“[Death] can happen to anybody anytime. So just have something in place for the loved ones, just to make it smoother and easier for them.” —Lindsey Nickel

Death comes for us all, but how we remember those we've lost can be beautiful and healing. Yet our culture often treats death as a taboo subject, leaving families feeling lost and unprepared. But what if we could transform grief into a celebration that truly honors a life lived?

Lindsey Nickel started as a wedding planner in Napa and discovered a calling in helping families create meaningful goodbye celebrations. With over a decade of event planning experience, she's now helping people reimagine how we say farewell to our loved ones.

Listen as Heather and Lindsey break down the raw, real, and surprisingly hopeful world of celebrating life after loss, covering everything from planning a killer memorial to dealing with grief, understanding end-of-life wishes, and turning a tough moment into a powerful tribute that feels like a big, loving group hug.

Connect with Heather:

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Episode Highlights:

01:34 Meet Lindsey: Going on a Sabbatical

07:00 Transitioning to Celebrations of Life

11:44 Navigating Grief and Client Relationships

15:08 Funerals vs Celebrations of Life

18:22 Perspectives on Death, Legacy, and Preparing for End of Life

21:08 Unique Ways of Honoring Loved Ones

24:57 Advice for Families Dealing with Impending Loss

28:47 Resources for End-of-Life Planning

31:52 Death Doulas and Support Services

Connect with Lindsey:

Lindsey Nickel is a seasoned wedding planner based in Napa, California, specializing in creating stylish, low-stress events that leave a lasting impression. With a background in event planning and outdoor adventure, Lindsey founded Lovely Day Events in 2010, bringing her organizational expertise and passion to create unforgettable celebrations. Known for her warm and meticulous approach, she invests deeply in her clients’ special moments, ensuring every detail is thoughtfully executed. When she’s not crafting extraordinary events, Lindsey enjoys traveling, hiking, dining outdoors, and fostering rescue dogs—including her beloved dog, Basil.

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“I still want to be known as the connector, and I will do that in every way possible.” —Heather Nelson

Life doesn't happen to you, it happens through you—and sometimes, that means rewriting chapters that no longer serve our soul's most authentic script.

And in the quiet moments between hustle and hope, we find that reinvention isn't just possible—it's our most powerful act of self-love.

Get ready for a no-holds-barred conversation that's part personal revelation, part life manual as Heather shares her next journey—from walking away from event planning to embracing a surrogacy journey that'll make your heart explode. Dive in and discover the messy world of career shifts, personal growth, and radical self-discovery in this week’s episode!

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Episode Highlights:

00:50 Retreats Update

04:29 Podcast Updates

06:08 Consulting Business and Events Planning Updates

08:25 Personal Life and Family Commitments

12:08 Surrogacy Journey

15:44 Self-Discovery and Clarity

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“You are a worthy human being. It doesn't matter what you have. It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter who's in your life; you absolutely matter, and you are worth doing it.” —Stefanie Lauren

Ever feel like you're juggling a million dreams but can't quite catch them? What if your scattered interests were actually your superpower? Imagine turning your curiosity into a roadmap for an extraordinary life.

Stefanie Lauren is an entrepreneur and host of the Broken & Enough podcast. With over 20 years of corporate experience in retail and sports industries, she specializes in business consulting, mental health advocacy, and personal development coaching. Stefanie loves to share real-life insights from her journey of personal growth and business exploration to help others realize their potential.

Tune in as Heather and Stefanie get real about overcoming self-doubt, managing life's crazy energy, and finding joy in your own unique path.

Connect with Heather:

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Episode Highlights:

03:01 Stefanie’s Journey: Lifestyle and Passions

08:47 Mental Health Journey

16:07 Tips for Balancing Energy and Priorities

39:00 Advice for Personal Growth

47:15 Supporting Businesses That Care for Their Clients

51:24 The Broken & Enough Podcast

Connect with Stefanie:

Stefanie Lauren is a multi-passionate entrepreneur and podcaster. She hosts the "Broken and Enough" podcast, which focuses on changing perspectives and personal growth. With over 20 years of experience in corporate settings, particularly in retail and sports industries, Stefanie is passionate about business consulting and supporting entrepreneurs. She specializes in embodiment work, mental health advocacy, and helping individuals develop healthier mindsets. Currently exploring virtual assistance and business coaching, Stefanie is dedicated to empowering others to find their authentic path and overcome personal challenges.

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“Every day, you get to make a choice about what you are opting into. You can always make a different choice tomorrow. You can always make a different choice today.” —Melissa Franks

Ever feel like your business is a puzzle with missing pieces? What if you had a secret weapon who could help you connect those dots and turn your entrepreneurial vision into a thriving reality?

The magic happens when strategic insight meets practical execution—and that's where a game-changing operational expert becomes your business's best friend.

Melissa Franks is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer with over 25 years of corporate experience, specializing in scaling businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs. As the founder of On Call COO and host of the "Opt In" podcast, she brings a wealth of strategic insights and operational expertise to growing businesses.

Tune in as Heather and Melissa reveal insider strategies for business growth, overcoming professional obstacles, mastering networking, pricing your expertise, building a consulting business, and leveraging the transformative power of fractional executive support to supercharge your business potential.

Connect with Heather:

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Episode Highlights:

01:29 Meet Melissa: Balancing Multiple Roles

03:32 Hitting a Career Ceiling and Starting a New Business

10:08 The Value of Curiosity and Continuous Learning

13:03 Building a Clientele and Solid Business Model

20:48 Challenges and Strategies in Business Consulting

26:24 Networking and Building Connections

29:27 “Opt In”: Creating Content for Busy Professionals

Connect with Melissa:

Melissa Franks is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer (COO) and business strategist with over 25 years of corporate experience. As the founder of On Call CEO, she provides fractional executive support to growing businesses, specializing in helping female entrepreneurs scale and optimize their operations.

With a background in technology and financial services, Melissa has guided businesses from $50 million to $350 million in revenue. Her expertise lies in strategic planning, team development, and creating scalable business structures.

A single mother based in Northern California, Melissa is also the host of the "Opt In" podcast, where she shares actionable business insights and strategies for entrepreneurs. Her mission is to empower business leaders by providing expert guidance, operational excellence, and strategic support tailored to each organization's unique needs.

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"Know your value. Don't ask for permission to take up space. Just get out there and start doing things. We have one life, and we don't get to go bac,k and we have no do-overs. It doesn't matter if people are judging you. The people that are judging you are normally sitting on their couch not doing anything, but judging you. And so if you're out there doing the thing they're judging, you're already winning." —Tara Polley

One word is all it takes— “Yes.”

When you choose "yes," you're not just agreeing to an opportunity; you're declaring war on your comfort zone and challenging the status quo of your own limitations. Each "yes" is a stepping stone to a version of yourself you've only imagined in quiet moments of potential. It's the bridge between who you are and who you're meant to become.

Saying “yes” to American Dream TV, Tara Polley transformed a moment of personal terror into a national platform for storytelling, community connection, and personal reinvention. By embracing the discomfort of being on camera, she unlocked a journey that expanded her professional horizons, allowed her to showcase local businesses and community stories, and discover a powerful voice she never knew she possessed.

Tune in as Heather and Tara dive deep into the importance of going out of our comfort zone, real estate insights, social media strategies, overcoming fear, community connection, storytelling as a marketing tool, embracing authenticity, taking professional risks, and navigating life's unexpected journeys through resilience and intentional "yes" moments.

Connect with Heather:

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Episode Highlights:

02:41 Meet Tara: Challenges and Growth in Real Estate

05:17 Reality TV and Its Impact on Real Estate Career

12:55 Client Relationships and Community Envolvement

16:59 Content Creation for Different Social Media Platforms

32:04 Overcoming Fear and Taking Risks to Grow

36:31 The Power of Knowing Your Own Value

Connect with Tara:

Tara Polley brings over 25 years of experience to the real estate industry, specializing in all facets of residential real estate, subdivision development, housing crisis counseling, and luxury properties, including wineries and bed & breakfast establishments. She is dually licensed as a Real Estate Broker in North Carolina as well as a Realtor Associate in California, and specializes in the Raleigh Triangle in addition to Sonoma Wine Country. Her expertise is further enhanced by her role as a host highlighting Sonoma County Wine Country on American Dream TV, an Emmy-nominated national lifestyle and real estate show that showcases properties, events, and local businesses. The show is widely syndicated on networks like HGTV and the Travel Channel and streams on platforms such as Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Prime, and Fire Video.

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"At the end of the day, you're only as good as the result that you're able to get people." —Madeleine Raiford-Holland

The most successful entrepreneurs understand that money flows where creativity and strategic thinking intersect. In today's dynamic economic landscape, diversification isn't just a strategy— it’s transforming passive potential into active income.

Madeleine Raiford-Holland is a dynamic entrepreneur who transitioned from corporate sales to building a multi-faceted business empire in short-term rentals and coaching. With a strategic approach to business and lifestyle design, she empowers entrepreneurs to reimagine their professional potential.

Tune in as Heather and Madeleine talk about effective content creation, business scaling, retreat hosting, work-life balance, podcasting, multiple revenue streams, personal development, and the transformative power of strategic thinking and intentional living.

Connect with Heather:

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Episode Highlights:

01:37 Meet Madeleine

05:33 Building a Lifestyle Blog and Content Creation

12:26 Expanding the Business and Team Building

17:12 Client Acquisition and Funnel Building

24:23 Retreats Retreats

35:10 Balancing Business and Family Life

Connect with Madeleine:

Madeleine Raiford-Holland is a dynamic entrepreneur and business strategist who transitioned from government sales to building a successful short-term rental empire. As the co-founder of MHM Luxury Properties along with her husband, John, she manages 16 properties across Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Her coaching and consulting business helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop systems and strategies for creating financial freedom.

A military wife and mother of two young boys, Madeleine is passionate about helping families design lifestyle businesses that provide time and location flexibility. She hosts the podcast "The Lux and the Short of It" and leads transformational retreats, focusing on mindset and entrepreneurial growth. With a background in scaling businesses and a commitment to multiple revenue streams, Madeleine empowers entrepreneurs to reimagine their professional and personal potential.

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"It's not just about accessing education—parents want more than that for their kids. A lot of times, they want to know what can make their children thrive." —Bethany Deniz

"There was just this big web, and we lost a year to two years with kids missing intervention. And what we know developmentally is that kids need it early, and they need it often." —Annalise Puentes

Learning differences are not roadblocks but pathways to extraordinary understanding and growth. When we shift from seeing challenges as limitations to viewing them as opportunities, we unlock a child's true capacity for brilliance.

Bethany Deniz and Annalise Puentes are school psychologists turned entrepreneurs who have dedicated their careers to transforming how families and educators approach learning differences. With over a decade of experience in public education and private practice, they specialize in comprehensive psychological assessments and empowerment strategies for children and families.

Tune in as Heather, Annalise, and Bethany explore the transformative power of understanding learning differences, common special education challenges, the impact of technology on neurodivergent children, early intervention strategies, parental advocacy, and creating supportive educational environments that celebrate each child's unique cognitive profile.

Connect with Heather:

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Episode Highlights:

01:32 Bethany and Annalise: Forming a Business Partnership

07:42 Transitioning to Private Practice

12:41 Services Offered

16:30 Challenges in the Education System

26:39 The Impact of Tech on Children with ADHD

31:53 Advocating for Children with Disabilities

34:26 The Importance of Social Connectedness

Connect with Annalise and Bethany:

Annalise Puentes is a Licensed Educational Psychologist with a passion for empowering students, educators, and families. As a practicing Educational Psychologist in Sonoma County, her focus has been in psychoeducational assessments, behavior support, and staff training. She has worked with a wide range of students from preschool through age 22 in the public, non-public, and private school settings.

Email: annalise@empoweredpsychservices.com

Bethany Deniz is a Licensed Educational Psychologist dedicated to supporting the academic and emotional growth of students. Bethany has a breadth of experience in private, non-public, and public school settings, as well as private practice in assessing students with learning, developmental, and social-emotional disabilities. Her expertise is in identifying specific learning disabilities, consultations, and training with parents and staff.

Email: bethany@empoweredpsychservices.com

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“It is so important to have the right education in the workplaces that will teach people that neurodiversity has shifted from being something that we see as a negative to how can the perspective of a neurodiverse worker help my company or benefit my team.” —Claudia Scott

The future of work demands a radical reimagining of talent, where differences are not just accepted but celebrated as strategic advantages. By embracing different cognitive styles, organizations can tap into a wellspring of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving that traditional hiring practices overlook.

Claudia Scott is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and entrepreneurship, currently directing the micro loan crowdfunding platform at Startup Junkie. With a background rooted in international scholarship and personal experience with Tourette Syndrome, she brings a unique perspective to supporting diverse entrepreneurial journeys.

Listen as Heather and Claudia explore the dynamic landscape of neurodiversity, entrepreneurship, personal empowerment, workplace adaptation, and the groundbreaking approaches that challenge traditional professional paradigms.

Connect with Heather:

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Episode Highlights:

02:25 Understanding Tourette Syndrome

05:50 Meet Claudia: The Journey with Tourette

12:59 Dealing with Stigma and Public Perception

16:36 Startup Junkie and Entrepreneurial Support

20:03 Challenges and Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

23:34 Advise for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

28:06 The Importance of Creating Spaces for Support

Connect with Claudia:

Claudia P. Scott joined the Startup Junkie team in February 2023 as the NWA Kiva Hub capital access manager (CAM) to assist entrepreneurs with the Kiva microloan program process. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and she brings her expertise in helping entrepreneurs and small business owners in the region. Scott most recently served as director of member engagement at the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that, she served as a programs assistant for the Downtown Springdale Alliance and as a migrant recruiter and advocate for the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative. Scott holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Strategic Communication from the University of the Ozarks and an M.Ed. in Human Resources and Workforce Development from the University of Arkansas and is currently earning her doctorate in the same field of study as her master’s degree.

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