Hint of Hustle with Heather Sager
by Heather Sager
You probably don't need someone to tell you to work harder, you’re good at that. Really good. But somewhere along the way, success started feeling like it was costing you something. Your relationships. Your health. That version of yourself you LIKE. You started wondering if there's a way to win in business without putting everything else on the back burner. I'm Heather Sager, former corporate executive turned high performance coach specializing in communication. I've spent 23+ years on stages and inside thousands of businesses learning that the entrepreneurs who are truly crushing it are the ones who got really honest about redefining their success and built accordingly. Each week we get into exactly that, business, marketing, personal growth… the 5 star reviews paint the picture: it’s like grabbing a drink with that ridiculously wise biz friend who has you laughing one minute, scribbling not
Episodes
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"I'm too BUSY" & Other Lies That Led to My 13 Hour Work Week
This week I'm sharing a special closed door interview from Beyond the Bottleneck hosted by Carly Clark Zimmer. If you've ever felt super busy or like you have just too many things to get done... and you're juggling a lot in your personal life, this episode is for you :) Beyond the Bottleneck is a...
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257. Get Good at Saying "No" Without Feeling Like a Jerk
You're not bad at saying no, you’re just really good at saying yes to the wrong things. ;) Because every invite you say yes to, every collaboration or coffee chat or those favors from a business friend that you said yes to when you didn't really want to… those were all NOs to your own priorities....
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256. Get Momentum With Your Message [Part 2 of the Yap Challenge Breakdown]
This is Part 2 of my Jessi Jean Yap Challenge breakdown and this week it’s about YOU. You're not trying to become social media famous, but you would like to be known for your work, and for your reputation to do the heavy lifting for your brand. This week we're digging into the three gears that...
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255. A Speaking Expert’s Take on the $1.2M Yap Challenge Launch [Part 1]
Jessi Jean's $1.2 million Yap Challenge launch is a marketing case study for the record books, and in this episode I’m sharing my vantage point as a 24 year pro speaking veteran and communication expert (and it's probably not what you think). We’ll drill into the three intangible qualities that I...
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254. Messaging, AI, and the Skill Everyone Is Trying to Skip with Laura Schoenfeld
In this episode I'm joined by Laura Schoenfeld, strategic advisor and founder of The Nourished CEO, for a conversation about messaging, and it turned into an incredible discussion about so much more. This episode gets into: – why messaging is the skill most experts try to shortcut and why that...
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253. Your Inner Critic Is Costing You More Than You Think
The pressure of being a visible leader, the second-guessing before a launch, the vulnerability hangover after a big talk, the spiral when something doesn't land… all of that lands on you. Nobody's coming to save you in your business. Not a mentor, not a mastermind, not the next program you buy.…
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252. What Every Leader Needs to Work On (That Isn't a Marketing Strategy)
Many visible leaders are focused on the wrong thing when they think about growth. They're asking about which platforms to show up on, tweaking their messaging or chasing AI tools. All external. All tactical. And meanwhile the thing that's quietly running every room they walk into, every video…
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251: Stop Letting Your Mood Run Your Business
You can be doing all the right things in your business and still feel like you're running out of air. Not because your strategy is off or the market is broken. But because somewhere along the way, the thing you built stopped feeling good to be inside of. The work became a task. The content became…
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250. Failure, Comparison, and The Bitter B Trap
You're not failing. But I'd bet good money you walk around feeling like you are. I’m not talking about the obvious kind of failure… a flopped launch or a missed goal… today we’re talking about the quieter kind of failure: A low-grade hum of "I should be further along by now." The spiral that…
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249. Trust “Recession” Hype & The Real Truth About Why Talking About Yourself Feels Awkward
Last week, we had a spicy convo about getting back to basics and doing the *real* work that moves the needle. And if you listened, you probably felt a little called out 😅. This week, we’re going a layer deeper because how you show up while doing that work matters. You can post more, sell more…
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248. Newton’s Law & The Hustle Reframe We All Need Right Now
We’re BAAAACK! Whew, after an on again off again podcast return post maternity leave, I’m THRILLED to be back in your ear holes every TUESDAY. In this episode, I'm breaking down why I brought back the name Hint of Hustle and we’re digging into stagnation in business and how to consciously choose...
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247. Why Trying Too Hard to Be Different is Hurting Your Business with Megan Yelaney
Okay friends, we are inching dangerously close to the New Year. And if you are anything like me, you’re probably sitting there with your fresh 2026 planner, feeling that creeping pressure to "reinvent" yourself. You might be thinking, “I need a totally new angle,” or “I need to burn it all down…
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246. What I Wish More Experts Knew About Being A “Good Speaker”
You probably are a good speaker. You share helpful info. You care about serving. You’ve got stories, maybe even a little humor. But what does good actually mean? That people liked it? That you hit all your points? That someone clapped? The truth is — you’ve never been taught what “good” really…
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245. Your Brain Called. It Wants Its Job Back
You already know AI is everywhere right now — but here’s what no one’s really saying: When business owners start outsourcing their thinking to AI, their actual ideas suffer. In this episode, I’m calling out the creative atrophy that happens when you stop flexing your own brainpower. Think about…
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244. Why I Don’t Cold Pitch (And How I Actually Book Stages)
“Heather, how in the world do I book more stages?!" It’s the #1 most asked question I get from you all. You see the advice everywhere—research, send a million cold pitches, fill out every speaker application you can find. But what if that whole approach just feels…exhausting and not quite right…
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243. What’s Missing From Your Talk (And How to Fix It)
Ever feel like you’re dropping pure fire—sharing your best, most advanced stuff—and all you get back is…polite nods? Your audience tells you that you’re brilliant, they loved your talk and that your stuff is amazing…but then they don’t actually do anything with it. So what’s the deal? In this…
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242. Why I’m Ditching the Perfect Plan [Spring Refresh Series]
Final Episode of the Spring Refresh Series After a little break from the podcast (because life + business, you know how it goes), I’m back— and bringing you a personal reflection and an honest convo to wrap up the Spring Refresh Series. In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes peek at...
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241. What If Stress Is Driving Your Business Decisions? With Rebecca Vigelius [Refresh Series]
Episode 4 of the Spring Refresh Series You already know when it’s time to make a change. But what if the way you’re deciding is the real problem? In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m joined by my client and friend Rebecca Vigelius, a former VP turned copywriter turned certified…
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240. How Kristina Bleiler Broke Her Own Rule and Started Teaching DIY Design [Refresh Series]
Episode 3 of the Spring Refresh Series What if refreshing your business isn’t about changing everything — but simply making room for more of what you’re being called to do? In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m sitting down with brand designer and strategist Kristina Bleiler of Gem Creative...
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239. When It’s Time to Pivot: A Real Talk with Ellen Yin [Spring Refresh Series]
Episode 2 of the Spring Refresh Series This week's episode of The Ramble Refinery is your permission slip to pivot boldly and follow your curiosity. I pulled one of my fave throwback interviews with the brilliant Ellen Yin, founder of Cubicle to CEO out of the vault—and it could not be more...
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238. Before You Burn It All Down [Spring Refresh Series]
Episode 1 of the Spring Refresh Series Ever feel like blowing up your entire business? Same. But before you start rewriting your offers, scrapping your website, or launching into a full rebrand, this episode is your gut check. In the first episode of the Spring Refresh Series (happening the…
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237. Want More Speaking Gigs? Rethink Your Approach
If you’ve been googling “where to find speaking gigs” trying to land more opportunities by pitching every event you come across, it’s probably feeling...exhausting. And if you’re still hoping there’s a magical list that’ll land you a dozen dream stages overnight — I’ve got to be honest, that’s…
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236. You Crushed the Talk... So Why Do You Feel Like Crap?
Ever given a talk, walked off the stage, felt the rush of "HECK YES I nailed that!"—and then bam, hours later, you’re deep in the land of second-guessing and spiraling, you start replaying everything that went wrong? In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, we’re talking about that weird emotional...
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235. What Does "Go-To" Really Mean (And How Do You Become It?)
Being the "go-to" isn’t about being the best at what you do. It’s about being the one people recommend and reach out to without hesitation. In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m breaking down the real difference between being an expert—and becoming the one people actually think of when the...
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234. Radical Responsibility & Speaking Like a Thought Leader
Your audience doesn’t need more tips, templates, or content. If information were enough, they’d already have what they want. What they actually need is leadership—and that starts with how you show up. In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, we’re talking about what leadership really looks like...
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233. Sounding Like 'You' on Stage Starts with Ditching This One Habit
There’s this weird thing that happens when smart, articulate business owners get asked to speak: They start sounding… weird. They say stuff like, “What if I told you…” They parrot lines from mentors they admire. They stiffen up, overthink, and suddenly sound like a motivational quote generator...
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232. Welcome to the Ramble Refinery 🎉
Welcome to The Ramble Refinery! After a year-long hiatus, the podcast is back—but with a whole new vibe. In this kickoff episode, I’m sharing the messy, real story behind the rebrand, why I almost launched seven different shows, and what finally clicked. We’re talking about: 🎤 The truth about...
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231. Hustle vs Busyness: How I Work Without the Grind
Ok real talk— I almost didn't hit publish on this episode. After I finished recording I had serious “wait— I can’t publish that trainwreck of a ramble” thoughts. But lately, I’ve been craving far more rambles and far less polish. And if that’s you too— then hit play, because this one might just…
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230. 5 Strategies for Tailoring Your Talk for Different Audiences
Ever wondered how to tailor your message when you have multiple audiences? Or how to change up what you talk about for different groups? In today's episode, I've got the answers you've been searching for. Get ready to level up your speaking game and leave every audience feeling like you are...
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229. The Truth About Extemporaneous Speaking
I’m typically a plain spoken word kinda gal, but today we’re getting fancy. The word? Extemporaneous. The meaning? Spoken or done without preparation. Said another way — speaking “off the cuff”. As someone who makes money teaching others how to intentionally structure a message, it would be easy…
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228. My G.O.O.D Plan for 2024
I’m wired for goal setting. Chasing that next mountain top of ambition is in my DNA. But when the ball dropped into 2024 and everyone else was hunkering down, massive year on the wall calendars and color coded post-its in hand, I felt ZERO ambition for planning. But what I did feel was a desire…
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227. Nail Your Stand-Out Speaking Topics - Exclusive Coaching Session
We’ve all heard versions of the phrase “there are really no new ideas” and “there are thousands of people who do what you do”, so when it comes to speaking on platforms and stages… How do you talk about something that has already been heard? How do you find an angle that’s unique and refreshing?...
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226. Special Comeback: My Copywriter Interviews ME!
And we’re BACK baby! Quite literally. I had a baby and had every intention of keeping this show going while I was on leave, but… life surely LIFE-ED me. On this special comeback episode, we flipped the script and my copywriter, Sara Vartanian (who knows my business and my offers better than...
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RECAST: My 5 Best On Camera Speaking Tips
Struggling to best present yourself in front of camera? Here are my 5 best on camera speaking tips to help you come alive, look natural and also connect with your audience more effectively than ever. Touching on tips to equip you with things to consider, questions to ask yourself, lenses to look...
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RECAST: Is Your Message Being Ignored? Make This One Change to Stand Out and Resonate with Your Ideal Person
I don’t have to tell you that getting your message noticed in this era of CONTENT OVERLOAD takes work. But did you know that you could actually be causing your ideal client to pass right by your amazing tips and juicy insights? It doesn’t matter how deep your experience or good your results, if...
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225. Messaging Strategies To Captivate Your Audience Without Going Over Their Head: A Live Coaching Session
Could you accidentally be trapped in expertise overdrive? If your audience is smiling, nodding and saying, “Oh, that’s really interesting,” you’re facing a common problem of many online entrepreneurs–you’re overwhelming your audience. In this recast episode from The Art Of Online Business…
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224. Why Aren’t More People Doing Sales Calls?
In the online space we’re fed this idea that selling should be hands off–but could skipping sales calls be doing your business a disservice? By bypassing one-on-one sales conversations in favor of automated funnels, videos or webinars what kind of critical information could we be missing about…
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223. How To Pick What To Work On Next: 3 Powerful Pillars For Business Growth
Think of your business as a three-legged stool…miss the mark with one (or neglect it) and the whole structure topples over. As a business owner, your most vital role is making sure there’s a balance between all 3 legs—or as I call them pillars–so you can find the right growth path for this season...
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222. Do these 4 Things to Finish The Year & Set Business Up for 2024 (no fancy planning required)
Planning can be a brilliant tool, or a form of procrastination. Visions of what *could* be. And as we follow the plan, we quickly realize that the ideal map we’ve chosen to follow… looks quite a bit different than the reality we’re faced with. It happens in our personal lives AND our businesses....
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221. Let’s Talk About “Deadlines” & Self-Created Stress
When was the last time you felt “stressed” in your business? Chances are: recently. As a business owner, you might have adopted the reality that stress is just part of running a business. I’m not here to tell you that I’ve figured out the secret formula to deal with stress (spoiler: there isn’t...
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220. 3 Big Takeaways From Hosting The Live 3-Day Signature Talk Accelerator
Holding space for a bunch of brave and bold entrepreneurs for a 3-day live virtual event is no joke. There were location decisions, tech snafus, bloopers, and more than a few happy tears. Get your notepad ready! My event producer, Krystal Proffitt and I demystify live events so you get a clear…
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219. Hate Networking? Graceful Tactics To Grow Game Changing Relationships
Relationship building is a learned skill that becomes an epic growth tool when done right. Chances are though you’ve had some networking experiences that left a sour taste in your mouth. Sneak attack sales pitches disguised as friendly check-ins? Corporate style networking? Pass, pass. This…
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218. Forget Fancy & Other Business Lessons I’d Tell Myself If I Had A Time Machine
Business growth isn’t a high school line graph, rather, it goes up and down depending on the seasons. Want to push past your current revenue? You’ve got to work with the data you got, and keep going–even when it’s messy, and far from perfect. Our ego hates that reality, especially if we’ve had...
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217. Entrepreneurial Insights for Expecting Mothers – A Candid Conversation with Ann K. Emery
Real talk – how do you navigate pregnancy (or any big life change) while running a business? Especially one where you travel and speak? If you’re self-employed planning maternity leave, or if you're simply looking for strategies to strike a healthier work-life balance, this episode will…
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216. How Relatable Stories Make You Remarkable Featuring Zafira Rajan
Ever wonder how Taylor Swift built her diehard fan base? It's not the glitzy costume changes or famous boyfriends. Taylor's audience can't get enough of her songs because album after album, her lyrics make them feel like they know her. She puts into words the same experiences they're going…
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215. The Power Of A Signature Talk: Saying Yes & Staying Visible (Even When You’re Swamped!)
In the busy world of entrepreneurship, it’s often challenging to say yes to when opportunities knock. When you’re swamped with work, getting in front of new audiences can take a back seat. It’s all too easy to fall into ‘when/then’ syndrome, promising yourself that you’ll make time later. But...
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214. How This Speaker Got 19 Speaking Gigs (And Counting) With One Talk Featuring Nicole Hatherly
Be honest: Do you have a graveyard of talks you’ve delivered 1, 2 or 3 times? Do you feel like you’re creating a new talk for almost every speaking opportunity? If you’re picturing your Canva dashboard packed with slide decks, right about now, you’re in good company. Many of my Signature Talk...
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213. Clarifying Your Message One Stage At A Time With Merritt Onsa
Is your message catnip to your audience? Clarity in your message comes from taking action over and over. The more you speak, the more you learn about what creates those “aha” moments where your message clicks with your audience. Yet, so many business owners try to think their way through why…
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212. Taming Imposter Syndrome with Sydnea Lewis
Imposter syndrome can strike anyone, leading to battles with self-doubt and an inner voice who notices every fumble so it hisses unhelpful things like, “you don’t know what you’re doing” or “you’re an idiot.” After 20+years as a speaker, I know first-hand that voice never quite goes away. But…
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211. Serve, Speak, Transform: Creating Lasting Impact From The Stage
Dream of making an impact with your message? Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or have a message in your heart you know the world needs to hear, your voice is the most powerful tool in your toolbox to reach the people you want to serve. By sharing your ideas and experiences it’s possible to...
About this show
You probably don't need someone to tell you to work harder, you’re good at that. Really good.
But somewhere along the way, success started feeling like it was costing you something. Your relationships. Your health. That version of yourself you LIKE. You started wondering if there's a way to win in business without putting everything else on the back burner.
I'm Heather Sager, former corporate executive turned high performance coach specializing in communication. I've spent 23+ years on stages and inside thousands of businesses learning that the entrepreneurs who are truly crushing it are the ones who got really honest about redefining their success and built accordingly.
Each week we get into exactly that, business, marketing, personal growth… the 5 star reviews paint the picture: it’s like grabbing a drink with that ridiculously wise biz friend who has you laughing one minute, scribbling not
Hosted by
Heather Sager
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