Amidst The Chaos
Are you wishing you could control your work schedule and spend more time with your babies? Have you wished you could find a way to make money on your own, but don’t know how you’d have time to start something amidst all the chaos in your life? On top of that, you might not even think you have a skill, talent, or ANY CLUE of what you’d do! If any of the above is screaming directly at your heart... you’re EXACTLY in the right place! Join your host Dana Graham (a health insurance broker turned successful newborn and family photographer… as bizarre as that sounds), as she picks the brains of women like her who have given up the security of a corporate job in favor of creating their own business venture to allow for more precious time at home with their littles. Each week, enjoy a different interview with a mom who has made the leap from a 9 to 5 to entrepreneurship in ALL different fields; from realtors, to health coaches, to etsy shop owners. We’ll hear the what, why, and how of what they’ve built, and how in the world they're doing it with their kiddos in tow! If you’ve already started your own business, join us as we continue to motivate you each week with step-by-step, TANGIBLE action items to make your business as efficient and successful as it can be… with your family, motherhood journey, and mental health at the top of the priority list. SO, grab that huge pile of clean-but-not-folded laundry or the stack of dirty dishes, plug your headphones in, and get ready to be inspired Amidst The Chaos.
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56. Becoming a Photo Editor, with Alisa McCormick
03/15/2022
56. Becoming a Photo Editor, with Alisa McCormick
When I started this podcast, the goal was to bring mothers in different indutries to this community so that YOU can see the variety of ways you can either start a side hustle or jump right in to a new career with skills you may already have. Today's guest is not only an amazing listen, but selfishly so fun as she is in the photography space - so I got to geek out on somethings! is a private photography editor for weddings who started her career as a photographer! We talk about how she was a stay at home mom and wanted a way to reinvent herself, so teamed up with her daughter to start a photography business. She tells me how she transitioned to being a photo editor and how she made that her full time work. She has continued to learn and grow in the space and wanted to find a way to support and share her tips, so she created a for photo editing! I love that so many of Alisa's tips are not only for those in photography. She talks about how important your network is and how she has really focused on finding careers for the different chapters of her life (serious goals)! I know you will love this episode just as much as I did, so make sure to check out her and after you listen!
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55. Using Your Weight Loss Journey to Become a Nutrition Coach, with Karen Bein
03/08/2022
55. Using Your Weight Loss Journey to Become a Nutrition Coach, with Karen Bein
My guest today is on a mission to help mothers get back to feeling like themselves again through confidence and mindful eating. Karen Brein is a nutrition and wellness coach that used her own experience after kids to help other mamas feeling the same. We start talking about her life pre kids and company and how she came to find her passion as a coach to other women. She talks about how to form habits and her approach with her clients that TRULY help them succeed and maintain their goals. Karen also touches on imposter syndrome, which so many founders (and people in general) face. We also dive into how she got her first clients, when she realized she needed to set boundaries and the hardest part of starting a business. I loved hearing Karen talk about the harder parts of building a business - especially one that is built around a method YOU created. Make sure to check out her site and feed for tips and insights. We also have an exclusive deal for our listeners -- 10% off any offer with code CHAOS10.
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54. Making an Infant Carrier Fit in a Grocery Cart, with Lindsey Fleischhauer
03/01/2022
54. Making an Infant Carrier Fit in a Grocery Cart, with Lindsey Fleischhauer
Today's guest has brought a game changing product to the lives of all parents that are grocery shopping with their infants. Lindsey Fleischhauer is the creator of Totes Babies, which fits onto a grocery cart to help keep your infant carrier out of the bottom (hello, GENIUS idea)! Lindsey starts by telling me how she came to the idea after experience this problem every time she went to the store, and how her dad played a huge role in making it a reality. She then gets real about how she had some big naysayers that told her it wasn't a good idea -- and how she moved past that. We talk about how she found different partners she's worked with (hint - it's something you can all do) and then she opens up about changing her perspective on working motherhood which really resonated with! We finish with her Shark Tank experience and how that impacted her then and now. I love that Lindsey took a problem and found a way to make a solution, and continues to be so involved in getting this product into the hands of parents who need it! Make sure to check our their and along on social. Also, for the Amidst the Chaos listeners, we have a special discount! Use code for 25% off and Free Shipping.
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53. How a Single Mom Built a Clothing Line for Mothers, with Whitney Lundeen
02/22/2022
53. How a Single Mom Built a Clothing Line for Mothers, with Whitney Lundeen
WOW, today's episode I got DEEP with our guest, , on her journey to build her clothing brand . Whitney not only talks about the founder tips and hurdles, but gets really honest and open about her personal struggles, which I think will be really helpful for so many people. Whitney tells me about how she was a young mom and found herself in an unhealthy marriage. After making the scary decision to leave, she knew she had to do something on her own as childcare was so expensive. Instead of making excuses, she decided to jump right in and learn a new skill (sewing) to make fun, practical dresses for moms. She then walks me through the logistics on starting her brand, meeting and changing manufacturers and how she leans on her gut more than others do. Whitney talks to me about the mental shift she has had thanks to this company, and how she really aims to practice what she is selling -- more PLAY with your kids. Finally, she tells me about how one book changed her mindset on life and how these past few years have helped given her something she didn't know she needed. Make sure to listen for her tips and tricks, but even more so, for her story of courage and mental strength in life and business. Head to their to check out the cute play dresses and give them a follow on to stay up to date on all things Whitney and Sonnet James!
