Her Origin Story

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Amanda reflects on the pivotal moment when her husband told her their marriage couldn’t sustain her distraction, and how that conversation forced her to confront the gap between who she was becoming and who she was expected to be.

She explains how she accidentally fell into real estate investing, starting with a few hours of paperwork each week, and how curiosity turned that opportunity into her life’s work.

Amanda shares her perspective on women and money; from generational conditioning to the stigma of “not being good with finances”, and why she believes curiosity and authorship are more powerful than literacy alone.

We also talk about risk awareness, values‑based investing, and her conviction that when women control capital, they invest in communities, healthcare, and technologies that create lasting impact.

Her story is a reminder that you don’t need a finance degree or a trust fund to start building wealth; you need curiosity, confidence, and the willingness to take the next step.

About Amanda Taylor:

Amanda Taylor is a business and wealth strategist, entrepreneur, and host of the Expand Your Empire podcast. She helps women move from financial sidelines to financial authorship, building wealth strategies that align with their values and create lasting impact.

Connect with Amanda:

🌐 Website: www.expandyourempire.org

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-taylor-biz/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_amanda_taylor/

📑 Substack: https://genxhermoney.substack.com/

📋 Investing 101 Course: https://investing101.expandyourempire.org/investing-101

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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Kristina shares how babysitting for her neighbor (who happened to be a drill team director) set her on a path from gymnast to dancer, eventually leading her into business ownership and expanding Crowd Pleasers into a premier Texas company.

Brie recalls growing up as an only child, quitting dance to try sports, then rediscovering her passion in high school and realizing dance was the place she belonged.

Together, they reflect on how dance teaches kids more than choreography — confidence, discipline, resilience, and life lessons that last far beyond the stage. They also talk about the stigma of the “starving artist” and why creative careers can be stable, lucrative, and deeply rewarding when paired with vision and business savvy.

Finally, Kristina and Brie share how Elevation On Tour grew out of decades of shared experience, and why they believe dance is about building people, not just performances.

About Kristina Cross and Brie Peña:

Kristina Cross and Brie Peña are co‑founders of Elevation On Tour and longtime leaders in the dance industry. Kristina is also the owner of Crowd Pleasers Dance, while Brie has built her career as a dancer, educator, and entrepreneur. Together, they create opportunities for dancers and staff to thrive in careers that combine artistry with business growth.

Connect with Kristina and Brie:

🌐 Website: https://elevationontour.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevationontour/

💬 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevationontour

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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Urmi opens up about growing up in a strict, traditional South Asian household in Italy, where women were expected to follow rigid rules and boys were given more freedom. She reflects on how those early experiences shaped her drive to challenge inequality and advocate for women.

She shares how questioning her cultural identity led her to embrace both sides of her heritage, turning what once felt like a limitation into a source of power. That clarity inspired her to mentor South Asian women, especially those navigating immigrant experiences, and to join organizations like Women in Leadership.

Urmi also talks about how she discovered finance almost by accident, falling in love with the subject during university and pursuing challenging certifications to prove herself in a male‑dominated industry.

Her guiding belief, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” shows up in everything she does, from mentoring women who never had a mentor to writing her book about transforming dual identity into a superpower. Her story is a reminder that identity struggles can become the foundation for leadership and impact.

About Urmi Hossain:

Urmi Hossain is a financial professional, CFA and CAIA charterholder, author, and host of the Stories Beyond Borders podcast. She mentors women of color and advocates for diversity and representation in finance, turning her dual identity into her greatest strength.

Connect with Urmi Hossain:

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/ 

🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/urmihossain 

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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Ramona recalls the moment she discovered theater as a place where she could finally be loud and expressive, despite growing up in a quiet household. That spark led her from biology labs to playwriting, and eventually into nonprofit leadership.

She reflects on her winding career path; from running arts organizations to teaching nonprofit management, and how teaching gave her a deeper appreciation for empathy and patience. Ramona candidly admits she wasn’t always the most empathetic boss, but learning to see each student as an individual transformed her leadership style.

We also talk about her upcoming book on the relationship between executive directors and nonprofit boards, why board dynamics are often misunderstood, and how nonprofits can thrive when leaders and boards truly understand each other’s roles. Her story is a reminder that even a “scribble” of a career path can lead to meaningful impact.

