The Messy Success Podcast
Welcome to the Messy Success Podcast. Our host, Elizabeth Henson, is an expert in community based marketing with a focus on leadership and self development. She helps entrepreneurs, artists, and creative leaders grow and scale communities so that marketing is easy. She used her experience helping seven figure business owners to build out her own unique methodology in community building and marketing. The Messy Success Podcast combines business tips and real life experiences in being a creative entrepreneur. This podcast will leave you feeling confident, and normalizes the day to day struggles we all experience as business owners. We can't wait to connect with you!
info_outline
248: The Hardest Part about Being a Business Coach. What Most People Miss....
08/05/2026
248: The Hardest Part about Being a Business Coach. What Most People Miss....
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. This week Elizabeth is talking about the real difference between opportunity vs circumstance, and why so many people stay stuck one decision away from the life they say they want. After ten years of coaching entrepreneurs, Elizabeth has noticed a pattern: most people already know what they should be doing to grow their business. The real block isn't knowledge. It's the mindset shift for entrepreneurs that has to happen before any action feels possible. This episode is for anyone who has felt like making money is hard, who has caught themselves ranting about the economy or their circumstances, or who has been sitting on a decision that could change everything. Elizabeth breaks down her red car and blue car metaphor for spotting opportunity, talks through why hiring or raising your prices feels so scary at certain plateaus, and shares a personal story about the decision behind her new podcast studio. You'll walk away with a clearer way to separate circumstance from opportunity, plus a reminder that growth almost never feels like a golden opportunity. It usually just feels like discomfort. If you've been waiting for the moment to feel easier before you make your move, this episode is your permission to stop waiting and start paying attention. Take a listen, sit with it, and see what opportunity you might be overlooking.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/42255350
info_outline
247: When to Collaborate in Business (And When to Say No)
07/29/2026
247: When to Collaborate in Business (And When to Say No)
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. If your calendar is filling up with collaboration requests and your revenue isn't following, this episode is for you. Elizabeth breaks down when to collaborate in business, when to say no, and why there's a specific growth phase where accepting every invitation actually works against you. This episode is for the business owner who has moved past the early "collaborate with everyone" stage and is starting to feel drained, overextended, or unsure why events with other business owners aren't filling the room. Elizabeth shares the marketing campaign mistake most people make with collaborations, why she now limits herself to one collaboration a month, and how to tell whether a collaboration is actually serving your business goals or just keeping you in a repetitive pattern. She also offers a completely different model for supporting other business owners without becoming a full partner, one that protects your time and energy while still showing up for your community. If you've been feeling guilty about setting business collaboration boundaries, this conversation will give you permission and a framework to do it well. Press play and start protecting your calendar like the CEO you're becoming.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/42212940
info_outline
246: The Competitive Advantage in Business: How to Give People the Experience of You
07/22/2026
246: The Competitive Advantage in Business: How to Give People the Experience of You
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. This week Elizabeth is talking about the real competitive advantage in business, and it has nothing to do with a fancy funnel, strategy, or system. Inspired by the viral Yap Challenge and a coaching call inside her signature program, she breaks down why simply being willing to show up as yourself, on camera, live, unpolished, is the thing most business owners are too afraid to do, and exactly why that fear is your opportunity. This episode is for the entrepreneur who has been avoiding talking head content, going live, or starting a podcast because it feels exposing or uncomfortable. Elizabeth shares real numbers from a room of twelve business owners, only three of whom were actually creating this kind of authentic content marketing, and explains why criticism holds no more weight than someone calling you a color that isn't real. She talks about the difference between chasing validation and building ten out of ten certainty, and why giving people an actual experience of you, not a curated caption, is what grows trust and community. If fear has been quietly running your content strategy, this episode is the nudge to put in the reps anyway. Take a listen, and ask yourself what you have been too afraid to try.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/42077375
info_outline
245: Posting Every Day With No Sales: What You're Actually Missing
07/15/2026
245: Posting Every Day With No Sales: What You're Actually Missing
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. If you've been posting content and getting no results, you are not alone, and today Elizabeth is challenging the whole way you're measuring "working." This episode is for the creative entrepreneur who is showing up online every day, hearing crickets, and starting to wonder if any of it matters. Elizabeth shares why likes and comments were never the real metric, how building trust on social media actually happens quietly over time, and why she has built what she calls an algorithm-proof business, one that doesn't depend on virality or a single platform to survive. She walks through how to diagnose what's actually going wrong in your content (is it a traffic problem, a messaging problem, an alignment problem) instead of just deciding your offer is bad and starting over. She also gets into why becoming the local authority in your area can feed your entire online presence, and why the entrepreneurs who make it are the ones who stay in the game long enough to build real trust. Plus, a behind the scenes update on Elizabeth's Hampton Roads Creative Network and the new site being built for it. If you've been feeling like you're talking to no one, press play and let this one recalibrate how you think about your content.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/42037215
info_outline
244: Business Built Around Your Life: A Personal Story About Friendship and Saying Yes
07/08/2026
244: Business Built Around Your Life: A Personal Story About Friendship and Saying Yes
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. This week's episode is a personal story about what it really means to have a business built around your life, one that lets you say yes to the people and moments that matter most, even when they show up without warning. Elizabeth shares the story of reconnecting with a childhood best friend during a hard season, dropping everything for a week to help her, and what that trip revealed about the freedom in entrepreneurship she has spent years building toward. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt torn between showing up for their business and showing up for their people, and anyone quietly wondering if entrepreneurship is actually giving them the freedom they were promised. Elizabeth talks through the guilt that can creep in before saying yes to something big, the difference between building a life around a business versus a business around a life, and why community, both personal and professional, is not optional. She also gets honest about what it felt like to unplug for an entire week and trust that her business would still be there when she got back. If you needed a reminder that the whole point of this was never just the business itself, this one is for you. Take a listen, and let yourself sit with the question: what is your business actually allowing you to do?
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41994165
info_outline
243: The Habit That's Quietly Holding You Back From Your Next Breakthrough
07/01/2026
243: The Habit That's Quietly Holding You Back From Your Next Breakthrough
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. This week Elizabeth is talking about one of the most expensive habits in business, and it has nothing to do with money. It is waiting. Waiting for the right time, waiting for more confidence, waiting for life to calm down before taking action. This episode is for the business owner who feels stuck in a holding pattern, telling themselves they will show up fully once things settle. Elizabeth shares how she protects her own working "containers," even during the hardest seasons of life, and why showing up imperfectly will always beat waiting for perfect conditions. She also gets into a concept that has been resonating with her lately: the idea that the first 10 people in your business matter more than the first 10,000. Chasing reach and followers can pull focus away from the people already in your community, the ones who are your real relationship capital. If you have been waiting for more time, more certainty, or a bigger audience before you take your next step, this episode is your reminder that movement creates momentum, not the other way around. Take a few minutes today to think about who is already in your front row, and how you might show up for them.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41718245
info_outline
242: When Your Dream No Longer Fits: A Raw Story from Jennie Tack
06/24/2026
242: When Your Dream No Longer Fits: A Raw Story from Jennie Tack
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast, where we get honest about the messy middle of building something that actually means something to you. This episode is something a little different, and honestly, something really special. Jenny Tack, owner of Hex and Hair in Hampton Roads and host of the Conversations at the Crossroads podcast, attended Elevate and Inspire back in April and shared her experience on her own show. Her story was so good that Elizabeth knew it belonged here too. This one is for anyone who has ever wondered if finding your why in business means letting go of the dream you started with. Jenny arrived at Elevate and Inspire already cracked open by a brutal week of nervous system chaos, a truck that ran out of gas on the interstate, and the kind of uncertainty that makes everything feel fragile. What she found inside that room was a full business identity shift she hadn't even known was coming. You'll hear her talk about the moment she realized her first blank in Elizabeth's "I am a blank" exercise didn't fit anymore, what it means to let a dream grow instead of letting it go, and why sometimes the breakdown before the breakthrough is exactly what makes you available to receive something new.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41657340
