The Aligned Business® Podcast with Kelsey Kerslake

Episode 104: This AI CEO Says Everything Changes in 1-3 Years. Here's What I Think.

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Kelsey is back after a long hiatus and diving into one of the most important conversations happening right now: the CEO of Anthropic (the company behind Claude AI) just said AGI — artificial general intelligence — is 1-3 years away. Kelsey breaks down what that actually means in plain language, shares how she's been using AI behind the scenes during a major health journey, and makes the case for why your humanness, discernment, and self-knowledge are about to become the most valuable skills in business. If you're a coach, creative, or consciousness-focused entrepreneur wondering how AI fits into your world — this one's for you.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

What AGI actually means — in plain, non-technical language. (Hint: it stands for Artificial General Intelligence, and it means AI that can perform at or above human level across the board — not just one task at a time.)
Dario Amodei's "country of geniuses in a data center" concept — imagine a million brilliant people working 24/7 for pennies on the dollar. That's what's coming.
Why software engineering gets automated first — because code is verifiable (it works or it doesn't), making it the easiest domain for AI to master.
The two exponentials most people miss — the capability curve (how fast AI gets smarter) and the adoption curve (how fast businesses integrate it). The gap between them is where the biggest opportunity lives right now.
Why Kelsey built Sol™, an AI coaching companion — and how it's designed not to replace human thinking, but to help you become MORE of who you already are.
The skills that become expensive when thinking becomes free — discernment, self-knowledge, values, trust, human connection, critical thinking, and presence. These are the things AI can't automate.
Why consciousness-focused entrepreneurs are the most important people in this conversation — the tech world says "learn AI tools." Kelsey says the real competitive advantage is knowing WHO you are, WHAT you're building, and WHY.
Sovereignty as a business strategy — how to reduce dependencies on platforms, systems, and other people's infrastructure so your business (and life) can weather whatever comes next.
How Kelsey has been using AI behind the scenes — from industry research reports generated in under 10 minutes to mining 10 years of email marketing data for patterns.

Mentioned in This Episode

The article Kelsey references: Dario Amodei Says AGI Is 1-3 Years Away. Here's His Full Breakdown. by The VC Corner
The full 3-hour interview: Dario Amodei — "We are near the end of the exponential" on the Dwarkesh Podcast

Want to Experience What Kelsey Is Building?

Sol™ is an AI-powered coaching companion built on Kelsey's proprietary Aligned Business® Method. It's designed to help you uncover who you are, trust your own intuition, and infuse your unique essence into everything you build. Sol lives inside The Art of Becoming — a program for entrepreneurs ready to evolve their business and identity from the inside out.

→ Become a Founding Member of The Art of Becoming

Connect with Kelsey

DM Kelsey on Instagram: @kelseykerslake
Website: thealignedbusiness.com

AGI explained for entrepreneurs

artificial general intelligence business impact

AI and coaching industry

AI for coaches and creatives

future of business AI 2026 2027

Episode 103: Rest, Rebirth, and Building Sol™ – The Real Story Behind My Burnout and AI Coaching Vision (Part 2)

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:00:00 -0400

In this raw solo episode, I share what’s unfolded since I hit burnout, why I spent months in bed, and how that breakdown led to the quiet creation of Sol—my emotionally intelligent AI coaching partner. This is the real story of what happened after everything stopped.

Episode 103: Rest, Rebirth, and Building Sol – The Real Story Behind My Burnout and AI Coaching Vision

This is the first podcast I’ve recorded in a long while… and I’m showing up exactly as I am. No fancy mic. No edits. Just me and the real story of what’s happened since I finally let myself stop.

If you haven’t yet listened to Episodes 101 and 102, those will give you the broader backstory. But today’s episode is where I take you inside the season that changed everything.

Inside this episode:

What it looked like to hit a full-stop wall with burnout
Why I spent weeks in bed unable to do anything but sleep or whisper into ChatGPT
How I accidentally turned AI into my own emotional processing and journaling companion
Why I couldn’t find a coach who could hold me in the way I needed—and how that led me to create Sol™
The real reason generic AI models can’t support human transformation (and what I did instead)
How I trained Sol to think like I do—to hold nuance, identity evolution, and emotional growth at scale
What’s different about Sol’s memory system, coaching feedback loops, and transformation tracking
Why AI (done right) can actually make us more human—not less
An update on my health journey, rare immunodeficiency, and weekly infusions
A few thoughts on where Sol is going next—and how I’m letting it (and me) grow slowly

✨ This episode is for anyone who’s felt too tired to dream, too sick to strategize, or too maxed out to hold it all anymore—and still believes in the quiet power of what’s possible.

This episode is for you if you're interested in learning about:

burnout recovery for entrepreneurs
building an AI coach
Sol AI coach beta
emotionally intelligent AI
chronic illness and business
immunodeficiency therapy
subcutaneous immunoglobulin
coaching through ChatGPT
revenue share coaching
AI for identity evolution
aligned business podcast
neurodivergent entrepreneur
healing while building a business
resting as a strategy
motherhood and autoimmune illness
Sol by Kelsey Kerslake
supportive AI for transformation
future of coaching with AI
becoming who you're meant to be
AI and emotional intelligence

Episode 102: A Raw Catch-Up After Three Years Away (Part 1)

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

After three years away from the podcast, I’m back… and today’s episode is unlike anything I’ve ever shared here before.

This isn’t a polished teaching episode or a step-by-step strategy session—it’s a deeply personal voice note I originally sent to a close friend, catching her up on everything that’s unfolded in my life and business since 2020.

I decided to bring it here, too, because so much of what I went through mirrors what so many of us face as entrepreneurs: the messy transitions, the identity shifts, the burnout, the health challenges, the moments of doubt, and the unexpected opportunities that shape us along the way.

Inside this episode, I open up about:

The early days of my coaching business and how it all began with one client back in 2016–2017
Scaling The Aligned Business® to multi-6-figure and $600k years—and what came with hiring a full-time team
The lessons (and the shame I had to release) around payroll, sales, and growing too fast
My health challenges—including repeated hospitalizations, asthma, and navigating an immune system I couldn’t rely on
How we transitioned into building a real estate and renovation business with my husband, Todd, and my dad’s support
What it looked like to simplify my coaching business and shift into a private, revenue-share model that feels deeply aligned
Why I’m giving myself a semi-sabbatical now to restore my energy, care for my health, and create space for what’s next

This episode is part one of a two-part catch-up. Think of it as sitting down with me over coffee while I share the real, unfiltered story of the past three years—the behind-the-scenes truths that shaped me into who I am now.

I’ll be back soon with part two, where I’ll share what’s unfolded over the past six months since recording this update.

Episode 101: Scaling Your Business to $500,000: The Five Stages

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Kelsey Kerslake, the CEO of The Aligned Business, takes you through the five stages of scaling your business to $500,000 per year. She breaks down what each stage entails, the key focus areas, and the mindset shifts required for success. Whether you're just starting out or looking to reach that half-million-dollar mark, Kelsey's insights will guide you on your journey.

Introduction (00:00-02:10)

Kelsey Kerslake introduces herself and the purpose of the episode.
She highlights the importance of reaching five-figure months and making them a reality.

Stage 1: Making Between $0 and $1,000 (02:11-08:05)

Kelsey explains that this stage is an experimental phase.
The primary focus is on making money and overcoming mindset challenges around receiving money.
She emphasizes the need to experiment with various approaches within your industry.

Stage 2: Earning Between $1,000 and $3,500 (08:06-15:13)

Kelsey emphasizes the importance of staying in stage two if you're making between $1,000 and $3,500 per month.
In this stage, you should focus on identifying your ideal client and learning how to sell and market to them effectively.
She advises against jumping ahead, as it can lead to a shaky foundation for your business.

Stage 3: Earning Between $3,500 and $7,500 (15:14-22:18)

Kelsey discusses the need to solidify your offers and create a signature offer.
You should start defining your sales system, raising your rates, and getting specific in your marketing.
KPIs for each position and honing in on your expertise are essential in this stage.

Stage 4: Earning Between $7,500 and $20,000 (22:19-30:30)

Kelsey emphasizes creating consistency in your sales system and experimenting with delegating tasks.
This is the stage to add more elements to your offer suite, like courses or group programs.
Getting known for your unique methods and processes is a key focus.

Stage 5: Earning Between $20,000 and $50,000 (30:31-37:55)

Kelsey discusses the transition to CEO responsibilities, overseeing the sales system, and managing the numbers.
You start building an organizational chart and bringing in employees who own specific roles.
Creating backups, systems, and processes becomes crucial for a well-oiled machine.

Mindset and Subconscious Alignment (37:56-43:30)

Kelsey highlights the importance of working on your subconscious mind and mindset.
She suggests daily habits, meditation, and envisioning your future self.
Challenging limiting beliefs and aligning your mindset with your desired growth is essential.

Closing and Invitation (43:31-46:23)

Kelsey invites listeners to apply for The Aligned Business Academy for personalized support.
She mentions the limited available spots to maintain an intimate and supportive community.
Kelsey encourages questions and comments, inviting listeners to reach out on Instagram.

Outro (46:24-End)

Kelsey signs off, thanking the audience and looking forward to future conversations.

Episode 100: Mastering Organic Lead Generation with Reels, A Deep Dive into My Content Strategy

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Reach out to me on Instagram to chat about the episode or joining the Academy! http://www.instagram.com/kelseykerslake

Show notes:

Kelsey's motivation to explore organic content marketing as a lead generation strategy.
Transition from using paid ads to creating consistent content for lead generation.
The impact of having more time and space in her business for marketing.
The simplified business model allows for more focus on sales and marketing.
The intention to lead by example and experiment with content marketing.
Becoming addicted to creating and posting Reels on Instagram.
The challenge of starting and building consistency with Reels.
Embracing the mantra: "This is who I am now" to change her content creation habits.
Breaking down the process of creating Reels into smaller steps.
The importance of saving trending sounds and using them in Reels.
The value of daily B-roll filming for content creation.
Keeping a document with content ideas and client questions.
Kelsey's five P formula for content marketing: Pro, Problem, Personality, Proof, and Possibility.
The role of sales calls and the importance of nurturing potential clients.
Kelsey's transparent view on the effectiveness of her Reels in driving sales.
The lead generation process through Reels and nurturing potential clients.
The impact of being camera-ready and showing up as your best self.
Analyzing what works in Reels and experimenting with different elements.
The goal of getting Reels in front of new people and understanding analytics.

