A Category of One

In this episode of A Category of One, I sat down with Paula Friedland, licensed counselor, certified life coach, actress, singer, and creator of Soul Speaks, a program she's been teaching in some form for nearly 20 years. Paula's work starts with public speaking but doesn't stay there. It opens into something most people don't expect: a practice of being fully yourself, with one person, in any room.

We talked about where Soul Speaks came from. A stand-up comedian with stage fright, a grassroots method, and Paula's own background in musical theater and therapy that she eventually stopped trying to keep separate. We got into what it actually means to find your voice versus find your words, why experienced speakers are often the hardest to teach, and what happens when a room full of people breathes together.

There's also a moment in this conversation about showers of appreciation, a practice Paula uses where an audience reflects back the essence they see in a speaker, not the content. It's about receiving. And how hard that is. And why it matters.

In this episode:

• Why finding your voice matters more than finding your words
• The Soul Speaks method: speaking to one person at a time, even in a crowd
• How the "landing breath" changes everything about presence
• What showers of appreciation reveal about self-worth and receiving
• Why experienced speakers are sometimes the hardest to reach
• How authentic networking and authentic speaking come from the same place

Connect with Paula Friedland:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/paula.friedland
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulafriedland/

Website: https://www.soulspeaks.biz/

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

Chapters:

00:00 The Birth of Soul Speaks

02:45 The Intersection of Performance and Authenticity

06:00 Transformational Experiences in Public Speaking

09:02 The Journey from Acting to Coaching

11:52 Growth Mindset and Self-Expression

14:48 The Role of Breath and Somatic Practices

17:50 Receiving Appreciation and Building Connection

21:00 The Importance of Self-Love and Positive Self-Talk

23:44 Competing in Speaking Contests

26:51 Finding Your Voice Over Your Words

29:55 Soul Speaks Salons: A New Networking Approach

Gabby Jockers is a boudoir photographer based in Colorado, but that description doesn't really cover it. What she actually does is help women figure out what's standing between them and feeling at home in their own bodies, and then create an experience built around that. Not around what a boudoir shoot is supposed to look like. Around what each person actually needs.

This conversation goes a lot of places. We talk about how Gabby built a business by asking different questions than her industry was asking: the cookie-cutter shot lists, the heavy editing, the assumption that every woman wants to feel "sexy" in the same way. We talk about body neutrality versus body positivity, and why the difference matters more than most people realize. And we talk about something Gabby brings into her work that most photographers don't: the embodiment practices that help women quiet the inner critic long enough to actually be present for the experience.

We also get into what Gabby figured out when she scaled back her bookings. More space didn't mean less. It meant more energy, more creativity, and more passion for the work itself. And why she thinks the pressure to constantly produce is something worth questioning, not just managing.

In this episode:

• Why "empowering" became a word Gabby stopped using and what she does instead
• The difference between body positivity and body neutrality, and why it matters
• How meditation and embodiment practice became part of a photo shoot
• What happens when women see their images and realize the session was for them all along
• Why your worth isn't measured by your output and how to actually live that way

Connect with Gabby Jockers:

Website: https://embodiedartboudoir.com/

The Body Deck: https://embodiedartboudoir.com/the-body-deck/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedartboudoir/

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Boudoir Photography

03:13 The Unique Approach to Boudoir

06:02 Gabby's Origin Story

12:14 Empowerment and Body Image

17:56 The Body Deck and Affirmations

25:00 Work-Life Balance and Intentional Living

Marie Mack showed up to one online networking event, and that's where Leslie met her. One time. The universe was paying attention.

In this episode of A Category of One, Leslie sits down with Marie Mack, a business strategist, partnerships expert, and operations consultant who runs two complementary businesses entirely remotely. This conversation covers a lot of ground: how Marie went from blogging in 2014 to building a partnerships methodology, why she stopped copying what worked for other people, and what it actually looks like to show up as yourself in business when the platforms and strategies everyone else is using feel flat.

Marie's two businesses reflect two sides of the same instinct. Powerful Online Partnerships (POP) helps consultants, coaches, speakers, and authors grow their visibility through strategic referral partnerships, not ad spend, not cold outreach. Her consulting firm works at the operations level inside larger companies, where she functions more like a chief of staff than a COO: getting the whole orchestra to play together.

What runs underneath both is a specific kind of thinking: the belief that abundance is the operating system, not scarcity. That a referral you send out comes back. That the right collaboration doesn't cost you a lead; it multiplies them.

In this episode:

• Why Marie tried every business model that was working for others, and why none of them fit
• What strategic partnerships actually are (and what they're not)
• How referrals, list swaps, and podcast swaps work as a visibility strategy
• The difference between a chief of staff and a COO, and why it matters
• What it takes to be ready for partnerships, and the honest signs you're not yet

Connect with Marie Mack:

Website: https://powerfulonlinepartnerships.com/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-mack/

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

Chapters:

00:00 Embracing Change: The Move to Idaho

04:57 The Power of Purging: Creating Space for New Beginnings

08:02 Building a Business Ecosystem: Marie's Entrepreneurial Journey

14:00 Finding Your Flow: The Importance of Intuition in Business

19:56 Powerful Online Partnerships: Collaborating for Success

26:53 Navigating Business Relationships: Referrals and Collaborations

31:45 Conducting Business: The Role of Operations in Success

In this episode of A Category of One, I sat down with Sadie Hessing, a curly hair specialist based in Boulder, Colorado, whose work goes far beyond hair.

This conversation started with curls, but it quickly opened up into something deeper. Sadie shares how so many people grow up seeing their hair as something to fix, and what begins to shift when that narrative changes. Not just in how it looks, but in how someone feels walking through the world.

We talk about the emotional side of hair, the identity tied to it, and why something that seems surface-level is often anything but.

Sadie also walks through how she’s built her business in a way that doesn’t follow the typical path. From evolving her services, to questioning industry norms, to continuing to learn even when there isn’t a clear roadmap to follow.

There’s also a thread throughout this conversation around transitions. Hormonal changes, aging, health shifts, even the process of growing something out or letting something go. And how much support people actually need in those in-between stages.

If you’ve ever felt like you were supposed to “fix” something about yourself to make it work, this conversation goes there in a real way.

In this episode:

• Why so many people grow up thinking their hair is a problem to solve
• What changes when you start working with your natural texture instead of against it
• The emotional and identity layers tied to hair
• Supporting people through transitions like gray hair, hormonal shifts, or post-chemo regrowth
• How Sadie built her business by questioning industry norms and continuing to evolve
• The gap in hair education and why she’s exploring trichology

Connect with Sadie Hessing:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naturescurlssalon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naturescurlssalon

Website: https://www.naturescurlssalon.com

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

00:00 Introduction 

02:39 Embracing Natural Curls: Sadie's Journey

05:33 The Emotional Connection to Curly Hair

08:33 Supporting Transitions: Hormonal Changes and Hair

11:49 Navigating Societal Expectations and Self-Expression

14:35 Innovative Ideas: Education for Parents and Eco-Friendly Practices

17:33 The Passion for Learning and Evolving in Business

20:27 The Importance of Holistic Approaches to Hair Care

23:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of A Category of One, I sit down with Danette Shaifer, a coach and certified Why Discovery facilitator through Simon Sinek’s Optimism Company, to explore what it actually looks like to get clear on your why—and then live from it.

This conversation started from a shared experience. Danette guided me through my own why discovery process, and what stood out wasn’t just the clarity—it was the permission. Permission to use language that already felt true. Permission to trust what had been there all along.

We talk about what happens when you stop “shoulding” yourself, step away from the expected path, and start making decisions from a place that feels aligned instead of prescribed.

There’s also an honest look at the in-between. The moments where things don’t feel clear. The pause that feels counterintuitive but ends up being the thing that moves everything forward.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What the why discovery process actually looks like in practice
• Why clarity often comes from someone else reflecting patterns back to you
• Leaving a successful corporate career without second guessing it
• The difference between pushing forward and taking a meaningful pause
• Letting go of what you thought your business “should” look like
• The role of intuition vs. structure in decision making
• How self-awareness shows up in both business and personal relationships
• Working through triggers instead of reacting to them
• The shift from hustle into a more intuitive way of working
• Why alignment makes decision making simpler

Connect with Danette Shaifer:

Website: https://www.florishion.com/empowher

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaiferd/

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

Chapters:

00:00 Embracing Authenticity: The Journey Begins

02:55 The Power of Why Discovery

05:54 Navigating Career Transitions

08:55 Empowering Women in Leadership

11:55 The Importance of Self-Discovery

14:49 Integrating Personal and Professional Growth

17:47 Resilience Through Adversity

20:48 The Role of Parenting in Personal Growth

24:01 Evolving as Entrepreneurs

26:51 The Power of the Pause

30:01 Embracing Feminine Energy

33:07 Connecting Generations

35:49 Calling in Women Leaders

In this episode of A Category of One, I sit down with Emily Garcia, keynote speaker and founder of Tribe Mind Body Wellness, a counseling practice that has grown far beyond what she originally set out to build.

This conversation starts with what happens when you pay attention to what’s pulling you, even when it doesn’t make logical sense.

Emily shares how her business evolved from a solo practice into a team of 16 without a traditional growth plan, what it looked like to leave a role she felt responsible to stay in, and the moment she knew in her body she had made the right decision.

We get into the tension between stability and alignment, how leadership can feel uncomfortable even as you grow into it, and why so much of what she has built came from stepping away long enough to actually hear herself think.

There’s also a deeper thread around belonging, relationships, and the idea behind “tribe” — not as a concept, but as something people are actively missing.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The moment she realized staying in her job was no longer sustainable
• Building a business without forcing a growth plan
• What it actually feels like to trust yourself in real time
• The difference between logical decisions and internal knowing
• Leadership, boundaries, and still finding hard conversations hard
• Why stepping away created clarity she couldn’t access while busy
• The role of relationships in overall wellbeing

Connect with Emily Garcia:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/emilytribemindbody

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tribemindbodywellness/

https://www.instagram.com/emilygarciaspeaks

LI: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-garcia-tribe

Website (swag too): https://tribemindbody.com/

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

Chapters:

00:00 The Power of Connection

06:50 Trusting Intuition and Embracing Change

12:35 Building a Supportive Team Culture

18:10 Creating a Holistic Wellness Approach

24:15 Expanding Beyond Therapy: Speaking and Podcasting

In this episode of A Category of One, I sit down with Maria Gabriela Guevara, an Ayurvedic practitioner and former pharmacist, to talk about what it looks like to support your body and mind in a way that actually feels sustainable.

We start in an unexpected place—Mercury retrograde, the equinox, and the feeling that something is shifting—and move into a deeper conversation about intuition, midlife, and why so many of us have been conditioned to look outside ourselves for answers.

Maria shares how her own experience with burnout, anxiety, and perimenopause led her to Ayurveda, and how that shifted not just her health, but the way she relates to her body entirely.

This isn’t about rigid rules or perfect routines. It’s about learning how to pay attention, understanding what your body is communicating, and making adjustments that support you in a more connected way.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What Ayurveda actually is and why it’s often misunderstood
• The difference between managing symptoms and understanding root causes
• Why intuition is a key part of healing (and how to reconnect with it)
• How midlife can act as an “unmasking” of accumulated habits
• The role of sleep, daily rhythms, and small practices in feeling better
• Why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies—and how to shift that
• The transition from Western medicine to a more integrative approach
• Rethinking perimenopause and aging as something to move with, not fight

We also talk about the idea of celebrating life transitions instead of quietly enduring them—and what it might look like to approach this phase of life differently.

Connect with Maria Gabriela:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/intuitive_ayurveda/
Website: https://www.intuitiveayurveda.com/starterkit

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

Chapters:

00:00 Astrology and Its Influence on Life

02:57 Intuitive Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach

06:01 Understanding Ayurveda: The Science of Life

09:06 Celebrating Life Stages: From Menstruation to Menopause

11:48 Embracing Change: The Transition into Elderhood

14:43 The Role of Community in Aging Gracefully

18:09 Self-Compassion and Acceptance in Aging

21:02 From Pharmacy to Ayurveda: A Personal Journey

23:54 The Importance of Holistic Health

27:02 Practical Steps for Integrating Ayurveda

29:53 Spring Cleansing: A Seasonal Reset

In this episode of A Category of One, I sit down with Ben Albert, owner of Balbert Marketing LLC, founder of GrowGetters ONLY, and host of the internationally recognized podcast Real Business Connections, to talk about what it actually looks like to grow a business through relationships.

This conversation moves beyond the surface-level idea of “networking.” Ben shares how people approach relationships transactionally without realizing it, and what begins to shift when you start thinking in terms of long-term, strategic partnerships.

We talk about the difference between making connections and building trust and how to create alignment so that relationships turn into real opportunities.

In this episode:

• The shift from transactional networking to intentional relationships
• What actually builds trust in business relationships
• How to follow through in a way that sets you apart
• Why relationships—not reach—drive sustainable growth

This isn’t about working the room or collecting contacts. It’s about being intentional, following through, and understanding how to show up in a way that makes people want to keep building with you.

Because the businesses that grow in a meaningful, sustainable way aren’t built on more outreach — they’re built on better relationships.

Connect with Ben Albert:

JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://WeAllGrowTogether.com/ 

Real Business Connections Podcast: https://realbusinessconnections.com/ 

​​LI:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert 

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ 

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

00:00 Introduction and Common Ground

03:16 Ben Albert's Business Ventures

06:19 The Art of Reaching Out

09:11 Building Authentic Connections

12:22 Evolving in Business and Following Intuition

15:24 Finding Your Dream Client

18:14 The Role of Grow Getters

21:16 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

23:55 The Importance of Gratitude

27:03 Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

In this episode of A Category of One, Leslie sits down with chiropractor and lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr. Rachel Kapustka to explore health, burnout, and what it actually means to heal.

Dr. Rachel’s work centers on the nervous system and the understanding that no amount of discipline, optimization, or mindset can override a body that doesn’t feel safe.

Through her own lived experience—including type 1 diabetes, kidney failure, and a life-saving transplant—she brings a deeply personal and grounded perspective to the conversation.

Together, they explore what it looks like to reconnect to your body instead of pushing it, how identity can become entangled with diagnosis, and why true healing is often more nuanced and honest than we’re taught to expect.

In this episode:

• Why your body has to feel safe before real healing can happen
• The connection between the nervous system, burnout, and chronic symptoms
• How to separate your identity from a diagnosis
• Dr. Rachel’s personal journey through type 1 diabetes, kidney failure, and transplant
• Parenting a child who was born deaf and navigating a predominantly hearing world
• Letting go of expectations and learning to trust your own path
  

This conversation is an invitation to listen more closely, to question what you’ve been told about health, and to consider what becomes possible when you stop trying to override your body—and start working with it instead.

Connect with Dr. Rachel Kapustka:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drrachelkapustka/

https://www.instagram.com/realmchiropractic/

Website: https://www.realmarvada.com/

Connect with Leslie Silverman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Rachel Kapuska

05:01 Personal Journey and Health Philosophy

09:54 The Impact of Kidney Transplant on Practice

14:56 Holistic Approach to Health and Healing

19:57 Nutrition and Coaching in Health

24:58 Empowerment Through Personal Experience

26:01 Navigating Parenting in a Hearing World

27:00 The Journey of Acceptance and Learning

30:22 Community and Support in Parenting

32:31 Choosing Communication Methods

34:29 Trusting Intuition in Parenting Decisions

36:17 Resilience and Advocacy in Sports

37:58 Finding Gifts in Unique Experiences

39:26 Shifting Perspectives for Growth

What if scaling your business didn’t require hiring a team, working more hours, or chasing endless clients?

In this episode of A Category of One, Leslie Silverman sits down with entrepreneur, author, TEDx speaker and NoBS Mastery founder Pia Silva to talk about a different way to build a business centered on expertise, leadership, and freedom.

Pia shares the philosophy behind her new book Scale Solo and the model she teaches to agencies and expert-based businesses who want to grow to $250K–500K+ without employees.

Leslie and Pia explore why so many service businesses undervalue their expertise, how leading clients creates stronger relationships, and why charging for strategy instead of free proposals can completely change your business. This conversation is about confidence, ownership, and stepping fully into your role as the expert.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why trust, leadership, and process are the three pillars of great client relationships

• The LP Method and why you should stop giving away free proposals

• How selling outcomes instead of hours transforms your business model

• What it really takes to scale a solo expert business with freedom

If you're a consultant, creative, strategist, or service-based entrepreneur who wants to do meaningful work without building a big team, this episode will challenge the way you think about growth.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Pia Silva and Her Journey

01:57 The Concept of Scale Solo and Its Importance

03:00 Three Pillars of Business: Trust, Leadership, and Process

08:58 The LP Method: A New Approach to Client Engagement

16:11 Building Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

25:57 Quality Over Quantity: The Value-Based Selling Approach

32:48 The Evolution of Pia's Book Cover and Personal Branding

Connect with Pia:
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piapiasilva/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/pialovesyourbiz/

Website: https://www.nobsmastery.com/

Book: https://scalesolobook.com/
FREE Masterclass on March 24, 2026 Register here:

https://join.nobsmastery.com/scale-solo-masterclass?am_id=leslie2601

Connect with Leslie Silverman:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman

Website: https://lesliesilverman.com

Hive180 Branding Agency: https://hive180.com