Épisodes

  • Ep.116- Push Built the Foundation. Focus Builds the Future

    Ep.116- Push Built the Foundation. Focus Builds the Future
    Dec 17 2025
    Push Built the Foundation. Focus Builds the Future.

    Every December, we choose a word for the year ahead. A word that feels hopeful. Inspired. Safe. This year, I chose a word I wasn’t ready for: Push.

    with Lisa Resnick

    I thought pushing meant doing more.
    Instead, it meant becoming more.

    Push asked me to stretch emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and professionally in ways I could not have planned for. It forced me to step into rooms that made me question if I belonged there. It demanded courage I wasn’t sure I had.

    And it changed me.

    Push Meant Doing It Scared

    I said yes to public speaking when every cell in my body wanted to run. I stood on a stage at the university I graduated from — a full-circle moment of stepping back into a place that shaped me, now as a woman rewriting her story in real time.

    I flew to Poland alone to teach leadership and civic engagement. Airports, foreign languages, navigating unfamiliar places. Old me would have declined. This year, I went anyway. And I returned with proof that I can do hard things — because I just did.

    Push Built What I Said I Wanted

    I always dreamed of creating space for women that was deeper than networking — a space where collaboration, connection, and genuine support scale lives and businesses.

    That is what The Patch became. A movement. A place where women rise together.

    And I wrote the book I’ve talked about writing for years. Not in theory. Not with pretty Instagram quotes. I wrote it. For real.

    Push knocked down the doors I needed to walk through.

    Now — the Word Changes

    2026 isn’t my year to hustle harder.

    It’s my year to focus.

    Focus means:
    • No more scattering my energy
    • No more saying yes to everything
    • No more urgency driving decisions
    • No more sprinting without direction

    Focus means:
    • Clarity
    • Precision
    • Depth
    • Sustainable growth

    Push built the foundation.
    Focus builds the future.

    Focus Is a Movement

    The Patch Community is where focused women build.
    Where accountability becomes standard.
    Where collaboration accelerates growth.
    Where momentum doesn’t stall halfway through the year.

    And in 2026, we gather again:

    The Women Rising Summit — September 25, 2026
    This isn’t an event to attend.
    It’s an experience to feel.
    A catalyst. A shift. A spark.

    Get in the room with us.

    Listen to the full episode here: [Insert link]
    Join The Patch: dandelion-inc.com/patch

    Choose Your Word. Choose Your Year.

    If something is stirring in you while reading this — pay attention.
    You didn’t build everything you’ve built to stay small.

    Let’s grow with focus, depth, and intention.

    Together.

    Keep Going—with Support

    If this resonated, join me inside The Patch—the Dandelion-Inc membership where community, accountability, and honest momentum meet. Explore what’s inside: dandelion-inc.com

    Sponsored by Imperium — a unified network helping nonprofit and human service organizations reduce costs, increase efficiency, and scale impact while staying true to their mission. Learn more at imperium.org
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    9 min
  • Ep.115- Failure Isn’t Fatal, It’s Data

    Ep.115- Failure Isn’t Fatal, It’s Data
    Dec 10 2025
    Failure Isn’t Fatal, It’s Data: 5 Business Lessons I’m Taking from 2025

    Some lessons you learn from books. Others you learn sitting in front of your laptop after a launch belly-flops, wondering what just happened. This year handed me a handful of those lessons—the kind that sting first and serve later.

    Here are the five shifts that changed everything for me in 2025. Use what serves you. Leave what doesn’t. But whatever you do, don’t quit. Treat it as data.

    1) Clarity Is Leadership (Not a Task You Outsource)

    It’s tempting to think a coach, designer, VA, or tool can fix fuzzy strategy. They can help—but they can’t own your vision. If you can’t explain your offer in one sentence and why it matters in one breath, go back to the drawing board and get closer to your customer. Have real conversations. Validate needs. Then build.

    Quick prompt:
    Who do I serve, what outcome do I create, and why does it matter now

    2) Consistency Compounds (Even When It’s Quiet)

    I ran a 60-day daily content challenge. It didn’t go viral. But my messaging sharpened, recall increased, and more people said, “I see you everywhere.” Consistency isn’t flashy; it’s trust over time.

    Try this:
    Pick one channel and one format. Ship three times a week for eight weeks. Measure clarity and conversion, not likes.

    3) Community Is a Strategy, Not a Side Effect

    Business doesn’t grow in isolation. When I built The Patch, everything improved—retention, results, and the energy to keep going. We learn from experts, yes, but we also learn from each other.

    Design it in:
    Create recurring touchpoints (office hours, hot seats, co-working) so connection is part of your model, not a bonus.

    4) Systems Save Your Sanity (And Your Schedule)

    We systemized launches, content, onboarding, client ops, and podcast production. Every hour invested in a workflow returned ten. Freedom isn’t just time—it’s repeatability.

    Start small:
    Document one repeat task this week: steps, owner, assets, timeline. Run it twice. Improve it. Name it.

    5) Rest Is Strategy

    Exhaustion is not a badge of honor. My best ideas rarely arrive on Zoom; they show up on runs, in the kitchen, or when I finally stop. Rest restores judgment, creativity, and staying power.

    Protect it:
    Block recovery time on your calendar like a client meeting. Honor it. Your future self will thank you.

    A Simple Reflection to Close the Year

    Reverse-engineer your biggest 2025 lesson:

    • What was your hardest moment this year
    • What did it force you to confront
    • What lesson will you carry into 2026 so you don’t repeat it
    • Turn failure into data. Turn data into wisdom.

    Keep Going—with Support

    If this resonated, join me inside The Patch—the Dandelion-Inc membership where community, accountability, and honest momentum meet. Explore what’s inside: dandelion-inc.com

    Sponsored by Imperium — a unified network helping nonprofit and human service organizations reduce costs, increase efficiency, and scale impact while staying true to their mission. Learn more at imperium.org
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    10 min
  • Ep.114- Surprising Secret to List Building

    Ep.114- Surprising Secret to List Building
    Dec 3 2025
    The Surprising Secret to List Building: Connection Over Transaction with Jennie Wright

    There’s a moment many entrepreneurs don’t talk about. The moment when you put a lead magnet into the world — a beautiful guide, checklist, quiz, or webinar — and it feels like no one is there to receive it.

    You’re working hard behind the scenes, hoping your offer will make a difference, but the response feels quiet. Too quiet.

    On this week’s episode of The Seed, list-building expert Jennie Wright is here to transform the way we think about growing an audience. Because list building isn’t about numbers. It’s about people.

    Why Traditional List Building Feels So Lonely

    Many entrepreneurs sit behind the safety of step-by-step guides and long-form nurturing funnels — and wonder why connection is missing.

    Jenny explains it clearly:
    We’ve turned list building into a transaction instead of a relationship.

    When the process shifts from:
    “How do I get more emails?”
    to
    “How do I help someone feel seen?”
    your list doesn’t just grow — it thrives.

    Connection Is the New Strategy

    Jenny has helped hundreds of business owners rapidly expand their reach using:
    • Virtual summits that multiply visibility through collaboration
    • Community-driven engagement that builds trust
    • Micro-audiences who convert better than massive ones
    • A non-transactional approach that feels good for everyone involved

    Here’s the truth:
    People take action when they feel like you care about them first.

    The Power of Collaboration

    One speaker. One email. One share.
    Suddenly your message reaches thousands instead of dozens.

    Jenny reminds us that major momentum doesn’t come from going viral — it comes from going together.

    That’s how list building becomes:
    • Faster
    • More aligned
    • More sustainable

    Your Community Is Waiting

    The scariest part of growing a list isn’t the technology or the content.
    It’s the vulnerability of showing up.

    You don’t have to do it alone.

    Listen to the full conversation with Jenny Wright here.

    Ready to grow WITH support?

