Real wedding vendors share their tips and tricks for surviving and thriving in this one of a kind industry. Hosted by The Planner’s Vault’s Megan Gillikin, you'll hear guests share their secrets on marketing, the client experience, networking, community, sales, and more - and you might even hear some crazy wedding stories along the way!
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(Encore) Professional Etiquette Tips for Wedding Pros, with Lisa Lyons
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Lisa Lyons has been in the wedding industry for 19 years, but she has been drawn to etiquette her entire life. And in 2020 she got the certification to help wedding pros take their etiquette to the next level. But in this modern era of traditions changing, what does wedding etiquette even mean? Lisa Lyons Events and Etiquette --- This episode is br…
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270. Sell More With Storytelling, with Kelly Swanson
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Motivational speaker and award-winning storyteller Kelly Swanson advises wedding professionals (and all business owners who want more sales), "Don't sell the service. Sell the story." But how do we do that when we're not sure what story to tell. Is it the story of me? Is it the brand story? Is it the couple's story? The thing is, if we can merge th…
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(Encore) Carving Out Your Own Niche, with Lindsay Lucas
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Lindsay Lucas is THE wedding venue consultant. She's a former wedding planner who now helps venue owners (and those aspiring to be) to create profitable and sustainable wedding venue businesses. Lindsay had the idea for a complete shift in her business, but it wasn’t easy convincing herself that this was the best way to go. Today, we talk about if …
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Boosting Belonging at Work, with Smiley Poswolsky
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When you hear the word "belonging", what do you think of? Maybe you think of wedding pros, because we're welcoming, ambitious, kind-hearted, and badass business owners. Maybe it's finding your people to share your goals and dreams with - it's that positive feeling we get when we feel respected. As a business owner, I want my team, my clients, my ve…
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(Encore) How to get on a wedding venue's preferred list, with Shannon Tarrant
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Fill out this survey and give us your feedback for a chance to win a $50 Amazon.com gift card and be part of shaping the future of Weddings For Real! https://www.megangillikin.com/podcast-survey -- One of the most frequent questions we get in The Planners Vault is, How can I get on the preferred vendor list at the best wedding venue in my market? O…
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266. Perfect Your Pitch, with Quinn Conyers
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When you're pitching your services to potential clients, are you using Luxury Language? Or are you using Discount Dialect? Today, Quinn Conyers tells us the difference, and how strategic word choice can make pitches irresistible. She also introduces the concept of a "verbal business card" that captivates potential clients - as long as you can artic…
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(Encore) Money Mindset for Wedding Pros, with Denise Duffield-Thomas
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Do you have money mindset blocks that are preventing your business from growing and preventing you from leading your best life? Maybe you believe that you don't deserve to charge more yet. Or maybe you believe you shouldn't charge more because you love what you do. Or maybe you think there's a new competitor popping up every day who charges so litt…
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264. How to Add Corporate Events to Your Revenue Stream and Portfolio
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Rachel Sheerin, keynote speaker and Megan's first business coach, is guest-hosting this episode. She comes from a wedding background before shifting into corporate events and eventually speaking on the biggest stages. Today, Rachel brings on Carrie Davenport to discuss how wedding vendors can start adding corporate events to their portfolios and re…
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(Encore) 5 Ways to Get More Referrals in Your Wedding Business
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"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life." - Mary Kay Ash Keep that quote in mind for this solo episode, as Megan Gillikin is giving her 5 tips for getting more referrals from your fellow wedding pros. --- Today's ep…
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262. What Engaged Couples Want (2024 Edition, Part 2)
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On this episode (listen to part 1 here), we ask engaged couples the questions you can’t really ask when they reach out to you. But we can! Questions like: How are you finding your wedding vendors? Instagram? Website? TikTok? Do you need to see pricing on the website? Do you want a consultation call, or do you just want info sent by email? How do yo…
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261. What Engaged Couples Want (2024 Edition, Part 1)
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34:01
On this episode, we ask engaged couples the questions you can’t really ask when they reach out to you. But we can! Questions like: How are you finding your wedding vendors? Instagram? Website? TikTok? Do you need to see pricing on the website? Do you want a consultation call, or do you just want info sent by email? How do you determine budget? And …
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260. Unraveling and Walking Away from Entrepreneurship, with Inez Ribustello
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The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Inez Ribustello, whose unraveling started back on September 11, 2001, when she lost nearly all of her colleagues in the terrorist attacks. At 25 years old, Inez had hustled her …
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259. 5 Tips So Taxes Don't Keep You Up at Night, with CPA Tatiana Podel
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With finances, I still have blocks (listen to the intro) preventing me from fully feeling comfortable and empowered when it comes to things like tax planning, KPIs, and projections. I’ve learned through conversations with wedding pros and my own real life experiences that overwhelm can lead to avoidance, so my goal is to make conversations like thi…
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258. Top 3 Priorities for Booking Season Success (+ Bonus Training!)
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Today we're tackling engagement and booking season, and I'm going to share three strategies and mindset shifts that will help your business stand out, resonate more with your ideal clients, and help you book more easily this year - no matter what vendor category you're in. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership …
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At the end of last year, I sent out a survey to my email list asking them to share what they want more of and what they want less of in 2024. And at the end, I had a spot for them to share openly about anything they had on their mind, or share a question they want me to answer. There were so many great questions that I decided to kick off this year…
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256. 2023 Year in Review: Wins, Misses, Highlights, and Goals for 2024
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Megan and Jason Gillikin talk about their wins for 2023, their misses, most memorable moments, and goals for 2024. Tune in and reflect along. Share your 2023 reflections on social media @weddingsforreal. Past Year-End Recaps: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planne…
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Your Guide to Balancing Entrepreneurship & Relationships: Insights from Megan & Jason on the Hustle & Gather Podcast
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This week, we're taking a little adventure to explore the not-so-glamorous side of balancing entrepreneurship with personal life. I'm thrilled to share an episode with you where for the first time ever my husband Jason and I teamed up as guests on another entrepreneur podcast called Hustle + Gather. This is a behind-the-scenes look at being busy en…
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Book the Top Package, from the Own Your Business Podcast
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Today we’re sharing an episode of the Own Your Business Podcast, which I was a guest on earlier this year. My friend Sam Jacobson and I talk about how wedding pros can book more couples at higher packages. This has nothing to do with "sales tactics". It’s all about empathy and understanding customer needs, creating an effective pricing proposal, an…
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253. Feeling Burned Out? This Unraveling Is For You
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The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Amber Melanie Smith, the Founder and Executive Director of Activate Good, a non-profit she has run for her entire adult life. As you can imagine, fighting the good fight can be …
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252. Worst Client Experience, Garbage Advice, and the Mistake I Keep Making: Hot Takes with Megan
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It's Hot Takes Time. I'll be talking about some common business advice that I think is garbage, my best advice for hiring new team members, one hard lesson I had to learn this year in business, the goal strategy I swear by, and the biggest mistake I see business owners making right now. Previous Hot Takes Episodes: 224. Wedding Industry Hot Takes w…
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Building Relationships as Your Business Superpower (Brands that Book Share)
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I’m getting lots of DMs and questions about building relationships and superfans and thought that sharing an episode I was a guest on from earlier this year would be a great listen for you this week! So if building more meaningful relationships that fuel your business growth is on your radar for 2024, this episode is for you! So today, you’ll be he…
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250. Podcast Roundup: WeddingMBA, Workcations, and Getting Off The Hustle Hamster Wheel
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Hey friends! Today's episode is a short roundup of a few things I want to share with you, including my thoughts on my upcoming trip to Wedding MBA, my recent Planners Vault Workcation, tips for you on planning your own Workcation, and a quick hitting conversation with my friend Ashley Ebert of The Abundance Group on how to know if you've hired the …
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250. Podcast Roundup: WeddingMBA, Workcations, and Getting Off The Hustle Hamster Wheel
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28:44
Hey friends! Today's episode is a short roundup of a few things I want to share with you, including my thoughts on my upcoming trip to Wedding MBA, my recent Planners Vault Workcation, tips for you on planning your own Workcation, and a quick hitting conversation with my friend Ashley Ebert of The Abundance Group on how to know if you've hired the …
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249. 4 Referral-Boosting Relationship Strategies for Wedding Pros
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After 12 years as a wedding planner, I can say this with deep conviction. The number one way I built my business from unknown and scrappy to respected, referred and booked out year after year - was from referrals. These referrals were what allowed me to be able to hire team members, raise our rates and eventually sell my business last year so I cou…
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248. Messaging Matters: Exclusive Insights from Luxury Wedding PR Expert Natalie Denyse
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Over the years, I've had countless conversations with wedding pros about the constant challenge of nailing down their business messaging and how they are perceived in their market. While the landscape of marketing as a whole has evolved, the core issues remain unchanged. So, what's on every wedding pro's mind? I hear questions like: Where should I …
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248. Messaging Matters: Exclusive Insights from Luxury Wedding PR Expert Natalie Denyse
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37:12
