Unleash YES (Your Entrepreneurial Spirit) with Tom Schimmer & Natalie Vardabasso — Business, Education, Mindset

Think you need a fancy title, a website, or another degree to get hired as a consultant or speaker? Think again. In this episode, we're breaking down what actually builds credibility, and spoiler alert: it's not your credentials. It's your receipts . You'll learn: 🎯 What receipts are (and why they matter more than your résumé) 🧠 The 4 types of receipts that get you booked as a consultant or spea...

They were terrified to be seen online. Now they're building a brand that's impossible to ignore. In this episode, we sit down with Kristy Cognata and Lauren Staats , two instructional coaches who turned their fear of visibility into a thriving business. When we first met them, even the thought of sharing their names online made them panic. Today? They're confidently posting on LinkedIn, building a...

What if you could sit in on a real coaching call and hear exactly how educators are turning their expertise into powerful, profitable businesses? In this special episode, we take you behind the scenes of the Unleash YES Bootcamp to listen in on a group call as we help four incredible clients. You'll hear us coach them live on some of the most common questions we get: ✅ How do I price my offer so...

You're not stuck because you're unqualified. You're stuck because you're doing things that look like business-building… but aren't.   In this episode, we break down the 3 biggest mistakes educators make when launching a learning-based business—and how to fix them before they sabotage your momentum.   You'll learn: Why selling ideas (instead of outcomes) is killing your sales How perfectionism hide...

If you've ever been the "go-to person" at work—but never gotten paid what you're worth—you're going to feel deeply seen in this episode. Meet Aimée: a full-time instructional coach who spent years giving away her best ideas for free—until she realized her expertise was worth more. With no business background, and limited time outside her job, she joined our Bootcamp, got clear on her niche, design...

If you're stuck overthinking your business idea — constantly "too busy" to start but secretly craving a new chapter — this episode is for you. Today, we're pulling back the curtain on the exact launch strategy we used to build Unleash YES... before we had a finished offer, a polished brand, or even a website. Instead of waiting until everything was perfect, we started working with real people — wh...

You're sitting on gold—and you know it. The ideas. The passion. The vision. So why haven't you started the business you keep dreaming about? In today's episode, we're pulling back the curtain on why brilliant educators stay stuck —and how you can break free. Spoiler: it's not about skills, strategy, or having the perfect website. It's about mindset traps you've been taught to see as "normal." We'r...

You don't have to be burned out to want more. In this episode, Tom and Nat unpack the quiet ache so many educators are feeling—but don't always name. That restless pull toward something new. That whisper of a bigger impact. That sense that even though things look good on the outside , you've outgrown your current role. Whether you're starting to feel stuck, secretly dreaming of something different...

Feeling stuck? Second-guessing every move? Wondering why life feels like a never-ending loop of "almost but not quite"? It's not just in your head—there's a reason you're stuck, and today's guest, Jill Drader , is here to break it down.   Jill is a transformation strategist who has lived through the struggle—she's faced the fear, the self-doubt, and the painful wake-up calls (aka what she calls a...

Starting your own business is exciting—but what happens when the people around you don't understand or support your decision? Whether it's school leaders questioning your choices, colleagues doubting your path, parents expressing concern, or even a partner who doesn't fully buy in, pushback is an inevitable part of stepping into entrepreneurship.   In this episode, Tom and Nat explore why resistan...

  Posting on social media and hoping clients magically find you? That's NOT a strategy. If you're building from scratch, you need to go where your ideal clients are already asking for help. But here's the secret: it's not just about your ideal clients. To grow your business, you also need to connect with influencers in their space and allies who can amplify your message. In this episode, we break...

Feeling overwhelmed by social media? You're not alone! With influencers everywhere and business gurus telling you to "be on all platforms," it's easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis. But here's the truth: You don't need to be everywhere—you just need to be in the right place.   In this episode, Tom and Nat break down the one simple criteria that will help you choose the best social media platfo...

What if you could leave your job and launch a thriving learning-based business in just 6 months? That's exactly what Karley Alleyn, one of our Unleash YES Bootcamp graduates, did. In this inspiring episode, Karley shares the moment she realized it was time to take her leap, what gave her the courage to go all in, and how she turned her expertise into a sustainable business faster than she ever ima...

