In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with me friend Paul Gowder, founder of PowWows.com, an online community dedicated to celebrating Native American arts and culture for over 25 years. Paul takes us on his journey of building an incredible community and navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. From starting PowWows.com in 1996 as a passion project to growing it into a thriving business while working full time, Paul shares the secrets to his success and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Paul dives into the power of live streaming to connect people globally, fostering a positive and welcoming online community, and handling the challenges of negativity and trolls online. He offers valuable insights on how authenticity and vulnerability can create meaningful connections, while also sharing his strategies for building an engaged community through email marketing and personal engagement.

Whether you're a creator, entrepreneur, or simply looking to engage more effectively with your audience, Paul’s advice is practical and inspiring. He also touches on the impact of social media on younger generations and shares his thoughts on what makes a nurturing community, inspired by his favorite Star Wars character, Leia.

Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Paul Gowder and PowWows.com
03:41 - Understanding Authenticity and the Inspiration Behind PowWows.com
08:01 - Building a Community and the Power of Live Streaming
14:21 - Creating a Positive and Welcoming Online Community
18:06 - Strategies for Dealing with Negativity as a Creator
22:01 - Navigating Negative Comments and Trolls Online
25:53 - Taking a Deep Breath and Processing Online Interactions
29:29 - Starting Out with Email Marketing: Personal and Open-Text-Based Content
33:49 - Engaging with Your Community on Various Platforms
37:55 - Focusing on Positive Interactions and Turning Off Negative Comments
43:41 - Leia: The Ideal Star Wars Character to Create a Nurturing Community

About Paul Gowder:
Paul Gowder is the founder of PowWows.com, an online community that has been celebrating Native American arts and culture for over two decades. In addition to running PowWows.com, Paul coaches business owners on how to build engaged online communities. He’s passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles, especially when balancing a full-time job and growing a business. Through his experience, Paul shares insights on community building, email marketing, and using social media to create meaningful connections with audiences. 

Visit www.paulgowder.com for more information and resources on how email marketing can be a total game-changer for community building, increasing traffic, and driving sales.

In Episode 10 I'm joined by Cassie Tucker, an independent marketing strategy consultant who helps her clients refine their messaging and communicate their value to potential customers across digital channels. The goal in her work with her clients is to drive meaningful connections, build community, and fuel sales growth. In this episode Cassie offers incredible insights on authenticity, content creation, and entrepreneurship!

Pulling on her experience from the corporate world working with NYC social media agency Socialfly, collaborations with brands like NEST Fragrances and IL MAKIAGE, and her time as an entrepreneur, she combines her marketing expertise with her experience as a former Disney Cast Member to make magic for her clients.

Through her work as the co-host of Marketing Happy Hour, she is committed to empowering and encouraging young professionals on their career journeys. Additionally, Cassie is the co-host of podcasts for Universal Studios and The Leadership Crucible Foundation. In her free time, Cassie enjoys visiting the Orlando theme parks and spending time with her husband and two dogs.

I'm so grateful to Cassie for taking time to be on the show and share her journey and her thoughts!

Visit Cassie's website here!
Visit the Marketing Happy Hour Podcast here!
Join in the Marketing Happy Insiders Facebook Group here!

Check out Cassie's work as a host of the Discover Universal Podcast here!

You can also connect with Cassie on LinkedIn and Instagram!

In Episode 9 I'm joined by Tim Bigonia, an Art Director/Graphic Designer with more than 30 years of experience, a photographer, and the host of Journey to Grateful. The Journey to Grateful podcast began after Tim lost his beloved wife, Colleen, on July 3, 2020 after a long battle with breast cancer. Colleen's was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 2017, treatment was aggressive, including radiation, chemo, and operation. In 2018 she was progressing nicely after treatment was adjusted to a maintenance level. However, December 30, 2018, a necessary trip to the ER revealed her cancer had metastasized into brain tumors. In May of 2020, additional chemo treatments along with experimental options culminated in the realization there was nothing more that could be done. The family engaged in-home hospice on June 8, 2020, allowing friends and family access to visit and making her as comfortable as possible. Colleen passed at 4:30 am the morning of July 3rd.

The experience of such a profound loss, as well as the encouragement from family and friends, inspired Tim to start a podcast that would talk honestly and vulnerably about grief and it's many layers. Through sharing his own experiences and in conversations with others Tim explores what it is to experience loss and what it is to support others who have experienced loss.

In this conversation we talk about how authenticity is essential in order for his conversations to reach people's hearts and minds. 

I'm so grateful to Tim for taking time to be on the show and share his incredible journey!

Visit Tim's website and subscribe here to receive his supportive newsletter!
Join in the conversation with Journey to Grateful Facebook Community here!

You can find his podcast on Spotify here and Apple Podcasts here! 

You can also connect with Tim and Journey to Grateful on Instagram! 

Are you interested in learning more about Tim's work in art direction, graphic design, and photography? Visit his website here!

I'm so grateful to Fred for taking time to be on the show!! Fred's passion for technology, education, and mentoring is clear throughout the episode and the work he does is clearly making a positive difference. If you have any interest in coding or if you know someone who does you should absolutely take a look at the many activities, resources, and courses he has available. 

Fred offered all of you 50% off the first month’s subscription to https://courses.getmecoding.com if you use code AC2024!

Visit Fred's website and subscribe here to learn more about what he has to offer!
Check out Fred's online course offerings here.
Learn more about the The Teacher’s Pep Rally Podcast here! 

You can also connect with Julie over on social in the following places!
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Pinterest
X @getmecoding

I'm so grateful to Julie for being on the show!! Her content truly has changed my life and I absolutely recommend you check out her content and all of the various tools she has to offer, so you can continue to show up as your true self and create the life of your dreams. 

Visit Julie's website and subscribe here to learn more about what she has to offer!
Check out Julie's planner (Again totally life changing!) here  and her shop here, where you can find workout programs, digital courses on mindset and habits, as well as her Mindset Magic Card Deck.

You can also connect with Julie over on social in the following places!
Julie's Instagram
Project 100 Instagram
Facebook
TikTok

I'm so grateful to Grace for being on the show!! I love watching her really lean into her passion and change lives at the same time!

Visit Grace's website and subscribe here to learn more about what she has to offer!
If you do think you might be suffering from Hashimoto's you can reach out to her directly here or download out her Healing Hashimoto's Starter Kit here to learn more.

You can also connect with Lisa over on social in the following places!
Instagram
LinkedIn

I'm so grateful to Amy for being on the show!! Her story is truly inspiring, unique, and shows us that we can absolutely help others and build a business by taping into our passions and sharing our voices authentically. 

Visit Amy's website and subscribe here to learn more about her brand and communications services!
Check out her podcast Love My Museum here!

You can also connect with Lisa over on social in the following places!
Instagram
LinkedIn
 

I'm so grateful to Lisa for sharing her time, story, and expertise with us!! If you'd like to learn more about Lisa and everything she has to offer check out the links below! 

Visit Lisa's blog & subscribe here!
Visit her photography site and explore her photography here.

You can also connect with Lisa over on social in the following places!
Facebook
Instagram 

I'm so grateful to Jeff for sharing his time and expertise with us!! If you'd like to learn more about Jeff and everything he has to offer check out the links below! 

Subscribe to Jeff's newsletter!
Take his free course on creating AI images for Pinterest.
Jeff has a great beta course for learning Descript. 
Visit his website and check out his podcast!

Check out his live show every Friday, at 11:00am EST, on Facebook or YouTube! I never miss an episode! 

Also, he provides great value over on social media so be sure to connect with him there!
Facebook
Instagram 
Pinterest
Twitter (Now X)
LinkedIn

Manly Pinterest Tips is a great resource for anyone looking to leverage Pinterest more! 

In this episode I shared two individuals who continue to be a huge inspiration to me! Check them out with the links below. 

Lou Mongello, founder of WDW Radio! You can listen to WDW Radio here. You can also learn more about Lou, his business coaching, and his business events here.

Julie Voris, and incredible BODi coach and women's empowerment coach helping women live their dream lives. You can learn more about Julie and all she offers here. You can listen to Julie's podcast, Crank It Up, here.