Brand Unmuted Podcast

Joanna Moss & Dianna Robicheau

The Brand Unmuted Podcast, hosted by web designer Joanna Moss and copywriter Dianna Robicheau, empowers you to build a business that works FOR you–not the other way around–through honest conversations about being in the real middle of entrepreneurship. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

  1. 1d ago

    S2 - E10: What Your Inconsistent Income Is Telling You

    Your to-do list is longer on Friday than it was on Monday. You show up, you post, you cross things off, and your income still swings from month to month. Joanna's first business ran on a legal pad to-do list that never ended. It went with her everywhere, including on vacation, and it took her a while to see it was covering for something bigger: inconsistent revenue. Joanna and Dianna walk through the four ways that shows up: A list where everything feels like the top priorityPosting consistently with no income to show for itBusy days that don't build toward anythingThe belief that you have to figure it all out on your own All four trace back to gaps in your business that you can't see from inside it. Joanna explains why doing more won't close them and why the order you do things in matters most. You'll hear how a full business audit (ideal client, pricing, branding, website, and systems) gives you a prioritized list, and what she's seeing with clients in her Next 90 Method beta group. Listen to find out which of the four sounds like you and what to look at first. Topics Covered: Four situations that lead to inconsistent income, so you can spot the one that sounds like youWhy a prioritized list changes how your work week feelsWhat a business audit covers: ideal client, pricing, branding, website, and systemsOne question to ask yourself when you put in the work and the results stay quiet Time Stamps: 00:23 - Check-in: How's Your Group Program Going?02:25 - The Legal Pad: How a Never-Ending To-Do List Shaped My Business04:19 - Uncovering What Inconsistent Income Is Telling You11:54 - Fixing Inconsistent Revenue: What Actually Works15:24 - Join the Next 90 Method — January 2027 Waitlist Open18:40 - Outro — Offers, Credits, and How to Support the Show Links & Resources Mentioned Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.comDianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.comNext 90 Method group program: join the January 2027 waitlist.Joanna's legal pad Instagram post Storytelling secrets episode

  2. Oct 27

    S2 - E9: 5 Home page mistakes that are costing you clients

    People land on your website, look around for about three seconds, and leave. If that keeps happening on yours, the cause is probably on your homepage, and most of the fixes take less than an hour. Joanna (website designer) and Dianna (copywriter) walk through the five mistakes they see on homepages all the time, plus a bonus one for local businesses. You'll hear what each mistake costs you, what to change, and why clarity beats clever every time. You'll also hear why a good-looking site can sit there without bringing in a single inquiry, how your homepage works like the greeter at a store, and a screenshot test you can post to your Instagram Stories or Threads this week to see how strangers read your site. Pull up your homepage, listen with it open, and check each mistake as you go. Topics Covered: Six things to check on your homepage todayThe difference between a website that looks good and one that sells for youA screenshot test to run this weekHow to write button text that gets clickedWhy naming your city helps local visitors and your SEO Timestamps: 00:27 Icebreaker: have you been reading anything?01:16 What's costing you clients on your website01:57 The first thing you notice on a new website02:40 Website strategy vs. a website that looks good04:34 The screenshot test for your homepage05:23 Mistakes 1 and 2: the problem you solve and who it's for07:10 Mistake 3: photography that doesn't match your brand08:02 Mistake 4: no clear journey from homepage to buy09:04 Mistake 5: an unclear call to action10:43 Bonus mistake 6: not saying where you're located11:52 Why location matters for SEO13:05 You get about three seconds13:31 Quick recap of all six14:31 Fun question: what smell takes you back to childhood? Links & resources mentioned: Joanna’s website design studio: Joanna Moss Creative / joannamoss.comDianna’s copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. / risecopyco.comConnect with us on Instagram: @brandunmutedpodcast

