I chat with the owner of one of my very favorite shops, The Octopus and the Fox, Jessi Campbell. (Her co-owner Belita Orner couldn't make it. :( ) Nicknamed OctoFox, their über-sweet boutique showcases handmade (and way-affordable) art, fashion and gifts from dozens of local artists and designers. I get the scoop from Jessi on how she started, how she merges art with business, and how we love the sweet small business scene in Albuquerque.

I chat with Marie Abaya, owner/operator of Simeona Gardenaire, a landscape design firm specializing in art- and pet-friendly xeriscaped gardens. Marie has had an eclectic career as a designer and artist, including working in architecture and fashion (and making an amazing pair of handmade leather boots!). We talk about working with plants, earth, art, and clients.

I chat with Miriam Ortiz y Pino, a certified professional organizer who owns and runs More than Organized. Miriam has worked with many a self-employed person looking to tame home office chaos. As she kindly overlooks the clutter in my house we talk about organizing a home business, using social media and working with hoarders.

I chat with Linda Hussey Goble who owns/runs See Yourself Teaching with her husband Cameron Goble. They've also been involved with Ignite New Mexico and ABQ Sprout AND she just became a mom, so we had plenty to talk about! Three-month-old Marion makes her debut as well so it's a banner show. 

I chat with Elissa Breitbard, owner and founder of Betty's Bath & Day Spa — not only a perennial favorite spa in Albuquerque, but recipient of several business awards since its launch in 2000. Elissa (FYI, there is no "Betty") started Betty's after a career in teaching, and quickly established herself as a savvy businesswoman and networking ninja. We talked about how she started, how she developed such a strong brand and role in the community, and how she balances business ownership with being a mom. 

Our guest is Giovanna Rossi, owner and President of Collective Action Strategies, a consulting firm that works with public and private organizations on women's health and other issues affecting families and communities. Giovanna specializes in developing women's health policies and went out on her own two years ago, after various positions with nonprofits and government agencies for many years. Like me Giovanna has two little kids so she's also intimately familiar with the self-employed mom juggling act.

Our very first stab at making this podcast happen! I talk with my longtime collaborator and friend David Dabney, principal of Red Rooster Creative, about small business websites, clients with unrealistic budgets, and why WordPress is the bomb.