Roots and Roofs - Success in Entrepreneurship and Motherhood

In this inspiring episode, Mackenzie sits down with Cait Boyer, a powerhouse mom, entrepreneur, and owner of Central Athletics, a competitive cheer gym in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Cait shares her raw and powerful journey of how a near-fatal car accident changed the course of her life, eventually leading her to take ownership of a cheer gym she never planned to run.

They dive into:

• Cait’s unexpected journey from school district employee to gym owner
• The life-altering car accident that reshaped her perspective and sparked her leadership
• How she rebuilt the gym from the ground up—during COVID
• The reality of entrepreneurship as a mom of two
• Her husband Brian’s unwavering support and how they manage their marriage on opposite schedules
• Building a family-first gym culture and keeping cheerleading accessible to local families
• Why she encourages every mom with a dream to “just go for it”

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this episode, Mackenzie unpacks a quote that’s been weighing on her heart: “If you’re focusing on what the other person is doing, instead of looking at yourself, you’re already losing.” Whether you’re navigating the messy middle of marriage, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, or the shifting dynamics of friendships and business partnerships, this episode is your invitation to turn inward, reclaim your power, and lead with intentionality.

Episode highlights:

• Why keeping score in your marriage (or business) is a losing game
• How to shift from blame to personal responsibility
• Real-life examples from Mackenzie’s own marriage and business growth
• Why focusing on yourself is the fastest path to positive change
• How comparison robs you of joy and momentum—and what to do instead
• Practical ways to “lead in love” when things feel one-sided
• A gentle reminder that self-work is not weakness, it’s strength

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this episode, Mackenzie is joined by Sarah Pierce, a real estate agent and mom of four based in the Omaha area. Sarah shares what it’s like running a growing real estate business with her husband while raising four young kids and how they’ve built a business that aligns with their family’s needs. From social media strategies to scheduling with military life, Sarah dives into the mindset and systems behind her success.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Sarah and her husband Brad divide roles in their real estate business
• Why they’re committed to a 30-hour workweek and how they make it work
• The behind-the-scenes of hiring a showing assistant and structuring compensation
• How Sarah grew her Instagram to nearly 7,000 followers (with content tips!)
• What it really looks like to build a business while raising little kids

• How do you set healthy boundaries with four kids and a busy real estate career?
• What does a social media strategy look like when you’re building for longevity?
• How do you manage scheduling between two parents, military life, and clients?
• What advice would you give to other moms wanting to grow a referral-based business?
• How are buyers changing in 2025 and how should agents respond?

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this episode of Roots and Roofs, Mackenzie sits down with Jessica Hensley, real estate agent, team leader, and founder of Real Estate Mega Moms to talk about transitioning from traditional real estate models to her innovative “micro team” approach. Jessica opens up about her 20+ year journey in real estate, navigating motherhood, divorce, burnout, and how redefining her team structure helped her reclaim control and peace in both life and business.

What You’ll Learn:

• What a micro team is and how it differs from a traditional real estate team or brokerage
• The four essential departments of any business (yes, even in real estate)
• How to structure a team for longevity and sustainability
• The power of setting boundaries as a mom and business owner
• Why you don’t need to do it all to succeed in real estate

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

Mackenzie Shelton welcomes her friend and multi-passionate entrepreneur Nicole Snyder for a candid conversation about building businesses (a farm, Loess Hills Creamery & a clearning business!), raising a family, and navigating the beautiful chaos of homesteading. From launching a successful cleaning company out of a storage unit to operating a raw milk dairy farm while homeschooling five kids, Nicole shares her journey with grit, humor, and deep faith.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Nicole went from being a stay-at-home mom to running multiple thriving businesses
• The realities (and myths) of self-sufficiency and homestead life
• How she involves her kids in both business and farm life with creative systems
• Her biggest advice for those dreaming of entrepreneurship or farm life

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this powerful tiny but mighty episode, Mackenzie explores the life-changing importance of vision through the lens of Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” With compassionate insight and spiritual grounding, listeners are encouraged to reconnect with the deeper “why” behind their lives. Whether your dreams feel distant or buried beneath discouragement, this episode is a rally cry to reclaim them.

You'll hear:

• Why vision is more than just goals. It’s direction for your life.
• How lack of vision leads to emotional and spiritual stagnation
• Encouragement to reignite a lost or forgotten vision
• A heartfelt reminder that you were created with purpose and intentionality
• Encouragement to protect, nourish, and walk in your vision, even when it feels out of reach

This episode is packed with purpose and spiritual encouragement, especially if you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or ready to dream again.