  3. Oct 20

    S2 - E8: How To Work With Difficult Clients

    Every service-based business owner has client situations filed deep in the back of their mind. It comes with the territory sometimes! It comes with the territory sometimes! Today we're talking all about difficult client situations and how to handle them. Not to vent, but because everyone will likely come across a tricky situation at one point or another, so we’re sharing the lessons we’ve learned. We’re talking about what we wish we had done differently in the moment and giving advice for spotting red flags before they become problems, navigating a project that's going sideways, and knowing when it’s best to walk away. Topics We Cover The "year of yes" problem and why newer business owners are especially vulnerableRed flags to watch for during an inquiry or discovery callQuestioning your process or pricing before the project even startsShowing up late or ghosting a discovery callThe cost of ignoring red flags — including your confidence, your calendar, and your sanityWhat to do when you're already mid-project, and things start going sidewaysWhy your contract is your best friend in a difficult situationUsing AI to write a professional, emotion-free response when you're genuinely frustratedHow to know when a client relationship is not salvageableHow to end a client relationship professionally and without burning bridgesHow to handle bad reviews or the threat of a bad reviewWhy responding to reviews (good and bad) matters for Google and for future clients Time Stamps 00:01 – AI being pushed everywhere (and why it's driving us nuts) 03:11 – What we're covering: red flags, mid-project problems, bad reviews, and more 03:36 – Joanna's bridezilla story: the couple who lied to get a refund 07:08 – Dianna's early days: saying yes to everything as a VA 09:10 – Red flags to watch for during an inquiry or discovery call 09:26 – When potential clients question your process or pricing 10:56 – The "that sounds really expensive" red flag 11:22 – Ghosting or showing up super late to the discovery call 13:06 – How to listen to your gut on these things 13:53 – Dianna's experience of not listening to her gut 14:30 – The "I don't want to do it" price (aka the BS tax) 15:31 – What ignoring red flags actually costs you 16:26 – When a bad client costs you more than having no client at all 17:05 – When you're already mid-project and things are going sideways 18:03 – Joanna's early website design story (you'll have to ask her about this one) 18:17 – Signs a project is going sideways mid-way through 19:10 – Falling back on your contract 21:30 – How to know when it's time to let go of a client 21:53 – Keeping the communication professional when you're really frustrated 23:28 – Bad reviews: what to do when it happens Links & Resources Mentioned: The Contract Club — contract templates for service providersThe Legal Paige — contract and policy templates Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com

  4. Oct 13

    S2 - E7: How to make your first hire without losing your mind with Bethany Ryalls

    We have a really special episode today - interview with Bethany Ryalls from South & Oak. Our conversation centers on the psychological barriers and common errors that impede successful hiring. Bethany speaks candidly about control, fear of imperfect outcomes, and the tendency to overcorrect by hovering. We discuss frequent mistakes: hiring out of desperation, delegating tasks but retaining all responsibility, and lack of clear feedback. For each mistake, Bethany shares remedies with us, including setting expectations, giving ownership, and allowing early errors as part of learning. We close with an exhortation to act despite discomfort. Bethany argues that temporary loss of control is preferable to long-term stagnation. We share lived examples from our own work and from Bethany's client experience to show that relationships and performance improve when founders prepare deliberately and then permit autonomy. The core message is direct: define outcomes, hire intentionally, prepare just enough, and accept the short period of adjustment that yields lasting capacity and better business outcomes. About Bethany Ryalls Bethany is the founder of South and Oak (southandoak.co); a white label agency for designers and creatives, and scaling coach for founders who are done building businesses that only work because they never stop working. Her take on hiring, teams, and scaling is like nothing we’ve been told before and will have you confidently hiring and growing your business without burning out. Topics we cover: Key reasons to look into hiring for your business.How to identify the best opportunities for delegation and hire.Hiring out of desperation vs. being pro-active.Clear signs you need help in your business.Who your first hire should be. Time Stamps: 00:26 - Guest introduction — Scaling from solo operator to confident CEO 01:08 - Hiring for service-based businesses: when, who, and how 14:19 - Preparing for Your First Hire — Letting Go and Building Trust 22:41 - Common hiring mistakes and how to avoid them 29:56 - Contact & Resources — How to find Bethany online 34:24 - Viral reels: parents joining job interviews Links & Resources Mentioned: Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Connect With Us on Instagram! @brandunmutedpodcast

