The Mrs. Startup Podcast

Church planting is the process that establishes a local Christian church, and it looks a lot like starting a business. Ashley Hales is the wife of a pastor who established a church in south Orange County, California.   She explains why they chose Orange County to plant their church, how they manage the stress that comes along with ministry, and how she juggles her own passions and career with family and being a pastor's wife.   Ashley is a writer, speaker, podcast host and PhD. She's the wife to a church planter and mom to 4. Her first book is: Finding Holy in the Suburbs: Living Faithfully in the Land of Too Much. Listen to The Finding Holy Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and connect with Ashley at aahales.com or @aahales on Instagram and Twitter.   Resurrection OC website: https://www.resurrectionoc.com/ Ashley's website: https://aahales.com/ Ashley's Twitter: https://twitter.com/aahales Ashley's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aahales.writer Ashley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aahales/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Do you wonder what life is like in an entrepreneurial family? Do you want to hear the reality rather than just the social media highlights? Erin Hoff discusses what it's like working in the same industry as her husband, how they juggle being two working parents with raising three young children, and how the road to entrepreneurial success is not what you think it is. Erin is a mom, a real estate transaction coordinator, and the wife of a real estate agent.    Erin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-hoff-114960109 RERAW website: reraw.com RERAW Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/realestateraw/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Women, especially wives of entrepreneurs, often put others' needs above their own. But listen up! Amy Zhou is here to tell us why caring for yourself is caring for your marriage. Amy is a business owner who has worked for medical device and e-commerce startups, AND she's married to an entrepreneur, so she has incredible insight into the stress and pressure entrepreneurs face. She tells us why it's important to nourish our bodies so we have the energy and stamina to accomplish our goals, as well as the clarity to communicate with our spouses.   Amy is a modern day Medicine Woman and speaker with an incredible message of restoring our body's natural health through food as medicine. She's been successful in inspiring women across the globe to take extreme ownership of their own body, and begin to make significant changes in order to build habits for lifelong health (more specifically to reverse their chronic skin conditions that have robbed them of their confidence, sensuality, and desire to live their dreams). Those who have heard her message and taken action to heal themselves are now seeing their loved ones, husbands, kids, family and community automatically heal around them as a result.   Amy's website: https://www.amyzhou.com/ Amy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amythemedicinewoman/ Amy's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFzq64lMOUgmrLZiKaPJeRA Amy's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyTheMedicineWoman/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

“Love or work? Is it possible to change the world, stay in love, and have a healthy family?” That's the question that André Shinabarger and her social entrepreneur husband, Jeff, explore in their podcast, Love or Work, where they interview and learn from other couples in the journey of marriage, purpose, and parenting.   André sat down with me to discuss her own story as the wife of an entrepreneur, as well as lessons she's learned from couples they've interviewed on their podcast. We discuss how she and Jeff have taken turns in their careers, what it's like raising kids while working, and her process for working through Jeff's many, many new ideas. We also talk about the biggest struggle for entrepreneurs in their Plywood People community, and - hint, hint - it's not business-related.   André and Jeff have a book coming out next year, so follow them for updates on when it will be released! Here's a quick book synopsis: “Is it possible to pursue your dreams, stay in love, and raise great kids? In Love or Work, popular podcast hosts and founders of Plywood People Jeff and André Shinabarger share proven research, insightful practices, and stories from 100 working couples in this new vision for the modern, working, and purpose-fueled family.”   A little more about André: She is an adventurer who loves seeing the world. Born in Bolivia, she has a deep passion for building community with marginalized people groups. She works for Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta as a Physician Assistant and is an adjunct professor for Emory University. She is an advisor to Plywood People and host of the Love or Work podcast.   Love or Work Podcast: https://www.loveorwork.com/podcast Love or Work website: https://www.loveorwork.com/ Love or Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveorwork/ Plywood People website: https://plywoodpeople.com/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Are you frustrated and overwhelmed by the “simple” meal planning tips that are actually really complicated? Are you looking for ways to save time, money, and stress while still putting good food on the table for your family? You know meal planning is important, especially for wives of entrepreneurs, but you may not know where to start.   You're in luck because I'm sharing five of my best meal planning tips that don't include keeping a fully stocked pantry, buying in bulk, or making dozens of freezer meals. These are ideas to help people who don't like to cook and people who are starting out. It can even help people who have been cooking for a while. This episode is all about meal planning made simple.   Plan To Eat affiliate link: https://www.plantoeat.com/ref/mealplanningsecrets   Natural Resources Defense Council's report titled “Wasted: How America Is Losing up to 40 Percent of Its Food From Farm to Fork to Landfill”: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-2017-report.pdf   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Are you and your spouse in alignment? Are you open and transparent with each other? Do you know what's going on in your husband's business? Does he know what's going on with you or at home?   Cadey Charfen is here to explain why alignment, transparency, and communication in a marriage are incredibly important for growing together as a couple while growing a business. Cadey and her husband, Alex, have two rules for entrepreneurial success: your marriage comes first; and transparency in your marriage is absolute. We talk about a lot of things, but it all comes back to what Cadey and Alex call an alignment process. In other words, couples need to be on the same page in life and in business.   Cadey Charfen is the president and co-founder of CHARFEN, a training, education and membership organization helping entrepreneurs identify and live in their strengths. Cadey directs strategy and systems development for the company, with a focus on marketing and customer experience. Under her leadership, CHARFEN was recognized among the Inc. 500 fastest-growing private companies in America three years in a row, reaching as high as #21. Cadey currently lives in Austin with her husband, Alex, and their homeschooled daughters, Reagan and Kennedy.   Momentum Podcast Episode 564 (Part 1: The Marriage Process): https://www.charfen.com/podcast/564-part-1-the-marriage-process/ Momentum Podcast Episode 565 (Part 2: The Marriage Process): https://www.charfen.com/podcast/565-part-2-the-marriage-process/   CHARFEN Web site: charfen.com Momentum Podcast: https://www.charfen.com/podcast/ CHARFEN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charfen/ Cadey Charfen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cadeycharfen/ Alex Charfen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexcharfen/ Alex Charfen's Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcharfen/ CHARFEN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm7h9ePRONYnfrPmLWAq2Lw   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