Over the years, I've had countless conversations with wedding pros about the constant challenge of nailing down their business messaging and how they are perceived in their market. While the landscape of marketing as a whole has evolved, the core issues remain unchanged. So, what's on every wedding pro's mind? I hear questions like: Where should I …
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247. 10 Strategies Busy Season Stress and Everyday Life Overwhelm (Megan Solo)
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Are you struggling to balance too many commitments with a never ending to-do list? (Raising my hand with you) Maybe you're feeling that that stress is in an all time high. and you're paddling through the Sea of Overwhelm with a leaky boat. Well today, I've got 10 stress-reducing tips to help you through! Episodes Mentioned: 244. BTS of My Industry …
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247. 10 Strategies for Busy Season Stress and Everyday Life Overwhelm (Megan Solo)
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23:47
Are you struggling to balance too many commitments with a never ending to-do list? (Raising my hand with you) Maybe you're feeling that that stress is in an all time high. and you're paddling through the Sea of Overwhelm with a leaky boat. Well today, I've got 10 stress-reducing tips to help you through! Episodes Mentioned: 244. BTS of My Industry …
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246. Hot Takes on Tech and AI for Wedding Pros, with Dawn Richardson
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It's time for some more hot takes, this time with the Tech Savvy Creative, and all about the latest tech and AI trends in our industry. We’ll be answering questions like: Is AI all it’s cracked up to be? What apps are overrated, and what apps are overlooked? And maybe most importantly, what happens when dozens of people recommend hundreds of differ…
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246. Hot Takes on Tech and AI for Wedding Pros, with Dawn Richardson
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49:48
It's time for some more hot takes, this time with the Tech Savvy Creative, and all about the latest tech and AI trends in our industry. We’ll be answering questions like: Is AI all it’s cracked up to be? What apps are overrated, and what apps are overlooked? And maybe most importantly, what happens when dozens of people recommend hundreds of differ…
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245. Unraveling, with Michelle Norwood
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The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Michelle Norwood, New Orleans based international event planner. Michelle has been featured in Vogue, the New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, and BRIDES magazine, and she m…
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245. Unraveling, with Michelle Norwood
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42:36
The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Michelle Norwood, New Orleans based international event planner. Michelle has been featured in Vogue, the New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, and BRIDES magazine, and she m…
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244. BTS of My Industry Educators' Retreat #YachtForReal
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Recently one of small-group coaching students said to me, "Megan, when I think about you and other educators, it's like you're floating by on this deluxe yacht, living the life. You're all 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,' sipping champagne and getting fed grapes. And here I am, clinging to a capsizing dinghy with a single oar, just praying a ti…
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244. BTS of My Industry Educators' Retreat #YachtForReal
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47:08
Recently one of small-group coaching students said to me, "Megan, when I think about you and other educators, it's like you're floating by on this deluxe yacht, living the life. You're all 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,' sipping champagne and getting fed grapes. And here I am, clinging to a capsizing dinghy with a single oar, just praying a ti…
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243. How this photographer made $9M in digital downloads
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I’ve heard this question from a lot of you out there listening and engaging with us on social media, and from a lot of members of The Planner's Vault community: How can I generate money while I sleep? How can I get paid on more than just my time? Two weeks ago on episode 241, Kendra Swalls came on to share her ideas on generating affiliate income. …
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243. How this photographer made $9M in digital downloads
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57:53
I’ve heard this question from a lot of you out there listening and engaging with us on social media, and from a lot of members of The Planner's Vault community: How can I generate money while I sleep? How can I get paid on more than just my time? Two weeks ago on episode 241, Kendra Swalls came on to share her ideas on generating affiliate income. …
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242. Stepping into Education in the Wedding Industry, with Laylee Emadi
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37:45
Have I ever told you about the required public speaking class I put off until my last semester of undergrad? I was shaky nervous, and the speech on how to make a latte? It didn't go so well. I've evolved since then, but I still get nervous every time I get on stage. Maybe you're in the same boat, or you want to know how to tiptoe into public speaki…
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242. Stepping into Education in the Wedding Industry, with Laylee Emadi
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36:44
Have I ever told you about the required public speaking class I put off until my last semester of undergrad? I was shaky nervous, and the speech on how to make a latte? It didn't go so well. I've evolved since then, but I still get nervous every time I get on stage. Maybe you're in the same boat, or you want to know how to tiptoe into public speaki…
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241. Double Your Revenue, Not Your Work: A Guide to Affiliate Income, with Kendra Swalls
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You're in a high-stress industry, your weekends are gold, and nobody's got time for filler content or fluff. That's why today's topic is super relevant - we're diving into affiliate income. Yep, we're talking about ways to diversify your income streams without doubling your workload. By the end of this episode, you'll have a toolbox filled with ide…
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241. Double Your Revenue, Not Your Work: A Guide to Affiliate Income, with Kendra Swalls
52:14
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52:14
You're in a high-stress industry, your weekends are gold, and nobody's got time for filler content or fluff. That's why today's topic is super relevant - we're diving into affiliate income. Yep, we're talking about ways to diversify your income streams without doubling your workload. By the end of this episode, you'll have a toolbox filled with ide…
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240. Legit Strategies for Marketing in the Messy Middle, with Tayler Cusick-Hollman
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The Messy Middle - it's one of those business owner struggles that we all go through. And over the years, with the rise of more social media platforms and more places than ever before to show up, yet no more magical hours added to our days... creating a marketing strategy in the messy middle feels like a vague and far-reaching concept that can make…
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240. Legit Strategies for Marketing in the Messy Middle, with Tayler-Cusick Holman
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53:05
The Messy Middle - it's one of those business owner struggles that we all go through. And over the years, with the rise of more social media platforms and more places than ever before to show up, yet no more magical hours added to our days... creating a marketing strategy in the messy middle feels like a vague and far-reaching concept that can make…
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239. Use This Strategy to Stand Out in a Crowded Wedding Industry: Insights with Emily Coyne
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58:48
Have you ever wondered what makes a truly unforgettable experience stand out from the usual client interactions that often end up looking pretty much the same? It's not just the fancy website or the five-star venue or the fancy menu. The answer might surprise you, but it's all about intuitive service and brand standards. It's about understanding th…
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239. Use This Strategy to Stand Out in a Crowded Wedding Industry: Insights with Emily Coyne
57:46
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57:46
Have you ever wondered what makes a truly unforgettable experience stand out from the usual client interactions that often end up looking pretty much the same? It's not just the fancy website or the five-star venue or the fancy menu. The answer might surprise you, but it's all about intuitive service and brand standards. It's about understanding th…
…
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1
238. Unraveling, with Natalie Franke
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50:35
The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Natalie Franke, cofounder of The Rising Tide Society, Chief Evangelist at Honeybook, host of the Independent Business Podcast, and author of Gutsy: Learning to Live with Bold, B…
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238. Unraveling, with Natalie Franke
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49:33
The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Natalie Franke, cofounder of The Rising Tide Society, Chief Evangelist at Honeybook, host of the Independent Business Podcast, and author of Gutsy: Learning to Live with Bold, B…
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237. The Life for Real Rollercoaster Ride with Megan and Jason
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Over the last five years, I've spent countless episodes diving into the behind the scenes of working in the wedding industry. But in this special Life for Real series, I decided to take a meaningful detour to explore and dive deep into some of the harder to navigate aspects of life itself. And let's just say it's been quite a rollercoaster ride - f…
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237. The Life for Real Rollercoaster Ride with Megan and Jason
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44:29
Over the last five years, I've spent countless episodes diving into the behind the scenes of working in the wedding industry. But in this special Life for Real series, I decided to take a meaningful detour to explore and dive deep into some of the harder to navigate aspects of life itself. And let's just say it's been quite a rollercoaster ride - f…
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236. Life for Real: Miscommunications, Mental Load, and Meltdown Moments, with Couples Therapist Dr. Tracy D
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Today's episode focuses on our life partners. That’s right, we went there, with psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleigh, who’s letting me ask her all the questions on how stress in a relationship can affect how you show up professionally, the mental load that we share with our partners, meltdown moments (ok MY meltdown moments), and …
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236. Life for Real: Miscommunications, Mental Load, and Meltdown Moments, with Couples Therapist Dr. Tracy D
57:06
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57:06
Today's episode focuses on our life partners. That’s right, we went there, with psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleigh, who’s letting me ask her all the questions on how stress in a relationship can affect how you show up professionally, the mental load that we share with our partners, meltdown moments (ok MY meltdown moments), and …
…
continue reading