info_outline
241: How to Make Big Decisions in Your Business (Using One Simple Question)
06/17/2026
241: How to Make Big Decisions in Your Business (Using One Simple Question)
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast! In this episode, Elizabeth is coming to you live from her brand new podcast studio, and she's got a lot to celebrate and a lot to share. This is a behind-the-scenes catch-up episode centered around one powerful question that Elizabeth's mastermind coach introduced her to: what needs to be true in order to achieve your desired outcome? If you've been in a season of waffling on a decision, feeling stuck between what you want and what feels practical, this episode is for you. Elizabeth breaks down how asking this question honestly and specifically led her to finally rent a dedicated workspace, book out a workday structure that protects her mental health, and commit to a 30-day TikTok live challenge, even when it's frustrating and imperfect in the middle. This is also for the business owner who is in the middle of something hard and needs a reminder that the messy middle is still forward motion. Elizabeth talks about what her TikTok live experiment is actually teaching her (20 to 30 new followers a day, and also some real algorithm frustration), a consulting project she said yes to after almost saying no, and why being six months into your best year yet is still a process, not a destination.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41574710
info_outline
240: Grow Your Business on TikTok with Will Harris: The Live Strategy That Made $500K in 6 Months
06/10/2026
240: Grow Your Business on TikTok with Will Harris: The Live Strategy That Made $500K in 6 Months
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast, and this one is a good one. If you've ever struggled to show up online the way you show up in a room full of people, this episode is going to feel like a direct answer to that problem. Elizabeth sits down with Will Harris, founder of Fitness Beyond 40 and one of TikTok's most compelling live creators, to talk about the TikTok live strategy that took him from three viewers to over 250,000 followers and half a million dollars in revenue in just six months. Will is not just dropping theory here. He breaks down exactly how he built his daily live format, how he thinks about casting a wide net while still attracting the right audience, and why going live every day at the same time is the single most important thing you can do right now. Elizabeth is 12 days into her own 30-day TikTok live experiment as they record, so you're getting real questions, real coaching, and real results in real time. This episode is for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners who know they have something powerful to offer but keep hitting a wall when it comes to translating that in-person magic into something that works online. Whether you've been curious about TikTok or completely skeptical, you're going to walk away with a clear picture of why live content is changing everything and a simple framework to start today. Go live. Be consistent. Build your tribe.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41550260
info_outline
239: Building Annual Events That Scale: Behind the Scenes of Elevate and Inspire 2026
06/03/2026
239: Building Annual Events That Scale: Behind the Scenes of Elevate and Inspire 2026
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to build a business over time. This episode is a full debrief of Elizabeth's third annual in-person event, Elevate and Inspire 2026, and it is one of the most honest and useful conversations she has had on the show about how to host a live event for your business. In-person event planning for entrepreneurs is no small task, and Elizabeth walks you through everything: what changed from year one to year three, how the new venue shaped the entire attendee experience, what she did differently with programming, and how sponsorships completely transformed the financial picture. For the first time ever, the event was profitable on the front end before a single post-event sale came in. This one is for you if you host live events, want to host them someday, or simply need a reminder that repeating what works in your business is where the real growth happens. Elizabeth talks about what it means to build anchor moments into your year, why consistency is key, and how you genuinely cannot improve what you do not repeat. She also gets into alumni strategy, swag bag decisions, and what she is already considering for 2027.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41467565
info_outline
238: Mundane Magic: How to Turn Everyday Chores into a Daily Practice You Actually Enjoy with bestselling author Molly Donlan
05/27/2026
238: Mundane Magic: How to Turn Everyday Chores into a Daily Practice You Actually Enjoy with bestselling author Molly Donlan
