In this episode of The Parenting Business, hosts Stu 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