Rule Breaker by Rebelle: Recent Episodes

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When I was growing up, big cities were the center of everything new and exciting.

I remember going to New York City as a young person and staring at people on the street wearing the coolest newest fashion.

I went to Miami and felt like I traveled to another Universe. Even a trip to Washington DC felt like any person in a suit could be someone powerful. I associated big cities as to where you went if you wanted to build something big.

Fast forward to the age of the internet and I have noticed a shift.

Big brands can truly start from anywhere. Even before COVID, we were seeing a migration happen from larger cities to smaller ones. People leaving the cities weren’t less ambitious, they were seeing opportunities in untapped markets.

For obvious reasons, this gets me really excited. There are business rockstars now living in my backyard in the little ole Richmond, Virginia suburbs!!!

My guests today are Eva Harris and Ginny Ball, cofounders of Keva Style, a lifestyle brand that makes lightweight easy to wear jewelry. They are truly building something special from their home offices here in the burbs of Virginia.

I am amazed at how these women have huge goals of building a global lifestyle brand and they are making it happen while raising children, taking the dog for a walk, and actually living their lives!

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Where the original idea Keva Style originated and how it has changed over the years
• What rules Eva and Ginny have broken in your career. (hint: not all rules need to be broken)
• How the highs and lows of co-founding a startup can almost be like a domestic partnership
• How to still go after your dream even when the world is pulling you in different directions
• And some mission-driven advice for getting a new idea started

Learn more about Keva Style:

• Keva Style
• Instagram @mykevastyle

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Jill Cichowicz on LinkedIn
• A Night For Scott: End the Stigma, Fight for Tomorrow
• The Tooth Brigade

Learn more about Shannon:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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Today my guest is breaking a rule that I never thought would come up on this show.

Nancy Brown is the co-founder of BookClubz, an online platform that helps you organize your book club for free.

BookClubz is a fast-growing company, one that essentially is competing with the giants Amazon and Good Reads–huge players in the market.

And the rule they are breaking...

They are doing it while playing nice!

BookClubz is breaking stereotypes and rules by being true to who they are and believing that you can build a fast-growing startup while being true to their values.

I would describe the founders of BookClubz as considerate founders. They truly care about the people they serve, their partners, and their investors. They aren’t interested in shortcuts to profits, or stealing business, or being a dominant force in the market. They know they have a unique product, a dedicated community and they don’t have to play the Last Man Standing game and demolish the competition.

This interview was honestly so refreshing, not only have they build a super useful way to organize your book club, but they are examples to follow of what a successful tech company can look like.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How BookClubz helps you move past difficult logistics to the fun part–reading books
• How Nancy and her team manage the co-founder relationships to divide and conquer
• Why keeping BookClubz free to use is in alignment with their values and greater mission
• And what they are doing to stand out and stay competitive in a land of Giants

Learn more about Nancy and BookClubz:

• BookClubz
• Instagram @bookclub.z

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Melissa Kitto:

• Communicate With Angels

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Lokii
• Marissa Keegan

Learn more about Shannon:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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I realize my tagline for this episode is a little cryptic, but when I was listening to this interview this idea of a space that brings people together kept coming back in my mind again and again.

There are some people who are really good at holding space - and what I mean by that is making people feel comfortable, seen, heard, and valued.

These might not feel like tangible things, but I assure you, they absolutely are.

Space doesn't always mean a physical space with four walls. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it’s just a feeling. A feeling you get when you are somewhere you can be completely comfortable. And if you don’t know what I mean, you are a very, very lucky person who has never been somewhere where they weren’t welcomed.

My guest today is a person who makes space. Bon - aka Bonkosi - Horn, owns a retail space in Philadelphia. They are not currently open to the public right now, but still, the mission and vision she had for her shop, Freedom Apothecary, is still alive and well. She is still bringing people together all while quarantining at home with a brand new baby.

If you are lucky enough to meet Bonkosi, you will instantly know what I am talking about. She connects deeply and thoughtfully within 5 seconds of meeting her and she remembers everyone in a way that is truly a gift.

There is so much wisdom within this one little woman, I am excited for you to get to know a little more about her and her work in the world.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Bonkosi is transforming retail spaces into space where people can connect rather than just buy—and how that changed after the pandemic
• How Bonkosi is breaking the rules in the wellness industry by creating boundaries
• What the last year has looked like for Bonkosi’s personal and professional life, including her business partner moving from Philadelphia to New Orleans, having a baby, and growing a business mid-pandemic.
• Bonkosi’s perspective on accepting versus embracing

Learn more about Bonkosi Horn:

• Freedom Apothecary
• @bonkosi on Instagram
• @freedom.apothecary on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Amanda Schweck
• The Opt-In Podcast

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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I have a confession to make, or maybe a proclamation, that I’m super proud of.

I am not afraid to email anyone.

I can cold call with the very best of them and just ask for what I want to ask for. This skill has served me super well in my life and, more specifically, today because it is how I am connected with our guest, Marissa Mullen.

She is someone I read about on the internet. I’ve been following and drooling over her Instagram account for years and I have been a superfan, even though we don’t know each other or have any mutual connections.

When the pandemic shut things down right before her book was about to be published last year, I reached out and asked Marissa to be a part of our first ever virtual conference. After a few emails she said yes and voila, now we are connected.

I share this because I have been noticing a trend in my podcast guests. The ones with the really interesting stories are often the ones who aren’t afraid to go for what they want—cold call and all.

