When Jessica Garcia-Wood moved back to Northwest Indiana after serving as an ER nurse in the Air Force, she didn’t expect motherhood to feel so lonely—even surrounded by family. That quiet ache became the seed for Little Hearts Play Café, a space designed to bring parents and kids together in the earliest, most isolating stages of parenting.

In this heart-forward conversation, Jessica shares how postpartum depression shaped her vision, how the military unexpectedly taught her to lead, and what it’s really like running a business with her husband. We talk about identity, first-generation ambition, and the courage to build what’s missing.

This one’s for the moms, the dreamers, and anyone learning to create from the hard parts of life.

Episode Highlights:

• Jessica’s journey from Air Force ER nurse to play café founder
• The emotional and logistical roots of starting a business as a mom
• Navigating marriage and entrepreneurship as co-founders
• The role of family, identity, and cultural background in her story
• Building a space for connection during postpartum isolation

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & meeting Jessica

02:30 – From Air Force ER nurse to entrepreneur

06:15 – The spark: postpartum, isolation & business idea

10:00 – Launching a play café and building connection

15:00 – Running a business with your spouse: realities

20:00 – Balancing motherhood, nursing career & business

25:00 – Reflections, advice & next steps

Connect with Jessica Wood:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlehartsplaycafe/

Website: https://littlehartsplaycafe.com/home

Email: littlehartsplaycafe@gmail.com

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

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In high-pressure careers—whether you're in healthcare, leadership, or running your own business—boundaries are often mistaken for weakness or a lack of commitment. In this episode, Dr. Santina Wheat breaks down why the opposite is true. You'll learn why excellence requires boundaries, how to recognize leaky boundaries in your day-to-day work, and the key shifts that can help you avoid burnout without sacrificing performance.

Dr. Wheat offers practical tools for identifying your current capacity, communicating more clearly, and creating sustainable practices that protect your time, energy, and focus. Whether you're a physician, team leader, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you understand that boundaries aren’t barriers—they’re the foundation for long-term success.

Episode Highlights:

• Why boundaries are essential for true excellence
• How leaky boundaries lead to burnout
• Small, practical steps to protect your capacity

Chapters:

Redefining Boundaries as a Strength — 00:45
Excellence vs. Availability — 04:02
When Boundaries Leak into Burnout — 05:47
3 Practical Steps to Start Today — 07:40

Connect with Dr. Santina Wheat:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtinawheat/

Free 7-Day Boundaries challenge: https://www.subscribepage.io/3bXosNo

Boundaries Workshop https://burnouttobalanced.my.canva.site/boundaries-that-stick

Website: www.santinawheat.com

Mini Course - https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/183137

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

🎧 Subscribe & Review:
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Dr. Santina Wheat knew how to show up for everyone—her patients, her learners, her family. But somewhere along the way, she stopped showing up for herself. In this episode, we unpack the quiet descent into burnout, the invisible pressure on high performers to always say yes, and the breaking point that changed everything. From working through a miscarriage to ignoring her own capacity in the name of service, Santina’s story isn’t just about medicine—it’s about boundaries, people-pleasing, and reclaiming your soul’s purpose.

If you’ve ever felt like hard work is the only way to prove your worth, or that saying “no” comes with guilt, this conversation will land deeply. We also explore how Do Not Disturb mode became a radical act of self-care—and why burnout isn’t just a healthcare problem, but a culture-wide one.

Episode Highlights:

• Getting into medicine and discovering early purpose
• Experiencing burnout as a healthcare professional and mom
• Why boundaries feel impossible for high performers
• The small boundary shift that changed everything
• How to recognize burnout before it takes over

Chapters:

Why I Became a Doctor — 01:08

The Silent Build-Up to Burnout — 03:43

When Boundaries Feel Impossible — 13:49

A Miscarriage, a Moment, a Wake-Up Call — 11:44

The Smallest Boundary That Changed Everything — 20:53

How to Spot Burnout Before It Breaks You — 32:45

Connect with Dr. Santina Wheat:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtinawheat/