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast! This week Elizabeth is sitting down with Reiki master, bestselling author, and all-around magical human Molly Donlan to talk about her book Mundane Magic, a lazy witch's guide to hacking your brain, building a daily practice, and actually getting stuff done. If you have ever stared down a pile of laundry or a sink full of dishes and felt your soul leave your body, this episode is for you. Molly came into the energy and Reiki world as a full blown skeptic, burned out from nearly a decade of advocacy work for survivors of sexual violence. What started as her own healing journey became a thriving online business, a community with an 88 percent course completion rate, and now a book that is making people cry in the best possible way because they finally feel seen. In this conversation Elizabeth and Molly talk about what it really looks like to build a business by following your gut instead of a formula, why consent based marketing actually converts better than pressure tactics, and how turning your most dreaded household tasks into intentional daily rituals can unlock creativity, focus, and a whole lot more peace. Molly also shares the free download she has available and where to find the book.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41419515
info_outline
237: Sponsorships for Small Businesses: What's Actually Possible When You Stop Pitching Wrong
05/20/2026
237: Sponsorships for Small Businesses: What's Actually Possible When You Stop Pitching Wrong
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast! This week, Elizabeth is sitting down with sponsorship coach and author Justin Moore of Creator Wizard to talk about what sponsorships are, why so many small businesses and creators are leaving money on the table, and how to completely change the way you pitch brands. If you have ever wondered whether sponsorships are even worth pursuing, or if you have sent a pitch and heard nothing back, this episode is for you. Whether you are a brick and mortar, an event host, a podcaster, or a local content creator, Justin breaks down why the problem is almost never your audience size. It is the approach. Elizabeth and Justin go deep on the ROPE method for writing a sponsorship proposal that actually lands, why affiliates are not the same as sponsorships, and what happened when Elizabeth applied Justin's framework to her own in-person event and made more money than ever before. They also do a live coaching moment using a real brand, so you can hear exactly how this thinking works in practice. This is the kind of conversation that makes you look at your business and think, I have been sitting on so much opportunity. Take a listen and start seeing what is already possible for you.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41249665
info_outline
236: The Power of Presence, Energy Work, and Self Trust with Rocky Kitzmiller
05/13/2026
236: The Power of Presence, Energy Work, and Self Trust with Rocky Kitzmiller
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. Today’s conversation is one of those episodes that feels both deeply grounding and expansive at the same time. Elizabeth is joined again by transformational guide, hypnotherapist, Reiki master, and meditation teacher Rocky from Tune Into Wellness for a conversation about energy, intuition, healing, self trust, and what it really looks like to create space for yourself in the middle of business, life, and leadership. Rocky shares her journey from personal trainer to loan officer to building a business centered around subconscious work, Reiki, meditation, hypnotherapy, and community. Together, Elizabeth and Rocky talk about the power of slowing down, protecting your energy, understanding what’s truly yours versus what you’ve absorbed from others, and why so many entrepreneurs are craving spaces where they can finally breathe again. They also dive into past life regressions, ancestral healing, storytelling, and the deeper purpose behind the work Rocky now leads through her Soul Garden Sisters community and Soul Knowledge podcast. Whether you’re deeply into energy work or simply curious about what it means to reconnect with yourself on a deeper level, this episode offers a thoughtful and approachable conversation around intuition, growth, and becoming more present in your own life. If you’ve been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or like you’ve been operating on autopilot, this episode might be exactly the pause your nervous system has been asking for.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41206305
info_outline
235: From $40 in the Bank to Six Figures and What Came After
05/06/2026
235: From $40 in the Bank to Six Figures and What Came After
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. Today’s episode is one of those honest, behind the scenes conversations that reminds you what building a business really looks like. Elizabeth sits down with business coach and creative strategist Hannah Boeck to talk about the full journey… from being broke with $40 in the bank to building a six figure business, and what happens after you hit those milestones. They dive into the reality of scaling, the pressure that comes with growth, and the unexpected challenges that show up when your business actually starts working. From hiring a team to navigating identity shifts, burnout, and self worth, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the parts most people don’t talk about. If you’ve ever felt like you should have it all figured out by now… or wondered why success doesn’t feel the way you thought it would… this episode will meet you right where you are.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/41055390
info_outline
234: The Smarter Way to Grow: Systems, Content, and Letting Your Audience Lead
04/29/2026
234: The Smarter Way to Grow: Systems, Content, and Letting Your Audience Lead
