Big Brave Business: Revolutionary Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Millennials with Sarah Heeter

Join accessibility advocates Erin Perkins, Ali Cameron, Michelle Beauchamp, and Erika Stanley as they tackle the pressing issue of business accessibility. Erin shares personal insights on promoting inclusion, while Ali discusses challenging disability narratives. Michelle emphasizes the importance of belonging and access to opportunities. Erika highlights how AI and branding can empower entrepreneurs. Together, they redefine accessibility by offering practical, actionable advice that small businesses can implement without breaking the bank. This roundtable conversation is both enlightening and motivating!

One thing the internet loves to talk about: the problems with the upcoming generation. I always took so much of the millennial commentary personally, until I realized every single generation gets the same judgment. In a world that is rapidly changing with evolving technology, ways of work, politics, and more... I thought it would be super interesting to bring a group of thought leaders together to explore how the way of work and leadership is changing for Gen Z and Generation Alpha. Meet Today's Speakers: Paulaska S. Ramirez is an exceptional leader and advocate who has dedicated her life to making a positive impact on the lives of first-generation women. As the Founder and Executive Director of Generation Fearless, she has set out to transform the experiences of first-generation women, helping them navigate the complexities of life with confidence and resilience. https://www.instagram.com/generation_fearless/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaskaramirez/ Samantha Fackler bridges the gap between Fortune 100 strategy and soulful entrepreneurship. With 13 years scaling brands like Apple, PayPal, and LinkedIn, plus four successful businesses of her own, she brings a rare blend of corporate expertise and intuitive leadership to women building remarkable companies. https://www.instagram.com/samantha.fackler/⁠ ⁠https://www.samanthafackler.com/⁠ Emily Adams is a seasoned leadership development expert, holistic coach, and transformational speaker who blends over a decade of professional experience with a deeply personal journey of resilience and self-discovery. A graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, Emily has dedicated her career to cultivating leaders, optimizing business operations, and driving sustainable growth. https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyadamsoperationalefficiency/ https://transformativeleadershipllc.com/ Sarah K. Heeter is the dynamic CEO of Podfox Media, the force behind 5,000+ episodes reaching millions across 120+ countries. Host of the award-nominated Big Brave Business podcast, Sarah electrifies audiences speaking on podcasting strategy, ethical leadership, and inclusive entrepreneurship. She serves as the NAWBO Phoenix Director of Public Policy and teaches public policy at Arizona State University while championing integrity-driven business transformation. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://launchmyshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Join Sarah at Be You Brand Live in Las Vegas Sept 25-27, 2025https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/USE CODE SARAHH FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET!

Join Taina Brown, a former feminist scholar and strategy expert; Cheryl Ham, a creative entrepreneur and coach; and Regyna Curtis, a soul rhythm activator and business mentor, as they tackle the hazards of hustle culture. They share personal struggles with toxic productivity and redefine success based on well-being and fulfillment. The trio discusses the importance of boundaries, representation, and self-care in creating sustainable business practices. Plus, they reveal how joy can be rediscovered through connections and shared passions.

If you know me, you know I'm in my AI exploration era. But this hasn't come naturally to me, because the ethical complications around AI, especially generative AI, have literally kept me up at night. That's why I knew one of the first conversations we needed to have on season 3 is all abut the ethics of AI usage. My guests this week are Erika Stanley and AnnMarie Rose, two of my favorite friends and peers who lead with ethics and core values... and also use a lot of AI in creative ways in their businesses. Meet Today's Speakers: Erika Stanley is a branding and AI strategist, the founder of Mile End Digital and the AI Queens Society. She helps brilliant, ambitious women entrepreneurs scale with smart AI systems and magnetic branding that attracts dream clients and builds authority. https://aiqueens.substack.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.erikastanley.com/ AnnMarie Rose is a Life-Proof Business Scaling Strategist with nearly a decade of experience helping coaches, consultants and service providers leverage their zone of genius to scale their businesses with clarity, confidence and strategic intention. annmarierose.com/everything instagram.com/askannmarierose Sarah K. Heeter is the dynamic CEO of Podfox Media, the force behind 5,000+ episodes reaching millions across 100+ countries. With 15+ years in marketing and branding, she's catapulted numerous podcasts to become top performers worldwide. Host of the award-nominated Big Brave Business podcast, Sarah electrifies audiences speaking on podcasting strategy, ethical leadership, and inclusive entrepreneurship. She serves as the NAWBO Phoenix Director of Public Policy and teaches public policy at Arizona State University while championing integrity-driven business transformation. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://launchmyshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Resources mentioned in this episode: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/25/microsoft-cancels-some-of-its-ai-data-center-leases/ In lieu of the study I mentioned, which I couldn't easily find again, here is an alternative well-researched essay with cited sources: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beef-vs-bytes-real-climate-issue-isnt-genai-chris-vitale-usbae/ Join Sarah at Be You Brand Live in Las Vegas Sept 25-27, 2025https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/USE CODE SARAHH FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET!

What does it mean to create a brand that stands for something, and why does it matter? This week we are opening season 3, which looks a little bit different! Each week, we'll be opening the podcast with a Big Question, and some of the bravest thought leaders in online business will come together to mastermind our way through the question. Today's episode is all about mission driven branding, and why that is so important. Meet Today's Speakers: Mayra Gomez-Sanchez is a proud Latina - the founder & CEO of Cultural Visionaries™️ - where she specializes as a launch & sales copywriter. She helps ethical online business owners experience financial growth while being inclusive for the socially conscious public. Mayra values authenticity, influence, and meaningful work in every piece of work she writes. https://www.instagram.com/culturalvisionaries/ https://www.mayragsanchezagency.com/ Erika Stanley is a branding and AI strategist, the founder of Mile End Digital and the AI Queens Society. She helps brilliant, ambitious women entrepreneurs scale with smart AI systems and magnetic branding that attracts dream clients and builds authority. https://aiqueens.substack.com/ https://www.erikastanley.com/ Jacki Hayes is the founder of Jacki Hayes & Co., a boutique agency that empowers coaches and consultants with tailored strategic and operational support. Known for her grounded wisdom and no-BS approach, Jacki is also the host of the Here's What I Learned podcast, where she shares insights on navigating business and life with joy. Her signature offer, Lead to Love, provides a holistic, custom-built client experience system, guiding clients through lead management, onboarding, client care, and offboarding. Jacki’s background in ecology informs her unique perspective on system-level thinking, creating valuable transformations for clients who want balanced, joyful businesses. https://www.jackihayes.co https://www.instagram.com/jackihayes_obm Siobhan Strode is a mentor for change-makers—and your resident Feminist Killjoy. Over the past decade, she’s worn many hats: teacher, business owner, Councillor, union and Labour Party Chair, social justice campaigner, and mum to three boys (plus one chaotic collie). But in her twenties, Siobhan played small in workplaces that didn’t value her voice. It wasn’t until she left teaching that she truly found it—and stepped into leadership. What made that transformation possible? Sisterhood. Now, through This Sister Speaks, Siobhan helps others raise their voices and lead the change they’ve been dreaming of. Together, she believes, we don’t just make waves—we shift the whole bloody tide. https://www.instagram.com/thissisterscribes Sarah K. Heeter is the dynamic CEO of Podfox Media, the force behind 5,000+ episodes reaching millions across 100+ countries. With 15+ years in marketing and branding, she's catapulted numerous podcasts to become top performers worldwide. Host of the award-nominated Big Brave Business podcast, Sarah electrifies audiences speaking on podcasting strategy, ethical leadership, and inclusive entrepreneurship. She serves as the NAWBO Phoenix Director of Public Policy and teaches public policy at Arizona State University while championing integrity-driven business transformation. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://launchmyshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Join Sarah at Be You Brand Live in Las Vegas Sept 25-27, 2025https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/USE CODE SARAHH FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET!

My guest this week shares about how she's rebranding health setbacks due to developing chronic illness to her redemption era. There is so much to unpack there - about work and accesibility, enterpreneurship as a literal life-saving measure, and resilience after trauma. But furthermore, this has become part of the way Jessica Naves runs her design business, helping event hosts put together events for all people in a variety of bodies. Meet Jessica Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jessica Naves is a visual storyteller who creates everything from chaotic quirky stickers, pins, and patches to multi-million-dollar proposals for major companies. You may have seen her designs for clients in magazines such as Dope, MPI or USA Today. Over the past 20 years she has used her marketing and graphic design expertise for corporate clients and recently expanded her services to visual and literary artists. Her company, Jessica Naves Creates, helps both types of clients present their work to the best of their ability. Connect with Jessica https://jessicanaves.com https://stickoftheart.com Come to Be You Brand Live and hear me speak again this fall! ⁠https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/⁠ This is an affiliate link :) About Sarah: Sarah K. Heeter is the dynamic CEO of Podfox Media, the force behind 5,000+ episodes reaching millions across 100+ countries. With 15+ years in marketing and branding, she's catapulted numerous podcasts to become top performers worldwide. Host of the award-nominated Big Brave Business podcast, Sarah electrifies audiences speaking on podcasting strategy, ethical leadership, and inclusive entrepreneurship. She serves as the NAWBO Phoenix Director of Public Policy and teaches public policy at Arizona State University while championing integrity-driven business transformation. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. ⁠⁠⁠https://launchmyshow.com/⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Join Sarah at Be You Brand Live in Las Vegas Sept 25-27, 2025https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/USE CODE SARAHH FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET!

Sara Hollander joins me on the podcast this week to talk about getting outside of your comfort zone and learning from people outside of your industry. It can be easy to get stuck in learning only from other people who do the same kind of business you do, and who have come before you or achieved what you are dreaming of. But the real magic, and the real innovation, comes from getting out of the echo chamber and building relationships with people in completely different industries and learning from them. Meet Sara: Sara Hollander is the owner of Paradise Road Travel, a boutique travel agency focused on creating meaningful and personalized travel experiences. Her journey as an entrepreneur began with a vision to make travel planning easy or busy professionals, helping them truly enjoy travel without the stress of organizing the details. Connect with Sara: https://www.paradiseroadtravel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/paradise.road.travel/ Come to Be You Brand Live and hear me speak again this fall! https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/ This is an affiliate link :) About Sarah: Sarah K. Heeter is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator, speaker, and advocate for values-driven leadership. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and operations, she is the founder and CEO of Podfox Media, a globally recognized podcast production company, and the host of the globally-ranked podcast Big Brave Business, where she explores business ethics and revolutionary leadership. Sarah is also a member of the marketing and public policy committees for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Phoenix Chapter and teaches public policy at Arizona State University. She is passionate about inspiring businesses to prioritize integrity, inclusivity, and connection in their decision-making and leadership. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. ⁠⁠https://launchmyshow.com/⁠⁠ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Join Sarah at Be You Brand Live in Las Vegas Sept 25-27, 2025https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/USE CODE SARAHH FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET!

When was the last time you paused to ask, "Why am I doing this?" This week on the Big Brave Business podcast, I spoke with Deb Podlogar (The Mocktail Mom) about something we all struggle with as entrepreneurs: questioning our current direction while fighting the pull of shiny object syndrome. Deb's journey represents a powerful business transformation. What began as simply "taking a break from alcohol" in 2021 evolved into what she calls a "mocktail empire" – complete with a book, membership, summit, podcast, and thriving social media community. Yet despite this success, Deb found herself at a crossroads, questioning whether her current business offerings still aligned with her evolving self. This conversation challenges one of entrepreneurship's most persistent myths: that consistency above all else equals success. While there's value in staying focused, rigid adherence to initial business plans can become a limitation rather than a strength. Meet Deb: Deb Podlogar, widely known as Mocktail Mom®️, embarked on a transformative journey when she chose to part ways with Chardonnay. This decision led her to discover a variety of delicious, alcohol-free beverages. Deb resides near Louisville, KY, is married, and is the proud mother of two daughters, Hannah (22) and Lily (17). Throughout her 40s, Deb faced a series of significant challenges, including her eldest daughter's critical illness, a divorce, breast cancer, a double mastectomy, and the loss of both parents to dementia. During these tumultuous years, wine became a comforting companion. However, she realized that while alcohol was numbing her pain, it was also diminishing the joy in her life. Approaching her 50th birthday, Deb decided it was time for a change and stopped drinking on December 31, 2020. Initially aiming to moderate her intake, she discovered that she felt remarkably better without alcohol and embraced sobriety. Just ten days into her alcohol-free journey, Deb launched her Instagram account to inspire others to seek alternatives to alcohol. Breaking up with booze has proven to be one of her best decisions ever. Deb hosts the "Thriving Alcohol-Free with Mocktail Mom" podcast and runs a membership program for women looking to connect online over mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. She also organizes The Mocktail Summit, a global online event in January designed to educate and support those interested in alcohol-free options. Deb's recipe book, The Happiest Hour: Delicious Mocktails for a Fabulous Moms' Night In, is out now and has been enjoyed by thousands of people looking for easy recipes to make at home.  Follow Deb on Instagram for recipes, tips, tricks, and menopause-related fun: @Mocktail.Mom. For more information, visit her website at MocktailMom.com. About Sarah: Sarah K. Heeter is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator, speaker, and advocate for values-driven leadership. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and operations, she is the founder and CEO of Podfox Media, a globally recognized podcast production company, and the host of the globally-ranked podcast Big Brave Business, where she explores business ethics and revolutionary leadership. Sarah is also a member of the marketing and public policy committees for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Phoenix Chapter and teaches public policy at Arizona State University. She is passionate about inspiring businesses to prioritize integrity, inclusivity, and connection in their decision-making and leadership. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. ⁠https://launchmyshow.com/⁠ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/⁠ ⁠https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter ⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness

This week, I welcome back my friend Hady Mendez to discuss how we navigate uncertain times while staying true to our missions. As DEI programs face backlash and many organizations retreat from their commitments, Hady shares how she's responding with renewed purpose and determination through writing a book focused on helping underestimated employees reclaim their power. Our conversation explores how resilience isn't just a skillset but a gift passed down through generations. Hady opens up about her journey from experiencing workplace microaggressions to becoming an advocate for others, illustrating how personal experiences can transform into powerful tools for change in a system that won't be fixed overnight. Key Takeaways: Community matters now more than ever—surrounding yourself with like-minded people creates sanctuary when external environments become hostile Self-care isn't selfish—it's strategic and essential for long-term advocacy work Ancestral wisdom and resilience are gifts we can tap into during difficult times Individual action still matters, even when systemic change feels impossible Representation in business literature creates powerful "me too" moments that help others feel less alone Creating boundaries around news consumption and social media is a survival mechanism, not avoidance Whether you're feeling the weight of recent cultural shifts or looking for courage to continue your own advocacy work, this conversation reminds me that joy itself is an act of resistance and that finding your people might be the most revolutionary act of all. Connect with Hady: Hady is a Latina speaker and ERG coach based in NYC that works with ERGs looking to take their efforts to the next level. She is the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, a company that is transforming the professional experiences of women and people of color by empowering underrepresented employees with the skills to self-advocate, self-promote, and capitalize on leadership roles within Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and throughout organizations. With a diverse career spanning over 25 years, Hady has served as Head of Equality for a major tech firm, held multiple customer-facing roles in high tech and financial services, served as a leader and advisor across various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), volunteered as an international champion for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, and served as Community School Director at an elementary school in the South Bronx. In her free time, Hady is an amateur street art photographer and an avid podcast listener. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadymendez https://www.boldlyspeakingllc.com About Sarah: Sarah K. Heeter is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator, speaker, and advocate for values-driven leadership. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and operations, she is the founder and CEO of Podfox Media, a globally recognized podcast production company, and the host of the globally-ranked podcast Big Brave Business, where she explores business ethics and revolutionary leadership. Sarah is also a member of the marketing and public policy committees for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Phoenix Chapter and teaches public policy at Arizona State University. She is passionate about inspiring businesses to prioritize integrity, inclusivity, and connection in their decision-making and leadership. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. https://launchmyshow.com/ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Join Sarah at Be You Brand Live in Las Vegas Sept 25-27, 2025https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/USE CODE SARAHH FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET!

In 2020, corporations couldn't post their black squares fast enough. DEI statements flowed like wine. Budgets materialized overnight. Promises were made with the conviction of zealots. And now? Those same companies are scrubbing DEI language from their websites faster than you can say "political backlash." In this week's episode with DEI and Learning & Development leader Noelle Johnson, we confronted this disturbing reality head-on: the rapid dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts happening across American business. Meet Noelle Johnson Noelle Johnson is a DEI and Learning & Development leader with over a decade of experience helping organizations build truly inclusive workplaces. As a consultant, speaker, and advocate, she specializes in embedding DEI into company culture, leadership development, and equitable talent strategies that go beyond performative initiatives. Noelle has worked with global organizations, HR leaders, and tech companies to create mentorship programs, sponsorship initiatives, and leadership training that drive real impact. She’s passionate about advocacy, systemic change, and making workplaces places where everyone can thrive. Connect with Noelle: https://heynoelle.com https://tiktok.com/@yourdeiguide About Sarah: Sarah K. Heeter is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator, speaker, and advocate for values-driven leadership. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and operations, she is the founder and CEO of Podfox Media, a globally recognized podcast production company, and the host of the globally-ranked podcast Big Brave Business, where she explores business ethics and revolutionary leadership. Sarah is also a member of the marketing and public policy committees for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Phoenix Chapter and teaches public policy at Arizona State University. She is passionate about inspiring businesses to prioritize integrity, inclusivity, and connection in their decision-making and leadership. Launch Your Own Podcast: Podfox offers a 100% free, private strategy session for anyone thinking of starting a podcast. https://launchmyshow.com/ Connect with Sarah Heeter & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Join Sarah at Be You Brand Live in Las Vegas Sept 25-27, 2025https://skheeter--atigbranding.thrivecart.com/be-you-brand-2025/USE CODE SARAHH FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET!