Indie Business Podcast

Welcome to Episode 100 of the Indie Business Podcast! On this episode, you'll meet Hannah Hon of Ruministics in St. Louis, Missouri. Do you remember the blockbuster film The Perfect Storm ? Today’s guest, Hannah Hon, describes her entrepreneurial journey as the perfect storm convergence of fragrance, creativity, and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Hannah and I discuss how these passions came to...

Welcome to Episode 99 of the Indie Business Podcast! On this episode, you'll meet Robbin Turner of Violet Botanical Skincare in Los Angeles, CA. One of the first things you might notice about the Violet Botanical brand is the gorgeous violet blue bottles in which each product is  carefully packaged. The bottles are not only beautiful, but they are also reflective of Robbin's deep Gullah...

Welcome to Episode 98 of the Indie Business Podcast! On this episode, you'll meet Larissa Lewis of Jargon Gist in Pasadena, CA. This episode is chock full of fantastic tips to help you boost your content creation chops. It's also special to me because it's an introduction to the wonderful daughter of IBN's very first member, Kathleen Lewis. Larissa was a toddler in tiny tutus and pink ballet slipp...

Welcome to Episode 97 of the Indie Business Podcast! I'm excited to introduce you to Catherine Robinson of Wildwood Aromas in Springfield, Missouri. A self-described introvert, Catherine started her business after she began making aromatherapy products for people who wanted to use essential oil blends to enhance their daily lives but didn't have, a reputable source to purchase them. She began maki...

Welcome to Episode 96 of the Indie Business Podcast! On this episode, you'll meet Kimberly Cross of Zhi Bath & Body in Charlotte, North Carolina. From the time she was a child, Kim has been in the beauty industry. She started out as a hair dresser in middle school. Later, after retiring from the military (thank you for your service!!), Kim began creating bath and body products containing goat milk...

Welcome to Episode 95 of the Indie Business Podcast! On this episode, you'll meet Rachel Beyer of Artist Apothecary in Portland, Oregon. For Rachel, art has always been a passion. Her mother and grandmother taught her how to sew, and growing up, she took extra art classes every chance she got. So it's no surprise that her business is an outgrowth of a combination of her passion, training and exper...

Welcome to Episode 94 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this episode, you'll meet Chelsea Selby Randazza of Witch Baby Soap in Cranford, New Jersey. It was nearly a decade ago when, in her kitchen, baby strapped to her chest, Chelsea first started making and selling soap and bath bombs and realized there was a market for products for what she calls “weird and witchy” people like her. A...

As you know, IBN's proprietary entrepreneurial framework, the Maker Method , contains four sequential phases you must past through on the road to building a profitable business that makes you happy and successful and can generate income for life. Those phases are: Emerge > Engage > Evolve > Expand. Welcome to Episode 93 of the Indie Business Podcast, where we introduce you to a member who...

According to a 2020 report from the American Psychiatric Association*, 46.6 million Americans (nearly 1 in 5 adults!) live with a mental health condition, depression in particular, and suicide rates are rising. Welcome to Episode 92 of the Indie Business Podcast, where we shine a spotlight on one woman's mental health challenges, and how the intersection of aromatherapy and entrepreneurship help h...

Welcome to Episode 91 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Tiana Coats of Winding Wick Candles, in Garland, Texas. Once upon a time, Tiana considered her position as a pharmacy technician to be her dream job. She eventually grew weary of doing the same thing every day, and began daydreaming about what she could sell to make a living online. This led to selling books...

Welcome to Episode 90 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Jennifer Watt of Jenny the Hemp Goddess, in Armada, Michigan. Jenny's story perfectly illustrates the fact that a supportive spouse or partner is key to business success. Several years ago, Jenny and her family moved to a 10-acre farm and started selling eggs and produce. They phased that out once Jenny and...

Welcome to Episode 89 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Lakisha McMillian of Simply Unique, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Not only is Lakisha leading her business, but she also works full-time and is earning her master's degree. You'll enjoy learning about how Lakisha organizes her time for maximum efficiency using a basic notebook and pen and paper. You'll also...

