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The Parenting Business

The Parenting Business

By: Stuart Malcolmson with Ben Lovejoy
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If you're a parent and you're in business, whether you own it or manage it, then this podcast is for you. Stuart and Ben are both multiple business owners trying to juggle work and family life. We discuss how things are going, the ups and downs of running businesses and how that affects weekly family life. We also talk about other things happening in the world, give our views on it and chat to other parents in business, to discover their stories, secrets, hints and tips for both better business and family life.Stuart Malcolmson with Ben Lovejoy Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • How Do You Tell A 5 Year Old The Dog's Dead?.. And Other Things
    Jun 11 2026

    Summary

    This week Stuart talks about breaking the worst news to a 5 year old and shares the way he did it. Ben talks about having a favourite child! And, the guys both share their other highs and lows of the past week, both in work and family lives.

    Ben also shares his Big Question and usual top quality *cough* Dad Joke.


    Don't forget that you can get in touch with us at The Parenting Business, with your questions, tips, advice and stories about how you balance being both a parent and business owner. Just either leave us a comment or send us an email to podcast@parentingbusiness.com


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Parenting and Business Balance

    02:03 Reflections on Wealth and Happiness

    02:55 Family Dynamics and Compliments

    04:47 Challenges of Parenting Boys vs. Girls

    05:45 The Struggles of Sugar-Free Living

    09:40 Highs and Lows of Car Ownership

    18:19 Dealing with Loss and Grief

    22:34 Processing Loss and Grief

    24:18 The Impact of Pet Loss on Children

    25:53 Comparing Loss: Pets vs. Humans

    28:05 Building Resilience Through Repeated Loss

    28:58 Navigating Grief in Children

    31:38 Coping Mechanisms During Difficult Times

    33:41 Lighthearted Moments Amidst Serious Topics


    Keywords

    parenting, family, personal stories, pet loss, life challenges, mental health, parenting tips


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    42 mins
  • Oh Dear! We Had To Cut The Episode Short So We Didn't Bore You!
    Jun 4 2026

    Summary

    In this weeks show, Stuart and Ben begin with their usual chat about highs and lows of their week, before moving on to sharing tips on helping kids sleep. Stuart then goes on a rant about the joys of trying to sell a vehicle and the inevitable "Tire Kickers"! There's of course the usual Big Question and Ben's Dad Joke, however it then starts to go a bit wrong as Stuart yet again starts to wind Ben up! The guys both decide, however, that it's better to save you from the nearly 2 hour conversation that ensued and cut this weeks episode short, so as not to bore you too much. Don't panic though, as you'll get to hear the full "discussion" in the comingw weeks!


    Don't forget to follow or subscribe to the show, to make sure you catch the latest episode every Thursday. Please also do feel free to get in touch, by either leaving us a comment or dropping an email to podcast@parentingbusiness.com

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    31 mins
  • How Do You Wind Up Ben?.. Tell Him He's Sh1t To His Staff!!
    May 28 2026

    Summary

    This week Stuart and Ben wittle on about the impact of hot weather on work and family life, the benefits of a four-day workweek, and practical tips for keeping staff cool during summer. They also share personal stories, humorous anecdotes, and insights on planning holidays and managing everyday challenges. Later on a very "lively" discussion also errupts when Stuart explores innovative ways to boost staff morale through unexpected acts of kindness, team-building activities, and performance recognition. They debate the effectiveness of small gestures like ice creams and cakes versus formal incentives, emphasizing the importance of genuine appreciation and team cohesion in a challenging business environment and Ben gets well and trult wound up!


    Don't forget the you can contact us with your dad jokes, Big Questions or strories about how you balance your Parenting Business. You can eiethr leave us a comment or send us an email to podcast@parentingbusiness.com

    Check out our new episode, out every Thursday!


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and weather chat

    01:24 Impact of hot weather on sleep and family life

    02:30 Small Gestures That Make a Big Difference

    03:17 Highs and lows: Weekend reflections

    04:03 Benefits of a four-day workweek

    04:45 The Effectiveness of Unexpected Rewards

    05:41 Tracking productivity after a long weekend

    06:14 Low: Family shopping chaos at Smith's Toy Store

    06:39 Performance Incentives vs. Genuine Appreciation

    08:38 Challenges of building toys and assembling trampolines

    09:56 Team Building Activities and Their Impact

    11:38 Old trampoline disposal and repair debates

    12:31 Balancing Cost and Effectiveness in Rewards

    12:53 Highs: Business picking up and holiday planning

    15:49 Creating a Culture of Recognition

    17:44 Planning summer holidays and managing work

    18:16 Challenges in Staff Engagement

    19:58 Six months of the Parenting Business podcast

    21:04 Practical Tips for Leaders

    23:14 Reflections on guest diversity and listener impact

    24:37 Conclusion: Building a Motivated Team

    26:31 Potential for live shows and listener interaction

    28:17 Humorous animal questions and jokes

    30:57 Managing staff wellbeing during hot weather

    34:05 Practical tips for staff hydration and treats

    36:29 Cost-effective ways to keep staff cool

    37:16 Closing thoughts and future plans - IT'S A LONG ONE!


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    1 hr and 15 mins
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