Managed Chaos Podcast

We’ve officially entered circle back season ,  that magical time of year when calendars are full, inboxes are louder than ever, and everyone is mentally halfway into next year already. In this special end-of-year episode, Katrina and Rachel reflect on wrapping up 2025, share a few laughs about December chaos, and pull back the curtain on what’s coming next for the Managed Chaos Podcast. Season 3 o...

What a year. In this episode of the Managed Chaos Podcast , Rachel and Katrina revisit the predictions they made at the start of 2025 and break down what actually happened, what surprised them, and what still feels unresolved. From the rapid (and chaotic) evolution of AI to the rise of seamless customer experiences, micromarkets, and the growing importance of authentic storytelling, this conversat...

In this episode of the Managed Chaos Podcast, Katrina sits down with Clara Ma, Founder and CEO of Ask a Chief of Staff, to unpack the evolving and often misunderstood role of the Chief of Staff. Clara shares her journey from Chief of Staff to accidental founder, highlighting the adaptability, resilience, and chaos management required to build both a business and a thriving professional community....

Starting a business is no small feat, and the first 12 months can make or break your momentum. In this episode, Katrina Purcell and Rachel Anderson dive deep into the critical milestones every startup should aim for: validation, customer engagement, building a solid foundation, and knowing when (and how) to scale. They unpack the importance of documenting processes, hiring intentionally, maintaini...

Can startups really give back before they “make it”? Spoiler: YES, and it might just be one of the smartest competitive advantages you have. In this episode of the Managed Chaos Podcast, Rachel and Katrina break down why social responsibility isn’t just a feel-good move, it attracts talent, builds customer trust, strengthens culture, and helps your brand stand out in a crowded market. You’ll learn...

In this episode of the Managed Chaos Podcast, Rachel Anderson sits down with Nicole Cuervo, Founder and CEO of Spring Rose, an adaptive apparel company reshaping how women with limited mobility experience comfort, confidence, and dignity. Nicole shares the deeply personal story that inspired Spring Rose, rooted in her grandmother’s struggle with chronic pain. She walks us through the realities of...

This week, Katrina Purcell sits down with Adriana Carrig, founder and CEO of Little Words Project, to talk about what it really takes to grow a nationally loved brand, while keeping your sanity intact. From navigating warehouse moves and personnel changes to balancing motherhood, loss, and leadership, Adriana opens up about the real chaos behind the scenes. They dive into: • The wild ride of scali...

Pricing is one of the trickiest parts of running a business. Whether you’re a solopreneur trying not to undercharge, or a growing company trying to stay competitive, pricing goes far beyond numbers, it’s strategy, perception, and customer psychology. In this episode of Managed Chaos, Katrina and Rachel tackle the art (and science) of pricing. They dig into how to price your products or services st...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Rachel Anderson and Katrina Purcell dig into the biggest headlines shaping the startup world — from the recent AWS outage to what the Q3 2025 venture capital report reveals about where the money’s really going. They unpack the growing concentration of funding in AI, what it means for non-AI startups, and how founders can build sustainable growth strategies i...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Katrina Purcell sits down with Daisy Onubogu, a creative operator, community-builder, and systems thinker who has led teams across tech, venture capital, hospitality, and nonprofits. Daisy shares how she builds lightweight playbooks to bring clarity to chaos, drawing from her experiences leading VIP speaker acquisition at Web Summit, building global communit...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Rachel Anderson sits down with Jasz Joseph to discuss one of the biggest blind spots in business: pipeline visibility. From misaligned sales and marketing teams to disconnected data and lost revenue, they unpack how better visibility, automation, and CRM integration can transform the way your business makes decisions. Jasz shares actionable strategies for cr...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Katrina Purcell and Rachel Anderson dive into one of the most misunderstood startup concepts, the difference between a Minimally Viable Product (MVP) and a Minimally Lovable Product (MLP). They unpack how customer feedback can transform your product from “barely working” to “deeply resonating,” and share practical strategies for collecting, interpreting, and...

