Mum's The Word! The Parenting Podcast - JOANNA PROUD: How Creating MoodBears Changed My Life

Episode Date: December 29, 2025

This week on Mum’s The Word, Kelsey Parker is joined by Joanna Proud, founder and creator of the hugely loved Mood Bears—the colourful characters helping children (and adults) talk about their feelings.Joanna opens up about how Mood Bears was born from her own childhood, growing up in a home where emotions weren’t openly discussed, and why teaching her own children to understand and express their feelings has become so important to her.In this honest and wide-ranging conversation, they also chat about:🧸 How Mood Bears came to life💔 Trusting her instincts and separating from her husband because it felt right👧 How her children reacted to that change📺 Her experience going on Dragon’s Den🐶 Why she has 15 dogs (yes, really!)📱 Her brand-new app Pet Attix - “Vinted for pet owners”🎤 And her unexpected love for attending Harry Styles gigsIt’s a heartfelt, funny, and inspiring episode about emotions, motherhood, brave decisions, and following your gut, even when it feels scary.A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mums the Word. I'm your host, Kelsey Parker, and today I'm joined by the amazing Joanna Proud. She's the founder of Moved Bears, a company that sells colourful, cuddly bears, representing different emotions to help children and adults talk about and understand their feelings. The idea came from her very own struggles with mental health, and the bears are designed to be a supportive tool for emotional wellbeing. So grab a cup up, get comfortable. be and let's jump into a brand new episode of Mum's the Word.

Thank you for joining me today. Thank you for having me. So, I've given you an intro there. Talk to me. What is it you do? I could literally tour for England, honestly. I know this. How long have you got?

How long have we got? We ain't got that long. I can put it out my watch. I can go on my watch now. Yeah. So obviously we're talking about the best. Bears? How did we get into the moon bears? I mean, this, I could talk about this forever, but this is very, very close to my heart. This is my original bear, actually. This is who I made for

myself. And I didn't make it purposely. It was a bit of a two o'clock in the morning, not feeling great mentally, emotionally, in every way, shape or form. And you know what it's like as a parent. I look back when I was a child, you look at your parents as they don't show emotion. You know, I never saw my mum cry. I never saw a show emotion or my dad. You know, they were there like the rocks of the house. Yeah. And I grew up thinking that's the way to be as a parent. So my children were at the time, oh goodness, I mean, Daisy's 21 now my oldest, but at the time going back eight years ago, they were a lot younger. My youngest was probably only 10 and I just felt dreadful. All I wanted to do was cry all the while. I was going through a really tough time. I was a business

owner. I had staff that was making my life an absolute nightmare. So what did you do before? I was in medicine before. Yeah, yeah, medicine. So doing that, I owned a private clinic that was, you know, huge. But I just had an awful time with staff members. So I

close that down. And what I'd built over the years in the business that I built and I was unhappy in my marriage, there was so much going on in my head and you just feel trapped. So, and when's the worst time? Middle of the night, you wired away. And it just seems forever, doesn't it?

2 o'clock in the morning, you're like, my goodness, it's ages till morning. And you start counting down the answer. You're like, then I'm not asleep. Then you've got like, oh my God, I've not. Can I actually get to sleep? Yeah, it's just a vicious circle. So I used to sit at the time my bedroom was downstairs actually and it was next to my dining room and I used to get up, sit in my dining room table

and just do anything to pass a time. And I'd sit and draw. Now, I am no artist. I'm a stick man person. But I drew things that made me happy just to take that awful, heavy sad feeling away so I drew like the sun because I love the summer

I drew teddy bears because I genuinely do love teddy bears I think everyone needs a teddy bear in the life and I coloured it yellow because it reminded me the sunshine and I put little happy bases on its feet and I thought do you know what I need that making just for me just so I can look at it when I'm feeling really rubbish

just to see his happy feet and make me feel better so I gambled and I ordered a 40 foot container of them Yeah, from a factory in China. And when the first one came, it was this one. I opened the box and it just made me smile. And I thought, do you know what?

