The Real Women Real Business Podcast

Shauna Lynn Simon

Welcome to The Real Women Real Business Podcast, where we celebrate the strength, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of women everywhere. I'm your host, Shauna Lynn Simon, and I'm thrilled to invite you on this journey with me. On this podcast, my guests and I dive into proven strategies and techniques to help you build your empire without the overwhelm and stress. Each episode is filled with insights, inspiration, and practical advice to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. This podcast is an all-inclusive space where we empower each other to reach our fullest potential in business and beyond.

  1. 1d ago

    Why More Marketing Will Not Fix a Broken Sales Process

    What if the reason your business is not growing has nothing to do with how hard you are working - but everything to do with what you are trying to fix? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon challenges the costly habit of improving what feels productive instead of addressing what is actually holding revenue back. Inspired by a client who spent hours polishing a welcome book while struggling to attract clients, Shauna Lynn reveals why useful tasks can become expensive distractions. She introduces a practical three-part diagnostic to pinpoint problems in visibility, conversion, and delivery, and explains why the order matters. Listeners will learn how the wrong audience can disguise a visibility problem as a pricing issue, why communicating real benefits matters more than listing features, and how a memorable client experience fuels referrals. For entrepreneurs working harder without seeing stronger results, this episode provides a clearer way to identify the first broken link, revisit strategies that already worked, and focus on changes that actually drive growth. Timestamps: (01:51) - (04:17) - Why fixing the wrong problem keeps business owners busy without growing revenue (04:18) - (09:06) - The three-part revenue diagnostic and why visibility, conversion, and delivery must be fixed in order (09:07) - (13:54) - How poor targeting and the wrong clients create hidden visibility and pricing problems (13:55) - (18:32) - Why leads are not converting and how to communicate value instead of features (18:33) - (23:18) - Creating remarkable client experiences, generating referrals, and revisiting what already worked (23:19) - (27:56) - Why systems and hiring come after revenue stability and how to find your real business bottleneck Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcastFREE Accidental CEO Assessment: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/ceoquizEp 74: Get Flooded with Clients Without Ever Asking for a Referral with Stacey Brown Randall: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/rwrb-podcast-episodes/get-more-clients

    Why More Marketing Will Not Fix a Broken Sales Process
  2. Oct 27

    The Midlife Wake Up Call Every Entrepreneur Needs with Terry Tateossian

    What if the business you worked so hard to build is quietly costing you your health? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon sits down with Terry Tateossian, founder of THOR: The House of Rose, a wellness brand helping women over 40 reclaim their strength and wellbeing. After years of building tech and media businesses, Terry faced early perimenopause, burnout, and a health crisis that forced her to rethink what success should look like. Terry shares how she moved from working around the clock to rebuilding her health, losing more than 80 pounds, and creating a purpose-driven business without repeating the patterns that exhausted her. Together, they explore why passion alone cannot sustain a business, how to recognize burnout before it takes over, and why rest deserves a place in every entrepreneur's strategy. Listeners will gain a more practical approach to prioritizing sleep, movement, and personal capacity, along with a powerful question to challenge the belief that there is never enough time to care for themselves.  Timestamps: (01:50) - (10:59) - Terry's journey through early perimenopause, burnout, and rebuilding her health (11:00) - (18:59) - Starting a new business from experience, finding the right clients, and building a stronger foundation (19:00) - (28:42) - Why passion alone cannot sustain a business and how to prevent entrepreneurial burnout (28:43) - (36:22) - Recognizing burnout symptoms, managing overwhelm, and prioritizing nervous system regulation (36:23) - (42:24) - Sleep, nutrition, strength training, and making personal health a priority (42:25) - (49:55) - Auditing your time, overcoming excuses, and taking responsibility for your wellbeing  Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcastEp 129: The Wisdom Bridge Method for Confident Branding with Rohanna Doylida: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/rwrb-podcast-episodes/wisdom-bridgeFREE 28-Day Fascia Reset Email Course from Terry Tateossian: https://www.thehouseofrose.com/acupuncture-myofascial-release Connect with Terry Tateossian: Learn more about Terry: https://thehouseofrose.com/terry-tateossian/ THOR - The House of Rose: https://www.thehouseofrose.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/how.good.can.it.get/ Email: terry@thehouseofrose.com  Terry Tateossian is the founder of THOR: The House of Rose, a wellness brand dedicated to helping women over 40 build strength, improve their health, and create a more fulfilling second half of life. With more than 20 years of experience building businesses in technology, media, and marketing, Terry understands firsthand the pressures of entrepreneurship and the toll that prolonged stress can take on personal wellbeing. After navigating early perimenopause, burnout, emotional eating, and significant health challenges, she transformed her lifestyle and lost more than 80 pounds. Today, as a Harvard Medical School-trained lifestyle medicine coach, certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and yoga teacher, Terry combines professional training with lived experience to support women through midlife transitions. Through THOR's wellness retreats, coaching, and community, she encourages women to prioritize their health while building lives and careers that support their long-term wellbeing. Her work has been featured in CNN, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, and Parade.

    The Midlife Wake Up Call Every Entrepreneur Needs with Terry Tateossian
  3. Oct 20

    The Hidden Money Beliefs Keeping Your Business Stuck with Nancy Benet

    What if the biggest obstacle to financial confidence is not the numbers, but the beliefs shaping every money decision? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon sits down with Nancy Benet, CPA, author, and founder of Fix-It Accounting and Success Your Way. Despite her accounting expertise, Nancy once faced $650,000 in debt while raising four children, an experience that forced her to confront the money stories she had inherited and change how she approached her financial future. Nancy shares how small, intentional actions helped her rebuild, including the surprising impact of setting a new financial "zero" and creating cash reserves before making major business investments. She and Shauna Lynn explore why entrepreneurs avoid their financial reports, how to work with an accountant without feeling intimidated, and how the information people consume can reinforce a scarcity mindset. Listeners will walk away with practical ways to understand their numbers, rethink financial fear, and build the confidence to make decisions that support both profitability and the life they want. Timestamps: (01:50) - (06:38) - Nancy's journey from $650,000 in debt to rebuilding her financial future (06:39) - (13:53) - The "new zero" mindset, saving $30,000, and building financial reserves (13:54) - (22:06) - Why business owners avoid their numbers and how to build financial confidence (22:07) - (27:32) - Scarcity mindset, negative media, and protecting what influences your beliefs (27:33) - (33:45) - How to shift from financial fear to abundance through intentional daily habits (33:46) - (39:24) - Overcoming financial shame, working with your accountant, and building lasting stability Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcast5 Actions You Can Take to Change Your Mindset Instantly: https://successyourway.com/free-downloadsProfit First by Mike Michalowicz: https://link.amazon/B0cqk35onWe Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers: https://link.amazon/B03PLSEvrMillion-Dollar Habits by Rachel Rodgers: https://link.amazon/B0fIzRUgQTame Your Money Monster by Nancy Benet and Adrienne Freeland: https://tameyourmoneymonster.com/Connect with Nancy Benet: Learn more about Nancy: https://www.successyourway.com/ Fix-It Accounting: https://www.fixitaccounting.com/ Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/SuccessYourWayCommunity Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancybenet Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/success.your.way/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successyourway LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/nancy-benet-cpa-18145014 Email: jezellegay.podcastbooker@gmail.com Nancy Benet is a CPA, author, and Founder and CEO of Fix-It Accounting and Success Your Way, two businesses dedicated to helping entrepreneurs develop stronger financial foundations and build success on their own terms. Through Fix-It Accounting, Nancy and her team provide accounting, fractional CFO, tax, and financial advisory services that help business owners better understand their numbers and make informed decisions. Her work through Success Your Way brings a complementary focus on money mindset, personal growth, and the beliefs that influence financial behavior. Drawing from her own experience overcoming significant debt and rebuilding her financial life, Nancy combines practical financial expertise with a compassionate, solutions-focused approach. She is also the co-author of Tame Your Money Monster, which helps readers examine the fears and habits that shape their relationship with money.

    The Hidden Money Beliefs Keeping Your Business Stuck with Nancy Benet
  4. Oct 13

    The Difference Between Smart Strategy and Fear Based Decisions

    What if the offer you are about to create is not really a strategy - but a reaction to fear? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon shares a powerful coaching conversation with a client who was considering creating a lower-priced version of her service after facing sticker shock from a prospective client. On the surface, the idea sounded generous and accessible, but after a deeper look, the decision was rooted almost entirely in fear. Shauna Lynn breaks down how fear shows up when expenses rise, prices increase, teams grow, and business owners start second-guessing what has already been working. She shares five practical gut checks to help listeners evaluate whether a decision is rooted in vision or panic, including why “no” is data, why discounting rarely leads to stronger sales, and why not every client is meant to grow with you. Listeners will walk away with a clearer way to protect their value, trust their offers, and make decisions from strategy instead of fear. Timestamps: (01:50) - (06:32) - The coaching conversation that revealed a fear-based business decision (06:33) - (11:09) - Why growth feels different from starting and how systems change decision-making (11:10) - (15:54) - Why “no” is useful data and how to stop negotiating against yourself (15:55) - (20:33) - Tiered offers, discounting, and why lower-priced options must be intentional (20:34) - (25:19) - How to tell whether fear or vision is driving your next decision (25:20) - (30:01) - Bigger growth, strategic scaling, and making room for better-fit clients Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcastEp 100: Why People Pleasing Is Burning You Out and How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/rwrb-podcast-episodes/people-pleasing10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy: https://link.amazon/B0dWuyP5sThe Science of Scaling by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy: https://link.amazon/B0cdhpflh

