Voted Least Likely: Recent Episodes
Leah Yard
Do you feel alone in your struggle? Do you feel like you know there is something special in you to give, but you feel stuck? Do you feel like the least likely person to be able to succeed?
Ya, me too. The good news? You’re in the right place.
Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast. I’m Leah, and I’ll be your host on this messy trip.
I am a high school drop out who accidentally became an entrepreneur (aka: a certified ”Failure Expert”). When starting my jewellery business Leah Yard Designs, I struggled to find peers in the industry I could relate to. I felt completely alone and was tired of hearing entrepreneurial stories where everything seemed to ”fall into place” at the right time.
Because starting something new? Building a business? It’s messy, heartbreaking, and often embarrassing.
After failing over and over, I finally stumbled my way into success. But I’m not here to tell you how to be successful. I started the Voted Least Likely Podcast to share stories of failure, and demystify what it really means to be successful so YOU don’t feel alone.
Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I hope you didn’t get dressed up for this ;)
Website: www.leahyard.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahyard/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leahyard
When I launched the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I was on the verge of closing my business.
I felt like I was the only entrepreneur who wasn't succeeding. Social media made it seem like everyone else had figured it out, while I was navigating missed opportunities, disappointment, and failure.
So instead of giving up, I started talking about it.
Four years later, that decision has led to 150 episodes, incredible guests, honest conversations, and a community built around one simple idea: you don't have to succeed alone.
In this special milestone episode, I'm reflecting on what I've learned from hosting the podcast, the surprising ways it has changed me, the common themes that have emerged from conversations with entrepreneurs, and the biggest mistakes I've made along the way.
If you've ever felt behind, questioned yourself, or wondered if everyone else has it figured out, this episode is for you.
In this episode, I share:
- Why I started the Voted Least Likely Podcast
-The unexpected ways podcasting has changed my confidence and communication
-The biggest lessons I've learned after interviewing 35 entrepreneurs
-Why imposter syndrome may never completely disappear
-The surprising definition of success that keeps coming up
-The failures and mistakes I've made as a podcast host
-Why vulnerability has become one of the greatest gifts this show has given me
Thank you to everyone who has been part of these first 150 episodes. Thank you for listening, sharing episodes, and being part of this community. Whether you've been here since episode one or just recently found the show, I'm so grateful you're here.
Here's to the next 150 episodes.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Building a business is exciting, but growth doesn't just bring bigger opportunities—it also brings bigger challenges.
In this solo episode of the Voted Least Likely podcast, I'm sharing some of the growing pains I've been experiencing as Leah Yard Designs continues to evolve. From managing larger financial decisions (like spending $30,000 on events, or an unexpected $15,000 tax bill) to navigating changing customer expectations, I've realized that every new level of business asks something different of you.
I'm also opening up about the more personal side of growth. The bittersweet moments that remind you your business is expanding—even when they're harder than you expected.
Every stage of business comes with its own challenges. The goal isn't to avoid them—it's to grow into the person who can handle them.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Whenever I find myself feeling stuck in my business, I've noticed something interesting: the solution is almost always the same.
Take the next actionable step.
In this short solo episode, I'm sharing why taking action has become one of the most powerful tools in my business. Whether I'm dealing with comparison, rejection, uncertainty, or simply feeling overwhelmed, I've learned that action has a way of cutting through the noise.
Instead of waiting for confidence or clarity to appear, I've found that they often come because I decided to move forward.
If you've been overthinking your next move or waiting for the "perfect" time to start, I hope this episode encourages you to take one small step today.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Building a business often comes with long hours, uncertainty, and the pressure to always be "on." But what happens when success comes at the expense of your wellbeing?
In this episode of the Voted Least Likely podcast, I'm joined by wellness infrastructure strategist and entrepreneur Megan Swan for a conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable business and life. We talk about why taking care of yourself isn't a luxury, it's one of the most important investments you can make as an entrepreneur.
We also dive into imposter syndrome, and why it doesn't magically disappear as you become more successful. Megan shares her perspective on learning to move forward even when self-doubt is still present.
Finally, we explore identity—how our sense of self shifts through major life and career changes, and why embracing those transitions can open the door to new opportunities and support systems.
Whether you're navigating entrepreneurship, a career pivot, or simply trying to find a healthier balance, I think you'll take something away from this conversation.
Learn more about Megan Swan: https://meganswanwellness.com/
Megan Swan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/meganswanwellness/
Megan Swan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-swan-wellness/
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Lately, it feels like life and business have been throwing curveballs at the same time.
In this solo episode of the Voted Least Likely podcast, I'm opening up about a season that has felt especially challenging. When disappointments start piling up, it's easy to look around and feel like everyone else is moving forward while you're standing still. I've definitely found myself in that mindset recently.
I'm sharing what this season has looked like for me, the lessons I'm trying to hold onto, and a few reminders that have helped me navigate the uncertainty.
If you've ever felt stuck, discouraged, or like your timeline isn't keeping up with everyone else's, I hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone—and that difficult seasons don't last forever.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Have you ever caught yourself explaining a decision long after you've already made it?
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I'm talking about something I've been working on lately: the habit of over-explaining myself.
Recently, I said no to an invitation. My first instinct was to write a long explanation outlining all the reasons why I couldn't make it. I wanted to make sure they understood. I wanted to avoid disappointing them. And if I'm being honest, I probably wanted to avoid being judged.
But instead, I decided to simply say no.
That small moment got me thinking about how often we overexplain our choices, boundaries, and decisions. Whether it's declining an invitation, changing directions in our business, or making a decision that other people might not understand, many of us feel the need to justify ourselves in order to gain approval.
If you've ever found yourself writing the three-paragraph text message when one sentence would have done, this episode is for you.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway. Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Lately, I've found myself caught in the comparison trap.
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I'm sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a season where I've been struggling with comparing my journey to the journeys of others. Whether it's business, life, opportunities, or success, comparison has a way of making us feel like we're falling behind, even when we're making progress.
The truth is, I can only control my own actions. When I stop focusing on what everyone else is doing and return my attention to the work in front of me, I feel more grounded, hopeful, and capable.
If you've ever felt like everyone's life is moving faster than yours, this one's for you.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway.
Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I'm diving in to one of the biggest lessons I've learned as an entrepreneur: clarity comes from action, not overthinking.
For a long time, I stayed stuck in planning mode — talking about ideas, mapping things out, waiting until I felt prepared or more confident before making a move. But looking back, the moments that changed everything came from starting BEFORE I felt ready.
This episode is about:
-making decisions before you have all the answers
-learning by doing
-the trap of over-planning
-and how imperfect action will teach you more than endless preparation ever can
If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start something, this episode is your reminder that confidence is often built after the leap — not before it.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway.
Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
What if the thing you want most takes 5… 10… even more years to achieve?
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m talking about something I’ve been sitting with lately, how long things actually take when you’re building something from the ground up.
We live in a world that celebrates quick wins and overnight success, but the reality of entrepreneurship often looks very different. The goals I’m working toward right now are big, the kind that don’t happen in a few months or even a year. They might take 5 to 10 years… and there’s no guarantee they’ll ever fully come together.
And I’m still choosing to go after them.
In this episode, I share what it looks like to commit to something long-term, even when the outcome isn’t certain. The tension between ambition and patience. The doubt that creeps in when progress feels slow. And the decision to keep showing up anyway.
This episode is about trusting the process — even when it stretches longer than you expected.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway.
Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
*I hesitated publishing this episode. I recorded it back in February and I kept pushing the release date. I decided that because of my hesitation, I knew it was the right thing to do.
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m talking about something that doesn’t get easier, no matter how much you grow: rejection.
This year, I’ve been pushing myself in a bigger way — reaching out, putting my work and myself in front of new opportunities, and going after things that feel just out of reach. And with that has come a lot of “no’s.”
I share what this season has actually felt like behind the scenes, the emotional weight of rejection, and the reality that it still stings, even when you expect it.
If you’re in a season where things feel hard, uncertain, or discouraging — you’re not alone in it.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway.
Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I am sharing something I did that was uncomfortable — I asked AI to point out my blind spots in my business and my life.
And what came back?
It hit on things I already knew… but maybe wasn’t fully ready to admit. It also surprised me with an unexpected point of view.
"We" talked about:
- The pattern of jumping from one opportunity to the next
- The difference between momentum and distraction
- Where I might be playing small (even when it looks like I’m doing a lot)
- And the uncomfortable truth about focus, consistency, and long-term growth
If you’ve been feeling like you need to re-evaluate where you are, or where you are headed (and you’re willing to take feedback in unexpected places), this episode is for you.
Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway.
Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & ReviewIf you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗
Connect with the Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
When you’re building a business, it can feel like you have to say YES to every opportunity and every customer. Especially in the beginning, when every sale feels important.
But what happens when someone repeatedly pushes your boundaries? When a customer takes advantage of your generosity, your time, or your policies?
In this episode, I'm talking about one of the harder lessons I learned about running a business: learning that not everyone is meant to be part of the community you’re building.
This conversation explores the discomfort of setting boundaries with customers, why it’s so difficult to do early on, and how protecting your energy and your brand is sometimes more important than making a sale.
Because the truth is — saying no isn’t about exclusion.
It’s about creating a business and a community that are healthy, respectful, and sustainable.
In this episode:
- Why it feels so hard to say no to customers early in business
- Recognizing when someone is taking advantage of your generosity
- The difference between good customer service and sacrificing your boundaries
- How saying no protects your energy and your brand
- Building a community that aligns with your values
This episode is a reminder to think about the big picture. You're building something for the long haul, make sure you carefully curate who's coming with you.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m joined by celebrity stylist Sarah D’Arcy for a conversation about building something of your own — even when you don’t feel fully ready.
Sarah shares how she grew her styling business while still working a corporate job, navigating uncertainty, and the quiet belief that something bigger was possible. What struck me most in this conversation is how much of entrepreneurship is built in the in-between seasons.
We talk about:
- Building your business alongside a full-time job
- The mentors who shaped Sarah’s early career — and why encouragement at the right time changes everything
- Why you never truly feel “ready” to leap into entrepreneurship
- The uncertainty that comes with betting on yourself
- Staying humble and grounded as the landscape of business changes
Sarah speaks candidly about the self-doubt, the pivots, and the discipline required to create longevity — not just visibility. This conversation is a reminder that success is rarely loud in the beginning. It’s often built quietly, in small rooms, before anyone else sees it.
If you’re in the middle of building something — while juggling work, responsibilities, or fear — this episode will resonate deeply.
As always, thank you for being here.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what happened during one of the most intense months I’ve had in business.
For 31 days, I ran a full-time pop-up space while managing my jewelry brand behind the scenes — production, emails, marketing, customer service — and continuing to host this podcast.
Here's the calculation:
341 hours worked in 31 days.
This episode isn’t about glorifying burnout. It’s about what I learned when I stopped assuming I was already at capacity.
Here’s what shifted for me:
-Why we’re often capable of far more than we believe
-The difference between keeping your standards vs. lowering your expectations
-How I protected my non-negotiables (like movement and health) while adjusting how they showed up
-The surprising realization that I could still do MORE
One example: I kept the standard that I would exercise five days a week. That didn’t change. What changed was the expectation that every workout had to be long or perfect. Some were only 10 minutes. Some were simple. But the standard remained.
That distinction changed everything.
This month challenged my ideas about capacity, discipline, and what I’m building toward. It also forced me to confront what “too much” really means.
If you’ve ever felt stretched, ambitious, overwhelmed, or curious about your own edge — this one’s for you.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Not all growth advice is comfortable.
Some of the beliefs that have helped me the most are the ones people push back on the hardest.
In this solo episode of Voted Least Likely, I share three deeply held — and often controversial — beliefs that have shaped how I run my business, show up in difficult moments, and keep moving forward when things don’t go as planned.
These aren’t polished motivational soundbites. They’re practical, uncomfortable mindsets that helped me move out of victim thinking, stay grounded in uncertainty, and learn from places I didn’t expect.
This episode isn’t about telling you what to believe — it’s about offering perspectives you can sit with, challenge, take pieces from, or leave behind.
In this episode, I talk about:1. “Everything is my fault”- Why taking full responsibility gives you control — not shame
- How a victim mindset can feel comforting but keep you stuck
- The difference between blame and ownership
- A story from an early holiday market that completely changed how I show up
- Why your behaviour matters more than the circumstances
How responsibility creates momentum, even in bad situations
- “I am not entitled to success”- The uncertainty of building a business and why it never guarantees a happy ending
- The sacrifices that come with entrepreneurship — time, relationships, rest
- Why hard work increases your chances, but doesn’t make success inevitable
- Starting my jewellery brand assuming I would fail — and why that mattered
-
How not feeling “owed” success helps me stay grounded and present
Why enjoying the journey matters when outcomes aren’t promised -
“You don’t have to like your mentors”- Why you don’t need to agree with everything someone believes to learn from them
- Taking what works and leaving the rest
- Moving away from all-or-nothing thinking
- Learning from people with different values, politics, or perspectives
- Why nuance and independent thinking are critical for growth
- Resisting cancel culture as a default approach to learning
Key themes in this episode:- Personal responsibility vs. self-punishment
- Growth through discomfort
- Entrepreneurship without entitlement
- Mindset shifts for long-term business building
- Learning discernment instead of idolization
- Letting go of the need to be liked or universally agreed with
This episode isn’t for everyone — and that’s okay. These beliefs are controversial because they challenge comfort, certainty, and consensus.
My hope is that hearing them helps you feel less alone, sparks a new way of thinking, or gives you permission to question the beliefs you’ve been holding onto — especially the ones that might be holding you back.
Take what resonates.
Leave what doesn’t.
And focus on the beliefs that help you become your best version.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
What does it really take to build a small business, especially when your brain doesn’t fit the traditional mold?
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I am sitting down with entrepreneur, marketer, and podcast host, Lauren Tilden for an honest conversation about the behind-the-scenes challenges of running a business, navigating late ADHD diagnosis, and learning how to work with your brain instead of against it.
Lauren shares her journey of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, how it reshaped the way she approaches her work, and the systems she’s put in place to support herself as a business owner.
Together, we dive into why clarity-- around the life you want and the business you’re building-- is one of the most important (and often overlooked) foundations of long-term success.
This episode is a reminder that there’s no one “right” way to build a business—and that success looks different when you define it on your own terms.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
-The realities and growing pains of building a small business
-Lauren’s ADHD diagnosis and how it changed her relationship with work
-Why clarity around your desired lifestyle matters just as much as revenue goals
-Designing a business that supports your energy, values, and season of life
-Letting go of expectations and building sustainably
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by entrepreneurship or wondered why traditional productivity advice doesn't seem to work, this episode is for you.