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. This conversation felt like one of those moments where everything just clicks into place. Doc Williams joined me to talk about YouTube, tech, and building a business that actually works… but what we really got into was something deeper. How to stop guessing, start listening, and let your business evolve based on real data, real people, and real conversations. We talked about live streaming, industry reports, and why repeating yourself in your content might actually be the smartest thing you can do. And honestly, it just made me think about business in a completely different way. If you’ve ever felt stuck between creating content and running your business… or wondered if there’s a more sustainable way to grow… this episode is going to meet you right where you are.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40918805
info_outline
233: How to Create an Experience People Can’t Stop Talking About
04/22/2026
233: How to Create an Experience People Can’t Stop Talking About
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. Today we’re talking about something that most people think they already have figured out, but it might be the very thing holding your business back. Client experience. Instead of asking “how can I get more clients,” this episode invites you into a different question… how can you create an experience so good that people can’t stop talking about it? Elizabeth breaks down why your best marketing doesn’t happen before the sale, but after, and how referrals, relationships, and real human connection will always outperform any strategy or trend. She shares real-life examples, including moments where client experience fell short, and how those situations shape the way we lead, communicate, and show up in our businesses.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40881075
info_outline
232: The Truth About Failure, Pricing, and Building Something Bigger
04/15/2026
232: The Truth About Failure, Pricing, and Building Something Bigger
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. This episode is a special one for the big visionaries. The ones who know they are meant for more, even if they cannot fully explain what that looks like yet. Elizabeth sits down with her mastermind coach, Darrell Vesterfelt, for an unfiltered, unscripted conversation about what it actually takes to build something meaningful over time. From starting a blog in a college dorm room to leading multiple companies, Darrell shares the real behind the scenes of growth, including the mistakes, the mindset shifts, and the systems that make it all possible. They dive into the conversations most people avoid. Pricing, failure, self-awareness, and the emotional weight we attach to results. You will hear why raising your prices is not just a strategy, but an identity shift, and how many entrepreneurs unknowingly hold themselves back through misalignment and fear. This episode is for the business owner who is ready to think bigger, take ownership of their results, and step into a new level of leadership. If you have been feeling stuck, overthinking your next move, or questioning your value, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are and challenge you to move forward with more clarity.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40814555
info_outline
231: The Missing Piece in Your Marketing Might Be Your Story
04/08/2026
231: The Missing Piece in Your Marketing Might Be Your Story
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. If your marketing has been feeling off lately or you’re second guessing what to say, this episode is your reset. Today, Elizabeth is breaking down why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you already have and how it can completely shift the way you connect, build trust, and convert. Through a real-life experience at a recent event, she shares what happened when she stopped trying to “market” and focused on giving people a genuine experience of her. This episode is for the business owner who feels stuck in their content, unsure what to share, or tired of trying to keep up with strategies that don’t feel natural.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40713400
info_outline
230: Stop Performing and Start Leading Your Audience
04/01/2026
230: Stop Performing and Start Leading Your Audience
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. Today’s episode is a continuation of a conversation that is changing the way we think about marketing, visibility, and growth. If social media is shifting into interest media, then the real question becomes… how do you show up in a way that actually matters? This is a conversation about leadership, energy, and the simple but powerful shift of showing up for the people already in your space. From real life examples of relationship building to practical ways to create deeper connection, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you approach your content and your community. If you’ve been feeling the pressure to keep up, to perform, or to chase growth, this episode will bring you back to what actually works. Press play, reflect on your own leadership, and start showing up in a way that feels aligned, grounded, and magnetic.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40676150
info_outline
229: How to Host Your First Event Without Overthinking It
03/25/2026
229: How to Host Your First Event Without Overthinking It
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. In this episode, Elizabeth is breaking down one of the most powerful and underutilized strategies for business growth in 2026: hosting in person events. If you have been thinking about hosting a workshop, meetup, or retreat but keep getting stuck in the details, this conversation will help you simplify the entire process and actually move forward. Elizabeth shares how she approaches event planning in a way that feels grounded, flexible, and aligned with what truly matters. From choosing the right venue and setting realistic expectations, to trusting your expertise and letting go of perfection, this episode will help you stop overthinking and start leading. This is for the business owner who knows they are meant to bring people together but feels unsure where to start or how to make it all work. You will walk away with a clearer perspective on what actually makes an event impactful, and the confidence to take your first step.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40607340
info_outline
228: Social Media vs Interest Media: The Shift Entrepreneurs Need to Understand
03/18/2026
228: Social Media vs Interest Media: The Shift Entrepreneurs Need to Understand
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. In this episode, Elizabeth shares a realization that many entrepreneurs are starting to feel but may not have put into words yet. Social media is changing, and the way content gets discovered is shifting with it. Instead of follower based feeds, platforms are increasingly serving content based on interests. That means even if someone follows you, they may not see your posts. But it also means new opportunities for discovery. Elizabeth walks through what sparked this conversation for her, how she used AI to rethink her content strategy, and why social media should always be just one part of a larger marketing ecosystem. If you have been wondering how to stay visible and relevant as algorithms evolve, this episode offers a thoughtful starting point.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40500190
info_outline
227: Showing Up at 60 Percent and Still Moving Forward
03/11/2026
227: Showing Up at 60 Percent and Still Moving Forward
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. In this episode, Elizabeth shares a real behind the scenes look at the past few weeks of navigating illness while still running a business, leading a community, and preparing for big things ahead. After nearly five weeks of not feeling 100 percent, she reflects on the lessons that only show up when life forces you to slow down. From patience and surrender to rethinking expectations and priorities, this conversation is a reminder that growth does not always happen during our most productive seasons. Sometimes it happens when we are asked to pause.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40385555
info_outline
226: From Burnout to Cloning Your Genius with Alisa Kay
03/04/2026
226: From Burnout to Cloning Your Genius with Alisa Kay
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. Elizabeth sits down with messaging strategist, storytelling expert, and fractional CMO Alisa Kay, a featured speaker at Elevate and Inspire. Known for blending psychology, AI strategy, and narrative frameworks, Alisa helps established coaches and service providers turn their expertise into premium positioning and sustainable revenue. This conversation goes far beyond AI. It is about leadership, ownership, burnout, and what it really takes to build a business in a rapidly shifting market. If you know things have changed and you are ready to lead differently, this episode will meet you there.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40300280
info_outline
225: 90 Day Planning for Creative Entrepreneurs Who Want More Freedom
02/25/2026
225: 90 Day Planning for Creative Entrepreneurs Who Want More Freedom
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. Today we are getting strategic. Quarterly planning is not new. Ninety day goals are not revolutionary. But the way you execute them can change everything. In this episode, Elizabeth walks you through exactly how she structures her 12 week goals, how she reverse engineers revenue generating activities into weekly action items, and the simple calendar shift that has created a new layer of accountability in her business. This is not about hustle. It is about structure that creates freedom. If you are a creative business owner who loves flexibility but also wants momentum, this episode will feel grounding and practical. Listen in, reflect on your current system, and consider where more structure might actually create more freedom in your business.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40201475
info_outline
224: The Ego Death No One Talks About in Business
02/18/2026
224: The Ego Death No One Talks About in Business
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast…What if getting sick is not just about being sick? In this episode, Elizabeth shares a reflection on coming off a powerful January, stepping into unexpected expansion for 2026, and then being taken down hard by the flu. What unfolded wasn’t just a physical pause. It became an identity shift. Elizabeth explores the idea of a shamanic death or ego death, not in a dramatic or mystical way, but in a grounded, real-life leadership way. The version of you built around control, productivity, proving, and safety cannot always come with you into the next level of growth. This episode is for the business owner who feels the tension between who they have been and who they are becoming. For the leader navigating visibility, expansion, price increases, identity shifts, and the discomfort that comes with outgrowing old patterns.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/40145075
info_outline
223: The Marketing Ecosystem That Works Without Chasing Algorithms
02/11/2026
223: The Marketing Ecosystem That Works Without Chasing Algorithms
