What happens when you stop chasing the “safe” path and start following the quiet calling inside you?

In this episode of the Write Your Own Story Podcast, Betsy sits down with Sarah Trop, founder of Fun Cycled, award-winning interior designer, and HGTV Flea Market Flip champion. Sarah shares the real story behind building a business rooted in creativity, faith, and family.

Starting with nothing more than roadside furniture and late-night nap-time work sessions, Sarah turned a small idea into a thriving design studio known for transforming forgotten pieces and historic homes into spaces filled with purpose and beauty.

But this conversation goes far beyond business strategy.

Sarah opens up about:

• The moment she realized the traditional 9-to-5 life wasn’t aligned with the life she wanted to build
• How a simple experiment flipping furniture turned into a full-time business in just months
• Why entrepreneurs must get comfortable being uncomfortable
• The power of storytelling when selling your work
• How faith, stillness, and reflection guide her biggest business decisions
• What it really takes to build a sustainable business (hint: it’s not overnight success)

They also explore the deeper question many women wrestle with: Can you build something meaningful without sacrificing your values, family, or wellbeing?

If you’ve ever felt a pull to create something of your own—but fear, perfectionism, or uncertainty keeps holding you back—this episode is your reminder:

You don’t need a perfect plan.
 You just need to start.

Because as Sarah says, “It’s already a no if you never try.”

This conversation is equal parts practical, honest, and deeply inspiring for anyone ready to take the next step toward building a life—and business—that truly feels aligned.

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

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FLODESK

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What if the most powerful kind of activism starts in the most ordinary place—like a dressing room?

In this episode, Betsy sits down with Dana Marlowe, founder + CEO of I Support the Girls, the global nonprofit helping women and girls access essential items like bras, period products, and toiletries—because dignity isn’t optional.

This conversation is dedicated to Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, a brilliant innovator whose contributions to menstrual care were overlooked due to racial discrimination. We’re honoring the women whose impact shaped daily life, even when the world refused to give them credit.

Dana shares the “whoops” moment that changed everything: a simple question about what to do with gently used bras… and the four words that sparked a movement. Together, Betsy and Dana talk about:

• why period products are a human rights issue
• how lack of access affects confidence, education, and opportunity
• what made this mission go viral (and why timing mattered)
• the leadership behind scaling a grassroots idea into a global logistics operation
• how we can show up—through donations, volunteering, or simply starting the conversation

If you’ve ever felt the truth in this line—“dignity is not a luxury”—this one will stay with you.

Learn more or get involved: https://isupportthegirls.org/

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
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FLODESK

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What happens when a woman who’s spent her life writing everyone else’s story finally tells her own?

In this deeply moving and soul-stirring conversation, Betsy sits down with author Sam Rose to explore what it means to step out of the background and into your voice — even when the truth feels heavy, complicated, or scary.

After two decades as a ghostwriter, Sam realized she had become a ghost in her own life — shrinking, dimming, and staying safely in the shadows. But when a sudden and devastating loss changed everything, she was forced to face the grief, the anger, the unanswered questions… and ultimately, her own power.

Together, they talk about:

• The quiet ways women learn to make themselves smaller
• How grief can become a doorway to truth and self-trust
• Why saying the hard thing is often the beginning of healing
• The courage it takes to take up space — especially when you’re used to disappearing
• How writing, honesty, and vulnerability can loosen the grip of pain
• What it really means to become your own light

This episode is a gentle but powerful reminder: your voice matters. Your story matters. And the parts of you you’ve hidden might be the very ones that set you free.

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been living on the sidelines of your own life… this conversation will feel like a quiet, brave invitation to step forward.

Because the truth is — you don’t have to stay a ghost.

It’s your story now. And you’re allowed to shine. ✨

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support

FLODESK

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Talking about pricing can feel like the hardest part of building a business. The moment you put a number on what you’ve created, it suddenly feels personal. Your stomach drops. The doubts get loud. And asking for the sale? Even harder.

In this solo episode, Betsy is speaking directly to female entrepreneurs at every stage of the journey about the real truth behind pricing: it’s not just a number—it’s a boundary.

She breaks down why so many women struggle to charge confidently, the hidden mindset traps that lead to underpricing and over-explaining, and the critical difference between revenue and true profitability. Because without pricing for profit, your business won’t support you—it will drain you.

You’ll learn:

• Why pricing feels so emotionally loaded (and how to move through the discomfort)
• The danger of pricing for approval instead of sustainability
• Common habits that quietly undermine your value—like discounting too quickly or justifying your price
• How to reframe sales as an invitation, not a confrontation
• Why asking for the sale is an act of showing up for yourself and your vision

If you’ve ever hesitated to say your price, softened your offer to avoid rejection, or felt uncomfortable talking about money, this episode will challenge you to stop playing small and start standing behind what you’ve built.