  5. Oct 6

    S2 - E6: Get More Clients by Tapping Into Your Indirect Competition

    What if one of the best ways to grow your business had nothing to do with more ads, more content, or more hustle, and everything to do with an unlikely partner you haven't thought of yet? Today we're talking about indirect competition and why it might be the most underused growth strategy for creative entrepreneurs right now. Once you understand what it is, you're going to have a major aha moment, and probably start seeing collaboration opportunities everywhere! Topics We Cover The only two ways to make more money in your businessWhat direct competition is and why it's not what we're talking about todayWhat indirect competition actually means and how it's completely differentWhy indirect competitors are your greatest untapped opportunity (not your enemy)How collaborating with indirect competitors puts you in front of a warm audience instead of a cold oneThe concept of borrowed trust and why it worksHow to figure out who your indirect competitors actually areStarting with your past clients and reverse engineering the path they took to find youWhat your client needs to believe or have before they're ready to hire youIndustry examples broken down: web designers, copywriters, brand photographers, and business coachesHow Joanna and Dianna's own collaboration is a perfect example of this concept in actionWhy competition is not a bad wordCommunity over competition — and how indirect competition is a practical application of that mindsetThe people who grow the fastest are the most generous with their connectionsYour one action item from this episode: Make a list of your indirect competitors, pick one, and send them a genuine message this week. Start a real conversation (no pitching) and see where it goes! Time Stamps 05:20 – Introducing today's topic: indirect competition 06:12 – The only two ways to make more money in your business 06:29 – Other ways to expand your audience 06:55 – What is direct competition? 07:32 – What makes indirect competition different? 08:42 – Examples of indirect competition (car company and road trip app) 09:15 – Dianna's example: at-home sauna vs. Pilates app 09:28 – How indirect competitors don't even know they're competing for the same clients 09:48 – How identifying indirect competitors becomes a growth opportunity 10:31 – The concept of borrowed trust 11:11 – How this is different from collaborating with direct competitors 12:30 – How to figure out who your indirect competitors are 13:35 – Example: web and brand designers 14:45 – Example: copywriters and AI tools 16:51 – Example: brand photographers 17:34 – Example: business coaches 17:44 – The key: get creative and catch clients at a different part of their journey 17:56 – Reframing how we think about competition 18:14 – Community over competition 18:23 – When you stop seeing people as threats and start seeing them as collaborators 18:39 – There's enough room for everyone 19:11 – Your one action item this week 19:50 – Random question: If you could swap lives with anyone, who would it be? Links & Resources Mentioned Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com

  6. Sep 29

    S2 - E5: How Motherhood Can Reshape Your Business

    We’re getting personal today! As a brand new mom (and at the time of this recording, soon-to-be mom), Dianna is asking Joanna for her best advice on running a business while being a mom. We’re chatting about every season–from when they’re newborns to school-age, and how each new stage presents new challenges and opportunities for your business. If you're a business owner who is pregnant, thinking about having kids, or just navigating what it looks like to build something while raising tiny humans, then this episode is for you. Topics We Cover What Joanna's business looked like before she had kids and what changed when she found out she was pregnantWhat she thought running a business with a baby would look like versus the realityWhat a realistic work schedule looks like in those first few monthsWorking with a nursing pillow on your lapWhy Joanna pivoted from web design to photography after her first baby — and how motherhood drove that decisionManaging client expectations during maternity leaveThe only expectations that really matter when you have a newbornWhat Joanna wishes someone had told her before going into that seasonWhy work-life balance is complete b******t (especially with a newborn)The importance of communication with your partnerDoing things in early stages of motherhood you'd find unreasonable at any other timeHow the approach to work shifts as kids get older and more independentThe dreaded mom guilt: where it comes from, whether it goes away, and how it changes at every stageWhat Joanna would go back and tell herself in that first yearPreparing for maternity leave as a self-employed person vs. an employeeThe pros and cons of entrepreneurial maternity leaveHow having systems in place made all the difference between her first and second maternity leaveWhether having kids ever cost her business momentum, and how she got it backAdapting your business model to whatever season you're inDianna's plan for her own maternity leave and retainer clientsTop advice for anyone about to have their first baby and wondering how to planJournaling your priorities before the baby arrives (and why it helps)Cutting yourself some slack and remembering you're not behind — just in a different seasonRandom question: What's something about parenting that would be funny for a minute but unreasonable in the long run? Time Stamps 09:47 – Introducing today's topic: business and motherhood 10:24 – What Joanna's business looked like before kids 11:27 – What changed when she found out she was pregnant 11:58 – What she thought it would look like vs. reality 12:45 – The nursing pillow work setup 13:41 – The first major business pivot that motherhood drove 14:04 – Dianna's plan for splitting childcare with her self-employed husband 15:16 – What a realistic work schedule looked like in the newborn stage 17:01 – Managing client expectations during maternity leave 18:33 – The only expectations that matter 19:10 – What Joanna wishes someone had told her 20:23 – Doing things as a new mom you'd never normally do 21:02 – How work shifts as they get older 22:33 – Work-life balance — or the lack thereof 24:15 – Where mom guilt comes from 28:30 – Whether there was ever a shift in how she felt about it 29:18 – What she'd go back and tell herself in that first year 30:26 – The luxury of having a choice (an important acknowledgment) 32:36 – Dianna on preparing for maternity leave as self-employed 34:50 – Advice on keeping the business going during leave 36:26 – Systems and her two very different maternity leave experiences 36:54 – Did having kids ever cost her momentum? 38:04 – How the business model changed through the seasons of motherhood 39:05 – The most important advice for anyone about to have their first baby 41:49 – If regret were not a thing — what would she have done differently? 43:20 – Random question: funny parenting things that would be unreasonable long term Links & Resources Mentioned Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com Episodes Referenced: Work-Life Balance episodeRetainer clients episode