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52. How to Become a Graphic Designer and Work for Yourself , with Stacy Aguilar
02/15/2022
52. How to Become a Graphic Designer and Work for Yourself , with Stacy Aguilar
I am so excited to bring another guest on the show today who had a skill/passion for something and after years of switching careers has found a way to turn that into her fulltime career. Today I am joined by , a graphic designer who helps entrepreneurs with their branding and web design. We first talk about Stacy's background in public policy, where she was focused on helping people but found she was super interested in design and the visual realm, but she didn't know the best way to combine the two! Then she talks to us about how when she was working in ad agencies, and wanted to focus more on helping people, and took (what was at the time) her dream job as a graphic design teacher at an all girls private school. While teaching she continued with side projects, including teaching courses and creating products, but realized its time consuming and hard to scale. We talk about the hard decision of making a leap to the unknown and the fear of it not working out. Stacy talks about how she reached out to her network to help her, how she finds boundaries through the struggles of working from home and how COVID affected her and her business. She finishes up with an AMAZING time management skill -- one that you wouldn't normally think of! I love being able to speak with mothers who have skills that many of you may have, to help give you the confidence and tools to jump out on your own (or make it a side hustle) if you are thinking about it. Stacy's stories is so common, which I hope gives that extra push to have faith and trust in yourself. Make sure to head to Stacy's and to learn more and connect with her!
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51. How and Why to Become a Productivity Coach, with Meaghan Langston
02/08/2022
51. How and Why to Become a Productivity Coach, with Meaghan Langston
I don't know anyone who wouldn't want to be more productive in one aspect of their life -- even my guest, who is a productivity coach! Meaghan Langston, the Meaning Mentor, joins us to kick off season two of the podcast! Meaghan has a similar background as previous guests in that she had a standard job but wasn't loving the hours, so was searching for something that was more flexible and aligned with her skills. While she was having these thoughts, her and her husband had just recently become foster parents to two littles (so not stressful at all). While at work, she benefited from a perk at her job that included a coach to employees. After seeing the benefits in coaching (and with the encouragement of her coach) she started to coach on the side. Meaghan dives into how she built her clientele, where she pivoted when she saw the need and how she chooses professional decisions. While Meaghan talks about her story, she highlights a common myth about coaches that you are going to want to hear! It was so fun talking to Meaghan and I know her unique story will be so helpful for many of you. Make sure to visit Meaghan's and take advantage of her gracious offer of 10% off coaching or calendar insight (I promise you will benefit from either!) with code AMIDSTTHECHAOS.
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50. Helping Parents Shift the Way Work is Done and Elevate Their Leadership Capacity, with Sarah Peck
12/21/2021
50. Helping Parents Shift the Way Work is Done and Elevate Their Leadership Capacity, with Sarah Peck
I am so excited to finish out this amazing first season with a guest who could essentially be the poster child for this podcast! Sarah Peck is the founder of Start Up Parent, which focuses on helping women feel less alone and gives them the tools they need to plan for families during busy careers. Sarah starts by giving me her long job history -- she legit has done it all! When she got pregnant with her first at a tech start up that she loved, she took her maternity leave in her own hands and set out to figure out what worked for her and the firm. As she was learning about this cross between work and family, she started recognizing how hard it is for women to make this happen. She started with the idea of a podcast, which lead to Start Up Parent and so much more! I love that Sarah talks about how things don't look pretty or glamorous, but you don't know how things are until you do them! She talks about how you need to be prepared for so many different scenarios and things can look different for each family. I am so happy to have her finish this season out! Make sure to follow along on her site for some amazing resources, as well as her instagram and podcast.
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49. Building an App for Music Teachers to Virtually Engage with Their Students, with Rebecca Featherstone
12/14/2021
49. Building an App for Music Teachers to Virtually Engage with Their Students, with Rebecca Featherstone
When everything went virtual in 2020, all sorts of service providers found a way to make it work with a ton of different digital video platforms. But my guest today, , wasn't satisfied with 'just ok' when it came to her music lessons. Instead of dealing with it (like so many of us continue to do), she MADE A FREAKING APP () to help music teachers all over have better and more effective lessons with their students. Rebecca talks to me about her background in music and how the frustrations of teaching over zoom became too much for her and her students. We chat about how she decided to make the app and the amazing connections she's made through friends and her network. She also tells me the honest truth about pitching investments and how years of performance has given her really tough skin. Rebecca story is so relatable to anyone who is in the thick of things and building something important to them (and others). For any music teachers who are looking to connect better with their students, make sure to check out Musica.ly and follow along on her for some fun life updates.
