The Teacher Biz Podcast

Heather O’Donnell
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Hey there! Welcome to The Teacher Biz Podcast with Heather O’Donnell.  Each week, Heather shares strategies she’s used in her own online business to replace her teacher income (several times over) while working just 25 hours a week. Learn how a profitable teacher biz actually works (psst… we’re not throwing up resources on TPT) and how to get started without falling into the most common pitfalls and time wasters in the online business world.  Through a mix of interviews and solo episodes, you’ll learn about building an email list, creating and selling digital products, time management, a must-have mindset for success, how to run a profitable business on your own schedule, and much more. Hit subscribe and get ready to learn how to build a profitable home business with a lot less effort than it takes to run a classroom! Connect With Heather: https://teacherbiz.com/about/ https://instagram.com/teacherbiz

  1. 12/30/2025

    134: Thank You for Listening and Being Part of This Journey

    Heather shares a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has listened, supported, and grown alongside The Teacher Biz Podcast. As the show takes a hiatus, she invites you to continue revisiting past episodes as a resource and to stay connected through email and Instagram. She also shares encouragement for anyone who’s been quietly wondering what might be possible beyond traditional teaching. Meaningful, flexible, and fulfilling work is possible. With gratitude at the center, this episode is about honoring the journey, the community that made it special, and the connections that continue beyond the mic. Key Takeaways: (02:20) Why the podcast is taking a break and what’s next(04:30) Navigating online business trends and staying resilient(06:30) Why business friendships matter more than you think Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    10 min

  2. 12/23/2025

    133: How to Overcome Perfectionism

    If perfectionism has you stuck overthinking instead of moving forward, this episode is your permission slip to let it go. Heather shares how perfectionism (not lack of skill or strategy) quietly holds so many teacher business owners back, and why imperfect action is the real key to progress, clarity, and profit. Tune in and learn why done is better than perfect and how putting your work out there, even when it’s not flawless, is what actually moves your business forward. Key Takeaways: (02:30) Getting stuck in perfectionism(08:10) The myth of “A+ work” and why it rarely sees the light of day(10:35) Mantras to beat perfectionism and take action faster(11:40) Why mindset is the real foundation of success Episodes Mentioned: #58: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a New Business Owner #94: Struggling with Imposter Syndrome? Here’s How to Stay Productive with Cait Keery #103: How to Ditch Imposter Syndrome and Finally Get Started with Lydia Martin Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    14 min

  3. 12/16/2025

    132: The Hidden Reason Your Sales Are Slowing Down

    If you’ve ever had a sale fall flat and immediately wondered what went wrong, this episode is for you. Heather breaks down the quiet reason launches often underperform (it’s usually not your offer), and walks through a pattern she’s seen again and again in her own data. You’ll hear why selling to the same audience over and over loses momentum, why new subscribers convert differently, and how relying too heavily on Facebook ads can quietly stall your growth. She also shares how layering lead sources like YouTube, podcasting, social media, and smart content repurposing can bring in consistent leads without burning you out. PLUS, Heather shares details about a January business planning workshop designed to help you map out a lead-generation strategy before your next launch. If you’re tired of pouring energy into sales that don’t deliver, this episode will help you pinpoint what’s missing and fix it before your next launch!  Interested in attending the business planning workshop?  → Email Heather at hello@teacherbiz.com Key Takeaways: (02:00) The pattern behind slow sales: not enough list growth(06:10) Why YouTube is Heather’s next growth focus(08:55) How to repurpose content without creating more work(10:10) Invitation to a January business planning workshop Episodes Mentioned: #123: How to Grow an Engaged Email List Using Facebook Ads #124: Testing New Facebook Ads to Find What Really Converts Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    12 min

  4. 12/09/2025

    131: Heather’s Black Friday Results and the Pivot That Turned Everything Around

    Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start After mapping out what Heather thought would be a strong Black Friday strategy, the results came back and they were some of the lowest she’s ever seen. Instead of spiraling, she pivoted fast. She brought back her “12 Days of Sales” promo, led with her bestselling Alphabet Kit, and immediately saw stronger results, including her biggest revenue day in months. Inside this episode, Heather breaks down exactly what went wrong, why memberships are a tougher sell right now, how offer complexity silently kills conversions, and why one-time purchases are outperforming recurring offers this season. If your recent promotion didn’t go the way you hoped, this is the behind-the-scenes clarity you’ve been looking for. Listen to the full breakdown now! Key Takeaways: (01:40) The original Black Friday plan and why she scheduled it early(03:00) How her tiered membership + multiple bonuses complicated the offer(07:30) Reviving her “12 Days of Sales” strategy(11:00) The mindset shift after a disappointing launch(15:00) Why the week after Christmas is an underrated selling window Episodes Mentioned: #27: How to Navigate December as an Online Business Owner #126: How to Plan the Rest of 2025 and Finish the Year Strong #127: A New Marketing Strategy Inspired by Olive & June Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    17 min

  5. 12/02/2025

    130: How a Fun Reading Method Became a Business Helping Kids Learn to Read with Stefanie Hohl

