As we wrap up 2024, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons this year has taught me and what I want to carry forward into 2025. It’s been a year of dichotomies—beauty and difficulty, joy and sadness—and I think there’s something powerful in learning to hold space for both.

The biggest lesson I’m taking away is that life can be really hard and really beautiful at the same time. There’s been sadness in my personal life and challenges in the world around us, but there’s also been so much to appreciate: sunsets, friendships, and those small, meaningful moments that remind me why we keep going. Learning to feel multiple emotions at once has been grounding and helped me navigate this year with resilience.

On a lighter note, I recently went through my camera roll and created a “Kirsti content” folder filled with videos and photos from the year—retreats, trips, sunsets, bachelorette parties, and meals I made. Revisiting these memories reminded me of the importance of finding glimmers—those small, beautiful
moments that make even the toughest days worthwhile.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about the content we create for ourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in creating for others (especially as a social media manager!), but documenting life for yourself can be a way to reconnect with joy and gratitude.

As I look toward 2025, I’m excited to lean deeper into community building, whether it’s through this podcast, social media, or live events. Thank you for being here with me through it all—I hope this episode inspires you to reflect on your own lessons and find your glimmers as we head into a new year.

See you in 2025 & happy holidays!

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In this week’s episode, we are thinking about burnout, creativity, and carving a path in business that feels true to who you are.  We are joined by Emily Varley, Founder and Creative Lead at Stella The Studio, who helps people feel confident in their brand across everything from websites to social media. Emily shares how, despite following a traditional education path, a bold leap into entrepreneurship sparked the creation of her thriving business. She opens up about the emotional struggles she faced, leading her to seek therapy to navigate feelings of burnout—a diagnosis her therapist later confirmed. Emily reveals the impactful changes she’s made to avoid burnout in the future and busts common freelance myths that can perpetuate overwhelm.

With Emily we explore how niching down over time can help entrepreneurs discover what they truly love and create a sustainable business. Emily also embraces her "soft girl" mentality, focusing on a more relaxed, chill approach to her work. She offers invaluable tips on aligning with your creative energy and making the most of your creative bursts. The episode wraps up with us leading Emily through a fun and insightful speed round, answering timely and intriguing questions as the year draws to a close.

CONNECT WITH EMILY
On her website, www.stellathestudio.com
On Instagram @stellathestudio

Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
Find links, inspiration and updates on @thinkingaboutpodcast

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In this week’s episode, we are thinking about the fascinating world of mediumship. We sit down with Roz, a UK-trained medium, to explore her journey of connecting with those who have passed. Roz shares how her struggle with grief led her to seek help, ultimately inviting a medium into her life—a moment that changed everything and ignited her curiosity about what lies beyond the physical world.

Roz explains how her newfound gift has transformed the way she experiences and understands grief. She unpacks the difference between psychics and mediums, a question many are curious about, and discusses who might be more open to embracing the medium lifestyle.

Throughout their conversation, Roz reflects on the mental and emotional journey of discovering mediumship, debunks common myths, and addresses misconceptions surrounding this unique ability.

We also ask Roz how her gift has influenced her personal life and relationships, offering a candid glimpse into the balance between her spiritual work and everyday life.

This episode is a heartfelt and enlightening discussion for anyone curious about mediumship, personal growth, or new perspectives on grief. Tune in to join the conversation and hear Roz’s inspiring story.

CONNECT WITH ROZ
On Facebook
On Instagram, @spiritmediumroz

Listen to Jayne's episode mentioned in the episode

Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
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Today’s episode has us thinking about wellness, our nervous system and the true magic between two women entrepreneurs.  We’re thrilled to sit down with Tanya Kololian and Zoë Paliare, co-founders of trove, Toronto’s newest holistic restorative wellness centre. trove offers a calming escape from the city’s high energy, allowing visitors to stay in the city but feel off the grid.

Tanya and Zoë share the inspiring "why" behind starting Trove, rooted in their personal commitment to prioritizing well-being. Although they come from distinctly different backgrounds, their shared vision to create a wellness haven in the heart of the city unified them as business partners. They offer valuable advice on how to make wellness a lifestyle, revealing how their deep trust in intuition—a skill they’ve both honed—has been essential in shaping trove. They even share a fun anecdote about a “future-telling spleen,” a story you won’t want to miss!

Throughout our conversation, Tanya and Zoë offer reminders about the importance of progress over perfection, and share practical tips on taking time to recharge — something trove is passionate about promoting for everyone, especially busy entrepreneurs. They’re dedicated to creating a culture that values ease and enjoyment, ensuring that trove is a welcoming space where nervous system regulation is prioritized. They explain how trove’s concierge service can be a lifeline for those feeling overwhelmed and in need of a reset, guiding clients toward the services that suit their needs.

Tanya and Zoë also emphasize the power of mutual intention, crediting the unique energy at trove to their shared passion and dedication. Finally, they provide insight into navigating challenges together as business partners and friends, sharing valuable tips on handling conflict with respect and understanding. This episode is filled with inspiring insights on wellness, business, and the strength of following one’s intuition—don’t miss it!

CONNECT WITH TANYA & ZOË
Visit trove's website
On trove's Instagram, @trovewellbeing
On Tanya's Instagram, @tko_coaching
On Tanya's website
On Zoë's Instagram, @zoepaliare
On Zoë's website

Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
Find links, inspiration and updates on @thinkingaboutpodcast

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In this week’s episode, we are thinking about the true power of social media and how to use it to genuinely connect with your community. We’re joined by Katie Campbell, founder of Katie Creative Co., a social media strategist and self-proclaimed social media therapist, who is dedicated to helping people create audience-centric content that fosters meaningful engagement. If you’re someone who’s struggled to make your social media content resonate or wondered how to stay authentic while building a community, this conversation is full of insights you won’t want to miss.

Katie shares how her lifelong passion for social media was cemented when she started a One Direction fan page, setting the stage for a career centered around the dynamic world of online connections. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the core purpose of social media: being social.  Katie also talks about her transition from a social media manager to a strategist, explaining her motivations and how this change has allowed her to focus more on strategy and audience engagement. 

In a fun twist, I bring some of Katie’s social media posts to the table, asking Katie to break down her content philosophies. One standout principle Katie explains is that while your content is created by you, it shouldn’t be about you. Instead, it should be focused on your audience, using ‘you’ language to draw them in. She also reminds us that content carries energy: if you didn’t enjoy creating it, it’s unlikely your audience will enjoy engaging with it.

Katie’s golden piece of advice for this episode is about finding and building a community. She emphasizes that a strong, engaged community is at the heart of impactful social media presence and shares strategies for cultivating that sense of belonging. Tune in for a conversation packed with practical tips, a fresh perspective on social media, and ways to make content that truly connects.

CONNECT WITH KATIE
On Instagram @katiecreativeco
Visit Katie's website

Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
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In this week's episode, we are thinking about the world of brand and website design with Emily Foster, the creative mind behind Emily Foster Creative. Emily, a skilled brand and website designer with a creative services-based business, shares her journey from a simple t-shirt design in high school to building a successful career. She reflects on the balance of art and strategy in her work, explaining how her passion for creativity has shaped her path and ultimately led her to embrace the freedom and flexibility of working for herself.

Throughout the conversation, Emily and Kirsti discuss the entrepreneurial myth of work-life balance, noting that what often emerges instead is work-life flexibility—a theme both women relate to in their respective careers. Emily then shares practical advice on website creation, offering essential tips for anyone building or revamping a site, whether independently or with professional help. Kirsti poses a powerful question on how to use a website effectively to attract clients, prompting Emily to provide invaluable guidance on making sites client-focused and user-friendly.

Emily demystifies SEO, breaking it down in accessible terms, and explains recent changes to Google that could impact websites and businesses. She highlights the value of having a blog on a site for added relevance and engagement. When it comes to selecting a platform for website building, Emily strongly recommends Showit, citing it as her top choice. She also shares her insights on choosing the right designer, providing listeners with a checklist to ensure the designer aligns well with their brand and business goals.

Finally, Emily discusses the three most essential aspects of a website, rounding off an insightful episode filled with strategies for creating a website that not only represents your brand but also works hard for your business.

CONNECT WITH EMILY
On Instagram @emilyfostercreative
On her website at emilyfostercreative.com
Check out her Elevated Website Checklist


Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
Find links, inspiration and updates on @thinkingaboutpodcast

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Today's episode has us thinking about the complex feelings of self-doubt and the journey to authentic success with Tanya Geisler, a certified Leadership Coach, in-demand TEDxWomen speaker, and writer from Toronto. Tanya introduces us to the concept of the "imposture complex" her take on what is commonly known as impostor syndrome. She explains why she prefers the term "complex" emphasizing that impostor syndrome often stems from people, especially women, attributing their success to luck or chance. But Tanya takes it a step further by introducing the "trailblazer complex" which is the version that most resonates for her these days. She argues that feeling like an impostor is actually a sign that you're doing something significant—something that truly matters to you.

Throughout the episode, Tanya dives deep into how these feelings show up, offering powerful examples of the coping mechanisms we lean on when these doubts creep in. One of the most insightful moments is when she discusses how to identify people in your life who genuinely want to see you succeed—a piece of advice that is sure to resonate. Tanya also shares her signature teaching called "The Iconic Path" which helps you recognize your own unique brand of joy and get over the hurdle of taking action when those imposture feelings try to hold you back.

This episode is full of uplifting and practical insights for anyone grappling with self-doubt, and you'll walk away feeling more empowered to own your success and trailblaze your path forward!

CONNECT WITH TANYA
On Instagram @tanyageisler
On her website at tanyageisler.com
Take the ICONIC identity quiz
Watch Tanya's Owning Our Authority TEDx talk


Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
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If you found the episode supportive or love the podcast, please feel free to leave a review to help the podcast grow 🤍

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In this week’s episode, we are thinking about what it truly takes to build a brand from the ground up, as we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Vanessa Smith, the owner of Refy Agency and proud islander. With over 13 years of marketing experience, she shares how entrepreneurship was always in her DNA, having felt the entrepreneurial bug from a young age. However, she reflects on how it took her longer than expected to launch her own agency. Vanessa opens up about the most valuable lesson she learned after her first full year in business, providing insight into the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and what its like to be the host of her own podcast, Business in the Open.

When asked about building her personal brand and blending it with the content on her business Instagram, Vanessa offers great advice, sharing her strategy and experience. We then pose the ever-popular question of whether to name your business after yourself or choose a unique name, and Vanessa gives her thoughtful perspective on the topic. The conversation shifts to the raw reality of podcasting, as Vanessa explains her unique journey in bringing her podcast to life.

Vanessa also answers how she became a great community connector and marketer, revealing the key factors that helped her build such strong connections. We then reflect on our shared ability to be curious, ask the right questions, and truly get to know the people around us, which we both consider to be our “superpower.” To wrap up, Vanessa shares her thoughts on the future and what lies ahead for her business and personal journey.

Connect with Vanessa
On Instagram @refy.agency
Listen to Business In The Open on Spotify
Listen to Business In The Open on Apple

Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
Find links, inspiration and updates on @thinkingaboutpodcast

If you found the episode supportive or love the podcast, please feel free to leave a review to help the podcast grow 🤍

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Today, we are thinking about supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs through virtual assistants with Steph Faria, the Owner of Faria Virtual Assistants Inc. Steph kicks off the conversation by sharing her journey and how she got into the world of virtual assistance. Despite being in the business for four years, she recalls the moment that started it all—an Instagram story that sparked the idea to
offer her services.

Steph provides invaluable advice for entrepreneurs who are thinking about hiring a virtual assistant (VA). She explains what to look for in a VA and suggests that if certain phrases keep popping up in your daily routine, it might be time to bring in some help. She also shares her own challenges of taking her own advice on time management while staying creative in her work.

A lover of travel, Steph reveals how grateful she is that this career allows her the flexibility to work and explore the world. However, she also opens up about her past struggles with finding a healthy balance between work and self-care, something she now prioritizes. She offers helpful advice for entrepreneurs
who are considering hiring a VA, including tips on how to make the onboarding process smoother.

For those wondering if they could benefit from a VA, Steph shares a comprehensive list of tasks that virtual assistants can take off your plate. She highlights the perks of working remotely and traveling, but also cautions listeners about the importance of cyber security in a remote work setup.

Tune in for this insightful conversation filled with practical tips and inspiration from someone who has successfully built a flexible and rewarding career.

Connect with Steph
On Instagram @fariavirtualassistants
On her website fariavirtualassistants.com

Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
Find links, inspiration and updates on @thinkingaboutpodcast

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In this episode, I am thinking about common advice I share with clients and want to share with you! But first I throw down the concept of duality, reflecting on how this idea might continue to play a more significant role in the future of everything I do.

Together, we'll take a look into a glimpse of my everyday work as a social media manager and touch on the whirlwind of activity that comes with Q4, a busy time for so many in the business world. Then shifting gears from my usual style solo episodes, I dive into five essential permissions for your social media journey—offering mindset shifts to support a more positive experience. I remind us that social media is, at its core, about being social, and breakdown what that truly means in a way that will leave you feeling empowered and refreshed.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback helps the show grow. If there’s something specific you’d love to hear more of, send me a DM, and be sure to share this episode with friends who would love it too!

Hosted by @kirstimcnabney 🎙
Find links, inspiration and updates on @thinkingaboutpodcast

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