Trailer- Hello Gorgeous!

It’s been a week of car trouble, Christmas preparations and unexpected wins. Charlotte shares the saga of returning Wendy after repeated engine warnings, and why she’s determined not to rush into choosing another car.As Black Friday approaches, she talks about the challenges small makers face when competing with big retailers, and why Brownie and the Bean would rather offer something special than slash prices. Plus, there’s a lost Apple Watch, a kind social-media connection, and a very welcome mince-pie moment when Ruth Langsford names their pies her favourite luxury mince pies.A candid, warm-hearted check-in on the ups and downs of small-business life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darlings, it's all been a bit much. Charlotte is back from half term with a business gone "bananas". There have been orders from Good Housekeeping and Woman & Home, and an ITV daytime Christmas special is coming up. The seasonal rush is about to begin.Whisk:Charlotte is trying to protect her peace, body, mind and soul while life gets frantic. She talks about summer Christmas prep, an empty freezer, too much tea and too little water. She also admits she finds it hard to say no to speaking requests, and she plans to block out a whole day for the phone calls that follow a TV appearance.Wipeout:Charlotte and Bean Daddy marked their 10th wedding anniversary in Brussels, and almost everything went wrong.A King's Cross car park that wouldn't let them book.A 3:59am parking renewal.A budget hotel with "a symphony" of giant rats outside the window.An Apple Watch left on the Eurostar.Austerity protests that cut the trip short.Win:Despite all that, the trip was lovely. They had brunches, croquettes and champagne on the street, tens of thousands of steps and a rare chance to be just the two of them again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode descriptionA luxury bakery brand has the kind of week most small businesses dream about and the kind that can still go sideways in a heartbeat. Charlotte shares a mix of magazine recognition, a surge in demand and a pop-up mishap that put the realities of business logistics into sharp focus. She talks about what can happen when press attention drives a rush of orders, why growth can bring its own pressures and how saying yes to everything isn’t always a victory. Along the way, she reflects on the challenges of a seasonal business, a meaningful Black History Month invitation connected to her family history and a chaotic London trip involving a broken suitcase and too much stock to carry. It’s a candid, funny look at the highs, setbacks and behind-the-scenes realities of running a small business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A whirlwind week of business wins, media buzz, and a truly chaotic trade-show escape. If you need a reminder that small business life can go from “nothing happening” to “everything at once” in a single week, this one is for you. Charlotte shares the highs and lows behind a run of major moments: a much-loved ITV1 daytime show asking to feature the brand’s products in a Christmas special, Good Housekeeping recognition, Woman&Home naming their mince pies best luxury mince pie, and the surreal feeling of watching years of effort pay off all at once. She also takes you behind the scenes at the UK Black Business Show, where the atmosphere was electric, the people were inspiring, and the event sparked meaningful conversations about visibility, community, and seeing what’s possible when more businesses are given a platform. From celebrity energy in the room to the joy of meeting founders, artists, authors and young people asking sharp questions, it’s a genuine celebration of Black entrepreneurship and creative momentum. You’ll also hear the full disaster-story version of trying to leave the Excel Centre after dark: a dead van battery, road closures, a missing hotel route, a heroic stranger with a jumpstart, and Bean Daddy dressed for survival in a pink-trimmed coat and sparkly t-shirt. Charlotte also opens up about the practical chaos of scaling a business, from printers breaking down to exhibition stand design that looked great on paper but not in reality.This episode captures what it really feels like when opportunity, pressure, and gratitude all arrive together. It’s funny, honest, and full of the kind of behind-the-scenes reality that founders will recognise immediately. Perfect for anyone building a business, chasing Christmas sales, or needing a reminder that progress often looks messy before it looks magical.See their wins in Good Housekeeping Magazine:https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/food-reviews/g23832437/best-mince-pies-christmas/https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/food-reviews/g23819182/best-yule-log-for-christmas/www.brownieandthebean.com@brownieandthebean Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte shares a lively update from Brownie and the Bean - including a major award win, the unexpected costs behind glossy gift guides, and preparations for the UK Black Business Show. She also celebrates the joy of second-hand fashion for awards season, then gets honest about the Q4 juggle: protecting her energy, navigating overwhelm, and finding small ways to recharge when business gets busy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mama Bean shares the shock behind getting an award-worthy Christmas product featured in a beloved magazine, plus the eye-watering fees, affiliate schemes and paid placement mechanics that quietly shape what ends up in print. She also pulls back the curtain on the reality of working as a content creator while running a business and parenting at full speed. From brand approval cycles and compliance edits to filming across seasons, wearing the same outfit for weeks, and trying to juggle deadlines around family life, this episode is a brutally honest look at how much effort goes into “simple” ads and UGC content. Mama Bean also opens up about the chaos of back-to-school season, the avalanche of WhatsApp groups and club sign-ups, and the mental load that comes with being the planner in a family where nothing ever stays neatly under control. It’s funny, candid, and unexpectedly eye-opening if you’ve ever wondered how businesses get featured in glossy magazines or what content creators are really navigating behind the scenes. Essential listening if you’re a small business owner, a creator, or anyone who’s ever looked at a magazine feature and assumed it happened by chance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've finally gone and done it!Whisks, wins and wipeouts! Coming soon... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the show this week, we delve into the October flavours, glossy mag gift guides and this one thing that drives me absolutely crazy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.