With Kilee Nickels

Today on the podcast, Soren and I are looking back on the year and the milestones and accomplishments we celebrated in 2021 -- some personal, some professional. Join us as we reflect on what our seventh year with Nickel & Suede brought and stick around for some bonus content as well.

Today on the podcast, I'm talking about my favorite holiday traditions with our family. As a working mom, I've found so many traditions that take some of the stress out of the holiday season and alleviate some busy mom guilt. Plus, we're spending quality time and making memories together as a family. What are some of your favorite traditions? I'd love to hear from you!

TW: This episode features discussions about eating disorders, anorexia, depression, and anxiety. This content may be difficult for some, and listener discretion is strongly advised. Today's episode is an expansion of my Instagram post inspired by National Mental Health Day, when I shared about my own struggle with eating disorders and anxiety. I hope this episode helps others know that they aren't alone and that there are many different paths to recovery.

My guest, Angela Lee Gieras, describes herself as having a head for business with the heart of an artist. Angela left a high-powered career in finance to pursue her passion for theater. We're talking about her incredible career pivot and supporting other women in resetting their priorities.

This week, I am excited to get back to my fashion blogger roots and talk about fall trends - how to style and incorporate the latest trends into your own wardrobe.

This week, I am welcoming back Emily Bordner of EB & Co., a female-founded accessories brand and retailer based here in Kansas City. We're talking about work-life balance, navigating the industry post-pandemic and so much more.

This week coincides with Nickel & Suede's favorite event of the year – Buy One, Give One. The campaign is all about showing kindness to others, and I'm excited to share how anyone can incorporate random acts of kindness into their every day to spread generosity through your own community.

This week on the podcast, I talk with executive recruiter and accredited business and career coach, Meghan Houle. We talk about how a recruiter can help you start or re-start your job search, how to leverage Linkedin, and more. You will definitely want to take notes for this one!

This week, I talk about stepping out of your comfort zone, some ideas on what that looks like, and what happened when I decided to step out of my comfort zone every day for an entire month. 

Social media can be a tremendous way to build your business and audience. Today I am talking about creating effective and captivating social media content to build your brand, or stay engaged with followers. 

This week, I am talking with the hilarious Kansas City native, mom, and self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, Jami Nato. She's here talking candidly about pushing through the ups and downs of marriage and business ownership while working alongside your spouse.

Today, I am welcoming blogger and businesswoman Ashley Stock of Little Miss Momma. Not only was Ashley an early fan of Nickel & Suede, she is launching a collaboration with us that we are so excited about. Join us as we talk about vulnerability, loss, bravery and of course, style.

Today Soren and I are looking back on the last seven years of Nickel & Suede as we celebrate the 7th anniversary of the company. We're reminiscing and reflecting on milestones from the previous seven years, including the ups and downs and what we've learned along the way.

Today I'm talking about what being a business owner in a post-COVID world and what that looks like. Join me as I share my advice for moving forward and maintaining a successful business.

This week I am sharing some of my favorite tips for approaching the busy summer months with kids. Whether you are a working mom or a stay-at-home mom in need of some organization, I think you’ll find something relevant in todays episode that can be applied to your families’ busy schedules.

What advice would you give to someone who wants a career like yours? Kilee talks about her “second life” as a female entrepreneur and shares her tips for other women looking to take a similar path – or carve out one of their own.

In 1992, at the age of 16, Faye Jacobs was wrongfully convicted and charge with capital murder. She served 26 years in prison until she was freed through the assistance of the Midwest Innocence Project. Today on the podcast she shares her story and learnings through such an unimaginable experience. She radiates gratitude, optimism and hope. Despite being freed, Jacobs still has the conviction on her record. To help overturn her case- you can find more here:  https://www.change.org/p/asa-hutchinson-support-the-pardon-of-laquanda-faye-jacobs

This week, I am talking with Faye Jacobs of the Midwest Innocence Project. At the age of sixteen, Faye was wrongfully incarcerated for twenty-six years. Since being released in 2018 with the assistance of the Midwest Innocence Project, Faye has started her own business, Innocence Too. Her organization assists those recently released from prison with transportation access. She continues to speak and advocate for the Midwest Innocence Project.

In today's episode, I sit down with Tamara Day, host and designer of HGTV's Bargain Mansions, CEO, and Founder of Growing Days Home and Growing Days Design.

This week on the podcast, I reflect on being a busy mom and entrepreneur while still finding time for myself. Join me as I share what that self-care looks like and how it has shaped my life over the last few years.

Mother’s Day is almost here and I know we are all thinking about how to make mom feel special. On this week’s podcast, I talk about how I flipped my script on my own thinking about Mother’s Day and share my gift suggestions for any mom in your life is sure to love.   

This week on the podcast, I look back on my memories of Take Your Child to Work Day. I share what I wanted to be when I grew up – and what my path to CEO of my own business has looked like.

This week on the podcast, I talk about getting back into routine and how to feel a bit more organized as we go back into the world.

Join me as I sit down with Anna Alessi of Cycle of Heart. We are talking about her entrepreneurial journey through COVID and what it means to go all-in on your goals.

This week, Kilee talks about style and what it looks like after a year of sweatpants and Zoom meetings. Tune in as she talks about coming trends, how to update your wardrobe and why the season's best accessory is confidence.

As we continue Women's History Month, I want to talk about comparing ourselves to one another and how to overcome those thoughts. Comparison is probably one of the biggest reasons why we as women struggle to celebrate one another.

In this week’s episode, I reflect on Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. I talk about what women’s empowerment means to me, and how the women in my life have helped me find the confidence to be my most authentic self.

In celebration of International Women's Day, Kilee chats with Celeste Mergens, founder and CEO of Days for Girls International. This non-profit organization is committed to ensuring women and girls have access to education, health, and success. Through March 15th, Nickel & Suede will donate $1 from each sale of our Be Bold pin to Days for Girls International.

In this week’s podcast, I talk about self-care, and the best piece of advice my mom gave me when I was feeling overwhelmed in life. Her advice was to do one thing every day that can’t get undone – meaning find something, no matter how big or small, and make it a priority to finish and check off the list for good. Her advice helped me re-asses what self-care means to me, and I hope it can do the same for you. 

In this episode, I talk about all things community. Nickel & Suede launched our first online community in 2020, and it’s been an incredible learning experience about connection, vulnerability, and stepping out of your comfort zone. We'll talk about our BFFs and what they have taught me as an introvert, and the importance of finding your people.  

How well do you know your person? On this podcast, my husband, Soren, and I sit down to find out how well we really know each other. We get into our likes, dislikes, regrets, dreams, and more. It was a fun exercise to remind ourselves that we are always evolving, and we hope you learn something too. To try this exercise yourself, find more questions here: https://www.goalcast.com/2018/04/19/deep-questions-to-ask-your-partner/

I sat down with Easton to discuss virtual learning, how he's grown over the last year, spending time with his brothers, and much more! We talk about optimism, his perspective on making it through tough times and 2020 in general. Listen in for some great advice from my 12 going on 20 year old!

Today's conversation is about one of my favorite topics and a value that is one of Nickel and Suede's pillars. Optimism! Today, I want to talk about a certain kind of optimism - Silver Linings. It's the thought that we choose to see the good, even when it's not apparent to us.  

Today on the podcast we’ll be revisiting a topic from last January- my 2020 resolutions. I'm actually carrying my 2020 resolutions right into this new year and working on building on top of them rather than starting something new. Listen in to hear what progress I've made and why it's never too late to start working on old goals.

This year has been a doozy for all of us. And although we may not have done the things we thought we would do in the last 12 months, I bet you still found ways to make the most of this year. Today I'm looking back at 10 specific accomplishments we made during the wild year that was 2020. Tune in for that list and other updates about our current happenings at N&S.  

Today I'm talking about my resolutions for 2020 and what I've learned about myself this year. I dig deep into "all or nothing" thinking and how that has prevented me from staying consistent with the little things. If you've struggled to stay disciplined or are a recovering perfectionist- this episode is for you!

Get togethers may look a little different this year, but so much about the holiday season can feel the same. Today I'm talking about ways to celebrate this season and how to keep things feeling more "normal" than ever. 

There are a lot of reasons to feel burnt out and tired by this time in the year. Especially this year. But today I'm offering my suggestions for how and why to choose to shine through it all. I believe humor, smiling, dancing and choosing happiness- despite the hard things, is how we make the best out of life. Listen in to my thoughts and tips for how to keep on shining through the rest of 2020 and beyond!

Not only has it been week of stress and uncertainly, it's been a year of many new struggles for all of us. In today's episode we talk about the idea of resilience and why it's such an important quality to lean into right now. I share my path toward learning to be more resilient and ideas for how to continue to grow there as well. 

Melinda Champion is my guest today after I met her and her husband on the Manitou Incline in Colorado Springs just a few weeks ago. She impressed me so much with her attitude and her glow that we got to talking and I soon found out why she was so uplifting and outgoing. Today on the podcast we talk about her goal of losing 140 pounds and making that hike- plus so many other things that she has overcome in her life. She pushed through many, many challenges in her life- and her attitude is nothing short of inspiring. You'll come away from this episode determined and ready to beat anything.

Soren and I recently took a little getaway from work and kids and while we were gone, we did something that he loves and some things that I love. We hiked the Manitou Incline (he loves) and I got out of my comfort zone (I love). We also got in a little shopping and relaxing! On our hike we met the most amazing couple and today I wanted to share the story of how we met. I could not have been more surprised by their story. Melinda is our kinda gal and I just know you'll love her too!

Over the last year few years I've transitioned from being a SAHM to a mom who works full time outside the house. It's been a big switch for my kids, my family and for me! I've had so many questions about how I do it all with five kids and a business- so today I'm sharing some of the behind the scenes. Tune in for how I transitioned, the good, the bad and the reality of life right now. 

Why does it take courage to be ourselves? Aren't you always being "you"? Today I'm talking about my experiences with choosing to "be" for other's approval versus being "me" for me. It's a journey for all of us! Tune into this episode for some inspiration on going all in on the future, best version of you!

This weekend Nickel & Suede is opening our third brick and mortar store- two of which have opened during the pandemic! Today I wanted to talk about having big dreams and making them happen. It will amaze you when you see what you can accomplish or what happens when you have the audacity to keep reaching, to make the big asks and to believe in your purpose. 

For the month of August I put myself up to the challenge of trying something new or stepping out of my comfort zone every day. My goal was to end my birthday month feeling proud of myself in so many ways. Today I'm sharing my takeaways from a month of stretching and sharing my you too might want to try something similar!

Homeschooling, a family vlog, living internationally- there are so many ways I'm inspired by Kendra Johnston of J House Vlogs and all of the unique and going-against-the-grain ways their family lives life. Today she joins me on the podcast to talk about the idea of living outside of your comfort zone and learning to give up caring about what other people think. I was inspired and had my own takeaways- I think you will be too.

It's easier than ever these days to jump the the worst case scenario whenever we imagine the future or consider any decision. But that can really hold us back and keep us stuck. Today I'm talking about what keeps me stuck and how I get out of it. How to quit or at least expand the possibilities outside of the worst case scenario and allow yourself to make progress, despite some fear and worry. 

In a world where we are bombarded with so many opinions and requests and dings and alerts, it's easy to forget to be intentional our actions. Today's episode offers some helpful thoughts that will help you keep "I have a choice" at the top of your mind. Use these tools to help you be as intentional as possible as you make the choice to deliberately go after your best self. 

If you've ever felt stuck or let fear stop you from taking that next step, then today's guest is for you. Jennifer Allwood is an entrepreneur, a podcaster, a coach and really, just an inspiration. She and I talk about her life, her brave choices and why she has such a heart for helping women get out of their own way. Get ready to take notes and then to deep dive even further by reading her new book, "Fear Is Not the Boss of You." 

We've officially reached the halfway point in the year and I think most us would agree it's been a tough one. There have been a lot of hard, unexpected events in the first half of 2020 and that has left many of us worried about the rest of it. In today's episode I share my thoughts on worry and fears about what's coming next and how I handle the stress of the unknown.