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

Hosted by Holly Haynes
  • 5.0 (180)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • 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. 4d ago

    648 - Fewer, Better Things: Raising Your Prices and Slowing Down

    What if the next big move in business isn't about doing more—but about having the courage to do less? In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly Haynes sits down with Carol Gavhane, founder of Arrivée, to unpack what it really looks like to make a bold business pivot, completely reimagine a brand, and build a business that supports the life behind it. After nearly four years of running Sparkle Hustle Grow, a successful monthly subscription box for women entrepreneurs, Carol realized that what once felt aligned no longer matched the season of life she was in. Instead of continuing to push through a demanding monthly model, she and her husband made a major shift: transitioning from a $67 monthly subscription box to a $225 premium quarterly experience. But this wasn't just a pricing change. It was a complete transformation in brand positioning, customer experience, and the way their business operated. Carol shares the behind-the-scenes decisions that led to the rebrand, how customer feedback helped shape the new direction, and why hiring the right support was essential to bringing their vision to life. She also opens up about navigating the fear of change, trusting her instincts, and giving herself permission to evolve as both a business owner and a person. This conversation is a powerful reminder that building a successful business doesn't mean staying committed to a model that no longer serves the founder. Sometimes the most strategic decision is creating space for something better. 00:00:00 Why doing less might be the smartest business move 00:01:30 Carol Gavhane on defining a life-first business 00:03:00 Simple systems and marketing tools that actually work 00:04:30 The story behind acquiring Sparkle Hustle Grow 00:06:00 Monthly subscription demands, burnout, and evolving goals| 00:07:30 Recognizing the signs that it's time to pivot 00:09:00 Trusting yourself through a major business transition 00:10:30 Creating a premium brand with a less-is-more philosophy 00:13:30 Hiring a brand strategist to bring the vision to life 00:15:00 Pricing strategy: moving from $67 monthly to $225 quarterly 00:16:30 Overcoming fear and getting support from business coaches 00:18:00 How a quarterly model creates more freedom and flexibility 00:21:00 Inside Arrivée's luxury subscription box experience 00:25:30 Why quality matters more than quantity in product businesses 00:27:00 Expensive business lessons, trusting change, and the next chapter Connect with Carol: Website: https://arriveebox.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arriveebox Use code HOLLY30 for $30 off your first Arrivée box or subscription 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    648 - Fewer, Better Things: Raising Your Prices and Slowing Down

  2. Oct 19

    647 - What Actually Turns Freebie Subscribers Into Buyers

    What if that launch that didn't quite hit your goals wasn't actually a failure, but a gold mine of data waiting to be uncovered? In this episode of the Crush the Rush Podcast, Holly sits down with Danielle Klemm, conversion strategist and funnel expert, to unpack why so many entrepreneurs are growing their email lists without actually growing their sales. With nine years of experience in digital marketing and seven years focused on funnels, Danielle helps course creators and digital product sellers identify what's happening between someone downloading a freebie and becoming a paying customer. Together, Holly and Danielle dive into the psychology behind high-converting lead magnets, why more information doesn't necessarily create more sales, and how to use the data already inside a business to make smarter marketing decisions. Danielle shares why an underperforming launch can actually be one of the most valuable learning opportunities in business, how to create different customer journeys for low-ticket versus high-ticket offers, and why understanding buyer behavior matters more than obsessing over vanity metrics. They also explore how AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT can support funnel optimization, why strategy needs to come before automation, and how to recognize when it's time to stop tweaking and start testing. For entrepreneurs who have ever wondered why their freebie attracts subscribers but not buyers, this conversation offers a practical, refreshing perspective on creating marketing systems that actually convert — without rebuilding everything from scratch. 00:01:30 — Building a life-first business during a low-capacity season 00:03:00 — Creating flexible, no-call strategy offers that support business growth 00:04:30 — How to use launch data to test messaging, bonuses, and sales strategies 00:06:00 — Making real-time funnel improvements to increase conversions 00:07:30 — Why most lead magnets grow email lists but fail to generate sales 00:09:00 — How offer pricing and buyer psychology shape a high-converting freebie 00:10:30 — The three lead magnet paths and why high-ticket offers need more trust 00:13:30 — How to identify where your funnel is losing potential buyers 00:15:00 — Which funnel metrics to review before changing your marketing strategy 00:18:00 — How to tell if your lead magnet is overwhelming your audience 00:19:30 — What makes a lead magnet effective in today's digital marketplace 00:22:30 — Using AI for funnel execution without outsourcing your strategy 00:25:30 — Knowing when your funnel is good enough to launch and test 00:28:30 — Why click-through rates and customer behavior matter more than vanity metrics CONNECT WITH DANIELLE: Website: https://danielleklemm.com/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/danielleklemmm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleklemmm Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/per-my-last-promo/id1348918295 Freebie to Buyer Free Quiz: https://learn.danielleklemm.com/quiz 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    647 - What Actually Turns Freebie Subscribers Into Buyers

