Ever wish your team just got each other? What if the secret to a balanced, high-performing crew was hiding in plain sight—like in their temperament?

In this episode of the System for Everything podcast, I talk with Ashley Ebert, a powerhouse in the wedding industry and the founder of The Abundance Group. After scaling her own wedding planning company into a multi-market million-dollar business, she now helps entrepreneurs do the same—by leading with empathy, not ego.

Ashley introduced me to a centuries-old but surprisingly modern leadership tool: the team temperament model. And once she laid it out? It was like I could finally see why some hires worked out beautifully and others... didn’t.

Connect with Ashley:

theabundance.group

instagram.com/theabundancegroup

Hot tip for maintaining adult friendships: Move to different cities, never ask who texted last, and consider a blood pact. That’s more or less the system Lauren and I have followed for 17 years—and it’s worked. Today, we’re breaking down how.

In this episode of The System for Everything, I’m joined by one of my longest-standing friendships: Lauren Smart. She's a journalism professor, an arts writer, and someone who's had a front-row seat to my entire adult life. We became friends at 22, and somehow—through new jobs, new cities, a lot of karaoke, and one of us (me) developing a codependent relationship with Google Calendar—we’ve stayed maintained a friendship for nearly two decades.

We unpack what it really takes to maintain friendships through your 20s, 30s, and beyond, including:

• The secret to surviving "Boyfriend Island" seasons
• Why meme-sharing and sending that “Hi!” text really matter
• What makes a friendship worth the effort as you grow older

What if your business could keep running even when life hits pause? In this episode, I sit down with Dahlia Orth, a systems strategist and HoneyBook Pro, who shares how building intentional workflows helped her reclaim her time and design a business that supports her life... not the other way around.

We talk about building boundaries you won’t feel guilty about, systems that run while you rest, and how to prepare your business for growth before you desperately need it.

Key Takeaways:

• Why automations are only as good as the templates behind them
• How to make time for joy, grief, and travel without compromising your client experience
• The key mindset shift every entrepreneur needs to make when setting boundaries

Mentioned in this Episode:

• dahliaorth.com
• instagram.com/dahlia.orth
• System Scalability Quiz
• Wow Factor Workflow

Ending a working relationship doesn’t have to be a legal or emotional disaster. I sit down with Paige Griffith, founder of The Legal Paige, to talk about the uncomfortable yet necessary art of business breakups. Paige is a former federal law clerk turned online legal educator, known for making the legal side of entrepreneurship approachable and actionable.

We explore why client breakups happen, how to prepare your contracts in advance, and what to do if you're already knee-deep in a mess. Paige shares her real-world horror stories, her favorite contract clauses, and how to keep things professional (and even leave the door open!) when letting someone go.

Key Takeaways:

• Why non-refundable retainers and termination clauses are your contract MVPs
• How to handle breakups when there’s no contract in place
• Scripts, templates, and mindset shifts that help you protect your energy and your reputation

Connect with Paige:

• The Legal Paige
• Join the Facebook Group
• Follow Paige on Instagram

If your idea of date night is whispering “ice cream and Netflix?” after the kids are asleep, this episode is for you. I sat down with Camille Whiting of Friday We're in Love, one of my long-time internet inspirations, to talk about how to keep connection, fun, and even spontaneity alive in a long-term relationship—especially when kids, jobs, and logistics are in full chaos mode.

Camille and her husband Jacob have committed to a weekly date night for over 14 years, and she’s sharing the mindset, systems, and flexible-but-firm strategies that make it sustainable (and joyful!).

We dig into:

• How a calendar can save your marriage—and your sanity
• Creative systems for dating with kids (even with zero family help)
• Why romance thrives with structure, not just spontaneity

Connect with Camille:

• fridaywereinlove.com
• @fridaywereinlove
• A Year of Dates
• 101 Date Ideas
• Camp Mom

Feeling stuck in seasonal sadness? Maybe your cure isn’t in a supplement—maybe it’s in a suitcase.

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Sara Dunn—not about SEO, but about a totally different system that’s transformed her life: snowbirding. Yes, we’re talking about skipping winter entirely. Sara breaks down how she and her husband live in two states, manage two homes, and run fully remote businesses without losing their minds (or their mail).

Sara, the founder of Sara Does SEO, is a powerhouse wedding SEO strategist who’s helped her clients attract over a million visitors a year. But today, she’s sharing her personal operating system for something a little different: emotional outsourcing through geographic flexibility.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• The practical logistics of living in two places
• The emotional rollercoaster of seasonal transitions
• Why this lifestyle isn’t just for retirees

Connect with Sara:

• saradoesseo.com
• instagram.com/saradoesseo

Mentioned in this Episode

• libbyapp.com

If you want to figure out your Enneagram type the fast way, just launch a small business. Nothing reveals your core fears like client emails, overdue invoices, and writing your own bio.

Today, I’m talking with Enneagram coach, author, and self-awareness cheerleader Ashton Whitmoyer-Ober—aka Enneagram Ashton. Ashton’s a powerhouse in personal growth: speaker, professor, and community builder who helps people actually use the Enneagram to make confident, values-aligned decisions in work and life.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why knowing your Enneagram number isn’t enough
• How to build your business to support (not sabotage) your energy and motivation
• Common traps and superpowers for each type in entrepreneurship

Connect with Ashton:

• enneagramashton.com
• instagram.com/enneagramashton

Have you ever felt like you're shouting into the void online, hoping for more than a like or a DM? You're not alone—and you're not doing it wrong. You're just building it backwards.

In this episode, I sat down with my real-life brunch bestie, Laylee Emadi—a conference host, coach, and the founder of The Creative Educator Conference—to talk all things community-led business. Laylee is my go-to example for what it looks like to serve from the heart while still growing a sustainable brand.

Here’s what we dig into:

• Why true community isn't about audience size—and how to tell the difference
• Common myths about community-led business (and what actually works)
• How community connection translates into real revenue and recurring sales

Connect with Laylee:

• layleeemadi.com
• instagram.com/laylee_emadi

Mentioned in this Episode:

• instagram.com/feedingtinybellies
• layleeemadi.com/conference
• layleeemadi.com/educatorslounge

Imagine if your funniest business-savvy friend handed you a life cheat sheet every week. That’s The System for Everything — quick, relatable episodes packed with real tips, real talk, and way too many reality television references. Hosted by Julie Fried, it’s the podcast that proves systems don't have to be boring. If you love practical tips but need them served with a side of sharp wit, this is your new favorite system.

Whether you're a small business owner, creative entrepreneur, busy parent, or just someone trying to get your life together, this podcast is for you. Expect bite-sized episodes on productivity hacks, time management, marketing strategies, business systems, home organization, content creation, and surviving motherhood with a to-do list in hand. With topics that span from scaling your business to systemizing your grocery list, from daily routines to automation, The System for Everything helps you work smarter, live better, and laugh while doing it.

Music produced by Eric J Fried