Creatives Rule the World

When jewelry designer Shirley Larkan realized she was unconsciously sabotaging her own success, everything changed. At 53, she decided to stop hiding and joined the Art of Reinvention program – what happened next transformed not just her business, but her entire life.

In this episode, you'll discover how Shirley broke free from 53 years of limiting patterns, doubled her prices without client pushback, and created a thriving custom talisman jewelry business that attracts safari lodges and transforms lives.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• [5:21] The internal shift that started Shirley's transformation journey
• [9:19] How she was unconsciously creating situations to avoid success
• [12:06] The moment safari lodges started approaching her for custom work
• [13:10] Why she decided to outsource manufacturing and focus on client relationships
• [16:41] How transforming her pricing mindset attracted better clients
• [25:48] Her powerful talisman design process that marks life transitions
• [26:56] The meaningful symbolism behind Tracy's custom piece
• [33:22] What she'd tell anyone considering transformation

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• Follow @larkan_bespoke on Instagram
• Shirley’s Website: www.larkanbespoke.com
• Free Live Vision Mapping Session: Your Next Chapter
• Join the Art of Reinvention program

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

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If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

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What happens when you've built something successful, but your soul is calling for something bigger? This week, I'm sitting down with Stacey Owen, founder of Hey Silly Rebel and Sacred Money Archetype coach, who made the most courageous decision of her entrepreneurial journey: selling her thriving marketing agency to step into the unknown.

Stacey shares how my Art of Reinvention program helped her navigate this transition with clarity and courage. She talks about being "in the process of being in process," separating your identity from your business success, and why sometimes the scariest question isn't "Can I do this?" but "Is this possible for me?"

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur feeling called to your next evolution or someone who knows there's something bigger waiting for you, Stacey's story will remind you that reinvention isn't about starting from scratch. It's about honoring who you're becoming.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [05:11] Stacey's journey from bullied teenager to serial entrepreneur
• [12:47] The emotional process of deciding to sell a successful business
• [18:04] Dealing with guilt and identity when exiting your "baby"
• [30:50] Why the Art of Reinvention felt like it was "built for me"
• [32:07] Learning to be "in the process of being in process"
• [35:38] Building something bigger while coaching ambitious women

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• Follow @heystaceyowen on Instagram
• Free Live Vision Mapping Session: Your Next Chapter
• The Art of Reinvention Program

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
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3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

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Ever wonder why some businesses effortlessly attract customers while others struggle to make sales? The secret isn't in your product features, fancy bonuses, or even your methodology. It's in understanding the transformation your customers are truly buying.

In this game-changing conversation, I sit down with my dear friend Stacey Brass-Russell, a former Broadway performer turned business transformation expert who completely flips your understanding of sales and customer psychology. Stacey shares her jaw-dropping story of spending $8,000 on a Cartier bracelet (spoiler: it had nothing to do with needing jewelry) and reveals exactly why your customers aren't buying what you think they're buying.

From the neuroscience of why brains resist change to her powerful Four Pillars of Value framework, this episode will revolutionize how you think about messaging, sales conversations, and what your customers actually want. Whether you're selling jewelry, coaching, or any other product or service, Stacey's insights will help you move people from intellectual decision-making to emotional buying. And that's where the magic happens.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [04:27] Our full-circle friendship story: From yoga teacher to jewelry designer to business mentors
• [10:11] The #1 biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when selling their products
• [17:00] The $8,000 Cartier bracelet story that reveals everything about customer psychology
• [22:30] Why human brains are literally wired to resist transformation
• [28:20] The Four Pillars of Value framework that makes offers irresistible
• [36:06] Stacey's actionable advice for creating powerful messaging

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• Stacey's Four Pillars of Value Download
• Follow @staceybrassrussell on Instagram
• Stacey’s Website
• Passionate & Prosperous Podcast with Stacey Brass-Russell
• Free Live Vision Mapping Session: Your Next Chapter
• The Art of Reinvention Program

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

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What happens when an operations consultant who's been hiding behind other brands finally decides she's ready to be seen? In this deeply honest conversation, Heather Noska shares her journey from working in the shadows to stepping fully into her power as a business owner and leader. After years of successful consulting work, she realized she was being "tucked away in the back of a closet" – and that awakening changed everything.

This episode is packed with tactical insights about scaling startups, empowering your team, and navigating the uncomfortable but necessary growth that comes with visibility. Whether you're stuck in the daily grind or ready to step out from behind your brand, Heather's transformation story offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for breaking free from small business invisibility.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 03:31 - Why startups hire Heather (the sweet spot moment)
• 08:20 - How to get leaders out of the daily grind
• 15:09 - Shifting toxic company culture from the top down
• 29:31 - Heather's two big reasons for joining Art of Reinvention
• 35:18 - The transformative power of community in business growth

Ready to step into your own visibility journey? Listen now and discover what becomes possible when you give yourself permission to be fully seen.

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• Follow @HeatherNoska on Instagram
• Heather’s Website: sproutconsulting.co
• Art of Reinvention Program
• FREE Reinvention Brainstorm Session, August 8th at 10AM PT/1PM ET

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

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There's a version of you who already has everything you desire, and she's not that far away. In this deeply transformational episode, I get raw about my own reinvention journey and walk you through the exact framework that helped my clients step into their next level. From my 7-figure jewelry business collapse in 2008 to building a multi-million dollar education company, I'm living proof that your biggest breakdowns can become your greatest breakthroughs.

I break down my four-pillar framework: Activating Your Edge (embodying your future self), Claiming Your Worth (stopping scarcity negotiations), Amplifying Your Voice (sharing the truth you're afraid to speak), and Moving Like Her (taking action from your expanded self). This isn't just another mindset episode. It's my call to you to stop waiting for permission and start embodying the woman who already has what you want.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• [11:49] My jewelry business story and the power of embodiment visualization
• [19:39] Why 80% of my Art of Reinvention clients immediately continued working with me
• [29:54] The truth you're holding back that your clients need to hear
• [36:18] The magic you seek is in the work you're avoiding, the power question
• [42:54] Moving like the outcome is inevitable

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• FREE Reinvention Brainstorm Session, August 8th at 10AM PT/1PM ET
• Reinvention Activation Sessions (30-minute intensive calls)
• The Art of Reinvention Program
• DM "EDGE" to @iamtracymatthews for exclusive resources

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

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Tired of being the bottleneck in your own business? Leadership expert Elizabeth Hartke is here with some tough love about why you're stuck in busy work instead of stepping into your power as a visionary CEO.

After 12+ years of advising ambitious entrepreneurs (including John C. Maxwell!), Liz has cracked the code on scaling yourself before scaling your business. Spoiler alert: You're probably spending 95% of your time on things that aren't CEO-level work, and it's keeping you stuck in maintenance mode instead of true prosperity.

Liz breaks down exactly how to shift from surviving your business to becoming the leader it actually needs. Think game-changing schedule blocks, the one question that separates dreamers from doers, and why your calling might require more disruption than you're ready for.

This conversation will change how you show up in your business and your life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [5:38] Why 95% of entrepreneurs aren't actually doing CEO work (and what to do instead)
• [8:51] The 7 blocks every visionary CEO needs in their weekly schedule
• [15:00] The disruption question that separates dreamers from achievers
• [19:38] Breaking free from "easy but heavy" tasks with the Visionary Matrix
• [25:59] Why impact matters more than you think (and how it transforms everything)
• [31:00] Navigating pivots without losing your team or your mind
• [35:30] The refiners fire: Why struggle is required for sustainable success

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

Follow @elizhartke on Instagram

Download the 7 Easy Passive Income Ideas Guide

Download my free ‘Reinvention Season’ Podcast

Apply for the Art of Reinvention

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

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Catherine Licari is proof that creatives can absolutely master money. From working at W Magazine to getting her MBA at Columbia, she's now helping thousands of creative entrepreneurs through Cash Flow for Creatives and her bestselling Small Business Planner. In this conversation, we tackle why creatives are conditioned to fear finances, the real truth about business funding, and how to make financial planning beautiful and accessible.

In this episode, you’ll learn;

• [03:45] How Catherine went from fashion magazines to finance mastery
• [12:30] Why retail businesses are tougher than most people realize
• [18:20] The inventory mistake that can kill your business overnight
• [25:15] Why creative people were conditioned to fear money
• [31:40] The three types of business funding (and which one you actually need)
• [39:25] How to build relationships with small business bankers
• [45:50] The psychology behind pricing your products right
• [52:20] Why beautiful financial tools actually work better

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• The Small Business Planner
• Follow @catherinepdv on Instagram
• Follow @small.business.planner on Instagram

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

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What if the most traumatic moment of your childhood became the foundation for your entrepreneurial success? That's exactly what happened to business mentor and my dear friend, Danielle McKinley, who turned a devastating conversation with her mother into a million-dollar mindset.

In this raw and transformative episode, Danielle shares the exact moment at age 8 when she promised herself that money would never dictate her choices again. From building and selling a software company to helping entrepreneurs rewrite their limiting money stories, Danielle's journey proves that our biggest wounds can become our greatest wisdom.

Tracy gets vulnerable about her own money story around the 2008 bankruptcy that still triggers her today, and Danielle introduces her provocative "Thank Assholes" philosophy that will completely shift how you view difficult people in your life.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• [05:35] The childhood conversation that sparked Danielle's entrepreneurial drive and how trauma can become your superpower
• [08:47] Why Danielle felt empty after selling her software company and what happens when success doesn't align with your values
• [12:21] The 90-second rule for breaking negative emotional spirals and preventing trauma responses in your business
• [16:06] Why most entrepreneurs avoid their numbers and Danielle's "SOTU Method" for guaranteed financial growth
• [19:01] How to identify and rewrite your money story using daily affirmations and visualization techniques
• [22:21] The biggest wealth-building mistake business owners make (hint: it's about life insurance)
• [26:52] Danielle's "Thank Assholes" philosophy and how difficult people reveal your hidden strengths

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• Follow @_lifebydanielle on Instagram
• Danielle’s podcast: Magic in the Mess
• State of the Union Financial Check-In (SOTU Challenge)
• Join Desire AI

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram

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Ready to stop hiding behind your bench and start building a personal brand that drives sales? In this transformative episode, Tracy sits down with Taylor Smith, founder of The Power Table and self-proclaimed "pivot queen," to uncover why personal branding isn't just nice-to-have; it's essential for standing out in today's saturated market.

Taylor shares her journey from college professor to multi-six-figure entrepreneur across physical products, digital courses, and coaching, revealing how embracing her pivot story became her greatest business asset. If you've ever felt like your varied experience makes you "flaky" or wondered how to separate yourself from your business, this episode will completely shift your perspective.

Discover the five personal branding secrets that help creative entrepreneurs attract their ideal customers, build authentic connections, and increase profitability—all while staying true to who you are.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [8:00] Why hiding behind your products is hurting your sales
• [14:30] The identity crisis keeping creatives from building personal brands
• [21:30] How seeking validation from strangers led to business burnout
• [25:20] The five personal branding secrets that drive sales
• [30:00] Why enthusiasm is your secret weapon for standing out
• [35:00] How to use social proof beyond testimonials

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• Follow @taylorsmithonline on Instagram
• Stand Out and Sell Summit, July 23-25
• Join Desire AI in the Beta

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram

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What happens when you face your deepest fears, make radical changes, and emerge stronger than ever? In this deeply personal episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the most challenging seasons of my entrepreneurial journey and the incredible transformation that followed.

Join me alongside my head coaches Dawn DiGesare and Chelsea Farmer as we reveal the complete evolution of Flourish & Thrive Academy. From consolidating four separate communities into one powerhouse collective to launching the game changing Desire AI tool, this episode is packed with vulnerable storytelling, strategic insights, and a bold vision for the future of creative entrepreneurship.

Whether you're a jewelry designer feeling stuck in your marketing, a creative entrepreneur ready to scale, or someone navigating your own season of reinvention, this episode will inspire you to embrace change, leverage AI strategically, and remember that community and human connection remain irreplaceable in our digital age.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• [07:30] The Hot Seat That Changed Everything - The vulnerable moment at a retreat when Tracy publicly admitted her desire to move on and the abandonment wound that kept her paralyzed
• [13:29] The 70% Sales Drop by Design - Why Tracy intentionally scaled back, let go of most of her team, and sat in the discomfort to find clarity
• [20:04] The Erin from Twisted Ginger Success Story - From hobby maker earning $2K/year to selling out collections, proof that consistency wins
• [39:52] "This is My New BFF" - Real feedback from tech-challenged members who are now obsessed with Desire AI
• [45:39] Debunking AI Myths - Tracy tackles water usage fears and job replacement concerns with facts and perspective

Here are the resources mentioned in the show:

• The Desired Brand Effect Collective 
• Desire AI (Beta Pricing)
• The Jewelry Pricing Bundle+ Calculator

Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week. 

1. Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform
2. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”
3. Share your favorite insights and inspirations

If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere.

xo, Tracy Matthews

Follow on Social:

Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram

Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram

Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook