Be Iconic, Indy: The Podcast

Making friends as an adult can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re new to a city and trying to build a community from scratch. In this episode, we’re chatting with FrancesMary Loughead, founder of BFF Indy, a community helping women in Indianapolis meet new people, explore the city, and build genuine friendships. FrancesMary shares how a simple Bachelor watch party grew into a thriving community with walks, book clubs, fitness events, social gatherings, community chats, and more. We also talk about the challenges of building a business around a passion, creating an inclusive community where women feel comfortable putting themselves out there, and why having a village matters at every stage of life.

🔗 Connect with FrancesMary:

• Instagram: @bff.indy
• Website: bffindianapolis.com

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

Rachelle Robinson, the owner of Luxe Mane Salon in downtown Whitestown, had a vision for her life that she turned into reality. In this episode, she shares the winding journey that led her from working behind the chair and educating stylists across the Midwest to opening her own salon in the community where she grew up.

We talk about why she’s passionate about helping new stylists learn not only the craft of hair but also how to build a sustainable career, the importance of getting clear on your niche, and what it really looks like to balance entrepreneurship, motherhood, and family life. She also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the elevated experience she’s created at Luxe Mane, her plans for the salon’s future, and the local women and businesses who continue to inspire her!

🔗 Connect with Rachelle:

• Instagram: @rachelleluxemane
• Website: luxemanesalon.com

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

What happens when you can’t find the product you need? You create it yourself. We’re sitting down with entrepreneur Caitie Gehlhausen Walsh to hear how a frustrating experience with stadium bag policies sparked the idea for Caitie G, a line of stylish, event-compliant stadium bags designed to give women both privacy and practicality. Caitie shares her journey from launching her first brand as a college freshman to getting her products into more than 3,000 Walmart stores, developing her products from a rough first prototype, and growing through partnerships with teams and universities, as well as the exciting future she has planned for Caitie G.

🔗 Connect with Caitie:

• Instagram: @caitiegbags
• Website: caitieg.com

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

From the sidelines to the front office, Erin Smith's journey with the Indianapolis Colts has been anything but ordinary! We’re getting the inside scoop from a former Colts cheerleader turned cheerleader manager as she shares her path from dancing and auditioning twice to becoming a Pro Bowl cheerleader, traveling the world, and now leading the team behind the scenes. We’re also talking motherhood, community, Junior Cheer, and some of her favorite memories, including a surprise proposal at a Colts game and a powerful moment involving a cheerleader using sign language.

🔗 Connect with Erin:

• Instagram: @iuerinb
• Instagram: @coltscheer

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

What's really behind the polished posts we see online? In this episode, we sit down with social media strategist and content creator Lauren Schneider to talk about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, setting boundaries, and why authenticity matters more than perfection. Lauren shares how a traumatic event shaped both her business and her life, opening up about her journey through PTSD, therapy, medication, faith, and healing. We also dive into comparison on social media, finding community over competition, and the reminder that success looks different for everyone...and taking care of yourself is always worth the work!

🔗 Connect with Lauren:

• Instagram: @laurenindy
• LinkedIn

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

☕️ This episode is fueled by Hatties Coffee House!

From Colts cheerleading to mortgages to baby food and dog rescue, Nichole Watson is the definition of someone who thrives in chaos, and we had so much fun hearing how she built a life around doing a thousand things at once! In this episode, we chat about her time as a Colts cheerleader, making the leap to 100% commission in the mortgage industry, and how she and her work bestie decided to take on Cafe Baby. We also hear all about Nichole's famous pup Archie, her work with a lab rescue, and the dogs who completely run her house.

🔗 Connect with Nichole:

• Website
• Instagram: @ncthomas.watson
• Cafe Baby
• Instagram: @cafebabytogo
• Archie's Instagram: @Archie_the_chocolate

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

Some people have a way of making you feel at home the moment you meet them, and Keeley is one of those people. In this episode, we sit down with the owner of Jo.Co to talk about her journey from beauty school to building a salon that's all about helping women feel confident, connected, and cared for. We laugh about everything from Enneagram guesses and middle name stories to why getting your hair washed might just be the best form of therapy!

Keeley also shares what it was like stepping away from her business to raise her girls, returning to hair as a single mom, and creating a business that fits the life she wants today. We chat about balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, building genuine relationships, and the little things that can make a business feel truly personal.

🔗 Connect with Keeley on Instagram @keeleyjo_.

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

What makes a coffee shop feel like more than just a place to grab a drink? In this episode, we sit down with Kirra, the owner of Hattie’s Coffee House, to hear the story behind turning a historic farmhouse into one of Whitestown’s favorite gathering spots. She shares the unexpected challenges of opening a brick-and-mortar business, the importance of community support, and why creating a welcoming space has always been at the heart of Hattie’s.

We also chat about supporting local businesses, dreaming up seasonal drink menus, hosting creative events, and the connections that make small-town communities special. From books and gardening to travel dreams and Harry Potter-inspired fun, we laughed, went off on a few tangents, and left feeling even more inspired by the people who make our community special!

Learn More About Hattie's:

• Website
• Instagram: @hattiescoffeehouse

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

Six months in and we still can't believe how much has happened! In this episode, we're taking a step back to celebrate everything we've built with Be Iconic, Indy so far, from inspiring listener messages and sold merch to unforgettable events like our Race to Create content day. We're sharing some of our favorite moments and the impact this community is already making.

We're also giving you a peek behind the scenes of what's coming next. We chat about everything from women's sports, Fever games, and future events to the books we're reading, the business dreams we're chasing, and the reality of balancing creativity, work, and family life. Here's to the next six months! 🎉

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!

☕️ This episode is fueled by Hatties Coffee House!

You don't become the first female DJ to perform on Indianapolis 500 Race Day by following a perfectly mapped-out plan. DJ Hope Flows got there through a series of unexpected pivots, big risks, and a willingness to say yes before she felt fully ready.

In this episode, we sit down with Indianapolis DJ Hope Flows to talk about her journey from competitive soccer and international modeling to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Indianapolis sports entertainment. She shares how music became more than a passion, what it was like making history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the mindset that helped her build a career in an industry where women are still vastly underrepresented.

We also chat about networking, confidence, career reinvention, working with organizations like the Indiana Fever, Indianapolis Colts, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and why some of the biggest opportunities come from trusting yourself before anyone else does. If you've ever wondered what happens when preparation meets opportunity, you're going to love this chat!

Connect with DJ Hope Flows:

🖥 Website

🎵 Instagram: @djhopeflows

✨ If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or made you feel a little less alone, keep the conversation going and tag us at @beiconicindy!