Free 7-Day Boundaries challenge: https://www.subscribepage.io/3bXosNo

Boundaries workshop https://burnouttobalanced.my.canva.site/boundaries-that-stick

Website: www.santinawheat.com

Mini Course - https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/183137

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

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Think social media is optional? Think again. In this episode, social media strategist Brittany Good joins Business Over Cocktails to bust the most common myths holding small business owners back online. From the power of visual storytelling to why your Instagram is your new storefront, this conversation breaks down what actually drives sales and what doesn’t. You’ll learn how to audit your own profile, create connections through content, and build trust without chasing trends.

Episode Highlights:

• The biggest myths small business owners believe about social media
• Why your Instagram profile functions as a second storefront
• The difference between going viral and gaining real leads
• How to quickly audit your social media for clarity and trust
• Simple strategies to show up authentically without burning out

Chapters:

00:00 – Busting Social Media Myths

01:45 – Turning Your Instagram Into a Storefront

06:10 – Building Trust & Creating Authentic Content

Connect with Brittany Good:

Website: www.sociallygood.net

Book a call: https://sociallygood.hbportal.co/public/68825d8140502e00193bfe82/1-Schedule_an_intro_call

Portfolio: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG0AjIAbws/CEM3GFqT4-h3k_ascQGUUA/view?utm_content=DAG0AjIAbws&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h33730512ad&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnx7ozR1AIkTIwuSMCUFQPVPt5IC0hhLuc76VtIh_XHXBUFQ57LDhXCXWTqVU_aem_yEIfE4jB8LoycNRnyXccQg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/im.socially.good/

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

🎧 Subscribe & Review:
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What if one Instagram post could change the course of your life?

In this episode of Business Over Cocktails, Lauren sits down with Brittany Good, CEO and founder of Socially Good, to trace the unexpected journey from a personal growth challenge to a thriving social media business. What began as a simple post during a social media challenge evolved into real-life connections, local partnerships, and a brand rooted in community.

Brittany shares how showing up online led to showing up in person — and how building trust, creating content, and leaning into her strengths helped her turn influence into income. This is a story about permission, pivots, and the power of being seen.

If you've ever wondered how something small can grow into something sustainable — this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights:

• Starting a business through documenting personal growth
• Transitioning from influencer to social media CEO
• The power of local connections and in-person strategy
• Letting go of imposter syndrome and trusting your path
• Balancing creativity with client boundaries and business growth

Chapters:

00:00 – Opening & Introducing the Guest

02:19 – The Origin Story of Socially Good

08:32 – From Influencing to Full-Time Social Media

20:10 – Confidence, Doubt & Owning Your Worth

26:12 – Why Local Business Is at the Heart of It All

Connect with Brittany Good:

Website: www.sociallygood.net

Book a call: https://sociallygood.hbportal.co/public/68825d8140502e00193bfe82/1-Schedule_an_intro_call

Portfolio:https://www.canva.com/design/DAG0AjIAbws/CEM3GFqT4-h3k_ascQGUUA/view?utm_content=DAG0AjIAbws&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h33730512ad&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnx7ozR1AIkTIwuSMCUFQPVPt5IC0hhLuc76VtIh_XHXBUFQ57LDhXCXWTqVU_aem_yEIfE4jB8LoycNRnyXccQg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/im.socially.good/

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

🎧 Subscribe & Review:
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Think your space is too small to hire a designer? Think again. In this solo episode, Melissa Griffin of Indigo Ink Interiors breaks down why the best time to bring in an interior designer is before you’re knee-deep in renovation—and how small projects often deliver the biggest impact.

She shares what most people misunderstand about hiring a designer, the hidden costs of waiting too long, and how her Design Lab service offers flexible design support for DIY-leaning homeowners.

Whether you're refreshing a powder room, updating your mudroom, or just overwhelmed by paint and tile decisions, this episode will help you get clear on how to work smarter, avoid costly mistakes, and create a space that functions beautifully.

🎧 You’ll learn:

• When to hire a designer in your renovation process
  
  
• Why small design projects still deserve expert help
  
  
• How to avoid decision fatigue during a remodel
  
  
• What an interior designer really does (beyond pretty spaces)
  
  
• How to get professional input without a full-service package

Episode Highlights:

The myth of "too small" design projects

Why timing matters when hiring a designer

Introduction to the Design Lab service

The hidden complexity of seemingly simple spaces

Building trust and momentum through small jobs

Chapters:

00:00 – The Myth of “Too Small” for Design Help

03:30 – What Designers Really Do (and Why It Matters Early)

08:50 –Introducing the Design Lab: Flexible, Strategic Support

Connect with Melissa:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/indigoinkinteriors

Website

https://indigoinkinteriors.com/

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

🎧 Subscribe & Review:
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What happens when a future doctor becomes a bold interior designer instead? In this episode, we peel back the layers of what it really looks like to build a creative business that reflects who you are—color, chaos, courage, and all.

Melissa Griffin shares her unexpected journey from medical school aspirations to founding her design studio, Indigo Ink Interiors. We talk about how art, grief, motherhood, and therapy all played a role in shaping her work and the life she’s designed around it.

This conversation isn’t just about beautiful spaces. It’s about identity, joy, and giving yourself permission to pivot. Whether you're a creative entrepreneur or just craving more meaning in your work, this one is for you.

🎙️ Topics we explore:

• How Melissa shifted from science to design
  
  
• The emotional roots of her bold, layered style
  
  
• Creating a business that fits your life (not the other way around)
  
  
• Navigating motherhood, grief, and growth as a founder
  
  
• What it really means to design with joy and intention

Episode Highlights:

Pivoting with Purpose

Designing with Duality

Motherhood as Motivation

Creating Joy Through Color

Saying No to Fit the Yes

Chapters:

00:00 - “From Medicine to Design: The Unexpected Pivot”

04:40 - “Blending the Analytical & the Artistic”

10:00 - “Motherhood, Loss & Starting a Studio”

15:30 – “Bold Color, Maximalism & Design Identity”

21:10 – “Time Freedom, Business Ownership & Priorities”

27:00 – “Running the Back‑End: What Designers Don’t Talk About”

32:20 – “Designing Joy, Finding the Right Clients & What’s Next”

Connect with Melissa:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/indigoinkinteriors

Website

https://indigoinkinteriors.com/

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

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In this episode of Business Over Cocktails, Payton Moran breaks down the mindset, strategy, and messaging behind successful business pivots. Whether you're shifting your niche, rebranding, or launching a new offer, Payton shares how to move through fear, trust your intuition, and pivot without overthinking. Learn her 6-part messaging framework to clarify your ideal client, articulate your unique value, and create content that converts. If you’ve been stuck in indecision or scared to change directions in your business, this episode is your permission slip to pivot boldly—with clarity, confidence, and a magnetic message that sells.

Episode Highlights:

• Why pivoting in business isn’t a big deal
• The six-part messaging framework that converts
• How to pivot without announcing it
• The difference between solution and transformation
• Using your energy to create magnetic messaging

Chapters:

00:00 — Introduction & Why Pivoting Isn’t a Big Deal

02:15 — Understanding the Six‑Part Messaging Framework

07:00 — How to Pivot Without Making a Big Announcement

11:45 — Distinguishing Between Solution vs. Transformation

14:05 — Bringing Your Energy & Unique Positioning into Messaging

Connect with Payton Moran:

IG: Instagram.com/paytonmoran__

Website: https://payton-moran-495e.mykajabi.com/

Let’s Stay Connected:
→ Follow Lauren on Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurennajar
→ Learn more or work with me: www.laurennajar.com
→ Follow Business Over Cocktails on IG: www.instagram.com/businessovercocktails
→ Attend Growth & Connect retreats & events: www.instagram.com/growthandconnect

🎧 Subscribe & Review:
Love the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend who needs a business boost and a good chat over a cocktail.