The Dream Biz® Podcast | Anti-Hustle Business Strategies for Creative Entrepreneurs

Photographer and educator Molly McCauley joins me to kick off the Dream Biz® Journey series with a candid conversation about late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, building a career that fits your brain, and the identity work behind an aligned brand. Molly shares how self-acceptance, outsourcing, and coaching helped her move from “treading water” to doubling prices and pursuing big goals—on her terms. Late...

What happens when your business turns into a source of panic attacks, overwork, and total burnout? Today I'm sharing the behind-the-scenes story of how my business completely fell apart during a mental health crisis and how just one year later, I rebuilt it into a business (and life!) that feels joyful, aligned, and sustainable. You’ll hear: 🚫 Why I had to hit pause on my agency and let every...

Marketing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, complicated, or draining. In this episode, I’m sharing how to make your marketing feel easy and fun by grounding it in your personality, energizers, and actual capacity . You’ll learn the three keys to joyful marketing: know your audience, know your message, and share your message—and how to put them into practice in a way that works for you . I’ll walk...

You’ve heard it before: “Post three times a week.” “Show up every Tuesday at 9am.” “Consistency is everything.” But here’s the truth — traditional consistency advice doesn’t work for everyone, and it’s not the only path to success. Especially for neurodivergent entrepreneurs, rigid schedules often lead to shame and burnout, not growth. In this episode, I’m redefining what consistency really means...

Operations don’t have to feel heavy, overwhelming, or boring. In fact, they can actually bring you more joy . In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast , I’m breaking down how to simplify your systems, focus on what really matters, and create daily operations that support the kind of business (and life) you actually want. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to identify your true “sales event” so you know...

Casting a Vision for Your Business (Without Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back) Your vision is more than a pretty Pinterest board—it’s the roadmap that keeps you moving toward the business you actually want. In this episode, Christi walks you through how to dream boldly, remove limiting beliefs, and infuse your passions, values, and energy into your business vision. You’ll learn practical steps to...

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or questioning if you’re even cut out for this—this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I’m sharing my personal story of hitting a full-blown mental health crisis in 2023, what it looked like to shut my business down for six months, and how I slowly rebuilt everything around ease, joy, and honoring my actual energy (not what hustle cult...

If You Keep Saying “I Just Need More Time…” — This Episode Is For You Feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin? You’re not alone. In this solo episode of The Dream Biz Podcast , I’m sharing why time management is the #1 struggle I hear from business owners—and how to start reclaiming your time today . I’m getting honest about my own journey through burnout, the hard lessons I learned from ignoring t...

Ever wish you could eavesdrop on a candid conversation among seasoned podcasters? I recently participated in a roundtable discussion at Mic Check Retreat with an incredible group of podcasters. We jumped into the real stories behind our shows—the triumphs, the hurdles, and the unexpected lessons that come with the territory. In this honest, heartwarming, and somewhat entertaining conversation abou...

What does it really take to build a creative business that’s both profitable and fulfilling? In this episode, I’m joined by John Mansfield—wedding photographer, podcaster, and coach for creative entrepreneurs. We dive deep into the mindset shifts that truly move the needle in business—like building confidence, rewriting your money beliefs, embracing an abundance mindset, and learning how to actual...

A lot of small business owners think more marketing is the answer to their problems. The thing is (9 times out of 10), more marketing just means more stress. In this episode, Christi and Tayler Cusick Hollman from Enji chat about how to look at your marketing metrics to adjust your marketing plan so you can get more out of your marketing, even if you're doing less. This episode is packed with...

It doesn’t matter how clear your strategy is or how well you schedule your calendar, if you don’t pair your productivity with self-care, you’ll constantly feel like you’re spinning your wheels and self-sacrificing for a business dream that drains you rather than feeds you. In this episode, Christi chats with Self-Leadership Coach Sabrina Avellán about productivity tools to combat overwhelm and how...

In today's episode, Christi chats with Zuzana Miraka, a Business Consultant and Creative about How to Simplify Your Business and Avoid Overwhelm. They talk about how to prevent overwhelm as a creative, multi-passionate female entrepreneur. Zuzana focuses on the importance of simplification, patience, and consistency, especially when you have lots of ideas and gifts. It’s about finding a sustai...

