Indie Business Podcast

W elcome to Season 3, Episode 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this first episode of my third season, I'm thrilled to share the theme for Season 3: Makers on Main Street . Don't you just love that?! Considering all the talk we hear from lawmakers and media pundits about “Main Street” businesses that are really not “main street” at all, I think it's time to celebrate Real...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 12 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this eleventh and final episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I introduce you to Neenz Faleafine of Pono Media in Hawaii. Through her business, Neenz helps entrepreneurs develop “virtual solutions for real-life results.” Some might say she is a social media consultant, but she's really so much more than that. Ne...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 11 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this eleventh episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I introduce you to my friend Lisa Price, the founder of Carol's Daughter. In 1992, Lisa began making lotions and potions in her Brooklyn kitchen, and selling them under the brand name Carol's Daughter, in honor of her mother. Lisa opened her first store in Brooklyn in 1999...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 10 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this tenth episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I introduce you to my friend and your Small Biz Lady, Melinda Emerson. Melinda is the author of Become Your Own Boss in Twelve Months , and the host of the weekly Twitter talk show, Small Biz Chat. Melinda has some insightful thoughts on the topic of how woman business owners...

A recent popular thread in the very awesome Indie Business Network Member Secret Forum deals with the issue of “competition.” Among other things, the conversation consists of members encouraging each other and sharing how they approach the very important issue of participating in a competitive market place — which we all are. In a nutshell, it is my firm belief that: “There...

I was fighting a severe cold during this interview, and we had some audio difficulties, but I wanted you to meet Diane as soon as possible so you could have the benefit of her experience right away! W elcome to Season 2, Episode 8 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this eighth episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I introduce you to my guest Diane Humke, President and Chair of Essential Who...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 7 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this seventh episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I introduce you to my guest Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry in Bellingham, Washington … and boy, are you in for a treat. Anne-Marie is one of the most evolved entrepreneurs I know. She has cracked the code on how to turn what she wants into tangible results. Her app...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 6 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this sixth episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I introduce you to my guest Wardee Harmon of Traditional Cooking School in Sutherlin, Oregon. Wardee and I met online four years ago when I contacted her out of the blue to ask for help with an issue that was critical to my business at the time. I had never done anything like...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 5 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fifth episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I introduce you to my guest and dear personal friend, Pierre Bennu, of exittheapple in Baltimore, Maryland. Pierre and I first met in 2010 when he joined me and his lovely wife, Jamyla Bennu, at small business advocacy meetings at the Small Business Administration in Washingto...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 4 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fourth episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, we focus on all things local, rural, and small town with my guest Becky McCray of Small Biz Survival in Alva, Oklahoma … population 4,000 (give or take). Becky and her husband own a liquor store in Alva, and Becky is a speaker, blogger on author on the important topic o...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this third episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I am going outside my comfort zone to introduce you to someone I barely know, but who has had a big positive impact on how I view entrepreneurship. One day, I got an email announcing that today's guest, Kathleen Gage of Power Up For Profits, was hosting a one-time webinar on h...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 2 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this second episode of our Women, Wealth and Wow! series, I'm sharing an invigorating conversation with a woman I have known for the past decade, and who has become an intricate part of our my life. While our relationship was once all business, over the years, it has slowly and organically — like fine wine — matured into...

W elcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this first episode of 2015, I am excited to announce our theme for Season 2. It's all about an undeniably exciting phenomenon that we are not only witnessing, but that many of you — my listeners and members — are also a living, breathing part of. Are you ready? Drumroll please. Here is our theme for Season 2 of the Indie...

W elcome to the BONUS of Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this thirteenth episode, a bonus for Season 1, you will meet Kayla Fioravanti. Kayla is a wife, mom, author, kitchen chemist, farmer, entrepreneur, aromatherapist and poet, and she's going to share how to publish your book on Amazon. One of Kayla's dreams has always been to have the time to write and publish books, and that dream...

W elcome to the final episode of Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this twelfth episode, you will meet Annie Pham of Cirque Colors in Brooklyn, New York. Like many other Indies, Annie was employed at a well paying but unsatisfying job. Having been raised by parents who were entrepreneurs, Annie knew that there could be more to life, and that owning a company of her own was a viable option...

W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this eleventh episode, you will meet Erin Pikor of Naiad Soap Arts in San Diego, California. Erin is a graphics designer by trade, and when she was laid off of her job in 2007, she decided to turn a crafty afternoon activity into a business. Erin has been a member of the Indie Business Network since 2010, and she shares some hot small business...

W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this tenth episode, you will meet Valerie Reed of Valana Minerals in San Diego, California. Valerie is a college sociology professor by trade, and she also works her business, which she founded in 2007. She loves both teaching and mineral makeup, and has found a way to combine both to create the perfect life for her. Valerie has been a member...

Elissa has changed the name of her business to Bonblissity. The title, text, and links in this post have been updated in recognition of this change. W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this ninth episode, you will meet Elissa Choi of BonBlissity in San Pedro, California. Elissa and her husband work together in business. You will enjoy hearing how Elissa launched the brand with a...

W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this eighth episode, you will meet Kathy Dannel Vitcak of The Blissful Dog in Pinewood, Minnesota. Kathy has built an empire from her home, which is located nearly an hour from the closest town: population: 10,000. Her success is a testament to the power of the Internet and one woman's determination to succeed doing what she loves. Here's a li...

While Emma's Friends has closed, I invite you to be inspired by the amazing story of how Lynn built her business to honor her very special daughter. W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this seventh episode, I introduce you to Lynn Elko of Emma's Friends Soaps and Lotions in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. Lynn was enjoying a fulfilling corporate career when she and her husband discovered...

W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this sixth episode, I introduce you to Samantha Irwin of Standard Wax in Chandler, Arizona. Samantha and her business partner, Andrew King, met each other “by accident” at work, they did their first craft show “by accident,” they got their first wholesale customer “by accident,” and today, they are in busine...

W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fifth episode, I introduce you to Samantha Dickey of Dirty Beauty Skincare in Woodstock, Georgia. Here is how Samantha describes her handmade products: “Hand-poured and developed by a farmer's nerdy lipstick-lovin' granddaughter.” You should be able to tell from that description that Samantha is a country girl. Combine that wi...

W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fourth episode, I introduce you to Stacia Guzzo of The Handcrafted Honey Bee and Tehachabee Farm in Tehachapi, California. Stacia and I discuss how she manages her two Maker businesses as a wife and the mother of two young children, and how she became a top finalist in the 2014 March Stewart American Made Awards contest . You'll also get...

W elcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this third episode, I introduce you to Darren and Carrie Seibert of Soap Commander in Cherokee, Alabama, and we discuss how they manage their business while raising and home schooling seven (yes, 7) children. Being married to an unexpected entrepreneur is not always easy. You get married and think our life will be one way. Then your spouse dec...

O nce you know you make a good handmade product, how do you know what to do next? According to Alana Rivera, you hone your skills before “jumping over the edge.” Alana started her handmade bath + body company, Etta and Billie in San Francisco, while she still had a traditional job. Today, not only has she quit the job, but she's opened a new studio, hired employees, and landed her prod...