PODCAST · business
Breaking Solo
by Donna Amos
🎧 Breaking Solo is your go-to podcast for insights from solopreneurs who’ve made it happen—sharing their strategies, challenges, and the tools they use to stay ahead.
Episodes
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Stop Being the Bargain: Become the Strategic Partner
Are your low prices costing you more than they bring in? Shella Gardezi learned the hard way that undercharging doesn’t make clients see you as a great deal. It makes them see you as an employee, and then they hand the strategy work to someone else. Shella runs Words Plus Design, an agency that...
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Stop Eating the Elephant: Health, Books, and the Business of Being You
Do you know what AI is telling people about your business right now? Bryan Eisenberg has spent 30 years helping businesses get found, understood, and chosen. He and his brother coined the term conversion rate optimization, wrote New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, and worked with...
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"This Is Mine": Rebuilding Your Business After the Ground Shifts
What happens when the client you gave eleven years to hits pause without warning? For Jeanne Tan, that moment, along with losing her husband to pancreatic cancer in 2020, forced a hard truth: she'd been running a business while thinking like an employee. In this episode of Breaking Solo, Jeanne...
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Lisa Bastian: 40 Years Solo — From PR Freelancer to Federal Investigator to Coffee Founder
What if the thing that keeps your business alive for four decades isn't a niche, a funnel, or a framework — but plain curiosity? Lisa Bastian has been working for herself since the late 1980s. She started Bastian Public Relations while raising a young son, back when a woman who worked from home…
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Trust Your Gut: Donna Price on Building Your Own Success Framework
What if the "law of attraction" is actually doing women entrepreneurs a disservice? Donna Price, founder of Compass Rose Consulting, works with women entrepreneurs on building more profitable, efficient businesses that make a bigger impact — for their clients and the world. She went solo after…
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From Kitchen Table to Franchise: Liz Wahl on Scaling a Solopreneur's Legacy
What happens when a solopreneur's kitchen-table business turns into a national franchise — run by her own daughter? Liz Wahl is president of Young Rembrandts, an after-school drawing franchise that started in 1988 when her mother, a fine arts major with no interest in becoming a business owner,...
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The Disney Experience: Shaun Whynacht on Automating the Magic Back Into Your Business
What if your business could feel the way Disney feels — that unmistakable rush of happiness the moment you walk through the gates? Shaun Whynacht, founder of Blue Cow Marketing, has spent 15 years in marketing automation helping small business owners bring their expertise and their ideal client...
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Breathing Room: Dortha Hise on Systems, Delegation, and Scaling Without Burning Out
Most overwhelmed entrepreneurs don't need another productivity hack. They need to stop carrying everything themselves. Dortha Hise has spent more than 20 years helping entrepreneurs build clarity, capacity, and breathing room into their businesses through systems, delegation, and strategic…
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Stop Selling, Start Discovering: Diane Helbig on Business Advising for Micro Business Owners
What if the best sales advice you've ever heard is: stop trying to sell? Diane Helbig has spent 20 years as a business advisor and trainer, working with small and micro business owners on sales, leadership, customer service, and conflict management — all "the people stuff." She went solo after a...
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The $948,000 Story Nobody Told: Jen Bullington on the Power of Business Storytelling
There's a story hiding inside every business — even the ones that swear they don't have one. Jen Bullington is a business storyteller who helps entrepreneurs find the six stories buried in their business and use them strategically to shorten their sales cycle and make people genuinely fascinated…
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Elevate: How Dawn Stebbing Helps Women Close the Gap Between Blending In and Being Unforgettable
What if the thing that makes you unforgettable isn't your polish — it's your story? Dawn Stebbing has spent 16 years as a global image and presence expert, helping women close the gap between blending in and becoming unforgettable. But her real differentiator isn't styling or color analysis —…
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The AIM Framework: Chuck McKay on Marketing in an AI-Driven World
What does it actually take to become "the obvious choice" when AI is now doing the recommending instead of just the ranking? Chuck McKay has spent decades in marketing — starting as a disc jockey and radio ad producer, moving into advertising sales, and eventually walking away from a steady...
