2D AGO

2.2: Andréa Jones on Babies and Business Models and the Shifting of Everything

In this episode, Andréa Jones talks to us about having her first baby and her first business, a digital marketing agency, and how everything had to shift with her second baby—resulting in a whole new business model. We talk about the before, during and after of first and second babies (and first and second businesses!), what support she had in place on the business and personal side, how she balances childcare with her husband, and her surprising tip for truly effective marketing that we all can apply to our businesses right now. Sign up for her Free Audio Series, AI in Marketing, to see exactly how she uses ChatGPT daily in her business without losing her voice, her values, or her marbles. https://onlinedrea.com/ai-in-marketing/ Bio: Andréa Jones is a digital marketing consultant who teaches business owners how to market in ways that are simple, smart and strategic—and aligned with their values. She hosts the Mindful Marketing Podcast (which I highly recommend) and has a fabulous newsletter I never miss because it's always fun, interesting, and informative. You can find her at OnlineDrea.com and on Instagram @themindfulmarketinglab and @onlinedrea She's also the mother of two small children—the youngest just had their first day of daycare. Learn more about Truer Business at truerbusinesspodcast.com

45 min

MAR 4

When Your Business Is Your Baby - And You Also Have a Baby

Lauren and Kara introduce Babyproofing Your Business, a limited series of the Truer Business Podcast. Lauren is about to give birth AT ANY MOMENT—but while she's waiting for baby to arrive, she and Kara are interviewing women who had established service-based businesses, or who were building their businesses, when they had a baby. There aren't a lot of conversations around growing a business you're passionate about AND balancing that with a new baby, or toddlers, or older children. The conversation tends to be more like "Oh! Are you still planning to work?" Yes, yes we are. In Episode 1, Lauren and Kara talk about: Kara's motherhood journey as a website designer and equestrian program manager How she and Lauren don't fall into the "mother" archetype (and kinda envy those who do!) The identity shifts that happen as an "older" first-time mom—and the shifts that don't happen Diversifying income streams, and focusing on what's really important plus what brings us joy Maintaining the hobbies and passions that matter, and allowing what doesn't matter to fall away Content warning: Lauren wonders if she's a "maternally divergent jerk," and is trying to be respectful of everyone's individual motherhood experience, while acknowledging that her experience feels very different from what may be more mainstream. This podcast is best suited for those who don't feel like they neatly fit into the maternal mold. Find Lauren at truerwordsbylauren.com Find Kara at guidedonline.com and narrativewebdesign.com

38 min

05/14/2025

Season Finale on Burnout Creep, AI and Finding Alignment in Business

In the somewhat delayed (hey, we're running businesses, people!) final episode of the season, we share how in the midst of launching this podcast season, which turned out to be all about burnout, it became obvious to us both that we're a bit burnt out! We also discuss practicing discerment and finding more alignment across our businesses. Kara shares why she's re-doing her own website... again. Lauren discusses the challenges that AI is creating for copywriters and we do a whole lot of brainstorming around how we can more forward, better, in our businesses. Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

34 min

04/02/2025

Switching to Online, Ranking on Google and Functioning in the Narcissistic Online Business World with Megan Caper

This conversation spans SEO best practices, customer research, how to use your client's words to bring in more ideal clients—and how to do all of this when your business is… unusual. We also talk about narcissism in society, capitalism and business, ethical marketing vs. mainstream marketing, and the importance of community (plus using our businesses to build community). It's a RICH episode (and we don't mean money). About Megan: Megan Caper is a medical intuitive, energy healer, and the co-host of the podcast: How to be a Terrible Daughter. She's been in business for more than 20 years, both in person and online. She has graduate level training in anatomy, physiology, neurology, biochemistry, genetics, psychology as well as training in medical intuition and energy healing. She helps her clients get the answers or help they need when they aren't getting it from their doctors. Fun fact: She used Kara's website design template and Lauren's copywriting workbooks to build her website, which is now on page 1 of Google for Medical Intuitive. Links: How to be a Terrible Daughter podcast Megan's Website Megan's Instagram Podcast website Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

48 min

03/19/2025

Stephanie Williams on Building a Business Beyond Burnout

Steph Williams' journey to doing the work she loves can be summed up as "from Burnout to Breakthrough." In this episode, we talk about how a slow living lifestyle translates to business, building an ideal calendar around your energy and rest needs, how to break through a "freeze" response when you have too much on your to do list, tracking energy and mood, and tips for handling overwhelm. Bio: Steph Williams worked in child protective services in Australia for 14 years, a field with incredibly high burnout rates. The high-stress work took its toll and she knew she needed a shift. So she left her job, slowed down—way down—and paired down her life to a cottage by the beach. And that is where she created her business: The Rested Woman. Now she helps overwhelmed women to rest and reevaluate how they're spending their energy so they can get clear on what matters and get out of burnout for good. You can find her online and on instagram at StephWilliams.co. Links: How We Feel App Steph's Instagram

