Best Accidentally Ambitious Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 496: Warm and inviting stories of hearth and home 53:57

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32m ago53:57

53:57

When the world feels heavy, many of us reach for books. Today's guest is looking for a specific style of comfort reads. Jemima Welsh is joining Anne today all the way from Brisbane, Australia, where she lives with her family and her pets, including four chickens named for the March sisters. Right now, Jemima is specifically looking for books that f…

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84: Tax Tips for Creatives: Stop Winging It with Your Finances 34:38

6d ago34:38

34:38

Ever stare at your bank statement and feel personally victimized by tax season? You’re not alone—but you could be more prepared. In this episode, Nata Salvatori brings on wedding photographer and tax educator Heather Leicy, who went from architecture student to creative CEO with a tax-savvy twist. They talk about everything from saving for the slow…

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Ep 495: Fall Book Preview sneak peek 37:09

7d ago37:09

37:09

,The team at MMD HQ has always been enthusiastic about fall reading. We shared our first Fall Book Preview back in 2019, and last week we released the seventh annual edition. Today, we’re sharing a sneak peek into this year's event that concludes with Anne describing the first three books in our literary and contemporary fiction category. Our Fall …

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83: Fired and Flourishing - The Therapy CEO Who Took the Lead 37:32

13d ago37:32

37:32

When Brittany Webb got laid off, it wasn’t the end. It was the spark. In this candid episode, licensed therapist and founder of Better Minds Counseling Services reveals how being unheard at work pushed her to build the practice she never had. She walks us through the fears, freedom, and false starts of launching a virtual private practice while sti…

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Ep 494: Books brimming with creativity, philosophy, and grace 59:49

14d ago59:49

59:49

Today we're diving into what feels like a particularly nerdy niche of the reading life as Anne is joined by an expert reader. Sarah Kellogg is a cover designer at a big five publisher, and today she and Anne are exploring what goes into the art of cover design. Sarah answers many of our burning questions and sheds light on some of the lesser known …

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82: From Blog to Brand: How Jessica Bishop Built a Business That Serves Both Brides and Vendors 37:26

20d ago37:26

37:26

Jessica Bishop didn’t mean to start a business—she just wanted to get married without going broke. In this episode, she shares how her personal wedding blog turned into The Budget Savvy Bride, one of the most trusted wedding resources on the internet. Jessica gets real about what it means to serve two totally different audiences (engaged couples an…

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Ep 493: Books that take you on an epic journey 58:40

21d ago58:40

58:40

Today's guest is facing a shift in her reading life now that she's an empty nester. Candice Brown-Murray lives in South Florida with her husband, children, and dogs. Her career in public relations keeps her very busy along with her hobbies like kayaking, travel, renovating a historic home, and of course, reading. Candice has always been a reader. S…

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81: From Stay-at-Home Mom to Scalable CEO: How Beth Heyer Built a Babysitting Empire With Gen Z Power 39:23

27d ago39:23

39:23

What happens when a stay-at-home mom turns a babysitting gap into a thriving, multi-brand business? Beth Heyer is the founder and CEO of Babysitting Connection, a Texas-based service with over 300 vetted sitters and 700 monthly subscribers. She’s also the creator of Pet Sitting Connection and the nonprofit BC Gives Back—all while solo parenting and…

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Ep 492: Reflective nonfiction about finding your path 54:34

28d ago54:34

54:34

We love fielding very specific readerly requests that will also appeal to a wide range of readers, and today's episode is just that. Lynn Bain describers herself as an accidental entrepreneur. While she loves to read a wide range of genres and styles, she's here today to get Anne's help in identifying good business books to read alongside her belov…

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80: How to Delegate Without Losing Control: Lessons from Tressa Beheim 42:22

1M ago42:22

42:22

What if the thing keeping you stuck isn’t lack of time—but your inability to let go? In this episode of the Accidental CEO podcast, I sit down with the brilliant (and very real) Tressa Beheim, founder of Simplify Now. She’s the strategic brain and online business manager behind countless creative entrepreneurs—helping them stop drowning in the dail…

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Ep 491: Our team's best books of summer (Part 2) 39:03

1M ago39:03

39:03

Today we're sharing Part 2 of our summer superlatives episode, featuring four more of our team members talking about the books they've loved most this season. Our executive producer Will Bogel joins Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Community Manager Ginger Horton to talk about their favorite summer reads. Then, you'll hear from Modern Mrs Darcy Editor an…

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79: What To Focus On When Everything Feels Urgent 13:27

1M ago13:27

13:27

Time management is not about squeezing more into your day — it’s about doing the right things at the right time. In this episode, Nata Salvatori reveals her personal system for running multiple businesses without living in overwhelm. You’ll hear why delegation is the first step in her process, how she keeps track of every recurring task, and the ex…

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Ep 490: Our team's best books of summer (Part 1) 39:01

1M ago39:01

39:01

Readers, we’re back today with an annual tradition we know so many of you look forward to, as our team joins Anne to talk about their favorite books of the summer and what’s happening in their reading lives right now. As always, our team’s range of reading tastes ensures we share titles from a wide range of genres and styles that will appeal to all…

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78: How to Build Authentic Relationships in a Phone-Obsessed World 45:37

2M ago45:37

45:37

In a world that’s constantly online, are we losing what it means to truly connect? This week, Nata sits down with Sam and Elliot Archuleta, hosts of Something More Human and creators of the Return to Real Life event series—a growing movement that invites people to put down their phones and rediscover authentic human interaction. In this conversatio…

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Ep 489: The satisfaction of sinking into a good book 1:05:15

2M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Today's guest isn't only a reader with a specific readerly conundrum, she is also a beloved author. Anne has recommended Julie Berry's work to several past guests, and Julie also joined us over in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club back in 2020. Today, she's here to talk with Anne about writing and discovering smart books with big heart. They also div…

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77: Visibility Marketing for Coaches: How to Get Seen, Heard, and Paid 40:41

2M ago40:41

40:41

How do you go from burnout in a corporate healthcare job to becoming an in-demand visibility marketing coach? Today’s guest, Michelle Kuei, shares the bold story of how a life-changing trip to Machu Picchu set her on a new path—and how she turned that journey into a thriving coaching business. In this episode, we unpack: ✔ How Michelle used storyte…

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Ep 488: Reading goals that are just lofty enough 59:35

2M ago59:35

59:35

Novels featuring an ensemble cast of characters and multiple points of view are a favorite for today's guest, and she'd love Anne's help in finding more of this particular type of reading experience. Olivia Haber Greenwood is joining Anne from Barcelona, where she's lived for the past seven years working as a copywriter and freelance journalist. Ol…

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76: Why a Midlife Crisis Might Be Your Greatest Business Move 50:12

2M ago50:12

50:12

If you’ve ever sat on a train, in your office, or even in the shower and thought, Is this it?—you’re not alone. Today’s guest, Lisann Valentin, knows what it’s like to hit that wall. She went from Wall Street lawyer to actress on shows like Manifest and The Blacklist, and then pivoted again to become a certified spiritual coach. In this raw and emp…

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Ep 487: Sci-fi, fantasy, and a sense of possibility 53:50

2M ago53:50

53:50

Today's guest has joined Anne in conversation on the podcast before, but now our media production specialist Holly Wielkoszewski is in the spotlight as they explore her evolving reading tastes and her favorite genres of science fiction and fantasy. Holly splits her time between New Mexico, where she and her husband are building an Earthship, and tr…

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75: Show Up Without Selling Out: The Visibility Strategy That Actually Works with Aria Leighty 36:22

2M ago36:22

36:22

Aria Leighty is not here to play nice—and that’s exactly why you’ll love her. In this episode, we’re breaking the “visibility means more social posts” myth wide open. Aria, founder of Show The F*ck Up Media, shares what it really takes to build a brand that people actually care about. Spoiler: it starts with showing up as yourself and building real…

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Ep 486: Setting-driven stories, accidental reading themes, and winning characters 1:00:46

2M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Ellen Heath, a reader from the Atlanta area, shares Anne's passion for urban planning, but that's not all they talk about today. Ellen is looking for immersive settings, characters she can connect with, and books that might even teach her something, and Anne has ideas! Ellen and Anne also talk about her Ellen's interesting and unique method for cho…

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74: How to Attract Clients Using Pinterest (Without the Social Media Burnout) with Dana Johnson 34:50

3M ago34:50

34:50

In this episode of the Accidental CEO Podcast, Nata Salvatori sits down with Dana Johnson of Dana’s Desk to unpack the untapped power of Pinterest for creative entrepreneurs. Dana, a former wedding industry pro turned Pinterest strategist and online business manager, shares how she went from running events to running the back end of some of the mos…

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73: Burnout-Proof PR: How Hayley Knight Rewrote the Rules of Business 36:38

3M ago36:38

36:38

Tired of pretending burnout is just part of the job? In this week’s Accidental CEO, Nata Salvatori interviews Hayley Knight, the unapologetically bold co-founder of PR agency Be Yellow. Hayley opens up about leaving a toxic 9-to-5 to build something radically different—an agency rooted in values, boundaries, and big impact. She shares how Be Yellow…

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Ep 485: A midyear reading check-in 57:52

3M ago57:52

57:52

A midyear reading check-in has become a small tradition around here, and today Anne is welcoming team member Shannan Malone back to the podcast. Today, you'll hear Anne and Shannan dive into the history of this practice before exploring how this year’s been going so far, what they're each excited about, and what’s working (and not working) in each …

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72: If You Want to Grow—Stop Fixing the Wrong Problem 16:32

3M ago16:32

16:32

You’re busy—but are you actually growing? In this episode, Nata Salvatori exposes a trap that’s costing service providers time, money, and sanity: chasing busywork that feels productive but doesn’t move the needle. She walks through a clear, five-step growth path—from clarifying your offer, validating through real sales, delivering sustainably, bui…

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Ep 484: A summer to slow down and sink into what you love 46:11

3M ago46:11

46:11

Today's guest is looking for ways to slow down and sink into what she loves most as she plans her summer of reading. Chelsea Siler is an early childhood special education teacher in Tacoma, Washington. She's often found reading to be a source of joy, escape, and growth, and she'd like these positive experiences to be reflected in her reading select…

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71: Digital-First, Drama-Free: Time Strategies for Ambitious Moms with Laura Davis 35:06

3M ago35:06

35:06

You don’t have to choose between thriving at work and being the mom your kids need. This week, I sat down with Laura Davis—time management strategist and founder of Time Management Academy—to unpack the myth of “having it all.” Laura knows the struggle intimately: after going through IVF, she didn’t want to waste a single second. She built a busine…

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Ep 483: Help me find my new go-to summer author! 1:02:42

3M ago1:02:42

1:02:42

We often discuss auto-buy authors and completist authors around here, and today's guest is a completist on a mission to discover her new favorite summer author. Stephanie Edwards-Gass is a seventh-grade English teacher and an Elin Hilderbrand completist. For years, she's turned to Hilderbrand's novels for summer reading satisfaction. She's read (an…

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70: How Ashley Paul Built a Wedding Empire—Then Built a Business to Save It 28:11

3M ago28:11

28:11

In this episode, we sit down with Ashley Paul, a veteran wedding planner and floral designer with over 15 years of experience. Ashley delves into her journey through the wedding industry, highlighting the significant changes she's witnessed and the lessons she's learned along the way. Beyond her hands-on work in weddings, Ashley founded Ashley Paul…

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Ep 482: Diving into evocative ocean reads 50:25

4M ago50:25

50:25

We always love reading on a theme, and today's guest would love to see her real-life love of the ocean mirrored in the pages of her books. Noelle Leong is a science and medicine-focused librarian at a small liberal arts college. She especially loves her work for the opportunities it provides her to join the students on trails and visiting tidepools…

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69: Creating Safe Spaces: The Real Talk on Queer Weddings 47:40

4M ago47:40

47:40

In this episode of The Accidental CEO, Nata Salvatori sits down with Celeste Burns, a queer wedding photographer committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces for all couples. They unpack what most wedding vendors get wrong about working with LGBTQ+ clients—and how to fix it. From the language we use on our forms to the assumptions we carry into pho…

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Ep 481: A reading life that comes in waves 48:26

4M ago48:26

48:26

Nonfiction books often change the way that readers see the world, and today's guest Evan Carlson is on the hunt for fiction that packs the same punch as the nonfiction works he loves. Evan's joining Anne from Chicago, where he lives and works as an actor and poet. He's found that reading poetry and nonfiction helps him challenge his ways of thinkin…

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68: Say No with Love: Chelene Knight’s Blueprint for Creative Sustainability 45:14

4M ago45:14

45:14

In this enlightening episode, Chelene Knight, founder of Breathing Space Creative Studios, delves into her transformation from an accidental CEO to a mindful leader. She unpacks the critical importance of conserving energy and the empowering practice of saying no with love. Chelene's insights are a beacon for creatives seeking to navigate the often…

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Ep 480: Branching out with escapist, emotionally resonant novels 55:23

4M ago55:23

55:23

Feeling more confident about finding the right reads is a common bookish goal. In today's conversation, Anne welcomes Tynisha Coleman to the show to talk about her current reading goals. Tynisha is a leadership development coach, university lecturer, and sci-fi and fantasy lover from New Jersey. She doesn't shy away from books that tackle tough plo…

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67: From Burnout to Breakthrough: Shaun Gordon’s Journey to Building KISS Books 52:00

4M ago52:00

52:00

What if selling wasn’t sleazy—and money wasn’t the enemy? In this episode, Shaun Gordon of Kiss Books rewrites the rulebook for photographers who want more than just pretty pictures. From his early days of entrepreneurship to becoming a successful wedding photographer and founder, Shaun shares how shifting your mindset and serving with intention ca…

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Ep 479: Balancing backlist with shiny new releases 1:09:38

4M ago1:09:38

1:09:38

Every year we get some variation of this question: how can a reader like today’s guest, Elise Brancheau, balance all the shiny new books of summer with the backlist titles that are already patiently waiting on her to-be-read list? Elise is a New Jersey-based professional classical singer who describes herself as a huge reading-planning nerd. We kno…

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66: Why Your Mindset Is Blocking Your Business Growth 44:07

4M ago44:07

44:07

What if the biggest thing holding you back in business… is invisible? In this episode, Nata Salvatori interviews Max Rosenkranz, a former mechanical engineer whose spiritual awakening in the backseat of an Uber rerouted his life toward coaching. Max helps entrepreneurs rewire subconscious beliefs that sabotage their businesses, using tools like neu…

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Ep 478: A snippet from the 2025 Summer Reading Guide 10:33

4M ago10:33

10:33

We're taking you behind the scenes of our 2025 Summer Reading Guide and sharing an excerpt from our live Unboxing party. Our 2025 Guide includes 35 books across a range of genres which we've grouped into six categories. Today you'll hear Anne's commentary of three books from the first category, Family Sagas. Our Summer Reading Guide and Unboxing ar…

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65: Quit Your 9–5, Build Your Brand 35:14

5M ago35:14

35:14

What happens when you leave the comfort of a steady job to bet entirely on yourself? In this powerful episode, Nata Salvatori sits down with Sam Cordry, founder of Cordry Creative, to talk about the messy, magical process of becoming your own boss—and how to build a brand that actually reflects who you are. Sam shares her journey from employee to e…

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Ep 477: A summer reading road trip 56:40

5M ago56:40

56:40

We're kicking off Summer Reading Season with our fourteenth annual Summer Reading Guide, coming this Thursday! Today on the podcast Anne is joined by a special guest who is particularly well qualified to go behind the scenes of our 2025 Summer Reading Guide with her: Will Bogel! Many of you consider Anne's husband Will to be your book twin, and tod…

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64: Building a Business From Burnout 33:19

5M ago33:19

33:19

Ever felt trapped in a job that controls your calendar, your income, and your life? That was Makenna Luban—until she said “enough” and built her business from scratch. In this episode of The Accidental CEO Podcast, Makenna shares how being denied time off for her honeymoon and to meet her nephew became the breaking point that led her to entrepreneu…

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Ep 476: Offbeat, intricately plotted books for an ambitious reading project 1:10:42

5M ago1:10:42

1:10:42

Reading projects take all shapes and sizes, and today's guest has set a goal to read all the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlists and winners. Today, Anne is talking books with Kathryn, who lives on the island of Okinawa, Japan, with her military husband and energetic golden retriever. Kathryn works for a nonprofit and spends her leisure time readi…

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63: Making Marketing Simple, Fun, and Profitable Again 46:33

5M ago46:33

46:33

If marketing feels like a chore, you're not alone — and today's guest has the solution. On this episode of The Accidental CEO Podcast, Nata Salvatori chats with Chris Burns, marketing expert, coach, and co-founder of Hustle Leaders. Chris has helped businesses double their revenue without doubling their stress — and today he shares exactly how. You…

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Ep 475: Help for a fiction lover who wants to read more nonfiction 45:59

5M ago45:59

45:59

Today's guest is an avid reader, retired social worker, and What Should I Read Next? completist who lives in New Jersey. Jill Jaclin has a reading conundrum: she really wants to read more nonfiction, but she's struggled to find a way to incorporate it into her reading life. As she told Anne, she also knows that there are nonfiction books out there …

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62: SEO for Creatives: How to attract your dream client—without relying on Instagram 35:37

5M ago35:37

35:37

This week on The Accidental CEO Podcast, we sit down with Roy Serafin—wedding photographer turned SEO strategist and CEO of Story and Community. Roy's story is anything but linear, but it’s packed with gold for any creative who wants to stop chasing clients and start attracting them. We talk about: Quitting the 9–5 grind after one emotional moment …

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Ep 474: Burnout and the reading life 48:22

5M ago48:22

48:22

Readers, if you are feeling burned out right now, you are not alone. In our team meeting last week, we talked about the fact that things are hard right now. That's why this feels like a great time to revisit a favorite past episode from another time not so long ago when we were also feeling burned out. Today we're sharing Anne's May 2021 conversati…

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61: The Importance of PR in the Wedding Industry 48:58

6M ago48:58

48:58

Meghan Ely, owner of OFD Consulting, shares her journey from accidental CEO to wedding publicist and PR expert. She saw a gap in the wedding industry for effective promotion and decided to fill it. Megan emphasizes the importance of PR in getting your work seen and offers various strategies beyond paid advertising, such as event features, company w…

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Ep 473: Refining an out-of-date TBR system 57:46

6M ago57:46

57:46

When the world feels heavy, many of us look to books for distraction, inspiration, or reassurance. Today's guest has a unique spin on what she's seeking and would love Anne's help in figuring out how the types of reads she wants right now fit into her existing to-be-read (TBR) system. Émilie Weidl lives in Wales, where she's taken a year off before…

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60: Why Educators Need Their Own Spaces to Grow. 42:49

6M ago42:49

42:49

From high school dance teacher to entrepreneur empowering educators—Laylee Emadi’s journey wasn’t a straight line, but it’s one full of heart, purpose, and ripple effects. In this episode of The Accidental CEO Podcast, Laylee opens up about how a passion for photography turned into a thriving business, how being “the sassy one” helped her stand out…

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59: Pioneering Accessible Mental Health: Nourishment for the Soul 31:35

6M ago31:35

31:35

Amy Mahler, co-owner of MyNourishmentForTheSoul, discusses their mission to make mental health help affordable and accessible. They have developed an app called Mind Nourishment for the Soul that provides weekly transformational insights and challenges to help individuals understand and change themselves. The app is priced at $39.99 a year, making …