Freed Stories

Ola Swarn, founder and owner of J'adore le Décor, joins us today to share her Freed story! Having gotten started by opening a business in 2016, Ola is an interior stylist who specializes in transforming spaces of 1,000 square feet or less, a specialty that she describes as her passion. Ola shares how she got into interior design and how she started her business, and she reflects on some of the lessons that she has learned along the way, such as being sure to communicate effectively with others. She also gives some helpful advice, encouraging people who want to walk a similar path as hers to invest in themselves and in their businesses and to find a mentor, especially since, as we always say here at Freed Media, entrepreneurship is a lonely road. Ola also dives into some of her other passions and priorities such as listening to podcasts from which she can learn and grow, studying other languages, and reading books about personal growth and challenges. Speaking of personal growth and challenges, Ola also reveals where she hopes that she and her business will be in five years, emphasizing that she hopes to be considered the expert in small-space design and living well in small spaces! She closes by taking part in a Freed Stories tradition – revealing what her superpower is! We really appreciate Ola sharing her Freed story with us in this episode of the podcast, and we look forward to catching up with her in a few months! Be sure to check her out, and be sure to continue tuning in to Freed Stories as we continue to feature guests who share their Freed stories – stories of success, failure, lessons, goals, hopes, and so forth! Please also be sure that you hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and don't forget to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:03] – The Freed fellow featured in this episode is Ola Swarn of J'adore le Décor. [1:22] – Ola gives us some background information about herself and her business. [1:56] – Ola reveals what got her started in this business. [4:13] – We learn that Ola was doing marketing before this venture which allowed her to eventually fund this venture. [5:30] – Ola recounts some failures and challenges along the way and what she learned from them. [8:46] – Ola encourages people who want to go on the same path to invest in themselves. [11:51] – The book The Leadership Challenge Workbook is recommended to us. [13:22] – Ola reveals that she listens to podcasts to personally grow. [14:22] – Ola discloses the importance of the name J'adore le Décor. [15:01] – We find out where Ola hopes she'll be in five years. [16:20] – Ola reveals that she is currently in the early stages of a new construction project in Chicago. [17:15] – Ola reflects on what her superpower might be. [18:25] – We learn where we can find Ola online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com J'adore le Décor - Website J'adore le Décor - Facebook Page J'adore le Décor - Instagram Page J'adore le Décor - Twitter Page J'adore le Décor - Pinterest Profile James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner - The Leadership Challenge Workbook

We welcome Freed fellow Antonia Royal-Whitmore to the podcast in this episode so that she can share her Freed Story! Antonia is the founder of Mind of Gold, a publishing company whose main mission is to educate, empower, and entertain via media and literature. Antonia has loved to write since she was very young, having realized just how much she truly loved to write after having done it for a little while. She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology which she marries with Mind of Gold via self-help books such as I'm Calling You Out and Dear Black Parents, both of which can be purchased from the Mind of Gold website! Antonia gives us some helpful advice such as how you need to be patient when it comes to making your dreams come true, to not give up because the work is worth it. She also encourages us to find a mentor, someone with more experience in the field. She reveals her superpowers to be her creativity and her knack for coming up with solutions, and she even reveals new projects on the horizon, including a game! We had such fun talking with Antonia about her story, and we hope that you have as much fun hearing it! We look forward to catching up with her again in the future, but until then, be sure to check out her website and her books online, and be sure to continue tuning in to Freed Stories as we continue to feature more guests who share their Freed stories – stories of success, failure, lessons, goals, hopes, and so forth! Please also be sure that you hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and don't forget to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:03] – Today's featured Freed fellow is Antonia Royal-Whitmore of Mind of Gold. [1:22] – Antonia tells us a little bit about herself and Mind of Gold. [1:53] – We learn how Mind of Gold started. [2:18] – We discover what Antonia did prior to Mind of Gold. [2:48] – Antonia tells us a little bit about the types of books that she writes. [3:31] – Antonia discusses lessons that she has learned along the way such as the need for patience. [4:21] – Antonia gives advice to anyone who wants to go on a similar path as hers. [4:48] – We find out what a couple of Antonia's favorite books are! [5:17] – Antonia credits Gary Vaynerchuk and Toni Jones as inspirations to her. [5:56] – Antonia shares with us where she sees herself and her business five years into the future. [6:29] – Antonia credits her creativity as one of her superpowers. [6:53] – Antonia quotes from one of her books. [7:28] – We learn that Antonia is working on a course and even a game! [8:15] – Antonia shares with us where we can find her online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Mind of Gold - Website Mind of Gold - Instagram Page Louise Hay – You Can Heal Your Life Dr. Joy DeGruy – Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing Toni Jones - Website

We hope that you will join us in this episode of Freed Stories as Chantel Estrada of Designs By Moneè shares her Freed story with us! Designs By Moneè has been in business for six years now and makes shirts, birthday outfits, shoes, candles (which is her favorite product that she offers), and so much more! Chantel shares some of her past with us, such as how she liked making things even from a young age, the setbacks that she initially experienced and what she learned from them, and so much more! Chantel also shares some helpful advice, encouraging listeners to not give up no matter the obstacle and to focus on your own talents, not others' talents. She enthusiastically reveals that Freed was the first resource that said yes to her and helped her, and she also shares her hopes and dreams for her company and where she hopes that it will go within the next five years. She closes by revealing her superhero name – as she has been dubbed by others, Supermom! We had such a great time chatting with Chantel and learning about her story, and we hope that you have a blast listening to it! We look forward to checking in with Chantel again in a few months, but until then, be sure to check out Designs By Moneè online, and be sure to continue tuning in to Freed Stories as we continue to feature more guests who share their Freed stories – stories of success, failure, lessons, goals, hopes, and so forth! Please also be sure that you hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and don't forget to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:02] – Today's guest is Chantel Estrada of Designs By Moneè. [1:18] – Chantel tells us about herself and her business. [1:42] – Chantel reflects on her lifelong desire to make things and help people. [2:22] – We learn about some of the setbacks that Chantel initially experienced but how she grew and learned from them. [3:18] – Chantel gives us a couple of tidbits of advice, such as encouraging us to not give up no matter what obstacles we face. [4:35] – We learn what Chantel's favorite product is that she offers. [6:00] – Chantel enthuses over Freed having been the first resource to say yes to her. [7:20] – Chantel thinks about where she hopes her business will be within five years. [8:34] – We discover that Chantel is often referred to as Supermom. [10:01] – Chantel reveals where she can be found online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Designs by Moneè – Website Designs by Moneè - Facebook Page Designs by Moneè - Instagram Page Designs by Moneè - TikTok Page Designs by Moneè - Pinterest Page Designs by Moneè - YouTube Page

Join us as we welcome Sheri Munsell of Legit Work from Home to this episode of the podcast! Sheri is the C.E.O. of the company which helps people who don't wish to work traditional brick and mortar jobs find work-from-home jobs that they can do from the comfort of their own living spaces! Sheri shares so much with us during this discussion, reflecting on her childhood and upbringing and how that led to what she does today, her chronic battle with mental illness, and so much more! Frequently having found herself losing jobs because of her chronic battle with mental illness, Sheri realized that she needed to turn to working from home which is not only what led to her founding and becoming C.E.O. of Legit Work from Home but is also what inspired her to work to help others find work-from-home jobs! Sheri also shares with us that her biggest failure was initially listening to people who told her that she would never be able to make it big without a college degree but that she overcame that via mentors who encouraged her that that wasn't true. Sheri's main goal with her company is to help people realize that not all work-from-home job offers are scams, that some (as the name of her company would suggest) are actually legitimate. She also gives herself credit for her empathy, her ability to put herself in others' shoes and understand where they are coming from, an ability that she suggests all people who struggle with mental illness in some capacity likely have. We hope that you enjoy listening to our conversation with Sheri and hearing her amazing and inspirational story. We look forward to touching base with her again in a few months, and we also hope that you will continue to tune in to the podcast because we will be featuring plenty more guests who will share their entrepreneurial stories – stories that involve their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, etc.! Be sure to also hit the subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and remember to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:03] – Jackie announces today's guest as Sheri Munsell of Legit Work from Home. [1:21] – Sheri reveals her job title and what inspired her to start her company. [2:25] – Sheri discloses some details about her childhood and her upbringing. [3:28] – We learn what Sheri considers to be her biggest failure and what she learned from it. [4:52] – Sheri reflects on what advice that she would give her younger self if she could. [6:03] – Sheri credits groups, communities, and Clubhouse as her most helpful resources. [7:04] – Sheri explains what she hopes people will take away from her company. [8:10] – Sheri shares her hopes for the future regarding Legit Work from Home. [9:07] – We learn that Sheri considers empathy to be her main superpower. [10:22] – Sheri reveals where she and her company can be found online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Legit Work from Home – Website Legit Work from Home – Facebook Page Legit Work from Home (Discussion) – Facebook Group Clubhouse

Founder and owner of Equipped to Impact Solutions, Alexis Jefferson-Huff joins us today to share her unique Freed story! She goes into detail about Equipped to Impact Solutions and where her love for etiquette comes from. She always loved to serve others, and she discusses the gap that she noticed between different generations when it comes to manners and social etiquette and how bridging that gap is her ultimate goal! Alexis also shares with us her greatest success and her greatest failure in relation to her business. Revealing that her greatest failure was initially her lack of knowledge, she talks about how she overcame it and what she learned from it, advising us to always be sure that we do research! She also touches upon social media and how she had to move away from it for a bit to make etiquette her own, credits two different mentors as her most helpful resources, and even reveals what she considers her greatest superpower to be! We really hope that you enjoyed listening to our conversation with Alexis and that you will continue to tune in to the podcast! We will be featuring plenty more guests who will share their entrepreneurial stories – stories that involve their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, etc.! Be sure to also hit the subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and remember to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:03] – Today's guest is Alexis Jefferson-Huff of Equipped to Impact Solutions. [1:20] – Alexis lets us in on some background information about herself. [1:57] – We learn about Equipped to Impact Solutions and how it came to be. [3:12] – Alexis discusses how what she wanted to do when she was young morphed into what she does now. [4:25] – Alexis enthuses over how Equipped to Impact Solutions enjoyed a successful launch. [4:53] – Alexis discloses that a lack of knowledge was initially a failure for her but that she overcame and learned from it. [6:56] – We are treated to some advice from Alexis about doing your research and gaining knowledge. [7:55] – Alexis credits two different mentors from whom she has learned. [8:30] – Alexis hopes that her business will be able to hire other consultants within five years. [9:08] – We discover that Alexis considers her resilience to be her greatest strength. [9:59] – Alexis asserts that etiquette is about more than just rules. [11:02] – We learn where we can find Alexis and her company online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Equipped to Impact Solutions - Website Equipped to Impact Solutions - Facebook Page Equipped to Impact Solutions - Instagram Page

Co-founder and owner of Skate Bud Zach Moldof joins us in this episode of the podcast to share his Freed story! Skate Bud is a marketplace and community for skateboarders that was born about four years ago but came to be what it is today about a year ago. Skate Bud even has a book and a free video game! Zach shares with us how he grew up with skateboard culture and what that meant to him as an adolescent. He goes into detail about what Skate Bud is and how it came about and walks us through how he got started as an entrepreneur, attempting to get into the cannabis industry in California when he was eighteen years old, revealing how that was not a success but led to other things. He also offers a couple of helpful pieces of advice, emphasizing how important of a tool that a camera can be and also encouraging us to brush up on our writing skills. We, in closing, learn what Zach considers his superpower and superhero name to be, and you'll definitely want to stay tuned for that because it's definitely unique! We hope that you enjoyed listening to Zach's story, and we can't wait to see where Skate Bud goes in the future! We also hope that you will stay tuned as more guests share their entrepreneurial stories – stories that involve their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, etc.! Be sure to also hit the subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and remember to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:03] – This episode's guest is Zach Moldof of Skate Bud. [1:20] – Zach fills us in on what Skate Bud is all about and how it came to be. [3:53] – We discover what skateboard culture meant for Zach growing up. [5:44] – Zach reveals that he attempted to start a cannabis business in Berkley, California when he was eighteen. [8:43] – Zach pinpoints the attempted cannabis business as his biggest failure. [10:53] – We are treated to a couple pieces of advice from Zach if we want to walk a similar path as his. [13:16] – Zach points to Instagram as the main place he uses to share photos. [14:38] – Zach gives credit to his most helpful resources. [15:55] – Zach shares where he hopes Skate Bud will be within five years. [18:02] – We discover what Zach would consider his superpower and superhero name to be. [18:58] – Zach explains what features his website has and what it offers. [22:16] – We are informed where we can find Skate Bud online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Skate Bud – Website Skate Bud: Da Game Skate Bud - Instagram Page Zach Moldof & Friends – Skate Bud: Welcome to Skateboarding!

We are joined today by Lauren Fleming, founder of The Factor Formula, a skin care company that caters to all types of skin. The company has grown from a multivitamin to a skin cleanser to a skin toner and, most recently, a moisturizer, so Lauren has been growing the company a little bit at a time since its inception two years ago in 2019! Lauren joins us today to discuss how The Factor Formula came to be, what its mission statement is, what the biggest struggle has been for her and what she has learned from it, what her favorite product that she offers is, and so much more! She also offers some advice to up and coming business owners and even reveals what she believes her superpower to be! Lauren's story is so inspirational especially because of how much she is thriving, and we hope that you enjoyed listening to it! Please stay tuned in to Freed Stories as more guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, etc.! Be sure to also hit the subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and remember to free your mind; free your media! Time Stamps [1:03] – Today's guest is Lauren Fleming of The Factor Formula. [1:20] – Lauren fills us in on her job with The Factor Formula and what the company does. [1:54] – We learn why and when Lauren established The Factor Formula. [3:25] – Lauren reveals what her biggest struggle has been and what she has learned from it. [5:08] – We are encouraged to follow our dreams and go for it if we have similar ambitions of starting our own business. [6:30] – We discover that Lauren wanted to be a fashion designer when she was younger. [7:48] – Lauren credits Fearless Fund as having been a valuable resource for her. [8:58] – Lauren projects toward the future, hoping that the business will considerably scale up within five years. [10:01] – Lauren shares that her favorite The Factor Formula product is the aloe cleanser. [10:53] – We discover that Lauren's superpower is efficiency. [11:41] – Lauren shares where we can find The Factor Formula online. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com The Factor Formula – Website The Factor Formula - Instagram Page The Factor Formula - Twitter Page The Factor Formula - Facebook Page Fearless Fund - Website

Returning from the last episode is Kayla Castañeda, C.E.O. and co-owner of agua fresca company Agua Bonita. She is here to elaborate more on her journey and discuss some topics such as what it was like to launch a company amid the COVID-19 pandemic last year and how the pandemic has impacted her business currently, and she also gives some advice on what the first step should be for someone who wants to launch their own business. Kayla also agrees to a business breakdown round with Andy in which she presents a current challenge that she is having with Agua Bonita and then bounces ideas back and forth with him about how to find a solution to the challenge and what tools will be needed to achieve the desired result. She reveals that her greatest challenge right now is fundraising, and Andy strongly encourages her to come up with a list of 100 dream investors and explains why that is so important. We hope that you enjoyed the second half of our conversation with Kayla of Agua Bonita, and we can't wait to see how Agua Bonita grows and flourishes in the future! Please stay tuned in to Freed Stories as more guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, etc.! Be sure to also hit the subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and remember to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:38] – Kayla discusses how she navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected her business now. [3:58] – Kayla reveals how she came to realize what her individual skills are. [5:18] – We learn what kind of work Kayla did with previous companies prior to launching Agua Bonita. [6:47] – Kayla advises us on the first step to take if we want to launch our own business. [9:55] – Kayla's greatest challenge lately has been figuring out who to speak to and the structure of her business. [10:15] – Andy explains the three components of the business breakdown model: (1) the pain point, (2) the desired result, and (3) what tools are needed to achieve that result. [13:12] – Andy identifies Kayla's pain point, and Kayla touches upon what her desired result is. [14:28] – Not all money is good money, Kayla asserts. [17:10] – Andy advises Kayla to develop a list of approximately 100 dream investors. [19:55] – Andy offers Unshackled Ventures as an example of a venture capital firm and describes its focus. [21:35] – Kayla reveals that Agua Bonita currently has a dream 50 list but that there is room for growth. [23:54] – We learn where we can find Agua Bonita online and get updates.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Agua Bonita – Website Agua Bonita - Instagram Page Unshackled Ventures - Website

