The Dream Biz® Podcast | Anti-Hustle Business Strategies for Creative Entrepreneurs

Christi Johnson, Compassionate Business Coach for Creative Business Owners
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Are you a creative or neurodivergent entrepreneur ready to ditch hustle culture and grow your business in a way that puts your mental health first? This podcast is for you! Join me weekly for actionable tips to grow your business at your own pace and make marketing feel fun and easy. Whether you’re redesigning your offers, refining your marketing strategies, or finding clarity in your vision, I’m here to guide you every step of the way and help you make your business unique to who you are and grow your biz without the burnout. Let's make your Dream Biz® a reality, shall we?

  1. 5d ago

    218 | Embracing Your Whole Creative Self, Writing for Clarity, and The Power of Community with Bridget Baker [Dream Biz Journey Series]

    In this episode of the Dream Biz Podcast, I’m chatting with brand designer and creative coach Bridget Baker. We talk about creativity, experimentation, authentic branding, navigating roadblocks, and trusting your own energy instead of following someone else’s formula. In this episode, we cover: Why there are no “wasted” experiences in your creative journeyBuilding routines that support creativity without forcing itLetting your personality and uniqueness show up in your brandWhat to do when you feel stuck or unsure what to sellWhy collaboration can spark better ideasUsing writing and reflection to navigate business roadblocksShifting your mindset by looking for evidence of what is working Join Write Sh*t Mondays Follow Bridget on Instagram -- Join Alt Biz Owners Weekly Planning Meeting Follow Christi on Instagram

  2. Sep 2

    217 | Soft Business, Self-Trust, and Saying No to Playing Small with Molly Balint [Dream Biz Journey Series]

    In this Dream Biz Journey episode, I got to talk with one of my biggest inspirations, Molly Balint. Molly is a speaker, educator, storytelling expert, Instagram strategist, and founder The Soft Business Club, a membership focused on storytelling and building a sustainable business without hustle.  Molly shares the family legacy that shapes her story and her 22-year path from early blogging and corporate social media to teaching female farmers and eventually founding The Soft Business Club.  We discuss how hustle, comparison, and self-limiting stories (including beliefs about weight and needing an “it factor”) kept her playing small, and how therapy, self-acceptance, and leaning into her gifts helped her show up fully.  Now, her business is built around community and teaching, allowing her to create more space, peace, and bigger dreams.  Listen in to learn exactly how she got to where she is today and how she shows up for her community without sacrificing the life she wants. Follow Molly on Instagram  Join The Soft Business Club -- Follow Christi on Instagram Join The Dream Biz Playground -- 00:00 Welcome and Intro 01:40 Life on the Farm 04:40 From Blogging to Soft Business 07:23 Hustle Burnout and Inner Stories 15:34 Stop Playing Small 26:10 All Roads to Soft Business Club 32:54 Calendar Boundaries and Energy 39:03 Space to Dream Bigger 45:52 Big Dreams and Fullest Self 50:56 Wrap Up and Where to Follow

  3. Aug 26

    216 | People-First Community Building and Breaking Industry Norms with Laylee Emadi [Dream Biz Journey Series]

    Today I'm so excited to have one of my biggest mentors, Laylee Emadi on the podcast! Laylee is the founder of The Creative Educator Conference and The Educator's Lounge, a community for business owners that are educating others and are committed to serving their audiences with heart & passion. In this episode, we chat about how she transitioned from photographer to educator, how she created one of the BEST conferences in the industry, and how she regularly breaks industry norms by putting people before profit. Here are some of the highlights: You don't have to build your dream all at once. Take the next logical step, learn from it, and iterate.Slow doesn't mean behind. A slower path can produce a stronger, more sustainable business.Your business should serve you, too. You're allowed to prioritize your own life, joy, relationships, and wellbeing.Build around your actual capacity. Don't design a business that only works when everything in your life is going perfectly.Not everything is urgent. During hard seasons, identify what truly has to happen and let everything else wait.Know how you work best. There's no single "right" way to launch, sell, schedule, or run a business.Boundaries create freedom. Protecting personal time first gives you a clearer picture of what business opportunities you actually have capacity for.Confidence comes from reps. Visibility gets easier when you practice it consistently, especially with supportive community around you.Your values can be your business strategy. Decisions don't always have to maximize revenue or growth; they can maximize sustainability, integrity, joy, and peace.Community may be the most valuable thing you build. Laylee ultimately says she's most proud not of the conference or her business itself, but of the community she's cultivated. Follow Laylee on Instagram Join The Educator's Lounge Attend the Creative Educator Conference - Follow Christi on Instagram Join The Dream Biz Playground Visit Christi's Website

  4. Aug 19

    215 | How to Build Connections That Last and Turn Into Clients [Summer Series 6]

    Today on The Dream Biz Podcast we are finishing our summer series! We’ve been connecting different elements of summer to your business and today’s episode is about connection! I’m going to talk to you about how to easily connect with other business owners so you can grow your business and your client list.  We’ll cover:  How to find networking groups you actually like to attend  Why virtual can be just as important as in person connections  Keeping track of the people you meet so you can follow up with them and build relationships with them  How to turn your connections into clients Want to make your marketing more fun? Join me and Tayler Cusick Hollman from Enji for a free marketing workshop on making marketing more fun! It’s August 27th at 1PM EDT. Register HERE.  Want some accountability in your business? I’m now offering accountability coaching! DM me on Instagram or email me at christi@christijohnsoncreative.com with the word ACCOUNTABILITY and I’ll tell you all the info!

  5. Aug 5

    214 | How to Make Your Business Lighter, Easier, & More Joyful [Summer Series 5]

    In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to make your business lighter. If you’ve felt overwhelmed in your business, alone, or bogged down by complicated systems, this episode is for you. We’re covering 4 ways to feel lighter:  Simplifying your systems so they cause you less stress & won’t break Leaning into what comes easily for you so you have less stress & feel lighter Getting involved in community so you can reach out when you feel alone Doing something every day that brings you joy so you boost your creativity & reduce stress Want to join my free community?  Join the Alt Biz Owners Group Ready for group coaching?  Join the Dream Biz Playground  Want to book a Positivity Power Hour? Sign Up Here Connect with me on Instagram Visit my Website

  6. Jul 29

    213 | How to Succeed and Flourish as a Business Owner in 2026 [Summer Series 4]

    In today’s episode, I’m chatting about how to flourish in your business! Whether you’re feeling low or overwhelmed, this step-by-step plan will help you achieve your goals with confidence even as a neurodivergent business owner who feels like you never finish anything. We’re talking about: Planting - How to know what ideas to follow & plant in your business Watering - How to nourish yourself and your business to grow your idea Tending - How to test, iterate, and get feedback even if you don’t think of yourself as “consistent” Pruning - How to remove what is not working to make space for what is working Harvesting - Celebrating your progress and your joyful success Resting - How to prepare for another season of flourishing Are you feeling low and like flourishing isn’t possible for you or you just don’t know how to do it? Book a Positivity Power Hour with me.  Want to figure out what ideas to follow & plant? Download my Design Your Dream Day activity.  Follow me on Instagram Work with Me

  7. Jul 22

    212 | How to Increase Your Joy as a Business Owner with ADHD [Summer Series 3]

    Is your business bringing you joy or is it sucking the life out of you! Today on the show, I'm chatting about how to increase your joy in your life and your business. We'll close by doing a "Joy Audit" of both your life and your business. You'll learn: How to recognize if joy is present in your life or businessHow to audit your vision, operations, and marketing for joyHow to create a "Joy Menu" to bring joy to your day every day in just 5 minutes Why joy is a non-negotiable in your business Create Your Own Joy Menu Want to book a Positivity Power Hour or a Get Unstuck Week for $222? Email me at christi@christijohnsoncreative.com or send me a message on Instagram @christijohnsoncreative

  8. Jul 9

    211 | How to Grow Anything in Your Business This Summer as a Business Owner with ADHD [Summer Series 2]

    In this episode, I'm continuing my summer series by digging into growth — what it really means, why it doesn't happen by accident, and how I pursue it without burning out. I walk through how you can grow in whatever area matters most to you: your business and sales, a new skill, your connections, your email list, or your podcast audience. I share my coach Tracy Stanger's "Simple Human Selling" framework (meet, build relationships, tell, ask), practical tips for finding your best growth channels using past client data, and why boundaries and self-compassion matter just as much as strategy. I also talk about my Alternative Business Owners community, my new Positivity Power Hour offer, and simple ways to grow your social media following by leading with your values instead of hustle-culture tactics. Key topics: choosing one growth focus, the four parts of sales, using past evidence to find what works, growing connections authentically, growing your email list and podcast audience, and building content around your values. Want to Book a Positivity Power Hour and get your unique strategy for growth this summer? DM me on Instagram @christijohnsoncreative or email me christi@christijohnsoncreative.com! Join my Alternative Business Owner's Group Resources Mentioned: Get Tracy Stanger's Simple Human Selling Join Molly Balint's Soft Business Club

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5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Are you a creative or neurodivergent entrepreneur ready to ditch hustle culture and grow your business in a way that puts your mental health first? This podcast is for you! Join me weekly for actionable tips to grow your business at your own pace and make marketing feel fun and easy. Whether you’re redesigning your offers, refining your marketing strategies, or finding clarity in your vision, I’m here to guide you every step of the way and help you make your business unique to who you are and grow your biz without the burnout. Let's make your Dream Biz® a reality, shall we?

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