Feeling like your business is ghosting you? In this episode of The Ordinary Business Podcast, I'm sitting down with Marissa Lawton (https://www.marissalawton.com/) to talk about what it actually looks like to have a relationship with your business—spoiler alert: it’s less “sexy CEO power moves” and more “figuring out where the heck your passwords are.” If you've ever avoided opening your bank account or pretended your business subscriptions just…sort themselves out, you are so in the right place.

>> Thanks to our sponsor, ⁠Holly Tate⁠!

Today, Marissa and I dig into the art of reconnecting with your work (without the guilt), the messy middle of hiring and firing help, and why you don’t need to know code to run a successful website. Plus, you’ll get a healthy dose of honesty about setting up boundaries, ditching hustle culture, and building a sustainable rhythm that doesn’t wreck your life. Yes, snacks by the kitchen island are a business strategy.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Own your numbers (even if you still pay for mystery subscriptions)—knowing your metrics keeps you in the driver’s seat.

• Build your business around your actual life, not some internet millionaire’s schedule or expectations.

• Reconnect with why you started by mapping your customer’s journey and getting (gasp) honest about what you want your business to do for you.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

The State of Online Business 2026 survey results are in, and we have thoughts!

Read for yourself: https://theordinarybusiness.com/state-of-online-business-survey-2026/

In this episode of The Ordinary Business Podcast, I’m sitting down with two of my best business friends—Jodi and Ginny—for a chat about what actually goes on behind the scenes of real small businesses. If you’re tired of those “million-dollar flexes” and want insight into making your everyday, ordinary business work for your real life, you’re in the right place.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Make your money count by understanding your take-home pay, not just your top-line revenue.

• Choose your tools (and expenses) wisely—sometimes “good enough” really is good enough.

• Embrace the fact that there’s no “right” way to run a business—ordinary but thriving is the new extraordinary.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not waking up at 5AM, meditating and journaling and running a marathon before breakfast—this episode is for you. I sat down with Becca Post (https://forwardhealing.co/), intuitive therapist, coach, and fellow gluten-free baking enthusiast, to talk about what happens when you ditch the “perfect routine” and start anchoring your day with rituals that actually fit your real life.

>> Shout-out to our sponsor, Leah! Head to leahbryantco.com/getfound and use coupon code "Ordinary" to get started.

Links mentioned by Becca:

POCKET RITUALS WORKBOOK

SUBSTACK

Becca and I riff on the messy, unpredictable workdays that come with running your own business, especially when “routine” means whatever grounds you—whether that’s sipping warm water in the morning or driving in silence after a client call. We get blunt about the myth of consistency, talk anchor points instead of rigid schedules, and laugh about how anyone’s nervous system is supposed to stay chill when every business podcast out there wants you to “never miss a Monday.” Spoiler: Ordinary wins count just as much as the shiny ones.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Reclaim mornings (and sanity) by recognizing small anchor points you already do—think drinking coffee, warm water, or taking a shower—without piling on extra rules.

• Build flexibility into your workday by asking, “What actually grounds me?” instead of forcing yourself to stick to routines that just make you miserable.

• Give yourself permission to make change “more often than not”—consistency isn’t about perfection, it’s about what feels doable for ordinary business owners, just like you.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Ready to ditch the “always-on” grind and actually enjoy your life (and your business)? In this episode of The Ordinary Business Podcast, I sit down with Brittany Burns (Brittanyalexaburns.com)—a health and wellness coach and seasoned business owner who’s figured out how to run her biz without sacrificing her sanity, her family time, or her love for rock climbing (yep, you read that right).

>> Thanks to our sponsor, The Co-Promotion Club!

I get Brittany talking about why she only takes calls on Mondays and Tuesdays, office hours that start at the “ungodly” hour of 6am, and the genius of scheduling takeout instead of pretending you’ll cook every night (can’t relate more). You’ll hear candid stories about burnout, real-life boundary setting, and how the “all or nothing” hustle mentality is officially canceled. Spoiler: ordinary business owners actually thrive by being ordinary—lean, flexible, and unapologetically practical.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Schedule your week based on actual priorities (family, workouts, and yes—takeout counts as a priority).

• Set up clear boundaries for client calls and office hours so you can avoid burnout and be present with your people.

• Ditch “all or nothing” thinking; flexibility and small tweaks matter more than perfect routines.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Ever wondered how “ordinary” business owners actually get through wild seasons—like running a lean business while juggling IVF, chronic illness, and raising a baby? (Spoiler: There’s no sexy guru hack, just a lot of honesty and resilience.)

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Weiss to talk about the real stuff nobody puts on their highlight reel: messy boundaries, secret fears about losing clients, and creative ways to fit work around medical appointments and nap time.

>> Thanks to our sponsor, Mindi Huebner!

We get blunt about the weirdness of hiding big life news from clients, why flexibility isn’t just lunch dates—it’s sometimes working after bedtime—and how both of us survived a season of wobbly client inquiries and “are-you-really-coming-back?” vibes. Whether you’re prepping for IVF, dealing with chronic illness, or just craving a business that doesn’t demand your soul, you’ll find your people here.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Lean on community—sometimes your best support comes from strangers on TikTok who just get it.

• Reimagine what boundaries and flexibility actually mean; working from bed with the laptop isn’t a crisis, it’s a win for your season.

• Simplify client management and recurring revenue by automating simple, repeatable offers (hello, email templates!).

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

I’m here for the business owners who are just plain tired of notifications, Slack pings, and that urge to check email (even when you’re relaxing on the couch—guilty, just like you). This episode is all about reclaiming some peace and reminding yourself that running a thriving business doesn’t mean you need to be “always on”—especially if your mental health has had enough of hustle expectations.