About Ramona Baker:

Ramona Baker is a nonprofit executive, educator, and consultant who has spent decades on every side of the nonprofit world; as an executive director, board member, and professor of nonprofit management. She helps organizations strengthen leadership and board relationships while championing the vital role nonprofits play in communities.

Connect with Ramona:

🌐 Website: https://www.ramonabakerconsulting.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-baker-0961608/

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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Brandi reflects on the seed that started her entrepreneurial path: her late husband’s encouragement to work for herself instead of climbing the corporate ladder. That shift revealed her natural curiosity and drive to question systems, even when it made her a “bad employee” in rigid corporate environments.

She opens up about one of the hardest moments of her life; standing at the podium for her husband’s eulogy while her phone buzzed with work calls. That painful disconnect between her values and her reality became the catalyst for reshaping her business and life.

Brandi shares how she now helps founders and small teams untangle their strengths, values, and energy so they can grow without burning out. We talk about the importance of humor, curiosity, and self‑trust, why social media narratives can distort reality, and how she guides clients to “out‑evidence” the limiting stories holding them back.

Her story is a reminder that entrepreneurship exposes every weakness, but it also offers the chance to build businesses that support life, not cost it.

About Brandi Holder:

Brandi Holder is a marketing consultant and coach who helps founders and small teams align their strengths, values, and energy to grow sustainably. She believes peace and joy are not distant goals, but choices we can make today.

Connect with Brandi:

🌐 Website: https://www.brandiholder.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bholder1/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bh_explains_it_all/

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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Kristin reflects on her early years as an art major, moving to San Francisco, and the defining moment when she stepped into the corporate world at McKinsey & Company. That decision shifted her trajectory from art and galleries into business and leadership.

She opens up about the summer of 2023, when she and 1,000 colleagues were furloughed overnight after their company imploded in scandal. The sudden loss of her role as COO left her in a dark season, but ultimately became the catalyst for launching her own business.

Kristin shares how she gave herself permission to grieve, embraced curiosity, and began building work that aligned with her values. Today, she creates spaces and conditions for women and organizations to get honest about what needs to shift, and helps them build bridges into what’s next.

Her story is a reminder that pivots often arrive uninvited, but they can lead us closer to the work and life we’re truly meant to build.

About Kristin Belden:

Kristin Belden is a strategist, coach, and podcast host who helps women and organizations align their work with the lives they want to create. Drawing on her own journey through corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and unexpected pivots, she empowers others to navigate change with clarity and resilience.

Connect with Kristin:

🌐 Website: https://www.beldenstrategies.com/

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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Deborah Newton opens up about losing her dad at age five, watching her mom’s resilience, and how those early lessons shaped her drive to succeed. She reflects on the devastating loss of her mom in 2024, the guilt she still carries, and the strength she draws from her mother’s example of perseverance and grace.

She shares her winding career path — from dreams of law and investigative reporting to discovering her true fit in sales and logistics. Along the way, Deborah explains how problem‑solving, grit, and building authentic relationships became the foundation of her success, and why she believes “everything is figureoutable.”

We also talk about the importance of community, the lessons she’s carried from family survival skills into business strategy, and how starting her own company, Newton Steele, became both a leap of faith and a tribute to her mom’s legacy. Her story is a powerful reminder that the hardest seasons often prepare us for the work and life we’re meant to build

About Deborah Newton:

Deborah Newton is a sales and logistics leader and founder of Newton Steele. Known for her gift in building lasting relationships, she helps organizations strengthen their sales strategies while carrying forward the resilience and lessons she learned from her own life journey.

Connect with Deborah:

🌐 Website: https://newtonsteele.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahchristinenewton/

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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What do you do when the future you’ve planned since childhood suddenly disappears?

Natalie Hurdley takes us back to her teenage years as a professional soccer player, when a devastating injury ended her career at just 15. With her dad’s tough but fair advice, “Plan A is gone, what’s Plan B?”, she pivoted into coaching and eventually discovered personal training as a way to help athletes across all sports.

She opens up about the depression she faced in her late twenties when her business success came at the cost of her own health, and how that experience taught her the importance of boundaries and self‑care. Today, Natalie helps ambitious women fit strength training into their chaotic schedules without sacrificing family, career, or joy. Her approach is the opposite of cookie‑cutter: she starts by understanding each client’s lifestyle, capacity, and non‑negotiables, then builds realistic routines that stick.

