Not Lost, Just Answerless — And Why That’s Okay

You know that limbo where you’re not exactly lost… but you couldn’t GPS your next move if someone paid you? Yeah. I’ve been renting space there for the last six years—zero plans to renew the lease.

This episode is for the women with a whole damn furnace of passion inside, but no clear door to let the heat out. You’ve got ideas, fire, talent—and every time you try to “figure it out,” it either feels 10 sizes too big or like an itchy wool sweater you want to rip off in public.

Inside, we’ll hit on:

• Why clarity doesn’t show up just because you’ve over-Googled it into oblivion
• How your nervous system is quietly running the “nope” show behind the scenes
• The sneaky comfort of “I’ll start when I know more” (aka: safety cosplay)
• What to do when every turn feels like the wrong turn
• The real reason your Hot Tamale passion feels like pressure

Bottom line: You don’t need STRATEGY, you need SAFETY. 

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears—and welcome to the beginning of something raw, real, and probably a little unhinged.

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, personal pivots, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

More into slow-burn storytelling and “holy sh*t, did she just say that?” essays? Substack is where I write the stuff that doesn’t fit into a square or a reel—aka the uncut version of becoming.

💡 If you want someone in your corner while you do it…
That’s where I come in. I do personal brand coaching where personal branding is more like personal becoming—because this isn’t about building a shinier façade, it’s about showing up as the you that’s been dying to get out.

✨ Or skip the overthinking and stop by The Studio for done-for-you design, strategy, and copy that finally gets your genius out of your head and into the world.

📍 Start here → www.kelliwashere.com

If you’re navigating change, craving truth, or just tired of pretending you’ve got it all together, I’m your girl. Hit follow. Subscribe. Or slide into my DMs and say hi like it’s 2013.

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Welcome to Episode 2 of “Kelli Was Here”! In this raw and honest episode, your host Kelli dives into one of the most difficult and important topics in entrepreneurship, especially for women: business debt and our complicated relationship with money.

Kelli opens up about her lifelong journey with financial shame, inherited beliefs, and the realities of growing up with a trust fund but little understanding of how money actually works. She recounts her early experiences of never having to worry about finances, feeling disconnected from the realities of earning and managing money, and how those patterns followed her into adulthood and entrepreneurship.

From college days funded by a mysterious trust, to never really understanding work as a path to income, to her start in entrepreneurship where financial transparency was lacking, Kelli unpacks how a lack of financial clarity and open conversation set the stage for years of hidden debt, shame, and secretly living beyond her means. She shares stories of running her own spa, over-investing in business courses and certifications, and struggling with the guilt and secrecy around accruing business and personal debt—sometimes hiding it from her husband and family.

Kelli reflects on the cultural and personal narratives that tell women they aren’t good with money, the cycle of shame and secrecy that keeps us stuck, and the unique challenges of female entrepreneurship. Through her personal story, she highlights the importance of transparency, the pitfalls of a consumer vs. investor mindset, and how all the real growth and breakthroughs have come from finally facing her financial reality head-on.

This episode is a compassionate, vulnerable invitation to break the stigma and shame around business debt. Kelli encourages listeners to get curious about their own money stories, to break cycles of secrecy, and to approach investment with intention rather than from fear or desperation. She emphasizes that the debt itself isn’t what causes the biggest problems—it’s our relationship to it, the secrecy, and the shame that do the most damage, affecting everything from our marriages to our ability to be present as friends, parents, and business owners.

If you struggle with your business finances, hide your investments, or wonder if you’re the only one feeling weighed down by debt, this episode is for you. Leave a comment, share your experiences, or pass this along to someone who ne

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears—and welcome to the beginning of something raw, real, and probably a little unhinged.

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, personal pivots, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

More into slow-burn storytelling and “holy sh*t, did she just say that?” essays? Substack is where I write the stuff that doesn’t fit into a square or a reel—aka the uncut version of becoming.

💡 If you want someone in your corner while you do it…
That’s where I come in. I do personal brand coaching where personal branding is more like personal becoming—because this isn’t about building a shinier façade, it’s about showing up as the you that’s been dying to get out.

✨ Or skip the overthinking and stop by The Studio for done-for-you design, strategy, and copy that finally gets your genius out of your head and into the world.

📍 Start here → www.kelliwashere.com

If you’re navigating change, craving truth, or just tired of pretending you’ve got it all together, I’m your girl. Hit follow. Subscribe. Or slide into my DMs and say hi like it’s 2013.

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Welcome to the very first episode of "Kelli Was Here," hosted by Kelli Preston—a podcast for women who are done being "digestible" and ready to reclaim their messy, authentic selves. In this passionate and deeply personal debut, Kelli, recording on her 45th birthday, shares her journey of stepping into the woman she truly wants to be, embracing vulnerability, and finally using her voice after years of holding back out of fear of criticism and judgment.

Kelli opens up about her decision to close her successful design business, Square Peg Studio, after ten years of helping women in the personal development space build their brands. She candidly discusses the challenges of navigating multi-passionate interests and the struggle of defining herself while battling business debt, shame, and burnout. As Kelli explores her "trauma era" and the complexities of midlife, she shares raw insights about depression, therapy, mental health, and the impact of overconsumption and people-pleasing.

Far from a polished branding podcast, this episode is a real-time exploration of unbranding—the courage to create content and live out loud before everything is perfectly figured out. Kelli invites listeners to accompany her through the messy process of self-discovery, personal growth, and transformation, candidly discussing everything from business pivots, coaching certifications, and career setbacks to the search for meaning, healing from trauma, and embracing change at midlife.

Throughout the episode, Kelli also teases what’s to come: honest conversations about topics we usually keep hidden, practical tips on branding, web design, and copywriting, plus midlife wisdom, self-care, and the importance of finding your own path—even if it looks nothing like what you expected.

If you’re a woman navigating entrepreneurship, reinvention, or just wanting to embrace who you’re becoming (high-maintenance hippie vibes and all), this vulnerable, genuine, and empowering premiere will resonate. Get ready to hear the quiet parts out loud, reclaim your weird, and begin building a life that finally feels like it fits.

Subscribe, share with friends, and join Kelli as she ditches perfection and embraces the beautiful mess of becoming—one honest conversation at a time.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Kelli Was Here. If you made it this far, bless your brave little ears—and welcome to the beginning of something raw, real, and probably a little unhinged.

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, personal pivots, and questionable thoughts I probably should’ve kept in my Notes app.

More into slow-burn storytelling and “holy sh*t, did she just say that?” essays? Substack is where I write the stuff that doesn’t fit into a square or a reel—aka the uncut version of becoming.

💡 If you want someone in your corner while you do it…
That’s where I come in. I do personal brand coaching where personal branding is more like personal becoming—because this isn’t about building a shinier façade, it’s about showing up as the you that’s been dying to get out.

✨ Or skip the overthinking and stop by The Studio for done-for-you design, strategy, and copy that finally gets your genius out of your head and into the world.

📍 Start here → www.kelliwashere.com

If you’re navigating change, craving truth, or just tired of pretending you’ve got it all together, I’m your girl. Hit follow. Subscribe. Or slide into my DMs and say hi like it’s 2013.

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