OnlyFounders

Anne Gillaspie
  • 4.9 (73)
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OnlyFounders shares the honestly HUMAN side of founding something meaningful.Hosted by provocative speaker and truth disruptor Anne Gillaspie, OnlyFounders goes beyond surface level stories to reveal what it actually feels like to exist in our humanity.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

    The CULTure of Ai series with Anne & Sayre Blake

    What if the biggest risks surrounding artificial intelligence have less to do with machines taking over and more to do with the people building, directing, and marketing the technology? In this episode of OnlyFounders, host Anne Gillaspie sits down with Sayre Blake, CEO and Technical Founder of SkillSaige, for the first conversation in a new recurring series, The Culture of AI. Together, they challenge popular narratives about artificial intelligence and explore what happens when technology, corporate decisions, human behavior, and public fear collide. With a background spanning art, electrical engineering, software systems, and video game AI, Sayre brings a different perspective to the conversation. She explains why she views today's large language models as a new kind of computer processor rather than the independent intelligence many companies promote. She argues that human choices, system design, instructions, and oversight play a central role in how these tools behave. Anne and Sayre discuss the fear surrounding AI, the role of corporate marketing and media narratives, the importance of human oversight, and why people should be cautious about treating AI tools as experts. They also explore how everyday users can work with these technologies more effectively by asking specific questions, refining instructions, and staying curious about the results. Rather than telling people to stop using AI, Sayre encourages them to understand the technology as a tool they can explore, question, and learn from. This is a candid conversation about AI, human responsibility, technology, and the importance of looking beyond the headlines to ask better questions. IN THIS EPISODE Introducing The Culture of AI, a new recurring OnlyFounders series Sayre Blake's background in art, engineering, and video game AI Why Sayre describes large language models as a new kind of computer processor How human decisions shape the way AI systems are designed and used The difference between AI marketing narratives and the underlying technology Why human oversight matters when automated systems are deployed The role of corporate messaging and media coverage in shaping public fear Why users should avoid treating AI tools as unquestionable experts How prompts and instructions influence AI responses The risks of relying on AI for advice without questioning its output How to experiment with AI through curiosity, specific tasks, and better instructions Sayre's practical tip for approaching AI with less fear and more understanding PULL QUOTES “Ultimately, with all of this, there's a human decision behind each thing you're seeing.” “It does not start unless a human says start, and it does not repeat unless a human says repeat yourself.” “Stop treating it like an expert and start treating it like a brand new kind of computer terminal.” “You are being an exploratory programmer of a new kind that has never existed before.” “Be a little more curious. There is this much to learn from.” These quotes are drawn from the provided transcript. Confirm exact wording against the final edited audio before publishing. ABOUT SAYRE BLAKE Sayre Blake is the CEO and Technical Founder of SkillSaige, a Colorado-based soft skill learning platform that helps people develop communication, adaptability, leadership, and workplace readiness through interactive, practice-based learning. With a background in video game design, art, systems thinking, behavior design, and engineering, Sayre brings a distinctive perspective to technology and the way people interact with it. Her experience with game AI and technical systems informs her approach to understanding modern AI tools, their limitations, and the human decisions behind their design. In this conversation, Sayre shares her perspective on AI, public perception, human oversight, and how people can approach emerging technology with greater curiosity and critical thinking. Learn more about SkillSaige: https://www.skillsaige.com/ Connect with Sayre on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sayre-blake/ Connect with SkillSaige on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skillsaige/ 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 explores the human side of entrepreneurship and what building a business does to the person building it. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the show goes beyond polished founder stories to explore leadership, identity, relationships, mental wellbeing, ambition, fear, and the messy realities of building a business. With The Culture of AI, OnlyFounders also opens up a space for candid conversations about artificial intelligence, the people shaping it, and the cultural narratives influencing how we understand and use it. Subscribe to OnlyFounders for honest conversations about the people behind the titles, the decisions behind the businesses, and the human experiences shaping how we work and live. #OnlyFounders #TheCultureOfAI #ArtificialIntelligence