Andy and Maggie take the reins in this episode of Freed Stories to interview our Freed fellow of April, Kayla Castañeda! Kayla is the C.E.O. and co-owner of Agua Bonita, a company that makes healthy and ready-to-drink agua frescas (a traditional Mexican drink). Kayla is here to share her Freed story and share some background information about herself and Agua Bonita! Kayla got her foot in the beverage industry working for Coca-Cola as a market developer. This led to her consulting for beverage startups where she met her would-be Agua Bonita partner, Erin PonTell. She reveals why she centered her company around agua frescas and what her vision is for the company and also talks about how the company came to be and how, because it launched amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it naturally grew into being a direct-to-consumer company. Kayla also shares some insightful advice with listeners who might be on (or plan to soon be on) a similar path as hers. For example, we at Freed often say that the road to entrepreneurship can sometimes be lonely, and Kayla says that a major factor in having combatted that for her is having a partner in the business, so she recommends having a partner and/or co-founder if possible. She shares that that has also helped her stay on top of things and be efficient because work can be delegated between her and Erin depending on their individual strengths and skills. Kayla also recommends staying true to yourself and to your vision, even if that means not keeping up with what's trendy! We hope that you enjoyed our conversation with Kayla of Agua Bonita and that you will stay tuned as more guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to also hit the subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and remember to free your mind; free your media!   Time Stamps [1:12] – Andy reveals this episode's guest to be Kayla of Agua Bonita. [1:40] – Kayla provides us with some background information about herself and her company. [4:21] – Kayla discusses the gap in the beverage industry and how she wanted to fill that gap with Agua Bonita. [6:18] – Andy enthuses over the importance of your company being unique even if you're in a category that already exists. [7:30] – Kayla compares Agua Bonita's products to traditional agua frescas. [9:28] – Kayla reflects on drinking agua frescas as a child. [11:10] – We learn about some of the spices that Agua Bonita tends to incorporate into its drinks. [12:48] – Kayla shares what the process of going from the kitchen to commercial formulation has been like. [15:46] – Kayla elaborates upon her experience with an accelerator program. [18:49] – We discover how Kayla has avoided loneliness in the world of entrepreneurship. [21:19] – Agua Bonita, Kayla explains, is currently a direct-to-consumer company. [23:55] – Kayla had predicted that Agua Bonita's products would be most popular in southern California and southern Texas, a hypothesis that was proven true. [25:16] – Kayla expounds upon how she and Erin manage their time and stay on top of things. [27:27] – We receive a couple tidbits of advice from Kayla: (1) network as often as you can and (2) budget efficiently. [29:55] – Kayla credits LinkedIn as an invaluable resource. [30:33] – Kayla also recommends and gives some background information on the book Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines. [31:39] – We learn what Kayla would tell herself five years ago if she could. [32:01] – Kayla hopes to still feel good about what she does five years from now.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Agua Bonita - Website Agua Bonita - Instagram Page LinkedIn - Website Chip Gaines – Capital Gaines: The Smart Things I've Learned by Doing Stupid Stuff

Joining me in this episode of the podcast is Blair Paysinger! Blair is owner of Post 21, an online marketplace for Black-owned businesses with approximately sixty vendors. They have been in business for a little more than a year, having initially launched on June 1, 2020, and Blair walks us through how Post 21 came to be and what it has been like running it alongside her mother, with Blair handling the more creative aspects of the company and her mom handling the business side of it. Blair also touches upon various topics such as what Post 21's biggest failure has been and what she learned from that failure and also shares her hopes for the future (such as wanting Post 21 to grow into more of a warehouse like Amazon that offers speedier deliveries). She also offers helpful advice to anyone who might want to go down a similar path as hers and start their own business, and she of course answers our most important question by revealing what her superpower is! I hope that you enjoyed my chat with Blair and that you will stay tuned as we check back in with her in a few months to see where her journey has taken her! In the meantime, be sure to continue listening in as more guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to also hit the subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [1:04] – Jackie is joined in this episode by Blair Paysinger of Post 21. [1:18] – Blair gives some background information about herself and her journey. [2:07] – Blair reveals that she runs Post 21 alongside her mother. [3:07] – We discover what Blair wanted to do when she was a child and how that morphed into what she does now. [3:55] – Blair shares that her role with Post 21 is more creative whereas her mom's role is in dealing more with the business side of things. [4:23] – We learn how Post 21 works. [4:53] – Post 21 is Blair's first business of her own. [5:27] – Blair reflects upon her biggest failure and what she learned from it. [6:31] – Blair expounds upon possible reasons why Post 21 flourished even during a pandemic. [7:16] – We are let in on a couple pieces of wisdom if we want to walk a similar path as Blair's: (1) take breaks and (2) ask questions. [8:38] – Blair credits videos and tutorials that were emailed to her as especially helpful. [9:48] – Blair hopes that Post 21 will be more like Amazon within the next five years – with a warehouse and speedy delivery. [10:31] – We discover that Blair's superpower is her ability to stay calm. [11:17] – Learn where Blair can be found on social media!   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Post 21 - Website Post 21 - Instagram Page

Those of you who have been listening to the podcast regularly may recall our having chatted back in the sixth episode with Tyla Hansen of Tyla's Writing Services, and we are touching base with her again now to get an update on where her business journey has led her since we last spoke. As a reminder, Tyla's Writing Services helps businesses meet their business goals by offering assistance with interview preparation, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and so much more! Tyla, whose business just recently hit its milestone of being one year old, now reflects on her work now that the COVID-19 pandemic is finally beginning to come to a close and people are going back to work. She reveals what has changed since we last spoke and even recommends a few helpful tools including Quickbooks, Loom, and Canva! If you enjoyed catching up with Tyla's story since she was last on the podcast, then be sure to stay tuned because I plan to catch up with her once again in another six months, and until then - be sure to listen in as more guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to also hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:59] – Jackie reveals this episode's guest as returning guest Tyla Hansen. [1:24] – We learn a bit about what Tyla has been up to since she was last on the podcast. [1:42] – Tyla reflects on the two biggest changes that have taken place since she was last on the podcast. [2:21] – Tyla recommends Quickbooks as a helpful financial resource. [2:55] – Tyla reveals that she uses Loom to present videos to her clients. [3:30] – Tyla praises Canva, a tool for graphics. [4:07] – Tyla states that things overall don't feel different with Tyla's Writing Services even with the pandemic reaching its end. [4:51] – We are made privy to a couple of lessons that Tyla has learned along the way. [5:53] – Tyla shares her five-year plan for her business such as building a larger team and rebranding. [7:26] – Tyla touches upon how her daily life has changed since she first started this journey.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Freed Stories - “Getting It Write with Tyla Hansen” Tyla's Writing Services - Instagram Page Tyla's Writing Services - Facebook Page Tyla's LinkedIn Page Tyla's Writing Services - Twitter Page Tyla's Writing Services - Reddit Page Tyla's Writing Services - Website Quickbooks – Website Loom – Website Canva – Website

