This week on The Opt-In Podcast, Melissa Franks unpacks a rarely discussed—but vitally important—topic: how your personal behavior in public spaces can deeply affect your business or employment. Whether you're a business owner or an employee, your actions, your posts, your tone, and your choices in public and on social media all have ripple effects and sometimes, unintended consequences.

Using a powerful personal story from a youth baseball tournament gone sideways, Melissa explores how behavior, even outside of work hours, can reflect on your business and your brand, whether you realize it or not. This episode is not about ideology or political hot takes, it’s a practical, heartfelt guide for staying aligned with your values while protecting your business, your voice, and your livelihood.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• ⚾ A real-world story about how a youth sports game turned into a brand crisis for a business
• 🧠 Why everything you do, even off the clock can be traced back to your business or employer
• 📱 The risks of unfiltered social media posting and how cancel culture intersects with employment
• 🛡️ What every business owner needs: a clear social media and branded apparel policy
• 📘 Why your employee handbook matters more than you think (especially the fine print)
• 🧭 How to navigate being vocal about causes and core values without putting your business at risk
• 👀 Why “your personal brand is always showing” — and how to stay in control of it