Voted Least Likely

Leah Yard
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Do you feel alone in your struggle? Do you feel like you know there is something special in you to give, but you feel stuck? Do you feel like the least likely person to be able to succeed? Ya, me too. The good news? You’re in the right place. Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast. I’m Leah, and I’ll be your host on this messy trip. I am a high school drop out who accidentally became an entrepreneur (aka: a certified ”Failure Expert”). When starting my jewellery business Leah Yard Designs, I struggled to find peers in the industry I could relate to. I felt completely alone and was tired of hearing entrepreneurial stories where everything seemed to ”fall into place” at the right time. Because starting something new? Building a business? It’s messy, heartbreaking, and often embarrassing. After failing over and over, I finally stumbled my way into success. But I’m not here to tell you how to be successful. I started the Voted Least Likely Podcast to share stories of failure, and demystify what it really means to be successful so YOU don’t feel alone. Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I hope you didn’t get dressed up for this ;) Website: www.leahyard.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahyard/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leahyard

  1. 4d ago

    Building a MULTIFACETED Life & Business with Shelan Markus

    Do you really need to niche down? In this episode, I'm joined by Shelan Markus, a multi-faceted entrepreneur, lawyer, artist, and community builder. Shelan is the Executive Director of Level Justice, a national organization focused on justice education and human rights, and the founder of City and She. Shelan is also the host and founder of How She Made This, a Vancouver-based talk series that brings together women-identifying, transfeminine, and gender-diverse entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders to share the real stories, strategies, and experiences behind their work. We talk about what it looks like to follow your creativity, start before you feel ready, and deal with the very real imposter syndrome that can show up when you're building something new. We also get into something I've been thinking about a lot lately: you can't do everything yourself forever. As entrepreneurs, it's easy to hold onto tasks because we think we'll do them faster, better, or cheaper ourselves. But eventually, doing everything yourself becomes the thing holding your business back. We talk about the importance of delegating, learning how to let go of some control so you can focus on the parts of the business where you're actually needed, and making space for your creativity to have a say in where your journey takes you. Shelan's own work is rooted in creating connection and sharing the real experiences behind entrepreneurship, which made this conversation feel especially fitting for Voted Least Likely.  Connect with Shelan Markus: How She Made This: https://www.howshemadethis.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/howshemadethis City & She: https://www.cityandshe.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/cityandshe/ Level Justice: https://www.leveljustice.org/ Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

  2. Sep 10

    I Was WRONG About Scalability

    We’re constantly told to build businesses that are scalable, efficient, and systemized. But what if some of the things that aren’t scalable are actually your biggest advantage? In this episode, I’m talking about a few things I’ve changed my mind about when it comes to growing a business. For a long time, I avoided doing things that felt too time-consuming or too dependent on me because I thought, Well, I can't do this forever. And that's true. I can't. But I've realized that just because something isn't scalable doesn't mean it isn't valuable. There are things you can do at one stage of your business that you simply won't be able to do later. One-on-one styling sessions. Writing a handwritten note in every order. Giving customers more of your time and attention. Creating experiences that rely on you. When you're small, those things aren't necessarily inefficiencies to eliminate. They can be your advantage. The trick is knowing which things are worth doing because you're small—and recognizing when it's time to let them go, systemize them, or hand them off. In this episode, I'm sharing the things I've changed my mind about, what I've learned about scalability, and why I'm no longer so quick to dismiss something just because I can't imagine doing it at a much larger scale. Because maybe the goal isn't to build a business that can do everything without you. Maybe the goal is to take advantage of the things only you can do while you can. Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

  3. Sep 2

    Building CHARACTER Alongside Your Business

    I heard someone say on a panel recently, “You are building your character alongside your business.” And it has stayed with me for weeks. As entrepreneurs, we're constantly measuring things: revenue, sales, followers, growth, profit, goals reached. There are endless ways to track whether the business is moving forward. But some of the things that matter most aren't really trackable. The decision to do the right thing when nobody would know if you didn't. Choosing your reputation over a quick win. Being honest when honesty is inconvenient. How you treat people when you're stressed, disappointed, or have something to lose. The kind of person you become while you're building the thing you want so badly. Those choices don't show up in your monthly revenue report. There isn't a notification telling you that you made the right call. And sometimes doing the right thing doesn't even seem to benefit your business in the short term. But over time, those decisions become your reputation. They become how people experience you. And most importantly, they become who you are. In this episode, I’m thinking about what it means to build character alongside a business—and why I think we should pay more attention to the things we're building that can't be measured. Because success isn't only about what you build. It's also about who you become while you're building it. Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