I'm a bit of a misstubborn. If that can do that to me, that can do that to billions of people. So I started donating them. I gave them all a poem. There's eight different colours, eight different emotions. I gave them all a poem just to help anybody understand about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. And I thought, you know what kids need this?

This is what children need. It's so hard to talk about what you're feeling. feelings are. But 50% of people that were ordering were adults, like women and men and grandmas and granddad's and, you know, everybody over the world. And I thought, you don't realize how many people struggle with getting out their emotions. So it kind of snowballed from there, really. And I think it's hard to recognise what emotion you're actually feeling to. Oh, 100%. Definitely. I think definitely as a children. I think, and that's what I struggled with, I didn't just feel sad or angry or upset.

There was that much going around in my body. You know, I'd just started a business that I adored, but then I set up another one. I was in a very unhappy marriage that I got forced into when I was early 20s, and I wanted to get out, but I couldn't. And, you know, there was so much going on in my hair. So as a mum, you're thinking about...

Definitely. Everyone else, but not to you. Of course you do, because you don't want to see... You don't want to break your family up. You don't want to take those children away from that. close-knit of a mom and a dad and that's how it should be. If it's not right for you, then that's not actually healthy for your children either. And I think that's not so hard.

But going back to actually showing emotions that my kids obviously struggle with me showing emotions, because I am the rock, I think they struggle. Like we were talking about Tom the other day. I don't know. We were talking about something. A daddy came up and then obviously my eyes started to like fill up because we're talking about good times and I think they were talking about Tom the other day. Tom's funeral and now they're getting a bit older they're asking me different questions so obviously

the questions always change and then Ray was like your eyes are filling up mum your eyes feeling and she can't come so you're not going to call I think almost she sort of wants me to cry but not cry yeah she's like a bit uneasy and she's like looking at me for the emotions yeah and I said but of course I'm upset I said because your dad was my best friend absolutely I said so when I talk about him I said I'm feeling all their emotion happy sad yeah longing missing like everything is in one, isn't it? I need every bear. I need every bear.

And you are right. And, you know, I never, ever saw my mum cry once ever until my dad passed away. And I can remember standing at the hospital and he just passed away. And she cried. And that made me cry even more. And I thought, I've never seen my mum.

Like that. Well, you've met my mum having you. You're amazing. Your mum's amazing. But she is that person that, you know, even when the shit has hit the fat, Yeah. My mum still stood there, still going strong. And I'm like, how? And when she's seen me in certain situations, I know that she's taking herself off to maybe have a cry or have the 2 a.m. crying the morning because she can't actually bear to do it in front of me. Like, I remember turning up to the house and we were going to go and say goodbye to Tom and we knew it was the last time we're ever going to see him. She's held it together. And obviously, I'm like a mess. And mum's like, we've got it. And you're all just like, wow, okay. So there is that like... You do need people like that. life, definitely.

Because your parents are your rocks. Absolutely. So when you think, when my mum starts worrying and panicking, it makes you worry. I think something's happening because I've actually not seen my mum worry before. Yeah, it's hard. And I think that's why I wanted these so bad and to help children and adults. You know, I started to donate them to children's wards with terminally ill children

because not just for that poorly child, but for the siblings. and for the parents and for the, you know, all of that, all of that group that are going through that awful time in the life. And it is when you are going through, you know, treatment with people, it's everyone is involved. It's a lot of people and you don't realise when you're in that bubble, who else it's affecting, do you? And, you know, if that can help somebody lift their emotions, even if it's for just a minute, you know, it's something. It's something. So that's why I did it. And, yeah, it kind of went global very quickly, which.

But was you, like, was you shocked? Like, how did you feel? I never ever expected it. Do you feel like you can manifest and make things happen? Do you feel like that night when you've drawn that bed that you've actually laid that down on paper? Yeah. Obviously, I'm massive believer.

I don't manifest myself. Yeah. But I don't manifest. I put positive thoughts out to the universe. But I wouldn't say I sit down and I manifest. But almost you manifested this. I think it was an accident. I didn't mean to do it.

I'm one of these people. If I get something in my head, I need to do it. I need to try it. I can't just put it in a cupboard and forget about it. I need to try. So for people listening to this, if you're having a thought until I am, go with it because you don't know where it can take you.

Definitely. But I think that goes back to emotions as well, doesn't it? You know, you've got to get these feelings out because the more you hold it in there, you know, I'm 47 years old and I came out of an unhappy marriage last year because I was led to believe that's how you live. You know, my mum was very much, you don't go to work.

you get married early, you have children, you look after your husband, he becomes your best friend, very, very old school. Well, I didn't do that. Has she changed her thoughts now, your mum, to see how happy you are in your life? Yeah, I think if I'd done it 10 years ago, she would have completely disowned me. I think now she's completely different, which has helped a lot. I mean, she's old now, she's in her 80s, but it's helped a lot. And I think since my dad has passed away, he's passed away 10 years ago now,

she has become a lot different and seen things a lot differently. But it was hard for her to see me work and get a career and her money. And yes, I did marry, but I didn't want to. But again, walking out of that marriage last year and saying to my children, I need to leave. You know, from an amazing house, and we had 11-acre garden, we had everything. I packed one suitcase and left.

You know, it's the most bravest thing I've ever done. But again, it all comes down to emotions. You've got to do what your body is tend to. you to do and you've got to get it out there. I was just having this conversation on the way here today because I think 2025 is the year where we're learning and we're listening and we're finding out what's right and what's wrong for us and maybe people listen to this will go actually Kelsey's right.

I've had experience like that this year because you have to sit and you have to listen and people don't listen to their gut. Yeah, they don't. I'm quite good at listening to that gut feeling. go, that's right for me. Then people are wrong for me. I need to do this. And I get lots of signs.

Yeah. So I had like within work, I was in a bad place with work and someone mistreating me. But the signs were there. And I think where maybe I can connect to my guides and people that they show me quite quickly. Yeah. Which I'm, maybe I've been through so much. And they're like, right, let's just show Kelsey what she needs to see now. Because I see people quite quickly for who they are.

And I do now. And I didn't. And I think that again. And you're totally right in what you're saying. It's that gut feeling. And so many people must have that and just trying to glory. And they ignore it because you think, oh, and then almost that you don't listen to the gut. And then you go further on down the line.

And then you're the person that gets hurt. Yeah. But you should have listened to your gut because it will tell you. And that feeling in the pit of your stomach going, this isn't right, this isn't right. Or this is right. Yeah. I'm on the right path. Yeah.

I went with my gut instinct last year when I couldn't deal with it. more. And I thought, I need to get out of this marriage. I need to do what's right for me. It is the best thing I've ever done in my life. I have never, in 47 years, been this happy in my life ever, ever, ever. And I should have done it years ago. But I kept thinking the right thing to do is like my mum said, you know, you need to have this strict ruling that you marry and you become your best friend and you look after them and I, yeah, and I've rebelled. But that was, yeah, because that wasn't right for you. And also, what's so hard the older generation is, like, things have, I feel like things have ramped, like, obviously,

my nans in her 80s and obviously, their view, she'd done everything, she, she doesn't drive my nan because my granddad drove. Yeah. Yeah. They didn't, did that? Yeah, my mum was like that. She never drove. And that would be, I think, she's like, well, you just didn't back then. Like, they were, but I think us women are like, definitely. Independent. Oh, no, look at me. I've had to learn to adapt and go, right, I've not got the man who did support me and everything. Like Tom did, I can't deny. He done so much for me with bills to support him, lifting me up, to be my cheerleader.

Like everything, could I've had to sort of most go, I've got to do so myself now. Can't fault Will, because he's absolutely amazing too. He's a cheerleader and helps me so much too. It's hard. But it's great at the same time. Life is hard and we're all learning. Life very hard. You're 47 and you've learned a massive lesson.

