Shows
First Dates & Soulmates86 | Romantic Holiday Microtropes: Gingerbread Disasters & Other Seasonal Love LanguagesIt’s Christmas Eve, which means one thing in the FDSM universe: extremely specific holiday tropes, deeply unserious games, and a shocking number of dead bodies lurking just offstage.This week, Meg and Nikki dig into the microtropes that make holiday romances and Hallmark movies so bingeable. Then Meg unleashes not one but two games, including a rapid-fire “Love or Murder?” guessing round and a full-on fantasy-draft-style build-your-own holiday romance. Yes, ornaments have traumatic backstories. Yes, someone gets stranded on a bridge. Yes, we absolutely turn the romances into cozy murders at the...
2025-12-2443 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsWhat our bodies are actually telling us with Helen TremethickIn this episode, we talk with Helen Tremethick about the somatic experience of building and running a business. Helen shares how her work shifted from copywriting into regenerative business design, and how somatic education changed the way she thinks about change, responsibility, and client work.We spend time on the gray areas that don’t get talked about much: how to tell the difference between resistance and a real boundary, why not every hard thing is misalignment, and how we can navigate through uncomfortable stretches in our business. We get clear about scope of practice and why sh...
2025-12-1854 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsDo you *need* more strategy? Strategy versus ImplementationMost people think they have a strategy problem. What they actually have is an implementation problem. In this episode, the two of us talk honestly about something we see over and over again—in our clients, in our businesses, and sometimes in ourselves: the difference between having a strategy and having the support to actually do the work. We both love a good plan, but we’ve watched plenty of perfectly sound strategies fall apart the moment they hit a real calendar, a real workload, or a real human with limited energy.Our conversation explores what...
2025-12-1156 min
First Dates & Soulmates83 | Making Spirits Bright: Bailey Seaborn’s New Holiday NovellaIn this holly-jolly chaos-fest, Nikki once again interviews Meg’s romance writer persona Bailey Seaborn to break down Making Spirits Bright, the 2.5 novella in the All or Nothing universe. Expect:* FULL SPOILERS from not only this novella, but also Peppermint Bark, All Twerk No Play, and early glimpses of Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Playwright* An exhausted COO with a fixer complex who desperately needs a nap* A burned-out whistleblower bartender rediscovering her confidence* A meet-cute that is 0% drunken hookup and 100% “why are you in my bed?”* Tins...
2025-12-1055 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsOur Aggressively Human 1-Year RetrospectiveIt’s the one-year anniversary of Aggressively Human! In this milestone episode, we look back at the first fifty-two episodes of the show—what surprised us, how the podcast has performed (and what does performance even mean?), and how podcasting has shaped both our friendship and our businesses.We talk about what makes co-hosting work: shared accountability, complementary energy cycles, and overlapping but distinct guest networks. We talk about how the Aggressively Human podcast served our business goals that we set out for a year ago. We share the behind-the-scenes lessons of running a human-centered podcast—everything from s...
2025-12-041h 01
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsGratitude to go along with your turkey and gravyIt’s our first US Thanksgiving episode!And while many podcasts are paused today, we wanted to bring some Aggressively Human to you while you’re cooking, carving, or just getting out of the house in between football games.We want to say thank you to our listeners. Thank you to anyone that has rated the podcast on your preferred podcast player! Thank you to our commenters, the ones who tell us what they loved or have questions about in the episodes. Thank you to our guests, who make time to come...
2025-11-2716 min
First Dates & Soulmates81 | Pounded by Produce: A Veggie Love Tale (and Too Much Plot)Here in the FDSM universe Thanksgiving means one thing: sentient food erotica.This year, Meg drags Nikki into Pounded by Produce: A Veggie Love Tale; a story about two hot Catholic priests, one trauma-baking heroine, and a harvest moon miracle that turns everyone into fruits and vegetables. There’s theology, there’s tomato juice, and there are questions no seminary could prepare you for.We break down:* Why Pounded by Produce might actually have too much plot* How hot priests became cucumbers and tomatoes (and why they were fine with it)
2025-11-2654 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsRetainers, Courses, and How Solos Scale with Nick Bennett and Erica SchneiderWhat if the most human decision in your business is your offer structure?In this episode, Jessica and Meg are joined by Nick Bennett and Erica Schneider, the duo behind Duo Consulting, for a conversation about business models, burnout, and what’s really behind scale. They trace their journey from the course boom and “productized” advice back toward deeply human, high-touch service work—and the freedom that came with doing less, but better.They talk about what happens when you stop selling one-time solutions and solve recurring problems, how to rethink retainers, and why “selling like a hum...
2025-11-2051 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsWhy We’re Blogging Again (and You Should Too)After years of focusing on podcasts, teaching, and newsletters, Meg just released her first blog in three years. In this episode, Meg and Jessica talk about why it’s time to come (back) to blogging—and why it matters more than ever in a world of shifting platforms and AI-driven search results.They share the practical and philosophical reasons behind the shift: protecting your intellectual property, proving you got there first, and creating a timestamped body of work that can be found, cited, and built upon. It’s how you build a business on rock instead of the sa...
2025-11-1347 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsEnsh*ttification is by design (and what to do about it)The platforms we built our businesses on are breaking down—and not by accident. In this episode, Jessica and Meg take on ensh*ttification, the term coined by Cory Doctorow to describe how digital platforms inevitably decay over time. From Facebook and LinkedIn to Substack and AI, they discuss the predictable four-phase cycle that turns once-useful tools into algorithmic wastelands.Book released October 2025Jessica walks through what that cycle looks like for LinkedIn and Substack, while Meg connects it to the decay of creative platforms like Medium and Kindle publishing. Together, they explore what creators an...
2025-11-0654 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsBeyond Copywriting: AI Bots in your business with Mary WilliamsWhile AI still can’t fold your laundry, it can help you build a business that runs smarter—and a life that runs smoother. In this episode, Jessica and Meg talk with Mary Williams, the librarian-turned-tech director behind Sensible Woo and the new Sasquatch Media Grounds studio in Portland. From haunted recording spaces and tarot cards to spreadsheets and AI bots, Mary shows what it looks like to blend intuition with technology.She shares how she built her “AI team”—including Remy, the snarky Gen Z assistant who filters her inbox and protects her calendar—and why she treats h...
2025-10-301h 04
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsLeaving the Casino: The Origin StoryWhat happens when every business book tells you what to think—but never explains what or how to do it?In this episode, Meg interviews Jessica about her new book, Leaving the Casino: Stop Betting on Tactics and Start Building a Business That Works. The conversation traces how the book came to life—from frustration with hollow business advice to the creation of a grounded, systems-based framework for experts who want to stay small, sustainable, and sovereign.Jessica shares how she read her way through the entire business section—books that were motivational but hollow, all pr...
