The Countrywoman’s Guide to Work, Life & You…

We asked the CWG team a question this week.

What are the best words of encouragement you’ve ever been given?

Why? Because today is National Encouragement Day. A bit cliché, we know, but it also feels like a rather good excuse to stop for a moment and think about something we believe in all year round.

Encouragement can come in all sorts of forms. It might be someone giving you the confidence to just go for it, a nudge when you’ve found yourself stuck, or simply a reminder that you’re actuall...

What happens when an agriculture graduate decides she doesn’t want to be a farmer, dreams up a fabric business, gets turned down for funding… and ends up becoming a full-time artist instead?

Well, you get Tilly Lock Art.

This week on the Countrywoman’s Guide podcast, Emma sits down with Tilly Lock to talk about the rather unexpected route that took her from studying agriculture and working in interior design to building a creative business of her own.

Tilly had always loved art and design, but it wasn’t initially the plan. After un...

On Monday 17th August, we held our first CWG Community Zoom, and the following Thursday evening we landed in your inbox with a brief insight into just what our Membership Community could offer you. On today’s Podcast and through this article, we’re exploring the membership even further. Diving deeper into its offerings, and shining a light on the discussions we had during our call.

Monday was simply an opportunity for those who have been following along with Countrywoman’s Guide to hear more about what we’re creating through our newly launched membership and, perhaps most imp...

So here we are.

I’ve switched on the Paid Membership for Countrywoman’s Guide, quietly and without a lot of fanfare, because we want you to have the space to decide if we’re the right group for you, rather than we hustle you in and you realise we’re not.

I’ve chatted in the video above about why we’re doing what we do, and how we believe that a group with a mutual aim of helping each other to move forward can help you in your day-to-day lives.

So what’s going...

Some businesses begin with a five-year plan, months of arranging, organising and every fall back plan put in place before they even begin.

Others begin with a couple of suitcases full of jackets. And that is more or less how the amazing Peshawar Jackets came about.

The business was born from a connection between Pakistan and the British countryside, when founder Bertie Alexander returned from running riding holidays in the Hindukush Mountains with beautiful Chitrali-style jackets they quickly attracted attention from everyone who saw them.

Lucy joined the business almost by accident, bringing...

There’s a lot more to Chapman than just making very good bags, as we discovered when we first met Cedric at Badminton Horse Trials in the early May of this year.

What began as simply admiring the quality and craftsmanship of the products on their stand, grew into an inspiring conversation around building a business that cares deeply about their values, materials, quality and customer experience. Not only was it a new brand that we wanted to introduce to our Countrywoman’s Guide community, but also a story we had knew we wanted to explore further and...

So today it feels appropriate that I write you a letter, from my kitchen table to yours…

If I had your addresses, I would have written you an ‘in-real-life’ letter that would have plopped onto your doormat and delighted you as you flipped through your post and realised it wasn’t a bill and that someone had taken the time to write your name and address by hand.

Because that’s what Countrywoman’s Guide feels like to me - a reminder that considered moments are important and need to be honoured.

So, my dear read...

There are some podcast conversations that leave you thinking long after you’ve finished recording, and today’s brilliant episode with Megan Haigh is certainly one of them.

Megan describes herself as a fledgling business owner. After being made redundant during covid, she found herself starting again, and discovering a love for a new hobby that gradually evolved into the business we see before us today. A business inspired by the English garden and the countryside she calls home.

But what struck us wasn’t simply her creativity, it was the honesty with which she spoke...

This week I’m joined by Somerset farmer, ruminant nutritionist and newly crowned Dalemain World Marmalade Champion, David Hinkins.

After his wife spotted the competition in Country Life magazine and entering it for eleven years, David finally achieved what many would have given up on long ago, winning the World Marmalade Championships with his Seville Orange and Passion Fruit Marmalade. Not only did he win gold, he became the overall champion, earning a place on the shelves of Fortnum & Mason and helping raise money for charity through every jar sold.

But this conversation isn’t real...

50 episodes, countless stories and one incredible community - that sounds like something to celebrate doesn't it!

As Emma admits in this week’s podcast, she didn’t even know if Countrywoman’s Guide would make it this far, just like any new venture you always doubt at the beginning whether it will work out, how well it will be received, will people actually like it? But here we are 50 episodes later, and more importantly 50 conversations later, with people who have generously shared their stories, their lessons and the realities of building a life and a business in the co...

This week I’m joined by Tess Annan, whose mum founded Welligogs 26 years ago, starting with hand-painting wellington boots around the kitchen table. Today Tess is leading the next generation of the business, balancing fresh ideas with the heritage that made customers fall in love with the brand in the first place.

We talk about everything from navigating Covid, building an online business, designing clothes women genuinely want to wear, and why creating timeless pieces matters more than chasing trends. Along the way we also explore the realities of running a small family business, the jo...

Lucy Scudamore is one very driven lady and as we heard last time we chatted, her juggling skills have to be supremely efficient to fit everything in.

Given that she only started her business last year and had been really busy during the 2025 Game season, Lucy was expecting the Defender Deli to slow down a bit out of season especially as her other equestrian job is busier in the summer.

But it seems that Lucy’s adoring customers extend out from her usual circle and she’s been catering everything from corporate lunches and private even...

This week’s guest is Katy Theakston from The Owl and the Apothecary.

Now, depending on your perspective, the words witch and wild woman in the introduction may either intrigue you or make you slightly nervous.

But you needn’t worry, there’s no hex throwing or cliched pointy hats in this conversation - as long as you too love nature and the countryside, you’re going to find common ground as you listen.

As Katy & I chatted together, I realised that whilst Katy speaks about nature, seasons, ritual and wildness, I often talk abo...

Jacob Lockwood of Lockwood Smocks was a career soldier in the Coldstream Guards and set to stay there for life.

Until he got restless and extremely fed up of consistently getting soaked through on exercise, and he became convinced that he could make something better.

That started him on a journey that led to him and his ever-supportive partner Ruth starting Lockwood Smocks, a business that has consumed their lives somewhat. However, thanks to Jacob’s social media skills - which as he himself says, is just sharing and telling their story as they go...

This week I’m joined by author, illustrator and entrepreneur Hannah Russell.

Many people will know Hannah through Little Alf, the miniature Shetland pony who first inspired a series of children’s books that went on to become bestsellers. What began as a blog written during recovery from a serious back injury has grown into a career spanning 20 published books, a thriving creative business and a loyal community of readers.

But this conversation goes far beyond books.

Hannah shares the twists and turns of a career that has evolved through opportunity, challenge and a wi...

I’d seen Lancashire-based footwear brand Lanx pop up on the show circuit that we’re on with Hiho, and their boots have become firm favourites with the menfolk in my family, but I didn’t really know that much about the brand.

So when I was thinking of people to interview for the Making Stuff Up channel I was presenting for Do Radio, Marv immediately came to mind.

At the end of the 2025 show season, I sat down with Marv for a chat and it’s time to share it with you, our CWG Communit...

Eleanor Mills is a Founder, Speaker, Bestselling author, Award-winning journalist (ex Editorial Director of the Sunday Times and Editor of the Sunday Times Magazine) - and now the UK’s premier expert on all things midlife.

After a 30-year career at the top of British journalism, including senior roles at the Sunday Times, Eleanor suddenly found herself out of the corporate world at 50 - a huge shift that forced her to rethink identity, purpose and what the next chapter might look like.

As a result, Eleanor founded NOON.org.uk, a media platform and 50K+ co...

We’re no Monty Don (sadly!), and this certainly isn’t Gardeners World…

But we do have a great little suggestion for your bank holiday weekend in case you were having a think about how to spend your time. Plus it may require a pre-planting trip to the garden centre…which can also involve coffee and cake. A match made in heaven for a spring weekend!

There is something rather special about planting some plug plants on a mid-May weekend, after the frosts of winter are a thing of the past. Nestling seedlings of tomatoes, courgett...

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this conversation isn’t for you because you don’t need to know how to make sure that your message lands well, because in so doing you will miss out on a whole raft of great life advice.

This week on Countrywoman’s Guide, Emma sits down with presenter, actor and communications expert Dominic Colenso to talk about leadership, clarity and how to communicate in a world full of noise.

From starring in the Thunderbirds movie to coaching senior leaders and sales teams, Dominic shares how the lessons...

This episode was originally recorded as part of a series of interviews that I did for Do Radio, which they have generously allowed me to share with you, and I’m so pleased they did because the insights in these conversations are golden.

Sarah James has been organising multi award-winning arts festivals for over 22 years. She is Managing Director and founder of non-profits Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey, Cheltenham and Cardigan.

She also co-founded and produced Nourish Festival (Food, Craft & Music) for 10 years until 2023.

She founded Find a Maker and popular podcast, The Capital of...

Introduction

One of the great things about hosting a podcast is that you get to chat to lots of people! I’m always curious to hear how people came to be doing what they do and it seems that serendipity often plays a big part in shaping careers!

Timmy is no exception to this and becoming a multi-disciplined therapist happened organically after she qualified as a sports therapist. She then went on to gain her equine and canine qualifications and is currently studying for a further qualification - she is one busy lady!

Ou...

So, it was an absolute treat to have an hour with him as part of my recent stint as a Do Radio presenter.

David builds brands from nothing with next to nothing. Having spent a decade of his early years at Saatchi & Saatchi, he left to build his own brands.

He was one of the founders of Howies in the 1990’s, which he exited via a trade sale to Timberland in the mid-2000’s.

In 2008, he and Claire started the Do Lectures. The idea was a simple one. Gather together the world’s leadin...

In this episode, Sue Pryke shares her inspiring journey through ceramics, from learning how to cut leeks to prescribed lengths for supermarkets in her father’s business as a youngster, to working at Wedgwood and subsequently establishing her own design studio.

She explores the importance of heritage craft skills, balancing industry with handmade quality, and how her upbringing influenced her meticulous approach and love for design and the ability to produce beautifully designed and ergonomic pieces at scale.

Key Topics:

* Sue’s early passion for pottery sparked by A-level coursework in the 1980s

I’ve known Dan Kieran for a little while now and first came across him when I read his book Do Start - How to Create and Run a Business (that doesn’t run you). It’s a great read and I loved the way he talked about his journey through starting and running a business.

Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur and author. We’re both members of the Do Lectures community and connected on Linkedin, but our conversations started after I watched a presentation that Dan gave about his thoughts on Leadership.

In it, he discu...

This episode was one I originally recorded for Do Radio, who have very kindly said I can also share the podcasts with you.

As with the other ‘Do’ conversations, the interviews are so rich with honesty about the entrepreneurial journey and so rich with wisdom and experience that they match up really well with the things that we talk about on our CWG podcasts.

I am so pleased to introduce you to Mandy Powell, who started The Goodwash Company at her farm kitchen table in 2018, creating an ethical Welsh skincare brand for humans and dogs.

Kresse Wesling, CBE, is a multi-award winning environmental entrepreneur. After first meeting the London Fire Brigade in 2005, Kresse launched Elvis & Kresse, which rescues and transforms decommissioned fire hose into innovative lifestyle products and returns 50% of profits to the Fire Fighters Charity.

The company now collects 12 different waste streams and has several charitable partnerships and collaborations across industries.

In 2021, Kresse and Elvis, her business and life partner, also took on a farm in order to establish a regenerative agriculture project, generate their own renewables and implement a host of environmental initiatives.

Talking to Kresse...

If you’re an ambitious entrepreneur scaling your business or you’re feeling stuck and can’t quite see where to go, then this interview with Les McKeown that I originally recorded for Do Radio should be on your list of things to listen to this week.

Les developed his own trademark @predictablesuccess model and has worked with thousands of people running businesses over the years, so his insights are profound.As Les himself says, “if you truly want to not just grow, but scale your organization, then I can help you achieve, accelerate and sustain that growth.”...

I’ve known Lara for a few years now. She first popped up on my radar when she approached me to ask for advice about running her holiday let business at Combe Head House because she’d seen Dimpsey and knew that we were nearby. We met up and have become friends, chatting about business and life in general when we see each other.

With three generations living together, two small children, properties to renovate and a holiday let business to build - Lara is a very busy lady and, like many of our interviewees, her instagram is a...

Over Winter 2025, I hosted the Making Stuff Up Channel on Do Radio for 12 episodes, Do Radio is a new initiative which was the brainchild of David Hieatt and a fabulous team of people who came together to make it happen.

Do Radio is a radio station for people who believe in the power of doing something. Featuring thought-provoking shows from inspiring minds, over the eight channels there is always a show to listen to throughout the day and night.

It’s been an absolute privilege being an early part of the team and I’ve had...

Lucy Scudamore is one busy lady!

I first came across Lucy on her Defender Deli instagram, on a reel talking through a veritable feast of delicacies that she was serving from the back of her specially converted Landrover Defender.

Coronation pheasant, pheasant and stuffing sausage rolls, sticky mustard sausages - just her descriptions made me want to go and make some for my lunch!

Plus being a Landrover and picnic fan myself, I loved the fact that this wasn’t just a couple of picnic baskets in the back of the Landrover - th...

I met Sam Cooper-Gray last year at an event for the launch of the HSBC Fearless and Thriving report about midlife female entrepreneurs, which was researched by Eleanor Mills from Noon.

Sam was so passionate about raising both the profile of, and access to funding for, female entrepreneurs and the words that she spoke to the assembled room stuck with me for many weeks afterwards.

Shortly after we met, Sam made the transition from 25 years in the banking world and became an entrepreneur, establishing her own business, The Wisdom Studio, which was a big change...

🌿 Discover the beauty of rural creativity with Kate Cullen.

I finally met Kate at an event run by Charlie Dobbs and Matilda Carr earlier this year, having followed her on instagram for some time. We only had time for a brief chat but just before Christmas, Kate came down to Dimpsey in Somerset and took some beautiful photos for Dimpsey and Fablefaine, her location listing website.

After we finished the shoot, Kate sat down with me for a mug of tea and a chat for the CWG podcast.

Kate’s journey has been an in...

Georgia Tanner (who edits our articles and does a lot of our social media) and I had a meeting this week to discuss upcoming content for CWG.

As part of that meeting, we were talking about the CWG lunch we held recently and all that we have learnt over the past year of working together.

CWG has changed during that time, and to set us up ready for next year Georgia asked me if I could note down what CWG is to me and some of our values and how I see them working together.<...

I used to suffer from this too…

And it took me a lot of years to get the past tense into the above statement!

* When I was in the corner at a family function, on the phone, frantically gesticulating that I would be done soon - my heart was torn in two. I felt I was being ‘less than’ at doing my job, because I wasn’t fully present, I felt I was being ‘less than’ at being a family member, because I wasn’t fully present.

I’d look around the room at everyone else...

I’ve got to be completely honest with you and say that when I started doing the podcast I wasn’t sure exactly how many episodes there would be.

* Would I find enough people to talk to?

* Would you be interested enough to listen?

* Could I handle doing the tech side of things?

Well, happily none of the above provided to be a problem, our interviewees have been unfailingly generous in sharing their experience and knowledge and the CWG podcasts have become one of my very favourite things to do, so we h...

I first came across Rock and Ruby socks when Ruby approached me about a collaboration with Dimpsey, my shepherd hut stay business.

I took a look at Ruby’s website and loved her whole British-made ethos and the fact that her strapline talks about them being designed to last and to bring little moments of joy to the everyday.

Socks for those who live thoughtfully…

Handcrafted cotton and wool socks designed to last and bring little moments of joy to the everyday.

As an entrepreneur myself, I love looking at brands and...

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down in a hand-built bow-top caravan with Sophie Allen - boatbuilder, wool-spinner, lambing shed assistant, cyclist, and explorer of paths less trodden. She’s also my goddaughter, so I’ve had the joy of watching her journey unfold from the very beginning.

Sophie’s story winds from a geography degree at Bristol to a stable graduate role in the Civil Service - and the moment she realised that comfortable wasn’t the same as aligned. What followed was a brave leap into a life built around curiosity, craft, and connecti...

I’m Tanya Lynch, a mother, a ridgeback owner and the founder of Ease Retreats. I love what I do, collaborating with authors and creatives, hosting retreats in beautiful venues across the UK. Most recently I launched The Bibliotherapists podcast with my co-host Toni Jones. I’m also a therapeutic journalling coach and through my programme ‘Rage on a Page’, I help midlife women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative in less than 60 days. Each Thursday I host an online journaling club ‘Journal with Ease’ If you have any questions about the benefits of therapeutic journalling, please reach...

Eva Humphries is a Nottingham-based nutritionist (BANT-registered and CNHC-accredited) with over nine years of clinical experience and an MSc in Clinical Nutrition.

After switching careers from IT, she founded Wholefood Warrior to champion a down-to-earth, science-backed approach to healthy eating.

Eva specialises in metabolic health, including type 2 diabetes and geriatric nutrition, and works across the UK delivering personalised consultations, corporate wellness programmes, and sector-specific nutrition support.

She’s a regular contributor to national publications and food events, blending evidence with humour to make nutrition accessible. Her recipes, retreats, and demos all share the sa...

For our 21st episode, we thought that it would be nice to go behind the scenes and get two of the team chatting together about our recent lunch, and a topic that it seems, strikes fear into the heart of many people - facing that camera and smiling while the shutter clicks away.

First off, at the end of June we held our inaugral CWG lunch. It’s really important to us that we’re bringing you content that you want to see, so we invited a few of our local readers to come and have lunch with...