Big Brave Business: Business Ethics, Revolutionary Leadership and Human-First Entrepreneurship with Sarah Heeter

It's PODCASTHON! Many of your favorite podcasts are highlighting mission-based charitable organizations of their choice this week, and we thought it would be a perfect time to remind you about Generation Fearless and Paulaska Ramirez, by replaying this episode from last month.

Meet Paulaska:

Paulaska S. Ramirez is an exceptional leader and advocate who has dedicated her life to making a positive impact on the lives of first-generation women. As the Founder and Executive Director of Generation Fearless, she has set out to transform the experiences of first-generation women, helping them navigate the complexities of life with confidence and resilience.

Connect with Paulaska:

https://www.instagram.com/generation_fearless/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaskaramirez/

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

If you've listened to this podcast since season 1 with my co-host and biz bestie Amanda, you probably already know that both Amanda and I are a more than a little skeptical when it comes to all things "woo." But in this week's episode, I got to meet a mutual friend Regyna Curtis, who leans all the way in on "woo." And, you might be as shocked as I was to find out that Regyna and I clicked immediately and had a really meaningful conversation about intuition and alignment. No matter where you fall on the scale of skepticism about 'woo,' you are going to get a lot from this episode.

Meet Regyna:

Regyna Curtis is a soul rhythm activator and business mentor, dedicated to helping heart-centered, multi-passionate entrepreneurs create fulfilling, sustainable paths to success. With over 15 years of corporate experience in business development and a deep knowledge of energetics, she brings together practical insights and intuitive wisdom. Regyna’s unique approach empowers clients to build holistic ecosystems where their work supports their well-being—something often overlooked by traditional business strategies.

Through her signature system for holistic entrepreneurship Charting Your Course, and 1:1 mentorship program, Flow and Prosper, Regyna guides entrepreneurs to align their business rhythms with their personal energy cycles, moving beyond conditioned strategies to empower intuition, and create joyful sustainability.

Connect with Regyna:

https://www.atmaitri.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/regyna-curtis/

About Sarah:

Sarah K. Heeter is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator, speaker, and advocate for values-driven leadership. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and operations, she is the founder and CEO of Podfox Media, a globally recognized podcast production company, and the host of the globally-ranked podcast Big Brave Business, where she explores business ethics and revolutionary leadership. Sarah is also a member of the marketing and public policy committees for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Phoenix Chapter and teaches public policy at Arizona State University. She is passionate about inspiring businesses to prioritize integrity, inclusivity, and connection in their decision-making and leadership.

Launch Your Own Podcast:

Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast.

https://launchmyshow.com/

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

My friend from NAWBO, Joanna Horton McPherson, is back on the podcast this week. Joanna and I love being friends because every conversation we have seems to turn into something big and brave. I hope you love this behind the scenes peek at what it's like in our friendship, and by the way... if these are the kinds of friends you want in your life, you can sit with us :) Come hang out with us on social media and in real life! Anyway, this week, Joanna and I are digging into this concept (and content pillar for BBB) of "Institutional Interrogation" and for Joanna, that brings up a lot of conversation around leading with core values. I talk about this a lot on this podcast, but in this episode, we are deep diving into all the ways it works in our favor to run our entire business based on our core values.

About Joanna:

Joanna Horton McPherson is a leader, serial entrepreneur, and speaker who specializes in the deeper aspects of leadership and personal fulfillment. Joanna helps mission-driven public figures develop their transformative message for audiences.

An advanced practitioner of Buddhist meditation and poet. Joanna focuses on inspiring the next generation of global leadership. She has founded several nonprofits and schools, one of which is near her home in Costa Rica.

Joanna obtained her Master’s in Education from Harvard University and serves as President-Elect for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Phoenix chapter.

Connect with Joanna:

https://joannahortonmcpherson.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-horton-mcpherson/

@joannahortonmcpherson on all socials :)

About Sarah:

Sarah K. Heeter is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator, speaker, and advocate for values-driven leadership. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and operations, she is the founder and CEO of Podfox Media, a globally recognized podcast production company, and the host of the globally-ranked podcast Big Brave Business, where she explores business ethics and revolutionary leadership. Sarah is also a member of the marketing and public policy committees for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Phoenix Chapter and teaches public policy at Arizona State University. She is passionate about inspiring businesses to prioritize integrity, inclusivity, and connection in their decision-making and leadership.

Launch Your Own Podcast:

Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast.

https://launchmyshow.com/

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

This week, I'm joined by new friend Diem Koole to talk all about her layoff story, the social and cultural (and internal!) pressure about achievement related to being laid off and pursuing entrepreneurship, and so much more. If you've ever felt you're not good enough, especially in the midst of a layoff season, you are going to relate to this episode.

Meet Diem

Diem Koole is a dynamic mompreneur passionate about balancing motherhood, creativity, and entrepreneurship. As the voice behind The Koole Mom blog and the upcoming podcast Coffee, Kids, and Koole, she blends her love for parenting, Vietnamese culture, and wellness into relatable and inspiring content. When she’s not crafting recipes, sharing family travel tips, or building her digital brand, Diem enjoys yoga, exploring new ideas, and creating meaningful connections with her audience.

Connect with Diem

https://thekoolemom.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thekoolemom/

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

Sometimes I see a small business owner on Threads post something so evocative and aligned with my core values that I can't help it and I just reach out and invite them on the podcast. That's because with one really high impact post, I can tell that we could have an interesting and big, brave conversation about business. And really, that's the power of leveraging your core values to create human connection online and what my guest today, Fopsy, calls "creating superfans." We are talking all about this on the podcast today--and yes, we met on Threads.

Meet Fopsy

Fope Nkwocha is a Business Coach and Speaker who helps service providers attract more clients and increase sales by focusing on income-driving priorities. Her 1:1 coaching program, "Money-Making Priorities," is designed to help entrepreneurs simplify their sales process and sign high-ticket clients with confidence.

Connect with Fopsy:

Ask about 1:1 Coaching: https://fopsy.ca/call

Join her Weekly Series’ -  https://fopsy.ca/newsletter 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fopsy.ca/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fope-nkwocha/ 

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

If you've been listening to this podcast for awhile, you know I'm skeptical of business coaching, even though it's part of what I do. I've been one of the lucky ones on the receiving end of a massive investment into business coaching that didn't match my expectations or financial obligation, and I generally feel burned by the industry, like so many other online business owners. But coaching is a real field and business coaching is something a lot of people really could massively benefit from, if it is done right. My dear friend Amber Dancy joins me on the podcast this week to talk about all the ways business coaching SHOULD look, and tons of other REALLY fun topics that I know you're going to love. I have been looking forward to sharing this one with you.

Meet Amber:

Amber Dancy is a Business Leadership Coach and Consultant with over 15 years of operations experience. She believes that, sometimes, rebelling is the most practical thing a business owner can do—for both their business and their life. Amber works with leaders who are ready to transform one-size-fits-all business practices into human-first approaches, creating safer team relationships and allowing people to show up as their whole, unique selves within the business.

She helps clients cut through the BS, using the science of energy and the wisdom of Human Design, to clear their vision and make decisions aligned with their unique energetic blueprint. Once their energetic leadership style is understood and work is defined in a way that truly works for them, she helps identify bottlenecks and energy leaks to optimize business systems and strategies for flow.

By creating a work life that serves them first, both the leader and the business thrive. As she says at Practical Rebel, “You get to do this however the fuck you want.”

Connect with Amber:

https://practicalrebel.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberdancy/

https://www.instagram.com/ambertherebel/

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

One of the things I've been thinking about for my own business is staring a non-profit/charitable arm in the Podfox umbrella. But meeting Paulaska Ramirez, my guest today, led to my realization that I never considered a non-profit as a business structure when I first became an entrepreneur. I definitely had the mindset that I was "staring a business" with the intention to make money... but I mean, CEOs of non-profits should get salaries, too. The point isn't that the team can't get paid (although that's not currently Paulaska's focus) but that the organization itself is not working to earn a profit. Even with a profit-oriented business (a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, S-Corp, so many options for business entities!), you can still *also* have a non-profit. How does that work? What would that look like? What are the challenges? We're discussing that and more in today's episode with Paulaska.

Meet Paulaska:

Paulaska S. Ramirez is an exceptional leader and advocate who has dedicated her life to making a positive impact on the lives of first-generation women. As the Founder and Executive Director of Generation Fearless, she has set out to transform the experiences of first-generation women, helping them navigate the complexities of life with confidence and resilience.

Connect with Paulaska:

https://www.instagram.com/generation_fearless/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaskaramirez/

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

At the crux of what I've been doing here with Big Brave Business is the question, "How do you become an entrepreneur, and grow and scale a business, with anti-capitalist values?" One of the reasons why my guest today, Joanna Horton McPherson, and I became instant friends is because people with shared values like that are really naturally drawn together. In part 1 with Joanna (she came back to record another episode, which will also come out in a couple of weeks), we are talking about how we build a business that's different than exactly the thing we wanted to leave in the 9-5 rat race. This led somewhat naturally to talking about our relationships with anger and emotional intelligence, and mission-driven entrepreneurship as public service and revolutionary action.

Meet Joanna:

Joanna Horton McPherson is a leader, serial entrepreneur, and speaker who specializes in the deeper aspects of leadership and personal fulfillment. Joanna helps mission-driven public figures develop their transformative message for audiences.

An advanced practitioner of Buddhist meditation and poet. Joanna focuses on inspiring the next generation of global leadership. She has founded several nonprofits and schools, one of which is near her home in Costa Rica.

Joanna obtained her Master’s in Education from Harvard University and serves as President-Elect for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Phoenix chapter.

Connect with Joanna:

https://joannahortonmcpherson.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-horton-mcpherson/

@joannahortonmcpherson on all socials :)

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

Sammy Bohannon, my guest this week, and I bonded over the complexities of blending personal and professional relationships, and the importance of understanding each team member's unique needs and working styles. Sammy's teaching background has clearly shaped her ability to connect deeply with clients, and I was really interested to learn more about her strategies for rejecting hustle culture in favor of realistic goal-setting and avoiding the trap of busy work. This episode was a refreshing reminder that we can grow and scale our businesses without sacrificing our values or work-life balance. I'm excited to continue exploring how we can redefine what it means to lead with courage and integrity.

Meet Sammy:

Sammy Bohannon, the founder of Bohannon Virtual Solutions, is an empowering online business manager (OBM) who helps ambitious online business owners streamline their operations, implement scalable systems, and build trusted teams. After starting as a VA in 2022, Sammy quickly recognized her expertise extended beyond typical VA tasks, leading her to transition to OBM in 2024. With a dedicated team, Sammy empowers entrepreneurs to confidently scale their businesses with clarity and ease, all while reclaiming their time and achieving sustainable growth without the overwhelm.

Connect with Sammy:

www.bohannonvirtualsolutions.com

www.instagram.com/bohannonvirtualsolutions

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

We all remember the rise of emphasis on DEIB following George Floyd's murder and the increased attention on the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. But shortly after, in 2023, those DEIB programs and priorities started declining. Now, there is almost a point of pride among companies retiring their DEIB programs and ERGs. My guest today, Michelle Beauchamp, came to me wanting to talk about why this is happening and what are the repercussions. And, in full transparency, we recorded this just 7 days after the 2024 Presidential Election (how appropriate that, with our emotions and anger running high, this episode is coming out the day after Inauguration).

Meet Michelle:

Michelle, a Consultant, Trainer, Coach, and Author, is a shining example of dedication and commitment. Her unwavering commitment to excellence is evident in her personal and professional growth journey. Her motto, "Unleash Your Inner Champ," reflects her passion for helping others grow.

She is a certified John Maxwell trainer who has developed numerous leadership development courses, providing comprehensive content and practical activities to boost participants' confidence and competence for real-world application.

Connect with Michelle:

https://thechampgroup.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/MichelleBeauchamp/

Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business:

https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/

https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter 

https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness

https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness