Shows
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning312. Stuck or Scaling? How to Tell What Your Business Actually NeedsEver feel like your business has taken on a life of its own—and you’re not sure if it still fits the version of success you’re chasing?You’re not alone.In today’s episode, Megan Gillikin sits down with award-winning photographer, educator, and content creator Vanessa Joy, whose two-decade career has evolved from darkrooms to YouTube stardom and now… clean water wells in Kenya.This one’s about growth. But not the “scale at all costs” kind. We're talking about soulful evolution—the kind that happens when you realize you’ve built something gre...
2025-04-1635 min
Triangle Tweener TalksBreaking News: Earfluence Walk West - Acquisition Chat with Jason Gillikin and Greg BooneIn this special edition of Triangle Tweener Talks, we’re breaking some big news: Walk West has acquired Earfluence! Jason Gillikin, founder of Earfluence (which produces this podcast), and Greg Boone, the incoming CEO of Walk West, join host Scot Wingo to discuss the details of the deal, what it means for the future of both companies, and how this acquisition will reshape the digital marketing and podcasting landscape in the Triangle.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The origin story of Earfluence and how Jason Gillikin transitioned from a corporate career to podcast entrepreneurship.Why...
2025-02-2533 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning279. What You Need to Know about Growth + Burnout as a High-Achiever (Part 1)Recently, I’ve been sharing my personal journey with burnout in episodes 272, 274, and 275, and I've heard from so many of you who resonated with these stories. We don't talk enough about the hardships of trying to do it all and be it all as entrepreneurs. There's a lot to navigate, and there's a lack of conversations around what to do about it and what you can learn from seasons of overwhelm, burnout, and the hard lessons of awareness around your own internal wiring that might be hurting you. So I want you to know that I se...
2024-07-1029 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning278. How to Quiet the ‘Shoulds’ and Build Your Business Your Way, with Steph ZakasBack when I was starting my planning business in 2010, things were a lot different than today. Community over competition wasn’t a thing. Instagram wasn’t a thing yet. TikTok obviously wasn’t around. Podcasts weren’t around. And you know what else hadn’t taken off yet? The coaching boom.Back then, we didn’t have wedding pros telling us what they had done to grow their businesses, which was a challenge because we had to learn from failing.But now, you have sooooo many voices to choose from, and so many different opi...
2024-07-0354 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning277. 5 Easy Financial Wins for Entrepreneurs: Save Money, Unlock Perks, & Gain ControlToday we're sharing some easy financial wins for you to be able to save more money, unlock some amazing perks, and gain greater control over your finances and your time.AMEX My Favorite Things Honeybook Weddings For Real Episode 259 - 5 Tips So Taxes Don't Keep You Up at Night, with CPA Tatiana PodelWeddings For Real Episode 241 - Double Your Revenue, Not Your Work: A Guide to Affiliate Income, with Kendra Swalls---Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for...
2024-06-2627 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning276. 6 Ways to Reconnect, Recharge, and Prioritize YourselfAs entrepreneurs, we carry a heavy load. We're leading our teams, we're planning for more growth, we're handling setbacks, trying to build profitability, we're making sure we're serving our clients, we want to market to reach a wider audience. It's exhausting.And then, as women, I feel like the load is even greater. We strive to create opportunities that might not come as easily to us as our male counterparts. We're working to balance societal expectations, we're managing the mental load, and often we feel the heaviness and drive to prove our capabilities in almost every arena. ...
2024-06-1921 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning275. How to Audit Your Life + Business to Reclaim Your JoyOn last week's episode, Megan took you on a behind the scenes journey to the beginning of this year when she was on a two day workation retreat with her friend and business coach, Rachel Sheerin. She brought a whirlwind of ideas, enough for a 30-day retreat, but along with the excitement and the ideas, she also brought lots of overwhelm, exhaustion, and panic to get it all done. She was in deep burnout, and Rachel saw right through her. And then, she made an offer to help.Today, we dive into what hap...
2024-06-1227 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning274. Burnout Red Flags: How to Spot Them and What to Do NextIf you listened to episode 272, you heard about Megan's burnout and why she took a pause from recording new episodes of the podcast. But that's not quite the whole story.Back in January, Megan went on a weekend retreat with her coach, friend, and business partner Rachel Sheerin. It was there that Rachel realized this wouldn't be a normal workcation.Today, Rachel and Megan share what happened, how Rachel identified the signs of burnout, and tips for what to do when burnout starts to set in next time.---Today's episode is...
2024-06-0531 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning273. How to Navigate Out of Career and Personal Ruts, with KT MerryOne of the quickest routes to burnout (see episode 272) is doing the same thing over and over, staying on that hamster wheel until you're running so fast, you’re exhausted, and realize you’re not even sure you like this hamster wheel anymore. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the routine that we forget to pause and reassess if it’s still working for us.So, let’s talk about making those intentional changes to get you out of personal and professional ruts.Our guest is KT Merry, a global luxury destination wedding and edit...
2024-05-2941 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning272. Burnout: My Old Habits Die Screaming StoryMegan here. I'm back, and I'm inviting you into a personal reflection and behind-the-scenes look at what burnout can look like—not just as a business owner, but as a human - a human who needs to stop fighting and pushing through burnout but instead heal the root cause.I’ve talked about burnout before on the podcast:194: Ask Me Anything (About Burnout, Selling My Business, New Market, and More)55: Rachel Sheerin on Preventing Burnout and the 80-20 RuleBut this episode will be different and approach burnout from a new angle.
2024-05-1517 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning(Encore) Professional Etiquette Tips for Wedding Pros, with Lisa LyonsLisa Lyons has been in the wedding industry for 19 years, but she has been drawn to etiquette her entire life. And in 2020 she got the certification to help wedding pros take their etiquette to the next level. But in this modern era of traditions changing, what does wedding etiquette even mean?Lisa Lyons Events and Etiquette---This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are...
2024-05-0133 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning(Encore) Carving Out Your Own Niche, with Lindsay LucasLindsay Lucas is THE wedding venue consultant. She's a former wedding planner who now helps venue owners (and those aspiring to be) to create profitable and sustainable wedding venue businesses. Lindsay had the idea for a complete shift in her business, but it wasn’t easy convincing herself that this was the best way to go. Today, we talk about if YOUR idea is really something to go after, that feeling of imposter syndrome you are sure to have when you’re doing something new, and how vendors can know when it’s time to take the leap. ---Thi...