Yeah. I am honestly good to have left it till this life. I feel old. I feel old. You're not. You're not. people listen to this and like, excuse me, I'm always seven and I am not

I don't feel it in my head, I'm 12 in the head but yeah, I'm... Yeah, but also you must be like for your new lease of life that you've got now that you do feel like, oh my God, I feel young again and happy and... It's the best and I'm remarrying and I'm marrying somebody that I've never loved anybody like it.

I didn't know that that love ever existed because I've got bought up with this, you hold your emotions in, this is what you do and this is I and this is why I had to do this. and get people to try and talk about how to feel. And I do think it's hard because I don't know with the, like, leaving someone. Yeah. I think like what you're saying, it's such a big, big step to do that.

It's horrendous. And people listening to this, if you really feel like you are not in the right place and a happy marriage and whatever else, then listen to whatever your guts telling you. Do you know some people, like everyone moan's about their partner? Of course I do. It's life, isn't it? I don't mind. I don't know my new one.

And the more you are around someone, obviously they do things to irritate you. That is normal. But if you are deeply unhappy, like you were saying, you were deeply, deeply unhappy, do what's right for you. You can't be unhappy. And you know, your kids, you'll make them happy with whatever. Luckily, my kids are amazing. I've got three very grounded children.

The oldest is 21. The youngest is 16. And they've took it so well. And I think because they saw me so unhappy that they've just said, Mom, you've got to do what's right for you. And sometimes that's not good. for your kids to see you that happen. No, it isn't healthy. It isn't healthy. Who's this woman? The thing is, if you're so emotional all the time and you're upset all the while, it's affecting

everyone around you. Positiveity creates positivity, doesn't it? And being like that. We know about the positive vibes. We do, yeah. So, yeah, what I did, yes, it was very brave and it was the hardest thing I've ever done, but the best thing I've ever done as well. But it is hard getting through that crucial pat my bag I need to go. That's, yeah. hard. Oh, so these have... This pod's taken a turn,

but you helped you best and you were all right. This is what's done it. This is what's made me completely different, completely different. But it has, isn't it? Because it's put you, it's elevated you to the place

where you go, hang on, I've created this, I've done this, look at everything around me, look what I've done. Yeah. And we'll touch on Dragon's Den in a little bit. Yeah, it's seen how they were

affecting other people in a positive way. That makes you think even more then, doesn't it? When you can see how other people are doing so amazing just with a teddy bear, it was the poems. It's the poems of the bears, I think. When people read them poems, that makes them understand the thoughts, feelings and emotions. I think poems are powerful thing. You don't forget, do you? Goodness, I can remember when I was at primary school, nursery rhymes used to sing 40 years ago. You never forget, do you? You never forget a poem. So that's why I gave them

poems and people clung on to them poems and still do. But is your ex-husband? Yeah. Is he happier now? I don't know I'd like to think so because he's moved on he's got somebody else which I'm really really happy about and they seem to have so much more in common than what me and he did

we were so different so I'd like to think it absolutely do you know what it really really hurt him a lot it was awful seeing somebody like that you don't want to do that to anybody you know

it was horrific but what I see him doing now I think I'd never have done things that he loves doing he loves going mountain climbing and fishing and I hated things like that I'd have never done it if he'd have said to me

do you want to come absolutely not I'll go shopping you go and do that I'll meet you tomorrow but he's got a soulmate that he can do that with now which is so lovely

yeah it's great but he hates what I've done and he hates that I've broken marriage up but you've got to do what's right haven't you well for everyone in the long run you know

when he reflects absolutely he'll actually say do you know what maybe that was the best thing that ever happened to him do you have to him Do you have an insatiable fascination with the paranormal?

