What Four Years of Podcasting Taught Me About Success (Solo Episode)

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showFour years. 160 episodes. And a podcast I started before I even knew what I wanted to podcast about. 🤷‍♀️ 🎉 In honor of International Podcast Day, I’m looking back at what building Build Your Own Fairytale has taught me—not only about podcasting, but about starting before I felt ready, adjusting without giving up and measuring success by more than one number.I’m also sharing why the podcast still makes the cut, even without a perfect lead-generation funnel, and what I hope my daughters are learning as they watch me continue to build it.If there’s something you love about the show—or something you’d like to hear more of—use the link below to text me. I’d genuinely love to know.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showI spent all summer waiting for September—the return of school-day work hours and time to focus on my business.Then it arrived with an open calendar, an empty pipeline and the immediate urge to fix everything at once.I’m sharing what happened when I finally lifted my head from maintaining the business and looked at where it was actually headed. I’m taking you behind the scenes as I question whether the tools I’m known for have become more visible than my broader expertise, test a new offer and wait to find out whether anyone will say yes.Because doing one scary thing is not the same as doing everything—but it may be enough to move the business forward.Referenced in this episode:Ep. 158: The Summer I Didn’t Grow My Business (Solo Episode)Ep. 141: Out of No Man’s Land: What Happens When Systems Nerds Get in the Same Room (Bonus Episode)Learn more about the Business Systems Reset beta

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showApparently, I actually did retire this summer!Back in June, I gave myself permission to do less. What I didn’t anticipate was just how quiet my business would become—or how uncomfortable I would feel when an intentionally slower summer included an entire month without client work.In this solo episode, I’m reporting back on what happened, what kept going and what I learned along the way.Spoiler alert: I didn’t grow my business in the traditional sense this summer. But the podcast continued, my weekly emails went out and my systems kept the business running without requiring my constant attention.More importantly, I got to live the kind of summer my modern fairytale was supposed to make room for.ICYMI: This episode is a direct follow-up to the pre-summer share in Episode 153: The Cost of Keeping Everything in Your Head.Want a little note from me in your inbox every Thursday? Sign up for my weekly newsletter.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showAfter more than 20 years in corporate leadership at companies like Google, Amazon, Roku, and Snap, Meredith Hudson made the decision to bet on herself.Inspired by her experience as a Division I athlete and sports mom, she founded Sideline Bags—a product designed to help female athletes stay organized on and off the field. But as you'll hear in this conversation, the bag is only part of the story.Meredith shares what she learned from two previous business attempts, how understanding her numbers gave her the confidence to leave corporate, why consistently telling her story online changed the trajectory of her business, and how lessons from sports continue to shape the way she leads and builds today.Whether you're considering a career change, growing a business, or simply wondering what your own next chapter might look like, I think you'll find plenty of encouragement in Meredith's story.Learn more and connect with Meredith on Instagram (@getslb and @meredithhuds) and on her website getslb.co.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showWhat happens when you stop asking "Can I?" and start asking "What else can I do?"In this episode, I'm joined by Avery Fiordaliso, founder of Iron Life Coaching, whose journey from self-proclaimed non-athlete to Ironman coach is really a story about identity, confidence, and believing you're capable of more than you once imagined.But this conversation isn't just about endurance sports.It's about leaving a successful corporate career to build something of your own, redefining success beyond titles and salaries, and creating a business that supports the life you actually want to live.We also talk about the difference between work-life balance and work-life integration, why consistency matters more than perfection, and the mindset shifts that help you keep moving forward—whether you're training for a race or building a business.Learn more and connect with Avery on Instagram and on her website.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showPeople often tell me I'm "so organized." But after wrapping up another busy swim team season, I found myself thinking... maybe organization isn't the real reason I've been able to stay consistent with my podcast, newsletter, clients, and even a six-year Peloton streak.In this episode, I'm sharing why I think we confuse outcomes with personality, the difference between discipline and sustainability, and how simple systems help me build a business that keeps going—even when life gets busy. If you've ever felt like you're carrying your business around in your head, this one's for you. 🫶 

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showWhat happens when the career path you originally planned no longer fits the life you actually want?In this episode, I’m joined by Jamie Hass, whose journey has taken her from corporate marketing, to co-owning a childcare center for 13 years, to building a virtual coaching business designed to support women in the realities of everyday life.This conversation felt like such a grounded reminder that sustainable businesses aren’t built through hustle alone.Jamie shares what she learned transitioning from a brick-and-mortar business into the online space, including: Why systems matter more than motivation  The mental load that comes with “wearing all the hats”  How perfectionism can quietly keep you stuck  What it actually looks like to make progress in busy seasons of life  Why small, consistent action beats overwhelming plans every time We also talk about balancing motherhood and business, navigating summer without losing momentum completely, and building a business that actually fits your real life—not just the version that looks good online.If you’ve been feeling busy all day but somehow still not moving forward, this episode is for you.Connect with Jamie on Instagram or check out her resources here. 

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show ​As summer gets underway, I've been asking myself a different question: not "What needs to get done?" but "What can stop depending on me?"In this episode, I'm sharing the hidden costs of being the person who remembers everything in your business. We'll talk about the financial leaks that happen when things fall through the cracks, the mental load of carrying it all, and why your business shouldn't take up space that belongs to the life you're trying to build.Plus, I'll share one simple example of how a small system can free up more mental space this summer.Free Document Reminder Prompt PackA simple resource to help you create reminder timing, wording, and follow-up strategies for proposals, contracts, invoices, and questionnaires—whether you use 17hats or another CRM.👉 Grab the prompt pack here.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showWhat looks like a “perfect” business on the outside is rarely accidental.In this episode, I’m joined by Brooke Kromer, a luxury real estate agent based in 30A, Florida, who works with athletes, high-net-worth buyers, and investors to help them find not just a property—but a lifestyle.Brooke shares her unconventional path from growing up in the NFL world to sports reporting, and how a pivot during COVID led her to build a thriving real estate business in one of the most sought-after beach markets in the country.We talk about: How she turned lifelong exposure into a strategic advantage  What high-end clients actually need (beyond just a home)  The difference between selling real estate and guiding investments  How she’s built a team with complementary strengths instead of duplication  What it really looks like to create a high-touch, personalized client experience If you’ve ever felt like other people “just found their thing,” this episode is a reminder that most successful businesses are built by connecting the dots over time.

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the showThis one took me a while to process.A few months ago, I ran my first-ever half marathon: the Disney Princess Half Marathon. And while I expected the experience to be about running, I realized pretty quickly it was actually about something much bigger.Trust.Trusting yourself before certainty exists.Trusting the ordinary reps.Trusting that consistency matters even when progress feels invisible.Trusting that you can keep showing up before you fully know how things will turn out.In this episode, I’m sharing the real behind-the-scenes of training for and completing the race — from injuries and superstition, to awkward Main Street moments, to realizing the finish line felt a lot less cinematic than I expected.This isn’t really an episode about running.It’s a reflection on business ownership, consistency, identity, motherhood, courage, and learning to trust yourself a little more every time you try something hard.I think that lesson is going to stay with me a lot longer than the medal.