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this episode of Roots and Roofs, host McKenzie Shelton sits down with her friend Kim, owner of The Acres, a beloved wedding and event venue in southwest Iowa. From navigating zoning issues and major renovations to building a thriving business rooted in community, Kim opens up about the real behind-the-scenes of owning a small-town venue. They talk business, motherhood, boundary-setting, and how to stay grounded (and hilarious) even when life gets wild.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Kim went from Colorado transplant to small-town venue owner
• The surprising origin of The Acres (and how she found the property)
• The process—and obstacles—of getting the venue legally operational
• What sets The Acres apart from other event spaces in the area
• How BYOB weddings can be done right (and save couples thousands)
• Why boundaries matter when running a business and managing guests
• What it takes to get repeat, loyal customers in the event industry
• How Kim juggles entrepreneurship with raising four kids
• The importance of not losing your joy or becoming bitter in business
• Honest talk about parenting, marriage, and learning to apologize

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this episode of Roots and Roofs, we sit down powerhouse Ashley, a real estate leader whose journey from corporate burnout to brokerage ownership is as inspiring as it is insightful. Ashley shares the pivotal moments that shaped her transition from a part-time agent to the founder of a brand-new brokerage, Toast Real Estate Group. From her start in corporate healthcare to launching a team and ultimately stepping into brokerage ownership, she gets real about leadership, culture, systems, and what it truly takes to build something meaningful in the real estate world—without losing your personal life in the process.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Ashley made the leap from corporate operations to full-time real estate
• The story behind launching Toast Real Estate Group
• The three brokerage models she and her partner developed
• Why systems, culture, and people are the backbone of their brokerage
• How to balance motherhood, entrepreneurship, and leadership
• What makes their brokerage culture so intentionally selective
• Strategies for setting boundaries in real estate while still showing up for your clients
• The critical importance of hiring in your business growth
• How personal goal-setting translates to team success
• How they maintain presence and structure in a blended-family household

Questions Answered in This Episode:

• What inspired Ashley to leave her previous brokerage and start her own?
• How did she know it was time to transition from team leader to brokerage owner?
• What are the key systems that support their business and personal lives?
• How do they uphold high culture and standards across multiple team models?
• What role does personal boundary-setting play in running a successful real estate business?
• What are the biggest challenges (and lessons) of leadership in real estate?
• How do they determine who is the right fit for their brokerage?
• What should someone consider if they want to start their own brokerage someday?
• How do Ashley and her partner share responsibilities both in business and at home?
• What support systems keep everything running at Toast and in their household?

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this inspiring episode of Roots and Roofs, host McKenzie Shelton chats with her longtime friend Dr. Kristen Blott, a veterinarian, business owner, and mom. Kristen shares her journey from law dreams to veterinary medicine, what it was like purchasing an existing clinic, and how she juggles the beautiful chaos of motherhood and entrepreneurship. With honesty and warmth, this conversation is a must-listen for working moms navigating purpose, passion, and priorities.

• How Kristen transitioned from a potential legal career to becoming a veterinarian
• What it’s like to purchase and run an existing veterinary clinic
• The differences between starting a business from scratch vs. buying one
• Honest insights into juggling business ownership and motherhood
• Why “letting go” is a powerful leadership and parenting tool
• How to prioritize and manage time as a multi-role working mom
• How veterinary care can evolve with technology in rural communities

• What inspired Kristen to pursue veterinary medicine?
• How did she end up owning her own clinic—and what challenges came with it?
• What’s the difference between rural and urban veterinary practice?
• How does Kristen manage family life with a demanding medical career?
• What mindset shifts helped her grow as a leader and mom?
• What advice does she have for women considering veterinary careers—or any demanding profession?

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com

In this episode, I dive into one of the most important topics for busy women and mompreneurs—how to create leverage in your business. I break down the exact strategies that can help you gain back your time, reduce stress, and increase income as your business grows. Whether you're feeling stretched too thin or just want to work smarter, not harder, this episode will give you actionable tips and permission to let go of doing it all.

What you'll learn:

• What leverage actually means in your business and why it’s crucial as you grow
• How to automate repetitive tasks to free up time
• What tasks you should delegate or outsource (and real examples from my life)
• How to scale your income through digital products, affiliate marketing, or memberships
• The power of workflows and time boundaries, especially in real estate
• Why investing in your personal growth—through coaching, masterminds, or learning—is key to long-term success
• The one mindset shift that will help you stop being the overworked solopreneur and step into your role as CEO

Connect with Mackenzie:

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.raburn/

https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleeshelton

Find more great tips on her website:

www.mahoganyacres.com