  3. Oct 12

    646 - Why Most Business Books Get Forgotten (and How to Write One That Sells For You)

    Have a book idea sitting in a Google Doc or maybe just living in the back of your mind for months (or years)? Before writing chapter one, there’s a bigger question to answer: Is it the right book for the business? In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly sits down with book and publishing coach Holly Ostrout to unpack why successful business books require more than great writing. Holly shares the strategy behind creating a book that readers actually finish, remember, recommend and ultimately use as a pathway into an entrepreneur’s business. Drawing from her experience revitalizing an established publishing brand and bringing hundreds of books back into print, Holly explains why she believes most entrepreneurs shouldn’t start by simply brain-dumping everything they know. Instead, she introduces her approach to creating a clear book promise, using emotional anchors to make ideas memorable, and choosing a “strategy stack” that connects a book to larger business goals. They also dive into how a strategically written book can generate leads, build trust, create speaking opportunities, establish thought leadership, and continue working for a business for years without requiring a massive audience or blockbuster launch. 00:00:00 — Why most business books fail before a single word is written 00:01:30 — Meet book and publishing coach Holly Ostrout 00:03:00 — Building a life-first business and setting stronger boundaries 00:04:30 — Holly’s publishing background and revitalizing a struggling book brand 00:07:30 — Why the “brain dump everything you know” writing strategy falls short 00:09:00 — Emotional anchors, storytelling, and Holly’s Heroine’s Journey approach 00:10:30 — Five ways a strategically written book can grow a business 00:12:00 — The #1 step most aspiring authors skip: creating the book promise 00:13:30 — How to choose the right book idea when there are too many options 00:15:00 — What happens during Holly’s “Magic Morning” book strategy sessions 00:16:30 — How a book can turn readers into leads and paying clients 00:19:30 — Can a business book succeed with a small audience? 00:21:00 — Why long-term sales can matter more than a bestseller launch 00:22:30 — Writing in seasons and creating a life-first creative schedule 00:25:30 — The writing advice Holly disagrees with—and what to do instead 00:27:00 — The simple first step for anyone who wants to finally write a book CONNECT WITH HOLLY OSTROUT: Website: hollyostrout.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyostrout/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyostrout Free quiz to find your best strategy stack: hollyostrout.com/quiz Free guide, What's Working in Books in 2026: hollyostrout.kit.com/whatsworking 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop 🎯 Access to the Backstage Pass 2027: www.hollymariehaynes.com/backstagepass 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    646 - Why Most Business Books Get Forgotten (and How to Write One That Sells For You)

  4. Oct 5

    645 - How to Get Booked on Podcasts: The Pitch Strategy With a 30% Booking Rate (3X the Industry Average)

    Kimberly Roy knows that getting booked on podcasts isn’t about sending more pitches it’s about sending the right pitches. In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly sits down with Kimberly Roy, founder of Pitch with Kim, to break down the strategy behind podcast pitching that actually creates business growth. Kimberly shares her three-part framework of angle, fit, and proof, why she prioritizes quality over quantity, and why entrepreneurs may want to stop chasing the biggest podcasts they can find. Kimberly also explains why a great podcast pitch shouldn’t start with a bio, how personal stories can become a powerful visibility advantage, and why researching the host and audience matters before ever hitting send. The conversation goes beyond simply getting booked. Kimberly shares how entrepreneurs can approach podcast guesting as a relationship-building strategy, follow up without feeling pushy, and use visibility to create aligned opportunities, referrals, leads, partnerships, and clients. 00:00:00 — Meet Kimberly Roy and the podcast pitching strategy behind her 30%+ booking rate 00:01:30 — Building a life-first business through “time leadership” 00:04:45 — How loss, grief, and finding her voice led Kimberly from banking to podcasting 00:07:30 — Why sharing your story is one of the most powerful ways to stand out 00:10:30 — Moving past vulnerability and getting comfortable with visibility 00:11:30 — Why Kimberly doesn’t recommend relying on podcast pitch templates 00:12:45 — The three-part podcast pitching framework: angle, fit, and proof 00:15:00 — Why audience alignment matters more than podcast size 00:17:30 — How to research podcasts before sending a pitch 00:21:45 — Podcast research tools, Listen Notes, and using AI strategically 00:25:30 — Kimberly’s #1 rule: a podcast pitch isn’t really about the person pitching 00:27:00 — Why collaboration and promotion can help a pitch stand out 00:28:00 — Quality vs. quantity and the problem with chasing bigger audiences 00:30:00 — How many times to follow up after sending a podcast pitch 00:33:00 — Using breathwork to manage the vulnerability of putting yourself out there 00:34:45 — How to connect with Kimberly and learn more about her visibility audits Connect with Kimberly: Website:  https://pitchwithkim.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitchwithkim/ Visibility Audit - Book your free call here: https://pitchwithkim.myflodesk.com/visibility-audit Book your free call here: https://pitchwithkim.myflodesk.com/visibility-audit 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop 🎯 Access to the Backstage Pass 2027: www.hollymariehaynes.com/backstagepass 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    645 - How to Get Booked on Podcasts: The Pitch Strategy With a 30% Booking Rate (3X the Industry Average)