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48. Teaching Dog Owners to Safely Bring a New Baby Home, with Dominika Knossalla-Pado
12/07/2021
48. Teaching Dog Owners to Safely Bring a New Baby Home, with Dominika Knossalla-Pado
How often have you pictured an exciting moment in your life and then it comes and is not at all how you expected?! Well, lucky for you, my guest today is here to help with one of those moments -- introducing a dog to your baby! Dominika Knosalla is a dog trainer and founder of Dog Meets Baby. She joins me to talk about her path to starting this brand and how her life has taken a completely different path than she expected! Dominika tells me how she had wanted to be a vet and met a dog trainer during her time and knew she found her calling. She left Poland to come to the states and really immersed herself in the industry; learning what she could from a range of experts in the space. When she found herself in San Francisco for a second time, she started working at a doggie day school that had lots of training request, then something surprising happened -- she had her twins and her well behaved dog had a predatory response to them. She realized if this could happen to her -- a certified dog trainer -- then it probably happened to others. That is when she started Dog Meets Baby! She's built an online presence through raw, honest tips and being open about her experience to help others going through the same thing. We finish with Dominika telling me about her clients, where they are in their lives and how they find her! It was so great talking to Dominika, I have been wanting to have a dog trainer on for a while and she did not disappoint. Make sire to head to her and follow her on to learn some awesome tips.
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47. Minimizing Stress for Diplomats, Military Members and Expats, with Christine Lusk
11/30/2021
47. Minimizing Stress for Diplomats, Military Members and Expats, with Christine Lusk
I am beyond excited to bring our guest, Christine Lusk, on the podcast today because her business is not only GENIUS but so relevant to my life situation. Christine in the founder of Diplodash, which provides diplomats support services during and after transition to posts (UMMM HELLO, ME!!!). Christine talks to be me about her life pre- entrepreneurship and how life of a trailing spouse (though she has properly renamed it a trailblazing spouse) brought on a lot of challenges she hadnt realized. Once she was oversees, she was thinking how nice it would be to have someone send care packages and build shipments from home. She started with a system of information and insights from diplomats on what the would want and would pay for. then she started to build out each section and grew it from there. She tells me how her husband and kids play such an important role in the company as what the support has meant to her. Then we talk about how she is able to remove herself emotionally from the work, and how much stress that takes away from her clients. We end our talk with one of my favorite tips for anyone who is thinking of starting something but unsure if they should -- make sure you listen how she knew it was time to make the leap. It was so fun hearing Christine's story and geek over all the ways this is helping diplomats and their families! Make sure to check out her and to learn more!
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46. A Silicone Baby Placemat To Support Infant Development and Parent’s Sanity, with Lindsey Laurain
11/23/2021
46. A Silicone Baby Placemat To Support Infant Development and Parent’s Sanity, with Lindsey Laurain
Today's guest has been on our wish list for a while and she DID NOT disappoint! Lindsey Laurain, the founder and creator of EZPZ fun is on today and she opens up to us about so many things -- building the brand and beyond! For those that don't know (if there are any, ha), ezpz creates innovative, developmentally-focused products that make mealtime less about mess and more about fun. Lindsey's story starts like so many mom founders; she had a problem and there wasn't a solution in the market, so she MADE IT! After years in the corporate world, she took the leap to find a solution to the constant mess she found around her during meal times with her little boys. Lindsey gets into the nitty gritty details of creating a product, including numerous copy cats (some that led to legal action) as well as how she found her manufacturing partners. She also tells me how she brought on her best friends from childhood to join her team -- and how they are still friends and working together! We finish with her diving into the insane trajectory of the company and how they have maintained their brand vision along the way. I am so grateful that Lindsey joined us to chat today and know you will LOVE hearing about her story and the brand. Make sure to check out their AMAZING products (both functional AND adorable) on their site, and follow along on their Instagram.
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45. Creating Clean and Caffeine-Free, Energy Boosting Snacks, with Lisa Curtis
11/16/2021
45. Creating Clean and Caffeine-Free, Energy Boosting Snacks, with Lisa Curtis
When I started this podcast, I wanted to highlight all the behind the scenes takes and insider tips on building something with kids along side. If 2020 taught us anything, it's that working while parenting is NO JOKE! I have loved getting to hear founders' stories, specifically how they handled the craziness of these last two years. I am so excited to have Lisa Curtis, founder of , on the show today. She talks all about her brand and what this last year brought up for her. Lisa tells me what kick started her brand -- she joined the peace corp after college and needed an alternative for her vegan lifestyle. She was introduced to Moringa by some of the locals and she realized she wanted to start selling it as a way to support them. What started out as a way to bring connection to a local community turned into a business after she went back to the states and found herself at a job she wasn't connecting to. She started playing around with different snacks and selling them at the farmers market, which, spoiler, lead to one of her biggest partnerships! We chat about what CEO life really looks like in the beginning and how she juggled bringing on multiple other founders. Lisa then tells me her plans for the brand going forward and leaves you with a tip for starting a company. Finally, we chat about this amazing contest she started with two other female founders to highlight working mothers, and celebrating all they have been juggling this last year. Check out her Pandemic Super Moms award . I love talking with Lisa and know you will love her story. Head on over to her to snag some of her amazing snacks-- psst, they have holiday flavored ones!
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44. How to Limit Your Social Media Addiction
11/11/2021
44. How to Limit Your Social Media Addiction
Be honest - how many of you have found yourself scrolling social media during the different pockets of your day? In between Netflix episodes, on your walk upstairs, waiting for your kids to get out of school -- anyone? Well, I definitely have, especially these past two years! I have found myself relying on social media to fill any void in my day. I realized I was subconsciously opening my apps and scrolling before I even gave myself a chance to sit with my thoughts (imagine!) or get something productive done. After taking time to really understand how this was impacting my emotional well being, I knew I had to do something about it! I want to share the actionable tips and tricks I used (nothing crazy), that have worked for me these last few months. Take a listen and let me know which ones you use and if you have any more you think would be beneficial! Social media is amazing in so many ways -- as long as we make sure we are in control of the purpose for it!
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43. How to Grow Your Event Planning Business at Your Own Speed, with Betsy McKay
11/09/2021
43. How to Grow Your Event Planning Business at Your Own Speed, with Betsy McKay
Have you ever been to an amazing wedding, party or celebration and thought 'damn, I can't imagine what it took to bring this all together?'! Well, today, you get all the inside scoop on event planning and building a brand that allows you to plan and execute a range of celebrations. I am so excited to have Betsy McKay, founder of , on the show today telling me all about her experiences and tips on how she built her brand. Betsy has a super interesting background, from being an executive assistant, to the director of admissions. She found that many of these roles involved event planning and that she was REALLY good at it. She talks to me about how she juggles both a full time job during the day and Salt as it continues to grow -- time management is KEY for her. We then go into how COVID has impacted their industry and what she's learned from others as she is navigating the craziness. Betsy then tells me what her schedule looks like with work and coordinating her kids schedules. We finish off with my favorite part of the discussion -- setting boundaries with clients. She dives right into the mistakes she's made before and how she has had to set rules for herself and how/when to respond. Betsy was such an easy person to talk to and it was so great listening to how someone can build a service career from something they love and are good at. Make sure to check out her , and - - and if you are in the Memphis area, be sure to reach out for all of your event planning needs!
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42. Becoming a Holistic Health Practitioner, with Kathy Bartelloni
11/02/2021
42. Becoming a Holistic Health Practitioner, with Kathy Bartelloni
There are some people who you meet and you realize that they are doing EXACTLY what they were meant to be doing!Kathy Bartelloni started Evolv Hol, providing integrative health tools to support women, mind, body and soul after years of previously professional lives. She dives into how her life has had some crazy pivots and how she has found herself right where she was always meant to be -- as cliché as it sounds, she is so open and honest about the difficulties she has gone through to begin helping others. Kathy's calm presence is so refreshing, I could have listened to her for hours! Kathy gives me a quick roadmap of her life; starting with life as a military wife, consisting of putting her life on the back burner over and over (ummm HI, me, right here). She then made a big change and went back to school to become a nurse. After years of seeing patients come in, she realized she wanted to be part of the bigger solution and set them up with tools they needed to avoid illness and pain they were going through. She had always loved health and wellness, so dove head first into many different modalities in the holistic wellness world. I was so impressed with Kathy's life path, and more importantly her outlook on it all. She continues to think outside the box on how to get things done, and fully embraces the moments of suck (because, hey, they're inevitable). Kathy encourages all of us to take the challenges and stages in our lives and let them evolve in different ways. Kathy offers a variety of support solution on her and her page. And if you are looking for someone who understands the ups and downs of life and wants to help you find your mind body connection, !
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41. Keeping Your Baby Entertained Anywhere and Everywhere, with Beth Fynbo
10/26/2021
41. Keeping Your Baby Entertained Anywhere and Everywhere, with Beth Fynbo
Adding another product to my list of things I wish I had when my kids were little today -- all thanks to our guest, Beth Fynbo! Beth is the founder of , which helps make life a little easier for Busy Parents everywhere! Beth starts off telling me about her childhood and seeing her dad run his own business, and how she knew at a young age she wanted to do something on her own as well. She then went on to serve 10 years in the Army and when she found herself back into a 'normal' routine, she could not get comfortable in the corporate world. After having her first child, she had a big wake up call -- she didn't want someone else experiencing his 'firsts'! It took a hectic dinner with fellow mom friends to give her the aha moment! She realized that kids are CONSTANTLY throwing things on the floor and forcing their parents to pick them up. She came up with the idea to create a mat to keep them occupied after she found it did not exists! Since Beth did not come from the toy industry, she really jumped in and took things piece by piece, slowly working towards the next step and asking 'what should i do to get to the next phase'. I found this so refreshing as it can be SO overwhelming to see your end goal and all the space in between you and that spot! She then tells me about her current day to day, how life has changed as her business has grown and how her family plays a role in all of this! She then tells me how her brother is not a part of the company and how that came to be. Finally we chat about her Shark Tank experience, and the insane way that things happened! Beth is such an easy person to talk to and it was so fun learning from her experiences. Make sure to check as well as their other products, and head to her to follow along!