2024-04-1750 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning(Encore) How to get on a wedding venue's preferred list, with Shannon TarrantFill out this survey and give us your feedback for a chance to win a $50 Amazon.com gift card and be part of shaping the future of Weddings For Real!https://www.megangillikin.com/podcast-survey--One of the most frequent questions we get in The Planners Vault is, How can I get on the preferred vendor list at the best wedding venue in my market? Or even before getting on the preferred vendor list, how do I even get the venue coordinators to know who I am? It...
2024-04-0344 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning(Encore) Money Mindset for Wedding Pros, with Denise Duffield-ThomasDo you have money mindset blocks that are preventing your business from growing and preventing you from leading your best life? Maybe you believe that you don't deserve to charge more yet. Or maybe you believe you shouldn't charge more because you love what you do. Or maybe you think there's a new competitor popping up every day who charges so little, it's not worth it to raise your prices. I had some major money mindset blocks - until I discovered our guest today, Denise Duffield-Thomas.Denise Duffield-Thomas is the author of Get Rich, Lucky B...
2024-03-1350 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning264. How to Add Corporate Events to Your Revenue Stream and PortfolioRachel Sheerin, keynote speaker and Megan's first business coach, is guest-hosting this episode. She comes from a wedding background before shifting into corporate events and eventually speaking on the biggest stages.Today, Rachel brings on Carrie Davenport to discuss how wedding vendors can start adding corporate events to their portfolios and revenue streams.Carrie Davenport is an accomplished event planner, speaker, leadership coach, and writer with extensive experience in the corporate events, association events, and weddings. She cofounded the Association for Women in Events and currently serves as the lead meeting planner for Altria Group...
2024-03-0628 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning(Encore) 5 Ways to Get More Referrals in Your Wedding Business"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life." - Mary Kay AshKeep that quote in mind for this solo episode, as Megan Gillikin is giving her 5 tips for getting more referrals from your fellow wedding pros.---Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be...
2024-02-2818 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning262. What Engaged Couples Want (2024 Edition, Part 2)On this episode (listen to part 1 here), we ask engaged couples the questions you can’t really ask when they reach out to you. But we can! Questions like:How are you finding your wedding vendors? Instagram? Website? TikTok?Do you need to see pricing on the website?Do you want a consultation call, or do you just want info sent by email?How do you determine budget? And how has it evolved?What's something you wish wedding vendors would do differently?Every year we do this, and every year this is one of our mos...
2024-02-2143 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning261. What Engaged Couples Want (2024 Edition, Part 1)On this episode, we ask engaged couples the questions you can’t really ask when they reach out to you. But we can! Questions like:How are you finding your wedding vendors? Instagram? Website? TikTok?Do you need to see pricing on the website?Do you want a consultation call, or do you just want info sent by email?How do you determine budget? And how has it evolved?What's something you wish wedding vendors would do differently?Every year we do this, and every year this is one of our most downloaded episode. So tun...
2024-02-1433 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning259. 5 Tips So Taxes Don't Keep You Up at Night, with CPA Tatiana PodelWith finances, I still have blocks (listen to the intro) preventing me from fully feeling comfortable and empowered when it comes to things like tax planning, KPIs, and projections.I’ve learned through conversations with wedding pros and my own real life experiences that overwhelm can lead to avoidance, so my goal is to make conversations like this one easy to digest and not something you run the other way while covering your ears.Because as business owners, we really can’t do that. Fortunately, today’s guest Tatiana Podel...
2024-01-2447 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning258. Top 3 Priorities for Booking Season Success (+ Bonus Training!)Today we're tackling engagement and booking season, and I'm going to share three strategies and mindset shifts that will help your business stand out, resonate more with your ideal clients, and help you book more easily this year - no matter what vendor category you're in.This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business...
2024-01-1710 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningWant to Make 2024 Your Best Year in Business? Join Me Next WeekWebinar: Book Better Clients and Make More Money in 2024, Jan 18th at 3PM ESTSo what is The Planner's Vault Challenge, which runs from January 16th to 18th? Is it for wedding vendors who aren't planners? YESIs it for vendors who want to generate new partnerships? YESIs it for wedding pros who want more leads? YESIs it for vendors who are feeling burned out by clients they don't want? YESIs it for wedding pros who find networking or reaching out to other vendors intimidating? YESIf you're any o...
2024-01-1006 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning257. Ask Me AnythingAt the end of last year, I sent out a survey to my email list asking them to share what they want more of and what they want less of in 2024. And at the end, I had a spot for them to share openly about anything they had on their mind, or share a question they want me to answer. There were so many great questions that I decided to kick off this year with a few of those questions in an ask me anything style podcast episode!We'll get into:(04:15) How can wedding...
2024-01-0326 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning256. 2023 Year in Review: Wins, Misses, Highlights, and Goals for 2024Megan and Jason Gillikin talk about their wins for 2023, their misses, most memorable moments, and goals for 2024. Tune in and reflect along. Share your 2023 reflections on social media @weddingsforreal.Past Year-End Recaps:2022 2021 2020 2019 2018This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new c...
2023-12-2051 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningYour Guide to Balancing Entrepreneurship & Relationships: Insights from Megan & Jason on the Hustle & Gather PodcastThis week, we're taking a little adventure to explore the not-so-glamorous side of balancing entrepreneurship with personal life. I'm thrilled to share an episode with you where for the first time ever my husband Jason and I teamed up as guests on another entrepreneur podcast called Hustle + Gather.This is a behind-the-scenes look at being busy entrepreneurs and parents, all while trying to keep our relationship strong. We haven’t got it all figured out yet (who does?), but we dished out some nuggets of wisdom that I think you’ll find super helpful.
2023-12-1353 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningBook the Top Package, from the Own Your Business PodcastToday we’re sharing an episode of the Own Your Business Podcast, which I was a guest on earlier this year. My friend Sam Jacobson and I talk about how wedding pros can book more couples at higher packages. This has nothing to do with "sales tactics". It’s all about empathy and understanding customer needs, creating an effective pricing proposal, and challenging customers during the discovery call.----Booking more events is a good goal for any wedding pro. But as your business grows and you start filling your calendar, it’s super important to get mo...