    The CULTure of Ai series with Anne & Sayre Blake

  2. 3d ago

    The Real Work of Building and Scaling Consumer Businesses | OnlyFounders

    What does it really take to build a consumer brand? It's more than a great product, a beautiful package, or a clever marketing campaign. It's the strategy, relationships, sourcing decisions, and behind-the-scenes work that make a business function. In this episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie sits down with multi-brand entrepreneur and operator Danniele Fernino for an honest conversation about building consumer businesses, turning consulting relationships into partnerships, and creating brands with a long-term vision. Danniele shares how she moved from service-based consulting into operating and owning brands, working across beauty and wellness businesses including SubLuna, JoyWell, and Sun & Moo. She takes us behind the scenes of product development, formulation, manufacturing, and the challenges of finding ingredients that meet the standards she wants for her products. The conversation also explores why brand strategy has to go beyond making something look good. Danniele explains why founders need to think about where their brand is today, what it could become in five or ten years, and who it might be competing with on the shelf. Anne and Danniele also get candid about building a business with your spouse, hiring friends, working through uncertainty, and the unconventional decisions that can shape an entrepreneurial life. From building Visions from Neptune during the pandemic to working long hours alongside people she genuinely enjoys, Danniele shares a refreshingly honest perspective on entrepreneurship. This is a conversation about the real work behind consumer brands, the relationships that help build them, and what it takes to create a business that works beyond the surface. IN THIS EPISODE How Danniele moved from service-based consulting to brand ownershipBuilding Visions from Neptune with her husbandWorking across beauty, wellness, and consumer product businessesThe difference between graphic design and long-term brand strategyWhy founders should think five or ten years ahead when building a brandProduct formulation, co-manufacturing, and the realities of sourcing ingredientsBalancing product standards, production costs, and business marginsHow consulting relationships can grow into long-term partnershipsBuilding a business with your spouse and working alongside friendsWhy company culture and personal relationships matter behind the scenesNavigating the uncertainty and financial challenges of building a business during COVIDCreating an entrepreneurial life instead of waiting for one to happen PULL QUOTES “Sometimes when you are talking to a founder, everything comes into your mind at once.” “We're thinking about what is the brand today and what can it be in ten years, in five years.” “You can kind of make your life.” “We take what we do very seriously.” “It's really being inspiring in that way that you don't have to bend so far that you're not who you are.” Use these quotes as transcript-derived excerpts. Confirm exact wording against the final edited audio before publishing. ABOUT DANNIELE FERNINO Danniele Fernino is a multi-brand entrepreneur and operator behind consumer brands including SubLuna, JoyWell, and Sun & Moo. She began her career in service-based consulting, where she learned how to create increasing value for the brands she supported before moving into operations, strategic partnerships, and brand ownership. Today, her work spans branding, marketing, product development, and business growth. Her businesses generate more than $3 million annually, with products sold through retailers including Erewhon, Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. She has a particular passion for women-owned product businesses and helping founders build brands that work behind the scenes. 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 explores the human side of entrepreneurship and what building a business does to the person building it. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the show goes beyond polished founder stories to explore leadership, identity, relationships, mental wellbeing, ambition, fear, and the messy realities of building a business. Subscribe to OnlyFounders for honest conversations about the people behind the titles, the decisions behind the businesses, and the human experiences that shape how we work and live. #OnlyFounders #Entrepreneurship #BrandStrategy

