The Uncaged Pod

Podcast by Jess MacMillan

The Uncaged Pod

The Uncaged Pod is the podcast for bold, soul-led women who are ready to break free from the cages of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and limiting beliefs. Hosted by Jess MacMillan, mama, keynote speaker, and women's empowerment advocate, this show delivers raw conversations, powerful insights, and unapologetic truths that will inspire you to reclaim your voice, rewrite your story, and rise with unstoppable confidence. Each week, Jess and her guests dive into topics around leadership, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and motherhood, offering real-life strategies, soulful reflections, and empowering stories to help you lead, live, and love uncaged. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative, or a woman who’s remembering who she really is, The Uncaged Pod is your invitation to step into your power and live life on your own terms.

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Latest episodes

16 October 2025

From Layoffs to Leadership: Christine's Business Breakthrough

Episode Title: From Layoffs to Leadership: Christine's Business Breakthrough

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Uncaged Pod, Jess interviews Christine, founder of Spark OBM and a dynamic force in the world of product-driven businesses. Christine shares her inspiring journey from corporate product management at PNY Technologies to entrepreneurship, revealing how moments of uncertainty ultimately led to purpose and freedom.

[00:18] Christine opens up about experiencing corporate layoffs and how divine timing pushed her to take the leap into business ownership. [04:06] She details her evolution from virtual assistant to online business manager—transforming from a “doer” to a strategic collaborator who helps entrepreneurs scale sustainably.

Throughout the conversation, Christine emphasizes operational freedom, time management, and the small yet powerful shifts that allowed her to reclaim balance in both business and motherhood. [16:31] She shares her passion for helping coaches streamline their operations, delegate effectively, and build systems that allow them to thrive. [32:33] Listeners also get a glimpse into Christine’s early interest in nursing, her family’s entrepreneurial influence, and how she ultimately found her true calling in business.

Christine’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and intentional growth, offering inspiration to anyone redefining success after setback.

Calls to Action

Follow Christine on Instagram at @sparkobm for business insights and updates on her entrepreneurial journey.
Consider the benefits of delegating and outsourcing to reclaim your time and enhance operational efficiency.
Reflect on the role of strategic freedom—how intentional systems and mindset shifts can lead to major business breakthroughs.

00:00

45:52

01 October 2025

Period Power: Ella Lambert and The Pachamama Project Fighting Period Poverty Worldwide

Episode Summary

In this powerful episode of The Uncaged Pod, Jess sits down with Ella Lambert, founder of The Pachamama Project—a grassroots movement tackling period poverty around the world. What started in lockdown with a borrowed sewing machine and YouTube tutorials has now become a global network of nearly 2,500 volunteers who have made and distributed over 160,000 reusable period pads, reaching almost 20,000 women and girls across 11 countries.

Ella opens up about her own struggles with period pain and the stigma around menstruation, and how those experiences inspired her to take action. Together, Jess and Ella dive into:

The devastating impact of period poverty, from missed school days to lost work opportunities.
The challenges of providing menstrual health support in conflict zones like Gaza and Ukraine.
The stigma and myths surrounding periods across different cultures.
How a small idea turned into a movement of empowerment and dignity.
The Pachamama Project’s ambitious future plans—from expanding pad distribution to launching new programs for asylum seekers and youth-led social entrepreneurship.

This episode is more than just a conversation—it’s a call to action.

✨ Call to Action — How YOU Can Help ✨

🌍 Volunteer

Got a sewing machine? YOU can help make pads from home. No commitment, just impact. Join thousands already changing lives.

💸 Donate

It takes just £10 (around $13) to provide someone with pads that last five years. That’s less than two cups of coffee to lift someone out of period poverty. Donate today → www.thepachamamaproject.org

📢 Spread Awareness

Talk about period poverty. Share this episode. Post on social media. Conversations break stigma.

📲 Follow & Engage

Stay connected with The Pachamama Project on Instagram & Facebook: @thepachamamaproject

🤝 Fundraise

Host an event, run a challenge, or rally your workplace to support. Every action counts.

Together, we can end period poverty.

