the brilliant DIFTK (doing it for the kids) community. These are my kind of people and my kind of chats. They’re awesome and genuine and just out there to bring people together, support each other and make it a less lonely and confusing space. It doesn’t have all the answers, but it has a more realistic view with great conversations around useful topics. If you are a freelancer or business owner with children, get on the case and check out the DIFTK community while you’re at it! (Steve also has his own podcast and community. Being Freelance is included in the bonus podcasts below)

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I caught up with the most recent episode this week while sketching out some sample portraits for a new project.

8 - Slo Mo, Mo Gawdat

What is it: Conversations hosted my Mo Gawdat, author and ex Chief Business Officer at Google X who is on a mission to help people pursue happiness and an ‘unstressable’ life. 

When is it: Weekly episodes going out on Saturdays

Why I like it: This is my go to if I’m feeling anxious, stressed, upset or generally a bit off. Mo speaks to a wide range of guests from different countries, fields and backgrounds. He doesn’t always have the most obvious choices on and many of his conversations have introduced me to new people. When he speaks to someone I am familar with, it is alwaysa  brand new conversation in what he brings out in them. They cover so many topics, big and small and really give perpective on your life and the state of the world, whilst managing to make you feel comforted and safe. 

If you don’t know Mo and his work I highly recommend checking him out. After his son Ali tragically died, he has taken this pain and loss, learning and sharing to help others on an incredibly inspiring path.

What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I listened while painting a beautiful bespoke map of my son’s Forest School!

9 - Feel Better Live More, Dr Rangan Chatterjee

What is it: ‘Health has become over complicated, I aim to simplify it’. Dr Chatterjee talks to a wide range of health professionals and experts to debunk myths, bring clarity and up to date information and advice on how to feel better and live more. 

When is it: Weekly episodes released on Tuesdays with shorter bitesize snippets of conversations as episodes in between. 

Why I like it: There is an overload of information in the world we live in, but I really enjoy this podcast (I don’t listen every week, that might be a bit much for me!) for delving into fascinating areas of health and wellbeing as we continue to learn and develop our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. There are a lot of ‘trends’ around health and wellbeing and I have found some of these conversations really help to get a better understanding of these. I enjoy listening and taking what works for me from them and appreciate the way that Dr Chatterjee often relates back to how it might realistically fit into the lives of his patients or how he might be able to offer changes that are sustainable. 

It’s another go to if I’m not feeling like my wellbeing or mental health is in a brilliant place, I might search through for a relevant episode or work through some of the bitezise episodes to get some inspiration of longer conversations to listen to. 


What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I listened a couple of weeks ago out on a walk when I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with my to do list.

10 - No Room for Doubt, Kira Mathews

What is it: Helping you unlock your most confident self to achieve ‘the bucket-list dreams’ you once considered impossible.

When is it: When they work for Kira! So add it to your follow list and check out some past episodes, then enjoy them when new ones come along!

Why I like it: One episode in particular is possibly the best small business owner pep talk I have had in my ears! Kira is all about finding confidence and making things happen. I love the combination of manifestation with practical, actionable tips and Kira’s high energy is infectious. I’ve started a playlist of energising podcasts for if I need a pick me up and so far the only episodes on it are from Kira! 

She also has a 90 day Future Self Journal and is host of Future Self Nights, bringing people together and extending the fun ‘high-vibe energy’ to in person events. I want to go! 


What I was illustrating when I listened recently: I listened to an episode two days in a row to get out of a bit of a rut, once while painting a beautiful bespoke house portrait commission and the other while sketching out for a new business illustration project.

So there you have it, my top 10 (at the moment) and I am always all ears for new ones, but I do love my regulars in my ears. It feels like you’re getting to know people (then if you meet them in real life it’s weird because you feel like you know them and they don’t know you at all). 

If you’re still eager for more I’ve included a list below of other podcasts I love but I don’t listen to quite so regularly (or do an occasional binge watch catchup when I remember!). 

Other podcasts I love but don’t currently listen to quite so regularly (because there are only so many hours in a day!) 

Creativity for Sale, Radim Malinic 

Sage Sound Advice, Bex Burn-Callander

Another Way, Selina Barker

The Winging it Podcast, Lucy Hitchcock

Speaker S.O.S, Charlotte Lewis and Luke Davies

Being Freelance, Steve Folland

Start, Scale, Succeed, Nicole Higgins

Letters from a Hopeful Creative, Sara Tasker and Jen Carrington

Good Ship Illustration Podcast with Katie Chapell, Helen Stephens and Tania Willis

Finally

If you fancy listening to a bit more about me or my story, I’ve actually been on some podcasts which were really fun. I’ve included the episodes below and would love to hear if you listened what you thought or if you took anything useful from them.

I also have a great tip for podcasters, if you don’t already have a website for your podcast, Studio Cotton create amazing websites especially for podcasts (like this one created for Liz Mosley’s Building Your Brand podcast) and are an epic team, so get on the case!! They’re also just so generous with their knowledge and although Aime doesn’t have her own podcast (would be amazing though), she does talk on podcasts and one example is here talking rather topically about ‘why blogging is great for business’ on Liz’s Building Your Brand.

So there we have it!

These are some of the best business podcasts with inspiring and thought provoking conversations, stories from people at all stages of business and life, advice and actionable points. I love them and hope you do too! 

If you made it to the end, WELL DONE (bless you for that, this took me ages to write!).