Business Origin Stories for Entrepreneurs, Coaches, and Leaders

Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest thing holding women back isn’t a lack of opportunity—but the quiet agreements we make with ourselves to wait? In this episode of Business Origin Stories , I’m joined by Emily Lampkin , longtime Washington, D.C. power broker, global speaker, and author of the upcoming book White Lies and Duct Tape . Emily has spent decades working inside politics, government, co...

Send us Fan Mail What if your next career move isn't about finding the perfect job—but finally becoming the most unapologetic version of yourself? Executive coach Jennifer Speciale joins host Amy Schutte for a raw conversation about career reinvention, owning your story, and stepping into your power without apologizing for it. Jennifer opens up about her own pivots: moving to Italy, realizing...

Send us Fan Mail Why do we resist change, even when we want it? How do leaders move from fear into possibility when the world around them is evolving faster than ever? In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte sits down with Andi Simon, a blue ocean strategist, author, and leadership advisor who helps organizations reinvent themselves, rewrite their internal narratives, and navi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the thing you’ve built your identity on… stops being the thing the world needs from you? In this episode of Business Origin Stories , host Amy Schutte sits down with Michael Landers — global leadership and culture consultant, author, and founder of Culture Crossing — for a raw, honest conversation about AI, identity, purpose, and what remains when everything arou...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to create visual content for some of the world's biggest brands—and sustain that success for over two decades? In this episode, director and photographer Stewart Cohen pulls back the curtain on the creative industry, sharing insights from his extensive portfolio working with American Airlines, AT&T, Coca-Cola, MGM Resorts, and Frito-Lay through his produ...

Send us Fan Mail What if one tiny decision—like choosing a local salt over a supermarket staple—could help change your food system, your family life, and your business? In this episode of Business Origin Stories , host Amy Schutte sits down with Sarah McElrae, the founder of Summa Salts and the beloved “Salt Lady” of Jacksonville, Florida. Sarah went from a chaotic childhood and a career in educat...

Send us Fan Mail Are you making big decisions from a place of clarity—or chaos? In this episode of Business Origin Stories , host Amy Schutte sits down with executive coach and decision-making expert Michael Walker to unpack why so many founders and leaders feel stuck, second-guess themselves, or unintentionally throw their teams into whiplash with constant pivots. Drawing on years of research, co...

Send us Fan Mail What would change if you—and your team—worked from your strengths every day? Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and ICF PCC Jennifer Doyle Vancil, M.Ed. joins Amy to break down CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) and show leaders, founders, and professionals how to align work with what people naturally do best. After 25+ years in higher ed as an advisor and career coach, Jen...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever stared at your phone wondering, “What do I even post on Stories today?” — this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. In this conversation, I’m joined by business coach and mentor Gabrielle Forleo , who helps women make serious money online by refining their marketing, messaging, sales strategies, and relationship with money. After 17 years as a global sales l...

Send us Fan Mail Tired of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in a cycle of overthinking? What if you could make bold, confident decisions without guilt, fear, or second-guessing? In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte sits down with Jessica Frew, a bold decision coach and author of the new book "Shove Your Shoulds." Jessica shares her powerful personal story and...

Send us Fan Mail Are we preparing our children for a world that doesn't even exist yet? As artificial intelligence reshapes our society, parents and educators are facing a critical question: how do we teach the next generation to thrive in the age of AI without sacrificing critical thinking and discernment? In this episode of Business Origin Stories, host Amy Schutte is joined by Cameron Fuga...

Send us Fan Mail What if one single pin could bring consistent traffic, leads, and sales to your business — for months or even years — without spending a dime on ads? In this episode of Business Origin Stories , host Amy Schutte sits down with Pinterest strategist Gwendolyn Griffin for a mini masterclass on how to turn Pinterest into a sustainable marketing machine for your business. Gwendolyn bre...

Send us Fan Mail Grief in leadership is real—and most entrepreneurs don’t get a playbook for it. In this powerful conversation, TEDx speaker and transformational coach Dr. Lynda Reid joins host Amy Schutte on Business Origin Stories to talk about navigating grief, burnout, and big life pivots while still leading teams and companies with clarity. Drawing on neuroscience, Positive Intelligence® (sab...