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Safe to Grieve: Building a Sustainable Healing Business with Hannah Darby
What happens when the business you build is born from the hardest thing you've ever survived? Hannah Darby didn't set out to become an entrepreneur — she became one because she couldn't ignore what her own grief journey had taught her. As a holistic healer and grief guide, Hannah blends...
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Scott Keene: Why "That's Not My Job" Isn't in a Solopreneur's Vocabulary
"That's not my job" — five words you'll never hear Scott Keene say. As a serial solopreneur turned professional bookkeeper and payroll specialist, Scott has run everything from a family restaurant and lounge to a pandemic-crushed kayak tour company before finding his true niche: helping business...
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Profit Seeks Purpose: Why Solopreneurs Need People, Not Just a Plan (with Harland Merriam)
What happens when you close the biggest deal of your life… and feel nothing? That's the question that cracked open this conversation with Harland Merriam — former pastor, military chaplain, and now a real estate investor who facilitates masterminds for high-performing entrepreneurs across Central...
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Bridging the Gap: AI, Pivots, and the Bravery of Imperfect Action
You're never going to have all the time, all the budget, or all the information. So how do solopreneurs move forward anyway — without burning out, without radiating desperation, and without sunsetting the right project at the wrong moment? In this episode of Breaking Solo, we explore the mindset...
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Dan Rochon on Lead Generation, Teach to Sell, and Why Consistent Income Is a Recipe Anyone Can Follow
What if consistent, predictable income isn't a personality trait — it's a recipe? In this episode, I sit down with Dan Rochon, real estate agent, sales trainer, host of the No Broke Months podcast, and author of the upcoming book Teach to Sell (published by Post Hill Press and distributed by…
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Modern Medicine, Traditional Bedside Values: Dr. Suhail Hussain on Bringing the House Call Back
What happens when a fifth-generation doctor walks away from one of the most established medical institutions in the UK to rebuild healthcare the way it used to feel? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Suhail Hussain, a UK-based GP (the equivalent of a family physician in the States) who left…
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There's Only One Me: Magic Brad on Postcards, Pivots, and Building a Business Competition Can't Touch
What happens when a four-year-old gets a coin pulled out of his ear and decides that's what he's going to do with his life? In this episode, I sit down with Magic Brad — magician, event marketer, and a refreshingly contrarian solopreneur — for a conversation packed with hard-won wisdom, weird...
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Fix It in the Right Order: Ken Steven on the Five Growth Drivers Solopreneurs Keep Getting Wrong
What if the reason your revenue is stuck isn't that you're doing the wrong things — but that you're doing them in the wrong order? In this episode, I sit down with Ken Steven, business growth consultant and creator of the Revenue Growth Readiness Scorecard, for a conversation that genuinely…
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Take Back the Pen: Donna Thorell on Building a Wellness Business for Women Who Look Like They Have It All Together
What do you do when the medical world keeps telling you "it's just hormones" and you know it's something more? In this episode, I sit down with Donna Thorell, founder of Vitality by Donna, who became her own case study after years of being dismissed by doctors — and ended up building an entire...
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From "Churning Fluff" to Sales Impact: Richard Cook on Building a B2B PR Business Across Continents
What do you do when a client tells you your entire industry is "churning fluff"? If you're Richard Cook, you let it shake you — and then you use it to reinvent the way you work. In this episode, I sit down with Richard, founder and managing director of London-based B2B PR consultancy Champion...
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The Founder's Number Two: Beth Sanders on Fractional COO Work, Getting Crystal Clear, and Why Solopreneurs Need a Thought Partner
What happens when sheer will gets your business to the point where willpower alone isn't enough? In this episode, I sit down with Beth Sanders, founder of Ballast Ops and a fractional COO who specializes in being the "number two" for founders who've outgrown going it alone. Beth shares why she…
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Built, Not Branded: Sarah Choudhary on Running Four Ventures, Solving Broken Systems, and the Permission-to-Authority Shift
What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start building because you can see exactly what's broken? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Choudhary — PhD in data science, Forbes Technology Council member, and CEO of ICE Innovations — for a conversation that completely reframed…
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From Y2K to a Fictional Universe: Kevin Dunlap on Reinvention, AI, and the Power of Adapting
What do a Y2K programmer, a Las Vegas lease-option real estate expert, and a sci-fi novelist building a Marvel-style universe have in common? They're all the same guy. In this episode, I sit down with Kevin A. Dunlap — author, speaker, and creator of the Crimson Alliance Universe — for a...
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Second Chances and Solo Ventures: Matt Melvin on Accountability, Redemption, and Building After the Fall
What do you do when your name is all over the internet and every background check becomes a closed door? In this episode, I sit down with Matt Melvin — author of Bully Behind Bars: A Gay Christian Trump Supporter Goes to Prison— for a raw and deeply personal conversation about accountability,...
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The Stever-Shaped Key: Finding Your Niche by Being Unapologetically You
What happens when the smartest person in the room can't figure out their own marketing? In this episode, I sit down with executive coach and solopreneur Stever Robbins — host of the legendary Get It Done Guy podcast and Harvard MBA — for one of the most refreshingly honest conversations I've had…
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Get Seen, Get Heard, Get Paid: Publicity Secrets for Solopreneurs with Jill Lublin
What if the missing piece in your solopreneur journey isn't another strategy — it's visibility? In this episode, I sit down with publicity expert and four-time author Jill Lublin to talk about how solopreneurs can get in front of the right audiences without a big budget or a PR agency. Jill…
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Tanya's Journey From Corporate to Solopreneurship
In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Tanya Puri, a consultant and founder of Peer Insights. Tanya shares her journey of transitioning from corporate America to becoming a solopreneur, discussing the challenges of defining her expertise, finding her niche, and the…
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Unlocking the Secrets of Solopreneurship
In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Evan Cox, a solopreneur specializing in nonprofit marketing. They discuss Evan's journey from working in a large nonprofit to becoming a solopreneur, the challenges he faced, and the importance of understanding multiple audiences in...
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The Accidental Entrepreneur: Holly Fisher's Journey
In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Holly Fisher, a marketing strategist and owner of Fisher Creative Marketing. Holly shares her journey into solopreneurship, the challenges she faced, and how she found her unique niche in the marketing industry. They discuss the impact...
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Start Scared, Stay Brave: Shampaigne Graves on Building a Business from $20
In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos sits down with Shampaigne Graves, entrepreneur, founder of two businesses, and a powerful voice for women in business. Shampaigne shares how she started with just $20, a free Shopify trial, and a mission to help women start and stay in business—and how...
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Stop the “Lipstick Rebrand”: Positioning That Makes You Uncopyable
What if the thing you’re calling “branding” is actually just a costume change… and your customers are now wandering the store like, “Where did my ice cream go?” In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos talks with Beatrice Gutknecht, a positioning strategist who helps service-based businesses...
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Transforming Shyness into Speaking Success
In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos interviews Laurie-ann Morabito, a former shy individual who transformed into a confident speaker and coach. Laurie-ann shares her journey from corporate life to becoming a solopreneur, emphasizing the importance of public speaking in building…
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Sales Is Vanity, Profit Is Sanity: Real Solopreneur Lessons with Deirdre Martin
What do you do when the career you planned disappears overnight? In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos sits down with Deirdre Martin, a business coach from Kilkenny, Ireland, who turned an unexpected layoff in retail banking into a purpose-driven solopreneur business. Deirdre shares…
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Navigating the Solopreneur Journey: Insights from Annie Figenshu
In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos interviews Annie Figenshu, a solopreneur and content marketing expert. They discuss the challenges and rewards of running a solo business, the importance of effective content marketing, and the value of in-person networking. Annie shares her…
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Unlocking Your Business Potential with Tami Murphy
In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Tami Murphy, a business coach specializing in the toy and game industry. Tami shares her journey into entrepreneurship, the challenges of working alone, and the importance of finding joy in business. She discusses her strategies for...
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From Solopreneur to Coach: A Journey of Transformation
Summary In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos interviews Reena Duell, a former solopreneur turned business coach. Reena shares her journey of starting her own business while balancing family life, the health challenges she faced, and her transition to coaching other solopreneurs. The...