    Stefanie Hohl is the creator of ABC See, Hear, Do, an innovative phonics program that helps kids learn to read through movement and fun. As a literacy advocate, author, and educator, she has helped thousands of children develop a love for reading. Stefanie is passionate about making learning engaging, especially for active kids.  In this episode, Stefanie shares how her son’s struggle with learning to read inspired her to create a reading method that worked so well she knew other families needed it too. What began as one book has grown into a seven-book series, a line of supplemental materials, and a business that’s helped thousands of kids feel confident picking up a book for the first time. She also talks about imposter syndrome, the power of growing slowly, and how working with a business coach gave her the confidence she didn’t even know she was missing. Now she’s expanding her reach into teacher development, applying to conferences, and gearing up to use LinkedIn and video content to grow even more. If you’ve ever wondered whether your teacher skills could become a business, Stefanie’s story is proof that your ideas matter and that slow, steady growth can take you farther than you think! Connect with Stefanie Hohl: abcseeheardo.com stefaniehohl.com @abcseeheardo @stefaniehohl Key Takeaways: (02:20) How teaching her own child sparked a full business idea(04:30) Why movement-based learning works and the problems Stefanie set out to solve(06:15) Digital vs. physical products(09:30) How Instagram and social media helped her find her audience(11:00) Overcoming imposter syndrome and mindset struggles(15:55) Stefanie’s next big push: LinkedIn and speaking opportunities Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    22 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    129: How One Mom Built a Handwriting Business That Helps Kids Worldwide with Kelli Fetter

    Kelli Fetter is a Certified Handwriting Specialist and the founder of Handwriting Solutions, LLC, where she leads a team providing world-class virtual handwriting, reading, and spelling support to students worldwide. She’s also a respected educator for teachers and therapists, known for her evidence-based approach to handwriting, dysgraphia, and dyslexia. With a background in pediatric occupational therapy across clinics, schools, and early intervention, and inspired by her own daughter’s dyslexia and dysgraphia journey, Kelli is dedicated to empowering families and professionals to unlock every child’s potential. In this episode, Kelli shares how her personal journey with her daughter’s dyslexia and dysgraphia sparked a global virtual business that now helps students, teachers, and therapists understand handwriting on a deeper level. She talks about how her background as a pediatric OT and her determination as a mom shaped a company that offers assessments, tutoring, teacher training, and even reading and spelling support. Kelli also gets honest about the behind-the-scenes of growing a business: pushing through perfectionism, learning to delegate, building systems, and staying anchored in her mission to help more families. Hit play now to hear her story and the real work it took to get where she is today! Connect with Kelli Fetter: Black Friday Waitlist Dysgraphia Course for Teachers Expectations Freebie Key Takeaways: (00:35) Meet Kelli: from OT to online business owner(02:35) What Handwriting Solutions does; support for dyslexia and dysgraphia(05:20) Niching down and helping teachers, OTs, and schools(09:20) Services breakdown: assessments, tutoring, reading support, and handwriting programs for students(14:25) Mindset blocks and overcoming perfectionism(20:25) Teacher trainings, therapist courses, a textbook, and new resources coming in 2026 Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    25 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    128: How to Keep Going When Your Business Hits a Slump

    Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start If your business has felt a little wobbly lately (slower sales, quieter customers, strategies that used to work suddenly falling flat) this episode is the pep talk you need. Heather talks about the “trust recession,” how AI has changed buyer behavior, and why so many entrepreneurs are experiencing a slump. She opens up about her own recent setbacks and shares the honest behind-the-scenes of navigating frustration while still showing up for her people. But this isn’t doom and gloom! Heather walks through the mindset and simple next steps that actually move you forward: trying new ideas, trusting your best guesses, asking your audience what they want, and most importantly, not quitting before the breakthrough. Hit play for some reassurance, and the reminder that business is a rollercoaster and you will rise again! Key Takeaways: (02:20) The “trust recession” and how AI is changing online business(04:00) Picking yourself up after a slump and putting your offer out there(08:30) Testing new ideas and sales strategies(15:10) The #1 strategy that matters more than ever View Heather’s Black Friday Sales Page → teacherbiz.com/krc Episodes Mentioned: #119: Behind the Scenes of a Successful Funnel with Laura Kebart (Part 1) #124: Testing New Facebook Ads to Find What Really Converts Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    17 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    127: A New Marketing Strategy Inspired by Olive & June

    Grab the free Teacher Biz Starter Guide at teacherbiz.com/start Feeling like your sales or emails have gone a little stale? In this episode, Heather talks about the experiments she’s running this season to breathe new life into her business. She’s ditching the copy-and-paste sales strategies, and questioning everything from why her emails land in the promotions tab to whether hitting “duplicate” is secretly tanking deliverability. Inspired by one of her favorite brands, Olive & June, she’s trying out a fresh new strategy and inviting you to follow along! This season is all about trying new things, learning as you go, and proving that growth comes from experimenting, reflecting, and refining! Key Takeaways: (02:30) Why Thanksgiving products get less attention and how she’s planning her seasonal sale(06:30) Repeating sales year after year; why business emails are landing in promotions(12:40) The Olive & June marketing strategy(14:55) How a “free gift with purchase” can boost value without lowering prices Episodes Mentioned: #121: Inside Heather’s High-Converting Funnel #126: How to Plan the Rest of 2025 and Finish the Year Strong Connect With Heather: teacherbiz.com/about instagram.com/teacherbiz

    20 min
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About

Hey there! Welcome to The Teacher Biz Podcast with Heather O’Donnell.  Each week, Heather shares strategies she’s used in her own online business to replace her teacher income (several times over) while working just 25 hours a week. Learn how a profitable teacher biz actually works (psst… we’re not throwing up resources on TPT) and how to get started without falling into the most common pitfalls and time wasters in the online business world.  Through a mix of interviews and solo episodes, you’ll learn about building an email list, creating and selling digital products, time management, a must-have mindset for success, how to run a profitable business on your own schedule, and much more. Hit subscribe and get ready to learn how to build a profitable home business with a lot less effort than it takes to run a classroom! Connect With Heather: https://teacherbiz.com/about/ https://instagram.com/teacherbiz

Information

  • Creator
    Heather O’Donnell
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Teacher Biz Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Teacher Biz Podcast