What happens when you pivot careers after 40 and land your dream gig? Paul Heitsch knows. A former composer and sound engineer, Paul stepped into audiobook narration later in life—and now he’s narrated over 380 titles, including the Omega Force sci-fi series by Joshua Dalzelle (episode 265).

In this candid conversation, Paul shares how he built a thriving voiceover business in his second act, what AI can’t replicate, and how storytelling is still a deeply human craft.

🎧 In This Episode:

• How Paul found audiobook success after 40
• What it takes to build a voice acting career from scratch
• Why emotional nuance beats AI every time
• Tools Paul uses to prep and record audiobooks
• What aspiring narrators need to know (especially solopreneurs!)
• How character voices are created—and remembered
• The surprising freedom of starting over

🎙️ “If the work speaks to you, if you’re cut out for it, it’s the greatest job in the world.” — Paul Heitsch

📚 Want to hear Paul in action?
Check out the Omega Force series by Joshua Dalzelle: https://amzn.to/4ng55D2

Connect with Paul Heitsch

• 🌐 Website: https://paulheitsch.com
• 📖 Audiobooks: https://amzn.to/3T4s3iN (affiliate link)
• 📝 Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/277

Listen Next: http://kandasrodarte.com/265

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Join the Gratitude Geek community and stay updated with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and more. Sign up for our email list here: http://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe

Support Gratitude Geek Podcast

At Gratitude Geek, we aim to spread gratitude, sow seeds of appreciation, and harvest a bounty of generosity and kindness. As a listener, reader, and subscriber, you are part of this mission, and we are honored to have your support. If possible, please help finance the show: http://kandasrodarte.com/support

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in the show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

Gratitude Geek is part of the Podmatch Network. Learn how Podmatch can help you grow your visibility: http://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch

Jeff Pearson looks perfectly healthy—but his brain tells a very different story.

In episode 276 of Gratitude Geek, host Kandas Rodarte chats with Jeff, a speaker, nonprofit founder, and host of Invisible Condition on e360tv. Born with hydrocephalus, Jeff has endured seven brain surgeries, six of them in just over a decade. But instead of giving up, he and his wife launched a nonprofit, a TV show, a caregiver support network, and a mission to bring hope to others living with invisible conditions.

Tune in to discover:

• What it's really like living with a surgically-managed brain condition

• How Jeff and Catherine launched Hydro with Hope and Invisible Condition University (ICU)

• Why caregivers need just as much support as patients

• How alternative therapies gave Jeff his life back when medicine said "just live with it"

• The business reality of running a nonprofit with impact

Whether you're navigating your own invisible health journey or supporting someone who is, this episode will shift your perspective—and maybe even restore some hope.

🎯 Mantra of the episode: Launch and Adjust.

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Connect with Jeff Pearson
📺 TV Show: https://e360tv.com/networks/play_series/invisible-condtion
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InvisibleCondition/streams
📝 Show Notes & Resources: https://kandasrodarte.com/276

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This episode is made possible by...

I use Victory Super Patch to help manage some of my neuropathy symptoms—it's drug-free, non-invasive, and honestly, a game changer.

💥 Save 25% on your first order: http://kandasrodarte.com/superpatch

I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, comment & share!

Join the Gratitude Geek community and stay updated with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and more. Sign up for our email list here: http://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe

Support Gratitude Geek Podcast

At Gratitude Geek, we aim to spread gratitude, sow seeds of appreciation, and harvest a bounty of generosity and kindness. As a listener, reader, and subscriber, you are part of this mission, and we are honored to have your support. If possible, please help finance the show: http://kandasrodarte.com/support

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in the show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

Gratitude Geek is part of the Podmatch Network. Learn how Podmatch can help you grow your visibility: http://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch

In this emotionally grounding episode of Gratitude Geek, Kandas Rodarte welcomes back author and mindset coach Fletcher Ellingson to explore how we can build emotional resilience in a world that feels increasingly chaotic.

We dive into Fletcher’s signature framework from his book The Practice of Feeling Good — and unpack how fear is often just a story. Fletcher shares how to identify the root of that fear, reframe it, and begin practicing a new, empowering narrative. You’ll also learn why “feeling good” is a daily practice, not a personality trait or privilege.

Whether you’re facing uncertainty in business, health, politics, or life, this episode will help you reset your emotional default and take aligned action from a place of clarity and confidence.

• The 3 core fears driving most anxiety
• Why fear is just a future-based story
• How to practice emotional resilience daily
• The difference between habits and intentional practices
• Why courage is only possible with fear
• How to shift your mindset to feel grounded and empowered
• Simple tools to regulate your nervous system
• Gratitude as a radical act of self-regulation
• Flexibility vs. rigidity in emotional survival

• Website: https://fletcherellingson.com/
• Book: https://bookshop.org/a/111345/9781954757394 (affiliate link)
• Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/275

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, comment & share!

Join the Gratitude Geek community and stay updated with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and more. Sign up for our email list here: http://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe

Support Gratitude Geek Podcast

At Gratitude Geek, we aim to spread gratitude, sow seeds of appreciation, and harvest a bounty of generosity and kindness. As a listener, reader, and subscriber, you are part of this mission, and we are honored to have your support. If possible, please help finance the show: http://kandasrodarte.com/support

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in the show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

Gratitude Geek is part of the Podmatch Network. Learn how Podmatch can help you grow your visibility: http://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch

Are you a female solopreneur over 40 looking to stand out in 2025? Discover how video can transform your business, build real connections, and help you shine in a crowded market—no matter what you’ve overcome.

Jason Zygadlo joins me for episode 274 of Gratitude Geek to explore the power of personalized video, authentic branding, and how his nonprofit ZIGGYSTRONG supports people navigating grief and adversity. Whether you’re rebuilding after cancer, divorce, or loss, this episode offers practical tips and heartfelt encouragement for women in business who lead with purpose.

Connect with Jason Zygadlo
🌐 Website: https://www.careercoachbyob.com/
📝Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/274

🎧 Hosted by Kandas Rodarte, Gratitude Geek is the go-to podcast for resilient female solopreneurs who want to grow their business with authenticity and gratitude—without the hustle.

Loved this episode? Subscribe on your favorite podcast app and join the Robusta Small Business Percolator—a community for women over 40 building authentic businesses after adversity. 👉 http://kandasrodarte.com/robusta

If your YouTube titles aren’t getting clicks, your content isn’t getting seen. Period.

In episode 273 of Gratitude Geek, I sit down with Jake Thomas, the self-proclaimed YouTube title nerd behind CreatorHooks.com, who’s written 1,000s of titles responsible for nearly 100 million views.

We unpack the psychology of why people click, how to avoid common title mistakes, and how women over 40 can stand out on YouTube without falling into the clickbait trap. Whether you’re launching a channel or stuck in content limbo, Jake’s insights will help you write titles that actually convert.

Connect with Jake Thomas

Website: http://creatorhooks.com

Creator Hooks Newsletter: https://sparklp.co/1274efaf/ (affiliate link)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-thomas-creator-hooks/

Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/273

If this episode gave you an “aha!” moment about YouTube or content strategy, share it with a friend—and don’t forget to subscribe.

Want support from fellow female solopreneurs over 40 building businesses with heart and guts?
Join the Robusta Small Business Percolator at kandasrodarte.com/robusta.

Join the Gratitude Geek community and stay updated with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and more. Sign up for our email list here: http://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe

Support Gratitude Geek Podcast

At Gratitude Geek, we aim to spread gratitude, sow seeds of appreciation, and harvest a bounty of generosity and kindness. As a listener, reader, and subscriber, you are part of this mission, and we are honored to have your support. If possible, please help finance the show: http://kandasrodarte.com/support

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in the show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

Gratitude Geek is part of the Podmatch Network. Learn how Podmatch can help you grow your visibility: http://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch

You can have a killer product and a beautiful website… and still lose thousands.
In episode 272, I chat with Roger Pearson—an IRS Enrolled Agent with over 50 years of experience in business—about the most common (and costly) mistakes entrepreneurs make when it comes to finances, taxes, and business structure.

Roger shares the three foundational pillars every small business needs to thrive and explains why even seasoned solopreneurs often miss the mark when it comes to deductions, depreciation, and documentation. If you're a business owner who's ever said, “I wish I’d known that sooner,” this conversation is for you.

Key takeaways include:

• How to identify hidden money leaks in your business

• The real impact of choosing the wrong business structure

• Why proper record keeping isn’t optional

• What to look for when hiring a tax professional

• How to stop overpaying the IRS—legally

🎧 This episode is especially relevant for women over 40 who’ve overcome life’s curveballs and are building businesses on their own terms.

Connect with Roger Pearson

🌐 Website: http://seagulltechnologies.com

📖 Book: http://seagulltechnologies.com/books

🖇️ LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/Roger-Pearson

📝 Full Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/272

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Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, comment & share!

Join the Gratitude Geek community and stay updated with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and more. Sign up for our email list here: http://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe

Support Gratitude Geek Podcast

At Gratitude Geek, we aim to spread gratitude, sow seeds of appreciation, and harvest a bounty of generosity and kindness. As a listener, reader, and subscriber, you are part of this mission, and we are honored to have your support. If possible, please help finance the show: http://kandasrodarte.com/support

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in the show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

Gratitude Geek is part of the Podmatch Network. Learn how Podmatch can help you grow your visibility: http://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch

What if talking about death actually helped us live better?

In episode 271 of the Gratitude Geek Podcast, host Kandas Rodarte sits down with Nikki Smith, an INELDA-certified death doula and grief coach, to explore the often-avoided topic of dying—and why it's time to stop pretending we’ll live forever.

Nikki shares:

• How a death doula supports the dying and their loved ones

• What practical tools—like checklists—can ease grief and prevent family conflict

• Why casseroles aren’t the only way to help a grieving friend

• How talking openly about death can help us appreciate life more

• What midlife women in business need to know about legacy and medical advocacy

Whether you're planning for yourself or a loved one, this episode is your permission slip to start the conversation—because the business of dying is very much about how we choose to live.

Listen in and learn:

• The surprising role of a death doula

• How to prepare for end-of-life with intention

• What to do before the casseroles start showing up

Connect with Nikki the Death Doula

• Website: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1lYa9JYPS4DCemfvClnNmC?si=2c37680712be4082
• Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/271

Ready to grow your business with clarity and community? Join Robusta: http://kandasrodarte.com/robusta

Is your business stuck because of what you think you know? In episode 270 of the Gratitude Geek Podcast, host Kandas Rodarte sits down with entrepreneurship educator Andrew Frazier to explore the unpopular truths that small business owners need to hear.

Andrew shares what thousands of coaching sessions have taught him about:

• Why not every business should scale

• The real reason your marketing isn’t working

• How personal branding beats a business plan

• What most entrepreneurs get wrong about selling

• Why financial literacy is a game-changer

If you're a solo entrepreneur, microbusiness owner, or coach looking to grow smarter—not just bigger—this episode delivers the clarity and confidence you've been missing.

🟣 Full show notes: http://kandasrodarte.com/270

🟣 Learn more about Andrew at: https://www.sbprou.com

🟣 Subscribe and follow the show at: https://gratitudegeek.com