Heart-Led CEO

Anacani Walters

From nurse to CEO, Anacani Walters knows what it’s like to build a wellness business from the ground up — with the late nights, the self-doubt, and the dream of more freedom. The Heart-Led CEO Podcast is for women entrepreneurs who want to grow smarter, not harder. Each week, Anacani blends AI, automation, and soulful business strategy to help you streamline your systems, magnetize clients, and build a business that actually feels good. As the founder of EmpowerHER Wave, she’s coached and mentored women around the world to scale sustainably — without the burnout. Expect a mix of real talk about the messy side of entrepreneurship, practical AI and marketing tools made simple, and mindset shifts that reconnect you to why you started in the first place. Whether you’re a yoga teacher, coach, or wellness CEO, this is your space to learn how to: Use AI and automation without losing your authenticity. Create systems that support your lifestyle instead of draining it. Build confidence in marketing and selling your offers (without the bro tactics). Prioritize mental health, family, and self-care while scaling your income. 🎧 Subscribe now and join a movement of women who are redefining success: profitable, sustainable, and unapologetically heart-led.

  1. 1d ago

    4 Monsters Draining Your Business Energy (Zombies, Ghosts, Energy Vampires & a Haunted Inbox) | Ep 74

    Happy Hallows Week, my beautiful friend. Last week, we walked through the haunted rooms you’ve been avoiding in your business. This week, we’re turning on the lights to see what’s actually living in there. I’m telling on myself again. My CEO Daily Diary is where my content ideas, wins and messy middles live. My last entry? September 22nd. I’ve been ghosting my own diary for over a month. That’s the thing about monsters in your business. They don’t jump out to scare you. They creep in quietly while you’re busy taking care of everybody else. In this episode, you’ll meet: 🧟 Zombies: the offers, freebies and communities you keep feeding out of guilt, and why I’m closing my Facebook group of 100+ members 👻 Ghosts: the leads you never followed up with, and the ways you quietly ghost your own business 🧛 Energy vampires: the clients, tasks and yeses that drain you, and why I paused new one-to-one clients 📬 The haunted inbox: how to give it a set time, let your tools sort it, and how my AI agent sends me a morning inbox brief Your 10-minute quick win: Pick one monster. Not all of them, just one. Then do one thing: lay one zombie to rest, show up once for what you’ve been ghosting, set one boundary, or unsubscribe from five emails. You don’t need to paddle harder. You need to take something off your board. Which monster are you evicting this week? Send me a message on Instagram @empowerherwave. To hear more episodes like this, comment LISTEN on any of my Instagram posts. Join my free community for live trainings, tech walkthroughs and support from women wellness entrepreneurs who get it: empowerherwave.com/community Chapters 00:00 Spooky business setup 01:06 Confession: ghosting my own diary 02:52 Zombie offers and communities 05:28 Ghosting your own business 07:24 Energy vampire boundaries 09:51 Haunted inbox fixes 12:23 The root cause and your quick win 15:04 Recap and next episode 16:45 Community invitation Keywords: wellness entrepreneur, women entrepreneurs, burnout prevention, business boundaries, email overwhelm, inbox management, automation for small business, AI for entrepreneurs, letting go of offers, heart-led business

    4 Monsters Draining Your Business Energy (Zombies, Ghosts, Energy Vampires & a Haunted Inbox) | Ep 74
  2. Oct 22

    Ep 73. Avoiding Your Business Numbers? The 4 Haunted Rooms Every Wellness Entrepreneur Avoids (and a 10-Minute Fix)

    Do you open your bank app with one eye closed? Me too, my friend.In this episode, I walk you through the four rooms in your business that most wellness entrepreneurs avoid like a haunted house: your numbers, sales conversations, following up, and getting on video. I share my own confession. I avoided my analytics tracker for weeks. When I finally filled it in, one reel had reached more people than every video I posted in September combined.In this episode, you'll learn:Why your numbers are information, not a grade, and why what you focus on growsHow to think about a sales conversation as an exchange of energyWhy "maybe" usually isn't a no, and how AI and simple automations can carry your follow-upWhy you don't have to be ready to get on video, just curiousHow checking your business vitals is like a nurse checking a patient's vitals: to care, not to judge Your 10-minute quick win: Pick the one room you've been avoiding most. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Open the door, do one small thing, and walk back out when the timer goes off.Mentioned in this episode: Denise Duffield-Thomas's money book, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch!, and the work of Terri Savelle Foy.Which room are you opening this week? Send me a message on Instagram @empowerherwave. And if you want to hear more episodes like this, comment LISTEN on any of my Instagram posts.Come build with us: Join my free community, Content Sparks, for live trainings, tech walkthroughs and support from women wellness entrepreneurs who get it: https://empowerherwave.com/communityChapters00:00 Spooky business setup01:08 Confession: avoiding my numbers04:41 Room one: your numbers11:16 Room two: sales conversations14:12 Room three: following up17:14 Room four: getting on video21:07 Your business vitals23:48 The 10-minute challenge25:27 Recap and Halloween tease26:59 Community invitationKeywords: wellness entrepreneur, women entrepreneurs, business numbers, tracking analytics, sales conversations, follow up with clients, getting on video, money mindset, burnout, heart-led business.