    Join us inside The Patch — the membership that combines community, accountability, and meaningful growth.
    Explore everything we offer: www.dandelion-inc.com

    Sponsored by Imperium — where nonprofit leaders gain the strength of a unified network while staying true to their mission. Learn more at imperium.org
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    32 min
  • Ep.113- The Story You’re Telling Yourself Matters

    Ep.113- The Story You’re Telling Yourself Matters
    Nov 26 2025
    Why Your Story Matters More Than You Think: Lessons from Patty Aubrey of Chicken Soup for the Soul Your Story Has Power Long Before It Feels Polished There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s journey when doubt becomes louder than the dream. Maybe progress slows, or the outside validation doesn’t come as quickly as you hoped. Suddenly, you start telling yourself you aren’t ready. That you need more expertise, more experience, more confidence before you can lead. Patty Aubrey knows that internal dialogue well. Before she helped transform Chicken Soup for the Soul into a global powerhouse, she was the woman behind the scenes—managing the moving parts, building the structure, and keeping everything running. She wasn’t introduced as the face of the brand. She wasn’t handed a seat at the leadership table. She earned it. Her message is simple and needed: Stop shrinking. Step up. You’re already qualified to lead. Who Is Patty Aubrey? Patty has been at the forefront of one of the most recognizable publishing brands in the world. Her leadership helped scale Chicken Soup for the Soul into a billion-dollar enterprise with books, media, products, and a global audience. But her rise wasn’t linear. It wasn’t glamorous. And it certainly wasn’t perfect. Which is exactly why she’s so relatable—and so powerful. The Power of Owning Your Voice In our conversation on The Seed, Patty pulls back the curtain on: What keeps women from stepping fully into leadership: Waiting to feel more ready or more legitimate Downplaying success to maintain likability Allowing others to take the credit Believing someone else knows better What accelerates confidence and visibility: Sharing the unpolished parts of your story Speaking up even when your voice shakes Taking credit for the work you actually do Understanding the value you already bring Patty’s leadership didn’t change when she stepped forward.What changed was who finally saw it. The Cost of Silence When women hold back: Innovation slows Teams lose direction Impact stays small The wrong voices lead the room Your silence has a cost.Your voice has a purpose. And as Patty reminds us:Belief is not optional if you want big things to happen. One Question to Ask Yourself Today What is a story you’ve been telling yourself that keeps you small? Now rewrite it. The world doesn’t need a polished version of you.It needs the real one—the one who is still figuring it out and moving anyway. Listen to the Full Episode Hear Patty’s full story and leadership strategies here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-seed-growing-your-business/id1500087271 This conversation is a must-listen if you’re building something meaningful and you want to lead with both humility and undeniable authority. Let’s Grow Together If this resonated with you, join us inside The Patch. We are building businesses and legacies together—one honest step at a time. Sponsored by Imperium — where strong leaders and strong communities grow together. Learn more at inperium.org
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    32 min
  • Ep.112- How Visibility Unlocks Growth

    Ep.112- How Visibility Unlocks Growth
    Nov 19 2025
    The Visibility Strategy Most Entrepreneurs Ignore (And Why It Still Works)

    If you’ve ever launched something with total excitement… only to hear crickets… you are so not alone. Every entrepreneur, creator, and business owner has been in that moment:

    • Was it the message?
    • The timing?
    • The ever-changing, always-confusing algorithm?

    Here’s the thing:
    Your message deserves to be heard — and not just by the people already in your bubble.

    That’s why this week on The Seed, I sat down with Christina Lenkowski, known as The Podcast Pitch Pro. Christina has helped her clients land more than 1,000 podcast guest appearances — all without paid ads or exhausting content creation.

    We talked about why visibility can’t be optional anymore — and why podcast guesting might be the smartest, simplest growth strategy for your brand.

    🌱 The Three Pillars of Visibility Marketing

    Christina breaks marketing into three sections every business needs:

    1️⃣ Owned Media
    Your platforms: website, podcast, newsletter, social media

    2️⃣ Paid Media
    Ads, sponsorships, boosted posts

    3️⃣ Earned Media (The Magic One)
    Guest interviews, media features, speaking opportunities
    → Where trust is built and new audiences discover you

    So many entrepreneurs focus only on the first two — and then wonder why growth feels slow.

    🎙️ Why Podcast Guesting Works

    When you show up on a podcast:

    ✔ You gain credibility by being featured
    ✔ You build trust through long-form conversation
    ✔ You reach brand-new audiences waiting for your expertise
    ✔ You reduce burnout from constant posting

    And if you’re introverted?
    Christina insists that podcasts are your stage — intimate, thoughtful, powerful.

    ✨ The Lighthouse Mindset

    • We also dove into how visibility supports confidence.
    • Everytime you show up, you shine a light.
    • Everytime you share your story, you make it easier for the right people to find you.
    • You become the lighthouse — steady, strong, unmissable.

    Take the First Step

    Ready to grow your visibility (and your confidence)?

    Start with Christina’s quiz to discover your publicity path:
    ➡️ podcastpublicityquiz.com

    Connect with Christina on Instagram:
    ➡️ @publicityxchristina

    And if you loved this episode, make sure you subscribe, share it with a friend, and join us inside The Patch — where business growth is never a solo sport.

    Sponsored by Imperium — empowering nonprofits and health & human service organizations with the operational support they need to stay mission-focused. Learn more at imperium.org

    Listen to the Full Episode

    🎙️ I share the whole behind-the-scenes story on this week’s episode of The Seed. No filters. No hiding. Just truth.

    If this planted something in you, come deeper. Join me inside The Patch—a community for builders, believers, and brave women growing in real time.

    Progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up—messy and brave—one seed at a time.

    Sponsored by Imperium — empowering nonprofits and health & human service organizations with the operational support they need to stay mission-focused. Learn more at imperium.org
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    37 min
  • Ep.111-Why I Finally Wrote You Are A Mess, But So Is The Universe

