Built this way

Ryan shares his powerful story of transformation, from a difficult teenage chapter and joining the military to training military working dogs, surviving trauma, building a dog training business, and working with high-profile celebrity clients. The conversation explores the emotional connection between humans and animals, why “energy runs down leash,” and how dogs can reveal deeper lessons about le...

Rachel shares her journey through public success and private struggles, discussing the emotional realities of building a business, navigating mental health challenges, handling social media pressure, and finding purpose beyond entrepreneurship. The conversation also explores grief, family legacy, creativity, leadership, and Rachel's upcoming fantasy book series written with her husband. Together,...

Patricia Muelle and Carisa Mendyk  talked about the versions of themselve  people still remember versus the women they've  become. The mistakes. The lessons. The stories that are funny now but weren't funny at the time. They talked business, relationships, being underestimated, healing, growth, and why sometimes people struggle to let go of who you used to be. This one felt less like an interview...

In this episode of Built This Way , host Patricia Muellen sits down with veteran advocate Donna McClendon to explore life after military service, the importance of boundaries, and the reality of healing from trauma. They dive into the challenges veterans face when transitioning into civilian life, including navigating the VA system, accessing benefits, and rebuilding identity after service. Donna...

In this episode of Built This Way , Patricia sits down with retired VP of Operation and Purchasing now DJ Dirk Handlin to unpack what it really means to redefine success, leadership, and life after corporate. From leaving a high-level executive role to reinventing himself as a DJ, Dirk shares why waiting to “enjoy life later” is a risk not worth taking. Together, they explore workplace culture, th...

We explore: What SEO really means and how it impacts your business Why most websites fail to generate traffic and leads The difference between SEO and paid advertising strategies How to optimize your website for better search rankings The role of AI in modern marketing and search behavior Common SEO mistakes business owners make How to build a sustainable digital presence that drives results Wheth...

In this episode of Built This Way , Patricia sits down with Dan Crist , owner of Centsible Heating and Air Conditioning, to dive into the real story behind entrepreneurship. From life as a teenager to building multiple businesses in construction, restaurants, and HVAC. We real talk about whay motivation "haters" provide when they ask questions like "What are you doing now?" and unpack one of his b...

We learn that serial entrepreneurship is not about chasing money, but about creating systems that generate profit and allow for flexibility, creativity, and control. Producer, Creator, and Entrepreneur J'Que makes it clear that success is not accidental. It is built on intentional structure, disciplined execution, and an unwavering commitment to personal growth. The biggest shift comes when we mov...

Manon opens up about her upbringing in the south of France, growing up in a modest family, and watching her father dream bigger than the circumstances around him. That example plants the seed for her own hunger to create a different life. She shares how she starts working young, pursues real estate, and eventually realizes she wants more than stability. She wants freedom, creativity, visibility, a...

Patricia shares why she reached out in the first place: she had high-quality equipment sitting there, collecting dust, representing a dream she wanted but felt insecure about. She had recorded episodes on her own, hated them, and didn’t feel confident enough to hit publish. That leads into the real takeaway of the episode: most people want a podcast, but the behind-the-scenes details, the self-dou...

We reflect on how nothing pauses. Bills do not pause. Clients do not pause. Deadlines do not pause. Leadership does not pause. We still have to show up. And when life gets loud, we either let it run us or we lean on the systems we have built. Planning, strategy, and preparation become the only reason we are able to keep our head above water. Because we plan ahead, communicate expectations, and low...

We return this week building directly on our last episode about strategy, and we start with a very real reminder that life is messy. We talk openly about hormones, health, and how easily the best intentions can get derailed when we are navigating personal change. From there, we shift into what this episode is really about: taking strategy beyond theory and into practice with someone who truly unde...

We share the story of how we learned real strategic planning through mentorship, municipal work, and economic development projects. We talk about cities as businesses and how intentional planning shapes communities, growth, housing, jobs, and long-term sustainability. We connect that same thinking to entrepreneurship and personal decision-making. Strategy is not about control. It is about creating...

We come back to the mic after a long, unexpected break and explain why this season forced us to stop, breathe, and completely recalibrate our lives. We open in the middle of real life, talking through tech issues, production logistics, memory lapses, and the strange humor that comes with major surgery and hormonal shifts. We admit that for the first time in a long time, we could not push through b...

🔑 What We Cover Rediscovering your voice after burnout From bartending to bestselling author Why “balance” is a myth and grace matters more The power of authenticity in podcasting Faith, leadership, and speaking your truth How women can lead without losing themselves Real talk on politics, purpose, and freedom 🧭 Connect with Branden LaNette 🌐 Website: BrandenLaNette.com 🎧 Listen Bitch Podcast:...

🔑 What We Cover Rediscovering your voice after burnout From bartending to bestselling author Why “balance” is a myth and grace matters more The power of authenticity in podcasting Faith, leadership, and speaking your truth How women can lead without losing themselves Real talk on politics, purpose, and freedom Connect with Branden LaNette 🌐 Website: BrandenLaNette.com 🎧 Listen Bitch Podcast: Sp...

Key Takeaways Decide > dabble. Identity follows repeated action; commit through the quiet months. Internal > external validation. Likes lag; impact often arrives silently (then all at once). Consistency compounds. Thousands of small reps beat a handful of “perfect” posts. Test & repurpose. Change formats, platforms, and angles; recycle messages for new seasons. Repurpose yourself. Past roles still...

In this unfiltered episode, Patricia dives into the irony of preaching “just start”. After years of overthinking, imposter syndrome, and waiting for everything to be perfect, she finally does the thing — hits record and lets it roll. Patricia opens up about her creative paralysis, the endless loop of buying gear, scrapping takes, and avoiding her studio out of fear. She’s brutally honest about the...

Patricia shares her story of building a marketing company, P. Muellen & Associates , after years of varied experiences: politics, staffing, chamber of commerce leadership, and entrepreneurship. Along the way, she’s made big mistakes (like selling a staffing company for $10), survived major health battles (fertility issues, double hip replacements, and upcoming hysterectomy), and navigated tough pe...

Built This Way introduces host Patricia Muellen, a seasoned entrepreneur whose career spans marketing, staffing, politics, and leadership. With two decades of wins, struggles, and hard-learned lessons, Patricia sets the stage for a podcast that embraces authenticity over perfection. Built This Way is dedicated to dreamers, risk-takers, and anyone who’s ever been told they were “too much” but chose...