Really F*cking Trying

Episode 31 - April fools: flops, fails and fuck-ups - your stories

We’re back! And this one involves you guys 👀
When you run a small biz for any length of time, or do anything remotely creative, expect plenty of ‘Why the fuck did I do that?!’ moments 🤷‍♀️ To be honest… it’s basically in the job description at this point 😅
And of course, they’re frustrating - but they happen to ALL of us. So fuck it, let’s laugh about it instead.
From typos to misprints, social anxiety to spillages… we’ve covered it all. (Erm… we might’ve even had a minor crime confession 😳)

Episode 30 - Money, money, money: nothing funny in a small biz world

This week we’re finally tackling the topic we can’t avoid any longer (trust us, we’ve tried) - the financial side of running a small business.
From start-up costs and packaging expenses to keeping your business afloat, managing fluctuating material prices, staying on top of your finances, and facing the dreaded self-assessment… Nothing is off the table.
We’re also talking about why making a loss isn’t always a bad thing, and how the numbers behind your business don’t always tell the full story.
We’re getting honest about our own experiences, sharing the struggles we’ve faced and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
So whether your small business is thriving or you’re feeling like it’s been one long uphill climb - we get it. We’ve been there. & you’re not alone.
Let’s break down the barriers and start talking about money.

Episode 29 - Galentines: self-love, sisterhood and standing our ground

This episode has landed right between Galentine’s and International Women’s Day, so it felt like the perfect time to chat about female empowerment, and what it’s actually like being women in the small biz world.
We’re also joined by the lovely Caitlin from W0bblybits, who shares her story and her take on building a business as a woman doing things her own way.
We’re sharing our own experiences of working for ourselves (and for other people), the good, the bad, and the “oh what the fuck!?” moments. We talk about how the small business community can be such a supportive, inclusive space - but also how it’s very female dominated, and what that’s meant for us personally.
It’s honest, it’s reflective, and it’s basically a big chat about backing ourselves, learning as we go, and figuring it out together!

Episode 28 - Products: from making to marketplace

In this episode we’re joined by David from Wooden Heart Customs to chat about the glow-up from “I made this” to “people can actually buy this.”
We get into the difference between custom work vs reproducible products, the mistakes we’ve made along the way (yes, including bad orders and questionable decisions), and what it really takes to turn a handmade idea into something sellable.
If you’ve ever looked at something you made and thought “could this be a product?” - this one’s for you.

Episode 27 - One year in review: really fucking reflecting

In this episode we’re taking a moment to look back on our first full year of Really Fucking Trying.
We talk honestly about what the past year has actually looked like behind the scenes - the work that goes into planning, recording and releasing each episode, what surprised us, what was harder than we expected, and what we’ve learned along the way. From juggling creativity with consistency to figuring things out as we go, it’s very much been a year of trial, error, and doing our best.
We also chat about how it feels now, a year in - the confidence shifts, the doubts, the small wins, and why we’re still here, still trying. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into making a podcast, or you’re in your own “figuring it out” era, this one’s for you.
Thanks for being part of the journey so far.

Episode 26 - New year, same fuckery: kicking off another year

It’s a new year! Are we new people? Absolutely not.
In this episode, we’re kicking off another year the only way we know how: by rejecting “new year, new me,” ignoring resolutions, and accepting that we are simply carrying the same personalities and problems straight into January.
We chat about the weird pressure to reinvent yourself overnight, why we don’t do goals that make us miserable, and how January somehow feels about 6494302 days long. There’s no 5am routines here, no life glow-ups - just two small business owners easing into the year, lowering expectations, and embracing another 12 months of mild chaos.
If you’re already tired, haven’t set resolutions or are simply vibing at the same level as last year - welcome. You’re among friends.

Episode 25 - It's really fucking Christmas: fun, friends and festivity

It’s really fucking Christmas! 🎄✨For our Christmas special, we’re ditching the business chat and leaning fully into the festive chaos. We’re joined by the lovely Sas from Sassy Makes for a cosy catch-up all about fun, friends, and festive vibes. Expect laughs, Christmas opinions, tangents, and absolutely zero productivity chat. Grab a drink, get comfy, and come hang out with us.

Episode 24 - Merry bizmas: sanity, schedule and surviving the holiday hustle

It’s Merry Bizmas!
In this episode we’re joined by Chloe from Chloe Fluff Studios to talk all things festive chaos - the Christmas markets that drain your soul and your stock levels, the pressure to stay merry when you’re freezing your tits off behind your stall, and the big question: when the hell are we supposed to take a break?
We’re sharing the good, the bad, and the mildly unhinged parts of surviving the holiday hustle as small business gals.Pour yourself a hot choccy baileys, hide from your inbox, and come feel seen.

Episode 23 - Christmas chaos: products, promotion and postage panic

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… and for small business owners, that can only mean one thing: chaos.
In this episode, we sit down with Rosie from Rosie Roo Creations to chat about the highs, lows and absolute madness that comes with the festive season. From product planning and promotion to managing orders and navigating postage nightmares, we’re keeping it honest about what it’s really like behind the scenes.
A must-listen for any small business owner trying to survive (and hopefully enjoy) the busiest time of the year.

Episode 22 - Dodging distractions: the hocus pocus of maintaining focus

This week, we’re joined by Amy from Cornucopia Creative to chat all things focus - or, more accurately, our constant battle with not having any. From endless to-do lists and shiny new ideas to actually getting shit done, we’re sharing our biggest struggles, some magic tricks that help us concentrate, and a few chaotic stories along the way.
If your brain feels like a browser with 47 tabs open, this one’s for you. 💫