What if the key to transforming your city was simply showing up? For many of us, local politics and civic engagement can feel like a world reserved for career politicians, polished extroverts, or people with endless free time. But what if I told you that you could make a meaningful impact in your community without quitting your day job or becoming someone you're not? In this episode, I spoke with Laura Vola, former candidate for city council in Carrollton, Texas, about what it really lo...

If you've ever hovered over the "Buy Now" button with a pit in your stomach and a credit card in hand, this episode is for you. In this episode, I sat down with my personal financial advisor, Michelle Taylor who founded Women in Wealth, to talk about the messy, emotional side of business spending. From $997 unopened courses to aspirational hires we’re not ready for, we unpack how to tell the difference between a smart investment and a comparison-fueled expense. Michelle brings over a decade o...

What if your calendar wasn’t just for managing time, but for protecting your energy? In this episode, I sit down with Christi Johnson, business strategist, podcaster, and founder of the Dream Biz Lab. She helps creative and neurodivergent entrepreneurs build businesses rooted in joy, sustainability, and brain-friendly systems. Christi shares how hitting a $10K month almost cost her her mental health, how discovering she had bipolar 2 disorder reshaped her entire workflow, and the non-negotiab...

If your brand colors (or messaging) don’t spark joy, it’s time for a reboot. This week on System for Everything, I’m joined by Dakota Hersey, founder of More Than Creative. After growing a successful photography business, she’s back to her first love—helping small business owners market and sell their talents authentically. Dakota doesn’t just design brands that look good. She helps creatives and service providers build brands that make content creation feel easy, client communication f...

What if your most honest, messy self is your greatest writing superpower? In this episode, I sit down with Jamie Baron, bestselling author, essayist, and creative force, to crack open what it really takes to write the book that only you can write. Jamie has built a body of work that’s at once personal and deeply resonant—from her viral essays to bestselling nonfiction to novels. We unpack how she developed her voice over a decade of trial and error, her ritualistic approach to writing even wh...

If you're hustling so hard that your soul has taken a backseat, you’re going to want to hear this. Today I’m talking with Juliana Tomlinson, a wedding photographer, speaker, and business coach, who had one of the most successful years of her life professionally, yet the hardest emotionally. She booked her dream weddings, launched big programs, but also hit burnout so severe she didn’t even recognize the warning signs. We talk about how comparison, over‑commitment, and never saying “no” can le...

Ever wondered why you dread building your email list? What if I told you it's not about spam—it’s about showing up with heart, humor, and strategy? In this episode, I chat with Dawn Richardson—the product education manager at Flodesk, former software engineer, wedding photographer, and all‑around tech‑meets‑creative powerhouse. She shares how she helps entrepreneurs build email systems that feel authentic, not icky. This episode is brought to you by The Entrepreneur's Death Folder: If your bu...

Some episodes entertain. This one will change you. Dr. Gregory Fried’s story is not just about surviving 9/11—it's about everything that came after. As the Executive Chief Surgeon for the NYPD, he wasn’t just a witness; he was a first responder standing at the very edge of collapse. What he saw, what he carried, and what he still remembers is etched into every word of this conversation. Let me introduce you to my father-in-law. Find It Quickly 01:15 - Early Career and Becoming a Police Surgeo...

What if the key to growing your business was actually less time online? That’s exactly what we’re diving into with today’s guest, Sarah Erickson, the intentional brand designer behind Sarah Ann Design. Sarah helps creatives build unforgettable brands without living on Instagram. We chat about the systems she uses to stay mostly offline while still booking dream clients, her Pinterest-first strategy that works 24/7, and the magic of personalized client experiences. If you’ve ever felt li...

When you think of templates, do you picture robotic emails that suck all the personality out of your client experience? In this episode, we're joined by Colie James, a Disney-loving client experience strategist and host of the Business First Creatives podcast. Colie shares why templates get such a bad rap (hint: it’s not the template, it’s how people use them), how to infuse your brand personality into even the most automated workflow, and why voice of customer research is your secret weapon ...

