Good Ideas + Bad Decisions

In this special episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' hosts Kat and Ellen celebrate their one-year anniversary by reflecting on how they launched the show from opposite coasts, never having met in person, and figured it out as they went. They cover their evolving workflow, hiring an assistant, and why they chose long-form conversation over social media, with a recurring theme of starting before you're ready. They also revisit early nerves, growth as co-hosts, and season two plans including YouTube, Substack, and guest ads, closing with words of wisdom from one year as podcasters.

Kat is the Founder of kat&co and a Creative Operations Consultant, helping interior designers and creatives turn ideas into streamlined, sustainable businesses. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, she’s known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter, The kat&co Download.

Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of Ellen Hockley Consulting and SAGE Women. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter, The Quiet Wins.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
01:06 One Year Milestone
03:31 Why We Started The Podcast
07:19 Remote Partnership
08:54 Tools And Workflow
12:09 Learning As You Go
13:59 First Publish Nerves
17:52 Sticking With It
21:23 Sharing And Listeners
25:37 Hosting Growth Lessons
27:38 Authentic Flow and Timing
29:48 No Script Guest Format
31:09 Co Hosting Chemistry
34:45 Moments That Stuck
36:51 Coffee Chats Come Back
40:14 Editing Help and Systems
43:52 Do It Differently Next Time
46:27 Season Two Experiments
50:42 Parting Words of Wisdom
53:53 Season Two Send Off

In this mini-episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' Ellen and Kat recap their weekends on a tired Monday after the time change, including a trip to see Spamalot,  and they encourage supporting local theater. They discuss recalibrating when Q1 results don't match projections. Kat skips rigid quarterly planning, instead protecting her time (no meetings Mondays/Fridays) and helping clients pinpoint what's driving resentment or stagnation. Ellen is excited about new offerings but worried about client growth while managing caregiving. Kat advises clarifying your ICP, defining success on your own terms, and avoiding urgency-driven marketing that makes business owners feel like they're failing. 

Don't forget to submit your business questions for future episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Question Link⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Kat is the Owner + Operator of  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠

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Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

In this episode of ‘Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,’ hosts Kat and Ellen talk to Carrie Sporer, co-founder of SWAIR, a clean, non-aerosol “showerless shampoo” created to work on very sweaty hair with no residue after she and her co-founder Meredith struggled with constant hair washing during marathon training. Carrie shares her shift from luxury accessories sales and operations into product entrepreneurship, how they found a nearby manufacturer willing to develop a custom formula, and the 11-month development process plus early formula and label iterations. She discusses building a mostly bootstrapped business with $75,000 in angel funding, using a 3PL from day one, later switching 3PLs, and relying on freelancers while Meredith keeps a full-time job. Carrie also covers expanding from a hero product to a brand with a leave-in conditioner and a 60-second pre-wash hair mask, handling negative reviews through customer education, and her advice to founders: ask questions and find partners who welcome them.

Carrie Sporer is the co-founder of SWAIR, a clean haircare brand for active people best known for its Showerless Shampoo — a first-of-its-kind formula that removes sweat and oil without suds, rinsing, or a blow dry. A Penn graduate with a background in luxury fashion sales, she launched SWAIR in 2020 with co-founder Meredith Krill after the two couldn't find a product that solved their shared post-workout hair frustration, and set out to make it themselves.

Kat is the Owner + Operator of kat&co and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!

Ellen is the Owner of Ellen Hockley Consulting and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

01:12 Meet Carrie and SWAIR

03:30 From Running to Product Idea

04:19 Marathon Life as Parents

06:41 Finding the Right Lab

10:39 Clean Formula and Hair Talk

11:41 Packaging and Fulfillment Setup

15:01 Bootstrapping and Angel Money

16:51 Co-Founder Boundaries and Agreements

19:42 Founder Time and Sanity Checks

21:27 Why Legal Framework Matters

21:38 Partnership Agreements Matter

22:59 Contracts Protect Everyone

24:31 When Agreements Save Friendships

25:43 From Hero to Brand

26:25 Leave In Conditioner Benefits

27:00 60 Second Speed Mask

29:17 Handling Negative Reviews

30:50 Fixing Product Education

34:14 3PL Logistics Switch

35:26 Future Product Roadmap

37:41 Founder Superpower Questions

39:29 Outsider Mindset Imposter Syndrome

40:44 Where to Find Swear

41:22 Final Thanks and Sign Off

42:03 Podcast Outro and CTA

In this mini-episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' Ellen and Kat reunite after a month apart to recap a hectic February marked by dark winter weather, travel disruptions, and family chaos. Ellen shares launching a Substack, redesigning and relaunching her client offerings with help from her VA, managing sick kids, and getting stranded in Dallas during a blizzard, including a stressful aquarium meltdown with her children. Kat describes weeks of nonstop California rain leading to black mold issues, a busy month with a spa visit and an Ohio install, and Valentine’s Day gifts including at-home blood typing kits and a blind wine tasting workshop that felt unexpectedly stuffy. Recording while Ellen is on a jury duty lunch break, they answer a business question about where they do their best work, citing airplanes, airport lounges, libraries, cars, and even hospitals.

Don't forget to submit your business questions for future episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Question Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kat is the Owner + Operator of  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

In this episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' hosts Ellen and Kat welcome Nadya Pierre, a fractional HR consulting expert and founder of Soleo Strategies. Together they dive into the complexities of running a business, focusing on the crucial aspects of HR for early-stage startups. The discussion covers the importance of setting up people systems, the challenges of hiring the right talent, and how company culture impacts business outcomes. Nadya shares her personal journey, the significance of having a supportive community, and offers practical advice on managing multiple clients while maintaining work-life balance. Tune in for valuable insights on entrepreneurship, mental health, and the rewarding chaos of making your own path.

Nadya Pierre is the founder of Soleo Strategies, partnering with tech, biotech, and AI founders to build scalable leadership, culture, and talent programs. With over a decade leading people operations and human resources from seed through Series B, she specializes in designing inclusive, high-performance cultures and coaching leaders through growth. SHRM-SCP certified and a Bridges Method executive coach, Nadya believes that leading with intention and kindness creates the conditions for lasting success.

Kat is the Owner + Operator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

00:00 Welcome to Good Ideas + Bad Decisions
01:08 Meet Our Guest: Nadya Pierre
02:44 Nadya's Journey and Business Insights
04:38 Challenges in Hiring and HR
12:11 Navigating the Job Market
19:59 Scaling Your Business
26:48 Setting Goals for the New Year
27:38 Balancing Work and Family Time
29:35 Managing ADHD and Productivity Tools
32:15 Time Management Strategies
33:38 Focus Tools and Techniques
44:20 Words of Wisdom and Final Thoughts

In this mini-episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' the hosts discuss their recent activities, including TV show recommendations and an in-depth look at their business strategies. Ellen shares her structured approach to planning with her husband, touching on their detailed annual meetings. The conversation shifts to 'woo woo' elements as both hosts delve into their experiences with tarot readings, human design, and astrology, exploring how these tools influence their professional and personal lives. Their discussion highlights the importance of self-awareness and alignment in business and life.

Don't forget to submit your business questions for future episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Question Link⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kat is the Owner + Operator of  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

In this episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' hosts Kat and Ellen sit down with Ronniesha Rivera, the owner of Vetted By Design and founder of Alder and Stone.

Ronniesha shares her journey from interior designer to business community builder, discussing the challenges of managing multiple enterprises, the importance of trustworthy outsourcing, and the need for authentic connections within the design industry. The conversation covers the intricacies of running a business while balancing personal life and parenthood. Ronniesha also gives insights into her passion for curating a supportive professional community and talks about the value of day-blocking for productivity. The episode concludes with Ronniesha's words of wisdom for entrepreneurs: keep going and see your vision through, emphasizing persistence and dedication.

Ronniesha Rivera is the founder and CEO of Vetted By Design, a centralized platform she created to help interior designers easily connect with vetted industry professionals. She also owns and operates Alder and Stone, a full-service interior design studio specializing in mountain homes for active families, a passion influenced by her upbringing in Washington's Pacific Northwest surrounded by natural beauty. 

Kat is the Owner + Operator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

00:00 Welcome to Good Ideas + Bad Decisions
01:17 Meet Our Guest: Ronniesha Rivera
02:34 Ronniesha's Journey: From Interior Design to Vetted by Design
03:56 The Challenges of Running Multiple Businesses
06:13 The Birth of Vetted by Design
10:42 The Importance of Community and Trust
15:31 Navigating Business and Personal Life
19:08 The Struggles and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
23:54 The Unique Value of Vetted by Design
26:19 Embracing Fluidity in Business and Life
27:38 Finding Community and Fulfillment
28:52 Understanding the Vetted Platform
30:53 Balancing Multiple Ventures
33:33 The Importance of Outsourcing
39:54 Technical vs. Creative Aspects of Design
44:35 Words of Wisdom and Final Thoughts

In this mini-episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' the hosts dive into their daily business experiences while navigating personal and professional challenges. They discuss holiday gifting, sharing ideas and plans for client gifts, family traditions, and the stress of finding thoughtful presents. The conversation then shifts to the importance of delegation in business operations. Ellen and Kat explore their own struggles and strategies for effectively delegating tasks to assistants and team members to help scale their businesses. With insights on hiring practices, financial considerations, and the value of networking for finding reliable help, this episode is a frank and relatable discussion for small business owners.

Don't forget to submit your business questions for future episodes!

Kat is the Owner + Operator of  Kat&Co and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!

Ellen is the Owner of Ellen Hockley Consulting and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

In this episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' hosts Ellen and Kat welcome Meg Davis, the founder of Explorable Places. They discuss their journeys in entrepreneurship, managing business operations, and the importance of adaptability. Meg shares her experiences of starting a SaaS business that helps teachers book educational field trips, her approach to scaling, and how she balances client relationships. The episode highlights the challenges and rewards of running a small business, mental health in entrepreneurship, and the significance of customer service skills. Tune in for an insightful conversation on making good ideas and bad decisions work in the world of business.

Meg Davis is a community leader and entrepreneur who founded Explorable Places in 2015 after years of teaching. She identified a gap in how field trip venues like museums and libraries connect with schools and community organizations. Her platform streamlines the planning process and helps teachers find engaging field-based and virtual learning opportunities that align with their curriculum. She co-founded SAGE with Ellen Hockley. 

Kat is the Owner + Operator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth. 

00:00 Welcome to Good Ideas + Bad Decisions
01:06 Meet Our Special Guest: Meg Davis
02:35 Explorable Places: The Journey Begins
04:38 Challenges and Growth in Entrepreneurship
10:37 Balancing Life and Business
20:05 Teaching Kids About Money and Responsibility
24:26 Future Plans and Aspirations
25:34 Pandemic Challenges and Adaptations
27:01 Sales Strategies and Overcoming Rejection
28:27 Client Relationships and Business Growth
33:21 Understanding Client Needs
39:31 Personal Stories and Business Insights
45:19 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

In this "Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat", Ellen and Kat share updates on their holiday experiences and discuss their plans for the new year. They talk about their busy holiday schedules, the challenges of dealing with illness, and the freezing winter weather. The hosts delve into their business goals, including better delegation, sustainable growth, and achieving balance. They also touch on the importance of mindfulness and being present in different aspects of life. Tune in to hear their exciting plans for the year and learn from their candid reflections and insights.

Don't forget to submit your business questions for future episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Question Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kat is the Owner + Operator of  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth.