The Bread Winner Podcast

In this episode, I’m sharing what year two of running a sourdough microbakery has looked like—from the internal mindset shifts to the practical systems that have changed how I run my business. After reflecting deeply on year one, I realized year two brought a sharper sense of clarity. I stopped treating this like a side project and started showing up as a CEO, fully owning my role and decisions. I...

In this episode of The Bread Winner Podcast , I’m pulling back the curtain on my very first year of running a sourdough microbakery—sharing everything I learned, the mistakes I made, and the strategies that helped me grow from a single Facebook post to nearly $50,000 in revenue. Whether you're just starting out or casually selling a few loaves here and there, I want to give you an honest, encourag...

April was a whirlwind in the bakery, and in this episode, I’m sitting down to reflect on what worked, what I learned, and how I’m setting myself up for May and the summer ahead. From porch pickups and Easter bakes to market wins and saying no to burnout, I’m sharing the choices I made to keep things running smoothly—like scaling back my menu, planning ahead, and leaning on tools like my recipe cal...

In this episode of The Bread Winner Podcast, I’m joined by Elizabeth from Borges Family Homestead to talk about the power of niching down in your microbakery. Elizabeth shares how tying her bakery to her Portuguese heritage helped her grow quickly, stand out in a rural market, and build deep connections with her community. We talk about the challenges she faced in the early days, her creative mark...

In this episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes into something really special—a bonus Q&A call that I hosted right after The Bread Winner Summit. The energy was so good and the questions were so thoughtful that I ended up scheduling an extra session just to keep the conversation going. Today, I’m sharing a few of those questions and my real-time answers, covering everything from bookkeepin...

If you’ve ever felt like your business was running your life instead of the other way around, you are going to feel so seen in this episode. I’m talking with Christa Hanna of Burnt Toast Bakery about the wild, honest journey of growing a microbakery while navigating burnout, motherhood, and an ADHD diagnosis. She shares what it was like to go from gifting loaves to running a full-blown bakery busi...

After the incredible energy of the Breadwinner Summit, I’m diving into one of the most important themes that came up over and over again: mindset. This isn’t about fluffy affirmations—it’s about the quiet, steady beliefs that shape the way we show up in our work. In this episode, I walk through five powerful mindset shifts that can completely change how you run your microbakery—from tackling impos...

If the idea of attending a two-day summit sounds a little overwhelming right now, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how to approach The Bread Winner Summit with intention, so you don’t just show up - you get something meaningful out of it. I’ll guide you through how to identify your top priorities, decide which sessions to attend (and which ones to skip...

We are just one week away from The Bread Winner Summit, and in this episode, I’m giving you a special sneak peek into what you can expect. I’ve pulled together a collection of audio snippets from several of our speakers so you can hear a taste of the incredible conversations coming your way. We’re diving into pricing mindset, wholesale partnerships, bartering with confidence, and simplifying your...

In this special episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of something I’ve been pouring my heart into for months - The Bread Winner Summit! This is the first-ever virtual event created just for sourdough microbakery owners, and it’s happening April 14–15. I share the vision, how it came to life (starting with a quiet birthday hotel stay and a ChatGPT brainstorm!), and why it’s so needed in our in...

March was full of growth, challenges, and a few big steps forward in my business—and in this month-in-review episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes. I’m sharing the rhythms that worked, the lessons I learned, and what I’d do differently next time. From two bustling markets and experimenting with individual cinnamon rolls, to juggling everything without an assistant (and why that’s about to ch...

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Whitney Ivy , founder of Southern Bread Company, homeschool mom, and microbakery owner, to talk about her incredible journey from health struggles to sourdough healing—and eventually building a business that serves her family and community. Whitney opens up about how her search for answers to chronic health issues led her to sourdough, a more ancestral wa...

As microbakery owners, it’s easy to take everything personally—especially when a regular customer suddenly stops ordering. In this episode, I’m sharing a heartfelt and practical conversation that started inside my Inner Circle coaching group, all about learning to separate your personal identity from your business. This work is personal—handmade, heartfelt, and often built from your kitchen table—...

Making sure your community knows you exist is one of the most important parts of growing a microbakery. In this episode, I sit down with Kayce from Trails End Breads & Blooms to talk about how she built an unforgettable presence in her town—without relying solely on social media. She shares how she went from baking for her family to launching a thriving home-based bakery, using smart marketing...

Collaborating with local businesses is one of the best ways to grow your microbakery, connect with your community, and create exciting new opportunities. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 creative ways to partner with other small businesses —from teaming up with coffee shops and florists to creating seasonal gift boxes and subscription services. These collaborations not only expand your customer bas...

Balancing a thriving bakery business while homeschooling young children is no small feat, but Kelly Wolf of Gloria Grain Bread has found a way to make it work. In this episode, Kelly shares her journey from baking yeast breads for family gatherings to running a successful microbakery—all while transitioning to homeschooling. She talks about how she built her business from the ground up, the challe...

Your energy is your most valuable business asset, and protecting it is the key to building a sustainable microbakery. In this episode of The Bread Winner Podcast , I’m sharing the daily and weekly rhythms that have helped me create a thriving business without sacrificing my well-being. From essential non-negotiables like sleep, meals, and movement to structuring your workweek for better efficiency...

This episode is packed with inspiration, resilience, and the power of making big things happen in small spaces. I sit down with Angela De Krieger of Singing Trees Keep , a homesteader, microbakery owner, and educator, to talk about how she built a thriving business out of an 80-square-foot space in her home. Angela shares how she balances homesteading, sourdough baking, fermentation, and raising f...

February was a month of growth, adjustments, and big decisions in my microbakery. In this episode, I’m reflecting on what worked well, what needed tweaking, and the lessons I’m carrying into March. From refining my market and porch pickup schedule to navigating sellouts and pricing adjustments, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes reality of running a home-based baking business. I’ll also dive into t...

Branding for Microbakeries: How to Stand Out & Tell Your Story with Nat Alves Branding is so much more than just a logo—it's the personality and emotional connection behind your business. In this episode of The Bread Winner Podcast , I'm joined by my friend and branding expert Nat Alves of NatMarieDesign , the mastermind behind my recent rebrand. We dive into practical branding strategies for...

Pricing, bookkeeping, and tax prep aren’t exactly the most exciting parts of running a microbakery—but they are essential to building a profitable and sustainable business. In this episode, I sit down with Megan from Purple Elephant Group for a deep dive into bookkeeping, pricing strategies, and how to stay organized for tax season. Megan is a former bakery owner turned financial expert, and she’s...

Balancing a growing microbakery with motherhood is no small task, and in this episode, I sit down with Melissa Crow of Crow’s Dough to work through the challenges that come with rapid business growth. Melissa shares how her bakery expanded faster than expected, leading to long bake days, a need for better equipment, and the struggle to juggle it all while raising three little ones. Together, we tr...

Keeping customers coming back is one of the most powerful ways to build a sustainable microbakery. In this episode, I dive into why repeat customers are a goldmine for your business and how focusing on retention can save you time, energy, and stress. We’ll talk about simple ways to create a great first experience, communicate clearly, and make customers feel valued—so they don’t just buy from you...

Letting go of a product from your menu can feel personal, especially when you've put time and heart into it. But sometimes, a product just isn't working—whether it's inefficient, rarely ordered, or something you simply don’t enjoy making. In this episode, I walk you through how to recognize when it’s time to remove a product, how to make the decision without guilt, and how to communicate the chang...

Customer service challenges are inevitable in any business, but handling them with confidence, kindness, and clarity can turn a difficult situation into a positive customer experience. In this episode, I share real-life examples and go-to scripts for the most common customer interactions, from late pickups to discount requests and handling complaints. I’ll walk you through exactly how to set bound...