  7. Sep 22

    S2 - E4: How Getting Our Brand Messaging Right Finally Made Our Income Feel Predictable

    Most business owners don't reach out to a copywriter because they think they have a messaging problem. They come saying they're not getting enough inquiries, or the inquiries they are getting aren't the right fit, or they want to raise their prices and attract better clients. But believe it or not, underneath all of those problems is almost always a messaging issue. In this episode, we're getting into why better messaging leads to more consistent income, as well as what inconsistent messaging actually looks like in a real business, where it shows up most, and what to do about it. Topics We Cover Why most people don't realize they have a messaging problem until someone points it outWhat inconsistent messaging actually looks like in a small business, and why it's so commonThe signs that messaging is the reason you're not getting leads from your websiteWhy "the work speaks for itself" is not a marketing strategyHow to tell if your messaging has evolved but your marketing hasn't caught up yetWhere inconsistent messaging shows up most: website, social media, email marketing, and networkingWhy the sale doesn't actually happen on the discovery call, and what that means for your websiteWhat changes first when your messaging finally gets clearWhen inconsistent messaging is actually a symptom of something deeper in your businessThe difference between needing a messaging fix and needing a full business auditWhere to start if you think messaging might be the gap in your businessDianna's Brand Messaging Blueprint freebie and messaging masterclassJoanna's Next 90 Method group program Time Stamps 04:00 – What Joanna sees as the reasons for inconsistent income in her coaching clients 04:33 – Why most people don't realize messaging is the problem when they come to Dianna 05:32 – What inconsistent messaging actually looks like in a small business 06:49 – How messaging problems show up on your website and social media 07:17 – The signs that messaging is the reason your website isn't generating leads 08:29 – Why "the work speaks for itself" is not enough — you need copy too 09:26 – How messaging evolves but marketing rarely catches up 09:54 – Why most people never stop to formalize their messaging strategy 12:18 – Where to start fixing your messaging 12:28 – Dianna's Brand Messaging Blueprint and messaging masterclass 13:28 – What shifts first when a client's messaging gets clear 14:36 – Why clear messaging makes content creation easier going forward 15:00 – The sale doesn't actually happen on the discovery call 16:17 – How clear messaging leads to more predictable income 16:35 – When inconsistent messaging is a symptom of something deeper 17:25 – What Joanna sees with coaching clients when business direction is unclear 17:57 – Who this tends to affect most: business owners who are ready for the next level 18:35 – When a website project isn't actually the right first step 19:23 – Where to start if you think messaging might be your gap 20:56 – How your income and your messaging are directly connected Links & Resources Mentioned Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative — showit websites and business strategy for women in business: joannamoss.com Dianna's Resources Mentioned: The Brand Messaging Blueprint — A free guide to defining your messaging strategyThe Messaging Masterclass — A mini course walking you through how to develop your messaging strategyWebsite Copy AuditsDianna's newsletter, The First Light Letter — Weekly copy and messaging tips Joanna's Resources Mentioned: Next 90 Method — A group coaching program for business owners ready to audit and align their business