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. In this episode, Elizabeth is pulling back the curtain on a surprising milestone. January became her highest non event revenue month ever, with only 13 Instagram posts and very little engagement. This conversation is a powerful reminder that social media is not the business, and it is not the foundation. Elizabeth walks through what she calls a community based marketing ecosystem. One that focuses on relationship capital, sustainable systems, borrowed authority, and magnetic leadership. Instead of chasing algorithms or trying to keep up with constant content demands, she shares how long term, old school marketing principles are still driving real results today. This episode is for business owners who are tired of feeling trapped by platforms they do not control and ready to build something steadier, more human, and more aligned. If you want to grow your business through trust, belonging, and real connection, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Listen in, reflect on your own ecosystem, and take one small step toward building something that lasts.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/39973705
info_outline
222: Why Instagram Isn’t the Business (And What Actually Is)
02/04/2026
222: Why Instagram Isn’t the Business (And What Actually Is)
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how Elizabeth is approaching visibility, community, and growth differently as she plans for the year ahead. Instead of chasing platforms or algorithms, she’s focused on building an ecosystem, one rooted in relationships, repeatable processes, and shared momentum. Elizabeth shares why she’s experimenting with Substack, how the Creative Economy is evolving, and what recent results have reaffirmed for her about scaling a business sustainably. If you’ve been feeling the pressure of social media shifts or questioning where to put your energy, this conversation offers a grounded, real-world perspective. Listen in, take what resonates, and let this be an invitation to think bigger than any one platform.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/39972855
info_outline
221: Teaching Is a Skill: The Gap Costing Creatives Money and Credibility with Laylee Emadi
01/21/2026
221: Teaching Is a Skill: The Gap Costing Creatives Money and Credibility with Laylee Emadi
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast… Just because you’re exceptional at your craft doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to teach it—and in the creative industry, that gap is quietly costing people money, credibility, and opportunity. In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with educator, speaker, and conference host Laylee Emadi for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to step into leadership through speaking and education. From pitching and rejection, to ethics, messaging, and what most people skip before chasing visibility, this episode pulls back the curtain on an industry many creatives want to enter—but few are truly prepared for. If you’ve ever thought “I’m not getting chosen” or wondered what’s missing between where you are and where you want to be, this episode will meet you there—with clarity, honesty, and grounded encouragement. Press play, listen with an open mind, and take a moment to reflect on what kind of leader you’re becoming.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/39748780
info_outline
220: Micro Actions, Big Trust: A live Coaching Session on Growth
01/14/2026
220: Micro Actions, Big Trust: A live Coaching Session on Growth
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast… In today’s episode, Elizabeth is sharing a full Coaching On Air session with someone very special—her creative director, Illiah. This conversation is slow, intentional, and deeply honest as Illiah opens up about taking a job after years of entrepreneurship, navigating an identity shift, and holding space for a bigger vision that hasn’t fully taken shape yet. Together, they explore what it really means to expand instead of “pivot,” how financial stability can actually support long-term growth, and why micro actions matter more than forcing clarity. Elizabeth coaches Illiah through the tension between logic and intuition, structure and creativity, and ambition and sustainability—without rushing the process or attaching shame to the messy middle. This episode is for the entrepreneur who feels pulled in multiple directions, is questioning their next step, or is learning how to trust themselves through change. If you’re navigating a season of transition, identity shifts, or redefining what success looks like right now, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/39661335
info_outline
219: What It’s Really Like to Go From Solopreneur to Employees (With Misty Prewitt)
12/23/2025
219: What It’s Really Like to Go From Solopreneur to Employees (With Misty Prewitt)
Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast. In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with Misty Prewitt, founder of Misty Saves the Day, for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to scale a business from one person to a team of 12. Misty shares her journey from starting out as a solopreneur to leading a growing agency, including the messy hiring moments, leadership lessons, people-pleasing patterns, and systems she had to rebuild along the way. This episode pulls back the curtain on what sustainable growth actually looks like — not the polished version, but the real one. If you’re thinking about hiring, scaling, or building a team without losing yourself in the process, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
/episode/index/show/messysuccess/id/39448840