    The Real Work of Building and Scaling Consumer Businesses | OnlyFounders

  3. Oct 15

    Why Every Founder Needs a Space to Be Themselves | OnlyFounders

    What happens when you stop waiting for the perfect plan and start building something that feels true to who you are? In this solo episode of OnlyFounders, host Anne Gillaspie shares the story behind her Truth Tribe Coffee Club, a growing community created for people who want deeper conversations, honest connection, and a space where they can show up without pretending to have everything figured out. After speaking at the She Speaks CEO leadership summit, Anne realized that the meaningful connections happening after her keynote didn't have to end when the event was over. People wanted to keep talking, connect with fellow truth seekers, and continue exploring the personal changes that come with telling the truth. But how could she create that kind of community when she didn't yet know exactly what it would become? Anne gets candid about being a recovering perfectionist and the discomfort of putting something new into the world before every detail is finalized. She explains how her own experiences with burnout, personal growth, and the exhaustion of performing different roles helped shape her mission to create spaces for honest conversations. She also shares the deeply personal story behind the coffee club's name, reflecting on how her husband's simple, consistent act of making her coffee became a meaningful reminder of love and acceptance during some of her hardest years. This conversation explores the importance of community, curiosity, truth-telling, and learning to become a safe space for your own truth. Anne discusses how community can complement therapy and why meaningful connection matters when you're working through difficult experiences and changing old patterns. At its heart, this episode is about building something meaningful before you have all the answers, letting go of the pressure to perform, and finding people who make it easier to show up as you are. IN THIS EPISODE The founder story behind the Truth Tribe Coffee ClubWhy Anne decided to build a community before having every detail figured outThe connection between perfectionism and the fear of being seenHow truth-telling can transform personal relationshipsWhy community matters alongside individual support and therapyThe meaning behind Anne's love language of coffeeHow small, consistent acts of care can communicate love and acceptanceThe exhaustion of performing different roles and hiding your truthWhy curiosity helps us ask deeper questions about ourselvesMoving through difficult experiences with reflection and accountabilityCreating spaces where people can connect without judgmentHow Anne's personal mission is shaping the community she's building PULL QUOTES “I'm just being led literally led by the mission that's in my gut to do the work I'm doing.” “The therapist isn't the community.” “I was not a safe space for my own truth.” “The point is, it doesn't matter the container of which I build it.” “You have at least one person who is your truth tribe, who is safe for your truth.” 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, navigating relationships, finding identity, and figuring out who we are along the way. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, OnlyFounders explores entrepreneurship, leadership, founder identity, mental health, authenticity, relationships, fear, failure, and the human experiences that shape the way we work and live. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a founder, entrepreneur, or anyone who is ready to stop performing and make more room for honest connection. #OnlyFounders #FounderIdentity #HumanConnection

    Why Every Founder Needs a Space to Be Themselves | OnlyFounders

  4. Oct 13

    Who Takes Care of the Person Leading the Business? | OnlyFounders

    What happens when your business is thriving, your team is growing, and success still doesn't feel the way you expected? In this episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie sits down with longtime friend Brett Weinstein, owner of Guide Real Estate, for an honest conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and the complicated reality of building a successful business. Brett shares how he found his way into real estate, built a brokerage that grew organically through relationships and word of mouth, and learned to lead through an unpredictable market. The conversation goes beyond real estate strategy to explore the pressure leaders carry, the importance of putting people first, and why a thriving company doesn't automatically mean the person running it feels fulfilled. Anne and Brett discuss what it means to build a human-centered business, create a culture where people can show up without constantly performing, and make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions. They also get candid about the messy middle of entrepreneurship, the loneliness that can come with leadership, and the challenge of finding people who understand what you're building. Because success isn't one universal number. It might be income, freedom, happiness, meaningful relationships, or a team that genuinely wants to be there. The question is whether you've decided what success actually looks like for you. This is an unfiltered conversation about the person behind the business, the responsibility of leadership, and learning to keep going when life and work aren't perfect. IN THIS EPISODE Building a real estate business through relationships and word of mouthWhy a thriving company doesn't always mean a fulfilled founderThe difference between business success and personal happinessHuman-centered leadership and emotional intelligenceCreating a workplace where people don't have to performWhy data and facts matter when navigating an unpredictable marketThe pressure and responsibility of leading a growing teamHow company culture attracts and retains peopleThe messy middle of entrepreneurship and learning to sit with uncertaintyWhy leaders need their own support systems and trusted peopleDefining success beyond income and business growthRecognizing when your definition of success needs to change PULL QUOTES “People are looking to be welcomed at home and at work with a sense of belonging.” “I don't need to be happy right now.” “Who holds the leader?” “The best leaders are gonna come out of the shit show of an economy with the ones who are focused on the humans.” Use these quotes as transcript-derived excerpts. Confirm exact wording against the final edited audio before publishing. ABOUT BRETT WEINSTEIN Brett Weinstein is the owner of Guide Real Estate, a brokerage serving both commercial and residential real estate markets. In this conversation, Brett shares his experience building a growing company, navigating a changing market, and creating a business culture centered on people and relationships. He and Anne explore the personal side of leadership, including the responsibility of supporting a team, the challenges of finding fulfillment, and the importance of defining success on your own terms. Connect with Brett: Search for Brett Weinstein and Guide Real Estate in Denver to find his current professional profiles and company information. 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 explores the human side of entrepreneurship and what building a business does to the person building it. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the show goes beyond polished founder stories to explore leadership, identity, relationships, mental wellbeing, ambition, fear, and the messy realities of building a business. Subscribe to OnlyFounders for honest conversations about the people behind the titles, the decisions behind the businesses, and the human experiences that shape how we work and live. #OnlyFounders #Entrepreneurship #FounderMentalHealth

    Who Takes Care of the Person Leading the Business? | OnlyFounders

  5. Oct 9

    How Hidden Parts of Yourself Can Change Your Life Part #2 | OnlyFounders

    What if some of the biggest lessons about leadership, trust, boundaries, and human connection can be found in the places we are most afraid to talk about? In this solo episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie gets radically honest about her experience exploring dominance and submission—and the unexpected lessons it taught her about human behavior, emotional safety, boundaries, consent, communication, and leadership. Anne explains how creating a safe container requires clear boundaries, consistent communication, emotional regulation, and respect for another person’s “no.” She connects those principles directly to the workplace, showing how leaders can create cultures where people feel safe enough to share difficult truths without shame, manipulation, or fear. The episode also explores identity, self-expression, ethical non-monogamy, family patterns, shame, and the process of becoming more comfortable with the parts of ourselves we once tried to hide. Anne reflects on how learning to create safety for others ultimately taught her how to create that same safety for herself. At the heart of this episode is Anne’s Share Your Fear philosophy: acknowledge the truth, get curious, and create enough safety for honest conversations to happen without forcing the outcome. IN THIS EPISODE What Anne learned about human behavior through dominance and submissionWhy boundaries are essential to creating psychological safetyHow leadership and dominant energy show up in the workplaceWhy clear time boundaries can make people feel saferThe difference between consent and manipulationWhy respecting a “no” builds trustHow leaders can create space for uncomfortable truthsEmotional regulation and leading without reactingHow shame can prevent honest communicationThe connection between authenticity and leadershipWhy trust cannot be demanded—it has to be earnedAnne’s Share Your Fear frameworkCreating a safe container for yourself and othersIdentity, self-expression, and breaking old conditioning PULL QUOTES “Fear is actually just truths that are buried that we're afraid of.” “You have to be the safe space for yourself first.” “Trust is a huge part of these dynamics.” “You can’t take submission. It doesn’t work like that.” “Cultures will only evolve and shift in the capacity that the leader makes space for.” 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, navigating relationships, finding identity, and figuring out who we are along the way. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, OnlyFounders explores entrepreneurship, leadership, mental health, authenticity, relationships, fear, failure, and the human experiences that shape the way we work and live. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder, entrepreneur, or leader who is ready to lead with more honesty and humanity. #OnlyFounders #FounderLeadership #Entrepreneurship

    How Hidden Parts of Yourself Can Change Your Life Part #2 | OnlyFounders

  6. Oct 6

    You Can’t Control Everything—Learn to Let Go | OnlyFounders

    What happens when you realize that no amount of hard work, planning, or control can guarantee the outcome you want? In this episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie sits down with Geoff Eliason, CEO and Principal of SDR Ventures, for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, loss, leadership, and learning to let go of control. Geoff shares how losing two babies became one of the experiences that fundamentally changed the way he thought about control, surrender, and life. He connects that lesson directly to entrepreneurship, explaining why business owners eventually have to accept that they cannot control every outcome—and why learning to be at peace with that can create real freedom. The conversation also explores the messy middle of business and life. Geoff explains how breaking enormous challenges into manageable pieces—one step, one mile, or one day at a time—can help you keep moving when the finish line feels impossible to reach. Anne and Geoff talk about defining the “why” behind the work, especially when motivation disappears. Geoff shares the personal reason behind his half-Ironman training and how major family losses changed his priorities around health, longevity, and being present for the people he loves. The episode goes deeper into mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, the importance of creating flow states, and why business owners need intentional space to step out of fear, anxiety, and constant adrenaline. At the heart of the conversation is a simple reminder: you may not be able to control what happens, but you can choose how you respond—and sometimes success is simply putting one foot in front of the other. IN THIS EPISODE What entrepreneurship teaches us about controlLearning to surrender when life doesn’t go according to planHow loss can reshape your leadership philosophyBuilding resilience through difficult seasonsThe “one foot in front of the other” approach to hard thingsWhy every founder needs a strong “why”Finding purpose beyond revenue and business growthLeadership through uncertainty and the messy middleMental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeingCreating flow states through movement and exerciseWhy self-care is essential for business ownersThe connection between family, health, and entrepreneurshipMorning routines, reflection, prayer, and creating mental spaceWhy the process matters as much as the result PULL QUOTES “I really don’t have control.” “Success boils it down to breaking it down into manageable pieces.” “You have got to define the why behind the what and the how.” “This is who I am. This is what I do, and this is why I do it.” “You have got to prioritize taking care of yourself.” ABOUT GEOFF ELIASON Geoff Eliason is the CEO and Principal of SDR Ventures, a Denver-based investment bank that has been serving business owners and entrepreneurs for 25 years. SDR Ventures helps business owners prepare their companies for sale, navigate business sales, pursue acquisitions for growth, and raise capital. Geoff is also an entrepreneur himself and speaks passionately about walking alongside business owners through the challenges of growth. Outside of his work in investment banking, he has a long background in competitive weightlifting and professional strength and conditioning. He now coaches young athletes through a weightlifting club and continues to make fitness, discipline, and personal development a major part of his life. In this episode, Geoff shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped his perspective on resilience, surrender, health, leadership, and what it means to build a meaningful life alongside a meaningful business. CONNECT WITH GEOFF ELIASON Website: https://sdrventures.com/ Email: geliason@sdrventures.com 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, navigating loss, relationships, health, identity, fear, failure, and growth. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the show features honest conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders about what really happens behind the business. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder or entrepreneur who needs to hear it. #OnlyFounders #Entrepreneurship #FounderResilience

    You Can’t Control Everything—Learn to Let Go | OnlyFounders

  7. Oct 1

    How Hidden Parts of Yourself Can Change Your Life | OnlyFounders

    What happens when you stop performing the version of yourself that makes everyone else comfortable? In this deeply personal solo episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie opens up about a part of her identity she has been afraid to share publicly: her experience as an online dominatrix and the unexpected lessons it taught her about boundaries, consent, power, shame, communication, and human connection. Anne reflects on how much of her life was shaped by control, suppression, people-pleasing, religion, and the pressure to be the “good” version of herself. She explores what happened when she began peeling back those layers through therapy, self-development, and the courage to share her fear instead of continuing to hide. The conversation goes beyond sexuality. Anne talks about founder identity, authenticity, ethical non-monogamy, marriage, family estrangement, boundaries, pleasure, emotional safety, and what it means to create relationships and communities where people can finally be seen and heard as they are. She also connects these experiences to her work as a speaker, mentor, and truth-telling leader—and explains why the human being behind the business cannot separate themselves from the work they are here to do. At the heart of the episode is a simple challenge: stop performing, face the truth, and make space for every part of yourself that needs to exist. IN THIS EPISODE Why Anne decided to publicly share a hidden part of her identityWhat her experience as an online dominatrix taught her about boundaries and powerThe connection between identity, shame, and authenticityHow childhood conditioning can lead to people-pleasing and performingLearning to share your fear instead of hiding itFounder identity and becoming more fully yourselfBoundaries, consent, safety, and trustEthical non-monogamy and honest communication in relationshipsFamily estrangement, forgiveness, grief, and protecting your boundariesHow marriage can evolve through individual self-developmentThe relationship between sexuality, pleasure, identity, and self-expressionWhy BDSM should never be treated as a replacement for therapyHow hidden parts of ourselves can influence our work and leadershipCreating safer spaces for people to feel seen and heardWhat radical honesty can reveal about the life you actually want PULL QUOTES “I gotta go f*****g through it because that is the point. Share your fear.” “The marriage was not a prison sentence. It was literally a choice.” “The truth is, the more I shared what I wanted, what I needed…” “You cannot continue to give access to people who have not done the work themselves.” “Every part of you is profound.” 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 relationships, and figuring out who we are along the way. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the show explores identity, mental health, authenticity, relationships, ambition, fear, failure, leadership, and the human experiences that shape the way we live and work. If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder, entrepreneur, or leader who needs permission to be more fully themselves. #OnlyFounders #FounderIdentity #Entrepreneurship

    How Hidden Parts of Yourself Can Change Your Life | OnlyFounders

  8. Sep 29

    The Power of Truth When Everything Goes Wrong | OnlyFounders

    What do you do when everything goes wrong and everyone is looking to you for answers? In this episode of OnlyFounders, Anne Gillaspie sits down with Alyssa Burns, CEO of Alyssa Burns Communications and a communications strategist specializing in crisis management and resolution, for an honest conversation about what happens when leaders, businesses, and organizations are under pressure. Alyssa shares how resilience shaped her career, how she left a toxic workplace to build her own business, and how she discovered that crisis management and resolution were at the center of her zone of genius. Together, Anne and Alyssa explore why trust is so important during a crisis, why effective communication starts with listening, and how asking the right questions can uncover what is really happening beneath the surface. The conversation also goes deeper into transparency, reputation, leadership, human connection, and the importance of creating a safe space where people can tell the truth. Alyssa explains why crises often have warning signs long before they become public and why leaders need to address what is actually happening instead of simply reacting to the emotional fallout. At the heart of the conversation is a powerful message: when things go wrong, clear, honest, and purposeful communication can help leaders find a way forward. IN THIS EPISODE What crisis management really looks likeWhy trust matters when everything goes wrongHow resilience shapes entrepreneurs and leadersLeaving a toxic workplace and starting your own businessFinding your zone of genius through experienceWhy crises often start long before they become publicThe power of asking better questionsListening for what people are not sayingHow leaders can create safety for honest communicationTransparency and truth in crisis communicationManaging emotions without hiding themWhy in-person connection can build trustCommunication as a relationship-building toolThe connection between truth, leadership, and reputationBuilding a business around work you genuinely love PULL QUOTES “I run towards chaos when people run away from it.” “Can you tell me really what's going on?” “The power of asking questions, the power of being curious, and the power of listening.” “Communication is a profession that's built on relationships.” “Don't hide anything from me.” ABOUT ALYSSA BURNS Alyssa Burns is the CEO of Alyssa Burns Communications and a strategic communications powerhouse who helps leaders cut through complexity, build trust, and lead with confidence. She specializes in crisis management and resolution. With senior communications experience at Edelman Worldwide and Kraft Foods, Alyssa has spent her career helping leaders and organizations navigate high-stakes communication challenges. Her work is rooted in clear, honest, and purposeful communication. She brings curiosity, strong listening skills, resilience, and a calm presence to difficult situations, helping leaders understand what is really happening and communicate effectively when the stakes are high. Alyssa is also an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches and mentors students in communications. CONNECT WITH ALYSSA BURNS Website: https://alyssaburnscommunications.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssaburns2/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paris.girl.007/ 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, navigating pressure, relationships, identity, fear, failure, and growth. Hosted by Anne Gillaspie, the podcast explores the real stories behind the people building businesses and the human experiences that shape how we lead. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another founder, entrepreneur, or leader who needs to hear it. #OnlyFounders #CrisisManagement #Entrepreneurship

    The Power of Truth When Everything Goes Wrong | OnlyFounders
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About

OnlyFounders shares the honestly HUMAN side of founding something meaningful.Hosted by provocative speaker and truth disruptor Anne Gillaspie, OnlyFounders goes beyond surface level stories to reveal what it actually feels like to exist in our humanity.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.

Information

  • Creator
    Anne Gillaspie
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 OnlyFounders
  • Show Website
    OnlyFounders