Unbreakable Business

Did you know that 60% of independent business owners are already using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their business? AI has been the most talked about topic this year—making us all the more excited to dive deeper into what’s out there.  Today on the podcast, we are joined by Scott Wyden-Kivowitz, the Community Manager at Imagen AI. Scott joins us to share the benefits of AI, how you can ada...

We’ve been busy behind the scenes at the Independent Business Podcast and we’re excited to share some news with you today! In this bittersweet episode, Natalie Franke is passing the reins to a new host—one you’re already familiar with! You may remember Akua Konadu from a few bonus episodes we dropped earlier this year and we’re excited to welcome her as the new host of the Independent Business Pod...

Welcome to CollabCast, an innovative bonus series where we're diving into the world of podcast crossovers. In today's bonus episode, we've joined forces with an incredibly talented podcaster and former guest, Tori Dunlap. On her chart-topping podcast, Financial Feminist, Tori recently sat down with Shannah Game to discuss money stories, working through money trauma, and finding healthier financial...

One of the most critical components of running a successful independent business is sales. You’re constantly trying to determine how to book your next client and do it strategically so that you’re only working with the right clients. Today’s guest, Chris Do, is an Emmy Award-winning designer, Director, CEO, and the founder of The Futur, an online education platform set to support 1 billion entrepr...

When you start an independent business, the odds are stacked against you. But what if you could defy them? That is precisely why I am sitting down to speak with Diana Wei Fang, a systems architect and breakthrough coach.  Diana has supported hundreds of businesses in architecting their systems such that people can do more of what they love, and the business can run even when they're sleeping....

Did you know that 85% of small businesses agree that word-of-mouth marketing brings them the most new customers? Despite this, most marketing advice for independent business owners centers on social media instead of the power of community-led growth. On this episode, Matt Gartland joins us to discuss the future of growth for your independent business. As an entrepreneur with 10-plus years of exper...

Did you know that 72% of independent business owners didn't know that they were going to become entrepreneurs when they started their career? Today on the podcast, I have the honor of speaking with Ashley Menzies Babatunde, a Harvard law graduate who became an accidental entrepreneur. Ashley is the host of the No Straight Path podcast, a career coach, storyteller, and extraordinary entrepreneur. S...

Are you one of the 96% of people who don’t feel as though they’re living up to their fullest potential? Or are you one of the 4% that truly believes they've maxed out their capacity in terms of everything they are capable of?  I had the opportunity to sit down with the New York Times best-selling author of All It Takes Is a Goal , Jon Acuff. All It Takes Is a Goal is Jon Acuff's eighth book....

Imagine that the very opportunity you’ve been working for your entire career has been handed to you. You get handed a contract that you sign right away. Ten years later, that very contract threatens to take away the industry that you love, the work that you've done your entire career, and even your name. Today on the podcast we are talking with former bridal designer Hayley Paige, now known as Che...

Welcome to our first CollabCast, an innovative bonus series where we're diving into the world of podcast crossovers. In today's bonus episode, we've joined forces with an incredibly talented podcaster, friend, HoneyBook educator, and former guest of the show Ellen Yin. On her chart-topping podcast, Cubicle to CEO, Ellen recently sat down with Amy Porterfield to talk about her $7.5 million launch a...

What would it look like if you were to stop allowing fear to hold you back, get out of your own way, and go for your dreams? What does it take to be gutsy? My brand-new book, Gutsy explores just that.  On today’s episode, Akua Konadu steps into the role of podcast host here on the Independent Business Podcast to ask me about my upcoming book. Gutsy is a rallying cry for all current and hopefu...

What does it really take to run a multi-seven-figure business as a photographer and educator? Today on the podcast, I have the honor of chatting with a long-time friend of mine and also one of the most world-renowned photographers in my lifetime.  Katelyn James is a trailblazer and a trendsetter who has built a business that generates over $250,000 every single month. In this conversation, we...