    Ep 73. Avoiding Your Business Numbers? The 4 Haunted Rooms Every Wellness Entrepreneur Avoids (and a 10-Minute Fix)
  3. Oct 15

    Ep 72: Content Is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait (Stop Quitting in the Shaky Hands Phase)

    A few weeks ago, I almost gave up my business for a night shift at Target. I’m not exaggerating. I pictured myself stocking shelves at 2 a.m. while my husband and son slept, then napping while my son was at preschool. And I was trying so hard to convince myself I’d be happy with that. What pulled me back wasn’t a viral post or a big launch. It was learning one skill that quietly upgraded every single part of my business. If you’re tired of posting into what feels like a big, empty ocean, and part of you is whispering “just get a regular job,” this one is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why I was resisting content not because of my values, but because I didn’t know how to do it yet (and why those are two very different things)The three moves behind every piece of marketing that connects: the hook, the story, and one clear next stepHow the content muscle you build on Instagram shows up in your emails, sales pages, funnels, community posts and podcastWhy isolation lies to you, and what being around other creators does for your motivationHow showing up to in-person events brings me leads every single time and takes the pressure off social media, even as an introvertWhat starting IVs and my first real lifeguard rescue taught me about the “shaky hands” phase Quick answers from this episode Is content creation a skill or a talent? It’s a skill. You learn it the same way you learn to swim: you flail, you swallow some salt water, and then one day your body just knows what to do. What makes content actually connect? Three moves: a hook that gets her attention, a story that makes her feel seen, and one clear next step. That works for an Instagram post, an email, a sales page and a podcast episode. Should I focus on social media or in-person networking? Both. In person builds trust fast. Content keeps the conversation going after you leave the room. How do I know if I should quit my business? Only you know what your family needs. But before you decide, make sure you’re not quitting right in the shaky hands phase, right before the muscle memory kicks in. Your five-minute win Find the last thing you wrote: a caption, an email or a group post. Look at only the first line and ask, “Would she stop scrolling for this?” If the answer is no, rewrite that one line so it names what she’s feeling or what she’s going to get. That’s the muscle getting stronger. Chapters 00:00 I almost quit for a night shift at Target 01:25 Birthday month, the holidays, and missing my people 02:57 Job listings and the doubt spiral 04:51 Why content felt impossible 05:45 Content is a learnable skill 07:12 The hook, story and next step framework 09:04 Other creators and in-person momentum 12:03 IVs, lifeguarding and the shaky hands phase 14:47 Your five-minute first-line fix 15:43 Recap and encouragement 17:16 Join Content Sparks Come build the muscle with us Come tell me what first line you rewrote today inside Content Sparks, my free community for women wellness entrepreneurs: https://www.skool.com/content-sparks-8850/about Know a friend who’s been thinking about quitting? Send this episode her way. She can also find me on Instagram and comment LISTEN to get it sent straight to her DMs. About me I’m Anacani Walters, a nurse turned entrepreneur, yoga teacher, SUP instructor, AI strategist and founder of EmpowerHER Wave. On the Heart-Led CEO Podcast, I help women wellness entrepreneurs build businesses that feel like home, not burnout.