2025-10-2343 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsMoving towards conflict with Shivani Mehta BhatiaWhat happens when our usual ways of dealing with conflict stop working (if they ever worked)?In this episode, Shivani Mehta Bhatia joins Aggressively Human to talk about the changing nature of conflict—especially in a world shaped by grief, uncertainty, and fraying trust.We explore how conflict has shifted post-2020, how our nervous systems are adapting (or not), and why repair feels harder than ever. We talk about Shivani’s approach of “conflict midwifery,” destructive versus generative conflict, and what it means to build and lead with more care in increasingly reactive times.Whethe...
2025-10-161h 01
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsHow to navigate the cycles of creativity without blowing up your business with Megan DowdWhat happens when your content calendar makes you want to set your business on fire?In this episode, Megan Dowd joins Aggressively Human to talk about what it actually looks like to build a business that respects your creative cycles—and what happens when you don’t. From the pressure to always be visible to the collapse that can follow, we explore what it’s like to build a business while also being a human with a nervous system.We talk about the performance trap of “consistent content,” what to do when you’re no longer inter...
2025-10-0952 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsHow a launch changes you: Meg's Evolution from AI Skeptic to StrategistWe often talk about launches as big, flashy events. But what happens behind the scenes when you’re not just releasing something new—but becoming someone new in the process?In this episode, Meg takes us inside the creation and launch of Findable Everywhere—not as a polished “launch debrief,” but as a real-time reflection on what it means to declare a new chapter in your work. We dig into the decisions along the way: how a paused summit talk became a test run, how she built a course that worked for beginners and advanced folks (and the compli...
2025-10-021h 06
First Dates & Soulmates73 | Love at First Bite: Vampires in RomanceOctober starts with a bite as Nikki and Meg dive fang-first into the many flavours of vampire romance. From broody immortals to leather-pants predators, they trace the evolution of the undead in pop culture and argue over who deserves to be booped on the nose.What you’ll hear:* Sparkly vampires that aged like milk (sorry, Edward)* Why Alexander Skarsgård should never own pants that aren’t leather* The four vampire archetypes: tragic baby, sexy predator, protective dad-vamp, and monster with a secret squishy center* Nikki’s theory of “boo...
2025-10-0154 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsThe Skeptic’s Guide to AI-Enhanced Copywriting with Prerna MalikLet’s be honest, we started this podcast as AI skeptics — skeptical of AI to write and sound like us without falling into language homogeny, AI pitch slaps in the DMs, and using AI to replace our thinking.But how are business owners using AI in creative ways that honor the voice of our businesses while being more effective?Enter Prerna Malik and Content Bistro. Prerna caught our eye with the Skeptic Buyer Bot—a tool that actually helps creators pressure-test their sales pages and offers through an AI-powered lens. (Yes, Jessica used it. Yes, she ha...
2025-09-2547 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsA Conversation about Online Business Ethics with Erika Tebbens (Part 2)What happens after you leave a business you built? How do you relate to work, money, systems, and your nervous system when your entire identity has changed?In Part 2 of our conversation with Erika Tebbens, we go deeper—into the murky middle of business ethics, entrepreneurship under capitalism, and how we’re operating in the political climate of 2025.We talk about the ethics of selling transformation, why systems don’t always equal support, and what Erika has learned about nervous system safety outside the online business bubble. This episode is full of those “I’ve been think...
2025-09-1844 min
First Dates & Soulmates71 | She’s the Man: The Best Shakespeare Rom-Com Adaptation?What happens when you take Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, add soccer, boarding school hijinks, and early-2000s Amanda Bynes? You get She’s the Man! In this episode, Nikki and Meg break down the comedy, chaos, and charm that make this rom-com still hold up nearly 20 years later (at least for Nikki!)Listen in for:* The Top 5 reasons Nikki thinks She’s the Man works as a Shakespeare retelling* Why the school setting makes the comedy sharper and the romance sweeter* Meg’s strong opinions on the vocal choices and gend...
2025-09-171h 04
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsRemixing Work with Erika Tebbens (Part 1)What does it take to walk away from something that’s “working”—even if it’s not working for you anymore?In this episode, Erika Tebbens joins us to talk about her career pivot out of entrepreneurship and into employment. After years of running a successful, values-driven consulting business, Erika realized that being her own boss no longer served her well. So she made a bold move: she got a job, at a dream company, in a field she deeply cares about. And how Erika’s move back into farming and farm systems so perfectly aligns with the Aggressi...
2025-09-1139 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsTaking Care of the Co-Founder Relationship with Dr. Matthew JonesWhen you're building something with a co-founder or even partners (like, say this podcast), it’s not just your business that needs tending—your relationship is the business.In this episode, we talk with psychologist and leadership coach Dr. Matthew Jones to talk about the often-overlooked emotional labor of working in partnership. We explore the dynamics that make co-founding relationships thrive (or fail), and what it looks like to prioritize care, communication, and clarity in a space that’s often full of pressure, ambition, and high stakes.We also talk about how to navigate conflict before...
2025-09-0455 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsProject Progress Updates: BTS of our Summer and Fall projectsInstead of the polished Meta ads and the seamless email sequences, get the real behind the scenes of our businesses over the summer: the good, the hard, and the realities of summers in our businesses.* Why Jessica is running Meta ads and why she feels she’s doing it wrong* How Meg has leaned into retainer work this summer and it’s been exactly what she needed* The soothing activities of repeatable, even some kind of boring work* Confronting business model realities (“it can be easy to sell or easy to delive...
2025-08-2848 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsRemixing your business (and your copy) with Samantha Pollack“It's not, you know, oh, ‘I was working with these clients and then I was in the shower and while I was washing my hair, I had this great idea and I made a website.’ Like it's never that way, but that's how it looks on the outside.” - MegWe always see the polished outcome of change.The business owner who goes on sabbatical… to emerge with newly-refined offers and a perfect website.The offer idea that emerged in the shower… and is immediately birthed into a pristine sales page (with seeming...
2025-08-2154 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsIs it a lion or a Slack notification? Nervous system management with Shulamit Ber LevtovEntrepreneurship is hard. And it’s even harder when your nervous system is stuck in a mode that’s not serving you.In this episode, we sit down with The Entrepreneurs’s Therapist Shulamit Ber Levtov to talk about the nervous system realities of entrepreneurship—especially for those who didn’t become entrepreneurs by opportunity but by necessity.We talk about what it means to choose our nervous system activities, how to understand what’s in (and out of) our control, and the unique paradox of entrepreneurship: you get freedom… and also you’re the one holding the...
2025-08-1445 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsThe Changing Role of Content: AI, Algorithms, Automations, or none of the above?“Do you want to show up in those AI search results? Because AI is searching the internet now. AI is a search engine and it's looking at all those same things that Google is. So if you're not doing the [content] work, then you're being left out of that search.” - MegWhat role does content play in our businesses? And how does that shift over time?We may not have consciously chosen this as a duo, but Meg and Jessica are moving in two different directions in their business.Jessica, being just 5 year...
