The Small Business School Podcast

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with registered dietitian, entrepreneur, and founder of Fraiche Living and Fraiche Table, Tori Wesszer, for an honest conversation about failure, resilience, motherhood, and building a business that actually aligns with your life. Tori shares the very public crash and burn of her first business venture, what it taught her...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with mindset coach and founder of the Sparkle Entrepreneur Network, Ashley Dawn, to talk about authenticity, community, and the courage to pivot. Ashley shares the bold decision to leave her master’s program with only practicums remaining, how she rebuilt her confidence during a difficult season of life, and why real conne...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with Kristina Bartold, co-founder of The Social Snippet and High Vibe Women, to talk about all things event sponsorships.  Fresh off the High Vibe Women brunch in Ottawa, Staci and Kristina share a behind-the-scenes look at what actually makes sponsorships work (and why so many business owners get them wrong). This convers...

In this episode of Small Business School , Staci breaks down the real, behind-the-scenes strategies that helped her husband Dan exceed his one-year sales and profit goals in just six months as a first-time franchise owner. This isn’t about hype or hustle culture — it’s about visibility, cash flow discipline, boundaries, and customer experience. Whether you’re launching a franchise, starting a serv...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with Kim Hiebert, CEO of Door Gurus, for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about franchising without the glossy brochure promises. Drawing from her experience as both a former franchisee and a current franchisor, Kim breaks down what most people don’t ask before buying into a franchise, where real value actually liv...

In this episode of Small Business School , Staci is diving into a major shift she sees coming for entrepreneurs as we head into 2026. With AI making information instantly accessible, what really matters now isn’t what you know — it’s how you serve, connect, and give people their time back. This episode is all about rethinking value, letting go of burnout culture, and building businesses that feel...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with award-winning brand strategist Lianne Cawley, founder of Chapter 35, to unpack what branding really means in today’s business landscape. From building a brand that drives trust and longevity to navigating growth, motherhood, and a life-changing health diagnosis, this conversation goes far beyond logos and colour palet...

In today’s episode, Staci delivers a bold but timely perspective on one of the most overused pieces of business advice heading into 2026: “Find power partners.” While partnerships are often positioned as the solution to social media burnout and slow growth, Staci explains why power partners and affiliates are failing most businesses and what needs to come first. This episode breaks down the hard t...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s joint episode, Staci Millard and Kristina Bartold (Co-founder of The Social Snippet, and Community Podcast Host) pull back the curtain on what truly makes a great podcast guest — and how podcast guesting can be a powerful strategy for visibility, authority, and business growth when done well. Recorded in Ottawa during a High Five Women gathering,...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with podcast strategist Kristina Bartold, co-founder of The Social Snippet, to talk about why podcasting keeps coming up in every business room and how to actually make it work for your business. From ROI and authority to guests, funnels, and monetization myths, this episode pulls back the curtain on what podcasting really...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with copywriter Evie Tavares to unpack what ethical, emotion-led copywriting really looks like  and why trust matters more than tactics in today’s marketing landscape. From ditching false urgency to navigating AI without losing your voice, this conversation is a refreshing reminder that selling doesn’t have to feel manipul...

As 2025 comes to a close, this final solo episode of Small Business School is a heartfelt reminder that leadership isn’t always about pushing forward, sometimes it’s about knowing when to pause. In this short but powerful solo episode, Staci shares why she’s intentionally stepping back for the final weeks of the year and invites listeners to do the same. With calendars already overflowing and expe...

Welcome back to Small Business School ! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with Monika and Robyn, the brilliant (and hilarious) founders of Mint Cleaning. What started as two moms walking together in a small town quickly evolved into a booming cleaning business and eventually a multi-million-dollar product line. The duo shares how they navigated unexpected growth, overcame health scares, built a...

In this episode of the Business Builder Series , Staci kicks off a four-week reflection journey designed to help small business owners assess their year with honesty and clarity. She dives into what truly mattered in your CEO role, where your time created value, and why busyness isn’t the same as leadership. This conversation sets the foundation for stepping into a more intentional, spacious, and...

In today’s episode of Small Business School , Staci sits down with Jen  Szpigiel, founder of Becoming Iconic and editor-in-chief of Iconic Magazine, to explore her 20-year entrepreneurial journey. Jen shares how motherhood shaped her path, how she built a thriving personal brand across industries, and why reputation and relationships became the driving forces behind her lasting success. This conve...

Welcome back to Small Business School! In this solo episode, Staci opens up about the emotional and mental pressure that often shows up at the end of the year, especially with nonstop promotions, Black Friday offers, and all the “start next year strong” messaging. She shares how she personally navigates that overwhelm and what it looks like to stay grounded, intentional, and confident instead of r...

In this episode of the Business Builder Series , Staci explores the mindset shift every founder must make in order to scale: letting go of the “hero” role. She reveals why jumping in to fix every problem feels productive, but ultimately turns you into the bottleneck that slows your business down. Staci walks through how to empower your team to think, make decisions, and take ownership, so your bus...

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with marketing expert Kelsey Reidl to unpack why marketing feels so confusing right now, and why so many business owners feel stretched thin trying to keep up. Kelsey breaks down what’s really happening in the industry, what’s actually working, and how small business owners can stop the scatterbrain approach and start makin...

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci opens up about an eye-opening conversation she had with her makeup artist—one that inspired an important reminder for every entrepreneur: there is no single “right” way to build a business. She breaks down the pressures of comparison, the myths glamorized on social media, and why success metrics must be personal, not inherited from o...

In this episode of the Business Builder Series , Staci explores a common challenge many small business owners face as they grow: the desire to be liked by their team so deeply that it gets in the way of actual leadership. She breaks down what it looks like to step into the role of a true coach, why clarity matters more than being the “nice boss,” and how avoiding discomfort can quietly limit a bus...

Welcome back to Small Business School! In this episode, I get real about one of the biggest traps service-based business owners fall into: competing on price and service. It might work when you’re just starting out, but it becomes a fast track to burnout, razor-thin margins, and a business that can’t scale. I walk through why this model stops working, what really happens behind the scenes, and how...

In this episode of the Business Builder Series , Staci gets real about what it looks like to lead well when you’re stuck in the “messy middle” of business, beyond the fun startup phase but not yet in a smooth, scalable rhythm. She shares how leadership in chaos doesn’t require perfect systems or a cleared calendar… just intention, clarity, and small but powerful shifts in how you show up every day...

Welcome back to Small Business School! Let’s talk about something that confuses almost every entrepreneur at some point — tax installments. In this episode, I’m breaking down what they are, when you owe them, and how to handle them without stress or surprise bills from the CRA. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re being asked to pay tax before year-end, or what happens if you skip an installment, th...

In this episode of the Business Builder Series , I’m diving into one of the biggest growth milestones for any small business owner — making your first or next leadership hire. If you’ve been wearing all the hats (COO, CMO, CFO…and maybe even floor sweeper), this episode is for you. I’ll walk you through how to recognize it’s time to expand your leadership team, what roles make the biggest impact,...

Welcome back to Small Business School! In today’s episode, Staci sits down with Shae Invidiata, a passionate advocate for women’s financial sovereignty and holistic wealth. Together, they dive into how women can break free from shame around money, embrace confidence in financial conversations, and build legacies that last generations. Shae shares how money isn’t just about numbers, it’s about ener...