Waiting to adopt is its own kind of emotional limbo—equal parts hopeful and heartbreaking. And if you think you can Google your way through the process? Think again. Adoption comes with more moving parts than most people realize. Even the most organized parents can quickly find themselves overwhelmed. That’s where Caitlin Phillips comes in—a licensed clinical social worker, adoption specialist since 2009, and co-founder of Hello Baby Adoption Consultants. Caitlin isn’t just a guide; she’s a l...

What do a falling skirt, a Love Island soundbite, and a sick emoji have in common? According to storytelling strategist Akua Konadu: everything. They're stories that make an impact. In this episode, I sit down with Akua—host of the Unbreakable Business Podcast and a master of making micro-moments unforgettable. We talk about how the smallest, most awkward, or most seemingly mundane stories are often the ones that create the deepest connections in your brand. Akua shares why authenticity trump...

What if your biggest flaw was actually your best feature? It’s a question Molly McCauley had to ask herself—not just once, but repeatedly—on her journey as a neurodivergent entrepreneur. Molly spent years navigating a system that never quite fit. Once she was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety as an adult, she realized it's time to flip the script. Now she's helping others do the same. 3 Key Takeaways: Why being "too much" might be your competitive edgeHow to create flexible, neurodivergen...

Be the calm in everyone else's chaos. Then cry in your car—like a professional. Right? Just kidding. In this episode, I sit down with Julian Leaver, luxury wedding planner and etiquette expert, to talk about what it really takes to stay grounded in a high-pressure, high-image industry. With decades of experience and a client list that spans from Aspen to Paris, Julian is known for delivering elegance with empathy while setting firm boundaries in a world that resists them. We go deep into sobr...

Ever opened your content calendar, sighed dramatically, and closed the tab? Same. For solopreneurs and small business owners, marketing often becomes the thing we push to the bottom of our to-do list. But what if there was a better way? In this episode of The System for Everything, I sat down with Tayler Cusick Hollman, marketing consultant turned founder of Enji, to talk about the emotional and practical realities of DIY marketing. We dug into why we avoid it, how to fix it, and how to build...

Ever wish your team just got each other? What if the secret to a balanced, high-performing crew was hiding in plain sight—like in their temperament? In this episode of the System for Everything podcast, I talk with Ashley Ebert, a powerhouse in the wedding industry and the founder of The Abundance Group. After scaling her own wedding planning company into a multi-market million-dollar business, she now helps entrepreneurs do the same—by leading with empathy, not ego. Ashley introduced me to a...

Hot tip for maintaining adult friendships: Move to different cities, never ask who texted last, and consider a blood pact. That’s more or less the system Lauren and I have followed for 17 years—and it’s worked. Today, we’re breaking down how. In this episode of The System for Everything, I’m joined by one of my longest-standing friendships: Lauren Smart. She's a journalism professor, an arts writer, and someone who's had a front-row seat to my entire adult life. We became friends at 22, and s...

What if your business could keep running even when life hits pause? In this episode, I sit down with Dahlia Orth, a systems strategist and HoneyBook Pro, who shares how building intentional workflows helped her reclaim her time and design a business that supports her life... not the other way around. We talk about building boundaries you won’t feel guilty about, systems that run while you rest, and how to prepare your business for growth before you desperately need it. Key Takeaways: Why auto...

Ending a working relationship doesn’t have to be a legal or emotional disaster. I sit down with Paige Griffith, founder of The Legal Paige, to talk about the uncomfortable yet necessary art of business breakups. Paige is a former federal law clerk turned online legal educator, known for making the legal side of entrepreneurship approachable and actionable. We explore why client breakups happen, how to prepare your contracts in advance, and what to do if you're already knee-deep in a mess. Pai...

If your idea of date night is whispering “ice cream and Netflix?” after the kids are asleep, this episode is for you. I sat down with Camille Whiting of Friday We're in Love, one of my long-time internet inspirations, to talk about how to keep connection, fun, and even spontaneity alive in a long-term relationship—especially when kids, jobs, and logistics are in full chaos mode. Camille and her husband Jacob have committed to a weekly date night for over 14 years, and she’s sharing the mindse...