OnlineBound with Elena Mutonono: Recent Episodes
Elena Mutonono
OnlineBound with Elena Mutonono is a podcast for online language teachers and coaches who are tired of cramming more client hours into their day and look for ways to grow their business in a smart, lean and sustainable way.
In this podcast we explore the topics of authenticity, sustainability, values, efficiency, resilience and creativity when running an online teaching business in an oversaturated language teaching market.
We will broaden our horizons, challenge our mindset and forge our own paths amidst loud and demanding voices of scarcity and pursuit of fast profits at any cost.
Together we will build resilience as we journey into the unknown, commitment to the change we seek to make and faith in creating a better world by connecting people across cultures through teaching languages online.
Want to learn more about creating free events that will help you sell your programs?
Check out my most recent episode on OnlineBound Premium: https://patreon.com/ElenaMutonono
In this podcast I answer the questions I get a lot, "How is free content different from paid one?" "Why do I need to create it?" "How can I make sure it leads people into action?" I share not just why free content is important, but also 3 main principles that turn boring content (like, words of the day or 5 rules for the Present Simple) into one that fires people up!
Get more actionable tips on getting your clients, regardless of algorithms, the economy and other factors that we blame for not being able to get clients.
Sign up for weekly OnlineBound Premium on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/ElenaMutonono
The Premium Podcast is only for teachers who are ready to take action, and they want specific, ongoing guidance from me. Consider this podcast as online audio coaching because many of the tips I’ll be sharing are the tips I share in my community and with private clients as well.
When you join OnlineBound premium you get access to:
- Weekly podcasts full of actionable tips.
- Scripts with extra links and resources.
- 10% off on all of my courses and products.
The podcast includes both strategic and mindset advice, and it will be reminiscent of ongoing coaching on demand, without the feedback loop.
You can join at any time and stay for as long as you want. Go to patreon.com/elenamutonono (link in the description) to access your first batch of episodes.
Friends, welcome to 2025!
I hope this parable inspires you to reflect on what you want to achieve and what you're willing to give to achieve your goals in this new year.
This parable was written by Yulia Minakova, inspired (possibly) by Stephen King's thriller "Needful Things," and translated by me.
If you would like to learn to work sustainably in 2025, I invite you to check out my resources at my course page: https://courses.elenamutonono.com/
More new projects are coming, especially for all of you podcast lovers, so stay tuned!
In this episode, Aurelie Grihangne explains how she transformed her business in just a year. Like many teachers, she started teaching 1:1 on platforms that ate up all her time for little pay.
She had a big audience on social media, but the long hours drained her energy and didn't leave time to create new content. She was struggling and didn't know how to move forward.
After working with Elena, she started offering asynchronous programs and shifting away from 1:1. Now she has more time to experiment, create content, and her business is thriving!
Your Best French Academy website
In this episode, Akvilė describes how she made the transition from working 8-12 hours a day down to just 3-4 hours. She started feeling burned out and knew she needed a change.
When she first tried working asynchronously, it was an experiment that she did as "something extra" on top of 1:1 classes. But then a health challenge prompted her to switch completely.
Now she has the freedom to work when she wants and has time to experiment with new approaches to teaching and marketing. Self-coaching has been crucial to reaching her goals.
ADCM language school
In this episode, Maurice shares the transformation he's made from teaching 36 hours a week to just 24 with an asynchronous program. He's also got more energy and better hours.
Before, he was stuck where many teachers are, selling his time and taking on as many students as he could manage. Now he can be more selective about who he works with.
He's also been able to increase his income even though he's working fewer hours. And his students are more engaged and getting better results with his new approach to teaching.
Maurice's LinkedIn profile
In this episode, Phil describes his business journey and how he found the focus that made him successful. After struggling for several years, he was ready to quit - but he didn't.
He shares some of the most important steps he took to reach his goals. One of those steps was taking up improv, which has given him more empathy for himself and his clients.
It has allowed him to let go and stop getting in his own way. He's been able to bring this approach to his students and clients as well - to help them relax and enjoy learning.
Phil's Conversation website
In this episode, Petra Bozoradi describes her journey to becoming a sustainable business owner. After joining the Smart Teachers Library, she was able to transform her approach.
Learning new teaching formats were the most valuable part of her experience. When she joined the Library, she was working 50 hours a week teaching 1:1 and creating materials.
Now, she's making more in half the time with asynchronous lessons and no amount of money could make her go back to 50-hour weeks. Her Read, Learn, Speak program is a success!
Easy Hungarian website
In this episode, Vera von Flüe shares how working with a coach helped her to become more efficient. By changing her mindset, she was able to get the same results with less work.
Now she doesn't feel so overwhelmed and has more energy for her clients. She no longer feels needy or pushy about selling, but just enjoys talking about her offer.
Instead of being afraid of failure, she focuses on taking action and moving forward. This allows her to feel more confident and grateful for the success of her journey.
Speak German Now website
Welcome to season 8 of OnlineBound! This season, I want to talk about the price of having a successful online teaching or coaching business and why we avoid paying it.
After four years of documenting my own experience and talking with other teachers, I have many insights to share on this topic. It's a key component of building a sustainable business.
Listen in to learn about three common forms of self-sabotage that I've observed. It's only once we go below the surface level that we can challenge ourselves to truly grow.
Episode link
Hey Friends!
I'm so grateful you're here and I believe that I can help some of you make your business a reality.
Here's how we can work together:
- Inside the Smart Teacher's Library: sign up for a waiting list to get a discount + bonus materials https://www.elenamutonono.com/smart-teachers-library-2/
- 1:1 through my 8-week program called Business Clinic. To learn more, contact me directly through my website: https://www.elenamutonono.com/contact-elena-mutonono/
- Through my courses and books: https://courses.elenamutonono.com/ Get 15% off on any course or book using the code PODCASTFAN15
I'm looking forward to seeing you enroll in my programs or courses and purchase my books! If you want to stay in the loop of what's happening in my world, sign up for my newsletter: www.elenamutonono.com/teacher
~Elena
In the Smart Teacher's Library we achieve sustainability in 3 steps:
- By learning to teach in less time-consuming and more manageable formats.
- By building confidence and emotional resilience to market and sell programs.
- By collaborating with other teachers to grow our audiences faster.
Join the Smart Teacher's Library today!
It's open for a few days, I hope you can join this time: https://www.elenamutonono.com/library-early-enrollment/
In this episode, Leo Roux shares his journey as a queer language teacher. After getting his CELTA certificate and starting to work with students, he noticed something wasn't right.
Eventually, he realized that he didn't feel comfortable sharing his queer identity in the ELT community. Partly, this is because most ELT materials are biased toward straightness.
He decided that he wanted to create a safe learning space for the queer community. Now he is able to be himself and provide a safe environment for queer language learners to thrive.
Queer English website
In this episode, Clare Whitmell talks about her first experience hosting a summit. She shares her enthusiasm for collaboration and describes how she has changed her mindset about it.
A year ago, Clare was very uncomfortable with the idea of collaborating because she felt insecure and feared rejection. But once she approached it with curiosity, things shifted.
By using the self-coaching tools in the Smart Teacher's Library, she was able to overcome her anxieties. Now she fully embraces collaboration and is already planning future summits!
English at Home website
In this episode, Chris Pontiroli describes all the changes she's made since she joined the Smart Teacher's Library. After months of hesitation, she gave it to herself as a birthday gift.
Once she made the decision, she was all in and immediately started putting the ideas into practice. She's already sold her asynchronous programs to 70+ students in the past year.
The Library brought a sense of community to what can be an otherwise lonely career. And the self-coaching tools have allowed her to shift her mindset - a total game changer.
Chris's website
In this episode, Yann Le Bouhellec shares his journey as an online language teacher. After the first year, his calendar was full but he was looking for alternative ways of teaching.
He tried to create an online course, but it ended up being even more work than his 1:1 sessions. He was wanted some direction and a support system to guide him.
After discovering the Smart Teacher's Library, he's already making great progress. He's discovered the magic of asynchronous teaching and has already sold his first product!
Yann's website
In this episode, Aude Bellezanne and I talk about the benefits of a supportive community. She shares her insights about how her mindset and approach to teaching have transformed.
After receiving her teacher training in isolation during Covid, Aude had a lot of clients but was overwhelmed. She knew she wanted to make changes and that she needed support to do it.
After joining the Smart Teacher's Library, she learned that she could charge more and say no without second-guessing herself. She also discovered the power of teaching asynchronously.
Fearless French website
In this episode, I'm speaking with Luke Thompson who just reached a million YouTube subscribers! We talk about why he loves making content and the challenges he's faced.
Luke explains why language teachers feel burned out over time, whether teaching in-person or online. For him, creating videos provides a lasting satisfaction that he felt was missing.
He also talks about his struggles to commercialize his creativity through premium content. Finally, he shares techniques for staying focused and keeping a healthy mindset at work.
Luke's ENGLISH Podcast website
In this episode, Oli Cooke shares insights about how he was able to overcome a lifetime of anxiety. By using Rapid Resolution Therapy, he has shifted his mindset and his coaching.
As a language teacher, he first understood the role of the unconscious mind in learning. He discovered that miscommunication with the unconscious prevents clear thinking.
Currently, he's focused on helping online entrepreneurs overcome their anxieties about money. He explains how it's possible to shift your mindset to move beyond fear.
Oli Cooke Coaching website
Welcome to season 7 of OnlineBound! This season, I'm excited to share a revelation that has become an integral part of my business. To succeed, we need the power of evaluation.
This can be scary for a lot of reasons. It's much more tempting to chase dopamine hits by running from one course, or program, or coach to the next, hoping for "the answer."
Listen in to learn the three questions I ask myself after every launch. This was a game changer that took the focus off my disappointment and helped me move forward.
Link to the episode
Our Smart Teacher's Library is now open! I invite you to join and make changes to your business this year: https://www.elenamutonono.com/smart-teachers-library-2/
If you choose the annual membership, you get a bonus diagnostic session with me + a few other lovely goodies.
Looking forward to seeing you there,
Elena
Welcome to 2024! Here's my tiny message to you, with some encouragement and a nudge to start moving towards building a sustainable business. First stop: my masterclass called From 1 to Infinity. https://www.elenamutonono.com/masterclass/
You can join and watch this 3-part training to get the tools and the how-tos on moving away from 1:1 classes AND you get an invite to my bonus class called Program Readiness Checklist, only available to the participants of the Masterclass!
I hope you'll join yourself and invite your 1 teacher friend who might be exhausted from trading time for money. I can't wait to see you there! ~ Elena
In this episode, Szilvia Papp describes how self-coaching helped her when her business hit a plateau. Despite having a successful community on Patreon, she knew she needed support.
She talks about how going through a difficult time in her personal life was affecting her business. She wanted to find a way to create more stability and take control of her emotions.
Through the use of self-coaching tools, she was able to turn her anxiety into curiosity. Channeling that curiosity into trying new things allows her to grow her business without fear.
Hungarian with Sziszi website
In this episode, I'm talking with Cara Leopold about the temptation to quit her small business. She shares her thoughts on what gives her motivation when she's facing doubt.
We talk about mindset and how self-coaching can help us identify our blind spots. We also discuss the value of promoting yourself and how to get more comfortable with promotion.
Finally, Cara shares her revelations about what she wasn't doing in the past and how to own her mistakes. This process has helped her focus on what's important - helping her clients.
Leo Listening website
Are you looking for support on your online language teaching journey? Are you building your business but finding yourself overwhelmed and overworked?
If this podcast has helped you and if the values communicated through my work resonated with you, I want to invite you into our community today!
The enrollment is currently open through December 5, and you're welcome to join (the bonuses are dope!).
Listen as I talk about it (in my own words and with a grass mower somewhere in the background -- sorry), and I hope you join us today! Here's the link to sign up:
https://www.elenamutonono.com/library-early-enrollment/
In this episode, Nina Asseng talks about how self-coaching helped her to recover from a disappointing first launch. She broke free of her negativity and gained mental stability.
After taking her "failure" very personally, Nina became overwhelmed by the rollercoaster of emotions that come with selling. She sought support in the Library to help her manage them.
Now, she has the tools to analyze her results, learn from them, and adjust her approach. Her launches are more playful and natural, and she feels proud of all the hard work she's done.
German 4 Work website
In this episode, I'm talking with Masha Honcharova about how to move beyond ideas into taking action. She shares her transformation and describes her personal "aha" moment.
She sought out coaching because she didn't have any family members who could advise her on her business. She knew she needed to find someone with similar experience.
After spending years on courses, events, books, and other personal development, she decided to take the leap. And though it's been a big learning curve, she's getting results!
English to Freedom Instagram
In this episode, Estefania Fernandez talks about how she was able to change her money mindset. This allowed her to raise her prices and adjust her beliefs about teaching.
After months of trying to reach a specific goal, Estefania decided to get help. Within a few months of starting her coaching program, she succeeded in making 1k euros/month.
Now she uses the self-coaching tools from the Smart Teacher's Library to analyze her strategy. This practice allows her to learn from her experiences and grow her business.
Auxiliar de Lenguas website
In this episode, Talita Nakagawa Rochetti describes how self-coaching helped her gain clarity. She went from feeling distracted and overwhelmed to becoming empowered.
She talks about her initial struggles with selling and marketing, and how she overcame them. She also describes how she was able to stop procrastinating and be more autonomous.
Now she self-coaches when something is holding her back and focuses on serving her clients. She's found that by gaining clarity herself, she's able to market more clearly too.
Talitalearn website
In this episode, I'm speaking with Clare Whitmell, an online English teacher specializing in fluency. She tells the story of how she changed her mindset when nothing was working.
For a long time she tried different strategies, looking for a tactic that would bring success. But with coaching, she realized that she needed to focus on her offer and how to launch it.
Clare shares the ways that shifting her mindset has helped her feel confident about promoting her services. She's now saving time and getting better results than ever before.
English at Home website
My guest for this episode is Claudia Alvarez Calderon, an online teacher of Italian and Spanish. She shares her insights on how her confidence has grown over the past six months.
She shares the reasons that she joined the Smart Teacher's Library and the benefits it has provided. She also talks about the power of community and having some accountability.
We talk about how she's transitioning to teaching asynchronously, and the freedom it provides. She also shares the mindset shifts that come with teaching fewer 1:1 sessions.
Claudia's Spanglitalian YouTube channel
Hey Friends!
The Smart Teacher's Library is now open, and I hope you join us this time. There's a lot of materials to access, but I'm most excited about the group coaching, the collaborations and the self-coaching tools that will help you manage your emotions and shift the way you think about your business and your future.
If sustainability is something you want to pursue, join us to find support and guidance on this journey!
Learn more here: https://www.elenamutonono.com/smart-teachers-library-2/
Elena
OnlineBound is a podcast for online language teachers and coaches who are tired of cramming more client hours into their day and look for ways to grow their business in a smart, lean and sustainable way.
In this podcast we explore the topics of authenticity, sustainability, values, efficiency, resilience and creativity when running an online teaching business in an oversaturated language teaching market.
Listen to the trailer to learn more about the mission of this podcast.
In this (final) episode of my mini-series on sales, I talk about the importance of making offers, why posting on social media doesn't qualify as "making an offer" and what you need to know about one of the most common objections your students will bring up, "Now is not the best time."
To dig deeper into the subject of selling something that's not 1:1 classes, check out my upcoming training on sales: https://www.elenamutonono.com/sell-asynchronous-program/
In this episode you'll hear about selling on social media and through your other channel: podcast, blog, Youtube channel, etc.
I break down the process of sales in several important lessons I've learned over the years and give examples from my own experience as someone who used to resent sales and thought they were random and chaotic.
Selling can actually be rewarding and help you grow as a person, especially if you want your message to sound authentic and compelling.
If you want to learn more, join my training on sales at the end of this month: https://www.elenamutonono.com/sell-asynchronous-program/
In this episode I talk about my love-hate relationship with sales as an online language teacher.
I resented sales for the longest time, which is why selling was too hard and unpleasant. But if there's anything I've learned from my struggle, it's this: the sooner you accept that sales are a part of your online teaching business journey, the sooner you'll be able to choose what to think about selling and how to improve your sales skills.
Ready to learn more about sales? Join my 3-day training at the end of the month. You can participate live or watch the recordings, but joining now will give you access to 1-week support group on Telegram where you'll be able to ask questions and get coaching on strategies and mindset shifts necessary to improve your sales.
Learn more and sign up here: https://www.elenamutonono.com/sell-asynchronous-program/
In this episode, Maritza Parra talks about the power of thoughts and how they shape our reality. She describes how strategies aren't enough if your thoughts keep you from acting.
Maritza shares her own journey of overcoming shame and transforming the way she views making money. This allowed her to build her business the way she wanted it to be.
She also talks about selling and the importance of selling to yourself first. Only when you convince yourself of the value of your offer can you begin to see results.
Maritza Parra website
In this episode, I'm talking with Tiffani Clairborne, founder of Speak English with Tiffani. She describes how she built a successful YouTube channel - with over 2 million subscribers!
Tiffani's core motivation is service, and it drives everything she does. Her goal is to help as many people as she can and loves seeing how her work has changed people's lives.
She emphasizes the idea that you should always do your best, but resist comparing yourself to others. Instead, admire other creators and use them as inspiration to better yourself.
Speak English with Tiffani website
My guest for this episode is Tatiana Klimova, founder of Russian Podcast and the Russian Dacha Community. She describes how she grew this project from a hobby into a full-time job.
She emphasizes the importance of being clear about who your community is for. By filtering out people who aren't a good fit, she ensures that her members are enjoyable to work with.
She also feels it's crucial to be open to criticism and listen to the needs of your audience. This has allowed her content to evolve over time based on feedback from her members.
Russian Podcast website
In this episode, I'm talking with Annemarie Fowler, the founder of Speak Confident English. She shares her journey in building her own confidence as an online business owner.
We discuss how she had to shift her mindset to get comfortable showing her face when she started working online. Then we get into the benefits of saying no and staying small.
Annemarie describes the value of taking time off as a business owner and what she does to unplug. She also invites us to ask what success looks like to us and how we measure it.
Speak Confident English website
My guest for this episode is Vanessa, from Speak English with Vanessa. Listen as we share our ideas about how to keep a healthy balance between motherhood and business.
Vanessa explains how she prepared her business for the transition to motherhood and the changes she had to make. She also talks about the importance of seeking support.
She gives tips on how to shift your mindset to combat any feelings of guilt that arise. This includes knowing when to say no to extra work and taking time for yourself to recharge.
Speak English with Vanessa website
In the second part of this interview with Olly Richards, we continue talking about the relationship we have with money as business owners and the anxiety that can result.
He shares insights from his journey to separate his feelings of self-worth from the expectations of others and describes the benefits of non-attachment.
He concludes by sharing how we can do our best work when we're in alignment with ourselves, our business, and our students to create the kind of energy which leads to great things.
Olly Richard's website: StoryLearning
In this episode, I'm speaking with Olly Richards, the founder of StoryLearning. In this first half of our interview, we discuss the importance of stories and the stress of growing a business.
Olly describes the role of storytelling in language learning and how he built his methodology around it. He also shares what makes it so effective as a marketing tool for small businesses.
Learn about the mindset shifts Olly made to scale his business, how he managed his anxieties throughout the process, and his thoughts on being successful yet small.
Olly Richard's website: StoryLearning
Welcome to season 5 of OnlineBound! I'm very inspired to share this new season with you because my guests are all online educators, and mostly language teachers.
In this episode, I talk about my belief that expanding your mindset is the most important strategy for a successful launch and share stories about how I've transformed my mindset.
Join me to gain some insights into how you can transform your thoughts and emotions to get better results for your next launch. It's a bit scary, but that's a necessary part of growth!
Check the episode notes for more links and information:
https://www.elenamutonono.com/2023/03/30/successful-launch/
OnlineBound is a podcast for online language teachers and coaches who are tired of cramming more client hours into their day and look for ways to grow their business in a smart, lean and sustainable way.
In this podcast we explore the topics of authenticity, sustainability, values, efficiency, resilience and creativity when running an online teaching business in an oversaturated language teaching market.
Listen to the trailer to learn more about the mission of this podcast.
In this episode, I'm sharing some reflections on burnout.
I talk about my own experiences and what I realized about burnout at the end of last year.
I also explain how I challenged the idea that consistent work leads to burnout.
Now I find my tasks leave me more energized than ever!
I'll also touch on how adjusting your mindset and boundaries can help you to be less affected by other people's criticisms.
In this episode I share my thoughts on how to remove the word "should" from your thoughts and reframe it with something more empowering. You'll hear me talk about:
- How it's easy to give up when we compare ourselves to others.
- How a previous podcast guest, Marija Dobrovolska, felt pressured by gurus to grow and lost the heart of her business.
- How we can use our experience as language teachers to help us reframe our thoughts about our business and our progress.
- How a mindset shift can get your brain to work for you instead of against you.
At the end of this episode I’ll share with you a poem I wrote called “Empowered."
For full description, links and the transcript go to www.elenamutonono.com/podcast
In this episode I share my thoughts on the idea of time, how we treat it and how it treats us. You'll hear me talk about:
- The notion of “time will heal all evils” or make all things better.
- The nature of time, how we can use it to our advantage and disadvantage.
- The concept of taking time to make a decision.
- The stories we tell ourselves about our relationship with time.
At the end of this episode I’ll share with you a poem I wrote called “A victim of time."
It's easy to convince ourselves that we're not quite ready to try something new, and that we need to do something familiar first. In reality, this is just a stalling technique that prevents us from moving forward. The yes, but first thought loop can lead to endless excuses. Listen in to hear my suggestions on how to avoid this trap.
Check the episode page for notes and links: https://www.elenamutonono.com/2023/01/12/shift-your-thoughts/
In this first episode of Between the Seasons, I'm reflecting on the all-or-nothing mindset that many of us struggle with and how it affects our businesses. Listen to find out how adjusting your perspective can help you break the cycle, find acceptance, and move forward. I'll give suggestions to help you reframe your thoughts and allow the work you're doing to be enough.
Want to learn more about teaching languages the smart way? Sign up to receive my free Smart Teacher's Kit: www.elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
Connect with me on Instagram: @elenamutonono
Check the episode page for notes and links: https://www.elenamutonono.com/2022/12/22/shut-down-business/
In this episode I'm speaking with Marija Dobrovolska, the founder of Deutsch mit Marija, who shares her experiences as she decided to shut down her business which was affected by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Listen in on how Marija navigated and is still navigating this challenge, how it shifted her mindset about what she really wants for her business, how she wants and doesn't want it to grow and how she was able to take ownership and make a hard decision in the midst of the pressure to remain positive and tough.
Check out Marija's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DeutschmitMarija
Want to learn more about teaching languages the smart way? Sign up to receive my free Smart Teacher's Kit: www.elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
Connect with me on Instagram: @elenamutonono
In this podcast I'm speaking with Benny Lewis, aka the Irish Polyglot and the founder of Fluent in 3 Months.
Benny opens up about his mental health struggles, the journey to recovery and the lessons he's learned along the way -- about himself, his values and his business.
Check the episode notes for more links and information about Benny:
https://www.elenamutonono.com/2022/12/08/benny-lewis-mental-health/
Find Benny Lewis on Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Check out his website: https://www.fluentin3months.com/
Follow Elena Mutonono on Instagram: @elenamutonono
Check out her website: https://www.elenamutonono.com/
In this episode I'm speaking with Marlene McNally, a life coach and a mentor who shares how teaching is different from coaching and what coaching involves when we help our clients succeed.
Marlene uses her own experience as a language learner, why it was hard for her to master certain skills despite working really hard and what she wishes now she would have known then about the way our mindset keeps us from achieving our goals.
Listen to learn how to coach your clients when they feel stuck or hit a wall on their language learning journey, what questions to ask and what concepts to introduce to them so they take more responsibility for their progress and put all the tips you shared with them into practice. As always, I found a lot of her points easy to transfer to my business.
Learn more about Marlene here: https://marlenemcnally.com/
Access the notes on this page: https://www.elenamutonono.com/2022/11/17/coaching-teaching-difference/
Get more than just podcast updates, sign up for my newsletter here: www.elenamutonono.com/teacher
In this episode I'm speaking with Gayle Macdonald, a transformational sobriety coach at Sober Bliss, about changing her niche. I first met Gayle in one of my programs, back when she was an online English teacher exploring different ways of teaching languages online.
In the course of the program, Gayle began to look for her niche -- something that would transform her personally and prompt others to long for a similar transformation. This is when her journey into sobriety began, and this is how she gradually moved away from teaching English.
In this interview Gayle opens up about tracking her journey into sobriety, the reactions she received and the inspiration she gave to others. She shares what the transition from teaching to coaching looked like and how she was able to take the lessons she learned from running an online teaching business and apply them in a new niche.
If you're new to teaching languages online in a smart way, download my Smart Teacher's Kit -- it's free.
- Gayle Macdonald's website Sober Bliss.
- Check out her podcast.
- Her youtube channel.
- To support this podcast, please rate and review.
- You can buy me a coffee.
- My online courses will help you teach smarter.
My guest today is Ben Fox, the founder of Shepherd.Com -- a website that helps you find what to read next. Ben talks about the concept behind his project, how it started and how it is different from other similar websites.
He shares tips on how to pitch your project to other people in such a way that they cannot say no. He gives a few key marketing strategies for self-published authors, how to improve their book and make it successful.
As with many guests on OnlineBound, I ask Ben how he strikes balance between work and life, clears his mind after working long hours and how he prevents burnout. I hope you find this conversation useful.
See the podcast page to learn more about the guest and to access the notes.
Learn how to transition from teaching 1:1 to smarter and more sutainable formats. Download my free Smart Kit.
Check out my online courses for language teachers and business owners.
In this episode I speak with Eric Turnnessen, the founder of a software company Membermouse, a musician, a coach and a teacher, among many things.
Eric shares his unconventional advice about running a business that relies more on intuition and your vision rather than blueprints and failproof methods.
We talk about patience and consistency, assessing your strengths, engaging with your customers to figure out how you can improve what's working and change what's not.
Eric shares why "negative" emotions should not be perceived as a "sign to stop," rather to persevere. We talk about distractions and how to discern what takes us off our course.
Learn more about Eric on his website and check out the podcast episode for extra links and notes.
Are you looking for different formats to teach languages online (other than 1:1)? Check out my free Smart Teacher's Kit to get ideas.
My online courses (such as how to increase your prices, etc) are available here. Thank you for your support!
In this podcast I'm speaking with Lucy Simkins, the owner of the English with Lucy Youtube Channel, about the danger we face when we show up online -- our urge to please everyone and make sure everyone likes us.
Lucy talks about her own mental health challenges as some people criticized and attacked her work online, as well as the tools she is now using to accept that she would not be "everyone's cup of tea," and that's OK.
She also shares the lessons she's learned in the years of running her own business, and how she's currently using the wisdom of an online community of fellow entrepreneurs to generate new ideas and try out new strategies.
Learn different ways to teach languages online: get my free Smart Teacher's Kit.
Check out my books and online courses for language teachers.
Welcome to season 4 of OnlineBound! In this episode I reflect on the last 5 years of running an online community for language teachers.
The experience of growing together as a community of online business owners and teachers has been transformative for me.
As someone who is used to doing things alone, I continuously see the power of being in a community, supported and nudged by people who really “get it.”
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All podcast notes are here: www.elenamutonono.com/podcast Check for more information and extra links.
In this interview I'm speaking with Sasha Maslov, a Ukrainian-American portrait photographer and storyteller based in New York City. His work has been exhibited in various photo galleries and art spaces around Europe and the United States. Sasha is a regular contributor to a number of magazines and leading publications in New York and around the globe, and is actively pursuing work on his documentary projects.
Sasha and I talk about creativity, perfectionism, competition, finding your voice, visual storytelling, and mental health at the times of crisis. Most notable quotes, "If it's your work, you tend to be more critical of it." "When we have doubts, we look for answers in other people's work."
Check out Sasha's books "Ukrainian Railroad Ladies" and "Veterans: Faces of World War II."
All podcast notes are found here: www.elenamutonono.com/podcast
In this episode I'm speaking with Lindsay Williams about changing her mindset from a local language teacher to an online teacher to an online entrepreneur. Listen in to learn the story of Lindsay's first course launch and her initial struggles with marketing.
We discuss why online language teachers find marketing most challenging, how teachers' altruistic nature, coupled with highly commoditized industry of language teaching, prevents them from making their businesses sustainable.
Lindsay shares her insights on finding the balance between sharing our work for free vs. charging money for it. And don't miss her helpful tips on how to go through global and personal changes when you work online.
If you want to learn more about teaching languages online without endless 1:1 classes, check out my free Smart Teacher's Kit.
More detailed notes and links are available at: elenamutnono.com/podcast
In this interview with James Martin, we talk about the source of joy and creativity, about motivation and perseverance through difficult times, and the art of sharing your work when it doesn't feel good enough.
James shares his creative process, which he likens to a faucet that you must never turn off. He encourages us to stay open and keep generating ideas even if you don't use them at the moment.
We also talk about the COVID pandemic, how he coped with the loss of income, and how he was able to find hope and joy in the midst of hopelessness.
Download the Smart Kit for Online Language Teachers to break free from 1:1 lessons and work smarter: elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
In this episode, Elena Mutonono talks to Shena Lashey. You’ll learn about the phenomenon of dimming your light when you share your work with the world.
Have you ever felt guilty for your own success? Are you afraid that if you shine too bright, you may take the light away from others, make them envious or uncomfortable, or invite haters?
You are not alone. Listen to this episode to learn what dimming your light means and why we do that, and also what we can do about it.
Check out the show notes at elenamutnono.com/podcast
Download the Smart Kit for Online Language Teachers to break free from 1:1 lessons and work smarter: elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
In this episode, Elena Mutonono interviews Kerstin Cable about the power of podcasting for online language teachers.
Kerstin, who has been podcasting since 2013, sees podcasting as an opportunity to stand out so you can stop using low pricing or the number of certificates to attract students – and make people fall in love with you instead.
If you’ve been asking yourself if it’s still worth creating a podcast when the market is already oversaturated, if you need a product before you get started podcasting, or how you can monetize your podcast, then this episode is for you.
Download the Smart Kit for Online Language Teachers to break free from 1:1 lessons and work smarter: elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
In this episode, Elena Mutonono interviews Sarah Morgan. You’ll learn some practical tips on preventing and dealing with mental health challenges when you work online. There are many ways the world of online business can challenge our mental health: Being exposed to marketing messaging that makes you feel like you aren't enough and you're always missing out. Seeing success stories and income reports and comparing yourself to others. Dealing with money anxiety.
You aren't in this alone. Tune in to hear about Sarah's and Elena's experiences with anxiety, and some practical tips on taking care of your mental health and getting help.
Download the Smart Kit for Online Language Teachers to break free from 1:1 lessons and work smarter: elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
In this interview with Henneke Duistermaat, you’ll learn what you always wanted to know about blogging for business but were afraid to ask: Is blogging dead? If I want to blog, where do I start? How do I write faster? What does it actually mean to write for one person, and is it a good idea? How do I balance connection with readers and selling? Is a newsletter different from a blog post, and if so, what do I write in there? And how about blog images, how do I avoid clichés in my blog visuals?
Tune in to find the answers, including blogging tips and examples for language teachers specifically.
Download the Smart Kit for Online Language Teachers to break free from 1:1 lessons and work smarter: elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
We are jumpstarting a new season of the Online Bound podcast with a solo episode about going through the hard times. Because toxic positivity stories and success stories are everywhere. But it’s stories about real struggles that make us feel less alone braver. So if you’re sick of toxic positivity, if you’re surrounding yourself with successful people only to find yourself feeling even more lonely, or if you’re telling yourself that you should have done or achieved more already, then this episode is for you.
Download the Smart Kit for Online Language Teachers to break free from 1:1 lessons and work smarter: elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
In the last episode of this season of OnlineBound, I talk to Veronika Palovska, a brand strategist and my business partner in crime. We dive into the topic of freedom, how growing up in post-communist countries shaped our perception of it, and some of the ways it shows when running our businesses.
This conversation is about the importance of having your own definition of freedom and the courage it takes to pursue real freedom, not just the idea of it. We hope you’ll join us.
Get the Smart Teacher's Kit for free at elenamutonono.com/the-smart-kit
Check out the show notes at elenamutonono.com/podcast
My today’s guest is Marlene McNally, a life coach who helps successful women to drop the stories that still hold them back so they can live bold, unapologetic lives.
We talk about perfectionism, our inherent desire to stay in control versus the unpredictability of running a business, embracing failure, and the importance of not being a bully to yourself. If you identify as a perfectionist or a control freak, this episode is for you.
Show notes: elenamutonono.com/podcast
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Check out my latest book, Grounded Growth, at elenamutonono.com/books
In this episode, I'm joined by Marloes De Vries, a visual artist, writer, and illustrator. We talk about navigating change as a business owner or freelancer, which includes listening to your intuition (and not just other people's needs), saying no, or giving up control — and other issues online teachers deal with all the time.
I hope you can join us for this thought-provoking discussion, especially if your business (or some part of it) doesn't feel right at the moment, but you're scared of change.
Show notes: elenamutonono.com/podcast
Instagram for language teachers course: elenamutonono.com/instagram
In this episode, I'm speaking with Michael Nelder, a writer, spoken-word artist, and TEDx speaker. We talk about how to show up online authentically and creatively to build connections, dealing with perfectionism, and the importance of owning your story and trusting yourself.
Shownotes: elenamutonono.com/podcast
In this podcast episode, I'm speaking with my therapist, Laura Bishop. We talk about the fine line between work passion and addiction, giving yourself permission to take a break from the work you love, and the danger of letting your productivity define your self-worth.
We aren’t just talking theory, but actual strategies and mindset shifts that need to happen so you can be a happy, healthy business owner and continue showing up for your clients as the best version of yourself.
Show notes: www.elenamutonono.com/podcast
Today I'm joined by Clara Starr, the creator of the Your Sleep Guru podcast, to talk about sleep, creativity, and self-care. Clara's work has helped me improve my sleep and calm my anxious thoughts. I hope you'll find this conversation helpful and soothing.
Show notes: elenamutonono.com/podcast
In this episode, I talk to Natasha Vorompiova, the founder of Systemsrock and the person who helped me transform my business by creating better systems. Systems may not sound like the sexiest topic in the world, but after you listen to this episode, you will know why they rock and why they aren't just for the big companies.
When you streamline your work, you not only gain more time and mental space, but also confidence — and that's how you become more profitable, too. Tune in and find out how it all applies to online language teachers.
Show notes: https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/
In the first episode of the second season of OnlineBound, I talk about what it actually means to work in a sustainable way as an online teacher. Tune in to learn about the 3 ways to help you achieve sustainability at work, the questions you need to keep asking yourself, and the mindset shifts you need to make to give yourself permission to work smarter, not harder. Show notes: https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/
The Smart Teacher's Library: bit.ly/smartbizlibrary
Online Bound is a podcast for online language teachers. In season two, we’ll dig deeper into the topics of growth mindset, sustainability, creativity, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, rest, and even sleep. We’re getting started again this September!
Find out more at elenamutonono.com/podcast.
In the final episode of this season, I'm speaking with an English teacher and teacher trainer Jason Levin, also known as Fluency MC. Jason's unique approach to teaching English through songs that he writes and performs made him go viral and changed the course of his career and life.
Tune in to learn more about Jason's story and what he learned about creativity, marketing, and following your passions instead of doing what everyone else does.
My today’s guest is Marlene McNally, a life coach who helps successful women to drop the stories that still hold them back so they can live bold, unapologetic lives.
To see how exactly she does it, listen to the episode. You’ll be a witness to an actual life coaching session, as Marlene helped me uncover some of my fears about money in real time. I’m sure that hearing about my experience and how Marlene works with it as a life coach will help you see your own money anxieties in a new light, too.
Show notes: https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/
In this episode, I talk to a brand strategist (and my business partner) Veronika Palovska. This time, we don’t talk business, but get into a topic that isn’t talked about often enough: The different ways anxiety shows up in business and life.
What you may see and misinterpret in yourself and others as laziness or lack of motivation can be a symptom of anxiety or another mental health issue—but the same is true for extreme productivity.
We hope that this episode will make you feel less alone in case you tend to underperform when under pressure, or, in case you are on the other side of the spectrum, reflect on your obsession with work and see if it isn’t rooted in anxiety.
My today’s guest is a writer, consultant, and entrepreneur Alexandra Franzen.
We share personal stories about the nuances of business failure (and how to survive it), jealousy (and how to turn it into motivation), rejection (and how to go after what you want anyway).
If you need a motivation boost in your business and life, then this episode is for you.
Tune in to listen to my conversation with Darius Foroux, an author of 7 books, 6 online courses, and a blog that gets read by 500,000 people every month — all about the topics of productivity, wealth building, and finding meaning in your work.
Darius shares some of his practical tips on how you can avoid getting overwhelmed and distracted when you work online, how to stop overthinking and overcomplicating your business and life, or how to quit the comparison game so you can focus on doing work that matters.
Show notes: https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/
In today’s episode, Meera Kothand, an email marketing strategist and best-selling author, is sharing her thoughts on running a healthy, sustainable, and ethical business with a small audience.
Among other things, Meera explains that educating is the new selling and that you can build a successful business by focusing on a small audience and small products — which are all ideas that every online teacher will find reassuring and liberating.
Tune in to learn how to build and nurture your small tribe of repeat customers in a way that aligns with your values and intentions and pays your bills, too.
Show notes: https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/
In this episode of OnlineBound, I talk to Gill Andrews, a conversion copywriter and web consultant. She takes us behind the scenes of her business and explains what exactly copywriters do and how they can help small business owners like you and me.
Gill is has been very generous with sharing her expertise and you can expect to learn a few things people pay serious money to learn in copywriting courses, like the exact way to structure your product page so that it helps you sell your online course or program (it’s surprisingly easy!).
Besides, you’ll learn about some smart business strategies, like creating a “productized service” or writing a book the smart way.
Find show notes at https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/.
In the first episode of OnlineBound, I talk about the mission of this podcast (and my whole business): Helping online teachers work smarter and have the freedom, flexibility, and the income that they want. Tune in to learn about my own journey to smart online teaching, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and the exact steps you can take now to work smarter, even if you don’t feel ready yet.
Find shownotes at: https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/smart-online-teaching/
OnlineBound is a podcast for online language teachers and coaches who are tired of cramming more client hours into their day and look for ways to grow their business in a smart, lean and sustainable way.