2023-12-0553 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning252. Worst Client Experience, Garbage Advice, and the Mistake I Keep Making: Hot Takes with MeganIt's Hot Takes Time. I'll be talking about some common business advice that I think is garbage, my best advice for hiring new team members, one hard lesson I had to learn this year in business, the goal strategy I swear by, and the biggest mistake I see business owners making right now. Previous Hot Takes Episodes:224. Wedding Industry Hot Takes with Terrica (Part 1)225. Wedding Industry Hot Takes with Terrica (Part 2)246. Hot Takes on Tech and AI for Wedding Pros, with Dawn Richardson(02:10) The biggest mistake wedding pros are making right now...
2023-11-2235 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningBuilding Relationships as Your Business Superpower (Brands that Book Share)I’m getting lots of DMs and questions about building relationships and superfans and thought that sharing an episode I was a guest on from earlier this year would be a great listen for you this week! So if building more meaningful relationships that fuel your business growth is on your radar for 2024, this episode is for you!So today, you’ll be hearing from The Brands that Book Podcast with Davey Jones where I was a guest this past summer talking about creating relationships intentionally that help grow your business. -----Relationships and content...
2023-11-1547 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning(Bonus) Find Clarity in Your Business by Joining Our Free CoworkingClarity Coworking - November 13th-15th, 2023If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, overstretched, and like there's no time to focus on the big picture growth strategies within your business, I've got a free way to help you carve out that time next week together and help bring clarity to your growth as we head into 2023.And the best news. This solution comes with high value support, no strings attached, no pitch, and I'd love for you to join me for Clarity Coworking.---Today's episode is brought to you by The...
2023-11-0606 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning250. Podcast Roundup: WeddingMBA, Workcations, and Getting Off The Hustle Hamster WheelHey friends! Today's episode is a short roundup of a few things I want to share with you, including my thoughts on my upcoming trip to Wedding MBA, my recent Planners Vault Workcation, tips for you on planning your own Workcation, and a quick hitting conversation with my friend Ashley Ebert of The Abundance Group on how to know if you've hired the right team member.Resources Mentioned:Ashley Ebert's Training: November 14th, 11:00 am CT - #1 Secret to Building High-Performing TeamsWedding MBA Bash Tuesday November 7th, 6PM-8PM, Renaissance Hotel Las VegasClarityCoworking...
2023-11-0128 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning249. 4 Referral-Boosting Relationship Strategies for Wedding ProsAfter 12 years as a wedding planner, I can say this with deep conviction. The number one way I built my business from unknown and scrappy to respected, referred and booked out year after year - was from referrals. These referrals were what allowed me to be able to hire team members, raise our rates and eventually sell my business last year so I could focus full time on education and support for wedding pros. When I sold, we were charging premium pricing, we had venue partnerships with a few high end venues in my market and we paid zero d...
2023-10-2545 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning248. Messaging Matters: Exclusive Insights from Luxury Wedding PR Expert Natalie DenyseOver the years, I've had countless conversations with wedding pros about the constant challenge of nailing down their business messaging and how they are perceived in their market. While the landscape of marketing as a whole has evolved, the core issues remain unchanged.So, what's on every wedding pro's mind? I hear questions like: Where should I invest my time or growing my business?What should I showcase on my website to attract the ideal clients and repel the wrong ones?How can I guide my team to embrace our brand messaging and differentiators?We...
2023-10-1837 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning247. 10 Strategies for Busy Season Stress and Everyday Life Overwhelm (Megan Solo)Are you struggling to balance too many commitments with a never ending to-do list? (Raising my hand with you)Maybe you're feeling that that stress is in an all time high. and you're paddling through the Sea of Overwhelm with a leaky boat.Well today, I've got 10 stress-reducing tips to help you through!Episodes Mentioned:244. BTS of My Industry Educators' Retreat236. Life For Real Series: Miscommunications, Mental Load, and Meltdown Moments, with Couples Therapist Dr. Tracy D---Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's...
2023-10-1122 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning246. Hot Takes on Tech and AI for Wedding Pros, with Dawn RichardsonIt's time for some more hot takes, this time with the Tech Savvy Creative, and all about the latest tech and AI trends in our industry. We’ll be answering questions like:Is AI all it’s cracked up to be? What apps are overrated, and what apps are overlooked? And maybe most importantly, what happens when dozens of people recommend hundreds of different apps and it all becomes overwhelming? Where do you even start?!?!Tech Savvy Creative | instagram | Free AI Toolkit for CreativesPrevious Hot Takes224. Wedding Industry Hot Takes with Terrica (Part 1)225...
2023-10-0449 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning245. Unraveling, with Michelle NorwoodThe Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Michelle Norwood, New Orleans based international event planner. Michelle has been featured in Vogue, the New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, and BRIDES magazine, and she makes it look simple taking only 6 to 8 weddings a year. But as you'll hear, her journey has been anything but easy.For previous Unravelings:156157 with Adrianna McDermott161 with Aleya Harris177 with Sara Margulis184 with Andrea Eppollito188 w...
2023-09-2741 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning244. BTS of My Industry Educators' Retreat #YachtForRealRecently one of small-group coaching students said to me, "Megan, when I think about you and other educators, it's like you're floating by on this deluxe yacht, living the life. You're all 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,' sipping champagne and getting fed grapes. And here I am, clinging to a capsizing dinghy with a single oar, just praying a tidal wave of new to dos doesn’t come out of nowhere."Fun imagery, but spoiler alert, there is no yacht. Sure, the boat might look bigger from a distance, but let me tell you—it's got...
2023-09-2046 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning243. How this photographer made $9M in digital downloadsI’ve heard this question from a lot of you out there listening and engaging with us on social media, and from a lot of members of The Planner's Vault community: How can I generate money while I sleep? How can I get paid on more than just my time? Two weeks ago on episode 241, Kendra Swalls came on to share her ideas on generating affiliate income. Well today, we’re taking it a step further by diving into all things digital downloads - ways to monetize your knowledge while you dream about ways to spen...