I'm dealing with a lack of motivation right now, and I'm sharing what I'm doing to work through it. I don't subscribe to the idea that I just need to keep showing up. Instead, I discuss five things I try when I'm not motivated, including muting motivational speakers and doing things unrelated to what I'm supposed to be doing.    Dr. Ellen Vora's sleep tips: https://ellenvora.com/better-sleep/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Money issues are often cited as a top reason couples fight, as well as a reason they divorce. So why do we think hiring a financial planner is a luxury? I believed this, too, until I interviewed Brittney Castro, CFP®, AAMS®, CRPC®, the founder and CEO of Financially Wise Inc., a Los Angeles-based financial planning firm whose mission is to teach individuals and couples the art of managing their money the fun and simple way. Brittney is a Certified Financial Planner™, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Accredited Asset Management Specialist, entrepreneur, and speaker.   I went into this chat with Brittney expecting some DIY tips on managing money, and I came out convinced that every marriage needs a financial planner, especially if you're married to an entrepreneur. Investing, saving, budgeting - there's a lot that goes into managing money and owning a business only makes it more complicated. A professional expert can help you and your spouse avoid mistakes and save you money in the long run. Plus he or she can serve as a neutral third-party during financial discussions, which really helps relationships.   Brittney also shares common financial mistakes she sees entrepreneurs make, how women and men think differently about money and business, and how to create a money mindset. Most importantly, she explains why your marriage needs a financial planner.   Brittney's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittneycastro/ Brittney's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinanciallyWiseWomen Brittney's Twitter: https://twitter.com/brittneycastro Financially Wise, Inc., website: www.financiallywiseinc.com The Money Class: http://www.fwwmoneyclass.com/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Are you considering a break from social media? Are you curious about its role in your life? I took a break from social media for two days recently, and on this episode, I'm sharing the results of my experiment! Here's a quick tease of what I learned: I start my day off completely wrong; my problem is more my phone than social media; and it's okay to be bored. Plus I share some things I'm doing differently to fix some of my problem areas.   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

If you're looking for ways to remain grounded in your faith during the ups and downs of your husband's business, this episode with Heather MacFadyen is for you! You'll hear about the many twists and turns of her husband's entrepreneurship, and how her relationship with God has helped her through some difficult seasons.    We talk marriage, family, and faith, and Heather shares how her husband, Bruce, keeps her “on her toes with his energy and entrepreneurial pursuits.” (I love that description of him from her website bio.)   Heather has been married since the turn of the century, which she says sounds more impressive than it is. She is the mother of four young boys born exactly, to the day, within 6 1/2 years . . . just like she'd always planned. She hosts “The Don't Mom Alone Podcast” weekly, interviewing fellow journeyers on the topic of motherhood. Her heart is for moms to know God's great delight over them and how He sees the unseen eternal work they do every day. And through mentorship, friendship, and discipleship, she wants to remind gals that they “Don't Mom Alone.”   Don't Mom Alone Podcast: https://dontmomalone.com/podcast-show/ Don't Mom Alone website: https://dontmomalone.com/ Don't Mom Alone Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DontMomAlone/ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontmomalone/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

If you're anything like me, you may think that being an entrepreneur's wife means you have to do everything because your husband is busy building his business. But how do you know when to draw the line at home, at work, in your marriage, and with your kids? How do you know when to say no?   If you have trouble figuring out when to say no, I'm revealing five lessons I've learned about setting priorities and figuring out what matters. I talk about why saying no is important, how we need to compromise, and how occasionally saying no to social media might be what you need.   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Do you want to know how to work successfully with your husband? Do you wonder what life looks like with an entrepreneur, businesses, and kids? I discuss that and more with my guest and friend, Kelly Altman. We chat about ALL the things: what it's like for her to run a business with her husband; why she wanted to create her own business coaching women; how she sets boundaries both with herself and with her husband; and what it's like raising kids in an entrepreneurial family.   Kelly is a health coach, a fitness business owner, a mother of four young kids, and the wife of a die-hard entrepreneur. She is passionate about helping women create more space for themselves so they can live lives of abundant energy, consistent learning, and pride. Kelly wants to help women feel strong and confident in their bodies and with their lifestyle choices so they can live their best lives.   Kelly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.altman/ Kelly's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellyaltmanhealthcoach/ Kelly's website: https://www.kellyaltman.com/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Stress. Anxiety. Burnout. Exhaustion. Those are common problems for entrepreneurs and their spouses. But how do you manage stress as the wife of an entrepreneur? Are there natural, holistic approaches to mental health that include diet and lifestyle changes?    Ellen Vora, M.D., answers those questions and more. She is a board-certified psychiatrist, medical acupuncturist, and yoga teacher. Dr. Vora takes a functional medicine approach to mental health - considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root, rather than reflexively prescribing medication. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Vora is also a writer, speaker, blogger and a consultant for two healthcare startups.    Dr. Vora explains how simple changes to food, sleep, exercise, and community can make big impacts on our mental health. We discuss how to work through the cycle of emotions (and that it's okay to be emotional!), how to support our entrepreneurs when they're stressed, and - you may have guessed it - how less is more. You'll also hear her remind me to stop thinking, “I should,” and to start embracing who I am because I have something to contribute to the world.   Dr. Vora's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenvoramd/ Dr. Vora's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellenvoramd Dr. Vora's website: https://ellenvora.com/ Dr. Vora's Online Group Enrollment: https://ellenvora.com/online-group/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Do you want to understand why your entrepreneur husband thinks a certain way and makes the decisions he does? Then don't live in an echo chamber! If your husband thinks one thing, and you think another, you need to listen to understand why. But how do you do it? You listen to the same people who influence him. Well, that's the simple answer, but it's a little more complex if you want to do it the right way.   That's why I wanted to discuss why it's important to hear other viewpoints, how to pay attention effectively (spoiler alert: it deals with your mindset!), and how to discuss what you've heard with your spouse.   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

How do you build the lifestyle you want? That's what Ariana Sylvester and her husband, Tom, want to help you do. Ariana is a co-founder of Lifestyle Builders™, a coaching and training company that helps entrepreneurs build their businesses to create more impact with their customers and more freedom in their lives.   Ariana shares the ups and downs of starting multiple businesses, growing a family, and cultivating a thriving marriage. I love that she talks about how they've pivoted multiple times in business and how their journey throughout entrepreneurship, like so many others, has not been a straight line.   We discuss the disconnect entrepreneurs sometimes have between their businesses and their marriages, and how Ariana and Tom are trying to shift the conversation so entrepreneurs can succeed in both.   Tom's and Ariana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomandariana/ Tom's and Ariana's website: https://tomandariana.com/ Lifestyle Builders website: https://wearelifestylebuilders.com/ The Lifestyle Builders Podcast: https://wearelifestylebuilders.com/podcast/   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Have you ever thought about why you buy the things you do? I sure have, so that's why I'm diving into my own issues with money and how entrepreneurship changed my spending habits for the better. The second part of the episode includes three steps to change your own habits and declutter your mind and your home.   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Today I'm talking marriage and minimalism with my friend, Katy Wells! Katy is the host of the Maximized Minimalist Podcast and a declutter expert who finally ditched her clutter for good in 2017. But before she decluttered her home, she was an overwhelmed, stressed-out mom living in survival mode. Decluttering her home was the catalyst that helped her to get back her motherhood and leave the relentless stress behind.   Katy's mission is to help women minimize their belongings and live a simpler, intentional, more meaningful life. She helps women ditch the modern-day hamster wheel of motherhood by providing expert advice on achieving a life with MORE, by having LESS.   We talk about what it was like for her to work with (for?!) her husband in his chiropractic clinic, how they balance business with marriage and family, and how she takes care of herself. You'll also hear us discuss her new course - Your Simplified Home: Decluttering Made Easy - which is a one-stop-shop for ALL things decluttering! We recorded this episode in July, and her course was only open for a few days in August - BUT!! - it re-opens in January, so be sure to get on her VIP waitlist (click here)!   Katy and I met through a coaching group when I was working on my meal planning course. I was a guest on her podcast back in May… it's Episode 7 if you want to listen… and I don't think I ever would've considered my own podcast if I hadn't been a guest on hers. So I guess we can all thank Katy for The Mrs. Startup Podcast!   Katy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katyjoywells/ Katy's website: https://www.katyjoywells.com/ The Maximized Minimalist Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/maximized-minimalist-podcast/id1460805372   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Flexibility. Freedom. Control. These are some of the reasons people tout for becoming entrepreneurs. Then they dangle the big carrot in front of would-be business owners: the ability to work from home. It sounds amazing, right? No long commutes in crazy traffic. More time with the family. No need to wear real pants!   Except sometimes working from home isn't all it's cracked up to be. I believe it takes a special type of person - and a special type of home office - to make it work well. My husband tried it for several years. It wasn't a good fit for him. Or for me. That's not to say it won't work for your spouse and your family, but I want to give you some things to think about before you try it out.   And that's what this episode of The Mrs. Startup Podcast is all about: five questions to ask before your entrepreneur spouse works from home.   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com  Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Do you want to know how to stay in love with your entrepreneur in a crazy startup world? How about learning from someone who wrote the book (literally!) on the subject? That's what you'll get from my interview with Dorcas Cheng-Tozun, who is an award-winning writer, a former columnist for Inc.com, and the author of Start, Love, Repeat: How to Stay in Love with Your Entrepreneur in a Crazy Start-up World.    We talk about self care, learning about yourself, and setting boundaries, and I am telling you, this show is good for every woman to hear, even if you're not married to an entrepreneur. So press play and listen in on my conversation with Dorcas.   Learn more about Dorcas Cheng-Tozun: https://www.chengtozun.com/ Purchase Start, Love, Repeat   Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com  Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

I'm poking some good-natured fun at my husband and his entrepreneurial “quirks.” The more time I spend around other entrepreneurs, the more I realize these things are actually quite normal for them. Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

Chances are you've been told that you need to be supportive of your entrepreneur. And yes, you do. But how exactly do you do it? Spouses are just left to figure it out without much guidance. It took me a really long time to figure out what I should do, and it turns out I was doing it wrong. I'll share what I learned and how supporting your spouse begins with understanding yourself first. Blog post on recommended books to read: https://mrsstartup.com/binging-on-books-personal-development/  Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.comKaren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

If you're anything like me, you've probably thought that nobody understands what you're going through as the wife of an entrepreneur. Even though there are millions of small businesses and entrepreneurs, and therefore entrepreneurs' wives, you probably feel like you're all alone. I know I sure did (and sometimes still do)! We'll talk about why you need your own community, and why talking to someone can help you process your feelings. Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

People say entrepreneurship is lonely, but there is still more support for the entrepreneur than there is for the spouses who support and love them. I mean, where is the community for the wives who are very much living this startup life, too? You'll hear a little bit more about me - your host, Karen Howell! - and why I believe this podcast is so important. I'll talk about my struggles as an entrepreneur's wife, and the things that finally pushed me to share my story in the hope that it'll help other women. If you love an entrepreneur, or someone who's thinking about starting a business, this podcast is for you! Mrs. Startup Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mrsstartup/ Mrs. Startup website: https://mrsstartup.com Karen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howellkaren/

While there's a lot of support available for entrepreneurs, there isn't a whole lot for the wives who are joining them on the crazy adventure of starting a business. That needs to change. And that's where the Mrs. Startup Podcast comes in; it's the show with the support women crave but never knew existed. Join host Karen Howell as she shares her own story, talks with other wives of entrepreneurs, and learns from experts in various areas to help us all have successful marriages.  The Mrs. Startup Podcast launches Monday, Aug. 19. Like the Mrs. Startup Facebook page for more information.