Episode 99: Transitioning to a Solo Online Business

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0400

Podcast Episode: Transitioning to a Solo Online Business

Introduction:

Host: Kelsey Kerslake
CEO and Founder of The Aligned Business

Episode Overview:

Kelsey's decision to transition her business to a solo operation
Industry trends and shifts towards smaller, more aligned businesses
Personal challenges and health issues that led to this decision

Industry Trends and Shifts:

The trend of big coaches and course creators downsizing their teams
The pressure to scale coaching businesses with large teams
The shift towards more discerning clients and higher standards of support
Emphasis on living aligned lives over building massive businesses

Kelsey's Journey with a Team:

Building a team with six full-time employees and 11 contractors
The stress and financial pressure of managing a large team
The decision to pause the agency and reevaluate the business structure
Transitioning to a revenue share model

Financial Goals and Wealth Building:

Prioritizing profit and financial literacy
The importance of making smart investments
Building wealth through stocks, real estate, and other assets
The shift from just scaling to focusing on profit

Kelsey's Dream Business Structure:

Transitioning to a solo operation with a smaller, more profitable business
Taking on one-on-one clients and managing a limited number of academy students
Relaunching Supportive Sales School and opening a digital download shop
Resetting the business to align with Kelsey's vision

Conclusion:

Kelsey's temporary reset and focus on personal alignment
Invitation to reach out with questions or for further discussion
Closing remarks and gratitude for listening to the Aligned Business Podcast

Episode 98: Becoming Future Me - My Weight loss Journey

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0400

Host: Kelsey Kerslake, CEO of The Aligned Business®

Introduction

Kelsey Kerslake welcomes listeners to the Aligned Business Podcast.
She shares her excitement for the episode, which focuses on her personal journey.

Journey Back to Sharing

Kelsey talks about her hiatus from podcasting and her desire to return to sharing her life and experiences.
She reflects on the challenging past two years, both personally and professionally.
Kelsey expresses gratitude for having the stability and bandwidth to restart the podcast.

Returning to the Personal Touch

Kelsey discusses her initial approach to business and blogging, emphasizing personal sharing.
She mentions how her focus shifted towards marketing, business strategy, and trends.
Kelsey expresses her intent to bring back the personal touch to her podcast.

Becoming the Future Version of Herself

Kelsey talks about her belief in becoming the future version of oneself.
She highlights her commitment to embodying the future version of herself.
Kelsey mentions that this transformation has played a significant role in her personal life.

Weight Loss Journey

Kelsey shares her weight loss journey, revealing she lost 80 pounds in a year.
She clarifies her initial goal was not weight loss but to become a healthier version of herself.
Kelsey discusses the compounding factors contributing to her weight gain, including endometriosis, IVF, and stress.
She acknowledges the role food played as a coping mechanism in her life.
Kelsey details her athletic background and how her weight gradually increased after leaving rowing.
She talks about the impact of medications, hormones, stress, and family life on her weight.
Kelsey describes her decision to transition to a healthier lifestyle and the challenges she faced.
She mentions her mother's influence and negative body image during her upbringing.
Kelsey reflects on feeling self-conscious about her height and size as a child.

Embracing Self-Love

Kelsey discusses her journey towards self-love and accepting her body.
She explains how she vowed not to go on diets anymore but to focus on self-love.
Kelsey shares her challenges, including a gallbladder attack and frequent illnesses.
She reveals she sought medical support and medication to assist her in the process.
Kelsey mentions her experience with a weight loss medication and its impact on her cravings.
She expresses gratitude for having an additional tool to support her health.
Kelsey talks about preparing for weight loss surgery but ultimately being denied by insurance due to significant weight loss.
She emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-acceptance in her journey.
Kelsey celebrates the newfound ability to enjoy physical activities and dance with her children.

Conclusion

Kelsey expresses gratitude to the audience for listening to her journey.
She encourages listeners to reach out on Instagram (@kelseykerslake) to discuss the episode.

Episode 97: Using the power of launches to find freedom with Aline Hoss

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 06:00:14 -0500

Aline Hoss helps entrepreneurs create and launch websites and online courses in Squarespace and Kajabi. Her number one passion is to help overworked and burnout entrepreneurs create personal and financial freedom so they can do more of what they love with the people they adore - all with the power of launches!Aline is also a superstar entrepreneur and mom, and she joins me today to talk about how she was able to accomplish starting and scaling a business while raising a toddler at the same time (without childcare!) and what prompted her to leave her senior corporate job and forge her own path after maternity leave. We also dive into the many ways that Aline helps others create their course so they can build an audience, why it’s not true that you have to have an audience in place before launching your course, and talk about how Aline tapped into the power of delegation to scale her business. She is a perfect example of taking imperfect action before you’re ready, and I’m excited to share her story with you!For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-97

Episode 96: Building A Life On Your Terms with Brittney Lynn

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 06:00:05 -0400

Brittney Lynn is the founder and CEO of The Human Connection Agency, a PR agency that serves purpose-driven entrepreneurs worldwide, and she is also a really good friend of mine. She joins me today to talk about why she and her husband decided to sell everything, build a van, and travel the country. We also dive into the specifics of getting your business set up (think health insurance!), the weirdness of entrepreneurship, and how to push through your fear to make all of your big wild dreams happen. I have no doubt that you will be inspired by this episode, so get comfy and listen in!https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-96

Episode 95: Demystifying Human Design For Your Life and Business with Bria Lear

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 06:00:04 -0400

Bria is a Human Design Expert and Business Alignment Mentor. She helps rising leaders elevate their success while trading stress, overwhelm, and burnout for joy, ease, and flow. She has an intimate understanding of how each individual’s energy is designed to thrive, and she empowers her clients to make aligned decisions, leverage their energetic gifts, and (finally) leave the hustle behind.In this episode, we are demystifying all things Human Design, including what it is if you’ve never heard of it before, what the different types are, and how you can use it as a tool to live an aligned life (and business). If you’re kind of into the woo - or REALLY into the woo - this is an episode that is going to be really fun for you!For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-95

Episode 94: Living a Truly Aligned Life with Lucy Liu

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 06:00:05 -0400

Lucy Liu is a global business strategist and certified life coach helping high achieving women in life transitions unstuck, kiss overwhelm bye, cultivate rockstar confidence, see clarity, reach dream goals, and live a joyful fulfilling life!She is an unshakable optimist, wife, mother, easy-going entrepreneur, certified #IamRemarkable women empowerment workshop facilitator, and international motivational speaker. She also inspires as the host of her weekly podcast The Lucy Liu Show, which is the fueling station for your mind, business and life.You may also have noticed that she shares the same name as another famous Lucy, and in this episode we talk about what it’s like to grow up and claim a famous name for your own, the mindset shift that completely changed her life, and how what could have been a barrier has actually become a joy.Lucy also shares how she shifted from living a life that left her feeling unhappy and unfulfilled to a life that is truly aligned and fulfilling, the journey that she took to get there, and we dive into all of the mindset stuff that we deal with as entrepreneurs - including how to break through those limiting beliefs we all have!For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-94

Episode 93: Grow a 6-Figure Audience with Michelle Vroom

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 06:00:14 -0400

Michelle Vroom has made half a million dollars from her Facebook group...and counting. So when she says she knows how to grow an audience that makes you 6-figures, she means it! With a 15-year background in marketing and public relations, she has the skills and knowledge to help other entrepreneurs get to 6-figures in their business. She has a no-nonsense, tough love approach that helps her clients get results FAST and gives them the freedom and security to live life on their terms.In this episode, we’re diving into so many goodies: the importance of being honest about the mindset challenges that go along with entrepreneurship (no matter what stage you’re at!), why it’s ok to not know everything about your ideal client all the time, and some of the reasons why you might not be attracting high-ticket clients.We’re also talking about the dark side of success and the narratives that we tell ourselves that are so often NOT talked about when you’re scaling your business, and Michelle shares why she is so passionate about helping women cultivate a thriving and engaged audience.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-93

Episode 92: Postpartum Planning for your Business with Liz Winters

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 06:00:32 -0400

You have probably heard of a birth plan, but what about a postpartum plan?The postpartum period can be intense, and it’s often a time that is overlooked when it comes to preparing for a new addition to a family - especially for busy entrepreneurs.Liz Winters (she/her) is a chocolate-loving nutritionist, pre & postnatal coach, doula, mom, and birth nerd. She is the founder of the online education and lifestyle brand, Liz Winters Wellness, and lives in Oregon with her 3 dogs, 2 cats, amazing partner, and kiddos.She helps career-driven millennial parents cut through the BS of mommy-marketing and Pinterest perfection so they can have an empowered and healthy pregnancy and postpartum experience and build a life they actually love.We’re chatting all about thriving in the fourth trimester, balancing entrepreneurship and parenthood, and how to wrap your head around being a business-driven person AND a parent - all at the same time.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-92

Episode 91: From Corporate Hustle to Business Owner with Alyssa Houseknecht

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Alyssa Houseknecht is the CEO and Creative Director of Lyss House Creative, where she helps influential entrepreneurs design confident brands using her 5-step framework that incorporates brand strategy, design, and mindset. She is also one of the very first Aligned Business Academy students and has been featured on numerous global summits and top-rated podcasts. Listen in as Alyssa shares her story from the corporate world at a successful multi-million dollar company in New York, to spinning her wheels at freelancing, to finding the Aligned Business Academy and jumping into the CEO role. We talk about the importance of embracing the future version of yourself, how COVID was in many ways a blessing, and Alyssa details the tangible things that really helped her step into her power as a business owner.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-91

Episode 90: Attract Your Dream Clients with Samantha Rodriguez

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Samantha Rodriguez is a Lead Generation Strategist and natural marketer who helps clients to create a strategy that not only showcases what they offer, but also makes their brand memorable so that they can attract their dream clients. She has had such a cool journey through entrepreneurship that I know so many of you will be able to relate to!In this episode, Samantha shares some of the ups and down she had throughout her entrepreneurial journey, including how a cancer scare lit a fire under her and was the catalyst for the start of her business. We also talk about how she was able to quit her corporate job two months after starting her VA business, how she got the confidence to scale, and what it was like hitting that first $20k month. And of course, we dive into marketing and lead generation, and Samantha gives us her best lead generation tips that you can start implementing today.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-90

Episode 89: My Mental Health and Fertility Journey

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:00:39 -0400

Get ready for something a little different. Today I’m talking about something that I’ve wanted to share for a long time, but it never felt it was the right time - until now.In this episode, I’m sharing my mental health and fertility journey with you because I know that as business owners and as women who are wanting to start families, both can be a big thing that correlates to the growth of our business - and the ways in which we grow our business.So get comfy, grab your favorite drink, and listen in. I have no doubt that many of you will relate to my journey, and if nothing else, I hope it will leave you with the knowledge that you’re not alone.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-89

Episode 88: Making An Impact Through A Memorable Brand with Steph Weber

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 06:00:13 -0400

Steph Weber is a brand coach and marketing strategist that helps entrepreneurs create brands that captivate and convert to disrupt their industry. With 7 years of experience working as a brand manager, a degree in strategic communications, and the work she's poured into developing her own business, Steph helps brands gain the clarity they need to build impactful, sustainable businesses. She has a heart for adventuring and a passion for helping people make an impact through a memorable brand!In this episode, we’re talking about #momlife, entrepreneurship, and how it all fits together and why a solid support system is especially important when you’re a working parent. We also talk about Steph’s business model and how she helps entrepreneurs stand out in a crowded market and get super clear on their message to really be able to make an impact in their own unique way.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-88

Episode 87: From Freelancer to CEO with Haley Johnson

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 06:00:01 -0400

Haley Johnson is the founder of Propegy, an agency that creates marketing solutions for every stage of business and leverages the consistency of an in-house team with the flexibility of a freelancer. What’s really unique about Haley though is the huge shift she made over the past year really stepping into her power as a business owner, not “just a freelancer.”In this episode we discuss Haley’s journey from student, to freelancer trying to move out of her parent’s house, to legitimate CEO, employer, and business owner, and the shift that made all of this possible for her. Haley also shares her views on why you don’t always need a website to have a successful company (but what you do need!) and her unique way of looking for new leads for her business. Haley is an amazing example of what it looks like when you really claim who you are and who you want to be and then fully and unapologetically step into that role, and I’m so excited to share her story!For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-87

Episode 86: Elevate Your Wealth, Elevate Your Power with Lattice Hudson

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 06:00:03 -0400

Lattice Hudson is a business coach, leadership mentor, and social sales expert who is on a mission to help women make more money and increase their impact all while living a life that they love. She currently specializes in helping online coaches scale past that coveted 6-figure mark, and joins me today to share her story from the corporate world to next-level entrepreneurship.Listen in as Lattice shares how she created a 90-day exit plan from her corporate job to pursue entrepreneurship, and how she pivoted from multiple businesses to focus on coaching other entrepreneurs. We also talk about the trap of comparing ourselves to others, the game changer that allowed Lattice to have her best month ever, and the reason why she’s not pushing for a 7-figure business today (but what her next big goal is!) For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-86

Episode 85: From Business Low To the Biggest Year Yet with Katie Durski

Tue, 25 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Katie Durski is the owner and founder of Ribbon & Ink, a brand and web design agency that helps small creative businesses book their dream clients by creating purposeful and consistent branding. She started off working specifically with wedding industry professionals but has since shifted a lot of her business model, and in the past year alone has made some really big and bold moves that has allowed her to have her best business year ever.We’re talking business, kids, parenting during a pandemic, and how Katie juggled it all while growing a multi $6-figure business. Katie also shares the one major thing that really shifted her business from the brink of closing to the most successful yet in only a year and we talk about the importance of trying new things and not worrying about perfection.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-85

Episode 84: Master VIP Days with Jordan Gill

Tue, 18 May 2021 06:00:06 -0400

Jordan Gill, operations consultant and founder of Systems Saved Me, helps overworked one-woman shows become streamlined solopreneurs. Her jam is creating a cohesive operating system for managing your tasks, files, and inbox. In this episode, we’re talking allllll about VIP days - what they are, how to do them, and how Jordan used VIP days to make 6-figures in her business while working 4 days a month. Jordan also shares how you can start implementing VIP days into your business, who the best clients are to target VIP days to, and how this business model helped her to create a uniquely balanced life as a new entrepreneur.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-84

Episode 83: Designing Your Dream Team with Kira La Forgia

Tue, 11 May 2021 06:00:06 -0400

Kira La Forgia is an HR Consultant and growth strategist for women-owned businesses who helps women design a business and team that is fun to manage and puts people first (but doesn’t neglect profit!) After time in corporate sales, operations, and small business HR, she made the leap to launching her business, Paradigm Consulting, and scaled so quickly that in her first month after re-launch she hit 5-figures without a single sales page.We talk about so much in this episode, including Kira’s journey from corporate sales to small business HR to entrepreneurship, and how she managed to grow her consultancy while working full-time in a 9-to-5 job. We also talk about the ins and outs of HR for small businesses, including why HR does NOT have to be scary, and how emotions play into up-levelling your business and stepping into a CEO role.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-83

Episode 82: Going All In And Building The Business Of Your Dreams with Rae Owens

Tue, 04 May 2021 06:00:12 -0400

Rae Owens is a full stack web developer, Squarespace Pro and Circle Member, and Showit Implementer, and she works behind the scenes with web designers to do the development so they can focus on taking more projects on. She is also an Aligned Business Academy graduate who had an amazing transformation over the past year!In this episode, Rae shares why she quit her nanny job, took the leap to fully commit to her business for 90-days, and how that led her to running a 6-figure business.She’ll also be giving us the low down on what her journey looked like going from zero to consistent $10k months and how she booked herself out in the first few weeks being full-time in her business!For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-82

Episode 81: Legal Tips For Creative Entrepreneurs With Shay M. Lawson

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 06:00:11 -0400

Shay M. Lawson is an Atlanta based intellectual property and entertainment attorney and she is also my amazing lawyer who has helped me manage the many blips that have popped up along the way as I’ve scaled my business. In this episode we talk about so much, including what to watch out for as a new or established entrepreneur, what things you should be consulting with a lawyer about, and when the best time is to bring in a lawyer’s expertise. Shay also explains what a trademark is and when you should probably consider getting serious about trademarking your intellectual property.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-81

Episode 80: Infusing Magic Into Your Business with Pamela Chen and Leeza Robertson

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 06:00:11 -0400

Pamela Chen and Leeza Robertson are the queens of energy and a completely magical pair. They are Quantum Wealth Coaches for spiritual entrepreneurs and creative intuitives and have worked with hundreds of students to create a heart-centred business that they can thrive in.What makes them stand out though is how they fuse together magic and energetics with business to create aligned businesses that sell out.In this episode, we’re talking about how strategy and intuition dance together, how they use Tarot to guide them in business, and why it’s really not about what you do, it’s how you do it.For show notes and more visit: https://pinegateroad.com/podcast-80

Episode 79: I’m back! Recap Of The Last Six Months

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:16 -0400

I’m baaaack!The past six months have been hectic to say the least, and in this episode I’m bringing you up to date on all the changes that have been happening with Pinegate Road, with the Aligned Business Academy, and in my personal life.I’m also giving you a sneak peek of what you can expect from future episodes - I can promise you there is a lot of really good stuff coming, so take a listen and then stay tuned for what’s coming up!

Episode 78: My Word For 2021

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:27:21 -0500

Reflecting back on 2020, and sharing about my word for 2021. And, a big announcement! You're invited to the Becoming Conference! Learn more and register today at www.pinegateroad.com/becoming

Episode 77: Building A Dream Team With Megan Baker Of Meg K & Co

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 15:13:37 -0400

Have you caught yourself thinking: "I don't want to hit certain milestones or goals in my business... that means bringing on team, and I don't want to manage team." Or anything else that has you NOT wanting to hire team because of the work?? This episode is for you! We are sharing the common misconceptions people have around hiring team. I get it, it's a BIG next step! But... you can only raise your prices so high, and your time is always going to be limited. To seriously scale your business to next levels — you will need support. Listen in to this episode to hear from my hiring manager all about what you need to know as you go into hiring. We're going over limiting beliefs that might be holding you back, and the huge sanity savers hiring team will have for your life and your business.Did you find this helpful? We'd love if you could leave a rating and review on iTunes! Please head there now, it only takes a minute, and will help grow this show and get it in more ears :)

Episode 76: Audience Building For Online Businesses

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 07:25:58 -0400

Have you ever wondered HOW to build an audience for your online business? Building an engaged audience of potential customers is one of the main driving factors for your business' success. I'm doing a deep dive into what you need to be thinking about and implementing to build an audience that supports the growth (and sales!) in your online business.Did you find this information helpful? I'd love if you could leave a rating and review on iTunes!!

Episode 75 Behind The Scenes Of The Pinegate Road Business Model

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 06:54:36 -0400

Sharing all about the Pinegate Road business model today. If you've wondered how we've set things up to work as an agency and a coaching business, I'm diving into it all! I share about who we have on the team, how this all works, where I'm thinking of hiring next, and where I personally spend my time in the business. Hint, I work about 10h per week!

Episode 74: Making Big Decisions In Your Business

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 06:53:09 -0400

Let's travel back in time to July 2019, where I was making a HUGE decision for my life and business. I am sharing the recording from last year where I openly share about what it feels like to be in the middle of making a big decision. I'm also catching you up on how things worked out, one year later!

