OnlyFounders: Explicitly Human Stories

Anne Gillaspie
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OnlyFounders shares the HUMAN side of founding something meaningful.Hosted by global keynote speaker and truth disruptor Anne Gillaspie, OnlyFounders goes beyond startup success stories to reveal what it actually feels like to build something meaningful.We have radically honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, leaders, creators and cycle breakers about entrepreneurship, relationships, mental health, founder burnout, identity, fear, failure, leadership, parenting, ambition, authenticity, personal growth and reinvention. If you crave honest founder stories, uncomfortable conversations, human connection and the truth behind entrepreneurship, you're home. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, founder stories, founder podcast, human side of entrepreneurship, founder mental health, relationships, human connection, authenticity, vulnerability, radical honesty, truth telling, founder burnout, fear and imposter syndrome, identity, personal growth, breaking cycles, authentic leadership.

  1. 1d ago

    Entrepreneur Mindset: What If You Don’t Actually Want What You “Should” Want? | OnlyFounders

    What if the things you think you should do aren’t actually aligned with what you want? In this solo episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie gets honest about the expectations that can quietly shape our businesses, careers, families, and identities. Anne shares the personal realization that made her step back from aggressively pursuing a TEDx talk. After being told that successful speakers should have a TED talk, a book, and certain credentials, she finally asked herself a deeper question: Do I actually want to do the work, or do I just want the shiny result? That question becomes a bigger conversation about founder identity, entrepreneur mindset, burnout, truth-telling, and making decisions from alignment instead of outside expectations. Anne reflects on her journey through motherhood, burnout, theater, entrepreneurship, and building her speaking business around her deeper mission. She also explores how “shoulds” can influence the way we lead teams, parent, build relationships, and make decisions in business. The reminder is simple: pause, question the “shoulds” running your calendar and choices, and check them against your own truth. Because sometimes the most aligned business decision is saying no to something everyone else says you should want. IN THIS EPISODE How “shoulds” can quietly control your decisionsThe difference between wanting the work and wanting the resultWhy Anne is saying no to pursuing a TEDx talk right nowHow outside expectations can shape founder identityWhat burnout taught Anne about living from truthThe connection between truth-telling and human-centered leadershipHow old family patterns can influence the choices we makeWhy Anne’s book feels aligned while a TEDx talk does notBuilding a business that is deeply connected to your personal missionKnowing when something is a “f**k yes” and when it’s a no PULL QUOTES “Does Anne Gillaspie actually want to do the work, or does she want the shiny result?” “Truth-led leadership starts with the one person in the room who says the thing that everybody else is afraid to say.” “If it’s not a f**k yes, it’s a no.” CONNECT WITH ANNE GILLASPIE Website: https://theannegillaspie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/ OnlyFounders Podcast: https://theannegillaspie.com/podcast LISTEN / WATCH ONLYFOUNDERS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders-explicitly-human-stories/id1832541527 ABOUT ONLYFOUNDERS OnlyFounders is about the human side of entrepreneurship—the messy, complicated reality behind building businesses, leading teams, raising families, navigating failure, and figuring out who we are along the way. If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder, entrepreneur, or leader who needs to hear it. #OnlyFounders #Entrepreneurship #FounderMentalHealth

    Entrepreneur Mindset: What If You Don’t Actually Want What You “Should” Want? | OnlyFounders

