Hint of Hustle with Heather Sager

This is Part 2 of my Jessi Jean Yap Challenge breakdown and this week it’s about YOU.

You're not trying to become social media famous, but you would like to be known for your work, and for your reputation to do the heavy lifting for your brand. This week we're digging into the three gears that create TRACTION when you’re an expert sharing your ideas.

I also get into the time I lost all my confidence after maternity leave even though the skill never left me, why your second launch is more likely to flop...

Jessi Jean's $1.2 million Yap Challenge launch is a marketing case study for the record books, and in this episode I’m sharing my vantage point as a 24 year pro speaking veteran and communication expert (and it's probably not what you think). We’ll drill into the three intangible qualities that I believe led to her massive success (none of which have anything to do with positioning, offer design, or marketing tactics). Plus I share my own "curse of the expert" moment and what 24 years of speaking on stages didn't prepare me for in building my business. NOTE - this epis...

In this episode I'm joined by Laura Schoenfeld, strategic advisor and founder of The Nourished CEO, for a conversation about messaging, and it turned into an incredible discussion about so much more. 

This episode gets into:
– why messaging is the skill most experts try to shortcut and why that always backfires
 – the "good student trap" and how it's quietly draining people's businesses
 – Laura's take on where the industry is going and why the competitive edge is going to be your actual voice
– how Laura uses AI to amplify her content without letting it originate t...

The pressure of being a visible leader, the second-guessing before a launch, the vulnerability hangover after a big talk, the spiral when something doesn't land…  all of that lands on you. Nobody's coming to save you in your business. Not a mentor, not a mastermind, not the next program you buy.  So if you don't know how to manage what's happening between your ears, it will burn you out faster than a full calendar.

This episode is about self-leadership. Specifically, the three internal roles that are competing for control of your thinking at any given moment and why...

Many visible leaders are focused on the wrong thing when they think about growth.

They're asking about which platforms to show up on, tweaking their messaging or chasing AI tools. All external. All tactical. And meanwhile the thing that's quietly running every room they walk into, every video they record, every pitch they make, goes completely unaddressed.

That thing is executive presence. And in this episode, I'm breaking down what it actually means, why it matters whether you're a solopreneur, a founder, or a leader inside a company, and where to point your growth if...

You can be doing all the right things in your business and still feel like you're running out of air.

Not because your strategy is off or the market is broken. But because somewhere along the way, the thing you built stopped feeling good to be inside of. The work became a task. The content became a checklist. And you've been white-knuckling through it, wondering why nothing seems to land the way it used to.

Joy isn't a luxury you earn after the work is done, it's the engine. And in this episode I'm sitting...

You're not failing. But I'd bet good money you walk around feeling like you are.

I’m not talking about the obvious kind of failure… a flopped launch or a missed goal… today we’re talking about the quieter kind of failure:

A low-grade hum of "I should be further along by now."
The spiral that starts the second something doesn't go the way you planned.
The way you measure your right-now self against the highlight reel of your past self AND the fantasy version of your future self, simultaneously, which means no matter w...

Last week, we had a spicy convo about getting back to basics and doing the *real* work that moves the needle. And if you listened, you probably felt a little called out 😅.

This week, we’re going a layer deeper because how you show up while doing that work matters.

You can post more, sell more, all the things more… but if people don’t trust you, it’s not going to work..

And TRUST seems to be a hot topic right now with many claiming we’re in a “trust recession” which I call BS. 

We’re BAAAACK! 

Whew, after an on again off again podcast return post maternity leave, I’m THRILLED to be  back in your ear holes every TUESDAY. 

In this episode, I'm breaking down why I brought back the name Hint of Hustle and we’re digging into stagnation in business and how to consciously choose your outcomes.

We're also digging into what happens when you sacrifice long-term strategy with your marketing (spoiler: your sales suffer), and how Newton’s First Law of Motion might be one of the most useful business principles we don’t talk...

Okay friends, we are inching dangerously close to the New Year.

And if you are anything like me, you’re probably sitting there with your fresh 2026 planner, feeling that creeping pressure to "reinvent" yourself. You might be thinking, “I need a totally new angle,” or “I need to burn it all down and start fresh to get noticed this year.”

Before you do anything drastic, listen to this episode.

Originally recorded in August of this year, I hit pause on the podcast before releasing… and I’m so glad I did because this is the right t...

You probably are a good speaker.

You share helpful info.
You care about serving.
You’ve got stories, maybe even a little humor.

But what does good actually mean? That people liked it? That you hit all your points? That someone clapped?

The truth is — you’ve never been taught what “good” really is. Beyond vague feedback or a gut feeling… how are you supposed to know?

That ends today.

In this episode, I’m pulling a private training out of the vault — a breakdown of the 5 Levels of Speaki...

You already know AI is everywhere right now — but here’s what no one’s really saying:

When business owners start outsourcing their thinking to AI, their actual ideas suffer.

In this episode, I’m calling out the creative atrophy that happens when you stop flexing your own brainpower. Think about it: we’ve already outsourced our memory to Google Maps and our friends’ birthdays to Facebook. But your IDEAS? That’s your last line of defense as a thought leader.

I share:

“Heather, how in the world do I book more stages?!" It’s the #1 most asked question I get from you all. 

You see the advice everywhere—research, send a million cold pitches, fill out every speaker application you can find. But what if that whole approach just feels…exhausting and not quite right for you? 

So what if you didn’t have to cold pitch… and could still land stages?

Well, that was the question I set to answer for myself years ago when I realized that pitching was not my jam.

And today I’...

Ever feel like you’re dropping pure fire—sharing your best, most advanced stuff—and all you get back is…polite nods?

Your audience tells you that you’re brilliant, they loved your talk and that your stuff is amazing…but then they don’t actually do anything with it.

So what’s the deal?

In this week episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m breaking down the #1 reason your ideas aren’t sticking—and the simple shift to fix to help your audience actually take action. It's the difference between being interesting and being irresistible...

Final Episode of the Spring Refresh Series 

After a little break from the podcast (because life + business, you know how it goes), I’m back— and bringing you a personal reflection and an honest convo to wrap up the Spring Refresh Series. 

In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes peek at what’s been going on in my brain (and life ) — the pace changes, the unexpected clarity, and the messy in-between where decisions don’t come easy. We talk about the illusion of slowing down, the pressure to make the “right” next move, and why sometimes you...

Episode 4 of the Spring Refresh Series

You already know when it’s time to make a change. But what if the way you’re deciding is the real problem?

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m joined by my client and friend Rebecca Vigelius, a former VP turned copywriter turned certified neurosomatic intelligence practitioner and stress coach. We dive into the untold truth behind her bold business pivot—one that was less about courage and more about capacity.

This isn’t just another “follow your passion” rebrand story. It’s a grounded, in...

Episode 3 of the Spring Refresh Series

What if refreshing your business isn’t about changing everything — but simply making room for more of what you’re being called to do?

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m sitting down with brand designer and strategist Kristina Bleiler of Gem Creative Co. to unpack what it really looks like to expand your service-based business without walking away from what’s already working.

Kristina didn’t blow up her brand design studio. Instead, she added a whole new layer to it — a DIY branding c...

Episode 2 of the Spring Refresh Series

This week's episode of The Ramble Refinery is your permission slip to pivot boldly and follow your curiosity.

I pulled one of my fave throwback interviews with the brilliant Ellen Yin, founder of Cubicle to CEO out of the vault—and it could not be more relevant for anyone feeling a little burn-it-all-down-but-make-it-strategic about their business.

You’ll hear:

Episode 1 of the Spring Refresh Series

Ever feel like blowing up your entire business? Same.

But before you start rewriting your offers, scrapping your website, or launching into a full rebrand, this episode is your gut check.

In the first episode of the Spring Refresh Series (happening the entire month of May), I’m walking you through one of the most common (and misunderstood) urges business owners face: the need to burn it all down. I’ll share why that urge shows up, what it might really be trying to tell you — and how to...

If you’ve been googling “where to find speaking gigs” trying to land more opportunities by pitching every event you come across, it’s probably feeling...exhausting.

And if you’re still hoping there’s a magical list that’ll land you a dozen dream stages overnight — I’ve got to be honest, that’s not how it works.

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’ll show you why that approach rarely gets you what you’re actually after — and what to do instead.  

