Life Lessons from the Arctic with Heather Thorkelson
The RebelRebel Podcast
“You don’t need to know how—just know that it lights you up.” What happens when a creative rebel says yes to a fluke invite to Antarctica? In this episode, I talk with Heather Thorkelson about wild pivots, polar travel, and building a business with impact. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In this episode, Michael Dargie speaks with Heather Thorkelson—entrepreneur, polar expedition guide, and founder of PolarTracks Expeditions. From growing up as a third-culture kid to building a pair of polar travel...
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Keep the Cocktail, Fix The Brand With Shawn Soole
The RebelRebel Podcast
“I help people stop working in their business and start working on their business.” In this episode, Michael Dargie chats with hospitality veteran and industry provocateur Shawn Soole. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Shawn has seen—and done—it all. From washing dishes at 13 in Australia to building bar programs, authoring books, consulting internationally, and running a podcast, his journey is nothing short of relentless. And that’s exactly how he likes it. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Their...
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Life as an Independent Vet with Dr. Beth
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Create the things you wish existed.” What happens when a little girl obsessed with animals grows up, faces down fear, and builds a vet clinic on a dream? In this episode, Beth Barrett shares her story of grit, independence, and what it really means to live in alignment with your values. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with veterinarian and entrepreneur Beth Barrett about her decades-long career, her passion for animals, and the power of doing hard things. From...
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Gen X Women Who Kick Ass with Oonagh Duncan
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Weight loss isn’t controversial in science, only on social media.” What happens when a former smoker and self-described non-athlete turns into one of Canada’s most refreshing voices in fitness and habit formation? In this episode, I talk with Oonagh Duncan about Gen X women, body neutrality, the power of pleasure, and her dream of fronting an 80s hair band at brunch. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with Oonagh Duncan—fitness coach, author of Healthy as...
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Copywriting Without Borders with Rachel Allen
The RebelRebel Podcast
“It’s never going to be as hard as you think it is.” What happens when a theater nerd from Appalachia drops out of college, moves to Hong Kong with $200, and discovers people will actually pay her to write? In this episode, I talk with Rachel Allen about words, travel, and building a business from scratch. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with Rachel Allen, a writer, fractional CMO, and founder of Bolt from the Blue Copywriting. Rachel’s path has been...
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Seven Startups and a Standup with Mary McCorvey
The RebelRebel Podcast
“You have a finite number of heartbeats. There are infinite possibilities.” What happens when a seven-time founder who once built a company around landing on the moon steps into the arena as herself? In this episode, I talk with Mary McCorvey about moonshots, stand-up comedy, and living life on your own terms. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie speaks with Mary McCorvey, a seven-time founder, Army veteran, broadcaster, author, and stand-up comic based in Philadelphia....
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Lessons From A Go-Giver with Bob Burg
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Kindness is never wasted—it expands into greatness.” What happens when a broadcaster-turned-salesman discovers that giving is the fastest path to success? In this episode, I talk with Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver, about kindness, influence, and building a life around service. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie speaks with Bob Burg, speaker, author, and co-creator of the international bestseller The Go-Giver. Known for its simple but powerful message—that...
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The Call Center Rebel with Richard Blank
The RebelRebel Podcast
““You shouldn’t use words to burn. They should be for light and for warmth.” Richard has spent the last 19 years running a near-shore bilingual contact center that thrives on empathy, communication, and human connection in an era dominated by automation. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center. Richard has spent the last 19 years running a near-shore bilingual contact center that thrives on empathy, communication, and human...
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From Teeth to Tech with Brandon Sherwood
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Entrepreneurship is the craziest, scariest roller coaster ever.” What happens when selling RVs leads to buying dental scrap, melting it down for precious metals, and then launching a startup with a mission to bless lives? In this episode, I talk with Brandon Sherwood about entrepreneurship, family, and why it’s just not that serious. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie chats with Brandon Sherwood, an entrepreneur from Heber City, Utah, whose path has been anything but...
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The Sound of Success with Jodi Krangle
The RebelRebel Podcast
In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Jodi Krangle, a professional voice actor, singer, and host of the Audio Branding podcast. Based just north of Toronto, Jodi has been a full-time voice actor for nearly two decades, lending her voice to clients around the world while exploring the psychology and power of sound . Jodi shares how her journey started in the mid-90s when she volunteered at CNIB, recording articles to reel-to-reel tape for the visually impaired. Years later, after burning out in SEO and internet marketing, she returned to the idea of voice acting and built a thriving...
info_outline“It’s never going to be as hard as you think it is.”
What happens when a theater nerd from Appalachia drops out of college, moves to Hong Kong with $200, and discovers people will actually pay her to write? In this episode, I talk with Rachel Allen about words, travel, and building a business from scratch.
This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.
In This Episode
In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with Rachel Allen, a writer, fractional CMO, and founder of Bolt from the Blue Copywriting. Rachel’s path has been anything but straightforward—from studying theatre, journalism, and Asian studies, to living in Hong Kong, England, Greece, and beyond. Along the way, she discovered that words could pay the bills and eventually built a career helping businesses make words make money .
She shares how her early love of theatre shaped her understanding of story, why dropping out of college and moving across the world was the best decision she ever made, and how a $3.25 writing job turned into a global business. From luxury real estate copy to probiotic rhyming board books for kids, Rachel has written just about everything—and learned to embrace the freedom and fear that come with running her own company .
The conversation digs into big questions: why travel makes us better humans, how language literally shapes the way we see the world, and why pseudo-historical utopias are both fascinating and dangerous. Rachel also shares the story behind her upcoming memoir Bat Shit, her next book Feral Wife, and her self-assigned PhD project exploring the cultural roots of the American South .
Beyond business, she talks about her love of bourbon, her habit of walking in cemeteries for peace and quiet, and her introverted approach to networking. Her advice to rebels in waiting: decisive action unlocks doors you didn’t know existed—and you are far more capable than you think.
Quoteable Quotes
“I make words make money.” — Rachel Allen
“Whatever it is, it’s not welded into the rebar of the universe. We made it. We can change it.” — Rachel Allen
“It’s never going to be as hard as you think it is.” — Rachel Allen
“I am not a 100% all-the-time likable human.” — Rachel Allen
“Experiences are the most important part of this whole thing.” — Michael Dargie
Episode Highlights
From Appalachia to Asia | How Rachel went from Tennessee to Hong Kong with $200.
The $3.25 Job | The moment she realized words could make money.
Luxury Real Estate & Dog Costumes | Early days of writing anything and everything.
Theatre Roots | Why acting and writing are two sides of storytelling.
Travel as Teacher | Why everyone should see the world if they can.
Pseudo-Historical Utopias | The danger of longing for a past that never existed.
Memoir: Bat Shit | Growing up in Christian nationalism and breaking free.
Next Book: Feral Wife | Learning what it means to be loved.
Self-PhD | Exploring the cultural roots of Southern identity.
Cemetery Walks | Why quiet, unusual spaces fuel creativity.
Advice to Rebels | Take decisive action—you’re more capable than you know.
Links From Episode
Website (https://www.boltfromthebluecopywriting.com/)
Rachel’s Website (https://www.rachelcatherineallen.com/)
Rachel on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelallenwrites/)
Rachel on Facebook (https://boltfromthebluecopywriting.substack.com/)
Rachel on Instagram (http://instagram.com/boltfromthebluecopywriting)
Rachel on Threads (https://rachelcatherineallen.substack.com/)
Get Your Copy of Michael's Book:
"BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable"
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