  4. Aug 19

    Life Update & Mid-Year Check-In

    This week's episode of the Voted Least Likely podcast is a personal one. It's not the original show I have planned on sharing, but this topic has been on my mind. At the beginning of every year, I complete a Life Vision Worksheet. This process helps me plan for the year, set big goals, and create trackable lists to keep me on pace. This year, when I look back at what I wrote down for 2026, I don't even recognize that life. Things have gone so differently than I had expected. There was a specific moment in April that I keep using as a reference point, because even though that was only 4 months ago, life has changed so much since then. I wanted to share today's episode because I know I'm not the only one here. I know I'm not the only one who has set a big goal, swung big, and missed. This week's episode is a life update, and a mid-year check in. It's time to set our sights on something new, recalibrate, and lock in. A lot can change in a few months. Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

  5. Aug 12

    What I have Learned about FAILURE after 150 Episodes

    For four years, Voted Least Likely has been built around one simple idea: if we talked about failure more openly, we'd all feel a little less alone on our entrepreneurial journey. This week, I'm reflecting on the biggest lessons I've learned after focusing on something so many of us are uncomfortable talking about: failure. If you've ever felt like you're the only one struggling, this episode is a reminder that you're not. Behind every success story is a long list of mistakes, pivots, setbacks, and lessons that rarely make it onto social media. Thank you for being part of the Voted Least Likely podcast. Here's to many more honest conversations about the realities of building a meaningful life and career. Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

  6. Jul 29

    What 150 Episodes Taught Me About Entrepreneurship, FAILURE & Finding My Voice

    When I launched the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I was on the verge of closing my business. I felt like I was the only entrepreneur who wasn't succeeding. Social media made it seem like everyone else had figured it out, while I was navigating missed opportunities, disappointment, and failure. So instead of giving up, I started talking about it. Four years later, that decision has led to 150 episodes, incredible guests, honest conversations, and a community built around one simple idea: you don't have to succeed alone. In this special milestone episode, I'm reflecting on what I've learned from hosting the podcast, the surprising ways it has changed me, the common themes that have emerged from conversations with entrepreneurs, and the biggest mistakes I've made along the way. If you've ever felt behind, questioned yourself, or wondered if everyone else has it figured out, this episode is for you. In this episode, I share: - Why I started the Voted Least Likely Podcast -The unexpected ways podcasting has changed my confidence and communication -The biggest lessons I've learned after interviewing 35 entrepreneurs -Why imposter syndrome may never completely disappear -The surprising definition of success that keeps coming up -The failures and mistakes I've made as a podcast host -Why vulnerability has become one of the greatest gifts this show has given me Thank you to everyone who has been part of these first 150 episodes. Thank you for listening, sharing episodes, and being part of this community. Whether you've been here since episode one or just recently found the show, I'm so grateful you're here. Here's to the next 150 episodes. Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

  7. Jul 22

    When Your Business OUTGROWS You

    Building a business is exciting, but growth doesn't just bring bigger opportunities—it also brings bigger challenges. In this solo episode of the Voted Least Likely podcast, I'm sharing some of the growing pains I've been experiencing as Leah Yard Designs continues to evolve. From managing larger financial decisions (like spending $30,000 on events, or an unexpected $15,000 tax bill) to navigating changing customer expectations, I've realized that every new level of business asks something different of you. I'm also opening up about the more personal side of growth. The bittersweet moments that remind you your business is expanding—even when they're harder than you expected. Every stage of business comes with its own challenges. The goal isn't to avoid them—it's to grow into the person who can handle them. Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

  8. Jul 15

    The Antidote to OVERTHINKING

    Whenever I find myself feeling stuck in my business, I've noticed something interesting: the solution is almost always the same. Take the next actionable step. In this short solo episode, I'm sharing why taking action has become one of the most powerful tools in my business. Whether I'm dealing with comparison, rejection, uncertainty, or simply feeling overwhelmed, I've learned that action has a way of cutting through the noise. Instead of waiting for confidence or clarity to appear, I've found that they often come because I decided to move forward. If you've been overthinking your next move or waiting for the "perfect" time to start, I hope this episode encourages you to take one small step today. Let’s Connect If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it. Subscribe & Review If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗 Connect with the Podcast: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Do you feel alone in your struggle? Do you feel like you know there is something special in you to give, but you feel stuck? Do you feel like the least likely person to be able to succeed? Ya, me too. The good news? You’re in the right place. Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast. I’m Leah, and I’ll be your host on this messy trip. I am a high school drop out who accidentally became an entrepreneur (aka: a certified ”Failure Expert”). When starting my jewellery business Leah Yard Designs, I struggled to find peers in the industry I could relate to. I felt completely alone and was tired of hearing entrepreneurial stories where everything seemed to ”fall into place” at the right time. Because starting something new? Building a business? It’s messy, heartbreaking, and often embarrassing. After failing over and over, I finally stumbled my way into success. But I’m not here to tell you how to be successful. I started the Voted Least Likely Podcast to share stories of failure, and demystify what it really means to be successful so YOU don’t feel alone. Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I hope you didn’t get dressed up for this ;) Website: www.leahyard.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahyard/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leahyard

Information

  • Creator
    Leah Yard
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Voted Least Likely

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