This episode is a gut check for solopreneurs navigating marketing, messaging, burnout, and the lies we’ve been sold about how to “do business right.”

Heads up: This is a cannabis-friendly space. You’ll hear us mention it briefly in this convo. We don’t center it, but we also don’t hide it. If that’s not your thing, you’ve got full permission to opt out. Consent and transparency matter.

Okay, now—here’s what we really need to talk about. In this conversation, Tristan and Brooke check-in about this moment and then explore the things Tristan wants every entrepreneur, solopreneur, or online business owner to hear right now:

Marketing is not selling. We need to stop conflating the two—it's keeping us stuck.

Marketing is visibility, storytelling, and building trust in your expertise—not just cranking out content.

Discernment is a skill. Learn the difference between a growth edge and a clear NO in your work.

Stop distracting yourself with tasks that feel easy or comfortable but don’t necessarily move things forward.

You don’t need to “figure out your niche.” Really.

You chose to work for yourself—so do it differently. Unlearn the templates. Break the rules. Make it yours.

This is not your average marketing or business pep talk. It’s an invitation to come back to your truth, clarify your focus, and stop wasting time trying to “get it right” according to someone else’s blueprint.

Call to Action:

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know how these insights are helping you in your work, or share this episode with someone who might benefit from it!

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In this episode, Tristan and Brooke unpack a deeply nuanced, often messy conversation about the use of the word women (or womxn) in values-driven marketing—and what it means when that word doesn't fit. We talk about the continued use of gendered language in spiritual, somatic, and entrepreneurial spaces, the harm it can unintentionally cause, and how we might reframe our language to be more aligned, expansive, and inclusive.

This one’s part call-in, part call-out, and 100% rooted in care.

We explore:

- The disconnect between inclusive intentions and exclusive language

- Tristan’s personal journey navigating gender and visibility in business

- Why narrowing your niche around “women” can unintentionally uphold the very systems we’re trying to dismantle

- What it really means to market beyond the binary

- The power of resonance—and who gets left out when we default to gendered branding

Whether you’re a coach, healer, artist, or entrepreneur, this episode invites you to pause and reimagine how you speak to your people—especially if your people are more expansive than the word women can hold.

Relevant Resources:

Tristan’s article, “What to Say Instead of “Womxn” and Why It Matters”

Tristan’s article, “Spiritual Work Shouldn’t Harm: On Gender, Power, and Sacred Practice”

More free resources on gender and trans inclusion work

Call to Action:

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know how these insights are helping you in your work, or share this episode with someone who might benefit from it!

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This episode was not planned—but it needed to happen. In a spontaneous and electric conversation (recorded in early January), Tristan and Brooke riff on one of the most overused and misunderstood concepts in the online business world: niching.

What unfolds is a real-time unraveling of binary thinking—about how we define ourselves, our work, and our worth.

We dig into:

+ Why the dominant narrative around niching is flawed—and how it's keeping many of us stuck

+ The myth of “clarity” and how it can be weaponized against multi-dimensional entrepreneurs

+ A new lens on pricing, sustainability, and self-trust

+ The false binary of “strategic” vs. “authentic” visibility

+ The complexity of marketing in extractive systems

This one’s got whiteboard energy. It’s messy, layered, and full of moments that might help you see your work (and your marketing) in a new light.

If you’ve ever thought: “I do too many things. I don’t have a clear niche.” or “I don’t know how to price my work in a way that feels good and still pays the bills…”

...this conversation is for you.

Mentions & Resources:

Gary Katz and the Katz Roadshow

Shoutout to Clementine Gold Group

Biz Models for Equity on-demand webinar

Call to Action:

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know how these insights are helping you in your work, or share this episode with someone who might benefit from it!

+ Episode Transcript

Welcome back to Re-imagining Online Business! In this Season 2 opener, Tristan and Brooke reunite with a raw, reflective, and real-time check-in—and preview what’s ahead.

This episode blends casual conversation with deeper questions about what it means to be entrepreneurs, facilitators, and humans in an increasingly unstable, violent, and extractive world. We talk about the business patterns we’re noticing (and resisting), what it feels like to be in a visibility-scarcity cycle, and the impossibility of showing up “strategically” while also advocating for liberation.