    Ep 72: Content Is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait (Stop Quitting in the Shaky Hands Phase)
  4. Oct 8

    Ep. 71: How to Stop Putting Your Health Last as a Mom, Military Spouse, and Business Owner

    How many times have you skipped your own appointment because someone else needed you more? I’m turning 45 this month. My last real checkup was my postpartum visit, and my son is four. I’ve spent over 20 years in healthcare, and I still haven’t booked my mammogram or my colonoscopy. So this episode is me holding myself accountable, out loud, with you. If you’re a military spouse running a wellness business, I see you. New duty station, new doctors, new referrals, a spouse in the field, and nobody to watch the kids. The excuses feel real. But it’s not love if it leaves you running on empty. In this episode: Why we use our families, clients, and businesses as the excuse to go lastWhat the current screening guidelines say for mammograms and colon screeningWhy only about 38% of Latinas have a recent mammogram on recordMy own story: abnormal cells caught early through a Pap smear, and a heart condition found only after I pushed for a stress testHow to be your own patient advocate when a doctor dismisses youThe lifeguard lesson every caretaker needs to hear Quick answers When should women start getting mammograms? Current U.S. guidelines recommend a mammogram every other year starting at 40 for women at average risk. Talk to your provider about starting earlier if you have a family history. When should colon cancer screening start? At 45 for adults at average risk. With a family history, you may need to start sooner. What do I do if my doctor dismisses my symptoms? Write your questions down before you go. Ask “What else could this be?” Ask your provider to explain the reasoning behind a recommendation. If you still don’t get an answer, get a second opinion. Why do women put their health last? Most women put loved ones’ needs ahead of their own healthcare. We use our kids, partners, clients, and businesses as the reason to wait. For military spouses, every move adds new doctors, new referrals, and no backup childcare. It feels like love, but skipping care leaves you running on empty. Your quick win: Write down the date of your last checkup, mammogram (40+), Pap smear, and dental cleaning. If you can’t remember one, that’s the appointment you book this week. Then set a recurring calendar reminder so future you doesn’t have to remember. Stats mentioned: 81% of women regularly put loved ones’ needs ahead of their own healthcare (Teal Health, State of Her Health 2026)1 in 3 moms has delayed her own care for a family member’s (Zocdoc Women’s Health Report, 2024)More than 40% of women have skipped or delayed a recommended test (Gallup/Hologic, 2024)About 38% of Latina women had a recent mammogram on record, and Latinas are diagnosed with breast cancer about 7 years younger than White women on average (TechTarget, reporting on EHR research)Screening guidelines: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Chapters 00:00 Why we put ourselves last 01:13 A healthcare pro still avoiding care 03:53 The excuses and the real cost 06:15 Screening guidelines that matter 08:14 Listen to your body 09:09 Advocate for yourself and get second opinions 09:38 My Pap smear story 12:45 My heart condition and being dismissed 17:10 The lifeguard lesson 18:22 Quick win: book the appointment 19:48 Recap and my birthday commitment Follow along: I’m sharing the real version of booking my mammogram and colonoscopy, scared parts included. Instagram: @empowerherwave Personal: @heyitsanacani Join my free community: https://www.skool.com/content-sparks-8850/about This episode is for education, not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about the screening schedule that’s right for you.

    Ep. 71: How to Stop Putting Your Health Last as a Mom, Military Spouse, and Business Owner
  5. Oct 2

    Ep 70 How We Built a Community From One Facebook Post

    Three of us planned a community event in 12 days with no plan and no budget, and about 45 people showed up in the rain. This is the full debrief. We'd just relocated to Hawaii after seven years in Japan. I'm an introvert who can turn it on when I need to, and I didn't know a single person here who spoke Spanish. My son is growing up between three cultures, and I wanted him around people who sound like his great-grandmother did. So I stopped waiting for someone else to build the community I was looking for. I walk through exactly how it came together: getting one yes instead of building a committee, the single question I posted in a community group that got over 100 comments in 48 hours, why we privately DM'd all 77 people instead of making a public event, and how replying "check your DMs" under every comment kept the post alive and built real curiosity. I also get honest about the parts that cost something. The energy it takes when you're an empath and an introvert leading a room. The people who told us nobody would show up. And the three things I'd do differently next time, starting with collecting emails from day one. If you've been in a new place, or an old place where you just haven't found your people, this one's for you. In this episode: Why your first yes matters more than a committeeThe "ask before you build" post, word for wordWhy private DMs beat putting details in the commentsLocking the location before you invite anyoneMaking room for kids so parents actually comeThree things I'd change, three I'd keep Full credit to my coach Molly Mahoney for the "ask before you build" method and the "party bus" idea of sending everyone to one place. Both are why this worked. The full written breakdown, with every post, DM, prompt, and printable, is free here: https://www.skool.com/content-sparks-8850/about

    Ep 70 How We Built a Community From One Facebook Post
  6. Sep 24

    Ep 69. Stop Starting Over: Pick Up Where You Left Off and Build Portable Systems

    I'm going to be honest with you before we even start. I recorded this one in full survival mode, the kind of week where you're just doing the basics and hoping it's enough. And that's exactly what cracked this episode open for me. If you've rebuilt your business from the ground up more than once this year, a new offer, a whole new brand, a completely blank content calendar, I need you to hear something today. That wasn't discipline. That was an exit ramp dressed up as ambition. In this episode I break down the real difference between starting over and picking back up, because one of those keeps you stuck and the other one is the actual way out. What you'll learn in this episode Why starting over feels like control but is actually a form of self-punishmentWhat "picking it back up" really looks like when you use what already exists instead of a blank pageWhy systems break when they're built to be perfect instead of portableThe self-trust problem hiding underneath every rebuildA yoga and healthcare-rooted way to think about continuity instead of constant resets Quick answers Why do I keep rebuilding my business from scratch? It usually isn't a strategy problem. Every time something in life shifts, unfinished or imperfect work starts to feel exposed, and deleting it feels like taking control. It's actually avoidance dressed up as ambition. What is a portable business system? A system simple enough to survive disruption because it was never built to be precious in the first place. Plug and play, not a custom masterpiece that only works if your life stays exactly the same. How do I stop starting over every time life changes? Instead of opening a blank page, find one piece of past work you almost deleted, an old caption, an unfinished page, a logo already paid for, and use that as your starting material. The quick win Before you touch anything else today, find one piece of past work you almost deleted or have been ignoring. Don't perfect it. Don't judge it. Use it as your starting point instead of a blank page. Timestamps 00:00 Stop Starting Over 01:08 Survival Mode Confession 02:36 Why You Delete Everything 03:33 Pick Up Where You Left 04:59 Build Portable Systems 06:05 The Self-Trust Root 06:43 Continuity Lessons 08:24 One Simple Practice 09:09 Final Takeaways 10:11 Community Invitation Keep the conversation going Join Content Sparks, my free community for heart-led women entrepreneurs, at empowerherwave.com/community. If this episode landed, subscribe so you don't miss the next one, leave a review if you're feeling generous, and share it with a fellow heart-led entrepreneur who keeps hitting delete instead of picking back up.

    Ep 69. Stop Starting Over: Pick Up Where You Left Off and Build Portable Systems
  7. Sep 10

    Ep 68. What If You Lost Your Phone Tonight? How to Back Up Your Business Before You Lose Everything

    If your phone slipped out of your hand right now and sank to the bottom of the ocean, would you cry? Not about the phone. About what's inside it. I watched my phone sink into a marina in Okinawa after I broke both of my own paddleboard rules. I didn't cry, because everything was already backed up. In this episode, I walk you through the exact framework I use so that when an account gets locked, a group gets shut down, or a software update wipes years of work, you're annoyed, not heartbroken. It comes down to three rooms, and each room has one rule. In this episode: Why losing your data has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with whether you have a copy somewhere elseRoom 1, The Garage: if it's heavy or you'd hand it to somebody, it lives in Google DriveRoom 2, The Kitchen Table: if it came out of your head, it lives in Notion, and why AI reads Notion better than DriveRoom 3, The Front Door: if you can't export it today without asking for help, you don't hold the keyWhy your followers and Facebook group aren't really yours, and what you actually ownThe login inventory that saves you when you change phones or phone numbersWhy every box needs a label, even when AI is doing the searchingYour 11-minute quick win: build your Brand Headquarters sheet Quick answers How do I back up my online business? Keep a copy of everything outside the platform you built it on. Store files and shareable assets in cloud storage like Google Drive, keep your ideas and written content in a workspace like Notion, and build an email list or CRM you can export at any time. What happens if I get locked out of my Facebook group? If you don't have your members' emails, you can lose access to them completely. An email list, or a community platform that gives you member emails, means you can move your people anywhere. What goes in a Brand Headquarters spreadsheet? Your brand colors and hex codes, font names, bio, image URLs for your headshot and logos, website pages, community links, and your podcast links for Apple and Spotify. Want to watch me do it? I turned the live training into a free mini course inside my Skool community, Content Sparks. You'll see my actual Brand HQ, a walkthrough of my Notion setup, the checklist, and interactive tools. Join free at empowerherwave.com/community, or check out my profile on Instagram @empowerherwave. Connect with me Instagram: @empowerherwaveYouTube: @HeartLedCEOWant this episode sent to a friend? Comment LISTEN on my Instagram and I'll DM you the link.