2025-08-0752 min
First Dates & Soulmates65 | Standing There Menacingly: How Readers Search for RomanceMeg dug into the weird world of romance search terms, using real SEO data to see what readers are actually Googling and what that means for the stories we love (and maybe secretly judge).In this episode:* What is “sex pollen” and why does it come up in so many search results?* The internet’s quiet obsession with “touch her and die” vs. “who did this to you”* How SEO influenced the renaming of their most SEO’ed (?) episode * The surprising fan interest in terms like “Xena Warrior Princess,” “Gundam fandom,” and “s...
2025-08-061h 06
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsLeading as a human in the workplace with Alison CowardEveryone has been in bad meetings—and for many of you, being trapped in terrible meetings is one reason you became an entrepreneur in the first place.But what if meetings, and workplace culture generally, didn’t have to be awful? What if we could bring energy and collaboration, like the kind we get from a well-facilitated workshop, into our day-to-day culture?In this episode, Alison Coward joins Aggressively Human to show what it really means to lead through a facilitative and collaborative lens—not just to make meetings more efficient, but to make collaboration more h...
2025-07-3153 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsTrust is the New Currency: A Craft+Commerce conference debriefJessica goes to conferences a lot, especially more now that she’s not employed full time. This is her eighth creator conference (4 World Domination Summits, 2 Craft and Commerces, 1 Neurodiversion summit, The Lab Offline, and a number of small mastermind and coaching retreats).So today’s episode is both a debrief on going to conferences and also a recap of the 4 takeaways from Craft and Commerce that are informing our year ahead.We dig into conferences:* Why putting yourself in the position to meet people can help you meet your internet heroes… and can also h...
2025-07-2453 min
First Dates & Soulmates63 | Pining, Kink, and a Lot of Yelling: a game of romance "Would You Rather?"This week, Meg and Nikki play a wacky round of Romance Would You Rather, where the questions are unhinged, the stakes are fictional, and the answers reveal way too much about their taste in book boyfriends. It's trope vs. trope, kink vs. kink, and sometimes just pure chaos (would you rather walk in on a shifter in animal form… or not know your partner was a vampire until you’re mid-bite?).Listen in for:* Secret pining vs. public declarations* a great debate over mediocre or high quality stories* Our pref...
2025-07-2354 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsTwo hearts and heads are better than one: Collaboration with Emma Whittard and Karen WorthyPartnerships are everywhere in small business: business partners, project collaborators, behind-the-scenes co-creators, podcast co-hosts (hear our origin story!). But we don’t talk enough about what makes them actually work. If managing yourself is hard, imagine navigating the commitment (and the scheduling tetris) of two people.Emma Whittard (mindset coach) and Karen Worthy (executive career transition coach) had their “business meet cute” in one of Jessica’s classes. What started as simple client referrals turned into collaborations, a shared offer, and even Emma supporting Karen’s business behind the scenes. From the first casual chat to co-creating paid offer...
2025-07-1753 min
First Dates & Soulmates62 | Only One Beach House: a Love On Vacation trope deep diveMeg and Nikki unpack the logistics (and impractical magic) of the “love on vacation” trope! From beach house hookups to European cruises , they debate whether the vacation romance can survive real life, compare road trip playlists, and revisit their favorite books and movies that deliver the hot summer goods. Listen in for:* Tropes like friends-to-lovers-on-holiday, destination wedding mix-ups, and stranded road trip partners* Nikki’s campaign against cruise ships, always* A pitch for a merch line that will definitely get banned* The emotional difference between "honeymoon with your e...
2025-07-1653 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsThe Fundamentals Matter More with Michelle WarnerIn this episode, we dig into the realities of running a relationship-led business in a market that’s no longer in beginner mode. Michelle Warner joins us to talk about what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in a world where quick wins and easy opportunities are drying up, and why now more than ever, the boring stuff—fundamentals, relationships, offers that fit—really matters.We cover how to adapt to a maturing market, where the “growth hacks” of the past aren’t working like they used to. Michelle shares why most client issues aren’t massive strategy problems...
2025-07-1052 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsEvidence of Humanity: Showcasing our latest thinkingThis week, we're doing something a little different. Instead of our usual dialogue, we’re sharing two short solo segments originally recorded for the Evidence of Humanity audio summit, hosted by Michelle Pontvert. This means we get a break from recording and editing but you still get a fresh episode. While because as Meg says, “Jessica loves a cadence”, taking breaks and thoughtful repurposing of content lets us take breaks and be aggressively human!First, Jessica shares how running free monthly workshops—starting with just four people—has become one of the most grounding, trust-building practices in her busine...
2025-07-0328 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations"Feminist Rants Are My Superpower": Intersectional Leadership with Becky MollenkampHow do we build businesses and community inside a broken system—without replicating that system in our own work?By leading through an intersectional, feminist, and collective lens.In this episode, we talk with Becky Mollenkamp about what it means to build and lead this way: grounded in shared power, mutual care, and collective growth. Becky shares how her work as a coach and podcaster has evolved over the years, why she’s no longer trying to “go it alone,” and how building in community has been the most liberating move of all. We also talk abo...
2025-06-2653 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsADHD-ish: Building a business for how your brain is wired with Diann WingertMost business advice assumes you're wired like everyone else. What if you're not?In this episode, we sit down with Diann Wingert—former therapist, business coach, and host of the ADHD-ish podcast—to talk about what it really means to build a business that works with your brain, not against it.We unpack the myths around ADHD, how to radically accept your own wiring, and what happens when you finally stop trying to “fix” yourself and start designing systems that fit you.Jessica and Meg share their own neurodiverse workarounds (including why their assistan...
2025-06-191h 00
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsStaying Solo: Staying true to yourself, your values, and your voice with Maggie PattersonWhat does it really mean to “stay solo” in a world that won’t stop telling you to scale? That’s the question we explore with Maggie Patterson, whose new book Staying Solo challenges the endless drumbeat of “bigger is better.”In this episode, we dive into Maggie’s journey from agency owner to solo business advocate, the messy parts of writing (and marketing) a book without turning it into a performative launch, and the very real tension between wanting to build a sustainable business—while feeling pressure to do it in a way that exploits your time or other pe...
2025-06-1254 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsFramework-Free Zone: Life Updates, AI, and A Little FunIn this riffy, delightfully unstructured episode, Jessica and Meg ditch the outlines, frameworks, and “polished” content in favor of a real-life check-in, some AI trivia, and a sneak peek at Jessica’s summer program, Relationship Rhythms.We talk about how building relationships is about more than just dropping into people’s inboxes—and how Relationship Rhythms is designed to bring playfulness (and prizes!) back into the process. Jessica shares why she’s finally running an asynchronous offer and how Relationship Rhythms is different from her usual programs, plus what happens when you go from dreaming to launching.We also...
