Broad Topics

In this final episode of Season 3 we recap and reflect on the season's episodes and add insights, updates and share how we've worked to put our own topics into practice! The start of 2021 has been a roller coaster of events, emotions and transitions for many, yet no matter your journey, it's so important to reflect on the growth and learning you've had along the way. So we thought we'd do the same.

Tune in for an episode that gets at the core of what Broad Topics is - a space for us to unpack what life throws at us, reflect with grace, and try new things scared. Plus, you'll come away with more questions than answers about deep dish pizza, your bagel personality, and your PB+J process!

Also a great episode for: someone just tuning in for the first time, looking for solid intros into each of our episodes, learn what we're ALL about, and then dive into other episodes from here!

This episode is sponsored by:

We're beyond thrilled to have a fellow broad, #womenowned biz owner, friend, and talented photographer, Sydney Kerbyson join us for this feature episode of the podcast where we learn more about her and her business! As a photographer who focuses on engagements, elopements and weddings, the past year has been a wild ride of helping her couples pivot their plans and still capture their love on that special day Sydney brings energy, thoughtfulness and love to every aspect of her business, and shares all of this with us in this episode!

Also in this episode: Her eco-friendly business model, tips for anyone before they head into a photoshoot, and some basic photo editing etiquette! PLUS, just some feel good vibes for anyone who might be camera shy!

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Self care isn't a new concept, but it's easy to minimize it to something as simple as taking a bubble bath, or having a Netflix-and-chill day at home. While these aren't bad practices, they can often be used as quick fixes, or bandaids to kickstart us back into the hustle, grind or hamster wheel that we're on. No matter whether you own a business or not, hustle culture is no joke, and can make us forget that our worth doesn't have to be linked to how productive or 'successful' we are.

In this episode Rachel and Meagan explore this push and pull between productivity and self-worth and how to make space for activities that fill our cups in a consistent and sustainable way. 

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Have you ever just had a gut instinct about something? You either know you've got to do something, or maybe something doesn't feel quite right. Sometimes a feeling hits you right in the gut, and you know what you need to do, but other times it isn't so easy. Other factors cloud this intuition - insecurities, other people's expectations, money, our own self doubts (just to name a few..) - and pull into question whether we should trust this voice in our head.

Learning to trust your intuition is a delicate balance, and definitely one built over time! This episode is all about ways in which to practice listening to that voice, knowing how to recognize when fear and past narratives might be interfering, and honoring what's right for you!

Also in this episode: 

Why women may hesitate to trust their intuition for fear of being perceived as emotional, rash or uncalculated.

Finding your way and pushing past fear: using your instincts to navigate pre-GPS and trying things scared.

In this episode, we're thrilled to interview Inga Weakly, co-owner of WanderRoll, a Concord, NH based food truck featuring locally inspired Vietnamese styled egg rolls! Delish food. Tales from behind the window of a food truck. Lessons in starting a business. Who doesn't love a good behind-the-scenes peek into the world (and kitchen!) of a local business owner, and all the many adventures she's been on?!

We may not be a food podcast yet, but if there's one thing we love more than talking about entrepreneurship, it's food! If you've tuned in before, you've probably heard us mention WanderRoll and their delish egg rolls - so we couldn't resist the opportunity to get Inga behind the mic and have her share more about the WanderRoll's journey. This episode is chocked full with inspiration for getting your wheels turning on your next idea, and a reminder that asking for help from mentors, friends and your community is an important part of any recipe of success!

Did you sprint out of 2020 with more resolutions than you knew what to do with? Or maybe you weren't quite sure how to set new intentions for yourself or your business because the world still felt a little too uncertain. As we round the corner into spring, and Q1 wraps up, now is a great time to reflect, revaluate where your goals are, and do a gut check. We've got just stress-free exercise to get you inspired!

In this week's episode, Rachel and Meagan take you through a super practical, yet approachable way to set goals, intentions or even just get the gears turning on what needs shifting in your life. With 8 simple fill-in-the-blank statements, they each came to the table and shared their own goals, both personal and professional, in the hopes it inspires you to do the same. Whether you're a business owner or not, writing down your goals is so important for keeping yourself accountable, and seeing how you've grown! If you're needing a refocus or a simple self reflect, this is the episode for you.

This episode is sponsored by:

This week marks the midway point in Season 3 of Broad Topics, so we thought we'd celebrate by sharing a smorgasbord of rapid fire 'tiny topics'! If you love tuning in for the tail end of our episodes for our Mini Broad Topics, this is the episode for you. Full of unpopular opinions and odd food combinations this episode is perfect for your ride to work, listening to while you cook or clean, or a great way to unwind after a long day!

This minisode is sponsored by:

When the clock springs forward an hour and you can't seem to get out of bed, or that idea just doesn't seem to come together, it's easy to get stuck in a mindset that you aren't cut out for whatever you're currently working toward. Imposter syndrome (or phenomenon as psychologist Amy Cuddy likes to call it) can feel like a losing battle, and can be truly isolating. In this weeks episode, Meagan and Rachel chat about when they've had moments of feeling like a fraud, how Zoom has us too focused on our own reflections, and the tiny tweaks we can do to remain confident in those moments of self doubt.

Also in this episode: the things we assume everyone has 'all put together' just because one aspect of their life is all shiny and organized. Tune into this episode if you need to give yourself permission to be less self critical and recognize that no one has their $h*t together.

This episode is sponsored by:

Mother of plants, roller derby deets and navigating what she calls 'the best decade yet' are just a few things we covered in our first interview of Season 3! If you aren't familiar with Penumbra, they're a small womxn-owned business based here in Concord, NH owned by Alison Murphy and Alyssa McClary selling 'plants you can't kill' along with other gifts and wares. When they opened their business in March 2020, their business took a major left turn in a direction they never expected - selling majority plants. With little knowledge about how to keep plants alive, they've learned along the way!

In our interview with Alyssa we dive deeper beyond the business to learn more about the other things that brought the pair to where they are today, and how finding a community of like-minded people can truly change the course of things for the better.

Raise your hand if you've ever had to do a group project in school...Yup, we've all been there. Navigating team dynamics, professional and personal relationships, and conflicting expectations are all things that can be made easier with clearer communication! But what makes open communication so hard, and what ingredients make for a good working relationship?

Join Rachel and Meagan as they share about their experiences with effective (and not so effective!) communication in the corporate world, tips from Rachel's experience as a trained mediator, and insight from their own dynamic as co-producers and friends. 

The concept of self love is far from a novel one. In fact, it's so engrained into our everyday jargon and culture, that sometimes it's feels like it's lost its true impact. It's something we all know we should work on, but how do but this into practice and actually feel it, radically??

There's no doubt everyone (yes, men too!) feels insecure about their looks, shape, size, curves, and so much more - so how do we love ourselves and our bodies in a culture so focused on body image, weight and size? Join us as we take on this vulnerable topic, and unpack our own personal experiences and struggles with body image and health, and share where we are on our journeys to loving ourselves, RADICALLY.

While everyone's experience with loving their body is different, judgement of ourselves and others can often be so subtle and nuanced that we don't even realize that it's happening. We hope that by us sharing our unique experiences, it will empower you to reflect on your own personal experiences or provide important insight for loved ones. 

So, let's kick off Women's History Month celebrating what we love about ourselves, and realizing that while self love shouldn't be a radical concept, but we sure hope you do it radically!

It's easy in the world of highlight reels to assume that in order to stack up, you have to be an expert. The truth is, many of us are just learning on the fly, trying our best, and seeing what sticks! This got us thinking, why not share with all of you, a bit about how we got started as podcasters, the challenges we faced on day 1, launch day, and the curve balls we get thrown each week that remind us that we're far from masters. If you've ever been curious about what it takes to start a podcast, and wondered if you have what it takes to start one - this episode is for you!

Join us for Episode 2, where you'll hear Meagan and Rachel share all about their journey thus far with Broad Topics, and how to get over that first hump and just do the darn thing. Spoiler alert, just start - a little embarrassment and vulnerability is the cost of entry for anything new and exciting!

We all handle change and transitions differently. There's good change like buying a new house and exciting new relationships, and unpredictable changes like literally everything to do with 2020, being told you're old for your side part (thanks Gen Z), and getting fired from a job you really love. Sometimes when things change (good or bad) it can make us feel insecure, like a buoy in the ocean, floating and adrift. So how do we handle these transitions in a way that helps us feel more anchored?

In this first episode of Season 3, you'll hear Meagan and Rachel share two totally different experiences with big transitions - one that involves getting fired, and one that involves starting a new career - and their insight and tips on how to face your own! 

We hear the term all the time - that phase in any process, big or small, where the shine has worn off and you've got the buckle down and get your hands dirty. Things get messy. The middle of any journey, project, heck even WEEK (hello hump day!) can be tough, and finding the light at the end of the tunnel a daunting task.

Feeling the squeeze of two full moons this month, we thought this was the perfect time to share our own experiences with this phase, both in our personal lives and in our journeys as business owners. Like any hero's journey the middle is a time of growth - so how do we level up, face the challenges in front of us and move into the next stage ahead? All this and more in Episode 7!

When you wear a million hats, it can be hard to stay motivated, especially when you hit resistance. But what if it's literally your job to motivate and encourage others, to add resistance, and to push through anyway?

In this behind the scenes episode with Meagan Ferns, Owner, Founder and Lead Instructor at Strive Indoor Cycling, we pick her brain on how she shows up daily for her riders, and for her business. Especially as women, finding an outlet for our emotions in which we can recharge, let loose or decompress is so critical for feeling centered even when we DO face resistance. For Meagan, it all started in the bike room.

Also in this episode: mental health, vulnerability, leadership styles

Networking often gets a bad rap. And for good reason - traditional networking events and tactics often feel forced and stale, filled with awkward moments and one-to-many used car salesmen like pitches. As two women who love to network, Meagan and Rachel share how to give networking a second chance, take on a fresh perspective, and just go into it being yourself.

Also in this episode, Rachel shares a story about the importance of relationship building and how one connection has the potential to be a lasting impact on your career and business.

Why should you rebrand and how do you know it's the right time? With every season change we all crave a refresh, a deep clean or a new pop of color, but when it comes to your brand, how do you know it's the right time for a change up?

This week we changed things up and get a behind the scenes interview with Rachel Sotak about her own rebrand of R.S. Creative and all the steps she took along the way. If you've ever wondered if it was time for your own brand to get a fresh coat of paint, or are curious about the creative process, this is the episode for you!