In this episode of Minding Our Business, we sit down with Heather Shafter, a consultant, author, and speaker, to explore how positive change is possible—even in the face of adversaries. Heather's work focuses on empowering individuals to create meaningful change by leveraging both allies and adversaries.

Heather takes us through her journey, from her background in organizational development to her current mission of helping individuals and companies work more efficiently and effectively. She also delves into her passion for social justice, sharing insights from her book Life with Libby: Chasing Peace and Justice with Humor, Guts, and Passion.

In this conversation, we discuss how one person can make a difference in the world, why it’s important to have conversations with those who disagree with us, and the frameworks that guide this transformational work. Heather also shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a keynote speaker, the preparation that goes into it, and how she’s pivoted to make speaking her primary focus.

Don't miss this inspiring episode about the power of purpose, process, and progress—and how we can all play a part in creating positive change.

Check out more about Heather’s work here: HeatherShafter.com

And be sure to follow her on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for the Chasing Peace and Justice podcast where she continues to highlight those making a difference.

What do you get when you mix a high school dropout, a Dell corporate career, and a pandemic-fueled writing spree? A badass romance author who went from side hustle to full-time bestseller.

In this week’s episode, Jess and Jonesy sit down with author and entrepreneur Nikki Castle—who also just happens to be Jess’s longtime friend and former wedding party VIP. Nikki shares how she transitioned from 10 years in corporate sales to becoming a full-time romance writer, building a self-published empire one spicy love story at a time.

They dig into what it really looks like to leave job security behind, how Nikki hit upload on a Word doc and wound up with a global fanbase, and why burnout doesn’t stop just because you’re doing what you love.

We’re talking identity shifts, running multiple businesses, imposter syndrome, self-publishing tips, building a trusted team, and how to avoid letting hustle culture wreck your creative flow.

Whether you’re bookish, business-minded, or just burnt out—this one’s for you.

https://www.instagram.com/nikkicastleauthor/

We’re talking shop (literally) with Jessica of Ocasional Flowers—the faux floral studio in Yardley, PA that’s quietly becoming a local legend. Jess shares how she went all-in on brick-and-mortar, why her silk creations are anything but fake, and how she balances creativity, systems, motherhood, and straight-up hustle.

We dig into:

• Why she opened the store before launching online

• What it’s really like juggling entrepreneurship and parenting

• The power of seasonal planning (and seasonal sanity)

• Learning to delegate without spiraling

• The accidental magic of letting people see you be you

Oh—and why GoDaddy can go… somewhere else.

🌸 Website: occasional-flowers.com
🌸 Instagram: instagram.com/occasionalflowers1
🌸 Facebook: facebook.com/OccasionalFlowersPA
🌸 YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC8I5W6UGHmrOpT6dbQpjxFw

Plain text links:

• https://www.occasional-flowers.com/

• https://www.instagram.com/occasionalflowers1/

• https://www.facebook.com/OccasionalFlowersPA

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8I5W6UGHmrOpT6dbQpjxFw