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Okay friends, we are inching dangerously close to the New Year.

And if you are anything like me, you’re probably sitting there with your fresh 2026 planner, feeling that creeping pressure to "reinvent" yourself. You might be thinking, “I need a totally new angle,” or “I need to burn it all down and start fresh to get noticed this year.”

Before you do anything drastic, listen to this episode.

Originally recorded in August of this year, I hit pause on the podcast before releasing… and I’m so glad I did because this is the right time for you to hear this one.

I’m chatting with business strategist Megan Yelaney, and this is one of those real, grounding conversations that helps you slow down, zoom out, and rethink how you show up in your business.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The "uniqueness" trap – why trying so hard to be different can actually hurt your sales, and why specificity is what really works
• The messaging pendulum swing that traps entrepreneurs between copying others and being so obscure no one gets it
• Why social media feels so dang hard (hint: it has nothing to do with the algorithm)
• A spicy take on AI –  where to actually use it in your business and where to definitely leave it out
• How to niche down without boxing yourself in or burning it all to the ground
  Leading with empathy – why it’s the most powerful (and overlooked) marketing tool you have right now

If you take one thing into the New Year, let it be this: it’s okay to be redundant.

The most successful business owners aren't inventing a new message every Monday. They’re saying the same damn thing, over and over again, until it sticks.

So grab your coffee, and let’s get into it!

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode247

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🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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You probably are a good speaker.

You share helpful info.
You care about serving.
You’ve got stories, maybe even a little humor.

But what does good actually mean? That people liked it? That you hit all your points? That someone clapped?

The truth is — you’ve never been taught what “good” really is. Beyond vague feedback or a gut feeling… how are you supposed to know?

That ends today.

In this episode, I’m pulling a private training out of the vault — a breakdown of the 5 Levels of Speaking I teach my clients to help them see what effective really looks like.

I’m sharing:

• Why most entrepreneurs get stuck recycling the same dry info (and wonder why no one’s buying)
• The tiny but powerful shifts to stop being the ‘boring expert’ and start becoming the voice people quote back to others
• How to spot when you’re relying too much on info or entertainment, but missing real influence
• The sneaky mindset trap that keeps your message safe, small, and forgettable — and how to get over yourself (in the best way)

Remember that “good” is subjective. But resonant? Repeatable? Rebookable

That’s measurable — and learnable, so hit play and let’s start redefining what good means for your business.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode246

PS..If this episode lit a fire under you, then this is your sign to take the next step.

The work we talk about here is exactly what we do inside my Signature Talk Accelerator. If you’re ready to build a message that truly connects and converts, this is for you. 👉Click here to learn more about the Signature Talk Accelerator!

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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You already know AI is everywhere right now — but here’s what no one’s really saying:

When business owners start outsourcing their thinking to AI, their actual ideas suffer.

In this episode, I’m calling out the creative atrophy that happens when you stop flexing your own brainpower. Think about it: we’ve already outsourced our memory to Google Maps and our friends’ birthdays to Facebook. But your IDEAS? That’s your last line of defense as a thought leader.

I share:

• Why defaulting to AI before you think is a dangerous game
• The difference between using AI to support vs. sabotage your creativity
• What Socrates warned us about (that’s actually still true)
• The real reason your content might feel a little… off

If you’re in the business of ideas — speaking, teaching, coaching, or leading — you can’t afford to lose your creative edge. This episode will help you reclaim it.

🎧 Listen now and let your brain do what it was built to do: THINK.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇

https://heathersager.com/episode245

P.S. If you're tired of AI making everyone sound the same and want to develop your own unique voice and message — that’s exactly what I help people do. Check out my Spotlight Session if you want to work on your speaking topics.  Fair warning: I’m not the cheapest, but I’m damn good at what I do. 😉

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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“Heather, how in the world do I book more stages?!" It’s the #1 most asked question I get from you all. 

You see the advice everywhere—research, send a million cold pitches, fill out every speaker application you can find. But what if that whole approach just feels…exhausting and not quite right for you? 

So what if you didn’t have to cold pitch… and could still land stages?

