Best Red String Media Podcasts (2025)

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30. Erika on ‘social enterprise’ 11:32

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4 days ago11:32

11:32

Text me your thoughts If you’ve identified a problem you’d like to solve or help to solve, you’ve got a number of great choices to make towards that end. One of those choices is to create a successful, sustainable business that contributes in some way to the greater good or to a specific need you’ve identified. That’s not necessarily a charity or n…

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29. Simone on ‘advocacy’ 25:19

18 days ago25:19

25:19

Text me your thoughts I’ve always thought that the best business ideas come from noticing something that’s missing in the world. Something important and necessary. Simone Eyles did just that. She noticed that the media and marketing channels are seriously light on for imagery and representation of people living with a disability so she got to work,…

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Paranormal Women, pt 3: From Blue Beam to Blood Libel 36:23

21 days ago36:23

36:23

What did last year's drone mystery have to do with an antisemitic myth that won't die? Medievalist and conspiracy scholar Elise Wang connects the dots between the West’s 900-year-old conspiracy theory playbook and the UFO psyops flooding TikTok today. She and Cristen also unravel the Battle of Los Angeles, hypersexual alien abduction tropes, and ho…

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Paranormal Women, pt 2: The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill 45:00

28 days ago45:00

45:00

Before alien abduction became pop culture cliché, there was Betty and Barney Hill. Why did this couple's 1961 roadtrip define the abduction narrative for generations, and what did their biracial marriage have to do with it - or not? Historian Matt Bowman retraces the Hills' journey from the liberal mainstream to UFO microstardom, and Cristen has qu…

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28. Erika on Resilience 10:19

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about a year ago10:19

10:19

Text me your thoughts When crisis hits your town or your business, it’s hard to know where to start. This episode is packed with practical ideas to prepare for disaster or down time, but also advice on what to do and how to approach marketing and promotion when things are not ‘business as usual’. Join the Small Town Business conversation on Instagr…

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Paranormal Women, pt 1: From Saucers to Starseeds 38:48

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about a year ago38:48

38:48

UFOs aren't a basement boys' club anymore. From Pentagon disclosures to TikTok starseeds and alien romance novels, belief in extraterrestrials is getting spiritual, feminine-coded, and algorithmically viral. Science journalist Sarah Scoles traces the gendered evolution of UFO culture and conspiracies—from Cold War-era military men to the cosmic gir…

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27. Andy on ‘Resilience’ 27:47

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about a year ago27:47

27:47

Text me your thoughts Andy McCarthy is an entrepreneur, best known for building a renewable energy business from a tiny town called Mirboo North in South Gippsland Victoria. He later sold his company ‘Gippsland Solar’ to the RACV but he hasn’t lost his passion for renewables. Andy now delivers keynote speeches, leadership training and workshops, an…

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Erika on 'changing hands' 9:10

about a year ago9:10

9:10

Text me your thoughts I’m sure we’ve all been there - seen a sign on a window or a post in a local facebook group with that ‘business for sale’ headline. It starts you thinking…what if?? In this episode I’ve pulled together five key things to consider, to look out for, to plan for if you’re thinking of buying an established business or, if you alre…

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Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 7: A Question No One Wants Answered 9:23

about a year ago9:23

9:23

The case is closed. But the story isn’t over. In the final episode of Sticky Maple Fingers, we follow the last clues—and the biggest questions. Who really funded the heist? Why did some barrels vanish before the crime was even discovered? And why are certain records still sealed? From anonymous tips and offshore payments to erased files and insider…

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Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 6 - The Vanishing 6:50

about a year ago6:50

6:50

Most of the syrup was recovered. But not all of it. In the penultimate episode of Sticky Maple Fingers, the investigation takes a strange turn. Some barrels weren’t just stolen—they were erased. Gone before the heist was even discovered. No records. No trail. Just dust and questions. Was it an oversight? Or something far more deliberate? This episo…

