Crush the Rush™: The Female Entrepreneur Podcast for Sustainable Business Growth

Hosted by Holly Haynes
  • 5.0 (176)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

Crush the Rush™ is the female entrepreneur podcast for sustainable business growth—created for women business owners who want to scale profitably without burnout, hustle culture, or constant social media. Hosted by Holly Haynes, business strategist and former Fortune 500 executive, this business podcast for women helps established female entrepreneurs build intentional, scalable businesses using simple systems, organic client attraction, and values-based strategy. Each week, you’ll learn how to: Grow a profitable business without working 24/7Attract clients organically without Instagram or daily postingBuild simple, scalable business systems and workflowsCreate predictable revenue through evergreen marketing strategiesLead like a CEO while protecting your time and energyThrough practical strategy episodes and honest conversations, Crush the Rush™ breaks down what it actually takes to grow a sustainable business in today’s online economy. New episodes every Monday. If you’re a female entrepreneur ready for clarity, systems, and sustainable growth—this podcast is for you.

  1. 6h ago

    633 - My Monthly PR Process: What I Actually Do Every Month to Stay Visible Without Social Media (Part 4 of 4)

    What if growing your audience didn’t require posting on social media every single day? In this closing episode of the PR and AI Visibility series, Holly pulls back the curtain on the exact monthly visibility process she uses to attract new subscribers, students, and qualified leads with a small team. This isn’t a list of random marketing ideas. It’s a coordinated, repeatable system built around the activities that create the strongest return: strategic partnerships, community speaking, podcast appearances, email marketing, SEO, and generative engine optimization. You’ll learn how each part of the system supports the others, why community speaking produces the fastest results, and how long-term visibility compounds when your content, relationships, and offers are intentionally connected. 00:00:00 — Introduction to the summer PR and AI Visibility series 00:01:30 — The exact monthly visibility process Holly uses behind the scenes 00:02:18 — Why partnerships and community speaking produce strong ROI 00:03:00 — What a meaningful micro-partnership can look like 00:04:30 — Why strong partnerships are built through relationships, not cold outreach 00:05:08 — Setting a goal of one to two community speaking opportunities per quarter 00:06:00 — How a press page simplifies speaking pitches and event preparation 00:06:55 — The second visibility pillar: podcast placements 00:07:30 — How Holly researches podcast opportunities using relationships and Rephonic 00:08:22 — Why podcast guest appearances are a core lead-generation strategy 00:09:00 — How Holly evaluates guest pitches for the Crush the Rush Podcast 00:10:30 — The strategic role of the newsletter’s Community Corner 00:12:00 — Creating a visibility flywheel by coordinating partnerships and content 00:13:00 — How SEO and GEO extend podcast and community conversations 00:15:00 — How partnerships, podcasts, SEO, GEO, and email work together 00:16:30 — Choosing the right visibility strategy based on your growth goal 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly →  HollymariehaynesContact

    633 - My Monthly PR Process: What I Actually Do Every Month to Stay Visible Without Social Media (Part 4 of 4)

  2. Jul 20

    632 - How Female Entrepreneurs Can Use AI for PR Without Hiring an Expensive PR Firm (Part 3 of 4)

    What happens when someone asks ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity to recommend an expert in your industry? Does your name appear, or does your competitor get the opportunity? In this episode, Holly welcomes award-winning PR strategist, former U.S. diplomat, and Small Business PR host Gloria Chou back to the podcast for a timely conversation about PR, AI visibility, and the changing way customers discover brands. You’ll learn how podcast interviews, media mentions, expert quotes, and other third-party features can strengthen your authority signals. Gloria also shares how she uses Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Claude for different parts of her business and how entrepreneurs can use these tools to research relevant angles, write stronger pitches, and compete with larger brands without a massive PR budget. 00:00:49 — The question every entrepreneur should ask about AI recommendations 00:02:14 — Gloria Chou shares what building a life-first business means to her 00:03:28 — How AI is changing discovery, trust, and purchasing decisions 00:04:39 — Why PR features can become powerful authority signals 00:06:02 — The opportunity for small businesses to compete with major brands 00:07:40 — How AI tools are making PR research and pitching more accessible 00:08:36 — Using Perplexity to find trends, angles, competitors, and podcasts 00:10:31 — Why specific data makes a pitch more compelling 00:12:14 — The two elements every strong pitch needs: specificity and relevance 00:14:30 — Gloria’s CPR pitching method explained 00:15:29 — What to prioritize when you only have a few hours for visibility 00:17:42 — How to find PR opportunities through HARO, Substack, and social media 00:20:26 — How Gloria uses Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity in her business 00:23:36 — Why AI visibility creates an opportunity for quieter, smaller brands CONNECT WITH GLORIA: Website: https://gloriachoupr.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr/ 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