Are you ready to dive headfirst into the eerie realms of the unexplained? Brace yourself for the supernatural world is about to reveal all of its secrets on the paranormal activity podcast. And who better to guide you through this hair-raising journey than myself, Yvette Fielding, renowned paranormal investigator? Every episode of paranormal activity takes you on an unethical. unforgettable adventure into the unknown. I share my own encounters, chilling experiences and exclusive insights into the world of the paranormal. But that's not all. The true heart of this podcast lies in the stories, evidence and questions shared by our devoted listeners. Like you, whether you're a seasoned paranormal enthusiast or just starting to dip your toes into the waters

of the supernatural. Paranormal activity with me, Yvette Fielding, is your ultimate destination. Will you dare to join me? Listen to paranormal activity with me, Vet Fielding, wherever you get your podcast from. Right, let's talk about Dragon's Den. Was you nervous when you went on? Yeah, horrendous, can't remember a lot. I've never, do you know what,

I don't think I ever really believed in adrenaline very much until I went on that show. I've never felt so sick, no, my life. And you're like, ugh. I don't remember much. And genuinely what you see on the TV is exactly how it is. You don't meet the dragons before. You don't even meet them after.

You go into a lift. They say to you beforehand, we need you to write a two-minute script about your business. Once you've done your two-minute script, then the dragons will start asking you questions. The hardest bit was remembering that script. You know if it was a poem, I could have done it, but because it was a script, it was hard.

So I've done like four paragraphs of this two-minute script, and I kept reading it and read it. And I wasn't worried about figures. I knew my figures. I built the business. She knew her. I knew. That's why I panic for them when they're on it.

I'm like, it's awful. Please don't fuck up, please. Do you know, when sometimes, like what you're saying, adrenaline does crazy things to you. Yeah, it does. You can't think straight. Yeah. You're trying to remember this and you're like,

no, I'm actually going to be so nervous. It's awful. And it's a good business. Yeah. And I thought, do you know what? If our balls up on this, they're going to go cut, take two, take three. Oh, no. Once you get in that lift and then doors open.

That's it. You're in the den. That's it. You're in the dragon's den. An hour and 15 minutes I was in there. and I felt like I was in there two seconds. It went like that. The only thing that I can remember,

the editor said to me, just before I went in, just read your script out just to make sure that you've got it okay. So I read it all out, all four paragraphs. And he went, right, I want you to take paragraph three out.

I was like, no. So in my head, I got down to paragraph two, and then I had to read it through really quick in my head to get to paragraph four because I'd remembered it word for word. Yeah. So I'd be like, no.

When I watch it, cut it. I'm saying it. I know what I'm saying it. I'm saying it. It was really hard. So when I watched it back, I stumbled. You could see me go, think for 30 seconds. But that's the only bit. And then when they asked all the figures and everything else, I knew it, I didn't know it. I didn't expect to go on there and get investment from all five dragons. I didn't. I thought the girl is. Who did you want? Do you know, I can't understand that. I don't know. I think I've got Peter Jones in my head because he's like the original. He's the OG and he is. He is. It's the original dragon, he's been there forever, he's part of the furniture, and I just thought,

Peter Jones, I didn't expect all five, but you know what? They've all got their own amazing expertise. They're all so different and put them all together. Yeah, you're slap powerhouse. Yeah, amazing. Amazing. So yeah, it's great. When you went on dragons, then it did take the business to another level. What I wanted, what I did. Or was you at that level? No, I wasn't at that level. Business to consumer, yes. But I've got trade shops asking, could they put I mean, the shops, well, that was a whole new level all over again. I was like, how the hell do I do all this, kind of? You know, so I started to do little independent stores,

but then I thought, if I want this to really get big in around the world, I need the big buyers, you know, like your Walmart and your Aster's and everywhere else. That's why I went on there, because getting in front of these people is hard. So I thought, I didn't go on there for financials because it was running itself. I went on there for their little black books. How crazy is it was running itself? Like, people listen to it's like, I'm trying to get my business off the floor, but it's hard. How was it running it?