Powerful Quotes

"I borrowed a sewing machine, figured out how to sew on YouTube, and then figured out how to make a pad. When I saw how easy it was, I thought if I can do it, literally anyone can." Timestamp: 02:11

"I simply had an idea and saw a way that we could do it and it just snowballed. And I have just said yes to every opportunity." Timestamp: 04:02

"We support school girls in Uganda, for example, and they've reported a 98% increase in their attendance since receiving reusable pads." Timestamp: 20:53

"We're planning to distribute 80,000 pads this year. So we did just under 60,000 last year. We'll do a hundred thousand the year after that." Timestamp: 28:56

"It costs us just 10 pounds to get a pack to someone, which lasts for the next five years. So it's really just a couple of coffees and it makes such a difference." Timestamp: 41:09

Episode Hashtags

#PeriodPoverty #EmpowerWomen #SustainableSolutions #MenstrualHealth #GlobalImpact

00:00

43:34

27 September 2025

The Holistic Warrior: Amy's Guide to Self-Belief and Worth

The Holistic Warrior: Amy's Guide to Self-Belief and Worth

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Uncaged Pod, Jess interviews Amy, director of live events and assistant coach at Next Level University. Amy shares her inspiring journey from battling a chronic illness, endometriosis, to becoming a certified personal development coach. Her story is one of transformation through holistic healing, focusing on the interconnectedness of body, mind, and soul.

Amy discusses her path to self-awareness and self-worth, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and holistic success. She shares her experiences with public speaking, coaching, and her work at Next Level University, helping others achieve their next level of personal and professional growth. The conversation also explores challenges such as imposter syndrome, the importance of setting boundaries, and the power of understanding and honoring one’s core values.

Related Links

Calls to Action

Join the Next Level Nation Facebook community for a supportive environment focused on personal growth.
Consider participating in the group coaching programs offered by Next Level University, especially if you’re a podcaster or business owner looking to grow.
Follow Amy on Instagram and Facebook at @AmyLenius for insights and updates on her work.

Powerful Quotes

Timestamp: 01:18
"I deeply love and believe in what you're doing, so thank you so much for having me and just allowing me to be in your space. I'm so grateful."
Timestamp: 08:42
"Genuinely, you know your body best and you need to fight for what you're feeling, please."
Timestamp: 11:24
"Self-belief is an external game. It's what you believe about yourself and what you're capable and competent of."
Timestamp: 15:43
"Building self-worth in tandem with self-belief is a really beautiful journey."
Timestamp: 29:27
"When you can learn about yourself, your cycle, your cyclical nature, you can just become this empowered being."

00:00

48:13

24 September 2025

Gutsy Moves: Embracing Vulnerability with Laura Aura

Gutsy Moves: Embracing Vulnerability with Laura Aura

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Uncaged podcast, the host interviews Laura Aura, a high-impact speaker, coach, and host of The Gutsy Podcast. Laura shares her journey from working as a graphic designer at the Yellow Pages to becoming a successful entrepreneur and coach. She recalls the pivotal moment when she chose to leave her job while pregnant to launch her own branding agency. Over time, her passion shifted from branding to coaching and speaking, leading her to sell her agency and devote her energy to empowering women to make “gutsy moves.”

Laura emphasizes the power of trusting yourself, using your authentic voice, and embracing vulnerability as strengths. She introduces the Gutsy Collective, a community she founded to support women in pursuing their deepest desires. The conversation explores the challenges women face in self-trust, the societal pressures that hold them back, and the importance of listening to both body and mind in decision-making.

The episode wraps up with Laura’s advice to her younger self and her call for women everywhere to step into courage, community, and uncaged living.

Related Links

Laura Aura’s Website
The Gutsy Podcast
The Gutsy Collective
Laura Aura on Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

Calls to Action

Listen to The Gutsy Podcast for more stories and insights.
Join the Gutsy Collective to connect with like-minded women and receive support in making gutsy moves.
Follow Laura Aura on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for daily inspiration.
Book a free call with Laura to see if the Gutsy Collective is right for you.

Powerful Quotes

Timestamp: 01:11
"Laura helps women leaders and entrepreneurs stop overthinking, trust themselves again, and make gutsy moves that actually stick."
Timestamp: 04:30
"Making Gutsy Moves is all about hearing and listening to yourself, being brave enough to sit still long enough to admit what you want, trusting what you're thinking and feeling, and then making the move."
Timestamp: 11:41
"Don't share from an open wound, share from the scar."
Timestamp: 15:25
"Trusting yourself is looking back at your track record, friend. You have done some shit. You have done hard things."
Timestamp: 43:06
"I would rather live with that didn’t go so well, but now I have more knowledge and information than wondering for the rest of my life what might’ve happened if I would’ve just taken the fucking lid off."