2023-09-1356 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning242. Stepping into Education in the Wedding Industry, with Laylee EmadiHave I ever told you about the required public speaking class I put off until my last semester of undergrad? I was shaky nervous, and the speech on how to make a latte? It didn't go so well. I've evolved since then, but I still get nervous every time I get on stage. Maybe you're in the same boat, or you want to know how to tiptoe into public speaking. So today, we're bringing on an expert, as we dive into public speaking and stepping into education within our industry. We'll tackle common fears, help you decide...
2023-09-0636 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning241. Double Your Revenue, Not Your Work: A Guide to Affiliate Income, with Kendra SwallsYou're in a high-stress industry, your weekends are gold, and nobody's got time for filler content or fluff. That's why today's topic is super relevant - we're diving into affiliate income. Yep, we're talking about ways to diversify your income streams without doubling your workload. By the end of this episode, you'll have a toolbox filled with ideas to not only elevate your client's experience but also add a new revenue stream. And the best part is, you can do this without sacrificing another weekend. So if you've been trying to figure out how to increase the n...
2023-08-3051 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning240. Legit Strategies for Marketing in the Messy Middle, with Tayler Cusick-HollmanThe Messy Middle - it's one of those business owner struggles that we all go through. And over the years, with the rise of more social media platforms and more places than ever before to show up, yet no more magical hours added to our days... creating a marketing strategy in the messy middle feels like a vague and far-reaching concept that can make you want to put your head in the sand and pretend it's not necessary. But of course, it is, and I've got you covered.In today's episode, my guest, Enji...
2023-08-2353 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning239. Use This Strategy to Stand Out in a Crowded Wedding Industry: Insights with Emily CoyneHave you ever wondered what makes a truly unforgettable experience stand out from the usual client interactions that often end up looking pretty much the same? It's not just the fancy website or the five-star venue or the fancy menu. The answer might surprise you, but it's all about intuitive service and brand standards. It's about understanding that clients aren't just looking for transactional interactions, but for a deeply personalized and memorable journey, and brands like the Ritz, the French Laundry, and The Four Seasons know this all too well.Brand Standards are not SOPs...
2023-08-1657 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning238. Unraveling, with Natalie FrankeThe Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Natalie Franke, cofounder of The Rising Tide Society, Chief Evangelist at Honeybook, host of the Independent Business Podcast, and author of Gutsy: Learning to Live with Bold, Brave, and Boundless Courage.For previous Unravelings:156157 with Adrianna McDermott161 with Aleya Harris177 with Sara Margulis184 with Andrea Eppollito188 with Ashlyn Carter191 with Kristen Mullins aka "The Pie Lady"193 with Rachel DeAlto197 w...
2023-08-0949 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning237. The Life for Real Rollercoaster Ride with Megan and JasonOver the last five years, I've spent countless episodes diving into the behind the scenes of working in the wedding industry. But in this special Life for Real series, I decided to take a meaningful detour to explore and dive deep into some of the harder to navigate aspects of life itself. And let's just say it's been quite a rollercoaster ride - from battling burnout to fostering resilience, managing personal finance, and understanding the complexities of ADHD, Life for Real has been a transformative experience - not just for me, but for all of you, my amazing listeners...
2023-08-0244 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning236. Life for Real: Miscommunications, Mental Load, and Meltdown Moments, with Couples Therapist Dr. Tracy DToday's episode focuses on our life partners. That’s right, we went there, with psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleigh, who’s letting me ask her all the questions on how stress in a relationship can affect how you show up professionally, the mental load that we share with our partners, meltdown moments (ok MY meltdown moments), and how to have the difficult conversations so they don’t lead to blowups. Let's get uncomfortable!I Didn’t Sign Up for This: A Couples Therapist Shares Real-Life Stories of Breaking Patterns and Finding Joy in Relationships . . . Including Her Own
2023-07-2657 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning235. Life for Real: ADHD and Entrepreneurship, with Dr. Amy Teumer (part 2)In the last episode, I spoke with Carissa Kruse, and we shared our stories of being recently diagnosed with ADHD, and how it’s affected us both personally and professionally.Today, we extend that conversation in so many fascinating ways, with Dr. Amy Teumer, who you heard from some on yesterday’s episode. We get into how ADHD can be leveraged as a superpower, what we can do if our partners (in life or in business) have ADHD, and some tricks to work with our different (but awesome) brains.Dr. Amy Teumer (@amyt...
2023-07-2036 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning234. Life for Real: ADHD and Entrepreneurship, with Carissa Kruse and Dr. Amy TeumerEarlier last year, my life changed when I was officially diagnosed with ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I always felt that my brain functioned differently than others - I would forget things easily, I would try to complete 7 different tasks at the same time, I would leave a slime trail as my mom would say, and my brain could never shut down even when it was time rest or be “off the clock”. It turns out, I'm not alone. Less than 20% of adults with ADHD are even aware they have it, and only about a fourth of those...
2023-07-1945 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning233. Life for Real: Are you a Saver, Spender, Avoider, or Money Martyr?Today we're navigating a topic that can cause quite a few of us to squirm: our relationship with money. But I’ve got good news, this won’t be one of those discussions that stresses you out. Instead, you’ll laugh, learn, and leave feeling more empowered to take action based on what you learn about yourself. So are you a spender, saver, avoider, or do you find yourself playing the financial martyr? And are you different personally and professionally? Let's find out from fractional CFO Shanna Skidmore.Blog Posts:My Monthly Money Workflow // How I organize m...
2023-07-1257 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning232. Life For Real Series: Adding Resiliency to Your Emotional Toolbelt with Hannah AbadToday and for all of July, we’re going to do something a little different here. Instead of Weddings for Real, where the content is for wedding pros specifically, this series in July is about life in general. Life for Real. The things that happen, the way that we show up as entrepreneurs, all of the things that we're carrying and the mental load that comes along with it. We have some great guests lined up, including today's guest, mindset and growth strategy coach Hannah Abad, founder of Prime Collaborative.---Today's episode is brought to yo...