Andy Louis-Charles and Nathan Rodgers are back to answer more questions about entrepreneurship sent in by the Freed community! In this session of answering these questions, we start by discussing how to go about attracting customers. Andy argues that you should find customers – or people who believe in you and what you're capable of doing – before you have a product, and Nathan reiterates what he said in the last episode, that you should find a way to solve a problem that people are willing to pay money to have solved for them. Nathan also addresses how to go about spending money on marketing and advertising. With Nathan being somewhat of a marketing guru, he spends several minutes on this topic, emphasizing that how much money that you put into marketing and advertising can be difficult to ascertain because, depending on what you're trying to sell, there is a lot of math involved, math such as conversion rates, that you need to figure out before you're ready to invest in marketing and advertising. Andy and Nathan also attempt to tackle the huge question of wealth and what drives it. How do some people garner so much wealth while others struggle? Andy points to compounding interests and how, like money compounds over time, so do advantages and disadvantages. Nathan adds to that by discussing structural disadvantages tied to factors such as race and gender, and tackling these disadvantages is actually one of the reasons why the Freed Fellowship was established. We are trying to bridge that gap in advantages and help people make the leap to entrepreneurship! This wraps up this Q&A session, but don't hesitate to send in more questions as they come up as we will likely do another one in the future! In the meantime, be sure to continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:59] – Andy discusses how to attract customers. [2:14] – Nathan reiterates that you need to come up with an idea that solves a problem for people. [5:29] – We hear about why we should build a community of advocates, not just customers. [6:14] – Nathan offers advice on how to spend money on marketing and advertising. [8:42] – There is, as Nathan asserts, a lot of math involved in marketing and advertising. [10:36] – Andy adds to the conversation about marketing, emphasizing the importance of getting ten people to love your product because of how word will then spread. [13:41] – The next question involves what drives wealth, and Andy points to statistics and compounding interests. [16:29] – We learn why it is so important to consider compounding. [19:15] – Nathan adds to the conversation about wealth inequality, pointing to factors such as race and gender. [21:20] – Andy explains what the Freed Fellowship is and why it was founded. [23:30] – We discover how to learn more about Freed. [25:06] – Andy describes how the process of applying for the Freed Fellowship works. [26:50] – Andy lists some examples of Freed fellows and what their businesses are. [28:51] – The final question asks how guests are selected for the podcast, and Andy explains that process.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Email Us: team@freedfellowship.com Freed Stories - “What Being Freed Is All About with Andy Louis-Charles” Freed Stories - “Freed Minds Behind the Magic with Andy Louis-Charles” Freed Stories - “Down the Funnel with Nathan Rodgers” Freed Stories – “Getting Country with Becky Pool” Freed Stories – “Interview with Natalie Maniscalco and Irene Zervoudis of Wonder Girls”

It's Maggie here stepping in for Jackie in this episode of the podcast, and I welcome Andy Louis-Charles and Nathan Rodgers back to the podcast, both of whom have been on the show in the past. (If you haven't heard the episodes in which they are featured, be sure to check them out!) We mix things up a little bit this time and do something different, answering questions that have been submitted by members of the Freed community, questions about entrepreneurship in general. In this first part of my session with Andy and Nathan, we answer several questions about entrepreneurship such as how to get started and what the first action is that you should take, with Nathan emphasizing how important it is to simply find a problem that people are willing to pay money to have solved. Andy and Nathan also discuss how to become an LLC (limited liability company) as well as how to go about determining whether or not you need to do that and how to establish an effective bookkeeping method (which Andy and Nathan answer by offering a lot of recommendations in the way of online bookkeeping services). They close this episode by touching upon a not very fun but very important topic – the necessity of filing taxes and how to be sure that you're staying on top of them! Join me in the next episode as Andy, Nathan, and I continue to answer more questions sent in by the Freed community, and also be sure to continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:59] – Maggie announces returning guests Andy and Nathan as the guests of this episode and reveals the focus of the episode – answering questions about entrepreneurship sent in by the Freed community. [1:46] – The first question addressed is what the first thing someone should do on their entrepreneurial journey is, and Andy says it's to find your first customer and service them. [4:04] – Nathan adds to Andy's insight, emphasizing that you need to take action and move forward. [6:43] – Andy argues that it's crucial that you make a sale. [7:28] – The second question asks how one can become a limited liability company, and Andy says that you should form an entity that you operate your business out of. [9:26] – Andy gives an example involving a hypothetical baking business. [10:51] – Nathan points out that if you're wondering whether or not you need an LLC, then you probably do. [13:02] – Andy addresses how to set up an effective bookkeeping method. [15:37] – We learn that there are a lot of virtual bookkeeping services such as Bench Accounting and Xendoo. [16:56] – Nathan recommends Wave as another bookkeeping service, unique in that it's free! [18:53] – Andy recommends how to stay on top of paperwork such as taxes. [21:25] – Nathan explains that you might need to pay quarterly taxes depending on how much money your business is making.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Freed Stories - “What Being Freed Is All About with Andy Louis-Charles” Freed Stories - “Freed Minds Behind the Magic with Andy Louis-Charles” Freed Stories - “Down the Funnel with Nathan Rodgers” LegalZoom - Website Rocket Lawyer - Website Firstbase - Website IncFile - Website QuickBooks - Website Xero - Website Bench Accounting - Website Xendoo - Website Wave - Website

Freed partner Maggie Partin joins me again to talk about her new company and what has changed in her professional life since you heard her in the first episode of the podcast. Maggie's new company is called The Seventh Sense and is a loungewear line intended to support strong emotional and mental health. Maggie discusses what inspired the clothing line and details what the objective of it is, and she also shares what developments she hopes the loungewear line will see over the next five years. In addition, Maggie offers some helpful advice to anyone who might want to walk a similar path as hers. She clarifies that in order to start an online retail company, you need five tools: (1) an LLC (limited liability company), (2) a professional email address, (3) a Shopify account, (4) a graphic designer if you don't do your designs yourself, and lastly, (5) merchandise and a manufacturer to make your merchandise if you don't do that yourself. She also shares with us a few fun facts about herself, such as what her first major job was and how she felt about it (indirectly providing some invaluable insight into what makes an effective leader and/or supervisor), what sources of support and mentorship have benefitted her over her lifetime and what she learned from those sources, and even how she feels about personal ads! It was so much fun having Maggie on the podcast again to share updates on how her professional life has been progressing and to talk about The Seventh Sense, and I look forward to talking to her again in the future! As always, I hope that you will continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:58] – We are introduced to this episode's guest, Freed partner Maggie Partin. [1:42] – Maggie gives us an update on how things have been going for her since she was last on the podcast. [2:43] – Maggie reflects on how some of her plans have been put on the sidelines in favor of The Seventh Sense. [5:09] – We discover what Maggie's primary objective was behind creating The Seventh Sense. [7:02] – Maggie explains why she named her company The Seventh Sense. [9:42] – Maggie discusses how she has been comfortable with most aspects of her new business but had to learn the accounting aspect of it. [11:54] – Maggie shares with us what tools that she has been using to help her navigate her journey. [14:48] – Maggie reveals additional resources that she has used that have been helpful for her. [17:32] – Maggie recommends a free digital marketing course on LinkedIn. [19:00] – We discover what sources of support and mentorship have been beneficial for Maggie. [21:18] – Maggie describes how her first supervisor was an effective mentor for her. [22:54] – Maggie provides us with a list of five tools needed to do something similar to what she does. [25:05] – Maggie shares her hopes and plans for the next five years. [27:06] – We learn where we can find The Seventh Sense online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Freed Stories - “Forging Your Own Path with Maggie Partin” The Seventh Sense - Website The Seventh Sense's Instagram Page The Seventh Sense's TikTok Page The Seventh Sense's Twitter Page Airtable - Website Trello - Website Shopify - Website

Tune in as I chat with Natalie Maniscalco and Irene Zervoudis of Wonder Girls, one of the winners of the Freed Fellowship grant! Wonder Girls was founded in 2020 and is an after-school program for female high school students. The mission statement of the program is to build confidence, leadership skills, a sense of community, and essential business skills to succeed in the career path that these girls choose. They, in addition, do some community service, teaming up with local non-profit organizations, giving the girls the tangible experience of doing non-profit work. Natalie and Irene enthuse over the life skills that the girls of Wonder Girls are learning such as building a network and gaining confidence in themselves, and it's nothing short of inspiring! Natalie and Irene discuss their jobs outside of Wonder Girls as well as their experience leading up to Wonder Girls, and they talk about how and why Wonder Girls was established. They also talk about what, as young girls, they wanted to be when they grew up and how that impacted what they do now. Irene was very much into fashion and worked her first retail job when she was only fourteen years old, which made her realize that she loved helping people. Natalie, on the other hand, knew that she wanted to wear a power suit after being inspired by a math teacher that she had who always wore one. She knew that she loved leading and took on leadership roles such as teaching, coaching, and camp counseling which she feels has come full circle now with Wonder Girls. They also offer some helpful advice to anyone who might want to walk a similar path as theirs, with Natalie emphasizing how important it is to find the balance between thinking your plans through but also just diving in head first and not overthinking. As Wonder Women, Irene and Natalie also share what they consider their superpowers to be, with Irene revealing hers to be her ability to bring peace amongst chaos and Natalie sharing that hers is her ability to build relationships and make people feel comfortable enough to open up to her. It was such a blast having Natalie and Irene on the podcast! As always, I hope that you will continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:58] – We are introduced to the guests of this episode, Natalie Maniscalco and Irene Zervoudis of Wonder Girls. [1:28] – We learn what Wonder Girls is and what its primary objective is. [2:00] – Natalie shares how she is a publicist and marketer, specializing in bilingual PR and marketing. [2:19] – Irene reveals that she is a marketing professional in the mortgage and real estate industry. [2:43] – Irene discusses how and why Wonder Girls was launched. [4:20] – Natalie explains how Wonder Girls has helped her and Irene as professional women themselves. [6:18] – Irene shares what she wanted to do when she was younger and how that affected what she does today. [7:51] – Natalie likewise enthuses over what she wanted to do when she was younger. [9:48] – We learn how Natalie and Irene met and began working together. [11:42] – We uncover what the biggest challenge of Wonder Girls has been and how Irene and Natalie have overcome that challenge. [13:00] – Natalie shares some advice with anyone – especially women – who want to go down a similar path. [14:14] – Natalie discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic was a hurdle but also served as a benefit for them because it gave them extra planning time before putting Wonder Girls into action. [16:01] – We learn that Irene and Natalie consulted a lot of nonprofit specialists to help them get started and ensure that they were on the right path. [18:29] – Natalie projects toward the future, hoping that they can take Wonder Girls national within the next five years. [19:37] – Irene hopes that her daughters keep the vision of Wonder Girls alive. [22:29] – Natalie enthusiastically posits that the girls of Wonder Girls are being introduced to networking and are learning how to interact with people. [24:05] – Irene and Natalie reveal why it's important for programs like Wonder Girls to be helping high school girls at the age where the girls are. [26:45] – Irene reveals what she considers her superpowers to be – peacefulness and connectivity. [28:35] – Natalie also shares what her superpower is – her ability to make people feel comfortable. [31:39] – We learn where we can find Wonder Girls online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Wonder Girls – Website Wonder Girls - LinkedIn Profile Wonder Girls - Instagram Page Wonder Girls - Facebook Page Wonder Girls - YouTube Page

Freed fellow Tami Thornton, owner of Beehive Soap & Body Care, joins me today to discuss her business and how she got started with it. Beehive Soap is based out of Utah (the Beehive State, hence the name of the company) and has been in business for nearly twelve years! Tami, funnily enough, started making soap as a hobby, but it eventually became a career. As a young girl, she saw herself as going into either nursing or teaching, and although she ended up on neither one of those paths, she does teach others the art of making soap, meaning that she sort of became a teacher after all! She, in fact, has a lot to teach on this very podcast, offering incredibly helpful advice. Tami encourages us to not allow just one client to be too large a percentage of your revenue because if that one client scales back on buying from you, you don't have other revenue to fall back on. She also suggests not signing a lease until you have your business on the ground because you have to pay rent whether your business has been making money or not, and she advises us to write a business plan out even if we think that we have it sufficiently stored in our heads. Last year was a challenging year for all of us, and Tami also shares with us how Beehive Soap was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes herself as optimistic and persistent, however, meaning that she persevered, and Beehive is still around and is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, it's likely only going to get even bigger from here on out! If you're interested in purchasing some products from Beehive Soap, Tami lists off the various ways that you can reach out to and purchase from the company. She even describes a few of the company's most popular products! As always, I hope that you will continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:58] – We are introduced to this episode's guest - Tami Thornton, owner of Beehive Soap & Body Care. [1:17] – Tami tells us a little bit about herself and her business, such as how she got started with it. [2:43] – We learn that Tami wanted to be either a nurse or a teacher when she was a child, which morphed into what she does now in that she actually teaches others how to make soap. [3:32] – Tami addresses a failure that her business endured in the past and what she learned from it. [5:26] – Tami offers two pieces of advice to anyone who might want to walk a similar path as hers – (1) to not sign a lease right away and (2) to write a business plan. [7:06] – Tami credits her husband, her daughter, and a program called Banking on Women as sources of support for her. [9:18] – We gain an understanding of where the name of the company – Beehive Soap – comes from. [9:51] – Tami lists off a few of Beehive's top selling products. [11:07] – Tami elaborates upon how COVID-19 impacted her business. [13:22] – Tami considers her optimism and her persistence to be her superpowers. [14:04] – We discover where we can find Beehive Soap online. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Banking on Women Beehive Soap & Body Care - Website Beehive Soap & Body Care's Facebook Page Beehive Soap & Body Care's Instagram Page Tami's LinkedIn Profile

Freed fellow Elif Ekin, culinary artist and owner of Bohemian Baklava and of a Turkish cafe called Kahve Cafe, joins me in this episode of Freed Stories to share her journey and how she became an entrepreneur. Initially deciding to go into psychology, she soon realized that it wasn't actually for her and chose a path in art history instead which indirectly led to her career in making baklava. She has since been making baklava for a decade or so out of Salt Lake City, Utah and eventually made the decision to open up her own cafe – a decision that she describes as scary due to being a single mother without much support. One aspect of Bohemian Baklava that makes it unique is that Elif accepts flavor challenges and creates new baklava flavors. (Can you imagine watermelon cotton candy baklava? Well, Elif doesn't have to imagine it because it's a crazy flavor that she was actually asked to make!) Elif also discusses how she works hard to make Kahve Cafe a welcoming, loving, and safe community where customers are treated like family. As an incredibly accomplished and inspirational woman, Elif offers people who might want to embark upon a similar journey as hers two valuable pieces of advice – (1) to be mindful of your reputation and how you interact with others and (2) to allow yourself to be vulnerable and real. She also encourages us to investigate our ideas even if they don't work out. Be sure to reach out to Elif and learn more about Bohemian Baklava and Kahve Cafe via the various resources that Elif offers, and, as always, I hope that you will continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:59] – Jackie welcomes this episode's guest to the podcast – Elif Ekin. [1:20] – Elif shares with us that she is the culinary artist and owner of Bohemian Baklava and will soon be opening up a Turkish cafe. [1:40] – Elif reveals that she has been making baklava for a decade or so in Salt Lake City and started the Kahve Cafe as an indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic. [2:39] – Elif describes the most unusual flavor of baklava that she was ever asked to make. [4:10] – We discover what Elif wanted to be when she was a child and how that led to what she does today. [5:18] – Elif discloses that she regrets thinking that she wasn't smart enough to start her own cafe by herself. [6:32] – Elif shares two pieces of advice for people who might want to do something similar. [9:05] – Elif credits Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic as having been a helpful resource for her. [10:19] – Elif projects toward the future, hoping that she will have a broader consumer base across the nation within five years. [11:02] – We learn that Elif considers her superpower to be her ability to create a welcoming and loving community. [12:17] – Elif lists off the several places where we can find her and her businesses online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Elizabeth Gilbert – Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Bohemian Baklava – Website Bohemian Baklava's Instagram Page Bohemian Baklava's Facebook Page Kahve Cafe – Website Kahve Cafe's Instagram Page Kahve Cafe's Facebook Page

I am joined today by fellow Freed member Becky Pool, founder and C.E.O. of Country Chick's Solutions, an online virtual assistant service for coaches, mentors, and online business owners who are looking to be online in a greater capacity or are looking to grow their online presence and influence. 2020 was a very difficult year for many of us, as it was for Becky. Becky was completely shocked when she unexpectedly lost her corporate job in late March of 2020, and she, for several months, worked remotely as a contract employee before starting Country Chick's Solutions in September of 2020. From a young age, Becky knew that she wanted to own her own business and make a difference, and having twenty years of experience in administrative work, she was perfect for her new role as an entrepreneur doing online virtual assistant work. Becky offers a couple of pieces of advice to us, advising us that while losing your job is scary, starting your own business can be even scarier, so we should find someone who will encourage us and support us if we aren't sure of where our talents lie. She also assures us that it's okay for our dreams and goals to be scary, that they, in fact, should be if they're worthwhile. She even recommends a book to us and reveals what she believes her superpower to be! As always, I hope that you will continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on, and be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:58] – Jackie introduces Becky Pool, fellow Freed member, to this episode. [1:18] – We learn what Becky's current job title is as founder and C.E.O. of Country Chick's Solutions, describing what her company does. [1:46] – Becky, as she reveals, lost her corporate position in March of 2020, ultimately resulting in her establishing Country Chick's Solutions several months later in September of 2020. [3:37] – We discover where the company's name comes from. [4:23] – Becky discloses that, even at a young age, she always saw herself as owning a business and knew that she wanted to make a difference. [5:44] – Becky offers two pieces of advice to anyone who finds themselves in similar shoes as hers. [7:02] – Becky details what corporate work was like and how that has affected her current work as an entrepreneur. [8:48] – We learn how Becky has routines and daily regimens in place that keep her schedule on track, and she describes what her typical day looks like from start to finish. [11:32] – Becky credits her faith, her family, her business coach, and her church family as her main support system and also shares with us what book she is currently reading. [12:45] – Becky hopes that in five years, she will be running the top level virtual assistant agency with at least 150 to 300 clients. [13:16] – Becky believes her superpower to be discernment, her ability to predict and understand clients' needs beforehand. [14:05] – We discover where online we can find Becky if we want to connect with her. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page Marcia Bench - The Tao of Entrepreneurship: 52 Lessons in Applying Spiritual Principles to Business Ownership Country Chick's Solutions' Facebook Page Country Chick's Solutions - Website Country Chick's Solutions' Instagram Page Becky's LinkedIn Profile

We have a very special episode in store for you today as we welcome our fearless leader of Freed Fellowship, Andy Louis-Charles. Andy was only eight years old when he started his first business, and he continues to do great work as our inspirational Freed leader. As our leader, he removes obstacles and roadblocks and also serves as a coach, but he, as he states himself, also tries to let us do our own thing. Andy shares how and why he founded Freed Fellowship, as he noticed a lot of disparities in economic and career opportunities. He consequently wanted to create an environment and a program that allowed people to free themselves from the limiting and unhelpful stories that they tell themselves, hence the name of the fellowship. Offering plenty of helpful advice, Andy encourages us to get in over our heads because doing so forces your hand and makes you need to find a solution. He also advises us to find our personal discomfort zones and to build a team before going into a project alone, even if you can't initially afford to hire people and need to ask family members and friends to come on board or at least be a support system for you. He reveals that he is the type of person to not overthink things because, from his experience, overthinking things tends to kill them. He is not a fan of the word failure because, as he declares, nothing is a failure if you have learned from it but is rather a lesson. Andy has ambitious and admirable goals for the future, hoping that Freed will help at least a thousand entrepreneurs form million dollar companies within the next decade, and he even shares with us what he believes his superpower to be! Please continue to tune in to the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on, and be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:59] – Jackie introduces us to this episode's guest, Andy Louis-Charles. [1:24] – Andy provides us with some background information about himself, such as how he is the founder of the Freed Fellowship and describes his role with the fellowship. [2:40] – We learn what inspired Andy to establish the Freed Fellowship, as he noticed gaps in economic and career opportunities that he wanted to close. [5:00] – Andy revealed where the name of Freed Fellowship came from – wanting to help us free ourselves from the limiting stories that we tell ourselves. [6:37] – Andy shares that another definition of the word freed in the context of the fellowship is freeing locked up human potential. [8:28] – Jackie and Andy enthuse over how Freed Fellowship can help people unhappy in the corporate world explore other opportunities. [10:54] – Andy asserts that if you truly find something that is important to you, then you will figure out how to make it happen. [12:36] – Andy offers us advice if we're looking to become entrepreneurs, advising us to get in over our heads. [14:17] – We learn what obstacles Andy has faced over the years and what lessons he has learned from them. [16:08] – Andy strongly encourages us to build a team before starting a project or business, even if it's made up of family members or friends. [18:21] – Andy reveals two things that he wants fellowship members to get out of being members – removing unhelpful stories about ourselves and feeling like we are in a community. [20:30] – Andy hopes that, over the next decade, Freed Fellowship will help at least 1,000 new entrepreneurs grow their businesses to million dollar businesses. [23:20] – We discover that Andy believes his superpower to be his ability to connect dots and connect people. [26:31] – Andy discloses where online we can reach out to him and the fellowship. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship - Website Freed Fellowship's Twitter Page

Join me as Nathan Rodgers shares his own freed story this week! Nathan is currently a digital marketer and has a background in the public sector in the Peace Corps (which he joined after college). He then worked at UNICEF and had the opportunity to do business analysis and training around a software system called SAP. Nathan then lived and worked in Thailand and got to see a lot of the world which was exciting for him because he had always loved to travel. Because he always felt like he wanted more out of a career than to spend the entirety of it at one bureaucratic organization, Nathan eventually took a risky leap of faith and allowed a contract to expire seven years ago – without anything else immediately lined up! It was a scary decision, but, as Nathan explains, almost every important decision that he has ever made has been made in opposition to fear. This decision eventually led him to Nicaragua, where, even though he initially thought that he would only stay for a short while, he has been for seven years, having started a business via a hotel. It was a long road, but he and his two partners finally opened the hotel's doors on December 1, 2019. Nathan discusses some of the challenges presented last year by the COVID-19 pandemic and offers advice to us. He advises against taking on too overwhelming of a project as your very first entrepreneurial endeavor and to also destroy your fear with action. He, in addition, suggests that we should allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open with people in order to establish a sense of community and avoid the loneliness that sometimes comes with the territory of being an entrepreneur. He additionally explains how he balances his work life with his personal life, recommends some podcasts, and even reveals what he considers his superpower to be! Please do reach out to Nathan via the methods that he provides, and I also really hope that you will continue to join me on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on! Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:59] – Jackie introduces this episode's guest, Nathan Rodgers, and Nathan gives us some background information about himself. [3:33] – We learn that Nathan decided to learn Spanish and randomly chose Nicaragua to do so. [4:44] – Nathan reflects on how he has been in Nicaragua for seven years and has started a business via a hotel. [7:22] – Nathan discusses the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic hitting last March posed for the hotel. [9:55] – Nathan describes what his journey has been like over the last year. [10:45] – Nathan explains that he grew up in a middle class family and grew up wanting to be an archaeologist like Indiana Jones. [11:34] – We discover that Nathan has always loved to travel for as long as he can remember but that there hasn't been much else that consistent. [13:39] – Nathan makes a connection between his aspirations when he was younger and what he is doing today. [15:38] – Nathan offers two pieces of advice for anyone interested in starting a business, starting with not taking too big of a project as your first endeavor. [18:05] – Nathan provides a second piece of advice – to destroy fear with action. [21:04] – Nathan expounds upon the loneliness that is sometimes involved with entrepreneurial work, advising that being willing to be vulnerable and seeking out community are the best ways to combat it. [23:06] – Nathan describes his history with serious depression. [24:52] – Nathan delineates how he balances his work life with his personal life. [28:00] – Nathan credits three different podcasts as helpful resources for him. [30:30] – Nathan reveals what he would tell himself five years ago if he could to expect a more difficult journey than he had initially expected. [31:19] – Nathan hopes to grow his business financially within the next couple of years. [33:00] – We learn that Nathan considers his superpower to be an ability to make complicated ideas simpler so that people can understand them. [35:15] – Nathan shares with us where we can reach out to him online.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship How I Built This with Guy Raz - Podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire - Podcast Start from Zero - Podcast Nathan's Twitter Page

Join me as I talk to Nto, of the company Busy Bumblebeees, about her business and how it got started, how she had been a content creator and manager at a restaurant but was laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how she got started as an entrepreneur via Upwork. Nto also shares how when she was much younger she had dreams of having a regular, stable job as an accountant, taking part in social activities such as office parties, and how that ultimately resulted in what she does now. She went to college for business management which led to her following a path of independent entrepreneurship. She now provides virtual assisting and social media marketing to a wide range of clients. As I often say, the road to entrepreneurship and even entrepreneurship itself can sometimes be lonely, so Nto not only talks about how she combats that loneliness and how being a fellow of Freed has helped her establish a sense of community as an entrepreneur, but she also offers some advice, such as familiarizing yourself with your target market and eliminating self-doubt to fight off imposter syndrome. She also details her daily schedule, shares what she would say to herself five years ago if she could, and even reveals what she considers her superpower to be! I really hope that you will continue to join me on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on! Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:57] – Jackie introduces this episode's guest, Nto of Busy Bumblebeees. [1:42] – Nto gives some background information about herself, such as how she was a content creator and manager at a restaurant but was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic so became an entrepreneur via Upwork. [3:27] – We learn how Nto wanted to be an accountant when she was younger. [5:00] – Nto offers us advice – knowing your target market and eliminating self-doubt. [6:38] – Nto explains how she has handled the loneliness of entrepreneurship, such as by following virtual assistant pages on social media and being part of Freed. [7:38] – We discover what Nto's daily schedule looks like and how she balances her life and her work. [9:34] – Nto credits a social media page that has inspired her and taught her to live a successful yet pleasurable life. [10:48] – Nto shares that if she could talk to herself five years ago, she would tell herself to be consistent in everything that she does and to not be afraid. [11:18] – Nto hopes that five years into the future her business will grow so that she'll have a team. [12:05] – We learn what Nto's superpower is – her attention to detail. [12:47] – Nto shares where we can find her online. [13:05] – Nto explains where the name of her company, Busy Bumblebeees, comes from and why it's spelled the way that it is. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship Upwork – Website Busy Bumblebeees – Website Busy Bumblebeees' Instagram Page Busy Bumblebeees' Twitter Page

Imagine, if you have to, having a career that allows you to encapsulate pretty much all of your interests. Most of us aren't that lucky, right? Well, Deja Tyla, founder of Tyla's Writing Services, is that lucky! With a background in project management and information technology, Deja was able to marry her interests in writing and business management with her company, which helps businesses meet their business goals by offering them assistance with things like interview preparation, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and so much more. Tyla's Writing Services also works with small businesses that are just getting started and might need those extra resources to get their names out there. Deja shares her Freed story with us, sharing, for example, how she always saw herself as a leader and as someone who stood up for what was important to her, and with writing and business management being interests of hers, she founded Tyla's Writing Services. In addition to sharing her story with us, she is also kind enough to offer some advice. She suggests that it's very important that you're having fun and enjoying what you're doing or else you're just going to burn out, and she also stresses how crucial that it is to never stop being eager to learn even after you have finished your schooling and/or training. She also offers some advice to those who might be experiencing the often talked about loneliness that sometimes goes hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship – encouraging us to surround ourselves with like-minded professionals who can be support systems for us. Deja reflects a little bit on the past and also shares what she hopes to accomplish with her company in the future. She even explains what has driven her over the years and what has helped her through making the jump to entrepreneurship! Be sure to connect with Deja Tyla via the various methods that she mentions in the podcast, and as always, I really hope that you will continue to join me on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on! Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:58] – Jackie introduces this episode's guest, Deja Tyla. [1:18] – Deja gives us a little bit of information about herself and what she does with her company, Tyla's Writing Services. [2:27] – We learn what Deja hoped to be when she was younger and how she wanted to be a leader who stood up for what was important to her. [3:09] – Deja offers a piece of advice for anyone who might be interested in following a similar career path – that it's important to enjoy what you do. [3:26] – Deja provides us with a second piece of advice – to never stop being a student. [4:13] – Deja asserts that she has had a lot of support on her journey and hasn't experienced entrepreneurial loneliness but offers advice to those who have experienced it or do experience it. [4:55] – Deja admits that she works very hard sometimes and finds it difficult to find a balance between her work life and her personal life. [5:49] – We discover that Deja considers her excitement to learn and educate herself as being the main thing that has helped her make the jump to entrepreneurship. [6:38] – Deja reflects on her past self from 2015, stating that she would advise herself to accept all challenges happily if she had that opportunity. [7:04] – Deja hopes that within five years, Tyla's Writing Services will have grown as a brand. [8:06] – Deja shares with us where online we can reach out to her. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship Tyla's Writing Services - Instagram Page Tyla's Writing Services - Facebook Page Deja's LinkedIn Page Tyla's Writing Services - Twitter Page Tyla's Writing Services - Reddit Page Tyla's Writing Services - Website

Freed fellow Sammy Kelly, one of two co-owners of Digivangelism, is here to share her freed story with us! When Sammy was younger, she always saw herself as a missionary, excited by the prospect of a lifestyle other than the typical 9-5 grind, which is what led to her eventually co-developing Digivangelism, a company whose goal is to spread hope and healing through knowing Jesus Christ and to help church leaders do that more effectively in their communities. Sammy not only shares her story with us but also offers some great advice – (1) don't be afraid to get started in some small way even if it's not initially full-time and (2) introduce positive habits into your life. (She, for example, has been running a mile each day for 293 days!) She also suggests that most businesses succeed because they're enthusiastic and optimistic and are willing to go through the ups and downs of their journeys. She credits Donald Miller – author, business mentor, and influencer – as an inspirational resource for her and recommends his Business Made Simple educational program and book. As I frequently say, the road to entrepreneurship and even entrepreneurship itself can sometimes be lonely, but it doesn't have to be, and Sammy also touches upon how you can combat that entrepreneurial loneliness, such as connecting with people and making friends with them even if they live very far away and also making use of rest days to engage in social activities. Be sure to check Sammy and what she does out at the various methods that she lists! I really hope that you will continue to join me on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on! Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:58] – Jackie introduces this episode's guest, Freed fellow Sammy Kelly. [1:18] – Sammy tells us a little bit about herself and how she got started as an entrepreneur. [2:13] – We learn that when Sammy was younger, she thought that she wanted to be a missionary. [3:30] – Sammy offers two pieces of advice for people who want to embark upon a similar journey as hers. [5:28] – Sammy comments on how she has combated entrepreneurial loneliness – making connections even if they're long-distance and also taking advantage of time off to engage in social activities. [7:07] – We learn how Sammy balances her personal life and her work life. [8:45] – Sammy credits Donald Miller as an inspirational resource for her. [10:42] – We discover that if she could, Sammy would tell herself five years in the past to invest her money and to expose herself to helpful resources such as books and podcasts. [11:22] – Sammy shares what she hopes for within the next few years – such as wanting to buy a van and get a dog and also for Digivangelism to be more closely connected with education and have a certification program. [13:20] – Sammy reveals that she considers her superpower to be enthusiasm. [14:59] – We discover where we can reach out to Sammy online. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship Jeff Haden - The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win Donald Miller – Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality Donald Miller – Business Made Simple University Don Miller – Business Made Simple: 60 Days to Master Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Execution, Management, Personal Productivity and More Digivangelism - Instagram Page Digivangelism - Twitter Page Digivangelism - YouTube Page Digivangelism - Facebook Page Digivangelism - Website

Beginning her journey networking on social media for various animal rescue sanctuaries, fellow Freed member Shawna joins me in this episode to share her Freed story, sharing how she got into virtual assistant business six or seven years ago which was when she realized that that was where her true calling was because it was what she most enjoyed. She has since been working as a virtual assistant, enjoying her time helping companies grow. The Freed Fellowship, seeking to foster a community of entrepreneurs to make the road a little less lonely, is always encouraging our guests to talk about how they curb that entrepreneurial loneliness, and Shawna shares her own secret – that she avoids loneliness via networking on social media! She always has clients to assist and shares with me that, even though the type of client whom she helps varies depending on the situation, her idea of a dream client is someone who already has a vision of what they want done, since formulating and executing the vision herself is oftentimes part of what she has to do. Stressing the importance of knowing your skills and building a network so that you can “have your little elevator pitch ready,” ambition is clearly something that is important to Shawna, and she offers helpful advice about what you should do if you wish to walk the journey toward becoming a virtual assistant like her! I hope that you'll continue to join me on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on! Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:05] – Jackie welcomes us to the podcast and explains what the premise of the podcast is. [0:55] – Jackie welcomes Shawna, another Freed team member, to the podcast. [1:16] – Shawna narrates her story, telling us how she got started and how she ended up an entrepreneur. [2:21] – Shawna explains that her ADHD growing up led to her repeatedly changing her mind about what career path she wanted to follow. [3:06] – We receive two tidbits of advice from Shawna if we want to become virtual assistants like her, to know our strengths and to be sure to network. [4:16] – Shawna describes her dream client. [5:15] – Shawna clarifies how she curbs entrepreneurial loneliness via social networking. [6:11] – We learn what Shawna's daily schedule usually looks like. [7:11] – Shawna discusses the importance of a virtual assistant taking breaks to eat and not overworking. [8:05] – Shawna recommends Score to us – a website where you can communicate with other mentors. [9:07] – Shawna reflects on what she would tell herself five years ago if she could as well as what she hopes for in the future, such as how she's hoping to form a collaborative agency. [10:25] – Shawna credits herself as being adaptable, as she is easily able to adjust what she does for her clients' needs.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship Toggl Track Score

Switching things up a bit in this episode by doing a reversal of what we did in our first episode, co-founder of Freed Media Maggie Partin now interviews me, fellow co-founder and host of the Freed Stories podcast Jackie Heil, who, like Maggie, made the scary jump from the corporate world to the world of entrepreneurship! I was in the corporate world for about eight years as a communications and events coordinator, but I am now a freelance content creator who specializes in writing and voiceover work. If, like me, you are looking to get into entrepreneurship, remember that (1) there is never going to be a perfect time, so just go for it because even though the jump is scary, it's so worth it in the end, and (2) you should always know the value of what you do and stick to that value. Don't accept discounts! Know your worth! Know what your services are worth! The road to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship itself can frequently be a lonely one, but it doesn't have to be! Because of Freed Fellowship, for example, it really hasn't been too lonely for me. The things that I missed about the corporate world such as networking have been satisfied by the Fellowship, and that is the gap that we are looking to bridge here at Freed. We want to make that transition easier by fostering a community of entrepreneurs. I hope that you'll continue to join me on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on! Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode!   Time Stamps [0:05] – Jackie welcomes us to the podcast and explains what the premise of the podcast is. [0:54] – Maggie announces that she will be interviewing Jackie in this episode. [1:24] – Jackie shares with us her story of how she got started on her entrepreneurship venture and what she now does. [2:11] – We learn that when she was young, Jackie was always writing and performing and made cards, dreaming of working for Hallmark. [2:41] – Jackie informs us that she has a degree in writing, editing, and media. [3:10] – Jackie offers advice to people who want to begin a path of entrepreneurship. [4:22] – Jackie comments on whether or not being an entrepreneur has been a lonely path for her, crediting Freed Fellowship for preventing loneliness for her. [5:07] – Jackie explains how she manages her time and what her daily schedule tends to look like. [6:10] – Jackie gives credit to Reddit for being a helpful resource for her as an entrepreneur. [7:36] – Jackie reflects on what she would tell herself five years ago if she could and where she sees herself five years from now, such as how she hopes to have an agency of her own with several like-minded people.   Links and Resources Freed Fellowship Reddit – Hire a Writer Reddit – Record This Reddit – The Podcast Guest Exchange Jackie's LinkedIn Page

Are you in the corporate world looking to make the scary jump to entrepreneurship? Are you worried about the road to entrepreneurship being a lonely one? If your answer to either of those questions is yes, then the Freed Stories podcast is for you! The Freed Stories podcast seeks to bridge the gap between wantrapreneur and entrepreneur. Join me, your host Jackie Heil, in this episode as I interview Maggie Partin, co-founder (alongside yours truly) of Freed Media and someone who made that scary jump from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. Maggie and I discuss how she got started on her entrepreneurship venture, describing herself as a “multi-passionate entrepreneur.” She encourages new entrepreneurs to trust their instincts and to take risky leaps if need be, and she shares with us the challenges of entrepreneurship, such as how it can be frustrating to do something that has never been done before because there are no answers out there; you have to learn on your own. Being on your own is, after all, often the scariest part of wanting to move toward entrepreneurship. The road to entrepreneurship can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be! We at Freed Fellowship seek to build a community of entrepreneurs and bridge that lonely gap, and Maggie and I discuss that loneliness and how to overcome it, and she also provides us with what she considers to be the three core things to do if you're just starting your journey of entrepreneurship: (1) surround yourself with people who will support you and hold you accountable for what you say you're going to do; (2) have a clearly defined mission statement that you define right from the get-go; (3) be prepared for things to go awry and have a back-up plan in case they do. I hope that you'll join me on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on! Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode! Time Stamps [0:05] – Jackie Heil provides an overview of what the podcast will cover overall as well as what this particular episode will cover. [0:54] – Jackie welcomes Maggie Partin, the other half of the Freed Media duo, to the podcast. [1:16] – Maggie gives us some background information about herself such as how she got started on her entrepreneurship venture. [2:19] – We learn what a typical day's routine looks like for Maggie. [3:39] – Maggie explains how she balances her personal life with her work life. [4:50] – We discover what Maggie's career dream was as a child and how that led to what she ended up doing, such as how she was interested in architecture and building homes. [7:19] – Maggie tells us about how she was temporarily an events and parties planner but how that burned her out physically and emotionally, which led her to start ventures such as Stitch Fix. [9:51] – Maggie offers us advice on what to do if we're looking to move from the corporate world to entrepreneurship like she did. [12:26] – Jackie comments on Maggie's advice, adding that some people don't realize how lonely self-employment and entrepreneurship can be. [12:53] – Maggie illustrates how she deals with loneliness as an entrepreneur and finds the balance between feeling lonely and enjoying time to herself. [15:10] – Maggie sheds light on what she has learned from The Fellowship. [17:22] – Maggie lists off and explains what she considers to be the three most important things about starting a small business. [20:27] – Jackie asks Maggie what she would have told herself five years ago if she could and where she sees herself five years from now, and Maggie shares that she hopes to own a home and also run several multimillion dollar businesses. [22:27] – Jackie brings the episode to closure by thanking Maggie for joining her.   Links and Resources Maggie's Instagram Page Stitch Fix

Welcome to the Freed Stories podcast from the Freed Fellowship, a program that gives small businesses and entrepreneurs feedback on their ideas as well selects a monthly fellow who receives a grant and mentorship. In this intro episode, I – co-founding member of the Freed Fellowship Andy Louis-Charles – give you a little bit of background information about myself, such as how I became an entrepreneur at the young age of only eight, and outline how and why I helped form the Freed Fellowship. It was my vision to help help unleash the human potential amongst both individuals and teams, and although it took me more than a decade (during which time I pursued a multitude of opportunities), I was finally able to realize my vision. I also introduce you to Jackie Heil, fellow co-founder of the Freed Fellowship. Jackie, who is currently a freelance content writer and creator, will be your regular weekly host on Freed Stories. She briefly gives a little bit of background information about herself and her vision with the Fellowship. As she emphasizes, the entrepreneurial journey does not need to be lonely, and the Freed Fellowship is here for you! We hope that you'll join Jackie on the Freed Stories podcast as guests share their stories of entrepreneurship – their successes, their failures, their goals, their hopes, and so on. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so that you never miss an episode, and if you're an entrepreneur yourself, we also encourage you to come speak on the show and share your story! Let's get freed! Time Stamps [0:05] – Andy Louis-Charles shares with us that he has been an entrepreneur for most of his life, having made bookmarks at eight years old. [0:26] – Andy reveals that in 1997, he read an article that inspired him and gave him hope. [0:50] – We learn that it took Andy more than ten years to get where he wanted to be, pursuing countless opportunities in the meantime. [1:14] – We discover that Andy exited 2019 financially fulfilled but feeling like there was still something missing, explaining the initial vision that led to the formation of the Freed Fellowship. [1:59] – Andy projects what the biggest economic opportunity will be over the next ten years. [2:17] – Andy introduces himself and clarifies why he helped form the Free Fellowship, also explaining what the Freed Stories podcast will be covering. [2:49] – Andy further discusses what the podcast will cover, outlining, for example, how the podcast will share entrepreneurs' ups and downs and successes and failures. [2:59] – Andy hopes that some entrepreneurial listeners will also become guests on the podcast, sharing their own stories, and he introduces Jackie as the podcast's main weekly host. [3:16] – Jackie introduces herself and provides a little bit of background information about herself. [3:49] – Andy reiterates that Jackie is one of many whose stories we will hear on the podcast and that he hopes that entrepreneurial listeners will share their stories on the podcast. Links and Resources Freed Fellowship