    Ep.111-Why I Finally Wrote You Are A Mess, But So Is The Universe
    Nov 12 2025
    You Are A Mess, But So Is The Universe — The Story I Had to Tell Some stories don’t politely ask to be written—they hunt you down. Mine followed me around for years on a single yellow Post-it note that said just three words: Write the book. It was taped to my laptop, my planner, my fridge, even a random kitchen cabinet during a move. It survived rebrands, motherhood, burnout, and a thousand other seasons. I avoided it, argued with it, moved it… but I never threw it away. For years, I told myself I would write it when life slowed down, when I felt more ready, when I had more time, when inspiration struck, when I knew exactly what I wanted to say. But here’s the thing about waiting for perfect conditions: they don’t exist. Life doesn’t slow down. Confidence doesn’t magically appear. And clarity? That shows up once you start—not before. I started this book at least five times. I have the abandoned Google Docs to prove it. Each version reached about 20 pages before I’d talk myself out of continuing: “This isn’t the right time.” “Who do you think you are writing a book?” “Maybe later.” That Post-it became both a reminder and a quiet weight. Every time I saw it, I could feel the gap between who I was—and who I knew I wanted to become. The Lie I Told Myself This year, I finally decided to get rid of the Post-it—not by finishing the book, but by declaring: I’m not writing it. I said it out loud. Firm. Final. No more mental pressure. No more nagging reminder. No more book. Founder and CEO of Dandelion-Inc And that’s when it happened—the most unexpected thing. By telling myself no, I sparked something I didn’t see coming. It woke up a quiet fire inside me—the part of me that will run through walls if someone doubts me. Even if that someone is… me. Suddenly, I wasn’t avoiding the book anymore—I was being provoked by it. The Flood I didn’t begin writing this book—I exploded into it. I wrote 70,000 words in two weeks. Not at a cozy writing retreat. Not during a sabbatical. Not with a carefully color-coded outline. I wrote: In my car before sunrise In the notes app between meetings During lacrosse practice At 5 a.m. with reheated coffee In emotional avalanches I couldn’t outrun The words didn’t trickle. They crashed through. And for the first time in my life, I understood what writers mean when they say the book chose me. Asking for Help (The Hardest Part) What I had was raw. Unfiltered. Real. But it wasn’t a book yet. It was a mountain. So I did something my ego resisted: I asked for help. I hired a developmental editor—Elise Smith from Wordy Wives (and yes, she’ll be joining me on the podcast soon). She didn’t just edit my work—she challenged it. She stretched it. She asked for more truth, more intention, more courage. I cut chapters I swore I loved. I rewrote entire sections—twice. Then three times. I clarified ideas I thought were obvious. I faced the stories I had been avoiding. I wrote through resistance I didn’t know I still carried. This wasn’t editing—it was becoming. What This Book Is Really About Despite the title, this is not a book about being broken. It’s about becoming. It’s about what it looks like to evolve while still healing. It’s about building a life while you’re still fixing parts of it. It’s about growth that doesn’t fit into an inspirational quote. Lisa Resnick gets real about writing her forst book. This book goes where women silently live: When you’re outgrowing the life you built When success scares you more than failure When friendships shift and loyalty gets tested When you want more—but also want peace When you’re brave but still scared It isn’t self-help. It isn’t polished. It isn’t perfect. It’s honest. Why I Wrote It Anyway Was I terrified? Absolutely. I still am. I worried: What if it isn’t good enough? What if people judge me? What if I said too much? What if people who really know me see me differently? But I wrote it anyway. Because the pull was louder than the fear. Because courage isn’t clean. Because someone out there needs to know she isn’t alone in the messy middle. Maybe that someone is you. You Are A Mess, But So Is The Universe The universe isn’t perfect. It expands through chaos, collision, eruption, and energy. Why should our growth look any different? This book won’t teach you how to escape the mess. It teaches you how to build inside it. How to: Rise when your voice shakes Trust yourself again after doubt Grow when it’s uncomfortable Keep going when quitting would be easier You don’t need to be ready. You just need to be willing. The Book Is Here 📖 You Are A Mess, But So Is The Universe is now available. If this message pulls at something inside you—read it. 👉 Order on Amazon 👉 Or get it from my website: lisaresnick.com Listen to the Full Episode 🎙️ I share the whole behind-the-scenes story on this week’s episode of The Seed. No ...
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    15 min
  • Ep.110-Joy is Your Job, Leadership is a Verb, and the Ripple Effect

    Ep.110-Joy is Your Job, Leadership is a Verb, and the Ripple Effect
    Nov 5 2025
    Joy is Your Job, Leadership is a Verb, and the Ripple Effect (with Lisa Even) Joy doesn’t happen by accident—we make it our job. Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a daily practice. In this episode recap, Lisa Even and I dig into practical ways leaders can build teams people want to be part of, create “good ripple effects,” and make room for joy at work and at home.Why This Conversation Matters Around here, we believe growth doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be honest. If you’re building a business, a life, and a legacy that feels aligned and beautifully real, this one’s for you. Lisa Even brings the practical tools and the heart. Joy Is a Job (Not a Reward You “Earn” Later) Lisa and her husband were classic high performers—overscheduled and postponing joy for “after the next project.” Their pivot: hang a whiteboard in the bedroom and list the things they used to do, could do, and want to do. Then start doing them—imperfectly and consistently. Joy isn’t a luxury; it fuels the work. Leadership as Daily Practice: The PB&J One‑on‑One Lisa’s PB&J framework makes 1:1s human and high‑performing: P — Perspective: What’s happening in their world? Try on their glasses before you judge.B — Better: Invite them to spot problems and propose improvements. Give permission to act.J — Joy: Align tasks with strengths and season of life—joy increases productivity. Take five minutes before each 1:1 to jot P, B, and J. You’ll have a richer conversation and clearer next steps. Culture You Can Feel: Building a Team “Ecosystem” Lisa used to cup her hands and tell her team, “This is our ecosystem—build, maintain, and protect it.” That mindset gave everyone ownership. People started solving problems proactively and celebrating each other’s ripple effects. Leadership micro‑behaviors that compound: Tell the truth (even when it’s messy). Trust is oxygen.Praise progress, not just perfection. People need to hear when they’re doing well.Ask why resistance exists (fear, change fatigue, capacity). Then co‑solve it.Make permission explicit: “You have authority to fix what you can see.” A Tale of Two Leaders (and Why It Matters) One of Lisa’s earliest positive experiences: a COO noticed she’d gone on a “smoke break” without smoking. Instead of shaming her, he asked if she was bored and gave her a stretch project. That single choice told her: I see your potential. She stepped up and delivered. Contrast that with leaders who fudge the truth—trust cracks a little each time. Credibility is a leader’s compounding asset. Everyday Leadership (Beyond Titles) Lisa teaches leadership to teens and to teams: it’s the kayaking guide, the teacher, the librarian, the neighbor who picks up trash every Thursday. Macro change is built on micro moments. Start with your square foot. Ask your team (or yourself) this week: What tiny thing would make work 10% better?Where can we create a good ripple today?What joy can we schedule—not someday, but now? Listen to the Episode 🎧 Catch the full conversation on The Seed Podcast. Insider access to live recordings is included with The Patch—our Dandelion‑Inc membership where we grow with community, accountability, and a whole lot of heart. Explore The Patch → link to membership page Show Notes & Resources Lisa Even: lisaeven.comBook: Joy Is My Job (Amazon)Upcoming: The Ripple Effect (coming soon)Inperium: inperium.org If this planted a seed—share it with a friend who leads with heart. Then come join us inside The Patch. Progress isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up messy and brave, one seed at a time.
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    32 min
  • Ep.109-From Resilience to Real Impact

    Ep.109-From Resilience to Real Impact
    Oct 29 2025
    From Resilience to Real Impact: Cher’s Journey to CEO at Trinity YouthServices The Seed is about fuel you can actually use—tactics, mindsets, and stories that help you grow. This week, you’ll meet Cher, CEO of Trinity Youth Services (California), whose path is pure dandelion: resilience, transformation, persistence. Trinity operates 24/7/365, caring for children and teens who can’t safely remain at home—through foster care, adoption, residential treatment (mental health & substance use), and programs for unaccompanied refugee minors. On any given day, Trinity serves about 400 youth with support from ~500 staff—and the goal is always the same: safe reunification or a permanent, loving home. What We Cover Becoming the one caring adult: how a high school mentor changed Cher’s life—and how she pays it forward Leading through crises: stepping into the CEO role… then navigating a global shutdown with honesty, transparency, and courage Mission over noise: why Trinity partnered with a back-office aggregator so Cher could spend more time with people and programs Career ladders (not leaps): moving from marketing to HR to operations to the C-suite—supported by continuous learning (organizational & ethical leadership) Culture & courage: how to dismantle “othering,” create belonging, and build trauma-informed teams that don’t burn out Quick, Actionable Takeaways Know your lane, build your bench: if ops/admin are choking your mission, outsource what’s repeatable so you can lead what’s irreplaceable. Communicate like it’s 1:1: in uncertainty, increase frequency, shorten messages, and be transparent about what you know/don’t. Grow on purpose: stack transferable skills; invest in education that maps to your next role. Lead with dignity: every policy is a people policy. Design for safety, belonging, and measurable outcomes. Give back, now: mentor one person the way you wish someone had mentored you. Why It Matters This episode is a masterclass in nonprofit leadership, trauma-informed care, and scaling mission work without losing the heart. You’ll walk away inspired—and equipped. ✨ Listen to the full episode on The Seed Podcast, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. Want to support? Search Trinity Youth Services (TrinityYS.org) to learn how to volunteer, donate, mentor, foster, or offer respite care. Let’s keep cultivating growth and empowering women in business—together.
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    34 min