In this episode of Riding the Big Wheel, host Michelle chats with Jacquie Westney, entrepreneur and owner of Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique in Roswell, Georgia. At just 24 years old, Jacquie took over the boutique and transformed it into a nationally recognized bridal business—helping thousands of brides find the perfect wedding dress.

Jacquie shares the challenges of taking over a business at a young age, how she built a customer-first brand, and what it takes to thrive in the competitive wedding industry. We talk wedding trends, bridal shop management, scaling a small business, and how to create a boutique experience that brides remember for life.

Whether you're a bride-to-be, small business owner, or someone inspired by female entrepreneurs, this episode is full of insights on wedding industry success, brand growth, and business leadership.

• (00:00:00) - Baby on a Flight
• (00:00:48) - Riding the Big Wheel With Jackie Westney
• (00:02:01) - The Wedding Angels: Pearl the Dog
• (00:03:19) - Roswell Bridal opens in New England
• (00:03:55) - Wedding Angels: The Business of Wedding Dress Making
• (00:05:19) - Wedding Angels: Starting a Business with a Vision
• (00:08:03) - In the Elevator With Bridal Stores
• (00:09:06) - What Makes Your Wedding Jewelry Different?
• (00:14:30) - The Importance of Celebrating Your Employees
• (00:14:58) - The 'Neighbors' of Work
• (00:16:04) - Neighbors: What is it with the weddings?
• (00:18:19) - How Has the Wedding Business Changed Over the Last Two decades?
• (00:23:22) - What is positivity at work?
• (00:26:12) - The Importance of Spending Time With Women
• (00:27:32) - The Importance of Talking to Women of Ages
• (00:29:15) - The Real World of Brides
• (00:34:08) - Send Your Daughter Advice
• (00:34:37) - What Would Mother Want You To Know About Her Daughter's Wedding
• (00:38:38) - How to Approach a Dad in the Wedding Process
• (00:43:13) - Weddings for People Who've Been Married 2 Times
• (00:46:46) - Wedding Angels: Dating in a Social World
• (00:50:33) - What Makes You a Successful Leader?
• (00:55:36) - Bridal Gowns: Budget and Price
• (00:58:52) - An Advisor's Day in the Life
• (01:00:08) - Small Business Woman on Board of Directors
• (01:06:24) - How to Reward an Entrepreneur's Spirit
• (01:08:58) - One mother's advice for her daughter
• (01:11:49) - How to Build a Business With a Brides
• (01:13:05) - Wedding Angels In One

What do you do when 90% of your business disappears overnight?

In this episode of Riding the Big Wheel, host Michelle sits down with Sonia Dumas, digital marketing strategist, crypto consultant, and founder of Income Inbox, to talk about reinvention, resilience, and creating new opportunities in a tech-driven world. Sonia opens up about how the 2020 pandemic forced a career pivot that ultimately led her to the world of blockchain, Bitcoin, and AI-powered sales strategy.

She shares how she learned to invest, how she turned experimentation into income, and why crypto isn’t just about currency, it’s about access, ownership, and freedom. Whether you're curious about digital assets, navigating change in your own career, or just want to future-proof your income strategy, this episode is packed with insight, energy, and practical advice.

#Entrepreneurship #CryptoStrategy #DigitalMarketing #AIinBusiness #Podcast

• (00:00:00) - Riding the Big Wheel
• (00:00:57) - Interview
• (00:01:46) - How I Got Involved in Crypto
• (00:08:06) - Steve Ballentine: Early Investors in Tech
• (00:12:01) - Dovish on Crypto: '
• (00:14:05) - Have You Spent Enough On Investing?
• (00:16:41) - Have Airbnb and VRBO Canned Up the Boutique Hotel Business
• (00:19:40) - Direct Bookings
• (00:25:13) - I Don't Think LinkedIn Is Becoming the Next Facebook
• (00:30:35) - LinkedIn: The Organic Ad Formula
• (00:32:12) - What They're Calling Quiet Luxury
• (00:33:07) - Oprah Winfrey on Her Personal Life
• (00:33:30) - Getting Out Of the Big Wheel
• (00:39:04) - Where Do You Fit In In the Digital World?
• (00:41:16) - Stay Ahead of the Change
• (00:43:26) - 3 Big Will Moments For You
• (00:49:02) - Take a Year Off to decompress
• (00:52:41) - Sony Dumont on LinkedIn
• (00:53:22) - Slow Down: What's Your Vision?

In this episode of Riding the Big Wheel, we’re joined by multi-revenue strategist and founder of Inbox Income, Sonia Dumas. Sonia dives into the evolving role of AI in branding, sales, and marketing, and how small businesses can use it to amplify, not replace, human potential.

From boutique hotel launches to C-suite strategy, Sonia’s journey is a masterclass in pivoting with purpose. She breaks down building a premium brand, understanding the deeper needs of your audience (and their audience), and how to position yourself as a trusted expert in a world full of noise. Sonia also offers her perspective on how AI is shifting the way we think about content, visibility, and performance.

• Why branding now is your sales and marketing strategy

• How to use AI for deeper client and market intelligence

• The rise of founder-led growth and “uncopyable” results

• How to adapt before you’re left behind by performance-tracking AI

• What small businesses must do now to stay competitive

• (00:00:00) - Riding the Big Wheel
• (00:01:19) - How to Accelerate Your Professional Journey
• (00:06:24) - What Types of Consultants Are Attractive to You?
• (00:10:09) - The Importance of Looking Good
• (00:12:16) - How AI is impacting sales, marketing
• (00:15:04) - The New Billies: When Will AI Win?
• (00:21:25) - How to Start a Business in AI
• (00:22:41) - What Is the Future of Small Business Advisory?
• (00:27:38) - What is the role of consultants in small businesses?
• (00:28:16) - Is AI Good for Low-Performers?
• (00:30:50) - Small Business: The Evolution of Sales, Marketing, AI
• (00:33:40) - A Taste of Guest Interviews

In this episode of Riding the Big Wheel, Michelle sits down with Beth Bergmann to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing our everyday lives. From work to home, and everything in between, they break down practical ways you can use AI tools to save time, boost productivity, and stay ahead in a tech-driven world.

You'll learn:

• How to adapt to AI without feeling overwhelmed
• Real-life applications of AI you can start using today
• Insights on how AI is reshaping industries, communication, and daily tasks

Whether you're curious about AI or looking for actionable tips, this conversation offers easy-to-understand insights for anyone ready to embrace the future.

This week on Riding the Big Wheel, we sit down with Susan Sly, CEO & founder of The Pause Technologies Inc., to tackle a topic that’s long been overlooked: menopause. Millions of women experience it, yet too many still suffer in silence. But that’s changing.

Susan’s company, ThePause.ai, is using AI to revolutionize menopause coaching, providing real solutions for a stage of life that lasts longer than you think.

But we’re not stopping there. What does AI really mean for the future of work? Will it replace jobs or create new opportunities? Susan’s insights will challenge what you think you know.

Whether you're navigating menopause, embracing a healthier lifestyle, or looking for leadership inspiration, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

What does it take to be a truly GREAT communicator?

Spoiler alert: It’s probably easier than you think!

In the latest episode of Riding the Big Wheel, I sit down with Sue Anthony, expert communicator and Owner of Sue Anthony Communication Development, to uncover the secrets behind impactful, confident, and persuasive communication.

We’re breaking down practical, real-world strategies to help you craft messages that don’t just get heard—but truly resonate. Whether you’re stepping onto a stage, leading a high-stakes boardroom discussion, or simply looking to strengthen everyday conversations, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

️ Tune in now and take your communication skills to the next level!

Connect with Sue:
https://lnkd.in/eqdG9k5Y
Sue@sueanthony.net

In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of small, intentional changes in your environment and mindset to support a healthier lifestyle.

Yanira shares practical, approachable tips for investing in your health, reminding us that wellness doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Discover how to: create an environment that encourages healthier habits, focus on our diets and what we put into our body, little tips and tricks to living a healthy lifestyle in the midst of a busy life.

If you’re looking for inspiration to kickstart your health and wellness journey, this episode is packed with actionable advice and uplifting insights.

In part one of this two part series we're sitting down with Yanira Puy, founder of Yanira Puy Health and Wellness, to talk about the transformative power of small, intentional changes in your environment and mindset to support a healthier lifestyle.

Yanira shares practical, approachable tips for investing in your health, reminding us that wellness doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

Discover how to: Create an environment that encourages healthier habits. Shift your perspective to make wellness attainable. Start small and build momentum toward a balanced life.

If you’re looking for inspiration to kickstart your health and wellness journey, this episode is packed with actionable advice and uplifting insights.