If your hero headline still sounds like:

“I help X do Y so they can Z…”

…this episode is your loving intervention.

In this week’s episode, Kelli breaks down how the job of your copy has completely changed—and why the formulas that used to work (even just a couple years ago) are now falling flat in a noisy, AI-saturated, scroll-happy internet. 

You’ll learn why copy can’t just make your reader understand what you do anymore—it has to help them understand why they feel the way they do. We’re talking quiet-part-out-loud truth-telling, shared humanity, and language that makes your ideal client think:

“Oh my god, that’s exactly what I’ve been feeling but didn’t know how to say.” 

Kelli walks you through a simple way to turn your hero section (or any hook) into a tiny emotional gut punch—in the best way possible.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why copy 1.0 (a.k.a. “I help X so they can Y”) is no longer enough,
  and how the role of your hero headline has evolved from “Is this the right place?” to “Wow, she gets me.” 
• The new job of your copy in 2025
• How to write words that feel like a tiny dose of healing
• The three raw ingredients of a potent hero line
• Why generic AI-generated copy is numbing your audience
  and how to use tools like ChatGPT well—to excavate truth, not churn out more “Pinterest prose” and “motivational mush.” 
• What “truth as currency” means for your brand 

Mentions & Links

• The Hero Headline Kit– Kelli’s AI bestie trained on brand strategy + truth-telling prompts to help you write copy people actually feel. Get access via the opt-in linked in the show notes. 
• Uncensor Session (90-minute 1:1) – Remove the muzzle from your message: we uncover what you’re not saying, create safety around it, and turn it into what truly sets you apart.
• Loudmouth Lab Waitlist  (6-month group lab) – For ungovernable women ready to say the quiet parts out loud and build brands with a pulse, not just a presence.  
• Book Mentioned: The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck – on truth, wholeness, and what it really means to live in alignment with yourself. 

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

If the thing that would make your brand unforgettable is the thing you’re most afraid to say… You don’t have a messaging issue; you have a nervous system at capacity. In this episode, I break down why your body reacts the way it does when you go to post, pitch, or “be authentic” online—and how to work with your system instead of shaming yourself into silence. 

We’ll unpack how shame shows up as procrastination, over-editing, people-pleasing, and total shutdown—and why that doesn’t mean you’re flaky or broken. It means your internal “threat bucket” is overflowing. I walk you through the NSI (NeuroSomatic) lens of input → interpretation → output, and how that explains everything from ghosting your own launch to going blank on Instagram Live. 

I also share the story of a client whose most “unforgivable” moment—cheating on her ex-husband—ended up being the exact pivot point of her coaching work. The same story her nervous system was desperate to hide was the story that held her true edge and most potent positioning. Once we worked with her nervous system and the shame in her body, her articulation, confidence, and clarity finally caught up with the depth of her work. 

If you’ve ever known you have something to say but freeze the second you try to say it out loud, this episode will help you see that authenticity isn’t a personality trait—it’s a capacity you can build. And that capacity is what turns a “nice brand” into one that’s impossible to ignore for the people who are already looking for you. 

In this episode, we get into:

• Why “just be authentic” is low-key cruel if your body thinks authenticity = exile
• What your nervous system actually is in plain language (no woo, just your operating system)
• The NSI model of input → interpretation → output, and how it shows up in your branding
• The “threat bucket” concept and why you lose access to your best ideas when it’s full
• How shame acts as a protective strategy (not proof that you’re a terrible human)
• Real-life examples of nervous-system outputs: procrastinating, over-editing, sounding like Pinterest prose, going blank when someone asks what you do
• Why your edge—the thing that sets your brand apart—is usually the truth you’re most afraid to say
• Simple ways nervous system tools can make visibility feel safer (and eventually, even fun)

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

If your brand feels like a money pit or a mute button on your real voice, you might be building from your loudest wound—perfectionism, people-pleasing, shame—rather than your highest wisdom. In this episode, I break down how neurosomatics (applied nervous-system work) becomes the most unlikely, wildly effective brand strategy: it gives you the safety to be honest, polarizing, and prolific—aka a brand with a pulse, not just a presence. 

What we cover

• The “loudest wound vs. highest wisdom” lens—and how it quietly drives over-investing, rebranding spirals, and content paralysis. 
• Why willpower and “just post it messy” often fail when your body reads visibility as a threat (freeze → buy another course → repeat). 
• What complex trauma and fawn responses look like in business (over-editing, being bland, motivational mush). 
• How neurosomatic drills (think: vision, vestibular, interoception, proprioception) expand capacity so your voice and decision-making turn back on. 
• The brand result: disarming candor, creative stamina, and content that actually resonates. 

Links:

Get on the waitlist for Loud Mouth Lab- early 2026 launch; early-bird pricing + bonuses for waitlisters.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

If you’re dodging decisions because you “might change your mind,” you’re not broken—you’re human. This episode digs into how fear of judgment fuels commitment-phobia in branding, why shame makes visibility feel unsafe, and how to move from survival brain to self-led brand decisions you can actually stand behind. Evolution isn’t a branding liability—it is the brand when you honor it out loud.

What you’ll learn

• Why “I’m scared to commit” is usually fear of judgment (and how your nervous system treats social risk like a threat).
• How shame keeps you invisible—and burns you out while you’re trying to be seen.
• Evolution as a brand asset: owning pivots publicly to build trust and magnetism.
• Self-leadership > people-pleasing: bold brands come from confidently self-led humans.
• A practical reframe for decisions (colors, offers, posting) when you don’t “know” yet.

Key takeaways / quotables

• “If you’re doing this right, you’re supposed to be moving and evolving.”
• “It’s hard to build a brand from a place of wanting to be invisible while trying to be visible.”
• “Your perpetual evolution? That is the brand.”

Lightly bossy notes for your future self

• “I don’t know” is a flag for survival brain, not a stop sign. Make the smallest true choice, then iterate.
• Choose colors/offers because they’re true now, not because they’re trending. Permission to outgrow them later.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

If you’re a solopreneur coach or creative in a pivot, a custom website is probably not your next best move. In this tell-it-straight episode, we talk about visibility > vanity, why community beats cosmetic upgrades, and the exact order of operations to build a brand people feel (not just follow).

I share the hard-won lessons (hi, $35k ad experiment with basically zero ROI) and map the simple path: pick one platform, show up consistently, build your email list, and get crystal clear on your audience identifiers before you touch a multi-page site. We also dig into how to make your emails worth opening, what “adjacent value” looks like, and why knowing yourself is the magnetic core of a brand that converts.

You’ll learn:

• When you do (and don’t) need a website—especially during a pivot
• The better starter stack: platform presence + list building + clear POV
• What to send your list besides “20% off” (hello, useful and personal)
• “Audience identifiers” that act like a dog whistle for your people
• Why self-knowledge is the cheat code for visuals, copy, and offers

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

The algorithm didn’t kill your brand—loneliness did. In this episode, I break down why community is the trend that isn’t a trend (it’s a return to what actually works), how irrational loyalty is created, and why being a person beats playing a persona. We talk real relationships, energetic resonance, and simple ways to turn your corner of the internet into a room people want to enter.

You’ll learn:

• Why “community, not just presence” is winning right now—and how to start without a giant audience.
• What irrational loyalty looks like in real life (and how to spark it on purpose).
• The friendship rule for branding: act online how you act IRL—and watch trust compound.
• Practical places to meet your people (in person, micro-memberships, DMs done right).
• How to build a brand that feeds you back (so you stop burning out creating for crickets).

Resources Mentioned:

• Thread Hippie California (personality-packed tees for brand shoots)
• Shannon McKinstry’s podcast, Good Content, Episode 83 on audience identifiers. 
• Book a 90-minute Uncensor Session
• Join 20 in 12 (free 12-day mini series)
• IG: @kelli.was.here

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

The Difference Between a Personal Account and a Personal Brand

Ever feel like you’re walking a tightrope between being real and being strategic? Between sharing too much and saying nothing at all? This episode is your permission slip to stop performing and start creating from your pulse — not for the algorithm, not for approval, and definitely not for perfection.

In this week’s episode, Kelli gets raw about the confusion solopreneurs face when building a personal brand that actually connects. She unpacks the difference between being personal and personable, why “authenticity” has become a meaningless buzzword, and how people-pleasing might be the invisible hand holding your brand hostage.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The real difference between a personal account and a personal brand (and why it matters for conversions).
• How to create content that feels honest without oversharing or self-censoring.
• Why most “authentic” brands still feel fake — and how to fix that.
• The hidden link between people-pleasing, shame, and brand disconnect.
• The mindset shift from “What do they want from me?” to “What do I want to express?”
• How to use your values, voice, and vibe to create a brand that builds trust and sells.
• Why clarity and coherence matter more than constant posting.

