Crafted Connections

Episode 30: On-the-Go – Tracey Hanton of Praise Worthy Candles on Starting Over, Connection & Reclaiming Alignment

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

We’re back with another On-the-Go episode from the GROW Conference in Fort Wayne, this time featuring an illuminating (pun intended!) conversation with Tracey Hanton, founder of Praise Worthy Candles and proudly known as “The Candle Queen.”

Tracey shares the powerful story of moving to Fort Wayne from Philadelphia just months before the pandemic hit, and the unexpected challenges—and community—that shaped her journey. She opens up about launching her candle business while working as a career counselor, redefining what alignment looks like in business, and learning when to pause, reassess, and reconnect to purpose.

This is an honest and heartfelt look at what it means to keep showing up—for yourself, your creativity, and the people you're here to serve.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🕯 The unexpected move that reshaped Tracey’s life and work
 🌇 What it’s like to start over 625 miles from home—alone
 🎓 Balancing career counseling and candle making
 ⚖️ A beautiful definition of alignment as mutual elevation and divine purpose
 💬 Why connection—not just commerce—is the heart of her business

You Can Connect with Tracey + Praise Worthy Candles:
📸 Instagram: @praiseworthycandles

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 29: On-the-Go – Tabitha DeSeranno on Reinvention, Authentic Branding & Not Hiding Anymore

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

This On-the-Go mini-sode—recorded live at the GROW Conference in Fort Wayne—features a spark-filled conversation with Tabitha DeSeranno, creative CEO and founder of Spark & Soul Design Studio.

Tabitha shares the unexpected moment that propelled her back into full-time entrepreneurship and how that experience shaped not just her business—but her voice, her confidence, and her brand. We talk about owning your energy, staying true to yourself, and how “alignment” is less about your job title and more about who you want to be (and how you want to show up).

If you’ve ever pivoted after a setback or wondered whether it’s okay to take up more space—this one’s for you.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

💥 How a sudden job loss led Tabitha to reignite her business
 🎨 Why she helps women brand with confidence and personality
 ⚖️ Her empowering take on alignment—starting with the question, “Who do I want to be?”
💬 How choosing visibility over hiding has changed everything
🌟 A reminder that joy and business don’t have to be separate

You Can Connect with Tabitha Here:
✨ Instagram: @sparkandsouldesign

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 28: On-the-Go – Leah GiaQuinta on Divorce, Identity & Embodied Alignment

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

In this On-the-Go episode, recorded live at the GROW Conference in Fort Wayne, we’re joined by Leah GiaQuinta, a divorce transition coach and founder of Leah GiaQuinta Coaching.

Leah shares her own deeply personal journey of navigating divorce after 15 years of marriage, and how that experience became the foundation of her work today. With vulnerability and grace, she explores the ripple effects of major life transitions—and how we can choose to let them happen for us instead of to us.

We also dig into the word alignment, which Leah approaches from her background in physical therapy, weaving together physical, spiritual, and emotional embodiment.

This conversation is full of honesty, resilience, and insight for anyone redefining themselves after a major life shift.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

💔 How Leah’s divorce shaped her personal and professional path
 🌀 The layered transitions that come with ending a chapter of identity
 📦 Mary Oliver, grief, and finding the gift in a box full of darkness
 ⚖️ A physical therapist’s take on what true alignment really means
 💬 Reclaiming your wholeness—body, mind, spirit, and community

You Can Connect with Leah Here:
📱 @leahgiaquintacoaching
on Instagram

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 27: On-the-Go – Sarah Weaver on Postpartum, Thyroid Health & Creating a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

This week’s On-the-Go episode brings you a candid and empowering conversation with Sarah Weaver of Entourage Health LLC, a functional medicine nurse practitioner with a passion for hormone, mood, and energy care.

Recorded live at the GROW Conference in Fort Wayne, Sarah shares a deeply personal story of postpartum depression and the journey that followed—a path that led her not only to healing, but to founding a concierge practice that helps other women reclaim their well-being from the root.

We talk about medical gaslighting, thyroid health, and how she’s redefining alignment as creating a life she doesn’t feel the need to escape from.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

👩‍⚕️ How Sarah’s postpartum journey revealed a deeper thyroid issue
 🧠 The moment she chose to seek answers beyond standard treatment
 📣 Why so many women feel dismissed or gaslit in healthcare systems
 🌀 The ripple effect of getting to the root cause—not just the surface symptoms
 ⚖️ What it means to design a life that doesn’t require a vacation to recover from

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 26: On-the-Go – Amy Ballard on Leadership & Everyday Alignment

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

In this On-the-Go mini-sode from the GROW Conference Fort Wayne, we sit down with community leader and powerhouse multitasker Amy Ballard, Assistant VP of Member Experience at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union and the first female council president in Kendallville, Indiana.

Amy reflects on how her leadership journey has been shaped by many small moments—from the example her parents set to the ongoing work of raising her own kids with purpose. We also talk about the challenge of leading teams with diverse viewpoints, and how she defines “alignment” as finding agreement, even when perspectives differ.

This one’s for anyone balancing multiple roles, navigating group dynamics, or trying to stay grounded in what really matters.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🏛 A peek into Amy’s dual life as a financial exec and city council president
 🧬 How small influences (not big moments) shaped her leadership path
 🤝 What “alignment” looks like when you’re leading diverse teams
 💬 A reminder that disagreement doesn’t equal disconnection
 👩‍👧‍👦 Passing on a legacy of purpose to the next generation

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 25: On-the-Go – LeeTosha Henry on Impact, Identity & Temperance

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

We’re back with another episode in our On-the-Go series—real stories captured in the moment, recorded live at the GROW Conference in Fort Wayne.

Today’s conversation features LeeTosha Henry of A Butter Me—mom of three, former educator, and skincare entrepreneur—who brings insight, warmth, and deep honesty to her story.

LeeTosha shares what it meant to leave her teaching career, why working with youth left such a lasting impact, and how she’s redefining her sense of purpose through entrepreneurship. She also offers a beautiful reflection on temperance—a word she uses to define alignment, balance, and honoring where you give your energy.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🍎 A heartfelt look at LeeTosha’s journey from educator to entrepreneur
 👩🏽‍🏫 Why teaching teens helped her discover deeper trust and purpose
 ⚖️ What “temperance” means—and why it’s her key to living in alignment
 🧠 A reminder that your impact often lasts longer than you know
 💬 Honest reflections on motherhood, identity shifts, and transition seasons

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 24: On-the-Go – Jennifer Fisher of Wellness Empowered LLC

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

We're continuing our On-the-Go series on Crafted Connections—real-time conversations recorded out in the world, in the spirit of connection, curiosity, and community.

This week’s episode features Jennifer Fisher, occupational therapist and founder of Wellness Empowered LLC, who joined us at the GROW Conference in Fort Wayne. In this conversation, Jennifer opens up about her personal experience navigating perimenopause and how it led her to create more open, informed dialogue around women’s health and wellness.

We talk about the often-overlooked symptoms of hormonal shifts, the role of nervous system regulation, and how storytelling can foster validation, awareness, and support—especially during seasons of transition.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🌿 A deeply personal story of navigating perimenopause
 🧠 Why brain fog, anxiety, and joint pain are often misunderstood signs
 📣 The need for real conversations and safe spaces around menopause
 ⚖️ How Jennifer defines “alignment” across body, mind, and environment
 👯‍♀️ Why women’s stories—and storytelling itself—are central to healing and connection

You Can Learn More About Jennifer Here:
✨ Instagram: @WE_Wellness_Empowered

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 23: On-the-Go – The GROW Conference – The GROW WIWO Team
Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

This episode kicks off a brand new format of Crafted Connections: On-the-Go—conversations and reflections captured out and about at events, on the street, or maybe even on a bus.

Recorded live at the GROW Conference Fort Wayne, this episode brings you behind the scenes with five women from the GROW WIWO team. These are the vision holders, community builders, and creative forces who make GROW WIWO possible—and in this episode, they share reflections on the conference theme, personal growth, and their take on the term “alignment.”

Whether you were in the room or cheering from afar, this audio snapshot captures the spirit of GROW: brave conversations, big energy, and wholehearted connection.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🎤 On-the-ground interviews with five members of the GROW WIWO team
 🌱 Reflections on the Fort Wayne conference theme, Living in Alignment
💬 Why real community is built on vulnerability and momentum
🧠 Honest moments about identity, intuition, and showing up in your power

Featuring:
✨ Brittany Scott
✨ Kori Rae Kovacs
✨ Carmen Nikae
✨ Jill Trimmel
✨ Margaret Tilley

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 22: The Intersection of Marginal Gains & Your Delulu Era
Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

In this reflective solo episode, we’re getting a little nerdy and a little delulu—in the best way possible.

I’m exploring what happens when you combine the science of marginal gains (yes, that 1% better every day graph from Atomic Habits) with the bold energy of dreaming just a little unreasonably. Because, as I’ve learned, the combo of tiny consistent progress and big vision energy? That’s where the magic happens.

If you’ve ever felt torn between being a realist and a romantic, disciplined and dreamy—this episode is for you. Let’s talk about small steps, big trust, and choosing to believe in what’s possible, even when there’s no “proof” yet.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

📈 Why marginal gains are underrated magic
 💭 What being in your “delulu era” actually unlocks
 🎯 The power of 1% improvement—even on the foggy days
 🌀 Why trusting yourself is its own kind of discipline
 💡 Real talk on business goals, creative practice, and identity shifts
 👀 A reminder that evidence isn’t always instant—but it’s building

Referenced in This Episode:
📊 James Clear’s Marginal Gains Chart

 Source: Atomic Habits by James Clear

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...

Episode 21: Little Cutie - Life Lately & Course Building Energy

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

In this quick solo check-in, I’m bringing you another “Little Cutie”—a bite-sized, unedited episode recorded in the middle of a production-heavy season, just to stay creatively in motion and connected with you.

I’m sharing what’s been going on behind the scenes, from filming a recruitment series for the City of Bloomington to building out my self-paced storytelling course (Doc(YOU)mentary) in real time. I also share a few cozy updates from boat life and reflect on what it means to stay playful while creating things that matter.

This mini-episode is a love note to showing up, even when it’s scrappy—and a reminder that the little promises we keep to ourselves build the trust that fuels everything else.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🎥 A peek into Katelyn’s latest production project with the City of Bloomington

🌱 Boat life updates (including how the plants are doing)

🧠 What’s in the works for the Doc(YOU)mentary course

💡 Reflections on crafting a life and business that actually feels fun

📦 Why it matters to share your story—not just collect or compile it

🎙 Thoughts on working for yourself (and not getting lost in the sauce)

P.S. If your videos are stuck in your camera roll, head over to @calhounedits for quick editing tutorials, or book a free 30-minute consult here: [link]

Community Co-Working Monthly Kick-Off
Start the month with me! Once a month, we get together on Zoom to review the past month, set intentions for the next, and work on something that matters. Quiet focus, community, and accountability to keep the momentum going all month long. It's free. It's monthly. 👉 Sign Up!

Need Help Clarifying Your Story?
Story Strategy Sessions are designed to help you uncover your narrative, refine your messaging, and build a visibility strategy that actually feels like you.

🎥 Book your session: HERE

Join the Conversation
📲 Send a DM on Instagram: @CraftedConnectionsPod

Crafted Connections is produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

🌟 Subscribe and don’t miss an episode. Keep creating. Keep connecting.

...