Welcome to Episode 88 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Brittany Hogan of Nefertem Holistic Skincare, in Park Forest, Illinois. For Nefertem co-founders Brittany and her husband, Andre, business is about so much more than money. The brand name itself borrows from Nefertem, the god of beautification in the ancient culture of the Nile Valley region where mathematic...

Welcome to Episode 87 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Rhonda Walters of RareGlo, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Rhonda has been in the beauty business for over 40 years. She is a cosmetologist, a hair stylist, a salon owner, and a cosmetics formulator. And a mom and a long distance runner. And a long distance runner. Oh, and she recently celebrated her 40th wedding...

Welcome to Episode 86 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Christie Krasteva of CEVARI, in Charlotte, North Carolina. A self-described “nature girl,” Christie grew up surrounded by all types of entrepreneurs including farmers, auto body shop owners, construction engineers, charter boat owners, horticulturists and more. Having been exposed to entrepreneur...

Welcome to Episode 85 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Christine Mineart of Sent Nudes, in Oakland, California. Shortly before the pandemic lockdowns, Christine and her friends decided to create a day centered around making their own perfumes and then visiting a local perfume museum. They ordered all of the supplies, set a date, and then BAM, the pandemic hit. B...

Welcome to Episode 84 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Patty Liu of Free Flow Botanicals, in Santa Cruz, California. As an educated herbalist and product formulator, Patty believes in offering a product line that helps people tend to their bodies from the inside out. In addition to a line of skincare, she also offers holistic coaching services and distance Reiki...

Welcome to Episode 83 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Sara Jennetten of Blank Mason, in Park Ridge, Illinois. With a newly proposed lease in her hand, Sara literally started her business the month the pandemic hit. She made an impressively quick pivot to the Internet and has not looked back. Her brand is all about the personalization and customization of scent....

Welcome to Episode 82 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Nadja Renise of FEMMENOIRE, in Alpharetta, Georgia. Nadja's personal business story begins with the low self esteem she once felt, especially where her hair was concerned. Not only did a stylist leave her with a style that can only be described as a painful disaster, but at one point, Nadja became so frustra...

Welcome to Episode 81 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Ayanna Jackson of Arbria Creations, in San Leandro, California. While Ayanna has a full-time job, which she enjoys, she has always had the itch to have a business of her own. As she encouraged her daughters to pursue their dreams, she realized that she was not pursuing hers. She decided to change all that, a...

Welcome to Episode 80 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Mindy Cheng of Fyve Beauty, in Cupertino, California. In numerology, the number “five” represents humanity, and Mindy's Fyve beauty brand uses five ingredients in every product, “for all of humanity.” Mindy started her business in 2011 after creating a simple formula that helped her d...

Welcome to Episode 79 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Patricia Nizalowski of Green Valley Herbal, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Patricia is a massage therapist and health and wellness coach who purchased her business based more on her enthusiasm for the brand and less on on traditional business and financial considerations. You'll enjoy hearing about how Patrici...

Welcome to Episode 78 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Isabel Alvarez of Albisa Candles, in Los Angeles, California. Isabel makes candles that are reminiscent of her Cuban heritage. After the pandemic, Isabel hopes to hire outside help, but for now, it's truly a family business at Albisa, with Isabel making all of the candles and her husband doing all of the pac...

Welcome to Episode 77 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Laura Luther of Olive My Skin, in Oxford, Connecticut. Laura first owned the Southbury Soap & Candle bath and body business business nearly 20 years ago. After closing down following a challenging divorce, Laura launched Olive My Skin in 2012, and since then, has added several complementary brands, incl...

Welcome to Episode 76 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today's Indie Story introduces you to Ciara Fritsch, of Pure Body Nantucket, in Nantucket, Massachusetts. A native of Ireland, Ciara arrived in America in 1994 and settled in Nantucket where she met her husband. While she helps him manage an antique store on the island, her personal and entrepreneurial passion is leading Pure Body Nantucket, whi...