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40. Hydrating and Nourishing Families in a Healthier Way, with Ashi Jelinek
10/19/2021
40. Hydrating and Nourishing Families in a Healthier Way, with Ashi Jelinek
Any of you out there feel like there MUST be a certain product you are looking for, but when you search you can't find it? For most of us, after we come up empty, we find the next closest thing. But today's guest is not like most of us! Ashi Jelinek was looking for a vitamin infused drink for her kids instead of watering down the juice that was on the market. When she couldn't find anything, the woman MADE IT HERSELF!!! Ashi talks to me about her life pre Kidsluv and how she slowly starting making iterations and diving into flavors for this product. She dives into how she worked on the branding and really figuring out her audience -- I was blown away with how foreword thinking she has been throughout this whole process! She then talks about how she had these grand visions of launching and having a huge success, but that wasn't the case, and what she did next just blew me away. Instead of giving up, she really dove into making things better and figuring out how to build relationships with retailers. We then talk about the identify crisis you find yourself in as a founder -- where do you fall into this crazy founders world. We finish off with her telling me what a typical day is like and what her biggest tips are for developing a drinks, and then she hits me with a big admission -- she was so naiive as to what building this would entail at the beginning, and looking back she isnt sure if she would do it again! Ashi was SO SO easy to talk to -- she opened up, was honest and really introspective on her journey. Weather you have kids or not, you HAVE to check out her products (and be on the lookout for new ones soon). Head to their or page to learn more and enjoy 20% off 16pcks with code LUVVIP20 on Amazon.
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39. Keeping Moms From Crumbling, with Heather Greco
10/12/2021
39. Keeping Moms From Crumbling, with Heather Greco
Bringing another amazing human, mother and entrepreneur to you all for today's episode! is the founder of , where she helps business owners increase their efficiency and social media impact through her organizational and automation skills, Her main goal is to make sure you are working smarter, not harder! Heather talks about starting her career in sales and marketing at an IT firm and how she found her way into health and wellness, which was right up her alley as she was a lifelong athlete! She then tells me about how she realized she wanted to help women get more organized and allow them to handle the juggle of life, health and relationships better. All of this lead her to the Chaos Manual -- everything you need to know for your house and how to help you understand how your home works! We then start to dive into how Heather realized her strengths and how she could use them to support others. She also talks to me about during COVID, when other coaches started reaching out to her about growing their online business as she was so successful and that allowed her to morph her focus into both home and business. Now she focuses on women who may find themselves on their own or need that extra time/organization for themselves. She finishes by telling me the HOW behind some of her great successes- building her email list and growing her Instagram boot camp course! Heather is truly a wealth of knowledge and I am so excited for you to hear some truth and encouragement to many different aspects of your life! We also take a great detour and chat about enneagrams and how impactful they are with the people in your life -- both professionally and personally. Heather was such a fun guest to have and I am so appreciative of how honest she was about her own personal struggles as well! Make sure to head to her to learn more and check out her for endless pieces of knowledge and her bootcamp!
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38. Bringing Diversity To Your Celebrations, with Jacquelyn Rodgers
10/05/2021
38. Bringing Diversity To Your Celebrations, with Jacquelyn Rodgers
Today's guest has been on our wish list for months now, so I am SO PUMPED to be able to share her story with you all. is the founder of , which brings diversity to your celebrations with apparel, home décor and stationery. Jacquelyn dives into her past career at Mars, selling candy to retailers (umm, ok talk about FUN)!! She then jumps right in to why she started Greentop Gifts; she wanted to share the celebratory memories that she had with her mother with her son, but noticed none of the décor matched what their family looked like. She gives me the full details on how she made this idea come to fruition and when she took the jump all in to Greentop Gifts (and wishes she had sooner). She sheds light into how her past experienced helped her jump in so quickly and how she knew it was time to outsource. Jacquelyn then talks about who her audience is and how she markets to them. We then touch on how COVID has impacted her, but at home and with Greentop Gifts. She also tells me what her family thinks about her business (including the cutest story about her daughter). Finally, we chat about how she preps for holiday season and how that has changed and evolved year over year. Jacquelyn has tapped into something that is so necessary for our culture today -- she is celebrating diversity and allowing children and families to see themselves in the designs and décor they choose to celebrate with! You will love what Jacquelyn shares with me and as a fun bonus, she is giving our listeners a discount! Use code CHAOS21 for 15% off your purchase -- make sure to check out her for new products and designs!! Also, for some fun, check out their and as well as her for some family insights!
