Branded Impact Podcast

What if you could grow a profitable, fast-growing business and raise a family, without outside funding, a perfect business plan, or 80-hour weeks? In this episode, Jocelyn Espejo sits down with recruiter and founder Lisa Klapschinski to talk about building a “life-first” business in 15-minute increments, failing fast, and letting authenticity be your biggest brand asset.

If you’ve ever told yourself you “need more time, money, or clarity” to start or scale, Lisa’s story will lovingly blow that excuse up.

In this episode of The Branded Impact Podcast, Jo and Lisa walk through Lisa’s journey from corporate recruiter to founder of LMK Recruiting Solutions, a subscription-based recruiting firm serving manufacturing, logistics, and tech companies. Lisa shares how she started her company six months pregnant with no website, no investors, and just 15 minutes a day, while designing everything around the life she wanted as a mom and CEO.

They dive into boundaries, client gut-checks, authenticity in branding, and why Lisa’s mantra, “Fail as fast as you can,” has been a game-changer for growth.

Key Topics

• Building a life-first business while raising a family
• Starting with no funding, no website, and no formal plan
• Shifting from solopreneur to CEO with a team
• Why authenticity is your strongest personal brand differentiator
• “Fail fast” as a business and branding strategy
• Boundaries, gut checks, and saying no to misaligned clients
• How to start (or pivot) your business with what you have right now, even if it’s just 15 minutes a day
• The mindset shift from “I do everything” to “We’re a company and I have a team”
• Why showing your real life (kids, chaos and all) can actually strengthen your brand and trust
• How to use “fail fast” to test offers, pricing, and models without overthinking
• Practical ways to set boundaries and work hours so you don’t trade a 9–5 for 24/7 hustling

Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Building a Business with Resilience

• 03:01 – The Journey of Starting LMK Recruiting Solutions

• 05:43 – From Solopreneur to Business Owner

• 08:51 – The Importance of Authenticity in Branding

• 11:31 – Failing Forward: Embracing Mistakes

• 14:40 – Navigating Client Relationships

• 17:24 – Setting Boundaries and Work-Life Balance

• 20:16 – The Power of Saying Yes

• 23:12 – Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

• 34:57 – Outro: Make Your Branded Impact

Guest: Lisa Klapschinski, Founder & CEO of LMK Recruiting Solutions

• 🌐 Website: www.lmkrecruiting.com

• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-marie-klapschinski/

• 📧 Email: [email protected]

Special Offer for Listeners:
Mention The Branded Impact Podcast when you reach out and Lisa will gift you a 15-minute meet & greet to talk through your goals, hiring challenges, or growth plans and explore how she can support you.

Explore Branding by Jo at www.brandingbyjo.com to align your visuals, messaging, and systems so you can show up, sell, and scale with confidence.

What if being selfish was actually the smartest move for your business? 💭

In this episode, Jo Espejo, Founder of Branding by Jo, sits down with Shari Biery, Purpose & Well-Being Coach and creator of The C.A.L.M. Method™, to explore how women entrepreneurs can reclaim their energy, confidence, and clarity without guilt. Shari shares how putting yourself first isn’t selfish; it’s strategy. Together, they dive into mindset shifts, boundaries, and what it really means to build a brand that feels aligned and sustainable.

🎙️ Full Show Notes

If you’ve ever felt like you’re giving everything to everyone: clients, kids, relationships, your business and still running on empty, this conversation is your permission slip to slow down.

In this episode of The Branded Impact Podcast, host Jo Espejo and guest Shari Biery unpack the powerful connection between personal wellbeing and brand success. Shari is a Purpose & Well-Being Coach, author of It’s Your Turn, and founder of Alive with Purpose Health & Life Coaching. After twenty years as a military spouse constantly reinventing herself with each move, Shari reached a breaking point. Her husband’s retirement became her wake-up call — and his words, “Now it’s your turn,” sparked a complete transformation.

Through that journey, Shari created the C.A.L.M. Method™, a framework designed to help midlife women rebuild clarity, confidence, and energy after years of putting themselves last. The four pillars, Clarity, Awareness, Listening to your body, and Mindset, form a roadmap for women ready to show up differently, both in life and in business.

Jo and Shari explore what happens when we finally stop equating productivity with worth and start leading from a place of alignment. Because when your energy is grounded, your brand becomes magnetic.

💡 Key Themes You’ll Hear:

• It’s not selfish, it’s strategy. Fueling yourself first creates focus, confidence, and better leadership.

• The language you use shapes your mindset. Shift from “I should” to “I get to.”

• Rest is not wasted time. It’s a possibility-generating activity that fuels creativity and clarity.

• Boundaries are brand strategy, they define your values and your energy.

• Slowing down often leads to faster growth.

🧭 What You’ll Learn

• How to align your energy and business strategy for sustainable success

• Why clarity builds confidence and confidence builds trust

• How resentment shows up when you don’t ask for what you need

• Ways to add “snack-size” self-care moments into your workday

• How to shift from doing it all to leading with purpose

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 — Reclaiming Energy and Confidence05:27 — The Journey of Self-Discovery11:52 — Shifting Mindsets: From Should to Get To17:57 — The C.A.L.M. Method™: Clarity and Awareness23:13 — Rest as a Possibility-Generating Activity27:04 — Building a Supportive Network29:52 — The Importance of Slowing Down32:35 — Embracing Chaos and Finding Clarity35:59 — Prioritizing Self-Care and Intentionality41:01 — Communication, Boundaries & Collaboration

About Shari Biery
Shari Biery is a Purpose & Well-Being Coach, speaker, and author of It’s Your Turn. She empowers women to reclaim their energy, identity, and confidence through her signature C.A.L.M. Method™ helping them move from burnout to balance with clarity, awareness, and aligned action.

Connect with ShariWebsite → sharibiery.comFree Guide → 5 Strategies to Make Yourself a PriorityInstagram → @sharibieryLinkedIn → Shari Biery

🎙 About The Branded Impact PodcastHosted by Jo Espejo, founder of Branding by Jo, The Branded Impact Podcast helps women entrepreneurs build bold, strategic brands that attract, connect, and convert, without the burnout. 🎧 Listen to more episodes → The Branded Impact Podcast

Jo’s Final TakeawayYour brand reflects what you’ve reclaimed. When you stop labeling rest, clarity, or boundaries as selfish and start seeing them as strategy, you become the kind of leader your business and your life truly need.

Summary What happens when your values guide every business decision? In this heartfelt episode, Jo Espejo sits down with Annamarie Fernyak to talk about pivoting with purpose, integrating mindfulness into leadership, and building brands that honor authenticity. From community development to classroom mindfulness, Annamarie shares how clarity of mission and compassion can ripple through families, schools, and entire communities.

Key Topics Covered

• Discovering your core values and using them as a compass for business pivots

• Building community-driven brands that reflect your mission

• Translating your message for diverse audiences — schools, parents, and libraries

• Balancing self-compassion with service as a woman founder

• Knowing when and how to outsource to stay in your zone of genius
  

What You’ll Learn

• Why alignment with your values makes decision-making easier

• How to build a brand that grows with you

• Ways to communicate authentically across different markets

• Why self-compassion isn’t selfish and how to practice it daily

• How to recognize the right moment to get help and scale sustainably
  

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Mind Body Align

07:28 Navigating Values and Authenticity

16:46 The Role of Community in Brand Development

21:52 Understanding Diverse Demographics in Marketing

24:10 Branding Strategies for Different Markets

27:16 The Importance of Language in Marketing

32:17 Leveraging Team Strengths and Unique Abilities

38:35 Outsourcing: When and How to Do It

Featured Guest Links:

Annamarie Fernyak, Annamarie Fernyak, Founder & CEO of Mind Body Align, author of Right Side of Happiness

Website: https://mindbodyalign.com

Book: Right Side of Happiness (also available on Amazon)

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amfernyak

Instagram: @mindfullyannamarie

Facebook:

Email: [email protected]

Host Details:

Ready to align your visuals and strategy so your brand attracts, connects, and converts? Explore Branding by Jo at www.brandingbyjo.com.

Instagram: @brandingbyjo

Can tradition spark transformation? ✨ In this inspiring episode of the Branded Impact Podcast, host Jocelyn “Jo” Espejo sits down with Jinal Sampat, fine jewelry designer and founder of Sampati, a brand redefining what it means to honor heritage in a modern world.

A trained architect turned jewelry entrepreneur, Jinal shares how she transformed the sacred mangalsutra, a symbol of Indian marriage, into a modern heirloom that bridges culture and contemporary design. Through her rebranding journey, she discovered that authenticity, sustainability, and abundance are the real gems behind building a purpose-driven brand.

💎 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Jinal turned a cultural tradition into a global jewelry movement

• Why design is about empathy and problem-solving, not just aesthetics

• How rebranding clarified Sampati’s purpose and aligned it with legacy

• The mindset shift behind starting scrappy, failing fast, and growing with integrity

• Why female founders should focus on community and clarity not perfection

Jinal also shares her personal mantras: Live Sustainably and Compassionately, Lead with Integrity, and Embrace an Abundant Mindset, values that shape not just her brand, but how she lives and leads.

Whether you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or creative founder, this episode will remind you that transformation starts with purpose and that your story is your most powerful brand asset.

✨ Listen now and discover how tradition becomes transformation when you lead with authenticity.

Connect with Jinal Sampat🌐 www.sampati.com📱 Instagram: @sampati_official💼 LinkedIn▶️ YouTube: Sampati

Connect with Host Jo Espejo🌐 brandingbyjo.com📱 Instagram: @brandingbyjo

In this episode of The Branded Impact Podcast, Jocelyn “Jo” Espejo sits down with Dr. Holly Neujahr, founder of N2 Physical Therapy and Sisu Business Practice, to unpack how she transformed burnout into a thriving, purpose-driven healthcare brand.

Holly shares her journey from launching a pelvic health practice to leading multiple clinic locations with a culture built on provider wellbeing, autonomy, and alignment. Together, Jo and Holly explore what it takes to scale sustainably — from team development and culture-first leadership to building a consistent, experience-driven brand.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, founder, or entrepreneur, you’ll walk away inspired to grow your brand without losing your purpose.

What You’ll Learn

• The connection between pelvic health, patient experience, and provider wellbeing

• How to know when it’s time to outsource and hire help

• Building a culture that prevents burnout and empowers autonomy

• Keeping brand experience consistent across multiple locations

• How to measure success beyond social media metrics
• The mindset shift from DIY hustle to sustainable growth

• Healthy teams = Healthy business.

  Pull Quotes

  “When you can give up control of what isn’t your expertise, do it.” — Dr. Holly Neujahr

  N2 Physical Therapy Freebies: 

  https://n2physicaltherapy.com/free-womens-pelvic-health-bliss-course/

  https://n2physicaltherapy.com/free-mens-pelvic-health-course/

  The Sisu Practice Free Training Snippets for Physical Therapists: 

  https://thesisupractice.com/free-training-for-physical-therapists/

  
  

  “You don’t have to be perfect to make an impact. You just have to stay aligned.” — Jo Espejo

Personal finance made approachable. In this fun, down-to-earth episode, Jocelyn Espejo, aka Jo, interviews Cally Ingebritsen, Founder & Financial Coach at Chillax Finance, on financial coaching, budgeting basics (50/30/20), money management, and a healthier money mindset, plus how authentic branding and simple entrepreneurship moves (hello, email marketing) boost visibility and trust.

Cally brings 16+ years of experience and multiple certifications to demystify financial literacy. She shares the common “WTF money moments” that prompt people to seek help, the four pillars of Money 101 (bills, savings, debt, fun), and why consistency > perfection. We also get into branding that feels like you (and stands out), because your story and quirks are conversion power, yes, even Shakira-level fandom.

What You’ll Learn

• Why traditional financial planning can feel intimidating and how Chillax Finance flips the script

• Money 101 made simple: bills, savings, debt, and fun (freedom, not restriction)

• The role of an emergency fund for debt prevention (while paying balances down)

• How to make progress without being “perfect” with money

• • The branding mistake that makes businesses forgettable and how authenticity builds trust faster than polish
  • Visibility foundations for service founders: website, reviews/SEO, and email marketing to nurture “not-yet-ready” buyers

• • “It’s not a flex to be a well-kept secret.”
  • “Don’t accept that it has to be stressful.”

  
  

  Connect with Cally & Chillax Finance

  🌐 Website: chillaxfinance.com

  📱 Instagram: @chillaxfinance

  💼 LinkedIn: Cally Ingebritsen

  
  

  Join the Branded Impact Community

  ✨ Love this? Subscribe for weekly conversations on branding, visibility, and impact.

  📩 DM @brandingbyjo on Instagram and share your favorite insight. 🎯 Ready to build a bold, aligned brand?

  Book a call with Jo today.

  
  

  Tools I Personally Recommend

  ✅ Flodesk – Create gorgeous, easy emails (my go-to ESP). Get 50% off your first year:

  ✅ Plann – Plan, schedule, and post your social content:

  (Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I use and love.)

  
  

Jo Espejo sits down with Alyx Coble-Frakes, Founder & CEO of The Agenda, a groundbreaking femtech company revolutionizing how women approach productivity, relationships, and well-being. A former health coach turned accidental tech entrepreneur, Alyx has grown The Agenda. into a movement that’s earned national media coverage, strategic partnerships, and a loyal community of women who are done with burnout and ready to thrive.

Alyx opens up about the science of cycle literacy, why women are not “smaller men,” and how hormones impact brain function, creativity, and energy throughout the month. She shares the mission behind The Agenda. To help women build lives that work with their biology instead of against it, and how personal branding played a pivotal role in attracting aligned investors, collaborators, and users. With unfiltered honesty, Alyx also reveals the branding mistakes female founders make, how to show up powerfully instead of professionally, and why authenticity and boldness are your ultimate differentiators.

Whether you’re a founder, creator, or changemaker, this conversation is packed with insight, strategy, and inspiration to help you own your story and stop playing small.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

Why tracking your cycle isn’t a weakness. It’s your ultimate strategy

How hormones impact productivity, relationships, and creativity

The Agenda: a blueprint for living in alignment with your biology

Why burnout is optional when you sync your work with your cycle

The biggest branding mistake female founders make (and how to avoid it)

How to build a bold personal brand that attracts aligned opportunities

Why boldness and lived experience are the keys to influence in 2025

🧲 This Episode is For:

✔️ Women entrepreneurs who want to thrive without burning out

✔️ Founders and CEOs ready to build brands that start conversations

✔️ Professionals seeking alignment between biology and business

✔️ Female leaders tired of “hustle culture” and ready for sustainable success

✔️ Anyone curious about blending science, strategy, and self-care

📇 Connect with Alyx Coble-Frakes & The Agenda.

🌐 Website: theagendaperiod.com

📱 Instagram: @theagendaperiod

💌 Free Resource

✨ Start syncing your schedule with your cycle: Download the free guide

📢 Join the Movement

Love this episode? Subscribe for more authentic conversations around branding and impact.

📩 DM @brandingbyjo

 on Instagram and share your favorite takeaway.

🎯 Ready to build a brand that makes people feel something? Book a call with Jo today.

💼 Tools I personally recommend

✅ Flodesk – Create gorgeous, easy-to-use emails. Get 50% off your first year: https://flodesk.com/c/JOCELYNESPEJO

✅ Plann – Schedule, plan & post your social content with ease - https://www.plannthat.com/register/?fp_ref=cus_P56FcFDrW0EuRv&name=Branding

(Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I use and love).

🌟 Welcome to Episode 16 of the Branded Impact Podcast with Branding by Jo! In this unapologetic and powerful conversation, host Jo Espejo sits down with Tara Leson, a multi-passionate entrepreneur, strategist, and podcast host, to talk about scaling businesses with systems, strategy, and values-led growth.

Tara shares her inspiring journey of pivoting from nursing and fitness to building an online business that empowers entrepreneurs to define their own success terms. She opens up about creating alignment, building authentic connections, and the power of unapologetically living your “why.”

If you’ve ever felt pressured by the “shoulds” of entrepreneurship or worried that automation will take away your humanity, this episode will remind you that personal branding isn’t just about visibility; it’s about connection, integrity, and impact.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Tara built a values-driven business rooted in systems and strategy

• Why defining success on your own terms is key to sustainable growth

• The truth about scaling: automate tasks, not human connections

• How strong opinions can repel some but attract your most aligned clients

• Why being values-led helps build deeper relationships and stronger communities

• The role of initiatives like The Safer List in shaping authentic spaces

✔️ Entrepreneurs ready to scale without losing authenticity ✔️ Women craving alignment between business and life

✔️ Coaches, strategists, and creatives who want to stand out with values-led branding

✔️ Leaders looking to build genuine relationships in a tech-driven world

✔️ Anyone tired of cookie-cutter business advice

🌐 Website: taraleson.com

📸 Instagram: @iamtaraleson

🎙️ Podcast: Unapologetic

`💌 Free Strategy Session: Book your 30-min Systems & Strategy to Scale session with Tara

As Tara says at the end of our conversation: 👉 “Go after everything you f’ng want and be unapologetic about it.”

✅ Flodesk – Create beautiful, easy-to-use emails. Get 50% off your first year: Click here ✅ Plann – Schedule, plan & post your social media content with ease: Click here

(Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and love.)

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Branded Impact Podcast for more real, inspiring conversations on branding, business, and impact.

📩 DM @brandingbyjo on Instagram and share your biggest takeaway from this episode.

This Episode is Perfect For:

📇 Connect with Today’s Guest: Tara Leson

🎯 Jo’s Big Takeaway🛠 Tools & Resources I Personally Recommend✨ Let’s Stay Connected!

🎙️ Branded Impact Podcast #15 | Guest: Dianne Kosto (Symmetry Neuro Pathways)

🌟 Episode Overview In this powerful, hope-filled episode, Jo Espejo sits down with Dianne Kosto—Founder & CEO of Symmetry Neuro Pathway Training, a self-described “mom on a mission.” Dianne shares how neurofeedback-based brain regulation saved her son’s life and became a company dedicated to making regulation accessible for families worldwide. She unpacks scaling to ~$500k by speaking in the right rooms, then transparently walks through a major pivot from B2C to B2B with a 100% done-for-you delivery model for clinics, gyms, schools, and wellness centers. You’ll hear how clear messaging, brand guardianship (shoutout to lead creative Molly), and capacity-driven growth (27 launch locations) are guiding Symmetry’s next chapter.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

• How Dianne turned a personal crisis into a mission-driven brand using brain regulation (neurofeedback).

• Speaking-to-revenue: the rooms that helped her reach half a million—and what changed when an industry collapsed.

• The pivot playbook: moving from B2C to B2B with a done-for-you model that removes time, training, and equipment barriers.

• Messaging that sticks: simplifying complex science without overstepping clinical scope—and why consistency matters.

• Strategic partners Symmetry is targeting now (biohacking/longevity clinics, chiropractic neurologists, high-end gyms, select residential programs).

• Capacity-led scaling: why “27 locations” is the near-term target before opening the floodgates.

🧲 This Episode Is For ✔️ Parents and caregivers seeking non-invasive options for dysregulation/impulsivity ✔️ Founders building mission-led brands in complex or regulated spaces ✔️ Wellness, biohacking & performance clinics exploring add-on services ✔️ Marketers/ops leaders simplifying scientific services for mainstream audiences

🧪 Symmetry in a Sentence Noninvasive brain training that uses real-time feedback to help the brain learn healthier patterns—so people can self-regulate more effectively.

📍 Where Symmetry Is Launching Next. Initial trainings are lining up in Texas and expansion in Utah—with a goal of 27 high-fit partner locations.

🛠 Toolbox Talk (Rapid Fire)

• Dianne’s must-have: Basecamp for company-wide project management.

• Molly’s creative stack: ChatGPT (“Sage”), Canva, and Midjourney for brand-aligned visuals.

📇 Connect with Dianne Kosto & Symmetry Neuro Pathways 🌐 Website: symmetryneuropt.com 📱 Social: @symmetryneuroPT (all major platforms)

💌 Join the Movement Loved this conversation? Subscribe for more candid, practical chats on branding and impact. DM @brandingbyjo with your biggest takeaway and tag a clinic owner or wellness lead who should hear this.

🎯 Partner With Symmetry Operate a biohacking/longevity clinic, chiropractic neurology practice, high-end gym, or out-of-pocket residential program? Explore Symmetry’s done-for-you brain regulation service and help your clients see measurable results—without adding overhead, equipment, or new certifications. 

Tools I Love & RecommendWant to simplify your brand marketing and stay consistent without the overwhelm? These are two tools I use every single week in my business:

• Flodesk – Create gorgeous, easy-to-use emails that connect with your audience. Use my link for 50% off your first year.

• Plann – Take the guesswork out of social media. Plan, schedule, and post with ease using Plann’s all-in-one content tool.

Full disclosure: These are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and love to help you amplify your brand and maximize your impact.

🎙️ Branded Impact Podcast #14 | Guest: Heather Wentler, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Doyenne

🌟 Episode Overview In this inspiring episode, Jo Espejo sits down with Heather Wentler, the Co-founder and Executive Director of Doyenne, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and building inclusive ecosystems. A former K–12 educator turned entrepreneur, Heather also founded Fractal and Madison SOUP, and today serves as a recognized leader and advocate for equity in entrepreneurship, sitting on advisory boards and driving initiatives that empower historically marginalized genders.

Heather opens up about the evolution of Doyenne and how the organization helps founders identify if they’re at the right stage to work together—or if the timing will be better in the future. She also shares how being bold, different, and unapologetically true to your brand is essential for standing out in business.

From redefining entrepreneurship beyond just a paycheck, to offering tangible support through Doyenne’s programs (like the Investor Accelerator, currently offering a 33% discount for the Sept–Nov cohort), Heather brings practical wisdom and powerful perspective for entrepreneurs navigating the early stages of growth.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

• How Doyenne supports founders through every stage of the entrepreneurial journey

• Why aligning your brand with your values builds confidence and clarity

• The biggest fears holding founders back and how to overcome them

• The importance of honoring the deeper “why” behind your business, beyond money

• How boldness and differentiation create stronger, more authentic brands

• Insights into Doyenne’s Investor Accelerator Program and opportunities for funding

🧲 This Episode is For: ✔️ Early-stage entrepreneurs ready to grow with clarity and support ✔️ Founders who want to align their brand with their deeper purpose ✔️ Business leaders exploring funding opportunities and investment readiness ✔️ Women and historically marginalized entrepreneurs seeking equity and visibility ✔️ Anyone afraid of “being too bold” but ready to stand out

📇 Connect with Heather & Doyenne 🌐 Website: doyennegroup.org 📱 Social: @doyennegroup (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)

💌 Join the Movement ✨ Love this episode? Subscribe for more authentic conversations around branding and impact. 📩 DM @brandingbyjo on Instagram with your favorite takeaway. 🎯 Ready to build a bold brand rooted in who you are? Book a call with Jo today.

Tools I Love & RecommendWant to simplify your brand marketing and stay consistent without the overwhelm? These are two tools I use every single week in my business:

• Flodesk – Create gorgeous, easy-to-use emails that connect with your audience. Use my link for 50% off your first year.

• Plann – Take the guesswork out of social media. Plan, schedule, and post with ease using Plann’s all-in-one content tool.

Full disclosure: These are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and love to help you amplify your brand and maximize your impact.