Learn more about Lauren Tilden here: https://www.makinggoodpodcast.com
Doing the Dang Thing Workshop: https://www.laurentilden.co/dtdt-workshop
Follow Lauren on IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurentilden
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
What if the parts of your story that feel out of place are actually the reason you’re meant to do the work you’re doing?
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I share the parts of my life that don’t match the assumptions people make about me as a jewellery designer — and how learning to stop hiding them changed everything.
For years, I believed I had to smooth out my story to be taken seriously. I felt embarrassed about my background, my lack of formal education, my mental health struggles, and the ways I didn’t “fit” the image of my industry. I thought these things disqualified me.
They didn’t. They shaped me.
This episode is an honest walk through the truths I used to keep quiet — and why embracing them has helped me build a brand, a community, and a life that actually feels like mine.
In this episode, I talk about:* Why you don’t need to fit into your industry to succeed * Being an extreme introvert in a very public-facing business * How protecting your energy isn’t selfish — it’s necessary * Dropping out of junior high and building a career without formal education * Letting go of shame around “unglamorous” career paths * How years of entry-level jobs became one of my greatest educations * What it’s like to build a brand without family support * Choosing your life, even when others don’t understand it * How community can grow out of loneliness * Growing up on a lighthouse island — and how it shaped my creativity * Feeling behind socially, emotionally, and professionally * Mental health struggles at a young age and learning their impact later in life * Why versatility, function, and intuition drive my design process * Not traveling, making sacrifices, and trusting long-term timing * Letting go of the need to fit in — and choosing to grow instead
Key takeaways: You don’t need a polished or traditional story to be worthy of success * Your differences are not liabilities — they’re connection points * Confidence comes from acceptance, not approval * It’s okay if your version of success doesn’t look like anyone else’s * You’re allowed to build a life that makes sense to you*
This episode is for anyone who has ever felt out of place, behind, unqualified, or “too different” to belong — and wondered if that meant they were doing something wrong.
You’re not.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop trying to fit in, and start becoming more yourself.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
One more episode about 2025 and then I'll move on...
There's a lot of talk about success online, but we don’t spend nearly enough time talking about what didn’t work.
In this episode, I’m doing an honest reflection on my failures from 2025. The missed goals. The wrong decisions. The moments that felt heavy, heartbreaking, and disappointing.
This isn’t a highlight reel or a “failure turned success” story. It’s a real conversation about what happens when things don’t go according to plan. — and why those moments often shape us more than the wins ever could.
I share what failed and what those experiences taught me about boundaries, expectations, resilience, and trusting myself. Some lessons were obvious in hindsight. Others took months to land.
I'm also diving into some of the emotions I felt last year as I watched everyone celebrate their milestones on social media.
If you’ve had a year that didn’t unfold the way you hoped, this episode is for you.
Failure doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you're brave enough to try.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
The start of a new year can feel full of pressure — new goals, new habits, new versions of ourselves we’re supposed to magically become overnight.
In this episode, I’m inviting you behind the scenes of my annual planning session — not the polished version, but the honest one.
I walk through the goals I set last year, what actually worked, what didn’t, and the expectations I had to let go of along the way. Some things surprised me. Some things stung. And some things only made sense once I slowed down enough to really look at them.
This episode isn’t about hustle or rigid goal-setting. It’s about reflection, recalibration, and choosing a direction that actually feels aligned with the life you’re living — not the one you think you should be living.
I also guide you step-by-step through a simple planning process you can do alongside me — whether you’re mapping out a business, a creative practice, or just trying to move into the new year with a bit more clarity and intention.
If you’ve ever felt behind, unsure, or quietly disappointed with how a year unfolded — this conversation is for you.
In this episode, we talk about:* Reviewing last year’s goals with honesty (not shame) * What I achieved — and what I didn’t * Why some goals quietly stop fitting * Separating meaningful progress from performative productivity * Letting go of goals that no longer serve you * How I approach planning in a way that feels sustainable * A gentle framework you can use to plan your year * Setting intentions that leave room for real life
This episode is your permission slip to plan slowly, thoughtfully, and on your own terms.
Take what resonates. Leave the rest. And remember — you’re allowed to evolve.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Happy Holidays!
Like many of you, this year was a rollercoaster. I experienced some of my best and worst days in the last 12 months. I will be taking the next two weeks to process everything we went through by focusing on the glimmers of joy, and finding the lessons in the chaos.
As always, I want to thank YOU for tuning in to the Voted Least Likely podcast this year, leaving 5 star reviews, or recommending the show to a friend. It means more than you know.
Happy Holidays, talk soon in 2026✨
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Know someone who would make a great guest on the show? Find the application form here.
“There are real costs to not being yourself.”
In this solo episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m talking about the quiet ways we learn to water ourselves down to fit in, and what starts to shift when we finally decide to stop. As I’ve moved into my late 30s, I’ve felt a deeper pull toward authenticity-- not the polished kind, but the messy, honest, uncomfortable kind that actually feels like freedom.
I reflect on how much energy it takes to constantly edit who you are for the comfort of others.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve been performing a version of their life instead of living it. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to take up more space, speak more truthfully, or finally choose yourself, this one’s for you.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Know someone who would make a great guest on the show? Find the application form here.
In this episode, I'm sitting down with Jenna Herbut — founder of the Make It Show, author of Make It Happen, and creator of The Conscious Lab. Jenna has spent years supporting makers and creative entrepreneurs, and her work has inspired thousands of people to pursue their ideas with courage, curiosity, and heart.
This conversation goes far beyond business. Jenna opens up about why entrepreneurship is one of the most spiritual journeys you can choose, and how she’s learned to navigate uncertainty by leaning into her intuition.
We explore:
- How Jenna uses intuitive nudges to guide her decisions
- Why building a business will shine a light on every part of yourself, the empowered parts and the messy middle
- Why slowing down, listening inward, and staying honest with yourself might be the real competitive advantage
This is an honest, grounding conversation about the human side of entrepreneurship, the doubts, the revelations, and the moments of magic that appear when you trust yourself enough to keep going.
Whether you’re a creative, a founder, or someone dreaming of starting something but unsure where to begin, Jenna’s wisdom will meet you exactly where you are.
Want to join the magic? Get your tickets for the Make It Show here.
Make It Show Instagram: makeitshow
Learn more about Jenna: https://jennaherbut.com/
Conscious Lab: https://consciouslab.ca/
A huge thank-you to Jenna for hosting us at Conscious Lab for this in-person episode.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, we dive into a question that has kept me up at night: Do you need to be an optimist to succeed in business?
This topic was sparked by a moment at a recent entrepreneur event — everyone in the room seemed effortlessly confident, “delusionally” optimistic, and absolutely certain their success was inevitable. Meanwhile, I was quietly wondering why I felt so out of place… until it hit me:
I’m a pessimist.
And in the entrepreneurial world, that can feel like a dirty word.
In this episode, I unpack what it's like to build a business when your default setting is assuming the worst. I talk about:
- Why optimism is so heavily associated with entrepreneurship
- The unseen advantages of being a pessimist (yes, there are some!)
- How pessimism can sabotage your next steps — and how to work around it
- The myth that you need unwavering confidence to succeed
- My own early days building Leah Yard Designs, and why I genuinely thought I’d fail (but kept going anyways)
- Why not fitting the stereotype doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong
If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one who doubts yourself, prepares for the worst, or secretly thinks everyone else must know something you don’t, this episode is for you.
We explore whether success actually requires optimism, or if there’s room in entrepreneurship for the rest of us: the over-thinkers, the realists, the cautious dreamers, and the “hope for the best, prepare for the absolute worst” types.
Listen in to hear why your mindset — optimistic or pessimistic — might be exactly what your business needs.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this special episode, I'm sitting down with Iyeba Maclayton, the recipient of the 2025 Inspiration Award from Dress for Success Vancouver. Iyeba’s story is one of courage, transformation, and a deep belief in what is possible when you refuse to give up.
She shares her journey from Nigeria to Canada and the challenges she faced while learning a new work culture and rebuilding her confidence. Iyeba speaks openly about the highs and lows of starting over, and how her faith grounded her through moments of uncertainty and fear. Her determination to grow, adapt, and honour her own potential is at the heart of this conversation.
This episode also highlights the meaningful work of Dress for Success Vancouver. Their support played a key role in Iyeba’s transition, offering community, resources, and the encouragement she needed to move toward a new professional chapter.
If you need a reminder of the power of resilience, belief in yourself, and support, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.
Learn more about Iyeba here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyebamaclayton
Learn more about Dress for Success Vancouver here: https://dfsvancouver.ca/
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Sometimes life forces you to slow down—whether you planned to or not. In this episode, I'm sharing what’s been happening behind the scenes: my partner Kyle’s surgery, the unexpected challenges that came with it, and what it really looks like to take a forced step away from work and surrender to life’s timing.
This is a candid chat about letting go of control, accepting help, and the clarity that comes with a health scare.
If this episode resonates with you, let's connect🫶 DM me on Instagram [@leahyard].
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
I also want to highlight my friend Jenn Wint’s inspiring event, Back to Business — a space for entrepreneurs to reconnect, refocus, and recharge as they tackle the remainder of this year and prepare for 2026.
Learn more here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/back-to-business-tickets-1721735680769?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m opening up about a season of change I didn’t see coming.
It started with an unsettled feeling, like something in my life was out of alignment. I questioned everything: my business, my relationship, my style, even the city I live in.
Was it hormones? Burnout? Or just… growth?
Instead of running from the discomfort, I tried to lean into it. In this episode, I share:
- The unsettling (and scary) thoughts that come with questioning your life choices
- Why change naturally feels threatening, and how to shift your mindset around it
- The small, tangible ways I experimented with change (from food to fashion) without blowing up my whole life (even though I was tempted to)
- The big questions I forced myself to ask, even when the answers weren’t clear
If you’ve ever felt restless, uncertain, or like you’re on the edge of something new (but don’t know what), this one’s for you.
Because change doesn’t always mean losing yourself, it can mean finding a braver, freer version of who you already are.
If this episode resonates with you, let's connect! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard].
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this week's episode, I sit down with Cecilia Morgan, the founder of Girl Squad, to talk about what it really takes to create a welcoming community for female professionals. From hosting markets and events to building authentic relationships, Ceci shares how vulnerability and openness can transform casual connections into deep, lasting support systems.
Key Takeaways:
- The fears (and growth) that come with showing up on social media
- Why asking for help is a powerful step in both business and life
- Honest reflections on success, money, and how relationships impact both personal wellbeing and entrepreneurial growth
Whether you’re a business owner, a community builder, or someone craving more meaningful connections, this episode offers a refreshing look at how to blend heart and strategy in creating spaces where women thrive together.
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] and share your own business journey.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
There’s a joke in the podcasting world: everyone has a podcast.And honestly, it feels true the moment you start one. I launched this show back in 2022 with zero experience, determined to do it solo and convinced interviews were out of my league. Fast forward, and while I’ve somewhat improved my interview skills, there are still plenty of ways I’m failing at podcasting.
In this episode, I’m sharing the three biggest ways I’ve been dropping the ball as a podcaster:
- Inconsistency – Missing publish deadlines I set for myself and slipping on my schedule.
- Psyching myself out – Letting nerves and bad experiences shake my confidence.
- Promotion (or lack thereof) – Posting a little here and there, but rarely sharing the podcast in ways that could actually grow it.
This isn’t an episode about quitting (I love this show and I’m not stopping anytime soon). It’s about being honest about the challenges, the cringey moments, and why so many people give up on podcasting-- or anything, when it gets hard.
If you're in the thick of something right now, this one's for you. It's a reminder to just keep going. Some times just getting something done is better than getting it perfect.
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] and share your own business journey.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
This week I am re-airing the conversation I had with Donna Bishop: an accomplished interviewer/ moderator, dedicated producer of engaging content, and passionate advocate for Canadian fashion. Her background spans the fashion, beauty, lifestyle and media industries.
Donna supports entrepreneurs and brand leaders with moderated, live streamed events that elevate their story and messaging with an engaging interview that always soars beyond anything a google search provides. She can be heard regularly on CBC radio discussing fashion. As the host and founder of the popular podcast FashionTalks, Donna holds meaningful conversations with leaders in the fashion and related industries on the personal and social impact of fashion.
She is also the Director of Programming for CAFA (Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards), is a former board member of the Toronto Chapter of Fashion Group International, and is a mentor for the Toronto Fashion Incubator.
In 2009 she founded Green Beauty, Canada’s first online boutique dedicated to skincare and cosmetics that were made with natural ingredients yet had the performance of professional products, which she moved on from in 2015. She has been featured as an expert in beauty or entrepreneurship in numerous media outlets including: The Marilyn Denis Show, E! Canada, Best Health Magazine, NOW Magazine, Green Heroes (TVO), Coming Clean (Smithsonian Channel), Cosmo TV, The Globe and Mail, InStyle Magazine, The MomShift (Random House) and numerous blogs.
In this week's episode we talk about the power of pivoting in business, the myth of "finding balance", and the impact fashion has on our lives.
Tune in to hear one of my favourite voices in the podcasting world:)
Connect with Donna:
Website: https://thisisdonnab.ca/
On IG: https://www.instagram.com/thisisdonnab/
FashionTalks Podcast: https://fashiontalks.ca/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
This week on the Voted Least Likely podcast I am re-airing my conversation with Community Builder, Shannon Lorenz. Shannon runs Bespoke Market, an event designed to bring together creatives, designers, and local businesses.
If you've been to one of Shannon's events, you know just how important community is to her. She's been a cheerleader for local brands for years, and I am thrilled to share her wisdom on the Voted Least Likely Podcast.
In this episode we cover:
- What it means to be"Ready for the Party", how adopting this mindset can dramatically shift your outlook if you're in a down season
- How to leverage each opportunity and make the most out of events
- How to push through when you'e suffering from Imposter Syndrome and lean into your intuition
Plus: what's next for Bespoke *(psst: Shannon's got big plans for Vancouver!)
Find Bespoke Market on Instagram
Learn more about Bespoke Market here: https://www.bespokemarket.ca/*
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Let’s be real, building success isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s awkward, uncomfortable, and a little (or a lot) embarrassing.
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m sharing the five cringe-worthy things I do to grow my business (and why I keep doing them anyway). These moves might make my stomach flip, but they also bring results.
Putting yourself out there (even when it’s uncomfortable) can actually be your business’s secret weapon.
If you’ve been holding back because you don’t want to look silly, grab your earbuds, this is your permission to embrace the cringe.
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] and share your own business journey.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I'm joined by Vanessa Bucceri, founder of Vanessa Bucceri Creative, who shares how she used her data skills to map out a thoughtful exit strategy from her corporate job and step confidently into entrepreneurship.
We talk about what it really takes to trust yourself in business, how intuition and strategy go hand in hand, and the reality of making a creative pivot in your career. Vanessa opens up about the early days of building her brand and web design studio, the lessons she’s learned working with over 90 clients around the world, and how she helps style-forward entrepreneurs show up with confidence online.
If you've ever felt stuck in a role that no longer fits, or you're craving a creative leap, this one’s for you.
Mentioned in this episode:
- How Vanessa blended her background in tech and design
- How she used missing out on a $90,000 buyout from her corporate job as fuel to kickstart her business
- Why trusting your own voice is key when stepping out on your own
- The balance between structure and self-belief when making a major pivot
Connect with Vanessa:
vanessabucceri.com
@vanessabuccericreative on Instagram
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] and share your own business journey.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
This week’s episode is a re-air that couldn’t come at a better time. As we mark 12 years in business, we’re revisiting a conversation that pulls back the curtain on what “overnight success” really looks like.
RE-AIR:
We’ve all heard the stories of “overnight success”—but let’s be real, that’s rarely how it actually happens. In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own journey and breaking down some of the key milestones I’ve reached in business… and how long they actually took. Spoiler: it wasn’t overnight.
From taking six years to become profitable, eight years to gain earned media, and the countless small wins (and setbacks) along the way, I’m sharing the truth about what it really takes to build something sustainable. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “behind” in your business, this episode is for you.
Tune in for:
✨ A breakdown of my business milestones and the REAL timelines behind them (I have a feeling I might regret sharing these later)
✨ Why the idea of overnight success is misleading (and damaging)
✨ A reminder that slow growth is still growth—and often the most sustainable kind
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] and share your own business journey. Let’s break the myth of overnight success together.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Peters, founder of the successful night-nannying business Cuddles and Care based in Vancouver. Jessica's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and surprising pivots.
She originally set out to become a doctor, but after facing serious health challenges, she was forced to change course. What followed was an unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, one she never imagined for herself.
We talk about:
- How a major life detour led her to discover her true calling
- The importance to being open to pivots
- Why she spent the first two years of business "waiting for the other shoe to drop"
- The impact of having ONE person believe in you
Jessica’s perspective is raw, refreshing, and deeply inspiring, especially for anyone navigating a big life shift or doubting their place in the entrepreneurial world.
Links & Resources:
Follow Cuddles and Care on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuddlesandcareagency
Learn more about Cuddles and Care: https://cuddlesandcare.ca
Thoughts on today's episode? DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
RE-AIR: As embarrassing as this is to admit, when I launched my brand (Leah Yard Designs), I thought the next step was to WAIT until I got noticed by a big publication (hello, Vogue!)
It's taken many years to fumble my way through the PR landscape and finally land some exciting features. Needless to say, I really wish I met today's guest 10 years ago!
This week I sat down with Jenn Wint of Wint Communications. Not only is Jenn a PR Pro, her approach to getting small businesses noticed is incredibly inspiring since she's driven by authentic connections. I believe Jenn's superpower is celebrating small brands doing big things.
Tune in to learn all about the dos and don'ts of PR, plus how you can start pitching yourself NOW.
About Jenn:
Jenn Wint (she/her) is a writer and public relations specialist passionate about sharing stories that connect people, communities, and local businesses. Jenn is the author of ‘Josie’s Busy Calendar,’ a self-care story for kids and a contributor to MomBabes: A Motherhood Anthology.
She lives in East Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter who support her quest to find her neighbourhood's best chocolate chip cookie.
Website: https://www.wintcommunications.com/
Follow Jenn on Instagram @jenn_wint
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In today's episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I'm sharing a raw and honest update on what’s been going on behind the scenes-- both in business and in life.
From recent struggles in my creative process to personal challenges that have been affecting my energy and direction, this is one of those heart-to-heart episodes. If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling too much or quietly navigating a hard season, I hope this feels like a deep breath and a reminder that you’re not alone.
Whether you're here for the business insights or the real-life stuff in between-- I’m so grateful you're listening.
What I cover in this episode:
-
The real life effects from the last 5 years of pressure
-
How I’ve been managing feeling “off”
-
Why vulnerability will always be a top value for me
-
How I am navigating CHANGE
Did this episode spark something in you? DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of The Voted Least Likely Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on a feeling most of us don’t talk about enough: the creeping doubt that comes with comparison—and that haunting question… “What’s the point?”
Whether it’s launching a podcast, growing a brand, or putting your creative work out there, it’s easy to feel miles behind. I’ve felt this way about both my jewellery business (Leah Yard Designs) and the podcast--and today, I’m being honest about those moments when it feels like everyone else is ahead.
But here’s the truth I’m learning: The point is the reps. The showing up. The growth that happens behind the scenes.
If you’ve ever stared at someone else’s success and felt like giving up, this episode is your reminder that progress doesn't always look flashy--and it's still worth it.
Did this episode spark something in you? DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of the Voted Least Likely podcast, I’m joined by systems and operations strategist, Jessica Frigon, for a much-needed conversation about burnout, boundaries, and building a business that actually works for you. We dive into the real talk behind social media—how it feeds into imposter syndrome, why it’s okay to mute people (even the ones you love), and the power of protecting your energy online.
Jessica also shares her experience helping female entrepreneurs build systems that support sustainability (because you shouldn’t need a nap every time you open your inbox). Whether you're in a season of hustle or healing, this episode is a reminder that you're allowed to slow down—and that structure doesn’t have to feel restrictive.
This is a conversation for anyone craving more ease, more intention, and more space to build the kind of business that supports your whole life.
CONNECT WITH JESSICA:
Instagram: @jessicafrigon
Website: www.projectloveco.com
Thoughts on today's episode? DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I am resharing my conversation with Ally Matos, the talented photographer, videographer and business strategist behind Allyfotografy Media Co.
I met Ally years ago in person at a networking event (one in which I may or may not have hid at). Since then we have virtually cheered each other on. In this chat, Ally shares her journey with grief, how her curiosity has sparked her business trajectory, and how PAUSING her business allowed her to come back stronger.
Today's episode touches on the importance of prioritizing your whole well-being. A huge thank-you to Ally for her vulnerability and for sharing her story on the show.
Learn more about Ally Matos here: https://www.allyfotografy.com/
Ally's personal IG (the "Hot Mess Express" as she calls it):
https://www.instagram.com/allymatos/
Allyfotografy Portraits IG:
https://www.instagram.com/allyfotografyportraits/
Allyfotografy Media Co. IG:
https://www.instagram.com/allyfotografymediaco/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I'm unpacking a quote that’s equal parts uncomfortable and powerful.
Thoughts on the Voted Least Likely Podcast? DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m getting honest about what it’s like to build a business when you weren’t the kid selling lemonade or dreaming of boardrooms.
Spoiler: I wasn’t a “born entrepreneur.”
I never planned on starting a business, and for a long time, I felt behind—like I didn’t belong in the world of entrepreneurs who seemed to have it all figured out.
But here’s what I’ve learned: not fitting the mold doesn’t mean you’re not meant for this. It might actually be your biggest strength.
Key highlights:
✔️ You don’t have to be born for this to be good at it
✔️ Experience isn’t everything—perspective matters
✔️ Your path is valid, even if it’s unconventional
If you’ve ever felt like you’re winging it, or wondering if you’re too late or too lost to figure it out—this one’s for you.
🎧 Hit play, and let’s talk about building something real, even if you never thought you’d be the one doing it.
Does this topic resonate with you? DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Brittany Gawley. After watching Brittany speak at an event, I knew she was someone I wanted to connect with. Her warmth, sense of humour, and encouraging energy is rare to find in the entrepreneurial world.
Known for her adventurous spirit and contagious energy, Brittany is a powerhouse female founder and thought leader paving the way in strategic marketing, brand development, visual storytelling, and content creation.
She is CEO of Founders Media, partnering with purpose-driven brands to tell stories and maximize impact through strategy, creative development, and content production for nonprofits, foundations, and socially conscious corporations. Prior to her businesses, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education, taught high school history, and played professional hockey in the CWHL.
In this week's episode we discuss how the tragic loss of a family member shifted her perspective at a young age, how she started a photography business (while teaching High School!) and how her ability to "start before she was ready" has lead her to build a wildly successful business.
Website: https://foundersmedia.ca/
Follow Brittany on Instagram:
BDC Link: https://www.bdc.ca/en/bdc-capital
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this short and reflective episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m talking about Mother’s Day—specifically, how complex and emotional this day can be, and how I choose to navigate it as a small business owner.
While Mother’s Day is often marketed as a purely joyful celebration, the truth is that it can be a difficult day for many. From grief and loss to strained relationships and unmet expectations, this day holds a lot more than just flowers and brunch.
As someone who builds community through storytelling and intentional connection, I think it’s important to acknowledge those emotions—and to share how I approach my brand messaging with sensitivity, honesty, and heart.
🎧If you've ever struggled to balance empathy and messaging during emotional holidays—this might help you find your footing.
Got thoughts about Mother's Day messaging? DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I’m sharing a special episode pulled from a conversation I had on the Making Good podcast, hosted by the incredible Lauren Tilden.
We covered so much ground in this interview—from the mindset shifts that have shaped my business journey, to the power of storytelling, and why how we think about our work can impact everything from our confidence to our sales.
This episode is full of real talk, honest reflections, and permission to do business your way—even when it doesn’t look like what everyone else is doing.
In this conversation, we explore:
✨ The mindset blocks that hold so many of us back
✨ Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in your business
✨ The importance of leaning into your values and trusting your own pace
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Your mindset is the foundation—when it shifts, everything else can too
✔️ Telling your story isn’t just marketing—it’s connection
✔️ You don’t have to do business like everyone else to be successful
✔️ Clarity comes from action—not overthinking
If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome, comparison, or just needed a reminder that you’re allowed to build a business that feels good, this episode is for you.
🎧 Press play and settle in for an honest conversation that might just change the way you think about showing up in your business.
Links & Resources:
👉 Check out the Making Good podcast and follow Lauren Tilden here
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I'm diving into a surprising truth about entrepreneurship: sometimes, the hardest thing to handle isn’t the failure—it’s the success.
After pouring everything into building your brand, chasing leads, hearing no more times than you can count… you finally get a yes. The collection launch is a success. The offer lands. The client signs. You’re seen, recognized, validated. And instead of feeling only joy, you’re hit with a strange mix of unease and fear.
That’s what this episode is about: the emotional whiplash of getting a win when you’ve spent so long fighting for one.
We’re unpacking why success can feel destabilizing, and what it means to let in the good without waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Fear doesn’t always mean “stop”—sometimes it’s a sign you’re expanding.
✔️ A win is not a fluke; it’s a reflection of your effort. Sometimes we forget just how long we've been working on our goal, that we're surprised when we reach it.
✔️ You are allowed to feel uncertain and proud. These things can coexist.
If you’ve ever had a moment where things finally start working and you’re not sure how to feel about it—this one’s for you. Let’s talk about what it means to stop surviving and start receiving.
🎧 Tune in and let’s normalize the messy beauty of growth, even when it looks like everything you wanted.
This is your reminder: you’re not “lucky”—you’re ready.If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I’m joined by the amazing Tara Reid, a business coach for introverts who proves that you don’t need to be online 24/7 to run a successful business. In fact, Tara walked away from social media entirely—and still grew a thriving, sustainable business on her own terms.
Tara shares how she shifted her focus to platforms that actually feel good—like Pinterest and her email list—and built a business that supports her energy, values, and clients without the constant pressure to post.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
✨ Why Tara decided to quit social media and how it changed everything
✨ What it really looks like to build a business as an introvert
✨ Encouragement for anyone feeling exhausted by social media but scared to step away
Key Takeaways:
✔️ You don’t need to do what everyone else is doing to be successful.
✔️ Marketing can feel aligned and spacious
✔️ Introverts can build bold, powerful businesses—without shouting on Instagram.
✔️ Stepping away from social media isn’t business suicide—it might actually be your secret weapon.
Tara’s story is a breath of fresh air in a world that says you have to be "on" all the time. If you've ever dreamed of ditching the scroll and building something calmer, this episode is for you.
🎧 Press play and give yourself permission to grow your business your way.
Links & Resources:
👉 Connect with Tara and explore her offerings at https://thetarareid.com/
👉 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who’s ready to ditch the hustle and do business differently.
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
In this episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I sit down with Hillary Connelly, a Business Strategist who made the bold leap from the corporate accounting world to launching The Homemade Community Shoppe—a Chilliwack-based business supporting over 55 small maker businesses.
Hillary’s story is a powerful example of what happens when you follow your instincts, take risks, and build something bigger than yourself. She traded spreadsheets for storytelling, and created a space where small businesses can thrive.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
-
Hillary’s journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship—and what sparked the change
-
The biggest challenges of leaving a “stable” career to pursue something uncertain
-
How The Homemade Community Shoppe is empowering small makers and fostering local business growth
-
Advice for anyone feeling stuck in their corporate job and dreaming of something more
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Leaving security is scary, but so is staying in a job that doesn’t fulfill you.
✔️ Community over competition—why supporting small businesses benefits everyone.
✔️ Success isn’t just about profits, it’s about impact.
✔️ If you’re waiting for the “right time” to start, you might be waiting forever.
Hillary’s story is inspiring, practical, and full of real-world lessons for anyone considering a career pivot or looking to build a business that makes a difference.
🎧 Tune in for an honest, insightful conversation about risk, resilience, and redefining success.
Homemade Community Shoppe online: https://homemadecommunity.com/
Homemade Community Shoppe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homemadechwk/
More About Hillary:
Hillary is deeply passionate about empowering small businesses and fostering community growth. She comes from a family with entrepreneurial roots in Chilliwack, which has inspired her lifelong dedication to supporting local entrepreneurs.
Hillary is the owner of Homemade Community Shoppe, a Chilliwack-based business incubator supporting over 55 small maker businesses. Her innovative approach to retail provides a platform for home-based entrepreneurs to thrive by offering shelf rentals, coaching sessions, and community-building opportunities.
Hillary is a Chartered Professional Accountant with extensive experience consulting Fortune 500 companies across diverse industries. This experience inspired her to focus on “the little guy” and dedicate her life to supporting entrepreneurs in whatever way possible.
Hillary is also the founder of a dog rescue, Hello Doxie Rescue.
As a mom and wife, she balances her professional endeavors with her love for family life and her community. Hillary’s work is driven by her unwavering belief in the power of community and connection.
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
It’s time for a chaotic quarterly check-in! In this episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I’m taking a look back at Q1— the wins, the struggles, and the biggest lessons learned along the way.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
✨ The biggest wins from Q1 and what went right
✨ The unexpected challenges that threw me off course (because let’s be real, there were PLENTY)
✨ My plan to get back on track for Q2
Q1 was a wild ride, and I’m sharing it all—because reflecting on where we’ve been is the best way to figure out where we’re going next. Whether your first quarter was a total win or a bit of a mess (or both!), let’s unpack it together and set the stage for an even stronger Q2.
🎧 Tune in and let’s break it all down
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard]
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast, we’re getting brutally honest — with ourselves. I’m breaking down 5 lies I told myself that kept me stuck in business for way too long. These lies felt comforting, even necessary at times, but they were really just fear in disguise, keeping me from reaching my full potential.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
✨ The 5 biggest lies I believed that held me back — and why they’re so easy to fall for
✨ How these lies create a false sense of security that stops growth
✨ The tough mindset shifts that helped me break free (and how you can too)
✨ Why staying stuck can feel safer than pushing forward — and how to stop settling
Breaking free from these lies isn’t easy — they feel safe, familiar, and they're even true sometimes. But real growth lives on the other side of discomfort.
🎧 Hit play and let’s unpack these lies together — and maybe, just maybe, set yourself free from a few of your own.
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] Let’s break down the lies we tell ourselves together.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
RE-AIR: This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I had the HONOUR to sit down with Karen Khunkhun, co-host of the Jeff O’Neil Morning Show on CFOX.
I'm not exaggerating when I say: I had the biggest smile on my face for the rest of the day after this chat.
Karen is an absolute ray of sunshine. But she doesn't hold back on the real stuff. Imposter Syndrome, self-doubt, and dealing with rejection are all challenges Karen has had to face in her impressive media career spanning over two decades.
Her work ethic, mental toughness, and grateful attitude are not only inspiring, but a powerful reminder that dreams are possible, if you are willing to do the work and be kind along the way.
A huge thank-you to Karen. I'm so grateful for having spent time with one of the most gracious and supportive women I've met. She's the real deal. Tune in to this week's episode for a boost of encouragement from the North Shore's brightest light.
More about Karen:
As a co-host of the Jeff O’Neil morning show, Karen Khunkhun enjoys waking the city up with a little music and a ton of fun. Her big break in radio came as a traffic reporter on the popular Larry & Willy morning show. From traffic reporter to show producer at CFOX, it was only natural for Karen to take on other exciting challenges - TV. Karen started at City TV with their Breakfast Show, entertainment specials and as the community events spokesperson. Her career has spanned the broadcast spectrum from the weekend weathercaster for CTV News and later CBC Television.
With a particular knack for entertainment journalism, Karen has had the opportunity to interview an array of celebrity figures including Jim Carrey, Kate Beckinsale and Ray Liotta. Interviewing the stars has led to many memorable moments ranging from an impromptu Vegas poker match with Bradley Cooper and the cast of The Hangover to being served cocktails by Motley Crue’s infamous drummer, Tommy Lee. Karen sat down in L.A. with Oscar-nominated actor, Jeremy Renner, who revealed an unexpected fondness for Metro Vancouver’s own Pitt Meadows.
Karen had a baby girl in 2010 and then returned to work to join The Jeff O'Neil Show on CFOX.
In addition to spending her free time acting, most recently on Supernatural and series like Bates Motel and Wayward Pines. Most recently she was on Worth the Wait and Kung Fu and So Help Me Todd. One of Karen’s most cherished projects was her video series with The Vancouver Sun called ‘Letters to a Younger Me’ – featuring local celebrities and inspirational figures sharing the advice they would give to their younger self.
Karen holds many charitable initiatives close to her heart. She is the spokesperson for the Hometown Heroes Lottery, where proceeds go to the BC Burn Fund and UBC & VGH Hospital Foundations. She is a big supporter of Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, Pink Shirt Day, Anti Bullying Campaign and Karen proudly supports the Santa Fox Food Drive, where proceeds go to Lower Mainland Food Banks. She served as a Media Ambassador for Woman2Warrior, benefitting Easter Seals Camps in BC and Karen took part in The Covenant House Sleep Out, working to help keep homeless youth off the streets of Vancouver.
Learn more about Karen here: www.karenkhunkhun.com
Follow Karen on X: https://twitter.com/KarenKhunkhun
Follow Karen on IG: http://instagram.com/karenkhunkhun
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
We’ve all heard the stories of “overnight success”—but let’s be real, that’s rarely how it actually happens. In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own journey and breaking down some of the key milestones I’ve reached in business… and how long they actually took. Spoiler: it wasn’t overnight.
From taking six years to become profitable, eight years to gain earned media, and the countless small wins (and setbacks) along the way, I’m sharing the truth about what it really takes to build something sustainable. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “behind” in your business, this episode is for you.
Tune in for:
✨ A breakdown of my business milestones and the REAL timelines behind them (I have a feeling I might regret sharing these later)
✨ Why the idea of overnight success is misleading (and damaging)
✨ A reminder that slow growth is still growth—and often the most sustainable kind
If this episode resonates with you, let me know! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] and share your own business journey. Let’s break the myth of overnight success together.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this solo episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m sharing a few life and business updates, along with some honest confessions—because let’s be real, sticking to a routine is hard. From falling off my schedule to rethinking how I show up in my business, I’m pulling back the curtain on a few highs and lows.
I’m also toying with a new idea: launching an expert series on the podcast. I’d love to hear your thoughts—would you be interested in hearing from industry leaders sharing their knowledge? Or do you prefer the personal, behind-the-scenes episodes? Let me know.
Tune in for:
✨ A peek behind the scenes
✨ The struggle of staying consistent with routines
✨ An idea for bringing expert voices to the show—your feedback needed
I want to hear from you! DM me on Instagram [@leahyard] or leave a review with your thoughts. Your input will help shape the future of the podcast:)
🔗 Listen now and join the conversation
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this episode of The Voted Least Likely Podcast, I sit down with Aeryon Ashlie, the powerhouse behind Aeryon Wellness, to talk about the realities of entrepreneurship—failures, competition, and the relentless work ethic it takes to succeed. Aeryon gets real about the setbacks she’s faced, how she stays motivated, and why being competitive isn’t a bad thing.
We dive into:
✨ How to turn failures into learning experiences
✨ The role of competition in business and personal growth
✨ How her unshakable work ethic allows her to push through challenges
✨ Aeryon’s journey with Aeryon Wellness and what drives her success
If you’ve ever struggled with setbacks, questioned your competitive nature, or needed a reminder that hard work does pay off—this episode is for you.
Connect with Aeryon:
Website: https://www.aeryonwellness.com/
Instagram: aeryonwellness
Learn more about Aeryon here: https://www.aeryonwellness.com/meet-aeryon/
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more entrepreneurs and remind them that they’re not alone on this journey.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Have you ever felt like you’re going to be "found out"?
This is Imposter Syndrome: feeling like a fraud. There was a time I felt this so intensely, that I hid in a washroom. 2025 is underway, and I wanted to circle back on the episode that put this podcast on the map: the story about the time I hid in a washroom.
If you've been feeling discouraged, behind, or like you don't know what you're doing (ps: no one does)-- this episode is for you.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I'm speaking with Licia Tobias, owner of LVT Agency, a wholesale agency in Toronto.
In this episode Licia talks about how she had to pivot her business during COVID, the importance of being empathetic during difficult times, and the power of relationship building in business.
Licia's consistency, dedication, and resiliency not only pulled her through a challenging time, it allowed her business to flourish on the other side.
I am honoured to share her wisdom on the Voted Least Likely Podcast.
Connect with Licia here: @lvtagency
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
If you’re ready to turn your challenges into stepping stones for growth, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Let’s dive into the real, raw side of business and how to use it to fuel your success in the year ahead.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jaime Morgan, a Gottman trained relationship and divorce and breakup expert, to explore the transformative power of authenticity and courage. Jaime shares her insights on discovering what truly lights you up and how embracing your passions can lead to a more fulfilling life.
We delve into the importance of living authentically and the role of courage in navigating personal and relational challenges. Plus, Jaime discusses how harnessing RAGE can be a powerful tool for growth and change.
Key Topics we Discuss:
- Finding What Lights You Up
- Living Authentically
- The Role of Courage
- Rage as a Powerful Tool
Why You Should Listen: This episode is perfect for anyone going through a difficult season in life or business looking for a boost of encouragement.
Connect with Jaime:
- Website: https://www.jaimemorgan.com/
- IG: https://www.instagram.com/thejaimemorgan/
Tune in to be inspired by Jaime's personal journey of turning heartbreak into a powerful story of transformation.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Every year I go through this annual planning process. This worksheet helps me look back at the previous year and see what went right, what went wrong, and how to course correct for the next 12 months.
Tune in to get yourself on a productive track for 2025.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A massive thank-you to everyone who has tuned in this year, left a review, and shared this podcast with someone. I am wishing you a fabulous Holiday Season.
-Leah, xo
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I'm 2 years and over 100 episodes into my podcasting journey. In this time I have learned A LOT. I wanted to give an honest review of what it's like to host a show, because I was surprised to learn the pros and CONS that come along with having a podcast.
Tune in for an HONEST review of what it's like to host a podcast.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this episode, I'm diving into what I am doing to avoid burnout during the busiest time of the year. Reflecting on the BIG lessons I learned from last year, I’m sharing strategies to help navigate the season with energy, and more joy.
What I'm covering in This Episode:
Choosing Healthy Habits: Why staying consistent with routines like exercise and sleep can help you stay grounded.
Savouring the Season: How to be present and truly enjoy the holidays without feeling overwhelmed.
Setting Boundaries: How I'm saying no, managing my time, and protecting my energy.
Staying Hopeful: It's crucial to keep a positive perspective and reconnect with what matters most.
Key Takeaways:
- Burnout doesn’t have to be your reality this season. Small changes can make a big difference.
- Prioritize self-care and focus on what truly matters to you.
- Boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re necessary for your well-being
Thank You for Listening!
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, share it with a friend, or tag me on social media @leahyard Let’s make this holiday season the most balanced and joyful one yet!
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
You've likely heard the quote: "Every overnight success is 10 years in the making". It's true, which is why you HAVE to be the one who believes in you.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this powerful and inspiring episode, I sat down with Jada, the visionary founder of Jada Cianne Artistry. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Jada has faced incredible challenges but has turned adversity into an opportunity to build something meaningful. Jada shares her journey of resilience, empowerment, and passion for her brand, using her platform to build her legacy and inspire others facing their own obstacles.
Key Takeaways:
- Jada’s Diagnosis and Journey: Hear Jada's firsthand account of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and how it impacted her life and aspirations.
- Turning Adversity into Strength: Discover how Jada found the motivation to channel her energy into entrepreneurship, using her lipgloss brand as a form of self-expression.
- Building a Brand with Purpose: Learn how Jada's personal experiences influence her brand's mission and products.
- Inspiration for Others: Jada is an inspiration for anyone navigating their own health struggles or seeking to pursue their passions against the odds.
Why You Should Listen: This episode is perfect for anyone seeking motivation, entrepreneurs looking for real stories of perseverance, or those who want to learn how beauty and purpose can intersect in powerful ways.
Connect with Jada:
- Website: https://jadacianneartistry.com/
- IG: https://www.instagram.com/jadacianne.artistry/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jadacianne.artistry
Tune in to be inspired by Jada’s journey of turning challenges into opportunities and leaving a legacy of beauty, strength, and hope.
More About Jada:
Jada Cianne Ariola is the founder and CEO of the cruelty-free and vegan line, Jada Cianne Artistry. Throughout her time working as a make-up artist, it had always been Jada’s dream to create a make-up line of her own. In 2022, Jada received the life-changing news that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This diagnosis served as the unlikely catalyst for the creation of her brand, as she wanted to find a way to continue to pursue her passion for makeup while adapting to her newfound physical limitations.
Jada Cianne Artistry shades are inspired by Jada's Latin American background and the important women in her life. As a brand, JCA's mission is to support, uplift, and empower women to feel confident in their own skin.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I can't believe it, this marks our 100th recorded episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast.
When I first started this show I didn't anticipate it to grow into what it has. I've had the honour of chatting with some incredible people. Together we have shared vulnerable stories of failure, and helped to demystify what it means to be successful.
Thank-you for being here, I can't wait to share the next 100 with you.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I sat down with Hope Mikal of Unicorn Marketing Co. We chatted about the importance of empathy in business, what REAL success looks like, and an emotion no other guest has brought up before (this conversation got me fired up!)
I am so honoured to have had the opportunity to chat with Hope about the ups and downs on entrepreneurship, and grateful for her holistic approach to business.
About Hope:
Hope Mikal is the CEO/Founder of Unicorn Marketing Co., a creative marketing agency focused on empowering female-led businesses and heart-centred non profit organizations through vibrant, meaningful marketing.
With over 13 years of experience in digital marketing, Hope has worked with renowned organizations such as freelance event management for the iconic TED Talks, building event marketing strategies for scientific and academic conferences on a global scale, to managing film production portfolio for the Thompson Okanagan's Gold Country. From curating a community driven art gallery in a heritage courthouse to running through the back end corridors of the Vancouver Convention Centre, she's found many reiterations of success and fuck up moments.
Hope started Unicorn Marketing off the side of her desk in 2020, as she found that marketing simply wasn't feeling fun. Now, she strives to create branding and marketing strategies that don't give a 'major ick'. She works hard to create a space on the internet that is both inclusive and socially conscious, with an emphasis on storytelling and creativity. When she's not behind a screen, you can find Hope spending time with her cat, browsing local artisan markets, sampling a new pour at a craft brewery, and planning her next trip.
Find and Follow Hope here:
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
Website
Sign up for weekly marketing tips: https://unicornmarketingco.myflodesk.com/djslx1f4es
Listen to the Magic Hour Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SFw3Mx6nCQCfn3tktrRGq?si=1cd81ec23fae47ac
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Cue the cringe.
This episode was an unpleasant one to record. With the final stretch of 2024 on its way I wanted to share my plans for the last 3 months-- plus a transparent look at what did and DIDN'T work in Q3.
It's important to set big goals, but that doesn't always mean you reach them. This week's episode is a reminder to keep aiming high, even if you fall short.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
One of the most difficult lessons I have had to learn and accept is this: I'm not good enough.
Hear me out:
It's not personal. I'm not talking about your worth as a human being. You are worthy in every way. But you might not be SKILLED enough, for the life and goals you are striving for.
In the past, I would see other brands get opportunities that I wanted and immediately I would come up with a story to make myself feel better. "They must have known someone." "They must have had help." "They must have some kind of support that I don't have."
Sound familiar?
We all do this. We try to justify away wins we feel entitled to, that we didn't get.
But I started to realize something painful, but powerful: I'm just not good enough yet.
Tune in for a session of tough love.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this episode, I'm diving into the nuanced difference between motivation—specifically, the dark motivators (e.g. the desire to prove others wrong)—and a healthy, authentic "why" for building your brand. While both can drive you, understanding the distinction is crucial for long-term success and fulfillment.
I've talked about using "dark" emotions on the show before. I believe it is an important and healthy way to move through these normal feelings and use them for good.
