In this episode of How to Run Your Biz Without Hating Your Boss, Michelle and Sara do something a little different: they open the mailbag.

If you’ve ever reread an email five times before hitting send, replayed an awkward conversation in the shower, or laid awake wondering whether you handled a business situation wrong — this one’s for you.

Drawing on years of experience helping hundreds of performing arts entrepreneurs thrive professionally without sacrificing their values, peace, or creative integrity, Michelle and Sara tackle real-world scenarios that keep coaches, teachers, and performing artists up at night.

No gimmicks. No “just follow my simple formula.” Just grounded, hard-won insight from people who refuse to hang out on business-coach island.

Key Topics:

• Common business situations that trigger second-guessing and stress
• How to tell the difference between a real misstep and normal business discomfort
• Why spiraling over emails, boundaries, and conversations is so common for creatives
• How to approach tricky situations with clarity, confidence, and integrity

Perfect for:

• Creative entrepreneurs and accidental business owners
• Business owners in the performing arts or service-based sectors
• Anyone navigating people-pleasing, boundaries, or hard conversations in their business

If you’ve ever wished for a trusted sounding board when business gets messy, this episode delivers exactly that.

🎧 Press play and let’s get into it.

👉 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more creative entrepreneurs find us. 👉 Share this episode with a friend or colleague who might be struggling with scaling pressure.

Connect with us:

Website: thespeakeasycooperative.com/speakeasy Facebook: facebook.com/thespeakeasycooperative Instagram: @thespeakeasycooperative

Mentioned in this episode:

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High View on Bookshop.org

Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most View on Bookshop.org

Have you ever asked the question “Why the Hell Would I Need a Business Coach Anyway?” In this episode of How to Run Your Biz Without Hating Your Boss, Michelle and Sara tackle the question many creative entrepreneurs secretly ask but rarely say out loud.

Whether you’re coach-curious, coach-skeptical, or convinced you’re doing just fine on your own (…maybe), this episode is for you. With their signature mix of humor, honesty, and hard-earned expertise, Michelle and Sara break down what coaching actually is, who it helps, how to know if you’re ready, and why it’s one of the most transformational relationships a business owner can invest in.

-Why creative entrepreneurs often avoid coaching (and what they’re missing) -The difference between coaching, consulting, and just signing up for another course -What a great coach does — and doesn’t do -How coaching can protect your values, your peace, and your creative energy -Real talk about cost, timing, fit, and the “am I broken?” fear

Perfect for: creative entrepreneurs, business owners, and performing arts professionals who know they need support but (maybe) don’t want to admit it.

So, if you’ve ever stared into the mirror at the “boss” making all these decisions and wished you had some support, guidance, or just someone to help you stop self-sabotaging — grab your coffee, tea, or whatever helps you deal with your business-induced anxiety and settle in.

Website: thespeakeasycooperative.com/speakeasy Facebook: facebook.com/thespeakeasycooperative Instagram: @thespeakeasycooperative

Joe Rohde (Wikipedia)

Ever feel like your boss never lets you take a break… even though you are the boss?

In this episode, Michelle and Sara dive into why creative entrepreneurs and self-employed folks are notoriously bad at resting — and what to do about it.

They explore the messy truth behind hustle culture, guilt-driven productivity, and the myth that rest is a reward instead of a right. Expect real talk, humor, and actionable “thinky-thinks” to help you stop running your business into the ground and start finding peace, presence, and grace for yourself.

Key Topics: - Why self-employed people are terrible at taking time off - How internalized “bad boss” habits drain creativity - Mindset shifts and strategies to reduce exhaustion - Practical ways to build rest into your work life - Learning to love your boss (you) again

Perfect for: creative entrepreneurs, coaches, and performing arts professionals who feel overworked, overwhelmed, and overdue for a break.

☕ Grab your coffee (or whatever helps you cope) — it’s time to talk about real rest.

Links you're gonna want: 7 Types of Rest — YouTube video with Saundra Dalton-Smith 7 Types of Rest PDF — by Dr. Sarah Ropp Book: Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey

If you enjoyed today’s episode, here’s how you can support the show: 👉 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more creative entrepreneurs find us. 👉 Share this episode with a friend or colleague who might be struggling with scaling pressure.

Connect with us: Website: thespeakeasycooperative.com/speakeasy Facebook: facebook.com/thespeakeasycooperative Instagram: @thespeakeasycooperative

Episode 2: The Five Stages Of Marketing Grief

🎙️ Welcome to Episode 2 of How to Run Your Business Without Hating Your Boss!

In this episode, Michelle and Sara will be talking all about The Five Stages of Marketing Grief.

If you’ve ever wanted to throw your laptop out the window because marketing feels exhausting, confusing, or downright grief-inducing, you’re not alone! In this episode, Michelle and Sara unpack what they call The Five Stages of Marketing Grief.

Marketing is necessary, but it doesn’t mean we have to love every part of it. Just like grief, our relationship with marketing isn’t a straight line. One moment you’re motivated, the next you’re bargaining with yourself about why you don’t really need it. It’s a cycle — messy, nonlinear, and often frustrating.

Join us as we: - Break down the stages of marketing grief (yes, complaining is part of the process!) - Talk honestly about why marketing feels so hard - Help you recognize where you are in the cycle - Offer encouragement for when you’re tempted to give up (or just pout a little)

Whether you’re in denial about social media, angry at algorithms, or finally making peace with your email list, this conversation will give you perspective, humor, and some practical strategies.

About your hosts: Michelle Markwart Deveaux and Sara Campbell are two business strategists who’ve helped hundreds of voice teachers, music educators, multi-teacher studio owners, performers, and creative entrepreneurs build sustainable, money-making businesses that actually align with their values.

Mentioned in this show: Sara is now taking applications for her excellent branding and marketing program! Only a few slots left, and it launches on Oct 1, so get on the stick and set up your call with Sara. https://savvymusicstudio.com/bravepants-branding-and-marketing-program/

💡 Listener Love: We want to hear from you! Got a myth you’d like busted, a secret you want revealed, or a rant you’d love us to dive into? Send us your ideas!

✨ Support the Show: If this episode made you laugh, sigh, or feel a little less alone, help us keep going! 👉 Rate, review, and subscribe on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you listen. 👉 Every download and review gives us the motivation to bring you more boss-busting conversations!

Episode 1: Why “Scaling” Might Be Killing Your Arts Business

Welcome to the very first episode of How to Run Your Business Without Hating Your Boss!

Hi, we’re Michelle Markwart Deveaux and Sara Campbell — two business strategists who’ve helped hundreds of voice teachers, music educators, multi-teacher studio owners, performers, and creative entrepreneurs build sustainable, money-making businesses that actually align with their values.

In this episode, we’re tackling a big myth in the entrepreneurial world: 👉 That scaling is always the answer.

Here’s what we’ll cover today: - Why online business advice about scaling may secretly be sabotaging your arts business - How “bigger” doesn’t always mean more profitable (or more sustainable) - Why staying exactly the size you are — or even downsizing — might be the smartest business move you can make - The mindset traps that lead creative entrepreneurs to feel like failures if they’re not “scaling like Instagram says”

We’ve been in the trenches ourselves, and we know the pressure creative business owners face. So grab your coffee, tea, or whatever helps with business-induced anxiety, and let’s dig in.

🎧 Listen now to learn why you don’t have to scale to succeed.

Let’s Stay Connected

If you enjoyed today’s episode, here’s how you can support the show: 👉 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 👉 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more creative entrepreneurs find us. 👉 Share this episode with a friend or colleague who might be struggling with scaling pressure.

Connect with us: Website: thespeakeasycooperative.com/speakeasy Facebook: facebook.com/thespeakeasycooperative Instagram: @thespeakeasycooperative