Big Fun, Small Business: An audio sketchbook for building a business that feels good

This one thing might be the reason you hate networking, or think you suck at it. I'm breaking down my "anti-elevator pitch" and why friendship-first networking will get you further than any polished intro ever will. In this episode: 0:00 Why the classic elevator pitch makes you sweat and ramble 2:20 "Friendship first networking" — what it actually means 8:11 The 7-11 word...

If you’re obsessed with personality tests like Enneagram or Human Design, you’ll love hearing about Sheer Personality, a totally new (and super visual) way to understand how you and anyone in your life relate and work together. In this episode: 3:35 Why Cara created SHEER Personality and what makes it different 6:04 Using SHEER to overlay your results with friends, co-workers, or your partner 10:1...

If you ever feel overwhelmed by your to-do list and wonder how to squeeze more joy into your life (without making it another chore), this conversation I had with Ashley Looker is for you boo. Real talk, a little sassy, and maybe even some tears shed around the subject of joy and what it actually means to practice joy every day. In this episode: 2:29 Why joy is a practice and how to experiment with...

What if being weird in your marketing could actually make your business more fun, easier, and even more profitable? That’s what this episode is all about with writer and weird marketing maven Amber Petty. In this episode: 2:19 Embracing your weird in business and why it's easier than faking it 5:19 Expertise vs. professionalism and letting go of outdated "shoulds" 8:07 Why standing...

Jess Bruno’s spilling the baked beans on how she built a multi-six-figure business on Instagram posts that got an average of 30 likes… and she's about to give you full permission to stop overthinking your content. In this episode: 3:32 How Jess built a multi-six-figure business on posts that average 30 likes 8:56 The "f*ck it" antidote for imposter syndrome and content paralysis 15:...

We’re getting into the real reason you avoid the camera, find selling icky, and keep tweaking your offer with mindset coach Claire Quick… and, spoiler alert, it's not a strategy or a “consistency” problem. In this episode: 2:12 What "shadow work" even means in your business, it's not as woo as it sounds 6:43 The real reason you avoid being on camera and why "it's just...

I hopped on a Zoom call with eight small business owners to yap about our feelings about AI. We talk about the damage to the environment, loss of skills and creativity, and the surveillance state. It wasn’t really about finding answers, but just chatting about what we’re thinking as everyone gets swept up in the hype. In this episode: 2:21 Real talk on AI’s environmental impact 4:22 Is AI killing...

If you’ve ever been called “too sensitive” or felt like you’re somehow both “too much” and “not enough,” you’re going to want to push play on this chat with Melissa Parks, Ph. D., a therapist-turned-coach, new author, and expert on self-compassion, inner critics, and finding peace with who you truly are. In this episode: 3:13 Embracing sensitivity and why it’s not a flaw 6:49 Why self-compassion i...

I’m chatting with Jaime Nolan from the Anima Collective about why a retreat should send you home with a plan, and how ADHD or multi-passionate business owners can actually get stuff done (and not want to burn their businesses down every six weeks!) In this episode: 2:27 The amazing retreat house that makes it all possible 5:49 Why in-person retreats help women entrepreneurs break through 7:25 Plan...

I'm talking with Melissa Mittelstaedt, an Accredited Financial Counselor®, about why focusing on money in your business doesn't make you greedy or gross. We get into the "$80k month" posts that drive me bonkers, gross vs. net, and whether you can be rich without being a total jerk. In this episode: 0:00 Why focusing on money in your business doesn't make you an a$$hole 3:3...

I’m talking to Seth Werkheiser from Social Media Escape Club about getting off social media, building simple websites, and finding a better way to connect with people online. In this episode: 2:36 Building simple websites from scratch 5:06 Why simple websites feel empowering 8:17 My rant about long sales pages 14:06 Seth’s social media history and leaving 17:35 How he gets clients without social H...

I’m obsessed with this simple idea for sharing your work without burning out. Kate Sage is using a weekly podcast digest to add value to her email newsletter, showcase her expertise, and shout out other creators. In this episode: 0:00 Why she ditched the idea of starting a podcast and did this instead 2:33 The simple format behind her weekly podcast digest 5:49 How she stays consistent without bur...

What if building your business felt more like trusting yourself... and less like following someone else’s rules for pricing, marketing, and growth? In this episode: 00:00 Intro to Jess Langley, business doula + creative entrepreneur 02:50 What a business doula is and how it applies to online business 07:20 Using astrology for self-awareness and business decisions 10:00 What a business astrology re...

Your Instagram doesn’t have to run your life. I’m breaking down how a static nine grid lets you look like an active, legit business on Instagram without constantly posting. In this episode: 0:00 What a static nine grid actually is 2:01 Why it frees you from showing up on Instagram constantly 5:00 What you can include in your posts 9:34 How to showcase your offers without being weird 18:39 How to p...

I’m rebuilding my podcast in a way that actually works for how my brain and business operate. I share why I combined everything into one feed, how I’m thinking about content now, and what I’m doing about social media going forward. In this episode: 0:00 Why I changed the podcast name and format 0:33 My history with past podcasts and why I keep evolving 2:18 Why I combined everything into one feed...

In this episode, I’m sharing the audio from a live Zoom call where business owners anonymously talked about courses, memberships, and coaching programs they regret buying. We dig into the marketing tactics that hooked us, the situations we were in when we clicked “buy,” and the shame a lot of people carry afterward. If you’ve ever bought something in your business and later thought wait… what just...

I love creating connections and getting to know super cool people on my podcast, over years of different variations of my podcast. Recently, I have been experimenting with how much content I put out, and how many episodes I put out, and I am trying to decide what is crucial in supporting my business and what may be taking up a bit too much of my energy. In this episode, I talk about: Your business...

Ever wondered what it takes to create a year's worth of podcasts? 365 episodes of commitment, content, and sprinkles of life lessons. Suzanne Culberg is doing just that, and she's sharing her take on podcasts, business "norms", and boundaries. Suzanne Culberg is the unstoppable force behind "The Nope Coach" podcast. She is bringing daily doses of wisdom, wit, and what...

Kellita Maloof, a conscious burlesque mentor who captivated me through her TED Talk and documentary, is joining me on the podcast to share how she guides women to show up as their true selves, bringing vulnerability and raw power to the stage. She advocates for a delicate balance, urging us to utilize our thoughts as tools to support our aspirations and emotions, rather than letting them restrain...

What would you do if you woke up one day and your social media accounts were *poof* gone? What would happen to your business?  When Kathleen Oh was deleted from Instagram, with no customer service to call, and no one to help her recover the account, she was scared and hurt. As creators, we often think that it is a mutualistic relationship between us and algorithms, but the truth is everyone on soc...

Are you tired of hearing the same old "be consistent" advice? I have mapped out 5 fresh reasons why consistency can benefit YOU as a content creator. Spoiler: It's not just about making the algorithm happy. Learn how consistency can build trust, strengthen your brand identity, clarify your messaging, establish your expertise, and even give you the push you need to grow as a content...

Kacey Hayes shares her best tips on how to achieve the ultimate goal of podcast pitching... How can I make it as easy as possible for them to say yes in a short amount of time? Check out this episode for juicy details about one-sheets, personalizing pitch emails, setting up a Spotify playlist, creating collaborative relationships, and discussing how to approach pitches when you're just starti...

Adrienne Kmetz is a content creator who is constantly learning and adapting to the wild world of search engine optimization. She understands the importance of speaking the language of the user and creating fresh, valuable content that effectively answers their questions. Ready to level up your SEO game? In this convo with Adrienne Matz, we debunked some common myths and shared valuable insights to...

Christina Torres is a copywriter who is all about finding your vibe and bringing a true voice to her work. Stop typing like a robot and listen to some great tips from Christina on how to sound like you, and find your voice! Finding your voice is not just about writing how you speak. It's about understanding the impact your voice has, the resonance it creates, and the connection it forms with...

It's just me on this episode! And I am here to tell you that building a business can be balanced with the rest of your life, without burning out. Tune in and find out how I zero in on what's important in my business, the boundaries I stand by, and some of the people who helped me find my "ah-ha" moments. Plus, you can hear the words I picked for my business in 2024... Patient....