エピソード

  • Inheriting the Family Business | Lesle Lane

    Inheriting the Family Business | Lesle Lane
    2026/04/21
    Lesle Lane wasn't supposed to take over her family's photography business. Her brothers were the obvious choice. Commercial and industrial photography in the early 90s wasn't considered women's work — and her family wanted her shooting weddings instead. She said no. And then she spent the next 33 years proving that was the right call. Lesle is the owner of Studio 13 in Indiana, and someone in her family has been taking pictures for 95 years. In this conversation, she talks about what it actually looks like to inherit a family business without a real succession plan, survive every disruption thrown at a small business in one lifetime — recessions, a pandemic, the digital revolution, the sudden death of her longtime employee — and build something flexible enough to outlast all of it. We also get into the real cost of cheap photography (and what it means for your business when the low-bid vendor bails three weeks before the event), how she transitioned from one W-2 employee to a team of 15 specialized 1099 contractors, what woman-owned certification has — and hasn't — been able to do for her business in the current climate, and why gratitude isn't a mindset practice for Lesle. It's just the only logical response to still being here. "When you've been on your knees, there's no place to look but up." Connect with Lesle Lane:Website: https://studio13online.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/studio-thirteen Mentioned in this episode: Olan Mills Photography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olan_Mills Episode with Adam Zuckerman on Succession Planning for Solopreneurs: https://kandasrodarte.com/256 Show notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/320 Gratitude Geek is hosted by Kandas Rodarte — business education for Gen X women solopreneurs who want sustainable growth without the hustle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 分
  • Public Relations for Small Business Owners | Lauren Kwedar Cockerell

    Public Relations for Small Business Owners | Lauren Kwedar Cockerell
    2026/04/14
    Do you think your story is too boring to share? PR strategist Lauren Kwedar Cockerell has spent 23 years helping purpose-driven businesses uncover the story only they can tell — and she's here to help you do the same. In this episode of Gratitude Geek, Lauren breaks down what public relations for small business owners actually means (hint: it's not social media), how to stop leading with the surface-level answer everyone else in your industry gives, and how to build a "why now" hook that gets media and podcast hosts to pay attention. We cover: Why earned media is worth 3–10x more than a paid ad Lauren's Thread methodology for excavating your real story The one question that unlocks your most compelling pitch 5 reasons to actually send a press release How to pitch podcasts the right way — and what not to do If you're a Gen X woman solopreneur who's ready to get visible without feeling like you're bragging, this one's for you. 🎁 Lauren's free podcast pitch guide: https://www.kwedarco.com/freebies🔗 Connect with Lauren: https://www.kwedarco.com📖 The 5 Whys method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrlYkx41wEE🎧 Full show notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 分
  • Chronic Stress Is Destroying Women Solopreneurs | Dr. Sara Love

    Chronic Stress Is Destroying Women Solopreneurs | Dr. Sara Love
    2026/04/07
    If you're a woman solopreneur who's been through cancer, divorce, or a major life disruption, your body is keeping score. Chronic stress doesn't just feel bad — it rewires your gut microbiome, tanks your sleep, and quietly undermines your ability to run a business. And most of us were raised to push through it alone. Dr. Sara Love is a licensed naturopathic physician in Oregon with 16 years of practice. She's also the founder of Lichen & Leaf, a small-batch herbal tea company she built specifically because her patients were too stressed to take a break — so she gave them something worth stopping for. In this conversation, Dr. Sara breaks down the stress-gut connection most doctors never talk about, why women solopreneurs are carrying so much of this physically and not just emotionally, and what you can actually do about it without spending money or overhauling your life. She shares her three non-negotiables for stress management: getting outside for 30 minutes a day, building a real sleep routine, and taking actual breaks — scheduled ones, on your calendar, with no screens. We also talk about the Pomodoro method, the ritual of a proper tea break, and why accepting help is a health strategy, not a character flaw. Topics covered in this episode include chronic stress and gut health, stress management for women solopreneurs, naturopathic medicine and lifestyle strategies, sleep hygiene for women over 40, time in nature as medicine, burnout prevention for solopreneurs, and building community after a life crisis. Connect with Dr. Sara Love: 🔗 Website: https://lichenandleaf.com 🔗 Use code GRATITUDE25 for 25% off your order Also Mentioned: 🔗Radical Remission by Kelly Turner, PhD: https://amzn.to/3OkFso8 (affiliate link) 🔗Pomodoro Co-Working on Mondays inside Gratitude Geek Lab: https://kandasrodarte.com/lab Continue the conversation at https://kandasrodarte.com/318 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 分
  • Gratitude Practice | Heather Vickery

    Gratitude Practice | Heather Vickery
    2026/03/31
    You’re feeling stressed and scattered in your business, but gratitude feels too woo to help. In this episode of Gratitude Geek, Heather Vickery and Kandas Rodarte break down how gratitude builds real clarity and ease—not just forced positivity—for Gen X women solopreneurs. Heather, a transformation coach who’s used gratitude through major life transitions, shows how it fits into business as a practical tool, backed by positive psychology and neuroscience. You’ll learn: How gratitude shifts stress into problem-solving perspective Why specific, honest gratitude beats vague “thankfulness” Simple habit stacking to make gratitude doable in real life How speaking gratitude out loud amplifies the effect If you’re a Gen X woman solopreneur wanting gratitude as a business strategy, this is your starting point. Timestamps00:00 – Introduction and Heather's story03:15 – Gratitude as a business tool07:40 – Science of gratitude and mindset shifts12:10 – Practical exercises and habit stacking18:55 – EFT tapping and emotional tools24:30 – Implementing gratitude daily30:05 – Final takeaways Links & resourcesFull show notes and resources: https://kandasrodarte.com/317Heather's gratitude journals: https://amzn.to/4v1y7du (affiliate) Stay connectedListen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@gratitudegeekJoin the Gratitude Geek Lab: https://kandasrodarte.com/labConnect with Kandas on Threads: https://threads.com/gratitudegeek Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 分
  • Don't Start a Podcast Until You Know These Things | Julie Marty-Pearson

    Don't Start a Podcast Until You Know These Things | Julie Marty-Pearson
    2026/03/24
    Thinking about starting a podcast? Before you buy the mic and set up the hosting account, you need to hear this conversation. Julie Marty-Pearson has been in podcasting for nearly five years. She helps people launch shows, coaches podcast guests, and hosts three podcasts herself. She also tells people no when a podcast isn't right for them yet. That kind of honesty is exactly why this conversation matters. In this episode, we get into the real reasons people want to start podcasts, why most of them aren't ready, and what to do instead. We talk about the actual costs of launching in 2026 versus what it cost back when I started in 2014. We dig into the power of being a strategic podcast guest, how collaboration is changing the game, and why guesting might be all you ever need to move the needle in your business. We also go there on what it's like to be a woman putting her voice out in the world, dealing with trolls, bad reviews, and the freedom that comes from running out of Fs to give. If you have been on the fence about podcasting, this episode will help you get clear. Connect with Julie Marty-Pearson: Website: juliemartypearson.com Resources mentioned in this episode: Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/gratitudegeek PodMatch: https://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch (affiliate link) Notebook LM: https://notebooklm.google.com Cap Show: https://www.capshow.io HoneyBook: https://kandasrodarte.com/honeybook (affiliate link) Subscribe and Listen: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@gratitudegeek Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gratitude-geek/id820738086 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27dh0T1PbwsWXxfmNWZPy8?si=2303ea26860c436e Website: https://kandasrodarte.com Connect with Kandas: Weekly Email: https://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe Instagram: https://instagram.com/gratitudegeek LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gratitudegeek Support the Show: If this podcast has brought you value, consider contributing to keep Gratitude Geek going strong. https://kandasrodarte.com/support Work with Kandas: Are you a woman solopreneur over 40 who has been through something hard like cancer, divorce, or loss? Kandas helps women rebuild their businesses with strategy, systems, and gratitude as a real business tool. https://kandasrodarte.com/start-here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 分
  • Breast Cancer Support Resources Go Way Beyond Treatment

    Breast Cancer Support Resources Go Way Beyond Treatment
    2026/03/17
    Most women don't find out what breast cancer support resources are available until they're already in crisis. In this episode, Kandas sits down with Gretchen Awad, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio and Detroit, for an honest conversation about what Komen actually does on the ground — and how to access it. Full show notes + resources: https://kandasrodarte.com/315 Gretchen walks through Komen's four pillars — advocacy, research, financial assistance, and community education — and explains how to get help regardless of your zip code or financial situation. She's joined by Dr. Michelle D. Clark, a breast cancer survivor and board member for Susan G. Komen Detroit, whose own story brings the human side of everything Komen exists to do. Because this is Gratitude Geek, we also dig into something the medical community rarely talks about — how gratitude functions as a survival tool when your world has been turned upside down. This episode is part of Podcasthon, an international movement where podcasters around the globe spotlight their charity of choice during the same week. Resources mentioned: https://komen.org https://cancer.org https://podcasthon.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 分
  • Your Broken Money Story Is Robbing You Blind | Bill Cates

    Your Broken Money Story Is Robbing You Blind | Bill Cates
    2026/03/10
    Your broken money story is robbing you blind — and most women solopreneurs don't even know it's happening. In this episode, Bill Cates, author of The Hidden Heist, helps you understand why your money mindset is the real thing holding your business back, not your strategy, not your marketing, and not the economy. Bill has spent 34 years helping financial professionals grow through referrals and has built and sold multiple businesses himself. He knows both sides of financial success and financial struggle, and he brings that hard-won experience directly to this conversation. Together we dig into why so many women over 40 undercharge, undervalue themselves, and wait to feel "ready" before they take profit or show generosity. Bill walks through how your earliest money beliefs are still running the show today, how to start rewriting that story, and why gratitude and generosity are actually wealth-building tools, not just feel-good habits. If your relationship with money needs therapy, this episode is a great place to start. Full show notes + links: https://kandasrodarte.com/314 Chapters: 0:00 - Breaking the money mindset holding women entrepreneurs back 1:45 - Bill's background: building, selling, and surviving bad partnerships 8:30 - Your broken money story and where financial beliefs come from 16:00 - Why women solopreneurs undercharge and undervalue themselves 22:30 - The wealth mindset shift: generosity and profit start NOW 28:00 - Borrowed trust, referrals, and rebuilding after a major life disruption 34:15 - Radical relevance: getting clear on your who to fix your money blocks 40:30 - Bill's moment of gratitude Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 分
  • Move from Operator to Owner in Your Business | Ral West

    Move from Operator to Owner in Your Business | Ral West
    2026/03/03
    Tired of doing everything yourself in your business? Airline founder Ral West shares how she escaped operator overwhelm to build systems, delegate, and sell her company to Alaska Airlines—practical steps even solopreneurs can take today.​ Perfect for Gen X women solopreneurs rebuilding after cancer, divorce, loss, or burnout. Learn non-hustle ways to automate, focus on profit over revenue, and weave gratitude into growth. In this episode: Ral's journey from exhaustion to business sale Operator vs. owner: Lead the orchestra, don't play every instrument Simple systems and AI automation for limited bandwidth Living in the "gain, not the gap" with gratitude Building a solopreneur "team" (VA, bookkeeper, mentors) Ral’s BOSS Mastermind: https://ralwest.com Join Gratitude Geek Lab for experiment-driven growth that fits real life. Links at kandasrodarte.com/313 Chapters:0:00 Intro1:45 Ral's Story6:30 Airline Secrets10:15 Gratitude & Gain13:45 Solopreneur Shift17:30 Operator vs Owner21:15 Build Systems26:45 Profit Focus30:00 AI Leverage34:30 Ral's Mastermind38:15 Gratitude Moment40:00 Outro Gratitude Geek: Business for Gen X women solopreneurs, gratitude-first. Hosted by Kandas Rodarte. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 分