Because sustainable businesses require strong boundaries.
 And your work deserves to be valued.

Betsy also shares details about the upcoming Pricing for Profitability live webinar on February 19, where you’ll learn practical frameworks to price with confidence and stop second-guessing your numbers.

If you’re ready to charge like the business owner you’re becoming—this conversation is for you.

Register for the live webinar on Pricing for Profitability!

https://writeyourownstory.co/webinar/p/pricing-for-profitability

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support

FLODESK

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You know that idea you can’t shake—the one that keeps showing up no matter how busy, practical, or “reasonable” you try to be? This episode is for you.

In this conversation, Betsy sits down with Kaytlin Schneider, founder and CEO of Aeston West Skincare & Beauty, for an honest, empowering look at what it really means to build something of your own. From navigating self-doubt and imposter syndrome to embracing the discomfort of being seen before you feel ready, Kaytlin shares what entrepreneurship actually looks like behind the scenes.

Together, they unpack the quiet pull toward something more—and why you don’t need every answer before you begin. Kaytlin opens up about her non-linear path from biological engineering to beauty, and how treating your skills like tools in a toolbox (not a fixed identity) can unlock entirely new possibilities.

In this episode, they explore:

• Why confidence comes after action, not before
• How to stop waiting for permission and start choosing yourself
• What the “messy middle” really is—and why it doesn’t mean you’re failing
• How to move through overwhelm, self-doubt, and freeze states with self-trust
• The surprising science behind skincare, inflammation, and building routines that actually work

If you’ve been feeling the pull to begin—but telling yourself you’re not ready yet—consider this your reminder: ready is built in motion.
And if you’ve ever asked yourself, “Could I really do this?”—this episode gently, boldly answers back: why wouldn’t you?

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support

FLODESK

• Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!
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Money doesn’t have to feel intimidating, shameful, or off-limits.

In this empowering episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with Nancy Griffin, founder of Women Worth and Wellness, for a conversation every woman deserves to hear—but few of us were ever taught to have.

Together, they explore the powerful connection between self-worth, health, and financial confidence. From learning how to ask better questions and understand your assets and liabilities, to protecting yourself through insurance, planning for the “what ifs,” and stepping fully into your economic agency—this episode blends mindset shifts with practical, real-world guidance.

This isn’t about becoming a financial expert overnight. It’s about reclaiming your voice, honoring yourself as your greatest asset, and building a future that actually supports the life you want to live.

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable talking about money, hesitant to ask for what you deserve, or unsure how to step into your financial power—this conversation will leave you feeling grounded, capable, and worthy.

Because your worth was never up for debate.

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
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FLODESK

• Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!
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What if the bravest thing you do isn’t “staying positive” … but staying honest?

In this episode, Betsy sits down with Cara Lockwood, romance author (38+ novels), USA Today bestseller, and the woman behind the brilliantly raw book There’s No Good Book for This. Cara shares what changed when a routine mammogram became a breast cancer diagnosis, and how she learned to hold fear and laughter in the same hand.

This is not a “look on the bright side” conversation. It’s real talk: the before-and-after moment of diagnosis, the strange loneliness of breaking the news to the people you love, and the quiet power of choosing what you can control when everything feels out of control.

You’ll hear why humor isn’t denial, it’s armor. Why asking for help is strength, not selfishness. And why your worth was never meant to be earned through caretaking, productivity, or perfection.

If you’re navigating illness, supporting someone who is, or just trying to live more intentionally (because life is fragile for all of us), this episode will meet you where you are… and remind you there’s more strength in you than you think.

In this episode, we talk about:

• “Two things can be true”: fear and faith, grief and laughter
• Dark humor as a way to reclaim power (and calm the nervous system)
• The identity shift: “before cancer” vs “after cancer”
• Learning to accept care when you’re used to being the caregiver
• What to say (and not say) when someone tells you they have cancer
• The pep talk Cara needed most: “You don’t want to, but you will… and you’ll be okay.”
• Cara’s mission to turn pain into purpose (including how her book gives back)

Support Cara + find the book:
Cara shares where to get There’s No Good Book for This and how she’s donating proceeds to breast cancer causes, plus additional ways she’s supporting women in treatment.

If this episode touched you, share it with a friend. One simple “I’m thinking of you” can be the lifeline someone needs.