Ready for the ultimate behind-the-scenes look into success on TikTok? Today's guest turned a single TikTok video into 100,000 email subscribers, and she’s sharing her secrets on today’s episode. Tori Dunlap is a financial expert and the author of the New York Times Bestselling book Financial Feminist. She’s an incredible creator and I’m so excited for you to learn from her success. The Independent...

How do you combat self-doubt and imposter syndrome as an independent business owner? Jeffrey Shaw started his self-employment lifetime career at the age of 14 years old, selling eggs door to door. In this episode, he’s empowering you with the tools you need to move past the hurdle of self-doubt to pursue your dreams. As an adult, Jeffrey Shaw created a highly successful portrait photography busine...

When it comes to AI, one of the biggest challenges that business owners face is discerning when to lean into this new technology and when not to use it. How do you take advantage of automation and streamline your business while still maintaining a fingerprint on the outcome? On today’s episode, I sat down with technology educator and content creator LaShonda Brown to talk about this very dilemma....

Meta Threads has been a major topic of conversation online. Threads is essentially positioning itself as one of the most successful social media app launches ever by capturing the attention of 73 million users in a matter of days. Akua and I sat down to share five of the biggest lessons we took away from the launch of Meta Threads (and no, we’re not talking about how you can use it as a business o...

Have you ever struggled with the speed of your own success—or lack thereof? Does it ever feel like sometimes you are staying stagnant, even perhaps getting stuck while the rest of the world is accelerating towards their dreams? Well, today on the podcast, Mary Marantz joins us as we discuss the power of slow growth.  Mary Marantz is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker, wh...

Today we are talking about one of the biggest differentiators in the self-made success equation: community. Trust me, community is not a fluffy topic or something that’s “nice” to have. It’s a requirement when it comes to success in your independent business.  Airam Dato-on, an Orlando-based photographer and creative community builder joins us to share about his work in building communities a...

Do you know how to find magic in your everyday? My conversation with the incredible Mattie James will encourage all independent business owners to embrace their own magic. Listen in as Mattie shares how she has learned to find the everyday magic amidst the chaos of wearing several hats and juggling responsibilities as a business owner, wife, and mom. This conversation will inspire you to find and...

Did you know there is an epidemic that impacts half of all CEOs and is as dangerous for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day ? It’s the loneliness epidemic. In this episode, we’re having an honest conversation about the current friendship recession and loneliness epidemic with the award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and founder Antonio Neves.  Before we dive into today's epis...

In business, we don’t know what the future holds. Uncertainty can feel overwhelming and cause fear, however, change is inevitable so we must learn to adapt to it.  In this conversation, we’re joined by Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, keynote speaker, podcast host, and author to discuss the fear of change and how as business owners, we can turn that fear into fuel and f...

Millennials make up the largest cohort in the current workforce but control only about 5% of total wealth. For millennials to have the same amount of wealth that baby boomers did at this age, we would have to quadruple what we have today. The reality is generating wealth and retaining wealth is harder now than ever before. Dominique Broadway joins us to share her own story with money—from broke to...

When we talk about the science of self made success, we're not just talking about sales, marketing, and data analytics. We're also talking about things that are difficult to quantify—the human being behind the business, the one whose heart and soul makes all of the magic happen—yes, we’re talking about you. In today's episode, we are sitting down with one of my favorite poets, authors and actors,...

How can creators set up security in their businesses? What is the future of work and technology? How many revenue streams should every creative business have? In this conversation with Jay Clouse, we’re going deep into the nitty-gritty of running a creative business. From managing cash flow to adapting to technology, he’s giving us a behind-the-curtain look into his success. Jay is the founder of...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the landscape of not only our future, but also how independent businesses are running. Dawn Richardson of Tech Savvy Creative is taking us on a deep dive of what this means for independents by sharing the big picture of AI and why you should be integrating AI into your business. She covers what beneficial tools are available to start implementing now. The I...