Send us Fan Mail What if an AI agent could give you back 10+ hours a week and save six figures this year? In this solo episode, host Amy Schutte shares how she quietly tested and built AI systems for small businesses—and the exact agent that’s projected to save a client $100,000+ in 12 months . You’ll hear Amy’s two strongest (and slightly spicy) opinions about AI, why it must be handled with care...

Send us Fan Mail What if the way you show up in your clothes could transform how you lead, work, and live? In this episode, I sit down with stylist and coach Ellie Steinbrink , who shares her journey from 20 years in marketing to building a business rooted in authenticity and style. After losing her job during the pandemic,Ellie leaned into her lifelong passion and discovered that style can be a d...

Send us Fan Mail What if showing up on video didn’t have to feel overwhelming — and could actually become the easiest way to grow your brand? In this episode, I’m joined by Ed Troxell , personal brand coach and video strategist, who helps entrepreneurs stand out online without getting lost in the tech, the hustle, or the self-doubt. Ed shares how he went from dreading video to launching his own da...

Send us Fan Mail What if the key to growing your business wasn’t just marketing harder, but learning how to share your story with credibility and trust? In this episode, I’m joined by Jennifer Kaplan , founder of Evolve PR and Marketing and one of the top voices in the PR world today. Over the past 20 years, Jennifer has built the largest PR firm in Arizona, serving more than 100 clients across in...

Send us Fan Mail What if building a business didn’t mean climbing the corporate ladder, but creating one that actually fits your life as a mom? In this special throwback episode, I’m joined by Crystalee Beck — mom of four, serial entrepreneur, and founder of The Mama Ladder and Comma Copywriters. Crystalee has been paving the way for women at the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship, sh...

Send us Fan Mail Leadership gets talked about in terms of strategy and performance, but the truth is, it always comes back to people. That’s the heartbeat of my conversation today with Rick Harris. Rick is the CEO of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), a 30+ year nonprofit leader, and a former radio DJ with an incredible story to share. What I love most about Rick is how h...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to go from bootstrapping a beauty business in your spare bedroom… to running two growing brands and leading a team of 60? This week, I’m joined by Jen Beyers — founder of Evrmore Extensions and co-CEO of Rare Bird Beauties , a Chicago-based bridal hair and makeup agency. Jen started out doing hair for friends on the weekend and built her career one client (and on...

Send us Fan Mail What if the thing you do for fun held the key to a more aligned and sustainable business? This week, I’m joined by Michelle Pecak : pricing expert, operations strategist, and founder of My Vibe , a business community built on healing, connection, and reciprocity. After 25 years in supply chain and pricing for billion-dollar companies, Michelle took a leap. She walked away from the...

Send us Fan Mail When life feels too comfortable, growth can feel unnatural. In this solo episode, I’m sharing what’s been on my mind lately: how convenience shapes the way we live, work, and lead — and what we might be missing when everything is designed to make things easier. I’m not talking about burnout or over-efforting. I’m talking about the quiet spaces where growth gets stalled, simply bec...

Send us Fan Mail What if your most ordinary, slice-of-life moments were actually the key to becoming a more magnetic storyteller? This week I’m joined by Seth Donlin , storytelling coach, podcast guesting expert, and the kind of person who can turn a trip to the grocery store into a masterclass on authenticity. Seth teaches entrepreneurs how to turn everyday experiences into engaging narratives th...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m joined by Katie Lantukh — messaging strategist, copywriting genius, and one of the sharpest, most thoughtful voices I know when it comes to saying the thing… without saying it like everyone else. Katie’s one of the voices I trust most when it comes to brand messaging. She helps founders find the right words, and more importantly, the right platforms to communicate w...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to build a creative business that actually feels like you? This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Jenny Losee, a luxury, documentary-style wedding and brand photographer whose work is both stunning and soulful. She’s photographed celebrity weddings, been featured in Vogue and People Magazine , and was recently named one of the top 30 wedding photographers in the...