Episode 73 What Upper-Limiting Looks And Feels Like

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 06:29:53 -0400

Hitting your biggest goals and unsure why you're nervous, anxious, and self sabotaging? This is what happens when you've hit your upper-limit. In today's episode I'm going into what this looks and feels like as I have been hitting some upper-limits in my business.Like what you're hearing? Please take a minute to rate and review this podcast on iTunes now!

Episode 72: Creating A TRULY Aligned Life And Business

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 12:08:24 -0400

In this episode I'm going over exactly HOW you can create an Aligned Life and Business. I'm breaking down our 3-part framework to make this truly work so you can start living a life that feels amazing for YOU!Love this episode? Head to iTunes and leave a rating and review!

Episode 71 Becoming Future You

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 06:45:39 -0400

Today I'm diving into how you can start becoming the future version of you — yes, the one that has everything you want to become! This can be tough work, and I'm diving into the brain science that makes this happen. In this episode I'm sharing why becoming a new version of you is so hard, what are the biggest things you can do to start finding your way towards future you, and my favorite tips for getting going in your everyday life!Love what you hear? Please take a minute now to leave a rating and review on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aligned-business-podcast-kelsey-kerslake-pinegate-road/id1145193109

Episode 70: Welcome To Season 5, Recap Of The Last Year

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 08:22:16 -0400

Episode 70: Welcome To Season 5, Recap Of The Last Year by Kelsey Kerslake

Episode 69: Making the Most out of Your Life and Business with Rebecca Tracey

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 06:00:03 -0500

I'm sitting down today with Rebecca Tracey as my last guest for season 3 of Behind the Brand! Rebecca is the brains behind The Uncaged Life, and she shares some super methodical approaches to launching and growing an online business. We also chat about how to overcome your fears of putting all of your creative endeavors out there for the world to see and making your dreams into a reality. Check her out online at theuncagedlife.com or as always connect with us via Instagram! Enjoy!

Episode 68: Turning Your Passion into Business with Ilana Griffo

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 06:00:33 -0500

I have one of my close friends on this week, Ilana Griffo! If you're a long time listener, she has been with me on my podcast before but today she is promoting her brand new book "Mind Your Business." It's a book all about taking your creative passion and turning into a full time and successful business. We chat about the crazy process of writing and publishing a book, how to focus creative energy throughout your life, and how to really harness all of your creative potential and turn it into a successful business. Make sure to grab her new book and enjoy the episode!

Episode 67: How meditation has made my life better!

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 06:00:35 -0500

Just like the title says! My biggest win from 2018 was absolutely mediation! In today's episode I give you all a glimpse into how mediation helped me in my personal life as well as my business. We all get caught up in the craziness of every day life, but focusing our energy in a positive direction can do absolute wonders for your growing business. Enjoy!

Episode 66: Strategically Managing and Growing Your Agency with Nicole Jackson

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 06:00:35 -0500

Happy New Year everyone! I'm so excited to be back after a relaxing break to have this guest on the podcast. Her name is name is Nicole Jackson, and not only is she a business coach, she is MY coach. She has been along my side guiding and mentoring me as I built my agency and I can't say enough about her ideas, wisdom, and just overall greatness when it comes to growing a business. If you want to strategically grow your business and hear how Nicole helped me do it, this episode is an absolute must! After you listen make sure to head over to theprojectdesigner.com/agency-first-step to get a free PDF on helping you build and grow your agency!

Episode 65: Tips on Reaching Consistent 5-figure months, Plus a Bonus Q+A!

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 06:00:25 -0500

I'm so excited for the episode this week! I'm sharing some exciting news about Pinegate Road and what this business has been able to accomplish over the last year. Plus I'm sharing some tips about what you can do for your business. Spoiler alert: I'm talking about that not so dirty word...money! After I recorded this episode I also decided to do a little bonus holiday Q+A session as well! So much info this week and I'm beyond excited to share it with you guys! Enjoy!

Episode 64: Aligning Your Life and Business with Erin Lindstrom!

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 06:00:20 -0500

Today I’m talking to one of my absolute favorite people-Erin Lindstrom! On the surface Erin is a sales strategist but really she is so much more. This episode is sort of a freeform conversation with Erin and we cover everything from sales to aligning your life to help support success across all aspects of what it is you’re trying to accomplish. I feel like I learn something new everytime we talk and I’m feeling so refreshed after this convo! I hope you all enjoy and as always, feel free to connect with us via Instagram!

Episode 63: How to Build Strategies Into Your Website To Make Sure It Works For Your Business Goals!

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 06:00:24 -0500

I'm sitting down today to chat about something very near and dear to my heart as a brand and web designer-how to build strategy into your web design! Do you have a great product but you're not seeing the sales or results you'd like to see from your website? I offer some super simple tips on how to realize the full potential of your site and reach the goals that you want for your business. I could talk about this for days so make sure to reach out via Instagram if you'd like to chat more! Enjoy!

Episode 62: Sustainability in life and entrepreneurship

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 06:00:29 -0500

I’m so excited to have such a special guest with me today! Kelsey Jorissen seems like she has done it all-photographer, actor, entrepreneur...and a farmer?! Kelsey is a living example of envisioning success, following dreams, and living the life you dream of. In this episode, Kelsey shares how she got to where she is today, and how sustainable business practices can not only help transform your business but also your day to day life. I’ve learned so much from talking with her and that’s why I’m super excited for her new book coming out November 23rd! It’s available for preorder and make sure to listen until the end to catch a special offer code for Pinegate Road listeners! Head on over to www.greenwillowhomestead.com/books to grab a copy today! Enjoy!

Episode 61: How to deal with the hard stuff in business

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 06:00:08 -0500

I’m jumping on for a short episode today with Meg K the VA! We’re chatting all about boundaries and setting up parameters when it comes to your business. I know from my own experience how quickly you can feel overwhelmed and start to waste your energy away from your creative genius. Setting limits, whether it is setting up special times to respond to emails or hiring someone to manage your clients can be so beneficial. Meg offers some great insight from the managing perspective and I share what has worked for me in my business! Check it out and as always feel free to reach out to us on Instagram! Enjoy!

Episode 60: Growing Your Business With Instagram

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 06:00:33 -0400

My guest today is Instagram marketing and strategist extraordinaire, Puno! She is the founder of PeopleMap-a platform to help agencies, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and influencers track Instagram stats all in one place. I absolutely love Instagram and how I am able to connect with people and grow my business. Puno completely breaks down my Instagram feed as an example of what PeopleMap could do for your business. Who knew analysing Instagram statistics could be so informative?! Check out Puno on her Instagram page at punodostres and be sure to tune in for a PeopleMap special offer for Pinegate Road listeners! Enjoy!

Episode 59: How to scale your business

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 06:00:13 -0400

I’m delving in and covering a question I received from one of the listeners this week about scaling your business! Scaling your business is so much more than just upping your revenue or looking for different avenues of passive income. I’m talking about ways and strategies to scale your business so that you not only see increased profits but also see more free time for yourself. Because let’s face it, isn’t having freedom one of the reasons why us entrepreneurs went into business in the first place? I hope my tips and insight on ways to scale your business help, and as always head over to my Instagram page to leave a comment or start a conversation! Happy listening!

Episode 58: Making Investments for your Business

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 06:00:39 -0400

I have such a special guest chatting with me today! Rachelle Demoskoff is a fellow graphic designer, brand strategist and my very first mentee! Rachelle essentially helped me develop the Pinegate Road Academy for creative entrepreneurs. She is a perfect example of a business owner taking a leap in investing in coachings and mentorships to grow her business, and seeing her investments pay off within months. If you’re interested in hearing how Rachelle went from the 8-5 corporate grind to growing her business and brand with simply reaching out and connecting with fellow entrepreneurs for guidance, this episode is for you! If you like what you hear make sure to head over to Rachelle’s instagram page, 86thandtrend, for a special offer for Pinegate Road listeners!

Episode 57: A Big Personal Announcement! And How I'm Managing the Changes in my Business

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:00:19 -0400

In today's short episode, I fill you in on some huge updates in my life! It feels like a giant weight off my shoulders to be able to be so candid about my life and what it means for Pinegate Road as well as the clients I serve. I hope you enjoy the episode and as always, feel free to connect with me on my Instagram page!

Episode 56: Planning for Your Financial Future as an Entrepreneur

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 06:00:29 -0400

I’m sitting down to chat with Steph McKenna today, and we’re talking about financial everything! Talking about finances and money can often feel incredibly taboo, however it is anything but that with Steph. She breaks down the wall time and time again when it comes to sharing her journey through her business finances, personal finances, overcoming debt, and successfully starting her own business. Talking about this kind of stuff so candidly isn’t always done, but Steph offers her insightful expertise with a hurdle we all encounter. Enjoy the show!

Episode 55: How to Name Your Business, and the Story Behind the Name Pinegate Road

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 06:00:09 -0400

This week I'm discussing a topic that can be so simple yet so painstakingly hard...coming up with a name for your business! I'm in Boulder, Colorado this week for a mastermind with Megan Baker (Meg K the VA) and we both share our stories when it came to naming our businesses. It's a short episode but loaded with tidbits of advice if you're having trouble coming up with a name or if you're thinking about rebranding your current business. Enjoy!

Episode 54: Creating copy that sells for your online presence

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 06:00:16 -0400

Today we’re tackling the topic of copy when it comes to your online business with copywriter extraordinair Christine Blubaugh! Is your product great? Is your design on point? Well the next step is having succinct and engaging copy reaching your clients out there in this crazy online world. We talk about how successful copy guides readers through a journey and allows you to build relationships organically with prospective clients. Christine reveals what makes good copy successful, mistakes to be avoided, and what to look for in a copywriter if you’re in the search for your business. If you’re interested in our chat today, head to her website (http://christineblubaugh.com/5steps) and check out her free guide: “5 Steps to Copy that Stands Out & Sells.” Thanks for listening!

