The Soap Box Podcast

Sometimes, it's the most unlikely personal circumstances that push us into the careers we end up in. I never thought I would go into business and marketing, but a pandemic and a blog about being widowed set me on this path—right here in your earbuds, discussing how you can champion the causes you care about in your messaging.In today’s episode, our guest’s journey toward their current career also began with grief. Stella Gold is a rebirth and wealth coach for changemakers, coming from a lineage of activists. They are the founder of My Gold Standard, a strong advocate for wealth activism, liberation from oppressive systems, and collective care. My Gold Standard's work blends wealth and business coaching, and yes, we're back on the money today—exploring grief, death, and spirituality.Stella believes in using business as an ecosystem for financial solidarity, focusing on resourcing both ourselves and the collective to create a more just and liberating world. Their personal experience with grief led them to dive into the world of money and finance, and we share a similar story about navigating the “death admin” that follows losing a loved one—handling that at exactly the wrong time.We discuss the profound impact money has on our interactions with the world, the scarcity mindset many entrepreneurs face, and how Stella helps clients overcome that mindset while reframing their views on wealth.We're looking at these themes from a more spiritual standpoint and from the other side of the Atlantic compared to our conversation with Jess a few weeks ago. It’s an eye-opening and fascinating discussion, and I’m immensely grateful to Stella for their vulnerability and honesty. I can't wait for you to share in this experience with us!Wealth Expansion for EntrepreneursFollow Stella on InstagramStella's Website Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

How comfortable are you telling your story? I talk with a lot of creatives, copywriters, messaging strategists, and coaches—people who are really comfortable sharing stories about others as part of their work. They're comfortable at helping others tell their own stories, and are really happy to be advocates for them too. In my circles, there are a lot of individuals for whom advocacy and being other people's voices is a huge part of their personality and their passion. But how comfortable are you telling your own story?  Today, I'm speaking to Siobhan Strode, an incredibly wonderful and fabulous human being who is also a dear friend of mine. Siobhan is a word witch, a copy coach, and a mentor based in Devon, UK. With a background in education, activism, and politics, social justice is truly in her veins. She helps individuals raise their voices and lead the change they want to see in the world.We talk about her impressive political background (far more so than mine), the hidden stories of women throughout history, and the importance of sharing them. We also explore how, as cishet white women, we have a responsibility to address issues from our place of relative privilege. And she wraps up our conversation by sharing three tips for anyone feeling nervous about telling their own story.Siobhan is obsessed with women sharing their magic, whether that’s through their small biz or their next campaigns. When she’s not writing or shouting through a megaphone, you can usually find her on the beach with her kids and Strike, the family hound.Join us as we explore the power of storytelling and the importance of embracing our own narratives.Follow Siobhan on LinkedInFollow Siobhan on InstagramSiobhan’s websiteThis Sister Speaks waitlist Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

In today’s episode, I got the chance to geek out with a fellow youth professional, Lisa Kissane. Lisa is a website and sales page copywriter for service-based businesses that are dedicated to doing good for others. With her background as a social worker, we bonded over the importance of having a sense of purpose in our work.Lisa shared her experiences of feeling unrepresented as a woman without children—in literature, community, and even in language. She took us through her inspiring journey of developing a book club for non-mothers and the wider community she’s building. She’s the founder of Flow: The Non-Parent Network, a business networking group for people who don't have kids.Our conversation opened up intriguing avenues around cultural reference points, labels, assumptions, and the terminology we use every day—plus JD Vance's stab at childless cat ladies.Join us as we dive into an exploration of roles, nuance, and the significance of community!Follow Lisa on LinkedInThe Full Stop CommunityChildless CollectiveFlow: The Non-Parent Network (sign up for updates) - Launching soonThe NoMo Book Club - shining a light on literature featuring (and written by) non-mothers Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

