Breaking Solo Podcast

"That's not my job" — five words you'll never hear Scott Keene say. As a serial solopreneur turned professional bookkeeper and payroll specialist, Scott has run everything from a family restaurant and lounge to a pandemic-crushed kayak tour company before finding his true niche: helping business owners who are great at their craft but drowning in their books.


In this episode, Scott and Donna dig into the real cost of doing it all yourself — the delegation struggles, the blurred boundaries, the "I care too much" scope creep that comes with genuinely wanting your clients to win. Scott shares why he believes personal touch (not AI) is what solopreneurs actually need more of, how he found his niche after 20 years across restaurants, retail, and adventure tourism, and his hard-won advice on perseverance: fall off the horse, dust yourself off, get back on. He also opens up about his next chapter — helping solopreneurs plan for the retirement and protection their businesses often leave out.


If you've ever taken on too much because delegating felt impossible, this conversation is for you.






Bio


BioFor two decades, I've had the privilege of either sitting across the table from entrepreneurs, or being one myself.Entrepreneurs are people who have poured everything into building something of their own. Helping them turn financial chaos into clarity is what I have committed my professional life to.I know and truly understand that behind every set of books is a real person with real stakes, and I treat every engagement with that in mind.Based in Hawaii and working with businesses across industries and around the world, I specialize in helping founders and growing companies do more than just balance the books. I help them understand their numbers, control their costs, and build the operational backbone they need to scale with confidence.What I bring to the table:Whether you're launching a new venture, in a financial mess, or simply outgrowing your current systems, I step in with a calm, methodical approach and hit the ground running. My background spans construction, equipment rental, adventure tourism, restaurants/bars, lodging, retail, and professional services — Industries where margins are tight, operations are complex, and there's no room for error. I don't just record transactions — I build systems. From starting up finance and HR departments from scratch to modernizing outdated workflows, giving business owners back their time and giving them back their peace of mind are some of my highest priorities.Certified. Credentialed. Accountable:My technical credentials reflect a genuine commitment to professional excellence:- Advanced certifications in QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Payroll, Xero, FreshBooks, and NetSuite (just to name a few).- Payroll and tax compliance certifications through Intuit Academy, Gusto Academy, and ADP.- Registered PTIN Holder with the IRS — fiduciary responsibility is foundational.- Expertise in OSHA compliance, HR best practices, and employee training.A note on how I work:Attention to detail isn't just a professional value — it's a way of life. I hold a Federal Certificate in Professional Pilot & Aviation Administration and an FAA Helicopter Pilot License. Flying demands the same qualities I bring to every client engagement: precision, composure under pressure, and an unwavering respect for the consequences of getting things wrong. When you hire me, you're not just getting someone who can read a P&L — you're getting someone who genuinely cares about getting it right.


Website


www.bespokebookkeeping.com


Social Media Links


www.linkedin.com/in/a-scott-keene

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What happens when you close the biggest deal of your life… and feel nothing? That's the question that cracked open this conversation with Harland Merriam — former pastor, military chaplain, and now a real estate investor who facilitates masterminds for high-performing entrepreneurs across Central Florida.


After 40+ years serving congregations and the military, Harland "repurposed" (his word, not retired) into real estate investing — and quickly noticed a pattern: people doing very well financially were still asking, "Is this all there is?" That question became the seed of his book, Profit Seeks Purpose, and the foundation of the work he does now.


In this episode, we dig into:

• Why "just do it yourself" is some of the worst advice a solopreneur can follow
• The difference between passion and purpose — and why only one of them sustains you long-term
• The real story behind his book's central question: not "what will I do?" but "who will I be?"
• How he built a business model where the people around him operate as solopreneurs themselves
• Why he'd ask "why?" before ever giving advice to someone wanting to go solo

If you've ever hit a milestone and felt strangely empty afterward, this one's for you.






Bio


Harland Merriam is a real estate investor, coach, and pastor who works with successful leaders asking deeper questions about life and purpose. After years in ministry, the military, and business, he’s learned that success alone doesn’t satisfy—and that real transformation happens in community. He’s been a general partner on a 129-unit apartment complex and is currently serving as Chaplain at Stetson University. Today, he facilitates a mastermind and coaches entrepreneurs to build lives of deeper purpose. Harland lives in DeLand, Florida, with his wife, Barbara, and enjoys long walks, good conversations, and helping people discover what truly matters.






Website


www.ProfitSeeksPurppose.com


Social Media Links


LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/harlandmerriam/FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/harland.merriam


Freebie Giveaway Link


https://www.profitseekspurpose.com/7-questions-download/

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You're never going to have all the time, all the budget, or all the information. So how do solopreneurs move forward anyway — without burning out, without radiating desperation, and without sunsetting the right project at the wrong moment?


In this episode of Breaking Solo, we explore the mindset that carries solopreneurs through the messy middle of building something on their own. Drawing on a career in project management, our guest unpacks the daily internal conversations every solopreneur knows too well — when to course correct, when to hold the line, and how to use the tools available (yes, including AI) as a second set of eyes when you're wearing 50 hats at once.


What we cover:

• Why AI belongs in your business as an executive assistant — not a replacement — and how picking one tool beats trying to master fifty
• The pivot dilemma: how to know when it's time to switch gears versus when you need more information
• Be patient, be brave, start small — and why waiting for the "trifecta of perfection" guarantees you go nowhere

If you've been stuck at the edge of a decision, this conversation is your nudge to take the next small, brave step forward.






BIO


Known as “The Coach”, Nicole brings two decades of project management expertise supporting Fortune 100 organizations – namely CBRE, Chevron, HP, Citigroup, and Marriott International. She also offers five years of interior design experience, inclusive of commercial conversion portfolios for Beverly Hills based developers. Nicole holds a BA in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, and an MSc in Project Management from the University of Liverpool. She is a Founding Member of Sheconomy™ and the author of Corporate Coach Approach – A Systematic Guide to Career Development.


Website


https://twohorseproductions.com/


Social Media Links


https://www.instagram.com/corporatecoachapproach/


https://www.instagram.com/twohorseproductions605/


https://www.facebook.com/people/Two-Horse-Productions/61574620307013/

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What if consistent, predictable income isn't a personality trait — it's a recipe? In this episode, I sit down with Dan Rochon, real estate agent, sales trainer, host of the No Broke Months podcast, and author of the upcoming book Teach to Sell (published by Post Hill Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster).


Dan has spent the last 15 years documenting the exact framework that gets him hired 85% of the time as a real estate agent — and built an entire methodology to teach it to anyone who's willing to follow the steps. Dan shares the moment at 32, waiting tables as a recovering addict, when he decided to design his own life. We dig into the reframe every solopreneur needs to hear — "you're not in the plumbing business, you're in the lead generation business with plumbing as your vocation" — and why missing that single distinction is what keeps so many solopreneurs stuck. We talk about the 10 daily activities that drive his business (4 in the business, 5 on the business, plus managing money), why he spends 1–3 hours every single day finding business no matter what he made yesterday, and the brilliant proactive technique he uses to walk real estate clients through the emotional rollercoaster they're about to have before it happens.


Dan also opens up about the persistence it took to land his book deal — 27 nos before the first yes — and the $10,000 training course he's giving away free to anyone who picks up Teach to Sell at teachtosellbook.com. If you've ever felt like sales was something other people were born good at, this conversation is the recipe card you've been missing.






BIO


Dan Rochon is the founder of Consistent and Predictable Income (CPI), Greetings Virginia, and the author of Teach to Sell Book, a transformative approach to leadership and sales. With over a decade of experience in real estate and coaching, Dan helps sales professionals build consistent and predictable income by leading with purpose and influence. His work empowers individuals and teams to achieve their highest potential. Dan is also the host of the No Broke Months Podcast.






Website


https://www.nobrokemonths.com/


Social Media Links


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086498082316


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danrochon


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


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoBrokeMonths


Teach To Sell Book: https://www.teachtosellbook.com/


Podcast Website: https://www.nobrokemonths.com/

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What happens when a fifth-generation doctor walks away from one of the most established medical institutions in the UK to rebuild healthcare the way it used to feel? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Suhail Hussain, a UK-based GP (the equivalent of a family physician in the States) who left the NHS during COVID to launch his own private, home-visiting medical practice. Dr. Hussain shares why telephone and video consultations broke something fundamental about the doctor-patient relationship for him, how a client once told him "you're part of our extended family" — and the moment he realized that was exactly the practice he'd been trying to build. We talk about the strange experience of being the first person in five generations of doctors to also have to be a businessperson, and the parts of solopreneurship that nobody warned him about: marketing, social media, building a personal brand, and the surprisingly lonely road of going it alone. We also dig into how AI is already reshaping medicine (especially in radiology and admin work), why he believes the people most insulated from AI disruption are tradespeople like plumbers and electricians, and the moment he realized that if he really wanted to grow, he couldn't keep doing everything himself. Dr. Hussain also opens up about his weight loss and men's health programs, and why he's especially passionate about creating safe space for men to talk about things they rarely raise with anyone. If you've ever felt the pull to build something more human in an industry that's drifted toward convenience, this conversation is a quiet reminder that the old-fashioned way isn't outdated — it's just rare.






BIO


Dr Suhail Hussain is an experienced GP of over 20 years’ experience.Having worked extensively in the NHS, including specialities of medicine, surgery, oncology, obs/gynae, emergency medicine and paediatrics. He has now transitioned to working in the private sector providing timely, bespoke care to several families.Now working exclusively with busy professional, high net worth individuals and their families his main service is predicated on home/work place visits making access to healthcare as convenient as possible.He has a strong connection of secondary care specialists in all medical fields as well as physios, chiropractors and allied health professionals, to name a few.He also has connections with providers of other bespoke and luxury services and is always happy to help his clients with this if needed.For 10 years he was a senior tutor at 3 major London Medical Schools – Imperial, Barts and UCL, where he was involved in the teaching of undergrad students from first to final year.Education and speaking are 2 of his strongest passions and when not seeing patients he most enjoys helping others learn.He has appeared on television programmes talking about all things medical and answering caller’s questions live on air.He has written extensively for several established newspapers – The Telegraph, Independent to name a few and also appeared on BBC and Sky news to share his views on current medical topics.He also speaks for charities and the Boarding Schools association.He is a strong advocate for healthy living and believes that medicine should be about prevention rather than cure and helps people optimise their lifestyles, so they do not need medication.Can talk about leaving a stable career in the NHS after 20 years, setting up my own private practice against all family advice. Having no idea about client acquisition and marketing. The struggles of continuiing to run your own business whilst also serving clients.