Episode 53: Defining Your Target Audience To Uplevel Your Business

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 06:00:16 -0400

In this episode I’m talking all about finding your target audience and the importance when it comes to the success of your business. I share with you my experience in defining my target audience and how it will help you not merely sell your product, but sell transformations to your clients. A target audience is so much more than a simple demographic or statistic-and today I go over what you can do to pinpoint a target audience and provide exact solutions for them! If you enjoy this episode head over to my Instagram page and join in on the conversation!

Episode 52: Learning how to sell your products or services as a business owner, with Eryn Morgan

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 10:50:02 -0400

Today we’re talking all about sales! Does the idea of sales give you that pit in your stomach when it comes to you and your business? I’m sitting down with success strategist and business coach Eryn Morgan to demystify the process of making sales calls, how to reframe your energy when approaching the sales process, and how to make an honest connection with your clients. Eryn is an absolute master when it comes to this topic and I’ve gained so much from working with her. If you like what you hear, make sure to check out her upcoming event, Evolution Live by going to www.erynmorgan.com/evolution-live

Episode 51: Working through the messy middle of entrepreneurship

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 16:22:00 -0400

In this episode, Megan Baker and I are sharing our own in-the-moment insights into what it looks like to work through the messy middle of entrepreneurship. The messy middle is that space where you feel like every day could either be an up or a down, and you're stretching your business and your mindset daily to reach your big dreams. Working towards growing a sustainable business and getting to that next level takes work. We usually only hear about people's stories once they've made it to that next place. Today we're sharing a candid insight into where we're at while we work towards our goals in entrepreneurship.

Episode 50: Running and Intuitive Business with Liz White

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 08:36:05 -0400

Today we're diving deep into what it's like to run and intuitive business. Does that sound confusing but intriguing? You're going to want to check this episode out. Today I'm talking with Liz White — a spiritual business coach who has completely changed her business and life by getting into alignment personally and bringing her business with her along this journey. If you've been feeling disconnected from your business, or wishing it were more fun or easy — this episode is for you!If you like the show, please head to iTunes and leave a rating and review. This helps us bring more of this content to you.

Episode 49: The one phrase that enables huge transformation in your life and business

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 10:22:41 -0400

Welcome to the start of Season 3 of Behind the Brand! In this episode I'm catching you up on what has been going on since we last aired. I'm also going over the one phrase that has completely transformed my life and business. This is a phrase and a mindset that I have been using for years to get things done and make seemingly impossible things become my reality. Listen in to see what this phrase is and how you can apply it in your own life and business to make your dreams possible!

Episode 48: Moving from a Studio to an Agency Business Model, Pinegate Road updates for 2018!

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 09:40:11 -0500

In this episode, CEO and Founder of Pinegate Road, Kelsey Kerslake goes live to share about the changes that have been happening behind the scenes with the business. She'll discuss the shifts that have been happening over the past several months, and the new direction the agency is heading in for 2018 and beyond.

Episode 47: Feeding Your Creativity As a Business Owner with Jenni Heffernan Brown

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 10:51:48 -0400

We are so excited to have Jenni Heffernan Brown on the show today! Jenni is a founder at Prim’d Marketing. Prim’d is a brand strategy shop in San Francisco that helps brands write compelling stories about what’s true for them and connecting their stories with great customers! It is so fun to talk to another mastermind from a brand strategy studio! Both Pinegateroad and Prim’d got their start while we were in grad school and we both have our Masters in Fine Arts. Listen in to hear our similarities and Jenni’s journey as a creative entrepreneur as how she feeds her creativity! Topics we cover:— How Prim’d Marketing came to be — How to find your voice with podcasting and blogging— Finding collegiality — Being an artist and creating for the sake of creating and for fun— Balancing art and client work and creating without deadlines — The stages of business from its conception to adolescence and beyond — Offerings for clients at different stages of their businesses— How to support Clients new in their businesses as a brand strategist and designer— Prim’d’s Golden Hour offering for new clients and Pinegateroad’s First Steps to Freelance offering for new clients — The importance of data and science in branding— How it’s okay to start working before you have the shiny website and marketing plan— Going through the brand plan process as the brand strategist and finding brand values— How brand values evolve but the core essence stays the same throughout a brand’s life—How Jenni and business partner, Sophie, have fun with their clients with their Newsletter — Applying business values and strategies to your marriage

Episode 46: Starting your Freelance career with Megan Baker

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 21:36:24 -0400

Build A Booming Brand alum, Megan Baker, is on the show today! She is my best friend and just now jumping into creative entrepreneurship and her freelance career. Megan talks about her transition from her former job to becoming an entrepreneur and the steps she took. She also talks about her branding work with Pinegateroad. Topics we cover:— Life before freelance— Making the leap from a full-time job to entrepreneurship— Navigating the workforce and questioning “is this normal work stuff/issues or not?"— How Megan got started— Finding tips on Facebook Groups— How Megan decided to become a virtual assistant— Megan’s experience with Build a Booming Brand— The importance of branding and finding a brand’s core values— A couple of trade secrets from the Build a Booming Brand Course— The beauty, fun, and nerdiness of strategic branding— Figuring out your core values and how you want to build it out into your business— How Megan built out her brand using the course and then how Pinegateroad took that information to build an awesome website— Using values generated from the Build a Booming Brand course and easily finding designs that fit your brand— Tips for other people starting out— Dealing with rejection and learning from itThe importance of separating yourself from your product and not linking your business to your self-worth— The importance of building a support network—Bullet Journals and not letting perfectionism ruin them and using the mantra “Better Done Than Perfect” with bullet journaling

Episode 45: Pivoting in your freelance career with Juliet Meeks

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 21:32:12 -0400

We have Juliet Meeks on the show today! She is an awesome brand and surface pattern designer in New Orleans. Juliet tells us about her creative journey of originally majoring in English, finding graphic design, working full-time, and then launching her business! While she still does branding work for her clients, Juliet continued to cultivate her passion of surface design and watercolor. She pivoted her focus now offers and pattern making to clients, and created a fabric pattern available this fall at Cloud9 Fabrics! She and I can relate to the first difficult months of having your own design business and what we still struggle with as creatives. We also chat about finally finding our groove as a creative business owner, how our business are evolving, and striking a balance of work and personal life. Topics we cover:— Juliet’s evolution from being an evolution to a graphic designer — How Juliet went from working in print media to working for herself as a surface designer— How Juliet went from brand design to her passion of surface design— Working through the difficult first months of entrepreneurship — Finally hitting your groove— Figuring out the ideal schedule or not having a schedule— Transitioning from branding work full-time to surface work— How the 100 Day Project inspired Julia with pattern design with painting every day — Juliet’s tips and tricks for drawing florals— Kelsey and Juliet’s processes for patterns and hand lettering — How to get inspiration from daily life— Juliet’s online courses on Skillshare— Living out your values with your business— Finding time to unplug from work, especially on vacation!— Separating self-worth from client feedback on work— Understanding that your work is an object and not an extension of yourself, and how hard it is to think of it that way— Naming a business as your own name or a different name— Getting to a point of picking and choosing clients and referring other designers— Pitching yourself and putting yourself out there— Juliet’s favorite things, and our mutual appreciation of train rides

Episode 44: One Year of Running a Creative Business, with Kelsey Kerslake

Sun, 23 Jul 2017 21:45:13 -0400

Today going over my first year of running a creative business full-time! I’m going over what what I learned and what the first year looked like being a full-time entrepreneur. Retrospect is proving to be a very good teacher. While it’s been a great year, have a listen to my year in overview and what I learned from hiring experts when you need them and making self-care a priority.Topics we cover:— First year of going into business full-time and being your own CEO— Financial Advice for the first year — Hiring out Help— Importance of Planning — Differentiating yourself and your business— Hiring a Business Coach— Hiring experts to help you as a person, not just the business— My self-care and health journey with an auto-immune disease— Self-care routines and rituals like meditating and journaling and initiative eating— How creating a schedule as a freelancer helps ensure self-care and a successful business— Lowlights and Highlights of the year (and not the kind you get at the hair salon)

Encore Episode: Business Coaching 101 with Eryn Morgan

Fri, 14 Jul 2017 15:57:22 -0400

Could hiring a business coach be the next step in unleveling your business? Eryn Morgan is a business and marketing specialist through her business Eagle + Mouse. She really built her business around relationship building and she has great advice for being really intentional about this when it comes to marketing your business in a non-sleazy way. If you’re thinking about hiring a business coach or are wondering what a business coach can do for you, Eryn provides a lot of clarity on this. And she also talks about the limitations of group programs and when one-to-one support might be the right next step.Topics we cover:— How Eryn built up experience with the ins and outs of self-employment before fully striking out on her own— The experience of her husband’s illness that helped Eryn clarify it was time to do her own thing— The length of time it took for both of us to find some semblance of balance after starting to work from home— How her business name, “Eagle + Mouse” represents the in-depth services Eryn offers her clients— The boundaries that she sets with her clients and the structure she’s created to set up her ideal days— Managing periods of hustle and dividing up the types of work you do in a given month— My core values and what I’m doing to prioritize them on a day-to-day basis— Nurturing the relationships you already have as the most effective way to market your business— A simple mindset shift for people who don’t want to be “sales-y”— Knowing that you’re ready to hire a business coach and what to look for in a coach— The benefits and limitations of group coaching programs— Eryn’s advice for hiring a course and getting over your financial doubts— The mindset and self-care practice that she does every morning— Thoughts on finding more fulfilling and supportive work for those struggling in the education field

Encore Episode: Opening a brick mortar store, Liz Maute Cooke of Lionheart Prints

Sun, 09 Jul 2017 17:12:26 -0400

Are you curious how people expand their businesses to open a brick and mortar shop? Liz Maute Cooke of Lionheart Prints explains her journey from creating her prints as a fun hobby to building it up to where it is today. She now has a storefront in New Orleans that you can go visit and shop from in-person. Liz goes really in-depth about how she actually built Lionheart Prints and she has great insights into what it takes to be successful with a product-based business.Topics we cover:— How Liz’s obsession with MS Paint (eventually) evolved into her full-time career— Her experience of attending the Stationery Academy and what she learned that helped her begin putting together a cohesive brand— The simple creative project she started on an airplane that helped her find her specific style— How Liz’s business grew so that it became her full-time gig— What prompted Liz to open her brick and mortar shop and what that process looked like— The ins and outs of exhibiting at trade shows— What Liz is doing to support her conception journey— Our goals for 2017

Encore Episode: Bullet Journaling and Switching Careers with Kate Baird

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:47:57 -0400

Who is into bullet journaling? Are you wondering what that is? Today I have Kate Baird on the show, and she will be sharing about how she uses bullet journaling to keep up with so many different things going on in her life. Kate is also sharing about her journey going from architecture, to web design, and finally finding her favorite career in real estate. If you are thinking about switching up careers, have switched up careers, or are just wanting to try new hobbies that are outside the realm of what you normally do, this is a great episode for you to listen to. Kate is amazing at trying out new things, and going with the flow. I think we can all learn something from how she goes about moving towards the next steps in her life.topics we cover:— Kate's past and how it has influenced where she is today in her career— Learning about the realities of going into a certain educational program. What you thought the program would be like, and what it was actually like.— Starting a blog, and how that can transition into new passions and possibly even a career.— Doing contract work through another company as a means to grow expertise and eventually go out on your own.— How blogging can be a way to process your life— Starting new things, and how that can add value to your life and happiness— All about bullet journaling! CLICK TO 32:58 in the show if you just want to listen about bullet journaling.— How to go from 'knowing' about bullet journaling to doing it yourself— Tip from Kate: search #bulletjournal for ideas on twitter, pinterest, and instagram!

Episode 43: Legal 'Mistakes' To Fix Now, That Cost You Later With Autumn Witt Boyd

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 13:00:45 -0400

Today we have Autumn Witt Boyd on the show. Autumn is an attorney who started her own practice. Her passions in Trademark and Intellectual Property inspired her to go to work for herself when she didn’t see that particular role at other firms. Like so many of us, she decided to work for herself to help other entrepreneurs! Not only is Autumn a legal wizard but she also does business consulting and advising. She’s also here to share advice and potential pitfalls as a business owner. She works specifically with creative entrepreneurs— listen to our conversation to hear about her why and to get some interesting and helpful insight for your business!Topics we cover:— The Why Behind Autumn’s Business And What She Offers Her Creative Entrepreneur Clients— The Differences Between Being a Soul Proprietor and an LLC— What To Consider When Expanding Your Team And Doing It the Right Way— There Are Serious Fines and Penalties If Your Classifying Your Employees the Wrong Way— Finding Guiding Values And Resources For Finding Desired Feelings— Growing With Your Clients Using Core Values And Choosing Your Clients— Little Things To Do Now That Have A Big Impact: — Contracts and What to Include and Leverage With Intellectual Property — Naming Businesses and Products and Trademark Law— Potential Legal Pitfalls — Advice for Digital Products — When To Seek Legal Advice— Saying No and FOMO

Encore, Episode 7: Health and Wellness for the 9-5 Grind, & a Whole 30 with Jessica Baker

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 09:39:01 -0400

Cheers to our most listened to episode of all time! This week we are sharing a top episode from our archives. Episode 7 has been downloaded more than twice the amount that any other episode has, and it's for good reason! No matter if we are working a 9-5, side-hustling to make that our full-time job, or working full-time at our own business, healthy eating and taking care of yourself can be a tricky something to do. In this episode, Jessica shares her experience with the Whole 30, and I do as well! We go into how to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle when you're working a 9-5, and what that looks like for each of us: Jessica working the 9-5, and Kelsey (the host) working full time at home on her own business.

Episode 42: Love Your Life and Biz with Marian Mellen of The Zen Bird

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:00:44 -0400

Today we have Marian Mellen on the show to talk about how to grow your business and live the life that you love. Marian has grown her brand and business to bring positivity and authenticity to women’s lives. She cultivated her passion and skills of teaching and her why as a business owner. She talks about how she started her business Zen Bird and expanded to her Heart and Soul Workshops. We had a heart and soul connection in this episode as we went deeper with things that I didn’t even realize was going on in my life.Topics we cover:— Going deeper into the Why behind our businesses— How to cultivate more authentic conversations and friendships and more meaningful questions to ask— Sharing deeper elements of yourself to your clients and the world— How, as people, we are constantly branding ourselves— Valuing simplicity and how it helps us focus on authenticity and self-love — Rituals of self-love and self-care and the benefits of minimalism— Using tools to pull ourselves out of negative self-talk and to grow business— Going back to our core values, whether personal or business, and defining what success looks like to different people— Challenges of growing a business and how to combat those by sticking to our core values

Episode 41: Running a business with a chronic illness with Rachel Shillcock

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 12:15:53 -0400

Today we have Rachel of Rachilli.com on the show to chat all about running your business as a creative business owner when you have a chronic illness. Rachel has been working through her illness for the past several years after being diagnosed, and I have also been working through two of my own in the past two years. Instead of getting down about this, we are sharing our tips and tricks for living a vibrant life and running a thriving business even when our health seems to try and take over.Topics we cover:— How Rachel and I both started our businesses, and why we chose the careers we did— How Rachel began working from herself after working in an agency and getting diagnosed with a chronic illness and how that effected that time in her life— The grieving process that you go through when being diagnosed with a chronic illness— Managing your business when you have a chronic illness— What Rachel is doing to change up her business to manage her chronic illness— Telling your clients about your chronic illness and being upfront about the situation— Working your core values into your brand— How talking about your chronic illnesses out loud can help others— How I started structuring my business differently because of my chronic illnesses— Creating passive income and how it helps when you have a chronic illness— Marketing your business and why it's important to do more than you think you should— Showcasing your most authentic self as a business owner to build an engaged audience

Episode 40: Pushing past fear in your business to reach your goals

Tue, 30 May 2017 12:44:28 -0400

Today we have Alisha of The Alisha Nicole on the show today. She is a creative business coach and author that helps women get to the core of what they want to be doing in life, helps them reach those next big steps, and monetize their passions. In the episode today, she shares all about how she started her business, why your story is so important to share and how you can share it in a way that helps you connect with your audience, and how learning to push past fear is KEY as an entrepreneur.Topics we cover:— How The Alisha Nicole started — from jewelry shop to coaching business— Customer service and customer experience and how important this is to running your business— How to work past fear as a creative entrepreneur, and how to use it to impact your business in a positive way— How to differentiate yourself in your business' industry— Becoming an expert in your industry— How to work through your inner fears and doubts— How Alisha went through a point where she tried to be too much like her competitors, and not enough like herself. She shares about how this felt and how she worked through changing this in her business.— How to build your personal story into your brand and how that helps you differentiate your business in a crowded marketplace.— How to know when you're ready to work one-on-one with someone, like a coach or a brand designer— The best marketing push for getting new clients— Consistency is everything

Episode 39: You are your business' biggest resource. Learning self-care with Amy Kuretsky

Sun, 14 May 2017 21:43:31 -0400

Amy Kuretsky is an acupuncturist and health coach based in Minneapolis Minnesota. She works with clients all over the world to collaborate with them to find their health routines and to find their ultimate version of self-care. Amy believes that you are your business' ultimate resource, and practicing and devoting yourself to a health and self-care routine is the most effective way to run a better business. Without your health, you have nothing! Today, Amy shares a little about her journey — from battling Chron's Disease, to starting her acupuncture and health coaching business. She shares so many wonderful insights into what taking care of yourself looks like, how you can get started, and how to run your health as well as you run your business.

Episode 38: Running a passion-based business with Megan Gilger of the Fresh Exchange

Sun, 07 May 2017 23:06:23 -0400

This week we are chatting with Megan Gilger of the Fresh Exchange. We are talking to her about how she has been transitioning her business over the past couple years, how that has been going, and how to live a life that you love. Her and her husband have lived out their twenties building their business and traveling the world. Over the past couple years they have slowed down, had a baby, and are now in a place in their lives where they are truly building the life that they can see themselves living for the next decade. They are also focusing on living a happy life — where they are at on a daily basis. Instead of focusing on MORE: more money, more traffic, more engagement, etc. They have decided what success means to them, and they are living that out on a regular basis. If you're ready for a down-to-earth conversation about building a business and working towards enjoying your daily life, this conversation is for you.

Episode 37: Creating a niche in a crowded industry with Emily Roggenburk

Mon, 01 May 2017 07:47:55 -0400

Emily Roggenburk is a local photographer here in Cleveland. She’s really taken that locality and made it something that’s a big part of her business. While photography might seem like it’s a really saturated market, I love Emily’s story because she took photography and asked herself, “What aren’t people doing with photography? What can I do with photography? What can I leverage that is unique to me, unique to where I’m living, and unique to certain situations going on in the world?” This is a really cool example of getting creative with your niche and I’m sure this episode will offer you a lot of inspiration for niching down your own business whether you have a geographic focus or not.Topics we cover:— Being a local entrepreneur— Emily’s journey from working in corporate America to becoming a self-employed photographer— The incredible story of how she got into aerial photography (it involves an impromptu helicopter ride!) and honed in on the niche of her business— The process Emily went through to go from feeling confused about branding to getting clear on her why and her brand— How she branched out with her business to encompass other cities— The guiding values that Emily follows both in her personal life and in business— How she has dealt with uncertainty and elements of the unknown when starting her business— Identifying your weaknesses and outsourcing work that is not in your zone of genius— Staying focused in your business when you’re a jack of all trades— Scheduling your time in order to stay on top of things— The differences between our expectations and the reality of self-employment— Taking care of your mental health and your energy levels as an entrepreneur— Don’t forget to go to Audibletrial.com/PinegateRoad and sign up for your free trial

Episode 36: Creating a compelling website with Meghan Hartman of Crafting Creative

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 04:02:42 -0400

Meghan Hartman is the owner of Crafting Creative, a studio that builds websites that convert visitors into dream clients. She has done a fantastic job of writing copy that sells her products and services. Meghan is not necessarily a copywriter - even though she’ll do that for you - but she’s a user experience designer. She switched from UX design to web design and has written fantastic copy for her website, as well as her clients’ websites. In this episode she talks about this transition and offers her tips for crafting fantastic websites on SquareSpace. It’s a great peek at her life, style, and systems.