    Ep 68. What If You Lost Your Phone Tonight? How to Back Up Your Business Before You Lose Everything
  8. Aug 27

    Ep 67: Old Me Chased 500,000. Now I Just Want the Right 500. (Your Real Problem Isn't Visibility)

    You don't have a visibility problem. I promise you don't. Last week I asked my community one question. What's your number one challenge growing your wellness business? 61 of you answered. 30 of you actually named something. I lined every single answer up side by side, and I found something I wasn't expecting. If you've ever told yourself your problem is followers, exposure, or getting people to actually see your content, this episode is for you. Because I think it's something else entirely. In this episode you'll learn: → Why ten different answers about "getting followers" and "not liking social media" are all the same fear wearing different words → Why five more answers about "messaging" and "focus" are describing that exact same fear too, just dressed differently → The pattern I caught myself in inside paid masterminds, answering the coach's question in my head before he did, then dismissing that I already knew it → Why I used to chase 500,000 followers, and why I'd rather have the right 500 now → How yoga drishti and ER triage taught me that focusing on fewer people is strategy, not playing small → Why you get to choose your own posting pace instead of inheriting someone else's Your quick win from this episode: Think of one thing you already know how to teach, right now, no new certification required. Something you've answered in your head in a call, a DM, or a conversation and never said out loud publicly. That's your next post. Your action step: Stop chasing the biggest room. Start building the right one. Give yourself the permission you've been waiting for someone else to hand you. Timestamps: 00:00 From 500K to 500 01:03 Podcast Welcome 02:06 Storm Lola Lessons 03:27 Survey Reveals Fear 05:57 Paying for Validation 07:55 Why Virality Misleads 11:29 Choose Your Posting Pace 13:04 Focus Like Drishti 15:28 Simplify Your Offers 16:33 You Already Know 19:23 Bingo Challenge Invite 21:27 Right Room Action Step 22:10 Outro and Community Plug 🎁 Free: Embrace the Sparks Bingo Challenge Low pressure, completely free, gets you the reps in on pulling storytelling from your everyday moments. 🔗 Grab it inside the community → empowerherwave.com/community 💬 Join the free community Heads up: we're moving off Facebook and over to Skool this week. Same home, new address, this link always points you to wherever we currently live. 🔗 empowerherwave.com/community Connect with me: 📲 Instagram → instagram.com/empowerherwave 🌐 Website → empowerherwave.com 🎙️ Podcast → Heart-Led CEO, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms Mentioned in episode: Storytelling Content Challenge - Jun Yuh Enrollment closes Aug 30 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you never miss one. Hit follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening. Takes two seconds, means the world. Share this with a woman who needs it. Know someone stuck chasing the biggest room instead of the right one? Send her this episode. Leave a review. If this gave you a new belief, a moment of clarity, or made you feel less alone, a two-sentence review helps another woman find this show. Keywords: wellness business visibility, why followers don't matter, messaging vs visibility, imposter syndrome entrepreneur, burnout from masterminds, content strategy wellness coach, sustainable posting schedule

    Ep 67: Old Me Chased 500,000. Now I Just Want the Right 500. (Your Real Problem Isn't Visibility)

About

From nurse to CEO, Anacani Walters knows what it’s like to build a wellness business from the ground up — with the late nights, the self-doubt, and the dream of more freedom. The Heart-Led CEO Podcast is for women entrepreneurs who want to grow smarter, not harder. Each week, Anacani blends AI, automation, and soulful business strategy to help you streamline your systems, magnetize clients, and build a business that actually feels good. As the founder of EmpowerHER Wave, she’s coached and mentored women around the world to scale sustainably — without the burnout. Expect a mix of real talk about the messy side of entrepreneurship, practical AI and marketing tools made simple, and mindset shifts that reconnect you to why you started in the first place. Whether you’re a yoga teacher, coach, or wellness CEO, this is your space to learn how to: Use AI and automation without losing your authenticity. Create systems that support your lifestyle instead of draining it. Build confidence in marketing and selling your offers (without the bro tactics). Prioritize mental health, family, and self-care while scaling your income. 🎧 Subscribe now and join a movement of women who are redefining success: profitable, sustainable, and unapologetically heart-led.