The Playhouse Podcast: Real conversations with creative business owners growing through community and networking

Good messaging used to be enough. In 2026? You need messaging that actually sounds like you, calls in the right people, and makes your audience immediately feel seen.

In this episode:
0:00 Why “good enough” messaging stopped working in 2026
4:58 The problem with vague messaging like “overwhelmed”
9:49 Why specific messaging attracts better-fit clients
12:21 Jen’s MVP framework: Messaging, Voice, and Positioning
26:09 Why constant how-to content is hurting your marketing

We also kept the conversation going with a Live Q&A where we talked about:
How to make your messaging more specific without feeling boxed in
The difference between messaging, copy, and content
How to use personality in your marketing without oversharing online
Why positioning matters even if you offer the same service as everyone else
The “hedging” words making your content sound watered down

Hang out with Jen:
https://jenliddy.com
https://jenliddy.com/quiz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenliddy/

Hang out with Deanna:
https://deannaseymour.com
https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

You don’t need a massive website to look legit. You need something simple that actually reflects where your business is right now.

In this episode:
0:00 Why you don’t need a big, complicated website
2:18 How doing too much leads to burnout fast
6:00 What your website actually needs when you’re starting
11:50 Letting your website evolve as your business changes
16:05 What to check when you update your site

We also kept the conversation going with a Live Q&A where we talked about:

• How to update your website without overthinking it
• What actually matters when you’re reviewing your site
• The difference between technical fixes and content updates
• Easy ways to keep your site current without a full overhaul
• Managing your website alongside everything else in your business

Hang out with Rene Morozowich:
https://renemorozowich.com/connect/

Hang out with Deanna Seymour:
https://deannaseymour.com
https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

Burnout isn’t just being tired, and most people don’t realize how many different ways it can show up. I’m talking with Megan Winkler about the real types of burnout, how to spot them earlier, and how to actually recover without making it another thing on your to-do list.

In this episode:
0:00 The different types of burnout most people don’t even realize exist
2:00 Why burnout isn’t just physical and how it actually shows up
7:14 Why women and creatives are more prone to burnout
11:00 The subtle signs you’re heading toward burnout before you crash
19:40 The simplest way to start recovering without adding more to your plate

Hang out with Megan Winkler:
meganwinkler.com
meganwinkler.com/book

Hang out with Deanna Seymour:
deannaseymour.com
instagram.com/thedeannaseymour

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

Losing your shit as a mom is way more normal than people admit. I’m talking with Kayce Hodos about mindfulness, mom guilt, and how to handle those overwhelming moments without expecting yourself to be perfect.

In this episode:
0:00 Why losing your shit as a mom is more normal than you think
2:00 What mindfulness actually is (and why it’s not woo or complicated)
4:00 What to do in the exact moment you feel yourself about to snap
7:14 Why supporting the mom matters more than “fixing” the kid
12:00 The small shifts that actually make parenting feel easier day-to-day

Hang out with Kayce Hodos:
kaycehodos.com

Hang out with Deanna Seymour:
deannaseymour.com
instagram.com/thedeannaseymour

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

In this 5 Minute Hot-take, Adam Dickinson (Future Self Strategist) delivers a rapid-fire guide on making truly aligned career decisions, which is especially valuable for those transitioning out of government roles or into new leadership opportunities. Forget endless job board scrolls and cold applications. Adam uncovers his five steps to cut through the noise. Discover how to “trace the thread” of your own work, read your body’s cues, and lean into opportunities that feel light rather than forced. Whether you’re re-entering the private sector or simply seeking your next true-fit gig, these strategies will help you trust your timing and navigate career moves with confidence and ease.

Learn more about Adam at: 

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

Is time blocking too rigid for creative business owners? In this 5 Minute Hot Take, Maria Medina, a networking and business coach and founder of The Coaching Network, shares how time blocking isn’t about controlling every minute but creating space for what actually matters. Drawing on firsthand experience, Maria reveals practical tips to set flexible blocks, protect your creativity, and avoid burnout by taking back control of your calendar. Tune in for advice that will help you design your day with more intentionality and freedom.

Learn more about Maria at: thecoachingnetwork.com/

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

Craving fresh content ideas but feeling stuck? In this 5 Minute Masterclass, Kate Markel from Task Lemonade, a social media pro, pulls back the curtain on her top three sources for endless inspiration. Whether you're a small business owner, creator, or marketer, Kate shows you how to tap into the best of Reddit, Answer the Public, and YouTube comments =to never run out of things to say (and sell) on your socials. Say bye to content droughts and hello to scroll-stopping, audience-serving posts...No ads required!

Learn more about Kate at: tasklemonade.com/

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

Feeling stuck in a rut or burned out by constant goal-chasing? In this episode of Friends of the Playhouse we are joined by marketing consultant and play advocate, Laura Khalil, who shares how she got her groove back through an experiment: having 100 open, agenda-free conversations with strangers. Laura breaks down how genuine, playful connection (not strict goal-setting and complicated systems) can unlock creativity, boost business, and fill your cup in ways you can't predict. If you crave more fun, realness, and human networking in your business, this episode is your permission slip to try something different.

Learn more about how Laura uses Once Upon a Roll to give individuals and team the practice and tools they need to navigate tough conversations, make decisions, practice leadership, and collaborate with different personality types.

Connect with Laura at laura-khalil.com/ or connect with her for The 100 Conversations Project!

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

Ready to crank up your networking results without awkwardness? I'm introducing you to branding expert and former Disney storyteller Annie Franceschi as she reveals her practical, win-win approach to creating follow-up magic. Annie breaks down how business owners can make the most of every connection, with a seriously simple tool that takes the stress (and spreadsheets) out of referrals.

Whether you’re tired of stalled intros, hate sending cold emails, or want networking to actually feel fun, Annie shares why clear, upfront communication beats leaving things to chance and gives you the confidence to make real connections that build your business. 

Don't just hope someone remembers you after a networking call. Grab the free Referral Message Creator™ for a copy-and-paste intro about yourself to hand off to your new connections. 

Connect with Annie on LinkedIn and take a listen to more great tips from Annie on the Establish Yourself® Podcast

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

What’s the simple way service providers can stay booked without posting 24/7? In this Friends of the Playhouse episode, Emily Reagan, founder of Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School and the Digital Marketers Work Group, shares practical ways to market yourself without the influencer grind.

You’ll hear why owning your role as a business owner changes everything, how collaborating with other service providers leads to better clients, what to do if referrals are your only pipeline, how to talk about your work with confidence, and a reframe that makes selling feel like helping. We wrap with a quick This or That: Service Provider Edition… raise your rates or tighten your boundaries?

Learn more about Emily on Instagram at @emilyreaganpr and on her podcast The Marketing Freelancer.

🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter! 
https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter

And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!