🌟 Episode Length: 10 minutes, 27 seconds

In This Episode:

Wow, I can’t believe Pretty Pineapple Bead just turned 8 years old! 🎉 In this episode, I’m sharing the full story of how it all began—from making my first bracelet in my backyard to crossing 1,000 orders and shipping to 16 states. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but through the pivots, grief, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way, Pretty Pineapple Bead has grown into something I’m incredibly proud of.

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my journey, sharing milestones, the hard lessons I’ve learned, and the vision I’m holding as we step into year nine. Whether you're just starting or in the middle of your own growth, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Hear:

✨ The peace I found in making my first bracelet and how it led to something life-changing

✨ How my first craft show felt like a dream come true (and why I cried all the way home)

✨ The pivot I made during COVID and how I learned to build my online presence

✨ What it felt like to hit 1,000 lifetime orders and the power of email marketing

✨ The growth of the DIY Bead Bar and how it’s helped me connect with my community

✨ How I handled the full-time leap, mental health struggles, and trusting the process

✨ My vision for Pretty Pineapple Bead in year nine (and beyond)

✨ A pep talk about trusting the journey, even when it feels messy

Quote to Remember:

"Even the smallest steps lead to big results."

Let’s Connect:

• 🎯 This week’s challenge: Reflect on your journey. What milestone are you proud of? What small step could you take today that your future self will thank you for? Write it down and share it with me!
• 📸 Tag me in your progress! DM me your milestone, goals, or a photo of your journey to @sparkleandshinepodcast on Instagram or Threads. I’d love to celebrate with you!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or share it on your stories. Every download, comment, and message means the world to me. Thank you for being part of this journey. Until next time—keep dreaming big, keep showing up, and keep sparkling! ✨

🌟 Episode Length: 9 minutes, 20 seconds

In This Episode:

One month ago, I left my part-time job to go all in on my business. This episode is a real, behind-the-scenes look at what that first month has actually been like—surprises, struggles, rainy day markets, and all.

I’m sharing the honest wins, the mindset shifts, the distractions I’ve had to face (hello, social media scrolling), and how I’m recommitting to what matters most moving forward.

If you’re navigating a big life change or just need a pep talk to keep going, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Hear:

• What my first day as a full-time business owner really looked like
• The distractions I didn’t expect (and how I’m working through them)
• Why I’m proud of booking DIY Bead Bar parties
• A story about a rainy market day that taught me to fully show up
• Mindset shifts I’ve had this month around gratitude, procrastination, and growth
• What I’m recommitting to in my business and my life
• A pep talk for when you’re not where you want to be yet

Quote to Remember:

"A year ago, I wished I could be exactly where I am right now."

Let’s Connect:

This week’s challenge: Recommit to your goals. Write down your July goals and DM me a photo, or tag me on Instagram @sparkleandshinepodcast so I can cheer you on!

Got questions or topics you’d love to hear about? DM me—I’d love to hear from you!

🌟 Episode Length: 9 minutes, 57 seconds

In This Episode:

Have you ever caught yourself telling yourself, “Oh, just one more video” — and suddenly an hour has flown by? Same. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own social media distractions, how I’m learning to stay focused, and how I’m balancing discipline with giving myself grace.

I’ll share what’s working (like setting app timers and detailed to-do lists), what I’m still figuring out, and why building focus is a journey. Plus, we’ll celebrate some major business milestones and a few unexpected wins that are lighting me up right now.

If you’ve been feeling scattered, stuck, or like you’re just not getting enough done — this episode is for you.

What You’ll Hear:

• How I’m using social media app timers to create better boundaries
• Why detailed to-do lists are helping me stay focused
• How accountability (and a little friendly competition!) keeps me moving
• A reminder that distraction isn’t always laziness — sometimes it’s fear or overwhelm
• My recent wins: DIY Bead Bar parties, return customers, and almost 1,000 lifetime orders
• How the podcast is helping me find my voice and confidence
• Mindset shifts that are helping me fight distraction without beating myself up

Quote to Remember:

"Small steps lead to big results. You don’t have to tackle the whole mountain today. You just have to take that next step."

Let’s Connect:

🎯 This week’s listener challenge:

• Set your own app timers and give yourself boundaries that support your focus.
• Create a to-do list just for this week. Keep it simple, actionable, and realistic.

📸 I’d love to see what you’re working on! DM me a photo of your to-do list or tag me in a focused work session @sparkleandshinepodcast on Instagram or Threads. Let’s cheer each other on!

🌟 Episode Length: 7 minutes 45 seconds

Have you ever scrapped a piece of content because it didn’t turn out the way you imagined? Or maybe you’ve held off launching something new because it didn’t feel perfect yet?

In this episode of Sparkle & Shine, we’re getting real about the power of messy action—and how a reel I almost didn’t post turned out to be one of my best-performing pieces of content. I'm sharing the story behind that imperfect video, how perfectionism shows up in my business (and nearly stopped this podcast from ever happening), and the mindset shift that’s helping me show up even when things don’t go as planned.

✨ You’ll hear:

• The behind-the-scenes of my not-so-cute bead soup reel
• How perfectionism creeps in and what my inner critic actually says
• Why action beats perfection every time
• My personal tips for pressing publish anyway—even when it feels scary

If you’ve ever delayed something because it wasn’t “ready” or doubted yourself because things didn’t go perfectly… this episode is for you. 💖

🔁 Your Challenge This Week:

Pick one thing you’ve been putting off because it’s not perfect—then post it! Tag me @sparkleandshinepodcast so I can hype you up and maybe even shout you out in the next episode.

📣 Let’s Sparkle Together:

If this episode encouraged you, share it with your biz bestie, leave a review, or send me a DM with your favorite takeaway. Your support means the world!

🌟 Episode Length: 8 minutes, 38 seconds

Have you ever felt like something just wasn’t going to be worth it—but you showed up anyway?

In this episode, I’m sharing a story from a market I almost skipped… and how it turned into one of the most surprising and encouraging days in my business.

This one is for those messy middle moments when you’re tired, unsure, or questioning if your effort even matters. You’ll hear:

• What happened at WestFest—and how I doubled my year-to-date sales in one afternoon
• Why raising my prices actually paid off (even with tons of free booths around!)
• A few magical interactions that reminded me why I do what I do
• How your energy impacts everything—and why showing up matters more than you think

💬 Let’s Connect

Have you ever had a time when you showed up anyway and were totally surprised by the outcome?

Tag me @sparkleandshinepodcast in your post or story, or send a DM and tell me about it—I’d love to cheer you on (and maybe even share your story in a future episode!).

And if this episode gave you the little nudge you needed today, send it to a friend or biz bestie who could use some encouragement too. We’re in this together. 💛

🎙 Hosted by Cassandra (@prettypineapplebead)

✨ New episodes every Thursday

🌟 Episode Length: 10 minutes, 43 seconds

In This Episode:

If you’ve ever said, “If I just had more time, I’d figure out my marketing…” — this one’s for you.

Now that I’ve officially stepped into full-time entrepreneurship (still wild to say!), I’m sharing how my marketing approach is shifting with more time, space, and energy to grow Pretty Pineapple Bead in a way that feels intentional and aligned.

This episode is filled with behind-the-scenes insight on what I’m trying, what’s working, and how I’m building a plan that balances strategy with joy — because marketing should feel good, not just like a never-ending to-do list.

What You’ll Hear:

• My new weekly rhythm for showing up on social (without burning out)
• The mindset shift that helped me stop batching and start connecting
• Why I’m treating email marketing like a coffee date instead of a sales pitch
• How I’m reimagining vendor events and private DIY Bead Bar parties
• The 6 areas I’m focusing my marketing energy as a full-time business owner
• A simple 3-question content plan to try this week

Quote to Remember:

“You don’t need to do everything to make progress. Start with what matters most right now — and build from there.”

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Let’s Connect:

Got a marketing goal this week you’re working on? DM me @sparkleandshinepodcast or tag this episode in your Instagram Stories so I can cheer you on!

And hey — if this episode gave you a boost, don’t forget to subscribe & share it with a fellow business owner who’s navigating the marketing maze too 💛

🌟 Episode Length: 8 minutes, 40 seconds

In This Episode:

Running a small business can feel incredibly isolating — especially when you’re the one doing everything. If you’ve ever thought, I love my business, but I feel so alone, this episode is for you.

I’m opening up about the loneliness that comes with entrepreneurship — the days when it feels like no one really understands what you're going through — and how finding even one supportive person can change your whole journey. From solo market days to burnout to finally meeting my biz bestie, I’m sharing what helped me find connection, support, and a whole lot more joy in the process.

If you’re craving community, this one’s going to hit home.

What You’ll Hear:

• What no one tells you about the emotional side of working for yourself
• Why loneliness is common in business (and how it shows up)
• How I found my biz bestie — and how you can start building your support system too
• Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness
• Small, simple ways to feel more connected (even if you’re an introvert)

Quote to Remember:

“Just because you can do it all, doesn’t mean you should. Support isn’t a weakness — it’s a strength.”

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Let’s Connect:

Have you found your biz bestie yet? Or are you still looking for your people?

DM me on Instagram @sparkleandshinepodcast — I’d love to hear your story, cheer you on, or even be the first person in your corner. 💛

🌟 Episode Length: 7 minutes, 31 seconds

In This Episode:

If you’ve ever felt like your business doesn’t quite feel like you — like you’re just mimicking what’s “supposed” to work — this episode is your permission slip to build differently.

As I step into full-time entrepreneurship (yes, I officially left my job!), I’m reflecting on how I’ve shaped Pretty Pineapple Bead around my energy, not someone else’s blueprint. I talk about ignoring trends, listening to my gut, and staying grounded in what really lights me up — color, confidence, creativity, and joy.

This episode is packed with heart, clarity, and a whole lot of encouragement to be the YOU-est you in your brand.

What You’ll Hear:

• What building an aligned business really means to me
• Why I stopped trying to appeal to everyone
• How Pretty Pineapple Bead became a bold, colorful reflection of my energy
• Lessons from trying to batch content or follow trends that didn’t fit
• A simple action step to start making your brand feel more like you

Quote to Remember:

“You don’t need to follow every trend to be successful. Your greatest superpower is your uniqueness.”

Let’s Connect:

What’s one thing in your business that feels uniquely you?

DM me on Instagram @sparkleandshinepodcast — I’d love to hear about it and celebrate with you.