    The Difference Between Smart Strategy and Fear Based Decisions
  5. Oct 6

    How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Business with Melissa Franks

    What if the thing holding your business back is not your team, your market, or your strategy - but the fact that too much still depends on you? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon sits down with Melissa Franks, founder of On Call COO and a seasoned fractional COO who has worked inside more than 50 businesses. After leading billion-dollar transformations, M&A initiatives, and operational turnarounds in the Fortune 500 world, Melissa now helps small business owners build companies that can grow without relying on their constant personal effort. Melissa explains why founders often become the bottleneck, how control can quietly limit growth, and why the strongest leaders are willing to stop being the smartest person in every room. She also breaks down what a fractional COO actually does, why saying yes to everything creates operational chaos, and which metrics business owners should start tracking now. Listeners will walk away with practical insight on structure, profitability, leads, hiring, and building a business that can finally support the life they are working toward. Timestamps: (01:50) - (08:29) - Melissa’s path from Fortune 500 transformations to fractional COO work (08:30) - (15:26) - Why founders become bottlenecks and how to stop doing every job yourself (15:27) - (23:34) - What a fractional COO does and why trust is required to step back (23:35) - (29:24) - What breaks first as a company grows and why saying no creates scale (29:25) - (34:00) - How to choose the right operational support before hiring a fractional COO (34:01) - (43:10) - The metrics to track, the vision to clarify, and how data drives better decisions Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcastThe 5 Metrics Every Business Should Track: https://oncallcoo.myflodesk.com/5metricsEp 100: Why People Pleasing Is Burning You Out and How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/rwrb-podcast-episodes/people-pleasingFREE Boundaries Bundle: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/yes Connect with Melissa Franks: Learn more about Melissa: https://www.melissafranks.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086491652065 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_franks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@oncallcoo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissafranks/ Email: melissa@melissafranks.com Melissa Franks is the founder of On Call COO, a fractional COO firm that helps business owners strengthen operations, increase profitability, and build companies that can scale without depending on the founder’s constant effort. A former Fortune 500 executive, Melissa has led billion-dollar IT transformations, M&A initiatives, revenue growth strategies, and complex operational turnarounds. She has been named an OnCon Icon Top 100 COO for three consecutive years and brings a people-first approach to every business she supports. Through On Call COO, Melissa helps founders identify what is getting in the way, create scalable structure, make data-driven decisions, and move through growth plateaus with more clarity and confidence. She is also passionate about women in leadership, domestic violence awareness, family court reform, running, traveling, and cheering on her three sons.

    How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Business with Melissa Franks
  6. Sep 29

    How to Lead With Service and Build Real Community with Brad Walsh

    What if the most powerful business growth does not come from pitching harder, but from creating spaces where people feel genuinely seen? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon sits down with Brad Walsh, founder of Empowerography, international speaker, podcast host, producer, photographer, author, and Soul Visibility Guide. What began as a journey through photography and boudoir work became something much larger when Brad saw the transformation that happened when women felt witnessed, confident, and fully themselves. Brad shares how Empowerography grew into a platform with more than 800 conversations with women around the world, and how those stories shaped his understanding of service, connection, visibility, and community. He also opens up about building the Empowerment Network, a sales-free space where women entrepreneurs can support one another, work through challenges, and feel less alone in business. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of why authentic connection matters, how community can shift perspective, and why supporting others never has to mean sacrificing yourself. Timestamps: (01:50) - (08:50) - Brad’s journey from photography to boudoir work and the beginning of Empowerography (08:51) - (15:43) - Why service, women’s voices, and Brad’s family story shaped his mission (15:44) - (24:57) - What 800 conversations revealed about women, systems, burnout, and invisible labor (24:58) - (31:54) - Why women often settle for crumbs and how self-sacrifice shows up in business (31:55) - (38:23) - Building the Empowerment Network and creating sales-free connection (38:24) - (48:09) - Visibility, community support, shared experience, and why anything is possible Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcastJoin the Empowerment Network by Empowerography: https://empowerographypodcast.com/empowerment-network-pageConnect with Brad Walsh: Learn more about Brad: https://www.empowerographypodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.walsh.56/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowerographypodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Empowerography LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradwalsh70/ Email: brad@empowerographypodcast.com Brad Walsh is the founder of Empowerography, a podcast host, producer, photographer, international speaker, Soul Visibility Guide, and #1 international best-selling author. Through Empowerography, a globally rated podcast built to amplify women’s voices, Brad has held more than 800 conversations with women leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and change-makers around the world. His work began in photography and expanded through boudoir, where he witnessed the powerful transformation that happens when women feel seen, confident, and connected to themselves. Today, Brad continues that mission through conversations, community, visibility work, and the Empowerment Network, creating spaces where women can share their stories, support one another, and step more fully into their power.

    How to Lead With Service and Build Real Community with Brad Walsh
  7. Sep 22

    Why Your Next Growth Move May Already Be Inside Your Business

    What if the growth you are chasing is not hiding in a new marketing strategy, but already sitting inside your business? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon challenges the common belief that more revenue always requires more marketing. For many “Accidental CEOs,” the instinct is to add more content, platforms, ads, visibility, and outreach when revenue feels unpredictable. But more is not always the answer, especially when the foundation underneath the business is already overloaded. Shauna Lynn shares a client example of a 15-year-old business generating strong monthly revenue with very little marketing spend, revealing that the real opportunity was not in adding new tactics, but in clarifying what was already working. She breaks down how referrals, loyal clients, repeat relationships, client experience, and backend processes can quietly hold the key to growth. Listeners will walk away with three powerful questions to evaluate where revenue is really coming from, whether existing relationships are being fully used, and whether the client experience is strong enough to support organic growth. Timestamps: (01:50) - (04:08) - Why more marketing is not always the answer for revenue growth (04:09) - (08:51) - The client example that revealed a clarity problem, not a marketing problem (08:52) - (11:10) - How to lean into referrals, existing relationships, and what is already working (11:11) - (15:40) - Three questions to identify where your revenue is really coming from (15:41) - (20:22) - Why client experience, referrals, and existing relationships can drive better growth (20:23) - (26:10) - The Accidental CEO trap and why clarity is faster than hustle Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcast

    Why Your Next Growth Move May Already Be Inside Your Business
  8. Sep 15

    Why The System Is the Problem Not You with Susanne Schotanus

    What if the reason writing feels so hard has nothing to do with discipline - and everything to do with the system you are using? In this episode of The Real Women Real Business Podcast, Shauna Lynn Simon sits down with Susanne Schotanus, founder of Passionate Writer Coaching and the world’s first ADHD writing coach for adults. After coaching hundreds of ADHD writers, Susanne has made it her mission to change the narrative from “you are broken” to “you need strategies that work for your brain.” Susanne explains how executive function challenges affect everything from emails and proposals to books, articles, and business content. She breaks down why a “simple email” may actually be a multi-step project, how overloaded brains freeze when too many mental programs are running, and why shame is often the biggest barrier to getting words on the page. Listeners will walk away with practical tools, including the APT and TOAST systems, to simplify writing, reduce overwhelm, and create more supportive ways to finish what matters. Timestamps: (01:49) - (07:38) - How Susanne became an ADHD writing coach by following both data and passion (07:39) - (12:53) - Why ADHD affects the writing process and how executive function challenges show up (12:54) - (18:48) - Why simple emails can become hidden projects and how shame keeps writers stuck (18:49) - (23:34) - The APT and TOAST systems for breaking down tasks, projects, and areas (23:35) - (30:39) - Second brain systems, templates, SOPs, and reducing what your brain has to hold (30:40) - (39:07) - Sticky notes, Notion, Apple Notes, self-trust, and why the system may be the problem Resources: Book Your FREE Coaching Assessment Call with Shauna Lynn: https://www.aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcastFree Workbook from Susanne Schotanus: http://passionatewritercoaching.com/rwrbConnect with Susanne Schotanus: Learn more about Susanne: https://passionatewritercoaching.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PassionateWriterCoaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionatewritercoaching/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@passionatewritercoaching Email: susanne@passionatewritercoaching.com Susanne Schotanus is the founder of Passionate Writer Coaching and the world’s first ADHD writing coach for adults. With a BA and MA from the University of Amsterdam, academic and publishing experience, and more than five years coaching hundreds of ADHD writers, Susanne helps people get their ideas onto the page without battling their brains in the process. Her clients include novelists, academics, memoirists, business owners, and anyone with a story or message to share. Through practical tools built around executive function, sustainable writing practices, and self-compassion, Susanne helps writers move away from shame, overwhelm, and the belief that they are not cut out for the work, so they can finish meaningful projects in a way that actually works for their brain.

    Why The System Is the Problem Not You with Susanne Schotanus
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Real Women Real Business Podcast, where we celebrate the strength, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of women everywhere. I'm your host, Shauna Lynn Simon, and I'm thrilled to invite you on this journey with me. On this podcast, my guests and I dive into proven strategies and techniques to help you build your empire without the overwhelm and stress. Each episode is filled with insights, inspiration, and practical advice to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. This podcast is an all-inclusive space where we empower each other to reach our fullest potential in business and beyond.

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