8 podcasts for small business owners

I first got into podcasts back in 2015 whilst training for my first half marathon. I was finding my long training runs tiresome and boring, with my mind wandering and tuning out from the ‘get pumped’ playlists I was forcing myself to listen to.

Enter… the humble podcast. My running was instantly transformed with conversations from around the world keeping me company in my hours spent pounding the pavements of London. Since then, I’ve listened to hundreds of podcasts on countless different topics and, naturally, I’ve a developed a few core favourites.

These are my favourite podcasts for small business owners. The ones that inspire me in my own small business each and every day.

Google ‘marketing podcasts’ and you’ll be bombarded with ‘marketing secrets’ that seem designed to encourage big growth for big businesses. These podcasts are the antithesis to that. They’re designed for small business owners who want to grow without the ‘ick’ factor. Each show brings its own little titbits into my creative life, with integrity and authenticity. So, let’s get stuck in!

1. Hashtag Authentic

Of course this had to be top of the list. The queen of authenticity herself, Sara Tasker, shares her insights to the world of Instagram along with some help from special guest such as Erica Davis, Emma Gannon, Laura Jane Williams, Bronte Huskinson and so many more!

In her weekly podcast episodes, Sara takes a deep dive into a topic affecting all creative small businesses – from the ins and outs of Pinterest to growing an Instagram following from scratch. Trust me when I say that this needs to be added to your weekly podcast rotation.

2. Grow With Soul

I have so much respect for Kayte Ferris and her soulful approach to marketing through her coaching work. From her desk in the mountains of Wales, Kayte’s podcast delivers fresh and practical advice for small business owners across a whole spectrum of creative industries.

I particularly recommend Kayte’s coaching episodes which give a behind the scenes look at some of her client work. You’ll finish each podcast episode bursting at the seams with actionable insights for your own small business.

3. Magic Lessons

Feeling the fear when it comes to creative living? Elizabeth Gilbert is here to help. Following on from the international success of her creative guide Magic Lessons (a great read), Elizabeth hosted a series of personal phone calls with burgeoning artists and creatives who were struggling to get started.

One of the reasons I love this podcast is because the guests are real people. This isn’t Elizabeth interviewing people who have already made it, it’s real people being raw and vulnerable about where they are in their lives right now. Sadly she’s no longer publishing new episodes but there are about 20 hours of sound advice in the back catalogue for you to listen to. It’s a great podcast for any creative small business.

4. Raw Milk

Beth Kirby must be one of my favourite creative Instagrammers to follow. Why? Because she’s honest about her story. Beth’s no qualms approach to sharing the ups and downs of her life inspires me daily, and that’s before I’ve even hit play on her podcast.

If you’ve got a question about running a small business on your own terms, chances are Beth’s covered it in her podcast. Beth is unapologetically living life in her own way and I think there’s something we can all learn from that.

5. Hello Seven Podcast

Rachel Rodgers is on a mission to help women make money. Which means that this is the perfect podcast for any small business owner. She covers all the tricky topics – from pricing to mindset, growth, self care and so much more.

I love that Rachel doesn’t beat around the bush with the hard conversations. She dives right into the nitty-gritty of each topic, so that you can start learning right away (without having to listen to a long old waffle first).

6. New York Times Daily

Wondering why a news podcast is making it onto a list of podcasts for small business owners? Well, I listen to this podcast every single morning. This is quite literally the soundtrack to my breakfast! I’m a firm believer that all marketers and small business owners should be engaged with current affairs in the world around us.

Our work is incredibly outward facing so we need to be able to react to world events, incorporate global concerns and interests into our strategies, and even simply converse about new trends via our marketing channels. I find that The Daily is the perfect way to do that, with a 20-minute summary each weekday morning (because yes, you need to rest on weekends).

7. Letters From A Hopeful Creative

This is another goodie from Sara Tasker, with creative business coach Jen Carrington by her side. I love the format of this podcast. Each episode sees Jen and Sara answer a letter from (you’ve guessed it!) a hopeful creative who’s facing a challenge in their small business.

As the format suggests, this is a great podcast for practical advice and in depth insights as each episode explores just one topic or theme. Another great addition to your weekly listening rota.

8. Being Freelance

Whilst there is a clear difference between typical small business owners and freelancers, there’s a lot of crossover too. Steve Folland’s Being Freelance podcast sees him sit down with a different freelancer every single episode. And each conversation brings up so many good stories that I wouldn’t want you to miss out on.

Steve is a fantastic interviewer and manages to gleam juicy little nuggets from every single guest as they share their story of how they went freelance and what life’s been like since. Go on over and give it a go!

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