The Big Leap Show With Kathlyn Hart | Weekly Interviews With Inspiring Badass Women In Business

This week we have a special episode in celebration of our 6 months together! Drum roll please... Introducing the top 10 tips from our guests on The Big Leap Show for facing your fears and acting on your dreams. Quick Show Summary: Follow your curiosity (2:27) Test the waters (4:10) Don’t wait for perfection to start (6:00) Create a vision and then take it step by step towards it (8:16) Tune into your body for signs if you are moving in the right direction or not (10:36) Get anchored in who you are and why you do what you do (12:43) Be persistent and don’t let fear of rejection stop you (14:33) Don’t try to please everyone (18:34) Find your support group, your trusted people, your champions (21:31) Don’t be so hard on yourself, especially if it’s not happening as fast as you want (23:19) For full show notes + links to resources visit: www.thebigleapshow.com/episode024/

Today get ready for a big ole dose of self-love, as we sit down with Stephanie Halligan, the motivational cartoonist behind Art to Self. After years of climbing the traditional career route, she found herself suddenly say, "Noooo, this is not where I'm supposed to be, something isn't right." Unsure of what "right" was she followed her curiosity and started The Empowered Dollar, a blog where she shared her story of paying off student loans and gave advice to others on how to do the same.   While it was a step forward, something still wasn't quite right. Tune in as Stephanie shares... What she was like as a child, how she lost her desire to create, and her job in the real world after graduating from college. The shift that took place once she found herself in the "dream job," and how she started her first blog, The Empowered Dollar on the side as a creative outlet. The evolution of The Empowered Dollar, and how it became a safe place for her to share her creativity as well as build her confidence around sharin

Today's interview is one that's very special to me.  Just over two years ago I met and sat down with speaker and author Sahar Paz for an interview series I was doing for my blog Bitches Work.  Sitting down with Sahar, was like sitting in front of a mirror... a mirror that I didn't want to look at.  Her message was and continues to be simple yet powerful - find your voice and learn how to turn your negative thoughts and emotions into your allies. Tune in this week as Sahar shares... The people pleasing journey that she lead her to the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge in an attempt to commit suicide, and the life changing shift that happened within her leading to the big question, “What am I here for?” Facing burnout again at 33 from her non-profit, and stripping down her identity to reflect and practice “being” instead of continuing to create, create, create. How she works with the relationship between thoughts and emotions and her advice to others who are looking to take a leap Navigating the twists and turns in

Know that catchy commercial voice you can’t get out of your head?  That my friend might just be the voice of this week’s guest, Carrie Olsen. Tune in as voice actor Carrie Olsen shares... How she went from working in eLearning to discovering voice acting and launching a full time business in it within only 4 months A behind the scenes peak behind her first few gigs and what it was like to take the leap The importance of her voice coach in helping her take her work to the next level Her aggressive marketing and outreach plan + lessons in learning to prioritize and say no Final pieces of advice for anyone looking to take the big leap For full show notes + links to resources visit: www.thebigleapshow.com/episode021/

Want to start a business, but don't feel like you have the skills and know-how to make it happen?  Take it from this week's guest - if you have a vision, it's all about committing to it full heartedly and then putting yourself out there before you feel ready. Tune in as Lindsay White, founder of children's clothing brand Lot801 shares... What drove her to start a children's clothing line How she got her start without even knowing how to sew The early days of Lot801 and the vision that drew her to keep growing her business Major marketing and PR tips for growing your business when you feel small and unready Final nuggets of inspiration for aspiring business owners For full show notes + links to resources visit: www.thebigleapshow.com/episode020/

Raise your hand if you've ever been told you can't do something because you're a girl? *hands raise over here - hello* Well, this week's guest was sent that message year after year as a boxer, being told she was "too pretty" for the sport (surprise, surprise for them after she would take her first swing). Now, years into the sport and owner of The Stables boxing studio in Santa Monica, Cary Williams is on a mission to counter that message, and spread the good gospel that you are never "too pretty" to do anything you want. Tune in this week as Cary shares... How the Too Pretty Brand came about years of facing people telling her she was "too pretty" to be a boxer, and after noticing young girls she was coaching trying to dress less like a girl in order to be taken seriously. The evolution of the Brand over the past five years from an idea to a clothing brand to a movement The doubts she had in the beginning of her business, and how she stays true to her vision for the brand regardless of what others say Why sh

Today we sit down with Emily Lindin, the passionate leader behind The UnSlut Project, a movement on a mission to stop slut-shaming and sexual bullying. Tune in this week as Emily shares... Her personal story of being slut shammed growing up, and what moved her to do something about it to help young girls and women who are facing such bullying. How she grew her movement in the beginning, and what she does to continue spreading the word today How starting the movement has changed her, and the challenges she faces in her work from her own mental challenges to actual threats from people are against the work that she is doing. How she fills herself up to counter the intense amount of energy and heart that her work requires How she affords to make the UnSlut happen, and tips on making enough time to get your passion project, business or movement off the ground. For full show notes + links to resources visit: www.thebigleapshow.com/episode018/

We all have ideas. Making them happen though, that's another story. Today we sit down with Idea Implementation Coach Kathy Rasmussen. Tune in this week as Kathy shares... How Kathy took her 10+ years in event planning, and shifted to helping creatives and visionaries implement their big ideas What happened in her "dream career," and how it pushed her to reassess her vision for her life and figure out what she wanted do next How she tested her different business ideas and the clues she look for when assessing if an idea will fly Her process for helping others with their ideas and the patterns she’s noticed in implementing ideas Personal challenges she had to overcome in becoming a business owner Her "Idea Revolution" and vision for her business, + her final pieces of advice for anyone looking to take the leap For full show notes + links to resources visit: www.thebigleapshow.com/episode017/

Put your intentions out there and see what happens mama.  This week we are sitting down with Miss Krista Williams of The Hundred Blog, a lifestyle blog about living life 100%. Tune in this week as Krista shares... The humble beginnings of her blog and how she grew it from 500 views a month to over 20,000 in the past year. The inspiration for The Hundred Blog, how she hopes to help others, and what her plans for the future are. What pulled her to quit her job, the biggest obstacles she’s faced in the first few months of blogging full time, and the side business that helps to support her financially. What scares her about the journey so far and what she does to move through her fear. Advice to others looking to make a change in their life and career, and final words of encouragement. For full show notes + links to resources visit: www.thebigleapshow.com/episode016/

It's not every day for me I get to sit down with someone who has started, scaled and sold her own company.  When I met Bonnie Coberly at a local networking event just weeks after she had moved to San Francisco from Washington D.C. after selling her company Healthy Bites I knew we needed to hear her story on our show. First off how does one get to the point where they can SELL there company?  But more importantly for our conversation here on The Big Leap Show, what was the journey like? Tune in this week as Bonnie shares... How her personal experience with a digestive disorder and her road to discovering changing her diet inspired her to start learning about food and nutrition. The five-year process of slowly shifting careers to do marketing in health-related companies to eventually getting certified as a health coach. What inspired her to start her own food delivery in 2009, and how she tested her idea at the beginning and one of the craziest stories she can remember What she learned in her first few years o

The call of entrepreneurship is strong with this one ;)  Leaving a stable career with great pay and coworkers is not easy, but for this week's guest, she could not keep from the calling any longer. After almost a decade after closing doors of her business helping brands with their MySpace pages, business and marketing strategist Alessandra Colaci is back in the game with her new business and podcast Influence Buzz. Tune in as she shares... How she went from a 14 year old taking a class in photoshop, to becoming an online marketing expert working with brands such as Coca Cola Where her drive to be an entrepreneur comes from and the difference that she hopes to make The limitations she felt after she went from having her own business to working the 9-5, and how that encouraged her to take a risk and start a business again Her approach to turning her expertise on social media into an income stream, and where she’s focusing her efforts right now during the beginning stage of her business Advice and encouragement

Food trucks are taking over the nation. No need to pack a lunch, no need to go searching the neighborhood, just step outside and you're feet away from a good meal. But what aside from just food, we could deliver other things we need? Like coaching or advice. Marsha Barnes, the founder of The Finance Bar bus, started with the idea to bring financial coaching to the people, and I think it's brilliant. She's taking her gorgeous bus to the streets, meeting people where they are, and having quick and affordable sit-downs with people to help them get in control of their budgets, debt and gain a better understanding on how they can save for their future. Tune in as she shares... How she discovered a need in the financial market when she realized that there were people who couldn’t afford a financial advisor who didn’t have a place to turn to for solid financial help aside from going to a bank.  Where her deep-rooted desire to serve others comes from Her long-term plans for the finance bar and what she does to come

Quick question, if you were a writer, which sounds better to you... writing 67 articles for $30 a pop, or 1 article for $13,000? I'm guessing I know your answer :) If you're like me, the thought of getting over $10,000 for one article is MIND-BLOWING.  For this week's bold and daring guest however, this has become her reality. Tune in as Stefanie shares... How The Broke and Beautiful Life got it’s start, and how learning about money has been a game changer in her life The determination that was created to turn her blog into a business because she was sick and tired of babysitting and checking coats in order to make her rent. How she found the courage to increase her rates from $30 a post to over $10,000! The voices that she battled with in the beginning as a financial expert, and how she moved through them. Her advice and encouragement to others to make sure their whatever they are doing on a daily basis is in alignment with their bigger picture of what they want in their life For full show notes + links to

Today I am so so excited to sit down with one of the first women who helped me to get in control of my finances years ago, Miss Brittney Castro! Brittney is a Certified Financial Planner and the owner of Financially Wise Women based in Los Angeles, California. Through 1-on-1 coaching, her online Money Class program, workshops and YouTube videos she is helping women entrepreneurs and professionals understand, save, invest, and protect their money. In this episode, Brittney shares: 0:30 - About her company, Financially Wise Women, and the path that lead her to become a financial advisor. 4:00 - Life as a financial advisor working for Ameriprise, and what made her want to leave after 5 years. 9:00 -  Rebuilding her business as an independent firm and the nerves and waves of emotions that came with doing something new 12:00 - What she did to prepare for her leap and advise to others who are trying to figure out what to do 16:50 - Reflections on her journey, including the highs and the lows For full show notes +

Imagine, after studying for years to graduate from law school, pass the bar, and apply for jobs, the moment has finally - your first paycheck as an official lawyer!  Now imagine that beautiful moment followed swiftly with the realization that you owe over $200,000 for your student loans... For Natalie Bacon, this sobering fact sent her straight into a personal mission to get out of debt asap.  Along the way she started her blog, The Finance Girl, learned how to turn it into a business, and switched careers so that she could live a happier more fulfilling life. In this episode, she'll be sharing: 4:22 - How her blog The Finance Girl got it’s start after she graduated from law school and realized just how much student debt she had 8:15 - How The Finance Girl began growing into an actual business rather than just a blog and what motivates her to keep blogging while working full time and studying for the Certified Financial Planner exam 14:23 - The stresses of working as a lawyer what it took to finally make her

If you find yourself crying everyday after work you know something might be wrong...  For Caroline Winegeart this wake up call was the beginning of a journey of learning to really listen to her intuition and find the courage to act on it and become her whole authentic self. In this episode, she'll be sharing: 3:25 - How she found her entrepreneurial spirit and the creation of her design studio and blog Made Vibrant. 7:38 - Early days in marketing, learning to listen to her intuition, and dealing with the fears of quitting her job (especially around disappointing others) 17:35 - A huge life decision she had to make which helped to built her courage muscle 21:00 - Differentiating between your intuition talking vs. knowing if you need to just keep persisting, and the mental tapes that play in her head and how she deals with them 25:30 - Final words on her recent TEDx Talk and now how her journey has lead her to helping business owners find and share their authentic voice online through their branding   For ful

Imagine working your whole life to become a singer, finally landing a record deal, moving across country to start recording your music... only to have it all be taken from underneath you.   Today we sit down with an incredibly inspiring guest Leah McKendrick of Villianess Productions who shares with us her story of recreating herself as a writer, producer and actress after the folding of her record label and her words of wisdom on the importance of believing in yourself and never giving up. In this episode, she'll be sharing: 2:15 - Her story of how she went from an aspiring singer to award winning writer, producer, and actress. 5:35 - Dealing with depression following the folding of her record company, and how she refocused her energy into producing live singing performances as a next step instead of giving up 9:35 - The mindset shifts she’s had to learn and make that has helped her to make it in the Entertainment industry 15:36 - Realizing how she needed to create a life outside of her work in order to not

Who says just because you get a law degree you need to be chained to a life of pantsuits and working 9-9 for the rest of your life? Today's guest Emily Chase Smith of Smith Chase Press realized pretty quickly in her 20s that her and law were a terrible fit. As fate would have it, she was forced to explore what she wanted to do when she and her then husband moved to Prague and she was suddenly unable to practice the career she had spent so many years working towards. Tune in to this week's episode to hear how this powerhouse of a woman made - not just one, but many leaps from law, to consulting work, to speaker and now author and coach and her words of wisdom on how you can do the same! In this episode, she'll be sharing: How after realizing she didn’t want to continue a career in law, she found the permission to start dreaming of a new career during her time living in Prague as she began listening to various podcasts and reading books like Dan Miller’s 48 Days to the Work You Love. Worked as a bankruptcy att

This week on The Big Leap Show we sit down with Rachel Schneider, co-founder of Bluebelle Concierge. In this episode, she'll be sharing: How her company Bluebelle Concierge started with the intention of providing lifestyle support to older senior adults, but pivoted when their inquires started coming more from start up companies who were looking for help for their overwhelmed professionals. Her experience co-founding Bluebelle Concierge with her best friend and how their lives changed after they made the big leap. Why she feels it’s important not only to your happiness, but for the betterment of your company to hire out and not feel the need to do everything yourself. Her definition of success and what she recommends for others as they are looking to begin their journey into entrepreneurship. For full show notes + links to resources visit www.thebigleapshow.com/episode006

Hot mama on a mission! Time to stop sweating the small stuff and go out there and make it happen. At least that's what Adesina Dowers of Hot Spot Yoga is sharing with us this week's podcast! In this episode, she'll be sharing: Why she felt she needed to quit her marketing job at Island Def Jam in New York, reconnect with her yoga practice and move across country to Berkeley, California. How her desire to open a yoga studio evolved from noticing a gap in the industry where she realized she could serve people who wouldn’t normally take a yoga class (with the help of some bubbly and Wu Tang). How she got past the voices in her head asking “Are you good enough, should you be here,” and learned to trust herself, her intuition, and to value who she is as a person. The scary challenges she faced when opening up a yoga studio, and how she was able to keep focus, stay positive and keep moving forward. For full show notes + links to resources visit www.thebigleapshow.com/episode005