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The Challenges of Solopreneurship: Insights from Kyle Bailey
In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Kyle Bailey, the owner of Frontburner Marketing, about his journey as a solopreneur in the digital marketing space, particularly focusing on the home service industry. They discuss the challenges faced in the solopreneur journey, the...
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The Power of Reinvention
This conversation explores the themes of personal reinvention, authenticity, and empowerment, particularly focusing on women's experiences. The speaker emphasizes that reinvention is not about starting over but rather about leveraging past experiences to move forward. The importance of community...
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Start Before You're Ready: A Business Mindset
In this conversation, Mary Beth Plank Mezo shares her insights on starting a business, emphasizing the importance of beginning before feeling fully prepared. She discusses the value of learning and embracing imperfection, encouraging listeners to push through their fears to achieve personal and...
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Faith and Business: The Coaching Philosophy of Alberta McKinney
In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos interviewsAlberta McKinney, a biblical business coach and entrepreneur. Alberta shares her journey from working at the post office to becoming a successful business coach, emphasizing the importance of faith, personal development, andunderstanding…
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Overcoming Perfectionism for Success
In this conversation, Kate Gilbert discusses the detrimentaleffects of perfectionism on productivity and business growth. She emphasizes the importance of overcoming the fear of not being perfect to make progress and achieve success. Bio Kate’s clients affectionately dub her a...
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Building a Personal Brand as a Solopreneur
In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos interviewsJade Nangah, founder of Jet Set Productions, a content marketing agency. Jade shares her journey as a solopreneur, discussing the challenges of delegation, the importance of authenticity in branding, and the tools that help hersucceed.…
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Navigating the Solopreneur Journey with Tim Jordan
What does it really take to build a business when you're doing it all yourself? In this episode, Tim Jordan shares his journey from juggling every task alone to becoming a strategic leader who knows how to scale with clarity and purpose. Tim opens up about the mindset shifts that carried him...
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From Crisis to Clarity: How Dawn Upwon Built a Business and a Life She Loves
What if your lowest moment became the turning point for everything that followed? In this inspiring episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos talks with Dawn Upwon, a copywriter turned AI innovator who went from burnout in ministry to building a thriving solo business—and a life of purpose, peace, and...
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The Legacy of Wireless Innovation
In this episode of Breaking Solo, Jim Bradfield shares his extensive experience in the wireless industry, discussing his family's legacy and the evolution of wireless technology. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration, overcoming challenges, and adapting to new technologies like AI. Jim…
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Navigating the Journey of Entrepreneurship
Summary In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Deborah Wendorf and AJ Nardini from On Demand Solutions about their journey from solopreneurs to running a successful HR business. They discuss the challenges of growth, the importance of customer service, and the impact of AI…
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From Solopreneur to Entrepreneur: Sue Pats' Insights
In this conversation, Sue Pats shares her journey from being a solopreneur to an entrepreneur, discussing the challenges faced in solopreneurship, the importance of prioritizing tasks, and how to create a successful business model that allows for rapid revenue generation. She emphasizes the...
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Empowering Moms Through Remote Work
In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos interviews Leslie Pyle, founder of HireMyMom.com, a platform designed to connect small businesses with remote professionals, particularly moms. Leslie shares her journey into freelancing, the challenges she faced balancing work and motherhood, and how...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
🎧 Breaking Solo is your go-to podcast for insights from solopreneurs who’ve made it happen—sharing their strategies, challenges, and the tools they use to stay ahead.
HOSTED BY
Donna Amos
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Breaking Solo have?
Breaking Solo currently has 78 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Breaking Solo about?
🎧 Breaking Solo is your go-to podcast for insights from solopreneurs who’ve made it happen—sharing their strategies, challenges, and the tools they use to stay ahead.
How often does Breaking Solo release new episodes?
Breaking Solo has 78 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Breaking Solo?
You can listen to Breaking Solo on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Breaking Solo?
Breaking Solo is created and hosted by Donna Amos.
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