Lay the Course Podcast

Adriana Monique Alvarez is the CEO and Founder of AMA Publishing. She teaches women how to start highly profitable publishing companies and has written How to Start a Six Figure Publishing Company (available on Amazon). She’s a USA Today bestselling author and her most recent book, The Younger Self Letters, debuted at #1 on bestseller lists internationally.

In this episode you will hear:

“Every time you tell your story, you help somebody else make sense of their life,” said Adriana.

Adriana has been featured in Forbes, Huffington Post, International Living, America Daily Post, Daily Grind, Addicted2Success, Elephant Journal, London Daily Post, Entrepreneur, FOX, ABC, and NBC. She is currently living in the middle of nowhere in Colorado where she is renovating her grandparents’ home – learning how to homestead with her husband, Derek, and two sons, Sam and Grant.

To learn more about Adriana’s work and writings, visit her website at adrianamoniquealvarez.com.

Follow us for more inspiration to take your business to the next level at:

Instagram: @velacreativeco | @laythecoursepodcast

Facebook: Vela Creative Co. | Lay the Course Podcast

Website: www.velacreativeco.com

Host: Kelsey Stine Produced by: Vela Creative Co.

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller, and Trevor Stine

Vickie Leuenberger is a nomad freelancer currently living in the Caribbean on a yellow sailboat. She is passionate about teamwork, the human mind, and making every day special and fun. Vickie is trained in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), pedagogy, body language, and more. 

She collaborates with other entrepreneurs, hosts retreats and workshops, and assists clients in addressing their daily mindset for long-term success. 

In this episode you will hear:

“A good business coach is the coach that helps you feel safe when you aren’t doubling profits monthly,” said Vickie as she explains what a positive mindset in the world of business means to her. 

Vickie is passionate about building a strong network and finds inspiration from connecting with others through her passions. To connect with Vickie, you can find her on Instagram at @vickie_leuenberger.

Follow us for more inspiration to take your business to the next level at: 

Instagram: @velacreativeco | @laythecoursepodcast

Facebook: Vela Creative Co. | Lay the Course Podcast

Website: www.velacreativeco.com

Host: Kelsey Stine Produced by: Vela Creative Co.

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller, and Trevor Stine

Monique Allen, Founder, CEO, & Creative Director of the Garden Continuum, is a master creator, interactive employer, published author, and fierce industry advocate. Over the last three decades, Monique watched as the growing commercialization and commoditization of the landscaping trade undermined the benefits of its increased accessibility to those looking to improve their land and their mental states. With this in mind, she founded the Life-Scape Method.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“How can we look at business as something that feeds us, as opposed to something that depletes us?” —Monique Allen 

As a lifelong gardener, business developer, and educator, Monique has dedicated her career to creating an alternative approach and sharing actionable information on how to spread a positive message, about how we can all improve our land, our lives, and our professional satisfaction through Life-Scaping and compassionate business building. 

To learn more about Monique Allen and the Garden Continuum, you can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and her website.

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Host: Kelsey Stine

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller and Trevor Stine, Artwork by Alyssa Tanner

In 2014 Catherine Greseth was hired as the first Executive Director of the Workforce Diversity Network of the Black Hills. An organization that educates businesses on hiring and retaining people that are, or have, become disabled. Through these efforts, Rapid City, South Dakota, is now ranked 3 in the Nation for the employment of people with disabilities. Catherine received the 2018 - 2019, South Dakota Governors award for Outstanding Citizen.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“Inclusion is not just being hired, it's being a part of everything.” —Catherine Greseth

She has been the president of the Rapid City Mayor's Committee for People With Disabilities, has been appointed by the Governor to Chair the Governor's Board for Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired. She also serves on the Governor's Board for the State Independent Living Council; out of 100’s of applications, the ADA has selected Catherine as the Rocky Mountain ADA Ambassador for South Dakota.

To learn more about Catherine’s work with Workforce Diversity of the Black Hills, you can visit Workforce Diversity Network of the Black Hills' website.

Follow us for more inspiring stories from women in business at:

Host: Kelsey Stine

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller and Trevor Stine, Artwork by Alyssa Tanner

Catherine Manangu is the owner/operator of Chu Sweet, a specialty Bakery in Box Elder South Dakota. Catherine was born and raised in the Philippines, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management with a specialization in Cruise Line Operations in Culinary Arts. After moving to America with her family, and meeting her husband, she and her husband moved to Rapid City South Dakota where her husband is stationed in the United States Air Force. Catherine took the leap and started her own bakery from her home in 2019 and has seen an explosion in growth over the last two years.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“Keep going, even if no one notices you.” —Catherine Manangu

Catherine specializes in custom cakes, macarons, holiday specialty boxes, and more. She sells her sweet treats locally in the Black Hills, across the state of South Dakota, and Wyoming, and you can also find her creations Antuñez grocery in Spearfish. She has her eyes set on growing and opening a full storefront for her Bakery in the future.

