Crush the Rush™: The Female Entrepreneur Podcast for Sustainable Business Growth

Hosted by Holly Haynes
  • 5.0 (175)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

Crush the Rush™ is the female entrepreneur podcast for sustainable business growth—created for women business owners who want to scale profitably without burnout, hustle culture, or constant social media. Hosted by Holly Haynes, business strategist and former Fortune 500 executive, this business podcast for women helps established female entrepreneurs build intentional, scalable businesses using simple systems, organic client attraction, and values-based strategy. Each week, you’ll learn how to: Grow a profitable business without working 24/7Attract clients organically without Instagram or daily postingBuild simple, scalable business systems and workflowsCreate predictable revenue through evergreen marketing strategiesLead like a CEO while protecting your time and energyThrough practical strategy episodes and honest conversations, Crush the Rush™ breaks down what it actually takes to grow a sustainable business in today’s online economy. New episodes every Monday. If you’re a female entrepreneur ready for clarity, systems, and sustainable growth—this podcast is for you.

  1. 9h ago

    640 - Getting found in the AI Era: Using Your Podcast as a Discoverability Engine with Stefanie Gass

    What if growing your business didn’t require more content, more platforms, or more hours? In this episode, Holly is welcoming Stephanie Gass back to the podcast to talk about how she’s built a multi-seven-figure business with podcasting at the center—without relying on social media or ads. And now that AI is changing the way people search for and discover content, podcasting may be becoming even MORE powerful. They are digging into how to make your podcast more searchable in the AI era, why clear titles and keywords matter, and how to decide whether repurposing your content is actually worth your time. Stephanie also shares what her life-first business looks like behind the scenes, including how she plans 12 months ahead while working just 15–20 hours a week. One of Holly's favorite parts of this conversation is Stephanie’s reminder that you don’t constantly need to create a new “fire” in your business. Sometimes the smartest strategy is figuring out what’s already working—and pouring fuel on it. 00:00:00 — Why podcasting could become even more powerful in the AI era 00:01:30 — What a life-first business looks like while working 15–20 hours a week 00:03:00 — How Stephanie plans her business 12 months in advance 00:04:30 — Why “rinse, repeat, and optimize” beats constantly starting something new 00:06:00 — Why AI search validated Stephanie’s long-term podcast strategy 00:07:30 — Podcast SEO: searchable titles, keywords, and descriptions 00:09:00 — How established podcasts can improve searchability without rebranding 00:10:30 — Should you use AI to repurpose your podcast everywhere? 00:12:00 — Why your capacity and data should determine your content strategy 00:13:30 — How Stephanie turns one specific podcast listener into a qualified lead 00:15:00 — Simplifying your lead-generation funnel and using podcast PR strategically 00:16:30 — The “one apple, a thousand ways to cut it” content strategy 00:18:00 — Why staying focused on your core calling makes saying no easier 00:19:30 — The podcast analytics that matter beyond downloads 00:21:00 — Why Stephanie doesn’t recommend podcasting breaks—and why authenticity wins 00:22:30 — The tool Stephanie uses to manage her podcast workflow and business 00:24:00 — The Profitable Podcast Bootcamp + free VIP access with code HOLLY Want the written playbook on getting found by AI? Read GEO for coaches: how to show up in AI search. CONNECT WITH STEFANIE: Website: stefaniegass.com Instagram: @stefaniegass Podcast: GOD-LED BUSINESS Profitable Podcast Bootcamp VIP checkout link - ThrivecartProfitable Podcast Bootcamp - use code HOLLY  Listen to Stephanie's previous podcast: 586 - Building Consistent Income Without the Scroll: Stefanie Gass’s No-Social Podcast Strategy with Stefani Gass 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    640 - Getting found in the AI Era: Using Your Podcast as a Discoverability Engine with Stefanie Gass

  2. Aug 31

    639 - Why High-Earning Female Entrepreneurs Still Feel Stuck: The Hidden Cost of the Wrong Business Model

    What happens when your business looks successful on paper—but behind the scenes, something feels completely off? In this episode, Holly sits down with Laura Schoenfeld to talk about what happens when the business you’ve built no longer fits the person—or life—you have today. Laura knows this firsthand. She was bringing in close to half a million dollars a year, yet she wasn’t keeping enough of that revenue to make the business feel worth it. Eventually, she made a decision most entrepreneurs would be terrified to make: she shut down her multi-six-figure program and rebuilt her business. Today, Laura has intentionally designed her business around her strengths, her season of life, and the work that actually energizes her—all while raising two young daughters and working under 25 hours a week. She talks about why there is no one-size-fits-all business model, how to recognize when you’re following a strategy that was designed for someone else, and how to diagnose the real structural issues in your business instead of continually trying to fix the symptoms. Laura also shares a simple 30-minute exercise you can do this week to uncover what’s working, what’s draining you, and where your business may be asking for a change. 00:00:00 — Laura Schoenfeld’s journey from a multi-six-figure program to rebuilding her business around her life 00:01:30 — What building a life-first business means while raising two young children 00:04:30 — Why an evergreen business model looked perfect on paper but ultimately didn’t fit Laura 00:07:30 — The danger of copying someone else’s successful business model 00:09:00 — Creating a personal decision-making framework instead of blindly following business trends 00:12:00 — Using personality assessments, Human Design, birth charts, and AI to understand how you work best 00:15:00 — Why there’s no one-size-fits-all business model 00:16:30 — The inside-out framework Laura uses to diagnose what’s actually broken in a business 00:19:30 — Why your natural communication style should influence your content strategy 00:22:30 — Is your strategy really not working—or are you expecting results too quickly? 00:25:30 — What happens when your expertise evolves but your audience doesn’t 00:28:30 — Laura’s 30-minute exercise for identifying business misalignment 00:31:30 — The business rule Laura has completely unlearned 00:33:00 — Why social media engagement is no longer a metric Laura focuses on 00:34:30 — Laura’s advice to her younger self: be careful who you allow to influence you CONNECT WITH LAURA: Website: lauraschoenfeldrd.com Instagram: @laura.schoenfeld Podcast: The Nourished CEO The CEO Type Quiz — lauraschoenfeld.com/quiz 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

    639 - Why High-Earning Female Entrepreneurs Still Feel Stuck: The Hidden Cost of the Wrong Business Model

  3. Aug 24

    638 - The New Rules of Email Deliverability: How to Stay Out of Spam in the AI Era

    Email marketing shouldn’t feel like another box you have to check every week. If you’re constantly asking yourself, “What am I supposed to email my list about?” there’s a better way. In this episode, Holly sits down with email strategist and automation expert Cheryl Rerick to talk about how to stop treating email like a broadcast channel and start building an intentional customer journey that works in the background of your business. They dig into how to reverse-engineer your emails from the sale, why your welcome sequence is one of the best places to start with automation, and how segmentation and personalization can make your emails feel like they were written specifically for the person reading them. Cheryl also shares what’s changing with AI—from AI-generated inbox summaries to increasingly sophisticated spam filters—and why sounding more human may be one of your biggest advantages right now.   If you want email to feel less like constant content creation and more like a strategic system that nurtures your audience and drives sales, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can start implementing now. 00:00:00 — Why email shouldn’t be treated like a broadcast channel  00:01:30 — Building a life-first business through automation and leverage  00:04:30 — Turning email into a customer journey that creates sales  00:06:00 — Using voice-of-customer research to plan better emails  00:07:30 — Reverse-engineering your email strategy from the sale  00:09:00 — Planning ahead vs. batch writing your emails  00:10:30 — Three ways AI is changing email marketing  00:12:00 — How AI summaries are changing the way subscribers consume email  00:15:00 — AI, spam filters, and what impacts email deliverability  00:16:30 — Using AI as a thought partner instead of your email writer  00:19:30 — The easiest way to make AI-assisted emails sound human  00:21:00 — Email platforms, automation tools, and personalization  00:22:30 — Using tags and dynamic content to personalize emails  00:25:30 — Email trends: segmentation, clicks, replies, and gamification  00:27:00 — How to use segmentation data to create more sales  00:28:30 — The surprising quick win: clean your email list  00:31:30 — Overwhelmed by automation? Start with your welcome sequence CONNECT WITH CHERYL: Website: cherylrerick.com Instagram: @cherylrerickmarketing  Free Resource: AI Inboxes - How Google, Apple, & AI are judging (and summarizing) your emails - https://cherylrerick.com/ai-inboxes/ 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → www.hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → HollymariehaynesContact

    638 - The New Rules of Email Deliverability: How to Stay Out of Spam in the AI Era

  4. Aug 17

    637 - Why Midlife Women Are Overwhelmed by Wellness Culture (And the Self-Leadership Skills That Actually Fix It)

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the things for your health—eating well, exercising, trying to manage stress—and somehow still feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or like you’re constantly starting over, this conversation is for you. In this episode, Holly is joined by Courtney Townley, a health and self-leadership expert with more than three decades of experience in the wellness industry. Courtney is challenging the traditional wellness playbook and sharing why lasting health isn’t about more willpower, stricter routines, or another protocol. It’s about learning how to lead yourself. They talk about the hidden stressors that impact your health, why midlife requires a different approach to wellness, and how to stop treating every detour like a complete failure. Courtney also breaks down the four practices behind her Consistency Code framework and shares simple ways to make decisions that move you toward the life and health you actually want. 00:00:00 — Why your health struggles may have nothing to do with willpower  00:01:30 — Courtney Townley on creating a life-first business  00:03:00 — Using a “priority filter” to decide what deserves your yes  00:04:30 — The problem with information overload and “info obesity”  00:06:00 — Why stress management is a major part of health  00:07:30 — Unnecessary stress vs. on-purpose stress  00:09:00 — Courtney’s “stress bucket” and the dimensions of health  00:10:30 — How midlife hormonal changes can affect stress resilience  00:12:00 — What self-leadership means and why wellness programs often fall short  00:13:30 — Why transformations don’t last without changing your self-image  00:15:00 — The importance of balancing intense effort with rest and recovery  00:16:30 — Ask yourself: What does health mean in this season of my life?  00:18:00 — How one small decision can move you back toward better health  00:21:00 — How to realign quickly when life derails your plans  00:24:00 — Sleep, wellness trends, and Courtney’s daily self-check-in  00:27:00 — The four practices inside The Consistency Code  00:28:30 — Where to connect with Courtney Townley and find her book  CONNECT WITH COURTNEY: Website: graceandgrit.com Instagram: @gracegrit Podcast: Grace & Grit Book: The Consistency Code 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → www.hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → HollymariehaynesContact

    637 - Why Midlife Women Are Overwhelmed by Wellness Culture (And the Self-Leadership Skills That Actually Fix It)

  5. Aug 10

    636 - Why Free Content Isn't Converting (And the Low-Lift Offer That Does)

    What would change in your business if social media became optional—not essential? In this special crossover episode, Holly sits down with Sophia Parra to explore how entrepreneurs can grow, nurture their audiences, and make sales without relying on constant social media content. After becoming a mom, Sophia reduced her workweek from 60 hours to just 18. That shift forced her to identify which activities were truly moving the needle—and which ones were simply keeping her busy. She shares how she replaced disconnected marketing tactics with a circular visibility ecosystem built around three essential priorities: growth, nurturing, and sales. You’ll hear how low-lift offers, listening tours, strategic collaborations, and stronger boundaries can help you create more conversations, convert warmer leads, and protect your schedule. This episode is packed with real numbers, practical strategies, and honest insights about what works when you stop trying to be everywhere online. 00:00:00 — Two different playbooks for scaling without social media 00:01:30 — Creating a life-first business after becoming a mom 00:03:00 — Reducing a 60-hour workweek to 18 hours 00:04:30 — Why Sophia made social media optional in her business 00:06:00 — The three marketing priorities: growth, nurturing, and sales 00:07:30 — Auditing the role social media actually plays 00:10:30 — Building a circular visibility ecosystem 00:12:00 — Why content alone does not create meaningful nurturing 00:13:30 — How a low-lift offer creates conversations and clients 00:15:00 — Using listening tours to grow an email list and build authority 00:18:00 — Replacing sales calls while protecting your schedule 00:22:30 — Conversion rates from Sophia’s low-lift offer 00:25:30 — How collaborations expanded Sophia’s network and audience 00:27:00 — Boundaries and mistakes to avoid with low-lift offers 00:30:00 — The key to pitching high-profile collaborators 00:33:00 — Monetizing your audience like an influencer 00:36:00 — Why you need to stop guesting and start hosting 00:37:30 — Resources for building your own visibility ecosystem Connect with Sophia: Website: gotocoach.club Instagram:  @sophiaparra Podcast: Marketing Unfiltered Free Resource: https://www.gotocoach.club/audit She's A Big Deal Beta: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iXW0B1s0PSqxJjDVpr0Z2PDrqfRblGj_dHzDO0FeLNQ/edit?tab=t.0 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → www.hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → HollymariehaynesContact

    636 - Why Free Content Isn't Converting (And the Low-Lift Offer That Does)

  6. Aug 7

    635 - AI for Small Business: What to Play With and What You Should Never Deploy

    AI can help you move faster—but speed alone does not guarantee better results. In this episode, Holly sits down with Cris Valerio, founder of Main Street Operator, to explore how small business owners can use AI more thoughtfully, strategically, and confidently. After building her career as a financial journalist and working in product roles at companies like Uber and Instacart, Cris left corporate life to create a business that brings enterprise-level AI and operational strategy to Main Street businesses. Together, Holly and Cris unpack the difference between experimenting with AI and actually deploying it inside your business. They also discuss why adding AI to one random task can make an entire workflow more complicated, how “lazy AI” can damage customer trust, and why the best AI systems should create more opportunities for meaningful human connection. 00:00:00 — Meet Cris Valerio and learn how she brings big-tech AI strategy to small businesses 00:01:30 — What it means to build a life-first business without shrinking your ambition 00:03:00 — Leaving corporate life while supporting a family and raising two young children 00:04:30 — Cris’s journey from financial journalism to Silicon Valley product leadership 00:06:00 — Why Cris wanted to build technology for operators instead of only customers 00:07:30 — How AI is narrowing the technology and cost gap for small businesses 00:09:00 — The difference between playing with AI and deploying it inside your company 00:10:30 — Why curiosity and experimentation make learning technology easier 00:12:00 — What shadow AI is and why your business needs clear AI policies 00:13:30 — How poorly implemented AI can damage the customer experience 00:15:00 — Why “lazy AI” can cost you clients, partnerships, and trust 00:16:30 — The problem with bolting AI onto one isolated part of a workflow 00:18:00 — How thoughtful automation can create more human conversations 00:19:30 — Build a transferable AI “business brain” with a simple folder system 00:21:00 — A practical AI workflow for networking and follow-up emails 00:22:30 — Why AI is simultaneously overhyped and underestimated 00:24:00 — Why speed is not the most important measure of AI ROI 00:25:30 — Using AI tools that take action instead of only generating ideas 00:27:00 — The least glamorous part of entrepreneurship: finding your sales loop 00:28:30 — Why Cris chose a smaller, more diverse community of ambitious women 00:30:00 — What Cris wishes she had known before starting her business 00:31:30 — How to identify where AI can help—and what not to spend money on CONNECT WITH CRIS: Website: mainstreet-operator.com Instagram:  @mainstreetoperator  Edge Audit: Mainstreet-operatorThe AI Edge Audit — Free Download | Main Street Operator — Main Street Operator Private Podcast: Mainstreet-operatorPrivate Podcast — Main Street Operator 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 💡 Download the SEO / GEO Audit Skill → www.hollymariehaynes.com/seoaudit 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → HollymariehaynesContact

    635 - AI for Small Business: What to Play With and What You Should Never Deploy

  7. Aug 3

    634 - The Paid Ads Strategy Female Entrepreneurs Are Missing (And Why It Beats Posting Daily) with Ashley Brock

    What if growing your business didn’t require posting every day, constantly checking your DMs or chasing the algorithm? In this episode, Holly sits down with Ashley Brock, founder of Paid Ads Academy and an eight-figure business owner who has managed more than $200 million in advertising spend. Ashley shares how entrepreneurs can use paid advertising to become more findable—so the right people discover their businesses without relying entirely on organic social media. Ashley breaks down why paid ads can be an anti-social, life-first growth strategy that continues working while you spend time with your family, serve your clients or step away from your phone. She also explains why successful advertising is about much more than Facebook and Instagram, how to choose the right platforms and what needs to be in place before you start investing. 00:00:00 — Why paid ads can be an anti-social, life-first growth strategy 00:01:30 — What building a life-first business means to Ashley 00:03:00 — Using stronger boundaries to separate work, family and phone time 00:04:30 — Leaving a six-figure corporate job while pregnant 00:06:00 — Growing a business without relying on daily social media activity 00:07:30 — How advertising helps customers find you across multiple platforms 00:09:00 — Why paid advertising goes far beyond Facebook and Instagram 00:10:30 — Choosing platforms based on customer behavior and business goals 00:12:00 — Combining search ads, social ads, prospecting and retargeting 00:13:30 — How to think about ad budgets and customer lifetime value 00:15:00 — Why learning ads feels overwhelming at first—and how it becomes easier 00:18:00 — Using AI to audit your calendar and reclaim valuable time 00:19:30 — What must be proven before you invest in advertising 00:21:00 — How AI can connect advertising and sales data for faster decisions 00:24:00 — The support, delegation and weekly structure behind Ashley’s business 00:27:00 — Letting go of DMs, sales calls and founder-only responsibilities 00:28:30 — The testimonial ad Ashley recommends creating first CONNECT WITH ASHLEY: Website | https://www.paidadscoaching.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ads.with.ashley/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@ads.with.ashley YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ads.with.ashley LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjettonbrock/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/WinWithPaidAds/ 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → HollymariehaynesContact

    634 - The Paid Ads Strategy Female Entrepreneurs Are Missing (And Why It Beats Posting Daily) with Ashley Brock

  8. Jul 27

    633 - My Monthly PR Process: What I Actually Do Every Month to Stay Visible Without Social Media (Part 4 of 4)

    What if growing your audience didn’t require posting on social media every single day? In this closing episode of the PR and AI Visibility series, Holly pulls back the curtain on the exact monthly visibility process she uses to attract new subscribers, students, and qualified leads with a small team. This isn’t a list of random marketing ideas. It’s a coordinated, repeatable system built around the activities that create the strongest return: strategic partnerships, community speaking, podcast appearances, email marketing, SEO, and generative engine optimization. You’ll learn how each part of the system supports the others, why community speaking produces the fastest results, and how long-term visibility compounds when your content, relationships, and offers are intentionally connected. 00:00:00 — Introduction to the summer PR and AI Visibility series 00:01:30 — The exact monthly visibility process Holly uses behind the scenes 00:02:18 — Why partnerships and community speaking produce strong ROI 00:03:00 — What a meaningful micro-partnership can look like 00:04:30 — Why strong partnerships are built through relationships, not cold outreach 00:05:08 — Setting a goal of one to two community speaking opportunities per quarter 00:06:00 — How a press page simplifies speaking pitches and event preparation 00:06:55 — The second visibility pillar: podcast placements 00:07:30 — How Holly researches podcast opportunities using relationships and Rephonic 00:08:22 — Why podcast guest appearances are a core lead-generation strategy 00:09:00 — How Holly evaluates guest pitches for the Crush the Rush Podcast 00:10:30 — The strategic role of the newsletter’s Community Corner 00:12:00 — Creating a visibility flywheel by coordinating partnerships and content 00:13:00 — How SEO and GEO extend podcast and community conversations 00:15:00 — How partnerships, podcasts, SEO, GEO, and email work together 00:16:30 — Choosing the right visibility strategy based on your growth goal 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 🎯 Free Quiz: What's Standing Between You and Consistent Business Income? → hollymariehaynes.com/quiz 👉 Download the Anti-Social Shift Private Podcast → hollymariehaynes.com/shift 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly →  HollymariehaynesContact

    633 - My Monthly PR Process: What I Actually Do Every Month to Stay Visible Without Social Media (Part 4 of 4)
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5
out of 5
175 Ratings

About

Crush the Rush™ is the female entrepreneur podcast for sustainable business growth—created for women business owners who want to scale profitably without burnout, hustle culture, or constant social media. Hosted by Holly Haynes, business strategist and former Fortune 500 executive, this business podcast for women helps established female entrepreneurs build intentional, scalable businesses using simple systems, organic client attraction, and values-based strategy. Each week, you’ll learn how to: Grow a profitable business without working 24/7Attract clients organically without Instagram or daily postingBuild simple, scalable business systems and workflowsCreate predictable revenue through evergreen marketing strategiesLead like a CEO while protecting your time and energyThrough practical strategy episodes and honest conversations, Crush the Rush™ breaks down what it actually takes to grow a sustainable business in today’s online economy. New episodes every Monday. If you’re a female entrepreneur ready for clarity, systems, and sustainable growth—this podcast is for you.

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