>> Thanks to our sponsor, Holly Tate!

Today, I chat with Elizabeth Quakkelaar—a real-deal accounting pro who kicked business apps off her phone and set boundaries that preserve her sanity. You’ll hear honest talk about the myths of flexibility, the rhythm of responding to clients without being on-call 24/7, and those sweet moments of deleting Instagram for weeks at a time. Spoiler: You don’t need all the shiny tools to serve your clients well.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Start by turning off every single notification (yes, even text alerts—your mom and maybe your dog sitter get priority).

• Set clear expectations with clients about when and where you’ll actually answer, so you’re not stalking the DMs while meal planning.

• Protect your peace and productivity by intentionally building in guardrails, and try deleting those “time-suck” apps—your future self will thank you.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Let’s be honest—juggling preschool drop-offs, pick-ups, and client calls is not exactly what “business influencers” are Instagramming about. In this episode, I dive into the very real mess and magic of managing a service-based business while figuring out preschool logistics, family schedules, and the infamous car pickup line.

>> This episode is sponsored by Leah Bryant. Do you have a podcast that isn't being found by the right audience? Leah helps podcasters with her Get Found Audit, a deep dive into your show's discoverability so you can start attracting the right listeners. Head to leahbryantco.com/getfound and use coupon code "Ordinary".

If you’ve ever wondered how actual people get work done without a full-time team or celebrity nanny, you’re definitely my kind of ordinary business owner.

This chat covers the whole parade: why flexibility doesn’t always feel easy, what happens when your childcare situation flips upside down, and how I turned waiting in the car pickup line into a weirdly productive slice of my day.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Reframe childcare costs as part of your business decision-making, not just a family expense.

• Experiment with flexible work rhythms and stop stressing when your old systems don’t fit your new reality.

• Remember: You’re not failing just because you need to change things up—business (and life) are allowed to be messy and ordinary.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Ever feel like marketing your business is just another frantic item on your never-ending to-do list—right up there with remembering to feed your kids and resisting the urge to rage-quit Instagram?

This episode of The Ordinary Business Podcast is with Andi Smiley, a fellow podcaster and mom who’s managed to escape the rabbit hole of hustle culture (and the clutches of Instagram) by leaning into the world of Pinterest.

Grab her "Is Pinterest Right for Me?" checklist: https://friendlypodcastguide.com/is-pinterest-right-for-me-checklist/

I’m getting real with Andi about what it’s like to juggle a two-hour workday (thanks, preschool pick-up), market a podcast without fancy funnels or complicated systems, and find clients on a platform you probably thought was just for dinner recipes and wedding ideas.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Start small and stay consistent—a single Pinterest pin a week can make a difference.

• Stop pretending Instagram is the only place to market your podcast (unless you love panic-posting).

• Prioritize platforms that actually feel easy for you and give you back hours (and brain space).

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Double-dose of episodes today with a little focus on health. Enjoy!

There’s juggling, and then there’s running a business while your body is throwing you a new curveball every hour. In this episode, I chatted with Rheanna Nutter (yep, the Chronic CEO herself: https://www.thechronicceo.co/) to talk about the real deal of building a thriving business when chronic illness is your not-so-optional sidekick. Forget celebrity entrepreneur hacks—this is about actual human life, where “self care” looks like setting up a nap-friendly workspace and learning when to just call it quits for the day.

>> Thanks to our sponsor for supporting the show! Get access to the email training now at https://notanothervirtualassistant.com/10-ways-to-grow-your-email-list/

Inside, we get honest (and honestly funny) about practical boundaries with clients, how AI can be a total gamechanger for folks with limited time or energy, and why ditching “discovery calls” might keep you sane. Rhianna shares her best tricks for managing a business and a household—even when the win of the day is just brushing your teeth—and how ordinary, messy progress beats perfect every single time.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize what absolutely has to be done and accept that “good enough” is often the best path forward.

• Lean on automation and AI to free up your (limited!) energy for what actually matters—and skip the business chores you secretly hate.

• Set non-negotiable boundaries, communicate upfront, and remember that clients who don’t respect your reality aren’t your people.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

Double-dose of episodes today with a little focus on health. Enjoy!

Balancing business, workouts, and life? If you’ve ever tried to squeeze in movement between client emails or even wondered how “real” business owners keep up with health routines (hint: it’s not all green juice and yoga mats), this episode’s for you. I sat down with Kelley Kempel, owner of Hidden Path Creative (https://www.hiddenpathcreative.com/), and we got real about ditching hustle culture while keeping workouts as a non-negotiable—even for those of us who aren’t chasing marathon medals.

>> Thanks to our sponsor for supporting us! Get $20 off lifetime access with the code “ordinary” delicate-wind-3351.kit.com/products/the-coworking-collective?promo=ordinary

Kelley gets honest about training runs with rom-com audiobooks, making workout time non-optional (mostly), and why scheduling movement is a sanity-saver for ordinary business owners like me. From accountability to walk-and-talk meetings, you’ll pick up practical tactics for staying active without turning life into a performance.

→ Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com
→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠
→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠

Key Takeaways:

• Put workouts on your calendar like an unmissable meeting—your future self will thank you (and you’ll be less cranky).

• Find movement you actually enjoy, whether it’s funny audiobooks while running or hanging with the dogs—no “athlete” label required.

• Accept that ordinary business owners aren’t perfect; sometimes sleep beats squats, and that’s absolutely fine.

This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.