Navigating The First Year In Business with Jasmine Smith

What happens when two former classroom teachers step into the wild world of business education? A lot of laughs, some unexpected shade, and serious insight into what it means to truly teach. In this episode, host Tayler sits down with Laylee Emadi, founder of The Creative Educator Conference and Educator's Lounge, to tackle the big question: Are you really an educator or just a motivational speaker in disguise?Together, they explore the rise of self-proclaimed "educators," the blurred lines between storytelling and actual teaching, and how to turn real expertise into transformative learning experiences. They also dive into why educators should never use paying customers as guinea pigs and the critical difference between professionals who speak and professional speakers. Oh, and did we mention the hard-core auntie energy? Get ready to feel inspired, learn something new, and maybe even join Laylee’s exclusive Educator’s Lounge. Press play and discover the plan for your world domination (no crying required).

Are you feeling crushed under the weight of all the things in your marketing to-do list? Join Tayler and her ultimate podcast BFF Samantha Welker as they break down the marketing madness and teach you how to focus on what actually matters. Discover why you’re doing too damn much, how to audit yourself like a pro, and why simplifying it the f#%! down is the mantra we all need. Don't miss this one—it’s equal parts therapy and strategy.

Do you feel like marketing your business is an endless to-do list of Instagram posts, email campaigns, and reels—with little to show for it? Join Tayler and revenue strategist Frenchie Ferenczi as they tackle the real goal of marketing: staying close to the money. Frenchie shares her no-nonsense money-first philosophy, reminds us what the five core functions of marketing are (it's easy to forget), and why overthinking your to-do list might be the biggest thing holding you back. From busting myths about needing to "market at scale" to finding your bare minimum marketing strategy, this episode is perfect for the solopreneur or service provider looking to break free from the feast-or-famine cycle.

Most entrepreneurs sit on their ideas for way too long. You know, waiting for the "right time" to start their business. The thing is, there is never a "right" or "perfect" time to start a business—you just gotta do the damn thing! In this episode, Tayler teams up with her longtime friend and powerhouse entrepreneur Marina Pannell—owner of Harper & Ivory bridal boutique. Together, they dive into Marina's wild journey from almost starting a coffee shop to finally opening her dream business, even as the world was shutting down. Whether you’re stuck overthinking or just waiting for someone to tell you to hit go, Tayler and Marina are here to remind you: the time is now. Strap in, it's time to get uncomfortable (in the best way possible)!

YouTube isn't just for influencers and cat videos any more—but you knew that. The thing you might not know though, is the fact that being on YouTube is a smart move for pretty much any small business! And in this episode of the Pretty Okay Podcast, Tayler chats with YouTube expert LaShonda Brown, who shares how service providers can harness the power of YouTube to grow their biz and (gasp) maybe even work less! From 20-hour work weeks to leveraging long-form content and YouTube Shorts, LaShonda talks all about her top tips for getting started on YouTube—even if you're camera-shy.

We're trading the soft kid gloves for brass knuckles in this episode! Tayler teams up with the ever-fierce Candice Coppola to dish out some tough love on the excuses they hear about why you can't get to your marketing. From "I don’t have time!" to "I need a strategy first!", your marketing aunties expose the lies you tell yourself and offer a hearty cuddle of wisdom to get you back on track. Tune in, laugh, cringe, and (most importantly) start doing the damn thing!

It's not often you get to sit down with a lawyer let alone someone like with Braden Drake—a lawyer for creatives, business owners, and drag artists. But this episode isn't what you'd expect because most lawyers aren't entrepreneurs. And we dug into one of the most important things any entrepreneur can do—create irresistible offers. From what to think about when you're coming up with the best offer you can to how to handle it when the haters show up because your offer is just that good, we talk strategy, the absurdity of overpriced templates, and why sometimes shaking up the market is the best move you can make. But don't get it twisted! This is not legal advice.

Ever felt like you're juggling between getting things done and trying to lead effectively? You’re not alone! Your host Tayler Hollman is back, and she’s got Audrey Kwan in the hot seat to talk transitioning from being a doer to a leader (there's a lot to unlearn here, folks). So get ready to embrace the gray areas of leadership and discover how to motivate, delegate, and support your team like a pro.

Regardless of where you currently sit on the I-hate-Meta spectrum, it's hard to deny the fact that social media ads are a fast and pretty cheap way to get in front of your ideal customers. But wanting to run social media ads is one thing. Actually knowing it's the right thing for your small business is another—let alone whether you should do it yourself or hire someone. So, in this episode, seasoned social media advertiser, Jaymie Tarshis, joined me on the pod to chat about the age-old dilemma: to DIY your social media ads or hire an agency for ad campaigns? 

It takes guts to start a small business, but it takes real guts to start one that's brick and mortar. And in this episode of the Pretty Okay Podcast, Tayler sits down with shop owner, Katherine Oyer of Francis Henri, to talk about her experience going from an online baby store to a brick-and-mortar haven for little ones. If you've ever wondered what it's like to run a retail store with overhead or what it takes to make your online store work IRL, grab your favorite stuffie and listen in!