Well, that was the question I set to answer for myself years ago when I realized that pitching was not my jam.

And today I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how I do it. 

You’ll hear:

• Why cold pitching doesn't align with how I’m wired (and might not work for you either)
• The difference between transactional and transformational relationships 
• The two types of speaking business models (hint: knowing yours matters)
• My “Warm ‘Em Up” strategy — how I turn cold contacts into warm relationships and hot opportunities (think: dating for your biz)
• How to nurture these connections and build a sustainable ecosystem of referrals and invites

This episode is a real, no-BS look at how I’ve built my speaking career by focusing on real connections. My hope? It gives you permission to stop following “shoulds” and start building a speaking strategy that's 100% YOU.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode244

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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Ever feel like you’re dropping pure fire—sharing your best, most advanced stuff—and all you get back is…polite nods?

Your audience tells you that you’re brilliant, they loved your talk and that your stuff is amazing…but then they don’t actually do anything with it.

So what’s the deal?

In this week episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m breaking down the #1 reason your ideas aren’t sticking—and the simple shift to fix to help your audience actually take action. It's the difference between being interesting and being irresistible.

We’re talking about how to stop sounding like you’re on “chapter 6” of your story (when your audience hasn’t even read chapters 1–5 yet), and how to add the one thing most speakers and content creators skip: context.

I’ll walk you through a super simple framework I use with clients called WIM—short for Why It Matters—and how to use it to make your message more relevant, clear, and sticky.

You’ll hear:

• Why starting with your most advanced advice is actually pushing people away.
• What your audience really means when they say they love your stuff but still don’t take action (aka still don't buy).
• How to take your topic (using a funny, made-up example about cold plunging!) and make it directly relevant to your audience's current problems, world, and desires.
• The WIM Framework: My simple 3-part formula (Why This? Why You? Why Now?) to make your message impossible to ignore.

This one’s short, super practical, and honestly—it could change the way you show up in your next talk, podcast, or post. Tune in to this episode and let’s turn those polite nods into a resounding “Hell yeah, how do I work with you?!”

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇

https://heathersager.com/episode243

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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Final Episode of the Spring Refresh Series 

After a little break from the podcast (because life + business, you know how it goes), I’m back— and bringing you a personal reflection and an honest convo to wrap up the Spring Refresh Series. 

In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes peek at what’s been going on in my brain (and life ) — the pace changes, the unexpected clarity, and the messy in-between where decisions don’t come easy. We talk about the illusion of slowing down, the pressure to make the “right” next move, and why sometimes you just need to say things out loud to figure out what’s true.

You’ll hear:

• The challenges of navigating business decisions
• How external processing is helping me move forward
• The difference between being stuck vs. simply recalibrating
• A lesson from the book I’m reading and how it snapped me out of perfection mode
• A quick update on the return of the Signature Talk Accelerator (it’s coming!)

If you’ve been second-guessing the changes you’ve made or feeling like you should be “further along” by now — this one’s for you. It’s honest, a little rambly (in the best way), and hopefully a helpful reminder that clarity doesn’t always come from planning, it comes from doing.

P.S. If you missed the earlier episodes in the Spring Refresh Series, go back and listen! Each one offers a different lens on what it really looks like to evolve your business *without burning it all down*

🔥 We’re also gearing up for the next round of the Signature Talk Accelerator — so if you’re ready to get your message clear and create a talk you actually want to give— click HERE to get on the waitlist.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode242

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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Episode 4 of the Spring Refresh Series

You already know when it’s time to make a change. But what if the way you’re deciding is the real problem?

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m joined by my client and friend Rebecca Vigelius, a former VP turned copywriter turned certified neurosomatic intelligence practitioner and stress coach. We dive into the untold truth behind her bold business pivot—one that was less about courage and more about capacity.

This isn’t just another “follow your passion” rebrand story. It’s a grounded, inside-out conversation about how stress—especially the kind we don’t realize we’re carrying—can hijack our clarity, our creativity, and our momentum.

