The Ordinary Business™️ Podcast

Jess Freeman
  • 5.0 (16)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This isn’t a show about hitting seven figures or running a 10-person team. Ordinary businesses deserve the spotlight, too. On The Ordinary Business™️ Podcast, you’ll hear from solopreneurs and tiny teams about how they actually make work and life fit together. Not highlight reels. Not hustle culture pep talks. Just the messy, honest stuff — from client work to childcare to the weird routines that keep the lights on and help you make it to the gym. Ordinary doesn’t mean boring — it means real, sustainable, and yours. Learn more at TheOrdinaryBusiness.com.

  1. 2D AGO

    BTS of How I Keep My Business Running with Preschool Hours

    Let’s be honest—juggling preschool drop-offs, pick-ups, and client calls is not exactly what “business influencers” are Instagramming about. In this episode, I dive into the very real mess and magic of managing a service-based business while figuring out preschool logistics, family schedules, and the infamous car pickup line. >> This episode is sponsored by Leah Bryant. Do you have a podcast that isn't being found by the right audience? Leah helps podcasters with her Get Found Audit, a deep dive into your show's discoverability so you can start attracting the right listeners. Head to leahbryantco.com/getfound and use coupon code "Ordinary". If you’ve ever wondered how actual people get work done without a full-time team or celebrity nanny, you’re definitely my kind of ordinary business owner. This chat covers the whole parade: why flexibility doesn’t always feel easy, what happens when your childcare situation flips upside down, and how I turned waiting in the car pickup line into a weirdly productive slice of my day. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ Key Takeaways: Reframe childcare costs as part of your business decision-making, not just a family expense. Experiment with flexible work rhythms and stop stressing when your old systems don’t fit your new reality. Remember: You’re not failing just because you need to change things up—business (and life) are allowed to be messy and ordinary. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    19 min

  2. FEB 10

    Pinterest Over Instagram? How Andi Found Her Groove

    Ever feel like marketing your business is just another frantic item on your never-ending to-do list—right up there with remembering to feed your kids and resisting the urge to rage-quit Instagram? This episode of The Ordinary Business Podcast is with Andi Smiley, a fellow podcaster and mom who’s managed to escape the rabbit hole of hustle culture (and the clutches of Instagram) by leaning into the world of Pinterest. Grab her "Is Pinterest Right for Me?" checklist: https://friendlypodcastguide.com/is-pinterest-right-for-me-checklist/ I’m getting real with Andi about what it’s like to juggle a two-hour workday (thanks, preschool pick-up), market a podcast without fancy funnels or complicated systems, and find clients on a platform you probably thought was just for dinner recipes and wedding ideas. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ Key Takeaways: Start small and stay consistent—a single Pinterest pin a week can make a difference. Stop pretending Instagram is the only place to market your podcast (unless you love panic-posting). Prioritize platforms that actually feel easy for you and give you back hours (and brain space). This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    18 min

  3. FEB 3

    Chronic Illness and Business Boundaries with Rheanna Nutter

    Double-dose of episodes today with a little focus on health. Enjoy! There’s juggling, and then there’s running a business while your body is throwing you a new curveball every hour. In this episode, I chatted with Rheanna Nutter (yep, the Chronic CEO herself: https://www.thechronicceo.co/) to talk about the real deal of building a thriving business when chronic illness is your not-so-optional sidekick. Forget celebrity entrepreneur hacks—this is about actual human life, where “self care” looks like setting up a nap-friendly workspace and learning when to just call it quits for the day. >> Thanks to our sponsor for supporting the show! Get access to the email training now at https://notanothervirtualassistant.com/10-ways-to-grow-your-email-list/ Inside, we get honest (and honestly funny) about practical boundaries with clients, how AI can be a total gamechanger for folks with limited time or energy, and why ditching “discovery calls” might keep you sane. Rhianna shares her best tricks for managing a business and a household—even when the win of the day is just brushing your teeth—and how ordinary, messy progress beats perfect every single time. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ Key Takeaways: Prioritize what absolutely has to be done and accept that “good enough” is often the best path forward. Lean on automation and AI to free up your (limited!) energy for what actually matters—and skip the business chores you secretly hate. Set non-negotiable boundaries, communicate upfront, and remember that clients who don’t respect your reality aren’t your people. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    23 min