Website


drsuhailhussain.com


Social Media Links


https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-suhail-hussain-private-doctor


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd8-VagUhcFcsXaJbBX-MIA


https://www.instagram.com/drsuhailhussaingp/

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What happens when a four-year-old gets a coin pulled out of his ear and decides that's what he's going to do with his life? In this episode, I sit down with Magic Brad — magician, event marketer, and a refreshingly contrarian solopreneur — for a conversation packed with hard-won wisdom, weird brilliance, and one of the most unbothered takes on competition I've ever heard. Brad shares how getting laid off from his county parks job pushed him into solopreneurship full-time, how he built an event-based marketing engine in the postcard era that filled his calendar months in advance, and why the rise of the internet (and then COVID) forced him to pivot from in-person events to digital ones — without losing the human element that makes his work work. We dig into why he doesn't believe in competition ("McDonald's and Burger King are still there"), the postcard marketing software he calls his "magic marketing tool," and why he ties new habits to existing ones like brushing his teeth instead of fighting himself with checklists. Brad also shares his version of Napoleon Hill's mastermind — a daily meditation where he invites anyone from Elon Musk to Bruce Lee to Jesus into the room to give him advice — and the single piece of advice he'd give every new solopreneur: you can't fail if you don't quit. If you've been trying to out-hustle your competition instead of just being unmistakably yourself, this conversation will remind you that the strongest market position isn't being better — it's being the only one.






Bio


Magical Since 1957


Website


https://MagicBrad.com


Social Media Links


https://FollowMagicBrad.com

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What if the reason your revenue is stuck isn't that you're doing the wrong things — but that you're doing them in the wrong order? In this episode, I sit down with Ken Steven, business growth consultant and creator of the Revenue Growth Readiness Scorecard, for a conversation that genuinely shifted how I think about scaling a solo business. Ken spent years turning around companies stuck on a $5–7M plateau — with a 93.7% success rate — and along the way he kept seeing the same five growth drivers stymie progress over and over: mindset and vision, offer and business model, marketing and visibility, systems and automation, and authority and reach. We talk about why the conventional advice to "fix your weakest driver first" is often dead wrong (using a brilliant car-won't-start analogy), why most coaches and consultants leap to spending more on marketing when the real problem lives upstream in their offer, and why pricing is the single fastest lever to add $20K/month to a solo business. Ken also opens up about the moment he doubled his rate on a whim and won the gig anyway, the pivot to taking a piece of the upside on business turnarounds, and why solopreneurs who score "green" across all five drivers are often the ones quietly leaving the most revenue on the table through complacency. I took his free scorecard before the conversation — and the discussion that came out of my results made me rethink what "doing well" actually means in a solo business. If you've been throwing tactics at a plateau hoping something sticks, this is the diagnostic-first conversation you didn't know you needed.


BIO


Ken Steven is a seasoned business growth advisor and the creator of the Revenue Freedom Method™. For decades, Ken specialized in doubling the sales and profits of private companies, achieving that result for 93.7% of his clients. Today, his focus is on helping solopreneur coaches and consultants, and founders of service-based businesses, break through revenue plateaus. His goal is simple: to show you how to add at least $20,000 to your monthly revenue without adding more hours to your week.


Website


https://kensteven.com/


Social Media Links


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethsteven/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachKenStevenFreebie


Giveaway Link


The Revenue Growth Readiness Scorecard: https://scorecard.kensteven.com/ken-ldxawjii

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What do you do when the medical world keeps telling you "it's just hormones" and you know it's something more? In this episode, I sit down with Donna Thorell, founder of Vitality by Donna, who became her own case study after years of being dismissed by doctors — and ended up building an entire holistic wellness practice for women out of what she learned. Donna shares how she lost 70 pounds, rebalanced her body and mind, and reverse-engineered the system that's now helping her clients do the same. We talk about why she works exclusively with "women who look like they have it all together" (but quietly aren't), how she pieces together nervous system regulation, body awareness, nutrition, and movement into a single connected approach — and why she pushes back hard on the surgery-and-shots culture that's pressuring women to fix what was never broken. Donna also shares her Safe Touch Protocol, built on a sobering statistic about how many women carry trauma into every space they enter, and why treating every client as if you know their story (even when you don't) is the foundation of trust-based solopreneurship. We dig into her three-days-on, four-days-off work rhythm, why a coach needs a coach, and the upcoming pajama-party-style retreats she's running where multimillion-dollar executives and stay-at-home moms sit side by side as equals. Her advice to anyone starting out? Find your why — and don't let the world write the ending to your story.


BIO


m a trauma-informed Holistic Health Practitioner and the founder of a woman-owned wellness practice built for women who have been strong for too long.My work comes from lived experience. I am a trauma survivor who had to find my own way back when support didn’t exist for me. That journey became my foundation… and now it’s the work I bring to every woman I serve.I specialize in nervous system regulation and whole-person wellness, integrating nutrition, body-based therapies, and my proprietary SafeTouch Protocol to help women move out of survival mode and back into their bodies. This isn’t surface-level care… it’s deep recalibration that restores energy, reduces inflammation, and rebuilds confidence from the inside out.I work with high-functioning, emotionally giving women… professionals, caregivers, leaders, and survivors… who are ready to stop just getting through life and start fully living it.Through private immersions, coaching, and specialized treatments, I create spaces where women can regulate, rebuild, and lead their lives from a place of clarity and power.I don’t help women cope.I help them come home to themselves… and from there, everything changes.


Website


Www.VitalityByDonna.com


Social Media Links


Vitality By Donna on IG and FB, Donna Thorell on Linkedin

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What do you do when a client tells you your entire industry is "churning fluff"? If you're Richard Cook, you let it shake you — and then you use it to reinvent the way you work. In this episode, I sit down with Richard, founder and managing director of London-based B2B PR consultancy Champion Communications, for a conversation that ranges from accidental solopreneurship to running a UK business from São Paulo. Richard shares how his original business partner's maternity leave nudged him into going solo by design, how that single offhand "churning fluff" comment pushed him to redefine PR as a demand-generation engine instead of a press-release factory, and why he believes it's never been a more possible time to build a service business alone. We dig into his 5 AM routine (born of necessity, kept by choice), why he's traded LinkedIn for Substack as his daily intellectual fuel, and the surprisingly elegant way he's using Claude to map out which media outlets have OpenAI licensing agreements — so his clients' stories land where AI models are actually reading. Richard also shares the most underrated piece of advice he wishes he'd taken seriously: don't be afraid of fear. The terror of solopreneurship doesn't go away — but you can learn to use the adrenaline instead of running from it. If you've ever wondered whether the panic you feel is a sign you're failing or a sign you're paying attention, this conversation will reframe the whole thing.


Bio


Richard Cook is the Managing Director of Champion Communications, a London-based PR and communications consultancy specialising in helping B2B technology companies grow. Founded in 2008, Champion has grown into a tight-knit, high-performing team, making Richard no stranger to the challenges of building a small business.Rather than chasing vanity metrics, Richard is relentless in his pursuit of growth, showing the real value of PR through campaigns dedicated to generating leads and driving web traffic. It's a mindset that resonates deeply with founders and small business owners who need their marketing to move the needle.With a background spanning the Prince's Trust International, Kaizo, and Big Group, Richard brings a well-rounded perspective to communications and business growth. He has a passion for helping smaller companies punch above their weight, earn credibility, and get noticed in competitive markets.


Website


https://championcomms.com/


Social Media Links


https://uk.linkedin.com/company/champion-communications

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What happens when sheer will gets your business to the point where willpower alone isn't enough? In this episode, I sit down with Beth Sanders, founder of Ballast Ops and a fractional COO who specializes in being the "number two" for founders who've outgrown going it alone. Beth shares why she left full-time work to partner with multiple founders at once, how being EOS-certified shaped her approach, and why she flexes to what each business needs instead of running the same playbook for every client. We dig into the irony of being great at time management for everyone except yourself, the change management framework she used to lead an entire company through becoming AI-first, and the personal ROI calculator that's reshaping how she says yes (and no) to work. Beth also shares the single piece of advice she'd give every new solopreneur — and why spending two months getting really, really clear on what you offer paid off more than any networking event ever could. If you've been white-knuckling your way through running every part of your business and quietly wondering whether you need a thought partner, this conversation will help you see what's possible on the other side.






Bio






Founders usually find me when execution starts slipping under growth: deals stall, customer retention softens, priorities collide, and teams lose clarity on what matters most.I step in to rebuild execution at the system level - aligning leadership, installing operating discipline, and turning strategy into results without adding friction or bureaucracy. Over the last several years, I've helped companies: - Scale revenue 5x+ across multiple growth stages- Increase close rates and shorten sales cycles- Improve customer retention and customer experience- Install EOS-based operating systems that teams actually run- Stabilize execution during inflection points, transitions, and downturns I think like an owner, execute like an operator, and lead without ego. I work best with founders who want a true operating partner - someone who owns execution across functions and builds results that compound. Fractional COO and EOS Growth Integrator. Operating style & assessments: Predictive Index (Captain) - Kolbe 8-6-3-3 - EOS Integrator (Masterclass Certified 2024)






https://www.ballastops.com/


https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethksanders/

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What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start building because you can see exactly what's broken? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Choudhary — PhD in data science, Forbes Technology Council member, and CEO of ICE Innovations — for a conversation that completely reframed how I think about solopreneurship at scale. After 20+ years building AI strategy for 150+ organizations including Fortune 500s, Sarah is now bootstrapping four ventures simultaneously: ICE Rideshare (paying drivers fairly with a 25% commission instead of 30–60%), iChef (a home-cooked food marketplace), Sprowberry (a barter economy app), and Zora (an AI-powered decision engine for solopreneurs). We talk about how she runs multiple companies as one architecture instead of four separate chaos factories, why differentiation has to be built into the product (not the marketing), and the mindset shift she calls moving from permission to authority — the realization that wasted years of her career waiting for someone to green-light her ideas. We also dig into why AI is leverage (not labor replacement), why compounding only rewards the founders who stay in the game, and why protecting your sharpest 90 minutes is one of the most important business decisions you'll make. If you've ever felt the pull to build something but kept waiting for someone to validate the idea first, Sarah's story is the permission slip you didn't know you needed — and the proof you don't need one at all.


🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-solo/id1802739542






Bio


Sarah Choudhary is a seasoned technologist, serial entrepreneur, and visionary leader with over two decades of experience spanning AI, machine learning, data science, and cloud computing. From pioneering integrations of artificial intelligence with real-world applications to founding and scaling multiple successful companies, Sarah's journey is one of relentless innovation.


Holding a PhD in Data Science and having consulted for industry giants like Ernst & Young and Accenture, she now leads ICE Innovations — building the next generation of AI-powered platforms that redefine how we live, move, and eat.






Website


sarahchoudhary.com


Social Media Links


https://linktr.ee/sarahchoudhary

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What do a Y2K programmer, a Las Vegas lease-option real estate expert, and a sci-fi novelist building a Marvel-style universe have in common? They're all the same guy. In this episode, I sit down with Kevin A. Dunlap — author, speaker, and creator of the Crimson Alliance Universe — for a wide-ranging conversation about adaptability, perseverance, and what it really takes to keep going when the market shifts under your feet. Kevin shares how getting downsized during Y2K shattered his trust in corporate America, how he ran a successful lease-option real estate business in Vegas for 16 years (and pivoted 180 degrees through the 2008 housing crash), and how playing with AI image tools in late 2024 sparked an entirely new chapter — four published novels in just over a year, with twelve more in the works. We talk about why "authority" comes from "author," why every solopreneur needs a support system even when they're flying solo, and why building a universe beats building a series. If you've ever felt the ground shift in your business and wondered whether to quit or pivot, Kevin's story is a masterclass in choosing the pivot.






BioKevin A. Dunlap is an author, entrepreneur, and former business consultant with over two decades of experience helping individuals and small business owners turn ideas into profitable ventures. His background spans real estate investing, international travel, college instruction, online education, and even a brief stint as a stuntman, giving him a unique perspective on both business and creativity.He is the author of several nonfiction books, including Launch!: The A to Z in Creating a Successful Business, where he breaks down complex strategies into practical, actionable steps for entrepreneurs at every stage.Today, Kevin is focused on building the Crimson Alliance Universe (CAU), a growing science fiction world told through novels, interludes, and short-form stories. Designed to be accessible to new and longtime sci-fi readers alike, the CAU emphasizes strong character dynamics, humor, and high-stakes adventure across multiple interconnected storylines.Website


https://www.kevinadunlap.com,


https://TheCAU.net






Social Media Links


https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinadunlaphttps://www.facebook.com/kevinadunlap


Freebie Giveaway Link


https://TheCAU.net/join

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What do you do when your name is all over the internet and every background check becomes a closed door? In this episode, I sit down with Matt Melvin — author of Bully Behind Bars: A Gay Christian Trump Supporter Goes to Prison— for a raw and deeply personal conversation about accountability, faith, and reinvention. Matt has lost more than a hundred jobs to background checks, walked away from an emotionally abusive work relationship, and is now channeling his lived experience into a mission to reach at-risk teens before their small choices become life-altering ones. We talk about the power of trading "you/we/they" victimhood language for "I statements," why he uses the David-and-Saul story as his personal accountability test, the daily habits that helped him lose 100 pounds without ever stepping foot in a gym, and the upcoming Guinness World Record attempt he's part of in Philadelphia this May. If you've ever felt defined by your worst moment — or wondered whether it's possible to build something meaningful on the other side of it — this one will stay with you.


Bio


When Matthew Melvin started working at a car dealership in South Burlington, Vermont, he never thought that one mistake would lead to a life-changing stint in prison. Feeling he wasn’t being paid his full commissions on car sales, he made an impulsive decision to get what he felt he was owed. He hatched a badly-thought out plot to steal a car, sell it as his own and keep the profits. However, a basic reference and background check quickly revealed that the vehicle’s title was not in his name, but still belonged to the dealership. He was arrested and sentenced to prison.While Matthew has taken responsibility for his poor life choices, he believes he has been treated unfairly due to his sexual orientation, religious and political affiliations, and his adult diagnosis of autism. While he and his lawyer argued that his punishment would be best served in a mental health facility, Matt was unfortunately sentenced to 18 months in prison to be served in general population.Terrified and alone, Matthew began his prison term with the best of intentions—to keep his head down and serve his time as uneventfully as possible. But being a gay, Christian, Trump supporter brought him unwanted and negative attention. He was bullied by cellmates, targeted by gangs and even raped in one facility. The months he was imprisoned felt like decades and there were times he doubted he would make it out alive.Bullied Behind Bars chronicles Matthew Melvin’s life feeling like an outcast, enduring a lonely and friendless childhood, and being punished for a crime that began with the honorable goal of him just trying to make a living.


Website


www.bulliedbehindbars.com


Social Media Links


IG- Bulliedbehindbars, X-Barsbullied, and


Facebook- Matthew.Melvin.5621

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What happens when the smartest person in the room can't figure out their own marketing? In this episode, I sit down with executive coach and solopreneur Stever Robbins — host of the legendary Get It Done Guy podcast and Harvard MBA — for one of the most refreshingly honest conversations I've had on this show. Stever opens up about discovering he's neurodivergent in his 60s, and how that single revelation reframed 30 years of marketing struggles. We dig into why choosing a niche the traditional way never worked for him, and the unconventional experiment he's running instead: making himself the niche. We also talk about why AI is the ATM moment for solopreneurs, why "work hard and you'll get ahead" is advice we'd never actually take, and why the key to standing out isn't finding the perfect product — it's showing up as the most unapologetically specific version of yourself. If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit the solopreneur mold, this one's for you.






Bio


Stever Robbins is a serial entrepreneur, solopreneur, startup veteran, and leadership strategist who has spent his career helping people turn expertise into influence, opportunity, and thriving businesses.He has been part of nine startup teams, inventing the world’s first downloadable financial statement for the Quicken Visa Card. He co-founded FTP Software, helping to build some of the early internet infrastructure. Along the way, he has worn just about every entrepreneurial hat: founder, early employee, advisor, coach, and investor.Stever is also the former host of the top-10 iTunes business podcast The Get-it-Done Guy, where he produced nearly 600 episodes helping professionals and entrepreneurs work smarter, build better systems, and make meaningful progress on what matters most.Today, he works with entrepreneurs, consultants, and independent professionals who want to build reputation-based businesses—where opportunities, partnerships, and clients come through trust, relationships, and credibility rather than constant hustle.A graduate of MIT and Harvard Business School (which he attended on a dare), Stever has spoken at institutions including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, and Columbia, and has been featured in Fast Company, Inc., The Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. His unconventional journey—from growing up in a traveling New Age commune to building startups and advising leaders—shapes his unique perspective on work, success, and building an extraordinary life.






Website


www.steverrobbins.com






Social Media Links


https://www.linkedin.com/in/stever/https://www.instagram.com/stever.robbinshttps://x.com/SteverRobbins

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What if the missing piece in your solopreneur journey isn't another strategy — it's visibility? In this episode, I sit down with publicity expert and four-time author Jill Lublin to talk about how solopreneurs can get in front of the right audiences without a big budget or a PR agency. Jill shares how she went from law school dropout to director of publicity at four independent record labels, and what that journey taught her about perception, promotion, and building a business you love. We dig into why local media is still a goldmine, how to use podcasts strategically, and the one piece of financial advice Jill wishes she'd gotten on day one. If you've been hiding behind your work instead of getting your name out there, this episode is your wake-up call.






BIO


Jill Lublin is an international speaker, media strategist, and four-time bestselling author known for her work in publicity, networking, influence marketing, and kindness-driven business practices. She has spoken to audiences worldwide, delivering over 200 engagements a year and has shared stages with thought leaders such as Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, and Lisa Nichols.Jill’s expertise centers on helping entrepreneurs, authors, and business leaders increase visibility, build strong relationships, and grow profitability through strategic publicity and influence techniques. She authored bestselling books including Get Noticed…Get Referrals, Guerrilla Publicity, Networking Magic, and The Profit of Kindness, the latter of which hit #1 in multiple categories.Jill has worked with over 100,000 clients throughout her 25+-year career and has been featured in major media outlets like Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., Fortune Small Business, and The New York Times. She also teaches her signature Publicity Crash Courses and hosts programs that inspire purposeful and kind leadership in business.


Websiteh


ttps://jilllublin.com/


Social Media Links


https://www.instagram.com/jilllublin/?hl=en, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilllublin/


Freebie Giveaway Link


https://jilllublin.com/about-jill/#publicity-master-class

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In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Tanya Puri, a consultant and founder of Peer Insights. Tanya shares her journey of transitioning from corporate America to becoming a solopreneur, discussing the challenges of defining her expertise, finding her niche, and the importance of establishing productive routines. They explore industry trends, particularly the rise of fractional executives and the impact of AI tools on business operations. Tanya also emphasizes the significance of personal branding and offers advice for new solopreneurs, highlighting the importance of getting comfortable with self-promotion. The conversation concludes with Tanya sharing her upcoming projects and resources for solopreneurs.






BIO


With 15 years of experience across Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Credit Karma and others, I bring the rare combination of financial rigor, strategic clarity and deep operational leadership.


I work with founders as a fractional strategy & operations partner to sharpen their strategic vision and build the foundations needed to scale.






WEBSITE


https://purinsights.com/






SOCIAL MEDIA


Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyapuri/


Instagram https://instagram.com/tanyapuri

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In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Evan Cox, a solopreneur specializing in nonprofit marketing. They discuss Evan's journey from working in a large nonprofit to becoming a solopreneur, the challenges he faced, and the importance of understanding multiple audiences in marketing. Evan shares insights on standing out in a competitive market, industry trends for solopreneurs, essential tools for business management, and daily routines that enhance productivity. He also offers valuable advice for those starting their solopreneur journey and highlights exciting projects he is currently working on.


takeaways

• Evan emphasizes the importance of serving multiple audiences in nonprofit marketing.
• His journey includes unexpected career turns that shaped his approach to business.
• Entrepreneurship reveals personal gaps and encourages self-discovery.
• A clear message is not enough; it must also be compelling and relevant.
• Evan's unique approach to StoryBrand helps him stand out in a crowded market.
• Simplicity in business processes is crucial for scalability.





BIO


For more than fifteen years, I have served businesses, nonprofits, churches, and the leaders who guide them.


Whether serving on staff at internationally-renowned nonprofits or running a coffee company in Southeast Asia that helped local farmers develop sustainable agriculture and business practices, my work has taken me around the globe.


Today, my team and I have the privilege of working with small to mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, and churches across multiple continents so they communicate the right message and then infuse it throughout all their marketing–from strategy and copy to websites and fundraising.


Website


https://evancoxconsulting.com/


Social Media Links


https://www.linkedin.com/in/evancox1?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_c


Freebie Giveaway Linkhttps://evancoxconsulting.com/resources/

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In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Holly Fisher, a marketing strategist and owner of Fisher Creative Marketing. Holly shares her journey into solopreneurship, the challenges she faced, and how she found her unique niche in the marketing industry. They discuss the impact of AI on marketing, essential tools for solopreneurs, and daily routines that enhance productivity. Holly also offers valuable advice for those starting their solopreneur journey and shares her upcoming projects and workshops.






BIO


Holly Fisher is the owner of Fisher Creative Marketing and a long-time StoryBrand Certified Guide. She’s helped dozens of organizations build a marketing strategy, clarify their marketing message, and develop an effective sales funnel that generates more leads and boosts their bottom line. A long-time professional writer and former full-time journalist, Holly believes in the power of story to inform and engage. She has worked with clients around the globe and in a variety of industries.


Holly is also an Unreasonable Hospitality coach, helping organizations transform their customer experience. She is a sought-after workshop facilitator and speaker. Holly lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, teenage daughter, and two dogs. She enjoys CrossFit, reading, cooking, and hiking.


Website


https://fisher-creative.com/


Social Media Links


https://www.instagram.com/fishercreativemarketing/https://www.youtube.com/@fishercreativemarketinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyannfisher/https://www.facebook.com/FisherCreativeMarketingFreebie


Giveaway Link


https://mailchi.mp/fisher-creative.com/jfb8kkwudq

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In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos sits down with Shampaigne Graves, entrepreneur, founder of two businesses, and a powerful voice for women in business.


Shampaigne shares how she started with just $20, a free Shopify trial, and a mission to help women start and stay in business—and how that early vision grew into a micro school, training center, and expanding team. She also opens up about the deeply personal loss that inspired her entrepreneurial journey and how she chose to turn grief into purpose by carrying forward her best friend’s dream.


You’ll hear practical and inspiring insights on:

•

Growing from solopreneur to building a team (including equity/profit-share options)

•

Why personal branding helped her stand out (“the girl in pink”)

•

How relationships helped her find her niche and grow without money, mentorship, or a roadmap

•

Why solopreneurs need to stay current on AI, automation, and tech stacks

•

How to use AI as an assistant without losing your voice

•

Daily habits that support focus and productivity (including a morning routine you may want to steal 👀)


Shampaigne also shares one of the best reminders for anyone starting out: be brave and do things scared. If you’ve been waiting to feel fully ready before making your move, this conversation is the nudge you need.


BIO


Starting in business with just $20 and a dream - Shampaigne Graves is a Women’s Consumer Research Strategist who explains why billion-dollar companies keep losing money by misunderstanding the $31.8 trillion women’s economy. She developed the proprietary WCR4™ Method after watching manipulative marketing campaigns exploit her sister as a new mother, which ignited her mission to dismantle predatory tactics disguised as empowerment. Her research reveals patterns like “Purchase Panic” (how imposter syndrome sabotages checkout) and “Legacy Consumerism” (how brand loyalty passes through generations like heirlooms) that traditional marketing models completely miss. She’s spoken to over 10,000 people internationally and been featured in Newsweek, WCPO ABC, and Observer for her controversial take that most consumer research is just expensive confirmation bias. Through her consulting practice and owned platforms like the Women’s Trends Summit, she teaches organizations that empathy is a systems design problem, not a soft skill, and translates complex consumer psychology into revenue-protecting operations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


Website


www.shampaignegraves.com


Social Media Links


LinkedIn.com/in/shampaigne-gravesFreebie


Giveaway Link


https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfl5UI-A_bkmDfEmDwRVhN_K5YlGNz0BZQGraWM03onfDcl3w/viewform?usp=header

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What if the thing you’re calling “branding” is actually just a costume change… and your customers are now wandering the store like, “Where did my ice cream go?”


In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos talks with Beatrice Gutknecht, a positioning strategist who helps service-based businesses (think landscapers, accountants, home builders, and other “we-all-sound-the-same” pros) claim a clear, market-dominating place in their industry—without confusing the audience or forcing a fake voice onto the team.


You’ll hear why Beatrice is fiercely anti-rebrand-for-no-reason, how to find an “enemy” to sharpen your message, and why the best businesses don’t just sound different—they’re operationally set up to deliver the difference. They also dig into the growing challenge of too many loud opinions online, how to keep your own instincts intact, and why AI should support your voice—not replace it.


Plus: the tools they can’t live without (Notion vs. Donna’s CRM/Pandarus), and Beatrice’s best advice for solopreneurs: avoid shiny distractions and have real conversations before you build anything.






BIO


Beatrice Gutknecht is the Founder of Badassery by B, shifting how businesses are seen with ROI (like increasing brand value, AKA business value, and reducing sales and marketing costs) and practical operations-focused brand strategy, and Host of The Art of Branding Podcast.


Beatrice is a firm believer that the classic ‘rebrand’ is BS and a great way to spend a bunch of money while losing market share and trust and restart the growth cycle from scratch. What’s effective? Repositioning and refreshing your brand.






Website


https://www.badasserybyb.com


Social Media Links


Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatricegutknecht


Freebie Giveaway Link


https://www.badasserybyb.com/brand-health

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In this episode of Breaking Solo, Donna Amos interviews Laurie-ann Morabito, a former shy individual who transformed into a confident speaker and coach. Laurie-ann shares her journey from corporate life to becoming a solopreneur, emphasizing the importance of public speaking in building credibility and attracting clients. The conversation explores the challenges of being a solopreneur, the evolution of finding one's niche, and the significance of personal branding in today's market. Laurie-ann also discusses essential tools for managing a business, effective habits for productivity, and offers valuable advice for those starting their solopreneur journey. The episode concludes with insights into upcoming projects and resources for aspiring speakers.