00:00

49:02

20 September 2025

Soulful Liberation: Karen Leigh's Empowerment Story

Soulful Liberation: Karen Leigh's Empowerment Story

Episode Summary

In this episode, the host welcomes Karen Leigh, a women's empowerment coach and founder of Soul Sanctuary Glasgow. Karen shares her transformative journey from struggling with an eating disorder and childhood trauma to becoming a practitioner of NLP, hypnotherapy, and timeline therapy. She discusses her path from a business management degree to personal development, driven by a desire to create a better life for her children. Karen explains how her experiences with a life coach opened her eyes to the power of mindset tools and soulful practices. The conversation delves into the specifics of timeline therapy, its role in addressing deep-seated emotions, and how it can help individuals overcome limiting beliefs. Karen also shares her personal experiences with fear, judgment, and the importance of self-worth. The episode highlights her work in creating women's circles and the Soul Sanctuary Glasgow, providing a space for connection and healing. Karen also discusses her upcoming book, which aims to guide readers on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Related Links

Soul Sanctuary Glasgow: Website
Karen Leigh on Instagram: @iamkarenleigh

Calls to Action

Listeners are encouraged to connect with Karen Leigh on Instagram and share their thoughts or key takeaways from the episode.
Karen invites listeners to join her online women's circles for a transformative experience.
Stay tuned for the release of Karen's upcoming book, which will explore themes of self-worth and personal growth.

Powerful Quotes:

Timestamp: 00:01
"Her motto, dance with the fear and live by your own damn rules." – Karen Leigh
Timestamp: 09:19
"I really believe that. I feel it found me." – Karen Leigh on discovering NLP
Timestamp: 21:31
"You really deserve more. And there's more, I would say the first step there is to get curious about your self-talk." – Karen Leigh
Timestamp: 40:33
"It means listening to what's in here and following this pool." – Karen Leigh on living Uncaged
Timestamp: 41:34
"There's a reason why your dreams are in your heart. There's a reason why you have these nudges or these little sparks of intuition." – Karen Leigh

00:00

43:57

17 September 2025

From Shadows to Light: Susan Wall's Story of Healing and Honesty

🎙️ Episode Title: From Shadows to Light: Susan Wall's Story of Healing and Honesty

Episode Summary

In this episode, Susan Wall—storyteller, author, and truth-seeker—shares her courageous journey of transformation. From battling obesity and addiction to surviving a pulmonary embolism and a 10-day coma, Susan’s story is one of resilience, honesty, and radical self-acceptance.

She opens up about her struggles with mental health, her experiences with therapy, and her ongoing path to sobriety—including her life-changing experience with ketamine-assisted therapy. Susan also reflects on her spiritual journey, her evolving relationship with family, and the freedom she’s found in cutting ties with toxic relationships.

Now working on her book, Why I'm Finally Saying It All Out Loud, Susan is committed to speaking her truth unapologetically and encouraging others to do the same. Her story is a testament to the healing power of honesty and the light that comes from embracing who you really are.

Key Takeaways

Therapy, in all its forms, can be life-changing and essential for healing.
Alcohol use is often socially accepted, but sobriety opens the door to real clarity.
Strength comes from leaning into your truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Living unapologetically means cutting toxic relationships and embracing authenticity.
Speaking out and owning your story can be a powerful act of healing.

Related Links

Instagram & TikTok: @SusanWallSpeaks
Facebook: Susan Johnson
Email: SusanWallSpeaks@gmail.com
Influencers Mentioned: Mel Robbins, Brené Brown
Therapy Mentioned: Ketamine-assisted therapy

Calls to Action

Follow Susan Wall on social media for updates on her upcoming book and speaking engagements.
Reach out to Susan via email or DM for support or inquiries.
Watch for her upcoming book, Why I'm Finally Saying It All Out Loud, expected in fall or by the end of the year.

Promotional Quotes

✨ “A lot of therapy. I'm still in therapy. I'm actually currently doing ketamine-assisted therapy, which is life-changing. I wish I'd known about it sooner.” (01:44)

✨ “It's glorified. It's socially accepted. It is kind of almost pushed on you. I was a real estate agent for several years, and literally at the end of every day, you went out drinking, you networked happy hours. It's very much, I consider it the only drug that's really socially acceptable.” (09:27)

✨ “It's going to be okay. You're stronger than you realize. You were meant to burn bright and speak out and speak up. And no matter what life throws at you, ultimately it's going to be okay.” (18:11)

✨ “I live absolutely and completely unapologetically. I don't use the word, sorry. Well, I try not to use the word sorry. Sometimes it comes out of my mouth before I even realize it.” (44:29)

✨ “I'm a lot. I'm a big personality. I cuss like a sailor. I am blunt. It all comes from a place of love. But I am very much out, very loud, and I was forced to squelch that for so long that I'm not doing it anymore.” (45:45)

00:00

47:35