After my conversation with Marissa, I realized she is like this, too. This woman throws her darts. And what I mean by that is that she just goes for it. She left a job she liked just fine to do something kind of crazy. Instead of holding on tight, she shot her shot, she threw her darts and she keeps throwing them again and again even if she doesn’t quite hit the target, she keeps throwing.

If you aren’t already following @thatcheeseplate you are missing out and if you ever wanted to know what it takes to be a cheese board influencer, you are going to love this episode.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why Marissa considers herself more of an educator than an influencer
• What Marissa learned from the music industry that she applied to her cheese plate business
• The interesting and innovative ways she’s been able to promote her new book despite COVID (and how it actually worked out really well)
• How That Cheese Plate grew from 0 to 10K and now, in early 2021, to nearly 300K

Learn more about Marissa Mullen:

• Thatcheeseplate.com
• @thatcheeseplate on Instagram
• @MarissaMullen on Instagram

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Julienne Brown:

• Empowerathlete.com
• Empower Athlete on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• EXAU Olive Oil
• Brittany Evans Anderson

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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When I was in college, I did an internship with a company called Honest Tea. You may have heard of it after Coca-Cola bought it and made it mainstream.

But when I was there, packing boxes of glass bottles on the floor, driving from one organic market to another doing tastings, they were still very much a startup. The idea of knowing where your food came from was still not a thing.

The founder of Honest Tea was one of the main voices pushing for Organic labeling. He personally visited each farm where his tea leaves were grown all over the world. This was truly revolutionary at the time and I wish I understood it then because that job totally drained me and I had to pee all the time from drinking so much tea.

We’ve come a long way in regards to mainstream conscious consumerism, meaning that we want to know who is making what we buy—but we still have so far to go.

My guest today is changing all that.

She is using her unique blend of skills and experience to fill in the gaps from manufacturing to selling so that brands can do what they do best—marketing and customer service—and her company can be the bridge between artisan manufacturers all over the world and the companies we buy from every day.

Akta Adani is the daughter of entrepreneurs and is using technology and relationships to build a sustainable and transparent supply chain for designers, makers, and brands for the next generation of business owners through her startup Nomadory. Nomadory specializes in responsible sourcing and scaling retailers’ supply chain across borders and product lines.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Nomadory is breaking traditional sourcing rules through technology and 100% transparency
• Akta’s journey with her first company and why she decided to leave it to start Nomadory
• How COVID affected Nomadory and what changed for Akta since then
• How Akta hopes things will be for the next generation of trusted brands with transparent supply chains

Learn more about Akta Adani:

• Nomadory.com
• Connect with Akta on LinkedIn

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Melissa Todd:

• Homeharmonyva.com
• Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Sabai Design

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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We are living in a time where “vulnerability” and “authenticity” are buzz words, thrown around like confetti.

We say we admire vulnerability in our leaders and we want the influencers we follow on the internet to be “authentic”. And I have heard more than once that the best way to communicate is to be your authentic self.

But I am here to argue that it is still unsafe for many people to truly be their vulnerable, authentic selves—especially on the internet where they can quite literally be threatened by anonymous users or at work where their employment is on the line.

There is still so much unspoken territory when it comes to the rules about how much of your personal life and experience is ok to share—and when and where it is safe to be vulnerable.

My guest today is a practicing therapist among many other things. I came to know of her work on Instagram. Finding a therapist on Instagram is a very millennial thing to do, I know, but what struck me about Meghan and her message is that she didn’t sound like other therapists.

She was pulling from her personal experience as well as her professional background to educate about skills we can learn and implement in our daily lives. The things Meghan’s sharing is pulled from her work with clients and the tools she uses personally in navigating her own mental health challenges.

This is new territory for a medical professional to share about their own personal stuff and I was super excited to get to talk to her about it.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Meghan’s breaking the rules in the world of therapy
• The role honesty and vulnerability plays in Meghan’s community growth on Instagram
• Meghan’s relationship with Instagram—and how she knows when it’s time to take a break offline
• How Meghan’s connection with writing has evolved and how it serves her now

Learn more about Meghan Watson:

• Watson-psychotherapy.com
• @thrive_withmeg on Instagram
• @bloom_psychology on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Khadija Nelson of the LIV Collective | The LIVE Collective on Instagram
• Maryam Ajayi | Maryam Ajayi on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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Always on this show, we are talking with women who are doing things differently.

But as I have come to learn after talking to hundreds of women about their personal journey, not everyone considers themselves a Rule Breaker.

There are two main reasons for this. Some of the people I interview are so unplugged from the expectations of others that they don’t even think about it. And others are sometimes so focused on what they want that the rules are insignificant.

My guest today is a perfect example of someone who lives by the rules, HER RULES, the ones she has made for herself. She has a guiding statement that she comes back to no matter what project she is working on, what business she is launching, or how she is showing up in the world.

Living this way is how she has been able to navigate the many highs, lows, and pivots that are par for the course when you are a woman in the world, let alone mother and female founder.

Olivia June started the tech company, VINA, while living in San Francisco designed to help you make friends (and it made it to Apple’s top app list), had a baby, started another company, and now lives in LA with her new husband, new puppy, and baby number two on the way. You’re going to love learning more about her.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How struggling to meet friends in a new city inspired Olivia to start VINA, a networking app for women to meet new friends
• Olivia’s experience with anxiety and PMDD that led her to develop her new company, PYM
• Her guiding principle in everything she creates in the world
• Olivia’s stance on sharing personal versus business happening on social media

Learn more about Olivia June:

• VINA
• Instagram @heyoliviajune
• Facebook @heyvina
• Instagram @youcanpym

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Megan Seagram:

• Seagram Systems Audio Visual
• Megan on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Sophia Amoruso
• Sophia on Instagram
• Alison Gary
• Alison on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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This episode is really for my marketing junkies and small business owners.

My guest today is a website designer and brilliant brand strategist who truly was a disruptor in the website template design business back in 2013 and continues to attract influential clients for her one of a kind websites.

Jen Olmstead, the co-founder of Tonic Site Shop, has truly been living the life that so many of us aspire to have. She lives in the middle of nowhere with her three kids and handsome husband. And Jen works with well-known influential clients all over the country.

She protects her time when designing new products by going into what she calls her design cave. She creates an immersive fun process working with her one-on-one clients that includes hanging out at bougie hotels or in their homes.

Jen keeps herself spending a majority of her time working in her zone of genius-and that's doing the design work in her business which is so hard for so many leaders, not just in the business of marketing.

This is a topic that comes up in our SWELL groups all the time. If you aren't familiar with SWELL, it's our small group program where we match you with four or five other leaders to support you in monthly sessions together.

The reason this comes up so much is that it's hard as a leader to decide what your role should be. Some prefer to delegate everything and become the leader of the business versus the doer in the business. They stay so far in the weeds, doing so many menial tasks because it's hard for them to ask for help and delegate.

But people like Jen intentionally define what their role is and stick to it. She loves the design work and the branding so she spends her time doing just that. Jen is a gift and her work is absolutely beautiful. I know you're going to love this conversation.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Jen ensures that she's doing what she loves and is in the thick of her business-rather than delegating everything out
• Why knowing and living your zone of genius is essential to serving your business best
• Why it's so important to learn how to say no and delegate things in your business
• How Jen's brand cocktail quizzes help influence product development
• The evolution and lessons of Tonic Site Shop from 2013 all the way to the present day

Learn more about Jen Olmstead:

• Tonic Site Shop

Rebelle Member Spotlight - Brinkley Taliaferro:

• brinkleytaliaferrorealestate.com
• Connect with Brinkley on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Shay Cochran
• Connect with Shay on Instagram
• Cheyennevarner.com
• Connected with Cheyenne on Instagram
• Follow The Educated Birth on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• SWELL by Rebelle
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

Resources mentioned:

• Setting the Table by Danny Meyer

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I’m just going to say this right away (and if you are offended by it, you can go back to your podcast player and pick another episode): Disney movies messed us up.

Of course, I still love them. But the movies I grew up watching were extremely problematic.

The Little Mermaid… Beauty and the Beast… Cinderella…

These are NOT stories we should be making for children.

Truthfully, it wasn’t until recently that I realized it wasn’t just the indirect messages—like being a helpless girl so a guy can save you kind of story—but it was also the STRUCTURE of the stories that are an issue.

These stories make their way into our subconscious and impact the way we tell stories about ourselves that follow us for the rest of our lives—unless we actively undo them.

Stories are an essential part of our inner worlds—and they inform our outer worlds, too. We use stories to understand the world around us and how we relate to those around us.

But what if the stories we hear growing up or the stories we tell ourselves don’t actually help us become the best version of us?! And what if they reinforce negative patterns that DON’T serve us?

On this episode, I’m chatting with my friend and storyteller Hillary Rea who knows a thing or two about storytelling. She is the founder of Tell Me A Story, a full-service communication consulting business that trains multi-passionate entrepreneurs, mission-driven leaders, and committed change-makers how to use the art of storytelling as a powerful communication tool.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The history of the Hero’s Journey—and why it’s not THE ONLY way to tell a story with impact
• Different formats we use for telling our own story whether it is introducing yourself to someone new, crafting interview question replies
• Ways to share who you are with the world through your story

Learn more about Hillary Rea:

• https://tellmeastory.info
• SPEAK UP Newsletter

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Amy Cross:

• Connect with Amy on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Trinny Woodall | Trinny on Instagram
• Hailey Thomas

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Obvi on this podcast, we are talking about breaking rules—but the more episodes we do, the more I realize so many of these so-called rules are unspoken ones.

These rules are codes of conduct that no one ever asked me to review and sign, but it seems if I don’t meet these guidelines, there will be consequences.

One of those unspoken rules is “don’t talk about money.” Don’t let other people know how much you make. Don’t be greedy and ask for more. Money is dirty. Money is bad. Wanting to make more money makes you greedy and bad. And, most importantly, discussing money with other people in public makes you a bad person.

Well, F that noise because one of the ways we are going to make progress towards equality is actually by bringing all our money stuff to the surface.

My guest today wrote a book that is a must-read for all working women titled Ladies Get Paid. Yes, this book talks about negotiating for more when you are a traditionally employed worker, but it really is so much more than that. Asking for more starts with confidence and confidence comes from having information. How can you have information if you don’t know how much other people are making?

Meet Claire Wasserman. Claire is an educator, author, and founder of Ladies Get Paid, a global community that champions the professional and financial advancement of women. She is also the producer and host of John Hancock’s podcast, “Friends Who Talk About Money.”