  5. Oct 2

    644 - 7 Numbers to Track Weekly So Your 2027 Plan Actually Happens

    Planning season is about to start, and everyone is going to sell you a prettier document. In this episode I'm making the case that the December planning day is neither the reason your year works nor the reason it doesn't, walking through the seven numbers we track every week inside The Collective Co-Op (only three of them have a dollar sign), and reading a real member scorecard on air so you can hear what those numbers say when they sit next to each other. The January 2027 waitlist is open now at hollymariehaynes.com/coop.  00:00:00 — Why a year-end planning day won’t make the year successful 00:01:30 — Holly’s corporate strategy background and the missing piece for entrepreneurs 00:03:00 — Why business plans lose to the demands of an ordinary Tuesday 00:03:48 — Why Holly recommends 90-day plans instead of 12-month plans 00:04:30 — Why revenue is one of the least useful numbers to watch by itself 00:05:10 — Leading vs. lagging indicators and what they reveal 00:05:35 — New sales committed vs. cash actually received 00:06:15 — Why expenses and profit matter more than celebrating revenue 00:06:45 — Tracking individual offers to see what is actually selling 00:07:20 — The power of five genuine business connections each week 00:09:00 — What missed content goals reveal about capacity and planning 00:10:00 — Tracking email list growth and open rates 00:10:50 — Using a business scorecard to identify gaps and make adjustments 00:11:25 — How accountability works inside the Collective Co-Op 00:13:30 — The question every entrepreneur should answer before closing their annual plan 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop 🎯 Access to the Backstage Pass 2027: www.hollymariehaynes.com/backstagepass 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    644 - 7 Numbers to Track Weekly So Your 2027 Plan Actually Happens

  6. Sep 28

    643 - The Business Model That's Actually Scaling (It's Not What You Think) with Shannon Matson of The Social Bungalow

    If your business feels more complicated than it needs to be, adding another offer probably isn’t the answer. In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly sits down with her longtime friend Shannon Matson, founder of The Social Bungalow, to talk about what’s actually working in the online business space as they head toward 2027. Shannon knows this conversation firsthand. After building six different courses over the years, she made the decision to retire them and center her business around one signature offer. The result? A simpler business, clearer marketing, and the ability to exceed the revenue she had previously generated across multiple offers. They are breaking down why being known for one core transformation can make your marketing and sales easier, how to create a lower-ticket offer that builds an audience of buyers, and why simplifying your front-end offers doesn’t mean limiting your revenue potential. Shannon also walks us through her approach to VIP tiers, continuation offers, backend memberships, and her alpha-beta-scaled model for launching a signature offer without feeling like you need everything figured out before you sell. 00:00:00 — Why simplifying your business model matters heading into 2027 00:01:30 — Shannon’s definition of building a life-first business 00:03:00 — How Shannon built three very different businesses 00:06:00 — Going from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship 00:09:00 — Why Shannon retired six courses and built one signature offer 00:12:00 — Why one clear offer can speed up the path from follower to buyer 00:13:30 — The low-ticket “step zero” strategy for Q4 00:16:30 — How VIP tiers increase revenue without adding another core offer 00:18:00 — The missing continuation offer in many customer journeys 00:21:00 — Shannon’s alpha → beta → scaled signature offer model 00:24:00 — Why one front-facing offer makes annual planning simpler 00:27:00 — How to identify the right audience and topic for your signature offer 00:30:00 — What’s changing with webinars, masterclasses, and launch events 00:31:30 — The “espresso shot” strategy for getting more from your webinar replay 00:33:00 — Shannon’s favorite productivity tool + where to connect with her  CONNECT WITH SHANNON: Instagram:  @thesocialbungalow Website: thesocialbungalow.com WTF is Happening in the Online Space Podcast:  An unfiltered breakdown of the 2026 attention economy - what’s changing, what’s working now, and an insider look at how 6- and 7-figure businesses are keeping demand high.  🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Access to the Backstage Pass 2027: www.hollymariehaynes.com/backstagepass 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    643 - The Business Model That's Actually Scaling (It's Not What You Think) with Shannon Matson of The Social Bungalow