What if your everyday iced coffee habit or a random Costco encounter could actually help you grow your business? In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast , I’m joined by marketing strategist and website designer Hannah Davis of Made with Boldness to talk about one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) marketing tools: storytelling. We dive into: What storytelling really is (hint: it’s not ju...

What if your business could feel calm, aligned, and abundant—not frantic and forced? In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast , I’m joined by feminine business coach Jennifer Whitaker , who shares how to scale your business using nature’s business plan —a cyclical, feminine, and intuitive approach rooted in the rhythms of the seasons. Jennifer opens up about her burnout journey, the moment she rea...

Grief doesn’t pause for your business, and business doesn’t always make space for your grief. In this deeply vulnerable episode, I’m joined by attorney, former wedding planner, and author Leah Weinberg for a powerful conversation about navigating grief while running a business. Leah shares the behind-the-scenes story of her father’s terminal illness, the emotional toll of caregiving while still se...

Want to boost your website traffic without relying on social media? In this jam-packed episode of The Dream Biz Podcast , SEO strategist and coach Victoria Rayburn breaks down the three types of blog content that actually move the needle for your business. Whether you're a photographer, coach, VA, or service-based business owner, you'll walk away with actionable SEO strategies to help your...

Feeling like there’s never enough time in your business? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m joined by photographer and educator Jamie Fisher to talk about the biggest time sucks creative entrepreneurs face and how to fix them. From constant inbox overwhelm to getting stuck in planning mode and never taking action, we cover it all. Jamie shares her signature quiz, What’s Your Time Suck? , and b...

In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast, I’m joined by editorial and wedding photographer Anna Solo for a candid conversation about what it really takes to delegate well. We talk about hustle culture, burnout, and the bold decision Anna made to hire a full-time team member before she felt “ready.” You’ll hear what worked, what didn’t, and why the path to more freedom often starts with letting go....

In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast, I’m joined by photographer and videographer Craig Peterman for a real-talk conversation about building a sustainable business without falling into the trap of marketing burnout. We dive into how Craig grew his business by doing things differently—combining photography and videography, saying no to hustle culture, and focusing on meaningful client experienc...

💡 Using AI in Your Small Business with Kate Hejde Feeling overwhelmed by content creation, client work, and marketing? In this episode, I chat with brand strategist and AI advocate Kate Hejde of Dear Kate Brand Strategy about how creative entrepreneurs can use AI to think bigger, work smarter, and free up their time. We go beyond Instagram captions and explore how to use tools like ChatGPT, Claud...

Want to grow your business without burning out? In this episode, I’m joined by Emily Reno—CEO of Elopement Las Vegas and The Vegas Planners —who shares how she built a thriving wedding business that runs without her working 24/7. We talk about the mindset shifts it takes to scale, the power of delegation, and how Emily went from burnout to working just 20 hours a week while still running two succe...

Feeling overwhelmed and burned out? In this episode, I’m joined by soul purpose coach Josie Anderson to talk about the 6 steps she uses to help ambitious women reclaim their time, mental clarity, and purpose without doing more. 1️⃣ Delegate2️⃣ Let Go (emotionally + physically)3️⃣ Practice Mindfulness4️⃣ Set Boundaries5️⃣ Invest in Yourself6️⃣ Ask for Support We cover perfectionism, boundaries, min...

What really makes a great client experience—and how can it support both your clients and your mental health? In this episode, I’m joined by Fran Rescigno of The Passions Collective, a Client Experience Architect who helps entrepreneurs design systems that work with their brains, not against them. We dive into: What client experience really means (hint: it’s more than just a gift box) How to create...

Feeling stuck in comparison mode? Wondering if you're doing enough in your business? In this episode, I sit down with Gina Jokilehto of Shi Shi Events to talk about how to leave behind industry FOMO for good and reconnect with your own path, creativity, and joy. Gina shares her journey from the music industry to luxury weddings, what happened when Instagram started triggering comparison, and how s...