We Built This Life Jennifer Walker

Episode 35 with Kari Miller of Tiny Dog Press is about growing a small business at your own pace, and more.
When a friend asked Kari Miller to print his wedding invitations, she saw that his fiancé at the time had created an illustration of Baltimore’s “Greatest City in America” bench for their RSVP card. Kari thought the image would make a great card, and this was the beginning of Tiny Dog Press.
In this episode, Kari talks about:
·       How she discovered her niche in cards even though she doesn’t consider herself a “word person”;
·       How she developed the theme for her cards;
·       How she navigates conversations about small business pricing with customers;
·       What she is most proud of (hint: it has to be do with finances);
·       How she works to keep her small business from being too all-consuming and ultimately find balance in her life; and more.
Thank you for listening!
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Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen on my website, follow and get in touch on Instagram (where I am most active), like on Facebook, or email webuiltthislifepodcast@gmail.com (but getting in touch through IG DM is better!)!

Episode 34 with Tiera Chin of Yorktown Spice is about when a family recipe inspires a small business.
In 2021, Tiera Chin was working full-time in the healthcare industry while raising two little daughters, the youngest of which was 4 months old at the time. This is also when she launched her new small business, Yorktown Spice, featuring her crab sauce that was inspired by family recipes.
In this episode, Tiera talks about:
·       The actual steps she took to get her food product-based business off the ground, from food safety and thinking about how to make her product shelf stable to graphic design and marketing;
·       What she has learned about balancing time and priorities, particularly from juggling her full-time job, her role as a mom, and the launch of her business;
·       Facing fears and uncertainties as an entrepreneur and how she responds;
·       Her best advice for other entrepreneurs;
·       What she wishes consumers knew about small businesses; and more.  
 
Mentioned on this Episode:
·       Yorktown Spice’s website
·       SCORE Greater Baltimore (find a mentor + resources for small business owners)
·       SCORE main page (find small business resources in your city)
·       Where to Find Yorktown Spice in Maryland
·       Yorktown Spice on Amazon
 
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Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen on my website, follow and get in touch on Instagram (where I am most active), like on Facebook, or email webuiltthislifepodcast@gmail.com (but getting in touch through IG DM is better!)!

Episode 33 with Erin Scott from the Believe in Dog podcast and Erin Scott Podcasts is about when a hobby leads to a small business.
In 2019, Erin became a cancer survivor and decided to start saying yes to the ideas that excited her. She started the Believe in Dog podcast to tell heartfelt stories about the powerful connections between people and their dogs.
Believe in Dog is now a top 5 podcast globally, and Erin went on to co-host a second show, The Alternative Dog Moms podcast.
Now, Erin is focused on leveraging the skills she’s learned as a podcaster into a small business, Erin Scott Podcasts, to help other podcasters launch their own shows.
In this episode, Erin talks about:
·       How her cancer diagnosis and treatment led to her starting a podcast;
·       Finding confidence as a podcaster;
·       The conversations she’s had on her show that have stuck with her;
·       How she has found gaps in the pet industry market and created products in response to that, including the Dog Health Journal;
·       When she knew that advice she was giving as a hobby podcaster could be the beginnings of a small business; and more.
Mentioned in this Episode:
·       Believe in Dog podcast
·       The Alternative Dog Moms podcast
·       Erin the Dog Mom 
·       The Dog Health Journal
·       Erin Scott Podcasts (coming soon!)
Follow Erin the Dog Mom on Instagram
Follow We Built This Life on Instagram
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen on my website, follow and get in touch on Instagram (where I am most active), like on Facebook, or email webuiltthislifepodcast@gmail.com (but getting in touch through IG DM is better!)!

 
Episode 32 of We Built This Life with Rebekah Murray from Dare & Co. is about mental challenges in entrepreneurship—and the rewards that come with getting through them.
In 2014, Rebekah Murray, an entrepreneur throughout her adult life, was looking to transition from international wedding photography to something new. Her parents suggested she start a clothing line.
Three years later, Rebekah launched Virginia Dare Dress Co. with a line of timeless, high-quality women’s dresses. In 2020, she added heartfelt gift boxes to her offerings. And today (May 18th, 2023), she unveiled her new brand name: Dare & Co.
On this episode, Rebekah talks about:
·       The various outlets she used to launch her company, from a Kickstarter to a Facebook focus group;
·       An unexpected outcome in her business due to customer interest;
·       How she has dealt with challenging life seasons while still being an entrepreneur who needs to keep her business going;
·       What success as an entrepreneur looks like to her;
·       Her best advice for other small business owners (I think anyone launching something in public will identify with this); and more.
A Few of My Favorite Dare & Co. Products:
·       Samantha Wrap Dress
·       June Floral Dress
·       Floral Apron
·       Cookie Hello 
·       Get Well Care Package 
·       Cottage Kitchen
Follow Dare & Co. on Instagram
Follow We Built This Life on Instagram
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen on my website, follow and get in touch on Instagram (where I am most active), like on Facebook, or email webuiltthislifepodcast@gmail.com (but getting in touch through IG DM is better!)!

Episode 31 of the We Built This Life podcast with Ashley Williams from Clymb (@clymb_up) is about persistence and mindfulness and how these two skills were assets as Ashley built her own company.
In 2018, Ashley Williams, a former educator and school leader in Baltimore City, founded Clymb (then known as Infinite Focus Schools), her company that produces emotional health software for school-aged children.
In this episode, Ashley talks about:
·      The steps she took and resources she used to build Clymb from an idea to a thriving small business;
·      The benefits of learning emotional regulation and coping skills in childhood—and how these skills carry into adulthood;
·      How Clymb works to help children build these emotional health skills;
·      How Ashley has used these skills herself to respond to challenging feelings that came in her early days of entrepreneurship;
·      her take on an underrated skill in business—and in life, and more.
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
·      Clymb, Ashley’s company that produces emotional health software for children
·      The Johns Hopkins Social Innovation Lab
·      Innovation Works at the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University
 
Follow Clymb on Instagram
Follow We Built This Life on Instagram
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen on my website, follow and get in touch on Instagram (where I am most active), like on Facebook, or email webuiltthislifepodcast@gmail.com (but getting in touch through IG DM is better!)!
 

Welcome to Episode 30 of the We Built This Life podcast! I’m your host, Jennifer Walker, and I’m talking this week about six small businesses that make low waste or sustainable products and that you can support for Earth Day 2023. I’ll share my favorite products from these businesses or the products I am hoping to try in the categories of personal care, reusable items, cleaning, clothing, and planners.
You can also check out the We Built This Life podcast archive for more ideas.
Thank you so much for listening!
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6 Small Businesses to Support this Earth Day:
·      Good Juju
·      Marley’s Monsters
·      Branch Basics
·      Evolverie
·      Tradlands
·      Wisdom Supply Co.
Products Mentioned in this Episode:
·      Good Juju Shampoo Bar for Normal/Balanced Hair (Keep these bars on a soap saver—I use these inexpensive ones from Osmia)
·      Good Juju Conditioner Bar for Normal/Balanced Hair
·      Good Juju Laundry Strips
·      Who Gives a Crap Toilet Paper (They have recycled toilet paper and premium toilet paper made of bamboo. We used to use the premium version, and it is nice!)
·      Marley’s Monsters UnPaper Towels
·      Marley’s Monsters Bowl Covers
·      Marley’s Monsters Coffee Filter
·      Dish Washing Block
·      Branch Basics concentrate
·      Branch Basics starter kit (plastic or glass)
·      Branch Basics Oxy Boost
·      ThredUp
·      Tradlands Dresses
·      Wisdom Supply Co. Binders
·      Wisdom Supply Co. Notebooks
·      Wisdom Supply Co. Planners
·      Baltimore Compost Collective
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
·      History of Earth Day
·      Acure Recycling Program
·      How My Family Has Built a More Low Waste Lifestyle, We Built This Life Episode 8
·      How Designer Amy Homan Built a Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Company, We Built This Life Episode 7
·      National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes, and Recycling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·      Mapping Urban Access to Composting Programs (I can’t find a master list of composting programs in the U.S., but you can search for your city/state/community)