BIO


BioLaurie-Ann Murabito is a reformed painfully shy gal who couldn't make eye contact with others and accidentally became a professional speaker. 2x Best Selling Author of Rethink Leadership and Rethink Your Leadership. Host of Be IN Demand, a Top 1.5% podcast. A few of her clients are Johnson & Johnson, American Towers and Far East Recycling. Today Laurie-Ann works with coaches, consultants, and service provides who hate to sell and help them write and deliver a speech that does the selling for them. Her clients routinely step off the stage to more clients, leads, and future stage bookings.


Website


https://SpeakAndStandOut.com


Social Media Links


LI-＞ https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-ann-murabito/IG-＞ https://www.instagram.com/laurieann.murabitoYT: https://www.youtiube.com/lamurabito


Freebie Giveaway Link


https://SpeakAndStandOut.com/Magic

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What do you do when the career you planned disappears overnight?


In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos sits down with Deirdre Martin, a business coach from Kilkenny, Ireland, who turned an unexpected layoff in retail banking into a purpose-driven solopreneur business.


Deirdre shares how being laid off forced her to rethink everything—from income and identity to how she truly wanted to help others. She opens up about the real challenges solopreneurs face, including cash flow, defining a profitable niche, and the mindset shift behind the phrase “sales is vanity, profit is sanity.”


You’ll also hear how Deirdre evolved her work into “neuro strategies,” why psychographics matter more than demographics, and her cautionary take on using AI without losing authenticity.


If you’re navigating reinvention, building a business solo, or questioning your next move, this conversation will resonate.






BIO


Deirdre Martin is a Neuro-Strategist who helps purpose-driven founders attract clients they love working with, overcome decision fatigue, and scale beyond their first million by monetising their expertise, without burnout, bottlenecks, or sacrificing what matters most.After twenty years in retail banking, where she guided entrepreneurs through high-stakes financial decisions, she developed a deep understanding of what motivates business leaders under pressure. Seeing how trust, stress, and bias drive behaviour more than spreadsheets ever do, she retrained in neuroscience-based coaching and brand strategy to combine brain science with practical growth systems.Today, Deirdre works with growth-stage coaches and consultants to replace cookie-cutter funnels with messaging frameworks grounded in how the brain builds trust and processes value. She teaches founders to leverage neuroplasticity to rewire limiting beliefs, decision-making habits and reduce cognitive load, to create frictionless customer experiences and resilient teams. Her clients achieve significant revenue growth while working fewer hours and building businesses that thrive without constant oversight.She is the creator of the Millionize Method™, a framework for sustainable, repeatable growth that equips founders to scale well beyond their first million, and the Millionize Mastermind, her flagship program for coaches ready to expand their dreams and grow with impact, without burning out.


An award-winning business coach, best-selling author, podcast host, and keynote speaker, Deirdre is also Ireland’s only Certified StoryBrand Coach and Level C Brand Strategist, uniquely positioned at the intersection of branding, storytelling, neuroscience, coaching, and strategy.


Website


www.deirdremartin.ie


Social Media Links


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdremartincustomerexpeience/


Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/deirdremartinconsulting/Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DeirdreMartinConsultingDeirdre Martin Master Your Business Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3o6b65R0gcibJjtn5lPe4yDeirdre Martin Master Your Busienss Podcast Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-master-your-business-podcast/id1667327376Freebie Giveaway Linkhttps://www.deirdremartin.ie/LinkedInVisibilityChecklist

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In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos interviews Annie Figenshu, a solopreneur and content marketing expert. They discuss the challenges and rewards of running a solo business, the importance of effective content marketing, and the value of in-person networking. Annie shares her journey from performer to entrepreneur, the difficulties she faced during her divorce, and her strategies for maintaining productivity. The conversation also covers essential tools for solopreneurs, advice for those starting out, and the significance of building an email list. Annie emphasizes the need for consistency in content creation and the benefits of video content.






Takeaways






Annie Figenshu emphasizes the importance of effective content marketing.


Solopreneurs often face overwhelming demands for content creation.


Networking in person is vital for building relationships.


Collecting email addresses is crucial for business growth.


Daily routines can significantly impact productivity.


Annie's journey highlights the challenges of balancing personal and professional life.


Less is more when it comes to tools for solopreneurs.


Consistency in content creation is key to success.


Video content can enhance engagement and trust with audiences.


Building a niche helps attract the right clients.






Bio


BioWhen you’re the face of your brand, it’s easy to spend lots of time creating content and very little time understanding whether it’s helping you reach your goals. Annie Figenshu, founder of Downstage Media, helps business owners build clear content strategies and systems that make their marketing pull its weight.


Website


www.downstage.media


Social Media Links


https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniefigenshu/


Freebie Giveaway Link


https://www.downstage.media/signup

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In this episode of Breaking Solo, host Donna Amos speaks with Tami Murphy, a business coach specializing in the toy and game industry. Tami shares her journey into entrepreneurship, the challenges of working alone, and the importance of finding joy in business. She discusses her strategies for differentiating herself in a competitive market, staying ahead of industry trends, and maintaining work-life balance. Tami also offers valuable advice for aspiring solopreneurs and shares exciting news about her upcoming projects.






BIO


Launching a new toy and game business is not all play, it takes a lot of strategy and foundational work to set a business up for success long term. Whether a company is just launching or they've had a successful launch but are now plateauing, they need to define their goals, clarify their messaging so customers actually understand what makes them different, and build operational systems that can scale without burning out the founder.


Website


www.tamicstrategies.com


Social Media Links


https://www.linkedin.com/in/murphytami/

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