itself, though. You live and breathe it, don't you? I think somebody who runs a business, you never ever. I wake up in a morning and the first thing I do is I pick up my phone and I go on emails. I literally back into bed at night with my phone still in my hand from the minute I got up with it in the morning, you know, you never. I mean, I'm the lady with multiple businesses as well. I'm like, yeah. You never, you never leave it. It is so hard. Even like K to K that I've had like the dance school since, and I mean, when you met my kids, you can so tell that they go to a performing art school that I've had that since I was like literally

in my 20s and it's still like today I'm thinking oh what costumes will they wear for the show next year? I absolutely love it and I think when you love something and you're so passionate Yeah if you're entrepreneurial I think it's in you you can't switch that point off No because I'm always coming up with like ideas

Yeah I could never retire No I couldn't I'd go bonkers Like I couldn't do it I couldn't just sit there and go right then Put the TV on I need to do something I would just feel so like, if I'm not working, I'm like, well, what am I doing? Yeah, exactly. Like, you're just being lazy. There's only so much shopping and travelling, and there's only so much you can do, I think.

Yeah, and see in the world. And also, I think when the kids are at school, it's that, well, I can't really go and see the world right now. It's hard. It is difficult. Your children must be so proud of you, though, with the businesses. Do they just think it's normal, though? I think they genuinely think it's normal. I wonder what they're going to go on to do.

Oh, no. They're all so different. so, so different. My middle one, I think she's very entrepreneurial, and she'll do very well. They're all very, very different in life, whatever they do. So even when you sat up your first business,

you just set that up on your own as well. Yeah, just get ideas in my head and think I need to try it. I've got to do it. See what happens. Well, you've got a new business. I have got a new business. Yeah, it's... I'm very excited about the new business.

So it launches in about four weeks. I had an idea earlier on in the year, again 2 o'clock in the morning job and thought I've got to try it So where do your thoughts come to you in the bed I think My brain's more active in the middle of the night Because I'm only saying this

Because I was married to a bit of a inventor Yeah My Tommy boy Shower He would spend so long in the shower I do And he would come out and he'd be like New idea

I'm like really I've got a new idea because that was his thinking time in the shower. I do think a lot. And Danny, my partner will say, you will take forever in the shower. But you're thinking in the shower. That's your time.

Yeah, I do. And to the point where I think that much in the shower, I forget that I've washed my hair. So then I wash my hair again because I forget that I've done it. And then I've put shampoo in my hair. I think, I've just done that. But I'll do it again anyway. Yeah, I'll just do again.

I'll be really clean today. So yeah, I do. So new, sorry, this is so Kelsey. Right. Getting excited. So new business. So I've got a lot of pets. How many pets have you got?

I've got 15 dogs. What? Yeah. What? I love dogs. Dogs are great. Sorry, but you've got 15. But you can get your motion out in front of a dog and you can talk to your dog and they love you no matter what.

Toy poodles, so they're very tiny. So to be fair, if we put all 15 toy poodles together, it's like one big dog really. Do they all get along together? Yeah. And where do you have them just in the house? What are you? Sharon Osborne? I'm sorry, we were Sharon on here.

Leach she digs up. She had different braids. She probably still has been too. They're tiny. They weren't like a kilo each. I mean, your dog would eat one of my little ones. No, because I've got two, haven't I? So I've got Dolly, who's a chihuahua, cross toy poodle.

There you go, you've got a little dog. I've got my little one, and then I've got large. I've got little large now. Yeah, you have. So 15 little ones makes one big ones. But how are you dealing with 15 dogs? Walk it. They're so easy.

They're so easy. They're so easy. I mean, they're just. Sorry, but how does Danny feel about this? She loves them as well She's got no choice Really there They're part of the family

Did you get the 15 dogs together Or did you always have I've always had them yeah I've added a few along the way But yeah But yeah they're great I love them I mean I just

I still can't get over it I never stop I genuinely never stop Never Oh no because you must be constantly Be picking up shit Yeah constantly Never stop

I feel bin back after bin bag of it I've even thought About a business to do with dog poo I've thought of everything all sorts. There's got to be an easy way to get rid of your dog poo being sort of everything.