36 min

03/05/2025

Katie Oglesby on Cultivating Community for Your Business

Katie Oglesby is a Wisconsin-based garden designer and garden and healthy lifestyle coach committed to helping people develop a deeper connection to their food through the transformative experience of organic gardening. She is the founder of the Kitchen Garden Design House, a Wisconsin-based business that specializes in crafting bespoke kitchen gardens that seamlessly blend elevated aesthetics with sustainable, garden-to-table living practices. Katie also runs the Garden-to-Table Community, an online membership for new gardeners all learning to support their health and family's well-being with their own gardens and garden-to-table recipes. Key points! "Gardeners have a growth mindset" Making big pivots in your first year of business (the thing you thought you were going to do to what you actually do) From health coaching to garden design and garden coaching The power of word of mouth marketing in a community based business Working a day job to support the growth of your dream job, and then transitioning between full time to part time, to full time in your new business Building your portfolio from the ground up (professional photography, and get some people in those pictures!) Cultivating your community by not just offering a product or service, but support to help your people succeed with your products and/or services (like The Garden to Table Membership) Links: Get Katie's free MicroGreens Guide and her How to Grow Herbs + Greens guide at https://www.katieoglesby.com/education Katie's website Podcast website Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

41 min

02/19/2025

Tried and True Marketing Strategies for Small Service-Based Businesses

In this episode, Kara and Lauren take a deep dive into the marketing strategies they used to build their own online businesses, and also discuss the things they've seen their most successful clients do well. If you're looking to build up a client based without relying on socail media marketing, spending a ton of ads or generally feeling like you're floundering trying to do all of the things, then this episode is for you! Inside: How to build a referral network A genius blog-linking strategy Leveraging your lead magnets for list growth Finding the people you ACTUALLY want to work with Podcast website Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

44 min

02/05/2025

Maggie Gentry on Marketing Your Online Business Like a Real-Life Human

Today we're speaking with anticapitalist business strategist Maggie Gentry on how to market your business in ways that work for you (i.e. not just social media), her non-traditional approach to niching, and building a business with radical generosity. We also talk about human design, and how we're all manifesting generators and what that means in terms of building offers for our businesses, and how to market what you do when the Thing You Call Yourself is vague AF (ie. "thought partner"). About Maggie: Maggie is a thought partner and anticapitalist business strategist whose focus is constructing real, humane, and deeply human systems based on your wants, needs, and heart-based beliefs. As co-founder of Rest Day Creative, she lets loving curiosity lead the way, inviting you back to the core of your values in order to create systems of change with the truth-findings you uncover there. When she's not co-conspiring with you, she's losing count of how many floofs she's booped on her cat Waffles, bonus-momming it up with her partner's 10-year-old kiddo, and relishing in her second chance at love and life partnership in Austin, TX. Links: Maggie's Website Rest Day Creative Website Virtual Office Hours Pay-What-You're-Able Shift Session Lindsay Mack's Tarot Course Chani Nicholas' 2025 Astro Planner Podcast website Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

43 min

01/29/2025

Coming Back from Burnout & Bringing Your REAL Self into Your Business with Jessie May Kezele

This episode is about pivoting your business when you're experiencing a Big Life Shift. We talk with branding expert Jessie May Kezele of The Daring Fempreneur about her journey from the business persona she thought she should have, to growing into a business that feels completely true to her. We also share how, for each of us, burnout led to what we were meant to do, and revealed what we needed to leave behind. And you'll learn about brand archetypes, what they are, and why the wrong ones can exhaust you—while the right ones lead to a business that feels easeful and fun. About Jessie May: Jessie May is a Brand Strategist who helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs build brands that aren't just seen, but deeply felt. Blending her background in psychology, communications, and Co-Active coaching, she guides entrepreneurs to uncover their brand archetypes so they can step into their next stage of growth with more income, visibility, impact — and so much more ease. From her home base in Boulder, Colorado, where she lives with her husband Robert and their bulldog Ruby, Jessie May has helped hundreds of coaches, healers, and entrepreneurs align their brands with their values, vision and voice since 2011. As an Explorer and Creator archetype herself, she has a natural gift for helping you build a brand that supports the unique vision you hold for your life and illuminating your gifts so everyone can see them, including you! Find Jessie May at TheDaringFempreneur.com Links: Can your brand archetypes change over time? https://www.thedaringfempreneur.com/blog/can-your-brand-archetypes-change-over-time You are not your brand https://www.thedaringfempreneur.com/blog/you-are-not-your-brand Brand Archetype Quiz: https://www.thedaringfempreneur.com/brand-personality-quiz Podcast website Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

40 min

01/22/2025

Get On Top of Your Schedule with Stephanie Wasylyk

Today we're speaking with Stephanie Wasylyk, ADHD-friendly business coach, about planning an ideal calendar, holding boundaries, and giving yourself permission to do less. Key takeaways: Identifying the things that need to come off your plate How to set up your schedule for success The recipe for healing burnout What it's all about: Get on top of your schedule, create supportive (never confining) structures, and find ways make enough money without feeling inauthentic, overwhelmed, or exhausted. About Stephanie: Stephanie Wasylyk is a business coach helping entrepreneurs to bring focus, organization, and alignment to the creative chaos. Since 2012, she has supported thousands of clients to embrace their nature (ADHD? Rebel? Multipassionate? Radically authentic?) and build businesses around their strengths, not a one-size-fits-all formula. She is the founder of The Happy Squirrel Collective, an ADHD-friendly community for business owners who struggle with neurotypical productivity advice, like "just do one thing until it's done." She lives in Quebec, Canada with her high school sweetheart-turned spouse, daughter, and fluffy brown dog. Links: Stephanie's website: https://stephaniewasylyk.com/ Blog posts referenced in the show: Why It Took Me So Long to Reach 100K and How I Did It I Schedule Stuff in My Calendar and I Don't Stick to It - Help! Podcast website Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

49 min

01/15/2025

2: Rebecca Tracey On What It Really Takes to Build Your Sustainable Online Business and Uncaged Life

In today's episode, we talk with Rebecca Tracey of The Uncaged Life about building a business around the lifestyle you want and how each of us have built sustainable businesses that prioritize freedom and flexibility. Key takeaways: What to focus on (and what to skip) when you're first starting your online business Marketing strategies for coaches Do you really need a website to start? How Rebecca founded her business to suit her lifestyle, and how its evolved over time When to start outsourcing for growth About Rebecca Rebecca Tracey is the founder of The Uncaged Life where she works with coaches and online business owners to get clear on their brand message, create packages that sell, and help them get clients. Rebecca runs a highly engaged online Facebook group of over 16,000 entrepreneurs. She started her business while living in a Chevy '81 campervan (and now owns a sweet upgraded van) and lives in her dream town of Squamish BC surrounded by mountains, where she is truly living her Uncaged life. Links: Rebecca's flagship program (that got Lauren started in business!): Uncage Your Business Rebecca's Facebook group: Uncaged Lifers Rebecca also has a lot of great, information-packed blog posts here. Podcast website Say hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Follow Kara & Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

48 min

01/14/2025

1: How to Launch an Online Business Based on What You Really Want

Welcome to the Truer Business Podcast with Kara Ferreira and Lauren Van Mullem. This season, we're looking at how online entrepreneurs built businesses around what they wanted for their lives. We're talking to people who broke out of the "follow my formula" mindset to find what worked for them—so you can find the way that works for YOU. What do you really want? Today, we'll tell you our stories of how we figured that out for ourselves and built businesses that support lives we love. One of the things we've noticed working with other online entrepreneurs is that many of the ones who end up failing are chasing metrics of success that don't necessarily light them up. We thought we'd get started with looking at how we both came to develop our own online businesses… Kara Ferreira is a website designer and online business mentor helping women solopreneurs bring their business ideas to life in the digital space. Her services include branding, website design, tech implementation and marketing strategy so that her clients get an online business, not just a website. You can find her at Kara Co Creative. Lauren Van Mullem has been writing content and sales copy for online businesses since 2008 and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and coaches attract the right-fit clients who love them. Her specialty is website copy that helps coaches connect with their ideal clients in ways that are ethical, feel good and lead to sales. You can find her at www.TruerWordsbyLauren.com, and join her free Wednesday Craft n' Copy Hour here. Website: truerbusinesspodcast.com Say Hello: hello@truerbusinesspodcast.com Find Kara and Lauren on Instagram: @karacocreative @truerwordsbylauren

32 min

Truer Business Podcast

Episodes

2.2: Andréa Jones on Babies and Business Models and the Shifting of Everything

When Your Business Is Your Baby - And You Also Have a Baby

Season Finale on Burnout Creep, AI and Finding Alignment in Business

Switching to Online, Ranking on Google and Functioning in the Narcissistic Online Business World with Megan Caper

Stephanie Williams on Building a Business Beyond Burnout

Katie Oglesby on Cultivating Community for Your Business

Tried and True Marketing Strategies for Small Service-Based Businesses

Maggie Gentry on Marketing Your Online Business Like a Real-Life Human

Coming Back from Burnout & Bringing Your REAL Self into Your Business with Jessie May Kezele

Get On Top of Your Schedule with Stephanie Wasylyk

2: Rebecca Tracey On What It Really Takes to Build Your Sustainable Online Business and Uncaged Life

1: How to Launch an Online Business Based on What You Really Want

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