Expensive recording studios, a failing business concept, and being way too busy all added up to a hiatus but we are BACK, and recording in now exclusively in my venue Joyful Commons.

This episode I walk through how weird 2026 has been so far, and discuss the major epiphany I had where I realized I finally had to let go of the business concept I worked so hard to get going.

I am also so proud to be a 2026 Pittsburgh's 50 Finest Honoree this year! If you're interested in supporting my campaign, register as a golfer or foursome for my golf outing to support Cystic Fibrosis! Not a golfer? Consider joining us for a dinner only ticket, sponsoring the event (email jade@joyfuleventsbyjade), or donating to Jade's campaign directly.

COMING UP NEXT ON JULY 15: Taylor Ollason Photography

Recording venue: @joyfulcommons

Follow us: @thecookietablepodcast

This is our first bakery on The Cookie Table which made things extra exciting, because Pastries A-La-Carte themselves provided the cookies and a wine pairing for this episode.

Maddy, who runs the bakery's cookie room, discusses how Pastries A-La-Carte has become the go-to bakery for the Pittsburgh Penguins, how cakes have always been more décor than dessert, the vintage cake trend, and how baking for a Pittsburgh Cookie table is like being a part of that couple's family.

We also talk about one of the latest cake trends - faux cakes - and in all honestly when we talked out it.. what is even the point?!

Be sure to follow Pastries A-La-Carte on Instagram!

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joyfulcommons⁠

This episode of The Cookie Table was recorded live at the 2026 Pittsburgh DJ Summit, and it’s one of those conversations that reminds me why these rooms matter. I was very honored to be asked to not only podcast from this space, but to be a panelist for the second time on the Pro Panel.

I sat down with three incredible voices (@mayalovro, @wildnativephoto, & @burghbrides, from different corners of the wedding industry to talk about the things we don’t always slow down enough to unpack: identity, inclusion, trust, communication, and how we show up for couples and each other.

We talk about what it means to work in an industry that hasn’t always been built for everyone - from navigating pronouns and assumptions, to being transparent with couples about who they’re actually hiring, to scaling a business without losing the trust that got you there in the first place.

If you’re a wedding pro, a creative, or a couple who’s ever felt like you didn’t quite fit the “traditional” mold, I hope this conversation leaves you feeling seen, and inspired to ask better questions, set clearer expectations, and do this work a little more intentionally.

Maya Lovro : Inclusive Wedding Photography

Wild Native Photography

Burgh Brides

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joyfulcommons⁠

The last few months have been full — in all the ways.Big ideas, big responsibilities, big growth… and, if I’m being honest, a little burnout too.In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what the end of 2025 really looked like for me: the pace, the pressure, the lessons, and the moments that forced me to pause and ask, “Is this sustainable?”

I’m sharing how I’m setting clearer boundaries, redefining what “showing up” looks like for me, and why building better in 2026 means doing things differently — even when it’s uncomfortable.

You’ll also hear about the evolution of Joyful Commons, including why we refreshed our membership tiers for 2026 to better support real life, real families, and realistic rhythms of work and care.If you’re a parent, business owner, or anyone feeling stretched thin but still deeply committed to what you’re building — this one’s for you.Less hustle. More intention. And a whole lot more joy.

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠@joyfulcommons⁠

Learn more about & get tickets to: The Pittsburgh DJ Summit

Cassie Horrell (@weddingprocass) is the Director of Events at Pittsburgh's Heinz History Center, as well as the owner of Clink '92 Mobile Bar! Cassie began her career in Florida around luxury events, and her current team sees an average of 200 events per year at her venue, so we can confidently say Cassie is a wedding expert.

It was refreshing to have a venue director on the pod to be able to pick their brain about a few pressing thoughts I've had - does having an exclusive caterer cap couples' budget? How do you handle clients who push boundaries and vendors who are non-compliant?

Given her expertise, I needed to know what she wants to see more and less of in Pittsburgh weddings. You also won't believe her two most controversial hot takes.

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠@joyfulcommons⁠

Thank you⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Grandview Bakery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for filling this episode's cookie table!

Welcome Rebecca Harold of Margaret James Photography & Video, and Rewind the Moment to the podcast!

This week is all about living in nostalgia and how Rebecca and I align so heavily on family - which makes her new business the perfect bridge to my new business, too.

Outside of the camcorder trend, I pick Rebecca's brain about if wedding planners make her life easier or not as a photographer, and pose an interesting question that was presented to me by another friendor.

Ending with an exciting announcement of how we're bringing the two together for Joyful Commons' grand opening party!

www.rewindthemoment.co

www.margaret-james.com

Are you living in nostalgia, too? Be sure to check out Rebecca's podcast all about the stories of those behind the camcorder!

Rewind The Moment: The Podcast

and follow along with her on Instagram:

@margaretjamesweddings

@rewindthemoment.co

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , AND NOW - ⁠⁠@joyfulcommons

Thank you⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Grandview Bakery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for filling this episode's cookie table!

I am so grateful to have my right hand girlie, Desireé, join me around The Cookie Table. This is her third season with Joyful Events by Jade, and her growth has been exponential. Listen to this week's episode to get to know why I adore this woman so much and to see what's next for her within the Joyful Family.

@desiree_joyfulevents

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , AND NOW - ⁠@joyfulcommons

As we near the end of one of our busiest months with Joyful Events by Jade, I am ending June with another Baking Break to discuss how even after being a business owner of almost 7 years, I still feel like the people closest to me don't fully get it. Are you a first generation business owner in your family? Then you may be feeling the same.

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠@joyfulcommons

It's time to finally pull back the curtain to my newest endeavor. No this is not the end of Joyful Events by Jade, but the start of something entirely new to Pittsburgh that my heart speaks strongly to. Where did the inspiration come from? Take a listen, and if you're a fellow parent-entrepreneur, know that you are not alone.

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , AND NOW - @joyfulcommons

Just like in any industry, your eyes begin to open a little wider as the years go on and the deeper in you get. Sometimes it just takes one big circumstance to happen to you for your eyes to widen even more. For me, it was a failed vendor event.

This episode I tell the story of what exactly happened, and despite the frustrations and disappointment, why I feel it actually all happened for a reason.

Join The Cookie Table Family on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecookietablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow along with my business endeavors @j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oyfuleventsbyjade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brieandbaskets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