If you've been struggling with imposter syndrome, feeling discouraged, or envy-- this one's for you.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Taylor was always meant for great things. At just 17 she started on a mission that would turn into the BeaYOUtiful foundation, a local charity that has impacted over 2,500 young girls across Canada.
With a focus on confidence building, Taylor is helping raise the next generation of empowered young women.
Tune into this week's episode all about following your dreams, paving the way for others, and making impact.
Find Taylor Hui on IG
The BeaYOUtiful Foundation on IG
https://thebeayoutifulfoundation.com/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Subconsciously we all "think" there is a level of success we will reach where everyone in our life will be impressed. When we reach this level all of a sudden everyone who doubted us will be proven wrong.
And as much as I like to imagine what this day would feel like, and what I would have to achieve to get there, I have come to learn this:
There is no level.
And there shouldn't be.
The people you need in your corner are the ones that support you regardless of your accomplishments.
I recently had an experience that reminded me how important this is. It also reminded me who's opinion matters the most.
Tune in if you've been feeling underestimated.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
We're heading into a new season. Now is a great time to revisit the goals you set at the beginning of the year, and nudge yourself back on track.
Today's episode is all about transparency;) Tune in to hear where I have been struggling to stay on track, and my plan to take back control.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Brittany Gawley. After watching Brittany speak at an event, I knew she was someone I wanted to connect with. Her warmth, sense of humour, and encouraging energy is rare to find in the entrepreneurial world.
Known for her adventurous spirit and contagious energy, Brittany is a powerhouse female founder and thought leader paving the way in strategic marketing, brand development, visual storytelling, and content creation.
She is CEO of Founders Media, partnering with purpose-driven brands to tell stories and maximize impact through strategy, creative development, and content production for nonprofits, foundations, and socially conscious corporations. Prior to her businesses, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education, taught high school history, and played professional hockey in the CWHL.
In this week's episode we discuss how the tragic loss of a family member shifted her perspective at a young age, how she started a photography business (while teaching High School!) and how her ability to "start before she was ready" has lead her to build a wildly successful business.
Website: https://foundersmedia.ca/
Follow Brittany on Instagram:
BDC Link: https://www.bdc.ca/en/bdc-capital
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Slowing down on social media isnt as scary as you think.
Consistency is crucial– or so they say.
And I do believe this, but Im going to tell you something: social media isn't the best or only place to grow your business.
I took an accidental step back from social media a couple of weeks ago. My friend Eliza and I rented a retail space and had a week long pop-up shop. Eliza owns Lavoh, which is a reusable make up cloth, and I own Leah Yard Designs, a demi fine jewellery brand. We collaborated on the space and it was an incredible 7 days.
I posted as much as I could on social media, but I didnt spend much time on the apps for that week.
It wasnt until the pop-up ended, and I was back into the swing of things that I got back on the social media train. Tune in to hear what I learned.
We are back at Granville Island from October 28th - November 3rd. Find details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
RE-AIR: Several years ago I was scrolling on IG and came across an account. Instantly I felt welcomed. In the fashion and beauty space it's a fine line to create inspirational content while fostering community. Dominique Baker is one of those influencers who creates content FOR her audience. Over the last few years I have watched her overcome obstacles with grace, uplift others, and remain open and vulnerable. After being cancelled and viciously attacked online, she not only bounced back, but bounced back STRONGER. Her story is inspiring, and truly a masterclass in resiliency. I am so honoured to know her, watch her thrive, and share her story on the Voted Least Likely Podcast.
Follow Dominique on IG: @dominique.baker
TikTok: @dominiquebakerofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4XE5PLJZYqMkYaQv0eQlvAwww.styledomination.com Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I honestly can’t believe that this is a topic I am covering. The REJECTION of hustle culture.
I am the person who would grind and grind. And I was the person who would tell others to grind and grind. But after 5 months of dealing with health issues this year– all stemming from burnout, I have had to take a step back and consider the consequences of just "pushing through".
This week on the podcast I am sharing the 5 ways I am REJECTING hustle culture to protect my health. If you've been feeling burnout, this one's for you.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
As embarrassing as this is to admit, when I launched my brand (Leah Yard Designs), I thought the next step was to WAIT until I got noticed by a big publication (hello, Vogue!)
It's taken many years to fumble my way through the PR landscape and finally land some exciting features. Needless to say, I really wish I met today's guest 10 years ago!
This week I sat down with Jenn Wint of Wint Communications. Not only is Jenn a PR Pro, her approach to getting small businesses noticed is incredibly inspiring since she's driven by authentic connections. I believe Jenn's superpower is celebrating small brands doing big things.
Tune in to learn all about the dos and don'ts of PR, plus how you can start pitching yourself NOW.
About Jenn:
Jenn Wint (she/her) is a writer and public relations specialist passionate about sharing stories that connect people, communities, and local businesses. Jenn is the author of ‘Josie’s Busy Calendar,’ a self-care story for kids and a contributor to MomBabes: A Motherhood Anthology.
She lives in East Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter who support her quest to find her neighbourhood's best chocolate chip cookie.
Website: https://www.wintcommunications.com/
Follow Jenn on Instagram @jenn_wint
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
My Instagram feed has been filled with people vacationing in Europe, touring wineries with friends, and taking weeks off for fabulous summer travel with family. And a lot of these posts are from business owners.
Entrepreneurship is sold to us online as an EASY way to make as much money as you want, with as much FREEDOM as you like.
But like many things online, there's a lot of embellishing at play.
This week I am re-airing the reminder I needed. In case your feed is looking similar to mine, here's a reality check to make you feel less alone-- or at least less fomo.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week got off to a rocky start. And when things get difficult, we tend to fall back on old patterns. Old self-talk. Old belief systems.
It can feel like all the work we've done to improve our lives is erased when things inevitably don't go how we had planned. This week I am re-airing the reminder I needed.
RE-AIR: We’re all influenced by our environments. And if we’re not thoughtful about it, we can end up with habits and views that don’t support our goals. In this episode I'm diving into 3 things I wish I could tell my younger self, staring with something we all need to hear: you are not alone.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Voted Least Likely Podcast has been nominated for "Best Podcast in Vancouver" by the Georgia Straight BOV 2024 Awards! You can vote for the show here. A huge thank-you to everyone who votes, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.As business slows in the summer, it's easy to get discouraged. Which makes it even easier to get swayed by what we see on social media. Something that comes up time and time again for me is the lack of CONGRUENCY I see online. I've been needing the reminder that what people say they value, isn't always true. It's easier to post on social media something you stand by, than it is to live it.
RE-AIR: As I have grown my business, my values have changed. Things I thought were important no longer are, and new values have become drivers in my business and life.
The thing that has surprised me the most is this: Congruency matters, A LOT.
Saying you are one thing and acting the opposite makes me wildly uncomfortable.
This week I'm talking all about congruency, what it is, why it matters, and how you may be misrepresenting yourself in ways you didn't realize.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Voted Least Likely Podcast has been nominated for "Best Podcast in Vancouver" by the Georgia Straight BOV 2024 Awards! You can vote for the show here. A huge thank-you to everyone who votes, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
If you've been here for a while, you know I do a fairly robust life/business planning project every year. Part of this project is going through the goals I have for the year, both personal and business. Since we have made it to the half way mark of 2024, I thought I would take you through my Quarterly Planning.
This process helps me stay on track, remind myself of my goals, and fuel my motivation. Tune in to hear how to set yourself up for success for the second half of 2024. Thanks for being my accountability buddy:)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
I've been following Kelsie for the last few years online. I have been so impressed with her ability to consistently show up and authentically share her entrepreneurial journey with her audience. The biggest lesson I've learned from her? Start before you feel ready. Kelsie is the Queen of taking action and she's had massive success because of it.
Tune in to hear how she learns by doing, manages the ups and downs of life alongside entrepreneurship, and still shows up for her loyal audience.
More about Kelsie:
Starting as a freelance social media manager in 2020, Kelsie founded and ran her own social media marketing agency for several years. She has grown a personal following of over 410,000 followers and has collaborated with brands across various niches. As an entrepreneur and marketing expert, she has spoken on stages sharing her journey. She now candidly shares the highs and lows of entrepreneurship on social media, reflecting her authentic life experiences.
Follow Kelsie on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sociallykels
Follow Kelsie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sociallykels
Learn more about the Basic: https://basicpublichouse.com/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
My partner Kyle, is also a business owner. He runs a local screen printing shop in Vancouver called Unimpressed Screen Printing. We've been together for over 14 years, and we've been running our businesses alongside each other for the last 7 (I think I did that math right?)
Our businesses, like our personalities, are VERY different. I have had an inside look at how someone like Kyle, builds and runs a business and I am very lucky to have been able to watch him grow his brand, and apply what I can, to mine.
Now, we can't all be naturally as smart, dedicated, or resilient as Kyle-- but I do believe we can adapt. This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I am running through the lessons I have learned from Kyle about business.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
I registered Leah Yard Designs in 2013. That was eleven years ago. I always joke that I did everything wrong for the first half of my business journey, and what I really mean is that I barely told anyone about my business for the first half of my brand journey.
I thought: if I build it, they will come. I also thought that if I kept it to myself I could avoid negative feedback or rejection. You won't be surprised to know that neither of those are true;)
It is safe to say I was late to networking. But once I realized the power of community and connection, everything in my life changed. This week I am sharing how starting late hindered by business growth, and how I FAILED at networking once I got into it...
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
Sometimes thinking about the future and all the amazing goals you want to accomplish, isn't enough.I have gone through seasons of building my jewellery brand Leah Yard Designs where the only way to push forward was to change my way of thinking. This week I am sharing three highly unconventional tactics that helped me regain motivation in business.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I sat down with the wildly charismatic Ria Renouf. Ria is the owner of RenoufWrites, a marketing, writing and communications business that offers a la carte services. With a decade of experience in major market reporting, anchoring, and hosting, Ria first got her start at Global News 980/CKNW filing holiday stories as an intern.
By early 2014, she was working as a fill-in reporter and was officially offered a job as a morning show news anchor; that was followed by the assignment editor chair just months later. She left the station in May 2018 to give traditional public relations a try but returned to radio a few months later, accepting a job at CityNews Vancouver. She anchored the station’s popular afternoon drive show for nearly three years. By 2021, she was reporting for CityNews Vancouver’s TV side, and went onto to launch and manage digital publication New West Anchor in May of 2022.
The Anchor is a sister publication to the Georgia Straight and Vancouver Tech Journal. Known as New West’s “digital town crier,” Ria is best known for having broken a number of community stories, including one about a beleaguered New West school trustee who admitted to using a burner account over Twitter to harass people in New West and beyond.
Ria is a seven-time nominated news anchor and reporter, winning two Edward R. Murrow awards and a Radio Television Digital National Award for her radio anchoring and writing at CityNews in Vancouver. Much of what she’s been nominated for highlights her calm and informative approach to breaking news, including Christy Clark’s resignation as the leader of the BC Liberal party, the fatal 2019 Peace Arch Border crash, first reports of the border closure in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.
In her minuscule amounts of spare time you can find Ria exploring Metro Vancouver with her husband Jon, reading a book, journaling, or indulging in a video game.
Follow Ria here: https://www.instagram.com/riarenouf
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
My podcast isn’t making me any money: let’s talk about it.
I take the podcast as seriously as my jewellery brand Leah Yard Designs, even though it doesn't support me financially.
It's easy to look at the big podcasters and assume you can start a show and be making millions a month in a short amount of time... but it doesn't happen like that. A lot of the big podcaster's you love, have been doing it for years, or they had influence before starting.
First off– I want to say, if you are thinking about starting a podcast, DO IT. It's been the most fulfilling thing I have done in my business. I started it out of frustration after being rejected and snubbed by another brand, and I wanted to share what I had been going through as a business owner.
I felt alone. Deeply and utterly alone.
And I needed a place, that was 100% mine, that I could show up and voice the difficulties of being a misfit in the fashion industry.
And so thats how it started.
To be honest, money didnt even cross my mind. I never considered doing it to make money.
And if you don’t make money on it, it can be hard to keep up on.
But I've recently had a few opportunities come up that were directly related to being a podcast host, and this made me realize how much this show actually DOES provide me.
So let's talk about it.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.For years I waited to be "saved". And you know what? In some ways I think I am still waiting...
We're taught that if we're good enough, beautiful enough, smart enough, talented enough-- we will be discovered.
But what if no one comes?
Does this mean we haven't waited long enough?
Does this mean we aren't enough?
Over the last decade I have watched other business owners be "picked". And every time, I would question myself: "why not me?"
But here's the thing: you'll never know why.
We have no way of knowing how anyone has truly accomplished anything we see online. Everyone's story is different. But I can say something with 100% certainty: don't wait to be chosen. It's no one's responsibility to pick you.
Tune in to hear what other lessons I had to learn the hard way;)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I sat down with Ally Matos, the talented photographer, videographer and business strategist behind Allyfotografy Media Co.
I met Ally years ago in person at a networking event (one in which I may or may not have hid at). Since then we have virtually cheered each other on. In this chat, Ally shares her journey with grief, how her curiosity has sparked her business trajectory, and how PAUSING her business allowed her to come back stronger.
May is mental health awareness month and today's episode touches on the importance of prioritizing your whole well-being. A huge thank-you to Ally for her vulnerability and for sharing her story on the show.
Learn more about Ally Matos here: https://www.allyfotografy.com/
Ally's personal IG (the "Hot Mess Express" as she calls it):
https://www.instagram.com/allymatos/
Allyfotografy Portraits IG:
https://www.instagram.com/allyfotografyportraits/
Allyfotografy Media Co. IG:
https://www.instagram.com/allyfotografymediaco/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
DISCLAIMER: this episode covers mental illness, depression, and suicidal thoughts. These topics may be difficult to listen to. If you, or someone you know is struggling, please seek support. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services.html
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I had originally scheduled an episode with tips on how to manage your mental health as a business owner.
But instead, I am publishing today's episode about my own struggles with my mental health. I had a lot of hesitation around publishing this episode. I decided to do it, because there was a time in my life when I needed to know I was not alone with these feelings, and hearing my story might help someone else.
This episode covers my mental health struggles starting at age 9. Though it has been an on-going journey for me, I am grateful to have support in my life allows me to now be healthy and happy.
Tune in to today's episode to hear the story.
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
If you Google burnout, here's how it's defined: a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress
If that felt like it was written for you, you're not alone. Over the last few years I have spoken with lots of small business owners who have been feeling the same. So, it doesn't seem like burnout is going away anytime soon, but there are things we can do about it.
Tune in for tips on taking back control.
Mentioned in this episode: Eliza Trendiak's story (listen here)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
This podcast has turned into the most fulfilling project I have ever done.
And I almost didn’t do it.
Because I didn’t have what I believed to be the main skill required to pull this off.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I had the HONOUR to sit down with Karen Khunkhun, co-host of the Jeff O’Neil Morning Show on CFOX.
I'm not exaggerating when I say: I had the biggest smile on my face for the rest of the day after this chat.
Karen is an absolute ray of sunshine. But she doesn't hold back on the real stuff. Imposter Syndrome, self-doubt, and dealing with rejection are all challenges Karen has had to face in her impressive media career spanning over two decades.
Her work ethic, mental toughness, and grateful attitude are not only inspiring, but a powerful reminder that dreams are possible, if you are willing to do the work and be kind along the way.
A huge thank-you to Karen. I'm so grateful for having spent time with one of the most gracious and supportive women I've met. She's the real deal. Tune in to this week's episode for a boost of encouragement from the North Shore's brightest light.
More about Karen:
As a co-host of the Jeff O’Neil morning show, Karen Khunkhun enjoys waking the city up with a little music and a ton of fun. Her big break in radio came as a traffic reporter on the popular Larry & Willy morning show. From traffic reporter to show producer at CFOX, it was only natural for Karen to take on other exciting challenges - TV. Karen started at City TV with their Breakfast Show, entertainment specials and as the community events spokesperson. Her career has spanned the broadcast spectrum from the weekend weathercaster for CTV News and later CBC Television.
With a particular knack for entertainment journalism, Karen has had the opportunity to interview an array of celebrity figures including Jim Carrey, Kate Beckinsale and Ray Liotta. Interviewing the stars has led to many memorable moments ranging from an impromptu Vegas poker match with Bradley Cooper and the cast of The Hangover to being served cocktails by Motley Crue’s infamous drummer, Tommy Lee. Karen sat down in L.A. with Oscar-nominated actor, Jeremy Renner, who revealed an unexpected fondness for Metro Vancouver’s own Pitt Meadows.
Karen had a baby girl in 2010 and then returned to work to join The Jeff O'Neil Show on CFOX.
In addition to spending her free time acting, most recently on Supernatural and series like Bates Motel and Wayward Pines. Most recently she was on Worth the Wait and Kung Fu and So Help Me Todd. One of Karen’s most cherished projects was her video series with The Vancouver Sun called ‘Letters to a Younger Me’ – featuring local celebrities and inspirational figures sharing the advice they would give to their younger self.
Karen holds many charitable initiatives close to her heart. She is the spokesperson for the Hometown Heroes Lottery, where proceeds go to the BC Burn Fund and UBC & VGH Hospital Foundations. She is a big supporter of Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, Pink Shirt Day, Anti Bullying Campaign and Karen proudly supports the Santa Fox Food Drive, where proceeds go to Lower Mainland Food Banks. She served as a Media Ambassador for Woman2Warrior, benefitting Easter Seals Camps in BC and Karen took part in The Covenant House Sleep Out, working to help keep homeless youth off the streets of Vancouver.
Learn more about Karen here: www.karenkhunkhun.com
Follow Karen on X: https://twitter.com/KarenKhunkhun
Follow Karen on IG: http://instagram.com/karenkhunkhun
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to Anthony at 12th Street Sound for hosting us in the studio! It was an honour to have the Voted Least Likely podcast recorded by a true professional and without a cardboard box on my head:)
RE-AIR: On this week's episode I'm chatting with Victoria Cowan of Wordplay Inc.
I'm going to be honest, I had the hardest time writing a description for today's show since we covered SO MANY important topics.
Here's the key takeaways (if I had to narrow it down to just 5):
- The beauty of being labelled "too much"
- How to show up with vulnerability in business
- How to grieve mistakes and loss in business
- The importance of using your "darkness" as a motivator
- The power of genuine connection
I want to thank Victoria for her heart. This woman is as genuine and authentic as they come, and I am so grateful for the wisdom she has shared.
Follow Victoria Cowan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/victoriajunewrites
Learn more about her work here: https://www.wordplaycreative.ca/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
There’s a lot of advice out there about finding your “why”: something inspirational, fulfilling, something for the greater good.
And while I wholeheartedly AGREE that this should be the main focus and motivator when building your business— I also know that sometimes this just won’t cut it.
When you inevitably get kicked down, fail miserably, lose out, be left out, etc., you’ll need something deeper, and likely, darker…
This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I'm diving into what everyone is avoiding talking about: using your darkness.
If you've been feeling stuck, lost your spark, or frustrated with your progress-- this one's for you.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
I've said it a million times: entrepreneurship is personal development 101.
When you embark on an entrepreneurial journey, you will uncover EVERYTHING you are bad at.
You will discover a few hidden talents too, but in my experience, I have found many more things I am bad at, versus things I am good at. Now, what I love about this journey, is that you get better.
And you get better, because you have to.
When the progress of your dream relies on you getting more skilled, and more resilient, you make it happen.
So lets get into the three main FLAWS I've uncovered while building Leah Yard Designs.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
Billie Aadmi is the CEO and Founder of Go Mindspire Inc where she trains and coaches people to get into rapport with their unconscious mind using the worlds most powerful mind-body tools!
Billie guides her clients so that they can tap into the infinite resources that the Universe has waiting. She is a single mother of two beautiful children and a fur baby. She is also a passionate and purpose-driven international real estate investor and is dedicated to cultivating a prosperous mindset in others through the transformative tools of NLP, Time Line Therapy, and Hypnotherapy.
Billie emanates a gentle yet powerful energy to hold space to empower individuals to unlock their full potential to reach all their goals and dreams. She is transitioning from almost 2 decades of Policing into her new mission of upleveling mindsets for lifelong success.
Tune in to hear our conversation about the importance of taking responsibility, how manifesting ACTUALLY works, and how to become your best self.
Learn more about Billie's work here: https://gomindspire.com/
Follow Billie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/go.mindspire
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
This will be one of the few times I give "success" advice. I'm not here to tell you how to be successful, I am here to make you feel less alone on your journey to success.
But I have learned something powerful that is an important part of the "success equation".
Of all the skills you learn on your entrepreneurial journey, there is only ONE that will lead you to success.
Tune in to hear what I came close to losing, and what almost cost me my business.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
Julia Heinonen has a somewhat unusual story of becoming an entrepreneur.
After almost a decade in the corporate biotech field and decade of post secondary education, she traded in her career in science for a handcrafted jewelry business. It being an unpopular and sometimes harshly judged choice with some of family and friends, Julia tells the story of how she decided not to allow her education get in the way of her growth and freedom.
Through choosing her own path, she has been able to evolve more authentically into who she is through doing what she loves most: creating unique wearable art, designed to uplift and connect others while spreading joy.
Julia encourages others to see whatever experiences and education they have invested in as something that is never wasted, and also something that should never hold you back.
The path of becoming a more honest expression of who you are is worthwhile, even when full of uncertainty, inevitable failures and criticism from those you love most.
This week I'm chatting with Julia all about switching careers and following your passion. Tune in to be inspired and encouraged by this amazing woman.
Follow Julia on IG: https://www.instagram.com/chroma.nostaa.designs
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
It's only February and I've been sick 3 times, had 2 major business projects fall through, had our tech go down for a week, had a chemical leak in the studio that damaged inventory, and had issues with our SS24 collection.
It's safe to say 2024 is off to a rocky start.
When everything goes wrong, what do you do? Tune in to hear what steps I take to get myself back on track.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
RE-AIR:
I'm going to let you in on the biggest little secret: no one has it all figured out. Social media makes us doubt this fact, and ourselves. It's easy to get stuck and feel unmotivated (especially is you're a small business owner in Q1!)
Here are 3 tips to help you get out of a rut.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
RE-AIR:
Have you been feeling "behind"? I get it, we all want success to happen overnight. But the thing is, sometimes when we get early momentum, we miss out of valuable lessons.
This week I'm talking about why slow growth, is actually best:)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
You know when you meet someone and immediately click? That's Eliza for me.
Eliza Trendiak has been an entrepreneur since before she even knew the meaning of the word. Whether operating a successful lemonade stand or charging the kids in the neighbourhood for gymnastics lessons (despite not being a gymnast), Eliza has always loved turning an idea into a tangible business.
She spent the first 15 years of her career in the hair styling industry, first as a stylist, and then as a salon owner building and selling her brand of 4 salon locations in Vancouver, Canada. Seeing other women succeed in business is a huge passion of Eliza’s and she loves to connect and encourage other business owners any time she can.
You will regularly find her making ridiculous videos on social media using humour to highlight her attempt at balancing motherhood and business ownership. Currently Eliza is working on her new brand called Lavoh, a line of sustainable and reusable makeup remover cloths which she will be launching in the Spring of 2024.
In this episode we cover how you know when it's time to pivot, the importance of community in business, and that we're both ready for any awards show.
Follow Eliza's journey on IG: https://www.instagram.com/elizatrendiak/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elizatrendiak
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
It's been an honour to connect with so many inspiring guests on the podcast. This week we've rounded up our most impactful, vulnerable, and empowering clips to help you feel less alone.
Guests featured in this week's Episode:
Lindsay Dent, Founder of Pink Crown Creative & Host of the "Have you Met Her Yet?" Podcast shares how to follow your passion and starting before you're READY
Donna Bishop, Founder/Host of Fashion Talks Podcast shares how to pivot and start OVER
Dominique Baker, Social Media Influencer and Skin / Hair / Travel Expert shares a master class on RESILIENCY: how she overcame trauma and bounced back even stronger
Alana Ruoso, Certified Career Coach, Graphic Designer and Host of the Podcast "Ditch the Struggle" shares a powerful perspective shift for when you're not sure what to do NEXT
Christina Louey, Founder of Aralea Beauty shares how pair belief in yourself with a growth mindset to SUCCEED
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
After completing my "Year in Review" process (see Episode 70) it was pretty clear I need to make changes in 2024.
Although I EXCEEDED my revenue goals in 2023, it came at a price I'm not willing to pay again.
If you've got big dreams and are hustling to reach them, please listen to this week's episode to avoid making the mistakes I made.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
Our first episode of 2024 is LIVE!
I'm kicking the new year off with my annual planning process, plus I'm diving into what worked and what DIDN'T in 2023. Tune in for some juicy details ;)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
WHAT. A. YEAR.
I can't believe this is the last episode of 2023. This little show has turned into something so much bigger than I ever anticipated, and I have YOU to thank.
We have BIG PLANS for 2024, I can't wait to share what's coming:)
Thank-you to everyone who has cheered this show on, shared it with a friend, left a review, and tuned in.
It means the world.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
2023 marks the first year I ever actually chose a "Word of the Year". If you're new to this concept, it's an intention you set at the beginning of a new year.
I approached it in a spiritual way by listening to my intuition and allowing whatever word or phrase to come up.
To be honest, I wasn't thrilled with what surfaced. Neither were a few friends who tried to talk me out of it;)
But I decided to stick with what popped into my head, and go through the year open to what this word would mean.
Tune in to hear what I learned, and how listening to your intuition is NEVER a bad thing.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
If you're like me, you LOVE setting big goals at the beginning of the year. ps: I love this about us:)
The problem is, if you set your sights TOO HIGH and consistently don't reach your goals, you can end up losing confidence.
Learning to trust yourself by doing what you say you will do, builds self-worth.
After revisiting the dreams I wrote down in January, I've had to come to terms with the truth: I'm not going to reach some of them.
So, instead of telling you to push HARDER for the last stretch of 2023, I'm sharing three goals that I DIDN'T reach, and how I am reframing these "failures" before setting intentions in the new year.
Tune in for a (slightly embarrassing) list of unreached goals...
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
I'm pretty sure this is what they call a "hot take" ;)
I see a lot of people talking about becoming business owners so they can have total "freedom", and while this is part of the end goal, there is a myth around what this actually means.
Tune in for a dose of reality when it comes to entrepreneurship and the expectations around "freedom".
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I chose to re-air episode 16. As we head into the final stretch of 2024 I couldn't think of a more important topic than mental health and boundary setting. A huge thank-you to Lindsay Dent for sharing her heart during this chat.
RE-AIRED EPISODE: This week I had the honour to chat with Lindsay Dent, founder of www.pinkcrowncreative.com Lindsay On IG: https://www.instagram.com/_lindsaydent/ Pink Crown Creative IG: https://www.instagram.com/pinkcrowncreative Lindsay's Podcast IG "Have you met her yet?" https://www.instagram.com/haveyoumetheryetpodcast Lindsay's Podcast IG "Have you met her yet?"https://haveyoumetheryetpodcast.buzzsprout.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-dent Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
I'll be honest, this was a tough one to record. Many of you know my partner Kyle. He's the love of my life. He's the best person I've ever met.
But this year, I put my business first-- and it hurt our relationship.
Though we see couples who work together online, we don't often hear what it's really like. This week I'm sharing some of the struggles we've faced while in the rebuilding stage of Leah Yard Designs.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
You've all heard it: "Money doesn't buy happiness".
Though most of us can believe that statement, it's also easy to point out the problems that money could fix in our lives.
I'm on track to have my best year in business. And there's a few things I have learned about having more money.
This week I'm diving into this statement, is it a myth? Or does money actually buy happiness?
Tune in to find out.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
Ever feel like you're behind? For years, I watched my peers get post secondary educations, travel, start careers and families-- while I applied for dishwashing jobs.
But getting older doesn't make you OLD or IRRELEVANT unless you stop progressing.
Tune in to this week's episode for an important reminder about age.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
For a long time, I hid the fact that I was a competitive person. I've been competitive since I was little-- but it wasn't until recently that I started honouring my desire to win.
There is a misconception about competition and this week I am explaining why wanting to win is good for everyone in the running.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to Anthony at 12th Street Sound for hosting us in the studio! It was an honour to have the Voted Least Likely podcast recorded by a true professional and without a cardboard box on my head:)
On this week's episode I'm chatting with Victoria Cowan of Wordplay Inc.
I'm going to be honest, I had the hardest time writing a description for today's show since we covered SO MANY important topics.
Here's the key takeaways (if I had to narrow it down to just 5):
- The beauty of being labelled "too much"
- How to show up with vulnerability in business
- How to grieve mistakes and loss in business
- The importance of using your "darkness" as a motivator
- The power of genuine connection
I want to thank Victoria for her heart. This woman is as genuine and authentic as they come, and I am so grateful for the wisdom she has shared.
Follow Victoria Cowan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/victoriajunewrites
Learn more about her work here: https://www.wordplaycreative.ca/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
I recently spoke with Victoria Cowan of Wordplay Inc., and she asked me if my jewellery business Leah Yard Designs has had an increase in sales since launching the Voted Least Likely Podcast.
And my answer was: "no."
But-- podcasting HAS helped my business a lot. This week's episode is a reminder that not all success is measured by money.
Tune in to hear how this show has boosted my business. PS: If you're thinking of launching a podcast, this just might be the boost you need!
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
This week I had the honour of chatting with Donna Bishop: an accomplished interviewer/ moderator, dedicated producer of engaging content, and passionate advocate for Canadian fashion. Her background spans the fashion, beauty, lifestyle and media industries.
Donna supports entrepreneurs and brand leaders with moderated, live streamed events that elevate their story and messaging with an engaging interview that always soars beyond anything a google search provides. She can be heard regularly on CBC radio discussing fashion. As the host and founder of the popular podcast FashionTalks, Donna holds meaningful conversations with leaders in the fashion and related industries on the personal and social impact of fashion.
She is also the Director of Programming for CAFA (Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards), is a former board member of the Toronto Chapter of Fashion Group International, and is a mentor for the Toronto Fashion Incubator.
In 2009 she founded Green Beauty, Canada’s first online boutique dedicated to skincare and cosmetics that were made with natural ingredients yet had the performance of professional products, which she moved on from in 2015. She has been featured as an expert in beauty or entrepreneurship in numerous media outlets including: The Marilyn Denis Show, E! Canada, Best Health Magazine, NOW Magazine, Green Heroes (TVO), Coming Clean (Smithsonian Channel), Cosmo TV, The Globe and Mail, InStyle Magazine, The MomShift (Random House) and numerous blogs.
In this week's episode we talk about the power of pivoting in business, the myth of "finding balance", and the impact fashion has on our lives.
Tune in to hear one of my favourite voices in the podcasting world:)
Connect with Donna:
Website: https://thisisdonnab.ca/
On IG: https://www.instagram.com/thisisdonnab/
FashionTalks Podcast: https://fashiontalks.ca/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Yup, it's true. It's embarrassing, and it wasn't that long ago.
Tune into this week's episode all about my financial flop in 2021.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
My most downloaded episode is Episode 4. It's the episode where I tell the story about hiding in a washroom at an event because I felt like such an IMPOSTER.
I was recently back at that same venue. And I went back into that washroom, and took a selfie.
It's silly, but this photo is my proof of progress.
At the end of the day, only you know what you have accomplished. Which is why it matters that you track how far you've come.
This week I'm talking about the importance of doing hard things, and documenting the journey to yourself.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
A huge thank-you to the Georgia Straight for ranking the "Voted Least Likely" Podcast as the 3rd best podcast in the BOV 2023 Awards! I am so honoured to have this show recognized. Thank-you to everyone who voted, together we can make others feel less alone on their journey.
If you are a goal-oriented person (which you likely are if you're here), this episode is for you.
When you're building something, you have to constantly keep your eyes forward and AHEAD of where you are now. But this mindset makes it harder to notice the wins as they happen.
Entrepreneurs are notorious for brushing off a reached goal, since it quickly becomes a "past goal".
This episode is all about training yourself to recognize the wins. Are you missing the gifts the world is presenting you with?
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I'm re-sharing my chat with Kelsey Reidl, a marketing coach, tech-savvy business woman, and host of the Visionary Life Podcast
In this episode we chatted all about the importance of staying consistent, making intuitive decisions, and building a life that fires you UP instead of burning you OUT.
I absolutely adore this woman. She is exactly how she sounds: authentic, passionate, and community-focused (in fact, right after we finished recording she asked me how she could continue to support my business journey-- she is a true cheerleader!)
We definitely hit it off, so much so that I made her promise to have a drink with me over a plate of nachos next time she's on the West Coast ;)
I can't wait for you to learn and be inspired by her expert insights.
About Kelsey: Kelsey Reidl is a Marketing Coach with a special interest in Social Media Growth, Authentic Relationship-Building, and Experiential Marketing Strategies.
After a decade working in Business Development & Marketing Roles for some of Canada’s Top Health Food Brands, Kelsey decided to leave the corporate world so that she could work with Small Businesses and help them get REALLY good at marketing in order to connect with more clients and generate more cash.
Using the innovative online marketing methods of today, while never forgetting about time-honoured principles that continue to prove successful, Kelsey helps her clients to create their Marketing Playbooks, filled with unique strategies that drive business results.
Through her courses, coaching, and her Top Business Podcast, she inspires entrepreneurs to challenge the status quo, connect with customers in creative ways, and to never settle for mediocre marketing campaigns.
Kelsey lives in Ontario, Canadia with her husband and rescue pup, Abby. She loves to explore the world in search of the best coffee shops, the most stunning nature, and the wildest experiences (sleeping in the Sahara, mountain biking through canyons, and heli-skiing in Switzerland are some of her best memories!)
Find Kelsey on IG: https://instagram.com/kelseyreidl/
Website: https://kelseyreidl.com/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I thought confidence was something you were either born with, or without.
I grew up around a lot of "outwardly confident" people who were intimidating, overbearing, and aggressive.
For years, this is what I thought confidence was.
But the catch is this: confidence is personal.
You want to feel secure in yourself, powerful, and resilient? There is only ONE relationship in the world that will help you get there: the one with yourself.
This week I'm diving into what confidence REALLY is, and how we can learn to become it-- because yes, it is a SKILL that can be obtained over time.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I read the books, I listen to the podcasts, I do the affirmations. But I still struggle to get fully on the "Woo Woo" train.
I grew up in a very practical family. Logic beat out feelings every time. This ingrained a distrust in my intuition. I really struggle to listen and honour my gut feelings.
But something happened recently that nudged me to trust myself on a deeper level.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
The Voted Least Likely Podcast just turned one year old!
I can't believe what started as a creative outlet has turned into something so wildly fulfilling.
Thank-you to everyone who has cheered this little show on. We're just getting started:)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
We all have light and dark energy in us. Most people don't use their full range of emotional capacity-- because it's scary to feel "dark" feelings.
This week I'm keeping it short, and encouraging you to explore your full human-ness in a safe and controlled way. There is power in tapping into darker emotions. Learn to use them for motivation in your life.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In this episode I sat down with Tyra Gilbert, who works in Fundraising and Communications for the DEWC (Downtown Eastside Women's Centre).
Tyra shares her goals for helping the unhoused population in Vancouver's DTES, as well as some major misconceptions about the area.
About the DEWC: "The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre has provided a safe space for women and children in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. We provide practical support, basic necessities and hot nutritious meals to over 1000 women and children every day. Throughout our 5 service sites, and thanks to our wide array of services, we support women to make positive changes in their lives by connecting them to a continuum of services including outreach, advocacy, wellness, recreation, housing and skills development."
Looking to give back? Donate directly here: https://dewc.ca/donate-online
Please read and pass along this report provided by the Red Women Rising: https://dewc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MMIW-Report-Final-March-10-WEB.pdf
Did you hear?
The Voted Least Likely Podcast has been nominated for the Best of Vancouver Awards hosted by the Georgia Straight!
I would be honoured to have your vote: https://best-of-vancouver-2023-votes--georgia-straight.contest.vote/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Welcome to the small business series!
I registered my business 10 years ago, and I did just about everything wrong for the first 6 of those years... This podcast is all about failure, perseverance, and mindset, but I wanted to launch this mini series to narrow in on the business side of things.
The goal of the Voted Least Likely podcast is to make you feel less alone on your journey, but I also want you to be equipped with tools to achieve your goals and live a fulfilled life while building your dream.
So let's dive in to some of the tactical tips. In each episode I am going to cover a topic that I wish I knew more about when I was first starting, I am going to tell you how I failed in it, what I have learned, and leave you with some resources to dive in further.
This series is about taking action. Tune in to Part Four, all about Vulnerability in Business.
Did you hear?
The Voted Least Likely Podcast has been nominated for the Best of Vancouver Awards hosted by the Georgia Straight!
I would be honoured to have your vote: https://best-of-vancouver-2023-votes--georgia-straight.contest.vote/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Did you hear? Our jewellery brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201 Sign up for more details here.
RE-AIR of Episode 32: This week I'm sharing my chat with Christina Louey, founder of Aralea Beauty, a nutritive lip care brand in Vancouver BC.
Christina shares the family inspiration behind her product, the importance of mindset when growing a business, and how to use doubt as a guide. This chat felt like a mini mentor session, I came away from our recording feeling not only inspired, but reassured in my own entrepreneurial journey! I can't wait for you to learn and be inspired by Christina.
Shop Aralea Beauty here: https://araleabeauty.com/ Aralea Beauty on IG: https://www.instagram.com/araleabeauty/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Welcome to the small business series!
I registered my business 10 years ago, and I did just about everything wrong for the first 6 of those years... This podcast is all about failure, perseverance, and mindset, but I wanted to launch this mini series to narrow in on the business side of things.
The goal of the Voted Least Likely podcast is to make you feel less alone on your journey, but I also want you to be equipped with tools to achieve your goals and live a fulfilled life while building your dream.
So let's dive in to some of the tactical tips. In each episode I am going to cover a topic that I wish I knew more about when I was first starting, I am going to tell you how I failed in it, what I have learned, and leave you with some resources to dive in further.
This series is about taking action. Tune in to Part Three, all about asking for help, and collaborating with your dream brands.
Did you hear? Our jewellery brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201 Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Welcome to the small business series!
I registered my business 10 years ago, and I did just about everything wrong for the first 6 of those years... This podcast is all about failure perseverance, and mindset, but I wanted to launch this mini series to narrow in on the business side of things.
The goal of the Voted Least Likely podcast is to make you feel less alone on your journey, but I also want you to be equipped with tools to achieve your goals and live a fulfilled life while building your dream.
So let's dive in to some of the tactical tips. In each episode I am going to cover a topic that I wish I knew more about when I was first starting, I am going to tell you how I failed in it, what I have learned, and leave you with some resources to dive in further.
This series is about taking action. Tune in to Part Two, all about Social Media and Email Marketing.
Did you hear? Our jewellery brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201 Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Welcome to the small business series!
I registered my business 10 years ago, and I did just about everything wrong for the first 6 of those years... This podcast is all about failure perseverance, and mindset, but I wanted to launch this mini series to narrow in on the business side of things.
The goal of the Voted Least Likely podcast is to make you feel less alone on your journey, but I also want you to be equipped with tools to achieve your goals and live a fulfilled life while building your dream.
So let's dive in to some of the tactical tips. In each episode I am going to cover a topic that I wish I knew more about when I was first starting, and I am going to tell you how I failed in it, what I have learned, and leave you with some resources to dive in further.
This series is about taking action. Tune in to Part One, all about Mindset.
Did you hear? Our jewellery brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201 Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
After sharing the 10 things I learned in the last 10 years of business on episode 40, I was comforted to know I wasn't alone when it comes to regrets...
I'm certainly not a business expert, but after a LOT of trail and error, there are things I wish I could go back and tell myself when I was just starting out.
This wish sparked the idea for the Small Business Bootcamp series! Starting next week, I'll be sharing some tactical tips I wish I could have implemented when I registered Leah Yard Designs in 2013.
I want this series to be beneficial to you. If you have an idea of something you would like me to cover, a guest you would like me to have on the show, or a topic you need help with, send me an email at hello@leahyard.com.
It's time to grow your dream, and I'd love to help you get there.
Did you hear? Our jewellery brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201 Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
In the moment, minor decisions can feel MAJOR.
This week I'm sharing the one thing that's likely holding you back from achieving your goals.
Did you hear? Our jewellery brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201 Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
If you're like me, visualizing your progress helps you take action. But what if you're visualizing the wrong way?
When it comes to "stepping outside your comfort zone" I envisioned stepping over a boundary to do something scary, and then stepping back. But that's not exactly how it works, and visualizing it that way was making it harder for me to seek out uncomfortable things.
This week I am sharing wisdom from a friend about what really happens when you push yourself.
Did you hear? Our jewellery brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201 Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here: www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Alana Ruoso is an award-winning Graphic Designer and a certified Career & Success Coach for Designers, Creatives & Professionals.
With over 20 years of corporate and creative experience, Alana has a proven track record of stepping up to any career challenge.
Alongside her creative career, Alana coaches clients who deep down know that they can do better but keep falling short of where they want to go.
On this week's episode of the Voted Least Likely Podcast Alana dives into what it means to go from "vanilla success to spectacular triumph", when it's time to get support, and how her own personal struggles led her on to a career path to help others get unstuck.
Learn more about Alana here: alanaruoso.com
Find her on social:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Youtube
Did you hear? Our jeweller brand, Leah Yard Designs, is turning 10 and we'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event
When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm
Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201
Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
You've heard it from a million people: a morning routine will set you up for success like nothing else.
Turns out, it's true. Over the past few weeks I gave mine up. With events booked every week with our jewellery brand Leah Yard Designs, I ended up burning out, and sleeping in.
I'm grateful my morning routine was disrupted, because it taught me a BIG lesson. When you find systems that make you a better, stronger version of yourself, these need to become non-negotiable.
Tune in to this week's episode all about my morning routine. Why it's important, what happened when I quit it, and how a 5 minute meditation gave me a superpower.
Did you hear? Leah Yard Designs is turning 10! We'd love to celebrate with you!
Leah Yard Designs Anniversary Event
When: July 22 from 12pm-5pm
Where: LYD Studio 161 Keefer Street Unit 201
Sign up for more details here.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I almost didn't publish this episode.
This year marks my 10th year since registering Leah Yard Designs as a business. And part of me, is DEEPLY embarrassed about that.
Because on the outside, I should be a lot further ahead in my journey after a decade.
But only I know the whole story.
Yes, 10 years ago I registered my business. But 12 years ago I was bedridden after having a mental breakdown. My starting point was a rock bottom.
And even though it looks like I am miles behind to the world, the version of me 12 years ago would be blown away with where I am now.
Never forget this: your journey is YOURS. Only you know what you have overcome, and there is no blueprint to any of this.
This week I am sharing the 10 surprising things I have learned after building a brand for 10 years.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
"Perfectionism is just procrastination"
Ever heard that? I remember when I did, because it shifted my brain tremendously. I couldn't believe that all this time I was trying to do things "perfectly", I was actually just putting things off.
Once I changed my language and mindset around "perfection", I was able to aim higher and make big, messy action.
Tune in to this week's episode all about the downside of perfectionism and how you can set yourself up for success.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
There is someone out there who is inspired by you just being you. It's easy to assume our work doesn't matter, but it often matters more than we know.
This week's episode is short and sweet. It's the reminder I needed.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Since I was 4 years old I can remember having a "fixed mindset". My default thinking when things are challenging is: "I can't figure this out". You'd never know it, because I post so much online about positivity, but I am a negative thinker. I'm doing all the work, reading all the books, nudging my neurons to create new, optimistic pathways-- but I still struggle.
This week I am sharing a BRAIN HACK I have been trying that has already changed my mindset in just a few weeks. It's simple, clarifying, and non-committal.
If you've been struggling with negative thinking, this one's for you.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I sat down with Community Builder, Shannon Lorenz. Shannon runs Bespoke Market, an event designed to bring together creatives, designers, and local businesses.
If you've been to one of Shannon's events, you know just how important community is to her. She's been a cheerleader for local brands for years, and I am thrilled to share her wisdom on the Voted Least Likely Podcast.
In this episode we cover:
- What it means to be"Ready for the Party", how adopting this mindset can dramatically shift your outlook if you're in a down season
- How to leverage each opportunity and make the most out of events
- How to push through when you'e suffering from Imposter Syndrome and lean into your intuition
Plus: what's next for Bespoke *(psst: Shannon's got big plans for Vancouver!)
Find Bespoke Market on Instagram
Learn more about Bespoke Market here: https://www.bespokemarket.ca/*
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
At the beginning of the year I took you through my annual planning process (Episode 22). This exercise has been a GAME-CHANGER for me.
Putting your life vision, goals, and financial snapshot into a document you can use to keep yourself on track is how you set yourself up for success.
This week's episode I'm diving into the first quarter of 2023. I'm taking you through my actual process I do every 3 months to make sure I am sticking to my goals.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
As I have grown my business, my values have changed. Things I thought were important no longer are, and new values have become drivers in my business and life.
The thing that has surprised me the most is this: Congruency matters, A LOT.
Saying you are one thing and acting the opposite makes me wildly uncomfortable.
This week I'm talking all about congruency, what it is, why it matters, and how you may be misrepresenting yourself in ways you didn't realize.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
My partner, Kyle, owns Unimpressed Screen Printing. He started and grew his business in half the time it has taken me. His work ethic, ability to problem solve, and exceptional customer service are just a few of the reasons he's been able to achieve massive success in just 5 years.
He does things differently. He's not active on social media, and yet he's built a "cult-like" following. I've had the privilege of watching his entrepreneurial journey since the beginning.
I am always inspired, impressed, and in awe of him.
Tune in to hear the biggest lessons I have learned from having an inside look at Unimpressed Screen Printing.
Want to hear from Kyle himself? Tune into Episode 8.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I'm sharing my chat with Christina Louey, founder of Aralea Beauty, a nutritive lip care brand in Vancouver BC.
Christina shares the family inspiration behind her product, the importance of mindset when growing a business, and how to use doubt as a guide. This chat felt like a mini mentor session, I came away from our recording feeling not only inspired, but reassured in my own entrepreneurial journey! I can't wait for you to learn and be inspired by Christina.
Shop Aralea Beauty here: https://araleabeauty.com/
Aralea Beauty on IG: https://www.instagram.com/araleabeauty/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:
www.leahyard.com
IG: @leahyard
TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
At the beginning of of the year I broke down my annual planning process. Its an in depth assignment I started doing to help me stay on track, and keep my goals in mind. Because in the past I have done a lot of planning and dreaming, but not so much action taking.This exercise helps me ACTUALLY work towards my goals. There is a huge misconception about manifesting– that you can just think about things and they will come to you.
Thats not the case. Its mindset PAIRED with action that makes dreams come true.
If you want to listen to the full process you can tune into episode 22.
But today, I want to talk about the importance of checking in regularly.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Taylor was always meant for great things. At just 17 she started on a mission what would turn into the BeaYOUtiful foundation, a local charity that has impacted over 2,500 young girls across Canada.With a focus on confidence building, Taylor is helping raise the next generation of empowered young women.Tune into this week's episode all about following your dreams, paving the way for others, and making impact.Find Taylor Hui on IGThe BeaYOUtiful Foundation on IGhttps://thebeayoutifulfoundation.com/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I once told a story about hiding in a washroom at an event because I felt like such a fraud. This story has become the thing I am known most for...But that's why I shared it. We all experience some level of Imposter Syndrome, and it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Tune in to find out why.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Years ago I heard this statement: you are not your customer
I had never considered this view point before. A lot of businesses are born from a problem someone solved for themselves. And this starting spark makes it easy to relate to the customer you are selling to.
But what if you’re creating a product for a demographic that you can't quite relate to?As a founder of a demi-fine jewellery brand, most of my customers are those who have disposable income. I am grateful to have made amazing friends with some of my customers. But the fact that we are in a different season of life, makes for some awkwardness at the beginning.Today I am chatting about the thing no one wants to discuss: the awkward part of being an entrepreneur.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Feeling behind?Here's the big secret: that's normal. In today's episode I'm sharing my top tips on how to use that feeling to make progress.ps: this week I needed the reminder:)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I don't like change. I struggle to learn new things. So when a friend of mine encouraged me to join TikTok, I was VERY resistant. I also felt like another social media platform to manage was the LAST thing I needed in my life.
That was last year.And now, thanks to my good friend Caroline, I am on the app and loving it:)In fact, you are listening to this podcast because TikTok made me realized the value of sharing true authentic stories.Tune in to hear the three things TT convinced me to do;)
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I'm sharing my chat with Kelsey Reidl, a marketing coach, tech-savvy business woman, and host of the Visionary Life Podcast
In this episode we chatted all about the importance of staying consistent, making intuitive decisions, and building a life that fires you UP instead of burning you OUT.I absolutely adore this woman. She is exactly how she sounds: authentic, passionate, and community-focused (in fact, right after we finished recording she asked me how she could continue to support my business journey-- she is a true cheerleader!)We definitely hit it off, so much so that I made her promise to have a drink with me over a plate of nachos next time she's on the West Coast ;)I can't wait for you to learn and be inspired by her expert insights. About Kelsey: Kelsey Reidl is a Marketing Coach with a special interest in Social Media Growth, Authentic Relationship-Building, and Experiential Marketing Strategies.
After a decade working in Business Development & Marketing Roles for some of Canada’s Top Health Food Brands, Kelsey decided to leave the corporate world so that she could work with Small Businesses and help them get REALLY good at marketing in order to connect with more clients and generate more cash.
Using the innovative online marketing methods of today, while never forgetting about time-honoured principles that continue to prove successful, Kelsey helps her clients to create their Marketing Playbooks, filled with unique strategies that drive business results.
Through her courses, coaching, and her Top Business Podcast, she inspires entrepreneurs to challenge the status quo, connect with customers in creative ways, and to never settle for mediocre marketing campaigns.
Kelsey lives in Ontario, Canadia with her husband and rescue pup, Abby. She loves to explore the world in search of the best coffee shops, the most stunning nature, and the wildest experiences (sleeping in the Sahara, mountain biking through canyons, and heli-skiing in Switzerland are some of her best memories!)
Find Kelsey on IG: https://instagram.com/kelseyreidl/
Website: https://kelseyreidl.com/
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Collaborating is a huge part of how I grow my business. Its also how I learn new ideas, stay relevant and inspired, and build connections.
But they can go really wrong. And though I am lucky that I have had the honour to team up with some incredible brands and influencers, there have been partnerships that fell apart last minute, and projects that never made the deadline.
So today I thought I would share the top three things I have learned from failed collaborations.
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I'm speaking with Licia Tobias, owner of LVT Agency, a wholesale agency in Toronto.In this episode Licia talks about how she had to pivot her business during COVID, the importance of being empathetic during difficult times, and the power of relationship building in business.Licia's consistency, dedication, and resiliency not only pulled her through a challenging time, it allowed her business to flourish on the other side.I am honoured to share her wisdom on the Voted Least Likely Podcast.Connect with Licia here: @lvtagency
Learn more about the Voted Least Likely Podcast here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
I came across a blog post in online Success magazine by Michael Pietrzak about new year resolutions and why they fail.
It was called: “Beyond Resolutions, The Complete Guide to achieving your new years goals” (you can read the full blog here)
The article had a step by step process to plan out the next year. It was so well done and thoughtfully written.
I have streamlined Michael’s steps to make them work for me, and I wanted to take you through how I am setting myself up for the new year.
Learn more here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Happy New Year!Every fresh start begins with a look back over what worked, and what didn't.I'll be honest, 2022 was tough. Both personally and professionally, last year pushed me to my max.But I did gain some valuable lessons. And even though a few of these were things I thought I already knew-- it never hurts to have a refresher ;)Tune in to hear what I had to re-learn in 2022, and what I am taking with me as we kick off a new year.
Want more behind the scenes? Follow along here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Happy Holidays!
I'm taking the next two weeks off from publishing and getting ready for our relaunch in 2023. I already have some amazing guests booked for the new year, I can't wait to share their stories with you.
A huge thank-you to everyone who tuned in this year. I am so grateful for the encouragement. Sending you lots of love!
-Leah, xo
Want more behind the scenes? Follow along here:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Several years ago I was scrolling on IG and came across an account. Instantly I felt welcomed. In the fashion and beauty space it's a fine line to create inspirational content while fostering community. Dominique Baker is one of those influencers who creates content FOR her audience. Over the last few years I have watched her overcome obstacles with grace, uplift others, and remain open and vulnerable. After being cancelled and viciously attacked online, she not only bounced back, but bounced back STRONGER. Her story is inspiring, and truly a masterclass in resiliency. I am so honoured to know her, watch her thrive, and share her story on the Voted Least Likely Podcast.Follow Dominique on IG: @dominique.bakerTikTok: @dominiquebakerofficialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4XE5PLJZYqMkYaQv0eQlvAwww.styledomination.com Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
When I decided to start this show, I came to terms with the fact that I wasn’t going to be good at it for a while.
That’s ultimately what we are doing when we start something new: we are admitting we’re going to likely be bad at something for a while, with the hope of getting GOOD over time.
I am 4 months in, and here’s what I have learned so far.
www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
Remember how far you’ve come.
As we tackle the final stretch of 2022 it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
But you’ve done so much already.
Remember that struggle you overcame? Remember the heartbreak you thought you’d never survive? Remember that time you felt nervous but you showed up anyways?
You have made it so far. Don’t let some fictional timeline like December 31st make you doubt yourself.
You’re right on track❤️
This week on the Voted Least Likely Podcast I’m letting you in on a few changes I have made BEFORE the new year strikes.
Tune in to hear how I’m taking back control🎧
www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I had the honour to chat with Lindsay Dent, founder of Pink Crown Creative. We chatted about taking the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship, how to assess your business when it's no longer bringing you joy, and the importance prioritizing your mental health.
I am so grateful for Lindsay's openness and vulnerability. This conversation is an important one as we head into the final stretch of the year. It also serves as an important reminder to check on the people in your life.
Three things we cover in this episode:
1: Taking the Leap
How do you know when you're ready to quit your job?
2: Pivoting
How to face the hard truth about your business when it is no longer serving you.
3: Setting Boundaries
Lindsay shares simple ways she took control of her time, and made her business work FOR her.
Connect with Lindsay here:
Pink Crown Create: www.pinkcrowncreative.com
Lindsay On IG: https://www.instagram.com/_lindsaydent/
Pink Crown Creative IG: https://www.instagram.com/pinkcrowncreative
Lindsay's Podcast IG "Have you met her yet?" https://www.instagram.com/haveyoumetheryetpodcast
Lindsay's Podcast IG "Have you met her yet?"
https://haveyoumetheryetpodcast.buzzsprout.com
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-dent
I'll be honest, 2022 has been a challenge. I have felt the chronic stress of the last few years catch up to me. I know I am not alone in this. The burn out is REAL.
This episode I am keeping it short. There's a few mindset shifts I have had to make as we "limp" our way to the finish line of a difficult year.
Tune in for some tips, and let me know what tactics you're using to get to the finish line:)
www.leahyard.com IG: @leahyard TikTok: @leahyard
Our sponsor is our very own jewellery brand: Leah Yard Designs
5% of all profits are donated to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center. Shop the full collection of demi-fine jewellery at: www.leahyarddesigns.com
IG: @leahyarddesigns
TikTok @leahyarddesigns
This week I am thrilled to share my chat with Caroline Ross!
Caroline is a commercial photographer and educator. Using her TikTok platform (with over 100,000 followers) Caroline exposes the photoshopped images we see in the media, pulling back the curtain on the unrealistic content we see everyday.
In our chat we discuss the impacts heavily edited photos have on us, how social media is changing, and how Kim Kardashian's shoulders were in the spotlight after Caroline noticed something was off...
CONNECT WITH CAROLINE ROSS: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caroline_in_thecity instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolineross/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vancitycaroline Website: https://www.charlsross.ca
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW: www.leahyard.com
Building a business goes beyond the "professional" side. Now more than ever, consumers are looking for connection and meaning.
It matters where you spend your money. This week I am sharing 3 things I personally believe are crucial for any brand to have, to make a lasting impact.
www.leahyard.com
Have you been feeling "behind"? I get it, we all want success to happen overnight. But the thing is, sometimes when we get early momentum, we miss out of valuable lessons.
This week I'm talking about why slow growth, is actually best:)
www.leahyard.com
We hear a lot about the REQUIREMENTS for becoming an entrepreneur. What if you don't fit the blueprint?
This episode we're diving into a few more myths about building a business and how to create something YOUR way.
www.leahyard.com
This list continues to grow, but here are the top 10 things I wish I knew before starting Leah Yard Designs.
www.leahyard.com
www.leahyarddesigns.com
We are popping up this Saturday, Oct. 1st with our Jewelry Brand Leah Yard Designs!
Where: 1441 E Pender St. When: Oct. 1 from 2pm-8pm
www.leahyarddesigns.com
Welcome Kyle Kary to the show!
Kyle is my partner in life, and a fellow high-school dropout/entrepreneur. In this episode we chat about the start-up phase in business, plus the biggest MYTH about entrepreneurship.
www.leahyard.com
Are you waiting to be discovered? Stop waiting. This week we're diving into my 3 biggest business mistakes. (Plus, how The Matrix sabotaged my progress...) www.leahyard.com
This podcast has turned into the most fulfilling project I have ever done.
And I almost didn’t do it.
Because I didn’t have what I believed to be the main skill required to pull this off.
www.leahyard.com
We’re all influenced by our environments. And if we’re not thoughtful about it, we can end up with habits and views that don’t support our goals. In this episode I'm diving into 3 things I wish I could tell my younger self, staring with something we all need to hear: you are not alone.
www.leahyard.com
Have you ever felt like you’re going to be found out?
This is Imposter Syndrome: feeling like a fraud.
There was a time I felt this so intensely, that I hid in a washroom.
www.leahyard.com
I'm going to let you in on a little secret: no one has it all figured out. But social media makes us doubt this fact, and ourselves. It's easy to get stuck and feel unmotivated, here are 3 tips to help you get out of a rut.
www.leahyard.com
There was a time in my life where I was failing at EVERYTHING. And what popped into my mind was:
"If I am destined to fail, what would I do anyways?"
What would I happily try my best at, regardless of the outcome?
That idea sparked this show...
www.leahyard.com
Do you feel like you know there is something special in you to give, but you feel stuck? Do you feel like the least likely person to be able to succeed?
You're in the right place.
Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast. I'm Leah, and I'll be your host.
Website: www.leahyard.com