  2. 3d ago

    Can Your Partner Make or Break Your Founder Journey? | Jenn & Craig Smith | Ep14

    Can the person closest to you make or break your founder journey? Jenn Moyer-Smith and Craig Smith are entrepreneurs, storytellers, and partners in both business and life. Together, they've spent decades building businesses, helping brands connect with people, and learning what it really means to grow alongside someone you love. Jenn is the co-founder of Alice & Albert, a creative agency focused on helping organizations clarify their story and connect with the audiences that matter most. Craig is a professional speaker, television host, live commerce expert, and media consultant who has conducted more than 4,500 live broadcasts and generated over $1 billion in product sales. In this episode, Anne, Jenn, and Craig get into the realities of building a business while navigating marriage, family, career changes, leadership, and the relationships that shape your founder journey. In this episode, we get into: How having the right partner can influence your founder journeyBuilding a business while building a life togetherJenn's support when Craig made a major career transition into television and QVCKnowing when it's time to close one door so another can openThe difference between supporting your partner and trying to run their businessWhy money and success don't always equal meaningful workCraig's decision to leave a higher-paying career in search of purpose and impactJenn's experience navigating major changes inside Alice & AlbertThe grit and resilience it takes to keep going when entrepreneurship gets hardWhy human connection still matters in business, leadership, and relationshipsMentoring younger generations and giving people access, opportunity, and a voiceBuilding a more human-centered approach to leadership and businessJenn and Craig also open up about the realities of marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, and knowing when to support, when to step back, and when to let each person lead their own path. The conversation ultimately becomes a deeper look at relationships, resilience, purpose, leadership, and what it really takes to build a meaningful business and life together. Pull quotes: “His success is my success. And vice versa.” “You have to actually close doors for other doors to open.” “Doing something that you actually enjoy and having a positive impact on others is so much more valuable than that.” “The energy you're spending on that client…can be spent and there's other opportunities that are out there.” If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder who needs to hear it. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: OnlyFounders YouTube Subscribe on Spotify: OnlyFounders on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: OnlyFounders on Apple Podcasts Follow Anne Gillaspie on Instagram: Anne Gillaspie on Instagram Follow Anne Gillaspie on LinkedIn: Anne Gillaspie on LinkedIn Visit our website: Anne Gillaspie Website Jenn Moyer-Smith: Jenn Moyer-Smith on LinkedIn Craig Smith: Craig Smith on LinkedIn Craig Smith on TikTok Craig Smith on Instagram

    Can Your Partner Make or Break Your Founder Journey? | Jenn & Craig Smith | Ep14

  3. Sep 10

    Who the F**k Are You? When Your Purpose, Identity & Brand Start to Feel Wrong | Anne Gillaspie | Ep13

    What happens when you wake up one morning and suddenly question everything you thought you knew about yourself? In this raw and deeply personal solo episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie opens up about a morning when she felt completely overwhelmed — as a mother, entrepreneur, brand strategist, movement maker, and founder trying to build the next chapter of her life. After getting pulled into social media instead of doing the morning movement that normally helps her reset, Anne found herself comparing her vision to women who seemed years ahead of her. Suddenly, the things she had been building started to feel crowded, outdated, or even completely wrong. Her brand. Her messaging. Her identity. Her purpose. Instead of trying to immediately problem-solve her way out of the discomfort, Anne decides to sit in it. Because sometimes the uncomfortable moments aren't a sign that you're failing. They may be a signal that you're being challenged to level up again. In this episode, Anne gets real about: What it feels like to question your identity and purposeThe emotional reality of raising children while building businesses and movementsHow social media comparison can completely derail your mindsetWhy surrounding yourself with people who are ahead of you can be both powerful and uncomfortableThe importance of finding your “truth tribe”Why founders need people who can hold space for them when they're strugglingThe connection between taking care of yourself and showing up for your familyWhat happens when your brand or messaging no longer feels alignedWhy you don't always need to immediately “fix” a difficult emotional seasonHow uncomfortable seasons can be invitations to evolveThe pressure of building something meaningful when you feel like the market is already crowdedWhy being fully seen and heard starts with fully expressing who you areThe question every founder should be willing to ask: Who the f**k are you?This isn't a polished motivational speech. It's Anne sitting in the uncomfortable middle — questioning, reflecting, and allowing herself to feel what she's feeling instead of pretending everything is okay. Because sometimes a lot can happen in an hour. THE BIG QUESTION Who are you — and are you fully expressing that person in the world? PULL QUOTES “Who the f**k are you?” “I’m sitting in this shit for a while because I think this shit needs to talk to me.” “I think this is calling on me to sit in it and really listen.” “Sometimes you’re not allowing yourself into the spaces that are so uncomfortable that challenge you.” “You know who you are, but you’re not fully expressing it in the world.” “I just want to question and disrupt your autopilot.” “A lot can happen in an hour.” CONNECT WITH ONLYFOUNDERS YouTube: OnlyFounders Podcast Spotify: OnlyFounders on Spotify Apple Podcasts: OnlyFounders on Apple Podcasts Anne Gillaspie: Anne Gillaspie Instagram: @annegillaspie LinkedIn: Anne Gillaspie If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another founder who might need to sit in the uncomfortable moments too.