In this episode of Managed Chaos , host KatrinaPurcell sits down with Carrie Sporer , co-founder of SWAIR, a clean haircare brand built for active individuals. They dive into the parallels between marathons and entrepreneurship , from grueling setbacks to resilience required to keep moving forward. Carrie shares her startup journey , including launching a brand during the pandemic, overcoming majo...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Katrina Purcell and Rachel Anderson dig into one of the biggest challenges for startups: finding engineering talent. They break down the concept of nearshoring and why it can be a game-changing strategy for scaling teams. From avoiding time zone headaches to saving on costs and tapping into new tech hubs, this episode unpacks the practical steps founders can...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Katrina Purcell sits down with PR strategist and thought leadership expert Lexie Smith to talk about the power of executive branding. From building a strong personal brand to understanding the ROI of putting yourself out there, Lexie shares practical strategies and case studies that show why storytelling and self-awareness are at the heart of lasting impact....

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Katrina Purcell and Rachel Anderson dive into the messy, magical world of ideation. From those sparks of inspiration to the all-consuming excitement of new business ideas, they unpack how to thrive in the ideation stage and when it’s time to shift toward execution. Whether you’re brainstorming your first startup or iterating on your tenth, this episode is pa...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Rachel Anderson and Katrina Purcell unpack a recent MIT report on generative AI that revealed a staggering stat: 95% of AIdeployments deliver no measurable return. What does this mean for small businesses, startups, and leaders trying to adopt AI into their workflows? Rachel andKatrina explores the challenges, opportunities, and messy realities of integratin...

This week on the Managed Chaos Podcast, Rachel Anderson sits down with Raven O'Neal to unpack the realities ofstartup chaos,  from networking and co-founding to funding, mental health, and building an authentic communitysupport. Raven has dedicated her career to helping womenentrepreneurs thrive. Through strategic guidance and ecosystem-building, she’s helped women-led startups secure over $10...

Growth hacking isn’t just for Silicon Valley unicorns — your startup can do it too. In this week’s episode of the Managed Chaos podcast, Katrina Purcell and Rachel Anderson reveal how to use creativity, data, and speed to fuel business growth without burning through your budget. From legendary wins like Hotmail and Airbnb to real-life lessons learned from experiments gone wrong, you’ll hear exactl...

This week on the Managed Chaos podcast, Rachel Anderson and Katrina Purcell tackle one of the most pressing topics in today’s business world: remote and hybrid team management. As more companies navigate flexible work environments, leaders are faced with a new set of challenges around communication, accountability, and culture-building. From hybrid work disparities to remote onboarding strategies,...

This week on the Managed Chaos podcast, Katrina Purcell and Rachel Anderson delve into what it truly takes for startups to expand globally. From Animaniacs flashbacks to the challenges of localization, this episode is all about building brands that scale, without losing your identity. They explore lessons from companies like Notion, Wise, and Duolingo, breaking down what founders need to know abou...

This week on the Managed Chaos podcast , Katrina Purcell sits down with serial entrepreneur and strategic investor KK Hart to talk all things growth, chaos, and ownership. Known for her work in the wellness and fitness industries, KK shares how she evaluates investment opportunities, builds client-first businesses, and manages both the personal and professional messiness that comes with scaling. F...

This week on the Managed Chaos podcast, Rachel and Katrina tackle the unspoken truths of networking in today's startup world. From awkward coffee shop mix-ups to the overwhelming number of networking DMs flooding your inbox, they break down how to make authentic connections that actually matter. Whether you're gearing up for Tech Week, constantly being invited to new founder groups, or jus...

In this episode of Managed Chaos , Katrina Purcell sits down with SEO expert Meg Clarke to explore how artificial intelligence is shaking up everything we know about search engines and digital marketing. From the death of traditional SEO to the rise of immersive online experiences, this conversation is your crash course in what’s changing, what’s next, and how to keep your business ahead of the cu...

Automate or Stagnate? Marketing Automation Without the Burnout In this episode of Managed Chaos, Katrina and Rachel tackle one of the most overwhelming (and misunderstood) aspects of modern entrepreneurship: marketing automation. Whether you’re new to automation or knee-deep in spreadsheets and email templates, this one’s for you. They break down how small business owners and startup leaders can u...