Taking Five

In this episode of Taking Five, I’m joined by Xanthe Appleyard of Oh Sierra, a social media strategist, content creator, and writer who’s made it her mission to bring more ease and authenticity into the digital space.We chat about what it really looks like to build an intentional, sustainable rhythm in your creation practice. Xanthe shares how she balances structure with spontaneity, makes space for reflection before planning, and finds joy in showing up online without the pressure to constantly

In this conversation, I sit down with Brooke Stoll, a strategic consultant for interior designers who’s built her business around clarity, community, and intentional growth.Brooke shares her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship, and how learning to say no to misaligned work, outdated pricing, and unnecessary pressure opened the door to more aligned opportunities and impact.We also get into:How community really is the heartbeat of sustainable growthWhy focusing on less can actually help your

In this episode of Taking Five, I'm chatting with brand designer and creative business owner Maggie Reina of Viola Hill Studio about building a business that prioritizes space—space to create, to think, and to live fully.Maggie shares her journey from corporate designer to studio owner, reflecting on how she built her business around systems that give her more time freedom. We explore what it looks like to work just 20 hours a week while maintaining (and even increasing) profitability, and how

In this episode, I’m joined by Samantha MacKinnon (aka Strategy by Sam), an operations strategist who wears many hats: fixer, planner, and big-picture thinker. We dive into the world of CEO Days and why they’re so much more than vision boarding and big dreams. Sam makes the case for bringing data into the room — and shows us how tracking the right numbers can unlock more clarity and time freedom.We also get into: ✨ The emotional labor that comes with supporting founders (and why it matters) ✨ Why

In this episode, I’m joined by Kaitlyn Parker, a copywriter and agency owner who’s walked through maternity leave, scaled her team up (and back down), and leaned into new tools to support her work. We talk about how becoming a mom reshaped her vision of success, and why giving yourself permission to pivot is sometimes the smartest business move you can make.We also get into: ✨ The messy middle of running a business while raising little ones ✨ What it looks like to step away from a team and simplify

Welcome to the first episode of Taking Five! I’m Luz, and I created this show as a place for creative entrepreneurs to exhale. Think of it as a coffee break with friends who get it.I started this podcast because I know how messy and overwhelming the middle of business can feel. We’re wearing all the hats, juggling all the roles, and sometimes it feels like we can’t come up for air.This is your reminder that it’s okay to pause. Around here, we’re talking about what it really looks like to build a