What do toddlers, menopause, franchising, and 90s dance music have in common?

Well Anne-Marie Martin the Founder of diddidance basically.

In this refreshingly real and we would say hilarious episode, our Anne-Marie and Ed dive headfirst into the chaos and joy of teaching little humans, navigating big life changes (hello, menopause), and making sense of the often misunderstood world of franchising.

From brutally honest toddlers to brutally misunderstood franchise models, nothing is off-limits. You'll hear why humour might be your best business tool, and why finding the right franchise is less about spreadsheets and more about soul-searching.

Packed with personal stories, and genuinely helpful insights, this episode is for anyone who's ever tried to build something meaningful whether it's a business, a brand, or just a dance routine that doesn't end in tears.

Expect laughs. Expect honesty. Expect the unexpected.

In this powerful episode, we dive into business, wellbeing, and the realities of franchise ownership with Fiona Marshall, a Swimtime franchisee who’s making waves in her local community.

Fiona opens up about the challenges of running a franchise, the emotional toll it can take, and how swimming, both as a sport and a business, has helped her and others find clarity, confidence, and connection.

From the mental health benefits of getting in the water to the importance of creating a supportive, authentic business culture, this episode is all about helping franchisees stop drowning… and start living.

Expect honest chat, heartfelt moments, and a refreshing take on what it really means to run a values-driven business.

We speak with Emma Bentley from Stagecoach Chichester, who started her franchise at the age of 26 a few weeks before she received a life changing diagnosis.

We talk about all things franchising, personal growth, and the impact of life experiences on decision-making.

We share emotional moments from award ceremonies, discuss the dynamics of family relationships in business, and explore the challenges and successes of running a franchise.

The chat also touches on the importance of safeguarding children in educational settings, the misconceptions surrounding franchising, and the need for better engagement with younger generations.

Emma's Track that best describes her - The Good Life by Tony Bennett

You can check out all the tracks on The Franchised Jukebox here: ⁠https://www.thefranchised.com/community/jukebox/

The Franchised Podcast kicks off with a bit of chaos, as Ben Brookes the Managing Director of Agency Express flips the script and starts by interviewing Ed! But it’s good chaos. The kind that sets the tone for an honest, open chat about what really matters in franchising and beyond.

Together, they dig into the behind-the-scenes reality of growing a franchise network, the mental pressures that come with leadership, and why vulnerability and authenticity make all the difference. It’s a conversation full of energy, insight and those moments that make you nod along in agreement.

They also touch on their shared love of music, from punk beginnings to tracks that hit deep and how it all ties back to the stories we carry, both in business and in life.

Ben's Track that best describes him - Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

You can check out all the tracks on The Franchised Jukebox here: https://www.thefranchised.com/community/jukebox/

What is The Franchised Podcast all about?

It's all about "Banging the Drum for Franchising"

Ed explains more on that in this "Trailer" if you can call it that, but you might just do better to save yourself 60 seconds of your day and just hit the "Follow/Subscribe" button to be notified about when the first episode is live!

It's a banger!

(Or just track Ed down on LinkedIn and ask him to email you when it's live...he'll love that.)

Enjoy the podcast and let us know what you think in the comments!