In this episode of Dream Business, Dream Life, Emma is joined by Madeleine Cordes, founder of Maddie4Music, to explore how music can transform lives, build confidence, and create deep community impact while still being a sustainable, purpose-led business.

Madeleine shares her journey from a corporate career to building a thriving music business alongside it, driven by a desire to give people access to music they may never have had. From community choirs and adult learners to care homes, dementia support, and rehabilitation settings, Maddie4Music is about far more than learning to sing...it’s about wellbeing, belonging, and finding your voice.

The conversation dives into the powerful role music plays in memory, confidence, and emotional expression, including moving stories from care homes, dementia care, and brain injury rehabilitation. Madeleine also reflects honestly on running a passion-led business, setting boundaries, learning when to say no, and growing sustainably through delegation.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in purpose-driven business, creative entrepreneurship, community impact, or the profound link between music and wellbeing.

Key Topics Covered:

• Building a purpose-led business alongside a corporate career
• How music supports confidence, wellbeing, and self-expression
• The impact of music in dementia care and brain injury rehabilitation
• Creating accessible music opportunities within the community
• Running community choirs and care home music programmes
• Lessons learned from building a passion-driven business
• The importance of boundaries, balance, and saying no
• Growing a business through delegation and collaboration
• Why music can unlock memories when words can’t

Maddie4Music is a music education business set up in 2010 in East Kent and led by Maddie Cordes, offering community choirs, wellbeing singing workshops, lessons in piano, singing and violin for adults and young people and entertainment in care homes and day centres. Maddie is passionate about sharing her expertise in the community to help develop confidence and skills through music making. Maddie4 Music was awarded a community award by Deal Town Council and highly
commended by mental health charity MIND. The business has also been nominated in the 2025 Kent Dementia Awards for its creative local initiatives.

Follow Maddie4Music:

Instagram

Facebook

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

In this episode of Dream Business, Dream Life, we’re talking about why simplification is becoming the most important strategy for business owners in 2026 especially for those building online, service-based businesses and aiming for sustainable six-figure growth.

After building and then walking away from a seven-figure business, I share why more isn’t always better, how complexity quietly erodes trust, and why clarity is now a competitive advantage in a noisy, sceptical market.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many offers, inconsistent messaging, messy systems, or the pressure to constantly do more, this episode will help you step back and refocus on what actually matters.

We explore how simplifying your offers, messaging, and systems can help you:

• Build deeper trust with your audience
• Create a business that supports your dream life, not consumes it
• Reduce burnout while increasing clarity and confidence
• Design sustainable growth without hustle or overwhelm

This episode is for business owners who want to grow with intention, build long-term trust, and create a business that truly aligns with the life they want to live.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why simplification is essential for sustainable business growth in 2026
• How complexity can confuse buyers and damage trust
• The role clarity plays in buyer decision-making and confidence
• Why focusing on one core offer creates more freedom and better results
• How simplified messaging builds authority and consistency
• Why messy systems contribute to burnout and how simplicity supports your nervous system
• How to design a dream business that still works when you step away

Key Takeaway

In 2026, the businesses that thrive won’t be the biggest or the loudest...they’ll be the clearest.

Simplification isn’t about doing less for the sake of it. t’s about building a business that lasts, builds trust, and supports the life you actually want to live.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

In this inspiring episode of Dream Business, Dream Life, I’m joined by Sandra Garlick MBE, visibility strategist, speaker mentor, and founder of the Woman Who Awards, for a powerful conversation about confidence, storytelling, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for permission.

Sandra shares her remarkable journey from solicitor to award-winning advocate for women in business, reflecting on 10 years of impact, innovation, and accidental success. We talk openly about imposter syndrome, personal brand, speaking on stages (even when you feel “not ready”), and why visibility should always be on your terms.

Whether you’re a startup founder, solopreneur, or established business owner, this episode will encourage you to stop hiding, start sharing your story, and take up space...without pretending to be someone you’re not.

In this episode, we cover:

• Sandra’s journey from law to building a 10-year business supporting women
• Why women wait to be “chosen” (and why that needs to stop)
• What visibility really means and what it definitely isn’t
• How awards can transform confidence, mindset, and credibility
• The power of speaking, storytelling, and relatable role models
• Practical tips for getting visible without burning out
• Why connection beats selling every single time

This episode of Dream Business, Dream Life is proudly sponsored by Sandra Garlick MBE, who has spent the last decade championing women in business through awards, visibility strategy, speaking opportunities, and mentoring.

