Business After Breast Cancer | Deb Krier
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
Release Date: 07/22/2025
What If Your Biggest Doubts Are Actually Superpowers? | Dawn Ledet
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
Struggling with self-doubt as a solopreneur? Self-trust coach Dawn Ledet reveals how your mindset, inner dialogue, and follow-through skills can unlock success after 40. So many female entrepreneurs over 40 are held back not by lack of talent or hustle—but by self-doubt and second-guessing. In this episode, self-trust coach Dawn Ledet shares how your inner dialogue can become your biggest asset (instead of your sneakiest saboteur). We dig into her 3E Success Method, how to rebuild self-trust after failure, and why having your own back might be the key to consistency and clarity in business....
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Business After Breast Cancer | Deb Krier
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
What happens when cancer crashes your life and your livelihood? In episode 281 of the Gratitude Geek podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur and cancer thriver Deb Krier to talk candidly about living with Stage 4 breast cancer while still showing up for your clients, your business, and most importantly—yourself. Deb and I don’t sugarcoat anything. We’ve both walked through cancer diagnoses, nerve damage, port drama, chemo fog, and endless unsolicited “cures.” And yet—we kept going. Sometimes we paused. Sometimes we powered through. And we both learned how to run our businesses in...
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Joy-Driven Success: Transform Your Life & Business | Kimberley Mitchell
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
What if joy isn’t a fleeting feeling but the ultimate business strategy? In episode 280, Air Force veteran, mental health advocate, and transformational leader Kimberly Mitchell — known as the "Joy Warrior" — shares her Journey to Joy System. Kimberly reveals how healing your inner world and rewriting limiting beliefs can unlock unstoppable success in life and business. We explore why so many women struggle with money mindsets, how to turn fear into fuel, and why curiosity (not hustle) is the ultimate growth tool. From roller skating as an adult to reframing joy in daily tasks,...
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Financial Clarity for Solopreneurs | Ahuva Gruen
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
Ever feel like your bank account is speaking a language you don’t understand? It’s time to stop panicking and start profiting. In this powerful episode of Gratitude Geek, I sit down with Ahuva Gruen — a fractional CFO (that’s Chief Financial Officer, your business’s financial brain!) and financial clarity coach for small businesses. We break down why clarity, not just cash, is the real secret weapon for solopreneurs. Ahuva shares her journey from childhood wig sales and candy hustles to becoming a trusted CFO for growing businesses. We dig into how to price your offerings correctly...
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How to Tell Your Business Story on TV | Michelle Rupp
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
Telling your business story on TV isn't just about publicity — it’s about creating a legacy. In this powerful episode, Emmy Award-winning journalist and media strategist Michelle Rupp joins me to break down how to leverage your story to gain earned media, build trust, and create real community change. We unpack Michelle's own experience of televising her heart surgery, why women’s health stories need more airtime, and how small businesses can turn one segment into long-term growth. You’ll learn how to craft an irresistible media hook, tailor your message to the right audience, and...
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Audiobook Narration Leads to Second Act Success | Paul Heitsch
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
What happens when you pivot careers after 40 and land your dream gig? Paul Heitsch knows. A former composer and sound engineer, Paul stepped into audiobook narration later in life—and now he’s narrated over 380 titles, including the Omega Force sci-fi series by Joshua Dalzelle (episode 265). In this candid conversation, Paul shares how he built a thriving voiceover business in his second act, what AI can’t replicate, and how storytelling is still a deeply human craft. 🎧 In This Episode: How Paul found audiobook success after 40 What it takes to build a voice acting career from...
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7 Brain Surgeries, 1 Mission (Advocating for Invisible Condition Patients) | Jeff Pearson
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
Jeff Pearson looks perfectly healthy—but his brain tells a very different story. In episode 276 of Gratitude Geek, host Kandas Rodarte chats with Jeff, a speaker, nonprofit founder, and host of Invisible Condition on e360tv. Born with hydrocephalus, Jeff has endured seven brain surgeries, six of them in just over a decade. But instead of giving up, he and his wife launched a nonprofit, a TV show, a caregiver support network, and a mission to bring hope to others living with invisible conditions. Tune in to discover: What it's really like living with a surgically-managed brain...
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How to Rewrite Your Fear | Fletcher Ellingson
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
In this emotionally grounding episode of Gratitude Geek, Kandas Rodarte welcomes back author and mindset coach Fletcher Ellingson to explore how we can build emotional resilience in a world that feels increasingly chaotic. We dive into Fletcher’s signature framework from his book The Practice of Feeling Good — and unpack how fear is often just a story. Fletcher shares how to identify the root of that fear, reframe it, and begin practicing a new, empowering narrative. You’ll also learn why “feeling good” is a daily practice, not a personality trait or privilege. Whether you’re...