To learn more about Catherine and Chu Sweet, you can find her on Facebook and Instagram

Follow us for more inspiring stories from women in business at:

Host: Kelsey Stine

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller and Trevor Stine, Artwork by Alyssa Tanner

Ciara Stockeland has owned and operated businesses since her early teens. As a serial entrepreneur, her business mindset and tenacity led her to open her first store, Mama Mia, a high-end maternity store located in Fargo, ND in 2006. Shortly after, she developed and opened MODE, a designer outlet store located next to Mama Mia. In 2008, Ciara chose to merge her two concepts into MODE and developed the concept into a franchise.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“It’s okay to change concepts or to downsize if that’s what you feel a lot more joy in.” —Ciara Stockeland

Her vast experience in both retail and wholesale industries led her to launch the first to market wholesale subscription box for boutique retailers, which she built and sold within 18 months. Most recently Ciara has launched the Boutique Workshop, a coaching program for retailers.

To learn more about Ciara and her coaching program, you can find her on Facebook, Instagram,  and her website.

Molly Goin is a licensed massage therapist who started her practice in 2020. After a year in business, she shares with us what it was like to establish a new practice and become a full-time business owner, and the way she has built community care into her work from day one.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“Choosing where to lead from was powerful for me.” —Molly Goin

Molly offers a uniquely therapeutic bodywork experience in Rapid City, SD. Blending deep tissue modalities with eastern techniques, Molly's work focuses on pain management, functional movement, and energetic flow. She incorporates numerous tools into her sessions, including hydrotherapy, handmade herbal compresses, & cupping.

To learn more about Molly and her practice, you can find her on Social Media platforms at @massagewithmolly

As owner and creative director for Tout Advertising, Tracy provides strategic media planning, negotiates media acquisitions, determines marketing endeavors, oversees design and production, and ensures brand integrity. She is passionate about supporting locally owned businesses, and in addition to this has launched and run 3 magazines during her career, spanning over a decade of successful publishing.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“You’re helping small businesses survive, and really thrive.” -Tracy Bernard

Prior to starting Tout Advertising, Tracy was an intern at the White House Office of Public Liaison, an account executive for the largest ad agency in the world (at the time), McCann-Erickson Worldwide. She is married and a mother to three grown boys. She is an avid runner and dabbler of mixed media art and interior design.

To learn more about Tracy and her work, you can visit her website

Follow us for more inspiring stories from women in business at:

Host: Kelsey Stine

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller and Trevor Stine, Artwork by Alyssa Tanner

Kristin Burke is a goal achievement coach who collaborates with women, entrepreneurs, and leaders to help them maximize their potential and achieve their definitions of success. After gaining over a decade of experience in a Fortune 200 firm, Kristin set out on her own to launch a coaching practice. She is passionate about advancing women professionally and holds a curiosity for work-life integration. This blossomed in graduate school where she authored a thesis on women and work-life balance. After concluding that the word balance communicates an unrealistic reality, she is now on a quest to help women thrive both personally and professionally.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

“Grow the courage to write down a long term vision.” –Kristin Burk

Along with Kristin’s coaching practice, she is also a co-facilitator of the Honor Your Ambition Mastermind–a 12-week program designed to create a community of ambitious women, and give them the tools to trust in themselves, believe that they can, and achieve what matters.

To learn more about Kristin’s work, you can find her at @meetkristinburke on Instagram & Facebook, or you can her website at www.kristinburke.com

Follow us for more inspiring stories from women in business at:

Host: Kelsey Stine

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller and Trevor Stine, Artwork by Alyssa Tanner

Bridgett has been working with fabrics since a young age, originally taught in the art of sewing by her mother. As she grew older she pursued a degree in Fashion Design at Kent State University. After graduating, she returned back to Rapid City, where she met her future husband, Stephan, and together they started the Seraphim Theatrical Entertainment Company. Through this company, they have created a variety of theater programs in-house, for all ages, as well as hold a season of plays and murder mystery dinner parties every year.


In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Bridgett’s passion for sewing and costume design 
• How she has incorporated her skills and passions to open a theater
• Her love for cosplay and the community she has found in it

“Even though it gets hard, it's so much easier because it's your passion.”

Along with working as the costume designer, set designer, and many other hats that come along with owning a theater company, Bridgett also sews custom costumes, wedding dresses, and more for clients, and is highly sought after in the Cosplay world. She has a love for cosplay and the joy and friendships it has brought into her life.

To learn more about Bridgett’s work as a costume and clothing designer, Seraphim Theatrical Entertainment, and more, you can find her at @euphoria.bjc on Instagram, as well as @seraphimtheatrical on Instagram & Facebook. You can also visit Seraphim Theatrical Entertainment’s website at www.seraphimtheatricalentertainment.com

Follow us for more inspiring stories from women in business at:

Instagram: @laythecoursepodcast
Facebook: Lay the Course Podcast
Website: www.laythecoursepodcast.com

Host: Kelsey Stine
Produced by: Vela Creative Co.

Credits: Production & Editing by Kelsey Stine, Sarah Miller and Trevor Stine, Artwork by Alyssa Tanner