We also talk about how motherhood gave Natalie new perspective on the women she trains, why modeling healthy habits impacts the next generation, and how COVID and networking opportunities reshaped her business model. Her story is a powerful reminder that strength isn’t just about lifting weights, it’s about resilience, balance, and building habits that ripple into every area of life.

About Natalie Hurdley:

Natalie Hurdley is a strength coach, powerlifter, and founder of NH Personal Training. She helps overwhelmed, high‑achieving women simplify their fitness, build strength, and create consistent habits that support both their health and their lives.

Connect with Natalie:

🌐 Website: https://natalie-hurdley.systeme.io/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliehurdley-strengthcoach/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhpersonaltraining?igsh=ZWpoenNnZDJpM25n&utm_source=qr

📹Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nataliehurdley?si=YfDd4HIRsy4Xy-9T

💬 Fitter.Stronger.Healthier.Ladies Fitness Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/728796741105287/

📍 Pinterest: https://pin.it/VWWW2KtKm

🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@nhpersonaltraining?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

🎁 Free Resource: 5 Lift Framework

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

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What happens when early lessons about speaking up collide with cultural conditioning that tells you to stay quiet?

In this episode, Karen Laos takes us back to a flea market at age six, where her dad taught her the power of asking for what you want. She reflects on the confusing mix of influences she grew up with a father who reinforced negotiation and a mother who modeled silence at home but leadership in the community, and how those experiences shaped her confidence.

Karen shares the moment in a corporate boardroom when she realized she had been asking for permission instead of trusting her instincts, and how that breakthrough set her on a mission to help women overcome self‑doubt. We explore why cultural conditioning often leads women to put others’ needs first, the importance of specificity in networking, and how vulnerability can open doors to deeper connection.

She also introduces her Confidence Cocktail framework, eight ingredients that build what she calls “powerhouse presence” and explains why communication is both a skill and a practice. From coaching executives to helping female founders pitch with influence, Karen shows how clarity, courage, and presence can transform not just your career, but your life.

About Karen Laos:

Karen Laos is a communication expert, executive advisor, and creator of The Confidence Cocktail™. She helps leaders, especially women, find their voice, trust their instincts, and communicate with clarity and courage. 

Connect with Karen:

🌐 Website: https://karenlaos.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial/

📹Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos

🎁 Free Resource: 3 Strategies to Speak Up in Meetings

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.

Check Out These Highlights:

What if building a successful business wasn't about working harder, but about building one that actually supports the life you want?

In this episode, Toby sits down with Angela Greaser, co-founder of Stand for the And, to explore the unexpected path that led her into entrepreneurship. Angela reflects on growing up with a heart for teaching and international missions, preparing to move to Africa before her husband's health challenges changed the course of their lives. Instead of seeing that closed door as the end of the story, she embraced a new one that eventually led to helping entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses.

Angela shares what it's really like running multiple businesses with her husband while partnering with her best friend, Melissa, and raising two homeschooled children who have grown up immersed in entrepreneurship. Their conversation explores how intentionally involving their children in the family business has given them a completely different perspective on work, responsibility, and what's possible for their future.

Toby and Angela also dive into one of the core philosophies behind Stand for the And: "backwards mapping." Rather than starting with a business idea and hoping it works, Angela explains how entrepreneurs can begin with the life and income they want, then build an offer and business model that intentionally supports those goals.

Whether you're just starting your business or reevaluating the one you've built, this episode offers practical wisdom and an encouraging reminder that your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's, and sometimes the biggest pivots lead to the most meaningful opportunities.

About Angela Greaser:

Angela Greaser is the co-founder of Stand for the And, where she helps entrepreneurs build businesses that create meaningful impact while supporting the lives they want to live. Through coaching, systems, and the Sold Out Offer System, she teaches business owners how to simplify their strategy, build sustainable offers, and grow with intention. 

Connect with Angela:

🌐 Website: https://standfortheand.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-greaser-954b4ab6/

🎁 Free Resource: https://standfortheand.com/soldout

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About Me: https://tobymyles.com/about/

Free Gift: The Nashville Method: 5-Day Storytelling Mini-Course

Subscribe to Her Origin Story on your favorite platform. New episodes every week with real, raw stories about the moments that started it all.

Her Origin Story is produced by Toby Myles Copywriting, and podcast editor Ilorah Dela Cruz

All content © 2026 Toby Myles. All rights reserved.