Accidental CEO Podcast

Nicole Richards thought she had it all figured out. A booming bridal makeup business, her name in glossy magazines, and a studio full of artists. But beneath the gloss, something else was stirring.

In this conversation, Nicole shares how a quiet whisper—followed by a literal crash—led her to shut down a thriving career and embrace a completely new path as a whole-life coach. Her story is a masterclass in following divine nudges, sta...

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

They talk about everything from saving for the slow season to how to talk to your CPA like a boss (yes, really). You’ll get the exact ste...

When Brittany Webb got laid off, it wasn’t the end. It was the spark. In this candid episode, licensed therapist and founder of Better Minds Counseling Services reveals how being unheard at work pushed her to build the practice she never had.

She walks us through the fears, freedom, and false starts of launching a virtual private practice while still employed. We talk real numbers (spoiler: it's cheaper to start than you think)...

Jessica Bishop didn’t mean to start a business—she just wanted to get married without going broke. In this episode, she shares how her personal wedding blog turned into The Budget Savvy Bride, one of the most trusted wedding resources on the internet.

Jessica gets real about what it means to serve two totally different audiences (engaged couples and wedding vendors), why transparency around pricing is a game-changer, and how her sma...

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

In this episode, Beth breaks down her path from bu...

What if the thing keeping you stuck isn’t lack of time—but your inability to let go?

In this episode of the Accidental CEO podcast, I sit down with the brilliant (and very real) Tressa Beheim, founder of Simplify Now. She’s the strategic brain and online business manager behind countless creative entrepreneurs—helping them stop drowning in the daily chaos and finally run their business with clarity.

Tressa shares how she accidentally...

Time management is not about squeezing more into your day — it’s about doing the right things at the right time.

In this episode, Nata Salvatori reveals her personal system for running multiple businesses without living in overwhelm. You’ll hear why delegation is the first step in her process, how she keeps track of every recurring task, and the exact method she uses to match her daily to-do list with her natural energy levels.

If yo...

In a world that’s constantly online, are we losing what it means to truly connect? 

This week, Nata sits down with Sam and Elliot Archuleta, hosts of Something More Human and creators of the Return to Real Life event series—a growing movement that invites people to put down their phones and rediscover authentic human interaction.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Why phone-free spaces create the best conversations
• How to build meanin...

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

In this episode, we unpack:
 ✔ How Michelle used storytelling to build trust and attract clients
 ✔ Why personality is the foundation...

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

In this raw and empowering conversation, Lisann and Nata dig into what it really takes to reinvent yourse...

Aria Leighty is not here to play nice—and that’s exactly why you’ll love her.

In this episode, we’re breaking the “visibility means more social posts” myth wide open. Aria, founder of Show The F*ck Up Media, shares what it really takes to build a brand that people actually care about. Spoiler: it starts with showing up as yourself and building real relationships—not collecting business cards or cold DMing strangers.

We talk about wha...

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

They cover everything from how Pint...

Tired of pretending burnout is just part of the job? In this week’s Accidental CEO, Nata Salvatori interviews Hayley Knight, the unapologetically bold co-founder of PR agency Be Yellow.

Hayley opens up about leaving a toxic 9-to-5 to build something radically different—an agency rooted in values, boundaries, and big impact. She shares how Be Yellow operates on 4-day workweeks, runs no-interruption focus hours, and still crushes clie...

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

You’ll learn:

• How to spot and dit...

You don’t have to choose between thriving at work and being the mom your kids need. This week, I sat down with Laura Davis—time management strategist and founder of Time Management Academy—to unpack the myth of “having it all.”

Laura knows the struggle intimately: after going through IVF, she didn’t want to waste a single second. She built a business that helps women create time frameworks that actually work. No fluff. Just strategi...

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

Beyond her hands-on work in weddings, Ashley founded Ashley Paul Co., a virtual assisting company dedicated to supporting wedding profession...

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

Ce...

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

Chelene discusses how aligning deci...

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

We cover why client experience is everything, how...