When you're looking to businesses though there is like money to be made in like a simple business like you're saying dog poo oh yeah like I think there's got to be a business out there for dog poo because I don't get the whole scooping it up the bag situation

like surely we're just polluting the planet walking down the road swinging your dog poo bag it's just not attractive what would be your idea for that what's your concept or we're not giving it away on here right I have some blingy kind of bag

haven't you really like a Louis Vuitton food bag or something nice. I love it with really loud the time with the shit yeah I know so my new business is pet related yes so it works exactly the same so it's an app it's global

it is ready now really but I just need to get through Christmas before I press go on it it's a global app that works exactly the same as Vinted inside out and back to front and it is all pet products everything whether it's cat dog horse lizard goldfish anything pet related.

Well, I guess, okay, so you've got a lizard. Yeah, if you want to do tank for it or whatever you want. Get a new tank, give your tank away. You're over your tank. You want a bigger tank. And you must know yourself with puppies. They grow so quick.

And my kids come home all the time. Oh, I've bought one of the dogs a new coat. Well, it's already got 15 coats. You don't need another coat. She's got 15 coats, 15 dogs. Don't keep very much. You just not need an extra coat. Absolutely.

So I've got boxes of dog coats and jumpers. No, dogs have run really quick. Yeah. Even that. It's like my auntie's actually made her one now. My auntie's made her a goat. I'm not taking her out in that. I'm like, she looks so cute.

She wants to buy everything and cheer everything as well, so she's not really impressed with her coats. But they do get cold. Yeah, they do. Yeah. Well, they've not got to be fair, I think so. I'm hearing you on this. Yeah.

Like actually, we saved some of the stuff. So the crate she's in now was my old dog buddies's crate. So we've actually kept told of that. I think that must move around the family. but however what you know when buddy died if I didn't have another dog like someone else can make absolutely I think it is an absolute fantastic idea

I think you're going to be back on in a year's time billionaire I'll bring on the dogs if you like you bring on the dogs I'd love it in the studio I'll fit on this table they'll be fine what a great idea yeah so that's my next have you got any dragons invested in that I've had a lot of help from the dragons with it

I have just pointed to right people to do, you know, tech work. I'm not great with tech. I've got the idea, but I can't build apps. So anything to do with coded in tech, I've had a lot of help from that. I mean, I've got Stephen Bartlett, you know, I've got the right people for help. Yeah. So, I have had quite a bit of help, but yeah, it's quite exciting.

It's quite exciting. Are you nervous? Yeah. You are, you're nervous. Just letting, you just kind of learn. Because really, you have got like, obviously pets for homes, which is an app where you can obviously go in there and look for a dog. Yeah. So we can't, I'm not going to sell animals, nothing like that. No, no, no, no. But there is the niche.

Oh, yeah. Pet world is huge. Why has no one done this before? I don't know. How did you think of this? I think because of all my own animals. And Danny orders I've vinted all the while. I've never even been on vinted. I wouldn't even know how it works. I've just done a campaign with Vinted.

I've never got my own vinted account. And I sold out so quickly. Amazing. I think it's good to, you know, some of my kids' clothes have never been more. Absolutely. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. It's hard. And you, and you hold it, don't you? You hold all this stuff. You know, old dog bowls and old cat bowls and it's ridiculous because you think, oh, I might use it again one day. No, you won't. Yeah, and sometimes you buy things for a certain breed of dog, but it might not work for your dog.

Yeah. So you buy it, they're like, what the hell am I going to do with that? I know. And then you're like, put it on. Pet attics. Pet attics with an ex, attic like in the loft attics. There you go. Pet attics. Pet attics, there you go. How excited. I'm so excited for you. So that'd be nice.

So I've got the bears and pets, so I'm happy. And 15 dogs. Oh, 15 dogs. And I'm getting married again, but it's all good. When you get married? June 2027. Where are you getting married? In Greece.