🪞 Kelli says:

“Branding done right isn’t about performance — it’s about translation. It’s your essence, distilled into something that lands.”

She also breaks down how your audience can feel when your content comes from survival instead of self-trust, and how to build the kind of brand that feels human, magnetic, and self-led.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

If your business feels stuck, it might not be your niche or your website—it might be your identity. In this episode, Kelli shares the messy middle of evolving from “designer” to voice-and-identity activator, why you can’t out-brand not knowing yourself, and how nervous-system safety, self-acceptance, and honest preference-finding turn a boring brand into a magnetic one. We dig into functional freeze, shame, rest, heart-rate variability, and why dialing up the hidden 20% of you does 80% of your brand’s heavy lifting. Perfect for midlife women, creators, and solopreneurs who’ve spent years being “digestible” and are finally ready to be seen—loud and real. 

You’ll hear about:

• Evolving your business identity without burning it down overnight. 
• “You can’t out-brand self-doubt,” and why clarity beats aesthetics. 
• The 20/80 rule for branding: the part you hide is the part that converts. 
• Nervous-system basics (hypervigilance, functional freeze) and creative capacity. 
• Rest, shame, and rebuilding self-reverence so your brand stops feeling performative. 

Callouts & resources mentioned:

• Related episodes: Ep 1 (podcast origin story), Ep 2, Ep 3 (shame + identity). Start there if you’re new. 
• Mentions: Neuro Somatic Institute (nervous-system training)

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

Feeling stale, over it, and wildly under-engaged? This episode is your nudge to stop creating for palatability and start creating from play. 

We delve into why repeating the same message on seven platforms can drain your life force, how “self-expression vs. oppression” manifests in everyday choices (yes, even in leggings), and why the energy you create in content is the energy your audience receives. You’ll hear simple, human ways to re-spark momentum—think “dress the brand,” use an alter-ego, record like a voice note to a friend, and build a creative environment (somatics, color, zero-pressure hobbies) that makes showing up feel like oxygen again. If you’re a few years in, leads slowed, and you’re questioning your value, this is the fast track back to connection—and to content that actually moves people. 

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “palatability vs. play” is choking your creativity—and how to flip it. 
• The “self-expression out of oppression” lens for content and life. 
• Micro-moves to re-ignite aliveness: dress the brand, channel an alter-ego, make it fun. 
• Process hacks that keep you consistent (record like a voice note; ditch the fancy setup). 
• Somatics + environment: why play state > pressure state for ideas and output. 
• A zero-pressure creative outlet (coloring mushrooms with my daughter) as an alcohol-hour replacement. 
• For the “I used to have traction” crew: reconnecting to your work to rebuild momentum. 

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.

In Episode 8 of Kelli Was Here, we’re ripping the muzzle off and talking about the power of saying the quiet parts out loud—in life and in branding.

If you’ve been feeling like the best kept secret or watching your engagement dry up while posting polished, palatable content… this is why.

I share stories of how truth-telling (even something as silly as showing kale in my teeth on Instagram) creates real connection, while over-curated brands are getting crickets. You’ll hear:

• Why your audience isn’t connecting if you’re editing yourself down to “professional” and “presentable.”
• How micro-moments of honesty—like admitting you feel awkward in a mastermind breakout—build instant trust.
• Why transparency is the new strategy in a noisy, AI-filled online world.
• The 20% rule: how the part of you you’ve been hiding does 80% of your brand’s heavy lifting.

This isn’t about oversharing or airing your diary online. It’s about learning to spot where you’re holding back and practicing the art of saying what you really mean—because your quirks, slips, and humanness are exactly what make you impossible to ignore.

Whether you’re a solopreneur coach, creative, or consultant, this episode will help you drop the prototype and build a brand (and business) that has so much more than a presence; it has a PULSE. 

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears.

For those who are ready to stop orbiting their brilliance, Book an Uncensored Session – where your nervous system meets brand strategy.
I help you see what you’re not saying, feel safe enough to actually say it, and turn that truth into a brand that goes from best-kept secret to impossible to ignore.

If this episode felt like a peek into your own brain, come hang with me on Instagram. That’s where I share behind-the-scenes chaos, brand rants, design tips, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

Hit follow. Subscribe. Share with a fellow soloprenuer.

Because sensible is not your style—and it's never too late to become yourself.