After nearly five years and 250 episodes, I’m taking a break from my weekly podcast, Your Pet Business Your Way.
If you’ve been a regular listener, thank you so much for being part of this journey.
If you’ve just found the podcast, welcome – and don’t worry, all the past episodes are still available for you to explore.
In this post, I’m sharing how the podcast started, how it evolved, why now feels like the right time to pause, and how you can continue to get support for your pet business.
You can listen in on the player link below or read the key points covered as a blog.
How the podcast started
Back in early 2020, I launched my podcast as Publicity for Pet Businesses.
I wanted to help pet business owners get press coverage and learn how to confidently promote themselves.
As a journalist, I knew exactly what the media was looking for, and through the podcast, I shared practical advice on writing press releases, pitching to journalists, and getting featured in newspapers, magazines, and on the radio.
I recorded my first episode in March 2020 with Claire Lawrence, a wonderful dog trainer who held my hand as I bumbled my way through – you can listen in here.
Since then, the podcast has been downloaded tens of thousands of times, and I’ve had the privilege of helping pet business owners gain the confidence to get visible.
How the podcast evolved
As I worked with more pet business owners, I realised that publicity wasn’t just about writing the perfect pitch – it was about having the confidence to put yourself out there.
That’s why, in 2022, I trained as a coach, completing my ILM Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring and Level 7 in 2025.
I wanted to support pet business owners not just with strategy, but with the mindset shifts needed to be visible.
The podcast evolved into Your Pet Business Your Way, reflecting a broader focus on building a business that works for you, rather than following one-size-fits-all marketing advice.
I began covering topics like content marketing, confidence-building, and how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of running a business.
This shift allowed me to support business owners with feeling good about being out there helping them not only promote their work but also feel good about doing it.
Who the Your Pet Business, Your Way podcast is for
The podcast has always been for people who want to promote their business in a way that feels good.
Whether you’re a dog trainer, pet product maker, groomer, or pet sitter, if you’ve ever struggled with feeling like a “best-kept secret,” lacking confidence to share your story, or feeling overwhelmed with marketing, this podcast was made for you.
So many of the amazing people I’ve worked with felt uncomfortable with self-promotion at first, unsure if their stories were worth sharing.
Through the podcast, I’ve helped people see the value in what they do and find ways to market themselves that feel natural and match with their values.
The different topics I’ve covered
Over 250 episodes, I’ve explored so many different aspects of running a pet business, including how to get press coverage and work with journalists, blogging, content marketing, and social media, building confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome, managing the ups and downs of running a business, and real-life success stories from pet business owners.
I’ve had over 100 fabulous guests, from PR experts and journalists to pet business owners sharing their experiences.
These episodes have been packed with actionable advice and inspiration to help listeners take the next step in their business journey.
Why I’m taking a break
Producing a weekly podcast is a big commitment.
While I absolutely love it, I also run several other projects, including my Pets Get Visible membership, one-to-one coaching and mastermind groups, my dog-friendly holiday cottage Sunnyside Cottage, in-person retreats for pet business owners, and studying for my ILM Level 7 in executive coaching.
After a challenging couple of years with personal losses, a house move, and intensive studying, I’ve realised that I need to focus on fewer things and do them really well.
The podcast isn’t going away forever – it will return in a seasonal format, with themed episodes that provide even more value.
The first season will be called Don’t Tell Me I Can’t, sharing stories of resilience, grit, and proving people wrong. If you have a story that fits, I’d love to hear from you!
What your options are if you’d like to work together
If you’re looking for support while the podcast is on a break, there are still plenty of ways we can work together.
One-to-one coaching
If you want tailored support to help you grow your pet business and gain confidence with visibility, I offer one-to-one coaching.
Whether you need help with press coverage, marketing strategy, or mindset work, we can create a plan that works for you.
Find out more here: https://rachelspencer.co.uk/work-with-me
My membership – Pets Get Visible
If you’d love ongoing support with your marketing, my Pets Get Visible membership is an affordable way to stay on track.
It includes monthly workshops, live coaching calls, and a private Facebook community for support.
You can join for just £15 for your first month here:
https://publicityforpetbusinesses.mykajabi.com/offers/7Hvpvxzr/checkout?coupon_code=PGV50
The Pet Business Content planner
If you struggle to stay organised with your marketing, my Pet Business Content Planner is packed with tools to help you plan ahead.
It includes key dates and awareness days, content ideas for every month, and guided exercises to help you map out your marketing.
You can buy the planner here for £30 plus P&P:
https://rachelspencer.co.uk/product/pet-business-content-planner
Search from 250 past episodes
Even though I won’t be recording new weekly episodes, there are still so many episodes available for you to listen to!
If you need help with something specific, you can search for topics like press coverage, blogging, podcasting, or confidence.
Use the search feature at www.rachelspencer.co.uk/podcast to find the most relevant episodes for you.
I’ll also be republishing certain episodes when they’re timely – for example, ahead of Crufts, I’ll share my past episode on how to get press coverage from the event.
Final thoughts – it’s not goodbye
This isn’t the end – it’s just changing. I’m so grateful to everyone who has listened, shared, and supported the show.
If you’d like to stay connected, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.rachelspencer.co.uk, or follow me on social media:
I’ll be back with new podcast episodes in the future, and I can’t wait to share what’s next. Until then, take care, and thank you for being part of the podcast.
Further listening
Is my Pets Get Visible membership right for you?
Navigating stop-start periods in your pet business
The rollercoaster of running a business
How to write a press release for your pet business
Five steps to get your pet business in the press
How to create a pet business where you put your needs first with Jane Ardern
How to choose the right pet business coach
Should you buy my Pet Business Content Planner
How to get press coverage from Crufts
Harness your strengths to create a pet business you love with Sasha Louise Smith