2023-07-051h 06
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning231. The Yays and Nays of Building Your Brand, with Emily FosterThree of my favorite episodes - and our most popular - are the ones where we had a chance to ask engaged couples exactly what they’re looking for in vetting their wedding vendors (episodes 48, 94, and 211). Well today, we’re talking to a brand strategist who also knows what couples want - because she just went through an engagement herself. She's Emily Foster, and she's sharing the yays and nays of how you may be portraying your business and attracting your ideal clients.Emily Foster Creative | instagram | Emily's Elevated Website Checklist---Today's epis...
2023-06-2839 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning230. Navigating Dual Careers: A Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur on Balancing Day Jobs and DreamsWe are all juggling a lot of things and wearing quite a few hats in our day-to-day lives. If you feel like you’re drowning in your to-do list or feeling pulled with how to divide the hours you have within a way- then this episode is for you. We’ll dive into what it looks like to be a multi-passionate entrepreneur, why a common myth in our industry is causing stress for many entrepreneurs and we’ll chat about some highly actionable productivity tips!Our guest is Katy Murray, who has a lot going on - full-t...
2023-06-2144 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning229. Lynn Easton shares her secrets for ultra-luxury weddingsOur guest today is an absolute legend in the wedding industry, the one and only Lynn Easton. Her resume alone will blow you away- she’s the owner of Easton Events where she produces 8 ultra-luxury events per year, plus she co-owns several properties including Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards in Charlottesville VA and Zero George Street boutique hotel in Charleston SC. Lynn has some hot takes on what wedding pros need to do - not just to make it, but to be the best in your market while avoiding burnout. Lynn's 25 years of i...
2023-06-1441 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningEncore: Navigating Education Overwhelm for Wedding ProsI've heard you loud and clear - you're overwhelmed by all the wedding pro educators out there, and you're not sure who to listen to and what to do. What could be valuable learnings wind up leaving you frustrated and paralyzed. So what can you do about it? Join me today for five tips on how to identify who to listen to and what content you should be consuming to help you take your business to the next level.This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who a...
2023-06-0719 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning227. Tackling Content Overwhelm Using AI, with Davey JonesIt's time to talk about content strategy, which I know can feel super overwhelming. You feel the pressure to create content and show up basically everywhere…. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, podcasts, blog posts, newsletters, and other places we're not even aware of. How do you do all of that? And then, what about all the AI resources like Chat GPT that can be helpful but a little scary - how do we leverage those to maximize the impact of our content?Let's find out from today's guest, Davey Jones (Davey and Krista, Till Agency, Brands That Bo...
2023-05-3144 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning226. Is it you or is it them? How to know when to fire “THAT” clientIf you’ve been in the wedding industry for really any length of time, you’ve probably had a nightmare client or two who sucked the life out of you and left you questioning whether or not you want to be in this crazy industry. I get it, I too have been there and have the t-shirt, the gray hairs, the extra wrinkles and the negative review to show for it. In our industry, we have a ton of pressure to deliver an exceptional experience for each and every client and we sometimes find ourselves working with clients that have...
2023-05-2448 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning225. Wedding Industry Hot Takes with Terrica (Part 2)It's Terrica. It's wedding industry hot takes part 2. No need to say more.Part 1Terrica's $9/mo Wedding Pro Workshop---Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.Weddings for Real on Social Media:Instagram: @weddingsforrealFacebook: @weddingsforrealtwitter: @weddingsforrealHosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and...
2023-05-1737 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning223. Lessons Learned from Marriage and EntrepreneurshipToday we bring back Jason Gillikin, my partner of 13 years and fellow entrepreneur. Life gets pretty hectic when you're growing businesses, raising kids, and trying to stay connected to each other. So what are some speed bumps we've faced and lessons learned along the way? Episodes Mentioned:82 and 83 with couples' therapist Christian CharetteToday's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.Weddings for...
2023-05-0339 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning222. From Clicks to Customers: Writing Copy that Converts, with Lucy BedewiHow can we guide our potential clients to take that next step? Maybe they see our Instagram post or TikTok or our website, or maybe even an ad on TheKnot. And when they do, how can we take them from seeing copy we’ve put out there, and then jump to the next level? Today's guest, Lucy Bedewi, has some copy writing tips for us.My Write Hand Woman | Find Your Brand Voice QuizThis episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site...
2023-04-2634 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning221. The Right Time to Add to Your Sales Team, with Kelly Ann PeckOne of the most challenging questions I get asked in my coaching conversations is, “When do I know when it’s time to add to my team?” If you’re hiring a team member, how do you know what position do you hire for? And is it even possible to hire someone to sell for you?And even when you have all the information and you’re ready to make a move, how do you find the right person?It’s not an easy decision to make but let’s hel...
2023-04-1930 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning220. 4 Steps for Having a Brand that Books, with Amanda ShumanIf I was on stage at Wedding MBA in front of hundreds of your peers, and I chose your website to display on the big screen, how would you feel? Would you be proud? Would you feel like your website images, design, and copy fits your brand? Or would you feel at least a little dread and shame because you know it’s time for a brand refresh?Branding isn’t easy, but as you evolve as a business owner, so too does your brand. So today, we’re talking about a four step strategy...
2023-04-1242 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning219. 5 Truths Every Business Owner Needs to HearToday we're celebrating five years of the podcast (!), so it's time for a fun and reflective episode on five truthbombs every business owner needs to hear.Episodes Mentioned:120: The 4 People You Need in Your Circle of Trust202: Navigating Education Overwhelm for Wedding ProsThis episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event...
2023-04-0539 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning218. Unraveling, with Neillie ButlerThe Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Neillie Butler, owner and executive planner of Mariee Ami, an event production company that brings multi-day celebrations to life, no matter the destination, scale, or complexity.For previous Unravelings:156157 with Adrianna McDermott161 with Aleya Harris177 with Sara Margulis184 with Andrea Eppollito188 with Ashlyn Carter191 with Kristen Mullins aka "The Pie Lady"193 with Rachel DeAlto197 with Sandra Cassios208 with B...
2023-03-2943 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning217. Leaning into Community to Grow Your Business: Megan on The Women's Social Club PodcastThe Planner's Vault doors are open! Come join us!----Recently I was a guest on The Women’s Social Club Podcast, a women supporting women community and membership with 15 locations including New York City, Chicago, and Washington DC. Some of you have heard my journey before, but one thing I noticed when listening to this episode is that I have the tendency to keep myself small, and I consider this one of my biggest challenges I’ll continue to tackle day by day - but it’s those voices of support in my life that push me to r...