2025-06-0546 min
First Dates & Soulmates56 | "I'm Coming Out": Queer Awakenings in RomanceIt’s Pride Month, and Meg & Nikki are kicking things off with a reflective conversation about queer identity and coming out romance stories we love (especially the messy, nonlinear, and sometimes late-blooming kind). Listen in for:* What shaped their early understandings of sexual identity and orientation* The multiple “F’s” in a framework designed for awakening…tingles…in the groiny bits…* Their favourite queer awakening romance stories involving oblivious golden retriever types* And why bisexuality deserves better storytellingWe’re kicking off a full month of celebrating queerness in all...
2025-06-0456 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsMake a Scene and Embrace Your Stories with Mike GaninoHave you ever sat through a slide deck that felt like death-by-bullet-point? Or tried to sound like a LinkedIn thought leader only to bore yourself?Have you ever struggled to consider yourself “interesting” when you haven’t gone to space or climbed a mountain?Most importantly, how can you tell a story that AI cannot replace?Story coach and speaker whisperer Mike Ganino joins us to talk about how to actually connect with other humans through storytelling, public speaking, and intentional presence. We talk about what’s missing when AI writes your copy, how to m...
2025-05-2950 min
First Dates & Soulmates55 | Rockstar Romance with Jessica TopperThis week Nikki and Meg sit down with author Jessica Topper to dive into the world of rock star romance. A librarian-turned-romance-writer, Jessica shares how her real-life concert experiences and love of music shape her stories — including her beloved Love & Steel series.They explore:* What makes musicians such compelling romantic leads* Why found family dynamics hit differently in fictional bands* The behind-the-stage drama of redemption arcs, messy characters, and their thoughts on bodyguard and manager relationshipsDon’t worry, there’s enough fictional eyeliner to last you a life...
2025-05-2853 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsCold Outreach Doesn’t Have to Suck with Jess Lorimer“If you want a sales pipeline, you are responsible for creating it. What we've been told and what we see online is the kind of constant content creation that is designed to bring you clients…so that you can essentially do a lot of marketing to avoid ever having the sales conversation.But the quickest way to make a sale though is to get to that sales conversation as soon as you can and to make sure that it's as qualified as possible."Most of us have been on the receiving end of a terrible cold...
2025-05-151h 03
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsSilly rabbit, Play *isn't* just for kidsIn this episode, we’re talking about play. Hear us riff on the power of play and personality in our lives and businesses. We explore our different expressions of play as children and how it impacts our businesses today (hint: Meg was a dancer and playwright and Jessica loved to tinker with her Erector sets and handwoven crafts. Totally on brand for both of us). We talk we both experiment in our businesses (once we have the foundations in place), including our plans for the summer. We look at play as a regenerative act: one that requires en...
2025-05-081h 02
First Dates & Soulmates52 | A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood: Neighbours to Lovers Trope Deep DiveDon’t forget, Meg’s new book All Twerk No Play drops May 15th! So get thee to the ‘Zon and download/buy your copy ASAP. Support indie writers! https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Now onto the show…This week on First Dates & Soulmates, we're cracking open the windows, cranking up the tension, and diving into one of the most underrated romance environments: neighbours to lovers.Meg and Nikki break down why this setting-based trope hits so hard, especially when your neighbor just might be your next emotional disaster or love story.Lis...
2025-05-0752 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsPick Up the Damn Phone: Max Traylor on Selling like a HumanAutomation. Funnels. AI-generated content. Scale at all costs. New leads.You’ve been sold a load of garbage about what it takes to grow a business today. And in this episode of Aggressively Human, we’re getting back to the truth about sales.Max Traylor—agency churn physician and LinkedIn truth-teller—joins us to break down why so much of what passes for “sales strategy” today was never actually working. (It just didn’t matter when money was cheap.)We talk about how most of us have never learned (or needed to learn) real sales ski...
2025-05-0151 min
First Dates & Soulmates51 | Fake Dating the Hot Mess: Hothead by Stella RhysFirst off, Meg’s new book All Twerk No Play drops May 15th! So get thee to the ‘Zon and download/buy your copy ASAP. Support indie writers! https://amzn.to/3Ee2O9Z Now onto the show…This week on First Dates and Soulmates, Nikki and Meg unpack “Hothead” by Stella Rhys—a spicy sports romance that kicks off with a bar fight, a public meltdown, and a viral paparazzi photo that leads to fake dating. They talk about:* When fake dating is survival, not strategy* How power dynamics shi...
2025-04-3052 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsOwning Your Work in the Age of AI: Intellectual Property with Erin AustinIn the age of AI-generated content, content repurposing, and ideas being “created” with a screenshot of your site, the question of ownership is more urgent than ever:How do you protect what you’ve created when so much of what you’re creating lives online?In this episode of Aggressively Human, we’re joined by Erin Austin, founder of Think Beyond IP, to dig into what intellectual property really is, what you can protect, and how to turn your expertise into an asset—not just a deliverable.If you’ve been asking, “How do I protect my...
2025-04-1757 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsWhat's "enough" for you? Exploring the Zone of EnoughnessMore money. More growth. More scale. It’s not enough to be a six-figure business, you have to be a “seven-fig mentor” and even a billion-dollar creator. The online business world feeds us a constant stream of messages about needing to do more, earn more, and be more.But what if you don’t want a million-dollar business? What if you want a smaller business that’s satisfying?In this episode, co-host Jessica shares her framework for the “Zone of Enoughness”—a way to reimagine business growth not as endless expansion, but as aligned sustainability. Jessica and Meg...
2025-04-1045 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsStay or go? Social media, compromise, and contradictions with Illana BurkShould we stay or should we go?Leaving social media has been an increasingly popular choice in the past few years. But is leaving always the most impactful choice?In this episode, we sit down with Illana Burk, business coach and advocate for human-first business, to talk about the messy middle of visibility, values, and doing business inside systems you didn’t build.Illana shares why she’s choosing to stay on social media; not because she’s ignoring the harm, but because of how social media is an important place our voices can be...
2025-04-0359 min
First Dates & Soulmates47 | Where Absurd Meets Heartfelt: Why We Love The Fake Dating TropeStrap in. We’re going deep. This week on First Dates & Soulmates, it’s a trope episode! And we’re dissecting every glorious and absurd nuance of fake dating.Nikki may think this trope is the Chardonnay of romance (she’ll drink it if you serve it), while Meg is out here creating full frameworks while waiting in line at Disneyland.In This Episode:* Why so many fake dating books fall apart if the initial premise isn’t strong* Why romantic vulnerability matters more than jellybeans* The difference between fake datin...
2025-04-0253 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsThe myth of "set it and forget it": The realities of launching with Dusti ArabYou have the right offer. The right audience. A launch plan you’ve run before. So why… isn’t it working?This week, we go behind the scenes of a real launch with Dusti Arab, founder of Referral Worthy and longtime marketing strategist, to talk about what happens when a launch starts strong—and then doesn’t go to plan. Dusti walks us through what she planned for her latest launch, what actually happened, and how she adapted in real time by listening to her audience, adjusting her messaging, and staying rooted in what actually matters: relationships and referr...