Claire has traveled the country teaching thousands of women how to negotiate millions of dollars in raises, start businesses, and advocate for themselves in the workplace.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The aha moment when Claire realized that the fight for gender equality wasn’t over
• How sharing her experience led Claire to realize the immense value of vulnerability
• Why Claire’s experience getting sued actually ended up being a game-changer (in a good way!) for her business
• Why Claire encourages women to talk about how much they make and why she included an email template in her book

Learn more about Claire Wasserman:

• ladiesgetpaid.com/book
• ladiesgetpaid.com
• clairewasserman.com

Rebelle Member Spotlight - Linné Diiorio:

• linnediiorio.com
• Instagram @linne_diiorio
• Twitter Linné Diiorio
• Facebook Linné Diiorio

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Ashley Louise at the Ladies Get Paid team and Public
• Nicole Cardoza and Reclamation Ventures

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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I want to say a thank you to the patron saint of vulnerability, Brené Brown. Thank you for making it acceptable to talk about our feelings and share our experiences, especially in the workplace.

I know we still have a long way to go, but I get very excited when I hear a story of someone opening up about something personal at work and having it go well for them.

Many of us have to put on a shield when we go to work. Keep our personal lives to ourselves and show no weakness, am I right? God forbid someone would think we were unreliable or couldn’t handle pressure… or that we might be human beings with needs.

I am so lucky to know my guest today.

Christine Rich is in the process of writing a book right now titled Chronic. In the book, she’s sharing her story of navigating life with an auto-immune disease aka chronic illness aka Chron’s disease.

In this episode, Christine shares with me how Chron’s disease affects her life and how it affected her at work. I’m so grateful to see this book come to life so that people who are suffering in silence can see themselves in Christine’s story.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide a part of yourself at work—or anywhere, really—you’re going to want to listen to this conversation.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Christine’s decades-long journey from getting her diagnosis to accepting the impact and role her autoimmune disease has in her life
• How writing Chronic has helped Christine process her experience with Chron’s disease
• Christine’s breaking point and how a change in perspective helped her rise above it
• The essential importance of loving yourself—even, yes!, the “broken” parts of you

Learn more about Christine Rich:

• Follow Christine on Instagram

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Andrea Goulet:

• Corgibytes, LLC
• Follow Corgibytes on Facebook

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Emily Roggenburk
• Clean with Maddie on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

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Before you move forward, you have to look back.

It doesn’t need to be for long and you don’t have to mull it over forever.

Looking back is one of the best ways to create your future because you can see what worked, what didn’t, and what you want to create MORE of.

In the spirit of the new year and with some exciting things down the line for Rebelle, I’m doing something a little different on today’s episode.

That’s why I called up my college roommate, dear friend, and the chapter founder of the Lancaster Rebelle Community Chapter, Carmen Hoffert.

I wanted to bring Carmen on the show so we could talk about what Rebelle looked like when it started, what it looks like now, and what we hope it’ll look like in the future (including an exciting announcement.)

In this episode, Carmen and I talk about all the things behind the scenes including why we do what we do, how we bring women together, and how we create spaces for women to show up as who they are rather than the typical labels they might associate themselves with.

At Rebelle, we are creating and cultivating a community of strong women to show up as they are so they can support one another—and now, more than ever, women need a place to turn to when they need help making decisions, a quick gut check, or even when they need a distraction. I know that’s the case for me!

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• What the very beginning of Rebelle looked like
• The challenges of recreating the vibe of an in-person event in the online world
• Changing the narrative of what it means to be a working woman
• How the generosity of connections plays a role in the Rebelle community
• What’s coming to Rebelle this year (I’m so excited!!)

Learn more about Carmen Hoffert:

• CARM.N
• Marie Collection
• Follow Carmen on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

Other mentions in this episode:

• Rule Breaker Episode 03: Slaying Self-Doubt with Katherine Winsch
• Bring Change To Mind
• Kate Bear’s book, What Kind of Woman: Poems
• Abbey Womback’s book, Wolf Pack
• Katherine Wintsch’s book, Slay Like A Mother
• Nicole Lewis Keeber

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“So, what do you do?”

I realize it’s just a question that people ask when they don’t know how to get the conversation started but I hate this question.

I do lots of things. I argue with my kids to put their shoes on. I drink chai lattes. I create content for working women. I make a podcast. I write emails. Sometimes, I take naps!

But I know that’s not the answer people want when they ask this question.

They want a simple answer like: I’m an accountant… or I’m a librarian… or I’m a graphic designer. Clear and to the point.

My guest today is also someone who struggles to respond to the “what do you do?” question. She does so many different things, that are all really interesting, somewhat unrelated, and it really stumps people when she starts rattling them off.

Jaspre Guest is the founder of Noise 784, specializing in non-traditional PR. A visionary, Jaspre was one of the original disruptors of the movement. Her particular philosophy involves an experiential approach to branding through partnerships that organically lead to press.

Her client list includes leaders within the metaphysical, financial, bridal, wellness, hospitality, music, award shows, artists, and influencers. For select clients, she additionally encompasses a managerial role.

I absolutely love finding these types of multi-passionate people because they are WAY more interesting than the ones who have their entire identity wrapped up in one vocation. It may be harder to explain in your elevator pitch, but damn if it’s not way more fun to live this way.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Jaspre’s upbringing encouraged doing things in a renaissance way
• How the metaphysical is at the center of Jaspre’s life
• Jaspre’s organic approach to PR and using the law of attraction and manifestation in her work
• The importance of partnership, generosity, and connection in business

Learn more about Jaspre Guest:

• noise784.com
• happy-noise.com
• septemberletters.com
• @jaspre, @septemberletters, @happynoise

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

Other mentions in this episode:

• Rule Breaker Episode 03: Slaying Self-Doubt with Katherine Winsch
• Bring Change To Mind
• Kate Bear’s book, What Kind of Woman: Poems

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Lara Eurdolian—@prettyconnected on Instagram
• Nap Ministry and @thenapministry on Instagram

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You all might not know this about me, but I am a super prude.

I did not grow up talking about S-E-X. When me and my friends play Cards Against Humanity, my face is so red. I can't breathe from laughing and embarrassment--especially if I have to say a gross word.

I know this aversion to talking about sex is not serving me. That’s why I'm super drawn to people who are really confident in their sexuality and talking about sexual health.

My guest today is confident in her sexuality, but she's more interested in helping women learn about their sensuality.

So what’s the difference? Don’t worry: we go deep into all things sexuality and sensuality in this episode but the basics are that sensuality is all about activating your senses. If you’ve done any mindfulness work, you know that feeling your senses and feeling into your body is a huge part of mindfulness.

I can’t wait for you to learn from Leslie Lyons.

Leslie is the founder and owner of Bombshell Movement Studio, a pole dancing studio in Chicago, and the host of Beyond the Pole: Tales from the CEO podcast. She is also a sales and Enneagram coach. Leslie’s had the most magnificent and unexpected career path and she is truly inspiring women to be more confident in all areas of their lives.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The difference between sexuality and sensuality
• Sensuality vs. tapping into your senses
• Leslie’s career before opening her pole dancing studio
• The role that knowing your enneagram plays in self-discovery and liberation
• How our emotions serve a purpose and how we can somatically channel anger through breath-work

Learn more about Leslie Lyons:

• lesliedlyons.com
• Follow Leslie on Instagram
• Beyond the Pole: Tales from the CEO

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Luvvie Ajayi
• Meg Boggs

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I get SO jazzed when I get to speak with women who are much further along in their career than I am.

There is incredible wisdom to gain from women who have climbed their way up the success mountain in a super competitive industry and, once they got there, took a look around and said: Nah! I’m good!

My guest today did exactly that.

Jennifer Justice built a career and a solid reputation for negotiating deals for the best of the best.

She helped Jay-Z build Roc Nation.

She was Beyonce’s personal attorney for a time (!!!)

She represented men and women in the music industry, executives, talent, corporate partnerships… you name it. This woman knows how to make deals, but she was sick of making deals for men and watching women make deals—for less.

It happened again and again.

So? Jennifer set out to do something different.

She decided she wasn't going to support men anymore and only represent women in her new firm, The Justice Department. Now, women from ALL over the entertainment industry are flocking to her to get what they deserve.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• What started Jennifer’s quest for—and passion—toward gender equality
• Where inequalities stem from and what Jennifer is doing about them through her work
• Why trying to do everything ourselves as women entrepreneurs is actually hurting our businesses—and what to do about it
• How women can negotiate harder

Learn more about Jennifer Justice:

• thejusticedept.com
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Brooke Forry:

• balancebound.co
• Follow the Balance Bound Planner on Instagram
• Follow Brooke’s company, Curious and Co, on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• What Kind Of Rule Breaker Are You?
• Readytorebelle.com
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Shantell Martin
• Ashley Longshore

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Before I started Rebelle, I had a pretty extravagant breakdown.

My weight dropped below a hundred pounds. I couldn’t get up off the floor—let alone out of bed. And I would break out into uncontrollable sobs in line at the grocery store.

I was beyond burned out.

You see, I had learned that to be successful, you had to give absolutely everything—and then some! 115%. No pain, no gain. But while going through boxes and boxes of tissues, I knew (or at least I hoped) there was another way.

At the time, I was looking for role models who I could follow who weren’t glamourizing the hustle, who wasn’t all about flashing cars or houses or other things that I should be striving for when all I really wanted was a nap. Can we have nap goals, please?

Enter stage left my guest today, Racheal Cook.

She was talking about self-care as a business strategy. She was teaching about productivity and boundary setting and putting yourself first. She was basically an alien from another planet as far as I was concerned.

But Rachel flipped the script on everything I thought I knew about being successful. She doesn't subscribe to the burnout life but also has really big goals. She makes space for downtime and rest but has a bigger vision than a lot of entrepreneurs that I know.

As an award-winning business strategist, host of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, and best-selling author, Racheal Cook is on a mission to end entrepreneurial poverty for women. Over the last 10 years, she has helped thousands of female entrepreneurs design predictably profitable businesses without the hustle and burnout that doing #allthethings inevitably accomplishes.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How being high sensitive influences Racheal’s work style and the steps she takes to manage her nervous system
• Why creating a calendar that feeds you and meets your needs in mind, body and spirit is essential to setting effective work/life boundaries
• Figuring out what you’re really good at and putting systems in place to maximize that
• What a true leader looks like

Learn more about Racheal Cook:

• rachealcook.com/rulebreaker
• rachealcook.com
• Racheal on Facebook
• @racheal.cook on Instagram
• Follow Racheal on Twitter
• Racheal on YouTube
• Racheal on Pinterest
• Connect with Racheal on LinkedIn

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Nicole Rutledge:

• nicolerutledge.com
• Connect with Nicole on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• readytorebelle.com
• Follow Rebelle on Instagram
• Rebelle Community
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Erika Courdae & India Jackson: Pause on the Play Podcast
• Ashley Beaudin: @ashley.beaudin and ashleybeaudin.com

Resources from this episode:

• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
• The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine Aron

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When I first learned about the Hero’s Journey, it was taught as a way to structure a story commonly used in motivational speeches and website about pages. And, to be honest, we also hear them in some of our favorite entrepreneurship podcasts.

The Hero’s Journey goes something like: I made this one mistake, then I learned this one important thing—and now I’m insanely successful and everything is perfect.

Truthfully, it makes for a great story—but it’s clearly not the whole story.

And that’s exactly the problem.

Most of what we consume on social media and in biographies and business articles are simply interesting highlights of someone’s journey.

That’s why when I started Rebelle, I wanted more. In my quest to find people telling their whole stories—not just the one that makes them look super-duper successful and perfect—I found and fell in love with my next guest.

Tara McMullin is a leader, community builder, and the founder of What Works. She’s also the host of the What Works podcast and co-founder of YellowHouse.Media, a podcast production agency, and consultancy.

I consider her an expert but she would never write that on any of her business cards. She keeps it so real: she shares the wins. She shares the missteps. She shares pretty much anything you want to know about her and her business. Tara truly walks the talk in regards to keeping things transparent—whether something works out great or not.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How a massive realization led to a pivot in how Tara runs her business from the inside out
• Why making less money than you used to doesn’t mean you’re any less credible or have any less authority
• The reason why Tara isn’t a fan of “Fake It ‘Til You Make It”
• Why business growth isn’t always up and to the right—there are different opportunities and investments we make that lead to plateaus and to growth (and why both of those are good things!)

Learn more about Tara McMullin:

• explorewhatworks.com
• Yellowhouse.media
• Follow Tara on Instagram
• Follow Tara on Twitter

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Karen Mitchell

• Omm Office
• Follow Karen on Instagram
• Follow Karen on TikTok

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Erika Courdae: Pause on the Play Podcast
• Bonkosi Horn & Morrisa Jenkins of Freedom Apochethary and on Instagram

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You may have heard the term “find your passion” and you may have even spent some time trying to do that. I know for myself, finding my passion has been an elusive task that I can’t quite check off the to do list, because what I am interested in changes as I get older.

Best selling author Elizabeth Gilbert says there are two types of people: jack hammers and hummingbirds.

Jackhammers find a passion and then dig and dig and chip away at their passion completely focused until the end of time. So often it is the jackhammers that are praised and admired for their ability to become obsessed with, and focused, on one thing.

My guest today, on the other hand, is a hummingbird. She is one of the most curious people I have interviewed in a long while. So much so, that she couldn’t help but ask me questions while I was interviewing her. She operates in multiple industries, she combines skills that you wouldn’t think combine, she is always asking questions and finding how things fit together, while cross pollinating every area that she touches with ideas from the places she has been.

Zoe Kenealy started a podcast—Ready To Launch—while she was in school so that she could connect with interesting people chatting about all kinds of things from self-development to business ownership, to astrology.

Then Zoe launched an agency—TECHNOMANCY—to represent social media influencers while stuck in her London apartment during COVID. And did I mention she was in London to research psychedelics as part of her study in the field of neuroscience?

As you can see, not everyone has one main goal or area of focus. Not everyone is a jackhammer. Some people are hummingbirds. Which one are you?

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• What inspired Zoe to start her podcast, Ready to Launch
• The story behind the start of TECHNOMANCY
• Zoe’s interests in psychology and how it’s influenced her creative path
• Zoe’s advice for making connections (even if you struggle with reaching out)
• The goal behind Shannon’s success (hint: it’s not about money)

Learn more about Zoe Kenealy:

• Technomancyagency.com
• Follow TECHNOMANCY Agency on Instagram
• Follow Zoe on Instagram

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Susan Epperson:

• barrierislandvisuals.com

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Outs:

• Peggy Gou on Facebook and on Soundcloud
• Dani Sauter and follow her on Instagram!

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When I planned the first Rebelle Conference, I created the event that I wanted to attend.

I found speakers that I wanted to learn from.

I scheduled workshops that I wanted to go to.

And I filled our planning team with people who I always wanted to work with.

People told me that I should be thinking about the customer.

But what happens when you ARE the customer?

Sometimes you have to follow your own experience and block out the naysayers to create what you want to see in the world, whether that’s a conference like me or a company like today’s guest.

When Katerina Schneider realized that she couldn’t find a prenatal vitamin that she trusted, she decided to make one. Katerina is the founder and CEO of Ritual, a vitamin company dedicated to creating the purest, most effective vitamin formulations, and sharing every ingredient, source and scientist that made our vitamin a reality.

Before Ritual, Katerina was a Venture Partner with Troy Carter in his investment fund, AF Square, where she managed an active portfolio of over 70 investments, including Styleseat, Dropbox, Warby Parker, Spotify, Uber, and Lyft.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Katerina's changing the vitamin industry through science and technology while creating an experience that makes you want to keep taking your vitamins
• Ritual’s origin story and what inspired Katerina to start this company
• How Katerina's growing her company while growing her family
• How being selfish is how you serve others

Learn more about Katerina: * ritual.com * Follow Ritual on Instagram * Follow Ritual on Facebook

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Sydney Bass:

• chicstripes.com
• Follow Sydney on Instagram
• Follow The Profitable Stylist on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

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There’s no shortage of advice out there for creatives who want to make money from their creativity. There are productivity hacks to marketing tricks to do’s and don’ts of being a freelancer.

It’s a challenge to NOT get overwhelmed, sifting through all the advice that ”experts” share on how to be a successful creator. But what I’ve noticed is that rarely does this advice have anything to do with their actual creativity!

Today’s guest is quite the opposite.

She’s someone who has really walked the walk—from doing creative projects for free to building her portfolio to getting press for her work—and she now helps other creatives turn their passion into profit by teaching the ways she’s done just that.

Lauren Hom is an award-winning designer, lettering artist, and educator who teaches artists how to grow their businesses and their confidence to keep pursuing their passion.

Lauren herself continues to stretch herself to create projects that challenge her creatively vs. always chasing the dollars. And wouldn’t you know, some of her MOST lucrative projects as an artist have come from work she did for free for herself.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why it’s important to pursue both paid and unpaid projects to grow your experience and your brand
• How one project that didn’t get any press led to Lauren landing a $15,000 paid gig three years later
• The story behind Lauren’s program, Passion To Paid, and how she’s generated almost $1 million dollars with it
• What influenced Lauren to trade in her nomadic lifestyle and create a homebase

Learn more about Lauren Hom:

• homsweethom.com
• Follow Lauren on Instagram

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Angie Trueblood

• angietrueblood.com
• Follow Angie on Instagram: @angie_trueblood

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Rebecca Rubin and @thecontentqueen on Instagram
• Stix and @getstix on Instagram

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When we think about big events, we think about drama that matches: over-the-top wedding that takes on a life of its own, wedding dress that eclipses the experience, and an overbearing friend who takes over the planning while losing track of what really matters.

Okay, okay... some of these scenarios are from my favorite movies. Father Of The Bride… Sex In The City, Bridesmaids...

What they all have in common is a drama-filled wedding that centers on everyone—and everything else—except for the couple.

My guest today is the exact opposite of what you might think about an event designer. Yes, she designs over-the-top experiences but at her core she is kind, she is warm, she is caring, and she is always—without question—keeping her guests of honor at the center of the event.

Jung Lee is an Event Architect and Founder of Fête, Jung Lee NY, and Slowdance and is one of the most sought after event designers in the world with a roster of clients both corporate and private.

When I first met Jung at her New York boutique, she was greeting everyone as if they were visiting her home. That is a unique experience, especially in a big city. It showed me that hospitality is not dead and that creating genuine connection is how you can grow a successful business, even in a cutthroat city like New York.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• What creating warmth and intimacy looks like for events in a post-COVID world through creative solutions that make people feel connected and while still being safe
• How Jung deconstructs what makes a wedding and builds it back up with soul through all the ingredients that represent the couple to truly tell their story
• Why the best weddings genuinely reflect one’s lifestyle compared to weddings where people lose themselves in the process and end up telling the same story
• Why investing in your home is truly investing in yourself because it makes you feel better and creates a more elevated experience every day

Learn more about Jung Lee:

• jungleeny.com
• feteny.com
• slowdance.com
• Follow Jung Lee on Instagram
• Follow Slowdance on Instagram
• Follow Féte on Instagram

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Andréa Jones:

• Savvy Social School
• Follow Andréa on Instagram
• onlinedrea.com

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out: * Nancy Pelosi * Sylvia Weinstock and @sylviaweinstock * Angelica Garcia

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There’s really no way to know how you’ll be as a parent until you become one. For me, I imagined strapping on my baby and continuing life exactly as I knew it before. Every mother I know is rolling their eyes right now.

Honestly, holding onto this idea—of things continuing as normal—is one of the many reasons I had such an awful experience as a new mom. Before baby, I could do it all. I had endless energy to travel, to say yes to every opportunity, to show up for everyone who needed me.

I was always putting myself last.

But after the baby? I had no choice. My brain and body were shutting down. I had to change for the better.

Now, today’s guest, Tonya Rapley, didn’t struggle like I did when she had a baby. In fact, once her baby was born, she hit the brakes. She said, nope: now everything is going to be different.

Tonya went forth and made changes to her business, My Fab Finance, to create a life that supports her and how she wants to be as a mother and a business owner. In 2019, Tonya purchased Club Loofah, her e-commerce business, and continues to run both of her businesses her way—and she’s absolutely thriving because of it and living on her own terms.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Tonya set up her business to be as flexible as it needs to be without affecting her bottom line
• What inspired Tonya to start her business, My Fab Finance
• How knowing your worth helps you make business decisions that support your well-being
• How Tonya’s used the press to grow her business—and how, sometimes, press doesn’t always equal growth
• Why she’s more discerning of projects now and protective of her time and energy

Learn more about Tonya Rapley:

• TonyaRapley.com
• Club Loofah
• Follow Tonya on Instagram
• Follow Tonya on Facebook

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Seo Kelleher:

• seokelleher.com
• Alpha Female Sisterhood
• Follow Seo on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• She Did That - Netflix Documentary
• Yahya Smith of Nspiyahd Life and @femininesuccess on Instagram
• Haley Thomas of Brain Space Optimized and the On Year From Now Podcast

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Becoming a mother was one of the most difficult transitions I’ve faced in my life.

Before having kids, I was what one might call a workaholic. I avoided dealing with my emotions and feelings by keeping extremely busy, working long hours, and overcommitting socially.

Sound familiar?

But after having my first baby and suffering from postpartum anxiety and depression, I truly had to rethink everything while working through my depression. I started going to therapy and started to understand my thoughts and how I relate to them.

Through that experience, I realized that a lot of my suffering as a new mother was coming from inside my own head. My inner mean mom was telling me I was not enough, on loop, all day long.

My guest today, Katherine Wintsch, is the founder and CEO of The Mom Complex and is dedicated to making the lives of mothers easier. She recently wrote a book about that negative inner conversation that plagues mothers called, Slay Like A Mother, combining 10+ years of groundbreaking research on motherhood with her own personal journey.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How Katherine learned to love herself—and how it transformed her life
• Why it’s essential for women to acknowledge the terrible things they say to themselves—and how to stop it so they aren’t running your life
• Why more is not better and how you can learn to be happy with what you have right now
• How to learn to love and protect yourself so you’re not giving away every waking hour to every other human being in your life

Learn more about Katherine Wintsch:

• The Mom Complex
• katherinewintsch.com
• Slay Like A Mother
• Slay Like A Mother on Instagram
• Slay Like A Mother on Facebook

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Carmen Hoffer:

• CARM.N
• Marie Collection
• Follow Carmen on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Chelsea Higgs Wise

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There’s a big difference between creating a following and cultivating a community.

And I think it's safe to say that most big brands are only interested in followers.

They want to build big lists.

They want big follower counts.

They want more and more eyeballs on their product so they can sell more.

It’s more about the product than it is about the people.

But what if you want to break the rules, ditch the status quo, and do something bold and different instead?

That’s exactly what my guest today is doing and it’s what’s setting her brand apart.

Michelle Cordeiro Grant founded LIVELY in 2016. Her idea was for a brand of lingerie, loungewear, and swim that was a reflection of its community.

From the beginning, they were committed to creating an ambassador program that wasn't concerned with follower counts. Instead, they focused on women who were living LIVELY’s brand values of self-love and self-acceptance. Quality over quantity was where they hedged their bets.

And, those bets paid off. Between the time that we had Michelle speak at Rebelle Con back in 2018 and the time of this interview in 2020, LIVELY was acquired for a reported $85 million.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The story behind when Michelle realized there was a gap in the space of marketing and fashion that celebrated women as individuals—and thus LIVELY was born
• Why LIVELY’s brand ambassador program celebrates women who are passionate about living a purposeful, competent life rather than by demographics
• What inspired Michelle to start the LIVELY podcast, No Makeup Needed
• How Michelle pivoted in 2020 from planning to expand retail to launching loungewear and creating content around being comfy at home and how to take care of yourself

Learn more about Michelle Cordeiro Grant:

• LIVELY
• The LIVELY Podcast: No Makeup Needed
• Follow Michelle on Instagram
• LIVELY on Facebook
• LIVELY on Instagram
• LIVELY on Twitter
• LIVELY on Pinterest

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Elisabeth Edelman:

• Golden Word
• Golden Word on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Cate Luzio
• Blair Imani, author of Modern Herstory; follow Blair on Instagram

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Who—and what—comes to mind when you think of a typical CEO?

Maybe it’s a white guy in a suit with a serious look on his face… or maybe you think of Steve Jobs with the black turtleneck or Mark Zuckerberg and the grey hoodie.

And while those might be the typical CEOs of the past, the business world is changing and the future is female.

Today’s guest–and our first one ever on the Rule Breaker podcast!—is Ellen Marie Bennett—cook turned founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett, the leading Los Angeles based culinary workwear brand.

Quite literally, Ellen is the opposite of the “typical” people we see in CEO positions and a Rule Breaker in every way: she’s changing the way people think about what a founder looks like, what she sounds like, and how she connects with her customers to be totally transparent about what’s going on behind the scenes—from manufacturing to design to delivery of her products.

And did we mention that Ellen’s CEO closet consists of bright jumpsuits? Just take a look at her in these photos! Yup, quite the contrast from Jobs and Zuckerberg, huh?

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• What inspired Ellen to make badass aprons in the first place
• How Ellen channeled her energy into building a company that focuses on quality
• The ways Ellen supports her community and the restaurant industry through different challenges
• How Ellen pivoted during COVID to make face masks
• The impact collaborative partnerships and friendships can have on your company

Learn more about Ellen Marie Bennett:

• Hedley and Bennett
• Follow Hedley on Bennet on Instagram
• Follow Ellen on Instagram

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Nadia Anderson:

• VA Grace Events
• Follow Nadia on Instagram

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

• Rebelle Community
• Rebelle Con
• Follow Rebelle Con on Facebook
• Follow Rebelle Con on Instagram

Rebelle Shout Out:

• Haley Mitchell and Instagram
• Sugar Paper LA
• Daniela Soto-Innes
  • Vogue Mexico: Daniela Soto-Innes: La chef mexicana que conquistó al mundo
  • San Pelligrino’s 50 Best Restaurants

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If you’ve checked all the boxes, done everything you were supposed to do, and still don’t feel like you’re where you want to be, it’s time to break some rules. Rule Breaker by Rebelle is the podcast for women who are rethinking everything they learned about life and work from straight-A report cards, princess movies, diet culture, and all the other ways that culture tells us who to be and how to act. Join Rebelle founder Shannon Siriano Greenwood for candid, funny, and moving conversations with rockstars in wellness, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. You’ll hear stories about women who are leaders, disruptors, executives, entrepreneurs, creators, dog parents, homeschool moms, and so much more than could ever fit on a foil-embossed business card.