2023-03-2236 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningThe Power of Visibility: Tips to Increase Your Reach and Attract More Clients (+ FREE Challenge for Planners)Join The Wedding Planner Success Sprint - Monday March 20th to Wednesday March 22nd - a Challenge to make sure you see success and momentum in your business In today's solo episode, we're sharing low-cost and no-cost ideas to increase visibility and awareness in your business.--------This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a...
2023-03-1509 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning216. How to Showcase Your Genius Without Bragging: Copy Tips from Nadine NetheryWhen analyzing your own website, you want to ask yourself:Does it pass the caveman test where the user knows in 5 seconds what you do, how it will make their life better, and how they can take the next step? Are the images attractive, interesting, and a reflection of my brand? When the prospect reads the copy, does it give them all the feels? Or is it essentially the same content that they've read from every other vendor?That copy part is a huge challenge, and today we're learning from Can Do Content's Nadine Nethery on how to...
2023-03-0832 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning215. How Wedding Pros Can Get More Reviews, with Desiree DentOn episode 211, we interviewed couples to find out what they REALLY are looking for in the vendor vetting process. And one common theme we heard is that couples are looking for reviews - in The Knot, on Google, on Wedding Wire, in social media, everywhere.So reviews need to be a major initiative for all wedding pros. But how do we get our clients to write reviews?Let's find out from our guest today - Desiree Dent, wedding planner at Dejanae Events in Chicago.--------Episodes Referenced:62: How to R...
2023-03-0146 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning214. 4 Relationship-Sabotaging Strategies to Avoid as A Wedding Pro (Megan Gillikin Solo)I say this with love...--------Episodes Referenced:168: How to get on a wedding venue's preferred list, with Shannon Tarrant175: 9 tips for being a better wedding pro during busy season (Megan Gillikin solo)This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all...
2023-02-2208 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning213. BTS Planning the Engage Summit, with Tara FayToday we’re talking about Engage, the luxury wedding business summit that happens twice a year in breathtaking locations around the globe. I’ve been a couple times, and they are definitely an experience like no other. The swag and gifting experience by itself are stellar and the over-the-top wow factor of each meal, each breakout, and each painstaking design detail are unmatched. I’ve always wondered how it all comes together. How do you put on event that wows people who put on ultra-luxury events for a living?Let's find out from Tara...
2023-02-1534 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning212. 4 Sales Mistakes Wedding Pros Make, with Sam JacobsonWhat happens when couples inquire (we get the inquiries!), but we’re not booking as many weddings as we want? Or what if couples are only wanting to book our smallest packages? Today we're talking to Ideaction Consulting's Sam Jacobson, who gives us 4 reasons our inquiries are NOT converting into clients.Free Workshop with Megan and Sam: Why Couples Don’t Book Full Planning (And what to do about it!)Episodes Referenced:133: Selling Styles for Wedding Pros, with Ideaction’s Sam Jacobson73: Relator, Analyzer, Boss, and Dreamer: How to Sell To and Work...
2023-02-0836 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning211. Live Interviews: Inside the (Buying) Mind of Engaged CouplesA couple weeks ago, we went to The Merrimon Wynne Winter Wedding Showcase. The Merrimon Wynne is a historic home in downtown Raleigh that’s been converted into a gorgeous wedding venue. Inside the house and in the carriage house outside, engaged couples were walking around looking for the right wedding vendors for their big day. And if they looked like they might be willing to answer some questions about their wedding vendor search, we asked them to come on the show. We asked them questions like: Where are you finding your vendors?What's a turnoff when looking for...
2023-02-0143 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning210. Money While You Sleep (even in the events industry), with Kawania WootenAs much as we all love the events industry, one major challenge is that we’re service based. We need to physically be doing something to make money. Planning the wedding, DJ’ing the bat mitzvah, taking the headshots. And when every event is over, we need to keep moving on to the next one. In the service industry, there’s no real way to make money while you sleep. Or is there?Today's guest is Kawania Wooten, owner of Howerton + Wooten Events and founder of The Enlightened Creative.This episode is bro...
2023-01-2543 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning209. TikTok Ads - An Intimidating but Untapped Market for Wedding Pros, with Mark ChapmanTikTok is a platform I have not invested my time in outside creating my profile because it’s yet another app that I feel like I have to check, and to be honest, TikTok just feels like one more thing I have to do.But I keep hearing about how great it is - from other educators that I love and respect, from wedding pros, and from my hair person… obviously - and not just for funny videos or going down weird rabbit holes. There are recipes, packing hacks, how to videos galore, and so m...
2023-01-1831 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning208: Unraveling, with Brian GreenThe Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Brian Green, Chief Event Architect and Creative Visionary of By BrianGreen LLC based in Atlanta. For previous Unravelings:156157 with Adrianna McDermott161 with Aleya Harris177 with Sara Margulis184 with Andrea Eppollito188 with Ashlyn Carter191 with Kristen Mullins aka "The Pie Lady"193 with Rachel DeAlto197 with Sandra CassiosThis episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my o...
2023-01-1149 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning207: Stepping into CEO Mode in 2023, with Tara MelvinMany of you are running your own business, and that’s something you should be extremely proud of. It takes a lot of guts to step out on your own and take your vision for a company and turn it into your reality. It doesn’t matter whether you’re side hustling for extra spending money or you have dozens of employees - you’ve taken the risk and I applaud you for it. But when you’re leading your company, how would you define your role? Are you doing the work, or are you the visi...
2023-01-0434 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning206: 2022 Wins, Failures, and Goal-Setting: Megan and Jason's End-of-Year ReflectionMegan and Jason Gillikin talk about their wins for 2022, their failures, word-of-the-year, and goals for 2023. Tune in and reflect along. Share your 2022 reflections on social media @weddingsforreal.This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like H...