How do you feel about money? In this episode, we dive deep into the emotional aspects of money and financial literacy with Jess Walker, a financial advisor and the founder of Bare Naked Money.Jess has been featured in The Times as one of the top 100 advisers to watch out for and is the author of Get Financially Fearless, a book that gives people the practical steps to harness their subconscious and grow their wealth.But, what truly excites Jess isn’t all those awards or recognition—it’s seeing that "light bulb moment" when people realize they can take control of their finances and make money work for them. She says that if she can help one more person understand their finances every single day that she’s on this planet, then she’ll die a happy lady.Jess joins us to discuss the importance of understanding your money personality, the impact of financial education (or the lack thereof), and how to develop a healthier relationship with money. She also shares her mission to help people get a better grasp on their finances and explains why financial literacy is so crucial, especially for business owners.Tune in to hear Jess’s story, her insights, and practical advice on making money work for you.Join Jess' email listDemystify investing with Jess' new courseGet Jess’ bookFollow Jess on InstagramFind videos on how to manage your money on Jess' YouTube Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

Lorena Banda is a Latina leader in sex positivity, a speaker and an advocate. In this episode we talk about her experience as a daughter of immigrants, all the way to working on Senate and Congressional races and launching the P. Files -  her newsletter looking at the intersection between sexuality and politics.  Lorena and I also talk about the importance of being authentic in politics. And how hard this is for women especially to navigate.And how opening up positions on campaigns to people from new generations and diverse backgrounds can build more excitement around politics.  This is the perfect episode to bring you in the middle of the DNC. And I hope that you really enjoy Lorena getting on her soap box. Subscribe to The P Files hereFind Lorena on LinkedInFollow Lorena on TikTok Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

As I record this, a series of violent riots are spreading across the UK. Last week, a 17 year old boy attacked children and adults at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, killing 3 young girls, and injuring many others. Misinformation quickly spread on social media, claiming the attacker was Muslim, and had arrived in the UK on a small boat. (The police later confirmed that he was a UK citizen, born in Cardiff). And a large group of people gathered in the town, throwing bricks at police and the local mosque, setting fires and throwing bottles. The riots have spread to London, Rotherham, Middlesbrough, and other places across the UK. And the government and police are trying to stamp them out. It’s not going well. Black, Asian, Muslim people are being harassed and attacked. And a lot of the people in my circles are dismayed at the state of their country right now. That this sort of thing could happen. This short episode unpacks some of the reasons we're here - and how we can change direction. Sign up here to join The Soap Box Weekly email list, and access my webinar on How To Have Better Conversations. Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

What's the difference between being a little bit frazzled and needing just five minutes without anybody asking you questions to get back to equilibrium, and being in burnout?   My guest today is Carole Jean Whittington. She's a wellness trailblazer, and she specializes in burnout research and restoration for neurodivergent and disabled adults.  Her three-year global research led to the Whittington Burnout Inventory, offering insight into burnout. Her acclaimed talk show "Beyond Chronic Burnout" reaches 96 countries with over 550,000 listeners. And she's the author of "Unleashing Sustainable Energy".  Carole Jean guides individuals in mastering energy with science-backed methods. She fosters innovation and connection.  And she wants to beat burnout with relentless passion and boundless spirit.  Carole Jean is a master storyteller, and today you'll get to hear her story of how she discovered that she had autism and ADHD, her instinct to put others' needs before her own until her body wouldn't let her anymore. And how she went from feeling completely useless, to approaching her body like a science experiment and taking the time to rediscover who she was.  Carole Jean is passionate about helping people make their way out of burnout.You'll also hear:  -  how people running socially conscious businesses are likely to feel like they're headed towards burnout.   - how to recognize when you're in burnout and what stage you're in.   -  the research that Carole Jean is doing into burnout and how it manifests. Have a listen, and then head straight over and take Carole Jean's Spicy Pepper Level Burnout Quiz. Find Carole on her websiteReach out on LinkedIn Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

