Real Decisions Behind Running a Business in a Digital World

Running a business today means making constant decisions — what tools to use, where to show up online, how to communicate with clients, and how to stay focused when the digital world keeps changing.

In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman podcast, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Laryssa Wirstiuk to talk about what it really takes to run a business in a digital world — beyond the trends, platforms, and buzzwords. Together, they unpack how business owners can make smarter digital decisions, choose tools that actually support their goals, and build a more confident approach.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Whether you’re building your business online, managing clients digitally, or trying to make better decisions about the tools you use, this conversation will help you think more clearly about what truly matters.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now and follow the channel for more conversations on business, technology, cybersecurity, and digital confidence.

🔗 Connect with Laryssa Wirstiuk:

Website: https://joyjoya.com/

💡 The Cyber Savvy Woman is your digital empowerment sanctuary — where women business owners turn cyber fear into cyber confidence.

💌 Want to be a guest? Reach out — we’d love to hear your story!

Why Digital Literacy Matters in the Age of AI

In this episode, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Martin Mehl to explore why digital literacy has become one of the most important skills for business owners, leaders, and professionals in the age of AI.

Together, they unpack how technology is changing the way we work, why practical understanding matters more than just knowing the tools, and how people can build confidence in a world where AI is moving faster than ever.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Whether you're a business owner, team leader, or simply trying to keep up with the fast-changing digital world, this conversation offers practical insights on how to understand technology, use AI wisely, and stay confident in the future of work.

🔗 Connect with Martin Mehl:

💡 The Cyber Savvy Woman is your digital empowerment sanctuary — where women business owners turn cyber fear into cyber confidence.

📩 Want to be a guest? Reach out — we'd love to hear your story!

What's Really Killing Your Business Culture (And Your Tech Projects)

Most leaders think culture is a vibe. Most tech teams think adoption is a training problem. They're both wrong — and it's costing them more than they realize.

In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman, Rachele Schainker sits down with Anthony Calleo, founder of Calleo EX, to have the conversation most business owners are too busy to have — until something breaks.

Anthony has spent his career inside organizations helping leaders understand why their best-laid plans fall apart, why their people disengage, and why the shiny new system they just rolled out is collecting digital dust. The answer is almost never the technology. It's always the people, the process, and the culture surrounding it.

If you've ever launched a tool your team quietly ignored, hired consultants who handed you a playbook that didn't fit, or wondered why your company just doesn't feel the way you want it to — this episode is your answer.

You'll walk away knowing:

"If you don't spend that time upfront, you're going to spend it elsewhere — mitigating nightmares and headaches."

This one is practical, honest, and packed with the kind of insight you usually only get from someone who's been inside hundreds of organizations.

Connect with Anthony Calleo:

🔗 Website: https://www.calleoex.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonybcalleo/

🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/AnthonyABCNY

 In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman, Rachel Schenker sits down with Greg Roche, founder of Retention and Rewards Partners and creator of The Introverted Networker.

...

What actually scales a business today—and what’s just noise?

In this episode of THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN, host Rachele Schainker sits down with sales and marketing strategist Wes Schaeffer, also known as The Sales Whisperer®, to break down the real-world systems behind sustainable growth.

From old-school sales to modern automation, Wes shares how he transitioned from cold calling and workshops to building scalable systems powered by automation—and now, AI.

If you’ve been hearing about AI agents but aren’t sure where to start (or what’s hype vs. useful), this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap.

• How to structure sales conversations to eliminate endless follow-ups

00:00 Welcome to Cyber Savvy

Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer®, helps businesses say what they actually mean—clearly and effectively—so they can sell more without sounding salesy. A U.S. Air Force veteran, father of seven, and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wes has built a reputation for blending practical sales strategy with real-world experience.

He founded his business in 2006 and has since spoken around the world, authored multiple books, and published over 800 podcast episodes. Known for cutting through the noise, Wes focuses on building systems and messaging that drive consistent results.

THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN is where women business owners reclaim their power in the digital world. We break down cybersecurity, automation, and digital systems into clear, actionable strategies—so you can scale your business with confidence.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJHqbJjczdo

Reach out and let’s connect—we’d love to hear your story.

What separates successful product launches from the ones that quietly fail?

In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman, host Rachele Schainker is joined by Yasmeen Turayhi—product marketing leader, founder, and author—to explore what really drives effective go-to-market strategies.

With experience commercializing over 200 technology products, Yasmeen shares why most companies skip the most critical step: truly understanding their customer. The conversation explores how strategy, intuition, and continuous iteration work together to create launches that actually resonate.

You’ll also hear why launches aren’t one-time events, how to distinguish between a product problem and a marketing problem, and where AI can support—but not replace—human judgment.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why most product launches fail before they even begin

• The importance of market research—and why it’s often done wrong

• How to understand customer sentiment beyond data and demographics

• The difference between a product problem and a marketing problem

• Why go-to-market success is about prioritization, not doing everything

• How intuition plays a role in leadership and decision-making

• Where AI is helpful—and where it still falls short

• Why launches should be treated as ongoing processes, not one-time events

About Yasmeen Turayhi:

Yasmeen Turayhi is the Founder of Modern Product Agency, where she has helped commercialize over 200 technology products across industries including AI, fintech, climatetech, and neurotech.