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37. Finding A Way To Turn Your Past Experience Into A Thriving Consultancy, Lauren Lorow
09/28/2021
37. Finding A Way To Turn Your Past Experience Into A Thriving Consultancy, Lauren Lorow
I am so giddy to bring today's guest on the podcast!! My Marketing Director, is here! She is my behind the scenes, right hand woman on all things podcast and today she is here to tell her story! I found Lauren through a friend of a friend off of an IG story post and what started as an inquiry to be a VA, has grown into so much more! Lauren tells me about her professional past, which was mostly in health and wellness in Manhattan. She talks about how she was able to mix her love for fitness (as a life long athlete) and passion of business into unique jobs that fit outside of the normal boxes we think of as careers. We talk about her family plans to leave Manhattan and how she had the foresight to build her skills for whatever was next work wise. Lauren talks about moving in the beginning of the pandemic and how it forced her to refocus her career plan and what was the best for her family. She started building relationships and was connected with some women entrepreneurs that needed marketing support. Since then she has built a strong collection of clients who she connects with personally and professionally. Lauren finishes off with some great insights on how she juggles multiple clients, teaching Pilates and a traveling husband. I have been waiting to bring Lauren on to hear her story and share her tips with all of you!! This is such a great listen for anyone who has skills and has thought about branching out to start something but is not sure if they can or should! Lauren didn't plan on building this to what it is, but used her connections and passions to do just that! Make sure to check out her for some great insights on women own business and marketing, as well as her site to reachout about working together!!
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36. Integrating Self-Care With Caregiving, With Elizabeth Miller
09/21/2021
36. Integrating Self-Care With Caregiving, With Elizabeth Miller
I hope you are all ready to be blown away like I was during todays episode with Elizabeth Miller. I have enjoyed hearing from these amazing women talk about how they took a problem and built out a solution. Elizabeth did that and then found a way to monetize work that truly fueled her soul -- which is not an easy feat! Elizabeth is the founder of Happy Healthy Caregiver, which is a resource for all caregivers to help them bring self care and happiness into their lives and roles. Elizabeth starts off our call by telling me how she is such a people person, and I cannot wait for you all to see that come to life throughout our talk! Elizabeth became an unpaid caregiver after the loss of her father, and realized how all consuming it is to take that role on. Through her experience and talking with other caregivers, she has been able to work with companies and brands who are looking to talk to caregivers and the aging population, and provides them the tools to infuse selfcare into their lives. After years of working in broadcasting and IT, she was able to pull from her business management and project analysis experience to help her build this new business venture! Elizabeth also talks to me about how this business (and being a caregiver) has impacted her family as well -- she has raised some self sufficient kids! We finish with some great tips for self care and caring for others, as well as some CRAZY stats on caregiving in this country! Caregiving is going to impact all of us as some point, so this is a MUST listen for all the tips. You want more? Head to Elizabeth's site to get even more tools and insights, and check out her blog and Instagram!
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35. Giving Boutique Business Owners The Tools To Thrive, with Ciara Stockeland
09/14/2021
35. Giving Boutique Business Owners The Tools To Thrive, with Ciara Stockeland
Super excited to share my conversation with d today -- I had an idea of what she did and what we would talk about and WOW was I blown away by where things went! Ciara has taken her experiences, her failures (which she owns up to!) and her passions to help boutique owners thrive! We start on talk with all the steps that led Ciara to where she is today -- from starting her own theater company, to opening a maternity boutique in North Dakota with no retail experience, she dives into everything she experienced and learned along the way! After a chance opportunity she expanded into a wholesale business, and continued to build her knowledge and edged closer to her current coaching business. We then talk about a big change that happened, including losing her business and her house. Instead of pointing fingers and blaming everything and everyone else, Ciara looked at how SHE had a part in what happened, and used that to make sure she (and her now clients) didn't make the same mistake again! One of my favorite parts of her story is when she realizes that what she is doing now (and thriving at) is the EXACT thing that she told herself she wanted to stay away from. We finish with some talk around imposter syndrome and what she continues to bring to her clients! I truly loved hearing about Ciara's story and how she leans into things when they don't go the right way. Ciara left me (and all of you) with the courage to ask questions, to make things work when it seems like they wont -- and I cannot wait to see what that does for her, you and me!! Make sure to check out Ciara's and to learn about all the amazing offers she has!
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34. Empowering Women By Decluttering Their Spaces, with Allie Casazza
09/07/2021
34. Empowering Women By Decluttering Their Spaces, with Allie Casazza
This was a real pinch me moment for the podcast! When I first thought of this podcast idea (years ago!), I had this vision of chatting with strong, independent and driven women and I have been BLOWN AWAY by the caliber of founders I have had on. Today's guest is no different -- I reached out to 's team pouring my heart out to get her on and .... NOW SHE'S HERE! For those that don't know about Allie, she is on a mission to empower women by decluttering and simplifying their spaces (physical, mental and emotional). We start with how she came to helping people out -- hint, it's similar to many of our guests! She realized her life was hectic, things weren't getting done and got fed up with constantly being stressed and frazzled. Allie then dives into how she turned this into a thriving business, with tangible tips -- they are so worth it, and not what you might expect from someone with her success! We end up having a super honest conversation about the importance we put on formal education and if that is always the best learning tool. Then we hit on how her business evolved, where her family plays into things and how she knew it was time to ask for help and bring people onto her team. We finish with my most favorite tip; Allie talks about her go to rule on being productive and efficient with her team. Finally, Allie gushes all about her book, how is came about, and the difference in leaving her strictly digital space. I am so fortunate to have had Allie on the show with me and I know you are going to take away so many tips just as I did! I have to give Allie an extra special shout out, because she has continued to support me and reach out even after recording which she most definitely didn't need to do! Make sure to check out her , and her which drops TODAY (9.7)!!!!