Sandra Garlick MBE is a speaker mentor, visibility strategist, and founder of the Woman Who Awards. After leaving the corporate legal world in 2007 and proving that women in business absolutely do belong, she rebuilt her career following a pivotal turning point in 2016.

Today, Sandra helps business owners, experts, and leaders amplify their voice, personal brand, and authority through strategic visibility and speaking. She has worked with thousands of women, creating stages, awards, media opportunities, and high-impact experiences that turn visibility into credibility and growth.

Sandra was awarded her MBE in 2020 for her services to women in business.

Website: https://womanwho.co.uk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandragarlick
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sandragarlickmbe/

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

In this episode of Dream Business Dream Life, we explore a subtle but powerful shift that can dramatically change how you feel online, in your business, and in your life...not commenting on everything you have an opinion on.

In a world filled with constant opinions, hot takes, and online conversations, it’s easy to confuse participation with leadership. But what if choosing not to respond is actually a form of self-leadership, maturity, and energetic protection?

This episode is a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and become more intentional with where, and how, you spend your energy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why having an opinion doesn’t always mean it needs to be shared
• The emotional and energetic cost of constant online engagement
• How commenting everywhere can quietly drain your nervous system
• The difference between participation and true thought leadership
• Why grounded, successful business owners tend to be more selective online
• A simple question to ask before entering any online conversation
• How protecting your energy supports a calmer, more sustainable business

Thought leadership isn’t about volume.
It’s not about visibility for visibility’s sake, and it’s not about having a public opinion on everything. Real leadership is quiet, intentional, and grounded.

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do, for yourself and for others, is to stay quiet.

A Question to Take With You

Before commenting, responding, or engaging online, ask yourself:

If something is truly meant to be said, it won’t feel rushed.
If it’s meant to be shared publicly, it will still be relevant later.

Why This Matters for Your Business

A dream business requires:

• Clear energy
• Creative energy
• Emotional capacity

When your energy is constantly spent on reaction, there’s less left for what truly matters: your life, your work, and the business you’re building.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

In this episode of Dream Business Dream Life, Emma is joined by Natalie McKenzie, also known as The Brain Lady and Cognitive Strategist, to explore how brain health directly impacts business performance, decision-making, burnout, and long-term wellbeing.

From sleep deprivation and hustle culture to digital overload, AI, and poor nutrition, Natalie explains how everyday business habits quietly affect how your brain functions, often years before we notice the consequences. This conversation challenges the idea that pushing harder leads to better results and instead makes the case for protecting your brain as a core business strategy.

If you’ve ever experienced brain fog, exhaustion, overwhelm, poor focus, or burnout, this episode will change how you think about productivity, success, and sustainability in business.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why your brain controls every business decision you make
• How poor sleep can reduce decision-making by up to 40%
• The early warning signs of cognitive overload and burnout
• Why hustle culture is damaging long-term brain health
• How AI and digital overload affect critical thinking
• Why most people skip the basics and jump straight to supplements
• The surprising link between brain health and future dementia risk
• How understanding your cognitive strengths can improve business efficiency
• Why doing hard things is actually good for your brain
• Natalie’s surprisingly simple brain-friendly habits (including eggs 🥚)

🧠 Key Topics Covered:

• Brain health for entrepreneurs
• Burnout prevention for business owners
• Cognitive performance and decision fatigue
• Sleep, nutrition, hydration & productivity
• AI, technology & brain function
• Sustainable success without hustle culture

Who is Natalie?

Natalie Mackenzie is a cognitive & brain health expert for business owners, with a background in Psychology, Neuropsychology and business strategy. She works with founders, leaders and entrepreneurs to optimise their cognitive performance , overcome decision fatigue and avoid burnout-through blending cognitive science and practical business frameworks, to also look after brain health for later life. Natalie is sought after media expert, regularly sharing her expertise on cognition in publications such as The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent and many others.

www.thecognitivestrategist.com https://www.instagram.com/thecognitivestrategist/

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

As we close out 2025, this episode of Dream Business Dream Life is an invitation to pause, not to judge, rush, or criticise the year that’s passed, but to honour it.

In this reflective, grounding conversation, I walk you through how to review your year honestly, why reflection matters more than another strategy, and how to set intentions for 2026 that actually feel doable and aligned.

