“There is so much false urgency I have fallen prey to that I’ve learned about through this business. I don’t want to see other people making those mistakes, especially women,” says Joan Kanner on past challenges in business. Alongside co-host Michelle Bond, they kick off the second season of Proofing Stage. Likening the podcast to a business self-defense course, Michelle and Joan aim to equip female business owners with the necessary knowledge to fend off unexpected or unfair obstacles.

The duo shares their diverse backgrounds and their journey from career frustrations to creating their own ventures: a company driven by karma, a music app, and their crave-able concept, Bottoms Up Bagels (BUB). As they take stock of their first season, they reflect on their growth as queer female founders and the role of the podcast in offering business insights and enhancing their network. They discuss the expansive potential of podcasts and their mission as force multipliers—to be the mentors and coaches they didn’t have.

Today's episode sets the stage for what’s to come in Season 2 and acknowledges the great work of Season 1 producer and contributor, Amanda Schwarz. Michelle and Joan hint at a lineup of diverse guests for the new season and explore the concept of “proofing” across different fields.

Whether you are tuning in to build your business chops or just learn from real people with genuine stories Proofing Stage is set to rise to the occasion.

So, join Michelle and Joan as they:

• Put the "omen" in women
• Give a nod to their best teachers
• Institute a crash course in defensive entrepreneurship
• Preview upcoming guests and topics
• Surprisingly hold back on their use of expletives

------

Theme music by Thorn Haze
Podcast cover art by Lisa Orye
Executive Producers, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.

Some pods offer a peek behind the curtain. But in today's bonus episode, Michelle and Joan give peeks inside their heads!

Now that they're doing the asking, whose asking acts as examples to emulate?

And, yes, you'll be left asking yourself "wait, who had their own talk show?!"

Some delicious samples from this bonus served up in paper soufflé cups below:

Michelle:
"These are things you maybe you talk about with your friends over a happy hour and you commiserate and then you go on to do something else. But if they're actually, in our case, real barriers to not only us, but lots of other people being able to not only go after their dreams, but have financial wellbeing. So, maybe we should talk about them."

Joan:
"For so many years, if not decades, I did not know I had the right to inquire, to ask people to explain or clarify things, which is a big deal."

Podcast cover art by Lisa Orye
Executive Producers, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.

Guests - Kait Klusewitz (she/her), Muralist/Artist | Caroline Lampinen (she/her), Artist

Bringing art to business and business to art, hosts Michelle Bond and Joan Kanner dive into a vibrant discussion on "Proofing Stage" with two extraordinary creatives. Kait Klusewitz and Caroline Lampinen join the episode to unpack the powerful intersection of creativity and social impact. Celebrated for their engagement with community and social movements—particularly their support for the Black Lives Matter initiative—they share how they've transitioned from “W2” jobs to self-employment and roles that fuse passion and talent with purpose and personal well-being.

The conversation spans the essential tactics for setting both personal and professional boundaries. From navigating client expectations to appropriately valuing their creative output, Kait and Caroline deliver actionable advice not just for artists but for any entrepreneur.

For anyone drawn to entrepreneurship, art, or social advocacy, this episode is a treasure trove of insights on handling the hurdles of small business ownership while using one’s craft to foster community and advocate for change. Tune in to hear Michelle, Joan, and their guests explore the art of running businesses that do more than just succeed—they make a significant impact.

Gems include:

• Sometimes the $$$ just isn’t worth it
• Setting boundaries for yourself, not just others
• Having an art soulmate is (okay) everything
• Burnout can mean you’re not charging enough
• Developing a signature artistic style takes time
• The power of leveraging your industry’s ecosystem
• Resentment isn’t just a River in Egypt!

Links

Connect with Kait Klusewitz:
Kait K Designs, She/Her
@kaitkdesigns
https://www.kaitkdesigns.com/

Connect with Caroline Lampinen,
Artist, Okay Everything, She/Her
@okay_everything
https://okayeverything.com/

More on working with Creatives: S1: EP9, Points for Creativity

“The Capers Song” written and performed by Katie Long

Theme music by Thorn Haze

Additional music: “Downfall” by AlisaBeats (via Pixabay)

Podcast cover art by Lisa Orye

Executive Producers, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.

Guests - Kait Klusewitz (she/her), Muralist/Artist | Caroline Lampinen (she/her), Artist

There was so much goodness in our conversation with Kait and Caro that we couldn't fit it all into the full episode. This mighty bonus episode continues with the artists discussing the very real costs of stress and short turnaround times on last-minute, jobs and the true value of your time when being an entrepreneur.

Our co-host, Joan Kanner, also tees up important questions about intellectual property for artists and start-ups in general. While it may not be top of mind at first, our guests demonstrate that there can be a lot to say on the topic, and that it's never too soon to think about the kind of business you want to be in relation to protecting your work.

Enjoy this bit of extra tasty content from Proofing Stage.

You can also hear more from Joan about IP and the restaurant industry on the Novel and Non-Obvious podcast.

Theme music by Thorn Haze
Podcast cover art by Lisa Orye

Executive Producers, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond
Editing and mixing by Joan Kanner

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.

Erin Stampp, she/her, MPP - Director, Professional Development
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

In this episode of Proofing Stage, hosts Michelle Bond and Joan Kanner are joined by DEI practitioner Erin Stampp. Together, they unpack the challenges and necessities of implementing effective DEI strategies, even for minority business owners.

Erin emphasizes that true diversity goes beyond visibility; focusing on fostering an inclusive culture where diverse identities are seen and valued. The conversation also covers practical aspects like dietary restrictions in food businesses and universal design. Michelle and Joan share their experiences with integrating these practices into Bottoms Up Bagels, including staff reticence and industry norms.

Erin highlights the importance of relational, equity-centered leadership, which involves creating a supportive environment through active listening and engagement. She addresses retention challenges and the truly counter-cultural work of inclusion and systemic change.

Join us for a very open conversation about our blind spots, power-sharing in leadership, and the self-compassion required to make it stick. Like:

• Asking for, listening to and implementing input is where it’s at
• How we can turn our exclamation points into question marks
• Where the anti-racism, anti-sexism fairy dust resides
• The trappings of cancel culture
• Taking a sec to acknowledge what’s working and build on it
• Big, sexy (self-) compliments go a long way

Links

Check out one of Erin’s current projects, a Desegregation History Timeline (education aid to advance culture change)

Connect with Erin Stampp
LinkedIn
Instagram

Faux Sponsor, "Cartoon Mallet"
- written and performed by Joan Kanner

Theme music by Thorn Haze
Additional music:
Combat Morning by Den Writeman (via Pixabay)
Music for Puzzle Game by Ivantraveso (via Pixabay)

Executive Producers, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond

Podcast cover art by Lisa Orye

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.

Guest - Sarah O'Leary (she/her), Founder and CEO of Mend Acupuncture
---
Imagine entering a dimly lit room. It's vast and yet you immediately feel tucked in. Soothing sounds swirl around you with a "whoosh, whoosh." You sit down in a dreamy recliner. After you settle in, you notice others quietly resetting their nervous systems. And just as you ask yourself "Could I be next to go on this journey?" you are approached by an open, capable and trendy practitioner. They speak first, offering both expertise and partnership delivered in a dulcet tone "What would you like to work on today?" Then, excited that the next words you offer will start you on the path to wellness you say...

"I gots the trots! Where can you stick me for that?" in the least discreet way possible.

And just like that, you wake up to the sound of your "Radial" iPhone alarm. Why?

Because it's after 6am and you know the latest episode of Proofing Stage comes out WITH NONE OTHER THAN SARAH O'LEARY! That's why!

For long-lasting effects, let Joan, Michelle and Sarah plant a seed or two on your earlobes with these here gems:

• Sarah spills the (chaga) tea on all things community acupuncture
• Our verbal cupping will suck out any desire for "move fast and break things" growth
• Joan argues for adding a "Sexy is..." sentence completion segment to the pod
• We dispense indispensable advice for young people entering the work world
• If you smell what Michelle is cooking... it's #integrity
• And, when taken regularly (and seriously) data decreases your risk of making bad business decisions

Now peep that through your #windowpoints, son!

More on Mend Acupuncture:
Website: https://mendacupuncture.com/
Instagram
Facebook

Faux Sponsor: "The iFOAT Diet"
- written by Joan Kanner
- performed by Michelle Bond, Sarah O'Leary and Joan Kanner
- music: Lady of the 80’s by Grand_Project (via Pixabay)

Theme music by Thorn Haze
Additional music
Ocean by Oleksii_Kalyna (via Pixabay)

Podcast cover art by Lisa Orye
Executive Producers, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond
Podcast production provided by HiveCast.fm

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.

Sue Ellsworth (she/her), Manager of Piedmont Food Processing Center
and Founder of WE Power Food

In the food industry, facing challenges is like battling summer heat—you can’t escape it, but you can learn to thrive with the right supports. In this episode of Proofing Stage, hosts Michelle Bond and Joan Kanner explore the realities with Sue Ellsworth, Manager of Piedmont Food Processing Center and Founder of WE Power Food, about running a shared kitchen successfully.

Sue reveals how the center evolved into a 10,200 square-foot haven for 65 companies, navigating cross-contamination and overcrowding with its unique setup. She emphasizes the importance of truly serving the entrepreneurs who use the facility by championing the art of starting small, testing products at farmers’ markets, and using raw, unbiased feedback to improve them before going big on packaging and marketing.

Michelle and Joan serve up their own tales from Bottoms Up Bagels (BUB), underscoring the goldmine that is direct customer feedback and how it helped inform their product development and the overall BUB brand. Whether you are a food business owner, consumer or champion, tune in to this episode for sharp insights, practical advice, and a dose of real-world grit on fostering a thriving food business ecosystem.

Highlights include:

• Building a community of would-be competitors
• Navigating red tape of food entrepreneurship
• Nitty gritty in regulations and labeling
• Tanking two of our episode sponsors
• Passion, vision (and an assist!) are all equally necessary
• Long-term thinking impacts “success” and can fight food insecurity
• Opportunity calling (but Kool Kat Sue sends them to voicemail)

Links

Connect with Sue Ellsworth:

WE Power Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WEPowerNC

WE Power Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_power_food1/

WE Power website: www.wepowerfood.org

PFPC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PFAPNC

PFPC website: www.pfapnc.org

More on food business startups and spaces S1: EP3, Share Kitchen Confidential

Theme music by Thorn Haze

Additional music by William King (via Pixabay), SergePavkinMusic (via Pixabay)

Artwork by Lisa Orye

Executive Producers, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.

In what would become the waning days of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last September, Bottoms Up Bagels (BUB) trekked up to New York City to spread some bagel love, and rounded out their BUB Roadshow engaging with those on the picket line. Among them was Avis Boone, actor, model, voice actor, photographer and content creator.

Avis produces the That's How We Role podcast, where she talks with women making an impact as entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, artists, actors, entertainment industry professionals, advocates, solopreneurs about their businesses and careers. Especially, their motivation and inspiration all while serving as role models and mentors for those wanting to create their own path in their career journey.

During Women's History Month Avis sat down with Michelle and Joan to discuss starting BUB and their transition to Proofing Stage. We're sharing it with you during this summer break and look forward to being back with you next on 7/17 for a brand new episode of Proofing Stage.

Enjoy the conversation and here's how you can follow THWR:

IG and Threads: @avis.boone
Website
Podcast Stream

If you like what you're hearing, please rate and review our shows, wherever you get your pods.

Find more at proofingstage.com
Follow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstage

Join Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!

See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.