She is the author of multiple books on product marketing, including the bestseller Product Marketing Debunked. Yasmeen also leads the Inner Knowing School of Intuition, working with executives and creatives to strengthen decision-making through intuition and discernment.

She is also the host of the globally ranked podcast Gateways to Awakening, which explores neuroscience, intuition, and consciousness. Her TEDx talk, How to Use Your Intuition to Make Better Decisions, has reached over 25,000 views.

🔗 Connect with Yasmeen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmeenturayhi/

About The Cyber Savvy Woman Podcast:

Hosted by Rachele Schainker, The Cyber Savvy Woman helps women business owners build confidence in the digital world by breaking down cybersecurity into practical, actionable strategies.

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on technology, leadership, and digital empowerment.

#TheCyberSavvyWoman #ProductMarketing #WomenInTech #GoToMarket #Leadership #AI #CyberSecurity #WomenInBusiness #BusinessStrategy

Cyber Savvy AI: Using AI Without Putting Your Business at Risk

AI adoption is accelerating across businesses—but many leaders still don’t realize how widely it’s already being used inside their own organizations.

In this episode of THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Brett Schklar, serial entrepreneur, AI adoption strategist, and author of AI Without the BS, to talk about how CEOs and business owners can embrace AI while protecting their companies from unnecessary risk.

The conversation cuts through the hype around AI and focuses on practical leadership decisions: how to set the tone inside your organization, avoid “shadow AI,” create simple guardrails for employees, and focus on the use cases that deliver real ROI.

Brett shares lessons from decades of building and scaling companies, why many CEOs misunderstand how their teams are already using AI, and how leaders can introduce AI without damaging culture, trust, or security.

If you’re a business owner, leader, or operator trying to figure out how to adopt AI responsibly, this episode offers a clear, practical roadmap.

• Why many CEOs underestimate how much AI their teams are already using

00:00 Cyber Savvy Welcome

Brett Schklar is the founder of AI-First Leadership, a keynote speaker, and an AI adoption coach who helps CEOs cut through the hype and deploy AI in ways that drive productivity, speed, and competitive advantage.

A former agency CEO who successfully built, scaled, and exited Market Creation Group, Brett has worked with more than 230 companies helping them turn unclear positioning and messy go-to-market strategies into repeatable growth systems.

Today he leads GROW Powered, the market’s first assembly of AI-First Fractional CMOs, and advises leaders on how to implement AI responsibly—without sacrificing culture, trust, or momentum.

He is also the author of AI Without the BS: The CEO’s Playbook for Actually Getting AI Right.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bschklar

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aifirstleadership

THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN is a podcast that helps women business owners protect their businesses and build confidence in the digital world. Hosted by Rachele Schainker, a Silicon Valley technologist and owner of the award-winning managed service provider CMIT Solutions of San Mateo, the show brings practical conversations about cybersecurity, leadership, and navigating technology safely.

Reinvention doesn’t have to mean becoming a tech expert — it can mean becoming more intentional.

In this episode of THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Nancy Fox—author of Network Like a Fox and CEO of WYZE Rainmakers—to talk about strategic networking, mindset, and how women business owners can use AI as an advantage without getting overwhelmed.

Nancy shares her journey from a corporate career in women’s lingerie (including leading product development, design, and marketing) into coaching and training—and why the modern business landscape demands smarter positioning, clearer niches, and more targeted relationship-building.

You’ll also hear Nancy’s practical framework for “networking like a fox”: building the right mix of decision-makers, referral sources, and influencers, and using tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator and AI-driven research to save time, money, and energy.

• What reinvention really looks like in the age of AI

00:00 – THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN intro

Nancy Fox is the CEO of WYZE Rainmakers and a longtime coach, trainer, and community builder focused on targeted networking, rainmaking, and business development. She’s the author of Network Like a Fox: A Targeted Approach to Building Successful Business Relationships In Person & Online and has helped professionals and firms build smarter, more strategic growth systems.

👍 Like this video

#TheCyberSavvyWoman #WomenInBusiness #BusinessDevelopment #StrategicNetworking #WomenFounders #AIForBusiness #Leadership #ClientAttraction #Networking

"I thought I was HIPAA compliant... but I realized I have to do everything I can to protect my clients and myself."

What happens when holistic healing meets digital security? In this powerful episode, Debby Simmons, founder of Primrose Healing and Wellness, reveals how she's revolutionized mental health care by treating the WHOLE person—mind, body, and spirit—while navigating the critical cybersecurity challenges that every therapist and small business owner faces today.