    Who the F**k Are You? When Your Purpose, Identity & Brand Start to Feel Wrong | Anne Gillaspie | Ep13

  4. Sep 8

    The Truth About Aging, Hormones, Sex & Building a Business | Kimberly Cunningham | Ep12

    What if your body isn’t broken — and you’ve just never been given the right information? In this episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie sits down with Kimberly Cunningham, founder of Cunningham Clinic, nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and author of Great Sex Never Gets Old. Kimberly shares the personal and professional journey that took her from a devastating injury and years of limited mobility to building a thriving healthcare practice focused on hormones, longevity, functional medicine, and helping people feel better in their bodies. Kimberly and Anne get real about what changes as we age — especially for women — and why hormones, sexual health, brain health, energy, and longevity deserve a much bigger conversation. In this episode, we get into: Why hormones can affect so much more than menopause Kimberly’s journey from severe injury to building Cunningham Clinic How she grew a business organically without taking out loans The hardest part of growing a company: knowing when and who to hire Why “maybe” is always a no when hiring Building a human-centered team where patients feel seen and heard Negotiating with vendors while protecting the patient first What women need to understand about testosterone, estrogen, and aging Why sexual health is part of healthcare Brain health, heart health, muscle, bone health, and healthy aging Kimberly’s book Great Sex Never Gets Old Why women entrepreneurs need to stop getting in their own way Learning to change your mind when new information becomes available Kimberly’s approach is ultimately about looking at the whole system, not treating one symptom in isolation. And her message for women is powerful: it’s not always about whether you can do something — it’s about deciding whether you want to. GUEST Kimberly Cunningham, NP Founder of Cunningham Clinic and author of Great Sex Never Gets Old: Health, Hormones And Having It All After Forty. Kimberly has spent more than two decades in healthcare and built Cunningham Clinic from a one-woman operation into a growing team focused on personalized wellness, hormone care, healthy aging, and aesthetics. FIND KIMBERLY Instagram: @cunninghamcliniccolorado Cunningham Clinic PULL QUOTES “Maybe is always no.” “Your body isn’t broken.” “It’s not a question of whether you can do it. It’s whether you want to do it.” “I reserve the right to change my mind.” CONNECT WITH ONLYFOUNDERS YouTube: OnlyFounders Podcast Spotify: OnlyFounders on Spotify Apple Podcasts: OnlyFounders on Apple Podcasts Anne Gillaspie: Anne Gillaspie Instagram: Anne Gillaspie on Instagram LinkedIn: Anne Gillaspie on LinkedIn If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder who needs to hear it. YOUTUBE TAGS Kimberly Cunningham, Cunningham Clinic, Kimberly Cunningham NP, Great Sex Never Gets Old, hormones after 40, women over 40, menopause, perimenopause, testosterone for women, hormone replacement therapy, healthy aging, longevity, functional medicine, women's health, sexual health, brain health, aging well, women entrepreneurs, female founders, entrepreneurship, founder journey, building a business, hiring employees, leadership, negotiation, patient centered care, human centered leadership, business growth, OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie, Denver entrepreneur, Denver healthcare, Cunningham Clinic Colorado HASHTAGS #OnlyFounders #KimberlyCunningham #CunninghamClinic #WomensHealth #hormones  #Menopause #HealthyAging #Longevity #FunctionalMedicine #entrepreneurship  #WomenEntrepreneurs #Leadership #femalefounders  #entrepreneurship  #FounderStories #FounderPodcast #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #FounderLife #FounderMentalHealth #HumanConnection #Authenticity #Vulnerability #RadicalHonesty #HonestConversations #FounderBurnout #ImposterSyndrome #PersonalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #AuthenticLeadership #HumanCenteredLeadership #FounderJourney #BuildingSomethingMeaningful #reels #viral #businessgrowth #podcast

    The Truth About Aging, Hormones, Sex & Building a Business | Kimberly Cunningham | Ep12

  5. Sep 3

    You’re Your Own Boss. So Who Holds You Accountable? | Ep11

    You’re your own boss—but who holds you accountable when nobody is watching? For founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs, freedom can be both the best part of building a business and one of its biggest challenges. Without a boss, structure, or someone telling you what to do, it’s easy to lose your boundaries, overbook your calendar, and eventually feel like you’re drowning. In this solo episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie shares what she’s learning about creating “containers” instead of rigid rules—structures that provide accountability while still giving you the freedom to follow your energy, creativity, and real life. In this episode, Anne talks about: Why being your own boss can create loneliness and a lack of accountabilityCreating flexible “containers” instead of rigid schedulesWhy simply blocking “Anne’s time” wasn’t enoughGiving yourself permission to rest and do nothingProtecting your calendar and controlling who gets access to your timeWhy your time and energy are more valuable than moneyBreaking big projects into smaller, manageable stepsUsing procrastination and last-minute pressure to your advantageBalancing business, parenting, personal life, and mental energyWhy founders need grace, flexibility, and permission to pivotOne of Anne’s biggest reminders in this episode is simple: your resources start with your calendar, your boundaries, and where you choose to put your time and energy. And sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing. PULL QUOTES “You are your own boss. So who holds you accountable?” “We have to schedule rest time.” “Your time is greater than money.” “The container has to have room to swim.” “Give yourself permission to pivot.” CONNECT WITH ANNE YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4?si=97a26df7e350478a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders/id1832541527 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/ Website: https://theannegillaspie.com/ ABOUT ONLYFOUNDERS OnlyFounders is about the real side of entrepreneurship—the messy, human, complicated reality behind building businesses, leading teams, raising families, navigating failure, and figuring out who we are along the way. If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder who needs to hear it.

    You’re Your Own Boss. So Who Holds You Accountable? | Ep11

  6. Sep 1

    The Problem Isn't Always Where It Hurts | Laura Mahe | Ep10

    What if the place where you feel pain isn't actually where the problem is? Laura Mahe is a manual osteopath and body worker based in Calgary, Alberta, with more than 25 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. After starting her career in massage therapy, Laura found her way to manual osteopathy—and discovered a completely different way of looking at the body, pain, and healing. What she loves most about her work is the impact it can have on someone's life. Her goal is simple: help people with chronic conditions relieve pain, improve mobility, and get back to doing the things they never thought they could do again. In this episode, Anne and Laura get into the fascinating connection between the body, chronic pain, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the importance of asking for help. In this episode, we get into: Why pain isn't always coming from the place where you feel itLaura's journey from massage therapy to manual osteopathyWhy she says her clients can “get their life back”Building a business around meaningful, life-changing workThe reality of reaching your personal capacity as a service-based founderWhy learning not to do everything yourself matters in both motherhood and businessDelegation, virtual support, and finding the right people to help you growLaura's experience with social anxiety, networking, and stepping outside her comfort zoneHer vision for multidisciplinary sound-healing centers around the worldThe fascinating world of tuning forks, frequencies, and sound-based wellnessLaura also opens up about being a mom of three, the challenge of balancing family with entrepreneurship, and the moment she realized that getting help wasn't a failure—it was actually better for everyone. The conversation ultimately becomes a fascinating exploration of healing, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and what happens when you stop trying to do everything alone. Pull quotes: “They get their life back.” “The problem is not where the pain is.” “I’m a great therapist. I obviously should own a business.” “You can’t do it alone, but nor should you.” If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder who needs to hear it. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4?si=97a26df7e350478a Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders/id1832541527 Follow Anne Gillaspie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/ Follow Anne Gillaspie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/ Visit our website: https://theannegillaspie.com/ Laura Mahe / Chiron Collective Calgary: Website: http://chironyyc.com Instagram: @chironyyc Facebook: Chiron Collective Calgary

    The Problem Isn't Always Where It Hurts | Laura Mahe | Ep10

  7. Aug 27

    The Truth About Building a Business While Raising Kids | Anne Gillaspie | Ep09

    What if work-life balance isn’t actually the goal when you’re building a business and raising a family? In this solo episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie gets honest about the reality of being a founder, a mother, and a partner—and what happens when the carefully planned systems of work and family simply stop working. After a summer filled with changing schedules, childcare challenges, unexpected setbacks, and difficult decisions, Anne realized something important: maybe balance was never the goal. Maybe it’s harmony. She shares what went wrong, what she learned from it, and how becoming more flexible, listening to her family, and being willing to change the plan helped her find a better way forward. In this episode, we get into: Why Anne believes there is no such thing as perfect work-life balanceThe difference between balance and harmonyThe reality of running a business while raising three childrenWhat failed during Anne’s summer—and what those failures taught herWhy childcare and support systems are critical for working parentsLearning to listen to your children instead of forcing a plan that isn't workingHow family meetings created more space for honest conversationsWhy great leaders—and great parents—need to be willing to change their mindsThe importance of admitting when something isn't workingWhy Anne considers raising her children her number one projectAnne also opens up about the emotional side of trying to be present for her family while building a business, including fear, resentment, guilt, and the pressure to make everything work. The conversation ultimately comes back to a simple idea: you don't need to get everything right the first time. Sometimes the failure is simply new information showing you what needs to change. Pull quotes: “F**k balance. It’s harmony.” “Family comes first and your work comes second.” “Our emotions matter when we have really hard moments.” “A great leader, which is also a great parent, changes their mind often because you’re getting new information every single day.” “My life's work will be raising three amazing people.” Building a business and raising a family will rarely follow a perfect plan. The goal isn't to make everything equal—it’s to stay curious, listen, adapt, and create a life that actually works for the people who matter most. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4?si=97a26df7e350478a Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders/id1832541527 Follow Anne Gillaspie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/ Follow Anne Gillaspie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/ Visit our website: https://theannegillaspie.com/ If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder, entrepreneur, or working parent who needs to hear it.

    The Truth About Building a Business While Raising Kids | Anne Gillaspie | Ep09

  8. Aug 26

    The Power of Your Second Act | Bonnie Schutz | Ep08

    What happens when nearly 30 years of supporting executives leads you to realize that your biggest career chapter might still be ahead of you? Bonnie Schutz is the founder and CEO of Tandem Resource Solutions, a US-based remote support and administrative recruiting firm helping founders stop being the bottleneck in their own business. After nearly three decades as a corporate Executive Assistant, Bonnie turned her experience into a second act built around entrepreneurship, delegation, and helping business owners get the support they need to grow. She is also the host of the Delegate2Elevate Podcast, where she has conversations with business owners about delegation, leadership, and what it really takes to build something sustainable without carrying everything yourself. In this episode, Bonnie shares the unexpected moment that pushed her out of corporate life, the identity shift that came with becoming a founder, and what she has learned about confidence, boundaries, networking, and building a business through relationships and support. In this episode, we get into: Bonnie's transition from a long corporate career to entrepreneurshipWhy your “second act” can become one of the most powerful chapters of your lifeThe unexpected experience that pushed Bonnie to finally leave corporateLearning to step into her identity and confidence as a founder and CEOWhy founders need to stop trying to do everything themselvesThe power of delegation, support systems, and “creative delegation”How networking and finding the right people helped Bonnie growOvercoming imposter syndrome and recognizing your own valueWhy boundaries and self-care matter when building a sustainable businessHow virtual assistance, remote work, and AI are changing the support industryBonnie also gets honest about building businesses later in life, authentic branding, the pressure to grow, and why sometimes the biggest step forward is simply letting other people help you. Pull quotes: “The only way to make a business really work is to give it a hundred percent.” “You hire people who are not like you, who do things better than you do.” “Sometimes you have to get creative when there's not a budget.” “It's okay to say no.” The conversation ultimately comes back to a powerful lesson about entrepreneurship: you don't have to do everything yourself. Your experience, relationships, and ability to build the right support system can become some of your greatest advantages. Your second act might not be starting over. It might be finally becoming who you were ready to be all along. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@onlyfounders.podcast Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PuNBpWpZKzCnuwmFQOPI4?si=97a26df7e350478a Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onlyfounders/id1832541527 Follow Anne Gillaspie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegillaspie/ Follow Anne Gillaspie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annegillaspie/ Visit our website: https://theannegillaspie.com/ Bonnie Schutz: Website: https://tandemresourcesolutions.com Podcast Website: https://Delegate2ElevatePodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnieschutzea/ Tandem Resource Solutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tandem-resource-solutions/ Delegate2Elevate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/delegate2elevate-podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Delegate2ElevatePodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delegate2elevatepodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@delegate2elevatepodcast/ If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder who needs to hear it.

    The Power of Your Second Act | Bonnie Schutz | Ep08
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OnlyFounders shares the HUMAN side of founding something meaningful.Hosted by global keynote speaker and truth disruptor Anne Gillaspie, OnlyFounders goes beyond startup success stories to reveal what it actually feels like to build something meaningful.We have radically honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, leaders, creators and cycle breakers about entrepreneurship, relationships, mental health, founder burnout, identity, fear, failure, leadership, parenting, ambition, authenticity, personal growth and reinvention. If you crave honest founder stories, uncomfortable conversations, human connection and the truth behind entrepreneurship, you're home. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, founder stories, founder podcast, human side of entrepreneurship, founder mental health, relationships, human connection, authenticity, vulnerability, radical honesty, truth telling, founder burnout, fear and imposter syndrome, identity, personal growth, breaking cycles, authentic leadership.

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