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Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 5 - Who Helped the Thieves? 7:02

about a year ago7:02

7:02

The thieves were caught. The syrup was mostly recovered. Case closed... right? Not quite. In Episode 5 of Sticky Maple Fingers, the cracks in the official story start to widen. The heist was too clean, the timing too perfect, and the syrup? It moved with military-grade precision. That kind of operation doesn’t happen without help. This episode foll…

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Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 4 - The Federation Strikes Back 8:10

about a year ago8:10

8:10

The Federation has entered the chat. And they’re not happy. With millions in syrup missing and the black market buzzing, the FPAQ finally makes its move—unleashing raids, tracing barcodes, and hunting for barrels that vanished in plain sight. But by the time they act, the syrup is already gone, the money’s in motion, and the thieves have a head sta…

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Kate from Umina Beach Book Nook on ‘changing hands’ 20:12

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about a year ago20:12

20:12

Text me your thoughts Kate Toon is a multi award winning entrepreneur, author and speaker. In the circles I work in, she’s well known for her commonsense approach to complex beasts like SEO and digital marketing. And then in 2024, out of the blue, she bought her local bookshop and has shared her journey with refreshing honesty. Kate is not technica…

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Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 3 - The Slippery Barrels 6:45

about a year ago6:45

6:45

It wasn’t a smash-and-grab. It was a slow drip. A barrel here, a barrel there—emptied, refilled, and stacked neatly back into place. In Episode 3 of Sticky Maple Fingers, we return to the warehouse, where the barrels were many, the oversight was minimal, and the thieves were… very patient. There were no cameras. No guards. And no reason to suspect …

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Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 2 - The Liquid Gold 5:05

about a year ago5:05

5:05

The barrels were gone. But no one asked where the syrup ended up. In Episode 2, the case leaves the warehouse and spills into something stranger—a network of silent buyers, forged invoices, and stolen syrup flowing through legitimate markets. It moved quietly, vanishing into breakfast tables across the world. No break-ins. No alarms. Just barrels r…

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Sticky Maple Fingers: Episode 1 - The Sweetest Heist 8:32

about a year ago8:32

8:32

Every legend starts somewhere—even the sticky ones. Welcome to Sticky Maple Fingers, the first chapter in Crime & Nourishment, where the trail of a missing ingredient leads to something far messier than a spilled bottle at brunch. In our first episode, we head to rural Quebec, where a routine inspection uncovered one of the most bizarre and lucrati…

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Sticky Maple Fingers: A True Crime Pancake Mystery (Season teaser) 1:23

about a year ago1:23

1:23

Before the barrels went missing. Before the headlines. Before anyone realized the syrup was already gone. This season trailer cracks open the case that stunned the nation: the $18 million maple syrup heist that exposed the sticky underbelly of Canada’s most iconic industry. Was it just theft? Or something deeper—hidden in the slow drip of a cover-u…

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Small Town Business is back! 1:00

about a year ago1:00

1:00

Text me your thoughts How do you grow a thriving business in a small town, regional or rural area? One way is to learn from others and this podcast is a great place to do just that. If you’ve ever wondered how to make big things happen in a regional or rural area, you’re in the right place. I’m sharing exciting updates about Small Town Business, wh…

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Crime & Nourishment: The Official Trailer 1:29

about a year ago1:29

1:29

Before the first bite, there’s always a story. Welcome to Crime & Nourishment, a podcast uncovering the hidden truths behind Canada’s most unexpected food crimes. From black-market dairy to stolen syrup, every case starts with missing ingredients—but ends in something far bigger. In this special teaser episode, get a glimpse of the mysteries waitin…

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The Super Bowl Trafficking Myth I Helped Spread: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 5 26:02

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about a year ago26:02

26:02

Why does the Super Bowl sex trafficking myth persist, despite repeated debunking? In the miniseries finale, Cristen unravels this sex trafficking myth she helped spread. So, why did major sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Cup and Olympics become seen as sex trafficking playgrounds? These red strings criss-cross from Greece to the United Na…

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Satanic Daycare Panic: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 4 41:30

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about a year ago41:30

41:30

Why were daycare centers the prime targets of the 1980s Satanic Panic, and how did it blow up into America's longest and most expensive criminal trial? Cristen unravels the anti-cult anxieties, paranoid cowboys and "communist" childcare seeded wild conspiracy theories about devil-worshipping predators invading the suburbs. But when law enforcement …

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Anita Bryant, Bathrooms and Backlash: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 3 36:29

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about a year ago36:29

36:29

In the 1970s, America’s moral panic machine found its perfect scapegoat: gay and lesbian teachers. Also bathrooms. Historian Gillian Frank unravels the roots of child trafficking and "groomer" conspiracies back to Red Scare paranoia, civil rights backlash, a conservative women's movement against the Equal Rights Amendment and the pageant queen-turn…

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The Groomer Rumor Mill: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 2 35:02

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about a year ago35:02

35:02

How did human trafficking conspiracy theories give rise to a politicized pedo panic targeting teachers, trans kids and drag queens? Researchers Daniela Peterka-Benton and Bond Benton connect the dots between QAnon's obsession with saving the children, the 2022 revival of anti-LGBTQ "groomer" rhetoric and Disney's recurring role in American culture …

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Sex Traffickers in Parking Lots: LADIES, STAY SAFE pt. 1 43:49

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about a year ago43:49

43:49

Why are suburban white women so afraid of getting snatched out of parking lots and sex trafficked? Journalist Caitlin Dewey unravels the tangled threads of modern sex trafficking panic, the impact of QAnon, and the role of influencers and media in laundering misinformation as "safety" advice for women and moms. Caitlin and Cristen also highlight ho…

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Emotional literacy for misinformation? 12:21

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about a year ago12:21

12:21

Ever heard of emotional literacy? In this mini episode (a breadcrumb? red thread?), climate misinformation expert and content creator Abbie Richards explains what it is, why it pairs so well with conspiracy theories, and how we all stand to benefit from more of it. Because if debunking won’t stop the misinformation crisis, maybe it's time to start …

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Escaped Nuns from Evil Convents 20:01

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about a year ago20:01

20:01

In the late summer of 1834, a torch-wielding mob burned down a Boston convent for reasons that sound a lot like . . . Pizzagate. Fueled by rumors of kidnappings, papal paranoia and phony exposés, conspiracy theories about nuns in their convents spiraled out of control in 19th-century America. Cristen unravels why that happened and how it set the st…

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The Feminine Draw of Contemporary Conspiracy (Culture Study with Anne Helen Petersen) 1:10:26

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about a year ago1:10:26

1:10:26

What’s the difference between a conspiracy theory and gossip? When does joking around about Kate Middleton’s abduction turn into something much darker? Are women actually more susceptible to contemporary conspiracy theories — or are we just finally paying attention to it? Cristen joined Anne Helen Petersen on Culture Study Podcast to unpack all of …

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The Kamala Harris Disinfo Dossier 31:51

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about a year ago31:51

31:51

From cuckoo claims she’s secretly a man to attacks questioning her Blackness, Kamala Harris conspiracy theories are one of the most predictable features of the 2024 election, it turns out. Disinformation researcher Nina Jankowicz unravels the three main disinfo narratives that have targeted Kamala for years and what they sound like today, and Crist…

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The Transvestigation of Michelle Obama 43:33

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about a year ago43:33

43:33

What can an obscure conspiracy theory involving Michelle Obama, Joan Rivers and the deep state tell us about the gender panicked rise of reactionary politics? Enter “transvestigation”—a brain-rot conspiracy genre trafficking in wonky eyes, bad photoshops and a gender-inclusive Illuminati. Digital researcher Lexi Webster unravels the nonsense and wh…

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Did #FreeBritney Really Free Britney? 41:17

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about a year ago41:17

41:17

Free Britney started as fan sleuthing, which ultimately helped end Britney Spears’ conservatorship, sparked a pop cultural reckoning and galvanized a disability rights movement. Podcaster and comic Tess Barker (Pop Mystery Pod) unravels that journey of pursuing the truth about Britney–and its thornier consequences–while digital sociologist Naomi Sm…

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Greta Thunberg: Climate Conspiracy's Forever Scapegoat 38:18

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about a year ago38:18

38:18

At just 16, Greta Thunberg led the largest climate protest in history—and became a target for right-wing conspiracy theories. Scholar Emily Ryalls dissects how Greta was recast as a hysterical pawn of globalist billionaires and why the “Greta Effect” continues to provoke such powerful backlash. Then, TikTok misinformation researcher Abbie Richards …

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Avril Lavigne's Clone Hoax That Won't Die 37:54

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about a year ago37:54

37:54

Who sparked the bizarre conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne was replaced by a clone named Melissa, and why does it still persist? Snopes reporter Nur Ibrahim unravels the allure of celebrity death hoaxes, political body double rumors and how to sort the fakes from the facts. Cristen also connects the dots between Avril Lavigne, the Beatles’ Paul M…

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Meghan Markle's Royal Pregnancy Truthers 36:44

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about a year ago36:44

36:44

Why did Meghan Markle's pregnancies unleash tabloid rumors and unprecedented speculation? Royal reporter Ellie Hall unravels the community committed to exposing their “Duchess of Deception,” from claims that Meghan faked her pregnancies to masterminding the #WhereIsKate PR crisis. Scholar Moya Bailey also connects the dots between Meghan skeptics, …

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Megan Thee Stallion vs. Misogynoir 48:25

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about a year ago48:25

48:25

When Megan Thee Stallion revealed the truth about being shot by Tory Lanez, why was she met with disbelief, Bigfoot jokes, and Illuminati rumors? NPR Music reporter and longtime hottie Sidney Madden (Louder Than a Riot) unravels how hip-hop culture put Megan on trial, while Tory Lanez’ team claimed the slut-shame defense in court. Scholar Moya Bail…

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Beyoncé’s Illuminati Mess 35:47

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about a year ago35:47

35:47

From secret messages in “Single Ladies” to the infamous Blue Ivy bump gate, Beyoncé has been at the center of countless conspiracy theories. But nothing tops (or stops) the Illuminati rumors. Where did they start, and how much is Jay-Z to blame? Scholar Moya Bailey unravels the fixation on Beyoncé, revealing the misogynoir driving these conspiracie…

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Taylor Swift: From Aryan Queen to Left-Wing Psyop 44:21

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about a year ago44:21

44:21

How did Taylor Swift go from being (falsely) labeled a far-right dream girl to a left-wing psyop in conspiracy narratives? Host Cristen Conger untangles the conflicting stories that have turned Swift into a culture war lightning rod, from Nazi sympathizer rumors to the Travis Kelce psyop theory. Sociologist Brian Donovan unpacks why her celebrity m…

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Anti-Vax Influencers, Tradwives and Fangirls 30:05

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about a year ago30:05

30:05

Why were women and lifestyle influencers so pivotal to spreading QAnon lies about pedos, cabals and child trafficking via Wayfair furniture? Grab your red string and follow along with host Cristen Conger into the female-dominated landscape of "conspirituality," where wellness and woo-woo get extra delulu. Researcher, journalist and QAA podcast corr…

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The Women Who Resurrected the Illuminati Myth 32:29

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about a year ago32:29

32:29

If it weren't for rich lady fascist Nesta Webster, Illuminati conspiracy theories might've died off ages ago. Host Cristen Conger (Unladylike) unravels the unhinged women's history of antisemitic Illuminati propaganda and its role in shaping today’s conspiracy-pilled, post-factual era. Cultural historian Lindsay Porter further introduces us to the …

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Here Comes Conspiracy, She Wrote 1:26

about a year ago1:26

1:26

From the original Illuminati influencers to celebrity pregnancy truthers today, host Cristen Conger unravels the red strings connecting women, gender and conspiracy culture gone wild. Because QAnon moms, tradwives and even Taylor Swift government psyop conspiracy theories reveal a lot about power, pop culture and politics. Conspiracy, She Wrote sta…

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Alex from Plant a Seed for Safety: Why Safety Matters 27:16

2 years ago27:16

27:16

Text me your thoughts Alex Thomas is a rural health and safety specialist and advocate for safety and wellbeing in regional and rural areas - especially on farms. In this episode she tells us her very personal ‘why’ and why she’s so passionate about this topic. She has chosen women to help her in her mission through her organisation ‘Plant a Seed f…

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Erika on The Tree Change 8:45

2 years ago8:45

8:45

Text me your thoughts Sometimes to make a treechange you have to leave your career behind and start something new. There are so many pros to building a local business - especially to support your lifestyle or family goals, if commuting back and forth to the nearest City just isn’t possible. In this episode, I take some of the tips I’ve gotten from …

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Kristy from Green Hills Farm and The Ridge House: The Tree Change 28:09

2 years ago28:09

28:09

Text me your thoughts Kristy Plumridge is the owner of Greenhills Farm and The Ridge House in Yarragon, West Gippsland. She and her husband Neil made a treechange from Melbourne in 2015 but they did it a little differently - pretty smartly I think. They bought a farm with no experience BUT rather than taking their inexperience in farming and jumpin…

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Erika on 'Not Social' Media 13:38

2 years ago13:38

13:38

Text me your thoughts Even though I believe there is usually a place for social media in your marketing, I will rarely encourage anyone to JUST focus on it. Having a healthy spread of promotional and marketing activity allows you to reach a broader audience and mitigate any potential disasters - like getting locked out of your social media accounts…

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Kimberley from OAK Magazine: 'Not' Social Media 36:07

2 years ago36:07

36:07

Text me your thoughts How much time and effort do you spend working on your business’ social media? Is it at the expense of other media? There’s increasing pressure from all around us to believe that social is the only way you can build your business or promote yourself, your business or brand but there are options. Great options… In this interview…

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Erika on "Building in Public" 9:59

2 years ago9:59

9:59

Text me your thoughts If you’re in a small business, chances are you’re wearing the marketing and social media hat. Being close to the heart of your business makes you the best person for the job, but sometimes it can be hard to share the type of content that really connects you to your audience and converts them into customers. How much do you sha…

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Amy from The New Red: The "Pivot" 25:51

2 years ago25:51

25:51

Text me your thoughts My guest, Amy from The New Red, is no stranger to a good pivot, having traveled a winding road in her career and life. More recently in her small business she went into battle against her local Council to keep her successful woodworking and emerging skills training business afloat but chose to put her mental health first - piv…

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Erika on Learnings 9:27

2 years ago9:27

9:27

Text me your thoughts Are you a lifelong learner? I am! Learning comes with success and failure and, in small business, it comes from listening to others’ experiences. In this episode I open up about some of my learnings and challenges to date. I hope it helps - even if it just validates some of your challenges. You’re not alone! Mentioned in this …

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Jackie from Soilz Alive: Learning 23:52

2 years ago23:52

23:52

Text me your thoughts My guest, Jackie Yong from Soilz Alive, describes herself as a curious human, compost enthusiast and hair lover…three things that you wouldn’t think you could turn into a business. But she has and it’s great. It wasn’t all smooth sailing though and Jackie generously shares her ups and downs in this chat. I hope you enjoy it! T…

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Erika on Passion 11:05

2 years ago11:05

11:05

Text me your thoughts This week I’m talking about passion. How to find it when you’re feeling stuck or how to know what you could or should be doing. I give you a few thoughts on how being passionate about your business can backfire and some tools to try and prevent that. Passion is an incredible foundation for a business and is absolutely essentia…

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Alli from Walker Events: Passion 31:05

2 years ago31:05

31:05

Text me your thoughts Does your small town have a calendar of events that you attend regularly? If not, do you wish it did? Conceptualising, creating and running events is no small feat and it requires a lot of hard work and passion. My guest, Alli Walker from Walker Events has that passion and you’ll hear it today. Alli will give you just a little…