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33. Helping You Fall Asleep Faster and Stay Asleep Longer, with Tara Williams
08/31/2021
33. Helping You Fall Asleep Faster and Stay Asleep Longer, with Tara Williams
Who is excited for our first Shark Tank guest to join the show (aggressively raises both hands)?! is the founder of , which makes beautiful weighted blankets to help you stay calm, fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Tara kicks off with some background on her professional experience; she started in medical device sales, which included a lot of travel and was really exciting for her pre kids! She also talks to me about how she now realizes being in a start up environment gave her the confidence to start her own thing, and insights into what may happen when/if she started something of her own! We then dive into her path to , including the initial idea, the research and development behind it, and how to handle when it may not be the EXACT RIGHT time to start something. She gives some real honest talk about being an entrepreneur and how its not for everyone, and how she THRIVES in chaos which helps her in this entrepreneurial life. She also gets into the financials by telling me how long she went without pay and how they afforded to do so (all while her husband had just lost his job!). Finally, she tells me how the brand has grown and OF COURSE, all about her experience on Shark Tank -- make sure to check out her episode here. Tara was such a fun guest to have! I loved how open she was about building her business and brand. If you have kids or know someone with little ones you MUST check out their products!! Make sure to head to their , , and now you can join Tara on her own podcast, !
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32. Protecting Babies From The Sun and Making Mum's Lives Easier, with Cara Sayer
08/24/2021
32. Protecting Babies From The Sun and Making Mum's Lives Easier, with Cara Sayer
I am super excited to welcome my first UK guest on the podcast today -- is the founder of , the world’s best-selling range of sun and sleep shades. Cara talks about her extensive career in marketing, PR and event planning (and how being an inventor was not on her career plan). However, she had a need that she filled -- her and her friends wanted something to cover their babies and block out the sun while they were in the stroller. Since there was nothing on the market, she made it happen! We then dive into some personal aspects of her life that I really appreciated -- including struggles to conceive, divorce, breaking down and taking a step away. She also talks to me about shame and how she is a big fan of changing the way we speak about those who need to seek mental health and medication, which I feel is so refreshing to hear. We pivot to chat about why she focuses so much on safety (and how she's not willing to compromise on it), why she thinks competition is good and how COVID affected her this last year. We finish with her talking about how she built her tribe in the industry and what i means to her. Cara was such a fun guest, i loved how open and honest she was about a lot of things people glaze over when talking about their entrepreneur story. Plus, for all those looking for a perfect gift for mamas, THIS IS IT! Make sure to give her a listen below, check out her and !
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31. Setting Up Working Parents For Success Through Support and Education, with Debi Yadegari
08/17/2021
31. Setting Up Working Parents For Success Through Support and Education, with Debi Yadegari
This is the first guest I've had that really melted my old career and entrepreneur life together! is the Founder and CEO of , which is an employer-paid benefit that sets families up for success and helps employees to thrive. I was excited to chat with her and as we got further into the convo I was continually impressed and in awe of her! Debi tells me about her first career path, as a big time lawyer! She had always wanted the big family and it up until a co-worker said otherwise, she thought she could have them both! After getting pregnant with her first, she found out first hand that there was not enough support for working parents (insert light bulb moment)! After having her next 3 kiddos in 5 years (yeah you read that right!), she started to dive into supporting working moms through corporate lactation support. As she started listening to her clients and their needs, the business started to expand their offerings. Debi gets super honest about the change in perspective she's been forced to have through being an entrepreneur. We also chat about how their business is a little different than most as their end use is not always the one making the financial decisions. Finally, she talks about something that so few business owners do -- hiring and firing, and the mistakes made along the way! She tells me about the first time she had to fire someone and how it was different than previous roles. Debi has started such an amazing brand to help working parents and the energy she has is something I need to find a way to bottle and take with me! If you are an employee or head the HR/Benefits department at a business, you should absolutely listen to this one! Make sure to check out Debi and the Villyge team's and .
