Really F*cking Trying

This week we’re getting into the nitty gritty of mental health - where the line sits between self-care and self-destruct, and how it actually feels to navigate it all while running a small business.

We’re joined by Katie from Mama Bear Creates for a real, open conversation about decision fatigue, coping mechanisms, the not-so-pretty sides of “self-care”, and what’s actually helped (and what hasn’t).

It’s honest, a bit messy, and pr...

We’re back! And this one involves you guys 👀

When you run a small biz for any length of time, or do anything remotely creative, expect plenty of ‘Why the fuck did I do that?!’ moments 🤷‍♀️ To be honest… it’s basically in the job description at this point 😅

And of course, they’re frustrating - but they happen to ALL of us. So fuck it, let’s laugh about it instead.

From typos to misprints, social anxiety to spillages… we’ve covere...

This week we’re finally tackling the topic we can’t avoid any longer (trust us, we’ve tried) - the financial side of running a small business.

From start-up costs and packaging expenses to keeping your business afloat, managing fluctuating material prices, staying on top of your finances, and facing the dreaded self-assessment… Nothing is off the table.

We’re also talking about why making a loss isn’t always a bad thing, and how th...

This episode has landed right between Galentine’s and International Women’s Day, so it felt like the perfect time to chat about female empowerment, and what it’s actually like being women in the small biz world.

We’re also joined by the lovely Caitlin from W0bblybits, who shares her story and her take on building a business as a woman doing things her own way.

We’re sharing our own experiences of working for ourselves (and for othe...

In this episode we’re joined by David from Wooden Heart Customs to chat about the glow-up from “I made this” to “people can actually buy this.”

We get into the difference between custom work vs reproducible products, the mistakes we’ve made along the way (yes, including bad orders and questionable decisions), and what it really takes to turn a handmade idea into something sellable.

If you’ve ever looked at something you made and th...

In this episode we’re taking a moment to look back on our first full year of Really Fucking Trying.

We talk honestly about what the past year has actually looked like behind the scenes - the work that goes into planning, recording and releasing each episode, what surprised us, what was harder than we expected, and what we’ve learned along the way. From juggling creativity with consistency to figuring things out as we go, it’s very ...

It’s a new year! Are we new people? Absolutely not.

In this episode, we’re kicking off another year the only way we know how: by rejecting “new year, new me,” ignoring resolutions, and accepting that we are simply carrying the same personalities and problems straight into January.

We cha...

It’s Merry Bizmas!

In this episode we’re joined by Chloe from Chloe Fluff Studios to talk all things festive chaos - the Christmas markets that drain your soul and your stock levels, the pressure to stay merry when you’re freezing your tits off behind your stall, and the big question: when the hell are we supposed to take a break?

We’re sharing the good, the bad, and the mildly unhinged parts of surviving the holiday hustle as smal...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… and for small business owners, that can only mean one thing: chaos.

In this episode, we sit down with Rosie from Rosie Roo Creations to chat about the highs, lows and absolute madness that comes with the festive season. From product planning and promotion to managing orders and navigating postage nightmares, we’re keeping it honest about what it’s really like behind the scenes.

A must-li...

Running a small business isn’t always cute packaging and loyal customers… sometimes it’s straight-up terrifying. In this episode, we’re reading out YOUR small biz horror stories - from nightmare clients and scammy “collabs” to the times you got completely ghosted after doing all the work.

It’s a mix of cautionary tales, chaos, and a bit of collective trauma - because if we can’t laugh (and cry) about it together, what’s the point?

Burnout is real, and sometimes it hits harder than we expect. In this episode, we get honest about our own struggles with burnout, sharing the moments that left us drained, overwhelmed, and questioning everything. We also dive into the techniques that actually work (for us) - how to stop burnout before it starts, shift your mindset, and pull yourself out of that rut when it hits.

We’re joined by Clare from Peach Swizzle, who shares...

So, you’ve started the biz… now what? In this second half of our two-part series, we’re talking all about what happens after the launch - the messy middle of actually growing a business. From setting (and re-setting) goals, to navigating those inevitable growing pains, to the good lessons we’ve picked up along the way, we’re spilling it all.

We’re also joined by the brilliant Becci from Palm House Studio, who shares her own journey...

Starting a business is equal parts exciting, terrifying, and a little bit chaotic — and in this episode we’re diving right into it. Building the Biz: Beginning Your Business Journey is the first in our two-part series on what it really takes to run your own thing.

We’re chatting about how we each got started, the messy beginnings that don’t always make the Instagram feed, and the lessons we learned in those early days. We’re also j...

How do you actually put a price on your creativity? In this episode we’re getting into the tricky world of money and pricing - how we price our own products, the mistakes we’ve made, and whether there’s really a secret formula to getting it right.

We’re joined by the brilliant Rachel from Pens and Needles, who shares her experience of finding confidence in her pricing, knowing your worth, and dealing with that awkward “is this too ...

This week, we’re revisiting markets – but this time, it’s all about the vibes. ✨ In part two of our markets series, we’re diving into the aesthetics of your stall: how to make your table stand out, the little details that make a big impact, and the dos and don’ts we’ve picked up from years of hauling stock and setting up shop.

From layouts and signage to those finishing touches that draw people in, we’re sharing the tips and tricks...

This week, we’re chatting all about what it actually feels like to restart after a creative break. Whether you pressed pause on your business, took time off for your mental health, or just lost your spark, this episode is your permission slip to rest, then start messy and come back imperfectly.

We’re joined by the brilliant Hollie from Designs by Hollie, who shares her experience of stepping away from her creative business and how ...

In this episode we’re joined by the brilliant Laura from Make A Daze to look back at one very chaotic time: the pandemic.

We’re talking pivots, panic, and figuring shit out on the fly. We’re unpacking how COVID turned our businesses upside down, or in some cases, even kick started them - and what we learned from it.

Whether you started a side hustle in lockdown, had to rethink everything overnight, or just love a good reinvention s...