The Moxie Podcast

Moxie | Tools for freelancers

Conversations with entrepreneurs on how they got in the game and how they stay in the game. Sure, we get into stuff you could improve in your business, but primarily, we're here for the story of how even our 7-year old selves were prepping for this bossless life. 

  1. Aug 7

    The niche the built her business

    Courtney, owner of Declet Designs, didn't build a thriving web design business by trying to serve everyone. She built it by going deep into one very specific world: weight-inclusive dietitians and therapists (and, more recently, midwives and doulas) — and refusing to be anything other than exactly what they needed. In this episode, Courtney and Michelle talk about why that narrow focus, not a broader one, is what made her successful. As Courtney puts it, "I would not have been successful if I just went out and was like, I do websites for everyone." Because she's a dietitian and eating disorder survivor herself, she could speak her clients' language in a way a generalist designer never could — down to the word choices, the imagery, and the marketing approach that would actually make their audience feel safe. It's a conversation about the real payoff of specificity: less convincing, more trust, and a business that grows because of who it doesn't try to serve. _____ About Courtney Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD is a multi-passionate entrepreneur in the weight-inclusive space. She's an anti-diet dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor with her own private practice, Vickery Wellness. She is also the CEO of Declet Designs, her website and branding studio for weight-inclusive businesses. She has a double dose of knowledge, with bachelor's degrees in political science and dietetics, plus a Master's degree in Foods & Nutrition from the University of Georgia (and still teaches an undergraduate course there). Her career journey includes working as a Director of Corporate Health Services & Community Outreach, clinical dietitian, managing group fitness programs and community health programs, and roles in healthcare administration and corporate health. She's even stepped in as the Interim Director of the Dietetic Internship at the University of Georgia. At home, Courtney shares life with her husband of 15 years (they've been together since high school!), two kids, a dog named Oliver, and two kitty cats, Finnick and Calliope. She is the perfect blend of Enneagram 1 determination and a laid-back coffee shop aficionado. When she's not helping therapists and dietitians rock their brands and websites, you can catch her chilling at a coffee shop, sipping tea, or spending time with her awesome family. Her passion for blending her love for weight-inclusive care with her knack for web and branding design makes her your friendly expert in dietetics and web design.  Find Courtney at https://decletdesigns.com

    The niche the built her business
  2. Jul 17

    How to make your website faster, greener, and more accessible

    Sez Gower is an Australian web designer dedicated to creating environmentally friendly and inclusive websites. And she is one of the most talented and kind humans that I know. I suspect it's because of her time spent with whales and also because she's just the best.  Discover how sustainability and a love for whales inspire her work and business philosophy. In this episode, we talk about: Sez’s journey from childhood passions in dinosaurs and dancing to her career in web designThe importance of sustainability in digital spaces and how websites impact the environmentPractical steps to assess and improve your website’s carbon footprintKey accessibility and inclusivity considerations for websitesSez’s story of how whales became a core part of her personal and professional identityHow to start small with sustainable website practices to make a differenceThe significance of unique whale tails as a business branding analogyWhy treating your website as a vital business tool is crucial for growth and efficiencySez’s insights on raising awareness about digital sustainability and empowering women in techKey links: Carbon footprint calculators websitecarbon.comecograder.comdigitalbeacon.coAccessibility checker webaim.org (WAVE tool)Site speed checkers gtmetrix.comGoogle PageSpeed Insights_____ About Sez:  Sez Gower is a web designer and founder of Whale Tail Digital, a sustainable web design studio based in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia. She's on a mission to prove that doing good online doesn't have to cost the earth - building low-carbon, accessible websites for values-led businesses and organisations worldwide. Find her at https://whaletaildigital.com.au

    How to make your website faster, greener, and more accessible
  3. Jul 10

    How to automate the parts of your business you hate doing

    Unlock the secret to making your business run smoother, simpler, and with far less stress. In this episode, Michelle sits down with Stephani Halderman, founder of Simple Growth Co, to talk about how thoughtful systems, automation, and a clear backend can completely change the way a business feels day to day. Stephani shares how her love of tech started early, from programming on an old computer to building her own shopping cart for an online soap business, and how that path eventually led her to help other entrepreneurs streamline their operations. We talk about why so many business owners get stuck doing things manually, how to spot the tasks that are quietly draining your time, and why the best place to start is often with stuff you hate. She also explains how she approaches backend systems, client experience, onboarding, contracts, invoicing, and follow-ups so business owners can spend more time doing the work they actually enjoy. Along the way, Stephani shares her perspective on wellness, entrepreneurship, and why it’s so important to step back and look at your business with fresh eyes before the chaos grows. If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or service provider who wants to save time, reduce friction, and build a business that feels more manageable, this conversation is packed with practical advice and mindset shifts you can put to work right away. _____ About Stephani Stephani Halderman is a website designer and systems strategist for health and wellness professionals and the founder of The Simple Growth Co. With over 25 years in web and tech and a background as a certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Stephani brings something most designers don't: she actually knows what it's like to run a wellness business from the inside.  She helps wellness solopreneurs build websites and backend systems that do more than look good. She creates clear client journeys, connected tech, and a business that keeps running in the background, so they can focus on the work they actually love. When she's not deep in a website build or mapping out a client's backend systems, you'll find her tending her (very organized, Notion database-tracked) houseplant collection, knitting something, spending time with her family & friends, or out on a hike in the woods.

    How to automate the parts of your business you hate doing
  4. Jun 26

    From Chaos to Calm with Karalee Gault from The Productivity Impact

    This episode has it all -  better systems, smarter workflows, and the truth about having a favorite pet (we all have one). Karalee shares why so many founders stay stuck with too many tools and not the right processes. And she doesn't leave us stuck there, but talks about creating real capacity and not overwhelm. At The Productivity Impact, Karalee doesn't just give advice on a great system. She lives it. In this episode, she shares how to spot signs your business systems are breaking down, and why mapping your client journey before choosing software will save you time, money, and stress.  Whether you’re a freelancer, solopreneur, or growing team, this conversation is a reminder that it’s never too early — or too late — to create a stronger operational foundation. _____ About Karalee: Some people see messy businesses and run. Not Karalee. She sees messy businesses and immediately starts mentally rebuilding the operations. Known for her blunt honesty with compassion and ADHD-fueled pattern recognition, she helps overwhelmed CEOs untangle chaos, fix bottlenecks, and stop running their businesses entirely from memory, sticky notes, and panic. Karalee is the founder of The Productivity Impact, a Certified DOO, and the kind of operator who can hear “everything feels chaotic” and somehow translate it into systems, structure, and an actual plan that works for your brain. Her approach blends strategy, operations, and real-talk leadership that makes people feel both called out and deeply supported at the same time. She’s deeply committed to helping service providers stop operating in constant survival mode and build businesses that don’t depend on their exhaustion to function. Around here, systems conversations often include cat stories (she has 13), strong opinions about inefficient workflows, and at least one moment where entrepreneurs realize the problem was never actually project management etc. Karalee has a talent for spotting the thing everyone else is politely ignoring: the bottleneck, the avoidance pattern, the “system” living entirely inside the CEO’s head, and helping service providers fix it without shame, fluff, or forcing them into someone else’s version of productivity that was never built for how their brain actually works. When she’s not rebuilding businesses from the inside out, she’s probably creating systems for fun, being emotionally manipulated by one of her teenagers, or telling overwhelmed CEOs the thing nobody else will say out loud. Karalee's Impact Hub membership launches July 1. Join before July 13 to receive founding membership perks. Find it here: https://theproductivityimpact.com/impact-hub

    From Chaos to Calm with Karalee Gault from The Productivity Impact
  5. Jun 26

    "I'm listening" with Moxie's new CEO Scarlett Riu

    Listening is an under-rated skill. It takes a willingness to close your own mouth and put aside your own thoughts in honor of someone else. Scarlett Riu, the new CEO of Moxie, is listening. Her own thoughts and ideas aside while she listens to the Moxie community and what they need from Moxie.  In this episode, Scarlett shares her approach to leadership, starting with empathy, curiosity, and a community-first mindset. She’s planning to listen deeply to the Moxie community, identify real pain points, and build solutions that genuinely serve freelancers and solopreneurs. Hear about Scarlett's reveals her 30-year journey through tech - from QA to leadership - and also her favorite coffee. We talk about: The underrated value of QA in the tech industry and why it’s a crucial skill for every developer. How Scarlett’s diverse background, from blood banking systems to RV life, shapes her innovative leadership style. Her plans for building a product that reduces admin complexity, so freelancers can focus on what they love. Her strategy of conducting a "listening tour" to truly understand community needs before implementing change. Why a community-centered approach creates opportunities for independence, growth, and empowerment in freelancing.Why does this matter? Because the next phase of Moxie’s growth depends on authentic connection and understanding user pain—and Scarlett’s approach could reshape how tech companies serve their communities. Perfect for entrepreneurs, community builders, and future-focused tech leaders, this conversation will leave you inspired by the power of following your intuition while staying tuned into the voices of those you serve.

    "I'm listening" with Moxie's new CEO Scarlett Riu
4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Conversations with entrepreneurs on how they got in the game and how they stay in the game. Sure, we get into stuff you could improve in your business, but primarily, we're here for the story of how even our 7-year old selves were prepping for this bossless life.