The Influential Personal Brand Podcast Rory & AJ Vaden

Are you grappling with how to transform your passion into a thriving business but feel unsure about where to start? Perhaps you’ve had to overcome overwhelming odds in your life and feel compelled to help others going through the same thing, but lacking a proper roadmap is holding you back. In today’s special recap episode, AJ reflects on her conversation with Sara and Ben Jensen, the founders of Hugh and Grace – a company inspired by their journey with infertility, that takes its name from their two miracle children – as she explores how to transition between what you’re currently doing, and what you feel called to do. Discover how to turn your passion into a full-time business, why business success is about being willing to make plenty of mistakes (in the most inexpensive way possible), and what you can do to grow quickly and reach more people, plus a whole lot more. To hear all of AJ’s top takeaways from her conversation with Sara and Ben, be sure to tune in! 

When Sara and Ben got married in their early twenties, the last thing they expected to struggle with was infertility. For 14 years, their inability to conceive remained unexplained. Then, during their quest to find answers, they discovered the pivotal role of hormonal health. Join us today as we sit down with Sara and Ben to discuss what inspired them to create clean, safe, and trusted products supporting hormone health and the phenomenal story behind their brand, Hugh & Grace, named after their two miracle children — both of whom were borne by Sara and Ben’s wonderful sisters who volunteered to be surrogates! In our conversation, we get into the disruptive impact that ingredients in everyday products can have on our hormones, the many conditions beyond infertility associated with exposure to these chemicals, and why they felt compelled to start this company and help others, despite the challenges. Sara and Ben also share their insights on navigating entrepreneurship, identifying customer pain points, how they developed their products, and much more. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to turn your passion into a business, while also making logical, business-minded decisions, then this informative and inspirational conversation is a must-listen! 

Building on the resilience explored in part one of this special Mother’s Day episode, we continue our journey with Tessie Gale, Rory’s mom and someone who has had a profound impact on the world around her. From the depths of hardship as a young single mother to the triumphs of finding love and stability, Tessie's story is one of unwavering determination and unyielding hope. In this second installment, we delve deeper into Tessie's remarkable life story, exploring her ability to navigate financial struggles, build a supportive community, confront and overcome post-abortive shame, and ultimately discover the love that would transform her world. Join us as we witness the poignant arc of Tessie's narrative, which illustrates the enduring power of the human spirit. Please be advised that this episode contains references to sensitive themes, including abortion, suicide, domestic violence, and alcoholism. Listener discretion is advised. 

Apart from being Rory’s mom, today’s guest, Tessie Gale has overcome incredible odds to create a profound impact on not only those around her but the world we live in too. In this special two-part episode in celebration of Mother’s Day, you’ll learn how Tessie triumphed over adversity to grow her family and the resilience and tenacity that allowed her to create opportunities for herself, make special memories for her children, and build a promising life for them all. From navigating harrowing circumstances to crafting a brighter future against all odds, Tessie's resilience and determination will inspire and uplift you. But please note that this episode delves into raw and emotional territory, touching on themes of abortion, suicide, domestic violence, and alcoholism. Listen with care, and prepare to be profoundly moved by Tessie's unwavering spirit. 

Want to gain thousands of followers in just a few weeks? Well, this is the episode for you! From elevating your production value to telling great stories, you’ll learn how to not only capture a viewer’s attention but how to keep it too. Tune in as we share five surprisingly simple techniques to help you grow your audience, increase engagement, and create better content! 

From pro baseball player to successful real estate investor to serial entrepreneur, Ryan Pineda knows a thing or two about building wealth! In 2015, he leveraged a small amount of capital to launch a house-flipping business that grew to include hundreds of flips, even more rentals, and six multimillion-dollar companies, amassing over a million social media followers in the process. Ryan joins us today to share his story and some surprisingly simple strategies to help you live what he calls the Wealthy Way. Tuning in, you’ll learn why social media is such a powerful tool, practical tips for running successful in-person live events, and how you can benefit from being a mission-driven businessperson. We also discuss the role that his Christian faith has played in his success, why watch time is a more important metric than followers or views, how to build trust with your audience, and much more! Ryan’s story is an inspiration for anyone pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams, emphasizing the importance of persistence, resilience, and a willingness to adapt and pivot when circumstances change. Trust us, you won’t want to miss this conversation!