Here’s what we get into:

A peek at what’s coming this season: topics like the nuances of ChatGPT, visual branding with integrity, and the “is Instagram dead?” convo.

A sincere and vulnerable exchange around gender identity and personal evolution

The deep tension between capitalism and the grief of witnessing more and more state violence

Questions of responsibility, urgency, and sustainability in business right now

If you’re sitting with the both/and of business and grief, strategy and uncertainty—you’re not alone. This season, we’re exploring it in more detail.

Mentions & Resources:

Alex Iantaffi & HOLDING GROUND

@veritas_22 on Instagram

Couples Therapy (on Showtime)

Pee-wee as Himself (on HBO)

Devon Price’s article, If You *Must*, Here is How to Be a Content Creator Without Crashing Out or Losing Yourself

Call to Action:

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know how these insights are helping you in your work, or share this episode with someone who might benefit from it!

+ Episode Transcript

In the season finale, Tristan and Brooke reflect on what they’ve learned over the course of Season 1 of Re-imagining Online Business. From shadowbanning myths and evolving content strategies to watching too much true crime and smoking cannabis on mic (yes, really—content warning!), this episode is as honest and unfiltered as it gets.

We talk about:

- Why our podcast release schedule turned out to be less than “strategic”

- What’s actually going on with Instagram engagement (spoiler: it’s not always the algorithm)

- The value of low-engagement content, and why we’re okay with it

- What’s working in marketing in 2025—and what’s not

- Creating business sustainability beyond the six-figure fantasy

- Taking real risks in our messaging and naming systemic harm

- Why relationship-building always matters more than reach

And yes, we also spend a solid 25 minutes talking about Netflix thrillers, Channing Tatum, and voting scandals involving Arnold Schwarzenegger impressions. You’re welcome.

Mentions & Resources:

Our free workshop: Instagram, Stay or Go: Navigating Marketing Beyond Social Media — replays available!

Foundations to Fruition (formerly Biz Camp) — beginning May 2025: A 12-session experience to get back to basics, gain foundational business knowledge, receive coaching to apply it to your work, and ultimately gain the information you need to create your own business strategy.

Call to Action:

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know how these insights are helping you in your work, or share this episode with someone who might benefit from it!

+ Episode Transcript

In this thought-provoking conversation, Tristan and Brooke dive into the complexities of claiming to run an "anti-capitalist" and "ethical" business. What do these terms actually mean, and how are they being used in today’s discourse? Is capitalism becoming a catch-all term to describe everything broken in our systems? This episode unpacks the nuance of these claims and discusses the implications of using the language of resistance without deep engagement with the systems at play.

Rather than opting out of capitalism—a system we are all entangled in—this conversation explores what it means to work within and against the system simultaneously. Brooke and Tristan critique how terms like "capitalism," "late-stage capitalism," and "anti-capitalism" are often used without specificity, serving as a surface-level virtue signal rather than a call to real, actionable change.

Key discussion points:

The importance of precise language when critiquing capitalism and business ethics.

Why vague claims of anti-capitalism can sometimes be a form of bypassing deeper systemic analysis.

The impossibility of truly "opting out" of capitalism and what ethical business practices might look like within the system.

How business owners can meaningfully engage with systemic change while still running a sustainable business.

Mentions & Resources:

Free webinar:ChatGPT & Your Work with Patricia Grenseman

Learn more about Patricia’s ChatGPT programs

Scene On Radio podcast season on Capitalism

Brooke’s conversation with Tara McMullin on the What Works podcast, What is an ethical business?

VERY IMPORTANT: VOTE ON WHO DID A BETTER ARNOLD IMPRESSION

Links:

Visit joinfruition.com for more programs and resources, including the upcoming FREE workshop, Instagram: Stay or Go? Navigating Marketing Beyond Social Media on Friday, March 28th

And of course, you can also get more info about Brooke and Tristan on their websites: brooke-monaghan.com and katz-creative.com

Call to Action:
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know how these insights are helping you in your work, or share this episode with someone who might benefit from it!