2025-03-2748 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsThe Requirements for Real Community with April MacLeanReal community isn’t just a forum full of brand users—it’s something deeper, more intentional, and, if done wrong, more likely to fail. So what does it actually take to build a community that works, one that people want to return to again and again? And more importantly, should you even be building one at all?April MacLean joins Aggressively Human to break down what real community building looks like in 2025. * Why most business communities fail (and why just starting a Facebook group won’t cut it).* What must be present in a bus...
2025-03-2049 min
First Dates & Soulmates45 | "My boring husband is a super spy!" True Lies & Mr. and Mrs. SmithHow do you fix a secret spy marriage? Blow some stuff up. This episode, Nikki and Meg discuss two classic secret identity action romance films, 1994’s True Lies & 2005’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith.Inside this episode:* Which spy couple actually had the healthier marriage?* How do you balance of action, romance, and insane sexual tension WITH GASLIGHTING?* Why do both of these movies feature the worst best friends ever (looking at you, Tom Arnold & Vince Vaughn).* Would Nikki & Meg survive if they were secretly spies? (Spoiler: one of t...
2025-03-1951 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsBeyond "Not Spam": Heart-Centered Email Marketing with Bev FeldmanEmail automation specialist and Kit Ambassador Bev Feldman believes that we can use email marketing software as a way to build relationships while giving your subscribers agency over their inbox experience.There are the illegal “no-nos”: the most egregious email practices that make us want to throw away our phones or hit the spam button. There are the morally gray areas of more manipulative email marketing, or just even a sub-par experience.But in an aggressively human fashion, we can actually not just maintain but enhance our relationship with subscribers by incorporating consent-based practices like land...
2025-03-0650 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsEscaping Default Decisions: Designing a Calmer Business with Susan BolesIn the constant push for growth, productivity, and squeezing every ounce of output from our businesses, we rarely stop to ask: What if the goal isn’t to do more? What if it’s to create more space?Operating at 150% capacity might feel like the norm, but that’s only because we’re operating with what Susan Boles calls “default decisions.” Instead, what if we focused on building businesses with margin. Yes financial margins, but going beyond those margins to include emotional and energetic margins?“When you broaden your definition of margins, it gives your business a lot...
2025-02-2753 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsDepth as a Feature, Not a Bug: Winning clients through genuine care with Jeremy EnnsIn a sea of marketing advice and growth hacks, let’s address the elephant in the room. What if the product is the problem?If your product - your podcast, your service, your course - isn’t good enough, no amount of marketing is going to make that product grow. And yet, most courses, cohorts, or even higher-priced coaching programs don’t get into the actual experience of your work. Many providers are just not in the business of experiencing your business and your product (because it’s not as scalable).And so podcast strategist Jeremy E...
2025-02-2045 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsWho gets human thoughts? The Fight for Trust in Content with Jessica Mehring“It's because even if you end up completely rewriting it, it starts out without the human soul. And it's really hard to add the human soul. But if you can start with even the messiest human written draft, and then use AI to make it better, it has human soul to begin with, and it just ends up a much more human and resonant piece of writing.” - Jessica MYou’ve probably noticed it—the emails that don’t sound quite right, the sales pages full of word salad, the content that feels like it was written by...
2025-02-1346 min
First Dates & Soulmates40: A Romantic Birthday MailbagIt’s Nikki & Meg’s birthday, and they’ll rant about romance tropes if they want to! Our hosts are back with a special mailbag episode, where they challenge each other with the most ridiculous, thought-provoking, and delightfully unhinged romance scenarios they could find. No prep. No planning. Just pure chaos and strong AF opinions.Check inside this birthday episode and their debates on:🎁 Grand gestures: Romantic or gross?🎁 The worst possible job for a romance protagonist🎁 The ultimate pet name cringe factor (Are we team "Babe" or "Absolutely...
2025-02-1255 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsSoftware in Service: Simplicity over Systems with Nikki McKnightWho hasn’t set up a system (or hired someone else to do so) that seems to make your efficiency dreams come true... and that just didn't happen. Or worse? Broke your business.The alternative? Embracing Simplicity over Systems. Embracing Simplicity over Systems, another core Aggressively Human pillar. How can we be thoughtful about where and how we use systems to be in service, instead of just buying systems as a service.And who better to bring in our episode is fellow Ops brain Nikki McKnight. Nikki McKnight (she/her) is an operations and systems st...
2025-02-0655 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsWhen a week feels like a year: January 2025 State of Play“So maybe we're leaving or maybe we're staying, but we're staying as a person versus as a business owner. But then everyone is scattering. As a business, how are we marketing to people when it's diffuse? And then as a person, it's like, well, where's everyone going now? And how can I be there with my friends?” - JessicaEvery year, it feels like January is just the longest month ever.But this year has felt like a whiplash between the beginning of the year until recording on January 24, 2025. Meta policy changes, TikTok ban and un-b...
2025-01-301h 01
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations"PIVOT!!" How to navigate a changing business landscape with Lacy Boggs“AI cannot come up with new ideas. It can paste things together in new ways perhaps, but it's still it's still the monkeys on the typewriters, right? It's still the infinite monkey thing. It's just mashing together old ideas in new ways perhaps, but it can't come up with truly unique new ideas.” - Lacy BoggsThis week, we’re talking with Lacy Boggs, founder of the Content Direction Agency but also has done every business model in the online entrepreneurship space. We talk pivots, thought leadership, and how to stand out in the age of more conten...
2025-01-2348 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations"Where everybody knows your name": the power of community over commodity“I don't want to calculate my churn without knowing every single person who leaves.” - MegFor businesses like ours, community is the lifeblood of a strong business. And when we are talking about community, we’re not just talking about an online platform where you can post in a forum. We’re talking about, as Meg says, “people who give a sh*t about each other”.In today’s podcast, we dive into the Aggressively Human philosophy of Community > Commodity.- Why being part of a community where everybody knows your name is a business...
2025-01-1649 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsReal voices in your ears: Human-centered podcasting with Amelia HrubyThe act of podcasting - recording it, editing it, and listening to it - is one of the most embodied acts in content creation. Because no matter how good the AI bots sound, there’s something simply human about listening to someone else’s authentic voice in your earbuds.Today’s interview is with amelia hruby, founder of Softer Sounds podcast production studio and host of the Off the Grid podcast. Amelia has some strong points of view about AI in the podcasting industry, and the power of a human-oriented podcast process.In today’s episode...
2025-01-0945 min
First Dates & Soulmates35: "Get a Life, Chloe Brown" by Talia HibbertWe are kicking off a series about main characters who seek out to improve some aspect of their lives and first up, “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by the wonderful Talia Hibbert. Join Nikki & Meg as they discuss:* where the thing isn’t actually the thing* why we LOVE a man who goes to therapy* beautiful f***ing prose (and how it makes Meg want to quit writing)* the epic badass that is Chloe BrownThen, join us on Substack to share your thoughts and how you too ar...
2025-01-0851 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsStop yelling into the echo chamber: Engage in Dialogue over MonologueDialogue over Monologue: Our next Aggressively Human pillar.AI and automations can make it easy to have “faux-dialogue”: where you’re sent tons and tons of “personalized” emails, or you think you’re having a conversation with someone but you’re really just talking to an AI agent or a bot. And dialogue comes with risk: when you open up your world for real conversations, you might hear “no” or get people disagreeing with you.In today's podcast we dive into:- Why we might shy away from dialogue, but why Meg and Jessica chose this...
2025-01-0248 min
First Dates & Soulmates34: The First Annual Tingly AwardsWelcome to 2025 and our first annual Tingly Awards!Join Nikki and Meg as they look back at the books that made them blush, tingle, squee, and smile. Then, check out https://bit.ly/fdsmbingo for a link to the official First Dates & Soulmates 2025 book bingo card. Be sure to tag us @firstdatesandsoulmates on your socials as you fill yours out. Meg’s List of Categories & Winners:Best Space Odyssey* Earth Boys are Easy by C. Rochelle* Ruby Dixon’s Risdaverse series* Good Deeds by K...
2025-01-0158 min
First Dates & Soulmates[Re-Release] Christmas in July: 30+ holiday romance novel recsHo, ho, ho, everyone. This week, because it is the holidays, and both Meg and Nikki are enjoying some well deserved time off, we come to you to the pod this week with a re-release of our Christmas in July episode.This episode was released back in July as we were gearing up for the release of Meg's debut novel, Peppermint Bark No Bite. We talked all about the different Christmas tropes and small town holiday romances that we enjoy. So enjoy this little blast from the past and we will see you in the new year.
2024-12-2555 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations"But that won't scale!": High Touch (without High Pressure) Community Sales with Dr. Michelle MazurDr. Michelle Mazur - messaging strategist and community builder for experts - has a point of view about sales for experts and other service-based businesses. Because the lower-touch approach to sales that might have worked a few years ago isn't working as well anymore.In today’s episode, you’ll hear about how Michelle is taking a human-centric approach to sales and community building.- Private tours, 80% conversions, zero sleaze—hear her sales process that is part college tour, part vibe check.- “But it doesn’t scale!!” How to think about sales...
2024-12-1945 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsDe-scaling isn't just for Keurigs! Selling her social media agency with Andréa JonesWhen your family expands, the goal should be to automate more, to delegate more, and keep business as usual, right? Not for today’s guest.Andréa Jones is a marketing and social media strategist that recently left the high-pressure agency world behind after the birth of her second child, focusing now on marketing strategy and a marketing strategy membership. In this episode, learn her aggressively human approach to marketing, community management, her business model and oh yes - doing business while being a parent.- The shift from the Savvy Social brand to the Min...
2024-12-0542 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsOur radioactive spider bite: The origin story of Aggressively Human“I'm just a girl looking around the internet trying not to stare at my own reflection on Zoom all day.”What does being Aggressively Human mean? And why would two very busy service-based business owners start yet another podcast, when we could be instead posting 5 times a day on social media?Tune in to hear the origin story of the Aggressively Human idea: what it is and where it came from and why we're collaborating on it.- The Birth of “Aggressively Human”: How Jessica and Meg met, and the turn of phrase that got...
2024-12-0531 min
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & AutomationsTeaser: What does it mean to be 'Aggressively Human'?Our world is becoming increasingly automated & AI-generated. What does that mean for your business? For experts & service-based businesses, the answer isn’t always to chase the trends … it’s to be Aggressively Human.Join co-hosts Jessica Lackey, business strategist, and Meg Casebolt, search marketing specialist, as we share behind-the-scenes of running our own businesses by embracing connection and discussing how we can use technology to be more human. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
2024-11-2402 min
First Dates & Soulmates29: Back for Seconds, a hedonistic holiday taleIn this ode to American Thanksgiving, this week our hosts are diving into platters full of stuffing, phallic vegetables, and creams of all kinds. Meg & Nikki are talking about Back For Seconds, an erotic holiday novella. In this episode, they talk about:* why 2nd person POV should NEVER be used in erotica* the chore porn involved when people do housework for us * Meg’s many excellent food puns * the f***ed up pantheon of gods that must exist in this books’ world* Then head on over...
2024-11-2043 min
First Dates & Soulmates27: A NaNoWriMo Author RoundtableFor many creative folks the world over, the month of November is spent in pursuit of writing 50,000 words. Today, Meg & Nikki welcome 3 of Meg’s author & entrepreneurial friends to see how they’re approaching this month.Listen into the roundtable as they discuss:* The reason why they’re not doing the “official” NaNoWriMo challenge* Why writing succinctly is so freaking hard (we’re looking at you, Meg)* Their differing approaches to outlining and story creationA slightly sad note, during this recording session Megan Flatt’s audio decided to die so she doe...
2024-11-0649 min
First Dates & Soulmates25: Spooky Teen Romance Films (Twilight & Warm Bodies)This week on the podcast Nikki & Meg are diving into YA spooky romance films Twilight and Warm Bodies! Yes, we are biting our lips, touching our cold boyfriends, and being that girl that everyone loves from the get-go!Nikki walks us through the 4 signs you’re in a spooky teen romance and:* Meg shares her trauma about watching the Twilight film for the first time* Why parents aren’t ALWAYS the bad guys in these teen scenarios* The reasons why we would all want to be the best friend character...
2024-10-2354 min
First Dates & Soulmates24: The Hidden Species series by Louisa Masters“Hellhounds declaring a glitter fight? Vampires at war with accounting? It’s another day at the Community of Species Government.”In a bit of surprise twist this week, Nikki & Meg decide to add in a completely unplanned episode! So inspired by Nikki waxing poetic about this series during our episode on Paranormal Romance (see episode #22), Meg decided to download and read The Hidden Species series in one week just so they could talk about it!Join them this week as they talk about:* Nikki’s love of demonic bureaucracy* How this...
2024-10-1654 min
First Dates & Soulmates23: A Book Launch Review (and update) with Bailey SeabornIt’s been almost two months since host Meg (aka author Bailey Seaborn) released her debut novel, Peppermint Bark No Bite. This week, we are checking in with how the book launch went, some lessons from a new(ish) author, and got a sneak peak at what’s coming next!Listen in to hear all about:✏️ how Meg wrote the series almost in reverse, and 4 books at once✏️ the challenges in promoting a romance book to your…not romance book audience✏️ the Avengers-level team of support that Meg worked with ✏️ the BEST THIN...
2024-10-0952 min
First Dates & Soulmates22: Paranormal RomancesAre spooky scary skeletons sending shivers down your spine?Will dastardly demons and alpha shifters send tingles into your groiny bits?This week on the podcast, it’s Paranormal Romances!Join Meg & Nikki as they talk:🎃 the things we love that go bump in the night🎃 what type of vampire we’d be - sparkly or scary 🎃 how paranormal and fantasy are NOT the same thing🎃 S-class superpowers & the mortals they love to dateBooks & Media We MentionHeaving Bosoms...
2024-10-0258 min
First Dates & Soulmates21: Heartless by Elsie Silver | cowboy, nanny, surprise baby grumpy-sunshine romanceFor many of us, romance is an escape from our day to day lives where we can just focus on the witty repartee, brooding good looks, and all of the tingles in the groiny bits.This month, Nikki and Meg are sharing a book they somehow love yet it contains their most hated trope(s).Nowhere on Meg’s TBR list would we expect to see a grumpyXsunshine western single dad romance with a nanny AND A SURPRISE BABY. But surprise, it’s time for Meg’s pick, Heartless by Elsie Silver. In t...
2024-09-251h 00
First Dates & Soulmates19: Secret Identity Rom Coms with Shenee HowardDear Fellow Plant Daddies, what would you do if you discovered that the anonymous person you have been chatting with is the horrible shirtless plant influencer from next door?This week on the podcast Meg is playing host to author Shenee Howard and we talk all about:* sexy plant daddies inspired by BTS members* what makes a great rom com story* Shenee’s sci fi rom com plans (and more Long Beach stories!)* why we love (and hate?) reddit and AIM and how it’s evolved in the books we r...
2024-09-111h 00
First Dates & Soulmates18: Trope We Hate/Book We Love - Kissing Tolstoy by Penny ReidWe all have our favourites when it comes to tropes and storylines that we love. We also have ones that we hate with the burning fiery passion of a thousand hells. And yet somehow we can find authors or books that manage to turn our most hated narrative frameworks into something we like, and maybe even love. This month, Nikki and Meg are sharing a book they somehow love yet it contains their most hated trope(s). Starting with Nikki’s pick, Kissing Tolstoy by Penny Reid. In...
2024-09-041h 11
First Dates & Soulmates17: Sensitivity Readers 101 with Sydney FowlerIs it true that we should only write what we know?In this episode of #FirstDatesAndSoulmates, Meg & Nikki sit down with Sydney Fowler, a sensitivity reader who also worked on Meg’s debut novel Peppermint Bark, No Bite. We ask Sydney so many questions including:✏️ the role of a sensitivity reader (and what they are NOT)✏️ the importance of dialogue between author & any type of reader✏️ how Sydney helped shape Meg’s book content and storytelling ✏️ when and why an author should engage with a sensitivity readerAbout Ou...
2024-08-281h 09
First Dates & Soulmates16: Bro’s Best Friend Romances with Mikayla ChristyIs dating your brother’s best friend… taboo?How shocking!In this week’s episode of #FirstDatesAndSoulmates, Nikki and Meg are joined by guest Mikayla Christy to talk all about the trope of best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend. A favourite trope of Meg’s, we talk all about:❤️ how Mikayla DID date her brother’s best friend (and Nikki’s best friend married HER brother)❤️ the 3 “F’s” of this trope (and yes, one of them is what you’re thinking)❤️ the STRESS of secret relationships❤️ and wh...
2024-08-2159 min
First Dates & Soulmates15: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not DatingWe all know Nikki read her first romance novel (Born in Ice by Nora Roberts) when she was around 10 years old - but what about Meg’s first romance read?! In this week’s episode, Meg and Nikki are doing a read-along of Meg’s first romance novel (that she read in 2018!!), Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren.We talk:❤️ whether your first trope is really the best trope❤️ Nikki's Korean blindness❤️ Meg's thoughts on "that girl" heroines❤️ Crazy helvetica merch ideas❤️ and why we hate surprise babiesBooks & Media We Mention In This Episode:
2024-08-1455 min
First Dates & Soulmates13: An Alien Mate for ChristmasIn this last episode of First Dates and Soulmates’ “Christmas in July” series, Meg and Nikki are doing a read-a-long of a Christmas novella, An Alien Mate for Christmas by Melody Beckett.Warning: this episode is not for the weak when it comes to graphic depictions of alien peens. If you like a good sci-fi holiday romance, this episode (and book) is for youMeg and Nikki discuss the fated mate trope, their favorite parts of the novella, their not-so-favorite parts, and more.Melody Beckett’s Website: https://www.melodybeckett.com/ Melody’s...
2024-07-3158 min
First Dates & Soulmates12: Peppermint Bark, No Bite with Author Bailey SeabornIn this week’s episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Nikki is interviewing soon-to-be-famous author, Bailey Seaborn.Bailey Seaborn (Meg Casebolt’s pen name) is the author of the romance novel you may have heard the first handful of chapters of on this podcast, Peppermint Bark, No Bite.And she’s here to answer all of your questions about herself as a romance novelist, author, and entrepreneur.She talks about:* Where the pen name Bailey Seaborn originated* How she went about plotting the novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite* Inspir...
2024-07-241h 11
First Dates & Soulmates11: Peppermint Bark, No Bite: Chapters 4 & 5Get a sneak peek of Meg Casebolt's (written under the pen name, Bailey Seaborn) debut romance novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite, a witty heartwarming, romantic comedy about a woman who recruits the grinchiest man alive to be her stand-in for Santa, and then she melts his frosty facade.The novel will be released on July 25th in celebration of Christmas in July. Pre-order your copy so it'll go right to your inbox when it's released: https://amzn.to/4dJlnjeThis episode includes Chapters 4 and 5. Chapters 1-3 are also available right here on the podcast! Follow the show on...
2024-07-1726 min
First Dates & Soulmates10: Love, Actually: Film ReviewWhen Love, Actually came out in November of 2003, so many critics hated it. Meg and Nikki are here today, continuing with Christmas in July to talk about the Love, Actually, which many people consider a Christmas movie.Although there were many iffy parts to this film, it did spark a cultural phenomenon. In this episode, Meg and Nikki discuss their favorite and least favorite romantic storylines, couples, tropes, and WTF moments from the film. Some of the couples they hate, some they love, and some are just kinda… meh. Tune in if you love romance mo...
2024-07-101h 00
First Dates & Soulmates09: Christmas in July: Holiday RomancesMeg and Nikki are kicking off the month by celebrating Christmas in July.In this week’s episode of First Dates & soulmates, Meg and Nikki talk about holiday romance novels as they discuss their favorite Christmas tropes and the ones they think lack originality. This episode is packed with lots of great holiday book recommendations, as well as holiday microtropes they LOVE, and the four ways Christmas can be built into a novel. If you’re a holiday romance lover, this episode is for you. And if you’re NOT, then this episode might just make y...