  8. Sep 15

    S2 - E3: How To Live With Intention in Business & Life with Ashley Strong Smith

    We have a really special episode today–our very first guest interview!! Ashley Strong Smith is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, coach, writer, podcast host, ceremony-grade cacao facilitator, retreat host, and photographer who has spent years learning what it really means to slow down, honor the season you're in, and build a life that actually reflects your values. Her message couldn't feel more timely, and this is a conversation we think a lot of you will want to hear right now too. We talk about the pressure women and entrepreneurs feel to constantly produce and grow, what it actually looks like to honor a slower season without feeling like you're falling behind, the difference between habits, routines, and rituals, and how small intentional daily actions compound into massive transformation over time. About Ashley Strong Smith Ashley Strong Smith is a deeply curious soul who believes that although this life is finite, we are infinite in our capacity to grow, heal, create, and become. A multi-passionate entrepreneur, coach, writer, podcast host, ceremony-grade cacao facilitator, retreat host, and photographer, Ashley supports women in remembering who they are, reconnecting with their hearts, and creating lives that feel deeply aligned, intentional, and truly their own. Through her work, she helps women understand the why behind their thoughts, actions, feelings, and truths, so they can live more intentionally, authentically, and in alignment with their soul's truth. Topics We Cover How Joanna and Ashley met through a mastermind and a shared Nashville hotel roomWhy Ashley made the decision to end her podcast after almost four yearsWhat it means to honor the season you're in versus forcing yourself into the season you think you should be inAshley's powerful personal story of her life imploding across every category at once and what it taught herThe difference between slowing down and being intentional (and why you can't have one without the other)How to trust a slower season as an entrepreneur without feeling like you're losing momentumTips for new moms trying to balance business and presence in those early monthsMoving through the senses as a practice for being more present in everyday momentsHow guilt shows up for women whether or not they have kids and what to do about itAshley's weekly schedule broken down by day type: content creation days, meeting days, and writing daysWhy holistic lifestyle habits like sleep, movement, and nourishment support your creative outputHabit stacking and why adding habits to existing habits works better than building new ones from scratchHow rituals bring intention and presence to the things you're already doingAshley's heart-centered foundation: eight questions to reconnect with your values and your whyWhere to start if you want to live more intentionally but have no idea where to beginThe power of pausing between the doing Time Stamps 00:23 – How Joanna and Ashley met: mastermind, Nashville, and a shared hotel room 01:12 – Ashley's philosophy on clothing as a reflection of internal truth 06:25 – Why this conversation matters for entrepreneurs who are used to pushing and producing 07:25 – What it means to honor the season you're in 08:00 – Why Ashley made the decision to end her podcast after almost four years 11:24 – Is it more about slowing down or being intentional? (The answer: both) 12:10 – How to trust a slower season without feeling like you're falling behind 12:27 – Ashley's powerful personal story: when her life imploded across every category at once 15:44 – What she learned from being brought down to her bones 16:40 – One small adjustment to start creating more stillness in your life 17:09 – Dianna's personal share: ignoring nudges while preparing to become a mom for the first time 17:36 – Tips for new moms trying to balance business and presence in those early months 19:07 – Moving through the senses as a practice for being more present in everyday moments 21:10 – How guilt shows up for women whether or not they have kids 22:41 – How presence softens guilt 23:36 – When one thing is succeeding, another thing is failing — and why that's okay 24:54 – How to continue nurturing your dreams while honoring your current capacity 25:30 – Ashley's holistic approach to structuring her days 27:00 – Ashley's weekly schedule broken down: content creation days, meeting days, and writing days 30:37 – Why this schedule took three years of finessing to get right 31:00 – Small intentional daily action compounds into major change 32:03 – Habit stacking: why adding to existing habits works better than building new ones 33:57 – The difference between habits, routines, and rituals 35:10 – How rituals bring intention and presence to the things you're already doing 36:57 – Where to start if you want to live more intentionally 37:27 – The power of pausing between the doing 38:10 – Ashley's heart-centered foundation: eight questions to reconnect with your values and your why 39:44 – Where to find Ashley and her free Heart-Centered Foundation Guide 40:48 – Random question: If you could only eat from one fast food restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be? Where to Find Ashley Instagram: @ashleystrongsmith_ Website: ashleystrongsmith.com Podcast: Living an Intentional Life Free resource: Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation Guide Links & Resources Mentioned Dianna's copywriting studio: Rise Copy Co. — website & launch copy for creative women in business: risecopyco.com Joanna's web design studio: Joanna Moss Creative — custom Showit websites & Website in Two Weeks: joannamoss.com

5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

The Brand Unmuted Podcast, hosted by web designer Joanna Moss and copywriter Dianna Robicheau, empowers you to build a business that works FOR you–not the other way around–through honest conversations about being in the real middle of entrepreneurship. New episodes drop every Tuesday.