Mary is joined by Jen Martensen as they dive into all things women, work, and making it happen. From the power of community support for moms (because no one does this alone) to Jen’s bold leap from corporate life into consulting, the conversation is packed with real talk and practical insight. They break down why financial management and bookkeeping aren’t just “nice to have” for small businesses—they’re essential—and unpack the unique challenges women face while building and sustaining businesses in a constantly shifting economy.

To learn more about Jen’s company, visit Backline Business Consulting’s website: https://www.backlinebusiness.com/

Follow her on IG & LinkedIn: @backlinebusiness

Read Jen’s Substack: https://substack.com/@backlinebusiness

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On Today’s episode, Melissa Riddle (operations wizard at Toast and Jam) spills the tea on her business journey, from running her own show to joining someone else’s. She and Mary get real about the whiplash of going from entrepreneur life to team life, the highs and hiccups of working closely together, and why complementary skills (and mutual respect) are the secret sauce to making it all work.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, then come hang with us on Instagram & X!

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We are back after an impromptu hiatus! In this episode, Mary reflects on the process of battling imposter syndrome, taking a new approach to her business, and rediscovering why DJing lights her up. With honesty, humor, and a little hard-earned wisdom, Mary dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, the weight of the world around us, and why community, growth, and doing what actually brings you joy matter more than ever.

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In the chaotic world we live in, it is increasingly difficult to lead healthy, slow-paced lives. Today, we are discussing the positive impact of yoga, meditation, and functional nutrition on so many people’s lives. Joining us in this conversation is the epitome of a ‘connector’, Claire Mark. Claire is a yoga teacher, meditation leader, and certified functional nutrition coach who is passionate about health, wellness, and fitness. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Claire’s life, working in television, finding yoga, training in Bikram Yoga, and so much more! We delve into how Claire got into meditation before she tells us how acupuncture saved her life. Claire has recently studied functional nutrition, and in this episode, she tells us about her experience, what functional nutrition is, and so much more! We even hear about Claire’s classes and how to join them. Finally, we discuss the power of meditation and how it allows you to choose how to respond to situations instead of just reacting. You don’t want to miss this one so be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming the incredible Claire Mark to the podcast.
• Claire tells us about her time working in television.
• Training in Bikram Yoga with Bikram Choudhury himself.
• Hating New York, moving back to Chicago, and Claire’s marriage and divorce.
• How yoga has become Claire’s life for 25 years.
• The power of meditation and how the birth of her son helped her get into it.
• How acupuncture saved Claire and her health issues.
• Getting into functional nutrition, what it entails, and her extensive studies.
• The importance of making sure you live well for as long as you can.
• Claire tells us about the online classes she offers and how to join them.
• The power of pausing and choosing how to respond instead of just reacting.

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Check out Claire Mark Yoga

Follow Claire Mark on Instagram

Connect with Claire Mark on Facebo ok

See what Claire Mark has to say on X
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Running a business is incredibly complex and there are many ways a company can fail. Today on All Up In My Lady Business, we are joined by business coach, Loraine Hardin to discuss how the implementation of EOS can secure a company’s success. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Loraine’s entrepreneurial family inspired her to become a coach, how she found EOS, why fear and scarcity should be replaced with love and abundance, the importance of hiring the right people in the right spots in your business, making firing simpler, and so much more! We delve into Loraine’s ideal client before she tells us about the small business ‘black hole’ that occurs at around three to five million in profit. We even discuss how different generations clash in business today, how EOS works for very small businesses, how businesses shoot themselves in the foot, and more! Finally, Loraine tells us about her family’s mink farm. Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing our guest on the show today, Loraine Hardin.
• What made her interested in coaching and how she knew she had what it takes.
• When the idea of EOS entered Loriane’s career and what fascinated her about it.
• The dangers of scarcity and fear and the importance of having an abundance mindset.
• Loraine talks about how to get the right people in the right seats in your business.
• How to get people to the point where they can take direct reports quickly.
• Why firing people is so difficult, why it should be that way, and how to make it simpler.
• The ideal client for Loraine and how she tells her clients when they have a bad apple.
• She explains ‘the black hole’ that small businesses encounter and how to get out of it.
• How to balance how you run your business while starting to step away as it grows.
• Loraine outlines some of the generational issues businesses are experiencing right now.
• How EOS works for businesses with fewer than five employees and the growth Loraine sees.
• Some ways an organization can fail at the goal of creating ‘rocket fuel’ in order to grow.
• Loraine tells us about the mink farm she was born on and how it affected her family’s income.

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Find out more about Loraine Hardin and her business, Professional EOS Implementer

Follow Loraine Hardin on LinkedIn

Check out the EOS book, Traction on Amazon
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Today on the show, we welcome the remarkable Sheila Buswell, Co-Founder and CEO of Buswell Biomedical. This pioneering company develops cutting-edge rehabilitation solutions, including the innovative UPMO™, an AI-controlled system that enables patients in rehabilitation hospitals to perform daily activities independently, traditionally requiring assistance from healthcare workers. Sheila is also the author of the insightful book Is This Seat for Me: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Everyday Life and Business. Join the conversation as we explore her time in the Army, her own experience with imposter syndrome and being medically discharged right before 9/11, and her journey into engineering. Sheila details the story behind starting her business Buswell Biomedical and discusses the plans for their UPMO™ product. We also learn more about her upcoming book, unpack the other forces that have recognized patterns in our lives, and so much more. Be sure to tune into another great All Up In My Lady Business episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An in-depth introduction to our amazing guest, Sheila Buswell.
• She shares some details about her time in the Army.
• Her experience with imposter syndrome and being medically discharged right before 9/11.
• Her opinion on the reasons behind why people enlist in the military.
• The impact of 9/11 and being on the other side of active military.
• How she got into the non-military engineering side of things.
• Sheila details the story behind starting her business, Buswell Biomedical.
• We discuss the future plans for her product, the UPMO™.
• She explains the thought behind her book: Is This Seat for Me: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Everyday Life and Business.
• We delve into a discussion about other forces that have recognized the patterns in our lives.
• The power in community and talking about all the things.
• More details about when and where you can get your hands on her books.
• Why Mary loves Taylor Swift.

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Quotes:

“People don't enlist in the military for money and for glory, right, like that's not the thing that you get from it.” — Sheila Buswell [0:10:43]

“I think I'm a better engineer because of my time in the military.” — Sheila Buswell [0:17:44]

“Where is this idea coming from that all veterans look like Captain America? It's stupid.” — Sheila Buswell [0:32:06]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Follow Sheila Buswell on LinkedIn

Learn more about Buswell Biomedical

Buy Sheila’s book Is This Seat for Me: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Everyday Life and Business

Get your Free Audiobook Chapter of Sheila’s Book Here

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We all loved the Pitch Perfect movies but did you know that they were inspired by a real collegiate Acapella competition? Today on All Up In My Lady Business we are joined by the owner of Varsity Vocals, the brains behind the biggest Acapella college competition, and queen of Acapella herself, Amanda Newman! In this conversation, you’ll hear all about how Amanda found her love for Acapella, how her competitive background led her to transform her college Acapella group, what led her to take over Varsity Vocals, and so much more! We hear all about her involvement in Pitch Perfect before she tells us what it’s like to raise kids and run a business. From handling conflict, to working through the pandemic, to dealing with being underestimated as a woman, to difficult parents, Amanda has faced every challenge you can think of and in this episode, she tells us how she got through it all! She even discusses how she unintentionally perpetuates patriarchal standards. Finally, we delve into the differences in how children were raised in our day versus now and the kind of mothers we are. To hear all this and so much more, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Amanda Newman to the podcast.
• How Amanda got involved in Acapella.
• What led her to making a career out of Acapella.
• The release of Pitch Perfect and Amanda’s involvement in it.
• How she and her husband met and what it’s like to run a business and raise kids.
• The prices to participate in one of Amanda’s competitions.
• Why she feels sensitive to complaints from people as a female business-owner.
• Dealing with difficult families during the competitions.

Don’t forget to smash that subscribe button so you never miss an episode, then come hang with us on Instagram & Twitter!

Quotes:

“Pitch Perfect is weird for us!” — @acamandanewman [0:11:45]

“People love [Acapella] and think it’s so cool. But it’s also bizarre because it’s a bunch of guys singing “Hit Me Baby One More Time” in you know, sweater vests, like how? It’s organized nerd singing, like, how is this a thing?” — @acamandanewman [0:15:36]

“I try to be accommodating and then I am too accommodating and then I sometimes have gotten stepped on.” — @acamandanewman [0:44:49]

“I’m assertive. It doesn’t mean that I am a bitch.” — @acamandanewman [0:47:54]

“Having a baby fully made me realize how much I was part of the [patriarchal] problem and women in general too are part of perpetuating the same problem and the same cycle.” — @acamandanewman [0:54:16]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Connect with Amanda Newman on LinkedIn

Follow Amanda Newman on X

Check out Amanda Newman’s Instagram

Keep up to date with Varsity Vocals
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Things have changed drastically for women since I grew up and it is interesting to take a look at what has improved and what still needs work! Today, my sister Jennifer DelMonaco gets all up in my lady business as she joins us for this episode to discuss her career, how our upbringings differed despite being raised by the same parents, what Taylor Swift has taught us, women’s relationships with their aging appearances, and so much more! Tuning in, you’ll hear about Jen’s makeup career and how it was informed by her beauty and the limiting beliefs that it was all she had, how gender roles, sexuality, and neurodivergence is more supported and celebrated now than when we grew up, and why how you handle your trauma affects your entire life. We delve into the healing power of The Tortured Poet’s Department before discussing how our beliefs on love have changed. We even discuss how our relationship with food and exercise has changed as we’ve gotten older and why older women are superstars. Finally, we talk about the sad reality that many women do not orgasm and how we can change this as a society. You don’t want to miss this heartfelt and fascinating episode so be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming Mary’s sister, Jennifer DelMonaco to the podcast.
• An overview of Jen, her previous job, and her love for creating and nourishing communities.
• How they were raised differently even though they grew up in the same house.
• Jen tells us about her modeling and makeup career and how her parents shaped that.
• How gender roles, sexuality, and neurodivergence are supported now versus in the 1980s.
• Jen shares her belief that we all have trauma and why the way we handle it is what matters.
• How Taylor Swift’s new album is helping us process old relationship trauma.
• Why we love Taylor and Travis Kelce together and what we know about love.
• The importance of having a good relationship with your appearance as you get older.
• Why women struggle to orgasm and how we can change that as a society.

Don’t forget to smash that subscribe button so you never miss an episode, then come hang with us on Instagram & Twitter!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Follow my sister, Jennifer DelMonaco’s career on LinkedIn

Follow Jen on Instagram

Go Download The Tortured Poet’s Department

Watch Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Sign up to Support the Show All Up In My Lady Business (Mary's Version)

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