What does it actually look like to evolve from growing a massive online audience to stepping into true thought leadership?

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Cory Ruth, registered dietitian, PCOS expert, long-time 1:1 client, and now published author of "PCOS Is My Power".

Cory and I have been connected for over six years, so having this conversation at the moment she's launching her book feels incredibly full circle.

We talk about how Cory built a large, loyal Instagram audience without chasing trends or watering down her expertise, and why writing a book became the natural next step in her authority as a dietitian entrepreneur.

Cory shares what it took to turn years of clinical experience and content creation into a traditionally published book, why credibility matters more than virality, and how staying grounded in her mission has created long-term trust and staying power in her business.

If you're a health or wellness entrepreneur who wants to be respected as an expert, build authority beyond social media, and create impact that lasts, this episode is a powerful example of what that evolution can look like.

Episode Timeline & Highlights

[00:00] – Why entrepreneurs feel pressure to choose between being relatable and being respected

[03:08] – Cory's early business journey and what it takes to stay in one niche long-term

[07:55] – Why PCOS and women's health are still underserved in traditional education

[13:53] – The blood sugar breakthrough that shaped Cory's personal health and professional focus

[19:11] – The rise of misinformation online and why credentials still matter

[22:12] – Behind the scenes of the book: why Cory wrote "PCOS Is My Power"

[27:29] – What traditional publishing really looks like for a dietitian entrepreneur

[32:09] – How creating courses and writing a book follow the same authority-building framework

[35:44] – Balancing credibility, personality, and leadership on social media

[47:01] – Cory's vision for her book and the impact she wants it to have

Top 5 Quotes from Cory Ruth

1. "I aim to be the person I wish I had when I was really struggling in the trenches of this diagnosis."

2. "We needed one medically sound, evidence-based PCOS book written by a registered dietitian without a food agenda."

3. "Credibility matters more than virality, especially when you're putting health information out into the world."

4. "If you're creating content, you already have a book, you just don't realize it yet."

5. "PCOS doesn't have to take your power away. It can actually put you back in the driver's seat of your health."

Links & Resources

• Order the book: PCOS Is My Power (available in print + audiobook)

• Cory Ruth on Instagram: @thewomensdietitian

• Website: www.thewomensdietitian.com

• Apply For The Nourished Business Accelerator (NBA)

Closing

If this episode resonated, I'd love for you to rate, follow, share, and review The Nourished CEO Podcast. It helps more mission-driven entrepreneurs find conversations like this.

And if Cory's journey from growing an audience to becoming a published author sparked something in you… know that stepping into deeper authority is built one aligned move at a time.

I'll see you next week on The Nourished CEO Podcast. 💛

I'm pulling back the curtain on exactly how I'm preparing to make 2026 my most profitable year in business, and it has nothing to do with working harder, cramming more clients into my calendar, or forcing myself to scale in ways that don't feel good.

This year is about reclaiming my energy, my leadership, and my standards so I can build a business that actually feels fun again while also making more money than ever.

In this first part, I'm sharing the real reason my growth has felt capped over the last few years, even though my skills, results, and offers are solid. I walk you through the identity shift I'm making to stop giving my power away through people pleasing, over-accommodating misaligned clients, and following industry rules that don't match with how I'm wired.

If you've hit an income ceiling, feel scattered or resentful, or know you're ready to lead with more conviction and fewer apologies, this episode is for you.

Timeline Highlights

[00:00] Why 2026 will be my most profitable year without working harder, and why saying no is essential
[01:07] The realization that changed everything: I was not stuck because of skill or offers, I was giving my power away
[02:39] The three transformations I'm focusing on in 2026: identity, offer design, and messaging
[05:16] How being good at everything led to over-delivering, scope creep, and exhaustion
[11:07] Why responding and accommodating is not how I'm meant to lead or grow my business
[14:14] The truth about evergreen enrollment and why I'm reintroducing cohort-based experiences
[18:38] My new boundary around "desperation hires" and who I will and will not work with moving forward
[26:27] How a past high-level peer experience impacted my confidence in positive and negative ways, and why I'm taking my power back for good
[37:52] Designing my business and schedule around the life I actually have now as a mom of two
[40:27] Why this is Part 1 and what's coming next with offer structure and messaging
[42:27] Invitation into the Nourished Business Accelerator and who it is designed for

Top 5 Quotes from the Episode

1. "2026 is going to be my most profitable year ever, and it has nothing to do with working harder. It has everything to do with taking my power back."
2. "Every single time I tried to accommodate instead of lead, I drained myself, dimmed my impact, and settled for less than what I'm actually capable of."
3. "I was confusing being responsive with being of service, and that mistake was slowly exhausting me."
4. "I finally had to accept that I can't rescue anyone, no matter how hard I work or how much I care."
5. "Being happy, energized, and fully myself isn't selfish. It's actually what creates the best results for my clients."

Links and Resources

• Instagram: @LauraSchoenfeldRD
• Apply for Nourished Business Accelerator

Closing

If this episode resonated with you and you're ready to take your power back in your business, make sure you follow the Nourished CEO podcast so you don't miss Part 2.

And if you enjoyed this conversation, I would love it if you would rate, review, and share the show with someone who needs the reminder that growth does not require more hustle.

Running an online business has always come with ups and downs, and after more than 12 years as an entrepreneur, that part isn't new to me.

What is new is the level of emotional exhaustion and volatility I'm seeing lately, especially among high-performing women who are doing everything "right" but still feel drained, on edge, or mentally stuck.

In this episode, I'm joined by Hope Pedraza, a functional practitioner and Nourished Business Accelerator alum who takes a truly holistic approach to burnout, nervous system regulation, and emotional resilience in business.

We talk about why business feels heavier right now, how hypervigilance and dopamine-driven patterns sneak in, and what it actually takes to stay grounded and clear when growth isn't linear… without sacrificing your health, boundaries, or sense of self in the process.

[01:28] – Why remembering that business has ups and downs isn't always enough

[05:14] – The rise of hypervigilance, uncertainty, and "waiting for the next shoe to drop"

[07:15] – How obsession with numbers turns into mental spirals and anxiety

[11:22] – Why perfectionism and the need for things to "work the first time" blocks growth

[13:26] – Reframing business growth as "up and down on the way up"

[16:23] – A real-life example of setting boundaries — and why the body can react so strongly

[33:26] – Dopamine hits, identity, and how validation-driven business leads to burnout

[41:50] – Practical first steps to detach from outcomes and regulate your nervous system

1. "Your business is only as healthy as the body you have to build the business."

2. "Running a business in constant hypervigilance is a huge energy suck."

3. "Growth isn't about "getting there" it's about who you're becoming along the way."

4. "If you need more and more wins to feel okay, that's not excitement... that's dopamine."

5. "Discomfort doesn't mean it's wrong. Sometimes it just means your nervous system doesn't feel safe yet."

• Hope Pedraza on Instagram: @thehopepedraza

• Website: hopefulandwholesome.com

• Podcast: The Hopeful and Wholesome Podcast

• Free Resource: Holistic Energy Detox
  
  

If listening to this episode made you realize that your business feels heavier than it needs to — or that you're ready for more income, alignment, and confidence without burning yourself out — I'd love to support you inside my mentorship, The Nourished Business Accelerator.

Inside the NBA, I help coaches and experts create premium offers that reflect the real transformation they deliver and build clean, ethical systems for enrolling dream clients... without cold DMs, manipulative tactics, or high-pressure sales calls.

Click HERE to apply for the NBA program

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs to hear that emotional exhaustion isn't a requirement for success.