Build The Damn Thing with Kathryn Finney

In this episode of Build a Damn Thing, host Kathryn Finney speaks with Francesca Hogi , a lawyer turned entrepreneur and author, about her journey from corporate law to matchmaking. They discuss the importance of navigating life changes, finding one's passion, and the financial preparations necessary for career transitions. Francesca shares insights on creating multiple income streams, overcoming...

In this episode of Build a Damn Thing, host Kathryn Finney speaks with Elina Pantelyeva, the founder of Dood Woof, about her journey from being laid off in the tech industry to building a successful brand for dog lovers. Elina shares her insights on identifying target audiences, product development, and the importance of authenticity in creating loyal customers. She discusses the challenges of ent...

In this episode of Build The Damn Thing, host Kathryn Finney speaks with expert authority coach Christine Blosdale about the importance of visibility and storytelling in entrepreneurship. Christine shares insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, the significance of authenticity, and how to connect personal stories to business success. She emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to uncover their uni...

How do you build a network that actually fuels your business and life? In this special compilation episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney brings together some of the most powerful insights from past guests on the importance of relationships, risk-taking, and resilience in entrepreneurship. You’ll learn: - How founders turned corporate careers into thriving businesses - Why inclusive commu...

What does it really take to turn a kitchen side hustle into a thriving wholesale business? In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney talks with entrepreneur and sales strategist Andee Hart, founder of Hart Design Co. and host of She Sells Differently. Andee shares how she went from a Fortune 500 sales executive to building a candle empire, the sales framework that works in any market...

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, host Kathryn Finney interviews financial advisor and money mindset expert Shari Rash, host of Everyone’s Talking Money, a show recognized by The New York Times. The conversation gives new and early stage entrepreneurs a clear money playbook for leaving a 9 to 5 and building a profitable business. Listeners learn how to pay themselves first using a Profit Fi...

What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted but feel completely empty inside? Bianca D'Alessio, author of "Mastering Intentions," HBO Max's Selling Tampa star, and top real estate broker, found herself at the pinnacle of success—and completely burned out, isolated from family, and questioning everything. In this raw conversation, Bianca breaks down the difference between toxic...

What happens when you turn a fashion blog into a business empire worth acquiring? Marie Denée, founder of The Curvy Fashionista, sits down with Kathryn Finney to break down the real economics of influence - from the wild west days of $12 CPMs and $50K satellite media tours to today's oversaturated market. This isn't your typical "follow your passion" conversation. Marie and Kathryn dig deep into t...

Owning your power isn’t a personality trait—it’s a strategy. In this special Build the Damn Thing compilation, Kathryn Finney brings together bold voices who know what it takes to lead, negotiate, and build with intention. From navigating bias to setting unapologetic boundaries, this episode is a crash course in standing tall and taking up space as an entrepreneur. You’ll hear from founders and le...

What does it really take to build the business—and life—you want? In this special compilation episode of Build the Damn Thing , host Kathryn Finney brings together powerful insights from founders and leaders who are redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur. From negotiating your worth to building through bias, this episode unpacks the real inner work required to lead with power and purpose....

What if leadership didn’t have to be lonely? What if building your business could feel like a joyful act of service—not just a climb to the top? In this episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with her longtime collaborator and friend, Darlene Gillard Jones , to unpack the emotional reality of entrepreneurship. From surviving literal blizzards in North Carolina to producing a ru...

It's time to use AI to save you time and grow your business In this episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with Cheryl Contee—tech futurist, serial entrepreneur, and author of AI for Nonprofits —to break down how underestimated founders can use AI right now to grow their businesses , save time, cut costs, and stay competitive. Whether you’re running a small team, a solo hustle,...

You’ve heard the buzz about venture capital, but do you really know how it works? Or if it’s even right for your business? In this episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with Brian Laung Aoaeh, co-founder of Refashioned Ventures, to break down the truth about venture capital—without the jargon. From understanding how VCs actually make money to knowing what “high growth” really...

In this episode of "Build a Damn Thing," host Kathryn Finney delves into the intersection of art and entrepreneurship with Natalie Osborne, founder of Natalie O. Decor. Born in the historic Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Natalie carries the legacy of Black Wall Street into her vibrant art. Discover how she transitioned from teaching to full-time artistry, leveraging platforms like Etsy and...

Your network is more than who you know — it’s about who knows what you know. In this episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with networking powerhouse ⁠Kelly Hoey⁠ , author of ⁠ Build Your Dream Network ⁠ , to unpack how building the right relationships can be the ultimate power move for entrepreneurs, career changers, and women in business. From career pivots to personal brand...

What does it really mean to own your power in business— and still be likeable? In this powerful episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with Dr. Alison Fragale, negotiation expert, professor at the University of North Carolina, and author of "Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Desrve", to unpack how underestimated entrepreneurs can navigate power, presence, and pers...

In a world where business often feels transactional, how do you build relationships that actually matter? In this episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with renowned connector and corporate responsibility expert Susan McPherson to talk about the real power behind authentic connections. Together, they unpack what it means to lead with purpose, why curiosity is your greatest net...

What if your burnout, breakup, and boldest idea all showed up in the same year—and led you to your biggest breakthrough? In this powerful episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with Nekeia Boone, tech executive turned ice cream entrepreneur and founder of  Tudy’s Kitchen . Named in honor of her grandmother, this Amsterdam-based, Black woman–led dessert brand is shaking up the f...

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Dana Hork — a powerhouse marketer, brand builder, and founder of the rapid-fire microagency Beers With Friends — to unpack what it really takes to go from startup scrappiness to billion-dollar success, and why speed, clarity, and creativity are the new marketing superpowers. From being one of the first 100 employees at Jet.com...

What if the boldest thing you could do is build the space you’ve been told you don’t belong in? In this powerful episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with Alex West Steinman, co-founder and CEO of The Coven —a trailblazing co-working space built by and for women, non-binary, and trans professionals. From confronting systemic inequities in the advertising industry to creating...

What if building your business could also build a better world? In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Teresa Chahine, Yale School of Management senior lecturer, social entrepreneurship pioneer, and author of Social Entrepreneurship: Building Impact Step-by-Step. Teresa shares how she’s blending academic insight with on-the-ground action to reshape the future of bus...

How do you stay relevant, build community, and lead through massive industry change—without losing yourself in the process? In this episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with powerhouse media executive and community builder Ann Shoket , former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Magazine and current CEO of TheLi.st . From the high-stakes world of legacy media to building a digital-fi...

What if the skills you used to launch your dream business were the same skills you need to launch a successful romantic partnership? In this one-of-a-kind episode of Build the Damn Thing , host Kathryn Finney sits down with acclaimed love coach and entrepreneur Francesca Hogi to uncover the surprising parallels between building a business and building a relationship. Francesca—author of How to Fin...

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter , to unpack how she transformed a $100 passion project into a powerhouse beauty brand—and what it really takes to grow without compromising your purpose. From mixing body butters in her Brooklyn kitchen to landing shelf space at Sephora, Lisa shares the behind-the-scenes journey of build...

What if building your business (and your life) wasn’t about “doing more”, but about “doing smarter”? In this powerful season-opening episode of Build the Damn Thing , Kathryn Finney sits down with Christina Wallace —Harvard Business School senior lecturer, serial entrepreneur, and author of The Portfolio Life —to unpack how entrepreneurs can future-proof their careers and personal lives with inten...