Amidst The Chaos

So many of these mamas come on and I am blown away by their grit, passion and love for their industry. Many of my past guests have done some really cool things that many of us do, but they have found their niche and community to grow it. Today's guest, Sara Reese, is a jewelry designer and founder of Erica Sara Designs -- for those wondering, that is NOT something I can easily do, ha.

Erica tells me how she has always wanted to be a designer, and initially found herself in the fashion world, working at Barneys and Coach. She then talks about how she felt a little stuck -- she was in an unhappy marriage and not loving her job. So, she made moves and changed that! She enrolled in a nutrition program and got a divorce. We then dive into how she started designing and making jewelry around different highlights and milestones in her life. She then tells me the craziest story of meeting her husband, moving out of NYC to PA, getting married and buying a house all within a year! Erica then gives us an insight into their schedules, which includes two kids, two parents with their own businesses who are both training for road races in the fall, and how they use this structure to optimize their businesses and goals. Finally, she gets real honest and blunt about how she stays true to herself while building her brand, even if it means losing followers.

Erica is such a fun listen and has such a gift for designing, making and creating such beautiful pieces while also being so raw and honest about the not so glamourous parts of running your brand as a mom (hint, 5am wake ups)! Make sure to check out her site and follow her on Instagram and Pinterest.

Ever wonder where I find these amazing guests? Usually I scour the internet, stalk (no joke) and reach out to women I think would be a great fit for you all... until today! A couple weeks ago my sister in law called me to rave about a new brand of tortilla chips she found (and ate the whole bag), and continued to tell me that the founder was a mom who left her job to spend time with her kids -- UMM HELLO perfect guest!!!

I am so happy to welcome Jennifer Davidson, Founder and CEO of Capital Chips. Jennifer tells me the story of starting Capital Chips -- spoiler, its not because she's a tortilla chip enthusiast!-- and how spending time and finding balance with her kids was her driving factor. She walks me through her early days, which included cooking in her kitchen and selling to local breweries (all delivered by HER!). We then talk about the 'hows' that I love diving into; the design, the regulations and the hiring that come with building your own brand, especially a food product. She also gets super honest with me about the loss of her mother and how is affected her decisions throughout her life -- this may be the first podcast your girl cries on!

We finish up with her telling us about her podcast, Integrity Nachos! I am so appreciative Jennifer came on, got into some different aspects of her life and business and introduced all of you to Capital Chips. Don't miss out on these chips -- shout out to those who actually utilize the resealable bag and don't eat in one sitting (ha)! Make sure to follow Jennifer and the Capital Chips team on Instagram and Facebook!

When people think about entrepreneurship and building a business, they often think about the creative pieces and the awesome aspects that come along. What we forget to think about is all the strategic work that comes along with it (hello book keeping, invoicing and more)! Today's founder is Dorothy Kolb, CEO of DK East Associates, which provides high touch, c-suite level support in finance and business strategy to growth-stage businesses so they can focus on the work they love.

Dorothy tells me about her previous work as an accountant and then in broadcasting and how she liked it because it gave a full picture of the business and not just the financials which many people look at. Then life hit and she was forced to start consulting so she could balance single motherhood and time with her kids while making money. She talks to me about how she has been working from home before COVID and how it has been better since, because people are now used to the kids and pets interrupting! One thing I loved about this episode is when she opens up about her continued struggle on weather to build her brand into something bigger or doing just enough so she can still be a mom and other things when work is done.

We finish with her giving me some (much needed) tips on time blocking and a MIND BLOWING take on imposter syndrome. Plus she joins a growing number of guests who dive into getting rid of clients that don't fit with her and how it has opened doors for her to find ones that are better fit.

Whether you are a business owner who needs a little insight on the parts of your business you don't like doing or not, this episode will give you so many insights and take aways. Make sure to head to their site, Instagram and LinkedIn to learn more about Dana and her team!

Full Show Notes here. 

As I continue to talk with these amazing women, I'm hearing more stories of accidental entrepreneurship, which is so cool! Todays guest, Chantel Powell, is the founder of Play Pits, which she started out of necessity! Chantel gives a quick job history, which began in costumes for Tyler Perry Studios then transitioned to an Executive Assistant to spend more time with her family. She tells me how much she hated the EA job but used it as a way to learn and still uses a lot of the tools she took from that role. Then we dive into the good stuff -- she tells me how one day her 6 year old came home from camp and smelled BAD!!! She decided to make a paste for him to use as she couldn't find something else in the market she trusted!

Chantel then tells me how her son was the one to push her to make this a business -- a trend that still shows up today. She tells me how this brand is not about money but about helping other people! One of my favorite parts of this episode is how Chantel has made this a family business. Her kids are a part of the process, she shows them numbers and each of them has an important role in the company. She is setting these kids up for so much success which is amazing!! We finish with her goals for the business and how she plans to transition from the day to day, and how her adult line came about!

Chantel leaves us with a discount code for out Amidst the Chaos listeners! Make sure to head to their site and use code DANA15 for 15% off your order. Also, don't miss out on their Instagram page -- I promise it does not disappoint!!!

I am SO excited for our first medical professional to join us on the podcast! You may wonder how someone in the medical field, with years of schooling was able to change up her career path with tiny human in tow -- and don't you worry, I got ALL the details from our guest! Abby Bales is the founder of Reform PT, a private concierge service designed to help women remain active before, during, and after pregnancy.

Abby dives into her introduction to physical therapy, where she was working at an outpatient facility and saw upwards of 70 patients a week!! She quickly realized it was unsustainable for her and her family, but recognized it was helping her gain the knowledge she needed to start something on her own. She then tells me how she came to specialize on the pelvic floor and her love for helping her pregnant and post partum mamas! Abby then tells me ALL about the women in her circle that helped support her emotionally and professionally, which was amazing to hear! She finishes by telling me how she uses what she has learned from OBGYNs, athletes and her students to create a 3D view of her clients.

Dr. Abby was such an insightful guest and overall human! Even if you are not pre or post natal, there is SO much to learn about curating your brand, continuing to learn and develop to help her clients and find the time to be Mom through it all. Make sure to check out their site, Instagram (her preferred method to chat!) and Facebook.

Full show notes here. 

The number of women I get to speak with who are tackling different businesses and brands continues to amaze me! Today's guest, Shannon McLay, is the founder of The Financial Gym, which provides you with a personal financial trainer to put you in control of your finances, one step at a time.

Shannon starts by telling me how she was living life according to plan, checking all the boxes and making money, when she realized that she wasn't really happy or enjoying what she was doing. What Shannon did next is pretty bold -- she continued working her 9-5 at Merrill Lynch while taking on (what she called) pro bono clients that didn't meet her financial threshold but needed real help. This is what brought her to life! She started the The Financial Gym slowly, mainly working off referrals and building her team accordingly.

Shannon and I jump into some personal development pieces that I LOVED -- my favorite being when she puts herself in time out and how she curates her social media. She also gives us insight into her schedule and when she forces herself to take off. We finish with her breaking down what The Financial Gym is and the three types of clients they service.

Shannon has such a great story of someone who found her passion and continued to forge the path to make it a business. Whether you have your finances in a spreadsheet or have no idea what you are doing, this episode and The Financial Gym can help! Make sure to check out their site, Instagram and Shannon's podcast.

Full show notes here. 

YOU GUYS (!!!), I am so giddy about today's guest!! Beth, from Days with Grey, joins me to chat all the things behind her amazing brand. As a mom with two toddlers that need a lot of stimulation and little time to plan a full curriculum for them, I am so appreciative that Beth created Days with Grey!

We start by chatting about her life before kids; she was a teacher and LOVED her job! However, when she got pregnant with her second, she realized she couldn't justify daycare, cost wise. We dive into the early times of Days with Grey and how it started as something she needed for herself. She then explains how long it was a hobby before an actual business (hint: it was a while, and that's ok)! We dive in to how this work is truly Beth's passion and calling, and how she has the tools for it. We finish with her giving the tactical approach she takes to get things done homeschooling her three boys and running this brand solo. Then Beth gushes about her community and how they continue to inspire her to keep finding new and unique things to do with their kiddos!

For the very few of you that don't already know or follow Beth, what are you waiting for ha!! You will not regret this follow and you'll gain some fun family activates along the way. Head to her website, Instagram and Pinterest to learn more!

Full show notes here. 

When I first found this week’s guest, Monica Lensink, I went down a HUGE rabbit hole of her site and recipes… and to be honest, the photography behind it!! Monica is the Founder and recipe developer of Nourish and Fete, an online food blog that is BEYOND delicious and (most importantly for me) practical for families.

In this episode Monica talks about how she has always loved cooking and actually loved her 9-5, so assumed the blog would be a hobby not a business (ha, jokes on her!). We dive into how her move overseas coincided with the birth of her son and allowed her to see what she wanted out of her professional and personal career. She then gives one of my favorite tips throughout the episode -- how she continues to learn as she goes, educating herself along the way. I find this to be such a good confidence boost to those of you who don’t have the perfect background/degree for what you want to do -- you can find ways to educate yourself and build on your passions! She tells me about the food blogging community and how she started to invest in photography once she realized this was going to be more than a hobby. We finish with her giving insight on how her schedule has changed since she had her daughter this past year, and how she uses SEO, social platforms and display ads to her advantage.

This episode was amazing for SO many reasons -- Monica hit on a ton personal things I have often thought about, while giving tangible tips and tricks for businesses as well. Whether you are a master chef or simply a master toast maker, there are endless pieces you can take from this episode. Now, rush (yes, rush) over to Monica’s site, Instagram or Pinterest to get all the yummy recipes she has been pulling together for you!!

Full show notes here. 

I continue to be blown away by the passion, enthusiasm and grit the mothers I have gotten to speak with on this show have! When I started the show, I wanted to highlight these women, the tools they used and the mistakes they have learned from, so that those of you who are thinking of (or in the middle of) this shift to entrepreneurship can use them. One thing I didn't realize I would get out of this, is an in-depth look on so many different industries and possible careers. These women have helped open my eyes (and taste buds) to roles I didn't even realize existed.

This week's guest is no different! Cristina Gordon is the founder and CEO of C Bee PR, an agency that works to bring a personalized approach to help elevate their brands image and awareness. Cristina gives me a full intro into the PR world and how she got her start at an agency (and the insane hours and expectations that came with that), then moved in house, and how it all helped her lay the groundwork for starting her own thing. We discuss how mistakes can help shape you and make your brand even better than you thought -- if you let them! Cristina then dives into why camaraderie within her team is so important, and how she set out to create a space that people WANT to come to work, yet can still enjoy their personal lives. Finally, we talk about how she tries (key word) to lean in when things are slower, even though she thrives in the hustle of the business -- girl is speaking my language here!!

What I loved about talking with Cristina, is that you don't need to be in the PR industry to enjoy SO MANY different insights she gives. I know you will love hearing her talk about what it really takes to build a business while raising a family AND enjoying it from time to time, ha! Make sure to check our Cristina and C Bee PR at the website, on Instagram and Facebook!

Have you noticed that there seems to be a different type of kombucha or sparkling water launching every week, yet the non-alcoholic beer options are still the same (boring) brands??

Today's guest is on a mission to change that! Emree Woods is the founder of Rightside Brewing, a hand-crafted non-alcoholic beer that combines premium ingredients with authentic taste. She aims to help people prioritize themselves allowing you to socialize without sacrifice!

Emree dives into her road to starting Rightside, how she manages to juggle the new start up with her current full time job... and two kids! She's open and honest about what she does and does not know and how she leans into that; outsourcing where she sees its most beneficial. One aspect in particular she talks about is the branding expert she pulled in to help her figure out the competitive landscape and having someone to talk to about the brand itself. We dive into one of my favorite topics, pushing through on the days that she doesn't want to and how she includes her kids in her business.

Emree had such an amazing approach to things and a real self awareness that you don't often find when people are in the throws of starting a company. Not only will you get some great insights and tips, BUT you should check out their product -- I promise, its worth it, and Dana approved! Check out Emree and the Rightside Brewing team on Instagram, Facebook and their website!

Full show notes here.