Where? Zanti. Love. Yeah, we went there last year. I proposed last year actually while we were there. It was lovely, really, really lovely. I'm just so happy. happy for you.

It's all good. But it is that law of attraction, isn't it? Like, 100%. Bringing it in, bringing the positive vibes. It will all come back to you. Yeah. Talk me a lot. These bears have taught me a lot.

And they've taught everyone, hold your bear tight. I know. Listen to your gut. You do need to listen to your gut, 100%. Do you know who taught me a lot? I taught me a lot, actually. You're going to really laugh at me now. And if anyone's out there, listen to this and knows this person I'm about to mention,

please let me know. My daughter said to me, right in the midst of me doing these bears, they just started to go global. and I was really struggling, again with marriage issues and lots of lots of problems, really struggling. And my daughter said to me that the time she was, I don't even know how long ago it was now, three, four years ago. She said to me, Mom, can I go to Wembley to a concert?

And I went, not on your own, no. She was only at 16 or 17 at the time. I said, no, you're not going on your own. Will you come with me? I said, I'm not coming with you. I said, are you going to see? She went Harry Stiles. I said, no, I'm not really into Harry Stiles's music.

No, I'm not coming. You'll have to find someone to go with you. I can't want, none of my friends are liking, please come, Mom. I went, okay, I come with you. Oh, my God. I went in there, 90,000 people in Wembley Stadium. I have never been in a crowd of people that don't care who you are, where you come from,

what you look like, how much money you've got. It was the most amazing atmosphere. I went 11 times to see Harry Stuyles. Oh, stop. I did. I feel like the model of your story is that you're a bit of an addict. Oh, my, that's doing something. She's doing it.

He just made me think, do you know, what, I've done these bears, I've sorted my own emotions out, well, tried to, and I'm trying to. And it just kept saying, you've got to be where you want to be. And I thought, that, I need to get the bears out there. I do think Carrie is that of, like, what he wears, what he does. He is the product of, like, do you know what if I'm going to do it? Yeah. Amazing. 11 times I went. I went on my own. I used to do my daughter at Rhoets. I've got a ticket to see Harry tonight, last minute, in the Pitsy. Come in, no, my mum, I'm doing it. I've got an exam tomorrow. I'm going on me, I went, I honestly to go. And he's music and everything he's saying,

like, it is, it does. It does. It does. feet volumes and you do find that artist that you're all emotions again that you resonate with yeah i sent him a bear i mean i've tried yeah is he has he has he got the bear i don't know i've never has harry got any dogs has he got any animals what's he got i don't know you'd love to meet harry would that beat your drink yeah i've got to sing at the wedding if you like i mean that'd be amazing harry harry styles if you're around come to zanti yeah we need a singer we do need a singer we do that's it got to get harry souls oh my god i absolutely

there you go love it harry 11 times 15 dogs yeah businesses how many bears we got oh there's eight bears all right eight bears all over the world i mean millions of bears over the world these are literally global now which is great do you know i went out for a mission to make the world smile and i will continue that mission till the day that i die because it's a big thing to make someone smile

a smile is it's just and I think you know when we met when we met on a bus yeah with mood bears that's the conversation that we had didn't we that it's you know

the worst can happen to you but if you can get up you can smile and you'll be positive and I try and be as positive as possible because the worst has happened to me yeah absolutely

you've got to get up you've got to smile and you've got to resonate that positive energy and look what can come to you and look what can happen and transform your life definitely 100%

What a note to leave it on. There you go. So that's a wrap on another episode. Thank you for joining us today as we were joined by the amazing Joanna Proud, the founder of Mubes and Pets Attic. Amazing. Don't forget to leave us a review.

Follow us on our socials at Mums the Word underscore pod and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can actually watch this in full. Just search Mums the Word. Until next time, I'm Kelsey Parker. and this has been Mums the Word. And we'll be back with another episode, same time, same place next week.