2022-12-2852 minFor Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningBONUS: Entrepreneur Money Stories - Creating an Exit Plan for Selling Your BusinessToday we're sharing an episode that Megan guested on - Entrepreneur Money Stories, hosted by Kickstart Accounting CEO Danielle Hayden. Enjoy, and we'll be back with a new episode next week!If you're thinking about selling your business, let's schedule time for a coaching session to talk through it.---Megan Gillikin is the founder of The Planner’s Vault, an educational resource and community for wedding planners, and the host of the Weddings for Real podcast. After running a successful wedding planning business for 12 years, Megan now devotes her time to helping the ne...
2022-12-2153 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningBONUS: Wedding Industry Insider - Stick Your Foot in the Door Before it Shuts, with Megan GillikinToday we're sharing an episode that Megan guested on - Wedding Industry Insider, hosted by Eddie Babbage, CEO of Timeline Genius. Enjoy, and we'll be back with new episodes soon!---Stuck in fear about your business? Megan Gillikin talks about making the decision to succeed - and explains how to get your foot in the door with local vendors. In this episode, Megan shares about the lessons she gained from purchasing and rebranding an existing wedding planning business. Specifically, she talks about how she uses the experience to now help other wedding planners achieve their business...
2022-12-141h 07
For Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningBONUS: Megan's Unraveling on the Women on Work PodcastToday we're sharing an episode that Megan guested on - Women on Work, hosted by Alysia Eve and Liz Fuller. Enjoy, and we'll be back with new episodes soon!---As we get further in our careers and lives, we all encounter a space where transformation is necessary to find success and personal fulfillment — however we define that. Sometimes we even find what brought us success previously is now holding us back. In this episode Alysia and Liz talk to Megan Gillikin — successful entrepreneur, mothers, and host of the popular podcast Weddings for Real — on the hustle of ent...
2022-12-0734 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning202: Navigating Education Overwhelm for Wedding ProsI've heard you loud and clear - you're overwhelmed by all the wedding pro educators out there, and you're not sure who to listen to and what to do. What could be valuable learnings wind up leaving you frustrated and paralyzed. So what can you do about it? Join me today for five tips on how to identify who to listen to and what content you should be consuming to help you take your business to the next level.Join Brandee Gaar and me to discuss this topic, Monday December 5th at 3:30EST on the Weddings for R...
2022-11-3018 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning201: The Secret Language of Brand Archetypes to Attract Your Ideal Clients, with Kaye PutnamLet me ask you a couple tough questions - What is your innate brand advantage over your competition? Are you unique, or are you swimming in a sea of sameness? If you’re just starting your business, you might not really know what your brand is or where to even begin. If you’ve been at it for a while, you might be so head down in the day-to-day that you don’t pause often enough to reevaluate what your brand actually is, and how that brand is being used to attract (or potentially even repel) your ideal clients.
2022-11-2329 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning200: Wedding MBA Recap + Craziest Wedding Stories on Episode 200!Last week, we were at Wedding MBA in Las Vegas, and it was memorable to say the least - and at some points it felt like an out-of-body experience. I had two presentations this time, with one of them on the main stage which was juuuusstt a bit intimidating. Today we talk about the journey from rejection to the main stage, the experiences of Wedding MBA 2022, and then we get to hear from you. That's right, we interviewed 10 planners at the Convention Center and from our Tacos & Tequila Party, and asked three questions:Can you share a...
2022-11-1634 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning199: Fear, Fundraising, and Finding a Niche: The Merri Story, with CEO Randi BushellStarting a small business is not for the faint of heart. There’s fear that you’re not the right person to lead a company. There’s uncertainty that you’ll ever be able to make as much money as you did in your corporate job. There’s doubt that anyone will book you or that you can sustain the mental health hurdles running a small business requires. If you’re with me as a small business owner, congratulations on getting this far, and we see what you’re going through! Today, we hear from Merri CEO Randi Bushell - who went thro...
2022-11-0238 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning198: Unpopular wedding industry opinions, with Shean StrongWe all have some opinions about the wedding industry that might be considered unpopular. But as I say in the intro, this podcast is a safe space to dish about the real of our industry. And someone who’s not afraid to give his opinion is amazingly talented and hilarious Atlanta based florist Shean Strong. If you’re not driving, follow Shean on instagram and check out his highlights called Opinions, Lil Kim, and Rat Saga - highly recommended.This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online memb...
2022-10-2647 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning197: Unraveling, with Sandra CassiosThe Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Sandra Cassios, owner and lead planner at Sandra Bettina Weddings and Events, and owner of XO and Mane Gift Shop. For previous Unravelings:156157 with Adrianna McDermott161 with Aleya Harris177 with Sara Margulis184 with Andrea Eppollito188 with Ashlyn Carter191 with Kristen Mullins aka "The Pie Lady"193 with Rachel DeAltoThis episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, m...
2022-10-1934 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning196: Stop settling for less and get to the life you want, with Tony ChatmanEver since I got into podcasts (and believe it or not, it actually took me a while), I’ve been focused on growth: getting to the life that I want and not settling for less. If you’re listening to this podcast, I’m thinking that’s your mindset too. And that could mean so many things. A bigger house. Freedom from the 9 to 5. Working more. Working less. Spending more time with your family. Taking more vacations. Raising your rates. You know you and what you want. And if you don’t know, it's time to figure it out.
2022-10-1238 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning195: Business Therapy and Mindset Transformations for Wedding CEOs, with Kelly RutaOne of the reasons we started the Weddings For Real podcast and then formed The Planner’s Vault is because we want to create a community of wedding professionals who can share ideas, grow together, and avoid the feeling of being on an island with your businesses. You’re not alone. And yet, sometimes we feel like we’re the only ones who feel overwhelmed. We’re the only ones who feel like the to-do list is impossible to get through. We’re the only ones who feel like we need a break from it all. Here's the deal...
2022-10-0557 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning194: Ask Me Anything (About Burnout, Selling My Business, New Market, and More)A couple weeks ago, I asked you the listeners for any questions you've been wanting to ask, and I received some truly thought-provoking submissions (so thank you!). So today, I answer those questions, touching on burnout, why I refer (or don't refer) wedding pros, navigating the busy season, selling my planning business, and more!This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to g...