  7. Sep 21

    642 - How to Fix Brand Messaging That Isn't Converting (Even When the Offer Is Good)

    What if the reason your messaging isn’t landing has nothing to do with your content strategy and everything to do with whether your brand actually reflects who you are? In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly is joined by  Luna Battalia, founder of Caru Creative and creator of Animist Branding, to talk about a completely different way of approaching personal branding, messaging, and marketing. Instead of constantly trying to reach, convince, and sell to your ideal clients, what if you created a brand world they naturally wanted to step into? They dive into the psychology behind how people experience your brand, why traditional marketing strategies can start to feel disconnected, and the four areas Luna recommends auditing when your messaging isn’t attracting the right people. They also get into one of the biggest conversations happening in business right now: AI and authenticity. Luna shares how she uses AI as an organizational and creative support tool without allowing it to replace the human voice, perspective, and originality that make a personal brand powerful. Plus, they talk about nervous system capacity, why constantly switching strategies may be holding you back, and how to build a business and brand that actually feel sustainable. 00:00:00 — Why your messaging might not be the real problem 00:01:30 — Building a life-first business with more space and creativity 00:04:30 — How psychology changed Luna’s approach to branding 00:06:00 — Why buyer behavior and marketing have changed 00:07:30 — Creating a brand world instead of chasing customers 00:10:30 — Brand archetypes and separating yourself from your brand 00:12:00 — Why messaging should come before visual design 00:13:30 — The four-part framework for auditing your brand messaging 00:16:30 — Storytelling and the relationship between your brand and audience 00:18:00 — What to do when you're saying the “right” things but attracting the wrong people 00:19:30 — A simple way to get honest feedback on your personal brand 00:21:00 — How Luna uses AI without sacrificing originality 00:22:30 — Why AI may make human creativity even more valuable 00:24:00 — Marketing strategy, stress, and nervous system capacity 00:27:00 — Why you shouldn't abandon a strategy too quickly 00:28:30 — The branding rule Luna completely disagrees with 00:30:00 — Taking control of how people experience your personal brand  CONNECT WITH LUNA: Website: lunaloveleadership.com Instagram: @lunabattalia Free 5-part Audio Training (Private Podcast) (open 8/3 onwards) https://www.lunaloveleadership.com/fullsend 🔗 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 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    642 - How to Fix Brand Messaging That Isn't Converting (Even When the Offer Is Good)

  8. Sep 14

    641 - Why Posting More Isn't Growing Your Business (And the Content System That Actually Does)

    Does your marketing ever feel like a constant cycle of creating, posting, and starting all over again? In this episode, Holly is joined by Ashley DiBiase, founder of Dash of Social, to break down her content marketing trifecta and how social media, blogging, and email marketing can work together instead of competing for your time. Ashley shares why she recommends starting with long-form content and repurposing it across your marketing ecosystem, how to turn the questions your clients are already asking into valuable content, and why your best-performing ideas shouldn’t disappear after one post. They also dive into an often-overlooked growth strategy: partnership marketing. Ashley shares practical ways to collaborate with complementary businesses -  from webinars and events to co-created blog content so you can get in front of new, highly relevant audiences without constantly chasing more reach. And if you’ve been hesitant to put yourself at the center of your brand, they talk about why personal branding and thought leadership are becoming even more important in an AI-driven content world. 00:00:00 — Why doing more isn’t necessarily the answer to better marketing 00:01:30 — Building a life-first business and batching meetings for more focused work 00:03:00 — How Ashley turned blogging into a career in marketing 00:06:00 — Why relying on social media alone limits your marketing potential 00:07:30 — Blogging, Substack, email marketing, SEO, and GEO opportunities 00:08:15 — The content trifecta: social media + email + blogging 00:09:00 — How your marketing channels can move leads through your funnel 00:10:30 — Why your best content should be repurposed instead of used once 00:12:00 — Using Descript and Riverside to turn long-form content into short-form clips 00:13:30 — Partnership marketing and reaching new, targeted audiences 00:15:00 — An easy co-created blog strategy using expert contributions 00:16:30 — How to choose the right business partners and collaborations 00:18:00 — Why personal branding matters even more in the age of AI 00:19:30 — Thought leadership content that builds trust and authority 00:21:00 — The marketing task business owners need to stop overcomplicating 00:22:30 — Ashley’s three-hour weekly content batching workflow 00:24:00 — Video marketing, business growth, and learning to trust your gut  Connect with Ashley: Instagram:  @dashofsocial Website: www.dashofsocial.com 🔗 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 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    641 - Why Posting More Isn't Growing Your Business (And the Content System That Actually Does)
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5
out of 5
180 Ratings

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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