    632 - How Female Entrepreneurs Can Use AI for PR Without Hiring an Expensive PR Firm (Part 3 of 4)

  3. Jul 13

    631 - The PR Strategy You're Missing: How to Get Featured and Build Authority Without Pitching 24/7 (Part 2 of 4)

    You know you’re great at what you do, but how do you get more people talking about it? In this episode of our PR and AI Visibility summer series, Holly sits down with publicist and author KJ Blattenbauer to break down how entrepreneurs can build credibility, attract opportunities, and become known as the go-to expert without spending every day on social media. With nearly 30 years of experience in public relations, KJ shares why sustainable visibility is less about chasing attention and more about creating a clear message, owning a distinct point of view, and building authority assets that continue working when you’re offline. You’ll learn how to clean up your digital presence, write a stronger media pitch, use AI without losing your personality, and approach rejection as useful data—not personal failure. 00:01:45 — What building a life-first business means to KJ 00:02:55 — Creating “calm money” through predictable income and strategic visibility 00:04:05 — How boundaries, rest, and protecting your peace improve your business 00:05:15 — Why success is now about leverage, systems, and peace 00:05:50 — What sustainable visibility looks like in practice 00:07:00 — The first step: refining your positioning statement 00:07:35 — How to get your digital “house” in order and build trust 00:09:20 — “You’re a big deal—act like it” and the truth about expertise 00:11:05 — What public relations really means beyond books and press coverage 00:13:25 — How to develop a clear, quotable point of view 00:14:35 — The five-sentence media pitch and why brevity matters 00:19:50 — Three ways to build authority and strengthen media relationships 00:22:10 — How to handle rejection and treat every response as data 00:23:20 — How to use AI for PR without losing your human voice 00:25:40 — A free resource for finding media and expert opportunities 00:26:50 — The long-term visibility habit that builds stronger relationships 00:28:35 — KJ’s mindset reset before a major media appearance 00:29:10 — The advice KJ would give herself at the start of her PR career CONNECT WITH KJ: Website: https://www.hearsaypr.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KJBlattenbauer 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

    631 - The PR Strategy You're Missing: How to Get Featured and Build Authority Without Pitching 24/7 (Part 2 of 4)

  4. Jul 6

    630 - From Best Kept Secret to Best Known: The 3 Visibility Shifts Female Entrepreneurs Need Right Now (Part 1 of 4)

    You don't need another certification...you need more people to know how incredible you already are. In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly is joined by branding strategist and former investigative journalist Amanda Berg, founder of Liberty Type. Together we're unpacking one of the biggest myths keeping business owners stuck: believing more credentials will solve a visibility problem. If you've ever thought..."I'm really good at what I do...so why does it still feel hard to book clients?"...this conversation is for you. Amanda shares why the businesses that become household names aren't always the most qualified and they're simply the clearest. They dive into practical ways to communicate your expertise, stand out in crowded markets, and create messaging that makes your ideal clients instantly feel understood. 00:01:10 — Meet branding expert Amanda Berg 00:02:20 — What building a life-first business looks like 00:05:15 — Why talented experts stay underbooked 00:07:00 — Credentials vs. credibility 00:08:10 — Why visibility matters more than another certification 00:10:30 — How to stand out in a crowded market 00:12:15 — The power of specific messaging 00:15:10 — Creating brands people instantly remember 00:17:30 — Why stories create trust faster than facts 00:19:50 — Amanda's Best Known Challenge 00:20:25 — Using Fathom + AI to improve your messaging 00:23:20 — Building an agency around long-term client relationships 00:26:15 — Brands Amanda believes are winning visibility today 00:27:25 — Why email marketing is still her favorite platform 00:29:10 — Where to connect with Amanda CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Website: https://libertytype.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/libertytypeco/ Podcast: https://libertytype.com/podcast 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

    630 - From Best Kept Secret to Best Known: The 3 Visibility Shifts Female Entrepreneurs Need Right Now (Part 1 of 4)

  5. Jun 29

    629 - How Sam Vander Wielen Scaled to Multi-7-Figures by Pulling Back on Social and Doubling Down on Email

    What if you could build a thriving business without constantly chasing the algorithm? In this episode, Holly sits down with entrepreneur, attorney, author, and founder of an $8 million business, Sam Vander Wielen, to pull back the curtain on the organic growth strategies that have fueled her success. From growing a newsletter of nearly 70,000 subscribers to creating evergreen systems that allow her to prioritize life before work, Sam shares exactly how she has built a sustainable business rooted in email marketing...not endless social media. If you're ready to create predictable growth, write better emails, and build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it, this conversation is packed with actionable insights. 00:00:00 – Meet Sam Vander Wielen and the story behind her $8 million business. 00:01:45 – Leaving corporate law and giving yourself permission to pivot. 00:03:30 – How writing a traditionally published book changed her business. 00:06:25 – Building nearly 70,000 newsletter subscribers through organic marketing. 00:09:20 – The evolution of Sam's weekly newsletter over the past decade. 00:11:05 – The biggest drivers of email list growth and why consistency wins. 00:12:50 – Why Sam started using Substack and what she's experimenting with. 00:14:35 – Collaboration, podcast guesting, and strategic partnerships for growth. 00:16:55 – Content batching systems that protect time and energy. 00:18:40 – Living first, creating second: a healthier approach to content. 00:19:50 – Finding endless newsletter ideas through everyday life. 00:21:35 – Why writing is the most underrated business skill. 00:23:20 – Sam's honest thoughts on AI and authentic content creation. 00:24:30 – Rapid-fire business advice, favorite tools, and defining success. 00:26:50 – Where to connect with Sam and access her newsletter and resources. CONNECT WITH SAM: Watch Sam's free workshop '5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/legal-workshop/ Join Sam’s Email List: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/newsletter Website: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/samvanderwielen/ 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

    629 - How Sam Vander Wielen Scaled to Multi-7-Figures by Pulling Back on Social and Doubling Down on Email

  6. Jun 22

    628 - Why You Keep Getting in Your Own Way: How to Clear the Self-Sabotage Patterns Stalling Your Growth

    Have you ever felt like you've done all the things-read the books, hired the coach, gone to therapy and yet somehow you still find yourself stuck in the same patterns? In this powerful conversation, Holly sits down with neuro-somatic practitioner and Identity X expert Riana Malia to explore what happens when personal growth reaches a point where traditional mindset work isn't enough. Together, they unpack how subconscious programming, stored emotions, and outdated identities can quietly shape our decisions, relationships, and business success. If you've ever wondered why you keep repeating the same cycles despite your best efforts, this episode offers a fresh perspective (and practical tools) to help you create lasting change. Tune in to hear: 00:00:03 – Why doing more work isn't always the solution when you're feeling stuck 00:04:57 – Understanding the conscious mind vs. the subconscious mind and how old patterns continue to run the show 00:09:08 – The surprising signs that stored emotions and outdated identities may be holding you back 00:12:11 – The restaurant menu analogy: why clarity about what you actually want changes everything 00:16:04 – How negative thought patterns shape your reality and what neuroscience says about rewiring them 00:18:12 – Rihanna's simple 72-hour "Away vs. Toward" exercise for shifting your focus and state in real time 00:23:07 – The frequency metaphor: how changing your internal channel changes what you experience 00:26:11 – Why high-achieving women self-sabotage right before breakthroughs and how to stop the cycle 00:32:14 – The "mental pantry cleanout" exercise for releasing old stories and creating new momentum 00:37:09 – Books, Maui, rest, and the importance of creating space for yourself outside of work 00:41:04 – Where to connect with Riana and take the E.L.L.I.E. assessment for deeper self-discovery CONNECT WITH RIANA: Website: https://www.rianamalia.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rianamalia/ 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

    628 - Why You Keep Getting in Your Own Way: How to Clear the Self-Sabotage Patterns Stalling Your Growth

  7. Jun 19

    627 - When Someone Asks ChatGPT for an Expert, Are You Showing Up?

    Hey friends, welcome back. Today I'm sharing something a little different — and I think you're going to want to save this one. This episode is pulled directly from The Anti-Social Shift — my brand new private podcast at hollymariehaynes.com/shift. It's a 9-episode series built around the exact framework I use to run a million-dollar business spending less than 30 minutes a week on social media. The first 5 episodes are the evergreen framework. The last 4 — including this one — drop fresh every quarter. Current playbook, not advice from two years ago. I'm sharing it here because what we're talking about is too important to sit behind an opt-in. Here's the question: when someone asks ChatGPT or Claude to recommend an expert in your space — are you showing up? Because your dream client is not scrolling Instagram to find you. She is asking AI. In this episode I walk you through how we get 50 or more leads a month from AI search, what GEO actually is, and the one blog post that drives more recommendations than anything else we publish. When you're done — go grab all 9 episodes at hollymariehaynes.com/shift. Let's get into it. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

    627 - When Someone Asks ChatGPT for an Expert, Are You Showing Up?

  8. Jun 15

    626 - The 1% Conversion Effect: How Tiny Funnel Tweaks Create Big Profits for Female Entrepreneurs

    What if the answer to more sales wasn't more content, more launches, or more hours at your desk? In this episode, Holly sits down with marketing strategist and funnel expert Michelle Fernandez to unpack the small shifts that create massive momentum in your business. Michelle shares her signature "1% Conversion Effect" framework and explains why most entrepreneurs stay stuck. It's not because they aren't working hard enough, but because they're making decisions without visibility into what's actually happening inside their funnels. If you've ever felt like you're doing all the things but still not seeing the results you want, this conversation will help you identify the right numbers to track, the systems that matter most, and the simple improvements that compound into significant growth over time. You'll hear: 01:10 – What building a life-first business looks like today02:05 – Creating boundaries when you work from home04:00 – Practical strategies for truly stepping away from work05:20 – Why entrepreneurs feel like they're doing everything but still not seeing results06:20 – The dangers of running your business without data08:15 – How systems create freedom and visibility in your business09:15 – The five essential business systems every entrepreneur needs11:30 – Where to look first when sales feel stuck12:15 – Using webinar data to identify bottlenecks14:00 – The metrics Michelle tracks most closely15:10 – Why personalization matters more than ever16:10 – Understanding the 1% Conversion Effect18:45 – The most important KPIs to monitor19:30 – Why fulfillment and course completion matter for growth21:00 – Building trust in an AI-driven marketplace22:20 – Customer experience examples that drive referrals24:15 – Smart webinar automation strategies25:10 – The email metric everyone should be tracking26:00 – Letting go of the pressure to build a seven-figure business27:00 – Where to connect with Michelle CONNECT WITH MICHELLE: Website: https://themichellefernandez.com/  Instagram: www.instagram.com/@themichellefernandez No Drama Launch Tracker: https://themichellefernandez.com/tracker Podcast: Optimize To Monetize 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat

    626 - The 1% Conversion Effect: How Tiny Funnel Tweaks Create Big Profits for Female Entrepreneurs
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About

Crush the Rush™ is the female entrepreneur podcast for sustainable business growth—created for women business owners who want to scale profitably without burnout, hustle culture, or constant social media. Hosted by Holly Haynes, business strategist and former Fortune 500 executive, this business podcast for women helps established female entrepreneurs build intentional, scalable businesses using simple systems, organic client attraction, and values-based strategy. Each week, you’ll learn how to: Grow a profitable business without working 24/7Attract clients organically without Instagram or daily postingBuild simple, scalable business systems and workflowsCreate predictable revenue through evergreen marketing strategiesLead like a CEO while protecting your time and energyThrough practical strategy episodes and honest conversations, Crush the Rush™ breaks down what it actually takes to grow a sustainable business in today’s online economy. New episodes every Monday. If you’re a female entrepreneur ready for clarity, systems, and sustainable growth—this podcast is for you.

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