Be honest - how is your poo?

My guest this week is Lisa Macfarlane, co-founder of The Gut Stuff, and she wants you to take better care of your gut. Lisa explains why gut health is so important, some easy wins to improve your own and why she went from Love Island DJ to gut evangelist.

We also talk about the nuts and bolts of scaling a business - from building a brand and community as market research for the business, to pre-seed and VC funding, and creating an ecosystem with 3 different business arms. Lisa is passionate about the policies we as business owners need to create to support women and their families, it’s so inspiring to hear.

And, of course, we talk about joy - Friday martinis and dips anyone?

Takeaways:

• Why gut health is so crucial for our overall well-being

• 3 things you can do to take care of your gut health

• Lisa’s career journey from theatre to Love Island DJ to The Gut Stuff

• Building resilience and the insecurity of the entertainment industry

• Creating a brand and community - followed by a business

• Pre-seed and VC funding

• Creating an ecosystem with 3 different business arms

• Why you shouldn’t compare your business to others

• Mat leave as a business owner, and creating policies that actually work for women

• Friday martinis and dips
  

Chapters:

01:00 Introduction to Gut Health and Personal Journeys
10:09 The Evolution of a Brand: From DJing to Gut Health
18:51 Funding and Building a Business in Gut Health
28:12 Navigating Work and Motherhood
33:29 The Importance of Maternity Policies
36:15 Understanding the Needs of New Mothers
40:20 Balancing Business and Family Life
43:46 Future Aspirations and Business Growth

Links:

Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

About Lisa Macfarlane

Lisa MacFarlane is co-founder of The Gut Stuff, Mum, bestselling author, Virgin Radio host, and yes, former Love Island: Aftersun DJ. Alongside her identical twin sister, Alana, Lisa made her name, DJing at major events from the Olympics to Simon Cowell's ball before landing a TV role that made them household names. But it was a chance decision to volunteer in gut health research at King College London that changed everything.

Despite sharing 100 % of their DNA, Lisa and Alana discovered their gut microbiomes were only 30 to 40 % similar, a finding that blew their minds and kicked off what's now become a nationwide movement. Their mission is to make gut health accessible, affordable, and most importantly, relatable. With a refreshingly no-nonsense approach, the Gut Stuff has become a trusted brand across books, workplace wellbeing, pop-ups, and the hit podcast Chatting Shit. Not only that, Lisa is a mum of one and pregnant with her second child.

Lisa Macfarlane’s Links:

Website: https://thegutstuff.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegutstuff
Instagram (The Mac Twins): https://www.instagram.com/themactwins/
Instagram (The Gut Stuff): https://www.instagram.com/thegutstuff

Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/