Best This Is A Podcast For Small Business Owners Ready To Feel Encouraged Inspired And Less Alone In Your Entrepreneurial Journey Podcasts (2024)

1
An Instagram deep dive 51:53

5h ago51:53

51:53

In today’s episode we dive into listener questions all about Instagram - from building engagement up, feeling hopeful and excited about the platform again, coming back after a long break, adapting to creating more video content, whether to use hashtags anymore and lots more. Join Sara for her Instagram Summer School Would you love some encouragemen…

1
How can I create more space for my non-client work in my business? 40:27

4d ago40:27

40:27

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Lately, I've been inspired to grow my non-client work and my unpaid projects into a bigger part of my business. I have a published book, a podcast, and regular events - but they're not closely related to each other! This makes it really hard to grow any one of them, let alone all of them,…

1
How can I pick myself up and move past failure in my business? 37:32

27d ago37:32

37:32

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Please can you talk more about the failure/success connection and how we can pick ourselves up and move past the failures when we’re struggling with our confidence and self belief? In today’s episode Sara and Jen dig into their relationship with failure in their business, why highs and lo…

1
How can I build my audience in a gentle way? 33:01

1M ago33:01

33:01

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am not great at the IG game, and I prefer to focus on sharing quality work versus creating reels that don't resonate with me and my style. Do you have any ideas on how to continue to build my audience without sacrificing my quieter style, "not in your face" approach, and build an email …

1
A business bestie chat for Spring 🌸 52:33

2M ago52:33

52:33

In this episode we catch up for spring and dive into what’s been going well in our businesses, what we’ve been finding challenging in this season, and what we’re working towards in our businesses right now too. If you’d love to listen to a really honest chat between two business besties, we recorded this episode for you. Links mentioned: Sara has s…

1
An office hour + free toolkit for you and your business 45:29

3M ago45:29

45:29

Jen here with two supportive resources for you today ✍🏻 First up: I have made an awesome and free new toolkit called 100 Hell Yes People to support you to make a gentle, joyful, and sustainable plan for reaching 100 hell yes people at a time in your business. I have been fully booked and thriving in my business since 2015 all thanks to this approac…

1
How do you handle the grief of limitations holding you back in your business? 40:55

4M ago40:55

40:55

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: How do you handle navigating the grief of feeling like your chronic illness has held you back in so many ways - and yet know that there's nothing else you'd rather do? I have so many ideas, so many things I want to create, and yet with my health recently being so challenging at times, I'v…

1
How do my Substack and website intersect? 42:47

6M ago42:47

42:47

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Like a lot of people, I’ve moved my newsletter from a more traditional email software product over to Substack. As a writer, I also host a lot of my work on my website in a blog. The intention was always for the blog to host SEO friendly pillar content and for the newsletter to speak to m…

1
Let’s talk about burnout, marketing, routines + more 58:06

6M ago58:06

58:06

In today’s episode Jen dives into twelve questions covering topics such as buiding your business in a way that honours your energetic needs, prioritising your goals with intention, routines and habits to work less and still get your important work done, simplifying marketing, recovering from burnout and more. If you’d prefer to watch a video with t…

1
A business bestie chat for 2024 1:14:38

6M ago1:14:38

1:14:38

To kickstart 2024 together we sat down for a business bestie chat where we asked each other: What are your goals and desires for your business and creative life this year? And where would you love to be five years from now and how do you want to work towards that vision in 2024? We talk about how it feels to be a decade into our business journey, t…

1
An end of year Q&A 51:42

8M ago51:42

51:42

In today’s episode, for our last episode of 2023, we’re diving into four listener questions covering stepping into a new arena in our work, feeling lonely in our business, structuring our days with intention, and the main challenges we’ve seen others and ourselves overcome in our business journey too. And today is the last day to join The Substack …

1
Ten gentle & joyful sales experiments to generate cashflow in your business 38:59

9M ago38:59

38:59

Is selling something that you feel overwhelmed by and often shy away from in your business? If so this episode is for you. In today’s episode Jen is sharing with you a sneak peak of one of the coaching sessions inside her group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business on Gentle & Joyful Sales Experiments To Generate Cashflow In Your Business. I’ll …