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30. Allowing Moms To Stress Less In Life and Motherhood, with Tina Unrue
08/10/2021
30. Allowing Moms To Stress Less In Life and Motherhood, with Tina Unrue
Ever leave a conversation with someone and you feel like you just got a free therapy session and were able to unpack/unload so many things?? Well, that is what happened with today's guest, Tina Unrue. Tina is a certified life and mindset coach and the founder of Selfish Mama, which helps moms stress less in life and motherhood by focusing more on themselves w/o the guilt. Tina talks about her desire to spend more time with her daughter while she was working her government job years ago. She was torn between going back to school and becoming a life coach -- I loved the way she broke down the back and forth, telling me that going with her gut wasn't easy, but she knew she had to do it! She explains what life coaching is (something even she hadn't heard about until she was being pushed into a different life trajectory). Tina drops some knowledge when talking about how you can't just project manage your life and sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture, even when you are plugged down in the day to day madness. We finish with her talking about purpose and how to find yours! I legit didn't even get to half the business questions I had planning to talk with Tina about because we connected so much on all the topics and truth bombs she was giving me. Make sure to visit Tina's , and to learn more about her, find out about working with her and gain SO MUCH MORE!
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29. Avoiding Wasted Breastmilk For Mamas, with Janna Hattingh
08/03/2021
29. Avoiding Wasted Breastmilk For Mamas, with Janna Hattingh
I never thought I would be thanking my TikTok scrolling for finding me a guest, but here we are! Janna Hattingh is the founder of , which (wait for it..) freeze dries your breastmilk into powder so you never have to worry about tossing your breastmilk again! Janna tell me how her personal experience led to her starting this insanely genius brand. She opens up about breastfeeding and PPD struggles, leading her to look into how she could preserve her milk and not waste as much when she started to give her son solids. We dive into how she got things started, what she learned along the way and how she took big steps to push through. Then Janna drops some real talk when she says that work-life balance isn't attainable and how she aims to be more flexible and less rigid in business. We talk about how her family plays into the growth and her plans for expansion (umm, yes please!). Finally, she tells me some of the most common questions/hesitations people have and how she caters to each client/mama. There were multiple times I legit questioned having another baby JUST to use this service! Whether you are a breastfeeding mom or not, this episode is filled with so much that you can use to take into your life and business! Make sure to follow Janna on and check out their if you or someone you know could use this service! Full show notes here.
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28. Creating Meaningful Heirlooms for Special Occasions, with Mattye Woodcock and Rachel Coffey
07/27/2021
28. Creating Meaningful Heirlooms for Special Occasions, with Mattye Woodcock and Rachel Coffey
I am excited to welcome our second co-founder story today! Mattye Woodcock and Rachel Coffey are the founders of , which combines their love for thoughtful planning, family heirlooms, and classic beauty. For all my mamas and caregivers that have always wanted that beautiful, thoughtful birthday party but didn't have the time or creative eye to make it happen -- these are your girls! Mattye and Rachel start by telling me where the idea of came about -- they loved throwing their kids bdays and noticed their friends did too, but were having a hard time finding all the things they needed in one space. They continue to tell me how their friendship grew throughout the years and through some really hard times personally. I was in such awe of how raw and honest they were with one another while they were going through different personal struggles that created some friendship tension at times. We then chat about the first brand they started, which was a collective for creative women to get together, and how this jumpstarted them working together and allowed them to understand how to work with a friend that has a different personality (and it wont take you long to figure that out)! We finish with them breaking down how they started Namesake while still doing their own things (which is true to this day) and an open talk about finances and family support. These two were so fun to talk to and I found myself just sitting back and listening to them feed off one another. I (obviously) loved our highlight on our Enneagram numbers and the way they lean into their differences! Whether you are looking for some inspiration or want them to take over your next big milestone celebration, don't hesitate to reach out to these two -- you (and your IG feed) will not be disappointed! Make sure to check out their and for all the details!
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27. Designing Custom Jewelry For Milestone Moments, with Erica Reese
07/20/2021
27. Designing Custom Jewelry For Milestone Moments, with Erica Reese
So many of these mamas come on and I am blown away by their grit, passion and love for their industry. Many of my past guests have done some really cool things that many of us do, but they have found their niche and community to grow it. Today's guest, Sara Reese, is a jewelry designer and founder of Erica Sara Designs -- for those wondering, that is NOT something I can easily do, ha. Erica tells me how she has always wanted to be a designer, and initially found herself in the fashion world, working at Barneys and Coach. She then talks about how she felt a little stuck -- she was in an unhappy marriage and not loving her job. So, she made moves and changed that! She enrolled in a nutrition program and got a divorce. We then dive into how she started designing and making jewelry around different highlights and milestones in her life. She then tells me the craziest story of meeting her husband, moving out of NYC to PA, getting married and buying a house all within a year! Erica then gives us an insight into their schedules, which includes two kids, two parents with their own businesses who are both training for road races in the fall, and how they use this structure to optimize their businesses and goals. Finally, she gets real honest and blunt about how she stays true to herself while building her brand, even if it means losing followers. Erica is such a fun listen and has such a gift for designing, making and creating such beautiful pieces while also being so raw and honest about the not so glamourous parts of running your brand as a mom (hint, 5am wake ups)! Make sure to check out her and follow her on and .
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