Summary

This week, Ben rants about white van drivers and the guys chat with their very first guest, Mark Goldby, exploring his journey from a farm upbringing to a successful ice hockey career and later transitioning into business leadership. Mark shares insights on resilience, teamwork, and the importance of a strong work ethic, as well as the challenges he faced when buying a business and navigating crises. The discussion also touches on parenting and the value of support networks in both personal and professional life.

If you want to join us on the show, please get in touch via podcast@parentingbusiness.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:47 Early Life and Ice Hockey Journey

05:52 Transition from Sports to Business

08:53 Leadership Lessons from Ice Hockey

12:12 Career Progression at Siemens

14:48 The Leap to Entrepreneurship

18:06 Challenges of Business Ownership

21:06 Navigating Crisis and Resilience

24:01 Support Systems and Networking

28:23 Reflections on Parenting and Life Lessons

29:56 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

Keywords

ice hockey, business leadership, entrepreneurship, resilience, career progression, teamwork, parenting, networking, life lessons, personal growth

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

In this episode of The Parenting Business, Stuart and Ben ramble on about plans for the New Year and theri thoughts on resolutions.

As usual, Ben has a moan about anything he can and upsets another sector of people, as they also discuss how they manage their own faith in their futures, when things get tough, as well as making a commitment to the future of the show throughout 2026!

If you're wanting to ask any questions, share stories or maybe even join us on an episode, please get in touch at podcast@parentingbusiness.comAnd, don't forget to click to follow us for a new show every Thursday! Your involvement and support may also make a difference to another persons life.

Find out a few things about what we're going to be up to in 2026 and catch up on our previous episode on Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you're wanting to ask any questions, share stories or maybe even join us on an episode, please get in touch at podcast@parentingbusiness.com

Listen in on New Years day for our first episode of 2026.

In this episode of The Parent in Business podcast, hosts Stuart and Ben discuss the stresses and joys of the Christmas season as parents. They share personal anecdotes about family activities, the challenges of managing expectations, and the emotional complexities of single parenting during the holidays. The conversation also touches on the importance of reaching out for support and finding ways to enjoy the festive season without added pressure.

Chapters

00:00 The Juggling Act of Family and Business

04:00 Christmas Preparations and Family Dynamics

11:50 Anticipating Christmas Day: Plans and Expectations

19:58 Christmas Traditions and Celebrations

26:08 The Cost of Memories: Photography and Family Portraits

28:04 The Challenges of Photography Pricing

29:58 Christmas Preparations and Family Dynamics

31:59 The Gender Divide in Holiday Planning

33:57 Navigating Christmas Alone

36:58 Mental Health and the Holidays

39:58 Finding Joy Amidst Loneliness

43:04 Tips for Surviving Family Christmas

45:56 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

Keywords

Christmas, parenting, family, stress, business, holidays, traditions, single parenting, expectations, mental health

In this episode of The Parenting Business, hosts Stuart and Ben discuss their recent experiences, including family activities and the challenges of balancing work and personal life during the busy Christmas season. They delve into the importance of mental health, coping strategies, and the value of networking and support systems for business owners. The conversation also touches on influential books and music that have impacted their lives, culminating in a light-hearted conclusion about the holiday season and its stresses.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Updates

02:41 Christmas Preparations and Family Activities

05:32 Business Challenges and Christmas Shutdowns

11:05 Mental Health and Coping Strategies During Christmas

20:23 Reflections on Personal Growth and Family Dynamics

28:30 Perspective on Bad Days

31:17 The Importance of Mentorship

33:31 Networking for Support

38:09 Music and Mental Health

43:24 Influential Books and Biographies

50:39 Reflections on Aging and Life Experiences

Keywords

parenting, business, Christmas, mental health, family activities, networking, personal growth, influential books, music, employee wellbeing

Stuart realises just how much of a "bah, humbug" Ben is when it comes to Christmas and his wife's upcoming birthday and asks "Whatever happened to the Argos catalogue?" and how to kids write their Christmas present list now?.

This week the guys also chat a little more about Ben's business (Quicktex), what else they've been up to with their kids, in the run up to Christmas and why businesses offer discounts at this time of year?

We catch up following Rachel Reeves Autumn 2025 Budget, to chat about what they think of it and how they think it will affect them, in a (not so) special bonus episode.

They ramble about what happened and how they think it will affect the world and their lives as parents and small business owners.

Don't forget to please subscribe, so you can always be up to date with our latest ramblings. You can also leave us a comment and reviews are always welcome.

Summary

In the inaugural episode of The Parenting Business podcast, hosts Stuart and Ben Lovejoy share their personal journeys as fathers and business owners. They discuss the challenges of balancing parenthood with entrepreneurship, the importance of mental health support, and the lessons learned from their respective business failures. The conversation highlights the need for open communication about struggles in both parenting and business, and the hosts express their desire to build a supportive community for parents navigating similar challenges. They also outline their plans for future episodes, inviting listeners to share their stories and experiences.

Takeaways

Both hosts share their backgrounds in business and parenting.

Ben discusses his journey from outdoor activities to textiles.

The importance of mental health support for parents and business owners.

Navigating the challenges of becoming a parent while running a business.

The significance of finding support during tough times.

Lessons learned from business failures and restructuring.

Advice for business owners struggling with debt and mental health.

The need for open communication about mental health in parenting.

The impact of becoming a dad on personal and professional life.

Future plans for the podcast to support parents in business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Parenting Business Podcast

03:01 Ben Lovejoy's Business Journey

05:47 Transitioning from Outdoor Activities to Textiles

08:45 The Challenges of Becoming a Parent

11:44 Navigating Business and Parenthood

14:38 Mental Health and Business Struggles

17:25 The Impact of Becoming a Dad

20:10 Finding Support in Tough Times

23:09 Lessons Learned from Business Failures

26:09 Advice for Struggling Business Owners

28:54 The Importance of Communication and Support

31:41 Looking Ahead: Future Podcast Plans

Keywords

parenting, business, mental health, entrepreneurship, support, challenges, fatherhood, business journey, resilience, community