1
How can I make space for my needs in my business? 57:28

10M ago57:28

57:28

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Despite having a chronic illness, I show up fully to my clients - so how can I explain that I am 100% there for my clients at the times I make for them - but also be real about the reality of days where I can't even muster to have a shower? How can I share, in my communications - that I c…

1
Join Jen for her behind the scenes launch diary… 32:59

10M ago32:59

32:59

As I gear up for the next enrolment of my flagship group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business, I’m sharing a behind the scenes launch diary over on my solo podcast so that I can bring you along the journey with me and share all of the messy middle that comes with embarking on a launch in our business. I’m sharing the first episode of this launc…

1
I’m running out of stamina in my business - what should I do? 53:26

10M ago53:26

53:26

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am writing you from probably the lowest point I have encountered in my creative journey. This year has been hard for me. I feel a bit lost in my business and so so tired. I have been making pottery for over a decade, selling for about 6 years and working full time as an artist for 2. An…

1
Is Substack right for me and my business? 50:09

12M ago50:09

50:09

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am hanging on your every word about Substack. I just can't seem to shake this question: Is Substack really right for my business? And if so, am I doing it right? How should I think about it and prioritize it among the many other things I could be doing with my limited time and energy? B…

1
How can I expand my income potential as a service based business? 56:53

1y ago56:53

56:53

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I'm an artist and graphic designer and I run a one-woman creative studio. Like Jen, I'm very intentional about not hiring staff. If/when I get to a certain stage I would like to hire a VA or studio manager, but for now it's just me. I've raised my rates over the last year, and I have a st…

1
How could I grow and nurture my audience without using Instagram? 52:26

1y ago52:26

52:26

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Over the last year, I’ve found myself becoming less and less engaged and connected to Instagram as a form of marketing. I don’t enjoy creating videos. I don’t like being pressured into buying a blue tick just to stop my work being copied. But more importantly, it doesn’t align with my val…

1
How can I build a welcoming and engaged community? 1:01:59

1y ago1:01:59

1:01:59

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I'm building a supportive platform on Substack for therapists in private practice called 'Therapists Corner'. Therapists often work alone and I hope to create a space where they can find support, advice and guidance whenever they need to and have a genuine community. In part it will be ed…

1
Let’s talk about outsourcing and building a team 51:50

1y ago51:50

51:50

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Right now I’m taking a good hard look at what I can outsource in my business so that I can be free to do the stuff that I really love. Sara, you mentioned that you have an executive assistant, Jen do you ? If not, I’m really curious to know why not. I genuinely wonder whether it can poten…

1
Where should I focus my energy if I have limited time for marketing? 1:14:09

1y ago1:14:09

1:14:09

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I’m so happy you two are back! I listened to your podcast a few years ago when I was dreaming about creating a business, and now I’m actually starting one, so it’s perfect timing for me. I have a chronic illness that only allows me to work about 2 hours a day most days (although it fluctu…

1
What do I do when it feels like my audience have lost interest? 1:01:04

1y ago1:01:04

1:01:04

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am 6 years into running my business and I feel like I’m running out of steam. The beginning was hard, but then came the “Instagram high” with dozens of thousands of engaged followers. Everything felt so exciting and spacious, I felt like people wanted to see what I’m up to, follow my wo…

1
We’re Back! Do You Have a Letter You’d Love Us to Dive Into? 44:13

1+ y ago44:13

44:13

After a three year hiatus we are so excited to be coming back into your podcast feed today. In today’s episode we re-introduce this show after our 3 year break, share why we’re hosting this podcast on Substack this time around, share some updates from our own businesses since we last recorded, and invite you to submit a letter that you’d love us to…

1
Finding the courage and confidence to build the business you want to build 48:21

4y ago48:21

48:21

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to feel confident in their new business. Together they dive into the different ways we can all find courage and confidence in our own journeys, and share some encouragement for today’s letter writer moving forward too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.…

