From Teen Mum to Skincare Queen: How Bees (and Grit) Changed Everything

Episode Overview:

This week’s episode is absolutely buzzing — and not just because we’re talking bees. Meet Emma: ethical beekeeper, skincare alchemist, and proof that you don’t need GCSEs or a conventional path to build something extraordinary. From being a teen mum navigating the stigma, to cold-calling for dodgy kitchen companies (yep, we went there), Emma’s journey is anything but beige.

She’s built a legacy from raw honey and raw grit, and if you’ve ever thought your life was too messy to build something meaningful — think again. Emma proves that the wildest journeys often make for the sweetest success.

Think success looks like a neat CV, a degree, and a 5-year plan?

Wrong. Sometimes it looks like telesales in a smoke-filled office, accidental skincare breakthroughs in your kitchen, and bee stings to the face.

🐝 Top Takeaways & Unfiltered Wisdom:

• You don’t need a straight path to build something extraordinary. Emma left school with no qualifications and still built a thriving business from scratch — no trust fund, no silver spoon, just tenacity.
• Your ‘mess’ might just be your magic. Bipolar disorder, ADHD tendencies, and a fierce amount of curiosity became Emma’s superpower — not her setback.
• Good skincare doesn’t come from supermarket bottles. It comes from natural ingredients, real honey, and understanding that your face wash might be the actual villain.
• Detours = Lessons. Emma’s career path: telesales ➝ Autotrader ➝ Halifax ➝ Mars Chocolate ➝ bees and balms. Every job taught her something. Every one of them mattered.
• Ethics over ego. From refusing to clip her queen bees’ wings to creating products with purpose, Emma’s approach is unapologetically values-led. No fluff. No BS.
• You’re allowed to challenge “the way it’s always been done.” Especially when "the way" involves mutilating bees or overloading your skin with chemicals.
• Start where you are. She didn’t have a 10-step strategy. She had a breakout, some honey, and a gut instinct — and she followed it.

Quote of the Episode:

"If I didn't have bipolar disorder, I wouldn’t be doing what I do. My so-called weakness is actually my superpower." – Emma

Support the podcast by heading to www.shedareswins.com

Use discount code POD10 for 10% off all badass merch — including the T-shirt Emma walked away with: She Came, She Saw, She Conquered.

Bonus Content:

Want more Emma? Of course you do. Head to Substack or Patreon for exclusive access to her quick-fire bonus round — from beekeeping myths to the one skincare ingredient you’re wasting your money on.

Final Mic Drop:

This episode is a masterclass in daring to do things differently — even if everyone else thinks you're nuts. Whether you're building a brand, raising a child, or just trying to figure out your next step, Emma's story will hit you square in the motivation gland.

Because let’s be real — sometimes you’ve got to take the sting to make the honey. 🐝💪

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