We talk about:

• Why Rebecca actually left her copywriting agency (hint: it wasn’t just burnout)
• How a tech disaster forced her hand—and revealed her next-level direction
• The sneaky ways stress shows up in decision-making (even when you “feel fine”)
• What capacity really means—and how to create more of it without blowing up your life
• Why emotional regulation is the real secret weapon behind calm, confident evolution

We also unpack what it means to grow from clarity—not pressure—and how to make space for better decisions, better messaging, and a better version of your work.

Whether you’re in a pivot, considering a new offer, or just feeling overloaded by ideas—you’ll walk away from this episode feeling seen, validated, and maybe even a little unbothered.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Rebecca’s free tool: The Unbothered Entrepreneur Blueprint
• My no-social-media moment (and why it gave me mental clarity I didn’t know I needed)

P.S. If you’ve been feeling the pull to evolve—this one’s for you. And if you’re trying to make decisions from a place of “I just need this to work,” this convo might just save you from recreating the same problems with a different name.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇

https://heathersager.com/episode241

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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Episode 3 of the Spring Refresh Series

What if refreshing your business isn’t about changing everything — but simply making room for more of what you’re being called to do?

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m sitting down with brand designer and strategist Kristina Bleiler of Gem Creative Co. to unpack what it really looks like to expand your service-based business without walking away from what’s already working.

Kristina didn’t blow up her brand design studio. Instead, she added a whole new layer to it — a DIY branding course for solopreneurs who want to become their own creative directors.

Here’s the twist: Kristina once believed that branding had to be done-for-you to be effective. Like many experts, she thought DIY design couldn’t hold a candle to professional work. But over time, she challenged her own belief — flipped it upside down, actually — and built a program that now serves an entirely different group of buyers she once thought she couldn’t help.

You’ll hear:

• Why changing your stance doesn’t mean abandoning your expertise
• How Kristina created her DIY program without ditching her high-end branding clients
• What she had to learn (and unlearn) to go from expert designer to brand educator
• The subtle difference between coaching and consulting—and why she identifies as a brand tutor
• How to follow your curiosity and serve new audiences without losing your core identity
  
  

If you’ve ever felt pulled toward a new offer, format, or audience—but questioned whether it fits inside what you’ve already built—Kristina’s story is the gentle nudge to explore what’s possible. This one’s a must-listen if you’re asking yourself: Can I really do both?

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode240

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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Episode 2 of the Spring Refresh Series

This week's episode of The Ramble Refinery is your permission slip to pivot boldly and follow your curiosity.

I pulled one of my fave throwback interviews with the brilliant Ellen Yin, founder of Cubicle to CEO out of the vault—and it could not be more relevant for anyone feeling a little burn-it-all-down-but-make-it-strategic about their business.

You’ll hear:

• What it really means to pivot with purpose (hint: it’s not about starting from scratch)
• How Ellen went from six-figure clients to $500 courses—and scaled it in 90 days
• The power of sharing your business numbers publicly (and how it builds trust)
  Behind-the-scenes of building a media brand that runs on content and connection
• Balancing hustle and rest—and how to know which season you’re in
• Why starting over doesn’t actually mean starting over

Whether you’re navigating changes in your biz or secretly dreaming about a refresh, you’ll love Ellen’s refreshingly real take.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode239

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

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Episode 1 of the Spring Refresh Series

Ever feel like blowing up your entire business? Same.

But before you start rewriting your offers, scrapping your website, or launching into a full rebrand, this episode is your gut check.

In the first episode of the Spring Refresh Series (happening the entire month of May), I’m walking you through one of the most common (and misunderstood) urges business owners face: the need to burn it all down. I’ll share why that urge shows up, what it might really be trying to tell you — and how to pause long enough to ask better questions.

You’ll hear:

• The difference between feelings and facts when something feels “off”
• How to avoid blowing up something that actually just needs a tweak
• The 5 business “seasons” I see clients navigating — and how to tell which one you’re in
• What to do when your business no longer fits, but you’re not sure what to change

Let’s rethink the impulse — and make sure your next move is the right one.

EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇
https://heathersager.com/episode238

Support the show

🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start

🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog

📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage.

👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSager

If you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.