Gratitude Geek

Hosted by Kandas Nesbitt-Rodarte

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342

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Aug 2026

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About the show

a weekly relationship marketing podcast hosted by Kandas Rodarte

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60 recent

August 18, 202654 min

Make the Ask, Respect the No | Andrea Waltz

Asking for a sale, referral, review, collaboration, or introduction can feel uncomfortable—especially when you are building a business without bro hustle. In episode 337 of the Female Founder Momentum series, Kandas Rodarte talks with Andrea Waltz, co-author of Go For No, about a more human way to approach visibility and business growth: make a clear, respectful ask, let people choose, learn from the response, and do not give yourself the no before they have the chance to answer. They talk about why a “no” is information rather than a judgment of your work or worth, how to follow up without being pushy, and why momentum often comes from small, repeated actions long before the results are obvious. You’ll hear about: Reframing rejection as feedback and useful business data Making ethical asks without pressure or manipulation Why people are not numbers, even when you need consistent outreach The difference between persistence and pushing How small experiments help you improve your marketing The Nike footwear story: why several respectful “no” responses can eventually lead to a yes Building sustainable business growth when you have limited time, energy, and bandwidth This episode is for Gen X women solopreneurs, creative business owners, consultants, and community builders who want to market their work clearly, build confidence in asking, and grow a business that fits their real life. Ask clearly. Respect the answer. Keep going. Connect with Andrea Waltz and learn more about Go For No:https://www.goforno.com/ Find the full show notes and resources:https://kandasrodarte.com/337 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 11, 202648 min

Multiple Income Streams for Women Over 40—Build Choice & Stability (with Renee Carbone Fleming)

Multiple income streams for women over 40: Kandas Rodarte and Renee Carbone Fleming (founder of Badass Queen; personal branding strategist; host of Unapologetically Badass Podcast) explain why diversifying revenue is about creating choice, stability, and breathing room—not doing everything at once. Hear practical mindset shifts and approachable strategies to prioritize where to start, protect your income, and leverage your personal brand as a Gen X woman solopreneur. Renee shares her “WATCH ME” philosophy for women over 40 who are rebuilding, reinventing, or ready to stop making themselves small. From growing a personal brand to creating income that aligns with your values, this is a real conversation about sustainable business growth without bro hustle. 5 Things You'll Learn:→ How to build multiple income streams without creating a scattered, garage-sale business→ Renee’s five “WATCH ME” principles for acting before approval and holding your vision→ Why visibility does not require perfection, constant social media posting, or pretending you have it all together→ How to create a personal brand that stays yours—even when companies, platforms, or income sources change→ Why collaboration, relationship-building, and community matter more than copy-and-paste marketing Full show notes + links:https://kandasrodarte.com/336 About Renee Carbone FlemingRenee Carbone Fleming is the founder and CEO of Badass Queen, a personal branding and media agency that helps women over 40 build visibility, income, and a business that fits their next chapter. She is also the host of the Unapologetically Badass Podcast. 👉 Connect with Renee Carbone Fleming: https://badassqueen.co/ About Gratitude Geek Gratitude Geek is a 2x award-winning podcast hosted by Kandas Rodarte. It offers practical business education for Gen X women solopreneurs who want to rebuild after cancer, divorce, loss, burnout, or other life disruption—using marketing without bro hustle, meaningful connection, and experiment-driven growth that fits real life. 📨 Get practical business ideas and new episode updates: https://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 4, 202642 min

Money Mindset for Women Entrepreneurs: Pricing and Momentum (Megan Munsell)

Money mindset for women entrepreneurs is not just about positive thinking. In this episode, CPA and business advisor Megan Munsell joins Kandas Rodarte to talk about gratitude, intuition, pricing, and the business numbers that can guide better decisions. Megan shares why momentum is rarely a straight line, how a small price change can affect profit, and why you still have to do the work your numbers reveal. This conversation is for Gen X women solopreneurs who want a more grounded relationship with money while building a sustainable business after disruption 5 Things You'll Learn:→ Why gratitude and appreciation matter when you’re making money decisions.→ How to read your business numbers without spiraling into fear.→ Why small pricing shifts can create meaningful profit changes.→ What momentum looks like when growth is uneven, not perfectly linear.→ How Megan blends accounting, advisory work, and a more intuitive approach to business strategy. Full show notes + links: https://kandasrodarte.com/335 About Megan MunsellMegan Munsell is the founder of Abundantia Advisory, where she helps women business owners understand their money and make smarter decisions. She brings together accounting, tax strategy, and a holistic perspective shaped by her spiritual practice and years of entrepreneurial experience. 👉 Megan's Money Mindset Challenge (use coupon code GRATITUDEGEEK) : https://aligned-money-method-accelerator.circle.so/checkout/money-and-miracles-a-10-day-transformation?coupon_code=GRATITUDEGEEK About Gratitude GeekGratitude Geek is a 2x award winning podcast hosted by Kandas Rodarte. It’s for Gen X women solopreneurs who want practical business growth, sustainable momentum, and a healthier relationship with money, marketing, and visibility. 📨 Subscribe: https://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 28, 202643 min

Style is Self-Care | Marisol Colette

Style is not just about clothes. It can shape how we feel, how we show up, and how we move through the world, especially when life has already changed us. In this conversation with Marisol Colette, we explore how fashion can support confidence, identity, and momentum in a way that feels practical and real for women building a business and a life that fit who they actually are. If you’ve ever wanted to bring more ease, authenticity, and intention into how you present yourself, this episode is for you. What this episode covers→ Why style can be a powerful mindset tool, not just a wardrobe choice.→ How dressing with intention supports confidence, presence, and momentum.→ Why self-care can include the way you show up on camera, in meetings, and in everyday life.→ How gratitude can become part of your style practice without feeling cheesy or forced.→ What heart-centered, authentic dressing looks like for women in real life.→ How to think about fashion as a way to align your outer expression with your inner self. Who this is forThis episode is for Gen X women solopreneurs, creators, and business owners who want to show up with more confidence and less friction. It’s especially helpful if you’re rebuilding, reinventing, or trying to feel more like yourself again after life has asked a lot of you. Style is self-respect in action. About Marisol ColetteMarisol Colette is a fashion therapist, personal stylist, and psychotherapist who helps people align their inner world with their outward expression. Through Sol Reflection, she supports clients with authentic style, body confidence, and practical ways to show up with more ease and intention. Learn more at Sol Reflection and follow her YouTube channel at @solreflection1. About meI’m Kandas Rodarte, host of Gratitude Geek and creator of the Gratitude Geek Lab. I help Gen X women solopreneurs build sustainable businesses with practical experiments, honest strategy, and gratitude as a business tool. I break down momentum, visibility, and growth so real women with real lives can build businesses that feel doable. 👇 Read the full show notes and bonus resourceshttps://kandasrodarte.com/334 Part of the Momentum Series:https://kandasrodarte.com/momentumhttps://kandasrodarte.com/momentum-playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 21, 202648 min

Protecting What You Build (Amanda Sima)

In episode 333 of Gratitude Geek, Kandas Rodarte talks with Amanda Sima about momentum, setbacks, protecting intellectual property, and what founders learn when business gets complicated. Amanda built a collegiate apparel company with more than 150 NCAA licenses, then faced the kind of legal and business mess that forces you to think differently about growth, support, and strategy. This conversation is part of the Momentum Series: Business Growth for Women Over 40, where we explore what momentum actually feels like, where it can take you, and what happens when growth brings both opportunity and pressure. If you’re a woman solopreneur building something real, this episode will help you think more clearly about protection, partnership, and resilience. Connect with Amanda Sima: https://brainonloan.com Continue the conversation inside Gratitude Geek Lab:https://kandasrodarte.com/lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 14, 202647 min

Automation for Solopreneur Momentum with Jenna Bannister

What if automation was the thing that finally gave you more time, more space, and more momentum in your business? In episode 332 of Gratitude Geek, Jenna Bannister shares how she automated 95% of her land business, what that changed for her as a mom and business owner, and why she believes momentum is really about scaling, not just working harder. We talk about business automation, gratitude, leadership, AI tools, time freedom, and the surprising emotional shift that happens when your business can keep moving without you touching every part of it. Jenna also shares why she started her automations business, what she learned from past businesses that didn’t scale, and how she’s using AI to create more capacity in both work and life. If you’re a woman business owner trying to build a business that supports your real life instead of swallowing it whole, this conversation will give you practical ideas and a fresh perspective. In this episode you'll learn: Automate the repetitive stuff first, like emails, texting, and follow-up sequences. Use AI to make automation sound like you, not a robot. Build systems so the business can keep moving when you step away. Start with one thing, then layer in more automation as you grow. Momentum can feel strange at first because less chaos can feel like “not enough” work. Resources: Show notes + links: https://kandasrodarte.com/332 Jenna's AI workshop: https://automationsforowners.com/workshop (Use code gratitude to get the workshop free.) Continue the conversation inside Gratitude Geek Lab: https://kandasrodarte.com/lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 7, 202619 min

The Show Is Changing. Are You Ready?

In episode 331 of Gratitude Geek Podcast, Kandas Rodarte shares why the show is heading into a 12-week momentum series and what that means for the future of the podcast. She also talks about the recent Marketing Podcast Network Awards finalist news, the growth of the Gratitude Geek Lab, and why collaboration matters for women building sustainable businesses. This episode is for Gen X women solopreneurs who want practical business growth without bro hustle. If you have been looking for a softer, smarter way to build momentum, this conversation will feel like a reset. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why Kandas is shifting the podcast into a momentum-focused series What she learned from building a business over 30 years How the Gratitude Geek Lab supports women solopreneurs Why collaboration can create more momentum than going it alone What’s next for the show and the community Resources Marketing Podcast Network Awards - https://mpn-awards.com Creator Collab Mixer - https://kandasrodarte.com/mixer Unmuted Creator Collective by Amy Stone - https://www.youtube.com/@unMutedCreatorCollective Google AI Recognition - https://share.google/aimode/m2E6sQKdvSldrGzYT Book: We Are All Weird by Seth Godin - https://amzn.to/4y5zJEO (affiliate) Kandas Rodarte on Make Your Passion Play Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd68yuedfk4&t=1s Continue the conversation inside Gratitude Geek Lab: https://kandasrodarte.com/lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 30, 202639 min

Pay Yourself Consistently as a Solopreneur | Kim Pike Walters

You do not need a perfect money system to pay yourself consistently. In episode 330 of Gratitude Geek podcast, I talk with financial coach Kim Pike Walters about how solopreneurs can handle irregular income without turning every month into a scramble. We cover how to know your real numbers, separate business and personal money, save for quarterly taxes, and build a buffer that helps your paycheck stay steady. If money stress has been making business feel heavier than it should, this conversation will give you practical next steps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 23, 202646 min

Cycle Sync Your Business | Renae Fieck

Your hormones are not a productivity problem — they are your secret business strategy. In episode 329 of Gratitude Geek, cycle advantage coach and author Renae Fieck breaks down how to cycle synch your business so you can stop hustling against your body and start building in a way that actually works for you. If you’ve ever wondered why “just be more consistent” advice feels impossible during certain weeks of the month, this conversation will feel like a giant exhale. Renae explains how to align your content creation, launches, client work, and rest with your natural rhythms so you get more done with less stress, guilt, and self-judgment. In this episode, we talk about: Why traditional productivity and hustle culture burn out high-achieving women The four phases of your cycle and how each one supports different kinds of work Practical ways to plan your marketing, money-making tasks, and downtime around your energy What to do when life knocks you flat and your body simply cannot hustle anymore About Renae Fieck Renae is a mom of three, feminine leadership and cycle advantage coach, and the author of Cycle Sync Your Business. She helps high-achieving women use their body’s rhythms to create more income and impact without adding more to their plates, so they can thrive in both life and business. Connect with Renae Website: renaefieck.com Podcast: The Cycle Advantage Book: Cycle Sync Your Business: How to Leverage Your Menstrual Cycle for More Income and Impact Within Your Business (affiliate link) Free Gift: Cycle Sync Your Business Audio Book About Gratitude Geek Gratitude Geek is business education for Gen X women solopreneurs who are rebuilding after cancer, divorce, or loss. Host Kandas Rodarte shares candid conversations and practical strategies to help you build a resilient, sustainable business that honors your real life, real body, and real responsibilities. Show notes + links kandasrodarte.com/329 Is this episode for you? This episode is for you if you’re exhausted by hustle culture, curious about cycle syncing, and ready to experiment with a more humane way to grow your business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 16, 202643 min

Digital Defense for Solopreneurs | Rob Broadhead

What is Digital Defense? A few years ago, I lost my decades-old website, momgeek.com, to a hacker, and hundreds of blog posts about my business and cancer journey were gone. That was my wake-up call that digital defense is not just a big business issue — it matters for solopreneurs, too. In this episode, I’m joined by Rob Broadhead of RB Consulting to talk about practical ways to protect your website, use AI with a little more common sense, and respond fast if something goes sideways. Rob and I also revisit our earlier conversations in episodes 149 and 150: Episode 149: Learned Contentment Episode 150: Beyond Cancer In this episode, we cover: Why digital defense is really common sense. What to do when you discover you’ve been hacked. How AI and vibe coding can create risk if you skip the guardrails. Why Cloudflare can be a useful layer of protection for content sites. Why security awareness matters for solopreneurs. Rob’s links and resources: RB-SNS.com Develpreneur Contact Rob for the free AI readiness assessment Free gift from Rob: Fill out the contact form at rb-sns.com and mention Gratitude Geek to request your free AI readiness assessment. Thanks for listening to Gratitude Geek, the podcast for Gen X women solopreneurs weaving gratitude into your business strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices