Summary

In this weeks episode Stuart and Ben chat with Shane Fitzgerald, owner of Fitzmark Workwear who shares his insights about running a family business, the challenges of balancing work and family life, and the importance of mental health. He discusses his journey in the workwear industry, the dynamics of parenting, and the value of personal service in business. Shane emphasizes the need for work-life balance and reflects on his experiences as a parent and entrepreneur, offering advice to others in similar situations.

If you want to contact the show, either leave us a comment or drop us an email to podcast@parentingbusiness.com. Please also make sure you leave us a review or any feedback about how we can improve the show for you.

Summary

In this weeks episode of The Parenting Business podcast, Stuart and Ben share their weekly low points, including canceled swimming lessons and the struggles of dealing with a teething baby. The conversation shifts to high points, celebrating successes in their personal and professional lives. Stuart then manages to propbably upset half the worlds population, in response to a question one of Ben's children has asked him. Then, just for a change, it's Stuart's turn to rant about holiday planning as a single parent, highlighting the lack of savings for single-parent families when booking vacations. They then chat about the costs of UK holidays versus trips abroad, and conclude with reflections on their experiences and future plans.

If you want to get in touch or come on the show and chat about your Parenting Business, please do either leave us a comment or email us at podcast@parentingbusiness.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Parenting Business Podcast

02:47 Navigating Parenting and Business Challenges

06:01 Personal Struggles: Leaking Roofs and Teething Babies

08:58 Highs and Lows of Parenting

12:01 Finding Balance: Holidays as a Single Parent

15:04 Celebrating Milestones: Kids in Sports

17:58 Engaging with the Audience: Listener Interaction

20:59 Seeking Sponsorship and Support

24:09 Work-Life Balance: Staff vs. Kids

27:00 Consumer Advice: Booking Holidays

30:01 Conclusion and Future Topics

32:16 The Cost of Family Holidays

34:43 Exploring UK Holiday Options

39:54 The Price of UK vs. Abroad Holidays

46:24 Consumer Advice for Family Holidays

49:33 Comparing European Holiday Parks

Summary

This week Stuart & Ben chat with Sarah Armson, the founder of Actifire, a fire safety consultancy. Sarah shares her journey from working in manufacturing fire doors to launching her own business, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship. She discusses the pivotal moment when she decided to leave her secure job to pursue her passion, driven by the desire to create a better work-life balance for herself and her family. Sarah emphasizes the importance of family support and the role of her business partner, Kieran, in her journey.

You can find out more about Sarah's passions at:

www.actifire.co.uk gardensofgiving.com

And, if you're looking out for support around social media and your children, visit positivesocial.org.uk

Please don't forget to leave us a review, comment and follow us. You can also email us directly at podcast@parentingbusiness.com

Keywords

fire safety, entrepreneurship, work-life balance, women in business, charity work, Actifier, Sarah Armson, Mansfield, youth work, family support, parenting, social media, business owner, work-life balance, youth work, Positive Social, TikTok, WhatsApp, Actifier, family

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?

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.

Summary

In this episode of the Parenting Business podcast, hosts Stuart and Ben discuss the challenges and joys of balancing parenting with running a business. They reflect on feedback from listeners, share personal highlights and low points from their week, and navigate the complexities of staff absence in their businesses. The conversation also touches on the emotional support needed in both parenting and business, and they humorously explore the absurdities of children's questions about the world.

Don't forget you can contact is directly by emailing podcast@parentingbusiness.com to share your thoughts, ideas, tips and if you're interested in coming on a show to share your journey, as both a business owner and parent.

Keywords

parenting, business, feedback, emotional support, personal stories, challenges, highlights, low points, staff absence, family

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.

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