2024-07-0355 min
First Dates & Soulmates08: Bridgerton Season 3 RecapSeason 3 of Bridgerton is out and Meg and Nikki have THOUGHTS. In this week’s episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki discuss their favorite moments from Season 3, as well as some of their biggest disappointments.If you’re not caught up with parts 1 and 2, beware - there ARE spoilers in this episode.You can also expect from this episode:* Meg and Nikki’s thoughts on the way the season was released; Should they have released it weekly instead?* Queer representation in the season* The most import...
2024-06-261h 00
First Dates & Soulmates07: Trope Deep Dive: Enemies to LoversIn this week’s episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki are doing a deep dive of one of the most popular romance tropes, enemies to lovers. In this episode, you can expect:* What exactly IS the “enemies to lovers” trope? Including Nikki’s five different types or subcategories of the trope* The history of the trope* Class, power, and privilege within the trope* What Meg and Nikki like and dislike about the trope* Several books that feature the enemies to lovers trope (and ones that are SUPPOSED to, but...
2024-06-1950 min
First Dates & Soulmates06: Peppermint Bark, No Bite Chapter 3: The Midnight Meet CuteGet a sneak peek of Meg Casebolt's (written under the pen name, Bailey Seaborn) debut romance novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite, a witty heartwarming, romantic comedy about a woman who recruits the grinchiest man alive to be her stand-in for Santa, and then she melts his frosty facade.The novel will be released on July 25th in celebration of Christmas in July. Pre-order your copy so it'll go right to your inbox when it's released: https://amzn.to/4dJlnjeThis episode includes Chapter 3: The Midnight Meet Cute. Come back next month (July) for Chapters 4 and 5! Get full...
2024-06-1222 min
First Dates & Soulmates05: Their Last Resort by R.S. GreyMeg and Nikki sure do, but in the case of Their Last Resort by R.S. Grey, they were left a little disappointed with the execution of some of these tropes. In this week's episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki discuss the things they liked in this novel and the things they think could've been implemented differently. You can also expect to hear:* Is this REALLY an "enemies to lovers" novel?* The development of Paige and Cole's relationship and the pacing of the overall storyline* Perceived conflict versus actual conflict
2024-06-0545 min
First Dates & Soulmates05: Their Last Resort by R.S. GreyWho doesn't love a good enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance?! Meg and Nikki sure do, but in the case of Their Last Resort by R.S. Grey, they were left a little disappointed with the execution of some of these tropes. In this week's episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki discuss the things they liked in this novel and the things they think could've been implemented differently. You can also expect to hear:Is this REALLY an "enemies to lovers" novel?The development of Paige and Cole's relationship and the pacing of the o...
2024-06-0545 min
First Dates & Soulmates04: The Bridgerton Prosaic UniverseIn this week's episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki are diving into the Bridgerton universe. Written by Julia Quinn and brought to T.V. by Shonda Rhimes, The Bridgerton series is an epic Regency romance tale, set throughout eight novels. In this episode, you can expect:* Meg and Nikki's experience with Bridgerton and why they love Regency romance* How the show differs from the books, as well as what they liked and didn't like* The differentiation between the Regency time period and other historical time periods in terms of the number...
2024-05-291h 12First Dates & Soulmates04: The Bridgerton Prosaic UniverseIn this week's episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki are diving into the Bridgerton universe. Written by Julia Quinn and brought to T.V. by Shonda Rhimes, The Bridgerton series is an epic Regency romance tale, set throughout eight novels. In this episode, you can expect:Meg and Nikki's experience with Bridgerton and why they love Regency romanceHow the show differs from the books, as well as what they liked and didn't likeThe differentiation between the Regency time period and other historical time periods in terms of the number of books soldWho are the readers of...
2024-05-291h 12
First Dates & Soulmates03: Peppermint Bark, No Bite sneak preview: Chapters 1-2Get a sneak peek of Meg Casebolt's (written under the pen name, Bailey Seaborn) debut romance novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite, a witty heartwarming, romantic comedy about a woman who recruits the grinchiest man alive to be her stand-in for Santa, and then she melts his frosty facade.The novel will be released on July 25th in celebration of Christmas in July. Pre-order your copy so it'll go right to your inbox when it's released: https://amzn.to/4dJlnjeThis episode includes Chapters 1 and 2 of the novel. Come back next month for Chapter 3!...
2024-05-2026 min
First Dates & Soulmates02: My First Read: Born in IceCan you remember the very first romance novel you've ever read? For Nikki, it was Born In Ice by Nora Roberts. And in this episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki are going all in on their favorite tropes, the clashing of plots, some romance "no-no's", and more from Born In Ice. And don't worry - if you've never read this novel, Nikki and Meg give a very short overview of the plot before diving into the discussion.Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/ Follow the show...
2024-05-191h 05
First Dates & Soulmates01: Why We Love Romance So Much That We Can’t Shut Up About ItIn the first official episode of First Dates & Soulmates, Meg and Nikki talk about where their love for romance and reading began and why they're making it into a passion project. You'll also hear about Meg and Nikki's favorite genres (there may be some controversy here), the genres they tend to stay away from, what you can expect to hear in episodes going forward, and, as Nikki puts it, "discussion, giggles, and what the fuckery".Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/ Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates
2024-05-1522 min
First Dates & SoulmatesTEASER: First Dates & SoulmatesPremieres Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024. Join Meg Casebolt and Nikki Mcknight for their weekly conversations on their latest romance reads. Each week, listen in to get Meg and Nikki's takes on their favorite (and most cringey) romance stories. Plus, hear from authors and get sneak peeks of Meg's upcoming releases.Follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstdatesandsoulmates/ Follow the show on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdatesandsoulmates View the full show notes on our Substack https://firstdatesandsoulmates.substack.com/ Pre-Order Meg’s debut novel, Peppermint Bark, No Bite (affiliate li...
2024-05-1301 min
Social Slowdown: sustainable digital marketing for entrepreneursSNEAK PEEK: Social Slowdown Book IntroductionLast week I launched my new book, Social Slowdown: Market Your Business Without Sacrificing Your Mental Health.So for this week's podcast episode, I figured I'd give you a sneak peek into the book with an audiobook version of the introduction.If you want to read the whole book, you can get it for just $3.99 for the Kindle, or for $9.99 for a paperback copy - OR you can get a signed paperback for $20.About this book:In a digital world dominated by social media, Meg Casebolt made a bold decision...
2023-08-0120 min
Social Slowdown: sustainable digital marketing for entrepreneursEp. 1: What is the Social Slowdown Podcast?Welcome to Social Slowdown, the podcast for entrepreneurs and micro-businesses looking for sustainable marketing strategies without relying on social media. I'm Meg Casebolt, your host, and founder of Love At First Search. Before we dive into the episodes, I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect from this podcast.Support the Show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loveatfirstsearch.substack.com
2021-11-1206 min