I also share my own journey...from building a seven-figure business that looked successful on the outside but cost me deeply on the inside and why I now believe that success without alignment isn’t success at all.

This episode isn’t about chasing bigger goals. It’s about creating a business that supports the life you actually want to live.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why reviewing your year matters more than setting new goals
• How to reflect on what actually worked in your business (not what “should” have worked)
• Identifying what drained you, what you’ve outgrown, and what no longer fits
• Growth beyond money: leadership, boundaries, trust, and energy
• How your business felt to live inside...not just how it looked
• Why intention is the missing link between growth and fulfilment
• How to choose a single, powerful intention for 2026
• Letting your intentions lead your goals (not the other way around)
• Creating sustainable growth without burnout, pressure, or proving

A powerful reminder as you move into 2026:

• 2025 doesn’t need fixing...it needs honouring
• 2026 doesn’t need forcing...it needs intention
• Your business should support your life, not consume it

Take this episode slowly. Journal with it. Let it meet you where you are.

And remember you don’t need to have all the answers yet. Clarity comes when you give yourself permission to pause.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

In this special Christmas Eve episode of Dream Business Dream Life, we step away from the noise, hustle, and pressure of the online business world and take a grounded, honest look back at 2025.

This year was not the neatly wrapped, Instagram-ready success story many hoped for but it was rich with growth, resilience, clarity, and deep lessons that will shape a stronger 2026.

Inside this reflective episode, we explore:

✨ What 2025 Really Looked Like for Business Owners

• Why sales cycles were slower and buyers more cautious
• The emotional weight many entrepreneurs carried
• The pressure to “try harder” even when pushing wasn’t the answer
• The quiet resilience it took to simply keep going

✨ The Power of Slowing Down

Emma shares how intentionally slowing down brought more clarity than ever:

• Grounded growth vs. loud growth
• Building supportive systems and structure
• Launching her mastermind & the upcoming Dream Retreat (Sept 2026)
• Growth that felt steady, sustainable, and aligned

✨ Why 2026 Will Be All About Connection

We dive into the biggest theme emerging for next year...real, human connection.
Not polished. Not performative. But honest conversations, meaningful relationships, and genuine trust.

✨ Your Gentle Invitation to Reflect on Your Year

You’ll be guided through powerful, honest year-in-review questions:

• What worked?
• What drained you?
• What lit you up?
• What do you want to leave behind in 2025?
• What foundations do you want to build for 2026?

This episode is your permission slip to pause, breathe, and recognise how much you’ve grown...even if it didn’t look perfect on the outside.

✨ A Message to Every Business Owner Who Felt Stretched This Year

You didn’t just survive 2025.
You grew through it.
You built resilience, clarity, and strength...the kind that lasts.
And you’re walking into 2026 more grounded and self-aware than ever.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

In this very special episode of Dream Business, Dream Life, the script flips completely...Emma hands over the mic (and the control) to her bestie and career-change strategist, Leanne Lorains, for a no-limits interview. What unfolds is a hilarious, heartfelt, and unexpectedly honest conversation that dives into friendship, business, secrets, quirks, mindset, and what really goes on behind the scenes of Emma’s world.

Expect laughter, a few emotional moments, plenty of banter, talk of Yorkshire puddings, and some big business reveals for the future. If you’ve ever wondered what Emma is really like off-camera, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

What We Cover

• Why Emma invited Leanne to take over the podcast (and how nervous she really was).
• A festive “Christmas This or That” warm-up...Baileys, Bublé, and jumpers included.
• The truth about their friendship, their unhinged voice notes, and their pact about their phones.
• Emma’s major red flag in business and why she’s not here to “do the do” for people.
• Food confessions, cabbage controversies, and why a children’s entertainer might be her alternative career.
• Emma’s superpower (warp-speed implementation) and how it sometimes terrifies people around her.
• A surprise reveal about a potential new offer coming in 2026.
• Leanne’s superpower, according to Emma and why it’s both comforting and mildly alarming.

Key Takeaways

• You can be brilliant and still not “have your **** together.”
• Friendship in business can be an anchor, a mirror, and a catalyst.
• Implementing fast is a superpower...if you learn to wield it with intention.
• The people closest to you often see what you can’t (yet).
• Emma is paving the way simply by showing what’s possible.

Want to connect? Find me here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

Website: https://www.emmahine.co.uk

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy