What happens when you build a business during a financial crisis, ride the wave of unexpected growth, and then hit your first major downturn nearly a decade later?

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Kate Ahl, founder of Simple Pin Media, to talk about the very real highs and lows of business ownership. From launching her Pinterest marketing agency while on food stamps to leading a team through seasons of growth, grief, and everything in between — Kate shares what it’s looked like to keep showing up, even when the path ahead wasn’t clear.

We dive into the early days of scraping things together from the kitchen table, navigating motherhood as the primary breadwinner, and how a business panic attack in 2022 led to one of her most powerful growth seasons yet. If you’ve ever felt behind, doubted your direction, or wondered if it’s okay to admit when things get hard — this episode will feel like a deep breath. 

Inside the Episode:

• How Kate went from "Pinterest? That’s a stupid idea…" to running a successful agency
• Building a business while raising 3 kids under 4
• Learning to lead without a roadmap (and hiring her first team member at Target!)
• What really happened when her business hit a wall in 2022
• Why grief and burnout can sneak up on even the most organized among us
• How therapy helped her become a stronger leader
• What she’s doing differently now — and how she’s staying resilient
• Why community and honest conversations matter more than ever

CONNECT WITH KATE & SIMPLE PIN MEDIA:

-Website: simplepinmedia.com
-Instagram: @simplepinmedia
-LinkedIn: Kate Ahl
 

RELEVANT LINKS:

- Watch Episode On YouTube

- Learn More About Kari Poppleton

- Connect With Kari Poppleton on Instagram
 

What happens when a former U.S. Intelligence analyst picks up coding from YouTube, builds a business by accident, and ends up empowering women around the world?

In this inspiring episode, I chat with Julia Taylor, the founder and CEO of GeekPack — a mission-driven company on track to empower 1 million women and minority-owned entrepreneurs with digital and tech skills by 2030.

Julia shares her unexpected path from military spouse and self-taught coder to educator, visionary, and community-builder. We talk about turning adversity into impact, creating safe spaces for learning, and how borrowed belief from others helped her go further than she ever imagined.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, been discouraged in the online space, or wondered if you have what it takes to create lasting impact — this conversation is your reminder that you absolutely do.

INSIDE THE EPISODE:

• Why Julia never planned to be an entrepreneur
• How a frustrating tech learning experience became the spark for GeekPack
• The power of creating a no-shame learning community
• Launching a course from an RV — and having 60 people say YES
• Building a team of passionate former students
• What it really means to lead with vision (even when you don’t know the how)
• How to stay focused when you're pulled in a million directions
• Why your students’ results matter as much as your own metrics

CONNECT WITH JULIA & GEEKPACK:

- Website: geekpack.com
- Instagram: @geekpack
- Facebook: GeekPack

RELEVANT LINKS:

- Watch Episode On YouTube

- Learn More About Kari Poppleton

- Connect With Kari Poppleton on Instagram
 

Welcome to Because They Said You Couldn't — the podcast for dreamers, doers, and underdogs who've been told "no" and chose to rise anyway. I'm your host, Kari Poppleton — business ops consultant, marketing measurement specialist, and mom of three.

In this short intro, I’m sharing the heart behind the show: real, raw stories of resilience, innovation, and forging your own path — even when the odds say otherwise.

Join the Movement: This isn’t just a podcast — it’s a community. A rebellion. A reminder that you can. Every single week, you’ll hear from guests who prove it’s possible to build something meaningful, no matter your story.

If you’re ready to redefine success on your terms, you’re in the right place!

🔗 Links & Resources:

Say hi or share your story in IG: @karipoppleton

Learn more about working with Kari: https://www.karipoppleton.com

Don’t miss a beat — subscribe, rate & review to help us reach more dreamers and doers!