Building a successful business isn’t just about strategy, sales, or marketing. It’s about people. In this episode, Susan Mahaffee, CEO and Founder of People Rise, shares why culture, leadership, and strong HR foundations are the real drivers of long-term growth. Whether you’re a solopreneur preparing to hire or a growing business managing a team, you’ll learn how to build a people-first organization that attracts, develops, and retains the right talent. If you want to lead with confidence, avoid costly mistakes, and create a workplace where people actually want to stay, this conversation is for you.

Episode Topics:

1. Why culture is the deciding factor for employee retention and growth
2. When small business owners should start thinking about HR
3. Contractors vs. employees and setting clear expectations
4. The hidden risks of DIY HR and “ChatGPT handbooks”
5. Building leadership skills as your business grows
6. Creating systems, processes, and compliance from the start
7. The shift toward people-first workplaces and purpose-driven culture
8. Inside the People Power Masterclass and cohort leadership model

Insights:

1. When your people rise, your business rises.
2. Culture is the primary reason employees choose to stay or leave.
3. Investing early in the right people systems prevents costly “rework tax” later.
4. Many business owners invest in marketing and sales but neglect leadership development.
5. Employees leave when they don’t see a future, growth path, or strong leadership.
6. Today’s workforce prioritizes purpose, values, and meaningful work over compensation alone.
7. Great leaders create calm confidence, even when navigating difficult situations.

Highlights:

00:00 Welcome and Intro

00:13 Introductions & Setup

02:06 FAM Realty Background

03:39 Reason for Social Shift

08:15 Content Strategy & Execution

13:20 Recording Levels & Workflow

16:47 Boosting & Profile Strategy

18:26 Advice for Individuals

22:42 Engagement Tactics

26:29 Mindset on Engagement

30:11 Closing & Resources

31:18 Podcast episode ended

Resources:

1. Website: https://www.peoplerisellc.com/
2. Instagram & LinkedIn: @PeopleRiseLLC
3. People Power Masterclass (6-month leadership cohort)
4. Upcoming book: When People Rise: HR Secrets for Small...

Feeling like you want to burn it all down? You’re not alone. In this episode, business strategist and community leader AliceAnne Loftus shares the truth about burnout, the emotional cycles of entrepreneurship, and how to move from reactive survival mode into proactive leadership. Learn how to navigate the inevitable highs and lows of business, rebuild your energy, and lead with clarity, support, and intention.

Episode Topics:

1. The “Burn It All Down” phase and why it’s normal
2. Why business success is cyclical, not linear
3. Moving from reactive to proactive leadership
4. The role of community, coaching, and support systems
5. Strategic planning essentials: finances, operations, marketing, and tools
6. Balancing the human side of business: mindset, energy, and boundaries
7. Personal practices to prevent burnout and stay grounded
8. Letting growth needs outweigh discomfort

Insights:

1. Burnout is often a signal for recalibration, not failure.
2. Feelings are real but not facts. They’re indicators that something needs attention.
3. You can’t control outcomes, but you can control your attitude and effort.
4. Strategy without support rarely works. Community and mentorship accelerate growth.
5. Annual strategic planning should happen in Q4 to prepare proactively for the year ahead.
6. Growth often follows a spiral pattern. You’ll revisit challenges, but with more perspective each time.
7. Discomfort is inevitable. Progress happens when your purpose becomes bigger than your fear.
8. Ep 131 2-12-26 The Burn It All …

Highlights:

00:00 Welcome and Intro

02:09 Burnout and Business Cycles

12:29 Strategic Planning Framework

22:17 Coaching and Community Benefits

30:42 Personal Centering Practices

36:09 Mindset and Next Steps

41:21 Podcast episode ended

AliceAnne Loftus is a best-selling author, business coach, and founder of Leading Lady Coaching, a leadership and business growth ecosystem serving women entrepreneurs around the world. She is the best-selling author of Take the Lead and the We Lead three-book series, where she explores leadership, collaboration, and building meaningful community.

Through in-person and virtual communities, coaching programs, and speaking engagements, AliceAnne helps women grow profitable, values-aligned businesses while leading with clarity, confidence, and integrity.

Resources:

• Learn more about AliceAnne and Leading Lady Coaching:

In this episode, we’re joined by Julie Blamphin for a powerful conversation about play, presence, and reconnecting with the body in the midst of busy, high-performing lives. Julie shares why tuning into your body is not woo-woo or complicated, but a practical, essential practice for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to feel better, move better, and live more fully. From pelvic floor health to redefining what “normal” really means, this episode offers simple, accessible ways to feel grounded, supported, and more connected to yourself every single day.

Episode Topics:

1. The role of play, joy, and creativity in business and leadership
2. Mind-body connection and what it really means to “listen” to your body
3. Pelvic floor health for women, men, and even children
4. Why common discomforts don’t have to be your “new normal”
5. Aging, self-talk, and changing the narrative around your body
6. Time, priorities, and integrating wellness into everyday life
7. Simple practices to feel grounded, calm, and supported throughout the day
8. Ep 130 1.29.26

Insights:

1. Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal or inevitable
2. The body is always communicating, first through whispers, then through louder signals
3. Pelvic floor health impacts posture, balance, intimacy, confidence, and overall stability
4. You don’t need more time, just more awareness of where you are, how you’re there, and how long you stay there
5. Small shifts, like getting on the floor or changing positions, can have a big impact
6. Play, rest, and stillness are not luxuries, they’re necessities for sustainable success
7. A single breath, sigh, and smile can shift your nervous system and your entire day

Highlights:

00:00 Key Statement Hooks, Welcome and Intro

00:32 Playfulness and Business

04:24 Tuning Into the Body

11:05 Pelvic Floor Background and Concepts

19:28 Commonality vs Normalization of Symptoms

24:27 Practical Habits and Accessibility

34:51 Daily Practices and Routines

39:17 Podcast episode ended

Resources:

1. Julie Blamphin
2. Website, Instagram, and Facebook: Stretch Your Spirit
3. LinkedIn: Julie Blamphin
4. Pelvic floor yoga, private coaching, retreats, and online membership resources
5. Free resource offered by Julie to help protect posture and support your body as your ambitions...