The System for Everything

What if the secret to avoiding burnout isn't working less—but building a life that's actually exciting enough to pull you away from your laptop?

Many entrepreneurs dream about creating more freedom, but somewhere along the way, their business becomes their entire identity. In this episode, Julie sits down with Enji founder Tayler Cusick Hollman to explore what it really looks like to build a business that supports a full, pres...

What if your clients don't actually need you to be available 24/7?

So many business owners equate exceptional client experience with constant responsiveness—but that's often what leads to burnout. In this episode, Julie sits down with systems strategist and Dubsado expert Taylor Hedden to unpack how thoughtful systems can actually create a more personal client experience, not a less personal one.

Together they explore why found...

If packing school lunches feels like one more daily decision you just don't have the energy to make, this episode is for you.

Julie sits down with Feeding Tiny Bellies creator Lily Payen to talk about creating school lunches that actually work—for both parents and kids. From reducing decision fatigue to building simple lunch systems, Lily shares practical strategies that make mornings easier without turning lunch packing into ...

Sometimes you choose to start over. Sometimes life chooses for you.

When Tori Stauffer was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at 37, everything she thought she knew about success, identity, and the life she was building suddenly shifted. What followed wasn't just surviving cancer. It was rebuilding an entirely different life.

In this episode, Tori shares how facing mortality forced her to ask harder questions about ho...

At some point, many of us quietly stop trying new things.

Not because we don't want to—but because we've gotten so used to being competent that being a beginner feels unbearable.

This week, Julie sits down with longtime friend and leadership coach Thomas Renner to explore why adults avoid situations where they might be awkward, imperfect, or just plain bad—and what we're missing because of it.

From theater camp to parentin...

What if your audience has already told you exactly what they want?

They're probably talking about it on Reddit.

While most businesses spend hours brainstorming content ideas, Adrienna McDermott starts somewhere different: anonymous conversations between strangers.

Because when people don't feel like they're being watched, they're often far more honest.

Julie and Adrienna dive into why Reddit has become one of Adrienna's favorite resear...

Have you ever walked into a room only to be immediately asked where something is…while the person asking is standing closer to it than you are?

If you’re the one who remembers doctor’s appointments, notices the milk is running low, signs the permission slips, buys birthday gifts, keeps everyone’s schedule in your head, and somehow becomes responsible for things simply because you noticed them first, you migh...

Do you ever worry that you'll miss out on opportunities when you put boundaries in place? Today's guest, Hope Taylor, created a boundary that her audience now looks forward to it. 

We live in a world that rewards constant visibility. Social media platforms push creators to post more, engage more, and stay online as much as possible. Entrepreneurs are told that if they step away—even briefly—the algorithm will forget...

What do a falling skirt, a Love Island soundbite, and a sick emoji have in common? According to storytelling strategist Akua Konadu: everything. They're stories that make an impact.

In this episode, I sit down with Akua—host of the Unbreakable Business Podcast and a master of making micro-moments unforgettable. We talk about how the smallest, most awkward, or most seemingly mundane stories are often the ones that create the de...

What if your biggest flaw was actually your best feature? It’s a question Molly McCauley had to ask herself—not just once, but repeatedly—on her journey as a neurodivergent entrepreneur. 

Molly spent years navigating a system that never quite fit. Once she was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety as an adult, she realized it's time to flip the script. Now she's helping others do the same.

This episode originally air...

Hot tip for maintaining adult friendships: Move to different cities, never ask who texted last, and consider a blood pact. That’s more or less the system Lauren and I have followed for 17 years—and it’s worked. Today, we’re breaking down how.

In this episode of The System for Everything, I’m joined by one of my longest-standing friendships: Lauren Smart. She's a journalism professor, an arts writer, and...

If your idea of date night is whispering “ice cream and Netflix?” after the kids are asleep, this episode is for you. I sat down with Camille Whiting of Friday We're in Love, one of my long-time internet inspirations, to talk about how to keep connection, fun, and even spontaneity alive in a long-term relationship—especially when kids, jobs, and logistics are in full chaos mode.

Camille and her husband Jacob have c...

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like no one sees you—let alone remembers you? In today's episode, I'm joined by powerhouse business coach, speaker and marketing strategist Angelica Pompy, who helps creative women build profitable businesses with confidence and clarity.

Listen in as we dig into how to “get in the room,” not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and strategically. Plus we're talking a...

Ever wish your team just got each other? What if the secret to a balanced, high-performing crew was hiding in plain sight—like in their temperament?

In this episode of the System for Everything podcast, I talk with Ashley Ebert, a powerhouse in the wedding industry and the founder of The Abundance Group. After scaling her own wedding planning company into a multi-market million-dollar business, she now helps entrepreneurs do t...

Ever wondered why you dread building your email list? What if I told you it's not about spam—it’s about showing up with heart, humor, and strategy?

In this episode, I chat with Dawn Richardson—the product education manager at Flodesk, former software engineer, wedding photographer, and all‑around tech‑meets‑creative powerhouse. She shares how she helps entrepreneurs build email systems that feel authentic, not icky...

Have you ever felt like you're shouting into the void online, hoping for more than a like or a DM? You're not alone—and you're not doing it wrong. You're just building it backwards.

In this episode, I sat down with my real-life brunch bestie, Laylee Emadi—a conference host, coach, and the founder of The Creative Educator Conference—to talk all things community-led business. Laylee is my go-to example for what it lo...

The system for taking a break without spiraling? It’s equal parts logic, emotion, and a little bit of chaos—and I’m walking you through all of it.

In this episode, I’m sharing a very real, very honest look at what it feels like to step away from something you’ve built and care deeply about. As I prepare to take a short break from the podcast, I’m reflecting on what this show has meant to me, what ...

What happens when you move somewhere new and have to rebuild your entire life from scratch? In this episode, I sit down with my real-life friend Meredith McAlister, who has moved across the country multiple times—from Massachusetts to Texas, California, and Wisconsin—and somehow managed to create community everywhere she goes.

We talk about what it actually looks like to start over: the awkward coffees, the loneliness, t...

If your brand has ever felt like a bad haircut you can’t grow out fast enough, then this episode is for you. Today, I’m sitting down with Amanda Shuman, founder of Carrylove Designs, to talk about what it really means to build a brand that evolves with you. 

From emo-era MySpace profiles to motherhood, pivots, and public reinvention, we’re unpacking how your personality isn’t a distraction, but instead i...