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

What a treat to introduce you to my friend, Jacki Hayes. Her podcast, Here's What I Learned, is all about doing business your way and I've been honored to be a guest on her show a couple of times already. This week on Big Brave Business, we're turning the tables to talk to Jacki about what it means to do business her way, and also why the concept of doing business your way matters. Meet Jacki: Jacki Hayes (she/her) is a Systems Strategist and Operational Support Specialist who offers her clients custom-crafted systems and exceptional operational support so they can run the business of their dreams, create greater impact, and thoroughly enjoy all aspects of their lives. 'Cause they're not just business owners, they’re whole-a$$ people. When she's not supporting her clients, she's bouldering, lifting weights, or reading a book on the couch. Connect with Jacki: https://www.jackihayes.online https://www.jackihayes.online/podcast Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus Start Your Own Podcast: https://www.podfoxmedia.com/book-now 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!

This conversation with my friend and colleague, Lisa Zawrotny, changed my life. Maybe a little change, but honestly it's stayed with me since we spoke and it is something I have been able to reflect on every day. Not only did we discuss the concept of overachieving, especially as part of our identity (if you've been listening to this podcast for awhile, you know that's me), but also we talked about redefining productivity, the idea of 'hard work,' and the impact of clutter (this is the part that blew my mind the most, my friends). Meet Lisa Lisa Zawrotny is a Productivity + Accountability Coach, founder of Positively Productive Systems, and host of the Positively Living® Podcast. She helps multitasking creatives and caregivers reduce overwhelm and boost productivity without burning out or sacrificing what they love. When she’s not sharing how to simplify and stress less, you’ll find her hanging out with her husband and kiddos traveling, watching movies, and acting like a rock star, or hiding from the world with an iced coffee and a good book, probably trapped under a cat. Lisa has current certifications in time + stress management, life coaching, and positive psychology. She’s helped hundreds of clients do less, live more, and breathe easier. Connect with Lisa https://positivelyproductive.com/ https://Instagram.com/positively_lisa Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus Start Your Own Podcast: https://www.podfoxmedia.com/book-now 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!

This week I welcomed my friend and colleague, Ana Xavier. From the time Ana and I first connected on Instagram, I have been struck by her refreshingly approachable and authentic energy - a stark contrast to the "gatekeepers" I've encountered in the podcasting world. Ana shares how she's built a thriving business by staying true to her values of collaboration, impact, and empathy, rather than trying to emulate the "bro marketer" tactics that dominate our industry. One of the biggest takeaways for me is Ana's emphasis on the power of in-person connection, which has motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and attend more events and conferences. Ana also reminded me of the deeper purpose behind these connections - tapping into the collective wisdom and support of our community to uplift and inspire one another. Meet Ana: Ana Xavier is a multilingual award-winning podcast Marketer with 10+ years of experience producing podcasts in the US, UK, and Portugal. Her weekly show The Podcast Space, provides strategic yet practical ways for professionals to use their show as an effective tool for online marketing. Connect with Ana: https://thepodcastspace.com https://instagram.com/thepodcastspace Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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!

This week, I'm joined by my friend & long-term client, Candace D'Agnolo. She's been an entrepreneur for over 25 years and has built and scaled brick-and-mortar businesses, retail business, service-based businesses, and digital businesses. When it comes to starting, scaling, and selling businesses, Candace is my go-to expert. So it's no surprise that I was thrilled to bring her on the podcast to talk about her idea of what it means to be big and brave in business. And you know what might surprise you? Of ALL her experience that many of us are so far only dreaming of, her idea of big and brave is all about her personal development and team leadership. No matter how successful you are in business, it always comes back to that! Meet Candace: From failing to scaling, broke to naming her price and selling businesses, and from chained to her storefront to traveling the world, Candace has experienced first-hand the extreme struggles and ultimate successes of pet entrepreneurship since 2004. The one thing she wished she had but couldn’t find was a support system of industry peers who believed in community over competition, mentors who could guide her, and a resource for the best marketing ideas around. It didn’t exist, so she created it! Connect with Candace & Pet Boss Nation: https://petboss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/candacedagnolo Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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!

I was thrilled this week to welcome Brooke and Tristan of the Reimagining Online Business podcast. If you haven't listened to their show, I can't recommend it enough. Their wry humor and sarcasm right from the first few minutes had me hooked, and I knew by the end of episode 1 that I had to have them both on Big Brave Business. One of the things that Brooke and Tristan are so passionate about is running businesses ethically - which is complicated to do as anti-capitalists in a capitalist world. The more you are aware of the heinous atrocities and human rights violations happening worldwide that are woven into everything we do and the way we engage with our economy, the harder it can be to see (and follow) the light. Is there such a thing as running and growing a business as an anticapitalist founder? We explore this topic and more in today's episode. About Brooke Monaghan (she/her) Business coach & founder of Fruition Growth Network. Brooke is a trusted advisor to founders and leaders who value impact, integrity, and relationships and are on a mission to set things straight in their industry. Her work focuses on the intersection of well-being and bottom line, guiding do-gooder lifestyle business owners to intentionally design profitable businesses around their values and their desired lifestyle. She is the founder of Fruition Growth Network, a collaborative platform providing accessible, quality support to self-employed folks and bringing people together to find power in community. About Tristan Katz (he/they) Digital strategist & equity-inclusion facilitator & consultant. Tristan is a writer, educator, digital strategist, and equity-inclusion facilitator. They specialize in content marketing strategies for justice-focused leaders and queer-trans Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) training and consulting. Tristan’s intention is to share this work with an anti-oppression and intersectional lens. He’s worked with organizations and clients such as Portland Public Schools, Accessible Yoga School, HubSpot, Stanford University’s YogaX program, and Williston Northampton School, among many others. Tristan was named one of Yoga Journal’s 2021 Game Changers and he is proud to have spent several years serving on the Board of Directors at Accessible Yoga before the non-profit dissolved in early 2024. Connect with Brooke & Tristan https://www.reimaginingonlinebusiness.com/ Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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!

This week, I'm thrilled to introduce you to my friend Emily Aborn. One of the first things she asked me the first time we met was something along the lines of, "What's an ethical challenge to online business that's particularly interesting to you right now?" and I knew we were going to get along. Today, we're chatting about ethical content creation to create authentic and meaningful connection, especially amidst the conundrums that come with AI. About Emily Aborn: Emily Aborn is a Content Copywriter, Speaker, and Podcast Host of Content with Character and She Built This. Since 2014, she’s had experience running brick-and-mortar as well as online businesses. She’s worked with 100+ industries as a copywriter, helping her clients increase their visibility, and build relationship-based businesses. She brings her client's personality to life with creative, connected copy and content. For fun, she loves reading, listening to podcasts, and hiking with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Clyde. Connect with Emily: https://www.emilyaborn.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyaborn Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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!

You probably have heard me mention that I took the month of July off of Zoom calls! (I still worked, but I didn't schedule calls... except for four days but that's okay.) You know the crazy thing about taking that time to slow the hell down? I actually made more money in July than I did in June. So what did I learn? I'm reflecting and sharing insights with you this week in the second-ever solo episode of Big Brave Business! Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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 a thrill to have my friend and former client, Cheryl Ham, on the podcast this week. Cheryl jumped at something I said in a previous episode / on social media about the expression 'hire before you're ready' and felt passionately about coming on the podcast to dissect that advice and to help us understand when that advice is good and helpful, and when it's potentially toxic and harmful. About Cheryl: Cheryl Ham is the creative mind (and hands) behind Hypnotic Yarn and the Yarnable subscription box, delighting knitters around the world with curated yarn surprises, month after month. Drawing from her personal journey and experiences, Cheryl now coaches creative entrepreneurs, helping them grow and thrive in their handmade businesses. Connect with Cheryl: https://www.indiemadebiz.com/ https://hypnoticyarn.com/ Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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 we hear all the time in the online business space these days is "trauma-informed." This was one of the fundamental keys to the discussion I had in today's episode with trauma-informed marketer, Stephanie Bilinsky. There are a lot of ethical questions and layers in online marketing in 2024 and beyond, and it was my honor and privilege to get to speak about some of these nuances with Stephanie. About Stephanie Bilinsky: Stephanie left their 9 to 5 in education to build a business that allowed them to write all day and thrive. Along the way, they discovered a passion for helping other entrepreneurs grow through trauma-informed marketing. In addition to providing SEO copywriting services, Stephanie and their spouse Theo run a Patreon community. Together they share education on ethical marketing, sales, and photography. Connect with Stephanie: https://brandcendent.com/ https://www.instagram.com/brandcendent Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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 listened to this podcast for a little while, you might remember that I started my business in the wake of getting laid off. My guest today has had the distinct and unique pleasure of experiencing the trauma of getting laid off multiple times (which I literally can't imagine, what a powerhouse brave woman she is). Today, we're sharing our lay-off stories and also exploring how to build courage in entrepreneurship, especially after a lay-off. About Liz Richards: Liz is a devoted mother and entrepreneur. She loves to talk about fear and creativity and staying connected to courage through risk-taking decisions. Through her business she is passionate about helping people publish strong through nonfiction editing and writing services. Connect with Liz: https://www.lreditorial.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thisislizrichards Connect with Sarah & Big Brave Business: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkheeter/ https://www.threads.net/@sarahkheeter  https://www.instagram.com/bigbravebusiness https://www.youtube.com/@bigbravebusiness Want to be a guest on Season 2? Learn more and apply here:  https://forms.fillout.com/t/qQe2MEbTLzus 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!