I’ve talked about this before on the show, but it’s time for a...

Ever given a talk, walked off the stage, felt the rush of "HECK YES I nailed that!"—and then bam, hours later, you’re deep in the land of second-guessing and spiraling, you start replaying everything that went wrong? 

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, we’re talking about that weird emotional dip that hits right after a big visibility moment—the one no one warns you about. It’s more common than you think, especially when you’re pushing your edge and stepping into bigger rooms.

You’ll hear:

Being the "go-to" isn’t about being the best at what you do. It’s about being the one people recommend and reach out to without hesitation.

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m breaking down the real difference between being an expert—and becoming the one people actually think of when the moment counts.

You’ll hear:

Your audience doesn’t need more tips, templates, or content. If information were enough, they’d already have what they want.

What they actually need is leadership—and that starts with how you show up.

In this episode of The Ramble Refinery, we’re talking about what leadership really looks like inside a personal brand. Not the curated version—the kind that shows up when launches flop, timelines shift, or things feel… off.

You’ll hear:

There’s this weird thing that happens when smart, articulate business owners get asked to speak:

They start sounding… weird.

They say stuff like, “What if I told you…”
They parrot lines from mentors they admire.
They stiffen up, overthink, and suddenly sound like a motivational quote generator instead of a real human.

In this episode, I’m sharing where that habit comes from (spoiler: it’s not confidence—it’s ego), why it’s a sign you haven’t fully nailed your speaker identity, and what to do when your “authentic voice” vanishe...

Welcome to The Ramble Refinery! 

After a year-long hiatus, the podcast is back—but with a whole new vibe. In this kickoff episode, I’m sharing the messy, real story behind the rebrand, why I almost launched seven different shows, and what finally clicked.

We’re talking about:
 🎤 The truth about refining your message in real time (instead of waiting for perfect)
 🎤 Why second-guessing your ideas is actually part of the process
 🎤 What you can expect from The Ramble Refinery moving forward

If you’ve ever wrestled with...

Ok real talk— I almost didn't hit publish on this episode. After I finished recording I had serious “wait— I can’t publish that trainwreck of a ramble” thoughts.

But lately, I’ve been craving far more rambles and far less polish.

And if that’s you too— then hit play, because this one might just be what you need to hear.

Today we’re talking about hustle and why I will proudly continue to make it part of my life (why should we all should stop feeling guilty for working our tails off from time to t...

Ever wondered how to tailor your message when you have multiple audiences? Or how to change up what you talk about for different groups?  In today's episode, I've got the answers you've been searching for. Get ready to level up your speaking game and leave every audience feeling like you are speaking to JUST them.

Hint: Grab your notepad because this episode is packed with actionable tips, Spicy Sager rants, and captivating stories you won't want to miss.

Here's a sneak peek at what's in store:

I’m typically a plain spoken word kinda gal, but today we’re getting fancy. The word?  Extemporaneous. The meaning? Spoken or done without preparation. Said another way — speaking “off the cuff”.

As someone who makes money teaching others how to intentionally structure a message, it would be easy to dismiss the power of this word.

But the truth is— extemporaneous speaking is one of the most powerful skills you must develop as a business owner. And today’s episode will get you started 

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the topics we cover:<...

I’m wired for goal setting. Chasing that next mountain top of ambition is in my DNA. But when the ball dropped into 2024 and everyone else was hunkering down, massive year on the wall calendars and color coded post-its in hand, I felt ZERO ambition for planning.

But what I did feel was a desire to get quiet and reconnect with something I didn’t know I needed which led to an entirely new way (for me) of goal setting.

So in today’s episode I’m sharing with you my G.O.O.D Plan for...

We’ve all heard versions of the phrase “there are really no new ideas” and “there are thousands of people who do what you do”, so when it comes to speaking on platforms and stages…

How do you talk about something that has already been heard?
How do you find an angle that’s unique and refreshing?
How detailed or broad should your topics be?
Can I talk about stories?
Does it all have to be “teachy” how to?

So. Many. Questions.

And if you’re anything like my clients, the truth i...

And we’re BACK baby! Quite literally. I had a baby and had every intention of keeping this show going while I was on leave, but… life surely LIFE-ED me.

On this special comeback episode, we flipped the script and my copywriter, Sara Vartanian (who knows my business and my offers better than anyone), took the host seat to interview ME about the biggest rollercoaster of a year in biz (and life) yet.

From ending a partnership, rebranding the podcast (again), rebranding the biz (again), launching a new program with a new launch model… to moving...

Struggling to best present yourself in front of camera? Here are my 5 best on camera speaking tips to help you come alive, look natural and also connect with your audience more effectively than ever.  Touching on tips to equip you with things to consider, questions to ask yourself, lenses to look through so that you can fill in the gaps to be more engaging, effective and entertaining when you're speaking on camera.

Quick note: this episode originally aired two years ago, so a few things mentioned in the episode are out of date like the name of m...

I don’t have to tell you that getting your message noticed in this era of CONTENT OVERLOAD takes work.

But did you know that you could actually be causing your ideal client to pass right by your amazing tips and juicy insights?

It doesn’t matter how deep your experience or good your results, if your ideal client never hears, what chance do you have for them to love it, sign up for your free guide or join your program?

In today’s episode, I’ll share with you one of the top mist...

Could you accidentally be trapped in expertise overdrive? If your audience is smiling, nodding and saying, “Oh, that’s really interesting,” you’re facing a common problem of many online entrepreneurs–you’re overwhelming your audience.

In this recast episode from The Art Of Online Business Podcast, I live coach Rick Mulready’s co-host Kwadwo (pronounced “Quayjo”), through a powerful exercise to tailor your message so your expertise never goes over your audience’s heads again.

I’ve never shared these insights on any podcast before, so bust out your notebook because you’re about to reshape the way you c...

In the online space we’re fed this idea that selling should be hands off–but could skipping sales calls be doing your business a disservice?

By bypassing one-on-one sales conversations in favor of automated funnels, videos or webinars what kind of critical information could we be missing about our customers?

Inside this episode I spill the details on how selling has shown up and evolved in my own career, both corporate and online business.

Plus, I share insights to help you decide if sales calls belong on your calendar for 2024 (and what happ...

Think of your business as a three-legged stool…miss the mark with one (or neglect it) and the whole structure topples over.

As a business owner, your most vital role is making sure there’s a balance between all 3 legs—or as I call them pillars–so you can find the right growth path for this season of your business.

Inside the episode I break down my 3 powerful pillar strategy to help you focus on the true needle movers as you build your thought leadership business. 

Whether you’re at $500k+ or on your way to...

Planning can be a brilliant tool, or a form of procrastination.

Visions of what *could* be.

And as we follow the plan, we quickly realize that the ideal map we’ve chosen to follow… looks quite a bit different than the reality we’re faced with.

It happens in our personal lives AND our businesses.

Each year, entrepreneurs take the internet biting walk calendars, post-it notes and colorful pens to dream, map and plan out their perfect year.

And if you’ve been a big planner in the past, yet stil...

When was the last time you felt “stressed” in your business? Chances are: recently.

As a business owner, you might have adopted the reality that stress is just part of running a business.

I’m not here to tell you that I’ve figured out the secret formula to deal with stress (spoiler: there isn’t one), but I will serve you up some Spicy Heather coaching about the SOURCE of your biggest business stressors.

We’ll dig  into the dichotomy of self-created stress vs pressure from others, plus my four non-fancy tactics for managing...

Holding space for a bunch of brave and bold entrepreneurs for a 3-day live virtual event is no joke.

There were location decisions, tech snafus, bloopers, and more than a few happy tears. Get your notepad ready! My event producer, Krystal Proffitt and I demystify live events so you get a clear idea of what to consider and what to ignore. 

But, beyond the logistical to-do’s, whether you’re hosting a virtual event live, like I did, or are taking the stage for the first (or 25th time) at the end of the day, only...

Relationship building is a learned skill that becomes an epic growth tool when done right.

Chances are though you’ve had some networking experiences that left a sour taste in your mouth. Sneak attack sales pitches disguised as friendly check-ins? Corporate style networking? Pass, pass.

This episode is a wake up call packed with tactics on how to build powerful relationships and social currency that ACTUALLY feel good, even if you’re an introvert like me.

Plus, I break down how to use my Adjacent Ask tactic. It’s my go-to formula for callin...