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A single childhood moment can echo for decades, especially when it is tied to belonging.

In this episode, Julie Fairhurst speaks with marketing strategist and Elevate Creative founder Elle Jimeno about adoption, bullying, shame, self-trust, boundaries, and the courage it takes to become visible in business.

Elle shares the story of learning she was adopted through playground taunts, and how her mother’s calm response, “Okay, so what?” helped remove the shame from a label others tried to use against her. From there, Julie and Elle talk about family doubt, the wounds that teach women to stay quiet, and the deep inner work required to build confidence.

They also explore the body side of entrepreneurship: freezing at networking events, feeling small again, learning to trust your gut, and discovering the power of supportive women’s communities.

The conversation then turns to practical marketing and branding. Elle shares why authenticity is the only sustainable way to stand out online, why your website should be the foundation of your marketing, and how to “date your brand” again when your business has evolved but your online presence has not caught up.

This episode is for the woman rebuilding her confidence, refining her message, and learning to show up online with more clarity, truth, and courage.

REACH OUT TO ELLE:  

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ellevatemybiz

Website:  https://ellevatemybiz.com/

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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Scroll down to get your free gift!

She was pregnant at 14, pushed out of school, and raised three kids as a single mom for 28 years. Julie Fairhurst’s life could have stayed locked inside that story, especially after years surrounded by abuse, addiction, and chaos, where survival mattered more than possibility. Instead, she made a decision that changes everything: the past can be true without being in charge.

We talk through the moment she left a government job at 29 because she wanted more, then walked straight into the hard reality of starting over. Julie shares what those early months in real estate actually looked like: tears, fear, embarrassment, standing in food bank lines, relying on a toy bank at Christmas, and eventually filing bankruptcy. The heart of her message is not hustle or hype. It’s a grounded mindset shift about stopping the wait for someone to rescue you, refusing to let fear make your decisions, and staying focused even when you have no proof it will work yet.

That persistence builds into a 36-year real estate career, selling 80 to 110 homes a year and leading a team, but she’s clear about what “success” really means: becoming the woman who no longer believes her past has the final say. Now retired from real estate, Julie pours her energy into Women Like Me, coaching women, publishing true-life stories, and helping others heal through their stories so they can move forward with courage and clarity.

If you’ve felt stuck, ashamed, behind, or “too broken,” press play and take one brave step with us. 

Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with the label you’re ready to drop. 

FREE GIFT:  https://womenlikeme.aflip.in/40fb14472d.html

Start Your Story Workbook is a gentle, beginner-friendly guide created to help women take the first brave step in writing their personal story. Through simple prompts, thoughtful reflection, and encouraging guidance, this workbook helps you move past fear, find your starting point, and begin putting your truth on the page with confidence.

Your story does not need to be perfect. It only needs to begin.

Ladies, join Women Like Me:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/879482909307802

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/juliefairhurstinfluence/?hl=en

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/juliefairhurstcoaching

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliefairhurstvoicestoryinfluence/

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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You can remember what happened without letting it run your life.

In this short but powerful reflection, Julie Fairhurst shares a healing message about identity, emotional freedom, and what it really means to say: " You are not your story. If your mind keeps replaying old memories like a verdict, this message will help you pause, breathe, and begin to question the painful beliefs that have been holding you for too long.

https://juliefairhurst.com/

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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She opened her doors, got her license, and then lockdown hit. One month later, the salon dream was gone — and so was the home it lived in.

That kind of loss can shrink your world fast, but Calli Jensen chose a different path. Instead of giving up, she used that painful season as the spark to rethink how beauty, wellness, and service-based businesses grow when ads stop working, customers disappear, and real connection becomes everything.

In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Calli shares the real timeline of rebuilding — from a simple “refer three friends” stamp card to creating Our Beauty Referral Network, a referral marketing platform built on trust, tracked referrals, collaboration, and community.

We talk about why relying on a single location or income stream can be risky, especially for small business owners, and how a pay-it-forward referral model can help customers earn toward their self-care while helping businesses keep their calendars full.

Calli also opens up about her spinal injury, her healing journey, and what it truly means to stop “pushing through” and become your own health advocate. Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience is not always about going harder — sometimes it is about slowing down, listening, healing, and building differently.

We also explore what makes Our Beauty Referral Network more than a directory, including live events, online speed-networking, video testimonials, referral tracking, tools to fill open appointment slots, and content automation designed to increase visibility and bookings.

If you are a beauty, wellness, or service-based business owner who feels invisible online — or a customer looking for trusted providers without the guesswork — this conversation will give you a clearer, more human way to grow.

Subscribe, share this episode with a friend or business owner who needs momentum, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re taking from Calli’s story.

REACH OUT TO CALLI!  Our Beauty & Wellness Referral Network & Community. 

www.beautyreferralnetwork.com

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/beautyreferral

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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 Women need women because there is a kind of understanding that happens before the full sentence is even spoken. 

We need women who can sit beside us in the messy middle, celebrate us without jealousy, tell us the truth without cruelty, and remind us who we are when life makes us forget. Sisterhood gives us strength, softness, laughter, wisdom, and a safe place to land. 

When one woman says, “Me too,” another woman feels less alone. When one woman rises, she shows another woman it is possible. Women need women because we were never meant to carry everything on our own. 

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Send us Fan Mail

Your website is either working as your storefront or it is sitting online like a locked door. We sit down with Lisa Blankert, founder of Lab Online Agency in Coquitlam, British Columbia, to get brutally clear on what actually makes a small business website perform: user experience, fast load times, conversion-focused design, and calls to action that make it easy for the right people to contact you. If you have ever thought, “I have a site, so why am I still invisible,” this conversation gives you practical answers. 

We also unpack SEO in plain English and why “set it and forget it” does not work. A website that cannot be optimized, tracked, or improved over time becomes an expensive redo waiting to happen. Lisa explains why platform choices like WordPress vs Shopify matter, how brand authority builds trust, and why relying only on referrals can cap your growth when you need consistent lead generation. 

Then we zoom out to what is changing right now: AI tools and AI search. More people are looking for services through ChatGPT and other platforms, which means discoverability is no longer only about Google rankings. We talk about how to use AI as a tool without losing authenticity, plus quick wins you can do this week like updating your Google Business Profile, asking for honest reviews, and getting a no-cost website audit to spot technical fixes. 

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a business owner who needs more visibility, and leave a review so more women can find the show.

Reach out to Leesa:
https://labonlineagency.com/
[email protected]

Topics covered in this episode:
Small business website strategy, SEO for business, AI search, website visibility, lead generation, Google Business Profile, website audits, WordPress, Shopify, calls to action, brand authority, and online marketing for women entrepreneurs.

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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A breast lump is easy to dismiss when life is already full — and that is exactly why this conversation matters.

In this powerful episode, Julie Fairhurst speaks with Rangoli Gupta, founder of Inner Beauty Mastectomy Wear, about the moment she discovered a breast lump, told herself it was “probably nothing,” and later received a breast cancer diagnosis that changed everything.

Rangoli shares her personal breast cancer journey, including choosing a mastectomy, going through chemotherapy, and facing the emotional reality of looking in the mirror after surgery. She also opens up about the importance of early detection, self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammogram screening.

This conversation goes beyond diagnosis and treatment. Rangoli explains the emotional and practical side of post-mastectomy recovery, including the importance of properly fitted breast prostheses, wigs, mastectomy bras, compression garments, drain-holding shirts, recovery pillows, and swimwear designed for breast forms.

She also shares her journey of moving to Canada, realizing her medical degree and clinical experience did not transfer easily, and rebuilding her life from the ground up. From working entry-level jobs to learning computers, building her own website content, and becoming an immigrant entrepreneur, Rangoli turned her personal experience into a mission to support women after breast cancer surgery.

This episode is for breast cancer survivors, women facing treatment decisions, caregivers, health advocates, immigrant entrepreneurs, and anyone who believes in the power of resilience, reinvention, and women supporting women.

Please share this conversation with someone who may need hope, guidance, or the reminder that they are not alone.

For more information, reach out to Rangoli Gupta. She's here to help!

Website:  https://www.innerbeautywear.com/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/innerbeauty_breastcare/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575768007520

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Send us Fan Mail

In this powerful interview, author Zee shares the deeply personal story behind her contribution to the Women Like Me book The Space Between Before and After. This is an honest conversation about childhood survival, family secrecy, generational trauma, grief, displacement, identity, and the long road to healing through writing.

After the loss of both her parents, one core memory rose to the surface and pushed Zee to finally write the story she had carried for years. She reflects on growing up during apartheid-era South Africa, where political unrest, fear, secrecy, and survival shaped everyday life. Zee explains how her grandparents protected her, how silence affected her body and emotions, and what it means to grow up with both love and abandonment living in the same story.

We also talk about the meaning of samosas as a symbol of culture, sacrifice, scarcity, memory, and healing. What once held fear became part of a grounding, meditative ritual she now shares with her son. This episode explores how writing can uncover hidden truths, create closure, and help us make sense of the past.

If you have lived through family separation, displacement, silence, grief, identity struggles, or generational trauma, this conversation may give language to what you have felt.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  childhood trauma and survival 
•  apartheid South Africa 
•  family secrecy and political activism 
•  grief after losing parents 
•  displacement and belonging 
•  generational trauma and healing 
•  writing as closure and emotional release 
•  memory, food, culture, and identity 
•  the story behind The Space Between Before and After
•  Women Like Me authors and true-life stories 

Connect with Zee:  

holisticsoletosoul.com

https://www.holisticsoletosoul.com/

Facebook ; Holistic Sole to Soul:

https://www.facebook.com/p/Holistic-Sole-to-Soul-61562724601752/
Istagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/holisticwellnesswithzee/reels/?__d=11

Book Mentioned:
The Space Between Before and After
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GQ1X2WJ1

Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories and Business for more powerful interviews on healing, truth, storytelling, women’s voices, resilience, and real-life transformation.

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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Tracy Emanuele loved woodworking as a child, but, like so many girls, she was told that working with tools and building with her hands was not meant for her. In this episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, Tracy shares how she found her way back to the trades, discovered where she truly belonged, and built a life that finally felt right.

We talk about the jobs that looked fine on the outside but slowly drained her on the inside, the moment she stepped into a workshop and knew she was home, and what it is really like to be a woman working in male-dominated spaces. Tracy opens up about the difference between being treated like a problem and being welcomed like family, and why meaningful work can bring peace amid the noise.

She also shares the story of a serious table saw injury, the emotional weight of recovery, and how she kept moving forward through fear, frustration, and healing. One small but unforgettable turning point was a $20 ukulele from a yard sale that helped her rebuild confidence, purpose, and joy.

This episode is for anyone interested in women in trades, woodworking, recovery after injury, overcoming gender stereotypes, resilience, career change, and finding work that feels like home.

Subscribe for more powerful conversations on Women Like Me Stories In Business.
Share this episode with someone who needs permission to take their unconventional dream seriously.

 Leave a review and tell us what dream you are finally ready to claim.

Find Tracy Here:  https://linktr.ee/tracye368

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

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What happens when control is disguised as care, concern, or good manners?

 In this episode, Christina Ditchkofsky joins Julie Fairhurst for a powerful conversation about emotional abuse, coercive control, love bombing, childhood trauma, shame, and the slow erosion of self-trust.

Christina is a nurse, author, and trauma-informed writing guide. She shares both lived experience and professional insight as we explore the warning signs of coercive control, including isolation, loss of financial freedom, pulling away from work, neglecting yourself, and constantly second-guessing your instincts.

We also talk about Christina’s book Burnt Letters and how writing can help survivors process trauma, reclaim their voice, and begin healing — even if they never publish a single word.

This episode is for survivors, for women questioning what they lived through, and for anyone who loves someone trying to find their way back to themselves.

Subscribe for more Women Like Me Stories and Business conversations that bring truth, healing, and real-life transformation to light.

Grab Christina's book:    https://amzn.to/41hrvu9

Christina's Website:  https://christinaditchkofsky.com/

Free Gift:  https://tinyurl.com/y82m77tn 

✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY?

I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media.

After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this:

Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do.

Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step.

Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry.

Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs.

🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.

Julie Fairhurst
Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media
Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist

Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━