🌟 What You'll Discover:

✅ Why traditional therapy often fails—and how holistic psychotherapy addresses the root cause

✅ The real story behind Primrose Healing and Wellness (hint: it's not just about the street name!)

✅ How to integrate Reiki, yoga therapy, nutrition, and energy work into mental health treatment

✅ Why investing in your mental wellness isn't an expense—it's essential

✅ The shocking truth about HIPAA compliance that most therapists miss

✅ Debby's personal cybersecurity wake-up call—bank account hacked multiple times

✅ How AI is transforming (and potentially threatening) the therapy profession

✅ Practical cybersecurity tips every small business owner needs RIGHT NOW

🔒 Cybersecurity Essentials Discussed:

Encrypted email systems and why they matter

PCI compliance for credit card processing

Protecting client confidentiality in the digital age

Identifying spam, phishing texts, and fraudulent emails

Using AI responsibly in mental health practice

🎯 Perfect For: Mental health professionals, therapists, counselors, holistic practitioners, women business owners, coaches, financial advisors, healthcare providers, and anyone handling sensitive client data.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Welcome to The Cyber Savvy Woman

00:51 Meet Your Host, Rachele Schainker

01:10 Debby Simmons: From Teacher to Holistic Therapy Pioneer

01:55 What Is Holistic Psychotherapy? Breaking Down the Whole Person Approach

04:05 The Birth of Primrose Healing and Wellness

06:50 Beyond Talk Therapy: Integrating Nutrition, Reiki, Yoga & Energy Work

13:19 Empowering Clients to Invest in Their Mental Wellness

17:44 Understanding the Source of Pain

17:57 Why Debby Chose to Work with Cybersecurity Experts

18:46 The Critical Importance of HIPAA Compliance & Digital Security

19:45 Debby's Personal Cybersecurity Nightmare: Multiple Bank Hacks

21:29 Essential Cybersecurity Advice for Therapists & Small Business Owners

23:54 AI in Therapy: Promise, Pitfalls & Practical Applications

27:06 Rapid Fire Tech Questions

29:09 How to Connect with Primrose Healing and Wellness

30:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

👥 ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Debby Simmons is a mental health professional with over 25 years of experience and founder of Primrose Healing and Wellness, a holistic psychotherapy practice serving clients throughout California. With a doctorate in health psychology, Debby has pioneered an integrative approach that treats the whole person—not just symptoms. Her practice offers personalized treatment plans incorporating psychotherapy, nutrition counseling, Reiki, polarity therapy, yoga, and other evidence-based modalities. Debby is passionate about meeting clients where they are and creating sustainable healing pathways that honor mind, body, and spirit.

🎙️ ABOUT THE HOST:

Rachele Schainker is a Silicon Valley technologist and owner of the award-winning managed service provider, CMIT Solutions of San Mateo. As host of The Cyber Savvy Woman podcast, Rachele is on a mission to break down cybersecurity barriers and empower women business owners to feel confident and unshakeable in their digital decisions—no matter their technical background.

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Primrose Healing and Wellness: https://primrosehealingandwellness.com

CMIT Solutions of San Mateo: https://cmitsolutions.com

💬 What's YOUR biggest cybersecurity concern as a business owner? Drop a comment below—we'd love to hear from you!

#CyberSavvyWoman #HolisticTherapy #Cybersecurity #WomenInBusiness #MentalHealth #HIPAACompliance #DebbySimmons #RacheleSchainker #TherapistLife #SmallBusinessSecurity #DigitalSecurity #AIinHealthcare #WomenEntrepreneurs #PodcastInterview #MindBodySpirit #HolisticHealing #BusinessPodcast #CyberAwareness #DataProtection #MentalWellness

© 2026 The Cyber Savvy Woman Podcast | Hosted by Rachele Schainker

The Cyber Savvy Woman is where women business owners reclaim their power in the digital world. We break down cybersecurity barriers, transforming complex protection strategies into clear, actionable guidance. Ready to stop letting cybersecurity intimidate you and start letting it elevate you?

In this episode of The Cyber Savvy Woman, host Rachele Schainker sits down with Michelle Hodges, a global channels and alliances executive, to explore the evolving cybersecurity landscape for small businesses.

Michelle shares insights from her extensive career in IT and channel alliances, including her experience driving channel-first transformations and building partner ecosystems. Together, they discuss how cybersecurity has shifted from a technical afterthought to a core business strategy — especially for small and mid-sized organizations.

The conversation highlights the role of AI in productivity and security, the critical intersection of human behavior and technology, and practical guidance for women who are interested in entering or advancing in cybersecurity. Michelle also offers actionable advice for small business owners on securing their IT infrastructure, building a security-first culture, and leveraging trusted partnerships.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on networking, leadership, and resilience, along with an honest discussion of the challenges and opportunities women face in the tech and cybersecurity space.

🎧 Tune in for actionable insights and strategies to strengthen your cybersecurity posture and lead with confidence in the digital world.

00:00 Introduction to The Cyber Savvy Woman