The Playhouse Podcast: Real conversations with creative business owners growing through community and networking

Deanna Seymour | Community Builder + Networking Party Host
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The Playhouse Podcast features real conversations with creative business owners about what's actually working in their businesses. Hosted by Deanna Seymour, founder of The Playhouse community. Whether you're learning how to grow your business as a designer, coach, writer, podcaster, or solopreneur, this show is for creative entrepreneurs who want to build something sustainable without losing their minds to social media. Most creative business owners aren't looking for business as usual. We're not interested in dedicating our lives to the algorithm, and we're not interested in surface-level small talk. We want to grow our businesses through relationships, referrals, and real conversations. (And yes, we're talking to a lot of introverts who'd rather network in small groups than shout into the void.) Topics we explore: Anti-hustle and slow businessMarketing without social mediaNetworking for introverts and quiet entrepreneursBurnout and sustainable workCommunity over contentADHD and neurodivergent business ownersReferrals, collaborations, and real connectionEmail marketing and owned audiencesCreative ways to grow without burning outEach episode is recorded live inside The Playhouse, where listeners can join us for free, ask questions during the Q&A after party, and meet other online business owners building anti-algorithm businesses. This podcast has gone through a few names as The Playhouse has grown, but the heart of it has always been the same: real conversations that help creative entrepreneurs grow together. If you're ready for authentic visibility, more collaboration, and a way of doing business that leaves you energized instead of exhausted, you're in the right place. 👉 Join the next LIVE recording for free inside The Playhouse at jointheplayhouse.com

  1. 6d ago

    How to Improve Your Customer’s User Experience with Nadia Rayward

    If people can’t figure out how to buy from you, or sign up for your events, or hit that dreaded 404 page you are losing sales. I’m chatting with Nadia Rayward from Sugar Beet Studios to chat all about user experience (UX) and why it matters for solopreneurs. In this episode: 02:01 What “user experience” really means (and why bad UX stands out) 04:33 The biggest “points of contact” you MUST consider for your business 06:58 Real-life example: handling waitlists, confirmations & why little details matter 10:42 How to actually TEST your experiences with real people (without fancy tools 13:03 The #1 thing visitors need to know on your homepage (in the first 5 seconds!) The extended episode with a live Q&A for Playhouse members includes: Where to actually put your call-to-action so people don't miss itWhy AI still can't replace real user testing, and what that means for youSimple, low-cost ways to test your website with real people before you launchListen to the extended version when you join us inside The Playhouse: https://jointheplayhouse.com Get your first month for just $10 when you use the coupon code PODCAST Hang out with Nadia: https://www.sugarbeetstudios.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiarayward https://sugarbeetstudios.kit.com/newsletter https://www.sugarbeetstudios.com/build-with-intention-monthly-meetup Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

  2. Sep 1

    Stop Confusing Being Busy for Being Productive with Maria Medina

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re always checking things off your list but your business isn’t moving forward, this episode will help you adjust that to-do list big time! Maria Medina breaks down how to tell if you’re actually being productive or just busy so your workday finally starts working for you. In this episode: 0:00 Why productivity and busy are not the same thing 2:31 How your calendar reveals your real priorities 5:35 The Eisenhower Matrix for prioritizing your to-dos 8:05 ADHD and the hidden productivity struggles business owners face 14:40 The one system you need to clarify your goals and actions We also kept the conversation going with a Live Q&A where we talked about: Why a "good" system can be as simple as Post-it Notes, and how to know if yours actually workThe ADHD-rooted reason follow-up feels so uncomfortable (and how to get past it)How to stop losing track of your best connections with a dead simple follow-up systemListen to the extended version when you join us inside The Playhouse: https://jointheplayhouse.com Get your first month for just $10 when you use the coupon code PODCAST Hang out with Maria: https://www.instagram.com/mariamedinacoach https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamedinacoach https://thecoachingnetwork.com Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

  3. Aug 18

    Fun, Play, and Building a Business That Actually Feels Good with Steph DragonHeart Benedetto

    What if having more fun at work could actually help your business thrive? Steph DragonHeart Benedetto’s here to challenge the idea that play and productivity are opposites, and prove that a playful mindset can spark real results. In this episode: 0:00 Why we think play + productivity can’t mix (and what happens when they do) 2:26 How to redefine play so it fits your business and your personality 5:35 Choosing the “game” you want to play in your business 7:59 Why less pushing and stressing can actually make you more productive 10:28 Simple ways to spot opportunities for play, even if it doesn’t come naturally The extended episode with a live Q&A for Playhouse members includes: What “premature practicality” is and why it kills big ideaWhether you should focus on strategy before play if money’s tightHow to experiment with play in your work without feeling sillyHang out with Steph: https://www.theawakenedbusiness.com https://www.theawakenedbusiness.com/wildspire https://www.dragonheartquest.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanierbenedetto https://www.youtube.com/@StephBenedetto Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

  4. Aug 4

    How to Build Business Systems Without Overcomplicating Everything with Trish Markel

    If you think you “suck at systems” this episode is going to totally blow your mind. Trish Markel breaks down why systems aren’t one-size-fits-all, why your routines already count, and how the right system should make your business feel lighter…not harder! In this episode: 0:00 Why “system shame” is so common for entrepreneurs 1:32 How Trish actually defines systems (it might not be what you think) 5:12 Why it’s okay if someone else’s fancy system doesn’t work for you 9:12 When you actually need a system and when you really don’t 14:01 The real job of a system: increase profit, reduce mental load, or improve client experience The extended episode with a live Q&A for Playhouse members includes: How to automate your business without losing your personalitySimple systems you can build with tools you probably already haveThe one question to ask before creating any systemHang out with Trish: https://www.instagram.com/tasklemonade Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

  5. Jul 21

    Making Emergency Preparedness Less Weird with Annie from Come What May Day

    You can’t control the weather, but you can control how you prepare for it. Annie’s showing us how to face disaster preparedness without fear, shame, or overwhelm, and why it matters more than ever to connect with your neighbors now instead of waiting for a crisis. In this episode: 0:00 Why emergency preparedness feels overwhelming, and how to make it human 4:46 Fear, stigma, and why we avoid “prepper” conversations 10:27 Community over stockpiling: Why your neighbors matter more than your bunker 16:04 The only three basics you need to start preparing (without going overboard) We also kept the conversation going with a Live Q&A where we talked about: The truth about survival water strawsUsing preparedness materials as a community book clubWills, paperwork, water storage, and peace of mindHang out with Annie: https://www.comewhatmayday.com https://www.instagram.com/comewhatmayday/ Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

  6. Jul 7

    Decision Making in Uncertainty with Adam Dickinson

    Ever wish you could make big decisions without spiraling or second guessing yourself? Adam Dickinson shares how to actually use your intuition and logic together so you can move through change calmly, even when life feels uncertain. In this episode: 0:00 Why decision making feels impossible during times of uncertainty 2:25 Adam’s practical approach for getting unstuck 6:25 Tools for calming down when you’re overwhelmed 10:03 How self-awareness shapes smart decisions 12:06 Adam’s four step process for aligned action We also kept the conversation going with a Live Q&A where we talked about: How to tell the difference between fear, instinct, and real intuitionWhat it looks like to use both logic and gut feeling in real decisionsHow to avoid anxiety or overthinking when things are messyReal life examples of applying Adam Dickinson’s frameworkWays to build self-trust through transitionsHang out with Adam: https://ww.adamrdickinson.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-r-dickinson Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

  7. May 26

    Tell Better Stories & Attract Aligned Clients with Reme Mancera

    If you think storytelling in business means you needed some huge dramatic backstory, this conversation with Reme Mancera will completely change your mind. We talked about how the smallest moments from your life can actually become the most powerful way to build trust, connection, and authority with your audience. In this episode: 0:00 Why storytelling matters and how stories build trust 5:00 Why you do not need an “epic” story to connect with people 10:45 How small personal stories make your brand more memorable We also kept the conversation going with a Live Q&A where we talked about: How to know which stories actually matter to your audienceHow to stop worrying about repeating yourself onlineCreative ways to tell the same story from different anglesHow to find your natural storytelling voiceBalancing storytelling without oversharingHang out with Reme: https://storyconnectors.com Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com https://instagram.com/thedeannaseymour 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

  8. May 19

    The Playhouse Free Tier Experiment Results Are In… with Deanna Seymour

    I’m officially announcing the end to the free tier inside The Playhouse and I’m sharing the data that’s led to the decision. In this episode: 0:23 - The fate of the Playhouse free tier (and why it's ending) 2:27 - The improv troupe analogy that sparked the whole experiment 4:24 - 5ish months of real membership data, broken down 11:05 - When my funnel went upside down: paid members dropping to free 12:30 - The new Thursday schedule and what's coming next Links: Episode about the Thursday Schedule: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423323/episodes/19202496 Get on Deanna's Newsletter for Networking Parties: https://deannaseymour.com/newsletter Hang out with Deanna: https://deannaseymour.com Join us in The Playhouse: https://jointheplayhouse.com 🪩 Join today during our Kickstarter for 50% off your first quarter!  https://jointheplayhouse.com/kickstarter And if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with a friend! It really helps us grow and keep the good vibes coming!

    The Playhouse Free Tier Experiment Results Are In… with Deanna Seymour
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The Playhouse Podcast features real conversations with creative business owners about what's actually working in their businesses. Hosted by Deanna Seymour, founder of The Playhouse community. Whether you're learning how to grow your business as a designer, coach, writer, podcaster, or solopreneur, this show is for creative entrepreneurs who want to build something sustainable without losing their minds to social media. Most creative business owners aren't looking for business as usual. We're not interested in dedicating our lives to the algorithm, and we're not interested in surface-level small talk. We want to grow our businesses through relationships, referrals, and real conversations. (And yes, we're talking to a lot of introverts who'd rather network in small groups than shout into the void.) Topics we explore: Anti-hustle and slow businessMarketing without social mediaNetworking for introverts and quiet entrepreneursBurnout and sustainable workCommunity over contentADHD and neurodivergent business ownersReferrals, collaborations, and real connectionEmail marketing and owned audiencesCreative ways to grow without burning outEach episode is recorded live inside The Playhouse, where listeners can join us for free, ask questions during the Q&A after party, and meet other online business owners building anti-algorithm businesses. This podcast has gone through a few names as The Playhouse has grown, but the heart of it has always been the same: real conversations that help creative entrepreneurs grow together. If you're ready for authentic visibility, more collaboration, and a way of doing business that leaves you energized instead of exhausted, you're in the right place. 👉 Join the next LIVE recording for free inside The Playhouse at jointheplayhouse.com

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