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

One thing I've always been adamant about (and will *literally never stop talking about*) is that when you first start a business, your priority should be making money—not building an audience. Building an audience is a long game. It takes time to see significant returns. Meanwhile, rent is due. Big influencer business coaches always give advice about what they would do if they were starting over today, but it's so out of touch to anyone who hasn't been making $100,000+/month! But... eventually... you reach a point where you have no choice but to prioritize audience building in order to grow. Aaand if I'm being really honest? That's where I am in my business. And my guest this week, AnnMarie, feels that way, too! Meet AnnMarie: AnnMarie Rose is an 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. She and her team have helped hundreds of business owners navigate growth mode with ease by aligning their business model to their vision, refining their offer suite and positioning, streamlining their marketing and sales systems, and dialing in an a-player team so they can elevate their impact and income without overwhelm, chaos or burnout. Connect with AnnMarie: annmarierose.com/everything instagram.com/askannmarierose 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 this week's Big Brave Business episode, Alison Smith completely flips the script on what resilience actually means—and it's not about constantly bouncing back from hardship. Resilience isn't about recovery from challenges. It's about "springing back into the shape of ourselves." Alison shares the etymology of "thrive," which actually means "to grasp to oneself." Most of us have been sold this narrative that thriving means achievement, hustling, and end-goal success. But what if thriving simply means holding onto your sturdy center, especially when the world is trying to knock you off balance? Meet Alison: Alison Smith is an author, speaker, and coach dedicated to empowering leaders to build unshakeable resilience, foster deep-rooted confidence, and create meaningful impact by aligning their actions with their core vision and values. She helps her clients to leverage the power of small acts of resilience to design thriving personal and professional lives. Her work has been featured in various publications, and her book, “Drawing Your Line: Setting Boundaries Step by Step”, guides many to healthier living. Outside of work, she enjoys a good book with a glass of wine and spending time with her husband and two kids. Connect with Alison: https://thethrivedesigner.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-thrive-designer/ 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!

Alejandra Pereyra, a business coach from Buenos Aires, helps women transition from employees to confident entrepreneurs. In this conversation, she explores emotional intelligence as a vital tool for self-acceptance, discussing the shift from people-pleasing to valuing oneself. They delve into imposter syndrome, normalizing it as part of growth, and emphasize the need for joyful 'puppy energy' in entrepreneurship. Alejandra advocates for nurturing behaviors and celebrating small wins, inviting listeners to embrace their journey with bravery and playfulness.

If you've listened to this podcast since season 1 with my co-host and biz bestie Amanda, you probably already know that both Amanda and I are a more than a little skeptical when it comes to all things "woo." But in this week's episode, I got to meet a mutual friend Regyna Curtis, who leans all the way in on "woo." And, you might be as shocked as I was to find out that Regyna and I clicked immediately and had a really meaningful conversation about intuition and alignment. No matter where you fall on the scale of skepticism about 'woo,' you are going to get a lot from this episode. Meet Regyna: Regyna Curtis is a soul rhythm activator and business mentor, dedicated to helping heart-centered, multi-passionate entrepreneurs create fulfilling, sustainable paths to success. With over 15 years of corporate experience in business development and a deep knowledge of energetics, she brings together practical insights and intuitive wisdom. Regyna’s unique approach empowers clients to build holistic ecosystems where their work supports their well-being—something often overlooked by traditional business strategies. Through her signature system for holistic entrepreneurship Charting Your Course, and 1:1 mentorship program, Flow and Prosper, Regyna guides entrepreneurs to align their business rhythms with their personal energy cycles, moving beyond conditioned strategies to empower intuition, and create joyful sustainability. Connect with Regyna: https://www.atmaitri.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/regyna-curtis/ 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!

My friend from NAWBO, Joanna Horton McPherson, is back on the podcast this week. Joanna and I love being friends because every conversation we have seems to turn into something big and brave. I hope you love this behind the scenes peek at what it's like in our friendship, and by the way... if these are the kinds of friends you want in your life, you can sit with us :) Come hang out with us on social media and in real life! Anyway, this week, Joanna and I are digging into this concept (and content pillar for BBB) of "Institutional Interrogation" and for Joanna, that brings up a lot of conversation around leading with core values. I talk about this a lot on this podcast, but in this episode, we are deep diving into all the ways it works in our favor to run our entire business based on our core values. About Joanna: Joanna Horton McPherson is a leader, serial entrepreneur, and speaker who specializes in the deeper aspects of leadership and personal fulfillment. Joanna helps mission-driven public figures develop their transformative message for audiences. An advanced practitioner of Buddhist meditation and poet. Joanna focuses on inspiring the next generation of global leadership. She has founded several nonprofits and schools, one of which is near her home in Costa Rica. Joanna obtained her Master’s in Education from Harvard University and serves as President-Elect for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Phoenix chapter. Connect with Joanna: https://joannahortonmcpherson.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-horton-mcpherson/ @joannahortonmcpherson on all socials :) 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!

Diem Koole, a vibrant mompreneur and blogger at The Koole Mom, dives deep into her journey of overcoming a layoff and embracing creativity through blogging and podcasting. She shares her unique blend of Vietnamese heritage with American parenting, tackling imposter syndrome and the pressures of family expectations along the way. Diem also discusses the importance of addressing low-income family needs in business and expresses her passion for public speaking and networking at conferences, emphasizing the value of community and support in entrepreneurship.

Sometimes I see a small business owner on Threads post something so evocative and aligned with my core values that I can't help it and I just reach out and invite them on the podcast. That's because with one really high impact post, I can tell that we could have an interesting and big, brave conversation about business. And really, that's the power of leveraging your core values to create human connection online and what my guest today, Fopsy, calls "creating superfans." We are talking all about this on the podcast today--and yes, we met on Threads. Meet Fopsy Fope Nkwocha is a Business Coach and Speaker who helps service providers attract more clients and increase sales by focusing on income-driving priorities. Her 1:1 coaching program, "Money-Making Priorities," is designed to help entrepreneurs simplify their sales process and sign high-ticket clients with confidence. Connect with Fopsy: Ask about 1:1 Coaching: https://fopsy.ca/call Join her Weekly Series’ -  https://fopsy.ca/newsletter  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fopsy.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fope-nkwocha/  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!

If you've been listening to this podcast for awhile, you know I'm skeptical of business coaching, even though it's part of what I do. I've been one of the lucky ones on the receiving end of a massive investment into business coaching that didn't match my expectations or financial obligation, and I generally feel burned by the industry, like so many other online business owners. But coaching is a real field and business coaching is something a lot of people really could massively benefit from, if it is done right. My dear friend Amber Dancy joins me on the podcast this week to talk about all the ways business coaching SHOULD look, and tons of other REALLY fun topics that I know you're going to love. I have been looking forward to sharing this one with you. Meet Amber: Amber Dancy is a Business Leadership Coach and Consultant with over 15 years of operations experience. She believes that, sometimes, rebelling is the most practical thing a business owner can do—for both their business and their life. Amber works with leaders who are ready to transform one-size-fits-all business practices into human-first approaches, creating safer team relationships and allowing people to show up as their whole, unique selves within the business. She helps clients cut through the BS, using the science of energy and the wisdom of Human Design, to clear their vision and make decisions aligned with their unique energetic blueprint. Once their energetic leadership style is understood and work is defined in a way that truly works for them, she helps identify bottlenecks and energy leaks to optimize business systems and strategies for flow. By creating a work life that serves them first, both the leader and the business thrive. As she says at Practical Rebel, “You get to do this however the fuck you want.” Connect with Amber: https://practicalrebel.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberdancy/ https://www.instagram.com/ambertherebel/ 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!

One of the things I've been thinking about for my own business is staring a non-profit/charitable arm in the Podfox umbrella. But meeting Paulaska Ramirez, my guest today, led to my realization that I never considered a non-profit as a business structure when I first became an entrepreneur. I definitely had the mindset that I was "staring a business" with the intention to make money... but I mean, CEOs of non-profits should get salaries, too. The point isn't that the team can't get paid (although that's not currently Paulaska's focus) but that the organization itself is not working to earn a profit. Even with a profit-oriented business (a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, S-Corp, so many options for business entities!), you can still *also* have a non-profit. How does that work? What would that look like? What are the challenges? We're discussing that and more in today's episode with Paulaska. Meet Paulaska: 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. Connect with Paulaska: https://www.instagram.com/generation_fearless/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaskaramirez/ 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!

At the crux of what I've been doing here with Big Brave Business is the question, "How do you become an entrepreneur, and grow and scale a business, with anti-capitalist values?" One of the reasons why my guest today, Joanna Horton McPherson, and I became instant friends is because people with shared values like that are really naturally drawn together. In part 1 with Joanna (she came back to record another episode, which will also come out in a couple of weeks), we are talking about how we build a business that's different than exactly the thing we wanted to leave in the 9-5 rat race. This led somewhat naturally to talking about our relationships with anger and emotional intelligence, and mission-driven entrepreneurship as public service and revolutionary action. Meet Joanna: Joanna Horton McPherson is a leader, serial entrepreneur, and speaker who specializes in the deeper aspects of leadership and personal fulfillment. Joanna helps mission-driven public figures develop their transformative message for audiences. An advanced practitioner of Buddhist meditation and poet. Joanna focuses on inspiring the next generation of global leadership. She has founded several nonprofits and schools, one of which is near her home in Costa Rica. Joanna obtained her Master’s in Education from Harvard University and serves as President-Elect for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Phoenix chapter. Connect with Joanna: https://joannahortonmcpherson.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-horton-mcpherson/ @joannahortonmcpherson on all socials :) 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!