What actually makes networking work and why does it feel so uncomfortable for so many people?

In this episode, Sophia breaks down the biggest mistakes people make at networking events and offers a refresh approach to building relationships that actually lead to opportunities (without feeling slimy, salesy, or cringe).

You’ll hear why treating networking like a transaction almost always backfires, and how shifting into a mindset of curiosity, generosity, and genuine connection creates far better long-term results. Sophia shares real stories from nearly two decades of networking experience to show why being fully yourself is not a liability, but your greatest advantage.

She also walks you through how to clearly and confidently explain what you do without rambling, confusing people, or launching into an awkward elevator pitch, and why clarity is one of the most underrated networking skills. You’ll learn how to create a simple one-liner that helps people instantly “get” what you do, remember you later, and refer you naturally.

Finally, Sophia covers how to think about follow-up in a way that feels aligned and sustainable, whether that’s inviting someone to coffee, a consult, or simply staying connected over time.

If you want to grow your business through relationships, referrals, and word-of-mouth, this episode is for you.

To register for the free webinar No More Cringe: A Simple, Human Way to Network and Grow Your Business, happening December 18 at 1 p.m. EST, Click here.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com

In this episode, Sophia digs into a topic everyone encounters—how to walk into a room with confidence and actually enjoy yourself once you’re there. Whether it’s a Chamber of Commerce event, a work conference, a family gathering, or a kid’s birthday party, we all end up in spaces where we feel unsure, awkward, or out of place. Sophia shares her top five strategies for “owning a room,” drawn from nearly two decades of in-person networking experience, countless trainings, and plenty of trial and error.

She explains why your mindset matters more than anything you say, how your thoughts shape your energy, and why people pick up on that energy instantly. Sophia also talks about the trap of trying to act how you think you “should” in a room and why being your true self is always more effective.

You’ll learn her powerful 7-2-1 Rule for understanding connection dynamics, the one simple goal she sets for every event she attends, and how to redirect conversations so they feel natural instead of draining. She also shares Brandon’s brilliant advice for introverts: how to navigate a room without forcing yourself into uncomfortable social gymnastics.

This episode is a blend of practical tools, personal stories, and the mindset shifts that make networking—and being in any room—feel easier, lighter, and more human.

Sophia also announces her upcoming free webinar, No More Cringe: A Simple, Human Way to Network and Grow Your Business, happening December 18 at 1 p.m., where she’ll teach her full, actionable system for building real relationships that support your business in 2026 and beyond. Click here to register for the webinar.

Tune in for a warm, insightful conversation that will help you feel more grounded, authentic, and confident no matter what room you walk into.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com

In this week’s episode, Sophia kicks off a brand-new series that speaks directly to the entrepreneurs, dreamers, and business owners in her community—whether you’re just getting started, rebuilding from scratch, or already successful but craving something that feels more aligned.

After months of talking about living your 10/10 life, Sophia realized a huge portion of her audience is hungry for guidance on creating a business that actually supports the life they want—not the other way around. Today, she lays the foundation for what she calls your favorite business: a business that fits your strengths, your personality, your season of life, and your deepest values.

Sophia breaks down the three essential pillars every entrepreneur must build before their business can truly thrive:

1. Value: Are you solving a real problem?

Business only works when people are willing to pay for the solution you offer. Sophia shares tangible examples—from glasses and purses to real-world photography and handmade products—of how value is defined by the customer, not the creator. She unpacks why so many new entrepreneurs struggle to communicate the problem they solve and why clarity is everything.

2. Alignment: Does the business model actually fit you?

This is the piece Sophia sees entrepreneurs overlook the most. She shares stories from multiple industries—coaching, photography, Etsy shops, financial services, even plumbing—to show how small pivots can transform burnout into joy. She also opens up about her and Brandon’s journey in the video production world and why stepping away was the best decision for their mental health and marriage. The message: success means nothing if it’s not aligned with who you are.

3. Visibility: Are you in the right rooms with the right people?

Most businesses don’t fail because the offer is bad—they fail because the owner isn’t meeting enough of the right people. Whether online or in person, Sophia explains why showing up strategically matters more than posting endlessly on social media. She introduces her powerful “7–2–1 Rule” from her book and explores how the culture of the room changes everything about who you attract and who you’re meant to serve.

This episode is a grounded, honest, and encouraging invitation to rethink how you run your business heading into 2026. With more coming next week, Sophia sets the stage for a podcast mini-series that will help you build a business that feels deeply aligned, deeply valuable, and deeply yours.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com

In today’s episode, I’m joined by one of my coaching clients and long-time friend Rana, a wildly talented portrait photographer who has built a multi–six-figure business over the past 17 years. We originally met over a decade ago, but this past year inside coaching is where I’ve watched her expand, heal, and transform in the most powerful ways.

Rana came into coaching with an already successful business, a thriving family, and a full life… but everything felt fine. Not bad. Not broken. Just fine. And she knew she wanted more.

Inside this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to turn a “fine” life into a favorite one and how Rana moved her entire Favorite Life Wheel from scattered scores to almost all 9s and 10s in under a year.

We explore:

✨ How a successful business can still feel misaligned
✨ Why she walked away from a $50K+/year coaching role that drained her energy
✨ The moment she realized she’d been avoiding sadness and how allowing it changed her marriage, her motherhood, and her emotional wellbeing
✨ The subconscious blocks she cleared in minutes during our sessions
✨ Her shift from forcing things out of obligation to choosing only what feels like a “hell yes”
✨ How she re-entered coaching on her own terms with her new Coffee & Clarity Sessions
✨ What a 9–10 life actually feels like in real time
✨ Why she chose to continue coaching even after her wheel became full of 9s and 10s

This episode is a deep, honest look at alignment, courage, energy management, and the quiet ways we sabotage our own satisfaction. Rana shares openly about motherhood, marriage, ADHD, and the brave decisions she made to reclaim her time, her energy, and her joy.

If you’ve ever felt like your life is “fine” but not your favorite, this conversation will show you what’s possible and how quickly things can shift when you stop shrinking and start aligning.

Visit https://roohiphotography.com/ to learn all the ways you can connect with Rana.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com

In this episode, Sophia breaks down the powerful realization that most women aren’t struggling because their lives are falling apart — they’re struggling because everything is fine. And fine can be the most dangerous place to stay.

Through the lens of the Favorite Life Wheel, Sophia shares why so many of us hover at a “7 out of 10” in multiple areas, how seven becomes a safe hiding place, and why it often signals avoidance rather than contentment. She explains the emotional, energetic, and practical costs of settling for fine and walks through what it actually looks like to move into a life that feels aligned, energized, expansive, and truly yours.

You’ll hear real-life examples—from career shifts, dissolving misaligned offers, collapsing timelines, and even moving states—to illustrate what happens when you stop choosing predictable comfort and start choosing your favorite life. Sophia also highlights the fears, mental load stories, and hidden narratives (“I should just be grateful…” or “Wanting more is greedy…”) that keep women from stepping into their 8s, 9s, and 10s.

She closes with powerful reflection questions, a mantra to anchor into (“Fine is familiar, but favorite is fulfilling”), and an invitation to name the dreams you’ve been too scared to say out loud.

If you’re ready to shift from autopilot to intentional living — and from fine to fulfilling — this episode will light the path.

Click here to join Aligned.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com

In this week’s episode, Sophia dives into the transformative power of aligning every area of your life so that each piece supports—not sabotages—your goals. Building on the recent conversations about intentional living and vision boards, she explores how alignment allows life to feel less like swimming upstream and more like floating in flow.

Sophia walks through eight key areas of alignment that make it easier to create your favorite life:

1. Values – Identify your top two guiding principles and use them as a compass for every decision.
2. Personal Goals – Get clear on what you want most in your life and ensure your choices support those desires.
3. Business Goals – Align your work with your lifestyle and family vision so that professional success doesn’t compete with personal fulfillment.
4. Brain – How You’re Wired – Understand how your mind naturally works (especially if you’re neurodivergent) and design your routines to match it.
5. Personality – CliftonStrengths & Enneagram – Build your days and your business around your innate strengths and motivators instead of trying to fix your weaknesses.
6. Energy Management – Learn how your unique energy operates and structure your life to flow with it rather than fight against it.
7. Time Management – Craft rhythms and routines that honor your season of life and keep you in alignment, not overwhelm.
8. Relationships – Surround yourself with people who fuel your growth, believe in your dreams, and align with where you’re going.

Sophia also shares the official launch of her new six-month coaching container, Aligned, designed to help women in business apply these principles through 1:1 coaching, group support, and a restorative retreat in Asheville, NC.

Click here to join Aligned

Discover how aligning every area of your life creates ease, joy, and unstoppable momentum toward your favorite self.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com

In this episode, we strip away the fluffy, mystical stereotypes around vision boards and dig into the grounded, science-backed truth of why they work. If you’re ready to move from thinking about your favorite life to creating it, this conversation is your blueprint.

I walk you through a strategic approach to vision boarding that starts with clarity — not magazine clippings. You’ll learn how to identify what you truly want in every area of your life, translate those desires into aligned habits, and choose the core thought that shapes the identity of your future self. We also explore the reticular activating system (RAS) and how intentionally visualizing your goals trains your brain to notice opportunities and follow-through.

By the end, you’ll understand how to build a vision board that becomes a living tool for transformation — not a cute craft project that collects dust.

Plus: I share details about a step-by-step workshop (inside my app!) and a live coaching session so you can build your next vision board with intention, alignment, and support.

Click here to view the blog post version of this episode with visual examples.

Purchase the Vision Board mini-course here.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com

In this conversation, Sophia Hyde discusses the importance of living intentionally rather than defaulting to societal norms and expectations. She shares personal anecdotes and insights on how to cultivate intentionality in various aspects of life, including friendships, personal goals, and daily habits. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-awareness and proactive decision-making to create a fulfilling life.

Download the Favorite Life Wheel using the "Free Resources" section of the ​app ​or ​using this link​.

Purchase your copy of Unleash Your Favorite Self book and the corresponding journal.

Interested in one-on-one coaching? Click here to schedule a Roadmap session with Sophia.

Download the Favorite Self app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Connect with Sophia on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

Have a topic you would love to hear Sophia address on the podcast? Send your ideas to hello@sophiahyde.com