  4. FEB 3

    Choosing “Me Time” Over Morning Emails with Kelley Kempel

    Double-dose of episodes today with a little focus on health. Enjoy! Balancing business, workouts, and life? If you’ve ever tried to squeeze in movement between client emails or even wondered how “real” business owners keep up with health routines (hint: it’s not all green juice and yoga mats), this episode’s for you. I sat down with Kelley Kempel, owner of Hidden Path Creative (https://www.hiddenpathcreative.com/), and we got real about ditching hustle culture while keeping workouts as a non-negotiable—even for those of us who aren’t chasing marathon medals. >> Thanks to our sponsor for supporting us! Get $20 off lifetime access with the code “ordinary” delicate-wind-3351.kit.com/products/the-coworking-collective?promo=ordinary Kelley gets honest about training runs with rom-com audiobooks, making workout time non-optional (mostly), and why scheduling movement is a sanity-saver for ordinary business owners like me. From accountability to walk-and-talk meetings, you’ll pick up practical tactics for staying active without turning life into a performance. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com→ Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠→ Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ Key Takeaways: Put workouts on your calendar like an unmissable meeting—your future self will thank you (and you’ll be less cranky). Find movement you actually enjoy, whether it’s funny audiobooks while running or hanging with the dogs—no “athlete” label required. Accept that ordinary business owners aren’t perfect; sometimes sleep beats squats, and that’s absolutely fine. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    21 min

  5. JAN 27

    Making Connections When You’re Socially Anxious with Maddy Aucoin

    Making friends as an adult is hard—making real connections as a business owner? Sometimes it straight-up feels impossible. In this episode, I sat down with website copywriter and all-around cool human, Maddy Aucoin (https://www.bymaddyaucoin.com/), to spill the real tea on building friendships (and finding your people) online—even if you’re more socially anxious than you let on. >> Today's sponsor: https://www.melissamitt.com/baseline We chatted about everything from surviving awkward Zoom coffee chats to those “am I on your spreadsheet??” DMs, plus sneaky ways to make connection way less cringey (spoiler: it includes complimenting a stranger’s fit or flexing a hot pink statement piece). Whether you want to grow your network, find actual friends, or just not feel like an internet hermit, this episode’s got gritty, real talk and zero “7-figure in 7 months” nonsense. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com Key Takeaways: Take the pressure off new connections by asking curious questions and letting other people talk about themselves. Find your “ordinary” signature—like a colorful office wall or a daily caffeine habit—to make it easier for others to strike up a conversation. Keep collabs low-lift and genuine; sometimes a simple DM or friendly repost is the biggest networking win of all. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    27 min

  6. JAN 20

    Adding KPIs to Your Hobbies with Michelle Ong

    Ever feel like “work-life balance” is code for “work all the time and feel guilty about it”? In this episode, I chat with Michelle Ong (https://hellolemonmedia.com/), Instagram strategist and certified path-of-least-resistance advocate, to talk about rediscovering movement and joy—without adding another impossible item to your already bonkers to-do list. Spoiler: It’s not about running marathons or “crushing” anything. It’s about hacking your day with what actually fits—sweatpants, laziness, and all. Michelle shares how going from spin class junkie to solo business owner killed her favorite habits (cue: too many days in the same spot, not enough fresh air). We chat about how she side-eyed hustle culture and booted the all-or-nothing mentality, how to pick movement that fits real life (not Instagram life), and why your hobby shouldn’t spark more pressure. Plus, she gets hilariously real about failed accountability buddies, public progress, and turning her running attempts into bingeable TikTok series. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com → Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness → Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy Key Takeaways: Do less to do more: Lower the barrier to movement (hello, run outside your front door) so you’ll actually stick with it. Make your goals visible—and fun: Setting silly “KPIs” for workouts (yes, a sticky note on the fridge totally counts) is more motivating than another self-help podcast. Let your messy, ordinary life fuel your content: Sharing your real progress (and setbacks) online leads to more support, community, and yeah, accountability—minus the shame. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    28 min

  7. JAN 13

    Taking Time Off Even If You’re the Only One Running Things

    Ever wish you could take a real vacation without needing a “seven figure team” or burning the midnight oil before and after? This episode is for the ordinary-but-thriving business owner who wants a life, not just a job. Taylor's workshop: https://tayloraller.myflodesk.com/buildyourbotjan If you’re tired of feeling like time off is only for empire builders and “productivity hacks,” I’m right there with you (and, spoiler alert: I’m not buying it either). I’m pulling back the curtain on how I—just one person, no team—manage to take 5-7 weeks off every year without ghosting my clients or sacrificing a paycheck. I’ll walk you through my not-super-fancy-but-very-effective process for planning time off, building in margin, and balancing client work with living a life you actually want. This episode is all about making time off possible for real people, with actual client loads and maybe a kid whose school calendar controls your existence. → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com Key Takeaways: Block your time off first—even if it’s just a weekend or a random Tuesday—then plan your projects around it. Set clear boundaries with clients up front, and don’t be afraid to say, “That week’s not an option.” Build in breathing room before and after vacations so you’re not playing catch-up (or meltdown) when you get back. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    18 min

  8. JAN 6

    Time Management When “Time Blocking” Doesn’t Work with Melissa Boufounos [Mini Series]

    This conversation is part of a mini series on the ordinary-but-real health complexities so many business owners face. We’re talking honestly about capacity, caregiving, and the behind-the-scenes adjustments we make to keep our businesses sustainable. Ever had your life plan derailed by something totally out of left field? That’s exactly what happened to Melissa Boufounos, my guest on this episode. We’re getting real about what it’s actually like to run a business with “hidden” challenges—think post-concussion syndrome, chronic illness, and all the curveballs that force you to break up with time-blocking, Pinterest-perfect plans, and the 40-hour workweek hustle. Today’s conversation goes beyond the “get up and grind” grind. Melissa shares how she manages client work, deadlines, and the chaos of toddler mom life while listening to her body and honoring actual limits. You’ll hear why flexible systems beat rigid schedules, how to navigate work on both good and migraine days, and, yes, how to use Asana for real life (no, you don’t need to use every hack an “online guru” sold you). → Learn more about The Ordinary Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theordinarybusiness.com → Enjoy this episode? Buy me a coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/ordinarybusiness⁠ → Peek inside the Nosy Nelly Files: ⁠https://theordinarybusiness.com/nosy⁠ Key Takeaways: Ditch traditional time-blocking and break big tasks into small, doable steps—especially when your energy comes and goes. Use project tools like Asana to keep your brain organized, your to-dos accessible, and your stress levels at “ordinary business owner” instead of “celebrity meltdown.” Give yourself grace and re-prioritize often; sometimes the “shoulds” can wait so you can rest—naps are absolutely work strategy here. This podcast is for business owners who are tired of hustle culture and want relatable, honest conversations about running a sustainable business that actually works for their life.

    25 min
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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

This isn’t a show about hitting seven figures or running a 10-person team. Ordinary businesses deserve the spotlight, too. On The Ordinary Business™️ Podcast, you’ll hear from solopreneurs and tiny teams about how they actually make work and life fit together. Not highlight reels. Not hustle culture pep talks. Just the messy, honest stuff — from client work to childcare to the weird routines that keep the lights on and help you make it to the gym. Ordinary doesn’t mean boring — it means real, sustainable, and yours. Learn more at TheOrdinaryBusiness.com.

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