Happy New Year, lightmakers! 🎉 In this reflective and inspiring episode of Unleash YES , Tom and Nat pull back the curtain on the 5 biggest lessons they learned from working with educators who took the leap into entrepreneurship in 2024. From overcoming mindset blocks to embracing simplicity and staying rooted in your unique story, this episode is packed with actionable insights, real client stor...

When we think about costs, we often focus on what it takes to gain something new—money, time, or effort. But what about the costs of staying exactly where you are? In this episode, we dive into the emotional, financial, relational, and health tolls of staying stuck in a job or situation that no longer serves you.   From sleepless nights to strained relationships, stagnant salaries, and rising stre...

Are you an educator dreaming of something more but unsure how to start? This week, we sit down with Josh Ogilvie, a former Phys Ed teacher who felt the weight of misalignment in his career and took the bold step toward creating a thriving learning-based business. Josh shares the pivotal moments that inspired his leap, the strategies he used to build a successful online program, and the surprises h...

Ever felt like you're holding back the real you? In this episode of Unleash YES , Tom and Natalie dive into the power of finding and owning your unique voice as an educator-turned-entrepreneur. We're here to help you break free from the boxes that traditional roles put you in and find that authentic spark that makes you stand out. Get ready for real talk on unlearning what no longer serves you, em...

Ever feel like you're giving everything you've got, only to be met with blank stares or polite nods? Like your ideas could spark real change, but no one around you is really listening?   It's not you. It's your context. In education, the adage "there are no experts in your own backyard" unfortunately rings true. So, why not go GLOBAL instead? 💡 In this episode, Tom and Nat offer real, actionable...

Are you someone who gets uncomfortable talking about money? Would you just rather…not? In this episode, Tom & Nat dive deep into transforming how you think about money.    💡 You'll Learn How To: Shift from scarcity to abundance thinking. View money as a tool for creating greater impact. Treat money as an energy that fuels your business. Let go of limiting beliefs that hinder financial freedom.  ...

Feeling stuck before you even start? Overwhelmed by self-doubt? You're not alone. In this episode, Tom & Nat are tackling that dreaded inertia head-on with 4 immediate confidence boosters designed specifically for educators like YOU, ready to launch a learning-based business. We'll help you shake off the overwhelm and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey with actionable strategies to power up yo...

In this essential episode of Unleash YES, Tom & Nat reveal how you can "sell without selling." Selling is often a four-letter word to educators. We all have the caricature of the used-car salesperson or some sleezy trickery-based approach. This creates an aversion that many educators can't overcome.   However, this episode reveals the mindsets and strategies that turn sales into an empathy-based p...

Join Tom and Nat on this transformative episode of Unleash YES as they dive into powerful psychological tools to silence your inner critic. Designed specifically for educators, this episode unveils strategies to conquer self-doubt and ignite the courage to launch your learning-based business. Ready to turn fear into confidence and make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality? Tune in for practical i...

In this episode, Tom and Nat reveal the secret ingredients to becoming a successful author, including a viral topic, attracting a publisher, and producing a final manuscript.      Resources: >> Learn More About the Unleash YES Bootcamp! >> Quiz: Which Learning-Based Business Model is Right for Me? >> Starter Guide: The First 6 Steps to Launch Your Learning-Based Business Tom Schimmer and Natalie V...

First of all, the pronunciation is NEESH (it's French, people). In this episode, you'll learn the definition of a niche, why it's important (especially in marketing), how niche is too niche, and two powerful strategies to start finding one of your own. Resources: >> Learn More About the Unleash YES Bootcamp! >> Quiz: Which Learning-Based Business Model is Right for Me? >> Starter Guide: The First...

In this episode, Tom and Nat break down six models that your learning-based business can use to turn your expertise into income; three of the models are in-person, and three are fully online.  Resources: >> Learn More About the Unleash YES Bootcamp! >> Quiz: Which Learning-Based Business Model is Right for Me? >> Starter Guide: The First 6 Steps to Launch Your Learning-Based Business Tom Schimmer...