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support

FLODESK

• Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!
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Have you ever left a meeting thinking, What did I do wrong?
You weren’t unclear. You weren’t “too emotional.” You weren’t the problem.

In this episode, Betsy sits down with Kae Kronthaler-Williams—C-suite leader, B2B software marketing executive, and author of Not Made for You—for a real conversation about what so many women feel but struggle to name: the workplace is still running on systems designed without women in mind.

Together, they unpack the subtle patterns that chip away at credibility: being talked over mid-sentence, watching your idea get praised when someone else repeats it, and having your expertise second-guessed in real time. Kae shares the exact calm, strategic scripts she’s used to take back control in the room—without apologizing, over-explaining, or shrinking.

You’ll also learn:

• How to handle “You’re not ready” and demand clarity you can measure
• Why sponsorship (not mentorship) changes everything—and how to earn it
• How to build powerful internal and external networks without “working the room”
• The mindset shift that makes you unstoppable: you’re the CEO of your career

If you’ve been carrying the weight of “maybe it’s me,” this episode is your reminder: the struggle isn’t personal failure—it’s a signal for change. And you have more agency than you think.

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support

FLODESK

• Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!
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If you’re staring at January feeling behind — like everyone else has their planner, goals, and life together — this episode is for you.

In this solo season 3 kickoff, Betsy reflects on 2025 with zero fluff: what actually made her happier, what quietly drained her, and what she’s choosing to carry into 2026 with more intention. This isn’t a “new year, new you” pep talk. It’s a grounded reset for the woman who wants clarity without pressure.

This episode is an invitation to step out of hustle-mode and back into your own signal — especially if you’ve felt overwhelmed, overstimulated, or like you’ve been playing whack-a-mole in your business (and your brain).

Together, we explore:

• Why you’re not behind (and why January pressure is a lie)
• The real “wins” of 2025: the tiny moments that create true happiness
• What Betsy is leaving in 2025: resentment, self-doubt, and self-sabotage
• A simple question that changes everything: does this drain you or give you energy?
• How to set goals that move the needle without piling more onto your plate
• The shift from punishment to joy in health, movement, and habits
• Journaling prompts to cut through the noise and lead with intention
• Why showing up more authentically is the next level — personally and professionally

You don’t need a perfect plan. You need a life that feels like yours.

You are not behind. You are right on time — and you get to write what happens next.

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support

FLODESK

• Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!
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If you’ve ever thought, “I know I’m capable… so why do I still feel drained or disconnected from myself?” — this episode is for you.

In this grounding conversation, Betsy sits down with Molly Peralta and Michale Chatham from The Vessel Village to unpack why so many women feel “off.” Spoiler: you’re not broken — you’re overwhelmed by constant input that disconnects you from your own signal.

This episode is a wake-up call for the woman who’s tried more information, strategies, and “shoulds,” yet still feels something is missing.

Together, they explore:

• Why community isn’t the same as a true village
• Noise vs. signal — and how to hear your body again
• Why women stay stuck in “fixing” mode
• The habits and inputs that quietly drain you
• Seeing yourself as more than roles or labels
• Why real support isn’t validation — it’s a mirror
• How to stop copying others and design your own life

This episode is for the woman ready to stop searching outside herself and come home.

You are not broken. You don’t need fixing. You need a life built around your truth.

Connect with Michale & The Vessel
thevessel.life
michalechatham.com
YouTube: @michalechatham990
Instagram: @michalechatham · @theclinicalmystic · @truenorthcouples

Connect with Molly
Instagram: @molstie · @livingadjusted · @hapalabel
@thevesselvillage · @villagesessionspodcast

Free Resource
https://thevessel.myflodesk.com/wellresourcedguide

Support the show

Connect with Betsy:

Website: writeyourownstory.co

Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

Instagram: write_your_own_story_co Or betsyleo

Youtube:writeyourownstorypodcast

More:

SHOP MY AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/shop/write_your_own_story_co

FEMALE FOUNDERS MASTERCLASS: https://writeyourownstory.co/ffa-courses

GET 10% OFF YOUR OURA RING:

https://ouraring.com/raf/216ee90575?utm_source=user&utm_medium=iac_raf&utm_type=alwayson-cvr&utm_campaign=2025RAF&utm_variant=2025_raf_july

HUNGRYROOT:
code: WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40

https://www.hungryroot.com/?promo=WRITEYOUROWNSTORY40&b=1197&utm_source=write-your-own-story&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=in-house

DONATE TO CINCY's CHILDREN HOSPITAL:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2270822/support

FLODESK

• Give your friends 50% off their first year of Flodesk and get $19 when they join!
  • https:...