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The ONLY Video Strategy Female Solopreneurs Over 40 Need | Jason Zygadlo
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
Are you a female solopreneur over 40 looking to stand out in 2025? Discover how video can transform your business, build real connections, and help you shine in a crowded market—no matter what you’ve overcome. Jason Zygadlo joins me for episode 274 of Gratitude Geek to explore the power of personalized video, authentic branding, and how his nonprofit ZIGGYSTRONG supports people navigating grief and adversity. Whether you’re rebuilding after cancer, divorce, or loss, this episode offers practical tips and heartfelt encouragement for women in business who lead with purpose. Connect with...
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This is Why 99% of Creators Don’t Succeed on YouTube | Jake Thomas
Gratitude Geek | Marketing & Productivity for Female Solopreneurs
If your YouTube titles aren’t getting clicks, your content isn’t getting seen. Period. In episode 273 of Gratitude Geek, I sit down with Jake Thomas, the self-proclaimed YouTube title nerd behind CreatorHooks.com, who’s written 1,000s of titles responsible for nearly 100 million views. We unpack the psychology of why people click, how to avoid common title mistakes, and how women over 40 can stand out on YouTube without falling into the clickbait trap. Whether you’re launching a channel or stuck in content limbo, Jake’s insights will help you write titles that actually convert....
info_outlineWhat happens when cancer crashes your life and your livelihood? In episode 281 of the Gratitude Geek podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur and cancer thriver Deb Krier to talk candidly about living with Stage 4 breast cancer while still showing up for your clients, your business, and most importantly—yourself.
Deb and I don’t sugarcoat anything. We’ve both walked through cancer diagnoses, nerve damage, port drama, chemo fog, and endless unsolicited “cures.” And yet—we kept going. Sometimes we paused. Sometimes we powered through. And we both learned how to run our businesses in radically new ways.
This is the episode I wish existed when I was first diagnosed. It’s equal parts support group, strategy session, and a little redhead sass.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
- What “working through cancer” really looks like
- Tools and therapies (traditional and woo) that actually help
- How to decide what business tasks to keep, delegate, or drop
- The mental game of staying visible while your body is falling apart
- Why we should stop apologizing for our boundaries
- Deb’s philosophy: “You’re the boss. Not cancer. Not your doctor. You.”
Connect with Deb Krier
- Deb Krier’s Website: https://tryingnottodie.live
- Deb’s Facebook Group: Support Group on Facebook
- Deb on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deborahkrier
- Deb’s Podcast: The Business Power Hour
- Episode Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/281
About Deb Krier:
Deb Krier is the founder of TryingNotToDie.LIVE, a platform that empowers individuals navigating cancer to live boldly and on their own terms. A seasoned marketing and PR professional, Deb brings the same fearless spirit to her work as she does to her personal health journey. Diagnosed with Stage 4 triple positive breast cancer in 2015 and later thyroid cancer, Deb has refused to let illness define her. She now inspires others to take ownership of their journey, build resilient communities, and find purpose—no matter the diagnosis.
Gratitude Shoutout:
Deb’s moment of gratitude? This conversation. And I’m right there with her.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro: When business and cancer collide
- 02:30 Deb’s first diagnosis: Stage 0 to Stage 4 overnight
- 06:15 Chemo, septic shock, and working from a hospital bed
- 09:40 Why Kandas stopped her podcast—and what brought it back
- 13:10 Ports, Herceptin, insurance battles, and treatment evolution
- 19:30 Complementary therapies: What helped, what didn’t
- 24:00 Oncologists vs primary care: Why you need both
- 27:10 When to fire your doctor (and how to find a better one)
- 31:30 Humor as medicine: Princess Anastasia Beaverhousen enters
- 36:00 The real deal with medical marijuana and biosimilars
- 40:20 Cancer’s impact on business decisions and boundaries
- 44:10 Deb’s advice for newly diagnosed entrepreneurs
- 47:00 Kandas’ take: cancer doesn’t define your business
- 48:30 Moment of gratitude & wrap-up
If you're living with cancer and still running your business—or supporting someone who is—this episode is for you. Cancer might change your schedule, your capacity, and your boundaries. But it doesn’t get to take your voice.
Stay groovy, my friends.
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