Ever wish you could eavesdrop on a candid conversation among seasoned podcasters? I recently participated in a roundtable discussion at Mic Check Retreat with an incredible group of podcasters. We jumped into the real stories behind our shows—the triumphs, the hurdles, and the unexpected lessons that come with the territory.

In this honest, heartwarming, and somewhat entertaining conversation about what it actually looks like to be in the thick of podcasting, we share how podcasting is changing the way we show up in business and life.

Meet the Podcasters:

Bree Pair: instagram.com/thrivetogetherblog

Thrive Podcast for Content Creators: thrivetogether.blog/podcast

Bret and Brandie: instagram.com/bretandbrandie

Christi Johnson: instagram.com/christijohnsoncreative

The Dream Biz Podcast: christijohnsoncreative.com/podcast

Claire Kellems: instagram.com/clairekellems_

The Ultra Aligned Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ultra-aligned-podcast

Colie James: instagram.com/coliejames

Business-First Creatives coliejames.com/podcast

Nata Salvatori: instagram.com/accidentalceo.co

Accidental CEO: accidentalceo.co/podcast

Octavia Elease: instagram.com/octaviaelease

Success On Paper Podcast: octaviaelease.com/podcast

Quianna Marie: instagram.com/quiannamarie

Quianna Marie Weekly: quiannamarie.com/podcast

Mentioned In This Episode: 

The Podcast Growth Program: gaffincreative.com/growth

Get on the waitlist for Mic Check Retreat: gaffincreative.com/retreat

Accidental CEO Episode 51: accidentalceo.co/mini-moguls

MowPod: mowpod.com

Mic Check Society: gaffincreative.com/mcs

Instagram: instagram.com/hayleegaffin

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Feeling overextended, stretched thin, or just ready for a smarter way to scale? This week, I'm opening my Black Friday Vault with a twist: one offer per day. For 24 hours only.

Inside this bonus episode, I’m walking you through each offer—who it’s for, what it fixes, and why it’s designed to help you grow faster without drowning in more to-dos. If you’re already overspending on time and feel the pressure to be marketing, ops, and delivery all at once, this is your lifeline.

From fast-cash mini offers to AI bots that handle your content, to a $1 VIP CEO membership, to my signature Delegation Method—each deal is crafted to buy back your time and help you lead like the CEO you are.

No fluff. No long launches. Just clean strategy for founders who are done dabbling and ready to move.

Find your match and move fast—because once the day’s offer is gone, it’s gone.

Links Mentioned:

• Black Friday Vault: https://accidentalceo.co/BlackFriday
• Email List: https://accidentalceo.co/email-list

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If you’ve been treating legal stuff like an annoying afterthought in your business, this episode will change your mind (and maybe your bottom line). Nata Salvatori sits down with powerhouse attorney and serial entrepreneur Paige Hulse to unpack why intellectual property is not just for tech bros and patent trolls—it’s for every creative founder who wants to actually own what they build.

Paige breaks down the difference between trademarks, copyrights, and patents—without the jargon—and shows you how to make legal strategy a money-making machine. She shares stories of clients who licensed their IP for six figures, mistakes that cost businesses their entire brand identity, and what every founder should know before publishing a course, naming a product, or using AI.

Whether you're building your first offer or planning to sell your entire company one day, this episode is packed with insights you’ll wish you had sooner.

Takeaways:

• Why trademarking isn’t optional if you want to grow sustainably
• The #1 mistake most entrepreneurs make with naming
• How to create sellable IP (hint: it’s more than your logo)
• What AI means for copyright—and how to stay protected
• Why Paige built a contract app that may someday replace her

Links & Mentions:

• Paige’s Law Firm: pagehulselaw.com
• Free trademark search tool: USPTO TESS

 → Want to protect your brand before it’s too late? Start by visiting shopcreativelaw.com and running a free trademark search.

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What happens when a burnt-out nonprofit employee borrows her sister's camera and starts photographing snow globes? You get Praise Santos, founder of ComePlum, brand strategist, photographer, and accidental CEO.

In this episode, Nata sits down with Praise to talk about the very real, very messy path from survival-mode hustling to building a brand studio that empowers over 10,000 women. From selling ketchup at Whole Foods to running workshops for the Golden State Warriors dance team and being featured in Vogue, Praise's story is a masterclass in following the energy, trusting the process, and letting your brand evolve as you do.

They cover everything from the importance of asking better questions (hint: brand clarity starts with personal clarity), to why some clients never used their brand photos—and what Praise did to fix that. You'll learn how she built a business that not only looks beautiful but also feels aligned with her purpose.

Plus, the story behind her Ethical Weddings project that earned national recognition, how she teaches e-commerce giants like Shopify about brand identity, and what she means when she says ComePlum is actually a women's empowerment company disguised as a branding studio.

Whether you’re a creative entrepreneur, a brand strategist, or someone ready to stop running a business that drains you—this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped.

Takeaways:

• Business growth happens step-by-step (not overnight)
• Branding is about alignment, not just visuals
• Empowerment means rest, not just action
• Sometimes the best ROI is emotional, not just financial

🎧 Listen now and tag us with your biggest takeaway @accidentalceo and @comeplum. Let’s keep building brands that actually feel like us.

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This episode isn’t just inspiring—it’s a game plan for getting your financial house in order. Nata sits down with money mentor Penelope Jane Smith, who went from being nearly financially free to losing everything in the 2008 crash—and rebuilt herself into a multi-millionaire and thought leader in women’s wealth.

They talk about what the financial world gets wrong about women, how to calculate your personal freedom number, and why passive income is not just possible—but necessary. If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of managing money, Penelope makes it approachable, actionable, and dare we say...fun? Plus, hear how a $50/month investment can become $1.5M over time (yes, really).

Penelope also introduces the Prosperity Coin, her community-driven reward system built on the Ethereum network, and shares how you can start creating passive income from scratch—no fund manager required.

Disclaimer: This episode includes a personal account involving suicidal thoughts. If you are struggling, please seek help from a mental health professional or reach out to a support hotline in your area.

Links & Takeaways:

• Download the free eBook: https://financialfreedomgift.com

Register for Penelope's live event:

• Save your seat for the Nov 7–9 live training

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You’re sitting on a goldmine—and it’s not your lead magnet. It’s your reviews.

In this episode of the Accidental CEO Podcast, Nata chats with Danielle Bornowski—a marketing strategist and certified StoryBrand Guide—about the secret weapon in your business you’re probably ignoring: customer reviews.

Most entrepreneurs think of testimonials as nice-to-haves. Danielle flips that idea on its head. She shows us why reviews are your clearest window into what’s working, what to say in your marketing, and how to attract better-fit clients without guessing.

You’ll hear how Danielle used her own client feedback to completely pivot her offer—and why it exploded her growth. We get into:

• The exact way to ask for a review without it feeling awkward
• How to extract high-converting marketing language from client praise
• Ways to use testimonials in email PS lines, launch pages, and even blogs
• What to do if you get a negative review (pro tip: don’t panic)
• Why you don’t need dozens—just a few, done right

Whether you’re a seasoned CEO or you’re just getting your first clients, this episode will help you rethink how you collect and use client feedback to drive real results.

🔗 Grab Danielle’s free review template here: DQBstrategies.Marketing/reviews

🎯 If this episode hits home, share it with a friend or tag us @accidentalceopod on Instagram.

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What do theology, wedding photography, and email list-building have in common? Davey Jones.

This week, Nata sits down with Davey Jones — CEO of Badao, the powerful lead generation tool formerly known as Sumo. They get into the nitty gritty of pop-ups (yes, the ones people love to hate) and why they’re actually your best friend if you use them right. Davey shares what he’s learned running multiple agencies, managing millions in ad spend, and now spearheading a product rebrand that’s gaining major traction.

You’ll learn how to make forms and pop-ups people want to fill out, why knowing your customer is the foundation of all good marketing, and how to structure your time if you’ve got your hands in a few different businesses. Bonus: the surprisingly polarizing story behind the name “Badao.”

Takeaways:

• Pop-ups work when they’re helpful, not annoying
• Templates make it easy to get started with lead gen
• Focused time and creative margin are key to running multiple projects
• Good copy = answering “Can you really do this for someone like me?”

Links:

• Start your free Badao account: https://www.bdow.com
• Connect with Davey: @daveytjonesy

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This episode is a must-listen for any creative founder who’s hit a growth ceiling and knows it’s not about doing more—it’s about unlearning what’s no longer working. Inspired by a client interview and a powerful live panel, Nata walks you through 10 beliefs that keep entrepreneurs stuck in operator mode instead of leading like a CEO.

Inside, you’ll hear how pricing from your own wallet is sabotaging your value, why your self-worth has nothing to do with your sales, and how to delegate like a true leader. She shares real stories—from flopped launches to volleyball tournaments—to show how rewiring these patterns can change everything.

Expect honest insights, actionable prompts, and the kind of compassionate truth-telling that cuts through the noise. Whether you're overworked, undercharging, or drowning in busywork, this episode will help you see what needs to go so you can grow.

Takeaways:

• Let go of the myth that chaos equals success
• Start making decisions faster with less fear
• Reclaim time, energy, and leadership without guilt
• Build systems that create calm instead of chaos
  
  

Connect with Nata:
👉 @instagram.com/accidentalceo.co/ | @accidentalceo.co/coaching

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Nicole Richards thought she had it all figured out. A booming bridal makeup business, her name in glossy magazines, and a studio full of artists. But beneath the gloss, something else was stirring.

In this conversation, Nicole shares how a quiet whisper—followed by a literal crash—led her to shut down a thriving career and embrace a completely new path as a whole-life coach. Her story is a masterclass in following divine nudges, staying humble through success, and building a business that aligns with your values and your lifestyle.

We talk faith, failure, family, burnout, and the beauty of doing business differently. If you've ever wondered if your intuition (or God) is trying to tell you something... this one is for you.

Takeaways:

• Don’t wait for burnout to make a change
• Just because something’s working doesn’t mean it’s right
• Your next level of business might require letting go of what made you successful
• Success isn’t a magazine spread—it's sustainability, peace, and legacy

Get to know more about Nicole: IG: @nicolerichards.co

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Ever stare at your bank statement and feel personally victimized by tax season? You’re not alone—but you could be more prepared. In this episode, Nata Salvatori brings on wedding photographer and tax educator Heather Leicy, who went from architecture student to creative CEO with a tax-savvy twist.

They talk about everything from saving for the slow season to how to talk to your CPA like a boss (yes, really). You’ll get the exact steps Heather took to transition careers without financial chaos, and the weekly tax prep ritual that actually makes April feel like a win.

What you’ll walk away with:

• How to make tax season a non-event
• The four CPA questions that could save you thousands
• Why putting 30% aside is the best self-care
• A pep talk if numbers make you want to run

Connect with Heather:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.marie.leicy and https://www.instagram.com/theconquercommunity/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.marie.leicy
• Website: https://heathermlphoto.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathermariephotography

This episode is packed with mindset shifts and practical tools for any creative entrepreneur who’s tired of winging it with their money. Hit play, and let’s get your financial life together—without the tears.

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