2022-09-2824 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning193: Unraveling, with Rachel DeAltoThe Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Rachel DeAlto, Communication & Relatability Expert, Keynote Speaker, Chief Dating Expert at Match.com, former relationship expert on Married at First Sight, and Author of the book Relatable: How to Connect with Anyone, Anywhere (Even If It Scares You). For previous Unravelings:156157 with Adrianna McDermott161 with Aleya Harris177 with Sara Margulis184 with Andrea Eppollito188 with Ashlyn Carter191 with Kristen Mullins aka "The Pie L...
2022-09-2138 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning192: Entrepreneurship- Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned, and Mindset Shifts with Eddie Babbage of Timeline GeniusYou may have heard of Timeline Genius, the platform that creates beautiful, detailed wedding day timelines, saving you hours in the process. But have you heard how CEO Eddie Babbage built the company? Today, Eddie shares the mistakes made, lessons learned, and mindset shifts that led to Timeline Genius's success.This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating...
2022-09-1454 min
Earfluence: Amplify Your Expertise with PodcastingWe have a podcast studio at Raleigh Founded!, with RF's Jason Widen and Jess PortaYep, you read that right. Earfluence has partnered with Raleigh Founded to create a new podcast studio in the Warehouse District location as a part of its new creative studio. In this episode, Jason and Cee Cee talk with RF Co-founder Jason Widen and Executive Director Jess Porta about why they're so excited about this partnership and what RF has done to support the Triangle's startup community.The Earfluence Podcast is a production of Earfluence Media and is hosted by Jason Gillikin and Cee Cee Huffman.
2021-06-0344 min
Earfluence: Amplify Your Expertise with PodcastingHow to be a great podcast guest, with Weddings for Real's Megan GillikinYou have something great to share, and you've found the perfect podcast to share it. How do you become a great podcast guest? Weddings for Real's Megan Gillikin joins Jason and Cee Cee to talk about the dos don'ts of pitching to the podcast host, technical equipment, the recording and beyond.The Earfluence Podcast is a production of Earfluence Media and is hosted by Jason Gillikin and Cee Cee Huffman.
2020-12-0234 min
The Vice Lounge OnlinePodcast 439: Jason’s Blueberry Martini No. 1; Undercrown Shade; AF Destino al Siglo; Cold-Weather Humidification; Casinos at the HolidaysSip the tasty Jason's Blueberry Martini No. 1 as we discuss the Undercrown Shade and the Arturo Fuente Destino al Siglo cigars. We offer some cold-weather reminders for cigar humidification, then we circle back to an annual topic -- enjoying the casinos over major end-of-year holidays.
2019-12-0800 minThe Vice Lounge OnlinePodcast 426: @KYPeerless Rye Honey Oak & Citrus Manhattan; @CastleAndKey Martini; The Oscar from @OVcigars; Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua; Losing at Winstar; Shiny New Horseshoe Southern IndianaIn our first recording session back from summer vacation, we share snippets of the fun Jason and Tony had in Louisville, KY and that Jason had in Denton, TX. Through which, we sample a Manhattan made with Peerless Rye's special Honey Oak & Citrus whiskey. We also enjoy a martini made with Castle & Key gin. Jason delighted in The Oscar, hand-picked for him by Oscar Valladares himself at Cigar Frogs in Texas; Tony smoked a Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua. Finally, we share Jason's gambling woes at the Winstar Casino & Resort in Oklahoma while we marvel in the soon-to-be-finished construction project at...
2019-09-0900 minThe Vice Lounge OnlinePodcast 423: An Angel’s Envy Rarity; Alec Bradley Blind Faith; Jason Rants at Boyd’s @bconnected ProgramSummer vacation is almost over, but the podcasts continue ... slowly. In this episode, Jason rants at Boyd Gaming and its [insert expletive here] B-Connected program. Plus, we drink a special Angel's Envy and enjoy an Alec Bradley Blind Faith cigar.
2019-08-1100 minFor Real: Life, Leadership, & UnlearningWWD13: Back in the Closet with Megan and JasonWeekend Wine Down Time! Megan and Jason talk about the live show coming up in August, where to spend a long weekend, and 9 years of A Southern Soiree! The host of Weddings for Real is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence.
2019-07-2019 minThe Vice Lounge OnlinePodcast 419: Crescent Creek Bourbon; New Humidors; Jason Buys a Box; Macanudo Inspirado; Conservative Craps Betting StrategyGet ready to ruuuuumble. In this corner, the beleaguered Crescent Creek bourbon. In the other corner, Jason buys a box of cigars and a new humidor. In the other other corner, Tony smokes a Macanudo Inspirado. In the other other other corner, your gurus of gambling discuss Jason's conservative craps betting strategery. Plus outtakes! It's like Christmas at the end of June.
2019-06-3000 minThe Vice Lounge OnlinePodcast 412: Rum Manhattan with Bill; Jason’s ADT; Rocky Patel The Edge CT; Mi Querida Ancho LargoWe help you prepare to celebrate the mother in your life by means of a tasty Manhattan cocktail made with Jamaican rum -- and Bill weighs in on the results. Then your gurus of gaming opine about Jason's ADT and what it means for offers vs. tier status. We wrap with cigars -- Tony puffs the Rocky Patel The Edge Connecticut and Jason enjoys the Mi Querida Ancho Largo cigar.
2019-05-1200 minFor Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning54: SEO for Wedding Vendors, with Jason Gillikin Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about making sure your website is found instead of your competitors' websites, when people are searching on Google for your service or product. In today's episode, digital marketing veteran Jason Gillikin gives four basic tips (Keyword Research, Google Business, Title Tags, and Content) to improve your website's rankings in Google, plus a few bonus tips. Jason and Megan Gillikin (image by Morgan Caddell Photography) Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gi...
2019-03-2737 minThe Vice Lounge OnlinePodcast 389: Coppercraft Distillery Bourbon; Jason’s Fire Extinguisher No. 1; Rocky Patel Aged, Limited & Rare; Cigar Shapes; Casino Games and House AdvantageWe review the Coppercraft Distillery straight bourbon whiskey, which Jason fixes with the artisanal Jason's Fire Extinguisher No. 1 cocktail. Then Jason smokes the Rocky Patel Aged, Limited & Rare as a lead-in to refreshing your memory about cigar shapes. We wrap up with a discussion about picking casino games based on house advantage.
2018-12-0300 min