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Ashlan and Victoria sit down with Elizabeth (Liz) Ruf, a strategic marketing advisor who works with higher ed, EdTech, and mission-driven organizations, to talk about taking the leap into entrepreneurship during the COVID chaos era (a truly unhinged time to start a business, 10/10). Liz shares how burnout pushed her to quit without a safety net, what it’s like to run a consulting business through funding cuts in the nonprofit world, and why community isn’t optional when you work for yourself.
Listen if you’re navigating slow seasons, mission-driven marketing, nonprofit reality checks, or you just need the reminder to trust your gut and stop doing business like it’s 2019.
Favorite Takeaways:
Guest & Host Information:
Connect with Liz:
Connect with us:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
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In this solo recap episode, Ashlan and Tory unpack key lessons from their conversation with Drew Norton, the Everyday Sales Leader, including why ambitious professionals often hit ceilings inside organizations, and how entrepreneurship can unlock a new level of growth. They also dig into why sales is part of every business (even if you hate the label), why outsourcing sales too early can backfire, and how to build a support network so entrepreneurship doesn’t feel like an island.
Why listen: If you’re building a business and sales feels “icky,” overwhelming, or like something you want to hand off immediately, this episode gives you a more human, practical way to think about sales, and what to focus on first.
Favorite takeaways:
This episode references our conversation with Drew Norton, episode #111 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Host information:
Connect:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
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Ashlan and Tory chat with Drew Norton, the Everyday Sales Leader, about taking big career leaps, leaving “secure” income behind, and building sales teams that don’t feel gross. Drew shares how he went from door-to-door sales to leading teams generating ~$20 million/year in revenue, then took another leap into coaching and consulting so he could help others grow. Listen if you want to get better at selling, build a sales process that feels ethical, or figure out when it’s time to leap again.
Favorite takeaways:
Guest & Host Information:
Connect with Drew:
Connect with us:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
In this recap episode, Ashlan and Tory debrief their conversation with HR and business consultant Alayna Weimer and pull out the biggest lessons entrepreneurs can apply right now–especially around agency, leadership, and building a business that supports real life. You’ll also hear a candid check-in on systems, boundaries, and the weekly “wins/do-betters” that keep momentum going.
Tune in if you’re an entrepreneur trying to stay sane while building something sustainable. This episode gives you practical mindset shifts and simple operational takeaways you can actually use.
Our Favorite Takeaways:
This episode references our conversation with Alayna Weimer, episode #109 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Host information:
Connect:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
In this episode, Ashlan and Tory sit down with Alayna Weimer, HR and business consultant and co-owner of the Herringbone Bookstore in Redmond, Oregon. Alayna shares her journey from a long corporate HR career into entrepreneurship, what it’s really like to be married to another entrepreneur, and why human-centered leadership matters more than ever.
This is a must-listen if you’re a small business owner or nonprofit leader who feels overwhelmed by “HR stuff,” wants to build a healthier workplace culture, or needs reassurance that you don’t have to follow someone else’s formula to succeed.
Some of our favorite takeaways from this episode include:
Guest & Host Information:
Connect with Alayna:
Connect with us:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
In this solo recap episode, Ashlan and Tory reflect on their powerful conversation with Fatima (Episode 21) and dig deeper into what it really means to build sustainable, long-term capacity–especially in nonprofit and mission-driven work. They unpack common pitfalls around grant funding, program design, burnout, and discovery calls, while sharing candid reflections from their own businesses.
Listen if you’re a nonprofit leader, consultant, or solopreneur who wants to build something that actually lasts (without running yourself into the ground or chasing shiny funding at all costs).
Key Takeaways
If you’d like to listen to Fatima’s episode, you can find it at the links below:
Host information:
Connect:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
Returning guest Fatima Jawaid Marty, founder of FJM Consulting, joins Ashlan and Tory to talk about what’s shifted over the past year, both personally, professionally, and in the broader nonprofit/policy landscape. They get real about how the current political climate and funding uncertainty are affecting mission-driven work, then pivot into practical ways consultants can prevent burnout, set boundaries, and “vibe check” clients before signing contracts.
Listen if you’re doing nonprofit, policy, advocacy, or equity-adjacent work right now and you’re trying to stay sustainable without turning into a crispy little burnout crouton.
Some of our favorite takeaways from this episode include:
Guest & Host Information:
Connect with Fatima:
Connect with us:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
In this recap episode, Tory and Ashlan debrief their conversation with money coach Julie Stair and pull out the real-world lessons that hit home–especially around emergency savings, money mindset, and avoiding debt while building a business. They also share a few practical “we’ve been there” examples (hello, dead laptop) and talk through how entrepreneurs can reduce money stress without pretending cash flow is always predictable.
Listen if you’re a business owner who knows you should be doing certain money things… and would like to stop feeling personally attacked by your own to-do list.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
If you’d like to listen to Julie’s episode, you can find it at the links below:
Host information:
Connect:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
In this episode, Ashlan and Tory talk with Julie Stair, a money coach and single mom who helps professionals, especially single mothers, take control of their finances with clarity, confidence, and a little sparkle. Julie shares her real-life money journey: getting out of debt, getting back into debt, navigating divorce, and rebuilding financially and then turning all of that into a coaching business.
Listen if you want practical, doable steps for getting out of financial overwhelm (without shame), plus a refreshing reminder that money management isn’t “one size fits all.”
Some of our favorite takeaways from this episode include:
Guest & Host Information:
Connect with Julie:
Connect with us:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
In this episode, Ashlan and Victoria debrief their conversation with Mark Mohammadpour and pull out the big themes that apply to basically every entrepreneur: your business will evolve, your skills stack matters, and burnout culture is not the vibe. They also share their Word of the Year for 2026, plus what they’re reading/watching right now.
Listen if you’re heading into 2026 wanting a reset, a clearer focus, and permission to treat your business like a living, evolving thing–not a rigid plan you’re “failing” at.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
If you’d like to listen to Mark’s episode, you can find it at the links below:
Host information:
Connect:
The Course:
The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.
Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course
Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review!
Want to keep in touch?
Find us on:
Youtube
Instagram
From the publisher's feed
Take the Leap is the podcast where we get real about the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship and life.
Sure, some folks make running a business look like a walk in the park, but let's be…
Join us your co-hosts, Victoria & Ashlan, as we spill the beans on our own real-life experiences and shine a spotlight on some amazing guests. From the highs of success stories to the lows of epic failures, and hey, we'll even throw in some cringe-worthy, laugh-out-loud embarrassing moments for good measure!
So buckle up and tune in every week for a dose of raw, unfiltered truth about what it's really like to chase your dreams and build a business. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just dipping your toes into the startup world, we've got something for everyone. Even if it's just to make you think, "I'm so glad I didn't do what they did!"