1
How can I steer my business into something more joyful and stress-free? 1:04:38

4y ago1:04:38

1:04:38

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is finding more joy, ease, and freedom in their business and life during this time of forced lockdown and is wondering how they can bring this into their daily life when they’re back to business as usual. Sara and Jen dive into how we can bring more freedom, ease, and joy into our busin…

1
Should I focus on creating products or building a community first? 1:00:16

4+ y ago1:00:16

1:00:16

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide whether to focus on creating products or building a community first. Today’s letter writer also shares a whole lot of fears that are holding them back at the moment too, so Sara and Jen dive into how today’s letter writer can feel confident and courageous in the …

1
How do I refocus and adjust in my business during a crisis? 55:03

4+ y ago55:03

55:03

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how best they can refocus and adjust in their business during this world health crisis. Sara and Jen explore how we can feel grounded in this time, how to re-route some of the goals and intentions that we set for ourselves this year, and why they believe we all still have p…

1
Should I keep selling in a crisis? 56:32

4+ y ago56:32

56:32

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how (and if) they should sell in this time while we all navigate this world health crisis. Together they explore how to make business decisions from a place of integrity in this season, how to navigate any feelings of fear and shame that comes with selling, and how they’re …

1
How do I decide where to focus next in my business? 38:50

4+ y ago38:50

38:50

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide where to focus next in their business. Together they dive into the lessons they’ve learned about finding focus in their own businesses and explore their advice and encouragement for today’s letter writer too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.…

1
How can I go from freelancer to business owner? 46:12

4+ y ago46:12

46:12

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who wants to take the freelance career they’ve built and turn it into a thriving business instead. Sara and Jen explore the difference between being a freelancer and a business owner, how you can start to develop a vision and a plan for your business, and the mindset shifts necessary to go …

1
Let’s talk about business burnout 47:17

4+ y ago47:17

47:17

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is battling with burnout in their business and is struggling to show up and run her business in this season. Sara and Jen share their own experiences with burnout, the lessons they’ve learned, and their advice and encouragement for today’s letter writer too. Links to the pages and artic…

1
Can I still build a business on Instagram? 33:00

5y ago33:00

33:00

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to find focus in their work and is curious as to whether or not they can still build a business on Instagram. Sara and Jen encourage today’s letter writer to think bigger than just Instagram when it comes to building their business, and share how they encourage them to get…

1
Ask Us Anything: Part 3 51:41

5y ago51:41

51:41

We’re coming back from our break with another ask us anything episode, diving into topics like how to deal with a bad client experience, how to prepare for starting a family when you’re self employed, whether or not to put your prices on your website and lots more! Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.co…

1
Automation, elimination, and delegation 29:22

5y ago29:22

29:22

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide what to automate, eliminate, and delegate in their business. Sara and Jen share their own approach to this in their business, the lessons they’ve learned, and their advice for anyone else struggling with this too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at:…

1
Let's talk about copycats 35:25

5y ago35:25

35:25

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling with their work being copied online. Copycats is such a tricky subject that so many of us have to navigate along the way, and in this episode Sara and Jen share their own experiences of being copied, how they deal with it, and the mindset they embrace when it comes to the …

1
Ask Us Anything: Part 2 29:36

5y ago29:36

29:36

In today’s episode Sara and Jen are diving into more listener questions, from our thoughts on Instagram potentially hiding like counts, our advice for being organised, how we motivate ourselves when we don’t feel like doing the work, navigating trolls online and more. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: https://www.lettersfromahopeful…

1
Ask Us Anything: Part 1 29:46

5y ago29:46

29:46

In today’s episode Sara and Jen are answering listener questions, from our advice for starting something new, navigating quiet seasons in business, how we approach setting short and long term goals, how to deal with people who don’t understand your business and more. Links to everything we mentioned will be on our website https://www.lettersfromaho…