+ Episode Transcript

Relationships are absolutely fundamental to any business. And yet so many online business owners often seem to be doing everything possible to bring in clients without having to make direct contact with other humans. The internet can make this particularly confusing, because the nature of relationships on the internet is confusing! What’s more, it’s so easy to feel isolated as an entrepreneur and to not even think about turning to other people. The reality is, more than your social media presence—more than any aspect of your digital marketing strategy, being active in the community you serve is probably the biggest advantage you can have in growing your work.

Whether you're an introvert, socially anxious, or just unsure of where to begin, this conversation offers actionable advice and thoughtful perspectives on:

- Shifting your focus from audience size to nurturing existing connections.

- Understanding how relationships can be the "soil" for sustainable growth.

- Building trust and collaborations that align with your values and vision.

- Navigating the role of digital tools like Instagram alongside in-person or community engagement.

- Practical steps for finding opportunities, connecting with aligned professionals, and maintaining integrity in partnerships.

Tristan and Brooke also reflect on how privilege and positionality impact collaborations and share personal stories about opportunities born from intentional relationship-building.

Takeaways:

- Relationships are the foundation of any business. Invest time and effort in nurturing them.

- Focus on serving your current audience and community rather than chasing endless growth.

- Show up authentically—whether in networking events, online platforms, or collaborations.

- Don’t bypass direct connections; meaningful interactions outlast transactional marketing tactics.

Mentions & Resources:

Free Workshop:ChatGPT & Your Work with Patricia Grenseman - Friday, January 10th, 10-11:30am Pacific / 1-2:30pm Eastern

Concept to Conversion Program: A 4-week intensive to guide you in getting your next offer out into the world, starting January 21st

Links:

Visit joinfruition.com for more programs and resources.

And of course, you can also get more info about Brooke and Tristan on their websites: brooke-monaghan.com and katz-creative.com

Call to Action:
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know how these insights are helping you in your work, or share this episode with someone who might benefit from it!

+ Episode Transcript

At this point most entrepreneurs and service-based business owners are familiar with the significance of content marketing, and yet many of might be wondering wtf is working as far as content marketing in 2024? (Seems to be an ongoing theme on the podcast, huh?!)

The truth is there are different types of content marketing, and the success of these different types of content should be evaluated according to different metrics. The other truth is, surprise, Instagram isn’t the Answer to all effective content marketing!

Topics discussed:

- The value of clarifying your business model, positioning, and messaging so you can create a content strategy that truly works.

- Understanding that the point of content marketing is to generate business income, and to go beyond simply selling—content marketing is most optimal when it provides evidence of the fact that you can actually do what you claim to do in your work!

- The importance of creating content that Introduces, Nurtures, and Converts, and then understanding which places to share which types of content (i.e. Instagram might not be the ideal conversion platform, but perhaps it’s great for nurturing your audience!).

- Rethinking marketing beyond social media and creating an aligned Marketing Ecosystem.

- Making content with more ease and the value of repurposing (with purpose), particularly in relationship to building trust and strengthening our “brands.”

…and more.

People & resources mentioned:

Marketing Ecosystem PDF

Michelle Cassandra Johnson

Meg Casebolt

Meg’s free SEO training on joinfruition.com

Tanya Geisler

Interested in learning more about the topics we’re exploring on the podcast? Join us for BIZ CAMP!

BIZ CAMP is a 4-week intensive program focusing on essential business concepts for entrepreneurs and service-based business owners so we can create strategies that will truly shift with the ever-evolving landscape of online business.

In Fall Biz Camp, we’ll talk: Positioning, Messaging, Offers & Business Models, Equitable Pricing, and so much more.

We start September 5th and meet Thursdays and Saturdays. Registration is offered on a sliding scale $650-$1850 USD; payment plans available for all tiers without incurring additional fees. Reach out if you have any questions.

And of course, you can also get more info about Brooke and Tristan on their websites: brooke-monaghan.com and katz-creative.com

+Episode Transcript