Does being enthusiastic feel a little bit cringe?  I don't know about you, but I grew up in a culture where being enthusiastic or passionate about anything was considered to be a little bit weird. It was not cool to be keen. It was cool to be jaded, To not get excited about anything,  Which is one of the reasons why talking to my guest today was so refreshing. Ellie Kime is a messaging mentor, helping small businesses explain who they are, what they do, and why they're so good at it. She also founded the Enthusiast and Co. A platform to encourage people to be more  unashamedly, unabashedly, enthusiastic, and to believe that caring is cool. So she's the perfect person to talk about passion and enthusiasm with. And as Ellie says in the podcast, enthusiasm is one of those things that really makes life worth living.  We talked about a whole bunch of stuff on the podcast, including digging into Ellie's dissertation on fangirls and how they were treated by the media, and my dissertation too.We discussed how enthusiasm could feel very frivolous but that, actually, it's an essential part of an activist's toolkit - one of the ways that we stay connected. We talked about how working in the wedding business gave Ellie insight into the psychology behind consumer behaviour. We talked about how we see women's hobbies and enthusiasms or their pastimes as having less value. And how this bleeds into the way we regard different people's businesses or their skills.  And we talked about how we reach for the big issues when people ask us what we care about. But that actually those seemingly niche causes - not only do they matter to you, but also they're a lot easier to get our teeth into and try and do something about.Oh, and Ellie introduces me to the patriarchy! (lolz)I had a lot of fun diving into Ellie's understanding of fangirls, into sexism, misogyny, football games,  and academic sugar daddies. So, yeah, strap in, grab a cup of tea, and listen to Ellie get on her soapbox.Get enthusiastic with Ellie hereOr discover her ick-free introductions hereSend her an email at ellie@eleanormollie.co.uk Find her on Instagram here Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

Is coaching just another navel-gazing pastime for middle-class women?Or is it an important tool for helping us build community and make societal change?That's the question on hand in this week's Soap Box episode.  This week I'm talking to Keri Jarvis.  Keri is an intersectional feminist developmental coach, a community activist, and a charity co founder.  Her best work happens when she's exploring relational dynamics with clients, deepening their understanding of themselves and others in the context of oppressive systems, so that they can sustain easier access to their healthy adult selves, and rehearse the future we're craving into being.  Keri is also possibly one of the smartest people I've talked to in a really long time. And the whole entire conversation blew my mind.Amongst a plethora of other things,  Keri talks to me about how coaching promises to be an antidote to the corporate world, but really just ends up reinforcing those systems, with a little bit of woo sprinkle on top.  We chat about how to navigate the discomfort that often comes with spending time on self development when the world is falling apart. And we explore living in the system whilst trying to break it apart.  If you've spent any time around the coaching industry, then a lot of the questions and the conundrums that we unpick in this podcast will be extremely relevant to you. And I'm hoping, and so is Keri, that this episode will give you a more positive perspective on the potential that coaching has to, be a rehearsal space for creating better relationships, , better movements and ultimately a better world. I'm convinced that you will love this episode, so I'm not even going to say that I hope you like it! So grab a cup of coffee, probably a notebook and sit back and enjoy Keri getting on her soapbox. Find Keri on Instagram Connect with her on LinkedInCheck out her community on The Portal Collective Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging

 I'm calling an amnesty today.  An amnesty on using the word authentic in your copy.  And I realize, having sat down and talked to today's guest, that I'm pretty much going to have to go back and rewrite large chunks of my own copying content.  But I hope that after today's chat, you'll understand why.  Today's guest and I think that the word authentic or authenticity has had its day. I'm talking today to Lauren Esmay.  Lauren is a copywriter who specializes in helping clients create a holistic framework to serve their clients and consumers better.  She's a PhD candidate in health psychology, and she's completed extensive research in self connection. And today, she's talking to me about how Webster's 2023 Word of the Year - Authenticity - is her personal soapbox.  Lauren and I talk about how experiencing the collective crisis of the pandemic has encouraged us all to be the truest versions of ourselves and how this has contributed to the rise of the personal brand.  We talk about how using the word authentic to describe yourself can end up being more divisive because you place your values and beliefs and opinions above everybody else, essentially saying that they're not authentic. We talk about how to do authenticity well,  how to build an online presence that is authentic in the true meaning of the word, and how to show that you're running an authentic business without liberally sprinkling the word all over your copy and content. So as someone who is about to go away and rewrite their website,  and find more creative ways of demonstrating that I run a business that is a true representation of myself and my values. I want to encourage you to think about how often you reach for this easy shorthand of words like authenticity or authentic and how we might be contributing to the co opting of a really important concept by those who are just trying to sell more stuff.Lauren's got a lot of interesting things to say and her background in health psychology makes this a really valuable conversation. So sit back, grab a cup of tea and listen to Lauren get on her soapbox. Find Lauren's website hereConnect with Lauren on LinkedIn here Looking for more? Join The Soap Box Community - Peta's membership for businesses with a social conscience is now FREE! Come and join us to survive the current torrid political context! Follow Peta on InstagramFind Peta on LinkedInHire Peta to work on your copywriting and brand messaging