Episode 35: Building and niching a food photography business with Sarah E. Crowder

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 04:03:38 -0400

Sarah Crowder is a food photographer based out of New York City. She has grown her business in some really cool ways over the past couple of years and throughout this journey she has also really solidified her offerings and where she wants to niche herself in the food blogging industry. I’m really excited to share her journey with you today as she has a lot of great insight into gaining focus and clarity in your business.

Episode 34: What it's really like to rebrand your business with Ashley Pardo

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 06:03:13 -0400

What is it really like to rebrand your business? Ashley Pardo is a certified nutritional therapist and she’s also a Pinegate Road client! Over the past several months Ashley and I have been working together to launch her new brand. She’s transitioned her business from being “The Grizzly Kitchen” to operating under her own name and we’ve done everything from working through her brand visioning to creating her new experience design, logo, website, and social media strategy. This episode will give you a sense of what it’s like to work with Pinegate Road but also more generally what it’s like to go through a rebranding process. You’ll also gain insights into the impact this can have on you personally, such growing your confidence. Ashley offers a really clear “before and after” snapshot that will help you determine whether hiring a graphic designer is right for you. She also shares her process of working with clients and helping them have a happier, more intuitive relationship with food.

Episode 33: Creating a brand when you're just starting out with Kelsey Kerslake

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 05:09:23 -0400

Is your business brand new? Rather than going behind the scenes of one brand today, I’m giving you my top tips and tricks for building your brand if you’re just starting out. If you’re interested in getting your name out there, getting those first clients, and starting your first business, this episode is perfect for you. But even if you’re further along in your business, this advice will be great for thinking about how you run your business. Once you have these things set, then you can really start to experiment more and grow your business while building really solid foundations for yourself.

Episode 32: Building your business slowly and sustainably with Kelsey Kerslake

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 06:07:08 -0400

This week we have a very special episode of Behind the Brand — we are going behind the Pinegate Road brand! I wanted to take this time early on in the show to give you a general understanding of how I have built the Pinegate Road brand over the past several years, go into our own core values, and our BIG WHY behind the studio. If you're building a business of your own, are interested in behind the scenes of business building, or generally want to know more about my vision for the studio and how it's grown over the years, this episode is for you! Also, if you're thinking about a new brand or any kind of refresh for your business, this episode will give you some good things to think about and reflect on to know if you're in the right space to take things to the next level.

Episode 31: Building solid brand foundations with Maura Day

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 07:52:39 -0400

Are you brand’s foundations in place? This episode is with Maura Day, founder of design studio MDRNHAND who is also a surface designer at Crate & Barrel. We’re going behind-the-scenes into how she started to create her own company, as well as into details about what it’s like to be a smaller part of a large, corporate brand. By looking at both her business and the corporation she works for we’re really able to examine the basics of what branding really is and why setting solid foundations is so critical to everything else that you do. We’ll look at some different ways you can do this and how it will set you up for success.

Episode 30: Building a "hustle-free" business with Amanda Loveland

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 09:48:23 -0500

Do you know what your core values are? Amanda Loveland is a business coach for women in their 20s and 30s who want to make a difference in the world and make money while doing it. In this episode she talks about how she solidified her brand’s why and core values and what a difference that made to the energy of her business. We also dive deep into what it means to build a “hustle-free” business so that your business can grow and make money without requiring your constant presence. Amanda has fascinating insights into why making more money isn’t always going to make you more successful. This episode is perfect for anyone who wants to build a business based around their values and that fits the life they want to live.

Episode 29: Building your business around your LIFE, with Chelsea Hibbard

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 07:27:23 -0500

Is your business supporting the lifestyle you want? With her company, Get Polished, Chelsea Hibbard creates beautiful, branded templates for Blogger and Wordpress. She works with a developer to make these integrations awesome and easy to use. Chelsea has done an amazing job of building her business around her life, rather than the other way around. I think many of us want our businesses to support the lifestyle that we want to have so that we can put our life first, but that’s sometimes easier said than done. Chelsea is such a great example of this and has great insights into how we can make our business work with our life instead of against it.

Episode 28: Making and Marketing Social Movements with Ashley Beaudin

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 04:35:24 -0500

Do you ever worry that everyone else has it all figured out and you don’t? Ashley Beaudin is the founder and creator of The Imperfect Boss, a social media movement of people sharing some of the imperfections behind their businesses. In a world where people mostly share their perfect moments and highlight reels, it’s really refreshing to hear some of these stories and understand that we’re not alone in the messier sides of our businesses. Ashley is an expert at building community through social media and has great advice for putting yourself out there, making movements, and working towards your dreams.

Episode 27: Finding your personal style with Megan Moran

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 05:10:58 -0500

Are you struggling with your personal style? It’s an area of my life (and really, my business) that I’ve been neglecting for the past few years which is why I’m especially excited for today’s episode. I really wanted to talk about personal style in relation to finding your happiness in your life and growing your business, alongside tips and tricks for finding your personal style if you’re in a place of transition or just need to figure out your personality when it comes to what you put on your body. Megan Moran is a Cleveland native and she has so much great advice for finding your personal style. She is the owner of The Style Foundry Cleveland and she runs a mobile boutique out of a truck that she brings to special events and personal styling appointments.

Episode 26: Building a Confident Business with Kelsey Cronkhite

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 05:25:59 -0500

What does life look like six months into running my business? That’s what I’m going to be sharing with you in today’s episode. Also, because it’s the beginning of the year I wanted to talk about my word of the year and how I’m building that into my business. This was a really good chance to catch up with all of you and I’m also sharing my insights about growing a confident business. These are the strategies and ideas I’m experimenting with this year and they might be helpful for you too!

Episode 25: Opening a brick and mortar store, with Liz Maute Cooke of Lionheart Prints

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:51:50 -0500

Episode 24: Managing your finances like a boss with Jenny Karlsson

Mon, 02 Jan 2017 05:59:47 -0500

Are you planning to get your financial life sorted out in 2017? Today's guest is Jenny Karlsson and she is a pet photographer turned financial coach for creatives. Before starting her business she got an MBA which gave her a really solid foundation to build on. She talks about the very thorough process she went through to set herself up financially before taking her pet photography full-time. Jenny has great advice for managing your finances to take your side hustle full-time or for creating a budget for your creative business so that you can pay yourself more. If you’re ready to put proper financial systems in place this year, this episode will be very helpful for you.

Episode 23: Visual Problem Solving with Emily Marko

Mon, 26 Dec 2016 08:29:24 -0500

Do you struggle to keep track of everything for your business and personal life? Emily Marko is a Visual Problem Solver. Emily began her career in corporate graphic design but when she was introduced to the world of “graphic recording” and “visual practitioners,” she was instantly hooked. Eventually she started her own business and developed processes to help her clients solve problems, capture ideas, build action plans and share stories by creating visual representations of complex idea. Emily has great advice for using visuals to help sort out the clutter in your mind and also for helping to achieve your goals. I’ve already started using the tips she offers and have found them really helpful for cutting through overwhelm and getting organized.

Episode 22: Business Coaching 101 with Eryn Goldman

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 06:00:04 -0500

Could hiring a business coach be the next step in unleveling your business? Eryn Goldman is a business and marketing specialist through her business Eagle + Mouse. She really built her business around relationship building and she has great advice for being really intentional about this when it comes to marketing your business in a non-sleazy way. If you’re thinking about hiring a business coach or are wondering what a business coach can do for you, Eryn provides a lot of clarity on this. And she also talks about the limitations of group programs and when one-to-one support might be the right next step.

Episode 21: Social media, marketing, and working for corporations with Autumn Hachey

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 05:12:15 -0500

Do you want to live a creative life while working a corporate job? Autumn Hachey does content marketing for Leon’s Furniture and she got to where she is without a degree or much experience. Her story is proof that if you have a big dream, then tenacity, creativity, and hard work will help you get there. She has great advice for turning your corporate job into your dream job and creating compelling content marketing for your business.

Episode 20: Making the transition from service-based business to passive-income with Kelsey Baldwin

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:26:20 -0500

Are you looking to create more passive income in your business? Kelsey Baldwin of Paper + Oats built up her business from a design studio to a product shop and now she sells courses full-time. In this episode we talk about why she decided to start building courses, and how she differentiates herself in the market. She’s also a single mom raising her daughter by herself while doing all of this, so we got into that as well. If you have a family, are looking to start a family, want to learn more time management, or just figure out how to work in a flow that works for your body, this will be a great episode for you as Kelsey offers a lot of tips based on how she’s making it work in her life.

Episode 19: How to run a freelance design business with Jess Levitz

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 08:36:39 -0500

Are you curious about how other designers run their freelance business? Jess Levitz os one of my mastermind members and a hand letterer extraordinaire! She’s the owner of June Letters Studio and also started the inspiring FreelanceWisdom.com website. We sat down to have an in-depth conversation about her journey working for brands to transitioning into freelancing. Jess shares really valuable insights into preparing for big life changes as a freelancer, creating stability in your freelance business, and getting started with hand lettering.

Episode 18: Anxiety and the creative journey, with Ciara Sames

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 06:00:37 -0500

Are you a creative entrepreneur who struggles with anxiety? Ciara Sames and I have been blog friends for a really long time. This episode is a little bit different; we recorded the first half live together at Designer Vaca, but then Ciara had some really cool things start happening after that conference. She began making some really big life changes and we wanted to update you on all of that. In the Designer Vaca portion of the episode, we go into a conversation that we had off-camera and thought was really important to share - even though it makes me nervous. We both share about our experiences with anxiety and what we’ve done to help ourselves feel better. And then in the second half, we really go into the changes that Ciara is going through since Designer Vaca and how these conferences can really change your perspective and your life.

Episode 17: How to incorporate personal development into your days with Brad Mulvey

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 06:05:33 -0500

Do you want to incorporate personal development into your daily life? Brad is another local Cleveland podcaster and we met recently at a networking event that I mentioned in a previous episode. We sat down to talk about his journey with personal development, how he started his podcast, and the intentional choices he’s making around how he wants to live his life. Brad has a sales background, so if you’re somebody who, like me is creative and knows that you need to up your sales game, he has some awesome tips for you.

Episode 16: Finding the Courage to Forge Your Own Path with Meg Sheeley

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 06:13:13 -0500

Forging your own path will make you happier than listening to what anyone else thinks you should be doing. That’s a major takeaway from my interview with Meg Sheeley, the founder of Summerfield Delight and SquareSpace Design Guild. Meg and I have had similar journeys in our careers, even attending the same design school although she studied online and I was in the in-person program. She shares so many powerful insights for staying true to your own path and designing a career that makes you happy. I’m so excited to share it with you!

Episode 15: Becoming a virtual assistant with Sarah Starrs

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 07:10:11 -0400

Is it time to start delegating more in your business? Today’s episode is an interview with my virtual assistant, Sarah Starrs. She has an interesting journey that led her to reevaluating her priorities and values, which ultimately led to her setting up her business. We talk in-depth about our experiences of burn out, the impact it had on our lives, and the importance of doing less - and some practical ways you can make that a reality. If you’re looking to grow your business, learning to delegate is so important. Whether you’re interested in hiring a virtual assistant or want to become on yourself, Sarah has really valuable advice to share with you.

Episode 14: Owning your expertise with Jordan Brantley of The Business Bar

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 06:26:41 -0400

Do you want to solidify your brand or grow your personal brand? Jordan Brantley is the owner and founder of The Business Bar. She's a branding expert and this episode is full of insights about building the brand of your creative business. We talk about why laying strong foundations for your brand is absolutely critical for everything else you do in your business - and that that includes much more than just a logo. We also discuss how we’re both differentiating our personal and professional brands online. This episode is a long one but it’s packed full of useful advice and interesting peeks into her business journey.

Episode 13: Growing a team for your business, with Jamie Starcevich of Spruce Road

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 05:04:24 -0400

Are you ready to start growing a team for your business? I’ve always felt a real kindred connection with today’s guest, Jamie Starcevich of Spruce Road. Although she doesn’t offer web design anymore, we have somewhat similar design businesses. We talk about so many things and she shares her insights into managing teams, working from home, moving around while she grows her business, and the transition from working in-house design studio jobs to starting her own business. I also found out in this interview that Jamie is pregnant so she was able to talk about running her business while getting ready to be a mom.

Episode 12: Following your authentic path by running your own business with Caroline Winegeart

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 05:09:03 -0400

Do you want to run your business in the most authentic way possible? I’ve known Caroline for years but this is the first time I’ve talked to her in-depth about the process of running her business and how she’s gotten to where she is now. She’s able to share such amazing insights because she’s literally made it her profession to deep dive into her values and really follow her intuition. Caroline offers amazing advice for using your values to guide your business, designing the lifestyle you want, and she has really interesting ideas about why the work/like distinction is a bit of a myth for most of us. In addition, we talk about everything from naming your business to why so many creative people feel lured into the advertising industry. This is episode absolutely packed with content that I know you’re going to enjoy.

Episode 11: Changing careers & running a business while raising a family with Dondrea Owens

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 05:36:10 -0400

Do you worry about how you can juggle anything else while running your business? Dondrea Owens was an accountant before she choose to leave her job to pursue a stationery business. Stationery is near and dear to my heart as that’s what I was doing professionally in corporate America before pursuing Pinegate Road full-time and I love all things stationery. She also has two little kids so as I prep myself to have a family and build my business in a way that works for my lifestyle, I loved Dondrea’s advice and I know it will be perfect for anyone who wants to do something else while running their business.

Episode 10: Life after 8-weeks of working for yourself with Kelsey Cronkhite

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 12:33:29 -0400

Are you curious what it’s like to leave your corporate job and strike out on your own? Today’s episode is a little bit different. I didn’t want the Pinegate Road Podcast to just be interviews with inspiring people; I also wanted to share my journey of how I’m working through running my business and working from home. Episode 10 seemed like the perfect time to update you on how things have been going since I left my corporate job and started working for myself full-time. I really focus on finding your values and share the three values that have been guiding my life.

Episode 9: Running your own creative business with Ilana Griffo

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:52:24 -0400

Do you want to create a creative business based on your passions? I have a really cool guest today; you might know her as the owner and designer behind the shop Sugar & Type. She talks in-depth about how she organically grew her business over the years and how she went from freelancing to working a full-time job to now owning her own shop and running that full-time. There are a lot of parallels between our journeys and she shares really wonderful advice about creating products from an authentic place and the tips & tricks to make working from home a good experience.

Episode 8: Following your passions and growing an Instagram following with Courtney Shelton

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 04:29:10 -0400

Is they're something you want to create that you've been putting off starting? In this episode, I am talking with Courtney Shelton — the graphic designer and blogger behind Hibrid. Courtney started out in interior design but she changed course and we actually went to graduate school together. Courtney balances her design business with a full-time jobs and she shares really amazing insights into how to juggle so many things at once, while also staying active and healthy. She's a great example of "choosing yourself," as she started her blog before she felt ready and has learned and grown along the way. If you're interested in finding time for your creative projects, growing an Instagram following, developing a business model around your many passions, or are trying to figure out what's next in your business, then take a listen to hear about the tips and tricks we've learned from our experiences.

Episode 7: Whole 30 and living a healthy lifestyle while working a 9-5 with Jessica Baker

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 06:25:07 -0400

Has anyone tried doing a whole 30? In this episode, I am talking with Jessica Baker — graphic designer and all around healthy lifestyle liver. Jess and I went to undergrad together, and we took opposite paths once we graduated. I headed to grad school, and Jess went straight to working for a graphic design firm in a big city. DC to be exact. Jess shares about how it was moving to a new town alone, how she made and continues to make adult friendships, and then we both go into all things Whole 30. She did her Whole 30 in January, and I just finished mine. If you're looking for a new way to shed some light on your eating habits, and to get into a healthier lifestyle, Whole 30 might be your ticket. Take a listen to see if it's right for you, and learn about tips and tricks that helped us during our experience.

Episode 6: All about podcasting with Angel Yarde

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:42:13 -0400

If you're into podcasting, this episode is for you! In this episode, I am talking with Angel Yarde all about podcasting. Angel launched a successful entrepreneurial podcast with her co-host last year called Heart and Hustle. With this being so new to me, and podcasting becoming such a fun way for people to have a new outlet, I wanted to talk to Angel about all things podcasting. It was my hopes that between the two of us, you'll know the basics of what it takes to start a podcast, and get some inspiration for your own if you're thinking about starting one. At the very least, you'll get a behind the scenes look into how podcasts are created, hear some fun stories, and get to learn a little more about two business owners going after some of their passion projects. Enjoy!

Episode 5: Working through creative blocks with Janelle Hardy

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 12:51:33 -0400

Get ready for a huge treat. In this episode, I am talking with Janelle Hardy — an expert in creativity and so much more. While this podcast is still new, more than any conversation I've had in recent years, this one with Janelle has opened my eyes and my personal understanding of myself and my creativity more than any other. If you're a person who is wanting to use your creativity more in your life, if you're stuck in ANY part of your life, or if you're wondering about how creativity flows in other's lives — this is your episode. I personally have so many realizations about my past and how to go about my future, and I hope that the lessons Janelle shares here will help you realize some of the 'lies' you've been telling yourself and working through them to a happier future.

topics we cover:

— The stages of the creative cycle: idea generating, active creation, and then rest— How our North American culture often skips the rest stage and how detrimental that is to our creativity and flow— What happens when you skip the rest stage, and how that applied to my life with my recent transition— How our world accepts and honors extroverted qualities, and how to work through this and persevere when you're an introvert— How to accept your sensitivity and emotions and how to live life in a way where your personality will thrive— When you honor your sensitivity and creativity, the 'doing' portion of your work becomes less work and more fun. It flows.— Creative writing and its place in everyone's personal development— The negative beliefs we have about ourselves, and how to change these narratives— What being stuck in these personal lies (or myths) look like, and when to realize it and move yourself forward— When you're a type A, driven, overachieving personality type: how you can work through the negative side effects of this personality

Episode 4: Career changes and bullet journaling with Kate Baird

Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:12:40 -0400

Episode 3: My journey from art student, to corporate america, to creative entrepreneur

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 15:43:44 -0400

Today, I'm here to share about my journey. Whenever I start listening to a new podcat, or really getting into someone's blog, I love to know about them and their story. I'm hoping that this episode serves as a kind of catch-up on everything that has happened so far in my creative journey. I go from my high school years to where I am today, and how I've made choices and worked through different issues to get where I am today. I feel a little awkward one: talking about myself so much, and two: talking TO myself here, but I'm hoping that this might serve as a nice reference point for anyone who wants to learn more about the person behind the podcast.

Episode 2: Working through transitions in life and business with Maggie Waller

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 13:38:58 -0400

Today we have shop owner, lettering artist, and graphic designer Maggie Waller with us today! She is here to share about her story, and how she has worked through all kinds of transitions in her career so far. She's also going into a lot of her passions, how she has worked them into her life, and how she handles a life constantly in flux. She's also sharing about a big transition that is happening soon in her life, and how she is preparing to handle the big changes. If you are working through a big transition in your life, are considering one, or life is suddenly taking you by surprise and you're not sure how to handle it — this episode is for you!

Episode 1: An introduction

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:55:50 -0400

This episode is my first foray into podcasting. I'm sharing about my intentions for the podcast, about a recent BIG something that has happened in my life, and how I'm starting this podcast to process it. I go a little into what has been happening, and how I hope the podcast can play a part in your life as it keeps on growing. Welcome, and thank you so much for listening!