1
What does it actually look like to build community online? 46:15

5+ y ago46:15

46:15

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is curious about what it actually looks like to build a community online. Together they explore the biggest lessons they’ve learned about building community online, why they don’t believe in trying to hack your way to audience growth, and why they believe the most important part of buil…

1
Mailing List Q&A 51:05

5+ y ago51:05

51:05

In today’s episode Sara and Jen are talking all things mailing lists and newsletters. Together they dive into building a mailing list, opt-in incentives, subject lines, how to decide what content belongs on your newsletter and more. If you’re thinking of starting a newsletter or want to be more intentional with the one you’ve already built this epi…

1
Should I invest in my business when it isn’t making any money yet? 41:58

5+ y ago41:58

41:58

In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is unsure as to whether or not to invest any money into their business before it makes a profit. They share their own experience of choosing when and when not to invest in their business, why they believe all investments in business are a leap of faith, and their advice for how to make …

1
Building your creative business during maternity leave 37:44

5+ y ago37:44

37:44

In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is hoping to build her creative business during her upcoming maternity leave. Sara shares her own experience of starting her business while on maternity leave, and Jen shares the lessons she's learned from seeing many of her clients go on this journey too. Together they explore why show…

1
Let’s talk about financial uncertainty when you’re self employed 36:26

5+ y ago36:26

36:26

In this episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is feeling anxious about becoming self employed because of the financial uncertainty that comes with this path. Sara and Jen share their own experiences of navigating financial uncertainty in their business, why we need to talk more about the financial reality of being self employed, and t…

1
Instagram Rapid Fire Q&A 49:18

5+ y ago49:18

49:18

In today's episode Sara and Jen are celebrating the launch of Sara's first book, Hashtag Authentic, by diving into listener questions all about Instagram. Together they explore topics such as losing followers, the new rules for sharing ads and gifted products, whether a consistent style and grid is actually important, having clearer boundaries onli…

1
When your dreams aren’t aligned with your everyday necessities 30:00

5+ y ago30:00

30:00

In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to build their dream business because they're so busy doing the work that currently pays the bills and provides for their family. Sara and Jen explore why we need to stop believing the lie that building a business is quick and easy, why we need more advice that recognises …

1
Do I have to be authentic and deep on Instagram to succeed? 43:01

5+ y ago43:01

43:01

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is asking whether or not they have to be authentic and deep on Instagram if they want to grow their community and achieve their goals online. They share whether or not they believe that you have to share intimate and vulnerable stories to succeed on Instagram (spoiler alert: you don’t),…

1
When you're not sure what you want to do next 32:32

5+ y ago32:32

32:32

In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is feeling burned out with blogging and is unsure of what they want to next. Together they explore how to deal with losing followers when you start to make a change, why we have to give ourselves permission to evolve and change, and their advice for how to uncover what it is you truly w…

1
To niche or not to niche? 32:55

5+ y ago32:55

32:55

In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide whether or not their business should be more niche. Together they explore why they don't believe in forcing yourself to find a niche, and instead why they believe in leaning into what makes you and your work special and unique. They share their own approach to ni…

1
When you’re afraid that you’re never going to make it happen 36:33

5+ y ago36:33

36:33

In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is afraid that they'll never actually make their business happen. Sara and Jen explore why so many of us can get stuck in that fear, why embracing being a beginner is the key to moving forward, and why they don't recommend falling into the trap of buying all of the courses and books and…

1
How can I make working from home more enjoyable? 44:03

5+ y ago44:03

44:03

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who isn’t enjoying working from home as much as they first thought that they would. Sara and Jen share what they’ve learned over the years about how to make working from home truly work for you, why they believe giving yourself permission to work from home in whatever way works best for you…

1
Let's talk about comparison 37:50

5+ y ago37:50

37:50

In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling with comparing herself to other people in her industry, even though her business is thriving. Sara and Jen share their own relationship with comparison, why they don't believe it can ever serve us as business owners, and their advice and encouragement for moving past it to…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

This Is A Podcast For Small Business Owners Ready To Feel Encouraged Inspired And Less Alone In Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide