Build Your Own Fairytale

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Get ready for a little lesson in confidence 101 - with some sandy vibes! Janel Hawkins shares her journey from courageously quitting her job to moving back home to Alabama to pursue her passion for building sandcastles. Janel attributes her "false confidence" and "secondary confidence" to allowing her to keep moving forward,...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show When the life you've built no longer feels like yours — what comes next? This week, I’m joined by Jenn Arthurton, founder of Old Chicks Know Sh t* and host of the podcast by the same name, for a conversation all about identity, reinvention, and redefining success in midlife. After a career shakeup in her 50s, Jenn found herself at a crossr...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show We don’t talk enough about the simple stuff in business — like saying thank you, acknowledging a message, or showing basic respect and professionalism. But today, I’m calling it out. In this episode, I’m diving into why modern business etiquette still matters — and how it can actually become a quiet superpower in your brand. I’m sharing a few r...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Alicia Conner is building a business while balancing a full-time job and two young kids—and she’s doing it with purpose. She helps sorority women translate their leadership experience into corporate-ready skills that get noticed and land them the jobs they want. We talk about the value of listening to your gut, especially when the noise of advi...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Ever looked at your to-do list and felt completely paralyzed… or like a cat chasing its own tail getting absolutely nowhere? If yes, this episode is for you . Today, I’m sharing one of my go-to tools when overwhelm hits: the Eisenhower Matrix. It’s quick. It’s simple. It’s effective.  Because when you can distinguish between importance and urge...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show What do neuroscience, web design, and cake have in common? For Grace "Grey" Pak — everything! In this episode, Grace shares her powerful and unconventional journey from the world of science and tech to becoming a sought-after cake artist whose creations go beyond delicious dessert and head straight into fine art.  Grace opens up about...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show 👯‍♀️ Special Guests: Sammy & Gracie (my twin daughters) 🗓️ Recorded on: Take Your Kids to Work Day 2025 Today’s episode is a little different — and a whole lot of FUN! I’m joined by two very special co-hosts: my 10-year-old twin daughters, Sammy and Gracie. In honor of Take Your Kids to Work Day, I handed them the mic to get their honest,...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Meet Michelle, a passionate artist who transitioned from teaching to a career in art.  Inspired by influential teachers and her fascination with school, Michelle pursued a career in education, including obtaining her masters (and racking up student loans) only to eventually realize that her love of school didn’t translate to teaching.  Michelle...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Ever feel like your DMs, inbox, and texts are bursting at the seams with client leads—and you have zero idea where anything is? 🙋‍♀️ You're not alone, and you're definitely not doing it wrong. You're just ready for better systems. In this episode, we're taking your lead management from scattered to streamlined with a three-...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Meet Viva Kreis - a trailblazing young athlete and passionate advocate for women in sports.  From her eighth-grade project on Wilma Rudolph to playing professional handball in France, Viva’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, Viva shares how she landed interviews with WNBA stars at the age of 14, her deep love for sports hi...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show I’m breaking down why a Biz HQ is important, WHAT details & docs to put there and how to decide WHERE to create yours. This simple, but important centralized system helps store frequently used links, business details, public relations materials, and more, increasing productivity and reducing overwhelm.  If you don’t already have one, you’re...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Whether coaching from the pool deck or guiding athletes through nutrition, Erica Beine’s philosophy remains the same— just keep swimming. After 13 years in collegiate swim coaching, Erica became the youngest Division I Head Coach in the country. But she soon realized her true calling lay beyond the pool, driven by a desire for greater autonomy...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show What is a content calendar and why should you create & maintain one for your biz? This episode will answer both of these questions!  AND I’ll guide you through how to create your own content calendar for FREE using Asana.  Tune in to learn how a content calendar can be a game-changer for your business strategy. If you’re more of a visual le...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Kristine Thomason shares her fascinating journey as a lifestyle writer and editor at major publications such as Women's Health and mindbodygreen, to becoming a thriving freelance writer, editor, and consultant. Kristine candidly discusses the pivotal moment of being laid off that ultimately led her to take the leap and embrace the freedom...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show This is the first episode where I’m starting to share content more closely aligned with my business; helping creatives simplify their business!  In it, we start with three basic concepts to help simplify: Templates Batching & time-blocking Color-coding (my fav!) Use the link above to send feedback via text message! Ready for some more “adva...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Maddy Fero shares her inspiring journey from a broadcast journalism background to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Today Maddy is the founder of Little Rad Things, a children's clothing brand committed to sustainability and American-made products.  We dive deep into the challenges and rewards of balancing a growing business with family...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show As we prepare to close out the year, this episode is the perfect opportunity to get a feel for what this podcast is all about and reflect on some of the simple, yet life-changing wisdom guests have shared on how to navigate the intricacies of both business and life. 🎙️✨  Episodes referenced: Ep #100 Celebrating 100 Episodes: Flipping the Scrip...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Chari Pere shares her inspiring journey from a childhood passion for drawing to a career in cartooning and storytelling. She discusses her path from private art lessons to earning a degree in cartooning from the School of Visual Arts. Chari’s career includes working with agency on notable accounts, like Red Bull, freelancing, and pairing her pa...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Jaci Russo, PCM, shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to branding expert, navigating unexpected opportunities in entertainment and marketing industries. Hear about her start with a creative agency, pioneering early internet marketing for movies, to ultimately founding her own successful ad agency. Delve into her strategies for creating strat...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Michelle Kuei, a resilient and inspiring woman, shares her journey from a life-altering car accident at age 11 to becoming a successful pharmacist, life coach, and entrepreneur. In this episode, Michelle discusses: Overcoming adversity and finding strength in challenging times The power of mindset and the importance of self-belief Practical str...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Dr. Laura Sicola shares her story from college professor to leadership communication and influence expert. And because Laura is an expert in communication and influence, this episode is also packed with strategies and advice on branding, crafting a compelling elevator pitch, knowing when to outsource, and overcoming self-imposed limitations. Le...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Rachel Boyman shares her winding career path that most recently took the leap from e-commerce at Google to pediatric sleep consultant. She shares details about the various stops on her career path, emphasizing the importance of being resourceful and introspective. Most importantly, Rachel shares the simple, yet oh-so-challenging advice; just st...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show GiGi Meier shares her journey from a 30-year-corporate career in banking, where she achieved C-suite status, to her current life as a successful romance author. GiGi always had a passion for writing, but it wasn’t until a big life shake up (aka divorce) prompted her to audit her own life (instead of just the numbers!). This led her to the reali...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show Life as a mom and solopreneur has its ups and downs.  This summer was a lot of fun, but also really challenging. As I sat down to reflect, I decided my thoughts with you, in hopes it helps if you’re also facing a schedule/season change.  Tune in to hear how I plan to do it differently next time. AND let’s not forget to celebrate the accomplishm...

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show When Heather Metroka first stepped into the world of entrepreneurship, she simply wanted something to work so she wouldn’t have to go back to her 9-5. Through her experiences and multiple pivots in business focus, she found her passion. Today, Heather has perfected her craft, offering culinary creations and stunning cocktails to her Fairytale F...