Running a business and a household? Same. I'm Alison Quinn, Virtual Assistant, Online Business Manager, parent and chronic pain advocate. I've been running my own business for over six years, supporting freelancers, founders and creatives to get organised, regain momentum and stop doing it all alone.
Deadlines and Dirty Dishes is where strategy meets real life. It's a podcast for business owners navigating client deadlines, growing a team or outsourcing for the first time, while also managing parenting, housework and the realities of working through chronic pain.
Expect honest insights from behind the laptop, practical support strategies from the VA and OBM trenches, and the occasional pep talk for when it all feels like too much. No fluff, no filters. Just real stories from the messy middle of modern business.
Freelancers - The Hidden Force Fuelling Innovation in Small Business
When you think about innovation, what comes to mind? Tech giants and shiny apps? In this episode of Deadlines and Dirty Dishes, I’m flipping that idea on its head and putting the spotlight on freelancers. From kitchen tables and co-working spaces, we’re quietly driving innovation in real, sustainable, and powerful ways. I’m sharing insights from my own journey as a Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager, along with reflections on how freelancers are reshaping small business operations ...
5 May 2025
Do I Need a VA or an OBM? (Or Both?)
You’re overwhelmed, stretched too thin, and somehow still the bottleneck in your own business. You know you need support, but what kind? In this episode of Deadlines and Dirty Dishes, I dive into one of the most common questions I hear from freelancers and founders: “Should I hire a Virtual Assistant or an Online Business Manager?” I break down the real differences between these roles, share signs it might be time to bring someone in, and talk honestly about what flexible support can look lik...
5 May 2025
How to Manage Overwhelm and Maintain Productivity
Ever feel like your to-do list is plotting against you? Like you’re treading water in your business and home life while the current just keeps getting stronger? In this episode of Deadlines and Dirty Dishes, I share my honest experience of overwhelm, not just from work, but from the relentless overlap of solo parenting, school holidays, and managing client demands. I unpack the strategies I now rely on to protect my energy, structure my time, and navigate the chaos with more clarity and calm....
3 May 2025
From Books to Business: How Bedtime Stories Transformed My Approach to Work and Support
What can reading Room on the Broom with your child teach you about running a business? Quite a lot, actually. In this episode of Deadlines and Dirty Dishes, I share the unexpected way bedtime stories with my daughter reshaped how I think about productivity, growth, and client relationships. From rediscovering my own love of reading to seeing the power of consistency and collaboration, this is the story of how something simple became deeply transformative. Whether you're a parent, a business o...
2 May 2025
Managing Work with Chronic Pain
In this episode, I share what it’s really like to run a business while living with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition I’ve managed for over two decades. From sleepless nights and brain fog to client meetings and content deadlines, this episode explores eight practical, tested strategies that have helped me balance long-term pain with sustainable productivity. Whether you live with chronic pain, support someone who does, or simply want to build a more body-aware business, I hope you find s...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
720
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
81
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
0
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