Because They Said You Couldn't

Kari Poppleton

Welcome to "Because They Said You Couldn't," a podcast dedicated to celebrating the power of perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit. Hosted by Kari Poppleton, a resilient entrepreneur and mother of three, this show brings you inspiring stories and insightful conversations with remarkable individuals who have turned obstacles into opportunities and defied the odds to achieve greatness. Each episode dives deep into the journeys of those who have faced significant challenges and emerged stronger, wiser, and more determined. Whether you’re looking for motivation, encouragement, or practical advice, “Because They Said You Couldn't” is here to remind you that limitations are just starting points, and every setback is a setup for a greater comeback. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities that come from embracing adversity and turning dreams into reality. Tune in, get inspired, and start your journey to defy the impossible.

Episodes

  1. 04/22/2025

    02: Leading Through Loss, Growth & Everything in Between (w/ Kate Ahl)

    What happens when you build a business during a financial crisis, ride the wave of unexpected growth, and then hit your first major downturn nearly a decade later? In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Kate Ahl, founder of Simple Pin Media, to talk about the very real highs and lows of business ownership. From launching her Pinterest marketing agency while on food stamps to leading a team through seasons of growth, grief, and everything in between — Kate shares what it’s looked like to keep showing up, even when the path ahead wasn’t clear. We dive into the early days of scraping things together from the kitchen table, navigating motherhood as the primary breadwinner, and how a business panic attack in 2022 led to one of her most powerful growth seasons yet. If you’ve ever felt behind, doubted your direction, or wondered if it’s okay to admit when things get hard — this episode will feel like a deep breath.  Inside the Episode: How Kate went from "Pinterest? That’s a stupid idea…" to running a successful agencyBuilding a business while raising 3 kids under 4Learning to lead without a roadmap (and hiring her first team member at Target!)What really happened when her business hit a wall in 2022Why grief and burnout can sneak up on even the most organized among usHow therapy helped her become a stronger leaderWhat she’s doing differently now — and how she’s staying resilientWhy community and honest conversations matter more than everCONNECT WITH KATE & SIMPLE PIN MEDIA: -Website: simplepinmedia.com -Instagram: @simplepinmedia -LinkedIn: Kate Ahl   RELEVANT LINKS: - Watch Episode On YouTube - Learn More About Kari Poppleton - Connect With Kari Poppleton on Instagram

    41 min
  2. 04/09/2025

    01: From Intel to Impact: Empowering 1 Million Women (w/ Julia Taylor)

    What happens when a former U.S. Intelligence analyst picks up coding from YouTube, builds a business by accident, and ends up empowering women around the world? In this inspiring episode, I chat with Julia Taylor, the founder and CEO of GeekPack — a mission-driven company on track to empower 1 million women and minority-owned entrepreneurs with digital and tech skills by 2030. Julia shares her unexpected path from military spouse and self-taught coder to educator, visionary, and community-builder. We talk about turning adversity into impact, creating safe spaces for learning, and how borrowed belief from others helped her go further than she ever imagined. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, been discouraged in the online space, or wondered if you have what it takes to create lasting impact — this conversation is your reminder that you absolutely do. INSIDE THE EPISODE: Why Julia never planned to be an entrepreneurHow a frustrating tech learning experience became the spark for GeekPackThe power of creating a no-shame learning communityLaunching a course from an RV — and having 60 people say YESBuilding a team of passionate former studentsWhat it really means to lead with vision (even when you don’t know the how)How to stay focused when you're pulled in a million directionsWhy your students’ results matter as much as your own metricsCONNECT WITH JULIA & GEEKPACK: - Website: geekpack.com - Instagram: @geekpack - Facebook: GeekPack RELEVANT LINKS: - Watch Episode On YouTube - Learn More About Kari Poppleton - Connect With Kari Poppleton on Instagram

    42 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Because They Said You Couldn't," a podcast dedicated to celebrating the power of perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit. Hosted by Kari Poppleton, a resilient entrepreneur and mother of three, this show brings you inspiring stories and insightful conversations with remarkable individuals who have turned obstacles into opportunities and defied the odds to achieve greatness. Each episode dives deep into the journeys of those who have faced significant challenges and emerged stronger, wiser, and more determined. Whether you’re looking for motivation, encouragement, or practical advice, “Because They Said You Couldn't” is here to remind you that limitations are just starting points, and every setback is a setup for a greater comeback. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities that come from embracing adversity and turning dreams into reality. Tune in, get inspired, and start your journey to defy the impossible.